Anthony: We have a सवाल from SJ Chams who wonders, "Do आप think you'll do another duet with Janet?"
Michael: I would प्यार to! It depends on the song, the time. When she's in one corner of the Earth, I'm in another place. It's very rare that our ships pass in the night. So it's not easy to do 'cause we're both very busy. But that would be very nice. I प्यार working with her. She's a true real professional and a wonderful sister.
Anthony: Excellent. Ah, we have Sheik 33 who wonders, "Who was your idol when आप were a child?"
Michael: I always went nuts for.... I mean, I could be asleep... In Indiana, at like 5 years old, I'd be asleep and it'd be late at night, like 1 in the morning, some दिखाना on, I remember seeing my mother run to my room, "wake up , wake up! James Brown is on! James Brown is on!" या "Sammy Davis Jr.'s playing" या "Fred Astaire! They got a good फ्रेड Astaire movie on." "Gene Kelly's on right now!" And I'd sit there with my eyes just... I'd be awe-struck, just watching. So when वीडियो came out, I had a collection. [giggles]
Anthony: Yeah, I understand that आप have a, an extraordinary collection of a kind of old फिल्में of all of the performers that आप like and, oh, the संगीत performances of the artists that आप admire. आप know, talk about some of those, and some of the stuff that you've got that आप like to watch.
Michael: Well, I .. I like to, um, before I do anything, it could be any situation, I प्यार studying the whole history of it before I take the first step to innovate. So, um, I प्यार studying any Vaudevillian, आप know, who came from that era, even though they didn't have T.V. Uh, but they, uh, they transcended into टेलीविज़न later on. I प्यार people like Jackie Gleason, Red Skelton, I'm crazy about the 3 Stooges, uh, anything Walt Disney... And far as performers, uh, I प्यार Anthony Newley, आप know, like I said, Jackie Wilson, James Brown. So.. They're incredible! I mean, when James Brown was "James Brown and the Famous Flames" he was so incredible. I would watch him and cry. I'd be crying and watching. I've never seen a person perform like that, ever.
Anthony: आप know, it must have been extraordinary for you, as a ... आप know, when आप were young and making records and getting to meet some of your idols, आप know, that must have been such a powerful experience.
Michael: Oh, it wa... It truly was. And to have them tell me that they ... they thought I was incredible, and all my life I thought they were, like, the best. It was the best...I mean, it was the best compliment I could get, and no award could be दिया to me that could चोटी, शीर्ष that. आप know. When फ्रेड Astaire या Gene Kelly, who I knew very well, या Frank Sinatra, told me I .. they think I'm amazing and I have an amazing career ahead of me.. As a child they would tell me this. 'Cause they were my neighbors. They lived द्वारा me. And uh, I felt very honored and happy to hear those kind of words from these legends.
Anthony: That must have been very encouraging.
Michael: Yes, very.
Anthony: Now we have Mhagrice who is actually Margaret from the Netherlands, a 26 साल old woman, says, "Is it true that you'll तारा, स्टार in Men In Black II, and will आप record a soundtrack for that film?"
Michael: Uh, I don't think we're doing a soundtrack, but I did a .. a guest appearance, like a Cameo, for Men In Black, uh, 2, and we're expecting to do part 3 as well. And it was a lot of fun, and exciting. Um, and it's one of my प्रिय films of all time. Uh, I'm a big Men In Black fan. I प्यार it very much.
Anthony: Well, weren't आप .. Now, I understand you're also doing The Nightmare of Edgar Allen Poe. Could आप tell us a little bit about that?
Michael: Yes, that one's coming up. It's about the great prolific American writer, Edgar Allen Poe.
Anthony: Kind of a scary guy himself, too.
