I probably am unreasonable because it's for charity so I'm sure no one will feel bad about ripping me to shreds but the what that rapper on the Grenfell Tower Bridge Over Troubled Waters song says

[TheIncredibleBookEatingManchot]

It could have been his mum or his nephew or him up there.

But a couple of lines earlier he says he's never even met any of the victims so what makes him think he could have been in their homes?

I might be a little forgiving if it turns out he lives in or has lived in a tower block as equally unsafe as Grenfell turned out to be but...

At least 79 people have died, many more are injured, traumatised, homeless and bereaved WHY IS HE MAKING THIS ABOUT HIM?

How exactly are you empathising with the people who experienced this life changing event?

Well I'm currently living in crappy rented accommodation where (illegally) the smoke alarms don't work so...

But that's not the point.

I can put myself in someone else's shoes without thinking that their terrible experience could have happened to me.

I've read some tosh on here today but this takes the biscuit.

Ah, so now it could have been you? Could be you?

Bit confusing.

I think the lyrics of Stormzy's rap are beautiful and moving and I like the version in general (despite hating Simon Cowell)

You are obviously entitled not to like it but to misunderstand the intention of the lyrics says more about your lack of emotional intelligence than anything else OP

SillySausage, i'm so glad you understand

I haven't heard it and I have never heard of this Stormzy character either but if they have mutilated one of my favourite tracks I need to avoid it.

I'm struggling to see how anyone, even a child, could misinterpret his lyrics tbh

And the award for Most Wilfully Obtuse on MN goes to... 🏆

I'm not into rap, I'm not his targegt market, (mid 50s) but I think Stormzy's bit is the best, and really gets to the heart of what lots of people, especially those in sub standard accomodation think of Grenfell.

I really dislike this version. Lots of singers all trying to outdo each other for maximum warble. The beauty of this song is its simplicity.

However. I'm not the target market. It will make a lot of money and engage young people in empathising for others in a terrible situation through no fault of their own. And Stormzy's
Rap is the best bit imo - relevant, appropriate and empathetic.

Charity singles are always a bit crap tbf. I remember the original Band Aid. I was 11. It wasn't v g but it did engage me in caring about other people.

Off topic, but I've always felt that B over TW is just crying out for a pared-down understated cover by a woman. I reckon it could be really moving. No strings or any nonsense like that.

I can't stand Simon Cowell, and I think the whole thing reeks of 'I wanna be Bob Geldof and do a Band Aid' Even the way it was created over a weekend was copycat. But it's for charity, so I refused to but it and just gave another £5 to the fund.
It has sold 170k copies. So even if £2 from each single went to charity, that's only around £340k for the fund. If Simon Cowell was so 'moved' why didn't he just give a donation of that amount? He could have increased it with gift aid too. I don't think his intentions were totally altruistic
But at least we didn't have to suffer Paul McFartney singing on it!

The best bit of the whole thing is Stormzy. Gets me every time - and I am not prone to emotion! He should have done more, that bit in the middle always disappoints as it ends far too quickly.

Easily the worst thread I've read here. It is a charity single, what is wrong with people?

Are you serious OP? People who live in similar circumstances aren't allowed to express empathy and worry it could have been them?

I weep for humanity if that's your take away from this CHARITY song. Jesus.

*Buxton I think he's donated 100k, which is more than I thought he would. I can't stand him either, he's everywhere!

No its not the greatest cover of the song, it was rushed, but should we maybe just try and remember why it was released in the first place. To help alot of people who have lost everything, and will spend a very long time rebuilding their lives.

I haven't bought the single but will donate.

When Stormzy says, "it could have been me up there" he is not saying I feel sad that this terrible thing happened to YOU, he is saying I feel sad that this terrible thing could have happened to ME.

He might well genuinely feel empathy for the people in Grenfell but when he says it could have been him he's not talking about them or what they feel, he's talking about himself.

"It could have been me" is the crux of it - I don't get how you can't see that OP

It could have been any one of us - fire doesn't discriminate based on class, earning power, colour, religion etc etc

As a pp said, it's the epitome of 'there for the grace of god'.

Agree with other posters that it was Stormzy's bit that actually choked me up - he totally nailed it.
(I bought it btw - I quite like it )

It could have been any one of us - fire doesn't discriminate based on class, earning power, colour, religion etc etc

WTF? It couldn't have been any of is, and in this case fire most certainly did discriminate on class and earning power....its not millionaires mansions nor suburban semis that are covered in flammable cladding and 27 stories high.
What a ridiculous thing to say.

FGS this thread.

It's not about creating the most musically impressive song, it's about raising money for the Grenfell victims. And the fact of the matter is that the most amount of money can be raised in the immediate aftermath, when public emotion is at its highest. Hence the speed with which it was produced.

And I can't believe Stormzy's words seem so confusing to some people!

he is not saying I feel sad that this terrible thing happened to YOU, he is saying I feel sad that this terrible thing could have happened to ME.

It's called empathy. It's an attractive trait...

WTF? It couldn't have been any of is...its not millionaires mansions nor suburban semis that are covered in flammable cladding and 27 stories high

I think you're taking it too literally tbh.

The message of 'it could have been any of us' is meant more broadly I think - every one of us is only a drunk driver, a blocked artery, a dodgy fridge away from complete devastation...any of us could be affected by uncontrollable circumstances.

If its meant that broadly it doesn't mean anything.

WTF? It couldn't have been any of is, and in this case fire most certainly did discriminate on class and earning power....its not millionaires mansions nor suburban semis that are covered in flammable cladding and 27 stories high.
What a ridiculous thing to say.

Blimey! Get a grip!

That cladding is over countless buildings.

I get it that Grenfell was very much a class thing, but i think your reaction to my comment is massively ott tbh.

I'm glad I don't know you in RL OP. How you are failing to understand something so basic is beyond me.

What a thing to be this annoyed about. Interesting life you must lead...

Some people are far, far too literal.