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Who Sang Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984?

Published in Music History 1980s 2 mins read

The song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" was sung by Band Aid, a supergroup formed in 1984 specifically for the charity single. This collective of popular British and Irish musical acts was assembled by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure.

The Formation of Band Aid

In November 1984, in response to the devastating famine in Ethiopia, Irish singer Bob Geldof of The Boomtown Rats and Scottish musician Midge Ure of Ultravox spearheaded the creation of Band Aid. Their vision was to unite prominent artists to record a charity single to raise funds for famine relief. The song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?", was written by Geldof and Ure themselves.

Recording the Iconic Song

The recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" was a remarkable feat, completed in a single day. On November 25, 1984, many of the era's biggest music stars gathered at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, to contribute their vocals. This intensive, collaborative session led to the rapid production of one of the best-selling singles in UK history.

Who Was Part of the Band Aid Supergroup?

The Band Aid supergroup featured an impressive roster of artists, each contributing their unique talent to the project. The song included lead vocal lines from various artists and a powerful chorus sung by the collective.

Here's a glimpse of some of the notable artists who participated in the original 1984 Band Aid recording:

Artist/Band Notable Contribution
Boy George (Culture Club) Provided a prominent vocal section.
Bono (U2) Delivered a memorable, soaring vocal line.
Sting (The Police) Contributed distinctive backing vocals.
George Michael (Wham!) Sang a key vocal part.
Phil Collins (Genesis) Played drums on the track.
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) Provided powerful lead vocals.
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran) Sang a significant vocal part.
Paul Weller (The Style Council) Contributed vocals to the chorus.
Adam Ant Part of the chorus and backing vocals.
Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes To Hollywood) Part of the chorus and backing vocals.
Kool & the Gang Contributed to the ensemble.
Status Quo (Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt) Contributed to the ensemble vocals.
The Human League Philip Oakey, Susan Ann Sulley, and Joanne Catherall participated.
Paul Young Sang a lead vocal part.
Marilyn Provided vocals for the collective.

The collaborative spirit and immediate impact of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" highlighted the power of music for humanitarian causes, inspiring future charity efforts like Live Aid.