The 80's was the decade for a plethora of charity singles. If there was need (and good publicity) artists would sing their hearts out. Which one was your favourite? If your favourite isn't there then add it to the comments.

I kinda liked the Do they know it's Christmas song.....lol don't know why...just catchy, I guess.

The original and by far the best charity record IMHO.

By the way, does anyone know who sung the lead vocals (in order)?

I'll start it off with the first one (Paul Young)

Regards,

Jimbo :p

Was it still Paul Young singing "let in light and banish shade"? I know Boy George comes in after that but I can't remember if Paul Young got the first two lines or just the one. :)

I voted for "Sun City"...at least it wasn´t as pathetic as the other ones, and you won´t hear it each X-mas until you barf... :D

For those who are curious about who sung what part on the Band Aid track, here´s a link:

Band Aid complete lyrics (http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/trumpetavenue/709/lyrics/produce/aid-c.txt)

I voted for Sun City. You forgot "Stars" from Hear N' Aid. A bunch of heavy metal and hard rock artists.

The one that started it all and my total fave of all the charity songs "Do They Know It's Christmas?". Had lots of my fave artist in the band coming together for a good cause.

IT WAS A NEVER AGAIN GET TOGETHER

Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas' - definitely. :)

"Stars" by Hear 'n Aid wasn't mentioned?

Well since it wasn't listed this is my pick. :)

Do They Know It's Christmas was the original and the best. (Plus, it was before Bono got TOO cool and U2 went downhill :p ) There will never again be such a collection of great musicians (because they are 80s). Can you imagine what we'd get today if Britney Spears/'N Sync/Hansen got together for a benefit song? Eeek! :eek:

I can imagine what we get...a grand headache lasting for years!

Band Aid - Hands down. :)

I voted for Sun City. I love the Band Aid song, but I get to hear it every Christmas. You will probably never hear the United Artists Against Apartheid song, unless you have the record, which I, luckily, do have in my possession...

MDC: Official Stalker of DD86 :D

I liked USA For Africa's We Are The World. It's the '80s charity song I remember the most.

In '95, I heard that song on Casey's Hot 20. That was the first time I'd heard We Are The World since the '80s.

I can't even imagine todays artists doing a charity song like the ones done in the 80's. It's sad!

Yeah, try imagining Marilyn Manson, Eminem and Fred Durst coming together to raise money for charity... what a hilarious (and terrifying) thought!!!

MDC: Official Stalker of DD86 :D

X-mas hands down, gotta love the bass :D

We Are The World, fer sure! :p

The one that really started it all, has to be the best, give me DO THEY KNOW ITS CHRISTMAS any day.

I was still very much a young anglophile when DTKIC came out.

ALL my fave singers together, and for a good cause even.

I had a fun try at naming all the people in the video and being most pleased with myself.

I remember not being as impressed with We Are The World, mainly because it featured singers/bands that I just wasn't into at the time.


Do They Know..singers in as best order as I can remember:
Paul Young, Boy George, George Micheal, Simon Lebon, Sting, Bono, Paul Young again.


-Dis

I agree that We are the World was the best charity single of the 80's!

Cyneman(formally known as Cindy in the 80's)

Oh i have to vote for Tears Are Not Enough
Canada's contribution to a cause. i loved it, lots of great Canadian talent!!!

Oh boy...I just heard Michael Jackson is working on a tribute song for the current events. I heard that Britney Spears may be one of the artists. I'll try to keep an open mind about it, but I have the feeling it will be pretty terrible. We'll see. I wonder who else will be selected. :confused:

Oh boy....lol. Well, I guess I can stand to hear Britany for a good cause. But if MJ sticks any of those accursed boy bands in there, forget it! :p

One other 80s charity single I thought of was "Self destruction" by The Stop the Violence Movement. It was started by Boogie Down Productions leader KRS-1 and included the likes of Stetosonic, Ms Melody, Just-Ice, Heavy D, D-Nice, Public Enemy, MC Lyte and more mid-80s rappers rapping about black on black crimes. Great tune!!

The first is almost always the best!

Do they know it's Christmas? This one has all my fav. 80s stars!

I like Do They Know it's Christmas...also like the video for it.

Band Aid - Do they Know It's Christmas :)

Band Aid all the way!
Never liked We Are The World at all! Eeeew!!

There was a song sung by the Canadian artists around this time. They called themselves Northern Lights. This was a very beautiful song :)

Forgive me, but that song brings back memories:
I was in 5th grade when it came out and we altered the lyrics:
"We are the world.
We are the children.
We are the ones who are starving our people
under condition.

Cause there is a church
with a steeple.
So all we are doing now
is starving our people."

But alas, that was 5th grade behavior.

Definitely USA for Africa. But I preferred a rip off of this song sung on an English comedy show "Alas Smith & Jones" (Mel Smith & Griff Rees Jones). The chorus goes....


We are washed out... we are the has-beens. We're cashing in on a good idea Band Aid once had....

We made this video, to let the people know, just what wonderful blokes we really are...

(Pretty cynical and maybe true, but it certainly gained a lot of money for Africa didn't it?)

I loved "We are the world". As well as being a great charity single, it was also (in my opinion) a great tune. When I hear that song, I can't help but get REALLY nostalgic! It's just a shame they don't play it as often as they play Band Aid.

I loved Do They Know It's Christmas, but I gotta go with Stars by Hear N Aid. I even have the damn thing on 12 inch vinyl!

My vote has to go to "Do They Know Its Christmastime"

Hey Recker, the same thing happened to us over here in the US! A comedy show called "In Living Color" did a send-up on "We Are The World" back in the early 90's. I don't remember the full lyrics, but it included such things as Lionel Richie's messy divorce (and the beating that his ex-wife gave him), and Willie Nelson's tax troubles with the IRS ("I could use some of that Farm-Aid right about now"). Funny stuff indeed! :D

Since we're on the subject of charity tunes, does anyone remember "Hands Across America"? Or the Farm-Aid song?

Robyn