From a Ugandan Childrens singing group to a former US President, the stars
turned out in New York this weekend to honour Bono as 2003 MusiCares Person Of The Year.
As well as the dinner and speeches, a diverse group of artists took the
stage to interpret U2 classics including B.B. King and Wynonna Judd
covering When Love Came To Town; No Doubt with Sly & Robbie on rhythm
covering The Sweetest Thing; Norah Jones' taking on Stuck In A Moment You
Can't Get Out Of and Elvis Costello covering Kite.
Catch a great video clip of some of those cover versions
here.
Costello revealed that he'd seen seven shows on the Elevation tour and "All
they sing about is love". At which point Edge arrived on stage with the
evenings main attraction and they performed Sinatra's 'That's Life' and
Cole Porter's 'Night And Day' before ending with the Oscar-nominated 'The
Hands That Built America.'
Among the stars present to honour Bono were Michael Stipe, Jay-Z, Limp
Bizkit, Diana Krall, Jimmy Fallon, Salman Rushdie, Tony Bennett, Eunice
Shriver and Bobby Shriver, Carly Simon, Robert DeNiro, Steve Van Zandt and
David Bowie.
Earlier former President Clinton presented Bono, whom he has known since
1992, with the Person of the Year award which honours the musical
accomplishments and humanitarian efforts of a single figure each year. Bono,
who announced that he was having 'the time of my life', declared that Bill
Clinton was 'more of a rock star than any in this room'.
On a serious note, Clinton tuned in to a prevailing anti war theme on the
night: 'If you immediately think it's us versus them, then this will not be
a world for your children to grow up in.' he said.
Bono cautioned against making Saddam Hussein a martyr, and spoke of
resolutions reached with the IRA and debt relief granted to developing
nations as the kind of success constructive dialog can bring. The world is
much more malleable than you think,' he said.
The night was MCed by actress Ashley Judd, who along with Bono and
multiple-Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, recently travelled through
the Midwest on the Heart of America tour, to raise awareness of AIDs,
poverty and trade issues in Africa. The Children of Uganda, a group of
young performers from various parts of East Africa whose mission is to raise
awareness of AIDS through their music and dance, opened the night's
festivities with a rousing rhythmic display. Members of the ensemble were
raised in orphanages, children of one or both parents who died of AIDS.
The complete list of artists who played - and the songs they covered - was:
BB King and Wynonna Judd - When Love Comes to Town
No Doubt - Sweetest Thing
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Stories For Boys
Mary J. Blige - One
Norah Jones - Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Patti Labelle - Angel of Harlem
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - Electric Co.
Garbage - Pride
Sheryl Crow - All I Want Is You
Elvis Costello - Kite
More reports here
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