Writing Songs With My Friend Mike

When I was in my second year of college living on campus (at Columbia in NYC) with 4 suite mates, every time the phone rang, there was a race to answer it. Everyone wanted to be the guy to hear the "hello" on the other side just in case it was my friend Michael Jackson calling.

Most of those days, Michael was holed up on top of the Four Seasons, roughly 60 blocks away from where I lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan just near Harlem. I'd happily drift downtown, gain clearance from security downstairs who knew I was allowed free access to Michael's suite, take the elevator all the way up and start ordering room service and watch movies on Mike's tab. Eventually, Michael and I would get down to work. He was working on a new album and asked me to help him write lyrics for songs. It was an informal relationship - I'd wander downtown with a backpack full of dictionaries, and thesauri, and rhyming books. Michael would hum songs and talk about what he wanted to say with the song and we'd try and marry our skillsets and come up with something. We came up with great stuff. Michael swore me to secrecy those days. I happily complied.

After we were done with those sessions - they'd usually go until about 2 AM or so - Michael would wander into the bathroom and come out with a sack he'd pulled out from under the toilet. In it, he kept several thousands of dollars. He'd ask me how much I wanted. I just sort of shrugged and he'd hand me a couple of thousand dollars. Soon, I'd be packing my dictionaries and thesauri and rhyming books in my backpack, calling my friends and telling them to meet me downtown. Within an hour, we'd be at Flashdancers "making it rain."

Michael was always envious when I told him about my adventures with my friends. More than a few times, he'd get dressed up - dawning some sort of quasi-disguise - preparing to go with me, only to back down at the last minute or be held back by his security who would shake their heads and plainly say no to his misguided ambitions. Instead, he'd pour himself a tall glass of orange juice and settle in for the night to watch an old movie on TV, telling me to spend a few extra bucks for him. I happily complied.

My friendship with Michael was very special to me, and I like to think it was the same for him. Over the last few years, it always felt awkward to explain the origins of our friendship - that I met him initially when I was fifteen-years-old and that we instantly hit it off. I'd spend days at his Neverland Ranch, my sister, cousins, or other friends joining us in fantastical stretches filled with candy, arcade rides, late night movies and the absolute best chocolate chip cookies of all times. Likewise he'd visit our house in Massachusetts (he was very close to my father as well) where he'd sleep in the guest room. My mom got a great kick out of the fact that every morning Michael stayed, he'd try to make the bed (very badly) and offer to cook breakfast (very badly). Then when I was about 17, Michael invited me on the road with him - he was heading out to Europe on the biggest rock concert at the time (Dangerous tour) and wanted company. I begged and pleaded with my parents to let me go and they eventually said yes. Not a bad way to spend your summer vacation between junior and senior year of High School.

Over the years, as Michael faced his scandals, I often reflected on my own experiences with him as a teenager. People would ask me if I had endured anything strange or awkward with him. I'd answer truthfully that in all of my years with him, in every single moment, Michael was nothing but dignified and appropriate, never once doing anything that would be deemed scandalous with me. It was really that simple.

Check that. Back to those college days. One night he did call me in a panic. He had just gotten married to Lisa Marie Presley and needed advice - sex advice. He was incredibly nervous and said that he wanted to make sure that Lisa was impressed with his "moves." He asked me if I had any advice. I answered with one word: "foreplay."

"Really?" He answered. "Girls really like that?"

Over the last few years, Michael's and my relationship evolved and matured greatly too. We both became fathers and that was the centerpiece of our most recent conversations the last few months. Returning the favor from my days as his "lyrical advisor," he's the one who monikered my half-Indian, half-Chinese son "The Chindian" which little Krishu Chen Xing Hua Chopra will now forever go by. We'd talk about how great it would be for our kids to grow up together, become as good friends as us, and set the world on fire. Michael admired the fact that I was able to find a wife, keep a wife, and gain her trust. I'd joke it was all about the foreplay! When his daughter Paris befell an accident a few years ago, he called my wife Candice (a physician) pleading for us to come to his house to check her out.

We did - Paris had fallen from a tree and cut herself deeply beneath the eye. Michael was devastated and confessed to me that he felt like the world's worst father. I calmed him as Candice helped Paris get up from the bed where she lay so we could take her to the Emergency room to get some simple stitches. When I advised Michael of the plan, he pulled me into the bathroom, pulled a sack filled with thousands of dollars from beneath the toilet and asked me how much I needed for the Emergency room.

I shook my head: "this one's on me."

RIP in peace my friend.

Gotham Chopra regularly blogs at www.intent.com

Follow Gotham Chopra on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gothamchopra

Comments

[Rebbent]

I would really like to know why my comment questioning Gotham Chopra's judgment was not posted. I used no bad words and expressed no venom toward anyone.

I simply wondered why a so-called friend chooses to expose Michael's private, and likely embarrassing questions about sexual matters, to the world. I simply wonder why so-called friends do not show more discretion. With friends such as these, it's hardly any wonder his life was a tabloid nightmare for all to gawk at.

[jeffabc]

Thank you for your heart felt article.

[hollybork]

Lovely post. Thank you.

[badwalrus]

I watched part of the memorial today and was very pleasantly surprised at how effective his family and friends were at humanizing this complex, deeply flawed man. People can sometimes be profoundly loved despite their troubling imperfections. It was moving to see that. It was dignified.

