CATCHY by Marce Mecalco

C A T C H Y N O V E M B E R , I S S U E 1

2 0 2 1

BLACKPINK BILLIE EILISH HARRY STYLES AND MORE INSIDE

T A Y L O R S W I F T ' S N E W E S T R E - R E L E A S E F R O M R E D

A L L T O O W E L L

‫طريقة جديدة للحالقة‬

Issue 1

CONTENTS ALL TOO WELL The re-release of her hit song from the album Red came with a surprising short film that has all the 'swifties' talking theories.

LOVE ON TOUR BY HARRY STYLES A recap of the best moments from the flong awaited tour.

BILLIE EILISH Every word counts, and Billie knows how to make a stament. Come see how she masters the art of lyric-makig at a young age.

BLACKPINK'S DDU-DU DDU-DU Craftsman Living

Newtown Store Launch

ICONIC ALBUM ART Know the backround of 5 of the best album

covers of the past decade.

S T A P L E S Editors' Note Visuals Meet Art On the Road Lyrical Geniuses Trending

Inside Albums

NOVEMBER, 2021 ISSUE 1

letter from the team

On behalf of the editor and writing team, we want to thank you for choosing Catchy as your source of pop culture news and analysis. We are passionate about music and want to show our readers that it goes beyond catchy tunes and rhyming words.

There is so much more to pop music than what people normally think. Whole teams of production are needed to put out a song, and a good one at that. We believe that music is a universal language that, no matter the cultural barriers we have between us, unite us.

We are grateful Saudi Arabia's youth has chosen to support our magazine and also the artists that put in the effort and creativity to make music that resonates with the world.

CHANCE by

The long awaited 10-minute version of All Too Well has finally come out. Read all about the love afair that inspired this tragic yet romantic story.

02 CATCHY

All Too Well (Taylor's Version) The short film that’s giving everyone something to talk about. This past November 12, Taylor Swift re-released her album Red. To recap, she’s doing this to own her music after it was purchased by Scooter Braun from Scott Borchetta in the past. This is her second

re-recording

after

her

2008

album

Fearless, released this past February.

To celebrate the re-release of “Red”, Taylor recorded a 10-minute version of one of her most iconic songs “All Too Well”, and with it, a short film written and directed by her as well. Now we are talking about some hidden easter eggs hidden in the short film and some facts regarding the song and the album. “All Too Well” is now positioned in the Top 50 for Saudi Arabia on Spotify.

We must remember that even though Taylor has never specifically said it, “All Too Well'' is a song that talks about her three-month relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal in the year 2010, and more than one track is said to be about the relationship. The short film gave us in some way more confirmation regarding the relationship thanks to the choice of casting.

03 CATCHY

the short film Sadie Sink being 19 and Dylan O'Brien being 30 years were cast to portray a young Taylor and an older Jake. At first “swifties” (Taylor Swift fans), were alarmed by the age gap. They, later on, realized that that was Miss Swift ́ scheme since her relationship with Gyllenhaal was when she was 20 and Jake was 29. At the beginning of the short film, we see one

the

most

talked-about

things

concerning the song and the relationship, THE SCARF. Swifties joke around with the scarf sometimes asking even Jake about it. In the video, this is visually represented at the beginning along with the lyrics “And I left my scarf there at your sister's house”. Here is when the relationship starts and we see a red scarf that is left behind. The scarf works as another proof of this song being about Jake thanks to pictures of Taylor with a scarf that years later Jake is seen wearing. Later in the song, the lyrics are “But you keep my old scarf from that very first week `cause it reminds you of innocence and it smells like me.” She is clearly saying that the scarf is the symbol of her and that he is not quite over her. At the end of the short film, we see “Him” watching “Her” (as the characters are named) through a window wearing the red scarf before the short film Jake y taylor con bufanda (cortesía us magazine), foto jake (cortesía just jared)

ends.

04 CATCHY

The short film is beautifully shot in 35mm by cinematographer Rina Yang. This is a parallel between this song and the music video of “22”. The video for “22” is in a similar format of 4:3 and the lyrics connect with each other. In the 10 minute version of “All Too Well” we hear “It's supposed to be fun turning twenty-one”. In the song “22” the lyrics say “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22” this connects to Taylor´s personal life regarding her experience turning 21 and now overcoming them turning 22.

