[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

He's not doing it for charity though, it's a vanity project. If he had truly altruistic intentions he wouldn't put himself front and center of it all, making himself out to be a Saint when in fact he's profiting heavily by raising his own profile. If he really wanted to help he could have just highlighted the charities and make an appeal to raise donations instead.

Charity singles are cynical things and it's not really charity if the person doing it is also benefiting from it, it's why I refuse to support them. Even if I did I can't support a song that's so patronising and ignorant.

With all due respect Dezzy you have no idea what his motivations are, you've decided that yourself for whatever reason, it doesn't make it true and why is it only proper charity if you hide your face?

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Right so now he is responsible for ebola?... wow.

Time to bow out, no links, nothing factual just an opinion, I guess he won't be buying the single, incidentally neither will I but I won't be judging those that do.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by EyeballPaul

The tear thing is what apparently inspired him to rerelease the song.An African nurse died after wiping a childs tear away
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...id-single.html

Thats actually heartbreaking. I do think its been slightly...newspaper-ized though..I have a hard time believing a single tear could do this unless she licked the tear or something.

Its just awful to think of how these people must be feeling, especially parents who cant hold their kids or anything.

I have not bought music in about 10 years or so, as I prefer to get it free ( naughty me) but I will buy this.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I completely agree. I literally cannot stand Geldof, and he's only getting worse over time. Also, this is what he had to say of Adele for not playing along with his little celeb circle-wank:



... Yes Bob. She's raising a family. Awful, isn't it? Who does she think she is?? Maybe she should spend a little less time raising her family and a little more time inflating her own ego to the point of overblown messiah complex, until said family ends up so miserable that they end up killing themselves with a massive heroin overdose. Like a PROPER celebrity family, goshdarnit!!

Harsh

But Geldof was wrong to say that of Adele too mind. Not everyone needs to jump to his command. [Just read that thats false...] I appreciate the work he does for charity and such, but I really don't like the man himself. He came across as so ****ing arrogant and up his own arse on the x factor this week...trying to guilt trip us all almost.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Right so now he is responsible for ebola?... wow.

Massive oversimplification Kizzy. He represents, is a prime example of, rich Western attitudes towards Africa that are a PART of what keeps corrupt powers in place and keeps African infrastructure ineffective at best and nonexistent at worse. That lack of health and sanitation infrastructure is what has allowed a virus like Ebola (which is not highly contagious) to spread quickly and widely enough to become a serious issue.

[Kizzy]

I will buy it, I bought the first and played it 100s of times,we had discussions on it in school and as it had the best pop stars of the time on it my generation were suddenly acutely aware of the word beyond the west because of it.
Now is a better time than any to use celebrity to raise awareness of issues and threats facing the world, we lap up anything with a celebrity label..in the jungle,in a house,just doing stuff for 7 days, family fortunes, the chase.. anything.
Why then is it seen so unusual that a single for charity by celebs is seen more unusual now than it was then? Why is viewed with more cynicism than it was then?
Whatever people think of Bob he has done something, he was successful the first time and fair play to him that despite his personal grief he is able to inspire others to look further than their own back door.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Time to bow out, no links, nothing factual just an opinion, I guess he won't be buying the single, incidentally neither will I but I won't be judging those that do.

I can't be bothered finding his exact quote regarding Adele because I'm on my phone. Soz. The rest, yes, is opinion which I'm as entitled to state as those lining up to lick Geldof's bumhole are but what can I say? No, I can't provide links to "prove" that he's a self serving narcissist. No more than I can send you a link to "prove" that the bird I saw at the park yesterday was a duck. I just know what a duck looks, walks, and quacks like.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Massive oversimplification Kizzy. He represents, is a prime example of, rich Western attitudes towards Africa that are a PART of what keeps corrupt powers in place and keeps African infrastructure ineffective at best and nonexistent at worse. That lack of health and sanitation infrastructure is what has allowed a virus like Ebola (which is not highly contagious) to spread quickly and widely enough to become a serious issue.

Ebola is infectious and there currently is no cure.

Bob Geldof is not not partly responsible for anyones attitude, personal, cultural,societal and educational standards are. Nor is he responsible in any way for the political constructs in Africa.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I can't be bothered finding his exact quote regarding Adele because I'm on my phone. Soz. The rest, yes, is opinion which I'm as entitled to state as those lining up to lick Geldof's bumhole are but what can I say? No, I can't provide links to "prove" that he's a self serving narcissist. No more than I can send you a link to "prove" that the bird I saw at the park yesterday was a duck. I just know what a duck looks, walks, and quacks like.

I duck looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...
By this logic if a man looks like his trying to help, arranges the help and delivers the help is he not helping?..

