James Shepard, Staff Writer The music industry is ever-changing and consistently bringing new challenges for artists who wish to popularize their work. Within the past several decades, artists have moved from the likes of vinyl and CDs to the streaming era, where platforms like Spotify and Apple Music reign supreme. However, the latest worldwide trend is TikTok, which capitalizes on quick, easily consumable content for people to swipe through on their phones. Because of this, the music industry has shifted again to cater to this new movement. On social media platforms like Tiktok or Instagram, content creators are paid to promote an artist’s music. In an article for Business Insider, Dan Whateley writes that “Some users can earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a single video where they promote an artist's track.” Although social media apps may seem like a place where people simply create fun content about their day-to-day lives, the reality is that everything you see online could be covert advertising for a product, whether it be music or some other commodity. It’s not only content creators who are making videos to promote music, but the artists themselves are also pressured to promote their work on TikTok. In an interview with Zane Lowe, Adele discussed how she felt pressure to make music for TikTok audiences, though it isn't her style or the demographic she wants to market to. Another artist who was compelled to market towards this audience was Halsey, who spoke out in a now-deleted Tiktok video. Regardless of whether or not the video was part of a greater marketing strategy to garner attention, the truth is that artists are changing their approach to make labels more money instead of focusing on the art itself. Chart from Billboard; In recent years, artists have shortened their songs to fit the teenage demographic and make it easier for social media users to use the track. TikTok prioritize short songs, making them more likely to go viral. Marketing towards Tiktok audiences does not stop at promoting music through videos. In many instances, artists are producing music solely to go viral online. First, to appeal to the short attention spans of teenagers, artists have recently been making significantly shorter songs. Popular songs used to be three to four minutes long, but now many artists are releasing singles that hardly reach two minutes. This is an intentional change so that people can quickly stream the song multiple times. Also, shorter songs go viral on TikTok more often. Artists engineer parts of their songs, such as the chorus or part of the verses, to have a good “TikTok sound,” so more users include the song on their videos. Although a song should be catchy and have a recognizable hook, the art of making music has been lost to the endeavor to go viral. Even though TikTok may only seem to bring negatives to the music industry and artists, it does have a bright side. Through the video algorithm, users may find genuinely gifted artists that wouldn’t have been discovered without TikTok. Talented independent artists like Sarah Kinsley and Hemlocke Springs have achieved success after their videos went viral on social media, which gave them a chance to pursue music full-time. TikTok can be an oppressive place where artists are pressured into changing their music for their record label’s benefit, but it can also be a wonderful opportunity for small, talented artists to gain attention online and jumpstart their music careers. Photo from Genius; Indie-pop singer Hemlocke Springs first gained attention on TikTok for her song "Girlfriend." After gaining popularity, she released the single "Gimme All Ur Luv" in spring 2022. Works Cited Entertainment Tonight. "Adele REFUSES to Make TikTok Music." YouTube, 18 Nov. 2021,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=phLUSQtsGRA&ab_channel=EntertainmentTonight. Accessed 30 Jan. 2023. Whateley, Dan. "How TikTok is Changing the Music Industry." Business Insider, 27 Dec. 2022, www.businessinsider.com/how-tiktok-is-changing-the-music-industry-marketing-discovery-2021-7. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.
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Christmas by Michael Bublé is one of the top-selling Christmas albums of all time. James Shepard, Staff Writer Released October 24, 2011, Michael Bublé’s iconic album, Christmas, has become a classic for listeners around the world during Christmastime. In the United States alone, the album has sold more than 4.3 million copies and has spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Featuring covers of iconic Christmas songs like “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Holly Jolly Christmas,” Bublé created a work that encompasses themes such as longing for love and enjoying everything that the holiday season has to offer. The album opens with the classic Christmas song, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas.” Bublé utilizes a light orchestra instrumental to set a warm and cozy atmosphere for listeners. In the song, Bublé sings about several heralds of Christmas, such as “Toys in every store” and how “Soon the bells will ring.” He also sings fondly about his lover and her Christmas decorations in this song, with lyrics such as, “The prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be // On your own front door.” This song encapsulates many aspects of Christmas and sets a festive tone for the rest of the album. The record continues with another Christmas staple, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” The song features a jazzy instrumental that delivers a refreshing take on this commonly covered piece. Then, Bublé sings his jazzy rendition of “Jingle Bells,” featuring The Puppini Sisters. The extended version of this holiday classic includes gentle harmonies between all singers. Although the song can get repetitive, the vocal performance of Bublé and the sisters keep a fresh and festive atmosphere. The next song, “White Christmas,” is a duet with the legendary Shania Twain. Twain’s light high notes and Bublé’s rich harmonies complement each other very well as they sing of a snowy Christmas. The song ends with the wish many people have for their loved ones, “May your days be merry and bright // And may all your Christmases be white.” Photo from Retro Pop Magazine; Bublé’s snow-covered Christmas album cover is a common sight on phone screens throughout the Christmas season. The fifth track is Bublé’s take on the iconic Mariah Carey song, “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” The piano and string instruments support a ballad version of the usually upbeat instrumental. Even though no one can outmatch Carey’s incredible vocals, Bublé’s cover of the song is a sweet rendition of the Christmas track. One of the highlights of Christmas is Bublé’s rendition of “Holly Jolly Christmas.” The joyful lyrics and instantly recognizable instrumentation