Instead of the crass Dancing In The Streets, which had good intentions. maybe they should have done another motown classic. How about marvin Gaye's Whats Goin On?, though it was around this time that Cindi Lauper did a version. But surely there must have been other/better songs in mind.

What made them choose that one anyway.

Cuts Like a Knife by Bryan Adams

How about Angie?

It's shake appeal, it's "calling out around the world" mantra are my guesses why they chose that one. With their illecit
past, they could've picked another Motown hit like "How Sweet It Is" or "My Guy", but that was five years before Angie spilled the beans(?) to Joan Rivers on national TV.

The song's history is probably a deciding factor in the choice. It was written in response to the race riots of the early sixties, I believe.

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The song's history is probably a deciding factor in the choice. It was written in response to the race riots of the early sixties, I believe.

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That is indeed correct.

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The song's history is probably a deciding factor in the choice. It was written in response to the race riots of the early sixties, I believe.

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I didn't know that, but now you mention it, It does make sense, after all this time I really cannot imagine them singing another song now, but I think this would have been fitting...

War
Edwin Starr

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all

War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives

War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh
Good God, y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war
It's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die
Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend
That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away

Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
You tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it

War, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it
Nothing




London Bye Ta-Ta...

This would be as cheesy as dancing in the streets. Brilliant choice. I could imagine it... the same clothes, the same video, just a different song and us discussing the same question two decades later :-P


Come and buy my tanks

This is pretty random, but I used to think it was "Dancing in the Sheets."

Seems more appropriate for them.

Poetry is no place for a heart that's a whore.

Yes. "Dancing".

Excuse me, I have to go throw up everything I've ever eaten. Mick Jagger is not one of those people I want to ever imagine having sex with anyone.

Excellent song. They should have chosen it.



Perl actually stands for Pathologically Eclectic Rubbish Lister, but don't tell anyone I said that.

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but that was five years before Angie spilled the beans(?) to Joan Rivers on national TV.

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.... and about 5 after she'd already published "Free Spirit" with the same old story.

I loved Dancing in The Streets at the time, captured the rushed and desperate feel of Live Aid perfectly.





I am your future, I am tomorrow, I am the end

My idea would be to have had them dressed as soldiers, performing that song "War"

I guess what was needed was a moment of light hearted fun, hence the Dancing video, I wonder who chose the song, Bowie or Jagger?


London Bye Ta-Ta...

So glad you weren't their advisor


Regarding Dancing, it seemed like a perfect song for a perfect moment. It hasn't aged well, even a year on it seemed below par, but it was nice to see Bowie at number one again, and it raised a lot of money, and at the end of the day that is what counted. If it had been some 'serious' song it would not have been such a populist choice and it is doubtful that it would have been such a big hit.

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So glad you weren't their advisor

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It hasn't aged well, even a year on it seemed below par

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Strange how 80s things age terribly fast almost to the point of being naff.

Of course the idea was to raise as much money as possible, I eagerly remember waiting for the 7" picture cover single to be released, hoping it would be a stereo release ( not like the Bing/Bowie collaboration ) don't know if this was originally intended for single release, or people demanded it?

I think the alternate version of the Dancing video is great fun


London Bye Ta-Ta...

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So glad you weren't their advisor

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You know, I kinda liked the idea. But it probably would have been too serious and preachy idea for Live Aid.

Monochrome

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The song's history is probably a deciding factor in the choice. It was written in response to the race riots of the early sixties, I believe.

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I didn't know that. By my guess would have been for the global-theme in the lyrics ('calling out around the world....south america, tokyo, france....') in reference to the giant satellite broadcast that was intended to be sung from either side of the Atlantic.

BOWIE DOWNUNDER

The 'South America, Tokyo, France' bit was an adlib by them, it isn't on the original song. The 'Philadelphia PA, Baltimore and DC now, don't forget the motor city' bit is, but the 'Back in the USSR' is also an adlib and would have been added to take the song away from solely America and turn it into a global plea.

