andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Live 8 organizer Bob Geldolf could be next year’s recipient for the Nobel Peace Prize.

A Norwegian legislator said he deserves the award for his efforts to raise awareness of global poverty.

“I have for many years thought that a representative person from the rock environment should get the prize to show rock’s border breaking character,” MP Jan Simonsen said to the Norwegian news outlet NTB.

This would not be the first time Geldolf, 53, has shown action in the efforts to end poverty. In 1985 he was largely responsible for the Live Aid concerts. Today, his supporters jokingly refer to him as “saint Bob.”

Other recipients of this award include Lester B. Pearson, Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela, the Dali Lama and Mother Theresa.

Of course, Geldolf is famous for more than his charity work. The Irish rocker is a former member of the Boomtown Rats and appeared in Pink Floyd’s film The Wall in 1982.

His hard work might pay off next Dec. 10.

Paul McCartney says his new album, which is a follow up to 2001’s “Driving Rain,” will be called “Chaos and Creation in the Backyard.”

McCartney recently performed at the Live 8 concert in London, where it was reported the former Beatle made music history again. His performance of “Sergaent Pepper” with U2 remains at number one in iTunes sales.

According to Macworld, the track was the fastest release of a global live single, topping sales within an hour of the performance. It is also available in 200 other digital music stores worldwide.

All profits will go towards helping Live 8, as indicated on the iTunes website.

The new album is expected to be released sometime this fall.

While some Africans were unaware a concert for their benefit was even occuring, record sales for the artists who performed at the free concerts were soaring.
HMV reports sales for Pink Floyd’s Echoes, which features three of the numbers they performed on Saturday, were up by over 1,300 percent on Sunday.

“Even allowing for the relative nature of this exercise … this snapshot still shows that the Live 8 concert is having a marked effect on sales of featured artist recordings,” said Gennaro Castaldo, spokesman for the HMV chain.

Pink Floyd has since announced they will donate the profits to the Aid for Africa fund and are encouraging other artists to do the same. The London performance of the Beatles classic “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” was already released over the Internet with all proceeds going to the campaign.

Meanwhile, in Africa, where most of the poor don’t even own a TV, only a fraction saw the event billed as the world’s biggest concert.

“I don’t know who Bob Geldof is,” said Edward Romoki in downtown Johannesburg, the site of the tacked-on African Live 8 venue.

Despite skepticism, many Africans are hopeful the impending meeting of the G8’s richest countries will yield results.

“I hope the G8 will find a solution to our problems,” said unemployed Isa Mlambo in Johannesburg. “They always promise, but I am hoping this time they will take action.”
And Paris Hilton, not to be overshadowed even by the biggest concert event in her lifetime to date, is defending her appearance at the London branch of the event.

Scissor Sister Ana Matronic slammed Hilton for attending the concert without understanding the reasons behind it. Hilton insists she will make up for her ignorance by reading about it while she’s preparing to marry Greek shipping heir Paris Latsis.

She says, “It’s such a great cause. It makes you realise how fortunate we are. I want to get more involved in this cause, so I’m going to read all the newspapers while I’m in Athens planning my wedding.”

Apple today debuted its countdown to half a billion songs sold through the iTunes Music Store with an online song counter so that fans everywhere can join in on the countdown.

Apple is also giving away an iPod Mini and an iTunes gift card for 50 songs to the customer who buys a song at each 100,000 interval, while the customer who downloads the 500,000,000 song will win a grand prize of 10 ipods (their choice on which model), 10,000 iTunes songs and an all expenses paid trip for four to see Coldplay perform live.

“As we prepare to cross this major milestone of half a billion songs, we want to thank our customers, the artists and the music labels who have helped make iTunes a global success,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of applications. “iTunes continues to be the world’s number one online music store featuring the world’s best digital music including special performances such as the Live 8 concerts.”

In addition, Apple has made available several performances from this weekends Live 8 concerts including ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ and ‘The Long and Winding Road’. Proceeds will benefit debt relief in africa.

Last week Apple released iTunes 4.9, which included full support for Podcasting.

Biggest story of this week is of course Live 8. The most amazing thing about it is not that 10 concerts were held around the world to bring awareness to poverty, but that every possible big name act participated. The biggest artists in the world, in any genre, is arguably Paul McCartney, U2 and Madonna, who all performed in England. After them there could be a number of artists, perhaps Elton John, Coldplay, and a reunited Pink Floyd, who all performed. Even Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, who were not on any bill, was supposed to show up in England to perform with McCartney (though didn’t make it).

The message that we are not living in a perfect world should not be lost, but ponder this: who else in the world can bring together all these A-list artists? Bob Geldof pulled off the miracle of the century (now twice).

