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'It's up to us to keep Michael Jackson's legacy alive'
For musician Jermaine Jackson, elder brother to the late Michael Jackson, his ongoing visit to Mumbai represents the culmination of a decades-old fascination with India.
"India is a part of my life and soul," he explains. "The food I've loved for many years, the unbelievable fashion and the beautiful music are all things I've always admired. It's great to be a part of this wonderful spirit and culture. It's amazing."
Here in Mumbai since October 2 to record a song and shoot a music video with long-time friend Adnan Sami, Jackson has already fallen head over heels for the city.
"Mumbai is such an incredible city, with this tremendous, unique vibe. I'm having a ball here. It's everything I thought it would be and more," he says.
So incredible is Mumbai, in fact, that he's already planning for the city to feature in an upcoming world-wide tour that will commemorate his late brother Michael, who passed away June 25 at the age of 50.
"I know that Michael is in God's hands now. It's up to us as a family to keep his legacy alive, in a dignified way," he says in his trademark soft-spoken manner, which uncannily resembles that of his younger brother.
'I've been a big fan of Bollywood movies since 1969'
As for his own musical project in Mumbai, Jackson says it was only a matter of time, given his fondness for Indian sounds.
"I've been a big fan of Bollywood movies since 1969. I've always loved the music -- the singing and the dancing. It's very entertaining. I'm a friend and a fan of Bollywood," he says.
But when Jackson traces back this journey to its exact origin, he gives credit to his wife Halima Rashid, who is of Afghan origin.
Jackson says Halima played him some songs by the Pakistani-origin, Mumbai-based Adnan Sami, which absolutely floored him. He had to get to know Sami's music and the genius behind it. "I liked it so much that my wife actually called him because I wanted to speak with him. There were a lot of things he was doing in the song that I thought were so creative," he remembers.
That initial phone call, placed about four years ago, planted the seed that today has become the Jackson-Sami collaboration Let's Go To Mumbai City.
'Jermaine has great ideas and is eager to share them'
"The phone calls went on for a while. Then I wrote a track and sent to him, just so he could add some Indian sounds to it. It came out so well that we started talking about getting together to do a song. We finally decided on a kind of tribute to Mumbai, called Let's Go to Mumbai City."
Though they were originally planning to record in Los Angeles, where Jackson calls home, Sami was able to convince Jackson to make the trip to Mumbai, where they've camped up in T-Series' recording studio to record the track.
Divya Khosla Kumar, wife of T-series honcho Bhushan Kumar, who is directing the song's music video, says that Jackson has been a perfect person to work with. "Jermaine has great ideas and is eager to share them. He's also been receptive to what we're trying to do," she says.
As for the video's theme, Divya says it's meant to be 'slice of life in Mumbai'.
"We're trying to showcase Jermaine's and Adnan's experiences in Mumbai, so they'll feature in the video. Also, we want to show what Mumbai is all about. How it's this great international city, and how it's a city of dreams. We want to capture all of its various facets," she continues.
'The clothing Jackson wears will be India-inspired'
"The music video is going to display a lot about Mumbai," Jackson adds. "Of course, there's so much to see and so much to do here that we can't really show it all in a four-minute video. But we're going to do our best."
To do this, shots were taken at Marine Drive, CST station, the Gateway of India, Masjid Bunder and more. Original plans included a shoot at a Dharavi slum but authorities refused the crew the necessary permission. So they're looking for another slum area in which to shoot.
Jackson, who designs his own suits and whose high-school classmates voted him 'Best Dressed', has taken an active role in creating his look for the video. The clothing Jackson wears will definitely be 'India-inspired', Kumar says. He'll be wearing two Indian jackets and have an arm band similar to the one popularized by Michael and the Jackson 5, but with Indian flair. His cursive signature will also be emblazoned on the back of one of the Sherwani-style jackets.
'There's only one Michael Jackson and there will be only one Michael Jackson'
Asked how long he'll be in India, Jackson replies with a laugh, "Not long enough!"
Then, more serious, he adds. "This seems like one of those places where you need to come back many, many times just to get a feel for it. I plan to see more of this great country."
He goes on to explain that his connection to India through music has ensured that part of his heart remained devoted to the country, long before he ever stepped foot here.
"I've always felt India through the movies. I can hear the music and see the movies and just get a feel for the country and the people and the songs. It's just the feeling in their voices, (by which) you can tell a lot. And I've always admired the talent and the culture," he says.
Jackson was the fourth child of Joseph and Katherine Jackson, born in 1954 in the hardscrabble city of Gary, Indiana. "I'm a simple, Midwestern guy at heart," he smiles.
