New Band Aid release for Ebola

[LondonTom]

None of the singers seem to fit together much, just their own "trademark" style. Its very odd.

[russycarps]

Isn't China investing in Africa?

Yes, hence my statement that you quoted!

[fred quimby]

So in conclusion I don't have to give this cause not enough people have died, too many rich people involved

[windy_miller]

None of the singers seem to fit together much, just their own "trademark" style. Its very odd.

That was my thought as well. Some of the cuts from one singer to the next are quite jarring, especially the Sam Smith bit.

One Direction sound and look positively bored on the first line of the song.

[russycarps]

Depends what kind of return they're expecting from their investment, as opposed to simply helping them out.

Why on earth would they "just help them out"?

Do you you think the Chinese trade deals are more or less harmful than the colonists who sailed up the rivers in gunboats, enslaving the population and forcing Christianity on them?

[atomised]

Just heard the new version for the first time. Sounds awful

[grumpyhack]

Not going to buy it but might up my donation to Medcins sans Frontiers.

[atomised]

Think that's a sound idea. Might just donate something myself

[Mouseboy11]

Anyone else think some of the minor lyric changes are really annoying?

[atomised]

Definitely. And the you tube vloggers being involved

[metallimuse]

That is God awful,sorry but it is.

[russycarps]

had to laugh at this:

Bob Geldof is a rich man. According to the Sunday Times rich list he is worth £32 million and like most rich people he is understandably keen to hang on to his fortune. That's why, very sensibly, he gives no more of his money away to the Government than he has to. As a registered non-dom he is legally entitled to avoid income and capital gains tax on international earnings. Those of us without non-dom status may envy him the privilege, but we can hardly blame him for it: after all we most of us know that we'd do a much better job of spending (and saving) our money than ever the poltroons in the various agencies of government do.

Where we can – and should – criticise the saintly "Sir" Bob (his KBE is honorary) is over the position he takes on aid to the third world. Geldof believes that our government should give more of it. But since our government has no money of its own – only what it borrows, takes through taxation, or prints – what he's actually saying is that he thinks that we poor bloody taxpayers should give more of our money to the third world. Those of us unfortunate enough not to have non-dom status, that would be.

In today's Times a very courageous interviewer takes Geldof to task on this issue. Here's the relevant bit:

So how much is he worth? “I’m not telling you. But I am rich, let’s be clear.”

Anyway, he says, that is irrelevant. Is it? He wants governments to give more aid. But aid comes from tax. Wealthy people want to be as tax efficient as legally possible, restricting the amount of aid governments can afford to give.

Can he understand why some might get annoyed when rich rock stars campaign about poverty?

He explodes with rage. “I pay all my taxes. My time? Is that not a tax? I employ 500 people [through his production companies]. I have created business for the UK government. I have given my ideas. I have given half my life to this.”

People are beginning to look. His advisers suggest we take it somewhere more private. He is now yelling, jabbing his finger at me, as he demands to know how many irrigation channels I’ve built with my salary. Having been so candid throughout our trip, he seems offended that I have raised the issue. “How dare you lecture me about morals.”

But isn’t there an inherent contradiction there?

After much swearing, hissing and spitting, it’s clear the conversation is over. It is a shame. I like him. He has done so much more than many others. Without Geldof, let’s face it, I wouldn’t be writing about Ethiopian farming policy. For four days, Ethiopians have rushed to greet him and have their photograph taken. The previous night, staff at his hotel surprised him with a cake, saying “Thank you”.

Edited November 18, 2014 by russycarps

[The Nal]

Sky News asked him similar yesterday. Basically - why don't all you rich fuckers donate a small amount instead of doing a shit song? He gets a rough time. Its all good really. I think people attack him out of guilt or something. Its a minor amount of money hes raising in the grand scheme of things but is donated so publicly it usually doesn't end up in the military budget like a lot of aid.

And with 1D etc doing it creates awareness with the kiddies and sets a good example in general.

Damon has been criticising him again. Something about "why don't all the performers go and experience Africa before they sing about it". Pretentious twat.

Edited November 18, 2014 by The Nal

[russycarps]

Sky News asked him similar yesterday. Basically - why don't all you rich fuckers donate a small amount instead of doing a shit song? He gets a rough time. Its all good really. I think people attack him out of guilt or something. Its a minor amount of money hes raising in the grand scheme of things but is donated so publicly it usually doesn't end up in the military budget like a lot of aid.

And with 1D etc doing it creates awareness with the kiddies and sets a good example in general.

Damon has been criticising him again. Something about "why don't all the performers go and experience Africa before they sing about it". Pretentious twat.

Yeh I dont mind him.

I saw someone asked him on twitter (or something) how many africans could go to bed with a full meal in their belly with all the money his daughter spent on smack.

It must make him wonder why he bothers.

[russycarps]

Attacking Adele though was a bit cheap...

