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55,000 fans help emotional superstar Ariana send out a message of hope after atrocities FOR THE FANS PAGES 18&19
SUPERSTAR Ariana Grande wept last night as she and a 55,000-strong army of fans sang a message of defiance to terror.
The singer led a world-class line-up of musical talent at Manchester’s Old Trafford cricket ground.
They included Take That, Robbie Williams, Little Mix, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Usher, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Niall Horan, the Black Eyed Peas.
At the last minute, local boy Liam Gallagher joined the line-up, singing Rock ’n’ Roll Star and Live Forever.
But the real stars at the One Love Manchester concert were the thousands of brave survivors who faced their fears and sang “loud and proud”. Many of them were in a “golden circle” at the front of the stage.
Others who were injured in the attack sat in the stalls with arms and legs still in plaster.
Ariana, 23, had pulled together the gig within just 13 days of the suicide bombing which claimed 22 lives at her Manchester Arena gig.
And she played the concert of her life, singing solo and with many of her star guests.
At the end of the show, she couldn’t hold back the emotion as she was joined by all the other stars to sing her song One Last Time, which has been released as a charity single.
She was not alone, with many of the audience also in tears.
Then she stood solo in front of the huge audience to sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, a fittingly optimistic close to a concert which was a message of hope.
Earlier, Ariana had sung Oasis’s Don’t Look Back in Anger with Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
And she made dreams come true when she joined the Parrs Wood High School choir from East Didsbury on stage, led by 12-year-old soloist Natasha Seth.
She also spoke movingly about meeting the mum of Olivia Campbell-Hardy, 15, who died in the attack.
She told the audience: “Thanks so much for coming together and for being so loving and strong.
“I had the pleasure of meeting Olivia’s mum two days ago. She told me Olivia wouldn’t have wanted me to cry and would have wanted to hear the hits.”
She added she had changed her set to reflect that wish and “fill it with love and energy”.
The concert was kicked off by Mumford and Sons frontman, Marcus Mumford, who told the crowd: “Let’s not be afraid.”
Then Take That took the stage, with Gary Barlow urging the fans: “Stand strong, look at the sky and sing loud and proud.”
Pharrell Williams, who sang Get Lucky and Happy, said: “I don’t smell or see or feel any fear. There’s so much positivity, it’s incredible.”
Katy Perry praised Ariana’s “courage and strength” and added: “Love conquers fear and love conquers hate. I encourage you to choose love. Let no one take that away from you.
Canadian superstar Justin Bieber, who sang two songs, started a “love love love” chant and Miley Cyrus told the crowd: “I would like to wrap my heart round each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.”
Before the concert began, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: “Tonight let’s send our own message to our friends in London.
“We know how you are feeling but we will stand with you and we will get through this together.”
Last night, the British Red Cross tweeted that they had raised £2.35million in donations during the televised gig.