Adele, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, One Direction & Others Set To Record Band Aid 30’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas”

Whether you view holiday staple “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by the Band Aid collective as a guilty pleasure or Christmas classic, chances are, if it’s a significant anniversary year following the charity single’s original release, songwriters Bob Geldof and Midge Ure will be orchestrating an updated version with a whole new set of voices.

Case in point: It was announced this week that Geldof and Ure will be recording the fourth version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas” this Saturday (November 15) in London, to coincide with the song’s 30th anniversary, and to raise money for Ebola relief in West Africa. You won’t have to wait too long to hear the update, either — it’s being released on Monday…as in two days later.

As is customary, a full roster of current UK and Irish pop royalty will lend their vocals to the track. Already announced to be taking part: Sam Smith, U2‘s Bono (who featured on the original version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas”), Adele, One Direction, Jessie Ware, Chris Martin from Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sande, Olly Murs, Elbow, Paloma Faith, Jessie Ware, Sinead O’Connor, Queen‘s Roger Taylor, Fuse ODG, Jimmy Napes, Foals and Underworld.

Grammy- and Academy Award-winning producer Paul Epworth will lend his skilled hand to the track, while Tracy Emin is on tap to whip up the single artwork. The Official Charts Company also points out that Geldof and Ure will be altering the lyrics from their original subject matter, the African drought of the ’80s, to reflect the current Ebola crisis.

Until Monday, let’s revisit the previous three versions of “Do They Know It’s Christmas.”

Band Aid (1984) — produced by Midge Ure, featuring Bono, Sting, Simon LeBon, Boy George, George Michael, Bananarama and others.

Band Aid II (1989) — produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, featuring Kylie Minogue, Lisa Stansfield, Wet Wet Wet, Jimmy Somerville, Jason Donovan, Sonia, Bananarama, Cliff Richard and others.

Band Aid 20 (2004) — produced by Bob Geldof, Nigel Godrich & Damon Albarn, featuring Bono, Daniel Bedingfield, Natasha Bedingfield, Robbie Williams, Sugababes, Rachel Stevens, Chris Martin, Dido and others.

Which one is your favorite?

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