I got married, courtesy Michael Jackson: Shaan

In an exclusive interview with Shashank Chouhan of Spicezee.com, Shaan remembers Michael Jackson.

Recognised as the best modern Indian voice for all those Bollywood fans who want to slip into romantic mode, Shaan is a singer who needs no introduction. He has now joined hands with his peers like Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghosal etc who have sung a tribute for the King of Pop at the initiative of Shah Rukh Khan.

In an exclusive interview with Shashank Chouhan of Spicezee.com, Shaan tells how important was Michael Jackson for him and others. Shashank: How did you react when you heard of Michael Jackson’s demise? Shaan: I was shocked…it was the most unexpected thing to hear in the morning. I had called up a friend at around 8am and he was watching TV. He told me of the tragic news and hung up. I and my sister had planned to attend his comeback tour This Is It in London. The news was very saddening. Shashank: You along with other Bollywood greats are releasing a song as a tribute to Jackson.. Shaan: Yes it is a Shah Rukh Khan initiative and when I was asked to join I just jumped at the offer. I was working on my own album when Jackson died and I will include a dancing number as a tribute to him in it as well. Shashank: It would have been perplexing to produce a song for the King of Pop? Shaan: Indeed, but the musical genius of Vishal-Shekhar was a fantastic platform for all our emotions. Shashank: How was Bollywood and your own work influenced by Jackson? Shaan: He influenced everybody when he was on the top of charts. In the 80s and 90s, Mithun and Govinda were doing their own desi Jackson act on screen. Even Rahman was influenced in his stage performances in the early part of the last decade. Hrithik Roshan, the best dancer in Bollywood today, has said that he got influenced by Jackson. Prabhudeva is arguably India’s own Jackson. MJ influenced everybody in a subtle way. Shashank: What was your favourite Michael Jackson track? Shaan: Oh I can make a list out of it! ‘Off the Wall’, ‘She is out of my life’ were mesmerising. Among his dancing numbers I liked ‘Don’t stop till get enough’ etc. Shashank: Do you have any special MJ memory? Shaan: We all have our MJ memories- the attempt at moonwalk, the raised collars, the anti-gravity swinging etc. But I have to say that the best memory is of a concert that I attended with my then girlfriend and now wife in the 1970s. When I bought the Rs 10,000 ticket for her she realised that I was damn serious about her and only then considered me as a life partner. Now she is my wife and the mother of my kids, thanks to that concert! Shashank: How will the world remember Jackson? Will his controversies come in the path of immortal glory? Shaan: One thing is for sure- there won't be another Michael Jackson ever. Despite his tragic and controversial life, he will be remembered as the pioneer of the stuff we are doing today. The pop sound and its marketing and sales- something which is the main stay of all productions today- was started by him at a time when no one could think about these things. He was great, no doubt.