O/T The Band Aid Single

I've never been keen on all the Band Aid stuff. There's some worthiness to it but i cant stand being lectured to by rich rock stars. I do give to charity regularly but I've never given to this. Read an interesting article here

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/19/turn-down-band-aid-bob-geldof-africa-fuse-odg

Saying no to Bob Geldof is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make this year. However, seeing what looked like the corpse of an African woman being carried out of her home on primetime TV when the video was premiered on X Factor crystallised my concerns about this strategy to combat the Ebola crisis. For me it is ultimately flawed.

A week before the recording of Band Aid 30, I received a call from Geldof asking if I would take part. I was honoured to be asked and, connecting with his passion for wanting to tackle the Ebola crisis, said I wanted to offer my support.

But I also had my concerns. I was sceptical because of the lyrics and the videos of the previous charity singles, and I worried that this would play into the constant negative portrayal of the continent of Africa in the west. Geldof and I spoke at length about this and he agreed with me on many levels, assuring me that we could use it as an opportunity to showcase the positives of Africa.

However, on receiving the proposed lyrics on Thursday – two days before the recording was due to take place in London – I was shocked and appalled by their content. The message of the Band Aid 30 song absolutely did not reflect what Africa is truly about and I started to question whether this was something I wanted to be a part of.

I pointed out to Geldof the lyrics I did not agree with, such as the lines “Where a kiss of love can kill you and there’s death in every tear”, and “There is no peace and joy in west Africa this Christmas”. For the past four years I have gone to Ghana at Christmas for the sole purpose of peace and joy. So for me to sing these lyrics would simply be a lie.

In truth, my objection to the project goes beyond the offensive lyrics. I, like many others, am sick of the whole concept of Africa – a resource-rich continent with unbridled potential – always being seen as diseased, infested and poverty-stricken. In fact, seven out of 10 of the world’s fastest growing economies are in Africa.

Let me be clear, I’m not disregarding the fact that Ebola is happening and that people need help. Since the start of the outbreak in March it has killed more than 5,000 people. But every human being deserves dignity in their suffering and the images flashed on our screens remove any remnants of this from Ebola sufferers, many in their dying moments, when they should have it the most.

I am not disputing Band Aid’s good intentions. But the shock-factor strategy they have used since the 1980s has sparked a whole wave of “good cause” organisations that have been irresponsible with regard to the images shown to the rest of the world. It’s been totally one-sided. That’s understandable in part, as they wouldn’t raise much money if they showed the affluence, wealth, and happy lifestyles that exist in the continent. But in the process of doing all this “good work” a huge imbalance has been created.

That image of poverty and famine is extremely powerful psychologically. With decades of such imagery being pumped out, the average westerner is likely to donate £2 a month or buy a charity single that gives them a nice warm fuzzy feeling; but they are much less likely to want to go on holiday to, or invest in, Africa. If you are reading this and haven’t been to Africa, ask yourself why.

This is New Africa (Tina) is a movement empowering people to shed a positive light on Africa. I was born in Tooting, south London, and was taken as an infant to Ghana. Returning to London at the age of 11, being African was not something to be proud of because of all the negative connotations it conjured up, and it drove me to be almost ashamed of who I was.

Anyone who has experienced Africa in a positive way is a citizen of the New Africa and needs to play their part in challenging perceptions. I’m sharing my experience through my music – and if I can make chart-topping music that celebrates Africa then surely Band Aid and its extensive network can do the same. I’ve performed in two of the three countries currently hit by the Ebola crisis, where I have friends and loyal fans, and will be donating the proceeds from my next single to help tackle this issue.

I hope from the bottom of my heart that the disease can be eradicated in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. But though shock tactics and negative images may raise money in the short term, the long-term damage will take far longer to heal.

 

First time around was good
The rest has been ****

 

Agreed.

Geldoff’s a prick.

I've never ever met anyone or heard anyone ever reference the Boomtown Rats as a major like or indeed list them as a musical influence.

 

This is an excellent article & the best I've read regarding the Band Aid attention seekers. Sums the whole lot of them up perfectly. Self publicising ****s.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...-right-to-ignore-Bob-Geldof-and-Band-Aid.html

 

I've always been uneasy about the whole 'it's for charidy' approach for a number of reasons.


The songs are usually patronising, anodyne and/or downright ****.

Rich, safe popsters furthering their own pompous careers whilst pretending to care is nauseating in the extreme.

The responsibility of solving complex world problems should be addressed by those who are best able to do so.



However, giving to those in need is a central, core part of been a worthy human being. (I'm impressed that I managed to write that sentence without mentioning religion or social moral obligation). In order to reach some people who have currently not twigged this realisation then Geldof Enterprises can play a central part.



Did you see the reaction of the Goggleboxers to the XFactor insert BTW?


Fundermentally, we have evolved into empathetic animals who care.

 

This is it.

****ing Geldoff, Bono and tax.

 

Adele has shown far more class then Geldof.

 

Well said Ernieo.

 

If Geldof’s persona was made up by a comedy writer I’d perceive it as being way too over the top.

 

If Geldof’s hair was made up by a comedy writer I’d perceive it as being way too over the top.

 

Hard to work out who the article was refering to.
Anyway here's another Lily Allen.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/eve...Allen-wouldn-t-jealous-m-poster-girl-all.html

 

Don't like Lily Allen (or her nob-head dad) but fairplay in this case

 

I must be thick as pig **** cos I still haven't worked out who it was referring to.

Moving on.

When I'm a quid behind Bonio I'll start listening to his appeals for money, until then I'll just keep on giving to the charities that I always have and he can continue to disappear up his own arsehole.

 

Get McCartney to get his hand in his pocket.

In my case charity begins at home and ends there.

 

It is hard to take when someone like Bono is worth £600m and is purposely avoiding paying tax in Ireland.

The irony is U2 made there name writing about politics, war and struggles in Ireland.

 

Over the years McCartney has paid a fortune in taxes, at one time paying over 90p in the pound to help our governments have the money to dish out in aid. He never went into tax exile like Jagger, Tom Jones or Connery who hasn't paid a penny In taxes for decades to help his beloved Scotland. More deserving of his title than those three.
Bono,who only pays 35p yax in Ireland because he is classified as an artist, wasn't content with that and shifted his song writing income to Holland where there is no tax on royalties (as did Jagger and Richards). Sting is another tax evader. Yet, because they blather on about saving the planet (whilst fling around in private jets and telling the rest of us to cut our carbon emissions and give up our cars) the lefties don't have a dingbat them.
So why should McCartney put his hand in his pocket?

 

Because he's got knocking on a billion squid?

 

Geldof said Bastille had cancelled 2 concerts in Toronto to be there for the recording! So what's the driving force behind their thinking? Is it so they can be shown in videos at xmas for the next twenty years?

 

Its just as shameless to give interviews and write articles about why your not involved as it is to be be involved in the first place.

Your still looking for attention off the back of it, just taking a different approach.

They could have politely declined and donated some of their own money without anyone ever knowing, instead they sell their stories about how much better they are for not getting involved.

 

Geldof just makes me laugh, saw him and the Rats at a Rewind event this summer where he introduced them as the best rock and roll band in the world ha ha !!