Thursday, December 27, 2018

Bubbling under: "Do They Know It’s Christmas" - Band Aid (1984)

Band Aid may not have achieved all its lofty goals but it was still a good idea.

Just the fact that the 'who's who' of the British music scene came together to make a charity song spoke volumes about their hearts. It led to the Americans and the Canadians to follow. It inspired Live Aid concerts in the summer of 1985. And dozens of similar gigs.

About the song itself, that intro with the bells still gives me goosebumps. With all the egos in the room (check out Sting starring at Bono) it was amazing that the track even got produced in the first place. 

The spirit and magic of collaboration is on full display as Boy George and George Michael sung emotive lines while the boys from Duran and Spandau Ballet played side by side. 

I'll always remember the SEA staff party in Halifax (1997?) when Bruce from accounting unpacked his acoustic guitar while we took turns botching the lyrics. 

Below are the follow up songs, ordered by my personal preference: Canada's "Tears Are Not Enough" by Northern Lights and the USA for Africa "We Are The World".


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