The 1983 Unauthorized Interview - What do we know about it?

[dethorro]

I have a lot of questions regarding this interview and I can't seem to find much about it online.

This is all I know about it:

-It was probably shot in late September - early October 1983.
-It was shot at the Encino home.
-It was released in 1991.

Now, my questions are:

-Who exactly was interviewing Michael?
-Was it supposed to air on TV?
-If so, when was it supposed to air? In 1983?
-Why was it released 8 years later?
-Why did his team try to ban it?
-Was it shot after the Thriller short film?

[Electro]

I vaguely remember reading that it was supposed to be just for Michaels private use, but the video guy betrayed him and somehow got to semi-officially release it as a VHS Home Video in 1991. Can't remember the name of the guy anymore. Obviously not a very experienced interview filmer, because who would film that next to a noisy water fountain.

If Michaels team wanted to ban it then probably for the simple reason that it was low quality material and never intended for release.

LaToya talks about the Say Say Say video shoot, which was done in October 1983. The Thriller shortfilm was shot in October 1983 as well I think, released November 1983.

[Derek1984]

Biggest takeaway from this film, "Working on this song called Buffalo Bill. I think it's going to be a hit, well, I know it's going to be a hit". 37 years later, we still haven't heard it.

[wonderouzmj]

Biggest takeaway from this film, "Working on this song called Buffalo Bill. I think it's going to be a hit, well, I know it's going to be a hit". 37 years later, we still haven't heard it.

Ironically he talked about Liberian girl as well in 83. I wonder what buffalo bill & lucy is in love with linus surfaces...& why does no one here talk about Michael Mckeller? He asked the guy how do you know about it as if it was a hell of a jam

[Derek1984]

Ironically he talked about Liberian girl as well in 83. I wonder what buffalo bill & lucy is in love with linus surfaces...& why does no one here talk about Michael Mckeller? He asked the guy how do you know about it as if it was a hell of a jam

I think he held back material for Victory and by the time BAD came close to finalizing, the stuff like Buffalo Bill got pushed aside and into the vault.

[camusn]

I think he held back material for Victory and by the time BAD came close to finalizing, the stuff like Buffalo Bill got pushed aside and into the vault.

It is interesting to see Victory album without the title song Victory.
Buffalo Bill was probably being dropped because of the 80's feeling, which also applies to She's Trouble & Nite Line.

[mjfan05]

Ironically he talked about Liberian girl as well in 83. I wonder what buffalo bill & lucy is in love with linus surfaces...& why does no one here talk about Michael Mckeller? He asked the guy how do you know about it as if it was a hell of a jam

Michael's Michael McKellar reaction is one of my favourite things about that deposition. I've always wanted to know what happened to it. Has no info come out about it in all the podcasts and leaks?

[DuranDuran]

It is interesting to see Victory album without the title song Victory.

But there's no song called Triumph on the Triumph album. It's not unusual to have a album titled something that there isn't a song about it. There's also songs where the singer does not mention the title in them or just sings it once during the song.

[Themidwestcowboy]

But there's no song called Triumph on the Triumph album. It's not unusual to have a album titled something that there isn't a song about it. There's also songs where the singer does not mention the title in them or just sings it once during the song.

Like superfly sister

[camusn]

But there's no song called Triumph on the Triumph album. It's not unusual to have a album titled something that there isn't a song about it. There's also songs where the singer does not mention the title in them or just sings it once during the song.

You are right. I was raising this question just because Victory supposes to be a duet with Freddie Mercury, which could have made Victory album a great commercial success at the time.

[Derek1984]

Michael's Michael McKellar reaction is one of my favourite things about that deposition. I've always wanted to know what happened to it. Has no info come out about it in all the podcasts and leaks?

Who is Michael McKellar? Is it a fictional person?

[DuranDuran]

You are right. I was raising this question just because Victory supposes to be a duet with Freddie Mercury, which could have made Victory album a great commercial success at the time.

It was a success, it's the biggest selling album by The Jacksons. The group was never going to get the same sales as Mike solo. The Jacksons were primarily considered a R&B group in the US, so was not going to get the same amount of promotion, just mainly to the R&B radio stations & audience. The Triumph album didn't get the same amount of crossover attention as Off The Wall. It probably didn't help that Triumph was released after the "disco sucks" riot at the baseball game and many pop radio stations started to play fewer songs that could be considered "disco" including R&B acts. I don't think it was an accident that The Girl Is Mine was the first single from Thriller. It was the soft rock or adult contemporary sound that was really popular at the time like Christopher Cross & Air Supply. Paul McCartney was still a popular radio act at the time too. I think it would have had a harder time on pop radio if it had of been a duet with Teddy Pendergrass. Notice it was the Mick Jagger duet that was the only single from Victory to reach the pop Top 10 in the US. Torture did make the Top 10 on the dance music chart.

I think Queen was one of those acts that was more popular outside of the US. They had some success here but it had began to wane by the time of the Victory album. The Rolling Stones were much more popular in the US and for a longer time, but Mick Jagger's solo records didn't really do much.

[wonderouzmj]

Who is Michael McKellar? Is it a fictional person?

I have no clue at all...it sounds like a story he might have read in the paper or something...I have never seen or heard 1 person mention that song! That deposition listed so many songs. I know at the least....34-40% are listenable spngs that might be halfway there. If they're anything like im so blue or free or hell even fall again...I'd love to listen. I dont really trust leaked instrumentals. Not that I dont trust them. I just dont care to hear because he probably never even heard them

[kreen]

What an amazing document! I'd never seen it before. This is MJ i a very intersting phase of his life: after Thriller, but before the King of Pop persona, and obviously before all the controversies. He's still living in Encino, with his family. He's VERY childlike, but in a way that feels a lot more sincere and natural than in his later years. Compare his frequent bursts into songs or Broadway poses in this video with his more awkward "childlike" behavior in the Martin Bashir video, like when he runs towards his "wishing tree" or plays an arcade video game. He also obviously seems very happy and at ease in his own skin.

[83magic]

^

signed in just to 'like' this post. would 'love' it I could

that video is full of joy, inspiration, freedom and positivity I would use it to start my day each morning it represents the qualities that I try to focus on. here, he's safe and comfortable in the environment that he created.

*this* is how I remember Michael *this* is the Michael that is frozen in time in my mind

based on this, the making of 'thriller', 'say say say'/ 'the man', you could tell he was on a high