DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?
by BAND AID
Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? was inspired by a BBC News report on the famine in Ethiopia, Boomtown Rat Bob Geldof contacted Ultravox’s Midge Ure with a view to writing a song in order to raise some money, and assembled some of 1984’s top hitmakers into SARM Studios to record it.
Called Band Aid, the 37 performers at that point claimed 23 Number 1 singles between them, including Sting (with The Police), George Michael (both solo and with Wham!), Paul Weller (with The Jam), Paul Young, Phil Collins, Culture Club, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Boomtown Rats and Status Quo. Also present were members of U2, Ultravox, Kool & The Gang, Bananarama, Heaven 17 and singers Marilyn and Jody Watley.
Do They Know It’s Christmas was rush-released on December 3, 1984 and entered the UK Official Singles Chart at Number 1 for five weeks selling over a million copies in its first week and claiming the Christmas Number 1 1984 crown.
The legacy of Band Aid has continued, with three subsequent sequels; Band Aid II in 1989, Band Aid 20 in 2004 and Band Aid 30 in 2014 each with a new group of pop stars, all three of which also claimed Number 1 in the UK.
Music video
Chart history of DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?
Official Singles Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position1
- LabelMERCURY
- Catalogue numberFEED1
- First Chart Date
Weeks on chart
- 5No1
- 20Top 10
- 44Top 20
- 62Top 40
- 99Top 75
- 111Top 100
Chart run
1 week - 08/02/1986
Buy
Official Singles Chart Update
Chart facts
- Peak position3
- LabelMERCURY
- Catalogue numberGBF088400001
- First Chart Date
Weeks on chart
- 0No1
- 6Top 10
- 28Top 20
- 35Top 40
- 50Top 75
- 55Top 100
Chart run
Buy
Official Singles Sales Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position1
- LabelMERCURY
- Catalogue numberGBF088400001
- First Chart Date
Weeks on chart
- 1No1
- 4Top 10
- 4Top 20
- 12Top 40
- 44Top 75
- 52Top 100
Chart run
Buy
Official Singles Downloads Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position2
- LabelMERCURY
- Catalogue numberGBF088400001
- First Chart Date
Weeks on chart
- 0No1
- 5Top 10
- 7Top 20
- 28Top 40
- 77Top 75
- 88Top 100
Chart run
Buy
Official Physical Singles Chart
Official Vinyl Singles Chart
Official Irish Singles Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position7
- LabelMERCURY
- Catalogue numberGBF088400001
- First Chart Date
Weeks on chart
- 0No1
- 4Top 10
- 21Top 20
- 34Top 40
- 36Top 75
- 36Top 100
Chart run
Buy
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