Mariah Carey apologizes for her Michael Jackson memorial performance

Hours after delivering her faltering rendition of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" at Michael Jackson's memorial service, Mariah Carey posted an apology on her Twitter page.

"Trying to sing today was basically impossible for me. I could barely keep myself from crying," Carey twittered. 

Carey, who was the first to sing at Tuesday's public memorial service, fell out of key early in the song but quickly recovered.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to pull it together and really do it right, but I was literally choked up when I saw him there in front of me."

Carey wasn't the only one critical of her act. After she sang, hundreds of viewers flocked to Twitter to weigh in on the pop star's performance:

tommyreuh14: Mariah Carey can't reach high notes no more.

More tweets after the jump...

Luv_Me_Do: @amandaaloves Miriah Carey is SO overrated.

bluredximagex: Miriah Carey needs to figure out what's wrong with her voice cuz she just butchered mj's song.

ALEXEARLASHLEY: So we have another horrible live performance by miriah carey.

Despite Carey's assurances, some bloggers aren't buying her excuse and think that her voice might be done for.

What did you think of Mariah Carey's performance?  Was it really as bad as everyone says it was? Can Carey's poor showing be attributed to emotions or is she becoming less consistent as a performer? 

-- Brendan Bigelow

Comments

[Richard Franks]

Don't worry, hon', you will have a chance to redeem yourself at the OJ Simpson memorial.

[Sean K]

Is it just me or do these lame twitter people ALWAYS spell EVERYONE'S name wrong. I get the feeling the way they spell isn't for convenience, but rather out of sheer illiteracy. I can't freakin' stand Mariah Carey, but even I at least know how to spell her stupid name.

[debbie M.]

I've never cared for her singing nor sense of style. Her performance at the Memorial makes me care for her even less. She has always been over-rated in my opinion and always looks poured into too tight clothes.

[Michael Saint John]

Oh, puh-leeze.

You all try and sing the first song at a funeral. Especially Michael Jackson's funeral.

Mariah Carey's voice is fine and wonderful.

Give the woman a break.

[Wiseowl]

I thought Mariah's voice the best of all. Not only is she lovely to look at, but her voice blended perfectly with the man she was singing with. Next, I liked the chorus who sang "We are going to see the King"....a moving tribute to Michael Jackson.

[Zoey]

I'm not a Mariah Carey fan (sp. correct!! How can you be a fan and not know how to spell your idol's name? Laziness? Illiterate? So American. Anyway...) but I thought she sounded fine. Why do you need to belt it out all the time? A song can be sung quietly with just as much emotion and impact without all the vocal histrionics. It was also obvious she was choked up. I don't know who that other guy was singing with her but they both sounded nice. Geesh, everyone, get off her back.

[William Cervantes]

Mariah has always had haters, no big deal, keep on hating and walk right past the fan sign in page...she does'nt need you, she is already the 3rd best selling artist in the world and will one day soon rank #1 period without your support. Goodbye.

[Rebecca]

Who are you crazy people? She sounded beautiful. You could see she was holding back tears, too. Full credit to that woman. Ive had her rendition of that song in my head for the last day or so. And Im not even a 'fan' not owning any albums of hers. **** the haters!

[Cheap Ed Hardy]

Just love Micheal jackson~~~~~~~~~~~~~!

[Xeni]

I thought Mariah's rendition sucked. First up or not, she is supposed to be a professional. Look at Jermaine, he did a beautiful job - and he had more reason to be choked up, don't you think?

[mumsmably]

I was listening to a recording of Mariah Carey sing,Did you know,Your my Hero,in BKK,Thailand,when I had a vistation of a dead woman who was thanking someone for finding her killer.Except she said there were two killers.

[mumsmably]

It's what's in your heart when your about to deliver on stage.It is so awful,she got a little choked up?

[mumsmably]

Please comment on why I cannot see my comments.

[troy]

People will always hate, for whatever reason. My question is, why give these people any attention? A (stupid/ignorant/hateful) comment is only validated when it's acknowledged. Just like those who said bad things about Michael Jackson. I've learned to just disregard, disregard, disregard. People are only important if I allow them to be, and hateful people are not important in my life.

[hill335]

I don't believe Mariah's poor performance was due to seeing the casket. She sounded as if she was miles away from the caliber of her past performances. It was clear that she couldn't have reached the high notes of old. In fact, her singing partner at the memorial sounded much better than she.

[Rob]

hey William Cervantes -

Soo......Mariah is gonna outsell MJ and Elvis when all is said and done, eh?

That is simply ludicrous.

[BakerA]

People! This was a memorial and not a show-stopping performance to entertain you all. Where is your dignity? She was and is grieving!

[SLR]

I think that mariah did a great job, its hard to sing under a condition like that and we all should not be focusing on how she sounds. The fact still remains its much better to have a bad song than to have a great casket you cant even see.

