BOO! This fall’s sweetest – and scariest – benefit song is DO THEY KNOW
IT’S HALLOWE’EN. This single features a star-studded ensemble (Beck, Sonic Youth, The Arcade Fire) known as the NORTH AMERICAN HALLOWEEN PREVENTION INITIATIVE. Both a trick and a treat, this song is a satire - as well as a charity-benefit song with all proceeds being donated to UNICEF.
The song itself is an epic journey into the pulsating heart of fear. It is a rallying cry to stamp out this most scary of holidays. The North American Halloween Prevention Initiative features a who’s-who of current alternative music:
Beck
Sum 41
The Arcade Fire
Sonic Youth
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Sloan
Peaches
Feist
Devendra Banhart
Wolf Parade
Postal Service
Buck 65
This anti-Halloween call-to-arms also stars a grab-bag of legends such as:
Comedian David Cross
Sex Pistols’ founder Malcolm McLaren
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
60s soul legend Gino Washington
Psychedelic singer Roky Erickson
Los Angeles 70s group Sparks
Inuit throat singer, Tagaq (a frequent collaborator with Björk)
Co-produced by Steven McDonald of Redd Kross
RELEASE DATE: OCT. 11 2005 (IN ST0RES)
FORMAT: CD SINGLE and VINYL 12"
AVAILABLE DIGITALLY FROM ALL DSPs: OCT. 4 2005
Written by: Nick Diamonds (Islands, ex-Unicorns) & Adam Gollner
Produced by: Steven McDonald, Adam Gollner, Nick Diamonds.
All proceeds are donated to UNICEF. This project is also intended to raise awareness of UNICEF’s annual tradition of Trick-or-Treat For Halloween, wherein Kids Help Kids by going door-to-door collecting funds in boxes.
Do They Know It's Hallowe'en Lyrics ::
Beck / Karen (Yeah Yeah Yeah's): Once a year on a spooky night it's Hallowe'en......and what a fright!
Win & Regine (Arcade Fire): Young boys & ghouls, in ghoulish disguise they cover their skin, conceal their eyes
Dan & Spencer (Wolf Parade): A grave mistake to be out when the ghosts are about it's Hallowe'en......
Win & Regine (Arcade Fire): Our time to be afraid!
Buck 65: In the rest of the year, they don't observe this bash which has become our biggest concern
Feist / Denvendra Banhart: Latvia, Laos, Chad, Peru we need their help, or else we're through
Feist / Elvira: They don't know the fear, we endure once a year all hallow's eve, we are afraid!
All: DO THEY KNOW IT'S HALLOWE'EN....tonight?
Win & Regine (Arcade Fire): It's October 31st, could it get any worse?
Beck: Childern on the streets, begging for treats
David Cross: Drowning in a bucket of apples bobbing parents are hiding, our babies are sobbing
Elvira / Nardwuar The Human Serviette: The undead have returned, they're freaking us out! Dragging us down, so we shout:
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) / Karen (Yeah Yeah Yeah's) / Syd Butler (Les Savy Fav): Help us! Help us! Save our souls!
Russel Mael (Sparks): We're dying of fear, and they don't even know it
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth): They think we've got it all. What we need is a team
Win & Regine (Arcade Fire): To help us forget, forget Hallowe'en
Subtitle (Th' Corn Gangg): GHOULS
Malcolm Mclaren: Fools! You think you can stop Hallowe'en? The world can't hear your usless plea!
Peaches : It's too late! Our orange & Black plague will soon consume them all!
Buck 65: Then everyone will understand the true meaning of Hallowe'en.....Pure terror!
Dan (Wolf Parade): We're all fed up, we've had enough
Asya & Chloe (Smoosh): Trick! Caramel apples that will make you sick. Treat.
Gino Washington : And all those sweets will rot your teeth. Ouija board, ouija board
Russel Mael (Sparks): Spell this!
Asya & Chloe (Smoosh) / Roky Erickson: we don't want you here no more
Malcolm Mclaren: the writing's on the tombstone, beneath the willow tree
Peaches / Stevo (Sum 41): No more razorblades in our kid's candy
Beck: Dead dogs and broomsticks, pumpkins in flames. We're ending this night, ending the shame!
All: DO THEY KNOW IT'S HALLOWE'EN......tonight?
STREAM the whole song
here (via Vice Records).
