[on her idol, Peggy Lee] I became a complete junkie for her . . . She represents an era that is leaving us, one where vocals were king.

I never, my producer never, we never let myself just sing. We were always trying to get the perfect vocal.

Some of the most vocal critics of the way things are being done are people who have done nothing themselves, and whose only contributions to society are their complaints and moral exhibitionism

There’s definitely anger, the demand of more from the world, a demand for justice. There’s no other way I can perform the vocals than the way you hear them. It’s not just the words, it’s what is being felt.

The voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls

If I have a platform and a voice, I should use it for my people.

Silence is never-ending speech. Vocal speech obstructs the other speech of silence. In silence one is in intimate contact with the surroundings. Language is only a medium for communicating one’s thoughts to another. Silence is ever speaking.

Americans are far more vocal. In the U.K., if guests don’t have a good meal they often won’t complain, but you can guarantee you won’t see them again. Americans are far more likely to voice their complaints.