Kate Sagara
Staff Writer
By now, I’m sure everyone reading this has already watched, listened to, or heard about the “One World: Together at Home” concert that took place on April 18. Musical legend Lady Gaga organized the event, which was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Stephen Colbert. More than 70 A-list musical artists performed, and many more celebrities made appearances to thank everyone on the front lines battling COVID-19, from healthcare workers to sanitation workers to everyone else doing their part.
My favorite moment was when Kacey Musgraves sang what I would call the most comforting song ever written: “Rainbow.” When she sang the lyrics “It’ll all be alright,” I really started to believe her — my dog even perked up from her deep slumber upon hearing this.
Other notable moments included the queen herself, Taylor Swift, breaking the world’s heart with her first (and likely only) live performance of “Soon You’ll Get Better,” which she wrote about her mother’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. The Rolling Stones came together via video call to perform their 1968 smash hit “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Lizzo changed the world with her cover of Sam Cooke’s, “A Change is Gonna Come.” Billie Eilish sang a cover of Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny” alongside her brother Finneas, who was on the piano. Elton John sang and played the piano to “I’m Still Standing” in front of a basketball hoop in his backyard. And, not one, not two, but three Keith Urbans performed a cover of Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” together.
The night received mixed reviews due to complaints ranging from the quality of the performances to Lady Gaga supposedly being narcissistic (which I believe is a bizarre claim). However, it’s safe to say that we can all agree on one thing: the “One World: Together at Home” concert was undoubtedly more enjoyable than the video of celebrities singing John Lennon’s “Imagine.” And who can complain about more than $127 million being raised for the World Health Organization to help combat this pandemic?
