MERGE: Are you watching? (Jackson Memorial)

[kodacolor]

I have a question.

Where's Jermaine Dupri?

Just curious... I just realized I haven't seen him in any of this.

He was probably mixed in with the kids somewhere and accidently got escorted off stage with them. 

j/k  Maybe he's that type of dude who doesn't like funerals.

[MissMusic04]

He was probably mixed in with the kids somewhere and accidently got escorted off stage with them. 

[baggettcindy]

She must be a prophetess or somethin...she's been "grievin" before his death...

LOL...LOL...LOL...LOL...LOL

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

MY OVERALL ANALYSIS:

1) "Soon and Very Soon".....PERFECT BEGINNING.  I stood up and clapped like I was in church.

2) Mariah...they should take back every grammy and preserve what little voice she has left in a glass case and donate it to science.  Ugh!

3) Queen Latifah....I have always admired her, but today I loved her.  She presents well no matter what the climate...grand or gangsta...she can do it.  That black dress was kinda nice fitting too....but I digress.

4) Marlon Jackson..........actually believes in the real Jesus.......whoa........I needed resucitation at that moment.


5) The little girl.  Even if the speech was planned, rehearsed, etc., it was heart felt and I BALLED!

6) Janet.................WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You left off #7.  You were up there singing "We Are The World."  I saw you man.

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

Is that Herman Dickey up there singing?

I asked it when they were singing then.

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

I have a question.

Where's Jermaine Dupri?

Just curious... I just realized I haven't seen him in any of this.

Word is they've broken up.  But he could also just be laying back in the cut letting Janet have time with her family.  You really haven't see anyone's spouses, S/O, or kids outside of MJ's during this whole time.

That was a good one Koda. 

[chevonee]

What?  Other cultures don't have the eatation after the funeral?  (that's what we used to call it when we were kids, because we didn't know what the word for it was, and "reception" didn't seem quite right, lol.)

eatation...ROFL

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

I remember when a bunch of us got together after burying our Asst. Band director from college.  We went and had all-you-can-eat catfish. 

"Mainstream" America just doesn't understand how we get down after a funeral.  Can't you see Janet coming out of there with a Chinet plate wrapped in foil with a small saucer on top with some strawberry cake and a red Dixie cup?

[COGIC4REAL]

Wasn't that Mr. Dupri in the brownish-colored suit on the front row by Janet nar the end of the service?  Kinda bald?  I think it was.

BFBT...that was not me.  I was in the breakroom at work BALLING!!!!  I broke own like I was having a Baptist fit.

I held up well until Marlon spoke and acknowledged JESUS.  Then, to see Andrae and Sandra Crouch on stage.....too much!

Paris' tribute didn't move me because Marlon said "Janet" was going to speak...and then the Paris moment (which appeared somewhat scripted IMHO) happened.  On the flip side, I think all kids squeeze their eyes that tight when they cry.  And what child wouldn't LOVE having Mj as their dad....so I could be wrong.

[COGIC4REAL]

"Don't focus on the scar; focus on the journey ... Michael out-sang his sentence; he out-danced his doubters; he out-performed the pessimists....it was strange what he had to deal with, but he dealt with it anyway....he dealt with it for us"

- Rev. Al Sharpton

[Fenix]

I watched the memorial service twice. I didn't know that i would be so sad. I actually almost cried at certain points. The man burned bright when he was alive and brighter when he died. It was an amazing sight to behold. The same media that mocked and ridiculed him turned around to praise and honor him. 

The times that really got tears comin down my eyes were:

1) Usher touching the casket.
2) John Mayer playing his song on guitar (can't remember the name).
3) Stevie Wonder's song
4) Marlon jackson's speech.
5) Kathy (?) his daughter's speech. This one really got me tore up!!!!
6) Lionel Richie singing.

I have to say thought that i suspect this will bring many people to Christ, especially the stars. I have never seen so many expressions of God's love and the love of Christ and such being said at a secular funeral. It was amazing to see God talked about so much.

Best quote:

"Wasn't nothin' strange about your daddy, what was strange was what he went through."- Rev Al Sharpton.
Awesome stuff!

[Incognegro]

The times that really got tears comin down my eyes were:

1) Usher touching the casket.
2) John Mayer playing his song on guitar (can't remember the name).
3) Stevie Wonder's song
4) Marlon jackson's speech.
5) Kathy (?) his daughter's speech. This one really got me tore up!!!!
6) Lionel Richie singing.

Good God man!  You cried six times?!?!

Do you mean Paris?

[LaylaMonroe]

Good stuff, Fen.

My "highlights" (or most poignant moments) are:

1. Stevie Wonder's tribute
2. Queen Latifah's tribute
3. Usher's breakdown
4. DEFINITELY BROOKE SHIELDS - ugh... that was just heartbreaking.  
5. Jermaine Jackson's rendition of "Smile" - another heartbreaker and probably my #1 moment, were this list in order
6. Marlon Jackson's remarks - #2 moment
7. Paris Jackson's remarks
8. Al Sharpton... man, say what you want about dude, but he turned that funeral OUT!!!  If dude never takes a mic again, he tore that one UP!
9. The pastor (Lucious Smith??) who did the benediction.

Moments I could've done without:
1. Mariah Carey
2. Mariah Carey
3. Mariah Carey
4. The London Tour Group singing "We Are the World"
5. J-Hud's "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah" during "Will You Be There" (loved the song, love J-Hud, loved her performance... just could've done without the "yeah")

[Incognegro]

Moments I could've done without:
1. Mariah Carey
2. Mariah Carey
3. Mariah Carey

 

Yea, that was absolutely terrible. 

Riddle me this: How do you go from being a world-class singer to sounding like an American Idol reject?

[MissMusic04]

2) John Mayer playing his song on guitar (can't remember the name).

"Wasn't nothin' strange about your daddy, what was strange was what he went through."- Rev Al Sharpton.
Awesome stuff!

John Mayer played Human Nature. I was speechless!


I agree on the quote.

[MissMusic04]

Good stuff, Fen.



Moments I could've done without:
1. Mariah Carey
2. Mariah Carey
3. Mariah Carey

I was soooo upset. Everytime they replayed her, I was like  . And dude that came out with her( IDK who he is) made it 10x's worse. UGH!

[nessalynn77]

Wasn't that Mr. Dupri in the brownish-colored suit on the front row by Janet nar the end of the service?  Kinda bald?  I think it was.

BFBT...that was not me.  I was in the breakroom at work BALLING!!!!  I broke own like I was having a Baptist fit.

I held up well until Marlon spoke and acknowledged JESUS.  Then, to see Andrae and Sandra Crouch on stage.....too much!

Paris' tribute didn't move me because Marlon said "Janet" was going to speak...and then the Paris moment (which appeared somewhat scripted IMHO) happened.  On the flip side, I think all kids squeeze their eyes that tight when they cry.  And what child wouldn't LOVE having Mj as their dad....so I could be wrong.

Didn't look scripted at all to me.  The girl was just saying what she felt.  I felt her pain.  And if Janet was supposed to talk, then it couldn't have been scripted, as she wouldn't know she was going to say anything.

[nessalynn77]

Good God man!  You cried six times?!?!

Do you mean Paris?

Middle name: Katherine

[nessalynn77]

Yea, that was absolutely terrible. 

Riddle me this: How do you go from being a world-class singer to sounding like an American Idol reject?

My first lady, who loves to give everybody the benefit of the doubt plus a little more, says that Mariah has battled some problem with her vocal chords.  If that's the case, I feel bad that everybody is heckling her and she tried her best to do it for MJ.

[nessalynn77]

I was soooo upset. Everytime they replayed her, I was like  . And dude that came out with her( IDK who he is) made it 10x's worse. UGH!

She and Trey Lorenz did that song a while ago, I think it's on her Unplugged album, and it was actually quite good.  I think they were going for that when they asked the two of them to perform it again.