ABOVE: Mariah Carey performs the Jackson 5 classic “I’ll Be There” at Michael Jackson’s public memorial service earlier this week at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Mariah Carey gave an expectedly strong performance of “I’ll Be There” at Michael Jackson’s memorial service earlier this week, but she couldn’t keep her diva attitude (or her cleavage) in check.
So, what did she do after the ceremony that was so disrespectful?
We admit that we didn’t sit glued to the TV set during the endless coverage of Michael Jackson’s death and funeral, but we did catch some of the musical performances from his public memorial (watch the Jackson Memorial music performances).
During the service, Stevie Wonder’s heartbreaking rendition of “I Never Dreamt You’d Leave in Summer” was astounding, not only because it was a beautiful performance, but because it felt respectful–like a funereal tribute rather than a rock concert. Appropriate.
Mariah Carey, on the other hand, hit the stage like a diva in a flashy gown with too much of her breasts exposed. Being a fashionista is fine, but not at a funeral. She then sang her signature Jackson 5 cover song, “I’ll Be There,” with her current singing partner Trey Lorenz. It felt like a Grammy performance, not a solemn tribute to a fallen friend (wait, were they even friends?).
Making matters worse, after the show Yahoo! reports that Carey took to her Twitter account to apologize to fans for her performance at the ceremony.
Mariah wrote:
“Trying to sing today was basically impossible for me. I could barely keep myself from crying. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to pull it together and really do it right, but I was literally choked up when I saw him there in front of me.”
Um, self-centered much? This concert was not about you, Mariah.
We don’t mind that she was upset during her performance, but to fish for compliments afterwards seems kind of tacky.
MusicVixen says...
It sounds like Mariah was practically begging fans to tell her, "No, you sounded awesome at the funeral!" That is really tacky.
K says...
07.10.09 9:40 am
lol, and the award for worst fake story made up on the spot using a single brain cell goes to……..
Karen added...
Those sound like the words of a grumpy Mariah fan.
07.10.09 9:41 am
K says...
07.10.09 9:46 am
Wow, you read right through me. Guess it’s not just a single brain cell bopping around up there.
Jake says...
07.10.09 10:09 am
From what I got on this whole Mariah thing, a TON of bloggers were quickly bashing Mariah for weak vocals and a horrible performance (Perez Hilton, Socialte Life, etc) and it obviously wasn’t Mariah’s best (even though I didn’t think it was bad–just obviously emotional). So, Mariah just responded because she felt like she let people and Michael down for not performing her best. I feel for her. Look at that performance, it’s obvious she is incredibly shook up, I have never seen her look like that.
rjs says...
07.10.09 11:21 am
Come on people….. (AND YOU TOO YOU SUB-HUMAN, WASTE OF GOOD DONOR ORGANS, PIECE OF crap PEREZ-HILTON)…
Mariah Carey is a WOMAN first, entertainer second. If you think for ONE SECOND, that when she walked up on stage and saw the crowd first, and Micheal’s coffin second, and then thought to herself, “Gee, this is all about me at this monment”, you are DEAD…WRONG…
There is NO woman alive on this planet that is wired like that to behave at a memorial of someone they KNEW. Woman especially are more sensitive and emotional. I am sure Mariah Carey was NOT looking forward to having to stand before MILLIONS of people whatching her while she
CONTAINED HER OWN GRIEF WHILE HAVING TO THEN SING A TRIBUTE SONG AND PLEASE…LETS NOT FORGET BEFORE MICHAELS COFFIN, HIS CHILDREN, AND HIS FAMILY IN FRIONT OF HER).. Christ…. Can you imagine this yourself.??
I applaude her, as well as the other singers for (NOT) breaking down during the performances.
ALL these entertainers……KNEW Michael.!
In closing,
This was a funeral memorial, not a concert to have been judged by anyone other then the PERFORMER.! HAVE YOU GOT THAT.?
Imagine KNOWING this was your FINAL “GOOD-BYE” to your friend laying before you, and you had just one opportunity to sing a good-bye song in front of His coffin, his children, his mother, father and brothers and sisters weeping before you.
