Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid couldn’t contain her laughter on Tuesday’s programme. The mirth came as the hosts discussed Ed Sheeran’s recent revelation that he would have turned down his vocals being used in the upcoming 40th-anniversary re-release of Band-Aid’s iconic track.
Susanna brought up Bob Geldof’s forthright views, prompting Richard Madeley to say: “He’s been very trenchant, we can’t repeat them, but he’s basically said, ‘if this is patronising colonial my backside’. Except he didn’t say backside, it rhymes with farts.”
His ITV colleague was immediately tickled by Richard’s words, quipping: “I’m not sure we avoided the Ofcom ruling on that one!” They then set the stage for a later debate on whether it’s time to retire Band Aid altogether, noting Sheeran’s acknowledgement that the song and its charity narrative need re-evaluation. Susanna continued: “He’s shared a message from his friend, the musician, Fuse ODG who says, ‘Band Aid perpetuates damaging stereotypes'”.
Later, Fuse ODG was slated to join the conversation with Richard and Susanna to delve deeper into his perspective. The original Band Aid single, Do They Know It’s Christmas, launched in 1984 featuring stars like Phil Collins, Boy George, David Bowie, and George Michael, aimed at supporting famine relief efforts in Ethiopia.
The song has since been remade twice, in 2004 and 2014, reports the Mirror.
With the 40th anniversary of Band Aid approaching, a revamped version of the charity song was revealed, combining elements from previous versions. Sheeran, who contributed to the 2014 edition, shared his reservations on social media.
Sheeran stated: “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.
“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 x.”
However, Geldof, the mastermind behind the iconic track, fired back at critics, defending the song’s impact. He argued: “This little pop song has kept hundreds of thousands if not millions of people alive,” according to the BBC.
Sir Bob continued: “In fact, just today Band Aid has given hundreds of thousands of pounds to help those running from the mass slaughter in Sudan and enough cash to feed a further 8,000 children in the same affected areas of Ethiopia as 1984.”
He emphasised that the charity’s efforts have made a tangible difference, stating: “Those exhausted women who weren’t raped and killed and their panicked children and any male over 10 who survived the massacres and those 8,000 Tigrayan children will sleep safer, warmer, and cared for tonight because of that miraculous little record.”
Dismissing criticism of the song’s perceived “colonial tropes,” Sir Bob retorted: “We wish that it were other, but it isn’t. ‘Colonial tropes’, my a**e.”
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