UMass Lowell’s own Hawkettes do more than sing   â–ş Page 6
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
Music Issue 2018
Mill No. 5 showcases a new “Destination� in downtown Lowell
In This Issue Op-Ed: The most iconic songs of our generation
Jason Ounpraseuth
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Connector Staff
Top 5 TV intros
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What’s the real Bostonian anthem?
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Final River Hawk Scores Team Men’s Lacrosse vs. Wagner
Softball vs. Holy Cross
Overall Record
W 11-9
1-4
W 9-0 10-7
Baseball vs. Gardner-Webb
WLAX vs. Sacred Heart
Score
W 6-0
4-13
W 18-9
2-4
Underrated pump-up jams Hannah Manning Connector Editor
Songs like “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark� or “Lose Yourself � are pumpup playlist staples. They are steady, reliable and above all get those legs pumping. But at a certain point, all of those playlists become minute variations of one core. Sure, “Believer� and “Centuries� are newer members of esteemed pump-up royalty, but the fact of the matter is that pump-up playlists are notorious for having the same songs over and over again. Not a bad thing, but so much of the same leads to complacency. And too much of that is not good for gym time. Here are 10 songs that might have been skipped over which deserve a couple of listens. “Humans Become Machines� – Aristophanes. Taiwanese rapper Aristophanes brings a quick-tongued fire to the first song off of her debut LP, “Humans Become Machines.� A teacher by day, Aristophanes was discovered by Canadian independent musician Grimes, who gave her a standout feature on her fourth studio album “Art Angels.� On her own song, Aristophanes delivers a punching song that gets the heart
“It’s all vinyl, and that’s final.� That is the primary thing to know when walking into Vinyl Destination, a shop run on the fourth floor of Mill No. 5. Dave Perry and his son Dan started this shop in November 2013. Their love for vinyl, however, has spanned for many decades and continues today. Dave Perry, a former Lowell Sun writer and now a senior writer for University Relations and a Grammy nominee for Best Album Notes in 1991 for “The Jack Kerouac Collection,� bought his first vinyl record at the age of 10, over 50 years ago. “I was at a flea market
Jason Ounpraseuth/Connector
The sign for Vinyl Destination welcomes patrons in Mill No. 5.
with my dad, and I found a big stack of records that was on the ground. I could see the Rolling
Stones, and I could see The Beatles. There was like 20 records for 10 bucks, so I took them
â–ş See “Vinyl Destination,â€? page 3
Phoebe Bridgers’ debut album shines Kathryn Leeber Connector Editor
Phoebe Bridgers debut album “Stranger in the Alps� was released in the fall 2017, which was the perfect time for a record of this nature to be fully enjoyed. The acoustic, relaxed tone of the album
is paired with sharp and meaningful lyrics that wholly encapsulate the feelings that the fall season evokes. The weather gets colder, the days are darker, and everything starts to feel a bit heavier. Listening to Bridgers’ album, audiences will feel the weight of
â–ş See “Playlist,â€? page 7
Sections
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home, and there were all kinds of stuff in there. It just kinda felt like its own world,� said Perry.
Courtesy of IndieWire.com Courtesy of Bandcamp
Bridgers was featured in an Apple commercial covering the Pixies’ “Gigantic.�
the emotions they did not know they had, yet also felt a cathartic relief in knowing that someone else could so elegantly convey thoughts and ideas they were sure they were alone in thinking. “Funeralâ€? was one of the singles released prior to the album and after hearing this song, there was no doubt this record would be special. A heavy introduction of reverberating strings gives way to a lighter guitar solo mimicking the way dark clouds roll away following a storm, and the rest of the day is sunny and bright. Bridgers opens the song explaining that she will be singing at the funeral of someone she once knew, and she goes on to describe the thoughts she has as a result, but also of the everyday feelings of sadness. Every single line in this song is so unique that it perfectly sums up the emotions of so many, especially when they are forced to really face them at a funeral. She â–ş See “Stranger in the Alps,â€? page 4
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March 20, 2018
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
The most iconic songs of the millennial generation Michaela Goss Connector Editor
Even in this age of nostalgia and our way of forbidding the past to stay where it is, music has been seemingly neglected. So put on your Hollister shirts and Heelys, and get ready to reminisce with a soundtrack of songs that made up the early Kidz Bop albums and have shaped our generation (in chronological order). 1. “All Star� by Smash Mouth (1999) While it could be argued this song was a bit before our time, it opens a film that we grew up on: “Shrek.� This song plays and not only makes us remember Shrek proudly bursting out of his outhouse, but it is also a song to remind the masses that life is short, change is inevitable and it is important to take chances. 2. “No Scrubs� by TLC (1999) This is an empowering anthem that emphasizes the importance and necessity of the word “no� as well as women being able to stand up for themselves and what they want. It is a confident, timeless and a great song to blast in the car. 3. “Oops!...I Did It Again� by Britney Spears (2000) A list of music from this time would not be complete without Britney Spears, and this is arguably one of her most popular songs. It is savage,
