T he L og thelog@taboracademy.org
Tabor Academy’s Student Newspaper Volume 93, Number 6
April 2019
Bridging the Gap
A New Microphone for the Student Voice by Leah Kleinfeld
Tabor’s Student Health and Wellness Advisory Group (SHWAG) made its debut at All School Meeting in the beginning of April, opening up a new avenue for the student voice to be heard. The group is comprised of current sophomores and juniors, with SHWAG proctors Riley Suh ’20, Yoyo Tobunluenpop ’20, and Lainie Cederholm ’21 leading the initiative. According to its mission statement, SHWAG intends to “provide accurate information and a safe space” in order to educate and connect the community, promoting a “happy, healthy, honest environment at Tabor Academy.” Elaborating on the mission statement, Sophomore Class Dean Rebecca Parente explains, “The goal of the group is to take feedback from the community and educate, support and encourage safe and healthy lifestyles on campus.” She also remarked that she is “thrilled to be along for the ride” as the Student Health and Wellness Advisory Group continues to chart its path. First on the group’s agenda is tackling the student body’s understanding of Safe Haven policies: how and when to invoke Safe Haven, and the safest way to go about it. A game show skit based on Safe Haven policies and the myths around it is in the works for All School. Also on the horizon for this group is a monthly newsletter dedicated to discussing different facets of health: managing stress, sex education, the importance of sleep, and many others.
Director of Health Services Julie Przybyszweski said she hoped to “inform Tabor programming from the student view of the health and wellness needs of the community.” And Meagan Bowcock, R.N., added that she would “really like to have a bridge between what the students feel is important health information” and Tabor’s health resources. It’s not only the adults involved who are motivated to make SHWAG a strong connector of the community. Proctor Yoyo Tobunluepop ’20 said that after experiencing a close personal loss, he realized that Tabor’s support system is strong, but also that it was completely adult-led until SHWAG. Yoyo wants to support those going through grief and other hardships and “make them feel better.” Member Carey McCollester ’21 said that she’s excited for SHWAG “because it will give health at Tabor a more connected basis in the students.” In the words of Alex Strand ’20, the members of SHWAG are hoping to “see a change in the Tabor community and be part of a group that is making Tabor a better place.” The Student Health and Wellness Advisory Group has set its sights high, starting strong with their Safe Haven policy and preparing to boldly tackle topics that will promote positive change, health, wellness, and happiness for every person in the Tabor community.
Warmer Weather, Warmer Waters
Tabor’s Waterfront in the Spring by Jack Marshall
Please recycle this paper.
Opinion, pps. 2–3 Reviews, back page
Photo by Photo Pool
Ah, springtime at Tabor! The best time of year: warm weather, outdoor sports, and no more exams. Some seniors may say it’s the saddest time of year as they are getting ready to depart the wonderful place they have called home for the past few years, but many still say it’s the greatest time to be at Tabor. The Log asked a few seniors to share their best advice on how to use the most beloved part of Tabor: the waterfront. According to Tali O’Leary ’19, “We love open waterfront on Sundays in the spring; I get to teach my friends who have limited sailing abilities how to sail.” This is one of the more popular activities since Tabor has all of the resources to make an enjoyable day on the water. Tali said, “Some of my friends were not as strong at sailing as I was, but we had fun learning how to tack and quickly moved into man-overboard drills.” Sign out a sailboat or kayak with a Waterfront Proctor, and you’re good to go! Waterfront Proctors, like senior Harper McKerrow, patrol the waterfront to keep everyone safe and happy. For those who don’t want to sail, Harper notes that swimming and fishing are “probably some of the more relaxing waterfront activities.” So, take advantage of this special place all spring; it is the best, and it will soon be gone!
