July 13th, 1985 ; this was LIVE AID ...

Band Aid around the world

When, back in 1984, Bob Geldof was shell-shocked by the African crisis, he first recorded a single : "Do They Know It's Christmas" with the cream of the english pop artist of the time. This led to a lot of similar charity singles around the world. Some of them are detailled below :



BAND AID – Do They Know It’s Christmas ? (UK)
Written by Midge Ure & Bob Geldof
Produced by Trevor Horn
Recorded on November 25th, 1984, from 11am to 7pm, at Swarm West Studio, London
Released on December 3th 1984
Musicians: Phil Collins & Jens Langhorn (drums), Midge Ure (keyboards), John Taylor (bass).

Performers:

Bananarama
Bob Geldof, Simon Crowe, Peter Briquette, Johnny Fingers (Boomtown Rats)
Phil Collins
Boy George, Jon Moss (Culture Club)
Duran Duran
Glenn Gregory, Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
Robert Bell, James Taylor, Dennis Thomas (Kool & The Gang)
Marilyn
Spandau Ballet
Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
Sting
Paul Weller (Style Council)
Bono, Adam Clayton (U2)
Midge Ure, Chriss Cross (Ultravox)
Jody Watley
George Michael (Wham!)
Paul Young

Peter Blake… the sleeve designer, also sang in chorus.
B-Side messages by Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Holly Johnson and Big Country.

Lyrics:
(Paul Young)
It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time
We let in light and we banish shade

(Boy George)
And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time

(George Michael)
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard

(Simon LeBon)
But when you're having fun

(Tony Hadley)
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear

(Sting)
Where the only water flowing is
The bitter sting of tears

(Bono + Sting)
And the Christmas bells that are ringing
Are clanging chimes of doom

(Bono)
Well, tonight thank God it's them instead of you.

(Paul Weller + Boy George + Bono + George Michael + Paul Young)
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time.
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

(Glenn Gregory + Martyn Ware)
Here's to you

(Paul Young)
raise a glass for everyone

(Glenn Gregory + Martyn Ware)
Here's to them

(Paul Young)
underneath that burning sun

Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

Chorus (everyone)
Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again


Ivor Novello Awards: Best Selling A-Side Award.
It became the fastest selling single of all time in UK, selling a million copies in the first week alone (more than three selling copies at all). It stayed at N1 for 5 weeks!

USA FOR AFRICA : We Are The World (USA)
Written by Lionel Richie & Michael Jackson
Produced and conduced by Quincy Jones
Recorded on January 28th, 1985 at A&M studios, Hollywood
Released on March 7th, 1985 by CBS
Musicians: Toto & Paulinho da Costa
TV Producer: Ken Kragen
Video Clip Director: Tom Trbovich
Vocal arranger: Tom Bahler
Official Video Narrator: Jane Fonda


Performers:

Dan Aykroyd
Harry Belafonte
Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac)
Kim Carnes
Ray Charles
Bob Dylan
Sheila E. (Prince & The Revolution)
Bob Geldof
Hall & Oates
James Ingram
Jackie Jackson
La Toya Jackson
Marlon Jackson
Michael Jackson
Randy Jackson
Tito Jackson
Al Jarreau
Waylon Jennings
Billy Joel
Cyndi Lauper
Huey Lewis & The News
Kenny Loggins
Bette Midler
Willie Nelson
Jeffrey Osborne
Steve Perry (Journey)
The Pointer Sisters
Lionel Richie
Smokey Robinson
Kenny Rogers
Diana Ross
Paul Simon
Bruce Springsteen
Tina Turner
Dionne Warwick
Stevie Wonder

Lyrics:
There comes a time when we heed a certain call (Lionel Richie)
When the world must come together as one (Lionel Richie + Stevie Wonder)
There are people dying (Stevie Wonder)
Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon)
The greatest gift of all (Paul Simon + Kenny Rogers)

We can't go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers)
That someone, somehow will soon make a change (James Ingram)
We're all a part of God's great big family (Tina Turner)
And the truth (Billy Joel)
You know love is all we need (Tina Turner + Billy Joel)

