Sheku wants Rule Britannia dumped
OrchestrasSheku Kanneh-Mason, the young cellist who played at the Harry-Meghan nuptials, has called for the anthem Rule, Britannia to be removed from the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms.
Asked about the imperial tub-thumper on Desert Island Discs he said: ‘I don’t think it should be included.’
His is a minority opinion.
What a stupid – political – question to be asked in a long-established programme asking guests about their favourite 8 pieces of music. If it were “dumped” from the official programme, it’s likely the audience would sing it a capella!
No. This is virtue signalling at its worst, from an overrated cellist whose career was made purely from the colour of his skin.
Not to say he’s a bad cellist but there a dozen others who can play just as well, if not better, who deserve the same hype. And I’m pretty sure they won’t do shameless virtue signalling to stay relevant.
Absolutely spot on. Same goes for the sister forging a solo piano career. You will find many pianists at music college playing just as good that will never get the opportunities afforded her because they don’t have the right skin colour.
What a sad state of affairs.
Everything is always all about who gets what. Skin colour is just one means of getting it. For now.
On tour in the USA at the moment with the RPO. Wonderful opportunity indeed. Sure many other capable pianists.
Nasty racist comment
I’m by no means a tub-thumping patriot; but the gloriously rousing music and words of “Rule, Britannia” give me guaranteed tingles down the spine, at the BBC Last Night of the Proms.
We all know shabby little Britain is shorn of its empire and sailing alone into the unknown, cut off even from Europe, but it’s damn good fun!
In an article in the Times about this, he says he’s always felt uncomfortable being black and the way he’s treated.
Does he for not one second realise his meteoric career is almost exclusively because he’s black? Especially his elder sister who has one of the worst piano techniques in the world – ask any pianist. Seems very ungrateful and hypocritical, who’s clamouring for attention. Oh and in the same article he has the audacity to call himself ‘shy’.
He should be bl**dy heck grateful to have gotten all this attention for the last few years, and in my opinion, just keep his rather bigoted mouth shut.
If he gets rightfully cancelled then it’s about damn time. Give someone else a go in the limelight who has more talent (I can name loads) and a less self-righteous mouth.
Whether you like or dislike is playing or opinions he has a far more positive affect on the world than your bitter angry ravings.
If you’re going to excoriate someone like this, you should do so under your own, full name. Anything other than that is cowardly bullying. By the way, you have misspelled ‘Hypocrite’.
The K-M family has had considerable BBC exposure: including Sheku’s victory in BBC Young Musician of the Year – a game-changer for many young players who compete in it.
What SK-M has failed to take into consideration is the text of the song, Rule Britannia. It is a prophetic paean to the expansion of the Royal Navy that then took place over the following century. It was precisely this expansion which facilitated Britain’s ending of the slave trade – having been so deeply implicated in it, for the preceding two centuries, of course.
Now that you mention spelling, a considerable number of opinionated persons here misspell Britannia.
Ending slave trade after 300 years of profiteering from slavery, raping and murdering indigenous population? Then to add insult to injury, compensating slave owners for their loss of income but not those that suffered. But sure, we should be grateful that they ‘stopped ‘ slavery
What is particularly shocking about this nasty and lying comment is the number of up-votes. Perhaps “What a hypocrite” also passed grade 8 cello with distinction at the age of 9? But of course, the examiner only gave that award because of Sheku’s race!
Heard him twice and his sister once in live concerts, never again.
I’ve heard both him and his sister play and they’re both very good; I’m not a pianist so can’t judge her technique.
No doubt being Black in a field that’s overwhelmingly White (and increasingly Asian) has helped him stand out – as of course did playing for a royal wedding (didn’t hurt Kiri Te Kanawa, either) – but they’re both very competent. Over time they’ll have to play well to last. Though Isaac Stern – who IIRC is most decidedly NOT Black – managed to have a very long and lucrative career playing poorly. And this site is full of carping about White performers who allegedly are overrated. At least Sheku probably won’t be kneecapping better rivals.
As for “Rule Brittania,” yes it’s a great tune and will stir any heart. But it’s a symbol of British imperialism, of which many people around the world – including many who are now proud UK citizens and residents – have less than fond memories. So his feelings on that are understandable.
Tough. It’s about British history — nobody expects Britannia to rule the waves any more, or even to want to — but it was once the case and anyone from elsewhere will just have to read some British history and learn the contexts.
They don’t have to agree with everything Britain ever did, any more than today’s British don’t always agree with everything it is doing today. But none of these citizens and residents were dragged here — they all came voluntarily, presumably because they believed it would offer them a better life than they had where they came from.
