Live 8 Concert

US Live 8: Philadelphia review (cont.)

Will Smith Finger Click Moment - Every 3 Seconds

Onstage behind Will Smith was a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence. Smith mentioned that we are all created equally. He mentioned that today we are all gathered for Live 8 to make our declaration of interdependence. He mentioned that we are "all in this together".

Smith introduced a short video explaining that every 3 seconds a child in Africa dies from a preventable disease, hunger, malaria or TB. He next began coordinating a spine tingling demonstration that will remain for a long time in my memory. When the video has ended, Smith asks the Live 8 audience to raise their hands and snap their fingers every three seconds. As we did, the monitors flashed showing all the other Live 8 venues, and the people in other countries doing the exact same thing. We witnessed hundreds and thousands of people snapping their fingers at the same time. This will probably be the highlight for everyone's day.

He begins the introduction to the ever-changing Black Eyed Peas. Now here is a group that the crowd can get into. They start off their set with the outstanding sing-along "Where Is the Love?" Behind them the video monitors light up with images of African children. It is followed up with a crowd favorite "Let's Get it Started", although more than half the crowd was singing "Lets Get Retarded" Next, "Don't Phunk With My Heart". Most of the guys in the audience are trying to get a good look at Furgie. Bep completed their set with Bob Marleys' classic track "Get Up! Stand Up!" Unfortunately, microphone difficulty has made this set wane a bit, but their performance with Ziggy, Rita and Steven Marley, pretty much made up for the malfunctions. The obvious symbolism in with the closing track was not missed - "Get up, stand up, don't give up the fight."

Live 8 US, Philadelphia (continue review)

See all Live 8 Concert reiews:
Live 8 London, UK :: Live 8 Philadelphia, USA :: Live 8 Toronto (Barrie),CA