Teddy Riley Talks About Michael’s Songs

Two nights ago, prominent music producer Teddy Riley took part in a radio interview with The Gyantunplugged Show, which you can listen to at this link.

After the release of Michael Jackson’s Breaking News song, fans and his family objected, saying that this isn’t Michael’s voice. But the night before the song was released, Teddy Riley personally decided to respond to the criticisms from the Jackson family.

Question: The Jackson family called this song fake.

Teddy Riley: This is my first interview about this. Take everything I say seriously. I’m a real friend of Michael. The song comes tomorrow, and I still haven’t received my paycheck from Sony for working on the album, because I did this for Michael Jackson—not for Sony. Not for Michael’s family. Everyone—including the people we’re talking about right now—is starting fights and arguments over Michael. It doesn’t matter. What matters is his legacy. This is Michael Jackson’s voice. Everyone who has worked with him in the studio over the past 20+ years are professionals and music experts in this industry. And all of them, including me, say that it’s Michael Jackson. We worked with Michael. We were in the studio with him. There were times when he didn’t even want to be around his family and friends. You can figure out what I mean from that. None of them have been in the studio with Michael during these 25 years—none of them. All the people who worked with Michael—like Michael Frank, Michael’s right-hand man, or Bert Baxter, who always recorded Michael’s songs—these people know Michael’s voice. They call me the “finisher” because they always ask me for help at the end of projects. Michael called me at the end of Invincible, and I also worked on the albums History and Dangerous, and did about 40–50% of the production. And at the end of the recent project, they called my voice in and asked me to come, because some of the producers working on this album had never collaborated with Michael and didn’t know Michael’s taste. They were mixing the song. I worked on it. And the one who was running interference in the middle was J.A.M. (John McClain). He’s the head of the Michael Jackson Foundation, and he challenged me because I told him that working in this studio isn’t easy for me, and when I left the studio he hired other people. The song I produced was better, and it was released. Now suddenly he says it’s not Michael’s voice? Why? Because he’s been defeated by me.

So it’s all just hype?

Teddy Riley: Yes, and they’ll fail. Take us to court, Sony—let’s see the truth. Michael is the biggest entertainer, the biggest human being in the whole world. Why do they (his family) want to do this to him? Let his legacy remain.

I listened to 50 songs with my own ears. He only recorded the first part and the chorus to see how it would turn out. So on the next album (after the album Michael) we’ll have two-voice songs. (The second part will be sung by other singers) And I’ll work on that album. I also worked on the recent album that was only for Michael—not for Sony or anyone else. To prove it, I’ll say this: I didn’t even sign a contract.

My only concern is that my friend (eMJey) has an amazing album. When I took the first track, they thought I was like the other producers who spend 5 or 6 days on it. But I delivered it in 5 hours. Michael would send us out into the desert and around to record sounds. We’d go to his zoo and record the lions’ sounds as samples (for use in his songs). Well, that’s another story, but his family or other people don’t understand that his legacy has to be preserved. Right now everyone says Elvis is still alive, but are they killing Michael? Why? I want to tell you it’s all about money, and they have all the wrong reasons. Their intentions are wrong.

How did Riley feel while working on the album?

Teddy Riley: I cried. I was sad. The only thing that could give me the feeling that Michael was in the studio was calling Harrison Funk, the photographer, and telling him to bring pictures of Michael. I arranged his pictures around the studio, and I felt like he was there with me in the studio. That was the only thing that helped me stay sane and not go crazy. I played the keyboard in the songs and I cried.

Is it a conspiracy?

Teddy Riley: It’s definitely a conspiracy. I can’t say anything because I signed a confidentiality agreement. It’s all a conspiracy. The people working on this want what’s best for his children. Those who are sabotaging don’t think about the children’s best interests—they think about themselves.

Teddy Riley refused to provide more details.

Source: eMJey / gyantunplugged.com / mjjcommunity.com