Tag: Grace Whitman ’22
Harry Styles’ “Love on Tour”
by The Cowl Editor on October 28, 2021
Arts & Entertainment
Harry Styles’ “Love on Tour”
A Memorable Concert Experience Worth the Two-Year Wait
Grace Whitman ’22
After being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Harry Styles’ Love on Tour Concert is in full swing, with three shows hitting the Providence area last week. On Oct. 23 and 25, Styles performed at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Tickets for this show sold out in less than five minutes. Additionally, on Monday, Oct. 26, he made his way north to play at TD Garden. In an homage to the elaborate outfits for which the singer is infamous, concertgoers dressed in colorful flared pants, rhinestone jumpsuits, glitter, and feather boas—stray multicolored feathers from which covered the floors. Fans knew they had to dress to impress because there was a chance that Styles would see them in the audience.
At the Oct. 23 show, Styles took center stage, dressed in red pants and a green shirt, a color combination that seemed to pay homage to his hit single “Watermelon Sugar,” and had the crowd on their feet as he opened the concert with “Golden,” a song from his album Fine Line. With a stage in the middle of the arena and two catwalks stretching on both ends, every fan was close enough to make a connection with the singer. He started the concert off by challenging everyone to have as much fun as he does, and the concertgoers certainly did.
Styles radiates positivity and encourages everyone to “Treat People with Kindness.” Considering that everyone was away from one another for nearly two years, he motivated fans to really take note of how they felt to finally be back together. Styles’ fans adore him, and he made it clear that the feeling is mutual.
The singer performed a perfect variety of songs, from ballads like “Cherry” and “Falling” to upbeat dance songs like “Only Angel” and “Adore You.” Fans were dancing so much that even the bleacher seats got a bit wobbly.
About an hour into his set, Styles jokingly announced that if anyone wanted to go to the bathroom or get some water, they could not because it was time to dance. He then kicked off a 15-minute set of upbeat songs like “Canyon Moon,” “Treat People with Kindness”—during which he flew a pride flag that a fan brought around the stage—and One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful.”
Just when fans thought the show was over, Styles rose from below the stage to sing three of his most popular songs: “Sign of the Times,” his Grammy-winning single “Watermelon Sugar,” and “Kiwi.”
What makes a Harry Styles concert different from any other is the larger-than-life stage presence that he brings to every single show. From having the whole arena sing happy birthday to his mother who was at home in England, to juggling balls given to him by a fan, he knows how to make every show unique and exciting. Although Fine Line came out in 2019, finally being able to see Harry in concert was well worth the wait for fans.
PC’s A Capella Groups Face Off in a Riff Off
by The Cowl Editor on October 7, 2021
Arts & Entertainment
PC’s A Capella Groups Face Off in a Riff Off
Pitch Perfect-Inspired Event Draws Music Fans to McPhail’s
Grace Whitman ’22
On Thursday, Sept. 30, Providence College’s three A Cappella groups, Special Guest, Strictly Speaking, and Anaclastic, competed head-to-head in their annual Riff Off. Hundreds of students packed into McPhail’s, with standing-room only starting 30 minutes before the Riff Off began. Hosted by Board of Programmers’ Olivia Lescinskas ’22, the event started off with a spin of a wheel containing three song categories, one for each of three rounds: “TV Show Theme Songs,” “Love Songs,” and “Throwbacks.” The winner of each round was to be determined by which group earned the loudest cheer from the audience in McPhail’s.
The contest was not quite held exactly how it was in the Pitch Perfect movies, which provided the inspiration for the event. In the films, different groups interrupt one another with different songs, joining the last word of one song with the first word of a new song. At the McPhail’s event, in contrast, PC’s A Cappella groups were given each round’s category and asked to perform a song in that category.
Special Guest hit the stage first, belting out the theme song from Phineas and Ferb. It was a funny way to start off the night, with the crowd singing lyrics like “Come on, Perry!” back at the group. The next song came from Anaclastic with their rendition of “Leave it All to Shine,” a mashup of the iCarly and Victorious theme songs. Although the audience certainly enjoyed both renditions, the clear winner of the first round was Strictly Speaking with their performance of The Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There for You,” more commonly known as the Friends theme song, led by Sorieba Fofanah ’22.
After a quick break, during which the audience snagged some Insomnia Cookies, the show was back for the second round, which was dedicated to love songs. It opened with Anaclastic performing “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. Next, Strictly Speaking sang “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder.
