'One Love'

When I sat down to watch the concert last night I wondered if I would know anyone or know the songs as I don't always keep up to date with the modern day tunes. I try to keep up the kids today, I''ll be honest I didn't know too much about Ariana Grande before the terrible event which happened at Manchester Arena. I had heard her name but hadn't really listened to her in a big way. 

She is a lovely young woman, apart from being a great singer and yes having some top tunes, she is a very true, brave young lady and she certainly knows how to put on great show. It must have been so hard for her that night, she lost people close to her too. An audience become like family and they are the people who put musicians where they are, on that big stage because if no one bought the downloads (records in my day) and no one saved their pennies and purchased the concert tickets there would be no pop stars. I think we got the message that these 22 people who lost their lives, all the people injured, in fact everyone that goes to see her and follows her, they mean the world to her. Ariana is only young herself at the age of 23 so she took all that love into her young heart and put on the greatest show for everyone.

The 'One Love' concert was broadcast live to over 50 countries worldwide and would raise money for all the victims affected by the bombing on the 22nd May 2017. It was a very emotional few hours, I had to get the tissues  out as I just blubbed through a lot of it. Saying that though it wasn't a sad solemn evening, quite the opposite with upbeat songs and a celebration of life and a defiance of hatred and fear. We stood together with Manchester and had fun, it took us away for a while away from the horror of recent events, even as recent as the day before with yet another attack in London.

The show started, not with song but with silence, a moment to think about those innocent people who lost their lives, a lovely tribute from Marcus Mumford. Take That were on next which is a good job they were on early as they had to hot foot it to their own gig later on in Birmingham so well done to them. Robbie Williams followed and singing 'Angels' was emotional for him I think but he got through. The music just carried on with Pharrell Williams, Miley Cyrus, Niall Horan Little Mix, Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber Coldplay and even a surprise performance by Liam Gallagher. We were all hoping for peace to have entered the Gallagher brother's lives and for Noel to make an appearance too but no it didn't happen but the Manchester lad was there and gave a great performance.

It was an emotional moment when Ariana Grande made her appearance on stage, the first since the attack in Manchester and she had the full support of Manchester and the world really. She did good and I love that she wasn't just the main headliner at the end of the night, she appeared early on and kept popping up, like the perfect host to a perfect party. I sobbed when she joined the Parrs Wood High School Choir for their version of 'My Everything'. The choir includes children who were there on that awful night  and they just sing this song so beautifully. They were invited along when Ariana saw them online and I'm so glad they were there, very touching and very emotional. 

Ariana was joined by all her friends on stage to sing 'One Last Time' which would have been the last song those people would have heard before losing their lives and recently topped the itunes chart by public demand. She closed the show with a lovely rendition of 'Over the Rainbow' which I think was very fitting and again got me sobbing into my tissues. It really was a great night and it was all very well organised in something like 13 days. If there was chaos it certainly didn't show, so many acts packed into three hours is a massive achievement. So welcome back to Ariana Grande and congratulations on bringing happiness and joy to us for a while and for helping to raise so much money for those families. People were able to return and find their peace, yes we cried but what was also so great to see were the smiles on all those young peoples faces. Very reassuring that we can come together and we can stare terror in the eyes and say 'NO' we are not going there because there is a bigger force, something more powerful and that is 'Love'.

I hope you enjoyed it too, thanks for reading and I will be back tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday.

Take care everyone.........