EmeraldSkies said:

Wow. That smiley is labelled "disbelief", but this really doesn't surprise me...

I think its just plain nasty. MJ didn't do anything to deserve this crap.

If people don't have anything good to say and don't like MJ, stay at home, and turn off your TV.

I think the Memorial should have only been family and friends only.

I got up this morning at 2:30am to watch the Memorial live. Unlike other fans I was not concerned that this would be a spectacle. I knew this was going to be a memorial with dignity and respect. And that is what I witnessed.

I am sure tribute concerts will come celebrating Michael's great upbeat songs, but I thought the selection was beautiful.

And that final moment of Man in the Mirror playing while just a spotlight on an empty mic was all that was onstage.

My heart goes out to his children, and like Michael said many years ago hopefully people will start thinking of him as a person and not a personality.

Swa

Inside the Nokia Center

photo courtesy of Iman Crossman aka "Alphacat " http://twitter.com/Alphacat1

suga10 said:

I didn't watch the memorial. But it's humorous to those who did and still got bad comments. Oh well.

As for the memorial, I have to agree. I don't get why people are upset that certain stars weren't there. I went over to one of Patti LaBelle's fan forums and one "fan" was asking why she weren't there.

Patti already made her peace with Michael like Diana, Gladys and Aretha did. Jeez.
[Edited 7/7/09 20:36pm]

Planning on going back and reading this thread...I'm sure I will repeat in spirit what many others have said. Or maybe not. I am interested in hearing what others have to say.

Beautiful and very emotional service today. Exploitation was somehow kept to a bare minimum. The ceremony felt like it should have felt, a celebration and memorial of a life of a human being. Somewhere along the way, we got to know everything about this icon except for the human element. We knew MJ the superstar and not MJ the brother, son, friend, and father. And that's a shame because Michael never felt more real as a person than he did today.


The words of Paris were heartbreaking and heartfelt and genuine. As a father myself, I cannot remember seeing something that tore me up more in recent memory than her two or three sentences. They hit me like a thunderbolt. This wasn't just the loss of an entertainer to her and her brothers. This was her damn Daddy. And he was gone. When I got home from work, the first thing I did was hug my own daughters tight. Life is entirely too short.

I've had a lot of thoughts about MJ over the years, as time went on more negative than positive. And maybe it's just the emotion of today's event, one which seems to be one of the defining events of our generation, but I don't have a lot of negative in my heart anymore. I think after today what we thought we knew about this man and how many of us defined him didn't really fit with who the many who spoke appeared to be talking about with such raw and genuine emotion. It's not really our fault and MJ had a lot to do with it but I don't think any of us really knew much about this guy at all.

RIP

brooksie said:

Nancy can eat a bag of baby dicks

suga10 said:

i agree. They were some haters there and you heard some of them.

I'm not reading this entire thread... so these questions may have been answered, but was the Jackson with the big hat LaToya or Rebbie? And who was the one with the bald/shaved head? I haven't seen some of the Jacksons in years, so wasn't sure who's who...

duggalolly said:

Latoya wore the big hat

Randy was the one who had the shaved/bald head

So...after stating that MJ was an "American" icon and not a "black" one, Bill O'Reilly and a body language "expert" were giving a play-by-play analysis of Brooke's speech at the memorial. Needless to say, though good 'ol Bill initially thought she was "overemotional", the "expert" said she was truly genuine with her feelings.

Rogue588 said:

bill o'reilly can sit and spin

GottaLetitgo said:

Exactly, what the world has read and believed about him wasn't always true but with him, it was hard to tell

but now that's he's gone....I see alot of people putting his life in perspective. The person the tabloids and news outlets have been reporting isn't the man the family, his friends and fans knew. To alot of people, he was some crazy guy who had alot of plastic surgery and touched little kids...

but to so many more, he was a gentle soul who dealt with a lot of sadness and pain but turned it around and tried to help a lot people

I can't imagine a life where everybody around you want something from you, you don't know who to trust, and every little thing you do and say is analyzed, criticized, and debated

that's some hard shit right there...

The Michael Jackson Memorial
A Cultural Moment Steeped in Black Culture
Tuesday, July 07, 2009


After all the controversy surrounding the issue of Michael Jackson and racial identity, leave it to the everlasting genius of the man to depart world by giving it the flat out Blackest cultural event ever recorded. And it was a beautiful thing to see.

