Remembering The Music for UNICEF Concert [VIDEOS]

It was on this day 33 years ago that pop musics biggest names gathered in the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York City for a concert fundraiser to publicize the proclamation and raise money for UNICEF—the United Nation's Children's Fund. They called the show The Music for UNICEF Concert. 

In an effort to call attention to the poverty, malnutrition and lack of access to quality education affecting millions of children throughout the developing world, the United Nations proclaimed 1979 the "International Year of the Child."

The Bee Gees liked the cause and came up with the idea for the concert from the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh, also benefiting UNICEF. The main difference between the Bee Gees '79 version was the organizers asked all participating stars to donate to UNICEF the royalties from the song they performed during the show. Another key difference between the two concerts was a rather dramatic difference in musical esthetics. The Concert for Bangladesh featured Ravi Shankar, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton performing songs like "Bangla Dun," "My Sweet Lord" and "Blowin' in the Wind." The Music for UNICEF concert, on the other hand, featured ABBA, Andy Gibb and Rod Stewart singing songs like "Chiquita," "I Go for You" and, most improbably considering the occasion, "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"

It is not clear exactly how much money the Music for UNICEF concert actually raised, or whether all of the participating artists actually signed over all future royalties on the songs they performed. At the very least, the Bee Gees' contribution to the effort, "Too Much Heaven," would go on to be a #1 pop hit and raise more than $7 million for the charity.

Here is a look at some of the more memorable moments from January 9th 1979...

Show Intro & End

Abba, "Chiquitita"

John Denver - "Rhymes and Reasons"

The Bee Gees, "Too Much Heaven"