Marking the 40th anniversary of the legendary song, a new version titled
Do They Know It's Christmas? (2024 Ultimate Mix) by Band Aid
was released on Nov 25, 2024 .
Do They Know Itβs Christmas? 2024 Ultimate Mix latest track blends voices from Band Aid (1984), Band Aid 20 (2004) and Band Aid 30 (2014), and has been produced by Trevor Horn, who has used advanced production techniques to merge the three recordings, blending the voices of different generations into a single cohesive track.
The compilation is backed by the Band Aid house band of Sir Paul McCartney, Sting, John Taylor (bass), Phil Collins, Roger Taylor, Danny Goffey (drums), Thom Yorke (piano), Paul Weller, Damon Albarn, Midge Ure, Johnny Greenwood, Gary Kemp and Justin Hawkins (guitar).
History of the song Do They Know It's Christmas?
Band Aid recorded the Christmas song Do They Know It's Christmas? before Christmas 1984, written by Band Aid organisers Bob Geldof and Midge Ure .The group was composed of forty artists to raise awareness and funds for the Ethiopian famine in 1983β1985. The group's name stemmed from the idea that the musicians were providing aid to the less fortunate and suggested that their project was likened to putting a Band-Aid on a wound.
Five years later, a new line-up of musicians sang the same song under the title Band Aid II .
Band Aid 20 ( 2004 ) was the incarnation of the charity supergroup Band Aid (1984 ). The group, which included Daniel Bedingfield, Dido, Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Bono of U2, and Paul McCartney, re-recorded the 1984 song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (2004 version).
Band Aid 30 was announced on 10 November 2014 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, with Geldof stating that he took the step after the United Nations had contacted him, saying help was urgently needed to prevent the 2014 Ebola crisis in Western Africa spreading throughout the world. As in previous incarnations, the group covered the track "Do They Know It's Christmas?", this time to raise money towards the Ebola crisis in Western Africa. The track re-tweaked lyrics to reflect the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, and all proceeds went towards battling what Geldof described as a "particularly pernicious illness because it renders humans untouchable and that is sickening".
The song was recorded by some of the biggest-selling current British and Irish pop acts, including One Direction, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Emeli SandΓ©, Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora. Bastille and Guy Garvey of Mercury prize-winning band Elbow were also on board, along with Chris Martin (Coldplay) and Bono (U2)βthe third time he has contributed to a Band Aid recording.
For the first time, different language versions were recorded, a French one titled "NoΓ«l est lΓ " and a German one titled "Do They Know It's Christmas? (2014) [Deutsche Version]" with respective artists .
Which version of the song βDo They Know Itβs Christmas? β do you like the most?
