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Band Aid 20 was the 2004 incarnation of the charity group Band Aid. The group, which included Chris Martin of Coldplay, Bono of U2, and Paul McCartney, re-recorded the 1984 song "Do They Know It's Christmas?", written by Band Aid organizers Bob Geldof and Midge Ure.
The song was recorded on 14 November 2004, to benefit Sudan's troubled Darfur region, and was released that same month. The single became the UK's biggest seller of 2004 as well as the Christmas Number 1.
Bono, Paul McCartney and George Michael were the only artists from the original Band Aid who had been asked back to lend their voices to Band Aid 20. There was a reported dispute over the line 'Tonight thank God it's them, instead of you', which Bono sang on the original version. Justin Hawkins, of The Darkness, laid down a version of the line, but Bono insisted on re-recording his version, which was eventually used on the record.
A special documentary titled Band Aid 20: Justice, Not Charity which went behind-the-scenes of the new recording was broadcast by BBC One on 6 December 2004.
Release
The Band Aid 20 single was actually doubled when it was first played simultaneously on The Chris Moyles Show (on BBC Radio 1) and the breakfast shows on Virgin and Capital radio, at 8am on 16 November 2004. The video was first broadcast in the UK simultaneously over multiple channels, including the five UK terrestrial channels, at 5.55pm on 18 November 2004, with an introduction by Madonna.
One of the new ways to buy the song, by downloading it from the internet, hit a problem when Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store initially refused to supply it, due to their fixed-pricing policy. A partial solution was reached after a few days, enabling UK users to download the song at the standard iTunes price, with Apple donating an extra amount (equivalent to the price difference) to the Band Aid Trust.
The single sold 72,000 copies in the first 24 hours when it was released on 29 November 2004, and went straight in at No. 1 in the UK charts on 5 December 2004. The CD version sold over 200,000 copies in the first week, and became the fastest-selling single of the year. It stayed at No. 1 for Christmas and the week after, all in all holding onto the top spot for four weeks, just one week shorter than the original had done in 1984.
Critical reception
Band Aid 20's efforts met with mixed criticism. The BBC said the new generation of singers, who differed greatly from those that appeared on the 1984 original, endeavored to fit their talents into a 20 year old template resulting in an "anonymous" record. The Guardian said the appearance of female singers was successful.
Participants
Organisers and producers:
Midge Ure – organizer
Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Travis) and Bob Geldof – producers.
Damon Albarn (Blur; Gorillaz) - Reportedly served tea and biscuits to the participants.
Instruments:
Danny Goffey (Supergrass) – (drums)
Thom Yorke – (piano) and Jonny Greenwood – (guitar) – (Radiohead)
Sir Paul McCartney – bass guitar
Francis Healy, Andy Dunlop & Dougie Payne (Travis) – bass, guitar
Justin Hawkins (The Darkness) – guitar
Dan Hawkins (The Darkness) – guitar
Charlie Simpson (Busted) – guitar
Vocals:
Bono (U2)
Daniel Bedingfield
Natasha Bedingfield
Vishal Das
Busted
Chris Martin (Coldplay)
Dido – performed separately from a studio in Melbourne
Dizzee Rascal – the only artist to add lyrics to the song
Ms Dynamite
Skye Edwards (Morcheeba)
Estelle
Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy)
Justin Hawkins (The Darkness)
Jamelia
Tom Chaplin (Keane)
Tim Rice-Oxley (Keane)
Beverley Knight
Lemar
Shaznay Lewis (formerly of All Saints)
Katie Melua
Róisín Murphy (Moloko)
Feeder
Snow Patrol
Rachel Stevens
Joss Stone
Sugababes
The Thrills
Turin Brakes
Robbie Williams – performed separately from a studio in Los Angeles
Will Young
Francis Healy (Travis)
Who sings what on each version
Lyrics
1984 version
1989 version
2004 version
'It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid'
Paul Young
Kylie Minogue
Chris Martin
'At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade'
Paul Young
Chris Rea
Chris Martin
'And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy'
Boy George
Jimmy Somerville
Dido
'Throw your arms around the world, at Christmas time'
Boy George
Matt Goss
Dido
'But say a prayer; Pray for the other ones'
George Michael
Cliff Richard
Robbie Williams
'At Christmas time it's hard, but when you're having fun'
George Michael/Simon Le Bon
Jimmy Somerville/Matt Goss
Robbie Williams
'There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear'
Simon Le Bon/Sting
Marti Pellow/Jason Donovan
Sugababes
'Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears'
Tony Hadley/Sting
Jason/Kylie
Fran Healy & Sugababes
'And the Christmas bells that ring there, are the clanging chimes of doom'
Sting/Bono
Cliff Richard/Marti Pellow
Fran Healy & Justin Hawkins
'Well, tonight, thank God it's them, instead of you'
Bono
Jason Donovan/Matt Goss
Bono
'And there won't be snow in Africa, this Christmas time'
Boy George/Paul Weller/Paul Young
Marti Pellow
Will Young & Jamelia
'The greatest gift they'll get this year is life'
Bono/George Michael/Boy George
Sonia
Will Young & Jamelia
'Where nothing ever grows'
Paul Young
Lisa Stansfield
Ms Dynamite & Beverley Knight
'No rain nor rivers flow'
Glenn Gregory
Lisa Stansfield
Ms Dynamite & Beverley Knight
'Do they know it's Christmas time at all?'
All
Sonia/Lisa Stansfield
All
'Here's to you'
Marilyn/Glenn Gregory/Rick Parfitt/Francis Rossi
Kylie
Tom Chaplin
'Raise a glass for everyone'
Paul Young
Kylie
Justin Hawkins
'Spare a thought this yuletide for the deprived'
'If the table was turned would you survive?'
2004 lines, not in the original version
Dizzee Rascal
'Here's to them'
Marilyn/Glenn/Rick/Francis
Matt Goss
Busted
'Underneath that burning sun'
Paul Young
Matt Goss
Justin Hawkins
'You ain't gotta feel guilt, just selfless'
'Give a little help, to the helpless YO!'
2004 lines, not in the original version
Dizzee Rascal
'Do they know it's Christmas time at all?'
Paul Young
Cliff Richard
Joss Stone and Justin Hawkins
'Feed the World' (repeat)
All
All
Tom Chaplin
'Feed the World, Let them know it's Christmas time again' (repeat)
All
All
All
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