“Adele is doing nothing,” he told The Sun. “She’s not answering the phone… She doesn’t want to be bothered by anyone. She won’t even pick up the phone to her manager. She’s bringing up a family, you know. Some people just don’t want to do it.”

Fuck her.

Speaking to Q magazine, the Rolling in the Deep singer said, "I'm mortified to have to pay 50%! [tax] While I use the NHS, I can't use public transport any more. Trains are always late, most state schools are shit, and I've gotta give you, like, four million quid – are you having a laugh? When I got my tax bill in from [the album] 19, I was ready to go and buy a gun and randomly open fire."

[The Nal]

Yeh I dont mind him.

I saw someone asked him on twitter (or something) how many africans could go to bed with a full meal in their belly with all the money his daughter spent on smack.

It must make him wonder why he bothers.

Yeah some of the criticism is mad. Hes a mouthy fucker though so he has to expect some sort of backlash.

Attacking Adele though was a bit cheap...

“Adele is doing nothing,” he told The Sun. “She’s not answering the phone… She doesn’t want to be bothered by anyone. She won’t even pick up the phone to her manager. She’s bringing up a family, you know. Some people just don’t want to do it.”

He actually didn't have a go at her. The media just cherry picked a few quotes to make it look like that.

Also keep watching from about two minutes in!

http://youtu.be/f4rnyyINms8

[LondonTom]

Fuck her.

To be fair, (apart from her ideas about tax) she does seem to not crave the limelight as much as most of those pop acts. So yeah I can understand if you are not that way inclined why you might not get involved. Maybe she donates more of her own money then any of the other acts involved? You just don't know with people who try to stay out of papers.

[windy_miller]

He explodes with rage. “I pay all my taxes. My time? Is that not a tax?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news Bob, but it's not.

I employ 500 people [through his production companies]. I have created business for the UK government. I have given my ideas. I have given half my life to this.”

People are beginning to look. His advisers suggest we take it somewhere more private. He is now yelling, jabbing his finger at me, as he demands to know how many irrigation channels I’ve built with my salary.

I'd like to know how many irrigation channels he has built with his salary. And I mean directly from his own pocket.

To be fair to the guy, he has massively raised awareness about Africa in the UK, and raised an enormous amount of money for African causes. I just find it slightly disturbing that he has also raised a lot of money for himself in the process, on the back of other people's misery.

[the_hedge]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news Bob, but it's not.

I'd like to know how many irrigation channels he has built with his salary. And I mean directly from his own pocket.

To be fair to the guy, he has massively raised awareness about Africa in the UK, and raised an enormous amount of money for African causes. I just find it slightly disturbing that he has also raised a lot of money for himself in the process, on the back of other people's misery.

Do you really think his personal success is off the back of Live Aid?

Another way of looking at it is that people that have the drive and ambition of Geldof tend to do well in business. They get things done...

[swede]

Bono's newly worded line makes him sound like a right nonce, talking about reaching out and touching people.

[Matt42]

Sold 200,000 copies in it's first day.

I know it's controversial, but if this is raising money to fight a nasty disease then great... I don't see why there is criticism.

The division in opinion comes from the fact that people have new methods to voice their criticism.

[kaosmark2]

I don't see why there is criticism.

I get the idea of supporting it, but there are good reasons to criticise. Why not read through the pages on the thread to see some of them?

[The Nal]

Sold 200,000 copies in it's first day.

I know it's controversial, but if this is raising money to fight a nasty disease then great... I don't see why there is criticism.

The division in opinion comes from the fact that people have new methods to voice their criticism.

The main issue that people have now is that we're being preached at to buy a charity single by people who could afford to stump up the proceeds themselves and wouldn't notice any difference in their bank account.

Hard up civilian folk getting bumfucked with the guilty stick into shelling out a few quid for a load of old shite while the (largely well meaning) organisers and performers are flying from all around the world to sing the song in private jets at £20k per person per trip.

[Matt42]

The main issue that people have now is that we're being preached at to buy a charity single by people who could afford to stump up the proceeds themselves and wouldn't notice any difference in their bank account.

Hard up civilian folk getting bumfucked with the guilty stick into shelling out a few quid for a load of old shite while the (largely well meaning) organisers and performers are flying from all around the world to sing the song in private jets at £20k per person per trip.

I'm pretty sure these people are donating too though? Maybe not Bono but i'm sure they aren't just walking into the studio, lying down vocals then walking out?

I get the idea of supporting it, but there are good reasons to criticise. Why not read through the pages on the thread to see some of them?

I personally see most of the criticisms to be conjecture, suggesting that these celebrities have done nothing to donate and instead we are doing all the donating?

[kaosmark2]

I personally see most of the criticisms to be conjecture, suggesting that these celebrities have done nothing to donate and instead we are doing all the donating?

One of the big early criticisms is that ebola isn't actually the biggest issue in the world today and they're only raising money for this charity as jumping on the bandwagon rather than out of a passionate belief in a particular cause. I think that particular one is very justifiable.