TotW 12/23/2024 - 12/29/2024: BAND AID - Do They Know It's Christmas?

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    Your rating for "Do They Know It's Christmas" by Band Aid 14

    1. 15 points - outstanding (2) 14%
    2. 14 points - very good (0) 0%
    3. 13 points - very good - (2) 14%
    4. 12 points - good + (2) 14%
    5. 11 points - good (1) 7%
    6. 10 points - good - (1) 7%
    7. 09 points - satisfactory + (2) 14%
    8. 08 points - satisfactory (1) 7%
    9. 07 points - satisfactory - (1) 7%
    10. 06 points - sufficient + (1) 7%
    11. 05 points - sufficient (1) 7%
    12. 04 points - sufficient - (0) 0%
    13. 03 points - poor + (0) 0%
    14. 02 points - poor (0) 0%
    15. 01 points - poor - (0) 0%
    16. 00 points - abysmal (0) 0%

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    BAND AID - Do They Know It's Christmas?

    Year: 1984
    Credits: Geldof/Ure
    Length: 7:03
    Musicians: Phil Collins played drums on this track
    Played live: 13. July 1985, Live Aid, Wembley Stadium, London
    Various re-recorded versions available

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    Notes: Just over 40 years ago, on a normal Sunday, a number of well-known musicians responded to Bob Geldof's call and met at Trevor Horn's Sarm West Studios on Portobello Road in Notting Hill, London. There they wanted to set an example against the acute famine in Ethiopia. With the song recorded that day, they not only managed to generate unprecedented worldwide attention for this cause, but also donations. They also made lasting rock history in the process. Phil Collins from the Genesis family was also involved. He played drums on the recordings.
    The campaign culminated around 7 months later in the Live Aid concerts in Philadelphia and London. Here, too, rock history was made and - unlike the recordings for our TotW - Phil Collins was a key player in both concerts. This video, which we warmly recommend, shows you exactly what his role was on the day of the recording and how the day unfolded:.

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    Always loved it! I was in high school when this was released, and after seeing it on MTV a few times, went out and bought the 45. Loved seeing the recently posted behind-the-scenes footage, especially Phil's groove in isolation - way more involved than I had realized!

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    It was a good-hearted gesture that did a lot to raise both awareness and funds. In that sense it probably also indirectly helped other causes which subsequently benefited from similar campaigns.


    In my mind that's separate from the quality of the song which in a way is secondary. Few songs written and recorded so hurriedly will be particularly good but this one had a specific purpose to fulfil. It has a good rousing singalong chorus. I don't much like the song in its own right but it did its job.

    Abandon all reason

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    The drums are pretty good 😀. I had no idea it was 7 minutes long. Apart from these observations, I echo the sentiments above. It seems cliched now by virtue of having been redone and reheated in various ways (wasn't there an awful hip hop version a few years ago? And then the singularly unsuccessful "Live Earth" iteration of the concert), but at the time it was a huge well-intentioned endeavor. And the song has become a Christmas classic in its own right, which is no mean feat. 12, which is pretty arbitrary!

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    At the time, it was an earnest effort to raise awareness of the famine in East Africa. And it is a catchy enough song. Phil's drumming is great.


    But the song does embody the perspective of rich countries "saving" poor countries, rather than a more collaborative and empowering approach to poverty. So it sits more uncomfortably with me, though not as much as the cringeingly self-centred We Are the World. I know there have been more recent versions with updated lyrics that shift the emphasis a bit, but it is still the original that gets the most airplay.

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    Quote from Dr. John

    At the time, it was an earnest effort to raise awareness of the famine in East Africa. And it is a catchy enough song. Phil's drumming is great.


    But the song does embody the perspective of rich countries "saving" poor countries, rather than a more collaborative and empowering approach to poverty. So it sits more uncomfortably with me, though not as much as the cringeingly self-centred We Are the World. I know there have been more recent versions with updated lyrics that shift the emphasis a bit, but it is still the original that gets the most airplay.

    Absolutely agree. I have no more to add.