‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ Co-Writer Defends Song After Ed Sheeran Trashes It

“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” co-writer Bob Geldof is still fully on board with the song he helped create for charity with Band Aid, and doesn’t agree with criticisms he’s been hearing lately, including from performer Ed Sheeran.

The song was originally released in 1984 and has had several remakes since then, including one Sheeran collaborated on in 2014. It has raised millions of dollars for charity over the years.

The latest version called Band Aid 40, which commemorates four decades since its debut, uses previous recordings including those of Bono and Sheeran. This “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is getting backlash, however, for allegedly promoting stereotypes about African culture.

Last week, Sheeran said on social media that Band Aid never asked permission to use his vocals in the new version and that if they had, he “would have respectfully declined.”

“A decade on and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed, eloquently explained by @fuseodg. This is just my personal stance, I’m hoping it’s a forward-looking one. Love to all,” the British musician shared to Instagram Stories.

The explanation he referenced came from British-Ghanaian musician Fuse ODG who said he turned down Band Aid 30. He wrote on Stories: “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.”

Now Geldof is responding to Sheeran’s comments and overall criticism of the song. The Irish songwriter told The Sunday Times that reality is more important than an “abstract wealthy-world argument.”

“This little pop song has kept millions of people alive,” he told the outlet of the song that helped raise funds for Africans following a famine. “Why would Band Aid scrap feeding thousands of children dependent on us for a meal?”

“Why not keep doing that? Because of an abstract wealthy-world argument, regardless of its legitimacy?” Geldof continued.

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“No abstract theory, regardless of how sincerely held, should impede or distract from that hideous, concrete real-world reality,” he went on. “There are 600 million hungry people in the world — 300 million are in Africa. We wish it were other, but it is not. We can help some of them. That’s what we will continue to do.”

“And I can guarantee your personal action here will result in a kid sleeping warmer, fed that night. This is one issue in which you have power,” he said. “You get to tilt the world a fraction — and I know: ‘Here is f***ing Geldof banging on.’ But the instrument of this control, as corny as it may sound, is this thing — this OK tune.”

The song’s co-writer Midge Ure told The Sunday Times that even though he believes it’s “not a great song,” he still sees the value.

“There are many keyboard warriors out there, and in the time it takes them to write a scathing remark some child has died. They talk while we actually do something,” Ure told the outlet. “All those stars turned up on that Sunday morning with hangovers, but were there for a reason. Although it’s also possible that they were just scared of Bob.”