This is the Part 1 of the interview, cause it's very long... I hope anda like it! <3

On October 26, 2001 Michael took part in an online audio chat, answering fans' soalan via the telephone through moderator Anthony DeCurtis. The interview was sponsored sejak GetMusic.com and RollingStone.com and has been archived online at GetMusic.com.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 popular 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]. anda can check it out at Michaeljackson.com, anda can preorder it at getmusic.com.
Anthony: Michael, it's a pleasure to talk to anda 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 anda still get exited when anda have something come out? Obviously you've accomplished so much over the years. anda know, do anda still feel that, like, "Wow, I wonder what people are gonna think" or, anda know, feel all of that kind of anticipation?
Michael: I kinda parallel it to a, uh, anda know... It's like the gestation process of, uh, birth. anda know, it's a... anda 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, anda never get too used to it, ever. It's, uh, an incredible process. But anda leave it in the hands of God, like anda do when you're having a child.
Anthony: Absolutely. We've got soalan already beginning to pour in from your peminat-peminat on the Internet. We've got Electric Eyes, male, Penulisan in. Says, "Michael, anda 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 kegemaran song on the new album?"
Michael: My kegemaran song on the new album. Can I pick two?
Anthony: Uh, yeah, I think anda can do that. anda can pretty much do whatever anda 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. anda know, what was it like work... I mean, were there special guests, atau were anda working with new producers, atau how anda wrote them. anda 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 sumber through which the songs come. Really. Because there is...they just fall right into your lap in it's entirety. anda 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 karang 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 anda describe the sound on Invincible and have anda incorporated any other genres into the album?"
Michael: Well, the sound is...sonically, we always try to make sure we have, anda know, pristine, detailed, uh, anda 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 atau 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 Muzik where every, uh, anybody can sing it, from the Irish farmer to a lady who Scrubs toilets in Harlem. If anda can whistle it and hum it, that's the most important thing.
Anthony: Now, when you're working do anda find, are anda in a mode where anda like to listen to a lot of other music, atau you're listening to the radio and maybe picking up people's CDs. atau when you're working do anda like to just kinda shut it all out and concentrate, anda 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 Muzik world, all the time. Not just in America but Internationally. anda 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 sejak a lot of the Muzik 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 anda lots of Cinta and wonders if, um, it was fun for anda to make the rock... the anda 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 kegemaran things, hearing the Muzik really loud. 'Cause I like to play Muzik loud. I mean, it's, uh... If anda play something over the Internet atau small speakers, it doesn't have the same punch. That's why anda have to buy it. anda 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]... anda can't hear all those sounds if anda 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 anda 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, anda are awesome, Michael. Do anda 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 kegemaran things I've ever done because it's been a dream of mine for a long time to do something like, anda 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, anda know? It's fun, anda 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. anda 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. anda know.
Anthony: Absolutely. We have Cloudlee2000 who writes in and wonders, "Why did anda 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, atau whatever it is, to be Invincible, and to just continue to grow and to be, anda know... serve the people. It serves the people with wonderful entertainment.
Anthony: Now, one of the, anda know, the kind of conventional wisdom in the Muzik industry is, anda know, audiences don't really have an attention span any more, anda 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 atau do you, uh, are anda convinced your peminat base is still there and will be as strong as ever?
Michael: I'm, I'm ... No, the answer to your soalan is that has never concerned me once and I've never thought of it. Because I've always known if Muzik is truly great atau if a movie is truly great, people want to see it atau hear it. No matter where you, how long you've been away, atau whatever the situation is. anda know, greatness is greatness and if anda really do a great job on what you're doing, people want to hear it. atau they want to see it. anda know, it doesn't matter, It really doesn't. Long as you're an innovator and a pioneer, anda know. And that's the most important thing. Give them what they want to hear.
Anthony: Now Slimslady420US sends in a soalan and wonders "which song on the Invincible album do anda think anda personally relate to the most?"
Michael: Ummm, Unbreakable.
Anthony: Talk a bit about that track. Now anda mentioned it a couple of times, I'm getting really curious about it. Could you... What could anda tell us about it?
Michael: 'Cause, uh, I' m one of the few people, probably in tunjuk business, that have been through the ins and outs, anda 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. anda know, and uh, I'm just saying, anda know, I will continue to alih ke hadapan no matter what.
