Various Artists / The Band Aid Story Japanese Broadcast Edition / 1DVDR

The legendary single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, Which sparked the charity boom of the 1980s and became the origin of the biggest event “LIVE AID” in the 20th century. Introducing a video masterpiece that reveals the secret story of its birth.
The identity of this work is the special program “THE BAND AID STORY” of the prestigious BBC in the UK. This is a documentary program produced in 2004, which is the 20th anniversary of the project. Of course, this work was not broadcast in the UK itself, but was broadcast as a part of the famous program “BS World Documentary” of a certain broadcasting association, “The unprecedented charity band was formed in this way.” A Japanese version with subtitles, dubbing, and comments.
At our shop, we are archiving a number of music programs with the finest master by a core recording enthusiast, but even in that collection, this work can be said to be a masterpiece of the highest grade. The video quality of 2004 production and 2008 broadcasting is completely official DVD grade, and the precious material because it is a prestigious BBC is overwhelming. The stars of the 80’s are shining youthful with the visual beauty of master quality, and it is only if the BBC is the luxury that they will appear one after another 20 years after becoming a super big game.
And above all, the program content is wonderful. He treats both sides of the mood of “80’s pop music” and “global social problems” as chitin, and draws a sincere message and the humor of the participants. Moreover, the skill of a certain broadcasting association that translates it into Japanese is also perfect. “BS World Documentary” deals with various themes, but the proper word selection that captures the true meaning of the comment without adding strange production is just a sample of the documentary. It’s not very, but it even has a dignity that is a waste to be forgotten in just one broadcast.
This work containing such a masterpiece program can be roughly divided into three sections. Let’s introduce them step by step.

● Beginning: To form BAND AID (about 12 minutes)
The first section is the steps leading up to the birth of BAND AID. The project began with Bob Geldof watching a news program about Ethiopia’s hunger, which was also the BBC. The program video of that time will also appear, and the program director will talk about that time. It is only with the BBC that not only the project itself but also its roots can be shown “real”.
Geldof, who was shocked by the news, asked Midge Ure if there was anything he could do, and Gary Kemp and Simon Le Bon participated there. Instead of thinking about a luxury project from the beginning, the story gradually grows. What’s interesting is that Gary Kemp says, “I’m going to Japan the next day, so call me.” SPANDAU BALLET The legendary first visit to Japan was in early November 1984. In the program, there is a story that was a rush to make a Christmas single, but it comes to life.

● Main story: Legendary session on November 25, 1984 (about 23 minutes)
The main part of this work is “November 25, 1984 London” where a luxurious session was realized. It is in close contact from the morning of the day to the night when the recording ends. Geldof, Midge, and producer Trevor Horn enter the studio first, but it’s funny from anxiety, “Nobody has come yet. I wonder if they will really come even though it’s Sunday morning.” And one person and one person really arrived. Paul Weller, Sting, Paul Young, SPANDAU BALLET, Simon Le Bon … Big guys appearing one after another. “A message to the people of Ethiopia,” said a reporter, “I’m looking forward to going to a concert next year,” said Steve Norman. .. Come to think of it, the recording of such stars gathering together is unprecedented, and everything is my first experience. The feeling of groping is real.
And it is Boy George who does not appear while the stars are gathering more and more. Perhaps he had forgotten his offer, he was in New York on the other side of the ocean on the day of the session.
“I got a call from Bob at 4am. I met him at a party but I wasn’t close enough to be woken up early in the morning. I was surprised to hear that he was” come back “with an Irish accent. George said it was funny, and Gerdoff scolding him “Get on the Concorde in an hour and a half!” Is also interesting.
After that, George really flew to London, which is also interesting. “When I got to the studio, I came across Simon Le Bon. At that time, we weren’t on good terms. We had a fight about Simon’s girlfriend, but there were so many cameramen that we went in with our arms around our shoulders. I can quarrel. I think “she is her” is Simon’s wife, Yasmine, but what’s between him and George? Furthermore, when listening to the playback, it seems to be the protagonist of the shadow of this work, such as “Oh, onee-like voice (translation sense is also wonderful)”.
The story of Boy George has become long, but this is part of the phone. The mood of the scene that no one wanted to sing first, Bono who does not like the lyrics and interacts with Geldof (actually this is the best highlight), Rick Parfitt & Francis Rossi who is drunk and can not get the pitch, around that Phil Collins, who appeared as an old man and silenced the studio with a splendid drumming, Geldof who was confused when the song was not completed even though he was recording. The backstage of the birth of a historical masterpiece will be revealed.

● Final stage: Boom and reality 20 years later (about 14 minutes)
The last section documents the world that the completed single has changed. The record pressed in the rush became a big hit and became a boom, and Geldof headed to the site of Ethiopia. And his passion ignited in the United States and became the priming water of USA FOR AFRICA, and the big event of the century “LIVE AID” was realized. The way pure good intentions call for success and change the world is like a Hollywood movie.
However, however. This show is not just a success story, but a documentary based on reality. There is no happy ending in reality. Bono speaks heavily.
“I don’t know exactly, but the money I raised with Live Aid would be around £ 250m. I was surprised at how much it was. Everyone was proud to have contributed a little, but the reality is tough. I learned that Africa pays the same amount of donations as interest on debt every month. ”
Yes, this work was produced in 2004, not 1984. It talks about things that have changed and things that haven’t changed in 20 years. Geldof also murmured, “Our band-aid could only provide a temporary relief.”
It was a very heavy conclusion, but it was not wasteful. As mentioned above, on the day of the session, a musician who was making a joke about “I’m going to a concert next year” noticed a real social problem and shared it with the world. There are problems with this earth, things that can’t be solved like a story, and things that you can’t move forward without knowing. It is a documentary that depicts the weight together with a historical masterpiece single.

BAND AID where the stars of the 80’s met together and held a gorgeous session. It is a masterpiece of documentary work that sharply and skillfully portrays the truth. It’s fun as a backstage for the production of one masterpiece single, and it’s also interesting to see it as the origin of “LIVE AID”. And it’s heavy enough to think of a world that still has problems. Every time I see it, I discover something new, and it makes me think and impress. Please enjoy it carefully.

★ A masterpiece documentary that reveals the story behind the birth of the legendary single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The special program “THE BAND AID STORY” produced by the prestigious BBC in 2004, which is the 20th anniversary, is a DVD version of the Japanese broadcast version with Japanese subtitles and dubbing. It depicts how Bob Geldof launched and evolved, and also in a legendary session where stars such as Boy George, Bono, Sting, Paul Young, Spandau Ballet, Simon Le Bon, etc. met together. It is in close contact. This is one of the best music documentaries we have dealt with.