Fragment
wywiadu z Akonem z 22 stycznia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgIFnwTMqhM
Smiley: What I was going to say to you, about the Internet, was the Michael Jackson situation.
Akon: That too!
Smiley: That's what I was going to talk about. So, tell the story. You and Michael had done--you tell the story.
Akon: Well, what happened was, me and Mike did this incredible record called "Hold My Hand."
Smiley: Right. Mmm hmm.
Akon: And, I mean, the record is amazing. Phenomenal record.
Smiley: We've all heard it now!
Akon: I know.
Smiley: [Laughing] Even though you didn't plan it that way, but I'll let you tell the story. Yeah.
Akon: And, the concept was that this would be Mike's first release off of his new album. And I would stripe it on my album--on my following release.
Smiley: Mmm hmm.
Akon: That way we could have the outlets open for everyone to be able to receive the record. You know, Mike came up with this just brilliant marketing launch for this record. You know, he's the best at launching a record.
Smiley: No doubt about it.
Akon: He had the whole world paying attention in two minutes! About eight o'clock, check the--he was set up, alright.
Smiley: Right.
Akon: And, before we could get to that point, the record got leaked over the Internet. And, we got over 15 million downloads of the song, for free. So it was like... [Shrugs]
Smiley: [Laughing] "Why put this out?"
Akon: You--I mean, you can't at that point! Everyone already has the record, so.
Smiley: Right.
Akon: You gotta look at it like, that's just a gift to the fans.
Smiley: So, how angry were you though when that happened?
Akon: I was more upset for Mike than me because--you gotta think, like he's a legend. He's been--he kind of paved the way for a lot of us. And, even changed the whole surface of just videos and all of that. So, I felt like this was the perfect moment for him. He did too. And it just, it didn't come off the way we expected it to, so. But, one thing I can tell you, he's probably the most patient person I know, in my life.
Smiley: Yeah? Why do you say that?
Akon: Because he's--not only is he a perfectionist, but he just waits for the right moment. You know what I mean?
Smiley: Mmm hmm.
Akon: Sometimes we don't know what the right moment is until--like me, I just go and pray that it's the right moment.
Smiley: [Laughing] Yeah. No patience here then.
Akon: Because I don't know when the moment is. Especially with music, you know. But he has an intuition. He just feels like, "when that moment is right, that's when I'm going to drop this record."
Smiley: You were saying earlier in the conversation that you could never have imagined as a kid that you'd have this as a career.
Akon: No, never.
Smiley: So then how do you describe not just having a career, but cutting a record with Michael?
Akon: That's--when I came into this business, I came in with a 10-year plan. I truly, like any other corporate environment you know type of situation. Because I always feel like if you don't have a situation or a plan of how to manage your success, you ain't going to have it long. It was more so just watching all the other people do it. From becoming an artist, to an exec, to a businessman. To where you can use everything and market it to make outside money, outside of music. You know, but it was more so just trying to figure out, "okay, I love to do this, and if I'm gonna do it, how can I get paid for doing it?" And I was always the key. I just wanted to be rich, I didn't care how, you know? That was my downfall! That's how I got in trouble, because I just wanted to be rich.
Smiley: [Laughing] I love the artistry! "I just wanna be rich!" And then Michael comes along anyway!
Akon: Yeah, pfff. But he was like the top of my list. He was like on the 10th year. And it just so happened on the fifth year he came in and I was stuck after that, I didn't know where to go.
Smiley: Yeah. [Laughs]
Akon: [Laughing] So I had to make a new plan!
Smiley: Yeah, well. [Akon] made a new plan. Michael is not on the project, but of course you can download it for free, much to Akon's chagrin. You can download the Michael track for free.
Akon: [Laughing] Aww man!
Smiley: But he's got some great collaborations on here though...
EDIT:
Fragment
wywiadu z Akonem dla 'Die Welt' z 23 stycznia.
Michael Pilz: On your most recent record “Freedom” we are missing the title “Hold My Hand”, which you recorded with Michael Jackson and promised to the world.
Akon: But you know the track, right?
Pilz: Sure.
Akon: And where from?
Pilz: Downloaded from the internet.
