Sir Elton John praises Irish band Kneecap for being ‘political' with their music
Sir Elton John has spoken of his admiration for Irish band Kneecap and their 'energy' and 'vitality'.
The rap trio from West Belfast are known for merging Irish and English in their music alongside politically charged and satirical lyrics.
Speaking to broadcaster Nick Grimshaw on BBC Radio 6 Music, the 77-year old musician said: 'I saw a video of them, and I just was so knocked out, by the energy they had and the vitality they had.
'They're just extraordinary and they, what they talk about is political, and there's not many bands that do that.
'So, yeah, I love them. I love the energy. I love everything about them.'
Kneecap is made up of Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Moglai Bap, whose real name is Naoise O Caireallain, and DJ Provai, whose full name is JJ O Dochartaigh.
The band has received some criticism and censorship over their music and was in dispute with now-Tory leader Kemi Badenoch when the group launched a discrimination case.
The trio were blocked by the former Conservative government from receiving a grant aimed at supporting UK artists, despite their application being successful.
The Department of Business and Trade, which was headed by Ms Badenoch at the time, said they did not want to give taxpayers' money to people who 'oppose the United Kingdom itself'.
The group took legal action against the government, claiming the decision was discriminatory and won in November 2024, receiving £14,250 – the total amount of the original grant.
The trio donated the money to two youth organisations in Belfast, splitting it between a nationalist and a unionist area.
In 2024, the band released an eponymous debut film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together.
The film was nominated for six Baftas and took home the award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.
It was also among the big winners at the Irish Film and Television Academy (Ifta), scooping four awards including best director for Rich Peppiatt.
Sir Elton, known for hit songs Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer and I'm Still Standing, also spoke about still getting nervous before releasing new music.
Sir Elton said: 'All the time. Oh, it never goes away. When you play new tracks for people, you still feel the same as you did when I was playing Empty Sky, my first album to somebody. It never goes away, nor should it. Fear is the greatest motivator.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Labour MPs push front bench for ‘crackdown' on ‘dodgy' vape and barber shops
Labour MPs have called for a 'crackdown' on 'dodgy' vape, barber and souvenir shops, which a minister warned 'undermine the legitimate' firms on Britain's high streets. Melanie Onn said she 'really must press' the Government for long-term action to tackle these shops, which MPs heard had links to tax evasion and money laundering, and Joe Powell said well-known London streets such as Portobello Road and Notting Hill Gate are 'blighted'. Business and trade minister Gareth Thomas told MPs that the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) had visited almost 400 premises during a three-week operation in March, freezing several bank accounts. Mr Powell, the MP for Kensington and Bayswater, told the Commons: 'Small businesses across my constituency on our high streets from Earls Court Road to Queensway, Notting Hill Gate and Portobello Road are fed up of being blighted by candy shops, low-grade souvenir shops, Harry Potter shops and, yes, even barber shops, with accusations of VAT and business rates evasion, and even links to money laundering and serious organised crime.' He urged Mr Thomas to say 'what steps' the Government is taking 'to crack down on these operations and create a legitimate level playing field for our small businesses'. The minister replied: 'We've been working with colleagues in the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to take action to crackdown on illegitimate businesses that threaten to undermine the legitimate ones that are on all of our high streets. 'In March, the NECC co-ordinated a three-week crackdown against barber shops and other cash-intensive businesses where there were concerns, visiting almost 400 premises, securing freezing orders over a series of bank accounts totalling more than £1 million.' In response, Ms Onn said: 'I really do need to press him because my constituents in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes are equally as fed up as (Mr Powell) of seeing high streets dominated by dodgy vape shops, unlicensed barbers.' She said 'some of them are legitimate' but asked: 'Is he working closely with the Home Office to try and tackle this blight because I think we probably need a national strategy, not a three-week operation?' Mr Thomas said he recognised 'a concern up and down the country' and added the NCA and Home Office 'are seeking to take action against illegitimate business'. He said a Government commitment to bolster police forces with 13,000 extra officers and special constables, backed by an uplift to forces' 'spending power' of 2.3% per year unveiled in Wednesday's spending review, 'will help'. In a viral video, Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick claimed 'weird Turkish barber shops' were 'chipping away at society', along with fare evasion, when he caught passengers allegedly 'bumping' London Underground ticket barriers on camera. 'The state needs to reassert itself and go after lawbreakers,' he said. Conservative MP Graham Stuart said that if a book which Labour MP for Central Ayrshire Alan Gemmell is writing were a 'political thriller about fighting for small business', then he was 'sure it features five heroes on the front bench opposite, doing everything they can to promote small business'. Ministers laughed and pointed at Tory MPs when Mr Stuart added: 'Readers will ask 'who is the villain of the piece?'' The Beverley and Holderness MP suggested the villain would be Rachel Reeves, 'the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is doing everything possible to undermine business – 276,000 people having lost work since the autumn statement'. He asked: 'When will the ministers, the heroes of this story, fight against the Chancellor who's getting so much so wrong?' Mr Thomas said: 'It's a little while since I've been called a hero by (Mr Stuart) but I'm glad that I've finally had some recognition from him in that regard. 'I don't think the Chancellor of the Exchequer is a villain at all. 'Indeed, I think the spending review that she announced yesterday will help to unlock investment in our high streets and in our small businesses up and down the country – the record investment in research and development, the record investment in infrastructure, and the additional capacity to the British Business Bank will help to unlock billions of pounds of new investment and many more job opportunities across the country.' Labour former minister Liam Byrne later called for 'a plan to cut industrial energy costs now'. The Commons Business and Trade Committee chairman said: 'As our committee pointed out on Friday, the success of the industrial strategy will depend on a plan to cut industrial energy costs now. 'When the industrial strategy is published, will the Secretary of State reassure us that there will be a plan to ensure that UK energy prices are internationally competitive?' Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds replied: 'The very significant increase in industrial energy prices under the terms of the last government are a significant issue for our competitiveness, and yes, that is something we're seeking to address.'
