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New version of Band Aid’s Christmas classic to be released with huge twist

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New version of Band Aid’s Christmas classic to be released with huge twist

Band Aid 40 is set to be released – and there’s a fun twist (Picture: Getty Images)

Band Aid’s 2024 Christmas version has been announced – and it’s got a great nostalgic twist for fans who loved the 1980s original.

In 1984, Band Aid a charity supergroup featuring a variety of British artists founded by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure was formed to raise money for famine in Ethiopia.

The original band was recorded by artists including Sting, Boy George, George Michael, Bananarama, Bono, Kylie Minogue, and Cliff Richard.

The song was a huge hit and influenced new renditions in 2004 and 2014 in celebration of the 20th and 30th anniversary.

It has now been announced that a 2024 version will be released to celebrate the 40th anniversary and in a fun twist will comprise only of artists who featured on the first three songs.

The 2024 video will also feature the late David Bowie who will introduce the song’s stars, and newsreader Michael Buerk’s BBC report on the song also features.

2024 artists on the Band Aid 40 song

Bono (U2)
David Bowie (spoken word introduction)
Guy Garvey (Elbow)
Boy George
Chris Martin (Coldplay)
George Michael
Kool & the Gang
Sinéad O’Connor
Rita Ora
Ed Sheeran
Sam Smith
Seal
Sting
Harry Styles
Sugababes
Underworld
Robbie Williams

Undated handout photo issued by Band Aid of Sir Bob Geldof (second left), along with other artists recording the first ever Band Aid single, Do They Know It's Christmas. A new 40th anniversary mix of Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? will see the young and old voices of the charity single's artists come together to create an "ultimate" version. Issue date: Wednesday November 13, 2024. PA Photo. Do They Know It's Christmas? - 2024 Ultimate Mix will premiere on UK breakfast radio and streaming on November 25, the 40th anniversary of the recording of the original song, and will be released physically on the Band Aid Compilation on November 29 on CD and vinyl. The new version of the song will feature voices from three previous editions of the song, Band Aid (1984), Band Aid 20 (2004) and Band Aid 30 (2014), including Harry Styles, George Michael and Chris Martin, and will see young and old voices of the likes of Bono singing together. See PA story SHOWBIZ BandAid . Photo credit should read: Brian Aris/Band Aid/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
The original song featured a variety of iconic singers (Picture: Brian Aris/Band Aid/PA Wire)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX/Shutterstock (503590k) BUSTED - MATT JAY, JAMES BOURNE AND CHARLIE SIMPSON STARS AT AIR STUDIOS FOR THE BAND AID RECORDING SESSION, LONDON, BRITAIN - 14 NOV 2004
The Busted trio featured on the 2004 version of the song (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

It has been suggested that the vocals of a young Bono, will sing with his older self. Bono iconically sang ‘Well tonight thank God it’s them, instead of you’ in the original song.

The 2004 song included vocals from the Sugababes, Jamelia, Chris Martin, Katie Melua, Dido, Robbie Williams, Busted, Will Young, Natasha and Daniel Bedingfield.

The 2014 version also included One Direction, Bono, Paloma Faith, Ellie Golding, Sinead O’Connor, Ed Sheeran, Olly Murs, Rita Ora, and Seal.

Undated handout photo issued by Band Aid of Sir Bob Geldof (second left), along with other artists recording the first ever Band Aid single, Do They Know It's Christmas. A new 40th anniversary mix of Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? will see the young and old voices of the charity single's artists come together to create an "ultimate" version. Issue date: Wednesday November 13, 2024. PA Photo. Do They Know It's Christmas? - 2024 Ultimate Mix will premiere on UK breakfast radio and streaming on November 25, the 40th anniversary of the recording of the original song, and will be released physically on the Band Aid Compilation on November 29 on CD and vinyl. The new version of the song will feature voices from three previous editions of the song, Band Aid (1984), Band Aid 20 (2004) and Band Aid 30 (2014), including Harry Styles, George Michael and Chris Martin, and will see young and old voices of the likes of Bono singing together. See PA story SHOWBIZ BandAid . Photo credit should read: Brian Aris/Band Aid/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
The 40th anniversary of the song will feature some of the original artists (Picture: Brian Aris/Band Aid/PA Wire)
Undated handout photo issued by Band Aid of Paloma Faith, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik during a recording of Band Aid single, Do They Know It's Christmas in 2014. A new 40th anniversary mix of Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? will see the young and old voices of the charity single's artists come together to create an "ultimate" version. Issue date: Wednesday November 13, 2024. PA Photo. Do They Know It's Christmas? - 2024 Ultimate Mix will premiere on UK breakfast radio and streaming on November 25, the 40th anniversary of the recording of the original song, and will be released physically on the Band Aid Compilation on November 29 on CD and vinyl. The new version of the song will feature voices from three previous editions of the song, Band Aid (1984), Band Aid 20 (2004) and Band Aid 30 (2014), including Harry Styles, George Michael and Chris Martin, and will see young and old voices of the likes of Bono singing together. See PA story SHOWBIZ BandAid. Photo credit should read: Band Aid/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Harry Styles featured on the 2014 song with his One Direction bandmates (Picture: Band Aid/PA Wire)

The original song was a huge hit selling over two million copies around the globe and raised more than $24 million (£18.8 million). 

The 2004 version spent four weeks in the number one position on the charts and became the biggest-selling single of 2004.

In 2014, the single was less successful and went straight to number one in the UK Official Singles Chart, selling 312,000 copies.

The 2024 Ultimate mix of Do They Know It’s Christmas will premiere on UK breakfast radio and streaming on November 25. This date marks the 40th anniversary of the recording of the original song.

It will also be released physically on CD and vinyl on 29 November.

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