As I sat in my hotel room in Paris yesterday, I was riveted by the Michael Jackson Memorial Service held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. I have been in Europe since the day Michael passed and to see the emotion that has gripped people all over the world is quite dramatic. Floods of memories came to my mind as I recalled how MJ’s music affected me at various moments in my life, from “Thriller” to “Man in the Mirror” to the collaborative efforts of many well known talents for “We Are the World.” Sure the man had major personal issues and self-destructive ways, but Michael was a top performer and major influencer in pop culture, which made his memorial seem quite fitting for such a huge star.
In case you didn’t see it (with an estimated television audience of 1 billion people worldwide), highlights included: a very pregnant Jennifer Hudson belting out “Will You Be There?,” a black dress clad Mariah Carey singing “I’ll Be There” with original partner Trey Lorenz, a teary Brooke Sheilds sharing memories about her fallen friend and teasing him about his famous sequined glove, and a moving speech which closed the service from Michael’s only daughter Paris emotionally recalling, “I just wanted to say ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can imagine. I just wanted to say I love him so much,” before collapsing into the arms of Jackson’s sister, Janet. Sad and touching 馃檨
Click here to watch the memorial in full.
