Photo: WENN.com
1 June, 2013: One of the most star-studded UK concerts of 2013 took place in London tonight, with Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Florence + The Machine and more performing at Sound Of Change at Twickenham Stadium in London.
The huge gig is in aid of Chime For Change, which works across the globe to improve education, health and justice for women. Proceeds of the show will be used to fund 120 projects in 70 countries worldwide.
Beyonce headlines the show, and is co-founder of the charity, and will be joined by the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Florence + The Machine, Ellie Goulding, John Legend, Haim, Iggy Azalea as performers on the night. The show will be hosted by stars as varied as Madonna, James Franco, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Gordon and Sarah Brown.
Our writer Joanne Ball is at Twickenham Stadium covering the show live, as it happens. Follow her updates below...
17.15: We're Early! The Sound of Change hasn't even started yet, but there's already action on the stage; the eager fans, some of whom took to their seats up to two hours before it all kicks off at 18:00 are treated to a Demonstration of Zumba. The latino dance fitness craze has been going strong for some years, and is greeted with enthusiasm from the female strong audience. However, as they are all packed so close to the stage, how many dance moves can they do? See our view for the evening below...
18:15: It all kicks off with Jessie J, who looks small on such a big stage but makes an impression with a bass heavy version of her No.1 hit, 'Price Tag'. Her hair still buzzcut short, she's rocking a look of defiance. "This is for us to come together, to be voices to be heard" she proclaims. Her set is full of big beats, and the crowd clearly love it.
18.20: After surprise act Jessie J, foundation co-creator Salma Hayek takes to the stage to introduce the night, followed by hollywood actor James Franco.
Franco- who in a stadium full of women gets a somewhat expected whoop of acknowledgement. They outline the purpose of the event, saying that as well as a night of great music and big name stars, is a call for support for the charity.
18.25: Iggy Azalea takes to the stage, starting her set with 'Work', before running through brilliant new single, 'Bounce'. The high energy of her, and her backing dancers gets the crowd jumping, but after performing only those two songs - and thanking Gucci for having her - departs the stage.
Each act is followed by a video rallying the cause.
Iggy Azalea followed Jessie J on the Sound Of Change stage
18.38: Another high energy performance follows, this time from UK star Rita Ora, her huge voice filling the stadium. 'Hot Right Now' goes down a storm. "We're here to celebrate a great cause, and have fun," she says. And that's exactly what she gets down to doing - breaking then into 'Party', which the audience sings enthusiastically along with, while her first solo No.1 'RIP' closes the short set.
She performs for just ten minutes, but works the stage and the audience, taking command of the huge venue.
18.52: After an emotive video message from Desmond Tutu, Laura Pausini takes to the stage. Singing in a mix of Italian and English, she delivers a heartfelt, emotional performance accompanied by a simple band and prominent acoustic guitar - in contrast to the beat heavy dance performances of previous artists. She's got a remarkable voice, and the audience can be heard singing along to her tracks. She leaves, bidding farewell in her native tongue. "Arrivederch," she calls, and leaves the audience suitably spellbound by her set.
19.12: In a remarkably early slot, Florence + The Machine take to the stage, transfixing the audience into an awed hush. There are whoops of joy - and that's before she starts singing. Wearing an utterly magnificent ocean blue dress, which, when added to her distinctive voice and the sound of the massive strings, gave her performance an ethereal quality. Opening with 'You Got The Love' the audience got into full swing, singing - and raising their hands. Florence's stage presence is formidable, with 'Dog Days Are Over' being greeted with a huge round of applause.
It's not until the end of the set that she speaks. "We're here to show the women of the world that we stand with them. " are Florence and the Machine, and we Chime for Change."
Madonna asks the audience for quiet as she speaks of education for women
19:26: Florence Welch is followed immediately by Madonna, who says: "I am passionate about education. What happens when we educate girls? It empowers them! In many parts of the world, what we take for granted does not exist!" before she hushes the whoops of the crowd, urging: "Please listen to me,"
"Some get shot for writing blogs. Some get acid thrown in their faces for being school teachers. I do not accept this - and Neither should you."
After a short film, she continues: "I want to start a revolution, that starts with education. Let tonight be the start of that revolution."
The crowd shows its support with many whoops and much applause. She exhudes empowerment, and truly rallies the cause.
19.40: Wearing a very cool polka dot suit, nine-time Grammy Award winner John Legend takes to the stage next, bringing some soul to the stadium. He begins with 'Tonight', before moving to a grand piano behind him and sings out a stunning rendition of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', lulling the audience in awed sing along. This was topped by a duet with the audience on his huge solo hit, 'Ordinary People'. His final song 'Ready to Go Right' sounding even bigger.
19.52: Immediately afterwards, Ryan Reynolds took to the stage (cue high pitched screams that would rival a One Direction concert), with Star Trek actress Zoe Saldana, who discussed health issues for women.
