Here is the Michael Jackson Memorial Service video, photos; full video from July 7, 2009 and pictures. The MJ Memorial service took place at Staples Center in Los Angeles before an audience of 17,000, and was broadcast worldwide.
Rev. Lucious Smith opened and closed the ceremony. “He is never really gone at all,” he said at the beginning of the ceremony. Berry Gordy, Motown founder who first discovered the Jackson 5 declared Michael Jackson “the greatest entertainer who ever lived” as he concluded his recollections of meeting the music legend and his brothers.
Mariah Carey sang Jackson 5 hit “I’ll Be There” with Trey Lorenz who recorded with her the cover version in 1992. Lionel Richie performed the Commodores song “Jesus is Love.”
Stevie Wonder performed a very emotional rendition of his 1971 song, “I Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer” along with “They Won’t Go When I Go.” Jennifer Hudson performs “Will You Be There” with backup singers and an audio track of Michael Jackson’s voice. Guitarist John Mayer performed a stirring rendition of Human Nature.
An emotional Brooke Shields recollected memories of her friendship with Michael Jackson and introduced the song his brother would sing Smile, the Charlie Chaplin song which was Jackson’s favorite, and a cover version appears on his HISTory album. Jermain Jackson delivered an emotionally touching rendition of the song.
Al Sharpton delivered a powerhouse speech reminding people of the achievements of Michael Jackson: “Michael brought blacks, whites, Asians and Latinos together”.. He went on to address Jackson’s children directly, saying: “I want his children to know there was nothing strange about your daddy, it was strange what your daddy had to deal with’.
Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, children of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr delivered speeches as well. Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant both shared recollections, with Johnson telling an amusing story involving his surprise at Jackson’s fondness for KFC chicken.
Also performing, the 12-year old Shaheen Jafargholi, from Swansea, Wales, a finalist from the “Britain’s Got Talent” whose rendition of the Jackson 5 hit, Who’s Loving You drew international notoriety, and, according to Kenny Ortega, speaking at the memorial service an invitation from Michael Jackson himself to perform with him at what would have been his This Is It 50-concert residency at O2 Arena in London.
Usher performs the Michael Jackson song, originally written for Ryan White, who died of AIDS in the 1990s. “Gone Too Soon” breaking down in tears near the end, as he stood next to Michael Jackson’s casket.
At the end, in a surprising move, Michael JAckson’s daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson spoke. The eleven-year old, fighting back tears just long enough to say: “Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine, and I just want to say I love him so much.”
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(source:-www.shallownation.com)
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