Near the beginning of his Pyramid Stage performance at Glastonbury 2013, country music icon Kenny Rogers questioned, "What's wrong with this picture?".
"I'm so out of my element—Glastonbury and Kenny Rogers. ".
He was walking on air an hour later. He played Islands In The Stream twice because the crowd responded to him so positively.
Later on, he listed the festival among his "top five experiences.".
Every year at Glastonbury, a variation of that scene occurs. Unexpectedly, a song takes off, and the performer and the audience come together in that magical place between anticipation, elation, and exhaustion.
Prediction is next to impossible. But since there's no harm in trying, Arielle Free from BBC Radio 1 and I met to discuss this year's potential "Glastonbury moments.".
You can watch playlists on YouTube, Apple Music, or Spotify while debating our social media picks (not really, for goodness' sake, who has the time?).
- Song by Arctic Monkeys: RU Mine.
- The song "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses.
- The song "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John.
Mark: Which of the headliners has your attention the most?
That's so difficult, Arielle. The Arctic Monkeys are a band I literally grew up with and have loved since their MySpace days, but I feel compelled to choose Elton John because I may never get the chance to see him perform live again. Additionally, I frequently hear intriguing rumors about special guests. He appears to be planning to go all out.
Mark: He's already stated that the set will be completely different from his current tour, but he always ends with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. I believe that will be a very emotional moment because this could be his final show ever in the UK. Yes, I can hear that. ah-ah-ahhhh. " chorus continues to resound throughout the fields long after he exits the stage.
He was performing his own soundcheck when I saw him at Bestival, at 11 a.m. It must be emotional because he is more invested in the performance than anything else.
Any ideas about the special guests, Mark?
We're all hoping for a little Harry Styles, let's face it, Arielle!
Mark: You selected RU Mine as the Arctics' marquee tune. What makes that particular one?
If there is a song that perfectly captures my love for Arctic Monkeys, it is this one, says Arielle. That one, indeed. It's very energizing. It has sex. We'll be there if they start with that.
- Nothing Matters: The Final Dinner Party.
- The Gabriels song "Love And Hate In A Different Time".
- Box of cardboard, Flo.
The Last Dinner Party are generating a lot of buzz, says Mark. They were signed to Island Records after releasing just one single, and they are currently on tour as Florence + The Machine's opening act. There is definitely a sonic resemblance there. On Saturday morning, they are the opening act at the Woodsies stage, but I anticipate a packed house.
I hadn't heard of them, so I appreciate you including them on the list, Arielle. The Last Dinner Party sounds like a site-specific theater company, I thought. ".
To be completely honest, I believe they might be. They appear to be Wednesday Addams dressed like the Bridgerton cast.
Arielle: I get to see Gabriels, my current favorite band, on Saturday because I'm hosting the West Holts stage.
When no one really knew who they were, Mark: I saw them on The Park stage the previous year, and it was like attending a religious service. After seeing the best band of their lives, people left changed and bragging to everyone about it.
They make me shiver, says Arielle. Since I've seen them five times, Jacob [Lusk, frontman] has consistently been one of the most captivating, charismatic, and overwhelming performers. And I'll let you in on a little secret: gold leos.
Mark: Good.
Leopards in gold, Arielle. All I'm allowed to say is that.
- Lizzo's song "Good As Hell".
- never giving up by Rick Astley.
- Listen to Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Arielle: Lizzo's performance is going to be one of those ones where everyone just embraces one another and has a good time.
She is such an inspiration, Mark.
Arielle: I can still see the Adele concert. Three women were singing Rolling In The Deep together at the top of their lungs: a grandmother, her daughter, and the granddaughter. I believe that will be the case here.
Mark: Although we went with Good As Hell, it could just as easily have been Juice, About Damn Time, or Special.
When Lizzo performed on the West Holts stage in 2019, she mentioned that it had been 13 years since her previous Glastonbury appearances because she had first performed in the tent for unsigned artists. She will appear on the main stage, bring her flute, and her dancers, however many years later. When I see artists fulfill their dreams in that way, I get very emotional. I'm likely to cry.
