This is the Part 1 of the interview, cause it's very long... I hope toi like it! <3
On October 26, 2001 Michael took part in an online audio chat, answering fans' questions via the telephone through moderator Anthony DeCurtis. The interview was sponsored par GetMusic.com and RollingStone.com and has been archived online at GetMusic.com.
The text transcript of the interview is below.
Anthony: Hello Ladies and Gentleman, this is Anthony DeCurtis. You're on Getmusic.com and we're here tonight for a very special event. The King of Pop, one of the greatest artists in the history of populaire music, Michael Jackson, is going to be joining us. He has a new record coming out on Oct. 30, it's called Invisible [interviewer's error]. toi can check it out at Michaeljackson.com, toi can preorder it at getmusic.com.
Anthony: Michael, it's a pleasure to talk to toi man.
Michael: Pleasure to talk with you.
Anthony: Tell us a little bit about the new album. It's your first new record in 6 years. Uh, do toi still get exited when toi have something come out? Obviously you've accomplished so much over the years. toi know, do toi still feel that, like, "Wow, I wonder what people are gonna think" or, toi know, feel all of that kind of anticipation?
Michael: I kinda parallel it to a, uh, toi know... It's like the gestation process of, uh, birth. toi know, it's a... toi know, it's like having children, and having to raise them and bring them out into the world, and once they get into the world they're on their own. So, it's, it's, very exciting. I mean, toi never get too used to it, ever. It's, uh, an incredible process. But toi leave it in the hands of God, like toi do when you're having a child.
Anthony: Absolutely. We've got questions already beginning to pour in from your fans on the Internet. We've got Electric Eyes, male, écriture in. Says, "Michael, toi are, in my mind, the greatest artist of all time. The true King of pop, rock, and soul." And he wants to know, "What is your favori song on the new album?"
Michael: My favori song on the new album. Can I pick two?
Anthony: Uh, yeah, I think toi can do that. toi can pretty much do whatever toi like.
Michael: Uh, it would probably be Unbreakable... I'll pick three. Unbreakable, Speechless, and The Lost Children.
Anthony: Tell us about a couple of those tracks. toi know, what was it like work... I mean, were there special guests, ou were toi working with new producers, ou how toi wrote them. toi know, something that gives us some flavor.
Michael: Well, the songwriting process is something very difficult to explain because it's very spiritual. It's, uh...You really have it in the hands of God, and it's as if its been written already - that's the real truth. As if its been written in its entirety before were born and you're just really the source through which the songs come. Really. Because there is...they just fall right into your lap in it's entirety. toi don't have to do much thinking about it. And I feel guilty having to put my name, sometimes, on the songs that I - I do write them - I composer them, I write them, I do the scoring, I do the lyrics, I do the melodies but still, it's a...it's a work of God.
Anthony: Samantha from Canada just sent us in a question. She would like to know, "How would toi describe the sound on Invincible and have toi incorporated any other genres into the album?"
Michael: Well, the sound is...sonically, we always try to make sure we have, toi know, pristine, detailed, uh, toi know, the best sound, the best engineers, the best technicians available. And of course, I tried to make the album a potpourri of just wonderful melodies of any style. Because I don't believe in stylizing ou branding any type of music. I think a great artist should be able to just create any style, any form, any...any thing from rock to pop to folk to gospel to spiritual to just, just wonderful musique where every, uh, anybody can sing it, from the Irish farmer to a lady who Scrubs toilets in Harlem. If toi can whistle it and hum it, that's the most important thing.
Anthony: Now, when you're working do toi find, are toi in a mode where toi like to listen to a lot of other music, ou you're listening to the radio and maybe picking up people's CDs. ou when you're working do toi like to just kinda shut it all out and concentrate, toi know, intently on what you're doing?
Michael: I pretty much... I always know what's going on, on the radio and in clubs, that people are listening to. Even though people think I live at Neverland -- mentally I'm in Never Never land all the time -- I'm always connected. I always know what's going on in the musique world, all the time. Not just in America but Internationally. toi know, all over the world. And uh, when I'm working though, I don't... I'm not in... I don't think I'm influenced par a lot of the musique today. Uh, I pretty much create what I think is in my heart. Very original. I try to be as original as possible. I don't say, 'OK, I'm gonna make this a great R&B song, a great pop... I just want to make a great song.
Anthony: Like the song takes it's own form.
Michael: Yeah. Yes.
Anthony: Well, uh, Amber here on the Internet offers toi lots of l’amour and wonders if, um, it was fun for toi to make the rock... the toi Rock My World video.
Michael: Yes, that was a lot of fun. Uh, it was... We stayed up all night, which was very hard [giggling]. We, uh, it was fun hearing it blasted on the set on really good speakers. That's one of my favori things, hearing the musique really loud. 'Cause I like to play musique loud. I mean, it's, uh... If toi play something over the Internet ou small speakers, it doesn't have the same punch. That's why toi have to buy it. toi have to buy that CD to really hear that punch. It makes a huge difference. Huge difference. There's no comparison. Buying the CD is the best thing. There's no comparison. [Interruption from host]... toi can't hear all those sounds if toi do it on a smaller system.
Anthony: And when you're, uh... So when you're out on the video set, uh, you're able to just kinda crank it up as loud as toi want?
Michael: As loud as I want.
Anthony: Very good [laughing]. Well, we have Michael Mathew from Canada. He says, "I just saw Ghosts on MTV. As always, toi are awesome, Michael. Do toi have any plans of releasing it as a DVD in America?"
Michael: Yes, it will be released as a DVD in America in it's entirety, and some of the making of Ghosts. And that was one of my most favori things I've ever done because it's been a dream of mine for a long time to do something like, toi know, scary but comical at the same time, and, uh, it's all the elements, just fun. 'Cause I don't want to scare people to the point where they're afraid to go to sleep. I want it to have a little twist of humor. And within the laugher there is a tear, toi know? It's fun, toi know. These ghosts, they weren't really scary, they were fun. They walked up the ceilings. Little kids were laughing at them. They were fun. toi know, we don't want to horrify them. But we gave this fat man, this Mayor, his justice, for coming into my house, which was private property, judging me. toi know.
Anthony: Absolutely. We have Cloudlee2000 who writes in and wonders, "Why did toi name the album Invincible?"
Michael: Well, invincible is something of... I think it's a proper name. It's one of the cuts on the album and I've been an artist.. uh, not to pat myself on the back but the guinness Book of World Records just listed me, uh, another time, as the artist who's had the longest stretch career 'cause since I was a little, little kid to this point with still hit records from number one records, and uh, I'm so proud and honored that I've been chosen from the Heavens, ou whatever it is, to be Invincible, and to just continue to grow and to be, toi know... serve the people. It serves the people with wonderful entertainment.
Anthony: Now, one of the, toi know, the kind of conventional wisdom in the musique industry is, toi know, audiences don't really have an attention span any more, toi know. If an artist stays away for too long the audience wanders off and goes somewhere else. Was that a concern of yours with coming out with a record and taking a while to work on Invincible ou do you, uh, are toi convinced your fan base is still there and will be as strong as ever?
Michael: I'm, I'm ... No, the answer to your question is that has never concerned me once and I've never thought of it. Because I've always known if musique is truly great ou if a movie is truly great, people want to see it ou hear it. No matter where you, how long you've been away, ou whatever the situation is. toi know, greatness is greatness and if toi really do a great job on what you're doing, people want to hear it. ou they want to see it. toi know, it doesn't matter, It really doesn't. Long as you're an innovator and a pioneer, toi know. And that's the most important thing. Give them what they want to hear.
Anthony: Now Slimslady420US sends in a question and wonders "which song on the Invincible album do toi think toi personally relate to the most?"
Michael: Ummm, Unbreakable.
