He also shares a secret story about his pre-breakup with Gaga! Music Legend Michael Bolton Shares the Secret to Staying Active for Over 50 Years

Last Updated on 07/16/2023 by てんしょく飯

Michael Bolton, a Grammy Award-winning singer who has sold more than 65 million records worldwide, has released a new album, “Spark of Light. We interviewed Michael about the album, in which he worked with young artists and young songwriters, and asked the 70-year-old, who in the past performed with Lady Gaga before her breakthrough, about the secret to his success as an active musician for more than 50 years.

Michael Bolton has been active for over 50 years.

What I am most proud of is how long I worked to achieve what I have achieved before I finally succeeded,” said Michael Bolton, a musician for over 50 years. What is your proudest accomplishment throughout your career? I asked Michael Bolton, a musician for over 50 years.

It took me almost 20 years to be able to release an album and have a hit record, and I made a lot of mistakes along the way. So, ultimately, I’m proud that I didn’t quit, that I didn’t give up,” Michael continued.

After struggling in the early years, they got their big break with “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” which both won Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and “When a Man Loves a Woman,” which was followed by the Disney film ” Michael is also known for his theme song “Go the Distance” for the Disney film “Hercules,” and has achieved great success as a musician, selling more than 65 million records worldwide to date.

A beloved celebrity, Michael has appeared on Amazon Prime Video’s “The Masked Singer,” and is a regular on the showbiz circuit. He told me that the secret is to be flexible.

Such flexibility is evident in his new album, “Spark of Light,” released on July 14. The album, in which he actively incorporated ideas from young songwriters and producers, includes Walk the Moon frontman Nicholas Petricka, singer Justin Jessot, who is also known for his collaboration with Kygo, and Zach Barnett of American Authors, Many young collaborators are participating in the project.

Michael Bolton talks about “Spark of Light”

About the concept of the “Spark of Light” album

Michael Bolton: The concept of this album is to bring some much needed light to our planet as a whole as we have been facing a pandemic. In the process of writing songs about light and describing the meaning of the spark of light, we learned that all the people we contacted were suffering the same level of fatigue and depression brought on by the pandemic. So the songs we were writing at the time seemed to point in the right direction.

The young producers, young songwriters, and young artists I worked with all agreed that we should focus on the positive energy we need right now. And that became the overriding theme of overcoming the pandemic and thinking about our perspective on life, about choosing to be positive, to approach, to be present, and to embrace our fellow human beings. It is about overcoming pandemics and thriving on positive energy.

On his collaboration with Justin Jesso on “Beautiful World”

Michael: There is an interesting story, and this collaboration was made possible by a call from his manager, but actually my encounter with Justin Jesso goes back 15 to 20 years ago. He was having dinner with his parents in Los Angeles at the time, and once he found me eating at the same restaurant and came over to say hello. At that time, he said to me, “I am trying to become an artist. Could you give me some advice?” I gave him my advice.

Because of that past, I am very happy that 15 to 20 years have passed and now we are able to write songs together for a new album like this. About those days, he said, “I wish I had been friendly. Was I helpful?” He said, “It was very positive. I was happy. I am so glad that he talked to me during the meal. Now, all these years later, we are able to work together over Zoom and in the studio. This song has become one of my favorites on the album. He’s a great singer. I hope we can do something together again in the future.

About “Just the Beginning,” a collaboration with Zach Barnett of American Authors

Michael: “Just The Beginning” is a love song about the realization that the person you’ve been searching for has been by your side all along. It is a festive love song, colored by a wonderful, flowing melody. The song is designed to be a pleasant experience.

About “Out Of the Ashes,” which closes the album

Michael: We humans face many challenges for many reasons. Life brings many challenges before us and asks us if we really want to be victorious in our battle against these difficulties in life’s path. My perspective (in this piece) is that no matter what trials we face, we can put ourselves in a position to rise above them. This is a powerful musical statement as well as a personal statement. It is a message to friends, colleagues, and heroes that I hope will rise from the ashes (out of ashes) like a phoenix, becoming greater and more powerful and bringing about great things.

