Tag: Grace Whitman ’22
Move Over Mariah, There’s New Music Coming to Town
by The Cowl Editor on December 5, 2019
Music
Previewing Holiday Music at the Turn of the Season
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Arguably one of the best parts of Christmas is the new music that is released. There is a universality to Christmas music that even transcends religion. Artists in all genres put their spin on Christmas classics and some write original music as well. From country to pop and rock to rap, a plethora of Christmas songs and albums have already been released and some have already seen growth on the Billboard Charts.
The Jonas Brothers were one of the first ones to put out Christmas music this year. In their love song “Like It’s Christmas,” the brothers tell a story about how the people that they love make it feel like the holiday season throughout the entire year. The song goes, “You make every day feel like it’s Christmas,” playing on the idea that Christmas is not just a holiday, but a feeling of love and joy. This song will get you into the warm and fuzzy holiday spirit.
John Legend, who recently performed at Providence College’s Late Night Madness event, came out with a brand-new duet version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with Kelly Clarkson. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” originally sang and written by Frank Loesser, was under fire last year during the #MeToo movement from critics who say the song is sexist and hints at date rape. Legend and Clarkson changed the lyrics drastically to now include lyrics like, “If I have one more drink? It’s your body and your choice.” During his appearance on The Tonight Show, Legend said, “We thought it would be fun, you know, we knew there was some controversy around the original lyrics and looked at it with 2019 eyes.” Overall, this song still brings the same winter spirit and Christmas feeling that we all love. It is truly impossible not to get in the spirit listening to their voices together.
Another artist who released a Christmas cover was Chelsea Cutler. In January 2019, Cutler performed at PC on the Peterson Recreation Center stage. She offers a unique take on Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe.” Cutler’s version is a slow piano ballad, while Bieber’s original version opens with jingle bells before guitar and bongos come in, creating a more up-beat pop, R&B single.
Cutler’s cover is part of the Spotify Singles: Holiday Collection. These songs are exclusively available on Spotify which incentivizes fans to create a Spotify account. This year’s other holiday Spotify singles include Liam Payne’s “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow,” Tori Kelly’s “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and Adam Lambert’s “Please Come Home for Christmas.” The singles series features original songs and covers by artists, all recorded at Spotify’s New York recording studio throughout the entire year.
So, while you are decking your halls this December, make sure to give these new songs a listen. They will most definitely get you in the Christmas spirit.
Dance Club Performances Showcase Student Talent
by The Cowl Editor on November 21, 2019
Arts & Entertainment
Fall Show Provides Opportunity for Creativity
by: Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
This past weekend, Providence College’s Dance Club sold out their fall semester show in the Angell Blackfriars Theatre. Students, family, and staff packed in to support the 70-plus girls and their love of dance.
The PC Dance Club is a student-run organization developed with the goal of giving all PC students the opportunity to dance throughout their college years. No experience is necessary to participate, and they welcome dancers from all genres.
The show featured dances of different styles including tap, lyrical, and hip-hop. The show started with a number which featured all the student choreographers and executive board members. Choreographed by Club Publicist Emily Shade ’20, the opening song “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!” set the stage for the rest of the show. Brooke Douglass ’21 executed a beautiful aerial across the stage, which astonished the crowd. Other performances included a tap dance to Ed Sheeran’s “What Do I Know,” a lyrical number to “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes, and a jazz number to “Bennie and the Jets,” choreographed by Molly McGhee ’22.
One of the most creative dances was choreographed by Elizabeth Connor ’20 to the song “Turn All the Lights On” by T-Pain featuring Ne-Yo. All of the group dancers had glow-in-the-dark accessories on their wrists and ankles that created an unexpected light show for the audience. Dance Club provides students with the opportunity to tap into their creative side, and Connor took it to a new level.
When asked what inspired her to choreograph this dance, Connor said, “When I decided I wanted to choreograph, I knew I wanted to do something that was different and would keep the audience engaged. I choreographed ‘Turn All the Lights On’ with that idea in mind. I love this song because I feel like the beat just makes everyone want to get up and dance. I wanted all of the dancers in my dance to just have a blast on stage, and I’m so happy that they did. I am very proud of all of them!”
Douglass, who choreographed the final dance, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” said, “My two favorite things about Dance Club are the creativity that goes into the show and the amazing community of people that participate in the club. It is really unique that the club is completely student-choreographed because it allows people to use their gifts and imaginations; it is amazing to see what people come up with.”
