One Last Big (Yet Moving) Show for Michael
The coverage of Michael Jackson's memorial began early on cable news this morning, with nonstop helicopter video footage from a "private" ceremony for Jackson's family, while commentators vamped for time and guessed at what was going on behind closed doors.
It was symbolically fitting: Jackson, after all, spent most of his life in the public eye while his private life remained mostly a mystery. Fitting too, that his farewell ceremony should be a gaudy public spectacle—with Jackson himself onstage, in a flower-shrouded golden coffin—since he seemed most comfortable engaging the world through spectacle.
Spectacle, though it was, though, the Staples Center memorial ended up being more tasteful, moving and apt than the week and a half's media circus that led up to it.
The farewell began with Smokey Robinson coming onstage early, to read statements from Diana Ross and Nelson Mandela. And then, silence. Possibly not planned silence, as there was a gap of several minutes before the ceremony commenced. But for about a minute, not knowing whether to jump in, the networks fell silent--a blessed rest, as the cameras let the hushed crowd and the blue-tinged darkness tell the story.
Ironically, the cable news networks--whose purpose is to fill airtime relentlessly with talk--did the best job of simply letting the memorial play out, including the silences between speakers. Big-network anchors are usually more driven to justify their presence by talking, and Katie Couric and Charles Gibson, in particular, could not still themselves in between performances and speakers. "I think approaching this microphone is Brooke Shields," Couric would helpfully note, while Gibson observed, "There, a helicopter shot of the Staples Center," over a helicopter shot of the Staples Center.
Appropriately enough, there was music, much of it Michael's (Mariah Carey sang "I'll Be There," with plunging cleavage and hand gestures, and John Mayer played a guitar instrumental of "Human Nature"). The memorial closed with two songs Jackson wrote for charity, "We Are the World" and "Heal the World." But Stevie Wonder gave maybe the day's most moving performance with a serenade of his own "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" and "They Won't Go When I Go," ending with a hushed goodbye. In a way, the spectacle--a parade of memories and big-name stars of today and yesteryear--was the sort of thing an American Idol finale aims for, but animated with real emotion.
Meanwhile, a line of famous speakers paid Jackson tribute, not just high-flown words and poetry (Queen Latifah read a Maya Angelou tribute), but quirky reminiscences. (Latifah also remembered trying to do the robot to "Dancing Machine" and Magic Johnson brought the house down with a story of seeing his friend eat Kentucky Fried Chicken--letting KFC give Staples a run for its product-placement money.)
When Berry Gordy recalled hearing Michael audition for the first time--"This little kid had an incredible knowingness about him"--hearing the source tell the story among friends and family beat a previous week's worth of commentators making the same point and paraphrasing similar stories in gauzy primetime TV specials. (Gordy also called Jackson "The greatest entertainer that ever lived." Was there hyperbole? Sure. It was a memorial.)
There were a few interesting themes. The speakers didn't ignore the controversies around Jackson: Gordy alluded to "questionable choices," a clip reel included images of tabloid headlines, and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee vehemently reminded the crowd of his acquittal on child-molestation charges. (It being a memorial, obviously, no one was there to offer a rebuttal.) Placing Jackson's body in front of center stage, in a gaudy if closed coffin, was one last strange, showy public display for the star, but the cameras and staging avoided too many reminders that the casket was there.
And while Jackson made a point throughout his career of being pan-racial in affect, music and appeal--"It don't matter if you're black or white"--the music (beginning with a gospel choir) and several speeches framed him as a more specifically African-American icon than he made himself in life. The Rev. Al Sharpton, besides fervently defending Jackson from allegations of "strangeness," credited him with changing not just music but politics. White kids, Sharpton said, "grew up from being teenage comfortable fans of Michael 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." Even the slo-mo funeral procession to Staples, on an L.A. freeway, had unintentional overtones of the O.J. chase.
It was finally not a concert, and not just a memorial for a cultural icon, but a goodbye to a son, brother and father, as we were reminded when Jackson's family took the stage at the end of the event. His daughter, Paris--previously shielded, like all his kids, from the media--had the tremulous last words: "I just wanted to say I love him so much."
It was a poignant, unusually intimate glimpse at a private relationship of a man who was much gazed at but, finally, little known. It was too bad, yet probably inevitable, that he had to die before we could see it.
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1
Well done JP. I watched it on NBC, and thankfully, Brian Williams resisted the urge to talk over the silence. It was nice to see the Jackson Family as a family and put on a graceful ceremony without any circus quality. And they put his work as a humanitarian front and center. But for the first time I saw him as a father, not just a man who had these three children in full length veils following him around.
