14 DAY TRIAL // Mariah Carey opened the Michael Jackson memorial service singing “I’ll Be There” with Trey Lorenz. Although there have been other, perhaps better performances included in the two-hour event, Mariah wants fans to know it was not because of lack of trying that this happened, but rather because she was overwhelmed with emotion when she took to the stage, as she says on her Twitter page.
Seeing Michael’s coffin in front of the stage, the mourning family in the front row and the many grieving fans in the audience was more than Mariah could handle at the moment. Because of this, she became so emotional that she could hardly concentrate on her performance, which eventually turned out a bit screechy, as critics have already pointed out. For that, she’s sorry, Carey says in her most recent Twitter post, but she wants people to know that she really did give it her best shot.
“Just recovering from the day. Still filled w/sadness as we listen to KJLH in LA (Stevie Wonder's radio station) paying tribute to MJ. 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.” Mariah writes. Anyone watching the ceremony (see the video of Mariah’s performance below) could also see that she was really too emotional to be able to concentrate, fans are pointing out on dedicated forums.
Still, Mariah says in not so many words, what the world should be paying attention to is not to whether she gave her best performance to date during the memorial, but rather Michael Jackson’s legacy. It is this that will last the test of time and it is his music we should all be focusing on right now. For all she’s concerned, the memorial could not have taken place at all because Michael will continue to live in the hearts of those who loved him for his entire life – and for the 45 years of activity in the music industry.
“One thing I know is, we will never really have to say goodbye to MJ. His legacy lives on through his music and the millions of people. He inspired with his timeless music. He will be forever in our hearts.” Carey concludes by saying.