There is something inherently special when popular musical figures can be unique for one cause that goes beyond publicity, monetary gain, or recognition. This is exactly what happened in late November of 1984 with Ultravox’s Midge Ure and acclaimed Singer-Songwriter Bob Geldof assembled Band Aid; a grouping some of the biggest names (including Paul Young, Culture Club’s Boy George, George Michael, Duran Duran’s Simon LeBon, the Police’s Sting, U2’s Bono, among others) in music brought together to record a charity song to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia.
A very noble cause, too often in the comforts of the secure First World – where we have clean water, warm homes, and good food – we forget that there are others much less fortunate than us. A factor that does not make us insensitive is that we all sometimes take for granted just what we have, but then something comes along that reminds us about what is really important. That reckoning came on December 7, 1984, when the Band Aid single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” debuted on the airwaves.
Striking just as the Christmas season was heating up, the song possessed a powerful, sobering message about famine while still managing to keep you hopeful and positive. Thanks to the brilliant songwriting of Ure and Geldof, the two could have easily written a song that made the listener feel dreadful about themselves. Instead, they drove home a message that invited people to take action instead of being alienated and shamed.
Factors that lifted “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” to the top of the charts: the song reached number one in fourteen countries, sold a million copies in the UK alone during the first week, and surpassed over three million sales before the end of 1984. It was astounding to see the success; by 1985, it sold an estimated 2.5 million copies in the US, and by 1989, it had sold 11.7 million copies worldwide. So, where did all the money go? Well, they raised millions of dollars to help Ethiopia’s hunger. In fact, in the first year alone, it raised the equivalent of over $10,000,000 US dollars today in assistance.
The best part of it all is that it is still raising money today! Ure himself reflected on the song in a 2016 interview with Cryptic Rock Magazine, stating –
“We tried to conjure the best artists we could get, the biggest artists on the planet that we could find to come and do this, and it all felt a bit like a pipe dream. It felt like it was a fantasy, it was never really going to happen even though we were working on it on a daily basis. Then, of course, now it is part of history; it wasn’t just a musical event. At its core, it was a music event, it was a social event, it is now part of social history, and our world felt galvanized to do something. That’s a rare thing to happen; weirdly, it’s still going on. Bob, I, and the rest, the people who set it up are still trustees, we still generate income because the record gets played every year and generates royalties which go straight to the Band Aid trust fund. I signed the publish to the Band Aid trust so the money goes directly into the system and still funds all the long-term development stuff that we had been doing over the last 30 years.”
Something that should inspire people of all ages and remind you how powerful music can be: Now, in 2024, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” We did so with the ultimate edition of the single ever. On November 29th, the 2024 Ultimate Mix became available to purchase digitally and physically on the Band Aid Compilation 1CD and 12” Vinyl.
A great way to celebrate the song’s magic but, of course, raise funds, this new release offers you all three editions of the song, plus a very unique new one. For those unaware, beyond the original recording in 1984, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was recorded two other times by different lineups of Band Aid, one in 2004 and another in 2014. Each has its own special quality to offer a different generation of listeners; now, in 2024, technologies allow us to experience hearing a young Sting, Boy George, and George Michael (from the original recording) sing alongside a young Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and Harry Styles. Additionally, you also get to hear 1984 Bono matched with his older self, Chris Martin with Guy Garvey, the Sugababes and Bananarama, Seal and Sinead O’Connor, Rita Ora and Robbie Williams, Kool and the Gang and Underworld. Quite unique, these voices match with the Band Aid houseband of Paul McCartney, Sting, John Taylor (bass), Phil Collins, Roger Taylor, Danny Goffey (drums), Thom Yorke (piano), Paul Weller, Damon Albarn, Midge Ure, Johnny Greenwood, Gary Kemp and Justin Hawkins (guitar).
Simply astounding, the new mix offers new textures and a particular richness that warms your heart. However, if you are still partial to the original, that all-time classic is still part of this new five-track EP. Capping it all off, you also get the live edition of the song performed back in 1985 at the historic Live Aid concert in London, England.
Together, this 40th-anniversary edition of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is a perfect way to ring in the holidays while reminding yourself that life is a gift and we should all help others in need. That is why Cryptic Rock gives this new release 5 out of 5 stars.
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