If you've got some spare money to buy MP3 files. Don't ! Give your money to the charities and download your MP3s here for free.

History

Unsigned Band Aid was started in December 2004 and officially launched on the 1st January 2005. It was inspired by the release of the song "Do they know it's Christmas?" Band Aid 20.

I remember the first one, released in 1984. It went straight to number one in the UK and was number one in the USA two weeks later selling over 50 million copies. It was written by Sir Bob Geldof and co-produced with Midge Ure who personally accompanied the first relief shipment of over $70,000 worth of food and medical supplies to Ethiopia, March 11, 1985.

Band Aid II was released in 1989, and to mark it's 20th Anniversary "Do they know it's Christmas" Band Aid 20 was released on November 29th 2004.

I admire and respect the sentiment behind the Band Aid/ Live Aid philosophy and the work undertaken by the Band Aid Charitable Trust. The original song was inspired, heart felt and moving, but...., something didn't feel right to me when I watched the BBC news reports on the day they made Band Aid 20. Some of the artists turning up to sing their parts appeared a little unsure of the history and reason behind the whole Band Aid/Live Aid philosophy. My heart sank when I realised some didn't know who Sir Bob Geldof a.k.a. "Gandalf" was. I don't know whether this was media misrepresentation but I was left feeling there was definite room for improvement in the whole awareness area.

Then there was the episode when Apple would not raise the cost of the single in line with other download services. Why? Big business beurocracy. Again I thought there was room for improvement in the whole area of distributing music for good causes.

There just seemed to be some blurring of the ideal as it progressed from dream to reality. Corporate matters, public relations and the like. Never the less, the true sentiment of artists giving to a cause still came through, and Band Aid 20 was released to continue the good deed started some 20 years ago.

According to the BBC website a survey of 32,538 voters yielded the following..,

Which was the best Band Aid single?

• The 1984 original = 87%
• 1998's Band Aid II = 5%
• Band Aid 20 = 8%

So what are your thoughts on fund raising, charities, Band Aid / Live Aid? Visit our message board and say. You're welcome to have a nostalgia 80's trip but if you've got enough time to think of the past you've got enough time to give someone a better future.

Personally it's a thumbs up to Dizze Rascal and his rap ... "...give a little help to the helpless " - inspired, and well done to everyone involved in the whole Band Aid / Live Aid project. If only more people would give...., strike that, I mean if only everyone would give.

So Why Unsigned Band Aid?

Everyone seems to have an opinion on the "Original v's Band Aid 20" comparison, and the whole "doing something for charity" arena. Arm chair critics are everywhere.

After hearing the production on the Band Aid 20 version, I wondered how I would attempt to remix the song. With some friends and our own studio, I thought it would be interesting to do a version of "Do they know it's Christmas?" using singers we know from bands in the local area. There is so much talent out there if you know where to look. However the subject of copyright infringement raised its head so the idea never progressed.

My better half listened to my idea and misunderstood me. She thought I was talking about writing an original song in the style of "Do they know it's Christmas", with friends from other bands singing on it. Great I'll do that I thought, but still there was something about raising money for charity, great songs, and the act of giving that kept me awake. Eventually the penny dropped. It wasn't about me trying to pen a new song and how it could be sold to raise money, (after all that idea has been done by better men than I) it was about the whole area of giving and why we give?

There should be no "I" in give..., oh dear how cheesy, sorry you can slap me for that one, but it did lead me to think up "Unsigned Band Aid", where any unsigned band can write and perform their own song and give it away for free online. The essence of the song hopefully inspiring a generous donation directly to the charities.

Arm chair critics exist and always will, but it's the arm chair cynic I want to address. There are those that profess to give but do not like the notion that a proportion of their donation is taken to "feed the machine". How can "the machines" costs in a not for profit organisation be justified? I don't know the answer to that.

So remove the machine from the equation and give directly to the charities... simple really.

No corporate interference, no copyright infringement, no public relations, no beurocracy..., just the songs, the charities and the publics underlying good.

On www.unsignedbandaid.co.uk you can choose which songs to listen to and which charities to give to. With the world wide web you can give any time day or night. So take a break from your work, your PC game or your "normal" surfing and do a good deed. You could save a life with the click of your mouse.

The Future

Well that depends upon the generosity of the public visiting this website and the musicians contributing their songs.

I really hope this website primarily works to raise awareness of the charities. If bands get a kick back, all well and good. However I don't know where this is going. It could be a long journey, (or a short stumble), if it works and money leaves your pockets in the direction of the charities then this website will continue....., it really is down to you.

Many thanks

Paul