Ellie Shimaoka ‘26
Nov 8, 2024
The Human Spotify event — a karaoke extravaganza filled with laughter, soulful singing, and live music — was held at the Fish Bowl on Saturday night, featuring special guest John Rush.
Rush is not only a singer/songwriter, he is also a multi-instrumentalist who can play the guitar, piano, saxophone, bass, and many other instruments. He bills himself as a “Human Spotify” because he has memorized 85 hours of music from a range of genres, including contemporary pop and country. Regarding his ability to memorize so many songs, he said, “It comes with practice. Once you learn about 100 songs, you kind of learn the whole spectrum of music. Of course, some songs are harder than others, but you will know what you are dealing with in terms of the melody by then.”
Rush has been making music for almost his entire life. He said, “I started playing the guitar at 10. Then, I went to school for arts and performance at the University of Georgia. After that, I moved to Nashville and started playing bars about 6 times a week for 10 years all over downtown. Now, I give interactive performances in different colleges and prep schools.” He is passionate about his craft because he loves to connect with people through music. Despite the obstacles, such as having to drive 15 hours just to reach a venue, he thrives on the stage. “I like being able to do live and being spontaneous,” he said. The energy of the audiencs continues to inspire him.
On Saturday night, students gathered in SSC to sing while Rush played the guitar. Everybody seemed to be engaged and excited. Students sang with their friends, while the crowd cheered and occasionally sang along. Rush regularly engaged the crowd, asking participants questions so that he could get to know them and build a sense of connection. Perhaps the most memorable moment of the evening was when the song “Last Friday Night” by Katy Perry was requested. The song, familiar to everyone, turned the entire room into an impromptu dance party.
William Tutt 25’ who sang on the stage during the event, reflected, “I just loved how enthusiastic John Rush was. I liked that people were being natural and were simply enjoying the moment, too.” Bella Levina ‘25 added, “It’s good to have live music back on campus. Especially because we used to have live bands that came to campus.” Also, Sarah Howley ‘26 recalled, “We had this event last year as well. He sings with you, so it is easier to participate.”
Overall, participants seemed to love the inclusive atmosphere where everybody was welcome to sing. The event lasted 30 minutes longer than the scheduled time frame. All who volunteered had the chance to hold the spotlight, and participants left the stage with a shared sense of satisfaction and joy. It was more than just a karaoke event; that night, we came together as a community.