It's also not unusual for writers to look backward. Because that's your pool of resources.

My record producer [David Kahne] said the major record labels these days are like dinosaurs sitting around discussing the asteroid. They know it's going to hit. They don't know when, they don't know where it's coming from. But it's sort of hit already. With iTunes, and all of that.

Microphones are just like people, if you shout at them, they get scared.

I'm often reading a magazine and hearing about someone's new record, and I think: "Oh, boy, that's gonna be better than me". It's a very common thing.

My stepmother sold my birth certificate and someone asked why I didn't buy it back. I don't know, really. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It was mine. It cost me nothing and suddenly I had to buy it back.

I think the French girls are fabulous.

It's a powerful thing hearing your friend on a very beautiful song.