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Marko
Staff Lene.it / Moderator
Italy
949 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Sep 2004 : 20:55:06
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Everyone in the world should read this speech, and then act!
I have an infinite admiration for Bono Vox as a man and as a Christian. I'm beginning to think that he's the MLK of our days. We need more people like him.
29.09.2004
'It's Not About Charity, It's About Justice'
BONO LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE SPEECH
Thank you.
My name is Bono and I'm a rock star. Brighton - rock - star.
Excuse me if I appear a little nervous. I'm not used to appearing before crowds of less than 80,000 people.
I heard the word party - obviously got the wrong idea.
I've been here in Brighton before...
March 13, 1983.
That time I had the greatest rock band on the stage behind me, they looked a little different from you. I think I was climbing the PA stacks, waving a white flag… and yes, I had a mullet from the 80s.
We played a song called 'Out of Control', and yes sometimes I am!
It must have been at that point when a young Tony Blair stroked his chin and said, 'Someday, when I come to lead this great land, I must have this man address my party conference.'
Well, 20 years later, here we are. I've come because Prime Minister Blair asked me.
He might well regret it.
In the larger sense, I'm here as part of a journey that began in 1984-85, with BandAid and LiveAid.
Another very talll, grizzled rock star, my friend Sir Bob Geldof, issued a challenge to 'feed the world.'
It was a great moment, it changed my life.
That summer, my wife Ali and I went to Ethiopia, on the quiet, to see for ourselves what was going on.
We lived there for a month, working at an orphanage.
The locals knew me as
'Dr Good Morning'.
The children called me
'The Girl with the Beard'.
Don't ask.
But let me say this - Africa is a magical place. And anybody who ever gave anything there got a lot more back. A shining shining continent, with beautiful royal faces… Ethiopia not just blew my mind, it opened my mind.
On our last day at the orphanage a man handed me his baby and said: take him with you. He knew in Ireland his son would live; in Ethiopia his son would die. I turned him down.
In that moment, I started this journey. In that moment, I became the worst thing of all: a rock star with a cause.
Except this isn't a cause. 6,500 Africans dying a day of treatable, preventable disease-dying for want of medicines you and I can get at our local chemist-that's not a cause, that's an emergency.
That's why I'm here today.
You know, I could make the soft argument for action-or I could make the more muscular one.
The soft argument you've all heard before. People are dying over there, needlessly dying, at a ridiculous rate and for the stupidest of reasons: money.
They're dying because they don't have a pound a day to pay for the drugs that could save their lives.
Pound or Euro, they really don't care.
There are hard facts that make up the soft argument.
This soft, moral case I know you understand.
And if you're already converted, you don't need me preaching at you. Though I must admit enjoy it.
So let me make the other, more muscular argument.
I know you can take it.
You're Labour, aren't you?
You're tough. Keir Hardie was a tough guy, wasn't he?, down the pits at the age of 11.
Clement Attlee was tough, right: fought in the Great War, worked in the slums.
Blair, Brown, they're tough guys. The Labour Party has never been a garden party, has it. I mean the reddest of roses has thorns.
Let's get real here on a couple of things - let's get to some uncomfortable truths.
Let's be clear about what this problem is and what this problem isn't.
Firstly, this is not about charity, it's about justice.
Let me repeat that:
This is not about charity, this is about justice.
And that's too bad.
Because you're good at charity. The British, like the Irish, are good at it. Even the poorest neighbourhoods give more than they can afford.
We like to give, and we give a lot. But justice is a tougher standard. Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties, it doubts our concern, it questions our commitment.
Because there's no way we can look at Africa- a continent bursting into flames -and if we're honest conclude that it would ever be allowed to happen anywhere else.
Anywhere else.
Certainly not here.
In Europe.
Or America.
Or Australia, or Canada.
There's just no chance.
You see, deep down, if we really accepted that Africans were equal to us, we would all do more to put the fire out.
We've got watering cans; when what we really need are the fire brigades.
That's the first tough truth.