*
I doubt this feeling of normalcy will last. The media won't allow it, and you can't blame them for not allowing it but at least there was 90 minutes of peace for him.
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2
Shame on you for bringing personal bias into Time. After all, how will you feel better about yourself (or your own icon if you have one) if you demonize someone the very same day of his memorial?!
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3
MJ was a great artist but maybe we can return to real news after today. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588
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4
FINALLY. Never had such a hard time getting a password. I know the word gaudy has no place in this article. I do hope they let him rest in peace but your comment sucks
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5
The fact that you took the opportunity to fill this commentary with the most negative words that you could muster about a man with a kind heart apparently means that you have the empathy of a hyena.
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6
James Poniewozik sir - you are an idiot. GO AWAY SOMEWHERE AND STAY THERE.
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7
Nicely written article. I agree with your assessment, and appreciate your humor. (especially the comments about the media)
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8
James you are retard who needs to go to hell!!!!!!!!!!! You are a senseless worthless jerk!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder what is hiding in your closet, you damn idiot!!!!! Let's see, I think I will investigate your wreckless nonjournalistic opportunist ass and see what I find!!!!
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9
While I usually have respect for Time, and can appreciate the writer's recap of today's ceremonies, I can't help but detect a large undertone of sarcasm and cynicism. Yes, each moment was accounted for in this summary, but it was flowered` with side comments that were both uncalled for and unnecessary. There was more than an obvious emotion towards Jackson, his fans, and his memorial service. It's almost as if the writer doesn't understand why this - the tributes, the memorial, the emotion - is occurring on behalf of Mr. Jackson. Lack of understanding does not justify ignorance and a force of opinion on a greater audience. What happened to professionalism?
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10
Nope, don't like your article Mr. Poniewozik. Now's not the time to be smug. How about a little more heart when talking about someone's memorial, please?
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11
You are an ass. Too bad you had to spoil a beautiful Memorial with your gaudy article in bad taste. The families taste in coffin was none of your business and "gaudy" it certainly was not.
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12
Please let the man rest! As I notice the TIME Special Commemorative Edition ad on this webpage to make money off of him. Hypocrisy at its worst....
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13
I can't believe you have a column on Time!!! I thought journalist were supposed to have some kind of objectivity. You obviously missed that class. You equate his funeral procession to the OJ chase. How dare you!!! My grandmother always said "If you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything". I guess that's not good advice to you since you need to get paid!!! You're basically doing the same thing that you're accusing other journalist of doing in your article:
Ironically, the cable news networks--whose purpose is to fill airtime relentlessly with talk--did the best job of simply letting the memorial play out, including the silences between speakers. Big-network anchors are usually more driven to justify their presence by talking, and Katie Couric and Charles Gibson, in particular, could not still themselves in between performances and speakers.
You're doing the exact same thing in print form!!! Just filling space. You must have a word number requirement.
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14
When someone you love dies, I hope you wouldn't think their memorial to be too "gaudy". Or when someone says they were the best (fill in the blank) to have ever lived, you don't remind others that it's just "hyperbole". I don't care if you're allowed to share your opinion in a column, that is just rude. I didn't expect to read something so annoying that wasn't a youtube comment.
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15
I recently wrote a letter to the editor regarding this disgrace of an article: letters@time.com
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16
Boycott the Times. The same publication that allowed this article will also be the same publication that will look to make money selling a commemorative Michael Jackson edition.
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17
Time what a mistake, Gaudy how disrespectful,rude and just plain meanspirited.Your magazine is hypocrital , you make money on MJ and then write trash. I am tongue tied with anger.
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18
Thank you PEOPLE!!! Time needs to know what time it is!!! This is not the day for that.
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19
I agree 100% with everything you said ! I came home during lunch today, flipped on the tv...and there it was...a remake of the OJ chase !! As if I were in the helicopter, watching the black hearse, with mJ's casket in it ! the commentators describing every step of the way ! unreal !! and then the congresswoman or whoever she is from Texas....reminding everyone that " you are innocent until proven guilty...and he was never proven guilty "...yes, at a person's memorial service is JUST the place to bring that up ! Her whole speach was just a pat on her back to get her votes in the next election! This was not the place or the time to remind or try and convince people that MJ did or did not have his 'problems' in the past! Very tacky, if you ask me !
then the duaghter, whom MJ insisted on keeping out of the public eye, is placed on stage, in front of millions , to profess her love for her daddy...I thought that was very uncalled for....the family should be ashamed of putting a child through that...like she hasn't been through enough....The only person that spoke that I truly believed and honored was Smokey Robinson. You could tell everything he said was real and coming from his heart...the rest ? ehhhh... -
20
I actually had to take the time to sign up for an account just to post a comment about this article. Your sarcastic and mean spirited comments make me sick. This article should be pulled as it does not show Time in a good light. The tribute was nothing but spectacular.
