'LIVE 8 WAS AN ANTI-CLIMAX', MOANS SIR ELTON
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DennyC:
Yes I have written my government by emails, signed petitions, for this and a host of other things. Sent clothes and toys through a my daughter's school and my family sponsors a few children. You skirted the direct question I asked regarding if you wrote the government regarding sending US troops to overthrow the governments to get rid of the cause of the poverty. We have done this for years. But I won't ask you to explain yourself or tell me ways you have tried to change the world for the better. It's simply not my business. I guess it's the way my husband and I look at things and how we raise our children, we see a problem, we see if we are able to help with our votes, actions, donations, time, etc. I don't need to list everything I do here and contribute for the world on an internet forum. In fact, I don't think it's in good taste. It is pointless to bellyache and disect every one of Bob Geldoff's words. Time is too precious to waste in that way. Sir Bob, is a man that is looking for answers, like the rest of us, he didn't create is problem. I have forgotton none of his words. He is someone I admire.
You brought up what the organizers tried to do. I corrected you with what their actual stated mission was. Bob is not looking for answers....when he says, "forget the corruption" he is telling people what the answers are. He is certain that his answers of money, which historically hasn't done a thing, is the answer. And that is what he pushed the G8 to do....that is what he told the public again, was the way. He won't open his eyes to the actual cause.
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I'm not sure what exactly what you want me to tell you, first you want to know if I wrote, then you said you don't want a list of what I contribute, not necessary, now you want to know exactly what is in my letters. So that's your business? Personally, I would never write a letter or email that advocated violence of any kind. I'm not a hawk. Good luck to you tripping, badger someone else for answers to the world's problems. I certainly don't have them, nor do I pretend to have them. I feel good about how I conduct my life and I feel good about the people I admire. This is a waste of time that borders on criminal. I blame myself for even continuing it. What this world needs is more people like Sir Bob that at least step up to the plate, and less people who bellyache about them. That's my last word.
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You double talk great, Denny....and none of what you write makes any sense. One of your posts say one thing, and then another says the opposite. That's the problem with most people....when the answers get too hard....or too difficult to deal with....let's throw some money at them, even when there are decades of history to illustrate that the money answer is futile.... and then end the conversation. A few decades of misguided efforts isn't anything to applaud anymore. Everyone had a feel good about themselves day...patted themselves on the back...put on their wristbands and what did it do for those suffering? Some Africans were quoted right before Live 8....basically they said....very nice that they are having big concerts....what will it mean for us in the end....they are still under governments that rape them of everything, and that trickles all the way down to local village tribal leaders. Governments don't tend to leave their power nice and quietly. But hey.....we still have the Live 8 video to look forward to...right?
DennyC:
I'm not sure what exactly what you want me to tell you, first you want to know if I wrote, then you said you don't want a list of what I contribute, not necessary, now you want to know exactly what is in my letters. So that's your business? Personally, I would never write a letter or email that advocated violence of any kind. I'm not a hawk. Good luck to you tripping, badger someone else for answers to the world's problems. I certainly don't have them, nor do I pretend to have them. I feel good about how I conduct my life and I feel good about the people I admire. This is a waste of time that borders on criminal. I blame myself for even continuing it. What this world needs is more people like Sir Bob that at least step up to the plate, and less people who bellyache about them. That's my last word.
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Hi all - I read the articles and I wanted to say to be honest I felt that to a certain extent he did have a point - though if you are in the UK you may not notice it. Live Aid the first - originated in ... Sydney . I booked a ticket on a bus - took time off work and went - even taking the video recorder so i could tape Led Zeppelin. It was a four day trip. Oz For Africa - was held on Sat night - and had Mental As Anything opening , I'm Talking were very good. LRB were exceptional with Farnham out front. Mondo Rock were great , Australian Crawl , one after the other - it was a blitzkrieg of brilliance. The last thee acts were - The Angels ( Angel City ) , Dragon ( you may know them as Dragon or Hunter ) and it was closed by no less than INXS. Complete with lasers. From memory there were 10 acts . This time it was not quite the same - I was ecstatic to see Paul with U2 - and overjoyed to see Pink Floyd with Roger Waters - a dream come true. I love Coldplay - and while I like most of the acts - Pete Doherty i don't think helped Sir Elton. To me - it was abrave attempt but it seemed like a concert for the other side of the planet. And to be honest Live aid actually had a forerunner in melbourne called the E.A.T ( East African Tragedy ) concert - promoted by a man called Bill Gordon. So in all fairness I think he does have a point. We should also remeber that live Aid was hot on the heels of two smash hits - the BAND AID single and We Are The World . Perhaps egos - maybe it was time - . it was brilliant that the organsers did it but no - it did not have the smack in your face factor that Live Aid had. I know by 5 AM I was going home to bed and some acts were still coming on. Anyway - thats just my little gripe. It did have some brilliant moment though. Peter
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From a purely musical pov, Live8 suffered for various reasons. The VIP section was the one nearest the stage I understand. It wasn't a meritocray - at Live Aid the best, most popular bands got in, here it wasn't a money raiser so there was more laxity involved and all sorts got a ticket to play. The likes of Macca were a rarity to see in 1985 but now he tours a lot and of course the idea of music festivals with loadsa bands on the bill is commonplace now, not in 85. Finally the old timers - Macca, The Who, Pink Floyd were arguably a bit too old, while young uns like Kaiser Chiefs and the like not established enough.
