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From: rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Dr. Emmanuel Wu)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: "USA for Africa" trash...
Message-ID: <880@pyuxd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 9-Apr-85 12:17:06 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxd.880
Posted: Tue Apr  9 12:17:06 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 10-Apr-85 06:51:41 EST
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Organization: STRONGARM COLLECTION AGENCY:  We have no slogan
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> 	This note is concerning the recent USA for Africa recording...
> 
> 	First off, it really pisses me off that they did this first
> in England, and the American artists copied the English and NOW 
> the only version you hear (not to mention that pit of video dreck, MTV)
> is the USA for Africa one.  Grrrr...

Hear hear!  Another example of the level of originality (and concern) in
the "music industry" in America.

> 	Secondly, and more to the point, I am not at all impressed 
> by the fact that these artists got together and pressed a disc - so
> that the poor American consumer is left actually footing the bill
> for whatever aid we send to Africa....why didn't these rich slobs
> (read especially folks like M. Jackson Inc.) just GIVE some of their
> millions?  Noooo!  They just visit a recording studio for an hour
> (with all sorts of expensive catering, I've heard) and sing and now
> WE have to be the ones donating the money.  I suspect that there is
> not a single person reading this net that can afford to donate as
> much money (or even a fraction as much) as ANY of the people that
> made the track.

Agreed.

> 	The worst thing is, the music is pretty pathetic...and the
> video reminds me a lot of the self-indulgent Police junk - a 'gee,
> isn't it neat to see us at work?' sort of attitude!

The concept of "video in the studio at work" varies in qulaity.  I've
seen the Police use it, I've seen Rush use it, and many others, often
without really good effect.  The best one I've ever seen is U2's "(Pride)
In the Name of Love", in which the high point (for me) is watching Brian
Eno say "Shhhhh".  If you think that these videos are actually shot as
the actual audio recording is being made, think again.  The same goes for
the original "Feed the World" video as well.  People who can't afford to
disrupt their busy schedules and stay around for the whole recording
session (e.g., Michael Jackson and Boy George) are shot separately.  Each
singer is actually recorded alone and individually, and the scenes in
which you see Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder juxtaposed (obviously
staged) or Bono Vox and ??? juxtaposed are staged photographically after
the actual audio recording.  (Witness the film on the making of the "Feed
the World" video.)  Contemptible in this deception is a huckstress like
Diana Ross, who, in the video, appeared to be giving an "OK" sign to
Michael Jackson after he sang his part, in a shot with her and the
entire troupe of people.  Jackson was shot separately and was not on the
scene at all during that time, but Ross lent "believability" to the
misconception that he was.  "Check your egos at the door", my ass.

None of the above commentary should be construed to denigrate the cause
for which both songs were recorded.  I could be petty and say "don't send
money to the cheap copying American organization, send to Bob Geldof's
original fund", but fuck that.  Send it in any way you can, to whomever
you can.
-- 
"It's a lot like life..."			 Rich Rosen  ihnp4!pyuxd!rlr