Band AidDo They Know It's Christmas? (3:42)

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“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 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 29 November 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 saw the report and wanted to raise money. 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 of the era. The 1984 original became the biggest selling single in UK singles chart history, selling a million copies in the first week alone. It stayed at Number 1 for five weeks, becoming Christmas number one, and ultimately sold more than 3.5 million copies domestically. It remained the highest selling single in UK chart history until 1997, when Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997” was released in tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, which sold almost 5 million copies in Britain.
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  • S-aus-P

    Ok, that's what happens when leaving the christmas filter on 'I like my radio as it is'. One of most famous ...new... christmas songs in sunny April. I could worrie, but why? My iPod randomly played Kylies 'Santa Baby' and 'Let it snow' last week too, yep both songs. So in 8 months it all starts again. Get in the mood...

    last month
  • retrowens

    Probably my favorite Christmas song ever!!!!!!!

    last month
  • imogenjayne1138

    I Rember When I Had To Sing This Song!;)

    last month
  • outlawspacecat

    LET EVERYONE KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME....

    March 2012
  • megansmall

    explodes! i love it! letssayaprayer...prayfortheotheronesssssss! lalalalaa :')

    January 2012
  • GreggWH

    First and best of the Ethiopian famine benefit songs.

    January 2012
  • Incorrect-

    One of the best Christmas songs ever! [4]

    December 2011
  • kuma_san

    Sing it to the world!

    December 2011
  • ugogirl

    GReat Song

    December 2011
  • Bennii201

    One of the best Christmas songs ever! [3]

    December 2011
  • midliferickman

    Bob Geldof killed Michael Hutchence.

    December 2011
  • uwe56schmidt

    。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ 。 ° 。 ° 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * *MERRY* * ˛ • • 。CHRISTMAS 。* ˛ *__Π___*。* ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ |田田 |門| ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ passt genau in die Zeit! guter Song!!!

    December 2011
  • CuR3

    So many artists I like - in one song / video - together for a good cause = Perfect <3

    December 2011
  • licoricepizza

    No contest. WAAAAAAY superior to "We Are The World". This is a great song.

    December 2011
  • macychick

    shocked that no one has yet mentioned "glee" lol

    December 2011
  • CDPETE01

    i didnt like this when it came out,loved the idea of live aid ,both here and in Philidelphia,I didnt agree with sentiment of saving Africa,still hasnt changed nearly 30 years later,but love this song now.

    December 2011
  • xmas-blackmajik

    this song sounds just as great today as it did back in the 80s

    December 2011
  • MegaDoug

    12th time thru this song ♥

    December 2011
  • Enigmatic_Smile

    I like Boy George's and George Michael's parts the most :) But I love the whole song.

    December 2011
  • egojay

    awesome since the 80s'

    December 2011
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