Just a quick note before I forget after the weekend. It's probably a bit late, but what the heck.
Can't believe 20 years flew by and there's another one of these global superstar concerts in aid of Africa. There I am still sitting on the couch watching it with friends; it felt so passive on both occasions. It's also kind of weird to see the headline acts are still the same sort of guys.
U2 - Caught the last of their song where they broke into Blackbird. I don't understand why, and it didn't even fit the chords properly, but that didn't stop them.
Elton John - Big band, but he warbled and rawbled his way through 'Saturday Night'. Was rather sad because he sounded 'spent'.
Annie Lennox - on the other hand sounded like she still had it as she sang 'Sweet Dreams'. Lots of energy there. The Berlin crowd seemed to go bananas.
Coldplay - I'm sure it was their hit song, but they were pretty cold and clinical. Then they came on and played that song that lifts the Rolling Stone sample with the guy from the verve (I think). The crowd response looked muted.
Stevie Wonder - Turned up dressed like Shoko Asahara of the Aum Supreme Truth sect. Very bad look. Also, looked fat and rolly-polly. But he could really hammer away at the clav keys. Wasn't too bad as his funk went down smoothly.
Craig David & Tina Arena - were singing Come Together in Paris. My girlfriend asked, "Do you think she knows the words at all?" Had to laugh at that.
Boomtown Rats - These guys were sad. There was no oomph to their music or performance as they meandered through a rather turgid 'I Don't Like Mondays'. Then Bob thanked the crowd for letting him do it. I don't recall giving him permission to commit musical atrocities like that.
Keith Urban - Don't know his work, but he's a good singer, good player. Probably in the prime of his career because hesung & played with gusto and got a lot of crowd response as well. Still, I wouldn't buy his stuff.
Madonna - Came on and gave a mature renidtion of 'Like A Prayer'. I remember playing a Heavy Metal version of that song in the Elvis Pizza Restaurant in Rushcutter's Bay about 13years ago. I'm gettin' old.
Sting - Turned up with a full band this time. Last time he kind of walked on stage and played guitar by himself. His song was 'Every Breath You Take' and I sort of thought, "gee why couldn't you at least re-form The Police for one occasion!? Because...
Pink Floyd - reformed for the gig. Roger Waters made some remarks about how wonderful it was to be on stage with the other 3 guys. You sort of think, what took you so long, but at least it was legitiamtely a 'special' moment. They actually looked like they were having fun as they wound through an acoustic-heavy version of 'Wish You Were here'... I think.
Paul McCartney - got 2 songs. I guess it's because he was a Beatle. He can't do it no more. He's 63, and his vocal cords have simply had it. Even back in '93 when I saw him live, he could belt out the rock numbers and go back to his ballads with ease, but he sounded rat-shit on 'Helter Skelter' and he sounded really shaky on 'Long and Winding Road'. Then inexplicaly, they went into the 'Da-da-da' extro chorus of 'Hey Jude' as everybody came out. Very sad.
Overall it was a really ordinary experience. Then, Federer predicatbly thrashed the pants off Roddick in the Wimbledon final in 3 straight sets.
Arnie Steps Up
His father was a Nazi. His reputation was built upon more muscle than brains or heart; and yet here he is, multi-millionaire superstar governor of California telling fellow Republican to wake up and smell the coffee on Global Warming.
LONDON (AP) — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is urging governments — including that of President Bush — to face up the reality of global warming.
"The debate is over," he wrote in Britain's Independent on Sunday newspaper. "We know the science. We see the threat posed by changes in our climate. And we know the time for action is now."
Schwarzenegger, a Republican, did not mention Bush by name, but called on "governments everywhere" to join action to combat climate change. He contradicted Bush's claims that taking action will damage the U.S. economy.
Climate change is one of the major issues expected to be discussed at the upcoming Group of Eight summit at the Gleneagles resort in Scotland. Schwarzenegger has vowed to make California a leader in the battle against global warming, calling on the state to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases while increasing use of renewable energy.
"Global warming threatens California's water supply, public health, agriculture, coastlines and forests — our entire economy and way of life," Schwarzenegger wrote.
Cool. Way to go Arnie.
- Art Neuro
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