She continued, “The community surrounding Dance Club is one of the most genuine, joyful, and supportive that I have ever known, and I am so grateful to have met so many wonderful friends through our shared love of dancing!”
Before they know it, dancers will be preparing for their spring semester show, another chance to showcase their creativity through dance, which will be in April of 2020.
Live from Providence College It’s Six Gents!
by The Cowl Editor on November 14, 2019
On-Campus
New Members Add Refreshing Personalities to the Group
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
On the night of Tuesday, November 5 at 11 p.m., hundreds of students made the trek down to the Smith Center for the Arts to support their fellow classmates and friends for the Six Gents’ Thanksgiving show.
Six Gents is Providence College’s only premier sketch comedy group on campus, and they put on multiple shows each semester. Even though the group is called Six Gents, there are actually 10 members in the group, including three new members who joined this semester.
The show began by introducing Six Gents’ new members through a skit called “Between 2 Gents.” This semester’s new members include Abbie O’Connell ’22, Jack Grosso ’22, and Sydney Cahill ‘22.
Thomas Edwards ’20 satirically interviewed the new members so that the audience could get to know them. He made jokes about O’Connell’s home of the Windy City and her animosity towards physical contact, and Grosso’s indecisiveness as he has yet to declare a major.
When Cahill came on the stage, she mentioned that she was from New York, but reluctantly confessed later that she was truly from New Jersey. This opening skit left the audience in stitches and it set the stage for the rest of the show.
Despite a few nerves before the show, O’Connell said, “I think the show went great! The sketches were really well received, and we’ve gotten a ton of great feedback. It was a blast!”
The group performed their original sketches for an hour, which included skits about Senior Ring Weekend, modern yoga classes, and the power behind being on aux.
Additionally, the cast had their own personal photographer who took staged photos of them between each skit. This little touch prompted a roar of laughter from the audience, especially when they formed a six-person pyramid just to get the perfect “candid” photo.
One of the biggest crowd-pleasers of the night was about PC’s club budget allocation. The skit poked fun at Six Gents’ limited budget of $850 alongside other PC Clubs. They made jokes regarding the fact that PC Republicans received $1000 more than PC Democrats and mocked the enormous sums of money that BOP and Friars Club receive.
Six Gents is a unique club on campus for many reasons, but their size is something that distinguishes them from other clubs. With only 10 members, Six Gents is known for being a very tight-knit group. “To me, Gents is all about just having a place to sort of goof off and express myself. It’s so much fun bonding with all the other Gents and learning from them, and I’m super excited to keep working on our future performances,” said O’Connell.
The show ended with a standing ovation from the audience, and students left with high spirits.
Members have weekly meetings to rehearse their skits, and performances are held in Angell Blackfriars Theatre in Smith Hall every few months. Keep an eye out for more late-night shows coming later in the semester, and do not miss a chance for some free laughs.
Looking Forward to the 2019 AMAs
by The Cowl Editor on November 7, 2019
Arts & Entertainment
Taylor Swift Slated to Dominate the Ceremony
by: Anne DeLello ’20 and Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Thanksgiving is not the only thing to look forward to in November, as the American Music Awards are also quickly approaching. On Nov. 24, both performers and nominees will attend the awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.
This year’s AMAs will use the performances to honor the music of the last decade.
Not only will there be nominees present, but there are some exciting performances to anticipate as well. Selena Gomez is slated to perform at the AMAs, and it will be her first televised performance since 2017. At those awards, she sang her hit song “Wolves.” Gomez recently released new music that has climbed the charts. “Lose You to Love Me” is the first solo single that Gomez has released that has broken the Billboard Hot 100 since her single “Back to You” was put on the charts in 2018. Fans across the country can hope to see her sing her newest single live on her return to television at the awards.
Another performer at the awards will be Taylor Swift. Not only will she be performing songs from her album Lover that was released in September, but she is said to be performing a variety of her songs to celebrate the fact that she will be accepting the Artist of the Decade award at the AMAs. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Swift will deliver a performance to celebrate the biggest hits of her 13-year career.”
After receiving the Artist of the Decade award, Swift will be among impressive company with previous winners: Garth Brooks ‘90, Michael Jackson ’80, Stevie Wonder ‘70, The Beatles ‘60 and Elvis Presley ‘50. In a statement, Dick Clark Productions Executive Mark Bracco said, “Taylor’s impact on music this decade is undeniable. We’re thrilled to honor her as our Artist of the Decade.”
