Thirty years ago, Band Aid, a charity-minded supergroup comprised of the creme de la creme of British pop (Boy George, Sting, Bono, George Michael, Simon Le Bon, to name just a few) met in a London studio to collaborate on a single to raise funds for the decimating famine in Ethiopia. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, which was the brainchild of musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, became the best-selling British single of all time, a record it held for 13 years, and raised over a million dollars for famine relief. The venerable single was re-recorded in 1989 and 2004, again as a fund-raiser for famine. Cut to 2014 and much of the world is petrified of the Ebola virus so the now Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure called up the latest batch of hot new British chart-toppers (members of One Direction, Chris Martin, Sam Smith, Rita Ora…Adele was a surprising no-show) and the ever-present Bono to record an update on the classic anthem and combat the deadly virus in Africa. While it’s unfair to compare the two since everyone involved donated their time for a good cause, we can’t help but feel this new breed of singers is lacking in both energy (wake up, Sam Smith!) and charisma compared to the magic achieved the first time out.
So watch and listen to both versions below, but, more importantly, be sure to donate here.
Here’s the 2014 version.
Here’s the original from 1984.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Giuseppe
No contest, the original wins hands down!
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Doesn’t Ebola make your ears bleed? Would be a toss-up for me
damon459
Donate? They pulled the flippin video already!
Ummmm Yeah
I searched for it on youtube and found another clip of it. The old versions is a million times better. They should have just gone with completely new song. The whole christmas theme was effective with the original because it showed the contrast between the haves celebrating with food and purchased gifts as opposed to people so poor they don’t have the luxury of any type of celebration or holiday. Christmas has nothing to do with ebola. However, every one of them was way better than 99.9999999999999999999% of American singers. The song itself was the weak point, not the vocal talent.
onthemark
Damn, I always hated that song. So pretentious and condescending. And why wouldn’t they “know it’s Christmas” even with a famine – Ethiopia became a Christian country in like the year 300 when the Brits were still filthy barbarians living in mud huts and worshipping rocks, or was it eating mud and living under rocks (I exaggerate only slightly!). The Ethiopians should complain to the U.N. about that stupid song as a human rights violation!
FStratford
@onthemark:
Dude you did not get it. That’s fine. The whole song was a satyre, trying to hit your conscience… For example. “Well tonight thank God its them, instead of you” brings the point home – an homage to the parable of rich man in the Gospel. All of the other lines have western cultural/christian references. The materialistic references to snow, food, bells in this world of plenty – were used to contrast to the true meaning of Chrismas – the Lord’s birth bringing salvation to all, being your brother’s keeper, loving your neighbor as yourself.
Once you see it like that, its a really beautiful poem.
onthemark
@FStratford: “tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” – yuck, that’s not condescending at all! Thanks for reminding me of the most offensive line in the whole song. Never heard it described as a satire though, maybe that’s better.
As for the current Ebola countries, except for Liberia they seem to be predominately Muslim countries so there’s no reason they’d be particularly aware of Xmas, unless maybe they have enough energy left to burn down a church or something.
Anyway, please forgive my “humbug” attitude. I worked in retail for many years so I despise ALL Xmas music! Barf!
VampDC
What I don’t understand is, you get these HUGE celebrities to record a song…why not make it something new, original, and iconic?!
Why would you want to recreate an old classic that sure will make some sales but will never go on to be iconic and will never be remembered in a years time?
sfbeast
I think the original is better, especially with the drums and bells. However, even though I think I know a lot of pop singers, I need captions to tell me who is who on both versions.
Mykaels
I prefer the original, but both are good.
DonW
I know they mean well, but really, hasn’t Bob Geldof learned anything about Africa in 30 years? The lyrics reek of the White Savior complex.
In my experience, Westerners are far more plagued by “the clanging chimes of doom” than most people in the developing world, many of whom are happier and psychologically healthier despite material hardships.
They might have done well to watch this great spoof on white people “saving” Africa: http://youtu.be/Mjq4-srUoz0
RIGay
I could only hope that this was a prank. If it was, WELL DONE! Humor en par with the best of Second City and The Onion!
If not… I will pass on Christmas this year so I NEVER have to accidentally hear this.
VincentG123
Where there no female or POC artist at the timed deemed worthy of singing a solo part? It’s a complete sausage fest until they cart in the ladies and black guys to sing in the chorus. WTF!?!?!?