Do They Know It’s Christmas?

Story of Song

This song is a re-record of the 1984 original ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’. Band Aid 30 recorded it to aid the Ebola crisis in Africa. The song asks us to think of those who are living in Africa during the Christmas season, reminding us that they might not even know it’s Christmas. The artists for this song are Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Paloma Faith, Ellie Goulding, Seal, Sam Smith, Sinéad O’Connor, Rita Ora, Emeli Sandé, Bastille,  Olly Murs, Chris Martin, Bono, and Roger Taylor.

Release date

Released on November 17, 2014

Songwriter/s

Bob Geldof – Midge Ure

Label

Virgin EMI – Island

Chart Rankings

US – 63

UK – 1

GERMANY  – 2

The song topped the UK Singles Charts, the Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders, Hungary Singles Top 40, Ireland IRMA, Scotland Official Charts, and Spain’s PROMUSICAE. It peaked at number 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number three in Australia. The song reached the top 10 charts in Austria, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

Artist’s age on release date

The artists gathered for a one-time performance in 2014

Cover Versions

Slade (1985) – Spitting Image – Far & Graqdy Avenell (1997) – Shirley Clamp (2004) – Barenaked Ladies  (2004) – Band Aid (2004) – Echoing Green (1999) – The Genuine Solutions Group (2010) – Badly Drawn Boy (2010) – Band Aid 30 (2014)

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