Bono Kicks Off World Cup With Nelson Mandela
IN January 2009, Bono, the U2 frontman, Mr G9, wrote an OpEd for the New York Times that we believed to be a parody. To ensure that the new decade works for the good of mankind, Bono will be fronting a concert and lending his name to organic rubber wrist bands advocating tax-breaks for elder statesmen of rock.
Before we see what Bono has this year, let’s hark back to last year’s missive:
Once upon a couple of weeks ago …
I’m in a crush in a Dublin pub around New Year’s. Glasses clinking clicking, clashing crashing in Gaelic revelry: swinging doors, sweethearts falling in and out of the season’s blessings, family feuds subsumed or resumed. Malt joy and ginger despair are all in the queue to be served on this, the quarter-of-a-millennium mark since Arthur Guinness first put velvety blackness in a pint glass.
It got no better from the man who oversees his empire, a work-in-progress place called Africa where they just need a theme song about God or Bono, or some other establishment figure, to make it all work and come together in harmony. And if they’ve got wraparound indoor shades, bring them too. And look out for Girls Aloud sorting out the Middle East:
“I represent a lot of people [in Africa] who have no voice at all…. They haven’t asked me to represent them. It’s cheeky but I hope they’re glad I do.”
Anyhow, Bono is back writing in the NYT. He says this is the African Decade. Or, the Decade of Africa. He says:
It would be fitting if Nelson Mandela, who has done more than anyone for Africa’s rising, would kick off the opening ceremonies. If he shows up, the world will weep with joy.
There’s already not a dry eye in the house, Bono. Who needs Diana Ross. Mandela dare not defy bono…
Posted: 3rd, January 2010 | In: Celebrities, Key Posts Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
