Photo courtesy of the Associated Press
Florida A&M University’s Marching 100 performed at Louis Vuitton’s 2023 Spring Summer Men’s Fashion Show at the Louvre in Paris, France.
The band, comprised of 35 members, captured the audience in the first 10 minutes of the show, donning their trademark orange and green uniforms purchased by FAMU grads Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, HBCU Game Day reported.
The show opened with a dramatic movie featuring a young Black model who appeared to be going through personal struggles as he contemplated an escape. The Marching 100 followed him through several rooms with different scenarios before they ended up on the roof with the marching band surrounding him. Moments later, the young man got on a spaceship and blasted off as band members sang, “Hereby, our invitation we do invite you to be of our space world,” a rendition of Sun Ra’s “Enlightenment.”
From there, the Marching 100 opened with their signature “Prelude,” featuring drums in rhythmic harmony, with the “Slow One” as they entered the field. Then, band members strutted along a winding yellow runway, prompting attendees to pull out their cell phones and capture every moment of HBCU greatness during the show.
The band performed “Get Up For the Rattlers,” a nod to Florida A&M University’s historical roots. They played the verse and chorus as they sang the second verse while performing along what many called the “yellow brick road,” similar to the classic film Wizard of Oz.
While the Marching 100 left many speechless with their powerful international performance, former FAMU drum major Victor Gaines was proud to see his alma mater in Paris again. He recalled traveling with the Rattlers to Paris in 1989 for the Bastille Day Celebration.
“When we went in 1989, we were there to do a job. I didn’t realize the magnitude of what we did until we got back. When we got all the accolades when we got back it made you understand how special it was. We weren’t focusing on making history, we were there to do a job. When we got back and realized that it went around the world, when you’re in it, you focus on doing the best job you can and not to mess up,” Gaines said.
He added, “I don’t even think words can express how proud I was. It came on as soon as I got to work and I am amazed at what they were able to do. I had a bit of an emotional moment there, it meant that much. This was a different type of show, but seeing them in uniform and doing the routines like professionals was great. I’m still letting it sink in.”
The Marching 100 walked the runway as they performed several traditional songs. Rapper Kendrick Lamar was seated next to Naomi Campbell in the crowd. He completed a live ode to the late Virgin Abloh, an American designer for the luxury brand who died from cancer last November. Lamar rapped a medley of songs from his latest album, “Mr. Morales & the Big Steppers,” including “Savior,” “Rich Spirit,” “Count Me Out” and, finally, the single “N95,” per Variety.
Watch the full performance of the Marching 100 below.