Michael: He's very diabolical, and very dark, and .. But he was a genius and it's... But his own personal life was very interesting, and that's what it's about, आप know. How he was, आप know... What he had to go through to create such ingenious work. It's a great story. But... and द्वारा the way, make sure the प्रशंसकों know, all tabloids should be out. Do not believe anything आप read in a tabloid. It's garbage and it's junk. We should have a tabloid burning, like a big mountain -- just set it afire.
Anthony: आप heard it first here from Michael Jackson.
Michael: Don't waste your time with it. It's stupid.
Anthony: Now we have Rapmaster JA writes in, who is actually Jason from Illinois. He says, "Michael, आप are undoubtedly the greatest artist in the history of the world. How do आप do the Moonwalk. It's the coolest हटाइए I've ever seen?"
Michael: Gee, it's hard to explain on the phone [interruption from host]. I प्यार moves and dancing. I's like walking आगे and backward at the same time, but not just walking, but as if you're on a conveyer belt. And it's, uh, it's hard to explain. If he was in the room with me, I could दिखाना him how to do it with my fingers, या with my feet, but. Maybe he could see at the end of the जाम video where I'm trying to दिखाना Michael Jordan how to do it. Only time I think I showed it.
Anthony: Now we have a Mark the Shark, uh, who asks, "How do आप do that lean on the video to Smooth Criminal?"
Michael: Oh, Smooth Criminal, well. That one happened ... it was in the middle of the shoot and it wasn't .. I choreographed it right at the moment. Took us an घंटा to execute it. It's a special effect that we kind of lean as far as we can and, uh, we let the conveyor बेल्ट do the rest.
Anthony: Now Glenn from Toronto Canada asks, "Do आप feel a special spiritual energy when you're performing; do आप feel आप are connected to a higher force? Cause this is what आप make many feel when they see आप live?"
Michael: That's exactly what it is, you're connected to a higher स्रोत and आप just go with the moment and आप become one with, आप know, the spirit. Not to sound religious या anything, but it's a very spiritual... very much like religion, and it's a God-given gift and आप just go with it. And I'm honored to have been दिया it. And, uh, as fun to become one with the audience. It's a one-ness, आप know?
Anthony: I was reminded of, ah, some of that when आप were talking about the way आप would work out your moves, आप know, listening to ... just listening to the संगीत and kind of disappearing into it. आप know, it has like a really mystical feel.
Michael: Thank you.
Anthony: Now Charlie sends in a सवाल and says, "What achievements in your life are आप the most proud of?"
Michael: Boy, uh, one of my biggest dreams since I was really, really little... I think around 7 years old, I use to always buy the गिनीज, गिनिनेस World Book of Records. [Giggles] आप know what the answer's gonna be right? I said, "Hmmm, I प्यार to dance and sing. Hopefully one दिन I can be in this book." And I believed that it was possible. So when Thriller became the biggest selling album of all time, and it was enlisted in the गिनीज, गिनिनेस Book Of World Records, and, uh, there's so many other lists... आप know, they've enlisted me in there like 7 different times now. It was my happiest time of my life. I was so happy.
Anthony: To what do आप attribute that level of ambition and possibility आप felt when आप were a kid. आप know, I think it's sometimes hard for people to feel... आप know, आप weren't, obviously, rich as a kid या from some kind of fancy background, but still somehow आप were able to envision a life of success. What do आप attribute that to?
Michael: I attribute that to my parents who always taught us to persevere and believe in yourself, have confidence, no matter what आप do. Even if you're sweeping floors या painting ceilings, do it better than anybody in the world, no matter what it is that आप do. Be the best at it, and have a respect for others, and be proud of yourself.. and to honor; be honorable, आप know.
Anthony: Absolutely. Now, you've been making records for a long time, you've been a force on the संगीत scene for many years. What do आप think are the biggest changes in संगीत that you've seen?
Michael: Biggest changes?
Anthony: Yeah, what's changed about the संगीत industry या about, आप know, the संगीत that's out there. What do आप think is different?