as she sings about accidentally causing someone to fall in love with her‌ again. It is also one of those songs you know you sang along to as a kid, but it took you years to figure out the meaning. As is the magic of Britney Spears. 4. “A Thousand Milesâ€? by Vanessa Carlton (2001) This song is one that could have easily slipped off of the radar, but somehow, somewhere, whenever this song comes on we realize we know every single lyric to it and frankly do not care that the chorus makes no sense. Plus who would not want to take a ride on a piano while making their way downtown? 5. “Complicatedâ€? by Avril Lavigne (2002) Avril Lavigne has a knack for bringing out the teen angst in us all, even before we were teens. This is one of those songs that, at the time of its release, could make us feel like we had experienced the same level of betrayal and inner turmoil, and our naĂŻve preteen hearts ate it up. 6. “Hey Ya!â€? by OutKast (2003) This is another song that was super fun when we were kids even though we had no clue what the lyrics actually meant. Regardless, OutKast performed it at the Kids’ Choice Awards and even won an award for it, so this song is unforgettable in how it taught us what is cooler than being cool and
Courtesy of Verge Campus
Cue the flashbacks to every middle school dance. Ever.
tried to keep polaroid pictures relevant. 7. “Beautiful Soul� by Jesse McCartney (2004) This is a heartwarming song that was one of Jesse McCartney’s first hit singles. It is a feel-good hit that encourages appreciating beauty from the inside out, and lyrics that did not have a double meaning. A rare delight from the songs of this time. 8. “Pon de Replay� by Rihanna (2005) This is Rihanna’s first single that had our middle school selves dancing all around our houses and school cafeterias pretending like we knew all the words because it was embarrassing not to. While Rihanna’s career and music have changed and developed over time, we will always turn the music up.
9. “Irreplaceable� by Beyonce (2006) Of course, no list is complete without Beyonce. This was her first solo single after leaving Destiny’s Child, and it was, of course, a hit that forever shaped her career. And also our lives. 10. “Everytime We Touch� by Cascada (2007) If you ever attended a middle school dance, you know this song. This is the greatest dance anthem that came from our generation, and while Cascada was a bit of a one-hit wonder, her legacy will live on forever in our hearts and our moves. Some honorable mentions include classics such as “Mr. Brightside� by The Killers (2004), “Dirty Little Secret� by The All-American Rejects (2005) and “Hips Don’t Lie� by Shakira (2005).
THE UMASS LOWELL
Serving the Student Body Since 1976
Twitter: @UMLConnector
UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR
EDITORIAL BOARD OPEN Operations Manager
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Email | Connector@uml.edu Website | www.UMLConnector.com Phone | 978.934.5017 ext. 45017 Address | University Crossing, Room 241 220 Pawtucket St. Lowell, MA 01854 General: The UMass Lowell Connector is a non-profit student public forum serving the University of Massachusetts Lowell community. The paper is published weekly and distributed to the university community every Tuesday. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please be aware that members of the University community are entitled to free newspapers. Please take one! All UMass Lowell students, regardless of major, are invited to join the Connector staff. Interested students should contact an editor or manager listed above, or visit the Connector Office in University Crossing 241. Advertising: The UMass Lowell Connector advertisements reach an estimated 16,000 UMass Lowell students--their friends and families. To tap this group of
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March 20, 2018
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NEWS Make this the ‘Vinyl Destination’ for all music needs ► Continued from front page
Advertising for Vinyl Destination is solely done on Facebook like many other businesses at Mill No. 5. “People find the places up here, you don’t sell it [the businesses] to them. They just stumble on it,” said Perry. The name of the shop came through a Facebook contest that Perry ran. Some ideas were pitched but nothing really stood for Perry, until an old friend came along and gave him a eureka moment. Lowell Sun editor Dan Phelps worked together with Perry, and Perry praises Phelps with coming up with great names on the spot, which he did by pitching “Vinyl Destination.” It was the perfect name for Perry. The atmosphere of Vinyl Destination is that of dynamic, friendly shop where the majority of the records are pre-owned as Perry prefers to buy collections from people and resells them. “This is like my happy place, literally. I’ve been sick, and I come in here and not feel sick when I come in here, and I go home, and I’m sick [again]. It’s really weird, and I just want it to be like that for people who just look through stuff. You can come in here anytime and just look. You don’t have to buy anything. It’s just a fun place,”