And that “it” is Britain, with its own history, foibles and problems. And a lot of its people want to celebrate its traditions, and for my money that trumps special interest carping.
Certainly many ex-colonials have much to criticise about Britain, and the freedom to do so. Bit they should not be given carte blanch to dismantle the country, as they seem to be doing brick by brick.
The Proms is a successful festival, but don’t forget it is still reaching only a small percentage of the population. Let them enjoy it. Anyone who does not is free to avoid it.
There are doubtless parts of every concert that someone dislikes for one reason or another. They may skip that one, or turn it off when the disliked part comes on. Reach for the remote, Sheku, and shut up.
Last paragraph: that’s just what Sheku did; he said he left before the end.
How many of the red-faced flag-waving prommers, do you suppose, have seriously read British history and learnt the contexts?
My opinion: Rule Britannia made sense in Henry Wood’s original setting, as a centenary of Trafalgar celebration, and in Malcolm Sargent’s choral setting of 1940; and in the war and post-war years it commemorated something real. A great tune, but what, really, is it celebrating now? Our freedom from the EU? Our global naval power? Or just a memory of a distorted version of badly taught and ill-remembered history?
Then he did exactly the right thing, from his point of view. My comments were addressed as much to anyone who agrees with him as to him personally.
And indeed a lot may be attributed to poor teaching. How is it that the historical view expressed by the woke always remembers any bad Britain did, but, sticking to ruling the waves, forgets what good it did? Like Dunkirk, when a flotilla of ordinary folk risked, and often lost, their lives to rescue another valiant group of British, who risked and lost their mostly young lives in standing up to an unspeakably evil foe?
Or who produced what might reasonably be called the greatest body of literature in world history? Or who developed a character of tolerance and a sense of justice and fairness that is the envy of much of the world?
It is being very eroded by the results of its very generosity of spirit, not helped by what is now decades of administrative incompetence, inertia and corruption, from Windrush to the Post Office scandal to the NHS.
For the British character is not without flaws: a lot of its problems are rooted in classism and an insularity that at its extreme IS racist, and there seems to be also an idleness that is widespread enough to be concerning.
A lot might be helped it it would get a grip on education. Far too many young people are getting out of school without the “three Rs” — they cannot, or at least do not read, write or do ‘rithmetic so inevitably have a very limited worldview, including the world right around them.
A very reasonable response, thank you. I think part of the problem has been that in the past the downside of British history was hardly touched on in school history lessons. The Empire, for instance, was a Good Thing that ended too soon.
Your third paragraph is exactly the sort of thing I was encouraged to believe, without question, as a child. But does it actually stand up to close examination, in a global context? If the balance is tilted too far in the other direction nowadays, that is not surprising.
Kipling, one of my favourite authors, would have had none of the facile patriotic posturing of the last night of the Proms.
He’s one of my favourites too! But I am not entirely sure that at some point in his life he would not have been a ‘Rule Britannia’ enthusiast. I suspect his worldview changed after the loss of his son.
You don’t have the right to perpetuate imperialist racism just because there used to be an empire. You need to wake up
Playing the victim card cannot hurt…
Extraordinary racism. Luckily dinosaurs like you will be dead soon and the rest of us can get on with building a more accepting and pleasant world
Didn’t this cellist accept an MBE (member of the British Empire)
Err….
He certainly did. That’s why he’s a hypocrite.
As with Chi-Chi accepting a CBE and having this honour proudly emblazoned in huge letters at the top of her website.
I agree with him. I’ve always hated the last night of the Proms. What evidence is there that he is in the minority?
of course he does.
Abit late now the damage is done.
Same as with the USA and UK artificially trying to distance themselves from Netanyahu after twenty five thousand people have been slaughtered, after they supported it with guns planes, ships and double speak rhetoric.
“His is a minority opinion” – rather an unfortunate and potentially insensitive double meaning there. In any case, where is the evidence that it’s a minority of the UK that have this opinion? Rule Brittania is deeply problematic. The triumphalist nature of some of the words, in the context of a history of British imperial abuses and enslaving other human beings, makes many people uncomfortable. What are we supposed to do about this discomfort, even if we don’t feel it ourselves – simply ignore it and carry on? I’m convinced it will, sooner or later, be dropped from the Last Night, or the words will have to change.
It would be very easy to replace “slaves” with “knaves”, for instance.
Or ‘rule’ with ‘fool’
But which slavery is it referring to? Not what you probably think, or want to think.