cause the listeners to think about what they love about Christmas. Next on the album is “Santa Baby,” where Bublé asks Santa for various gifts. Although the lyrics are frivolous, Bublé’s vocals provide a pleasant listening experience. The next song is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The lyrics describe the reassurance and rest that Christmas brings to millions of people around the world, through lines like “Our troubles will be miles away” and “Our troubles will be out of sight.” The album continues into the next song, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” which is about longing for one’s love during the holiday season. Going through the holidays without your favorite people is difficult, and this song captures that feeling of loneliness well with lyrics like “They're singing ‘Deck The Halls’ // But it's not like Christmas at all.” Moving into another Christmas classic, “Silent Night” features Bublé singing with a children’s choir. The track is a beautiful, relaxing version of the famous lullaby. The following song, “Blue Christmas,” contrasts the previous track “White Christmas,” as Bublé sings about how “blue” his Christmas will be without his lover. Similar to “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” Bublé sings that his holiday would be so much better with his lover. Photo from People Magazine; If you're in need of some Christmas cheer, you can stream Bublé's hour-long special Christmas in the City, which premiered in 2021. The twelfth song on this album is the only original song, titled “Cold December Night.” The song tells the tale of Bublé’s Christmas Eve, where he pleads with his lover to “Just fall in love with me this Christmas.” Bublé utilizes a classic upbeat instrumental and hopeful lyrics to continue the album’s theme of wanting a perfect Christmas with the one he loves. The next song is “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” in which someone reassures their loved ones that they’ll make it back in time for the holidays. The singer asks for things like “snow and mistletoe” and “presents by the tree.” Bublé’s slow cover of the song adds a nice touch of emotion, which sets this rendition apart from other versions of the Christmas hit. The album continues with a famous Latin song titled “Ave Maria.” The song is a prayer written to the Virgin Mary, with “Ave Maria” translating directly to “Hail Mary.” Bublé’s cover features an orchestra and haunting vocals as he sings the prayer. The final song on the album, “Mis Deseos / Feliz Navidad,” is a duet with Latin star Thalia. The song starts with a section where Bublé and Thalia promise that they will always be with their lovers. Then, the song transitions into the classic “Feliz Navidad” portion. Although this interpretation of the song is not as uptempo as the original, it is a refreshing and fun cover. "Christmas by Michael Bublé." Genius, genius.com/albums/Michael-buble/Christmas. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.
Bella Cady, Staff Writer The show Gilmore Girls is a dramatic comedy created by Amy Sherman-Palladino. It is available on Netflix. The show outlines the lives of a teen mom, Lorelai, and her teen daughter, Rory. Gilmore Girls aired seven seasons between October 2000 and May 2007. The series was later revived in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in November 2016. Over those seven seasons, the characters go through many changes and learn from their mistakes, even though sometimes they don’t learn the first time. Photo from Wired; The main characters from the show are very close in real life, after the show ran for an impressive seven seasons. SPOILER ALERT FROM HERE ON Season 1: Lorelai is a mother who runs an inn in Stars Hollow. She had her daughter Rory when she was 16. Rory is a brilliant girl who has had big dreams of going to Harvard since she was little. To do so, Rory applies for Chilton Preparatory School in Hartford. When she gets accepted, Lorelai realizes that she can’t pay for the school herself, so Lorelai seeks help from her parents, Richard and Emily, who she had cut off after running away with Rory. Lorelai’s parents agreed they would cover school if the girls came to dinner every Friday night. When Rory starts school, Paris, who has always been at the top of her class, perceives her as a threat. Soon after moving schools, Rory has a date with a boy named Dean, and he becomes her first boyfriend. While Rory is occupied with her boyfriend, Lorelai gets a boyfriend named Max, Rory’s English teacher. Max and Lorelai have their ups and downs, and during one of their low points, Rory’s dad, Christopher, is introduced by the show. At the end of the season, Max proposes to Lorelai. Season 2: Rory and Lorelai are planning a wedding even though she hasn’t decided what to tell Max. When she makes up her mind and says yes, she chooses not to tell her parents. Lorelai gets nervous and doesn't show up to her wedding, so they don’t get married. However, Sookie, Lorelai’s best friend who works at an inn as a chef, gets engaged and marries the producer, Jackson. Amid all the wedding drama, Luke’s nephew Jess moves in with him. This starts a love triangle-type situation with Rory, who is dating Dean but starts to like Jess. One day Luke asks Rory to help Jess with his homework, and she agrees. While studying, they decide to get ice cream and crash on their way back. Rory breaks her arm, and as a result, Jess runs away to New York out of guilt. After Rory takes a day trip to New York to find and talk to him, he comes back. When she sees him at Sookie's wedding, Rory makes the impulsive decision to kiss him. Season 3: Rory is still dating Dean, and Jess has gotten a girlfriend. This makes Rory jealous, and she starts acting out of character. They have a town danceathon, and Jess shows up with his girlfriend in spite. Rory gets upset and starts making a scene, causing Dean to break up with her. Soon after the danceathon, Jess and Rory get together, but when he fails his senior year, Luke throws him out, and he disappears. Unfortunately, the inn Lorelai runs burns down, which incites Sookie and Lorelai’s plan to open their own inn. Rory decides to go to Yale after persuasion from her grandfather, even though she got accepted into Harvard. Season 4: After coming back from a trip to Europe. Lorelai and Sookie are facing money troubles trying to open their inn. Rory gets ready to go to Yale, and her classes end up being harder than expected. Jess returns to ask her to run away with him, and she turns him down. Her ex-boyfriend Dean, who gets married, is helping with construction at Lorelai and Sookie’s inn, named “The Dragonfly Inn.” He is still making moves on Rory. During the opening weekend of the inn, Lorelai and Luke finally get together. Season 5: Soon after the events of Season 4, the whole town finds out Luke and Lorelai are dating. When Dean and his wife split