This is it world tour was a planned tour of fifty concerts by Michael Jackson, which was to have been held in London. It was going to start in July 2009 but it never came to fruition because Jackson went into respiratory arrest and died. Now it is finally a reality.
Or that is the objective of This is Michael, the show by the same production company responsible for God save the Queen and which arrives in Barcelona today (Auditori del Fòrum, 8:30 p.m.). It is about giving life to the content, the scenery, the music and above all the artist in the most reliable way possible. And the latter is in charge of the Brazilian singer and dancer Lenny Jay, who offers an outstanding tour de force. La Vanguardia subscribers have a 15% discount on the price of tickets if they buy them at Entradas de Vanguardia.
What was the origin of everything?
I was contacted at the beginning of 2021 by the producer Javi Fernández, from Sira Música. His original idea was to do a show based on This is it, Michael's never-released concert, reproducing the setlist, costumes, scenery, etc.
What differentiates it from the multiple tributes already done?
Especially the details, which are very well worked out and which are what a fan would do. Many other musicals are very good but they are aimed at a more general audience, while here the choreography is very faithful, all the music is live, and we also do a mix to not only do the original repertoire but we want to go back to the past and there are things about the Jacksons, the Jackson Five, the Bad Tour, which was their first tour in 1987, and a little about the Dangerous and the HIStory Tour.
For you, what has been the greatest effort and challenge?
I've been singing Michael's songs since I was seven years old and then I started dancing. The tricky thing is doing both things live at the same time, it consumes a lot of energy. You have to prepare a lot physically, daily work, breathing, everything.
In order to physically resemble Jackson, he had to, must, make a great effort.
I have to always be on a diet, control the schedules, watch what I eat. During the pandemic I gained weight, and to return to the stage I had to lose it, at first 12 kilos in five months, I did not stop at the gym, on the bicycle... And now I have to maintain it.
One of the things that stands out the most is the tone of his voice, very similar to Jackson's.
That came to me because I sang his songs since I was a child, and even then when I listened to him I wanted to make all his vocal sounds as well as sing, and I was like that for many years. And there came a time when I no longer knew if I was born with Michael's voice or was the product of so many years of singing like him. In fact, when I was 15 or 16 years old, people already told me that he spoke and sang like Michael. I don't need to make an effort to do it because it comes naturally to me.
What album and song are your favorites from the star's discography?
Another part of me from the Bad album for its message, for a rhythm that I loved and it was also the first Michael Jackson song I heard in my life. When I listen to it, it's like going back in time, being at home dancing, singing… And as my favorite album, because it's very groovy and funky, I'd say Off the wall.
Before this This is Michael had already played him, right?
Before, I had a band in Brazil that we did versions of Jackson and it was with that that I started doing some international tours. Then I was working on the show Forever King of Pop dedicated to his career. He was one of the singers in the musical, and also a backing vocalist. This was before the pandemic. Everything stopped with her, always at home, and it was then that the producer Javi contacted me for this new project. Forever, however, is back on tour now after the pandemic.
What is the most notable difference between that Forever and the This is Michael in which you are involved? His knowledge is first hand...
Forever has a more musical format, it has more people on stage with more people, they make different versions of the songs, and the result is very nice, and on the other hand, This is is more faithful to Michael's show.
Artistically, what is Michael Jackson's greatest artistic merit for you?
Change the music industry as it worked in the 80s, change the way of making videos, revolutionize dance... Because at that time nobody did shows singing and dancing at the same time like him, or he will tell me which video looked like the who made Thriller. Pop music was actually not heard before he came along. He changed everything, without him pop would not be what it is; In addition, he had a great influence and opened doors for other artists of his time who made this style, this sound.
Is he one of the greatest artists in modern music?
He adapted to the times. His first album has more groove and funk, and his style keeps changing. Thriller is different and Dangerous is more disco. He was always a forward. And you notice it more now, when today's music is at a standstill, you always listen to the same thing, same styles and rhythms.
The Jackson family has given him their approval.
I knew his sister LaToya and when I went to Mexico on the Forever tour in 2019, after the show he said very nice things, like that my voice was the most similar to his brother's. That gave me a lot of inspiration.
Of the many facets of Michael Jackson, which one do you envy the most?
His human side. In addition to singing and dancing very well and being a star, he always helped people in need. Currently there are many famous artists who think they are the most and do nothing to help anyone.
