We didn’t need to learn Madonna was coming to the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks viewing party to feel it was worth the drive back from the Hamptons. “What’s more iconic than listening to Frank Sinatra sing ‘New York, New York’ and seeing fabulous green and orange rings high above the Hudson?” said Robin Reibel, Group Vice President, Media Relations, Cause Marketing and Tourism Marketing at Macy’s. We were next door, at Macy’s press party, at the Lighthouse at the Chelsea Piers. “We consider this our party of the season,” Reibel continued. “Here on the Hudson, there is no better view.” We had to agree it was an unparalleled patriotic pleasure.
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A perfect American way to celebrate our birthday! (Photo: Lee Fryd) |
Usher curated the music and helped choreograph the fiery lights. But first, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Cher raised the voltage with their performances for the show, televised nationally on NBC and locally on 1010 WINS.
“We’re very privileged this year to have Usher,” Reibel continued. “People have asked ‘curate’ — what does that mean? We actually asked Usher to choreograph the cadence of the fireworks to the music of his choice. It’s a symphony in the sky, if you will, opening with the famous Jimi Hendrix “Star Spangled Banner” from Woodstock and climaxing with Ol’ Blue Eyes’ “New York, New York” and the Jay Z/Alicia Keyes version of “New York State of Mind.”
By that time we had made our way through the buffet, the Lighthouse gourmet version of traditional Fourth of July fare: hamburgers, barbecue chicken and all the trimmings.
“It is a privilege to be a part of such an important holiday,” Reibel told us, “and to give this gift, particularly coming at the conclusion of our American Icons Campaign. The campaign celebrated the people, places and things we love about America, and raised 3.4 million dollars for an organization called ‘Got Your Six,’ a military term meaning ‘I’ve got your back.’ The money is going to organizations around the country that support returning veterans and their families in a number of ways.”
A perfect American way to celebrate our birthday!
