Classically cool - Buble's music is the melody
Michael Buble epitomizes cool.
The Canadian crooner has the looks, the pipes and even a sense of humor. "Am I wasting my votes still voting for Antonella Barba?" Buble, 31, cracked to Ryan Seacrest on last season's "American Idol" after the sultry Barba, a fan favorite, failed to make the cut.
However, the suave entertainer, calling recently from New York, admits he was terrified while making "Call Me Irresponsible," the follow-up to his mega-platinum breakthrough album, 2005's "It's Time." The candid Buble, who performs Monday at the Rose Garden arena, also details his love of pop classics and big band music, why his songs stand out today and what inspired his career.
What was it like following up a career-making disc?
It was very, very scary. I was very nervous. I didn't have a lot of fun making this record.
Why?
I had more to lose this time. So I worked so hard. It's difficult, since the last album sold 5 million copies and I'm in a business that's faltering but I'm expected to sell 10 million copies this time.
You've sold a lot of units but you don't get a lot of airplay . . .
The reason for that is that I'm a live performer. I think if you want longevity in this business, you have to be a live performer. Look at all the acts that are doing well. The Rolling Stones, the Police, these are acts that play well and draw people to shows. They're great at what they do onstage. I think that's very important. It's how it was when the musicians who played my music did it back in the day.
How does a kid growing up in the late '80s develop a fondness for big band music?
My grandfather played the music for me and I just fell for it. I'm a sentimental person, and the lyrics are quite sentimental.
It's one thing to become a fan, but to start a career crooning these classic songs . . .
I was filling a niche, and even more so I thought this could get me (sex). I thought this was a cool thing. I wasn't following in everyone else's footsteps. I was being irresponsible. I wasn't following the rock band of the week just because everyone else was. I had something that was mine. I fell for timeless music.
But you started singing so you could get girls, just like rockers do.
That was my angle. I don't mean to be crass about it but, well, maybe I do. I think if you asked a lot of men after they were injected with truth serum, why they became presidents, entertainers, CEOs or journalists, why they did it, they would say to do well with the opposite sex.
I think you might be right about all of that except the part about journalists.
(Laughs) For me, personally. I can't say (speaking in a fey manner), "It's just lovely music and I think it's just special and it touches my heart." I would cringe myself up.
Your songs get a little more notice today since they're different from much of what is released. Does that give you an advantage?
I think it helps in a way. My single "Everything" went to No. 1, and so did "Home" from my last record. Do I think they would have done as well in 1971? I don't think so. There were so many great songs with great melodies out then. Would those songs have gone to No. 1 and taken out an Abba or a Bee Gees song? I don't know. Those songs Abba wrote are inspiring.
Why has so much nonmelodic music been released?
I think during the '90s a lot of music became groove-driven, and the melody was lost. I'm not saying there isn't room for great groove-driven songs or metal or hip-hop. I'm just saying that there is room for melody. I have 10-year-old kids come up to me and they love music with melody.
Your material isn't all that's a throwback, so is your album, which wasn't overproduced. You cut tracks live, and warts and all are exposed.
That was the way to go. (Producer) David Foster said that it was going to be hard for me to listen to this album because I sang live. He said that I'll be able to hear my breaths. I'll hear the bum notes. He was right. It is hard for me to listen to because it's not slick. But I'll take sounding weird and that emotion you get with it over a slick disc.
Would you ever cross over into rock?
No. I just think about how so (darn) hard it was to get where I am, and there's no way I would do it. I started out as a 16-year-old working nightclubs. I did that for 10 years. I got discovered and worked even harder since then. I was told that I should join a boy band, sing rock or pop. I was told that no one would listen to me sing this style of music. I was told Harry Connick Jr. is in position to sing this music and that I'll never succeed. After proving so many people wrong, I would be crazy to pull a 180 and do something else.
What was it like playing the clubs?
It was weird because Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Brian Setzer were getting big, and zoot suit people would come into the clubs. It wasn't great for the club owners because these people came to dance and not drink alcohol. They drank water all night. The thing I remember about it was that it was a bit cringy. People wearing '20s getups. I have a great respect for the history of music and for those who wrote it, but I'm glad to have been born in 1975 and wear the clothes we wear today. I love the music, but I'm not so nostalgic that I'm wearing the clothes from the period. For me, it's all about the music.