Jake Mrozewski | Phoenix Staff

The tri-co community dances to Estelle’s stellar tunes.

BY MAKI SOMOSOT

In print | Published February 26, 2009

What does a fledgling R&B songstress from London, who has just released her sophomore album, do with 500-something jaded U.S. college students, and a massive summer hit that just might be on its way to one-hit wonderland? Save the best for last, of course, and preface it by crooning about substitute lovers, stomping around in heels to infectious jazz/hip-hop beats and swearing obscenely yet charmingly that the “fellas should wrap it up.” There’s no anti-premarital pregnancy message that’s been more effectively or stylishly communicated than one coming from a Grammy award winning R&B singer, sporting a multicolored (green, yellow AND red) Lego-constructed pendant of the African continent.

I am, of course, referring to Estelle, last summer’s breakthrough female artist whose ubiquitous song “American Boy” we have all heard and danced to at some point in Paces, and who headlined the spring Large Scale Event the evening of Feb. 21, at LPAC.

“A lot of people might have gone into the concert thinking that Estelle would just play ‘American Boy’ on repeat, but her music and her witty banter proved that she was a funny, versatile and talented performer,” said David Wilikofsky ’12, member of the LSE committee. “She was also just a really nice, down-to-earth person when the committee met her after the show. I think that she was a really good choice for the LSE,” Wilikofsky added.

To be fair, Estelle’s trademark song “American Boy” was sufficiently phenomenal (marked by Kanye’s usual genius on the track) that it managed to peak at No. 6 on the Billboard R&B charts, garner three Grammy nominations and eventually win Best Rap/Sung Collaboration of the Year. Estelle’s performance at Swarthmore was a part of her first ever coast-to-coast tour in the US, spanning three weeks and fourteen cities in total, as an obligatory tribute to her first Grammy win. Estelle was previously on tour as a supporting act for R&B musician John Legend, who recently signed the newcomer to his label for the release of her 2008 record “Shine.”

The Philly-based DJ Aktive and DJ T. P. opened the LSE, setting the mood for Estelle and the rest of the evening by playing a medley of familiar hip-hop tunes and club beats, which DJ Aktive energetically rapped over. Many of the assumptions surrounding Estelle’s ability to sustain the audience’s interest beyond her summer hit were upended once she took the stage.

An indomitable presence onstage, Estelle transitioned from song to song with enough charisma and forcefulness to get even the more dubious members of the audience out of their seats. “Those people sitting down in the back, stand up!” Estelle shouted to the audience before finally performing “American Boy.”

Estelle demanded and ensured the audience’s absolute participation for most of the show, even calling out three random Swatties to dance with her onstage. Judith Browngoel ’09 recalls her experience of being under the same spotlight with Estelle: “I only talked to Estelle for about two seconds … but my six degrees of separation from Kanye West just got a whole lot smaller, so that’s definitely something to be happy about.” Browngoel further affirmed another definite crowd favorite from Estelle’s performance: “Her backup dancers/singers were one of the most entertaining parts of the show, so getting to dance with them on stage was a real trip.”

Estelle’s performance was not exclusively reserved for Swarthmore, and Tri-Co students from Bryn Mawr and Haverford also came in droves to experience the treat of watching Estelle live. One was even fortunate enough to get much more than expected out of the performance. “I’d been looking forward to Estelle all week … [and] honestly, I am still at a loss for words about being onstage with Estelle last night,” said Waldean Nelson ’09, a Haverford student who danced with Estelle herself. “The entire experience was surreal. I don’t even really remember hearing the music or what she said. I just kept repeating to myself in my head, ‘Don’t trip … Don’t trip.’ She’s a really good dancer too. My only complaint is that we didn’t dance for longer.”

Estelle will continue to be on the road until Mar. 12, when she will perform her final show at Centerstage in Atlanta, GA. Before that, she will make stops in Baltimore, Hofstra University in New York, Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Seattle, San Francisco, Anaheim, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and Vancouver.

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