If Bob Geldof can fight Ebola with Band Aid 30, what's stopping a reprise of "Tears Are Not Enough"?

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      The hairstyles were out of this world. And the importance of the cause—fighting famine in Africa—was indisputable.

      They came together in a 1985 charity single called "Tears Are Not Enough", written by Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance, and David Foster. Performers included Canadian superstars Neil Young, Geddy Lee, Joni Mitchell, Anne Murray, and Gordon Lightfoot, among others.

      My colleague at the Straight, Craig Takeuchi, tweeted earlier today that perhaps Canadian musicians might want  to record a new version of the song to raise funds to fight the Ebola virus in Africa.

      Bob Geldof has already done this with Band Aid 30 in the United Kingdom, luring a bevy of big-name talent to the recording studio to sing "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

      So will Michael Bublé, Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Sarah McLachlan, Nelly Furtado, Jann Arden, Bif Naked, Feist, Drake, Tegan and Sara, k.d. lang, k-os, Kardinall Offishall, Justin and George Nozuka, Diana Krall, Alanis Morrisette, Roch Voisine, David Usher, Gordon Downie, Hawksley Workman, Coeur de pirate, Loreena McKennitt, Daniel Bélanger, Sarah Harmer, Avril Lavigne, Carly Rae Jepsen, Serena Ryder, Lara Fabian, Dallas Green, Susan Aglukark, Rufus Wainwright, Adam Cohen, Lights, Chantal Kreviazuk, Jully Black, Kinnie Starr, Jim Cuddy, Matthew Good, Shawn Desman, the Rankin Family, Molly Johnson, Holly Cole, Luba, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Jane Siberry, Sass Jordan, Alannah Myles, Sarah Slean, Rae Spoon, Ron Sexsmith, Amanda Marshall, Steven Page, Kreesha Turner, Eva Avila, Ashley MacIssac, Deborah Cox, Esthero, Remy Shand, Fefe Dobson, Mitsou, Wanting Qu, Bryan Adams, Chad Kroeger, and Justin Bieber allow Canada to be upstaged in this way? 

      After all, the roster of internationally recognized Canadian stars is vastly larger than when the song was originally recorded in 1985.

      Will any of them write a new song for the 21st century, with proceeds going to battle a health scourge that's devastating three poor African countries?

      I think Craig Takeuchi is on to something here.

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