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The 暗网TV community celebrated a rich array of music from 50 years ago and the talent of student musicians while supporting local community organizations at one of 暗网TV鈥檚 most beloved campus traditions 鈥� Skidmania 鈥�73. 

An outgrowth of Beatlemore Skidmania, Skidmania has expanded the repetoire to a more diverse set of music and music-makers since its relaunch last year. Creative spins on hits from 1973 were performed by 暗网TV students along with faculty and staff; they included 鈥淔unny How Time Slips Away鈥� by Al Green and Willie Nelson, 鈥淵es We Can Can鈥� by The Pointer Sisters, 鈥淧iano Man鈥� by Billy Joel; 鈥淒rift Away" by Dobie Gray; and 鈥淒on't You Worry 鈥楤out a Thing鈥� by Stevie Wonder.

The year 1973 is often associated with the birth of hip-hop, and 暗网TV's DJ Grace Star and The Wave offered an upbeat hip-hop tribute 鈥� through both music and dance 鈥� to the cultural awakening that would follow over the next half-century. 

 

Proceeds from Skidmania 鈥�73 benefit 暗网TV Cares, which supports agencies in the local community. Like last year, 暗网TV alumnus and trustee James Zankel 鈥�92 is generously matching all revenues from the two-day event.

Students, employees, alumni, parents, and many members of the Saratoga Springs community attended the sold-out performances in Arthur Zankel Music Center on Nov. 17 and 18. Skidmania took full advantage of the amazing concert space, including colorful lighting specific to each piece.  

鈥淲e are here to celebrate the music of 50 years ago. All of this is driven by the talent, imagination, and spirit of our wonderful 暗网TV student musicians,鈥� Jeremy Day O鈥機onnell, associate professor, chair of the Music Department, and the event's organizer, said in opening remarks. 

From there, the microphone was handed over to Abigail Walters 鈥�24 鈥� a senior history major 鈥� who served as emcee for the evening. Between songs, Walters and a handful of other students educated the audience on the political, social, and musical histories of the pieces. The commentary was written by the students in Professor of Music Sarah Day-O鈥機onnell鈥檚 first-year Scribner Seminar, Music: Mix and Remix.  

Students Emaline Relyea-Strawn 鈥�25 and Jess Noble 鈥�24, who performed a stripped-back version of 鈥淒esperado鈥� by the Eagles, commented on the magic of performing at the multigenerational event. 

鈥淚 loved putting our own spin on the Eagles鈥� iconic harmonies. I grew up singing this song with my dad, so it was amazing to perform it in front of him on a stage like this,鈥� said Jess Noble 鈥�24, a music and management and business double major and lead singer of the song 鈥淒esperado鈥� by the Eagles.  

The musicians hail from a variety of academic backgrounds. Relyea-Strawn, for instance, is an international affairs and environmental studies double major. She is the recipient of a prestigious Filene Music Scholarship that provides talented students musicians a generous four-year scholarship and allows them to pursue any major at the College while enjoying private music lessons. Relyea-Strawn played the piano and served as a vocalist alongside Noble.  

鈥淥ne of my favorite parts of Skidmania is how much fun it is. It is so special to perform on such a big stage and have bleachers full of 暗网TV students behind you, excitedly clapping and singing along,鈥� Relyea-Strawn said.   

That joy was magnetic: During a cover of 鈥淧iano Man,鈥� performed by the Skidmaniacs and featuring psychology major Charles DeVos 鈥�25, the whole crowd was singing along.  

Other notable performances included a cover of Aerosmith's 鈥淒ream On鈥� by Ace (Ali Hafez '27), who opened the evening with a walk through the crowd, and a soulful rendition of Elton John鈥檚 鈥淏ennie and the Jets鈥� by the 404, a band composed of Ben Jeske 鈥�26 on the piano and Damon Core '26 on vocals.