OMG I literally broke up with a guy in college over "Do They Know It's Christmas?"... He refused to acknowledge how bad it was, we got in a fight, etc. etc. etc.
But it IS scary, especially in my fave version (from 1951, and one of my fave flix of all time), the one w Alastair Sim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsMYwgnfKAE; not to make a federal case about it- what you wrote is otherwise unimpeachable and right on and I loved it. Also loved the one before this about the one good cat (commented about that, too, but don't know if it posted, as I was getting frustrated w all the hoops i had to jump through to post it.) Also, (off topic, but-) another fab uniquely depressing ghost movie you might want to see is "A Ghost Story": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6265828/
Oh my gosh, Do They Know it’s Christmas …  you nailed it. It’s so cringe and I hate 1984 me for loving that song and thinking it was noble and grand. A relic of a world where globes always placed North America in the front and center, and “Africa” was evidently a tiny country. 
But... it’s also a reminder of how far we’ve come, how much we’ve grown - and I sheepishly admit I still got a little tingly hearing George Michael and Simon Le Bon burst out BUT SAY A PRAYER. if only we could rewrite 75% of the lyrics.
I always thought the scary ghost stories referred to A Christmas Carol. That bony finger pointing at Scrooge's grave haunted me as a kid.
OMG I literally broke up with a guy in college over "Do They Know It's Christmas?"... He refused to acknowledge how bad it was, we got in a fight, etc. etc. etc.
But it IS scary, especially in my fave version (from 1951, and one of my fave flix of all time), the one w Alastair Sim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsMYwgnfKAE; not to make a federal case about it- what you wrote is otherwise unimpeachable and right on and I loved it. Also loved the one before this about the one good cat (commented about that, too, but don't know if it posted, as I was getting frustrated w all the hoops i had to jump through to post it.) Also, (off topic, but-) another fab uniquely depressing ghost movie you might want to see is "A Ghost Story": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6265828/
Oh my gosh, Do They Know it’s Christmas …  you nailed it. It’s so cringe and I hate 1984 me for loving that song and thinking it was noble and grand. A relic of a world where globes always placed North America in the front and center, and “Africa” was evidently a tiny country. 
But... it’s also a reminder of how far we’ve come, how much we’ve grown - and I sheepishly admit I still got a little tingly hearing George Michael and Simon Le Bon burst out BUT SAY A PRAYER. if only we could rewrite 75% of the lyrics.
But do they know it Christmastime????? Love this!
re: Wonderful Christmastime -- don't get me started on this part:
----
The choir of children sing their song
They practiced all year long
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong
-----
Really? Really, need to practice that all year long did they?
3 ghosts in “Christmas Carol”, past present and future. Another great column, tho- I’m officially a fan!