Tag: Catherine Goldberg ’20
Music Lovers Are Jumping For Joy
by Kerry Torpey on March 2, 2018
Arts & Entertainment
by Catherine Goldberg ’20
A&E Staff
In 2014, Vance Joy became a blip on the indie-pop radar screen with his No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Top Alternative hits, “Riptide.” The song became a huge success, and eventually landed him a spot on Taylor Swift’s 1989 World Tour, leading to worldwide recognition and a large fan-base. Since then, Joy’s popularity has seemed to fade that is, until last week when he released his newest album, Nation of Two.
On Feb. 23, 30-year-old Vance Joy, whose real name is James Keogh, came out with his second album. The Australian singer and songwriter launched his 13 track album in his typical “troubadour” fashion, as he features the ukulele and banjo. The indie-pop artist’s record subtly uncovers the story of two lovers as each track proceeds to the next. Newsday says that Vance Joy’s new album has gone “deeper and broader” than his past album.
The cover art reveals a simple drawing of a couple laying on one another, yet facing opposite directions. The two people need and love one another but also hurt one another. This broad tone encapsulates each song on the record.
The album commences with the song “Call If You Need Me,” setting the theme for the album. The minimalist instrumentals leave Joy’s message simple but effective. The beginning verses expresses the one-sided love he experiences with his lover. His voice sings with passion, but also cracks with each breath, uncovering a sense that he is so moved he may cry. The song ends with the words, “I’m thinkin’ ‘bout coming home,” leaving the album in a forward motion.
Next is a more energetic song, “Lay It On Me.” This fast-paced song is saturated with instruments and backup singers. The culmination of guitar, horns ,and voices create a sound that listeners cannot get enough of. In the last 30 seconds, the complementary singers and instruments suddenly halt and leave Joy’s voice ringing solo, emphasizing his passion. In this moment, you truly hear him begging for his lover to tell him how she feels—“Oh Baby, will you lay it all on me now?”—followed by the chorus and instruments echoing in for the grand finale.
“Saturday Sun” is another upbeat and fun song on the album. It sets a happy mood as he recollects the happiest moments of his relationship. You picture Joy dancing in the “Saturday Sun” with his lover as he “met someone on the West Coast.” As he sings “la-la-la” and “ba-ba-ba” you feel a childish and playful happiness as he remembers the Saturday when he met his lover.
The Australian acoustic king has made himself very distinct from any other artist of the day. Joy showcases his musical talent with alluring and detailed guitar melodies, the beautiful echo of backup singers, and his genuine and original lyrics. Though “Riptide” rings in the background, the artist is not trying to recreate his hit. None of the songs ring as particularly strong as “Riptide, but Joy has created a beautiful follow-up album promising a good future in music.
Embracing the Arts: Brown and PC’s Newest Art Additions
by Kerry Torpey on February 15, 2018
Arts & Entertainment
by Catherine Goldberg ’20
A&E Staff
Constructing monumental statues on college campuses has become a widespread tradition throughout the United States. They tend to take on a life of their own as they represent cherished traditions, school pride, and big accomplishments. These iconic features to liberal arts campuses are prevalent here in the city of Providence.
Brown University’s “Untitled Lamp/Bear” sculpture has become an iconic piece of art up on College Hill. Some of the Ivy League students love the big blue bear, while others are completely turned off by it, calling it distracting, untraditional, and stupid.
Urs Fischer is the artist behind Brown’s bear sculpture, which depicts a Bakelite desk lamp extending from the head of a teddy bear, symbolizing Brown University’s mascot, the Kodiak bear. It is meant to be both bold and humorous, bringing a sense of nostalgia, hard work, playfulness, and a larger-than-life presence to the school’s campus.
This past fall, Providence College added a new sculptural art piece to its campus. Located on Slavin Lawn, the sculpture of a torch symbolizes a beacon of light and truth. The the giant torch glows at the center of The Calabria Plaza for people to sit and observe.
“The construction of the torch and plaza during the centennial year marked the end of our first century and the beginning of new opportunities at Providence College,” said John Sweeney, the chief financial officer at the College, “It [serves] as a place to remember as well as inspire.” Surrounding the bench seating inside the plaza is a wall of black granite containing of the names of various inspirational Dominican saints, notable PC alumni, and important quotes.
