Band Aid’s Bob Geldof Defends 'Do They Know It’s Christmas?' After Ed Sheeran Says His 'Personal Stance' on Song Has Changed

Bob Geldof stands his ground on “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

As the Irish musician and activist, 73, prepares to release a 40th anniversary edition of the holiday charity song — and faces criticism from Ed Sheeran — he not only defends the song’s legacy, but also reveals he has no plans to stop his charity work.

Last week, Sheeran, 33, claimed on social media that Band Aid had not sought his permission to use his vocals (he appeared on the 2014 version of the song) on ​​the new mix, and said that given the choice, he “would respectfully refused their use.

Explaining the decision, Sheeran said that over the past decade his “understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed”. He also signed a statement from Ghanaian-English Afrobeats musician Fuse ODG, who said he refused to participate in the 2014 Band Aid performance because he “recognized the damage the initiatives were doing to Africa”.

Ed Sheeran.

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In response, Geldof said The Sunday Times that despite the criticism leveled at the song — which he co-wrote with Midge Ure in 1984 to raise awareness and funds for famine in Ethiopia — its real-world impact takes precedence over what he called “the abstract argument of the rich world.”

“This little pop song has kept millions of people alive,” he told the British paper. “Why should Band-Aids deny food to thousands of children who depend on us?”

After explaining the work the Band Aid Charitable Trust does – it has raised more than £140 million ($176 million) for efforts ranging from health care to education – Geldof continued: “Why not continue with it? Because of the abstract argument of the rich world , regardless of its legitimacy?”

“No abstract theory, no matter how sincerely held, should prevent or distract from that horrible, concrete reality of the real world,” he told The Sunday Times. “There are 600 million hungry people in the world – 300 million are in Africa. We wish it were different, but it isn’t. We can help some of them. That’s what we’re going to continue to do.”

Bob Geldof.

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Geldof also said that in today’s “turbulent” world, “people have lost any ability to control events”, but when it comes to the work of Band Aid, “you have freedom of action.”

“And I can guarantee that your personal action here will result in a child sleeping warmer, fed that night. This is one issue where you have power,” he told the newspaper. “You can move the world a little – and I know: ‘Here he is ——- Geldof banging.’ But the instrument of this control, corny as it sounds, is this thing – this OK tune.”

Co-writer Ure, 71, also spoke with The Sunday Timesand admitted the song was “not a great song” — but echoed Geldof’s message to their critics.

“There are a lot of keyboard warriors out there, and in the time it takes them to write a scathing remark, some kid has died. They talk while we actually do something,” said Ure. “All those stars showed up that Sunday morning with a hangover, but they were there for a reason. Although it’s also possible they were just afraid of Bob.”

The group of performers who recorded the first version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ in 1984.

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New version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” plans to include vocals from recordings from 1984, 1989, 2004 and 2014, according to Billboard. It will include performances by Bono, Harry Styles (with One Direction), George Michael and more.

It is unclear if Sheeran will be featured in the final version. Following “the Bad Habits singer’s statement last week, a rep for Band Aid told PEOPLE that “Ed did not ask to be removed from the record” and “Bob [Geldof] he has since also called Ed to speak directly.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education