Jackson Marks 30 Years As Performer
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
AP Music Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - A who's who of the entertainment industry showed up Friday
night to honor Michael Jackson and celebrate the 30th anniversary of his
solo career.
The concert began nearly an hour late as Jackson - dressed in a white
spangled jacket - was escorted to his seat with Elizabeth Taylor. Sitting
next to him was Macaulay Culkin, and Jackson's parents, Katherine and
Joseph.
The show got off to a rousing start with a dance-packed performance by
Usher, Maya and Whitney Houston, doing ``Wanna Be Startin' Somethin''' from
Jackson's 1982 megahit album ``Thriller.''
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But only moments later, it took a bizarre turn when Marlon Brando appeared
onstage sitting on a couch. He rambled for a couple minutes about child
abuse, starvation and disease.
People started to boo until Brando mentioned Jackson's name and said that
Jackson was donating money to build a children's hospital in Florida.
The evening got back on track quickly with Billy Gilman's performance of
another Jackson hit, ``Ben.''
Liza Minnelli sang Jackson's ``You Are Not Alone'' backed by a choir - then
serenaded Jackson with ``Over The Rainbow,'' the signature classic of her
mother, Judy Garland.
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The crowd grew restless at times during long lulls between performances. But
fans erupted in cheers and jumped out of their seats when Jackson joined his
brothers to sing a medley of their old hits.
The cheers continued as Jackson brought out his trademark white glove and
sang ``Billy Jean,'' then launched into classics like ``Beat It'' and
``Black and White.''
The concert didn't end until just after midnight, when Jackson went on stage
by the litany of stars who participated in the concert to sing ``We Are the
World.'' The band and chorus, led by Jackson's mentor, Quincy Jones, also
sang Jackson's new song, ``You Rock My World.''
On Thursday night, Jackson stole the show at the MTV Video Music Awards by
appearing briefly onstage with 'N Sync. And on Friday night, 'N Sync joined
the Jacksons and performed.
The first of two heavily hyped concerts in Madison Square Garden had other
scheduled appearances or performances by Gladys Knight, Eminem, Destiny's
Child, Yoko Ono, Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Tucker and
Samuel L. Jackson.
``Michael doesn't do nothing small,'' said Rodney Jerkins, who produced much
of Jackson's upcoming album, ``Invincible.''
The concerts Friday and Monday night are part of Jackson's attempt to
reclaim his King of Pop title after a six-year absence between albums.
``Invincible'' is due out at the end of October; last week, he released
``You Rock My World.''
Tickets for Jackson's show, which CBS intends to air, ranged from $45 to
$2,500, and promoters said most sold within hours.
For those with $20,000 or more to spend, there was an after-hours party with
Jackson.
Me parece que no es exactamente el You Rock My World que esperábamos pero bueno....
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
AP Music Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - A who's who of the entertainment industry showed up Friday
night to honor Michael Jackson and celebrate the 30th anniversary of his
solo career.
The concert began nearly an hour late as Jackson - dressed in a white
spangled jacket - was escorted to his seat with Elizabeth Taylor. Sitting
next to him was Macaulay Culkin, and Jackson's parents, Katherine and
Joseph.
The show got off to a rousing start with a dance-packed performance by
Usher, Maya and Whitney Houston, doing ``Wanna Be Startin' Somethin''' from
Jackson's 1982 megahit album ``Thriller.''
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
But only moments later, it took a bizarre turn when Marlon Brando appeared
onstage sitting on a couch. He rambled for a couple minutes about child
abuse, starvation and disease.
People started to boo until Brando mentioned Jackson's name and said that
Jackson was donating money to build a children's hospital in Florida.
The evening got back on track quickly with Billy Gilman's performance of
another Jackson hit, ``Ben.''
Liza Minnelli sang Jackson's ``You Are Not Alone'' backed by a choir - then
serenaded Jackson with ``Over The Rainbow,'' the signature classic of her
mother, Judy Garland.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The crowd grew restless at times during long lulls between performances. But
fans erupted in cheers and jumped out of their seats when Jackson joined his
brothers to sing a medley of their old hits.
The cheers continued as Jackson brought out his trademark white glove and
sang ``Billy Jean,'' then launched into classics like ``Beat It'' and
``Black and White.''
The concert didn't end until just after midnight, when Jackson went on stage
by the litany of stars who participated in the concert to sing ``We Are the
World.'' The band and chorus, led by Jackson's mentor, Quincy Jones, also
sang Jackson's new song, ``You Rock My World.''
On Thursday night, Jackson stole the show at the MTV Video Music Awards by
appearing briefly onstage with 'N Sync. And on Friday night, 'N Sync joined
the Jacksons and performed.
The first of two heavily hyped concerts in Madison Square Garden had other
scheduled appearances or performances by Gladys Knight, Eminem, Destiny's
Child, Yoko Ono, Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Tucker and
Samuel L. Jackson.
``Michael doesn't do nothing small,'' said Rodney Jerkins, who produced much
of Jackson's upcoming album, ``Invincible.''
The concerts Friday and Monday night are part of Jackson's attempt to
reclaim his King of Pop title after a six-year absence between albums.
``Invincible'' is due out at the end of October; last week, he released
``You Rock My World.''
Tickets for Jackson's show, which CBS intends to air, ranged from $45 to
$2,500, and promoters said most sold within hours.
For those with $20,000 or more to spend, there was an after-hours party with
Jackson.
Me parece que no es exactamente el You Rock My World que esperábamos pero bueno....