‘We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert’ in Central Park
Journey, Carlos Santana, Jennifer Hudson, and LL Cool J, among others, regaled 60,000 New Yorkers before a severe storm forced the concert to go into lockdown – then shut down
Read our full recap of the evening.
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Santana
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone At Saturday’s We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert, Santana and Rob Thomas teamed up to debut their new single “Move” just three days following its release. The Central Park set also paid homage to their past as the duo delivered a groove-filled performance of their 1999 mega-hit “Smooth” to a crowd of roughly 60,000 attendees. Rapper-singer Wyclef Jean also joined Santana for the 2001 R&B fusion hit “Maria Maria.”
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Jennifer Hudson
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Jennifer Hudson delivered a striking performance of the aria “Nessun Dorma” at We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert. Joined by the New York Philharmonic, the Respect star belted the Giacomo Puccini opera tune to an audience of 60,000 people in Central Park. It was notably the same classical piece Aretha Franklin had performed at the Grammys in 1998.
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We Love NYC!
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Fans dance at the WE LOVE NYC: Homecoming Concert in Central Park on August 21st, 2021.
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Clive Davis
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone “From the time I got invited by the mayor, I’ve been calling artists directly. I really wanted every genre of music represented, so I reached out to artists across rock, rap, pop, Broadway, classical music,” 89-year-old Clive Davis told Rolling Stone from his Westchester home last week.
The show — officially known as “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert” — offered a potpourri of genres and never-before-heard collaborations, who’s spent the last eight weeks putting it together.
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Rob Thomas
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Rob Thomas performs with Santana. While Thomas co-wrote a handful of songs on a handful of Santana’s records after Supernatural, “Move” shows the duo teaming up for a proper single 22 years after they released “Smooth.”
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Capturing the Moment
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone WE LOVE NYC: Homecoming Concert in Central Park on August 21st, 2021.
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Bruuuuuce
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone In addition to Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, Rob Thomas and Wycleaf Jean, New York’s Homecoming show was meant to feature a star-studded lineup include Paul Simon, the Killers, Polo G, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Journey, Kane Brown, Cynthia Erivo, Elvis Costello, LL Cool J, Jon Batiste, Andrea Bocelli, Earth, Wind & Fire, Lucky Daye, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Barry Manilow, and the New York Philharmonic.
But it was cut short so most of the evening’s acts never got to the stage on Aug 21.
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Fat Joe and Remy Ma
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Fat Joe and Remy Ma perform at the WE LOVE NYC: Homecoming Concert in Central Park on August 21st, 2021.
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Jon Batiste
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Jon Batiste performs at the WE LOVE NYC: Homecoming Concert in Central Park on August 21st, 2021.
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Neal Schon of Journey
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Rock legends Journey delivered a blistering performance of their 1980 classic “Any Way You Want It” followed by their 1981 hit “Don’t Stop Believin’” at We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert on Saturday.
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Kane Brown
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Kane Brown performs at the WE LOVE NYC: Homecoming Concert in Central Park on August 21st, 2021.
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Senator Chuck Schumer
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone New York Senator Chuck Schumer at the WE LOVE NYC: Homecoming Concert in Central Park on August 21st, 2021.
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The Whole Crew
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Spliff Star, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, LL Cool J, French Montana, Remy Ma perform at the WE LOVE NYC: Homecoming Concert in Central Park on August 21st, 2021.
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Julia Michaels
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Julia Michaels performs at the WE LOVE NYC: Homecoming Concert in Central Park on August 21st, 2021.
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Earth, Wind and Fire
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Earth, Wind and Fire sounded splendid doing “September.”
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Barry Manilow
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Ironically, Barry Manilow was about to begin his vintage hit “I Made It Through the Rain” around 7:30 p.m. when an announcer cut into the feed, telling the crowd that it would have to leave the park immediately due to inclement weather.
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Polo G
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Polo G performs at the WE LOVE NYC: Homecoming Concert in Central Park on August 21st, 2021.
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Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chirlane McCray
Image Credit: Nicole Fara Silver for Rolling Stone Mayor Bill de Blasio — who had been booed by some in the crowd as he was introducing Earth, Wind and Fire — was seen onstage announcing that the concert would resume. By then, thousands were streaming out of the crowd in the downpour.