Amy Winehouse Leads Leona Lewis, Queen in All-Star Jam For Mandela at 90th Birthday Bash

Amy Winehouse, Queen, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds and a host of actors and athletes took the stage at London's Hyde Park Friday night to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday. Performing a night before her drama-filled Glastonbury set, Winehouse delivered rousing renditions of "Rehab" and the Zutons' "Valerie." Leona Lewis, Razorlight and the Spice Girls' Geri Halliwell were also on hand for the celebration, which was hosted by actor Will Smith. The night concluded with Winehouse taking lead on an all-star performance of the anti-apartheid anthem "Free Nelson Mandela." "Our work is for freedom for all... We say tonight, after nearly 90 years of life, it is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now, I thank you," Mandela told the 50,000 in attendance.

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter