Concert for Sandy relief
The artists answered a call for help and the world responded.
The fundraising concert held at New York CityĢƵ Madison Square Garden to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy was certainly an event for the ages.
The sold-out concert was shown on 37 television stations in the United States and more than 200 others worldwide.
It was also streamed on 30 websites and played on various radio stations. A condensed 24-song album is now available on iTunes, featuring a varied sampling of the eveningĢƵ performances.
New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band open the show with inspiring and appropriate “Land of Hopes and Dreams” and “Wrecking Ball” from the last album.
Roger Waters follows (without David Gilmour) with impressive versions of “Another Brick in the Atlantic Wall,” “Us and Them” and “Comfortably Numb” featuring Pearl JamĢƵ Eddie Vedder.
Another New Jersey favorite, Jon Bon Jovi, performs “ItĢƵ My Life” and the classic “Wanted Dead or Alive.” Unfortunately, the duets between Springsteen and Bon Jovi, “Born to Run” and “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” were left off the album.
The Rolling Stones show they still have plenty left in the tank as they rip it up on “You Got Me Rocking” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” The Who also delivers spirited versions of “Who Are You,” “Baba O’Riley” and my favorite Who song “Love, Reign O’er Me.”
I recently had the chance to see the legendary band perform “Quadrophenia” in historic style, making it one of my top concert experiences.
Other notable performances include “Crossroads” by Eric Clapton, “Losing My Religion” with Chris Martin and Michael Stipe, Billy JoelĢƵ “Movin’ Out (AnthonyĢƵ Song)” and “Empire State of Mind” by Alicia Keys. Included on the album is Paul McCartney performing the Beatles’ classic “Helter Skelter.”
Oddly enough, McCartneyĢƵ performance of the new song “Cut Me Some Slack” with NirvanaĢƵ Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear was left out.
The concert raised $30 million through ticket sales alone, not counting proceeds from donations via the concert telethon.
The price tag from the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy is estimated at more than $71 billion for New York and New Jersey.
All proceeds from the sale of the album on iTunes will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund.