Saying Goodbye to Michael Jackson
By kenya on Jul 8, 2009 in Entertainment
It was a memorial service but many had billed it as a tribute concert. I honestly did not know what to expect and I hadn’t planned on watching it. I had decided not to watch any of the coverage because of the media circuses the deaths of Princess Diana and Anna Nicole Smith turned out to be. I saw folks on Twitter talking about the service so I decided to tune in.
The service opened with a choir singing “Soon and Very Soon” (We are going to see the King). Upon hearing the choir I knew this was a serious affair. Above the choir stained glass windows were projected on the screen. The whole scene reminded me of going to church with my grandmother. Many on Twitter commented on how they could turn the Staples Center into a church overnight. That they did.
It was when I saw the casket being rolled out by Jackson’s brothers that I realized that this was the actual memorial service. I couldn’t believe it. People got up to share their experiences with Michael Jackson while others sang songs in tribute to him. It was beautiful. I don’t believe I’ve ever watched a memorial service on TV before but this one was a normal old-fashioned church homegoing service, despite gold plated casket, the star studded guests and the sheer number of other guests attending.
Though watching it on TV, I felt like I was there in that it evoked various emotions in me that I have felt at funerals of family members. I was looking at the brothers and sisters that I had not seen in years (probably 20) thinking of them like family. I grew up with them (on my TV). Back in the 80s all of the Jackson children were on my TV though most are completely out of the public spotlight these days. I was pleased that none of the family members or other guests made it all about them as Joe Jackson has been doing during the past two weeks.
With this memorial service, we got to see Michael Jackson as human. I’m glad about that. It was very refreshing and cathartic. I made it through the entire service without a tear but when Jackson’s daughter spoke about her father I just about lost it. Most of the service focused on his accomplishments but her words were the biggest tribute to Michael Jackson as a human being.
R.I.P. Michael Jackson
“Maybe now they will leave you alone.” -Marlon Jackson
Photo credit: donielle and LadyDucayne
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