Who knew I would one day rue the day I didn’t have VH1? Our cable company doesn’t offer the music channel so I didn’t get to see Prince William and Prince Harry’s musical tribute to their mother in its entirety (Concert for Diana aired live on VH1 this morning). Instead, I was forced to settle for NBC’s extremely edited down one-hour version (which in my opinion was a joke) that aired tonight in primetime.
After watching the mega-hyped “Concert for Diana” on NBC I felt gypped.
First of all, Matt Lauer’s “Dateline NBC” interview with the princes, which aired last week to promote the big event, drew in a record amount of viewers. That in and of itself should have clued in network execs that there are tons of loyal Diana fans (like me) who would likewise tune in for the concert. I’m not sure how long the actual concert lasted, but I question why NBC didn’t offer at 2 hours of it? After all, it is summer and the network had nothing else to offer tonight except reruns. In addition, they flew Lauer back to London last week so he could hype the concert/highlight show on the “Today” show Friday morning. Then this morning on “Weekend Today” Campbell Brown interviewed singer Josh Groban about his role in the concert.
Did Josh Groban even appear on NBC’s chopped up “Concert for Diana?” I didn’t see him. I stepped away from the TV to answer the phone for a couple of minutes, so I could have missed him. But, I have a feeling he simply didn’t make the cut. Neither did performances by Pharrell Williams, Lily Allen, Take That and an extract from “Swan Lake” by the English National Ballet (Diana’s favorite) and other songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber. And, what about Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado? I saw video of her on the news belting out her song “Man Eater.” The same song that inspired Prince William to make moves that resembled a distressed chicken (much to the embarrassment of younger brother Harry, who shook his head and laughed). Hey, NBC, that’s the stuff I wanted to see. Oh, and the shot of Prince Harry getting a kiss on the lips from his girlfriend Chelsy Davy. Did I miss that too? That’s the kind of kitschy, tabloid-y stuff I tune in for.
Instead, I saw Simon Cowell flanked by a stunned looking Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest jibber-jabbering about something. (They were introducing the next act, but I didn’t hear a word come out of Seacrest’s mouth.)
And what about “Candle in the Wind?” I heard the princes asked Elton John to play “Candle in the Wind,” the song he sang at Diana’s 1997 funeral in Westminster Abbey, at tonight’s concert. I didn’t hear it. I watched John perform other classics, but not the song he reworked in tribute to Diana. He had said at her funeral that he would never sing it again. Did he really mean it? Did he really turn Diana’s sons’ request down?
What I did see (and enjoyed) was the short, but sweet comments the princes made to the nearly 70,000 fans who turned out for the concert at Wembley Stadium.
“This evening is about all that my mother loved in life: her music, her dance, her charities and her family and friends,” William told the crowd. He went on to say the concert was a chance for people to “remember all the good things about her because she’s not here to defend herself when she gets criticized.”
Right before the next act came on William added: “This evening is about all that our mother loved in life – her music, her dance, her charities and her family and friends.”
Interestingly, there was no sign of William and Harry’s father (and Diana’s ex-husband) Prince Charles or his mistress turned bride Camilla. Somehow I don’t think the concert, which Diana’s sons called “the ultimate birthday present” to their mom (today would have been Diana’s 46th birthday) would have been much of a party if Charles and Camilla showed up.
Personally, I thought the highlight of NBC’s coverage was Sean “Diddy” Combs rendition of “Missing You” – a cover of The Police’s 1983 “Every Breath You Take.”
I would have liked to see Duran Duran dedicate their song “Wild Boys” to William and Harry; David Beckham’s appearance; Kayne West’s performance; and The Office’s Ricky Gervais, but I didn’t see any of that. Should I blame it on the ill-timed phone call or NBC’s editors?
Still, from what I did see I would have to agree with former British prime minister Tony Blair who told the crowd of William and Harry’s efforts to coordinate the entire concert: “I know their mother would be very proud of them.”
I’m sure she got to see the whole thing.
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