1985 - The year of solidarity 5/9

Audio 48:29

Coluche.

© Getty Images / Francis Apesteguy

By: Cécile Poss

54 mins

1985, Mikhaïl Gorbatchev arrives at the head of the USSR, Simone Signoret dies, just like Michel Audiard, an underwater expedition finds the wreck of the Titanic, and the comedian Coluche mobilizes for the association SOS Racisme.

That same year 1985, Coluche also launched an appeal on Europe 1: he was ready to create a free canteen to help those who no longer even have the means to eat properly.

This is the starting point of the Restos du Cœur.

Publicity

His canteen project is a huge success.

Donations are pouring in.

Basically, the comedian did not imagine perpetuating his action, he thought of doing a "one shot", like what had been done for the famine in Ethiopia or the earthquake in Armenia.

But the following year, the Restaurants will multiply and establish themselves.

In 1986, Coluche died in a road accident.

So to pay tribute to him, and to continue his fight, the volunteers will make the association last over time, until today, 35 years later.

But before disappearing, Coluche calls on his artist buddies.

He knows that to make money, you have to make a hit.

It is the birth of the Enfoirés.

They will make their first tour in 1989.

One of the Restos du Coeur with the portrait of Coluche, the founder.

REUTERS / Eric Gaillard

The 1980s therefore saw a proliferation of this kind of large-scale charity concerts, and not only in France.

The biggest international stars participate.

This is what has been called "Charity Business", the business of charity.

Among all these concerts, Live Aid will mark the history of music.

Created by Bob Geldof to raise funds against the deadly famine in Ethiopia,

Bob Geldof is not the only one who wants to help Ethiopia, however.

On January 28, 1985, in the United States, the American Music Awards were held.

This is the moment that several musicians choose, under the leadership of the king of pop, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie, to record a hit also intended to raise funds against famine: " 

We are the world 

”.

France Gall, Michel Berger and Daniel Balavoine will also set up a humanitarian project in 1985: “Actions Écoles”, directly inspired by Live Aid. The goal is to raise awareness in schools about the situation in Africa. It is following these trips to Africa that France Gall will sing " 

Babacar

 ".

Sometimes, musical collectives will not only support humanitarian causes for famines, wars or disasters. The cause is sometimes much more political and protest. The festival of SOS Racisme takes place on June 15, 1985, place de la Concorde in Paris. This date also marks the departure of the Jericho caravan, an initiative intended to draw the attention of public opinion to the case of the Nigerian musician Fela Kuti who has been imprisoned since November 8, 1984. The caravan thus baptized "Because it" is the music that will bring down the walls ”, according to the expression of the artists who include twenty African musicians from the groups Ghetto Blaster, Mory Kanté, Ray Lema, Salif Keita ... and will travel through Europe for support Fela.

But if there was one political prisoner who would catalyze a wave of support in the 1980s, it was Nelson Mandela. The man has been imprisoned in South Africa since 1964, sentenced to life for sedition after leading the fight against apartheid. The artists are mobilizing with two demands: support for Mandela and the abolition of the Apartheid regime. In 1985, the “Artists united against Apartheid” project saw the light of day under the leadership of Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen's guitarist. In 1988, a concert took place in Wembley, for the 70 years of prisoner Mandela. The impact of this rally will undoubtedly have influenced the decision to release Mandela on February 11, 1990, two years later.

This humanitarian path, this openness to the world will have influences in the cultural field, and in particular in music since it was during the 1980s that the concept of World Music was born.

Musicians from French-speaking Africa present in Europe, such as Mory Kante, Angélique Kidjo or Youssou N'Dour, succeed in breaking through with their traditional rhythms, sometimes mixed with Western tastes.

This "world music" (a suitcase term that does not really mean anything) will gain importance in the 80s.

With:

Yves Bigot

, Managing Director of TV5 Monde -

Marius Colucci

, son of Coluche -

Bernard Dobbeleer

, journalist specializing in 20th and 21st century music -

Mathias Goudeau

, co-author of the documentary “The true story of the stars of the 80s” -

Dominique Lagarde

, journalist -

Laurent Rieppi

, journalist and rock historian.

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  • Culture

  • Music

  • France

  • Solidarity

  • Nelson Mandela

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