Anthony: Talk a bit about that track. Now toi mentioned it a couple of times, I'm getting really curious about it. Could you... What could toi tell us about it?
Michael: 'Cause, uh, I' m one of the few people, probably in montrer business, that have been through the ins and outs, toi know, of so many different things. Um, I've been through hell and back. I have, to be honest, and uh, and still I'm able to do what I do and nothing can stop me. No one can stop me, no matter what. I stop when I'm ready to stop. toi know, and uh, I'm just saying, toi know, I will continue to déplacer vers l'avant, vers l’avant no matter what.
Anthony: Now we have Warful writes in, "Are toi working ou planning to do any plus short films for Invincible, specifically for the really fast tracks such as 2000 Watts, Heartbreaker, Unbreakable, and Invincible?"
Michael: Absolutely, and she said... Whoever a dit that a dit the right word when they a dit a dit "short films." And uh, that's what we try to make them, short films: a beginning and middle and a ending of a story. Uh, to take the medium to a new level but absolutely. There's like a an array of, an encyclopedia of just great short films to make from the album. It's very exciting. I can't wait to do Threatened. It's a kind of scary one with Rod Serling from the Twilight Zone. I can't wait to get my hands on that one.
Anthony: We have a question here from Nepolian3, says his name is George really, and it says, "Michael, I think this is your most cohesive and impressive album since Thriller. Or, really, Off The Wall. What are some of your most memorable moments while recording the tracks for this album?"
Michael: Most memorable moments were, it was... of all my albums I would say this one was the toughest. 'Cause I was hardest on myself. Uh, I wrote so many songs, I don't want to say the number, just to get to uh, how many are on there, 16? Just to get to the 16 that I think are acceptable. And, um, it's the album where... I didn't have children before other albums, so I caught a lot of colds; I was sick a lot. Cause my children got [interruption from host]. So we had to stop and start again and stop and start and... constantly. But I enjoyed it very, very much.
Anthony: Now, when toi describe yourself as being tough on yourself during the recording process. How does that, toi know... what is the process that toi go to. If toi think something isn't quite what it ought to be ou maybe toi could do better ou toi know, maybe toi want to déplacer something in a new direction. toi know, what is that like?
Michael: If I truly told you, I don't know if the fans would like me anymore [giggles]. I've had musicians who really get angry with me because I'll make them do something literally several hundred to a thousand times till it's what I want it to be. Um, but then afterwards, they call me back on the phone and they'll apologize and say, "you were absolutely right. I've never played better, I've done better work, I out-did myself," is what they'll say. And I say, "That's the way it should be because you've immortalized yourself. This is here forever. It's a time capsule." It's like Michelangelo's work. toi know, it's like the Sistine Chapel, it's here forever. Everything we do should be that way, toi know?
Anthony: To try to bring it to the best possible standard that it can be.
Michael: Absolutely.
Anthony: Now Sweetpea4286 wonders, "Are there any surprises on the new album?"
Michael: Any surprises? Boy. I think it is what it is, and toi can interpret it the way toi want to interpret it. Um, but uh, that's all I can say about that. Other than some ... we will be releasing some surprise CD singles at some point -- something like that, yeah. In the future, though. That's coming up.
Anthony: Very good. I wanted to ask you, just as... in performing... and recently you've done a couple of shows, toi did a couple at Madison Square Garden and toi did a montrer at RFK stadium, a benefit concert, and toi know, obviously, toi know, you.... live performance has been one of the things that has distinguished toi throughout your career. You've been offstage for a while. I wonder if toi could talk a little bit about what it was like to be out there again in front of an audience and, toi know, getting that opportunity to perform again.
Michael: It was, um, it's hard to explain. It was quite exciting, to feel the audience and to see them and to be accepted so warmly par them. Um, it's just an incredible feeling. It really is. They're there to support toi and to l’amour toi and to hear their favori songs and you're just standing there and they're just giving toi so much adulation and l’amour and the sprit is just full of love, it's wonderful. It's very emotional. It, uh, brings me to tears. It's wonderful.
Anthony: I remember in your book toi describe that like sometime on stage is when toi feel the most alive, that those are the moments that, toi know, really are the whole -- kind of the most transporting for you.
Michael: It is. It's being offstage that's difficult for me. Uh, being on stage ... either écriture musique ou écriture poetry, and being on stage, and watching dessins animés are my favori things to do in the entire world. Um, that's what brings me to life. I l’amour that. That's what inspires me to do what I do, toi know?
Anthony: Excellent. We have a question from someone calling themself The best dancer in the world. Well, we've got toi on the line, I'm not sure that uh, we might have to contest that a little bit. But anyway, the best dancer in the world wants to know, "Michaeljackson.com a dit that Jay Z will appear with toi on the new album. Is that true?"
Michael: No, but we are talking about doing something in the future together.
Anthony: Is Jay Z an artist who's worked you've liked, is ah.. as a person, have toi spent time with him? What's your impression of him?
Michael: I think he's excellent. He has incredible rhythms, counter-rhythms. And he's just one of the newer contemporary artists that the kids really love. He's really, really great.
Anthony: We have a question here from Sweden. Tony from Sweden writes in and says, "Hi Michael. You're the most amazing artist of all time. I just l’amour your music. Do toi want to tour, and will toi do a world tour ou a European tour?"
Michael: Um, gee, we haven't thought about it much right now, but uh, I don't want to say it's not in the works. Um, we're concentrating on a lot of different things right now. But I can't quite say.
Anthony: Fine. I wanted to ask...
Michael: toi know what, in the near future I'm sure there'll be something that'll come up. In the near future.
Anthony: People should, ah, keep their eyes open for announcements on that front. We have a question from Noria, describes him ou herself as a 32 an old Spanish fan, écriture from Los Angeles, would like to know if toi have any plans to release any of your songs in Invincible in Spanish ou any other language besides English.
Michael: Uh, as of now we haven't but that would be a great thing to do. We haven't written that off. We think it's a big market, so that's a great possibility.
Anthony: Especially for someone like your self who has a big International following -- toi know, for many people, their following is in England ou in the US, but your following is very International obviously.
Michael: Thank you.
Anthony: Um, talk a bit... One of the things that was of kind of a little bit of a sensation this an was Alien Ant Farm's cover of Smooth Criminal. I wanted to see if you'd paid attention it, if you... Do toi enjoy it, ou how toi felt about it.
Michael: I saw it and fell in l’amour with it. I loved it. I said, I just gotta have this come out. So, they wanted my permission; I saw it and I approved it and gave it a triple A, and a dit "go right ahead."
Anthony: Fantastic. It must be interesting, as a songwriter, to have other people do your songs and come up with another interpretation. What is that like?
Michael: It's a great compliment. It's a wonderful compliment. It makes toi feel worthy and that your musique is reaching all the different generations. toi know, and all the different, uh... I mean, everybody's out there listening and that makes me very happy.
Anthony: Now we have a question from Canada. Gary, who is 19, writes in, "What other artists did toi collaborate with on Invincible?"
Michael: What other artists did I collaborate with on Invincible...
Anthony: Do toi have any special guests.
Michael: Umm, oh yeah, Carlos Santana. He and I have done, like, a duet. He plays the guitare and I sing and it's something that, uh, we've written. And it's really, really a nice song.
Anthony: Now had toi known him from over time ou did toi meet him recently?
Michael: I've met him before, but we've been talking a lot on the phone recently. After winning his Grammy award he a dit to the press that he would like to meet me and he's ready to work with me. So everybody's been telling me that, and uh, I called him up and he a dit he really would, it would be his dream come true. And he was the nicest man. He's so kind and so spiritual. I found him to be so humble, so I a dit to myself, "We have to make this work."
Anthony: And so toi wrote a song together?
