Christian campaigner records famous ‘thank God’ line for Band Aid single -15/11/04
U2 frontman
Christian campaigner records famous ‘thank God’ line for Band Aid single -15/11/04
U2 frontman and Christian campaigner Bono, flew in late on Sunday to add his famous line “Well, tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” to the new Band Aid single, which is expected to be the Christmas number one. If the song does make the top spot, it will be Bono’s second success in quick succession, as his band’s new single ‘Vertigo’ has also just gone straight in at the top of the charts. Bob Geldof has said the recording of the new charity song was “firing the starting pistol” to raise funds and awareness for Africa. A number of artists had recorded the “Well, tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” line this time, including Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, but Bono’s rendition was the chosen one. Bono always remained the favourite after his recent speech to the Labour party conference in front of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, where he pleaded the case for debt relief, HIV medicines and increased overseas aid spending on Africa. Since his part in the original Band Aid single, 20 years ago, and his memorable performance at the Live Aid concert, Bono has thrown himself into campaigning work, despite receiving death threats for his radical stands. Last year, both Geldof and Bono met the Prime Minister at Downing Street to discuss Africa. Bono also got behind the Jubilee 2000 campaign to cancel Third World debt, during the late 1990s. Bono and Geldof were joined by about 40 leading names of the music scene for a fresh version of 1984’s ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas?’ Will Young, Jamelia and Joss Stone were among the stars to record parts at Air Studios in north London on Sunday. Daniel Bedingfield, Busted, Katie Melua, Beverley Knight and Rachel Stevens were among those to lend their voices to a recording of the song’s famous “Feed the world” chorus. But some stars have already recorded their contributions, with Sir Paul McCartney adding his bass guitar section on Friday. Robbie Williams, Dido, Thom Yorke, Dizzee Rascal and Coldplay’s Chris Martin had also already recorded their parts and were not in the chorus on Sunday. Blur singer Damon Albarn served tea for the artists and crew – who have donated their time – but did not sing. The new version of the 1984 hit will raise money for famine relief in the Darfur region of Sudan. Retailers expect to sell about 500,000 copies in its first week. Woolworths and Virgin Megastores will give their proceeds to the Band Aid Trust charity, while Chancellor Gordon Brown has decided not to charge VAT. The Band Aid Trust spent more than 4m (£77.5m) on famine relief in Africa between 1985 and the release of a Live Aid DVD earlier this month. Sold on CD for £3.99 and also available as a download, the new version will be released on 29 November.
Christian campaigner records famous ‘thank God’ line for Band Aid single -15/11/04
U2 frontman and Christian campaigner Bono, flew in late on Sunday to add his famous line “Well, tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” to the new Band Aid single, which is expected to be the Christmas number one. If the song does make the top spot, it will be Bono’s second success in quick succession, as his band’s new single ‘Vertigo’ has also just gone straight in at the top of the charts. Bob Geldof has said the recording of the new charity song was “firing the starting pistol” to raise funds and awareness for Africa. A number of artists had recorded the “Well, tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” line this time, including Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, but Bono’s rendition was the chosen one. Bono always remained the favourite after his recent speech to the Labour party conference in front of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, where he pleaded the case for debt relief, HIV medicines and increased overseas aid spending on Africa. Since his part in the original Band Aid single, 20 years ago, and his memorable performance at the Live Aid concert, Bono has thrown himself into campaigning work, despite receiving death threats for his radical stands. Last year, both Geldof and Bono met the Prime Minister at Downing Street to discuss Africa. Bono also got behind the Jubilee 2000 campaign to cancel Third World debt, during the late 1990s. Bono and Geldof were joined by about 40 leading names of the music scene for a fresh version of 1984’s ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas?’ Will Young, Jamelia and Joss Stone were among the stars to record parts at Air Studios in north London on Sunday. Daniel Bedingfield, Busted, Katie Melua, Beverley Knight and Rachel Stevens were among those to lend their voices to a recording of the song’s famous “Feed the world” chorus. But some stars have already recorded their contributions, with Sir Paul McCartney adding his bass guitar section on Friday. Robbie Williams, Dido, Thom Yorke, Dizzee Rascal and Coldplay’s Chris Martin had also already recorded their parts and were not in the chorus on Sunday. Blur singer Damon Albarn served tea for the artists and crew – who have donated their time – but did not sing. The new version of the 1984 hit will raise money for famine relief in the Darfur region of Sudan. Retailers expect to sell about 500,000 copies in its first week. Woolworths and Virgin Megastores will give their proceeds to the Band Aid Trust charity, while Chancellor Gordon Brown has decided not to charge VAT. The Band Aid Trust spent more than 4m (£77.5m) on famine relief in Africa between 1985 and the release of a Live Aid DVD earlier this month. Sold on CD for £3.99 and also available as a download, the new version will be released on 29 November.