Beyonce always puts on a memorable performance no matter what, but her set at Global Citizen fest had a few additional surprises to top off her ambitious set.
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While New York City is hosting a visit from the Pope, the Big Apple is also the site of an unbelievable live-music experience today: the Global Citizen Festival, which encourages citizens to band together and unleash their collective power to affect positive change in the world.
But we were even more excited about one guest in particular-First Lady Michelle Obama. Though the event is free, the 60,000 or so concertgoers first had to take steps to fight against global poverty before being entered in a lottery for tickets.
“We have the power to turn the dreams of millions of children into reality, so let’s start now”, she said. Obama said she learned how to “speak up” in school. “I need y’all to get misplaced and dance like youngsters”, she informed the gang.
This year the event is headlined by a star-studded cast of musicians, including Beyoncé, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran.
Obama said she has traveled the world and met with young women who have not had a chance to receive an education.
After working her way through fan favorites such as XO, Halo and the Fifty Shades of Grey remix of insane in Love, the Queen B welcomed Ed to the stage, guitar in tow, for the swoony acoustic performance.
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The occasion featured a quantity of distinctive musical collaborations: Beyonce joined Eddie Vedder onstage; Sting carried out with rapper Common; and Ariana Grande sang with Coldplay. Stephen Colbert and Hugh Jackman also are making an appearance. “What will happen when they become sea-level refugees?”