Swift got her start in 2003 when she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue her country music career. She became the youngest artist ever to sign with now Sony Music Group at the age of 14. In 2006, Swift released her debut self-titled album which peaked at number five on the Billboard Top 200.
As seen through her discography, Swift refuses to put out an album that is the same as her last one. Starting as a country acoustic guitar singer with roots at the Bluebird Café in Nashville, Swift has transitioned to being an up-tempo pop diva who sells out stadium tours in less than an hour. The Reputation Stadium Tour grossed $345.7 million which was a 38 percent jump from her 2015 1989 World Tour, which pulled in $250.7 million.
In terms of the American Music Awards, Swift has taken home 23 AMAs in total since winning her first in 2008 for Favorite Country Female Artist. Last year she won four awards, including Tour of the Year and Artist of the Year. History could be made at this year’s awards night as Swift has the potential to surpass Michael Jackson’s record for most AMA wins of all time, currently standing at 24 awards.
Swift is nominated for five awards, along with Lil Nas X, who is relatively new to the music scene after his hit song “Old Town Road” exploded onto the music scene in the spring of 2019.
However, these two are not even the most highly nominated artists of the night. Post Malone is nominated for seven awards, with Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande following behind him with six each. Some other notable nominees are Billy Ray Cyrus, Khalid, and Ella Mae.
There is a lot of talent present in the nominations. One category in particular that is sure to be competitive is Artist of the Year, which includes Drake, Ariana Grande, Halsey, Post Malone, and Taylor Swift.
The show will certainly be entertaining to watch, and fans of Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift can get excited for their performances. There are multiple artists lined up to win more than one award, and it is sure to be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Modern Music Promotion: How Songs Go Viral
by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019
Arts & Entertainment
Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Song Popularity
by: Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
In today’s society, everything we do is driven by social media in some way. Similarly, social media has had an enormous impact on the music industry when it comes to the promotion of songs and the way that artists interact with fans.
Social media has also changed the way music is produced, distributed, and sold through streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. The personal connection between artists and fans has been a direct source of boosted music sales in recent years. According to BuzzAngle’s 2018 Report on Music Consumption, on-demand audio stream consumption increased by 41.8% to 534.6 billion streams in 2018.
Additionally, social media has the power to make a song become an overnight sensation through shares on Instagram stories, retweets, or viral memes. Drake’s “In My Feelings” was immensely popular in 2018, as the viral “In My Feelings” dance challenge hit the internet. #inmyfeelingschallenge on Instagram has over 790,000 posts attached to it. The global movement consisted of people getting out of their car to dance to the song. Odell Beckham Jr., Ryan Seacrest, Will Smith, and countless other celebrities with an enormous following posted their version of the “In My Feelings” challenge on their individual accounts.
This trend boosted Drake’s song to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 10 weeks. “In My Feelings” broke the streaming record for the most streams in a single week with 116.2 million streams, and the viral trend over Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram was responsible.
Record labels no longer have to invest the same amount of money into promotions, as artists’ interactions with fans over the internet can be even more effective than classic radio promotions.
One of the biggest hits of 2019, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” did not blow up over radio airwaves, but on the video sharing app, TikTok. On the app, millions of creators used the song as a soundtrack to their video which made “Old Town Road” a viral hit. In an interview with Time magazine, Lil Nas X said, “When TikTok hit it, almost every day since that, the streams have been up. I credit them a lot.”
Viral social media trends have boosted songs without the artist spending a dime on promotion as artists and record labels strategically use the power of social media to boost streams and revenue.
Another example of this was Lizzo’s song “Truth Hurts.” Her song was released September 19, 2017, but took almost two years for it to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 3, 2019. “I just took a DNA test,” the opening line of her song, went viral in Netflix’s movie Something Great, prompting millions of people to stream her song, and boosting her to the top of the charts.
The ability to share songs, albums, and playlists on social media platforms has changed the music industry entirely.
PC Pep Band Enthusiastic for Upcoming Season
by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019
On-Campus
New Officers Reflect on Past Experiences
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
There is something electric about the environment of a college basketball or hockey game. Long before the opening tip-off or the first puck drop, the pep band begins to fill the building with energy and excitement in anticipation for the action to come.
The Providence College Pep Band is part of Friartown’s heart and soul, and they are excited to get back to cheering on the Friar athletes for the 2019-2020 academic year.
This year’s group is led by President Julia Balukonis ’20, Vice President Shay Toohey ’21, Secretary Maria Gentile ’22, and Treasurer Dylan Black ’20, along with two student conductors, Loretta Norton ’20 and Jenna Kornicki ’20.
