Eight years after he died of dilated cardiomyopathy, George Michael will posthumously join in on Band Aid’s 40th Anniversary version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” He will be joined by the likes of Harry Styles, Seal, Cold Play’s Chris Martin, Rita Ora, and more.
The special remake will double as an attempt at redeeming Band Aid, after the criticism they received for their last single. Like the original track, which helped raise money for underprivileged children in Ethiopia, proceeds from the upcoming release will also go to charity.
Fans anticipate George Michael’s voice from beyond the grave on the 40th anniversary of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’
Fans of George look forward to reliving his vocals in the upcoming release, which they also consider a tribute since he died on Christmas day. “My top 3 are Little Drummer Boy, Do They Know Its Christmas by Bandaid, and Last Christmas by George Michael. I’m an 80’s girl!” a fan of the late singer posted, sharing her favorite holiday jams.
There has been continued controversy surrounding “Do They Know Its Christmas,” as some consider it an insult to the less privileged. Regardless, the rendition has raised more than $250 million since its inception for African feeding and healthcare initiatives.
The new track titled “2024 Ultimate Mix” which is co-produced by Grace Jones and Trevor Horn, will be available for streaming from November 25. The music video directed by Oliver Murray will also follow, showing snippets from previous versions. Sir Peter Blake, who created the original’s sleeve is behind the cover art of the CD and Vinyl version.
Among the lineup is a new documentary titled The Making of Do They Know It’s Christmas, which discusses how the song was created in a day. Reports say it will show on BBC 4 on November 29, when the limited CDs and Vinyls will be available for purchase.