Michael: Well, there's a song that myself and two other people wrote and he was a part of it, and uh, Whatever Happens.
Anthony: Ok.. We have a question from Anicia. Says, "Michael are toi a fan of Chris Tucker." Describes him being in your récent video.
Michael: I am a huge, huge fan Chris Tucker. He makes me laugh so hard. um, I uh, I've seen all of his films, and he's just a funny guy. I like people who can make toi laugh without using vulgarity, ou bad words. For the kids, they're for all different demographics, all the corners of the earth and he's just a funny guy.
Anthony: We have another question from Canada. Tony, who's 17 from Canada, writes and wonders, "How long does it take toi to produce a song from the initial conception to the final recording?"
Michael: Well....
Anthony: [laughing] I guess it probably varies from...
Michael: Yeah, it does vary. And for me it's really different than most artists because I'll do a couple of songs, they'll be 5, 6, 7 ou 8 ou 10 of them; I'll throw them all away and start over. So, that's a difficult question to ask me.
Anthony: I wonder if... is there a specific song on the album -- say Invincible -- toi know, how long... when... Do toi remember getting the first inspiration for that song and then maybe the jour when toi finally said, "This is it, I've got it exactly the way I want it?"
Michael: On Invincible itself?
Anthony: umhum.
Michael: Ummm, yes. Yes. I remember having the guys go back in and create plus innovative... 'Cause we don't... um, this is our thing, we don't, uh, a lot of sounds on the album that aren't sounds from keyboards, uh, that are, toi know, pretty much programmed into the machines. We go out and make our own sounds. We hit on things, we beat on things, so nobody can duplicate what we do. We make them with our own hands, we find things and we create things. And uh, that's the most important thing, to be a pioneer. To be an innovator.
Anthony: Absoluteluy. Now we have Vernay who writes to us from Newark, Delaware, the good ole USA, and Vernay says, "I'm so pleased with the new album but I was particularly touched par Speechless. What was your inspiration for this song?"
Michael: Speechless was inspired to me by, um, I spend a lot of time in the forest. I like to go into the forest and I like to climb trees. My favori thing is to climb trees, go all the way up to the haut, retour au début of a arbre and I look down on the branches. Whenever I do that it inspires me for music. There are these two sweet little kids, a girl and a boy, and they're so innocent; they're the quintessential form of innocence, and just being in their presence I felt completely speechless, 'cause I felt I was looking in the face of God whenever I saw them. They inspired me to write Speechless.
Anthony: Well, that answer actually might touch on this suivant question which we have, which wonders, "Where do toi look for inspiration when toi write your songs. Does inspiration come from a variety of different places?
Michael: Well, the best songs that are written write themselves. toi don't ask for them, they just drop into your lap. Then there are those songs that, toi know, toi kind of uh, incubate. toi know, toi plant the seed, let the subconscious take its course, and within time toi hope something comes, and most the time it does. I don't believe in the concept of writer's block -- that is a bad word. toi create it when toi say it. There's no such thing. Um, like any painter ou sculptor, they paint... they do their best work when they're in the 60s and their 70s. Fred Astaire did his best dancing when he was in his 70s. Angelo [Michelangelo] sculpted late into his 60s and 70s, doing brilliant ingenious work. But in the musique business some of these great artists have become stumped because they self-abuse themselves at a young age, with all these crazy things they drink and pills and things, and uh, that's just not good -- just not a good thing. I hate to say that to hurt anybody, but we should take care of our bodies a little more.
Anthony: Naw, I think a lot of people have realized they've damaged themselves. toi know, many people have talked about it in récent years, toi know.
Michael: Yeah.
Anthony: We have a question from Allen here who asks if toi think that Rodney Jerkins and toi have created a new sound for 2001.
Michael: For the song 2000 Watts?
Anthony: He says, "Do toi feel that toi and Rodney Jerkins, of course the producer, have created a new sound for 2001?"
Michael: 2001? Anthony: Yes
Michael: Oh. Um, that would be a nice thought, yes.
Anthony: What was it like working with him. How did toi guys meet and, toi know, how did your collaboration go?
Michael: He was this guy who went around Hollywood and around the industry saying his dream was to work with me to everybody. Then at Carol Bayer Sager's house, who's this great song writer; won several academy awards for her songwriting, said, "There's a guy I used to work with. His name is Rodney Jerkins, he's been crying to me begging to meet you. I mean, why don't toi pick up the phone and say 'hi' to him." And he came over that jour and he said, "Please, my dream is to work with you. Will toi give me two weeks and I'll see what I can come up with." And uh, we ended up working together.
Anthony: And what were your impressions of him, like as just somebody... What did he bring; what did toi feel that his contribution was?
Michael: His contribution was he loves to create in the same kind of way that I like to create. But I pushed Rodney. And pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed him to create... uh, to innovate more. To pioneer more. He's a real musician. He's a real musician and he's very dedicated and he's real loyal. He has perseverance. I don't think I've seen perseverance like his in anyone. Because toi can push him and push him and he doesn't get angry. Yeah, I think he's a great guy, he really is.
Anthony: That is a great compliment.
Michael: And um, and Teddy Riely is just incredible. He's innovative too. I l’amour working with him.
Anthony: And toi had worked with him in the past, of course.
Michael: Yeah, he's one of my favorite... as a human being, he's one of my favori people in the world. He's just a really sweet, kind guy. toi know. And Rodney's very funny. toi laugh all jour when you're with him. He turns his musique up in the studio and he starts dancing around the room. He's fun.
Anthony: We'd like to remind everyone, you're on Getmusic. We're here talking with Michael Jackson, whose new album Invincible is out on Oct. 30th. toi can check it out at Michaeljackson.com. toi can preorder it on Getmusic.
Now we have a question from ItsJackson who is really named Rachel from Connecticut, wonders "Do toi have any new dance moves that you've invented while toi were making your album?"
Michael: For the first time working on any album, I put a halt to dancing. Because I was just so engrossed and so infatuated with what I was doing um, I did something that was very unusual. But once the musique started playing, of course, I started to dance. But um, uh, it's starting to now create itself and, uh, with the musique playing I'm coming up with some new things. But that's coming in the future with the newer short films. They'll be seeing... they'll be seeing all kinds of innovative things and movements that have never been seen before. We'll go places where we've never gone in dance before. Cause all the hiphop things that are happening now are beginning to look like aerobics, it's kinda getting annoying.
Anthony: [laughs] We have a question from Simon who, toi know, you've obviously mentioned toi know, all the people who have wanted to work with you. He wonders, "Michael who wold toi l’amour to do a duet with, past ou present?"
Michael: Uh, if it's past, it'd be somebody like, uh, I would say Sarah Vaughn [*] ou Nat King Cole. Present, I think, uh, Whitney Houston is brilliant and Barbara Striesand has a beautiful voice. toi know, those kinds of artists, they're just wonderful.
Anthony: What's your impression of some of the artists who've come on the scene just in récent years, toi know, people like Britney Speares and Christina Aguilara. toi know, young pop stars who are obviously hugely popular. toi know, obviously, Britney participated in your montrer at the Garden, toi know, what was your sense about her?
Michael: I think they're a new breed that are coming out. They're doing a very good job. And what impressed me plus about any of these artists, like Speares and Christina, they're so determined. I've heard about the way they work. They'll work on a dance step, I mean, like, for months, and, uh.. to get it right, toi know. Uh, they're just so determined. And I've met... I've met Britney several times and she was very sweet and humble. She came to my room. We quietly talked for couple hours, and she was just, uh, like a Barbie doll. She was very sweet, she was very kind.
Anthony: I imagine that someone like toi would be a kind of interesting and important resource for her, toi know. As someone who was a étoile, star when toi were so young, and then when... I don't think people necessarily understand what a kind of strange reality that is, toi know, within all the acclaim and the fame and the excitement, toi know, to be a kid and have all that attention focused on toi must be kind of scary also. Did toi find it that way, uh, in your own experience?
Michael: Yeah, because where ever I go, um, I disguise myself, now -- but now I can't with, 'cause, toi know, with what's going on in the world -- so I don't wear a disguise. And uh, people they just go... They really go crazy. They're very happy to see you. They feel as if they know you. toi have to respond back to them like toi know them. They feel they personally know you. My picture's on their walls, toi know, my musique is playing in their house, so they grab toi and they hug toi and they touch toi and they... So I usually respond back with hugs and loves and kisses. Cause I love... I love... I truly l’amour my fans. Truly, truly from the heart. That's the real truth. I l’amour them. And the ones who are, um.... Like when we go to a certain country and they're outside, and outside they're sleeping on the rue and I throw them pillows and cover and everything. And I have my security guards buy them pizza so they can all eat, and get the candles and, toi know, we really take care of them. They're very, very, very sweet and supportive.
Anthony: Sam who is 20 years old and from Texas here in the US wonders, "Will toi release papillons as a single? That's one of your best songs."
Michael: papillons is, uh, is a single that's released now. It's a single now. Tell him thank toi very much.
Anthony: Great. What other plans do toi have, toi know, when you... As somebody who's been a kind of innovator in terms of making short films to accompany your songs, do toi conceptualize all that ahead of time or, toi know, do toi decide, on a kinda step par step basis, toi know, this is gonna be the suivant single and I want to make a, toi know, a kind of visual statement to accompany it. toi know, how does that all proceed?
Michael: All right, the short film itself?
Anthony: Yeah.
Michael: Well, I let the song pretty much speak to me and I get in a room and I pretty much start making notes... toi know, I'll speak to a writer -- like Stephen King and myself, both of us wrote Ghosts, the short film Ghosts, and we just on the telephone started écriture it and let it create itself and go where it wants to go. But we try to do things that are very unusual. And it's... it's not an easy thing to do because toi have to time it with the song, and toi can't spend too much time, and the special effects can take 5 months sometimes to execute. So, it's just .. .it's kinda difficult thing and the record company's saying, "Come on, come on, come on, we have to go, we have to go." So, I understand. So we try to do the best we can in the amount of time that we can execute it in.
Anthony: We have a question now, uh, Helen from Scotland says, "If toi could only perform one of your songs for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?"
Michael: Ooh, it would probably be... if I could pick plus than one, up to two ou three?
Anthony: yeah, I think we can go that far.
Michael: Heal The World, Speechless, um, and that's a difficult one... I think, uh.. huh... ummm, toi Are My Life.
Anthony: So, toi went for the ones that are the... the kind of, uh, the biggest statements, in a way, it seems to me.
Michael: Yeah, because, uh, the point is that they're very melodic and if they have a great important message that's kinda immortal, that can relate to any time and space, toi know.
Anthony: One of the things, actually, I wanted to ask toi is, toi know, we've had these, toi know, horrible terrorist attacks here in New York City and in Washington, DC. What is the role that toi feel, toi know, artists can play in the wake of something like that. toi know, I mean, toi did that benefits montrer in Washington. toi know, is there... In musique and in... toi know, can artists do something to help people get through what for many of us has been a very difficult time?
Michael: Yeah, toi give of yourself. toi give of your talent, of your ability... The talent that was donné toi par the Heavens. That's why we're here, to bring a sense of escapism in time of need. And, uh, if you're a painter toi paint; if you're a sculptor, toi sculpt; if you're a writer, toi write; if you're a songwriter, toi give songs; if you're a dancer, toi give dance. toi give people some l’amour and some... some bliss and some escapism, and to montrer that toi truly care from the heart, and be there for them. Not just from a distance, but montrer toi really care. toi know, take the long mile and be there for them. And that's what I did, and many others who cared and helped. And it's an important thing.
Anthony: We have a question now from Chili Boy who wonders, "I've always wanted to know, how do toi come up with a dance move, and how long does it take for toi to put the choreography for a song together?"
Michael: I pretty much just get in a room and I start to dance, and uh, I don't create the dance, the dance creates itself, really. toi know, I'll do something and I'll look back... I'll look back on tape and I'll go, "Wow," I didn't realize I had done that. It came out of the drums. toi become.... Dancing is about interpretation. toi become.... toi become the accompaniment of the music. So when toi become the basse, bass of Billie Jean, I couldn't help but do the step that I was doing when the song first starts, because, uh, that's what it told me to do. toi know, if I turn around, spin, stop, déplacer my legs to the side and then lift up the collier of my shirt, that's for that moment is an accompaniment.
Anthony: I remember watching that moment on télévision and just leaping out of my chair. It's so extraordinary.
Michael: Thank toi very much.
Anthony: That was really one of the great, great moments.
Michael: It's all spontaneous movement. Nothing in that piece was, on, uh, Billie Jean, was planned but the Moonwalk. Everything else was just, toi know, improvising, really.
On October 26, 2001 Michael took part in an online audio chat, answering fans' questions via the telephone through moderator Anthony DeCurtis. The interview was sponsored par GetMusic.com and RollingStone.com and has been archived online at GetMusic.com.
The text transcript of the interview is below.
Anthony: Hello Ladies and Gentleman, this is Anthony DeCurtis. You're on Getmusic.com and we're here tonight for a very special event. The King of Pop, one of the greatest artists in the history of populaire music, Michael Jackson, is going to be joining us. He has a new record coming out on Oct. 30, it's called Invisible [interviewer's error]. toi can check it out at Michaeljackson.com, toi can preorder it at getmusic.com.
Anthony: Michael, it's a pleasure to talk to toi man.
Michael: Pleasure to talk with you.
Anthony: Tell us a little bit about the new album. It's your first new record in 6 years. Uh, do toi still get exited when toi have something come out? Obviously you've accomplished so much over the years. toi know, do toi still feel that, like, "Wow, I wonder what people are gonna think" or, toi know, feel all of that kind of anticipation?
Michael: I kinda parallel it to a, uh, toi know... It's like the gestation process of, uh, birth. toi know, it's a... toi know, it's like having children, and having to raise them and bring them out into the world, and once they get into the world they're on their own. So, it's, it's, very exciting. I mean, toi never get too used to it, ever. It's, uh, an incredible process. But toi leave it in the hands of God, like toi do when you're having a child.
Anthony: Absolutely. We've got questions already beginning to pour in from your fans on the Internet. We've got Electric Eyes, male, écriture in. Says, "Michael, toi are, in my mind, the greatest artist of all time. The true King of pop, rock, and soul." And he wants to know, "What is your favori song on the new album?"
Michael: My favori song on the new album. Can I pick two?
Anthony: Uh, yeah, I think toi can do that. toi can pretty much do whatever toi like.
Michael: Uh, it would probably be Unbreakable... I'll pick three. Unbreakable, Speechless, and The Lost Children.
Anthony: Tell us about a couple of those tracks. toi know, what was it like work... I mean, were there special guests, ou were toi working with new producers, ou how toi wrote them. toi know, something that gives us some flavor.
Michael: Well, the songwriting process is something very difficult to explain because it's very spiritual. It's, uh...You really have it in the hands of God, and it's as if its been written already - that's the real truth. As if its been written in its entirety before were born and you're just really the source through which the songs come. Really. Because there is...they just fall right into your lap in it's entirety. toi don't have to do much thinking about it. And I feel guilty having to put my name, sometimes, on the songs that I - I do write them - I composer them, I write them, I do the scoring, I do the lyrics, I do the melodies but still, it's a...it's a work of God.
Anthony: Samantha from Canada just sent us in a question. She would like to know, "How would toi describe the sound on Invincible and have toi incorporated any other genres into the album?"
