# Michael Jackson Memorial Service **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 7, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220 "2009-07-07T17:35:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/1 "2009-07-07T17:35:25Z")
Just thought people would like to chat about it as it happens. I guess it’s nice his casket is actually there. Weird they are singing about “the king” as his casket comes in. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/2 "2009-07-07T17:35:49Z")
Finally, there’s sound! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/3 "2009-07-07T17:38:43Z")
Actually, it was just really slow moving the whole time. MSNBC has had sound the whole time, and it’s mostly people just shuffling around. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/4 "2009-07-07T17:39:05Z")
So when will he pop out and start dancing? 'Cause if he don’t I’ll be dissapointed. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/5 "2009-07-07T17:42:22Z")
I’m watching CNN streaming it now… wonder if I should be watching another stream? ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/6 "2009-07-07T17:44:58Z")
Mariah struggled with the first few bars of “I’ll Be There,” but I think she was choking up. Touching. I believe all of his brothers were pallbearers. There was a nice shot of Jermaine and Marlon. I forgot that Trey Larenz dude existed! Where has he been since they recorded this song? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/7 "2009-07-07T17:59:53Z")
I’m choking up, too. I find this whole thing incredibly sad. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/8 "2009-07-07T18:03:28Z")
Berry Gordy’s words are very touching. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/9 "2009-07-07T18:06:33Z")
CNN was on while I was working out. Talk about filling huge swaths of airtime with absolutely NOTHING. Even before Smokey came out and read the letters from Diana Ross and Nelson Mandela, they were just blathering on about their childhood memories. And after that, absolutely nothing happened for at least 10 minutes. Really made me think about the old conundrum - is it on the news because people care, or do people care because it is on the news? Hard to imagine enough people give a shit about MJ to warrant the coverage it is getting. And if that many people care that much, it is a pretty sad commentary on our species. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/10 "2009-07-07T18:10:08Z")
**SaharaTea** , I agree. Berry was just perfect. You really got the feeling that he was the father MJ never had. I am loving Stevie playing “I Can’t Help It.” ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/11 "2009-07-07T18:19:51Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > **SaharaTea** , I agree. Berry was just perfect. You really got the feeling that he was the father MJ never had. > > I am loving Stevie playing “I Can’t Help It.” My boss called when Stevie started playing, and she is most decidedly NOT a Michael Jackson fan. I hope it was good. I really wanted to see his performance. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/12 "2009-07-07T18:43:06Z")
Okay, now maybe John Mayer’s “Human Nature” is my favorite. For a guy I don’t rate much, he just shot up about a billion percent in my estimation. Brooke Shields is very sweet. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/13 "2009-07-07T18:47:51Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Brooke Shields is very sweet. She really is incredibly genuine and sweet. She can give a eulogy at my funeral anytime. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/14 "2009-07-07T18:58:09Z")
I wanted to just put my arms around Brooke Shields and let her cry. Jeeez, that was touching. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/15 "2009-07-07T19:00:50Z")
I didn’t even get sniffy until Brooke. And now, well, I’m a little bit sniffier. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/16 "2009-07-07T19:07:19Z")
His brothers are all wearing the single glove. As stupid as I always thought that fashion statement was, it’s a very sweet gesture. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/17 "2009-07-07T19:10:02Z")
I thought Jermaine’s “Smile” was incredibly moving. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/18 "2009-07-07T19:14:35Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > I thought Jermaine’s “Smile” was incredibly moving. I’m still sniffling from that. It was beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/19 "2009-07-07T19:15:34Z")
I just happened to flip over to it to see Brooke Shields. I’m really glad I caught that part. It made clear how far away we all are from the real Michael, how little we can really understand him from our vantage point. Also, the Rev. Sharpton may have oversold the point a little, but he’s not wrong. Michael Jackson (followed by Prince) was the strongest bridge between white and black culture to that point, and he brought a legion of white folk with him, with Thriller especially. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220/20 "2009-07-07T19:25:16Z")
WTF? That’s the kid from this year’s Britain’s Got Talent. Good move though. That kind of exposure is golden. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVU4IkzMNIo) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-memorial-service/502220.md?page=2)