Paragraphs - live aid

 Paragraphs - live aid

In the 1970's Bob Geldof was the lead singer of a punk band called the Boomtown rats. Their most famous song was written about a school shooting in San Diego, the song was called "I don't like Mondays". 1984 was when Bob Geldof made the move from being a rock star to raising awareness of humanitarian charities as an international celebrity. In 1984, Ethiopia and African countries experienced a severe famine which was widely displayed on tv, Bob Geldof along with Midge Ure decided to do something about that by realising the song "Do they know its Christmas?" it become and instant best seller. In the Summer of 1985, Bob Geldof was one of the main organisers for the live aid concert in Wembley a sixteen hour rock extravaganza set on raising money and awareness for Africa. 

Midge Ure was a Scottish singer, he was the front man for ultravox and was also involved in several other bands. In 1984 Midge co-wrote the song "Do they know its Christmas?" which became the second to highest selling single in the UK history.  Midge Ure and Bob Geldof formed "band aid" a special project to aid famine relief efforts in Ethiopia. Midge Ure was involved in organising live aid a sixteen hour rock extravaganza the was aimed on raising money and awareness for Africa, live aid raised millions of dollars for the famine. 

The purpose of the song "Do they know its Christmas?" was to spread awareness to the famine that was happening in Ethiopia, the song was also written in reaction to television reports. My take on the meaning, I think they used Christmas time because its a time where people are giving and at their peak of sympathy,  the song was basically like a charity song to raise money for the kids in Ethiopia to relieve the famine that was happening there. The lyrics mostly focus on the food shortage.