Billy Joel, Sting, and Bon Jovi represented the rock community last night (May 11th) during the citywide virtual telethon Rise Up New York! Hosted by Tina Fey, and featuring appearances by Robert DeNiro, Mariah Carey, and Jennifer Lopez, among others, the fundraiser raked in over $115 million dollars for Robin Hood — New York's largest poverty-fighting organization, Robin Hood.
Bon Jovi — with each of its members performing remotely — turned its 2000 anthem “It's My Life” into a somber reflective ballad touching upon the sadness and heroics of our times. Sting reused his “Message In A Bottle” home studio performance that he also offered up for Britain's charitable cancer organization, Maggie's.
As expected, Billy Joel stole the show with a home performance of his 1976 classic “Miami 2017 ('Seen The Lights Go Down On Broadway)” — with the Empire State Building pulsating in colors to the beat and the “Piano Man's” performance projected all over the jumbotrons in an all-but empty Times Square.
Billy altered his customary closing call to his audiences — “Don't take any s*** from anybody” — by saying, “Stay safe New York, please wear a mask. That way, you won’t catch any s*** from anybody.”