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Ed Sheeran has revealed that his vocals were used on a new 40th-anniversary version of Do They Know It’s Christmas? without his permission. Sheeran says he would have “respectfully” declined if he had been asked, citing a post by Fuse ODG criticising foreign aid in Africa. 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.
Sheeran sang alongside Coldplay, Sinead O’Connor, Sam Smith, One Direction and Rita Ora on Band Aid 30 in 2014. A new mix, released next week, blends his vocals with those of Sting from the original 1984 version of the charity song. “My approval wasn’t sought on this new Band Aid 40 release,” Sheeran said. “Had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals.”
Over the years, the song’s lyrics have been criticised for their patronising portrayal of Africa as a barren land that needed rescuing by Western intervention. Sir Bob Geldof, who organised and co-wrote Do They Know Its Christmas with Midge Ure, defended the song in response to an article by New Zealand’s 1 News. “This little pop song has kept hundreds of thousands if not millions of people alive,” he wrote. “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.
The new “ultimate mix” will feature stars such as Boy George, Harry Styles, George Michael, Sam Smith, the Sugababes, Bono, Bananarama, Robbie Williams, Thom Yorke, Rita Ora, Dizzee Rascal and Paul McCartney. The latest version of Do They Know It’s Christmas? will premiere on British radio stations on the morning of 25 November, the 40th anniversary of the original song being recorded
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