The crowd filled with alumni cheered for GSU during halftime. Carlton Hamlin/Office of Communications
The royal court posed for a photo before halftime (Left). One of the drum major’s lead the band as they performed during halftime (Right). Carlton Hamlin/Office of Communications
The Grambling State University World Famed Marching Band and the Southern University Human Jukebox got fans moving at the 45th Annual Bayou Classic Halftime Show presented by P&G Crest.
Taking the field first the GSU band kept high energy from start to finish. The drum majors marched out into their positions with special choreography as the rest of the members settled into place. Keeping soul alive GSU chose a classic, “Part Time Lover” by Stevie Wonder, as their first song.
During the World Famed marching Band’s performance fans were captivated by the band’s clean, precise formations. To add to the theatric aspect of the performance, the bands had fire sparklers behind them. For GSU’s second selection, fans were carried away with the sounds of 1989 hit “Alright” by Janet Jackson. It was during this selection that the GSU Orchesis Dance Company gracefully took the field performing intricate dance moves and a kick line combination.
As GSU moved to the beat and started to pick up the tempo GSU mascot Eddie The Tiger joined in the excitement as they executed popular dance moves such as Bim Bim and Shoot. Jada Johnson, a sophomore from San Bernardino, said her favorite song played by the World Famed was “Bim Bim” by Big Zac Mississippi Monsta.
Fans around the stadium went wild and really seemed to enjoy the voices of GSU representatives MC Fiji and DJ Twins.
Fans around the stadium watched as the World Famed Marching Band executed a very iconic ripple movement to the floor dance. The was crowd hyped up as the band played the GSU anthem as they exited. The roars of the instruments got the GSU fans excited as they chanted along.
When Southern University took the field the stadium was loud with chatter as fans recapped the previous performance. The Southern drum major performed an iconic acrobatic trick bending backwards until his head touched the ground to get the band started. Pyrotechnic theatrics ensued with sparks shoting into the air and the crowd went wild again.
Straight from the start SU exhibited lots of precise moving formations. As they played “Rhythm Nation” by Janet Jackson the infamous Dancing Dolls took the field. Much like their Battle of the Band’s performance, Southern made certain to “throw shade” to the Grambling audience.
“My most memorable moment was seeing Southern’s disaster of a performance,” Jennifer Pickens, a senior, Biology major from Shreveport, La., said.
The Human Jukebox went with more old school selections ending their performance with songs such as “Turn the beat up” by Mouse and “Casanova” by Gerald Levert.