How did toi cast the real gang members?
It was Michael. He went out and he got ‘em through, I guess, the LAPD’s gang squad and he convinced them that, with enough police presence, this would be a smart and charitable thing to do; get them there to like each other and hang with each other for two days doing the video. I didn’t like the idea because it was hard enough to direct actors and dancers, let alone hoods.
So he tried to use the video to foster peace between them?
Michael was always about peace. He was always about some sort of peace offering. That was his idea and the cops did go along with it and as history has it, we were almost shut down the first night because, as toi know, film sets get to be very boring after the first hour.
I guess the Crips and Bloods started to get on each other’s nerves – they are mortal enemies – and we had a few incidents and two cops came to me and a dit they wanted to close it down. I somehow convinced the cop squad guy to just let me [shoot the] dance. I was gonna hold the dance for the seconde night of shooting. I said, ‘The only thing I can think that’ll save this is to let me just blast the music. I have a feeling it’ll calm everything down. Can’t get any worse, just give me a chance.’ And the cop was cool, he looked at me and said, ‘OK, not much more.’ I couldn’t go much plus because it was volatile – no question about it – and scary. So we were in that warehouse, change of plans we’re going to do the dance, get Michael out of the camper, here we go.
What happened next?
The gang members couldn’t dance so they formed the ring and watched. And the [dancers] all started to dance with Michael Peters and Vince Paterson. When Michael Jackson comes down and does what he does, I remember looking at the faces of all the Crips and Bloods lined up and their expressions as they listened to that musique and watched those kids dance. Those kids were basically, most of them were gay… and when they started to dance, the Crips and the Bloods had that look like, ‘You know what? With all our wars and vendettas and stuff, that’s cool right there. That’s something we’ll never be able to do.’ And that’s what made that evening work.
What impact has “Beat It” and working with Michael Jackson had on your career?
I met a man who I have total respect for. One of the most interesting things he ever a dit to me, I’ll never forget, we were arguing, he a dit to me in that very high-pitched voice of his, ‘You use the F-word to much’. That always stuck with me. I thought that was smart to say at a time like that.
I watched a man dance better than anyone I’d ever seen in my life and I watched a man talk softly and carry a tremendously big stick, get what he wanted and get his way. And as we know now 25 years later, perhaps he got his way too much. But nonetheless, I watched him get his way but always using the softest, quietest approach toi could possibly have used. I was influenced not only par his talent, but par his personality.
It was Michael. He went out and he got ‘em through, I guess, the LAPD’s gang squad and he convinced them that, with enough police presence, this would be a smart and charitable thing to do; get them there to like each other and hang with each other for two days doing the video. I didn’t like the idea because it was hard enough to direct actors and dancers, let alone hoods.
So he tried to use the video to foster peace between them?
Michael was always about peace. He was always about some sort of peace offering. That was his idea and the cops did go along with it and as history has it, we were almost shut down the first night because, as toi know, film sets get to be very boring after the first hour.
I guess the Crips and Bloods started to get on each other’s nerves – they are mortal enemies – and we had a few incidents and two cops came to me and a dit they wanted to close it down. I somehow convinced the cop squad guy to just let me [shoot the] dance. I was gonna hold the dance for the seconde night of shooting. I said, ‘The only thing I can think that’ll save this is to let me just blast the music. I have a feeling it’ll calm everything down. Can’t get any worse, just give me a chance.’ And the cop was cool, he looked at me and said, ‘OK, not much more.’ I couldn’t go much plus because it was volatile – no question about it – and scary. So we were in that warehouse, change of plans we’re going to do the dance, get Michael out of the camper, here we go.
What happened next?
The gang members couldn’t dance so they formed the ring and watched. And the [dancers] all started to dance with Michael Peters and Vince Paterson. When Michael Jackson comes down and does what he does, I remember looking at the faces of all the Crips and Bloods lined up and their expressions as they listened to that musique and watched those kids dance. Those kids were basically, most of them were gay… and when they started to dance, the Crips and the Bloods had that look like, ‘You know what? With all our wars and vendettas and stuff, that’s cool right there. That’s something we’ll never be able to do.’ And that’s what made that evening work.
What impact has “Beat It” and working with Michael Jackson had on your career?
I met a man who I have total respect for. One of the most interesting things he ever a dit to me, I’ll never forget, we were arguing, he a dit to me in that very high-pitched voice of his, ‘You use the F-word to much’. That always stuck with me. I thought that was smart to say at a time like that.