If a song makes you uncomfortable I suggest you curl up on your sofa and cuddle your teddy bear and not engage with the world. Or seek therapy.
There’s nothing ‘problematic’ about Rule Britannia. If you don’t like it then switch off. There’s plently of rap, grime and drill music that I find morally questionable to the point of offensive but I just don’t listen to it. I’m not going out with placards.
These are the problems of sequestered metropolitan progressives with nothing better to do than demonstrate their virtue.
You speak of “the context of a history of British imperial abuses and enslaving other human beings”.
I suspect that the reference to Britons not being slaves has nothing to do with slavery in British colonies but instead reflects what was pretty well the official British political ideology as set out in John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government. According to Locke, those ruled by an absolute monarch, as (allegedly) in France, were essentially slaves of that monarch, since an absolute monarch had the right to do as they liked with their subjects, as though they were mere possessions, and thus the powers of an absolute monarch were essentially those of a slave-owner over slaves. In a properly-constituted polity, however (like Britain), the right to rule lay with ‘the people’ and was only entrusted to the actual rulers so far as they were of good behaviour. Within this framework, the reference to Britons not being slaves is a dig at those French, Britain’s major international enemy in the 18th century.
Indeed the song wasn’t about slavery in the British colonies; it was the final chorus of a masque about King Alfred (‘founder’ of the British navy). But at the time it was written, a flourishing slave trade was being carried on by British businessmen, and its profits enjoyed by at least the better-off segment of the British population. So there is some irony there to be considered.
I also reflect that the masque was written for the entertainment of Frederick Prince of Wales, the grandson of the first Hanoverian King of England, in an attempt to de-emphasize his German ancestry. More irony there.
Worth remembering Locke defended private property including slaves as property.
You don’t believe in private property? Not even of your own toothbrush?
Did Locke really defend slavery? And even if he did it’s beside the point in the present context because I did not wheel on John Locke as sage or prophet whose every word is to be venerated as though it fell from the lips of Jesus or Donald Trump. I mentioned him merely as probably the most influential figure in generating a view of political authority and obligation which, I suggested, may underlie the reference in the song to Britons not being slaves. You played the man, not the view I mentioned as articulated by him.
That ditty makes me cringe too so I am agreement with him. The ditty not only rings absurd but dated. Imagine for a moment a stadium full of Germans to the tune of “Deutschland über Alles”. See? Why one and not the other, then?
You’re aware, right, that the Deutschlandlied, whose melody was written by Haydn, is the national anthem of Germany? And that its third stanza is the text used today, and that it is indeed regularly sung by a stadium full of Germans at football matches and what not?
A.L. would have made what I think is his point better by saying “a stadium full of Germans SINGING ‘Deutschland über alles’”. Then you (and I) could agree.
All of Europe and more would be be singing “Deutschland uber Alles” if England hadn’t stood almost alone against the Nazis until the isolationist United States was attacked by Japan, another Axis power.
I assume you mean Britain sold alone rather than the slightly singular “England stood alone” as Scotland, Wales and Ireland also took part!
I am astonished that this comment should have been downvoted. I mean, does the downvoter really think that Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland had no part in the war?
I thought that was/is the German national anthem although only the third verse is now sung.
I take it he will not be making himself available for the Proms until it is dropped?
Who cares what this non-entity thinks?
You might as well ban land of hope and glory
I wish they would ban the sung version. I wish it had never been set to verse. It is a wonderful tune, it was only made into a song by royal command, the words are irredeemably jingoistic, and it is now impossible to hear without the banal lyric repeating itself in ones head.
Not a bad idea either. As the other post says it’s much better without the words and it would also be good if the other P&C marches got an outing more often.
Britain never, ever shall be enslaved persons.
There are some nasty replies here. Grim.
Why not a poll? Dump Rule Britannia or Sheku?
Ridiculous
“.. folk music from this country is astonishing,” he said. “I think that would be [a] wonderful thing to take its place.” Exactly! Lancashire mill workers took strike action in solidarity with slaves. Worth celebrating that rather than jingoism
When you invite the world to your country, some will come with no understanding or appreciation of the host country’s history or traditions. I have always been for immigration with understanding that the immigrant “joins” the host country and accepts its laws, history and traditions.
Sorry, but in what sense is Sheku Kanneh-Mason an immigrant?
