Overwrought.
Yeah, call me Scrooge and Montgomery Burns. But 25 years ago when the original came out, I just felt like throwing food at the TV screen instead of donating them to Africa.
Yes America, your British colonizers had done a more superior benefit song back in 1984: an ominous start that segues into a thumping, urgent plea that builds up into a universal cry for help that’s still a powerful call-to-conscience today as well-aimed kick in the gut. Yes, and they did it first. Plus they have a way cooler group name: Band-Aid. The Brits have no time for hokey, schmaltzy, heart-on-your-sleeve pretense. Giving aid is work, folks. It’s neither romantic nor a show. But it can also make for a kick-ass music video:
Who else but the Brits would have enough sly wit to show: [1] that aid and hard work can be lots of fun; [2] a gender-bending gay man gets second billing; [3] a gay man with a future list of criminal records gets third billing? It’s the very same wit that made them choose Gordon Sumner to sing the line, “Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears.”
It’s amazing to watch the video and realize, upon repeated viewing, that some of them actually looked like they’d rather be starving in Africa than be caught dead lip-synching to the song for the video (best “WTF-am-I-doing-here?” expression goes to Paul Weller, followed by Sting). Vidéo vérité.
Ah, don’t mind me. Perhaps I have donor fatigue. Yet, 25 years after, I still think “We Are The World” sucks.
2 comments:
Again, totes agree, McVie.
"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is ultimately joyous, hopeful, and uplifting.
"We Are The World" is a funereal dirge.
Also: It’s the very same wit that made them choose Gordon Sumner to sing the line, “Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears.”
You're the first person I know who's ever pointed that out. It always used to make me chuckle. Ah, those Brits.
To be nitpicky about it, Phil Collins got the third billing, albeit subtly. But anyway.
Who loves "We Are The World"? It was parodied back in the 80's courtesy of Tito, Vic and Joey. It is still parodied now when Christmas parties go by the 80's theme.
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