I get even more nervous singing when everyone's fallen silent, but I really try to communicate the meaning of the lyrics, and there's people there listening to that, and if they're moved by it, then I'm moved as well.
Pop music has greater power to change people and to affect people because it's a universal language. You don't have to understand music to understand the power of a pop song.
That's my favorite part about songwriting, the way you write a song, and someone else might hear it a different way.
I listen to a lot of songs, and they aren't talking about anything. I don't connect with them. I'll listen to something like Musiq Soulchild's 'Just Friends,' and I'm like, 'Wow, I really feel what he's talking about.' That's how I want people to feel about my music.
I've always loved 'Umbrella.' Funny enough, my ex-husband wrote that, and I'm not saying it was meant for me or anything - people will start twisting this - it is Rihanna's song! But I've always loved it.
The main objective in any song, the songs that I write, has always been that it reflect the way I feel, that it touch me when I'm finished with it, that it moves me, that it can take me along with it and involve me in what its saying.
Words are what make the song. I get a personal vision about what the lyrics are about.
It doesn't bother me when people try to deconstruct my songs - because at least they're looking at the lyrics, and paying attention to the way the story is told.
If you actually dissect the lyrics in 'Motley Crue', you'll notice that there's a lot going on beneath the surface.
I think that the song, the song "Stand By Me" is one of those songs that... and someone asked me, what was you thinking about or what was you feeling about? It's something that, songwriters just write songs. It's like an artist that paints. They paint what they feel. It's not, it's not about how many of these painting I'll sell it's just how they feel at the moment. And that's how I wrote "Stand By Me".
Whenever I sing a song, I just want it to reach out to the audience.
My favorite song is called 'Reachout.' There are so many different stories told in that song. I think anyone who listens to it will gather a different meaning, but each answer is true. I also like the sound of it, period - there are a lot of classical influences.
Music does not replace words, it gives tone to the words
My songs are self-explanatory... somebody pointed out to me that... my songs pretty much speak for themselves.
Do you remember when everyone began analyzing Beatles songs..I don't think I ever understood what some of them were supposed to be about
Not every song I write is ecstasy. And it can happen only one time. After that, when you sing the same melody and words, it's pleasure, but you don't get wiped out.
'Donde Estaras,' it is like a classic reggaeton, and we just added some Southern spice to bring it to 2018. But I wanted to go back to the roots of reggaeton, that type of reggaeton that makes you just feel good. You don't know what we are saying but that OK because 'Donde Estas' is where are you at but 'Donde Estaras' is where are you going to be.
When a singer truly feels and experiences what the music is all about, the words will automatically ring true.
Edith Piaf knocked my socks off when I was 8, but I didn't know what she was singing about.
American Pie speaks to the loss that we feel. That's why that song has found the niche that it has.
Sort of like, I have to make the Japanese lyrics really deep.
Write your own songs. It helps you to mean what you're singing, which will then make it mean something to listeners.
Normally the meaning of the songs, if there is any, occurs to me after I've written the song.
Hopefully, somebody who's hearing my music, it's relatable to them, and it strikes a cord with them.
I would hate to think my songs were giving advice to people.
