My Live 8 London Review Part 2

[madformac]

At 2pm McCartney and Bono kicked off the most amazing show of my life.

The sound was really good and everybody in the crowd went mad! After the song Macca left the stage and Bono was joined by the rest of U2.

U2 were pretty good, Bono managed to stay on the stage this time, unlike at Live Aid 20 years ago! After a break to change the stage equipment Coldplay emerged. They were very good although the guitar parts seemed a little odd sounding, not sure if the tuning had dropped a little before they came on. Chris Martin and Richard Ashcroft did the Verve's Bittersweet Symphony and it got a great response.

Elton John was next up. I actually liked his performance although I agree that he probably shouted a little too much and sung a little too less. Always an entertainer Elton, he amused the crowd with his jumping around.. Pete Doherty came on and did a duet of Children Of The Revolution with Elton. It was okay I guess but the crowd were a little bored by this point.

Dido, as most of you will have seen was brilliant and her appearance with Youssou N'Dour singing Seven Seconds was one of the moments of the day.

The Stereophonics were next up and were well recieved by the crowds, everybody jumping and singing. They played for about 20 minutes and then made way for Ricky Gervais, who was as sidesplittingly funny as usual. Ricky announced REM and everybody cheered. Michael Stipe put in one of the performances of the day and it was maybe his most emotional performance, at least as far as I have seen.

Ms. Dynamite and then Keane followed. They were pretty good but not my kinda thing so I took the time to squat and save the back for later (by this point we had been standing up for 10 1/2 hours after 1 hour's sleep!) I also had a sip of an energy drink, I think we went a world record 22 hours without going to the toilet so the bladder was rather strained when the gig finished!

Travis were next up and were brilliant, a very memorable performance, I was particularly pleased to see Fran Healey using the same guitar strap as myself! . Travis were followed by Annie Lennox, one of the acts of the day. How somebody so petite can have such a huge, perfectly toned voice is beyond my mind.. UB40 performed a medley of hits, again it was time for a quick kneel down and a chomp on a museli bar.

Snoop Dog came on and seemed to get a good response, I was intrigued to know what the BBC were doing with the live coverage, given that it was 6:30pm and Snoop was chanting "Motherf**ker" every second word.. Snoop was followed by Razorlight who were good athough the song "Somewhere Else" might not have been the best statement to make on this day!

Next was one of the moments of the day, Geldof introduced a film from 1985 showing the poverty in Africa and the face of a girl, a girl 10 minutes from death. The crowd were silent as Geldof talked, you could not hear even a breath from the 200,000 people in the park. It was surreal and moving. She then came on stage and got the greatest cheer of the night. The applause seemed to go on forever. When the clapping died down Madonna appeared and gave a great performance, she left her own kids at home, five minutes walk from the park as she said iot was too noisty for them. She then sung brilliantly as we all saw, the only dissapointment was no Ali G during "Music"

The next 4 acts were Snow Patrol, The Killers, Joss Stone and Scissor Sisters. All four had their fans and probably The Killers and Scissor Sisters got the best reaction from the crowd.

Velvet Revolver were next up. They kicked off and they crowd didn't know who they were or what they were about!! Only Seteca and I seemed to be cheering and clapping. I thought they played well and "Slither" was awesome. Scott gave an interview when he came off and seemed a bit puzzled by the crowd I think!

VR were followed by Sting. Sting played the same setlist as 20 years ago at Live Aid, except for the new and rather wonderful lyrics to "Every Breath You Take" A true professional and one of the acts of the day.

Then came "Our Bob".. Robbie Williams.... The crowd went WILD!!!!!!!! Robbie's was the performance of the night for getting the crowd going. Every single person was dancing, clapping, cheering and singing. A great performance for a man who's been on a 2 year vacation in L.A.

Peter Kay (a well known British comic) introduced The Who, minus Zak Starkey. He was drumming in Manchester on the second of a three night stint at the City Of Manchester Stadium with Oasis. Daltrey sung pretty well. I'm not going to be popular because I'm not a Who fan but I did think it was the best I had heard them and a world away from the group that were an embarassment at the Concert for NYC a few years back. It was nearly time for the moment of my life. To see Pink Floyd together for probably the only time ever after 24 years....

It took ages to get the stage ready, Gilmour's rack and equipment took forever to get setup but finally it was ready... The stage went dark, a pulse appeared on the screens, a heartbeat pumped through the speakers.. and then the lights came on and they went into "Breathe".. It sounded amazing.

What you didn't see at home was the screens.. For the opening and the first verse the screens focused on Gilmour, brilliant as usual.. Then the screens cut to Waters and it was totally unreal and still somehow unexpected to see him. We both stood there with a lump in our throats unable to take in what we were seeing....

