Michael: Fare thee well
"THERE'S nothing that can't be done if we raise our voices as one." That was the quotation in the background of the podium at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California where a memorial was held for the late King of music, Michael Jackson, yesterday. It was a moving ceremony and the tears seemed to flow even from heaven as celebrities and people around the world mourned Jackson.
Lionel Richie sang "Jesus is Love" in tears and many in the crowd in the Staples Centre sobbed as Jennifer Hudson rendered "Will you be there?"
Indeed, the world stood still for Michael Jackson yesterday as he began the journey home. Television stations all over the world cleared their schedules to broadcast the King of Pop's star-studded memorial service live from Los Angeles.
A motorcade that began at the home of Jackson's parents, according to the Associated Press (AP) reached a cemetery in the Hollywood Hills early yesterday for a private service in advance of a star-studded memorial in downtown Los Angeles.
Numerous vehicles under California Highway Patrol escort headed out from the parents' home shortly before 8 a.m. and reached Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills about 15 minutes later.
Authorities shut down sections of freeways during the height of Los Angeles' morning rush hour to allow the motorcade to pass.
Jackson's family members and dozens of friends, led by his parents, Joe and Katherine, were seen walking into a hall at the cemetery where a small viewing was apparently held the night before.
After the private ceremony, Jackson's body was taken to the singer's public memorial. Among the celebrities at the memorial were Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Usher, Lionel Richie, Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, Berry Gordy, Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III.
More than 1.6 million people registered for free tickets to Jackson's memorial, but only 8,750 people were chosen to receive two tickets each.
Los Angeles was the epicentre of Jackson-mania, but the outpouring of emotion was worldwide. Belgium's two national public broadcasters broadcast the memorial live and several hundred Jackson fans gathered at a Hong Kong mall.
Holding white candles, Hong Kong singer William Chan and Taiwanese pop star, Judy Chou led the audience in observing a 30-second silence.
But at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, the speeches were all emotive as speaker after speaker remembered Jackson's legendary contribution to the world of entertainment.
One of his children described him as "the best father you could ever imagined" while the civil rights activist, the Reverend Al Sharpton said while many had come to bid Michael Jackson goodbye, he had come to say to him: "Thank you!" For breaking barriers. For giving humanity hope."
