“Shake your maracas. I’m the love doctor.” This hook, along with others, emanated from speakers during Thursday’s talent showcase. Under the Homecoming School Daze theme, students presented a variety of skits based on the Spike Lee film, while participants competed for audience acclaim and mantelpiece gold.
Rump-shaking and smelly appendage boogieing followed a classy and classic slideshow of Grambling’s historical journey.
From Charles P. Adams to the (still standing) academic buildings, audience members strolled down memory lane in celebration of the university’s 107 years of operation.
History was the perfect segue into the first performance, an everlasting gospel piece, Mary Mary’s “Can’t Give Up Now.” After all, it wouldn’t be Grambling without a little holiness to precede more risqué festivities.
Songbirds Aaron Oliver and Brittany McCray duked it out with nearly equal applause, before McCray won the singing set with Jazmine Sullivan’s “I’m In Love With Another Man.”
Dance and rap segments also awaited an Apollo-style selection process. Among them was a tap-dancing underdog, Happy Feet, whose unaccompanied twinkle toes commanded recognition.
Dozens chanted “Happy Feet” during applause until the smiling dancer received his trophy.
Happy Feet upstaged the versatile, ever-popular dance troupe Something Serious, who kept eyes glued as they moved with flair reminiscent of MTV’s America’s Next Best Dance Crew hopefuls.
Happy Feet also kept the title from past champions Florida-based grinders E.F.F. (Every Female’s Fantasy).
While Happy Feet officially won, numerous ladies stood in amazement as the group modeled shirts that broadcasted their palate preference for privates, before they simulated nether region stimulation on willing watchers.
Freshman kinesiology major Jacquia Reid enjoyed the “interesting” show and said that the Florida Boys were her favorite act, although she believed the entire show could have been longer.
After the dancing bit, several hurriedly filed out of the T.H. Harris Auditorium.
This disturbed a few students, namely senior accounting major Amber Freeman, who believed that dances should have been saved to keep seats filled.
Though perturbed, Freeman said that her favorite performance came from winners, GSD. (Grambling Stray Dogs), a trio who rapped about Tigerbucks and the cafeteria.
The perseverance award of the night should have been given to Californian Us or Nothin’ members, who spit the aforementioned maracas bit through repeated boos.
As the remaining audience collected belongings and moseyed to the next spot, recent Grambling graduate Chandri Morton smiled with maternal pride as she said that it was wonderful to come back and see the talent ratings rise.
Local club emcee and sideline host of the talent show B. Solo begged to differ.
“The band was on point. The host did well. The Orchesis brought class, but only in Grambling will they save the worst for last,” he said,