Michael Jackson in London May 2000 Day One

Two weeks after returning home from Monaco, I found myself on a plane to London. This time I was on my own, none of the other YANA group members traveled with me.

I had been in contact with Flea and other fans I had met in Monaco. Through them I found out that tickets were still available for the event so before I came to London I managed to get a ticket. They had been there when Michael left but no one knew where he was staying before going to London. We knew he would be going to the event with Elizabeth Taylor so I decide to arrive in London the day before the event.

I was lucky that I had family in London so I didn't have to worry about finding a hotel. My family thought I was crazy, that I was coming to London and not doing anything else but being at Michael Jackson's hotel.

I went to The Dorchester Hotel as early as I could the day before the event. Walking up to the hotel from the tube station, my stomach was all over the place. Finally after all these years of seeing footage of fans outside this hotel, I was actually going to be part of it all.

As I walked up the road, I could see some fans gathered at the side of the hotel. Walking over to them, I recognized some from Monaco. There was only about 10 fans there. I started talking to them and learnt that Michael had not arrived yet. We sat on a blanket and got to know each other, sharing stories to pass the time. I was just so happy to be there, to be part of something I had for so long dreamed of doing.

As the hours went by, more and more fans arrived. Photographers started gathering at the front of the hotel. There was something in the air, very different to the morning time when we had been sitting around chatting.

OH MY GOODNESS MICHAEL ARRIVED

WOW I've never experienced anything like it. It was totally insane. Unlike at Monaco , there were no barriers and the cars were surrounded by fans. The noise, the screaming, people running everywhere, the camera flashes...

Everyone was pushing forward, to get to Michael, Something in me just felt it was wrong. I can't explain it, I so wanted to get close to him, but I just couldn't be part of all that mess. I stayed at the edge of the crowd, just taking it all in. Just being there, being part of it, knowing that he was actually there was enough for me.

As soon as he went into the building, everyone raced round the side of the hotel. Many fans had banners and flags, one girl had even traveled from America. Everyone was standing under the top balcony, waiting and watching. Suddenly about 30 minutes later, Michael appeared on the balcony, waving to all of us. The atmosphere was amazing, I was still in shock that I was actually there. He was only there for about 3 mins but it was far far more than I had expected.

As soon as things had calmed down, many fans decided it would be a good time to get something to eat. Even though I had traveled on my own, I suddenly found myself with lots of new friends, the fans I had spent the day chatting with and fans who I had seen in Monaco. It was soo nice to be welcomed and accepted, everyone was there just for Michael and it didn't matter that I was on my own.

We went down the road to get something to eat and we were away about an hour. As we walked back to the hotel, we could feel something in the air and we started running. As we turned the corner to the hotel entrance we saw all the fans around the cars at the front door.

Oh my goodness, could this day get any more crazy??

As there were so many around the cars, I ended up beside Flea and her friend at the front of the car, near the entrance to the road.

Again as soon as Michael was spotted walking through the hotel lobby, the screams, the noise, the cameras just as before. I was so glad I was at the edge of the crowd again. Michael got into the car and everyone was around it, banging on the windows and calling his name.

Suddenly Michael's bodyguard got out of the car and pushed his way through the crowd. Goodness where is he going, is he coming over here??

Somehow I don't know how it happened, but he came over to Flea and her friend and started making room through the crowd. As I was with them, I was brought through the crowd too. It all happened very quick and none of us had time to think about what was happening.

The bodyguards pushed through the crowd bringing us to the car. We had no time think or make sense of what was happening, but somehow thanks to the bodyguards, we found ourselves at the car door, with the bodyguards behind us holding the crowd back.

My heart was thumping but I just felt this overwhelming sense of calm, of peacefulness, that I had never felt before. I knew the fans were still screaming, that the cameras were flashing but it all just faded away.

