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ENTERPRISE 103
INTERVIEW WITH MERRILL – 30.1.05
Michel:
Welcome to our listeners from abroad, glad you could make it!
Plays:
Love Me For A Reason
I’ll Be Good To You
Baby, When Your Heart Breaks Down
Yes Ma’am
Michel:
Great music – tonight this is Osmond night – glad you could join us
this Sunday evening!
Plays:
What Do The Lonely Do
Baby Wants
If Every Man Had A Woman Like You
All Tied Up
Never Say Never
Michel: Hi
Merrill! (no answer from Merrill!) Hello!
Merrill: I can hear you, can you hear me?!
Michel: I can
hear you too!
Merrill: Oh good! (laughs) How’s my old buddy doing?
Michel: Fine,
thank you, and you?
Merrill: Good, doing good, I’m very well today, thank you!
Michel: Last time we spoke, in October I think it was,
2004. During our interview, you mentioned that Holland was on your
list and promised to do your best, so you kept your promise, you are
coming to us on Friday, 18 March.
Merrill:
That’s correct.
Michel: It’s
called ‘Merrill Osmond – One Time Unplugged’ – Why unplugged?
Merrill: A lot
of fans have wanted me to, it gives me an opportunity to open things
up a little bit and maybe talk a little bit more, reminisce a little
bit more. I’m just really excited about the whole idea. I haven’t
done that in a long time.
Michel: You
will also be selling paintings after the Unplugged concert for a
good cause. Can you tell us something about your paintings?
Merrill: Well,
obviously you know, we’re doing a lot of different things. I’ve
spent a little time, and I’ll tell you about that, on the Tsunami
Victim Relief Fund. I’m doing a whole tour in the US about that,
but the charity that we’re involved in has to do with the mental
welfare of the adults over there, and I’m going to apportion the
profits of all the artwork that I’m working on will go to that fund
as well.
Michel: Is
painting a hobby of yours?
Merrill: (laughs) I love to paint. I really do, I’m not
that great at it, but I work at it. Hopefully, you’ll like it.
Michel: I want
to see something of your work.
Merrill: I’ve
got a new book coming out and, inside the pages of the book, will be
the pictures that I’ll display while I’m over there, for people to
look at and see if they like them, so……..
Michel: To
stay with the good cause – not only is this Unplugged concert, and
the concert in Tongeren, Belgium on Saturday, 19 March, for the good
cause, but you are also doing the Merrill Osmond Golden Tsunami
Benefit Tour, together with a few firesides. We would love to hear
your talks about this.
Merrill: Well,
first of all, about four consul-generals from the countries that
were hit by the tsunami met with me in Los Angeles, and they showed
me a video, Michel, that I about, well, I couldn’t believe it. In
fact, I’m going to bring that video with me, when I come, as I sing
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother. I’m gonna show that to the
people that come to the show, and it hit me so hard. The pain and
the suffering was so intense, that I decided to do something here as
well and do that relief benefit tour and raise some money for the
people who are without today. And the firesides will also be a part
of that same idea – to speak about hope and love and compassion for
people who are having a hard time right now – there’s millions of
them, you know.
Michel: I saw
the pictures on TV, it’s very horrible.
Merrill: It’s
unbelievable! But there’s a video that no-one’s really seen and it
was shown by the consul-generals and I asked if I might be able to
take a copy – it’s so devastating, you cannot believe it, but I feel
it’s important to show it when I’m in Belgium and the Netherlands,
to let the people know what kind of a disaster this really was. We
see it, and we hear about it and we see pieces of it, but when you
see what I’m gonna show you, you will NOT believe it.
Michel: Can people on
the mainland of Europe contribute………
Merrill:
Absolutely, Michel.
Michel: OK – it’s
nice
Michel: This is a
question that a lot of your fans have emailed me about – it’s about
your hair – why the change?!
Merrill: (laughs): Well, first of all, my friend, the music
that I’m gonna be doing is gonna be new, gonna be different, it’s
gonna have a youthful feel to it – a chance for people to get up and
dance and have a great time, reminisce, OK? And it’s also gonna
reflect where I am today, and I feel young! I feel energetic, I’ve
never felt so good in my life, and so, I don’t feel OLD and so I
don’t wanna reflect anything like that, so yes, my hair has been
dyed a little brown, but I’m ready, it’s an exciting thing, and I’m
wearing outfits that will reflect the same idea so, whatever people
think, I feel good, I wanna feel good and I want people to feel good
when they come to the show, so get ready to rock ‘n’ roll!
