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Band Aid[]

Band_Aid_-_Do_They_Know_Its_Christmas

Band Aid - Do They Know Its Christmas

Do They Know It's Christmas? was written by Geldof and Ure after Geldof had seen a BBC report by Michael Buerk highlighting the famine of Ethiopia and wanted to raise money. Geldof kept a November appointment with BBC Radio 1 DJ Richard Skinner to appear on his show and he used his airtime to publicise the idea for the charity single.

Geldof called many of the most popular British and Irish performers of the time, persuading them to give their time free. The recording studio gave Band Aid no more than 24 free hours to record and mix the record, on 25 November 1984. The recording took place between 11am and 7pm, and was filmed by director Nigel Dick to be released as the pop video though some basic tracks had been recorded the day before at Midge Ure's home studio. The first tracks to be recorded were the group / choir choruses which were filmed by the international press. The footage was rushed to newsrooms where it aired while the remainder of the recording process continued.

After Live Aid, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" was re-released in late 1985 in a set that included a special-edition 'picture disc' version, modeled after the Live Aid logo with 'Band' in place of 'Live'. An added bonus, "One Year On" (a statement from Geldof and Ure on the telephone) was available as a b-side. "One Year On" can also be found in transcript form in a booklet which was included in the DVD set of Live Aid, the first disc of which features the BBC news report, as well as the Band Aid video.

The original Band Aid ensemble consisted of:

Band Aid II[]

Band_Aid_II_-_Do_They_Know_It's_Christmas?_(Official_Video)

Band Aid II - Do They Know It's Christmas? (Official Video)

The second version of Do They Know It's Christmas? features Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Lisa Stansfield, Cliff Richard, Jimmy Somerville, Wet Wet Wet, Bananarama, Big Fun, Cathy Dennis, D Mob, Kevin Godley, Glen Goldsmith, Technotronic, Sonia, The Pasadenas, and Chris Rea. Sarah Dallin and Keren Woodward, of the Bananarama, are the only artists to appear on the first two versions.


Dance Aid[]

Do_They_Know_It´s_Christmas_-_Dance_Aid_(_Rave_Version_1994_)

Do They Know It´s Christmas - Dance Aid ( Rave Version 1994 )

Do They Know It's Christmas? features the group of German NRW dance artists and producers recording the song in studio.

TV All Stars[]

TV_Allstars_**_Do_They_Know_It's_Christmas_Time_**

TV Allstars ** Do They Know It's Christmas Time **

Do They Know It's Christmas? features German musical artists getting together to sing the song.

Band Aid 20[]

Band_Aid_20_Do_They_Know_It's_Christmas

Band Aid 20 Do They Know It's Christmas

The 20th anniversary version of Do They Know It's Christmas? features Bono, Daniel Bedingfield, Natasha Bedingfield, Vishal Das, Busted, Chris Martin (Coldplay), Dido, Dizzee Rascal, Ms Dynamite, Skye Edwards (Morcheeba), Estelle, Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy), Jamelia, Tom Chaplin & Tim Rice-Oxley (Keane), Beverley Knight, Lemar, Shaznay Lewis (formerly of All Saints), Katie Melua, Róisín Murphy (Moloko), Feeder, Snow Patrol, Rachel Stevens, Joss Stone, Sugababes, The Thrills, Turin Brakes, Robbie Williams, Will Young, and Francis Healy (Travis).

Also, playing instruments in the video includes Danny Goffey (Supergrass), Thom Yorke & Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), Paul McCartney, Francis Healy, Andy Dunlop & Dougie Payne (Travis), Justin Hawkins & Dan Hawkins (The Darkness) and Charlie Simpson (Busted).

Band Aid 30[]

Band_Aid_30_-_Do_They_Know_It’s_Christmas?_(2014)

Band Aid 30 - Do They Know It’s Christmas? (2014)

The 30th anniversary version of Do They Know It's Christmas? features on vocals Bono, Clean Bandit, Paloma Faith, Guy Garvey (from Elbow), Ellie Goulding, Angélique Kidjo, Chris Martin, Olly Murs, Sinéad O'Connor, One Direction, Rita Ora, Emeli Sandé, Seal, Ed Sheeran, Dan Smith (from Bastille), Sam Smith, Underworld and Jessie Ware. Roger Taylor (from Queen) is on drums and keyboards, Milan Neil Amin-Smith (from Clean Bandit) on the violin and Grace Chatto (from Clean Bandit) on the cello.

The song and video was produced to help raise money towards the Ebola crisis in Western Africa.

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