Three Ways on the Michael Jackson Memorial
MJ’s Memorial yesterday brought the Internet to a halt yesterday. Not the same halt when he passed from people scrambling to get to popular news outlets, but because most everbody I know that was in a position to stop what they were doing…did. I was at work at like many of you, but stopped surfing blogs and leisure cruising on the net once I caught wind that the tribute was on. Between all the FB and Twitter messages, we figured folks would have a lot to say about the Memorial and would like an open forum to discuss. So for today, we’re going to highlight impactful moments from the Celebration of MJ’s life and then open it up for discussion from folks to leave whatever thoughts come to mind.
Slim Jackson
I’d have to say the most signifcant moment for Mr. Not-So-Emo was seeing MJ’s daughter, Paris, briefly speak about what she thought of her father. It was something that brought a lot of people back to the reality that Michael Jackson was indeed a person with a family and not just a personality to be the butt of jokes and controversy. Also, having lost a parent nearly a year ago, I can identify with the pain of losing someone that close to you. I may not be 10 or 11, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I feel for the girl and for the rest of their family. Almost got me to drop that tear. I managed to remain stoic though.
Miss Jenkins
As I checked Twitter throughout the day, I was sad that I too could not sit at my desk and watch the whole memorial service. But I found a way. I started watching as Brooke Shields was recounting some of her favorite memories of her friendship with Michael. When I got home, I managed to catch the whole service and was truly moved by it in its entirety. I was particularly struck by Maya Angelou’s poem, “We Had Him,” read by Queen Latifah. Her words point out how we almost always don’t know how much appreciate someone for who they are and what they bring to our lives until they “slip away from our fingertips.” I can’t front. I cried at my desk at work, and as I sat at home. Rest in peace MJ, and God bless your family.
Seattle Washington
I unfortunately couldn’t watch the live stream of Michael’s Memorial Service at my desk because I was rarely at my desk today. However, I was eager to see it when I got home because of all the wonderful things I heard about the service via Twitter and from the people throughout the office. I was quite happy with what I saw. Everyone did an impeccable job honoring his memory through whatever medium they chose. I have to admit though, I got a bit glassy eyed when Stevie Wonder began to sing. My inner self was sobbing like a teased school girl while my outer shell remained strong. After all I’m a dude and we hide our emotions. Especially in front of our friends who proceed to call us emo off the strength of getting a little glassy eyed. It was my contacts Slim!
Seriously though, it was a great service. Possibly one of the best that I’ve ever seen for a celebrity. Slim and I actually wondered if there will ever be a memorial of that stature for any other celebrity within our lifetime. As you can tell, we all felt the service was amazing and there were a lot of different moments that affected each one of us. What parts of the service touched you and what were your thoughts overall?
Respectfully,
The Three Ways Crew
32 Responses to “Three Ways on the Michael Jackson Memorial”
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Little Paris speech brought me back to sitting front row at my own father’s homegoing….I cried like a newborn baby. RIP MJ!
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I watched it at work yesterday on the computer, in twinxt working….. The end of Brooke Sheild’s speech made me tear up, mainly bc I remember the song “Smile” from “MY GIRL” (movie) and it’s so sad….
I saw Paris when I got home bc they showed the memorial on the Preview Guide channel all day, and she choked me up.
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i watched/listened to the live stream from CNN yesterday at work, and there were several good moments for me. Usher and Stevie were both great. the little boy who sang Who’s Loving You–loved it!! but, i didn’t get teary eyed until the siblings and his children were on stage at the end. And little Paris…i had to close my door so know one would see me crying.
it really was a very beautiful, very touching memorial service. I loved that the service did a good job of showing us Michael the man, and not just Michael the entertainer.
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So… you guys said we could talk about anything we wanted right? No one is going to get mad at me?
…………….
DID ANYONE ELSE SEE JANET’S BEHIND IN THAT BLACK DRESS! JD Won!
we all saw the service, it was very touchy. The best ever, it was produced by the same people who do the grammy’s. I appreciate the family even having something like this for the public. They didn’t have to.