The only problem is, was this all for nothing? Remember, there was no number being flashed across the screens to call to donate money, and tickets were free. This wasn’t about money (”We want your voice, not your money,” Geldof said). We’ll see July 6, when the world leaders meet for the G8 conference.

The other big news was the passing of a legend, Luther Vandross. His health had deteriorated since he had a stroke in 2003. He won eight Grammys in his career, four since the stroke. Little was reported about his health over the past year, and many speculated he was improving, so it was a shock to read Friday that he died in a New Jersey hospital.

Randomosity: Get this album right now: State of Mind by Raul Midon. More on him next week? Robin Thicke, AKA Thicke, AKA Alan Thicke’s son, somehow is working with Pharrell Williams on new material, even though nobody cared to buy his first album? John Mayer is now the John Mayer Trio. Hopefully they will stick with quality music as opposed to the soulless “Daughter”-type songs?

Looks like jail for Cassidy won’t help his album sales. His latest album will debut with a respectable number next week, probably around 100,000, but less than his debut album released last year. So much for street cred?

The Fugees getting back together at the BET Awards was my highlight of the week. I just hope they take their time to record a new album. Rushing it would ruin their legacy. What legacy you say? There has never been a hip-hop group to have as much success both as a group and then with solo careers. Well, Pras still has a chance?

Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl is perhaps the worst song to make it onto high rotation since the Macarena. If you keep buying her album, she’ll keep making music….

Last thought on Live 8: 50 Cent pulled out due to a “prior commitment.” Excusable. But if you turned on your Sirius radio to the Slim Shady channel, you would have heard 50 live in studio for 4 hours…

And final thought: Congrats to Frayda and Yoni! See you in New York.

The five Montrealers called Simple Plan, who continue to reach new fans worldwide, are growing up. Their latest album, ?Still Not Getting Any,” is emotional, sweet, dark, meaningful, well-written and fun.

Paul Telner spoke to Sebastien Lefebvre, Simple Plan?s guitarist and back-up vocalist from Zurich, Switzerland. The band recently performed in Barrie, Ontario, at Canada?s Live 8 Concert.

Before spending October in Australia and New Zealand, upcoming North American summer gigs include Quebec City (QC), Bozeman (MT), Salt Lake City (UT), Denver (CO), Springfield (IL), Clear Lake (CA), Stratford (ON) and Ottawa on Monday, July 11. In Canada?s capital, Simple Plan will perform at the Cisco Systems Bluesfest at the Dynamic Funds / Ottawa Senators Main Stage at Festival Plaza, located on the grounds of Ottawa City Hall.

Paul Telner: So bring us up to date with what?s happening with Simple Plan.
Sebastien Lefebvre: We?re not on a particular tour; we?re just doing a lot of promos, going around to different countries, and playing festivals and stuff like that. We?re pretty much everywhere right now.

Paul: How have audiences reacted to the new material?
Sebastien: It?s been really, really good actually. In Canada this record is doing a lot better than the other one and it hasn?t been out for a year yet. In the States it?s the same and pretty much around the world. Right now we?re trying to break Europe. This is our fourth time in Europe this year and every time we go it just keeps getting better and better.

Paul: Any favourite locations you like to tour?
Sebastien: Australia. Last summer our first record started getting huge over there. We went on tour with Green Day, and the crowds were awesome, but on top of it, it?s such a beautiful country. You can be in a really cool city, and then walk for five minutes and you?re on the beach. It?s kind of surreal.

Paul: The album seems more mature then your debut. What does this album mean to you?
Sebastien: This album is us. When we made the first record that was who we were back then. These are the songs that we want to do now, and this is the way we want Simple Plan to be. When it?s your first record, you?re kind of scared, you don?t know. Should we do this, should we do that? When we started making this, first thing in mind was to do whatever we wanted. Do we want a piano in this song, yes we do. Whatever we felt like doing, that?s what came out.

Paul: It seems that you guys don?t feel like you have to stick to one sound. You are experimenting and just striving to make great music.
Sebastien: We just want to play music and be a band. Obviously we?re always going to be in the rock area. We have two guitars, a drummer, bass, and we sing a lot. We don?t want to have any boundaries; we just want to make music. We look up to bands like No Doubt that put out any kind of song and it sounds like them. U2 or Weezer, they put out a song, and it sounds like them, and that?s what they are, and it?s not one particular style. Those are the bands we look up to. This record is a good step towards doing that.

Paul: Tell me about the chemistry between the guys.
Sebastien: We?re best friends. You can?t be in a band, if you?re not with your best friends. We have known each other for so long; we?re almost like brothers now. We give each other space when we need space. We hang out when we feel like hanging out, and it?s all good!