Mark: On Saturday morning, we must discuss Rick Astley. I believe that Never Gonna Give You Up will be the main draw for attendees, and if he played that song nonstop for an hour, everyone would be content. The crowd is going to lose their minds.
Alicia: Carly Rae Jepsen is similar. Call Me Maybe is already being sung by everyone.
Mark: I've informed the BBC that I will not be working during her on-stage hour. I'm putting my phone to sleep and entering the mosh pit. .
Arielle: As a vocalist, she is incredibly underappreciated. I'm looking forward to hearing her perform I Really Like You.
- Nia Archives: Off With Ya Headz.
- Free Yourself (Eats Everything remix) by Jessie Ware.
- Delilah, pull me out of this, Fred says again.
- Kenny in technicolor, says Arielle Free.
- I Saw An Angel and Wept by Somedina and Kitty Amor.
- Scars by Jayda G.
Thank you for selecting the Nia Archives track, Mark. What a tune.
It has divided the crowd, Arielle, and this week it was my song of the week on Radio 1. People have been saying things like, "Don't ruin a classic," whether they are actually attached to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs original or the A-Trak remix. It might not be appropriate for that time of day as well because I'm on the radio from four until seven in the morning.
It is fairly loud, Mark.
Arielle: On Saturday night at Nia Archives Presents at Glastonbury, she will perform on her own stage. That'll be fantastic.
Mark: Fred Again has my undivided attention. He's second on the bill on The Other Stage, but I'm not sure how well-known he is.
Arielle: Oh, I'm not sure. He recently performed as the festival's headlining act. He most recently served as the headlining act for Parklife [in Manchester], where it appeared that every other stage was empty. Even other powerful DJs felt the repercussions of competing with Fred Again. He is so quick and knowledgeable. Like spending an hour watching a Formula One race.
Mark: I have a question regarding your solo, Technicolor Kenny. A summer anthem in the making for the past two years.
Arielle: It took a very long time to complete, but it has done so now. The short version of the story is that the radio in our car was stuck on this yacht rock station as I was driving to my brother's wedding. I thought, "That would make such a good dance track," after hearing Kenny Loggins' "I Believe in Love" three times. To get some feedback, I made a change and sent it to Annie Mac—who is my hero—who played it on the radio without even letting me know. Now look at us!
- Essence by Wizkid and Tems.
- Take It Slow is a song by Enny & Loyle Carner.
- Central Cee - Sprinter and Dave.
- The song Say Yes To Heaven by Lana Del Rey.
Arielle: I'll be running to West Holts to see Loyle Carner perform when Guns N' Roses is on the Pyramid Stage. It will be such a special moment for him.
Mark: Did you catch his performance at Wembley this year? It was such an engaging and profound show. His album, "Hugo," is entirely about his relationship with his father and how it changed as a result of taking several driving lessons. The staging of the performance really brought that story to life. Even the car was on the stage. It moved me a lot.
At around four in the afternoon, I did see him the last time he played West Holts. He brought Jorja Smith, Ezra Collective, and his mother. He has great loyalty. Loyal Carner loves uplifting others, and his newest song with Enny is excellent. I really hope he invites her to the podium. She is a remarkably talented rapper.
Mark: The mood of that song is so carefree and summery. Even though we've talked a lot about singing along and getting down on the dance floor, there is another side to Glastonbury where you can lie back and let the music wash over you as the sun sets. People who may have gone a little too hard during the day will, in my opinion, benefit greatly from listening to Lana Del Rey.
Wizkid's "Essence" is a perfect summer song, says Arielle. I haven't seen him before, but I anticipate great things from him.
He has entered his "rock star era," which is characterized by "shirtless serenades and rabid fans," according to a fantastic review of his US tour. Almost more so than the concurrently playing Arctic Monkeys, I'm eager to see that.
Arielle: I'm not sure what I'm going to do in response to that. Whatever choice I make, I'll simply have to live with the results.
This weekend on BBC iPlayer, Arielle Free will be hosting coverage of Glastonbury.
