To think I'm right on this one

[twiney]

Love:
Band Aid - the original. Star studded, catchy, love watching Bono diva his way through his "big line" which I bet he fought tooth and nail to get!
For something a little more soulful, Walking in the Air. Beautiful, mystical, just perfect.

Hate:
All i want for Christmas (is you): fuck off Mariah, Christmas isn't about you and what you want and getting your leg over.
Santa Baby: see above. And Santa isn't a "cutie". Also, infantilising women much?

Remind me, what was Bono's big line? I've had a blank on it. All I can recall is Paul Young singing his lovely heart out, Bananarama looking fabulous and Boy George warbling throughout.

"Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you"

Which from the distance of 30-odd years just sounds callous, though it wasn't meant to be =)

@QuinoaKeen

Its when he really goes for it: "well tonight thank god its them instead of you"!

Just watching the video now. God young sting was hot.

Oh yes. So earnest.

I want to punch Mariah in the face!

@scampimom
Totally!

Also they probably did have snow in africa that Christmas time.

I love the original Band Aid too! Whenever I hear "and there wont be snow in Africa this Christmas time, the biggest gift they'll get this year is liiiiife!" I just burst out laughing although I'm sure that wasn't the original intention. It just comes across as so patronising nowadays!

Bono - earnest. Not young Sting.

However young Sting cannot hold a candle to young or old Paul Young.

Hate band aid.
"there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time"

Ummm yes actually It will.

@QuinoaKeen
Keep an eye out for him if you ever see the video again. He does a whole "silent scream" gurning thing and this massive shoulder shrugging, like he's struggling to contain his epic voice.

Did you know what Mariah gets paid every time that awful song is played on the radio?!
£375.000!!
If she gave a years worth to Band Aid they wouldn't have needed the song!

I liked the extended version on the record where they all talked in the middle bit. Anyone else remember that?
Midge Ure and others saying feed the world and such.

Watching now. Gosh Phil Collins has always looked like Phil Collins hasn't he?

If she gave a years worth to Band Aid they wouldn't have needed the song!

If any of them did.

Liam Neeson on telly adverts for children in Syria "please give £3 a month". His estimated net worth in 2017 - £75 million.

@QuinoaKeen
Haha! You're right he has!

What struck me watching again and the final sequences, is how everyone's (particularly the women) outfits are so unsexualised. Just make-up and baggy jumpers.

@twiney yes but they didn't let any of the women have a line? Weird.

Also spotted Paula Yates in the film clip. Sad. And lovely George Michael.

I hate the band aid song. 'do they know it's Christmas?'. Well not everyone in Africa is Christian are they so wouldn't celebrate Christmas anyway. Oh, and there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time...well, that's to do with the climate and there won't be snow in plenty of other countries either.

I hate the Band Aid song more and more every year. It's horrible in every metric. In fact it's the only Christmas song I have any strong feelings about.

The band aid song is fucking awful.

"well tonight thank god its them instead of you"

Charming

All of you saying "yes there will be snow in Africa" - where exactly? Other than possibly the top of Kili. December is the hottest month in sub-Saharan Africa, it's unlikely there will be any snow anywhere.

And I can't help but like it despite the fact it's unbearably facile and patronising. It's the childhood memories I think!

Tinselistacky

That's probably per year, there is no song that gives royalties of 375 grand whenever a song is played on the radio!!

Bono didn't want to sing that line, but when it became the iconic line from the song, he insisted on doing it for the remakes ever since.

The Band Aid song came on the radio when I was driving with my friend yesterday. She is from Ivory Coast. It was truly awful listening to the lyrics.

She said, I hope my parents will be ok on Christmas day, they might not be able to hear themselves over the 'clanging chimes of doom' and she wants to name a Christmas cocktail 'bitter sting of tears'.

Such a terrible song.

Since it was written recorded produced and distributed more or less over a weekend, in pre digital days, I think they can be forgiven for some of the more clunky lines. I assume radio plays and sales are still fund raising today?

The lyrics were not meant to be literal And what is wrong with telling people to be grateful for what they have?

It does snow in Africa btw.