On Sunday, June 4th, 2017, the world watched as some of music’s biggest names came together for the One Love Manchester benefit concert at Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground. The concert was organized by Ariana Grande to raise funds and pay tribute to victims and families affected by the terrorist attack that took place at Manchester Arena on May 22nd.
The event featured performances from Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Pharrell Williams, Miley Cyrus, Liam Gallagher and more. There were also appearances from Manchester United footballer David Beckham and actor Tom Hardy who read a poem written in honor of the victims.
One remarkable aspect of the concert was how much it represented love and unity during this difficult time. The performers showed their support for those affected by terrorism through their music with emotional tributes to those lost during the bombing. Some artists like Chris Martin even changed his outfit with a t-shirt labeled “love” during his performance.
Ariana Grande opened up her set with “Be Alright,” which quickly turned into an uplifting moment when she declared: “Manchester we’re strong! We’re still singing our song!” She then performed “Break Free,” followed by her hits “Side to Side” and “Love Me Harder.”
Grande invited several guests onstage throughout her set including Victoria Monet whom they performed their empowering feminist anthem “Better Days.” She also sang an emotional duet of ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ with Miley Cyrus which left many fans in tears.
The showstopper was perhaps when Ariana returned to stage towards the end wearing a white sweatshirt bearing all 22 victim’s names; she delivered an acoustic version of her hit single “One Last Time.”
Justin Bieber gave a heartfelt speech before performing his song “Cold Water.” He encouraged everyone present not to give up hope or let fear win before launching into his uplifting hit single.
Katy Perry brought out two of her biggest hits “Roar” and “Part of Me,” which sent a powerful message of resilience in the face of adversity.
Coldplay sang their hit songs “Fix You” and “Viva La Vida,” dedicating the latter to Ariana Grande. They also brought out Liam Gallagher, former Oasis member who performed with his band Beady Eye, for an emotional rendition of “Live Forever.” The song was especially poignant as it was written by Liam’s brother Noel and is widely considered one of the most important Manchester anthems.
Pharrell Williams delivered an incredible performance with his hit song “Get Lucky” while Miley Cyrus sang a moving cover of Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” She then teamed up with Ariana Grande for a duet on ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ that many praised as one of the night’s highlights.
One Love Manchester was not only about music but also about giving back. All proceeds from ticket sales went towards We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, set up by Red Cross UK to support families affected by terrorism. By Tuesday morning after the event, they had raised over £10 million ($12.9m USD) through donations and merchandise sales alone.
The concert was broadcast live across BBC TV channels in the UK, on Freeform in America, ABC live streamed it online worldwide via Youtube and Facebook Live platforms. It attracted millions of viewers globally making it one of the most-watched events this year so far. For many watching at home, seeing people come together despite all odds truly demonstrated how music can bring hope during challenging times.
In conclusion, One Love Manchester proved that even in these difficult times when terrorism is rampant everywhere; love will always triumph over fear or hate. The concert showed us how much impact music has on our hearts even beyond entertainment value – it can heal wounds left behind by tragedies like those experienced recently in England or other parts of the world. It has been a powerful reminder that we are all in this together and with love, compassion, and unity, we can overcome anything.