( CHORUS )
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Michael Jackson)
There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Diana Ross)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Michael Jackson + Diana Ross)

Well, send'em you your heart so they know that someone cares (Dionne Warwick)
And their lives will be stronger and free (Dionne Warwick + Willie Nelson)
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread (Willie Nelson)
And so we all must lend a helping hand (Al Jarreau)

( REPEAT CHORUS )
We are the world, we are the children (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Kenny Loggins)
There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Steve Perry)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Daryl Hall)

When you're down and out there seems no hope at all (Michael Jackson)
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall (Huey Lewis)
Well, well, well, let's realize that a change can only come (Cyndi Lauper)
When we (Kim Carnes)
stand together as one (Kim Carnes + Cyndi Lauper + Huey Lewis)

(REPEAT CHORUS AND FADE )

(additional ad-lib vox by Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, James Ingram)


4 Grammy Awards: Song of the Year / Record of the Year / Pop: Best Pop performance by a duo or group with vocal / Music Video: Best Music video, short form. Reaches N1 during 3 weeks!
The best selling single in USA - 7 million copies (and 4 millon LP's)
On Friday, April the 5th, 10.50 AM (Eastern Daylight Time), five thousand radio stations around the world played We Are The World at the same time. It's a Guinness Record: the most listened song by higher number of persons at the same time.


NORTHERN LIGHTS : Tears Are Not Enough (Canada)
Written by David Foster (music) & Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (words). Additional French lyrics by Rachel Paiement.
Produced by Bruce Allen & David Foster
Recorded on February 10th 1985, at Manta Sound Studios, Toronto. The instrumental track was previously recorded in Vancouver.
Released in March 1985 by CBS.
Musicians: David Foster (keyboards), Doug Johnson (keyboards), Paul Dean (guitar), David Sinclair (guitar), Jim Vallance (drums), Steven Denroche (french horn).


Performers:

Bryan Adams
Carroll Baker
Veronique Beliveau
Salome Bey
Liona Boyd
John Candy
Robert Charlebois
Tom Cochrane
Bruce Cockburn
Burton Cummings
Dalbello
Gorden Deppe
Claude Dubois
Robin Duke
Don Gerrard
Brian Good
Corey Hart
Ronnie Hawkins
Dan Hill
Mark Holmes
Tommy Hunter
Paul Hyde
Martha Johnson
Marc Jordan
Eugene Levy
Gordon Lightfood
Baron Longfellow
Richard Manuel (The Band)
Murray McLauchlan
Frank Mills
Geddy Lee (Rush)
Kim Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Anne Murray
Bruce Murray
Aldo Nova
Catherine O'Hara
Oscar Peterson
Colina Phillips
Carole Pope
Mike Reno (Loverboy)
Lorraine Segato
Paul Shaffer
Graham Shaw
Leroy Sibbles
Jane Siberry
Liberty Silver
Wayne St. John
Ian Thomas
Sylvia Tyson
Sharon Lee Williams
Neil Young
Zappacosta

Lyrics:
(Gordon Lightfoot)
As every day goes by
How can we close our eyes

(Burton Cummings)
Until we open up our hearts

(Anne Murray)
We can learn to share
And show how much we care

(Joni Mitchell)
Right from the moment that we start

(Dan Hill)
Seems like overnight
We see the world in a different light

(Neil Young)
Somehow our innocence is lost

(Bryan Adams)
How can we look away
'Cause every single day


We've got to help at any cost

We can bridge the distance
Only we can make the difference
Don't ya know that tears are not enough

If we can pull together
We could change the world forever
Heaven knows that tears are not enough

It's up to me and you
To make the dream come true
It's time to take our message everywhere

C'est l'amour qui nous rassemble
D'ici ?l'autre bout du monde
Let's show them Canada still cares
You know that we'll be there

If we should try together you and I
Maybe we could understand the reasons why
If we take a stand every woman, child and man
We can make it work for God's sake lend a hand


CHANTEURS SANS FRONTIČRES : Ethiopie (France)
Written by Renaud & Franck Langolff
Produced by : ?
Recorded: ?
Released by EMI Pathéin 1985. All the profits went to Medecins Sans Frontičres.


