BBC gives us the latest news about this year's Christmas pop charts, in "Wham! are Christmas number one for a second time."
It's funny to think of Wham and that charity duking it out over the decades. And right now, Wham has the moral high ground, because Band Aid's moralistic posturing became politically incorrect.
But Band Aid is still a charity. Shouldn't Ed Sheeran have registered his objection privately and accepted the flow of money to what presumably is still a reasonably good cause? Reading that linked article, I see that Sheeren cited a statement made by a rapper who, 10 years ago, declined to participate in Band Aid because things like that "perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa's economic growth, tourism, and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pride and identity."
The rapper, Fuse ODG, who is British-Ghanian, said "there's a way to do things without destroying our collective pride. There's a way to do things without it costing us in tourism, in investment, you know? We could make it more like a partnership - solidarity instead of charity."
The objection is surprisingly right wing! It repels tourists and investors.
That's different from the usual criticism from the left — that Band Aid is "colonial" and "more about making white people feel good than helping anyone."
"At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shame."
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58 comments:
You can go here to read why Wham! is on top : https://archive.ph/61VLg
So, had there been no song, Ethiopia and Somalia would have been tourist meccas. Got it.
The rapper doesn’t fit in because rap is not music.
Things are bad in Africa because of a terrible culture and a corrupt political system.
That’s quite the Christmas pudding of wallowing British elites…
Last Christmas is an execrable piece of crap making money hand over fist while the Philadelphia Orchestra this year can manage only two performances of Messiah so make of that what you will.
"This isn't Africa's century"
... and ann loves to host the old racists like Begly and the late Doc Kennedy. ann dont' like the niggers either and she'll take the old white racists money like any good hoor.
But don't you dare call her on it or drop "the n word" here.
It's kinda funny how the old white racists are about policing language like that. They're afraid some vulgar might pull back their sheet and reveal them as nigger haters who try to shame others to hide their own values...
Keep grabbing all the money you can
and killing off the sand niggers though...
You white people will win in the end. Ann can be your Joan of arc at the front with her sword leading the way... WHITENESS. lol
Professor... professor:
You made an error in the lyrics with your poor hearing"
WE LET IN LIGHT
AND WE BANISH SHADE (not shame. That's your own guilty White conscious mishearing ... lol. People asking for "tips" when they have plenty and should be busy spreading joy, not collecting cash from their white racistss who disparage African culture... HTH.)
Fix it please.
“That's different from the usual criticism from the left that critiques Band Aid as "colonial" and "more about making white people feel good than helping anyone." “
Well, making white people feel good is the expected response or result of making them feel bad. Tons of guilt-laden white people are victimized by the identity-focused crowd. That remorse-laden cash has to go somewhere.
We Let in LIGHT
and we banish SHADE...
(Cmon... when you get called on an error, you have to fix it, not double down proffy... Stop being such a boomer trying to spin the albums' meaning backwards because you hate Africans and their allegedly inferior culture as Begley says downthread. You have to have a racial reckoning, boomer... Today is as good a day as any. Know you know the right lyrics, no shame. lol)
I cannot argue that this list of Christmas music is extremely popular in general. However, I personally abhor pop Christmas music - the older songs due to their incessant replay loops on the radio, and the newer for the same reason plus the added banality of the music and lyrics themselves.
(OT - I wonder why the comment footer shows this post of having 26 comments, when at the time of my posting, there were only 6 actual posts)
Just come out and say it man, "I LIVE IN NEBRASKA AND I HATE NIGGERS"
Lol @ the old white man gasping for relevancy.. "Rap music=bad. Big black men (aka niggers) = scacy! That why I live in Nebraska, no niggers here!"
He loves your work, ann.
George Michael sang on "Do They Know it's Christmas"
"When Wham!, whose singer George Michael appeared on "Do They Know It's Christmas?", reached number two with their single "Last Christmas", they donated their royalties to the Band Aid Trust." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_They_Know_It%27s_Christmas%3F
That sounds rather racist, Dave.
Have you ever met any Black people you consider as equals in Nebraska? Don't you have Black professors at Creighton? Priests from Africa?
You believe Africa has a "terrible culture". Do you hate niggers, dave? Is this about your racial shame and fears... Let's explore shall we?
I''ll call you out on this even if the moderator will censor: African culture is rich and beautiful, Dave. You're talking out your dirty white asshole here with your belittling of african culture. You live in nebraska for a reason where ... isn't that where the corn palace is, your own cultural greatness?) lol dumb ass says afric has a terrible culture and the white people running this blog nod and nod, TIp US for the Safe place on the webs to say that begley. Your racist twiddle has a home here!
The simple solution is for the nations of Africa to simply refuse the monies from the charities to uphold their pride and to push back against “colonialism
“ or what ever buzz word is popular at the moment.
Of course that means most of it won’t end up in someone’s Swiss Bank account which would be a tragedy.
…and you white people better not think that excludes the rapper- they’re some of the haughtiest…
As long as people - who have nothing to do with Africa - don’t feel offended then it’s all good.
The only concern I have about Last Christmas is avoiding the original by Wham for 3 more days. This is the farthest I have gotten in Whamageddon in 5 years of trying! Wish me luck!
Sam Kinison: “We’ve been driving out here with your food for the last 34 years…”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OFqUAtZgQbI
There is something a bit weird and ignorant about asking whether Ethiopia, the oldest and most historically Christian nation in Africa, knows it's Christmas.
