Bob Geldof has defended his Band Aid charity single amid recent criticism.
This comes after a new 40th anniversary version of the charity hit, ‘Do They Know Its Christmas?’ was released, a remix featuring voices of artists that had contributed to previous editions, including Harry Styles, Bono and the late George Michael.
The latest version of the single faced recent criticism, after singer Ed Sheeran had claimed that he was not asked for permission to reuse his vocals on this edition.
Sheeran who sang on the Band Aid 30 edition in 2014, recently revealed that he would have “respectfully” declined the request, if he had been asked.
Citing a post from British-Ghanian rapper Fuse ODG, Ed Sheeran said that “a decade on and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed”.
“kept millions of people alive”
In response to this recent criticism, Bob Geldof stoutly defended the Band Aid charity Christmas single.
“This little pop song has kept millions of people alive”, he said. “Why would Band Aid scrap feeding thousands of children dependent on us for a meal?”.
Geldof continued: “Why not keep doing that? Because of an abstract wealthy-world argument, regardless of its legitimacy?”.
“No abstract theory regardless of how sincerely held should impede or distract from that hideous, concrete real-world reality”.
“There are 600 million hungry people in the world – 300 million are in Africa. We wish it were other, but it is not”, he added. “We can help some of them. That’s what we will continue to do”.
“febrile world”
Speaking about the initial success of the track, Bob Geldof had this to say.
“For us to top the charts, we sold 620,000 copies”, he stated. “Will this new version make anything like that one? No, because there are no f****** record shops. If we have 620,000 hits on Spotify, what will that make? Literally a quid?”.
While feeling like it is now a “febrile world”, Geldof still does not feel like he is not fighting a losing battle when it comes to seeking help.
“I can guarantee your personal action here will result in a kid sleeping warmer, fed that night,” he said.
“This is one issue in which you have power. You get to tilt the world a fraction – and I know: ‘Here is f****** Geldof banging on'”, he added. “But the instrument of this control, as corny as it may sound, is this thing – this OK tune”.
Do They Know It’s Christmas? – 2024 Ultimate Mix will be physically released on CD and vinyl on Friday (November 29).
It has already premiered on radio and streaming services, including across over 30 radio stations across Ireland.
