A reincarnation of the "Band Aid" concept from the 1980's (which led to "Farm Aid", "Live Aid" and other similar clones) is in the works, much to the dismay of 80's rocker, George Michael. Band Aid was a gathering of musicians who got together to raise money to aid Ethiopians who were in a terrible state of famine, and George Michael was one of the artists involved in the project.
George Michael has slammed Blue singer Lee Ryan’s desire to team up with other musicians for an anti-war song, Sky News reported on Thursday.
Ryan reportedly wants to collaborate with Kylie Minogue, Justin Timberlake and Pink to record a song similar to the Band Aid song which was recorded in aid of Ethiopian famine victims in the 80s.
Ryan announced at the Brit Awards last week that he wanted to record the song ‘Stand Up As People’, that he personally penned. "All the money will hopefully go to charities like Warchild, for kids who have been affected by war,” Ryan reportedly said.
But the former Wham frontman Michael, who was involved in the Band Aid project, said the singers were “extremely young and extremely lacking” in political knowledge, and so could not produce a credible song.
"I’m begging, I’m hoping that there will not be a Band Aid 2. The reality is that very, very few people in the industry now, that you’re hearing on the radio, make their money from their own hearts and minds.
While I understand the sentiment he is trying to convey, the new young artists have their own political views and beleifs they wish to share, as well. It sounds like a bit of "well, back in MY day" to me. Band Aid released their single "Do They Know Its Christmas Time" in December, 1984. George had just turned 21 in the summer of 1984. Didn't that make him young, too? But let's look at the ages here, and see what you think. Kylie is 35, Pink is 23, and Justin is 22. They're much too young, but George at 21... nope, he's special... But in fairness, I think we should turn back the clock, and look at some of the lyrics from a song that came from his "own heart and mind."
You put the boom-boom into my heart
You send my soul sky high when your lovin' starts
Jitterbug into my brain
Goes a bang-bang-bang 'til my feet do the same
lol... I watched the program that that sentiment came from... I recorded it and got quite a few quotes from it that I'll post tonight or tomorrow. I actually agree with him to a certain extent. He said he was afraid that a BandAid 2 wouldn't have any weight because of the artists involved.
Yeah... and to some extent, I'm sure he's right. My point, though, is that it sounds a bit double-standardish to me. He was still pretty much a bubblegum artist in 1984. What I would consider his really great work was still a few years down the road. And on the other side of this... personally, I don't think of Pink as a fluff artist. I think she's going to be in this for the long haul.
