I just premiered an interview I did with Frank Gatson. He opened up about Brandy, Beyonce, Michael Jackson and more from his legendary career.
The Brandy talk is at different points in the video, the bulk being at:
40:00 First time he met Brandy and her having an Aaliyah vibe.
47:29 - 59:56 First time he heard Brandy's voice, her being underrated,Two Eleven era, Getting hate for the BET Lady of Soul Awards retrospective performance, 'Begging and Pleading' being her most authentic.
None Brandy points:
Directing his mother's church choir was his first taste of the "business".
Seeing 'The Wiz' on Broadway (with Stephanie Mills) made him realize he wanted to be in show business.
He thought he was ready for NYC, but got humbled quickly and starved.
Got a secret flight attendant job in order to do auditions around the world.
He crashed Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" audition and got it.
The shoot for the "Smooth Criminal" video lasted 48 days.
He was asked to co-choreograph and direct Michael Jackson's "This Is It", but had to decline, because he was busy with Beyonce.
Says black people didn't stick together for Michael Jackson, even though he was found not guilty.
People confused his comparison of Beyonce to Michael Jackson. He was comparing their work ethic.
Says Brandy is like her own Michael Jackson. Because people will always compare others to Brandy, as they do Michael.
He wishes he had a record company. He would find him another Michael Jackson.
A black male group will always be bigger than a black female group. The girls are gonna love them. The straight men are gonna love them. And the gays are gonna love them.
Says nothing blows you away today. It's all the 3 trick pony stuff.
Rihanna's superbowl was the best. They utilized the space in the air vs. just using the field.
He calls himself a commercial whole. He likes to sell a concept. He says Beyonce's "Single Ladies", "Crazy In Love", and Brandy's "I Wanna Be Down" were concepts.
His gift is to see talent. Says he loves NLE Choppa, because he is provocative.
First time he met Brandy, she seemed to give off an Aaliyah vibe (he guessed because she was a fan of Liyah's). He said "we're gonna find YOU." He loved that she was very well behaved. At some point after "I Wanna Be Down" he got fired and they reunited later in her career.
Says gestures can put a blueprint on the visuals. Mentions gestures like 'Single Ladies' hand movement, the 'to the left, to the left' gesture in "Irreplaceable", and the "I Wanna Be Down" hand choreography.
Fame is a drug. Which makes artists go crazy.
He thought vocal runs were supposed to be over the top, but Brandy's runs are right in the pocket. Brandy taught him how to hear music better by how she does music. Understands why Brandy is called the Vocal Bible.
Says he doesn't understand why Brandy is underrated right now. There's a disconnection with Brandy, because people are used to mediocrity. Says she hasn't done her greatest work yet... she just needs the right record and the right timing.
Talks about dealing with fear and it causing him to have high blood pressure. Has to teach himself to stop over-thinking and relax more.
He thinks Michael Jackson got his heart broken somewhere and he never recovered from that.
Kobe Bryant told him ballet is more difficult than anything he's done as a ball player.
