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Here’s a moment from the 1980s we’ll never forget; least of all for all the hair on display...

Band Aid: “Do They Know It’s Christmas”

Speaking as one who went through adolescence in the 1980s, the one thing I find weirdest of all about listing to  “Holiday” music in stores and on the radio today is how casually “Do They Know It’s Christmas” makes it onto the rotation, like it’s similar to Hanson singing “Merry Christmas Baby” or that inane, inescapable Paul McCartney song “Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time”

The thing is, I still remember the days when Band Aid’s 1984 opus wasn’t just a song. It was something bigger. It was something that made a difference.

It’s easy in an era when celebrity musicians are considered a nuisance and you can’t read ten pages of newspaper without stumbling across Bono doing something for the plight of the earth and its lesser-known citizens how novel the idea of Band Aid was. The concept that you could raise awareness--and money-- for famine relief in Ethiopia by virtue of getting together and signing a song and using your celebrity for something bigger than you...well, that was something.

Back in 1984, pop music was about dressing big and ambisexually. The ambitions were never bigger than singing three minutes of neurotic, synth-driven songs about being in love in an age when the Russians--or Mrs. Thatcher-- might well destroy you. It’s so gloriously narcissistic. Bob Geldof’s idea of rounding up every major pop star available in Britain for the day-- even getting Boy George to fly in on the Concorde from New York-- and getting them to sing “Feed the world” is far from ordinary.

For me, “Do They Know It’s Christmas” shouldn’t be just another happy, slappy celebrity bake-off of a jingle. When I listen to it even today it makes me think of places I think of far too little during the year. And 24 years on, I still want it to be that big rallying cry for people to make a difference for people and places less fortunate just by doing the things they do well.

That said, it’s okay to marvel at the wonder that is George Michael’s hair in the video.

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