Preview – Coffeehouse: The Legends
April 4, 2016
Student Activities is proud to present Coffeehouse: The Legends on Saturday, April 9. Join us in the Vines Center starting at 11:30 p.m. for a night of great performances by you, the students of Liberty University, honoring some of the greatest artists and musicians of all time.
As you’ll hear from the opening moments of the show, this semester’s Coffeehouse is all about answering the question “What makes a legend?” Seems like a simple enough question, until you realize 1.) there is no such thing as objectivity, especially with questions like this, and 2.) people have short memories and/or think history only goes back to approximately 1998.
Leave it to Chris Rock to make one of the most helpful clarifications for this discussion. On an episode of Kevin Hart’s show Real Husbands of Hollywood, Chris explains the difference between himself and Kevin:
“I’m big, you’re hot. I’m like Prince, you’re like Trey Songz.”
This is the heart of the matter. Think of all the hottest, new-ish stars out there: Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Bradley Cooper, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lawrence, even (gasp) Rihanna, to name just a few. Hot right now? Yes, very, all of them. Giant stars? Sure, absolutely. Legends?? No, or at least not yet.
Are you still talking about Robert Pattinson? Aaliyah? Alicia Silverstone? The guy that was in that last Superman reboot, not the new guy, but the one before that? Exactly. Supposedly big stars, or the next big stars, come and go. Yes, Aaliyah’s death was tragic, and the others are flash-in-the-pan examples compared to stars like T-Swift, Rih Rih, and J-Law. Will they be legends someday? It sure looks like it. But until that day, we want to give credit where credit is due.
What makes a legend? Three main things: popularity, influence, and time. The true test of a legend is an artist or group’s ability to reach a wide audience, with the ability to inspire others to create, or more likely imitate. Most of the all-time greats do this over a long career, though as we’ll see at Coffeehouse: The Legends, some artists were able to make massive impact in only a short time, cementing their name and legacy among the greatest in their profession.
So as you sit there in the audience during Coffeehouse this weekend, try to refrain from thinking about all the great stars who are absent from the show, or the many people you think should be there. Instead, try to focus on the quality of the performances, the massive stars who stand the test of time and bring you the amazing works that will likely be enjoyed for years to come.
Tickets for Coffeehouse: The Legends are on sale for just $5, but will go up to $7 the night of the show. To purchase them, or for more information about anything Student Activities has to offer, visit our website.