A cross-platform global concert seeking to raise funds for Covid-19 response efforts will feature performances by some of the biggest names in music on Saturday.
With eight hours of performances, the event, which was organized by the antipoverty organization Global Citizens, has a scheduled run time almost as long as its name (“One World: Together at Home Special to Celebrate Covid-19 Workers”).
“It is so important to think globally and support the World Health Organization to curb the pandemic and prevent future outbreaks,” Lady Gaga, who helped curate the all-star lineup, said at a news conference on Monday. “We want to highlight the gravity of this historical, unprecedented and cultural movement.”
The last two hours of the show, which will feature Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel as hosts, will air on NBC, CBS and ABC beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. The cross-platform special will also be available on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu Plus, Instagram and Twitter.
Alanis Morissette, Andrea Bocelli, Billie Eilish, David Beckham, Idris Elba, John Legend, Celine Dion, Elton John, Lizzo, Keith Urban and more are scheduled to appear.
The lineup for the six-hour preshow, which tilted more heavily toward international acts, was scheduled to include performances by Angèle, Luis Fonsi, Jessie J, Juanes and others.
The American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth dedicated his performance of “See You Again” to “everyone working insane hours in hospitals, all the teachers, all the truck drivers, all the community service workers.”
“Everyone on the front lines of this pandemic, you’re helping it go away,” he said. “This is the first time, in a really long time, where the whole world had a common goal, and that’s to beat this virus. And we will.”
Before starting his performance of “The Light,” Common said that he was happy to have recently had a video conference with his family and that he was grateful that families were being brought closer together during the pandemic.
The event came together when the United Nations and the W.H.O. asked Global Citizen to support their Covid-19 response by bringing together the world through music and inspiring people to take action.
Contributions from corporate partners will go to the W.H.O.’s Solidarity Response Fund to support and equip health care workers across the globe. The W.H.O. has shipped two million pieces of personal protection equipment and supplies to 68 countries.
So far, the initiative has raised more than $35 million.
Source: Music - nytimes.com