All it needed was someone falling across the casket crying and an usher telling everyone to leave so the next funeral could come in to bring it all the way home. But for all the madness ramped up by the media and fans treating passes as if they were golden tickets from Willie Wonka, the end result was pure, tender, heartfelt, wonderful and appropriate. God and Michael were praised unapologetically and confidently without fear of ratings or reprisals. It was brilliant.

Prior to the event, the expectation in the press was that the private emotional moments would happen out of camera range at the private service at Forest Lawn cemetery, with the memorial at Staples Center being a commercial, concert-oriented way for the fans to connect. Yet when report came in that the casket would indeed be carried to Staples Center and it would be placed it front of the stage, there was an immediate sense that we might be getting something other than a tribute show. That sense was correct.

It was, in fact, a real, true funeral in the Black tradition. And while it was broadcast around the globe to an estimated 2 billion people worldwide, one wonders if viewers in Belgrade, Prague, Beijing and Tokyo felt the nuances that some of us felt. If Usher walking to the casket didn’t send you back to your aunt/mother/grandma’s home-going, you may have missed some of the beauty of the moment, even as you enjoyed it thoroughly.

On CNN, Anderson Cooper and Soledad O’Brien smartly took themselves out of the conversation early and let the event speak for itself. It quickly became clear that if Parker House rolls, fried chicken, greens and a drunk uncle are not part of your funeral tradition, it was best not to speak.

Al Sharpton, unscripted as he would be in a pulpit, reached out to the children in the defiant way you only see at a Baptist memoriam when the deceased “had issues” and he killed it. Brooke Shields was beautiful and funny. Jennifer Hudson and Usher made the office cry. Smokey Robinson, who doesn’t look a day over 50, reminded us that he, Berry Gordy and the rest of the Motown crew were only children themselves when we loved them first. Jermaine made us remember he can really sing and he did it in a way that showed not just talent but bravery and strength. Marlon broke us down and called for a lasting peace. Paris finished us off. Michael was above all, Daddy.

We’re done now. Those of us who loved Michael and have passed him on to new generations can be satisfied that we are keeping a legacy. The Jackson family took control of their brother’s image and left us with the memory we needed to move on.


Come back to EbonyJet.com regularly for photo updates from the memorial and the day’s events.

http://www.ebonyjet.com/c...x?id=13776

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

Ohh i think i love this writer.

Prince sorta looks like one of the Brando's.

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

Great article!

I got up at 3 am to watch it I must say it was very moving especially the last part when Paris spoke, wow.

I watched the memorial tonight and I must say, I was more moved than I thought I would be. I cried more than I thought I would and I cried hard. Everyone who was a part of the ceremony was sincere and real up on the stage. There was nothing flashy or over the top with it, it was a memorial for a great entertainer and a great man. The moments that will stick in my head the most will be

Brooke Shields and her story about Michael and her - I felt the tears with this one

Jermaine Jackson singing "Smile" - this coming after Brooke, I lost it. I cried hysterically for over 5, almost 10 mins. Even seeing it a couple more times, I cried. Seeing Jermaine's pain and hearing it in his voice just got to me. Plus the song itself moved me deeply

Marlon Jackson's speech - the moment he started to talk, the tears came out

Paris Jackson - my God, the pain she must be going through. I got tears in my eyes the first time I saw it, but when they showed it on the news, I lost it again. No child should EVER lose their parents. My heart aches the most for them.

This event reminded me that Michael was not some machine or robot, he was a human being. I lost sight of that over the years. I regained that truth but I wish that it didn't take his death to wake me up. Thank God that his legacy will remain with his music, some of the best music ever done. Michael is a entertainer who will never be replaced. He is The King of Pop.

God Bless you Michael and your family.

Fitting...very classy...

Paris was brave, but it seemed the family "overly" supported her into speaking.

mimi07 said:

My prayers go out to the kids, that they find peace in this crazy world.

silverchild said:

where i didn't see him

GottaLetitgo said:

This is exactly what his fans have been trying to get across for years. Nobody wanted to hear it. The fans knew.

For those of you that know him, Buckethead posted a song in tribute. Go to http://www.bucketheadland.com/.

I listened to most of it on my drive back home and what I heard was kind of interesting. At first I figured it would be an extravaganza of everyone doing every bit hit but I think the fact it was mostly somber although with some nice light moments (Magic Johnson was great) was more than fitting. I didn't think much of any of the performances. John Mayer is so self indulgent playing "Human Nature" on a guitar and making those faces....I don't know. Usher walking to casket while singing "Gone To Soon"....creepy. I could have done without any of the music expect maybe at the end. I almost wish Seidah Garret came on to sing "Man In the Mirror". They showed a clip of her singing it at some church in LA that week while being interviewed. It was an amazing version.

The amazing words from both Marlon and Paris absolutely made you realize that it was more than just an entertainer but a man with a family that is truly gone and will be missed. Really sad.

It's taken a while for me to gather my thoughts, and I wanted to share them with you all.

-----

Being a Michael fan hasn’t been an easy journey. Over the last 30 years there were moments of sheer frustration with him, for the position he put himself in, for having to constantly defend him to people who wanted to believe nothing but tabloid stories. Even now people still want to diminish his impact on the world of music. We’ve seen it time and time again, people want to build you up and celebrate you only to then want to tear you down.
But for all the frustrations and ridicule being a Michael fan sometimes brought, the rewards far outweighed them.

I bought my first Michael Jackson album when I was 7 years old.
It was Off The Wall and from there a soundtrack of my life began.
Michael’s music introduced me to a passion for music.
His music introduced me to so many different styles, and different artists.
His videos taught me how to dance.
His music taught me how to compose.
His vision taught me how to dream.
As I grew up Michael’s music was always there, like signposts for my memories.
I can remember the excitement of Thriller, when every kid was a fan and it seemed everyone had this album.
I remember travelling on a family holiday to the USA and hunting down a black BEAT IT jacket (they were all out of red) and getting a white glove and glittery socks.
I remember staying up to watch the premier of Thriller, and every subsequent video release that were more like events.
I remember being in awe of his performance when he toured Australia with BAD, and again a decade later with HiStory.
I can remember rushing to the record store every time there was a new release and feeling like that 7 year old again eager to hear what he was presenting us with now, whether it was the infectious grooves from Dangerous, the honesty and anger in HiStory, or the joy of Invincible.

As a life long fan I always felt Michael’s art was unfairly judged. No matter what he did or achieved there was always going to be a pre-Thriller and post-Thriller period. And his own artistry set the bar so high that there were many all too willing to write him off when 30 million copies of BAD was considered a flop, or when Invincible sold just a measly 10 million. I think the success of Thriller was also part of his downfall. There was no way anyone could ever top it, yet the pressure was always there to. And with music that was just as visually iconic as it was sonically, people wanted to see the songs with the dance routines boxing Michael in even more to a time and a place and maybe even an image that perhaps was not truly of his making.

Although he was a perfectionist Michael wasn’t perfect. His humanity often got lost in the tabloid tales and the spectacle of his performance. Quite often the personality overtook the person.

His passing has been a surreal time for me. Not because of not wanting to face the reality of it but rather because I had always listened to his music. It was just surreal to suddenly hear his music being played again in cafes, in passing cars, on work colleagues computers. But it is comforting to know that if people are re/discovering his music and getting to appreciate his work then as a fan who am I to want to deny others the enjoyment his music has brought me?

I will miss seeing what was next for Michael. I will miss not being able to see him perform live in the This Is It tour. To see how he was going to present himself. The tickets will be my keepsake. I always hoped that the tour would put the focus back where it belonged, on the incredible music he created and the brilliant talent he was.

But as I look at the album charts, listen to tributes flood in from around the world, and hear his songs in the most unlikely places. I can’t help but smile and think that maybe the focus is finally back where it belongs.

Thank you Michael for giving me a lifetime of great music and memories.

Swa

Anyone watching 20/20? I don't have access to a TV,and was wondering if there is a way to watch it live on the internet?
[Edited 7/7/09 22:20pm]

It was a beautiful memorial

you know what I have to say before people return to their old jaded ways some of the comments on here are no different from what these reporters would say from a mean perspective. It's okay to have your opinion, but there is a time and place for everything some of you should be ashamed to call yourselves Prince or Michael Jackson Fans.....

Michael has done his work in life ..... have you done yours ? before deem your self perfect look at whats happened worldwide and be in awe of what music can do.

if you cannot tolerate any of the artists above please log off don't turn a thread of reflection to be about you ! it's about MICHAEL JACKSON


LIKE IT OR NOT

Was Chris Tucker there?