West Chester University - Serpentine Yearbook (West Chester, PA)

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RAM TOUGH Competition Sandra Smith shows what it takes to look and act hke Jodie Watley. She is a veteran of the Airband competition and knows how to play the part. Todd McKinnely showing his stuff as Clar- ence from the E Street Band. Is that really Prince and Jodie Watley here at WCU? Airband ' 88 ventured into the world of big time stars such as Prince and Bruce Springsteen when these acts went head to head for the title. All of the group scoring was based on a points system for best lipping, most original, best performance and over- all. All of the acts were judged under these guidelines and they all were good enough to win in our hearts as well as their own hearts. When the evening started many acts were asked how they felt, and the reply was syno- nomous, We ' re gonna have a blast. Although they had fun, they were up there competing for the winning spot. It took hours of practicing and hours of preparing for such an endeavor. Only the acts knew what it took. To the audience, the peformance was fantastic and enjoyable for the whole crowd. 73

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Airband ' 88 Fun on stage March 12,1988 was a day that many performing seniors will remember as the day they became a star or perhaps the day they sanj; with Bruce Springsteen or the Bangles. This was the day the 1988 Air- band competition was held by and for the students of West Chester University. The night kicked of with Spins Nightly the emcee for the event who provided laughter and introductions for all partici- pants. Nightly was assisted in his task as em- cee by the wi ardly craftmanship and ar- tistic nuiance of Denny Dent and his two fisted art show. Dent a veteran of the stage brought the audience alive with such figures as Elvis Presely and Jimi Hendrix. Dent brought the show to a new level with his maginificient painting of former Beatle John Lennon. When Dent and Nightly were not intriguing the audience or making them laugh, they were giving the spotlight to seniors and their friends who came out to have a good time and see their friends perform. The competition was limitless as different styles of music and dance was peformed throughout the night as the groups showed their stuff. Not many bars or nighf clubs could pro- vide such an evening of variety. Although the standard Prince immita- tion was performed it was one of the few standard routines that stuck around for another year. The other groups that man- aged to make another year were Bruce Springsteen, which placed as it has in past years, and Billy Joel, entitled The Angry Young Man, which was one of Joels great- est songs where the popular Captain Jack scene of chugging was shown. In addi- tion the show was led with familiar talent, but a new act this year with the Jodie Watley act that was previously Diana Ross. This act was not alone in the female category as the Bangles and many other groups hit the show with a bang. It all made for a night of laughter and excite- ment. 72

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%: ' ( This year ' s winner the Thrill of Oz was a masterfully sketched program about Mi- chael Jackson ' s famous record from 1984 entitled Thriller and the 1939 movie that captured the hearts of America — The Wizard of Oz. The group came in with an illustrious finish and was the sure favorite of the audience. Oz was in competion with Bruce Springsteen and groups like Motley Crue which had no chance against the choreographed and well costumed group as was the Thrill of Oz. They created the Broadway image that made the competi- tion a sucess. The best part about the airband com- petition was that it was a good time of fun and frolicking for all, according to Rob Di Stefano, Entertainment editor of the Quad. It really didn ' t matter who won or who lost, it mattered if you had fun doing it and everyone accomplished that goal. This year was the year of the Airband co m- petition at West Chester. People were talk- ing about it long before it ever happened and everyone knew it would be a smash, and it was. Just for the record, first place prize was $200 that went to the Thrill of Oz, and the second place winnings of $150 went to The American Band (Bruce Spr- ingsteen). Other performers were INXS, Amy Grant, Samantha Fox, Bonnie Tyler, and Run DMC. All bands finished first and were RAM TOUGH!!! The Thrill of Oz- 1988 winner of this year ' s Airband Competition. 74