MJ Memorial-what kind if celebration was it? (regular, death, elections)

[Analyze]

I had never seen anything like it. Was it a funeral or a concert? Was it appropriate?

[LoveMiiorHateMii]

I think that it was a nice home-going service for someone of his popularity. The family asked for the artists who performed to be there. While he was alive, he had crowds gathered around him and media following him. His concerts were always packed, and people wanted to see him, talk about him etc. so I think that even in his death, he was Michael Jackson.

Also, at black funerals its a celebration...there are no organs playing slow depressing opera songs. The choir sings and the band plays, and people speak. Eventhough its sad in a way, the songs uplift. I saw nothing wrong with it IMO.

[BlueWillowPlate]

I came home from doing something else and my kid (home from college) had it on.
I had begun experiencing MJ fatigue and I thought to myself "Oh jeez, haven't we had enough?"
But I sat there for a half an hour of it (I had to leave later for an appointment) and I was very impressed with what they pulled together in such a short time:
The storytelling, the talent, the honesty, and the emotion.
Yeah, it was quite appropriate.
It was what it set out to be: A celebration of MJ's life.

[540_804]

I think it was appropriate.

My father is a pastor so I have been to more funerals than I ever would have cared to otherwise, and I will say that MJ's memorial service was pretty much inline with most of the funerals I've been to (but on a much larger scale of course). Most of the funerals I've been to (especially within the African American community from my experience) emphasize more of the "celebration of life" above the "mourning of death" aspect. Most funerals I've been to have been mostly singing, telling stories of the deceased person's life, even laughing and having a good time.

[ovcatto]

Michael Jackson vs Princess Diana?

Not much difference is grandeur, different style, but not that's about all.

[dreamofmonterey]

Its nice people can remember him in a positive way.He contributed a lot to music and entertainment, and seemed like a gentle person his death was sad.

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by Analyze

I had never seen anything like it. Was it a funeral or a concert? Was it appropriate?

Seems to me that if it's what his family wanted, it was what should have been done.

[ozzie679]

I thought is was respectable considering the freak show of people in attendance. I was expecting it to be much less dignified.

[calipoppy]

It was a beautiful homegoing and celebration of his life.

Having friends and loved ones tell great stories about the deceased provides the family with a lot of comfort and with wonderful memories that may have been forgotten (or that the family never knew)

[ChangedEssence]

Nothing close to a Concert at tall. The singing and song selections are generally important in some cultures. Seems to me that is was the regular funeral structure just on a larger scale. You had the Choir and the Prelude, the casket, Pall Bearers were seated, Carefully selected songs, the Solo by Jermaine.( very traditional to have a solo of a song that was special to the decease.) With many speakers mentioning very particular moments and intimate thoughts of MJ the Eulogy and Message were covered. There was the testimony from the family. And the Postlude can be considered the gathering of all the singers. What a person may have viewed as the finale. Then there was even the Prayer from the Pastor at the end which could very well fit as the Benediction.

Very Appropriate Homegoing and despite the Stars that were there every moment seemed personal. Nothing Hollywood "this is for the Cameras" attitude displayed at all. I loved it.