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Motown boss cites Michael Jackson’s “questionable decisions” at memorial

As Michael Jackson’s coffin was wheeled in to the Staples Center about 10:30 a.m. by his brothers wearing matching suits and sequined gloves, the Andrae Crouch Choir set the scene with the gospel tune “Soon and Very Soon.”After introductory remarks by family friend, the Rev. Lucious Smith, who said, “He is never really gone at all,” Mariah Carey took the stage to sing the Jackson 5 hit “I’ll Be There” with help from Trey Lorenz.10:50 a.m.: Lionel Richie performs the Commodores tune “Jesus is Love.”10:54 a.m.: Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. delivers a light-hearted nostalgic speech, saying Jackson was “like a son to me.” He says Jackson made some “questionable decisions” but “accomplished everything he dreamed of.”11:03 a.m.: A video montage11:07 a.m.: Stevie Wonder is escorted to the piano. “This is a moment that I wished that I didn’t live to see come … but God must have needed him much more.” He performs “I Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer” and “They Won’t Go When I Go.”11:15 a.m. Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson speak. The latter notably omits Jackson’s father, Joe, in referring to the wonderful family that will embrace Jackson’s three children.11:21: Jennifer Hudson performs “Will You Be There” with audio footage from Jackson.11:25: The Rev. Al Sharpton credits Jackson for eradicating racial barriers, drawing attention to world hunger and for the election of President Barack Obama. “Wasn’t nothing strange about your daddy,” he said in remarks directed to his children. “It was strange what your daddy had to deal with … but he dealt with it anyway.”11:33 a.m.: Guitarist John Mayer, the only white performer to date and who also shares a publicist with the Jackson family, performs an instrumental version of “Human Nature.”11:39 a.m.: A tearful Brooke Shields says “we were two little kids having fun,” as she recounts their youthful pranks. “He was often referred to as the king, but the Michael that I knew always reminded me more of ‘The Little Prince,’” and she quoted a passage from the Antoine De Saint-Exupery children’s classic.11:48 a.m.: Jermaine Jackson sings what Shields says was his brother’s favorite song, “Smile,” from the Charlie Chaplin film “Modern Times.”11:52 a.m.: Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, children of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., take the stage. Bernice says that even while Jackson was being dogged by “persecutions and accusations” he took the time to call their ailing mother, Coretta, in October 2005. “My only wish is that he could have seen the glow on her face.”11:59 a.m.: Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee recounts the biblical story of the Good Samaritan. “I call Michael Jackson the Good Samaritan. I call him Michael Jackson who cared and loved for the world.”12:07 p.m.: Usher performs Jackson’s “Gone Too Soon,” stares at the coffin, breaks down and removes his ever-present sunglasses. He is quickly hugged by the Jackson family.12:12 p.m.: Video footage of the Jackson 5 singing “Who’s Loving You.”12:13 p.m. Smokey Robinson: “I wrote that song!” He looks at the coffin. “He’s my little brother over there.”12: 18 p.m.: Shaheen Jafargholi, a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent, sings “Who’s Loving You.”12:22 p.m.: Jackson choreographer Kenny Ortega explains Jafargholi’s presence: He would have performed with Jackson during the planned comeback shows in London.12:24 p.m.: Shades of Live Aid ’85 in Philadelphia. An all-star version of ”We are the World,” with the speakers, performers and the Jackson family taking to the stage. LaToya Jackson — her face is concealed under a massive LaBelle-style hat — clutches her brother’s children. One of them is chewing gum.12:29 p.m.: “Heal the World” follows. Gordy clenches his right fist. The Rev. Jesse Jackson is in a trance-like state.12:34 p.m.: Jermaine Jackson thanks everyone for coming out, says he is lost for words. Marlon Jackson recalls the days they used to watch The Three Stooges. “We will never understand what he endured … Being judged, ridiculed. How much pain can one take? Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone.”12:40 p.m.: In what may be the first time the public has heard her speak. Paris, 11, tearfully says: “Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine, and I just want to say I love him so much.” She immediately was embraced by Janet Jackson, sporting a black beret.12:42 p.m. The coffin is carried out.12:49 p.m.: The worldwide TV feed ends with a reminder that concert promoter AEG Live owns the copyright to the broadcast.