said Perry. Vinyl Destination is great as it is currently for Perry. However, he does have ambitions for the shop specifically expansion. “Believe or not, I would love to expand more like take up more of this place [fourth floor of Mill No. 5]. It’s kind of a dream. It’s not gonna happen, but it would be fun to have bigger space and fill it with more records,” said Perry. A record that Perry may want to include in that expansion if it were to happen would be a bootleg 12-album set called “Ten of Swords” by Bob Dylan. It came out before the bootleg album that Dylan did and has an estimated value of $1,000. Records that Perry can get the most out of and can never get sick of are “The White Album” by The Beatles and “Murmur” by R.E.M. Other records that he adores are “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane, “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” by Sly & The Family Stone and The Barbarians’ title album. Perry has seen many people come and go. However, Perry gives a piece of advice to those people who are looking to start their own vinyl collections. “Try to find original copies of things
Courtesy of HOWL magazine
“Vinyl Destination” is located on the fourth floor of Mill No. 5.
[vinyl records]. They tend to hold up better, and they hold their value better. Re-issues are great, but they tend to not be the same quality as originals. Every now and then, look at the cover art of something. If it catches
your eye, go ahead and buy it just to get that experience because it can always do great things for you. Buy on a whim sometimes because the cover art looks cool,” said Perry.
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March 20, 2018
CAMPUS LIFE All-female acapella group brings diverse group of women together through the power of song Taylor Carito Connector Editor
tify, Amazon and other websites. The EP is called “Lavendula” which is the Latin word for lavender. The Hawkettes chose this because lavender is their signature color. “It’s our first professionally recorded album and contains six tracks all arranged by student arrangers in our group,” said Nguyen. They have also been featured as backup vocals for local musicians and singles. Nguyen also said that The Hawkettes are also the most recorded
Hawkettes, that number is usually anywhere from 10 to 14 females. They hold guaranteed auditions in the fall semester, and then if there is a need in the spring they host auditions then as well. “Every year in the fall, we have a huge a cappella audition with the other three a cappella groups on campus,” said Nguyen, “if a group decides to hold auditions in the spring, the whole process is done individually by the groups.” During the audition
Bringing a group of diverse ladies together is what it was all about. A cappella is a genre of music that is unique because it only features vocals and has no instrumentation other than those who are singing. UMass Lowell is fortunate enough to have several a cappella groups on campus, but few have seen success and growth like The Hawkettes. The Hawkettes were founded in the spring of 2014 by alumnae Becca Crivello with the intentions of creating a diverse, all-female group. Although the group started out with a majority of music majors, the group has since grown, and more members of different majors have joined. “We’re now a group of diverse ladies that include majors from music, business, engineering and many more,” said Savannah Nguyen, who is in charge of public relations for The Hawkettes. The group has quite a few accomplishments for one that has barely been around for four years. “We host our annual Women’s Empowerment Evening every year, which is a celebration of women accomplishment and collaboration. It’s one of our biggest events of the year,” says Nguyen, “The event will feature performances by us and other women empowering From left: Irena Manukian, Jackie Chianca and Savannah Nguyen perform. process, each auditionee is expected members of the UMass Lowell com- group on campus to date. In addition to these accom- to perform in front of each group munity as well as a spoken word poetThe Hawkettes currently practice ry workshop by Lauren Zuniga.” The plishments, Nguyen said that The Women’s Empowerment Evening is Hawkettes have also been featured in twice a week for two hours and have a book titled “A Cappella” by Deke several performances throughout the scheduled for March 24 at 7 p.m. In addition to this, the group is also Sharon, who is considered the godfa- spring semester. Their upcoming performances include the Women’s Emproud to only perform student-ar- ther of contemporary a cappella. A cappella groups can have any powerment Evening and their spring ranged songs and has released an EP that is available on iTunes, Spo- number of people involved. For The concert on April 7. This will feature
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All photos courtesy of the Hawkettes
Member Christina Laderoute sings lead in a performance.
them as well as other a cappella groups from University of New Hampshire and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The Hawkettes are also releasing a new single called “Here” in April.
