It was a triumph for the newly beatified Ariana Grande, who is probably the most beloved celebrity on the planet right now, god bless her, after raising $3.4 million at yesterday’s One Love concert in Manchester. There were many, many standout moments from what ended up being a very cathartic evening featuring dozens of the biggest stars in the world. I’ve listed seven below.
This one goes without saying: anytime anyone with a good set of pipes belts out this classic, tears will flow. Ariana absolutely nails it.
Robbie Williams, who is beyond legendary in the UK and strangely only a footnote here in the US, sings his biggest hit, “Angels,” and gets so choked up he can’t finish. The crowd, though, comes to the rescue and the ensuing group effort is heartbreaking and beautiful.
It’s become the Manchester hometown anthem in the days since the attack, and Ariana and Chris Martin more than do it justice here.
Katy belts out a rousing rendition of “Roar,” and gives it a whole new meaning.
This one s just very special. Ariana performs with a children’s choir and sums up why the evening was so magical.
It was the penultimate song of the evening (she ended with “Over the Rainbow”), and got most of the evening’s performers behind her as she belted the “One Last Time.”
And finally, one of my favorite songs of all time, Crowded House’s 1986 “Don’t Dream It’s Over, beautifully covered here by Ariana and Miley Cyrus. They could absolutely release this as a single.