WTOP’s Jason Fraley outlines how the entertainment world reacted after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
WTOP’s Jason Fraley Recalls 9/11 Pop Culture (Part 1)
It has been 20 years since the heartbreaking 9/11 attacks, but for those who lived it will always feel like yesterday. We can close our eyes and remember these haunting images.
The event changed everything – metal detectors in sports stadiums, airport security checks, wars abroad – but how did the entertainment world react?
Here is a look back at the days, weeks, months and years after the tragic day:
On September 11, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig canceled that evening’s games immediately. He would soon be canceling all games for the rest of the week.
On September 13th, WWF Smackdown became America’s first public event when Vince McMahon told the crowd, “Tonight is the spirit of America. … Make no mistake about the message this public gathering is sending to terrorism tonight. … We will not live our life in fear! “
On September 14, Rev. Billy Graham presided over a service at Washington National Cathedral with President George W. Bush, who was standing on the rubble of Ground Zero that afternoon.
On September 14th, Jay-Z rapped his “9/11 Freestyle” on tour: “Bombers, Bin Laden. … I’m dropping the same date as the Twin Towers. ”In 2009’s Run This Town, he said,“ Terrorists attacked New York City and destroyed our towers. They believed it would weaken us; Unfortunately they were wrong. ”In“ Empire State of Mind ”from 2009 he said:“ Long live world trade ”.
On September 16, the National Football League canceled all weekend games on both Sunday and Monday nights, while NASCAR postponed their race at the New Hampshire 300.
Major League Baseball resumed the St. Louis Cardinals-Milwaukee Brewers game on September 17 when announcer Jack Buck read his poem “For America” and said, “Shall we be here? Yes sir!”
Late-night presenters Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and David Letterman returned on September 17. Letterman opened by saying, “This is our first broadcast since New York and Washington were attacked. … It’s terribly sad here in New York City. We lost 5,000 New Yorkers and you can feel that. … New York City is the greatest city in the world. “
On September 17th, country artist Aaron Tippin released “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly” and sang, “There’s a lady who stands in a harbor for what we believe, and there’s a bell which still echoes the price it cost to be free. “The proceeds went to the Red Cross.
On September 20, the two-hour live telethon “America: A Tribute to Heroes” featured Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, U2, Faith Hill, Tom Petty, Enrique Iglesias, Neil Young, Alicia Keys, Goo Goo Dolls, Billy Joel, Dixie Chicks, Dave Matthews, Wyclef Jean, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Eddie Vedder, Paul Simon, Celine Dion and Willie Nelson.
On September 20th, “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart brought us to tears: “We were in excruciating pain here and I just wanted to tell you why I am grieving, not despair. … They attacked this symbol of American ingenuity, strength, labor, imagination and trade and it is gone. But do you know what the view is like now? The Statue of Liberty.”
On September 21, New York City hosted its first professional sporting event since the Shea Stadium attacks. The pre-game ceremonies played patriotic anthems and players wore NYFD hats. Fittingly, New York’s Mike Piazza managed a game-winning home run to beat Atlanta.
The Prayer for America interfaith memorial service was held at Yankee Stadium on September 23, while NFL games resumed that afternoon. NASCAR resumed with the MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. Lee Greenwood sang “God Bless the USA” while Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrated his victory with an American flag.
On October 11th, NBC changed an episode of Friends to remove Chandler’s joke about a bomb on an airplane. In the months to come, “The Sopranos”, “Sex and the City” and “Law & Order: SUV” deleted recordings of the Twin Towers from their opening credits, while Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” removed a scene in which Spidey hurled the twin towers over .
On October 20th, Madison Square Garden hosted “The Concert for New York City” with David Bowie, Billy Crystal, Bon Jovi, Jay-Z, Goo Goo Dolls, Billy Joel, Destiny’s Child, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Adam Sandler, Backstreet Boys, Melissa Etheridge, The Who, Mick Jagger, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Janet Jackson, Elton John and Paul McCartney.
Brooks & Dunn’s hit single “Only in America” topped the country charts on October 27th and received a new wave of patriotic support after its release on June 18, 2001.
From October 27 to November 4, the New York Yankees competed against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series. President George W. Bush threw the first game of Game 3 at Yankee Stadium (one blow) while patriotic anthems were played over stadium speakers and Derek Jeter provided picture-book moments for New York. In the end, Arizona won Game 7.