Member Madison Temple performs at the 2017 Hawkettes Fall Showcase.
See any interesting event coming up on campus? Let us know! Email all tips to Kelly_Skelton@ student.uml.edu
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March 20, 2018
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Phoebe Bridgers’ debut album is a somber masterpiece ►Continued from front page sings on the chorus, “Jesus Christ, I’m so blue all the time, and that’s just how I feel. Always have, and I always will.” The subtle use of a guitar and strings do not overpower her voice, but they instead amplify the tone and melancholy feeling in a way that is often so difficult to achieve. It is almost like watching a movie in the sense that the music is just in the background of this heartfelt scene. Bridgers tells short anecdotes in many songs, and it feels like a story is being read with the music as an additional touch. It is quite powerful, and one of the greatest aspects of the album. The album deals heavily with loss, pain and having to actually deal with the emotions that follow. Bridgers is so honest and blunt in her songs that makes one feel as though they could open up to her and tell her all of their thoughts and insecurities if they had the chance. A sense of trust is established because Bridgers never holds back, which makes for the most authentic type of album. Towards the end of “Funeral,” she sings, “And last night I blacked out in my car, and I woke up in my childhood bed. Wishing I was someone else, feeling sorry for myself, when I remembered someone’s kid is dead.” The candid nature of the whole
album is really what makes it so impactful. “Killer” continues with dark ideas of sadness, self-doubt and instability, but Bridgers’ soft and even-keeled voice provides a sense of reassurance Courtesy of Dead Ocean
Tony Berg and Ethan Gruska produced the album.
and comfort. Even though she is singing about rather depressing and subdued concepts, it is easy to find some solace in her calm voice and seemingly
relaxed demeanor. There is almost a hopefulness that runs through the album because of this; even though things may seem dismal and that there might be no end in sight, there is usually a bit of positivity if you look hard enough. The acoustic nature remains steadfast throughout the album, but there is some positivity woven throughout. “Chelsea” has the vibe of a love song with broader ideas that speak to the impact someone can have on a person’s life. Likewise, “Motion Sickness” adds some drums to the song which provides some upbeat lightness to an otherwise gloomy track. The instrumentals throughout the album are fairly similar with an electric guitar and intermittent strings or the piano, and some contain an understated backing track. It helps the flow of the record feel natural and genuine, while also creating a distinct atmosphere when listening to the record as a whole. The final track is an instrumental reprise of the opening track “Smoke Signals” in which Bridgers hums the basic melody of the song. At only 34 seconds, it is quick enough to adequately sum up the album; it leaves the listener with a haunting feeling of despair, yet also with an understanding that there is more to come, and despair is not the only thing left to feel.
Top five best television show intro songs Taylor Carito Connector Editor
Choosing a theme song is a small but imperative part to creating a successful television show, and the most successful shows tend to have a hook or some way to get their audience to stay committed to the show and continue to watch it. For many, the plot is not enough. Sometimes there needs to be something that gets the viewers to be locked in before they even know the characters’ names. There are several elements that go into creating the perfect intro to a show. There needs to be uniqueness, originality, catchiness and it should be easily recognizable. These are the top five theme songs that helped these television shows with their success. 5. “Malcolm in the Middle” Yes? No? Maybe? It is not exactly a hit, but the song “Boss of Me” by They Might Be Giants is certainly interesting and catches the attention of everyone. The show came at the height of the 1990s, and the song is quite fitting for it with its grungy rock feel that almost requires headbanging during the chorus every time. It also
fits in with the show because it centers around Malcolm, a boy-genius who finds ways to get into trouble to appear cool and have fun. This leads him to disobey his parents, teachers and other authorities. The line “You’re not the boss of me now” fits with the personality type of Malcolm. 4. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” Originality is key for memorable theme songs. Although a fictional sitcom, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is about Will Smith, who is portrayed by Will Smith, and his experiences when he moves from West Philadelphia to Bel-Air to live with his rich family. Smith was a rapper in addition to an actor at the time the show was created, so the intro encompasses his personal rapping about the events that are based off the real ones that occurred in his actual life. The rap is very fitting for the show because both blend together real and fictional events from Will Smith’s childhood and early adulthood. The rap is available on Spotify on Will Smith’s page. 3. “Friends” “I’ll Be There for You” seems to be an important part of both the theme
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television
The original theme of “I’ll Be There for You” was under one minute long.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television
The “Game of Thrones” theme was composed by Ramin Djawadi.
