MIKE CHIEN/Daily Bruin The duet Fifty 7 Views performed "Someone
Has to Be" at Spring Sing 2002.
By Shana Dines
DAILY BRUIN REPORTER
It was cold Friday night ““ really, really cold. But the
show had to go on. Despite the frigid weather, some technical
difficulties with the microphones, and a couple pestering
helicopters that kept flying overhead, Spring Sing 2002 went off
with little to complain about.
Student preference was obviously not taken into account when the
winners were chosen at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. Despite
chanting from the audience, Richey Lam left without an award for
his original song “College Years,” about the woes of
college passing by too quickly. Instead, equally talented but less
exciting Sarah Bareilles won the award for best solo entry for
singing “Gravity,” and accompanying herself on the
keyboard.
Editor’s Pick: Richey Lam He may not be the
biggest man on campus, but Richey Lam has won the heart of the UCLA
campus during his past two Spring Sing performances. Ignored by the
judges and awards panel both years, Lam has been an overwhelming
crowd favorite. Before each of the final awards were given out on
Friday, the audience attempted to give the judges a little advice
by chanting Lam’s name. His mellow charisma, sheepish grin,
sweet melodies, entertaining lyrics and contribution to the
enjoyment of our “College Years,” earn Richey Lam
today’s Editor’s Pick.
Honors for the best duet went to Fifty 7 Views for
“Someone Has To Be,” which also took the highest award
of the night, the Northern California Alumni Grand Sweepstakes
Award for the best overall entry. Evanne Riskas’ giddy
excitement was obvious, as she accepted the awards at the end of
the three-plus hour show.
Seven-piece ska/punk/pop band Winston Thought won the UCLA Los
Donas Award for the best band entry. Neither they, nor
Thomas’ Apartment and Honay Babay, gave particularly stellar
performances. Much of that blame, however, can be laid on the
shoddy sound equipment and terrible acoustics in the LATC. They
did, however, have enough energy to earn formidable applause from
the over 4,000 students and parents that crowded the sold-out
show.
Performing the charming barbershop quartet-style
“Sugarcane Jubilee,” the Acapella Fellas impressed the
students and judges with their harmonies, quirky dancing and
humorous interpretation of the lyrics. They went on to win the UCLA
Prytanean Alumnae Award for best a cappella entry, beating out
Awaken A Cappella, last year’s winner.
JONATHAN YOUNG/Daily Bruin Acapella Fellas won in the a cappella
category with their rendition of "Sugarcane Jubilee."
The UCLA Affiliates Award for the best of the Greek production
entries was given to Alpha Epsilon Phi and Alpha Gamma Omega for
their confusingly cute “Road Trip.” The singing was
weak, but the dancing was inventive and almost flawlessly
choreographed.
In spite of the talent of the official entries, some of the most
entertaining moments of the evening came from other outlets.
Exhibition group ACA Hip Hop wowed the awestruck crowd with
their energetic, fast-paced and perfectly in-sync medley of dances.
They won massive applause from the thoroughly impressed audience,
while killing time to allow the judges to tally the official
scores.
Fellow time-killers, the Spring Sing Company came dangerously
close to stealing the show from the competitors. Their skits, song
parodies and Spring Sing Reject segments rightfully earned the
crowd’s adoration. LATC’s overflowing stands exploded
with laughter at the company’s hilariously accurate melodic
interpretations of college themed topics such as the walk of shame,
evil parking services and free-ballin’. The UCLA vs. USC
theme was prevalent in acts and songs performed by both the company
and performers alike.
But, judging by the audience’s repeated approval, it
didn’t get old.
Undoubtedly, the high point of the entire night was Stevie
Wonder’s appearance and breath-taking performance. Following
lengthy background on the George and Ira Gershwin Award and then
Wonder’s career, he finally came out to an extended standing
ovation. Even after the crowd settled down and Wonder began his
acceptance speech, which oozed with sincere gratitude and uncanny
jokes, a few cat-calls of, “I love you, Stevie” and
“You rock” continued.
At the conclusion of his speech, it seemed as if he was going to
leave the stage. Then, to the ecstatic surprise of all attendees,
Wonder stepped down to the onstage keyboard and sat down to an
impromptu concert.
He played a medley of his hits, including “You are the
Sunshine of My Life,” “My Cherie Amour,” and
ended with “Superstition.”
There were probably very few bored attendants at Spring Sing
2002, though there were an abundance of freezing ones.