Michael Jackson's Memorial Service in LA

I just watched the memorial service in the memory of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson on CNN. The service was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and it was a star-studded service attended by the legends and the big guns of the entertainment business. Legends like Berry Gordy, founder of Motown, Smokey Robinson, etc attended the service. It was such a moving ceremony to celebrate the life and legacy of Michael Jackson and all the beautiful memory that he has given us in 45 years as an artist and as a performer. His shimmering gold casket(I'm not sure of the spelling, though) being brought in by his brothers from the Jackson 5 (Marlon, Tito, Randy, and Jermaine) and a few other people. His casket was put in front of the stage. The note written by Nelson Mandela and by Diana Ross, his close friend who played an integral part of his career was simply moving and touching. Mariah Carey sang the song I'll Be There, Jermaine Jackson sang Michael's favourite song Smile, written by Charlie Chaplin, 12-year-old Shaheen Jafargholi from Britain's Got Talent (BGT) sang Who's Loving You and Usher sang Gone Too Soon. Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie performed, too.

Shaheen was a contestant in BGT and he was invited to perform with Michael for the O2 Tour in London. Usher performed with such emotion and we went down the stage to touch Michael's casket and choked at the last line of the song. Even a senator from the House of Representative gave a speech saying how great Michael was as an artist and as a humanitarian. They even proposed a resolution, called Resolution 600 that will certify Michael as the greatest performer ever lived and as a truly unbelievable humanitarian. Not to mention speakers like Queen Latifah, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Brooke Shields and Martin Luther King III.

It was a ceremony befitting the King. Just before the event started, CNN showed a recording just 2 days before his untimely death. It was Michael's last rehearsal before going to London. The 90-second clip proved just enough that he is still the best performer and is still the maestro. During the 2-hour ceremony, the one that moved me the most was Paris Jackson speaking out for the first time and seeing her face along with Blanket and Prince. "When I was born...Daddy was the best father in the world...I love you, daddy..." Then she broke down in tears in the arms of Janet Jackson. It moved me to tears...

Michael's death taught me one thing -love prevails. He has been haunted with accusations of child molestation and so on. But his death may well settle it all. His album sales dominated the charts all over the world and it may, it may proved enough to partially cover his debt and like Marlon said to Michael at the end of the ceremony "Maybe now Michael we will leave you alone". Indeed Michael, now the critics are silenced and all accusations are put to rest. And now you can truly rest in peace.