Tag: Grace Whitman ’22
Late Night Madness 2019: Moving to the Dunk
by The Cowl Editor on August 29, 2019
Arts & Entertainment
Providence College Plans Legendary Community Event
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
This year, Providence College has booked the singer-songwriter John Legend to headline Late Night Madness on Oct. 5 during Homecoming Weekend. John Legend, best known for his songs “All of Me” and “Love Me Now,” is one of 15 Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony (EGOT) winners.
John Legend’s mix of contemporary R&B, pop, and soul music will contribute to an inspirational performance.
Throughout his career, John Legend has made his philanthropic efforts a priority and has always used his platform to make a difference. In one of his newest songs, “Preach,” he writes, “I can’t sit and hope, I can’t just sit and pray, that I can find a love, when all I see is pain falling to my knees and though I do believe I can’t just preach, baby, preach.”
John Legend refuses to let his platform go to waste as he continuously takes the initiative and acts for the change that he wants to see in the world. His impactful lyrics alone describe an ideal world full of beauty and love.
Meanwhile, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, best known for his hits “Drowning” and “Look Back at It,” is set to open Madness this year. With spirits as high as they always are at Late Night Madness, A Boogie will be sure to pump up the crowd and set the stage for the headlining performance.
Late Night Madness has been a PC tradition ever since men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino brought it to Friartown in 1985. In the past, PC has brought a wide array of celebrities to perform, MC, or speak at the event. From Jalen Rose and Big Sean in 2014, to Ludacris in 2015, to Shaquille O’Neal in 2016, PC has never failed to surprise the Friar Family. The names that the school brings in to perform at Madness draw in most of the student body. It is the one time where school spirit is combined with music, sports, and inspiration.
This year’s party is moving to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for the first time ever, and the entire Friar family is invited. New Student Family and Homecoming Weekend will take place on the same October 4-6 weekend.
Late Night Madness will kick-off the 2019-20 men’s and women’s basketball seasons and will include player introductions and competitions with special performances by PC spirit groups. Seeing that the PC basketball program and the Dunkin’ Donuts Center have storied histories dating back to the 1970s, it is only fitting that Madness becomes a part of that tradition.
Hopefully, this venue change leads to an even stronger relationship between PC and the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The venue itself obviously has a much larger capacity than the Peterson Recreation Center, allowing for Madness to accommodate the greater Friar Family of alumni, fans, and community members. Moreover, the Dunkin’ Donuts Center has sound technology, stage space, and a good reputation, which could lead to booking bigger names in the future. The joint venture certainly opens up the door for big performers in the coming years.
Party In the Desert: Highlights of Coachella 2019
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
Variety
Influencers and Musicians Dominate Festival Scene
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
The 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California was an event to remember. The festival highlighted so many aspects of the music industry through inspiring debut performances, surprise appearances, and unforgettable headlining acts. The best pop, country, hip-hop, and indie artists took to the hot Colorado Desert of California to entertain over 100,000 people.
For the 20th year of Coachella, Goldenvoice went all out for their lineup. Music fans gathered to hear performances by artists on multiple stages, including sets by Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, Khalid, Zedd, Kacey Musgraves, Billie Eilish, BLACKPINK, Janelle Monáe, Ariana Grande and dozens of new and upcoming artists like Social House.
Country-pop crossover star, and Grammy Album of the Year artist Kacey Musgraves represented country music well at Coachella, performing her hit songs “Rainbow” and “High Horse.” Additionally, 17-year-old pop star Billie Eilish brought her signature raspy vocals, adding to her sinister persona, which left the crowd in awe.
The surprise guests that the artists brought on stage truly made the festival one to remember. Cardi B seems to be everywhere, and Coachella was no exception. Cardi B made a surprise appearance on DJ Snake’s set. She performed her verse in “Taki Taki” alongside other surprise guests Selena Gomez and Ozuna.
Ariana Grande brought some huge surprise guests between the two weekends, starting with the 2000s boyband *NSYNC. *NSYNC came out to perform a part of Ariana’s hit song “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored,” which samples their song “It Makes Me Ill.” They also performed *NSYNC’s 1997 hit “Tearin’ Up My Heart.” Nicki Minaj also joined Grande for two of her songs, “Bang Bang” and “Side To Side.” During week two of Coachella, Grande closed the event by bringing out an impromptu guest, Justin Bieber. This was Bieber’s first live performance in two years and he also teased his new album.
Katy Perry also made an appearance during ZEDD’s set performing their song “365” during weekend one while Alessia Cara and Maren Morris joined him for weekend two.
Although Coachella’s roots are grounded in music, it has become way more than that in recent years for all types of art. It features art installations by artists like Robert Bose, who is known for his balloon chain. This consists of an interactive balloon chain which is hundreds of meters long and floats hundreds of feet above concertgoers.
Coachella has also become a major fashion hotspot for influencers to show off their outfits. It is packed with celebrities, from the artists who are performing to stars who just want to hang out. This year, some of the biggest celebrities in attendance included Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Vanessa Hudgens, and Madison Beer.
Coachella 2019 was one that people will remember forever as its lineup had a piece in nearly every corner of the charts.
WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP WHERE DO WE GO?
by The Cowl Editor on April 11, 2019
Music
Rising Star Billie Eilish Releases New Album
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Billie Eilish O’Connell, more commonly known as Billie Eilish, started gaining attention last year with the release of her debut single “Ocean Eyes,” which went viral overnight. She instantly began gaining fans of all ages, and she has had over one billion streaming plays. As an artist often compared to Lorde and Lana del Ray, Eilish has taken pop music down a different, dark, and downbeat route. The Los Angeles native is only 17-years-old, but her lyrics and voice are far more mature.
Coming off her early success, Eilish’s fans have been patiently waiting for her highly anticipated album. The 17-year-old singer-songwriter released her debut album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, on March 29. The album is on pace to be the second most streamed album in 2019 behind Ariana Grande’s thank u, next. Her vocals are soft and raspy, which adds to the sinister sound of the album. The lyrics are very powerful and mature for such a young artist and include topics such as drugs, homosexuality, suicide, and more.
Eilish released four singles before the release of her 14-song album. Her song “Bury a Friend” has over 210 million streams on Spotify. A recurring line that portrays the message of the song is found in the chorus when she sings, “I wanna end me,” a clear allusion to her suicidal thoughts and mental illness.
“When the party’s over” is the most successful song she had on this album and already has over 330 million streams on Spotify. The song has a very sad vibe, which carries on the common theme of heartbreak and love in her songs.
Another single on the album, “i wish you were gay,” was released on March 4 and is about how she was in love with a boy who had no interest in liking her back. She expresses in the song that she wishes he was gay so that she could blame the fact that he was not interested in her on his sexual orientation.
When asked about sadness in her life in an interview with Apple Music, Eilish said, “Depression has sort of controlled everything in my life. My whole life I’ve always been a melancholy person. That’s my default.” She is able to express her raw emotions through her music which has changed her life completely.
Additionally, she recently shared her experience of living with Tourette Syndrome during a guest appearance on The Ellen Show. “It’s something I’ve lived with my whole life, and it’s not anything different,” she said. “I just never said anything because I didn’t want that to define who I was. I didn’t want it to be ‘Billie Eilish the artist with Tourette’s.’” Going public about her diagnosis has created a closer bond with her fans.
Eilish is now the youngest female solo act in UK chart history to debut at No. 1 on the official UK albums chart. She is changing music and she is just getting started.
Litany for the Long Moment
by The Cowl Editor on April 4, 2019
On-Campus
Development of Western Civilization Welcomes Mary-Kim Arnold
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
On March 27, the American Studies and Development of Western Civilization departments welcomed the successful poet, prose writer, and visual artist, Mary-Kim Arnold. Arnold’s work has been featured in several literary and art journals, including Tin House, The Georgia Review, Hyperallergic, and The Rumpus, where she was the essays editor from 2013-2015. She was born in Seoul, South Korea and was raised in New York. She holds graduate degrees from Brown University and the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Arnold currently lives in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Students in their DWC Colloquiua are currently reading her book Litany for the Long Moment. About 100 students were present at the lecture in Guzman Hall. The book is based mainly on Arnold’s experience trying to discover her family history through a reality show that connects adopted children with members of their birth families. Simultaneously, Arnold discusses a day-by-day recount of her journey back to Korea. Regarding the format of the piece, neither the questions nor days are in chronological order, and she includes many images of her young self, documents, and pictures from a Korean textbook. Arnold began the lecture by reading the prologue from her book, so that students could understand her journey from the author’s perspective.