I found myself at the car door, with Flea one side of me and her friend the other side. The car door slide back and Michael was there right in front of us. He was wearing a black jacket and a red mask, and these huge brown eyes just looked right in mine. Flea and her friend had gifts for him, he took these and put them on the car seat and shook our hands and just kept saying thank you, thank you. Flea and her friend spoke some words to him but I just stood there, looking at him, looking into his eyes.

Suddenly the car door slid closed, and we felt the weight of the crowd pushing us against the car. The bodyguards had got back into the car and they started driving out of the hotel grounds.

The huge crowd of fans moved with the cars, out into the traffic. We were just so stunned at what had just happened, we just stood there watching everything. It didn't feel real, had we just met Michael Jackson, we stood there in shock, trying to process everything in our heads, to remember every tiny detail.

We learnt later that he had gone shopping in Harrods but we just stayed at the hotel.

By now it was getting late, and as much as I wanted to stay to see him come back to the hotel, I had to leave. I was staying with my cousins and I didn't want to be back too late.

Talking to Flea and other fans I found out that many fans stay out all night at the hotel. They said that as there is always a group of fans it is safe as everyone stays together and that as it was May, that its not that cold. After having such an amazing day, I really did not want to leave but I had to, so I decided I would stay out the next night, as we would be going to the event and would be staying out late anyway. 

Michael Jackson in London May 2000 Day Two

When I went back to my cousins house and told them about my day, they couldn't believe what had happened. They were a little shocked that I wanted to stay out the next night but there was nothing they could do.

The next morning I got to the hotel as early as I could. There was a lot more fans there as well as many photographers. The day was a little grayer, and in the early afternoon it started to rain. We took shelter in doorways of the building beside the hotel. I had an umbrella and coat and managed to keep dry but may fans were not so lucky and got very wet.

I couldn't bare to leave, to take shelter in a cafe, it didn't make sense to be out in the rain but I just felt so happy, being surrounded by all the fans, knowing that Michael was in the hotel.

When the time came to go to the event, it was still raining and I decided not to wait to see Michael leave but to go straight to venue, The Royal Albert Hall.

At the venue there were fans everywhere. I didn't wait around, I just went straight in.

My seat was on the floor section of the arena, at the back of a section. I had a really good view of the stage. I started talking to the people beside me. They didn't know Michael would be with Elizabeth and were amazed when I told them about the huge amount of fans who like me had tickets for the event.

As soon as everyone was in their seats the lights went down and Elizabeth was introduced. OH MY GOODNESS, there they were, in the royal box in the balcony. It was insane, so many Michael Jackson fans screaming.

Eventually things quietened down and the show began. It was so funny, every time there was break in the show, for scene changes etc, all you could hear was fans screaming for Michael.

I did watch the show, but every so often I would turn around and watch Michael and Elizabeth.

At the end of the show Elizabeth came on stage and gave a speech. Her passion for the AIDS charities shone through and was very inspiring. When Michael walked onstage with flowers for her the whole place went crazy. Many fans ran to the stage but I didn't. I knew that I could see him better from where I was.

Once the lights went up when the show ended I tried to get back to the hotel as quick as I could. Unfortunately I didn't make it back in time to see Michael and Elizabeth.

Most of the fans who had been at the show were at the hotel. There was such a great atmosphere. We were all at the side of the hotel, where we could see the lights in the rooms where Michael was.  Thankfully it had stopped raining, which relived me a lot, as I was not looking forward to being out all night in the rain.

As the hours went by, fans starting drifting away. At about 1 am there was only about 20 or so fans, mainly UK and German. As we could still see lights on in Michael's rooms, we were singing and chanting and calling out messages to him. At one stage we all sang ELIZABETH I LOVE YOU as we knew Elizabeth was there too.

We had positioned ourselves under the balcony, and every so often we would look up there.  Suddenly we saw a shadow on the balcony, OMG, it was Michael, coming out to see us. It was insane, he only stayed there a few minutes but I couldn't believe that he would come out to see us just like that.

That energized us, now we knew that he could hear us, so we kept singing and chanting and calling out messages to him.

