Madonna wows Earth

Jul 9, 2007, 11:30 GMT

Madonna performs at Wembley Park Stadium in London, England, 07 July 2007. as part of the Live Earth Concert aimed at raising awareness of climate change. A total of 150 artists will be performing in nine cities, including Sydney, Tokyo and Washington, over 24 hours. EPA/DANIEL DEME

Madonna wowed the world at Live Earth London on Saturday night (07.07.07), with a stunning performance.

The 48-year-old pop superstar thrilled the 70,000 crowd inside London's new Wembley stadium and two billion people watching worldwide.

Her performance was the climax of a spectacular day, which featured an array of acts including the Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, the Black Eyed Peas and the Pussycat Dolls - who all played for free to raise awareness of global warming.

Madonna took to the stage in a figure-hugging black dress before opening with a song specially written for the occasion, 'Hey You', which implored people to change their lifestyle to save the world.

She then launched into classic hits 'Ray of Light, 'La Isla Bonita' and finally 'Hung Up', during which her provocative dancing had the audience in raptures.

The concert kicked off at 1.30pm with a drumming troupe dubbed the SOS Allstars, featuring Queen sticksman Roger Taylor, Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith, who got things going with a version of Queen's 'We Will Rock You'.

Other acts included Bloc Party, Kasabian, Snow Patrol, Damien Rice who duetted with David Gray, James Blunt, Paolo Nutini, and Corinne Bailey Rae who performed a cover of Marvin Gaye's classic 'Mercy Mercy Me' with John Legend.

Throughout the event a host of stars including Thandie Newton, Terrence Stamp, Gerard Butler, Kyle MacLachlan, Eddie Izzard and Chris Rock took to the stage to deliver pleas for everybody to embrace a more eco-friendly existence.

The concert - organised by former US Vice President Al Gore - was just one of eight concerts held all over the world featuring a stunning array of the world's top stars and watched by more than two billion people on TV.

Live Earth began in Sydney with songwriter Jack Johnson before finally ending in New York 26 hours later, where The Police were joined in a rendition of their hit 'Message In A Bottle' by Kanye West and John Mayer.

(C) BANG Media International