up, he and Rory get back together. Lorelai is not very fond of the circumstances. However, not long after they break up again, Rory starts seeing a guy named Logan. He is on the Yale Daily News with her, and his dad is a big name in the journalism industry. Rory gets an internship at his dad’s paper, but when she finishes, he gives her a very harsh review, and she loses motivation to be a writer. She decides to drop out of Yale after stealing a yacht with Logan and going to jail. Season 6: Rory and Lorelai have a massive argument about Yale. Rory moves in with her grandparents and works off her community service hours. However, after a brief appearance from Jess, Rory goes back to Yale. She becomes the editor of the Yale Daily News. Later on in the season, Luke and Lorelai get engaged but don’t go through with the marriage because Luke finds out she has a daughter. Lorelai doesn’t want to wait, so she breaks it off and runs back to Christopher. Season 7: Luke comes to his senses and decides that he wants to marry Lorelai. However, she admits that she was with Christopher, ending things with Luke for a while. Christopher and Lorelai get engaged and married on a whim in Paris, but as most viewers expect, they do not last because Luke is still a part of her life. Luke and Lorelai get back together at the very end of the season. Logan travels to London to work for his dad’s company. The distance is difficult, but he and Rory make it work. When he returns for Rory’s graduation, he proposes and asks her to move in with him. She declines and takes a job following a campaign. Photo from Periscope; Netflix's announcement for "A Year in the Life" was a pleasant surprise for many Gilmore Girls fans. A Year in the Life: This revival series takes place almost ten years after the end of the seventh season. There are four episodes divided into the four seasons of the year. We see many of the original characters, including Rory’s ex-boyfriends, Lane and Christopher. It starts with Rory: she has spent the past few years on a journalism trip. She goes to London to visit Logan, who is engaged and working for his dad. Luke and Lorelai live together. Their relationship seems to be going well, but they’re still not married. Lorelai decides to go on a self-exploration trip to clear her mind, and when she gets back, they get married. Unfortunately, Richard has passed away. While trying to cope, Emily lets loose and moves to Nantucket. At the end of the show, Rory reveals a big secret. If you want to know what it is, you’ll have to watch it yourself! Griffiths, Eleanor Bley. “Everything You Need to Know before Watching the Gilmore Girls Revival on Netflix.” Gilmore Girls on Netflix:
Season-by-Season Recap | Key Episodes and Character Bios – What to Watch before Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life | Radio Times, Radio Times, 1 Dec. 2020, https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/everything-you-need-to-know-before-watching-the-gilmore-girls-revival-on-netflix/. James Shepard, Staff Writer The music industry’s biggest night, the GRAMMY Awards, is returning on February 5, 2023! On November 15, 2022, the superstar-filled list of nominations was released, and the competition is extremely high this year. The nominees are led by Beyoncé, who received eight nominations for her critically acclaimed and massively successful album RENAISSANCE and one for her song “Be Alive,” which was previously nominated for an Oscar and featured in the movie King Richard. Kendrick Lamar follows her with eight nominations, Brandi Carlisle and Adele have seven, and Harry Styles, Mary J. Blige, Future, DJ Khaled, and The-Dream all received six nominations. Photo from National Public Radio; Beyoncé is the most nominated female artist in GRAMMY history, with 79 total nominations and 28 awards throughout her musical career. Her most recent album RENAISSANCE, released last July, will likely win her more. Starting with the R&B categories, Beyoncé will likely sweep her nominations with songs from RENAISSANCE against fellow nominees like Mary J. Blige and Jazmine Sullivan. Regarding the rap categories, Kendrick Lamar is projected to win with songs from his album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. However, Future has a chance, due to his collaborations with Drake, Tems, and Gunna, along with his album I Never Liked You. In the country categories, Maren Morris received a slew of nominations for her album Humble Quest against competitors such as Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, and Miranda Lambert. Another notable nomination is Taylor Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me” featuring Chris Stapleton for Best Country Song, off of her album Red (Taylor’s Version). This nomination sets a precedent for Swift, as this is her first rerecorded album to receive a nomination at the Grammys. Moving into the pop categories, megastars like Harry Styles, Lizzo, and Adele garnered nominations for their recent releases. Although Adele could easily sweep with her album 30, Styles and Lizzo, along with fellow nominee Steve Lacy, could put up a tough fight for the winner of the coveted trophy. Other significant nominees in the pop categories include Bad Bunny, ABBA, Sam Smith and Kim Petras, BTS, and Coldplay. The last two artists were nominated for their collaboration “My Universe” from Coldplay’s album Music of the Spheres. Photo from Pitchfork; Coldplay and BTS performed "My Universe" together for the first time at the 2021 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. The big awards of the night are Best New Artist, Album, Record, and Song of the Year. Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo, Beyoncé, Adele, and Harry Styles all gained nominations in Album, Record, and Song, while no new artists broke into the other main categories. This year may be similar to the infamous 2017 GRAMMYs ceremony, when Beyoncé and Adele faced head-to-head in the major categories. Beyoncé’s previous loss in the Album of the Year category to Adele sparked public outrage, and even an acknowledgment from the British singer saying herself that Beyoncé should’ve won instead. Only time will tell if the academy members have decided that Beyoncé is ready to collect her long-awaited Album of the Year trophy. Interested viewers can watch the GRAMMYs live on February 5, 2023, to see if their favorite artists will collect any coveted trophies. The full list of nominees can be found at 2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List. Works Cited “Grammy Awards 2023: The Full List of Nominees.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 15 Nov. 2022,
