Nannette was kind enough to let me buy an extra ticket she had, and I met up with Gary, Maureen, Liz and Stan before the show for dinner... we're ALL going to have to go next year, because it was an incredible evening!
It started with James Taylor, Sting, Elton and Billy standing on stage wearing black suits and black fedoras... then they started singing the old Dean Martin song, That's Amore... just fun. then they all sat on little folding chairs on the left side of the stage with small round tables covered with red and white checkerboard tablecloths while they took turns singing.
the rest of the night (in order):
Billy then introduced Bette Midler, special guest for the evening. she sang Lullabye Of Broadway" and Singin' In The Rain.
then Trudi Styler came out and spoke about the importance of saving the rainforest... she's one of my heroes... shows how smart Sting is by marrying her. :)
Sting then introduced Jimmy Scott, who he described as "Billie Holiday's favorite singer"... an older gentleman with a voice like velvet... he sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow... i was transfixed.
Intermission
Triumph, the insult comic dog came out next... he got some laughs, and the artists he ragged on seemed to be amused... he said something about Elton going through menopause, and liking it doggy style, and then mocked out James Taylor for having no hair, and saying how Elton had a pomeranian on his head... Elton kind of made a face like "yeah, that's me" but many people in the audience didn't approve... the dog kept saying, "hey, it's for the rainforest!" but a lot of people didn't think he was funny... they didn't need him in this show... Sting did a version of the Jungle Book song, I Wanna Be Like You with him.
then Billy and Sting sat down with guitars, and Antonio stood with a crowd of background singers and did two songs from Beatles' films, Hard Day's Night and Help!... the whole audience was singing and clapping along.
Bette came back out and did beautiful renditions of The Rose and The Wind Beneath My Wings"... then Michael J. Fox came out with his guitar, Elton and Billy took over the keyboards, and Elton sang the first few lines of Johnny B. Goode"... the whole bunch was dancing and singing along, and brought the audience with them.
The last song was the first one... That's Amore... and the audience all sang along with our lyric sheet... so much fun. :)
This was my first rainforest concert, but i'll do everything i can to make sure it's not my last... i can see why liz and nannette are devoted attendees for the past several years... you get to see legends sing, play and have fun together... so grateful i had the chance to go.
denice
Denice also shared this article from the BBC:
Sting and Sir Elton John performed at a benefit concert in New York on Wednesday to raise money for a charity which supports rainforest tribes.
They joined Billy Joel, James Taylor and Bette Midler at the city's Carnegie Hall at a fund-raising show in aid of the Rainforest Foundation.
The singers reinterpreted hit songs from musical and film history at the Singing in the Rainforest concert.
The charity was launched by Sting and his wife Trudie Styler in 1989.
It was set up to support the indigenous populations of the world's rainforests.
The foundation works on projects in tropical rainforest areas, helping local people and non-governmental organisations to protect the habitats.
It also lobbies countries to address the underlying causes of the destruction of tropical rainforests.
This year's fund-raiser - the 13th annual event - was hosted by actors Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith.
Sting is due to play a further benefit concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on 16 May.
Return to concert information.