The donation of the statue came from the Calabria family. Choosing the location of the statue was rather obvious, for Slavin Lawn has always been a popular space for public gatherings and student hang-outs. Now, with the addition of the torch, PC has a space to come together as a Friar Family and reflect upon the torch as a symbol of light and truth. The Calabrias hope that as students reflect on famous names and inspirational quotes inside the plaza, they will be inspired by grace to be the best that they can be.
If one were to compare the big blue bear statue at Brown with PC’s Calabria Plaza, one may note the immense differences between the two. However, both serve as important symbols of tradition and truth for their communities. While many students may find both sculptures to be ostentatious forms with no importance, others are touched by their symbolism and meaning for the campus.
Providence Art and Design: The Lore Collection
by Kerry Torpey on February 8, 2018
Arts & Entertainment
by Catherine Goldberg ’20
A&E Staff
Time Magazine has named Providence the number six “top city for hipsters.” As the home of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence is in “the Ivy League of hipsterdom.” Time names Providence’s artsy college students and residents “Wayfarered nerds,” constantly getting “creative and theatrical” in the city.
These ‘nerds’ have brought many exciting new ideas, places, and things to the world of arts and entertainment. Right off of College Hill rests a tiny art boutique called The Lore Collection.
Lore is a collection of art and design objects centered on the creative vision of two Providence residents and designers, Margaret Hinge and Jayna Aronovitch. These women share a strong desire to expose talented artists, creators, and designers whose work “excels.”
They strive to support independent artists and designers based in New England and give them a space to share their innovative, contemporary, and individualized art. On show now at the Lore Collection are 18 New England artists with talents in fashion, jewlery making, and household items.
When wandering the small boutique, coming across endless trinkets and beautiful paisley scarves, one artist’s work will truly draw your attention. Jon-Michael Frank’s numerous pieces of art rested on the shelf, but the 8 x 10 cartoon designs truly came to life. His works consists of simple cartoons of everyday life, yet portray dark, yet comical, meme-like messages along the bottoms.
Frank’s comics scattered along the artsy boutique comment on life’s fundamental difficulties. The childlike drawings are very simple, yet the messages are very dark. However, the accuracy of most his statements are so on-point that it almost becomes comical.
One of his piece’s pictures a woman casually lounging in a bathing suit, blowing bubbles. A seemingly happy and relaxed woman, however, the quote along the bottom reveals something arguably very relevant to us Providence College students: “One of these days I will do something special and important with my life but not today not today.”
With so many places just like Lore in the area, PC students have tons of opportunities to break out of the PC bubble and explore downtown Providence. From the exhibits of the Rhode Island School of Design to the wide range of pieces at the Providence Athenaeum, the art scene in Providence is booming.
The Lore Collection is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. If you are interested in signing up for Lore’s email subscription to receive updates on their collections, go to lorecollection.com.
Movies to Start off 2018: The Greatest Showman Proves Itself to be a Successful New Movie
by Kerry Torpey on February 1, 2018
Arts & Entertainment
by Catherine Goldberg ’20
A&E Staff
On the coldest winter days, hitting up your local movie theater to see latest movies is the best way to make use of extra time. One of the markets latest and most successful films is The Greatest Showman.
The Greatest Showman is a captivating and light–hearted family film. It takes you back to the birth of show business, while also entangling modern music and costume and appealing to viewers ranging from old school critics to new school kids. The movie is inspired by the true story of P.T. Barnum’s (Hugh Jackman) creation of the Barnum & Bailey Circus, and ties together the fascinating stories of its star attractions.
Helen O’Hara of Empire says, ”It may not be quite the greatest show on Earth, but Gracey, Jackman and the entire cast are deeply committed to entertaining and leave you feeling an old-school musical thrill. It can be hard looking back on the famous acts of the circus in comparison with modern day artists, bizarre performances, contemporary dance shows, and all the intriguing attractions in between; the fascination for the old-school circus is somewhat lost. However, director Michael Gracey does a great job of drawing on these retro roots and connecting it to modern contemporaries.
Kristin Smith of Plugged In says, The Greatest Showman paints a portrait of the metaphorical tightrope P.T. Barnum walked, and were drawn into his mesmerizing world.” The popular cast, starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and Zendaya, are perfectly glamorized to fit their character’s outrageous roles. Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick used inspirations ranging from 19th century costumes to today’s most popular high-end brands to create a wardrobe of Barnum’s own beautiful fantasies.
