It turns out we really are the world. Live Earth's continuous loop of consciousness-raising and top-notch music showed just how connected we all can be, for a good cause or a good time. The 7/7/07 concert warmed hearts and maybe even helped cool the earth, one high-tech lightbulb at a time. We loved every second, and though we're still recovering with a cool, recycled compress on our forehead, here are some of the most memorable moments of the historic event:

Cutest understatement of the weekend: One of Sydney, Australia's first acts, kicking off the entire global show, was Aussie band Blue King Brown. Peppy, bluesy lead singer Natalie Pa'apa'a threw her fist in the air and yelled a familiar rock slogan with a new global heft: "Let's get this party started!" And so we did.
Watch Blue King Brown: 'Resist/Don't Let Go'

Coolest duel: The two equally moving versions of Marvin Gaye's decades-old "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)." We give a slight edge to Alicia Keys' mournful version in New Jersey, though John Legend's gospelly duet in London with Corinne Bailey Rae was a close second. (Keys also dueted memorably with Keith Urban on a tingly "Gimme Shelter.")
Watch Alicia Keys: 'Mercy Mercy Me'
Watch Corinne Bailey Rae: 'Mercy Mercy Me'
Watch Keith Urban & Alicia Keys: 'Gimme Shelter'

Grooviest collaboration: Kanye West's rapping over the Police's dynamite "Message in a Bottle," with guitar help from John Mayer, at the climax of the New Jersey show. Sting and the boys were tight, but they needed West's soul and Mayer's sex appeal to present the whole package. Who else is still humming, "We need a new tomorrow"? Thought so.
Watch The Police: 'Message In a Bottle'

Wonkiest mixed message: "Message in a Bottle," the festival's unofficial theme song, with its lyric "sending out an SOS," has the rather eco-unfriendly punch line of "100 billion bottles washed up on the shore." Ouch. Cleaning crews, let's get out there!

Best fake band: Spinal Tap, in London -- just down the road from Stonehenge.
Watch Spinal Tap: 'Stonehenge'

Worst fake band that we love anyway: The Pussycat Dolls (also in London). Who knew those girls could work for social justice in those corsets?
Watch Pussycat Dolls: 'Stickwitu'

Conversation we most wish we could have overheard: The one relayed by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas (in London), telling Al Gore about a new song he wrote for him and the message of "An Inconvenient Truth." According to will.i.am, Gore's response to the tune: "Oh, that's dope."

Most dedicated musicians: The alt-rock scientists of Nunatak at Adelaide Island Research Station, Antarctica, playing in 15-degrees-below-zero weather, and mighty well, we might add. Their only audience: a family of penguins who seemed to be grooving on the tunes.
Watch Nunatak: 'Would You Do It All Again'

Coolest manicure: Fergie's, which looked like a French manicurist pressed whole black-and-white scarabs onto her fingertips. (And we totally covet those gladiator sandals, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya... )

Most impressive flying mammal: Al Gore, who jetted between the New Jersey and Washington, D.C., stages, and then did his best Obi-Wan Kenobi impression by appearing as a hologram at Makuhari Messe stadium in Tokyo. He may not be our only hope, but he's certainly channeling it.

Second most impressive flying mammal: The Pink Floyd pig, coasting over the New Jersey crowd during Roger Waters' energetic set. "Dark Side of the Moon" suddenly sounded like a dirge for our beloved planet.
Watch Roger Waters: 'Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)'

Best reason for Akon's neighbors to keep an eye on his crib: The rapper said one thing he would do to conserve energy was to stop leaving lights on at his home when he was on the road, "and you know, I travel a lot." We got your back, Akon.
Watch Akon: 'Shake Down'

Most random celebrity accessory: That Hawaiian lei around Alec Baldwin's neck at the New Jersey show.

Most convincing argument to eat less meat: Chris Rock's short film showing him cheerfully bludgeoning a kitchenful of vegetables with a cleaver as he related how much more energy it takes to produce a steak than a salad. We believe you, Chris & just put the knife down. Slowly.

Most gratuitous potty mouth: Madonna, whose set kicked butt, but who thought the best way to get the London audience on their feet was to call them "motherf****rs." Honey, we get it, you're badass. Could you just sing, please?

