Cover art for the original "Do They Know It's Christmas?" release – artist Peter Blake

This article is about the song. For more details on different recordings see Band Aid.

Do They Know It's Christmas? is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 specifically to raise money for Ethiopian famine relief. The original version was produced by Midge Ure and Trevor Horn, and recorded by Band Aid in 1984. Do They Know its Christmas cover This is an album cover. ... There have been several notable individuals named Peter Blake. ... Cover art for the original Do They Know Its Christmas? release Рartist Peter Blake Band Aid is a British and Irish charity supergroup founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing a record Do They Know... Robert Frederick Xenon Bob Geldof, KBE (born October 5, 1951 or 1954 in D̼n Laoghaire, County Dublin) is an Irish singer, songwriter and political activist. ... Midge Ure OBE (born James Ure on October 10, 1953 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland) is a rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter from Scotland, who had particular success in the 1970s and 1980s. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Trevor Horn, born July 15, 1949 in Leicester, England, is a pop music producer and former musician. ... Cover art for the original Do They Know Its Christmas? release Рartist Peter Blake Band Aid is a British and Irish charity supergroup founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing a record Do They Know...

In late 1984, a BBC report by Michael Buerk was aired highlighting the famine that had hit the people of Ethiopia. Irish singer, Bob Geldof had seen the report and was moved so much that he decided that a pop record should be used to further increase awareness of the famine and to raise money. Aware that he could do little on his own, he called Midge Ure from Ultravox and together they quickly co-wrote the song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?". The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was formed in 1927 by means of a royal charter. ... Michael Duncan Buerk is a BBC journalist and newsreader. ... Midge Ure OBE (born James Ure on October 10, 1953 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland) is a rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter from Scotland, who had particular success in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Ultravox were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the early 1980s. ...

Geldof kept a November appointment with BBC Radio 1 DJ Richard Skinner to appear on his show, but instead of discussing his new album (the original reason for his booking), he used his airtime to publicise the idea for the charity single, so by the time the musicians were recruited there was intense media interest in the subject. BBC Radio 1 is a British radio station, specialising in popular music aimed at a young audience (children, teenagers and young adults). ... DJ or dj may stand for Disc jockey, dinner jacket The DeadJournal website, or Djibouti. ...

Using powers of persuasion which have since become a major part of the Geldof legend, he put together a group (Band Aid), consisting of leading British rock and pop musicians, all of whom were at the very top of the industry. Cover art for the original Do They Know Its Christmas? release – artist Peter Blake Band Aid is a British and Irish charity supergroup founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing a record Do They Know...

The recording session

The recording studio gave Band Aid 24 hours free to record and mix the record on November 25, 1984. The recording took place between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and was filmed to release as the song's music video. The first track to be put down was drums by Phil Collins including the memorable opening 'African Drum' beat. Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet was the first to record his vocal while a section sung by Status Quo was deemed unusable and replaced with the Paul Weller/Sting/Glen Gregory section. Paul Young has admitted since in a documentary that he knew his opening lines were written for David Bowie, who was not able to make the recording but made a contribution to the B-side. Boy George arrived last at 6pm after Geldof woke him up by phone to have him flown over from New York on Concorde to record his solo part. November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... A music video (also video clip, promo) is a short film meant to present a visual representation of a popular music song. ... Philip David Charles Collins (born January 30, 1951 in London), better known as Phil Collins, is a British rock/pop musician. ... Tony Hadley (born 2 June 1960) is a British pop singer who fronted the 1980s New Romantic band Spandau Ballet. ... Spandau Ballet was a popular band of the 1980s. ... For the perennial British rock band, see Status Quo (band) Status quo is a Latin term meaning the present current, existing state of affairs. ... Paul Weller as seen on the cover of his 1998 solo greatest hits album Modern Classics. ... Sting circa 1987 Gordon Matthew Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951), best known by his stage name Sting, is an English musician and formerly bassist and lead singer of The Police. ... Paul Antony Young (better known as Paul Young) is a British pop artist. ... David Bowie David Robert Jones (born January 8, 1947), better known as David Bowie, is a British rock and roll musician, actor, and artist who has had a profound influence on rock and roll from the 1960s to the present. ... Boy George George Alan ODowd (born June 14, 1961), better known as Boy George, is a famous gay singer, musician, and DJ who gained a degree of fame with his group Culture Club in the 1980s. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... The Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde supersonic transport (SST) was one of only two models of supersonic passenger airliners to have seen commercial service. ...

