"It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid..."

Who can forget the booming introduction, bells and sombre lyrics of Do They Know It's Christmas?

Sir Bob Geldof's chart-dominating charity single is back, with the fourth version of the song, recorded to mark the 30th anniversary of Band Aid, unveiled on the X Factor last night.

Look: Celebs come together to record Band Aid 30 single

 

The Band Aid 30 single will raise money to help tackle the Ebola crisis and the original lyrics have been tweaked to reflect the devastation the deadly disease has wreaked across West Africa.

The tweaked Band Aid 30 single lyrics
The tweaked Band Aid 30 single lyrics

Celebrities including Ellie Goulding, One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, Sam Smith, the Bastille Boys and Seal are all featured on the new version.

U2 frontman Bono, who was on the original recording and featured in Band Aid 20 in 2004, returned to record his usual line before the bridge — only in this version, he sings: "Well tonight we're reaching out and touching you."

Sir Bob Geldof hopes Do They Know It's Christmas will once more top the Christmas charts to raise money to fight the outbreak of the disease. VAT has been waived on the single by the government, meaning every penny made will go to fight Ebola.

The Band Aid single was first released in 1984, written by Bob Geldof and Ultravox's Midge Ure after they were shocked by reports of the 1983-1985 famine in Ethiopia. It was number one for five weeks, raising millions for charity.

In 1989, the song was re-recorded by different pop stars, and again topped the charts. Then in 2004, Band Aid 20 marked the 20th anniversary of the charity single with a new version.

There's been a lot of celebrities involved, and a lot of money raised, but which version of Do They Know It's Christmas is king of the charity singles?

Is the original still the best or do you prefer modern recordings?

Here's a breakdown of all four releases — refresh your memory then vote for your favourite

Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid, 1984

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Celebrities: Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Paul Young, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, The Boomtown Rats, Culture Club, George Michael, Kool and the Gang, Sting, Bono and Adam Clayton of U2, Holly of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware (Heaven 17), Phil Collins, Paul Weller, Status Quo, Bananarama, Jody Watley of Shalamar.

Chart success: Number one for five weeks, including Christmas number one, and the biggest selling-single in UK singles chart history (until it lost its crown to Elton John's Candle in the Wind in 1997).

Sales: 3.7m - raising £8m for famine relief in Ethiopia

Strengths: It's the original single, the video is an eighties nostalgia-fest and it's the version we're the most familiar with.

Weaknesses: Everyone has heard it what feels like a billion times since 1984.

Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid II, 1989

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Celebrities: Bananarama, Big Fun, Bros, Cathy Dennis, D Mob, Jason Donovan, Kevin Godley, Glen Goldsmith, Kylie Minogue, Pasadenas, Chris Rea, Cliff Richard, Jimmy Somervilla, Sonia, Lisa Stansfield, Technotronic, Wet Wet Wet.

Chart success: Three weeks at number one, including Christmas number one - and the final number one of the 1980s.

Sales:  Advanced sales of the record were over 500,000 — it was the ninth biggest selling record of 1989.

Strengths: The whole thing was put together in just two days — pop stars were willing to drop everything to go to the studio.

Weaknesses: Despite good intentions, the line-up pales in comparison to the 1984 version and the recording did not share the same success as its predecessor.

Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid 20, 2004

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Celebrities: Daniel Bedingfield, Natasha Bedingfield, Bono, Busted, Chris Martin, Dido, Dizzee Rascal, Ms Dynamite, Skye Edwards of Morcheeba, Estelle, Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy, Justin Hawkins, Jamiela, Keane, Beverley Knight, Lemar, All Saints' Shaznay Lewis, Katie Melua, Moloko's Roisin Murphy, Feeder, Snow Patrol, Rachel Stevens, Joss Stone, the Sugababes, The Thrills, Turin Brakes, Robbie Williams, Will Young, Travis' Fran Healy, Supergrass drummer Danny Goffey, Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, Paul McCartney. Damon Albarn was also involved — he didn't sing on the record, but instead spent the day making everyone cups of tea!

Chart success: Four weeks at number one, including Christmas number one, and the biggest selling single of 2004.

Sales: More than 600,000 copies in three weeks.

Strengths: Look at that line-up — how did they all fit in the studio! The 2004 release also featured some rapped lines by Dizzee Rascal and guitar solos from The Darkness.

Weaknesses: The record was criticised for using the same 20-year-old template, instead of writing something original.

Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid 30, 2014

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Celebrities: Angelique Kidjo, Bastille, Bono, Clean Bandit, Disclosure, Elbow, Paloma Faith, Fuse ODG, Ellie Goulding, Chris Martin, Olly Murs, Seal, Sinead O'Connor, Rita Ora, One Direction, Emili Sande, Ed Sheeran,  Sam Smith, Roger Taylor (Queen) Underworld, Jessie Ware.

Chart success: TBC

Sales: Only time will tell —but pre-sales have already hit the £1 million mark.

Strengths: A cool, slick single cover designed by Tracey Emin, the diversity of the artists involved, the fact that Bono just can't resist coming back to sing his line. Every time.

Weaknesses: It's 30 years since the original single — with all that musical talent in one room, couldn't a new song have been written?  Plus, when you compare the line-up to 2004's musical cast, there doesn't seem to be as many big names.

Which version of Do They Know It's Christmas deserves the charity single crown?

Vote in our poll below

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Which version of Do They Know It's Christmas is the best?