Michel:
(laughs) Get ready to rock ‘n’ roll! A new sound, a new look!
Merrill:
Exactly! And it’s reinventing what I am and I want people to feel
it and see it, and then they can walk away saying that that was
something they liked to do.
Michel: You
are doing a live interview for Dutch national radio when you’re in
Belgium and the Netherlands, even national TV is interested. How do
you feel that, even for being away for 30 years, there’s obviously
still an interest for Merrill Osmond’s music?
Merrill: Well, Michel, I gotta tell you – you’ve been my
friend and I’ve talked to many people over there. Jenny, who has
been co-ordinating a lot of things. Even though I’ve been a lead
singer for the Osmonds for all these years, I never thought, and I’m
being honest with you, I never thought the day would come when
people would be interested enough, that they’d want to come out and
buy the tickets and merchandise for me. I mean, I’m humbled by it,
I’m overwhelmed by it and I am so excited about it. That’s what’s
created the youth in me, to wanna do what I’m gonna do, and so I
guess that would be my answer. I just can’t appreciate the fans
enough for wanting to support Merrill Osmond today.
Michel: OK
Merrill: The
generation gap has not been a gap, it’s continued on, my friend, and
hopefully it will go on for many, many years to come.
Michel: I
received your new demo which we will be playing after the interview
– can you give us some more information on it?
Merrill: The demos, you know, are very interesting. The
songs that you’ll hear on the demo reflect the feeling and the sound
where I am right now. There’s a song called ‘I’m on Fire’ for
instance, and there are two different messages that I’m trying to
send through that, one speaks of a higher power that I feel
connected to, and you can also interpret the song different than
that, but it’s a song I really enjoy. And then the song, ‘Looking
for Zion’ – it’s a place where, one day, people can be as one. And
I really believe in that kind of a thing. So it talks about joy and
happiness, specially when people like the tsunami victims and the
mental health issues that are really affecting our people, so I like
talking about happiness and joy and searching for peace.
Michel: OK –
that was your inspiration for your new demo?
Merrill: That’s right
Michel: We’re
going to play some Osmond music – please stay tuned. We will talk
again a little further later on, OK?
Merrill: That sounds good, buddy!
Plays:
Baby Wants
What Do The Lonely Do
Michel: We’re
talking to Merrill Osmond again, are you there?
Merrill: I am, my friend.
Michel: OK, we talked
about your new demo – are you planning on releasing it or is it
exclusive for the tour?
Merrill: Well, it was designed specifically for the tour,
because of where I wanted people to know where I was, but there are
some interesting things that are starting to happen, there are some
labels that are interested in wanting to release the new product,
and I’m excited about that. So, we’ll see what happens.
Michel: OK, so
people can vote. We’ll be asking your fans to email us and let us
know which of the three tracks is their favourite. Which is YOUR
favourite?
Merrill:
That’s interesting – I would probably, if I had to pick out of the
three, I’d probably say ‘Looking for Zion.’ That’s what I
told you about – it has to do with a place where one day this world
might find a unit and a oneness and purpose, so that’s the one I’d
probably pick.
Michel: I
think it’s interesting to see what your fans are voting for!
Merrill: Me too! Me too! I’ll be watching very curiously.
Michel: We will get
the results.
Merrill: I
would love to, absolutely, Michel
Michel: I also
received the CD, Best of the Osmonds 2003 reissue. I already played
a lot of songs from this album tonight, before the interview. Any
chance that you will be bringing this album with you as a product.
This is what we are waiting for over here. Newer arrangements like
on this album and, of course, brand new Merrill Osmond works. Any
chance of that as well?
Merrill: Yes, we are making arrangements for that to happen.
There’s been a lot of product that’s been sitting and nothing’s
happened to it. But now, all of a sudden, there seems to be an
interest, so with the hits that were sung in a different key years
ago, you’ll here all of the new stuff in the keys which I sing
today, newer arrangements so – absolutely – it’ll be coming with me.
