The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays (Live Aid 1985) | Reaction

#theboomtownrats #idon'tlikemodays #theboomtownratslive
check out the video here
• The Boomtown Rats - I ...

[@YobboBear]

A song about the 1979 Cleveland Elementary school shooting in San Diego. In this case the lyrics of “shoot the whole day down” are more literal. When the perpetrator was caught, she showed no remorse and simply it was because “I don’t like Mondays”. Live Aid was the idea of Bob Geldof (the lead singer).

[@Walesbornandbred]

He's not interested.

[@Nikioko]

Correct. The lyrics aren't “Tell me why I don't like Mondays”, but “Tell me why.” - “I don't like Mondays.”

[@kpodonnell7924]

Bob Geldof was the organizier of the Live Aid concert. He also was the co-writer and organizer of BandAid’s Do they know it’s Christmas and instrumental to USA for Africa. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He is not a great singer but a very good songwriter. He had injured his back that day and was in a lot of pain. The vocals on the studio version are far better but the live performance is about the context of him performing at the most important concert ever - and it would not have happened without him.

[@mssuziquzi]

I love this song. It really did become an anthem. It wasn’t about Bob’s voice, more about his passion. Who could ever forget how he organised the whole Live Aid concert.

[@LydellC]

Wow, this takes me back. This song was kind of a cult hit in the early 80s. For a punk rock frontman, Bob Geldof made an enormous impact philanthropically and from a pop culture standpoint. First he pulled artists together for Do They Know It's Christmas to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia... then he organized the whole Live Aid concert. And also starred in Pink Floyd's The Wall. Legend.

[@annesmith2259]

Midge Ure had a lot to do with it as well ..

[@michaelbutler9400]

When asked by police “why did you do it”? She replied “I don’t like mondays”. Sadly, she is up for parole.

[@michelleeverett1535]

This song still hits hard 40 + years later 😢

[@ValerieKerr11]

That's the man that made Live Aid happen along with Midge Ure from Ultravox.

[@willasacco9898]

This song is based upon a sad, true event. A teenage girl took a sniper rifle and starting randomly shooting at a schoolyard. I believe it was in San Diego. She killed several youngsters and when asked why she said - I don’t like Mondays. (exact quote)

[@daveshep9400]

It was just a 22 caliber her dad gave her. She was in an upstairs window and the grade schoolers were lined up just acrossed the street.

[@willasacco9898]

@@daveshep9400 Whatever became of her?

[@Dr_KAP]

@@willasacco9898she’s 61 and still alive, in jail.

[@willasacco9898]

@@Dr_KAP Thanks for the info.

[@jerrylalhminghlua874]

She killed the Principal and caretaker and injured six .

[@tuijakantola6550]

Blast from the past, I love this song ❤

[@mgrimble3975]

The singer Bob Geldof was one of the two main organizers of this entire gig and the political movement behind it, he's a song writing legend in the UK and Europe. The Boomtown Rats were a rock/punk band- He also played pink in the film adaption of Pink Floyds the wall.

[@popland1977]

But not Ireland where he's from ha?

[@mgrimble3975]

@@popland1977 Of course, last i checked they're still part of the EU :)

[@popland1977]

@@mgrimble3975 Then why not just say Europe? Last I checked, the UK wasn't dug up and removed from the continent 😉

[@mjustjeanette7026]

And I still wish this song was about hating Monday's and not about a mass shooting.

[@edwina76]

This is the first song I ever loved. I was only a little kid but it was the first time a song stuck with me.

[@sputukgmail]

Ditto - it was the first time I realised “pop music” could be /important/.

[@kouranko]

I loved songs before this, but as Sputuk said, it was one of the first times I thought about how profound a song could be, and people could sing about such things, and it blew me away. Also The Clash and then when I was a little bit older I was into Crass etc. I think had just turned 15 when I don't like Mondays came out. Later too it was great when bands like Heaven 17 were sneaking their political songs onto the dance floor! I loved all that too.

[@kouranko]

Oh my goodness, how could I have forgotten The Pop Group! Vale Mark Stewart, he died today. Now there were some meaningful punk songs!

[@Dr_KAP]

Hey Nick thanks for doing my request. The most recent school shooting in the US was by a girl on a Monday and it really reminded me of this song. The official version is probably clearer and less breathy but I thought this one was more powerful. Bob Geldof was one of the main players behind this huge Live Aid concert so no doubt he was totally exhausted in every way before this performance. There’s some really really good comments here already I hope you read them all and you’ll understand more about why I requested it!! Thanks once again love ya! ❤

[@jemxs]

Brilliant request Kappy!

