One tune, many songs
Conor Maynard and Pixie Lott demonstrated how easily the rhythm of “Despacito” could accommodate other melodies. Their medley moved through a succession of familiar songs while preserving the same backing, giving Scott another example of pop music folding neatly into itself.
The experiment anticipated the show’s growing fascination with “Despacito”, but the main Big Weekend business involved the white telephone box installed on site. A backstage caller could ring the phone and give an instruction to whichever festivalgoer happened to answer.
A pint mission for Bastille
Bastille’s Dan Smith and Woody used the phone box to ask strangers for two pints. The first woman who answered was not interested in sharing her drinks. Emily, however, accepted the challenge and spent her own money before realising who had sent her on the mission.
She brought the pints backstage, recognised Dan and was invited to stay and drink with the band. The meeting became unexpectedly emotional when Emily explained that she and her partner had bonded over Bastille’s “Flaws”. What began as a cheeky request from a ringing telephone box ended with a fan meeting a group whose music carried personal meaning for her.
Radio united for Manchester
Scott then explained that he would be part of the BBC’s One Love Manchester coverage on Sunday. He was due at Old Trafford Cricket Ground alongside Jo Whiley, Phil Williams and Becky Want as Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 5 Live joined forces for Ariana Grande’s benefit concert.
Real or No Real brought a final set of peculiar claims. Greg James and Alice Levine considered whether Tetley tea master Sebastian Michaelis had insured his taste buds for £1 million. The story was real, an occupational safeguard for someone whose palate was central to his work.
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