Michael: Well, I think.. Ah, I don't think people thought the Rap संगीत would last as long as it has. And it has gone through evolutional stages -- there's और melody in it now, it's और acceptable, because melody will never die. Will never die. And the rhythm-- things are a little और rhythmic now. Because people want to dance. It's part of the human condition; it's part of our biological makeup. Our cells dance when we hear beats. आप notice a.. a one साल old child will start moving hearing music. How do they know to move? 'Cause it's biological. It's not just hearing of the ear, it's feeling, आप know. And playing music, the घास and the trees and the flowers... They're all influenced द्वारा music. They become और beautiful and और vibrant in how they grow. संगीत is a very important and powerful substance, and all the planets in the universe make music. It's called संगीत of the spheres. They all make a different note; they make harmony. So there's harmony even in the universe as we speak.
Anthony: Now we have a सवाल from Holland, uh, Femka from Holland writes, "I प्यार the special editions from Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous." She loves you. And asks, "Why does Invincible... Why will Invincible be coming out in different colors?
Michael: Because we wanted the प्रशंसकों to have some fun with it and collect them and, uh... It's a, uh, a Limited Edition, I think. And, uh, there's albums that I प्यार and I will buy them 5 times, even though I have the same cover. Like, 5 times 'cause I प्यार that album so much. So, imagine if they did a different color या just changed the color, I would buy it 5 और times. We just wanted the प्रशंसकों to have some fun with the pictures and with the रंग and... Just to try something a little different. That's why we did it.
Anthony: Now we have TJ who's 17 and from Australia, wants to tell आप that, "You are still my hero," and says, "How do आप explain your ability to inspire so many people all around the world?"
Michael: I just do what I do and I प्यार doing it. And, uh, I प्यार art. I प्यार anything, any art. And, uh, if they're inspired द्वारा it, I feel I'm ... I pray that I'm doing my job; what I'm here to do on Earth. Because I प्यार the fans, I प्यार the kids, I प्यार the babies, and that's what give me my inspiration, the children, the babies, the fans. I प्यार them very much.
Michael: I would प्यार to! It depends on the song, the time. When she's in one corner of the Earth, I'm in another place. It's very rare that our ships pass in the night. So it's not easy to do 'cause we're both very busy. But that would be very nice. I प्यार working with her. She's a true real professional and a wonderful sister.
Anthony: Excellent. Ah, we have Sheik 33 who wonders, "Who was your idol when आप were a child?"
Michael: I always went nuts for.... I mean, I could be asleep... In Indiana, at like 5 years old, I'd be asleep and it'd be late at night, like 1 in the morning, some दिखाना on, I remember seeing my mother run to my room, "wake up , wake up! James Brown is on! James Brown is on!" या "Sammy Davis Jr.'s playing" या "Fred Astaire! They got a good फ्रेड Astaire movie on." "Gene Kelly's on right now!" And I'd sit there with my eyes just... I'd be awe-struck, just watching. So when वीडियो came out, I had a collection. [giggles]
Anthony: Yeah, I understand that आप have a, an extraordinary collection of a kind of old फिल्में of all of the performers that आप like and, oh, the संगीत performances of the artists that आप admire. आप know, talk about some of those, and some of the stuff that you've got that आप like to watch.
Michael: Well, I .. I like to, um, before I do anything, it could be any situation, I प्यार studying the whole history of it before I take the first step to innovate. So, um, I प्यार studying any Vaudevillian, आप know, who came from that era, even though they didn't have T.V. Uh, but they, uh, they transcended into टेलीविज़न later on. I प्यार people like Jackie Gleason, Red Skelton, I'm crazy about the 3 Stooges, uh, anything Walt Disney... And far as performers, uh, I प्यार Anthony Newley, आप know, like I said, Jackie Wilson, James Brown. So.. They're incredible! I mean, when James Brown was "James Brown and the Famous Flames" he was so incredible. I would watch him and cry. I'd be crying and watching. I've never seen a person perform like that, ever.
