“I get off on hearing other people’s voices. I like voices: they’re my favourite things on records.”

I hate those old falsettos, I really do, and it’s embarrassing since I’ve grown up.

Summer means happy times and good sunshine. It means going to the beach, going to Disneyland, having fun.

I wake up in the morning and I say ‘Ahh! Today’s the day for a song! I’m going to write a song today!’ And I do. I write a song.

You’re called a genius by people, and then your whole life you become the part.

I earned my famous name.

I was very, very financially secure my whole life. I have been very lucky to say that.

I like the piano – I’m always about 15 feet away from a piano.

I always do get a little bit paranoid when I get a lot of attention. But I get used to it.

I have auditory hallucinations, I hear voices saying derogatory things, like I’m terrible and I’m going to die, and they’re usually worse in the afternoon.

All of the artists did such a beautiful job I can’t thank them enough. I’m just honored that ‘God Only Knows’ was chosen. ‘God Only Knows’ is a very special song. An extremely spiritual song and one of the best I’ve ever written.

The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Phil Spector. Those were my idols.

I’m happy; I’m a happy person.

I can write songs, I’ve had songs in movies, but I can’t compose film scores, you know?

Surfing music is dead. It was just a summer craze for kids on the beach. I’m finished with it.

I’d earned over a million dollars by the time I was old enough to vote.

I meditate and I also think about meditation. Which is funny. I think about Maharishi, about just the idea of meditating. It gives me something.