Bob Geldof is doubling down on his support for the re-recording of the classic charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” for the 40th anniversary.
On Tuesday, November 26, during a visit to CNN this morningthe Band Aid founder, 73, told host Kasie Hunt that he still stands by the anniversary edition of the Band Aid song, despite controversy surrounding its lyrics which have been brought back into the spotlight thanks to Ed Sheeran.
“I mean, half the virtue of this board – maybe more than half is that opinions, feelings and knowledge change, often as a result of this board, so does the debate. As does the argument,” said the founder of the charity supergroup. “And that’s part of the political process of this. So right now the debate about Africa and Britain, and hopefully the United States, will be raised.”
Geldof went on to call it “very difficult” to make an argument in the current political climate.
“So this record and its opponents raise that debate to a level. And honestly — seriously, I believe that’s an equally important part of this because then it allows us to have a cultural dialogue that again makes politicians accountable on all those points,” he said.
Bob Geldof 2020.
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Geldolf promised that the work of Band Aid will continue. “For 40 years, hundreds of thousands of people – probably millions – have survived thanks to a little pop song,” he said. “It’s a ridiculous way to run the world and it should stop. But when it doesn’t work, we’re going to keep bringing together the greatest artists of our time, putting them together and making this little song.”
Geldof wrote “Do they know it’s Christmas?” 1984 with Midge Ure about the famine in Ethiopia in an attempt to raise funds and awareness. He formed Band Aid with British and Irish musicians and has since re-recorded the song in 1989, 2004 and 2014.
The song has raised $10.1 million in aid in its first year since its release, according to Deadline. However, over time the song was criticized for being “racist and patronizing African stereotypes”.
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Sheeran, who was part of the 30th anniversary edition, claimed on November 17 that his vocals were used on the 40th anniversary edition of the song without his permission.
“My approval was not sought for this new release of Band Aid 40,” he wrote on his Instagram stories, sharing stories from Ghanaian and English afrobeat musician Fuse ODG. “If I had the choice, I would respectfully decline the use of my vocals.”
Sheeran continued: “A decade later and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed, eloquently explained by @fuseodg. This is just my personal view, hopefully looking to the future. Love for all x.”
Fuse ODG, 35, who refused to take part in the recording of the song in 2014, claimed that the song pushes racist stereotypes “that stifle Africa’s economic growth, tourism and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pride and identity.”
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Ed Sheeran 2024
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The music that moved the world
In response to Fuse ODG, Geldof said CNN to travel across Africa and Europe to lobby for “exactly what Fuse is saying”. “And then later in the middle of the downturn in 2008 – because Africa wasn’t getting any investment – I raised a $200 million investment fund,” Geldof added. “I wanted $800 million, but because of the crash I couldn’t get more.”
He then elaborated on the establishment of African investment partners and managers, noting that at one point they employed 110,000 workers in eight countries. These jobs helped 140,000 dependents, he said.
“You inject oil money into the economy and people prosper,” he continued. “We introduced labor rights, trade union rights. We structured and formulated accountability and general financial accounting. So I’m 100 percent with the argument.”
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Geldof also noticed CNN that he and Sheeran, 33, spoke and said that despite their differences, they’re “working[ed] out.”
“Ed’s a really smart man. He’s a really good guy. He’s a great artist. I called him. We talked,” he said. “We can disagree, we can agree, but we work it out. And that’s exactly what this should be.”
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Source: HIS Education