How Many Versions of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Are There?

“Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, first recorded by the supergroup Band Aid in 1984, is one of the most recognizable Christmas tunes of the modern era. Bob Geldof and Midge Ure wrote it to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia, and famously gathered a star-studded group to perform the song that included some of the biggest British and Irish stars of the moment, from George Michael and Duran Duran to Boy George and Bono.

But while you’re likely familiar with this version (perhaps more familiar than you’d like to be), U.S. listeners might be surprised to learn that there are actually a number of additional versions of the song. In fact, there have been five (!) official Band Aid versions recorded to support a variety of causes, as well as some cover versions that have hit the charts, as well.

The original “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

Geldof and Ure first gathered together a group of young rock and pop stars, and recorded the entire thing in a single day at London’s Sarm West Studios. When it came out on December 7, 1984, it became a phenomenon, spending five weeks at number one in the UK and selling about a million copies in its first week. Within a year, it had raised roughly £8 million for famine relief and sparked a wave of charity projects, including Live Aid. That first version remains the one most of us can sing from memory.

The second “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

Just five years later, in 1989, the song was reborn as Band Aid II. This time, the production was handled by Stock Aitken Waterman, the hit-making team behind numerous late-’80s pop. Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Lisa Stansfield, Bros, and Wet Wet Wet were among the artists who stepped up for the rerecording. It was released on December 11 and, just like the original, became the UK’s Christmas number one, raising money for ongoing famine relief efforts.

Band Aid 20

The twentieth anniversary brought yet another update. In 2004, Band Aid 20 formed to record a new version benefiting humanitarian aid in Africa, with a particular focus on the crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region. The lineup included Chris Martin, Dido, Joss Stone, Robbie Williams, members of Radiohead and The Darkness, and Paul McCartney on bass. Bono returned to sing his original line. Released on November 29, it immediately shot to number one and became the best-selling single in the UK that year, with sales of around £1.8 million.

Band Aid 30

A decade later, the world was facing a different emergency. In 2014, Band Aid 30 gathered yet another generation of artists to raise money for Ebola relief in West Africa. Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora, Seal, Emeli Sandé, Chris Martin and Bono all took part, with revised lyrics that referenced the Ebola outbreak. Recorded on November 15 and released just two days later, it reached number one in the UK. It inspired a German-language version featuring prominent German artists, which also reached number one in Germany.

Band Aid 40

Finally, in 2024, the project marked its 40th anniversary with Band Aid 40, though not with a brand-new recording session. Instead, producers created an “Ultimate Mix” that blends elements from the 1984, 1989, 2004 and 2014 versions into one commemorative track. Released in late November, it served as both an anniversary tribute and a continuation of the Band Aid Charitable Trust’s fundraising work.

Alongside the official re-recordings, several other versions have entered pop culture. The cast of Glee released a cover in 2011 for one of the show’s Christmas episodes, and it charted in both the US and Canada. In 2020, a group called Band Aid Liverpool recorded a local charity version with lyrics referencing Merseyside, raising money for Shelter with the blessing of Geldof and Ure. That same year, comedian Leigh Francis, as Keith Lemon, gathered a group of pop singers for a humorous charity benefit in support of multiple UK organizations. And in 2022, LadBaby released “Food Aid,” a parody built on the original melody, raising money for food banks and earning a fifth consecutive UK Christmas number one, breaking a chart record once held by the Beatles.

Tell us, which one is your favorite version?

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Home For The Holidays

November 2021

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