By: Anne Barry ‘27 and Victoria Polites ‘27
Photo Courtesy of Victoria Polites ‘27
Rebecca Black. You know her, you love her, or you love to hate her. Either way she’s indisputably famous and a major part of any Gen-Zer's childhood. Most know her from the pop-hit “Friday” released twelve years ago which she starred in at only thirteen-years-old. This video immediately went viral before gathering a large amount of hate for the heavy autotune and cheesy lyrics. Today, the song has over one hundred sixty million views on YouTube, showing that while some can hate, she is still an icon.
In recent years, Rebecca Black has made the turn from cringy pop to full-fledged hyper-pop star. This rebranding shows Black now as an adult and a serious artist in the industry. She has close to 450,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and over a million followers on YouTube. After much anticipation and many released singles over the years, she finally released her debut album, Let Her Burn in February of this current year. The album featured ten songs all with the common theme of an edgy breakup. All in all, her new rebranding is camp at its finest.
Photo Courtesy of Becca Ries ‘27
For the Fall 2023 concert, William & Mary was lucky enough to get Rebecca Black as the headliner. The concert took place on September sixteenth at the Briggs Amphitheatre and along with this iconic performer, AMP got the band The Wldlfe to open. Formed in 2016, this indie-pop group is based in Indianapolis and already has over two hundred thousand monthly listeners on Spotify. Some of the highlights of their set like “All My Friends” and “Blood Orange” quickly became crowd favorites. With iconic lyrics and a dynamic mix of guitar solos and electric stage presence, the band entertained the student body during their first show in Williamsburg. Despite the lack of lyric knowledge, both our attending staff members thoroughly enjoyed the show and have turned into avid fans.
After the unexpected buzz from The Wldlfe’s opening, the crowd stood in anticipation for the real event, Rebecca Black. The crowd was chanting, the mosh was jumping, and the fans were ready. Finally, Black made her grand entrance which consisted of being carried in by two shirtless backup dancers. She opened the show with singing her catchy hit “Crumbs” immediately gaining the attention of the audience. Her vastly different music and appearance was surprising for many attendees who were not previous fans of hers and unaware of her more recent songs. The baggy jean shorts paired with her black corset top showed off her tattoos showing the audience that she was not in fact the same teen that they remember. Her set list continued with many newfound favorites including “Sick to My Stomach,” “Worth It for the Feeling,” and “Erase You.” Another surprise addition to the show was a cover of Rebecca’s favorite song, “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton. This unexpected choice was a definite hit amongst the student body as the Amphitheatre was filled with shouts of recognition and screaming. Black’s artistic changes to the song and edgy pop arrangement gave it a new life and allowed her to really make it her own.
Photo Courtesy of Victoria Polites ‘27
The show went on as Black performed her discography to flashing light shows and breathtaking performances from her backup dancers. Black intermixed her show with relatable stories and comments including her dating history and insights on the pressures of coming out to the media. A highlight from the dancers was the use of a microphone bedazzled chainsaw during one song. As the prop was brought out from backstage, the audience went wild in confusion and excitement. Finally, Black ended the night with a revitalized remix of her hit, which started it all, “Friday.” This was by far the highlight of her set with an encore from the dancers and a cheering crowd as this smash hit was finally played.
Our two attending staff members enjoyed the concert way more than they expected going into it. The musicality of both the opener and Rebecca Black greatly surprised them. This was a general consensus amongst the audience, most of whom had previously not known any new songs from either artist. For any person in attendance, it was a magical feel to see the audience come together over songs that many were not big fans of and simply appreciate the music and the talent of the artists. Another great thing to witness was the difference in Black at the concert versus when we all knew her. Besides the obvious fact that she has grown up, she also has developed into an actual artist with talents which surprised those who compare her to the teenage Rebecca Black from our youth. Her songs discuss mature themes and drive into important topics which teenage Black did not show potential for. The mix of nostalgia and lyricism made for the perfect end to the most “Friday” Saturday night.
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