Seriously. I get that it's all done for a good cause and all and that the music isn't what we should be focusing on anyways -but why are so many charity singles so god-awful?

"S.S.T", "That's What Friends Are For", "We Are the World", etc.

Of course there are always exceptions, but a good majority of songs done for causes are pretty -worthy.

Why? Do artists not put in as much effort for a good cause as they do for their own work, or do they think treacly-sweet sappiness is what people want in times of crisis?

meow85 said:

U already have given the answer
I think they don't want 2 give away their best song.

Well, to be fair, i think Prince's songs are quite ok.

"4 The Tears in Ur Eyes" is an exquisite track, that
version on TheBsides is kinda slow but the original,
that was on the USA 4 Africa album is the bomb!

"SST/Brand New Orleans" isn't great but at least it
is not a sappy smoochfest. It's just Prince's semi
religious pseudo political ranting, par usual so it
does have an edge over the other charity singles.

those are the obvious exceptions





I know, I know... King Holiday is also kinda cheesy... but I like it


.
[Edited 12/2/05 2:57am]

DO They Know It's Christmas (the original recording) still sends shivers down my spine when I hear the intro.

'Sun City' was pretty hip...all the rest, oh lord. I guess they're trying to make the songs acceptable to as wide an audience as possible or something.

Anxiety said:

Yeah, "Sun City" was very cool.

How about the rap charity singles?

Self Destruction - The Stop The Violence Movement
We're All In The Same Gang - The West Coast Rap All-Stars

I wrote an article about this exact thing when I wrote for the paper last year.


http://newhavenadvocate.c...oid:101338

I'm glad I'm not the only person that thinks "SST" sucks. I remember not wanting to say a word when it first came out. I still bought it (the download).

sextonseven said:

"Self Destruction" and "Sun City" are good...not familar with "We're All..."

i like 'em usually. ? why, iam a sentimental sucker really. I like the choruses. The childlike simplicity of most of them. And "heal the world" and "voices we care" bring back good memories. Thats the main reason i guess.


"stand tall, stand proud, voices that care, are crying out loud"



heal the world is great.

Ellie said:

Really? I just think it's annoying.

TheSmyrk said:

Very well-written.


I'm glad I'm not the only one who's disapointed by the majority of charity singles. I didn't mind the new WHat's Going On? too much either, until Durst opened his mouth.

I've come across an all-star version of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day". Is that a charity single too? And if so, what was it for and who was involved?

meow85 said:

It was 4 a charity in England,4 children.
(Children Relief..or something like that)
Got a lot of airplay in Europe,it's a good version,even if it
wouldnn't have been 4 a good cause,I would still like it.
Don't remember everyone who was involved.Bono & Lou Reed himself,Sinéad O'Connor,...

I like We Are The World...

I think S.S.T is good. We are the World is ok, I actually like Heal the world much better. What More Can I Give is good aswell.

The problem with We Are The World, Do They Know It's Christmas, and I'll add Sun City (cause I don't like that song) is that I think they're too many people on the chorus.

I should track down Sun City... who's on it?

Bono and Alicia Keys are releasing a new version of the Peter Gabriel / Kate Bush song Don't Give Up tomorrow on iTunes, for AIDS relief in Africa. The video is linked on U2.com - I actually really like it, and I love the original. I think I'll buy this one...

Paisley4u said:

Yeah, this one's not bad. I think I hear Pavarotti on it too....