Music Matters: Jay-Z Gets a Bum Rap From Whining Manc Gallagher

By Gary Flockhart

AND so the debate rages on in music chat forums. Is it right that Jay-Z has been invited to headline at this year’s Glastonbury festival?

It was Oasis’ Noel Gallagher who ranted the loudest in the press, saying that, “Glastonbury has a tradition of guitar music and even when they throw the odd curve ball in on a Sunday night, you go, ‘Kylie Minogue?’ But I’m not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. It’s wrong.”

Not surprisingly, and quite rightly, the US star hit back at the Oasis man by backing up his genre, and calling for respect between those who make different types of music.

“We don’t play guitars, Noel, but hip-hop has put in its work like any other form of music,” was the response from Jay-Z earlier this week. “This headline show is just a natural progression. Rap music is still evolving.

“From Afrika Bambaataa DJ-ing in the Bronx and Run DMC going platinum, to Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince winning the first ever rap Grammy, I’m just the next in the line.

“We have to respect each others’ genre of music and just move forward,” he added.

Jay-Z, who last year tied Elvis Presley for the most No1 albums with his latest offering American Gangster, went on to say that he was looking forward to his headline slot at Glasto on June 28, despite all the controversy surrounding it.

“I’ve never ever had a show that’s caused this much of a stir so I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

“I’ve never been involved in anything this controversial. What’s the big deal about doing a show? I guess that it’s heritage and people hold that dear to their heart and see it one way, but that’s just how the world is.”

First, well said Jay-Z. And second, well done event helmer Michael Eavis for not choosing another run-of-the-mill indie band that will put on a mediocre performance that can be seen any night of the week.

Gallagher’s being very narrow-minded about this and his thinking is stuck in the past. Let’s face it, anyone will have a hard time enjoying Glastonbury if they’re narrow-minded – it’s just not a place for narrow-mindedness.

So they’ve picked a rapper to headline the festival. Big deal. It’s not like Jay-Z is some unknown. The guy’s sold over 26 million albums in the US and 50 million worldwide. For what it’s worth, that’s approximately the same as Oasis.

If Gallagher knew half as much about Britain’s biggest music festival as he thinks he does, he’d know that Glastonbury has a long history of including all types of music. Maybe if he bothered to move away from the main stages once in a while he’d have known that.

My guess is that Gallagher is a little peeved because he’s not been asked to headline this year.

When he starts writing some decent tunes again then he can have a pop, until then he’s just coming across as a whinging old has-been.

If you don’t want to watch Jay-Z at Glastonbury, then don’t go mate. Simple as. local and live: email your band news to theguide@edinburghnews.com

(c) 2008 Evening News; Edinburgh (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.