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From The Beatles to Bieber, how pop stars have saved the world From The Beatles to Bieber, how pop stars have saved the world
(about 1 hour later)
When the news broke that One Direction had launched their very own humanitarian project, we on the GDPN desk found ourselves reflecting on the profound contribution that pop has made to humanitarian endeavour. We decided, after some discussion, that the moment had come to put together the history of this unique relationship, and so we have compiled a timeline tracing the many ways in which pop stars have literally saved the world, from 1967 to the present. We can only say, with all humility, thank you. When the news broke that One Direction had launched their very own humanitarian project, we on the GDPN desk found ourselves reflecting on the profound contribution that pop has made to humanitarian endeavour. We decided, after some discussion, that the moment had come to put together the history of this unique relationship, and so compiled a timeline tracing the many ways in which pop stars have literally saved the world, from 1967 to the present. We can only say, with all humility, thank you.
1967 - The Beatles1967 - The Beatles
In 1967 the four Liverpudlians - pioneers in world saving just as they had been pioneers in the use of spliced audio loops and over-dubbing - brought their radical idea that ‘Love is all you need’ and a whole new spirituality to the west after attending an advanced Transcendental Meditation session with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India. John Lennon, as ever, developed things further when he and wife Yoko Ono went on to stage a bed-in protest for peace, while Ringo Starr was, rightly, named GQ’s humanitarian of the year in 2014. The age of the pop philanthropist had dawned. In 1967 the four Liverpudlians – pioneers in world-saving just as they had been pioneers in the use of spliced audio loops and over-dubbing – brought their radical idea that “Love is all you need”, and a whole new spirituality to the west after attending an advanced Transcendental Meditation session with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India. John Lennon, as ever, developed things further when he and wife Yoko Ono went on to stage a bed-in protest for peace, while Ringo Starr was – rightly – named GQ’s humanitarian of the year in 2014. The age of the pop philanthropist had dawned.
1971 - Ravi Shankar1971 - Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar’s Madison Square gig with George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton broke new ground with the then-radical but now common-place equation: if one pop star equals X amount of awareness, two pop stars will obviously equal X times two. For the layman: the more pop stars, the more doolah. Besides this epochal step forward in our understanding of the possibilities of pop-star-world-saving, The Concert for Bangladesh also raised awareness for the refugee crisis in Bangladesh after the Bhola cyclone in 1970, and the liberation war of 1971, raising $243,000 overnight.Ravi Shankar’s Madison Square gig with George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton broke new ground with the then-radical but now common-place equation: if one pop star equals X amount of awareness, two pop stars will obviously equal X times two. For the layman: the more pop stars, the more doolah. Besides this epochal step forward in our understanding of the possibilities of pop-star-world-saving, The Concert for Bangladesh also raised awareness for the refugee crisis in Bangladesh after the Bhola cyclone in 1970, and the liberation war of 1971, raising $243,000 overnight.
1984 - Bob Geldof (and that Midge Ure bloke)1984 - Bob Geldof (and that Midge Ure bloke)
After a quiet time in pop philanthropy, coinciding, purely by chance, with the first oil shock and the 1970s recession, the ‘80s was the decade when pop stars across the world finally felt the urge return to save someone, or something. Or just anything. After a quiet time in pop philanthropy, coinciding, purely by chance, with the first oil shock and the 1970s recession, the 80s was the decade when pop stars across the world finally felt the urge return to save someone, or something. Or just anything.
“Singer” Bob Geldof found his true calling in putting together Band Aid to raise money for the Ethiopian famine in 1984, creating the people-in-a-studio-together format that has given the world so much (it’s hard to imagine life without the melodic harmonies of Ferry Across the Mersey, to give just one example). The Live Aid concerts that followed reportedly raised £150m, and gave Geldof an ongoing career, and an honorary knighthood. Midge Ure was there too, somewhere.“Singer” Bob Geldof found his true calling in putting together Band Aid to raise money for the Ethiopian famine in 1984, creating the people-in-a-studio-together format that has given the world so much (it’s hard to imagine life without the melodic harmonies of Ferry Across the Mersey, to give just one example). The Live Aid concerts that followed reportedly raised £150m, and gave Geldof an ongoing career, and an honorary knighthood. Midge Ure was there too, somewhere.
1985 - Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie Are The World1985 - Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie Are The World
Following the success of Band Aid, Michael Jackson co-wrote “We are the World” with Lionel Richie for USA in Africa. Since its release, the 80s power ballad has raised $63m for humanitarian causes. Following the success of Band Aid, Michael Jackson co-wrote “We are the World” with Lionel Richie for USA for Africa. Since its release, the 80s power ballad has raised $63m for humanitarian causes.
Harry Belafonte, the king of Calypso, also sang on that track with MJ and Lionel. A humanitarian and activist, he continued to campaign throughout his career, and received a humanitarian Oscar last year.Harry Belafonte, the king of Calypso, also sang on that track with MJ and Lionel. A humanitarian and activist, he continued to campaign throughout his career, and received a humanitarian Oscar last year.
Competing for space in the charts was the ‘Sun City’ charity single. Featuring Bruce Springsteen and Lou Reed singing against apartheid, this also showcased Bono, making his tentative first steps into a field he would go on to claim triumphantly as his own. Competing for space in the charts was the ‘Sun City’ charity single. Featuring Bruce Springsteen and Lou Reed singing against apartheid – this also showcased Bono, making his tentative first steps into a field he would go on to claim triumphantly as his own.