The second is that to fight AIDS, and its root cause, the extreme poverty in which it thrives, it's not just development policy. It's a security strategy.
The war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty, I didn't say that, Colin Powell said that. And when a military man from the right starts talking like that maybe we should listen!
Because maybe, today, these are one and the same.
People get nervous when I talk like this. I get nervous when I talk like this. But in these distressing and disturbing times, surely it's cheaper, and smarter, to make friends out of potential enemies than it is to defend yourself against them.
Can I just say that again?
Surely it's cheaper, and smarter, to make friends out of potential enemies than it is to defend yourself against them.
Africa is not the frontline on the war against terror. But it could be soon. Justice is the surest way to get to peace.
So how are we doing, on this other war, that will affect so many many more lives than the war I read about every day.
Well, I'm going to tell you what I think, but you're probably better off asking an economist.
An NGO.
An African farmer.
In fact, anyone but a rock star. I mean, get yourself a source you can trust-one who, say when he hears the word 'drugs,' probably thinks 'life-saving,' rather than 'mind-altering.'
Let's just say that when the government sends a fact-finding mission somewhere in the world, there's probably a good reason they don't send a delegation of rock stars.
But actually, I can see through these goggles. I know progress when I see it. And I know forward momentum when I feel it.
And I do feel it.
There is a lot for Britain to get excited about.
And with that in mind, I want to say a few words about two remarkable men.
Like a lot of great partners, they didn't always get along as the years passed.
They didn't always agree. They drifted apart.
They did incredible things on their own, as individuals.
But they did their best work as a pair.
I love them both:
John Lennon… and
Paul McCartney.
I'm also fond of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. They are kind of the John and Paul of the global development stage, in my opinion. But the point is, Lennon and McCartney changed my interior world - Blair and Brown can change the Real World.
And that's why I'm here.
You know as transcendent as I'd like to think a U2 show can be, it isn't life or death. This is. And I've met people whose lives will depend on the decisions taken by these two great men. They have great ideas. And the promises they have already made will save hundreds of thousands of lives -- if they follow through, and you don't let them forget who they are.
Don't let them forget who they are, promise me that, conference.
Growing up in Dublin in the Seventies, I didn't think much of politics, and I thought even less of politicians. I had no idea they worked as hard as they do. I had no idea what it takes to make good on your ideals.
Hillary Benn is doing a great job, with big shoes to fill. I'd like to thank Clare Short, for letting me in.
The Chancellor's spending review showed me this is a serious moment in time.
And the IFF, what a brilliant idea.
The Prime Minister's Africa Commission. This can be a radical landmark - like the Brandt report - certainly if Bob Geldof has his way, and it's hard not to give him his way. The Irish don't you love them.
Anyway, what I'm telling you is 2005, when Britain takes the reins of the G-8 and EU, this is it. And if we don't get there in 2005 -- if we don't get there in 2005 -- I know where these people park their cars.
Listen, this is a real moment coming up, this could be real history, this could be something that your children, your childrens children, that our whole generation, will be remembered for at the beginning of the 21st century.
Putting right a relationship that has been so very wrong for so very long.
The North, the South, the Have Nots, the have yachts.
Britain is in a unique position here. I know you've got a chequered past. I'm Irish, let's not go there. Forget the plundering of Empire, I wont even bring it up..
You have real relationships in these places - real relationships-right across the developing world.
You could be the interface - there's a 21st century thought for you,
- interface -
as opposed to just-in-your-face -between the worlds of the haves and the-have-nothing-at alls.
But Empire aside, we have to accept that even people with short memories are not sure they like the look of us.
In certain quarters of the world, Brand UK, Brand EU not to mention Brand USA-are not their shiniest.
They're in real trouble.
The neon sign is fizzing and crackling a bit, isn't it?
The storefront's a little grubby. Our regional branch managers aregetting nervous.
Let's cut the crap.
The problems facing the developing world afford us in the developed world a chance to redescribe ourselves in very dangerous times.
This is not just heart - it's smart.
