When the Oscars came around in March, Michael Bearden was the music director, conducting and co-arranging nearly 60 pieces at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
That’s a huge job. But years before that, Bearden had another one that a lot of Michael Jackson fans remember him for.
Bearden is a Chicago native, and he’s about as busy as a musician gets. He has worked with more than 500 artists, including Whitney Houston, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga. He was also the music director for Lady Gaga’s 2017 Super Bowl halftime show.
In 2009, he was the music director for “This Is It,” Michael’s planned concerts in London. Film Music Reporter calls him “Michael Jackson’s final music director.” Bearden also scored the “This Is It” film, which was made from rehearsal footage after Michael passed away in 2009.
If you’ve never seen Bearden, this interview with him as the “This Is It” music director is a good way to meet the man behind the keyboards.
Michael Bearden, music director of “This Is It,” in an interview
The rehearsals were filmed in Los Angeles, mostly at Staples Center and the Forum. And one short exchange from those days has stuck with fans ever since.
The band was about to play “The Way You Make Me Feel.” Bearden was at the keyboards, leading everyone in. And they came in too fast.
Michael stopped them and told Bearden what the song needed.
“You gotta let it simmer. It’s got a moment where it has to simmer.”
“That’s right,” Bearden answered.
What comes next is the part fans quote the most. The film’s transcript doesn’t say who’s speaking after Bearden’s answer, but fans have always credited these words to Michael: “You’re not letting it simmer. Just bathe in the moonlight. You have to let it simmer a bit, you know?”
Bathe in the moonlight. Most people giving notes to a band would say “slow down” or “wait a beat.” This sounds more like a lyric than an instruction.
Bearden got it. He told the band to add a bar or two. Then he had a little fun with it. “MJ, check it from the top again. See what we got, simmer-wise.”
Here’s the “This Is It” rehearsal of the song, so you can hear the groove Michael was talking about.
Michael and his band rehearse “The Way You Make Me Feel” for “This Is It”
What makes the moment so lovely is how gentle it is. Michael isn’t scolding anybody. He’s describing a feeling, and a room full of top musicians knows exactly what he means.
The film also shows the band rehearsing other songs with Michael, and this clip of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” lets you hear another one of those rehearsals.
Michael rehearses “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” for “This Is It”
The “simmer” moment also shows you what a good music director does. Bearden’s job was to take what was in Michael’s head and turn it into something the whole band could play together. On this particular day, that meant turning “bathe in the moonlight” into a couple of extra bars.
Bearden has spoken about his time with Michael over the years, including in a sit-down with comedian George Lopez.
Michael Bearden talks about Michael in an interview with George Lopez
He’s gone on to lead the music at some of the biggest events on TV. Plenty of Michael Jackson fans still picture him at the keyboards in that Los Angeles rehearsal, adding a bar or two so the song could simmer the way Michael wanted.