Paul McCartney performed a touching solo rendition of the Beatles’ “Lady Madonna” during Global Citizen’s One World: Together at Home special, which aimed to thank frontline heroes for their COVID-19 response efforts.
Undoubtedly the largest gathering – albeit virtually – of major recording artists since Live Aid, at time of writing the 8 hour digital and telecast special was watched by over 20 million people online alone.
“I’m very honored to be part of this program tonight that celebrates the true heroes: Our health care workers all around the world. My mother Mary was a nurse and midwife just after and during the second World War, so I have a lot of time for the doctors, the nurses and all the medical staff that keep us healthy. We love you, thank you.” McCartney said prior to his home performance.
Elton John got the internet intrigued when he performed his classic hit “I’m Still Standing” on a piano in what appeared to be his back yard driveway, and behind his piano bench was a basketball hoop.
During the broadcast, Mick Jagger appeared in the corners of fans’ screens saying “Here’s one I hope you know.” He then launched into an acoustic rendition of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” as Rolling Stones bandmates Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and an air-drumming Charlie Watts joined him via Zoom.
Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends” provided one of the more somber moments, when frontman Billie Joe Armstrong performed the song while footage of emptied cities flashed onscreen during the telecast, which benefits the World Health Organization and aired crossed multiple networks and platforms across the world.
Eddie Vedder used his ‘One World: Together At Home platform to perform a new Pearl Jam song ‘River Cross’.
Vedder gave the world a stripped down acoustic version of the song which appears in its original form on the new Pearl Jam album ‘Gigaton’.
Curated by Lady Gaga the special event included stories from the world’s healthcare heroes battling the spread of COVID-19, messages of gratitude and appreciation from those that they have helped and segments from WHO and UN global health experts.
RTE2 will run highlights from the program on TV across Ireland at 7pm on Sunday, April 19, 2020.
The full concert is available below:
