Lisa Marie Presley

I wanted to come through with my own voice and, hopefully, have it affect people. I want people to know that I’m not an Elvis impersonator.

I think I’ve failed every test I’ve ever taken. If there was a failure I would have been it.

Music has always gotten me through life, particularly honest, real music.

I’ll say it loud and say it proud. I’m completely insane.

I dropped out of school in the 11th grade because there was no purpose in it for me. I’m not proud of this, and I’m not trying to promote it.

I never not wanted to be a singer. Since I was 3, I knew this was what I wanted to do. Well, I can’t say I wanted to do it, but I fantasized and thought about it all the time. I never thought it would actually happen.

I’m more of a tomboy than anything and then you see your name on these Top 50 Most Beautiful People lists and you’re like, “What?”

I’m a hypochondriac. Yesterday it was brain damage from the vodka the night before. Today, heart attack – my arm and chest started hurting at the same time.

I don’t do yoga. I bite the hella outta my nails. I smoke, I eat all the wrong food, I don’t exercise.

I’m not eager to jump into marriage again. I’m in the corner right now, wearing my dunce cap. That area is obviously a nightmare.

I have a lot of memories, but I don’t go into capitalizing on that. Something’s got to be my own. I’m not doing the record to sit here and broadcast my memories of my father.

On my US tour maybe three out of 30 shows there was an Elvis impersonator in the crowd but that’s it. I usually get younger fans, and those that come that are of an older generation end up walking out because it’s too loud.

I really went back through a lot of the dark corridors of my life in this. I wanted people to know who I am based on my music, not on what they read in the tabloids.

I’m trying to have my own thing, and I don’t know if it’s even possible. I didn’t realize so many people actually think I’m trying to be like my dad. I read comments like ‘She’s no Elvis.’ I’m not trying to be. I never set out to be.

If I’m alone too long I think too much, and I’m not interested in doing that. That won’t lead anywhere good, I’m sure. If I’m busy I tend to stay out of trouble. An idle mind is the devil’s playground.

With a lot of hair and make-up then I’m possibly, remotely attractive. But it’s rare, I don’t think I’m ugly but I’m nothing particularly special. I’m not a yoga and health girl. I don’t exercise that much and I eat crap and smoke and bite my nails.

I don’t deal well with admiration if it’s for something I haven’t done. Other than exist.

I have a tendency to kick it up. I like to rattle the cage.

I’ve been chased through airports with a screaming baby because the photographers are ruthless, and they want the picture.

I’m not doing this to be a pop star. I’ve had plenty of money and attention. I’m doing it for credibility.

Being Elvis Presley’s daughter is a whole lot of pressure. It’s been a constant burden in my life.

How many people have a family grave in the backyard? I’m sure I’ll end up there, or I’ll shrink my head and put it in a glass box in the living room. I’ll get more tourists to Graceland that way.

I do like to write nasty songs. It’s a useful weapon to have, and it’s cathartic as well, because I create art out of anger, something positive out of something negative.

I’m just not interested in selling out to get on the charts and make people happy.

I knew that because of who I am, and the situation I’m in, that I’d attract more critics than your average person, and that was a little intimidating, but I wanted to get out there and pay my dues.

I was very protective of my father and I didn’t like these people who hung around outside all day. They creeped me out.

I remember him watching me through the crack of a door singing with a hairbrush. I was in front of his mirror. I think he wanted me to sing. He would get me on the table and make me sing sometimes or play the piano. He was very encouraging on that front.

Mostly singing was cathartic, writing was cathartic, therapeutic. I don’t think I had a goal, particularly, to sing or put it out there for anybody.

I was quite the spoiled brat. I have quite a temper, obviously inherited from my father, and I became very good at ordering everyone around. I was the princess; the staff were absolutely terrified of me.

I’m more prone to his ’70s material, which is what I was around for and watched a lot. I listen to a lot of that stuff. It probably influenced me quite a bit. I’m more drawn to the darker, sadder songs.

I like Jailhouse Rock and Love Me Tender. The black-and-white films. With music, I tend more toward the ’70s stuff because I was at the shows for those, so they bring back memories.