Amy Winehouse gives a good performance at Mandela concert

It was assumed that Amy Winehouse wouldn’t make it to the big charity concert in London last night in honor of Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday. She was hospitalized for a chest infection last week that even major news outlets were speculating was “crack lung.” Her own dad said she needed to quit smoking drugs, and claimed she was in the beginning stages of emphysema, which her rep later denied. Amy failed to show up at a photocall in advance of the concert but was seen out that day buying booze, so it was thought she would skip the show and get drunk and high instead.

Whatever happened to Amy, she did show up to perform last night. She looked together, she can still belt out a tune and her voice doesn’t seem to have been affected by her medical issues.

Amy fiddled with her skirt while she performed and she looked like she was stumbling once or twice in her big heels, but her voice was powerful and she seemed in control of her faculties. She walked right down to the crowd at one point and she sure brought it. Amy performed “Rehab” and “Valerie” for the estimated 40,000-strong crowd.

Other performers last night included Queen, Razorlight, Leona Lewis, Josh Groban, Sugababes, Johnny Clegg and Annie Lennox. Proceeds went to benefit Mandela’s 46664 AIDS charity. The former South African president turns 90 on July 18 and gave a brief but moving speech to the crowd. He said:

“Where there is poverty and sickness including AIDS, where human beings are being oppressed, there is more work to be done.

“Our work is for freedom for all.

“We say tonight after nearly 90 years of life, it is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now.” [From AP via Huffington Post]

Here are some more videos from the night:

Bono and The Edge sing happy birthday remotely:

Nelson Mandela’s speech

And a concert-goers video of Will Smith rapping with Jada. He does “Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Man I can’t hate on this guy.

Thanks to WENN for these photos from the show last night. Also shown are Leona Lewis, Emcee Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel Mandela, Sugababes, Geri Halliwell, Jamelia, Quincy Jones, Annie Lennox, and Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton.

Published 6/28/08 by

Cele|bitchy

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