WFUV Pop Quiz: Madeleine Peyroux

Chanteuse and songwriter Madeleine Peyroux joins host John Platt in Studio A and speaks about her love of poetry and her secret talent for portraiture.
Aside from gear, your instruments or your band, I don't go on the road without...
I don't go on the road without a book of poetry. I've been carrying Lorca and another Spanish poet whose name I just forgot.
What song do you wish you had written and why?
It's a long list. Maybe Paul Simon's "Homeward Bound" or "Sound of Silence." Or Randy Newman's "Feels like Home," because it feels like home to me and I think it's the most awesome love song. But there're lots of songs like that out there. Like if I'd written "Blowin' in the Wind," I think I would have retired probably.
Who do you wish had recorded one of your songs (dead or alive)?
One of my favorite voices might be Etta James.
What song would you sing in the shower but never in public?
There's lots of songs like, "I've Gotta Be Me," that I love. Or a lot of the old Cole Porter songs that I don't sing very well, perhaps.
What's the first album you bought?
Honestly, I think "Sunday Bloody Sunday," U2's album.
If finds your iPod and hits shuffle, which song do you hope doesn't come up?
Maybe Peaches, "F--- or Kill."
What's your favorite Dylan song?
It changes. There's a lot of them. "Idiot Wind" is one of them.
What job would you have if you weren't a musician?
I've struggled with that many times before, actually. There were some times when I had to think about that. I tried to be a daycare teacher for a while. But I was actually told that I was overqualified even though I was still in high school, I think because of my life experience or something. I think I'd try to work with children if I could. But it would take some doing to get to the point where I'd actually be good with that. I think you have to study to do that, but I would.
Do you have any hidden talents?
Probably not. They're probably not hidden. I like to do portraits of people--drawing, not usually painting. Usually pastel or pencil.
Any chance of seeing your drawings on any albums?
Maybe. I haven't done that on purpose, so we'll see.
Do you cook?
Not very well. My signature dish is probably macaroni and cheese.
What is the biggest misconception that your fans or the media have about you?
That I'm a big star.
And finally, what wacky thing would you do if you had the time or the guts?
Move to South America.
Any particular place?
I would want to see a lot of it. I'd want to travel. Maybe I'd start with Central America and then go to Cuba. There's a lot of musical roots down there. Or Brazil. I'd definitely go to Buenos Aires for a while. That would take a lot of time. It's probably another life actually.

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