19:54 Haim, the US sisters change the tone again in Twickenham Stadium with their soaring R&B pop sounds. Musically, they sounded brilliant, but their mics unfortunately were FAR too quiet, and the vocals could barely be heard - not that the crowd needed them, as they enthusiastically sang along regardless. During the final section of their set they abandoned their instruments and played an impressive drum solo.
20.15: If Florence Welch being on before 8pm was early, having Jennifer Lopez perform before 9pm seems like madness! J.Lo's set mixes latino, show stopping choreography and a touch of nostalgia, it's brilliant to see Jenny From The Block back on stage. She launches into 'Live It Up', in a performance notably similar to her controversial performance on Britain's Got Talent recently. She then whips up a storm with 'Love Don't Cost A Thing' and 'Jenny From The Block'. It's so good to see these performed on stage!
Don't be fooled by the rocks that she got - it's Jennifer Lopez
After donning a cape-like jacket (poor dear must be getting chilly), she gives an empowering speech:
"Chime for change, we need a time for change," Lopez tells the audience. "Do you believe that one person can make a change? I believe that. But when we come together, we can all do amazing things."
And then, with no dancing, just powerful singing, she begins a cover of The Beatles' 'Come Together' - joined by Mary J. Blige- which has almost every person in the stadium whooping, cheering, and beating their fists in the air. The energy is then stepped up again for her final song; 'Get On The Floor'. Adding a touch of J-Lo glamour, the end of her performance is showered with confetti. Beyonce is headlining, but she'll have a tough job topping that!
20.45: Timberland time. The US super-producer and rapper swaggered to the stage, and for his whole set, the crowd didn't stop moving; jumping and screaming. He played through some of his biggest tracks; Justin Timberlake's 'Sexy Back', and his own, 'Carry Out' and 'Just The Way You Are', all seeming to get more and more response from the audience.
However, the technicalities of his performance were slightly off, there was feedback cutting through his energetic set, and the vocals were sometimes drowned out by the music. It was a lot of fun, hearing the tunes normally heard in a club, blasted out in a stadium. "That's how you do a show," he proclaimed, but it's a tough act following J Lo, let's be honest.
Mrs. Will Smith, Jada Pinket Smith then took to the stage, talking for the 21,000 victims of Human Trafficking, and sharing an emotive video of one young, who's story she states, "represents them all."
21.00: For the first time this evening, it's dark enough for a Light show to accompany a performance. Ellie Goulding blasts it from the off - commanding the right side of the stage. Out of breath when she talks in between her enthusiastic dancing - making all the use she can of the right hand side of the stage. Received well; the crowd are all dancing, but there's noticeably less energy for her than some of the big name US performers.
Unfortunately, Goulding's high energy, very fun set was another victim of technical difficulties. By her third song, the vocals were almost drowned out by her drums and beats, and feedback was creeping back in. Hopefully the sound desk will sort it out for Beyonce.
21.15: Most of the artists tonight have performed relatively short sets, mostly two or three song sets. This, however, has left Beyonce free to perform a spectacular 45 minute set as the night's headliner.
Introduced by Chime For Change co-founders Frida Giannini, and Salma Hayek Pinault, she receives a standing ovation before she even steps on stage.. There's a reason why Beyonce's won over 17 grammy awards and is considered one of the biggest stars on the planet, after all.
"I am Beyonce Knowles Carter, and I chime for change," she declares. "This is an incredible night for all of us." She adds that they've raised four million dollars already.
Beyonce - the headliner, and inevitable highlight of Sound Of Change
She belts out singing her biggest numbers; 'Who Runs the World', followed by Destiny's Child smash 'Survivor' and 'Irreplaceable'. Her set is split by a video - akin to those which have punctuated the entire evening - a moment for Bey to catch her breath.
She strides back on stage to pounding beats, and begins "If I Were A Boy". The crowd are spellbound, but as the track builds, their singing slowly turns into a a sort of chant. She stops singing, and the audience continue, carrying the tune. The respect you can feel for her resonates through the stadium - and all watching know they're seeing something special. Ballads over, 'Crazy in Love' gets everyone moving and shaking.
Jay-Z joins his wife on stage and it's lovely to see them interact, but it's no question that this is definitely her night. This then, is an opportune time for 'Single Ladies', and the iconic dance is emulated throughout the crowd.
After another break - with a self narrated video detailing her own achievements, Beyonce then begins Whitney Houston's 'I will Always Love You' before merging into her own track, 'Halo' to close.
Bey is amazing, and it's right then that the light show and visuals which accompany her are equally stunning. She stands alone on the stage, sometimes joined by backing dancers and instrumentalists, but it is she who commands the attention of every single pair of eyes. Earlier artists such as Jessie J looked lost when they stood alone on the stage, but Beyonce looks simply magnificent her stage presence encompassing it. easily trumping every act that's come before.
