All Star Anti-Famine Effort Remembered
The Birth of a Movement
It was a call to arms, or as chief instigator Bob Geldof said at the time, when looking back at this epic human tragedy, he would like to say “not guilty”.
The Spark of Action
He was referring to the famine that had engulfed Ethiopia, causing its populace to literally starve in the 1980s while the world looked on. Aghast at the TV images of swollen–bellied children dying whilst covered in flies, Geldof was spurred into action.
Picking up the phone, the Boomtown Rats singer called a few of his pop star pals and the thing snowballed. Within days, a who’s who of pop music had agreed to convene at Sam West Studio in Notting Hill, London on November 25, 1984, to record an anti-famine single, entitled “Do They Know it’s Christmas?”
A Star-Studded Single
Written by Geldof and Midge Ure of Ultravox, the song featured vocal contributions from Bono (U2), Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran), Paul Young, Paul Weller, and many more pop stars of the day.
A Global Phenomenon
Released on December 7, 1984, it entered the UK Singles Chart at number one and outselling all the other records in the chart put together. It became the fastest-selling single of all time in the UK, selling a million copies in the first week alone. It stayed at number one for five weeks, selling over three million copies and becoming easily the biggest-selling single of all time in the UK, thus beating the seven-year record held by “Mull of Kintyr” by Wings. (That record has now been eclipsed by Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind”).
A Global Response
The success of “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” spurred US counterparts to put together USA for Africa, which recorded “We Are the World”. Featuring Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Ritchie (to name just a few) and produced by the late Quincy Jones, the all-star lineup matched Band Aid’s success by topping the US singles chart.
Live Aid: A Global Concert
However, Geldof was not done yet. Having seen the positive public reaction, he mooted the idea of two live concerts, to be held spontaneously at Wembley Stadium, London, UK, and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, US. It was the largest media event of the day, with the concerts broadcast live to over 180 countries. Please bear in mind that this was in the pre-internet age and live events were mainly restricted to sporting spectacles.
The concerts were all-day events featuring a bonanza cast, including David Bowie, Status Quo, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin. As a PR stunt, some artists were ferried across the Atlantic to perform at both venues via Concorde. The Wembley show will forever be remembered for Queen’s iconic performance that had the crowd clapping in unison for “Radio Ga Ga”.
A Lasting Impact
Band Aid and Live Aid combined raised about USD$150 million (RM666 million) for the famine relief effort in Ethiopia. The song and Band Aid have recently been criticized for oversimplifying the issue and that more needs to be done than just a merry sing-along. But as Geldof says, “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” saved millions of lives. The fact that he was spurred to do something is hugely commendable and started a wave of emergency aid to the stricken African nation.
Legacy Lives On
Clips of Queen’s iconic performance are abundant on YouTube, while “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” and “We Are the World” can be heard on all major streaming platforms.
Conclusion
The all-star anti-famine effort of 1984-85 will always be remembered as a pivotal moment in history, where the power of music and celebrity came together to make a difference in the lives of millions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the goal of the all-star anti-famine effort?
A: The goal was to raise funds and awareness for the famine relief effort in Ethiopia.
Q: How much money was raised?
A: Band Aid and Live Aid combined raised about USD$150 million (RM666 million) for the famine relief effort in Ethiopia.
Q: What were the key songs involved?
A: The key songs were “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” by Band Aid and “We Are the World” by USA for Africa.
Q: What were the key events involved?
A: The key events were the recording of the singles and the two live concerts, held at Wembley Stadium, London, UK, and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, US.