--- title: Celebrity Friends on Michael Jackson's Music | TIME description: Spike Lee, Lenny Kravitz, Clive Davis and others talk about Jackson's music and its influence on their lives and the world canonical: https://time.com/video/rK8nKK6X/ og:title: Celebrity Friends on Michael Jackson's Music og:description: Spike Lee, Lenny Kravitz, Clive Davis and others talk about Jackson's music and its influence on their lives and the world og:url: https://time.com/video/rK8nKK6X/ og:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/rK8nKK6X/poster.jpg?width=720 og:type: video.other twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Celebrity Friends on Michael Jackson's Music twitter:description: Spike Lee, Lenny Kravitz, Clive Davis and others talk about Jackson's music and its influence on their lives and the world twitter:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/rK8nKK6X/poster.jpg?width=720 --- # Celebrity Friends on Michael Jackson's Music > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: Celebrity Friends on Michael Jackson's Music [Watch (HLS stream): Celebrity Friends on Michael Jackson's Music](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/rK8nKK6X.m3u8) (6:59)  _Published 2009-06-28. Spike Lee, Lenny Kravitz, Clive Davis and others talk about Jackson's music and its influence on their lives and the world_ --- Jul 27, 2023 1:11 PM UTC --- ## More From This Series [All Videos](https://time.com/video/) [Passover Parody of Michael Jackson's ](/video/crnkSDkw/) ### Passover Parody of Michael Jackson's [TIME 100: Reggie Jackson's biggest influence](/video/WeYTX15V/) ### TIME 100: Reggie Jackson's biggest influence [Michael Jackson's Songs and You](/video/1OCGrkLI/) ### Michael Jackson's Songs and You --- ## Transcript >> When I had you to myself, I didn't want you- >> What's your favorite Michael Jackson song? >> I Want You Back. >> around. Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd. But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took. Now it's much too late for me to take a second look. >> You know, I was that little kid standing in front of the TV mimicking him and my parents would like sit there and watch me try to match in, so that was one of the first records I learned every word to the song. So it's definitely something that it's really part of my childhood. >> Oh baby, give me one more chance. >> Show you that I love you. >> Won't you please let me- >> Back in your heart. >> You and I must make a pact. We must bring salvation back. >> And I loved him as a solo artist- had a special place in my heart for the stuff [ unk ] the Jackson 5, you know, I'll Be There. >> Where there is love, I'll be there. >> I'll be there. >> I was born the '57. He was born on '58- >> If you should ever find someone new. I know hed better be- >> and so I grew up literally with Michael Jackson. We both reached, you know, adolescence at the same time and I had the big apple like he did- >> good to you. 'Cause if he doesn't- >> and I hoped that the girls will like me the way I like Michael, >> I'll be there. >> I'll be there. >> but that wasn't happening. >> I'll be there. >> My favorite of all- >> If you still love me today. >> is a track called Lookin' Through The Windows by the Jackson 5. The range in which Michael sings on that track- >> Remember-- is phenomenal. >> Just remember whatever- >> The fact >> makes you feel that way. Don't you worry- >> that when I was 5, I said I wanted to be a musician, which is what I said- >> Uh huh. >> 'cause I'm gonna stay right by your side. >> had 99 % to do with the fact that I had seen and heard the Jackson 5. >> Side. >> To keep on lookin' through the windows. Lookin' in your eyes. >> We first worked with him on 1980. >> Not my lover. She's just a girl who claims that I am the one. >> He did not do it until 1983 at the Motown 25th- >> But the kid is not my son. >> and when he did it at the Motown 25th, he said, " How was it ?" and I said, " Why did you wait so long ?" >> She says I am the one- >> He said, " Well, it still didn't come out right ." I'm like " huh ". >> but the kid is not my son. >> If we all know that was a mind- blowing performance and it just took him to another level. Now when Michael took this dance and he just perfected it and put his own twist on it, and the audience is just like, " Is this magic ?" You know, they just thought it was a magic trick. >> She says I am the one. >> When I was becoming or starting to become familiar- >> Gonna tell you right. So listen up. Don't make a fight. >> with what Michael Jackson was and what he was doing- >> Your talk is cheap. You're not a man. You're throwin' stones to hide your hands. >> it's like seeing a spaceship. It's like water. It's like air. It's like, " Oh, we can breathe ." He made me believe that this thing