Saturday 9: (Amazing) Just The Way You Are

Link up here if you're playing along today! (And check me out, I'm famous! )

1) This song is about a girl who can't accept how pretty she is. How do you respond to compliments? Do you accept them graciously, or do you get embarrassed?

I get embarrassed. I've been accused multiple times of not taking compliments well. I work on it, but it's hard when you've been told your whole life what a piece of shit you are.

2) Bruno says he takes inspiration from a variety of musical styles -- everything from rock to reggae to hip hop. What kind of music do you listen to most often?

I mostly listen to Top 40 music, but I like a wide variety of musical genres. Everything from Classical, Jazz, Blues, to Oldies, Musicals, Ska, Rap, Reggae... I like everything but country. I just can't get into that.

3) Bruno's uncle was a professional Elvis impersonator, and as a little boy Bruno also performed on stage as the King. When you picture Elvis, do you think of early rock'n'roll Elvis from the 1950s, Technicolor Hollywood Elvis of the 1960s, or the rhinestone jumpsuit Elvis who performed in Las Vegas?

I think of this Elvis: My dad ♥ loves ♥ Elvis to the n^th degree, and he sings a lot like him, too. My father had a rhinestone jumpsuit and red scarf like Presley's, too - no lie. He has a jukebox in his living room full of Elvis music (along with others like Bill Haley and the Comets and stuff, but mostly The King) and a microphone, and he goes to town. It's quite funny, actually (but he's really good!).

4) Bruno plays several instruments onstage, including piano, guitar and congas. What instruments can you play?

I play a mean triangle. Like my mother, I played the organ, but I never got good like her. I think I have a learning disability when it comes to reading music. It just never came naturally to me; I really struggle with it. Like both my parents and my sister, though, I love to sing.

5) Bruno is touring all over the country this summer. What's the last concert you attended?

 

I would love to see Bruno in concert! My last one was either when I won tickets to see the Black-Eyed Peas from a newspaper contest, or when I took Hubs to see the Bob Dylan*Willie Nelson*John Mellencamp show at the Norfolk Tides ball field. I think that was a bucket list cross-off for him, so pretty awesome. Yes, he got a t-shirt.

6) Unlike some other stars, Bruno doesn't demand a lot of luxuries on the road, but he did admit to TMZ that he insists Wet Wipes be provided for his dressing room. If you could ask your boss for anything, anything at all, to make your workplace more comfortable, what would you request?

I don't work because of the cray. I would ask for my Bipolar Disorder to be taken away and some more normalcy in mah brain, so I could function like regular folk.

7) Rumors are flying that Bruno might become a judge on American Idol. Are you an Idol fan? Do you watch any of the other "talent search" shows -- The Voice, America's Got Talent, The X Factor, etc.?

As parents - and bill payers - we decided several years ago to cancel our TV service. Sure, we have plenty of DVDs, Netflix, YouTube and all that, but we didn't want to be slaves to the tube anymore, and I absolutely love that. So in a word, no, no reality television for moi.

8) Bruno is an unapologetic cigarette smoker. Do you smoke? Have you quit? Or did you never start?

Not only no, but hell no. I never started, I've never smoked weed (or done any other illicit drugs), and I'm immensely smug about it to the point of being a huge bitch about it. Y'all know how I feel about it. I rest.

(Shame on you, Bruno. You're going to ruin your voice.)

9) Billy Joel also had a hit with the title "Just the Way You Are." If we were going to do karaoke, which version would you sing -- Billy's or Bruno's?

Oh, man, Crazy Sam! You had to?! Okay, well, I guess I'd choose Bruno Mars' song, since it's much better suited to my voice. Joel's is a classic, and I don't think I could do it justice. Geez.

Good one, Gal! I loved this week's edition. Spanks!

Fin.