Billie Eilish Headlining Climate Concert at Eiffel Tower

FILE - This Nov. 2, 2019 file photo shows singer Billie Eilish at the 2019 LACMA Art and Film Gala in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - This Nov. 2, 2019 file photo shows singer Billie Eilish at the 2019 LACMA Art and Film Gala in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
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Billie Eilish Headlining Climate Concert at Eiffel Tower

FILE - This Nov. 2, 2019 file photo shows singer Billie Eilish at the 2019 LACMA Art and Film Gala in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - This Nov. 2, 2019 file photo shows singer Billie Eilish at the 2019 LACMA Art and Film Gala in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Billie Eilish, Lenny Kravitz and Jon Batiste are headlining a concert aimed at building awareness around climate at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Thursday.

The concert, organized by NGO Global Citizen, features on the sidelines of an international summit launched by President Emmanuel Macron, said AFP.

Artists H.E.R. and Eilish's brother Finneas are also on the bill for the free show at the Champ de Mars below the Parisian landmark.

The venue hosted a previous Global Citizen concert in 2021 with Elton John and other huge stars that also had parallel concerts in several cities around the world.

Eilish, 21 and a seven-time Grammy winner, is known for her environmental advocacy.

She has given up the use of private jets and during her 2022 "Happier Than Ever" tour, she set up "eco villages" to encourage recycling, voter-registration and provide information on environmental groups.

Thursday's concert, titled "Power our Planet: Live in Paris", seeks to build pressure for a "new global financial pact".

It wants rich countries to keep promises for climate-related funding to poorer nations, reform development banks to focus on the environment, and get commitments from large polluting companies to move towards net-zero emissions.

"Crises are multiplying and the number of those who place their hope in peace and multilateralism will only grow if we, as a global community, demonstrate that we are there to help the most vulnerable," Macron said in a statement.

The stars will perform a series of short sets for around 20,000 spectators who won a lottery for free tickets.

It will also be broadcast online via multiple sites.

Actresses including Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh will also be present to speak during the event.

 

 



Charli XCX, Lola Young and Wham's 'Last Christmas' Get Ivor Awards Nods

Charli XCX poses as she arrives for the BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, March 1, 2025. (Reuters)
Charli XCX poses as she arrives for the BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, March 1, 2025. (Reuters)
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Charli XCX, Lola Young and Wham's 'Last Christmas' Get Ivor Awards Nods

Charli XCX poses as she arrives for the BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, March 1, 2025. (Reuters)
Charli XCX poses as she arrives for the BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, March 1, 2025. (Reuters)

Charli XCX's hit album "Brat" and Wham!'s perennial festive hit "Last Christmas" are among the musical works nominated at next month's Ivors, Britain's annual awards honoring songwriters and screen composers.

Lola Young was in the lead on Wednesday with three nominations, her first from the Ivors Academy. They included one for rising star, while her single "Messy" was among the contenders for best song musically and lyrically.

Her record "This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway" is nominated for best album, alongside Charli XCX's "Brat", which inspired a cultural phenomenon last year, and singer Jordan Rakei's "The Loop".

Further nominations went to rappers Ghetts and Berwyn for their albums "On Purpose, With Purpose" and "Who Am I" respectively.

Wham's "Last Christmas", which was released in 1984 but regularly returns to the UK charts during the festive season, is nominated in the most performed work category. Its writer, late singer George Michael was last nominated at the Ivors 20 years ago.

Also nominated are Dua Lipa's "Houdini", Myles Smith's "Stargazing" and "Prada" by Casso, Raye and D-Block Europe. Harry Styles' 2022 "As It Was", nominated for a third year running, completes the most performed work category list.

After winning songwriter of the year at last year's Ivors, Raye is nominated for best song musically and lyrically for her single "Genesis". Also nominated in that category are "Child of Mine" by Laura Marling, "In the Modern World" by Fontaines D.C. and Orla Gartland's "Mine".

Best contemporary song contenders are Ghetts' "Double Standards (feat. Sampha)", Pa Salieu's "Allergy", Jade's "Angel of My Dreams", Sans Soucis' "Circumnavigating Georgia" and Bashy's "How Black Men Lose Their Smile".

Last month, organizers said Irish rockers U2 would receive the Ivors Academy Fellowship, the UK-based association's highest honor, at this year's awards, their 70th edition.

Named after the early 20th century Welsh composer, actor and entertainer Ivor Novello, the Ivor Awards were first handed out in 1956. This year's ceremony will be held on May 22 in London.