Onerous debt burdens,
decreasing aid levels,
duplicitious trade rules,
no wonder people are pissed off with us.
Listen, I know what this looks like, rock star standing up here, shouting imperatives others have to fulfill. But that's what we do, rock stars. Rock stars get to wave flags, shout at the barricades, and escape to the South of France. We're unaccountable.
We behave accordingly.
But not you.
You can't.
You can't do that.
See, we're actually counting on you.
Politicians have to make the fight, do the work, and get judged by the results.
The weight of expectation is a heavy burden. Hang it on a rock band and that's usually when they make a crap album.
The weight of history is so heavy. It's a huge responsibility to be the repository of people's dreams, to be their hope for the future.
So Tony.. Gordon..
I don't envy you.
Because there's a lot of work to do.
There is progress, but it's incremental. History never notices that, and the lives that are depending on it don't deserve the wait.
You know we made a promise to half poverty by the year 2015 - a big millennium promise - but we're not even going to make it by 2115.
It's not enough to describe Everest, we've got climb it and we've got to bring everyone else along.
George,
Jacques,
Silvio,
Gerhardt,
Paul,
Junichiro - they've all got to come up the hill.
Because this is the big year, 2005. All of you have to double aid, double it's effectiveness, and double trouble for corrupt leaders.
The G8 - people look at these meetings and wonder whether they ever achieve anything.
I stood in Cologne, with how many thousands of people. We got that announcement on debt cancellation which now means that three times as many children in Uganda are going to school.
Finish what you started in Cologne. Thank you for last weekend, Gordon.
And trade.
Our badge of shame.
We in the rich countries shuffle the poorest into a backroom, tie their hands and feet with our conditionalities and then use our subsidies to deliver the final blow.
We have to reform the CAP, and we have to let democratically elected governments -- not the IMF, not the World Bank, not the WTO, not the EU -- decide what policies work best.
We can't fix every problem, but the ones we can we must.
But it's going to cost you. Justice, equality, these ideas aren't cheap.
They're expensive - I know that.
And while I'm sure you care about education in Africa, I know you also care about schools at home. You care about AIDS clinics in Africa, but there's a hospital right down the road you're not sure you can get in.
These are hard choices.
And I'm probably the wrong person to ask you to make them.
And I know that on certain issues this room is already divided. I know many people - and I include myself - were very unhappy about the war in Iraq. Still are. But ending extreme poverty, disease and despair- this is one thing everybody can agree on.
These efforts can be a force not only for progress but for unity - not only in Labour but around the world.
Can you take this from a rockstar, 'All You Need is Love' when all you need are groceries.
Now you know why Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are really excited that U2's got a new album coming out - why?
Because I'll be away on tour next year.
But even from a tour bus I can be a pain in the arse. That's my job.
And I've got some very interesting friends, there's as many of them in mothers unions as trade unions.
It's not just purple Mohawks we've got going, it's blue rinses.
It's the Temperance League of Tunbridge Wells.
The Wigan Bowling Society.
The Chipping Camden Ladies Cricket Club.
OK, I'm made those up. But don't mess with us.
As I say, next year, 2005, Great Britain is on the door at the EU and G-8. So this is the time to unlock something really big.
Excuses?
Horseshit.
Earlier I described the deaths of 6,500 Africans a day from a preventable treatable disease like aids: I watched people queuing up to die, three in a bed in Malawi.
That's Africa's crisis. But the fact that we in Europe or America are not treating it like an emergency-and the fact that its not every day on the news, well that is our crisis.
And that's not horseshit, that's something much worse, I don't even know what that says about us. There will be books written.
Think about it. Think about who you are, who you've been, who you want to be.
I don't care if you are Old Labour or New Labour, what is your party about if it's not about this - if it's not about equality, about justice, the right to make a living, the right to go on living?
Simply agreeing with us is not enough.
If Britain can't turn its values into action against extreme, stupid poverty… if this rich country, with the reins in its hands, can't lead other countries along this path to equality, then the critics tomorrow will be right:
I am Tony Blair's apologist. The rock star pulled out of the hat at the Labour Party Conference.
