The Prying Game: Wyclef

The UC concert commission has announced that they’ve locked down Wyclef Jean to perform at the Gordon Track and Field Center on Nov. 6, though some have grumbled about the commission’s failure to find out who undergrads really want to see. I asked some people whether Wyclef has them stoked; the majority of people said they’d never even heard of him, and several others told me they’d rather have a good indie rock band. Still, a few others said they’d be happy to re-live middle school and see the former Fugee.

Alex Bradford, HBS

I was a Stanford undergrad, and the best we could get was Eve 6…I realize how hard it is to get famous artists, so I think it’s pretty impressive [that the UC got Wyclef to come].

Reed Malin ’07

It’s really disappointing. As much as I like Wyclef and the Fugees, I was really up for a rock band this time. The Fugees are so middle school—when I think “Wyclef,” I think MTV Spring Break, when they followed him around an island on a scooter.

Jeff Dubbin ’07

I think this shows that the UC’s out of touch. I can’t figure out why they think we’d want to see all these rappers. If they put up a poll of 10 artists they knew they could probably get, and asked us to respond, I think they’d get someone most people would be happy with.

Miles Johnson ’08

Whooo! I really like Wyclef. I feel like everybody here grew up on it. My favorite Wyclef song is the Fugees’ [cover of] “Stayin’ Alive.” I really would have liked to see Common or Alicia Keys, but I think the UC will be able to fill [the Gordon Track and Field Center with Wyclef].