If you’re wondering what all the buzz is about, the answer is SAC.The Student Activities Council hosted a Krazy Karaoke contest last Thursday, Jan. 31, in Sykes Student Union Ballrooms, where students from the WCU Community sang their hearts out in hopes of winning $100 in gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses.
Free of charge, students had the opportunity to battle for one of five titles: best male performance, best female performance, best group performance, most creative and crowd favorite. The awards were determined by a panel of faculty judges with an ear for music and a strict rubric. Sam McFarlane, responsible for SAC’s Publicity and Promotions, was the enthusiastic emcee for the event.
Upon their selection of the perfect song, contestants hit the stage with a microphone, lyrics and the determination to win over the crowd and the judges. SAC also provided a television for the audience complete with the lyrics to each song, encouraging the viewers to sing along and support the brave soul in the spotlight.
Each performer had a number one fan in the audience, as SAC’s Bee mascot danced its way around the room, pulling members of the crowd out for a dance, starting a group sway and occasionally hopping on stage to show off its moves with the singers.
The Bee mascot is the latest addition to the organization and attends all SAC events and even helps distribute flyers among the campus community.
The night was filled with a variety of singers and their smooth moves, with songs including Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Before He Cheats” by American Idol’s Carrie Underwood and Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” In the eyes of the judges, five performances stood out as the most deserving of the Krazy Karaoke titles and awards.
The judges deliberated as it came time for participants to face the music. The recipient of the Best Male Performance title and $100 giftcard to Best Buy was Scott Kennedy, who performed “I Like It, I Love It.”
Kennedy, the last singer of the night, won over the hearts of the judges and the females in the audience with a shirtless performance that accompanied Tim McGraw’s hit.
Best Female Performance went to Jacqueline Turk’s rendition of “Come Sail Away.” She connected with the audience by singing up and down the aisles of the ballroom and earned herself one $50 giftcard to Bath and Body Works and another to Old Navy.
The crowd and the judges were impressed by Lee Schimmel’s solo performance to the Goo Goo Doll’s well-known song, “Slide.” Schimmel was awarded the title Crowd Favorite, as well as $100 Chili’s giftcard.
There were plenty of entertaining group performances, but Roberta Hanson, Katie Kresge, Kyle-Day McLaughlin and Elizabeth Jardin captured the title with their version of the Fugees’ “Killing Me Softly.” This melody brought audiences to their feet, and they joined in with the girls and provided some backup vocals. The group received $100 towards Regal Cinema.
The most passionate and energetic performance of the night was to the Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha.” Ashley McAliley, Jasmine Claric, Rebecca Nicolas, Chibu Anyanwu and Sabena Yeye brought their liveliness into the crowd by dancing along the rows of people and received the Most Creative prize and giftcards to Applebee’s, Carrabba’s, Starbucks and The Outback.
As far as the turnout goes, McFarlane and the rest of the SAC staff members were extremely pleased.
“This is a great crowd,” McFarlane said. “This is the kind of turnout we were hoping for, and we couldn’t be happier.”
After extensive planning and promoting through Facebook invitations, flyers in Sykes and Lawrence Dining Hall and announcements throughout the residence halls, McFarlane was satisfied with the organization’s ability to deliver an event that met the interests of such a large group of students.
In the upcoming weeks, SAC will host musical guest Matt White as well as a Comedy Hypnotist and a selection of hit movies, such as “The Heartbreak Kid,” “I Am Legend” and “P.S. I Love You.”
Ashley Kresky is a fourth-year student majoring in communications studies with a minor in journalism. She can be reached at AK591509@wcupa.edu.