You collaborated with a wide range of artists on the album. What kind of inspiration did you get from them?

Michael: Through writing and producing with young artists, I was inspired by their arrangements and their methods. For my part, I like to add more classic arrangements, melodies, and lyrics to them. Something that will transcend time and carry a powerful message for years to come.

We want our collaborators to bring something fresh to the table. They work with cutting-edge songwriters and artists on a regular basis, and are exposed to cutting-edge arrangements, songs, and productions. They are looking for something fresh, but it has to fit (my work). It can’t just be a combination of “new” and “old. It has to be a well-formed song that appeals to the masses. This worked out pretty well for us. We worked very well as a team with a lot of writers.

Speaking of collaborations, you collaborated with Lady Gaga in 2010 when she was just about to break out with “Murder My Heart. Do you have any memories from that time that still remain with you?

Michael: I love Lady Gaga. I met her just before we started working on the song together. Not only is she an amazing singer and artist, but her work ethic is one of the best in the industry. She is incredibly dedicated to her work, whether it be in the creative process, recording, or promotion. If you asked me to name one perfect artist I have worked with, I would name her. If you give her the time and studio, she will produce great albums, recordings, performances, and singing. And not only was she willing to promote and interview countless people, she understood how important it was. She understood the importance of making friends and colleagues who would support her in pursuing a career in music. As a mentor and teacher, there was nothing I had to teach her. She already knew everything I was going to tell her.

We wrote a song together called “Murder My Heart,” which was a lot of fun. At the time, I wanted her to know how hard she was going to have to work as a solo artist. She didn’t have an album out yet. Still, I was sure she was going to be big. So I decided to just ask her about her future plans and what she thought about promotion, about traveling to radio stations around the world, about the amount of work it would take to be successful in music, and about the challenges of being heard by millions of people. Then, needless to say, she was ready for such an ordeal. Lady Gaga is one of my favorite artists I have ever met.

You have been in the entertainment world for over 50 years, what is the accomplishment you are most proud of in your career?

Michael: What I am most proud of in what I have accomplished is how long it took me to finally achieve success. It took me almost 20 years to be able to release an album and have a hit, because I had made so many mistakes along the way. So, ultimately, I am proud of the fact that I did not quit, that I did not give up. I really struggled. We faced trials, but we continued to get the job done.

As for being successful on a large scale, I am also proud to say that I got to perform with one of my most influential singers, Ray Charles. I believe I had the opportunity to perform “Georgia On My Mind” with Ray Charles on three occasions. Like Tony Bennett, I am also proud to have actually met and worked with artists of the generation that my parents were listening to.

Winning the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance was especially important. It really brought clarity to what I’ve been doing. It validated that I stood out among my peers, among the more successful artists of my generation, and among those who have been around longer. The Grammys are our Oscars, and they are chosen by a strict, discriminating, and discerning panel of people. When my name was first called as a winner for “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” it didn’t seem real. Two years later, I won another Grammy, this time for “When a Man Loves a Woman. I felt accepted and recognized by people with a wealth of musical knowledge. Other great experiences for me were writing songs with Bob Dylan and singing in Italian with Luciano Pavarotti.

There is a lot to be gained from success. When you achieve success at a great level, doors open and you meet people you will be grateful to for years to come. I have had people encourage me, “Keep singing and keep writing. Keep singing and writing, and you will succeed. Sometimes it is hard to believe the kind words of those around you when things are not going so well, but looking back, I am so grateful for the kindness and support they showed me when I was trying to build a career in music. I am very thankful for that, because becoming a professional singer/songwriter was something I had always aspired to do since I was a little girl.

Finally, do you have a message for your Japanese fans?

Michael: Hello, everyone. My name is Michael Bolton. I’m looking forward to having you listen to “Spark of Light”. I look forward to the day when I will be able to visit Japan on tour soon. Until then, please enjoy the album. I would be happy to return to Tokyo and have a great time in Japan. I hope everyone is doing well. Let’s meet again. If not soon, hopefully next year. See you soon!