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Just sing, we don’t need your politics!

(72 Posts)
Sago Sun 20-Sept-26 09:15:52

So Ed Sheeran caved and used his concert in Philadelphia as a political platform just as Springsteen,Di Caprio, Cumberbatch etc have done in the past.

His support artist Macklemore was dropped from the tour for leading chants of “Free Palestine”and performing a Gaza protest song.

Why do these celebrities feel the need?

If I pay hundreds of pounds to see a concert or play I want to hear someone sing or to get lost in a couple of hours of Shakespeare, I do not pay to listen to someone’s politics.

AIBU?

Music in particular is something that can bring people together so imo to give a political speech before you have even picked up your guitar is wrong.

My son once went to see a UK band when he was living overseas, they started by asking the audience to all shout “we hate the f@@@@@g King” they then asked them to “take the knee” he and his partner left.

This is behaviour you may expect from Kneecap but this was a much more mainstream band.

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 12:29:38

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.

Galaxy Sun 20-Sept-26 12:34:07

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.

Smileless2012 Sun 20-Sept-26 12:35:51

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.

Cossy Sun 20-Sept-26 12:36:01

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.

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 12:37:30

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

GrannyGravy13 Sun 20-Sept-26 12:37:54

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.

Galaxy Sun 20-Sept-26 12:38:28

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.

Cossy Sun 20-Sept-26 12:38:30

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.

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 12:39:01

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

Smileless2012 Sun 20-Sept-26 12:39:02

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

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 12:39:57

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

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 12:40:17

The Israeli government are Jews.

Smileless2012 Sun 20-Sept-26 12:40:51

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

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 12:41:42

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.

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 12:42:44

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.

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 12:43:53

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 Sun 20-Sept-26 12:47:02

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.

Smileless2012 Sun 20-Sept-26 12:49:59

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

Dickens Sun 20-Sept-26 12:51:46

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.

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 13:02:28

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.

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 13:04:44

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.

Oreo Sun 20-Sept-26 13:05:56

Smileless2012

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

…and it sure isn’t us Jews doing it.

Smileless2012 Sun 20-Sept-26 13:12:21

Has he said he was all of a dither that fans would desert him if he didn't lay out his views Oreo? That hasn't been reported anywhere.

Do you know him? You must do to know loss of revenue is the only reason he spoke.

Smileless2012 Sun 20-Sept-26 13:13:46

I'm sure it isn't Oreo. It isn't me or Ed Sheeran either.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 20-Sept-26 13:17:01

Oreo

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 tickets for his shows would have been sold out months ago.

He may have lost a few $$ on merchandise sold at the events.

The big money losers would have been the stadiums/venues with less concert goers, they would have sold less beverages and food etc…