Akon: You see. That’s why it is not on my new record. There were 50 million downloads. For free. Everybody owns the song. It would have been irresponsible to publish “Hold My Hand” after that. It was supposed to be Michael Jackson‘s big comeback, after a long time. That would have needed to be presented properly. Big and overwhelming. We decided instead to invest in the future to bring about Michael Jackson’s comeback in a different way. Possibly with a new album of his own. See “Hold My Hand” as a gift to the world.
Pilz: How did the collaboration with Michael Jackson come about?
Akon: It was the greatest experience of my life: To work with an artist who has inspired me the most. He influenced everyone, who came after him. And then I was together with him and saw who he is. Felt, how he thinks. He is brilliant, man! He is above everything.
Pilz: How did this come about?
Akon: Well, I turned to Peter Lopez, who takes care of everything for Michael. He told me that Michael had been working on a new musical concept for a long time. I was joking: Wow, let me be a part of it. He really made the connection with Michael. I could hardly believe it. A dream. I don’t know, by the way, how Michael got the bad image that surrounds him today.
Pilz: We haven’t heard from him artistically in a long time. Instead a lot of irritating activities were reported. Not everyone respects the artist as much anymore after this.
Akon: Did all of them talk to him? Were they close to him? Michael has always been like a ghost. You can’t touch him. He is protected. Nobody can really get to him. I think this causes mistrust in many people. He was so great in the eighties, that the only thing for him left to do was disappear. Everybody wants to see him, but nobody can. Only on pictures. And pictures lie. For many of my generation he has been beyond reality for a long time. I want to change that.
Pilz: Evidently you have been observed when you visited a cinema in America with Michael. Jackson supposedly was wearing pajamas.
Akon: That is nonsense, internet nonsense.
Pilz: You don’t have to be in the same room to record music.
Akon: I was in the same room with Michael. We were sitting next to each other in the studio and were working. He wrote, I produced. Side by Side.
Pilz: How did you get to know Michael Jackson‘s musis in your childhood. With “Thriller”?
Akon: Yes, sure. Everybody learned to love Michael Jackson at the same time. When he sang “Beat It” and danced the Moonwalk. Everyone suddenly moved like that. Everybody wanted to be like him. His videos were motion pictures. It was Michaelmania. Before he retired in the late eighties.
Pilz: What condition is he in today?
Akon: Yeah. He is in an incredible condition. He is healthy as hell. Healthier than all of us. I was totally shocked. Wow. If humanity could just see him like that. I’ve never before had the privilege to see such a complete human being. So humble and down to earth.
Pilz: But he is a freak.
Akon: Oh, no! Not at all. No, no, no. That’s the thing: He is not crazy or strange. He just simply stands far above everyone else. I wish more people could see him like I was allowed to.
Pilz: Where does he actually live now?
Akon: I have no idea. And if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.
Pilz: You only recorded one song, “Hold My Hand”?
Akon: Yes, just that one. Oh, how I love that record.
Pilz: Do you know anything about a new album by Michael Jackson. There are rumors.
Akon: He decides that on his own. He is the creator. He could never stop to be creative.
Pilz: Jermaine Jackson just recently talked about plans for a comeback of the Jackson Five. Would that be good for Michael?
Akon: Oh yes, that would be great. They don’t really have to do anything new. Just remind everyone, what a legend they are. The Jackson Five! Boy, boy! I would also like to celebrate a comeback. Actually, comebacks with new songs are nonsense.
Pilz: Do you have any idea why Michael Jackson likes Akon of all people?
Akon: We have a lot in common. The same background.
Pilz: What background?
Akon: Michael Jackson was sort of a god in Africa. I am from Africa, Obama is from Africa. That’s our connection: Africa. Today I am as famous there as him. Like Obama we represent both continents. All three of us have so much in common.
Pilz: Only that Michael Jackson is not that black anymore.
Akon: Please! There are medical reasons for that, not cultural ones.
Pilz: You could now feel yourself to be the Prince of Pop.
Akon: Whoever is serious as an artist, wants to be the greatest artist of all times. That’s what I pray for. But I would also like to move about freely, be able to go to the movies undisturbed and be a normal person. I am free.
Pilz: But Michael Jackson is not free.
Akon: Oh, he is absolutely free! At least mentally. Physically surely not. He basically can’t go anywhere anymore. He is too big.
Jednak dobrze jest czytać teksty, jakoś miałam wrażenie że on tam, mówi "can't hear music"..../