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Will.i.am On Working With Michael Jackson: “We’re Taking It Day By Day”

9/24/07, 4:37 pm EST


As you’re reading this, Black Eyed Pea and producer to the stars Will.i.am is locked away in a New York City recording studio working with Michael Jackson on the Gloved One’s highly anticipated comeback album. Last week, we reported that Jackson is in town plotting his return, and now as Will.i.am’s solo album Songs About Girls is about to hit record stores, Will tells us, “We’re taking it day by day, we’ve finished some songs. I like what I’m doing, I’m really happy with it, but it’s not my project to talk about. I could be talking about song titles what they sound like and be excited about it, but those songs I made may not make his record and then I look like an idiot.” Fair enough. So what was it like stepping into the studio with a true legend? “That was the hardest thing on the planet Earth that I ever had to endure,” he said. “I even said, ‘You know what, Mike? I know how to work with Justin. I know how to work with Fergie. I know how to work with John Legend. I know how to work with thee people, but it probably took four or five days [for me to figure it out with you].’ He’s like, ‘Why? What do you mean,’” Will recalls, doing a disturbingly spot-on imitation of Jackson’s falsetto whisper. “’Well everything you do I like.’”

“Because we had that conversation, I could navigate the session and not just be like, ‘Ooooh, damn, it’s Michael, oh my God,’” Will remembers. “You can’t let that affect you in the studio when you’re working with newcoming artists,” he adds of working with established greats. “Newcoming artists can have a great idea but because you just worked with Michael Jackson you’re going to think their idea is not superior. You can’t do that. You have to be able to tame a lion and then forget all about it when you’re chillin’ with cats.”


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Comments

akira | 11/12/2008, 10:34 pm EST

i love michael jackson…and ihate some of my friends that say hes a rapist or a child molester because deep down i know hes not!!
i hate you if you hate michael

shania handy | 5/14/2008, 10:12 pm EST

im get marrey to man soom iwll be ms droese gos michael jackson but can we be firends michael jackson.

Marckensy | 3/23/2008, 7:32 pm EST

Been waiting for 2 years and the new album is not mede yed, i canot belive it

Dawit Bezabeh | 3/20/2008, 1:37 am EST

I think people should stop taking sides and attack celebrities while favoring the once they like. The reason is that other can do the same to the artists that someone favors. In a way everyone will attack each other and hurt one another. There is no point in doing that. Instead we should all learn to respect all celebrities and admire everyones talent without focusing on who is better or who is the best. I think all celebrities have their own unique qualities. In addition, they don’t spent time insulting one another; only funs do. I encourage everyone to forget about competition and embrace different qualities that we see in celebrities. Thank you.

mjhellyeah | 3/4/2008, 8:24 pm EST

Prince? Who’s that? Are You talking about Michael’s son? What does have have to do with anything?

Grace | 3/3/2008, 12:05 am EST

I love MJ… a true legend. He inspired me as a little girl and moves me as a woman. I don’t care what people say. He’s sexy…. and if he asks… I’d say yes ;)

MJforeverforever | 1/30/2008, 7:37 pm EST

to MJforever i love him 2 every one in the 5th grade is making fun of me cause im a fifth grader that love michael jackson but im starting to like prince jackson jr.

SHiN | 10/20/2007, 11:04 pm EST

good jon michael. lets see how hot or dope or awesome or whatever word it is you use to describe your new album. i dont know what happened with michael’s other album. i guess people didnt notice because they were more concerned about the y2k bug. and michael was found not guilty for the 2nd time. the 1st was in 93 and people still talkin about it. so shut up about him and boys unless you like michael like that. thats your business.

Purple rain | 10/19/2007, 11:10 am EST

MJ new single song about : good looking boys !

Purple rain | 10/19/2007, 11:04 am EST

The MJ lover are not living in the free world ! they want
everyone to kiss and love MJ !
anyway , no way .

I will vote 4 prince

Princelover | 10/19/2007, 10:54 am EST

Oh Yeah MJ on the top of world again like 1983 till mid 1984 when PRINCE shut him down of the top . I do think so the time of the superstar is over ! now it is time of hip hop ! how old stuff can back him to the top .
anyway he have media powers houses with him .

MJ Forever | 10/18/2007, 9:56 pm EST

You people are all freaks with no lives, I just found this page while surfing the net for info on MJ’s new album, and all I see is this stuff, Wow, pretty pathetic. If you don’t like Michael Jackson, then leave him alone, no one is forcing you to like his music, or like will.i.am, so why don’t you just shut up? Personally, I along with millions of others around the world still believe that MJ is a living legend and he produces amazing music. My opinion is just as valid as anyone else’s, and I’m not trying to force it on anyone. I love Michael Jackson, and if you don’t then that’s fine. But dodn’t make silly comments, or think you’re better tahn anyone else, becuase you’re not! You all just need to grow up! Can’t wait for the new album, it’s going to be so great!

Austria | 9/29/2007, 4:48 am EST

I fully agree with France

French guy | 9/29/2007, 4:37 am EST

i know why michael wants to live out of america, with all this comments.
you’re stupids, mac donald’s eaters

vince | 9/27/2007, 7:55 pm EST

oh..i mistyped..pretending to be dumb…is what i meant..yes..i can laugh at myself.

MJ and Will I Am…it’s nice to hear from the people that count, that MJ is a legend. Hearing it form Will I Am, makes the haters obsolete, no matter what they say.

vince | 9/27/2007, 7:52 pm EST

sure…i’m jealous. no problem…but in a good way.

obviously, pretending to be umb isn’t possible, as you have proven. obviously you know i am referring to people like you who come on here and bash MJ, dummy.

if you hate MJ, and you come on here..you are thinking about him and are jealous, in a way that proves that you are lacking. if you’re satisfied with yourself, you’d have no reason to attack a celebrity.

gee, vince | 9/27/2007, 12:48 am EST

“but you make the effort to come here and post. so you are jealous, or he would not be on your mind at all.”

Well, vince, according to that logic, that would make you “jealous” as well.

well . . | 9/27/2007, 12:34 am EST

if you say so

YUCK! | 9/27/2007, 12:22 am EST

May MJ have a skin-bleaching, or maybe a nose-job-related freak accident, and die a painful and lonely death. Amen.

well . . | 9/27/2007, 12:19 am EST

He IS a disgusting pervert

YUCK! | 9/27/2007, 12:15 am EST

To Will what’s-his-name, I hope you have nothing but daughters, so that you can think about them being treated the way that you treat women. “My Humps” and “I Got It From My Mama?” Women are nothing but lumps of flesh to you, are they? I can’t imagine why people buy this kind of crap.

YUCK! | 9/27/2007, 12:06 am EST

some people say that MJ just might be a disgusting pervert.

YUCK! | 9/27/2007, 12:03 am EST

Wha?

Herman Mankiewicz | 9/26/2007, 11:17 pm EST

I say I’m not jealous of someone and you say I am.
Okay . . .
I don’t know what I could possibly be jealous of.
Perhaps it’s his rugged good looks. You’re right, I’m jealous. Yeah, okay. whatever.

Dana | 9/26/2007, 10:37 pm EST

“If that’s how you live your life, every event in your life must be an unbearable tragedy.

Lighten up.”

I agree. what kind of life could possibly be worth living if you can’t joke and laugh a little. Life can be horrible enough and if you can’t laugh at some of this stuff, you’ll go crazy.

I'm Not Kidding | 9/26/2007, 9:42 pm EST

“they say that in every ‘joke’ there is a half truth in the minds of the jokers.”

FUCK YOU

A Joke | 9/26/2007, 9:38 pm EST

Michael Jackson walks into a Kindergarten classroom with a toy under each arm . . .

Alphabet Soup | 9/26/2007, 9:35 pm EST

Hmmmm . . . I am definitely a bit suspicious about “vince”.

Lenny Bruce | 9/26/2007, 9:32 pm EST

Anything about this “vince” character look a little suspect?
Whaddaya think, ABC?

K | 9/26/2007, 5:34 pm EST

will i am i a joker. MJ IS THE KING. OWWWWW

vince | 9/26/2007, 5:31 pm EST

they say that in every ‘joke’ there is a half truth in the minds of the jokers. well, for the people who are bashing Michael, and think they have a sense of humor….your lives are very sad. you claim you are not jealous, but you make the effort to come here and post. so you are jealous, or he would not be on your mind at all. some of you claim that he will meet satan, in hell…and you know he was not convicted of anything. may i remind you, that since you think you are Jesus Christ, HE said that those who judge shall be judged. if i were you, i would hope that judgement day is on hold.

for the one who wishes MJ dead, cold, and in an alley penniless..stop sharing tidbits of your own life flashing before your eyes, with us.

Herman Mankiewicz | 9/26/2007, 1:07 pm EST

completely

Herman Mankiewicz | 9/26/2007, 1:04 pm EST

Yeah, I’m REAL jealous of Michael Jackson! LOL

You really don’t have a sense of humor, do you?

You seem to be complely unable to discern between a SERIOUS comment and a JOKE.

If that’s how you live your life, every event in your life must be an unbearable tragedy.

Lighten up.

Michelle T - Toronto | 9/26/2007, 8:22 am EST

Hey Herman when there are a million fans at your face..what do u think will happen? You enjoy kickin peoples asses. hmmm nice profession you have going on. To bad it didn’t make you rich. Will u always be jealous of Michael?

Jo | 9/26/2007, 4:39 am EST

Leave him alone. Its about the music again!

King | 9/25/2007, 9:39 pm EST

Michael will always return to rock the world

mysticaldawn41@yahoo.com | 9/25/2007, 9:02 pm EST

I love Michael. The people that don’t can feel that way, but that doesn’t give them the right to be jerks about it. You don’t know him. You never did believe all the things the media has to say about the government. Why is it, then, when it comes to famouus stars you automatically believe whatever you hear?

Please grow up. You’re giving yourselves a bad name.

I would love to meet Michael. Anyone who has any dispute they would like to discuss respectfully can e-mail me to work it out.

jungleland | 9/25/2007, 5:54 pm EST

Can’t say I would run out and buy a new MJ cd. I hope he has a hit single. Rather see him live. I hope the Vegas thing pans out (Celine Dion’s gig) and he can still bring it.

r | 9/25/2007, 3:28 pm EST

Quincy had little to do with most of his biggest hits? No gays in Iran and now this. Some statements are just too ignorant to print.

FeeB | 9/25/2007, 1:44 pm EST

I bet a pretty penny that his next album goes #1 all over the world, just like every other studio album he’s ever put out. And contrary to popular belief, Quincy had little to do with most of his biggest hits.

paco chaos | 9/25/2007, 12:17 pm EST

Highly Anticipated? by whom? perhaps those freaks who got ridiculed by Triumph the Insult Comic Dog outside of the courthouse. the only thing I highly anticipate from this guy is to see him die cold alone in an alley, broke and penniless.

Herman Mankiewicz | 9/25/2007, 11:02 am EST

Let ‘em fuckin’ try it. Bring it on. I’m tired of just kicking one person’s ass anyway. How tough could they be? They’re Michael Jackson fans.

Michelle T - Toronto | 9/25/2007, 10:48 am EST

Now Now Herman Mankiewicz,
If you ever did that you would have over a million fans rip your face off. Now that would be something to see.

Herman Mankiewicz | 9/25/2007, 9:45 am EST

If had Michael Jackson alone for 5 minutes, I’d smash him in the head with a golf club 30 or 40 times!!!

RE: John Wayne | 9/25/2007, 7:44 am EST

RE:John Wayne | 9/25/2007, 5:48 am EST
MJ ““Sharing your bed with someone is the ultimate sign of love.””
JW (MJ in choke hold) Well, Pilgrim, now you’’re gonna share your bed with SATAN, you fuckin’’ vermint!”

YOu’re crazy, whoever you are.

John Wayne | 9/25/2007, 5:48 am EST

MJ “Sharing your bed with someone is the ultimate sign of love.”

JW (MJ in choke hold) Well, Pilgrim, now you’re gonna share your bed with SATAN, you fuckin’ vermint!

JBK~Surf City Sounds Plus >>>> | 9/25/2007, 4:04 am EST

Hello!:
“Highly anticipated”? We’ll see…In most social gatherings, would a hardcore MJ fan mention in normal conversation that he or she is one? I have too many doubts…On the other hand, (maybe the one without the glove :) ! the media ratings say many people like to tune in to the latest from celebrity trainwrecks…Go figure…~JBK

New Album Preview | 9/25/2007, 1:58 am EST

Will.i.am: “Songs About Girls”

Michael Jackson: “Songs About Boys”

(sometimes it’s just too easy, isn’t it?)

Create A Caption | 9/25/2007, 1:16 am EST

I’ll work with you, Mike.

But if you touch my dick, I snap your neck!!!

William | 9/25/2007, 12:40 am EST

lol (to Martin) That’s not even a real picture of them side by side. That’s been photoshopped. I think Will.I.Am is excited… dont’ forget MJ is also collaborating with Ne-Yo, Akon, Big Chuck, Chris Brown and a few others. So Will.I.Am’s not alone in this project.

Rasheed | 9/25/2007, 12:25 am EST

Man I cannot wait for Mikes album.. Will.i.am has been working with Mike since 2006 on his (MJ’s) album..

Martin | 9/24/2007, 10:54 pm EST

Will.i.am doesn’t look too happy about being locked away in a recording studio with Whacko. Then again, he’s a little old for Mikey’s tastes …

kdh2 | 9/24/2007, 9:47 pm EST

“songs about girls” is will.i.am’s solo album, not michael jackson’s new album.

Danny | 9/24/2007, 5:56 pm EST

Quincy Jones played a big part in his biggest successes, he should do some tracks with him.

Wacko Jacko | 9/24/2007, 5:32 pm EST

Yeah but what about the children??

Jim | 9/24/2007, 4:59 pm EST

songs about girls???

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