(And lets not forget the HALF A BILLION PEOPLE WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD.)
You too would have held yourself accountable to have wanted to have given (THE VERY BEST PERFORMANCE YOU WOULD EVER GIVE IN YOUR LIFE).
May Michael be dwelling in eternal life now in everlasting peace without pain or sadness, in the presence of Christ and God.
Michael, you are free now….
CLC added...
I definitely agree. I’m a singer and I felt all the pressure MC had before, during and maybe after her performance. Others who would comment against are only those MC haters - what would you expect? If somebody thinks it’s not supposed to be about her performance, THEN WHY COMMENT ABOUT HER MISTAKE? C’mon hypocrites, it’s her lapses that you were waiting for, and it’s normal for any singer. Whitney also cracked during her one of latest Grammy performance but still many praised her - despite her also diva attitude and being a drug addict. Be fair! MC is so kind that she apologized for she expected millions of fans expected a perfect performance from a real diva.
And if Karen here is more concern on MJ funeral than any performance, then why did you not sit glued to the TV set? ARe you a singer? Have you ever experienced singing in front of millions of people?
07.11.09 12:02 am
CLC added...
And yes, logically she’s a friend to MJ, if not any family member’s friend. Otherwise, who would invite her to sing one of MJ’s best songs, that she herself also made it number 1. And she’s a friend because she wasted her time to perform without a “fee”? I’ve watched Whitney performing with MJ in one of his performances in a concert. Where is she during the funeral? Is Celine Dion there? How about Madonna?
07.11.09 12:25 am
BoboG says...
07.10.09 2:24 pm
Mariah has so much to apologize for that her performance at Jackson’s memorial is the tip of the iceberg. Cheap vocal gymnastics, unable to sing a damn line of song without a million unnecessary notes, diva attitude, horrible songs - where do you start? Basically blessed with a lovely voice, she has done everything to squander her talents. A total waste.
CLC added...
Who are you? What are your accomplishments that made you comment like this? Are you known to anybody?
07.11.09 12:27 am
Troy says...
07.10.09 2:48 pm
Anyone who has been to a memorial or a wake who has had to get up and speak about the person they love knows how hard it is. To have to sing in front of millions of people without a rehearsal is a whole other level. Carey, it seems, is human after all and when her tribute to her, yes, FRIEND, was not what she had hoped, she issued a heart felt apology for not doing it justice. If you think this woman was out for self promotion you are sorely mistaken and missing the entire point of it all, which is truly sad. Carey seems to be someone is ‘damned if she does & damned if she doesn’t'; that no matter what she does, her critics enjoy trashing her. In this instance, it is absolutely ludacris that she be under srcutiny for what was so obviously not a selfish or arrogant act; but a genuine gesture to a friend gone far too soon.
Kathy B says...
07.10.09 3:43 pm
C’mon she didn’t mean it like that. I think she wanted 2 do the best she could to honor a friend that she’s known for nearly 20 yrs.! She also may not have wanted to show her emotions that blatant in front of Ms. Jackson & Michaels 3 children who are probably the most hard hit by Michaels death.
As for the outfit, I find it amusing that you & others would bash her yet forget to mention Jenifer Hudson’s SHORT WHITE DRESS! Hypocrite much!
Eww That Dress says...
07.10.09 5:50 pm
That dress was over the top for a funeral. No need to apologize, I heard it all before. She never delivers except on her records. This is nothing new. Get use to it. I have. I have never been a fan because of it. Watch, any time off the cuff, she can not do it, unless planned well in advance.
Vee says...
07.11.09 3:40 am
Karen, you make a whole lot of sense.
Zi says...
07.12.09 4:06 am
Perfectly worded opinion piece. I thought her performance sucked.
Ariell choy says...
07.13.09 6:51 pm
The only reason Mariah’s voice sucked is because she’s overused her vocals over the years. That was not horrible but it certainly wasn’t great.
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