Live Aid 1985 🎼

Whose Bob Geldof?

 Bob Geldof

Bob Geldof who has had great success as the main singer with the group called the Boomtown Rats. He was born in Ireland in 1951 he found a passion for music which lead him and the group to have a first hit single ‘Rat Trip’ followed by another hit being released called ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’. Followed in 1984 Bob was known as a rock star but soon was known as an international celebrity in order for raising awareness of humanitarian charities. In the same year, Ethiopia and other African countries experienced a severe famine which led to many thousands of people starving to death. Bob Geldof and Midge Ure decided to do something about helping and spreading awareness for these countries. They released a hit called “Do they know its Christmas Time”.

Whose Midge Ure?

Midge Uru

Midge Uru -part of the band Ultravox- began his musical career with Salvation that became a bubblegum band Silk in 1974. Not agreeing with the change of direction Midge Uru left the band to join the Rich Kids. 1982 Midge released a solo single which was a cover of the Walker Brothers' hit "No Regrets". This solo single climbed into the U.K. Top Ten. 

Ethiopia?

Ethiopia 

Ethiopia is a country located in East Africa. It is rugged, landlocked country meaning that it has no sea around it - so it doesn’t have ports (it is also split by the Great Rift Valley.) It is around many other countries that have had civil wars with each other so I guess it’s neighbours are very loud. It has plenty of rivers and one lake based on it. Ethiopia is 10 degrees North along the latitude line it is also 50 degrees east on the longitude line. 

A Map?

      

Choose a song from Live Aid...

Bohemian Rhapsody 

Explain why you think the artist used this song for their performance...

I think Queen used this song for their performance is because it is quite a powerful song, it also hypes the crowd up. Another reason why is because it's their most popular song. 

Do you think it is a form of protest?

I think in some way it is due to the way Freddie Mercury sings this song, He is so passionate about it and even the rest of Queen puts their heart and soul into music. I think it could be a protest due to the line "Mama just killed a man." Live Aid was organised the raise money for the famine-stricken Africas and so I think that line relates to many people who have starved over there.

Do you think one person could start a similar concert in 2020? Explain your reasoning (Live Aid took 10 weeks to organise.)

I think it is possible but it wouldn't be as incredible as it was back in 1985. I say this because everyone in 1985 didn't have autotune and they actually played their instruments. If they did it again we would see people like Drake and many others in the line ups. Except they couldn't start a similar concert in 2020 due to Covid 19 and the high risk of terrorist ruining the shows. 

How significant are music and musicians today in affecting change in the world?

If you compare someone like Justin Bieber to Michael Jackson there is a huge difference. I think the artists now really focus on Mental & Emotion outcomes other than a change in the world. Michael Jackson and many others would incorporate world problems in their songs and then some artists would have charities to help change the world. I think the music now days is not promoting world change compared the other artists in 1985.