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Original poster

I never look for offense, but "Do They Know its Christmas Tume" lyrics...

427 replies

SecondUsername4me · 23/12/2023 20:41

I mean, it's a bit iffy right?

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time,The greatest gift they'll get this year is life

The whole of Africa?

Where the only water flowing, Is the bitter sting of tears

On the whole continent?

Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

Err.....

OP posts:
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7
10yDrama · 23/12/2023 21:38

Yes obviously problematic.

But I always interpret "thank god it's them instead of you" as:

"Count your lucky stars you weren't born into that life, now do use that gratitude to help them" and assume that's how it was meant to be interpreted. Sort of worded purposely to sound callous and stir emotion?

aSwarmOfMidgies · 23/12/2023 21:38

It's easy to critisize but in the days before internet people didn't know about the horror in Ethiopia and they didn't know how to prevent such tragedy but they tried and the heart was in the right place ; so it is looking for offence to read insult and ignorance in someone trying to do good

thegirlwithemousyhair · 23/12/2023 21:38

43ontherocksporfavor · 23/12/2023 20:53

It was written at the time of famine in Ethiopia so everyone at the time( I was a teen) understood Africa to refer to that famine. ‘ Tonight thank god it’s them’ refers to thank god it’s them that’s getting help . It was a charity song that raised millions to help the Ethiopian people.What is wrong with you???

Exactly. Once again, people love to take things out of context. The song was a response to an horrific famine in Africa and was made in a hurry in order to raise funds to save lives. Try contemplating events in their historical context instead of getting preachy and sanctimonious because its not politically correct by today's standards, if you can call them that. There was a bigger objective at the time and it wasn't about making songs that would be acceptable to the self-serving virtue signalling of the future.

whynotwhatknot · 23/12/2023 21:38

every year this comes up-does it matter its nearly 40 years old

but its ok to play wet ass pussy?

Tacotortoise · 23/12/2023 21:39

Frabbits · 23/12/2023 21:37

It's a shit song which is both incredibly patronising and reductive, and the whole self-righteous attitude of that twat Geldof is incredibly nauseating.

The way the money was distributed was also highly dubious, with much of it ending up in the hands of highly corrupt governments rather than actually doing any good.

Edited

Which governments were those out of interest?

Youregoingthewrongway · 23/12/2023 21:39

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

This has got to be one of my favourite posts of all time.

43ontherocksporfavor · 23/12/2023 21:39

FFS! Someone tries to shake up the system and help so some know it alls can cast doubt some 40 years later.🙄

43ontherocksporfavor · 23/12/2023 21:40

And it’s ok to play Michael effin Jackson???

Vinrouge4 · 23/12/2023 21:42

Snowflakecookie1989 · 23/12/2023 21:17

I always thought the "tonight thank god it's them, instead of you" was another way of saying "There but for the grace of god..." Kind of thing ?

That’s because you are intelligent.

Jonisaysitbest · 23/12/2023 21:42

In people in 1984 were over analysing things that happened 40 years before they would be looking at 1944 and WW2. Thoughts, beliefs and attitudes change over time and let's be glad they do.
Bit of a daft, pointless post really

CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 23/12/2023 21:42

I don't disagree generally really but "tonight thank god it's them, instead of you" is essentially a rewording of "there but for the grace of god go I".

AlecTrevelyan006 · 23/12/2023 21:43

anyway, its funny how nearly everyone on it (apart form the sadly deceased George Michael) is still active in the industry, still filling huge venues and headlining festivals while those who have appeared on subsequent versions have almost all disappeared.

MistyCoco · 23/12/2023 21:43

Well-intentioned but ultimately damaging appears to be the assessment 40 years on. There’s a good summary here
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/30-years-on-ethiopia-and-business-of-hunger/

SoupDragon · 23/12/2023 21:44

Every year this gets dragged up 🙄

MrsTerryPratchett · 23/12/2023 21:44

TeacherPlease · 23/12/2023 21:34

This thread has reminded me to make my annual donation to clean water charities in Africa in memory of a relative who cared deeply about the cause, so it is still raising charitable funds nearly 40 years later.

And I am grateful for being born in a first world country with all the privilege that brings. And while I wish they wasn’t anyone starving anywhere, I wouldn’t swap places with them, so by extension I am thankful that it is them instead of me. And I don’t see how anyone cannot be thankful for that, so I’m not really sure why people find that so offensive. It’s uncomfortable to recognise and address, yes… but it is - and should be - true.

Yes. Along with the Anti-Malaria Foundation and the Fistula Foundation, my personal favourites. Because with time and reading and the internet, we can choose charities with good aims, local staff, low admin costs.

OP, rather than judge, will you donate?

jacks90 · 23/12/2023 21:45

What horrible lyrics, is there anyone here who thinks Christmas songs in general should be banned, 30 years of this!

TooOldForThisNonsense · 23/12/2023 21:45

Yes they are fairly awful but as has been said, it's of its time.

SemperIdem · 23/12/2023 21:46

AlecTrevelyan006 · 23/12/2023 21:43

anyway, its funny how nearly everyone on it (apart form the sadly deceased George Michael) is still active in the industry, still filling huge venues and headlining festivals while those who have appeared on subsequent versions have almost all disappeared.

I think that shows how well intentioned and of the moment the original participants were. Later covers felt more like celebrities trying to make a buck and raise their profile, whilst appearing charitable.

TrinityTinselToes · 23/12/2023 21:47

thegirlwithemousyhair · 23/12/2023 21:38

Exactly. Once again, people love to take things out of context. The song was a response to an horrific famine in Africa and was made in a hurry in order to raise funds to save lives. Try contemplating events in their historical context instead of getting preachy and sanctimonious because its not politically correct by today's standards, if you can call them that. There was a bigger objective at the time and it wasn't about making songs that would be acceptable to the self-serving virtue signalling of the future.

Edited
Show quote history

Well Said

ConnieCroydon · 23/12/2023 21:47

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Suchardchoccy · 23/12/2023 21:48

Oh here we go, it's a classic Christmas song get over it. I bet all of you saying it's wrong also don't like the ORIGINAL fairytale of new York 🥱

LakeTiticaca · 23/12/2023 21:48

AlecTrevelyan006 · 23/12/2023 21:43

anyway, its funny how nearly everyone on it (apart form the sadly deceased George Michael) is still active in the industry, still filling huge venues and headlining festivals while those who have appeared on subsequent versions have almost all disappeared.

That's because all the subsequent covers have been shite 😉

PurplePansy05 · 23/12/2023 21:48

bjs2310 · 23/12/2023 20:45

I'm from Africa and was living there when this song first came out. I hate it as a lot of patronising bollocks! Show me where the money raised from this song was spent and whose lives it changed and I might change my mind, but until then I cringe every time it is played Hmm

I'm not of African origin but I still cringe at the lyrics to this song so hard and often wonder where all the money went from this and other initiatives over the years, indeed.

stomachameleon · 23/12/2023 21:48

I was six when Michael Burkes report was on tv and it was like nothing we had seen before. People forget information wasn't beamed into a phone 24 hours a day.

It raised a lot of money quickly and that's what I chose to take from it.

Ps I am not old.

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