[Music] Band Aid 40 years on

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Cotton Socks

Skint Supporter
Feb 20, 2017
2,207
Who gets the royalties from it now?

Answering my own question after watching 'The Making of Band Aid' on iPlayer. The Band Aid Trust is still going & continues to give grants to organisations in Africa. £148m raised to date.
 




Peacehaven Wild Kids

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2022
3,587
The Avenue then Maloncho
[QUOTE="Cotton Socks, post: 11398325, member: 35198" The Band Aid Trust is still going & continues to give grants to organisations in Africa. £148m raised to date.
[/QUOTE]

I’ve joined this thread really late and have abstained so far and I’m really pissed but is this not the same amount of money that Elon Musk wiped his arse on last year (up to and including the 30th of November)?
 


Randy McNob

> > > > > > Cardiff > > > > >
Jun 13, 2020
4,732
As it's christmas themed it gets rolled out every year, the US version wasn't christmas themed so, as it was intended, was a one off song for a one off fund raising campaign. Midge Ure wrote the lyrics some of which don't make sense. Do they know it's christmas? well half the country is muslim and traditional christianity is in the minority, so I wouldn't have thought so. 'and the christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom' wtf does that mean? 'There won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time' - no shit sherlock, and wtf difference would it make if there was or wasn't? Trying to crowbar christmas references into a song about a famine crisis in an East Africa country, as if swapping gifts, wearing naff jumpers, pulling crackers, and roast Turkey with all the trimmings is the answer to all their problems.

The Chinese actually do help lift these poor countries up by building new roads and infrastructure
 




BadFish

Huge Member
Oct 19, 2003
18,422
As it's christmas themed it gets rolled out every year, the US version wasn't christmas themed so, as it was intended, was a one off song for a one off fund raising campaign. Midge Ure wrote the lyrics some of which don't make sense. Do they know it's christmas? well half the country is muslim and traditional christianity is in the minority, so I wouldn't have thought so. 'and the christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom' wtf does that mean? 'There won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time' - no shit sherlock, and wtf difference would it make if there was or wasn't? Trying to crowbar christmas references into a song about a famine crisis in an East Africa country, as if swapping gifts, wearing naff jumpers, pulling crackers, and roast Turkey with all the trimmings is the answer to all their problems.

The Chinese actually do help lift these poor countries up by building new roads and infrastructure

The lyrics rather clumsily try to compare what was happening in Ethiopia with our comfortable Christmas. For me 'do they know it's Christmas time?' is more about pointing out that they have other things on their mind.


I always assumed the whole point of the Christmas references was to guilt people into buying or donating at a time of year they are celebrating. The' won't be snow in Africa this christmas' is written to highlight the difference between us and the people they are raising money for. This is more clumsily/directly stated in the much maligned line' thank God it's them instead of you'.

I know there is a lot said about the lyrics not having aged well but I think that in these contexts they make more sense and they certainly served their purpose at the time.
 




BadFish

Huge Member
Oct 19, 2003
18,422
While as you say Band Aid, and Live Aid, had the best of intentions, neither actually achieved very much in the fight against hunger. There's still plenty of hunger in Africa now - and throwing money at it isn't the answer and never was.
Surely this is acknowledged by the name band aid - a band aid solution for a massive problem that eve midge and Bob can't solve.
 


Pavilionaire

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
31,312


BadFish

Huge Member
Oct 19, 2003
18,422




Flounce

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 15, 2006
4,607
So best that this song had never been recorded and no money raised for the famine in Ethiopia then because the lyrics now cause offence, which I am certain was never intended?

I should not be surprised that decades later being offended takes precedence over the fact that it raised money and was one of the all time great concerts, it’s the way of the British world these days :rolleyes:
 


Lenny Rider

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2010
6,090
So best that this song had never been recorded and no money raised for the famine in Ethiopia then because the lyrics now cause offence, which I am certain was never intended?

I should not be surprised that decades later being offended takes precedence over the fact that it raised money and was one of the all time great concerts, it’s the way of the British world these days :rolleyes:


There was once a time when people were just entertained rather than offended. 🤷‍♂️
 






Greg Bobkin

Silver Seagull
May 22, 2012
16,285
I reckon most things are badly (or certainly don't improve with age), so it's not surprising people highlighting the lyrics.
 


Cheshire Cat

The most curious thing..
it's about time it was retired - 40 years is a long time to rehash something yet again.
 


Peacehaven Wild Kids

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2022
3,587
The Avenue then Maloncho
While as you say Band Aid, and Live Aid, had the best of intentions, neither actually achieved very much in the fight against hunger. There's still plenty of hunger in Africa now - and throwing money at it isn't the answer and never was.

Surely this is acknowledged by the name band aid - a band aid solution for a massive problem that eve midge and Bob can't solve.

They cut you in half with a gun, then give you a band aid
 




beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius
Jul 21, 2003
36,062
So best that this song had never been recorded and no money raised for the famine in Ethiopia then because the lyrics now cause offence, which I am certain was never intended?

I should not be surprised that decades later being offended takes precedence over the fact that it raised money and was one of the all time great concerts, it’s the way of the British world these days :rolleyes:
couldn't believe some people are claiming offence, especially as they take as literal some lines intended to be figurative, and saw serious comment about it being neo-colonialism. ffs, let's not bother then.
 


Flounce

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 15, 2006
4,607
couldn't believe some people are claiming offence, especially as they take as literal some lines intended to be figurative, and saw serious comment about it being neo-colonialism. ffs, let's not bother then.
21st Century Britain, always look for something to knock and be offended about, if there’s a chance of some racism arising, even better.
 


marlowe

Well-known member
Dec 13, 2015
4,340
It's not just the royalties from this song which went towards the famine relief, it's also George Michael's "Last Christmas" which was released at the same time.

George didn't think it would be right if his song was in competition and he benefitted from it, so he said they could have those royalties too.
 


Randy McNob

> > > > > > Cardiff > > > > >
Jun 13, 2020
4,732
They did a good job of updating the lyrics to "we didn't start the fire"
 




Albion my Albion

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Feb 6, 2016
19,922
Indiana, USA
My, that's a long time for one bandage. What part of the body was it applied to?
 


Uncle Spielberg

Well-known member
Jul 6, 2003
43,189
Lancing
Last Christmas was always the better song as indeed it still is now
 


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