By Jonathan Arkin
Student Writer
The unplugged performance-lecture hybrid, which was hosted by communication professor Josh Kun (pictured, middle right, with Venegas and Dean Ernest J. Wilson III) and presented by USC Spectrum and the USC Mexican American Alumni Association, had hundreds of fans singing along to some Venegas favorites.
“Her music, her style appeals across socio-economic levels,” MAAA president Domenica Lynch said. “We have second- and third-generation kids coming to college. She’s a wonderful choice. It’s not something you can get at Nokia [Theatre]. It’s only something you can get at USC. And we’re really proud to be doing this with Annenberg. We’re delighted that they wanted MAAA at this program.”
“Being inside a university I would love to see a lot of students,” Venegas said before the show. “It’s a different mood in a university…more relaxed. I’m really excited to be doing this at USC. We’re going to be talking a lot. I hope for a lot of good energy. I want to take a good vibe away with me.”
The 1,235 seat Bovard Auditorium sold out within minutes of tickets going on sale.
“I am already a huge fan, so my expectations are already high because she is so talented and gifted,” said Monica Alba (B.A. Communication ’09), who later introduced host Kun onstage in Bovard. “I am Latina, but you can appreciate her music and her lyrics even if you’re not Latino. This is the inaugural event for this series, but I’m excited about where it goes and hearing from Julieta about why it’s important.”
The Los Angeles Times lauded Venegas' performance in a Feb. 13 article: "If last night’s chat with Mexican songstress Julieta Venegas was any indication, we can expect spirited mashups, instead of stony speeches, from the USC Annenberg Distinguished Lecture Series on Latin American Art and Culture. If only more 'lectures' were this freewheeling, with as many turns on the piano as in the interview seat, then we wouldn’t have ditched class so much."
Part Nelly Furtado, Bebel Gilberto and Fiona Apple, the multi-instrumentalist Venegas displayed a virtuosic command of song construction as she demonstrated how she came to write such international hits as Eres Para Mí and Me Voy.
“This is amazing…really a great sign that what we’re trying to do with this series is working,” said Kun to the audience before turning his focus to Venegas, with whom he had recently spent time on an American tour. “There was a voice and a sound to your songs that had never been heard before. You sang in ways that often defied expectations…Thank you for sharing your life.”
Venegas and MAAA members repaired to Town and Gown for a special celebration following the performance at which the singer-songwriter expressed her gratitude for having been part of the groundbreaking new speaker series.
“Thank you for making me the first one,” said Venegas, smiling to warm applause.
