Cultural Event Report - Essay Example

Cultural Event Report Number: Introduction That the reality of life is too dynamic to be described and experienced strictly within the confines of the classroom, library of textbooks or the computer is a matter that is beyond gainsay. Visiting the Essence Music Festival of July 6th, 2012 helped underscore this truth. The cultural event that was visited used the New Orleans Superdome as the venue. Using the New Orleans Superdome as the venue, the musical performance festival took place in New Orleans, Bourbon Street.

The musical performance festival was open to every member of the public. However, the attendees, 420,000 in number, had to have booked tickets in advance, at a fee. Among the attendees were myself and five of my friends. All cell phones were to have been switched off completely as even video and music recordings were both proscribed. People were supposed to have dressed up, since the festival was a nocturnal show. Upon attending the festival themed Power of Our Voice, our group’s initial reaction was that of excitement and amazement, as different performing artistes graced the stage.

Among the many performances that graced the occasion, Aretha Franklin and D’Angelo’s performances remained the most appealing. Aretha Franklin’s performance was central in the festival, as it remained present from the onset of the show, right to the four-day festival’s closing night. Franklin sang the famous song I have Never Loved a Man, much to the delight of the mammoth crowd. The song presented Franklin with the power to showcase her gift in working out her vocals. As she sang, slideshows were screened to help the fans sing along.

However, technical glitches and the garbling of sound mixes accompanied the show as minor hitches. At the same time, a greater part of the audience felt shortchanged by the fact that Franklin’s greatest hit, Respect was not featured during the festival. While many cited oversight, others thought that lack of adequate time had precipitated this mishap (Rothman, 1). Nevertheless, the spirit of discontentment among the fans drowned in the sea of glee as Franklin eventually changed into her gold-accented caftan costume.

As the stage lights finally came alive upon her, her regal carriage became outstanding and made her maintain her centrality in the stage. Because of Franklin’s astounding performance in this music festival, Franklin became the first person to receive the Power Award, because of her contributions to the world of music. In this festival, D’Angelo attempted to recapture his streak as the soul and R&B mystery man. D’Angelo made a frantic appearance at the stage and worked on the keyboard and diamond-shaped guitar.

Both slow jams and funky songs featured in D’Angelo’s list of performances. It is apparent that D’Angelo attempted to make most of his time, as he did not address the audience. Nevertheless, his most recognizable hits did not feature in the performance, making the crowd to wait in anticipation throughout. This is as far as the first round is concerned. Upon resuming the stage, D’Angelo finally performed the popular numbers which he is most famed for. It is at this juncture that he played Untitled, before addressing the audience and thanking it for its attendance in large numbers.

The second session of D’Angelo’s performance thus left the crowd more gratified and contented. Conclusion The touch of creativity, the miscible nature between D’Angelo and Franklin on one hand and the crowd on the other, and the reality of America coming out to celebrate its musical artistes and talent imbued me with a feeling of pride, hope and identity with America as a cultural melting pot. Particularly, the reality of hope shone in my heart as I realized that America could still meet in its thousands to celebrate its culture, even in the face of the menacing threat of terrorism which targets large crowd.

ReferencesRothman, L. (2012). “Essence Music Fest: Aretha Franklin, D’Angelo and Mary J. Blige Rock New Orleans.” Time Entertainment. Electronic. Retrieved from: http://entertainment.time.com/2012/07/09/the-best-of-essence-music-fest-aretha-franklin-mary-j-blige-and-dangelo-rock-new-orleans/