On July 7, 2009, the entire world stood completely still.
Millions of heartbroken fans tuned in to watch Michael Jackson’s public memorial service. The atmosphere inside the Staples Center was incredibly heavy. The Jackson family sat in the front row, completely shattered by the sudden loss of their beloved brother and son.
Then, Michael’s older brother, Jermaine Jackson, slowly walked up to the microphone. He was wearing a single, shining white glove on his left hand as a sweet nod to his little brother.
He looked out at the massive crowd, took a deep breath, and began to sing through his tears.
Jermaine Jackson – Smile (Live Performance at Michael Jackson Memorial)
The song he chose was a beautiful, sad melody called “Smile.” It was a performance so raw and moving that it made over a billion people around the globe cry at the exact same time.
Many people do not know that “Smile” was actually Michael Jackson’s favorite song of all time. It was not a pop song, and it was not something he wrote himself.
The famous melody was originally composed back in 1936 by the legendary movie star Charlie Chaplin. It was used as a quiet instrumental theme for his classic film, Modern Times. Decades later, in 1954, beautiful lyrics were added to the music. Michael loved the song so much that he recorded his own gorgeous version of it in 1995 for his HIStory album.
Michael had a massive admiration for Charlie Chaplin. He viewed Chaplin as a creative genius who knew exactly how to make people feel big emotions without saying a single word. Michael even dressed up in Chaplin’s famous “Little Tramp” costume for a special series of photos because he loved him so much.
Michael Jackson singing his favorite song – Smile
But the real reason Michael held this song so close to his heart was the powerful message hidden inside the lyrics.
The song tells the listener to keep moving forward, to hide their heartache and to stay hopeful even when things are incredibly dark. The opening words say it all: “Smile though your heart is aching.”
This theme resonated deeply with Michael. For his entire adult life, he felt intensely misunderstood by the public. He lived under a constant, cruel media microscope. He often felt lonely and sad but he knew he had to put on a brave face for his millions of fans. The song became his personal anchor. It was a beautiful reminder to keep smiling through the pain.
When it came time to say goodbye, Jermaine knew there was only one song that could truly honor Michael’s soul. He didn’t want to sing a massive dance hit or a song about fame. He wanted to give his little brother one last gift.
Singing that specific track was the hardest thing Jermaine ever had to do. The song literally asks the singer to smile while their heart is breaking. As Jermaine stood on that stage, his voice cracked with real emotion. He was living out the exact words of the song, masking his deep grief to deliver a beautiful message of love.
It was a tragic, perfect tribute. Michael spent his entire life using music to heal the world, and in his final moments on earth, his family used his favorite melody to try and heal him right back.