Watch Lorde Perform A Moving Cover Of ‘The Sound Of Silence’ At A Christchurch Benefit
“To our Muslim community – to our brothers and sisters. You have been so strong and so resilient and so graceful, and we are with you."
A month on from the Christchurch mosque shooting which claimed 50 lives, 20,000 people have come together for Aroha Nui/You Are Us, a benefit concert where all proceeds went towards the families’ of victims.
Among the performers were Shihad’s Jon Toogood, Australian Idol winner Stan Walker, ‘Slice of Heaven’ singer Dave Dobbyn and beloved songwriter Bic Runga. The show also featured a stripped-back performance from the country’s biggest star Lorde, who performed live for the first time since the end of her Melodrama world tour.
She teamed up with fellow countryman Marlon Williams, who provided acoustic guitar and harmonies in a rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s timeless ‘The Sound of Silence’ — itself widely understood as a tribute to assassinated US president John F. Kennedy.
Lorde also took the time to extend her respects to the Muslim community at large when addressing the audience.
“I want to say how moved I’ve been by what I’ve seen in Christchurch this last month,” she said.
“To our Muslim community – to our brothers and sisters. You have been so strong and so resilient and so graceful, and we are with you. This is our way of standing beside you from here on out.”
Lorde also performed her Pure Heroine standout ‘Team’ with help from Bic Runga. Watch both performances below.
Lorde , Sound of Silence at You Are Us / Aroha Nui concert at Christchurch Stadium. pic.twitter.com/smAPoq8Zmt
— Pals (@PalPerfectPlace) April 17, 2019
team, lorde aroha nui concert christchruch 17th april. my video pic.twitter.com/tttkdR4eTG
— nadine (@movesIow) April 17, 2019