Sting

Follow

ALL // POLLS // PHOTOS

7 Followers

/ Video

Bob Geldof is an arrogant bastard

0 comments | 0 likes

November 30, 2010

Band Aid was a British and Irish charity supergroup, founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing the record "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for the Christmas market that year. The single surpassed the hopes of the producers to become the Christmas number one on that release.

The record was released on November 29, 1984, and went straight to No. 1 in the UK singles chart, outselling all the other records in the chart put together. It became the fastest- selling single of all time in the UK, selling a million copies in the first week alone. It stayed at No. 1 for five weeks, selling over three million copies and becoming easily the biggest-selling single of all time in the UK.

Song Lyrics:

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

But say a prayer

Pray for the other ones

At Christmas time it's hard

But when you're having fun

There's a world outside your window

And it's a world of dread and fear

Where the only water flowing

Is the bitter sting of tears

And the Christmas bells that ring there

Are the clanging chimes of doom

Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

And there won't be snow in Africa

This Christmas time

The greatest gift they'll get this year is life

Where nothing ever grows

No rain nor rivers flow

Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

BRIDGE:

(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone

(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun

Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

END:

Feed the world

Feed the world

Feed the world

Let them know it's Christmas time again

Feed the world

Let them know it's Christmas time again

The original Band Aid ensemble consisted of (in sleeve order):

Linda Ronstadt

Adam Clayton (U2)

Phil Collins (Genesis)

Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats)

Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)

Chris Cross (Ultravox)

John Taylor (Duran Duran)

Paul Young

Tony Hadley

Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)

Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)

Simon Crowe

Marilyn

Keren Woodward (Bananarama)

Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)

Jody Watley (Shalamar)

Bono (U2)

Paul Weller (The Style Council, and previously The Jam)

James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & The Gang)

George Michael (Wham!)

Midge Ure (Ultravox)

Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)

John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)

Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)

Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)

Sara Dallin (Bananarama)

Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)

Sting (The Police)

Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats)

Francis Rossi (Status Quo)

Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & the Gang)

Dennis Thomas (Kool & the Gang)

Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)

Jon Moss (Culture Club, former member of Adam and the Ants)

Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)

Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)

Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats)

David Bowie (who contributed via a recording that was mailed to Geldof and then dubbed onto the single)

Boy George (Culture Club)

Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)

Paul McCartney (Wings and The Beatles, who contributed via a recording that was mailed to Geldof and then dubbed onto the single)

Stuart Adamson (Big Country)

Bruce Watson (Big Country)

Tony Butler (Big Country)

Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)