Jul 7, 2009 11:05 pm US/Pacific
The MJ Memorial: Touching, Teary, Transcendent
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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A screen display is seen at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Gabriel Bouys/Getty Images
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Thousands of Michael Jackson fans converged at the Staples Center for a public memorial service for the late pop star on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
Jenn McBride/CBS
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Jermaine Jackson sings at his younger brother Michael's memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
Erik Oginski/CBS
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The Jackson family thanks fans for their support during Michael Jackson's memorial held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
Erik Oginski/CBS
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Paris Michael Katherine Jackson's unexpected tribute to her father marked the emotional apex of Michael Jackson's memorial service held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
Erik Oginski/CBS
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Thousands of Michael Jackson fans converged at the Staples Center for a public memorial service for the late pop star on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
Erik Oginski/CBS
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For a venue that normally is filled with the sounds of screaming, cheering, ranting and raving, the somber, sometimes quiet, and sometimes-so-quiet-you-could-hear-a-pin-drop-nature of the Staples Center Tuesday was perhaps fitting for a tribute to an entertainer whose career had rousing crescendos and crashing, jaw-slacking moments of "he did what?"
Michael Jackson would have found his memorial at the Staples Center -- part concert, part tribute dinner, part awards show, part revival, part sermon, part extravanganza and part excuse to bust out some Kleenex -- quite fitting.
He would have also found the scene, like most people in the audience -- 20,000 in the Staples Center and an estimated one billion around the world (watching on TV and live streams on the web and in movie theaters and on the Jumbo-tron in NY's Time Square), somewhat surreal.
Even people who knew Jackson best came out of the venue saying they learned things about him that they never knew. And his fans were touched to find out he loved his fans even more than they even knew. And some superstars looked like mere mortals...trying to get through songs without staining the stage with tears.
One thing was agreed upon. Picking a favorite moment, was, well futile. Many were moved by brother Jermaine choking back tears as he sang Michael's favorite song. Others were moved by the sky-reaching vocals of Jennifer Hudson and Usher...and don't forget the old guard, Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie.
And Mariah Carey, who somehow fits in comfortably in both generations...another roof raiser, singing a medley of Michael's hits...like there was enough time to do that.
Bringing Michael's Body To The Staples Center
Michael's Gold Casket Brought Into The Staples Center
Kobe, Magic Pay Tribute To Their Friend
Mariah Carey's Soulful, Sweet Tribute In Song
Rev. Al Sharpton's Message To MJ's Children
John Mayer's Acoustic, Haunting "Human Nature"
Brooke Shields Shares Intimate Childhood Moments
MLK's Kids Give Jackson Family Support
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Honors MJ's Humanitarian Work
Usher's Tearful, Soulful Moment
Smokey Robinson "I Lost My Little Brother"
"We Are The World" Sung By Family, Friends, Fans
Britain's Got Talent's 12-Year-Old Sensation
Pastor Lucius Smith Gives A Sermon
Stevie Wonder: "Michael Will Never Die"
Jermaine Sings "Smile," MJ's Favorite Song
Lionel Richie's Memories In Song
Jennifer Hudson's Rendition Of "Will You Be There?"
A Video Montage Of Michael's Career
Paris Breaks Down: "I Had The Best Daddy Ever"
And speaking of time, who will ever forget when Michael's 11-year-old daughter, Paris, fumbled with the mic, before saying her daddy, "from the day I was born", was "the best father ever" before she melted in a puddle of tears?
Whether you watched it live, or streaming, or in person. ... it is likely the memorial touched you on some level. A turnip would have shed tears.
Above, we post some of the most interesting, stirring, heartfelt and moving moments people will be talking about for some time. Loudly and somberly.
Quite frankly, the Staples Center will never sound the same again.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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