I've more faith in the room than that. I've more faith in your leaders than that. I don't need to have. I'm an Irish rockstar. It looks much better on me to slag you off.
But let me say this again. For the last time.
We're serious, this is gigantic. This stuff is the real reason to be in politics, to go door to door, to organise and demonstrate and take bold action. It's every bit as noble as your grandparents fighting the Nazis.
This is not about 'doing our best.'
It's win or lose.
Life or death.
Literally so.
If I could ask you to think a hundred years ahead, to imagine what we, and our times, will be remembered for, I would venture three things:
the Internet,
the war on terror,
and the fate of the continent of Africa.
We are the first generation that can look extreme and stupid poverty in the eye, look across the water to Africa and elsewhere and say this and mean it:
we have the cash,
we have the drugs,
we have the science -- but do we have the will?
Do we have the will to make poverty history?
Some say we can't afford to.
I say we can't afford not to.
Thanks for listening.
Taken from www.u2.com
Cannot control this... this thing called Lene |
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Helios Rietberg
Fan
Malaysia
710 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2004 : 09:33:59
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I must say it was a very impressive speech, and what Bono says is right -- people should act. However :
I'll try not to insult anyone, but it seems that Bono has wiped Asia off the map... i know loads of people die in Africa everyday, and i know others should do something about it, but when Bono just puts Britian in such a powerful position, has he forgotten about the biggest continent in the world? We're not backward... we're far from that. We're not poor, and i doubt everyone in Asia is selfish. Perhaps in countries like mine and Superfan's and the countries around us aren't capable of doing anything, but what about China? And Japan isn't doing too bad either! Half of Russia is part of Asia, and has Bono given a thought about how rich Brunei and Saudi Arabia are?
I'm sorry, Marko. I'm just disappointed that the West still holds us Asians in low esteem. No matter how hard we try, there will never be equality between the East and the West.
These angels of light i cannot see,
Restrained by this untouchable purity.
Inaccessible place of love and peace,
Yet here i am left, in the darkness of Hades. |
Edited by - Helios Rietberg on 01 Oct 2004 09:38:20 |
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Marko
Staff Lene.it / Moderator
Italy
949 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2004 : 11:11:09
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I wouldn't take it so personally, everyone knows there will never be equality in this world and the consideration that there's a South and a North, a West and an East is so deep rooted that we use this terms everyday, even if we shouldn't think with those schemes.
I'm sure Bono doesn't really forget anyone, he has travelled all over the world, but he knows and we know who decides the politics in the world. Sadly, it's a small number of countries, the rich ones, and China is not between them (not for the moment), and then China is suspected by us until they keep that form of government. Japan ok, but I swear you that Japan is considered an occidental (= rich  ) country by everyone here, so perhaps he forgot it, as he forgot Russia, but Russia all in all is a poor country until they don't have a real reprise. Other rich countries in Asia have only business relations with the West, that's the bitter reality of facts (you can see everyday in a country like Saudi Arabia the contradiction between the proliferation of terrorism against USA -Bin Laden was born there, for ex.- and the oil supplies to USA)
Anyway, I don't think Bono is really deeply interested in politics, in institutions or in the important role of Great Britain or other countries, but only in people's interests (in fact: "We have to reform the CAP, and we have to let democratically elected governments -- not the IMF, not the World Bank, not the WTO, not the EU -- decide what policies work best").
I think he's more more intelligent that many do suspect. He does intentionally flatter a bit politicians, 'cos he knows that's the only way to obtain something, but he hides everything with his irony. And he does right, because the cause he fights for is worth anything.
He makes pressure where there are control levers, and next year just Great Britain has such an important role in the world's and European policy. That's why he made that speech now. But he went also to Bush last month, even if he's sure not a fan of him.
What I expect is that he speaks also about South America and the poorest countries of Asia, or the poorest areas in some (also rich) countries. Perhaps he did sometimes, but I do also understand that a man cannot do something for the whole world. He decided to concentrate on Africa, which is with any doubt the poorest and scourgest continent.
