[Mb-civic] Africans puzzled by Live8

[Harold Sifton]

Most Africans are puzzled, yet thankful for Live8 by rich white entertainers.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2005/July/theworld_July70.xml&section=theworld&col=

Point being, most Africans do not have TV or even are aware of Live8.

2 billion people did not watch Live8 like the media says, maybe 80 or 90 million if ! Who knows ? I watched parts..... mostly London.

http://www.live8live.com/

There were not 1 million people at the Philadelphia show as they said !!

Great idea, great music by some, but where will the follow up be by the artists .......... ???

I think this will be more of a celebration of "I was there as a performer, an invited peer recognized by Sir Bob" and a great organization of international production, but the end result for Africa will be minor if anything at all. The celebrity performers will celebrate their effort amongst each other at the following tea parties, but it will have no real outcome other than a great show. Will Africa be saved, no, will the message be remembered, No, will the advertisers, sponsors of the show gain from their onslaught of branding, Yes!! After every song played, there was 3- 4 minutes of advertising, a media bonanza/windfall of ad revenue. If I see another Budweiser ad I will be sick, and I just watched the recaps........

Will the awareness of the African plight be remembered, No, will this affect G8 decisions, No! Will record/cd sales of performers increase, Yes!

I am so, so jaded by these celebrity events.......... everyone makes money except those who the charity is for. 

Harry

PS Live Aid, hardly any monies, pretty much none went to Africa, yet Sir Bob made millions on royalties...... he stands to make millions more through royalties of Live8, even though it was a free concert. Nobody does anything for free in the entertainment business, money always changes hands, one way or another.

It was great to see Pink Floyd play , Pete Townsend still plays a mean guitar, and Andréa  Bocelli in Paris can sing a song like no other.

http://www.live8live.com/theconcerts/index.shtml


Later, H



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