So we've got this new Band Aid record.

The line up smacks of credibility: Keane, The Thrills, Snow Patrol, that bird off Morcheeba, Chris Martin. Pop is represented by Bedingfields v.1 and v.2, Will Young, Jamelia, Sugababes and Busted. And Rachel Stevens.

But my question is this: rather than enlisting all of the credible rock acts and pop stars, wouldn't have it been more sensible to enlist uncredible acts who are guaranteed to sell singles, i.e. the dreaded Westlife, or even Sam & Mark? And apparently the new recording is awful anyway! So what was the point?

It's like the organisers have lost any semblance of sense in this entire thing: it's meant to be about aiding Africa rather than creating a nice record that people might buy. A journalist on a site I visit went on a Sam & Mark messageboard, asking whether people would buy the record. The poll choices were:

Yes
No
Yes, if Sam & Mark had been on it.

Only four people voted in this poll, which speaks volumes in itself, but the thinking was: if these four people represented 200,000 potential buyers, that's half of them lost because their teen idols - however terrible they may be - aren't on the record.

What's going on, Mr Geldof?

cheerio!

I think they should have had some of the originals on there as well. I mean most of them are on tour now as they have all pretty much re-formed.

I heard the record this morning on radio 2, but having been around when the original happened, my mind just kept going back to the video of that one and seeing all my idols on there, so I didn't think this one would match up to it.

I was watching the interviews on TV last night or the night before, and one of the girls, (couldn't tell you her name) had to call another girl over to help her remember the name of the guy who started it all, Bob Geldoff! :ohmy: It made me wonder whether these people really knew what it was all about, or is it just another notch for them.

I just saw that on the entertainment news Tigger, I was shocked:ohmy:

Actually this is the 3rd band aid record. Can anyone remember the 1989 one that featured Rick Astley, Luke Goss, Kylie, Jason Donovan amongst others. Now that one was truly awful.

Edited to add, apparently the bookies aren't taking any bets on this being no. 1 for Xmas cause it probably will. So we know what we'll be watching on Xmas day TOTP.

Well I didn't buy either of the previous ones so I doubt I will buy it.

Personally i wont be buying it. I loved the original, and a Christmas CD wouldnt be a Christmas CD without it on there.

I think, if they wanted to do a song for charity then they should of written a new one. Doing a remake seems somewhat pointless.

help her remember the name of the guy who started it all, Bob Geldoff! :ohmy: .
And she ended up calling him Bob Gandolph!!:laugh: :laugh:


It may have been Jamelia - who was only 3 when the first one was released, now she has a three year old herself - I thought that was quite sweet!

It was Joss Stone who couldnt remember his name.

I can see what you are saying Scooby, but I don't think it would have made much difference regarding it's initial success and therefore the money raised for charity.

Yes, it would be in a few weenies Xmas stockings if say Sam & Mark were on it, but the original had a long lasting appeal partly because of the 'credible' artists. Maybe they are looking for the same format this time around though it might be difficult to reach the 8million sold by version1. Wasn't the original re-released a few years back?

I haven't heard it yet so can't comment on it's merits as a musical piece. It's always difficult to a later version with something you've grown up because it's never as good. Who gets to sing the immortal lines, 'tonight thank God it's them instead of you'. Please tell me it isn't Robbie!

But at the end of the day, it doesn't particularly matter how good or bad it is as long as it sells by the bucketload and raises money for the starving in Sudan.

Who gets to sing the immortal lines, 'tonight thank God it's them instead of you'. Please tell me it isn't Robbie!
It finally went to Bono.
But apparently Justin Hawkes of the Darkness had recorded it first, but Bono really wanted it, so he got it.

It finally went to Bono.
But apparently Justin Hawkes of the Darkness had recorded it first, but Bono really wanted it, so he got it.
I heard it the other way around. Bono recorded his bit (the line you mentioned) from his studio in Ireland, but when the artists got to the studio Justin recorded the line too.

Justin then went on the news all smug saying how he sang it better, and that Bono "needed the line" but he now hasnt got it.

Im glad that Bono kept the line as i feel its his. Im also glad that he is in the new line up and he has been around in music for a blummin long time and still sells squillions of records.

I just find the whole Bob Geldof thing nauseating. Like Bono, he's one of those people who is trying SOOOOOOO hard to be serious and sincere all the time that I just don't buy it. I think he does what he does purely so he can be as santimonious as he likes, look down his nose at everyone else, and bleat on about what a "good guy" he is for looking after the world. Get lost Bob, you really do my head in!!

Blimey, all those egos in one room, fighting for the 'good' lines. What a sham(e) :wink2:

[QUOTE=Bonsai]I heard it the other way around. Bono recorded his bit (the line you mentioned) from his studio in Ireland, but when the artists got to the studio Justin recorded the line too.

