After our very own Samantha Henry told you some dos and don’ts for the big day (or three big days), you were prepared for Ultra Music Festival in every way. You had your water, your vitamins, your sunscreen, and mostly importantly, your ticket. But nothing could prepare you for the experience of the music.
You get there and are so excited because today is the day that your favorite DJ is playing.
Finally, he’s on. Then he says, “Thank you Miami! I love you guys!” and he’s off.
“Wait, what? That’s it?” you say to yourself. “That’s all you’re playing? YOU DIDN’T EVEN PLAY MY FAVORITE SONG!”
When going to any concert or music festival, you never know what you’re going to get. How long will they be on? When will they come on? What songs will they play? Ultra Music Festival is no different. Actually, it’s that times about 200 since there are so many different DJs.
So, based on my own experience as well as the input of others, I decided to name the best, the worst, and everything in between. Kind of like senior superlatives. Let’s see the results…
Main Stage, Friday
Best Set Overall: Tiesto
This year, Tiesto was Friday’s headliner, starting at 10:30 p.m. It was no surprise that he would be headlining after all his recent work and accomplishments. He’s headlined and sold out some of the world’s biggest music festivals. After being named the Greatest DJ of All Time by Mixmag, Tiesto proved that he lived up to the name with the release of his mix album Club Life – Volume One Las Vegas in 2011 and Club Life – Volume Two Miami. Not stopping now, Tiesto is launching his own Sirius XM channel as well as expanding his self-owned record label, Musical Freedom.
Starting off the show with his hit Chasing Summers, Tiesto got the crowd wild and ready. Other hits from his set included a remix to Paradise by Coldplay, We Own the Night by Wolfgang Gartner and Tiesto featuring Luciana, Can’t Stop Me by Afrojack and Shermanology, Raise Your Head by Alesso, Feel So Close by Calvin Harris, and In My Mind by Ivan Gough and Feenixpawl. His set was incredible and it was no secret that he was one of the best performers of the day. Closing with the Hardwell Remix of Young Blood by The Naked and Famous, fireworks flashed from above to mark the end of an unforgettable night and set.
Happiest to be There: Nervo
Many of you may be thinking, “Who is Nervo?” If you don’t know about them, you should. Mim and Liv Nervo are sisters who prove girl DJs are just as badass as any other DJ. Starting off as songwriters for artists like Ke$ha, Kelly Rowland, and the Pussycat Dolls, Nervo made their way into the spotlight last year when they opened for Nicki Minaj and Britney Spears on the Femme Fatale tour.
Nervo really stood out at Ultra. What made them one of the best performers wasn’t just their music, but also the way they performed. You could tell by the looks on their faces that they were so happy to be there and loved what they were doing. It was something that I hadn’t seen in many other DJs. As they played their hit The Way We See the World featuring names such as Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, they were basically a part of the crowd—singing, dancing, and enjoying the music with their fans. Producers, songwriters, fashion icons, and performers, the journey of Nervo is just beginning.
Nervo in the BAO Dome, Saturday
Most Disappointing: Avicii
Yeah, yeah, yeah. For any of you who didn’t go to Ultra and are all into this EDM thing, you’re thinking, “What!? Avicii!? But OH MY GOD, he is, like, the BEST!”
Don’t get me wrong, Avicii is an amazing DJ. It wasn’t that he was bad, but seeing what he has done and accomplished in just the past year, we expected a lot better, especially since he was the headliner for Saturday night.
It all started when Madonna got on stage. She’s great and everything, but about 90% of the Ultra crowd could care less whether she was there or not. But I won’t let that be Avicii’s fault. As he started his set with Madonna’s Girl Gone Wild song, the crowd was already over the whole Madonna thing after her opening speech (If you haven’t heard it or about it, look it up on YouTube). Of course, he played some great songs, including his very own Fade Into Darkness, Levels, My Feelings For You, and Sunshine, but there was really nothing special about this performance. “I have been disappointed with Avicii in the last two performances I have seen. I think it has to do with how mainstream the radio has made him. I like DJs that WOW me, like Hardwell did. I didn’t know much about him before, but he killed it at Ultra,” said Maggie Tilley, a sophomore who saw Avicii this year at Ultra Music Festival.
Most Likely to Get You to Like Them: Hardwell
Class Clown: Steve Aoki
Best Crowd Pleaser: Skrillex
Biggest Letdown: Afrojack
Life of the Party: Tommy Trash
Most Likely to Lip Sync: Dev
Biggest Flirt: Kaskade
Most Likely to Succeed: Armin Van Buuren
Best Personality: Duck Sauce
Most Enthusiastic: Flux Pavillion
Best Light Show: Pretty Lights
Biggest Fluke: Miike Snow
Best Trance Show: Dash Berlin
Notable Performance: Carl Cox
Who do you think should deserve what title? Do you disagree with any of the ones named or have any good ones? Send ‘em in!