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Bono, Sam Smith, and More Unite for ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ Reboot

Band Aid 30; Do They Know It's Christmas

For the third time since 1984, a who’s who of British pop stars past and present (well, mostly present) has been rounded up to re-record the classic ’80s charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” This time around, boy band One Direction get the opening line, Rita Ora gets the closing part, and Bono himself shows up in time to reprise his iconic, enthusiastic, “well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you!” lyric from the original though it’s since been changed to the less controversial “Tonight we’re reaching out and touching you,” which is unfortunate but possibly for the best.

The complete lineup for Band Aid 30 features Disclosure, Jessie Ware, Robert Plant, Bono, Chris Martin, Sam Smith, Queen’s Roger Taylor, Ellie Goulding, Underworld, Sinead O’Connor, Bastille, Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Elbow, Rita Ora, Paloma Faith, Clean Bandit, Olly Murs, Seal, Jimmy Napes, Emile Sandé, Anjélique Kidjo, Paloma Faith, Fuse ODG, and original “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” co-writer Midge Ure. The song and video are raising funds to fight the spread of the Ebola virus, a cause that you can donate to here. The song is also now available on iTunes as well.

Watch the rebooted “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” above, donate to help stop the spread of Ebola here, and spin the ’84 classic below:

//www.youtube.com/embed/bjQzJAKxTrE