I hear there's already 10 Daily Telegraph thinkpieces prepared about God being ommitted from lyrics of this version.

Plus another 150 in the Mail :lol:

That is... not particularly great cover art. Is the parenthesised '2014' really necessary?

 

It's Tracy Emin - what did you expect? :lol:

The cover art looks a lot like something from the early 90s.

It's Tracy Emin - what did you expect? :lol:

 

Nothing, because I have no idea who she is.

Nothing, because I have no idea who she is.

Her most famous 'piece'. (Not even going to call it art.)

 

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/76598000/jpg/_76598450_emin1_624.jpg

Let's not forget that Band Aid 20's artwork was designed by Damien Hurst, a man who's most famous artwork was a picked shark. Although at least he made an effort with its artwork -

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/87/Do_They_Know_It's_Christmas_single_cover_-_2004.jpg

Pop fact - my uncle knows somebody whose name is (presumably) in Tracey Emin's tent.

Haha, that poor person..

 

I expected something completely different for the cover when it was announced Tracey Emin would be designing it. A bit let down really.

Much prefer Hirst's effort.

...so they've brought Bono back to re-record his "famous line" only to completely change the line?

Is the removal of God from the line for PC reasons? If so, they may as well remove Christmas....

Is the removal of God from the line for PC reasons? If so, they may as well remove Christmas....

That is a good point to be fair. Initially, I overlooked the removal because I half-expected it but thinking about it, Christmas is obviously based around God and religion so I don't understand the logic.

Is the removal of God from the line for PC reasons? If so, they may as well remove Christmas....

That is a good point to be fair. Initially, I overlooked the removal because I half-expected it but thinking about it, Christmas is obviously based around God and religion so I don't understand the logic.

 

I wouldn't say it's been changed for PC reasons. Given that this campaign is to raise funds for ebola, the two reasons I can think of for changing it is a) it is implying that ebola is a punishment from God, which isn't a very nice thing to say, or b) given the spread of ebola, it's very much possible that it could be us, as well as them very soon.

 

And besides, the song still keeps the lines, "but say a prayer, pray for the other ones", so it's not like they've completely excised the religious elements from the original.

I wouldn't say it's been changed for PC reasons. Given that this campaign is to raise funds for ebola, the two reasons I can think of for changing it is a) it is implying that ebola is a punishment from God, which isn't a very nice thing to say, or b) given the spread of ebola, it's very much possible that it could be us, as well as them very soon.

 

And besides, the song still keeps the lines, "but say a prayer, pray for the other ones", so it's not like they've completely excised the religious elements from the original.

 

I was just speculating. It still seems odd they'd change such an iconic line though.

I always thought "Thank God it's them instead of you" was a horrible line anyway. Know it's not meant that way but it sounds like they're happy about the fact that children in Africa are starving!

I always thought "Thank God it's them instead of you" was a horrible line anyway. Know it's not meant that way but it sounds like they're happy about the fact that children in Africa are starving!

 

I agree with this, always seems like a bit of a dodgy lyric. The new one is much better.

The lyrics did need changing slightly, so I'm glad they have. In particular the aforementioned and "there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time". Well, there won't be snow in the UK this Christmas time either.

The lyric isn't meant as a 'well Thank God for that' relief thing, it's meant as a powerful demand that it's not you in the same position, ie. you should be very, very thankful for it. It was the best lyric of the song for me and Bono did it very well (more so on the first one though), not entirely sure about how the new one will sound.

Edited November 15, 201410 yr by Chez Wombat

I don;t know if it has been said but Clean Bandit were at the recording session :cheer:

The lyric isn't meant as a 'well Thank God for that' relief thing, it's meant as a powerful demand that it's not you in the same position, ie. you should be very, very thankful for it. It was the best lyric of the song for me and Bono did it very well (more so on the first one though), not entirely sure about how the new one will sound.

 

I know that's what it's supposed to mean, but I do think that was a poor way to phrase it and I think the replacement was a good idea. Although you could argue (as indeed many people have) that the very title 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' is dubious in the context of most Africans not being Christians.

The lyrics did need changing slightly, so I'm glad they have. In particular the aforementioned and "there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time". Well, there won't be snow in the UK this Christmas time either.

And some parts of Africa do have snow at Christmas time.