Suddenly there was a plopping sound on the road in front of us. For a few seconds we didn't know what it was, then one of the fans saw something and raced over to it.

Oh My Goodness, it was a present from Michael!!!!

It was a small hotel tablecloth in a Harrods bag which Michael had written a message to us on. It had only just been written as we could smell the ink from the pen he had used.

Just as we were looking at this, another bag landed on the road, with another small hotel table cloth.  This time many fans dived on it. I just stayed back, I was just too overwhelmed at what was happening, that Michael was sending down hand written messages to us.

Then two more came down, this time wrapped in fruit!! It seems he had run out of bags.

All four messages had the same theme, he loved us and thanked us for being there and it was time to sleep.

Unfortunately I didn't get any of the messages but I felt so lucky and blessed just to be there and experience something so special.

When we saw the messages, that he was telling us he was going to sleep, we decided to stop the singing and chanting and to try to get some sleep ourselves. By now it was around 3 am so we settled down in the doorway of the hotel, huddled together to keep warm.

I tried to rest but my mind was racing. I just couldn't believe everything that had happened in such a short time. The chatter of the fans slowly died down and eventually I did manage to get some rest.

Seeing the sun rise after spending the night outside Michael's hotel is something very special and one of my favorite memories.

As the night changed to morning, the fans slowly started waking up and the babble of chatter began again. Looking around I could see that we were a very small group, less than 20.

Suddenly we heard noises coming from the entrance to the hotel underground parking. It was only about 5.30 am, what was going on. When the shutters started moving and were opened, all traces of sleep quickly vanished and we all gathered at the side of the road beside the parking entrance.

At 6.00 am the cars drove out, Michael was leaving. When they saw that we were all there at the parking entrance, the cars slowed down. Then they turned into traffic and were gone. Some fans ran after the cars, some ran the other way to get the tube or a taxi to the airport, but I just stayed at the hotel.

It had only been 2 days but I was just overwhelmed by everything, I needed to just take it all in. Most of the fans had disappeared and I was on my own. I decided to go to the shops, get something to eat and the morning papers and come back to the hotel. Even though Michael had gone, I wasn't ready to leave the hotel yet.

There were no  Facebook and Twitter  or internet on phones back then, so many fans had no idea that Michael had left. From about 8 am fans started arriving at the hotel and when they found out that he was gone, many were upset that they had missed him.

The rest of the day I spent with fans, sharing our stories of what we had just experienced.

I learnt so much during those crazy 3 days and met so many fans and made a ton of new friends, many of whom I would share later trips with. I learnt how to behave around Michael, that if you are calm you stand a better chance of getting close to him. I learnt that he loved having fans at the hotel and all the gifts from fans. I  grew in confidence, and for the first time had a group of people I could connect with.

This was my world now, and when I went home I became even more active online, joining as many fan sites as I could and keeping in contact with the fans I had met. By now I moved out of Dublin and couldn't go to as many YANA group meet ups. After this London trip I found myself connecting more with the fans I had met & the online fan communities more than the Irish YANA group fans who were not interested  in travelling to see Michael. I did try to get to the meet ups but I found more and more that they were distancing themselves from me. Only one girl from the YANA group really understood how I was feeling and as a result we became travel buddies, going to London to the fan club events where we became friends with many of the UK fans.

Michael Jackson Heal The Kids Carnegie Hall New York  14 February 2001

FROM:        MJNI email Hot Shots This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TO:            List Member ******@hotmail.com

Subject:     Michael To Welcome & Introduce Guests at Carnegie Hall

Date:          3 January 2001 15:58

No 233 , 3rd January 2001

MJ NEWS INTERNATIONAL HOTSHOT

SEMINARCENTER: Michael To Welcome and Introduce Guests at Carnegie Hall

Seminarcenter have reported on their website on 2 January 2001 that Michael Jackson’s Heal The World Foundation and The Seminar Center is to present a star studded debate about “Love, Work and Parenting” at Carnegie Hall , New York on 14th February 2001.

