Songs offer messages of hope at NBC’s star-studded benefit concert for Sandy’s victims

Superstars perform benefit concert for Sandy victims

Published November 03, 2012

Associated Press

In this photo provided by NBC, from left, Steven Tyler, Jimmy Fallon, Mark Rivera, and Bruce Springsteen, perform during "Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together" Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, in New York. Hosted by Matt Lauer, the event is heavy on stars identified with New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, which took the brunt of this week's deadly storm. (AP Photo/NBC, Heidi Gutman) (NBCUniversal Media2012)

From "Livin' on a Prayer" to "The Living Proof," every song Friday at NBC's benefit concert for superstorm Sandy victims became a message song.

(NBC, Heidi Gutman/ Associated Press ) - In this photo provided by NBC, Mary J. Blige performs during “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together” Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, in New York. Hosted by Matt Lauer, the event is heavy on stars identified with New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, which took the brunt of this week’s deadly storm.

New Jersey's Jon Bon Jovi gave extra meaning to "Who Says You Can't Go Home." Billy Joel worked in a reference to Staten Island, the decimated New York City borough. The hourlong event, hosted by Matt Lauer, was heavy on stars and lyrics identified with New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, which took the brunt of this week's deadly storm. The telethon was a mix of music, storm footage and calls for donations from Jon Stewart, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg and others.

(NBC, Heidi Gutman/ Associated Press ) - In this photo provided by NBC, Brian Williams, left, and Jon Stewart perform during “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together” Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, in New York. Hosted by Matt Lauer, the event is heavy on stars identified with New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, which took the brunt of this week’s deadly storm.

The mood was somber but hopeful, from Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" to Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" and a tearful Mary J. Blige's "The Living Proof," her ballad of resilience with the timely declaration that "the worst is over/I can start living now." Joel rocked out with "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)," a song born from crisis, New York City's near bankruptcy in the 1970s, while Jimmy Fallon endured a faulty microphone and gamely led an all-star performance of the Drifters' "Under the Boardwalk" that featured Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Steven Tyler. The Aerosmith frontman then sat behind a piano and gave his all on a strained but deeply emotional "Dream On." Sting was equally passionate during an acoustic, muscular version of The Police hit "Message In a Bottle" and its promise to "send an SOS to the world."

 (NBC, Heidi Gutman/ Associated Press ) - In this photo provided by NBC, Brian Williams, Jon Stewart, Al Roker and Matt Lauer applaud during “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together” Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, in New York. Hosted by Matt Lauer, the event is heavy on stars identified with New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, which took the brunt of this week’s deadly storm.

The show ended, as it only could, with Springsteen and the E Street Band, tearing into "Land Of Hope and Dreams."
"God bless New York," Springsteen, New Jersey's ageless native son, said in conclusion. "God bless the Jersey shore."
The stable of NBC Universal networks, including USA, CNBC, MSNBC, E! Entertainment, The Weather Channel and Bravo, aired the concert live from the NBC studios in Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan, several blocks north of where the city went days without power.
NBC Universal invited other networks to televise the event, but not everyone signed on.

(NBC, Heidi Gutman/ Associated Press ) - In this photo provided by NBC, Mary J. Blige performs during “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together” Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, in New York. Hosted by Matt Lauer, the event is heavy on stars identified with New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, which took the brunt of this week’s deadly storm.

That might have something to do with network rivalries.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the networks organized a benefit together behind the scenes and it was televised on more than 30 networks simultaneously, including all the big broadcasters.
After Hurricane Katrina, NBC televised its own benefit before the other broadcasters, one that became best known for Kanye West's off-script declaration that "George Bush doesn't care about black people." The other broadcasters cooperated on their own telethon a week later, and NBC televised that one, too.

Also this year, NBC organized and scheduled a telethon and gave others the chance to air it.

(NBC, Heidi Gutman/ Associated Press ) - In this photo provided by NBC, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform during “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together” Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, in New York. Hosted by Matt Lauer, the event is heavy on stars identified with New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, which took the brunt of this week’s deadly storm.

Others declined to televise Friday's telethon, even though ABC parent Walt Disney Co. said it would donate $2 million to the American Red Cross and various ABC shows will promote a "Day of Giving" on Monday. The CBS Corp., Viacom Inc., parent of "Jersey Shore" network MTV, Fox network owner News Corp. also announced big donations to the Red Cross.