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21
Mr.James Poniewozik
Your Fired!!!
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22
It is a disgrace that the US has been held hostage for nearly 2 weeks over the death of a drug addict and a pediphile. While I don't think this writer has a strong grasp of grammar, I will say he gave as balanced an article as humanly possible. MJ has stripped Farrah Fawcett and numerous other "Hollywood Greats" of their due, because he was like a bad car accident...everyone had to look. Enough! Let's get back to the people dying for our country, people leading honorable, normal lives, and allow MJs children to find the new reality of their lives in peace and quiet. Let's glorify the truly deserving, not the "fascinating".
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22.1
Your screen name is perfect because umustbkiddingme with the self-serving crap you posted!? You are'nt being held hostage by anyone ;we are still a free country! TURN OFF YOUR T.V ,change your channel or dont read what you are not interested in !
I would also advise you to spell check before you attempt to criticize!
The correct spelling is p-e-d-o-p-h-i-l-e ,I-D-I-O-T! As I recall he was never convicted of anything and,the last I checked we were still in America where that counts for something. Farrah was not robbed of anything as far as I am concerned .Those that loved her did and will continue to celebrate her accomplishments and will mourn her loss accordingly.However the loss of Michael Jackson does not have to be trivialized nor minimized in order for that to take place.
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23
In my recent web searches attempting to learn more about MJ's final years on this earth, I am so disappointed having come across this. I have never read such a disgusting, heartless, badly written review. You should be fired; your editor should be reprimanded--at least. CNN should be ashamed for having a link to your stupid article. You are an awful, insensitive human. Go work for the tabloids, that's all you're worth.
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24
Dear James,
You did a 90% accurate job of describing the fiasco that we all witnessed earlier today. The only two things that you didn't touch base on accurately were that pig Sheila Lee and that complete idiot wanna-be-preacher.
The rest wasn't too bad (although some may argue if the casket really needed to be there?)
All of the performers did good or excellent jobs (with the exception of Mariah who is obviously beginning to loose her voice).
Everyone did a good job except the excuse for sound technicians that on NUMEROUS occasions either had no audio, muted audio, ear monitors too low, ground-loop noise and every other audio blunder known to mankind all in one show (which is what it was-a show, or a production).
The moral of the story is you did a great job with your write up. Please don't listen to the people that never knew Michael Joseph Jackson, who and what he really was, and they think they love him and need to attack someone speaking the truth about him.
Everyone has their opinion of what a great human being he was.I wonder what he died from?
One Love,
GMC
President and CEO
Dirty South TV-
24.1
Maybe you and "Dear James" should form a partnership..? Since you apparently only responded to this article for publicity for your little backroom company and he obviously has grace and empathy of equal stature..
Do you personally know anything more that Michaels middle name ? I doubt it.Who are you to imply anything negative about him? Whatever he died from is irrelevant THE MORAL OF THIS POST IS THAT YOU ;NOR ANYONE ELSE HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE SUCH UNDIGNIFIED STATEMENTS ABOUT A MAN YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT at such a terrible time of loss for his loved ones!! I PITY YOU AND DEAR JAMES' FAMILY! I hope that they are not subjected to such callous remarks from such small minds as you and your comrads.How will they feel when people DO'NT WONDER or care that someone such as you YOU DIED (much less what FROM) ?.. wink ...wink.
By the way genius Mariah is'nt likely "losing her voice" .What you heard was EMOTION.I am sure you are unfamiliar with that term ;as it takes someone with a heart to relate...
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25
Unbelievable, your commnents say much more about you than what happened today.
No matter what anyone says ...it won't make a difference to you. You are like teflon ...it just keeps flowing, so you can keep being the small person you are ... expecting some type of superficial sucess around the corner for yourself.
The memorial was created in an extraodinarily short period of time. The participants must have had a very difficult time, but it was too important to them to miss. The memorial was spontaneous, but spiritual. The participants were humble and appreciative of the opportunity to witness their love for someone they had an enormous amount of repect and love for. Someone they felt had made a difference in this world.
Where do you come off making your trite comments. It says so much about you.
You are pathetic. The fact that I have posted this message means that you are also successful in an ironic and perverted way....
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