Beyoncé 2011 Glastonbury performance

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LocationWorthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, England
VenuePyramid Stage (2011 Glastonbury Festival)
DateJune 26, 2011
Attendance175,000[1]
Beyoncé at Glastonbury 2011
Concert by Beyoncé
LocationWorthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, England
VenuePyramid Stage (2011 Glastonbury Festival)
DateJune 26, 2011
Attendance175,000[1]

American singer Beyoncé headlined the 2011 Glastonbury Festival alongside acts U2 and Coldplay, performing on June 26, 2011 at the Pyramid Stage in Pilton, Somerset, England.[2] She was the first solo Black woman to headline the Pyramid Stage (Musician Skin with rock band Skunk Anansie was the first Black female-fronted band to headline Pyramid Stage in 1999, while Puma Jones, as a vocalist with Black Uhuru, was the first Black woman to perform on the Pyramid Stage in 1984), and Beyoncé also became the first solo female artist to headline the festival since Sinéad O'Connor in 1990 (Kylie Minogue was selected to headline in 2004, but was forced to cancel her performance due to a breast cancer diagnosis).[3][4] While her festival headline announcement was initially met with skepticism from rock and indie music purists who considered the placement "a little too pop" for the festival, Beyoncé's performance was immediately met with critical acclaim, heralded by The Daily Telegraph as a "sassy triumph", "career-defining" by Billboard, and by others in the media as a "masterpiece", "killer", and "90 minutes of pure Bey greatness."[5][6][7][1] The performance, which acted as the festival finale, generated over 2.6 million views individually, breaking the record at the time for most television views for a single performance.[8]

Background and development

Beyoncé was inspired by her husband's controversial 2008 Glastonbury performance, which broke ground as the first rap headline in the festival's then 38-year history.[9][10] It was also mentioned by Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis in an interview that Coldplay lead singer and close friend Chris Martin helped convince Beyoncé to perform, securing Beyoncé for the final headline slot.[11] Beyoncé was announced as the Sunday headliner on February 10, 2011 in Billboard with the following statement: “This really is the biggest festival in the world and I cannot wait to perform there. Everyone who attends is really appreciative of music and is in such a good mood that entire weekend... I’m pumped just thinking about that huge audience and soaking up their energy.”[12] “I’ve been there behind the scenes and I had the time of my life. I hope it rains. I want it muddy. I want to ditch the heels and put on my wellies. I just want to make sure that I deliver. I’m sure it’ll be one of those memories I’ll take with me to my grave.”[13]

Leading up to the performance, it was believed by BBC that Beyoncé and her team had spent three weeks at a London rehearsal studio to prepare, with her Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams rumored to appear.[14][15] Beyoncé was subsequently announced as a performer on the 2011 BET Awards in the weeks leading up to the Glastonbury performance, and a portion of her performance ("Best Thing I Never Had" and "End of Time") was sent via satellite, airing simultaneously that evening in North America.[16]

Beyoncé decided on including Bristol rapper Tricky (the only featured guest) after he was mentioned by one of her choreographers. In a 2013 interview with NME, Tricky said, “[Beyoncé’s] got a guy who does her choreogra-lalalala. What’s it called? The dancing stuff. She was in England and she wanted somebody to do a feature. He mentioned me... He mentioned me so she said OK."[17] In a subsequent interview with publication Vice, he further explained, “I was shocked to be honest with you, when I got the phone call saying Beyoncé wants you to feature. Because I’m banned from Glastonbury, I can’t play there. I’m banned from all Live Nation events. But Beyoncé wanted me there so they said I could. Shows she’s got some muscle."[18]

Jay-Z was also present (watching from the barricades at the front of the stage), but did not make a guest appearance as initially rumored.[19][20]

Set list

Interviewed by BBC, Knowles mentioned that she sent close friend and co-headliner Chris Martin of Coldplay her set list in advance: "I made sure he approved it. He's the master of this".[21][1] She also reportedly sought advice from friend Gwyneth Paltrow and co-headliner U2 as well.[14] Knowles' performance promoted the recent release of her fourth solo studio album 4 (2011) as all four pre-released tracks (lead single "Run The World (Girls)", promotional single "1+1", international second single "Best Thing I Never Had", and leaked song "End of Time") received setlist placements. The following songs were performed:

  1. "Crazy in Love" (contains elements of The Beatles "Come Together")
  2. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
  3. "Naughty Girl"
  4. "Baby Boy" (featuring Tricky)
  5. "Happy Birthday"
  6. "Best Thing I Never Had"
  7. "End of Time"
  8. "If I Were a Boy" (contains elements of Alanis Morissette "You Oughta Know")
  9. "Sweet Dreams" (contains elements of Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)")
  10. "Why Don't You Love Me?"
  11. "Love Hangover" (performed by backing vocalists "The Mamas")
  12. "The Beautiful Ones"
  13. "Sex on Fire"
  14. "1+1"
  15. "Irreplaceable"
  16. "Independent Women Part I"
  17. "Bootylicious"
  18. "Bug a Boo"
  19. "Telephone"
  20. "Say My Name"
  21. "Jumpin', Jumpin'"
  22. "Survivor"
  23. "At Last"
  24. "Run the World (Girls)"
  25. "Halo"

Notes

Critical response

Legacy

References

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