<p id="story_continues_1" class="introduction">Band Aid
30's Do They Know It's Christmas? topped the
charts at number one in the UK yesterday, selling over 312,000
copies last week.
The achievement makes the charity single 2014's fastest-selling single so far.
Organiser Sir Bob Geldof said he was "so proud" of how well the single has sold in aid of Ebola, also topping the charts in France and 61 other countries.
"I expected it, but did I expect it in such vast and willing numbers? No," Sir Bob said on BBC Radio 1.
Among the stars singing on the track are Bastille, Sam Smith, Rita Ora, Bono, Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Emile Sande and Ellie Goulding.
Watch the new Band Aid 30 song here...
When the celebrities arrived for the Band Aid 30 performance on Saturday, we were expecting to see Adele arrive to sing her bit in the new charity single. But she was a no-show, and we had no idea why.
"Some people just don't want to do it," Geldof told The Sun. "Adele is doing nothing, she's not answering the phone... she's not writing. She's not recording. She doesn't want to be bothered by anyone. She won't pick up the phone to her manager. She's bringing up a family, you know."
And there's nothing wrong with that, Sir Bob.
Well, now a spokesperson for Adele has denied that the singer was ever booked to appear on the Band Aid 30 single.
Contacted by the newspaper, a spokesperson for Adele maintained that the singer should never have been listed as a participant in the project. "Bob and the organisers spoke directly with [Adele's] management but at no point was she confirmed," they said.
Yikes! We see Adele's point - imagine how miffed you'd be if everyone thought you shunned singing one line of a charity single, especially when you'd never even signed up in the first place. But like Sir Bob said, it's not about the song.
"It really doesn't matter if you don't like this song," Sir Bob said. "It doesn't matter if you hate the artists. What matters is that you buy the record."
The song is available to download NOW, costing 99p. A CD version will be released in three weeks, costing £4.
During last night's X Factor, the Band Aid 30 Christmas song was unveiled, showing performers including One Direction, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding and Ed Sheeran singing the reworked Do They Know It's Christmas?
The cover of the 1984 song is being sold to raise money to tackle Ebola and was only filmed on Saturday.
Organiser Sir Bob Geldof, who was also behind the 1984 original, said: "I explained the situation in West Africa, I explained what the UN were saying, explained what we could do, and just geed them up."
Sir Bob described the new recording as a "little bit of pop history".
He said the video - which began with shots of victims of Ebola - was "harrowing and not meant for an entertainment show" but was something the X Factor audience should see.
Other artists taking part included Emeli Sande, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, Chris Martin, Elbow, Seal, Jessie Ware, Fuse ODG, Sinead O'Connor, Angelique Kidjo, Olly Murs, Paloma Faith, Queen drummer Roger Taylor, Clean Bandit and Foals.
Bono, who featured on the original 1984 version, was also involved, as were YouTube video stars Zoella, Alfie Deyes and Joe Sugg.
The song is available to download NOW, costing 99p. A CD version will be released in three weeks, costing £4.
Watch the recording of Band Aid 30 here...
Band Aid 30 lyrics
It's Christmas time, and there's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and banish shade
And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time
But say a prayer, pray for the other ones
At Christmas time, it's hard but while you're having fun
There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear
Where a kiss of love can kill you, and there's death in every tear
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight we're reaching out and touching you
No peace and joy this Christmas in West Africa
The only hope they'll have is being alive
Where to comfort is to fear
Where to touch is to be scared
How can they know it's Christmas time at all
Here's to you
Raise a glass to everyone
And here's to them
And all their years to come
Let them know it's Christmas time after all
Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time again
Feel the world, let them know it's Christmas time again
Heal the world, let them know it's Christmas time again
Sir Bob Geldof will be bringing together some of the world's biggest artists this Saturday to record the new Band Aid Ebola charity single.
So far Adele, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and One Direction have all come on board to sing an updated version of Do They Know It's Christmas. Scroll down to see more of the confirmed names for Band Aid 30.
According to reports, the song will have altered lyrics to reflect the health crises in Africa.
At a press conference in London, Sir Bob Geldof said:
"It really doesn't matter if you hate this song or you don't like this song, you have to buy this thing.
"The sleeve will be a unique artwork by Tracey Emin. I really urge everyone. Don't download it, don't look at it on YouTube, it's a couple of quid. It's a great thing to do at Christmas.
"I spoke to Quincy Jones two weeks ago, he will reconvene the American artists."
"I don't like doing this stuff, it's quite embarrassing calling people you don't know, but it was that more than anything else that those people needed to be supported across the board, not just the people suffering from this filthy little virus."
So far the confirmed names involved include:
Coldplay
Ed Sheeran
One Direction
David Bowie
Sam Smith
Emeli Sande
Adele
Paloma Faith
Ellie Goulding
Bono
Jessie Ware
Olly Murs
Florence Welch
Elbow
Sinead O'Connor
Ben Howard
Underworld
Foals
Fuse ODG
Bastille
Bob Geldof
Bob revealed that he really wanted Rita Ora to take part but the BBC wouldn't let her have time off from The Voice.
The charity single will be released on 17 November and will cost just 99p to download, it will cost £4 to buy on CD and it won't be on Spotify until January.
It has not been revealed who will sing the opening line, the bookies reckon it'll be Chris Martin at the start of the track with Sheeran and One Direction next up to take the mic at 4/1 and 5/1 respectively.
But what we really want to know is will the fist clenching and quite frankly iconic "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you" line still make the cut? Let's hope so, and if it does Paddy is offering 6/1 that Adele will get the honour of bringing that line home.
Who would you like to have the honour?
