MUSIC
TRIPPIE RED
By: Myles B. ('19)
First off, I gotta give a big shoutout to my boy Clark, (Jarratt Bell), for sparking my love for Trippie Redd's music. Secondly, if you don’t listen to Trippie Redd… I don’t trust you. Trippie Red is so nice because he’s a triple header, which means he is good for all three moods: sad, chill, and hype. Simply put, Trippie Redd gets you right. If you’re sad or in your feelings over a girl or boy, Brethren Trippie is the go-to. Or if you are in the car in the morning and don’t really want to blast music at 7 am, then put on some Trippie Redd and get busted down on the way to school. Trippie Redd is also good for when you’re trying to get lit with your crew. Most artists are good for one genre such as Drake: terrible rapper, great love song singer; Lil Yachty: God awful singer, great rapper; Dwayne Cherry: impeccable rapping skills, singing skills are iff; and the Migos: simply just terrible, although their adlibs are pretty tuff. On the other hand, Trippie Redd covers all genres seamlessly. Here are a few songs I recommend you listen to for each different mood.
Chill:
"Woah Woah Woah": This song is definitely my favorite Trippie song, with the best line being: "Red rag tied around my neck." Many of you have probably heard me blasting it in the student parking lot or around campus on my phone.
"Feel Good": The title says it all, this song gets you feeling pretty heemtastic.
"In Too Deep": A close second to “Woah Woah Woah”, but still gets you right.
Feels:
"Back of My Mind": To all my fellas out there struggling, listen to this…
"I Know How to Self-Destruct": Not gonna to lie to you, first time I heard this song I teared up. Essentially a mash-up of Trippie yelling sad noises, this one is so powerful.
"Love Scars": Waterworks.
HYPE:
"Bust Down": For all of you wondering what I mean when I say, “yeah that’s busted down bro”, this is where it came from. This song has the ability to make you act ways you’ve never acted before.
"Early Morning x Rich The Kid": Thank you sir.
"Uh Oh x XXXTENTACTION": Barely English, but boy does this song get me going.
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Notice: This music contains wording and lyrics that some may find offensive
Taylor Swift's Music in a Buffet Line
By: Caroline F. ('18)
At ten years old, I got my first taste of Taylor Swift by indulging in the “Love Story” music video that played above my head in Justice, the hippest tween clothing store. As I shopped for the trendy and ironically non-unique be-you-everybody-else-is-taken t-shirt and a rhinestone-bedazzled headband, I envisioned my teenage self frolicking around a grand estate with my own Romeo holding the train of my medieval ballgown. I got home and feasted on what she had to offer, memorizing every word on her debut album. I couldn’t wait to grow up and rant to my BFF about that “stupid old pickup truck he never let me drive” or to talk real slow to a future boyfriend “cuz its late and his mamma don’t know.”
Her music was sustenance for the rollercoaster ride that was Caroline-in-middle-school: an aspiring lyricist with an inconvenient fear of the stage. Each new Taylor Swift album added a table to the Taylor Swift Buffet, formulating a six-table meal that eventually led that awkward eighth-grader to perform her original music.
Fearless was a table of strawberries coated in dark chocolate. Taylor’s bittersweet honesty was palpable in songs like “Fifteen” and “Forever and Always.” Her super-sweet red-strawberry interior presented itself in tasteful songs like “You Belong with Me.” It was a chocolate-strawberry album because it was an album all about love. As a stereotypical fifth-grader obsessed Troy-briella from High School Musical, love seemed (unrealistically) sweet.
Speak Now’s buffet table appeared two years later. Its offerings were a little more sour- lemon meringue pies. Taylor showed her unapologetic, but still polite, self in lemony, semi-critical lines like “she floats down the aisle like pageant queen.” She re-proved her mature wisdom by commenting on the qualifications of sophistication in a simple, clairvoyant lyric: “no amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity.” Maintaining upbeat, major scale songs ensured the sweet custard on top of her sword-digging, sour pie.
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Red
Red was a table full of ripe watermelon- hard to crack into but sweet and rewarding to eat. Many said the songs were too slow, all too similar, but after breaking into the rind, the slices’ differences were unending. In addition to differences, each song had a common thread- the word “red.” Swift’s hidden lyrical messages were even more prevalent in her next album, 1989.
The album entitled her birth year was like a pop-rock buffet-station. New York lights and endless nights filled her first real Pop album. Each song carried unprecedented drum-sounds and beat-drops. Swift’s Nashville-to-New-York transition was audible. Techno-rhythm outlined her songs, songs that detailed her early-twenties relationships with men and with the city that never sleeps. She coded messages in her songs, hiding hints about Harry Styles singing “two paper airplanes flying” to hint at the matching paper airplane necklaces they wore. Decoding her lyrics sent that surprising, crackling pop-rock sensation down the listener’s tongue.