While both groups finished to raucous applause, it was the all-male group, Special Guest, that slammed the door shut on the competition with their rendition of Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open.” Christian Willett ’24 and Nolan Donato ’22 brought Bruno Mars’ suave to the stage and the rhythm and beat created by the rest of the group had the audience enthusiastically voting for them to win that round.
The final round was dedicated to “throwback” songs. In a clever homage to Pitch Perfect, Strictly Speaking sang Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone”—much more eloquently, however, than the auditioners in the movie performed it. Special Guest’s final song, “Mambo No. 5,” was led by Dougie Schettino ’23. “Mambo No. 5” was the perfect song for Special Guest to showcase their vocal abilities and pull the audience into the performance. Indeed, what sets Special Guest apart is their ability to get a crowd excited about their performances and about A Capella in general.
Anaclastic closed the Riff Off with a throwback to 1996. Their performance of “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls, led by Maddie Rich ’24 and Caleigh Lynch ’23, earned the loudest applause of the final round, resulting in a revote for the entire event.
Although there were certainly loud cheers for all the groups and it was hard to truly measure how much applause each received without a decibel meter, Strictly Speaking was crowned the winner of the 2021 A Capella Riff Off.
Be on the lookout for more events hosted by the A Capella Club this semester, including their fall concert.
Two Friends Returns for Virtual Spring Concert
by Sara Conway on May 6, 2021
Music
A Friartown Features Series Recap of Inspiring Guests
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Students all over campus gathered with their roommates to watch Two Friends perform at Providence College’s 2021 Virtual Spring Concert hosted by the Board of Programmers. Getting their start on SoundCloud with their hour-long “Big Bootie Remixes,” Eli Sones and Matthew Halper have become staples in college dorm rooms. Two Friends was supposed to travel to Friartown last spring with Matoma for the annual Spring Concert, but COVID-19 prevented the pair from coming. After this disappointing cancellation, Two Friends created a personalized remix for PC students that included song clips from some of the best new music and oldies but goodies.
Streamed on Looped, the concert was a great way for students to step away from their busy academic schedules and enjoy the night of April 30. Additionally, students could sign up for a lawn spot to sit on Slavin Lawn and watch a live stream of the concert. Two Friends’ Big Bootie 19 Remix was released to the public on May 3, so the event was a great opportunity for them to promote their newest project.
Although some students wished the concert was more personalized for PC Students, by including visuals of Friartown rather than generic video clips in their set, Two Friends did throw in plenty of “Go Friars” within their set.
The concert wrapped up with a question-and-answer session hosted by BOP executive president Kevin Schwalm ’21. When speaking with Schwalm about his experience working with Two Friends, he said, “Through the help of the Office of Student Activities and Cultural Programming and Athletics, it was incredible to be able to program some form of Spring Concert after the Two Friends concert was initially canceled last spring. Two Friends was great to work with, and they were excited to come back to Providence even if it meant a virtual concert. Although the College was not able to come together in person to enjoy the show, I think it is a great way to end the year and give students something fun to do on a Friday night.”
The Spring Concert was part of a four-part Friartown Features virtual series all hosted by BOP and Providence Athletics. On April 24, Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central and author of Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, the PC class of 2022 common reading book, was interviewed and kicked off the series with a great conversation about race in America.
Decked out in his Friars hockey jersey, former New England Patriots and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski had a conversation with Brett Rodman ’16P, ’20P, ’25P, and Steve Napolillo. Giving students great advice about how to persevere through the struggles of this year, nobody would expect anything less than high spirits from Gronk.
The third event of the series was a conversation between Serena Williams and Doris Burke ’87, ’92G, ’05Hon. As two incredible women in sports, they had a great conversation about female athletics and Williams’ ventures outside the realm of tennis.
Although the events were pre-recorded and students were not able to personally interact with the speakers, they all included a Q&A panel discussion with questions sent in from PC students. Overall, all of these events were still able to bring the Friar Family together in spirit even though COVID-19 prevented us from being together physically.
Taylor Swift Returns “Headfirst, Fearless”
by Patrick T Fuller on April 15, 2021
Arts & Entertainment
Releases Fearless (Taylor’s Version) Free From Braun
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Her country twang might be gone, but Taylor Swift sent millions of fans back to 2008 with her latest release. You may have laid awake excitedly waiting for midnight to listen to Taylor Swift’s re-recorded version of the entire platinum edition of her second album, Fearless. By remaking some of her most famous songs, like “Love Story” and “White Horse,” Swift brought her classic album not only a more mature sound, but an improved production quality as well. Her voice has become much more polished since 2008, but the entire album sounds nearly identical to her original release, even keeping a subtle giggle in “Hey Stephen.” The remade album stays true to the original but possesses evidently smoother and stronger vocals than ever before.
