00:00Hanging out with the legendary Mr. Clive Davis, how are you today?
00:03I'm good, I'm well, thank you.
00:05Well, listen, last year, you know, we had a bit of a change with the wildfires
00:09and you guys turned the event into a fundraiser, but now we're back.
00:14We're back.
00:15We're back in a big way, so how does that feel?
00:17You know, I'm so looking forward to Saturday night.
00:22I was just at the Billboard Power event yesterday
00:30and to really see the anticipation for the party Saturday night was so gratifying.
00:41I mean, to walk in and everybody to a person said, can't wait for Saturday night.
00:48And that makes you feel good because we're in our 51st year of the party.
00:53Incredible.
00:54And so when you know that someone and that the event is as alive and anticipated,
01:01it makes you feel good.
01:03I mean, people really look forward to it every year
01:05and they're excited to come have a good time.
01:07Now, you talked about our event.
01:09It was cool to have, you know, you there, Mariah Carey,
01:12but your event, I mean, everybody's there.
01:14So when you have, like, athletes, politicians, musicians,
01:18how is it to put that list together?
01:20Well, it's exciting because it's as star-filled as ever, if not more.
01:32But it's the emotion of people looking forward to it that keeps me on my toes.
01:39I'm born, you have to live up to the billing.
01:41And so you don't get, as I used to say,
01:46you don't play your records because you discover Joplin.
01:49You've got to show it right now.
01:51Exactly.
01:52I've got to tell you, we're doing a documentary on the 50 years.
01:56It's been Jesse Collins and Rob Ford are working on it.
02:08And when I really think back, you know,
02:11on that duet of Alicia Keys and Aretha and Whitney and Natalie Cole
02:15and the others,
02:18it's really the power of music elevating one's life.
02:26No, it's incredible indeed.
02:27You talk about those iconic performances,
02:29and I know Jesse will do a great job with that.
02:31He's amazing.
02:32Okay, okay.
02:32And I did want to ask you.
02:33Jesse, do you hear that?
02:35And then also, I mean,
02:37obviously you can't give me any spoilers,
02:39but like what's a person or a human that you're like,
02:43I can't believe they haven't been to my party
02:45and they're on your wish list?
02:46I call every year Bruno Mars.
02:49And somehow he's eluded us,
02:55but I'm a great admirer of Bruno.
02:58He's amazing.
02:58So, yes, I definitely have frustration of not,
03:07but the number of people desiring to play,
03:10the number of people who do play,
03:13the number of,
03:15we have some real surprises Saturday night.
03:19I can't wait.
03:20I mean, and Bruno has a new single out.
03:22He has to promote,
03:22so Bruno, call Mr. Davis, please.
03:25And then also, I mean,
03:26you had, of course, a lot of legends come.
03:29One that I think of is Barry Manilow.
03:31He was at the first performing at the first event.
03:33And you guys have been friends.
03:34So, obviously he's been through a lot.
03:36Have you talked to him?
03:37And will he make his way around to the party?
03:38I've got to tell you,
03:39I am proud to say
03:43that 50 years later,
03:46I signed him as the first artist on Arista.
03:51The first record on Arista was Mandy.
03:54And that's what led to this tradition.
03:58But I called Barry six months, eight months ago.
04:03I said, you know, there's a song
04:05that Peter Allen wrote, co-wrote,
04:10and I think Dean Pitchford,
04:12once before I go.
04:15And in seeing how you draw,
04:20unbelievable, you sell out everywhere.
04:22Radio City, Vegas, England,
04:25wherever you go, you're selling out
04:26at 80, 81, 82.
04:29I said,
04:31and you get so many repeat performances
04:34by fans.
04:36Let me suggest,
04:38not only that you come out
04:40with a towel around your neck
04:42after you do Copacabana,
04:44after you do Arista songs,
04:47and you say that we're back together,
04:52and there's great copyright,
04:55once before I go,
04:56you should consider doing.
05:00Because that's a standard
05:02in the future.
05:05That is another my way.
05:10And so he's done that.
05:12And we just recorded it.
05:14And I brought Babyface in,
05:17Kenny Edmonds,
05:19to do the track.
05:21And Barry Manlow
05:22has recorded this song
05:24called,
05:25Once Before I Go,
05:27I Want You to Know
05:28I'd Do It All Again.
05:30I'd Make the Same Mistakes.
05:32It's a beautiful song.
05:34I love great songs.
05:36Yes, I mean,
05:37Barry has not been
05:37in the best of health lately.
05:41So I have no idea
05:42whether he can come
05:43or not come
05:44Saturday night.
05:47But that would be a thrill
05:49to have him sing that song.
05:52Yeah, that's incredible.
05:54And I mean,
05:54he's a legend.
05:55And of course,
05:56you also bring in
05:57the new crop every year.
05:58And you can't spoil that either,
05:59unless you want to.
06:00But who are some young acts
06:02that you've been having
06:03your eye on lately
06:04or listening to?
06:06Look,
06:06there's a lot of new music
06:08that I have been
06:10both appreciative of
06:12and impressed by.
06:15I don't talk about
06:17who's going to perform
06:18and not looking
06:22at the performances.
06:24But Man I Need
06:25by Olivia Dean
06:27and Ordinary
06:28by Alex Warren,
06:29two examples.
06:31A brand new artist
06:33nominated for Grammys
06:34that I've been
06:36very impressed by.
06:37Oh yeah, Alex is incredible.
06:38That voice is just
06:40otherworldly.
06:41Yes, yes.
06:43And then speaking
06:43of otherworldly voice,
06:45Whitney Houston
06:46obviously being awarded
06:48with the Grammy
06:48Lifetime Achievement Award.
06:50That's incredible.
06:51Have you ever been asked
06:52your favorite
06:53Whitney Houston song?
06:54My favorite Whitney
06:56is like asking
06:57someone who has children
07:00as I do,
07:01who's your favorite kid.
07:03I can't separate.
07:09I honestly can't separate.
07:12I've got to tell you,
07:14I was both surprised
07:17but gratified.
07:21Your magazine,
07:22Billboard,
07:25and polling your staff
07:28of, I don't know
07:31whether it was
07:31the top 100 songs
07:33of all time
07:33or the top 50 songs
07:35of all time
07:37but coming in
07:39at number one
07:40was I Wanted to Dance
07:43with Somebody.
07:44It was a recent issue.
07:46Picture a different,
07:48you want to go to bed
07:49with someone,
07:49you don't want to
07:50just dance with them
07:51and she got it,
07:53gets it.
07:54so that's a real thrill
07:58and I would have to say
07:59seeing that Billboard,
08:01Billboard,
08:02just voted as the number one
08:03of all time
08:05ahead of Thriller.
08:08Great thrill.
08:09I mean Chills,
08:10what a song.
08:11It really is iconic
08:12and just randomly
08:13I wanted to tell you
08:14as well,
08:14I love some of her
08:15recent stuff.
08:16Whitney was so great
08:17and I Looked to You
08:18and I Didn't Know
08:19My Own Strength
08:20are personally amazing songs
08:22to me in my life
08:23so you guys
08:24did incredible work.
08:25Oh well thank you,
08:26that's the most recent album
08:27and the one,
08:29the album that was just
08:30her most recent effort.
08:35Diane wrote
08:36I Didn't Know My Own Strength
08:39and R. Kelly,
08:40I Looked to You.
08:41Two great songs.
08:44Yeah.
08:44And then lastly,
08:46you know,
08:46with 50 years
08:47of this event
08:47going into Saturday,
08:49what still excites you
08:50the most?
08:51What excites me the most
08:53is putting this year
08:56up for appraisal,
08:59wondering whether
09:00they will say
09:01as they have every year,
09:03the best ever,
09:05the best ever,
09:06what ingredients,
09:07would be part of that evening
09:19that would make them
09:21come up to me
09:23and say the best ever.
09:25So I've decided on it
09:27and I'm excited about it
09:29and you know,
09:31you go up
09:32and you put yourself
09:33on the line.
09:34I mean,
09:35there's no doubt
09:36you know,
09:37people could say
09:37well,
09:38it didn't measure up
09:40or it didn't hit the,
09:43but we have ingredients,
09:45okay,
09:46that are spectacular.
09:48Apart from the new,
09:50the not so new,
09:53it's a wonderful combination.
09:55Well, Clive,
09:56you talk about ingredients,
09:57I think if anybody
09:57has the recipe,
09:59it's you.
09:59No, Clive.
10:00Thank you so much
10:01for hanging out with Billboard.
10:02We really appreciate it.
10:03Thanks.
10:03Thanks.