The debate is about reprioritising children to the centre of busy adults’ lives and balancing love, work and parenting. Reportedly, Michael Jackson will welcome and introduce guests, “featuring Rabbi Shumley Boteach and a panel of celebrities and experts”.

With respect

MJ NEWS INTERNATIONAL

Keepers of The Dream

Michael Jackson Heals the Kids Singer launches children's foundation                                                  

by Christina Saraceno February 15 2001

Michael Jackson made an appearance at New York's Carnegie Hall on Valentine's Day to launch the Heal the Kids Foundation. Jackson is chairman of the organization, whose purpose is "promoting nurturing relationships between parents and children and fostering programs that help all children gain the love, attention and quality time they deserve." Jackson co-founded the organization with Heal the Kids' President Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.

"[The organization] is trying to help adults and parents realize it's in our power to change the world our children live in," Jackson told the crowd at Carnegie Hall. The organization has plans to launch television advertisements with celebrities discussing the importance of family dinners. Heal the Kids will also start a book club to encourage parents to read to their children at night.

On March 6th, Jackson is scheduled to speak on "child welfare" and further explain the Foundation's goals at Oxford University's famed Oxford Union Society debating hall where everyone from Nobel Prize Winning author Toni Morrison to Ben Affleck to O.J. Simpson have spoken.

Jackson has two kids of his own with ex-wife Debbie Rowe, three-year-old Prince Michael Jr., and two-year-old Paris. In 1993, a twelve-year-old boy accused Jackson of sexually molesting him. The singer denied the accusations but settled out of court for an undisclosed sum said to be in excess of twenty-five million dollars.

Source http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/michael-jackson-heals-the-kids-20010215#ixzz1oiHwSsyR

Devotees Greet Michael Jackson At New York Appearance                                                                

Fans Travel From Japan, Europe by Crey Moss February 15 2001

The message was Heal the Kids, but at least one teen fainted when Michael Jackson made a rare public appearance Wednesday at Carnegie Hall.

Jackson was in New York City launching his Heal the Kids campaign, a charity to boost children's welfare, but the appearance was also a chance for Jackson's fans to show they still worship him.

According to Reuters, fans traveled from as far as Japan and Europe to see Jackson, whose speech was frequently interrupted by shouts of "I love you." Hundreds of screaming fans — many dressed in Jackson outfits — rushed the stage to touch the singer after his speech. A 19-year-old student from Berlin fainted when Jackson took a poster from her.

Jackson, whose failed marriages to Lisa Marie Presley and Deborah Rowe (the mother of his two children) and child-molestation allegation have been widely exposed, said a generation that nurtured children a decade ago is now clouded with a "dark and terrible noise." Heal the Kids will help "adults and parents realize it's in our power to change the world our children live in," Jackson added.

Jackson, 42, said he would talk more about balancing love and family when he speaks March 6 in England at Oxford University's famed Oxford Union debating hall.

Jackson's panel at the Heal the Kids event included lawyer Johnnie Cochran, professor of psychiatry Dr. Stanley Greenspan, TV personality Mother Love, Dr. Drew Pinsky (of "Loveline" fame), publisher Judith Regan and "Temptation Island" host Mark L. Walberg, all of whom addressed the difficulties of balancing family and career. Walberg filled in for Chuck Woolery after the game-show host pulled out of the event at the last minute.

Heal the Kids is a branch of the Heal the World Foundation, which Jackson founded last year with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, the author of "Kosher Sex" and "Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments," according to Reuters. Jackson is scheduled to release his first album in a decade this summer. R&B hitmaker Rodney Jerkins, R. Kelly and former Jodeci member DeVante have produced tracks for the as-yet-untitled project (see "Michael Jackson Nearing Completion Of New LP").

Greatest Hits HIStory Volume 1, a re-release of disc one from 1995's History: Past, Present and Future — Book 1 with new artwork and a 28-page color booklet, will hit stores on February 27. The 15 remastered hits on the album include "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "Thriller."