Justin then went on the news all smug saying how he sang it better, and that Bono "needed the line" but he now hasnt got it.
[QUOTE]

Firstly Justin obviously needs to get over himself, secondly who in the name of Peter Andre thought it was a good idea for the falsetto voiced Justin Hawkins to record such an emotive line :glare: and thirdly, what a bag of utter ****** the record is. I heard it this morning on Radio One and it was embarrassingly bad.

The rap part is excrutiating; Joss Stone is screeching and warbling throughout - shudder ....

A mixture of passion, melodrama and grumpysoddiness, Bob Geldof is OK in my book. He has raised the profile of fathers conned out of their children at a time when it is non-PC to do so, and is entirely unapologetic for standing up for what he believes in. If he wrings a few hundred thou out for the starving and ravaged of Darfur and elsewhere, then good on him.

No doubt he has too high an opinion of himself, but I can forgive him that.

I Agree The Song Has Been Ruined Especially With That Stupid Rap Part Talk About Bringing It Into This Century But Its Pants Shame Its For Charity Dont Think There Gonna Raise That Much No Ones Gonna Buy It!

Well, I like it and it is in a good cause after all! So what if it's a cover version? So many releases these days are cover versions it's quite a novelty to hear an original song.

I would imagine it'll be number 1 for Crimbo which will hopefully keep the eventual winner of X Factor off the top spot.

As for Bob Geldof, I think he's great.

I would imagine it'll be number 1 for Crimbo which will hopefully keep the eventual winner of X Factor off the top spot.
.

Seeing the word 'Crimbo' made me think of Bo Selectas song last Christmas. I loved that :wink2: Apparently he is doing a new one this year :wink2:

Sorry, just some useless trivia info there :mellow:

Well, I like it and it is in a good cause after all! So what if it's a cover version? So many releases these days are cover versions it's quite a novelty to hear an original song.

I would imagine it'll be number 1 for Crimbo which will hopefully keep the eventual winner of X Factor off the top spot.


It won't, actually - the X Factor winner is releasing in the New Year. Le sigh.

I really don't think there's anything wrong with this being a cover. They could be singing about a bread bin for all I care - all they need is artists who are going to sell.

cheerio!

I think it's pants myself.

I have tried to like it, but having such vivid memories of the original, i cannot.
Some of you will not have been around for the original so judge for yourselves.
*Please excuse the site, i am in transition to christmas mode.*

http://www.freewebs.com/secrets33/dotheyknow1984.htm


http://www.freewebs.com/secrets33/dotheyknow2004.htm

This new version isn't really that good is it? I loved the begining of the old version, those first few bars were really good, but even that has been taken away. And what on earth is with the rap crap in the middle, it is just awful? Even the video is pants, it is so staged. The first one, there was no time for anyone's egos to get in the way, no time for make-up or to find yourself what recording studio you wanted first.

Justin Hawkins.............who? I had to aks myself this, is there ever a man who is more self-obsessed, imagine him thinking he was better than Bono? Don't make me laugh!

Yeah, Bob Geldolf can be a right pain in the a$%* sometimes but he has raised the profile of what is happening in the world and that really isn't a bad thing is it? The song on the other is................I think if they had got all the original artists back to re-record this record would have done better. I hardly know anybody on this new one, I feel like how my mum must have felt when the original came out..........OMG, I am so ancient! :ninja: I think rather than buy the single I will just give a donation to the charity, I just don't like it.

I like Bob too! He is a treasure.

I haven't heard the single yet and I doubt I will hear it on Radio 4 either!!! god I'm such a fogey!

I loved the spontanaeity of the first single and the messy mob in the studio singing it. It is a record that easily has me in tears, the original is just so brilliant and so of it's time.

I loved the spontanaeity of the first single and the messy mob in the studio singing it. It is a record that easily has me in tears, the original is just so brilliant and so of it's time.
Well said Dol:)

thing is, how much of the money raised will actually benefit these poor people. i know that countries in africa have very corrupt governments.

thing is, how much of the money raised will actually benefit these poor people. i know that countries in africa have very corrupt governments.

I think that goes for this country too, to a certain extent. When you think of the cock ups with the Diana Memorial Fund and how much the charities have lost out due to internal bickering and the unfair way the Lotto is handled. I'm totally disillusioned with all of them although it won't stop me contributing.

I've not heard a good word re the new Band Aid single, it sounds all wrong, from the rap in the middle to the Darkness inspired riffs - terrible. Plus even though I wasn't old enough to know the singers on the original, I'd heard the song so much over the years, I gradually began to recognise EVERY voice on there, I think 20 years of listening of the new version still wouldn't be enough time for me to dechiper who is singing now!

shouldn't this be in coffee lounge or Music its not a serious topic, is it? It was able to develop into a serious thread so I geuss its debatable.

Or perhaps it should be in 'news' as the whole concept of bandaid, the 20year anniversary, was one of the major newstories of 1984 and remains so today?