There has always been art that stood the test of time. Caravaggio with his paintings, Sylvia Plath with her writing, but what do these creatives have in common? Controversy. They are remembered for the art they made and the lives they led. The double-edged sword for many artists alike is their work will often be judged not solely for its merit or substance, but also by the creator’s personal life. This dichotomy echoes with musicians today.
For modern listeners, choosing which artists to support is not as simple as it once was. Now, we know more about the personal lives of artists than ever before. Their views, scandals and lifestyles are on the internet for the world to see, so naturally it’s become slightly more complicated to enjoy certain songs when you know so much about the person behind them. This is because singers and bands are more than just their music; they’re public figures, who hold their own views and make mistakes. Some forgivable, some not, however now we as audiences hold the power to decide when to stop listening because of these actions.
The trouble of choosing when to do this is a task of defining boundaries, both cultural and personal. Culturally, we have ‘cancelling’ – something that seemingly comes from nowhere, where no musician is safe from its threat. Boycotting artists has become common practice online but it begs the question; does it even work?
For example, Kanye West was widely accredited for his music, but after a string of tweets that left fans feeling confused and shocked from his offensive remarks, his image has undoubtedly shifted. Yet, many die-hard fans maintain that the quality of the rappers work still stands. Therefore, with so many supporters willing to turn a blind eye, it seems as though some cases of controversy do not sully the streams an artist garners.
Though, for me, listening to a musician after uncovering something that they said or did which I think is insensitive sours the once enjoyable experience. For example, The Smiths who are loved by many and adored for their dreamy melodies and equally captivating lyricism, have Morrissey as their singer. Personally, this is someone who’s name not only makes me think of his work in the band, but of his own impropriety.
Recently, he’s been criticized for various controversial comments. Morrissey was praised when The Smiths were first becoming popular for his progressive stance, yet now his beliefs are increasingly polarizing. Many of the things which he’s said in the media lead me to align myself less and less with the band, even as someone who isn’t a huge fan of them.
This experience is true for many supporters of artists with similar reputations. It causes people to clarify that they are a fan of their songs alone, not the person themself.
Does this mean people shouldn’t listen to The Smiths? Of course not, but to think back to the question of boundaries in who’s music we listen to, deciding on what musicians you support is completely at the mercy of your own autonomy. Music is now so intrinsically linked to popular culture that artists cannot simply focus on their songs, they have a reputation to uphold, fans to please and, above all, songs to promote. Cancel culture is fickle and whilst there are far more extreme cases of musicians being cancelled, sometimes it can be difficult to just accept that the artists aren’t who we thought they were.
I think it’s important to remember that listening to your favourite artist doesn’t mean we know them personally. However, when things are brought to light that we disagree with, it can be empowering to stop streaming their songs as an act of resistance.
Words by Ruby Davis
Photo by Marius Masalar on Unsplash