Participants

The original Band Aid ensemble consisted of (in sleeve order):

• Adam Clayton (U2)
• Phil Collins (former member of Genesis)
• Sir Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats)
• Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
• Chris Cross (Ultravox)
• John Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Paul Young
• Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
• Glen Gregory (Heaven 17)
• Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
• Simon Crowe (Boomtown Rats)
• Marilyn
• Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
• Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
• Jody Watley (Shalamar)
• Bono (U2)
• Paul Weller (The Style Council & The Jam)
• James Taylor
• George Michael (Former member of Wham!)
• Midge Ure (Ultravox)
• Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
• John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
• Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
• Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Sarah Dallin (Bananarama)
• Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
• Pete Briquette (Boomtown Rats)
• Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
• Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & The Gang)
• Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & The Gang)
• Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Jon Moss (Culture Club)
• Sting (Former member of The Police)
• Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
• Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
• Johnny Fingers (Boomtown Rats)
• David Bowie
• Boy George (Culture Club)
• Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
• Paul McCartney (Former member of The Beatles)
• Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
• Bruce Watson (Big Country)
• Tony Butler (Big Country)
• Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)

Adam Clayton Adam Charles Clayton (born March 13, 1960 in Chinnor, Oxford, England), is the bass player for the Irish rock band, U2. ... U2 (L to R): The Edge, Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen U2 is an Irish rock band featuring Bono (Paul David Hewson) on vocals and guitar, The Edge (David Howell Evans) on guitar and pianos, vocals, and bass, Adam Clayton on bass and guitar, and Larry Mullen on drums. ... Philip David Charles Collins (born January 30, 1951 in London), better known as Phil Collins, is a British rock/pop musician. ... Genesis is a progressive rock group that was formed in 1967 when founding members Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks were still students at Charterhouse School. ... Robert Frederick Zenon Bob Geldof, KBE (born October 5, 1951 in Dun Laoghaire, near Dublin) is an Irish singer, songwriter and humanitarian. ... The Boomtown Rats (1975-1984) were a punk rock/new wave group headed by Bob Geldof who was later known for organizing charity rock concerts such as Band Aid (intended to help famine victims in Ethiopia), Live Aid, and Hands Across America (intended to help homeless people in America). ... Steve Norman is a British pop musician who played saxophone for the 1980s New Romantic band Spandau Ballet. ... Spandau Ballet was a popular band of the 1980s. ... Chris Cross (born Chris Allen on July 14, 1952 in London, England) was the bass guitarist in the band Ultravox until their final demise in 1986. ... Ultravox (band) - Ultravox, the New Romantic band Ultravox (software) - Ultravox, the Streaming Software from Nullsoft This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Nigel John Taylor (born June 20, 1960) is a bass guitarist and co-founder of the pop band Duran Duran. ... At the height of its fame, Duran Duran (The Fab Five) was featured on the cover of the February 1984 issue of Rolling Stone magazine. ... Paul Antony Young (better known as Paul Young) is a British pop artist. ... Tony Hadley (born 2 June 1960) is a British pop singer who fronted the 1980s New Romantic band Spandau Ballet. ... Spandau Ballet was a popular band of the 1980s. ... Heaven 17 is a British electropop band originating in Sheffield in the early 1980s. ... Simon John Charles Le Bon (born October 27, 1958) is the lead singer and lyricist of the pop band Duran Duran. ... At the height of its fame, Duran Duran (The Fab Five) was featured on the cover of the February 1984 issue of Rolling Stone magazine. ... The Boomtown Rats (1975-1984) were a punk rock/new wave group headed by Bob Geldof who was later known for organizing charity rock concerts such as Band Aid (intended to help famine victims in Ethiopia), Live Aid, and Hands Across America (intended to help homeless people in America). ... Marilyn Peter Robinson (born November 3, 1962), better known as Marilyn, is a famous cross-dressing singer and musician who reached fame with his song Calling Your Name in the 1980s. ... Keren Woodward (born 2 April 1961) is a British pop singer and songwriter for the band Bananarama. ... Bananaramas members on the cover of their 1984 album Bananarama. Bananarama is a girl group that found worldwide fame with their melodic pop songs. ... Martin Kemp (born 10 October 1961), brother of Gary Kemp, is a British actor and former pop artist who was a member of the 1980s New Romantic band Spandau Ballet. ... Spandau Ballet was a popular band of the 1980s. ... Jody Watley Jody Watley is a Grammy award winning pop singer who was born in Chicago, IL on Jan 30, 1959. ... Shalamar was a musical group of the 1970s that was originally a disco-driven vehicle created by Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey. ... Bono Paul David Hewson (born May 10, 1960, Dublin, Ireland), nicknamed Bono Vox, stage name Bono, is the lead singer of the Irish rock band, U2. ... U2 (L to R): The Edge, Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen U2 is an Irish rock band featuring Bono (Paul David Hewson) on vocals and guitar, The Edge (David Howell Evans) on guitar and pianos, vocals, and bass, Adam Clayton on bass and guitar, and Larry Mullen on drums. ... Paul Weller as seen on the cover of his 1998 solo greatest hits album Modern Classics. ... The Style Council was formed by ex- Jam singer and guitarist Paul Weller with keyboardist Mick Talbot in 1983. ... The Jam was an early british Punk band, a band which created the foundation for the success of britpop during the 1990s in the U.K. A British punk