Travis on Michael’s children and his desire to work with Lady Gaga

Travis Payne, the choreographer who worked with Michael in the This Is It concerts, in an interview with Amsterdam producer and actor Reflz van Exel, posted on YouTube on December 30, 2009, praised Michael’s children and called them friendly, smart, and polite. He said they didn’t turn out to be spoiled or “pompous.”

Travis said that when he and Michael practiced dance every day at Michael’s home in Bel Air, all three of his children were always present in the sessions and watched their father. Especially the 7-year-old Blanket sat there and carefully watched every move Michael made. Blanket was even present in their official work sessions, and Michael explained the meanings of some words that Blanket didn’t know.

Travis said about Paris that she was the “lady of the house” and knew what would be served for lunch and at what time. Michael served lunch every day alongside his children, and on the few occasions when Travis was also a guest, Paris would say a prayer before eating, which he said was very normal for her because it was a daily routine. He also said that Prince recorded his father’s dance sessions on his own camera.

Travis also said that Michael was very eager to work with other artists in his concerts at O2, with great humility.

“I gave him a list of people who, in my opinion, would fit well, and he said, ‘Yes, of course—everyone on this list can work with us as long as their schedule allows and they don’t get in the way too much.’”

Travis continues: “I named Janet, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Celine Dion, Sting, Seal, Bono, and Tina Turner, and we talked about them. Then I asked him if there was anyone else he would like to work with. He said, ‘Yes—Lady Gaga. Her work is good.’ Michael made me focus on Gaga. I started listening to her music and watching videos of her performances on YouTube, and then I realized that yes—Michael was right.”

Travis didn’t say when he had talked to Michael about this. But he said that in November 2009, during a phone call with Lady Gaga, he told her about his conversation with Michael, and Gaga was shocked to hear it.

This interview is in several parts, and you can watch the first part here.

Source: eMJey / MTV / Youtube