Childish Gambino: A Saturday night experience

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Loxy!!

Donald Glover performs as Childish Gambino at the Commodore Ballroom in 2011 with the same swagger as he did this past weekend on SNL.

Timothy Stolp, Staff Writer

With a range of performances from live skits to musical numbers and videos, Donald Glover, A.K.A. Childish Gambino, rocked both the small screen and phone screen last Saturday night.

As an actor, singer, songwriter and all-around multimedia artist, Glover has taken on a variety of roles. However, hosting Saturday Night Live on NBC was new for him, and provided a gateway for his larger intention with the night: unveiling new projects. Subsequently, many who were not already aware of him and his numerous talents were left wondering: What can this man not do?

“It truly is an honor to be hosting SNL, instead of just auditioning for it,” said Glover in his opening monologue of the show. “Which I did, twice. That’s not a joke, I’m just still pissed.”

Invoking his own flavor of humor throughout the night, Glover cast a spotlight on himself without much effort.

As his stage alter-ego, the musician utilized the high note of his acting to boost the new songs he debuted on the live stage. Glover was first introduced by none other than Zoë Kravitz, actress and musician as well as daughter of famed artist, Lenny Kravitz. The apt song choice entitled “Saturday” kept with his fresh and original theme of the night. Laid back and relaxed, the song highlighted the ease of range within Glover’s voice.

As the night progressed, Glover released yet another song, “This is America,” which has recieved critical acclaim. At the same time as his live performance, fans noticed that Glover posted a music video for the song. Rich with symbolism, the video combined with the thoughtful lyrics, often with double-meanings, garnered millions of views over the course of the following hours. The song and video dive into the issues of gun violence and race in America in a powerful way, opening a dialogue across the nation.

Glover produced a night of entertainment from joy and laughter to power and thought on both SNL and in the music world. If he had not already, Glover established himself as a celebrity mainstay with ease and poise. Perhaps, new fans learned they need to be asking, instead: What can Glover do next?