By Elle Logue,
Editor-in-Chief.
From wandering the oddest corners of the internet to playing chopsticks or Cool Math Games with your friend on the other side of the classroom, the Gen Z experience is unique, no doubt. But if there’s one thing that never fails to bring people together, it’s undoubtedly music. And what’s the most exciting way to listen to your favorite artists? Live in concert—which is exactly what some of your fellow Panthers did this summer!
Down in San Francisco, senior Dalia Bugica went to the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs perform. “My dad has loved this band forever but never could see them. When we could, he was jumping around like a little fangirl. It was so cute,” said Bugica. Her favorite songs from the concert were “Turn Into” and “Maps,” and she said, “I. . . loved watching the band perform and Karen O because their energy is so inspiring.” Because the concert was in a symphony hall, recording wasn’t allowed, and Bugica explained, ”It was so nice to be in the moment with everyone just dancing and singing. And everyone was singing like, loud, and usually that isn’t the case when you’re in SF. It was so much fun!” Overall Bugica had an awesome concert experience, complete with a great opener, a small orchestra and quality merch.
Who wouldn’t want to see Beyoncé in Paris? Junior Lena Meline went to the Stade de France, where she saw Beyoncé perform for the second time after going to her Renaissance tour in 2023. Meline listened to Beyoncé when growing up and said, “[Beyoncé] is always insanely good. For as popular as she is, I still don’t think she gets enough credit for the sheer amount of talent she has and the work that she put in to get where she is now.” Meline shared that her favorite song of the performance was “Protector:” “It’s a song about protecting her loved ones, specifically her children.” The concert had “outstanding visuals, set pieces and special effects,” and Meline commended Beyoncé’s “amazing spirit and vocals,” which are two reasons she is one of Meline’s favorite artists. Meline already had another concert lined up; she went to see the band Haim in late August.
Also at the Davies Symphony Hall, Milo Ward saw Paul Simon perform for what they called “a once-in-a-lifetime concert,” since the famed musician is now 83 years old. Ward said their favorite song played was either ”Graceland,” “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” or “The Boxer.” The sole experience of getting to see Simon perform in person was amazing, especially for Ward who said, “I listened to his music before I could speak.” Despite being among an older audience, Ward had an enjoyable concert, walking away with guitar picks, a tour T-shirt and the memory of watching a musician who Ward said “at least to me, is a huge part of music history.”
Whether you’re listening on your one remaining AirPod or live at a concert, music is a connection between us all, so even though school is upon us and summer is over, like Rihanna said, “Please don’t stop the music.”
