College prepares for Wyclef

Author: Alexxa Gotthardt

Best-selling Hip-hop performer Wyclef Jean will headline the Middlebury College Activity Board's (MCAB) annual spring concert this Saturday, April 23. Wyclef, rapper and sometime guitarist boasting multi-platinum hits with both the Fugees and as a solo-artist, is one of the most high-profile acts ever brought to the College.

Every year, MCAB must decide on an act for the spring concert. According to J. Brito '06, concert chair for MCAB, MCAB's "goal is to select an act that will be well-received by the college community while varying the genre as often as possible." Wyclef Jean, this year's choice, stays true to MCAB's credo. Not only do Wyclef's Hip-hop beats differ greatly from the jazz and bluegrass style of last year's spring act, Bela Fleck, but his position as one of this decade's most popular rap-artists promises near-universal appeal.

Wyclef was selected after a long process that involved two campus-wide surveys. Through the surveys, MCAB hoped to find an act that would appeal to as many students as possible. "We wanted to get an idea of what genre people would like," said Meredith Kernan '05, president of MCAB. "Although people's tastes ran the gamut from world music to electronica, many of the respondents to the survey expressed a preference for Hip-hop."

After reviewing the results of the survey, MCAB's concert committee got together to try to decide on an act. Many components other than preference, however, also go into the selection of an artist. Budget and price of an act coalesce to create one of the biggest deciding factors. "MCAB concerts are the most expensive event we put on," said Kernan. "This is the reason why we only bring one big show to campus per year."

Although one of the most high-profile artists ever brought to campus, according to Kernan, Wyclef's price is comparable to past acts and worked with MCAB's budget. Kernan would not disclose the exact price of the concert. "Traditionally we have not shared this sort of information with the campus," said Kernan. "There is no specific policy; it has just always been something we don't discuss with people."

An article in The Williams Record regarding Wyclef's April 28 concert on William's campus, however, states that, "Wyclef will cost $43,000, plus production, agent and hospitality expenses that could total more than $16,000."

Bids from other schools and venues, artist's schedules, athletic schedules and production needs must also all be considered. "The concert selection process depends on so many factors outside of our control," said Kernan, "that it is a wonder that we can put on such great shows year after year."

Wyclef's genre, budget and schedule all happened to fit comfortably into MCAB's criterion. "We tossed around some names other than Wyclef," said Kernan, "but we ended up getting lucky in that schools which were considering booking him for the same date as us decided to go with another show unexpectedly."

Tickets for the concert have been on sale since Monday in Ross and Atwater for a student price of $15. The general public can also buy tickets for a price of $25 through the Middlebury box office. According to ticket sales, Wyclef's appeal seems to be paying off. "On-campus sales are going very well," said Kernan, "and this year we have sold more tickets than ever to off-campus buyers."

Brito reiterated the sentiment, "I am psyched about the show, MCAB is psyched about the show and the way ticket sales are going it seems like the college is pretty psyched as well."

Wyclef was born in Haiti in 1972 and nine years later immigrated with his preacher father and mother to Brooklyn, N.Y. Shortly after, he moved to New Jersey where he took up guitar and began studying jazz in school. This fascination with music soon led to a career in the industry, and in 1996, Wyclef exploded into the Hip-hop world as the lead rapper of the Fugees.

Hit singles such as "Fu-Gee-La" and "Killing Me Softly" topped the charts, stimulating the sale of over six-million copies of the record "The Score." Wyclef also released two very successful solo albums boasting many well-known singles such as Grammy-nominated "Gone Till November" and "Perfect Gentleman." His original style, a mélange of Hip-hop, reggae and urban rap, attracted the attention of many people throughout the music world. This led to Wyclef's collaboration with other artists as a producer, songwriter and remixer.

The concert will be held in Kenyon Arena. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the concert starts at 9 p.m. Wyclef is expected to be onstage for one and a half to two hours.