“I know that Michael is in my heart, and that’s it.”

When walking through the streets of Menton, whether along Rue Saint-Michel or Rue Longue, a silent but familiar tone can be heard. It gets closer, but the origin is still nowhere to be seen. You slowly start to recognize the music: it’s “Billie Jean!” And with the tone comes Michael Jackson — or at least his most devoted impersonator.

Yann goes by the stage name Michael, sometimes Michel, a Mentonnais native, born 50 years ago in the building we call Sciences Po today. He became infatuated with Michael Jackson at age 3. That is also the age when he fell in love with dancing. 

“When I dance to Michael, that’s how I express my passion. That’s it. I lost my mother not long ago, and then I started dancing again. It’s the same way of expressing myself. When I dance to my songs, I’m there. It’s my moment,” MJ says. 

For Michael, the best spot to perform is Plage des Sablettes, since there are a lot of people and loyal fans. Children especially enjoy his performances, he says, and he often shows them a few dance moves; he says children are his biggest fans.

How does he prepare for his performances? They are both spontaneous and thought out, since he often practices his shows in advance. MJ mostly performs in nice weather; his days thus revolve around how sunny it is in Menton. 

These days, Michael lives only with his cousin and sometimes hangs out with other local artists with whom he gets along well. To perform in the city, artists need a permit from the town hall, and Michel is currently in the process of renewing his. 

“I’d really like to make it in this field, but then… There are lots of people who have promised to help me make it, and it still hasn’t worked out,” Michael says.

Despite that, dancing has helped him make a living. In the future, he would like to perform in Paris or Cannes, but for now, he says he is happy in Menton, watching the sunrise and sunset and tipping his leather hat to passerby students.

Photo Source: Marie Sinivee