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To Prompose or Not to Prompose? by Abby LaCasse
Photo by Photo Pool
As spring approaches, many seniors are thinking about the logistics of Senior Prom. For many it is an exciting time, picking out a dress or a suit, planning prom tables, and deciding who to go with. Yet the highlight of prom season for many is witnessing and experiencing promposals. There are many ways to ask someone to prom: a simple posing of the question, an elaborate public announcement, or a clever pick-up line. While promposals are usually nerve-wracking for the asker, hoping not to get rejected, I believe they are fun and clever ways to pop the question. Especially if you are asking someone you don’t know that well, a promposal will ease the awkwardness and most likely guarantee a yes. While some people think that promposals are “unnecessary and dramatic,” I think it is one of the best ways to ask someone to prom. Most people would not be upset if they were gifted a pizza or their favorite coffee order. It also doesn’t have to be a huge spectacle with flowers, food, and signs; it could just be a clever way of phrasing the question or a corny pick up line. Anyone can do a promposal and even if they have no idea where to start, there are thousands of examples online to help spark your curiosity. Some people really shudder at the idea of a public ask. They do not want to be in the spotlight and sometimes feel pressured to say yes even if they do not want to.Before promposing, make sure that the person you are asking would be comfortable with the promposal. Consider giving a promposal a try. Prom can be taken too seriously, but it’s really just a fun way to get the grade together for the last few days of the school year and say goodbye to the seniors.
pinion
Rules at Tabor by Eari Nakano
“Have you heard about *insert student name*?”
“Yeah, I can’t believe he/she got a dean’s warning for that…”
Regardless of how “confidential” this information may be, soon every detail ripples through the student body, eventually becoming a heated debate on whether or not that particular student deserved the punishment. It certainly is not the student body’s business to be discussing the deans’ decisions; however, at times it seems as though the punishment is chosen based on the student, and not the offense.
Rules are necessary in order to protect and ensure the safety of the student body, but students at Tabor often criticize the lack of clarity of the school rules and the consequences of breaking a particular one. While complex situations may fall in the “grey zone,” students should have access to clear rules. Perhaps taking the time to specify the rules at All-School, or actually discussing recent rule violations and what the student’s consequence entailed, would allow others to understand what will not be tolerated in the future.
Recently, several students have noted the perceived unfairness of the punishment given to specific students, which stirred up discussions of whether or not that punishment was too harsh. In several cases, some students face minor consequences while others face expulsion for the same offenses. I understand that I do not know the entire story, and perhaps someone on the Disciplinary Committee with more extensive knowledge would have a different take on this idea. There are many factors that lead the DC to make its recommendations. However, like the majority of the school, I am unaware of these factors.
Life at Tabor contains various major school rules that come off as vague. There is a difference between surveillance and monitoring, and students are beginning to feel that they are being surveilled. With some of the “unclear” rules like, for example, where students are allowed to be, or whether students are “in a situation that strongly implies sexual contact” leads students to ask who judges that situation. Does the faculty that comes across a particular situation while roving get to, in theory, decide a student’s fate at the school?
I have heard from numerous faculty that high school is a time for a student to develop a sense of self and a sense of trust in others through relationships. Yet how are students supposed to go through this important part of maturing if they constantly fear that they are being surveilled? There is not a single place on campus that allows students to have private conversations. The Beebe? All your friends and classmates are a few meters away. Room permission? The door
is wide open, so the conversation is generously open to everyone living on the same hall and most likely to those in the common room. While I am aware that complete clarity is impossible in terms of consequences, because every case is different, I do believe that students should be further informed on the interpretation of the rules and the assigning of consequences. It is the school’s duty to protect the students; however, the school should reassess the difference between surveilling the students and monitoring them to promote good choices. Perhaps the school does not see it this way, but I think that the majority of the student body does.
Tabor’s Flawed Exams by Connor Tobin
As winter winds down at Tabor, students find themselves itching for the much-anticipated Spring Break. An exciting time on campus, the March exams provide a large summit for students to conquer before they can begin their time off. This combined with the transition into sspring sports creates a hectic environment. Instead of exacerbating this stress, Tabor should reward students’ academic accomplishments by exempting them from exams in courses where their grades surpass 90%. One may argue that the school is concerned that this method might hurt the confidence of those who need to take the exams. However, the academic office should look at exams through a different lens— not through one that symbolizes competition, but through one that gives students a second chance. Those who must take the exam for a course can rectify the mistakes they made in the preceding months that lowered their average below 90%. Now, that does not set a 90% as the standard for a “good grade,” but it creates a goal students can work towards beginning in September.
