Society is influenced by almost everything in the world. For instance, art provides us with an esthetical view of the world, while politics gives us a chance to understand all the mechanisms of a country. Furthermore, a very special and unique role is given to music in the context of social relationships. It can greatly influence our minds: encourage us to perform insane actions; make us feel happy, upset or even furious. Music is a tool that can easily control people’s thoughts and believes. Over the course of times, people used this instrument in order to deliver their ideas and expectations to others.
A great example of a noble usage of music’s power is the activity of a remarkable and outstanding project Band Aid. It was created by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 in order to raise money for the needs of starving Ethiopian people (Bob Geldof: Band Aid isn't a good song, n.d.). Their first and probably the most prominent song was written influenced by a series of news bulletins created by Michael Buerk. Michael was talking about severe hunger among the majority of Ethiopian citizens and it inspired the musicians to write a song named “Do they know it’s Christmas?” (Miller, Vandome, & McBrewster, 2010). Its main idea was to obtain as much funds as possible in order to forward them to those who were in need. A lot of famous musicians took part in this project, as they were interested in helping poor people in Ethiopia.
This song has a lot of symbolism throughout its lyrics. It starts with the following lines:“It's Christmas time, and there's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and banish shade
And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy” (metrolyrics.com, n.d.)
This particular part of the song tells us that Christmas is the time when people forget about all the negative sides of the world and try to think positively. It also encourages us not to forget about all the people, mostly those who are in need, in the world, as we can make them happy.
Another very figurative piece of the lyrics is:
“Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time” (metrolyrics.com, n.d.)
It directly motivates us to support every single society in the world when people celebrate such a bright holiday as Christmas.
This song also raises the issue of everlasting problems throughout the world. It makes us understand that while we are having fun, a lot of human beings on our planet suffer from different kinds severe misfortunes:“while you're having fun
There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom” (metrolyrics.com, n.d.)
Finally, the main symbolic idea of this song is expressed in the following lines:“How can they know it's Christmas time at all
Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time again” (metrolyrics.com, n.d.)
It shows us that there are people who do their best just to survive and they have no chance to enjoy the life. It encourages us to give our spare money to those who are victims of famine in order to give them an opportunity to live without fear of death.
Taking into account the analysis of the song and the musical project, we can see that its main goal was to make an impact on the society of wealthy people in order to help West African inhabitants. We can surely claim that this project had a major impact on people’s consciousness, as the musicians raised millions of pounds. They have saved thousands of lives with such an amount of money.
Bob Geldof: Band Aid isn't a good song. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com
Miller, F. P., Vandome, A. F, & McBrewster, J. (2010) Do They Know It's Christmas?: Bob Geldof, Midge Ure, 1984-1985 Famine in Ethiopia, Band Aid (band), BBC,Michael Buerk, Ultravox, BBC Radio 1. Alphascript Publishing
Do They Know It's Christmas Lyrics. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.metrolyrics.com