Indeed, it might come as a surprise to some here that Sheku was born in Nottingham. But I guess it suits the reactionary narrative to imagine him as an ungrateful and ignorant immigrant …
Yep, their racism is showing. Apparently, Britain is only for white people. Even when that Black person and their parents were born and brought up here
Maybe he should just take a knee when the music starts.
I remember Peter Maxwell Davies (who was anything but a non-entity, except for, no doubt, a large section of the SD readership for whom *nobody* is good enough) said he always tried to sneak out of the Albert Hall before those two anthems were belted out. And Sheku K-M is a superb player, and also far from a non-entity, you miserable gits.
Good on him! His career is not dependent on the aging, envious (racist) cabal on this board and he’s free to say exactly how he feels. Rule Britannia is a relic from terrible times for the majority of the world. Into the dustbin!
Are you really in a position to support your claims that the so-called cabal are aging and racist and envious? Or is it merely the sort of thing you say to trash people?
Is not ageism one of the sins you condemn?
What on earth gives him the right to make this demand. Another willing tool of the woke left. He’s a fine musician, but that’s it.
It clearly wasn’t a demand. Facts are secondary though I guess.
It wasn’t a demand; merely an expression of preference.
And someone else made the point that he is welcome to not accept a Last Night engagement; I would agree.
Jesus christ, all these commenters here bashing at Sheku scream bitterness and a lot of hatred.
To all those calling him a “non-entity”, or saying ‘who cares’, well I hate to break it to you, but a lot people care, simply because he’s a famous cellist. BBC clearly cared, since they asked a question, and he answered honestly. Would you have expected him to lie, or even more incongruously, tell the interviewer off for asking a political question that had nothing to do with his Desert Island discs?
To all those saying he sucks : Talent is irrelevant in this discussion. And he *is* a very good cellist, and sure, he’s not Queyras, Gabetta, Yo-Yo Ma, but guess what, he’s 24. He has a lot of time to grow even more, and he’ll continue growing on whatever path he chooses.
I hate to break to all of you bitter trolls here : classical music is NOT a meritocracy, however much you might wish it so. It’s all based on connections, connections, connections, luck, a basic amount of talent, a lot of stamina, and… wait for it… starpower! So instead of bashing him, or calling him a hypocrite, just don’t buy a ticket to his concerts, or if you’re a programmer, don’t invite him (oh but wait, since he’s got a pretty good following… he gets more public than unknown stars that never dare to be anything else than a boring old interpreter, so you might want to invite him).
Noone *deserves* anything in life. Least of all trolls.
Well said
What’s his problem — not a Briton, or wants to be a slave?
Absolutely nothing to do with him. As brilliant as he is. It is a part of our culture and tradition. Just a few years ago before he jumped on the WOKE bandwagon, he would have been singing along with everyone else. His choice. He neither has to play, attend, or come back to England again. So sad
You do know, of course, that Sheku is British, born in England, as was his father?
Talking of “our culture and tradition”, you know, perhaps, that Antigua, where Sheku’s paternal ancestors came from, was a British settlement/colony from the seventeenth century until independence in 1981? And that the prosperity of those colonists depended largely on African slaves to work the sugar cane fields? It wasn’t until 1834 that the last slave was emancipated – their masters being compensated for loss of ‘property’ by the British government.
What part of that “culture and tradition” do you own?
As for Sierra Leone, where Sheku’s mother comes from, that only gained independence from Britain in 1961.
I would say that Sheku has at least as much right as you have to talk about “our culture and tradition”.
Norman Lebrecht: “His is a minority opinion.”
I see what you did there, Norman, but did you? Isn’t it obvious that British minority descendants of peoples colonized to the tune of R, B might find it objectionable?
Some of the commenters here remind me of those American southerners who objected to the removal of Confederate generals’ statues from their town squares. I mean, tradition!
Wokerati at work. Pathetic!
SKM was asked a question, he replied with his opinion. It wasn’t unsolicited, and it wasn’t the centre of the interview. We all have opinions, and it’s pretty funny that some people think he shouldn’t be allowed his if it’s different to their own.
Some comments here about his colour are pretty below the belt. He has been somewhat shoe-horned into representing all classical musicians of colour by virtue of the lack of others in the field and would rather just be considered for his music. Any prominence due to being the ‘right fit for the times’ is absolutely no different from the generations of men who got prominence over women, or women with good looks getting picked for representation over those more normal. Getting to the top – which really is only possible with talent AND publicity – has never been a fair race, and people of colour have been ruled out from it entirely until v recently. Bitterness about one who made it through strikes of downright racism to me.
