Forty years ago this week, the cream of Britain’s pop crop – including the likes of Paul Young, Tony Hadley, Bono, Boy George and George Michael – tipped out of bed, rocked up at Trevor Horn’s west London studio and recorded, under the guidance of Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof and Ultravox frontman Midge Ure, a song that changed the world.
Not only did Do They Know It’s Christmas?, released on December 7, 1984, enter the British chart in the top slot and become the Christmas number one – a holy grail back then – but it sold a million copies that first week, three million by New Year’s Eve, hit the jackpot in 13 other countries and raised £8million within a year to help relieve famine of biblical proportions in Ethiopia. It subsequently inspired Live Aid, Comic Relief and was a shot in the bicep for the way we do charity.
It’s cheap to argue with those who give freely of time and talent to achieve a selfless goal. Yet argue people did. The melody was simplistic, the song lacked a chorus, and what were we doing feeding Africa when charity should begin at home? The lyrics have since been dismissed as trite, even offensive.
They are arguing again. This time, as the Ultimate Mix fifth version of the fundraising record is released, featuring Chris Martin harmonising with Sugababes and George Michael duetting with Harry Styles, African activists and musicians such as Ghanaian-English singer and rapper Fuse ODG are castigating Geldof for being patronising and colonial, and for “perpetuating damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa’s economic growth, tourism and investment”.
In the blue corner, Ed Sheeran’s whingeing at the way he sounded on the 2014 version, re-deployed on this one, and says they shouldn’t have used his voice again without his permission. Cry babies. Get a life. Millions of fellow humans are trying to.
Those who criticise the lyrics miss the point. The words were metaphorical. There may not have been much snow in Africa. But as one of the oldest communities in Christendom, Ethiopians knew better than anyone that it was Christmas. They just had more pressing things to worry about than marking the coming of Christ. Such as saving their kids and trying not to die of starvation.
Those moaning that the world has moved on and that it’s politically incorrect to patronise African countries can do one too. International development and aid have indeed evolved over the past four decades. It doesn’t mean millions are no longer in need.
Sensibilities have advanced, but the problems continue. Only last year, the Band Aid Charitable Trust distributed more than £3million to African nations, providing clean water and training and building libraries and schools. J
Just last week, serious sums were committed to help the desperate Sudanese, while cash to feed 8,000 children in the same part of Ethiopia as what started all this was handed over. Geldof has made the mission his life’s work.
The power of records to generate magnificent wealth may be diminished. That doesn’t make music impotent. New versions raise awareness among younger generations of the monumental work that still needs to be done. Work that will continue, long after Saint Bob is gone.
The single, out today, is available to download or purchase on CD or 12-inch vinyl. Buy it. Otherwise, do we know it’s Christmas time at all?
