h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

With any luck, you'll have just seen the documentary about the making of the show on BBC1 this evening. Lots of superb material there.

Alos, is it worth mentioning that it also topped the download charts (obviously, not available for the original). How do the sales compare to the original - I know different climate and singles going out of fashion etc. but may still be interesting.
Are there any suitable quotes from commentators comparing the two efforts?

I'm afraid the tv is broken at my halls, so I didn't see the program. Is it correct that Robbie Williams and Dido were in different parts of the world to everyone else?

But I did hear the singles chart on the radio the other day, but I missed the downloads - I'll put that information in later when I have the chance.

On the charts show:

"It went to number one in 1984 for 5 weeks, selling 3.5 million copies."

......

A commentator said "Midge - congratulations"
Midge Ure said "Thanks very much - It's a fantasic feat, quite incredible.."
A commentator said "It's the fastest selling single of 2004"
Midge said "Well, I... I would expect nothing less..."

Apparently it is big in the ringtones chart. I say apparently because I heard it on TV in passing and wasn't paying attention, plus I am not 'kewl' enough to know where to find the ringtone charts

I think you need to mention the simultaneous airplay across most Radio stations at 8:00 am on the Tuesday and also the 20 stations carry the video simultaneously at 5:00 pm the same day. Surely these firsts are worthy of a mention.

To clarify, the biggest radio stations all agreed to play the record at the same time, at 8.00am on the Tuesday after the recording. The video was shown on the Thursday, at 5.00, on all five terrestrial channels as well as MTV and a few others.

Robbie Williams prerecorded his section, and Dido recorded hers from a studio in Australia. Bono recorded his in Dublin, but then surprised everyone by turning up on the day of the main recording to redo his bits. Back in 1984, he'd felt uncomfortable about the line 'Tonight thank God it's them instead of you' and had decided for the remake that he wanted to remove the roar of his voice and make it much calmer. 'Revenge is a dish best served cold', he explained, meaning that originally Band Aid was set up to see what they could do in the short term, whereas now that they know the power of music, they're all committed to the long battle to eradicate poverty.

The documentary also mentioned that Band Aid is affiliated with 'Make Poverty History', a campaign headed by Richard Curtis (who is a major part of the bi-annual Comic Relief appeals) to bring together all of the aid charities and co-ordinate the efforts.

The main music track was laid down in advance, with Paul McCartney providing the bass and Fran healey of Travis adding a guide vocal for the other singers to follow or work around.

There was a nervous party atmosphere as the artists arrived at Air Studio to record their segments. Joss Stone even joked that she couldn't remember the name of the man behind Band Aid as she kept getting him confused with 'Gandalf'. But Bob Geldof had prepared soemthing that would explain why they needed these particular people to understand how important their contribution was. With everyone crowded in a circle around a TV set, he showed them a video, footage from Ethiopia in 1984 accompanied by 'Drive' by The Cars, which had been shown during Live Aid. He noted that researchers had identified the first broadcast of the film as the 'tipping point', the moment that the phones around the world began to reach 'meltdown' because of the reaction from the audience. It's not hard to understand why as it's a harrowing film, and the artists assembled for the remake of the song were all visibly moved. Bob then hammered home just how important the first campaign was as he pointed to a starving, emaciated child in the Cars video and then introduced her - she survived thanks to the Band Aid appeal, benefitted from education programmes the foundation put togther and is now an agronomist, using her education to find solutions to the starvation that continues to kill thousands of people every day.

The message was clear - Band Aid isn't just a short-term reaction to the problem. It's a long-term effort that will change lives.

Geldof the Grey

Thanks Jimster - I've added everything you said as far as I can tell. Would you like adding to the researcher list for the entry?

That decision is generally up to the editors conscious. At least as far of the prolific writers are concerned.

Righto.

Personallymy rule of thumb is corrections or things to be added but no further info don't get added. If a researcher has written a substantive paragraph about something that requires adding I give them a shared credit.

But as I said it is entirely up to you.

Oh - it didn't change it the first time I did it. I think I made the rookie mistake of not clicking Update Entry...

Ok, I've got Jimster on the list.

Wasn't angling for a credit, but bless you!

Band Aid is a pet subject of mine; I was obsessed with it when I was a child and hope this one can change the world as much as its predecessor.

Even if they didn't invite Bananarama to take part.

It would seem that Bananarama were a pet subject of yours too...

Is there any more work that needs doing to the entry?

Hey Bananrama are ..

*gets all defensive..*

I didn't say a word against them...

Just a few things (and anyone who knows me will recognise this as being my softener for a whole load of stuff )

"This new version was not particularly popular, but the original song has been played on the radio in the UK every Christmas, and features on most Christmas song compilation albums."

Ah. Not strictly speaking true. Not that many compilations include Band Aid as to do so they'd feel morally obliged to waive their profits. And it's not really fair to say Band Aid II wasn't popular. Got to Number One (the very last number one of the 1980s).

"and everyone got together at the end to sing the line "Feed the World", with Joss Stone singing Ad Libitum over the top."

Actually, Joss's bit was recorded during the same session as her segment of the main vocals. The final session of the day for the 'choir' involved them joining in with percussion instruments like shakers or sticks while singing along to the revised 'feed the wooooooo-orld' refrain. They were also encouraged to ad lib as they felt fit (Keisha from the Sugababes commented that she and her friends were stood next to Beverley Knight - who has an amazingly loud Gospel voice - and each time Keisha thought of something to ad-lib she was drowned out by Beverley's own ad-libs.

This month's Word magazine has a lovely piece by Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy, who was ivited to the session by its producer Nigel Godrich (who really needs to be mentioned in this entry as he's done all the arrangements and ws the one fretting on the day). Hannon notes that after the video of Drive was shown: '... the room went from all beer and jollity and 'aren't we all famous' to quite serious in a couple of minutes.'

Oh, and Word also provide a complete list of the contributors, so in addition to the musicians you've listed, you can include this:

The order of the singers on the song is: Chris Martin (Coldplay), Dido, Robbie Williams, The Sugababes, Fran Healey (Travis), Bono (U2), Will Young and Jamelia, Beverley Knight and Ms Dynamite, Dizzee Rascal, Tom Chaplain, Justin Hawkins, Busted, Joss Stone and Justin Hawkins, and then the ensemble, which is:

Padraic McMahon, Kevin Horan, Daniel Ryan, Ben Carrigan, Conor Deasey (The Thrills); Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly, Mark McClelland, Jonathan Quin, Tom Simpson (Snow Patrol); Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, Ed Graham (The Darkness), Katie Melua; Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy); Skye Gordon (Morcheeba); Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley (Keane); Roisin Murphy (Moloko); Fran Healey, Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop (Travis); Nigel Godrich (producer); Bob Geldof, Grant Nicholas (Feeder), Damon Albarn; Shaznay Lewis; Midge Ure; Ms Dynamite; Joss Stone; Beverley Knight; Daniel Bedingfleld; Mutya Rose Buena. Heidi Range, Keisha Buchanan (Sugababes), Matt Jay, Charlie Simpson, James Bourne Busted); Lemar; Rachel Stevens; Estelle; Will Young; Jamelia; Natasha Bedingfield; Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian (Turin Brakes).

(This just happens to also be the order that they all appar in on the official phot, by the way).

Okay, I've put that stuff in, and I'm ready for the next batch

Come on Jimster admit you recorded that programme on Sunday night and have been rewatching it over and over. Or were you sitting there taking notes while it was on.