Jock, I’m only dancing: where do stars stand on Scotland?
David Bowie has come out against Scottish independence. But with the referendum seven months away, where do Scotland’s rock and pop stars stand?
“Scotland, stay with us.” Not perhaps the most obvious acceptance speech from a pop legend who has just won his first Brit award in 18 years, writes Robert Thomson.
David Bowie’s intervention in the Scottish independence debate surprised (and, let’s face it, probably confused) the hordes of One Direction fans filling the O2 arena. But it has provided a welcome boost for the Better Together campaign who up to now have had to rely on the musical backing of, um, Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri (below, right).
Bowie, of course, hails from south of the border, and it would seem that most of Scotland’s music stars appear to be in favour of separation. Legendary chanteuse Annie Lennox (below, left) is one of the artists backing The National Collective – a cultural organisation supporting independence.
“There is an opportunity for something innovative and visionary,” she says. “Scotland could have some kind of new, ethical stance and it could take on some fresh ideas. That could be amazing, really amazing.”
Other backers include the Proclaimers, Billy Bragg, Mogwai, indie rockers the View, and Scottish 80s icons Deacon Blue and Hue and Cry. The latter’s lead singer Pat Kane told Channel 4 News this week that he thought the direction was now towards “quite a big yes vote” and that he was “really quite excited”. The polls so far don’t back him up.
Life on Deep-fried Mars
Rock’s counter-argument comes from Ms Spiteri, who told the Daily Record newspaper: “We don’t have the resources – like oil and gas – we’d need to keep Scotland afloat.
“And to me, if you can’t survive, then what’s the point of breaking away?”
No word yet on what Lulu might think, though she did put out a 1993 album called Independence.
The response on social media to Bowie’s comment has perhaps been predictable, with ardent nationalists suggesting he would perhaps like to go back to Mars. Though stated rather more stridently, obviously. Not that Bowie will probably have noticed. In his Manhattan apartment.
A spokesperson for the pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign told Channel 4 News: “We congratulate David Bowie on his award at the Brits. Huge numbers of people in Scotland love his music regardless of their views on the referendum. He’ll always be a very welcome visitor to Scotland.”
Though perhaps not before the vote on 18 September.