Reputation
After a three-year hiatus, Swift added the most recent buffet table to please her starving Swiftees. On it, she shamelessly laid habanero peppers- surprisingly nourishing, thirst-quenching, addicting habanero peppers. Swift supporters had had enough sweetness from eleven years of strawberries and deserts, and evidently, so had 28-year-old Taylor Swift. Reputation refreshes the palates of all listeners by presenting Swift’s true, spicy self. She dons thigh-high boots and fishnets in her iconic “Look What You Made Me Do” video. She describes late-twenties relationships to a T with rap-like beats and spoken-word lyrics. In Reputation, Swift is all about avenging her enemies in a non-aggressive, poetic fashion. She mocks her nemeses with sarcastic lyrics like “this is why we can’t have nice things…I had to take them away.” Her unapologetic spice makes us all want to eat at the Reputation table and emit the same kind of “’I don’t give a dang about my bad reputation’ cuz I love myself” vibe. Once again, Taylor made listeners aspire to become her- this time on their self-made estates, wearing whatever-the-heck they want, sipping black coffee, rolling their eyes at haters as they strut down corridors towards their gold velvet-upholstered thrones.
From a sundress and cowgirl boots, to combat boots and black eyeliner, Swift has entranced us with her transition. Her loyal fans have reflected her transformation because consuming music is like downing a 6-table buffet, and as the age-old aphorism goes, you are what you eat.
Wake Up
By: Bennett P. ('18)
Like most high schoolers, I have a hard time waking up in the morning. I either sleep through all of my alarms, or I hit the snooze button 100 times until its already an hour past when my first alarm went off. I've honestly tried everything to fix this problem. First, I tried to wake up to "Black Skinhead" by Kanye, but I was jolted awake in a full sweat, and it took a few minutes to get my heart rate down. Then, I tried to wake up to "The Heart of Life" by John Mayer, and (not surprisingly) I slept right through it. In order to actually wake up and not have a panic attack, I tried to find a middle ground. This playlist has songs that are mellow, but just enough to wake you up and get you started on the right foot. It's a work in progress, but I hope you enjoy!
Music
By: Anna H. ('18)
In many ways, 2017 was a mess- in all areas but one: the music industry. Artists branched out, wrote honest lyrics, and used their platforms to stand up and speak for those who didn’t have a voice. While politics may have been a battle of hate, music took a turn and decided on love, acceptance, and, weirdly, on trying some really cool 80s inspired vibes.
When I originally wrote this article, I got about halfway through and realized it would be about 12 pages long if I did an in-depth analysis of each album on my top 10 list. I decided to cut it to top five, because no one wants to read me pretentiously talking about pop music for 12 pages. So, without further ado, here’s my picks for the top five pop albums of 2017:
5. Calvin Harris- Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Harris previewed his much-anticipated album by releasing four songs that immediately topped charts. “Slide”, “Rollin”, “Feels”, and “Heatstroke” all built the tension, and expectations, for this album. When it was finally released, it held up every expectation. It seemed like so many artists this year deviated from their past albums; Calvin Harris was no exception. Known best for his dance-club hits, Harris took a detour in this album. This album, he seemed focused on a more groovy sound (I genuinely couldn’t think of a better word to describe it) that lived up to its name, ‘Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1”. A dip back into some of the older funk styles of the past, Harris effortlessly blends the sound of the past with the present. Being primarily a DJ, there is not a track on this album that does not have the vocals of one of your favorites: including Khalid, Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, and Ariana Grande to name a few.
4. Imagine Dragons- Evolve
I could write a twelve-page paper with sources and footnotes on how much I love this album. It is classic Imagine Dragons, and only builds on the empire they’ve been accumulating for years. In ‘Evolve’, Imagine Dragons continue to create beats to their songs that never seem like they could be in any way cohesive, and turn them into your favorite, perfectly flowing, song. With the theme of love, loss, and life on this album, they once again prove that Imagine Dragons has never and will never care about being so-called-mainstream. They care about the music they produce and the message they give. This album is equal parts amazing in terms of lyrics and actual music. This album took emotions I had been trying to express forever, and put them into words, and added beats that somehow fit them perfectly. While they have all the elements of a traditional band, they also somehow add in sounds that no other band can achieve by mixing synth with their typical instruments. In addition, they are easily one of the best bands I’ve ever seen live. They play every song by pouring their heart into it, and the visual effects are absolutely spectacular.
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3. Ed Sheeran- Divide
This year, I’ll admit, I’m biased to artists that grew and let their music grow with them. Although Sheeran is from the UK, there were songs I got distinct Irish vibes from; Sheeran for sure took inspiration from his home and his roots for this album. This album held two hits that absolutely smashed the charts, “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You”. If you don’t know either of these songs, you must have been living under a rock. The radio was relentless in playing them, and even Gus Benson played Shape of You at last year’s Spring Arts Fest. But the album is so much more than those songs. “Eraser”, a testimony to Sheeran’s fame and past, “Supermarket Flowers”, a tear jerker about Sheeran’s mom, and probably my favorite track, “Bibia Be Ye Ye” co-written with an African artist that makes you want to dance, are justa few tracks that make up this album. If you haven’t listened to the whole album yet, I highly recommend it for a long drive.