Here is something of what he did until today.
P.s. I think you'll agree with me that there will ever be more difference between South and North that between West and East. Look at Eastern Europe. The iron curtain is fallen and many countries are entering EU, but a complete integration is yet far away, considering also the centuries of wars we have behind. In spite of this, they have so much in common with the rest of Europe, communion which does not exist with North-African countries. Regarding Asia, something is slowly moving, don't you think? And perhaps in another 50 years the scenery will be completely different than today.
Cannot control this... this thing called Lene |
Edited by - Marko on 02 Oct 2004 11:49:35 |
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Helios Rietberg
Fan
Malaysia
710 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2004 : 11:49:10
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Yes, perhaps you are right, right about many things. Bono was always an active member in fighting for justice, for lives and for the welfare of the poorer people.
Yet it's still pretty unfair that Asia is regarded as some place where more powerful countries (like America, truly  ) seem to like to leave their roots in other countries and establish trades when both parties are in aggresive stance. It's very weird. You can imagine the odd feeling in my gut right now, when i think of Western Countries. I like them, i like Spain and France and Italy, and i'd really like to visit America someday, cruise around and capture beautiful sceneries on my camera as i did in Europe.
My cousin lives in America; she's pure Chinese, holds a PR, and works there. She regards herself as an American, fighting for America, always speaking for America, and even saying that she'd want America to win if China and America do go to war. I don't understand why she wants that, and she doesn't understand that she'll never be accepted as an American, at least in this lifetime.
Perhaps, yes, 50 years down the road, all this will change, but i have a strong feeling that many years of war are to come before this mutual treaty will be accepted, and everyone will acknowledge the East, the West, the North and the South as one and all, and that we are all equal. For the moment though, in my opinion, few people will think like Bono does, and few people will act like he wants to act. Very few people want to compromise and accept the fact that all the citizens of the world are equal. It is always about money. Sad, but true to say, humans are avaricious. If you're rich, you're accepted only by what's in your wallet. If you're not, you can well enough go to hell and back and no one, or almost no one, would care.
Bono could very well be our modern Saint, but he's one man against the majority in the world. It's such a tough job, but i'm glad that at least someone is willing to do it, now that i've gotten it straight in my head after your sensible post -- even if he does leave Asia out. Though i hope, someday, some people will be willing to help the countries in this continent the right way, and not take them by force like how America took Iraq. And i'm hoping, that even if i don't work in politics; even if i work as what i've always wanted to work as, i hope i'll be able to do something to change this biased situation, and not just to grab that Nobel Justice Prize, or whatever that prize is called. Sincerely, i'd rather have a Nobel Music Prize, if there is one. But if that Justice Prize would finally put Asia on the map in the Westerners eyes, i'd be so glad.
I miss the days when everything was innocent in filtered in my mind, and all parts of the world were the same, and no one was evil. Perhaps one day, we will be able to bring a child's view of life into everyone's heads, and all will be neutral.
These angels of light i cannot see,
Restrained by this untouchable purity.
Inaccessible place of love and peace,
Yet here i am left, in the darkness of Hades. |
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Marko
Staff Lene.it / Moderator
Italy
949 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2004 : 12:01:47
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I like what you said. We're idealists I think, and Bono is too. But what would be this world without a hope?
quote:
Bono could very well be our modern Saint, but he's one man against the majority in the world. It's such a tough job, but i'm glad that at least someone is willing to do it
Exactly so. He's one man, but he is very much known (that's why he's great, he takes advantage of his fame in a positive way, and I can assure you he's not the only one, there are a lot of people helping others only between musicians). The pope is one man too, but there's not another persone known like him in the world, I think.
As you see, the real powerful and beloved people are still not the Presidents, and that's a great part of our hope.
There's a great fight to sustain against many politicians, multinationals and high military hierarchies. People with good will have to resist, perhaps they won't obtain much, but this bit they conquer could save the world from worser catastrophes.
