People are calling on radio stations to stop playing the iconic Christmas hit ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’
The festive season is well and truly in full swing now and that means we’re blasting out those Christmas tunes to help get us in the mood.
From old classics like ‘White Christmas’ by Bing Crosby to modern hits like ‘Santa Tell Me’ by Ariana Grande, it is truly time for festive cheer when these songs start being played.
However, some people are now questioning whether some tunes should be banned altogether.
The first in line to be banished is an ultimate Christmas classic:‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’, written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and released all the way back in 1984.
The track came about as a charity benefit song consisting of big-name stars such as Sting, George Michael, Bono, and Boy George and at the time, aimed to raise money to aid the famine crisis in Ethiopia.
However, writer Indrajit Samarajiva broke down the song’s lyrics to explain why she believes the Christmas hit must be canceled.
Per her blog on Medium, Samarajiva called out the song for its “ignorant” and “racist” lyrics against the continent of Africa and its people, saying: “It’s not just that these lyrics haven’t aged well. They were never good at all.
“They take an ignorant and colonial attitude, more about making white people feel good than helping anyone,” she wrote.
With lyrics such as: ‘And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas time’ as well as ‘Where nothing ever grows. No rain or rivers flow Do they know it’s Christmas time at all? The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life (oooh).’
Not only did Samarajiva suggest that the lyrics generalize the whole of Africa as a continent, but it also forces people to pity the people living there.
“I mean, this is all wrong. It does snow in Africa, although not a lot,” she wrote in her blog. “Food does in fact grow on the continent, they do have water, and North Africa, as part of the Roman Empire, was celebrating Christmas centuries before England.”
She continued: “You can say it’s all a metaphor, but what does the metaphor communicate? That Africa is a desolate, dark place which white men have to get together and save?”
And it seems as though a lot of people agree with the perspective, with one user taking to X to write: “Heard Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ yet? Please listen to the lyrics carefully and then complain to your radio station/supermarket re: explicit racism & lack of Christmas spirit ‘thank God it’s them instead of you!'”
Heard Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” yet? Please listen to the lyrics carefully and then complain to your radio station/supermarket re: explicit racism & lack of Christmas spirit “thank God it’s them instead of you”! Read @DipoFaloyin #AfricaIsNotACountry for more… pic.twitter.com/TzVnJ82HVC
— Dr. Miranda Kaufmann (@MirandaKaufmann) December 2, 2022
Another added: “I always thought that lyric was to echo back the thoughts that people have (but would never say out loud) when seeing people in places far away from them suffering…”
A third also pointed out: “I’m wondering why you haven’t banned bing crosbys all time seasonal classic white Christmas?”
However, not everyone agreed with the stance with some users urging people with this perspective to “get a life.”
Yikes.
Will you be listening to the tune this festive season?