P.T. Barnum grows up in a poor family, but falls in love with Charity, a girl who comes from wealth. They marry and live a humble life, but Barnum dreams of more. After losing his job, Barnum decides to take out a huge loan and buy a museum in local Manhattan where wax figures are showcased, but he gets the idea to showcase something ”alive.”
He decides to gather people considered ”freaks” to perform and so comes the Circus. Acrobats, a bearded lady, and the ”tallest man on earth,” among other ”freaks” perform exhilarating acts, and the circus makes headway.
Highlights of the film are the original songs from Justin Paul and Benj Psek, the Golden-Globe winning and Oscar- nominated track ”This is Me,” sung by Keala Settle. With an exceptional performance by Jackman, the musical is truly something meant to be seen in theaters. The film’s charming leads and circus scenes make it a fun pick for families. It is historical, musical, and brings audiences back to the magic of the circus.
Live From Providence College, It’s Saturday Night Live: Board of Programmers Hosts PC’s Very First SNL Night
by The Cowl Editor on December 9, 2017
Arts & Entertainment
by Catherine Goldberg ’20
A&E Staff
The first ever “Saturday Night Live” at Providence College was hosted by The Board of Programmers in McPhail’s this past Saturday, December 2. The event was filled with laughs, food, and fun as Father Dominic Verner, O.P., the host for the night, kept the students entertained.
As Saturday Night Live always begins, the host, Fr. Dom, gave a witty monologue to set the stage. Fr. Dom opened up with references to Lil Uzi’s performance in October, leaving the audience cracking up at his interpretations of Uzi’s lyrics. He then proceeded to introduce Six Gents, PC’s very own on campus sketch comedy group.
With sketches written, directed, and performed by the members themselves, Six Gents took the stage. Members packed McPhail’s with laughter as they performed. Many of their sketches were Christmas-themed, while others portrayed cringe worthy dates. Their performances tended towards comedic profanity and controversial topics, but nonetheless, left the audience smiling.
Following their performance, Believers of Word, PC’s slam poetry club took the stage. The poets took the stage to bring the power of the spoken word to the event and the community. Members strive to bring together those who have an appreciation for poetry to collaborate, listen, and express themselves through poetry. Their passion was obvious as they exuberantly recited poetry.
Their compelling performance led into the next act. One of Providence’s favorite singing groups, Anaclastics, took center spotlight. Singing Ben E. King’s classic hit from the 60s, the group performed “Stand By Me,” inspiring the audience to dance and sing along. They also sang a newer tune featured in the popular Netflix Series 13 Reasons Why called “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron. The sounds of all the voices harmonized beautifully, making it hard to tell there were no instraments. The group truly encompasses the meaning of Friar Family, as their voices beautifully bounce off of one another. The crowd could not get enough of their passion, talent, and enthusiasm.
To close the live performances, Adam Hanna ‘18 reflected well-deserved success in his music career with a solo performance. The senior has been a rock star at PC and on Saturday, students were thrilled to see him rock the stage with confidence and natural talent.
At the end of the night, the McPhail’s community watched NBC’s own Saturday Night Live skits. The BOP coordinator of the event, Amanda Gaccione ’20, was thrilled with how the event went. Gaccione stated, “We had a lot of people come together and share lots of laughs. The event was overall very fun.” She personally was “very happy with it, and was extremely grateful to all the performers who came out.”
The audience loved the event and wants to thank BOP for the efforts to make the night so fun. Fr. Dom, Six Gents, BOW, Anaclastics, and Hanna rocked the show, and hopefully there will be another SNL event next year.
There’s No Business Like Snow Business at PC
by The Cowl Editor on November 30, 2017
Arts & Entertainment
by Catherine Goldberg ’18
A&E Staff
Are you ready for the first snowfall of the season? Are you dreaming of snow days as Christmas approaches? Or are you fearing slipping down the steep Guzman Hill stairs?
December is finally here, so it is inevitable that Providence College students think about what winter has in store. Some dread the thought of the cold and dreary weather and trekking through the heavy mounds of slush. Others are ready to embrace the beauty of the first snowfall. Over the years, snow days have served as some of PC students’ greatest memories. Let’s take a Friar Flashback…
The Blizzard of 1978 marks a historic moment for Providence alumni. In the beginning of February, students woke up to a beautiful 40-inch blanket of snow. The blizzard caused chaos across campus, as students were left with no classwork and had time to express their youthful spirits while entertaining themselves over the course of a five-day break.