Cannot control this... this thing called Lene |
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Marko
Staff Lene.it / Moderator
Italy
949 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2004 : 22:16:09
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I've found a reference to all continents (and their power through the menace of the atomic bomb) in a famous song of U2. It's "Seconds" from the album "War". U2 were always sensitive to the theme of the atomic bomb (see also the title of their album "The Unforgettable Fire" and now their coming album "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb". By the way, Bono claims it's their best record  and that it has many references to the early U2)
Here's part of the lyrics of "Seconds":
Lightning flashes across the sky,
From east to west you do or die.
Like a thief in the night,
You see the world by candlelight.
Fall, rise and... Fall, rise and...
In an apartment on Times Square,
You can assemble them anywhere.
Held to ransom, hell to pay,
A revolution every day.
U.S.S.R., D.D.R., London, New York, Peking.
It's the puppets, it's the puppets who pull the strings.
Say goodbye, say goodbye,
It takes a second to say goodbye,
Push the button and pull the plug, say goodbye.
Fall, rise and... Fall, rise and...
They're doing the atomic bomb,
....
As you see, a lyric (the year was 1983) which reflects all the frights and anxiety about the Cold War. And Bono was always aware that the "puppets", in every country of the world, have the control levers. That's why I think he doesn't very love politicians, because they control in some way our life, they have the power and often don't use it well. But we do elect them, so the real power is in the population and in persons like Bono who speak to people's conscience just to lead us the right way.
Cannot control this... this thing called Lene |
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Superfan
Fan
Iran
658 Posts |
Posted - 08 Oct 2004 : 01:39:05
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About the asia weak thing:
I agree with Helios and by the way,
No matter how much I hate this place but Iran stood against the U.S + Iraq for 8 yearsand was going in Iraq until Sadam threatend to bomb the place to hell using chemical bombs...
I dont know about Malaysia's history but I'm pretty sure we can stand on our own...
and Japan holds a main base of technology which the U.S wouldn't dare to threaten (Know why? I'll give a hint: Sony)
and also Saud Arabia (Even if I hate thier language) has enough money to recieve the power needed,
- - The fear that flows through soul & flesh...Silent hill - -
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Geno
Fan
Norway
102 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2004 : 18:06:23
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Thanks for posting this speech, Marko. While I think there is still some way to go before he reaches MLKs greatness, Bono is definitely one of the sanest people around today. The keyword is integrity. Bono doesn't hold an anti-Bush speech one moment and does commercials for Pepsi the next, like some of his colleagues in the music industry.
I don't really agree with his view that the war on poverty is also a war on terror, because I think terrorism has very different roots, not related to poverty. (You can say many things about Saudi Arabia, but they're not exactly poor) But fighting poverty is important in its own right.
quote:
Earlier I described the deaths of 6,500 Africans a day from a preventable treatable disease like aids: I watched people queuing up to die, three in a bed in Malawi.
That's Africa's crisis. But the fact that we in Europe or America are not treating it like an emergency-and the fact that its not every day on the news, well that is our crisis.
True words. It's our moral crisis. If we just sit by and watch while a continent is dying, what does that way about what values we have?
(Finally, and if I may say so, I think Tony Blair is a very underrated leader. I'm positive history will treat him more kindly than his contemporaries do)
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Helios Rietberg
Fan
Malaysia
710 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2004 : 18:06:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Geno
True words. It's our moral crisis. If we just sit by and watch while a continent is dying, what does that way about what values we have?
That might be true from some points, but people shouldn't be too over-enthusiastic in trying to help the Africans. It might not be a very wise if people get over-exited. People might consider it helping, but who would know if the Africans aren't appreciating the help? Helping is good, but not too much in a small span of time.
These angels of light i cannot see,
Restrained by this untouchable purity.
Inaccessible place of love and peace,
Yet here i am left, in the darkness of Hades. |
Edited by - Helios Rietberg on 13 Oct 2004 18:07:28 |
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Marko
Staff Lene.it / Moderator
Italy
949 Posts |
Posted - 16 Oct 2004 : 00:08:58
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Could someone please sum up the content of this?
