Diana Ross

From what I saw of the crowd there were plenty of 18-30 year olds singing their hearts out. It's Glastonbury an alternative is but a few strides away. I avoided Dolly Parton in whatever year she was on the Legends Slot (which itself is a recent "thing") I saw the wonderful North Mississippi Allstars at a sparsely filled Avalon Stage. No one is "practically forced" to watch anyone.
Might have been "plenty", but there would have been more if it was an act from the late 80's, 90's or 2000's. People will sing along to anything, doesn't mean it's what they would prefer to be watching.

I was there for Dolly, but there wasn't much great on at the same time (or what I recognised at the time) and it was more of a group choice to get a spot/ set up a base/ meeting point for Ed Sheerhan but more so Black Keys and Kasabian, which we wanted to be right in the mix for. Of course, there were people singing along to Dolly's songs, but there were 100x singing songs by the bands which came after. She could still sing back then too (not as well as she did mind), and was <70 I think.

If you want to get a decent spot for one of the main acts on the pyramid stage, then you need to work your way there at least halfway during the set of the previous band, so you're in good position to move when the people move out after each set, and also to find people, unless you want to watch gigs on your own? Everyone the cameras show are pretty much locked in there, or have worked to get there from the two sets prior. You can't just walk to within 50m of the stage, in-between sets, not without ******* a lot of people off anyway.
 
Yeah, it is one of the main things, or course it is, but it depends how good they are and how many people know them, otherwise it's like 18-30 year olds being practically forced to listen to a bad sing along on an OAP's cruise cabaret.

I think there needs to be a bit of a realistic cut off on a legends slot, not so much due to performer age, but more so attendee age. I wasn't even born when most of her hits came out, and I already consider myself way too old for going to music festivals (most were when I was 16-30) :LOL: For someone to remember Diana Ross at the time of most of her hits they would need to be about 60. Can't be too many 60 year olds at Glasto? How many there were even born in the same decade as her? <1,000?

I suppose it does tick a box for the elders, to some degree, but seems a waste of a Pyramid stage slot.

I've found myself (and our various groups) getting "stuck" at festivals, watching acts like this, as you kind of have to watch them if you want to watch the bands before/ after, otherwise you end up losing your spot, your mates or both. Wouldn't have been the case for me at this one mind, as the Pyramid stage line-up wasn't great on Sunday, so I wouldn't have been there anyway.

I don't expect the replies on here to get what I mean mind, with the average age on here :LOL:
I suppose that’s the problem these days, are the act’s picked purely for Glastonbury or partly for a BBC audience.
 
If you want to get a decent spot for one of the main acts on the pyramid stage, then you need to work your way there at least halfway during the set of the previous band, so you're in good position to move when the people move out after each set, and also to find people, unless you want to watch gigs on your own?
The sound is so good nowadays on the main stages I don't bother to get towards the front, generally I will be happy to be somewhere near the soundstage (my meeting point is always left side of the soundstage) but I've been further back for the big acts Stones and Arcade Fire for two. And one of the pluses of being a bit further back is that you can see the big tellies without your view being blocked by flags. And yeah, I'm quite happy to watch sets of bands I want to see on my tod, like the aforementioned North Mississippi Allstars.
 
Might have been "plenty", but there would have been more if it was an act from the late 80's, 90's or 2000's. People will sing along to anything, doesn't mean it's what they would prefer to be watching.

I was there for Dolly, but there wasn't much great on at the same time (or what I recognised at the time) and it was more of a group choice to get a spot/ set up a base/ meeting point for Ed Sheerhan but more so Black Keys and Kasabian, which we wanted to be right in the mix for. Of course, there were people singing along to Dolly's songs, but there were 100x singing songs by the bands which came after. She could still sing back then too (not as well as she did mind), and was <70 I think.

If you want to get a decent spot for one of the main acts on the pyramid stage, then you need to work your way there at least halfway during the set of the previous band, so you're in good position to move when the people move out after each set, and also to find people, unless you want to watch gigs on your own? Everyone the cameras show are pretty much locked in there, or have worked to get there from the two sets prior. You can't just walk to within 50m of the stage, in-between sets, not without ******* a lot of people off anyway.
Saw Simple Minds last night, still great and would have to place bouncing.
 
Dolly was brilliant in 2014 and has definitely still got a voice ( or at least she certainly did when she performed). She also had stage charisma and banter with the crowd which was clear and funny. Diana Ross can't sadly sing very well anymore which is of course understandable given her age and she certainly could not be heard talking on stage from where we were stood about 2/3 back on the field. That was a sound system issue. The difference in performances was immense
 
Pyramid stage line-up wasn't great on Sunday, so I wouldn't have been there anyway.

