In 1984, the British-Irish supergroup Band Aid released the charity single "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, the song has since become one of the most iconic Christmas songs of all time. It has been covered by numerous artists over the years and has raised millions for famine relief.
History of "Do They Know It’s Christmas?"
"Do They Know It’s Christmas?" was written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in response to the famine in Ethiopia. Geldof had been moved by a BBC documentary about the famine and was determined to do something to help the people of Ethiopia. He contacted Ure and together they wrote the song in just 24 hours.
The song was recorded in November 1984 by a supergroup of British and Irish musicians, known as Band Aid. The group included Duran Duran, U2, Boy George, Paul Young and many more and the song was released in December 1984. It was an immediate success, reaching number one in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Sweden and many other countries.
Impact of "Do They Know It’s Christmas?"
"Do They Know It’s Christmas?" has had a lasting impact on the world. It raised millions for famine relief in Ethiopia and has been covered by numerous artists since its release. In 1989 a new version of the song was released, this time featuring American and British artists, including Bono and George Michael. This version also topped the charts in the UK and US.
In 2004, a new version of the song was released to mark the 20th anniversary of the original. This version featured a new group of artists, including Coldplay, Dido and Chris Martin. It raised over £3 million for famine relief and topped the charts in the UK, Ireland and Germany.
The song has also been covered by many other artists over the years, including Mariah Carey, Spice Girls, Michael Bublé and Kelly Clarkson. In 2014, a new version of the song was released, featuring the likes of One Direction, Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran.
"Do They Know It’s Christmas?" has become one of the most iconic Christmas songs of all time. It has raised millions of pounds for famine relief and has been covered by numerous artists over the years. The song has become a symbol of hope and has had a lasting impact on the world.
