‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ gets Glee-ified to support fighting famine
Photo: Adam Rose/FOX
Back in 1984, I didn’t know much about the devastating famine in Ethiopia until I heard Band Aid’s single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” on the radio. As a teenager, it was amazing to hear so many new wave stars and British and Irish musicians on one song. It was a truly accessible way –- especially for younger people –- to learn about the famine in Ethiopia and how to be a voice for the world’s poorest. All holiday season long, everyone sang “Feed the Worrrr-ld,” and it was a smash single.
This year, there’s a new –- and devastating — famine in Africa, this time in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. And now, there’s a new version of the Band Aid single, courtesy of the cast of the TV show “Glee.” This season’s holiday show (which airs tonight in North America, tomorrow in Italy, Thursday in the UK and Friday in Ireland) will feature the “Glee” cast recreating “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The song is also featured on “Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Vol. 2″ on iTunes. All of the net proceeds from the single will support the Band Aid Charitable Trust.
Cr: Adam Rose/FOX
ONE advisor and advocate Bob Geldof, the song’s co-writer, said, “It could not be more timely now that Glee with its vast global audience of young people re-introduce it to a whole new constituency who are probably unaware of the great tragedy unfolding amongst the hungry, poor and dying of Somalia as a result of drought and a bitter and pointless civil war. This song was made specifically with that intent… This is entertainment with purpose.”
Glee’s latest feature video shows the making of the “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” single, with Bono and Sting discussing their involvement in the making of the original song. Watch the feature above and, if you live in North America, be sure to follow @ONECampaign on Twitter Tuesday night as we live-tweet during the show. We want to hear what this song means to you, so tell us on Twitter or leave a comment below.
Also, in case you missed the original (and where have you been since 1984???)
Watch our YouTube playlist on the Horn of Africa and “Glee” here. And learn more about the Horn of Africa crisis on ONE’s website.
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The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
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15/12/2011 at 12:33 pm
I was a teenage at that time too, after all this time, I grew up and keep asking myself:
“How long… How long must we sing this song. How long, how long?”
15/12/2011 at 8:00 pm
Wonderful idea….great way to get to the younger demographic with an important message!
17/12/2011 at 11:48 am
“Ainda há gente que não sabe, quando se levanta,
de onde virá a próxima refeição
e há crianças com fome que choram.”
(Nelson Mandela)
COMPARTILHANDO
Devemos os alimentos sólidos beber
E mastigar os líquidos lentamente
A sua saúde vai agradecer
E seu corpo ficará contente
Uma perfeita ingestão de vitaminas
Arroz com carne na refeição
Associando carboidratos e proteínas
Até macarrão combina com feijão
Metade da população passa fome
Enquanto outra metade faz regime
Querendo ser uma modelo de renome
Ou ser o ator principal no filme
Precisamos encontrar o meio termo
O corpo humano precisa do alimento
Ame seu próximo como a si mesmo
Minorando o seu sofrimento
Na África a criança dorme e acorda
Com fome, enquanto em outras nações.
Passam fome em nome da moda
Desviando o foco das atenções
Vamos acabar com a discriminação
O sol brilha para todos no nosso planeta
Igualmente temos direito a alimentação
Basta que os governantes usem a caneta.
Autor: José Carlos Gueta
http://poetadoabc.blogspot.com/
“Devemos comer os liquidos e beber os sólidos”
Esse é um ditado popular que chama atenção para o fato de que temos que comer devagar e mastigar bem, porque quem come muito rápido come mais quantidade de comida.