Initial response to the single was mixed.
The Daily Telegraph noted how "technically impressive the current generation of British pop singers are.... [with the artists putting in] a hell of a lot into every over-stretched syllable", although noted that the "jump cut from distressing Third World scenes to smiling first world celebrities will always strike an awkward note".
The Guardian noted that in contrast to previous versions of the track, it was "more sombre and downbeat: it features plenty of representatives from the vogueish world of pop-house but their actual sound doesn’t impact on the track at all". Finally,
Digital Spy were heavily critical of the single stating that they wouldn't "be bullied into buying a mediocre record when there are plenty of other ways to donate and do your bit to help".
The Independent criticised the song for retaining what was described as perpetuating the patronising and condescending perspective of the original, with rapper
Fuse ODG citing this as the reason he dropped out of the project. On 18 November, Liberian Robtel Neajai Pailey, a researcher at the
School of Oriental and African Studies, argued on
BBC Radio 4's
Today that the question "Do They Know It's Christmas?" was meaningless, as most of the victims were
Muslim. She described the song as "unoriginal and redundant" and said that it was "reinforcing stereotypes", painting the continent "as unchanging and frozen in time" and was "incredibly patronising and problematic." Arguing against Pailey, producer
Harvey Goldsmith said her concerns were "ridiculous", adding "I think it's disingenuous for people to turn round and say we shouldn't do anything or sit back and watch it all happen or wait for all those countries that pledged aid and refused to give it so far." For
Al Jazeera Paley wrote "It reeks of the "white saviour complex" because it negates local efforts that have come before it." On 23 November, singer
Lily Allen revealed that she had refused to appear on the record because she considered it "smug" and preferred to donate "actual money". In December 2014, Ebola survivor,
William Pooley, described the song as "cultural ignorance" and "cringeworthy". Bob Geldof responded by saying "Please. It's a pop song. Relax." He also said that those critical of the lyrics could "fuck off". ==Track listing==