The cultural boycott of Israel is underway

Elvis who?
No, you've got it wrong, this was for lack of ticket sales.

This washed-out has-been will soon get his bus pass, no-one wanted to see him anyway so he used the conflict as a convenient exit route. I doubt he would even make Celebrity Big Brother.

I shall not be going to any of his concerts and I invite others to follow suit.

Who?

Elvis Costello is one of the biggest stars in the pop world and also married to Diana Krall

No, you've got it wrong - again!
He never was "one of the biggest stars", just a two hit wonder, and being married to someone doesn't make you a star.

So what?

Exackerly, Jon.

Well done Elvis Costello & sour grapes from the usual suspects.

Joni Cohen,
And what on earth do You know about music?

tomesiner2
Thought you might come up with that.
I am an authority in the pop, blues & rock genres, having taught and performed music for over 30 years and with a chart single in 1981.

Well, it sounds like we are both "experts"
as I have been a musician for 30 years amd
a member of a famous ensemble for 24.

It does sound like sour grapes to describe Elvis Costello as a "two hit wonder," given his prolific and varied output. Ok, he was never a star in terms of the profile of singers like Beyonce, Tinchy Stryder or N-Dubz (not a single one of whom make an appearance in my collection of vinyl, tape, CD or MP3s) but claiming his musical constribution and standing is insignificant seems a shaky assertion at best.

I should add that I think he should have continued with his concerts. I'm not a supporter of academic or cultural boycotts. Presumably Israeli citizens are as able to interpret his songs just as UK citizens are? "Oliver's Army" and "Shipbuilding" are eloquent warnings against overblown militarism.

In fact, his own statement says as much: "the audience for the coming concerts would have contained many people who question the policies of their government on settlement and deplore conditions that visit intimidation, humiliation or much worse on Palestinian civilians in the name of national security."

So speak - sing - to them.

What will be interesting will be where else he chooses (or not) to perform in the future. I think we need to hold Mr Costello to account on his new-found ethical stance to ensure that he only performs in countries that have perfect, impeccable human rights records.

Can we say that about the UK? Hmm?

Eisner, as a musician you should know that his attempts at Renaissance song are bloody awful.

Has anyone read Costello's rationale? It is completely incoherent and impenetrable drivel. Increasingly, one sees people pontificating on subjects they know almost nothing about.

Amber,I have to agree in so far as I would rather hear Mahler's music!

Despite some apparently "big names" in the Pop world cancelling or refusing to come to Israel, we are certainly not suffering from a cultural boycott. Two nights ago, May 22, Metallica performed to a huge crowd in the Ramat Gan Stadium. Elvis Costello may have cancelled, but his wife, Diana Krall is due to appear in Raanana on August 4 and has not backed out of the commitment.

We get regular visits from world-famous musicians who come to conduct or play with our orchestras and many individual artists and groups grace our international music festivals, held in different parts of the country. Nor should I forget to mention the many foreign jazz musicians who come to play in clubs or at the Eilat festival every August.

In any case, as regards the pop world, I think the boycott movement is fighting a losing battle, not least because, with the sales of singles and CD's falling as fans increasingly download hits from the Net, the artists are being forced to go back on tour in order to make money.