Politics got you down? Play some music to lighten the atmosphere
by Rebecca Blady
Managing Editor
Columnists | 5/25/10
Posted online at 9:44 PM EST on 5/24/10
/ Last updated at 12:48 AM EST on 5/24/10
Music is almost never a focal point of any graduation. Rarely, if ever, do I read or hear about the soundtrack of a university commencement or even the tunes playing during the processional as graduates march into their last ceremony. It's essentially assumed by most graduation attendees that graduates will walk to the traditional, melodious tearjerker composed ages ago.
Brandeis, however, has made it clear that the classical melody doesn't fit at its own commencement exercises.
Rows upon rows of people dancing to the rhythmic Hindi beat playing as the Class of 2010 paraded into the room showed how a song from one of the more significant films of our generation could get everyone excited about celebrating the accomplishments of around 1,500 total graduates. If "Jai Ho" wasn't enough to get everybody's juices flowing, the Lion King classic "Circle of Life" instilled in friends and family members of all ages a nostalgic yet familiar life cycle sentiment. And the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" to cap off the recessional certainly put the audience in a festive mood. Even a techno remix of "Hava Nagila" mixed in with the rest of the music emphasized the essence of Brandeis' interaction with modernity: a traditional song with a digital twist. And the crowd continued to dance.
I must say that with all of the heavy melodrama surrounding Michael Oren's role as the University's commencement keynote speaker, the music truly-thankfully-seemed to put a 180-degree spin on everyone's attitude. Contrary to the expectations of many around the world watching out for controversy, sitting in the audience was actually a good time. As far as I could tell, all the angst building up to the big event fled the room as the graduates entered to the music. The aura shifted from worried anticipation to simple pleasure as everyone present successfully identified with an element of pop culture and joined in one massive, unified celebration.
This precisely was the beauty of Paul Simon's guest performance. With the performance cleverly (or cruelly?) scheduled for right at the ceremony's end, almost all audience members remained fixed in their seats, waiting eagerly for one of the best musicians in recent history to sing.
Brandeis, however, has made it clear that the classical melody doesn't fit at its own commencement exercises.
Rows upon rows of people dancing to the rhythmic Hindi beat playing as the Class of 2010 paraded into the room showed how a song from one of the more significant films of our generation could get everyone excited about celebrating the accomplishments of around 1,500 total graduates. If "Jai Ho" wasn't enough to get everybody's juices flowing, the Lion King classic "Circle of Life" instilled in friends and family members of all ages a nostalgic yet familiar life cycle sentiment. And the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" to cap off the recessional certainly put the audience in a festive mood. Even a techno remix of "Hava Nagila" mixed in with the rest of the music emphasized the essence of Brandeis' interaction with modernity: a traditional song with a digital twist. And the crowd continued to dance.
I must say that with all of the heavy melodrama surrounding Michael Oren's role as the University's commencement keynote speaker, the music truly-thankfully-seemed to put a 180-degree spin on everyone's attitude. Contrary to the expectations of many around the world watching out for controversy, sitting in the audience was actually a good time. As far as I could tell, all the angst building up to the big event fled the room as the graduates entered to the music. The aura shifted from worried anticipation to simple pleasure as everyone present successfully identified with an element of pop culture and joined in one massive, unified celebration.
This precisely was the beauty of Paul Simon's guest performance. With the performance cleverly (or cruelly?) scheduled for right at the ceremony's end, almost all audience members remained fixed in their seats, waiting eagerly for one of the best musicians in recent history to sing.
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jamescutler
jamescutler
posted 7/15/10 @ 4:31 PM EST
Music is almost never a focal point of any graduation. Rarely, if ever, do I read or hear about the soundtrack of a university commencement or even the tunes playing during the processional as graduates march into their last ceremony. (Continued…)
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