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2024 London
Just For One Day the Musical - SYNOPSIS
Act I
In the present-day, several people gather to reflect on their memories and experiences at Live Aid, including Suzanne, Marsha, Jim, and Amara, and how it made them feel like they could change the world ("Heroes"). Bob Geldof criticizes their idealized image of what Live Aid was, and says the event was a nightmare that he's had to live with. Jemma, a young student studying Live Aid in her history class, challenges Bob and argues her generation needs to know what happened so they can learn from it to actually make a change in the world. Bob reluctantly lets them continue. The group, led by John, performs Status Quo's opening number from Live Aid ("Rockin' All Over the World"). After, Jemma insists on learning the real story of how Live Aid happened.
In 1984, Suzanne and Tim in a record shop talking about famous musicians, while Suzanne is oblivious to Tim's flirting. Back in the present-day, Suzanne remembers the first record she ever bought was of The Boomtown Rats, where she goads Bob into mockingly performing their first hit ("Rat Trap"). As punk music's popularity declines, Bob enters a midlife crisis until he learns about the famine in Ethiopia ("Drive"). Bob and Jemma begin to bond over their anger at injustices in the world, with Bob sharing that he knew he needed to turn to music to create a response that people would listen to. In 1984, Bob approaches Midge Ure with the idea of creating a charity record to fundraise to raise money for the famine ("Dancing with Tears in My Eyes"). With the help of Marsha and Jim, they form Band Aid, a group of musicians who will record the charity record ("True / Every Breath You Take"). At the studio, Bob and Midge are initially forced to record the song themselves, however the other musicians eventually arrive ("Do They Know It's Christmas?"). Jemma questions some of the lyrics, but Bob insists he needed to write and record it as fast as possible. Bob's wife listens to the song, and encourages him to submit the song to the radio stations. BBC executives are reluctant, but they eventually agree to let Bob promote the song on the radio ("Radio Ga Ga").
Margaret Thatcher refuses to waive the government tax (VAT) on sales of the record. She claims everyone would like to keep the tax they pay and that people should not rely on charity ("Stop Your Sobbing"). Meanwhile, Amara is furious that wealthy celebrities released a song pretending to care about the famine in Ethiopia. She explains her heartbreak not having enough food to feed the hundreds of starving children. At the record shop, Suzanne and Tim debate buying the records and not knowing where the funds are going. Tim is dismissive of their ability to make change, leaving Suzanne heartbroken and determined to sell as many copies of the record as she can by herself ("We Are the Champions"). Suzanne and Tim later reconcile.
Bob is angered by the media focusing on him and not on the famine in Ethiopia, while Jemma laments the media is missing the point about what Bob is trying to achieve. Bob learns American musicians are recording their own charity record ("We Are the World"). At a party, Bob meets Suzanne and Tim who convince him he needs to go to Ethiopia to see how the money is being used ("You're the Best Thing"). He also meets John Kennedy, who encourages him to establish a charitable trust. Bob finally demands to meet Margaret, who still refuses to waive the tax ("I'm Still Standing").
Bob travels to Ethiopia, where Amara explains the harsh reality of famine. Bob is brought to tears by the devastation ("Bad"). As Amara explains the cartel and government dictatorship keep the money and food, Bob becomes more determined to mobilize efforts and raise even more money to deliver directly to the aid workers ("Message in a Bottle").
Act II
Suzanne explains to Jemma that Harvey Goldsmith was Britain's biggest concert promoter ("Pinball Wizard"). Even though Bob and Harvey both refuse to compromise, they agree to work together. At the press conference, the media are still critical of Bob's motivations and question if any musicians will actually participate. Bob takes control by announcing Mick Jagger and David Bowie are recording a song together, and dismisses Harvey and John's concerns about who is paying for everything and being able to get all the famous musicians to actually participate. Harvey complains about Bob's elaborate vision for Live Aid and his controlling nature, until John shocks everyone when he reveals Paul McCartney has agreed to participate ("Dancing in the Street"). After skipping out on her exam, Suzanne is heartbroken Live Aid tickets are sold out until Tim arrives with tickets ("Summer of '69"). Meanwhile, Amara listens to the radio promote Live Aid, and she prays this will actually work ("Blowin' in the Wind").
In a tense meeting, Harvey storms off after another fight with Bob. Marsha scolds Bob saying that she, John, and Tim have been working tirelessly to bring his dream to life and he cannot give up. Back in the present-day, Suzanne marvels at the impressive lineup on the Live Aid poster, while Jemma questions the lack of racial diversity. Back in 1985, Margaret requests to meet with Bob and tries to convince him to understand her perspective ("Reach Out and Touch"). Bob threatens to convince everyone to vote against her, which leads to Margaret agreeing to make a donation equal to the amount of the taxes received from the record sales. The night before Live Aid, Bob is unable to sleep because of fear and self-doubt ("In the Air Tonight / Why Can't We Live Together").
In the present-day, Suzanne gives her ticket to Jemma as Live Aid begins ("We Will Rock You / King of Rock"). As Midge Ure performs, Harvey begins to stress about keeping the event running on time ("Vienna"). Harvey and Suzanne encourage a nervous Bob to go on stage and perform ("I Don't Like Mondays"). Marsha and Jim run off to have sex ("All You Need Is Love"), and Suzanne and Tim share their first kiss ("Against All Odds"). With a lack of donations coming in, Bob goes on national television and swears as he asks people to give their money to the cause. John and Midge are ecstatic with the donations suddenly flowing in, as the concert continues ("Rebel Rebel / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Into the Groove"). Marsha and Jim marvel at the event that they helped pull off ("Bohemian Rhapsody").
Back in the present-day, Jemma realizes why Suzanne loved Live Aid and wishes they could bottle that spirit. Bob reflects that music cannot make a change, but it can bring people together. Suzanne and Bob also explain how twenty years later Live 8 was held to combat global poverty, and that the same problems still exist another twenty years later in 2024. Bob and Suzanne encourage Jemma to keep asking question and to not stop fighting for change ("My Generation").
Live Aid comes to a close: Bob thanks everyone for their hard work, Amara is grateful for the supplies they received, while Bob realizes that younger generations are rising up and challenging the injustices they see in the world ("Let It Be").
Review: Just For One Day the Musical Lyrics
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