Another connection between her album and the short film comes with the song “red”. Taylor uses the moments in the relationship to connect with the song, the song describes with colors how it felt to lose this relationship. When the lyrics “Losing him was blue” appear, Taylor uses the fight in which they start drifting apart and the color blue in the background. “Missing him was dark gray” and we see the aftermath of the relationship with gray elements. “Loving him was red” in one of the most intense moments surrounded by the light from a red lamp. Everything is thought about in the making of this short film.

05 CATCHY

Finally to close this article I must add the following. Taylor is releasing this version 9 years after the original 5-minute version. And in the short film, we can see this in the protagonist trying to write about the story but not being really able to do so at the particular time being. After 13 years in the story, we can see the protagonist all grown up and of course portrayed by the one and only Taylor. In this storyline, she is releasing a book called “All Too Well”. This relates to Taylor being able to release this 10-minute version after all this time. Taylor Swift is definitely one of the most important pop singer-songwriters of the century, and with time she’s grown as an artist more and more. The symbolism used in her content is very extensive and they definitely give “swifties” some codes to crack and new mysteries to solve. So now I hope you know what to answer when they ask you which is your favorite Tay Tay song and why. By Ana Pimentel

06 CATCHY

Love on Tour by Harry Styles "I’m not gonna lie, Philly. I’m in a fantastic mood.'' This is what Harry had to say at his show at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. After just a week in, fans were very excited to finally attend the Love on Tour concert, with it being cancelled twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 70s style tour was filled with memorable moments, and now that it's coming to an end on November 28th in New York, we’re going to relive them all. It is known that Harry Styles is quite the cupid, and in between songs he was dishing out dating advice to his fans. From what to text back, to knowing if he is not for you, Harry even recommended a fan to propose after a 7 year relationship. Another iconic part of the shows was the fantastic set-list he had prepared for the tour. Even though the album Fine Line had come out two years prior, fans were excited to hear them for the first time live. Some of the songs were album-favorites like We have a choice. To

Falling and Sunflower, Vol. 6. As a surprise, Harry

Live or To Exist.

also performed the hit song What Makes You

– Harry Styles

Beautiful from his former band One Direction. Plus, in the halloween show, he sang a version of Over the Rainbow in honor of the movie Wizard of OZ, as he was dressed as Dorothy.

07 CATCHY

'Harryween' Speaking of Halloween, Harry Styles had a special show planned for the holiday. It was held at Madison Square Garden in New York where some of the most influential artists have played, like Madonna and U2. The concert was called “Harryween Fancy Dress Party” and everyone was encouraged to dress up

fun

photographed

costumes. by

Many

Vogue

were

Magazine,

from versions of Harry himself to famous celebrities or movie characters.

08 CATCHY

Styles Finally, the one thing that Harry always had on his shows were stunning outfits. As Charles Bukowski once said “Style. Style is the answer to everything,” and this Styles had everyone falling in love with him all over again. Every show was a true delight as to the colorful costumes,

courtesy

Alessandro

Michele. Some of his most memorable are, of course, his Harryween costumes, a pink sequin vest which he wore to the Las Vegas’ shows (left). In tune with the 70s vibe, his wardrobe was heavily influenced by icons such as Sir Elton John and David Bowie.

The tour might end soon, but it’s one for the books. With great performance and music skills, Harry Styles will be sure to surprise us again someday with more

charismatic

what singer

fans is

love. just

This getting

started, and here at Catchy we’ll be patiently waiting for his next move.

09 CATCHY

the artist that can send emotions through her music.

