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Posted: Wed, 17th Nov 2004 09:00 Post subject: Band Aid 20's low-key style |
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You might have hated it at the time. But over the past 20 years, Do They Know It's Christmas? has attained a mythical glow.
Looking back, it seemed right for the time - each artist playing to his or her individual strengths, right down to a younger Bono's anguished "tonight thank God it's them, instead of you".
You may wince when the old video is dragged out, or when you hear it in the shops on Christmas Eve. But the song - and the moment - remains unforgettable.
Two decades on, an older Bono repeats his starring role on the Band Aid 20 single - but memories of this track may not be so rosy.
The 21st Century Band Aid is more low-key than the original. Tinkling pianos kick it off, before Chris Martin - a man who couldn't oversell a lyric if he tried - opens the song. So far, so good.
Then Dido's flat vocals kick in - leaving Robbie Williams little room to put some much-needed energy into the line, "but say a prayer...".
With Fran Healy and the Sugababes following, once again there is little space for The Darkness' Justin Hawkins to pick up the pace, and Bono merely ambles through the famous line he first sang in 1984.
Anonymous stars
Band Aid 20's greatest challenge is to fit a group of singers who differ greatly from those who appeared on the original into a template first laid down 20 years ago.
So, rather than playing to their strengths, the double-acts of Will Young and Jamelia, Ms Dynamite and Beverley Knight sound anonymous.
The biggest crime, though, has to be Dizzee Rascal's rapping, which sounds as risible as John Barnes did on New Order's 1990 England World Cup anthem, World In Motion.
At least that was meant to be funny, this is, unfortunately, embarrassing.
The track settles down by the final chorus, led by Keane's Tom Chaplin and Chris Martin - who, along with Joss Stone, are the real stars of this version.
But by then it's too late. The record ends with applause - which sadly gives the impression of being self-congratulatory.
Criticising this feels like beating up Father Christmas, but while the original carried atmosphere, this just feels bland.
Perhaps this group of younger, talented acts should have been left to come up with their own composition, rather than being made to follow the style of a previous generation.
But all this criticism is trifling when set against the good this record's sales should do, and it is unlikely to tarnish memories of the original.
And remember the 1989 Band Aid II version? It's still better than that.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4015337.stm?display=1
this new release realy is a big crock of shit and if it makes christmas no1 in the uk charts then something will have been manipulated.
Ive not spoken to a single person whos liked it yet .
The results of the BBC poll at the above link currently stand like this :
Which was the best Band Aid single?
The 1984 original
88%
1989's Band Aid II
5%
The 2004 version
7%
20478 Votes Cast
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Lutzifer
Modzilla
Posts: 12740
Location: ____________________ **** vegan zombie **** GRRAAIIINNSS _______
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Posted: Wed, 17th Nov 2004 16:09 Post subject: |
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i hate all the christmas songs alike. All this stupid holiday season crap one is bombarded with for like three months is unbearable and only shows how fucked up capitalistic the whole thing has become (not from a family point of view, but from how everybody and his aunt tries to make a buck from the christmas spirit (the best characterisation of this hypocrisy is still southpark's jesus vs. santa battle))
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Esel_Gesi
VIP Member
Posts: 3802
Location: Chicago
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Posted: Wed, 17th Nov 2004 22:47 Post subject: |
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Lutzifer wrote: | i hate all the christmas songs alike. All this stupid holiday season crap one is bombarded with for like three months is unbearable and only shows how fucked up capitalistic the whole thing has become (not from a family point of view, but from how everybody and his aunt tries to make a buck from the christmas spirit (the best characterisation of this hypocrisy is still southpark's jesus vs. santa battle)) |
well its unfortunate that it has become capitalistic but me and my family still celebrate christmas for why it truely exists. Santa's Birthday 
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Posted: Wed, 17th Nov 2004 23:57 Post subject: |
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Voodoo-child wrote: | movin to proper forum  |
It was a proper forum as its world news about feeding the starving in Africa. Unfortunately by releasing this crap Im afraid they are going to remain hungry because not many people will be buying this halfhearted rushed excuse for a record.
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Posted: Thu, 18th Nov 2004 00:10 Post subject: |
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Band Aid 20 sucks. They should have either re-released the original song, or created a completely new track.
I actually laughed when I heard Dizzee Rascal break into his rap. Talk about spoiling an otherwise quite melodic song.
One radio station in the UK has banned it from its airwaves after being flooded with callers complaining about the song. Lets hope the rest follow. I'm all for buying songs for charity, but lets face it - its not actually going to help anyone, is it? IIRC the profits from the original Band Aid song went straight to the Government that was starving the people in Africa.
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