Adding “Taylor’s version” to the album title and each song is a nod to how Swift has full creative control and ownership over her music since her contract with Big Machine Records and Scooter Braun expired in 2018. Swift’s music is timeless, and her decision to re-record her songs has fans loving her art even more. In addition to the re-recordings, Swift also put out six unreleased songs “from the vault” originally written in 2008.
The first song from the vault, “You All Over Me,” features Maren Morris singing backup vocals. This soft country ballad perfectly blends Swift’s Fearless era story with the sound of her new albums folklore and evermore.
Next, “Mr. Perfectly Fine” is the first breakup song that listeners have heard in years from Swift. Flashing back to her life as an 18-year-old, “Mr. Perfectly Fine” refers to her ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas, whom she dated in 2008. Including lyrics like “Mr. Never Told You Why, Mr. Never Had to See Me Cry,” Swift seems to be making a reference to how Jonas allegedly broke up with her in a 27-second phone call. The subtle rock tones accompanied by upbeat drums is catchy to the ear and makes anyone want to sing along.
“We Were Happy” may have the word happy in the title, but the storyline will put listeners in an emotional state as Swift sings about how she fell out of love with someone she saw herself marrying one day.
The fourth song from the vault, “That›s When,” features Keith Urban. Including one of country music›s sharpest voices, this song is the perfect duet to be included on Fearless. Over a decade after Swift opened for Urban on his 2009 Escape Together tour, the two artists collaborated to tell a story from both sides of a romantic relationship that fell apart.
“Don’t You” did not make the final cut on Fearless but perfectly complements her current discography, as it is the combination of Fearless-era country Taylor Swift and modern-day pop Taylor Swift. With electric guitars and drums heard in the background, this song showcases Swift’s musical growth since the original album was released.
The 26th (13—Swift’s lucky number—times two) and final song on the album is titled “Bye Bye Bye.” If included on the original album, it would have been a perfect radio song. But even today, you will find this catchy song stuck in your head.
Overall, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) is the beginning of Swift finally taking ownership of the art that she made and telling her story without censorship and need for management approval. Re-recordings from five of her other albums like Speak Now and Red will be slowly released over the next two years.
Women Win Big at the 63rd Grammy Awards
by Sara Conway on March 18, 2021
Music
Taylor Swift and Beyoncé Lauded With Awards and Records
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
When Harry Styles opened the 63rd Grammy Awards performing a slow rendition of “Watermelon Sugar” in a tight leather suit, we all knew that the night was going to be one to remember.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic took away many of the things that we love this year, music was there to unite the world. After a long year without live musical performances by our favorite artists, this year’s Grammy Awards was full of versatile performances by artists including Dua Lipa, HAIM, and Post Malone. Additionally, Silk Sonic, composed of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, made their debut television performance with their song “Leave the Door Open.”
One of the most unforgettable moments of the night was DaBaby’s remixed version of his hit “Rockstar.” A major switch from their original version, DaBaby and Roddy Ricch offered a dramatic rendition of their viral hit, complete with violins and backup singers in choir robes. Other memorable performances included Dua Lipa’s medley of “Levitating” and “Don’t Start Now” and BTS’s virtual performance of “Dynamite.”
The Grammys’ telecast has always been known for their performances rather than the award announcements, but this year some history was made. Four women won the most prestigious awards of the night, including Taylor Swift, who became the first female artist to win Album of the Year three times—Swift’s albums Fearless and 1989 won in 2010 and 2016, respectively. Her album folklore was written entirely in quarantine and helped heal fans of the heartbreak we all felt during 2020.
The other three major awards—Best New Artist, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year—went to Megan Thee Stallion, H.E.R., and Billie Eilish, respectively.
Beyoncé also made history by becoming the most decorated woman in Grammy history with 28 awards. She earned four more gramophones, including the Grammy for Best R&B Performance for “Black Parade.” In her acceptance speech, Beyoncé said, “As an artist, I believe it’s my job, and all of our jobs, to reflect time, and it’s been such a difficult time.” As she always does, Queen Bey and several other artists used their platform and the Grammys’ stage to speak out about racial inequality.
