Breaking up the most recent nail-biter of a home football game, Clemson’s Tiger Band put on a performance with the theme Fairy Tales (specifically Cinderella). They played a variety of music, including selections from the most recent Cinderella movie, “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran and “Shining Star” by Earth, Wind and Fire. At the end of the performance, the color guard and certain groups within “The Band that Shakes the Southland” put down their instruments and did popular dances that have circulated on TikTok.
The band included several TikTok dances, some of which are associated with “Low” by Flo-Rida feat. T-Pain. While this wasn’t the focus of the show (and it may have felt silly from the band’s perspective) from the stands it was extremely entertaining.
This isn’t the first time Tiger Band has leaned into a pop culture trend. Just this season, the band put on their rendition of Kanye West’s album “Jesus is King.” Tiger Band capitalizes on trends like these to make their shows feel relevant, performing these types of shows in conjunction with traditional pieces, like Tiger Rag.
Tiger Band always puts on good performances, but when they incorporate and reference trends like these into their shows, it is extremely enjoyable for the audience because it adds an unexpected, unconventional element to the more-traditional performance.
Thank you, Tiger Band, for giving us a bit of amusement that we can connect to in the middle of a stressful game. It has made the close games and sad losses this season a little easier to bear.