I am something of a Christmas music junkie. I listen all day at work?to this station and sometimes stream the online channels where you get even more variety (my favorite being the R&B channel). People come in and out of my office and comment on how they can’t believe that?I can listen to holiday music all day, especially since I’m perceived to be a grouchy finance guy. To them I say few words, mainly?because?December comes and goes?in an instant?and I don’t have the time for such?bah-humbug. At home I play everything from the Polar Express soundtrack to Brian McKnight’s awesome new holiday CD. I even have Josh Groban’s dramatic foray into the classics. I figure this season comes only once a year so I try to enjoy it.
I don’t dislike many holiday songs. However there is one about a donkey that I thought is?inane?- luckily?I haven’t heard it all year. There’s also one about a dead lady getting new?shoes that is beyond sad, but I?kind of like it. Overall I find the holidays to be equally sad and joyous so there is a place for deep, depressing songs. BUT there is one song that after listening to it over and over again I just can’t get into. It was made in 1984 by some well intentioned Brits (aka Band Aid) and is called “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” I know you’ve heard it.
My problem with the tune is that it’s dated and a little ridiculous. When the song was written it was 24 years ago when feeding the people of Ethiopia was the African cause it was?created – in one day -?to raise money for. Today Darfur and HIV are the top priorities of most fundraising efforts?related to?the continent of Africa. In addition the lyrics aren’t appropriate. “Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” may be one of the?the most dreadful?lines ever uttered in a Christmas song, and?I’m the same guy who likes the ditty about the?shoes. It served it’s purpose, now it’s time to put it to rest. It’s not like it’s Jingle Bells.
Surprisingly Dev isn’t into any of the Christmas songs on the radio or the CDs.?Last year he was singing all the time. This year he could care less. He’s forgotten the words to his favorite holiday music and has no intention of remembering them. He still believes in Santa though, for now. He’s?an old?five.
LOL – an old 5, huh?
Christmas music…all day? Really? Wow!
“Do They Know It’s Christmas” is sung by multi-groups including Bono of U2. The plight of Ethiopian and other African people is still very much alive today. Sub-par life for many Ethiopians maybe forgotten by the American (or fundraising) mass but that does not invalidate the issues addressed in the song, which happens to be one of my favourites. It reminds us all, that while we are celebrating Christmas, life is very much a challenge for many others. Today, the same principles will apply to the people of New Orleans who continue to suffer from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina etc. So tonight, Thank God it’s them, instead of you.
You’re on your own with the all day Christmas music. I like Christmas music – I just wish we could listen to it over the span of a year and not all jammed up in December.
My least favorite Christmas song – not that you asked – is Santa Claus Needs Some Lovin’. Cannot stand it! My favorite? Joy to the World.
Nice post. I really cannot believe the full day of Christmas music thing though…yikes! I’ll have to check the tunes out. I will admit that about 2 weeks ago I started 1/2 singing, 1/2 humming Christmas tunes and driving my family a little crazy with it. I agree that is a very dreadful line…to the anon poster I think it is kind of shitty to say “well good thing it is them, and not me”.
Let’s be honest: How many of you would volunteer to switch your position with those less fortunate? Probably next to none. So although we can all be idealistic in our academic thoughts, the reality is that very few (if any) would voluntarily change positions with those less fortunate. Whether you say it out loud or not, deep inside, you are thankful that it’s not you.
hmmmm….it’s less about “switching places”.
The lyrics offend me because
a. If I did believe in God it implies that God chooses that some live an advantage – otherwise why would you be thanking him?
It offends me and I am not even a Christian for crying out loud.
b. I do not believe anyone should live at a disadvantage, so I am not going to go WHEW (thank God I was born into a system of privilege) because by doing so I am perpetuating a problem by shrugging my shoulders. I am not saying however that one can not be grateful for the good things in their life.
That is my reason for finding the lyrics a little offensive.
1: It’s Christmas time
There’s no need to be afraid
At Christmas time
We let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time
2: But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it’s hard
But when you’re having fun
There’s a world outside your window
And it’s a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring
There are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time
Feed the world
Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?
3: And there won’t be snow in Africa
This Christmas time
The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again
BRIDGE:
(Here’s to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here’s to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?
END: Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time
END: (repeat & fade)
Horn of Africa famine threatens 20 million people: Red Cross
Fri 12 Dec 2008, 7:14 GMT
[-] Text [+]
By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA (Reuters) – More than 20 million people in the Horn of Africa are at risk of famine due to drought and high food and fuel prices, the world’s largest disaster relief network said on Thursday, topping the U.N. figure by 3 million.
