Band Aid song controversy

[Blackpool Rock]

Caught a bit of this on the TV a couple of days ago and was truly gobsmacked, so 40 years on from the original song a new compilation release is being done combining the original and some of the previous re-releases

Ed Sheeran is on the latest song but wasn't specifically asked whether he was happy for his vocals to be used from the version he was on 10 years ago, apparently he would have said no but IMO the reasoning is pretty fucked up and twisted 

The whole Band Aid movement raised Millions and undoubtedly saved 100's of thousands if not Millions of lives plus raised awareness not just in the UK but around the world of famine and starvation happening in parts of Africa.
I remember at the time it was highlighted how big banks had lent them money and the interest rates and accrued debt was crippling them, I believe that all or a large part of this debt was cancelled as a result

A lot of this controversy appears to have originated from a British-Ghanaian rapper Fuse ODG who has criticised foreign aid in Africa, and this isn't something new as he didn't like it 40 years ago either -

In his post, Fuse ODG said he had turned down the invitation to take part in Band Aid 30 alongside Sheeran, 10 years ago.

"I refused to participate in Band Aid because I recognised the harm initiatives like it inflict on Africa," he wrote.

"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."

Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, the musician said that Do They Know It's Christmas perpetuates the idea that Africa is plagued by "famine and poverty", which is "not the truth".

When he first saw the Band Aid videos as a child, he said, the images were "so negative that I wanted to disassociate myself from being African because there was no sense of pride in it."


So hang on this collective recognition of a major event / tragedy and the subsequent effort to draw worldwide attention to it in a bid to help starving people and save Millions of lives was in fact apparently causing "Harm" to Africa and has actually resulted in costing them Trillions, Go Figure 

Apparently it's all down to Colonial Tropes -
This "ignorant and colonial attitude, external", wrote Indrajit Samarajiva in 2023, was "more about making white people feel good than helping anyone".

So it appears with hindsight that people trying to do good were actually doing harm, perhaps we should just ignore starving people and not try to help anyone in other countries, certainly not Africa for fear of being labelled racist 

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[berksboy]

What a ungrateful fool he is. If they learn to run their countries properly they would be far better off, massive corruption and incompetence does not help them.

[Watts.E.Dunn]

When i were at school in the mid sixties we were constantly being urged to support OXFAM to raise money for the poor starving in Africa, most every event was to help the starving poor in said country..

Nothing much seems to have changed does it?...

[FLYING BLUE]

It seems to me, in today's (woke & PC) world, it's getting to be impossible to do right for doing wrong.

I feel lost, & trapped in a maze of rights & wrongs, can say & can't say, can do & can't do - especially when engaging with people under the age of 40, that I actually struggle to hold a conversation with them.

The list of things that are deemed to no longer be acceptable grows day by day & I fear that I simply do not understand anymore. I am made to feel like a Philistine, a dinosaur from another age, irrelevant in this woke society.

I have twice recently, been called "racist" to my face, by people I had never met & do not know anything about my life - nor the fact that my wife was...... let's just say, 'non white' (in case I get that wrong as well) 

People seem so quick to judge these days, despite them knowing sod all about you as a person.
FB

[Ali Katt]

Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, the musician said that Do They Know It's Christmas perpetuates the idea that Africa is plagued by "famine and poverty", which is "not the truth".

The song came out 40 years ago. Africa is a very different place now. What I'm saying is we are measuring the past by today's standards; it's a bit like every few years a film from the 80s will be declared sexist or misogynistic - it's not as if they were made last week.

[RedKettle]

I can understand the point of view that they are expressing, I get it.  However personally I think as a general rule in life if people are trying to do a good thing you treat them with respect, or more simply be nice to them.  Sure if it is misguided then explain and educate so they can adapt in the future. 

Too much of this picking a fight with people who are basically good - but often as FB says above confused.  Like FB I often find myself being criticised by young people because of my outdated way of expressing things.

