Band Aid 40, the latest iteration of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, has arrived, blending three decades of voices into one mix. With Trevor Horn using machine learning to combine vocals from Band Aid’s 1984, 2004, and 2014 versions, the single aims to celebrate its 40-year history while continuing its mission of combating hunger.
The original Band Aid raised £8 million in its first 12 months, and the Band Aid Charitable Trust has since contributed almost £150 million to causes across Africa. Today, funds continue to support food security, medical aid, and disaster relief, with £2.45 million spent on charitable activities in the financial year ending November 2023.
Bob Geldof has consistently defended Band Aid’s legacy, and in a recent interview on BBC’s The One Show, he emphasised the song’s global influence: “This song, for whatever reason, has become an instrument of change. What an American paper called two weeks ago probably the most powerful song in rock ‘n’ roll history.” He added, “You track it from those first moments with those kids right through to Live Aid, you put it all together and get a concert. That concert made, in today’s money, £480 million a week, and it created a vast lobby for change.”
Geldof argued that the song’s continuing presence in public debate demonstrates its relevance: “Other people have a different opinion of it because over 40 years, opinions and sensibilities change. That’s what makes it powerful. Because it did all the things I said, yet raises the debate. And the debate is fantastic—it gives us immense political access again.”
However, criticism surrounding Band Aid’s portrayal of Africa persists. Plenty have questioned its imagery and lyrics, arguing they perpetuate stereotypes of Africa as helpless and reliant on Western aid. Peter Gill, one of the few Western journalists in Ethiopia during the 1984 famine, described Band Aid’s portrayal of Ethiopia as reductive, saying, “Instead of its glorious past and rich culture, we now associate Ethiopia with famine.”
BBC journalist Michael Buerk, whose 1984 report spurred Geldof into action, later reflected on the famine’s impact: “It changed everything and nothing. It altered the rich world’s sense of responsibility, but didn’t solve anything. Ethiopia’s food insecurity gets worse, not better.”
The new #BandAid40 is not claiming to be better than the original but it’s amazing to have so many British pop stars altogether on one record.
It is a culmination of the work achieved over the past 40 yrs and it’s a great to be transported back to a more simple time #theoneshow— Sharon (@see75) November 25, 2024
Artists have also joined the conversation. Bono, who features in every Band Aid version, has acknowledged the limits of aid: “Aid is just a stopgap. Commerce and entrepreneurial capitalism take more people out of poverty than aid. We need Africa to become an economic powerhouse.” The release of Band Aid 40 hasn’t been without controversy. Ed Sheeran recently criticised the inclusion of his vocals from Band Aid 30 without his consent, and Fuse ODG, who declined to participate in 2014, reignited debate over the song’s messaging.
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On The One Show, Geldof framed the controversy itself as part of the song’s impact: “Without it, there is no debate. Now it’s out in the public, it is being talked about, and that gives us immense political access again. So everything about this song is amazing.”
The debate has also made national news, with Geldof making an appearance on ITV News. In an interview with Nina Nannar, Geldof directly addressed the Ed Sheeran and ODG Fuse comments, saying: “I don’t know what they’re on about. But I do want them to go on about it.”
Despite the debate, Band Aid has undeniably provided critical support over the decades. Hospitals, food programs, and disaster relief initiatives have benefitted from its funds. Yet the underlying questions remain: can similar projects inspire sustainable change, or do they risk reinforcing outdated narratives and stereotypes?
Band Aid 40 is now available for streaming, and physical releases are set for November 29. The funds raised by the single will go to the Band Aid Charitable Trust.
