Mon 6 Jul 2009
The Michael Jackson Funeral Parade of Stars: Kobe and John Mayer? Really?
Posted by Miss Info under Concerts , Crony-ism , Hmmm? , Life Beyond Rap , Relationships and Family , Sigh[68] Comments
Tomorrow, 1pm NY-time everything shuts down for wall-to-web coverage of the MJ funeral….I’m expecting nothing less than emotion, chaos, awkwardness, and tenderness. But reading People Mag’s run down of the expected celebrity participants….is tipping the scales towards an early lead for awkwardness.
“Everyone from Mariah Carey to the surviving Jackson brothers are expected to perform…Tuesday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
On Monday, the Jackson family’s publicists released a “preliminary and subject to change” list of participants, which included Carey and …Jennifer Hudson.
Other stars set to appear include:
• Brooke Shields
• Usher
• Stevie Wonder
• Magic Johnson
• Kobe Bryant*
• Andrae Crouch Choir
• Berry Gordy
• Family friends Ron Boyd and Pastor Lucious Smith
• Shaheen Jafargholi of Britain’s Got Talent*
• Martin Luther King III*
• Bernice A. King
• John Mayer*
• Lionel Richie
• Smokey Robinson
• Rev. Al Sharpton
Beyoncé and Whitney Houston are also said to be making appearances, but are not performing, according to Entertainment Tonight. ”
*huh? huh? huh? and huh??
July 6th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Kobe’s pretty random but that kid from Britain takes the bizzaro cake.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Okay okay That’s a Good thing positive thinking baby.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
The guest list isn’t shocking. Why SHOULD it be? EVERYONE loved Michael Jackson. Dude changed music as we know it today. He was loved more than he wasn’t, which was a blessing.
He’ll forever be missed. RIP
July 6th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
After all is said & done I would love 2 see chris brown perform.. I think it would be the best tribute ever.. but that’s just my opinion
July 6th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
so what if everyone loved him…why the hell would they have john mayer up there?
July 6th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Why wouldn’t they have John Mayer there, they are showing a diverse range of talents that Michael Jackson influenced. I think.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
is john mayer not allowed to like MJ?
so what if his style of music is different than anyone who was directly influenced by him.
i mean, don’t get me wrong, i am 100% not a fan of the guy, but seriously… are you that close minded that you’re saying someone should not be able to perform at his funeral because he “doesn’t fit”?
it’s not like they got marilyn manson or anything to perform…
July 6th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
The Britain’s Got Talent guy was meant to be with him at the London shows, he did a performance to MJ’s songs, a real good dancer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ3Yd9UaZ1c
Here’s the audition, lol.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
right why is some of this list odd? MJ was a legend
July 6th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
thank you…now that makes more sense.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I heard on CNN Rolling Stones, Mariah Carey, Prince and Madonna performing.
Liz Taylor is too hurt to be there. Says that she believes Mike wouldn’t want her to say good bye to him along with a millions of others. She’s still hurt about it.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
am I speaking a diff language? I’m not disputing that every artist in the music biz loved or was influenced by MJ’s music. I’m just saying…is that the requirement for being included IN THE CEREMONY. How about artists that he collaborated with…or other artists from his era….how about other celebs who had meaningful interaction with MJ? Diana Ross, David Gest, Deepak Chopra. Hell, get Will I Am and Jay-Z up there. At least they worked with MJ.
not just…hey I’m Kobe, the Staples Center is my house. So…I’m gonna walk onstage and be awkwardly placed into a ceremony that I don’t really belong in.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
White boys liked MJ too, Info. lol
July 6th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
shit, wrong britains got talent finalist. my bad…
July 6th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Nah..
I guess the kid from Britains got Talent is gonna perform his rendition of Who’s Lovin’ You. I WAS pretty impressing..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThObaKJPRlo&feature=related
July 6th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Agreed 1000% Miss Info. John Mayer does a song with Kanye and a little jam with Just Blaze and now he thinks he has some sort of ghetto pass for life (apologies, I feel embarrassed even saying that phrase)…he said something about Will I.Am on Twitter too which I can’t recall but I thought the same thing when I read it.
As a blues guitarist he is so bland and average it’s not even worth talking about…I get the impression that he thinks his only chance at staying famous is by finding this little niche as some sort of crossover artist or by being known as “that white guitar guy who hangs out with the hip-hop world” which to me is just leeching off of hip-hop not embracing it.
There is no question that Michael Jackson was just as influential to us white kids growing up in the 80’s the entire world over but John Mayer is simply not the person to represent this and I question his intentions by making this appearance.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
So help me to understand this one please…. What’s so strange about John Mayer being listed as a participant? Since Michael Jackson had songs like “Heal The World” and was a huge humanitarian, John Mayer will more than likely perform “Waiting on the World to Change” or something similar and all will be well. Now, the King Kids are another story. I’m just glad Lil Wayne and Drake aren’t scheduled to perform “Every Girl” and “You’re The Best” again.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
If you had done “some” research you would know that KOBE BRYANT is actually a friend of MJ. Check your facts…He won’t be there because he plays at teh Staples Center. Sheesh.
