Every Day I Lugged My Backpack Through

I Wanted To Focus On Songs That I Was Inspired By Growing Up. I Love So Many Of Them From The Last 100 Years, But I Really Wanted, For My First Step Forward, To Choose Material That Has Inspired Me And Got Me Into The World Of Musical Theater.

I Think That My Relationship With My Fans Has Been Very Special From Day One. It's Been Very Special In Spite Of The Fact That I Don't Think I Would Ever Be Able To Call Myself A Press Darling. I Don't Think There's Ever Been A Superficial Hype Machine Around Me.

My Biggest Blast-off Hit Was "you Raise Me Up." If You Ever Have A Wedding Or A Funeral, It's A Good Pick.

Don't Try To Be Like Me. Try To Be Like Yourself. Try To Be Very Good At Being Yourself.

It's Really Tough To Make A Name For Yourself Without Compromising And Without Fitting Yourself Into A Real Specific Mold. When I Made The Choice That I Would Be Involved In Every Aspect Of Music And Not Necessarily Make Music For Radio Or Mtv, I Was Saying, 'ok, This Is Me. You Decide Who It Is.'