New York Post
35 minutes ago
- New York Post
Dutch royal family shares health update after Princess Catharina-Amalia, 21, rushed to hospital
The future queen of the Netherlands underwent surgery to repair a fracture to her upper arm after she was hospitalized during a horseback-riding accident, the Dutch royal family said. Princess Catharina-Amalia, the 21-year-old heir to the Dutch throne and daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, broke her arm after being thrown from her horse on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Dutch Royal Palace confirmed that Catharina-Amalia, who is known as Princess of Orange, will remain under the watchful eye of doctors and nurses at UMC Utrecht this week. Advertisement 5 Princess Catharina-Amalia underwent surgery to repair a fracture to her upper arm after being hospitalized over a horseback-riding accident, the Dutch royal family said. Getty Images 'The surgery went well,' the palace said in a statement. 'She will remain in the UMC Utrecht for monitoring until tomorrow.' The royals have been forced to hit the brakes on their busy schedule as several engagements have been postponed to a later date. Advertisement Among the postponed events is a summer photo session that was scheduled for Thursday at Paleis Huis ten Bosch, the official residence of the Dutch royal family. The photo session has been rescheduled for June 30 to allow time for the princess's recovery. 5 The future queen of the Netherlands broke her arm after being thrown from her horse on Tuesday. Royal House of the Netherlands Additionally, Queen Máxima has canceled her planned appearance at the CGAP Congress in Amsterdam on Wednesday evening, leaving King Willem-Alexander to attend the opening of the Holland Festival alone. Advertisement On Tuesday, the Dutch palace issued an official statement following the royal's injury. 'The Princess of Orange broke her upper arm today after falling from her horse. She will undergo surgery at the UMC Utrecht,' an English translation of the statement said. The heiress to the throne is a keen horsewoman, and the palace's official website displays photos of Amalia riding her horse Mojito. 5 The princess is the daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. WireImage Advertisement The incident is similar to the one Princess Anne suffered last year. The Princess Royal, 74, spent a total of five days in the hospital with head injuries following a horse-related incident last June. The ordeal has left her with minor wounds to the head, which are consistent with impact from a horse's head or legs. The royal — who is King Charles' only sister — was concussed and experienced subsequent memory loss after she was struck by a horse on the grounds of her Gatcombe Park estate. 5 The royals have been forced to hit the brakes on their busy schedule as a result of the accident. / Speaking about the ordeal the following month, Anne told the BBC, 'It just reminds you, shows you — you never quite know, something [happens] and you might not recover.' The princess added that the experience taught her that 'every day is a bonus.' 'You're jolly lucky…if you can continue to be more or less compos mentis, and last summer I was very close to not being. Take each day as it comes, they say.' Advertisement It's not the first time Anne has experienced memory loss as a result of a horse-related incident. At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal — at which she represented Great Britain — the then-26-year-old suffered a bad jump that prompted her to fall. 5 The 21-year-old is the heir to the Dutch throne. MEGA Advertisement She later described her memory as 'almost nonexistent for that day.' Anne — who is often regarded as one of the hardest-working royals within the Firm — is expected to ride horseback at the Trooping the Colour ceremony Saturday alongside Prince William and Prince Edward.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Brooklyn Beckham Knew He Wanted to Marry Nicola Peltz-Beckham After Three Months of Dating
Brooklyn Beckham was confident that Nicola Peltz was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with early on in their relationship. The A-list couple sat down for an interview with Glamour Germany — translated from German to English — published on Monday, June 2, and discussed their whirlwind romance. Brooklyn, 26, revealed that he would have liked to propose to his sweetheart even sooner than he did. 'We got engaged after six months. But Brooklyn had the ring months earlier,' Nicola, 30, told the outlet. 'I knew after three months that I wanted to marry her,' Brooklyn admitted. 'But because of COVID, I wanted to wait until our families could be there.' Nicola detailed the proposal, which took place in July 2020, telling the publication it came as a surprise to her. 'Brooklyn had secretly planned everything. I thought he was just organizing a date. Since it was just him and my mom, I had no idea. In reality, my brothers, sister and dad had secretly flown in and were hiding,' she explained. 'After the proposal, everyone arrived in golf carts. I cried so much that my face swelled up. I could barely take a picture, and I didn't really see the ring until later.' Nicola also said that she felt an instant connection herself when she first met Brooklyn at the Coachella music festival in April 2017, despite both of them being in separate relationships. 'Our encounter was brief, but special. I had a boyfriend, Brooklyn a girlfriend, but I immediately felt his charm,' Nicola recalled. 'He took a few photos of me and stayed in my heart long before we really knew each other.' The pair tied the knot at Nicolas' family's Palm Beach estate in April 2022, and Brooklyn recounted how he shed tears on the big day after seeing his bride-to-be. 'I'm usually relaxed, but on this day, even I was nervous. I had to wait 10 minutes for Nicola — it felt like an eternity! But when she finally arrived, everything was forgotten, and I cried, too,' he confessed. 'One of my fondest memories remains the short car ride after the ceremony — just the two of us, taking a moment to breathe and savor the moment.'