Students trudged from Fennell to Raymond Dining Hall and back for meals, used lunch trays as sleds, and went to The Rat, the on-campus bar at the time. In the winter of 1982, energetic students decided to collect the perfect packing snow to construct an eight-layer snowman right outside St. Joseph Hall.
Today at PC, students still love when classes are called off and an official snow day commences. Marie Sweeney ’20 always has “a feeling of happiness waking up knowing there’s a snow day.” She loves “looking outside the window and embracing the magnificent snow.”
With the mounds of work which often pile high for students at this time of year, many enjoy relaxing in the comfort of their dorms or apartments. Sarah Kerrigan ’20 and Maddie Reilly ’20 love “drinking hot chocolate, watching Christmas movies, snuggling, and baking cookies” on their wintry day off.
Others, such as Elizabeth Connor ’20, still love making the bitterly cold trip to Ray and “staying all day, eating chicken nuggets, and chatting with friends.” Last semester, on Feb. 9, Providence experienced blizzard conditions which lasted nine hours. Students were notified the preceding night that classes would be cancelled, and happily prepared for the following day.
Many of the freshman boys living in St. Joseph Hall decided to go outside in the freezing weather wearing nothing but jerseys, shorts, and snow boots. While most of them practically froze in the intensity of the snowfall, Brandon Sahler ’20 said it is “a day he will always remember when looking back at his time at Providence.”
Snow days spark ambition in youthful minds and bring us together to remind PC students nostalgic for the snow days of their childhood that the magic is still there. Are you excited for the first snow day of the year?
Let’s Rant: Why Do We Care About Celebrities’ Lives?
by The Cowl Editor on November 16, 2017
Arts & Entertainment
by Catherine Goldberg ’20
A&E Staff
Three years after calling “Jelena” quits for what seemed to be the last time, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are giving their romance another shot. After Gomez’s traumatic lupus diagnosis and kidney transplant recovery, it seemed that Bieber wanted to be by her side.
It was not long before the “Where Are U Now” crooner tried to sweep the Disney alumna off her feet once again. In the past few weeks, pictures of the two getting cozy together have been flooding, the web. Some find the past tween sensations rekindled relationship to be adorable, while others feel that Bieber is toxic for Gomez. In any case, there is a bigger question: why do we care?
The public does not know Bieber or Gomez personally, so why do we care whether they are together or not? It is a peculiar thought, yet something most of us are guilty of doing. We are curious about what our favorite entertainers do in their day-to-day lives.
The reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians validates the fact that human beings are fascinated with the lives of famous people. The Kardashian clan appears to be celebrities for no apparent reason other than the fact that people are intrigued by their glamorous and over-the-top lifestyle.
When you peel back the layers, our preoccupation with popular culture mirrors an extreme interest in other people. It appears that as human beings, we are hardwired to gossip and in the 21st century, celebrities have provided us gossip for our everyday conversations. In our highly mobile and industrial society, they often serve as the only “friends” we have in common with a world of other people. They provide a similar interest and topic of discussion between people who may not have much to say to each other. They aid informal interactions in helping people become comfortable with new people or in new surroundings. Being involved in the virtual world of the internet can make a person seem more socially adept.
Although the relationship between Gomez and Bieber may not be the most important thing in the world right now, as curious beings, we want to explore it. It is entertaining to distract ourselves with the lives of people whose job it is to entertain us. After all, that is what it is—entertainment. It is ultimately harmless, and often a tool to facilitate social interaction between people who would never meet otherwise.
Therefore, it seems that caring about celebrities’ lives may be a socially important phenomenon. So, if you find yourself becoming rather intrigued with some silly story about a celebrity, do not beat yourself up. It is engrained in our human nature.
PC’s Fall Musical: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
by The Cowl Editor on November 2, 2017
Arts & Entertainment
by Catherine Goldberg ’20
A&E Staff
The Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance, and Film kicked off this year’s Fall season with the comedic musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The hip production follows six adolescents in the throes of puberty as they express their individual quirks and compete to win first prize in an elementary spelling bee. A naive, yet charming cast of outsiders sing songs written by William Finn and directed by Jimmy Calitri.The musical takes you back to middle school as the characters confront life’s lessons with vulnerability, dignity, and wit.
Jennifer Dorn ’18 plays Rona Lisa Peretti, the moderator of the bee. Her character is the number one realtor in Putnam County and former spelling bee champion. She seems to see an aspect of herself in each of the children’s distinctly nerdy attributes, as she marvels at each of their interesting techniques when approaching the microphone to spell. However, she can be very stern when dealing with Vice Principal Douglas Panch.
