BRITAIN: A host of Irish and British music artists yesterday recorded a new version of the charity song Do They Know It's Christmas? They packed into a north London studio two decades after the first Band Aid project to make the single, hotly tipped to be the Christmas number one.
Sir Bob Geldof, who co-wrote the song with Midge Ure, showed the gathering a video of the 1984 Ethiopian famine before they recorded the famous Feed the World refrain.
The new line-up is called Band Aid 20 because it is two decades since the original song was recorded.
Greeting stars outside Air Studios, north London, Geldof said: "I think this time we have 20 years of knowledge within pop music of what this thing is. There is a cultural and political reference. It appears more organised because of the publicists and managers involved, but it all sort of tumbled into place in a couple of weeks. It sounds gaudy but I guess there is a legacy."
Coldplay's Chris Martin sings the opening lines of the 2004 charity single.
Midge Ure, who is executive producer of Band Aid 20, would not confirm who will sing the line: "And tonight thank God it's them, instead of you" which U2's Bono sang on the original.
The former Ultravox lead singer said he was reminded of the day when the first Band Aid single was recorded.
"It is like 20 years ago. It is groundhog day," he said. "The song is alright, it is adequate and does the job. But as a recording it is fantastic."
Bono pre-recorded his contribution to this year's version, as did Mercury Prize winning rapper Dizzee Rascal. Robbie Williams and Dido contributed from Los Angeles and Australia respectively.
A backing track featuring Travis frontman Fran Healy, Sir Paul McCartney and Danny Goffey from Supergrass was recorded on Friday.
Bookmakers William Hill are not accepting bets on the Band Aid 20 single topping the Christmas charts because it is "all but certain" to hit number one.
Ladbrokes say the single, which will hit the shops on November 29th, is the hottest favourite for Christmas number one since the last Band Aid single.
Teenage soul sensation Joss Stone said it was "scary" to be involved in the Band Aid 20 project. She said of the original single: "It came out before I was born but I know Do They Know It's Christmas? to sing along to. It's a lovely song."
Matt Jay of boy-band Busted urged the group's fans to buy the single ahead of a Busted album this Christmas.
Jamelia revealed that she sings two lines alongside Pop Idol winner Will Young on the new version. She said: "I was three years old when it was first recorded and my daughter who is here now is that age. I guess she will have a few more memories of it."
R&B star Ms Dynamite said the new recording was "totally different" from its predecessors. She said: "Musically it is very now. Very current. I really like it. I'm very honoured to be part of it."
All proceeds from Band Aid 20 will go to famine relief in Africa via the Band Aid Trust. Funds will be targeted at helping victims of the famine in the Darfur region of Sudan.
The other stars who make up the Band Aid 20 line-up are: Keane, The Sugababes, Morcheeba singer Skye, Beverley Knight, jazz singer Katie Melua, Snow Patrol, former All Saint Shaznay Lewis, Rachel Stevens, The Thrills, Roisin Murphy of Moloko, Lemar, Estelle, Neil Hannon of Divine Comedy, Feeder and Rachel Stevens.
The track is produced by Nigel Godrich who is best known for his work with Radiohead. The artist Damien Hirst has designed the CD cover.
The original line-up 20 years ago included acts such as U2, Bananarama, George Michael and Duran Duran.
U2's new single Vertigo went to number one in Britain last night, knocking rapper Eminem down to third place. The single is part of the Dublin band's new album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, set for release on November 22nd.