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Quotes
 You
don't have to hold onto the pain to hold onto the memory.
We
all have the need to feel special.
In
complete darkness, it is only knowledge and wisdom that separates us.
I
will never forget that. I was really young, about 6 or 7, and as a kid,
that was very hurtful to me. I went through a lot, from age 15 to about
19 years. I was very young. I used to hurt so badly that I'd ask God
why, what have I done to deserve this?
We're
all driven to premieres or nightclubs and seen the rope separating those
who can enter and those who can't. Well, there's also a velvet rope we
have inside of us, keeping others from knowing our feelings. In this
album I'm trying to expose and explore thsoe feelings. I'm inviting you
inside my barrier. During my life I've been on both sides of the rope.
At times, especially during my childhood, I felt left out and alone. At
times I felt misunderstood....But no human heard those feelings
expressed. They stayed buried in the past. But now the truth has to come
out, and for me, the truth takes the form of a song." - on her 1997
recording "The Velvet Rope"
It
made me so happy. On my song "Whoops Now,' I even used the lyrics,
'I'm out in the sun having fun with my friends' [from that song].
There's also the Turtles' 'Happy Together' and the Association's 'Windy'
and Simon and Garfunkel's 'Feelin' Groovy.' Those songs are all precious
moments to me. They're about just plain feeling good.
I
was very independent growing up, but there were things that were
bothering me that I never told anybody. I would talk to our animals at
home. We had fawns that Michael and I raised until we weaned them and
we'd feed them every morning. And I would talk to them....I felt they
understood me. We had four dogs, and I would climb in the bushes and sit
down and speak with them....And that's how I dealt with my life in the
very, very beginning, when I was a kid.
I
was never pushed into the religion by my mother or anyone else. I made
up my own mind when I was old enough. I am not a religious person, but I
am spiritual. But I don't believe in things like guilt. I believe in a
higher power. I believe in inspiration.
I've
been very fortunate to have found someone who have been so incredibly
caring....I don't think anybody else would have stuck around because I
had some really difficult times.... And I know he probably would wake up
and say, "Okay, who is she today?" I think anyone else would
have said, 'You know what? I am out of here because I cannot take this.'
But he was there, right by my side the entire way.
I
set out to please myself, hopefully in the end, the listeners will enjoy
what I've created.
If
I wasn't singing, I'd probably be, probably an accountant.
Dreams
can become a reality when we possess a vision that is characterized by
the willingness to work hard, a desire for excellence, and a belief in
our right and our responsibility to be equal members of society.
You
know that it's something different when you're whole family falls in
love with him, when your brothers and sisters love him. And with me
having eight brothers and sisters, there are some major eyes on him. And
they all adore him. So that's really good.
People
need to stay out of other people's business. Honestly, how can they say
what is a good match for me and what is a good match for him? They
really don't know us. That's for us to decide. They need to stay out of
other's people's business and deal with their own issues.
Getting
back to that child and giving the child what the child may have missed -
the reassurance of a nourishing and accepting love, a love that says you
are special - is hard work. It can be scary, but like the song says, we
have to deal with the past to live completely -and freely - in the
present.
Life
is a journey, and I'm still walking it. And, like everyone, I'm going to
have some days that are better than others, some days that are tougher
than others. But I'm in a much happier place, the happiest place I've
ever been in my life, and that's why it feels so good to me, finally
being able to say I do like who I am.
We
are a nation with no geographic boundaries, bound together through our
beliefs, we are like minded individuals sharing a common vision, pushing
toward a world rid of color lines.
To
a world sick with racism, get well soon.
We
had the kind of night were morning comes to soon....we used the light
from a flickering candle across the room to make the kind of shadows
that only one thing could make....love.
Pain
like water it dry away so love come in without pain how can love think
about.
I
kinda see everyone as competition. I'm a very competitive person. But I
think that's good. Competition is great. And as long as it's friendly
and not a malicious thing, then I think it's cool.
I
also experienced serious rejection. I auditioned for dozens of
commercials, for example, but was never chosen. That might have
devastated other children, but somehow my attitude was 'well if I don't
get this one, I'll get the next'. Looking back, I see I had a built-in
toughness.
There
was also loneliness. I had few friends. Work consumed me. in some ways,
it still does.
I
was sheltered by my parents, work and school. I walked out into the
world and saw things I'd only read about. I learned the hard way. It was
scary, but I saw I had two choices - sink or swim. I swam. And
discovered I could actually make it to the shore, all on my own. Not
that I wasn't frightened or didn't experience moments of panic. I did.
Being
from a famous family is a blessing. I'm challenged to live up to the
expectations. I'm happy, grateful for what I've inherited and excited
about what I want to contribute.
The
pain is necessary. Sometimes pain is the teacher we require, a hidden
gift of healing and hope.
After
my disillusionment, I felt hollow inside, as though someone had scooped
out my soul. It took a while, but deep within I discovered a core of
determination I never knew existed. That's when I got serious about
myself and my career. I saw what I needed to do, and I did it.
All
kids rebel. My way was to dye my hair half pink and half blue. It was a
mess.
Freedom
means choices.
My
dad taught us that there's no greater distance than that between first
and second place.
Self-expression
is my goal, I want to be real with my feelings. Singing and dancing-and
all the joy that goes with performing- come from my heart. If I can't
feel it, I won't do it.
A
lot of times I felt so alone. But I also thought there has to be other
people that have experienced either what I have, or close to it.
Another
side to me is this very sexual being. When I look back on my life, it's
always been there. It's been there since I was 10 years old, having the
imagination that I had.
I
am the baby in the family, and I always will be. I am actually very
happy to have that position. But I still get teased. I don't mind that.
I
love working with organizations. I love giving. I want to do more of
that. You got to give back. I love helping people, especially children.
People
do see me as sweet and innocent. Not to say that I am not those things.
But I have other sides to me.
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