1993 - Yvonne Chaka Chaka1993 - Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Another global recession, and another lull in pop-star-world saving activity. Fortunately as the 90s opened out, Yvonne Chaka Chaka was on hand to launch the Chaka Chaka Helping Hand. Inevitably she has since become one of the Unicef goodwill ambassadors (well-known as a front organisation for the Avengers, by the way). Another global recession, and another lull in pop star world-saving activity. Fortunately as the 90s opened out, Yvonne Chaka Chaka was on hand to launch the Chaka Chaka Helping Hand. Inevitably, she has since become one of Unicef’s goodwill ambassadors (well-known as a front organisation for the Avengers, by the way).
1997 - Shakira1997 - Shakira
Shakira was also working hard, launching her charity for impoverished children in Columbia and since hailed as fully fledged pop philanthropist - she even has a section dedicated to her philanthropy on her personal website. She recently hosted a charity baby shower raising over £100,000 for Unicef. (See above on the significance of this.) Since launching her charity for impoverished children in Columbia, Shakira has been hailed as a fully-fledged pop philanthropist – she even has a section dedicated to her philanthropy on her personal website. She recently hosted a charity baby shower raising over £100,000 for Unicef. (See above on the significance of this.)
1999 - Geri Halliwell1999 - Geri Halliwell
Somehow the world struggled its way through the nineties and after a blurry decade of pop music and colourful leggings, in 1999 Geri Halliwell launched into charitable endeavours with a trip to the Philippines as an ambassador for the UN’s population fund. World peace hastily followed. Somehow the world struggled its way through the nineties and after a blurry decade of pop music and colourful leggings, Geri Halliwell launched into charitable endeavours with a trip to the Philippines as an ambassador for the UN’s population fund in 1999. World peace hastily followed.
2002 - Bono2002 - Bono
By the early noughties, the U2 frontman and “twat with a big heart” was well into his stride by now with his philanthropic alter ego. In 2002 Bono co-founded campaigning group DATA (now incorporated into the One Campaign) and has since been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. And rightly so. By the early noughties, the U2 frontman and “twat with a big heart” was well into his stride by now with his philanthropic alter ego. In 2002, Bono co-founded campaigning group DATA (now incorporated into the One Campaign) and has since been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. And rightly so.
2009 - Coldplay2009 - Coldplay
In a move that we can only assume was accidental, Coldplay’s philanthropic efforts had been in the dark for years until it emerged that they had donated £1million to children’s charity Kids Company. Once out of the closet however, Chris Martin went full throttle. He’s recently pledged a long-term commitment to curate live concerts for the Global Citizen festival, raising awareness for the sustainable development goals. In a move that we can only assume was accidental, Coldplay’s philanthropic efforts had been in the dark for years until it emerged that they had donated £1 million to children’s charity Kids Company. Once out of the closet however, Chris Martin went full throttle. He’s recently pledged a long-term commitment to curate live concerts for the Global Citizen festival, raising awareness for the sustainable development goals.
2011 - Madonna2011 - Madonna
Clearly some miscommunication somewhere led to the sad year when Madonna said she was going to build schools in Malawi but didn’t. Let us not forget that Queen Madge has started her own charity - Raising Malawi, and she likes adopting kids too. Frankly, if Like A Prayer is not enough of a contribution to the lot of humanity, we don’t know what is. Clearly some miscommunication led to the sad year when Madonna said she was going to build schools in Malawi but didn’t. Let us not forget that Queen Madge has started her own charity, Raising Malawi, and she likes adopting kids too. Frankly, if “Like A Prayer” is not enough of a contribution to the lot of humanity, we don’t know what is.
2013 - Justin Bieber2013 - Justin Bieber
After those dark days, it was up to Justin Bieber to bring us back from the brink, and the pop prince was finally recognised as a humanitarian after his work for the crisis following Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, rallying his Beliebers to raise over $3million to the relief effort. (This was also the year that he peed in a bucket while shouting “f**k Bill Clinton!” Maybe he had some issues with the Clinton Foundation donor strategy?)After those dark days, it was up to Justin Bieber to bring us back from the brink, and the pop prince was finally recognised as a humanitarian after his work for the crisis following Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, rallying his Beliebers to raise over $3million to the relief effort. (This was also the year that he peed in a bucket while shouting “f**k Bill Clinton!” Maybe he had some issues with the Clinton Foundation donor strategy?)
2014 - Amadou & Mariam2014 - Amadou & Mariam
A group of African musicians including Amadou & Mariam, Salif Keita, Oumou Sangaré Kandia Kouyaté recorded the song Africa Stop Ebola to help others understand how to protect themselves from the disease. Band Aid 30 took its own artistic route, meanwhile. Sometimes artists have just got to put it out there. A group of African musicians – including Amadou and Mariam, Salif Keita, Oumou Sangaré and Kandia Kouyaté – recorded the song “Africa Stop Ebola” to help others understand how to protect themselves from the disease. Band Aid 30 took its own artistic route, meanwhile. Sometimes artists have just got to put it out there.
2015 - One Direction2015 - One Direction
Which all brings us to probably the biggest story in the history of pop-humanitarian work with the news that yesterday One Direction launched a campaign Action 1D, calling their millions of fans to submit a video or photograph of how they want the world to be. Already the hating is starting, with the Daily Mail laying into the popsters for using two private jets while simultaneously wringing their hands about climate change. But guys, as Taylor would say, Haters gonna hate... just shake it off. And, obviously, save the world too. Which brings us all to probably the biggest story in the history of pop-humanitarian work, with the news yesterday that One Direction had launched their Action 1D campaign, calling their millions of fans to submit a video or photograph of how they want the world to be. Already the hating is starting, with the Daily Mail laying into the popsters for using two private jets while simultaneously wringing their hands about climate change. But guys, as Taylor would say: “Haters gonna hate ... just shake it off.” And, obviously, save the world too.
Join our community of development professionals and humanitarians. Follow@GuardianGDP on Twitter.Join our community of development professionals and humanitarians. Follow@GuardianGDP on Twitter.