Jeez Louise. First it was Adele, now it's Lily Allen. Who'll be next to climb aboard the “we refused to sing on Band Aid 30” bandwagon I wonder?
Not that it's harmed the charity record's sales. It's stormed to Number One in its first week of release, clocking up 312,000 units. Actually, make that 312,001 – I've just downloaded it myself.
Is it a great record? No. Should there be more artists of African heritage on the release? Possibly. Should the lyrics be rewritten? Almost certainly.
And of course, as Bryony Gordon perceptively observed, the rich and famous who are featured on “Do They Know It's Christmas” only gave their time; the rest of us are expected to donate our money.
So why have I spent 99p buying the darned thing. One simple reason. I want to help the cause of fighting ebola in West Africa. You know, that grim and ghastly disease that has already cost more than 5,000 lives in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and five other countries. I don't expect any applause for giving to charity – but it seems bizarre to think that I might be sneered at for doing so.
Of course I could have just donated direct to one of the charities, and cut out the middle man.
But this way, as well as making a financial contribution, my kids get the pleasure of listening to a song they enjoy, and as a family we can have a discussion about the issues underlying the record's release.
Maybe there are better ways to support a continent in crisis. Perhaps it is all a bit patronising. Few things in life are perfect. But as the nitpicking continues, I'm reminded of an old saying: “Don't let the best be the enemy of the good.”
At least Band Aid 30 offers all of us the chance to have a positive influence on a situation which would otherwise leave us helplessly shrugging our shoulders. It's giving with a feelgood factor.
You might disagree of course. And let me the first to say that if you've got a better idea than sweary St Bob's money making singalong, don't waste any more time reading this rubbish.
Go out there and make it happen. But until you do, please don't diss those of us – celebrity popstar and member of the general public alike – who are just trying to do our bit.
Not that it's harmed the charity record's sales. It's stormed to Number One in its first week of release, clocking up 312,000 units. Actually, make that 312,001 – I've just downloaded it myself.
Is it a great record? No. Should there be more artists of African heritage on the release? Possibly. Should the lyrics be rewritten? Almost certainly.
And of course, as Bryony Gordon perceptively observed, the rich and famous who are featured on “Do They Know It's Christmas” only gave their time; the rest of us are expected to donate our money.
So why have I spent 99p buying the darned thing. One simple reason. I want to help the cause of fighting ebola in West Africa. You know, that grim and ghastly disease that has already cost more than 5,000 lives in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and five other countries. I don't expect any applause for giving to charity – but it seems bizarre to think that I might be sneered at for doing so.
Of course I could have just donated direct to one of the charities, and cut out the middle man.
But this way, as well as making a financial contribution, my kids get the pleasure of listening to a song they enjoy, and as a family we can have a discussion about the issues underlying the record's release.
Maybe there are better ways to support a continent in crisis. Perhaps it is all a bit patronising. Few things in life are perfect. But as the nitpicking continues, I'm reminded of an old saying: “Don't let the best be the enemy of the good.”
At least Band Aid 30 offers all of us the chance to have a positive influence on a situation which would otherwise leave us helplessly shrugging our shoulders. It's giving with a feelgood factor.
You might disagree of course. And let me the first to say that if you've got a better idea than sweary St Bob's money making singalong, don't waste any more time reading this rubbish.
Go out there and make it happen. But until you do, please don't diss those of us – celebrity popstar and member of the general public alike – who are just trying to do our bit.
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