Last month, 20 years after it last topped the charts, Midge Ure (singer with electro-pop pioneers Ultravox) and Sir Bob Geldof (Boy George) re-released their fundraising single Do They Know It's Christmas?
Proceeds of Band Aid 20 go towards relief for the Darfur region of Sudan and to combat HIV and AIDS across Africa.
This week, for the third week in a row, the song has topped the charts, Billboard reported.
The Original Inspiration
It all started on October 23rd 1984, when BBC journalist Michael Buerk appeared on the evening news reporting from the scene of a biblical famine in Ethiopia.
The scene inspired Bob Geldof to take action. Geldof, in turn, inspired British music superstars Phil Collins, Sting, Boy George and U2 to record a song that would give 100% of the proceeds to charity.
The song: "Do They Know Its Christmas?"
The song was a collaboration between Geldof and Ute.
Bono initially refused to sing the lyric "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you."
But eventually he relented.
The original recording took place on November 25th, 1986.
The masterminds behind the single had hoped to sell 100,000 copies.
But twenty years ago, it went on to sell more than 3.5 million in the UK and was number one in 12 other countries.
It also set the sights of stars like Geldof, Bono and Sting on a global mission and proved that musicians can make a difference.
Lyrics to 'Do They Know Its Christmas?'
It's Christmastime
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging
chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
(Oooh) Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?
(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?
Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime again
Their re-release includes the Original 1984 Version, their Live Aid 1985 Version and their 2004 Version. So, no matter which one you prefer, for those who never heard the first version, will feel like they got three songs for the price of one.
The single, produced by the Stock-Aitken-Waterman team, includes the voices of numerous star-studded British pop and rock singers.
In addition to the original's Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and Bono, the song was re-recorded by Robbie Williams, Dido, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Joss Stone, Travis, Morcheeba, the Thrills and others.
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