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Last Updated: Tuesday, 16 November, 2004, 14:02 GMT
World premiere of Band Aid song
Bono
Bono flew in specially to record the line he sang in the original track
The new Band Aid single has received its world premiere on BBC Radio 1.

Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid 20, was broadcast at 0800 GMT during the Chris Moyles Breakfast show on Tuesday.

The song, featuring artists including Bono, Coldplay's Chris Martin and Dido, is a remake of the 1984 original.

The new version features a reworked chorus, rapping from Dizzee Rascal, guitar riffs from The Darkness, and Martin on the piano.

The single will raise money for food aid in Darfur, Sudan, when it is commercially released on 29 November.

Bono was persuaded by Bob Geldof to perform the powerful line "Well, tonight thank God it's them instead of you" after singing it on the 1984 original.

HAVE YOUR SAY
Sure it won't wipe out the problem, but it will draw attention to it for a new generation
John May, London, UK

The U2 frontman returned from Ireland to record the new rendition and said he took a different approach to his first "raw" contribution.

His version was used instead of one recorded by Justin Hawkins from The Darkness.

Will Young, who duetted with R&B star Jamelia on the single, told the Chris Moyles Breakfast Show recording the song had been an "emotional" experience.

He said: "We all got into the studio and it was slightly overwhelming to see everyone in there together.

"But then Bob Geldof showed us a video of what it was like 20 years ago for children and their parents in Africa.

"Everyone was in tears but it focussed us on why we were there. Suddenly we realised there was a point to it all."

The video, which premieres on BBC One this Thursday, features stars including Joss Stone, Jamelia, and Busted, who also took part in the recording sessions at the weekend.

Christmas favourite

The single will be titled Band Aid 20 to mark the 20th anniversary of the original song, which involved stars such as George Michael, Duran Duran and Phil Collins.

It was organised by Geldof after he saw news footage of the starving in Ethiopia, and sold more than 3.5 million copies in the UK alone.

The funds from Band Aid 20 will mainly go to fighting famine in Africa, particularly in the war-ravaged Sudanese region of Darfur.

But the World Development Movement - which campaigns for international development - said many of the song lyrics were "patronising, false and out of date".

The organisation condemned the "negative stereotypes" depicted in the song and regretted it did not "provide a more accurate reflection of Africa and its problems".

Christmas favourite

Director of WDM, Mark Curtis, said: "The song perpetuates the myth that Africa's problems can somehow be blamed on lack of rainfall and failed harvests.

"It conjures up an image of a continent inhabited entirely by starving children with flies on their faces sitting in the sunbaked bed of a dried up stream."

But the organisation added that it did not want to discourage people from buying the record.

Sold on CD for £3.99 and also available as a download, the new version is hot favourite to be Christmas number one in the UK this year.

Retailers expect to sell about 500,000 copies in its first week on sale.

Woolworths and Virgin Megastores will give their proceeds to the Band Aid Trust charity.


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Band Aid 20 - Who sings what

Chris Martin (Coldplay) - It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid. At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade

Dido - And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy. Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time.

Robbie Williams - But say a prayer, Pray for the other ones. At Christmas time it's hard, but when you're having fun.

Sugababes - There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear.

Fran Healy (Travis) - Where the only water flowing

Fran Healy and the Sugababes - Is the bitter sting of tears

Fran Healy and Justin Hawkins (The Darkness) - And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom

Bono - Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

Will Young and Jamelia - And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time

Ms Dynamite and Beverly Knight - (Oooh) Where nothing ever grows, no rain nor rivers flow

Group of 10 and Joss Stone - Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

Tom Chaplin (Keane) - Here's to you

Justin Hawkins - Raise a glass for everyone

Dizzee Rascal - Spare a thought this yuletide for the deprived, if the table was turned would you survive

Busted - Here's to them

Justin Hawkins - Underneath that burning sun

Dizzee Rascal - You ain't gotta feel guilt just selfless, give a little help to the helpless

Joss Stone and Justin Hawkins - Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

Tom Chaplin - Feed the world

Tom Chaplin and Chris Martin - Feed the world

Tom Chaplin, Chris Martin and Sugababes - Feed the world

Everyone - Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time again (repeated)

Fran Healy - Wooo

Group of 10 - Feed the world

Everyone - Feed the world (repeated to end)

Joss Stone - Ad-libs over outro


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Compare the original with the 1989 and 2004 versions



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