During this morning’s performance by Memphis-based singer John Angotti, I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed as the dramatics played out before my eyes. Laced with clichés, the event was difficult to take seriously, as it did not cater to a student audience.

I must acknowledge the effort of Angotti to engage his audience through media and the unique “seat change.” By allowing us to sit with our friends, many felt more comfortable in the environment. The videos allowed us to divert our attention, making the hour in the steaming hot Great Hall more bearable.

Despite this, I was unable to connect with Angotti’s dry antics in his attempt engage the audience. While I would have prefered to sit back and enjoy Angotti’s music, the student body was instead forced to stand up and sit down in rapid succession. It felt like Physical Education in ninth grade and a more appropriate audience would have been a much younger age group.

With scattered stories and far-flung metaphors, I failed to grasp Angotti’s true message. His examples were unrelatable, such as his troubled marriage and life in “f-sharp.” His comparison of driving and optical illusions to our daily lives left me befuddled and bored, and I found myself watching the jittery junior high section for entertainment.

Singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” is nothing new. When it is forced upon students during every “inspirational” moment, we lose the inspiration it was intended to deliver. The same goes for “Lean on Me” and “Bless the Broken Road.” Angotti’s continued theatrics did no good service either.

Today’s event was in essence a filler event. With an hour and five minutes to spare, the administration decided to give John Angotti some free advertisement for his main concert tonight. The unfortunate event left me with a sinking feeling of boredom, as an over-dramatic rendition of “Home” echoed through the speakers.