band primarily active in the late 1970s. ... James Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in Boston, Massachusetts. ... George Michael George Michael (born June 25, 1963) is a Greek-British pop singer/songwriter born in East Finchley, London. ... Wham! can mean one of two things: Wham!, a 1980s British pop duo formed by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. ... Midge Ure OBE (born James Ure on October 10, 1953 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland) is a rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter from Scotland, who had particular success in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Ultravox were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the early 1980s. ... Heaven 17 is a British electropop band originating in Sheffield in the early 1980s. ... John Keeble (born 6 July 1959) is a British pop artist who was a member of the 1980s New Romantic band Spandau Ballet. ... Spandau Ballet was a popular band of the 1980s. ... Gary Kemp (born 16 October 1959) is a British pop artist who was the leader and chief songwriter for the 1980s New Romantic band Spandau Ballet. ... Spandau Ballet was a popular band of the 1980s. ... If you are looking for the Queen drummer, see Roger Meddows-Taylor. ... At the height of its fame, Duran Duran (The Fab Five) was featured on the cover of the February 1984 issue of Rolling Stone magazine. ... Sarah Dallin (born 17 December 1961) is a British singer for the group Bananarama. ... Bananaramas members on the cover of their 1984 album Bananarama. Bananarama is a girl group that found worldwide fame with their melodic pop songs. ... Siobhan Fahey (born September 10, 1956) was a founder member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama. ... Bananaramas members on the cover of their 1984 album Bananarama. Bananarama is a girl group that found worldwide fame with their melodic pop songs. ... The Boomtown Rats (1975-1984) were a punk rock/new wave group headed by Bob Geldof who was later known for organizing charity rock concerts such as Band Aid (intended to help famine victims in Ethiopia), Live Aid, and Hands Across America (intended to help homeless people in America). ... Francis Rossi is the co-founder of the British rock band Status Quo, where he sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar. ... Status Quo is a legendary UK rock band founded by Alan Lancaster and Francis Rossi in 1962. ... Robert Kool Bell (born 8 October 1950) is a singer who was a member in the band Kool & the Gang. ... Kool & The Gang Kool & the Gang was a massively successful rhythm and blues and disco group. ... Kool & The Gang Kool & the Gang was a massively successful rhythm and blues and disco group. ... Andy Taylor (born 16 February 1961) is a British pop singer who plays guitar in the band Duran Duran. ... At the height of its fame, Duran Duran (The Fab Five) was featured on the cover of the February 1984 issue of Rolling Stone magazine. ... Jon Moss (full name Jonathan Aubrey Moss) (born September 11, 1957) is the former drummer of the band Culture Club. ... Culture Club Culture Club were a pop and New Romantic band primarily active in the 1980s. ... Sting circa 1987 Gordon Matthew Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951), best known by his stage name Sting, is an English musician and formerly bassist and lead singer of The Police. ... The Police was a three-piece British pop band which was strongly influenced by reggae. ... Rick Parfitt (born 12 October 1948) is a British pop singer who sings and plays rhythm guitar in the band Status Quo. ... Status Quo is a legendary UK rock band founded by Alan Lancaster and Francis Rossi in 1962. ... Nicholas James Bates, keyboardist for Duran Duran, was born in Birmingham, England on June 8, 1962. ... At the height of its fame, Duran Duran (The Fab Five) was featured on the cover of the February 1984 issue of Rolling Stone magazine. ... Johnny Fingers (born 10 September 1956) is an Irish pop singer who was a member in the band Boomtown Rats. ... The Boomtown Rats (1975-1984) were a punk rock/new wave group headed by Bob Geldof who was later known for organizing charity rock concerts such as Band Aid (intended to help famine victims in Ethiopia), Live Aid, and Hands Across America (intended to help homeless people in America). ... David Bowie David Robert Jones (born January 8, 1947), better known as David Bowie, is a British rock and roll musician, actor, and artist who has had a profound influence on rock and roll from the 1960s to the present. ... Boy George George Alan ODowd (born June 14, 1961), better known as Boy George, is a famous gay singer, musician, and DJ who gained a degree of fame with his group Culture Club in the 1980s. ... Culture Club Culture Club were a pop and New Romantic band primarily active in the 1980s. ... Holly Johnson (born William Johnson on February 9, 1960 in Liverpool) is best known as the lead singer of British pop group Frankie Goes to Hollywood. ... Frankie Goes to Hollywoods biggest selling single, Relax Frankie Goes To Hollywood (FGTH) was one of the biggest, most controversial and most marketed UK pop acts of the 1980s. ... Paul McCartney, as photographed by John Kelley for the 1968 LP The Beatles (aka The White Album). Sir James Paul McCartney, KBE, MBE (born June 18, 1942), better known as Paul McCartney, is a British musician, composer, and producer, who first came to prominence as a member of The Beatles. ... The Beatles (L-R, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, John Lennon), in 1964, performing on The Ed Sullivan Show during their first United States tour, promoting their first U.S. hit song, I Want To Hold Your Hand. ... Big Country is a rock band from Dunfermline, Scotland, popular in the early to mid 1980s, but still releasing material for a cult following as recently as 2004. ... Big Country is a rock band from Dunfermline, Scotland, popular in the early to mid 1980s, but still releasing material for a cult following as recently as 2004. ... Big Country is a rock band from Dunfermline, Scotland, popular in the early to mid 1980s, but still releasing material for a cult following as recently as 2004. ... Big Country is a rock band from Dunfermline, Scotland, popular in the early to mid 1980s, but still releasing material for a cult following as recently as 2004. ...

