The rumors are true-Miami University will welcome Girl Talk to campus April 30 for a free concert.
Nearly 3,000 Miami students have been confirmed as guests on the Facebook.com event for "Girl Talk @ Miami!!! FOR FREE!"
Sophomore Caitlin Neyer said Girl Talk is essentially a deejay (Gregg Gillis) creating a mash-up mix of more than a dozen songs to create a new original song.
The concert is sponsored by several organizations including Concert Board, Springfest, Program Board and Afterdark.
Sam Kuracheck, co-chair of Concert Board, said he hopes the concert will be able to be held on the lawn outside of Millet Hall.
Cassidy Pazyniak, co-chair of Springfest and current candidate for vice president of campus activities, has been involved with the concert from the beginning.
"I am hoping that there will be even more than 3,000 people," Pazyniak said.
Springfest entertainment chair Leah Bell said she is excited for the concert.
Bell, who attended Girl Talk's Nov. 9 concert at Bogart's in Cincinnati, said she was not an avid fan until she experienced his concert.
"Essentially it's a giant dance party," Bell said. "He definitely plays for a college audience. Students were even pulled up on stage."
Bell said she knew several Miami students who attended the November concert.
"There is something in the music for everyone," Bell said. "Girl Talk incorporates every genre."
Neyer said Girl Talk is sometimes referred to as a "lawsuit waiting to happen" since his music samples are unauthorized.
A New York Times article from July 2008 said his new album "Feed The Animals" includes more than 200 samples of songs from artists ranging from Lil' Wayne to Queen. Girl Talk did not have permission for any of the song samples.
The New York Times reported that iTunes and a CD distributor stopped carrying his last album "Night Ripper" due to legal concerns.
Although there have been several threats, there has not yet been a lawsuit against Gillis.
"There are so many good songs out there, (Girl Talk) just takes them all and makes a hybrid that can't be beat," Neyer said.
Pazyniak said Springfest will be April 27 to 30, the week before finals. The theme this year is "Cheers to 200 years!" in honor of Miami's bicentennial.
"We wanted to make Springfest even bigger and better than last year," Pazyniak said, adding that Springfest is the "homecoming" of second semester.
According to Pazyniak, the week will tentatively include a movie night in central quad, free food and gift giveaways, a performance by the the Misfitz a capella group at a home baseball game, and a finals relaxation day with free outside yoga classes.
"We really wanted to end the week with a bang and Girl Talk worked out perfectly," Pazyniak said.
Pazyniak said that Springfest began working with Concert Board in August after the Freshman Year Opportunities' Howie Day concert.
"We came in this year with a lot of focus," Pazyniak said.
Pazyniak said edunLIVE-an on-campus group-originally approached Concert Board about bringing Jack's Mannequin, Lupe Fiasco or Matt Nathanson to Miami, but none of the artists were available during Springfest.
"Once we knew some of our first bands couldn't come during Springfest, we took off with Girl Talk and everything began to fall together naturally," Pazyniak said.
According to Kurachek, Concert Board usually puts on six to nine concerts each academic year. He said the number per year depends on the popularity of the performers that come to campus and, subsequently, the cost.
"An opening act is being debated for the concert," Kurachek said. "We are waiting to see if Girl Talk has a preference."
Pazyniak said that precautions have been taken to ensure a flawless event.
"I want this concert to be an epic event before the madness of finals," Pazyniak said. "And I want Springfest to be on the map for years to come."