There are things I don’t like but I don’t expect things to be banned, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. If the majority constantly bows to the minority, EVERYTHING would be banned
That’s the healthy reaction. Wish more people shared it.
In post satire Britain, there’s only one way to ‘enjoy’ Rule Britannia:
Accompanied by the counterpoint of 1000s of European flags freely handed out by yours truly.
Rule Britannia:
more hilarious every year.
“Rule, Britannia will be around and sung for longer than your slightly weird and obsessive “flag-shagging” demos last.
It is very odd that flag-waving displays are disapproved of by this strange crowd, in every context except that of the EU?
It’s a bourgeois, hideously white capitalist club, surely? Shame on you for propping it up.
I agree with another comment that this was a stupid question to ask on such a programme as Desert Island Discs and loaded with political import. ‘Rule Britannia’ is a fine patriotic song and has had it’s place in the Last Night of the Proms for many years and should not be dumped just because a representative of the snowflake generation doesn’t like it.
Of course, it’s a well-known fact that Elgar detested the jingoistic words that were set to his Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 ‘big tune’ , but that also has a solid place in the final sequence of music in this concert that ends the greatest of British Music Festivals.
At the end of the day, it’s about people having a good old-fashioned sing-song and enjoying themselves. I couldn’t care less what this young man thinks or says. He’s entitled to his opinion but other ‘cellists are available!
Surely we have to blame Megan Markle for starting this musical circus and pantomime?
If she hadn’t insisted on having a black cellist playing at her wedding which provided such a platform for this average cellist which has become a woke PR’s dream client (and his subsequent musically adequate siblings) then he wouldn’t have been invited to appear on Desert Island Discs and be encouraged to make such silly woke statements.
Interesting he can accept his recent gong from the establishment whilst talking such conflicting dribble.
Perhaps like the CEO of The Post Office, he should give it back before opening his mouth and stick to trying to play the cello (irrespective of getting Grade 8 aged 9 – as do hundreds of others btw)
There are many other cellists of similar age who are musically far more proficient than this one whose skin colour has taken priority over his average playing.
How curious that one person expressing an opinion is so threatening to so many people who have commented here.
I remember Simon Rattle saying something fairly similar not long ago and whilst there was also some debate about that it wasn’t nearly as nasty.
The only obvious reason I can see for that difference is S K-M’s skin colour.
However his opinion is probably shared quite widely.
It might be because of his youth, and the likelihood that his historical understanding is extremely limited. Agree or disagree with Sir Simon, he grew up in an age when people had far better educations.
It is rather the historical understanding of many SD commenters on this thread that is extremely limited – and I imagine most of them do not have the excuse of youth!
Was it not Mark Elder, and it did cause a mighty fuss?
I was thinking of this:
https://slippedisc.com/2021/07/simon-rattle-uneasy-about-jingoistic-proms/
I like to think ruling the waves and not being slaves are more to do with the Royal Navy helping ensure we remain a free country, and helping other countries maintain their freedom, whether it’s by fighting Hitler, countering Putin or whatever. The words say we won’t be slaves, which does not have to imply others must be enslaved instead.
It hasn’t always been in the Last Night, though. Around the turn of the millennium when the BBC were having a wobble following devolution, etc. it and the Sea Songs were omitted from the programme. When they returned, “Britannia” was only included in a brief orchestral arrangement at the end of the Fantasia, I believe Henry Wood’s original version. It’s only in more recent years there has been a return to the full version with a soloist singing all the verses. I would be happy with them going back to Wood’s orchestral version again.
Some of the comments below really offensive. No one would ever dare claim that a certain cellist or pianist had only achieved success because they were Jewish, so why is reference to his skin colour tolerated?
Sheku’s parents are both British, of Caribbean and African descent; both professionals and cultured, having raised a family of musicians. Sheku was a child prodigy who, by the age of 24, has already achieved world-wide celebrity status and has been given privileges only dreamed of, but not granted to, other musicians throughout their whole lives. He played at a royal wedding and at the Last Night of the Proms.
Now we hear that this young superstar, awarded the MBE at 21, feels ‘uncomfortable’ on hearing ‘Rule Britannia’ on the Last Night – or anywhere else, one assumes. Therefore, he wants it banned.
Sheku is presumably OK with the concept of the British Empire because he accepted an MBE in the 2020 New Year Honours List. He is OK with the Conservative government as it was they who recommended him for the honour; he was OK with the late Queen Elizabeth II who awarded it to him. He was also OK with performing as a soloist at the Last Night of the Proms, and hearing ‘Rule, Britannia’ being played and sung. He is also OK with earning a high-profile living in Great Britain, having benefitted greatly from what this country has offered him. His parents and siblings must surely and rightly be proud of him. He’s even OK with playing Elgar’s Cello Concerto at the Proms – the composer who also wrote ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ that echoes exactly the same sentiments as ‘Rule, Britannia’. In other words, he’s OK with being a true Brit.
