Max Martin is being interviewed along with his colleague Denniz Pop (who passed away in 1998), who was also there working on the songs. They thought the song ‘I need you’ was nearly done. Then someone called and told them Michael wanted a key change, but they say they were reluctant to make the change because they’d have to travel so far just to change a few bars in a song that they were already happy with…
Then they were told Michael would be there as he was executive producer for the recording. Of course they made the trip! It’s a cool story where they share the usual impression about having had expectations about Michael being distant but he turned out to be very approachable. Michael showed up in a van without security, and they sat in a lousy couch sharing coffee
The situation seems unexpectedly casual, basically recording in a shed in the countryside (close to Hollywood). When they suggested for Mike to sing and he started recording his part, it became so surreal for Max that he had a laughing fit out of sheer amazement when Michael sang so effortlessly with no preparation. They found him to be very pleasant and easy to work with, without any “diva behaviour“.
They wished they could work with him on a solo project.
