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.

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