Don't make us say `Uhhh' anymore
Andrew Jones
Scene music critic
As a sophomore I have fortunately retired from dorm parties, yet I can't escape from attending gatherings that occur in honor of a dorm formal, O'Neill Hall's Mardi Gras or other functions such as West Quad Formal. Don't get me wrong about these gatherings. I often have a blurry blast, but the catch is that most of these gatherings are hosted by friends, which means I'll most likely tolerate their choices for the soundtrack to our gathering.
Although when I arrive at the actual dance or when freshmen in my dorm host a party, how many times do I have to hear Jay-Z spat out "Can I Get A ..."? Or why is it that a friend of mine recently attended a Pangborn Hall dance during which the DJ refused to play "Give It Away" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and instead blasted a heavy dose of bass off of Dr. Dre's Chronic 2000?
It seems as if students here party, dancing to the monotonous sounds of songs driven by the loud thud of a rap beat accompanied by a ridiculous subject; some argue "songs" such as Master P's "Make `Em Say Uhhhh." borderline the definition of music. Master P groans and chants to a beat; that doesn't exactly take that much true musical talent. Rap "artists" are becoming limited as far as the subject of their rapping as well.
Let's review — prostitution, gangs, drug sales and the ghetto in general have all been covered at least once before.
As much as some of us are tired of hearing Dave Matthews Band, too, we would rather dance to that music than constantly jolting our bodies around to a DJ's stream of songs primarily consisting of rap. Parties and dances here aren't ALL RAP, ALL THE TIME, but what is it being played if it is not rap? "Come on, Eileen?" Please!
People, why are we playing the same songs over and over again? Why are the majority of them so bad and so overplayed? I understand that some of us like these songs, but can one honestly admit they are fine pieces of music? I can't.
Maybe it is linked to the diversity on this campus, and an angle to that exists that we just do not realize. Is Notre Dame saturated with audiophiles? That must be it. U93, ironically owned by the University, fuels the campus with the sound of the musically popular, not necessarily fine pieces composed from, say, a musically theoretical standpoint, and the music on U93 might not be rap, but chances are you'll hear some boy band that epitomizes the latest teeny-bopper craze.
Or perhaps it is our style of party: drinking beer and getting sloshed. The terrible music played here differs from that of a scene where people dance to the music such as Phish. But oh my gosh! Those fans are taking hallucinogens and smoking marijuana and then dancing around! Yet few can argue that Phish songs are not composed from a brilliantly theoretical standpoint, and people still dance to it.
Who knows, but in the 1700's people danced to Mozart, and now we settle for Jay-Z and Dexy's Midnight Runners (did you even know that's who sings "Come on Eileen"?).
So it's time to overcome our habits and groove to some relatively good music. If we can't do that, then can we at least try to groove to something different, maybe something that's not rap?!
And jeez, no more Eileen, please.
All Scene Stories for Tuesday, February 22, 2000
