Michael Jackson Memorial Set For Today at Staples Center

CNN has political pundits commenting on Michael Jackson, to be specific black political pundits? Why? How many times can they say we grew up with Jackson’s music? Or Michael was important to the black community?

Where are the music industry pundits CNN?

So far the CNN commentary has been less than useless, and more than a little boring.

If anyone is interested there will be an online stream of the Memorial form E! here:
http://www.justin.tv/eonline

Jennifer is singing “Will You Be There”

‘I cannot be part of the public hoopla.’ 

Yay, Miz Taylor!!

‘I cannot be part of the public hoopla.’ 

My respect for Elizabeth Taylor increases.

Or maybe Liz feels guilty for introducing MJ to painkillers. Oops.

Really confused about when this thing is supposed to start! It’s beginning now.

Interesting tidbit….

They (I guess the state for the CHP, the city for the police officers, etc) are asking for donations from fans to offset the cost of security for this event. I”m sorry I lost the estimated cost amount but it was several million dollars for security, traffic, etc.

This is totally ludicrous….he isn’t a “state” figure. Private sources should be paying for this. The rest of us have to pay for our own or our relatives funerals. Why are the Jacksons exempt?

There’s a lull in the proceedings for some inexplicable reason. Jennifer Hudson and Lionel Richie have taken there seats at Staples to audience applause.

Michael’s casket was not made of Gold as claimed by Radar and other gossip blogs. It was a Black casket.

ETA: Sorry it is gold.

I’m watching on one of the Slovenian news sites. 15 more minutes…

I really didn’t expect the casket to be there. I thought I read that it was to be interred in Forest Lawn last night in a private funeral. I wonder if he’s really in there.

memorial started now! pretty emotional speech by the pastor…ongoing now

The Susan Boyle of celebrity deaths. Up through two weeks ago, the vast majority of the country had, at best, a mild liking for some 20 to 40 year old pop tunes and pity for the man’s wasted, tormented later life. Once the artificial media storm and self-congratulatory fangasms of sorrow are done, the world can settle down and return to being perfectly happy with hearing a ghostly version of “The Girl is Mine” in the supermarket musak from time to time.

I’m watching this in the UK, I’m not a one for watching televised funeral stuff but wanted to watch it mostly for the musical tributes.

Feel a bit upset about the casket being there .. I guess I’m just not into that kind of thing ….. looks like it’s going to be a very emotional event … I think I better get some tissues ready.

This really is a major production. Just a few days ago they were saying it was NOT going to be a “show,” but a dignified, funereal memorial service. Uh-huh. Right now the only way I can tell it’s a memorial and not an awards show is that Mariah’s cleavage is swathed in black.

Smokey Robinson read 2 statements. One was from Diana Ross, and another one was from Nelson Mendela. It shows how the love for MJ traveled across continenets, countries, etc.

Michael’s casket was not made of Gold as claimed by Radar and other gossip blogs. It was a Black casket.

I know. Almost everything reported on blogs, newspapers, the Internet, and even CNN has been completely false. Just speculation. Not fact. Its sickening how the media and Internet has treated this tragedy.

Anyways, I’m going to stay positive today, and not get sucked into the hoopla of negativity. So far its a beautiful memorial.

Maya Angelou’s poem was beautiful.
I’m not a fan, but interested.

lol @ Will -

I’m very fond of Irish wakes, and this has that feel for me. It feels like a celebration of life not the mourning of a loss.
So far I approve.

unique28v
Jul 7th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Michael’s casket was not made of Gold as claimed by Radar and other gossip blogs. It was a Black casket.

I know. Almost everything reported on blogs, newspapers, the Internet, and even CNN has been completely false. Just speculation. Not fact. Its sickening how the media and Internet has treated this tragedy.

Anyways, I’m going to stay positive today, and not get sucked into the hoopla of negativity. So far its a beautiful memorial.

It is gold. I edited my post above to say so. It was my mistake, the casket is gold.

Way to go Liz ..

J-Hud!!! And all my reservations about the flashiness of this “show” bite the dust. Hell yeah!

ETA: That was too short.

A very pregnant Jennifer Hudson is singing “We You Be There”. She sounds phenomenal.

And I’m crying.

ok just switched off the tv…not gonna watch the memorial…singing and dancing in front of mj’s dead body is creepy…

Magic mentioned how MJ’s 3 kids will be loved by their grandmother, their uncles and aunts, and their cousins… no mention of Papa Jackson.

Jennifer looks incredible in her white dress. Incredible. Beautiful, angelic. and the white is such a welcome rest from all the black. She sounds great, but honestly, to me, the vision really made such an incredible impression.

