Noel Gallagher: Jealous Definitely, Racist Maybe
Ben Barna
April 17, 2008
Stumbling across this story about Noel Gallagher sounding off against a fellow artist has us feeling all 1996-y, when Oasis mattered, and our dad surprised us with a new Nintendo 64. But this time it isn’t fellow Brit-poppers Damon Albarn or Richard Ashcroft getting singed by Gallagher's molten tongue—it’s the untouchable Hova. Gallagher is upset because his beloved summer festival Glastonbury, the centerpiece of Europe’s summer-fest smorgasbord, has booked Jay-Z as its headlining act, and attributes lagging ticket sales (it has yet to sell out, unlike previous years) on the American rapper’s presence. “If it ain't broke, don't fix it," the-brother-who-writes-all-the-songs told the BBC.
He’s upset because Glastonbury’s headliners are traditionally rock acts, and Hova riffs from his head, not from a Les Paul. “If you break it, people ain’t gonna go. I’m sorry, but Jay-Z? No chance. I’m not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. No way. No. It’s wrong.” Lucky for Jay-Z, Gallagher doesn’t curate Glastonbury (although his band headlined it twice), so his spot on the bill looks safe. Glastonbury’s co-organizer Emily Eavis hinted at something more sinister lurking beneath Noel’s words, but stopped short of blurting it out: “There is also an interesting undercurrent in the suggestion that a black, U.S. hip-hop artist shouldn’t be playing in front of what many perceive to be a white, middle-class audience. I’m not sure what to call it, at least not in public, but this is something that causes me some disquiet.” Here’s where we intercede and remind Ms. Eavis that racism and jealousy are two very different things.
UPDATE: Ben Barna responds to your comments! OMFG!
Comments (67)
Posted by Oats on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 11.55 am
Congrats! I was just waiting for some mindless twat to toss out the race card. It couldn’t just be that Noel doesn’t care for Jay-Z and his music and suspects many Glastonbury-goers agree with him, oh no. It’s a racial thing! Excellent job using sensationalism, mind-reading, and selective reporting to insinuate what the author of this piece lacks the proof and the balls to properly accuse.
Posted by James on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 12.21 pm
Is ben barna a retard?how is Noel gallagher a racist?he has said all his life that r n b and hip hop is a pile of crap which is true(listen to the words of their songs it doesnt even make sense)and now has said he doesnt want them playing in glastonbury because their songs are crap and apparently that makes him a racist and that he’s jealous.ben barna is actually so stupid its unbelievable.Noel said nothing about race in that interview.
Posted by JM on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 12.45 pm
racist? ben barna you have your head jammed up or politically correct ass...I think his point was that RAP AND HIP HOP IN GENERAL SUCKS A BLING-ENCRUSTED COCK, not that he’s racist. ridiculous.
Posted by james on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 02.41 pm
haha...Noel a racist? you are out of your mind. let’s see..it’s a rock/alternative festival. and then you all of a sudden throw in a rap artist as the headliner. i wonder why anyone might have a problem with that. so...Mr. Barna...Noel would have said the same thing if Eminem was headlining. But because JayZ is black it’s automatically a race issue. You make me sick.
Posted by Jason on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 02.44 pm
Love how people pull out the race card. Noel has stated several times that he hates hip hop/rap he has made fun of Eminem. Thats his point and learn to at least respect it. Glastonbury is mainly a rock festival. It does have a few other genres but all the main acts are rock. Last year it was The Who, The Killers, and Arctic Monkeys and they are all rock. And about Noel being jealous, i believe their last album has sold 4 million. Jay-Z’s past albums haven’t reached that and Oasis has performed some of the biggest gigs of all time (Knebworth) Jay-Z headlining Glastonbury is almost like Oasis playing at the BET awards
Posted by John on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 03.03 pm
Hip hop is fucking shit and doesn’t belong anywhere. Fuck all who think different. Eminem is a fucking retard.
Posted by JJ on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 03.04 pm
So if oyu don’t like hip[ hop you are racist or jealous. Jealous of what, someone talking to a beat. Noel is a musician, who has sold more records and played in front of more people than JayZ.
If oasis was headlining an American hip-hop festival, wonder if JayZ would say anything
Posted by JM on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 03.06 pm
Why would noel be jealous of a rapper????? ANYONE CAN RAP! not everyone can make hit songs on guitar and vocals like Gallagher...it actually takes talent to do what he does. in hip hop guys like jay z dress like clowns and just scream a bunch of rhyming words in a microphone while some producer adds all the background music...pretty tough!
Posted by webby on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 03.12 pm
Ben next time you pen an article regarding two of the industry’s greats do yourself a favor and extend the background research on your subjects beyond their Wikipedia bio pages. You opened up a real can of worms here. Long live the chief and hova.
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Posted by Johan on Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 09.36 am
How is Noel racist? If he doesnt like hip hop big deal! Its his opinion and as usual, he likes it to be heard. I’ve seen him slate Eminem previously so to smack the race card on the table in record time is quite frankly, embarrasing.
(Oasis rock - cant wait till Toronto V Festival)