He was the original lead singer of the Jackson Brothers, the precursor to the Jackson 5, until 1968, when his younger brother Michael burst onto the scene and began assisting with lead vocals. They remained co-lead singers for years, helping the band churn out notable hits like I Want You Back, I'll Be There, I Am Love, Dancing Machine and many others.
"Growing up in the Jackson family was terrific because there was just so much going on as far as creative things," Jermaine explains. "We found excitement around the dinner table and breakfast table. It was never a dull moment."
He says the family composed beats on the wooden table and created rhythms with the bowls and spoons. "And when it was time to rehearse, we took all those creative juices and put into our performances and songs."
In 1975, after more than six years performing with his brothers, Jermaine decided to pursue a solo career at Motown Records while the other Jackson brothers left to sign with Epic Records.
Although he never reached his brother Michael's status as global icon, Jermaine's solo career has been quite fertile. He was nominated for the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Grammy for his 1980 album Let's Get Serious and has had numerous top singles, like Daddy's Home, That's How Love Goes and Let's Be Young Tonight. A duet with his brother Michael, Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True), reached number one on the dance chart in 1984. But after his final chart success, 1989's Don't Take It, Jackson has been almost entirely out of the limelight.
Part of his withdrawal was a conscious decision. In 1989, after an enlightening trip to the Middle East, Jermaine converted to Islam and began to work on his own spiritual development. This growth has seen him mature from a tumultuous young adult to a thoughtful, reflective man.
His rock-solid temperament was on display in 2007, when he made headlines in India for supporting and showing comfort to his housemate Shilpy Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother, as she faced bullying remarks and actions from fellow stars Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara. He ultimately finished second to Shetty, and overall made a good impression on the viewing public. Soon, he'll appear on another reality television programme, the BBC's upcoming Move Like Jacko.
"It's a show where they're going to judge some performers that are going to do some of my brother's (Michael Jackson) songs and music. I'm really excited to be a part of it, because it helps keeps Michael's legacy alive -- the music and the message that he was all about, really."
When asked what he'll look for in a performer who's trying to channel his brother's greatness, Jackson says it will be tough. "Just the gracefulness, the confidence, the movement. How they sell themselves. It's hard to judge someone who's supposed to emulate or perform like my brother: There's only one Michael Jackson and there will be only one Michael Jackson. But at the same time, there are a lot of talented people out there."
Although he has done much to avoid the limelight in recent years, Jermaine has not hesitated to a big part of the story of his brother's passing. Rather than let the media further hijack Michael's story, Jermaine feels it's best to take a hands-on, pro-active approach.
It was Jermaine who organised and announced to international media on June 25 that Michael had passed. He also performed the Charlie Chaplin song Smile, widely believed to be one of Michael's favourite.
Despite being Michael's elder brother, Jermaine continues to speak of him in tones approaching reverence. He explains that though his father and the wider Motown music scene, which ultimately spawned the Jackson 5, laid the groundwork for Michael's career, Michael's talent was iridescent.
"(Michael) had a wonderful launching pad. But there again I always say, "True talent, and just talent that is so ambitious, will always rise to the level that it is supposed to. And Michael's one of those who rose to that level. It was because of him working so hard and having a great launching pad, but at the same time wanting to go beyond that. He was spectacular. He will always be the best, the best to ever step on the stage."
As for memories of his brother, he chooses to focus on the positive.
"Michael used the talent that God blessed him with. He communicated with God through every song, every performance, every video. And that's who Michael Jackson was: a product of God. That's why he was so loved by people, because he took a blessing that God gave him and used it to help those who were less fortunate than him. And his message was so widely spread because God used Michael, my brother, to bring awareness (of) children who were dying, who were starving and who didn't have. He was the voice of the young people. We're given a time on this Earth do to so much, and when our time is finished, we only go with the good deeds we've left behind. And (Michael's) done a lot of great deeds."
That, he adds, explains the global outpouring of grief that has accompanied Michael's death, which Jermaine says has helped him to heal. "I feel it everywhere I go, from around the world. I feel it here in India."
When reminded of Michael's 1996 concert in Mumbai, Jackson nods appreciatively, saying his brother was always most comfortable on stage. He adds that he too would like to perform here, and that he intends to return to India in the future. "I'd love to continue to be a part of this place: the food, the colours, the culture, the music."
Reflecting on his partnership with Sami, Jermaine says it's ultimately a testament to the power music. "I always say that music is a great communicator. It's a great language, more so than language itself. Because sometimes we might not understand each other, but then you play a song and we can all feel the same thing, in harmony. Music is wonderful."