BBC, as part of the BFI and Radio Times TV Festival on May 20, 2022.Talking about the moment he saw a BBC news broadcast of the famine in Ethiopia in 1984, he said the footage had 'stayed with him' and partner Paula Yates, who subsequently left a message in the bowl asking any visitors to the house to donate five pounds for charity.He paid tribute to Paula's idea for charity donations, saying it was 'very cool' and that he knew at that moment he needed to do something to raise money - and the one thing he knew how to do was write a song.
Speaking at the BFI and Radio Times TV Festival, he said: "At that moment. I knew I had to do something," and that he could "write a tune, but the band [The Boomtown Rats] probably won't have a hit."He also credited Paula with helping him connect with friends and Do They Know It's Christmas co-songwriter Midge Ure, saying: "I called Paula - 'find out who is on The Tube and see can we get something together.' So that's how it started. "Midge Ure was there, so Midge came on and Midge was having hits."He added: "I said to Midge, did you see that thing, and he said no, I don't think so - tell me about it. "I said I really want to do something, I'd like to put a band together. "I said we need to do it quickly, as it needs to be Christmas because that's where the big sales are.
We do it by Christmas, make the money, give it."Together the duo co-wrote Do They Know It's Christmas, with Bob revealing that he wanted the final chorus to be a statement, saying: "What was going to be the big send-off?
I thought it has to be declamatory. It's got to be 'All you need is love'. It's going to be 'War is over, if you want it.' It's got to be as brutally clear.
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