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/15/arts/music/grammys-nominee-list-2023.html. James Shepard, Staff Writer Behold, Swifties, Taylor Swift’s long-awaited 10th studio album, Midnights, has arrived! Described as the accumulation of stories from thirteen sleepless nights, Swift introduces listeners to parts of her life that haven’t appeared in previous songs. Following the release of her recent re-recordings Red (Taylor’s Version) and Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Midnights, released October 21, 2022, is Swift’s first new body of work since evermore, released in December 2020. Met with widespread acclaim and massive commercial success, the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with 1.578 million album units, marking Midnights as her biggest debut on the chart, surpassing 2014’s 1989. Along with this, Swift became the first artist in history to occupy the entire top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, with “Anti-Hero” debuting at #1 (Billboard). This tremendous success indicates how impactful Midnights has already been throughout the world. The album opens with “Lavender Haze,” where Swift’s first line is “Meet me at midnight,” setting the tone for the rest of the album. The upbeat, synth-influenced track describes Swift’s experience of falling in love. In the chorus she sings, “I feel the lavender haze creeping up on me,” a metaphor for her rapid feelings towards someone. Along with falling in love, Swift sings about being “under scrutiny”as people ask her if “[she’s] gonna be [his] bride.” Swift frees herself from the opinions of others and instead desires to stay in a “lavender haze,” away from their commentary. In Swift’s 2012 album, Red, the title track describes a love filled with intense passion and power. However, in the second track of Midnights, Swift sings about a love that was “Maroon.” While the color red is bright and fiery, maroon is faded and more “mature.” In the song “Maroon,” Swift sings about a love with someone that was like “[her] closest friend.” The chorus begins with the lyrics “And I chose you.” However, the next verse reveals that the situation went downhill, with lyrics like “Sobbing with your head in your hands” indicating a sorrowful end to their relationship. When the song transitions into the second chorus, Swift sings, “And I lost you,” as the relationship breaks down. During the bridge, Swift calls this relationship “a real lasting legacy,” recognizing the effect this love will have on her. In “Anti-Hero,” Swift delves deeply into the insecurities she faces daily. In the first verse, Swift sings, “When my depression works the graveyard shift, all the people // I’ve ghosted stand there in the room.” While she lies awake at night, she sifts through all the people she’s left behind in life. This thought continues into the pre-chorus, where Swift sings, “I should not be left to my own devices.” Swift is afraid to be left alone with her thoughts running wild and wants to escape this endless, self-deprecating cycle. In the chorus, Swift sings, “It’s me, hi // I’m the problem, it’s me,” which is a confrontation to herself. She finishes the chorus with the lines, “It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero.” As the song transitions into the bridge, Swift reveals another fear of hers as she sings: “I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the money.” She’s worried that people will take advantage of her solely because of her success, instead of getting to know her as a person. Overall, Swift's life of glitz and glamor is more complex than the listeners may previously believe. Photo from PopMatters; Swift dropped four limited edition album covers for the vinyl version of Midnights. If a fan collects all four, they fit together to form a clock. “Snow on the Beach” is a first-time collaboration between Swift and Lana Del Rey; Del Rey provides supporting vocals throughout the song. In the duo’s first collaboration, the pair sings about the impossibility of falling in love with their respective partners, represented by the image of “snow on the beach.” Throughout the song, Swift utilizes light, airy instrumentation, and lyrics filled with imagery. Along with this, the chorus features lyrics that further connect the idea of falling in love to falling snow, such as the lines, “But it’s comin’ down // No sound, it’s all around.” With its instrumentals and soft vocals, “Snow on the Beach” is a beautiful song set in a winter atmosphere. In Taylor Swift's albums, “track 5s” are the most emotionally packed and heart-wrenching songs. Midnights is no different with “You’re on Your Own, Kid,” a highlight for many fans. In the song, Swift sings to her younger self, leading up to the chorus where she says, “You’re on your own, kid // You always have been.” While the first part of the song is about a childhood experience, the bridge transitions into more recent events. The line “I hosted parties and starved my body” represents the celebrity world’s stringent expectations. Celebrities aren’t allowed to appear like everyone else; they’re held to a significantly higher standard than everyday people. Swift has discussed her journey of self-love and acceptance before. After describing several tribulations in the song’s bridge, Swift sings, “And I saw something they can't take away… Everything you lose is a step you take.” These lines mean that things are going to get better for those going facing adversity. Swift found someone she loves, and she isn’t going to let the general public affect their relationship. Even though she was on her own, she persevered through hardships and found someone who will support her for the rest of her life. In “Midnight Rain,” Swift opens the song in a distorted voice singing about her “midnight rain,” compared to her partner’s “sunshine.” Throughout the song, Swift sings negatively about herself and her life, describing her town as a “wasteland.” This metaphor sharply contrasts her lover, who she describes as wanting a “comfortable” life with a “bride.” Meanwhile, she finds herself only wanting “pain.” As Swift reflects on her self-destructive mindset, she sings about both of them getting “just what we wanted” and becoming “some kind of haunted” by their life decisions. The song ends with Swift singing, “And I never think of him // Except on midnights like this,” which is relatable for listeners who experience restlessness as they mull over their regrets. In the album's seventh track, “Question…?” Swift is talking to a past partner about their relationship. In the first verse, Swift sings, “'Cause I don't remember who I was // Before you painted all my nights // A color I've searched for since.” This line links back to previous lyrics in the songs “Maroon” and “Red,” which describe love as a color. As the song progresses into the bridge, Swift asks, “Does it feel like everything's just like // Second best after that meteor strike.” In other words, does everything fall short in comparison to their past relationship? The recurring theme of questions in this song represents the fear and uncertainty she experiences after leaving a relationship. Photo from RforReveal Blogs; So