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I once read that if you change the lyrics in someway on a song, you don't have to pay copywrite, Is this true?


London Bye Ta-Ta...

If you change the words to a song, you have to get permission. You still have to pay copyright.

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but since it was for charity , would they turn a blind eye?

well until it appears on a greatest hits

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If you change the words to a song, you have to get permission. You still have to pay copyright

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Thanks for clearing that up.


London Bye Ta-Ta...

actually the perfect song would have been Lennon's Imagine. That would have tied up nicely. bowie who was a friend of lennon, Jagger who also knew him well and the fact that the song itself is very apt to the occasion.

I've heard Bowie sing Imagine on Bowie audio, It just doesn't sound right to me, as for it being a duet? think it would be rather sad, besides I'm not that keen on Jaggers voice, or him come to that.


London Bye Ta-Ta...

Hmm, the lyrics about hunger would suit:

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No greed or hunger
A brotherhood and sisterhood of man


BOWIE DOWNUNDER

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

yes very apt...and yes trouble is jagger singing it, he's hardly got a sympathetic nature about him. Maybe Annie Lennox with Bowie. Bowie's version from 83 isnt too bad. I think he had troubles with singing it were to do with his overwhelming emotions

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I think he his troubles with singing it were to do with his overwhelming emotions

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Most definitely, I wouldn't mind hearing Bowie and Lennox singing it, good idea.



London Bye Ta-Ta...

Yeah, but nobody read "free spirit" except for us.

What a witty idea, using "War" instead of "Dancing in the streets", dogz! But I have strong doubts they would have topped the original Edwin Starr version.

I would have preferred if they would not have recorded a song together. They should have done that in the early 70s. In the 80s, the Stones were boring for a long time, Mick Jagger was better known for his affairs than for this music, and with Bowie on the declining edge as well, it looked very desperate. Never bought the single, and felt embarrassed when it was shown on TV - even worse than Bowie & Tina.

/Carsten

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What a witty idea, using "War" instead of "Dancing in the streets", dogz! But I have strong doubts they would have topped the original Edwin Starr version.

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actually around the same time. Frankie Goes to Hollywood did a version of War on the b-sdie to Two Tibes.

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They should have done that in the early 70s. In the 80s, the Stones were boring for a long time, Mick Jagger was better known for his affairs than for this music, and with Bowie on the declining edge as well, it looked very desperate

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indeed it did. its cringe worthy from beginning to end. though it was for a good cause afterall.

maybe another possibility would have been a remake of gimme shelter or Its Only Rock n Roll with Diamond Dogs medley.

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felt embarrassed when it was shown on TV - even worse than Bowie & Tina.

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Sorry carsten, I'm going to have to disagree with you on this, Bowie & Tina was the pits, the lowest point I've ever seen him in 30 years.



London Bye Ta-Ta...

I've never been embarrassed by him, why should I?

I really liked DITS at the time and think it was the perfect song for the occasion. It got a message across without being preachy and was a well known song, so it caught the general public's attention.

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I've never been embarrassed by him, why should I?

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Neither have I, I was just replying to carstens point, I wasn't actually embarrassed by Bowie's appearance with Tina Turner, I was disappointed and it made my skin crawl, but then so did most of the 1980s


London Bye Ta-Ta...

I can see what you mean by the Tina Turner appearance. That really was him looking too smug.

Well he had just done her the night before ;)

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well there is that, I forgot about that. It would have been tongue in cheek if they had sung Let's Spend the Night Together

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Well he had just done her the night before ;)

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YUK! how could he stoop so low

If the beaver was anything like her wig! It's a bloody wonder he found it


London Bye Ta-Ta...

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YUK! how could he stoop so low

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Isn't she taller than him?

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If the beaver was anything like her wig! It's a bloody wonder he found it

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probably why he got that number 2 slot either.

Now you know why her hair is so frizzy



London Bye Ta-Ta...