My Random Music

"Innuendo" was certainly big at the time and you would hear it a lot in the aftermath of Freddie Mercury's death but like you say it's been largely forgotten since. I once put this as a question in a music clips quiz and was accused of picking the most obscure Queen song I could find. I had to point out that aside from "Bohemian Rhapsody" this was the only number 1 for Queen on their own during Freddie Mercury's lifetime. A surprising statistic when you consider how many big songs Queen have.

The key part being that it's his show Unless you know Ed Sheeran personally you're never going to know what Ed Sheeran the person is really like. Based on the limited number of musicians I've met I wouldn't say any of them have been like the person you'd imagine them to be based off their lyrics.

I became a huge Queen fan for a year or so after Freddie Mercury's death. "These Are The Days Of Out Lives" is decent but I think "The Show Must Go On" is a much better record. There was no escaping Bryan Adams in the summer of 1991 but I have fond memories of that summer and think it's a decent record. For me it's the sheer quantity of bland records that Bryan Adams released the rest of the decade that's tarnished his reputation for me. Not so fond memories of Enigma because I was ill in bed for much of January 1991. I don't think I remember it at all at the time as a result, but it's since become a record I'm very familiar with and like.

He's a musician not a politician, he doesn't need to say anything on the issue. I'm not going to start listening to his music because it's not my thing but I do see the fact he's refusing to get drawn into politics as a good thing. What I want from musicians is music not a political lecture.

I'm not saying that Ed Sheeran has a new fan in Jeremy Clarkson, I'm giving an example of someone who's just openly said they're not familiar with Ed Sheeran's music. The point is there's no such thing as bad publicity and there's lots of situations that could lead to one becoming an Ed Sheeran fan off the back of this.

I said he might have gained a few fans from this publicity and you're calling these hypothetical new fans right-wing fascist nutjobs. Of course he doesn't want Israelis to stop buying his music, I'm sure a lot of musicians would happily sell their music to whoever is willing to buy it. Nothing wrong with gaining Boy George as a fan. It's quite easy these days to not be familiar with the music of a modern artist. Jeremy Clarkson said in his article that he's met Ed Sheeran but isn't familiar with his music.

Let's say there's somebody who isn't familiar with his music but they're hearing all these news stories all of a sudden. They decide now's the time to familiarise themselves, they take a listen and like what they hear so they continue to listen to his music. By your logic that makes them a right-wing fascist nutjob.

There's no need for him to apologise and I share his sentiments about his concerts being to unite people not divide them. If someone wants to boycott his concert on moral grounds that's up to them but I'm sure most of his fans couldn't care less about his lack of political views. I suspect he's gained a few fans from this publicity too. Given the choice between upsetting a few fans who decided to boycott your concert and upsetting the fans who would turn up regardless it's a no brainer really.

Concert for Ukraine is different though, the audience are there for the cause so they can make political statements to their hearts content there. If you're not siding with Ukraine you won't be at that concert but you may like Ed Sheeran's music and go to one of his concerts where you can unite with people of differing views via the music. I know artists do use the stage to air their beliefs and like I said in a previous post that's a bad thing. My views come from my own research, not influenced by what a musician has to say.

There's a time and a place for artists and celebrities to air their views but a concert where the audience will have differing political views is not the place to do it. I'm not expecting a thank you from Ed Sheeran, I'm not a fan of his music in the slightest. Can't say I find anything wrong with his statement though. No I haven't watched it but I get the gist.

Irrelevant to the subject but no.

Well it's clearly something you're passionate about and that's fair enough but not everyone at that concert is going to share your point of view. Even if they do at least some of them will be at the concert to get away from the harsh realities of life to enjoy the music, not be subjected to them. I'm not apolitical and I listen to a number of artists who quite vocally have different political views to myself but I couldn't care less about their views. All I care about is whether the musics any good or not.

"Dizzy" would be near the top for me. I wouldn't even think it was a novelty record if I didn't know Vic Reeves was a comedian. George Michael/Elton John is decent enough but wouldn't trouble the top of the table. Can't say I've ever thought much of "The One And Only" but over the years it's become a so bad it's enjoyable sort of record. Can't stand the Cher record, would be near the bottom. It didn't help that her previous Top 40 hit was "Just Like Jesse James" which I liked and was completely different. "Black Or White" is a decent song, my only issue was the over the top Michael Jackson videos where you had to sit through 5 minutes of rubbish to get to the actual song.

I thought this topic would have a discussion about the Ed Sheeran tour. The fact of the matter is the only thing that unites thousands of people at a music event is the music itself. By making political statements you're only going to divide the crowd. Everyone has their own political views and they're not going to change their mind just because of something Macklemore says, particularly when it's Ed Sheeran they've come to see rather than him. If it had been at a pro-Palestine event then fair enough but this was an Ed Sheeran concert and politics should stay out of it. People are there for the music, not to be lectured. I personally hate it when artists make political statements at their gigs whether I agree with them or not. I just think shut up and get on with the music.

1991 was a great year for music though I'm not fussed about any of the featured number 1's so far. Once you get past the title of the Color Me Badd record it's a non-entity of a song. Hale & Pace and The Simpsons are supposed to be rubbish. Not a fan of musicals so don't like the Jason Donovan record. Iron Maiden isn't bad but they've done much better. My general rule for determining how good an Iron Maiden song is the faster the song the better and this ones quite slow by their standards.