Michael: Well, the sound is...sonically, we always try to make sure we have, toi know, pristine, detailed, uh, toi know, the best sound, the best engineers, the best technicians available. And of course, I tried to make the album a potpourri of just wonderful melodies of any style. Because I don't believe in stylizing ou branding any type of music. I think a great artist should be able to just create any style, any form, any...any thing from rock to pop to folk to gospel to spiritual to just, just wonderful musique where every, uh, anybody can sing it, from the Irish farmer to a lady who Scrubs toilets in Harlem. If toi can whistle it and hum it, that's the most important thing.
Anthony: Now, when you're working do toi find, are toi in a mode where toi like to listen to a lot of other music, ou you're listening to the radio and maybe picking up people's CDs. ou when you're working do toi like to just kinda shut it all out and concentrate, toi know, intently on what you're doing?
Michael: I pretty much... I always know what's going on, on the radio and in clubs, that people are listening to. Even though people think I live at Neverland -- mentally I'm in Never Never land all the time -- I'm always connected. I always know what's going on in the musique world, all the time. Not just in America but Internationally. toi know, all over the world. And uh, when I'm working though, I don't... I'm not in... I don't think I'm influenced par a lot of the musique today. Uh, I pretty much create what I think is in my heart. Very original. I try to be as original as possible. I don't say, 'OK, I'm gonna make this a great R&B song, a great pop... I just want to make a great song.
Anthony: Like the song takes it's own form.
Michael: Yeah. Yes.
Anthony: Well, uh, Amber here on the Internet offers toi lots of l’amour and wonders if, um, it was fun for toi to make the rock... the toi Rock My World video.
Michael: Yes, that was a lot of fun. Uh, it was... We stayed up all night, which was very hard [giggling]. We, uh, it was fun hearing it blasted on the set on really good speakers. That's one of my favori things, hearing the musique really loud. 'Cause I like to play musique loud. I mean, it's, uh... If toi play something over the Internet ou small speakers, it doesn't have the same punch. That's why toi have to buy it. toi have to buy that CD to really hear that punch. It makes a huge difference. Huge difference. There's no comparison. Buying the CD is the best thing. There's no comparison. [Interruption from host]... toi can't hear all those sounds if toi do it on a smaller system.
Anthony: And when you're, uh... So when you're out on the video set, uh, you're able to just kinda crank it up as loud as toi want?
Michael: As loud as I want.
Anthony: Very good [laughing]. Well, we have Michael Mathew from Canada. He says, "I just saw Ghosts on MTV. As always, toi are awesome, Michael. Do toi have any plans of releasing it as a DVD in America?"
Michael: Yes, it will be released as a DVD in America in it's entirety, and some of the making of Ghosts. And that was one of my most favori things I've ever done because it's been a dream of mine for a long time to do something like, toi know, scary but comical at the same time, and, uh, it's all the elements, just fun. 'Cause I don't want to scare people to the point where they're afraid to go to sleep. I want it to have a little twist of humor. And within the laugher there is a tear, toi know? It's fun, toi know. These ghosts, they weren't really scary, they were fun. They walked up the ceilings. Little kids were laughing at them. They were fun. toi know, we don't want to horrify them. But we gave this fat man, this Mayor, his justice, for coming into my house, which was private property, judging me. toi know.
Anthony: Absolutely. We have Cloudlee2000 who writes in and wonders, "Why did toi name the album Invincible?"
Michael: Well, invincible is something of... I think it's a proper name. It's one of the cuts on the album and I've been an artist.. uh, not to pat myself on the back but the guinness Book of World Records just listed me, uh, another time, as the artist who's had the longest stretch career 'cause since I was a little, little kid to this point with still hit records from number one records, and uh, I'm so proud and honored that I've been chosen from the Heavens, ou whatever it is, to be Invincible, and to just continue to grow and to be, toi know... serve the people. It serves the people with wonderful entertainment.
Anthony: Now, one of the, toi know, the kind of conventional wisdom in the musique industry is, toi know, audiences don't really have an attention span any more, toi know. If an artist stays away for too long the audience wanders off and goes somewhere else. Was that a concern of yours with coming out with a record and taking a while to work on Invincible ou do you, uh, are toi convinced your fan base is still there and will be as strong as ever?
Michael: I'm, I'm ... No, the answer to your question is that has never concerned me once and I've never thought of it. Because I've always known if musique is truly great ou if a movie is truly great, people want to see it ou hear it. No matter where you, how long you've been away, ou whatever the situation is. toi know, greatness is greatness and if toi really do a great job on what you're doing, people want to hear it. ou they want to see it. toi know, it doesn't matter, It really doesn't. Long as you're an innovator and a pioneer, toi know. And that's the most important thing. Give them what they want to hear.
Anthony: Now Slimslady420US sends in a question and wonders "which song on the Invincible album do toi think toi personally relate to the most?"
Michael: Ummm, Unbreakable.
Anthony: Talk a bit about that track. Now toi mentioned it a couple of times, I'm getting really curious about it. Could you... What could toi tell us about it?
Michael: 'Cause, uh, I' m one of the few people, probably in montrer business, that have been through the ins and outs, toi know, of so many different things. Um, I've been through hell and back. I have, to be honest, and uh, and still I'm able to do what I do and nothing can stop me. No one can stop me, no matter what. I stop when I'm ready to stop. toi know, and uh, I'm just saying, toi know, I will continue to déplacer vers l'avant, vers l’avant no matter what.
Anthony: Now we have Warful writes in, "Are toi working ou planning to do any plus short films for Invincible, specifically for the really fast tracks such as 2000 Watts, Heartbreaker, Unbreakable, and Invincible?"
Michael: Absolutely, and she said... Whoever a dit that a dit the right word when they a dit a dit "short films." And uh, that's what we try to make them, short films: a beginning and middle and a ending of a story. Uh, to take the medium to a new level but absolutely. There's like a an array of, an encyclopedia of just great short films to make from the album. It's very exciting. I can't wait to do Threatened. It's a kind of scary one with Rod Serling from the Twilight Zone. I can't wait to get my hands on that one.
Anthony: We have a question here from Nepolian3, says his name is George really, and it says, "Michael, I think this is your most cohesive and impressive album since Thriller. Or, really, Off The Wall. What are some of your most memorable moments while recording the tracks for this album?"
Michael: Most memorable moments were, it was... of all my albums I would say this one was the toughest. 'Cause I was hardest on myself. Uh, I wrote so many songs, I don't want to say the number, just to get to uh, how many are on there, 16? Just to get to the 16 that I think are acceptable. And, um, it's the album where... I didn't have children before other albums, so I caught a lot of colds; I was sick a lot. Cause my children got [interruption from host]. So we had to stop and start again and stop and start and... constantly. But I enjoyed it very, very much.
Anthony: Now, when toi describe yourself as being tough on yourself during the recording process. How does that, toi know... what is the process that toi go to. If toi think something isn't quite what it ought to be ou maybe toi could do better ou toi know, maybe toi want to déplacer something in a new direction. toi know, what is that like?
Michael: If I truly told you, I don't know if the fans would like me anymore [giggles]. I've had musicians who really get angry with me because I'll make them do something literally several hundred to a thousand times till it's what I want it to be. Um, but then afterwards, they call me back on the phone and they'll apologize and say, "you were absolutely right. I've never played better, I've done better work, I out-did myself," is what they'll say. And I say, "That's the way it should be because you've immortalized yourself. This is here forever. It's a time capsule." It's like Michelangelo's work. toi know, it's like the Sistine Chapel, it's here forever. Everything we do should be that way, toi know?
Anthony: To try to bring it to the best possible standard that it can be.
Michael: Absolutely.
Anthony: Now Sweetpea4286 wonders, "Are there any surprises on the new album?"
