All the music-themed award shows have paid their respects to Michael Jackson with heartfelt tributes. But the Grammys topped them all Sunday night because they not only displayed the King of Pop's music but captured the sentiment of one of the issues closest to his heart--saving the planet.
Then for the shocking finale, Jackson's two eldest children, Prince Michael and Paris, accepted the Grammys' Lifetime Achievement on their father's behalf. (Michael's youngest son, Prince II aka "Blanket," remained backstage.)
Instead of offering a medley of his biggest records, Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, and Smokey Robinson joined for a performance of Jackson's "Earth Song" as a 3D version of the video from This Is It played in the background. Additionally, some of Jackson's lead vocals were also used for the live rendition.
The featured artists were great choices and offered broad, diverse appeal to the sound of the record. It also made "Earth Song" bigger, like the global anthem "We Are The World" that Jackson co-wrote along with Lionel Richie 25 years ago.
Smokey said he was honored to be a part of the tribute. "I hope that people were listening to even more so than seeing," Robinson said to press backstage. "This is it for us. We need to be aware of what we're doing and do something about it before it's too late."
The most moving part of the song was its climax, when each of the performers had a moment to get front-and-center and belt. Hudson shined here, as it was a gospel moment that suited her well. Underwood also captured the passion of the record.
The 3D element was a nice touch, but only offered a few bonuses of dandelions and a fluttering butterfly. But this segment was clearly about the message not the special effects.
After the performance, Lionel Richie, who introduced the performance, announced that Jackson's children and their cousins (Tito Jackson's sons) would be accepting their dad's award.
Seeing Jackson's kids walk out was emotional. It was sad because seeing them reminded me of their daily struggle of coping their father's death. But seeing them was also a joyous experience because they looked vibrant and beautiful. He would be proud.
They appear to have matured so much since we last saw them at the memorial in July.
But even more impactful was their composure and strength.
Big brother Prince Michael had the stage presence of his dad as he boldly approached the microphone with his sister and offered an acceptance speech that singled that he and his siblings were OK.
"[We] like to thank the fans, our father loved you so much," Prince Michael said. "Our father was always concerned about the planet."
Prince Michael added that his father's music had a universal theme of love. "We will continue to spread his message," he said.
Backstage after the tribute, Prince Michael, Paris, and "Blanket" posed with Lionel Richie for an historical, cross-generational photo opp.
As cool as the other award show tributes were, I honestly think this presentation is closer to what Jackson would have wanted. It was not just about him, but about all of us.
Rileys, the first of two movies the Twilight andNew Moon star has at Sundance, stars Stewart as a teenage prostitute and James Gandolfini as her burly protector, a grieving father who thinks he can save her in lieu of his own lost daughter.
Though she's playing young, this is no innocent story. Her character, sometimes calling herself "Mallory," sometimes "Allison," is vulgarly sexual, coming on to Gandolfini when he stops into a strip club on a business trip, though he is immediately turned off by her obvious youth and vulnerability.
Instead, he pays her to let him try to save her.
In her first scene, Stewart is wearing knee-high fishnets, a bra that isn't much of one, and a red tartan skirt as she lunges and thrusts from the stage. It may sound provocative, but her character is so obviously wounded, both emotionally and physically, judging by the many bruises on her body, that it quickly becomes awful instead of enticing.
Gandolfini wants to throw his coat over her, and the audience does, too.
However the film is received, Stewart deserves credit for taking the risk of playing this part. It's a shockingly sexual performance, but not at all "sexy." Her character's vulgar come-ons suggest someone who may have a lot of experience, but still lacks any real understanding about intimacy.
For an actress like Stewart, it would be easy to play it safe. Knock out a romantic comedy or a Nicholas Sparks weepie while the vampire cash keeps rolling in from Twilight sequels. Instead, Stewart is challenging herself, and moviegoers, too.
(AP Photo/Peter Kramer)
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451b46269e20120a80361f7970b
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Twilight star Kristen Stewart exposed in Welcome to the Rileys:
Teen sensation Miley Cyrus has found the perfect new mentor in Academy-award-winning actress and former child star Jodie Foster.
The 'Hannah Montana' star admits she and the Oscar winner have had phone conversations about fame, and Cyrus has taken the 'Silence of The Lambs' star's advice to heart, Contactmusic reported.
"Jodie Foster called me up a couple of years ago and she has been like a mentor to me," Cyrus said.
The 17-year-old singer, set to give up her Disney alter-ego 'Hannah Montana' after the TV show's next season admits that she value's her mentor's advice a lot.
"She told me to keep my head high and surround myself with good people. I value her advice very much," Cyrus added.
Atlanta, GA 1/21/2010 08:34 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are no longer trying to hide their romance. Sources say Pattinson and Stewart will admit to the relationship when they begin filming the fourth Twilight installment, Breaking Dawn.
“Rob and Kristen are very happy, and everyone that’s part of the franchise is so happy for them. They don’t feel the need to hide it anymore,” says a source.
Meanwhile, it was recently claimed Pattinson’s mom Clare is ready for him to have a baby with Stewart. An insider says Clare believes a child would help keep Pattinson “grounded as his success in showbiz continues to explode.”
Neither Pattinson, 23, nor Stewart, 19, has commented. The release of the third Twilight film, Eclipse, is set for June.
Join the Robert Pattinson Fan Club on WooEB athttp://wooeb.com/robertpattinson
###
Click here for more Entertainment News
About WooEB
WooEB Community is a business, music and social networking community. WooEB provides members with a wealth of applications that enable them to create an in-depth profile within the community. Profiles include an About Me, Background and Lifestyle, Videos, Photo sharing, News, Music, Blogs, unique URL and networking with other members inside the WooEB community. WooEB provides ADit to each member providing them the opportunity to have an exclusive profile (no outside advertising) displaying only banner ads they upload to their pages. Members can run their own ads or give or sell their ad space to advertisers at prices the member sets.
To create your profile sign up and within minutes you too can have your People profile running your ads and building your network with new members daily.
befound@finditt.com
The buzz is was that Miley Cyrus was wearing a ring that some believed meant she was engaged to her boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth. The relationship, like many aspects of Miley Cyrus life as a pop-culture star - from the stripper pole dance at the Teen Choice Awards, to her concert crotch-grab dancing - is controversial. Liam Hemsworth is 20 and Miley Cyrus is 17.
Miley Cyrus
There's some question as to the legality of such a relationship. The blog comments at Just Jared Jr. focus on the fact that Miley Cyrus is just 17:
lily @ 10:42 am on 01/05/2010
OMG he is 20!, i didn’t know that. i don’t think it ok for a 17 year old dating a 20 year old but it is that a legal?
But to many of Miley Cyrus' fans, it doesn't matter:
Still:Katie g! @ 11:25 am on 01/05/2010
=) i love the two of them together, and she looks kind of tan, and i love her hair. all in all sher looks happy and healthy
Sketch @ 11:54 am on 01/05/2010
@lily: If he is 20 then it would be illegal for them to have sex. Does that answer your question?
According to Avert.org, the legal age of consent varies with states in America: in California it's is 18, but in Georgia, it's 16; Miley Cyrus is 17. So Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth would have to carry a check chart with them to make sure they weren't doing it in the wrong state.
But with all of this, Miley Cyrus is not engaged to Liam Hemsworth. Miley Cyrus' representative told People Magazine that while she's sporting a new ring, she's not engaged at all.