Play along at home with the lyrics:

[Paul Young] It's Christmas time There's no need to be afraid At Christmas time We let in light and we banish shade [Boy George] And in our world of plenty We can spread a smile of joy Throw your arms around the world At Christmas time [George Michael & Simon LeBon (Duran Duran)] But say a prayer Pray for the other ones At Christmas time it's hard But when you're having fun [Simon LeBon, & Sting] There's a world outside your window And it's a world of dread and fear [Sting, & Simon LeBon] Where the only water flowing Is the bitter sting of tears [Bono, & Sting] And the Christmas bells that ring there Are the clanging chimes of doom [Bono] Well, tonight thank God it's them Instead of you [Boy George & Others] And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time The greatest gift they'll get this year is life (Oooh) Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow Do they know it's Christmas time at all? [Marilyn & Glenn Gregory] Here's to you [Paul Young] Raise a glass for everyone [Marilyn & Glenn Gregory] Here's to them [Paul Young] Underneath that burning sun [Paul Young, Marilyn & Glenn Gregory] Do they know it's Christmas time at all? [Chorus: All] Feed the world Let them know it's Christmas time again [Chorus repeat forever, fade out]

Jump to section:

(00:10) Christmas introduction but no waffling like you get on some podcasts. You know the ones.

(01:30) Song title, writers' details etc

(03:21) Christmas jokes - Band Aid edition

(11:22) To the lyrics (new jingle!). Disclaimers and excuses for what's to come

(14:18) Band Aid, Band Aid 20, Band Aid 30, Band Aid 40, and the orphaned Band Aid II

(15:46) Getting into the lyrics proper. Christian nations and English perspectives or lack thereof

(17:22) Christmas fears, dubious phobias and spiking statistics

(28:49) Plenty

(31:37) Thoughts and prayers and othering

(33:58) 80s pop riches and guilt

(35:40) dread, fear, and the sting of tears

(39:50) Christmas bells

(40:49) It's them or us? Empathy flow-chart. Famine and civil war

(44:43) Ebola

(46:12) Snow in Africa. Ebola rap!

(52:07) Africa has no jungles, rain, or rivers, or maybe it has the largest ones

(53:16) Do they know? Can they Know? The music video. Reflections.

(57:33) Theories From The Internet. Lots of arguing people. AI gets it wrong

(01:00:54) Notable Trivia. Queen & apartheid, Halloween parody, Russell Brand, cover versions, Ray Hadley

(01:04:55) Misheard Lyrics.

(01:09:00) Farewells and ⁠⁠⁠give us money⁠⁠⁠

Would you like to appear (well, vocally) on the show? Do you have a pop song or ear-worm from the SMOOTH FM genre that’s infested your mind and needs to be investigated? Visit this page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://speakpipe.com/lyrics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to record us your own voicemail hot-take on your specific smooth song of suckiness. You could be on a future episode! (you can always email sound files or text your thoughts to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠poidadavis@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if that's easier). Cheers!

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Sound clips are included for educational reference, criticism, satire and parody in fair use. Clips remain the property of the respective rights holder and no endorsement is implied. All information and opinion is performed and expressed in-character and does not reflect reality or genuine commentary on any persons (living or dead), bands or other organisations, or their works, and is not recommended listening for anyone, anywhere.