Anthony: Now we have Warful writes in, "Are anda working atau planning to do any lebih short films for Invincible, specifically for the really fast tracks such as 2000 Watts, Heartbreaker, Unbreakable, and Invincible?"
Michael: Absolutely, and she said... Whoever berkata that berkata the right word when they berkata berkata "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 soalan 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 anda describe yourself as being tough on yourself during the recording process. How does that, anda know... what is the process that anda go to. If anda think something isn't quite what it ought to be atau maybe anda could do better atau anda know, maybe anda want to alih something in a new direction. anda know, what is that like?
Michael: If I truly told you, I don't know if the peminat-peminat 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. anda know, it's like the Sistine Chapel, it's here forever. Everything we do should be that way, anda 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 anda can interpret it the way anda 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, anda did a couple at Madison Square Garden and anda did a tunjuk at RFK stadium, a benefit concert, and anda know, obviously, anda know, you.... live performance has been one of the things that has distinguished anda throughout your career. You've been offstage for a while. I wonder if anda could talk a little bit about what it was like to be out there again in front of an audience and, anda 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 sejak them. Um, it's just an incredible feeling. It really is. They're there to support anda and to Cinta anda and to hear their kegemaran songs and you're just standing there and they're just giving anda so much adulation and Cinta 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 anda describe that like sometime on stage is when anda feel the most alive, that those are the moments that, anda 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 Penulisan Muzik atau Penulisan poetry, and being on stage, and watching Kartun are my kegemaran things to do in the entire world. Um, that's what brings me to life. I Cinta that. That's what inspires me to do what I do, anda know?
Anthony: Excellent. We have a soalan from someone calling themself The best dancer in the world. Well, we've got anda 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 berkata that Jay Z will appear with anda 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 anda 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 soalan here from Sweden. Tony from Sweden writes in and says, "Hi Michael. You're the most amazing artist of all time. I just Cinta your music. Do anda want to tour, and will anda do a world tour atau 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: anda 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 soalan from Noria, describes him atau herself as a 32 tahun old Spanish fan, Penulisan from Los Angeles, would like to know if anda have any plans to release any of your songs in Invincible in Spanish atau 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 -- anda know, for many people, their following is in England atau 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 tahun was Alien Ant Farm's cover of Smooth Criminal. I wanted to see if you'd paid attention it, if you... Do anda enjoy it, atau how anda felt about it.
Michael: I saw it and fell in Cinta 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 berkata "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 anda feel worthy and that your Muzik is reaching all the different generations. anda know, and all the different, uh... I mean, everybody's out there listening and that makes me very happy.
Anthony: Now we have a soalan from Canada. Gary, who is 19, writes in, "What other artists did anda collaborate with on Invincible?"
Michael: What other artists did I collaborate with on Invincible...
Anthony: Do anda have any special guests.
Michael: Umm, oh yeah, Carlos Santana. He and I have done, like, a duet. He plays the gitar and I sing and it's something that, uh, we've written. And it's really, really a nice song.
Anthony: Now had anda known him from over time atau did anda 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 berkata 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 berkata 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 berkata to myself, "We have to make this work."
Anthony: And so anda 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 soalan from Anicia. Says, "Michael are anda a peminat of Chris Tucker." Describes him being in your baru-baru ini video.
Michael: I am a huge, huge peminat 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 anda laugh without using vulgarity, atau 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 soalan from Canada. Tony, who's 17 from Canada, writes and wonders, "How long does it take anda 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 atau 8 atau 10 of them; I'll throw them all away and start over. So, that's a difficult soalan to ask me.
Anthony: I wonder if... is there a specific song on the album -- say Invincible -- anda know, how long... when... Do anda remember getting the first inspiration for that song and then maybe the hari when anda 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 lebih 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, anda 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 sejak 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 kegemaran thing is to climb trees, go all the way up to the bahagian, atas of a pokok 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 seterusnya soalan which we have, which wonders, "Where do anda look for inspiration when anda write your songs. Does inspiration come from a variety of different places?
Michael: Well, the best songs that are written write themselves. anda don't ask for them, they just drop into your lap. Then there are those songs that, anda know, anda kind of uh, incubate. anda know, anda plant the seed, let the subconscious take its course, and within time anda 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. anda create it when anda say it. There's no such thing. Um, like any painter atau 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 Muzik 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. anda know, many people have talked about it in baru-baru ini years, anda know.
Michael: Yeah.
