Emeli Sandé has criticised the new Band Aid 30 single, claiming she thinks Sir Bob Geldof should have used a “whole new song” to raise money to fight Ebola.
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The singer/songwriter, who contributes vocals to the new version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, claims that when she recorded her lines she included new, updated lyrics to the song to make it more appropriate, but they were ultimately left on the cutting room floor.
Emeli posted a lengthy statement on her Twitter page on Saturday afternoon, apologising to anyone who was “offended” by the song, and saying that she hopes people don’t feel that ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ patronises or “disrespects” Africa.
Emeli Sandé
Admitting that she’d had “many discussions” since deciding to associate herself with Band Aid 30, she tweeted:
However, Emeli isn’t the only singer to cast a shadow over the song, which is on course to top the UK charts on Sunday, having raised £1 million in just five minutes when it went on sale this week.
Lily Allen
Lily Allen has said that she got an email asking her to take part in the charity single, but refused to participate in the “smug” project, telling The Sun: “It’s difficult to give an explanation why I didn’t do it without sounding like a complete c***.
“I prefer to do my charitable bit by donating actual money and not being lumped in with a bunch of people like that. It’s like the ‘Success Club’ and I’m not really in that club. I don’t think I’m above it all - I’m way below it.”
One Direction, Ed Sheeran and Rita Ora are among the stars who can be heard singing on the new version of the charity single.
Band Aid 30
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(01 of37)
Singer Bob Geldof waves to fans as he arrives at a music studio to record his segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(02 of37)
Singer Bono arrives at a music studio to record his segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Band Aid 30 Recording - Arrivals(03 of37)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 15: Chris Martin attends to record the Band Aid 30 single on November 15, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-HEALTH-EBOLA-ENTERTAINMENT(04 of37)
British singer Louis Tomlinson (R) of boy band One Direction arrives at a west London studio to record the new Band Aid 30 single on November 15, 2014. Bob Geldof, One Direction, Bono and some 30 other stars gathered in a studio in London on Saturday to record a 30th anniversary version of the Band Aid charity single to raise money to fight Ebola. Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, Coldplay's Chris Martin and Sinead O'Connor were also among the rockers brought together by Geldof to sing the fourth version of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' Musicians began arriving in the early morning and were expected to record all day and into the night before the single is aired for the first time on Sunday and then officially released on Monday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW COWIE (Photo credit should read ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREW COWIE via Getty Images)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(05 of37)
Singer Louis Tomlinson arrives at a music studio to record his segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(06 of37)
Singer Ellie Goulding arrives at a music studio to record her segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(07 of37)
Singer Paloma Faith arrives at a music studio to record her segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(08 of37)
Singer Niall Horan arrives at a music studio to record his segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(09 of37)
Singer Emeli Sande arrives at a music studio to record her segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(10 of37)
Singer Bob Geldof arrives at a music studio to record his segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(11 of37)
Singer Harry Styles arrives at a music studio to record his segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
BRITAIN-HEALTH-EBOLA-ENTERTAINMENT(12 of37)
British singer-songwriter Liam Payne (L) of boy band One Direction arrives at a west London studio to record the new Band Aid 30 single on November 15, 2014. Bob Geldof, One Direction, Bono and some 30 other stars gathered in a studio in London on Saturday to record a 30th anniversary version of the Band Aid charity single to raise money to fight Ebola. Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, Coldplay's Chris Martin and Sinead O'Connor were also among the rockers brought together by Geldof to sing the fourth version of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' Musicians began arriving in the early morning and were expected to record all day and into the night before the single is aired for the first time on Sunday and then officially released on Monday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW COWIE (Photo credit should read ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREW COWIE via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-HEALTH-EBOLA-ENTERTAINMENT(13 of37)
British musician Olly Murs arrives at a west London studio to record the new Band Aid 30 single on November 15, 2014. Bob Geldof, One Direction, Bono and some 30 other stars gathered in a studio in London on Saturday to record a 30th anniversary version of the Band Aid charity single to raise money to fight Ebola. Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, Coldplay's Chris Martin and Sinead O'Connor were also among the rockers brought together by Geldof to sing the fourth version of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' Musicians began arriving in the early morning and were expected to record all day and into the night before the single is aired for the first time on Sunday and then officially released on Monday. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW COWIE (Photo credit should read ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDREW COWIE via Getty Images)
Band Aid 30 Recording - Arrivals(14 of37)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 15: Bob Geldof, Paul Epworth and Midge Ure attend to record the Band Aid 30 single on November 15, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
Band Aid 30 Recording - Arrivals(15 of37)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 15: Bob Geldof, Paul Epworth and Midge Ure attend to record the Band Aid 30 single on November 15, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(16 of37)
Singer Emeli Sande arrives at a music studio to record her segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(17 of37)
Singer Ellie Goulding arrives at a music studio to record her segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(18 of37)
Singer Rita Ora leaves a music studio after recording her segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(19 of37)
Singer Bob Geldof, right, waves to fans as he arrives with Midge Ure at a music studio to record their segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(20 of37)
Singer Bob Geldof, right, waves to fans as he arrives with Midge Ure at a music studio to record their segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(21 of37)
Singer Gus Garvey arrives at a music studio to record his segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Britain Band AId 30 Recording Arrival(22 of37)
Singer Bob Geldof waves to fans as he arrives at a music studio to record his segment of the new Band Aid 30 charity single in London, Saturday, Nov. 15 2014. Musicians including Bono and One Direction are going to record a reworked version of the 1984 charity record, with the proceeds this time helping fight the spread of Ebola. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP) (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
Band-Aid 30 Line-Up(23 of37)
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U2's Bono (credit:Kevin Mazur via Getty Images)
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One Direction (credit:Andrew Estey/Invision/AP)
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Coldplay's Chris Martin (credit:Powers Imagery/Invision/AP)
(27 of37)
Sam Smith (credit:Jim Ross/Invision/AP)
(28 of37)
Paloma Faith (credit:Joel Ryan/Invision/AP/Invision/AP)
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Ellie Goulding (credit:Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)
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Foals (pictured: Yannis Philippakis) (credit:Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP)
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Olly Murs (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Emeli Sande (credit:Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP)
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Bastille (credit:Katie Darby/Invision/AP)
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Sinead O'Connor (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Rita Ora (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Bob has asked David Bowie to introduce the video. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
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Guy and Howard Lawrence, better known as Disclosure, will be creating a remix of the track. (credit:Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)