Michael Jackson's Live Memorial Service

Today Michael Jackson's Public Memorial was held at the Staples Center in LA today, home to the LA Lakers.
Many celebreties arrived, and some performances were expected to be made, including Stevie Wonder
and Usher. The crowds were slim to none outside the Staples Center, those that were in the area, were police officers or people who had received a ticket to see Michael Jackson's Memorial in first person. The assumption made by reporters, was that the reason there were no crowds was that the people would rather have stayed in their hotel rooms or at home where they could watch the memorial service live on TV, since no one could get close enough to see anything without a ticket.

Before Michael Jackson's body was taken to the Staples Center, his family held a Private Family Memorial lasting about an hour. It was said that his casket cost around $25,000. His body was followed by many black vehicles to the Staples Center after the private service

To start the pulbic memorial service was Smokey Robinson, who began with a letter from Diana Ross, who thanked his family for sharing him with the world and with her and also a letter from Nelson Mandella, who also shared his condolescences to Michaels family.

As the news coverage continued, we watch performances done by Michael Jackson in the past years. His style is like no other. While the wait continued we watch the reporters covering what was going on inside. More people were coming in and taking there seats. It took a about half an hour before the service began.

Everyone was glued to the Television as they watched the public memorial service of Michael Jackson. Time square had crowds gathered to watch the memorial live on the large screens. This crowd was larger than any crowd around the Staples Center in LA where Michael Jacksons memorial was aired live.

The first stage performance was Mariah Carey who sang Michael Jackson's song, 'I'll be there'. Her sensational voice sang Michael's words, as pictures of his earlier years were portrayed behind her.

She was followed by Queen Latifah, who read a poem, dedicated to Michael, called 'We Had Him'.

She was then followed by Lionel Richey, a close friend of Michael Jackson, who sang 'Jesus is Love', with a bright sun light behind him and a chorus.

Then came Berry Gordy, Motown producer, reminiscing about Micahel as a young boy, saying, "this kids performance was way beyond his years......you could feel the happiness in his soul". He went on to say that after Michael left the Jackson Five to be on his own, he "raised the bar and broke the bar". Applause filled the room as Berry spoke In reference to the moon walk Jackson performed at the 25th anniversary of the Jackson Five, he said, "it was magic". He also said that Michael was the "undisputed king of pop...a master, take no prisoner". Berry finished by saying Michael Jackson was "the greatest entertainer that ever lived....I love you".

The room was filled with a standing applause, and the cameras moved to show all of Michael's brothers wearing their white sequenced gloves and yellow ties.

Songs by Michael were heard throughout the auditorium, while pictures of Michael jackson was shown, like him accepting awards, personal videos, speeches he made, and videos of his music played as the crowd watched in awe.

Likely Page BreakStevie Wonder was the next to perform, and as he sat in front of the piano he said, today was a day that "I wished I never seen come". Stevie sang a beautiful song he wrote as a tribute to Michael Jackson. As he played and sang, the camera moved to Jackson's casket, and then a sillouete picture of Michael sitting alone as if thinking of a master plan shined on the back wall.

It was reported that there was little emotion from Michael's sons, but Paris was seen showing much emotion.

LA Lakers player Coby Bryant, and Retired LA Lakers player Magic Johnson took the stage. Coby Bryant was the first to speak on behalf of Michael Jackson. Then Magic, who met Michael 30 years ago when he had season tickets to the LA Lakers games said, "this was my idol" and today was a "celebration of his life, his legacy". Magic referenced to Michael's chidlren by saying, "MIchael's three children will have the best grandmother that ever lived to take care of them". Both were hugged by Michael's family after their speech.

Then came music by Jennifer Hudson, and the dancers from Michael's London Tour. They sang an awesome tribute song, and Jennifer stood so gracefully, and powerful. Her voice sounded so spiritual with words like, "Carry me, Hold me, show me, carry me there. Show me you care", and looked to the sky as she sang such beauty. As the words paused, you could hear Michael's voice saying a prayer through the music.

Crowds in Harlem were then seen while watching live.

Then the Reverend took the stage to speak about how "[Michael} opened up the whole world...it was Michael Jackson who brought blacks and whites and asians together.....[he]never stopped, Michael never stopped". To his children the Reverend said, there was "nothing strange about your daddy, it was strange what he had to deal with". He then said "thank you Michael, thank you Michael". The service was said to have had a more Christian atmosphere, not islamic like some say his faith was.

After the reverend, a guitarist playing Michael's songs came on stage, with a small chorus that sang a few versus.

Brooke Shields then stood on stage in tears, trying to find the words she wanted to say. As she began, she shared private moments that her and Michael shared, and said, "we had a bond.....we were two little kids having fun", and "Michael loved to laugh". She concluded by saying, "he was caring and funny". She told the family and fans that Michael's favorite song was 'Smiles", a song sang by Charlie Chaplan for the movie 'Modern Times", which was then sung by Jermaine Jackson right after Brooke left the stage. As he sang, a pictue of Michael Jackson standing with his arms stretched out was portrayed on the back wall, surrounded by a blue light, ready to raise him up to the sky. Then pictures of the Jackson five came across the back wall.

Martin Luther King the III spoke to the audience, with Bernice King at his side. King the III said, "Michael was the best of what he was". Bernice then spoke, and included that he "was always concerned of others".

Sheila Jackson Lee , a United States Congresswoman stated that Michael was "the good samaritan, Michael Jackson who cared and loved the world", and that "[he] fought the good fight", and "[he] never stopped giving". She ended by saying, 'I salute you".

Usher then performed after this sensational speech by Sheila Jackson Lee, singing a lovely song 'Gone Too Soon', by Michael Jackson in 1993. Pictures of Michael were then seen on the back wall again of his younger days and family photos.

Likely Page BreakAfter Usher's tribute to Michael, the Jackson Five's video of the famous Smokey Robinson song was shown on the back of the stage. Michael was 11 years old when he sang and recorded this song. Once Smokey Robinson got behind the mic, he said, "I wrote that song, I thought I sang it", and the family, friends, and fans chuckled. Smokey could not believe at the time that someone so young could have so much "feeling and know". Smokey finished by saying that "he is going to live forever after.....I celebrate your life, I am proud that I had the chance to know you".

Shaheen Jafargholi, from Brittains Got Talent, sang 'Who's Loving You', by Michael Jackson. Shaheen is 12 years old and made a great performance in tribute to Michael. Michael would have been proud to see such a young man sing one of his songs. An absolutely fabulous tribute.

Kenny Ortega, a choregrapher who did some of Michael's shows, came on stage behind Shaheen to say, "less than a week ago, we were here......this was our house". The This Is It tour, was a performance Michael "created and brought it to life......[it was] musical and magical". The This Is It Tour was painted on the back wall, while a group of people sang, "We Are The World", one of the most moving songs that can bring you down in tears, with lyrics like this, let's "make this world a better place for you and for me".

Michael's brothers and sisters say their goodbyes, and his brother Marlin says to Michael, "maybe now they will leave you alone".

All three of Michael's children were on stage, but Paris ended the ceremony saying "Daddy has been the best father and I love him". She then moved from the mic to arms of the Jackson Family as she cried.

Jackson's casket was then pushed out of the Staples Center, while the mic had a spotlight, as a picture of Michael hung up with the light coming from his picture as if he was there.

The Reverend ended the service by saying, "make that change" and let this be a "rememberance and not a memorial", cause he "brings us together".

Prayer ended this great tribute, memorial and rememberance of Michael Joseph Jackson who died an untimely death June 25th, 2009.