A virtual concert featuring some of the most popular musicians raised more than $127 million for the World Health Organization leading international fight against coronavirus pandemic.
The them of the concert – watched online by millions around the world – resonated the “One World: Together At Home” message as singers expressed feelings of many in paying tribute to health care workers on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19 disease.
Global Citizen, an international advocacy group Global Citizen and superstar Lady Gaga organized the 8-hour concert, moderated by late night television hosts — Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.
Lady Gaga delivered a “love letter to the world”, through an extraordinary multi-generational line up of performers, including the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, Beyonce, John Legend, Lizzo, Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift and dozens of others.
The #TogetherAtHome digital stream starts now! So proud of the team that put this together 🥰 https://t.co/Lnd0s9218F
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) April 18, 2020
Millions of world citizens worried over the ongoing crisis and confined to their homes took heart from testimonies health care workers from across the world, and expressed their gratitude and love for the responders and medical staff who put their lives on line to save the patients.
According to Global Citizen, the event raised $55.1 million for the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and $72.8 million for local and regional charities responding the virus outbreak.
Countries around the world have seen more than 2.3 million reported cases of COVID-19, and roughly 161,000 deaths, by Sunday morning update of Johns Hopkins University database.
“We face a crisis unlike any other. To overcome it, we must unite”, said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a video message.
“Tonight, through the universal language of music, we salute the bravery and sacrifice of health heroes and others. As we do so, let’s remember the most vulnerable.”
Speaking earlier in the night, the President of the UN General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, told the millions of viewers online that in the 75 years since the founding the UN, “solidarity has been our first and best line of defense.”
A beautiful finale to an important concert: One world, #TogetherAtHome, which brought solidarity, compassion, artistry & yes, humor to millions of people over many hours and time zones. Thank you @ladygaga, @Hughcevans & @momgerm for your key role in making it happen. Solidarity! pic.twitter.com/pP67U52Abp
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 19, 2020
“Today, we stand together as one world, to thank our healthcare workers and frontline essential community workers. You embody the very best of humanity.
By caring for the most vulnerable in our communities, often at great personal sacrifice, you are protecting everyone, everywhere. You are at the forefront, weathering this storm. Remember that we are with you.”
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, told the global audience that by being at home, we were “helping our brave health workers.”
The WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, took to the Twitter at night, describing the final quartet (led off of course, by Lady Gaga herself, and surprise guest singer Celine Dion), as “a beautiful finale to an important concert: One world, #TogetherAtHome, which brought solidarity, compassion, artistry and yes, humor, to millions of people, over many hours and time zones.”