The Jacksons seem like a close and normal family, something they never get credit for. And Micheal’s kids seemed normal and well cared for. They have a high premium on NOT exposing them. Keeping them private, giving her the mic and than taking her off stage. It the type of love I HEARD Joe Jackson didn’t provide for them.
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Nicki Sunshine Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 9:50 am
I agree.
Did you hear JD and Janet broke up? (focus, Sunny, focus)
Anywho, I think the family seemed close knit also.. where was that fool Joe anyway?
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RightCoastLexSteele, 6 Figures and Rising Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 10:09 am
They did?! I’m back in the game!
I call her Ms. Jackson cuz I’m nasty.
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Nicki Sunshine Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 11:05 am
LOL. Yes, and right after he got a tattoo of her face on his SIDE???? (I read that BTW, so it may not be gospel)
Good luck to him finding a woman after that. lol
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Nyela Goodness Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 11:33 am
yea, it’s true. the tattoo it’s quite
disturbinginteresting:http://www.thelifefiles.com/jermaine-dupri-gets-a-new-tattoo-of-janet-jackson/
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Vanessa aka Miss V Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
was that really her behind?? wow…
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Still havent managed to see the whole thing, but from what I did I see, it was beautiful, the way a memorial should be, a celebration of someone’s life. I still want to watch the whole thing at some point.
My highlight however:
“Michael…you eat Kentucky Fried Chicken?!?!?! I lost my mind…that made my day, that was the greatest moment of my life!”
If Magic didnt tell us Michael ate KFC, I’d never have believed it. Real talk.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 9:40 am
I’m assuming you didn’t shed a tear either given our discourse on Gchat.lol.
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RightCoastLexSteele, 6 Figures and Rising Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am
No, not one. Not trying to be hard (pause…I think) but from the footage I watched, I embraced it more as a celebration than something to be sad about.
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Stevie did me in. Even though I can’t understand half of what he says (though I know the words), I was done. And OMG Ersha? Gone too soon? He sang as best as I ever heard him. Even Al Sharpton brought some fiya: “…wasn’t nothin strange about yo daddy.” It was just all around great and touching.
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I watched at my desk. Luckily my boss and big boss were both out on travel so I didn’t have to sneak or even close my office door.
I was touched by Stevie’s performance. Love me some Stevie. I looooved John Mayers rendition of Human Nature. I too, did not really cry or get real emo until Marlon spoke of his brother, and when Paris got up there Lord have mercy. I’m so sad for those children. I agree everything was tastefully done and I almost didn’t tune in because I didn’t want to witness a circus. I’m glad it was nothing of the sort….
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and1grad Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 10:11 am
I wasnt gonna tune in for that same reason but my cousin convinced me otherwise and I’m glad he did.
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I dont know about ya, but that benediction hit home “The King of Pop now must kneel before the King of Kings”. That sh!t right there was that piff and put things in perspective for me.
Jermaine is being charged for an attempted robbery b/c he tried to steal my thug but Lil Paris robbed me at gun point for my thug, and it the words of Luvvie “Is on the back of a milk carton”. No tears though, however, something did get caught in my eye.
I might have been the only person who is not 100% satisfied with the memorial, for 2 reasons.
1) Usher was faking. You aint know that man. Why you boo hooing.
2) I WANTED TO SEE SOMEONE DANCE GOT DAMMIT
The other MJ was hilarious and KFC’s stock skyrocketed.
Al Sharpton redeemed himself for his shortcomings with that sermon he gave us.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 10:20 am
KFC was a hit trending topic on Twitter yesterday as a result. I hope they ain’t been funding his “treatment” and paying him on the low to say that.
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Chocolate Vixen Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Usher did know Michael! They performed together on the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary special back in 2001, and they recently were on a song (“Stop Playing”) together. Thats only a piece of what we see. Thats his idol, and his performance was heartfelt and genuine.
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Peyso was blocked from 3 ways for 2 weeks Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 10:59 am
It looked phony to me, sorry
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Rev. Al preached yesterday.
