On Thursday, Oct. 22, Vanderbilt held their annual Homecoming Block Party. I would like to start by saying that this article is not meant to offend anyone on the Vanderbilt Programming Board (VPB). They put on a fantastic event and put in lots of hard work. When I heard that Aaron Carter would be performing, I was beyond excited and impressed that they were able to book one of my favorite childhood stars.

To understand how excited I was, I need to introduce you to first grade me. I was in love with Aaron Carter. I knew every word to every song on his album, I had a poster of him in my room, and his concert was my first concert. I was young so I don't remember much of the concert, but I'm sure it was epic. Needless to say, that I had unrealistically high expectations for the block party.

When Carter finally came out on stage Thursday night, my expectations went straight out the window. He insisted on playing pretty much all new music with the exception of "I Want Candy" and "Aaron's Party." I get that he is no longer 12 years old and he wants to share some of the new stuff he has been working so hard on, but I felt that he should have mixed in more old stuff. You don't need to forget where you came from to get to where you want to be.

I can look past his unfortunate set list, but what I can't look past is the way he presented himself. I think the thing that upset me the most was that after his set, the whole crowd started chanting for him to do an encore of another one of his oldies, "That's How I Beat Shaq." Carter's response went something like this: "Sorry guys... I need my live band to perform that song... If you want to hear that one tell your school to book me again." It was, pardon my french, a real douchebag move. I have never heard an artist deny their fans an encore, and being an artist who is trying to make a name for himself again, I feel that Carter should have been more than willing to give his audience what they wanted.

So yes, the block party shattered all of my positive childhood memories of Aaron Carter and replaced them with the unpleasant image I have of him now. If I had not gone, I would still view Carter as the sweet 12-year-old boy I saw in concert so long ago. Even though I was disappointed with his performance, I want to recognize VPB again for all of the hard work they put in. Putting my personal feelings about Carter aside, they put on a hell of an event and they had no control over his actions or setlist.