Cannot control this... this thing called Lene |
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Geno
Fan
Norway
102 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2004 : 17:13:39
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| It's about the 4664-concert, a charity event in support of the fight against Aids in Afrika. It will be held in Tromsø next summer. Last year it was held in Cape Town and featured names like Annie Lennox, U2s Bono, Beyoncé, Bob Geldof, Dave Stewart, Queen (well, what's left of them), Peter Gabriel, Angelique Kidjo, The Corrs, Zucchero, and U2s Edge. It has not yet been decided who will perform this year. |
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Marko
Staff Lene.it / Moderator
Italy
949 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2004 : 20:11:14
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FANTASTIC!!! Thank you a lot Geno. Then I had understood well (the fact it would be in Tromso, what luck I didn't miss that news). Super!!! From South Africa to the Artic Circle 
I recorded the 46664 concert this year, it was full of new songs and lives. For a Queen and U2 fan like me, it was impossible to lose. These two (or better Brian May/Roger Taylor and Bono/The Edge) will always take part in Mandela's shows and Zucchero too.
The exact date isn't known yet?
And the mythical Bob Dylan, will he be there too?
I think it's the right occasion to visit Tromso 
Cannot control this... this thing called Lene |
Edited by - Marko on 18 Oct 2004 20:14:29 |
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Geno
Fan
Norway
102 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2004 : 17:46:30
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Bod Dylan is on the Mayor of Tromsø's personal wish list, but no names have been confirmed yet. The Norwegian parliament have decided to sponsor this event with 1,5 mill euro, so they should draw a few big names I guess.
It doesnt say anything about the exact date.
If Lene comes, Ill go. Definitely. Duet Lene/Bono, anyone? |
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Marko
Staff Lene.it / Moderator
Italy
949 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2004 : 16:16:20
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ARGH!!! (again)
How could I oversee Lene's name? I didn't analize the whole article and what you sayed about Lene, I thought it was just your thought. Why didn't you make clear there was a part about Lene?
Ok, it doesn't matter, but I could give the Italian fans the news almost a month ago.
So you're right, that's the great occasion for Lene's duet with Bono. Who would say it could happen so soon? After all, Bono made a duet with Beyoncè and someone else last year, so why don't with Lene?
Someone should ask Bono, perhaps Mike Hedges? Could we contact Bono through him or in another way?
Cannot control this... this thing called Lene |
Edited by - Marko on 09 Nov 2004 16:21:56 |
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Geno
Fan
Norway
102 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2004 : 15:25:25
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It doesnt say that much about Lene. What it says goes like this:
Local artists
It's also a good thing that not only international artists will perform in Tromsø next summer.
- We are considering both well known Norwegian and Scandinavian artists. This might also be a great opportunity for local artists to perform in front of a record audience, says Jan Erik Severinsen [one of the organisers].
Names like Lene Marlin, Turdus Musicus, Badger, Jørn Hoel, Steinar Albrigtsen,Hangface and Washington would surely be interested in playing their music in front of 1 billion tv viewers..
-I havent talked to anyone about performing yet, but Lene MArlin is a hot name among local artists, Severinsen confirms.
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Lene and Bono? Well first of all, let Bono know that Lene exists. As much as Lene would like to perform with him, I doubt she will take the initiative herself...
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Marko
Staff Lene.it / Moderator
Italy
949 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2004 : 20:04:34
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quote:
Lene and Bono? Well first of all, let Bono know that Lene exists. As much as Lene would like to perform with him, I doubt she will take the initiative herself
They met already in Dublin for MTV Awards 1999 and then at Festival di Sanremo 2000. He sure has listened to Unforgivable Sinner and Where I'm Headed.
And if Bono is going to perform in Norway, Tromso, I'm sure he will get informations about the most important artists there and he will know that Lene had the same producer of himself.
Anyway, that's why I asked if there's a way to contact Bono.
Cannot control this... this thing called Lene |
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BONO LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE SPEECH
