Confessions of a Misguided Trio

Live Earth is a Win for Global Yawning...

I have just had the great honor of reading the best review of a concert I think I have ever seen/read/heard...

The Telegraph's Neil McCormick wrote a scorcher of a review which can can read in whole here.

Some personal highlights...

"If you wanna save the planet, jump up and down!" urged Madonna. Can global warming be stopped by an out-of-breath, middle-aged, super-rich narcissist in a leotard and high heels?


The superannuated pop queen was certainly up for the challenge, but judging by the negligible response to the text message number displayed on stage, I suspect the public may have been justifiably confused by the link between aerobics and the environment.

As global satellite multi-media musical entertainment, Live Earth was just about adequate. As a platform for stadium politics, it was a dismal affair. "Can you help save the earth?" bellowed Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles. Cue muted murmur of support.

"We might be screwed if that's the response," he half-joked.

We know what to expect by now: bands play three songs each; celebrities make speeches; short films illustrate the cause. The portmanteau aspect tends to drain momentum, and with no Bob Geldof figure to drive the event along, Live Earth lacked urgency, emotion or sense of internal narrative. Instead we had Geri Haliwell, chattily complaining about "this freaky weather".

The whole tone felt misjudged: Al Gore appeared by satellite, to no great reaction in the stadium, and seemed to be addressing a small audience of native Americans, not seizing the world by the reins...

... The bill was, if we're honest, not particularly impressive. Live Aid and Live 8 were the greatest gatherings of musical talent ever seen, but they didn't happen by accident. On this evidence, Gore lacks the persuasiveness and contact books of Geldof and Bono. Where were the great campaigning rock bands of our times?

There was no U2, Radiohead, Coldplay, REM, Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan (indeed, no classic veterans at all, which may have accounted for the failure of the singalongs). Where were the collaborations and reunions? Live 8 got Pink Floyd, Live Earth got Spinal Tap...

...Gore's film, An Inconvenient Truth, woke a lot of people up to the very real and imminent dangers of climate change. But the inconvenient truth of Live Earth is that it was a soulless telethon, with no clarity or drive.

The concluding lyrics of Madonna's closing song, Hung Up, may be ironically prophetic: "You'll wake up one day / But it will be too late."

I watched part of Live Earth over the weekend, and have to admit, even the re-emergence of Crowded House didn't do much for me... If I see one more short film about how screwed the earth is, I just may have to go for a drive to the nearest winery... Somewhat ironic I know...

Labels: Live Stuff

posted by Mark @ 8:40 PM 0 comments

Live Crap

Labels: Live Stuff

posted by Carla @ 3:36 PM 0 comments

And the truth will set you free...

It is quite obviously an election year in Australia, as opposed to America, who seem to think they are in an election year judging by the amount of news time the shenanigans of the Republicans and Democrats are getting in Australia...

At long last the Howard Regime has confessed to why Aussie Diggers are in Iraq!

Brendan Nelson admits oil behind Iraq deployment
THE Federal Government has admitted the need to secure oil supplies is a factor in Australia's continued military involvement in Iraq.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said today oil was a factor in Australia's contribution to the unpopular war, as "energy security'' and stability in the Middle East would be crucial to the nation's future.

Speaking ahead of a key foreign policy speech today by Prime Minister John Howard, Dr Nelson said defence was about protecting the economy as well as physical security, and it was important to support the "prestige'' of the US and UK.

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has said this contradicts what Mr Howard said at the start of the war and the Government is making up policy as it goes...

...When Australia joined the US-led invasion force of Iraq in 2003, the government said it was primarily because Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that could pose a threat to the US and its allies.

"When Mr Howard was asked back in 2003 whether this war had anything to do with oil, Mr Howard said in no way did it have anything to do with oil,'' Mr Rudd said.

"This Government simply makes it up as it goes along on Iraq.''

Mr Rudd said it had been a mistake to send troops into Iraq in the first place.

"Mr Howard should follow Labor's lead and have a clear cut exit strategy from Iraq,'' he said.

"Australia's involvement in the Iraq war continues to make Australia a greater terrorism target than we'd otherwise be.''

For the full article go here.

It's nice to know that 1000's of people had it right the first time around, and correctly depicted this invasion for what it is...

Howard is due to make a Foreign Policy speech later today, I will try to post a response sometime this afternoon!

Labels: Australian Election, Iraq

posted by Mark @ 5:31 PM 1 comments