OT: Memorial For MJ at Staples Center on July 7

[Ftloperry]

Love him or hate him....Michael was truly a giver of his talents. He not only performed all over the world but he gave to so many. He was a human being with compassion and a caring nature. He visited soldiers in hospitals and granted dying children their fondest wishes. He gave so much of himself and gave up a childhood to pursue his greatest dream to perform. He was a gifted child with the voice of a soulful adult that blessed the lives of all that heard his voice. His daughters touching words today show us all that even though Michael Jackson was a performer he was just her daddy and she loves him so very much. This memorial today showed us more than just the entertainer it showed us the life of a human being and the family mourning their father, son, brother, uncle.

[Don]

Watching the ceremony again, the performances are made more amazing when you consider the short amount of time they had to prepare for this. The song with Jennifer Hudson and the Michael Jackson dancers was especially well done.

[X factor]

I dunno ya'll...maybe I've just become too cynical, but wasn't this event a bit off putting to some of you? It just seemed to "staged" and contrived to me. And having people like Sharpton (who actually seemed to credit Michael for the African Famine relief by saying that WE ARE THE WORLD came before LIVE AID. Ummm, yeah, but it came AFTER BAND AID. Hello!) and the way Magic Johnson was obviously pimping Jackson's Mom to get custody of the kid, Usher conviently crying in the exact same place Michael did in "Gone too Soon". Even having the casket there. It just seemed...in bad taste to me. And I think it was pretty well documented that Michael couldn't stand most of his own family (save for Janet and Rebi) yet there they were- hogging the spotlight on a day that was supposed to be about Michael, not them.
I agree with all of you that the images of the children were heartbreaking. But where were Michael's "real" friends? Where was Liz Taylor? Liza? Quincy Jones? MacCauley Culkin? I dunno- it just seemed to almost be a commercial for the impending (and obligitory) Jacksons reunion tour.
It sort of bothered me. I may be just too damned jaded, too tired, and too upset over losing Steve McNair. Please, put me in my place if I'm wrong!

[JasonD]

I thought I could make it till the end without any tears but the sight of his daughter telling her daddy that she loved him put me right over the top. She's several years older than my own daughter. Still, that's where my mind drifted off to at that moment. Listening to that little girl choking up was just too, too sad for me.

[tammy]

Love him or hate him....Michael was truly a giver of his talents. He not only performed all over the world but he gave to so many. He was a human being with compassion and a caring nature. He visited soldiers in hospitals and granted dying children their fondest wishes. He gave so much of himself and gave up a childhood to pursue his greatest dream to perform. He was a gifted child with the voice of a soulful adult that blessed the lives of all that heard his voice. His daughters touching words today show us all that even though Michael Jackson was a performer he was just her daddy and she loves him so very much. This memorial today showed us more than just the entertainer it showed us the life of a human being and the family mourning their father, son, brother, uncle.

Very true. I wasn't going to watch the memorial on t.v. today (reminding me of Princess Diana's and her children), but I caught the end with Marlon and Paris' emotional words...so sad. I also didn't think I would feel a sense of loss, but I did...he really did touch us with his music & emotion. I remember when the Jacksons first came on the scene in the late 60s and the sensation they caused - Michael only a kid around my age...loved their sound and joy in performing. I guess MJ will always be a part of my childhood memories.

[Arkansas]

Musical artists reach all of us so we have varying degrees of connection at their passing.

And those that defend our politics, our ways of life, and the very definition of freedom, reach many more of US.


later~

[Arkansas]

.. go back decades ago and Elvis' death & funeral got more attention than any fallen soldiers in Korea & Vietnam Did , combined.

I don't recall America fighting wars when Elvis died.
Korea - 51-52
VN - 62ish - 74ish.

What's happening today, while not trivial - MJ did make an impact, but to think that this self-indulgent-living-off-of-pop culture-wreck of a human being, is more important than our servicemen, is absolutely laughable. America as a whole ought to be ashamed.

Yes, I'm a Marine, obviously biased, but still sickened nonetheless.


later~

[X factor]

.. go back decades ago and Elvis' death & funeral got more attention than any fallen soldiers in Korea & Vietnam Did , combined.

I don't recall America fighting wars when Elvis died.
Korea - 51-52
VN - 62ish - 74ish.

What's happening today, while not trivial - MJ did make an impact, but to think that this self-indulgent-living-off-of-pop culture-wreck of a human being, is more important than our servicemen, is absolutely laughable. America as a whole ought to be ashamed.

Yes, I'm a Marine, obviously biased, but still sickened nonetheless.

