2020 headliners

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, mufcok said:

I'm probably digging a hole here because there seems to be a core of Taylor Swift fans on here, I can't really explain it. Just don't see her as a Glastonbury headliner and don't see her being booked. I may have egg all over my face come next June

I'm not a Taylor Swift fan or anything but I wouldn't deny her headliner credentials. Don't really see how it can be argued that she couldn't headline next year - only a year or so ago the main case against her was that she was too big for Glastonbury and didn't want to perform at festivals (which may not have changed tbf).

Edited July 12, 2019 by SomeoneListeningIn

[Hugh Jass]

3 minutes ago, mufcok said:

I'm probably digging a hole here because there seems to be a core of Taylor Swift fans on here, I can't really explain it. Just don't see her as a Glastonbury headliner and don't see her being booked. I may have egg all over my face come next June

I thought it was just Martin?

[mufcok]

Just now, Quark said:

I'm in the same boat bud. None of her stuff has massively grabbed me, and I'm not aware of that area of pop culture enough to get it from that perspective.

But then you're talking to a man that would happily have the Levellers headline and not understand why the rest of the population was pissed off, so I'm not a great barometer for this kind of thing

Yeah it's opinions, I guess. When The Strokes talk started earlier this year I lost my mind, would love nothing more but then so many shot it down on here

[gordong]

3 minutes ago, mufcok said:

I'm probably digging a hole here because there seems to be a core of Taylor Swift fans on here, I can't really explain it. Just don't see her as a Glastonbury headliner and don't see her being booked. I may have egg all over my face come next June

Between her and the 1975, I’m not sure I’m out of touch or people are delusional. 

[mufcok]

Just now, Hugh Jass said:

I thought it was just Martin?

[dentalplan]

Just now, mufcok said:

I'm probably digging a hole here because there seems to be a core of Taylor Swift fans on here, I can't really explain it. Just don't see her as a Glastonbury headliner and don't see her being booked. I may have egg all over my face come next June

You don’t need to be a fan to know she’s a big deal.

I don’t think she’ll ever play. The money ain’t right and she apparently wants her full stage production for her full-on shows - a bit like AC/DC do - so that couldn’t be accommodated either. But if she did have her people approach the fest saying she’ll take the low fee and scale her set down for the Pyramid then they’d be silly not to at this point.

[Hugh Jass]

FWIW I'm not particularly bothered by Ms Swift's music either, but she's clearly big enough and capable of headlining.

[mufcok]

Just now, gordong said:

Between her and the 1975, I’m not sure I’m out of touch or people are delusional. 

You and me both 

[Rose-Colored Boy]

12 minutes ago, dentalplan said:

It’s well-reported that the tour flopped, just so ya know. Still stadiums though.

Hahaha fuck sake.

11 minutes ago, chatty said:

Pop acts should be treated the same as they do the metal acts and have their own slot. 

But pop acts don’t suffer from the issue metal acts do, i.e. being an acquired taste which is completely baffling to the untrained ear and likely to leave Pyramid dwellers running for their lives. So that would be silly and completely unjustified.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Rose-Colored Boy

[jparx]

6 minutes ago, mufcok said:

Haha, both really. I meant I don't get the headline shout though mainly. I mean there's been many headlines that aren't my bag but I completely understand the booking, Stormzy being the most recent example. Taylor Swift headlining would leave me scratching my head

I cba to look at all the metrics, someone more pedantic than me can chime in, but I'm fairly sure she's one of, if not the most critically and commercially successful signer/song writer of the last decade. 

It's fine if you're not a fan, but the only reason I'd scratch my head is while wondering how the festival pulled off such a massive booking!

[gordong]

2 minutes ago, Cream Soda said:

I'm not sure, it's hard to put my finger on what exactly makes an act Glastonbury headliner material in my eyes but it's definitely more than just the amount of awards or sales someone has.  There has to be some substance there or some kind of edge (Stormzy being the perfect example, even though his music is not really my cup of tea).  Although I do get that is very subjective.

I completely agree with you, there’s just something intangible for me. I think it’s to do with the commerciality and musical/cultural impact these acts have had - which in my opinion, is slim. They aren’t exactly known for pushing boundaries. 

Edited July 12, 2019 by gordong

[mufcok]

3 minutes ago, SomeoneListeningIn said:

I'm not a Taylor Swift fan or anything but I wouldn't deny her headliner credentials. Don't really see how it can be argued that she couldn't headline next year - only a year or so ago the main case against her was that she was too big for Glastonbury and didn't want to perform at festivals (which may not have changed tbf).

Yeah that's fair. I think I'm slightly ignorant with stuff that I'm not into i.e I just turn a blind eye to it. I'd probably be like that with Stromzy but I have a lot of mates who into him so I'm well aware of what's going on. I don't know a single person into Taylor Swift (or anyone who openly admits it ) so I guess that's what it is

[Quark]

7 minutes ago, mufcok said:

Yeah it's opinions, I guess. When The Strokes talk started earlier this year I lost my mind, would love nothing more but then so many shot it down on here

FWIW I'd be of the same opinion of The Strokes as I am with Swift. Says more about me than it should I reckon 

Edited July 12, 2019 by Quark

[Rose-Colored Boy]

4 minutes ago, Cream Soda said:

I'm not sure, it's hard to put my finger on what exactly makes an act Glastonbury headliner material in my eyes but it's definitely more than just the amount of awards or sales someone has.  There has to be some substance there or some kind of edge (Stormzy being the perfect example, even though his music is not really my cup of tea).  Although I do get that is very subjective.

