Everyday English – Star-studded memorial draws huge crowds

• Source: Global Times
• [15:33 July 08 2009]
• Comments

Tens of thousands of Michael Jackson fans crowded into downtown Los Angeles yesterday morning to memorialize the King of Pop, whose sudden death nearly two weeks ago shocked the world.

Pop music singers Mariah Carey, Usher and Jennifer Hudson mingled with R&B veterans Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder, while sports stars such as Kobe Bryant and actors such as Brooke Shields also turned out.

About 18,000 fans and friends crowded into the Staples Center sports arena and a nearby, overflowing theater for the two-hour ceremony for Jackson, who died June 25 at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest in his Los Angeles mansion.

Police estimated that more than 250,000 people would pack the sidewalks outside the arena to pay their final respects to the “Thriller” singer and one-time member of Motown legends the Jackson 5.

“This is certainly a momentous occasion that is probably as big, if not bigger than, when Elvis (Presley) passed away,” said Steve Howard, a resident of Glendale, California, who won a ticket in an online lottery.

“The impact he had on American music and world music crossed all boundaries,” said Howard, who expected the service to feature performances by Jackson’s friends and fellow singers, along with eulogies for the fallen pop star.

Two people who didn’t attend were Jackson’s ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, who said Monday that her attendance might be a distraction, and long-time Jackson friend Elizabeth Taylor, an actress who said she was asked to speak but was too overcome with grief.

Media reports have said Jackson is expected to be buried in a private family service in Los Angeles ahead of the memorial, but a family spokesman declined to comment on the service.

Questions persist over who will pay for police security and services such as sanitation, which are required for such a massive gathering. Cost estimates were hard to come by, but Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine estimated as much as $2.5 million. Like other cities, LA is strapped for cash in the recession.

About 1.6 million people registered to be among the 8,750 who won free tickets to the event, any many who didn’t have tickets gathered outside.

The memorial was televised live on major US networks, as well as streamed on the Internet, making it a global Internet video-viewing event that eclipsed even the inauguration of US President Barack Obama.

Agencies

Notes:

Mingled – (verb) To mix or to bring together. In this case is refers to celebrities from various fields who are mixed together.

At Michael Jackson’s memorial service, actors, singers and sports stars mingled and remembered the pop icon.

Eulogies – (noun) A speech written especially in honor of someone who has died.

In Sue’s eulogy, she told the audience about how her father taught her that honesty was an important quality in a person.

Sanitation – (noun) The act or process of making something clean, to promote hygiene to prevent disease.

Sanitation, especially during large public events is important so that people will not catch diseases and spread it to others.

Eclipsed – (verb) Falling into decline or in this case, not as popular.

Michael Jackson eclipses all other pop stars because he has sold more albums than any other artist in history.