Band Aid Dilema

November 30, 2004 4:18 AM

Sick of Charity Records? You know it's for a good cause, you want to help, but god, don't charity records stink? Well, here's the answer. Buy the record whilst maintaining some (musical) dignity.
posted by qwerty155 (10 comments total)

I see the appeal, but if people just gave the money directly to charity instead we won't have them releasing another shit version in ten years time. Counting production costs and waste of resources, I'd opt for this instead.

It is possible to give directly to the Band Aid trust. Just get in touch with them.
posted by nthdegx at 4:38 AM on November 30, 2004

BBC has had some good stuff on this new version, including a comparison of the lineups past and present (most of the people in the new version are unknown here in the US, as opposed to last time), and reader comments (mostly bad). I won't even link to their pathetic attempt at blogging the process of making it.
posted by amberglow at 5:56 AM on November 30, 2004

And somewhere i had read that they actually did another one in 89? With Kylie Minogue?
posted by amberglow at 5:58 AM on November 30, 2004

Yes. That was terrible too. The line-up was abysmal, but at least there was no need to expect very much from it.
posted by nthdegx at 6:20 AM on November 30, 2004

I always feel that if the celebrities involved put their money straight into the charidee involved instead, they'd probably raise more money.
posted by Auz at 6:40 AM on November 30, 2004

amberglow, you can compare the three versions here
Of course this isn't an entirely british disease

I've got to say, that on the whole I don't tend to have a great deal of time (musically speaking) for the people that get involved with these projects, the only exception is maybe Bob Geldof himself. I just wince at being force fed a truly awful piece of music incessantly for a couple of months.

This on the other hand is a whole different ball game.
posted by qwerty155 at 7:03 AM on November 30, 2004

Charity recordings aren't just about raising money, they're about raising profile. Which allows other people to raise money, as well.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:05 AM on November 30, 2004

That cover art in the first link is so shockingly bad. If anyone else had done it, it would be offensive.

"Look Rudolph, a dessicated Sudanese boy! Maybe we can put him in Santa's workshop and force him to assemble U2 iPods!"
posted by fungible at 7:44 AM on November 30, 2004

Charity recordings aren't just about raising money, they're about raising profile. Which allows other people to raise money, as well.

That, and gettin' toasted. Nicely toasted.
posted by gompa at 9:51 PM on November 30, 2004

thanks, qwerty--the first one is undeniably the best (but i must have heard it 700 times this week alone--in stores, delis, even my office building's lobby...)
posted by amberglow at 6:05 AM on December 1, 2004