RIP MJ.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Why wouldn’t they have John Mayer up there? He’s an artist, Michael was an artist. Shouldn’t matter who appears.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
lol…sure. besties.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
yeah I’m not entertaining this convo. its silly
July 6th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Yeah.. I meant ‘It was pretty impressive’.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
I don’t think Miss Info was questioning Kobe, John Mayer etc being there…just the fact that there could be more suitable people who could have been chosen
July 6th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Kobe said he talked to Michael on the phone and had a conversation about life when he called in MTV’s tribute. So that’s understandable.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
John Mayer had some of the more thoughtful responses to MJ’s death, has spoken on his influence on his career. Why the hell wouldnt he be there?
And same thing for Kobe. Him and Mike actually knew eachother, Mike reached out to him after Kobe beat his situation. Why wouldnt he be there?
Nobody said you had to dance professionally to get an invite. They have just as much of a right to be there as Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson’s leeching asses do.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
If I’m correct the boy from Britain’s Got Talent killed Michael Jackson’s song and made national headlines because of his performance. He was really good.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
thank you ryan!….lets be even more specific…chosen to be up on stage.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
….and this back and worth of “Who should and shouldn’t be there” or “To what extent some should be involved” will carry on long after M.J is buried.
I don’t envy your task of covering all this MissInfo. I think I’ll find 1 channel to watch and/or radio station to listen to.(I’m assuming Hot will be covering this???)
And avoid the online coverage till later on.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Lol, the kid from Britain!
It is a strange line up but would you expect anything else!
July 6th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
LMFAO @ miss info’s sarcasm
July 6th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
What ever happened to the mourning process? Whats wrong with crying and being sad. Must we have a concert when people die? That good old line about “this is what ‘isert name here’ would want” is so tired. It’s just an excuse to have a party. When I die my family better play sad music and have everyone wear black, mourning the way people are supposed to. There’s nothing happy about death!
July 6th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Straight Up & Down, I don’t understand all the John Mayer hate either…?
July 6th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
john mayer being a fan a michael jackson is how strange in what way? MJ was the king of pop the whole world took notice when he passed…i guess people forget how big MJ influence on music was.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
lol. it’s okay info. some people just think you trying to start some irrelevant beef or pretending to be as pretentious as some of those you commented on who should probably not be on stage or whatever for this wake/celebration/funeral. i agree with what you was saying cause i was thinking the same thing, just like i was thinking it during the whack bet tribute awards. lol. i bet the twitter is balzing with this.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
yeah shaheen was really good on bgt…but i mean seriously. like really think about it though. but i guess they want to show that the king touched everyone/influeneced so many people. w/e.
July 6th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Gotta agree with some of the other comments Info. I don’t find anything strange about the list and think you’re coming off a bit closed minded here. No reason to get upset as we are allowed to state our opinions just as you’re allowed to state yours…this is the comments section of a blog.
July 6th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
I see your point info, but it seems a lot of his famous friends/peers (elizabeth taylor, quincy, diana, etc.) are saying they don’t want to be apart of the “spectacle” and would rather mourn privately. This thing at the staple center is for fans/public. More of a celebration/media event than a memorial service.
July 6th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
It could be more random Miss Info. Amber Rose could have been on that list lol. What does she do again…
http://protoknew.blogspot.com knowing there’s never enough Amber Rose
July 6th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
John Mayer is great guitar player and musician period. I think the world is too small to say someone can’t do something because of their color, style, etc. MJ influenced many people and judging who can come to the table is very 1950’s of the comments.
July 6th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
if the parents don’t find anything wrong with the list of people going on stage to pay tribute , why should we care who goes on stage or not.
missinfo, you are a great person but sometimes your missinfo personna gets the best of you.
July 6th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Maybe they’re gonna do “We are the World” and they wanted a cross section of genres and talent levels to match the different people on the original song? Mike did co-write it and it had a cross section of great talent and a few questionable people on it but it worked like hell.
Hey, I’m trying to make Mayer make sense!
