Guy’s Bali Nine tribute draws criticism
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Guy Sebastian has been moved to write a musical tribute. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Source: News Corp Australia
GUY Sebastian has angered some of his fans after writing a tribute song for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
Posted on his Facebook page today, the snippet of the song features the lyrics “When you fire your bullet look me in the eye and take aim, when you fire your bullet as it takes my life, my light will remain so take aim.”
Sebastian landed in Australia yesterday after a pre-Eurovision trip around the UK and Europe and was inspired to make the track after watching news coverage of the executions.
“I just have had such a weight after seeing coverage of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran’s families and their desperation and anguish,” Sebastian wrote on Facebook. “As I began to read about the courage they had just before facing death it made me think of how much their light shone in this last chapter, and that it will continue to shine long after, especially for their families.”
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Guy Sebastian: “Just landed in Australia to this awful news. Don’t know what to say. I just can’t fathom how a government can be allowed to determine whether a healthy heart can still beat or not. RIP” Picture: Instagram
Source: Instagram
“I just wrote this chorus and did a slide show tribute. I know people are divided about certain specifics of all this, but please don’t comment about that, this is purely to honour two people who have tragically had their life cut short.”
Despite Sebastian’s request, his Facebook fans have already started a debate on his page.
A comment by Krystal Patterson had already got over 100 likes and reads “How about a tribute for the people in Nepal and the disaster they are dealing with? Oh wait that’s right 2 drug smuggling criminals who broke the law intentionally are more important then the over 4,500 people who have lost their lives due to a disaster …!”
However most fans are showing compassion and respect for Sebastian’s emotional composition.
Lucy Mathew summed up the thoughts of many who said “Thank you Guy, what a beautiful tribute to two people who are sinners like the rest of us, and who did not deserve their fate. I am so sad that people are being so cruel and heartless about this issue, but it helps to know that they are now free, and that they will soon be laid to rest here at home.”
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Fan Debbie Petkovic wrote “Lost a fan here. Not even a mention of our diggers on Anzac Day, but a tribute to convicted criminals … So very disappointed …”
Sebastian was one of the artists who donated his time to sing on Lee Kernaghan’s charity chart topping album Spirit of the Anzacs.
Sebastian added a comment on his page after spotting the negativity.
“I obviously know of their convictions and the damage the drug trade does etc etc etc etc,” Sebastian wrote.
“I also know there are other causes out there like Nepal etc which of course I, like others are devastated over. I just felt sad about how they went, and the images of their fate the family was left with, that’s all. Just because I didn’t write an Anzac tribute doesn’t reflect what I give weight to. I was in London and after a very long day I did a free gig in Shepherds Bush where I sung Aussie tunes as tributes to the Anzacs for over an hour. Just because I don’t sit here making slide shows for every tragic thing that happens in the world, doesn’t mean that there should be negativity drawn from this. I respect people’s opinions, but there’s a time and place.”
Other stars show their support
“Free at last, free at last, thank god almighty we are free at last.” Thank you Andrew and Myu for being you. You are free now.
— The Temper Trap (@thetempertrap) April 28, 2015
Melbourne band The Temper Trap have paid tribute to the slain pair, after Indonesian born frontman Dougy Mandagi became friends with Andrew Chan when visiting him in jail.
Mandagi had urged fans to sign a petition to get their sentences downgraded.
“I believe that second chances should be given to everyone and anyone who is willing to change,” Mandagi said in January. “Andrew has become a personal friend over the past year and my heart is compelled to do the little I can to help him, however, my heart also goes out to all the Andrews in the world.”
Unexpectedly Guns’n’Roses frontman Axl Rose has made public a letter he wrote to Indonesian president Joko Widodo which was sent before the executions but released after them.
In the letter Rose called the death sentence “draconian” and “barbaric, backward and truly disgraceful.”
Rose was inspired to write the letter after his band toured the country in 2012 and urged Widodo “to show your country’s strength and allow the world to witness an extraordinary act of humanity and bravery on yours and your country’s part.”
The People of Indonesia deserve better ~ https://t.co/ixuOPppFf3
— Guns N’ Roses (@gunsnroses) April 29, 2015
Rose wrote “I do not know these men nor have I met them but their story has touched me deeply. I as well as many others could easily have found ourselves in their unfortunate and unarguably self-inflicted position. People make mistakes, sometimes big and horribly regrettable mistakes and sometimes more importantly people learn from their mistakes and make new choices, strive and succeed at true positive change. To not acknowledge and give such change the opportunity to prove it’s value would seem in this case a greater crime than those originally committed.”
His letter ends by stating “You’ve made your point and struck fear in both the hearts and minds of the condemned and anyone even remotely considering bad choices or already involved in those worlds. Life is the only thing important now, not death but life.”
Execute justice, not people. #mercycampaign #IStandForMercy #jokowi
— The Temper Trap (@thetempertrap) April 28, 2015
