[this is a mammoth post!]

The Glastonbury festival was shown on BBC last night on television. This is the first time I have ever watched it. I was never interested in it before but after founder Michael Eavis decided to give Jay-Z a headliner status, I was definitely eager to watch it on the telly. For those who are interested in geography, Glastonbury is in Somerset but the festival is done in a village called Pilton, which is in the South-West like Bristol.

Jay-Z stole the show! Even after his set, Zane Lowe, BBC Radio DJ was literally like “case closed”, obviously a reference to Noel “Whino” Gallagher. He was supposed to come on around 22.30 but he came on I think it was around 23.00.

In an obvious poke at Gallagher & Oasis, he did a rendition of Wonderwall. The photo below shows Carter @ one point during Wonderwall ode.

I thought the Wonderwall rendition was just hilarious. Instead of coming out and slagging off Gallagher, what a fabulous way to make him shut his mouth!

I don’t remember exactly what order Mr Carter sang the songs but these were the memorable ones in my eyes:

• Public Service Announcement [This is a brilliant track/such a crowd-rouser]
• Hard Knock Life
• Can I Get A….[I love this song! This was one of the first ever singles I bought at school!!]
• H to the HIZZO
• Encore
• Get that Dirt off your shoulder [At one point in this song, he rapped "I got the hottest girl in the UK wearing my chain" -- Note that Beyonce was there supporting him jumping up and down in the corner!]
• 99 Problems
• Girls, Girls, Girls
• Big Pimpin

One aspect of his set I loved was how he mixed in with the vibe of being in the UK. He seemed to do several freestyles where he used a lot of UK terminology, which always goes down well here anyway. I thought it was joke at one point when he said “telly”. He also did something which I thought was wicked. On the screen behind him, there was a picture of George Bush. He did another rap and at the end went “Fuck Bush. It was heavy! And then he praised Barack and transposed a photograph of him after Bush. It was wicked.

One thing I noticed whilst watching the whole concert was how he really seemed like he was literally just rapping to any other group of people. Of course, the music was tailored to the festival goers because I do think it sounded more eclectic with how he had a band but he really is full of assured swagger and that helped him because he looked confident that he could pull it off and he did.

He commanded that set from my eyes. No ifs or buts. It was highly anticipated and I do not think it disappointed [but I love hip hop so it could be different].

Jay-Z at Glastonbury, the largest music festival in the world, is a great look for hip-hop. He is an international superstar and a mogul. He is not just any random rapper. He is in a pantheon of elites who have created an empire. Why shouldn’t he be at Glastonbury, which is the largest festival in the world for music?

So for all the people who did not want him there [read:Noel Gallagher & co], why did so many people turn up to watch him do his set? It was overflowing with people. Stop yamming sour beans people and just be happy that Glastonbury is widening participation!

P.S- The BBC kept showing images of Beyonce bouncing her head and jumping up and down like I said. She looked like she really let herself go in a good way and was enjoying his whole set. They are so cute!

Links & Extras

-MSN UK – Jay-Z steals the show

-The Guardian – “Awesome” Jay-Z beats Noel’s rap at Glastonbury

-This is a video of Jay-Z on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross that I blogged about before. Have a look. He will surprise with how jovial he actually is.

Part I

Part II