Jennifer Hudson sings of love in “Idol” return

A lot has happened to Jennifer Hudson since she last took the stage on “American Idol.” In her highly anticipated return to the show on Wednesday night’s broadcast, Hudson sang “If This Isn’t Love” from her Grammy-winning 2008 debut album.

If the performance was not as poignant as her power ballad “You Pulled Me Through” during the Grammy Awards on Feb. 8, it was a moment to be savored for a singer who has experienced life’s highs and lows since she finished a disappointing seventh in 2004. Ironically, when producers this season introduced a rule allowing them to save one contestant from elimination, Simon Cowell mentioned Hudson’s early exit as a justification for giving him and his fellow judges veto power over America’s votes. And on the same night that viewers saw Hudson’s performance, they saw the judges use their save power to rescue Matt Giraud.

As it turns out, Hudson was not in the studio when it happened. Her performance was taped three weeks ago, and Hudson herself is currently on tour. Judging by a review from a writer with the Atlanta Journal Constitution posted on Wednesday, the tour is going well. “Hudson is a wonder,” the reviewer wrote. “And not just because it is remarkable that she is out in front of audiences mere months after her mother, brother and nephew were killed. But because on the first night of her two-night stand in Atlanta  - the second show being Thursday- this relative newcomer arrived with an ease with the audience that never let on that this is her first tour ever.”

On “Idol” Wednesday night, host Ryan Seacrest (who was careful to dress the same for the pre-tape as for Wednesday’s live broadcast), mentioned Hudson’s Oscar win for her role in the 2006 movie “Dreamgirls” and her Grammy win for best R&B album this year.

“You’ve got an Oscar and a Grammy, what else is left?” Seacrest said.

“I don’t know, well I guess coming back here and singing,” Hudson replied.

How did Hudson do? Was her return everything viewers wanted from the “Idol” favorite?

Jennifer Hudson to return to “American Idol”

Singer Jennifer Hudson will return to “American Idol” on Wednesday night to tape a performance for broadcast later, a source in her management office said.

Hudson first gained fame on “Idol” in 2004, when she finished a disappointing seventh in the competition. The 27-year-old singer went on to have a more illustrious career than some of the show’s champions, winning a supporting actress Oscar for her role in the 2006 movie “Dreamgirls” and this year winning a best R&B album Grammy for her self-titled 2008 release.

It’s ironic that Hudson is coming back to the Fox network show this year, because the ”Idol” judges recently changed the rules to allow them to override viewers’ elimination of just one contestant during the season. Alpha judge Simon Cowell has said the inspiration for the rule change came from the early elimination of Hudson and a couple other promising contestants. 

The regular Tuesday night broadcast of “Idol” has been preempted by President Barack Obama’s televised news conference about the economy and his budget plan.

With Norman Gentle, will comedy upend singing on “Idol”?

It was a pretty humdrum night on “American Idol” until Norman Gentle took the stage.

Until this season, every contestant to make it this far on the ultimate talent show has been unfailingly serious about their quest for fame (though, admittedly, the seriousness of Sanjaya Malakar’s 2007 turn is open to debate). They may tug at viewers’ heartstrings by saying they only want fame for the sake of family members who depend on them, and they may smile and joke, but none of them make a joke of the often humiliating process of laying it all out there on the “Idol” stage.

That has now changed with Nick Mitchell, who goes by the stage name Norman Gentle. Mitchell strutted onto the stage on Wednesday night wearing a 1980s headband, silver shirt, white tuxedo jacket with tails, and khaki shorts, writhing his way across the stage and all but prostrating himself in front of the “Idol” logo at the base of the judges’ table in an exaggerated parody of what contestants do every week on the show. Whereas other contestants sing their hearts out and then wait until afterward to ask America to vote for them, Mitchell just included a plea for votes right into his lyrics. He sang “And I Am Telling You” from the musical “Dreamgirls.” With lyrics like, ”I’m stayin’/ and you, and you/ you’re going to love me,” Mitchell was able to use the song to beg for his spot on the show.

Former ”Idol” contestant Jennifer Hudson sang the song in the movie version of “Dreamgirls” to wild critical acclaim, so the song is somewhat tied to the show. Even when Hudson sang it in the movie it had a story, because she was open about how her elimination from “Idol,” which came before her “Dreamgirls” role, was a crushing blow.

It remains to be seen if “Idol” voters will give him a chance to stay on. ”I hope I’m speaking on behalf of America when I pray you don’t go through to the next round,” said judge Simon Cowell. But the other three judges on the panel liked Mitchell’s performance, and everyone agreed it was different.

Other strong performers who received praise from the judges included 16-year-old redhead Allison Iraheta, who sang Heart’s “Alone,” and 26-year-old Adam Lambert, who has a background in musical theater and sang the Rolling Stones song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” The judges also had nice things to say about Arkansas native Kris Allen’s rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and Megan Joy Corkrey‘s version of Corinne Baily Rae’s “Put Your Records On.”

If Mitchell does make it through to next round, how could he change his act and do something different from begging for votes? Is he a one trick pony, or does he bring something fresh to the show? And did any of the 12 contestants on Wednesday night look like they could go all the way?

Critics rate Grammy Awards a so-so show

The Grammy Awards on Sunday failed to elicit a chorus of praise from the critics, who tended to agree that the show was all over the musical map.

Brian McCollum, pop music critic for the Detroit Free Press,  called the show “one of the most sizzle-free Grammy events in recent memory, marked by tepid live performances, unmemorable acceptance speeches and low-key presenters with dud jokes.”

McCollum said the Grammys’ recent practice of not using a main host made the 3 1/2-hour show less watchable. 

“The maneuver keeps the gala moving briskly — and offers face time to a wider assortment of stars — but it also leaves the Grammy show without a real center. Late-night comedian Craig Ferguson’s brief but spirited slot as presenter was a quick reminder what a charismatic emcee can bring to the affair,” McCollum wrote.

Jim DeRogatis, pop music critic at the Chicago Sun-Times was not impressed with the show’s performances.

“… The producers continued to follow the ill-advised cross-genre/cross-generational programming that has dominated the last several telecasts. These may sound like intriguing ideas on paper, but in practice, they’re never as satisfying as hearing the individual artists on their own,” he wrote.

Ann Powers, music critic at the Los Angeles Times, also said the show was all over the place.

Grammy weekend kicks off with Neil Diamond tribute

Coldplay, Foo Fighters and Jennifer Hudson were among the pop stars paying tribute to Neil Diamond Friday night in Los Angeles to kick off Grammy weekend charity event, MusicCares Person of the Year.

The celebrity-studded gathering of 2,200 people at the L.A. Convention Center honored Diamond, 68, for his philanthropy, including large donations to relief efforts for Texas areas ravaged by Hurricane Ike.

Diamond thanked his children and grandchildren who forgave him for often leaving home to tour and work on “my little musical creations.” The singer-songwriter also thanked his mother for setting him on his musical path, getting him a guitar as a kid in Brooklyn

“When the Brooklyn Dodgers left Brooklyn, I was so depressed, my parents bought a guitar and paid it off $1 a week, for 10 weeks. It was a good investment, Mom. You made a life for me,” he said.

Hudson’s moving rendition of “Holly Holy” and Coldplay’s smooth version of Diamond’s “I’m A Believer,” made famous by the Monkees were among the highlighted performances showcasing Diamond’s 50-year body of work. The Jonas Brothers kicked off the show with “Forever in Blue Jeans.”

Diamond, himself, slow-danced with Faith Hill during their duet on “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” and then roused the crowd with “America” and his finale of “Sweet Caroline.”

Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson set to sing

(Writing and reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis)

Singer Jennifer Hudson is set to perform for the first time since the October shooting deaths of her mother, brother and nephew in Chicago.

Hudson is scheduled to sing on Feb. 6 at the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year show in Los Angeles, an event leading up to the 51st annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8.The event is to honor Grammy-winning singer Neil Diamond.

Hudson herself received a Grammy nomination this year for best R&B album for her self-titled debut album. The 27-year-old Hudson also starred in the movie “The Secret Life of Bees.”

She will appear alongside Adele, Coldplay, the Foo Fighters, Josh Groban, Raul Malo and Tim McGraw at the MusiCares concert. MusiCares is an organization created mainly to help musicians who have fallen on hard times.

Authorities in Chicago have charged Hudson’s estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour, with murder in the killing of her family members. The motive for the shooting appears to involve a dispute between Balfour and his estranged wife, Julia.

Jennifer Hudson is a former “American Idol” contestant who won wide acclaim including a supporting actress Oscar for her singing and acting in the 2006 film musical “Dreamgirls.”