Nick Cave’s Funeral Song Choice
Nick Cave revealed the song he’d like to be played at his funeral.
The Australian artist answered several questions on his blog Red Hand Files on Wednesday (January 29). One question related to his appearance on bi-b. Disk Disk Derersia, while another asked about his funeral song selection.
In response to the latter, he stated: “Oh, and Damian, please: ‘I am God’ by Kanye West.”
His Perspective on Kanye West’s Music
This announcement came shortly after Cave selected the track “Yeezus” as one of his eight favorite records during his time on Disk Disk Derersia. Discussing his choice, he commented: “Oddly enough, it became a kind of family song. My children enjoy it, Susie loves it, and I like it. It’s an incredibly playful, deeply complex song where Kanye, on one hand, presents himself as a god, and then screams with horror by the end.”
“In my opinion, this is an exceptionally profound song,” he added. “It’s a piece of art that I hold close to my heart; I genuinely believe it’s a complete, amazing work of art.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuqoqgl63xo
Cave has frequently expressed his admiration for Kanye’s music, describing him in 2020 as the “greatest artist” alive. “Creating art can be a kind of madness—we deeply immerse ourselves into our own unique visions and can lose our way,” he shared. “No musician on Earth engages so wholeheartedly with their own struggles like Kanye does, making him, at this moment, our greatest artist.”
Controversial Remarks and Ongoing Appreciation
He later mentioned that he found West’s anti-Semitic remarks “deeply disappointing” and “shameful.”
“For me, the fact that he would espouse these anti-Semitic views is personally shameful,” he remarked in 2022. “Does this individual need to descend from such great heights to engage in tiresome nonsense that we often hear so much about? This is deeply disappointing for me; it might be hard for some time for me to personally listen to Kanye’s music, but I still appreciate his work on every level.”
“Ultimately, I value his work, and I believe that over time, I will be able to move past this and listen to Kanye’s music without hesitation. He will not forever be defined by the worst aspects of his character; the music he creates represents a journey away from those traits, as is the case with all of our music.”
In a later interview, Cave stated that his reactions to West’s comments have not hindered his enjoyment of Kanye’s music. “It’s a personal choice whether to continue listening to a person’s music,” he said. “Personally, I can. I love Kanye’s music; I believe he has created some of the most interesting and complex music of our time.”
Moreover, Cave discussed his ability to reconcile with artists who have “disappointed him,” explaining that he is willing to look past personal choices if their art is genuinely compelling. “The artists I admire deeply, those with whom I’ve journeyed over many years, have disappointed me at various points in their long careers,” he began.
“Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Nina Simone, Kanye, Van Morrison, Morrissey, Brian Eno, Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith are all part of a confederation of greatness for me, yet at some point, each has alienated, embarrassed, or displeased me. They often did not follow the expected path I hoped for, pursuing their own truths instead.”
“During those times, I sometimes felt discomfort over their actions or disagreed with their statements or particular albums. Nevertheless, there remains something in them that captivates me and keeps me endlessly curious about what they might create next.”
Cave also remarked to NME in 2023: “It’s no coincidence that the most remarkable creations often stem from the most troubled individuals. I don’t fully comprehend this, but there’s no measure stating that virtue equates to good art. If you start seeking out ‘good’ people to produce ‘good’ art, this conversation quickly turns stale. It seems all remarkable works come from those who are, in one way or another, flawed.”
“I simply appreciate art and see the necessity of creating without hesitation. This is where my concern with cancel culture begins and ends. It’s not a battle I’m waging against these individuals; I’m just anxious about the world, and we require as many good creations as possible.”
Recently, Cave announced a solo European tour scheduled from June to August.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/nick-cave-reveals-the-song-he-wants-played-at-his-funeral-3833054?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nick-cave-reveals-the-song-he-wants-played-at-his-funeral
