"Among those watching was Irish musician Bob Geldof, who became determined to help in the only way he knew how. Thus began an unlikely pairing of pop music and activism that would inspire other charity singles like 'We Are the World' and lead to the historic Live Aid concerts. The iconic Christmas single, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', was written by Geldof and Midge Ure. It would raise £8m for Ethiopia within a year and forever changed the relationship between charity and celebrity."
"The iconic Christmas single, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', was written by Geldof and Midge Ure. It would raise £8m for Ethiopia within a year and forever changed the relationship between charity and celebrity. While few would query the spirit of the original project, today there are many who question whether the lyrics are a relic best left in the past? Ellen Coyne is joined by John Meagher to mark 40 years of a song that changed the world."
Irish musician Bob Geldof reacted to televised events by organizing a musical response that paired pop music with activism. That initiative inspired other charity singles and culminated in the historic Live Aid concerts. The Christmas single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' was written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and raised £8m for Ethiopia within a year. The project altered the relationship between celebrity and charity. Contemporary voices question whether the song's lyrics are outdated or problematic. Ellen Coyne and John Meagher mark 40 years of the song in a podcast first released in December 2024.
Read at Irish Independent
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