# The Concert For New York City
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [October 21, 2001, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682 "2001-10-21T05:21:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@King\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Rat)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2001, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682/1 "2001-10-21T05:21:25Z")
You didn’t have to have VH1 in NYC because they broadcast it on PBS. Adam Sandler was hilarious as Operaman. The Who rocked the Garden, I thought. My favorite act of the night. What a great concert.
---
### Author:  [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2001, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682/2 "2001-10-21T05:34:09Z")
I agree about the Who. Definitely the high point. Also liked Billy Joel, Operaman, and James Taylor (don’t think there was a dry eye in the house during Fire and Rain).
Low points were Gov. Pataki’s lame canned speech, Richard Gere’s retro-political comments, and poor Janet Jackson who seemed to be under the impression that it was her concert and everyone would know the words to her song.
All-in-all, though, an inspiring event.
---
### Author:  [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682/3 "2001-10-21T06:28:45Z")
It’s still running on the West Coast, and I’ve missed a bit of it, but I’ll catch it later on tape. For me, the most powerful songs were the first two, by Bowie. New or deeper meaning to the lines “They all came to look for America” and “We can be heroes just for one day”
Didn’t care much for Billy Joes or James Taylor, but that’s probably just me.
---
### Author:  [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682/4 "2001-10-21T22:37:50Z")
Varlos, Janet Jackson was not at Madison Square Gardens. She’s on tour right now and she was playing Philadelphia last night, IIRC. They simulcast the concert from there into MSqG. So the people they showed in the audience were _her_fans, who presumably would know the words to her songs. They simulcast what appeared to be the last song of the night and she was quite pumped up. Granted, it was a bit incongruous with what preceded it at MSqG, but I think it was understandable given the circumstances.
Lisa
P.S. Didn’t you notice how sweaty she was?
---
### Author:  [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2001, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682/5 "2001-10-21T22:45:31Z")
Loved the cop who invited bin Laden to “kiss my royal Irish ass” and then labeled him a “bitch.”
---
### Author:  [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2001, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682/6 "2001-10-21T22:53:45Z")
Just have to say that I saw the show (missed the first hour) at a Friday’s here. I had the remote to control the volume, and no one was going to get that thing from me. I don’t think the GM was very happy, but he dealt with it. Pretty fucking awesome show. I agree that The Who was the highlight and Adam Sandler was hilarious.
**Does anyone know if VH1 is going to rerun the concert?**
---
### Author:  [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682/7 "2002-09-11T17:05:21Z")
Better late than never. VH1 will be showing the concert tonight (Sept. 11) at 7:00 PM EST.
Check it out.
---
### Author:  [@WavyDavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WavyDavy)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2002, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682/8 "2002-09-12T13:13:52Z")
I saw the later part of the show on VH1 last night. Paul McCartney singing ‘Yesterday’ was pretty cool (from this old man’s eyes).
---
### Author:  [@Fingolfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fingolfin)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2002, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-for-new-york-city/88682/9 "2002-09-12T14:15:07Z")
Fantastic concert! All the acts were great and played inspired sets. The Who was just flat out amazing. The high point for me was the guy from Five for Fighting performing ‘Superman (It Ain’t Easy)’ on the piano, accompanied by a Celloist. Man that guy is super talented. What a performance.
🙂