Michael Buble’s new scent was almost called Haven’t Smelt You Yet

MICHAEL Bublé on his working class roots, growing up and why we should give Justin Bieber a break.

Michael Bublé says his working-class roots made him more appreciative of his fame and fortune. Picture: Andy Gotts/Camera Press/Australscope

You have just launched your first fragrance, By Invitation, in Australia. Were you afraid of being labelled a sellout for doing a celebrity scent?

I know how a lot of these deals are done: a company comes to an artist and they say, “We’re going to pay you a blankety-blank load of money and all you have to do is hold the bottle and smile.” They basically pay to licence their name. Maybe that’s fine for some, but for me, there was a great risk putting out a fragrance. I had no interest in the money, I needed to know that it was going to be beautiful and high-end. At the New York launch recently, I walked past a room full of journalists and heard one of them say, “Oh, this isn’t sh*t at all!”

When you were working on the fragrance, did you find yourself sniffing women on the street?

[Laughs.] I don’t think I sniffed women on the street, no, but I was definitely far more aware of scent. They wanted to name it Haven’t Smelt You Yet – I thought it was tacky. I liked By Invitation because, essentially, that’s what I was doing: I was inviting women to try a new fragrance.

Bublé’s new scent By Invitation was almost called Haven’t Smelt You Yet.

You are a self-confessed hopeless romantic – what would you say is the most romantic thing you’ve ever done?

I’m a man. My great happiness is sitting in my underwear watching NFL football and eating nachos, so please don’t paint me as Antonio Banderas in a movie – I’m not. I am a hopeless romantic, but I don’t think romance comes at an occasion. Romance comes out of the blue. It’s doing the dishes when your partner is tired; it’s kindness and empathy, humour and self-deprecation.

Your wife [actor Luisana Lopilato] is a megastar in Argentina. How does it feel to be the second most famous person in the room when you’re there?

I’m basically the selfie photographer. People push me out of the way and hand me their smartphone, and I take shots of them with my wife for their Instagram. I should really have photo credits from a million people – #Bubletookthis.

Bublé with his wife Luisana Lopilato, who is a megastar in Latin America. Picture: AP

You’ve said you take on the role of “Mr Mum” when your wife is filming. Do you think fathers face the same struggle with work and life balance as mothers?

Of course. There’s no such thing as perfect balance. You do your best, but it’s impossible. I decide what has to lose if there’s a battle [between work and family], and there is no doubt my kids are my priority. When I define myself, I’m a father. My job is singing and entertaining; it’s not who I am. My family will be there forever and who knows what happens with fame and fortune – they come and go. You’ve got to keep that in perspective because if it goes away and that’s all you have, you are hooped.

What is your biggest fear onstage?

I don’t allow myself to feel fear as a performer. I’m sure deep within my subconscious I’m afraid of everything, but I don’t allow myself to receive those messages. If I did, I would be stopped by fear and I can’t allow that. It’s much too easy to set myself up for failure if I allow those negative thoughts to fester and grow.

It’s been more than a decade since your album It’s Time was released. Are you sick of people asking if you’re “Feeling Good”?

They never ask that! People say, “Oh my god, Michael Bublé: I just haven’t met you yet.” And they love to make the Christmas joke, “Oh it’s July, I didn’t know you came out anytime but Christmas.” I – jokingly – tell them to toss off.

Bublé and Justin Bieber pictured together in 2013.

You found fame in your late 20s. Are you glad it happened that way?

I am. I look at people such as Meghan Trainor or Harry Styles – they got really famous really young and they’ve handled it beautifully. They are down-to-earth, normal people; kind and humble. I don’t know if I would’ve been able to handle it the way they have. I came from a normal blue-collar family – we had no connection to the business and we didn’t have very much money. I worked on my father’s fishing boat, at the beer and wine store and at the clothing store. I’m glad I had the perspective of knowing what hard work was and how hard it was to make a dollar, because it gave me a chance to be appreciative and not take how lucky I am for granted.

Is there hope for Justin Bieber?

We all make poor decisions. You make poor decisions – you just don’t have someone filming every one of them. Listen, I’m 41 years old. Hopefully I’ve grown up by now. Obviously I still make mistakes; hopefully I learn from them. That’s the thing about life experience and getting older. And I f*cking fully expect Justin Bieber to make poor decisions. I can’t imagine the pressure of being constantly judged in the public eye. I know this sounds crazy, but I think he could have done a lot worse.

You’re not wrong. Thanks for your time.

Thank you. Do me a favour? Get f*cking wasted tonight and do something stupid. Do it for Bieber. And as you’re making out with that completely weird stranger on the dance floor just yell out, “Bieber!”

By Invitation EDP is available exclusively at Chemist Warehouse.

Originally published as Michael Buble’s new scent was almost called Haven’t Smelt You Yet