Do they know it's Christmas?

Question

Yes, we all know the song. I'm sure neither Bob Geldof nor Bono will let us forget, as well as half the celebrity population.

One thing bothers me though. The whole song is meant for us to feel sorry and send all our money to starving children in Africa, and they play it every Christmas, for us to show our Christmas spirit.

Now, I remember clearly those geography lessons where they tried to teach us children that the difference between the northern and southern hemisphere was the fact that they have summer when we have winter.

Now. As the lyrics go; "there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time". Another one of these geography lessons I clearly remember Africa was nearly completely in the southern hemisphere, and we all know it doesn't snow in summer time...

Now Christmas is a set date, and since summer falls in december in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is always in the summer.

So should we feel bad cos Africa has nice weather on Christmas?

I know what the song is about, well enough - I was just putting some light on ill-chosen words for the lyrics.

Answer 1

Forget about Christmas already!

Answer 2

This song was produced to raise funds and awareness of what was taking place in Ethiopia
I saw the news the day this broke and it is something I will never forget
Unlike the Yanks Bob Geldof and Midge Ure did not go for a mega production they got the record out and used the money accordingly. They did not waste weeks bitching who was listed 1st in the credits etc...
They did a very good job there and then
So forget the rubbish about snow and admit what a good job they did

Answer 3

That's a keen ear you have their, but i think the only reason they used that line is because it fit better than their original lyric which went "there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time, because it's in the southern hemisphere and the middle of the summer and, oh yeah, it's Africa so it's always f----ng hot". I think if they used that original lyric the song wouldn't have gotten as much exposier as it did. but we should feel bad cause instead of having a winter 25 degrees, they have a summer 110.

Answer 4

It was actually written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. Any way I think they were getting at the fact that christmas is symbolised by snow no matter where you are ( in Australia they have christmas on the beach) but to the starving in Africa it will be just another day symbolism or not. Does that make sense???

Answer 5

We're supposed to feel bad because they're starving. And particularly at a time of the year when we are stuffing our faces silly. However the song is poorly written and highly irritating. I knew from the first moment I heard it it would haunt us for the rest of lives. In fact all the song did was make it very hard for me to give to African-related charities because by doing so I would be somehow justifying Bono's existence.

Answer 6

it's the same in australia and other southern hemisphere countries - they celebrate christmas in the sun. the european image of christmas is one with snow... i guess bob geldof's song is just saying that they won't have the same things as the rich people in other parts of the world.

Answer 7

actually, Steven M, some of the places the songs helped did celebrate Christmas. The song was written partially for the Ethiopian famine. There are Ethiopian Christians who celebrate some form of Christmas-esque holiday.

Answer 8

The reason we're supposed to feel bad is because most people in Africa don't have half of what the average American has.

Answer 9

the parts of the world the song helped, do not celebrate christmas

Answer 10

I think maybe that line isn't as important as looking beyond the materialism of christmas to others who are suffering.