Geldof: he doesn't like Mondays,or
world poverty. Photo: John D McHugh/AFP
5.30pm You could hardly begrudge Bob Geldof his three minutes of pop glory, as he sang his 1980 hit I Don't Like Mondays, with Travis standing in for the Boomtown Rats. But in revisiting his rock-star days, he relinquished his power. Geldof's talent lies in agitation and oratatory; the only time he should ever have a microphone in his hand is in his capacity as a thorn in politicians' sides.
5.15pm Staying Alive by the Bee Gees - a natural song for melancholy rock-pussies Travis to cover? Or were the Scottish band shaking their under-employed tushies so we'd remember that there's a geyser of testosterone under the wistfulness?
Pretty good, in any case.
5pm So cutting, sir: Jonathan Ross to Stereophonics, during a post-set interview: "Although you're a well-known band, you're sort of B-list, aren't you?" Stereophonics politely agreed, and refrained from pointing out that, in the great scheme of international TV presenters, Ross is fairly B himself.
4.45pm A slap on the beak for Vulture, who missed the irony when Keane were introduced. The arch-miserablists were ushered on with the words: "Everybody happy? Well, here's something that'll make you happier!" Vulture exclaimed to her fellow Vulture: "But they're really gloomy! won't make anybody happy!" "It was a joke," said the other bird patiently.
Nice to see Ms Dynamite, who's back from maternity leave - her version of Bob Marley's Redemption Song proved that she can sing beautifully as well as rap winsomely. But her appearance - as one of only two black headlining artists (Snoop Dogg being the other) seems a bit tokenistic, especially when the likes of Jamelia and Estelle have been doing exciting things lately.
