Fairlane Raymundo

Michael Jackson's Live Vocals, No Auto Tune + My Dad's Encounter With Him

Added 2025-01-06 06:08:44 +0000 UTC

My father did production designs and sets, stage designs to be more specific. He did set designs for live shows for the various artists in the Philippines and foreign artists that visited the Philippines. He did the set for MJ's show in the Philippines.

MJ was apparently a control freak and wanted to talk to my dad, the set designer and part of the construction team because he had very specific demands and wanted to make sure it is met.

This is also how I learned about the tricks MJ uses when he does the anti-gravity tilt which is well documented.

MJ ran through some specific details with him, making adjustments with the height of some stuff on stage. At one point, MJ asked him to draw something. He did... my dad can draw some things with one stroke, meaning he doesn't lift the pen from the paper.

MJ was so impressed that he asked my dad to draw several more things. On the 4th one, my Dad, ever the unbothered person, said "I'm not a jukebox for art." My dad's boss wanted to evaporate. A few other people around them was so shocked, they all looked like looney tunes characters.

My Dad... didn't give a shit.

MJ was a little shocked but only for a split second before laughing. He then apologized and asked my dad to sign the two things he asked my Dad to draw. My Dad said, "why?".

MJ said, "because you are a very good artist."

My Dad had the presence of mind to be embarrassed and at some point he said "I can't sign that because you are Michael Jackson." He immediately knew it wasn't a well articulated thought but he couldn't take it back. MJ apparently responded with something like "I can't do what you do."

My Dad said he thinks he actually signed it and then they went on with work. It was his first and last direct encounter with MJ.

My Dad, upholding his reputation of being unbothered, didn't even ask for a photo.