Jackson Tribute in Quotes
Here are some comments on Michael Jackson on the day of his memorial service:
"I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine! I just wanted to say I love him so much." - Jackson's daughter, Paris, who broke down in tears.
"Michael, when you left us, a part of me went with you. ... I will treasure the good times, singing, dancing, laughing. ... We will never understand what he endured ... being judged, ridiculed. How much pain can one take? Maybe, now, Michael, they will leave you alone." - Marlon Jackson, brother.
"Michael always knew he could count on me to support him or be his date. ... We had a bond and maybe it was because we both understood what it was like to be in the spotlight from a very, very young age. I used to tease him and say, `I started when I was 11 months old. You're a slacker. You were like 5?' Both of us needed to be adults very early, but when we were together, we were two little kids having fun. ... M.J.'s laugh was the sweetest and purest of anyone I've known." - Actress Brooke Shields.
"He created a comfort level, where people that felt they were separate became interconnected with his music. ... Those young kids grew up from being teenage, comfortable fans of Michael's 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. Michael did that. Michael made us love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other." - The Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights leader.
"I'm here representing millions of fans around the world who grew up listening to Michael, being inspired and loving Michael from a distance. ... Somehow when Michael Jackson sang and when he danced ... we felt he was right there. ... He made you believe in yourself." - Singer and actress Queen Latifah.
"When he did his iconic moonwalk, I was shocked. It was magic. Michael Jackson went into orbit and never came down. Though it ended way too soon, Michael's life was beautiful." - Motown Records founder Berry Gordy.
"This is a moment that I wish that I didn't live to see come. But as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good and I do know that as much as we may feel - and we do - that we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more." - Stevie Wonder.
"Michael was a personal love of mine. A treasured part of my world ... " - Smokey Robinson, reading a note from longtime Jackson friend Diana Ross at Tuesday's memorial service.
"You don't think you'll live to see them gone. ... He is going to live forever and ever and ever and ever." - Smokey Robinson.
"We miss you, Michael." - Mariah Carey, after singing "I'll Be There" at Jackson's memorial service.
"There are certain people in our popular culture that just capture people's imaginations. And in death, they become even larger. Now, I have to admit that it's also fed by a 24/7 media that is insatiable." - President Barack Obama, who spoke during an interview with CBS while he was in Moscow.
"They're holding up well in part because they're a strong family ... a big family, religiously devout family. Therefore, they have a sense of insulation of their faith." - The Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader, on how Michael Jackson's family is coping.
"He was a true gift and there are very few that have come to the magnitude of influence that he had on the world." - Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine! I just wanted to say I love him so much." - Jackson's daughter, Paris, who broke down in tears.
"Michael, when you left us, a part of me went with you. ... I will treasure the good times, singing, dancing, laughing. ... We will never understand what he endured ... being judged, ridiculed. How much pain can one take? Maybe, now, Michael, they will leave you alone." - Marlon Jackson, brother.
"Michael always knew he could count on me to support him or be his date. ... We had a bond and maybe it was because we both understood what it was like to be in the spotlight from a very, very young age. I used to tease him and say, `I started when I was 11 months old. You're a slacker. You were like 5?' Both of us needed to be adults very early, but when we were together, we were two little kids having fun. ... M.J.'s laugh was the sweetest and purest of anyone I've known." - Actress Brooke Shields.
"He created a comfort level, where people that felt they were separate became interconnected with his music. ... Those young kids grew up from being teenage, comfortable fans of Michael's 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. Michael did that. Michael made us love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other." - The Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights leader.
"I'm here representing millions of fans around the world who grew up listening to Michael, being inspired and loving Michael from a distance. ... Somehow when Michael Jackson sang and when he danced ... we felt he was right there. ... He made you believe in yourself." - Singer and actress Queen Latifah.
"When he did his iconic moonwalk, I was shocked. It was magic. Michael Jackson went into orbit and never came down. Though it ended way too soon, Michael's life was beautiful." - Motown Records founder Berry Gordy.
"This is a moment that I wish that I didn't live to see come. But as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good and I do know that as much as we may feel - and we do - that we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more." - Stevie Wonder.
"Michael was a personal love of mine. A treasured part of my world ... " - Smokey Robinson, reading a note from longtime Jackson friend Diana Ross at Tuesday's memorial service.
"You don't think you'll live to see them gone. ... He is going to live forever and ever and ever and ever." - Smokey Robinson.
"We miss you, Michael." - Mariah Carey, after singing "I'll Be There" at Jackson's memorial service.
"There are certain people in our popular culture that just capture people's imaginations. And in death, they become even larger. Now, I have to admit that it's also fed by a 24/7 media that is insatiable." - President Barack Obama, who spoke during an interview with CBS while he was in Moscow.
"They're holding up well in part because they're a strong family ... a big family, religiously devout family. Therefore, they have a sense of insulation of their faith." - The Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader, on how Michael Jackson's family is coping.
"He was a true gift and there are very few that have come to the magnitude of influence that he had on the world." - Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
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I've been a song writer for years, but haven't written anything for about seven years. For some strange reason, woke up the other morning and had these lyrics in my head, and decided to write them down. Well, I might as well show someone:
A Tribute to Michael Jackson
The myth
The man
An angel from heaven
Inspiration to us all
You are a musical legend
The moonwalk on the floor
Everybody adored
Hits like Thriller
Billie Jean
And the people wanted more
Iconic figure you stand
Silver glove on one hand
Michael Jackson
King of pop
You were there at the top
Gaining to much speed
Gaining more momentum
Sorry I forgot
I forgot to mention
MJ
Our hearts they bleed they cry
MJ
It?s so hard to say goodbye
MJ
Why did you have to leave?
My only wish for you
Is that now you?re at peace
The press
They never left you alone
(My god)
It?s a wonder
They never said you were cloned
See a picture in a frame
See a picture of your tour
It was going to be the biggest
Greatest comeback of them all
A monkey on your hand
An oxygen tank
They wouldn?t ?leave you alone?
You left for Neverland
Somewhere you felt safe
Somewhere you felt real
If only you?d known
It was your life they?d try to steal
Locked inside your life
Real friends but just a few
What was it like this prison?
What was it like for you?
Living life inside a cage
Living life upon a stage
Living life inside a bubble
Living life so many ways
MJ
Our hearts they bleed they cry
MJ
It?s so hard to say goodbye
MJ
Why did you have to leave?
My only wish for you
Is that now you?re at peace
The press
They never left you alone
(My god)
It?s a wonder
They never said you were cloned
See a picture in a frame
See a picture of your tour
It was going to be the biggest
Greatest comeback of them all
It?s not fair that afternoon
Hearing news of Michael Jackson
Who?d passed away In L.A
In his bed
Inside a mansion
?Gone to soon?
Usher sang it
With a tear in his eye
Your brother singing ?Smile?
Held it together
Didn?t cry
Well I guess that?s it from me
I?ve nothing more to say
It shouldn?t have ended
Ended up this way
No more fighting for tickets
No more fighting in the queue
From all your fans goodbye
We?re going to miss you
Lyrics written by: Kevin Crane
Copyright ? 2009
24.07.2009
Kevincrane1@ntlworld.com
Quote uncertain, attributed to a group of five
democrats decending Capitol Building steps
of which Senator Joseph Biden was one.