Michael: Any surprises? Boy. I think it is what it is, and toi can interpret it the way toi want to interpret it. Um, but uh, that's all I can say about that. Other than some ... we will be releasing some surprise CD singles at some point -- something like that, yeah. In the future, though. That's coming up.
Anthony: Very good. I wanted to ask you, just as... in performing... and recently you've done a couple of shows, toi did a couple at Madison Square Garden and toi did a montrer at RFK stadium, a benefit concert, and toi know, obviously, toi know, you.... live performance has been one of the things that has distinguished toi throughout your career. You've been offstage for a while. I wonder if toi could talk a little bit about what it was like to be out there again in front of an audience and, toi know, getting that opportunity to perform again.
Michael: It was, um, it's hard to explain. It was quite exciting, to feel the audience and to see them and to be accepted so warmly par them. Um, it's just an incredible feeling. It really is. They're there to support toi and to l’amour toi and to hear their favori songs and you're just standing there and they're just giving toi so much adulation and l’amour and the sprit is just full of love, it's wonderful. It's very emotional. It, uh, brings me to tears. It's wonderful.
Anthony: I remember in your book toi describe that like sometime on stage is when toi feel the most alive, that those are the moments that, toi know, really are the whole -- kind of the most transporting for you.
Michael: It is. It's being offstage that's difficult for me. Uh, being on stage ... either écriture musique ou écriture poetry, and being on stage, and watching dessins animés are my favori things to do in the entire world. Um, that's what brings me to life. I l’amour that. That's what inspires me to do what I do, toi know?
Anthony: Excellent. We have a question from someone calling themself The best dancer in the world. Well, we've got toi on the line, I'm not sure that uh, we might have to contest that a little bit. But anyway, the best dancer in the world wants to know, "Michaeljackson.com a dit that Jay Z will appear with toi on the new album. Is that true?"
Michael: No, but we are talking about doing something in the future together.
Anthony: Is Jay Z an artist who's worked you've liked, is ah.. as a person, have toi spent time with him? What's your impression of him?
Michael: I think he's excellent. He has incredible rhythms, counter-rhythms. And he's just one of the newer contemporary artists that the kids really love. He's really, really great.
Anthony: We have a question here from Sweden. Tony from Sweden writes in and says, "Hi Michael. You're the most amazing artist of all time. I just l’amour your music. Do toi want to tour, and will toi do a world tour ou a European tour?"
Michael: Um, gee, we haven't thought about it much right now, but uh, I don't want to say it's not in the works. Um, we're concentrating on a lot of different things right now. But I can't quite say.
Anthony: Fine. I wanted to ask...
Michael: toi know what, in the near future I'm sure there'll be something that'll come up. In the near future.
Anthony: People should, ah, keep their eyes open for announcements on that front. We have a question from Noria, describes him ou herself as a 32 an old Spanish fan, écriture from Los Angeles, would like to know if toi have any plans to release any of your songs in Invincible in Spanish ou any other language besides English.
Michael: Uh, as of now we haven't but that would be a great thing to do. We haven't written that off. We think it's a big market, so that's a great possibility.
Anthony: Especially for someone like your self who has a big International following -- toi know, for many people, their following is in England ou in the US, but your following is very International obviously.
Michael: Thank you.
Anthony: Um, talk a bit... One of the things that was of kind of a little bit of a sensation this an was Alien Ant Farm's cover of Smooth Criminal. I wanted to see if you'd paid attention it, if you... Do toi enjoy it, ou how toi felt about it.
Michael: I saw it and fell in l’amour with it. I loved it. I said, I just gotta have this come out. So, they wanted my permission; I saw it and I approved it and gave it a triple A, and a dit "go right ahead."
Anthony: Fantastic. It must be interesting, as a songwriter, to have other people do your songs and come up with another interpretation. What is that like?
Michael: It's a great compliment. It's a wonderful compliment. It makes toi feel worthy and that your musique is reaching all the different generations. toi know, and all the different, uh... I mean, everybody's out there listening and that makes me very happy.
Anthony: Now we have a question from Canada. Gary, who is 19, writes in, "What other artists did toi collaborate with on Invincible?"
Michael: What other artists did I collaborate with on Invincible...
Anthony: Do toi have any special guests.
Michael: Umm, oh yeah, Carlos Santana. He and I have done, like, a duet. He plays the guitare and I sing and it's something that, uh, we've written. And it's really, really a nice song.
Anthony: Now had toi known him from over time ou did toi meet him recently?
Michael: I've met him before, but we've been talking a lot on the phone recently. After winning his Grammy award he a dit to the press that he would like to meet me and he's ready to work with me. So everybody's been telling me that, and uh, I called him up and he a dit he really would, it would be his dream come true. And he was the nicest man. He's so kind and so spiritual. I found him to be so humble, so I a dit to myself, "We have to make this work."
Anthony: And so toi wrote a song together?
Michael: Well, there's a song that myself and two other people wrote and he was a part of it, and uh, Whatever Happens.
Anthony: Ok.. We have a question from Anicia. Says, "Michael are toi a fan of Chris Tucker." Describes him being in your récent video.
Michael: I am a huge, huge fan Chris Tucker. He makes me laugh so hard. um, I uh, I've seen all of his films, and he's just a funny guy. I like people who can make toi laugh without using vulgarity, ou bad words. For the kids, they're for all different demographics, all the corners of the earth and he's just a funny guy.
Anthony: We have another question from Canada. Tony, who's 17 from Canada, writes and wonders, "How long does it take toi to produce a song from the initial conception to the final recording?"
Michael: Well....
Anthony: [laughing] I guess it probably varies from...
Michael: Yeah, it does vary. And for me it's really different than most artists because I'll do a couple of songs, they'll be 5, 6, 7 ou 8 ou 10 of them; I'll throw them all away and start over. So, that's a difficult question to ask me.
Anthony: I wonder if... is there a specific song on the album -- say Invincible -- toi know, how long... when... Do toi remember getting the first inspiration for that song and then maybe the jour when toi finally said, "This is it, I've got it exactly the way I want it?"
Michael: On Invincible itself?
Anthony: umhum.
Michael: Ummm, yes. Yes. I remember having the guys go back in and create plus innovative... 'Cause we don't... um, this is our thing, we don't, uh, a lot of sounds on the album that aren't sounds from keyboards, uh, that are, toi know, pretty much programmed into the machines. We go out and make our own sounds. We hit on things, we beat on things, so nobody can duplicate what we do. We make them with our own hands, we find things and we create things. And uh, that's the most important thing, to be a pioneer. To be an innovator.
Anthony: Absoluteluy. Now we have Vernay who writes to us from Newark, Delaware, the good ole USA, and Vernay says, "I'm so pleased with the new album but I was particularly touched par Speechless. What was your inspiration for this song?"
Michael: Speechless was inspired to me by, um, I spend a lot of time in the forest. I like to go into the forest and I like to climb trees. My favori thing is to climb trees, go all the way up to the haut, retour au début of a arbre and I look down on the branches. Whenever I do that it inspires me for music. There are these two sweet little kids, a girl and a boy, and they're so innocent; they're the quintessential form of innocence, and just being in their presence I felt completely speechless, 'cause I felt I was looking in the face of God whenever I saw them. They inspired me to write Speechless.
Anthony: Well, that answer actually might touch on this suivant question which we have, which wonders, "Where do toi look for inspiration when toi write your songs. Does inspiration come from a variety of different places?
