Virtual mega-concert featuring Stones, Swift celebrates health workers

NEW YORK — A virtual concert packed with A-listers — from The Rolling Stones to Taylor Swift to Billie Eilish — entertained fans around the world with a show celebrating health workers, as billions shelter at home due to coronavirus.

Lizzo, Jennifer Lopez, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and LL Cool J also joined in the Lady Gaga-curated online party, which was backed by the international advocacy organisation Global Citizen in partnership with the World Health Organisation.

Before opening the show Lady Gaga — who began working with Global Citizen and the WHO weeks ago to fundraise for the battle against COVID-19 — said she was praying for medical workers and also "thinking of all of you that are at home, who are wondering when this is all going to be different."

"What I'd like to do tonight, if I can, is just give you the permission to, for a moment — smile," she said as she broke into a rendition of Nat King Cole's "Smile."

Stevie Wonder then wowed with a tribute to the late soul legend Bill Withers.

Sitting at his home piano Wonder, who turns 70 next month, played "Lean On Me" before launching into his own "Love's In Need Of Love Today" in his singular crystal-clear voice.

Mick Jagger also appeared ageless despite his 76 years as he delivered the classic "You Can't Always Get What You Want," as his fellow Stones played from their respective homes, including a grinning Charlie Watts on the air drums.

Also at her piano Swift played the vulnerable "Soon You'll Get Better," which the pop phenom wrote about her mother's struggles with cancer.

Global Citizen intended the primetime event broadcast on major television networks worldwide — and hosted by American late-night television personalities Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert — not as a fundraiser but as a moment of unity through song.

They also planned it as a "rallying cry" to support health workers, while coronavirus has at least 4.5 billion people forced or urged to stay home.

Prior to the event Global Citizen began urging philanthropists, companies and governments to support the WHO in its coronavirus response efforts, saying it has raised $35 million for local organisations and the international health body's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

'True heroes' 

In addition to performances — McCartney played "Lady Madonna," as Lizzo belted out a powerful version of "A Change Is Gonna Come" — the event highlighted the efforts of essential workers worldwide, including medical personnel and those delivering food and sanitary products to vulnerable populations.

None other than Queen Bey herself joined in to thank "true heroes" who are "away from their families, taking care of ours."

Beyonce, a Houston native, also emphasised that the coronavirus pandemic in the United States is disproportionately affecting black Americans, who make up a large part of "essential parts of the workforce that do not have the luxury of working from home," she said.

Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan and Nigerian singer Burna Boy were among the participants in the event that included former US first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush as well as media personality and philanthropist Oprah.

British actor Idris Elba — who was diagnosed with and recovered from coronavirus — also took part.

"Tonight, through the universal language of music, we salute the bravery and sacrifice of health heroes and others," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a clip played during the broadcast.

"And please join our call for a global ceasefire to focus on our common enemy — the virus."

The show closed with a moving harmony of Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Andrea Bocelli and John Legend performing Dion and Bocelli's 1999 hit duet "The Prayer," as renowned concert pianist Lang Lang accompanied.

'Serve humanity'

Saturday's online festivities kicked off with a six-hour pre-show streamed online, with stars across the globe including Christine and the Queens, Jennifer Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, Luis Fonsi and Kesha making appearances.

Football phenom David Beckham held a video chat with young athletes, encouraging them to keep honing their skills at home with sporting events cancelled indefinitely.

Adam Lambert performed a rendition of Tears for Fears' hit "Mad World," while The Killers delivered a stripped-back version of "Mr Brightside" and Hong Kong icon Eason Chan played John Lennon's "Love."

And New Yorker Sarah Jessica Parker of "Sex and the City" fame gave a shout out from her couch to medical workers toiling at the city's particularly hard-hit hospital Elmhurst.

Hospital workers also gave testimony on their vital work battling the virus.

Dressed in scrubs, Aisha al Muntheri spoke from Paris to say she was proud to serve "on the front lines with my colleagues."

"It's part of our value in medicine to serve humanity," she said.

"The humanity is our common language."

By Maggy Donaldson