In a powerful performance directly referencing police brutality against Black people, Lil Baby performed his song “The Bigger Picture.” His musical performance was backed by scenes depicting the realities of life for so many Black people in this country.
Also highlighting racial inequality, Mickey Guyton performed an absolutely heart-wrenching yet inspirational rendition of her song “Black Like Me.” The chorus features the lyrics: “If you think we live in the land of the free / You should try to be, oh, black like me.” Spreading this important message to viewers all across the country, Guyton asks listeners to see the United States through her eyes.
As one of the first major award shows taking place in person without Zoom cameras projected onto television screens, music’s biggest night of the year brought a memorable show to viewers, which was exactly what we needed. There is a light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, and the 63rd Grammy Awards brought us a little closer to it.
78th Golden Globes Celebrates Black Actors
by Patrick T Fuller on March 4, 2021
Arts & Entertainment
While Chloé Zhao Makes History as Best Director
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler kicked off the 78th Golden Globes from opposite coasts on Feb. 28. The hosts used their opening monologue to bring to light the lack of diversity in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which picks the nominees and winners for the award show.
“The HFPA is made up of around 90 international—no Black—journalists who attend movie junkets each year in search of a better life… Inclusivity is important, and there are no Black members of the Hollywood Foreign Press… you’ve gotta change that. So here’s to changing it,” said Fey. Several Black-led projects were overlooked for Best Picture including Judas and the Black Messiah, Da 5 Bloods, One Night in Miami, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Additionally, of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture across musical or comedy and drama categories, only Disney’s Hamilton contains a lead cast predominantly composed of people of color.
Although the HFPA lacks Black voices internally, they did push forward a diverse roster of winners. Andra Day became the second-ever Black actress to win the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her performance in Hulu’s The United States vs. Billie Holiday. In an emotional acceptance speech, she thanked the “transformative, dynamic Billie Holiday, who just transformed me with this role and with her presence and with her spirit.”
Daniel Kaluuya, famously known for his work in Get Out, won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture for his captivating role in Judas and the Black Messiah.
John Boyega won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Supporting Role for his role as Leroy Logan in Small Axe. Additionally, the late Chadwick Boseman, who passed away from colon cancer in Aug. 2020, won Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for his work in Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Transitioning to the major categories, Disney’s Soul took home the award for Best Animated Picture and Best Original Score. The film is Pixar’s first to feature a Black protagonist. Netflix’s Trial of the Chicago Seven won Best Motion Picture Screenplay.
Only eight women have been nominated for Best Director in the Golden Globes’ 78-year history, with three of them nominated in 2021. This year, Chloé Zhao became the first woman director of Asian descent to win a Golden Globe for her movie Nomadland. Zhao is the first female winner since 1984, when Barbara Streisand secured an award for Yentl. Nomadland tells the story of a 61-year-old woman named Fern who travels through the American West during the great recession. At its core, the film deals with the universal struggle of finding what makes us happy.
This year’s Golden Globes brought to light the deeply ingrained systemic inequalities in Hollywood. Although several diverse stories and Black actors and actresses won awards, the Golden Globes have a responsibility to elevate diverse voices. The HFPA needs to build on the momentum of the 78th Golden Globes to continue recognizing and celebrating Black voices in film. Other areas of entertainment should follow suit by making this mission their own.
The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights at Super Bowl LV
by Sara Conway on February 25, 2021
Music
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
After releasing the most- streamed song of 2020, “Blinding Lights,” and being snubbed by the Recording Academy for the 2021 Grammy Awards, The Weeknd took on the Super Bowl LV halftime show with a unique storyline.
Although many viewers felt that the halftime performance was as boring as the game itself, it requires a deep dive into the Weeknd’s creative vision to understand the true masterpiece that he put together.
Appearing in one of his signature red jackets, The Weeknd opened the show in a futuristic Las Vegas scene, replicating the opening of his music videos for “Heartless” and “Blinding Lights.” Several of the later aspects of the show included cameos from his music videos for the album After Hours. A 14-minute performance followed, filled with a gospel choir, funhouse mirrors, and lots of bandages. In a medley of his best hits, the singer-songwriter exemplified his versatility by including songs like “Starboy,” “I Can’t Feel My Face,” “I Feel It Coming,” and “Earned It.” Additionally, because of social distancing requirements, the entire football field was made available for the performance.