Catchiest new ecological anthem: Madonna's "Hey You," which totally redeemed her unfortunate language and kept the crowd jumping. (And "Ray of Light" truly rocked.)
Watch Madonna: 'Ray of Light'

Most truly soulful performers: The riveting Soweto Gospel Choir, moving the spirit in Johannesburg, South Africa, and beyond. Danny K helped lift the crowd, too, as did some stellar percussionists.
Watch Soweto Gospel Choir & Danny K: 'Homeless'

Best live-action manga character: Rihanna, in Tokyo, complete with signature glossy bob, eyes made up to look extrawide and the trappings of a schoolgirl outfit.
Watch Rihanna: 'Umbrella'

Best venue, global: They all had their great points, but we lean toward the ultra simple (small carbon imprint) stage in Washington, D.C., where Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and two other singers stood around small mikes with a low scrim behind them. In such a global event, the stage at the National Museum of the American Indian seemed truly intimate.
Watch Live Earth DC

Best venue, local: My desktop upstairs, with the cool speakers. No, wait, the flat-screen TV downstairs tuned to the Sundance Channel and that high-def channel I can never remember the name of. No, no, wait, my boyfriend's laptop out on the deck. No, the little TV in the kitchen tuned to Bravo and the NBC highlights show...

Most thoughtful nod to local fashion: Snoop Dogg, who did his hair in adorable little Fraulein braids for his appearance in Hamburg, Germany.

Most impressive microphone holder that looked like it could double as brass knuckles: Also Snoop Dogg. Though we bet it isn't brass.
Watch Snoop Dogg: Medley

Best new sideline: Toni Collette, singing with the Finish in Sydney, Australia, with an unpolished but absolutely affecting voice and heartfelt, self-penned lyrics. Watch out, Little Miss Sunshine. (Though we "Muriel's Wedding" fans found ourselves wishing she'd belt out "Waterloo.")
Watch Toni Collette and the Finish: 'Cowboy Games'

Cutest adoring celeb: Jessica Simpson -- or at least we think it was Jessica Simpson -- under a pink and white hat, beaming during on-again-off-again honey John Mayer's New Jersey set.

Sweetest reunion: Crowded House, natch, in Sydney, Australia. Don't dream it's over.
Watch Crowded House: 'Don't Dream It's Over'

Second sweetest reunion: The Beastie Boys (natty and very, very green) tromping all over the same stage (in London) as Madonna -- much like they did when they opened for her on tour way back in the mid-'80s.
Watch Beastie Boys: 'Sure Shot'

Coolest alt band named for a member of the Manson family: England's Kasabian, which sound like the souped-up progeny of the Stone Roses.
Watch Kasabian: 'Empire'

Best David Byrne imitation: Bianca Jagger, wearing an enormous, billowy white suit onstage in Germany, a la "Stop Making Sense." Same as she ever was.

Flashiest PBS darlings: The 12 Girls Band, rocking Western classics on traditional Chinese instruments, with the twinkly lights of Shanghai, China, only adding to the glitter.
Watch 12 Girls Band: 'Jasmine'

Best Jack Nicholson impression: Lenny Kravitz, whose hard-rocking set was the highlight of the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, show, but whose ever-present sunglasses, even at night, are beginning to seem a little affected. Lenny, what are you hiding?
Watch Lenny Kravitz: 'Bring It On'

Steamiest performance in the Hamburg, Germany, downpour: Shakira, who writhed and shimmied her way through her bilingual set and possibly briefly contributed to global warming herself.
Watch Shakira: 'Hips Don't Lie'

Best channeling of Janis Joplin: Not Melissa Etheridge, though she tried mightily, but Kelly Clarkson, whose stripped down, bluesy delivery was a highlight in New Jersey. She even has perfected that Janis hang-from-both-hands-on-the-mike-stand pose.
Watch Melissa Etheridge: 'Imagine That'
Watch Kelly Clarkson: 'Walk Away'

Most aw-shucks local heroes: Bon Jovi, New Jersey born and bred, who were the first to sign up for the concert. And indeed, we did "have a nice day."
Watch Bon Jovi: 'Wanted Dead Or Alive'

Kati Johnston is a freelance writer specializing in entertainment and is a frequent contributor to MSN.com: kati.johnston@comcast.net