Anthony: आप know, it must have been extraordinary for you, as a ... आप know, when आप were young and making records and getting to meet some of your idols, आप know, that must have been such a powerful experience.
Michael: Oh, it wa... It truly was. And to have them tell me that they ... they thought I was incredible, and all my life I thought they were, like, the best. It was the best...I mean, it was the best compliment I could get, and no award could be दिया to me that could चोटी, शीर्ष that. आप know. When फ्रेड Astaire या Gene Kelly, who I knew very well, या Frank Sinatra, told me I .. they think I'm amazing and I have an amazing career ahead of me.. As a child they would tell me this. 'Cause they were my neighbors. They lived द्वारा me. And uh, I felt very honored and happy to hear those kind of words from these legends.
Anthony: That must have been very encouraging.
Michael: Yes, very.
Anthony: Now we have Mhagrice who is actually Margaret from the Netherlands, a 26 साल old woman, says, "Is it true that you'll तारा, स्टार in Men In Black II, and will आप record a soundtrack for that film?"
Michael: Uh, I don't think we're doing a soundtrack, but I did a .. a guest appearance, like a Cameo, for Men In Black, uh, 2, and we're expecting to do part 3 as well. And it was a lot of fun, and exciting. Um, and it's one of my प्रिय films of all time. Uh, I'm a big Men In Black fan. I प्यार it very much.
Anthony: Well, weren't आप .. Now, I understand you're also doing The Nightmare of Edgar Allen Poe. Could आप tell us a little bit about that?
Michael: Yes, that one's coming up. It's about the great prolific American writer, Edgar Allen Poe.
Anthony: Kind of a scary guy himself, too.
Michael: He's very diabolical, and very dark, and .. But he was a genius and it's... But his own personal life was very interesting, and that's what it's about, आप know. How he was, आप know... What he had to go through to create such ingenious work. It's a great story. But... and द्वारा the way, make sure the प्रशंसकों know, all tabloids should be out. Do not believe anything आप read in a tabloid. It's garbage and it's junk. We should have a tabloid burning, like a big mountain -- just set it afire.
Anthony: आप heard it first here from Michael Jackson.
Michael: Don't waste your time with it. It's stupid.
Anthony: Now we have Rapmaster JA writes in, who is actually Jason from Illinois. He says, "Michael, आप are undoubtedly the greatest artist in the history of the world. How do आप do the Moonwalk. It's the coolest हटाइए I've ever seen?"
Michael: Gee, it's hard to explain on the phone [interruption from host]. I प्यार moves and dancing. I's like walking आगे and backward at the same time, but not just walking, but as if you're on a conveyer belt. And it's, uh, it's hard to explain. If he was in the room with me, I could दिखाना him how to do it with my fingers, या with my feet, but. Maybe he could see at the end of the जाम video where I'm trying to दिखाना Michael Jordan how to do it. Only time I think I showed it.
Anthony: Now we have a Mark the Shark, uh, who asks, "How do आप do that lean on the video to Smooth Criminal?"
Michael: Oh, Smooth Criminal, well. That one happened ... it was in the middle of the shoot and it wasn't .. I choreographed it right at the moment. Took us an घंटा to execute it. It's a special effect that we kind of lean as far as we can and, uh, we let the conveyor बेल्ट do the rest.
Anthony: Now Glenn from Toronto Canada asks, "Do आप feel a special spiritual energy when you're performing; do आप feel आप are connected to a higher force? Cause this is what आप make many feel when they see आप live?"
Michael: That's exactly what it is, you're connected to a higher स्रोत and आप just go with the moment and आप become one with, आप know, the spirit. Not to sound religious या anything, but it's a very spiritual... very much like religion, and it's a God-given gift and आप just go with it. And I'm honored to have been दिया it. And, uh, as fun to become one with the audience. It's a one-ness, आप know?
