Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz brought out his acoustic guitar, ukulele, and piano for a warm and joyful livestreamed home concert as part of the "Together At Home" virtual series on Thursday.
Mraz played "I’m Yours," "Look for the Good," "Love Is Still the Answer," and "I Won’t Give Up." The musician riffed throughout the set, improvised songs, encouraged his fans to look for the good in life, led them in deep breathing exercises, and taught them how to play different chords. He also urged his fans to support the World Health Organization (WHO).
"We’re trying to help the WHO so they can get the funds they need to operate 24/7, 365 until this thing is done," he said.
"I think it's interesting the World Health Organization’s acronym is WHO, because they are who is gonna help us set our soul free," he added. "Thank you for bravely and courageously dedicating so much time to literally saving the world, at least the world for humanity."
Mraz read Instagram comments throughout the set and welcomed fans from various countries. At one point, he read a comment from someone who said he had become hopeful while listening to Mraz.
"If you just became hopeful, that means you generated it from within," he said. "I only gave you a prompt, but all the chemistry to become hopeful is a choice you made."
Mraz was inspirational throughout the set, providing a break for fans around the world who may be isolated and lonely as they practice social distancing and cope with the immense tragedy of the pandemic.
"May you know you’re connected," he sang. "May you know you’re important. May you know you are loved."
Mraz told his fans to only look at the new number of coronavirus infections, because if the number of new cases goes down, that means the curve of the pandemic is flattening. If people look at all the data on the virus, he warned, they might get disproportionately stressed.
This sort of expansive perspective was evident throughout the set. Multiple times, he invited his fans to take deep breaths to calm down.
"Draw the breath of life in," he said. "Feel it make you strong. Your breath is your own song, and how you choose to breathe out, how you choose to control your exhale, and direct your intention in word or song, that’s up to you — between you and your heart to figure out."
Today at 2pm PT / 5pm ET. Performing from home w @glblctzn in support of @who to help stop Coronavirus. Tune in on my Instagram. #TogetherAtHomepic.twitter.com/MPLxynP96S
— Jason Mraz (@jason_mraz) April 16, 2020
The "Together At Home" campaign was launched on March 16 by Global Citizen and the WHO as a way to foster solidarity around the world. Artists, actors, and influencers have participated in support the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Globally, more than 1,995,983 people have been infected by the coronavirus and 131,037 people have died from it, according to the WHO. You can do your part to contain the pandemic by practicing social distancing and supporting local community groups that help those in need of assistance.
By visiting Global Citizen’s "Together At Home" campaign page, you can learn more about coronavirus and find ways to get involved in your community.
You can see all of Global Citizen's COVID-19 coverage here.
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