July 6th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
You better bold that frontrunning ass Al Sharpton. I’m sick of him showing up everywhere.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Who are either of you to question who should and should not be there?. Maybe John Mayer and everyone else ur side eyeing was influenced by MJ and wants to make a speach or something damn.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Looking at the list it does not seem as if anyone was picked over people that should not be there, so again why question? Im sure anyone that wanted to perform or whatever was welcome to.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
John Mayer is a talented musician. Got it. Kobe plays in the Staple Center for the World Champion Lakers. Got it. Neither have any business at this thing. The only elderly performer that should perform is Smokey Robinson because he can still sing. What they should do is round up all these worldwide “amatuer” singers that can pull off MJ/J5 songs. It would be like at the Apollo except the obvious size difference, the worldwide broadcast and there would be a lot less booing. People would go apesh%t when someone pulls off that high note. But instead we’ll have the Jonas Bros doing “ABC”.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Emmanuel Lewis or Bubbles would make more sense to be on that list.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:34 am
If you cop the Time magazine Special Edition on MJ you can actually understand why Kobe will be there. They had a genuine relationship.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/michael-jackson/article/0,31682,1907409_1907413,00.html
July 7th, 2009 at 1:02 am
please tell me the jofakevirgins are not/have not done a mj tribute…fact miley cyrus and all those whack disney people. ugh. i don’t understand why people aren’t getting this. well maybe i am close minded. no ne said john mayer is a bad musician…in fact he’s a really talented musician…and i guess kobe is also a really great ball player…but i can’t help thinking that mj’s actual friends in the industry, people he performed with, people from his time should be doing this tribute…and some of them are so i guess that’s all good. i guess as well as being close minded, i’m also stuck in the past…but i don’t think i am really cause most people on here are older. i hope this isn’t a whack tribute.
July 7th, 2009 at 1:41 am
The who’s who is petty, it’s time to reflect and then celebrate Michael Jackson’s life.
July 7th, 2009 at 3:08 am
Well Crissy I was influenced by Michael Jackson…maybe I should make a speech too?
If all you need to qualify is to have been “influenced by Michael Jackson” then there’s gonna be a pretty long line of speeches isn’t there?
John Mayer being a fan is not the strange thing…John Mayer being chosen to perform for no other reason than because he is a fan is the strange thing.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I’m usually with you Missinfo, but on this one… Michael knew a lot of people. You never know who “he” was a fan of. Just like his 2001 tribute joint. Everyone that performed were people or groups that he personally listened to. We’re just on the outside of the gate, but that dude Mike was a true fan of all music and all types of entertainment. I’m sure his family is picking the people that HE would have wanted to perform.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Ya’ll acting like these artist weren’t asked to be in attendance or perform by the Jackson family. They ain’t just showing up. Not only does Mike have fans ALL OVER THE WORLD, but he also admires singers and entertainers from all over the world. Like my nigga Martin Lawrence said, “who else can say they Jammin in Bucharest next week”.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:15 am
lmao…
July 7th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Probably the people that some persons think should be on stage didn’t feel up to performing/talking/whatever and rather attend a private ceremony.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Mayer wrote a nice little piece in memory of MJ for the special issue TIME magazine released to commemorate the career of the King of Pop.
Peep it here: http://www.time.com/time/specials/michael-jackson/article/0,31682,1907409_1907413_1907557,00.html
MissInfo, seeing how we will all croak @ some point, who would you like to perform at your memorial service? Thinking maybe Mayer can come and perform his one song that makes me think of you, entitled “Your Body is a Wonderland”…..
July 7th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
That does shed a lot of light on things.
Good Read.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
lol, hell naw
July 7th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
How Ironic people questioning John Mayer being there and he is actually singing my favorite M.J. song Human Nature!!!!! Had me in tears glad he was there!!
July 7th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
lol, I see you though pellypell
July 7th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Word. Case in point.
July 7th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
yeah yeah John Mayer killed that Human Nature piece.
July 8th, 2009 at 1:05 am
I’m mad late but Miss info that was very mean about john mayer…that’s like ppl questioning why u be on hot 97…
July 8th, 2009 at 1:37 am
ppl have every right to question why I’m on there, and they have. Then they listen to me and make a decision about whether I belong there.
July 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am
MAAAAN!! John Mayer was awesome. You could feel the emotion through his playing. He killed it!
July 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Why was Kobe Bryant there? It was so orchestrated and fake. Of course he is a complete phony! He always tries to do things that are similar to Michael Jordan’s career. He almost single handily ruined the entire tribute…If Jordan had not have done a video with Jackson, bryant would not have cared at all.
July 9th, 2009 at 1:40 am
Perhaps Michael Jackson was a fan of John Mayer. Michael Jackson couldn’t possibly only enjoy his own music.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:44 am
no no no…since i’ve heard it straight from mj’s mouth and even kobe…without copping the time article that someone linked above you got to understand that apparently mj and kobe were FRIENDS…lol…however that worked, same with magic. and also john mayer was definately cosigned once agian from the mouth of michael jackson in an interview i saw of him where he was listing artists he liked/listened to, so yeah…but john mayer never met mj like he said on larry king live after the event, and they weren’t friends. he didn’t understand why the family chose him to perform over some others really but he understand the decision from a musical standpoint as a musician. and the kid was also cosigned by mj too. i’m glad mayer didn’t sing. it was actually a decent memorial…surprised the heck out of me knowing the family and their penchant for drama and misleading comments/diclaiming of truths.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:44 am
also lol @ person who got mad at info for the comment about mayer and it’s so called meaness and lol her being on the radio. whatever. good answer info.