song and the show itself. Centered around six friends, the show “Friends” is introduced by the song “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts. The six friends are inseparable, as seen through their several predicaments and drama that occurs over the course of the 10 years the show aired. Although this is a one-hit-wonder situation, The Rembrandts’ sole popular song will be remembered infinitely for the catchiness and popularity of the television show. 2. “The Office” One of the most recognizable tunes of them all, “The Office” theme song is truly unique because it has no lyrics or real meaning to the show, but the upbeat and peppiness of the song brings happiness to anyone who willingly or unwillingly knows what crazy journey lies ahead in the show. The song features a keyboard and some kind of woodwind instrument. This song was not originally created for the television show, but was bought by them from The Scrantones. This group is from Scranton, Penn. where
the fictional show takes place. This adds a layer of believability to “The Office” because of the effort it took in making “The Office” appear to be a real office in a real city that was being turned into an actual documentary. 1. “Game of Thrones” Original songs are always a plus when it comes to an intro. It is something that unmistakably means that the show is coming on. The intro song to “Game of Thrones” is so long that it is probably skipped every time after it is heard for the first time. The orchestral piece is so good that it has even been performed worldwide by orchestras and bands. It is fitting for the theme of the show because of its dark and powerful chords with a loud and permeating percussion that announce to the world that this show means business. In addition, the composer chose a cello as the main instrument heard in the chorus. The accompanying visuals explain vaguely the different kingdoms and other key elements that are important to the show.
March 20, 2018
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘Sing Street’ will leave one singing along Brigid Archibald Connector Staff
“Sing Street” is a musical set in the mid-1980s that follows a Dublin teen Cosmo (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), who due to his family’s finical constraints is forced to switch from a private school to a public school where he meets an aspiring model, Raphina (Lucy Boynton). Enamored by her, he lies about being in a rock band and asks her to star is one of their music videos. With the advice of his older brother Brendon (Jack Reynor), and the help of new friends, Cosmo tries to make good on his promises to the model. The most important part of any musical is, of course, the music, and when it comes to “Sing Street,” the soundtrack is hands down the best part. Each song was inspired by an 80s band or artists like Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and David Bowie, giving the soundtrack a unique sound. The songs are written by Cosmo as the movie progress and while each has its own vibe he tells his friends that they are all a part of a genre called futurist, meaning they focus on the future and purposely avoid nostalgic topics. Ironically, the entire soundtrack being based on 80s music sounds nostalgic to the audience. “Sing Street” certainly has a unique setting and plot, and it does a great job
of selling the scenario and embracing the setting, creating an intriguing and enjoyable story. Despite this, the film fails to do anything too memorable to really set itself apart from any other coming of age story. At its bones, the
ends and underdeveloped plots. It is not just plot that is underdeveloped, but the characters too. Not just background characters who were meant to be static, but it is the main character who is the most underde-
Courtesy of Lionsgate
“Sing Street” included songs from musicians such as Hall and Oates and Duran Duran.
movie is still the tired old trope of a seemingly normal guy doing something big to impress a wild and eccentric girl. It is clear that the writers tried to combat this by bringing new themes about family, dreams, rebelling and ideas about music. However, it is the fact that they brought in so many different themes that really holds it back. By trying to address so many topics at once, the movie it does not have time to properly handle and tie them all together, which leaves a lot of loose
veloped. The audience knows so little about Cosmo outside of his family life and the band because he has such a bland personality. It is not so bad that it alienates the audience, but rather that it is hard to find a reason to root for him. And with what little is known about the character, it is hard to picture the character making the choices that he does. He seems to be missing any apparent motivation. That being said, the movie should be commended for its amazing por-