far, "Anti-Hero" and "Lavender Haze" have the most streams on Spotify, with over 195 million and 122 million, respectively. The next track, “Bejeweled,” is a lighthearted, fun song with pop instrumentation. The feel-good anthem features lines like, “Best believe I’m still bejeweled when I walk in the room // I can still make the whole place shimmer.” Swift isn’t going to let the dull world bring her down. Instead, she’s going to spread a message of positivity to a world that’s constantly spewing hate. In the bridge, Swift sings, “Sapphire tears on my face, sadness became my whole sky,” but then moves on to, “I went dancin' all night and you can try to change my mind… What’s a girl gonna do? A diamond’s gonna shine.” Swift has experienced sadness multiple times in her life, but she wants to move into a “bejeweled” future. The following song, “Labyrinth,” is about Swift falling for someone and getting lost in the complex maze of love. When the song begins, Swift compares her fear of falling too quickly to rising elevators in the line, “You know how scared I am of elevators // Never trust it if it rises fast // It can't last.” In the chorus, Swift sings, “Uh-oh, I'm fallin' in love,” further showing her hesitancy to jump into a relationship. Swift transitions into the second verse, which includes the lines, “It only feels this raw right now // Lost in the labyrinth of my mind.” Swift allows herself to fall into the relationship and the “rawness” of new love as she navigates a “labyrinth” in her mind. However, in the next pre-chorus, Swift sings, “You know how much I hate // That everybody just expects me to bounce back // Just like that.” These lines represent why Swift is afraid to jump into a new relationship: she’s still healing from her past experiences. Still, she allows herself to fall into this love as she heals from her past and looks forward to the future. A long-awaited track by Swifties is “Karma,” since Swift teased its title for years. If someone treats others with disdain, they’re going to receive bad treatment, otherwise known as “karma.” Swift sings, “And I keep my side of the street clean // You wouldn't know what I mean,” which means that she’s taking care of her own issues and responsibilities. Meanwhile, the other person is so obsessed with running other’s lives that they don’t realize they’re ruining their own. In the chorus, Swift compares karma to various things in her life, including a “relaxing thought” for her and her “boyfriend.” She knows that she doesn’t spend time wronging others; instead, she’s focused on her own life. During the bridge, Swift sings: “Karma's on your scent like a bounty hunter // Karma's gonna track you down.” For the person she sings about, negativity is going to circle back and affect them. However, for Swift, “Karma is the guy on the screen // Coming straight home to me,” which links back to calling karma her “boyfriend.” While karma is going to harm her adversary, karma will positively impact her after all she’s been through. The penultimate track on Midnights is “Sweet Nothing,” a soft ballad about Swift’s current love. The song talks about small experiences with her lover, and how she loves the “sweet nothing” of their relationship. In the chorus, Swift sings, “I find myself running home to your // Sweet nothings…All that you ever wanted from me was // Sweet nothing.” These lines convey that Swift’s partner isn’t looking to be with the “megastar” Taylor Swift; he’s looking to be with the human being Taylor Swift, regardless of her fame or success. Some of the most heart-warming lyrics on this song are on verse two, where Swift sings: “On the way home // I wrote a poem // You say, ‘what a mind’ // This happens all the time.” The lines demonstrate the impact of simple phrases in a relationship, since Swift’s person loves and appreciates her for who she is, and wants to relish her “sweet nothings.” The album’s closing track, “Mastermind,” details how Swift wanted to be with her current partner ever since they met. In the chorus, Swift sings: “What if I told you none of it was accidental? // And the first night that you saw me // Nothing was gonna stop me.” In other words, she experienced love at first sight. Then, their relationship fell together like “dominoes cascad[ing] in a line.” When the song reaches its final chorus, Swift reveals that, “I laid the groundwork, and then // Saw a wide smirk on your face // You knew the entire time // You knew that I'm a mastermind.” Her lover knew about her plans and followed through with them because he fell in love with her as well. “Mastermind” is a wonderful end to the Midnights storyline, a journey filled with hardship that eventually led to a strong relationship. Works Cited “Midnights by Taylor Swift.” Genius, 21 Oct. 2022, https://genius.com/albums/Taylor-swift/Midnights. Accessed 28 October 2022.
Zellner, Xander. “Taylor Swift Charts All 20 Songs from 'Midnights' on Billboard Hot 100.” Billboard, 1 Nov. 2022, https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-charts-20-midnights-tracks-billboard-hot-100-1235163740/. Bella Cady, Staff Writer As the Halloween season comes to an end, hopefully you’ve watched a few Halloween movies to get into the “spooky season.” Although it came out almost 30 years ago, one of the most popular movies is Hocus Pocus. The Sanderson sisters, Winifred, Mary, and Sarah, have become Halloween costume staples in houses across the country. The movie takes place in Salem, narrating the story of the sisters coming back from the dead when a boy named Max lights the black flame candle. When they arrive, Winifred summons her spell book and they set out on a mission to stay alive forever. However, Max, his sister Dani, and a girl named Allison do whatever they can to keep the witches from becoming immortal. With the help of Binx, a cat who was formerly a boy in old Salem, and Billy Butcherson, Winifred’s former love interest, the children are able to defeat the witches. All seems to be resolved until the last scene shows the spellbook opening its eye. That scene was a cliffhanger that people had to accept for 29 years, but it all changed on Sep 30, 2022 when Disney released Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney Plus. Photo from Vanity Fair; Many viewers claim that the sequel did not live up to the original, due to its politically driven plot and anticlimactic ending. The movie starts off in 1653 Salem with the sisters celebrating Winifred’s 16th birthday. The celebration is cut short by the reverend and all the townsfolk, who insist that Winifred get married. When she refuses to comply, the reverend tries to take her sisters, but Winifred is able to escape with them into the forbidden forest. While in the forest, they meet the Mother Witch, and she gives Winifred a spell book that she decides to unironically name “Book." The only rule is that they cannot use the all powerful spell, Magicae Maxima.
