I’m sure many of you have been watching the Michael Jackson memorials proceedings just as I have, so there’s no need to remind you of what went down. A largely tasteful, moving affair, I’m pleased to say.
In the interests of keeping things movie-related (I mean, how many other Oscar winners can claim to have performed for the King of Pop?), I thought I’d put up this clip of Jennifer Hudson belting “Will You Be There” with immense spirit. Not the man’s greatest song, but it hardly matters. Say what you like about Hudson as a thespian, but by God, that voice can move mountains.
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22 responses to “Jennifer Hudson sings for Michael Jackson”
Even we non-believers are moved.
So, did the proceeds from ticket sales go to charity? I sure hope Joe Jackson didn’t cash in…again.
I actually choked up when his daughter spoke at the very end.
Me too, Chris, me too. Though I’m not sure that should have been televised. Poor girl.
JC, as I understand it the tickets were won in a lottery, not sold.
Plus, another reason this song is great to post on a movie website is that it was in Free Willy!
Derek: Oh, OK. I thought people entered their names in order to win the opportunity to BUY tickets. So, not as tacky as I thought, at any rate.
Joe Jackson is still going to make out like a bandit. He is one of the worst tyrants in America, but I strangely admire him. None of us could pimp a Blu-Ray disc after our son died. None of us.
She is an awful thespian.
She was marvelous in “Dreamgirls,” and yes, her voice is earthshaking.
However I hate these televised memorial things. Ugh. So self-aggrandizing and unnecessary… do I seriously need Jesse Jackson speaking about this guy like he was Martin Luther King Jr.?
Woah. No idea why I said Jesse Jackson… meant Al Sharpton.
Unsure who is the more unwelcome mouthpiece: Sharpton or Jermaine.
The only unwelcome mouthpiece: Joe Jackson.
This tribute was surprisingly tasteful.
Oher things I liked about this number: The backup singers signed the song for the hearing impaired (Marlee Matlin tweeted that she loved it).
Kenny Ortega, director of the memorial & now canceled tour , said the backup singers, song, choreogrqaphy, & screens with various religious iconography were from the tour. Ditto with the “We Are the World/Heal the World” finale. (I thought it was classy that the Jacksons had the unknown cast lead instead of the big stars).
I actually hope the tour continues in some form so that the cast, musicians & crew aren’t out of work for next few months. At the least, I hope the exposure gets the cast some work.
Couldn’t agree more. Jen Hudson’s performance is my favorite of all the performances in the memorial service. Usher is a surprise choice to sing “Gone Too Soon”, which he pulled it off modestly if only he had not been too emotional at the end. But who can blame him anyway?
It was dignified and very moving. I personally loved “Human Nature”, and “Heal the World”. And yeah, his daughter’s speech at the end, that was heartbreaking.
It was a freakshow. That Jackson family is such a bunch of creeps. They should’ve rounded them up afterwards and lock them up at Neverland.
Oh and they also managed to hide the last 15 years orso and pretended they never happened. Way to go!
“Tasteful and moving”!? Is was one of the tackiest & most disorganised things I’ve ever seen. Not worthy of the King of Pop, for sure.
Hudson’s performance was good for about a minute before it got boring (like everything else on show).
And that coffin! Blech!
(I don’t enjoy loathing it so much. I desperately wanted it to be excellent, but almost everything fell flat. Particularly Mariah Carey’s singing.)
King of Pop my ass. Someone proclaimed him that, but was no king for sure.
Oh how I loved Free Willy when I was younger
I actually rewatched “Dreamgirls” last week and was surprised at how good I still thought Jennifer Hudson was. As good as Blanchett and the “Babel” women were, I truly believe Hudson deserved her Oscar. I know I’m in the minority.