BILLIE EILISH Billie at just nineteen has broken so many paradigms and stereotypes from her jump to fame with her song Ocean Eyes, written by her and her brother when she was just thirteen years old. Nevertheless, besides having her charisma, she won the charm and the love of the youngest for having songs that inspire and that success at making everyone feel identified and with their deep meanings, and so for today we´ll be talking about one of her most listened songs addressed to those that suffer or that must fight daily against themselves, named Idontwannabeyouanymore. The lyrics that are accompanied by a slow and soft tune, but that could denote sadness or fatigue caused by stress or anxiety, begins with the verse “Don´t be that way, fall apart twice a day”, which already shows a claim against a person who is unwell, who is tired and who “breaks” during the day for no apparent reason, on the other hand, despite the fact that it is not specified who or for whom the claim is directed, if we analyze the information that Billie has always given us about the importance of knowing how to understand what depression and anxiety are like, it can be connoted that in reality, the verse is a claim on her part directed towards herself and towards the emotional adversities that she is forced to face every day.

10 CATCHY

On the other hand, in the verse “hands getting cold, losing feeling is getting old, was I made from a broken mold?”, At the beginning of the verse it can be related to the cold such as loneliness or anxiety that usually cause a feeling of Another verse that has great emotional

coldness, and that will be corroborated later with the line

force is "Got a mood that you wish you

that refers to the action of losing one's feelings as such,

could sell", which when translated it can be

this is usually caused in the face of a great amount of

understood that the emotional state that she

stress in which the body wears out and in response to a

feels and carries would simply wish to make

possible trauma it "breaks", so it could be denoted that

it disappear or in the case of the verse "sell".

due to the excess of anxiety and depression that the singer

This could also be understood as when a

has endured all her life, her emotional state has been

person has a great amount of pressure on

affected to the point of generating a feeling of insensitivity

himself and wants to remove that weight

or anesthetizing; In order to reduce the emotional expense

from him at any cost.

of a trauma or an event that generates a great amount of stress, the discomfort that can be generated to the body.

Furthermore, at the chorus of the song, it can be admired that it´s a verse addressed firstly

the

models,

telling

that

"If

teardrops could be bottled, there´d be swimming pools filled by models", this making reference that if hypothetically tears could be stocked, then probably the job that would fill the most, would be modeling, since those that are dedicated to that profession, first are forced to live by the public eye and to mold into the stereotype or the "perfect" image according to the thought of merchandising, nevertheless, this takes away their own identity, forcing them to be in constant change, physically as mentally just to sell a product to the people.

11 CATCHY

Later, in the same verse, the line “Was I made from a

Finally to conclude, the verse of “I don´t wanna be

broken mold?” Can be seen, a line that has a great

you” refers to the emotional exhaustion of a person to

emotional weight for anyone, it refers to whether at some

the point of wanting to stop being themselves, even

point a person stops to ask why inside everything a

for a moment, and cause such exhaustion, the people

world that has such high stereotypes and standards; to

can get "lost" or go to a very "dark" place from which

demonstrate "beauty" and "perfection" in humans,

they just want to get out and rest even for just a few

people have so many imperfections, or because oneself

minutes, but they manage to escape from themselves

cannot be "perfect" referring to whether we were born

and their problems, or otherwise, they will feel that

with some error or if we came into the world "broken"

they will have lost everything and themselves along

and that's why we can't find a way to improve.

the way.

Again in one of the following verses we have the line of "Only you know the way that I break", this refers to the fact that nobody really knows or manages to feel one hundred percent what happens in the life of another individual,

matter

how

much

That

they

are

understanding or that they are close, but it is denoted that each one has their struggles and only they know what they are fighting against and that they are losing in that fight, for some, it is fighting with themselves, for others, it is fighting for having the energy to live another day, among many other things that everyone can suffer in silence and not show any kind of sign on the outside.

By Arantza Muro

12 CATCHY

BLACKPINK'S DDU-DU DDU-DU A guide to understanding the k-pop hit single. The single Ddu-Du Ddu-Du by the South Korean group BlackPink is the first comeback based on a girl-crush concept in the k-pop industry. It's basically the infatuation between women, idealized due to the admiration or longing that occurs when wanting to be like that person because she is a woman who is sure of herself, but without fear of being fragile and delicate. Therefore, Jenny and Lisa represent the black side, symbolizing power and trust, while Jisoo and Rose represent the pick side, symbolizing the fragile and delicate side of women. In appeal of the #LISA on breaking 2 Guinness World Records. L: “I was speechless. My mom texted me congratulations! I was like oh my god, no way! I was so so happy & I wanted to thank my blinks all around the world... -@BLACKPINKGLOBAL

black side, scenes of female empowerment are shown with the use of the katana by Lisa and the military tank by Jenny, but without neglecting the conceptualization of a rich, feminine and elegant woman. On the other hand, the pick part is reinforced by the feminine sensitivity where we can see how the vocalists Rose and Jisoo make direct contact with their fragile part by seeing themselves reflected with loose and elegant dresses which provide them with a pure and angelic appearance.