called expression and entertainment is alive. He made me think I can, you know, do anything. >> Because I'm bad, I'm bad, come on. You know I'm bad, I'm bad, you know it. >> After Ryan passed away, he ended up doing- >> Like a comet- >> the video for Ryan- Gone Too Soon- >> blazing 'cross the evening sky- >> and that was just the most unbelievable thing that I could ever imagine. >> gone too soon. >> After Ryan died, Michael came >> Change. >> Starting with the man in the mirror to the house and there is flowers and everything all surrounding the car, and Michael gets in the car and- >> Change his ways. >> because he bought Ryan the brand new '89 Mustang, >> No message could've been any clearer. >> and he turned the car on and the song that was playing was Man In The Mirror. >> If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make the change. You gotta get it right while you got the time 'cause when you close your heart >> He said, " I was the last person he listened to ." I said, " I know, Michael ." I mean it was just- >> Then you close your … your mind. That man- >> You know, like he was so thrilled to have known that, >> with the man in the mirror, oh yeah. >> you know, that Ryan was listening to that song and he liked that song. And that's why we had " Gonna make a difference, gonna make it right" put on Ryan's moment in reference to Michael Jackson. >> If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a- >> Change. Oh, yeah. >> You know, in his passing, I also think that, you know, the first 20 to 30 seconds of Billie Jean is symbolically and musically the heart beat of a generation. It's a heavy bass line. >> She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene. >> It's a drumbeat and then the bass line kicks in. >> I said don't mind but what do you mean I am the one- >> And I just feel like music is the root of most people's soul and I really feel like the beginning of Billie Jean is really that heartbeat of this generation and our generation, you know, this will be, you know, our John Lennon if you will. You know, our Elvis. >> who will dance on the floor in the round. >> We hadn't seen anything like that. You got to remember that also he came into a time and he'd be launched MTV. He launched the- >> She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene. >> visual, you know, music video format, you know. ­- Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one. >> What he offered in that with his- him being such an entertainer and a performer and a dancer- >> Who will dance on the floor in the round. >> and the choreography and the grandiose, I mean it was- you know, at the time, it was just mind- blowing- >> People always told me, be careful of what you do. >> give us a very rich, rich global footprint- >> And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts. >> or imprint, if you will, of music, legacy- >> and mother always told me, be care of who you love, and be careful of what you do- >> and bringing, you know, with that joy to so many people, which I can't think of anybody that will ever be able to match that. >> 'cause the lie becomes the truth. Billie Jean is not my lover. She's just a girl who claims that I am the one. >> 'Cause this is thriller, thriller night. And no one's gonna save you from the beast about to strike. >> His legacy will all be in his records. >> You know it's thriller- >> And the records are timeless- >> thriller night. >> and they appeal- >> You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller- >> will just go on forever- >> Thriller, thriller night. >> you know, and you have a great artist that transcends a generation- >> 'Cause I can thrill you more than any ghoul would ever dare try >> the joy and the pleasure and the artistry is timeless and is there. And it's that- >> Thriller night. -[ unk ] for the Beatles- >> So let me hold you tight and share >> and it will be in that manner for Michael Jackson. >> a killer, diller, chiller, thriller. 'Cause this is thriller, thriller night. Girl, I can thrill you more than any ghoul would ever dare try. >> Thriller, thriller night. >> So let me hold you tight and share a killer, thriller. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Celebrity Friends on Michael Jackson's Music","description":"Spike Lee, Lenny Kravitz, Clive Davis and others talk about Jackson's music and its influence on their lives and the world","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/rK8nKK6X/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2009-06-28T05:26:52.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/rK8nKK6X.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/video/rK8nKK6X/","duration":"PT6M59S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/video/rK8nKK6X/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}} ```