CMAT at Glastonbury review – a preposterously fun pop star who'll surely be massive
CMAT runs on to the Pyramid stage, immediately pretends to faint, then delivers the first verse of her opening song lying face down. It's an intriguing beginning to the kind of Glastonbury set that captures an artist at what seems to be a tipping point of their career, that carries with it the distinct sense that they may be on the verge of becoming absolutely huge. The crowd she draws is vast and they respond to the handful of tracks already released from her forthcoming third album Euro-Country as if they're her greatest hits. The celebrity-endorsed TikTok dance craze spawned by recent single Take a Sexy Picture of Me has clearly had some role to play in boosting her popularity – its arrival mid-set prompts a spontaneous crowd sing along; someone in the audience is so excited they let a smoke flare off midway through; the big screens reveal that even a security guard standing by the loos at the side of the stage is pumping his fist – but it can't account for the rapturous reaction afforded her entire set.
What does is that CMAT is a fantastic pop star. It's not merely that she's smart, funny, gobbily outspoken, and looks fantastic – today she's clad in huge earrings in the shape of the euro symboland blue plastic dress that she removes to reveal a matching blue leotard, while mocking the fat-shaming comments posted about her on social media. It's not just that she is blessed with both a potent, octave-leaping voice and a surfeit of superb, hook-laden songs that split the difference between country mid-70s Fleetwood Mac and come equipped with sharp, witty lyrics. It's that she's a quite spectacularly brilliant live performer. She alternates between stage moves that very much hail from the Dance Like No One's Watching school of abandon, and choreographed routines with her band members: at the climax of one, she rips off her male band members' skirts in a manner reminiscent of Bucks Fizz's famous Eurovision moment. She announces herself as possessed of 'middle child syndrome, an amazing arse and the best Irish country rock'n'roll band in the world' and beckons for applause whenever she mentions her own name – when the crowd start chanting her name of their own accord, she responds by bending over and wiggling her bum at them. When she successfully encourages the audience to engage in synchronised dance moves to I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby!, she looks quite startled at what a crowd this size enthusiastically dancing in unison looks like.
It's all incredibly engaging and preposterously good fun, and it reaches a climax with Stay for Something She runs to the barrier at the front stage, climbs on top of it, hugs a fan, strikes a series of coquettish poses, then – to the visible horror of the security guard accompanying her – motions for the crowd to part, runs into their centre and delivers the final chorus in the middle of the audience. Back on stage, she leads a chant of 'free Palestine' and she's gone – it really doesn't seem inconceivable that she could be headlining the next time she returns.
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Scottish Sun
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She will now focus on her roles as Global Editorial Director and Chief Content Officer at the magazine's publisher Condé Nast. Whoever is picked to take over her old job better be able to fill her Manolo Blahnik pumps.
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
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SHE came, she saw the fashion world from behind her Chanel sunglasses, she conquered. After 37 years as the formidable force on US Vogue, Anna Wintour is stepping aside as Editor-in-Chief. 6 6 The move marks the end of an era, in which the UK-born power player ruled the fashion industry with a perfectly manicured fist. One flick of her hair or glance and your fate was sealed. Dame Anna, honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 in full Chanel couture, turned unknown models into stars, transformed 'trashy' celebs into tastemakers, and set trends the high street copied. Her signature razor-sharp bob — which she has had since the age of 14 — needs two daily blow-dries (morning and evening) and near-constant trims. Her attitude is equally polished — and feared. Nicknamed Nuclear Wintour for her icy reputation, she remains fashion's most enigmatic personality. The documentary The September Issue offered a rare peek inside Vogue's Manolo Blahnik-strewn corridors, capturing the chaos of assembling an 840-page edition of the magazine in 2007. Debuting in 2009 at Sundance and grossing around £7million, the film cemented Anna's status as the ultimate force in fashion. Surrounded by 'thin, rich and young' people Her frosty persona inspired The Devil Wears Prada's Miranda Priestly — Meryl Streep's pursed lips and cutting glares were taken straight from the Wintour playbook — and even The Incredibles' eccentric designer Edna Mode was modelled on her. But inside Vogue, Anna's power wasn't a scowl or stare. It was a yellow Post-it note stuck to the bottom of a printout, bearing the a seal of approval 'AWOK' — Anna Wintour OK — which could make or break careers. One star Anna truly legitimised was Kim Kardashian. When she boldly put Kim and then-fiance Kanye West on Vogue's cover in 2014, the fashion elite gasped. 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Every May, she breaks the internet with the Met Gala — her annual, star-studded spectacle where celebrities stun in jaw-dropping looks. What was once a low-key fundraiser transformed under her reign into fashion's most exclusive, over-the-top, meme-worthy night. 6 6 Starting in 2004, Anna harnessed showbiz glamour to skyrocket the event into global fame. Today, from TikTokers to A-listers, the guest list is fiercely selective — just 30 seconds of fame on a bright red carpet holds massive cultural weight. While Anna wields immense power over designer brands and celebrities, she has also had a huge impact on the high street. From her very first Vogue cover mixing budget jeans with couture, she has championed accessible fashion for all. Anna has been key in shaping runway trends that trickle down to high street retailers. 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After various scandals, names such as John Galliano and Dolce & Gabbana were swiftly frozen out of Vogue's world — proving that even fashion royalty are not safe from her. Yet despite the many ups and downs, one thing is certainly true. Anna Wintour is a force, a legend and one hell of a woman whose influence stretches far beyond the pages of Vogue. She will now focus on her roles as Global Editorial Director and Chief Content Officer at the magazine's publisher Condé Nast. Whoever is picked to take over her old job better be able to fill her Manolo Blahnik pumps.
Telegraph
25 minutes ago
- Telegraph
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