MJ Memorial Review

Michael Jackson lived his life in the full glare of publicity and left in the same way.

After his private service, a fleet of Rolls Royce’s & black Range Rovers came in a convoy to LA’s Staples Center where a galaxy of stars (mostly black) were waiting. Quite unsure of what to expect, many in the audience audibly gasped when his casket was wheeled in.

The service (or was it a concert? Or a political event?) operated on several levels at once. Its two hours of music and eulogies made for many poignant and even wrenching moments yet its incongruities adding up to the only reasonable response to an artistic giant whose meanings were always multiple and often contradictory.

Mariah Carey & Trey Lorenz: I'll Be There

In the very first verse Carey -- in a black, glittery dress cut down to near her waist and sooooooo NOT fit for a funeral -- made it clear that this would be a more restrained, elegant rendition of the song. Singing through the emotions, Carey was at a near-gasp in the song's opening moments. Infact i thought she had lost her voice. Lorenz, in fact, showed off more vocal dynamics than Carey. But a more subtle Carey is always a more graceful one.

Carey infact began in a tiny voice, as if to honor the boy Michael. However when Carey found that Lorenz was almost bowling her over, she turned her voice up a notch to match her singing partner (“Never Challenge A Diva”was the message). Lorenz sang Michael's name in falsetto, and Carey added "Never Can Say Goodbye..."

Very tasteful.

Queen Latifah & Maya Angelou

Queen Latifah then came to give a heartfelt speech and just as she reached the best she was saddled with a long, rambling and pretty unimpressive ‘poem’ by Maya Angelou. Maybe that’s why Maya herself did not attend. Her poetry was lame.

Lionel Richie: "Jesus is Love"

Richie's performance shortly after Mariah made it clear that this would not be just a tribute concert. Backed by a slowly rising choir, Richie's strong vocals provided an uplifting take on the song, one powerful enough for a Sunday morning mass.

'Jesus, he won't let you down,' sang Richie, gesticulating aggressively heavenward. This was the mood initially at the memorial, more church, less club.

Jennifer Hudson: "Will You Be There."

The knockout Oscar winner took on Jackson's 1991 single, transforming it into a rousing, feel-good anthem. But it worked perfectly and that's largely due to the strength of Hudson as a vocalist who can reach for the stars as well as any singer. (Take that Beyonce) Things drifted a bit toward Bollywood-like drama at the end, as Hudson stepped back to make way for Jackson's recorded vocals even as back-up dancers danced in a weird circle around her.

It isn't the most well-known of Jackson's songs, but Hudson's heartfelt rendition was one of the event's most moving musical tribute.

Hudson lost her mother, brother and nephew in a tragic shooting last year, and her emotionally charged performance -- in spite of the distracting dancers around her -- was as stirring as it was soulful. Beautiful.

Kobe Bryant & Magic Johnson:

While others eulogized Jackson's musical legacy, his influential dance moves or his charitable contributions to society, Magic Johnson spotlighted the King of Pop's weakness for greasy fast food chicken. During a dinner meeting at Jackson's house, Johnson requested a grilled chicken from the chef. But while Magic got the specially prepared chicken, Jackson got a bucket of KFC.

"Wait a minute," Johnson interrupted.

"'Michael, you eat Kentucky Fried Chicken?' That was the greatest day of my life."

It not only humanised MJ but also gave one of the biggest ad shout-out’s to KFC. They must be in heaven.

Stevie Wonder: "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer."

A frequent MJ collaborator, Stevie gave a brief introduction to his 1971 song and held the crowd captivated from the moment he began speaking. "I never dreamed you'd leave in summer," Wonder sang, alone at his piano, and drifted into "They Won't Go When I Go," extending the performance into a nearly 10-minute one.

If it would have continued, no one would have complained, as Wonder looked as if he had knocked Staples Center still. Wonder shouted the refrain of the song, letting his voice crack, calling Michael's name.

A friend to a friend, a moment of modestly stated, but real grief.

Rev. Al Sharpton

There was a little buzz in the centre as he took the stage. The fiery orator seized the room immediately. "It was Michael Jackson who brought blacks and white and Latinos and Asians together," he boomed, earning one of the biggest cheers of the day and showing what perfect public speaking is all about.

"He outsang the cynics, he outdanced his doubters, he outperformed the pessimists," said Sharpton of Jackson, making a strong contribution to the fascinating process of Jackson's posthumous rehabilitation as an African American hero by people who had literally shunned him a few years back.

