Michael: I believe in, perfection. I try to...to create
that in everything we do. We never seem to totally get there, but I believe
in perfect execution. And when we don't get at least 99.9%, I get really
upset. So, that gets me upset.
Question: Are you going to be doing more videos off
of your HIStory album?
Michael: Umm...there's alot more releases from HIStory.
We have the "Ghost" coming up which is a big one. Um, and Stranger
In Moscow. And uh, uh, it's just gonna go on and on. I mean, we're 28 million
albums right now other than what the press continue to lie about. The tabloid
press, they're terrible. Don't read the tabloids, that's something you
can play. The fans, don't read the stories that aren't true. They write
these stories to uh, to mislead you. And you're just making them rich.
Don't believe it, it's not true. It's garbage, it's junk food. Believe
what I tell you.
Question: Why are you wearing a silk mask in your
latest appearances?
Michael: Because...uh..with time my skin condition
has gotten worse. I hate to say it. I have vitaligo and uh, I am totally
completely allergic to the sun. I'm not even suppose to be outside actually,
even if I am in the shade the sunrays can destroy my skin.
Question: Are there any songs that you released that
you wished you didn't?
Michael: Not that I can think of. Uh, some of the
Motown, some of the songs, the early ones. I remember getting upset with
the song writers. Because I wanted to sing it one way, and they wanted
me to sing it another way. And uh, I would call Berry Gordy who is the
chairman, the owner of the company. He would say "Look, let Michael
do what he wants, I'm sure he's right". So, that happened several
times.
Question: Was the atmosphere between the Motown stars
competative or friendly?
Michael: It was very friendly. Marvin Gaye use to
come to my house at least twice a week to play basketball with my brothers.
Stevie Wonder would come by for gatherings and parties. And I would go
to the Supreme's house. And, you know, I mean Diana Ross she would invite
the other girls over. And it was really, sincerely one happy family. We
would have a baseball team where we played against one another. And I was
just really little but they let me bat. And uh, it was really a happy family
and I miss, I do miss all of them. Even the Tempations, they would come
over my house all of the time.
Question: Are you going to retape the HBO special
you canceled last year? If so, when?
Michael: Am I going to what to the HBO special? Retape?
Oh, oh yes, we're planning on doing that in Africa. In South Africa.
Question: Have you ever been scared to go on stage?
Michael: No, I don't remember ever being afraid to
go onstage. I'm more comfortable being onstage than giving this interview
right now.
Question: Are you going to be doing any concerts here
in the United States?
Michael: Um, I'd like to. We're planning on it next
year.
Question: So, Mr. Jackson, I just wanted to know,
do you ever plan on working with Quincy Jones again?
Michael: I would love to work with Quincy again. The
doors are always open. Uh, we're very friendly with each other. But I just
like challenging and doing different things and experimenting. He's a very
endearing person and I do love him very much.
Question: If you could spend one day in complete anonymity,
where would you go and what would you do?
Michael: Probably to uh Neverland, or an island isolated
somewhere. What would I do? Probably, hmmm, write music or kinda create
some musical or stage play or something. Something creative, I never stop
working.
Question: Michael, did the real Billie Jean know about
the song? And if she did what were her reactions to it?
Michael: Um, there is a girl named Billie Jean, but
uhh, it is not about that Billie Jean. Billie Jean is kind of uh, anonymous.
It represents a lot of girls, who use to uh, they use to call them groupies
in the 60's. They would hang around backstage doors and any band that would
come to town they would have a relationship with. And uh, I think I wrote
this out of uhh, experience with my brothers. When I was little there were
alot of Billie Jeans out there. Every girl claimed that their son was related
to, you know, one of my brothers.
Question: Which songs of his are autobiographical?
Micahel: Hmmmm....Stranger In Moscow, Heal The World,
We Are The World, I'll Be There. Those type of songs.
Question: What inspired the song Stranger in Moscow?
Michael: Chattanooga Tennesse! Uh, Stranger In Moscow
I wrote that in Moscow when...the lyrics are totally autobiographical.
It's umm, When you hear lines like "Here abandoned in my fame, Armageddon
of the brain". And, at the time, that's, uh, on the last tour while
we were in Moscow, that's really how I felt. And it, it kinda created itself,
it fell into my lap because that's how I was feeling at the time. Just
uhh, all alone in a hotel, it was raining, and I just started writing it.