Recently CAB sent out a survey about possible Class & Charter Day performers. We all know that it’s not necessarily possible for Hamilton to get whichever artist the student body picks… but you never know! It’s worth giving your input anyway.
Since I’m definitely not in-the-know when it comes to music, I wasn’t super familiar with most of the names on the list. A bunch of the linked songs featured other artists, so when that was the case I also searched for songs that weren’t collaborations.
Here are my impressions of everyone on CAB’s list for C&C Day:
AlunaGeorge:
This is a pop/R&B duo from the UK. The songs are fun and catchy, and the singer (Aluna) has a great voice. However, their music does sound to me more like background dance music than what I’d want to hear exclusively at a concert. Plus, many of their songs seem to rely heavily on studio effects, so some of the excitement of their songs might be lessened in a live performance.
Cashmere Cat:
Cashmere Cat is a producer, artist, and DJ who creates electronic music. I’m not personally a big EDM fan – I don’t dislike it, but I don’t like it enough to seek it out— so this isn’t my top choice. That said, his music is energetic and original, so if you like this genre, this might be a good pick for you.
Clean Bandit:
This is one group I did recognize – they collaborated with Jess Glynne, another performer on the list, to make “Rather Be,” which I really like. They’re also an electronic group, but one with a very different feel from Cashmere Cat. They have a bit more of a pop sound. I enjoy a lot of their songs and think that they give off a vibe that would be great for C&C.
Daya:
She’s a pop/electronic singer and another artist on this list that I’m actually vaguely familiar with. She has a unique voice and great songs. Her two most popular songs, “Hide Away” and “Sit Still, Look Pretty” are empowering for women and a lot of fun!
Duke Dumont:
Duke Dumont is a DJ and songwriter who mainly makes house music, which is apparently a form of EDM if you didn’t know (I didn’t – I told you I don’t know much about music). I know I keep contradicting myself about the whole disliking electronic music thing, but I do actually like him a lot. Usually my problem with EDM is that often it doesn’t have many lyrics and sounds very artificial, but Duke Dumont seems to have cool music and words you can follow along with.
Jess Glynne:
Jess Glynne is a singer/songwriter that crosses multiple genres including pop, R&B, and house. She has a great voice and her songs are very upbeat. My dancing ability is admittedly about as good as my musical know-how, but her music seems fun and easy to dance to.
Lupe Fiasco:
He’s a producer and artist in the rap/hip-hop genre. Hip hop usually isn’t my top choice, but I enjoyed the songs of his that I listened to. If you prefer hip-hop to pop or EDM, consider Lupe Fiasco.
MØ:
She’s a Danish electropop singer/songwriter. Personally, I don’t find her voice as pleasing to listen to as some of the others on this list, and while her songs are catchy, I don’t know if they fit the C&C vibe as well.
Saint Motel:
This is an indie pop band from LA. From what I listened to, they have a fun, sort of jazzy feel. I tend to like indie pop so my enjoyment of them might be a little bit biased. However, I will say that while I think they’re a good band, they might not be the ideal choice for C&C Day as far as universal appeal goes.
Waka Flocka Flame:
He’s a hip hop/rap artist. As previously mentioned, I’m not a huge hip-hop fan, but obviously many people like Waka Flocka a lot. He wouldn’t be my top choice personally, but I don’t think he’d be a bad choice either.
Wale:
He’s the last artist on the list, and another rapper/hip-hop singer. The songs I listened to seemed fun and I definitely enjoyed them, if not as much as some others. As far as what kind of vibe he gives off, I think he’d be a good fit for C&C.
After getting a basic introduction to unfamiliar names on CAB’s list and reminding myself about more familiar ones, I still don’t know if I have my own top pick for Class & Charter Day. Obviously I liked some artists more than others, but there were only a few that I thought wouldn’t bring the right feel to C&C (and even in those cases it wasn’t necessarily that I disliked the artist). I encourage you to listen to all of the options on the survey, even if you don’t think you’ll like some of them, and give CAB your feedback by picking one. Class & Charter Day is a long way off, so good luck and happy listening until then!