Date:06/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/06/stories/2009070656311400.htm

International

Madonna pays emotional tribute

London: ”Queen of Pop” Madonna paid her own personal tribute to ’King of Pop’ Michael Jackson by performing on some of his greatest hits at the O2 Arena, where the “Thriller” hitmaker was to make his comeback.

Jackson died of a suspected cardiac arrest on June 25.

Madonna restarted her Sticky & Sweet world tour here on Saturday night but stopped the show halfway through while iconic images of the tragic star flashed up on screens behind her, Contactmusic reported. One of her dancers, dressed in the “King of Pop’s signature black and white dress, a wide-brimmed hat and white gloves, started performing Jackson’s iconic dance moves including his famous moonwalk to the tune of “Billie Jean”.

The song, one of Jackson’s classic hit, turned into a medley with another classic Jackson hit, “Wanna Be Startin’ Something”, much to the delight of the crowd.

“Let’s give it up for one of the greatest artists the world has ever known, Michael Jackson!,” said Madonna.

Later, the singer and her dancers took to the stage wearing a black armband and a single white glove in the honour of late music legend as the lyrics to his hit track “Man In The Mirror” flashed up on screen. Meanwhile, Jackson will be buried without his brain in a private ceremony on Tuesday by his family. The brain was taken out to conduct neuropathology tests to seek clues to his sudden collapse and demise, the Daily Mirror reported. Los Angeles Coroner’s spokesman Craig Harvey confirmed that neuropathology tests will be carried out on the legend’s brain to see if it holds any clues to the exact cause of his death, said the newspaper. — PTI