I fondly remember the face-off between Africa awareness tribute songs in the mid-80s. First came today’s song, Bob Geldof’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?,’ released in 1984 and recorded by rock stars across the pond. A year later came the U.S. response, the Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie-penned ‘We Are the World.’
That was my first taste of a British-American feud in popular music, and for my money the Brits won hands down. ‘We Are the World’ was a high-gloss schmaltz-fest, but ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ seemed far more genuine.
Twenty-four years later, I kind of feel like both songs are crap.
But there is definitely a nostalgic draw to this tune. It’s funny how while watching this video for the first time in more than a decade, it still seems so very familiar. Even a small beat like the guy waving at the camera is etched in my memory.
What I didn’t remember was that there are literally no women performing the first half of the song. Yes, there are a few sprinkled into the big sing along at the end, but the verses are entirely sung by men with women’s haircuts.
Oh, what haircuts! Each one is better than the last. Boy George’s stringy pink locks, George Michael’s feather blonde bird’s nest, Bono’s mega-mullet. And of course Phil Collin’s accountant comb over. And boy do these guys come across as gay… you’d think they were heading to the bath house after the session. But all that aside, it’s a great collection of voices. I forget what a great pop vocalist Boy George was back in the day.
I wonder why they don’t do things like this anymore. Or do they, and I’ve just missed them?
Meet Me In Montauk 
My trip down “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” memory lane came when I found the Live Aid performance of “Let it Be,” followed by the whole motley group of them singing this song as the finale. That, too, was etched in my memory in far greater detail that I knew it had been. I felt watching that video a few weeks ago that the quality of the song is rather beside the point.
That egos the size of Sting’s and Bono’s (those one-named wonders) could work together in the name of battling poverty provided a modern day Christmas story. Unfortunately, I can’t watch the video right now as I write these words, as some other ego (Warner?) has removed the video from YouTube. Ah, Scrooge lives, after all.
The video is back!!! Scrooge has redeemed himself just in time.
So… I am shocked by just how much Sting swallowed his ego. His only line is shared with Simon LeBon!! Wow. George Michael aged very well. And Phil Collins couldn’t be any cuter in his argyle sweater vest.
Merry, merry Christmas!
This is one of those “now I know it’s Christmas” songs – until I hear it, the season hasn’t really begun for me. 🙂
I listened closely to the words (which I obviously know by heart but wanted to focus on really listening to), a couple of weeks ago and thought, “this song really isn’t great, but boy is it a GREAT song!” I can remember Heather and I listening to the 45 of this song over and over and over when it first came out.
The star power in this collaboration is pretty amazing, as is the fact that many of them are still at it 24 years later. It’s a classic and I’m glad it made your list this week. 🙂
I agree that this is the better anthem song of the 2. Of course, you left out the 3rd song made in response to these—Keep Your Money:)