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said that the United Nations estimate of 17 million people in urgent need of food was too low as it failed to take full account of the hungry in Eritrea and Djibouti.
“We think that (U.N.) figure is a severe underestimation of the reality… We believe it is more than 20 million and that still excludes Sudan,” said Roger Bracke, a senior Federation official who led a two-month study into the crisis.
The situation was not yet one of major famine in the region, where the survival of many humans and livestock would depend to a large extent on the coming rainy season, he told a briefing.
“But if we listen well, we hear the rumble of skeletons in the back — they might easily come back if we don’t manage to control this crisis,” said Bracke.
Wheat and sorghum prices had doubled in the Horn of Africa in the past year, leading to shortages and forcing governments to draw down their strategic grain reserves, he said.
High oil prices have also meant farmers have to pay more for fertilisers and pesticides and to transport their crops.
The Federation launched an appeal on Thursday for 113 million Swiss francs to help meet the needs of 2.2 million people in Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia over the next five years.
Eritrea — where the Federation says at least 2.5 million people are at risk — is not included in its appeal as the government says it is able to cover needs, according to Bracke.
The majority of nomadic herders in the Horn of Africa have lost an average of at least 70 percent of their livestock and some have lost all, according to the agency.
“It’s probably the first time in history and definitely in the Horn of Africa that we see a crisis of this magnitude which cannot be explained by natural factors but by global mechanisms and the impact of global events,” Bracke said.
“These people cannot be blamed this time,” he added.
To think that BONO, who by the way does more than anyone of you reading this for the people of Africa would be doing or saying anything offensive to them is absurd. Intellectualize as you must but FACTS will remain at the end of the day.
Nobel laureates crown U2’s Bono ‘man of peace’
9 hours ago
PARIS (AFP) ? Nobel peace laureates gathered in Paris on Friday awarded the Irish rocker-turned-activist Bono an annual “Man of Peace” prize for his crusade to tackle African debt, poverty and disease.
Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, who hosted the event, handed the U2 frontman the Peace Summit Award in presence of five Nobel winners, in recognition of two decades of global anti-poverty activism.
“This is a very big award for me, because let’s be honest this is as close as I am going to get — as close as a rock star is ever going to get to the Nobel Peace Prize,” the 48-year-old Bono quipped to the audience.
“I am an over-awarded, over-rewarded rock star. You are the people who do the real work,” he told the Nobel winners present, who included F.W. de Klerk of South Africa, Lech Walesa of Poland and Northern Ireland’s John Hume.
“So I am very, very pleased to be in such esteemed company.”
Organisers said Bono was chosen for his global campaigning to persuade rich nations to lighten Africa’s debt burden, combat poverty, promote fair trade and raise funds for the treatment of HIV-AIDS and malaria.
“We decided to nominate a man who has given a lot and will continue to give a great deal to the struggle for human rights, to the fight against poverty, with his music and with his words,” said Italian left-wing leader Walter Veltroni, co-host of the event.
“He has put pressure on the world’s governments to reach the UN’s Millennium Goals. To give him the prize, is to say that fight will carry on.”
Last year’s recipients of the peace award were US actors George Clooney and Don Cheadle, who have spoken out against the violence in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur.
Nobel winners were meeting in Paris for a three-day summit, coinciding with celebrations marking 60 years since the UN declaration of human rights was adopted in Paris.
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev — whose foundation co-organises the annual event — was unable to attend for medical reasons. His spokesman said he was undergoing eye treatment.
I think the debate was over one line in a song. If you do not find the lyrics offensive, and you relate to them then so be it.
I always cringe a bit when I get to that line in the song, but I agree that U2, and Bono, in particular have done so much for humanity, so we don’t want to make too much of this one line. Furthermore, I’d like to share these with you since you seem to be into holiday songs:
You?re Not the Kinda Ho that Santa Had in Mind
Dr BLT
words and music by Dr BLT copyright 2008
http://www.drblt.net/music/hosong.mp3
Rap edition:
You?re Not the Kinda Ho that Santa Had in Mind
Dr BLT
words and music by Dr BLT copyright 2008
http://www.drblt.net/music/HoRapDemo2.mp3
Black Santa
Dr. BLT
words and music by Dr. BLT (c) 2006
http://www.drblt.net/music/BLKSanta.mp3