Eileen Marceau, the Dean of Studies, explained that the purpose for taking the March exams is to allow students “an opportunity to apply their amassed skills and knowledge in a subject.” While this statement remains true, students who have excelled in a particular course have already showcased their skills in that subject for the past six months. Asking them to compile their knowledge of the past six months into one day, on one test, is unnecessary. Furthermore, because Tabor exams account for a large portion of a course’s year grade, students with a 90% or higher must receive an exceptional score to maintain their average.
While lapses are certainly inevitable throughout the school year, an exceptional work ethic and understanding of course material push Tabor’s strongest students past minor hiccups. However, one setback during the first week of March could completely derail a student’s success in a course—so much in fact that it is almost impossible to rebound during the shortened trimester three. Thus, Tabor should eliminate any fear of this exam placing exceptional students on a pedestal, because the true purpose of changing the March exams is to create an incentive for academic success, possibly leading to a new aptitude for learning.
pinion
The Log has received a series of editorials from the AP Language and Composition classes and happily presents them in this edition. The opinions and views of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the school. The Log welcomes submissions of pieces such as these that represent the variety of opinions in the student body. Essays may be edited for clarity and length.
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Drinking Problem: America’s Underage Binge Drinking Epidemic by Gabby Bao
Drinking can be a fun social activity, as well as a way to relax after a long day. Growing up in China, alcohol has always been an enticing blast. I have fond memories of sharing bottles of beer with my friends around a hot pot cauldron, watching the boisterous bubbles burst to the top and jostle against the sunflower-yellow beverage, shining, reflected by the dripping icy drops on the glass. The clinking of glasses often excites a greedy gulp, where the bitter and fruitful flavor and with the creamy bubbles flow along the tongue and fade away at the throat. However, the law in the United States, which fixes the drinking age at 21 years old, creates an unhealthy societal attitude towards alcohol and thus should be lowered.
example, college students who are caught drinking by their school can be expelled and subject to legal consequences. Students seem towant to get drunk and “be happy” as soon as they are legal by taking on strong spirits excessively. But we all know binge drinking produces a ton of harm. Photographer Marcos Alberti deemed the third glass of alcohol “mayhem” in the New York Times Opinion piece “Drinking by Numbers,” not to mention the disastrous health consequences such as hangovers, and blackouts, even chronic diseases including liver cirrhosis (www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19).
Binge drinking also reduces the true joys of alcohol, the toasting with friends and the bubbles on the tongue. The strict regulation should Some may argue that lowering the age limit will cause more minors admit its liabilities –– that it makes minors more prone to voracious to abuse alcohol. They argue that there are dozens of studies proving drinking, therefore ruining their opportunity to appreciate alcohol in that fixing an older age limit contributes to less dependence on alcohol temperance. overall (www.cdc.gov/alcohol). These studies, however, ignore that The drinking age should be lowered, and American colleges and an older drinking age provokes youngsters’ curiosity about alcohol, universities should be responsible not only for having mandatory which makes them more susceptible to binge drinking. substance abuse prevention programs for their incoming freshman
American society, with a drinking age that is higher than that in any students, but also alcohol appreciation classes, in which students other country where alcohol is legal, creates a culture of youth binge learn to appreciate the taste of alcohol, moderately and in control, as drinking while at the same time punishing underage drinkers. For well as its history and cultural significance.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Living Legacy by Izzy Cheney
Recently, women have shifted from fangirling over boy bands to falling in love with unsung political pioneers. Whether Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s recent heist of news feeds and cinemas is because of the desperate political climate in the United States or her unparalleled accomplishments that become more impressive with each year, she is an icon who will continue to remind women of the necessity of perseverance despite the odds.