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Isn't it a bit ironic that this event was to aid the relief effort, and yet the VIPs who contribute the most are awarded the best seats in order to be "personally gratified for their monetary contributions" by the Artists who are there to aid the poor, instead of the VIPs feeling connected to the cause by mingling with the rest of us?
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I get the point but personally I thought it was awesome. It was a great day and for a great cause. I wouldn't say it was an anti-climax.
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Thurm:
I was at Live 8 London and I think to an extent Elton John has a point. While there can be no questioning that the artists on show were largely top draw and there were very few outright disappointing performances, much of the atmosphere was lost because of the huge corporate presence in the "Golden Circle". This collection of high-powered company sorts, pen-pushers, media darlings and others who weren't there because they won in the normal text message competition, managed to distance those with the real passion for the music who were set a good fifty metres back from the stage at least. There is absolutely no doubt that this would have had an impact on the attitude of the artists towards the event: when they normally play a show, their main audience is normally within reach-out-and-touch distance and thus a strong connection between performer and crowd can be easily acheived and this then gets reflected in the atmosphere of the event. This would be where the 'lack of charisma' that Elton John speaks of developed. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed my day, just wish that the corporate sorts hadn't been able to get in between the musicians and the true audience!
And a lot of those people are there to see and be seen so they don't have the right enthusiasm to give back to the performers. I guess it is actually funny that the concert was for Africa and all the performers were white.
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Shevell:
Thurm:
I was at Live 8 London and I think to an extent Elton John has a point. While there can be no questioning that the artists on show were largely top draw and there were very few outright disappointing performances, much of the atmosphere was lost because of the huge corporate presence in the "Golden Circle". This collection of high-powered company sorts, pen-pushers, media darlings and others who weren't there because they won in the normal text message competition, managed to distance those with the real passion for the music who were set a good fifty metres back from the stage at least. There is absolutely no doubt that this would have had an impact on the attitude of the artists towards the event: when they normally play a show, their main audience is normally within reach-out-and-touch distance and thus a strong connection between performer and crowd can be easily acheived and this then gets reflected in the atmosphere of the event. This would be where the 'lack of charisma' that Elton John speaks of developed. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed my day, just wish that the corporate sorts hadn't been able to get in between the musicians and the true audience!
And a lot of those people are there to see and be seen so they don't have the right enthusiasm to give back to the performers. I guess it is actually funny that the concert was for Africa and all the performers were white.
I bought the Live8 DVD-set, which I still re-watch quite often. I am happy to enlighten you that there was tremendous ethnic/racial diversity amongst the dozens of artists who performed that weekend.
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Do you agree with any of Sir Elton's comments at all?
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There were many highlights for me: Neneh Cherry, Youssou N'Dour, Jet, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Keith Urban...but what drew me to the event in the first place was, of course, Paul McCartney
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Wish I could go to such a concert.
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Elton needs to shut up. He's annoying when he talks, he is a pain... Oh and did I mention he cannot sing anymore? Greedy git.
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KingMacca:
Elton needs to shut up. He's annoying when he talks, he is a pain... Oh and did I mention he cannot sing anymore? Greedy git.
I saw Elton John last night in concert with his band, and I must say he can sing the hell out of a song, he took NO BREAKS, and played the piano like a Madman Across the Water.
The concert went on for 3 hours...he was gracious to the fans, and even signed autographs from the edge of the stage and let people touch him and hug him. He even gave an old lady a kiss on the forehead. Looked great and it was f-r-e-a-k- ing awesome... so I guess you don't know what U R talking about King Macca. 
