This past Saturday, One Direction, Chris Martin, Bono, Emeli Sande, Rita Ora, Olly Murs, Sinead O'Connor, Paloma Faith, Ellie Goulding, Ed Sheeran, Guy Garvey and Roger Taylor, to name a few of the artists involved, joined Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in London to record a brand new version of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' with producer Paul Epworth.
The new single marks the 30th anniversary of the original Band Aid Christmas song.
All money raised from sales of the single will go towards the fight against Ebola in West Africa. The lyrics of the original song have been tweaked to reflect the challenges affecting today's Africa, with references to hunger taken out.
The video was first played on The X Factor last night - watch here:
Band Aid 30 - Do They Know It's Christmas? (2014) on MUZU.TV
Here are the lyrics in full – what do you think?
Here's a taste of the reaction on Twitter:
Bandaid 30 lyrics "No peace and joy this Christmas in West Africa The only hope they'll have is being alive" Grammar! Come on! Or is it me.
— Vaun Earl Norman (@Vaunearl) November 17, 2014
I've so much admiration for the work of Band Aid but so many of the lyrics are stereotypical inaccuracies encouraging misconceptions.
— Adam Burford (@AdzyBurfo) November 17, 2014
The Band Aid 30 lyrics make me want to crawl inside myself and disappear. Jesus wept.
— Niamhy Bolger (@niamhioos) November 17, 2014
I'm glad they're rereleasing Band Aid...if only to redraft the offensive and religiously mad lyrics of the original http://t.co/u853DM1Neg
— Sally Hitchiner ☩ (@SallyHitchiner) November 17, 2014
Why did @BandAid_30 not change the lyrics to 'heal the world' it would be a little more appropriate than feed the world. #stillbuyingittho
— Laurie Jones (@the_lozzmeister) November 17, 2014
Emotional lyrics for Band Aid 30; "Where a kiss of love can kill you And there's death in every tear" #Ebola Single available now.
— L M Somerton (@LMSomerton) November 17, 2014
Some people posting that they don't like the new #BandAid30 lyrics,it's for a good thinghave a heart guys if it makes a difference,leave it
— Molly blackman (@mollyblackman14) November 17, 2014
"How can they know it's Christmas time at all" just doesn't roll off the tongue does it? Original Band Aid kicks ass. Boo to new lyrics.
— Kimberley (@KimberleyW1983) November 15, 2014
Saw a tweet with the Band Aid 30 reworked lyrics. I honestly thought it was a parody.
— Mike Hoffman (@MikeHoffman1) November 15, 2014
