shaheen jafargholi was brilliant - even MJ thinks so

Shaheen Jafargholi delivered a stellar performance of Smokey Robinson's "Who's Loving You" at Michael Jackson's memorial on Tuesday night. Having been thrust into the spotlight through the UK hit show "Britain's Got Talent", people in the UK were quick to heap praise and congratulate the 12-year-old for performing with such composure, tackling a very very difficult song.

However, in America, critics were also quick to pounce on him and brand him emotionless, talentless and a pale imitation of the young MJ who delivered this song with such passion when he was young. I quote Courtney Hazlett of msnbc.com, who branded Shaheen's performance as "questionable", aka. a lowlight (her article was named Highs and Lows of the Jackson memorial):

"Michael Jackson had handpicked 12-year-old “Britain’s Got Talent” finalist Shaheen Jafargholi to appear in the planned “This Is It” concerts, but there’s a tremendous difference between being a competent enough showman for a concert and a credible performer for a tribute. Jafargholi sang “Who’s Loving You” without any of the soul that so impressed Smokey Robinson when Jackson performed it at the age of 10. Not to mention, you have to wonder if this wasn’t some sort of hint that Jafargholi could find his way onto Joe Jackson’s record label. Enough said."

I would like to see Hazlett go back, be a 12-year-old, and perform this tremendously difficult song. She's a woman, and the song has a pitch that is meant for a woman to sing. Let's see if she can do that. Because nobody has ever claimed dear, sweet Shaheen would be the next Michael Jackson. Most of his fans (put aside the psychotic, senseless ones for now) have just claimed that he'll be a superstar because of his amazing control and strength and purity of his voice. But nobody has said, this is going to be the next MJ. And I, for one, stand by that. I don't think he's the world's next legend, but he's got soul and passion when he sings.

Courtney Hazlett is not the only person to have made this "comparison", that Shaheen is not, and never will be, the next Michael Jackson. So many "die-hard" Jackson fans are quick to go "He's some fat kid who doesn't understand the meaning of this song". Quote, comment by a netizen named Lori:

"This kid has NO “heart”. What i mean by that, is yeh, ok, i GUESS he can sing (scream). BUT, he didnt move me. He’s NOT authentic. He’s a wannabe. As far as I’m concerned, a statue coulda been staning there with a soundtrack. Lousy. I hope he NEVER is compared to the likes of a michael Jackson. So what the circumstance or his age or whatever. You’re either a STAR or NOT and he’s NOT!!!!"

He's a wannabe? He didn't audition to appear in the memorial. He didn't write letters to the Jacksons, pleading to be selected out of a billion "wannabes". He was invited by the Jacksons, because MJ himself spotted the kid and wanted him to be part of his This Is It comeback tour.

MJ's a legend, and we all know that. But just because the legend has passed doesn't mean you go around slagging off other people who are trying to pay their version of their respects. How would you feel if you were a 12-year-old, flown in from Wales, thrust onto the stage when the entire world is watching you, and nail a difficult song like "Who's Loving You"? I think for his age (and let's bear in mind his voice is now breaking. If you watch his audition for BGT, it's much more effortless), he did a fantastic job, with amazing control (especially at the end when he slows down) and maturity that surpasses his actual age.

I just wish full-grown adults would grow up and stop criticising someone who is quite literally half their age, or even more. This boy did his best, and moved the world with his rendition of the song (albeit the way MJ sang it as a boy, but nobody's said Shaheen's a musical writer or anything. Nothing wrong with singing it the way MJ did). So stop slagging off the poor child, and be big enough to deflate your ego and admit that this boy does have talent, and that he does have something going for him. If Michael Jackson himself saw talent and passion in this boy, why can't you?