trayal of the brotherly relationship. Cosmo’s brother Brandon is perhaps the best-developed character of the entire movie. His motivations are clear, and his actions fit his character. Not to mention, Brandon steals the show with lines such as, “No women could truly love a man who listens to Phil Collins.” Frankly, if more of the movie had been spent with the brother and less time spent on underdeveloped plots like Cosmo’s struggle with Brother Baxter (Don Wycherley), the school dean, it could have made the movie feel more complete. In fact, the entire family dynamic in this movie is incredibly well done. The creators embrace the dysfunctional family trope and show a side of it that is not typically used. It is clear that the creators wanted this dynamic to be part of the rest of the story and to be part of Cosmo’s motivation, but they never seem to work it in. It becomes just another plot piece floating aimlessly in the story. In the end, the movie is incredibly enjoyable and the songs are super catchy. The story presents some new angles on old tropes and archetypes, and while it does feel like just another coming of age romance, and there are a few risks that just did not pay off, its optimism and music will still leave one feeling good. Final grade A-
‘Sing’ is nothing to sing about Owen Johnson Connector Editor
The 2016 movie “Sing” was a production of the studio Illumination Animation, the same studio that is responsible for films such as “Minions” and “The Secret Life of Pets.” “Sing” continues the same tradition as these other movies as being amongst the lowest form of animated entertainment. In an effort to save his failing theater from bankruptcy, a koala named Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) plans a singing competition with a grand prize of 1,000 dollars. However, when a typo leads everyone to believe the grand prize is actually 100,000 dollars, Buster has to work this situation into his ultimate plan to save his business. Just by simply reading the plot synopsis of “Sing,” it is easy to detect what some of the biggest problems for the movie are going to be: namely the story and the characters. In terms of the story, it is a string of plot holes and idiotic character decisions. It is established that Moon’s theater is losing money because he does not know what shows to do to get an audience, so he decides to host a singing competition (and based on how he goes about planning the competition by forcing songs and talents on the performers that do not go with their music it is clear he has no idea how to run a singing competition either). Why would anyone believe a failing theater would have that kind of money? Then, instead of coming clean about the prize information being a typo, Buster just runs with it so there can be extra stakes to the story. In terms of the characters, they are all either unlikable or manipulatively written for the purpose of the audience feeling sympathy for them. Buster is essentially a conman whose introduction to the
movie is him running out of his theater to avoid paying some of his stage hands, and one of the competitors, Mike (Seth MacFarlane) is rude, arrogant and aggressive. Then the rest of the characters are all one dimensional and overly sympathetic with issues ranging everywhere from being shy like the character of Meena (Tori Kelly), to being in an underappreciative marriage like Rosita (Reese Witherspoon). While all of the characters are poorly written, the cast does a decent job. There is a very talented cast that also includes the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Taron Edgerton and Nick Kroll, and they perform well when it comes to the musical numbers. In fact, there is only one thing that is consistently good about “Sing,” and that is the music. There is a wide range of it from more contemporary music like Katy Perry’s “Firework” to Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing,” and even if someone were to not be a fan of the genre or specific song being performed, it would be hard to say that the rendition of it was not well performed. Outside of the music, the only other aspect of the film that is done well is the animation. While it is mostly good, it is not consistently good like the music is. Based on how the animation looks, there is never a scene that is not aesthetically pleasing to look at. The real downfall with the animation, however, is with the character designs. Almost all of the characters except for a few of them have character designs that look like they are just the generic animal bodies with different sets of clothes thrown on them. It just looks lazy. Lazy is actually a very good word to use to describe “Sing.” As stated above, the characters all have overly sympathetic struggles and story lines
to make the audience easily care about them, but that is not where it ends. All of the characters fail and succeed at the same times so that no character is above any of the others at any point, and some of the characters’ successes, particularly Rosita and Edgerton’s character Johnny, are just forced on for illogical reasons because everyone needs to be victorous in the end. “Sing” is a good looking and well performed movie, but the animation and performance skills are all wasted on a product that did not deserve them. Final grade: DCourtesy of Universal Pictures
“Sing” features 65 pop songs in it, which the rights of costed 15 percent of the movie’s 75 million dollar budget.
