Akon interview about Michael Jackson
Recently, Michael Phelps, a journalist for the German newspaper Die Welt, conducted an interview with Akon, the Black singer. In this interview, Akon was also asked about his collaboration with the King of Pop:
Phelps: In your new album, Freedom, we don’t see the song Hold My Hand that you made with Michael Jackson and that you promised to the world.
Akon: But you’ve heard that song, haven’t you?
Phelps: Of course.
Akon: And how did you hear it?
Phelps: I downloaded it from the internet.
Akon: You see. That’s why this song isn’t on my album. That song was downloaded 50 million times from the internet. Everyone got the song for free. After that, releasing Hold My Hand was irresponsible. That song could have been a powerful comeback for Michael Jackson after a long time. And it needed to be done properly—massive and powerful. Instead, we decided to work more on this and make Michael Jackson’s comeback happen in another way. Imagine Hold My Hand as a gift to the world.
Phelps: How did your collaboration with Michael Jackson come about?
Akon: Working with an artist who has influenced me more than anyone else was the biggest experience of my life. He has influenced and impacted everyone who came after him. And I was with him and I saw who he is. I touched his mindset. He’s brilliant, oh my God! He’s beyond everything.
Phelps: How did this collaboration happen?
Akon: Well, I turned to Peter Lopez, who handles all of Michael’s affairs. He told me that Michael has been working on a new musical theme for a long time. I joked, 'That’s great! Make it so I’m part of this.' He took it seriously and made a call to Michael. I couldn’t believe it. It was a dream. Honestly, I don’t know where the bad image of Michael that you see today came from.
Phelps: We haven’t seen him for a long time these days. Instead, there have been provocative and disturbing reports. After these events, many people don’t respect this artist the way they used to.
Akon: Are all the people you’re talking about the ones who spoke to him? Were they close to him? Michael has always been like a spirit. You can’t touch him. He’s behind barriers. Nobody can get close to him in a serious way. I think this is what creates suspicion in many people. In the 1980s, he became so important and huge that the only way left for him was to hide from view. Everyone wants to see him, but nobody can. You can only see him in photos. And photos don’t tell the truth. For many of my generation, he’s been on the other side of reality for a long time. I want to change that.
Phelps: Apparently, they’ve seen you with Michael in a cinema in America. And it’s been said that Jackson wore pajamas.
Akon: That’s nonsense. Internet nonsense.
Phelps: For recording a song, don’t you need to be in the same room with Michael?
Akon: I was in the same room with Michael. We were sitting next to each other in the studio. He was writing and I was producing. Side by side.
Phelps: As a child, how did you get to know Michael Jackson’s music? Through Thriller?
Akon: Yes, of course. At that time, everyone fell in love with Michael Jackson. When he sang Beat It and moonwalked, everyone suddenly started dancing the same way. Everyone wanted to be like him. His videos were like movies. Before he withdrew in the late 1980s, Michael’s madness spread everywhere.
Phelps: What condition is he in these days?
Akon: He’s in an unbelievable state. He’s in perfect health. Healthier than all of us. I was completely shocked. I wish humanity could see him in the condition he’s in. I’ve never had the chance to meet such a complete human being before. He’s very humble and very realistic.
Phelps: But he’s strange.
Akon: No, that’s not true at all. No, no, no. The truth is that he’s not crazy or strange. The matter is, in the simplest way, that he stands far above everyone else. I wish more people could see him the way I was allowed to.
Phelps: Where does he live now?
Akon: I don’t know. If I did know, I wouldn’t tell you.
Phelps: Did you only record Hold My Hand?
Akon: Yes, we only recorded that one. Oh, how much I love this song.
Phelps: Do you know anything about Michael Jackson’s new album? There are rumors about it.
Akon: He decides for himself. He’s the creator. He could never stop creating.
Phelps: Jermaine Jackson recently said things about the return of the Jackson Five. Do you think this idea would be good for Michael?
Akon: Yes, it would be great. They don’t need to do anything new. They just need to remember what legends they are. The Jackson Five! Oh my God! I’m also interested in arranging a celebration for their return. Honestly, comebacks that groups make with new songs are pointless.
Phelps: Why do you think Michael Jackson chose Akon among everyone?
Akon: We have a lot in common. We have the same background.
Phelps: What background?
Akon: Michael Jackson was like a god in Africa. I’m from Africa too, and Obama (the new President of the United States) is also from Africa. That’s our connection: Africa. Today, I’m as famous in Africa as he is. Like Obama, we represent both continents. All three of us have a lot in common.
Phelps: Only that Michael Jackson isn’t Black anymore.
Akon: What are you talking about! That’s because of some medical reasons (1), not cultural reasons.
Phelps: Do you feel like the Prince of Pop right now?
Akon: Anyone who takes their art seriously always wants to be the best of all time. That’s what I pray for. But I also want to be free—to go to the cinema without being bothered and to be a normal person. I’m free.
Phelps: But Michael Jackson isn’t free.
Akon: He’s definitely free! At least mentally, he’s free. Physically, he certainly isn’t free. Basically, he can’t go anywhere anymore. He’s too big for that.
(1) Refers to the skin disease vitiligo—Vitilligo—which destroys skin pigments. In a 1993 interview, Michael first mentioned that he had vitiligo and said that this disease was the cause of the gradual whitening of his skin color starting around age twenty. He also said that he used special creams to cover the spots on his skin.