One of the most memorable parts of this performance was the background dancers’ full bandages on their faces. While the bandages acted as a facemask to protect themselves and others from COVID-19, the bandages also had a deeper meaning. The Weeknd began promoting his fourth studio album in November 2019 when he revealed his signature red jacket in the music video for “Heartless.” A few months later, in January 2020, he released the music video for his smash single, “Blinding Lights.” The music video opens with a gory close-up of The Weeknd’s face covered with blood seeping through his teeth. Later, keeping with the theme, the same alter-ego character is depicted in the music video for “In Your Eyes” with a bandage just covering his nose.
Throughout the rest of the year, the singer appeared at several award shows and performances with the same bloody aesthetic. While accepting his American Music Award in November 2020 for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist, The Weeknd walked onto the stage with a full-face bandage. The Weeknd is seen with a swollen post-plastic surgery face in his music video for “Save Your Tears,” which he released in January.
As the era went on, the severity of his staged injury got progressively worse, but the final chapter concluded with his Super Bowl performance when his face was completely back to normal. After the show, he revealed the meaning behind the bandages in an interview with Variety magazine. He said, “The significance of the entire head bandages is reflecting on the absurd culture of Hollywood celebrity and people manipulating themselves for superficial reasons to please and be validated.” With the symbolism revealed, perhaps the Super Bowl performance marked the end of The Weeknd’s After Hours era.
Performers Call for Unity at Biden Inauguration
by Sara Conway on February 11, 2021
Literature
Gorman, Lopez, Gaga Steal the Show with Grace
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Joseph Biden, Jr. was sworn into office as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, Jan. 20. The inauguration ceremony certainly looked different compared to the dozens before it due to safety protocols as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and intense security in response to the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6.
Live music has been a significant part of every presidential inauguration. Bill Clinton enlisted Barbra Streisand to perform at his inaugural gala, while Beyoncé sang her rendition of Etta James’s song “At Last” during President Barack Obama’s first dance in 2008.
Biden took the oath of office on a blustery day with bits of sunshine, a symbolic backdrop for a historical transition. As the first major performer of the day, Lady Gaga descended down the Capitol stairs to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In full Lady Gaga style, the singer wore a red and blue ball gown with a gold-encrusted dove pin to sing the national anthem.
Jennifer Lopez was invited to sing a medley of “This Land Is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful.” An unforgettable moment was when the Latina icon sang, “Una nación bajo Dios con libertad y justicia para todos!” which translates to “One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all!” symbolizing the immense need for equity and justice for all communities in America.
The final musical performer at the Capitol building was Garth Brooks, who sang a heartfelt rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Having performed for almost every president since Jimmy Carter, Brooks said, “This is not a political statement—this is a statement of unity.”
Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old Harvard University graduate, became the youngest poet, and only the sixth in history, to read at a presidential inauguration. Her poem “The Hill We Climb” was a desperate call for unity and collaboration among the American people. With an emphasis on the opportunity that the future holds, Gorman stole the show and gained immense popularity after the reading.
Later in the day, in lieu of the several inaugural balls which typically occur on inauguration day, Tom Hanks hosted a television concert called “Celebrating America.” Performers included Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, Tim McGraw, Tyler Hubbard, John Legend, and Jon Bon Jovi.
Performing virtually in Nashville, Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw performed their brand-new song, “Undivided.” If President Joe Biden’s inauguration had a theme, it would have been unity. This song encaptures that theme perfectly, using the lyrics, “I’m tired of lookin’ left or right. / So I’m just lookin’ up” as a call to end the divisiveness in America.
Later, John Legend delivered an incredible performance of “Feeling Good” in front of the Lincoln Memorial on a grand piano.
To wrap up the night, Katy Perry performed her 2010 hit “Firework” with a pyrotechnic display, lighting up the skies of Washington, D.C.
Occurring so soon after the domestic terrorist attack at the United States Capitol, these diverse performances highlighted unity, freedom, and democracy, turning the first page in what will hopefully be a powerful national redemption story.
Waxing Nostalgic for Returning Television Shows
by Patrick T Fuller on February 4, 2021
Arts & Entertainment
A List of Those That Got Us Through the Pandemic
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
It is April 15, 2020, roughly one month since the entire student body was sent home and Providence College’s campus was completely shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You are still taking classes over Zoom, but you have a lot of time on your hands. Sitting down to binge-watch trending shows like Outer Banks, All American, and Tiger King are a highlight of your day.
