There are some performances that just heal your soul. One of those moments happened when Ariana Grande sat in with the Black Eyed Peas on “Where Is the Love” at One Love Manchester. The pop star organized the charity concert in the wake of the senseless Manchester Arena bombing, and the vibe of the whole crowd singing the lyrics of hope together with her and the Black Eyed Peas really created such a special moment.
Grande definitely felt the energy in the air, because as she sang, she teared up briefly just after the four-minute mark in the video and was comforted with a hug from Will.i.am. Aside from being a showcase for how great Grande and Black Eyed Peas are as performers, this performance really showed how the right song at the right time can inspire and uplift people. It won’t surprise The Music Man readers to hear how much of a hit the video was, as 101 million viewers tuned in to watch the iconic moment.
“Where Is the Love?” was released back in 2003, but the hopeful message of the song is a timeless one. Fans reflected on this below the video, adding comments such as “I’m literally crying, this is still happening in our world. This song will always be relevant” and “This makes my heart happy. People coming together during a very hard time in life. Ariana is so strong for this and I’m so proud of her, it’s crazy.”
It seems that Grande and her big-name guests really dug deep to pick the right songs to make the message of One Love Manchester hit home. The Music Man readers might be interested to learn that at the concert Grande teamed up with Miley Cyrus to sing the Crowded House classic “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” This intimate acoustic duet showcased great chemistry between the two pop stars, and the positive message behind the lyrics really came home throughout.
Grande organized One Love Manchester together with Simon Moran, Melvin Benn, and Scooter Braun. The concert raised money for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund and the British Red Cross, in order to assist the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing and their families. One Love Manchester was held on June 3, 2017, and the British Red Cross received in excess of £10 million worth of donations as a result of the concert.