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Band Aid reborn - but do they know who Geldof is at all?
MOST of them weren't even born when Bob Geldof put together a group of his musical friends and colleagues to record a charity single to help the victims of famine in Africa.
And as they sang their respective solos yesterday, many confessed they hadn't heard of some of the artists whose parts they were taking in the Christmas classic Do They Know It's Christmas?
But students at Sheffield University showed the same commitment to the cause as the 1980s popstars who made the original record, and also said they hoped to hit the charts.
If every student and every member of staff at the university bought the song, it would be enough to propel the group into the top 40 and raise thousands of pounds for African aid.
The idea to cover the Christmas classic came from student-run university station Forge Radio which drafted in talent from the singing society and music players society.
Most requests are turned down by Geldof's Band Aid Charitable trust, but the Irish rocker finally gave the project the nod a few weeks ago after sustained negotiation.
Geography student and Forge Radio presenter Danny Brewer said he was delighted when he landed the famous Bono line – Well tonight thank God its them instead of you – at his first audition. He added: "I just came in and sang and they said my voice had the Bono factor, so here I am. Its been a great experience and I just hope we raise lots of cash for a good cause."
Recording of the single has been carried out by Sheffield firm Remedy Recording and engineer Chris Walker set up microphones in a room in the Students' Union for yesterday's final take.
The chorus of students were singing to a backing track which had been pre-recorded by the music players society, which includes big band instruments such as clarinets, trumpets and flutes.
One member of the ensemble, mature student Susan Cohen, who is reading for a Masters, said she was studying for her first degree when the original single came out in 1984.
She added: "I am a member of the singing society and we are more used to classical works. In our last concert we sang Mozart's Requiem and Orff's Carmina Burana.
"I'm old enough to remember Band Aid the first time around – in fact I was a student here at Sheffield when it first came out."
Musical director and postgraduate music student Harriet Johnson said the group had just a few sessions to learn the song and reach the final stage of recording yesterday.
The 24-year-old, who is also a singing teacher at SLP College in Garforth, Leeds, said: "The biggest challenge has been working with a group who are quite varied and not used to singing this type of song.
"It has also been quite difficult getting everyone in one room at the same time because of assignments and things, but I am really proud of how everybody is singing today."
All the money raised by the single will be donated to the Band Aid Charitable Trust. It will not be released on CD, but will be available to download on iTunes and other online music stores next week.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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