Michael: Well, the best songs that are written write themselves. toi don't ask for them, they just drop into your lap. Then there are those songs that, toi know, toi kind of uh, incubate. toi know, toi plant the seed, let the subconscious take its course, and within time toi hope something comes, and most the time it does. I don't believe in the concept of writer's block -- that is a bad word. toi create it when toi say it. There's no such thing. Um, like any painter ou sculptor, they paint... they do their best work when they're in the 60s and their 70s. Fred Astaire did his best dancing when he was in his 70s. Angelo [Michelangelo] sculpted late into his 60s and 70s, doing brilliant ingenious work. But in the musique business some of these great artists have become stumped because they self-abuse themselves at a young age, with all these crazy things they drink and pills and things, and uh, that's just not good -- just not a good thing. I hate to say that to hurt anybody, but we should take care of our bodies a little more.
Anthony: Naw, I think a lot of people have realized they've damaged themselves. toi know, many people have talked about it in récent years, toi know.
Michael: Yeah.
Anthony: We have a question from Allen here who asks if toi think that Rodney Jerkins and toi have created a new sound for 2001.
Michael: For the song 2000 Watts?
Anthony: He says, "Do toi feel that toi and Rodney Jerkins, of course the producer, have created a new sound for 2001?"
Michael: 2001? Anthony: Yes
Michael: Oh. Um, that would be a nice thought, yes.
Anthony: What was it like working with him. How did toi guys meet and, toi know, how did your collaboration go?
Michael: He was this guy who went around Hollywood and around the industry saying his dream was to work with me to everybody. Then at Carol Bayer Sager's house, who's this great song writer; won several academy awards for her songwriting, said, "There's a guy I used to work with. His name is Rodney Jerkins, he's been crying to me begging to meet you. I mean, why don't toi pick up the phone and say 'hi' to him." And he came over that jour and he said, "Please, my dream is to work with you. Will toi give me two weeks and I'll see what I can come up with." And uh, we ended up working together.
Anthony: And what were your impressions of him, like as just somebody... What did he bring; what did toi feel that his contribution was?
Michael: His contribution was he loves to create in the same kind of way that I like to create. But I pushed Rodney. And pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed him to create... uh, to innovate more. To pioneer more. He's a real musician. He's a real musician and he's very dedicated and he's real loyal. He has perseverance. I don't think I've seen perseverance like his in anyone. Because toi can push him and push him and he doesn't get angry. Yeah, I think he's a great guy, he really is.
Anthony: That is a great compliment.
Michael: And um, and Teddy Riely is just incredible. He's innovative too. I l’amour working with him.
Anthony: And toi had worked with him in the past, of course.
Michael: Yeah, he's one of my favorite... as a human being, he's one of my favori people in the world. He's just a really sweet, kind guy. toi know. And Rodney's very funny. toi laugh all jour when you're with him. He turns his musique up in the studio and he starts dancing around the room. He's fun.
Anthony: We'd like to remind everyone, you're on Getmusic. We're here talking with Michael Jackson, whose new album Invincible is out on Oct. 30th. toi can check it out at Michaeljackson.com. toi can preorder it on Getmusic.
Now we have a question from ItsJackson who is really named Rachel from Connecticut, wonders "Do toi have any new dance moves that you've invented while toi were making your album?"
Michael: For the first time working on any album, I put a halt to dancing. Because I was just so engrossed and so infatuated with what I was doing um, I did something that was very unusual. But once the musique started playing, of course, I started to dance. But um, uh, it's starting to now create itself and, uh, with the musique playing I'm coming up with some new things. But that's coming in the future with the newer short films. They'll be seeing... they'll be seeing all kinds of innovative things and movements that have never been seen before. We'll go places where we've never gone in dance before. Cause all the hiphop things that are happening now are beginning to look like aerobics, it's kinda getting annoying.
Anthony: [laughs] We have a question from Simon who, toi know, you've obviously mentioned toi know, all the people who have wanted to work with you. He wonders, "Michael who wold toi l’amour to do a duet with, past ou present?"
Michael: Uh, if it's past, it'd be somebody like, uh, I would say Sarah Vaughn [*] ou Nat King Cole. Present, I think, uh, Whitney Houston is brilliant and Barbara Striesand has a beautiful voice. toi know, those kinds of artists, they're just wonderful.
Anthony: What's your impression of some of the artists who've come on the scene just in récent years, toi know, people like Britney Speares and Christina Aguilara. toi know, young pop stars who are obviously hugely popular. toi know, obviously, Britney participated in your montrer at the Garden, toi know, what was your sense about her?
Michael: I think they're a new breed that are coming out. They're doing a very good job. And what impressed me plus about any of these artists, like Speares and Christina, they're so determined. I've heard about the way they work. They'll work on a dance step, I mean, like, for months, and, uh.. to get it right, toi know. Uh, they're just so determined. And I've met... I've met Britney several times and she was very sweet and humble. She came to my room. We quietly talked for couple hours, and she was just, uh, like a Barbie doll. She was very sweet, she was very kind.
Anthony: I imagine that someone like toi would be a kind of interesting and important resource for her, toi know. As someone who was a étoile, star when toi were so young, and then when... I don't think people necessarily understand what a kind of strange reality that is, toi know, within all the acclaim and the fame and the excitement, toi know, to be a kid and have all that attention focused on toi must be kind of scary also. Did toi find it that way, uh, in your own experience?
Michael: Yeah, because where ever I go, um, I disguise myself, now -- but now I can't with, 'cause, toi know, with what's going on in the world -- so I don't wear a disguise. And uh, people they just go... They really go crazy. They're very happy to see you. They feel as if they know you. toi have to respond back to them like toi know them. They feel they personally know you. My picture's on their walls, toi know, my musique is playing in their house, so they grab toi and they hug toi and they touch toi and they... So I usually respond back with hugs and loves and kisses. Cause I love... I love... I truly l’amour my fans. Truly, truly from the heart. That's the real truth. I l’amour them. And the ones who are, um.... Like when we go to a certain country and they're outside, and outside they're sleeping on the rue and I throw them pillows and cover and everything. And I have my security guards buy them pizza so they can all eat, and get the candles and, toi know, we really take care of them. They're very, very, very sweet and supportive.
Anthony: Sam who is 20 years old and from Texas here in the US wonders, "Will toi release papillons as a single? That's one of your best songs."
Michael: papillons is, uh, is a single that's released now. It's a single now. Tell him thank toi very much.
Anthony: Great. What other plans do toi have, toi know, when you... As somebody who's been a kind of innovator in terms of making short films to accompany your songs, do toi conceptualize all that ahead of time or, toi know, do toi decide, on a kinda step par step basis, toi know, this is gonna be the suivant single and I want to make a, toi know, a kind of visual statement to accompany it. toi know, how does that all proceed?
Michael: All right, the short film itself?
Anthony: Yeah.
Michael: Well, I let the song pretty much speak to me and I get in a room and I pretty much start making notes... toi know, I'll speak to a writer -- like Stephen King and myself, both of us wrote Ghosts, the short film Ghosts, and we just on the telephone started écriture it and let it create itself and go where it wants to go. But we try to do things that are very unusual. And it's... it's not an easy thing to do because toi have to time it with the song, and toi can't spend too much time, and the special effects can take 5 months sometimes to execute. So, it's just .. .it's kinda difficult thing and the record company's saying, "Come on, come on, come on, we have to go, we have to go." So, I understand. So we try to do the best we can in the amount of time that we can execute it in.
Anthony: We have a question now, uh, Helen from Scotland says, "If toi could only perform one of your songs for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?"
Michael: Ooh, it would probably be... if I could pick plus than one, up to two ou three?
Anthony: yeah, I think we can go that far.
Michael: Heal The World, Speechless, um, and that's a difficult one... I think, uh.. huh... ummm, toi Are My Life.
Anthony: So, toi went for the ones that are the... the kind of, uh, the biggest statements, in a way, it seems to me.
Michael: Yeah, because, uh, the point is that they're very melodic and if they have a great important message that's kinda immortal, that can relate to any time and space, toi know.
