Cyndi Lauper's Glastonbury performance was beset with sound issues
Lauper's Glastonbury Show Plagued By Sound Woes
Cyndi Lauper performed on the main stage at Glastonbury, making her first appearance at the festival in five years.
When Cyndi Lauper performed at Glastonbury again, there were issues with the sound that made it hard for the audience to hear her singing.
During the initial songs, the singer struggled to be heard over the loud bass. When her voice did come through, it was evident that she was having trouble with her pitch and timing, especially during a off-key performance of Rocking Chair.
The problems seemed to have been fixed by the time she reached the powerful song I Drove All Night, with her voice suddenly strong and melodic in the bright sun of the afternoon.
However, she stumbled once more during her performance of "Time After Time," one of her hit songs from 1984. It seemed like she was having difficulty with her in-ear monitors as her timing didn't quite match up with the band's.
Occasionally, the singer seemed to be arguing with members of the production crew by the stage.
People watching from home also noticed the problems and left negative comments on social media.
One person commented that they believe the music is moving at a quicker pace than the singer, causing her to be off-beat and off-key at times. They expressed their disappointment with her performance.
Another person wrote that Cyndi Lauper is definitely not lip-syncing, although they kind of wish she was.
A third person mentioned that artists from a particular generation have trouble knowing when to quit, and it's unfortunate.
The scene brought back memories of Diana Ross's show in the Legends Slot from two years ago, where fans were disappointed by off-key notes and shaky vocals.
Just like in the TV show, the audience saved the day by singing along enthusiastically to Lauper's hit songs such as True Colors and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, lifting her spirits.
After performing on stage for over four decades, Lauper powered through the show with her strong personality.
She confidently stepped onto the stage wearing a beautiful silver dress, along with a light blue coat and hair to match.
"How are all of you feeling?" she inquired to the crowd, extending all the way back to the furthest reaches of the Pyramid Stage. "I notice each and every one of you. My affection for you knows no bounds. Your presence surrounds me."
Starting off with the iconic 1980s song The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough, she smoothly transitioned into the provocative She Bop – a song that explores the topic of self-pleasure.
In the 2008 song "Into The Nightlife," she also surprised everyone with a recorder solo performance.
However, the 71-year-old also took the opportunity during her performance to passionately advocate for women's rights.
"It's about time that global leaders acknowledge that women make up half of the world's population," she stated, "and we deserve to be treated with equality."
Finishing the performance, she expressed her gratitude to the crowd and wished them a fantastic celebration.
However, her face showed that the show had been difficult.
After the interview on BBC Breakfast, she acknowledged that she had faced some challenges with technical issues.
"At times, when you're on stage, the sound can be quite confusing," she mentioned during an upcoming interview set to air on Sunday morning.
"It's not important because the energy is still present... The energy of those individuals. It was fantastic. I enjoyed myself."
Lauper will be performing on Saturday along with other artists such as Jessie Ware, Disclosure, Little Simz, Keane, The Streets, and Gossip.
Nigerian artist Ayra Starr brought the lively sounds of Afrobeats to the sizzling Pyramid Stage, giving off summer vibes.
Prior to her performance, the Pyramid Stage kicked off with an energetic show from Femi Kuti, which had the afternoon crowd dancing to the lively, soulful tunes of tracks such as Pà Pá Pà and Corruption Na Stealing.
He also introduced his son, Fela, who amazed the audience by playing a saxophone note for nearly two minutes without stopping.
Another Nigerian musician, Ayra Starr, made history by being the first Afrobeats artist to perform on the Pyramid Stage.
She adapted to it effortlessly - singing with a strong voice and performing smooth dance routines on upbeat songs like Rush, Woman Commando, and Bloody Samaritan.
The popular song "Commas" was a big hit and she even sang it twice because the audience loved it so much. She ended the performance with the lively and upbeat song "Sability."
"When I return, I'll be the main act, got it?" she declared before exiting the stage.
The calming tunes of The Staves provided a pleasant beginning to Saturday for party-goers who had stayed up all night celebrating.
The Staves, a folk music group, were the opening act on The Other Stage, starting off Saturday at the festival with a peaceful performance of folk-rock melodies.
Camilla and Jessica Staveley Taylor, who are sisters, performed songs from their music career spanning 12 years. They played a variety of songs, ranging from the soft acoustic tunes of In The Long Run to the powerful feminist anthems Good Woman and All Now.
In the meantime, BBC News host Ros Atkins took the stage at Glastonbury for the first time, playing a highly anticipated set of drum and bass hits at the Stonebridge bar.
Coldplay will be the main act on the main stage on Saturday night, marking their fifth performance in a row.
Lead singer Chris Martin was reportedly seen at Worthy Farm early in the morning, distributing LED wristbands for their performance and urging fans to participate in the upcoming general election.
