Annie Lennox used her Grammy Awards performance to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The renowned Scottish singer delivered a rendition of Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” during the in memoriam segment at the 66th annual Grammys in Los Angeles.
Lennox, at 69 years old, concluded her performance by raising her fist in the air and expressing a call for a ceasefire, stating, “Artists for ceasefire” and emphasizing the need for “peace in the world.”
Annie Lennox Urges Gaza Ceasefire During Grammys (Credits: Rolling Stone)
Lennox joined other prominent figures, including Jennifer Lopez, Joaquin Phoenix, Janelle Monáe, and Dua Lipa, in signing an open letter addressed to President Biden from the organization Artists4Ceasefire.
The letter, sent in December, urged for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel to prevent further loss of life.
In the backdrop of international pressure for a temporary ceasefire, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected concessions to Hamas last week, emphasizing Israel’s pursuit of “total victory” to eliminate the militant group controlling Gaza, which initiated the Oct. 7 attack against Israel.
The CEO of The Recording Academy, Harvey Mason, Jr., also addressed the Middle East conflict during the Grammy Awards. Referring to attacks at music venues worldwide, including the Oct. 7 invasion in Israel, Mason acknowledged the profound impact of tragic events on innocent lives.
He expressed the importance of music as a common ground for unity and called for collective action, emphasizing that music should be a platform for humanity to come together with empathy and love.
Mason highlighted a string quartet composed of musicians of Palestinian, Israeli, and Arab descent, performing during his remarks. He concluded by urging humanity to unite and play together during these challenging times.
Annie Lennox’s performance and the subsequent messages at the Grammy Awards reflect the intersection of music, activism, and the ongoing geopolitical challenges in the Middle East, particularly the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The artists’ collective call for peace and unity resonates against the backdrop of the complex and longstanding issues in the region.
