Paris Changed the Perception

"There was nothing strange about your daddy, it was strange what your daddy had to deal with."

That's what Al Sharpton said today at the Michael Jackson memorial. There's a lot of truth in that statement. The memorial was well done, respectful and upbeat at times. There were lots of tears.

As for what I didn't like:

1. Bernice King and her lime 'look at me' outfit;
2. Mariah Carey and her totally inappropriate exposed outfit (she didn't know where she was going?);
3. Smokey Robinson just standing like a statue during the Heal the World number at the end.
   

As for what I did like:

1. Jermaine Jackson's rendition of Smile for his brother;
2. Jennifer Hudson's wow-ful and soaring vocals;
3. Stevie Wonder's touching tribute;
4. The We Are the World/Heal the World number at the end, featuring Judith Hill, who was going to be a backup singer on the This is It tour.

That said, there were two standouts. Brooke Shields' comments leading into Jermaine's number were the most real and touching. I remember all the stuff in the tabloids about Brooke and Michael, so it was easy for me to understand all that she talked about.

The most important point was made at the very end, in an unscripted moment, by Paris Jackson, age 11. What she did was humanize her father. She called him 'Daddy' and said, "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine; and I just wanted to say I love him ... so much." In tears, she turned into her Aunt Janet and she wrote history. In one minute, Michael Jackson gained a new face, that of fatherhood that everyone can understand. He was that little girl's father, and she was in pain over his passing. Who didn't shed a tear at that moment.

Paris Jackson will carry on the legacy in one way or another.