13 CATCHY

We can also see scenic fragments that reference the western artist of the time Taylor Swift to personify the perfect girl-crush model. These iconographic elements lie in Rose's swing, Lisa's money vault, as well as Jenny's jewels and throne, which also appear in Taylor Swift's music video Look What You Made Me Do to refer to a successful woman. that he has achieved all that he has by his own means. The Ddu-Du Ddu-Du video is inspired by the BlackPick group's revolutionary concept of doing female k-pop for women, while continuing to criticize the stigmas of the South Korean industry and the sweet concepts of other groups by now showing a hostile female figure and aggressive but deeply in love. These new ideals are represented at the beginning of the video where we can see the four members of the group dance on the base of a pessary,

which

represents

the

agglomeration

conservative ideals that do not allow people to see beyond what is happening in their own head, like fish which can see us beyond their environment. The conceptualization of the feminine ideal is reinforced by the participation of the fox Fennec which symbolizes leadership and independence. He is also known for knowing how to recognize false people from sincere ones. On the other hand, the constant fight against adversity is represented with the vocalist Jisso who is in the middle of a stage with power cuts and in another scene being pointed out by several cell phones in a gun position to refer to the haters. However, the message is always reinforced with a scene of female empowerment by using wisteria, flowers generally of purple hue that symbolize the growth of a beautiful flower through chaos because she possesses humility and strengthens to move forward.

By Abril Ordáz

ICONIC ALBUM ART Over the last 10 years, pop artists have delivered some iconic album covers filled with meaning and narrative. Here are some, not in order, of our top album art that have come out since 2010.

by Marcela Mecalco

15 CATCHY

Born to Die by Lana del Rey

Torches by Foster the People

This is Lana's second studio

The cover was designed by

2012. The cover has this

Young and Sick, a music

pastel colors that alude to

and art project in Los

peacefulness and

Angeles and New York City.

contentment, adding to the

The characters were used

relazing tone of the songs.

as a motif in all their music, videos and art.

The designers drew inspiration from their neopsychedelic style of music, videos and artwork. It is a direct reference to Gorillaz’ Demon Days.

album released on January,

She is the main character of this piece. With a 1940's hairstyle, she establishes the vintage look that she's most known for.

If we go deeper, we see a somewhat summer scenery. This juxtaposes to the sad and heartbreaking lyrics and look on her face.

Viva la vida or death and all his friends by Coldplay Designed by Coldplay themselves and Tappin Gofton, the cover is essentially the painting by Eugène Delacroix, titled 'Liberty Leading the People', altered with white paint. This choice was because of their song "Viva la Vida" that talks about the end of a monarchy. In fact, the whole album is made up of themes ranging from anti-war, lust, and political commentary

16 CATCHY

Honorable Mentions

1989 by Taylor Swift The cover was shot by accident on Polaroid, but it fits the 80s aesthetic from which the artist drew inspiration in her music.

Sweetener by Ariana Grande

This was Miss Grande's first

Taylor Swift is shown only

album to be in full colors,

from her nose down, a

because the album is all about

popular pose in book

taking something bad and

covers. This only lets you

making it better. Also, we can

see her red lip, a classic

see Grande is upside down, to

from her and you can

what she explained that she had

recognize her almost

been feeling 'upsidedown' for a

instantly.

while. Looking closer at this seaminlgy album, it represents a new chater in the singer's life.

Youngblood by 5 Seconds of Summer

Electra Heart by Marina and the Dimonds

Travel in luxury

"Most of the people who write pop music were outsiders at some time in their life." -MIKA

for more pop.

is Th th a nk ng y ou for readi

se CATC l HY. We'l