Now, Sheku, MBE, reveals that he feels ‘uncomfortable’ with ‘Rule Britannia’. He has every right to feel that way. But it seems that because of this, he wants it banned from the Proms, and elsewhere, presumably.
I don’t know what his siblings and his parents think about this; are they proud of it or highly embarrassed? But someone, if not they, should tell young Sheku three things: first, that his celebrity status has misled him to believe that he can dispense with a great British tradition; second, that he is not so important to the millions of people in this country and worldwide who attend or watch the Last Night of the Proms that they give a rat’s behind about his comfort or otherwise; third, that this country does not exist to please the whims of a 24-year-old wunderkind.
For what it’s worth, my advice to Sheku is to do one of two things: either keep playing and don’t mess with the country that gave you so much, or hand in your MBE and go to live somewhere else where they don’t sing ‘Rule Britannia’. I sincerely hope he will take the former option.
Finally, it’s regrettable that some who posted in this thread have denigrated Sheku’s musical abilities and worse, his sister’s. I have just listened to his 2019 Proms performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto and it’s magnificent. To suggest that he achieved his status because he is black is also outrageous.
If he wants to fight racism, the best way to do so is to win over the world through his art. He has the gift of getting to people’s hearts. Sheku – don’t let this silliness ruin your career.
“He was also OK with performing as a soloist at the Last Night of the Proms, and hearing ‘Rule, Britannia’ being played and sung.”
Maybe this was a bit of revelation after playing “Last Night,” i.e. that hearing it in the moment and thinking back on it, he realized it celebrates an imperial Britain that wasn’t always so kind to people who looked like him. You know, it’s called experience. And then talking about it using your voice and your platform, on behalf of others who don’t feel the same way. Perhaps how Casals or Picasso spoke up against (or at least shunned) Franco on behalf of those who didn’t have their prominence.
But props for not denigrating his talent in your response.
Without wishing to agree or disagree with the sentiment of your post, for the sake of accuracy I should point out that Sheku hasn’t said the piece should be “banned”, just that he feels it could be dropped from the Last Night programme. Also, Elgar didn’t write “Land of Hope and Glory”; the words were later added to his march, and it’s been suggested he was not happy with that.
I certainly agree with one point, though. I was at his Proms 2019 performance, and it was superb.
“For what it’s worth, my advice to Sheku is to do one of two things: either keep playing and don’t mess with the country that gave you so much, or hand in your MBE and go to live somewhere else where they don’t sing ‘Rule Britannia’. I sincerely hope he will take the former option.”
So it’s only British white people who can object to ‘Rule, Britannia’?
So black people, no mattrer that they’re born here, can’t be truly British?
I see.
I think you’ve put your finger on what’s behind a lot of the comments here.
Whether one agrees with Rule Britannia being played or not, I think it is impressive that Sheku is not afraid to express himself on this subject – so many musicians simply hide under the music stands, and are no where to be seen when the music stops.
The all important point is that Sheku comes from a black background, which would have been on the receiving end of daily racism. Dear commentators, please show some empathy – how would you have felt had you been him?
You can stop virtue-signaling, Robert; no one is impressed.
Beware celebrity endorsements in areas outside their expertise. SK-M and his family are very talented, and excellent poster boys for UK institutions that want to promote diversity. But unless he has actually looked into the origin and widely misinterpreted text of Rule, Britannia !, then it is unfair of me BBC to lead him into this area. The BBC have tried to “cancel” this song before, and I think we’re the first to run this story. Is it possible his predictability misinformed response is being used as part of a BBC agenda ?
Typical woke mind by whom wouldn’t be there without woke movement….
I like the idea of rotating between all five of the P&C Marches at the Last Night of the Proms. I’m a particular fan of No.3 but would be mightily put out if Sir Tim Rice (who I otherwise generally like) was commissioned to write words to the big tune, as he did with Arnold’s Peterloo).
I deeply shocked at the racist bile on this block which is supposed to be about high culture. The comments about musicianship are pretty ignorant too. Why not get angry about the dismantling of the ENO or something else more worthy? Arne’s workaday tune, and the associations that it has come to have, are not worthy of such a no-holds-barred defence.