Anthony: We have a soalan from Allen here who asks if anda think that Rodney Jerkins and anda have created a new sound for 2001.
Michael: For the song 2000 Watts?
Anthony: He says, "Do anda feel that anda 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 anda guys meet and, anda 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 anda pick up the phone and say 'hi' to him." And he came over that hari and he said, "Please, my dream is to work with you. Will anda 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 anda 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 anda 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 Cinta working with him.
Anthony: And anda 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 kegemaran people in the world. He's just a really sweet, kind guy. anda know. And Rodney's very funny. anda laugh all hari when you're with him. He turns his Muzik 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. anda can check it out at Michaeljackson.com. anda can preorder it on Getmusic.
Now we have a soalan from ItsJackson who is really named Rachel from Connecticut, wonders "Do anda have any new dance moves that you've invented while anda 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 Muzik started playing, of course, I started to dance. But um, uh, it's starting to now create itself and, uh, with the Muzik 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 soalan from Simon who, anda know, you've obviously mentioned anda know, all the people who have wanted to work with you. He wonders, "Michael who wold anda Cinta to do a duet with, past atau present?"
Michael: Uh, if it's past, it'd be somebody like, uh, I would say Sarah Vaughn [*] atau Nat King Cole. Present, I think, uh, Whitney Houston is brilliant and Barbara Striesand has a beautiful voice. anda 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 baru-baru ini years, anda know, people like Britney Speares and Christina Aguilara. anda know, young pop stars who are obviously hugely popular. anda know, obviously, Britney participated in your tunjuk at the Garden, anda 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 lebih 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, anda 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 anda would be a kind of interesting and important resource for her, anda know. As someone who was a bintang when anda were so young, and then when... I don't think people necessarily understand what a kind of strange reality that is, anda know, within all the acclaim and the fame and the excitement, anda know, to be a kid and have all that attention focused on anda must be kind of scary also. Did anda 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, anda 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. anda have to respond back to them like anda know them. They feel they personally know you. My picture's on their walls, anda know, my Muzik is playing in their house, so they grab anda and they hug anda and they touch anda and they... So I usually respond back with hugs and loves and kisses. Cause I love... I love... I truly Cinta my fans. Truly, truly from the heart. That's the real truth. I Cinta 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 jalan 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, anda 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 anda release Rama-rama as a single? That's one of your best songs."
Michael: Rama-rama is, uh, is a single that's released now. It's a single now. Tell him thank anda very much.
Anthony: Great. What other plans do anda have, anda know, when you... As somebody who's been a kind of innovator in terms of making short films to accompany your songs, do anda conceptualize all that ahead of time or, anda know, do anda decide, on a kinda step sejak step basis, anda know, this is gonna be the seterusnya single and I want to make a, anda know, a kind of visual statement to accompany it. anda 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... anda 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 Penulisan 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 anda have to time it with the song, and anda 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 soalan now, uh, Helen from Scotland says, "If anda 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 lebih than one, up to two atau 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, anda Are My Life.
Anthony: So, anda 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, anda know.
Anthony: One of the things, actually, I wanted to ask anda is, anda know, we've had these, anda know, horrible terrorist attacks here in New York City and in Washington, DC. What is the role that anda feel, anda know, artists can play in the wake of something like that. anda know, I mean, anda did that benefits tunjuk in Washington. anda know, is there... In Muzik and in... anda know, can artists do something to help people get through what for many of us has been a very difficult time?
Michael: Yeah, anda give of yourself. anda give of your talent, of your ability... The talent that was telah diberi anda sejak 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 anda paint; if you're a sculptor, anda sculpt; if you're a writer, anda write; if you're a songwriter, anda give songs; if you're a dancer, anda give dance. anda give people some Cinta and some... some bliss and some escapism, and to tunjuk that anda truly care from the heart, and be there for them. Not just from a distance, but tunjuk anda really care. anda 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 soalan now from Chili Boy who wonders, "I've always wanted to know, how do anda come up with a dance move, and how long does it take for anda 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. anda 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. anda become.... Dancing is about interpretation. anda become.... anda become the accompaniment of the music. So when anda become the 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. anda know, if I turn around, spin, stop, alih my legs to the side and then lift up the kolar of my shirt, that's for that moment is an accompaniment.
Anthony: I remember watching that moment on Televisyen and just leaping out of my chair. It's so extraordinary.
Michael: Thank anda 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, anda know, improvising, really.