the ideals of her conservative colleagues, embodying democracy through her prioritization of the country, which took precedence over her personal agenda. Today, she continues to raise society’s teetering bar, just like as she did when she brought light to discrimination on the basis of sex in Moritz v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue in November of 1972. Therefore, even though I seldom consider myself a minority, as a young women living in an age where I may earn less At five-foot-one, she may not take the form of the typical superhero, than a man because of my gender and where men find it appropriate but her passion has forever changed the presence of women in to debate my rights to abortion, I find solace in glancing at my Ruth society. What wouldn’t have appeared on her resume, which contains Bader Ginsburg action figure, gavel in hand, neatly positioned on the not one, but two Ivy degrees, were her first-hand experiences with corner of my desk. discrimination at school, social gatherings, and in the workforce, just Ginsburg is hard working, selfless, a emblem of democracy and for being a woman. It was these experiences that not only motivated equality, and, no matter the despair certain situations present, her to elicit change, but they also grounded her arguments in fact, not Ginsburg will always be a reminder of what passion and purpose can assumption, and reminded her what she was fighting for. accomplish. Ladies, let us not waste too much time thanking Ginsburg, Why, all of sudden, is society idolizing this eighty-five year old but instead let’s remember her sacrifices and aim towards the future; Supreme Court Justice? Perhaps it’s because we need her. Following each one of us has her own, unique gavel ready to make ears ring. the death of former Chief Justice Antonin Scalia in the midst of the 2016 presidential campaign, the New York Times Editorial Board wrote in their article, “Donald Trump Is Right About Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” “the potential of a new president to affect the balance of the court has taken on great importance.” Since 1993, Ruth’s position on the Supreme Court has shifted farther and farther left to balance
T he L og Co-Editors: Leah Kleinfeld Abby LaCasse Jack Marshall Owen Sughrue
The Editorial Board, “Donald Trump Is Right About Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” The New York Times, July 13th, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/opinion/donald-trump-is-right-aboutjustice-ruth-bader-ginsburg.html. 1
Justia US Law, Court Case, Moritz v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, November 22nd, 1972, https:// law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/469/466/79852/. 2
Editorial Board: Ben Ackerman Gabby Bao Yujin Hong Harper McKerrow Eari Nakano Tayler Rogers Cat Shakin
Photography Photo Pool
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Neither Grim(m) Nor Disney
Tabor’s Take on Classic Fairytales by Abby LaCasse
Photo by Photo Pool
This winter, the cast of the Winter Drama put on the Brother’s Grimm up as a fairy in a tutu to a dramatic action scene with strobe lights (Un) Fairytales. The comedy-filled show was split up into six sections, illuminating the room. The devoted cast of this year’s winter drama all with different storylines and characters. The play began with Kyla made the production successful, entertaining, and unforgettable. Horton and Jack Lebrun as narrators, describing the action-packed play that lay ahead. The cast then delved into the scenes, creating an immersive experience for the whole audience by including certain spectators in some of the scenes. Not only was the play delicately planned out, but the set of the black box was intricately decorated to fit the fairytale theme. The lighting area was transformed into Rapunzel’s tower with her long braid reaching the floor, just as in the fairy tale. The other scenes mirrored the fairy tale theme, with beautiful backdrops of forests and exquisite lighting. The eccentric characters made the whole show lighthearted and hilarious, as the crowd burst out into uncontrollable laughter many times throughout the production. The genius writers also added Tabor-related jokes into the production, such as calling on Mr. Quirk and cracking jokes about being a student at a prep school which only intensified the laughter from the student section. The diversity of the scenes kept the audience on their toes as it switched from hilarious John Do dressed
Review of International Dinner by Cat Shakin
Photo by International Students
This year, Tabor took a new approach to the International Dinners, organizing four different nights, instead of just one, to celebrate cultures through the month of February. Taking place on February 6, the first International Dinner commemorated the Chinese New Year, followed by Japan and Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, and lastly the Caribbean Islands. Previously the Tabor community reveled in the cuisine of all of these countries on one hectic night. When asked, students in these countries who prepared the dinners came to a resounding agreement that the new separation was much more beneficial to the students in charge of running the event. Nina Sasakawa ’20, a student from Japan, noted that the event was “much better in terms of space and ability to represent more of each specific culture.” Mao Matsuo ’19, another student from Japan, also agreed, saying it was “more organized having the different countries spread out over the course of the whole month.” It is clear among the students who cook that the International Dinners have taken a turn for the better. Even students who did not cook agreed. Tanya Mendoza ’19 said, “It was far less overwhelming than those in previous years.” Before the division, kids waited outside the dining hall to be sent into the excitement in waves so that they did not overwhelm the students serving the food. The International Dinners this year have been a huge success; be sure to attend next year for another authentic international experience.
