On Saturday, June 27th Global Goal: Unite for Our Future – The Concert was broadcast and streamed all over the world. The virtual concert celebrated innovators, scientists, health workers, activists and organizations working to develop and distribute COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines to everyone, everywhere who need them.
Hosted by Dwayne Johnson, The Concert featured performances from a who’s who of the music and entertainment world including, Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and Quavo. However, Latin artists across the music world also made their presence felt and lent their voice and talents to the cause.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Cast of Hamilton
Perhaps one of the highlights of the concert (this is saying a lot from show filled with highlights) was the reunion of Lin-Manuel Miranda and members of the original cast of Hamilton.
Jimmy Fallon introduced the cast, in a moment that aptly summarized the evening. “The musical Hamilton is a story about hope, revolution, and love,” said Fallon. As he introduced the cast the performance, he stated it was “a story as relevant now as it was back then”.
Along with The Roots, the cast then launched into a DIY version of “Helpless” from the musical. Watch the performance here.
J. Balvin
Mr. Balvin ensure reggaeton was presente! Brining his colores and flow urbano to the festivities. J. Balvin performed a medley of hits including “Que Calor” and the ubiquitous “Mi Gente”. However, Balvin had an apt assist in the form of Nigerian youth dance group The Dreamcatcher. At the end of his set, J Balvin sent a message to the audience “Let’s unite for a vaccine and unite for our future”.
Shakira
Shakira joined the show from Barcelona. In her opening she provided a message to fans
“Latin America is now the hardest-hit region of this pandemic and experts say Africa will be next…We need to make sure that everyone has security and access to healthcare in these places or it’ll make distributing and vaccinating that much harder. We must do everything we can to help them avoid catastrophic damage. Thousands of lives could be in danger by the virus itself and other life-threatening effects of poverty, such as hunger. We can all do something about it and that’s why we’re here today.”
The Colombian artist then launched into a performance of “Sale El Sol” from a Barcelona rooftop. Watch the inspirational song here.
Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic & YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles)
Venezuelan Maestro Gustavo Dudamel of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) teamed with songstress J’Nai Bridges to perform “Heaven and Whole World in Your Hand”. The collaboration took place at the famed Hollywood Bowl, with social distancing and other protocols a part of the performance. More importantly, these two artists showed a little distance can’t keep a good thing down.
At the conclusion of Global Goal: Unite for Our Future – The Concert, Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen announced that a total of “$6.9 billion that was pledged today to support the world’s poorest and most marginalized communities is an incredible next step on our journey out of the COVID-19 era, but there is more still to be done as no one is safe until everyone is safe.”
Now that’s work everyone can be proud of.