It appears that Live Earth is going to be little more than a footnote faster than Al Gore III's Toyota Priius was clocked. The Brits have panned the concert and according to the video of the crowd at Rio, methinks Live Earth needs to die a horrible death. First, from the Times Online:As a concert, Live Earth was not the repeat of Live Aid/Live 8 it clearly wanted to be. Unlike the events organised by the charismatic Sir Bob Geldof – upon which this one modelled itself closely, right down to its choice of name – the acts who answered the call from Al Gore’s people to play at Wembley Stadium were a bit short on superstar clout.
And, evidently, short on truly believing in the environmental movement, as most flew in on jets, use huge amounts of electricity for stage lights, and have armies of SUVs taking them places, but it is just about awareness,not practicing what you preach, right?
With the exception of the closing act Madonna – who played next door at Wembley Arena only last summer – there was nobody on the Stadium bill with the cross-generational appeal, and catalogue of monster hits, to supply the great unifying moments which event gigs need to make their message stick in the mind.
Further back though, as well as up on the terraces, the audience seemed to be enjoying the sunny afternoon as much as indie anthems such as Open Your Eyes.
A similar atmosphere of music-as-wallpaper surrounded the performance of the next couple to take the stage; the beardy singer-songwriters, David Gray and Damien Rice. Their fiercely shouted duet of Que Sera, Sera, specially worked up for the occasion, may have had some bearing, lyrically, on the future of the planet; but it sure didn’t sound like the kind of music we might be listening to in our putatively greener future.
Music as wallpaper...how about artists preaching and no one buying into the hypocrisy?
Following Al Gore’s televised lecture on climate change, Nutini’s youthful rocking r'n’b vocal reminded us that politicians need musicians more than musicians need them.
Especially when they have the personality of the the Robot Man.
Duran Duran. Like Genesis, but with more modern haircuts, Simon LeBon and co turned in a thoroughly professional 20 minute resume of four of their old hits. The audience applauded but soon afterwards were seen amusing themselves with Mexican waves.
Wow, seems like the audience is not even aware of the has beens playing, much less the message....so much for awareness....
Video of Rio Show shows smaller crowds.