[@ThatSingerReactions]

I'm gonna read then all now ❤

[@mememe733]

@@ThatSingerReactionsshe lived alone with her father and on her 16 th birthday she wanted something girly, I forgot what, but instead she got the weapon that she used to shoot several preschoolers and a teacher, from the window in her room. When asked why she just said “I don’t like mondays”. She later said “it was like shooting ducks in a pond” meaning how easy it was because they were all in a group outside the school.

[@lizodams]

Just would like to add that he was emotional singing this as ithe concert was for people dying of starvation in Africa and this song brought his emotions out.

[@sputukgmail]

The impact of this moment wasn’t the skill of the singer - it was the passion and the subject of the song. The whole day was about raising money to save the lives of the vulnerable - and the song is about a moment that many vulnerable kids had been pointlessly killed just because another kid “don’t like Mondays”… Geldof is an artist…not a perfect singer. Coming from punk origins, where passion and enthusiasm and energy were more important than skill, in singing, in playing instruments, he and his band brought politics into the music too - singing about the rat race in “Rat Trap”, the corruption of government in “Bannana republic”, about the pointless waste and tragedy of school shootings in America in “Don’t like Mondays” etc - and on top of that, he had basically dragged the whole “Live Aid” event into existence with the force of his will after we’d seen the starving on the BBC - he’d MADE the country, the world, sit up and take notice and /care/ - and in that moment, the crowd, the country, loved him for it.

[@jgsheehan8810]

I remember the shock of the event this song is about… unfortunately now commonplace. Bob Geldof really nailed it with this song.

[@gooflah5172]

At least this 100% proves you react to videos without watching them or researching them first. You're great man.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Well said.

[@Dr_KAP]

Nick knew what the song was about before this reaction. I felt it was appropriate to give him a heads up. Wisely he chose not to discuss the topic as it may have just caused a mess in the comments section!

[@ThatSingerReactions]

Yeah for sure because the meaning I'm hearing from the comments

[@ThatSingerReactions]

​​@Dr_KAP I actually forgot you told me this which is why my reaction wasn't understanding it. I do remember you telling me once I read your comment here again above i remember tou said this 💯 and now I see why im lost in knowing the meaning in the video lol

[@Dr_KAP]

Oh lol no worries I just thought maybe you were avoiding discussing it as it’s kinda sensitive! All good!!

[@matthewashman1406]

This song is about a school shooting from 79, it was a massive hit. Yes he is no great singer but great lyrist

[@jemxs]

Love this song, fitting since it's about a school shooting and there was just another USA shooting with teens. Sir Bob was instrumental in organising Live Aid. Some songs don't need clear crisp vocal runs. Raw and dirty vocals suit certain songs more. This is a huge hit and Sir Bob is so loved.

[@glastonbury4304]

They have a school shooting on average once a week sadly in the US 😢

[@timwebb9658]

Oh damn! Reacting to the Boomtown Rats, holy crap! Never expected to hear this gem. Thanks.

[@gcarap]

This song was a true story about a school shooting. When asked why the female shooter did it, she replied "I don't like Mondays." Also Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof was a big reason Live Aid even happened, he got nominated for a Nobel Prize.

[@Laurie473]

