What really happened at Live 8 London - I was there!

[JakeB]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 6:20pm

So, Mariah Carey comes onstage. There's a couple of boos as she walks out, a lot of people thought she had no right to be there. She finishes her first song and demands some water, which is promptly brought to her by an assistant waiting in the wings. A couple more boos. She then demands a microphone stand. Bigger boos. She laughs off the fact that a microphone stand hasn't been brought to her, and she sings Hero without one, shame. She then launches into an 'emotional' plea about how much the African children inspire her (the same Mariah who reportedly said "When I see all those starving children in Africa on my TV I want to cry. I mean, I'd love to be that thin, but oh my God, all those flies...") and then she said she was dedicating a song to them, that happened to be 'my new song' - now here's where the biggest boos I heard all day came! The fact that she used the event to promote her new song, it was sick. No, I don't like Mariah Carey, and yes, I joined in the boos. She cannot treat people the way she does, and she didn't deserve to perform at Live 8.

The actual day was great, obviously, but seriously - be glad you watched it from the comfort of your home! We'd been on our feet probably for 14 hours - it was hot, sweaty, with headaches from the dehydration (if you drank too much you needed to go to the toilets, which was an ordeal to get to). Even in the front half of the arena it was hard to see any of the performers as the stage was too low, you had to get on friend's shoulders to see properly. The sound quality was quite poor too, thanks to the local residents association they have limits on how loud they can make it.. it wasn't really loud enough. Some people had serious attitude problems if you bumped into them as well, but on the whole the community spirit was nice, and we ended up feeling very comfortable with the people around us.. no-one worried if we stepped on their stuff by the end of it.

Best acts, by far, Madonna and Robbie Williams - no-one else really came close, though Snoop Dogg was a highlight. The general consensus with my friends (there was 8 of us in total, not bad considering you could only get 2 tickets at a time) was that the poorer acts picked bad songs to do - Joss Stone, Coldplay, The Killers, even Elton John - and the least successful ones were so evident because everyone just sat down throughout them (by 8 o'clock standing was an effort!).

Madonna's was the best because she was the only one who really PERFORMED, as opposed to SANG. I think there's a big difference. She gave a big fat star performance, and she's used to working crowds that size. She had dancers, and picked her songs perfectly. Robbie Williams just had the audience in the palm of his hand, he is probably one of the greatest performers of recent times - seen very much as the next Frank Sinatra, an image he played upon in an album a few years back. Am I right that he's an unknown in America? If so it's a great shame, but as he's a thoroughly British performer it's probably for the best. Never seen a crowd like it.

Scissor Sisters were great and their new song was good even though no-one knew it, Keane played beautifully as ever, Travis had the whole audience singing along to Why Does it Always Rain on Me, I missed Annie Lennox, Brad Pitt and UB40 getting food/toilet break. The Little Britain skit was hilarious, but again, very British. Peter Kay was awful, and I found out later it was because he was very drunk.. he's usually funnyish but he had nothing to say apart from sing his parody single.

France got booed when we did a video link (there's been big news about France not giving Britain our EU rebate, it has strained things even more). George Bush and Tony Blair got brief, sort of uncertain, boos - do we boo these people or not? So only half-heartedly. Biggest cheers were definitely for Robbie Williams, and that was the only act that everyone stood for (people sat if they didn't like/know the act - Velvet Revolver for example).

Unfortunately we didn't stay past Robbie Williams (missed Pink Floyd, The Who and the finale) because we were worried about missing transport and Bob Geldof was urging people to leave rather than be stranded. I think I fell asleep quicker than I ever have before! - was exhausted, and am now. My sister and her boyfriend (who I didn't realise were only 30 metres away from us, couldn't believe it, I thought she was somewhere way over the other side) saw a bit more, but were glad to get out after Pink Floyd because it was getting much busier. In the end the local authorities laid on free blankets so people could sleep in the park overnight (we don't have 24 hour subways here, closes at 12:30).

But, yeah. Just thought I'd give a personal account of what it was like to be there in person - basically, brilliant to be a part of history and to be part of the event in person, but exhausting and not altogether brilliant as far as seeing/hearing the actual show went!

