 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Ariana Grande's Sunday Manchester benefit gig was bold. And triumphant.
She, and several of the world's top musicians, belted out an evening of song with the unstoppable message: Fight terrorism with music.
Ariana Grande's One Love Manchester concert -- a stronger and more memorable reprisal of her tragic May 22 concert -- has proved no storm, no attack... nothing will ever stop people from coming together for music.
The pop diva's gig was a runaway success with an almost 50,000-strong crowd in attendance.
The 23-year-old pop star, who had to leave Manchester after the horrific attack at her earlier show, post a bomb attack, made sure that her return filled the entire city with joy and happiness once again.
The evening saw some of the biggest names in the music world performing alongside the Side to Side hitmaker at Old Trafford stadium to help raise funds for the victims of the attack that claimed the lives of 22 people, including children. The youngest vicitm was eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos. The attack also claimed two 14 year olds and two 15 year olds -- the funeral of one of the 14 year olds, Eilidh MacLeod is happening today, Monday, in the remote island of Barra, off the Scottish coast.
The cricket ground was flooded with face paint, glitter, placards and Grande's bunny ears. It witnessed a sea of raised hands as Mumford & Sons frontman Marcus Mumford opened the gig with the song Timshel, saying "Let's not be afraid, Manchester."
Robbie Williams altered the chorus lyrics of his hit track Strong with the words, "Manchester we're strong, we're strong, we're strong. We're still singing our song, our song, our song," as the crowd hummed along.
A young girl, Lily Harrison, who was injured in last month's Manchester Arena attack, also attended the show to see her favourite pop star performing at the event, reported The Guardian.
After Williams, former One Direction star Niall Horan took to the stage, leaving some fans in tears, as he dedicated This Town to victims of the suicide bombing. "Seeing you guys coming together was a sight to behold, we love you, we are with you, the whole world is watching," he told the crowd.
Singer-actress Miley Cyrus' performance was all about her friendship with Grande. She noted the Bang Bang hitmaker's strength as a role model.
Wearing a sweat shirt, graffiti-ed with the legend One Love Manchester, Grande showed up several times throughout the three-hour show alongside Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas and Little Mix to celebrate the fighting spirit of Manchester.
She also talked about meeting Charlotte, the mother of one of the 15-year-old victims, Olivia Campbell, who died in the terrorist attack. "As soon as I met her I started crying and I gave her a big hug and she said I should stop crying because Olivia would have wanted me to stop crying," she said.
Towards the end, Grande got emotional as she sang a heartbreaking version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow to close out the evening.
The singer also gave the audience her hits Break Free, Side to Side, Be Alright and The Way with her boyfriend American rapper Mac Miller.
The concert also comes the day after attackers targeted the heart of London, killing 7 people.
There were suggestions that the concert might be cancelled but Grande and fellow performers apparently vowed that the latest London attack made the One Love Manchester concert even more important.