When Harvey Met Bob
Discussion
I can't watch it. Not because of the acting or script or anything. But because it gives credability to those involved in it all.
They claimed to "Save Africa" in 1985. Saved so much in 2005 they saved it again. And then Bob and Bono, got conned by the various Governments into beliving they had upped their investments into Africa, when all they actually did was just re-affirm what they were going to do. Self affirming, sanctimonious bulls
t!
Oh, and the (corrupt) aid given by the NGO's on behalf of this 'charity' is ste!
http://current.com/groups/vc2-on-tv/77160632_ngos-...
They claimed to "Save Africa" in 1985. Saved so much in 2005 they saved it again. And then Bob and Bono, got conned by the various Governments into beliving they had upped their investments into Africa, when all they actually did was just re-affirm what they were going to do. Self affirming, sanctimonious bulls
t!Oh, and the (corrupt) aid given by the NGO's on behalf of this 'charity' is s
te!http://current.com/groups/vc2-on-tv/77160632_ngos-...
Edited by Rich_W on Sunday 26th December 23:40
Rich_W said:
I can't watch it. Not because of the acting or script or anything. But because it gives credability to those involved in it all.
They claimed to "Save Africa" in 1985. Saved so much in 2005 they saved it again. And then Bob and Bono, got conned by the various Governments into beliving they had upped their investments into Africa, when all they actually did was just re-affirm what they were going to do. Self affirming, sanctimonious bullst!
Oh, and the (corrupt) aid given by the NGO's on behalf of this 'charity' is ste!
http://current.com/groups/vc2-on-tv/77160632_ngos-...
I think it should be respected not for the money raised, but the awareness raised. They claimed to "Save Africa" in 1985. Saved so much in 2005 they saved it again. And then Bob and Bono, got conned by the various Governments into beliving they had upped their investments into Africa, when all they actually did was just re-affirm what they were going to do. Self affirming, sanctimonious bulls
t!Oh, and the (corrupt) aid given by the NGO's on behalf of this 'charity' is s
te!http://current.com/groups/vc2-on-tv/77160632_ngos-...
Edited by Rich_W on Sunday 26th December 23:40
If you actually look at how much is raised, it is pennies. It said at the end $180m was raised (by Band Aid in total to date IIRC, which is suprisingly low but there are many different figures stated). Compare this with the pledge thing by the billionaires, which has apparently raised (or they've committed) $125bn. It makes Band Aid seem like a non-entity. However, it did raise awareness among the general public, and the donations since then to any charity it has directly or indirectly contributed to is unquantifiable but probably large!
All this fails to address all the money from donations going to admin salaries and corrupt governments, when we should be looking to increase trade with Africa, not increase aid. I saw a documentary recently that said (from the top of my head so I prepare to be corrected) that if Africa's portion of international trade was increased by just 1%, it would mean an extra $70bn generated by the continent every year, dwarfing the total aid it currently recieves annually. But this is going o/t now
I think we were all pretty much aware of what was going on in Africa already. If anyone deserves credit for raising awareness it was Michael Buerk.
Of course, those of us who are a bit older remember collections and aid programmes for Biafra - which was as big an issue in 1968/69 as Ethiopia was in 1984/85. Indeed, as a toddler in Ireland in the early 1960s, we were always being asked by the nuns in school to donate "Pennies for the Black Babies" - so maybe the Irish had a pre-wired knowledge of hungry African children that might have been missing in the Brits.
I had massive reservations about what was going on with the whole Band Aid/Live Aid project in so much many of the artistes (not all, of course) were as much interested in saving their own careers as much as saving starving children.
Of course, those of us who are a bit older remember collections and aid programmes for Biafra - which was as big an issue in 1968/69 as Ethiopia was in 1984/85. Indeed, as a toddler in Ireland in the early 1960s, we were always being asked by the nuns in school to donate "Pennies for the Black Babies" - so maybe the Irish had a pre-wired knowledge of hungry African children that might have been missing in the Brits.
