As well all know, the best thing about Cal Day is… the music. Frats hire professional DJs (read: guys that have a SoundCloud) to play sick remixes to “Mr. Bright Side” and pretend like they’re mixing sick beats when they’re really just playing a Two Friends Remix off their iPhone 7S. But with such a long day full of so many amazing songs, it’s hard to decide which ones are the best, we decided to rank them. Anyway, here’s an official ranking of the best songs we heard on Cal Day.
30.) “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X:
You cannot deny, this is a banger! Whether you were woken up by it at 6:30 a.m. when you were sleeping over at KA, or three times in a row when you were drunk at DKE, “Old Town Road” is an instant classic. Horses in the back! Now, that is relatable.
29.) Swan Lake, Act 1, No. 1 Scène: Allegro giusto:
Nothing says, let’s blackout at 8 a.m. like act 1 scene one from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. But, it’s by far the worst of Tchaikovsky’s world-renowned symphony released in 1877, and is continuously blasted through frat speakers to this day.
28.) Swan Lake, Act 1, No. 5 Pas de deux for Two Merry-makers:
Little do people know that this number was later fashioned into the Black Swan Pas de Deux. Obviously, it’s not top of the list, c’mon Adante — Allegro straight into Tempo di valse. Like Tchaikovsky you’re great, but this is a bit much! But, the allegro molto vivace ending shlaps still landing it at 28.
27.) Swan Lake, Act 2, No. 14 Scène: Moderato:
Man this part of Swan Lake is wild! As we all know, in Act 1, Prince Siegfried is mad he cannot marry for love so his friend are like “Bro, let’s go on a swan hunt.” So they take their bows and rush off. Then here this is the scene where he is about to shoot a swan then she tranforms into the beautiful maiden, Odette! Good shit, but not the best.
26.) Swan Lake, Act 4, No. 25 Entr’acte: Moderato:
This shit is sad, Odette and Siegfried can’t be together. Fuck that, put it at number 26.
25.) Swan Lake, Act 3, No. 17 Entrance of the Guests and Waltz: Allegro, Tempo di valse:
Good song, but I was throwing up in SAE’s bathroom when it came on, so there are some bad memories attached.
24.) Swan Lake, Act 3, No. 24 Scène: Allegro, Tempo di valse, Allegro vivo:
No one can forget this scene in Swan Lake, this is where it was discovered that Siegfried only has eyes for Odile. This is a wild ending for Act 3. Odile makes herself look like Odette to trick Siegfried into falling in love with her. And then Odette comes back to the castle to win him back but he doesn’t even notice. Other than that though, we didn’t like it that the DJ mixed it with “Sweet Home Alabama”. That’s why it’s 24.
23.) Swan Lake, Act 1, No. 6 Pas d’action: Andantino quasi moderato – Allegro:
No explanation needed here.
22.) Swan Lake, Act 4, No. 27 Dance of the Little Swans: Moderato:
Nothing says love like the spell over all the swan maidens getting broken and them all turning back into humans! Hell ya! Much like when I broke my phone at DX. Fuck, I broke my phone, I forgot about that. Where can I buy another one?
21.) Swan Lake, Act 1, No. 8 Dance with Goblets: Tempo di polacca:
Congrats Prince Siegfried it’s your birthday go celebrate. But c’mon you’re like 17 or something you should already be married! Anyway, I saw a 17-year-old walking with their family deciding whether to attend Cal and I accidentally yelled at them. Oops.
20.) Swan Lake, Act 2, No. 10 Scène: Moderato:
Coming in hot at number 20 is No. 10 Scène: Moderato. There is no denying that this song is a banger! Siegfried gets lost from his friends and arrives at a lake clearing just when a flock of swans arrive! That is poetic genius, Tchaikovsky. I arrived at Zete the same time my ex-boyfriend did with his “new” and “better” girlfriend so that’s basically the same thing.
19.) Swan Lake, Act 4, No. 26 Scène: Allegro non-troppo:
The non-troppo on top of the allego was a bit overzealous. Plus I hate seeing Odette so distraught in this scene. But on the bright side, I’m pretty sure Red Bull sponsors this song or something. So 19.
18.) Swan Lake, Act 1, No. 2 Waltz: Tempo di valse:
Waltz’s are so 16th century.
17.) Swan Lake, Act 1, No. 7 Sujet (Introduction to the Dance with Goblets):
Much better than Dance with Goblets, but I still think that it’s a bit lackluster. It’s no Act 1, No 9 if you know what I’m saying!
16.) Swan Lake, Act 3, No. 18 Scène: Allegro, Allegro giusto:
Rothbart arriving to the ball in disguise, reminds me of when Dan from Zete tried to sneak into DKE in disguise. Plus that Allegro giusto is fire! Let me tell you, nothing says “Let’s celebrate some 18-year-olds acceptance by doing lines in the TKE bathroom” like Allegro guisto.
