The 10th anniversary of New York's Global Citizen provided, much like the city that hosted it, a melting pot of artists from as far away as Spain (Rosalia) and Italy (Maneskin) and as local as New Jersey natives, Charlie Puth and the Jonas Brothers, and Long Island's own Mariah Carey.
The crowds were out in force in Central Park, staying late to catch headliner Metallica. It helped that the weather cooperated and made for smooth entry and exit for the tens of thousands in attendance.
Backstage, a who's who of the music industry gathered, including Guy Oseary, Universal Music Group's Michele Anthony, Arista Records chairman David Massey, Brooklyn Bowl owner Peter Shapiro, agent Marsha Vlasic, Warner Records' Eric Wong and Karen Kwak and L.A. Reid, currently working with Carey as executive producer of her next album.
In an entrance fit for a queen, Mariah Carey arrived for her Global Citizen set a little late but better for the wear as she allegro'd her way to the stage with an army of helpers and handlers. Her performance, a greatest hits spanning nearly three decades, also included several remarks from the singer.
Carey mentioned the billions that have been raised for the cause, declaring, "Yay, us!" After belting "We Belong Together" and ahead of her inspirational "Hero", Carey recalled New York's darkest moment, 9/11, after which the song became an "unofficial anthem". ("I have a hard time acknowledging my own stuff but whatever," Carey cracked.) "It comforted us in our collective loss and recovery."
Revisiting the song recently, Carey said she now views it as a tribute to women, and credited those in the audience too young to remember 9/11 for being a "generation that is making the strides towards equality and equity for all".
It wouldn't be a Mariah Carey performance without both a diva moment - questioning the stage's lighting, she asked the crowd, "If I was going to be playing at night why did they have me rehearse during the day?" - and humor. During the performance of her 2005 hit "We Belong Together", she brought out the remix's collaborators Jadakiss and Styles P, yelling "New York is in the house!" - but the humorous moment came when she launched into the softer, original version of the song and tried to get one audience member in particular to sing along: "Come on, Metallica fan down there - I see you!"
(Variety)
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