[M. Holiday]

When she started singing, I thought, "Boy, I hope she can get through the song." It was obvious that she was struggling to keep her composure. -- I wonder how many people posting here can even carry a tune...let alone have a five octave range. --Even professional singers find it hard to sing when they are grieving.

Mariah has nothing to apologize for. And these people who are critical need to look at the man or woman in the mirror....before pointing the finger outwards. Why are you being so critical? Have you ever had to sing at a friend or colleague's funeral..in front of thousands...with millions watching at home?

We were viewing a memorial service...not a concert. People get choked up at memorial services.

Major duh.

[anthony lee]

What a crock and who cares.

Mariah, we love you, and thanks for being there for MJ.

We will take you any way we can get you.

[anthony lee]

Follow-up:

The negative comments sound like they are coming from preppy minded people, who in order to make themselves feel good, have the need to try to bring someone else down.

Gee guys, this was a celebration of life and death.

Advice to you "naysayers" - Go get a life!!.

Mariah - I say again, we love the entire package, even when the voice is strained for whatever reason.

[Gail Johnson]

With no disrespect intended to the Jackson family, this reveals the
shallowness of our value system in this country.

While the focus today, tomorrow and for the next God-knows-how-many-days
will be the death of a pop culture icon; while many will mourn, wail and quite
literally make fools of themselves over it and while as many will speak endlessly
about it, allow me, if only for a moment, to remind us all that others have died;
others whose lives were cut short; others who leave behind loved ones and whose
families will dearly miss them; families who'll suffer with much more dignity
and honor than we'll be exposed to on the tube in the coming days.

Yes... it's true... we've suffered a great loss... but forgive me while I tell you that
I'm not talking about the king of pop music.

These American military members died in Iraq last month:

Sergeant Justin J. Duffy
Specialist Christopher M. Kurth
Specialist Charles D. Parrish
Lance Corporal Robert D. Ulmer
Staff Sergeant Edmond L. Lo
Sergeant Joshua W. Soto
Captain Kafele H. Sims
Specialist Chancell or A. Keesling

And these members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Afghanistan last month:

Sergeant Jones, Ricky D.
Specialist Munguia Rivas, Rodrigo A.
Command Master Chief Petty Officer Garber, Jeffrey J.
1st Sergeant Blair, John D.
Sergeant Smith, Paul G.
Staff Sergeant Melton, Joshua
Sergeant 1st Class Dupont, Kevin A.
Specialist O'Neill, Jonathan C.
Chief Warrant Officer Richardson Jr., Ricky L.
Specialist Silva, Eduardo S.
Lance Corporal Whittle, Joshua R.
Maj or Barnes, Rocco M.
Maj or Jenrette, Kevin M.
Staff Sergeant Beale, John C.
Specialist J or dan, Jeffrey W.
Specialist Griemel, Jarrett P.
Specialist Hernandez I, Roberto A.
Sergeant Obakrairur, Jasper K.
Staff Sergeant Hall, Jeffrey A.
Private 1st Class Ogden, Matthew D.
Private 1st Class Wilson, Matthew W.

Let's remember and honor this day those whose deaths are truly impacting.
Freedom IS NOT Free!!!!!

When you see the television the next few days and it is coverage of Michael Jackson's
death and funeral, think about where the news media places it's priorities and money....and the fact that the City of Los Angeles footed the $1.5 Million bill for security, police, and emergency services.

[SLR]

come on people, or should i say mariah haters, negative sayings wont help in fact it contributed to the death of MJ. I think we all disagree with what the congress man spoke about mj, even in death mj feels the tounge of man. Remember jesus is and was a perfect man and people say crucify him. so keep bad comments to your self. I think that those who are making bad comments were the ones in fact who was looking for a concert at a memorial. let the love of every one flow within us as brothers and sisters. mj is dead and gone all he had he leave it behind, the whole duty of a man is to serve god and keep his commandment, death has no respect for no one, once its ready 4 u, there is no way u can say u r not ready. So be ready.

[Rees]

It was a funeral, she was in front of the coffin. I don't blame her, she was very emotional. She is a wonderful singer. I just read my Moms Eugoly and cried all through it and could hardly get the words out. Give her a break and grow up.

[O-town]

Sorry, but anyone who had nothing better to do than insult Mariah Carey's singing at a memorial service absolutely were there for the wrong reason. I highly doubt any of them, if asked to sing up there before your dead idol and his family, would be able to belt out a song in the composure they were expecting from her. Also, no offense to Jermaine, but homie hasn't exactly been touring or putting out records in lord knows how long. I'd imagine he was itchin' to get up stage and show the world that he's still got it as a musician. But again, our focus on that day should have been the memory of a man who affected our lives, one way or another. Mariah Carey's singing, whether it was on point or not, should not have been twittered by those ungrateful wretches who felt their opinions on it just had to be sent out at that exact moment. You twittering idiots are an embarrassment to the United States.