Lauryn Hill kills it at rain-soaked Global Citizen Festival
Considering all that Global Citizen has done to make the world a better place, Mother Nature sure was cruel to the anti-poverty organization on Saturday.
The annual Global Citizen Festival — which traditionally has served as a golden sunset on summer as it gives way to fall — was a rain-soaked slog that turned New York’s Central Park into one giant mud puddle.
Indeed, the Great Lawn that had been populated with sun worshippers for the past few months was now a sea of ponchos and rain slickers.
“It’s a beautiful day!” joked “Science Guy” Bill Nye early in the spirit-dampening festivities.
In fact, it was almost an hour into the main show before the first act, Brazilian sensation Anitta, even took the stage — no doubt to ensure a safe, slip-free performance.
The elements didn’t stop the Grammy-nominated singer — wearing a bedazzled bodysuit with the colors of the Brazilian flag emblazoned across its halter top — from twerking, writhing and otherwise booty-popping on the wet stage.
One could’ve only hoped that all that grinding and gyrating by Anitta and her hip-shaking squad was some sort of anti-rain dance.
But the rain gods were not to be defeated. And neither was the Global Citizen Festival.
Indie-pop star Conan Gray brought some glam to the gloom in his red, black and silver sequined jacket — with fringe sleeves for extra flair — while K-pop group 3RACHA demonstrated the global impact of hip-hop in the city that gave birth to it 50 years ago.
And the BTS Army showed up in full force for Jung Kook, who got a catsuited-assist from rapper Latto on their No. 1 hit “Seven.”
But this year’s Global Citizen Festival — which will be featured in an ABC special at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday — belonged to its penultimate performer, Lauryn Hill. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of her Grammy-winning opus, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” she looked every bit the hip-hop queen that she is as she majestically took the stage with a full band — and even fuller energy.
From a blistering “Lost Ones” to an epic “Ex Factor,” she schooled the masses on her “Miseducation” legacy before ending her solo set by turning “Doo Wop (That Thing)” into a joyous jam in the rain.
But that wasn’t it for Hill, who then brought out her Fugees family Wyclef Jean and Pras (who is still awaiting sentencing after being convicted on conspiracy charges in April).
By the time they finished with “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and a bit of “Fu-Gee-La,” Hill — with a little help from her friends — had slayed this year’s Global Citizen Festival.
It was almost unfair that Red Hot Chili Peppers — the ostensible headliners — had to go on after Hill and crew. But they did their best to bring some “Californication” to the crowd.
But when their solid but somewhat disjointed set came to an abrupt end after “By the Way,” it was almost a relief that the soggy struggle was over.
