The Daily Reveille
page 10
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Obama, fans weigh in on Nicki Minaj’s lyric Editor’s note: This content contains explicit language. Oops, she did it again. Or should I say he? Or … it? Nicki Minaj’s controversial rap persona, dubbed “Roman Zolanski,” caused an uproar among Minaj’s fans when she supposedly endorsed Republican candidate DAVID JONES Mitt Romney in Entertainment Writer a feature on Lil Wayne’s remix of “Mercy.” “I’m Republican voting for Mitt Romney, you lazy bitches is fucking up the economy,”
Minaj raps. Angry fans took to Twitter to voice their displeasure with Minaj’s support for Romney, some even sending death threats. But others refused to the take the line seriously, attributing the lyric to one of the rapper’s many hip-hop personalities. Basking in the glory of her publicity stunt, the Harujuku Barbie remained silent on Twitter. The “scandal” eventually reached the Oval Office when President Obama weighed in on the issue during an interview with Orlando’s Power 95.3. “I think she had a song on there, a little rap that said that ... but she likes to play different characters. So I don’t know what’s going on there,” Obama said in the interview.
Nicki “Lewinsky” eventually responded via Twitter, offering thanks and support to the president for understanding. But I don’t understand. Why does anyone care what Minaj’s political views are? Who’s really going to the polls this November and thinking “What would Minaj do?” The fact that people are getting angry over Minaj’s cheap, halfbaked rhyme about Mitt Romney is baffling. This is America. We have the right to support whoever we want. If anything, people should send her death threats for making horrible music. Starships are meant to fly? Thanks, Nicki. But the worst part of it all is how Minaj hides behind her
self-diagnosed mental disorder. Who could forget her ill-famed Grammy performance where she introduced Roman Zolanski in a sacrireligious, balls-out-demonic rendition of her single “Roman Holiday”? When Catholics rallied against her and sent loads of negative feedback, guess who received all the blame? Roman Zolanski. Breaking news: Roman isn’t real. Minaj should not be given a free pass for being ridiculous until a doctor formally diagnoses her as mentally insane. And President Obama needs to leave pop culture alone for a while.
I give him props for his “this seat’s taken” tweet in response to Clint Eastwood’s creepy, empty chair speech, but every incident does not require a response – especially if the incident involves someone who made a whole song with the words “Stupid Hoe.” Obviously, Minaj is good at what she does (not rapping, of course). She knows how to remain relevant and spark controversy, which sadly, is all it takes to sell albums these days. Contact David Jones at djones@lsureveille.com
THEATER
LSU Theatre Lab opens season with tale of young love
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AUSTIN BENNETT / The Daily Reveille
Theatre performance sophomores Spencer Labelle (left) and Dora Pereli (right) play Ben and Amy in LSU Theatre Labs’ play “The Sky Watchers.”
The play’s pacing is fast, with some scenes lasting just long enough for Ben to disclose a romantic thought or Amy to share a private fear. Musical interludes between scenes aided the show’s continuity by preserving the weight of emotions from prior dialogue. The White Stripes’ “We’re Going To Be Friends,” and Ingrid Michaelson’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” among other acoustic ditties lend the performance a first-love atmosphere. While charging two actors with keeping an audience entertained was risky, Labelle and Pereli share an obvious chemistry on stage. The two turn in a performance that feels honest, and more importantly, is
able to convey vulnerability. The enduring power of love is front and center in this play. The students weather hardships beyond the thoughts of most high school students. Several plot twists keep the performance free from the predictable themes of adolescent romance and angst. “The Sky Watchers” runs Sept. 11 through 16 in the College of Music & Dramatic Arts’ Studio Theatre. The show is $10 and begins at 7:30 p.m. with the exception of a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
Contact Josh Naquin at jnaquin@lsureveille.com
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The LSU Theatre Lab’s season opener, “The Sky Watchers,” will have audiences pondering whether a relationship may be defined by a collection of moments. The quirky love story charts the growth of a high school relationship as it is tested with euphoric highs and melancholic lows. The play, directed by theatre senior Sophie MauffrayHowell, is set almost entirely on the rooftop of the young JOSH NAQUIN Entertainment Writer couple’s apartment building. Ben and Amy, portrayed by theatre sophomores Spencer Labelle and Dora Pereli, are the only actors in the 80-minute love story. The well-crafted, yet simple set provided enough different vantage points to give the play variety. Pedestrian wardrobe gave the actors a high school look. More importantly, neither the set nor the wardrobe distracted from the main focus of the play – the acting. Serious subjects like illness, death and religion are explored in detail by the twosome. Well-placed comedic breaks and silly flirting kept the play lighthearted and saved it from becoming emotionally overwrought. Mauffray-Howell said the play’s heartfelt tone will distinguish it from other lab plays, which she characterized as often darker or more intellectual. “I love this play because it focuses on the importance of having someone to be there for you,” Mauffray-Howell said. If it sounds sappy, it is, but in a way that is relatable rather than cheesy. A first kiss, prom, college applications and other milestones in the course of the relationship fill the theatre with an air of nostalgia as audience members harken back to their youth.
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