Paul: From the days of travelling around in your parent?s station wagons, to now being one of the most popular bands around, what?s been the best part and downside of your popularity?
Sebastien: We just love what we do. We like to tour, play shows and we get to do that in front of big crowds now, and it really feels good. The only downside is, we?re a little bit busier than we have been before. Obviously we miss our families, my girlfriend, my friends, and all that because I don?t get to see them as much as I want to, but at the same time this is what we do.

Paul: What were the challenges for you on this record? How did you mentally, physically and musically prepare yourself for it?
Sebastien: We?re really proud of the first record and the songs we made, but looking back, we did it a little too perfectly. So our main idea was to have it sound a little more live and rockin?. When we got into the studio, we weren?t trying to create that masterpiece; it?s just a rock song, so just play it.

Paul: Has everything been a dream come true?
Sebastien: To be in a band, if you really think you are going to make it, it has to be a dream. It?s a lot harder work than people think. People think if you?re in a band, you will play concerts and make lots of money, and that?s what it is, but that?s not what it is. We have to work really, really hard to get what you want, but it?s all worth it.

Paul: With a tornado of fans, and having all the positive feedback from people, how do you stay grounded and not let it all go to your head?
Sebastien: I think the way our careers happened, it was super gradual. Our first record came out and it did well in Canada and Japan, but badly everywhere else. It was like alright, let?s start working. Then we sell 200 records, and then 500 records and it was super, super gradual. For the first three years of our career, we toured non-stop everyday with the shows just getting a little bit bigger, little bit bigger, little bit bigger, so it was never like BOOM.

Paul: You must love coming back to play Canada. Is that the best place for you guys to play?
Sebastien: We haven?t played a proper tour in Canada for such a long time. I think we?re planning to do one in the fall and it?s going to be really exciting.

Paul: Ottawa is very excited for you guys to hit Bluesfest. What can people expect from your show?
Sebastien: A kick ass rock show!

Paul: What do you say to young people out there, about following their dreams and specifically about making a career out of music?
Sebastien: Yeah, just do it and don?t give up because everybody is going to tell you, you suck! That?s the way it is! Keep going; write your own songs, play some shows and if you are good, it will work out. If you?re not good, then you will end up like us!

Paul: Tell me about ?Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me?? and its connection to MADD.
Sebastien: When we wrote this song, it was just about tragedy. When they were planning on making the video, it was something that?s happened before in our high school, we wanted to make a video about drunk driving. MADD approached us, thought it awesome and wanted to help us out. At the same time we wanted to help them out. We just want to make people think, ya know? We didn?t want to do a cheesy PSA that kids don?t relate to that, so we did the video and we just wanted to make people think that there are more consequences to their actions, more than they think.

—

Simple Plan?s single ?Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me?)? is a personal look at what happens when tragedy hits close to home. The powerful video tells the story of the innocent victims affected by drinking and driving. MADD (Mother?s Against Drunk Driving) organizations all around the world are also involved.

The video ends with the message: Traffic accidents are the number one killer of teens and nearly one-third of teen-traffic deaths are alcohol-related. For More Information: 1-800-GET-MADD www.madd.org

Wanda Kristensen, MADD Canada?s Program Director told Paul, ?We think that they did an excellent job. The video really showed the emotion and tragedy that happens when an impaired driver hits someone and kills them and how it impacts the entire family.?

?The video?s response has been overwhelming. We have sent it out to all of our chapters across Canada, and our volunteers who are going into the schools take it with them to use it as an illustration about what can happen. Our volunteers are so pleased to be able to use it. As well we are putting it in our multi-media production for 2005/06 which will be launched in September to about 500,000 students across Canada.?

?In June, every time the video gets played on MuchMusic, Musique Plus and every spin on Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR), MADD Canada gets a donation of $1 from Simple Plan. There is no way to really measure how many lives will be saved but we know its having a huge impact. The teens are seeing it and can?t help being affected by it. It?s a win / win story.?

Paul Telner (www.paultelner.com) is a comedian/personality who hosts/created Apauled, the most popular American college comedy show.

Fifty-five thousand free tickets to London’s Live 8 concert will be available starting Wednesday at 3 p.m. in London and other distribution centres outside the city. These tickets will allow people to see the concert on giant screens in Hyde Park.

Venues with additional tickets will reopen for distribution on Thursday at 10 a.m.

People will not be able to see the concert outside Hyde Park because area will be partitioned off. About 133,000 tickets were already distributed to people who will have direct views of the stage.

Live 8 organizer Bob Geldof said that Hyde Park will be completely filled and this will be the largest ticketed event in Britain.

Organizers said that they had extended the ending time for the concert from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The July 2 event will include U2, Coldplay, Madonna and Paul McCartney.

35,000 free tickets for Canada’s Live 8 concert were snapped up in 21 minutes this morning.

Organizers say people from as far away as Mexico and California logged onto the Tickermaster web site to pick up tickets for the July 2 event, to be held in Barrie, Ont.

