2005 YEAR IN REVIEW: SYSTEM OF A DOWN MAKES CHART HISTORY

Live 8 was easily the event of 2005, taking place on almost every continent and getting the most impressive line-up since its predecessor, Live 8, nearly twenty years earlier. Leading the charge once again was Bob Geldof, who saw an opportunity not for charity, but for political action. Playing the festival was Madonna, Snoop Dogg, Robbie Williams, U2, Green Day, Linkin Park, Paul McCartney and of course the reunion of the classic line-up of Pink Floyd.

Geldof was aware that the G8, a gathering of the most powerful nations on earth, were gathering over the summer to discuss how to address the world’s biggest issues. The former Boomtown Rats singer decided trying to get them to address and forgive Africa’s tremendous debt was a noble cause. Geldof talked about how he arrived at the idea.

“It posed a fantastic, unique opportunity in the political life of this country, especially married to the coincidence of the Live Aid 20th Anniversary. So it seemed to me that we could gather together again, but this time, not for charity but for political justice. It couldn’t be about charity anymore, we knew too much. And though, that’s all individuals can do, no individual is ever going to solve the disgrace that is happening in Africa, the sole continent in those twenty years that has gone into economic decline by a factor of 25 percent. The result of that, of course, is that we see people dying on our TV screens every night seemingly for ever. So this is to finally, as much as we can, put a stop to that.”

Linkin Park took the opportunity to share the stage with Jay-Z and they said it was an offer they just couldn’t refuse.

“You know, this is not about raising money, it’s not about doing anything to give money to a cause, this is to raise awareness of the extreme difficulties the people of Africa are having. And I think it does take a certain amount of extra effort on the entertainment industry to put out that kind of awareness because that’s the power we have. We have the power to get in front of cameras like you guys and a lot of publications and get on TV and talk about these things. So, I think it is important, but it’s not the only way.”

Alicia Keys played the Philadelphia show, and she said that she was there in support of a noble and just cause.

“I think it’s really important to represent the United States on this side because I feel in particular, America, from what I’ve seen, because I live here, has a sense of disconnect when it comes to Africa or places that are very far because many of us, most of us will not get the opportunity to physically see those places with our own eyes. We feel empathy but it’s kinda like, ‘Well what can I possibly do?’ You feel a little disconnected so I feel like as an American I do wanna say it isn’t that hard and it isn’t that difficult to say ‘I don’t want this to happen’ because we are a global community and this isn’t just about America, this isn’t just about Europe. It’s about all of us standing for life. So, thank you.”

Live 8’s major concerts were staged in Philadelphia and London, but several other smaller but not so unimpressive shows were going on in Paris, Berlin, Rome and Barrie (Canada) among others. In response to the support the world’s governments substantially reduced the debt the country owes, so now it can invest in utilization of its natural resources. An official DVD collection of the event will ensure that lobbying efforts go to further efforts to alleviate one of the poorest continents in the world. The collection is in stores and features performances by most of the performers on the bill.