Like most of you, my main focus was on the performances. I took my bathroom breaks during most of the speeches but I did happen to catch Brooke Shields’ mostly touching, long winded "had to have been there" MJ memories. I knew Mike took Brooke and Emanuel Lewis to the Grammy's but I figured I'd see Elizebeth Taylor on stage before Brooke Shields. I mean "Perched in the crescent moon", Brooke?

 

I can honestly say I had to fight back tears more than once. Mariah Carey was the worst, Jennifer Hudson and John Mayer were cool. And I took a lunch on the kid from UK's "Who's Got Talent" although everyone seems to love that one the best! But there are some that stand above the rest. In particular Stevie's performance of "I'd Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer/They Won't Go When I Go". Whether you're a Stevie fan or not, acknowledge that a small number of songwriters are allowed to perform at Michael Jackson's, an even smaller number of those can sing they're own songs.

Stevie Wonder evoked tears from Janet Jackson in the 1993 film Poetic Justice

Usher's performance of "Gone Too Soon" brought the waterworks when he laid his hand on the casket and then bursting into tears himself.

 Peep MJ via '92 singing the same song. Performing a slow song with intense/static movement. AMAZING! 

Jermaine Jackson's version of Charlie Chapman's "Smile" takes the win for best performance of this black morning. New comer Janelle Monae actually makes "Smile" apart of her own stage performance and just so happens to be one of the greater performers of this generation (word to diddy).

That would've been cool to see.

 

Certain people make the Missing In Action List:

Justin Timberlake (Out of all MJ emulators, he’s the one I would think gets stage time at the memorial)

Diana Ross (one of his long time friends, should’ve had some mic time)

Quincy Jones (created MJ’s biggest record...the biggest record)

Macaulay Culkin (Corey Feldman was there, where’s macully at?)

Prince (I wonder if Prince is still maintaining the rivalry between Mike and him from the 80’s. I would be happy with John Mayer sitting this one out to let Prince play the guitar.)

 

Expectations for the king of pop's home going were pretty high; Overwhelming numbers of mourning fans, top tier performances, and compelling speeches from the best orators and words from his friends and family. But for me, it just had to be better than the BET awards.

 

 

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