Style and content

According to its co-authors, the lyrics were largely written by Bob Geldof while Midge Ure is responsible for the melody and vocal arrangement. The song comprises two parts: a verse and bridge which allow individual singers to perform different lines; and a chorus in the form of two repeated phrases by ensemble. The chorus was added by Midge Ure shortly before the recording session and is similar in style to many of his Ultravox songs e.g. 'Hymn'. It is also the most effective hook in the song. Robert Frederick Xenon Bob Geldof, KBE (born October 5, 1951 or 1954 in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin) is an Irish singer, songwriter and political activist. ... Midge Ure OBE (born James Ure on October 10, 1953 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland) is a rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter from Scotland, who had particular success in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Verse is a writing that uses meter as its primary organisational mode, as opposed to prose, which uses grammatical and discoursal units like sentences and paragraphs. ... In popular music a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material or section. ... For the communications operator see Chorus Communications For the computer operating system see ChorusOS In classical music a chorus is any substantial group of performers in a play, revue, musical or opera who act more or less as one. ... Ultravox (band) - Ultravox, the New Romantic band Ultravox (software) - Ultravox, the Streaming Software from Nullsoft This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Lyrics

The first line of the recording is sung by Paul Young on the 1984 version, Kylie Minogue on the 1989 version, and Chris Martin on the 2004 version. The line was originally written for David Bowie who finally sang it at the Live Aid concert. See the Band Aid article for the full list of contributors. Paul Antony Young (better known as Paul Young) is a British pop artist. ... Kylie Minogue in the music video for Slow (2003) Kylie Ann Minogue (pronounced: , to rhyme with vogue) (born May 28, 1968) is an Australian singer and actress. ... Chris Martin Chris Martin (born March 2, 1977) is the lead singer and pianist of the band Coldplay. ... David Bowie David Robert Jones (born January 8, 1947), better known as David Bowie, is a British rock and roll musician, actor, and artist who has had a profound influence on rock and roll from the 1960s to the present. ... U2 at Live Aid (Wembley Stadium, London) Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on July 13, 1985. ... Cover art for the original Do They Know Its Christmas? release – artist Peter Blake Band Aid is a British and Irish charity supergroup founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing a record Do They Know...

Another lyric which appears to have been tailored to the singers performing in 1984 is The bitter sting of tears performed by Sting. Sting circa 1987 Gordon Matthew Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951), best known by his stage name Sting, is an English musician and formerly bassist and lead singer of The Police. ...

The most controversial and, many would say, powerful, line in the song is: Tonight thank God it's them instead of you. Bono was unhappy with this line and tried to change it at first, due to the possible interpretation that the singer is thanking God for inflicting misery on other people rather than on them. Later, he admitted that it is a painful truth that, while we can feel sympathy and guilt about the plight of others, we're still not prepared to take their place. Bono Paul David Hewson (born May 10, 1960, Dublin, Ireland), nicknamed Bono Vox, stage name Bono, is the lead singer of the Irish rock band, U2. ...

