MJ's memorial
- Thread starter JennieR
- Start date
LauraMax
Cathlete
I didn't watch a second of it. I think he was talented, I think his death was sad, but I never met the man, never really listened to his music (except the Jackson 5, which I do like), he had no effect whatsoever on my life, & I feel like I've been on MJ overload during the last week even trying to avoid it. The death of a music icon turned into a circus sideshow (edit: I'm not referring to the memorial since I didn't see it, I'm referring to the media storm surrounding it).
I'm thoroughly disgusted at the fact that the city & his fans had to pay for it, even though the city begged his family to contribute. They refused to donate to their brother's memorial, but they still attended. WTF???????
Farrah had much more impact on my life & she's been completely overshadowed. I'm glad for her family so they can mourn in peace, & I was happy to see a few retrospectives on non-mainstream channels over the last week, but she showed more courage & strenght than MJ was even capable of comprehending, & I'm sorry that's been missed by the world b/c of the MJ circus.
kathryn
Cathlete
That one is on a DVD I just got of his videos, and it is very telling and very touching.
As to the memorial service: I was thinking that they would wheel in a coffin with a glass top and tilt it up so everyone could see MJ. Glad it was more subdued than that (and Janet was very conservatively dressed, which I'm not used to seeing from her).
Paris' memorial to her father was tearjerker.
kathryn
Cathlete
ITA.
Once is enough.
It's especially annoying when some stations show the clip, with a blub about "Michael Jackson's daughter breaks down while talking about her father" or something to that effect scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
Did anyone notice one speaker (I can't remember who it was right now) who mentioned Michael's children and said that they have a loving grandmother to look after them, and uncles and aunts, and cousins to play with. I notice grandfather (Michael's father, Joseph) wasn't mentioned. Intentional omission?
morningstar
Cathlete
His kids have been visible for the first time for one whole day, and they are already under attack from the media and the public: they aren't grieving, they're faking grieving, they looked bored, etc. Who's going to protect them now that the man that made it possible in impossible circumstances for them to keep their privacy is gone?
carres1973
Cathlete
There is no doubt Beavs that something wasn't kosher with MJ. After watching the Jackson made-for-tv movie and several documentaries on their childhood, I think they are "shining" examples of what growing up with a controlling, abusive parent can do to you. Brings to mind Govtgirl's thread about staying together for the children. Would they all have turned out better (and would MJ still be alive) if Katherine had divorced Joe when they were kids?
Carrie
carres1973
Cathlete
Kathryn - I did notice that. I also didn't really see him on the stage. If he was there, he was pushed to the side. Maybe Katherine (MJ's mother) FINALLY wised up? Especially after that tacky mention of his record label at the BET awards!
Carrie
carres1973
Cathlete
morningstar - I keep hoping beyond hope that the American media takes a lesson from the British media. After Princess Di's death, they were asked by the royal family to leave the Princes alone until they became adults. The media complied. I SOOO wish our media would be responsible and considerate...and pigs might fly too
!Carrie
Thanks, JennieR,
For bringing that song, Childhood, to our attention. I watched it just now on Youtube - very telling & touching.
For bringing that song, Childhood, to our attention. I watched it just now on Youtube - very telling & touching.
Beavs
Cathlete
morningstar - I keep hoping beyond hope that the American media takes a lesson from the British media. After Princess Di's death, they were asked by the royal family to leave the Princes alone until they became adults. The media complied. I SOOO wish our media would be responsible and considerate...and pigs might fly too
Carrie
The media hardly made mention on the passing of Robert S. McNamara. Granted, he didn't die an untimely death and he didn't sport a white sequined glove but his impact as a former Secretary of Defense is undeniable. We are an ignorant nation enamored with celebrities to our own peril. Now the poor Jackson children will have to hide from the camera. I'd think being called "Blanket" would be hard enough to bear.
carres1973
Cathlete
Ain't that the truth! His impact changed an entire generations view of the military, the media coverage of war, etc. Why are we so obsessed with Hollywood? I have heard mention that Hollywood is America's version of "royalty." If so, YIKES!!
Carrie
Carrie
Jennifit
Cathlete
I thought the memorial was really very nice.
DH and I were wondering if the casket was real gold
It was 14K gold plated!!
idream
Cathlete
Morningstar, you are right 100% right. I totally understood why MJ has kept his children hidden from the world. BUT in doing so, he has now created the frenzy of interest in his kids. That was one of the few times in their short lives that they have been centre stage and unmasked. Human nature is to be curious.
We are now going through the "whos the father" crap. WHO cares who the father is! (Lets hope the father isn't the dermatologist!!!LOL)They are MJ's children one way or the other. These kids are JACKSON's. The media will not leave these kids alone. The difference between Dianas children and MJs children is that, Dianas kids had been in the spotlight, and family photo graphs had often been released so "we" the world, had seen them. Mj's kids, have been masked their whole lives. This frenzied interest in his children is MJ's own fault.
We are now going through the "whos the father" crap. WHO cares who the father is! (Lets hope the father isn't the dermatologist!!!LOL)They are MJ's children one way or the other. These kids are JACKSON's. The media will not leave these kids alone. The difference between Dianas children and MJs children is that, Dianas kids had been in the spotlight, and family photo graphs had often been released so "we" the world, had seen them. Mj's kids, have been masked their whole lives. This frenzied interest in his children is MJ's own fault.
janie1234
Cathlete
Carrie I wonder the same thing. My DH works at a very nice hotel I won't say where but last weekend he had a famous pop star staying at the hotel who was so smashed drunk behavining like a idiot that the police were almost called. The way he described it, . . it was like something out of a Jerry Springer show. I also can't understand for the life of me why America is so obsessed with Hollywood Celebrities??
jacqued
Cathlete
I watched the whole thing yesterday and thought it was very well done. I held back the tears until his daughter spoke. I don't think that was staged and I feel she spoke from her heart. Say what you want about MJ or his family but I think they are genuine in their grieving. I think the eulogies by Magic Johnson and Brooke Shields helped people to see the human side of MJ.
pepnchar
Cathlete
I cried during the whole memorial... even though I agreed he was creepy and I would have never let my child near him... Still, he was a brother and a son and a father and I felt the family's genuine grief as they spoke. I felt Mariah's and Usher's genuine pain as they sang. Never mind that he was a celebrity and all that entails, he was a troubled man who probably didn't have to die so soon. I feel very sorry for his children that are left behind to deal with the aftermath. His death made me remember the earlier days of my own childhood (when Thriller was the biggest thing since whatever), and I remember how his music made me want to dance -- I probably went into the fitness industry in part because of his music -- who doesn't like to work out to Billie Jean or Beat It?
You can like him or dislike him. But he's gone now and all we can do now is move on. Hopefully all the TV networks will realize this as well and move on to the next news story -- like Paris Hilton got a new dog or something lame like that...
You can like him or dislike him. But he's gone now and all we can do now is move on. Hopefully all the TV networks will realize this as well and move on to the next news story -- like Paris Hilton got a new dog or something lame like that...
kathryn
Cathlete
And chewing gum can be a way to relieve stress.
Also, the kids had already grieved perhaps at the wake the day before, and the cemetary service that morning.
kathryn
Cathlete
I hear you.
I caught another news show where they were discussing whether Paris should have spoken, and some of the opinions were that it was exploitative (and their rehashing the event, and reshowing the clip ad infinitum, and talking about it is NOT exploitative?)
I just wonder how many scandal mags are going to have (or already have?) Paris' photo on page one?