ChartBlog Has One Biiiig Weekend - The Grand Finale
Once again, I'm sitting in a beautiful woody glade, at a picnic table, typing. It's gone 10 o'clock and the place is silent for the first time in three days. The big clear up has started, lots of people are on their way home - although by no means all - and there's a cool breeze in the air. It's a lovely way to end an exciting adventure.
And so is this. Here's my last roundup of things which have happened here. Teach these things to your childen, and we might make something of this crazy old world after all...
Final Thoughts On Radio 1's Big Weekend...
It has been a very family-oriented weekend. Celebrity children I have personally witnessed include those of Jo Whiley, Pete Tong, Comedy Dave, Vernon Kaye & Tess Daly, Sophie Ellis Bextor & him out of the Feeling, and there have been loads of others in the backstage area who don't belong to famous parents - but seem to be coping with his social handicap rather well.
The other main theme of the weekend has been bands who have amazing drummers. The Ting Tings have one, so do Pendulum, so do the Raconteurs. Bands who have amazing drummers are automatically 80% of the way towards being amazing bands in their own right. Vampire Weekend, for example, do not have an amazing drummer, although he is good, and that may hold them back in future. You have been warned.
Kelly Rowland very nearly didn't make it for her special guest spot with Nelly, due to a late flight. She arrived with seconds to spare. This is partly why her appearance today was restricted to rumour status. The other reason is that it's more fun that way.
The Kooks have just walked past this very spot cooing something about "Charlie, Charlie" in high-pitched voices. Don't get excited though, I do not believe this to be a drugs reference, as they seem to be re-enacting some kind of conversation they've either heard or had. I should really have asked what they were on about. Oh well...
Fearne Cotton's favourite band of the entire weekend was Justice.
Adele was being interviewed by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sound, and someone mentioned Nelly. She broke into a very brief rendition of his song 'Dilemma', before stopping abruptly. Beth from Sound asked if she would sing any more, but she said that it was her break-up song with her first ever boyfriend, and she couldn't possibly, y'know...GO THERE. Fair raises a lump to the throat, dunnit?
Sorry there's no Top 5 High 5 this week. I've been busy! Here's the Top 5 though
1: Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake - '4 Minutes'
2: Wiley - 'Wearing My Rolex'
3: Sam Sparro - 'Black And Gold'
4: Will.I.Am ft Cheryl Tweedy - 'Heartbreaker'
5: Usher ft Young Jeezy - 'Love In This Club'
High five, anyone?
Jon out of the Fratellis does not care for Razorlight.
The moment that the Wombats first realised that they had really come a long way was backstage at their recent Brixton Academy gig. They were so overwhelmed by this thought that the could not speak, for ages, and there may even have been a tear or two. This information was handed down from the band to Jo Whiley, who handed it down to me, and now I am entrusting it to you. Use it wisely.
The people at the merchandise stall, next to the In New Music We Trust stage, were rocking to the Raconteurs harder than anyone within a nine mile radius. This includes the people within the tent, and the band themselves. Go merch dudes!
The Radio 1 Online coverage of this event has been amazing, and will continue to be so for the next week (if it's whole songs you are after), and years to come (for other stuff). If you wish to find out more, have a bloody good wallow in it all RIGHT HERE...
If you gather a massive gaggle of indie bands together, and make them perform their music to a large crowd of people, the bands who are statistically most likely to be seen chatting to anyone who will lend them an ear are - in reverse order - We Are Scientists, the Futureheads, and the Wombats. I think there's a lesson for us all there.
Until next time, ChartBloggerers, sleep tight!
Fraser
Want to go back to the beginning again? Well alright!
Comment number 1.
At 12th May 2008, complicatedSimpleton wrote:Why hasn't anyone mentioned Foals? I was listening all through on the Radio and I've have read all your posts -good job btw, found nothing at all. Methinks something fishy went down. Spill Fraser spill!
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Comment number 2.
At 14th May 2008, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:I did! Look!
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Comment number 3.
At 16th May 2008, complicatedSimpleton wrote:You won't believe this but I somehow convinced myself that it was N.Grimshaw who mentioned what you said there about them, yes I'm also trying to understand how my brain works!
And it turns out there's full coverage of their set online *shakes head*.
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