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By OLU ALEMORU, Staff Writer
http://www.wavenewspapers.com/news/local/west-edition/80386212.html
Story Published: Jan 3, 2010 at 1:50 PM PST
Story Updated: Jan 3, 2010 at 1:50 PM PST
The death of Michael Jackson, shown here in his final rehearsal before his death June 25, unified masses who could not deny the genius of his art.
In ways that can only be understood by those with full access to the 24-hour news cycle that it overtook for weeks — in 2009, that is virtually all of us — the June 25 death of Michael Jackson at age 50 paralyzed the world on its axis.
The facts that have emerged since then — that a lethal cocktail of high-powered prescription drugs (widely believed to have been requested by Jackson himself) were the cause of his death, which has been deemed a homicide that remains under investigation — have been relegated to the margins. In the time immediately following Jackson’s passing, those sad and unsettling realities were overshadowed by an uncontrollable global outpouring of grief for the King of Pop, whose mega-star wattage, inimitable artistry and personal controversies have been woven deeply into the fabric of our lives.
While the shock and disbelief have subsided over time, as one of the privileged 11,000 people who packed Staples Center for his July 7 memorial service — a live telecast viewed by an estimated 750 million to 1 billion people around the globe — I can lay claim to a front-row seat to one of the most surreal moments of my lifetime. With vivid memories of attending a brilliant live show in London on Jackson’s 1987 Bad Tour still fresh in my mind, I never could have predicted that I would be entering his memorial 22 years later.
Ticket in hand, the momentous day began very early, as my editors and I took heed of what authorities anticipated could have been tens of thousands of ticketless Jackson fans descending on the streets surrounding the arena, in hopes of achieving any level of physical proximity — however minimal — to the solemn proceedings. As it turned out, the crowds were substantial but the masses predicted never materialized. With so many officers on the scene, it seemed as if every attendee was assigned his or her own personal Los Angeles Police escort.
Arriving at the designated checkpoint near 8 a.m., there was a manageable 30-minute wait before the line snaked to the entrance. There, we were handed the prized, gold-covered programs. The cover of the collector’s item features a smiling Jackson with his arms spread outward, dressed in black slacks and deep blue shirt reminiscent of his wardrobe in the video for “The Way You Make Me Feel.” On four separate lines above the image were these words: “Michael Jackson/King of Pop/A Celebration of the Life of Michael Jackson/1958-2009.”
The top of the back cover features a black-and-white photo of Jackson and his brothers winning first place at the annual talent search at Gilroy Stadium in Gary, Ind., circa 1964. Beneath that, a photo of Jackson on stage in a signature dance pose.
In brief conversations with others in line, their simple explanations for wanting to attend made clear what Jackson’s legacy meant to the world.
“I ditched school to come here today,” said 21-year-old Erikka Morris, of Pasadena. She was there with a friend, Alex Cuardos, 29, of Glendale, who had applied online for the tickets with several co-workers at a bank. “This was a lifetime opportunity,” he said.
Feeling almost guilty for the frisson of excitement felt as I entered the arena, it was 10 minutes before I could take my seat. Stage right, middle section, halfway up.
After some delays to the expected 10 a.m. start time, 25 minutes later came the most poignant moment, as Jackson’s golden casket was escorted to a place of honor by his surviving brothers, each fittingly adorned in matching black suits accessorized by a single, white sequined glove. The brothers then took their seats in front of the casket, joining others in their large family: mother Kathleen; father Joseph; sisters Janet and La Toya; and Michael’s children, Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II.
For all the touching performances by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and John Mayer, and heartfelt tributes from fellow Motown icons Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, one lasting moment remains. It was reading sister La Toya’s message to her departed sibling, on the second page of the program. In it, she recalls how Michael cried to her after winning only a single award at the 1980 Grammys.
“You said, ‘Watch La Toya, my next record I’m going to sell more records and win more Grammys than anyone in the history of music … I will be the biggest and the greatest entertainer of all time.’”
