Do They Know It’s Christmas? LB Record Sleeve FrontDo They Know It’s Christmas? LB Record Sleeve Back
Shannon’s Perspective:
What Gen X'er doesn't remember this song? It was everywhere in 1984 so I can't imagine it is too many. Hell, I was even allowed to listen to this song. Being brought up a Jehovah's Witnesses, we weren't usually allowed to watch or listen to anything celebrating Christmas, since we didn't believe in Christmas. This song was an exception though, my guess is because it was to help starving people.
I know Larry's write up is gonna touch on the specifics for this song so I'm just gonna talk real quick about Christmas. The last Christmas I celebrated as a kid with my family was in 1977 when I was 6 (my 6th birthday was the last birthday I celebrated). When I moved out at 18 I started celebrating Christmas again but it wasn't until having kids that the real magic of Christmas appeared again. I tried my hardest to make their Christmases as magical as possible and would go above and beyond to do so. I hope they have fond memories of Christmas growing up.
Kids - this is a prime example of why you don't use Wikipedia.
So why did I choose today, December 3rd, 2024 as the 40th Anniversary of its release? Well I'm relying on this Rolling Stone article for one, but mainly because when I click on View Credits in my Apple song it states December 3rd, 1984. I have to believe the Apple lawyers got it right as opposed some dude in his mom's basement editing Wikipedia.
I cannot overstate the significance this song had around the world at the time.
First of all, Band Aid was comprised of a who's who list of artists, pulled together by none other than Pink himself, Bob Geldof. The amount of talent amassed for this one song is simply incredible. The first time you heard it, you could name every single one of the artists and from that moment on you keyed in on your favorite every single time it played.
Because of my sisters obsession with Duran Duran, I couldn't help but key in on Simon LeBon, but for me personally, I really listened for Sting and Bono.
I still have my record single, and I distinctly remember my parents bought all three of us one, because of course, it was close to Christmas when it came out. I don't know if my sisters still have theirs - after all, sometimes holding onto something for 40 years is not easy.
I had a previous post around Paul Young, and you'll be reminded that he actually sings the opening line. Why - I have no idea. Would I place him on the same level as anyone else involved? Nope.
Now - today this song would absolutely be cancelled. Hell, barely a few months later in 1985 it was "cancelled". Morrissey (who was not invited to participate in Band Aid) gave his views about the song:
"I'm not afraid to say that I think Band Aid was diabolical. Or to say that I think Bob Geldof is a nauseating character. Many people find that very unsettling, but I'll say it as loud as anyone wants me to. In the first instance the record itself was absolutely tuneless. One can have great concern for the people of Ethiopia, but it's another thing to inflict daily torture on the people of Great Britain. It was an awful record considering the mass of talent involved. And it wasn't done shyly. It was the most self-righteous platform ever in the history of popular music."
But it's Morrissey, so what would you expect?
It's also well known that Bono did not agree with the line he was given to sing: "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you".
But he sang it anyway. And I'm fucking glad he did. It is one of the most memorable parts of the song. Screw the whiny little bitches.
Gen X rules. And so does this song. God I can't believe it's been 40 years...
Ghost of a Chance 