Pep Band is a unique group that fills an important role on campus. When asked about the mission of the PC Pep Band, Balukonis enthusiastically responded, “In my eyes, Pep Band’s goal is to get the crowd excited at games and to support the teams while providing live music for the crowd to get pumped up. As a group, we are very focused on being an outlet for students to keep their musical interests alive and to create an environment where people can be their own creative and amazing selves. At the games, we want to entertain and be the leaders to keep the crowd engaged throughout the events. We bring spirit, energy, and heart to every game, and we hope to spread that excitement and love to the crowds!”
The PC Pep Band is an instrumental group that features full brass, saxophone, and rhythm sections. The Pep Band’s renditions of “Hey! Baby” and the “Land of 1000 Dances” are especially popular.
Along with playing at the majority of the home games, each year, the band travels with the men’s and women’s basketball teams over spring break to Madison Square Garden in New York City and Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. Additionally, in 2019, the Pep Band traveled to KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY for the Frozen Four.
When reflecting back to the 2019 Men’s Big East Tournament, Black said, “MSG was a highlight of my life. Living an hour north of NYC and being a lifelong Knicks fan, I have always wanted to go to the Garden. Playing in MSG for the Big East tournament was thus special because it was only the second time I had been there, and the band essentially got VIP entry and seating. The games were thrilling, and the band had an amazing time dressing up in capes, skirts, glitter, face paint, and whatever other crazy Friar-inspired outfits we could come up with. Being able to roam NYC in between games with the band was a memory I will never forget.” Additionally, Black mentioned that during the 2019 Frozen Four, the band “made it on TV multiple times as the game was hosted on ESPN, which was amazing because we got to represent PC on a national stage!”
For Gentile, her bandmates are much more than just that to her. She stated, “The people in pep band have quickly become my closest friends and they are some of the funniest, nicest, most accepting and welcoming people I have ever met, and I am so blessed to have met them all.” Pep Band provides the opportunity for students to continue their love of music. As Gentile explained, “Music and sports have always been some of the biggest things in my life, and Pep Band provides the opportunity to both play music and watch sports with people who love music and sports”.
If you want to catch Pep Band in action, make sure to come to the PC hockey and basketball games this year to support them, along with the varsity athletes. Students interested in the Providence College Pep Band can email pcpepband@gmail.com for more information.
Late Night Madness: A Slam Dunk
by The Cowl Editor on October 10, 2019
Arts & Entertainment
John Legend Steals Show With Smooth Popular Tunes
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Thousands of Providence College students decked out in black and white packed the buses and made their way to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center this past Saturday, October 5 for Late Night Madness, PC’s celebration of the beginning of the 2019-2020 seasons for the men’s and women’s Division I basketball teams.
Homecoming Weekend drew in thousands of students, alumni, and family members. The event has also turned into a major recruiting tool for the basketball program, attempting to pull out all the stops to sway players to choose Friartown.
The night started off with seven different student dance groups consisting of Varsity Cheerleading, Dance Team, Dance Club, Motherland & BMSA, Irish Step Dance, Dance Company, and Step Team. The group performances got the crowd on their feet for the first time that night.
Following their routine, Head Cheerleading Coach Melissa Scungio commented, “The team has been working really hard. The team is the biggest it has ever been, so it’s been a lot because we had to incorporate more people, but we have a lot of talent, and good overall people. Our seniors are really happy to end on a great note and we are so excited for this upcoming basketball season.”
Following these performances, the men’s and women’s basketball team members were introduced one by one, dancing onto the court to a song of their choice. After a few words from Women’s Basketball Coach Jim Crowley, Men’s Basketball Coach Ed Cooley came down the stairs of the student section, sending the crowd wild. As a kick off to this year’s basketball season, Coach Cooley fired up the crowd using his famous slogan, “Us. We. Together. Family. Friars! This is our town! This is our city! We are your team! Go Friars!” To close the basketball season inauguration, the Sister Sledge song “We Are Family” blasted throughout the Dunk.
Around 9:30 p.m., students sprinted down from their seats to the floor section for A Boogie wit da Hoodie’s performance. During his song “Drowning,” the men’s and women’s basketball teams were invited to be on stage right beside A Boogie. Women’s basketball forward Sophia Widmeyer ’22 said, “It was probably the most memorable night of a lot of our lives because it was just so crazy and exciting. You couldn’t see anything besides the bright lights and A Boogie. It was honestly so fun, especially to experience it with our team!” A Boogie’s performance had the student section fired up even when packed into close corners. From start to finish, there was constant energy in the room.
