Kev Kennedy's Blog

Charity records and misers like me

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one to hate the charity single released by the X Factor contestants. It's a schmaltzy rendition of 'You Are Not Alone' by Michael Jackson, that I hated when Jacko released it. So the odds were always going to be that I didn't like it.

But it is for charity, so should you buy it anyway? Well, no, I don't think so. If the charity means that much to you (and you were moved by the slightly manipulative film they played on the X Factor promoting the charity), then why not just make a donation? That way an abominable song doesn't get to number 1, and the charity benefits too.

Realistically, charity singles always end up in the Oxfam shop within a few months. You buy them for a good cause, but like the Big Issue, it's rare that you end up with something you really want, However, a new charity single raising awareness against climate change is approaching things a different way. They aren't raising money - but every download or purchase of the single is counted as support for the campaign against climate change.

It's a good song - a cover of 80s environmentalist song 'Beds are Burning' - and you can download it for free at Amazon (for a limited time). So when it costs you nothing and you get something good in return, why not? Everybody wins.

Created on Mon 23rd November 2009 11:32