On November 1st, ABC broadcast the benefit concert “United We Stand: What More Can I Give” with Michael Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Huey Lewis, James Brown, Usher, Carole King, Al Green, Pink and Bette Midler in the RFK Stadium. CeCe Peniston, Aerosmith, America, P. Diddy, NSYNC, Janet Jackson, Destiny’s Child, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey and Train.
On November 7th, Alan Jackson performed his tearful 9/11 tribute “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” at the CMA Awards in Nashville: “Against that blue sky? Did you scream in anger, fear for your neighbor, or did you just sit down and cry? “
On February 3, 2002, the New England Patriots won their first Super Bowl and formed an NFL dynasty under Tom Brady. During the Halftime Show, U2 performed “Where the Streets Have No Name” when the names of the 9/11 victims appeared on a giant banner that seemed to crumble as Bono howled and revealed an American flag in his leather jacket.
On February 4, 2002, “Sesame Street” aired an episode to Help Children Deal with September 11th, depicting a fire in Mr. Hooper’s store as an allegory for the attack on the World Trade Center.
On May 27, 2002, country star Toby Keith released the revenge song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” from 11. “Justice will be served and the fight will be raging, this big dog will fight if you jiggle its cage and you will be sorry for messing with the A USA because we are going to get you a boot up the ass stuck, it’s the American way. “
The Oscars opened on March 24, 2002 with Tom Cruise reading comments from Cameron Crowe: “What about a night like today? Should we celebrate the joy and magic that movies bring? Well, I dare to say: more than ever. A small scene, a gesture, even a look between the characters can cross borders, break through barriers, melt prejudices, and simply make you laugh. “
On July 30, 2002 Bruce Springsteen released his album “The Rising”, the title track of which was written in response to 9/11. It also animated “My City of Ruin,” originally written for a Christmas show in Asbury Park, New Jersey in November 2000, but now speaking on 9/11.
On September 11, 2002, 11 filmmakers from around the world shot short films for the compilation piece “September 11”, including Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Mexico), Ken Loach (Great Britain) and Sean Penn (USA), the latter with Ernest Borgnine as a lonely widower in his dark apartment, just for the collapse of the twin towers to bring light.
On February 6, 2003, 50 Cents showed “Get Rich or Die Tryin ‘” the Eminem duet “Patiently Waiting”, which rapped “Destination heaven, sit and politic with Passengers from 9/11”.
On March 10, 2003, the Dixie Chicks were performing Travelin ‘Soldier in London when Natalie Maines told the crowd, “We don’t want this war, this violence, and we are ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas. “The band was blacked out by country music fans ahead of their eventual Grammy-winning comeback in 2006,“ Not Ready to Make Nice ”.
On April 15, 2003, country artist Darryl Worley released “Have You Forgotten?” Like many Americans, the song seemed to confuse the 9/11 attackers with the Iraq war: “Some say this country is just looking for a fight, but after 9/11 I have to say that’s right.”
On April 21, 2003, country band Lonestar released a new version of their hit “I’m Already There (Message from Home)” with a special tribute to the military after the original music video premiered on June 7th on CMT . 2001, just months before the attack.
On July 15, 2003, the classic rock band The Eagles released the melancholy “Hole in the World”, written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley in response to the September 11 attacks.
On June 25, 2004, the filmmaker Michael Moore released the documentary “Fahrenheit 9/11” in which he criticized the Bush administration for the wars after September 11 in Afghanistan and Iraq. The film won the Palme d’Or, the highest award at the Cannes Film Festival, and became the most successful documentary of all time.
On July 13, 2004, rapper Jadakiss delivered “Why,” including the controversial 9/11 reference, “Why did Bush tear down the towers? Why are you cowards around them? “
On December 5, 2006, rapper Eminem released the song “Public Enemy # 1”, which contained the tribute text “I can feel the tremors enormous, in memory of September 11”.
On April 28, 2006, Paul Greengrass staged “United 93” about the heroic efforts of passengers on United 93 to overtake their hijackers and crash the plane in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Director.
On August 9, 2006, Oliver Stone directed World Trade Center, with Nicolas Cage and Michael Peña as New York Port Authority officers who survived the collapse of the buildings. The film received the Freedom of Expression Award from the National Board of Review.
WTOP’s Jason Fraley Recalls 9/11 Pop Culture (Part 2)
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