Not another MICHAEL JACKSON tribute for CHRIS BROWN!!! Oh yes, it's a go. And he burned the stage down at the 2010 BET Awards just as he did at the World Music Awards in 2006.
After having been snubbed from the lineup last year due to his domestic meltdown with 22-year old Barbadian songstress RIHANNA, Chris Brown was finally given his chance at redemption last night, not only paying fitting tribute to the late and greet MJ, but snagging the Viewer's Choice "FANDEMONIUM" Award as well.
After being introduced to the stage by the one and only RANDY JACKSON, Chris got right to work, breaking in his best moves along to the tunes of "Remember the Time," "Smooth Criminal" and "Billie Jean." The song and dance routine went just as expected with Chris outperforming himself and dazzling the crowd with signature MIKE high flair kicks, pirouettes, and crotch-grabbing. However, when Brown grabbed the microphone and proceeded to start in on his rendition of "Man In The Mirror", he became suddenly choked up.
This was, on the up and up, one of those moments when even the viewers at home were choked up, including I. And don't be fronting, you know you were misty for a brief moment. At first, for me at least, when I hadn't yet realized he was crying, there was a little confusion for me. I thought that BET had brought RANDY back out to sing and that voice that was crackling and chipping at every note belonged to him, but 'Lo and Behold, CHRIS BROWN was breaking it down, literally.
"I'm gonna make a change for once in my ..." Brown's voice trailed off. He was out of breath and sounded hoarse. Tears stained his cheeks as he paced the stage, holding the microphone by his side. "This ... wind is blowing my ... Who am I to..." He clearly knew the lyrics but they failed to come out.
Finally, he gave up, raised a bandaged finger to the sky and fell to his knees as Michael Jackson's voice could be heard saying, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror." The camera cut from Brown to an audience member who clearly uttered "Oh my God," in shock.
The audience loudly sang the words that Brown could not. Their aid seemed to move Brown to rise from his knees and mouth the words along with Jackson's voice, while gesturing along with the mic as tears rolled down his face. In the audience, actress Taraji P. Henson could be seen mouthing, "That's all right baby," as Brown walked offstage to Jermaine Jackson, who moved to console him.
I want to know what you thought of CHRIS BROWN's Michael Jackson tribute. Leave your comments here...
