Live Lemonaid

Finally picked up the Live Aid DVD set today after checking my local big box mega-retailer two or three times last week to see if it was back in stock. This won't be a very comprehensive review since I've only sat through the first disc so far, but if nothing else, I can at least say that after reading some of the complaining and nitpicking from other reviewers, I am truly ashamed to be an American tonight.

For a relatively minor star from the Rock & Roll galaxy like Bob Geldof to fill up two of the biggest stadiums in the world with such a wide array of talent, it was truly an impressive feat to say the least. As with all spontaneous musical events, Live Aid had its high points and its not-so-high points. But who played what with whom where was hardly the issue here. This was one day where hundreds of thousands of music fans got together to do something truly magnificient for the people of Ethopia, and I think many of the other reviewers are missing that very important point entirely.

I remember getting up super-early that morning and turning on MTV to catch the Boomtown Rats play a few tunes to an audience bigger than the combined number of people who had even heard of the band up to that point. Later that day, I tossed my Panasonic boombox in the back of my '66 Mustang convertible and drove around listening to the show with a good friend for most of the afternoon. It really was a special day in my life, and I think I appreciate re-living it through this DVD set even more now knowing how much good came from this effort.

So rather than spending your money on some other pointless crap this year, I suggest that every fat, lazy and spoiled American music lover who reads this review immediately adds this collection to their shopping carts. With the huge range of musical styles and eras covered, there is bound to be something you like somewhere amongst the ten-plus hours of video presented here. And if nothing else, you will be contributing to the legacy of a charitable organization that has helped so many people over the years, and will continue to provide aid to them from the proceeds of this release. Because the whole point of the holiday season is to share and appreciate what you have, and not to dwell on what you think you are missing, isn't it?