Then, time skips to the year 2022, where the audience meets Becca and Izzy, two teenagers in modern day Salem. Becca’s birthday falls on Halloween, so she and Izzy deliberate inviting their former friend Cassie, the mayor's daughter, to celebrate with them. However, they find out she’s having a Halloween party that night. So, Becca and Izzy go to the local magic shop, which holds all of the Sanderson sister’s stuff, including Book and the black flame candle. The plot really starts when the store owner Gilbert gives Becca what she thinks is a fake black flame candle for her birthday. She and Izzy go to the forbidden forest and light the candle on a full moon night and unknowingly bring the Sanderson sisters back to Salem. Once they realize the sisters are back, Becca and Izzy find a way to distract them and run back to Gilbert . They find out he had tricked them into bringing them back for him, since he couldn’t. Gilbert is tasked with retrieving the ingredients for the Magicae Maxima spell, one of which is Billy Butcherson’s head. Meanwhile, Winifred, Sarah, and Mary decide to take their revenge on the mayor because they think he’s related to the reverend who tried to separate them years ago. Becca and Izzy tell the mayor about Cassie’s party, in the hopes that he’ll return home. Even after trapping the sisters in a salt circle, they escape, kidnap Cassie, and take her into the forbidden forest. Becca and Izzy follow and try to stop Winifred from casting the Magicae Maxima spell. While trying to stop them, Becca discovers that she too is a witch, and she manages to convince Book to help her instead. Winifred, who ignores the warning of the Magicae Maxima spell, faces the consequences. She has to give up what she values most, her sisters. They turn to dust and travel back to the afterlife. Winifred requests to be united with them, so Izzy, Cassie, and Becca join together to send her off to her sisters. Once the sisters are gone, Becca decides to keep Book and the girls walk away, much like the Sanderson sisters did in the beginning. This classic Halloween movie sequel has mainly poor reviews, since the setting lacked resemblance to Salem, and the plot did not live up to the original. However, viewers can still have fun watching Winifred, Sarah, Mary, and Billy Butcherson back on their screens almost 30 years later. James Shepard, Staff Writer Kate Bush released her experimental fifth studio album, Hounds of Love, on September 16, 1985. Known for its global smash hit “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God),” Hounds of Love has returned to the public eye after the song was featured in season 4 of Stranger Things. However, there is much more to this album besides its massively popular track. Inside this album, Bush has weaved in stories that entice the listener and showcase her incredible musical talent. In the first track, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God),” Bush describes the difficulty of knowing what one’s partner feels in a relationship, for it’s practically impossible to get inside their head. In the lines, “And I’d get him to swap our places // Be runnin’ up that road // Be runnin’ up that hill // Be runnin’ up that building,” Bush sings that she would gain a newfound power if allowed inside her partner’s head. The listener can also interpret these lyrics as someone who is seeking mental peace. The line, “If only I could, be runnin’ up that hill” exemplifies this person’s plea for salvation from their tribulations. The title track “Hounds of Love” details Bush’s fears of falling in love, and she compares it to “hounds” chasing her through a forest. Bush begins the song with her experience as a child fearing love and “hiding in the dark.” She repeats this sentiment in the pre-chorus, where she sings, “Now hounds of love are hunting // I’ve always been a coward // And I don’t know what’s good for me.” Bush is hesitant to leap into love and isn’t sure if this is the right road. However, in the chorus Bush sings, “Oh, here I go…Take my shoes off and throw them in the lake.” Bush completely jumps into the “lake,” a metaphor for love. She chooses to trust her partner’s instincts and set herself free from the chains she locked herself in. The next song, “The Big Sky,” is about the singer cloud gazing with her lover. Bush sings, “‘Cause it’s changing in the big sky now,” which represents the consistent change Bush is going through. At this point, the person with Bush isn’t taking advantage of their time with her; they “never understood [her]” and “never really tried.” Bush is looking for someone who keeps up with her ever-changing life and truly appreciates her for who she is. In “Mother Stands for Comfort,” Bush sings about a mother’s role in her child’s life. The mother in the song has unconditional love for her child and stays with her despite the foolish things her child does. Bush emphasizes this notion in the lines, “She knows that I've been doing something wrong // But she won't say anything.” In the chorus, Bush sings, “Mother stands for comfort,” which means that this person’s mother will always be there if they need comfort or care. However, the song shifts with the line, “Mother will hide the murderer.” It turns out this child committed a horrible crime, and their mother is defending her heinous actions. The song ends on an eerie note as the audience learns that the mother excuses her child’s crimes. The album’s fifth track, “Cloudbusting,” is inspired by Peter Reich’s A Book of Dreams, which features memories of his father. For context, a “cloudbuster” is an invention by Peter Reich’s father, William Reich, which could allegedly create rain by harvesting energy from the sky. Written from Peter Reich’s perspective, the song is about him seeing his father “every time it rains,” as it reminds him of the cloudbuster experiment. Peter Reich sees his father through the rain and remembers times when they were together. “Cloudbusting” wraps up the first chapter of Hounds of Love, and the album moves into the next segment, known as “The Ninth Wave.” Photo from katebush.com; Ever since Stranger Things featured "Running Up That Hill" in a few episodes, Spotify streams of the 1985 single jumped by nearly 9,000%. The other seven songs on Hounds of Love form “The Ninth Wave,” a conceptual tale of someone stranded in the water overnight. “And Dream of Sheep” introduces the first part of this story. The song describes the character drifting asleep and wanting to “dream of sheep” while they’re stranded and waiting for rescue. Throughout the song, Bush sings about hearing things like “any sounds of [boat] engines” and saying that “[they] can’t keep [their] eyes open,” implying that they’re going to give in to their weakness and sink into the ocean. The song ends with the line, “They take me deeper and deeper.” “Under Ice” describes the character’s hallucinations as they’re drowning or going into shock. The song’s first verse reads, “The river has frozen over // Not a soul on the ice // Only me, skating fast,” which implies that the character is not aware of the current situation. The song takes a haunting turn when Bush sings, “There’s something moving // Under, under the