A man shows students a poster on the symptoms of Ebola during a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Ebola awareness drive in Gueupleu, Man, western Ivory Coast November 3, 2014.
A man shows students a poster on the symptoms of Ebola during a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Ebola awareness drive in Gueupleu, Man, western Ivory Coast November 3, 2014. Reuters/Thierry Gouegnon

Bob Geldof’s British charity organization called Band Aid 30 released a remake of the 1984 charity song “Do They Know Its Christmas?” on Nov. 17. In a matter of minutes, the remake raised $1.5 million, which will be donated to Ebola relief efforts.

While it is currently number 49 on RealiTunes, the song became the fastest-selling single in the United Kingdom in 2014 and is currently number one in the U.K. Official Charts.

Formerly known as Band Aid, Band Aid 30 has outdone the Band Aid 20’s 2004 version that sold 297,000 in its first week. In December, a physical version of the latest rendition will be released.

Among the artists who were featured in the track pro bono are One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Chris Martin, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sande, Bastille and Bono.

In order to focus on the Ebola outbreak in West African countries, the lyrics of the song have been altered.

The new “Do They Know Its Christmas?” version the track sold 312,000 copies in its first week without physical sales or streaming. It has achieved the biggest one-week sales since the release of “X Factor” alum James Arthur’s “Impossible,” which was bought by 489,000 in 2012.

Despite the “Do They Know Its Christmas?” success, some critics are condemning the charity song for perpetrating stereotypes.

Watch the viral Band Aid 30’s the “Do They Know Its Christmas?” video here:

Credits: YouTube/BandAidVEVO