In one sense, it seems odd to review a memorial as though it was a television show. On the other hand, that’s exactly what Michael Jackson’s televised memorial was, and, really, what else could it have been, given the kind of born-in-his-blood entertainer that Jackson was?
With that in mind, and knowing that it’s not just me who sat in front of the TV screen making value-judgments about various performances and testimonials — you know you were, too — here’s what I thought were some high points, and some lesser moments.
• Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy’s spoken remembrances of Michael’s abilities — both of their senses of history and humor and affection — were tremendously moving, particularly Robinson’s songwriterly analysis of how Michael performed a definitive version of Robinson’s own song, “Who’s Loving You.”
• Jermaine Jackson may not have given the most technically “perfect” performance of the memorial — Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Stevie Wonder, to name just three, turned in superlative vocal efforts — but I nonetheless found Jermaine’s performance of what Brooke Shields told the assembled audience was “Michael’s favorite song,” “Smile,” not just moving but a passionate R&B interpretation of a classic pop song:
• The Rev. Al Sharpton on Michael’s life? Say what you will about the man, he knows how to coin a phrase: “It’s not about the mess, it’s the message.” That may not always prove true as the years go by, but it was a rousing sentiment this day.
• Poor Queen Latifah spoke her own sentiments eloquently, but then was obliged to recite a perfectly dreadful piece of Maya Angelou poetry written for this occasion, called “We Had Him,” which included the lines, “In the instant we learn that Michael is gone we know nothing,” and “Though we are many, we are achingly alone,” and “We had him, and we are the world.”
• The best use of humor on this sad day must surely have been Magic Johnson’s funny anecdote about visiting Jackson and being so happy to learn that Michael liked to tuck into a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken now and then. It was one of those down-to-earth, non-reverential moments that make a memorial vivid.
All in all, this was a remarkable, mostly-dignified event that still managed to capture the ordinary humanity of a great, complicated musician. What did you think?
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I was pleasantly surprised by the tastefulness of it, all in all. It was good that a congresswoman appeared in defiance of Peter King’s nasty and inappropriate comments about him. I do wish, though, that they had been brave enough to have a really rousing, celebratory dance number to celebrate his incredible showmanship. He wasn’t a ballad man, I didn’t feel like the whole memorial should be a ballad either.
Though I have to say, I didn’t feel moved to cry at all until I saw the raw emotion of his daughter at the end. A timely reminder that he raised those children and they are grieving his death.
Jermaine’s song put the lump in my throat. It was beautiful and heartfelt.
Overall, it was just okayfine. A couple of moments didn’t sit quite right with me, but his life was a complicated one, so I guess that’s to be expected. And, candidly, I didn’t think everyone brought their A Game (yeah, I’m talkin’ to you, John Mayer and Mariah Carey).
His daughter, to me, was the highlight of the day. A lovely girl who clearly loved her father – I was moved to see her stand up and cheer Sharpton’s defense of him.
michael recorded “smile” in 1995 and you can find it on the new disc of material in the 2-disc release “HIStory”
Was overall very beautiful. Jermaine’s version of “Smile” brought tears but it was Paris who really made me bawl. Bless you MJ. RIP.
It was so-so. I, too, expected at least one dance number to commemorate his talent. Brooke Shields was wonderful. His son I wanted to smack…TAKE THE GUM OUT OF YOUR MOUTH (note that Joe was chewing gum, too…). It’s a friggin memorial. His daughter is precious…everytime the camera cut to the family she was singing along and you could feel the emotion. I don’t think that it was right to make the child speak but it was heartwrenching.
I work 4 blocks from the Staples Center and live about a mile away from the Forest Lawn cemetary that the “private” (yeah right) ceremony was held. Sorry, but I’ve been listening to helicopters since 5am and frankly I just can’t wait for this circus to be over. He’s dead – get over it. Yes, he was entertaining, but he was mentally unstable (sorry, logical thinking people don’t nake their face unrecognizable) and while many feel sorry for him I do not. He had the money and resources to get help and find peace and he obviously decided not to find it. I also blame his family – they should have tried harder to get him help instead of being “yes” men to him. In all – I can’t wait for this whole freak show to be done.
I feel bad that you had to endure such noisy platitude, but I still remember loved ones who have moved from life to life, and miss them immensely. I realize we all will have to die and face judgment of God, but people should not be made fun of because they have feelings of sadness. Even Jesus cried when He heard that Lazarus died. I am praying that you never have to experience what it is like to lose anything or anyone, and continue to enjoy your life without pain, problems or health-ridden issues. Be blessed, please, and pray for all who are not like you!
Outside of the usual ‘tone’ of some of the speakers during the ceremony, overall, it was a beautiful tribute to a beautiful person. Finally, maybe now, MJ can be at peace.
I thought the memorial was moving for the most part, some odd speakers nowhitstanding (what was Sheila Jackson Lee doing there). Jermaine’s performance nearly broke me. Brooke Shields’ memories of her friend were touching and clearly from the heart. I almost died when Paris paid tribute to her dad. That was heartbreaking.
I thought it was a moving memorial. I enjoyed all the musical tribues, in particular Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer and Jermaine Jackson.
Ellen- I’m guessing there will be an all-star memorial concert later where the spirit can be a bit more light.