Performers:

Jean-Louis Aubert
Hugues Aufray
Josiane Balasko
Didier Barbelivien
Axel Bauer
Michel Berger
Richard Berry
Gérard Blanchard
Francis Cabrel
Hervé Christiani
Christophe
Julian Clerc
Coluche
Charlélie Couture
Louis Chédid
Michel Delpech
Gérard Depardieu
Lily Drop
Diane Dufresne
France Gall
Jean-Jacques Goldman
Gotainer
Jacques Higelin
Valérie Lagrange
Catherine Lara
Maxime Leforestier
Jeane Manson
Nicolas Peyrac
Renaud
Véronique Samson
Alain Souchon
Diane Tell
Fabienne Thibault
Trust
Laurent Voulzy


BAND FÜR AFRIKA : Nackt Im Wind (Naked In The Wind) (Germany)
Written by Herbert Groenemeyer
Produced:
Recorded on January 1985, in Munich
Released:


Performers:

Alphaville
BAP
Ina Deter
Extrabreit
Geier Sturzflug
Herbert Groenemeyer
Gitte Haenning
Hans Hartz
Hein Rudolf Kunze
George Kranz
Klaus Lage
Udo Lindenberg
Wolf Maahn
Peter Maffay
Ulla Meinecke
Marius Mueller-Westernhagen
Muenchener Freiheit
Nena
Rheingold
Rodgau Monotones
Spider Murphy Gang
Spliff
Trio
Juliane Werding


Lyrics:
Nur paar Breitengrade tiefer
Paar Längengrade, dann nach links
Stößt unsere Phantasie an Grenzen
Dort wo die stummsten Schreie sind

In Labyrinthen unvorstellbar
Eiskalter Höllenlavastrom
Der keine Gnade kennt nur zuschlägt
Der selten zögert nie verschont

Hier fordern Sünden unserer Ahnen
Unsere Stumpfheit ihr'n Tribut
Keine Gefangenen die Parole
Hier wird bezahlt mit Fleisch und Blut

Nackt im Wind der brüllt und wütet
im Orkan der Menschen frißt
Nackt im Wind der planlos tötet
Weil er weiß, daß man ihn schnell vergißt

Gebete an Dämonen Götter
Anscheinend interessiert die nicht
Daß unsere Abendbrotkulisse
Auf Karten hofft die neu gemischt

Wir werfen Münzen hoch und warten
Daß weder Zahl noch Krone kommt
Damit auch diesmal keiner Schuld hat
Und jeder sein Gewissen schont

Nur ein paar Breitengrade südlich
Und dann nach Osten weint ein Kind
Noch ehe dieses Lied hier ausklingt
Verhungert es, stirbt nackt im Wind

Nackt im Wind der brüllt und wütet
im Orkan der Menschen frißt
Nackt im Wind der planlos tötet
Weil er weiß, daß man ihn schnell vergißt


HERMANOS : Cantaré Cantarás (Latin America & Spain)
Written by Juan Carlos Calderón & Anahi
Produced by Jerry G. Velasco, Jose Quintana, Albert Hammond & Humberto Gatica
Recorded on April 1985, LA
Released by CBS
Musicians: Nathan East (bass), David Foster & Greg Phillinganes (keyboards), John Robinson (guitar), Carlos Rios (drums).