SarahP
Jul 7th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
ok just switched off the tv’ ¦not gonna watch the memorial’ ¦singing and dancing in front of mj’s dead body is creepy’ ¦

I’m making believe that casket is empty, And that he was in fact bries in the private ceremony at Forest Lawn this morning. It makes me feel better to imagine that.

I just embedded video at the bottom of the post if that helps anybody out…

Thanks MJ. Very thoughtful of you.

I will defend the service and having Michael present. It’s a memorial and a tribute. It isn’t a Sunday go to meeting church service with hushed tones, overly long sermons about the grace of god and his goodness.

It’s a bit of an Irish wake, a good old fashioned revival meeting, a families tribute and Michael’s final performance. Yup…he should be there enjoying it to.

Now its John Mayer performing Human Nature. (And that’s a guitar player).

Brook Shields is crying.

Brooke Shields:

“Michael knew that he could always count on me to be his date.”

Translation: Beard.

Sorry, couldn’t resist that bit of snark.

wow brooke is making me cry- she is the first ( and maybe only one) who is remembering Michael the person, not michael the performer.
Nice he was able to find a real friend in Brooke.

Can I cry anymore? Yeah my heart is breaking

Brooke Shields moved even me to shed a tear. So heartfelt.

Those earpiece cords on Jermaine looked like earrings!
And a bedazzled glove??
Couldn’t he have borrowed a better looking one?

OMG Jermaine, I’m sobbing!!

Brook’s speech was so moving. Her reference to Saint-Exupery’s novel just ruined me. I’m a wreck.

Jermaine singing Michael’s favorite song.

Sobbing mess here.

Jermaine is making me cry!

Wow. So sad to lose a sibling. I know.

I am crying rivers now. Jermaine, that was the most heartfelt song of love I have ever heard one give anywhere. Wow

Brooke got to me, I dropped a tear or two as she spoke.

mj
Jul 7th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Wow. So sad to lose a sibling. I know.

Sad doesn’t begin to describe it, it really doesn’t. No one can know what it feels like unless they’ve experienced it. I know, I’ve lost 2.

Brooke got me teary. Jermaine made me cry. Funny about that song Smile. That is my favorite song also. After my ex-husband unexpectedly left, I listened to that song all the time and made myself smile through the pain.

I miss Michael. How I wish he could’ve toured just one more time.

Brooke Shields speech and Jermaine Jackson singing Smile was so moving.

Brooke got to me, I dropped a tear or two as she spoke.

Same here. And I’m not a crier.

Whoever directed this event did an awesome job. People are really perfectly suited for what they are doing. John Mayer–incredible. If he’d sung, it wouldn’t have been nearly as good. And Usher now–outstanding.

MJ’s heyday happened during my growing up years. He will be remembered for his mastery of song and dance, and I respect and admire him for that.

Maybe it’s because I’m half a world away, or I’m just plain cynical, but I just can’t help thinking that some of the participants in this memorial are there for their own agenda, either to make themselves known again, or to promote a particular cause.

Jermaine gave the most poignant tribute so far, and that is so noticeably from his heart and from his pain. My heart goes out to him and those of you who have lost siblings. I only hope that the hooha over the administration of MJ’s estate and his children would not get so ugly that it leaves an bitter icky taste in our mouths, and the Jacksons will respect MJ’s wishes.

Anyway, MJ was definitely gone too soon. I’ll miss him.

Okay, Usher walking up to the CASKET and singing to the body? That was just wrong….

ETA: but his getting choked up…aw, that’s sad.

anyone see Joe Jackson there??????

I noticed when Usher went to Mrs.Jackson I didn’t see him…?????

Shaheen!!!!!! I love that kid.

Well, now I get why this event is put together so well. Kenny Ortega.

anyone see Joe Jackson there??????

He is sitting about two over from Katherine. On the other side of one of Michael’s children.

I must admit to being a bit cynical about this event prior to today … I’m not religious or into preaching and bits are a bit OTT on that front for me but I must admit that it’s been very well put on .. and I’m finding it a great tribute to Michael .. very emotional and very moving and all of the tributes seem genuine and heartfelt.

Must admit that I’ve sat here in tears right from the start … Jermaine singing and Brooke’s speech got to me in a big way.

It’s also nice to see that his kids are just like any other kids …. chewing away on the gum …lol

It’s nice to see them on the stage singing along … it’s probably all a bit confusing for them, they’re obviously never going to have a “normal” life but let’s hope it’s as normal as possible.

I am all cried out. this was so touching. Heaven welcomes home an angel .

His children are BEAUTIFUL!

That’s not fair to the child. They shouldn’t have allowed her to speak. I’m conflicted about this, I don”t have children, so I don’t know.

Paris just broke my heart….

Those poor kids. Paris is a brave little girl.

Great tribute, beautifully done. MJ’s daughter at the end ….. (sniffle, sob)couldn’t have taken much more!!

