Quotes from Jean-Michel Jarre

I was obsessed with the idea that no two sounds on 'Oxygene' should ever be exactly the same. I wanted a heartbeat feel, something human.

I consider music like a mirage in the desert. You're obsessed with the ideal piece of music, and the more you think you're getting closer, it's not there.

I remember, for my fifth birthday, Chet Baker sat me on the upright piano, and he played just for me for a few minutes. I can still remember the pressure of the air on my chest. It was my first physical contact with sound.

In my opinion, British women are more romantic than French ones.

Technology is neutral, but it all depends on the way we use it.

I'm convinced that the earth is much stronger than us.

I leave everyone to have their own opinions of my music and my influence - or not - on others.

For me, electronic music is like cooking: it's a sensual organic activity where you can mix ingredients.

With electronic music, you are not confined to the acoustics of a concert-hall, and that inspired me to bring my performances outdoors.

From the outside, being an artist seems like a dream life, but there are much darker aspects to it.

Electronic musicians are quite like writers or painters. They are quite isolated in their home studios. We often don't have that the opportunity to collaborate with that many people, like in rock or jazz.

I was recently realizing that I've probably spent 80 percent of my life in studios! It's very difficult to do that and still have a private life; it's very difficult to do anything else.

I don't necessarily like anniversaries that much.

I understand more when I travel why people believe that the French are arrogant.

If you get rid of music, images, videos, words and literature from the smartphone, you just have a simple phone that would be worth $50.

I always dreamed, when I started writing music, to find a way of immersing yourself in it.

'Oxygene' was one of the first, if not the first, popular electronic music album.

When I did the first 'Oxygene' in the vinyl days, I had a structure in mind divided in 2 parts fitting the A&B sides of an album.

CDs are not as good as vinyl, and you buy one in the supermarket along with the yoghurt.

I have played a few times in Barcelona, including the fantastic Olympic Stadium. It's undoubtedly one of my favourite cities in terms of the people, arts, food, architecture and design.

Saying that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about freedom of speech because you have nothing to say.