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2. Kesha- Rainbow
Oh Kesha. For me, this album was the absolute best of 2017. The only reason I couldn’t bring it to be the number one on this list was that it largely appealed to only to the female demographic. Nothing wrong with that, but the top album should be something that represents everyone. As I mentioned earlier, I was a sucker for artist growth this year, and no one had more growth than Kesha. After accusing her producer, Dr. Luke, of sexual harassment, she was thrown into a trial in the public eye. Although later dropping the charges, it all forced her to take a step back from the music industry.
Rainbow is a far cry from Kesha’s old albums, but still carries the fun feel the last have. Every bit as much as much energetic, vivacious, and dynamic as her previous albums, but a with a fresh new feel. This album was Kesha’s comeback, and by leading off by releasing the single “Praying”, she sent a message to everyone that she was back and stronger than ever. The song became something of an anthem, and it is easy to see why once you listen to it.
In every song on the album Kesha pours every emotion out, every song is truly authentic to her, and that’s been hard to find in many artists.
This album documents a journey of love, pain, and strength. A range of dance-inducing pop songs (like some of my favorites, Boogie Feet, and Woman) to "screw you" anthems (Let Em Talk, Bastards, and Learn to Let Go), make this album a testimony to everything an album should be; honest, powerful, authentic, and just plain fun.
1. Khalid- American Teen
With his debut album, Khalid created something no one saw coming. This album hit a peak of #4 on the Billboard top 200, and went platinum in the US only six months after being released. With no one knowing his name before, Khalid and his album have become a voice for our generation.
At only age 19(!), Khalid created a series of perfect late-night jams that exemplify this generation. Songs like “8teen” and “Young, Dumb, & Broke” capture what it’s like for today’s millennials. A cross between R&B and pop, singing and rapping, Khalid is creating an original style that can appeal to everyone. In a Rolling Stone article, the album is said to “pulse with euphoric dance beats, [and] Eighties synths” and contain “tales of marijuana-and booze-fueled high school nights”. This much is very true. The album explores a wide variety of beats while all somehow having the same style. It is mostly centered around heartbreak and relationships, but there is an undeniable amount of beautiful moments captured that are just about living.
I picked this because this for number one is an album for today. While Kesha brought out themes of feminism in ‘Rainbow’, ‘American Teen’ is about exactly what it says. It’s hard for me to put into words where I see this album going and where I see Khalid going. This album has the potential to define an entire generation. Khalid might be young, but the waves made by ‘American Teen’ have the possibility to turn into a tsunami.
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So that’s it. My top five of 2017. Honorable mentions go to Harry Styles- ‘Harry Styles’, Drake- ‘More Life’ and Jay Z ‘4:44’. My hope is in 2018 the trends started in 2017 will continue. This year has been one of my favorites musically, and although there were some rough patches, the high points definitely outweighed the low points. Happy holidays everyone, and if you haven’t listened to one of these albums, I would definitely recommend it in your free time.
Opinion Editorial: Frank Ocean
By: Rachel G. ('19)
After recently discovering my "Spotify 2017 Wrapped" dashboard, I was not surprised with my results. If you aren't an avid Spotify user, this dashboard shows your top artists, songs, genres and the number of minutes in which you listened to music in 2017. I listened to 74,005 minutes of music on Spotify this year, which equates to 51 entire days of music. This number seems about right, considering that the first thing I do in the morning is turn on my speaker and play music, and continue to listen for most of the day (whether I'm driving, at school, or with friends). My top artist, not so surprisingly, was Frank Ocean. Scrolling down to my top five listened-to songs, I found every last one to be by none other than Frank. After finally realizing my overwhelming love for the artist over spring break, I can't think of a time I haven't wanted to listen to his music. I can safely say that whenever I don’t know what to listen to, shuffling either of his albums is my first instinct. I am often torn between which album I like more, Blonde or Orange; they both have so many classics I don’t think I could just pick one. My all-time favorite Frank song has got to be "Nights," especially the second half; the way the beat changes, the fact that the lyrics are pure gold, and the rhythm makes me feel mellow no matter what. "Nights" is very shortly followed by "White Ferrari," "Solo", "Ivy," and the classic "Thinkin 'Bout You". The variety in Frank's music allows for optimal car jam sessions with your best friend (especially ones who love Frank too), or chill homework time with you and your surface. Despite my extreme lack of singing ability, I really enjoy belting his lyrics on my way to school or just in my room, and I often find myself knowing every word to a song subconsciously. So, basically what I am trying to say here, is if you are unfamiliar with Frank, get listening immediately. If you are another Frank-enthusiast like me and Skrupa, you have excellent music taste, and I would love to talk to you sometime about him. For future and former Frank fans, here's a playlist with some of my favorite songs as well as some similar-styled music that just makes me feel good. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. xx