As Wheeling Park High School students gear up for this year’s homecoming, many are voicing their opinions on what type of music should be played. The choices made by the administration can either make or break the atmosphere, according to several students interviewed.
Senior Alexis Bordas explained how the right music can turn an average dance into an unforgettable experience.
“When I hear songs that were played at dances, it brings me nostalgic feelings, and I’m reminded of all the fun memories made,” Bordas said.
Bordas suggested that including a diverse mix of styles and genres, rather than focusing solely on what’s currently popular, could make the event more inclusive.
“Not everyone listens to the same music, and the goal is for every student to have a great time,” she noted, pointing out that allowing students to submit song requests gives everyone a voice.
Junior Will Medovic shared these feelings. He noted that music students enjoy is crucial to creating a lively, exciting atmosphere.
“The memories made at homecoming really do depend on the music. For me, the music really makes the whole dance because it sets the vibe,” he said.
Medovic expressed concerns that the music sometimes skews too much toward older hits and doesn’t always reflect what current students want to hear.
“Homecoming truly features a lot of early 2010s music. While not bad, some want to hear newer music our generation enjoys,” he explained. “If staff and administrators want us to enjoy the dance, they need to understand that we want music that we like.”
Both students also touched on the issue of what is deemed inappropriate music. Medovic believes that while overly explicit songs should be avoided, occasional mentions of mature themes shouldn’t disqualify a song. He added that banning songs he likes would give him a negative experience at the event.
Despite efforts to collect student input through song request forms, some feel their choices don’t always make it to the dance floor.
“Although they have a form for us to fill out with music we want to hear, there’s no promise we’ll hear it, really just making it not useful,” Medovic said.
Still, both Bordas and Medovic believe there’s an opportunity to expand the playlist in a way that benefits everyone.
“I truly believe that if we featured more diverse music, as well as different genres and styles, the dance would be different—but not in a bad way,” Medovic said. “It would give students different exposure and maybe even show them something new they didn’t know they liked.”
With homecoming quickly approaching, the feedback from students is clear: having the right music mix is essential in ensuring the night is a success for everyone.
