Mandela Concert Cancelled

The February 2nd Mandela SOS concert, which was to raise money and awareness about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, has been cancelled due to production issues. Bono, Macy Gray, Nelly Furtado, Queen, Coldplay, Shaggy, Ludacris, Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) and others were scheduled to perform at Robben Island prison in South Africa, where Nobel Peace Prize winner and world civil rights leader Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for eighteen years in the 1960s and Seventies.

Dave Stewart, the event's musical director, Bono and the late Joe Strummer co-wrote the song "48864" especially for the event. The title was a reference to Mandela's prisoner number during his incarceration.

While the concert was to be held for 3,000 fans at Robben Island, a concurrent performance was to take place at the larger Green Point Stadium in Capetown, South Africa. Some artists were to play both venues, and footage from Robben Island was also to be beamed onto screens at the stadium. The event was also to be televised worldwide.

No further information was available about the cause of the cancellation or a possible rescheduling at press time.

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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.’”

More Song Stories entries »

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