Anthony: I was reminded of, ah, some of that when आप were talking about the way आप would work out your moves, आप know, listening to ... just listening to the संगीत and kind of disappearing into it. आप know, it has like a really mystical feel.
Michael: Thank you.
Anthony: Now Charlie sends in a सवाल and says, "What achievements in your life are आप the most proud of?"
Michael: Boy, uh, one of my biggest dreams since I was really, really little... I think around 7 years old, I use to always buy the गिनीज, गिनिनेस World Book of Records. [Giggles] आप know what the answer's gonna be right? I said, "Hmmm, I प्यार to dance and sing. Hopefully one दिन I can be in this book." And I believed that it was possible. So when Thriller became the biggest selling album of all time, and it was enlisted in the गिनीज, गिनिनेस Book Of World Records, and, uh, there's so many other lists... आप know, they've enlisted me in there like 7 different times now. It was my happiest time of my life. I was so happy.
Anthony: To what do आप attribute that level of ambition and possibility आप felt when आप were a kid. आप know, I think it's sometimes hard for people to feel... आप know, आप weren't, obviously, rich as a kid या from some kind of fancy background, but still somehow आप were able to envision a life of success. What do आप attribute that to?
Michael: I attribute that to my parents who always taught us to persevere and believe in yourself, have confidence, no matter what आप do. Even if you're sweeping floors या painting ceilings, do it better than anybody in the world, no matter what it is that आप do. Be the best at it, and have a respect for others, and be proud of yourself.. and to honor; be honorable, आप know.
Anthony: Absolutely. Now, you've been making records for a long time, you've been a force on the संगीत scene for many years. What do आप think are the biggest changes in संगीत that you've seen?
Michael: Biggest changes?
Anthony: Yeah, what's changed about the संगीत industry या about, आप know, the संगीत that's out there. What do आप think is different?
Michael: Well, I think.. Ah, I don't think people thought the Rap संगीत would last as long as it has. And it has gone through evolutional stages -- there's और melody in it now, it's और acceptable, because melody will never die. Will never die. And the rhythm-- things are a little और rhythmic now. Because people want to dance. It's part of the human condition; it's part of our biological makeup. Our cells dance when we hear beats. आप notice a.. a one साल old child will start moving hearing music. How do they know to move? 'Cause it's biological. It's not just hearing of the ear, it's feeling, आप know. And playing music, the घास and the trees and the flowers... They're all influenced द्वारा music. They become और beautiful and और vibrant in how they grow. संगीत is a very important and powerful substance, and all the planets in the universe make music. It's called संगीत of the spheres. They all make a different note; they make harmony. So there's harmony even in the universe as we speak.
Anthony: Now we have a सवाल from Holland, uh, Femka from Holland writes, "I प्यार the special editions from Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous." She loves you. And asks, "Why does Invincible... Why will Invincible be coming out in different colors?
Michael: Because we wanted the प्रशंसकों to have some fun with it and collect them and, uh... It's a, uh, a Limited Edition, I think. And, uh, there's albums that I प्यार and I will buy them 5 times, even though I have the same cover. Like, 5 times 'cause I प्यार that album so much. So, imagine if they did a different color या just changed the color, I would buy it 5 और times. We just wanted the प्रशंसकों to have some fun with the pictures and with the रंग and... Just to try something a little different. That's why we did it.
Anthony: Now we have TJ who's 17 and from Australia, wants to tell आप that, "You are still my hero," and says, "How do आप explain your ability to inspire so many people all around the world?"
Michael: I just do what I do and I प्यार doing it. And, uh, I प्यार art. I प्यार anything, any art. And, uh, if they're inspired द्वारा it, I feel I'm ... I pray that I'm doing my job; what I'm here to do on Earth. Because I प्यार the fans, I प्यार the kids, I प्यार the babies, and that's what give me my inspiration, the children, the babies, the fans. I प्यार them very much.