[timsussex]

Oh good we can cut the £13.7 billion in foreign aid and restore pensioners winter fuel allowance or perhaps we should send Sheeran to Cop29 - its on now - to tell the Africans that their request for help with climate change must be due to our outdated view of Africa and while there perhaps he can enquire how many of the leaders ancestors were slave traders ?

sorry this thread is highly political and I know I haven't helped but it really does piss me off to here highly  privileged people criticise good deeds

[lewisjones23]

Africa always has and always will be fucked, well since humans have dominated the planet anyway

The whole mentality is to just take take take, no real interest in becoming capable of standing on their own two feet.

How much charity has been poured in? decades later the continent as a whole is still a mess.

Any predictions to what it'll be like in another 40 years?

[RedKettle]

Africa always has and always will be fucked, well since humans have dominated the planet anyway

The whole mentality is to just take take take, no real interest in becoming capable of standing on their own two feet.

How much charity has been poured in? decades later the continent as a whole is still a mess.

Any predictions to what it'll be like in another 40 years?

That is an incredibly narrow, and totally wrong view of the continent.   You might want to look into the colonial powers and what they have over the years taken from Africa and the mess that they have often created.

[lewisjones23]

That is an incredibly narrow, and totally wrong view of the continent.   You might want to look into the colonial powers and what they have over the years taken from Africa and the mess that they have often created.

I'm willing to bet everything I own that in another 40 years and trillions of dollars later, Africa as a whole will still be a basket case.

Since colonial powers pulled out the place has gone to shit, the continent just hasn't got it in them to avoid coruption and lining their own pockets

[cunnyhunt]

Many African countries are finding that it’s not the old colonial countries who are taking natural resources and leaving them with debt but China.

[akauya]

If Fuse ODG were to see this thread he'd probably think he's been proved right!

[mills_and_bhuna]

That is an incredibly narrow, and totally wrong view of the continent.   You might want to look into the colonial powers and what they have over the years taken from Africa and the mess that they have often created.

Fucksake.
I agree.

[mills_and_bhuna]

Just looked at some of these replies.
Old attitudes die hard.
This colonial mindset is proving it still has legs.

[berksboy]

I have a lot of black friends from Zimbabwe and they say with the benefits of hindsight and over 40 years experience of black majority rule they would go back to white minority rule. Sad yes , probably not PC or liked by the left but true. The same is probably true for SA. Its a crying shame as both have  huge potential and are full of wonderful gifted people who deserve so much more then their current corrupt incompetent leaders are delivering.

[RedKettle]

I'm willing to bet everything I own that in another 40 years and trillions of dollars later, Africa as a whole will still be a basket case.

Since colonial powers pulled out the place has gone to shit, the continent just hasn't got it in them to avoid coruption and lining their own pockets

You see no link to how the continent is now and the influence of the various colonial powers?

[lostandfound]

Interesting thread but it seems to be all about politics?

[myothernameis]

Interesting thread but it seems to be all about politics?

Agree we should just be talking about the release of, Do they Know its Xmas, and nothing else

[LanceVance]

The song came out 40 years ago. Africa is a very different place now. What I'm saying is we are measuring the past by today's standards; it's a bit like every few years a film from the 80s will be declared sexist or misogynistic - it's not as if they were made last week.

This is basically it. Band Aid emerged in response to a very real emergency - the Ethiopian Famine - and it it did do good in raising money for much needed aid at the time. But as Ali says, Africa is a different and varied place, not just one part of it from 40 years ago, so relying on old stereotypes to talk about aid when the discussion should be about trade, investment and its growing middle-class isn't helpful.

That said, I blame the charity sector as a whole rather than Band Aid itself, they are happy to trot tired images of starving kids with flies around their mouths because that pulls in the cash, but all it does is push those same stereotypes while feeding fatigue (why donate if nothing changes?), those "charities" which are more like companies should spend more time showing the lasting good the donations do rather than being cynics.

[lewisjones23]

You see no link to how the continent is now and the influence of the various colonial powers?

Should they not have sorted themselves out by now?

[bigden40]

You see no link to how the continent is now and the influence of the various colonial powers?

