Students showed off their vocal talents and spirit during a karaoke night hosted by the Hispanics of Today club on Sept. 11, in the Overman Student Center basement.
The event, held from 6:30 to 8 p.m., featured karaoke, snacks, and low-key activities. A QR code-based sign-up system allowed students to sing on stage in a nice, smooth rotation. A group from Hispanics of Today kicked off the evening with a nice, chill performance, setting a friendly and supportive tone for the evening.
Participants enjoyed chips, salsa, cookies, and water while socializing and finishing coloring pages. Decks of cards were also handed out for those who preferred to watch instead of performing.
During the evening, some standout performances came from a student who sang “Pink Pony Club” by Chappel Roan, “Popular” from Wicked, and “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. Though she was shy, her confidence was immediately followed by an immense amount of applause.
Two other students performed “Die with a Smile” by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, while another pair took on “Sincerely, me” from Dear Evan Hansen. Both duos had amazing enthusiasm and spirit, their chemistry had the flare of experienced singers.
One of the most confident performances of the night came from a student who sang “Our Lady of the Underground” from Hadestown. She describes it as her favorite musical, saying, “I may even dream about it.” She noted that she likes the musical to a whole new extent, adding that her appreciation for it grows over time. Applause was only expected after such a bold performance from a die-hard fan.
Following this performance, a powerful version of “Volver Volver” by Vicente Fernández was sung. The singer delivered with a beautifully rich alto tone that kept everyone watching from beginning to end.
A student also performed “Stay” by Rihanna and Mikky Ekko, having great vocal control, tone, and delivery.
Later in the evening, Carlos Aguilar, a sophomore majoring in construction management and minoring in business, brought out his red and crème accordion for a both skillful and unique performance that stood out from the rest.
While most people describe the event as enjoyable, a few offered suggestions for improvement.
“It was fun, but some people were a little louder,” Tyne Ellis, a freshman majoring in social work said. “I feel like they need to stop letting people sign up for songs multiples times in a row and let people sing in between.”
The event itself was relaxed and accepting, with activities offered for both performers and onlookers. While Hispanics of Today has not yet announced a follow-up event, the positive response and great turnout hints that there may be another karaoke night coming.