Played by William Oser ’19, as Rona Lisa Peretti’s co-coordinator for the Bee, Vice Principal Panch has a hilarious persona, which is exemplified in his seemingly unpredictable reactions towards the children. He becomes increasingly impatient when each of them breaks out into random song or dance, interrupting the proper flow of the spelling bee. He is back as a coordinator after five years of absence due to an “incident” at the 20th Annual Bee. However, he indicates that he is now in a “better place.”
Steven Sawan ’20 plays Mitch Mahoney, the bee’s official comfort counselor and an ex-convict. He wears ripped jeans, a backwards ball cap, and thuds around the stage handing out juice boxes to each student that misspells a word and is eliminated.
The happy-go-lucky, Olive Ostrovsky is played by Aisling Sheahan ’19. Though very sweet and charming, she seems to keep her feelings bottled up as she longs for her mom who has been trying to find peace someplace in India, while her dad hardly notices her.
In the song “My Friend, The Dictionary”, she describes how she has become friends which each of the words she reads in the dictionary, which has brought her to the competition.
William Barfée, whose last name is practically always mispronounced as “barf-ee,” is played by Bryan Sabbag ’18. In the 24th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he was eliminated due to an allergic reaction to peanuts. His one working nostril adds to his quirkiness, and famous “magic foot” method of spelling brings him to glory at the Bee’s end.
Emily Clark ’19 plays Logainne Schwartandgrubenierre, who is raised by two overbearing fathers who are very adament she wins first place. Her adorable lisp contrasts her wide array of knowledge on politics.
Caprial Harris ’19 plays Marcy Park, who returns from last year’s competition, and nationals where she took ninth place. She speaks six languages as expressed in her monologue song, “I Speak Six Languages.” As an overachiever from a Catholic school, she is pushed to purposely misspell a word in order to alleviate the pressure she feels and get out of the competition.
Leaf Coneybear wheels around the stage in heely’s while his self-made cape flows behind him. Teddy Kiritsy ’19 fits the part to a tee, as he playfully and immaturely giggles when assigned to spell South American rodents with amusing names. His song, “I’m Not That Smart,” however, shows that he can seemingly always spell words correctly while in a trance.
Charlito “Chip” Tolentino is played by Daniel Jameson ’21 in a Boy Scout uniform. He seems to expect things to come easily to him, but when he sees Leaf’s sister in the audience and puberty hits at the wrong time, he misspells his word and becomes the first contestant to be eliminated
The setting of the play was a high school gym set up for a spelling bee. It ran for approximately 100 minutes with no intermission. The music was played entirely by live musicians.
The Department of Theatre, Dance, and Film would like to give a special thanks to the production staff and for a great turnout in this year’s fall showcase.
Miley Cyrus Returns to Her Country Roots
by The Cowl Editor on October 26, 2017
Arts & Entertainment
by Catherine Goldberg ’20
A&E Staff
In Hannah Montana: The Movie, Miley Stewart gets shipped off to Tennessee in hopes of rediscovering her roots. As a homegrown farm girl, MileyCyrus’s character grapples with an identity crisis over whether she should keep or ditch the iconic blond wig that allows her to be a world-wide popstar.
The classic Disney movie, which many Providence College students can probably recall from their childhood, seems to relate to Cyrus’s new back-to-her-roots album. It seems Cyrus has put her “old blue jeans” back on to release her latest album, Younger Now.
The album seems to be the very opposite of the singer’s infamous “Wrecking Ball” stage, as it is a “twerk”-free zone. The blend of country and pop reflects upon both Cyrus’s Tennessee upbringing and popstar past. The country-tinged album links her to Dolly Parton, which is evident in their collaborative track, “Rainbowland.”
The song begins with Parton telling Cyrus that she is “in Nashville” and playing the track “on a cassette,” exposing an old-fashioned theme. “Rainbowland” is the only joint song on the entire album, which differentiates Cyrus as more independent, for on her2013 album “Bangerz”, she collaborated with six other artists, the majority of them rappers.
Younger Now seems to lull the listener into a peaceful utopia, as Cyrus shares details about her on-and-off romance with her fiancé, actor Liam Hemsworth; these details are most evident as Cyrus basks in the sunshine of “Malibu.” “Week Without You” is a break-up ballad imagining what it would be like to leave her lover behind.
