Ed Sheeran says he didn't give Band Aid 40 permission to use his vocals

[Teletubby 136,384]

Ed Sheeran has claimed he wasn't asked permission from Band Aid 40 organisers to use his vocals on the a new version of the charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?

The musician originally featured on the 2014 version of the track  alongside the likes of Sting and Harry Styles which aimed to raise money for the Ebola relief efforts.

However amid the upcoming release of the 2024 Ultimate Mix of the song to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Ed has told how he would have denied permission to add his voice to the song had he'd been asked.

Taking to his Instagram stories on Sunday, the Shape Of You hitmaker re-shared a message from Ghanaian-British musician Fuse ODG, who has been vocal in his criticism of the charity single claiming it 'dehumanises Africans and destroys our pride and identity in the name of ‘charity’.'source

 

[pachinko 9,993]

What did Band Aid do wrong? 

[Bronco 6,385]

2 minutes ago, pachinko said:

What did Band Aid do wrong? 

There's a lot of criticism by Africans that legacy charities like Band Aid, Oxfam, Save the Children etc do more harm than good on the African continent because of the narrative the charities push about Africa. 
And in the digital age where it's never been easier to support locally rooted organisations even from abroad, there's a growing push to stop letting big global industrial charities that don't really know the location run the show basically. 

[bionic 43,182]

His 2014 contract probs says they can do whatever with his vocals from that recording. 

[Bonkers 28,254]

Is it just me, or is that song embarrassing for the west?

We're so self centered and self absorbed that we think not knowing or having Christmas is like the saddest thing.  



 

[Nite 4,934]

4 minutes ago, Bonkers said:

Is it just me, or is that song embarrassing for the west?

We're so self centered and self absorbed that we think not knowing or having Christmas is like the saddest thing.  



 

damn I've never looked at the lyrics aside from that one line and maybe it's my lack of native English but some of it just sounds terrible?

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they′ll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

[HermioneT 1,985]

15 minutes ago, Nite said:

damn I've never looked at the lyrics aside from that one line and maybe it's my lack of native English but some of it just sounds terrible?

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they′ll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

If I recall correctly, this verse has been critized ever since this songs has been recorded. I think George Michael or Boy George on the original version first refused singing these lines.  Also the writers themselves said some years ago that the lyrics in this song are probably among the worst they've ever written (Gelddorf or Ure). 

It was a noble idea back then and did raise a hell lot of charity money, but today we definitely know better than these condescending lyrics.

 

 

[RochestrMonstr 2,470]

The 80’s were a time of misguided charity and advocacy. Like Nancy Reagan ignoring the AIDS crisis and launching a failed “war on drugs”. 
 

I think because of the lack of internet, it took a long time for any backlash to develop for these types of things. Nowadays, people can immediately post their opinions on any subject matter. 

[27monster27 11,400]

4 hours ago, pachinko said:

What did Band Aid do wrong? 

 

4 hours ago, Bronco said:

There's a lot of criticism by Africans that legacy charities like Band Aid, Oxfam, Save the Children etc do more harm than good on the African continent because of the narrative the charities push about Africa. 
And in the digital age where it's never been easier to support locally rooted organisations even from abroad, there's a growing push to stop letting big global industrial charities that don't really know the location run the show basically. 

To add on to this, a guy who did missionary work came forward about issues he has with it. Essentially, stuff like this promotes the "white savior" myth, and it makes people from poor countries feel like they have to rely on those from wealthy countries to save them from issues.

I understand that the support comes from a good place, but there needs to be more careful looks into how to help people with more resources available now so they can grow without feeling like they need the wealthy west to help them.

[Bronco 6,385]

20 minutes ago, 27monster27 said:

 

To add on to this, a guy who did missionary work came forward about issues he has with it. Essentially, stuff like this promotes the "white savior" myth, and it makes people from poor countries feel like they have to rely on those from wealthy countries to save them from issues.

I understand that the support comes from a good place, but there needs to be more careful looks into how to help people with more resources available now so they can grow without feeling like they need the wealthy west to help them.

Agreed entirely. 

Working in the charity sector has led me to stop giving to most of the international western charities. Not because they don't neccessarily do a good job. But just because local, regional & national charities are signifcantly better at the job, because they actually know what needs doing where and how to get it done.