Man, maybe I should have used this track for my Ed Sheeran opinion piece. I guess they both work. Let’s wrap this thought up.
Like Candlelight, Burn Burn Baby
There was something particularly hilarious about Ed’s Gillette Stadium (owned by Robert Kraft) concerts being cancelled due to inclimate weather, like the Gods themselves were scolding him. How dare you leave Macklemore out in the cold like that? You should know better.
Of course, then he went ahead and issued cancellations for other shows on the Loop tour, which means at least someone in the Sheeran camp has recognized that hey, people kind of care about this genocide stuff.
When you don’t understand the issue, it’s important to listen.
We’ve Done Nothing Wrong
Now I really don’t want to bag too hard on Ed here, but it is important to understand that while he didn’t exactly do anything wrong, he didn’t really do anything right at all either.
He stood back, washed the waves crash and tried to wipe his hands clean of any part of it. “It’s not me, it’s the promoter!” which very well could have been true, but he sure didn’t leap at the opportunity to defend a fellow artists right to free speech, did he?
That kind of seems like bare minimum in an industry that profits off your self expression. And in a point in time where self expression, basic human rights and autonomy over our own bodies is being so heavily attacked, especially right now in the Unites States, it is vitally important that we have each others backs.
We know you’re from the U.K Ed, but surely you’ve seen the odd newspaper floating around during your travels? If you haven’t, now might be a good time to start reading them.
Turn Them Off, All Blacklist Singers
Other artists don’t seem to have much problem in this department and they find fairly simple low-effort ways to express their opinions. Country star Zach Bryan took to Gillette Stadium in a Free Palestine shirt sending a pretty clear message to Kraft and like-minded billionaires without having to utter a word about it.
More forthright vocally, Hayley Williams is absolutely on fire using her platform during recent stops on her own tour regularly empowering the crowd with “Fuck ICE” and “Free Palestine.” Nobody has to guess where she stands, here.
Countless other artists, actors, visual artists and musicians alike have chimed in their own thoughts over the years without there being any real significant impact to their careers, which is not to say that isn’t a real fear, but it is to highlight how it’s important to stay true to your values and people will resonate with them.
The reality is that there are more than enough musicians in the world that we don’t need to line the pockets of those who are just here for sheer (snort – sorry) entertainment value right now, which is the argument Ed seems to make every time he defends his unwillingness to be part of the greater conversation.
The best art says something or provides meaningful thought and discussion while also being generally pleasing to the ears (subjective) – and right now there are hoards of talented people providing art that hits all these markers, so we’ve got choices.
Hell, even Ms. Rachel has used her celebrity to show solidarity and support for these causes and her artistry at its core is to entertain children. C’mon Ed, get with the program!
People can’t resonate with your values if you don’t have any and that’s what people like Ed Sheeran misunderstand about holding strong with a completely non-partisan stance – we can’t figure you out if you have one. Do we trust you? Can we? Who’s side are you really on?
And yes, unfortunately right now more than ever it needs to be clear if you are on the side of those helping or those hurting.
No one is free until we are all free.
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