pinion
International Dinner 2020 by Kyle Tabata
The first International Dinner of Tabor Academy started with amazing Chinese cuisine on the Chinese New Year, representing different countries and serving food for the whole school on subsequent Wednesdays. The dining hall changed its interior as the host countries changed. The first International Dinner was generally a success; however, there were some issues that could be solved to make the event even better. One part that can be improved for future International Dinners is scheduling. The dinners were served on Wednesdays in February, presenting conflicts for some students with athletic games or rehearsals for musical and drama. Sometimes, it was hard for every International Dinner to congregate enough students to serve the entire school, leaving the burden on the few who could participate. In fact, these circumstances were more difficult for some groups to overcome than for others. While the Chinese and Taiwanese group had more than 40 people, including parents, cooking, the Japanese and Korean group barely had twenty people preparing, other groups even fewer. Even if a group was short on workforce, the same quantity of food was required each day, making some people experience a much busier preparation than others.
In response to these issues, some students discussed how to make it easier for the cooks while also increasing the quality of the food. To equalize the workload, one suggestion is that the Chinese and Taiwanese group should be divided into two smaller groups to represent different regions in China. China is a massive country with a variety of culture, so it makes sense to divide them into groups representing, for example, the northern region and the southern. Another issue to take care of is the scheduling conflict. February is one of the busiest months for students, mainly because of mid-term exams. It is true that celebrating Chinese New Year is important;however, that could be a separate event for them to appreciate their holiday. It would be helpful to do the cooking on a Sunday during the third trimester, preferably in April. Seniors would not have as many conflicts and more students would be able to fully engage in the event, which would help increase the quality of food provided. Changing the schedule to Sundays in the third trimester and making groups by the number of students will benefit the students who prepare food as well as the eaters in many ways. Appreciating the effort of many international students, I hope theseconstructive suggestions will shape the International Dinner into an even better one next year.
Curtain Call: A Review of Heathers
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Tabor’s Hardest-Hitting Musical by Yujin Hong
Insecurities, peer pressure, social stratification by popularity, passionate but rough (and I mean rough) relationships, the musical Heathers is high school hell at its finest. For years, students have been requesting that this musical be done at Tabor, but for some reason, (concerning how Heathers is not exactly PG-13) Heathers was always reserved as a second choice. In fact, it was only when Mamma Mia, Tabor’s original choice for this year’s musical, was declined for copyright issues, that Heathers was finally given the go-ahead.
Tabor’s stage crew had to figure out a different way to present stage dynamics. They took an adventure. The actors often jumped off from stage, appeared from the back, and interacted with the audience from the aisles. JD chased Kurt around the whole auditorium, until finally killing him near the entrance, on the very opposite side of the stage. A cast member even stands up from one of the seats, disguised as another audience member, to say his line.
This year’s musical Heathers holds a special meaning for our community, not just for the various topics that strike a chord with many high schoolers, but as it is the last musical directed by Mr. Howland. Mr. Howland has directed dozens of musicals at Tabor, including In the Heights, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Hairspray, but Heathers might be his best work yet. In Tabor’s production of Heathers, Mr. Howland, the cast, and crew succeed in bringing the difficult topics to life and gets the audience jumping from their seats in excitement. They’ve got all three markers of a good show –– stage dynamics, steady acting, and singing—including those incredibly high notes.
Photo by Photo Pool
The only drawback of the show is the substitution of inappropriate Heathers touches on many difficult subjects which are uncomfortably lines, or even an entire song, into cleaner versions. The substituted prominent in teenage life: eating disorders, underage drinking, lines and lyrics, though cleaned, fail to capture the vulgar, provocative, rape, homophobia, suicide, abuse, and, of course, the psycho ex. and ugly essence of teenage life echoing with the theme of the musical. These topics are thrown at the audience so densely during the full The deleted scenes include the song “You Make My Balls So Blue”, two hours of the show that it is almost overwhelming to watch. and Heather Chandler’s iconic line, “F–– me gently with a chainsaw!” Derogatory lines like “Freak! Slut! Burnout! Bug-eyes! Poser! Lard- With its fantastic cast and crew, Tabor’s Heathers and all its ass!” are thrown around from start to end. Playwrights Kevin Murphy uncomfortable topics that feel closer to us than any other musical and Laurence O’Keefe tell this heavy tale in a way that feels light will remain an unforgettable production. and somewhat pleasant, however, by using humor (very, very dark humor), compelling and dynamic characters, and killer-songs.
Tabor has always had an exceptional cast, but the stage setting was one of the highlights of the production. Because Tabor’s stage does not have a second story which is used for the original Heathers,
pinion
We Need More Heathers by Rosella Liu
“Friction does not exist in this scenario,” Mr. Pierce stated, regarding a kinetic energy problem in his Physics class. “Just like Tabor, everything is smooth and ideal.” The smile on his face betrays his irony –– the world without friction is only a fiction. Tabor, despite having a warm and supportive community, is burdened with the painful stories that each of its members carries, told and untold.
Photo by Photo Pool
The staging of Heathers: The Musical unearthed some of these stories. Unlike the uplifting immigrant story of last year’s In the Heights, Heathers was a dark comedy taking place on a high school campus. Even though this version, specifically for high schools, censored swear words and violence, the show’s darkness remained intact. It boldly tackled topics such as bullying and sexual abuse, opening a unique outlet for Tabor students and faculty to share their experiences. Ms. Su’s chapel speech and her forceful beating on the podium contributed to the musical’s heightened atmosphere. By closing night, almost everyone was talking about Heathers.
Even as its dark nature challenged many students’ comfort, Heathers was educational and entertaining. The satirical approach that the directors took dramatized characters’ erroneous actions. Magnifying the contrast between right and wrong, Heathers not only unearthed the vicious cycle happening on high school campuses but also called for its correction. According to Mr. Howland, the director of the show, this musical was able to strike an unusual “balance between education and entertainment,” something that does not always exist in Tabor’s criteria of selecting a musical. He continued, “Musicals that we have done in the past, like Jesus Christ Superstar and Legally Blonde, are more for entertainment than for education.”
A musical that treats education indifferently can achieve success on Broadway. However, without the intention of enlightenment, the performance of these musicals in a high school can never fully embrace its audience and context. In her article “Educators Tackles Ethics Role” published in The New York Times, Rhoda M. Gilinsky argues that schooling nowadays is about more than academics. It possesses a “moral dimension” and is responsible for fostering conversations concerning values. Music, unlike speech, carries a conversation with its audience in a higher realm. Good musicals not only blend well into the contemporary culture but also have memorable lyrics and melodies, which make them an effective tool for moral education—something Tabor should take advantage of.
Friction is created by both conflicts and resolution. A musical which respects the balance between entertainment and enlightenment can elicit an overwhelming response from the audience because it resonates with them intellectually and aesthetically. It engages with the audience instead of pushing them away, and it acknowledges their presence instead of denying their experience. Heathers is this kind of musical, and we need more Heathers.
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Cookie from Kate’s Simple Eats Photo by Owen Sughrue
! O AT
E A L L A
Milk and Cookies create a classic snack— one that nearly everyone likes, though our preferences of type of cookie and milk fat percentage might differ. I personally, am a whole milk person and I am less picky about the type of cookie. For this month’s All-AEat-O!, I got a cookie and milk from various spots in Marion. Most people like milk and cookes, so any “critical” comments are relative.
by Owen Sughrue
of chocolate chips made the cookie much sweeter. After a good sandwich, I recommend sharing the cookie with a friend; there will be plenty for the two of you.
