Latest revision as of 21:32, 4 October 2021

Do They Know It's Christmas?
German 12" single
Recorded by Sting
Released:	1984-12-03
Recorded:	1984-11-25
Length:	3:55 (remix 6:16)
Album(s):	ALBUM(S)
Label(s):	Mercury
Writer(s):	Bob Geldof, Midge Ure
Producer(s):	Midge Ure, Trevor Horn (12" version)
Studio(s):	Sarm West Studios
Released as single?	YES

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and recorded by Band Aid (including Sting) mostly on 1984-11-25.

About the song

The demo for this song was recorded by Midge Ure. John Taylor played his bass part on 1984-11-21. Sting recorded his vocals on 1984-11-24. Then - on 1984-11-25 - a lot of celebrities came to Sarm West Studios to do their part.

On that day the studio was blocked off with the Police (the guys in uniform!) being present. Seven camera crews were setting up their gear inside the studio, five from the UK and two from the USA. At 9:15AM Bob Geldof arrived. He had seen a TV report about Ethiopia and then contacted everybody he knew to suggest today's special charity project. Everybody involved worked for free: musicians, technicians, press factory people...

The next one to arrive was Midge Ure, who produced the 7" version of the song (the 12" version would be done by Trevor Horn). Midge brought his 24 track master tape with him. Another early bird in the studio was Culture Club's Jon Moss, who confirmed that Boy George would appear later in the day. Sting arrived in his black Range Rover. Paul Weller turned up on foot and mostly kept to himself. Spandau Ballet arrived in two limousines. They had flown over from Germany with Duran Duran at 6:30AM.

Trevor Horn showed up and his offer to mix a 12" version of the song was accepted. Around noon everybody except for Boy George was in the studio where they did a photo session with Brian Aris upstairs. They started to record after the photo session - the first singer to be recorded would be Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley. After choir vocals for about two hours they recorded solo bits from George Michael, Simon LeBon and Bono. They also sang a choir part together with Midge Ure. Francis Rossi did his small part, followed by Paul Young, Marilyn and Glenn Gregory and the female singers, then some more choir parts.

Trudie Styler arrived with her baby daughter and two small dogs. Phil Collins would record his drum parts with additional percussion done by Jon Moss. Paul Weller, Bob Geldof and Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp recorded their acoustic guitars in two takes. The latest recording would be done by Boy George who needed some brandy before doing half a dozen takes. The last overdub would be finished at 10:00PM.

Bob Geldof and Midge Ure started to mix the song at 11:00PM - that lasted until 6:00AM. AFter a half hour break they did the b-side until 9:00AM. Studio engineer Stuart Bruce picked up the master and brought it to Utopia Studios, where the mastering took place. Singles would be pressed the next Wednesday to be sold on the following Saturday.

The song would be the last one to be played at the 1985-07-13 Live Aid concert in London - with Sting among the huge crowd of musicians completely blocking Stewart Copeland on drums from the cameras.

Personnel

Phil Collins - drums
Jon Moss - percussion
John Taylor - bass
Sting - vocals
Midge Ure - keyboards
Paul Weller, Bob Geldof, Gary Kemp - acoustic guitars
Bono, George Michael, Boy George, lots of others ... - vocals

Release History

Albums

Do They Know It's Christmas? appears on the following album releases:

Cover art	Album title	Release date	Release country
	Album date	YYYY-MM-DD	Country

Singles

CD Singles

Cover art	Catalog no.	Songs	Release date	Release country
	Catalog no.	"Song"(s)	YYYY-MM-DD	Country

7" Singles

Cover art	Catalog no.	A-side song/B-side song	Release date	Release country
	Catalog no.	"A-side song"/"B-side song"	YYYY-MM-DD	Country

12" Singles

Cover art	Catalog no.	A-side song(s)/B-side song(s)	Release date	Release country
40px	FEED 112	"Do They Know It's Christmas? (remix)"/"Do They Know It's Christmas? (standard mix)"/"Feed The World"	1984-12-03	Germany
	880 502-1	"Do They Know It's Christmas? (remix)"/"Do They Know It's Christmas? (standard mix)"/"Feed The World"	1984-12-DD	Germany

Video

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" appears on the following video and dvd releases:

Cover art	Video title	Release date	Release country
	Do They Know It's Christmas? - The Story Of The Official Band Aid Video	1984-MM-DD	England, UK

Awards, nominations, and certifications

Awards

This section needs more information.

Year	Winner	Award	Category
YYYY	WINNER (album, song, producer, etc.)	AWARD (Grammy, People's Choice, etc.)	CATEGORY

Nominations

This section needs more information.

Year	Nominee	Award	Category
YYYY	NOMINEE (album, song, producer, etc.)	AWARD (Grammy, People's Choice, etc.)	CATEGORY

Certifications

This section needs more information.

Country	Certifier	Classification	Certification
COUNTRY	CERTIFIER (RIAA, IFPI...)	CLASSIFICATION (Album, singles, foreign artist...)	CERTIFICATION (Gold, Platinum, Diamond...)

Lyrics

It's Christmas time, and 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 to 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 or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

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?

Feed the world
Feed the world

Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time
And feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time
And feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time
And feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time...

Quotations and trivia

ad in 1985-02 Freeze Frame:

Alternative and cover versions

This section needs more information.

