Elton John praises “extraordinary” Kneecap: “I love everything about them”

nme.com:

Elton John has shared his praise for Kneecap, and said that he “loves everything about them”.The iconic singer-songwriter shared his fondness for the Irish hip-hop trio in a new episode of the BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast Show (Listen in full here).

Speaking with host Nick Grimshaw, Sir Elton recalled how seeing footage of them live caught his attention and made him notice what set them apart from other artists.“I saw a video of them and I just was so knocked out by the energy they had and the vitality they had,” he explained. “They were just extraordinary and what they talk about is political, and there’s not many bands that do that.

So, I love them, I love the energy, I love everything about them.”The comments echo the praise he shared for Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvaí last September too, when he described them as having the same kind of power and influence that “not many people have”.“I find that your music tackles controversial subjects and you’ve said, unless we make a topic of it, unless we make fun of it, it’s never going to get any better,” he told the trio during an episode of his Apple Music show (via Irish News).“I think you’re very brave to speak out, and you come from a humorous place – and it just makes me happy,” he added. “Now, you wouldn’t think an old softie like me would be interested in Kneecap, but I am, because the energy, the music, the power – the power, the power.

Not many people have that power.”This is far from the first time that Sir Elton has used his platform to celebrate new talent across the music industry.