Tina Turner - Interview

Entertainment Weekly Interveiw by Larry Frascella

Tina Turner: My work is music, music, music, music. So when I don't work, it's kind of quiet. But Sting's last album ''Fields of Gold'' was very strong. I played it every chance I had, and I still enjoy it. At the moment, George Michaels' ''Older.'' It has been in my life for about two years now. I go in this trend of listening to an album that gets me and takes care of the music side. I also listen to Moroccan music. But the house is not blasting with music.

Who is the most underrated performer you can think of?

This isn't exactly an answer to your question but I think Michael Jackson is underappreciated. People are too concerned with his private life, what he's done with his body instead of what great music he makes. He has given us great music. And people are too critical about trivial things.

How has rock & roll changed the world?

A lot of people now feel that rock & roll is a young music, for young people. I don't think so. Rock & roll changed people's attitudes towards life. Rock & roll made you feel like, ''Hey, wow, let's have a good time.'' There was some music out there that really brought people to life -- and the music brought life to the people. I'm speaking of Jagger, Bowie, the Beatles. There's something wonderful and big about it, enormous. I think the bad part was the drug influence. I never needed it. The music did it for me.

What moves do you practice in front of the mirror?

I don't practice any moves in front of my mirror. I know that's a projection. People think I live that kind of life because of my performance. But my work is an act. It's not like I take it home.

Besides, you probably don't need the practice.

(Laughs.) I wish I'd said that.

Do you enjoy being an icon, a diva?

I didn't have the dream of becoming an icon. But there's something good that comes with it because you feel you earned it. You feel that people finally respect you and your music. When you just want to walk the streets window shopping like everybody else, it's not possible. But you get used to it like a second sleeve. Would I rather be a normal person? Well, you know ... no. Most of the times, once you're out of the limelight is when you want to be in it.

If you had a wish for music in the next millennium, where would you like to see things go?

I like singing. I think rap is great. It's great to get away from the normal melodic music that was there before. But I truly do still enjoy a good song. A melody. Good singing.

What was the lowpoint of your rock & roll life?

In the beginning, I had a tough life. A tragic one. When I was born I wasn't really wanted. And then I went from that to a marriage with Ike that was really another relationship of denial and an unhappy one for many years. But something wonderful bloomed out of all that misery. Yes, I hated it, but it's not like hating exactly. It's something that you deal with. To say that you hated your past? It was bad. It was violent. But something really wonderful came from that, a knowledge and strength. It was not hate. It was an ... inconvenience. It was uncomfortable. But I can't really say hate.

What's the secret of your endurance?

For me, success came in the second half of my life. It's my time now, starting from about my mid-40s. Before, it was time for Ike. My endurance comes from the fact that I became successful from working, and because there's a desire from the people for what I do. My endurance comes from that desire, from the people.