Coldplay frontman and Global Citizen Festival Curator, Chris Martin interacted with his fans on Instagram yesterday, performing some of the band's greatest hits live to kick off ‘Solidarity Sessions: Together, At Home,’ an ongoing virtual music series to unite people around the world during the current coronavirus pandemic.
Global Citizen and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the virtual concert series to promote unity amid the COVID-19 pandemic’s social distancing protocols. ‘Solidarity Sessions: Together, At Home’ will feature live performances from various musical artists via Instagram.
Martin started off the session by greeting the tens of thousands of fans who tuned in and addressing the reason behind the virtual concert.
"The right thing to be doing is staying home...and not buying too much toilet paper," Martin said.
He started the live session by saying:
“Hi, my name is Chris. Is this on? I’m on my own – sort of – in the house where I live. I was supposed to be with the band, Coldplay today, but we’re stuck in different countries, so we can’t play together. So I thought what would be nice would be to check in with some of you out there to see how you’re doing and where you are, and what I could do for you. I had an idea that we could call this thing ‘Together At Home’, and who knows, maybe tomorrow somebody else will take it over. So I’m here at your service! I’m going to take some requests.”
While social distancing, the public health practice of reducing close contact in order to slow the spread of the virus, is a necessary component of containing the COVID-19 outbreak, it can leave people feeling isolated and anxious.
That's why Global Citizen, the World Health Organization (WHO), and a group of artists launched this online music experience — to bring people together around the world and ask them to take action by calling for more funding to the WHO and supporting its historic COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Martin announced the online ‘concert’ via Twitter:
“Hello everyone. I hope you and your family are safe and healthy. If anyone feels like chatting and listening to some music, I’m going to do a livestream on the Coldplay Instagram in about 30 mins (1pm in LA / 8pm in London). love CM #TogetherAtHome.”
Taking song requests from his fans on Instagram Live, Martin opened the mini virtual concert with A Sky Full of Stars, followed by Trouble and Viva La Vida. Over the course of the 30-minute performance, he played nine songs – even starting to teach viewers how to play Life on Mars by David Bowie.
Throughout the broadcast, Martin sent out a series of positive messages to his viewers and sent good thoughts to those directly affected by coronavirus, from Italy to Iran to the United States, and more.
"We’re all one family ... Everyone’s praying for everyone, I hope," he said.
As the broadcast came to a close, Martin urged his viewers to visit GlobalCitizen.org to learn more about how to tackle the coronavirus pandemic through the organisation’s new campaign, Stand Together to Beat Coronavirus.
He then invited John Legend to be the next performer in the concert series.
Legend, who was also tuned into the show, responded in turn by commenting with multiple thumbs-up emojis, later taking to Twitter to confirm his participation:
“My friend Chris Martin did a lovely little concert from home today. I'll be doing one tomorrow at 1pm Pacific time. See you soon. We'll try to get through this together! #TogetherAtHome. It'll be on Instagram Live at @johnlegend. Requests will be accepted. And let me know which other artists I should pass the torch to.”
Martin closed with a performance of Fly On, and thanked his fans for tuning in.
"I send you love," he said, as the livestream ended.