Let's put an end to Hallowe'en! For Charity!

PRESS RELEASE

****************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *****************

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, Sum 41, 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.

            
               

AN ALL STAR CAST SAYING “ENOUGH!” TO HALLOWEEN

            
               

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                                             

The Arcade Fire                                 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs                        

Peaches                                          

Devendra Banhart                        

Postal Service      
              Sum 41             

Sonic Youth

Sloan

Feist

Wolf Parade

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

            

A BENEFIT FOR UNICEF

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.

A SATIRE OF DO THEY KNOW ITS CHRISTMAS

“Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun

Do they know it's Christmastime at all?”

–      Do They Know It’s Christmas

This song’s inspiration stems from a frustration with other benefit songs’ misguided, somewhat patronizing attitude, and Western-centric worldview. (See the July 15th New York Times editorial calling Live 8 an “insult both to Africans and to common sense”). Hallowe’en is primarily a North American holiday, and this song asks the rest of the world to help us end this night of fear and terror.                                                                                                             

A CELEBRATION OF HALLOWEEN

Halloween is a fun holiday, and as such, this song is meant to be fun. As a satire, it is a comment on the current climate of fear and western-centric benefit songs. Of course we don’t really want to end Halloween: we’re celebrating Halloween in all its spoooooky splendor. Think of it as both a trick…and a treat, for your ears!

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