After reading the prologue and sharing some new poems that she has been working on, the floor was open for students to ask questions. The first question was, “How did your family react reading your book for the first time?” Arnold responded that her family members that are still living have been very supportive, generous, and kind after reading the book. She mentioned that if her mother was still alive, she probably would not have written it, but her relationships with other relatives were stable, and they recognized that it was her story that she needed to tell.
The next student asked, “After writing this book, have you been drawn to other authors who were adopted, too?” Arnold gave a very honest answer, saying that she was reluctant to write about her adoption and never had an “adoption community.” Writing this book opened her eyes to many people that are affected by adoption. She mentioned that so many people have reached out to her to share their similar stories. “It was a really incredible gift that I got out of it unexpectedly.” Coincidentally, there was a student who had been adopted in the audience, and she shared how she was able to relate to Arnold’s book.
Ruby Daley ’21 said, “I think that Arnold did a beautiful job explaining the structure of her text and reasoning behind her words. She was open to any questions and gave great insights to what it is like writing about oneself. I definitely appreciate her work even more after hearing her lecture.”
Bailing Out Aunt Becky: Operation Varsity Blues
by The Cowl Editor on March 21, 2019
Variety
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Hollywood actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin are among 50 people charged in a $25 million college entrance exam cheating scheme.
The alleged scheme was designed to get less qualified students admitted to elite universities as recruited athletes, regardless of their athletic abilities, by using proctors to cheat on entrance exams like the SAT and the ACT.
An FBI investigation code-named Operation Varsity Blues uncovered a network of wealthy parents who paid thousands of dollars to a California resident named William Rick Singer.
Singer has been in the college preparation business since 1994, and in 2007 he founded The Edge College & Career Network, LLC, also known as “The Key,“ a college preparation organization. His previous work in the college preparation business allowed him to form relationships with coaches at elite schools like Yale University, The University of Southern California (USC), Georgetown University, and many others.
Actress Lori Loughlin, best known for her role as Rebecca Donaldson Katsopolis, or Aunt Becky, on Full House, was released on a $1 million bond after appearing in federal court in Los Angeles. Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer and USC alum Mossimo Giannulli, are accused of paying $500,000 to get their two daughters admitted to USC as recruits to the school’s rowing team. Giannulli allegedly emailed pictures of his daughters on indoor rowing machines to create a fake athletic recruiting profile.
Olivia Jade, one of Loughlin’s daughters, is a social media influ=encer with more than 1.9 million subscribers on YouTube.
On August 14, 2018, she posted a video on her YouTube Channel of her saying, “I don’t know how much of school I am going to attend…I do want the experience of game days, partying. I don’t really care about school.”
Additionally, Olivia Jade was a partner with Sephora Collection as she created an exclusive makeup palette. In a statement on March 14, Sephora told NBC News, “After careful review of recent developments, we have made the decision to end the Sephora Collection partnership with Olivia Jade, effective immediately.“
Huffman posted bail at $250,000. She is accused of paying $15,000 disguised as a charitable donation so her daughter’s SAT score could be rigged.
But not everyone who worked with Mr. Singer’s organization has been accused of committing a crime. Professional athletes like Phil Mickelson and Joe Montana admitted they used Singer’s company legally. Mickelson composed a tweet saying, “Our family, along with thousands of others, used Rick Singer’s company to guide us through the college admission process. We are shocked by the revelations of these events. Obviously, we were not part of this fraud, our kids would disown us if we ever tried to interfere.” Mickelson’s daughter was the valedictorian and president of her high school class and now attends Brown University. Thousands of other hard-working and deserving students used Singer’s organization to legally get into elite schools, but those kids allowed Singer to become more well-known and form connections, ultimately leading to the massive scheme.
‘I’m a Sucker for You’
by The Cowl Editor on March 7, 2019
Music
The Jonas Brothers’ Comeback Six Years After Their Breakup
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
S.O.S! On March 1, 2019, the Jonas Brothers reunited for an official comeback as the band released their new single, “Sucker,” with a corresponding music video. The song immediately became the No. 1 single on iTunes and the No.1 trending video on YouTube with millions watching at the stroke of midnight.