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 6:25pm

well cool... wish i was there. My friend will be at the dance festival in a couple of weeks... just debating whether to journey down or not. What did Madge sing?

[BluCat500]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 7:09pm

Juicy...I've definetly heard of Robbie Williams he had a single that was a succesful here a couple of years ago "Millenium" I think it was called, but he is in no way huge here...

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 7:12pm

i don't think he's that bothered about being huge in America! He was signed to a 5 album deal for £70 a couple of years ago and he's nearly completed it... i think he financially stable enough to make the music he wants too in the UK!

Posted: 7/3/05 at 7:17pm

Jake, where was this held in the UK?

To be honest, I really didn't focus at all on Live 8, nor on the poor in Africa, as terrible as that may be.

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 7:19pm

Hyde Park

Posted: 7/3/05 at 7:20pm

Really? I read "arena" and I didn't necessarily assume it to be in greater London.

Where in Hyde Park?

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 7:24pm

Hyde Park... the big rectangle bit lol... not entirely sure!

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 7:31pm

Robbie Williams is awesome. Kinda feel bad for Mariah Carey for getting booed, but I can't honestly say she didn't deserve them.

Posted: 7/3/05 at 7:39pm

Haha... I hate Mariah Carey and I am glad that she got booed. She does not have a good singing voice, but she definitely seems like a diva. Thanks for the story Jakeb... I should move to London. The general consensus in the states is that Mariah Carey is amazing, which I disagree with completely.

--korenglish

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 8:04pm

Thanks for the recount, JakeB! I would have loved to be there just for the experience at least, even if some of the performances weren't the best. (CTV had 13 hours of coverage and a 4 hour "highlights" program yesterday, and I've taped all of it, but it's too daunting a task to actually watch it all!) I do think Mariah is very talented, and was great in her heyday, but the diva reports have made me lose respect for her as a person. (To be fair, I thought her comments about wanting to be as thin as African children was just an urban legend?)

What time did you arrive in Hyde Park, JakeB? Your legs must be killing you today!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 8:06pm

That Mariah story is fake. And she is very talented.


Mariah "interview"

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 8:11pm

Madonna sang Like A Prayer, Ray of Light and Music ! She was UNBELIEVABLE like always ! Full of Energy, her voice was in great shape and GORGEOUS !!! I am so proud to be a huge fan, that woman amazes me every time !!!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 8:14pm

Thanks for the link, Rath.

Madonna sang "Like A Prayer"?? Alright, you've enticed me. Now I have to start poring through those tapes. Did anyone see The Who and Pink Floyd? How did they do? I'm disappointed to hear that The Killers weren't too great.

[billygoatgirl300]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 8:27pm

From whate I saw of The Who I thought they did really well as well as Pink Floyd. Madonna was great it seems everyone was enjoying her. I wish I could have been there but I think my legs would have be killing me for a week afterwords.

Updated On: 7/3/05 at 08:27 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 8:38pm

Those Mariah stories are phony. I know a few people that worked on the VH1 Divas concert a few years ago and said she was a sweetheart. Peple just love to trash people.

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 9:45pm

"Those Mariah stories are phony. I know a few people that worked on the VH1 Divas concert a few years ago and said she was a sweetheart. Peple just love to trash people."


AMEN!! Mariah NEVER said that stupid quote about starving children. Why don't these rumers die?? Anyway I adore Mariah, I wish I had seen the pereformance...what channel was it, will it be on again? I hadn't heard anything about this special.

[UglyBug]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 11:15pm

I have yet to understand how sitting in an arena, comfortably watching performers, helps starving people in Africa.

And this isn't meant to be bitchy, I'm just baffled by the concept.

Posted: 7/3/05 at 11:20pm

Very true.

Perhaps all the performers world wide should simply donate 5% of their annual earnings for, say, 6 months, to aid poverty.

That way there's no expense involved in producing these concerts, and all the money just goes to relief. All their fans would be contributing just by buying cd and concert tickets, thus increasing their annual earnings and thereby contributing to the 5% that goes to aid the starving peoples of the world.

I guess that's too simplistic to work.

[JakeB]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:59am

Whether or not she said that quote or not, the fact remains she is a diva whose behaviour can be disgusting at times. I read a feature article about her, about her entourages and demands, etc, such as having a red carpet and candles set up for her arrival at a hotel at 3am in the morning (there were pictures to prove it) and shutting down an entire doctor's surgery just when she wants appointments. I just think that surrounding yourself with Yes Men is low, and she has no idea of the real world when she is in this bubble that props her up for life.

The concert was in the east of Hyde Park - they basically had an 'arena' cordoned off by huge metal steel fences, and inside the arena were toilets, food stands, the stage, etc. It was to stop gatecrashers. Tickets were free but you had to get them via a lottery.

[Forester]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 5:05am

"I have yet to understand how sitting in an arena, comfortably watching performers, helps starving people in Africa.

And this isn't meant to be bitchy, I'm just baffled by the concept."

The entire concert was about educating the people in G8 countries about the plight of Africa. By doing this, they hope the people that watch the concert will be able to lobby their respective governments.

The Live 8 organizers have the following demands:

(1) Debt relief (G8 nations have agreed to this)
(2) Double the aid (We'll find out when the G8 meets)
(3) Opening of the market for African's farm products (not going to happen. Especially with CAP and the French)

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 5:11am

I agree with UglyBug and Jose'. I also questioned whether this was truly the most effective way Geldof et al. could rally the masses and influence those attending G8. I understand that the concept of the concerts was to "raise awareness, not money" this time, but I wonder...when the G8 leaders look at the footage of the crowds, are they thinking, "Boy, those are one million passionate and angry people demanding change in our foreign aid policy," or are they going to think, "Boy, those are one million dedicated music fans who turned out to see some good rock acts"? Justifiable or not, I'm guessing the latter.

Jose', I agree with your idea for celebs to put their money where there mouths are, but the problem with that plan isn't so much its simplicity--just that there are other things to be done first. The fact is that many of these developing nations have some of the most corrupt governments around. We can lobby to cancel their debts, but who's going to pocket the extra money? We can promise aid, money, relief, personnel, the moon and the stars, but until there is a resolution within their own ruling parties, I'm cynical (realistic?) enough to belief that things will remain stagnant.

Just my 2c.

[Forester]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 5:15am

Tiff, I know for a fact that David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) have donated over 20 million pounds for charities. He has been honored by the Queen because of his actions for charities.

We all know Bono's track record in trying to help the African continent.

I think Live 8 had done its job. We're discussing it right now, which is exactly what the event was designed to do.

As for actuall helping Africa, I think our farm subsidies is one problems faced by the continent.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 5:29am

Forester, I'm not denying at all that many of the celebs who performed have lobbied and made charitable donations (you'll notice that I have been outspoken about Bono's activism and my love for him on the U2 thread, and it's not just because of his pretty face! ). I'm not questioning the motives of the acts involved yesterday - I choose to think that most, if not all, of them were there to draw attention to a good cause. What I'm questioning is whether they have achieved their goal of educating the masses and showing just how dire the situation is. Yes, we are discussing Live 8 right now, and yes, that was one of their goals. But look at most of the content on this thread, and on the threads on any U2 forum (I only use this example because they're the only ones I've been looking up). There has been a greater focus on the performers and their setlists, as opposed to rants from people fired up, ready to cure poverty. I can't point the finger at others - I've done my bit to help the Make Poverty History campaign, but I engaged in more conversations about the performances than the cause, and I don't think I'm alone here. I'm critical of whether this will work, but at the same time I'm at a loss of what else could be done on the part of Geldof et al. to be more effective. I suppose we won't really know the outcome until July 8.

[Forester]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 5:41am

The three demands that been sought by the Live 8 organizers will be talked by the leaders. Gordon Brown have said he supported the demands.

(1) Drop the debt (G8 countries have made commitment to do so)
(2) Doubling aid (we'll find out during the meeting)
(3) Increased access to markets for African countries (unfortunately, I don't see this one happening. There is no way EU is going to drop CAP because of the French) Did you know that the EU subsidies over EUR864 (around$1,000) per cow?