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My Gen X Playlist: Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid

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Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?
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Christmas. It’s one of the few holidays we have the entire family together. It’s also a time for my mom to be grandma and love the grandkids. Our Christmas is all about family.

In 1984, a collection of musical artists came together to raise money and awareness for a good cause. They recorded Do They Know It’s Christmas.

“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is a charity song written in 1984 by Bob Geldofand Midge Ure to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. It was first recorded by Band Aid, a supergroup assembled by Geldof and Ure consisting of popular British iand Irish musical acts. It was recorded in a single day at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, in November 1984.

– Wikipedia

What I didn’t know is they remade the song in 2004 (20th Anniversary) and 2014 (30th Anniversary). Although the artists in the two anniversary editions are talented, I still like the original the best. If you have time, listen to all three and let me know which you prefer.

And by the way, cheers to Bono for being in all three. I think his best performance is in the original. He just gives us a little extra something in his crooning.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time
We let in light and we banish shade

And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time

But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time
It's hard, but when you're having fun

There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears

And the Christmas bells that ring there
Are the clanging chimes of doom
Well, tonight thank God it's them
Instead of you

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life (oh)
Where nothing ever grows, no rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all? (oh)

(Here's to you) Raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) Underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again

12 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid”

  1. I like the idea behind the song, but I have to admit that they play that song to death every Christmas season. So, I cringe when I hear it now…much like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

    I agree that Christmas is a time for family to come together. “It’s also a time for my mom to be grandma and love the grandkids.” YES!!!

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  2. I like this song too and prefer the original. I never get fed up of hearing it and I always notice when I have been at friends or when I used to listen to the radio, that the original it what is always played.

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  3. OK, I’ve watched all 3 versions and I have thoughts.

    Nothing can ever replace the 1984 version. I loved it then. I love it now. The sight and sound of Bono and Sting standing next to each other singing is EVERYTHING. There is a stunning lack of diversity that never crossed my mind in the 80s. Also, Boy George was a groundbreaker.

    The 2004 version is also great. More diverse. I liked the rap part. I didn’t know a lot of the artists, but Paul McCartney on guitar! Bono just gets better and hotter. Where was Sting?

    That opening video in the 2014 version was wildly disturbing, setting up a much darker vibe. But then Ed Sheeran and Sinead O’Connor! Amazing. And Bono, goosebumps (still)

    Final thought: Bob Geldof is a good person. I’m sure there are criticisms, but I think his heart is absolutely in the right place. I wonder if they’ll do a 2024 version?

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    1. Yes, watching Bono and Sting side by side was very very cool. I liked that part, too.

      I like Dido’s part. She has that Dido inflection that just sounds cool. The rap was pretty unique, I thought it was cool to change it up a bit. And YES… Sinead O’Conner was amazing…

      Now that I’ve seen the two others, I’m curious if they will have a 2024 version. If they do, I probably won’t recognize many people, well except maybe Bono…

      There was a time when Bono would occasionally attend my brother’s church when he was in town. I should ask him if he’s seen him recently, but I don’t think he’s seen him in years. I’d be pretty star struck if I saw him walk through the door.

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  5. I’ll start by saying that in general I can’t abide Christmas pop music… it’s just my bugaboo. That said, I did always like the original one as it demonstrated, without being too saccharine, what people can accomplish when they have the will to do good for others on a grand scale. To me, the two remakes didn’t present anything considerable to differentiate themselves from the first one.

    A nice story of togetherness which truly is what holiday does best, in whatever configuration that might be. Thanks.

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    1. Holidays changed after my father past away. Sometimes we felt his presence and that was comforting. Even though we felt a void other times, it would eventually be filled with stories and memories of him. I think dad’s are always with us, no matter what. You just have to look for the sign.

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