Also, I don’t like it when people (Sharpton) make wildly overblown statements about his achievements, like implying that he was directly responsible for Obama’s election. He achieved enough for black culture without people needing to overplay his political achievements. Doing so doesn’t celebrate Jackson, it belittles him, and gives ammunition to those who want to ridicule people’s sadness at his passing.
You people asking for a dance number are ignorant. When has there been a dance number at a memorial? That would have been completely inappropriate.
I don’t think joyful celebration of an entertainer is inappropriate. I think they balked at the possibility of being criticised for being inappropriate, but I don’t think a lot of eulogising and sentiment fully represented the man. He had plenty of quiet numbers, but they are not the songs that people remember best so it seemed strange that it was those that the memorial focussed on.
It seems to me that there are too many people who look up to celebs and not the real world.It seems aswell that they are forgetting that he was a child molester and should therefore lose the right to be remembered as a pop star…oh but then i forgot…if your a celeb it’s ok to do as you please and get away with it..Take a look at the real world people.. and remember real hero’s and not child molesters…JR
Hey Sweet, check out MC Hammer during James Brown’s memorial. That is how you pay tribute and celebrate a life.
HEY JAMES WE ARE ALL UNSTABLE SOMETIMES BUT I GUESS YOU ARE PERFECT , NO ONE HAS A CAMERA IN YOUR FACE 24/7 WE WILL ALL GET OVER IT BUT IT JUST HAPPENED SO SHOW SOME DAM RESPECT
Yup, Jennifer Hudson was the performance highlight. That first line, “Hold Me”, Michael sang it very softly in his version…but Jennifer went full-out on that line. I said out loud “oh, she’s totally going full out on this track”, and she freakin nailed it. CNN is saying she was supposed to sing this with him in his new show, which is why there were vocals already recorded of him at the end.
And Brooke Shields had the best speech. Who would have thunk it?
Now that this spectacle is over I hope you people will turn your attention to dealing with something important.
Thank God I’m not in LA during this freakshow/sideshow/circus. Reading James comments (at 3:03) make me glad I was out of town and avoided this trainwreck. What makes me chuckle the most is people who clearly have not thought of Jackson every single day seem to be acting the most devastated, as though he was some sort of constant presence in their lives. The completely manufactured hoopla and public hand-wringingly, over-the-top grief over this guy’s death makes me feel so delightfully superior to the general public who apparently just need something superficial to connect with others about.
Jermaine Jackson is a whore
I saw a bit of the live broadcast when I ran home during my lunchbreak from work. As much as I remind myself of the tarnished recent years in Michael Jackson’s story, I had to take a moment to really appreciate the joy and entertainment he brought the world. He remains an unparalelled entertainer. A by product of dying young, while your contemporaries and fans survive you, is the legend remains vivid and powerful. Despite all of the good (and bad) we knew or heard about Michael Jackson, he remained a super talent. God bless his children.
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You want to mourn something? – Then mourn the homeless, mourn the abused children, mourn the abused women, mourn with the family of a fallen soldier, mourn for the veteran who served his or her country and now , your siblings.
OK, Somebody has to say it. I am already very tired of the headlines concerning how “the world is mourning the loss of Michael Jackson.” Even the Pope made a statement about the great loss to humanity . . .
Folks, we have young men and women giving up their lives for our country and the freedom of others every day. There are young people in Iran who are probably going to be beheaded because they support free elections.
There are thousands of children and girls kidnapped every day for the sex trade in Africa and the Far East. And yes, there ARE starving children in Africa . . . STILL! Michael Jackson was not a humanitarian. He has squandered millions on his own lavish pleasures. He is not a spiritual man. He was an odd little man who fondled little boys. Quit anointing him to sainthood.
Somebody tell EW to fix their clock. They’re running an hour slow.
I thought it was a great tribute and a nice send off to a star like Michael Jackson. I agree about Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Stevie Wonder (I was crying when he sang), great performances. It was all good, except for Mariah, she’s losing it. But at the very end, when Michael Jackson’s daugheter, Paris, spoke. It was heartbreaking and touching. I’m still in tears just thinking about her.
We are the World, We are the Children…….
Nice article in the Guardian about the event http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/07/michael-jackson-memorial
I personally was very moved by the Memorial of Michael Jackson today.
He was a gentle man who did spread love.
Unfortunately, ABC NEWS chose to allow Martin Bashir to anchor the service. How thoughtless of ABC.
Immediately after the service, Martin Bashir had the audacity to disrespectful Michael Jackson, his family and his children all on national television…again. We all know that butfor that horrific interview he did with MJ, none of us would’ve ever heard of Martin Bashir.
Please go away, Martin Bashir. We think you’re a person of horrible character.
Wake up, ABC – or no one will be watching.
I was shocked at how moved Brooke Shields was, and I was really touched by her comments. I loved the anecdotes Magic shared as well. i normally get annoyed by Sharpton, but found him to be wonderful today. And while I too was annoyed by the gum chewing by some, his daughter Paris’ comments wrecked me to tears. It was a nice, respectable service all around. RIP.
Jennifer Hudson’s performance was a standout, Berry Gordy’s remarks on point, otherwise awful for the most part w/too many B- or D-level speakers and performers. Too bad Michael couldn’t plan his own memorial; didn’t begin to do his music or artistry justice. Lost opportunity. Joke on the networks.