Dude, I won't disagree with you, but E did die just POST Viet Nam. And you know and I know if we had 3000 cable channels in the 70s...My sister in law put it best today too. What most of us are eulogizing ISN'T necessarily the man, but the death of part of our youth. Like it or not, that's powerful and it's (mostly) universal.


later~

[Don]

No one was bitching about this when Susan Boyle was all over the news, while we were losing two guys everyday in that part of the world.

Why all the noise now?

[Jana]

I dunno ya'll...maybe I've just become too cynical, but wasn't this event a bit off putting to some of you? It just seemed to "staged" and contrived to me. And having people like Sharpton (who actually seemed to credit Michael for the African Famine relief by saying that WE ARE THE WORLD came before LIVE AID. Ummm, yeah, but it came AFTER BAND AID. Hello!) and the way Magic Johnson was obviously pimping Jackson's Mom to get custody of the kid, Usher conviently crying in the exact same place Michael did in "Gone too Soon". Even having the casket there. It just seemed...in bad taste to me. And I think it was pretty well documented that Michael couldn't stand most of his own family (save for Janet and Rebi) yet there they were- hogging the spotlight on a day that was supposed to be about Michael, not them.
I agree with all of you that the images of the children were heartbreaking. But where were Michael's "real" friends? Where was Liz Taylor? Liza? Quincy Jones? MacCauley Culkin? I dunno- it just seemed to almost be a commercial for the impending (and obligitory) Jacksons reunion tour.
It sort of bothered me. I may be just too damned jaded, too tired, and too upset over losing Steve McNair. Please, put me in my place if I'm wrong!

Well, there might have been a couple of places that seemed staged, but that's to be expected. For as large as it was with a lot of celebrities, that was surprisingly low key and, to me, very heartfelt. Re why some friends didn't come, like Liz, I think they thought this was going to be cheesy, and it didn't turn out to be. Even Patty Austin was on Larry King tonight, and she said she almost didn't go b/c she thought it might be cheesy but that it was beautiful. Liza couldn't be there b/c she was somewhere else doing a Lifetime movie or show, and some channel flew to her to get an interview. And she couldn't go through with the interview b/c she was too emotional and knew she would fall apart and her grief was too raw.

Interestingly, Diana Ross didn't appear and stated she prefered to grieve privately or in her own way. I wonder if she thought maybe the same thing, and now after seeing it on TV and how classy and respectful it was maybe regretted not participating or attending.

I know I read Michael was very close to LaToya. And I think he was very close to Jermaine also. A guest on Larry King, Dionne Warwick's son, was writing a song for Michael's new album and he was working with Jermaine as far as who he always dealt with for Michael. I have no clue about the other brothers.
To me, I thought it was all about Michael and not them hogging the spotlight.

[The Sushi Hunter]

I didn't watch a single second of it. I have too much of my own life to attend to, no time to get involved in someone elses.

But from what I've picked up on this thread, there are lots of people here feeling as though MJ was one of their best friends. So if any one of you would have knocked on his door at Neverland, do you think he would have invited you in and let you sit with him and drink coolaide? No, he'd a called security to get you the hell off his property, in short order!

[Maui Tom]

I didn't watch a single second of it. I have too much of my own life to attend to, no time to get involved in someone elses.

But from what I've picked up on this thread, there are lots of people here feeling as though MJ was one of their best friends. So if any one of you would have knocked on his door at Neverland, do you think he would have invited you in and let you sit with him and drink coolaide? No, he'd a called security to get you the hell off his property, in short order!

one of the dopiest posts in MR history...

[Don]

I didn't watch a single second of it. I have too much of my own life to attend to, no time to get involved in someone elses.

But from what I've picked up on this thread, there are lots of people here feeling as though MJ was one of their best friends. So if any one of you would have knocked on his door at Neverland, do you think he would have invited you in and let you sit with him and drink coolaide? No, he'd a called security to get you the hell off his property, in short order!

You're starting to sound envious. You still got your cover singer friend Arnel, right? Why begrudge people for being nostalgic about the person who's music they've grown up with?

[Don]

U2 does a little tribute to Jackson during the last minute of Angel In Harlem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3IaL-0h ... r_embedded

[The Sushi Hunter]

I didn't watch a single second of it. I have too much of my own life to attend to, no time to get involved in someone elses.

But from what I've picked up on this thread, there are lots of people here feeling as though MJ was one of their best friends. So if any one of you would have knocked on his door at Neverland, do you think he would have invited you in and let you sit with him and drink coolaide? No, he'd a called security to get you the hell off his property, in short order!

You're starting to sound envious. You still got your cover singer friend Arnel, right? Why begrudge people for being nostalgic about the person who's music they've grown up with?

