Stars including One Direction, Emeli Sande, Rita Ora and Ed Sheeran have gone into the studio to record a new version of the Band Aid charity single.
Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, Chris Martin and Bono will also sing on the reworked Do They Know It’s Christmas?
Funds raised by the new recording will go towards the fight against Ebola.
The new song will get its first play on ITV’s X Factor results show on Sunday.
Geldof told reporters the UK government had agreed to waive VAT on the single. WENN
The new lyrics for Band Aid 30 have been revealed.
While the tune is almost identical to the original, there are a few subtle changes to link it to the Ebola crisis in Africa this year.
A new line reads: “Where a kiss of love can kill you – And there’s death at every tear.”
Another adds: “Well tonight we’re reaching out, and touching you.”
It goes on: “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.”
Read the full song lyrics here:
“I’ve just spoken to the Chancellor George Osborne and he’s said we can have all the VAT back on the record,” Geldof said outside the studio on Saturday.
“So 100% of any income from this record, no tax whatsoever. If the government is prepared to do that, then come Monday at 08:00 when every station plays this track across the nation, buy this thing. Don’t go looking for it free. Buy it.”
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Other artists taking part include Elbow, Disclosure, Seal, Jessie Ware, Fuse ODG, Sinead O’Connor, Angelique Kidjo, Olly Murs, Underworld, Paloma Faith, Queen drummer Roger Taylor, Clean Bandit and Foals.
Saturday’s recording session is taking place at the Sarm studios in west London, the same venue where stars such as Wham!, Duran Duran, Sting and Status Quo recorded the original.
That single raised £8m for famine relief in 1984. This time, the lyrics have been rewritten.
Instead of the line “Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears”, the new version will have the line “Where a kiss of love can kill you and there’s death in every tear”.
Bono’s famous line “Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” has been changed to “Well tonight we’re reaching out and touching you”.
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