Sixteen years ago, AP Literature teacher Lisa Otsuka came up with the Yam Slam, an activity where her students write lyrics for and perform a song from the perspective of the narrator of Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man. “There is a scene in the book where a character embraces his southern roots and eats a yam while saying ‘I yam what I yam.’ Each year we do a musical competition where students write lyrics to either an original song or create new lyrics to an existing song, and they will go on the Green and perform it,” Otsuka said.
Below are some highlights from 2024’s Yam Slam.
“Wicked Game”
Seniors Jude Wilson and Ben Dorio performed a parody of “Wicked Game” by Chris Issack. They both played beautiful acoustic guitars while Wilson sang their original lyrics.
Original Lyrics:
What a wicked game to play
To make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do
To let me dream of you
What a wicked thing to say
You never felt this way
What a wicked thing to do
To make me dream of you
Altered lyrics:
Bledsoe was a liar
and no one could save me but you
Subconscious desires
will make common people rue
And I never dreamed that I’d drive somebody like you
Yeah, I never dreamed that I’d drive somebody like you
“Bohemian Rhapsody"
Seniors Aaron Becker, Cameron Leung, Calvin Annison, Barion Kadiviar, Mathew Porter, and Chase Trigg performed a parody of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” that left the audience breathless. The six sang their hearts out on the Green stage.
Original lyrics:
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality
Open your eyes, look up to the skies, and see
I’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I’m easy come, easy go, little high, little low
Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me
Altered lyrics:
Is this the real life? Am I still sleepwalking?
Caught in a paint shop, no escape from the brotherhood
Open your eyes, look up to Clifton and see
I’m just a blind boy, look at how Jack treats me
Because I’m easy come, easy go, I’ll say yes, never no
Any way the paint blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me
“Bikini Bottom"
Ben Dorio and Ethan Armer rapped their version of Ice Spice’s “Bikini Bottom.” The two sang and danced around the stage, feeding off the energy from the audience members, “It was amazing and the crowd was just great,” Dorio said.
Original lyrics:
Look in the mirror, I’m feelin’ me
Stackin’ money where the ceilin’ be
Twenty to stand on a couch
Altered lyrics:
Look in the mirror, not seeing me
Owing the money where Mary be
Chasing a job in a new town, the catch is they are not seeing me
Jason Knowles, one of the judges, expressed his admiration for this event, “I love seeing the kids utilize their talents in a way that’s both academic and musical.”
After the three showstopping performances, the judges had a tough call to make. They huddled together and, after a few minutes of deliberation, declared the “Bohemian Rhapsody” parody group as the winners of the 2024 Yam Slam. The group won a free dinner at any restaurant with live music. On his group’s win, Becker said, “It was nerve-wracking but it was very fun, and it was cool to win this year.”