No, just sort of noticing how people will put out so much effort but have never even met the dude in person. I guess they are giving him the benefit of the doubt that perhaps if they had the opportunity, he'd a been a swell friend. Just saying I'm noticing this. Like two weeks ago, where was all these famous people and were they close with him then like they portray themselves to be now?

[Don]

I didn't watch a single second of it. I have too much of my own life to attend to, no time to get involved in someone elses.

But from what I've picked up on this thread, there are lots of people here feeling as though MJ was one of their best friends. So if any one of you would have knocked on his door at Neverland, do you think he would have invited you in and let you sit with him and drink coolaide? No, he'd a called security to get you the hell off his property, in short order!

You're starting to sound envious. You still got your cover singer friend Arnel, right? Why begrudge people for being nostalgic about the person who's music they've grown up with?

No, just sort of noticing how people will put out so much effort but have never even met the dude in person. I guess they are giving him the benefit of the doubt that perhaps if they had the opportunity, he'd a been a swell friend. Just saying I'm noticing this. Like two weeks ago, where was all these famous people and were they close with him then like they portray themselves to be now?

Are you talking about the people here or the BFFs that are popping out of the woodwork around his family?

[The Sushi Hunter]

Sometimes I'm not so sure what I'm talking about.

No but really, from all that has transpired, it only seems obvious that even famous people came out of the woodwork when this dude kicked it.

[ttango1]

Neverland Ranch is in Santa Ynez, CA and it's a pain in the ass to get to.

But having seen the gates, I doubt you'd be let in if all you said it, "Hey...let me in...I'm Michael's biggest fan!"

But, for the most part, for all the peeps that are POP inclined...as long as you had that in common, you could meet up on the dance floor of practically any club in the world and see peeps dancing to MJJ songs.

[StoneCold]

John Mayer's a royal tool. Pissed me off to see him with that faux Stevie Ray #1 guitar. Get your own style John and quit acting like a douchebag.

Would've rather seen Jeff Beck do the tribute.

[bluejeangirl76]

Neverland Ranch is in Santa Ynez, CA and it's a pain in the ass to get to.

But having seen the gates, I doubt you'd be let in if all you said it, "Hey...let me in...I'm Michael's biggest fan!"

But, for the most part, for all the peeps that are POP inclined...as long as you had that in common, you could meet up on the dance floor of practically any club in the world and see peeps dancing to MJJ songs.

Wow, I saw this post next to my avatar (well, close enough at least) and became confused because I had no memory of writing it.

[Red13JoePa]

Brooke Shields is insanely hot...

[Jana]

John Mayer's a royal tool. Pissed me off to see him with that faux Stevie Ray #1 guitar. Get your own style John and quit acting like a douchebag.

Would've rather seen Jeff Beck do the tribute.

He was on Larry King last night. He said when they called he couldn't believe it b/c he didn't even know Michael. So he wanted to know who wanted him, the promotor or the family. He said when he learned the family, the only way he could perform, not personally knowing Michael, was just through the connection of music. and passion for music When asked why he didn't sing, he said he has a limited range with his voice and wouldn't even attempt it. Maybe it's just me but I'm never that impressed by his playing either. He's good, but there's others up there that would have been great with that song.

[brywool]

Brooke Shields is insanely hot...

Brooke Shields has an insanely huge head....

[Don]

Brooke Shields is insanely hot...

Brooke Shields has an insanely huge head....

Maybe she should team up with Pineda, that dude's Cadbury is at maximum mass also.

[portland]

Brooke Shields is insanely hot...

Brooke Shields has an insanely huge head....

Maybe she should team up with Pineda, that dude's Cadbury is at maximum mass also.

[bluejeangirl76]

Brooke Shields is insanely hot...

Brooke Shields has an insanely huge head....

Maybe she should team up with Pineda, that dude's Cadbury is at maximum mass also.

Mr. Pineda Head?

[Don]

Brooke Shields is insanely hot...

Brooke Shields has an insanely huge head....

Maybe she should team up with Pineda, that dude's Cadbury is at maximum mass also.

Mr. Pineda Head?

Don't let the Pinheads hear you.

[Since 78]

Brooke Shields is insanely hot...

Brooke Shields has an insanely huge head....

Maybe she should team up with Pineda, that dude's Cadbury is at maximum mass also.

Mr. Pineda Head?

Don't let the Pinheads hear you.

Too late! Come on Dude! Are we going to have to start with the Beak Blasts now?

[Red13JoePa]

Cadbury

LOL

[bluejeangirl76]

Maybe she should team up with Pineda, that dude's Cadbury is at maximum mass also.

Mr. Pineda Head?

Don't let the Pinheads hear you.

Ask me if I care. They can toughen up. If "Nostrildamus" is ok to throw around "in jest", then so is Mr. Pineda Head. Y'all just pray I forget to open photoshop when I get home.