Hi Nick, thanks your reaction.., as always honest & enjoyable.... I can certainly see where you're coming from regarding Sir Bob's performance & how it 'didn't hit vocally' for you.., What I would recommend for you, if you're willing to dive a little more deeply into the 'Rabbit hole' that is "Live Aid" , & knowing you.., you certainly will do so when time permits you. The reason why Sir Bob stopped forcefully & punctuated on the lyric " And the lesson today is how to die! " sending the Crowd nuts. Is because you really have to understand that in the Mid 80's the Ethiopian famine was so very very bad..., It was basically one of the worst humanitarian events of the 20th century & was allowed to happen by the world's governments as recently as the 1980's. It galvanized the world's attention to end widespread starvation and to save lives. Ethiopia's food shortages and hunger crisis from 1983 to 1985 it affected 7.75 million people & left an estimated 1.2 million dead. 😢 Sir Bob Geldof was the front man of a little English Punk/Rock band, who stood up & said , "hey you know what, we need to do something about this" He was 'The Man' who took on the job of organizing the entire LIVE AID concert concept to raise desperately needed Funds for Food & Aid to the African Famine. This is why Sir Bob's performance on stage in front of the 150,000 Strong Wembley Crowd, is one of the most memorable for Generation X in the 80's. The 16-hour “super concert” featured more than 75 acts, including Queen, Run DMC, Paul McCartney, Madonna and Elton John, Phil Collins, U2, Sting & many, many more. Performing in two spots: Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. In an astounding technological feat, 13 satellites beamed the broadcast live to televisions and radios across the globe simultaneously. According to historical accounts, it remains one of the largest-scale satellite link-ups and single synchronized television broadcasts of all time, with an estimated audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. & Sir Bob Geldof is the entire reason that it came to be... 🙂💯💞 Thanks again for the reaction, as always, I'm a huge fan to you TSR Channel ☮. I just want to leave these 4 x Links here for you, which I hope the younger subscribers will get to see especially. Just to impart a sense of the time, the occassion, the meaning & the cost... kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5iVgqmcgcx1m8k : kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKLap56Qbd2sj9E : kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH3EZJKQo5mHl5I : kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6msoXuEmZiboLc as an insight to that which was the "Live Aid" purpose & phenomenon. Steering Wheel of it all, Sir Bob Geldof. I would like to think, with this gained little bit of knowledge of Sir Bob Geldof's performance that special Saturday, July 13th 1985 ..., your younger fans whom have never experienced such a globally polarizing event, can gain some important insight, into the moment that Sir Bob stood in that arena on stage, with his little band the Boomtown Rats, & performed his HEART, (truly with all his Heart) out to humanity LIVE for one event concert & one moment in time, in the hope that we'd all be inspired to give a little $$ to his cause. I'll sign off with a quote I found from Jason Janus of Wisconsin, which he posted on the 'Live Aid' Channel, because the sentiment exactly mirrors my own ( for I also just turned 50 last week!). "If every single one of us could be BOB GELDOF the world would be a much better place!!! To Sir Bob Geldof, I am now 50 years old. I remember watching Live Aid in (Perth Australia) where I still live today. I was 12 at the time, it was the most amazing thing. I was able to see all my favorite bands live in my Livingroom all day long. Just the fact that you cared so damn much about other people other than yourself or family & friends, is what made this such an important & necessary event, & indeed the world needs more people like you. " - Peace out to everyone ! & lets hope that we never allow something as devastating as the African famine of the 1980's to ever happen again.

[@amandacollins2854]

This song represents the confusion the rest of the world has over American school shootings. I'm pretty sure it just sumed up the shock over this shooting , Bob Geldof is a punk poet ,the voice was never the point but he is known world wide for his compassion.

[@lillibitjohnson7293]

I could be wrong but I think Britain had a bad school shooting too. Hence the British gun laws . I’ll go google lol

[@lillibitjohnson7293]

Yeah the dunblane massacre . Which was the reason for gun laws in the UK But yeah he wrote this song about the USA school shooting in Cleveland 1979

[@Dr_KAP]

@@lillibitjohnson7293it was in San Diego California. Cleveland was just the name of the school.

[@lillibitjohnson7293]

@@Dr_KAP ah ok thanks :)

[@TheSavvyShopaholic]

I was a young teenager when this came out. I love the Boomtown Rats they are more punk/pop but although Sir Bob doesn’t have a classically considered good singing voice I do love the quirks and it’s unique sound. I still have the vinyl album. The song is an anthem and he a legend! Thanks for doing this … so many good memories. X

[@travelsolo2677]

This song was written after a school shooting in the US

[@hamishspencer]

And the lesson today is: How to die! Chills. God bless all the victims of mass shootings and their families.

[@matthawkins8880]

The story I heard was that Bob Geldof was doing an interview in Detroit when this came across the wire (teletex) and it effected him so much he wrote the song in about 24 hours.

[@SunShine-qk4rb]

Such a great song about a really tragic incident

[@Calzaki]

I think at this point Bob Geldof had been awake for about 36 hours at least

[@sputukgmail]

If anyone who loves this song doesn’t know, the Boomtown Rats are still going, and I can highly recommend their most recent album - and seeing them live. I last saw them in 2020 weeks before lockdown - amazing.

[@carolecavanaugh7209]

Based on one of the first school shootings in America when people were shocked by them. Now they're so commonplace.

[@Walesbornandbred]

True story about a girl who shot 2 teaches and wounded some kids because she didn't like mondays. The parents, who gave a 16-year-old girl guns tried unsuccessfully to sue Bob Geldoff. At the time it was a rare thing, school kids in America seem to be dying on a monthly basis now. I doubt if your interested but there is a youtube video of Bob explaining this song. When he says, the lesson today is how to die he's referring to the subject of the song (which you should google) and also why they were there, to raise money for starving Africans. No one was there to make money. Bob organised all this, he's probably stressed and tired.