He certainly kept his word.
http://www.wavenewspapers.com/news/local/west-edition/80386212.html
Story Published: Jan 3, 2010 at 1:50 PM PST
Story Updated: Jan 3, 2010 at 1:50 PM PST
The death of Michael Jackson, shown here in his final rehearsal before his death June 25, unified masses who could not deny the genius of his art.
In ways that can only be understood by those with full access to the 24-hour news cycle that it overtook for weeks — in 2009, that is virtually all of us — the June 25 death of Michael Jackson at age 50 paralyzed the world on its axis.
The facts that have emerged since then — that a lethal cocktail of high-powered prescription drugs (widely believed to have been requested by Jackson himself) were the cause of his death, which has been deemed a homicide that remains under investigation — have been relegated to the margins. In the time immediately following Jackson’s passing, those sad and unsettling realities were overshadowed by an uncontrollable global outpouring of grief for the King of Pop, whose mega-star wattage, inimitable artistry and personal controversies have been woven deeply into the fabric of our lives.
While the shock and disbelief have subsided over time, as one of the privileged 11,000 people who packed Staples Center for his July 7 memorial service — a live telecast viewed by an estimated 750 million to 1 billion people around the globe — I can lay claim to a front-row seat to one of the most surreal moments of my lifetime. With vivid memories of attending a brilliant live show in London on Jackson’s 1987 Bad Tour still fresh in my mind, I never could have predicted that I would be entering his memorial 22 years later.
Ticket in hand, the momentous day began very early, as my editors and I took heed of what authorities anticipated could have been tens of thousands of ticketless Jackson fans descending on the streets surrounding the arena, in hopes of achieving any level of physical proximity — however minimal — to the solemn proceedings. As it turned out, the crowds were substantial but the masses predicted never materialized. With so many officers on the scene, it seemed as if every attendee was assigned his or her own personal Los Angeles Police escort.
Arriving at the designated checkpoint near 8 a.m., there was a manageable 30-minute wait before the line snaked to the entrance. There, we were handed the prized, gold-covered programs. The cover of the collector’s item features a smiling Jackson with his arms spread outward, dressed in black slacks and deep blue shirt reminiscent of his wardrobe in the video for “The Way You Make Me Feel.” On four separate lines above the image were these words: “Michael Jackson/King of Pop/A Celebration of the Life of Michael Jackson/1958-2009.”
The top of the back cover features a black-and-white photo of Jackson and his brothers winning first place at the annual talent search at Gilroy Stadium in Gary, Ind., circa 1964. Beneath that, a photo of Jackson on stage in a signature dance pose.
In brief conversations with others in line, their simple explanations for wanting to attend made clear what Jackson’s legacy meant to the world.
“I ditched school to come here today,” said 21-year-old Erikka Morris, of Pasadena. She was there with a friend, Alex Cuardos, 29, of Glendale, who had applied online for the tickets with several co-workers at a bank. “This was a lifetime opportunity,” he said.
Feeling almost guilty for the frisson of excitement felt as I entered the arena, it was 10 minutes before I could take my seat. Stage right, middle section, halfway up.
After some delays to the expected 10 a.m. start time, 25 minutes later came the most poignant moment, as Jackson’s golden casket was escorted to a place of honor by his surviving brothers, each fittingly adorned in matching black suits accessorized by a single, white sequined glove. The brothers then took their seats in front of the casket, joining others in their large family: mother Kathleen; father Joseph; sisters Janet and La Toya; and Michael’s children, Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II.
For all the touching performances by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and John Mayer, and heartfelt tributes from fellow Motown icons Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, one lasting moment remains. It was reading sister La Toya’s message to her departed sibling, on the second page of the program. In it, she recalls how Michael cried to her after winning only a single award at the 1980 Grammys.
“You said, ‘Watch La Toya, my next record I’m going to sell more records and win more Grammys than anyone in the history of music … I will be the biggest and the greatest entertainer of all time.’”
He certainly kept his word.
That was beautiful!! Far out, I still can't believe he is gone.