Oh God, I just bawled when Paris spoke. My heart breaks for his children. May they be protected from all the crap that Michael Jackson went through, and have as normal a life as possible. {{Hugz}} I pray Joe Jackson et al. don’t get their hands on them.

I don’t have a single tear left to cry after watching Paris. My god.

Paris just broke my heart’ ¦.

Mine too. She probably wanted to speak and they let her.

Sunn….

I think it is something she wanted so desperately to do. Not for anyone but herself. I’m sure she’s been exposed to a lot about her Father, and I think that she wanted, in her own very special way, to let the world know that he was indeed her Daddy and that his children adored and honored him. It will be something she holds dear for a lifetime…

Michael Jackson/the memorial is holding all the Twitter trending positions.

I was fine until Paris spoke. Then I lost it.

OMGosh…I was absolutely sobbing over Marlon and then Paris. Whatever people say about MJ…he had family that loved him. He was a person, not just an icon.

It was an incredible memorial. I expected to cry, I didn’t expect to weep. It was beautifully done, sensitive and touching. It left me with a beautiful memory of MJ.

The pictures of the people on Time Square swaying to heal the world were incredible.

I couldn’t help but cry when that brave child spoke to the crowd. What I brave soul

oh Paris your broke my heart. I’m glad she got to speak what she feels for her father and so the world can know how much his children loved him. Thank God I sit in a cube at work so ppl couldnt see me cry.

wow…..his daughter just broke my heart. beautiful, in every way.

highlights for me: jhud singing, very powerful. brooke shields’ speech….so heartfelt and real (does this women age? she looked A-mazing), Smokey’s lighthearted poke at MJ’s talent, and his family at the end. of course, we are the world peformance also gave me chills

regardless of your opinion of him, today three children are w. out a father….and a mother and father had to bury a son. ugh, very sad day

I agree, this was a great memorial. I loved all the personal tibits the family and friends shared with us.

He was a person, not just an icon.

So true.
That was a beautiful and moving memorial to Michael, my heart goes out to his children and his family.

Tess
Jul 7th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Sunn’ ¦.

I think it is something she wanted so desperately to do. Not for anyone but herself. I’m sure she’s been exposed to a lot about her Father, and I think that she wanted, in her own very special way, to let the world know that he was indeed her Daddy and that his children adored and honored him. It will be something she holds dear for a lifetime’ ¦

I agree. I think it is something unplanned and something she wanted to do. Michael’s brothers and Janet were there to help her, fix the mic, brush her hair back, etc. But in the end this is something she wanted.

I think the memorial as a whole was handled very well. Some of it got a bit too preachy, but for the most part it was a celebration and in memory of Michael. Really liked Brooke’s story about him. I had forgotten they had dated at one time when they were both teenagers.

I was doing OK until Brooke… OMG tears all over the place and I’m at work. I think it was fine that Paris spoke, I did when my dad died. Just shared some funny memories. Laughter through tears is the best medicine.

and yeah John Mayer was incredible as was the performance of Smile by Jermaine…..in such a short amount of time, this was done w. incredible taste and class. im very impressed.

btw, the Little Prince is my favorite children’s books….ive read it again as an adult, so when Brooke brought up the quote, i was completely moved

i have to say, as much as this ceremony humanizes MJ, i think it also makes his family (kids, parents, siblings) a bit more real, and less of a “joke”.

His children are BEAUTIFUL!

Yes they are. Plus, hearing her speak really made MJ human. He was a father first…. I hope people remember his children when they start talking trash about Michael again tomorrow.

Overall I think it was a great tribute. Very well done, and very moving.

Also, I’m happy they brought up his humanitarian efforts. I didn’t know he was in the guinness book for contributing to the most charities. That shows his heart.

I honestly could of watched that tribubte all day

What a beautiful and well put together memorial. For me the tears started w/ Brooke Shields and then Jermaine singing “Smile,” Usher breaking down while singing “Gone too Soon,” “We Are the World” etc. but when Marlon spoke I started bawling, and then Paris broke my heart.

I got the impression too that Paris wasn’t forced to speak and that it’s something she probaby wanted to do .. and as upsetting as it was for her I bet she’s pleased she did and in years to come I bet it means even more to her .. and her two brothers.

I’m pleased I watched this as it helped to see a different side to Michael .. a more real and human side .. away from being a star and a performer .. I loved the bit in Brooke’s speech where she said “what’s up with the glove?” …lol .. shows what a great and natural friendship they had .. two kids thrown into the world of showbiz but being totally normal, ribbing each other behind the scenes.

Michael’s kids are gorgeous.

I agree Wander3ful .. it made them all seem more real and “normal” .. just friends and family who have lost a big part of their lives and grieving like everyone else does … their emotion was real and I got no impression that any of it was stage managed.