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Ebola is infectious and there currently is no cure.

Bob Geldof is not not partly responsible for anyones attitude, personal, cultural,societal and educational standards are. Nor is he responsible in any way for the political constructs in Africa.

It is not hugely infectious, not like influenza for example, it does not spread easily and if the nations where it had first took hold had decent infrastructure, it would have been easily contained. There is no real question about that.

He is not personally responsible for the political problems in Africa but as a very prominent figure constantly bleating about the continent, he absolutely IS responsible for the attitudes that he is helping to spread. Attitudes that contribute to those political problems.

If he is not responsible then he is nothing more than a bull in a china shop. Which is probably pretty accurate. I'm sure he has no idea that his vanity projects also cause harm. I don't suppose he particularly cares.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I duck looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...
By this logic if a man looks like his trying to help, arranges the help and delivers the help is he not helping?..

The duck isn't a duck if it's actually an onion with eyes and a beak drawn on it.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It is not hugely infectious, not like influenza for example, it does not spread easily and if the nations where it had first took hold had decent infrastructure, it would have been easily contained. There is no real question about that.

He is not personally responsible for the political problems in Africa but as a very prominent figure constantly bleating about the continent, he absolutely IS responsible for the attitudes that he is helping to spread. Attitudes that contribute to those political problems.

If he is not responsible then he is nothing more than a bull in a china shop. Which is probably pretty accurate. I'm sure he has no idea that his vanity projects also cause harm. I don't suppose he particularly cares.

Well thank you for stating the obvious.
He is not a 'prominent' figure though is he? and I suspect in the African political arena he is a virtual unknown. But don't let that colour your view.
They need aid, he helps raise awareness of this and we see the efforts already made in the news, I'm sorry I'm as cynical as the next person but I can't see why nothing is better than something if you have the influence and the means in this instance to make a difference.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Well thank you for stating the obvious.
He is not a 'prominent' figure though is he? and I suspect in the African political arena he is a virtual unknown. But don't let that colour your view.
They need aid, he helps raise awareness of this and we see the efforts already made in the news, I'm sorry I'm as cynical as the next person but I can't see why nothing is better than something if you have the influence and the means in this instance to make a difference.

Bob Geldof isn't a prominent figure when it comes to Western attitudes towards Africa? Over the last 30 years he's surely one of the MOST prominent figures... Certainly in Europe. The point isn't him being prominent in Africa itself but rather that African countries will never pull themselves out of 3rd world status while the rest of the world looks upon them as hot, dirty, starving, infected little hell-holes and Geldof and his ilk, no matter how well meaning (although it should be evident that I personally am very dubious of his motives) absolutely hammer that image home. It's in the very lyrics of the song and it's all over every speech he makes. "We must help them! We must help these poor creatures in their filthy hovel with our money. Give me the money so that I can help them!", he cries, with his eyes suitably teary and his hands literally wringing.

This does not help Africa or Africans. It never has. The money raised might help a few people in the short term but it doesn't matter a jot if the deeper issues are being constantly worsened by the messages and images used to "encourage" us.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I can't be bothered finding his exact quote regarding Adele because I'm on my phone. Soz. The rest, yes, is opinion which I'm as entitled to state as those lining up to lick Geldof's bumhole are but what can I say? No, I can't provide links to "prove" that he's a self serving narcissist. No more than I can send you a link to "prove" that the bird I saw at the park yesterday was a duck. I just know what a duck looks, walks, and quacks like.

So its your rather biased opinion then, but its doesn't stop you stating that rather pompously imo : I think when people are looking at Geldof and not understanding that he has, at least, many and varied motives when he makes his "impassioned speeches" they can't possibly be taking into account the amount of money he has made from Band Aud.

it also doesn't stop you repeating the Adele story even though Geldof has denied it. You have no more insight that anyone else but you are portraying your opinion as factual when it is anything but.

[Kazanne]

At least Bob Geldof gets off his butt and does something instead of mouthing off behind a computer,his intentions are honourable,who cares what cause or country they are helping,that fact they are helping is a good thing surely.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

So its your rather biased opinion then, but its doesn't stop you stating that rather pompously imo : I think when people are looking at Geldof and not understanding that he has, at least, many and varied motives when he makes his "impassioned speeches" they can't possibly be taking into account the amount of money he has made from Band Aud.

it also doesn't stop you repeating the Adele story even though Geldof has denied it. You have no more insight that anyone else but you are portraying your opinion as factual when it is anything but.

Biased? Why would they be Biased? Not convinced you know what the word means... I have no personal, financial or any other connection to Bob Geldof or Africa. There is nothing for me to bit biased about. Feel free to suggest where my bias lies, though.

