Just sing, we don’t need your politics!

Smileless2012

You know precisely what I mean Oreo. Criticism of the Israeli government is not a criticism of Israeli Jews even though some like to spin it that way so they can cry anti semitism and no, I didn't say anything about a loss of revenue as you well know.

And BTW, not all members of the Israeli government or parliament are Jews.

Not all but most are Jews.
Loss of revenue is what has made Sheeran speak out in the end.He should never have felt forced to.

The trouble today is that SM driven outrage drives everything.
So Ed Sheeran was all of a dither that fans would desert him if he didn’t lay out his views.
At least, unlike Mackelmore and his Irish mates, Sheeran did condemn hamas for the evil they carried out in Israel.

Iam64

Smileless and Whitewave have it. I feel Sheeran was left with no option but to respond to the criticism. Art and politics have always been linked

Hear, hear, Iam64.

Anyone who enjoys Beethoven is listening to music created through his political identity - by his ideals of individual liberty, humanism, and universal brotherhood - shaped by the Enlightenment.

As you say, Art and Politics have always been linked, one way or another and although I wouldn't want to hear a party-political-broadcast at the start of a concert - I wouldn't want it any other way because some of the best music and literature has been shaped by the artiste's political and cultural beliefs.

Too many thick people around the world seem to get confused about Israel and Jews so it would seem Oreo.

You know precisely what I mean Oreo. Criticism of the Israeli government is not a criticism of Israeli Jews even though some like to spin it that way so they can cry anti semitism and no, I didn't say anything about a loss of revenue as you well know.

And BTW, not all members of the Israeli government or parliament are Jews.

Oreo

So you’re saying he only spoke out as he was losing revenue by not saying anything?

Which is worse than not saying anything at all.Money talks doesn’t it?

Smileless2012

This probably wouldn't have happened if Macklemore hadn't been barred Oreo and the resulting domino effect.

No it wouldn’t so Mackelmore should have kept his trap shut.

Too many thick people around the world seem to get confused about Israel and Jews.
Any old Jews from anywhere at all can set them off on a rant.

This probably wouldn't have happened if Macklemore hadn't been barred Oreo and the resulting domino effect.

The Israeli government are Jews.

So you’re saying he only spoke out as he was losing revenue by not saying anything?

Think about what Oreo? His pronouncements were aimed at the Israeli government, not Jews in Israel.

So we must expect him to weigh in on all conflicts around the world seen as immoral then ( it won’t happen.)

Oreo

And for the posters who want him to speak out on this, why only this? Look at all the conflicts going on in the world do you want him to speak out on all those or is it just Jews in Israel who have to wait for the pronouncements?
Think about it.

None of us wanted Sheeran to speak out, he felt compelled to due to his support being dropped because of his comments.

Sheeran only spoke out re Gaza, because that’s what got his support dropped.

I dont want anyone banned but that applies to all viewpoints, so you would need to be happy with someone saying vote trump, abortion is murder or whatever statement you fundamentally disagree with.

Oreo

And for the posters who want him to speak out on this, why only this? Look at all the conflicts going on in the world do you want him to speak out on all those or is it just Jews in Israel who have to wait for the pronouncements?
Think about it.

It was the US rapper Macklemore who was one of the support acts on Ed’s USA tour who started this fiasco.

He ranted against Israel in a pro-Palestinian speech before his set. This led to Macklemore being banned by the tour promoters for future gigs, the band and other support acts then walked out in solidarity.

This left Ed to go onstage yesterday with no band, no backing singers, no supporting artists.

He didn’t rant on stage he made a well thought out statement at the beginning of his set. He condemned the actions of Hamas first, then went on to say that Israel had now gone too far in their retaliation in Gaza and now the West Bank.

He sings what can be called pop songs Bob Dylan he ain’t.

Galaxy

I just find it incredibly boring, it cant really be compared to protest songs of the past in that the current crop parrot the establishment line on pretty much everything. I could write the scripts for them.

🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ Each to their own.

As I posted @ 9.32 Oreo, it depends whether or not you view Ed Sheeran's statement as moral or political. I see it as moral because it's immoral to commit genocide which is what's happening in Gaza.

Not saying anything would no doubt have also been seen as caving into demands, especially as Macklemore had already been barred for expressing his opinion.

I just find it incredibly boring, it cant really be compared to protest songs of the past in that the current crop parrot the establishment line on pretty much everything. I could write the scripts for them.

And for the posters who want him to speak out on this, why only this? Look at all the conflicts going on in the world do you want him to speak out on all those or is it just Jews in Israel who have to wait for the pronouncements?
Think about it.

Smileless2012

TBF I don't think he felt he could ignore 'the elephant in the room'. If he'd stayed silent it could have been seen as his support for what Israel is doing in Gaza which he and many, are rightly appalled by.

That’s because presumably you agree with him and Mackelmore on this?
Whether we agree or disagree with them I think politics should be outside of entertainment as let’s face it, Ed Sheeran is an entertainer..
Up to now he has firmly refused to berate anyone from the stage on whatever is happening in the world which I think is the right way to go, but has caved in to demands now which is the wrong way to go.

Btw, in my own view, loathing Netanyahu, does not = hates Jews, and most certainly does not = supports Hamas.

What’s happening in Gaza now is totally unacceptable. What Hamas did (& do) is equally disgraceful.

In the middle are innocent people literally being starved to death.

paddyann54

I,m with you *cossy *politics and music have long been intertwined.
You can’t seperate them for the”I don’t do politics* brigade,the whole of life is affected by politics .
I think Ed had to stand up and be counted,Whats the saying about evil only prevailing when good men are silent?
We all need to stand up to the evils being committed y the State of Israel and the vile Netanyahu and his equally vile IDF .
If we don’t then I believe there isno hope for peace in the world

Very well said, and pretty obviously, I totally agree.

It doesn’t need to protracted and it doesn’t need to be boring, but if it needs saying, say it, then get on with the concert.

Tbf, in my experience, most people who follow a particular singer, or entertainer or actor will already know their politics.

Three of our 50+ Irish Adult Children have seen Kneecap gigs this year. My only concern was that they might get caught up with any potential “trouble”, thankfully they didn’t.

All three are political, all were formally Labour supporters, all three now vote Green.

I,m with you *cossy *politics and music have long been intertwined.
You can’t seperate them for the”I don’t do politics* brigade,the whole of life is affected by politics .
I think Ed had to stand up and be counted,Whats the saying about evil only prevailing when good men are silent?
We all need to stand up to the evils being committed y the State of Israel and the vile Netanyahu and his equally vile IDF .
If we don’t then I believe there isno hope for peace in the world