While the tickets were free, fans still had to answer a skill-testing question before they were allowed to have their two tickets per person.

The question: according to Live 8 and Make Poverty History, what can the G8 leaders do to help make poverty history?
1. Increase foreign aid
2. Cancel the debt of poor countries
3. Make trade rules fair for the poor
4. All of the above

“It’s great to see such a strong show of support,” says concert promoter Michael Cohl. He correctly predicted that the lineup would inspire an “overwhelming demand” for the free tickets.

Australian band Jet has also been added to the list of performers at the Barrie show, joining Our Lady Peace, Bryan Adams, Sam Roberts, Simple Plan, Celine Dion and a host of others.

For those who can’t make it to the show, the entire Canadian show will be broadcast live on CTV.

Highlights from the eight concerts around the world will also be part of the 12-hour broadcast scheduled to end in a prime time special of the day’s highlights.

Barrie has conquered Toronto, as the Ontario city was announced today as the host of the Canadian Live 8 concert.

Being held on July 2 at Park Place, formerly known as Molson Park, Live 8 will bring together at least 19 bands who will perform to help bring awareness to world poverty.

Confirmed artists include: Bryan Adams, Jann Arden, Our Lady Peace, The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts, Great Big Sea, Blue Rodeo, Simple Plan, Gordon Lightfoot and many more. U.S. acts include Motley Crue and Deep Purple.

Dan Aykroyd and Tom Green will host the Barrie concert.

After more than week of speculation, the news was made official this morning at a press conference at Toronto’s Mod Club, attended by concert organizer and Rolling Stones manager Michael Cohl.

“I’m thrilled with the outpouring of support from the artistic community,” said Cohl. “It promises to be a great show, but we have to remember that we’re coming together to urge the government to cancel the debt and improve aid and trade.”

Toronto Mayor David Miller issued a statement in response to the defeat, wishing Barrie the best of luck, but saying he was disappointed it would not be held in his city.

Ticket holders will also see satellite feeds from across the globe, featuring Pink Floyd, U2, Sir Paul McCartney, Destiny’s Child and Stevie Wonder.

Free tickets (2 per person) will be available on Thursday,
June 23 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster’s web site.

There is also an added twist on how to obtain tickets, says Cohl. Anyone looking for tickets will have to answer a skill testing question about Live 8 (According to Live 8 and Make Poverty History, what can the G8 leaders do to help make poverty history? a) Increase foreign aid, b) Cancel the debt of poor countries, c) Make trade rules fair for the poor, d) All of the above).

“We can make Live 8 a turning point in history,” says Dave Toycen, President of World Vision Canada. “Canadians have a clear opportunity to add their voices to the millions who want the G8 leaders to end extreme poverty.”

More than 12,000 postcards have already been gathered, asking Prime Minister Paul Martin to increase aid to 0.7% of GNP and to push for better trade rules for poor
countries.

“Together, we can take a big step to end child poverty,” says Toycen. “Every day, 50,000 people die from poverty related causes and more than 800 million people go to bed hungry every night.”

CTV will air the concert starting at 11 a.m. ET on July 2. The net work will also broadcast live portions of additional Live 8 concerts from around the world. CTV will begin broadcasting live early in the morning when the first act takes to the stage in Europe and will continue until the last act finishes at the Canadian concert, around
8 p.m. ET.

A “Greatest Hits” recap will air in primetime following the conclusion of the live broadcast with highlights from the most memorable performances of the day from around the world.

Full Barrie line-up:
Barrie (partial lineup):
Celine Dion (via satellite)
Deep Purple
Motley Crue
Gordon Lightfoot
Sam Roberts
Tom Cochrane
Bachman/Cummings Band
Barenaked Ladies
Our Lady Peace
Blue Rodeo
Simple Plan
Bruce Cockburn
Jann Arden
Bryan Adams
Great Big Sea
African Guitar Summit
DobaCaracol featuring Kna’an
Les Trois Accords
Tegan & Sara

Linkin Park and Destiny’s Child have been added on as performers for the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia, according to MTV.

The nu-metal band and the R&B trio, which recently announced its impending split, will perform before the Philadelphia Museum of Art on July 2 along with Bon Jovi, Jay-Z, Dave Matthews Band, Sarah McLachlan and Maroon 5, to name a few.

This confirmation comes just after it was announced that rapper 50 Cent is dropping out of the concert because of scheduling conflicts with his first film, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, which is currently shooting in Toronto.

Live 8 is being organized by Bob Geldof, the man behind the 1985 Live Aid concert, to raise awareness about debt relief for African nations and to pressure world leaders to drop the debt of the world’s poorest countries.

This series of free concerts is timed to coincide with the G8 Conference to be held in Gleneagles, Scotland, as well as the 20th anniversary of Live Aid.