Putting together a list of all the names mentioned on Teletext, this is who's taking part in the recording:

Paul McCartney
Robbie Williams
Busted
Chris Martin [Coldplay]
Will Young
Justin Hawkins [The Darkness]
Ms Dynamite
Natasha Bedingfield
Katie Melua
Dido
Sugababes
Keane
Jamelia
Snow Patrol
Beverley Knight
Lemar
Joss Stone
Dizzee Rascal
Fran Healy [Travis]
Danny Goffey [Supergrass]
Skye Edwards [Morcheeba]
Estelle
Neil Hannon [Divine Comedy]
Feeder
Shaznay Lewis

Random comments on the list
- Will Young, but no Gareth Gates. Yet another (richly deserved) nail in his (Gates) coffin he laughably calls a singing career.
- Is this the complete list, or just the ones Teletext know about? Bono was majorly hyped to be on it singing his famous line, so where's he? It can't just be a list of artists recording in the studio today, as neither Robbie or Dido will be there either. If Bono turns out not to be on it, where did all the hype about Bono practically threatening violence on anyone who dared take it off him come from?
- I can only assume that Midge Ure and Geldof deliberately went for an across the board range of musical styles at the expense of credible, established artists. Busted, Beddingfield, Estelle, Dizzee Rascal, Lewis, Lemar, Melua? Give me strength. Actually, scrap Busted. As much as I don't like them, and as much as they shouldn't (IMHO) be on the list, they have at least had plenty of hits. How many have the other had? Maybe a handfull between them all?
- Is it really being released on Nov 27th? Way too early. It will go straight to number 1, but I can't see it staying there for four weeks with the way the pop charts are these days.

I've got a horrible feeling this will turn out to be less successful than everyone planned and hoped for.

I beleive this song is released to the media 2moz.
As my local commercial has first play on their station 2moz at 8AM

It was also on the BBC website. As for Bono's line, I heard a rumor that Robbie and Justin Hawkins were in line to take his place.

I agree with you, they are trying too hard to get ance ridden teenagers who really don't care about the cause (famine in sudan) to buy the single. And adding rap to it was a nice touch...not!

I don't think it will be that great a song, how can they possibly compare it to the original?

Just on ITV news. It looks quite good actually. I will refuse to buy it on the first week though

i just don't think you can knock people for getting involved - what would you rather - that they didn't take part?

and yes - i take your point about VB - but by that argument none of us would have any luxury items - do you really not care about people in afrrica - as evidenced by you spending money on a wholly unnecessary home pc, when you could have given the cash to charity instead?

and how do you know VB doesn't give plenty of money to charity.

its a great time to do it really - 20th anniversary, release of liveaid, and the G8 summit next year, with pressure from the conference on africa.

Iain

This record should also be seen as celebration of the Great British music we've had this year, which I believe will continue into the coming years and beyond. The Darkness, Keane, Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Dido, Joss Stone and many other good British artists who have done well this year all on one record?

I AM AMAZED- And it will be a HUGE success!

Wrong!

U2's Bono flew in late on Sunday to add his famous line "Well, tonight thank God it's them instead of you"

Source: BBC

HA! HA! HA! very funny!


It was said on GMTV this morning (by Justin Hawkins and wierd news reporter) that he(justin) recorded the line but Bono developed issues and eventually ended up recording line (at the last minute). So, at the time of my post I was right.

P.S: I do not give a cow's piss about this version.

apparently a few people have recorded it, and they're going to see which recording fits best, and use that.

personally, i think it work really well if bono sang it - so in the middle of the new version, his line would echo back to the original, which would, i think, be quite evocative.

Iain

I'd like to suggest suggest that any poster who feels in any way cynical about this release click this link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...ic/4008261.stm

yes the bit about the empty donation bucket i found most illuminating

If any artist that offered their services to Band Aid III - purely in the interests of the charity of course - but were declined for whatever reason are browsing this forum, may I make this suggestion.

Why not donate a percentage of the profits from your last/ next album.

Same here, all I could think of was the guy serving tea and how cheap those artistes really are.

sounds like its ok to have an ego this time round

http://channels.aolsvc.co.uk/news/ar...15035009990004

Bono and Justin Reach the End of the Line

The biggest problem seems to be over just who'll sing the famous line, "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you."

A feud has developed between U2 superstar Bono and glam rocker Justin Hawkins after the Darkness singer claimed his performance was better than Bono's - even though the Irish superstar sang the line in original recording in 1984.

Justin accused Bono of pulling rank on him and claimed the Dubliner was being jetted in to re-record the line to avoid him being upstaged.

But other stars said Hawkins' take on the famous line may have been judged by some as "too flippant".

Justin said: "We both recorded the same line. I did it better than him, but his management kicked up a stink and he's going to do it again.
"It means politically I'm not allowed to sing it. They may even use the original line from 20 years ago.

"If he does try to re-sing it, he has got balls of steel, I don't think I'll be given the chance to beat him again, which is fine.

"It's not an ego thing for me. But for him it's very important," added Justin modestly.

When asked about who would have the line famously sung by Bono on the original track, Midge Ure admitted there had been some discussion over it.

Ure said it was a "very Darkness version'' which "may have been perceived as a little too flippant''.

Ex-Spandau Ballet star Gary Kemp was critical of Hawkins' version, saying: "You don't want this to be a parody of the other one. That's maybe what Justin was kind of in danger of.''

Ure added: "We're very lucky that it is a great song for a great cause. I think the best thing about the Justin/Bono thing is just go out and buy it and find out for yourself.''

Apart from the spat, the recording went well and the single is said to be "taking shape" and is due to get its first airplay on Radio 1 tomorrow and the video will be screened on all five major TV channels Thursday evening.

The single, featuring a Who's Who of the pop world including Sir Paul McCartney, Jamelia and Busted among others, is set to raise millions for famine relief in Africa.

how come Bono didnt turn up when Matt Goss did his line in 1989?

so its Bono with the ego problem, not Justin?

hmmmm.....

Iain

this should not be about ego - I honestly can't take Justin seriously in anything he does - The Darkness are one big p*** take as far as I am concerned. No way should he be allowed to sing that line.

Until I watched the recent documentary on BBC3 I thought that line was crass and inappropriate, I now think differently. And Matt Goss notwithstanding the line belongs to Bono.

S.

Whats Rachel Stevens doing there, she can't sing and there are much more attractive women in the world than her - The jokes gone on for long enough now.

hmmmmm,

Joss Stone "improvising"
Dizzee rapping
Justin Hawkins screeching

Don't think I'll buy it this time around (in fact, I didn't buy it the first time, either, my sister did).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...ic/4012573.stm

They've chosen Bono's version.

I don't care how bad or good it is, as long as it sells more than the Eamon/Frankee Debacle

I heard a sinpet of this in the morning and God Knows i am not looking forward to the real thing, I just wanted to stuff one of my smelly socks down her throat.

well in this case i think its hawkins going round saying he sung it better than bono did in the original.

but i wouldnt disagree that bono has an ego problem

neither would he.