Nick Cave has published a letter he sent to MTV in 1996 requesting that he be left out of any awards ceremonies.
Nick Cave knows his way around the English language. As a lyricist, the Australian is virtually unparalleled with his sprawling output managing to sift through a stunning array of literary and musical influences.
Working with Kylie Minogue on ‘Where The Wild Roses Grow’ the singer came close to entering the mainstream. A genuine hit single, it sparked a Top Of The Pops performance and scored some serious air-time on MTV.
Nominated for ‘Best Male Artist’ at the MTV Awards in 1996, Nick Cave penned a missive to the broadcasters in order to request his withdrawal. Objecting to the competitive nature of the competition, it contains some fantastic put downs as well as an insight into how the singer views his own career.
Read the full letter below…
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TO ALL THOSE AT MTV,
I would like to start by thanking you all for the support you have given me over recent years and I am both grateful and flattered by the nominations that I have received for Best Male Artist. The air play given to both the Kylie Minogue and P.J. Harvey duets from my latest album _Murder Ballads) has not gone unnoticed and has been greatly appreciated. So again my sincere thanks.
Having said that, I feel that it’s necessary for me to request that my nomination for Best Male Artist be withdrawn and furthermore any awards or nominations for such awards that may arise in later years be presented to those who feel more comfortable with the competitive nature of these award ceremonies. I myself, do not. I have always been of the opinion that my music in unique and individual and exists beyond the realms inhabited by those who would reduce things to mere measuring. I am in competition with no-one. My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect her from influences that may offend her fragile nature.
She comes to me with the gift of song and in return I treat her with the respect I feel she deserves—in this case this means not subjecting her to the indignities of judgement and competition. My muse is not a horse and I am in no horse race and if indeed she was, still I would not harness her to this tumbrel—this bloody cart of severed heads and glittering prizes. My muse may spook! May bolt! May abandon me completely! So once again, to the people at MTV, I appreciate the zeal and energy that was put behind my last record, I truly do and say thank you and again I say thank you but no… no thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Nick Cave
21 Oct ‘96
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via NickCave.com