I just love the idea of going into a room and creating something by myself.
I'm somebody who finds adversity is almost as good as encouragement. It's almost like, you close the door, and I'll find ten ways to kick it in and go around it or dig under it or something.
I turned 14, I became very obsessed with writing songs, and it took over my existence.
Being inducted into the songwriting hall of fame by Clive Davis, that was pretty memorable.
I like writing all different kinds of songs. I've wanted to run the gamut of artists.
I'm not like normal people. I'm no good at relationships. I draw drama to me - it's the Jew in me.
I'm totally an East Coast person, energetic and sarcastic. I'm not a nice L.A. person.
I don't just do power ballads. I have a lot of up-tempo stuff, too - like 'Can't Fight the Moonlight.'
I was born loving music. It was always my friend.
I've been in grocery stores, and if they're playing my music, I'll yell, 'Hey! I wrote that!' I've been next to cars and have done that!
I thought I was good before I had any right to. But I think you got to feel that way. You got to think that. I wasn't delusional. I knew I had talent.
What keeps me interested is that I have to do it. It's like people wake up and they have to breathe; I have to write songs; I have to make music. That's like eating or breathing to me. It's that simple.
I usually don't write songs by people calling me and saying, 'Write a song about this.' Usually I'm just going with what I want to write, so you never know.
Cher hated 'If I Could Turn Back Time.' I had to beg her, literally, on my knees, just to try it. Happens all the time.
I've never been in love. I know, it's weird.
Maybe my songs are my partner. How 'bout that? Yeah, the biggest relationship I have is with my songs.
I grew up listening to hits, and if I write something I feel, I think that's pretty mass appeal. I'm not very elitist with music. Love is universal; a great melody is universal; it goes around the world; it's not just American. A great song can touch the world.