ice…Through water // Trying to get out of the water // It’s me.” The character begins to realize that they’re in a hallucination, and in reality, they are actually drowning. Then, the song transitions to “Waking the Witch.” “Waking the Witch” begins with various voices telling the character to wake up, supported by a slow piano instrumental. The song jarringly switches to an intense beat as the character travels into the next hallucination. The character now believes that they are on a witch trial, and a man is yelling accusations. Bush frantically sings “help this blackbird.” A group then screams “Guilty, guilty, guilty.” At the end of this chaotic song, a voice yells, “Get out of the waves // Get out of the water” while a helicopter blares in the background. This sequence of auditory events signifies that the character begins to wake from their hallucination as people try to rescue them, but to no avail. The album transitions into the song “Watching You Without Me.” This track describes the character visiting a loved one in spirit, as they wait for them to return. However, the character is still trapped in the water and is not present with their loved one. A few heart-wrenching lyrics from the song include, “I should have been home // Hours ago // But I’m not here,” and “You can't feel me // Here in the room with you now // You can't hear what I'm saying.” This character desperately tries to reach out to their loved one, but it isn’t working. The song ends with Bush’s distorted vocals, which almost sound like a glitching phone call. This unique sound represents the fact that the character cannot contact their loved one. Photo from People Magazine; Kate Bush is excited about her album's resurgence, saying that her music "is being given a whole new lease of life by the young fans who love the show [Stranger Things] - I love it too!" The next track, “Jig of Life,” is about the character’s future self coming back to help the present character. The future self shows their past self that there is hope for the future; they need to “Come on and let me live.” Bush also sings about “your little boy and…your little girl,” signifying that the character needs to live not just for themself, but for their future children. The Irish-inspired, upbeat instrumentals create a sense of urgency in the song, as the character's future self tells them that they need to survive this tribulation and push forward in life. Following “Jig of Life” is “Hello Earth,” a song about the character reflecting about the world she could leave behind. As the character continues to fade out of existence, they look up and see the night sky. While they’re reflecting internally, the listener hears voices yelling “Get out of the waves // Get out of the water” again, signifying that there are people still trying to save the character. Bush, from the perspective of the character, sings “Go to sleep, little Earth,” which may indicate that the character is letting go of life. This line transitions into the final track of Hounds of Love, “The Morning Fog.” The concluding song of the album is “The Morning Fog,” which starts with the lyrics, “The light // Begin to bleed,” signifying that light has returned for the character. Bush sings, “Being born again // Into the sweet morning fog,” which means that they woke up in the water alive, or woke up in heaven. The character’s final fate is up to the listener to decide, though Bush said that she likes to think that the person was finally rescued. The intricate stories told in Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love have had a great impact on a generation of musicians today. From wishing to know the thoughts of one’s partner to hallucinating while drowning, Bush creates an incredible narrative that deserves more recognition and praise from the general population today. Works Cited “Hounds of Love by Kate Bush.” Genius, https://genius.com/albums/Kate-bush/Hounds-of-love. Accessed 11 October 2022
Mitchell, David. “Morning Fog (the).” Kate Bush Encyclopedia, https://www.katebushencyclopedia.com/morning-fog-the. Accessed 13 October 2022 Kensington Balam, Staff Writer One of the biggest movie premieres of the year was Elvis. The Elvis Presley movie came out in theaters in June 2022, and soon after it premiered on HBO Max. In general, Elvis has already been a huge figure in pop culture. His unique performances have attracted fans, and fanatics, from all over the world. The Elvis movie paints a beautiful picture of Elvis' life from when he was a young man, all the way to his tragic death. The movie consists of the rise of Elvis, played by Austin Butler, and his continued fame (warning: spoilers ahead). The movie begins by showing where Elvis got his style of music. It also touches on the background of Colonel, the antagonist, played by Tom Hanks. A few scenes show the Colonel’s desire to recruit Elvis and increase his fame. You see Elvis Presley perform various times; his style of dancing, moving, singing, and talking is different from any other performer in history. Then, he is recruited by the military, where he meets his wife Priscilla. When Elvis returns to the U.S., he continues to perform and entertain the nation, appearing on the radio and TV. However, he hits a stumbling block because people think that he is a bit inappropriate for kids. Elvis falls down a rabbit hole and questions his identity. Nevertheless, Elvis recruits some of his friends, including Steve Binder, to help him regain his image during the Christmas special. With their help, Elvis become himself again, and his singing encourages the nation when the people are struggling. Later on, Elvis gets his own show in Vegas, which ends up being a trap set up by the Colonel, who just wants the gig to fund his casino antics. As Elvis keeps performing, he falls into the world of drugs, and this snowballs into a ton of other issues. Elvis and his wife split up, and he is stuck in Last Vegas, also called “Sin City.” After all this struggle, Elvis tries to break free, but the Colonel prevents him from doing so. Finally, Elvis dies after doing what he loves for years and years: performing. The movie is heartfelt, but also heart-wrenching. Photo from Ultimate Classic Rock; Why is Elvis Presley so famous? Because of his contributions to live music, he earned the title of "King of Rock & Roll." Overall, the movie is very informative and entertaining. The movie is long, running for over two hours, but it is worth the watch. Austin Butler does a great job playing Elvis and often confuses the audience with how much he acts and looks like the real Elvis. Tom Hanks realistically portrays a corrupt businessman. He is known for many major roles, and the Colonel is an addition to this list. Olivia DeJonge, who plays Elvis’s wife Priscilla, performs the role beautifully from start to finish. Finally, Dacre Montgomery does an amazing job as Steve Binder. One of the highlights of the movie is the Christmas Special, when Elvis sings “If I Can Dream.” It was an amazing scene, remarkably similar to the original performance. The movie shines a light on how toxic Hollywood can be, while also entertaining the audience with Elvis’s rock n’ roll performances.
