LIVE 8 July 2nd 2005

Sir Bob and his musician pals did it 20 years ago with Live Aid to try and make a difference to starving countries. Has it helped? This year they did it again with a thousand artists playing 9 simultaneously broadcasted concerts across the globe to two million spectators and 3 billion viewers. Here the plight is for the leaders of the big 8 counties to do something about the harrowing conditions on our very own continent. With so many troubles on top of the starvation like corrupt leaders and never-ending wars, it's even harder. But education is also needed to curb the exorbitant procreate amid famine and war. Bob and Bono took a briefcase to the G8 meeting at Gleneagles with millions of signatures, and they pledged to boost aid by a substantial amount. From legendary musos, favourites and newcomers across the Pop, Rock, Metal, Folk, R&B, Rap, Hip-Hop and Vocal spectrum, hours of performances were packed onto these 4 discs:
Disc 1: Paul McCartney, U2, Coldplay, Elton John, Dido, Yousou N'Dour, R.E.M., Keane, Black Eyed Peas, Duran Duran, Muse, Travis, UB40, Green Day, Snoop Dogg, Bon Jovi, Annie Lennox. This disc also contains the show's biggest disgrace - the little moron from Baby Shambles butchering Marc Bolan & T.Rex's legendary Children Of The Revolution with old fuddy-duddy Sir Elton who tries his best to rescue the catastrophe.
Disc 2: Destiny's Child, Bryan Adams, Kanye West, Madonna, Will Smith, The Killers, Dave Matthews Band, Daniel Powter, Linkin Park, Joss Stone, Alicia Keys, Velvet Revolver, Def Leppard, Jet, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban, Sting.
Disc 3: Mariah Carey, Vusi Mahlasela, Roxy Music, Maroon 5, Neil Young, Pet Shop Boys, Robbie Williams, Placebo, Rob Thomas, Faithless, Stevie Wonder, The Who, Paul McCartney & George Michael. This disc also features the historic and long awaited Pink Floyd reunion.
Disc 4: The Proclaimers, Wet Wet Wet, Bob Geldof, The Thrills, Texas, James Brown, Mohotela Queens, Maxi Jazz, Neneh Cherry & Will Young. Extras include McFly, Good Charlotte, Björk, Tim McGraw, Shakira, Audioslave, Ricky Gervais (from the Office), backstage footage and the Pink Floyd rehearsal. Additional footage includes Midge Ure doing Vienna with Eddie Izzard on the piano (!). A shocking film of starvation footage (to music by The Cars), has an inspiring ending where footage of a child near death back during the first Live Aid period two decades ago is punctuated by the girl coming on stage, healthy and attending university. Enough to make the tears flow, I guarantee you. The booklet contains a message from Bob and a piece by Paul Vallely, and the artwork of the G8 leaders having a banquet of cake in front of an emaciated kid is no subtle parody.

4 / B
- PB

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click below for the original Live Aid