LOS ANGELES — In the end, they brought Michael Jackson to the one place where his life always made sense — beneath a spotlight and in front of his adoring fans. In a gleaming gold coffin, the superstar was celebrated in a memorial at the Staples Center arena that was beamed around the world and, like the icon himself, strived mightily to be all things to all people.
With family, celebrity peers, politicians, preachers and even professional athletes taking turns at the microphone, the polished but emotional service was meant both as a farewell and as deeply sympathetic framing of the star’s complicated legacy.
The Rev. Al Sharpton brought the crowd of 17,000 to its feet by drawing a direct cultural line between Jackson’s incandescent 1980s pop success and the 2008 election of President Barack Obama.
“Those young kids,” Sharpton said of Jackson’s massive crossover audience, “grew up from being teenage comfortable fans of Michael’s to being 40 years old and being comfortable to vote for a person of color to be the president of the United States of America.”
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, praised Jackson as “a uniquely American hero,” and music veteran Smokey Robinson judged him to be, simply, “the greatest performer of all time.”
Sharpton and several other speakers alluded to media persecution of Jackson, who died June 25 at age 50. But one speaker who had known Jackson for more than four decades suggested that the reality is not that tidy.
“Sure, there were some sad times and maybe some questionable decisions on his part, but Michael Jackson accomplished everything he ever dreamed of,” said Berry Gordy Jr., the Motown Records founder who signed Jackson to his first record deal after an audition in the summer of 1968.
There were many memorable images Tuesday, but in the years to come, the signature moment may have been the public debut of Jackson’s 11-year-old daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. Protected and, literally, veiled for much of her life, the youngster said through tears: “Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him — so much.”
Sharing a bucket of chicken
The ceremony was by turns somber, evangelical, thunderous and hushed. There was humor, as well. Former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson recounted how his nervous first visit to Jackson’s mansion ended with the pair sitting on the floor and feasting on Kentucky Fried Chicken; childhood friend Brooke Shields, an especially moving speaker, told how she used to tease Jackson about his most famous fashion choice.
“I’d tease him about the glove,” Shields said, referring to the solitary silver glove that became Jackson’s trademark. ” ‘What’s up with the glove?’ and ‘If you’re gonna hold my hand, it better be the non-gloved one because the sequins hurt.’ ”
Audience members danced along with some musical performances and stifled tears at the many tributes.
The memorial, a mix of measured grief and show-biz spectacle, was watched across the globe.
As an event, it was a surprisingly smooth affair; there was a half-hour delay to the scheduled start time, but the predicted crush of crowds outside the arena never materialized, which Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton credited to “a steady drumbeat of media coverage in recent days” telling non-ticketed fans they wouldn’t be permitted near the downtown venue.
The fans who did get tickets, via an Internet lottery, were among 1.6 million who sought entry.
The event was orchestrated by Ken Erhlich, longtime producer of the Grammy Awards telecast, and other key figures. The event that seemed so smooth and precise to television viewers was more chaotic up close.
Erhlich made a number of major decisions on the fly, such as asking Robinson to open the service by reading letters from Jackson’s close friend, singer Diana Ross, and former South African leader Nelson Mandela.
“I think this might work,” Erhlich said, rushing to hand the letters to the surprised singer, who then calmly climbed the steps to the stage, looked in the camera and greeted the world. Erhlich also ended the show by veering off script; he chopped off the closing benediction, opting instead for the more climatic performance of “Heal the World” performed by a stage crowded by stars and family.
Jackson’s casket had been transported from Forest Lawn cemetery, where his body was embalmed, in a lengthy motorcade on freeways cleared of traffic by police. It then was carried into the Staples Center spotlight by his brothers — Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy — who each wore a sequined glove. Janet Jackson, the second-most-famous member of the family, left her seat and reached toward the procession, but instead of touching the casket she reached for her living brothers, giving each of them a reassuring grip on the arm.
Reluctant to have casket there
Janet Jackson did not perform as many expected, but Jermaine Jackson did a rendition of a “Smile,” the bittersweet song of encouragement co-written by Charlie Chaplin for his 1936 film “Modern Times.” It was Michael Jackson’s favorite song, Shields told the crowd, and the emotion-choked performance by his older brother added to the poignancy of the lyrics.
Other performances included Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz performing “I’ll Be There,” the Jackson 5 classic that also was a hit for Carey in 1992, and Stevie Wonder — a performer who could certainly understand Jackson’s struggle to handle a show-biz childhood — giving an emotion-charged version of his own 1971 composition “Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer.”
Some performers sang to the audience, others to the casket. Some of the producers were reluctant at first to have the casket present.
“The family said to us that Michael was going to be there,” Erhlich said. “At first, I kind of gulped, but I went back to, ‘If this was a Baptist service, the casket would be there.’ And it made a difference. They were singing right over the casket of Michael Jackson. I know what that did to Mariah. I know what that did to Usher. I know what that did to John Mayer.”
Erhlich said the pacing of the service mirrored black church services: uplifting musical numbers followed by emotional speeches followed by brief pauses.
Two key figures in Jackson’s life saga, actress Elizabeth Taylor and singer Ross, did not attend. Both released statements saying they were not ready to grieve in public. The singer’s two former wives, Lisa-Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe, also did not attend.
Quotes
“There wasn’t nothing strange about your daddy. But it was strange what he had to deal with. But he dealt with it anyway. He dealt with it for us. Some came here today to say goodbye. I came here to say ‘Thank you.’ ”
The Rev. Al Sharpton, to Jackson’s children
“Michael, when you left us, a part of me went with you. . . . I will treasure the good times, singing, dancing, laughing. . . . We will never understand what he endured . . . being judged, ridiculed. How much pain can one take? Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone.”
Marlon Jackson
“Michael always knew he could count on me to support him or be his date. . . . We had a bond, and maybe it was because we both understood what it was like to be in the spotlight from a very, very young age. . . . Both of us needed to be adults very early, but when we were together, we were two little kids having fun. … M.J.’s laugh was the sweetest and purest of anyone I’ve known.”
Brooke Shields
“When he did his iconic moonwalk, I was shocked. It was magic. Michael Jackson went into orbit and never came down. Though it ended way too soon, Michael’s life was beautiful.”
Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records
“Michael was a personal love of mine. A treasured part of my world.”
Smokey Robinson, reading a note from longtime Jackson friend Diana Ross
“They’re holding up well in part because they’re a strong family . . . a big family, religiously devout family. Therefore, they have a sense of insulation of their faith.”
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, on how Michael Jackson’s family is coping
“Since Michael died, there hasn’t been a gunshot fired or anything. It’s been amazing, everyone coming together and singing his songs every night.”
Beverly Harrison, resident of Jackson’s childhood neighborhood in Gary, Ind.
“I knew it was going to be a sad day; I needed it, absolutely, and so did everyone else around me. It was truly a celebration.”
Teresa Kirkley, 48, leaving the service with her daughter, Christian Jenks, 20, and a box of Kleenex
“We’re not here to say goodbye. I don’t even want to say goodbye. I never can say goodbye.”
Paola Calvo, 28, of Madrid, at Forest Lawn cemetery