Herbie Hancock was on before Ross. Mainly playing a lot of his later funk stuff. Her crowd were filtering in during his set…meaning he gradually gained a bigger audience which gave him a great reception at the end. Great band funky as fk😉
 
Diana Ross wasn't even the best singer in the Supremes.

Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Jean Terrell (who replaced Ross when she left) were far better singers.

Ross probably benefited from all the attention she received from Benny Gordy.

Gladys Knight is still a far better vocalist nowadays and she's 78, As stated earlier Martha Reeves in her prime and up to a couple of years ago was still quality.
 
Diana Ross wasn't even the best singer in the Supremes.

Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Jean Terrell (who replaced Ross when she left) were far better singers.

Ross probably benefited from all the attention she received from Benny Gordy.

Gladys Knight is still a far better vocalist nowadays and she's 78, As stated earlier Martha Reeves in her prime and up to a couple of years ago was still quality.
And yet she’s had a more successful career than all the ones you’ve just listed, she’s one of the greatest female vocalists ever with doubt. She’s also had plaudits for acting roles on both film and stage. I think she must have something going for her somehow 😁 As i said earlier she may not be the greatest vocalist but she has an unmistakable voice and the presence and charisma that others can’t match - that’s why she’s had the career she’s had.
 
Diana Ross wasn't even the best singer in the Supremes.

Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Jean Terrell (who replaced Ross when she left) were far better singers.

Ross probably benefited from all the attention she received from Benny Gordy.

Gladys Knight is still a far better vocalist nowadays and she's 78, As stated earlier Martha Reeves in her prime and up to a couple of years ago was still quality.

Ross had the star quality and there were other singers with stronger voices, but Ross had a great tone and versatility, plus she knew what appealed to the public.
 
Diana Ross wasn't even the best singer in the Supremes.

Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Jean Terrell (who replaced Ross when she left) were far better singers.

Ross probably benefited from all the attention she received from Benny Gordy.

Gladys Knight is still a far better vocalist nowadays and she's 78, As stated earlier Martha Reeves in her prime and up to a couple of years ago was still quality.
Saw Gladys in concert last night, she can still belt out a song, Over the last few years I’ve seen a few of the old Soul stars in various venues and they have in the main been poor but they are nearly all over 75yrs old.Eddie Holman is another who can still hit a note.
 
And yet she’s had a more successful career than all the ones you’ve just listed, she’s one of the greatest female vocalists ever with doubt. She’s also had plaudits for acting roles on both film and stage. I think she must have something going for her somehow 😁 As i said earlier she may not be the greatest vocalist but she has an unmistakable voice and the presence and charisma that others can’t match - that’s why she’s had the career she’s had.
I agree with all you've said - I was just saying, in my opinion, she has never been a strong vocalist however others are better but not had her success.
As a matter of interest my favourite Supremes track is Stoned Love , recorded after she'd left and replaced by Jean Terrell
 
So who do all the above singers listen to, at the end of the day when they settle down with a glass of what ever they fancy…I bet it’s this one. They’re all good in what they do, but as far as soul singers go there’s one that few people would argue over as being the best.
She was 73 when did this gig. Bit of histrionics from the writer of the song…but who can blame her

 
So who do all the above singers listen to, at the end of the day when they settle down with a glass of what ever they fancy…I bet it’s this one. They’re all good in what they do, but as far as soul singers go there’s one that few people would argue over as being the best.
She was 73 when did this gig. Bit of histrionics from the writer of the song…but who can blame her

Oh I’m not disputing the fact that there were better singers like Aretha around but Diana Ross had the best all round package i.e. looks, charisma, stage presence and enigmatic voice - she also had a whole host of memorable songs to back it up with. If there’s anyone else that tops her for all round ability in her genre i can’t think who it is
 
top marks to her for touring and letting her fans show there appreciation to her and visa versa .... clearly her voice is well shot but what the fck ... does it really matter for a 80 year old legend, its the experience and crowd interaction thats mostly important .... went to see my hero leonard Cohen in manchester Opera House and he was superb, just the presence and him belting out classics ... Top marks for her for touring the UK and doing Glasto ...
 
Paul Weller for the legends slot? He wouldn’t be flattered.
it has to have a bit of singalong middle of the road about that slot hence we have had

Barry Gibb, Shirley Bassey, Kylie, Tom Jones, Dolly, Tony Christie, Lionel Richie and ELO in previous years. Does Nial Diamond still tour?
 
I suppose that’s the problem these days, are the act’s picked purely for Glastonbury or partly for a BBC audience.
Yeah, fair point, it should be for the goers mind, as they're the one paying for the acts (and also still paying TV licence which they aren't using that weekend). I doubt BBC are contributing towards the acts at Glasto, but they do help introduce a lot of new bands, but again, everyone is paying for that.
 
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