I had massive reservations about what was going on with the whole Band Aid/Live Aid project in so much many of the artistes (not all, of course) were as much interested in saving their own careers as much as saving starving children.
Eric Mc said:
I had massive reservations about what was going on with the whole Band Aid/Live Aid project in so much many of the artistes (not all, of course) were as much interested in saving their own careers as much as saving starving children.
WHy is that a problem? If they did nothing for starving children but didn't help their own careers either would that be better?steedy27 said:
I wasn't even born when Live aid happened, but I would have loved to have seen Queen play live aid from the footage they just shown on BBC2
My best concer experience ever. I saw Queen a few times, live aid was the best. The first time I saw them - the day John Lennon died - I went to Wembley with a kid from my school who was Harvey Goldsmith's nephew. His uncle got us the tickets.Dr Jekyll said:
Eric Mc said:
I had massive reservations about what was going on with the whole Band Aid/Live Aid project in so much many of the artistes (not all, of course) were as much interested in saving their own careers as much as saving starving children.
WHy is that a problem? If they did nothing for starving children but didn't help their own careers either would that be better?The main problem is that Band Aid/Live Aid has led to a situation where we now have sanctimonious pop star millionaires telling us all how to live our lives frugally whilst they lead the most outrageous lifestyles themselves.
I remember Live Aid, I did have virtually all of it on tape too. Shame I haven't any more.
In fairness though many of the performances were a tad mediocre, and the production(s) were a bit raw, no doubt far more so by todays standards what with events like Glastonbury, etc. All of that was forgiven though 'cos we all knew what it was trying to achieve.
Two performances really stood out for me though. One was (IIRC) the second act to appear at Wembley which was Style Council, they gave a great gutsy performance, and I seem to recall that the young drummer appeared to be crying his eyes out at the momentousness of it all.
And the other act i really liked was Madonna. She appeared at Philly with a troupe of dancers who looked like Puerto Rican street fighters, and she sang and danced live in a tremendously energetic performance which I thought was really good. I still haven't forgiven my wife for taping over it.
In fact I've just remembered that there's been a thing called Youtube invented since 1985, and whilst I could have sworn there were four dancers with her, I think Madonnas performance stands the test of time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIBlGAaFe84&fea...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QMJWC8OJEo
I think to be able to dance like that, whilst at the same time belting the numbers out live, is amazing. For me that performance indicated that there was more to this young woman than met the eye, and that maybe she was going to be around for more than 5 minutes.
Certainly puts x-factor performances into perspective.
Oh - and I didn't see the two progs last night, so forgive me if any of that was shown last night.
In fairness though many of the performances were a tad mediocre, and the production(s) were a bit raw, no doubt far more so by todays standards what with events like Glastonbury, etc. All of that was forgiven though 'cos we all knew what it was trying to achieve.
Two performances really stood out for me though. One was (IIRC) the second act to appear at Wembley which was Style Council, they gave a great gutsy performance, and I seem to recall that the young drummer appeared to be crying his eyes out at the momentousness of it all.
And the other act i really liked was Madonna. She appeared at Philly with a troupe of dancers who looked like Puerto Rican street fighters, and she sang and danced live in a tremendously energetic performance which I thought was really good. I still haven't forgiven my wife for taping over it.
In fact I've just remembered that there's been a thing called Youtube invented since 1985, and whilst I could have sworn there were four dancers with her, I think Madonnas performance stands the test of time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIBlGAaFe84&fea...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QMJWC8OJEo
I think to be able to dance like that, whilst at the same time belting the numbers out live, is amazing. For me that performance indicated that there was more to this young woman than met the eye, and that maybe she was going to be around for more than 5 minutes.
Certainly puts x-factor performances into perspective.
Oh - and I didn't see the two progs last night, so forgive me if any of that was shown last night.
Edited by heebeegeetee on Monday 27th December 12:56
Edited by heebeegeetee on Monday 27th December 12:57
I remember it, just not in the order the bands came on. Standouts at the time U2, (made it very credible, next to a lot of dinosaurs) although also cringe making at the same time, they broke world wide on the back of it, Queen, who ressurrected their career on it, and Bowie for me, that version of Heroes, was awesome, backed by half of Prefab Sprout, and their producer at the time, Thomas Dolby.
