Live 8 Coverage Eats My Ass

And not in a good way, either. Alterman also does a good job of expressing my thoughts on the concert by MTV and VH1. Not sure how many of you caught Live Aid in 1985 on MTV, but as a 9-year-old, it was incredible. The concert opened my eyes to world problems and to root for bands that cared about the human condition. The coverage was tip-top: the network showed complete songs and sets, it alternated between Wembley Stadium and the U.S. for important acts. My brother and I actually videotaped the concert on 6 Betamax videotapes (it's a shame that they're lost).

This past weekend? Had to hear the fucking inane bantering of Sway and the VJ who wants to look like Fergie from Black Eyed Peas cutting into what were to be great musical moments. After the bantering, they'd cut to a commercial. WTF!!!? Can you imagine if J.J. Goodman interrupted Freddie Mercury performing "we are the champions" at Live Aid in '85? It would be blasphemy. I know, I know, they did this so that one couldn't TiVo the concert and then record it to DVD, and thus cutting into the inevitable DVD sales of the concert. Isn't commericalism and global consumerism exacerbating the problems that Live 8 sought to address? Additionally, although he's a blowhard and a so-so musician (but I still love his band), Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher said it best:

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but are they hoping that one of these guys from the G8 is on a quick 15 minute break at Gleneagles (in Scotland) and sees ANNIE LENNOX singing SWEET DREAMS and thinks, 'Fuck me, she might have a point there, you know?'

"KEANE doing SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW and some Japanese businessman going, 'Aw, look at him... we should really fucking drop that debt, you know.'

"It's not going to happen, is it?"

And then, of course, Noel appears in the Live 8 commercials that were shown. Bloody hell.