“Do they know it’s Christmas time at all (home)” is a surprising good line, coupled with the “(shame) shade” noted above. If you aren’t listening carefully, you can hear ‘home’ instead of ‘all’.
Dont like it, too many notes. No seriously, like most post 1980 songs "the beat" is too loud, the voices are too loud, and the lyrics are banal. Grump grump. Of course, given its 2024, this is Granddad music.
It's be nice if some Rock and Roll singers would do a concert to help the poor starving people in Gaza, who have been bombed and blockaded. Do they have the guts? I doubt it. Their hearts bleed, but their pocketbooks overrule that. Even for the Left.
Reading the article, the only songs to have hit number one on this list are "Do They Know Its Christmas," "Last Christmas," and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."
How is that last one a Christmas song?
McCartney's insipid "Wonderful Christmastime" is the absolute worst for me.
I can see the Ghanian rapper's point. However noble the original was, releasing a 40th Anniversary re-recorded version at a time when there is no crushing famine happening (at least that I am aware of), it does perhaps suggest that nothing has improved in the continent, whereas things do seem to be at least somewhat better.
Often the majority of the money raised goes to the producers or production costs and a little goes to the beneficiary. Or said another way often the beneficiary is the producer. I’d be curious. I wonder if it’s on Wikipedia.
Grinch! You are all grinches!
{said in jest because the internet has no subtlety}
Damn, this all makes me feel old this morning. This started 40 years ago when I was a freshman in college.
a 1986 exposé in Spin magazine that reported proceeds from the song, as well as Geldof’s follow-up projects “We Are the World” and Live Aid, may have unintentionally helped African dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam buy weapons from Russia.
Queen has an actual Xmas song - “Jesus.” Maybe it is an editing error?
JSM
It does mention the Star of Bethlehem but the music is anything but Christmassy. Put it on at a Christmas party and you ruin the mood. But maybe Christmassy moods don't have much to do with "the true meaning of Christmas."
Africa's a big continent. People from prospering West African coastal cities don't like to be lumped in with the folks in the interior as sufferers and victims.
When we've decided whether or not "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie, maybe we can move on to whether "Last Christmas" is a Wham! song or a George Michael song. What exactly did the other guy do?
Yo rich white westerners with large rock and roll bank accounts:
If you really want to help - go there with your big white Bono money and buy the locals a new well-digger.
I wouldn’t exactly call “Last Christmas” festive, although it probably is more cheerful than “Fairytale of New York” at #10.
Last night on SNL Hozier did a good version of the Pogues’ Fairytale of New York. Dont know how high the original charted.
And a few weeks ago, the Murdoch Mysteries Xmas episode was all Pogues all the time, with song lyrics, character names, etc, strewn throughout the script. The victim of the week was named Shane MacCowan (sic).
JSM
Keith, ref Mengistu buying arms with his Xmas money: One of the words we have stopped teaching our children is “fungible”…..
JSM
Lazarus: just like here! Leets gotta leet….
JSM
Peachy, what you just call me???
JSM
Lazarus, ref what exactly did Andrew Ridgley do?
The first rule of Wham! is, don’t talk about Wham!….
JSM
Africa is in economic bad shape not because of colonialism or a charitable Christmas song, but because of its geography. There are few if any deep water ports and except for the lower Nile, there are no navigable rivers to the oceans. Africa the continent is a giant plateau where the rivers fall hundreds of feet over short distances before getting arriving at the oceans. Africa the continent never had a chance and will likely never have the chance.
The famine was mostly caused by the Ethiopian government fighting Eritrean rebels. What offended me most about that song was the self righteousness.
Fairytale of New York was the absolute number one Christmas song in Ireland for many years. It has now been banished from the airwaves (and everywhere else) because it includes the word "faggot". The Irish are so damn woke these days. Though I did hear quite a bit of muted support for Trump just after the election.
To be on the safe side I will not care neither about celebrity feelings or Africa.
Fairytale is the greatest Christmas song of all time, FYI
I usually end up playing it on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s a great song, just not a cheerful one, IMO. YMMV.
Shades of Dambisa Moyo and her book Dead Aid. Well, neither she nor the rapper are exactly wrong...
It was released around Christmas of ‘75
What stinks is that the funny novelty Christmas songs have all but disappeared from the airwaves. When "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" came out it was on the radio constantly. Living close to Canada in the 80s, you couldn't get away from "The Twelve Days of Christmas" by Bob and Doug MacKenzie.
I happen to love both of the aforementioned songs, less for their quality (hardly) but that they will always be part of my enduring Gen X 80s Christmas memories. It was the last good decade to be a kid.
“On, Donner! On, Blitzen! On, Chuy! On, Tavo!… c’mon, Beto!”
It's be nice if some Rock and Roll singers would do a concert to help the poor starving people in Gaza, who have been bombed and blockaded.
Who's stopping you from cutting a check?
The famine was a deliberate act by mengistu so was the looting of supplies bought with that cash
At my small southern college back in the 1980s, one night a year the cafeteria was closed and the money saved on salaries, utilities, food was donated to Oxfam. The McD's up the road put on extra staff to serve burgers to the half of the student body who were willing to drive off campus and pay for some dinner.
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