What's your favorite 80s charity single?

[bbernardini]

I've been watching DVDs of the unedited BBC broadcast of the original Live Aid, and I got to thinking of the various singles that came out around that time. What's your favorite? (I've limited this poll to the English language releases I can remember, as I don't know the titles of the various European contributions to the cause, and they all suck, IMHO.)

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. "Do They Know it's Christmas" in my opinion. "We are the World" was

just an American attempt to jump on the political bandwagon. :hi:

[eyesroll]

13. "Do They Know It's Christmas" bugged me, because I figured the

"they" weren't Christian and thus didn't care.

I liked the Superbowl Shuffle. (I grew up in the Chicago area.) Proceeds from that went to charity, right?

[Yollam]

33. There are a lot of Christians in Africa.

But that's not what it's really about, is it? It's about the fact that while some of us are celebrating in comfort with friends and family, others are in agony. The Christmas trappings are just a way of making the point because they were the most universal thing at the time in the UK. You could substitute Thanksgiving here in the US, or any other family-oriented feast-holiday, depending on the audience.

[eyesroll]

34. I was 9 and a literalist.

As an adult, I know what the point of the song is.

[johnnie]

14. Was that a bad thing?

:shrug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. Yes. and No. As a teen, it disgusted me. If it made money, which it

did, it was a good thing. The song just sucked it up in my opinion. :shrug:

[johnnie]

16. I wasn't big on the song

But even back then I was all for helping to feed people around the world any way possible. I bought the single and never played it. I still have it in its original sleeve.

In my opinion, those times were really exciting to see all the benefits that were going on to help other people around the world and here in the United States. The Reagan administration was doing nothing and it took a shitload of entertainers to start all the different benefits.

We are the World raised millions of dollars and I thought it was a great thing for those people to do. I wasn't a fan of 99% of the people that participated in that recording, but I gave them all credit for donating their time. I'm not arguing your opinion, just typing in mine. :)

[billyskank]

2. "Everybody Wants To Run The World" was pretty good

the modified version of Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears.

[swag]

3. "Sun City" by "Artists United Against Apartheid"

[bbernardini]

4. Thanks. I added it.

[billyskank]

5. Why not Everybody Wants To Run The World?

:shrug:

[bbernardini]

6. Because I've never heard of it.

But I'll add it just for you.

[billyskank]

10. It was in aid of "Sport Aid" famine relief campaign

it was released in 1986.

[swag]

11. Oh, thanks.

I figure with Miles Davis and Melle Mel, you got no complaints.

[TheBaldyMan]

7. "Free Nelson Mandela" by various artists

including The Specials, The Beat and Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

It's about the only charity record that I would even consider buying as a record rather than performing a good deed. I think they even had a few of the Skatalites in the brass section.

[bbernardini]

8. Added!

[Richardo]

18. I loved that song.

Used to hear it on KBCO in Boulder throughout the 80s.

[Arugula Latte]

23. Love that song ... I play it on my iPod frequently.

Freeeeeeeeeeeeee Nelson Man-deeeeh-laaahhh!

[terrya]

9. I liked the "Red, Hot and Blue" project.

It was a group of musicians doing their own take on Cole Porter songs...the project benefited AIDS research. I bought the cd and liked almost everything on it.

[TheBaldyMan]

12. I liked Neneh Cherry's version of 'I got you under my skin'

but to be honest that's got more to do with Neneh than the song. :drool:

[Richardo]

19. Good one, terrya

I forgot about that one. :thumbsup:

[terrya]

28. Only problem is, Richardo, it wasn't from the 80's.

I recall it was from the early 90's.

Ah, well. It's STILL a good choice. :-)

I especially liked Deborah Harry and Iggy Pop's version of "Well, Did You Evah?"

[blondeatlast]

21. Some real standouts

The Pogues/Kirsty MacColl's (sp?) "Miss Otis Regrets/Just One of Those Things" and Erasure's "Too Darn Hot" are outstanding.

I just bought a Cole Porter compilation by the great singers (Ella, Nat King Cole, Keely Smith, Satchmo) because of it. Fantastic!

[CanuckAmok]

17. "We're Sending Our Love Down the Well" - Krusty and Friends

n/t

[Coventina]

20. "All the way down!"

LOL!

:thumbsup:

[Hugin]

22. I actually did the "Hands Across America" thing...

My Dad insisted. Misguided, yet, well meaning liberal that he is.

[xmas74]

24. I did it too.

It was worth a shot.

[Hugin]

25. .

:thumbsup:

:pals:

[xmas74]

26. Thanks.

[Taverner]

27. What about HearN'Aid?

[bbernardini]

29. It's on there now.

[noonwitch]

30. Sun City

Although I can't watch anything with Steve van Zandt now without picturing him chasing poor Adriana and killing her.

[HughBeaumont]

31. Sun City . . . because of it's killer editing.

5000000 times the song "We Are the World" is, features Run DMC, plus it opens with Miles Davis' beautiful trumpet. The album it comes off of is not bad either.

[Yollam]

32. "Do They Know It's Christmas" is the best song.

I like it on its own merits.