Song Stories: Band Aid: Do They Know It's Christmas?

Christmas Number One was a huge deal in the UK, many bands and artists vied for the top spot especially in the 70s and 80s. In 1984 Bob Geldof, and Midge Ure with the help of a few friends hit the top spot with the fastest selling single in UK Chart History. With a song that only dominated the charts but also became one of the most important charity singles of all time, and would be the precursor to one of the biggest live music events ever a year later.

The idea for the song and the group Band Aid was born in the autumn of 1984,  Bob Geldof, frontman of The Boomtown Rats, saw a BBC News report by journalist Michael Buerk. The report showed harrowing footage of the Ethiopian famine a catastrophic event that led to the deaths of over one million people due to starvation and disease. Moved by the sheer scale of the suffering, Geldof felt compelled to act.

Rather than a traditonal charity fundraiser, Geldof envisioned something that would stick around. A song that would reach millions and help raise money in the long term. As well as awareness for what was happening in Ethiopia.  

The two of them hatched a plan to create a super group, a collection of the biggest musicians in the world at that time, to create a single. Both used their connections in the music industry to make this audacious plan a reality.

Bob Geldof and Midge Ure wrote "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" in a matter of days, focusing on simple yet impactful lyrics. The song painted a stark contrast between the festive abundance enjoyed in Western nations and the dire circumstances in Ethiopia. Creating a sobering reminder of what was happening at the time of celebration for most. 

The recording of the song took place on November 25th 1984 and SARM West Studios in London. Over 40 of the biggest UK and Irish music stars of the time came together to lend their voices to the track, including Bono, George Michael, Sting, Boy George, and Phil Collins. Members of iconic bands like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and Bananarama also participated.

What made the session remarkable was its spontaneity. Many artists had been contacted with just a few days’ notice, yet they showed up without hesitation, driven by a shared sense of urgency. Phil Collins famously recorded the drum track in a single take, while Bono’s impassioned delivery of the line “Tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” became one of the song’s most memorable moments. 

When "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" was released on December 3, 1984, it was an instant phenomenon. The single debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for five weeks, selling over three million copies in the UK alone. Worldwide, it sold more than 12 million copies, becoming the fastest-selling single in British history at the time.

Financially, the impact was staggering. The song raised over £8 million (around 25 million today) which was used for famine relief, funding food, medical aid and infrastructure projects on Ethiopia. The song also raised awareness of what was happening, bringing it to the fore front of the public's consciousness. 

The success of Band Aid’s effort set the stage for even larger endeavors. In July 1985, Geldof organized Live Aid, a pair of massive benefit concerts held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia, featuring performances by many of the same artists. Live Aid raised an additional £100 million for famine relief and cemented the legacy of Band Aid as a catalyst for global change.

Some have argued that although the song raised both money and awareness of what was happening, that the songs portrayal of Africa was over simplistic. Portraying one nations struggle as the fete of a whole continent. 

Despite these controversies, Do They Know It’s Christmas? remains a cultural touchstone. The song has been re-recorded multiple times to address other crises, including the 1989 version for Ethiopia, the 2004 version for the Darfur crisis, and the 2014 version for the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Each iteration featured a new generation of artists.

The song showed and still shows the power of music. Geldof and Midge Ure used what they were good at as a source for good. 

Thank you for reading

Jack x