Derek and the Dominoes - "Layla"

[highplainsdem]

9. I was responding to what you wrote here:

Clapton is a selfish p___ck

he went after his best friend's wife.... nice guy. Doesn't know the difference between love and lust.

Not the final sentence of your message, the only part about Trump:

Are you sure this song isn't about his lust for Trump?

Since the answer to that was perfectly obvious, I responded to what you wrote about Clapton being interested in a friend's wife.

I don't judge rock stars, especially rock stars' behavior in the 1970s, by standards we're more likely to apply today, especially to politicans whose views we don't like.

I keep my opinions of their music separate from their behavior and statements, as I explained here:

https://democraticunderground.com/103467252

I know it's become more and more common lately to condemn artists, even artists you'd previously loved, for views and statements you don't agree with.

But I'm not willing to give up enjoying their art.

And for that matter, I even have one MAGAt relative whose favorite author -- as in she owns dozens of that author's books -- is a liberal who donates to Democratic candidates. But that RW relative isn't about to give up books she loves and has read multiple times for that reason.

Appreciating art should never require approval of everything the artist has said and done -- or even knowledge of ANY of it.

Tbh, most people DON'T know anything about their favorite artists' political opinions, business relationships or personal lives. A lot of people would probably find a lot to be disillusioned by if they did -- artists, no matter how accomplished, are just as human and fallible as anyone else.

So I judge the art rather than the artist.

And I appreciate the art rather than the artist.

And "Layla" -- whatever you might think of Clapton, Boyd or Harrison -- is a great love song. And one of the greatest classic-rock songs ever.