Source http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1439431/fans-worship-michael-jackson-at-ny-appearance.jhtml

Michael Jackson Heal The Kids Speech

Carnegie Hall New York  14 February 2001

"I would like to welcome you to Carnegie Hall, the world's most famous concert hall to hear an entirely different kind of music, a loftier melody. It's a more eternal song.

There are two kinds of music. One comes from the strings of a guitar, the other from the strings of the heart. One sound comes from a chamber orchestra, the other from the beating of the heart's chamber. One comes from an instrument of graphite and wood, the other from an organ of flesh and blood. This loftier music I speak of tonight is more pleasing than the notes of the most gifted composers, more moving than a marching band, more harmonious than a thousand voices joined in hymn and more powerful than all the world's percussive instruments combined. That sweet sound of love.

Just a generation ago, it was this sound that could be heard in every turn in every town. It was the sound of love that echoed in the living room when a father giggled with his son or a mother tickled a small infant child. It was the sound of love that echoed from children's literary classics as the parents read children dreamy tales before they went to bed. And it was the sound of love that reverberated in their dinner conversations. Between parents and children, not just once a year over turkey and stuffing but everyday for peace and prosper.

Sadly, that sound has become a lost melody, a forgotten refrain, an empty tune and all we have in its place today is a dark and terrible noise. Instead of dinner conversations, there is the noise of video games. Instead of homework there is the din of the evening news. And instead of regular conversations between parents and children about drugs and violence, there is the deafening sound of silence.

Who among us would have believed that the sound of children at their playgrounds would be replaced by the sound of automatic machine-gun fire at our schools? That the sound of little girls skipping rope would be overshadowed by the frantic squeals of children dodging bullets? Yet, instead of loving our children more, we install metal detectors in our schools.

Are we blind to the fact that our children are raging against the indifference, crying out against the abandonment or thundering against the neglect?

'Heal The Kids' is about doing something, about making a difference and trying to help adults and parents realize that it's in our power to change the world that our children live in. As a wise man once said, "If not us, then who; if not now, when?"

My friends, with two children of my own, I know what it means to have to balance the demand of family and career -- let's not even talk about finding a date for myself, even though Rabbi Shmuley keeps telling me he's going to find me the perfect woman. My response is, "As long as it's not a journalist."

But learning how to strike this very necessary balance is what this special evening is all about. In three weeks time, at Oxford University I will be delivering an address with strong implications for dealing with the parent-child relationship and it's an address that is certain to surprise you. Until then, I want to thank you all for coming out, showing your love. And I want to offer a couple of special thank-yous. I'm overjoyed that we have 100 New York City teachers with us. I want to thank Steven Shaunfeld, he's a wonderful, wonderful man. Everything he does for 'Heal the Kids' is just incredible.

Together we can make a change for the better; together we can heal the world and make it a better place. God bless you all, I love you all."

CLOSING:

"I love you too! (In response to the fans' screaming)

I want to thank you for participating. I truly hope that the thoughts expressed tonight will inspire all of us to love our children with all our hearts and souls. I would now like to take a moment to express my thanks to our participants. God Bless you all and I hope to see you at Oxford."

Michael Jackson New York February 2001

After the London trip, I found myself with so many new friends and connections. By now I was a regular member on many fan sites and would spend as much time as I could in internet cafes, keeping up with all the latest Michael news. A whole new world opened up to me, the world I had been for so long isolated from.

The year 2000 went by so fast , I was having so much fun with this new online Michael world, suddenly it was  January 2001.

One day I got a call from Flea. She told me that Michael would be doing something in New York, a speech in Carnegie Hall, would I be interested in going. I called the other fan, Jenny, who I knew might be interested in going too. She was very excited and I called Flea back and she said she would get tickets for us. As we were all travelling from Dublin, we decided that we would all get the same flight and share the hotel in New York.

We started planning and organizing our trip. Unfortunately Fleas friend couldn't make the trip after all, so in the end it was just me, Flea and Jenny who went to New York.

