BET Awards honor Michael Jackson’s legacy

Sister Janet Jackson appeared at end of show to thank fans

LOS ANGELES - The BET Awards became the official Michael Jackson TV celebration on Sunday, with joyous tributes to the King of Pop from a New Edition medley of Jackson 5 songs to host Jamie Foxx’s tender monologue delivered in that classic red leather zipper jacket and white glove.
“No need to be sad. We want to celebrate this black man,” said Foxx, who kicked off the show with a re-enactment of the choreography from Jackson’s iconic “Beat It” video in front of the star-studded crowd, on its feet from the start of the show.
As the show ended, Jackson's sister, Janet, took the stage to speak on behalf of her grieving family and thank fans for their love and support.
It was Janet Jackson’s first public appearance since her brother died last Thursday. With a deep sadness on her face, she strolled to the microphone and began to speak.
She said: “My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful, so they elected me to be here.”
She noted that the King of Pop was an icon to all in attendance, but that to the Jacksons, “he was family.”
After her brief comments, Stevie Wonder, Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx took the stage and sang a poignant “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5.
Joe Jackson, the singer’s father, was also on hand. “I just wish he could be here to celebrate himself,” he said on the red carpet. “Sadly, he’s not here, so I’m here to celebrate for him.”
Already an affair of major star wattage, the night’s show at the Shrine Auditorium was thrown under a white-hot spotlight in the wake of Jackson's death, adding attendees and guests, doubling the number of media requests, adding an extra half-hour to the telecast and even lengthening the red carpet to accommodate all who wanted to take part.
Backstage, Ciara recounted talking on the phone with her idol and her regrets that she never got to meet him. As she talked, she started to cry. “He meant so much to me,” she said through tears.
While Jackson’s incredible influence stretched across genres, races, and cultures, he had a very unique place in the world of black entertainment. His influence is arguably most visible in urban music, seen in stars like Usher who mimic his dance moves, to Ne-Yo, whose music is marked by its Jackson-isms. But that influence went beyond music: Jackson was black America’s biggest star, who broke racial barriers that allowed for so many other superstars to follow.
“Michael Jackson was so important to our world, to our country, to this network,” said BET Chairwoman Debra L. Lee. “Michael was truly a musical deity.”
Producers of the annual awards show — which recognizes the best in music, acting and sports — revamped the show to meet the moment. While Beyonce and T.I. were the leading award nominees with five apiece, giving out trophies was an afterthought: Honoring Jackson became the show’s main focus.
While some performed their own hits, most made sure to incorporate some of the man who influenced them in their performances. A chant of “Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson” was heard while Keri Hilson performed, and Foxx’s “Blame It” incorporated some of the Jacksons’ dance hit “Blame It On the Boogie.”
Reflections of the star
Throughout the night, Foxx also regularly turned up in some of Jackson’s signature looks, like the wide-collar black leather outfit from “Billie Jean.”
New Edition, the 1980s teen sensations who were considered that generation’s Jackson 5 with their own version of bubble-gum soul, ran through several of the Jackson 5’s greatest hits, from “I Want You Back” to “ABC,” mirroring their idols right down to the group’s original choreography. Ne-Yo sang one of Jackson’s most sensual songs, “Lady in my Life.”
“He’s the man who made it possible for me to be on the stage; I love you and I miss you,” he said later.
Ciara sang Jackson’s humanitarian anthem, “Heal the World,” dressed in a jacket that had Jackson’s signature military epaulets.
And winners acknowledged Jackson when they received their awards.
“This is for you, Michael Jackson,” said Beyonce, as she held her trophy for best female R&B artist skyward. “I have to thank Michael for being my future and my hero.”
“We all know none of us in this in this room wouldn’t be here for Michael Jackson,” said Lil Wayne, as he picked up his award for best male hip-hop star.
“My heart and prayers go out to the whole Jackson family,” said basketball star LeBron James, who won best male athlete.
Not every moment had the stamp of Jackson. Foxx resurrected his “In Living Color” character Wanda and paired it with another cross-dressing classic character, Martin Lawrence’s Sheneneh, for a hilarious parody of an “upcoming movie”: “Skank Robbers.”
Beyonce gave a simultaneously sexy and angelic performance of “Ave Maria”; Ne-Yo brought out some of the hitmaking male R&B acts of the 1980s and 1980s, from Bell Biv Devoe to Guy.
But even without a direct Jackson reference, there was usually a Jackson connection, as all of those artists counted Jackson as an inspiration. And Eddie Levert of the classic R&B group the O’Jays talked about how much he’d miss Jackson even as his group was honored with a lifetime achievement award.
Jackson connections were inescapable: Even the building where the ceremony took place, the Shrine auditorium, was where Jackson’s hair and scalp were burned during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in 1984. It was also the location for several of his Grammy and American Music Award performances.

King of Pop~Micheal Jackson

Micheal Jackson (King of Pop)
MJ的離去，對我來講，原來是那麽的不捨，也是人才損失。
MJ給我太多回憶了……因爲他的獨特，他的魅力，他的Moon-walk，他的45度傾斜，他的一切……深深的留在我的記憶裏。沒有任何人可以超越他。
MJ都在壓力中度過他的一生，連他的離去都在壓力中。他的離去是他願意的嗎？他還有100場的演唱會還沒舉行的啊！我想他不願意那麽年輕就離去吧……他的Fans也更不願意……
6月26日早晨，聽到他的新聞時。我祈禱他可以被搶救成功，但是我的祈禱……我還是要面對現實，面對他的離去！
MJ… I love you always, & always REMEMBER… & U ARE NOT ALONE