Juelz-SaMeek Knight, Staff Writer For those who don’t know Blackpink, they are a Korean girl group under YG Entertainment, and their influence is worldwide. From their fanbase to their album sales, members Jennie, Lisa, Rose, and Jisoo have demonstrated their incredible talent. Along with producer Teddy Park, who is responsible for the ideas and flow of their songs, Blackpink has finally released a long-awaited album after a two year break, and it did not disappoint. Photo from Time online magazine; The music video for hip-hop-infused "Shut Down" received over 50 million views in the first 24 hours on YouTube. The Born Pink album was released Friday, September 16. YG Entertainment released the opening track “Pink Venom” prior to the full album, as a single. “Pink Venom” was the first piece of music we’ve heard from the group in two years. It has hip-hop, pop and EDM elements, in addition to an interesting instrumental introduction featuring a traditional Korean gayageum, or plucked zither. The song in its entirety isn’t widely different in comparison to Blackpink’s full discography, but, given how much time it's been since fans have digested new music, the song garnered lots of success. Their second song “Shut Down” is a hip-hop and pop-based song with some interesting classical samples. This sample comes from famous nineteenth century violinist Niccolò Paganini’s “'La Campanella." Like many Blackpink songs, it expresses a no-nonsense attitude through lyrics like, “it’s not a comeback since we’ve never left. Heads turning, careful you’ll strain your neck.” Lyrics like these allude to Blackpink's influence as a girl group in both Korea and the international sphere. The chorus capitalizes on this theme with the powerful statement, “When we pull up you know it’s a shutdown. Pull down the shutter, lock the door, shut down.” This line encapsulates Blackpink’s large sphere of influence. The third track “Typa Girl” has a synthi composition compared to the rest of the album. The lyrics of this song focus on how girls are perceived as powerful and confident with lyrics like “Typa girl that'll make you wanna dream. Typa girl that came straight off of the screen.” These lines insinuate the notion that the band members are so confident in who they are that everyone around them wants to be associated with that “typa girl.” Next, “Hard to Love” is a solo by Rose, one of the members. Rose isn’t a stranger to singing on her own; in March 2022 she released her album R, which included title track “On the Ground” and “Gone.” “Hard to Love” is a pop love song that gently guides the listener through a tale of two lovers. One is too anxious and self-conscious, and doesn’t want to hurt the other. The song captures the downside of a relationship, and how someone's insecurities can devour both lovers altogether. Photo from UDiscover Music; YG Entertainment, the group's record label, thrilled fans when it released promotion pictures in July. The next track is a ballad titled “The Happiest Girl.” It's a slow, somber song centered around happiness, despite having a broken heart. The first prechorus and chorus hint back at the previous track “Hard to Love.” This song describes how someone can find solace even after a bad breakup, communicated through lines like “ Tonight, I'll be the happiest girl in the world. You'll see like it never happened.” A very hurt and heartbroken person can still heal with the right mindset. The second to last track “Tally” is a continuation of previous songs, focusing on the aftermath of a relationship, when you have to come to terms with your own flaws. The members sing about finding true freedom within themselves. Members Jisoo and Lisa's chorus reads: “Cause no one's keepin' tally, I do what I want with who I like.” These lines symbolize newfound command over their lives. “Tally” is the falling action of the Born Pink album, as it picks up the overall mood. “Ready to Love” is the final song in Blackpink's most recent album. It's an EDM and pop inspired song with interesting riffs, bouncy bass, light synths, and interesting trumpet. The members finally resolve their album by expressing that they’re “ready to love” again. After a journey of heartbreak, reflection, and healing, they are now revived versions of themselves, ready to face love with new energy. Sophia Randall, Staff Writer Once a year, millions of people across the globe dim the lights, change out of their business garb, and put on the Emmys. It is an event that people place bets on; they tune in to see the red carpet looks, or whether or not their favorite show is esteemed amongst the Television Academy. In the most recent awards season, many actors and shows made records, setting a new standard for the future. The night kicked off with an energetic start, with actor Kenan Thompson serving as the host and dancing flamboyantly to several TV themes. The red carpet held memorable looks as per usual. Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Lizzo stunned audiences with her gorgeous pink dress fashioned from tulle, and crowd favorite Andrew Garfield looked chic in an all-white Zenga suit. The main event of the evening, however, did not come until the clock struck 8 o’clock in New York City. The host announced the winner for Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series, which went to Michael Keaton for his work in Dopesick. Other notable awards included those for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. On the night of September 12, 2022, the coveted awards went to Matthew Macfadyen for Succession and Julia Garner for Ozark, respectively. Photo from The Hollywood Reporter; The cast of Ted Lasso was ecstatic when they won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. Throughout the night, people laughed, cried, and celebrated as their life's work gained (or didn’t gain) recognition from the awarding academy. Included amongst these weeping faces was Zendaya. Her second consecutive win in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category for her work in Euphoria marks her as the first black woman to win this award twice, and the youngest woman to ever win two Emmy’s. She delivered an inspiring speech, paying tribute to anyone who connects with her character. She shared her hope that, through her character Rue, people can extend empathy towards anyone who struggles with addiction. Lee Jung-Jae, the first Asian man to earn the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, delivered another emotional speech. He spoke in his native language, Korean, for a large portion of the speech, paying tribute to the show he starred in and won the award for, Squid Game. This star-studded night ended with the announcements of the casts that won for the Outstanding Comedy and Drama Series. Ted Lasso earned the prize for Outstanding Comedy Series. The cast paraded up to the stage in their glamorous outfits and, led by star Jason Sudekis, delivered a heartfelt speech of love towards family and friends. The drama series that took home the coveted golden statue was Succession, to the delight of the audience and television viewers. Throughout this emotional night, people around the world joined the acting community in their celebrations, and now they eagerly await next year’s Emmy Awards. Works Cited “Awards Nominees and Winners 2022.” Television Academy, https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2022.
Maggie Coughlan, Kia D. Goosby. “Emmys 2022 Red Carpet: All the Fashion, Outfits & Looks.” Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair, 13 Sept. 2022, https://www.vanityfair.com/style/photos/2022/09/emmys-2022-red-carpet-all-the-fashion-outfits-and-looks. |