NORDIS WEEKLY
December 31, 2004

 

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A long over due tribute to Band Aid

“It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid.”

I can still remember when I first heard this song in third grade—Do They Know It’s Christmas? written by Sir Bob Geldof and popularized by Band Aid. I used to think that Band Aid was like any typical new-wave band composed of 4-6 members. It is more.

Band Aid consists of almost 40 of the UK and Ireland’s best-known new wave and pop stars of that time, among them Phil Collins, Sting, Paul Young, Bono and U2, Human League, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Culture Club, David Bowie, Midge Urge, Paul McCartney and Wham. The song was released in November 1984, and immediately debuted at number one in Great Britain.

Two weeks later it topped the American charts (www.liveaid.com).

The first thing I loved about the song was the melody because it didn’t sound like any traditional Christmas carols. Since then, it became my favorite Christmas song.

In the past years, I didn’t have the opportunity to watch the video. There weren’t any copies in the local record outlets, and of course, I never had enough bucks. But luck was on my side last December 22—I finally got my own copy.It all started with those hands showing pieces of Band Aid posters. And I never thought those hands belonged to Sting of The Police. The first thing that came into my mind was that Band Aid and The Police are one. In the video, Paul Young suddenly appears singing the first stanza of the song. And then comes Boy George of the famous Culture Club singing too. All of a sudden, I realize it looks like USA for Africa. Well, I said, this is good. Your heartbeat gets faster if you hear the drums powerfully beat by Phil Collins. Having seen George Michael videos before, I never saw him as happy in this one. Everybody in the video is happy singing. You can see feel their sincerity to help others. I felt the world stop when I saw Bono and Sting duet!

I have heard a lot of tributes from many musicians but I never heard a tribute to the greatness of this “Experimental Band.” I think this is my chance to give simple gratitude to them. The song was great in terms of lyrics and performers. This single was produced not for personal interest but for a cause.

According to my research the first relief shipment of over $70,000 worth of food and medical supplies was personally accompanied by co-producer Midge Urge to Ethiopia after it sold fifty million copies in the first quarter of 1985, and made a reported $100 million dollars for the famine relief not only in Ethiopia but also in Niger, Chad and Sudan. Even though it was already 20 years ago, I believe that the song is still relevant. It is still applicable to countries suffering from hunger and illness due to calamities, war and militarization. # Joel A. Capulong for NORDIS


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