To end the night, headliner John Legend hit the stage and blew the crowd away with his heartwarming persona and astounding voice. Legend’s performance moved all the way from slow piano ballads including “All of Me,” to him standing on top of the piano for his neo-soul song “Green Light.” Throughout the night, Legend had everyone singing and dancing, even in the upper sections of the Dunk. Occasionally, he smoothly threw a “Go Friars” out, which resulted in immediate cheers from the audience.
This year’s change in venue to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center provided for an even bigger and better Late Night Madness Event. The entire community was able to come together and celebrate what it means to be a Friar.
Poetry, Karaoke, and the Friar Family
by The Cowl Editor on September 26, 2019
Arts & Entertainment
BOP Hosts 2019 Open Mic Night
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Although fall is fast approaching, Friartown brought a piece of summer back during the Board of Programmers’ (BOP) Open Mic Night on Slavin Lawn on Sept. 20. BOP’s Entertainment Committee, led by Sydney MacKillop ’20 along with Dan Naumec ’20, Mary Kantor ’21, Sean Breuche ’21, Estarlyn Hiraldo ’21, and Laura Cheevers ’21, began promoting the Open Mic Night a few weeks prior on Instagram and through posters hung up around campus.
Although a typical Open Mic Night consists of contestants performing either covers or original songs, many audience members were pleasantly surprised when some contestants put their own spin on their performance.
Yamel Camilo ‘23 volunteered to share two original poems. When asked what inspired him to read poems when everyone else sang a song, he replied, “Well, first of all I can’t sing, but I felt like describing the words that are universal themes like love and friendship is really inspiring to others. I feel like putting them on paper is more important to me than just singing a melody because those themes will last forever, more than a simple catchy tune.”
Megan Stenberg ’21 and Raychel Pesci ’21 took on karaoke during their Open Mic Night performance. They started a crowd sing-along with the lyrics, “If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go” from Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend.” Stenberg said, “Although we took a different approach, it’s so cool to see all of my peers who are actually really talented perform, so I think it is a great event to get everyone together and Slavin Lawn is a great place to do it too.”
Continuing the karaoke theme, Tobin Burgdorf ’21 took the stage next and performed a solo version of “Shallow,” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s Oscar-winning duet. He left the crowd in stitches with his dynamic performance. His friends even brought posters that read “Go Toby” and “A Star is Born.”
Cheevers was ecstatic when she saw how many students came to support Open Mic Night. “I am so happy the weather turned out to be so beautiful. I think we got a lot of support because of that, which is great,” she said.
Open Mic Night was a prime opportunity for performers to get comfortable on stage and get other PC students outside on Slavin Lawn amid the beginning of school stress.
Songland Renewed for Second Season
by The Cowl Editor on September 19, 2019
Film and Television
Pulling Back the Curtain on the Songwriting Process
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Ever since the year 2002, when American Idol began on Fox, America has been in love with singing competition shows. These shows seek to discover the best vocal singers in the country through a series of nationwide auditions. The power is put into the hands of the public during the later stages through phone voting. Although shows like American Idol and The Voice have grown to be family favorites for years, Dave Stewart had a unique take on the traditional singing competition.
What if I told you that you would not be driving down the highway with your best friends, belting out “Dancing Queen” by ABBA, if it was not for Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson? Who in the world are those people you may be asking? Well, those backstage assets are the songwriters.
In 2019, NBC aired a brand-new competition series called Songland. Songwriters have the power to shape the anthems and tell the stories of each generation, and this show has brought talented lyricists into the spotlight.
Songland is pulling back the curtain on the collaborative songwriting process. The show provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for talented up-and-coming songwriters to get a foot in the music industry.
Each episode consists of songwriters pitching their original songs to a panel consisting of three of the most well-respected music producers in the world: Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, and Shane McAnally. Tedder, who is known for writing iconic songs for artists such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Adele, is the lead vocalist of One Republic. Dean has written and produced songs for Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, and Usher, while McAnally has had a legendary career in country songwriting, with his best hits including “Take Your Time” by Sam Hunt and “T-Shirt” by Thomas Rhett.
Each week, one guest recording artist comes to Songland to hear unknown songwriters pitch their original songs. Four songwriters perform in front of the guest artist and the producers discuss ways to creatively adapt the song for the guest artist. Three of the songwriters are chosen to move on to the production stage, which consists of working daily with either Dean, McAnally, or Tedder to ultimately win the artist over with their song.
