Singer-songwriter Bob Geldof defended the Band Aid song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” after singer Ed Sheeran distanced himself from the track’s re-release.
Geldof said that the song “allows us to have a cultural dialogue” about aid in Africa, defending it from criticisms of “white savior” rhetoric.
The original 1984 recording, which raised over $40 million for famine relief efforts, was re-released in 2014, with Sheeran contributing vocals along with several other top singers.
However, Sheeran recently distanced himself from the 40-year anniversary re-release, saying on social media: “My approval wasn’t sought on this new Band Aid 40 release and had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals.”
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Newsweek contacted a representative of Ed Sheeran for a response to the comments via email.
Sheeran also shared the thoughts of English-born, Ghana-raised musician Fuse ODG, who declined to participate in the 2014 re-release because he wanted to “recognize the harm initiatives like it inflict on Africa.”
“While they may generate sympathy and donations, they perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa’s economic growth, tourism, and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pride and identity,” Fuse ODG wrote on Instagram.
However, Geldof defended the song and said that it had grown into an important piece of political discourse.
Speaking on CNN today, Geldof said: “The virtue of this record is that as opinions and sensibilities and knowledge change, often as a result of this record, so does the debate. That’s part of the political process. So, right now the debate on Africa in Britain, and hopefully in the U.S., will be elevated. It’s very hard to get this argument into the current political climate.
“This record and its opposition bring that debate up, and I believe that’s important, because it allows us then to have a cultural dialogue which makes politicians answerable to all those points.”
Directly addressing Sheeran’s comments about the song, Geldof said that he respected the singer’s comments and that he would speak to him later about it.
“Ed is a really clever man. He’s a really good bloke, he’s a great artist. I put in the call, we’ll have a conversation,” he said. “We may disagree, we may agree, and that’s exactly what this should be about.”
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