He also offered one of the event's best lines of the evening (even if it was a little incorrect). Speaking directly to Jackson's three children -- and likely to his many detractors -- he said, "Wasn't nothing strange about your daddy; it was strange what your daddy had to deal with."

John Mayer: 'Human Nature'

Before his attachments to Jennifer Aniston (and Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Love Hewitt and ….), Mayer was best known as a legit pop singer-songwriter with serious guitar skills. Unadorned by vocals, his stripped-down version of "Human Nature," itself a gentle if haunting ballad from "Thriller," proved a poignant reminder of Jackson's versatility as an artist, by turns striking and smooth.

John Mayer was infact very very good in performing an instrumental version of "Human Nature," and though he didn't seem as connected to the event as some of the participants, his presence made sense in light of Jackson's well-known love of rock guitar. Plus he didn’t make his trademark ‘crazy-face’. Well, atleast not as much as expected.

Brook Shields:

Shields gave a perspective with which few of us can really identify: the loss of innocence of a child star. Her remembrances of their laughing together and just being "two little kids having fun" were particularly moving, driving home the fact that Jackson never really had a childhood -- and won't get a chance at golden years either.

She said his favourite song was not one of his own but in fact Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Smile’ from the movie Modern Times. Which perfectly set up the next performance.

Jermaine Jackson: “Smile”

Jermaine took the stage wearing one silver glove and a red rose to sing this simple tune.There was the personal pathos of the older brother, whose own youthful success was so dramatically eclipsed by Michael, and who in recent days has told the media that he wishes he had died instead of Michael, singing in a voice eerily reminiscent of the one now lost.

Jermaine nearly broke down near the end, right after the line, "What's the use in crying"; the fans' applause lifted him back up.

Jermaine Jackson held his arms outstretched for much of the song, his gesture mirroring an image of Michael on the screens above him. It seemed like he was bearing a burden as well as celebrating a triumph. None of the memorial's other musical performances were as rich in subtext as this one. Or as personal.

Martin Luther King Jr III

He came on to the stage with his sister to rant about something I wasn’t listening to. What does this man do and what’s his contribution anyway. Your father was great no doubt. Now it’ll be great if YOU get a life of your own.

Usher: ‘Gone Too Soon.’

Usher, in black, oversized aviator sunglasses, was accompanied largely by an organ but he didn’t let the musical sparseness keep him confined to the stage.

Usher wandered close to Jackson’s casket, just off to the side, covered in roses. It was a bit strange and a little uncomfortable, to see him singing directly at Jackson’s coffin but to give him credit, Usher’s vocals was pristine.

As the song winded down, Usher lost his composure, took off his sunglasses and broke into tears and the Jackson family enveloped him in a group hug. It felt like a very private moment, one not often captured on national television.



Smokey Robinson:

Smokey who had earlier read out the letters from Diana Ross and Nelson Mandela spoke about his own association with MJ and about the song he wrote for MJ “Who’s Loving You” .

Smokey is a legend but while he was speaking the only thing I personally could think of, while watching him was: 'His skin is turning white too.'

Shaheen Jafargholi: Who’s Loving You

The “Britain’s Got Talent” finalist, 12-year-old Shaheen Jafargholi, performed Smokey Robinson’s “Who’s Lovin’ You,” after being introduced by Smokey, no less.

Perhaps it was inevitable (and a little odd too considering his trials with paedophilia) that a child would sing today. It turns out that Shaheen Jafargholi had been invited by MJ to sing on the This Is It shows planned for London. His performance was energetic but not great. But he’s just 12 and what a spot to be in.

We Are The World & Heal The World

Jafargholi was followed by two group performances: “We Are the World” and “Hear the World.”

Among the performers on stage were Jackson’s children who were being seen by the world for the first time without their faces being covered in veils and blankets. Riveting.

I wasn’t even listening to the songs. The 2 sons were looking lost but little Paris was seen singing her father’s song. Eerie.

The memorial ended with 2 of the most poignant scenes.

1) A daughter's farewell: Since her father’s death less than two weeks ago, the masks she’s worn in public all her life have come off and at his memorial service she spoke to the public for the first time. “I just want to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say that I love him so much,” she said shakily into the microphone, as her family surrounded her with support. As soon as the moment was over she fell into her aunt Janet’s arms and I bet there wasn’t a dry eye among the estimated 1 billion people watching worldwide.

2) Once the casket and family left, one of the last scenes was of the empty stage with a solitary microphone in the spotlight with a huge MJ poster behind. Perfect.