[@steveparker8065]

It documents the 1979 Cleveland Elementary School shooting by a 16 year old girl. Bob Geldof is an Irish punk singer originally and this song was a theatrical piece that really resonated with people and is well known throughout Britain.

[@kathycurtis7037]

This was about a 16 year old girl that shot at school children. This song was ban.

[@sabinasabina2010]

the song is about a real mass shooting in America and when asked why she did it, she said 'I don't like Mondays' I watch many reactions and I find that with the younger American generation the need to do less talking over the song, stop vibing sometimes and listen to the lyrics! Classic case!

[@87ventus]

Yeah the band is tired.. for trying to help the world..feed the world.. geesh..this is a heavy song. Written by a man who gives a shit about trying to stop some evil in the world..the crowd totally respects them. And he's very emotional. 😢❤

[@amberlawson7867]

fun fact: This really happened. A little girl who was abused and mentailly unstable. She got a shotgun from her dad and she did want a doll and ended up staying home from school and taking aim at the school next door. She killed one person (i think just one might be two) and harmed some children. When someone called to ask why she did it while she was in the middle her only responce she had was "I don't like mondays"

[@Rueme63]

This song or performance was never about Bob’s voice. This song is about a school shooting that occurred over 40 years ago. The rest of the world was horrified, Bob Geldoff was so moved, he wrote this song about it. This song wasn’t released in the US so as to not show incentively towards the victims and their families, yet nothing ever gets done to quell the gun violence in the US…….? All this loss of life for a reason as simple as ‘I don’t like Monday’s’

[@tobywankenobi103]

You do have to note that his back was really hurting that day. Backstage he needed pain killers

[@Irish780]

Wow can't believe you actually did not get it

[@filton12]

Banned in America when it came out.

[@Howie57]

Yeah...what a joke

[@clairearendse4877]

You're right, he's not a great singer. He'd probably admit it himself. But he's bob Geldhoff. He's a passionate man, and beautiful in a lot of ways. And he'd probably laugh at someone saying that. He'd hear a news story and do something about it. He didn't like the hero status that he earned, but that's one of the reasons why we love him.

[@Howie57]

Cannot belive you've never heard of bob geldof!!!

[@MrLewis.]

It was Paula Yates idea for Band Aid and Bob Geldof organised it, yet Paula gets no credit for her ideas

[@Laurie473]

Thanks!

[@ThatSingerReactions]

Awww thank you so much I don't think I've ever seen this like in person on here in a comment

[@NewFalconerRecords]

This is an odd performance to come into without any prior knowledge of Sir Bob Geldof, the Boomtown Rats and this particular song. Fortunately, others in the comments have filled the background. But unfortunately, it's probably the worst example of Bob Geldof's voice that you could possibly find. He is a far better singer than this particular performance would suggest.

[@Dr_KAP]

Actually Nick knew exactly what the song was about before this reaction as we discussed it. He very wisely chose not to bring the topic up in his video.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

@@Dr_KAP Yes, that makes sense.

[@Dr_KAP]

@@NewFalconerRecords but sorry I agree it’s not a great performance vocally- I didn’t like the official version as it was so “vanilla” and all the other live ones were when they were much older.

[@ko0974]

Bob was wrecked at this stage ..no sleep in weeks, organising the biggest concerts in the world...and he put his back out......my biggest gripe was that Bob never asked Philip lynott for Thin Lizzy fello Iriahman to preform

[@balanchuk]

Ok , friend ... you need to see what this song is about and then re listen to it

[@Wienerblutable]

Show more respect to a knighted Sir!;)

[@NotStanleyTucci]

The good ol days when school shootings were rare.