I see a bigger influence from the corrupt old men that have ruled and stolen from those countries for decades.  And I see a bigger influence from the communism that infected many of those countries in the post colonial period.

[berksboy]

Got to say both lewis  and bigden make very good points , they have run their own countries for decades now , so their current poor state is 100% on them.

[RedKettle]

I will stop now given the concerns raised over being political but there is a breathtaking ignorance about the history of Africa and the various influences, including colonial rule, that have substantially shaped it and the problems we see today. Following this thread I now have rather more sympathy for the views expressed by artists not wanting to be involved!

Bye

 

[Trumpet]

I always found the lyrics very odd  “ there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas”, seeing as it’s the middle of the summer it’s highly unlikely.
Having said that, Kili has a permanent snow cap.
I wonder if the people helped care more about the “image it portrays” or the aid it delivers ?

[RandomGuy99]

BBC News - Band Aid star defends song as megamix is released
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[Jumping Jack Flash]

I always found the lyrics very odd  “ there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas”, seeing as it’s the middle of the summer it’s highly unlikely.
Having said that, Kili has a permanent snow cap.
I wonder if the people helped care more about the “image it portrays” or the aid it delivers ?

It’s a pop song and a Christmas one too….why do the lyrics have to make sense?

[Blackpool Rock]

It’s a pop song and a Christmas one too….why do the lyrics have to make sense?

Yeah some people now seem to be dissecting every word and quoting them literally to pick holes, saw Fuse ODG yesterday putting his point over but personally I didn't think he did a very good job, it wasn't a rant but only one step away from it 

Things like feeling ashamed and embarrassed to be African due to the images shown and the portrayal that it was all of Africa that was like this.
At no point did I ever think that all of Africa was drought stricken and had people dying of famine, did anyone else 

I bet that Geldof & Co would never have guessed they would be slated and cancelled for their actions 40 years on 
Something is very wrong with our society when this shit can happen 

Sad and ironic when someone like Fuse ODG effectively agrees with a racists views I heard back in 84 when he said "Why should we help them out, I'd just let the fuckers die"   

[jackdaw]

It’s a pop song and a Christmas one too….why do the lyrics have to make sense?

But maybe best to avoid lyrics that may well come over as patronising.

“Do they know it’s Christmas?” maybe doesn’t really come over well in a country that has been Christian since 325AD, at which point our own country wasn’t.

In general I find the whole issue of how charities are organised as very complex. Certainly many charities seem to supply very good livings to their own management and employees.

[Blackpool Rock]

But maybe best to avoid lyrics that may well come over as patronising.

“Do they know it’s Christmas?” maybe doesn’t really come over well in a country that has been Christian since 325AD, at which point our own country wasn’t.

In general I find the whole issue of how charities are organised as very complex. Certainly many charities seem to supply very good livings to their own management and employees.

But who would / could have known that in 40 years time people would be analysing every word and choosing to pick holes in them, unthinkable that people would be trying to cancel Geldof and everyone else for their humanitarian work and saving lives / making Millions of lives better.

It was a Christmas record and played on the heart strings, basically saying to people you are about to enjoy Christmas with family & friends but please think of others who are fighting for survival and actually do something to help them.
Anyone who thinks that was patronising needs to take a look at themselves in the mirror 

I'm wondering what other kind of fucked up thinking we may have in another 40 years 
Perhaps slave traders like Edward Colston will come back in favour for providing future generations of slaves "opportunities" 
Seriously nothing would surprise me these days 

[RandomGuy99]

"Tony Hadley, who sang on the original 1984 single, told BBC Radio 2: "I think they [critics like Sheeran] should shut up, to be honest."

Hadley added: "If you take that route, then nobody does anything to help anybody. So it's just nonsense...

"Everybody's doing their bit to try and support various charities and we were doing our bit, innocently, to support what was happening in Ethiopia... So what do we do? Do we sit back and do nothing?""


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[Blackpool Rock]

"Tony Hadley, who sang on the original 1984 single, told BBC Radio 2: "I think they [critics like Sheeran] should shut up, to be honest."

