Band Aid 30 is go
Midge and Geldof. Geldof and Midge. Back together again. It’s been 30 years since the first Band Aid, which changed public perception of rock stars from groupie-defiling, narcotic-ingesting hellraisers to charidee-supporting do-gooders seemingly overnight.
Geldof says that the impetus this time, aside from the whole anniversary/nice hashtag thing, is the Ebola outbreak in west Africa. Among those sending their vocals to this effort will be Bono, One Direction, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Emeli Sande, Underworld, Sinead O’Connor, Paloma Faith, Foals and Bastille, with versions due to be performed in France, Germany and the US.
This, of course, isn’t the first Band Aid reboot, but the third. The original, of course, is fused into your brain. But how have the other two fared? Let’s have a reminisce.
Band Aid 20 (2004)
- Blimey, look at Hairy Chris Martin.
- Selfless Johnny Vaughn there, putting aside some time in his busy schedule to come into a studio and shout annoyingly.
- Trivia! Apparently Justin Hawkins from The Darkness laid down a vocal on the “Tonight thank God it’s them, instead of you” bit, but Bono insisted that was his line, because he sung it on the original. Classic Bono.
- Nobody taking this more seriously than Fran Healy from Travis.
- Some straight fire from Dizzee.
- Actually, my favourite bit probably the Darkness guitar solo - the sort of absurd pomp a project like this desperately needs.
Band Aid II (1989)
- Stock, Aitken & Waterman on production, and it shows.
- Kylie looking lovely, though.
- Why is everyone holding onto the headphones? Are they broken?
- Something slightly disconcerting about the fast cuts between starving African children and Lisa Stansfield/Cliff Richard/Bananarama.
- Cracking rap cameo from Michael Buerke.
- That’s enough Band Aid now I think.
You really do learn something new every day
Look to the skies: why your new music video is nothing without a drone
Drones. A chilling harbinger of a dystopian future, where wars are fought by robot proxy and we live our lives under constant surveillance, watched by the unblinking eye of our smart TV, or some bat-like mechanical contraption flitting around outside trying to nose its camera through the gap in our curtains.
Drones. Also great for making awesome futuristic music videos! Like these ones.
David Bowie – ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore
The second new track taken from Dame David’s forthcoming three-CD compilation Nothing has Changed. Track is Bowie at his most arty, quavering tremulously over slamming breakbeats and churning brass. Video a compilation of military drone footage in which a wobbly airborne camera stares down on various third world unfortunates being bombed to dust. Bit grim really.
Drones as a: Chilling harbinger of a dystopian future (see above); or, military recruitment video for sociopathic American nerds.
Taggart & Rosewood - The Kink
Side-project of Zach Coulter and Ryan Olson, both of Gayngs, takes a more risque approach. Dreamy, opiated synth-R&B accompanies slo-mo aerial pans over beautiful landscapes, on which we can occasionally see people, erm, doing it. Has its own hashtag, #droneboning.
Drones as a: Means of sweaty-palmed perving for oversexed American indie-rock musicians. Slightly surprised Wayne Coyne didn’t get there first tbh.
OK Go - I Won’t Let You Down
Endearingly dorky Americans buzz around on Uni-Cubs performing feats of remarkable choreography in the grounds of a Japanese educational establishment. Flying camera allows for tricksy vantage points.
Drones as a: Way to stay more viral than ebola.
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Breaking! Russell Brand covers Parklife
But, like, f’real this time, with the help of Irish hip-hop duo Rubberbandits.
Just to show he, like, can take a joke and all (and presumably to distance himself from one Nigel Farage, who wrote this rather gushing piece on Brand’s anti-establishment tomfoolery last week).
Toast Of London Guide exclusive!
Quite literally, you saw it here first.
A quick teaser from tonight’s episode of Toast Of London. This week’s indignity: Toast and arch-rival Ray Purchase forced into some distinctly 118-118 style retro running kit.
Catch the full episode tonight, 10.50pm, Channel 4.
(In other news, Toast Of London makes a very strong showing in the just-announced nominations for December’s British Comedy Awards - it’s up for six, which is more than any show since Gavin & Stacey back in 2007).
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Lunchtime links
One for the analogue fetishists - it’s Captain America: Winter Soldier recut into a ‘80s style action trailer, right down to the John Carpenter-style synth soundtrack and VHS wobble.
Also!
- Virtual “holoidol” Hatsune Miko is coming to the UK, reports Wired
- Read our interview with synthpop smoothie turned ‘Enders stalwart Martin Kemp chatting his favourite TV shows
- Perhaps you’d like to sign this petition to get Dapper Laughs’ ITV show cancelled #banter #bantz #just4laughs
- And Nicholas Barber asks why kid’s TV shows have suddenly got a bit... murdery
And!
Here’s a new Alexis Taylor track - a Zongamin remix of his Am I Not A Soldier, which reportedly is taken from a forthcoming link-up between Taylor and lusty folk sort Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.
There's a couple of Broadchurch trailers out
I’ve got to be honest, they don’t give a lot away.
At a push, I’m going to say the cliff has something to do with it. Possibly the waves too.
Not much else to go on, but a) both Olivia Colman and David Tennant slated to return, joined by Charlotte Rampling, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Meera Syal, Eve Myles and James D’Arcy and b) It should be on early next year sometime.
The US remake of Broadchurch, Gracepoint, is also due to screen on ITV next year - also with David Tennant, which must be a bit weird for him. Trailer:
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The MTV EMAs
Last night, Glasgow hosted the MTV EMAs. Nicki Minaj was the host, and there was a welcome lack of totalitarian imagery. There was a dinosaur, though.
At a quick glance, a good night for Ariana Grande - Best Song and Best Female – plus respectable takes for 5 Seconds Of Summer and, of course, One Direction. Bit of a bummer for Katy Perry who was nominated for almost everything, but was fobbed off with “Best Look”, a category apparently invented for her so she wasn’t too disappointed.
A Chinese pop singer named Bibi Chou beat One Direction and 5 Seconds Of Summer to the Best Worldwide Award. Let’s take a squizz at what that’s all about.
My colleague Tshepo Mokoena dissects the ceremony in detail over here.
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"Nazi" Nicki: the Twittersphere responds
As well as presenting the MTV EMAs in Glasgow over the weekend, Nicki Minaj dropped the video to her new single Only.
Some people are pointing out that aspects of it are slightly inappropriate. The whole “being Hitler” thing basically. Lively comments section, as you might expect.
Nicki has not yet responded to criticism, although director Jeff Osbourne has been retweeting reactions in a kind of “ooh, attention” way. Here’s a spread.
Good for you m8.
Turns out that Osbourne has form in the whole “shocking imagery” field - see this past video for Rahim’s What’s Good.
Morning all
Running a bit late today, so let’s dive right in with some new Aphex Twin. Well, it’s old Aphex actually - 12 years old to be precise, but these modular synth experiments have been unreleased until now. Dipping in briefly, perhaps I can spot a reason for that.
These new cuts have come to light as part of the second half of an interview with blogger Dave Noyze, which you can read here.
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