They finished and went into "Money" Gilmour's voice was perfect, Mason was perfect and Waters looked like a child with a new toy, he was so happy. Money faded out and then "Wish You Were Here" started. Roger was so proud to be playing with the others and a picture of Syd Barrett appeared on the screens, the only absent member of the band. Syd had been told of the event and Floyd reforming but according to his sister, didn't react to the news.

Next up was "Comfortably Numb" It was without a doubt the greatest musical experience of my life. All the guys on stage were totally into it and what came out was the best live version I have ever heard (and I've heard a lot!). The solo was played with such power and aggression and was as close to the original as you will ever get in terms of energy. It was the best solo I've ever heard from Gilmour and Roger's bass was the perfect companion. The best artists of the day by a clear margin..

McCartney came back on, bringing George Michael with him. George looked exactly like he did 20 years ago and the crowd went wild!!! Macca played "Helter Skelter" which I totally enjoyed and was suprised to hear, and then the finale as everyone gathered for Hey Jude.. By this point we had been standing for 18 hours and I was getting a little sore but the adrenalin carried me through to the end..

It was a magical day as nearly a quarter of a million people left the park in search of a taxi!!! We headed off for a snack and a drink before calling it a day at 3am, tired, sore but very very happy. Let's hope the message gets to the G8 and things do finally change...

[DrummerDeanna]

Thanks for a great review!!! Sounds like an awesome time

[wondergirl9847]

I love the play by play, MFM. I am watching/listening to Dido right now. I wanna see Ricky Gervais. I was wondering when he was up there, and now I know when to watch..thanks!

Roger did look soooo happy up there. He may have been the ONLY one (especially after what David said in the interview I heard yesterday on the radio). I got some looooong, drawn out email from Seteca about PF...that man does not know when to shut up! LMAO!! Kidding, actually, he could only say...incredible.

[Janet]

on AOL, I saw Dido, Snoop Dogg and Mariah...wasn't she in London?

I know Kylie would have so been there if she wasn't sick.

I really want to see Robbie Williams and George Micheal. I wish I could have been there. I live about 20 minutes from Philly but I just didn't want to deal with the traffic and parking and such..( I'm over the bridge in Jersey) but London...sigh. You are sooooooooooooooooooooooo lucky.

[madformac]

Originally Posted by Janet

on AOL, I saw Dido, Snoop Dogg and Mariah...wasn't she in London?

I know Kylie would have so been there if she wasn't sick.

I really want to see Robbie Williams and George Micheal. I wish I could have been there. I live about 20 minutes from Philly but I just didn't want to deal with the traffic and parking and such..( I'm over the bridge in Jersey) but London...sigh. You are sooooooooooooooooooooooo lucky.

Yes, sorry!!!

I forgot Mariah Carey!

The reason probably was because she was booed by the crowd.. I think they felt she was the only performer doing the show for selfish reasons.. Nobody felt she was sincere and the fact she played her "new single" made it worse.. Nothing like 3 billion people listening to your new record huh?

Having said that her singing was ok and from a purely physical point of view... I would...

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by madformac

Yes, sorry!!!

I forgot Mariah Carey!

The reason probably was because she was booed by the crowd.. I think they felt she was the only performer doing the show for selfish reasons.. Nobody felt she was sincere and the fact she played her "new single" made it worse.. Nothing like 3 billion people listening to your new record huh?

Having said that her singing was ok and from a purely physical point of view... I would...

Now THAT'S what I like to hear...Mariah Carey booed..that kicks SO much ass.

I hate her. She induces violent rages within me and I don't know why - I just really and truly dislike her

[Livia]

Great recap! Wish I could have been there in person....from this side of the pond, Madonna and Pink Floyd were my personal highlights!

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Now THAT'S what I like to hear...Mariah Carey booed..that kicks SO much ass.

I hate her. She induces violent rages within me and I don't know why - I just really and truly dislike her

She got booed? It's such a shame that she chose to slut up her image. For me, that somehow made her voice not even matter anymore...

[CreepingDeath]

Thanks for the great review!

Reading about Pink Floyd's performance gave me chills. I really wish they would do a reunion tour. When pigs fly, eh?

[estranged4life]

Wouldve been interesting if McCartney wouldve played "No More Lonely Nights", Since the lead guitarist for that track also participated in Live 8, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.

[BTFLCHLD]

fyi they have the live 8 concert available for viewing at

http://music.channel.aol.com/live_8_...ive_now_london

tabs at the top take you to london/philly/toronto/berlin/paris/rome