Recommendations of the Editorial team
It’s that time again. It’s estimated that you hear either “Last Christmas” or “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” at least every three days, and that hasn’t changed much since the eighties. Not much is left, but these two songs have survived, of all things.
Let’s give Andrew Ridgeley the royalties bestowed upon him by the generous George Michael – if that’s not in the spirit of Christmas, then what is? So let’s talk about the other piece, the one from Band Aid. What does Christmas mean for us in Europe in 2025? Let’s be honest: especially days off and family visits – whether these are reasons to be happy or not depends on the people involved (and perhaps on how much you like to eat).
We have little to fear as long as we ignore the world situation – the news of wars and crazy politicians causes a small dampener, but how delicious are the cookies? Advent calendars and wreaths, Christmas trees and all that: in between we can easily forget how desolate everything is.
Bob Geldof had to act
That wasn’t an option for Bob Geldof in 1984. Ethiopia was on the verge of collapse and couldn’t stand the horror reports. He wrote a song with Midge Ure to raise funds. They invited everyone who was in the charts at the time and most of them came.
Paul Young sings: “It’s Christmas time/ There’s no need to be afraid/ At Christmas time/ We let in light and we banish shade.” That’s how it is here, everything glows and flashes, and there are no bombs or famine in sight. Later, those responsible were often accused of having a “white savior complex”, although it had long been clear to Geldof and Bono at least that there would be no need for so-called charity if there was justice – but now emergency help was needed.
Bono’s line was later changed
Maybe it’s an exaggeration that the only water that flows there is the River of Tears, but does that really matter? And is it crucial that the line “Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?” implies that most Africans have no idea about the rest of the world? In any case, they don’t have our wealth, they don’t have our opportunities – and the repeated mantra “Feed the world” may be too simplistic, but if it came true, wouldn’t that be… a Christmas miracle?
One that Geldof didn’t believe in. He gave, of all people, his fellow world savior Bono this one line that was the most discussed: “Well, tonight thank God it’s them instead of you.” Maybe it annoys a lot of people because you feel caught. To this day it still bothers me that in 2014, for Band Aid 30, they came up with new lyrics for Bono: “Well, tonight we’re reaching out and touching you.” Again beautifully sung, but: How lame is that?
The original line is much more in keeping with Geldof’s character: it shows all his anger at our indifference, which he also so bitterly expressed in the “Great Song Of Indifference”. We can look at all the disasters in Africa – as in other parts of the world – relatively uninvolved because they are far enough away. We have little to do with it. We’re fine. We know that we are privileged – and of course we are happy about it. That’s only human.
The question is: what do we make of it? I would say: It’s better to be a White Savior than not trying to save anything. We can’t help our skin color, it’s neither a reason to be ashamed nor proud, but a little bit of social engagement in the face of all the injustices in this world should be possible for every person. Then the mulled wine will taste even better, I promise.