[@PeterCampbell-ce3um]

The song is about a school shooting

[@avanoosterhout8397]

No, Bob never was a great singer. Especially not live. But this is the performance of a lifetime for him. It's almost impossible to state the importance of the song in itself, let alone the context it got on this 13th July 1985 at Wembley. So let's try it this way: October 1984: BBC News shows shocking and heartbreaking footage of the famine in Ethiopia. That night Bob Geldof (singer/leader of Boomtown Rats) calls Midge Ure (singer/leader of Ultravox) and they write a song, the proceeds of which are to go to charity. November 25th 1984: Everybody who is anybody in the hit charts at that time (and before) shows up in a studio in London to record 'Do They Know It's Christmas' under the name Band Aid. The song wasn't a real good song, but did what was intended to do: raise a lot of money to fight the famine. In the aftermath of the song, Bob decided it wasn't enough and came up with the idea of a one day festival. Where artists and bands would perform live, broadcasted on TV and - again - generate donations from the public. July 13th 1985: LIVE AID quickly was nicknamed The Global Jukebox as the event became bigger than Bob had ever expected. Two major festivals in London and Philadelphia, but also local spin-offs in other countries (like: Russia, Germany, Australia, Japan). By then Bob Geldof had already reached a Saint-like status for setting this all up. When he came on stage with his band, they were only the third in line. And all the big names were still to come. The song in this reaction is about a completely different subject (school shooting), but the line "And the lesson today is how to die" got a whole new meaning at that day and time. When Bob pauses, there's a short silence as the message and context hits the crowd. And when they get it.... well.... Live Aid eventually (donations, ticket sales, Live Aid DVD sales etc.) took in $127 million (which would be around $ 350 million today).

[@AnnQlder]

Yeah that’s an awful performance of a great song from a singer who isn’t very good anyway. But Bob is a hero, and we love him and this song. 😂

[@TheDreamLovers1]

You might like Thin Lizzy. Irish band.

[@anandvijayan2033]

Yun completely missed the context of this song at Live Aid. This was to raise money for Ethiopian famine.

[@paulaveronica2808]

Bob Geldof is great!!

[@TW-js7fw]

SIR Bob Geldof!!!

[@PeterCampbell-ce3um]

This was live aid Dude, they were ALL wasted, Led Zepplin stunk the place up Jimmy Page was so drunk.

[@andrewhall7853]

Check out the lyrics Nick - it’ll make sense then.

[@Dr_KAP]

Thks Andrew. Nick knew what the song was about 😉

[@blueenglishstaffybreeder6956]

Most of ‘‘em we’re smack addicts back then

[@Mrmikey0909]

who were 'em?

[@tobywankenobi103]

He relates to the Song ha ha ha no he doesn’t relate to it

[@spruce381]

His singing was awful that day, due to months of working his arse of on live aid. Buy the song is great.

[@Jakintheboks]

I already bought it in 1979

[@ncapguy]

Did the reactor have any idea all what yhe song was about? Clearly none - Clueless

[@kevinjordan3900]

Your commentary on this song and performance is so blatantly misunderstood and sad. Once you stopped it and agreed that everyone hates going back to work or school on Mondays it was obvious you hadn’t done any research whatsoever about what this song is actually about! It’s disturbing to see someone critique a song, especially at Live Aid where this lead singer and one other person created and put so much work into! He was exhausted. Plus as all the others mentioned this is not an anthem about not liking Mondays…it’s a sad song about something that changed the entire culture of our nation. Please don’t do requests before doing some research beforehand, it only makes the rest of us who are knowledgeable about what it’s about very frustrated. It’s insulting to Bob Geldof and the families of the school shooting.

[@Lea-bw9wj]

Nick making a couple of comments about everyone hating Mondays etc I think he missed the meaning to the song. The song was about hating Mondays because that was the day a girl shot all your classmates hits so differently now than back then. I was a kid when the song came out and nothing about it felt real back then. It was just a made up story. I know it was based on truth. but it still felt unreal to me. But today it feels way to real because we keep hearing about school shootings in America.

[@Dr_KAP]

He knew what the song was about- I think wisely chose not to address the topic in the video though.

[@ThatSingerReactions]

​@Dr_KAP nah I completely forgot what you told me it was about. I can check a message respond and might not do the song until the next day or 2 so by that time I forgot That was pretty much all so my reaction is super like lost in reality lol

[@annesmith2259]

Yeah she’s a pretty abysmal vocalist but it suits the songs

[@stevenmckee6134]

He*

[@gaztaylor4178]

Bruv it's about a school massacre and she shot her class mates dead, your reaction was so immature!!

[@markdorfman5051]

Do your homework before reacting

[@Irish780]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 not a great singer 22 grammys lol😅😅😅😅😅

[@redoz9768]

Bob Geldof was not a great singer, in fact he was terrible. His main claim to fame is that he was partly responsible for making Live Aid happen. His band is a one hit wonder who never would have been on that stage if not for his involvement in Live Aid. Their one and only hit song is rather epic however.

[@Jakintheboks]

What? Two UK number ones, loads of top tens, 7 era defining albums, what are you talking about?