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SPORTS
The best pump-up songs not on your radar ► Continued from front page
rate jumping. She delivers lines so fast that they can hardly be understood, even by people that speak Mandarin, all over an addictive beat. It is definitely a running song, and it is all the more powerful if one imagines that they are being chased by a terrifying human-turned AI. It is called motivation. “Heavy Metal and Reflective” – Azealia Banks. This is one of Harlem-based rapper Azealia Bank’s most iconic songs with a beat that could not quit if you begged it to. The standout on this track is the terrific beat, though that is not to say that Banks does not deliver some killer lines. The opening lines set the tone for a rollicking romp about fame, making money and having some good old-fashioned fun: “Fridgy froze kept / it’s that fresh b---- / I be in that prissy stone set / with that wet wrist.” Whether this song makes you want to run or dance, it will make you want to get moving in some way. “NEW DORP. NEW YORK” – SBTRKT feat. Ezra Koenig. Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig steps out of his soft indie-rock comfort zone to lend his smooth vocals over a pumping beat by SBTRKT. Although musically it is fairly simple, the “thud thud thud” of the beat pairs beautifully with Koenig’s sweet voice. Named for a neighborhood in the borough of Staten Island, “New Dorp” is a tribute to the bustling city as well as a window into the tale of the singer’s go-getting girl. Lyrically, it paints a vivid picture of city life, describing staples such as the “gargoyles gargling oil / peak of the empire, top of the rock.” Just as the girl conquers the city, anyone who listens to this song will be motivated to conquer their workout or game. “Cinnamon Toast Crunch” – cupcakKe. An underrated jam from an underrated rapper coming to prominence in the field. Witty and playful, Chicago rapper cupcakKe offers up a feisty song about always being regarded as the underdog. Riffing off of a popular brand of cereal, cupcakKe showcases her lyrical wit. Unlike other rappers that rely heavily on the backing beat of their songs, cupcakKe lets her words shine in every single verse. Her songs are
often filled with wordplay, and “Cinnamon Toast Crunch” is no exception. She references Siri, Stuart Little and Draya Michelle without batting a lash, quick and strong in her confidence. With its high level of cleverness, “Cinnamon Toast Crunch” is likely to make anyone burst into a few giggles while spurring them on before a game. “The Great Escape” – We Are Scientists. In contrast to the previous songs on this playlist, “The Great Escape” is a rather straight-forward rock song that powers ahead through its plucky guitar and strong vocals. We Are Scientists is a California-based band that is hugely popular in the United Kingdom for its early rock anthems and more sophisticated later offerings. “The Great Escape” comes off of the band’s debut album, “With Love and Squalor” which was released in 2005. This may be the oldest song on the playlist, but it is also one of the most high-tempo and high-energy ones. Its angry, aggressive energy does well for anyone that wants to run away from their problems (figuratively, of course) or beat something up. All in a day’s fun. “Go” – Grimes and Blood Diamonds. “Go” signifies a departure from Grimes’ usual modus operandi of foggy, dream electronica to pop music. Intended as both a thank you to fans and a bridge to her fourth album, Grimes originally wrote the song for pop songstress Rihanna. After it was turned down by her team, Grimes crafted a fast-paced pop ballad that serves as a perfect treadmill song. It offers everything anyone could need: soaring vocals by Grimes, an interesting and gripping beat, and catchy lyrics. Beyond that, it could serve as a pretty good backing video for a highlight reel for a team sport. Hint hint. “John Wayne” – Lady Gaga. This one will be short. “John Wayne” should have been a single off of “Joanne.” Easily the most rocking song on the album, this is one of Lady Gaga’s many underrated bops. If it is not already in a pump-up playlist, it really should be. Its relentless pace could get anyone over any hill. “Nettles” – Arctic Monkeys. Coming in at just
under two minutes, this early rocker by the British band Arctic Monkeys is a perfect angst anthem. Alex Turner’s smooth voice sails over the sometimes-chaotic backing and it makes for a great modern rock song. Coming off of the 2007 “Teddy Picker” single, “Nettles” is often overlooked by any Monkeys fan that does not obsessively swim through all of the singles that the band put out. But once found, “Nettles” never strays far from anyone’s mind with its perfect angry energy. “Kill V. Maim” – Grimes. It would be remiss to include “Go” but not “Kill V. Maim,” one of Grimes’ most popular songs off of “Art Angels.” “Kill V. Maim” has a weird premise – think the Godfather, but Al Pacino is a gender-fluid vampire that travels through space. As one does. Grimes told Song Exploder’s Hrishikesh Hirway that she wrote this relentlessly catchy song as a response to critics who said that the music she wrote was too “cute.” She delivered. The song is aggressive and powerful, commenting on gender roles and the art of violence, with the vampire Corleone stating that “you gave up being good when you declared a state of war.” The NBA was very much woke enough to include the song in its soundtrack for 2017. “Mine” – Sweet Tempest. Sweet Tempest gives any athlete chasing their crown or championship trophy an anthem to hold onto. Written for the soundtrack of the 2016 feature film “The Neon Demon,” “Mine” stood out as one of the two songs on the soundtrack that did not lay on the synthesizers. “Mine” is a seductive rock song, one that slithers into one’s brain and lingers there. It speaks to anyone that so strongly desires to win. A perfect fit for a movie about the killer ambitions of models in Los Angeles, “Mine” is a great closer for a playlist that is all about getting through that tough workout and reaping every last benefit. Celebrate. It is all yours for the taking. This playlist is available on Spotify as “Underrated Pump-Ups” by Hannah Manning.
