Rock icon Mick Jagger vividly remembers the Rolling Stones' performances in Singapore, spanning from their first show in 1965 to a memorable 2014 concert at Marina Bay Sands. In a recent interview via Zoom from London, the 82-year-old singer recalled the early gig at the Singapore Badminton Hall, describing it as 'a quite small place' – a humble start to what became a legendary career in Asia.

During the 2014 show, Jagger famously peppered his banter with Singlish phrases like 'Wah lau, your weather damn hot' and 'stylo milo,' even teasing guitarist Ronnie Wood as 'blur like sotong.' He laughed about using the local dialect, noting with humor that 'of course, not everyone understood it, because not everyone was (from) Singapore.'

Will the Stones return? Jagger said, 'I always have a good time there. I like Singapore very much and, yeah, I would really like to go back and do a show there.' The band's enduring connection to the city-state reflects a broader global fanbase that has followed them for over six decades.

Foreign Tongues: The 25th Album

The Rolling Stones are set to release their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, on July 10. The album comes three years after Hackney Diamonds, their first set of original material since 2005's A Bigger Bang, and the first since the death of longtime drummer Charlie Watts in 2021.

Produced by Andrew Watt, the 35-year-old Grammy-winning American known for working with Jungkook and Justin Bieber, Foreign Tongues blends original compositions with covers. Notable guests include Paul McCartney, Robert Smith of The Cure, and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, along with drum tracks recorded by Watts before his passing.

The album includes a cover of Amy Winehouse's 2006 hit 'You Know I'm No Good,' which Jagger said was a spontaneous decision: 'We didn't have that idea until we got halfway through.'

AI and the Music Video Experiment

The band embraced artificial intelligence for the music video of lead single 'In The Stars,' which de-aged Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood to their 1970s prime. Jagger admitted the process was surreal: 'It's kind of weird, but... you get used to it very quickly.'

He noted that the AI needed constant refinement, with early versions looking off. 'The beginning of them, they're not perfect... You go, like, ah, you know, that's really not right.' He joked that his bandmates' digital versions didn't resemble them, adding, '(The makers) spent a lot of time on me, thank you very much. I look pretty good.'

However, Jagger is cautious about the broader implications of generative AI. 'It could be a threat with people just making new Stones songs,' he said, highlighting the risk of imitation given the vast amount of data available. But he views AI as a natural evolution of studio technology, recalling the Stones' early adoption of computerized mixing consoles in the late 1970s. 'The studio is a big technical tool to make music. So of course, AI is part of making the studio part of your work.'

The band's setup now includes both cutting-edge AI tools and vintage analogue gear from the 1950s. This blend defines their recording process: 'using things that came out last week, and we're using things that come from the 1950s.'

Preparedness and Spontaneity in the Studio

For Foreign Tongues, the Stones came exceptionally prepared. Jagger explained, 'Nearly all these songs are prepped before they go in... So you have 12 songs that you know are more or less done.' This contrasts with past sessions where songs were half-formed. Still, spontaneity remained, as with the Winehouse cover.

Jagger credited the band's lasting creativity to staying open-minded: 'You mustn't fall in love with the demo. You have to be open to changing the arrangements.' Whether swapping a chorus for a verse or altering a track's vibe, flexibility is key.

Legacy and the Future

After more than 60 years, retirement questions persist. Jagger, who has eight children including an eight-year-old son with fiancee Melanie Hamrick, remains music-focused. He reflected, 'I don't know, I mean, obviously it can't go on forever. I would say I'll push it until I feel it's no good.'

Foreign Tongues will be available on streaming services on July 10. The album represents a new chapter for the Rolling Stones, blending nostalgia with forward-looking innovation.

Beyond the album, Jagger's memories of Singapore and his thoughtful take on AI highlight a musician who remains engaged with both the past and the future. The Rolling Stones have always evolved, from their blues roots to stadium rock, and now to embracing digital tools while honoring their analogue heritage.

Source: The Straits Times News