Nick Cave Defends His Love for Kanye West’s Music Amid Antisemitic Controversy
Nick Cave expresses his continued appreciation for Kanye West’s music, even amidst the artist’s recent outbursts involving antisemitism.
The musician (aged 67) has shared that he desires the controversial rapper’s 2013 hit “I Am God” to be played at his funeral. He made this choice when naming the Yeezus track as one of his preferred songs on BBC’s Desert Island Discs.
I must admit, my loyalty lies with Kanye, but his recent actions have left me puzzled and disappointed. Following his ban from Twitter due to inflammatory remarks about Jewish people, which included stating that he was a Nazi sympathizer and admirer of Adolf Hitler, has not been well received by many fans.
As a committed follower, I understand that while Kanye’s actions have been unacceptable, I am hesitant to dismiss his positive qualities as a means of punishment for his negative behavior.
A reader on your The Red Hand Files blog wondered, ‘How is it even possible for you to enjoy the song when faced with the despicable behavior that Kanye West displays as a person?’
Later on, Nick said: ‘I’ve received many letters clearly stating their disagreement with my appreciation for Kanye West’s tunes.’
‘Much effort has been put into clarifying the wickedness of Nazism, the damage caused by antisemitism, reasons why selling t-shirts with swastikas is inappropriate, and the unacceptability of compelling one’s partner to stand nude on a red carpet at the Grammys.’
‘On that matter, it seems, we can all find some common ground. I agree.’
He stated emphatically that it’s illogical to think an artist could be detached from their work; instead, he suggested that the artist and their artwork are inextricably linked.
Art and an artist share a deep, intricate bond as art serves as the tangible expression of the artist’s innermost being or essence.
The artist’s pieces boldly declare, “Here I am, this is who I am.” Yet, the true beauty of art lies in its ability to help the artist unearth their internal turmoil and reshape it into something breathtakingly beautiful.
In simpler terms, Kanye creates art. Similarly, my goal is to make art, just like any true artist does. What makes art so powerful is its ability to transform our flawed existence into something stunningly beautiful.
He firmly believed that even those who are ‘imperfect and faulty’ can still accomplish ‘extraordinary feats – breathtakingly beautiful, intellectually brilliant, emotionally stirring, untamed, and daring acts.’
‘Regardless of who we are, we all carry our own share of imperfections, damage, and pain. Each of us has the potential to inflict harm, and we each harbor inaccurate beliefs about ourselves and others. A common mistake is the assumption that we are uniquely superior to everyone else, morally or otherwise.’
You might think, ‘I’m nothing like Kanye, I wouldn’t act that way!’ But under certain conditions, people can surprise us with their actions.
‘Being human means having imperfections, but it also grants us the capacity to accomplish extraordinary feats – things that are breathtakingly beautiful, intellectually brilliant, awe-inspiring, wildly daring, and audaciously bold. These achievements, despite our intricate and flawed nature, are worth admiration.’
Nick added that he always looks ‘to seek the beauty wherever it presents itself’.
He expressed that despite the constant and evolving ugliness of anti-Semitism, he strives to find and appreciate beauty whenever it appears.
By taking this action, I’m hesitant to discredit the finest among us just to penalize the worst. I believe it’s not within our means to indulge in such a costly practice.
Expressing his fondness for Kanye’s track on Desert Island Discs, he stated: ‘In an unexpected turn of events, this tune has transformed into something we all cherish as a family. My kids adore it, Susie [his wife] does too, and so do I.’
The tune is both whimsical and ominous, with layers of complexity. Initially, Kanye assumes the role of a deity within the lyrics. However, as the song progresses, there’s a sudden outburst of fear, as indicated by his panicked yelling at the end.
He went on to say: “I find this song incredibly profound. To me, it’s not just any song; it holds significant personal value. In fact, I believe it embodies an absolute masterpiece of artistic brilliance.
Nick previously hailed the Stronger hitmaker ‘the greatest artist on Earth’.
In 2020, he shared with his followers on his blog: “Creating art is akin to a kind of madness – we immerse ourselves fully into our unique perspective, often losing sight of everything else.
‘Among all musicians worldwide, none is more dedicated to self-disruption than Kanye. At the present moment, this unique aspect of his artistry sets him apart as our most exceptional artist.’
However, it’s not the first time he has called out Kanye’s behaviour.
In a speech held at London’s Southbank in 2022, he openly expressed his profound disappointment and disapproval towards the anti-Semitic remarks made by the Good Morning rapper.
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2025-02-18 13:50