Performers:
Fernando Allende
Maria Conchita Alonso
Apollonia
Ramón Arcusa (El Duo Dinámico)
Basilio
Braulio
Cantinflas
Irene Cara
Roberto Carlos
Nydia Caro
Vicky Carr
Veronica Castro
Charytin
Chiquetete
Claudia de Colombia
Gal Costa
Celia Cruz
Lupita D'Alessio
Guillermo Davila
Plácido Domingo
Emmanuel
Sergio Facheli
José Feliciano
Vicente Fernandez
Miguel Gallardo
Lucho Gatica
Julio Iglesias
Antonio de Jesús
José José
Rocío Jurado
Lissette
Valeria Lynch
Cheech Marin
Sergio Mendes
Lucia Mendez
Menudo
Miami Sound Machine
Amanda Miguel
Ricardo Montalban
Palito Ortega
Pimpinela
Tony Renis
Danny Rivera
José Luís Rodríguez "El Puma"
Lalo Schifrin
Simone
Manoella Torres
Pedro Vargas
Diego Verdaguer
Yuri


Lyrics:

Quiero ser un puerto en el mar ser ese compás (Julio Iglesias)
que te devuelva en rumbo (Roberto Carlos)
Quiero ser un lugar de paz (José José)
y no dejar jamás (Vicente Fernández)
que se te acabe el mundo (Roberto Carlos + José José)

Amigo, amigo (Emmanuel)
no hay nada que temer estoy contigo (José Luis Rodríguez “El Puma”)
Y después de la oscuridad (Pedro Vargas)
esperando está un nuevo día (José Feliciano)

Cantaré, cantarás y esa luz al final del sendero (Menudo)
brillará como un sol que ilumina al mundo entero (Menudo + Julio Iglesias)

Cada vez somos más y si al fin nos damos la mano (everyone)

Siempre habrá un lugar para todo ser humano (José Luis Rodríguez “El Puma”)

Junto a tí quiero caminar compartir el pan (Rocío Jurado)
las penas y la esperanza (Simone)
Descubrí que en el corazón siempre hay un rincón (Lucía Méndez)
que no olvida la infancia (Amanda Miguel + Valeria Lynch)

Amigo, amigo (María Conchita Alonso)
hay tanto por hacer, cuenta conmigo (Vicky Carr)

Cantaré, cantarás y esa luz al final del sendero (everyone)

brillará como un sol que ilumina al mundo entero (Emmanuel)

Cada vez somos más y si al fin nos damos la mano (everyone)

Siempre habrá un lugar para todo ser humano (José José)

Yo quisiera tener poder de ayudar y cambiar tu destino (Plácido Domingo + Irene Cara)

(guitar solo by José Feliciano)

(everyone)
Te daré cuanto puedo dar
sólo sé cantar y para tí es mi canto
Y mi voz junto a las demás
en la inmensidad se está escuchando
Cantaré, cantarás y esa luz al final del sendero

brillará como un sol que ilumina al mundo entero (Vicente Fernández)

(everyone)
Cada vez somos más
y si al fin nos damos la mano
Siempre habrá un lugar
para todo ser humano

(everyone + José Feliciano)
I will sing, you will sing
And a song will bring us together
And our hopes and our prayes
We will make them last forever.
Cantaré, cantarás
y esa luz al final del sendero
brillará como un sol
que ilumina al mundo entero
Cada vez somos más
y si al fin nos damos la mano
Siempre habrá un lugar
para todo ser humano.

As it seems, there were serious disputes beetwen some artists during the recording.


HEAR N' AID - Stars (heavy metal community)
Written by Ronnie James Dio
Produced by
Recorded on May 20 and 21st, 1985, at A&M Studios, Hollywood
Released


Performers (NOTE: project exclusively built on artists from the heavy metal scene):

Tommy Aldridge
Buck Dharma, Eric Bloom (Blue Oyster Cult)
Dio
Dokken
Craig Goldie (Giuffria)
Adrian Smith, Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
Neil Schon (Journey)
Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
Carmine Appice (King Cobra)
Yngwie Malmsteen
Vince Neil, Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe)
Brad Gillis (Night Ranger)
Ted Nugent
Geoff Tate (Queensr˙che)
Quiet Riot
Rough Cutt
Derek Smalls, David St. Hubbins (Spinal Tap)
Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister)
Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge)
Chris Holmes, Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.)
Dave Meniketti (Y&T)


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