Band Aid -- Do They Know It's Christmas rapidshare

daisy3560 · Advanced

History of Band Aid and Do They Know It's Christmas

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 specifically to raise money for relief of 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The original version was produced by Midge Ure, and released by Band Aid on November 29, 1984.

In late 1984, a BBC report by Michael Buerk was aired highlighting the famine that had hit the people of Ethiopia. Irish singer Bob Geldof had seen the report and was a social person to raise money. Aware that he could do little on his own, he called Midge Ure from Ultravox and together they quickly co-wrote the song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?".

Geldof kept a November appointment with BBC Radio 1 DJ Richard Skinner to appear on his show, but instead of discussing his new album (the original reason for his booking), he used his airtime to publicise the idea for the charity single, so by the time the musicians were recruited there was intense media interest in the subject.

Geldof put together a group called Band Aid, consisting of leading Irish and British musicians who were among the most popular and recognised of this era.

The single was released on December 3, 1984, and went straight to #1 in the UK pop charts, outselling all the other records in the chart put together. It became the fastest selling single of all time in the UK, selling a million in the first week alone. It stayed at Number 1 for five weeks and ultimately sold more than three million copies.

The original Band Aid ensemble consisted of (in sleeve order):

* Adam Clayton (U2)
* Phil Collins (Genesis, solo)
* Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats)
* Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
* Chris Cross (Ultravox)
* John Taylor (Duran Duran)
* Paul Young
* Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
* Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
* Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
* Simon Crowe (Boomtown Rats)
* Marilyn
* Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
* Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
* Jody Watley (Shalamar)
* Bono (U2)
* Paul Weller (The Style Council)
* James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & the Gang)
* George Michael (Wham!)
* Midge Ure (Ultravox)
* Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
* John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
* Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
* Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
* Sarah Dallin (Bananarama)
* Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
* Pete Briquette (Boomtown Rats)
* Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
* Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & the Gang)
* Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & the Gang)
* Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
* Jon Moss (Culture Club)
* Sting (The Police)
* Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
* Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
* Johnny Fingers (Boomtown Rats)
* David Bowie
* Boy George (Culture Club)
* Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
* Paul McCartney (Former member of The Beatles)
* Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
* Bruce Watson (Big Country)
* Tony Butler (Big Country)
* Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)

Twelve months later, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" returned to the UK charts, reaching #3 in the week after Christmas of 1985, with only songs by Whitney Houston and Shakin' Stevens preventing its return to the top merely 47 weeks after it had left the #1 spot. A new version was recorded under the name of Band Aid II in 1989, produced by the popular Hit Factory team of Stock, Aitken and Waterman and featuring a number of the year's most accessible artists, including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Lisa Stansfield and Bros. Bananarama also appeared, making Sarah Dallin and Keren Woodward the only artists to appear on both versions (although they couldn't be heard on the first). The song again reached #1 for Christmas, raising more money.

Band Aid 20 recorded a third version of the song in November 2004 for the twentieth anniversary of the original recording, and again got to #1. The idea was prompted by Coldplay singer Chris Martin, although Geldof and Ure both got quickly involved. Geldof did the publicity and educated the younger artists on the issues (the likes of Joss Stone didn't know about the song because she hadn't been born) while Ure assisted producer Nigel Godrich and filmed the event for the corresponding documentary.

This version of the song featured an extra segment - a rap by Dizzee Rascal in the midst of the "here's to you" section. Bono arrived at the recording to sing the same line as two decades earlier.

01 Band Aid - Do They Know Its Christmas
02 Band Aid - Do They Know Its Christmas (12'')
03 Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas (DMC Radio Mix)

04 Band Aid II - Do They Know It's Christmas

05 Band Aid 20 - Do They Know It's Christmas

80funnyfan · Beginner

Thanks for a nice post Very Happy

Gatuna · Newbie

Thank you very much. I've been looking for the original Radio Mix for ages!!!... AND the story of how it was developped is a nice info. Thanks again.

Dattilografo · Advanced

Thanks.

D.