So would Beyoncé be okay then?

[Quark]

1 minute ago, Rose-Colored Boy said:

So would Beyoncé be okay then?

See that's interesting. I would (and had) no issue with Bey headlining.  Not because I think she deserves it and Swift doesn't, or because I rate her more highly or anything like that, she just screamed "headliner" at me in a way that Swift doesn't.  And I can't tell you why!

[CaledonianGonzo]

Love too be Brandon Flowers and push boundaries with my song.

[CaledonianGonzo]

FWIW I'd be comparing Swizzle to someone like Springsteen rather than Little Mix.

[gordong]

5 minutes ago, Quark said:

See that's interesting. I would (and had) no issue with Bey headlining.  Not because I think she deserves it and Swift doesn't, or because I rate her more highly or anything like that, she just screamed "headliner" at me in a way that Swift doesn't.  And I can't tell you why!

I also think Beyoncé has a much wider demographic appeal than Taylor Swift - so for that alone, yes. 

[Matt42]

Echoing some sentiments above.

Taylor Swift is probably one of the pop girls out there I’m least confident about playing the festival. She might not be at 1989 levels anymore but she’s not that far off it. She’s still selling out stadiums worldwide. She has no connection to the festival and I just cannot see it happening while she is still the mega force that she is. As big as she is she likes to keep things self contained. I’ve seen she has no interest in playing coachella (which pay big bucks and offer big stage production) so why on earth would she play Glastonbury?

Also, Rihanna, Taylor, Gaga, etc cannot be compared to Katy, Miley, Janet who have never been headlining acts over in the UK. Whilst she is a big deal I’m pretty sure Katy has never sold out a stadium here and neither has Miley.

Also - what is wrong with wanting big pop acts at Glastonbury? Some people really enjoy pop acts (myself included). Especially when the pop act gives it their all. In 2017 I got to see Radiohead and Katy Perry in the same weekend and it was fucking marvellous. 

[Rose-Colored Boy]

5 minutes ago, Quark said:

See that's interesting. I would (and had) no issue with Bey headlining.  Not because I think she deserves it and Swift doesn't, or because I rate her more highly or anything like that, she just screamed "headliner" at me in a way that Swift doesn't.  And I can't tell you why!

Gravitas? She’s certainly a more ‘impressive’ performer than T-Swizzle. Tay puts more emphasis on fun and singalongs though. So it depends on what you want. How about we just have both  

[Matt42]

8 minutes ago, Quark said:

See that's interesting. I would (and had) no issue with Bey headlining.  Not because I think she deserves it and Swift doesn't, or because I rate her more highly or anything like that, she just screamed "headliner" at me in a way that Swift doesn't.  And I can't tell you why!

Subjectivity aside I’m pretty sure Taylor Swift is a bigger tour seller than Beyoncé.

Also I think people forget that Beyoncé headlined at a pretty shakey time in her career. Before self-titled and lemonade she was not as big of a deal as she is now.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Matt42

[Quark]

1 minute ago, Matt42 said:

Also - what is wrong with wanting big pop acts at Glastonbury? Some people really enjoy pop acts (myself included). Especially when the pop act gives it their all. In 2017 I got to see Radiohead and Katy Perry in the same weekend and it was fucking marvellous

Absolutely bang on.  Had great fun at KP's set, and enjoyed Kylie's newer stuff just as much as getting on board the nostalgia train. Like I said, good music is good music.

Feel I should make it clear that I'm not saying whether Swift should or shouldn't headline. Just that she's not someone I would put in a list if someone asked me to think of potential headliners!

Fast forward to June 2020 with me at the Pyramid barrier getting my groove on to Shake It Off

[CaledonianGonzo]

Just now, Cream Soda said:

I agree, nothing wrong with it and diversity is good but a headliner does need to have that certain "Je ne sais quoi", regardless of genre.  Whether Taylor, or anyone else, has that is down to personal taste I suppose.  

Well there's personal taste on one hand, but also her inarguable chart success and draw as a live act on the other.

[Matt42]

6 minutes ago, Quark said:

 

Feel I should make it clear that I'm not saying whether Swift should or shouldn't headline. Just that she's not someone I would put in a list if someone asked me to think of potential headliners

I agree but for different reasons. Glasto HQ would probably contact her team. Her team would leave Glasto on read.

Edited July 12, 2019 by Matt42

[FuzzyDunlop]

15 minutes ago, Quark said:

See that's interesting. I would (and had) no issue with Bey headlining.  Not because I think she deserves it and Swift doesn't, or because I rate her more highly or anything like that, she just screamed "headliner" at me in a way that Swift doesn't.  And I can't tell you why!

For want of a better term, it's star quality. Whilst sales won't reflect it, I have always seen Rihanna as much more of a "star" than Taylor Swift.

Some people just have star quality, doesn't have to relect in sales or talent. Michael Buble sells out arenas, but he doesn't have star power. Liam Gallagher for example. He is a star, regardless of people's view of his music / talent.

Rihanna is a star. She does simple things, wears things and it makes news. More so than Taylor Swift.

That might be a load of crap, but it's the best way I can describe it.