We can all agree, time traveling back to spring of 2020 would not be anyone’s wish, but there was definitely a boost of serotonin hearing the “ba-boom” sound that Netflix makes when it opens on the screen.
Although there are several television productions that were momentarily shut down due to the pandemic, several popular shows are back on air or finishing up their editing as we speak.
All American, which was Netflix’s most-viewed TV show produced by an outside channel in 2020, is an American sports drama series based on former NFL linebacker Spencer Paysinger’s life. The show’s main character Spencer James is a star athlete from Crenshaw High School who transfers to the prestigious Beverly High School to have more recruiting opportunities. The show incorporates several important topics, such as substance abuse, privilege, and police brutality.Episode one of season three aired on Jan. 18 on the CW, with new episodes coming every Monday.
Another incredibly popular show in 2020 was Euphoria, which can be streamed on HBO Max. Although filming for season two of Euphoria has been delayed due to the pandemic, two special episode titles are currently streaming. These episodes serve as a placeholder in order to set the stage for when the second season is released. Euphoria follows teenager Rue, played by Zendaya, as she narrates her struggles with drug addiction and several mental illnesses to her classmates.
Outer Banks was also a hit sensation during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forcing us all to wish we were living on the beach, Outer Banks follows the clash between the preppy elite “Kooks” and the working class “Pogues.” As John B, played by Chase Stokes, put it, the Outer Banks is “the sort of place where you either have two jobs or two houses. . .two tribes, one island.” In July 2020, Netflix announced that the teenage drama murder mystery would be renewed for a second season. Filming is currently wrapping up with an expected release date later this year. Summer 2020 may not have felt like “Paradise on Earth,” but maybe there is some hope for 2021.
Finally, it was announced in February 2020 that Stranger Things would be renewed for a fourth season. Although an official release date has yet to be announced due to filming delays, a 2021 premiere is very likely.
The early months of 2021 will see limited shows released due to the delay in production, but with more time in quarantine comes more creativity. The later months of 2021 will be jam-packed with new shows that will definitely be worth the wait.
Ariana Grande Releases Her Home Studio Project
by The Cowl Editor on November 13, 2020
Arts & Entertainment
Collaboration and Criticism Characterize Positions
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has been a year of surprise album releases and shortened musical promotions. On Oct. 30, Ariana Grande released her sixth studio album titled Positions only two weeks after her initial album announcement. In typical years, an artist would make an album announcement well before its release and would utilize radio and social media promotions to popularize it. Following in the footsteps of artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Childish Gambino, who all released surprise albums in 2020, Grande kept fans excited to stream Positions on its release date by beginning promotions just a couple of weeks early.
The 14-song collection consists of more R&B and ’90s rhythmic pop songs than Grande›s most recent releases. The themes of the album are displayed consistently throughout, making it quite cohesive.
A week before the album release, Grande released the title track and accompanying music video. “positions” is a smitten love song built around pop, R&B, and trap beats. Premiering just a few days before Election Day, the music video features Grande as the commander-in-chief, effortlessly balancing her personal life with her professional one. Grande takes on various roles that create an impressive and empowering feminist video. She channels particular fashion icons, including former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, in the wardrobe throughout the video. Positions features guest collaborators Doja Cat, The Weeknd, and Ty Dolla $ign. “motive,” featuring Doja Cat, is lyrically simplistic and repetitive but has the potential to be a catchy radio hit. “off the table” with The Weeknd comes six years after their first collaboration, “Love Me Harder.” In reference to their 2014 song, The Weeknd sings, “I can love you harder than I did before.” In “off the table,” Grande questions whether she is ready for a potential relationship, while The Weeknd reassures her, saying that he can be patient and she can move on to a new era.
The final collaboration on the album features Ty Dolla $ign on the seventh song, “safety net,” in which he and Grande sing about the risks that they will take for a relationship. This soft song complements the rest of the album with its theme of moving forward.
Given that Grande’s previous two albums smashed the Billboard charts, Positions had a large act to follow. Ultimately, this album lacks a major hit like “7 rings” from Grande’s 2019 project, thank you, next, and “God is a woman” from Sweetener.
Although many music critics praise Grande’s vocals, there has been a large amount of criticism for the album’s lyricism and production. For an album recorded in her home studio during quarantine, Positions is a professional and solid piece of art. That being said, each song sounds the same, there are no memorable hooks, and there are far too many words packed into 14 relatively short songs.
Even if Positions is not her most comprehensive work, Grande’s star power and dedicated fanbase will boost her album to the top of the charts.