Singer-dancer Chris Brown just havin' a lot more fun

Chris Brown, the 17-year-old singing and dancing R&B sensation, who plays the Paramount Tuesday night, had just finished a sound check for his show in Oakland when we caught up with him by phone Friday evening. It was noisy backstage, making it hard to hear some of his answers, but what came through loud and clear was his youthful enthusiasm and unbridled excitement over the many facets of his fast-moving career.

Q: You've played here in Seattle a couple of times, including in March at the Showbox. How will the Paramount show be different?

A: The show is basically different because I just changed it up a lot. There's a lot more dancing and we're just havin' a lot more fun, so that's what basically it is.

Q: Your dancing is incredible. Are you self-taught?

A: Definitely. Like, my creativity and my moves are totally self-taught. But as far as like me dancing with choreographers, with other dancers, that's not all me.

Q: The "Gimme That" video has some amazing moves by you and the other dancers, in '30s-style suits and hats. Were those all your ideas?

A: I co-directed the video and the whole idea for the video was mine. I just really wanted to bring something different to a hip-hop song with an R&B feel to it. So that's what I brung to it. With the choreography, I didn't really get a chance to do a lot of the initial choreography that's done by the group in unison, but when I'm dancing by myself it's all me.

As far as the clothes, that was my idea. I'm very interested and good at fashion design. I want to pursue a clothing line. I really want to do that.

Q: That video has something of a story line. Are you interested in acting?

A: I already made a movie that was called "Steppin'," but it's actually called "Stomp the Yard" now. It comes out [in January with] me, Ne-Yo, Meagan Good, Darrin Henson. It's gonna be a great, great movie, actually. I'm gonna show my part in the movie and it's good. I spit out a couple of lines and stuff, I play a character. So that's what I love.

I'm looking at a lot of different movie scripts, a lot of different TV shows and things like that. I'm about to be a cast member of "The O.C."

Q: You just turned 17. Got a car yet?

A: I drive a 2005 Expedition, all souped up, hooked up. It's got a great sound system.

Q: You're a great singer. But why do you rap? Do you feel you have to?

A: For the most part, I don't rap a lot. I'm mostly R&B. So I sing, with a little bit of rap flavor to it. So it's more of an R&B-type feel. It's not something I have to do; it's something I like to do, that I'm like definitely into.

Q: Most of your songs that get played on the radio are dance-oriented, but you sing ballads beautifully.

A: I have one out now on the radio, "Say Goodbye." It's ridin' up to the top.

Q: Are you going to have a new album out soon? A: Yeah, I'm gonna start my new album in December, have it out next year, like May or June. I've written a lot of new songs.

Q: Any new songs in the show?

A: I'm not gonna give the show away! You have to come and see! Definitely!

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312, pmacdonald@seattletimes.com