I'm ALL-CAPS-happy this week. Who knew?
It is a time honored tradition at the blog (which technically started at the old blog, but whatever) that I revisit the same topic each year. The one that contains my feelings on THE WORST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER.
There was a close contender a few years ago when that "Christmas Shoes" song came out about the kid with the dying mother who needed new shoes to wear when she met Jesus, but that's just sad and depressing. And doesn't really fit in the rotation after "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" all you radio people out there. The particular song that I hate is that time-honored 80's classic, "Do They Know Its Christmas?"
Click here to watch the original in all its mulleted and guyliner glory (except Sting who was rocking the Prince Valiant hairdo).
Not the horrible remake with Coldplay. Shudder. Chris Martin, you are no Paul Young.
And what's with the rap? And the maracas? (I do like Robbie Williams, though. So sue me.) Or the 1989 version with Kylie Minogue. The cheese was flowing heavy in that version. (Look Chick, The Communards are in that one! And Chris Rea- geez, I had completely forgotten about him.)
And if you want to know everything about the song, click here. There is even a Behind the Scenes from 1984.
Way back when, I was discussing Christmas songs with my buddy The Chick. She was telling me her favorite ones, and why they mean a lot to her.
However, the song that she loves and that I hate is "Do They Know its Christmas" by BandAid. It is incredibly cheesy, with every single 80s pop star trying to make their 5 seconds beat the last person's. I comprehend the meaning behind the song, and what they were going for, but it is still a bad song. I have finally gotten over my hatred of "We are the World," especially since we had to sing it for every choir concert, but I just can't stand "Do They Know". We KNOW there is very little snow in Africa this Christmas. The place is a desert. And why the heck would they care if it was Christmas? A great majority of them aren't even Christian. And especially the fabulous Bono singing, "Tonight thank God its them instead of you..." The overwhelming pretension of the song just drives me up a tree.
And the worst part? As soon as I hear it it is stuck in my head all day. I find myself humming it, only to go "AARGH" in frustration. I'm forced to sing Jingle Bells to get it out of my head. My children will sing it just to make me scream. The Chick will call me and sing it on the phone. She has even been known to text me the words, to which I will text back, "F*CK AFRICA." Which isn't very festive or socially conscious - I am aware.
And I am not the only one who hates it! Yahoo had it on their Top 10 List of Worst Christmas Songs Ever, and Danger Kitty (on the blogroll on the left) just wrote a post about this today.
I discussed this with my SIL over Thanksgiving and she said that maybe it didn't mean as much to me as it did to her generation when it came out. That may be, but I know people of all ages who can't stand it. NOT A TINY BIT.
This is not at all a slam against Sir Bob Geldof and the incredible work he has done in raising money and awareness of the need for help in Africa and around the world. I love Sir Bob as much as the next guy - I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. But the thing is, he co-wrote a bad song. Its just the way it is.
Just so you don't think that I am against 80's Christmas music, I will admit that I love Wham's "Last Christmas." LOVE IT.
Look at George playing in the snow! Look at Andrew's mullet! Look at George's blue eyeshadow! Look at Andrew pretend to be hot for the brunette when he is really dating the blond back-up singer! Look at George pretend he likes girls! Look at Andrew's giant plaid bathrobe.coat! Look at the last picture of George in the Santa Hat and wearing a festive garland! (Although that whole "A man undercover" bit was always rather murky to me.)
I was always a sucker for Andrew Ridgeley and his guitar (although God Help Me, Ashley Tisdale has redone the song and it makes me kind of hate her). And I do like "So This Is Christmas" by John Lennon, so I'm not anti-peace or anything.
However, I don't like "Do They Know." Never will. And you can't make me.
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