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by PAM
Have you ever had one of those days when none of the very few good things that are not brain-numbing around you can seem to console you into believing that you are going to survive another day without freezing your brain over? Well, I'm in that 'hole' right now, and boy, is it dark! It's not that there aren't enough good things in this world, 'cause there are - more than enough, too, actually. It's just that they decided to take a 'vacation' today... and they didn't say so. So, I planned to conduct my day as I usually do. However, without the good things around, it's the worst of worst ideas!
But because it's all here, and I'm not about to go wailing, I'll deal with it. Therefore, I'm getting my 'friends' together and haul 'em all in to my 'happy place'.
"The silicon chip inside her head gets switched to overload...
...tell me why I don't like Mondays."
Hmmm... I did say 'happy place', but Sir Bob is wailing like a wounded whale. Oy! C'mon, Sir Bob, lighten up, will ya now?
But, we gotta understand, aside from that being his singing style, it was an emotional day for the big guy. He just saw his "big vision", "Live Aid", become a reality. Live Aid was the biggest gathering of artists back in the '80s in various rock stages in the world, but mainly in Wembley Arena in London, England and in John F. Kennedy Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Phil Collins had to famously take the Concorde to perform in both the Wembley Arena and in the JFK Arena on the same day. The live performances were shown around the globe via satellite on 13 July 1985, and with the crowd in Wembley seeing what's going on at JFK and vice versa. Uh-hmm, that's right, they did it back in the days when internet (and all its "brother and sisters", and "cousins, too") was merely taking off.
But, we gotta understand, aside from that being his singing style, it was an emotional day for the big guy. He just saw his "big vision", "Live Aid", become a reality. Live Aid was the biggest gathering of artists back in the '80s in various rock stages in the world, but mainly in Wembley Arena in London, England and in John F. Kennedy Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Phil Collins had to famously take the Concorde to perform in both the Wembley Arena and in the JFK Arena on the same day. The live performances were shown around the globe via satellite on 13 July 1985, and with the crowd in Wembley seeing what's going on at JFK and vice versa. Uh-hmm, that's right, they did it back in the days when internet (and all its "brother and sisters", and "cousins, too") was merely taking off.
Actually, Live Aid was the concert that seemed to have come so naturally after assembling the biggest British acts of the '80s to one group called, Band Aid, just before Christmas of 1984. The objective was to record a song,"Do they know it's Christmas?", and all proceeds from record sales was to be used to bring aid to Ethiopia, which was hard-hit by drought and economic woes resulting in widespread famine and death. The front man of Boomtown Rats, Bob Geldof, and Midge Ure of Ultravox assembled the Brit acts to form Band Aid. Little did they know then that such a seemingly small act of compassion would turn to a historical moment in the global music industry. More than that, it turned the world's eyes to the dire plight of the Ethiopians... making many people in the world more conscious of the economic, political and social aspects, and even the scientific aspect, of the famine that they were suffering from. It was, indeed, an eye-opener for the whole world... one that will change the way we view our global community.
"There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear."
Hmmm... of course, Phil Collins had to play the drums. It's such a natural thing to expect from the man. But, Sting and Bono, and Boy George and George Michael together... and Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet together? And Paul Weller and Paul Young, and Bananarama, too? You bet! And back in the days when they're all in their glorious "big hair" days, too. :) Too good, too good! Just beautiful.
I say, forget NATO, let's celebrate Band Aid and Live Aid instead! And then... reality hits. NATO is here to stay - and, indefinitely, too. Oh, well....
So, why is this important... to me, that is? Well, it is very important because most parts of this huge idealism that I carry around like a sack full of bricks rooted from this. It was when I was watching the live broadcast of this concert on our worn out television that I truly understood what idealism meant! It was when seeing how these guys who loved what they do turned their joy in doing what they do to something really useful and meaningful. Everytime I felt lonely in my own "crusade" to make a difference in my workplace, I'd always turned to these guys. That's how I know that what they did back then had a lasting impact. And, this is part of the reason why I really believe the '80s was a golden decade... and I'm proud that I was a part of that generation that saw the '80s become such an unforgettable decade.
Hmmm... since I'm now in my happy place, let me make the most of it with this...
"Every little thing the Reflex does must be answered with a question mark..."
Bizarre lyrics, bizarre get up, bizarre dance moves... ah, happiness! :)
Now, that was good. Thanks, 'friends'!
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Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
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