With Halloween done and Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s time to get in the holiday spirit with a new documentary that takes a look back at the making of Do They Know It’s Christmas?
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Band Aid
Back in the mullet-filled wonderland of the 1980s, the world was about to witness a miracle—(no, not the invention of shoulder pads), but something even more impressive: British pop and rock stars uniting to save lives with a Christmas song.
It was a chilly Sunday in November 1984 when a motley crew (thankfully, not Motley Crue) of pop royalty descended on SARM Studios in Notting Hill. Their mission? To crank out a holiday tune that would throw arms around the world by raising money for famine relief in Ethiopia. The masterminds behind this musical mission were Sir Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats frontman and professional world-saver) and synth-pop legend Midge Ure (Ultravox).
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Do They Know It’s Christmas?, the BBC is gifting us a brand-new documentary: The Making of Do They Know It’s Christmas? It’s packed with previously unseen footage—75 glorious minutes of it, shot on good old 16mm film—that captures the very human moments, including rehearsals, recording, and rare, behind-the-scenes playful jabs between takes. Expect cameos from just about everyone who mattered in 1984: Sir Bob Geldof himself, plus Bananarama, Spandau Ballet, Phil Collins, Sting, and – of course, Simon Le Bon.
New Documentary has Exclusive Footage and Interviews with the Rock Stars
Do They Know It’s Christmas? featured a parade of British pop royalty—from Bono and Boy George to George Michael and Duran Duran (complete with Andy Taylor).
They walked into the studio with egos firmly in check (well, mostly)…
Simon Le Bon did, in fact, think he’d be singing alone.
“I went to the studio to make the demo and I sang the whole song. So when we turned up on the actual recording day, I thought, ‘What are all of these people doing here? Are they just here for the chorus? Why’s Bono singing my part?’ It was a surprise. But it was amazing being there. I soon realized it wasn’t all about me.” (From Gary Barlow’s We Write The Songs podcast).
The Legacy of Band Aid
In October 1984, Sir Bob Geldof saw a harrowing news segment on the BBC about the devastating famine in Ethiopia. Moved by the images of suffering, he decided he couldn’t just sit back and strum a guitar—he had to do more. He rang up his mate Midge Ure (of Ultravox fame), who agreed to co-write the song, and in just a few weeks, they had gathered a lineup of 80s hit-makers to join them to make it happen. As Geldof so perfectly put it, they were a bunch of “bouffanted oiks.”
Do They Know It’s Christmas? didn’t just top the UK charts—it dominated.
It sold over a million copies in its first week, becoming the fastest-selling single in UK history at the time. The song went on to raise millions for famine relief and sparked an entire movement of charity singles, including the USA for Africa project, We Are the World. It also inspired Live Aid in 1985—two massive concerts held in London and Philadelphia—which raised even more money for famine relief. Band Aid’s influence continued to ripple out, ultimately leading to the Live 8 concerts in 2005, where the world’s biggest stars came together once again to fight poverty.
In the 40 years since that chilly Sunday, Do They Know It’s Christmas? has become one of those songs we all love to sing during the holidays, even if we’re not exactly sure why there’s “no snow in Africa this Christmas.”
When and Where to Watch
The Making of Do They Know It’s Christmas? is airing on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer, perfectly timed for the holiday season. Learn more about how to watch the documentary here.
Lyrics
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
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 (oh)
Where nothing ever grows, no rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it’s Christmas time at all? (oh)
(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 again
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again