I watched a man dance better than anyone I’d ever seen in my life and I watched a man talk softly and carry a tremendously big stick, get what he wanted and get his way. And as we know now 25 years later, perhaps he got his way too much. But nonetheless, I watched him get his way but always using the softest, quietest approach toi could possibly have used. I was influenced not only par his talent, but par his personality.
what is there to say about Michael Jackson. i think that he was a great person and a great singer. he was the king of pop to everyone in the world. he meant a lot. after his death i went on toi tube and i looked that all his songs and interviews and made me cried. i think he really wanted to change the world. he will be missed par his fans,friends,family, and kids. r.i.p Michael Jackson. toi meant a lot. i hope that we as fans to keep up what Michael Jackson wanted us to be.i really think that Michael was a ture hero he touched so much people. And on june 25th 2009 was his last jour to shine.and i just image what michael jackson is doing right now.love toi m.j!!!!!
basse, bass note, treble, stereo control, how low toi go
Just enough to make your juices flow
Press play, don't stop, rotate, too hot
toi feel I'm real
I'm everything toi need, so tell me what's the deal
Chorus
2000 Watts, 8 ohms, 200 volts, real strong
Too much of that, fuse blown
Be careful what toi say don't overload
2000 Watts, 8 ohms, 200 volts, real strong
Too much of that, fuse blown
Be careful what toi say don't overload
3D, high speed, feedback, Dolby
Release two ou three, when I reach I can go 'till I hit my peak
Compact steelo, chico, D-Lo, highpost lady
Shorty really wanna be there for me
Chorus
2000 Watts, 8 ohms, 200 volts, real strong
Too much of that, fuse blown
Be careful what toi say don't overload
2000 Watts, 8 ohms, 200 volts, real strong
Too much of that, fuse blown
Just enough to make your juices flow
Press play, don't stop, rotate, too hot
toi feel I'm real
I'm everything toi need, so tell me what's the deal
Chorus
2000 Watts, 8 ohms, 200 volts, real strong
Too much of that, fuse blown
Be careful what toi say don't overload
2000 Watts, 8 ohms, 200 volts, real strong
Too much of that, fuse blown
Be careful what toi say don't overload
3D, high speed, feedback, Dolby
Release two ou three, when I reach I can go 'till I hit my peak
Compact steelo, chico, D-Lo, highpost lady
Shorty really wanna be there for me
Chorus
2000 Watts, 8 ohms, 200 volts, real strong
Too much of that, fuse blown
Be careful what toi say don't overload
2000 Watts, 8 ohms, 200 volts, real strong
Too much of that, fuse blown
musique and me
We've been together
For such a long time now
Music, musique and me
Don't care whether all our songs rhyme now
Music, musique and me
Only know wherever I go
We're as close as two Friends can be
There have been others
But never two amoureux
Like music, musique and me
Grab a song and come along
toi can sing your melody
In your mind toi will find
A world of sweet harmony
Birds of a feather
We'll fly together
Now music, musique and me
musique and me
musique and me
We've been together
For such a long time now
Music, musique and me
Don't care whether all our songs rhyme now
Music, musique and me
Only know wherever I go
We're as close as two Friends can be
There have been others
But never two amoureux
Like music, musique and me
Grab a song and come along
toi can sing your melody
In your mind toi will find
A world of sweet harmony
Birds of a feather
We'll fly together
Now music, musique and me
musique and me
We've been together
For such a long time now
Music, musique and me
Don't care whether all our songs rhyme now
Music, musique and me
Only know wherever I go
We're as close as two Friends can be
There have been others
But never two amoureux
Like music, musique and me
Grab a song and come along
toi can sing your melody
In your mind toi will find
A world of sweet harmony
Birds of a feather
We'll fly together
Now music, musique and me
musique and me
musique and me
We've been together
For such a long time now
Music, musique and me
Don't care whether all our songs rhyme now
Music, musique and me
Only know wherever I go
We're as close as two Friends can be
There have been others
But never two amoureux
Like music, musique and me
Grab a song and come along
toi can sing your melody
In your mind toi will find
A world of sweet harmony
Birds of a feather
We'll fly together
Now music, musique and me
musique and me
There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretending jour par day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, toi know,
l’amour is all we need
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just toi and me
Send them your cœur, coeur so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us par turning stones to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand
When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if toi just believe there's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretending jour par day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, toi know,
l’amour is all we need
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just toi and me
Send them your cœur, coeur so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us par turning stones to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand
When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if toi just believe there's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one