“We’re very happy to be here on this special night to honor our father,” said Jackson’s 13-year-old daughter Paris, who made a brief onstage appearance alongside brothers Prince, 14, and 9-year-old Michael Joseph Jr., known as Blanket.
The children wore outfits evoking their father’s famous styles — Paris most strikingly, in a red and black “Thriller”-style jacket. Blanket stood stoic and shy, but the older children smiled and appeared confident in the spotlight.
On a stage shaped like a giant glove, musicians including Christina Aguilera, Gladys Knight and Cee Lo Green performed songs from across Jackson’s career — from his childhood with the Jackson 5 through monster solo albums like “Thriller” and “Bad.”
The Black Eyed Peas, probably the biggest act on the bill, pulled out of the lineup this week, citing “unavoidable circumstances.”
Participants urged fans to ignore the criticism and controversy, and to revel in the celebration of Jackson’s musical legacy.
“It’s not about the controversy,” said R&B star Ne-Yo, who kicked off the show with a rendition of “Billie Jean,” complete with some passable moonwalking. “It’s not about the trial. It’s not about his death. It’s about celebrating his life. It’s about celebrating his music.”
The 50,000-strong crowd at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium did just that, roaring with approval as Jackson’s brothers Marlon, Tito and Jackie — three-fifths of the original Jackson 5 — took the stage to perform “Blame It On the Boogie” with British boyband JLS.
“Can you feel his spirit in the house tonight?” asked Marlon. Judging by the cheers, the fedora hats and the sequined gloves in the audience, many could.
Jackson died in June 2009, at age 50, as he was preparing for a string of comeback concerts in London.
His last hours are being relived in graphic detail at the manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, accused of giving Jackson a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives in the bedroom of his rented mansion on June 25, 2009.
“This is a great counter-act to that,” said Motown great Smokey Robinson, who gave a soulful rendition of “She’s Out of My Life.” ‘’And it gives people something happy to do, rather than thinking about what’s going on in the trial.”
The show mined a rich trove of Jackson hits. Leona Lewis crooned “I’ll Be There,” Beyonce delivered the early single “I Wanna Be Where You Are” and Jamie Foxx performed “Rock With You.” Aguilera sang Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” — one of Jackson’s favorite songs.
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