Source: eMJey / WELT Online
Phelps: In your new album, Freedom, we don’t see the song Hold My Hand that you made with Michael Jackson and that you promised to the world.
Akon: But you’ve heard that song, haven’t you?
Phelps: Of course.
Akon: And how did you hear it?
Phelps: I downloaded it from the internet.
Akon: You see. That’s why this song isn’t on my album. That song was downloaded 50 million times from the internet. Everyone got the song for free. After that, releasing Hold My Hand was irresponsible. That song could have been a powerful comeback for Michael Jackson after a long time. And it needed to be done properly—massive and powerful. Instead, we decided to work more on this and make Michael Jackson’s comeback happen in another way. Imagine Hold My Hand as a gift to the world.
Phelps: How did your collaboration with Michael Jackson come about?
Akon: Working with an artist who has influenced me more than anyone else was the biggest experience of my life. He has influenced and impacted everyone who came after him. And I was with him and I saw who he is. I touched his mindset. He’s brilliant, oh my God! He’s beyond everything.
Phelps: How did this collaboration happen?
Akon: Well, I turned to Peter Lopez, who handles all of Michael’s affairs. He told me that Michael has been working on a new musical theme for a long time. I joked, 'That’s great! Make it so I’m part of this.' He took it seriously and made a call to Michael. I couldn’t believe it. It was a dream. Honestly, I don’t know where the bad image of Michael that you see today came from.
Phelps: We haven’t seen him for a long time these days. Instead, there have been provocative and disturbing reports. After these events, many people don’t respect this artist the way they used to.
Akon: Are all the people you’re talking about the ones who spoke to him? Were they close to him? Michael has always been like a spirit. You can’t touch him. He’s behind barriers. Nobody can get close to him in a serious way. I think this is what creates suspicion in many people. In the 1980s, he became so important and huge that the only way left for him was to hide from view. Everyone wants to see him, but nobody can. You can only see him in photos. And photos don’t tell the truth. For many of my generation, he’s been on the other side of reality for a long time. I want to change that.
Phelps: Apparently, they’ve seen you with Michael in a cinema in America. And it’s been said that Jackson wore pajamas.
Akon: That’s nonsense. Internet nonsense.
Phelps: For recording a song, don’t you need to be in the same room with Michael?
Akon: I was in the same room with Michael. We were sitting next to each other in the studio. He was writing and I was producing. Side by side.
Phelps: As a child, how did you get to know Michael Jackson’s music? Through Thriller?
Akon: Yes, of course. At that time, everyone fell in love with Michael Jackson. When he sang Beat It and moonwalked, everyone suddenly started dancing the same way. Everyone wanted to be like him. His videos were like movies. Before he withdrew in the late 1980s, Michael’s madness spread everywhere.
Phelps: What condition is he in these days?
Akon: He’s in an unbelievable state. He’s in perfect health. Healthier than all of us. I was completely shocked. I wish humanity could see him in the condition he’s in. I’ve never had the chance to meet such a complete human being before. He’s very humble and very realistic.
Phelps: But he’s strange.
Akon: No, that’s not true at all. No, no, no. The truth is that he’s not crazy or strange. The matter is, in the simplest way, that he stands far above everyone else. I wish more people could see him the way I was allowed to.
Phelps: Where does he live now?
Akon: I don’t know. If I did know, I wouldn’t tell you.
Phelps: Did you only record Hold My Hand?
Akon: Yes, we only recorded that one. Oh, how much I love this song.
Phelps: Do you know anything about Michael Jackson’s new album? There are rumors about it.
Akon: He decides for himself. He’s the creator. He could never stop creating.
Phelps: Jermaine Jackson recently said things about the return of the Jackson Five. Do you think this idea would be good for Michael?
Akon: Yes, it would be great. They don’t need to do anything new. They just need to remember what legends they are. The Jackson Five! Oh my God! I’m also interested in arranging a celebration for their return. Honestly, comebacks that groups make with new songs are pointless.
Phelps: Why do you think Michael Jackson chose Akon among everyone?
Akon: We have a lot in common. We have the same background.
Phelps: What background?
Akon: Michael Jackson was like a god in Africa. I’m from Africa too, and Obama (the new President of the United States) is also from Africa. That’s our connection: Africa. Today, I’m as famous in Africa as he is. Like Obama, we represent both continents. All three of us have a lot in common.
Phelps: Only that Michael Jackson isn’t Black anymore.
Akon: What are you talking about! That’s because of some medical reasons (1), not cultural reasons.
Phelps: Do you feel like the Prince of Pop right now?
Akon: Anyone who takes their art seriously always wants to be the best of all time. That’s what I pray for. But I also want to be free—to go to the cinema without being bothered and to be a normal person. I’m free.
Phelps: But Michael Jackson isn’t free.
Akon: He’s definitely free! At least mentally, he’s free. Physically, he certainly isn’t free. Basically, he can’t go anywhere anymore. He’s too big for that.
(1) Refers to the skin disease vitiligo—Vitilligo—which destroys skin pigments. In a 1993 interview, Michael first mentioned that he had vitiligo and said that this disease was the cause of the gradual whitening of his skin color starting around age twenty. He also said that he used special creams to cover the spots on his skin.
Source: eMJey / WELT Online