Today is the day that thousands gathered inside the Staples Center to send MJ home.
Here are a few pictures from inside MJ's memorial:
The ceremony started a little after 1pm est time and started with Smokey Robinson reading letters that were written by Nelson Mandela and Diana Ross. Soon after, the audio from inside the memorial was lost, but it was eventually retrieved and continued on with words from a pastor, Queen Latifah coming out and sharing her memories, as well as reading a lovely poem written by Maya Angelou for Michael. Performers included Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz doing their cover of "I'll Be There", Jennifer Hudson singing "Will You Be There" from the free Willy Soundtrack, Stevie Wonder did "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" and drifted into "They Wont Go When I Go". Usher did "Gone Too Soon", walking off the stage and going over to MJ's casket, finishing the song down by MJ and even shedding some tears (he got me crying after that). Kobe and Magic Johnson came and said some words, Martin Luther King Jr's children even had some words to share. John Mayer and his trusty guitar did a rendition of "Human Nature"...it had a good groove to it. He didnt sing, he just let us hear the music and imagine Michael's voice. Chris Brown did attend the memorial, but did not perform as everyone had hopped he would.
MJ's background singers and band ended the performances with "We Are The World" and "Heal The World"...everyone came on stage and joined in. Jermaine thanksed everyone for their prayers, Marlon spoke and shed some tears and then, MJ's daughter, Paris decided she wanted to speak.
"From the day I was born, daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. And I just want to say I love him so much." After, Aunt Janet walked her offstage.
Inside the program of MJ's tribute, LaToya and Tito Jackson share childhood stories about him:
LaToya: “Michael, I recall you sitting on a chair, in your bedroom, staring at the television, watching the 1980 Grammy awards show, crying to me because you had won only one Grammy award and you said, 'Watch, LaToya, my next record, I am going to sell more records and win more Grammys than anyone in the history of music... I will be the biggest and the greatest entertainer of all time.' You began to write that dream all throughout your bedroom, on the walls, on the mirrors, in your books and anywhere else you could find space.... You’ve lived your dream, you’ve proven to us all that if we believe, you will achieve; you believed, and oh my did you achieve!”
Tito: “My memories of us as a family? Michael running through the house — no one could catch Michael, he was always fast on his feet. I watched as we moved from Gary [Ind.] to Los Angeles, from signing in clubs to filling stadiums. My brother Michael was always pushing it to the sky, as far as it could go. Michael put his heart and soul into his music, his family and into his work of always helping others.… I love him. Michael is always with me. We will carry the light and make the light shine again for Michael and the world.”
This truly is a travesty. RIP MJ...You will always be missed.
Source of Pictures: AP
No comments:
Post a Comment