America: A Tribute to Heroes
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America: A Tribute to Heroes was a benefit concert organized in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon by the four major United States television networks. It featured a number of national and international entertainers performing to raise money for the victims and their families, particularly but not limited to the New York City firefighters. It aired September 21, 2001, uninterrupted and commercial-free.
On a dark stage illuminated by hundreds of candles, twenty-one artists performed songs of mourning and hope, while various actors and other celebrities delivered short spoken messages. Some of the musicians including Neil Young and Eddie Vedder were heard working the phone banks taking pledges. The money raised amounted to about $30 million, and was given to the United Way's September 11 Telethon Fund.
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Performers
- Bruce Springsteen: "My City of Ruins (http://www.brucespringsteen.net/songs/MyCityOfRuins.html)", a song he had performed at only a few New Jersey shows. Written before the 9/11 attacks, it is actually about Asbury Park and its residents' struggle to reclaim it and rescue its historic buildings and landmarks from developers; a couple of phrases were modified for this performance.
- Stevie Wonder with Take 6: "Love's in Need of Love Today", from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life.
- U2 with Dave Stewart and Natalie Imbruglia: "Peace on Earth intro/Walk On", from their 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind.
- Faith Hill: "There Will Come a Day", from her 1999 album Breathe.
- Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: "I Won't Back Down", from Petty's 1989 solo album Full Moon Fever.
- Enrique Iglesias: A new single, "Hero".
- Neil Young: John Lennon's "Imagine", previously unrecorded by Young. Young may have been thinking of John Lennon's love for New York City. This performance is generally considered the highlight of the evening and one of the greatest moments of Young's lengthy career.
- Alicia Keys: Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free", previously unrecorded by Keys. This strong performance was the first time many viewers became aware of Keys.
- Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst and Wes Borland, plus the Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik: Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here", previously unrecorded by them.
- Billy Joel: "New York State of Mind", from his 1976 album Turnstiles.
- Dixie Chicks: A new song, "I Believe In Love".
- Dave Matthews: "Everyday", from his 2001 album Everyday.
- Wyclef Jean: Bob Marley and The Wailers' "Redemption Song", previously unrecorded by Jean.
- Mariah Carey: "Hero", from her 1993 album Music Box
- Bon Jovi: "Livin' on a Prayer", from their 1986 album Slippery When Wet.
- Sheryl Crow: New song, "Safe and Sound".
- Sting: "Fragile", from his 1987 album ...Nothing Like the Sun
- Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready with Neil Young: "The Long Road", originally performed with the late Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on the Dead Man Walking soundtrack.
- Paul Simon: "Bridge Over Troubled Water", from the 1970 Simon & Garfunkel album Bridge Over Troubled Water.
- Céline Dion: "God Bless America"
- Willie Nelson accompanied by the entire ensemble: "America the Beautiful"
Speakers
- Tom Hanks
- George Clooney
- Will Smith
- Muhammad Ali
- Kelsey Grammer
- Jim Carrey
- Cameron Diaz
- Robin Williams
- Dennis Franz
- Jimmy Smits
- Calista Flockhart
- Amy Brenneman
- Conan O'Brien
- Sarah Jessica Parker
- Tom Cruise
- Ray Romano
- Lucy Liu
- Sela Ward
- Jane Kaczmarek
- Julia Roberts
- Chris Rock
- Robert De Niro
- Clint Eastwood.
Broadcasters
In America, the concert was simulcast by over 35 network and cable channels, including A&E, ABC, BET, CBS, CMT, Comedy Central, Court TV, Discovery, E!, Fox, Fox Family, Fox Sports Net, FX, Galavision, Hallmark Channel, HBO, Lifetime, MTV, NBC, Oxygen, PAX, PBS, Sci-Fi, Showtime, Sundance Channel, Telemundo, TLC, TNN, TNT, The WB, Turner South, Univision, UPN, USA Network, and VH1. It was also broadcast on over 8,000 radio stations, and on the Web and via America Online.
Outside of the U.S., the program was distributed to 210 countries and the American Forces Network, which broadcast to American military personnel in 175 countries.
External links
- Tribute to Heroes Music (http://www.tributetoheroesmusic.org/)
- Internet Movie Database entry (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296503/)
- CBS information (http://www.cbs.com/specials/heroes/)
- E! Online Review (http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,8862,00.html)
- Jammin' with Neil (http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/lennon.htm) How and why Neil Young chose Imagine