At 7:55 a.m., an usher at the glass doors outside Staples Center in Los Angeles had a message for the thousands already gathering for the day's public memorial for Michael Jackson. "We are aware of your sorrow!" he announced in deep, affectionate tones. "We are aware of your pain! And we are aware of your joy!"
The man in the purple polo shirt then instructed ticket-holders how to line up, and that fans would have to leave their flowers and other "gifts" on a table outside the arena, all while insisting that "it is our pleasure, it is our privilege to welcome you ..." It was a moment of genuine warmth at an otherwise outsized international media event, and was maybe a better indication of what was to come than the chaotic days of planning that finally led to Tuesday's gathering.
Part funeral, part musical celebration, the two-hour Jackson tribute was a deeply emotional and public outpouring of grief, with rousing testimonials to the late singer and inspired musical performances from the likes of Stevie Wonder and Jennifer Hudson. It was also the year's hottest ticket. Though 17,500 tickets were distributed freely to fans by lottery, online prices were reportedly as high as $2,000, but fans outside the arena found scalpers selling for as low as $200 each.
The media encampment across the street was like the Oscars and a political convention combined, with satellite trucks and television cameras to the horizon. Updates were coming from virtually every direction and cell phone. Two hours before the ceremony began, word was that Jackson's body would not be interred at L.A.'s Forest Lawn Cemetery (where a private ceremony was held early in the morning) but transported to the arena, either by hearse or chopper. A man with a shaved head could be heard barking into the phone: "So he's not going to be buried?"
As most fans hovered by the main entrance, others gathered at the rear driveway to await the arrival of Jackson's hearse. When the wagon finally rolled slowly past, the golden casket covered in red roses was clearly visible through a window, and a few cheered, but most watched quietly. "That's amazing," said Christina Garcia, 28. "It's an honor to be here. It's definitely a sad day."
Others lined up near the entrance to sign the collection of large white Jackson banners, leaving thousands of scrawled messages of devotion to the singer: "Praise God for the gift of Michael Jackson," "RIP Michael — you were the greatest" and "Always believed in you." Another woman in black wept as a seven-foot floral arrangement in the shape of a heart was raised beside a bronze statue of former Lakers superstar (and Jackson friend) Earvin "Magic" Johnson. It read, "We love you, Michael" in red and white roses.
Once inside the arena, fans and mourners were handed free programs with pages of photographs and testimonials from Jackson's brothers and other friends. But this was a memorial, not a pop concert. Funeral wreaths lined up against the stage. The mood was often solemn.
Smokey Robinson began by reading statements from Diana Ross and Nelson Mandela, and the first of many fans fan shouted, "We love you, Michael!" But it was mostly silence and then a standing ovation as Jackson's family took their seats. The choir sang "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! ..." and the singer's golden casket was rolled out by his brothers acting as pallbearers, each of them wearing a single, sequined glove.
Mariah Carey was the first to perform, stepping out in a black, low-cut gown to begin a fragile "I'll Be There," the Jackson 5 hit, rising with passion as she was joined by Trey Lorenz. Pictures of the young Jackson 5 singer flashed on the big screen behind them.
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The man in the purple polo shirt then instructed ticket-holders how to line up, and that fans would have to leave their flowers and other "gifts" on a table outside the arena, all while insisting that "it is our pleasure, it is our privilege to welcome you ..." It was a moment of genuine warmth at an otherwise outsized international media event, and was maybe a better indication of what was to come than the chaotic days of planning that finally led to Tuesday's gathering.
Part funeral, part musical celebration, the two-hour Jackson tribute was a deeply emotional and public outpouring of grief, with rousing testimonials to the late singer and inspired musical performances from the likes of Stevie Wonder and Jennifer Hudson. It was also the year's hottest ticket. Though 17,500 tickets were distributed freely to fans by lottery, online prices were reportedly as high as $2,000, but fans outside the arena found scalpers selling for as low as $200 each.
The media encampment across the street was like the Oscars and a political convention combined, with satellite trucks and television cameras to the horizon. Updates were coming from virtually every direction and cell phone. Two hours before the ceremony began, word was that Jackson's body would not be interred at L.A.'s Forest Lawn Cemetery (where a private ceremony was held early in the morning) but transported to the arena, either by hearse or chopper. A man with a shaved head could be heard barking into the phone: "So he's not going to be buried?"
As most fans hovered by the main entrance, others gathered at the rear driveway to await the arrival of Jackson's hearse. When the wagon finally rolled slowly past, the golden casket covered in red roses was clearly visible through a window, and a few cheered, but most watched quietly. "That's amazing," said Christina Garcia, 28. "It's an honor to be here. It's definitely a sad day."
Others lined up near the entrance to sign the collection of large white Jackson banners, leaving thousands of scrawled messages of devotion to the singer: "Praise God for the gift of Michael Jackson," "RIP Michael — you were the greatest" and "Always believed in you." Another woman in black wept as a seven-foot floral arrangement in the shape of a heart was raised beside a bronze statue of former Lakers superstar (and Jackson friend) Earvin "Magic" Johnson. It read, "We love you, Michael" in red and white roses.
Once inside the arena, fans and mourners were handed free programs with pages of photographs and testimonials from Jackson's brothers and other friends. But this was a memorial, not a pop concert. Funeral wreaths lined up against the stage. The mood was often solemn.
Smokey Robinson began by reading statements from Diana Ross and Nelson Mandela, and the first of many fans fan shouted, "We love you, Michael!" But it was mostly silence and then a standing ovation as Jackson's family took their seats. The choir sang "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! ..." and the singer's golden casket was rolled out by his brothers acting as pallbearers, each of them wearing a single, sequined glove.
Mariah Carey was the first to perform, stepping out in a black, low-cut gown to begin a fragile "I'll Be There," the Jackson 5 hit, rising with passion as she was joined by Trey Lorenz. Pictures of the young Jackson 5 singer flashed on the big screen behind them.
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Once all alone
I was lost in a world of strangers
No one to trust
On my own, I was lonely
You suddenly appeared
It was cloudy before but now it's clear
You took away the fear
You brought me back to life
Chorus
You are the sun
You make me shine
Or more like the stars
That twinkle at night
You are the moon
That glows in my heart
You're my daytime my nighttime
My world
You're my life
Now I wake up everyday
With this smile upon my face
No more tears, no more pain
Cause you love me
You help me understand
That love is the answer to all that I am
And I'am a better man
You taught me by sharing your life
Chorus
You are the sun
You make me shine
Or more like the stars
That twinkle at night
You are the moon
That glows in my heart
You're my daytime my nighttime
My world
You're my life
You gave me strength
When I wasn't strong
You gave me hope when all hope is lost
You opened my eyes when I couldn'tt see
Love was always here waiting for me
I was lost in a world of strangers
No one to trust
On my own, I was lonely
You suddenly appeared
It was cloudy before but now it's clear
You took away the fear
You brought me back to life
Chorus
You are the sun
You make me shine
Or more like the stars
That twinkle at night
You are the moon
That glows in my heart
You're my daytime my nighttime
My world
You're my life
Now I wake up everyday
With this smile upon my face
No more tears, no more pain
Cause you love me
You help me understand
That love is the answer to all that I am
And I'am a better man
You taught me by sharing your life
Chorus
You are the sun
You make me shine
Or more like the stars
That twinkle at night
You are the moon
That glows in my heart
You're my daytime my nighttime
My world
You're my life
You gave me strength
When I wasn't strong
You gave me hope when all hope is lost
You opened my eyes when I couldn'tt see
Love was always here waiting for me
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you'll just...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just...
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile...
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you'll just...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just...
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile...
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile
Sung to our hearts
Removed evil from our worlds with your sweet loving nature.
But behind your smile was both happiness and pain.
You carried the pain,
While we, oblivious, stole the happiness.
A ray of sunshine and in a class of your own.
This world ever trying to destroy your light, not worthy of any part of your life.
Yet you never saw it that way and gave us everything till nothing was left.
How could we have placed hatred on someone completely incapable of it.
In heaven now, you have been set free to live eternally where you belong. No pain will reach you up there, of that I’m sure.
You entered this world loved, left loved, and forever will be loved - what happened in between is unforgivable on our part but I pray that home at last it can be dealt with.
- you said you saw the face of God in children, we saw it in you.
R.I.P Michael.
king of pop.
x
god bless you and your memeories will be in your heart
we will miss you a lot.
we hav a good person ,father and a perfomer
god bless his family and fans
we will misss him a lot
from sanjay. ....................................
god bless him iwyth his voice....................
we will miss you a lot .............................
we will miss you a lot .........................
we will miss you a lot
we will miss you a lot .............................
wwe will miss you a lot
we will miss you a lot
we will miss you a lot
will miwe will miss you a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will miss you a lot.
we hav a good person ,father and a perfomer
god bless his family and fans
we will misss him a lot
from sanjay. ....................................
god bless him iwyth his voice....................
we will miss you a lot .............................
we will miss you a lot .........................
we will miss you a lot
we will miss you a lot .............................
wwe will miss you a lot
we will miss you a lot
we will miss you a lot
will miwe will miss you a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot