Janet Jackson honors her brother
Image from Wikimedia.
Last night, the MTV Video Music Awards was a festival of shared spotlights. Taylor Swift’s spotlight was stolen by a Kanye West temper tantrum. Beyonce then gave her spotlight to Taylor Swift, giving her another chance to make her first VMA acceptance speech for her Best Female Video award.
Janet Jackson’s 2009 VMA performance was all about her late brother, Michael Jackson. In a nearly 6-minute Michael Jackson tribute, the most famous remaining Jackson and a troupe of other dancers did their best to imitate the King of Pop’s moves as footage from some of his most memorable music videos played on a gigantic screen behind them.
Michael Jackson still making headlines
The story of Michael Jackson has been portrayed from many different points of view since his death. VH1 has been running a special about where his money went and how much debt he had because of personal loans to add rides at Neverland Ranch. Many tribute specials have been created, and last night another was made: Janet Jackson’s 2009 VMA performance.
The Michael Jackson tribute started off with, of course, “Thriller,” and the medley that followed contained pieces of of “Bad,” “Smooth Criminal” and “Scream.” From the costumes the dancers wore to the dance moves, the performers did their best to embody Michael Jackson in their tribute.
Before Janet Jackson’s 2009 VMA performance
Janet Jackson’s 2009 VMA performance followed a speech by Madonna, which opened the MTV Awards, and also was part of the Michael Jackson tribute. Madonna spoke about the things she and Michael Jackson had in common, but mostly she said she regretted not being closer to him.
“He was so unique, so original, so rare. And there will never be anyone like him again. He was a king,” Madonna said. Then Janet Jackson’s 2009 VMA performance started as renowned dance choreographers took the stage to re-create “Thriller.”
Then things went downhill
Opening the 2009 MTV VMAs with Janet Jackson’s 2009 VMA performance and Michael Jackson Tribute was a good decision that got a wide audience to tune in to the MTV Awards. Another attention-getting performance was the arguable bizarre and bloody number by the always-attention-grabbing Lady Gaga.
Later in the evening Kanye West made the very bad decision to interrupt Taylor Swifts speech with his proclamation that Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time. Beyonce was obviously embarrassed; Taylor Swift was stunned and speechless. But the evening ended on a high note when Beyonce won Best Video of the Year, but called Taylor Swift up on stage to finish her acceptance speech rather than making her own. Very classy.
Staged versus spontaneous
While Janet Jackson’s 2009 VMA performance was clearly planned out very carefully, right down to the virtual duet at the end, where she matched movements with a video of her brother, I don’t think the Kanye West, Taylor Swift incident was planned or staged.
Even though the incident has gotten the artists all kinds of media attention, it just doesn’t make sense as a publicity stunt. I am glad to see, though, that Janet Jackson’s 2009 VMA performance — a positive, loving Michael Jackson tribute — is getting just as much attention as Kanye West’s little hissy fit.
Those two are perfomers! She’ll always share the stage with him. You can see the pain in the eyes, but she gave her all! God bless her and be with all of the Jacksons. I’m not judging….she’s Janet! Enough said!
i luvd da performance she gave it was awesome hope da family do better r.i.p. michael jackson
now that is the MTV i know at its best they did a better job then BET and that is a shame Michael J Jackson was one of our own and i feel like they half azz’s it Janet miss Jackson if your nasty was awsome what a tribute 10 stars love always to the Jackson family. R.I.P MJ
I think it is not that janet doesnt care about his brother when she went back to work immediately or that it is because she wants to use his brother to make money..I want to believe that she spent less time because of her prior commitments..she’s not just an artist..she’s also a star..she is already a star so why would she need to use thedeath of his brother when she never needed that before??it’s commitment, man..or also maybe she wants to keep herself busy to brush off the painat that time..let us respect her feelings.. she just lost a family member..
i dont think its that hard to figure out..its almost sick how envious u are. it is sick that u would think janet would do a tribute to her brother for money. Mind you she obviously dont need to perform due to the fact like u said she is already a ’star’. this performance showed love and true spiritual strength..
you don’t know what your tslking about. she did this tribute to show how she misses him and how close they were, she did this to show he is never forgotten even her. if u have somthing to say, say it positive and lack of sense. can you see from her eyes sence his death she never smiled? can you see she was about to cry as she say “chucked up”. like i said before, IF U HAVE SOMTHING TO SAY MAKE SENCE AND BE POSITIVE!.
That was very nice of Janet to do such a tribute to her brother despite she is probably trying to cope with his sudden death. Kanye should be ashamed and he should not be able to anymore awards ever.He should realize people have feelings. Yes he is entitled to his opinion but it just was plain disrespectful.
I feel that Janet Jackson, as well as the entire tribute to Michael was awesome.
Kudo’s to whoever did Janet’s choreography. The routine was cool, but I’m really tired of Janet lip-synching. I’m glad she did a tribute but I like Latoya’s song Home tribute better. Latoya’s vocals are much better and she is the only one with any personality in the family and she was the first there at the hospital, signed the death certificate, and planned the memorial, and has since promoted Michael’s charities. Janet went right back to work on Tyler Perry’s movie and back in the studio to record yet another sex song with a dated beat just in time to make money off of her brother’s death. Sad, Sad, Sad.
Janet Jackson is a very good dancer i was happy for her to honor her brother M.J.and the VMAs.Great work Janet.
she rock that award show she is the only reason I watch i cheered for her!
janet jackson did good and she very sad and it was very will to me but she filled but is okay and we will still love MICHEAL JACKSON
What a grand performance by Janet Jackson! She still got it after all these years. She still has the voice, the look, and boy can that girl dance! She is absolutely amazing!
P Diddy had very precisely described the genius of Michael Jackson: “He showed that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life. He made me believe in magic.”
Here I’ve tried to collect all notable tributes paid to Michael Jackson by peers:
http://www.tributespaid.com/category/m/michael-jackson