What Would Bono Do?
Bono - the one-word answer to the world's problems. Is there anything this man can't do?
Since the mid-70's Bono has been using music as his message and along with the rest of the guys in U2 have been writing politically-charged lyrics stemming from their poor Irish roots, making rebellious kids take a stand against the powers that be.
Fast forward a few decades, and there's Bono, still in the studio and on stage with U2. But now they're no longer disenchanted kids; they're rich, powerful, and popular musicians. Each album is more acclaimed than the last, and there seems to be no audience this band can't win over.
So what to do with all that popularity...hmmm...
Well, if you're Bono, you change the world.
In recent years, Bono has been well-known for being the voice of the poor in third world countries like Africa. He is a warrior on the field of the AIDS battle, and has made his share of appearances at UN meetings, global concerts, and Canadian Liberal get-togethers. Like most Canadians, I think of Bono as the guy with yellow shades standing next to then-prime minister Paul Martin, and chewing him out for not yet meeting the 0.7 per cent of the country's spending that he had promised at the G8 Summit.
Shortly after his public comraderie with the world's politicians, Bono lent his name to Apple, and thus the U2 iPod was born. And somewhere in there, the band released another album or two and found themselves again at the top of the charts.
Instead of sitting idly in his giant mansion off the coast of (insert exclusive island here) or driving his (insert expensive car here) through his widespread estate, Bono again stepped up to the plate for Africa and the fight against AIDS.
The newest venture is a collaboration with a handful of companies including the Gap, Georgio Armani and American Express. This new partnership will market products under the new brand name “Red” and proceeds will be used to fund various AIDS programs. If all goes well, Red will turn into a long-term fundraiser for the programs.
So you really have to hand it to Bono - he's one annoying celebrity who is using his popularity to actually make a difference.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Since the mid-70's Bono has been using music as his message and along with the rest of the guys in U2 have been writing politically-charged lyrics stemming from their poor Irish roots, making rebellious kids take a stand against the powers that be.
Fast forward a few decades, and there's Bono, still in the studio and on stage with U2. But now they're no longer disenchanted kids; they're rich, powerful, and popular musicians. Each album is more acclaimed than the last, and there seems to be no audience this band can't win over.
So what to do with all that popularity...hmmm...
Well, if you're Bono, you change the world.
In recent years, Bono has been well-known for being the voice of the poor in third world countries like Africa. He is a warrior on the field of the AIDS battle, and has made his share of appearances at UN meetings, global concerts, and Canadian Liberal get-togethers. Like most Canadians, I think of Bono as the guy with yellow shades standing next to then-prime minister Paul Martin, and chewing him out for not yet meeting the 0.7 per cent of the country's spending that he had promised at the G8 Summit.
Shortly after his public comraderie with the world's politicians, Bono lent his name to Apple, and thus the U2 iPod was born. And somewhere in there, the band released another album or two and found themselves again at the top of the charts.
Instead of sitting idly in his giant mansion off the coast of (insert exclusive island here) or driving his (insert expensive car here) through his widespread estate, Bono again stepped up to the plate for Africa and the fight against AIDS.
The newest venture is a collaboration with a handful of companies including the Gap, Georgio Armani and American Express. This new partnership will market products under the new brand name “Red” and proceeds will be used to fund various AIDS programs. If all goes well, Red will turn into a long-term fundraiser for the programs.
So you really have to hand it to Bono - he's one annoying celebrity who is using his popularity to actually make a difference.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