Hadley added: "If you take that route, then nobody does anything to help anybody. So it's just nonsense...

"Everybody's doing their bit to try and support various charities and we were doing our bit, innocently, to support what was happening in Ethiopia... So what do we do? Do we sit back and do nothing?""


Hidden Image/Members Only

Yeah I saw that and i'm glad those who took part 40 years ago and hold the whole thing so close to themselves are actually standing up and effectively telling pricks like Fuse that he's talking shit rather than just appeasing things 

Geldof & Co would be classed as "Woke" by many but they appear to be getting "Out Woked" by the younger and slightly younger generation 

Will woke eat itself eventually 

[chrishornx]

I always found the lyrics very odd  “ there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas”, seeing as it’s the middle of the summer it’s highly unlikely.
Having said that, Kili has a permanent snow cap.
I wonder if the people helped care more about the “image it portrays” or the aid it delivers ?

the coldest month in Ethiopia ids december and with mountains nearly 15,000 ft high there is most certainly snow

[Stevelondon]

Great post BR.

40 years ago I was listening to the record and watching the concert etc.
Great idea, let’s face it. Doing something good for people in need can only be a GOOD THING surely.

The sad thing is the bottomless pit that is the continent of Africa. Never changes and I doubt it ever will.

Bob and Midge can spout on all they want (morning telly today) I’m being sarcastic when I think it probably just keeps them in the spotlight 🤷🏼

The money raised by this new record release and the monies raised over the last forty years. Is a pittance and I don’t agree with what the two of them said. It has changed fuck all.
Because most of these countries being helped can’t change for the better or they don’t want too.
They spoke of £480-£500 million being raised. It’s absolutely nothing. Hundreds of billions could be given in aid and you would need to supply that every month if any REAL help or change could be made. I seriously doubt it would make a difference.

I recall the money being given to Nigeria years ago…………. The government bought a fleet of Mercedes cars with a lot of it.

So my views on pop stars churning out re-releases and sending a few Bob to another country. Has changed over the years.

[Stevelondon]

But maybe best to avoid lyrics that may well come over as patronising.

“Do they know it’s Christmas?” maybe doesn’t really come over well in a country that has been Christian since 325AD, at which point our own country wasn’t.

In general I find the whole issue of how charities are organised as very complex. Certainly many charities seem to supply very good livings to their own management and employees.

Like you jackdaw, I’ve always had a problem with this. I think it’s the very words being used. Charity, charitable etc.
you read and see the good work being done by these organisations. Then hear of the CEO being paid a salary of a quarter of a million pound a year.
But of course that CEO probably gives to charity 🤷🏼😂

[Ali Katt]

Am I the only one who doesn't like the song? A song emblematic of everything wrong with 80s music - too much cocaine, too many egos, overproduced and lyrically vacuous. The artists featured were largely a who's who of people with their best musical output long behind them with the exceptions of George Michael, U2, Phil Collins and possibly Boy George.

[jackdaw]

Like you jackdaw, I’ve always had a problem with this. I think it’s the very words being used. Charity, charitable etc.
you read and see the good work being done by these organisations. Then hear of the CEO being paid a salary of a quarter of a million pound a year.
But of course that CEO probably gives to charity 🤷🏼😂

Like most of is I've been aware that many charity CEO's take very high salaries.

What has surprised me is how lucrative it can be to be a middle ranking field relief worker. Read an article about finances of one such a couple of months ago..they were getting 120k a year, tax free..this was some one with 5 years field expenses in various disaster areas. Not really senior in the charity concerned.

Should it have surprised me? Probably not...because a mate worked for UN at a fairly junior level, and pay was very good.

[lewisjones23]

Most charities are not serving their original purpose now, they are now mostly businesses, with people lining their own pockets at every level.

I understand that once a charity reaches a certain level, they need people with certain skills to run it, which comes at a cost .....

I think every charity should be required to legally declare in a clear place what % of funds raised/received is actually spent on the charity's purpose, not just hidden in annual reports or wherever (Not sure if this already happens and cba looking it up)

[RandomGuy99]

Great post BR.

40 years ago I was listening to the record and watching the concert etc.
Great idea, let’s face it. Doing something good for people in need can only be a GOOD THING surely.

The sad thing is the bottomless pit that is the continent of Africa. Never changes and I doubt it ever will.

Bob and Midge can spout on all they want (morning telly today) I’m being sarcastic when I think it probably just keeps them in the spotlight 🤷🏼

The money raised by this new record release and the monies raised over the last forty years. Is a pittance and I don’t agree with what the two of them said. It has changed fuck all.
Because most of these countries being helped can’t change for the better or they don’t want too.
They spoke of £480-£500 million being raised. It’s absolutely nothing. Hundreds of billions could be given in aid and you would need to supply that every month if any REAL help or change could be made. I seriously doubt it would make a difference.

I recall the money being given to Nigeria years ago…………. The government bought a fleet of Mercedes cars with a lot of it.

So my views on pop stars churning out re-releases and sending a few Bob to another country. Has changed over the years.

They said on the TV last night that £150M was raised by the song. If they don't want that money then can always give it back and it can go to Ukraine instead.  We need a charity song to raise money for Ukraine's children and the other people. Winter under war conditions is going to he hard. Power outages resulting in heating and water outages. We need to keep Ukraine on the agenda.

[Stevelondon]

They said on the TV last night that £150M was raised by the song. If they don't want that money then can always give it back and it can go to Ukraine instead.  We need a charity song to raise money for Ukraine's children and the other people. Winter under war conditions is going to he hard. Power outages resulting in heating and water outages. We need to keep Ukraine on the agenda.

Yes I’d agree with that.

[akauya]

The song came out 40 years ago. Africa is a very different place now. What I'm saying is we are measuring the past by today's standards; it's a bit like every few years a film from the 80s will be declared sexist or misogynistic - it's not as if they were made last week.

Would you say the same thing to jews? For example What do you think would happen if on Holocaust Remembrance Day you were to say...

"The holocaust happen 79 years ago. The world is a very different place now. What I'm saying is we are measuring the past by today's standards; it's a bit like every few years a film from the 80s will be declared sexist or misogynistic - it's not as if the Germans were killing jews last week."

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On a side note...

Someone questions Poverty Porn and the immediate non sequiturs follow:

What a ungrateful fool he is.

Africa always has and always will be fucked, well since humans have dominated the planet anyway
The whole mentality is to just take take take

If they don't want that money then can always give it back and it can go to Ukraine instead.

This is like someone saying "I like the colour blue" and everyone else starts shouting at them "Why do you hate red so much!"

 

[Ali Katt]

Would you say the same thing to jews? For example What do you think would happen if on Holocaust Remembrance Day you were to say...

"The holocaust happen 79 years ago. The world is a very different place now. What I'm saying is we are measuring the past by today's standards; it's a bit like every few years a film from the 80s will be declared sexist or misogynistic - it's not as if the Germans were killing jews last week."

-----


On a side note...

Someone questions Poverty Porn and the immediate non sequiturs follow:

This is like someone saying "I like the colour blue" and everyone else starts shouting at them "Why do you hate red so much!"

 

Wind up attempt aside the obvious difference is the holocaust and WWI are historic tragedies. Band Aid is a bookmark in pop culture.

[PepeMAGA]

Would you say the same thing to jews? For example What do you think would happen if on Holocaust Remembrance Day you were to say...

"The holocaust happen 79 years ago. The world is a very different place now. What I'm saying is we are measuring the past by today's standards; it's a bit like every few years a film from the 80s will be declared sexist or misogynistic - it's not as if the Germans were killing jews last week."

-----


On a side note...

Someone questions Poverty Porn and the immediate non sequiturs follow:

This is like someone saying "I like the colour blue" and everyone else starts shouting at them "Why do you hate red so much!"

 

Because obviously everyone was behind the Holocaust in the 40s and it's only now people think it might have been a bit wrong....