ARIANA GRANDE has said she was inspired to change her set list for the One Love Manchester benefit concert after the mother of one of the teenage victims said her daughter would have wanted to hear the hits.
Grande appeared on stage at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground in an an oversized white One Love Manchester sweatshirt and seemed overcome by emotion at points as she was joined by a string of musical stars.
Before launching into her hit Side To Side, Grande told the crowd: “I want to thank you so much for coming tonight and being so happy and strong and unified. I love you guys so much. This night is the kind of thing the world really needs right now.”
? I'm stronger than I've been before ?@ArianaGrande gets the entire #OneLoveManchester crowd singing 'Break Free' with her ❤️ pic.twitter.com/PhPfZ4ZlSN
— BBC Sounds (@BBCSounds) June 4, 2017
Grande said she had not planned to play so many of her big hits but changed her mind after meeting the mother of Olivia Campbell-Hardy, 15, who was among the victims of the blast that killed 22 people at at her concert last week.
She said: “I had the pleasure of meeting Olivia’s mummy a few days ago and I started to cry and gave her a big hug and she said ‘stop crying, because Olivia wouldn’t have wanted you to cry’.
The crowd are told "choose love, Manchester" after a one minute silence at #OneLoveManchester pic.twitter.com/S5T2rFFbvN
— Laura Harding (@LauraSHarding) June 4, 2017
“And then she told me Olivia would have wanted to hear the hits. We had a different show planned and we had a rehearsal yesterday and we changed everything.”
During the show she duetted with Miley Cyrus on Crowded House’s Don’t Dream It’s Over, during which they twirled each other around and embraced.
She was also joined on stage by her boyfriend Mac Miller as she said: “Tonight is all about love, am I right?”
Marcus is honoured to be involved in the #OneLoveManchester show tonight. Opening the show at 7pm GMT. pic.twitter.com/D3VZp47eiV
— Mumford & Sons (@MumfordAndSons) June 4, 2017
Mumford and Sons frontman Marcus Mumford opened the show as he sang “you are not alone in this” as he performed an acoustic version of the band’s hit Timshel.
The singer took to the stage after a one-minute silence for those who lost their lives in the Manchester Arena suicide attack.
Concertgoers began queueing outside Lancashire Cricket Club’s Old Trafford ground from 8.30am ahead of the One Love Manchester gig, which marked Grande’s first performance since bomber Salman Abedi detonated a device, killing her fans and parents as they left her show.
All Grande fans who attended the gig on May 22 were offered free passes to the benefit concert.
Vicki says came to the #OneLoveManchester gig to show she wasn't afraid after being caught up in the Manchester bomb attack @PA pic.twitter.com/L0QOSR5uOM
— Rich McCarthy (@VJRichMcCarthy) June 4, 2017
During the benefit Grande performed her hits Be Alright and Break Free, shouting: “Manchester make some noise!” before pink streamers rained down on the crowd.
She also appeared with Victoria Monet to sing their duet Better Days and then joined Black Eyed Peas to perform their hit Where Is The Love?
Grande shouted “Manchester we love you” before Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am said: “Manchester, London, we are here together and we are one.”
One Love – Ariana joins the Black Eyed Peas on stage pic.twitter.com/BJLFiBcSCU
— Eleanor Barlow (@EleanorBarlow) June 4, 2017
She also joined a choir from Parrs Wood High School on stage to sing their version of her song, My Everything.
The show also saw performances from Take That, who opened their set with their crowd-pleasing song Let It Shine before renditions of Giants and Rule The World.
Gary Barlow told the crowd: “We want to stand strong, look at the sky and sing loud and proud.”
Thank you Manchester #onelove pic.twitter.com/KAVUygQUnr
— Gary Barlow (@GaryBarlow) June 4, 2017
Barlow welcomed former Take That bandmate Robbie Williams to the stage as “our friend, our brother,” before the foursome took a bow together and Williams led the crowd in a singalong to his hit Strong, with the lyrics changed to ‘Manchester, we’re strong, we’re strong, we’re strong, we’re still singing our songs.”
What a moment ❤️ The #OneLoveManchester crowd unite to sing @RobbieWilliams' Angels together ✨ pic.twitter.com/WJMeXeEP4s
— BBC Sounds (@BBCSounds) June 4, 2017
Williams, who appeared to be wearing a sweatshirt from Justin Bieber’s Purpose world tour, then treated the audience to his anthem Angels.
Proceeds from the concert will go towards the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, set up by Manchester City Council in partnership with the British Red Cross, to support grieving families and victims of the bombing.
Thank you to all who've donated to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund. If you wish to donate, you can do so at https://t.co/ESjYw8qi8c pic.twitter.com/JQDOcTlkXR
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) May 24, 2017
U2 frontman Bono sent a video message to the concert, telling the crowds: “All our hearts are with you, all our hearts are with Manchester and with the UK.
David Beckham also send a message saying: “As a father what happened made me truly sad and it’s a day we’ll never forget. I’m proud of everyone there today, everyone in the crowd and all the artists.”
"(Manchester's) people are some of the most special I have ever met in my life."
David Beckham sends a message to #OneLoveManchester ? pic.twitter.com/I8PMIkRmpE
— BBC Sounds (@BBCSounds) June 4, 2017
Other stars who took to the stage included Pharrell Williams, who was joined by Cyrus for his track Happy.
"Manchester, we're strong" – Robbie Williams at One Love Manchester pic.twitter.com/6kHWww2vsd
— Eleanor Barlow (@EleanorBarlow) June 4, 2017
He said: “You know why I’m bowing, I’m bowing because despite all the things that have been going on in this place, I don’t feel or hear or see any fear in this building.
Love Manchester …… Love @ArianaGrande ….. Let's not let be defeated …. #OneLoveManchester
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 4, 2017
“All we feel here tonight is love, resilience and positivity and you know what, I hate to be corny, but it makes me … ”One Direction star Niall Horan performed his hit Slow Hands before dedicating song This Town to Manchester, saying: “I just want to say I’ve been lucky enough to travel all over the world and every time I come back to Manchester I’m addicted to this place.”
Parr's Wood choir… my favourite moment so far. #OneLoveManchester
— Becky Adlington (@BeckAdlington) June 4, 2017
Little Mix and Imogen Heap also performed hits at the show.
Katy Perry appeared on stage in a white mini dress with a long white feathered coat over the top to perform Part Of Me and Roar, saying: “We will not be silenced, Manchester” before Justin Bieber appeared to perform Love Yourself and Cold Water.
Justin Bieber tells the crowd "love always wins in the end" #OneLoveManchester pic.twitter.com/mJa5bfRkE3
— Eleanor Barlow (@EleanorBarlow) June 4, 2017
Coldplay joined Grande on stage to sing Oasis’s hit Don’t Look Back In Anger, which has been an anthem for Manchester since the tragedy.
? But don't look back in anger I heard you say ❤️
@Coldplay serenade #OneLoveManchester with the iconic @Oasis anthem. pic.twitter.com/e1SM33oDRX
— BBC Sounds (@BBCSounds) June 4, 2017
Lead singer Chris Martin then sang a version of James’ Sit Down before moving on to Coldplay hit Fix You as the sun set over the cricket ground.
Liam Gallagher is singing Live Forever to Manchester and I am definitely not getting a little emotional. #onelovemanchester pic.twitter.com/yiFDzYiZiF
— Laura Harding (@LauraSHarding) June 4, 2017
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