In the weeks leading up to the trip we found out that Michael was launching a new charity and that's why he was giving a speech in Carnegie Hall. We also found out that many American fans would be there and they were holding a fan meet up the day before the event.

It was the first time all 3 of us had traveled to New York and we were so excited on the flight over. Arriving in New York for a Michael trip was very different to the European trips we had been on the previous year.

We had been online checking all the fan sites before we left and we were very surprised that there was no information about where Michael was staying.

Sunday 11 February 2001

When we arrived in New York and went exploring, we couldn't find any other fans.  We tried to get information but all we could find was about the fan meet up in Hard Rock Cafe so, disappointed we couldn't find Michael or other fans; we decide to go sightseeing.

Monday 12 February

We start our day by checking the fan sites. It’s so strange we can’t find any information about Michael being in New York. We leave messages to try to meet up with the other fans we know are in the city.  Disappointed again, we head out to the city and went sightseeing. We decided to try to find Carnegie Hall and found it was very close to our hotel. We couldn't believe that that there was no promotional posters for the Heal The Kids Event.

Tuesday 13 February

We get up and head back to the internet cafe to see if anyone has replied to the messages we left. The only information we find is about the meet up at Hard Rock Cafe.  Today is Princes birthday and we have cards & gifts for him, but again we can’t find information about where Michael is.  We decided to bring them to Carnegie Hall as it looks like now this is the only time we will see Michael on this trip.  Another day sightseeing in cold New York.

Wednesday 14 February

Finally we know we will see Michael today.  We spend the morning checking the fan sites and then about 3 pm we went to the fan meet up at Hard Rock Cafe .The meet up was organised by MJNI and we met fans from both America and Europe who had traveled to New York for the event. While it was great to meet the fans, it felt very strange to be in a restaurant, knowing that Michael was in the city somewhere.  We stayed there most of the afternoon, as it was the only place where most of the fans were gathering.

The hotel we were staying at was very near Carnegie hall so about an hour before the start we walked to the building.

Outside the building finally we found all the fans again. At least we felt we were on a Michael trip and not just some random trip to New York.  Outside the building, there was a great atmosphere, fans chatting and laughing, meeting old friends and making new friends.

There was a press conference before the actual event, so we knew that Michael would be arriving soon. As it was so cold, everyone gathered in the entrance foyer.  Suddenly the atmosphere changed, and everyone started screaming and looking up to the balcony. Oh my goodness, Michael had come out onto the upper balcony to see us.  He was only there a few minutes, but the change in everyone was electric. I really don’t think some people really believed that he would be there but after seeing him waving on the balcony, it became real.

As soon as Michael left the balcony area, they let us into the auditorium. We were on the ground section, about 6 rows from the front on the left hand side.  Looking around, there was mix of MJ fans dressed in Michael t-shirts and regular people there to support the charity.

Everyone took their seats and the lights went down. The atmosphere was electric. On the stage were a table and a podium for the speakers to stand at.

As soon as Michael came on the stage the place went crazy but after a few minutes everyone quietened down.  The other speakers seemed a bit shocked at Michael’s reception.  When Michael walked to the podium everyone started screaming again, but once he started talking there was just one or two screams every so often.  When he finished talking everyone ran to the stage. We put all our gifts and letters on the stage for him, and eventually went back to our seats.

After the event, we all went outside as fast as we could and waited for him to leave. We tried to follow the cars but we did not know where he was going

Thursday 15 February

Our last day in New York. Our flight was in the evening, so we spent the morning in Times Square. It was a very odd feeling, seeing Michael and the fans, knowing he was in the city but not being at the hotel with the other fans. It almost felt like a dream, that last night didn't happen.

After the trip to New York, things started getting very crazy on the fan sites. We knew Michael was working on a new album, and as the weeks went by we started hearing more and more information, from people who were working with him. The excitement in the fan community was building and building, every day some new piece of information became known, song titles, names of artists & producers working with Michael, unconfirmed track listing, leaks of snippets of songs. It was a very exciting time to be part of the fan community and on the fan sites.