Yes, there was a lot of sincere feeling conveyed by people like Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, Sr., Al Sharpton, Magic Johnson, MLK the third, Brooke Shields and many in the Jackson family. It was plain to see that these people really loved Michael and were important in his life. Most of the cynical opportunists who tried to use his death for publicity or who tried to disproportionally insert themselves into his life story were not there, thankfully. Not a single Chopra went up on stage...

[LisaMarks]

Dear Michael,

The first time I felt compassion was the night of USA Africa. Listening to Heal the World opened a tender place in my heart which has only continued to grow. Now, I shoulder the pain and burden of others, helping to bring them peace and joy, if only for one moment. I do it in my way as you did it in yours. That night set me on a path toward my life purpose, and it began with your words.

Thank You.

I, and others, felt on the inside what the press has allowed people to see you as on the outside. Now, we look at you and see your sheer beauty in so many ways.

I will think of you, and think of you fondly when I do…

Your compassion, genuine nature, perfection, resilience, humor, creativity, innocence and most of all the depth of your pain mixed with the depth of your love will be missed so very much.

Because of you I will walk each day with my head held high, take the power I have within and use it for good, find the forgiveness for myself that I need. Because of you I will always be there for the people that need me and learn to tell them that I love them. Because of you I will never let others steal the spirit I have in life. Because of you, I will.

With my hand on my heart I salute you.

Love Always, Lisa Markarian

[apaulspie]

this is beautiful. after reading this i have teary eyes. you are lucky for having a friend like michael. it was really sad he gone too soon. thank you for sharing your good memories of him. michael will live forever in hearts. i am from the philippines and not only us but the world will surely miss him. May he rest in peace!

[boycottrightwingthings]

Thank you Gotham, for that heartfelt tribute to our awesome Michael. I love your name, by the way!! Way cool! : )

[Pippen]

I was touched by your writing, thank you for sharing that cherished story. Thank you for treating Michael the way he should be and being his friend. May God bless you always. Mai Que Dieu vous bénisse toujours.

[divakarssathya]

According to an article in CNS by Angela Dave he once wrote, that he experienced God when his children were born.

“Children are God’s gift to us. No — they are more than that — they are the very form of God’s energy and creativity and love. He is to be found in their innocence, experienced in their playfulness.”

While my views on "God" may be different, I completely believe him, because I could have written that myself.

Thanks, Gotham, for sharing your extraordinary experiences of a good man.

Hemanta Da! Madan Mohan Sa'ab! Michael Jackson ! Amar Rahe!
Narcissistic India's Gratitude Deficit.
http://spriteleesathya.blogspot.com/2009/06/hemanta-da-madan-mohan-saab-michael.html

[Pleneras]

I had 2 hours to contact my son before the room reached full capacity as word got around via phone. I immediately called our place at Hannan Dom and he answered. I said "Quick! ababbak.sdkfdkdd" My son could not understand me and asked for me to catch my breath. I told him, "Quick, Michael Jackson is going to be on base in two hours! Get dress and go there now!" He got there and waited for about 1 hour. Michael Jackson showed up and spoke to all the kids in that room taking pictures with those around him. My son was told he was going to enter one end and he ended up entering the other end of the room. The next day one of the photographer's told me he has a picture with MJ and my son in it. Later that day he gave it to me and I to my son. Although he was on top of a chair he was in a room where only 150 fit. During the allegations and trial my son was so upset he threw away the photo which I had framed. I was upset at him for believing the media instead of the facts presented and making his own judgment. He learned since then but that piece of memory is gone forever.

One point to the story was that MJ shows up just to meet kids all over the world unannounce.

[Pleneras]

What a very heartwarming and beauiful write up. I thank you for sharing what is probably the most honest article written about him by friends. Maybe because you were a real friend instead of one who wanted just a little more of that sack money. When I was in the Navy, I did 8 years, anyway, I use disseminate all our emails in the morning in Seoul. One morning in 1999 one of the emails stated the following, "For immediate notice, Michael Jackson will be visiting the children of military active duty members on the base this morning. This information has not been release to the press. Dependent children are allow with their ID cards in the Recreational Room." cont....

[picshun01]

This was a truly beautiful article. It brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. Thank you for providing us with a glimpse into your friendship with MJ, as well as letting us see another side of him. I want to remember him as a MUSICAL GENIUS and LOVING FATHER. I am heartbroken by the fact that he is no longer here with us. I would like to thank him for the nearly 40 years that he gave of himself to the world. Michael is/was one of a kind, his star will forever shine, he will never be duplicated. Michael Jackson is and forever will be the GREATEST ENTERTAINER THAT EVER LIVED!!!. Michael, Thank you for the music, moves, and your humanitarian efforts! I along with the rest of the world will miss you!

[ddDinah]

You were lucky to have a wonderful father, Michael wasn't by his own admission, my concerns are for Michael's children being exposed to his father.

[Lilyoffrance]

I too have concerns for Michael's children being exposed to his father. I don't know how his mother ended up bearing so many children for a man like that.

[justme1990]

Its refreshing to hear someone say such nice things about Michael Jackson. Thanks for sharing your remembrances.

No one, not one of us is perfect. I can't judge what MJ did or did not do in his personal life. Whatever his de.mons were, he's free now.

Millions of people, including myself, have enjoyed Michael Jackson, the gifted and talented musician, for many years.

Rest in Peace, Michael... My condolences for the Jackson family.

[UrbanAddictiondotcom]

That story brought tears to my eye. I'm so glad in Michael's short life, that he had good friends like the Chopra family.