A Conversation with Thalía – HuffPost 12.24.10

Mike Ragogna: Hi, Thalía. Thanks so much for taking time out for this interview.
Thalía: How are you Mike.

MR: Thalía, much like Elvis, you’re a huge international superstar. Recently, you participated in the Viva Elvis recordings associated with the Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, recording a duet with The King on his classic “Love Me Tender.” And I believe, even though it’s years after he passed away, you’re the first Latin artist to have been included on one of his recordings. What was it like?

T: That opportunity of singing with Elvis was a magical moment. It was incredible.

MR: Tell me about what it was like in the studio when you had those headphones on.

T: It was a little house studio in The Hamptons, and there were eight people there — the engineer, the record company, a few of my family, and friends. Everybody was so quiet… it was like they didn’t even want to breathe because you felt the presence of Elvis somehow. It was very crazy, but everybody felt like he was there. It was incredible. At the end of the song, when we finished everything and we did the first mix and we heard the song, everybody was crying. There were tears in everyone’s eyes. It was that kind of magical moment. “Love Me Tender” was one of his classics, but this version is a little more modern, it was like a new version. It was magical with more atmosphere. It was beautiful.

MR: What did it feel like when you listened back and you heard how well your vocals blended together.

T: Very proud. Singing with Elvis Presley, first of all, and then to be the first Latino to sing with The King, was a great opportunity for me and I feel very proud. In my childhood, my mother was a fanatic of Elvis. She was always playing the music around the house, so it was the music, the movies, album covers, posters. My mother was a really big fanatic. Doing that, and at this point in my life and career, it was a great opportunity.

MR: What were your observations about Elvis during this process?

T: I think that during the process, I was feeling his intention through his voice with no music in the studio. I could hear his breathing, and the pauses he took and all of that. It made me feel the intention that he had when he was singing. It was like pure passion, and pure power, and love for his music.

MR: No doubt, many of your fans will become more curious about Elvis’ music through your recording.

T: I have really enjoyed reviving his voice in a new way for this new generation and, of course, with the magic of Cirque du Soleil. I can’t wait to see the show.

MR: Do you think Viva Elvis could be a way into learning more about Elvis?

T: Definitely. You know everything that brings great music back in a different way, I think, is important, especially with the new generation that hears only one hit and that’s it. They live very fast and everything has to be an immediate response. They download one song and don’t even care about the whole album. It’s incredible that they can pause a little bit and think, “Okay, this guy existed and is a very important part of our history.”

MR: Now, you’ve been singing since you were nine years old?

T: Since I was seven, really. I have had a long career of singing and I have been having a good time.

MR: Since then, as a TV star, you’ve had 2 billion people watch you in over 180 countries, you’ve won over 2000 awards, and sold over 25 million albums. And though you are still a young woman, I imagine you have a lot more music to make in the near future. You must feel very excited about your life and creativity.

T: Yes, I think it’s the best moment of my life right now. I did everything — sang pop, dance, rock, whatever. Even rap. I sang with Fat Joe on “I Want You” and that was very cool. I have been doing a lot of things, but I think that right now is the best moment of all. I feel perfect in my own skin and am having a good time right now.

MR: What about the future. Is there anything you would like to experiment with?

T: The last album, Thalía en Primera Fila — we call it “the first roll” as a translation — was my first “unplugged” album and was one of the things I always wanted to do. I finally did it and it brought a lot of good with it. I have been blessed with all of the sales in this moment right now. The music industry is collapsing and nobody is really buying CDs, so everything is downloaded and, of course, most people just want it for free. Basically, having sold more than half-a-million albums is incredible in this time and moment. That is one of the unpredictable things that has happened in my career — an unplugged album that did so well right now. We are preparing the next album. I am full of surprises and am doing a lot of things right now. Finishing my third book, I have a radio show, everything is cool and nice.

MR: It sure sounds like it. Now, your unplugged album was the one that you recorded in front of 300 people?

T: Yes.

MR: Yeah, the one during which you jumped up on the piano. Let’s tell people about that. (laughs)

T: I did a certain character as a performer for so many years. I did these big shows with dances and lights, explosions, hairdos and makeup, with incredible costumes and things like that. This time, I just used my jeans, a little tank top and no makeup at all. I just performed and it was like a feeling of freedom or a change of skin. It was incredible. I felt very comfortable wearing my tennis shoes and jumping off of the piano, like being a little girl again, and I think that is really cool and it connected me in a different way with my audience. With new people that maybe didn’t like Thalía before, maybe they are rediscovering me with this new way of being.

MR: Do you have any advice for new artists?

T: Pursue your dreams. Don’t ever let anybody put you down, and trust in yourself. Be yourself and don’t be afraid of being who you are. Sometimes, everybody wants to belong to a certain society, group of people, with the “in” students in school. No. Be yourself. Enjoy it and be proud of it. Keep dreaming.

MR: Thanks so much, Thalía, very sweet. It would be remiss not to mention that you are married to Tommy Mottola. I have been a fan of his ever since his management days, repping Hall & Oates and being name-tagged in the ’70s hit “Cherchez la Femme.

T: Oh my God. Tommy Mottola lives on the road. I am a big fan of Tommy too. He is an incredible person and what a career. What a character in the music industry.

MR: Between his history as Champion Entertainment and his record mogul days, he really has become a part of pop music culture.

T: Totally. He created all these new ways to enjoy music from the Latin explosion to the new little groups of kids doing all these dances and music. I think he has been doing incredible things for the music industry.

MR: He has and I hope that he does for years to come. I also wish you all the best with all your future endeavors, thank you for the interview. It’s an honor, your being one of the world’s most popular entertainers.

T: Mike, thank you so much for having me here. Happy Christmas to everybody and I hope I see you soon.

MR: I hope to see you soon too, and hey, I’m coming to sing the national anthem at the New Jersey Devils’ New Year’s Eve game. It’s right next door to NYC, Thalía!

T: Bring the coats, baby! It’s very cold. Freezing.

MR: (laughs) You got it. Thanks very much, Thalía. Have a great one.

T: Take care.

Transcribed by Erika Richards