I don't like to preface my opinions with "in my opinion" or "I might be wrong but...". It's a cop out. Of course I believe my opinions to be factual, otherwise I wouldn't hold them as my opinion? Do you not believe your own opinions to be true? That most be a very confusing way to exist.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

At least Bob Geldof gets off his butt and does something instead of mouthing off behind a computer,his intentions are honourable,who cares what cause or country they are helping,that fact they are helping is a good thing surely.

You make the assumption that I haven't contributed thousands to various charities both personally and through fundraising (which I have) and also that I don't happily "mouth off" about things like this even when not behind a computer (which, rest assured, I do).

You have also managed to completely ignore the entire part where I said that it is entirely my belief (and the belief of many others) that overall he does NOT help. He guides them one step forward whilst kicking them two steps back. He helps one person today at the expense of ten more tomorrow. If you don't believe that, that's fine, but you're arguing against a point that I've never made. You're right, his motivations wouldn't matter if the net result was positive. I don't believe it is.

[Livia]

Did anyone see Sunday Morning Live with Sian Williams last Sunday (16th)? There was a Liberian woman on it who give a very clear indication what she thought of Bob Geldof and of Live Aid/Band Aid in general. I can't find a YouTube clip, but it's still on BBC IPlayer if anyone's interested.

[Josy]

Band Aid 30's Do They Know It's Christmas? has become the fastest selling single of 2014.

It's already shifted 206,000 copies (as of Mon 18th November) meaning it's on track to be number one in this Sunday's Official Charts.

It's the biggest start to the week for any single since the Military Wives' Christmas number one in 2011.

The track, which features One Direction, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, is raising money to help tackle the Ebola outbreak.

Sir Bob Geldof said: "We are overwhelmed by the support that you have given us so far.

"What an amazing country this is. We're all sitting here overwhelmed and speechless.

"Let's keep leading the world on this. Let's try and beat the record set by the first Band Aid.

"It's so cool living in this country at times like this."

Great to see it's doing well, for such a good cause, well done to all involved and everyone that donated in one way or another

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Livia

Did anyone see Sunday Morning Live with Sian Williams last Sunday (16th)? There was a Liberian woman on it who give a very clear indication what she thought of Bob Geldof and of Live Aid/Band Aid in general. I can't find a YouTube clip, but it's still on BBC IPlayer if anyone's interested.

Yeah i saw that.She seemed pissed.I got what she was saying about giving the African artists the limelight instead of western artists(Geldoff and co) taking it.I get her sentiment but i did'nt agree,Only in that i think the Brit artists who are doing the song will generate more attention from the British public(the ones with the money) than unknown(in this country) African artists.She also did'nt like the lyrics as it portrays the people in her country as helpless etc,That's fair enough i suppose.Although i think she was more annoyed at the old lyrics than the new ones that they've used for this version of the song.I kind of understood where she was coming from but i thought her anger was misplaced.Those countries do need to be equipped and capable of dealing with an outbreak like this but while they're not,I can't see help from the west as being a bad thing.I don't particularly like Geldoff but i can't fault him for doing a good thing.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

With all due respect Dezzy you have no idea what his motivations are, you've decided that yourself for whatever reason, it doesn't make it true and why is it only proper charity if you hide your face?

It's obvious what his motivations are, he's not exactly subtle about it.

I'm not saying you have to hide your face but if you do something charitable and then make it all about you then you're obviously not doing it for the right reasons. Band Aid isn't about Africa, it's all about Bob Geldof.

[Vanessa]

I just bought it.

[Josy]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

It's obvious what his motivations are, he's not exactly subtle about it.

I'm not saying you have to hide your face but if you do something charitable and then make it all about you then you're obviously not doing it for the right reasons. Band Aid isn't about Africa, it's all about Bob Geldof.

I really don't get this logic at all, even if you detest the man, find him to be a pain in the arse whatever you still can't deny that he is putting in effort to raise both awareness and money for a cause.

[Liam-]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

It's obvious what his motivations are, he's not exactly subtle about it.

I'm not saying you have to hide your face but if you do something charitable and then make it all about you then you're obviously not doing it for the right reasons. Band Aid isn't about Africa, it's all about Bob Geldof.

This really, if someone really wanted their cause to be about the thing they're raising money for, they'd let that take center stage and be the main focus, not themselves and their own ego.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

It's obvious what his motivations are, he's not exactly subtle about it.

I'm not saying you have to hide your face but if you do something charitable and then make it all about you then you're obviously not doing it for the right reasons. Band Aid isn't about Africa, it's all about Bob Geldof.

Exactly. Have a look at his lifestyle. That doesn't come from being the ex-lead singer of the Boomtown Rats, that comes from being Sir Bob Geldof, philanthropist and saint.