The lyrics are unashamedly biased towards a western audience and present at best a simplified and stereotypical description of the situation in Africa. Lines such as Where nothing ever grows are particularly naive given that the area in Ethiopia where the famine took place is normally fertile and not a desert at all. The sole purpose of the song was, as Geldof admits, to use the power of celebrity to raise as much money as possible as quickly as possible. It had to be sufficiently well written to avoid putting off the pop stars from taking part. Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ...

Public release

The following morning Geldof appeared on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show to promote the record and promised that every penny would go to the cause. This led to a stand-off with the British Government which refused to waive the VAT (tax) on the sales of the single. Geldof made the headlines by publicly standing up to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and, sensing the strength of public feeling, the government backed down and donated the tax back to the charity. The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... Value added tax (VAT) is a sales tax levied on the sale of goods and services. ... A prime minister may be either: the chief or leading member of the cabinet of the top-level government in a country having a parliamentary system of government; or the official, in countries with a semi-presidential system of government, appointed to manage the civil service and execute the directives... The Right Honourable Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG OM PC FRS, born Margaret Hilda Roberts, (born 13 October 1925) is a British stateswoman and was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, the only woman as of 2005 to serve in that position. ...

The single was released on December 15, 1984, and went straight to number 1 in the UK pop charts outselling all the other records in the chart put together. It became the fastest selling single of all time in the UK, selling a million in the first week alone. It stayed at Number 1 for 5 weeks selling over 3 million copies. December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The single was released just before Christmas with the aim of raising money for the relief of the famine. Geldof's somewhat cautious hope was for 70,000 pounds. Ultimately, however, the song raised many millions of pounds and became the biggest-selling single in UK chart history. (It has since been passed by Elton John's tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, but it is likely to keep selling in different versions for many years to come.) Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John, KBE (born March 25, 1947) is a highly successful British pop singer, pianist, and songwriter. ... Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances Mountbatten-Windsor, née Spencer) (1 July 1961–31 August 1997) was the first wife of HRH The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. ... Princess of Wales is a courtesy title possessed automatically by the wife of the Prince of Wales since the first English Prince of Wales in 1282. ...

Band Aid 20 recorded a new version of the song in November 2004 for the twentieth anniversary of the original recording. Cover art for the original Do They Know Its Christmas? release – artist Peter Blake Band Aid is a British and Irish charity supergroup founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing a record Do They Know... November is the eleventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with the length of 30 days. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Charity records immediately inspired

The Band Aid project inspired other charity records around the world including We are the World by USA for Africa in the USA, Nackt im Wind by Band für Afrika in Germany, Tears Are Not Enough by Northern Lights in Canada and many others. We Are the World is a 1985 song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced by Quincy Jones and recorded by a supergroup of popular musicians billed as USA for Africa. ... USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa), was the name under which forty-five US artists, led by Harry Belafonte, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie, recorded the hit single We Are the World in 1985. ... Tears Are Not Enough was a 1985 charity single recorded by a supergroup of Canadian artists, under the name Northern Lights, to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. ... Northern Lights was the name used by the supergroup of Canadian musicians who gathered in 1985 to record the single Tears Are Not Enough. Like Band Aid (who recorded Do They Know Its Christmas? in 1984) and USA For Africa (who recorded We Are The World a few weeks...

The idea of an all-star celebrity fundraising song for charity was copied in the United States a few months later, with the song We Are The World by USA for Africa, co-written by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Geldof's first point of contact Lionel Richie. It topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Geldof attended the recording, which took place immediately after the 1985 Grammy awards, and sang on the chorus at the end. We Are the World is a 1985 song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced by Quincy Jones and recorded by a supergroup of popular musicians billed as USA for Africa. ... USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa), was the name under which forty-five US artists, led by Harry Belafonte, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie, recorded the hit single We Are the World in 1985. ... Michael Jackson in 1996. ... Stevie Wonder is a legend in rock and pop music history. ... Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music...

Tears Are Not Enough was a 1985 charity single recorded by a supergroup of Canadian artists, under the name Northern Lights, to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. Tears Are Not Enough was a 1985 charity single recorded by a supergroup of Canadian artists, under the name Northern Lights, to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Supergroup can mean: In physics, see Supergroup (physics). ... Northern Lights was the name used by the supergroup of Canadian musicians who gathered in 1985 to record the single Tears Are Not Enough. Like Band Aid (who recorded Do They Know Its Christmas? in 1984) and USA For Africa (who recorded We Are The World a few weeks... A famine is an phenomenon in which a large percentage of the population of a region or country are undernourished and death by starvation becomes increasingly common. ...