Once a winner is picked, the artist will record that song and it is released on all streaming platforms the minute the show comes off air. Winning songs have topped the iTunes and Billboard charts overnight, giving these unknown songwriters their first big break.
Season one featured artists including the Jonas Brothers, John Legend, Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor, will.i.am, OneRepublic, Kelsea Ballerini, Macklemore, Aloe Blacc, Old Dominion, and Leona Lewis. The artists share their knowledge of the music industry with the songwriters in their own unique ways and give out once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
During Macklemore’s episode, a songwriter named Iro presented his song “Shadow” to the panel. It immediately blew them away and that 90 second pitch completely changed Iro’s life. In response to his performance, Macklemore said, “I just want to perform this song in front of 40,000 people in Ireland. I have a vision. I see it. Songwriting is about human experience. We’re sharing this space together, we’re creating. We’re capturing the essence of humanity in audio form and that’s what it’s about. We’re trying to go give that to the world and you have that ability. You captured that in this song!”
Twelve days after filming the episode, Macklemore flew Iro out to São Paulo, Brazil to perform the song live for the first time at Lollapalooza. This unique show inspires creativity in its viewers and shows the world how your favorite song gets from song journals to your headphones.
Songland has already provided a platform for so many songwriters to jump-start their careers and has inspired creativity in millions of viewers. After a wildly successful season for both the televised broadcast and the songs, NBC has confirmed that Songland will be renewed for a second season.
Jonas Brothers Premier Happiness Begins World Tour
by The Cowl Editor on September 12, 2019
Music
Boy Band Sells out Times Union Center
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
“If you told me two years ago that I would be on this stage, I would say you’re lying. But tonight, I’m here with my brothers,” said Kevin Jonas to a nearly sold-out Times Union Center in Albany, New York on Monday, August 19.
As the lights went down and the music started “Burnin’ Up,” thousands of predominantly female audience members began screaming at the top of their lungs as childhood memories came flowing back. The Jonas Brothers have been part of the entertainment industry since their days on Disney Channel. They starred in their own show JONAS and their original movies, Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, which helped them gain a dedicated fan base. They released four studio albums from 2005 to 2009 and canceled their anticipated fifth studio album V before shocking fans with a six-year band hiatus.
The Happiness Begins World Tour by the Jonas Brothers has already been wildly successful in promoting their fifth studio album, Happiness Begins (2019), which topped the Billboard Top 200 in June of 2019. The tour began on August 7, 2019, in Miami, Florida and is set to conclude on February 22, 2020, in Paris, France.
As Joe Jonas began the concert with “I’m hot, you’re cold” from their 2008 hit single “Burnin’ Up,” the audience erupted with screams. Pyrotechnics shot up into the air as the three brothers were lifted onto the stage through star traps wearing bright orange, green, and blue suits.
Finding a happy medium between sticking to their roots and branching out to new music could not have been an easy task when they created the set list. But, of course, the Jonas Brothers did just that, adding the perfect amount of both. After playing a few songs from their new album, including “Rollercoaster,” “Cool,“ and “Only Human,” they decided to throw the show back to 2008, which truly got the audience excited.
Throughout the night, they alternated between two different stages in the arena, which gave everyone in attendance a chance to see them up close and personal. The special part about the show was the fact that they decided to play specific songs that each audience wanted to hear. They pulled suggestions from the crowd before choosing “Best Friends” and “Gotta Find You” as the nightly fan requests.
But it was ultimately Jonas Brothers classics like “That’s the Way We Roll,” “Fly with Me,“and the sensational “Lovebug” that had the audience pumped the most. The show featured over two dozen songs, each of them coupled with the audience singing along.
As the three brothers have grown up in the public eye for their entire life, the concert told a story of their life through screened visuals that showed the brothers turning into much younger versions of themselves. This added a nostalgic feel to the show as fans were also sent back to simpler days in their lives. All the background videos culminated with a final clip of Kevin Jonas with his two daughters along with the brothers performing their ultimate song of reconciliation, “Comeback.”
The show ended with the songs “Year 3000” and “Sucker,” which left the crowd smiling from ear to ear while walking out of the arena, with maybe a little hearing loss from the noise.
If you happened to miss this go-around of the Happiness Begins Tour, do not worry as you will only have to wait “A Little Bit Longer.” The Jonas Brothers will be back in the Northeast later this year. On Nov. 24, the tour will be making a “Comeback” to Boston, Massachusetts at TD Garden. If you do not already have tickets, do not “Hesitate” as it will be worth it “Every Single Time. “