I don't think they thought the saved Africa in 85, at least not this side of the Atlantic, Band Aid, is after all also reference to a sticking plaster.
What I think it did do was shine a light (after Michael Buerk's reports) and Live Aid showed the power of world wide television to mobilise public sentiment, and give ordinary people the feeling they could directly make a difference/influence, in relation to big stuff, whether that is ultimately true or not, is debatable, but most politicians were forced to play catch up with the public mood, and I think it made charitable work 'cool', and a necessary for anyone in popular culture, and I think you can trace a line from it, at least in the UK, in attitude, how perhaps the way it became cool in this country to be openly emotional that maybe leads through death of Princess Di, the election of Tony Blair, Bosnia, Kosovo, and how politicians have to be mindful of public opinion, and being on the right side of it, or at its worst, in some cases manipulating or pandering it.
I don't think they thought the saved Africa in 85, at least not this side of the Atlantic, Band Aid, is after all also reference to a sticking plaster.
What I think it did do was shine a light (after Michael Buerk's reports) and Live Aid showed the power of world wide television to mobilise public sentiment, and give ordinary people the feeling they could directly make a difference/influence, in relation to big stuff, whether that is ultimately true or not, is debatable, but most politicians were forced to play catch up with the public mood, and I think it made charitable work 'cool', and a necessary for anyone in popular culture, and I think you can trace a line from it, at least in the UK, in attitude, how perhaps the way it became cool in this country to be openly emotional that maybe leads through death of Princess Di, the election of Tony Blair, Bosnia, Kosovo, and how politicians have to be mindful of public opinion, and being on the right side of it, or at its worst, in some cases manipulating or pandering it.
Northern Munkee said:
I remember it, just not in the order the bands came on. Standouts at the time U2, (made it very credible, next to a lot of dinosaurs) although also cringe making at the same time, they broke world wide on the back of it, Queen, who ressurrected their career on it, and Bowie for me, that version of Heroes, was awesome, backed by half of Prefab Sprout, and their producer at the time, Thomas Dolby.
I don't think they thought the saved Africa in 85, at least not this side of the Atlantic, Band Aid, is after all also reference to a sticking plaster.
What I think it did do was shine a light (after Michael Buerk's reports) and Live Aid showed the power of world wide television to mobilise public sentiment, and give ordinary people the feeling they could directly make a difference/influence, in relation to big stuff, whether that is ultimately true or not, is debatable, but most politicians were forced to play catch up with the public mood, and I think it made charitable work 'cool', and a necessary for anyone in popular culture, and I think you can trace a line from it, at least in the UK, in attitude, how perhaps the way it became cool in this country to be openly emotional that maybe leads through death of Princess Di, the election of Tony Blair, Bosnia, Kosovo, and how politicians have to be mindful of public opinion, and being on the right side of it, or at its worst, in some cases manipulating or pandering it.
Blimey - tresponsible for all that? If all that is true, then it did us more harm than the Ethiopians good.I don't think they thought the saved Africa in 85, at least not this side of the Atlantic, Band Aid, is after all also reference to a sticking plaster.
What I think it did do was shine a light (after Michael Buerk's reports) and Live Aid showed the power of world wide television to mobilise public sentiment, and give ordinary people the feeling they could directly make a difference/influence, in relation to big stuff, whether that is ultimately true or not, is debatable, but most politicians were forced to play catch up with the public mood, and I think it made charitable work 'cool', and a necessary for anyone in popular culture, and I think you can trace a line from it, at least in the UK, in attitude, how perhaps the way it became cool in this country to be openly emotional that maybe leads through death of Princess Di, the election of Tony Blair, Bosnia, Kosovo, and how politicians have to be mindful of public opinion, and being on the right side of it, or at its worst, in some cases manipulating or pandering it.
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff