New Band Aid single slated as ‘tuneless monstrosity’ after Bob Geldof debuts remix-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

The new Band Aid 40 remix of Do They Know It’s Christmas? has been unveiled and it’s not exactly getting people in the festive spirit.

On Monday morning, four decades after a charity supergroup founded by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure came together to raise money to battle famine in Ethiopia, a new new take the track has dropped.

The AI production only uses artists who featured on the 1984, 2004 and 2014 editions, including Bono singing with his younger self.

It’s safe to say music fans aren’t impressed after hearing the new version, which has plenty of structural changes bringing all the eras together.

‘Bad enough driving to work on a Monday without the Christmas songs, however the monstrosity that is Band Aid 40 could be enough to tip you over the edge,’ wrote @BrendonJnr on X in a savage assessment.

And @MrBlitzed ranted: ‘Just heard the new Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas” single. What an absolute load of cobbled together tuneless bollocks! Never beat the original!’

Bob Geldof and Midge Ure are back with a new version of Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Picture: Larry Ellis/Express Newspapers/Getty Images)

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‘I appreciate what they did with Band Aid 40 and it is special… But I’m sorry nothing will beat the original 1984 version,’ said @ImCalledAmyyy, giving a slightly kinder take.

‘Band Aid 40 is terrible. Just enjoy the original for the good work it did and the artists who sang,’ argued @Sharks771, while @Powersboy31 insisted the song will ‘always be utter dog meat’.

It’s been 10 years since the last proper version of the single dropped (Picture: Band Aid/PA Wire)

And @darlosworld wrote: ‘Just heard the new Band Aid Do They Know It’s Christmas on @jdandroisin, and this is maybe controversial but it’s awful, just terrible. Sorry.’

‘Jeeeeeesus Christ the new ‘do they know it’s Christmas’ is abysmal,’ tweeted @WallmanStevo, as @vaughan_col said: ‘BAND AID 40 IS TRENDING No, it’s not ok. Its been slaughtered.’

But @PaulaMorgan46 insisted: ‘Band aid raised hundreds of millions of pounds for Ethiopia 40 years ago. Wtf is wrong with that! Honestly what is wrong with people!’

The song is a cultural phenomenon (Picture: Comic Relief via Getty Images)

Four decades ago, the first star-studded single was released (Picture: Brian Aris/Band Aid/PA Wire)

However, Bob has hailed the new version as ‘one of the greatest [pieces of] production’ in British rock music history.

‘I think it’s a work of art,’ he told Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 as they both fought back tears after having a cry off-air while the song as playing.

‘It’s such an amazing record,’ he said. ‘It is the history of British rock and roll over 40 years.’

Bob insisted the actually quality of the track was never the focus of the 1984 original, with the overall goal of the charity single outweighing personal taste.

The new version brings together clips from the previous three (Picture: Getty Images)

‘We weren’t really bothered the quality of the song as such,’ he explained. ‘It doesn’t matter if you don’t like George Michael, Boy George, or whatever – just buy it, because things will change!’

He also reflected on having late singer Liam Payne on the track, after he sang on the 2014 version with his One Direction bandmates.

Bob added: ‘I was thinking of it at the funeral, he’s here with his mates, and he’s doing it for others.’

Bob Geldof is delighted with the new track (Picture: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

As well as streaming, the new version will also be released physically on CD and vinyl on 29 November.

The original song was a huge hit selling over two million copies around the globe and raised more than $24 million (£18.8 million). 

The 2004 version spent four weeks in the number one position on the charts and became the biggest-selling single of 2004, while a decade later, the 2014 single was less successful and went straight to number one in the UK Official Singles Chart, selling 312,000 copies.

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