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Madge For It

• Stuart Bailie
• 11 Apr 07, 11:44 AM

I have this terrible vision of Madonna at Wembley on July 7, singing ¡®Ray Of Light¡¯, wearing a white trouser suit and gazing compassionately to the heavens. She¡¯s the big draw at Live Earth, the music industry¡¯s conscientious bid to save us all from global warming. Her concert ends with a massed choir, bellowing out ¡®Like A Prayer¡¯ as Maddy holds her finely manicured hands aloft. James Blunt and Phil Collins are shaking their tambourines and Al Gore wipes away an oceanic tear.

I wish I had the generosity in my heart to think otherwise. Maybe it really will make a difference as this musical cavalcade rolls across seven continents, getting the urgent message out there. But like many others, I¡¯ve seen too much hokum and vanity in the entertainments business, often dressed up as piety. My feeling is that music works best when it comes from a counter-culture and not from the mainstream, with all the compromises that comes from the latter.

Wouldn¡¯t it be better to have a special day of contemplation and locally organised events ¨C projects that didn¡¯t involve air fares, generators, lighting rigs and massive amplification? Or would that get in the way of a fat spectacle?

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