Remembering 1984’s Band Aid – The Most MTV and Generation X Christmas Song Ever
“Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?”
If you grew up in the 1980s, you must remember Band Aid. It was a supergroup made up of some of the most popular rock and pop acts of the time which recorded the song ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ and dedicated record sales to raising money for famine relief in Ethiopia.
The whole thing was put together by Bob Geldof, the lead singer of the Irish rock group the Boomtown Rats and Midge Ure of Ultravox. They somehow managed to write the song, invite lots of other musicians to sing and play it, and then get it to market in record time.
Participants included Boy George, Bono, Sting, George Michael, Phil Collins, members of Kool & the Gang, Duran Duran, and dozens of others. MTV played its part by putting the video into heavy rotation and the record sold millions of copies. In other words, celebrities used talent and capitalism to help solve a problem. It was a different time.
The song is great. To this day, it’s one of those songs that I turn way up if it comes on the radio in the car.
According to multiple reports that have come out over the years, Bono was hesitant to sing his big line “Well, tonight, thank God it’s them instead of you” because he feared it came off as condescending.
This came up in a CNN special about the song a few years ago and American Songwriter wrote about it:
Bono and Geldof Share Recollections of Recording the Song
An exclusive preview clip from the episode features Bono and Geldof reflecting on the memorable and emotional lyrical line the U2 singer belted out in the song.
The segment begins with Bono watching footage of him in the studio before he sang his part.
“I was a little uncomfortable,” he comments. “You can tell that ’cause I’m doing the shy thing [puts one hand to the side of his face], which is a dead giveaway.” He adds, sarcastically, “And then, of course, [I was] really relaxed by the line Bob gives me.
The scene then cuts to Geldof, who, paraphrasing the line in question, says, “Thank God it’s them instead of you, mate.” Bob adds that Bono responded to the lyric by asking him, “Are you sure this is what you mean?”
We then see another clip from the recording session showing Bono listening to one of the verses with Geldof. He comments, “It’s a hymn, really. Far out, Bob.”
The segment then returns to present-day Geldof, who explains what he was trying to convey with that line.
“The war, the horror of the famine, just be aware of it,” he notes. “There’s nothing sentimental about what I’m saying or trying to say. I’m being very f—ing blunt.”
If celebrities really want to help with social solutions, they would be better off doing something like this instead of lazily echoing the Bernie Sanders message of taxing the rich.
Hope you’re having a great holiday season this year. Merry Christmas!
Featured image via YouTube.
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Comments
Merry Christmas to All!
While the song was catchy, the ultimate goal was to raise money for the famine crisis in Africa,
Millions were raised which was a good thing.
However, some of the organizations that were tasked with distributing the funds, such as UNICEF, were corrupt and remain corrupt to this day.
Of the millions of dollars raised, it is estimated that only 60% – 70% went to the people in need. By any standard, that is a horrible percentage.
By no means am I trying to be a Grinch or a Scrooge, but if you are going to raise money for a cause – especially at Christmas time – you’d better make sure the money makes it to the people rather than lining the pockets of agencies and thieves.
Oh, and Merry Christmas to all!
Quite a bit of the money raised was distributed to groups that were more interested in killing rival tribes than feeding them.
And US foreign aid had an even more abysmal performance. I saw estimates that little of USAID funds left the beltway. NGOs used it to pay their own outrageous salaries, lobbyists and consultants. One must do a lot of research to find a charity with a high passthrough rate, or if you have the means – organize a group and distribute aid oneself. I myself have been on construction crews to build schools in South America.
I would say 70% is above average
I remember it well
To all those working on Christmas, Merry Christmas and thank you very much.
As a nurse I worked many Christmas’s and somehow the patients were not on the call bell nearly as much, and we tried to D/C everyone that could go home for the holidays
Christmases.
The Most MTV and Generation X Christmas Song Ever
Whoa! You take that back!
Yeah, it was recorded and released in ’84 which is past the end of Gen X (1966-1980) and the artists performing it were mostly Boomers. Don’t try and lay this on Gen X.
We were Gen Xers watching it. Still a great song all these years later.
You actually like the song? I was 14 and didn’t like it then or now. Nothing wrong with efforts to raise some cash for charity (assuming the cash actually gets to the advertised beneficiaries (looking at you Fire Aid where $100 million + raised for victims of fire instead went to ‘community based nonprofit’ boondoggles) but I never did care for the song itself.
LOL the hair. Can’t tell the boys from the girls. Also you’ll always look cool during singing by pretending you have on headphones by cupping one ear. Spandau Ballet guy wins for looking oh so emotional.
Merry Christmas.
Um, I can SEE the headphones…
Sure don’t miss the hair, though.
Especially on the women.
Spandau Ballet guy wins for looking oh so emotional.
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was it Hadley?–excellent lead voice–especially on ” True ” and included an epic sax solo to round it out
Still love that song. So much better than the wretched ‘We Are The World’ that came out a year or two later.
So much better than the wretched ‘We Are The World’ that came out a year or two later.
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without jones’ efforts would have been much worse–still, the springsteen/wonder “duet” stands out (back when springsteen still had his pipes) and charles’ solos were great
I loathe that effing song.
Senior in high school when it came out and loved most of the groups and solo acts who sang it. Loved Bob Geldof from his work in Boomtown Rats and The Wall movie. Loathe that song.
Still love that song, very catchy. The chorus at the end always gets me.
The Bono line has always been a bit cringy. I believe there has been at least one update to the song that edits that line.
Stars by the Heart ‘n Aid was so much better.
Hear ‘n Aid. Really need an edit button on here
“And then, of course, [I was] really relaxed by the line Bob gives me.”
Sorry, but even if the cause is noble, I must point out that hone song itself sucks.
And by the way, “We Are the World” sucks, too.
Sometimes, we forget that the voice actors on kiddie cartoons have real lives, and voices that do more than just synch to lip movements on screen. Merry Christmas one and all, to the sounds of the My Little Pony VAs (who have done *lots* of other cartoon projects too)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0plk7U4H3eE