Jay Z wows Glastonbury Festival
2008-06-29 14:05
London - The controversial choice of
American rapper Jay-Z to headline Glastonbury proved to be a
masterstroke by the event's organiser Michael Eavis as the
hip-hop star wowed the music festival on Saturday.
Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher had called hip hop at
Glastonbury "wrong" and traditionalists in Internet chatrooms
had said they would have preferred a band like Radiohead, while
critics also blamed the rapper for slow ticket sales.
In a nod to Gallagher, Grammy Award-winner Jay-Z - married
to singer Beyonce - took to the stage to the strains of the
Mancunian band's hit "Wonderwall", before running through a
repertoire of his own hits, including "Hard Knock Life".
"They say you don't want me here, Glastonbury," queried the
rapper. "Now tell me, where is the love?"
That question was answered by huge cheers from the crowd,
whose only disappointment was that Beyonce did not make an
appearance.
"It was epic - a fantastic gig," a Glastonbury spokesperson
told Reuters.
Prior to Jay-Z's appearance, soul singer Amy Winehouse
played an hour-long set after receiving treatment for a lung
condition which her father said was caused by smoking crack
cocaine.
By Saturday, Somerset and Avon police said there had been
379 reported crime incidents, including drug offences, compared
to 168 at the same stage last year.
The vast majority of non-drug related crime were reports of
thefts from tents which now stand at 203.