I just bawled like a baby when Paris spoke. So touching.

Just in case anyone missed, CNN has a replay here:

http://www.cnn.com/video/fb/facebook.html?stream=stream3

Paris broke my heart!!! She made me cry! I cried at parts but she made me cry!! :down_tb: I just want to hug her!!!!

Let’s all celebrate Micheal’s life!!!

There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it’s time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can’t go on
Pretneding day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God’s great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart
So they’ll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day
Just you and me

When you’re down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There’s no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day
Just you and me

======================
I LOVE YOU MICHAEL!! I salute you too!!

Sunn says

CNN has political pundits commenting on Michael Jackson, to be specific black political pundits? Why? How many times can they say we grew up with Jackson’s music? Or Michael was important to the black community?

Where are the music industry pundits CNN?

So far the CNN commentary has been less than useless, and more than a little boring.

Yeah all the media was saying nice things about Michael! That was annoying! Why couldn’t they say nice things about him when he was alive?!!?! And then during the memorial he got a plaque? Why couldn’t he have one when he was alive?!!?!

Sunn says

It feels like a celebration of life not the mourning of a loss.
So far I approve.

That is what a funeral and memorial service should be about! The celebration of a person’s life! I approved it too!

Suzanne says

Jennifer looks incredible in her white dress. Incredible. Beautiful, angelic. and the white is such a welcome rest from all the black. She sounds great, but honestly, to me, the vision really made such an incredible impression.

Yeah I don’t believe in wearing black in a funeral or memorial. The white she wore was perfect.

Lu says After my ex-husband unexpectedly left, I listened to that song all the time and made myself smile through the pain.

Oh Lu I’m so sorry.

cookbunny says

Okay, Usher walking up to the CASKET and singing to the body? That was just wrong’ ¦.

He did?! I missed that part. I know why it is but what are your thoughts of why it was wrong?

karenw says

It’s also nice to see that his kids are just like any other kids ‘ ¦. chewing away on the gum ‘ ¦lol

Yeah I noticed that ROFL ROFL!

Creepy
– Michael Jackson signed his will on 7/7/02.
– Michael Jackson’s memorial was on 7/7/09 … exactly 7 years after the will was signed.
– Michael Jackson’s two biggest hits — “Black & White” and “Billie Jean” — were each #1 for 7 weeks.
– Michael Jackson’s three biggest albums — “Thriller,” “Bad” and “Dangerous” — each produced 7 top 40 hits.
– Michael Jackson was the 7th of 9 children.

I thought that Al Sharpton repeatedly going on about how Michael changed the world (more or less) was a bit over the top. Yes, Michael contributed greatly BUT he did not single handedly change the world, bring the races together, etc. That started with MLK and his ripple effect. Michael was effective in getting more black artists played on MTV, etc. and therefore creating his own ripple effect but he didn’t do it alone, he had help, he started the movement and those that followed will keep it going (hopefully). I thought that Congresswoman Jackson-Lee was definitely over the top in some of her speech as well.

Overall, this was very well put together and planned out. I cried when Brooke spoke, laughed at Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, and just sat mesmerized crying again when We Are The World played. I smiled at the young Michael, and in awe all over again seeing his talent. My heart broke for Paris and her brothers. What an amazingly brave little girl she is.

But, boy oh boy, what an artist and humanitarian Michael is/was. The world will truly be less of a place without his talent and kindness.

Paris is a brave and beautiful soul.

Just for the historical record, I wanted to point out that Elizabeth Taylor’s tweet about not attending the memorial actually called it a “whoopla,” not a “hoopla.”

http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/celebrity/news/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=148397284&GT1=61504

I started watching on my garbage TV … the news stuff before the actual memorial. I then switched to watching on Hulu. I saw the skywriting from my backyard … M J and then the J was turned into a heart as the family went from Forest Lawn to Staples.

I felt it was very tasteful and moving. Not the circus I had expected. Living here, major props to the LAPD and the City of LA for how smooth things were handled in regards to traffic and people control.

I was touched in many parts, but as many said, it was when Brooke Shields spoke through her tears that I teared up. Then Jermaine singing and ripping off his rose. Marlon … and then that dear child, Paris. I completely lost it.

Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, and John Mayer were musical highlights for me, but it was all good.

I think it was a beautiful memorial service – the speakers, the music, and the videos – well done. Brooke, Jennifer, Jermaine, brought me to tears – some light chuckes too from Smokey, Magic Johnson KFC story:), and Brooke:)
Mariah Carey and the other singer (I’m sorry I don’t remember his name) were lovely singing too.

I have no more tears….I’m all cried out…That was just….

Rest In Peace Michael…Love you!

Very beautiful service and brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t watch every minute, too sad.