• Sinead O'Connor Backs 'Do They Know It's Christmas?," Tells Critics to 'Shut the F--k Up'

    Last week, on Nov. 17, the latest version of Band Aid's classic charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" was released online to raise money for the Ebola crisis in West Africa, and though it went straight to the top of the U.K. charts and is supporting an undoubtedly good cause, the song has been the subject of plenty of criticism, particularly for its lyrics. According to two British newspapers, Emeli Sandé, who actually appears on the latest version, said the lyrics need "changing," while Lily Allen called the song "a bit smug" and said she would prefer "donating actual money." One artist who is vigorously defending the song, however, is the famously outspoken Sinead O'Connor, who also appears on the song. "I think everyone should shut the f--k up," O'Connor told "Broadsheet," via "Billboard." "If you didn't like the lyrics you shouldn't have agreed to sing the song. I think it's smug of Lily Allen to say it's smug."

  • David Guetta to Remix 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'

    After losing Disclosure's potential contribution to the project because of a miscommunication, Band Aid 30's chart-topping rework of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" will get an EDM-friendly remix from French superstar David Guetta. As has become the trend lately, your song is not entirely relevant unless dance music producers are remixing it. Disclosure was wrongly placed on the artist list, so now they must get a DJ involved, and David Guetta was the choice. Sir Bob Geldof, the man leading Band Aid 30, told Vodaphone Big Top 40 how the collaboration came together, via "Mixmag": "I was in France, I made contact with David Guetta, and he texted back after I asked if he was interested in the mix, and he said, 'Ye, why not.' So we'll have the whole dance scene covered." The ensemble of singers for Band Aid 30 includes mega-pop acts like One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, Bastille, Chris Martin, Sam Smith and a third appearance from U2 frontman Bono. Bono appeared on two previous "Do The Know It's Christmas?" versions: the original in 1984 and again in 2004. The track recently stormed to the top of the charts in the U.K. and has caused much of the same backlash as previous editions for the smugness and patronizing tone of some of its lyrics.

  • Disclosure Deny Involvement in 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'

    Disclosure and Band Aid Thirty are not on the same page. Band Aid sent out a press release today saying that among the many bands that were joining its current musical effort, re-recording "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to fight Ebola, Disclosure were to be part of the endeavor. This is not the case, according to Disclosure, whose representative told "Pitchfork" in a statement refuting any notion of their involvement with the project. The representative clarified the matter nullifying reports of an additional remix as well, saying, "No planned remix or involvement of any kind, unfortunately." Disclosure's name was listed on the artist page of the Band Aid 30 website. It has since been taken down, but the list of artists involved makes the missing of Disclosure manageable. The CD will have One Direction, Bono, Rita Ora, Sam Martin, Clean Bandit, Emile Sande, Bastille and Ellie Goulding listed among the star-studded cast of U.K. singers and musicians. The U2 frontman was a part of two of three pervious editions.
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