Cyrus offers soothing and sentimental love songs with “Miss You So Much” and “I Would Die For You.” Her album exposes her worries about the state of the world, as she sings of her desire to live in a “Rainbowland,” where “skies are blue and things are grand/oh, wouldn’t it be nice to live in paradise.” She closes the album with a ballad dedicated to her concerns for the planet titled “Inspired,” as she tries to inspire listeners by telling them though they have “felt so small/[they] aren’t at all.”
Though the album appears highly retro and country inspired, it does not completely neglect her Bangerz past. “Thinkin’” incorp0rates both pop and R&B, and “Bad Mood” offers what some may consider scandalous and seductive lyrics. Although the track “She’s Not Him” is one of her slower and more romantic tracks, it shows similarities to fellow singer Katy Perry’s controversial 2008 hit, “I Kissed a Girl.”
One might say Cyrus’s twerking days are over and her lyrics encompass her transformation. In her “Younger Now” music video, she sings “No one stays the same” as a dancer twirls pointedly on a pole. Most seem to be happy to see Cyrus going from “girl-gone-wild” to “girl-gone-mild.” Not everyone is enamored of her latest reinvention, however.
For example, Amanda Petrsich of The New Yorker sees this change in Cyrus as a misleading example of how young women mature. She states, “she was a fairly innocent kid who enjoyed a wild period in her early twenties, and, now that she’s about to become someone’s wife, she’s settling down, finding a new way to be (or act) virtuous.” Petrsich argues that Cyrus’s “change” creates a “narrow path forward” for maturing young women.
Although the path Cyrus went down may be misleading to some, she retains the edge she has spent the past five years cultivating, while moving into country-pop maturity. Younger Now is available on iTunes and streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music.
Uzi Madness: Lil Uzi Pushed This Year’s Late Night Madness to the Edge
by The Cowl Editor on October 19, 2017
Arts & Entertainment
by Catherine Goldberg ’20
A&E Staff
It was an exciting and eventful night at Providence College as students packed the Peterson Recreation Center to see the rising star Lil Uzi Vert perform at this year’s Late Night Madness concert.
Symere Woods, also known as Lil Uzi Vert, has rose to fame in the past year. At only 23, he has become a huge influence towards young people, in part because of his refusal to conform and marginalize. His unique persona and carefree lyrics have drawn many college students to love him as an artist and performer.
When PC released the news that he would be this year’s Late Night Madness guest performer, all you could hear playing from the windows of students’ dorms were the hit songs of Lil Uzi.
The dim lights, crammed bodies, and students’ racing pulses lifted school spirits high, while, the anticipation of Uzi’s performance was even higher. Uzi’s DJ was able to set the stage by playing classic hip hop jams to get PC students ready for the main event.
Finally, around 10 p.m., Uzi took the stage. Though small in stature, his ability to take over the concert venue cannot be denied. His risky fashion choices and different colored dreds truly brought the youth of Providence to embrace him as an icon.
Diehard Uzi fans were thrilled to hear him play some of his new music off of the Luv Is Rage 2 album released this year. The official single off the album From Philadelphia, “The Way Life Goes,” was a huge crowd pleaser. The Philadelphia rapper also performed some of his popular mainstream hits and dancing jams including “Do What I Want” and “Money Longer.”
“XO Tour Llif3” was arguably his best and most enthralling performance. The hit jam was labeled the “Song of the Summer” this year at the 2017 MTV Music Awards and on campus, the song has truly become an anthem for students. Each time he sang the chorus, students roared the most well known lyrics, “Push me to the edge, all my friends are dead.”
Marie Sweeney ’20 loved the “good vibes of the night” and “the overall atmosphere.” Although she found it “disappointing that he took so long to come onto the stage, it was altogether a great performance.” Another Uzi fan, John Kramer ‘20 described the night as “one of his favorite PC experiences.”
Uzi closed his performance with his signature shoulder shrug. He shouted to students to “keep it going,” and as the spotlight dimmed, PC students continued to chant his empowering lyrics. Students of all ages left Peterson feeling inspired, excited, and closer as a community.
In the past, PC has brought in a wide range of celebrities to either MC or perform at Late Night Madness, including Nick Cannon, Big Sean, Ludacris, and Shaq. However, Lil Uzi Vert has “pushed them to the edge” with this year’s exhilarating performance.