“Sucker” is the group’s first song in six years. It comes after they shocked their fans with the announcement of their breakup in 2013. Three weeks after their public statement, the brothers made an appearance on Good Morning America to explain their split to the public. Nick Jonas, who had proposed the breakup, stated, “We feel like we’re best suited to do our own individual things, all things we’re passionate about, and choose to be brothers first.”
The brothers admitted that they had been fighting over just about everything, including where they wanted to take the overall image of the band. Kevin added that “we’re family first, and that’s always been our main priority.” Since the breakup, Joe Jonas began his pop group, DNCE, known for its song, “Cake by the Ocean,” Nick began his solo career and released his hit single, “Jealous,” and Kevin focused on his family life.
Although Nick was the one who initiated the breakup, he was also the one who suggested getting back together. In an interview with Sirius XM Radio, Nick said, “We started spending a lot of time together and we all kind of felt that there was a magic and there is a magic when we’re together that we missed.” He continued, “We felt like we wanted to feel that magic again, so we talked about it and after a few conversations and a bit of healing that needed to be done with us as family, we all came to the decision to do this again.”
As for the trending “Sucker” music video, the Jonas Brothers took a unique approach as the “J- Sisters”—Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sophie Turner, and Danielle Jonas—appear in the video. Danielle and Kevin got married in 2009, while Sophie and Joe announced their engagement in 2017. Priyanka and Nick were recently married in December of 2018.
The video, which was filmed at the Hatfield House in Hatfield, England, features colorful, sumptuous scenes of the three couples together at a huge estate as the brothers sing about being “suckers” for their love. The song shows a perfect combination of the vibe of DNCE, Nick’s solo career, and Kevin bringing so much heart into the music.
As for the future of the newly reformed Jonas Brothers, Joe Jonas shared in an interview with Elvis Duran on the Morning Show that the band has 30 to 40 songs, as well as a full studio album already recorded.
Recapping the Grammys
by The Cowl Editor on February 28, 2019
Music
How Female Artists Dominated the Music Scene of 2018
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
The 61st annual Grammy Awards took place on February 10, 2019 honoring the best in the music industry this past year. The Recording Academy also recognized legendary achievements in the music industry and featured performances by prominent artists.
During the 2018 Grammy Awards, the only woman who was presented a solo Grammy award during the live telecast was Alessia Cara, who took home Best New Artist. After the show, The Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said women did not win very many Grammys because they needed to “step up” creatively.
This year, however, things changed completely. Although rap stars Kendrick Lamar and Drake led the list of nominees for the 2019 Grammy Awards, there was a huge group of female artists right behind them. This was monumental considering the friction regarding diversity and gender representation which wracked the ceremony in the past.
The winner of 2019 Best New Artist went to pop singer Dua Lipa. When accepting her award, Lipa said, “I just wanted to say how honored I am to be nominated alongside so many incredible female artists this year, because I guess this year we really stepped up!” This is just one example of the women who dominated at the award show.
Between the surprise appearance from Michelle Obama, host and 15-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys, Kacey Musgraves, Camila Cabello, Janelle Monáe, and a tribute to the MusiCares Person of the Year Dolly Parton, which featured Miley Cyrus, Maren Morris, and Little Big Town, just the first hour of the broadcast was a true celebration of female voices.
As for the biggest awards, country artist Musgraves’ Golden Hour sealed the night by being crowned Album of the Year. She beat out some of the biggest names in music including Drake, H.E.R, Brandi Carlile, Post Malone, Janelle Monáe, and Kendrick Lamar. Additionally, Musgraves won three other Grammy Awards for Best Country Song, Best Country Album, and Best Country Solo Performance.
Other category winners included Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” becoming the first-ever rap track to win both the Song of the Year and Record of the Year categories.
Additionally, Cardi B is now the only solo woman to win Best Rap Album for Invasion of Privacy. Cardi B beat out the late Mac Miller, who was nominated for his album Swimming. Although many were disappointed that Miller did not win, his family did share that they wanted Cardi to win the Grammy if Miller did not.
One of the most unforgettable moments of the night was Lady Gaga’s electrifying rendition of “Shallow” from A Star Is Born. The song was nominated for the prestigious Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Other show stopping-moments included Parton and her goddaughter Cyrus performing “Jolene” bringing back cherished memories of their time together on Cyrus’ hit show Hannah Montana.
