Chapter 115

After the celebration banquet, Martin went to record songs again.

This time, he planned to record all the remaining tracks for his first album. He had even thought about which inspirations to draw from.

One of them was Justin Bieber.

At his current age, it would be perfect to cover Bieber's songs. Martin could easily use material from Bieber's second album, replacing two of the weaker tracks with songs like Unstoppable and That Girl.

While Justin Bieber's first album My World may not have been fully mature, his second album, My World 2.0, was certainly a masterpiece. Within a week of its release, the album topped the Billboard charts, and it went on to win the 2010 American Music Award for Best Album. In November of that year, Bieber also won the Best New Artist award at the 27th MTV Music Awards for his breakout single Baby.

In August the following year, Bieber won the Best Male Singer Video Award at the 28th MTV Video Music Awards for U Smile, and by November, he had taken home European MTV Music Awards for Best Pop Singer and Best Male Singer. Shortly after, he received the American Teen Choice Award for Best Male Singer for his hit single Boyfriend.

It was clear that this album had cemented Bieber's status in the music world.

Martin, however, had no plans to head to New York this time. His talent was well-proven now, and Motura was comfortable letting Martin produce his own music.

Martin had even built his own recording studio in Los Angeles. The equipment alone cost over two million dollars—a significant sum for 1999. It was arguably the most luxurious private recording studio in Los Angeles, with some professionals visiting and claiming that it rivaled, if not surpassed, Michael Jackson's private studio in New York. Of course, Jackson's studio had been built earlier, and some of the equipment had become outdated.

Having money meant Martin could indulge his every whim.

Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan, and Dorothy were among the guests who came to hang out with Martin.

For Martin, recording music was more of a hobby than a job.

As the staff busied themselves in the studio, the three women looked around curiously while Martin made his preparations. Before he even began recording, an unexpected guest arrived.

"Ah~"

The girls' screams were deafening, and even the staff couldn't contain their excitement.

It was Michael Jackson—the King of Pop.

Martin paused and walked out of the studio to greet him.

"Hello, Mr. Jackson."

"Call me Michael. It's a wonderful place you've got here, though I think my own studio could use an update." Michael's gaze fell on Martin, and his expression turned serious.

"Martin, sorry for coming uninvited, but I'm here to invite you to a charity concert I'm holding in Munich, Germany, next month. I'd like you to perform two songs."

Now, don't be fooled into thinking Michael Jackson was only offering Martin the opportunity to sing two songs. In reality, this was a special privilege.

Many might not understand just how prestigious Michael Jackson's concerts were. Since 1990, his shows had been sold out in a matter of seconds, breaking Guinness World Records. At every concert, the audience was so excited that people often fainted from lack of oxygen.

His most famous concert, held in 1992, was known as the "most dangerous" concert. The venue, a sports stadium with a capacity of 70,000, ended up hosting 74,000 people, and there were over 200,000 fans outside the stadium trying to listen in. This concert alone set another Guinness World Record. Medical teams of over 2,000 staff were on hand, ensuring fans' safety as the crowd swelled.

When Michael Jackson appeared on stage, simply standing still would send the audience into an absolute frenzy—screaming, crying, and roaring in unison. The atmosphere was electrifying, with every live broadcast earning millions in rights fees.

The sheer influence of Michael Jackson was unparalleled, and it's hard to imagine a time when he wasn't on top of the world.

But Martin knew that, despite all his fame, Michael Jackson would later suffer from great personal turmoil. In the years to come, Jackson would become embroiled in false accusations that almost destroyed his career, despite his eventual vindication. The media's relentless attacks and the toll they took on his mental and physical health were devastating. Though he was exonerated, the scars remained.

After his legal battles, Jackson moved away from the U.S., avoiding public life and touring the world, continuing his music career but never performing live again.

It was heartbreaking to witness the downfall of such a beloved icon. But it was clear that, despite everything, Michael Jackson remained a genius—musically and commercially—while still retaining a childlike innocence. The Neverland Ranch, with its amusement park for children, reflected his yearning for a lost childhood.

A psychiatrist once said, "Michael Jackson's mental age is only ten. To him, those children were just peers."

But Michael Jackson could also sense that Martin was looking at him strangely, with a mix of emotions—pity, reverence, perhaps even regret.

"Martin, why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, puzzled.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