Michel: Can
you tell us something about it – or is that a big secret?
Merrill: Right now, we’re still in the middle of negotiating
a couple of things, so I really can’t announce too much about it
yet, but it will be available.
Michel: Nice
to hear that. How is Heather doing?
Merrill: My
baby! (laughs) Heather is doing great, she’ll be a mommy in July
and, you know, she’s healthy, she’s strong, the baby’s strong, and
it’s a baby boy, by the way!
Michel: That’s nice – a baby boy!
Merrill: Yeah – more teeth, more Osmond teeth! (laughs!)
Michel:
(laughs) Since Heather can’t come over now she’s pregnant, you’ll
be singing with Laura, the Belgian Idol finalist, at the concert in
Tongeren. Can you tell us some more – are you doing a duet with
Laura?
Merrill: I’m gonna do two songs with Laura – Mighty
Mighty Love, and You’re Here to Remember (I’m Here to Forget)
– both songs, I think, are perfect for her voice and mine, and I am
so impressed with her. I have listened to her sing, I’ve watched
her stage presence, and I’m very pleased that she’s going to be with
me. She’ll also be singing with me at the beginning of the concert,
as we sing Friends are Friends Forever, and she’ll be doing
some background work for me on the stage as well, so it’s gonna be a
pleasure and an honour to finally meet her and then to be able to
sing with her.
Michel: Is the
band ready?!
Merrill: Is the band ever ready! They’ve been in
rehearsals. I’m going for the last two weeks, we’re changing
formats, we’re editing songs and they’re letting their hair
grow!!!! So let’s rock ‘n’ roll!
Michel: Are you ready?
Merrill: I’ve never been more ready in my life! I’ve lost a
bit more weight. You won’t recognise me when you get off the
airport, maybe. But I’ve never felt better, like I said – so get
ready, my friend!
Michel: I will be there in Tongeren.
Merrill: I
hope so!
Michel: I will meet you there! Have you any idea what to
expect from your concerts on the mainland?
Merrill: Now, that’s a difficult question, as I really don’t
know what to expect. It’s the first time that I’ve ever really done
my own tour – like I’m doing – over there. There’s a lot of
enthusiasm, there’s a lot of corporate interest – basically because
if the Tsunami Relief Fund, and it’s interesting cos I’ve got, like
I mentioned, four consul-generals involved, and they’re activating
their culture and their people, so I’m gonna try and intertwine the
culture, the video, the rock ‘n’ roll and the hits and it just so
happens that the Osmonds have been very – the popularity has been
strong there for years over in those countries, so I don’t know what
to expect, but I hope it will succeed.
Michel: We
have also to give a ticket away for the concert on 18 March, so you
can make a question to our listeners and the listener with the
correct answer gets a ticket for the concert in
Apeldoorn.
What’s your question?
Merrill: My question will be this – how many Grammy Award
nominations have the Brothers received?
Michel: If you know the answer, you can call later – I will
give you the number and you will have a chance to win tickets to the
concert in Apeldoorn on 18 March 2005. Is there anything in
particular you want to say to your fans who are listening now?
Merrill: I just know that I am ready to give everything that
I have – my heart and my time and my energy. I hope and pray that
everybody who comes to the concert will come ready with a new
energy, with a new excitement because we’re gonna have fun! And
we’re all gonna get this and hopefully, when we leave, we’ll
hopefully build a brand new spirit about everything – so I just
wanna thank them all, for their loyalty and support for so many
years.
Michel: Nice
words! Merrill, I want to thank you for the interview and the
countdown for Merrill has begun! We will see you soon!
Merrill: Thank you Michel!
Plays:
I’ll Be Good To You
Love Me For A Reason
You’re Here to Remember (I’m Here to Forget)
Then plays the new
tracks and asks people to vote (I think – it’s Dutch!):
Looking for Zion
You Gotta Have Hope
I’m On Fire
Then plays
Medicine Man (2004 version)
O In Love
Over The Yukon (over the winner of the competition – answer, I
think, was three!)
Long Haired Lover from Liverpool
Crazy Horses
I’m Leaving it All Up To You
And finishes with
Love Me For A Reason – again! LOL! |
