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Paul McCartney gives impassioned speech and plays ‘Lady Madonna’ for Together At Home

The Beatle called world leaders to "strengthen health care systems" to avoid a repeat of coronavirus

Paul McCartney joined an all-star cast as part of Lady Gaga’s One World: Together At Home’ benefit live stream last night (April 18), playing a Beatles classic and giving a speech.

Before playing ‘Lady Madonna’ solo at the piano, McCartney made an impassioned speech in which he called on world leaders to provide necessary health care resources so we don’t have a repeat of the coronavirus crisis.

During the performance McCartney showed photos of doctors and nurses on the frontline.

Read more: NME Big Read – Paul McCartney: “The Beatles were brothers arguing, that’s what families do”

“I’m very honoured to be part of this programme tonight that celebrates the true heroes: our health care workers all around the world,” McCartney said before the performance.

“As this COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis, we all have to come together to fight it on a global scale,” he added. “Let’s tell our leaders we need them to strengthen the health care systems all around the world so that a crisis like this never happens again.”

My mother Mary was a nurse and midwife just after and during the second World War, so I have a lot of time for the doctors, the nurses and all the medical staff that keep us healthy,” McCartney concluded. “We love you, thank you.”

Global Citizen’s special coronavirus fundraiser event has raised almost $128million (£102million) at the time of writing.

Dozens of artists joined the cause last night including The Rolling Stones, Lizzo, Stevie Wonder, The Killers and Taylor Swift while Beyoncé also joined the stream to make an emotional speech about the effects of the virus.

Paul McCartney recently praised the “very special” Billie Eilish, though he said he wouldn’t swap recording in Abbey Road to take Eilish’s approach of making music in her bedroom.

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People can't get over Elton John's grand piano performance of 'I'm Still Standing,' where he played in front of a basketball hoop at home

Elton John was one of several stars featured in the "Together At Home" live charity concert on Saturday.

As the music legend was filmed performing "I'm Still Standing" from his home, many viewers were entertained by the ordinary-looking basketballs and hoop behind his grand piano.

"I'd like to believe that Elton John's piano is always on a basketball court and that he shoots hoops in between songs in his downtime," on Twitter user wrote.

The "Together At Home" concert, which was curated by Lady Gaga in partnership with Global Citizen and the World Health Organization, raised almost $128 million for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Perhaps an unexpected byproduct of Global Citizen's "Together At Home" virtual charity concert, which was broadcast live on Saturday, was getting to see celebrities perform in their own homes — and some of their backdrops seemed to be oddly ordinary.

For example, Charlie Puth sang a falsetto-filled version of "See You Again" in front of his unmade bed; and music legend Sir Elton John performed "I'm Still Standing" in what looked like a backyard with basketballs and a hoop behind his grand piano. 

Fans and viewers of Elton John's performance shared their reactions to his seemingly random setup.

"I'd like to believe that Elton John's piano is always on a basketball court and that he shoots hoops in between songs in his downtime," one user wrote.  

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