Do they know it’s patronising? Backlash grows over new Band Aid single

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Do they know it’s patronising? Backlash grows over new Band Aid single

Backlash grows over new Band Aid single as stars and charities hit out at ‘offensive lyrics’…Despite which the single has sold 312,000 copies since its release last week.

Bob Geldof or rather, Sir Bob, has called claims the song is patronising a ‘complete load of b*******’.

The Mail OnLine reports: Celebrities, MPs and charities have joined the backlash against the latest Band Aid single, claiming it ‘patronises’ Africa.

As the new version of Do They Know It’s Christmas? reached number one in the charts, the furore over its controversial lyrics grew.

Lily Allen and Emeli Sande are the latest musicians to criticise the song, which aims to raise millions of pounds to help fight the ebola crisis in West Africa.

Some say the lyrics are outdated and perpetuate negative stereotypes of African countries which could harm their world image.

Miss Sande, who was one of only three black musicians to take part in the new single, praised the sentiment behind the project but said ‘a whole new’ song was needed.

The 27-year-old, who has Zambian heritage, said on Twitter both she and Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo ‘made and sang our own edits’, and it was ‘unfortunate’ none made the cut.

She added: ‘I apologise if the lyrics of the song have caused offence. I wish the changes had been kept but that is out of my control.’

Lily Allen also said yesterday she refused to take part in the project because she felt there was ‘something smug about it’.

She added: ‘I prefer to do my charitable bit by donating actual money and not being lumped in with a bunch of people like that.’

See also: ‘We got this, Bob Geldof, so back off’

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