Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid

Released on November 29th 1984, Do They Know It's Christmas? was the brainchild of Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats) and Midge Ure (Ultravox).
After seeing a news report on the famine in Ethiopia, Geldof called Ure to help him write a song to help raise awareness and money for the cause. With Geldof writing the lyrics, and Ure doing the tune and arrangement, they quickly came up with Do They Know It's Christmas?.
After enlisting a group of well known musicians, they set straight to work in order to have the single ready for release.
The single was released to the public on December 3rd 1984. It went straight to number one on the UK charts and stayed there for 5 weeks.

(Paul Young)
It's Christmastime
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade

(Boy George)
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime

(George Michael)
But say a prayer

Pray for the other ones

(Simon LeBon)
At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun

(Simon LeBon/Sting/Tony Hadley)
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear

(Sting/Bono)
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears

(Bono/Sting/Simon LeBon)
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging
chimes of doom

(Bono)
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

(Boy George/Paul Weller)
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime

(Bono/George Michael/Boy George)
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
(Oooh)

(Paul Young)
Where nothing ever grows

(Glenn Gregory)
No rain nor rivers flow

(All)
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

(Marilyn/Glenn Gregory/Rick Parfitt/Francis Rossi)
(Here's to you)

(Paul Young)
raise a glass for everyone

(Marilyn/Glenn Gregory/Rick Parfitt/Francis Rossi)
(Here's to them)

(Paul Young)
underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

(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

repeat then fade

On July 13th 1985, Geldof and Ure organised Live Aid. Also to aid the relief effort in Ethiopia, the concert featured two venues, Wembley Stadium, England and JFK Stadium in the U.S, and over a hundred performances. It went on to raise millions of dollars for the cause.

Adam Clayton (U2)
Phil Collins
Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats)
Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
Chris Cross (Ultravox)
John Taylor (Duran Duran)
Paul Young
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
Glen 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 D. 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
Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
Bruce Watson (Big Country)
Tony Butler (Big Country)
Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)