Fo’c’sle House
The Fo’c’sle House cookie was probably my favorite. The Fo’c’sle cookie had a delicious dough, soft on the inside but crunchy on the Uncle Jon’s outside, not overloaded with chocolate chips. Uncle Jon’s provided another good size Without the chocolate chips, the cookie cookie. The chocolate chips were good, but would still taste delicious. In addition, the my criticism of Uncle Jon’s cookie was its cookie was free for me! dough which didn’t have a ton of flavor. I You can’t really go wrong with a chocolate like cookies that would taste good without chip cookie. I recommend Fo’c’sle House’s Kate’s Simple Eats the chocolate chips, with the chips adding homemade recipe, if you ever get the chance The best part of Kate’s chocolate chip a little touch of sweetness that enhances to eat one. With whichever cookie you do get, cookie is the size! It is not small! It had tons the cookie’s taste. The dough was fairly dry, you’ll still probably be happy. of chocolate chips. While the dough had lacking the crinkles that a perfect soft-baked a nice consistency, the generous amount cookie does.
Album Review: 44/876 by Sting and Shaggy
Cover Graphic for the Album
by Ben Ackerman
As 2019 continues to be a underwhelming year for new music, for this review I turned to the 2018 Grammy nomination list. One album, 44/876 by Sting and Shaggy, caught my eye. The winner of the 2018 “Best Reggae Album” award, 44/876 is the first project from the intriguing Sting/Shaggy duo. 17-time Grammy winner Sting, known for his work in the 80s with The Police, and then for his illustrious solo career that followed, collaborated with the Grammy winning reggae artist Shaggy, of “It Wasn’t Me” and “Angel” lore, for a 12 track LP. The two music legends serenade the listener over Carribean beats and easy reggae melodies, in hopes of delivering a light and fun album. The result is decidedly uneven. There are highlights (“Morning is Coming” and “Don’t Make Me Wait”), but there are certainly low points (“Sad Trombone”). While the idea of Sting relaxing on a Jamaican beach and making music is appealing in concept, he simply isn’t a reggae musician by nature, and there are parts on the album where he sounds out of place. However, several tracks demonstrate the legendary musician embracing the Jamaican genre; the album sounds best when both Shaggy and Sting sound to be having fun making reggae music.
The problems with this album are two-fold. First, although Shaggy’s unique voice is what makes his music legendary, it lacks versatility, and doesn’t lend itself well to a full length album. He is a one-trick pony, and by the end of the LP, it feels repetitive. Second, Shaggy’s sound is best over upbeat melodies, but several songs lack energy. “Crooked Tree,” a dark song where Shaggy takes the lead, is boring and slow. The same can be said for “Sad Trombone,” a depressing track that just keeps going for nearly six minutes. The reality is that reggae music generally should be either energetic or relaxing; heavy, slow songs tend to be less enjoyable.
44/876 is best on the upbeat tracks, when neither Shaggy nor Sting dominates. Shaggy’s signature growl contrasts well with Sting’s soft croon on “Don’t Make Me Wait,” and on “Morning is Coming,” both artists sound genuinely excited for a new chapter in their lives. Shaggy raps, “Ain’t nobody gonna spoil my mood/To this beautiful sunshine, I’m rising up,” and Sting adds, “It’s revelation day!” Similarly, the track “To Love and Be Loved” demonstrates the pair’s ability to combine very simple lyrics with a buoyant melody and an optimistic tone to express a joyous outlook. While this album is a novelty, it is somewhat of a mixed bag. Though I’d stop short of recommending a full listen in one sitting, I do think that 44/876 provides a few hits that are worth holding on to. Whether it’s “Morning is Coming” for a sunrise on Silvershell, or “Don’t Make Me Wait” for an evening sail through Sippican Harbor, Sting and Shaggy offer several quality tunes for relaxing settings. As you build your 2019 summertime reggae playlist, make sure to check out 44/876.
April Shoutouts
by Eari Nakano
Bobby Petrocelli: For inspiring us to live life through moments, and making us reflect on our goals. Ms. Su: For sharing her personal experience in an incredible chapel speech.
The cast of Heathers: For the awesome performance that delivered a powerful message the audience. The cast of the Winter Drama: For their contagious laughter and joy on stage.