THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

455-Band Aid-Do They Know It’s Christmas?

1984-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.34. It seems petty to pick faults in such a good cause, but whose idea was it to get Bono to sing ‘Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you.’

Bob Geldof (see also best songs 632) who was the lead singer of The Boomtown Rats was inspired to do something to raise money for the famine in Ethiopia after watching reports on the BBC news by the reporter Michael Buerk. He quickly got together with Midge Ure of the band Ultravox (see also best songs 543 and 532) and together they wrote this song, with Geldof providing the lyrics, and Ure providing the music.

In order to get the single rush released for the Christmas market, Geldof swiftly set about getting in touch with all the biggest British and Irish Pop stars of the day, according to Geldof, nearly all accepted, with only three, who Geldof refuses to name, saying no. Geldof also got the majority of the UK music magazines to donate free advertising space, the record label he was signed to, Phonogram released the single, and their parent company Polygram distributed it, without making any profit to themselves.

The majority of the song was recorded over a 24 hour period on Sunday November 25th, 1984, with all of the songs performers recording their parts. Geldof had signed an exclusive deal with the UK newspaper ‘The Daily Mirror’ to have access to the studio, and ensure that a promotional ‘team photo’ was taken. All the promotion paid off with advance orders for the song topping 250,000 in the first week.

The song was released on Monday December 3rd, 1984, and entered the UK chart at Number 1 the following week, it has since gone on to sell over 3,802,000 copies in the UK, and 2,500,000 in America,raising in excess of $14 million for famine relief in Africa. Bob Geldof is Irish so he can not be knighted, but he did receive a ‘KBE,’ which is the equivalent, and the reason he is affectionately known as ‘Sir Bob.’

‘It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid. At Christmas time we let in light and we banish shade.And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy, throw your arms around the world at Christmas time.’