Usually.
However, even though I agree with the judgements of craptaculence about Do They Know It's Christmas, I think a couple of the criticisms of the lyrics are a bit off.
First, the title lyric itself. Some of the critics seem to be taking it to be very condescending, as if people in "those places" don't celebrate Christmas, and we rich Northerners are here to enlighten them. I always thought the lyric was trying to draw attention to the idea that maybe the kids can't differentiate today from tomorrow, because their daily struggle never changes, and that when you are looking for blades of grass to eat, that there isn't much leftover for prezzies, so that one might forget amidst the daily struggle for survival, that there's something to celebrate on any particular day.
LIkewise the phrase "Well, Tonight Thank God it's Them Instead of You." Rather than meaning that in the literal sense, my interpretation was that is was mocking the affluent ones sitting on their asses saying "thank god that's not me" but not doing anything to help. Said with snark and an eyeroll, it sounds like a kick in the pants to the overfed and undermotivated.
But, just as sarcasm doesn't always transfer well to typing, it's also doesn't always survive the decades.
I wonder, however, without the groundbreaking these folks did (especially Geldof et al) if the path didn't get eased for Bono's advocacy?
And on the subject of rockers and their pet causes, I leave you with Little Steven:
Note the use of "terrorist" in his speech.
Posted by binky at November 29, 2007 03:32 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Hacktastic! | MusicI strongly agree with you. I find the level of revulsion and disdain over this bizarre. I've always thought your read on the lyrics was the right one. And to the degree it's Northerners feeling bad for the poor folks in the global South - how is that a bad thing? And how is a bunch of celebrities getting together to try to ease some suffering a bad thing? I just really don't get LGM's reading of this event or these lyrics.
Now if they wanted to attack the Crosby/Bowie Little Drummer Boy - that's something I could get behind. Talk about a painful bit of cross-generational schmaltz.
Posted by: Armand at November 29, 2007 06:03 PM | PERMALINKhow is that a bad thing
Well, I can see how it's othering and hierarchical, but especially in the context of the time, not the worst thing that could happen.
Posted by: binky at November 30, 2007 09:57 AM | PERMALINK