Tears Are Not Enough

If you are a product of the 80's like me, then chances are you will find this documentary to be a fun trip down memory lane. It chronicles the making of Canada's musical contribution to the international effort to stop hunger in Africa in 1985.

See performers such as: Neil Young, Bryan Adams, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, Burton Cummings (The Guess Who), Mike Reno (Loverboy), Geddy Lee (Rush) and Corey Hart all coming together for a good cause and putting their talent and fame to good use.

Highlights for me include: Bruce Allen (Bryan Adams' manager) frantically wrangling participants for the benefit on the telephone; the emotional speech by an Ethiopian woman sharing the devastating effects that famine has inflicted on her people; John Candy's comic relief.

PS - You won't find Canadian divas Celine Dion, Alanis Morissette, Shania Twain, Diana Krall or Sarah McLachlan on this tape. They weren't on the scene back then. But it goes to show how much talent comes out of Canada!

I saw this film when it aired in Canada. It's an excellent documentary that shows the creative process that went in to the recording of this excellent song.

High points are seeing Joni Mitchell make her vocal line her own, Anne Murray singing perfectly on the first take, and Neil Young saying "Hey man, that's my sound" when told he was pitchy. Additionally, there is a fair bit of discussion regarding the writing of the song (the melody was composed by David Foster for use in a film, but he thought they were not going to use it so he recycled it for this purpose) and the process of getting major Canadian recording artists to commit to the project.

Low points are the extended coverage given to Corey Hart - but since he was the "it" boy of the day, it's reasonable given the context.

See it if you can find it!

If ever there was a snapshot into why everyone hates each other now in 2025, it's because our world tried to "fake-care" all through the 80's. And people got so sick of it that they decided to "honest-hate" as a response. Both of these traits are hideous, of course. Look and listen to everything that's horrible about music and the obsession of fame in this stunning mid-eighties reality check. Throw in a Ninja Turtle and this could've won an Oscar. If this ever comes out on Blu-Ray then I think that medium will die within 6 months. Neil Young is still involved in idiotic schemes and nonsense rhetoric. Revel in the joy of seeing where some of that stupidity began. And, I can only assume that Joni Mitchell owed a clapper loader a favour for a bag of weed they got her. This has an 8.5 rating, and rightfully so. It's essential viewing if you're planning to bring on an inguinal hernia from laughing so much.