External links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_They_Know_It%27s_Christmas%3F

References

sources: various UK magazines

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 |- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
 | <b>Writer(s):</b>
-| Bob Geldof, Midge Ure
+| [[Bob Geldof]], Midge Ure
 |- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
 | <b>Producer(s):</b>
-| Midge Ure
+| Midge Ure, Trevor Horn (12" version)
 |- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
 | <b>Studio(s):</b>
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 |}
-'''"Do They Know It's Christmas?"''' is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and recorded by [[Band Aid]] (including [[Sting]]) mostly on [[1984-11-25]].
+'''"Do They Know It's Christmas?"''' is a song written by [[Bob Geldof]] and Midge Ure and recorded by [[Band Aid]] (including [[Sting]]) mostly on [[1984-11-25]].
 =About the song=
-The demo was recorded by Midge Ure. Most of the celebrities recorded their parts on [[1984-11-25]]. But a lot of work had been done by then: John Taylor played his bass parts the previous Wednesday. [[Sting]] recorded his vocals on [[1984-11-24]].
+The demo for this song was recorded by Midge Ure. John Taylor played his bass part on [[1984-11-21]]. [[Sting]] recorded his vocals on [[1984-11-24]]. Then - on [[1984-11-25]] - a lot of celebrities came to [[Sarm West Studios]] to do their part.
+On that day the studio was blocked off with the Police (the guys in uniform!) being present. Seven camera crews were setting up their gear inside the studio, five from the UK and two from the USA. At 9:15AM [[Bob Geldof]] arrived. He had seen a TV report about Ethiopia and then contacted everybody he knew to suggest today's special charity project. Everybody involved worked for free: musicians, technicians, press factory people...
+The next one to arrive was Midge Ure, who produced the 7" version of the song (the 12" version would be done by Trevor Horn). Midge brought his 24 track master tape with him. Another early bird in the studio was Culture Club's Jon Moss, who confirmed that Boy George would appear later in the day. [[Sting]] arrived in his black Range Rover. Paul Weller turned up on foot and mostly kept to himself. Spandau Ballet arrived in two limousines. They had flown over from Germany with Duran Duran at 6:30AM.
+Trevor Horn showed up and his offer to mix a 12" version of the song was accepted. Around noon everybody except for Boy George was in the studio where they did a photo session with Brian Aris upstairs. They started to record after the photo session - the first singer to be recorded would be Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley. After choir vocals for about two hours they recorded solo bits from George Michael, Simon LeBon and Bono. They also sang a choir part together with Midge Ure. Francis Rossi did his small part, followed by Paul Young, Marilyn and Glenn Gregory and the female singers, then some more choir parts.
+[[Trudie Styler]] arrived with her baby daughter and two small dogs. [[Phil Collins]] would record his drum parts with additional percussion done by Jon Moss. Paul Weller, Bob Geldof and Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp recorded their acoustic guitars in two takes. The latest recording would be done by Boy George who needed some brandy before doing half a dozen takes. The last overdub would be finished at 10:00PM.
+Bob Geldof and Midge Ure started to mix the song at 11:00PM - that lasted until 6:00AM. AFter a half hour break they did the b-side until 9:00AM. Studio engineer Stuart Bruce picked up the master and brought it to [[Utopia Studios]], where the mastering took place. Singles would be pressed the next Wednesday to be sold on the following Saturday.
+The song would be the last one to be played at the [[1985-07-13]] [[Live Aid]] concert in London - with [[Sting]] among the huge crowd of musicians completely blocking [[Stewart Copeland]] on drums from the cameras.
 =Personnel=
-* Phil Collins - drums
+* [[Phil Collins]] - drums
+* Jon Moss - percussion
 * John Taylor - bass
 * [[Sting]] - vocals
-* lots of others ...
+* Midge Ure - keyboards
+* Paul Weller, [[Bob Geldof]], Gary Kemp - acoustic guitars
+* Bono, George Michael, Boy George, lots of others ... - vocals
 =Release History=
@@ Line 173: / Line 188: @@
 =Lyrics=
 <pre>
-This is a sample set of lyrics
+It's Christmas time, and there's no need to be afraid
-They should go here
+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
-If a song is an instrumental
+But say a prayer to pray for the other ones
-Delete the Lyrics header
+At Christmas time, it's hard, but when you're having fun
-and this section
+There's a world outside your window
-as well
+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 or rivers flow
+Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
+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?
+Feed the world
+Feed the world
+Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time
+And feed the world
+Let them know it's Christmas time
+And feed the world
+Let them know it's Christmas time
+And feed the world
+Let them know it's Christmas time...
 </pre>
 =Quotations and trivia=
-''This section needs more information.''
+ad in [[1985-02 Freeze Frame]]:
+[[Image:1985_02_Freeze_Frame_01.jpg|80px]]
 =Alternative and cover versions=
@@ Line 195: / Line 238: @@
 =References=
-''This section needs more information.''
+sources: various UK magazines
-[[Category:Songs (Sting)]]
+[[Category:Songs (Sting)]] [[Category:Songs (Band Aid)]]

Difference between revisions of "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Latest revision as of 21:32, 4 October 2021

Contents

About the song

Personnel

Release History

Albums

Singles

CD Singles

7" Singles

12" Singles

Video

Awards, nominations, and certifications

Awards

Nominations

Certifications

Lyrics

Quotations and trivia

Alternative and cover versions

See also

External links

References

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