Music’s biggest night of the year brought a memorable show to viewers from around the country driven by its female presenters and performers.
Ten Stars & “Seven Rings”: thank u, next
by The Cowl Editor on February 14, 2019
Music
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
The American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande released her 12-track album, thank u, next, on Friday, February 8. The deep and emotional album followed a tough year for the pop singer who experienced the death of her ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller, and a break-up with ex-fiancé Pete Davidson. Grande struggled to cope while going to therapy as a result of the trauma endured from a 2017 terrorist attack at her concert in Manchester, England which killed 22 people and injured hundreds.
The 25-year-old demonstrated unique maturity as she powered on with perseverance, grace, and strength, releasing back-to-back #1 hit singles, “thank u, next“ and “7 Rings.“
Following Sweetener by six months, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, thank u, next had the potential to feel rushed. Instead, the brilliant album shows wit and honesty. Themes of self-discovery and self-care run throughout the album, but there are also many moments of playfulness and humor.
Grande’s eighth song on the album, “ghostin,“ is presumably about Grande apologizing to Davidson while simultaneously mourning the loss of Mac Miller. She sings, “I know that it breaks your heart/When I cry again over him.” “Ghostin,“ shows a more emotional and vulnerable side of Grande among the other bolder tracks.
Later in the song, Grande sings, “Though I wish he were here instead.” Grande says thank you to Miller for being there for her, although, for his sake, she should have let him go.
The last song on the album, “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored,“ presents the upbeat side of the singer. Grande told Twitter, “I added a fun one (lol) to replace one that I decided I don’t think wanna share w the world.”
Additionally, she released a music video for the track on the night of the album’s release. On the surface, the lyrics suggest it is about wanting someone who is taken, but many fans believe there may be a hidden message in the video.
At the end, Grande kisses the girl in the music video that looks just like her instead of the boy. Some fans saw this as an example of self-love and getting out of a relationship she was not to be happy in. The song plays with Grande’s themes of self-discovery and appreciation even in the most upbeat part of the album.
The pop star has touched millions with her newest album full of diverse tracks, which exhibit strength and humility with unique instrumentals, melodies, and lyrics.
The Hype of The Masked Singer
by The Cowl Editor on February 7, 2019
Film and Television
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Based on the popular South Korean TV show, King of Mask Singer, The Masked Singer aired on Jan. 2 on Fox where 9.4 million people tuned in to watch. The show set the record for the highest number of viewers for a variety program in seven years and proved to be Fox’s most-watched unscripted debut in 11 years.
The contestants are not average individuals; they are celebrities who have 65 Grammy nominations, 16 multi-platinum albums, 16 Emmy nominations, nine Broadway shows, four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and four Super Bowl titles combined, singing their hearts out in extremely elaborate and obscure costumes.
Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong, and Nicole Scherzinger serve as judges with Nick Cannon as the host. They do not play an essential role regarding the outcome of The Masked Singer, as they watch the pre-recorded clue packages and the performances while shouting crazy non-possibilities. The judges’ mostly unhelpful commentary, such as “I liked your liveliness!” provides additional entertainment for viewers.
After the competitors sing and reveal their clues, the live crowd eliminates one singer who then takes off their mask and reveals who they are. Unlike other competitive talent shows, such as American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, and The Voice, viewers at home do not determine who the winner will be.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight, Thicke stated, “My 90-year-old grandfather is watching and guessing, and my 8-year-old son, so we‘ve got four generations. As an entertainer, it‘s really nice to have something the whole family can enjoy and be a part of.”
Living in a world where people obsess over celebrities, individuals from all generations can bond over the mystery of The Masked Singer. Every Wednesday, #maskedsingerfox trends on Twitter as fans all over the country tweet about who they think is under the mask or about how terrible the judge’s guesses are.
The Masked Singer captivates the audience and those watching at home, leaving them with many questions that motivate them to tune into the show the following week and the week after that. Since viewers do not know who is under the mask until they are eliminated, The Masked Singer creates a genius season-long cliffhanger.
Get ready for more mystery, celebrities, and crazy costumes because Fox just renewed The Masked Singer for a second season.