Not Getting Off To A Good Start

May 31, 2005 · 2 minute read

I promise to be positive about something this week. But before that:

Live 8. Sure, Bob, it has nothing to do with Live Aid. Completely different logos, for a start.

Oops.

So, then, the lineup. The French are punished for voting “no” on Sunday by having to face the twin evils of both Craig David and Jamiroquai (which seems harsh any way you look at it), and the rest of the line-up around the world looks just as uninspiring (Coldplay and Snow Patrol at the same venue? Aha, a game of spot the difference played before millions!). Anybody want to take bets on Sir Fabba Macca Thumbs Aloft McCartney performing a sing-a-long version of Let It Be? And what about people who don’t have a mobile phone? I realise that there’s only about five of us left in the country, but still, it hurts to be left out of the ticket lottery!

Ehh, maybe I’m being too hard. My original thought when hearing about this was that it was an obvious spoiler for the G8 protests in Scotland; keep the kiddies occupied while the leaders talk. But it’s clear that Ure and Geldof want Scotland protests. And in a big way. It just feels wrong, really, that here we are, twenty years later, and it’s the same names, trying to replicate an almost unique event. As if they’re trying to make up for the failures of Band Aid and Live Aid. And as if the leaders will listen. You can really see George Bush thinking “Muse are against poverty? Well, damn it, they’re my favourite neo-prog-rock-Britpop band! Dick, get me the Treasury on the phone, I’m gonna make a phone call…”