http://mjjr.net/news.php
In a new interview with Tavis Smiley which aired on television January 22, 2009 (and took place on January 9, 2009), Akon spoke at length about the much anticipated collaboration with Michael Jackson, "Hold My Hand," and why the project ultimately fell through. Akon also speaks about Michael Jackson's unmatched patience and his natural intuition for knowing when the moment is right to release records, rather than rushing to release as many artists do. In addition, Akon confirms in the interview that the track was scheduled to be the first release from Michael Jackson's upcoming album, and was also going to be included on Akon's own follow-up album (a tidbit that was first reported by the writer of the song soon after it leaked). A good quality video of this interview segment can be downloaded below (Windows Media Format) or viewed on YouTube, and a text transcript of the interview is also provided.
Video Download: http://rapidshare.com/files/188094457/TavisSmileyAkon20090122.wmv
Streaming Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgIFnwTMqhM
Text Transcript: http://mjjr.net/content174.html (Included below)
Akon: Tavis Smiley
January 22, 2009
Transcribed by http://MJJR.net/ (TSCM)
(Interview conducted on January 8, 2009)
(Jackson-related Excerpt Only)
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...
In a new interview with Tavis Smiley which aired on television January 22, 2009 (and took place on January 9, 2009), Akon spoke at length about the much anticipated collaboration with Michael Jackson, "Hold My Hand," and why the project ultimately fell through. Akon also speaks about Michael Jackson's unmatched patience and his natural intuition for knowing when the moment is right to release records, rather than rushing to release as many artists do. In addition, Akon confirms in the interview that the track was scheduled to be the first release from Michael Jackson's upcoming album, and was also going to be included on Akon's own follow-up album (a tidbit that was first reported by the writer of the song soon after it leaked). A good quality video of this interview segment can be downloaded below (Windows Media Format) or viewed on YouTube, and a text transcript of the interview is also provided.
Video Download: http://rapidshare.com/files/188094457/TavisSmileyAkon20090122.wmv
Streaming Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgIFnwTMqhM
Text Transcript: http://mjjr.net/content174.html (Included below)
Akon: Tavis Smiley
January 22, 2009
Transcribed by http://MJJR.net/ (TSCM)
(Interview conducted on January 8, 2009)
(Jackson-related Excerpt Only)
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...
