Page 30 - bon-dia-aruba-20200530

a30 people & arts
Saturday 30 May 2020
In a N.Y. state of mind, Guetta readies virus relief concert

By MESFIN FEKADU thought that was so cool. I which is what I'm trying to
AP Music Writer could see the kids dancing do as a DJ." Guetta, who
NEW YORK (AP) — When at home. I could see every- is French, has had white-
hundreds of artists started body having their own little hot success in the U.S. and
singing from their living parties. I could interact with around the world with pop-
rooms when the coronavi- them. Some people would ular songs like "When Love
rus pandemic hit, Grammy- write messages to me and Takes Over" with Kelly Row-
winning DJ-producer David I would answer them. Like, land, "I Gotta Feeling" with
Guetta still wanted to per- this is really cool! It feels the Black Eyed Peas, "Titani-
form in front of a live audi- more real. We're enter- um" with Sia and other Top
ence. So the hitmaker set tainers, this is what we do. 10 hits. He called dealing
up shop in front of a 205- It's not just like playing at with the virus "very scary"
foot pool at the Icon Brick- home on the keyboard. I'm because he hasn't been
ell in downtown Miami, per- performing for the people. able to tour the world and
forming for 90 minutes as It's amazing to receive en- perform like he's used to.
8,000 locals danced along ergy back." "I don't think I'm going to
from their balconies during The first United At Home work before 2021 so of
the feel-good moment last concert raised $750,000, course it's a problem," the
month. Now, he's launch- including a $300K contribu- 52-year-old said. "I'm lucky
ing his second United At tion from Guetta. This week's enough that I have mon-
Home event at an undis- event will air live at 7 p.m. ey on the side and I don't
closed location in New York EDT — the time of Manhat- have to worry about if I can
on Saturday to connect tan's ritual of clapping and eat next month. But some
with fans and raise money cheering for a few minutes of the people, they're not
for health care workers and to honor all essential work- in the same situation and
virus relief efforts. "A lot of ers — from Guetta's social that's why I'm trying to do
artists, especially DJs, were media pages, including something to help."
doing performances from Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, One good thing to come
their bedrooms. I felt like Instagram and YouTube. out of the pandemic is free
that was a little bit frustrat- Fans can select if they want time to write and produce
ing. I really wanted to feel This Sept. 22, 2017 file photo shows DJ-producer David Guetta to donate to the Mayor's music, he said.
like I have a crowd," Guet- performing at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. Fund to Advance New York "Oh my God you, have no
ta said in an interview with Associated Press City, Feeding America, the idea. It's been one of the
The Associated Press this World Health Organization most incredibly produc-
week. "So, I had the idea which Guetta could watch when officers had to break or Fondation Hôpitaux de tive times I've had since
of doing this in the middle via Zoom as he performed up groups on the sidewalks Paris-Hôpitaux de France. 10 years," he said. "It re-
of towers and people were his electronic dance hits far below the concert. "It's cool that people can ally made me think about
on the balconies and that that have made him a "To me it's essential," Guetta choose where they want the way I live my life. Of
was absolutely amazing." chart-topping touring jug- said of connecting directly to donate, but in any case, course, taking a plane ev-
His first concert featured gernaut in the last decade. with his fans. "That was the it's helping people with ery day, constantly doing
fans dancing away — Police said they dispersed idea behind the show. I'm coronavirus and those on interviews, organizing, hav-
some taking their shirts off crowds violating social dis- going to do it in a differ- the front lines. We're doing ing meetings, t becomes,
and basking in the moment tancing guidelines during ent way in New York City, something good. And also, I don't know, it's almost
— while others enjoyed the rooftop performance, but we were also interact- we're bringing a little bit of like the business side takes
the vibe from their homes, but no arrests were made ing with people on Zoom. I happiness in people's life over."q

ASCAP to honor songwriters, publishers with virtual awards

By MESFIN FEKADU sic," Paul Williams, ASCAP's presi-
AP Music Writer dent and chairman of the board,
NEW YORK (AP) — The American said in a statement Thursday.
Society of Composers, Authors "We invite music fans everywhere
and Publishers is going virtual with to join us in toasting their music
its annual awards shows this sum- and what their creative work adds
mer because of the coronavirus to our lives."
pandemic. Other awards shows are skip-
The performing rights organiza- ping a traditional ceremony this
tion announced Thursday that it year because of the coronavi-
will hold three-day virtual events rus, including the Daytime Emmy
— that will stream on ASCAP's so- Awards and the BET Awards.
cial media channels — for its four ASCAP will honor some of today's
awards shows, which focus on top songwriters and publishers
pop, R&B/rap, Latin and film mu- at its ASCAP Virtual Awards; win-
sic. ners and guest participants will
The ASCAP Pop Music Awards will This April 23, 2018 file photo shows Josh Tillman performing at the 2018 ASCAP be announced later. Last year
be held June 17-19; the ASCAP Pop Music Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Associated Press the organization gave awards to
Screen Music Awards on June 23- Billie Eilish and her brother-collab-
25; the ASCAP Latin Music Awards July 15-17. excited to honor (artists) virtually orator Finneas, Benj Pasek and
on July 7-9; and the ASCAP "Even though we can't be togeth- so that we can all connect and Justin Paul, Cardi B and Daddy
Rhythm & Soul Music Awards on er 'in real life' this time, we are so share our collective love of mu- Yankee.q