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Vanessa aka Miss V Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
glad to know i wasn’t the only one that wanted to see someone do a MJ dance… when i said it, my co-workers thought i was crazy. i just wanted something to lighten the mood a little bit…
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Musician-wise, I enjoyed Stevie Wonder & Jennifer Hudson the most.
Speaker-wise, I loved Queen Latifah reading the Maya Angelou poem, Berry Gordy, and Al Sharpton.
Overall, I really think they did a great job of meeting the standard of excellence MJ would have wanted for his service.
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For me, the highlights were Jennifer Hudson’s performance (though I still feel some kinda way about all the interpretive dance going on behind her) and John Mayer’s performance (it reminded us of the power – and the beauty – of MJ’s music).
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The whole memorial service was beautiful. I do not think any other celebrity will receive this kind of treatment. There is no arguement that Michael Jackson is 1 of a kind, and just the Greatest of all Time! Its just so amazing how personal and intimate the service was. What an honor for Michael to have his songs, sang back to him. It just shows how classic and timeless he was. The love people had for this man is remarkable.
Besides Paris Jackson, innocent heartfelt words about her father, my hilight was Usher’s performance. You felt all his emotions. I liked how he wasnt scared to go down to coffin, and just sing to it. When he broke down, and the family came to him, that was such a sweet moment. I cried hysterically when he went over to Katherine Jackson and they both cried together.
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The service was absolutely AMAZING. There was so much love in that space, & it radiated through computer and television screens throughout the world too. I loved it all. Non-stop tears from the moment Smokey began reciting the letters – I couldn’t help it! I didn’t know MJ personally, but I knew his story well. I knew most everyone who spoke’s stories too, and their relationships with Michael – I’m so happy to have grown up in a home so reverent of this man! – so their pain and sorrows particularly touched me.
My favorite moment was when Jermaine sang MJs favorite song, perhaps followed by Stevie’s words… but really it’s hard for me to stop at that. The caliber of people invited to speak and perform, who reached out via letters too, was just incredible. The Kings, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee “we salute you, Michael”, Nelson Mandela & Maya Angelou… Barry Gordy’s remarks were beautiful, but Rev. Sharpton’s speech hit it out the park. It was also so fitting for Shaheen to sing ‘Who’s loving you,” my personal favorite MJ song, that MJ so masterfully tackled at only age 10. Haha, I posted the song on my facebook profile months ago raving about how perfect it is. Lastly, Paris brought it home; her daddy is gone. MJ may have touched the world, but he was the world to his children. May God bless them, give them strength, & bring them love for the rest of days.
I love MJ, and I am so so so thankful to have been able to live during the era, like Smokey said, that belonged to the King of Pop. MJ 4ever. Long live the King… who is finally at peace.
Yo, where was Diana Ross!?!?!?
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She was probably too distraught to even show up. I think her and Elizabeth Taylor have been contemplating for several days whether or not to jump off something high.
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i think the most emotional parts for me were when Usher performed, and when Paris spoke at the end. i was def fighting back tears since i was watching the memorial at work… it was a great memorial.
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my gangsta was compromised too many times during the memorial, but i stood firm. my eyes glassed over many times, but i didn’t cry.
the memorial was beautifully done. it amazed me how respectful everyone was. the silence was amazing.
the moments that compromised my gangsta were al sharpton’s sermon, when jermaine sang ’smile’ [because it's one of my favorite songs, and i JUST figured out how to listen to that song without crying 3 months ago], marlon’s speech and of course Paris. my goodness. when she called him ‘daddy,’ it definitely put things into perspective.
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Vanessa aka Miss V Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
i also got teary-eyed when marlon acknowledged his twin brother, Brandon, who died at birth… oh man!
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umm… i didn’t watch it… i really feel as though personal things such as homegoing services and the such aren’t public and i didn’t want to intrude on that. i too like everyone else loved MJ but janet said it best, “to me he was an icon, not family”.
personally i would rather embody MJ’s spirit and what he stood for in what i do in my daily life…
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Slim Jackson Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Interesting perspective. So did you just stay away from televisions for the whole afternoon and evening? There was really no escaping it.lol.
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ladebelle Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
pretty much… i watched law & order all day and tried not to curse people out…
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