Operator: Thank you for joining us today for the Teleprint conference call with Usher, regarding his upcoming The Truth Tour. Usher's The Truth Tour sold out all over Europe, and tickets are flying fast here in North America. With Kanye West joining him on the road, three singles lighting up the charts, and album sales going strong, Usher's The Truth Tour promises to be the hottest tour of the summer.
[Editor's note: Seriously. Someone said this.]
The Classic Softball
Q: Hi, Usher. First of all, I just want to start off by saying that I really respect your music, and I really respect you for just keeping it so real. You know?
Usher Raymond: Well, thank you.
Q: My question is: What song off the album is most meaningful to you, and why?
Usher: I would say "Burn," because that song I experienced. [Editor's note: The song is about his high-profile split from TLC's Chili.] I know what it feels like, once you let it burn. And those songs are written from a very personal place. In addition to that, they represent what I call my style. You know how every artist has those songs that they're just known for, that style like they say, "Oh, that sounds like an Usher record" or "That sounds like a Marvin Gaye record." It's a part of that brand.
The Slip-Up
Q: Good evening, Usher. How are you doing?
Usher: I'm just fine, woman.
Q: Excellent. I want to congratulate you on a stellar year, and I'm curious, since you've clearly had sex -- excuse me, success in the past, what do you think it is about this year that really allowed you to break through in a major multiplatinum way?
Usher: [Ignoring the slip-up] It could have been the fact that, after 10 years, I've been constantly doing it. And it could just be, surely, God's grace and my persistence, prayer, and patience.
The Futile Attempt at Journalism
Q: Hi, Usher. Being from Chicago, I have to ask about Kanye West, who's blown up so big this year, and he's opening the show. To what extent did you have a role in choosing him?
[Editor's note: This question comes from Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times, a well-regarded music critic, and we have no idea what he's doing on this teleconference.]
Usher: I'd already admired him as a producer, but when I heard his music, man, it was in high rotation in every car that I own.
Q: Sure, well, earlier you mentioned another Chicago artist, R. Kelly. A lot of different stories out of Chicago regarding him --
Usher: Yes, he's a great tourer. He's always thinking of ways to woo the audience.
Q: Yes, but he's got this thing hanging over his head --
Usher: [Talking over him] Yes, but I think he's a great tourer. He's amazing onstage.
[Silence]
The Silly Question
Q: I have a silly question for you. Who do you think is the better dancer -- you, Michael Jackson, or Justin?
Usher: I mean, to be perfectly honest with you, I work hard to the point where I feel like I'm the best at everything that I do, but not in comparison to anyone else. We all individually have a different style. I think that Michael Jackson is a person who motivated both of us, and that's that.
The Why-Did-I-Agree-to-This-Again? Question
Q: Hi, Usher. I've heard that when you were a kid you got into entertainment because you wanted to own a McDonald's franchise.
[Editor's note: This is me.]
Usher: No. You got that wrong. It was a franchise, but it wasn't McDonald's. Because McDonald's is not going to ever give me the endorsement. They'll give it to Justin first. No, just kidding [laughs]. It was Krispy Kreme. And as a child, I said to my grandmother, "You know, one day I'm going to own one of these Krispy Kremes. I've got to make some money," you know?
Q: And so when you're on the road, do you get to indulge in some Krispy Kremes?
Usher: No.
Q: No?
Usher: No.
Q: Okay.
The Gimme-a-Break Question
Q: Recently you've had three massive hits off the Confessions album, and at one point they were all in the top 10 at the same time. Do you think you can safely say you're the King of Pop?
Usher: I don't ever want to be the person who is self-proclaiming myself as the King of Pop. If I was given that title, I would accept it, and I would hope that I would represent it properly, because Michael Jackson held it down for almost 40 years. So I hope that I would last that time and then some. You know, I am a consummate professional and perfectionist. I try to be as mindful of everybody when I'm doing my albums and making my music. This has truly been a great experience. I'm extremely happy. But to be the King of Pop, the Stage King, the R&B King -- I don't want to self-proclaim myself as anything, man. I'm blessed. I'm blessed to be here. I'm blessed to be able to have you individuals on the telephone, even to hear what I have to say. Thank you. Thank you all very much.
Operator: And that's all the time we have for questions. This concludes today's teleconference call. You may now disconnect.
