A STORMY atmosphere hung in the air as loyalties were tested and alternate concepts battled for supremacy.
David Cameron may well have watched the coverage of the Glastonbury festival and seen a comparison with his recent chaotic defeat in the EU Parliament.
While the storm clouds broke over the muddy field in Somerset sunshine looks a far off option for Britain in the EU.
A contentious headline act started off by garnering the critics ire before bringing them around and ending up with full throated support. Metallica and Jean Claude Juncker could have the makings of a breakout combination.
If Mr Juncker is the Metallica of the European Union show then David Cameron must surely be the Prince type figure, throwing a tantrum because he hasn't got his own way and threatening consequences and retribution in the future. Unlike Prince though Mr Cameron knows that he needs the support of the other acts. His teeth grating congratulations to Mr Juncker has shown that for all his bluster he faces the humiliation of working with him in the future.
"I'm terrified," singer Hannah Reid told the BBC, two hours before showtime.
"You struggle to feel worthy for Glastonbury. I'm like 'oh no, I'm really a fraud. I can't sing at all and everyone at Glastonbury's going to know'."
It must not have been too far from the way Mr Cameron felt on Friday, realising that defeat, and with it a loss of credibility for the UK, was inevitable.
Ahead of the festival Metallica faced a boycott campaign, which they knew from the start would fail. Through personality and character they turned it to their favour though and won the crowds over. While Mr Juncker may not have done it with so much style his conciliatory tone and willingness to discuss compromise effectively swept the feet from under his critics. By the time of the show Mr Cameron was left with nowhere to go, relegated to the outlining stage to play to a crowd of one.
Glastonbury has an incredible ability to bring together thousands of people from different backgrounds, taste and style and create an electric atmosphere. The EU doesn't have quite the same effect. With so many competing interests and strongly held views the MEP's aren't going to be getting together in the beer tent to praise each other's music tastes. More likely the glasses will be thrown as they argue over whether they should have watched Jake Bugg or Metallica.
Fortunately the strength of Angela Merkel has kept the crowd together for the most part, jumping from one side to the other and playing more than one stage, think Kaiser Chiefs and their three set triumph.
It hasn't all be pitch perfect for Glastonbury though, and here the real link with the EU comes in. Accused of being out of touch, controlled by the middle aged middle class and inaccessible to most people it may have more in common with the EU parliament than anyone had ever thought.
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