Skin by Wills and The Willing featuring Didier Drogba and Michael Essien

Skin by Wills and The Willing featuring Didier Drogba and Michael Essien


Michael Essien spoke to Chelsea FC.com about the song, Racism, and the team:

Michael Essien's versatility is well-known, but he has lent his talents to an altogether different cause, joining team-mate Didier Drogba as a backing vocalist on an anti-racism single released next week.

The two players, both of whom share a love for music, were alerted to the opportunity to work on the song, entitled 'Skin', with musician Ian Wills and his band The Willing, and promptly took up the offer.

'We recorded it some time last season,' Essien said, pleased that his musical talent is seeing the light of day. 'It was very good fun, my first time in the studio, and when I got there I was a little bit nervous, but they made me feel comfortable, and as I read the lines I felt better and we had more jokes.'

The inspiration for the song though is little laughing matter, and Essien knows how it feels to be the victim of racism, having suffered earlier in his career.

'It happened to me a few times in France, at my first club Bastia,' he recalled. 'I don't think these kinds of things affect me, I don't care. It's very stupid for some people to do that, but I just let it go and got on with the game.

'When people are angry they can say anything without thinking about it. I just let it go, and try to control myself.

'It's not a good thing, we are all human beings. It's only the colour that changes. If I can help fight against racism, why not?' he asked.

Essien hopes the song will get the message across about racism, and has not ruled out further involvement, both with the cause, and in the studio.

When asked if he would fancy another shot at being a vocalist, his answer was a positive one.

'Yeah, why not? If there is something happening and they call me I will do it,' he said, but did rule out the idea of an Essien solo track, saying: 'I don't think so, but if I can help I will!'

Back on the pitch, it has been a frustrating opening to the 2007/8 season for Africa's most expensive footballer, as he has struggled with a series of niggling injuries that have kept him out of three games already, including our most recent match, the 1-0 win up at Bolton 12 days ago.

In the time since, Essien, known in France as 'The Bison' for his trademark powerful displays, should have been on international duty with Ghana, but for various reasons he has been stationed at Cobham while many of his team-mates have been off across the globe.

Ghana were due to play an international friendly with Jamaica in London last week, but policing issues meant the game was switched to Essien's native Accra, before being called off altogether.

'I don't really know what happened,' he admits. 'I had a call saying the game has been moved from London to Ghana, and then secondly they told me it had been canceled. I didn't ask why, because I wasn't going to go as I was injured. I think there were some problems.'

This means Essien hasn't played since the win in Valencia over two weeks ago, but he has been keeping a keen eye on developments while his team-mates have been away.

Speaking prior to the midweek internationals, he said: 'I watched England at the weekend and I think they did really well, got three points, and had a good game.'


While watching the game, he was mystified as to the treatment dished out to one of his team-mates.

'I didn't like it when the fans booed Frank Lampard when he came on. I think Frank has been a fantastic player for club and country for so many years. He's been consistent for both. I don't know why, he's one of the best players in the world. He deserves better than this, and it's not going to help him or the other players, so people should stop,' Essien complained.

'England still have a chance to qualify for the European Championships, and Frank is a strong guy, very tough in the head, so I don't think it will affect him.'

Naturally, Michael has also kept an interest in the French team, especially as he has two Chelsea team-mates in the squad, and he isn't too sure why they have not had qualification sewn up just yet.

'I didn't see the game, but it was very bad for them to lose to Scotland,' he said, speaking on last month's Scottish victory in the Parc des Princes.

'Scotland played very well, and had six points off France, so have a chance. We joke sometimes, when we come back from the national teams, we'll talk about it for a few minutes and then concentrate on the club side.'

It has been an unusual and well-documented few weeks on the club side, with a change of management and slump in results followed up by two away victories, and Essien believes bright things are around the corner.

'It's been very interesting, so far so good,' he said of the new management. 'We've been unlucky sometimes, and we've drawn a couple of games. We can do better, and we have that belief. We have the players to do it, so hopefully things will be better soon.'

Of his own form, Essien is equally confident. Fit again after injury, he promises the Michael Essien we all know is ready to return.

'I've been out injured for a few games, but I'm ok, fit again, and hopefully I can stay fit. I'm not used to these injuries, so no more and I'll be back to my best,' he defiantly said.

Last season's Player of the Year will again be hoping to show the kind of form that won him such accolades, and if he does, he might just be singing again.

Skin by Wills and The Willing will be released on CD single, limited edition signed blue 7" vinyl and download next Monday (October 22), during a week of action by football's anti-racism and inclusion campaign, Kick It Out.

In the meantime, if you want a taster, you can watch the music video on YouTube.

The hope is to send this song to the top of the charts, raise money for the UK's largest children's cancer charity and make everyone aware that racism in today's society is completely unacceptable, all at the same time.

You can pre-order the CD from Amazon or pre-order the CD and limited signed blue vinyl from HMV.