The Pop Corporation

There’s going to be a new version of Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ out this year and y’know, it’s a song that’s done a lot of good, even if it isn’t a perfect thing. There’s a lot to be said about it, the narrative of the lyrics, how much good is has actually done, the negatives that come with it. Things, obviously, are thorny, always.

Ed Sheeran has said that he’d prefer it if his voice wasn’t on this new version – made up of many of the different versions of the track – saying: “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.”

So, y’know, pretty milquetoast. He’s not going to stop any release of it, he’s just speaking his mind and that’s fine. Bob Geldof has responded in kind, defending the track.

Geldof said: “This little pop song has kept millions of people alive. 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? 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. We can help some of them. That’s what we will continue to do.”

Again, pretty reasonable, even if it is filled with a bit more ire, which you’d expect from Geldof as he’s an impassioned speaker at the best of times. So far, it is really is just people talking and it is all fine. No harm, no foul.

Enter Harvey Goldsmith.

In 1985, Goldsmith organised Live Aid with Bob Geldof and raised a staggering £140 million for famine relief in little over 2 months. On Sheeran’s comments, which we remind you, were pretty mild, Goldsmith said: “We wanted to do something to help. It’s as simple as that.” Okay, fair enough. Let’s leave it there shall we and all get on with our lives.

There’s more. Goldsmith continued: “And all these busybodies and woke people and do-gooders who know everything, let them get out and do something.” Thank god its them, instead of you, etc.

So, if woke is the enemy of Band Aid, then ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ is an anti-woke track? Or are we looking once again at some wealthy dude not really knowing what ‘woke’ means and just says it every time someone voices their concerns politely about a thing? Christ on a bike, this is where we’re at in 2024.

Goldsmith did say that Sheeran is “entitled to his voice”, but continued that the charity is “added: “40 years on, we are “still receiving funds. And we still distribute them. And we distribute them only to projects. We do not fund overheads of any description anywhere. We’re trying to do our best. And if they don’t like it, tough.”

Interestingly, Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed criticised the project, saying that it was “well-meaning at the time”, but added that it was “frustrating to see our nation’s ancient history, culture, diversity and beauty reduced to doom and gloom”. And that, while the efforts from the charity are “admirable and to be appreciated”, he felt that the whole thing “has not evolved with the times” and that it all “might end up doing more harm than good”.

Woke nonsense, obviously. Anyway, there’ll be an ‘Ultimate’ version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ featuring singers from across the generations it has been released and, if you want to stick it to the woke mob, you’ll be able to listen to it on Spotify and elsewhere.