BY ALEXANDER BRAND
Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), Professor Willem (Wim) de Villiers has given us a glimpse into his diverse music taste, as he released his first official 2020 Top 40 Playlist that has been getting him through this strenuous lockdown period.
The rector has a great passion for music, and it plays a massive role in his life. “Music is the soundtrack to my life, accompanying the highs and the lows, reminding me of joys and sorrows, inspiring me and distracting me as needed,” he says.
The playlist includes notable mentions such as AC/DC’s iconic “Thunderstruck”, Rodríguez’s “Sugar Man”, Michael Kiwanuka’s “Black Man in a White World”, metal band, Rammstein’s “Du hast”, Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die”, the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam”, as well as our own Stellenbosch University Choir’s “Indodana”.
Prof de Villiers comments, “My playlist reflects my life journey through the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and South Africa. All the songs bring back memories. I hope it gives you as much joy as it gives me.”
SU’s Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Chairperson, Xola Njengele, had a preview of the playlist and had this to say, “Well at first glance I thought I had no clue what any of these songs were but when I listened to them, I must say Prof has some bangers there. There’s also Lana Del Rey so I gotta stan!”
Listen to what De Villiers has cued up to overcome the pandemic blues.
