During actress Brooke Shield’s eulogy speech at the memorial service for Michael Jackson, Brooke mentioned that “Smile” had been the favorite song of “The King of Pop”.

“Smile” is a pop song, originally used as an instrumental theme in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. It has been sung by different singers since then.The best known version is the one by Nat King Cole.

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The song “I’ll Be There” is one of the hits for Michael Jackson and his brothers when they were still together as The Jackson 5. It was the first single from their Third Album in 1970 and subsequently becoming the most successful single ever released by the group. “I’ll Be There” sold 4.2 million copies in the United States, and 6.1 million copies worldwide.

In 1992, Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz covered the song during Mariah’s appearance on MTV Unplugged. The song became her sixth number 1 single in the US. Their duet was nominated for the 1993 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, losing to Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road”.

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The Michael Jackson memorial service was held at the Staples Center in California, USA on July 7, 2009.  Incidentally, it’s the home of the 2009 NBA Champions Los Angeles Lakers so it was not odd to see sports stars Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson among the  group of entertainers that attended the event.

Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson went onstage together to give their eulogy speech.

Kobe’s speech was brief focusing more on Michael Jackson’s humanitarian side. He told the crowd that Michael made the Guinness Book of World Record for “Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star”.

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On the Michael Jackson memorial service held at the Staples Center, California, USA on July 7, 2009, actress Brooke Shield was one of those who gave their farewell speech for Michael Jackson.

Her eulogy speech was one of the most sincere delivered. She first appeared on the podium holding back her tears telling the crowd that Michael Jackson was one of a kind. Even though they were an odd couple, she called their bond “the most natural and easiest of friendships”. They both shared something in common, they grew up in the public eye and didn’t have a real childhood.

She narrated that she first met Michael when she was 13 years old and they instantly became friends. She also shared some anecdotes, including an occasion in which she was his date for one of Elizabeth Taylor’s weddings, and the pair snuck into the Taylor’s room to get the first look at her dress, only to discover Taylor asleep in the bed.

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Rev. Al Sharpton is a Baptist minister, civil rights/social justice activist and radio talk show host.

He is also a close and long-time friend of Michael Jackson and his family for 35 years. He escorted Jacko at the funeral for “The Godfather of Soul” James Brown last 2006.

During the memorial service for Michael Jackson held at Staples Center, California, USA on July 7, 2009, Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a very rousing eulogy speech, during which he told Jackson’s children from the stage,

“There wasn’t nothing strange about your Daddy. What was strange was what your Daddy had to deal with. But he dealt with it anyway.”

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At the end of the memorial service for Michael Jackson held at Staples Center, California, USA on July 7, 2009, his daughter Paris Katherine Jackson was given the chance to speak in public for the first time.

Holding back tears her tears, Paris said:

“I just want to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. I just want to say I love him so much.”

She then burst into tears and hugged her aunt, Janet Jackson. Jacko’s other children, Prince Michael and Blanket were also on stage but didn’t speak.

Here’s the video of Paris Katherine Jackson’s brief but very emotional eulogy speech:

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