Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is a charity single by the supergroup Band Aid, released in 1984. The song was created by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The idea was to assemble an array of popular British and Irish musicians under the name Band Aid to record a song and raise awareness about the devastating famine in Africa. It was released on December 3, 1984 with “Feed the World” on the B-side
The track features an ensemble of renowned artists from that era, including Bono, George Michael, Phil Collins, Boy George, Duran Duran, Paul Young and many others, who volunteered their talents for the cause.
Lyrically, the song reflects on the Christmas season and contrasts the typical festivities in Western countries with the stark reality of hunger and suffering in Africa. It encourages listeners to think about those less fortunate and to take action to help alleviate their plight.
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was a massive success, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time in the UK and topping charts worldwide. The funds raised from the sales were donated to humanitarian aid in Ethiopia. The song’s impact extended far beyond its chart success, serving as a catalyst for other charitable efforts and events aimed at addressing global humanitarian crises.
A second version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was released under the name of Band Aid II in December 1989, pruduced by successful British production team, Stock Aitken Waterman.
