If I get an idea I put it on tape and somebody else writes it out.

Anything human can be felt through music, which means that there is no limit to the creating that can be done with music. You can take the same phrase from any song and cut it up so many different ways - it's infinite. It's like God... you know?

I play piano, by ear. Yes, I write songs... and good ones.

I do not believe in mixing of the races. You can quote me. I don't believe in it, and I never have. I've never changed. I've never changed my hair. I've never changed my color, I have always been proud of myself, and my fans are proud of me for remaining the way I've always been. I married a white man one time, but he was a creep

You can't help it. An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times.

It is difficult to retain your standards with the pressure of trying to make money, which always has its rules...It's hard to walk the tightrope of doing what you think is your best and making money at it.

It doesn't matter to me what is going on today because my music encompasses every kind of mood that exists in human beings. That's my stick.