Editor’s note: This column takes a stance against the Juice Jam 2015 lineup and is a dueling column with music columnist Brett Weiser-Schlesinger’s positive opinion, which can be found here.

OK, so while I respect this Juice Jam lineup, let’s face it, with all the initial hype over The Weeknd, disappointment still lingers in the air on campus since he won’t be there.

Big Sean is a big-name rapper, but as a solo performer at an outdoor concert filled with inebriated students, I don’t think he will be appreciated by the audience as much as prior rappers have been. His songs don’t possess the powerhouse choruses that would require him to command the stage while engaging the audience. (With the exception of “IDFWU,” which, especially to a bunch of drunk people, is an anthem).

Although Big Sean had a few big singles in the past year, most of them were collaborations, many of which were with artists bigger than him (think Drake and Kanye West) whose presence in the songs will be missed. Compared to many of the previous rappers that have performed the past few years at Juice Jam (Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Lupe Fiasco, Childish Gambino), Big Sean just doesn’t give off the same vibes, either lyrically or in performance.

In terms of Juice Jam’s big name commercial headline artist, I’m disappointed with Big Sean as this year’s pick. Given that Juice Jam this year only features one headliner, an artist like J. Cole or, in my dreams, Drake, would have excited audiences and provided a fresher performance. In the past, there has been a big name hip-hop/rap act, as well as a big name DJ, both as headlining acts. This added diversity to the Juice Jam atmosphere.

Generally, the DJ is an artist who several students have heard of but who is projected to boom in popularity shortly after Juice Jam. (For example, Dillon Francis, Calvin Harris and Avicii, who each performed at past Juice Jams).

Although Oliver Heldens will be an enjoyable performer, I think a DJ who has already released several popular summer singles who fell within UU’s requirements would have resulted in greater student support for the EDM choice.

Heldens and Matt and Kim are both being presented as medium-renowned artists on the festival lineup. This may be a bit unfair to Matt and Kim, because they have been around a lot longer than Oliver Heldens and may be overlooked if they play earlier in the festival, as indie artists in the past have been. BØRNS is another great indie choice for the lineup.

iLoveMakonnen, an artist most renowned for “Tuesday,” is also an artist who, in terms of engaging the audience, may not be successful. Most of the audience will only stick around for “Tuesday” and I am curious to see where in the performance lineup he will stand.

In an ideal world, the Juice Jam lineup is sweet, like jelly. We’ve gotten the jelly for previous Juice Jams, but it’s nowhere in sight this time around. That doesn’t mean Juice Jam is going to suck this year — it’s still going to be a fun one. But to seniors who have enjoyed PB&J-level Juice Jam lineups in the past, this year’s may be a little disappointing.

Isha Damle is a junior television, radio, film major. She rarely knows the actual lyricsto songs, but is good at faking it until she makes it. Plus, her version is probably better.She can be reached at idamle@syr.edu or on Twitter @ishadamle.

Published on September 9, 2015 at 9:49 pm