Ed Sheeran controversy sparks debate over artist integrity and 1970s singer-songwriters
Online discussion compares contemporary music to classic era, with commenters divided on nostalgia, moral responsibility, and modern artists' engagement with social issues.
What to know
- A Bluesky discussion contrasts Ed Sheeran unfavorably with 1970s classics, but the underlying 'Ed Sheeran story' mentioned as context is not detailed in the evidence.
- Debate centers on whether 1970s artists genuinely possessed superior moral integrity and political engagement, or whether nostalgia distorts that comparison.
- Commenters cite past artists' own controversies—Eric Clapton's racism, Elton John and others at Sun City during apartheid—to challenge the rosy narrative of the 1970s era.
- Disagreement splits between those who see a real decline in artists' willingness to take moral stands, and those who argue that conflates different eras and ignores political musicians working today.
The dispute Whether past artists were genuinely more morally principled or whether nostalgia masks that era's own ethical failures and mediocrity. · positions read across 126 posts and comments
1970s singer-songwriters were superior in both talent and moral character; contemporary artists like Sheeran lack integrity.
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“Sheeran's songs are, for me, unutterably bland, designed to offend as few people as possible, rather like his non-politics.”
tomkane62.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
The comparison reflects nostalgia and selective memory; past eras had mediocre and morally compromised artists too.
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“Every generation thinks their music is the best of all time. And it's usually the music that was released during their teens. It's not quality, it's nostalgia.”
unmutual6.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Musical taste and moral character are separate issues; both eras had excellent and mediocre work, and people can enjoy escapism alongside meaningful art.
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“Growing up in the 60's and 70's I can tell you there was a lot of crap then too. And I loved those songwriters you named. But they also had a lot of fluff songs too.”
zoemom.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
redpeter99.bsky.social Original poster
Ed Sheeran Subject of criticism
How it unfolded 5 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump postscomments
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Debate crystallizes around moral integrity versus musical taste
Some commenters reframed the argument as fundamentally about artists taking moral stands during periods of social upheaval, arguing that 1970s musicians possessed integrity that contemporary performers lack. Others pushed back that this conflates different eras and ignores political artists today.
“The post isn't about music quality. It's about taking a moral stand when it counts, and today's performers don't have the same integrity as they did in the 60s and 70s.”
— fritzcokid.bsky.social -
Plenty of amazing music being made now, if you know where to look. But I agree about Sheeran's stuff being unutterably bland. Who needs AI generated music when we've already got MOR slopmongers like Sheeran.
2 more of the top 3 · 107 posts in this stretch
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CCR, Bob Dylan, and many others used their voices and talent to fight against things that mattered. It gave them depth of character. Few singers today sing about social and political matters today. Everyone is picking at him, but he's really no different than his contemporaries.
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Billy Bragg needs a mention for those that grew up in the 80s, plus Stand Down Margaret by The Beat. SKA was a very political musical movement in the 70s and 80s
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Commenters defend modern artists and challenge generational bias
Responses argued that nostalgia distorts judgment and that many contemporary musicians do engage politically and thoughtfully, while acknowledging that past eras also produced mediocre work alongside classics.
“Every generation thinks their music is the best of all time. And it's usually the music that was released during their teens. It's not quality, it's nostalgia.”
— unmutual6.bsky.social -
Queen did, too. And got challenged on it heavily. Which is why they were nervous about Live Aid. The story they tell in that shitty movie is mostly fiction.
2 more of the top 3 · 8 posts in this stretch
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Funnily enough, George Formby showed a lot more testicular fortitude in dealing with oppression. Google how he dealt with segregation when he went to South Africa to do concerts in 1946…
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Are we now into witch hunts? I‘m no fan of Ed Sheeran. But do I get in all this a hint of Hamas propaganda? There are a lot more questionable pop musicians people could get emotional about, all these racists and tRump supporters.
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Commenters challenge nostalgia and call out past artists' own controversies
Several responses questioned whether 1970s artists were genuinely more principled, citing examples of past musicians who engaged in problematic behavior or avoided political stands—Eric Clapton's racism, Elton John at Sun City during apartheid, and Simon & Garfunkel members performing there as well.
“Eric Clapton was such an amazing guitarist, he was able to tell black people to go back to Africa, and not get canceled.”
— derhister.bsky.social -
And my offspring - early 20s - listen to all that 70s stuff avidly, not because I’ve suggested it, but because it’s so much better. Sheeran’s songs are, for me, unutterably bland, designed to offend as few people as possible, rather like his non-politics.
2 more of the top 3 · 9 posts in this stretch
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On the other hand absolutely no one has, or ever will, surpassed the work of George Formby.
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One of my greatest treasures is an inherited wind-up traveling gramophone on which I can play George Formby's songs in glorious mono at 78 rpm, complete with hiss, crackle and that curiously compressed sound. Perfect! Turned out nice again...
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Commenters reinforce critique of Sheeran's music and character
Multiple responses agreed that Sheeran's work was bland and uninspired. Some framed criticism around moral character and political engagement, while others focused purely on musical quality.
“Sheeran's songs are, for me, unutterably bland, designed to offend as few people as possible, rather like his non-politics.”
— tomkane62.bsky.social -
I once saw him perform at The Emirates This feels like a confession. In my defence/atonement I didn't pay and was invited and have severed contact with the person that invited me. I'm sorry.
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Bluesky user contrasts Ed Sheeran with 1970s singer-songwriters
A post by redpeter99.bsky.social sparked discussion by arguing that Ed Sheeran and contemporary artists are inferior to Joni Mitchell, Carole King, James Taylor, Elton John, Cat Stevens, Nick Drake, and Simon & Garfunkel, citing an unnamed 'Ed Sheeran story' as context.
“Sheeran isn't on the same planet as Joni, Carole King, James Taylor, Elton, Cat Stevens, Nick Drake, S&G and countless others.”
— redpeter99.bsky.social -
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The Ed Sheeran story has had one consequence - it makes those of us who grew up in the 1970s realise the superiority of our singer/songwriters. Sheeran isn't on the same planet as Joni, Carole King, James Taylor, Elton, Cat Stevens, Nick Drake, S&G and countless others.
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What people are saying 11 voices from 1 site · best of 126 · verbatim
- Sep 22
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I’d add Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp to that list.
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Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s I can tell you there was a lot of crap then too. And I loved those songwriters you named. But they also had a lot of fluff songs too. I still listen to them though. Been listening to Tracy Chapman lately. But I I also just want the fluffy stuff too (an escape).
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There's something happening here What it is ain't exactly clear There's a man with a gun over there, telling me I got to beware I think it's time we stop Children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down..
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Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Jim Croce, Dylan, The Band, Leonard Cohen.
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In the 1970s they were artists who did it for the music. Sheeran is a businessman who does it for the money.
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This Jersey girl would like to add Bruce Springsteen to that list.
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No better songwriter than Joni Mitchell ever, and I’d put The Beatles, Dylan, etc etc in there.
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100% correct unfortunately. It always amuses me when younger people comment how great a new song is and I have to point out it is actually a rework from an original track written, performed sometimes many decades earlier.
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There have been plenty of sound songwriters and performers since the 70s who are political and speak truth to power. Similarly there are a lot of contemporary artists from the time who are utter shitheels. Its fine you stopped listening to new music, a lot of people do. But this is nostalgia.
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One has said this for a long time, the hype surrounding the dull as dishwater Sheeran and his bland music has always astounded me. Not a patch on Slade or the band The Beatles coukd have been, Wings...Next up, is Wings and Jet...
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Didn't Elton play Sun City during apartheid?