There are many reasons why I do not like the holiday season and I have spoken about many of them here. But there is a song that is played that I have to admit I enjoy, the original Band Aid version of Do They Know It is Christmas?.
Obviously it is not for religious reasons, it is more sentimental than anything else. I was in high school and there are some good memories attached to it. I looked up the list of the original performers and it made me smile as there are just more memories. I cannot say that I listened to all that many, but between my sisters, friends and girlfriends I heard them all.
- Bananarama
- Bob Geldof
- Culture Club
- David Bowie
- Duran Duran
- Eurythmics
- Frankie Goes to Hollywood
- Heaven 17
- Human League
- Kool and the Gang
- Midge Urge
- Paul McCartney
- Paul Young
- Phil Collins
- Spandau Ballet
- Status Quo
- Sting
- The Style Council
- U2
- Wham!
This effort led to Live Aid which I remember watching in Jerusalem at Champs Pub on Jaffa Street. That was one hell of an experience.
The Summer of ’85 is so much of what made me who I am today. But that is not what this post is about. Of course Live Aid eventually begat We are the World also known as USA for Africa. Here is a list of performers for that ditty:
- Kim Carnes
- Ray Charles
- Bob Dylan
- Daryl Hall
- James Ingram
- Michael Jackson
- Al Jarreau
- Billy Joel
- Cyndi Lauper
- Huey Lewis
- Kenny Loggins
- Willie Nelson
- Steve Perry
- Lionel Richie
- Kenny Rogers
- Diana Ross
- Paul Simon
- Bruce Springsteen
- Tina Turner
- Dionne Warwick
- Stevie Wonder
The thing that I appreciate about all of this is that it seemed to me then like these performers were truly interested in using their talent and celebrity to try and raise money for those who were less fortunate.
Ahhh…80’s music was the BEST! AND…best showcased on “The Wedding Singer” which does it the BEST! Today I got to listen to Wham!’s Christmas song…”Last Christmas” I think…awesome.
Anyway, I was standing in front of the Greengate Mall in Greensburg PA attached by each hand to a long chain of people. It was the thing to do!
During Hands Across America I was back in Los Angeles.
Bananarama? Spandau Ballet? Yeech, 80’s music really sucked. I’ll admit I love Band-Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” too. I still have the 45 and play it every now and then.
While I appreciated the effort behind “We Are the World,” I really thought the song was pretty bad.
So where were you during Hands Across America bubbie?
😉