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I asked NeYo on 26/08/10 if he wanted to contribute to a webpage about what influence Michael Jackson had on his life and without hestitation Ne-Yo tweeted me the following response. Ne -Yo said at around 5.00pm on 26/08/10 whilst in transit:
“NeYoCompound MJ is the reason entertainment is what it is in this day and age. His influence is ironclad and definite. He’s the reason I do what I do….”
One of the most amazing things about NeYo, is the profound and sincere way he talks about Michael Jackson’s influence on his life. NeYo gives him credit for the reason he sings today and he expresses his absolute appreciation for him.
To find a celebrity who will stand up for Michael in such sincere terms is commendable.
To me NeYo speaks from the heart. He states publically how he found out about Michael’s death. He states that he cried like he lost a family member. I know I felt that way too. NeYo is not ashamed to express his emotions for Michael Jackson.
He remembered when his family gathered round to watch “Remember the Time”, and how impressed he was with the video. I also recall NeYo’s tribute to Michael during his life time in “Because of You” – the black glitter jacket and dancing.
NE-YO VS MICHAEL JACKSON – BECAUSE OF ROCK WITH YOU
Ne-Yo ft. Michael Jackson (Because Of You) Video remix by Bigg Phat
In the weeks that followed Michael’s death, NeYo presented a show with a cast member of Thriller Live [Ricko] Ricko Baird had worked with Michael on “Rock My World”. NeYo was not too proud to learn the correct way to moonwalk albeit in his trainers and stated candidly that he had not yet mastered a step from Smooth Criminal. The footage simply held my attention. I have tried to track down the footage but unfortunately I have not found it (yet).
NeYo speaks about Michael’s impact on the music industry and on him personally. His genuineness is evident.
Did Michael Jackson Help Ne-Yo With His Career?
VladTV – Ne-Yo says Michael Jackson is the reason he sings
NeYo like any other fan – memorised by the Smooth Criminal Video
Ne-Yo Reflects on Michael Jackson’s Death (at iheartradio)
NeYo on Michael Jackson
First call from Michael Jackson to NeYo
NeYo considers what he should do
During his recent tour NeYo states on an Austrailan Radio station and in a newspaper interview that he was confused what he wanted to do with the music/song that he had created for Michael.
“But the star steadfastly refuses to sell off the music he wrote for Jackson and is reluctant to release the songs under his own name out of respect for his idol.
“The songs are sitting in archives but I really don’t know what to do with them,” Ne-Yo said in Sydney.
“I can’t sell them on to someone else as that would be disrespectful but I also think it might be disrespectful to bring them out myself.
“So I don’t know, I’ll sit on them and wait. It’s definitely quality music but they were songs written absolutely for Michael Jackson.”
During the interview NeYo described Michael as being very normal. He said further:
“But he walked in in a black suit and some sun glasses and was a genuine nice guy. And it wasn’t because he wanted something from me, he just had no reason other than to be a decent guy.
“We talked about the state of music, what he liked and didn’t like. One thing that was interesting is that he views music in shapes and colours and that’s how I think.
“He told me he admired my music and I could have fainted right there. I was like, ‘You like my music? You’re the reason I make music’.
“So I wanted to bring something good to the table.”
Ne-Yo set to work on a variety of songs ranging from upbeat dance tracks to heartfelt ballads, sending three or four drafts a week to Jackson.
“Melodic and meaningful. Those were the two words which kept coming back to me,” he said.
“Michael told me the melodies needed to be the ones you heard once and could sing back, and the lyrics needed to have meaning and depth.”
“He believed what was wrong with a lot of music today is that people aren’t singing about anything.
“If it’s not about a party or sex then it’s about money, and there’s not really much to that.
“Michael told me, ‘I need songs that mean something to somebody and that’s what I need you for’. I was honoured”
He was very concerned that he made the right decision with regard to the future of the songs. He said:
“Hopefully the songs will see the light of day, it just has to be the right way.”
Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/music/ne-yo-mulls-over-songs-he-wrote-for-michael-jackson/story-e6frexl9-1225898102271 July 2010.
The Daily Star reported on 10th August 2010, that Neyo had come to a decision to do a collaborative tribute album with Janet and the other Jacksons. Given Neyo’s clear admiration for Michael this would seem fitting.
NeYo’s tributes to MJ
http://clearmjsname.wordpress.com/neyos-tribute-concerts-for-michael-jackson/
http://www.amazon.com/My-Own-Words-Ne-Yo/dp/B000CQM4ZQ
This is NeYo’s first biography.
