The 46664 Concert Honouring Nelson Mandela at 90
Last Friday, June 27 witnessed an historic concert in Hyde Park, London that I was fortunate to be able to attend: a musical celebration of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, with proceeds going to 46664, Mandela's charity initiative to raise global awareness about HIV/AIDS. So this post is not directly cancer related, but it was an event that enriched my life, and about which I wrote an objective article today for Look to the Stars that left me craving the chance to write about, well, how I felt, not just what I saw.
So here I am.
For a run-down of the performers, check out Look to the Stars or the BBC coverage.
What I really want to say is this: I got to sing "Happy Birthday" to Nelson Mandela. I got to sing "Happy Birthday" to Nelson Mandela. I got to sing "Happy Birthday" to Nelson Mandela.
How many times have we sung this song in our lives? To how many people? At how many parties, in how many silly harmonies?
It's nothing but a little ditty of a song, and yet the fact that I had the honor, the absolute once-in-a-lifetime privilege, of singing that very song to Nelson Mandela as he stood on stage, escorted by a loved one and surrounded by the evening's superstar enertainers, was more than enough to bring tears to my eyes and rolling down my cheeks. It was utterly humbling, singing this everyday song to one of history's most courageous, compassionate, visionary men.
Before this concert, Nelson Mandela ranked right up there in my mind with the likes of Mother Teresa and other such larger-than-life figures. I knew who he was, I knew the outline of his life, I knew he was a great, great man. But seeing him on stage, joining in to serenade him, and hearing him speak was just humbling.
Celebrated British humorist and actor Stephen Fry said it best when he came on stage later during the show - he spoke of Mandela's entrance and the subsequent crowd reaction and said it felt like "waves of love" were washing over the audience and crashing up onto the stage.
Indeed it did. And who wouldn't want to take a little time to frolic in that?
So here I am.
For a run-down of the performers, check out Look to the Stars or the BBC coverage.
What I really want to say is this: I got to sing "Happy Birthday" to Nelson Mandela. I got to sing "Happy Birthday" to Nelson Mandela. I got to sing "Happy Birthday" to Nelson Mandela.
How many times have we sung this song in our lives? To how many people? At how many parties, in how many silly harmonies?
It's nothing but a little ditty of a song, and yet the fact that I had the honor, the absolute once-in-a-lifetime privilege, of singing that very song to Nelson Mandela as he stood on stage, escorted by a loved one and surrounded by the evening's superstar enertainers, was more than enough to bring tears to my eyes and rolling down my cheeks. It was utterly humbling, singing this everyday song to one of history's most courageous, compassionate, visionary men.
Before this concert, Nelson Mandela ranked right up there in my mind with the likes of Mother Teresa and other such larger-than-life figures. I knew who he was, I knew the outline of his life, I knew he was a great, great man. But seeing him on stage, joining in to serenade him, and hearing him speak was just humbling.
Celebrated British humorist and actor Stephen Fry said it best when he came on stage later during the show - he spoke of Mandela's entrance and the subsequent crowd reaction and said it felt like "waves of love" were washing over the audience and crashing up onto the stage.
Indeed it did. And who wouldn't want to take a little time to frolic in that?
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