By Jill Tuthill, Asst. A&E Editor
The Quadrangle asked Manhattan College alums for their favorite music anthems that defined their time at MC. The responses varied from current pop superstars such as Ariana Grande to classics such as Natalie Cole. From the classes of 1982 to this year’s graduates, we compiled a list of their responses.
Class of 1982: My Sharona by The Knack. A classic rock anthem to bring back memories, excitement and air guitar techniques. This is The Knack’s debut single, released in 1979 when it jumped quickly to number one in ratings and in the hearts of classic rock fans everywhere.
Lyrics: Ooh, my little pretty one, pretty one/When you gonna give me some time, Sharona?/Ooh, you make my motor run, my motor run/Gun it coming off of the line, Sharona
Class of 2023: Midnight Rain by Taylor Swift. “Reminds me to keep working hard!”said Jilleen Barrett, Quad alum in the class of 2023. A modern song submission that touches the hearts of both current and former MC students.
Lyrics: Lady hear me tonight ’cause my feeling is just so right/As we dance by the moonlight can’t you see you’re my delight?/Lady I just feel like I won’t get you out of my mind/I feel loved for the first time and I know that it’s true/I can tell by the look in your eyes
Class of 2024: Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande. “Pop perfection and Ariana is an amazing vocalist,” wrote Chris Osorio, a member of the class of 2024. Another pop anthem that most current students would recognize if it were playing on the quad on one of these sunny April days.
Lyrics: So I try to wipe my mind/Just so I feel less insane/Rather feel painless/I’d rather forget than know, know for sure/What we could’ve fought through behind this door, mm/So I close it and move, yeah, yeah
Class of 2017: This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) by Natalie Cole. Kelly Burns ‘17 says that she remembers, “falling in love with this song the first time I watched The Parent Trap. The instrumentals, lyrics and tempo always put a smile on my face,” Burns said. “And it’s fun to dance to!” This was Cole’s debut single that was released in 1975 but still found its way onto social media platforms in such an influential way that almost anyone would say that they know and love this song.
Lyrics: So I try to wipe my mind/Just so I feel less insane/Rather feel painless/I’d rather forget than know, know for sure/What we could’ve fought through behind this door, mm/So I close it and move, yeah, yeah
As the responses poured in from MC alums, it became evident that music truly has a timeless quality that bridges generations. From the energetic riffs of The Knack’s “My Sharona,” cherished by the Class of 1982, to the modern beats of Ariana Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine,” resonating with the Class of 2024, each song carries with it memories, emotions, and a sense of nostalgia for Jaspers from all around.