Anthony: One of the things, actually, I wanted to ask toi is, toi know, we've had these, toi know, horrible terrorist attacks here in New York City and in Washington, DC. What is the role that toi feel, toi know, artists can play in the wake of something like that. toi know, I mean, toi did that benefits montrer in Washington. toi know, is there... In musique and in... toi know, can artists do something to help people get through what for many of us has been a very difficult time?
Michael: Yeah, toi give of yourself. toi give of your talent, of your ability... The talent that was donné toi par the Heavens. That's why we're here, to bring a sense of escapism in time of need. And, uh, if you're a painter toi paint; if you're a sculptor, toi sculpt; if you're a writer, toi write; if you're a songwriter, toi give songs; if you're a dancer, toi give dance. toi give people some l’amour and some... some bliss and some escapism, and to montrer that toi truly care from the heart, and be there for them. Not just from a distance, but montrer toi really care. toi know, take the long mile and be there for them. And that's what I did, and many others who cared and helped. And it's an important thing.
Anthony: We have a question now from Chili Boy who wonders, "I've always wanted to know, how do toi come up with a dance move, and how long does it take for toi to put the choreography for a song together?"
Michael: I pretty much just get in a room and I start to dance, and uh, I don't create the dance, the dance creates itself, really. toi know, I'll do something and I'll look back... I'll look back on tape and I'll go, "Wow," I didn't realize I had done that. It came out of the drums. toi become.... Dancing is about interpretation. toi become.... toi become the accompaniment of the music. So when toi become the basse, bass of Billie Jean, I couldn't help but do the step that I was doing when the song first starts, because, uh, that's what it told me to do. toi know, if I turn around, spin, stop, déplacer my legs to the side and then lift up the collier of my shirt, that's for that moment is an accompaniment.
Anthony: I remember watching that moment on télévision and just leaping out of my chair. It's so extraordinary.
Michael: Thank toi very much.
Anthony: That was really one of the great, great moments.
Michael: It's all spontaneous movement. Nothing in that piece was, on, uh, Billie Jean, was planned but the Moonwalk. Everything else was just, toi know, improvising, really.
Joe Jackson says his heavy parental hand kept Michael Jackson away from gangs.
0904_joe_jackson_video
The interview with Joe was shot par Jacksonsecretvault.com over the summer and will be used as part of a movie Katherine Jackson is producing with Howard Mann.
In the clip, an interviewer asks Joe what he thinks about Michael's past commentaires about Joe's parenting -- alluding to allegations of physical abuse. Joe says, "I had to be like that because when raising him, in those days, so many gangs out there getting into trouble, going to jail. Most of them are dead now. He didn't have to worry about that."
The interviewer also asked if Joe had any regrets, "No! They tried to make a big issue when I spanked Michael ou some of the kids, ya know? Just like they didn't spank their kids when they did wrong. The media twists everything."
Indeed.
0904_joe_jackson_video
The interview with Joe was shot par Jacksonsecretvault.com over the summer and will be used as part of a movie Katherine Jackson is producing with Howard Mann.
In the clip, an interviewer asks Joe what he thinks about Michael's past commentaires about Joe's parenting -- alluding to allegations of physical abuse. Joe says, "I had to be like that because when raising him, in those days, so many gangs out there getting into trouble, going to jail. Most of them are dead now. He didn't have to worry about that."
The interviewer also asked if Joe had any regrets, "No! They tried to make a big issue when I spanked Michael ou some of the kids, ya know? Just like they didn't spank their kids when they did wrong. The media twists everything."
Indeed.
My best friend died because of a horrible situation,
My best friend died of lack of a friend not caring,
My best friend died cause of all the stuff he was bearing,
My best friend died of all the hatred,
My best friend died knowing that he was sacred,
My best friend died, My best friend died,
And he was heard worldwide,
My best friend died so soon,
My best friend died with the walk on the moon,
My best friend died with a never ending depart,
My best friend died leaving a hole in my heart,
My best friend died a fast one,
My best friend was Michael Jackson.
I really hope this isnt offensive in anyway. It`s just saying the reasons why MJ got the surgurys so toi can tell people why and they will stop making fun of him cause i`d had enough. Thanks :)
Michael, as we all know, had many Plastic Surgurys in his life, and here are the reasons why...
-He hated his nose since he was 13.
-He broke his nose many times
-He did`nt want to look like his father
-He wanted to change him self
Thank you! And pass this on! <3
R~I~P MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS IT`S ALL FOR LOVE, L.O.V.E (WITH THE LITTLE MOTIONS! <333
________________Change the World________________
Michael, as we all know, had many Plastic Surgurys in his life, and here are the reasons why...
-He hated his nose since he was 13.
-He broke his nose many times
-He did`nt want to look like his father
-He wanted to change him self
Thank you! And pass this on! <3
R~I~P MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS IT`S ALL FOR LOVE, L.O.V.E (WITH THE LITTLE MOTIONS! <333
________________Change the World________________
Characteristics told British GQ: «It is a great loss for us and even pray to return. We owe thanks to the Creator to send us an angel, yet like Michael. Because if it does not, we will lose plus than a man. "
"It would be very special if we send such a man on earth. Affected so many people, so many businesses, politicians, scientists, musicians, artists and many others and then we got? Probably not the saw as well as it had "completed par Wesley.
Finally, the actor a dit 47chronos encourages children to listen to the musique of the legendary étoile, star every day.
Ok I know a lot of toi fans don't know how to moonwalk and want to learn am I right? Well here are instructions on how to moonwalk :D
The moonwalk is a dance technique that presents the illusion of the dancer being pulled backwards while attempting to walk forward. Now start with putting foot#1 on its toes and par putting all of your weight on that foot. While leaning on foot#1, slide foot#2 backward. Next, put foot#2 on its toes and put your weight on that foot while making foot#1 flat on the floor. While all of your weight os on foot#2, slide foot #1 backward. And just keep trading positions like that. Repeat, repeat, repeat... And in the words of MJ "Don't stop 'til toi get enough"
*No guarantee that toi will be as good as MJ*
*Sorry if these instructions aren't clear but it's the best description I can give :)*
The moonwalk is a dance technique that presents the illusion of the dancer being pulled backwards while attempting to walk forward. Now start with putting foot#1 on its toes and par putting all of your weight on that foot. While leaning on foot#1, slide foot#2 backward. Next, put foot#2 on its toes and put your weight on that foot while making foot#1 flat on the floor. While all of your weight os on foot#2, slide foot #1 backward. And just keep trading positions like that. Repeat, repeat, repeat... And in the words of MJ "Don't stop 'til toi get enough"
*No guarantee that toi will be as good as MJ*
*Sorry if these instructions aren't clear but it's the best description I can give :)*
In statements made par changing what people knew about him until now.
They claimed that they believe what the singer sounds, words that had relationships with young boys because they themselves were those who accompanied him to various appointments with many girls.
This information certainly does not know if it is of course a lot of changes.
And for those who know greek they can go and read it from the official site where i found it.
link
Sun is gonna shine
fleurs gonna grow
Clouds'll sprinkle showers
Rivers gonna flow
Man ain't got the power
To kill nothing but himself
Man is a creation
Man is nothing else
Whatzup, whatzup, whatzupwitu
Whatzup, whatzup, whatzupwitu
Always is the mountain
[ Find plus Lyrics on link ]
Always is the tree's
Always is the ocean
Always is the sea's
We can't stop this world
'Cause it's not
Our world we can just jack
Each other up
Heavenly father been mighty patient
He got your number peeped
Your disease
He knows your falling,
Your falling, your falling,
Man is a creation
Man is nothing else
Whatzup, whatzup, whatzupwitu
Whatzup, whatzup, whatzupwitu
(Repeat and fade out)
link