15.) Swan Lake, Act 2, No. 12 Scène: Allegro, Moderato assai quasi andante
Who can forget the classic plot: Rothbart disappears, the swan maidens fill the clearing, then Siegfried breaks his crossbow, and sets about winning Odette’s trust as the two fall in love. But as dawn arrives, the evil spell draws Odette and her companions back to the lake and they are turned into swans again. Truly wild stuff!! But I don’t like that they’re turned into swans again. It’s a bit monotonous. But still lands it in the top half!
14.) Swan Lake, Act 2, No. 11 Scène: Allegro moderato, Moderato, Allegro vivo:
I was shook when I learned that if Rothbart died then the spell on Odette could never been broken. Almost as shook as I was when someone on DKE’s roof tried to spray champagne over the crowd and just poured it on me.
13.) Swan Lake, Act 3., No. 15 Scène: March – Allegro giusto:
Marches are cool! Even though it’s April. Dang it rained a lot in March.
12.) Swan Lake, Act 3, No. 22 Danse Napolitaine: Allegro moderato, Andantino quasi moderato, Presto:
Presto? More like pesto. Damn, I had some dank Gypsies with pesto after Cal Day. Yum.
11.) Swan Lake, Act 3, No. 23 Mazurka: Tempo di mazurka:
When this song came on during wake ups at Sigma Chi, everyone immediately popped out of bed and started raging! The theme isn’t as memorable as Dances of the Swans or Finale, but no one can deny this song is great.
10.) No. 20 Hungarian Dance: Czardas – Moderato assai, Allegro moderato, Vivace:
Not only does this song slap, but it has an Appendix song titled: “Appendix II – No. 20a Danse russe pour Mlle. Pelageya Karpakova: Moderato, Andante semplice, Allegro vivo, Presto.” Any song that is so good it has another song attached to it needs to be top ten. Plus, it came on at Chi Psi and everyone thought it was just gonna be Hungarian Dance then suddenly out comes the appendix Danse russe pour Mlle. Everyone went fucking nuts. Definitely deserves a top ten spot.
9.) Swan Lake, Act 1, No. 3 Scène: Allegro moderato:
Iykyk.
8.) Swan Lake, Act 4, No. 29 Scène finale: Andante, Allegro, Alla breve, Moderato e maestoso, Moderato:
The last song in Swan Lake is a banger. Watching Siegfried and Odette ascend to heaven was like watching my best friend ascend up the stairs of DU (to this song!) to finally hook up with that guy she’s liked all semester. Crazy shit.
7.) Swan Lake, Act 4, No. 28 Scène: Allegro agitato, Molto meno mosso, Allegro vivace:
The molto meno mosso doesn’t land it top five, but it sure is a top ten.
6.) Swan Lake, Act 1, No. 4 Pas de trois:
Undeniably one of the greatest songs in the whole ballet. It would be top ten except I heard it literally eight times during Cal Day. C’mon guys I know we all love the Pas de trois, but can we please keep its plays to maybe two or three times.
5.) Swan Lake, Act 3, No. 21 Danse Espagnole: Allegro non-troppo (Tempo di bolero):
This might be biased but I am such a pushover for a song with a good Allegro non-troppo. But I, mean who isn’t am Iright!?!
4.) Swan Lake, Act 3, No. 19 Pas de six:
I know, this one is sort of a shocker. A lot thought that this should be lower, I mean there are five variations in this movement. But c’mon Allegro, to Andante con moto, then Moderato, Allegro, ending with Moderato, Allegro semplice. You cannot deny that is wild. Plus the “Appendix I” to this song, Pas de deax pour Mme is so good. “Mmmmmmmmme” is right because this song is phenomenal. Plus, all the drunk girls were trying to copy George Balanchineas’ original choreography at Fiji, which everyone can find funny.
3.) Swan Lake, Act 2, No. 13 Dances of the Swans:
Literally this song is such a banger. In only one minute and thirty seconds this song changes tempos like seven different tempos: tempo di valse; moderato assai; tempo di valse (again!); Allegro moderato (which obviously became the famous Dance of the Little Swans); Pas d’action: Andante, Andante non-troppo, Allegro; tempo di valse; code: Allego vivo. This song is honestly such a banger. Play this at my funeral, or wedding, but most importantly… this shit played Cal Day!
2.) Swan Lake, Act 3. No. 16 Ballabile: Dance of the Corps de Ballet and the Dwarves: Moderato assai, Allegro vivo:
This is when Siegfried finally learns that he fucked up and it was actually Odile he chose over Odette. I fucking love it when men are proved wrong. Definitely the number 2 spot. Fuck men!
1.) Swan Lake, Act 1, No. 9 Finale: Sujet, Andante:
This should come as no surprise, when this song came on remixed with The Killer’s “Mr. Brightside” everyone truly went off! Also, c’mon this is the main theme of Swan Lake and if you didn’t stop flirting with Jack from Phi Tau when this came on then you’re wrong! Fuck yeah.
These rankings might be a bit controversial, but at least we can all agree on fuck “Old Town Road.”