But the bright metaphor for what this five-hour extravaganza was designed to celebrate — New York City’s emergence from some of the earliest and deadliest waves of COVID-19 — ended the way of so many things in 2021:with a giant sigh.
LL Cool J performs at We Love NYC:The Homecoming Concert.Andy Kropa/Invision/AP
About halfway through the Saturday night gathering at the Great Lawn in Central Park — just as Barry Manilow was segueing fromMandy into one of his other countless hits — rain,lightning and an evacuate-the-premises order from the city quashed the merriment.
The 60,000 fans on site (vaccinations were mandatory to attend the free show),as well as those watching CNN’s live broadcast,were denied performances by some of the marquee names tapped for the event:Bruce Springsteen,Paul Simon,Elvis Costello,The Killers and Patti Smith among them.
Jennifer Hudson performs with the New York Philharmonic orchestra at We Love NYC.Andy Kropa/Invision/AP
The unrelenting rain led to an official cancellation just before 10:30 pm. Organisers had no information in the hours afterward about a possible make-up date.
The prior two-and-a-half hours of performances were stuffed with notable moments that at least reminded of a feeling of normalcy.
Whether it was the fan high-kicking her own Rockettes routine as the New York Philharmonic played(Theme From) New York,New York or the full audience shouting along with Journey’sDon’t Stop Believin′ and Manilow’s timelessCopacabana,attendees relished the energy emanating from the stage emblazoned with the letters N Y C.
A rotating platform of band setups allowed for seamless transitions between acts,which included Kane Brown,Santana with Wyclef Jean and Rob Thomas,Julia Michaels and JP Saxe,Polo G and a shimmery-shirted Jon Batiste,who electrified the stage withFreedom.
Jennifer Hudson shared the stage with the orchestra,arriving in a gown with her hair swept up,as she belted a stunning rendition of Puccini’sNessun Dorma.
And while LL Cool J was the announced name,the number of surprise guests who joined him amounted to a parade of New York hip-hop royalty. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s Melle Mel and Scorpio offeredThe Message;Busta Rhymes battled throughFreak Show;Fat Joe energised the crowd withAll The Way Up and,with Remy Ma,Lean Back;while A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie stalked the stage duringLook Back at It.
Concertgoers attend We Love NYC:The Homecoming Concert at the Great Lawn in Central Park.Andy Kropa/Invision/AP
When LL Cool J,his fingers covered in jewels,burst through a group of choir members to proclaim “Don’t call it a comeback” and rolled through the rest ofMama Said Knock You Out with a fiery delivery,there was no doubt who ruled the stage. The arrival of Rev Run of Run-DMC to split rhymes with LL onIt’s Tricky andRock the Bells elevated the moment to a classic.
USA Today