Young talent steals show from industry heavyweights

LONDON -- They were united in their support of African debt relief, but the 25 stars who performed at Live 8 in London's Hyde Park yesterday were splayed across the musical map. The 10-hour festival was dominated in preshow buzz by industry heavyweights and classic rockers: Mariah Carey and Paul McCartney, the Who and Pink Floyd -- the latter of which put aside their squabbles in the name of a higher cause.

But the fact is that with a few exceptions -- glorious Annie Lennox, ever-riveting U2 -- the young whippersnappers outnumbered the old-timers and stole the show.

For all the emotional heft of the McCartney-U2 collaboration on ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," it wasn't until Stereophonics took the stage that the festival began to rock. R.E.M. trotted out reliably wonderful versions of ''Imitation of Life," ''Everybody Hurts," and ''Man on the Moon." And Keane, despite their youth, sounded like Coldplay, which already sounds more vintage than fresh. The Scissor Sisters finally, two thirds of the way in, made Live 8 safe for stylish young things, a happy state that Velvet Revolver promptly derailed with a monstrously loud and ominous set.

There were surprises -- some happy, like Snoop Dogg's soulful turn, ingenue Joss Stone's rip-roaring set, and Sting's kinetic return to his rock-trio roots. Others were mystifying. For instance, what possessed Elton John to cherry-pick ''The Bitch is Back" for this particular event?

Set times were limited, with big stars rating a generous four-song, 15-minute allotment, and upstarts like the Killers restricted to a mere tune. That didn't stop them from making the most of their brief moment in the spotlight: Ms. Dynamite turned in an unexpectedly moving rendition of Bob Marley's ''Redemption Song" -- an inspired choice for this landmark consciousness-raising event.

Others clearly put plenty of thought into song selection, as well. U2's ''One," Dido's ''Thank You," performed as a duet with Youssou N'Dour, Annie Lennox's ''Why," and Madonna's ''Music" all struck topical chords apropos of Live 8's mission: to alleviate suffering in the world's poorest nations.

Sadly, Madonna, who was in fine voice, seemed ill-equipped to navigate the demands of an unchoreographed performance situation. Hers was a shrieking, profanity-strewn, and generally desperate-seeming performance.

Deadline demands prevented including reviews of performances by the Who, Pink Floyd, and a planned grand finale led by McCartney.