Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?
This clever charity song came out a few years ago, but I'm still obsessed with it. It's a funny tune with some surprising starpower behind it, a conglomeration of performers known as the North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative (NAHPI) including Thurston Moore, Beck, Karen O, The Arcade Fire, and of course, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark! All proceeds go to UNICEF.
Now the song is also a satire, a plea to third world countries to save North America from all the frights of the Hallowe'en season (and don't forget that apostrophe between the e's, people - it adds to the spook factor). It's a criticism of "patronizing, ethnocentric" charity songs such as Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" which has long been thought to be insensitive to the African cultures they set out to help. Frankly, while I see that point, I kind of happen to love "Do They Know It's Christmas," the arrangements and composition and the performing artists. I do wonder how much of an impact Bob Geldoff's work has had in combatting African poverty.
In any case, this song is wicked and wonderful. Buy it here if it pleases you 
or enjoy the youtube clip above.
or enjoy the youtube clip above. AUTHOR TAGS:
do they know it's halloween, unicef, live aid, band aid, we are the world, do they know it's christmas, bob geldoff, chillerpop, open salon, salon, horror, terror, horror movies, horror fiction, fiction,music, gothic, spooky, fright, belief/religion, travel, 31 days of halloween, samhainYOUR TAGS:
AddTIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Comments
"One can have great concern for the people of Ethiopia, but it's another thing to inflict daily torture on the people of England. It was an awful record considering the mass of talent involved. And it wasn't done shyly, it was the most self-righteous platform ever in the history of popular music."
Whatever you think of the song though, Bob Geldof, the man who said “to die of want in a world of surplus is not only intellectually wrong it is morally repulsive,” has been involved in combatting poverty in Africa since Live Aid and his efforts continue to make a difference.
Midwest Muse - I hear you about the "certain age" and the memories...I am there as well. And yes, I've heard SY's superstar and it's creepy and I love it - I'm just bugged by Thurston's emphasis on the "I REALLY do" line, as opposed to Karen Carpenter's longer and sweeter "Iiii reeeally doooo". That's entirely my problem, though.