Live Earth Wrap-Up: Attendance, Axl Rose, Madonna

For anyone who somehow missed Rock Daily's extensive coverage of Al Gore's twenty-four-hour music marathon this past weekend, here's a quick summary: A reported two billion people watched more than 100 artists perform on all seven continents. Attendance at the Washington, D.C. event (which was announced one day before the show) and in Rio were reportedly less than anticipated, and promoters in Johannesburg explained their lower-than-expected turnout by blaming climate change. Guns n' Roses frontman Axl Rose explained his band's absence from the event, saying, "We were not asked until the last couple weeks while we were on tour in Australia and have upcoming sold-out dates already rescheduled in Japan." And Madonna allegedly had some rigid requirements for her London interviews, stipulating journalists must look her in the eye.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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