Superlatives
A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers.
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Im still getting asked questions I was asked in 1989, she says.
Like, Why are you called Texas?
Sometimes, depending on your mood, you’re able to just lie, she laughs.
I could be a compulsive liar for all you know.
1 records, 1997sWhite on Blondeand 1999sThe Hush,sound like the 90s that your parents actually remember.
But this record was just a lot of fun.
You gotta have that.
Hisong youre most proud of
I cant talk about any one song.
Im more proud of a complete album.
All those songs are so important.
Albums are so important.
Im really an advocate for keeping albums and making sure that people stop consuming music on a buffet bar.
How many bands have five singles come off an album nowadays?
Record companies just kind of go, Okay, yeah, whatever, and move on.
They shoot themselves in the foot because theyre not building a catalogue.
And the record industry wonders why its got problems.
Because you are stupid.
FavoriteWhite on Blondeouttake
Mr. Haze was a bit of an outtake.
We started working on it, and then the song kind of just went completely in another direction.
And then we put the Donna Summer sample on it.
Mr. Haze was the one that came off of those outtakes turned into something completely new.
It still sounds good.
Theres always a simplicity to what we do.
Were not trying to get the sound of the moment.
We just are who we are, and we make the record.
Theyre known for collaborations where they get two people to sing together and do some kind of duet.
Jamiroquai had sung with Diana Ross, and there were all these different things.
I adore him, right?
But it was a bit like Steve Carrell; I was like, BORING!
People are going to expect us to do that.
It was a great time.
And I was like, Well, sure.
Let me ask him if its okay.
I remember they were all over him.
They just adored him.
Scotland is big and open and sparse and gray and cold.
We have a Grand Ole Opry and everything in Glasgow.
I guess its probably from original folk music and everything that we feel close to it.
I love the interpretation of what a song is.
Because what we do is we form a song into our own story.
Thats what makes a hit record, to relate to their own lives.
So, when we make videos, I love that its an interpretation of a video director hearing it.
Its always really great fun.
I love the fact that we play with words that can mean so many different things.
That will always be yours when you hear it.
I dont know any artist that enjoys making videos.
Every time they say its time to make videos, Ill go, Oh fuck.
And then Ill go and make videos and Ill have unbelievable good fun.
We laughed so much, and I found a great, great, true friend.
I miss him madly.
I did the video for Hi as well with Kadeem [Ramsay].
Because I didnt want to be in the video originally.
And how do you feel about being in the trunk of a car?
And I was like, Oh my God, thats such a good idea.
Like, when people say to me things like, Okay, youre going to be Elvis.
Im like, Yes!
You know, stuff like that is just the best fun ever.
You have to go get your head cast to become Elvis.
Its just absolutely great.
There are times where its amazing.
Biggest trick youve learned about being a celebrity
I dont think of myself as one.
The only time I do … its great when you need a table.
But its never been that important in my life.
I dont think about it to be completely honest with you.
It was never about that for me.
I think its really sad when you see people that that is what its all about.
And its blatantly obvious as well.
But we need people like that.
Everybody cant be the same.
I know that when I started, I just wanted everybody on the planet to hear our records.
But do I want every single person on the planet to know my face for all the wrong reasons?
No, I dont.
Monica Lewinsky is fucking famous, but shes famous for sucking the presidents cock.
Anybody can be famous.
Is it famous or infamous?
Its however you view it.
But its easy to be famous.
Its not easy to leave a legacy.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
