Flo Rida chosen as second Fling opener

On Wednesday, students were treated to surprise performances around campus by the Penn Band and the Penn Glee Club to advertise the second of the three Spring Fling concert performers.

Flo Rida, a rapper known for hits such as “Low,” “In the Ayer” and “Right Round,” was confirmed as the second Fling opening performer at 1:10 p.m. by 34th Street Magazine’s blog, Under the Button, after students watched Penn Band march down Locust Walk and a video posted on UTB starring Penn Cheer where both performed to the tune of Flo Rida’s hit song “Club Can’t Handle Me Now.” Penn Glee Club also performed the song at the Compass after the announcement.

Flo Rida will join electronic duo Ratatat at the Fling concert, along with a third headlining artist whose identity is yet to be revealed. Ratatat's performance was announced Tuesday through a series of clues distributed throughout campus.

College junior and Social Planning and Events Committee Concert co-director Shana Rusonis explained that bringing Flo Rida to this year’s Fling is “a great opportunity and very relevant.”

Flo Rida has had “a lot of hits consistently in the past three years … a lot of students relate [his songs] to their college experience,” she added.

When the performer was announced, students were excited by the energy Flo Rida’s songs will bring to Fling.

“I am very excited by the opportunity this presents to get low … not that you really need an excuse,” Wharton and Engineering freshman Tim Lynch said.

Wharton freshman Katie Simon explained that “even though I don't listen to Flo Rida in my free time, I think for a Fling concert, SPEC did a great job choosing him.”

College freshman Tim Dugan agreed. “Although his lyrics are lacking, he has great beats [and it’s] great music to dance to so it’ll be great for Fling.”

Some, however, were disappointed by the announcement.

“I think they could have done much better,” Wharton sophomore Dionicio Herrera said.

“The lineup is not even half as good as last year’s [Fling concert performers],” he added.

Brianna Mariolle agreed. “I’d be more excited if Flo Rida was bringing Ke$ha along to sing ‘Right Round.’”

Tuesday’s impromptu performances by Penn student groups was a new tactic by SPEC to announce one of the Fling concert's performers.

Rusonis hoped that this “massive day of multiple performances … would be a cool, inventive and creative way to make a big deal about this artist.”

Dugan agreed. “It was a cool way to reveal it,” he said.

Engineering freshman and member of Penn Band Kristin Marra said “the whole band was excited.”

“We did about four stops on Locust Walk … not that many students actually stopped to watch us, but those that did were really excited about it," she added.

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