I think the NS is quoting quite out of context (the interview they're referring to is here -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF3r9kffUTg), as the mass media is want to do. The first thing you have to know about Eavis is that his daughter Emily manages the lineup and as Eavis retreats further into age and away from popular culture he bothers less with who the headliners are and what the political implications would be of hiring them. He did say "I dont understand the music" but when heard in context it sounds more like he didnt know who Jay Z was, let alone the controversy he would cause. With his adorably soft Somerset burr and frightful stutter it sounds to me like he was doing it more to be a cool granddad than for any subtly political reason. While the Obama comment was undeniably yet subtly racist, it was also throwaway.
Jay Z's appointment is perfectly in keeping with Glastonbury's increasing predilection to mainstreamedness as the years have gone by. What started as a hippie festival is by no means that now. Though the hippie fields are still there, they're by no means all the festival has to offer. Its quite an incredible experience -- if you start out in, say, Sustainable Futures you'll be surrounded by rainbows, long-hair, 60's clothing and colour. After a 10 minute walk you'll be in Babylon and 10 minutes later you can be at the Pyramid Stage, listening to Jay Z or the Killers and surrounded by tracksuits, hoodies and hoop earrings. This is what I love about Glastonbury: every microculture of the UK seems to be represented, and represented at its best.
To say too that Glastonbury has a tendency toward rock music is to completely miss the point of the festival. Many of the UK's most successful festival scenes started as fields in Glastonbury, from the awesome trance-pschedelica of The Glade to the irreverent burlesque cabaret of Lost Vagueness. Its not even like Jay Z is the first rapper to headline -- Goldie Looking Chain comes to mind a long with many others -- and the Pyramid Stage is no stranger to hip hip (Black Eyed Peas anyone?) He isn't even the first black man to headline. To me, the only suprise is that everyone is so suprised.
At the end of the day, I dont like Jay Z as a person and I cant stand his music. Yet if you want to go and listen to him be my guest -- I'll be running a mile to The Other Stage to see Massive Attack but hey, each to their own. I went for the Glastonbury vibe, not for the headliners, and thats exactly what I got. Chillout, man. It's all good. (That's what I told the BBC. They seemed to agree and broadcast me the next day on the breakfast news.)
Couple things
Jay Z's appointment is perfectly in keeping with Glastonbury's increasing predilection to mainstreamedness as the years have gone by. What started as a hippie festival is by no means that now. Though the hippie fields are still there, they're by no means all the festival has to offer. Its quite an incredible experience -- if you start out in, say, Sustainable Futures you'll be surrounded by rainbows, long-hair, 60's clothing and colour. After a 10 minute walk you'll be in Babylon and 10 minutes later you can be at the Pyramid Stage, listening to Jay Z or the Killers and surrounded by tracksuits, hoodies and hoop earrings. This is what I love about Glastonbury: every microculture of the UK seems to be represented, and represented at its best.
To say too that Glastonbury has a tendency toward rock music is to completely miss the point of the festival. Many of the UK's most successful festival scenes started as fields in Glastonbury, from the awesome trance-pschedelica of The Glade to the irreverent burlesque cabaret of Lost Vagueness. Its not even like Jay Z is the first rapper to headline -- Goldie Looking Chain comes to mind a long with many others -- and the Pyramid Stage is no stranger to hip hip (Black Eyed Peas anyone?) He isn't even the first black man to headline. To me, the only suprise is that everyone is so suprised.
At the end of the day, I dont like Jay Z as a person and I cant stand his music. Yet if you want to go and listen to him be my guest -- I'll be running a mile to The Other Stage to see Massive Attack but hey, each to their own. I went for the Glastonbury vibe, not for the headliners, and thats exactly what I got. Chillout, man. It's all good. (That's what I told the BBC. They seemed to agree and broadcast me the next day on the breakfast news.)
Peace,
Daniel