Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 6:25 PM
Song: They’re Red Hot
Artist: Eric Clapton
Mode of Consumption: Listening to radio while cleaning in the garage.
Link to song: https://open.spotify.com/track/4xEfHJYhgd2YoDBFM8nvk7?si=da0f628ab3954d84
Somewhere on the interwebs there is a clip of Eric Clapton from some concert in the 1970s where he goes on a drug-fueled rant about England being for white people. Apparently, this was during some time when England was seeing an influx of immigrants, many from their former colonies such as India.
It’s kind of a rich argument. That England who imposed its will on other nationalities for the better part of four hundred years, claiming huge swatches of land as part of the United Kingdom, would then dictate that its own island should be restricted for only a small segment of said kingdom.
I don’t know if these are truly Clapton’s feelings, or if he was so in the thralls of heroin and cocaine that he really didn’t formulate coherent opinions. Although, considering his stances against vaccines in recent years, it’s safe to assume his leanings tend to be conservative, so probably he does prefer that England remain pale in complexion.
Of course, he’s also a renowned blues and rock guitarist. Irony, thy name is Clapton. This song happens to be a Robert Johnson song.
So, people of color can’t move to England, and enjoy the freedoms and the social and economic potentials there, but pasty white Clapton can appropriate a black art form to the tune of millions and millions of dollars.
Nothing wrong with that.
I personally believe both are OK. I think if someone wants to move to England, especially from places that the country once claimed as theirs and were subjects of said country, they should be allowed to try their hand on that little island.
I also think if a guy like Clapton can make his guitar plays the blues, it shouldn’t matter what color his skin is.
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