Op-Ed: The real Boston anthem Taylor Carito Connector Editor
It’s that song that you turn off when you’re in your car by yourself, but you know that when that first note plays you’ll be swaying side-by-side with the stranger next to you at the bar, baseball game or birthday party. It’s that song that brings every New Englander together for some unknown reason that doesn’t really make a lot of sense (Neil Diamond isn’t even from New England). Neil Diamond’s song “Sweet Caroline” was created in 1969; however, the song didn’t become the heartthrob classic for Red Sox fans until the 1990s. The reason is unclear as to why this song became so popular and a staple part of every Red Sox game, but it is certainly here to stay. Every person from Boston, old or young, learns the words, stands and sings to the tune no matter where they are. According to the Red Sox website, the song was apparently just played during the seventh inning stretch one day during a home game. The woman in charge of selecting songs
had recently had a daughter named Caroline and chose the song based on that. Little did she realize that people would go wild for it in the stands. After that, the song was played during the seventh inning stretch, or at least during every home game, ever since. The song doesn’t really have any actual significance to Boston. Neither the lyrics nor the melody have anything to do with baseball, Boston or anything related. However, the song has something to do with coming together, and it does just that for millions of Red Sox fans and New England residents. Whenever it comes on, hands will be touching hands and screaming “So Good” three times, each one louder than the last. I never really thought about how much the song truly means to Boston until after the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013. This song is one that is so ingrained in every person from New England that it is associated with being an anthem of sorts: a song where we stand, sing and interact with one another in a way that we wouldn’t without it. Everyone in the country knows it too.
(Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Neil Diamond performs “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway Park in 2013.
After the bombings, the New York Yankees played “Sweet Caroline” at their game against the Red Sox, a known rival in Major League Baseball. They recognized it as a song that holds true to the New England spirit and as something that everyone holds with utmost respect and importance. I’m not saying that the song is competing with the national anthem, but for some New Englanders, it certainly
might come close. “Sweet Caroline” is not just a song to any Bostonian, and it has become a staple part of who we are as a sports fans and even residents in general. The song represents this idea of bringing people together, and no matter how or why the song entered our lives, it will always be a part of everyone from New England.
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SPORTS Their head’s in the game, but their heart’s in the song
U P C OM I N G
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Jason Ounpraseuth Connector Staff
Musicians are the best at their craft because of the dedication they put into the medium. For many, it was their childhood dream to become to be a part of the music industry. That does not mean that there were not a few who dabbled in other interests like sports. Some were good enough or had the potential to possibly make a career out of it, if not for their aptitude in music. Here are the some of the best musician-athletes. Bob Marley - Bob Marley’s two passions in life were music and soccer. The Jamaican singer-songwriter played in parking lots, fields and even inside the recording studio. Not much in-depth footage exists of Marley’s soccer prowess, but his street skills with the Wailers and his other friends show that he had a genuine passion for the game. The best way to get to know Marley, in his words, was to play soccer with him and the Wailers. There are varying opinions from journalists and friends on how far Marley could realistically go if he pursued a career in soccer, but the best way to describe his passion for the sport is in a quote from an interview on French television: “football [soccer] is freedom.” 2 Chainz - Born Tauheed Epps, 2 Chainz was a star sixth man for North Clayton High in College Park, Georgia. The team won the Class AA state title in 1992-93. He was a Division I recruit who got some attention from the University of Memphis. He attended Alabama State on scholarship and played for the school from 1995 to 1997. The true passion for 2 Chainz was in rap, but many of his former coaches and teammates praise him. Old high school footage shows a versatile player that could guard multiple positions and be an effective player on offense. Even today, 2 Chainz shows glimmers of a potentially good basketball career.
Wednesday, March 21
4 p.m.
SB at Holy Cross
Wednesday, March 21
5 p.m.
BB at Holy Cross
Wednesday, March 21
7 p.m.
WLAX at Bryant
Saturday, March 24
12 p.m. WLAX vs Stony Brook
Saturday, March 24
12 p.m.
Saturday, March 24
7 p.m.
BB vs UAlbany MLAX vs UAlbany
For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com
(Ben Margot/AP)
MC Hammer throws the first pitch at an Oakland A’s game in 2011.
posted a 30-second clip on Twitter captioned “a perfect day to shoot some hoops.” The video is more of her shooting and having some fun with her friend passing the ball between her legs. There is not a lot of evidence of point-guard skills from Spears, but she does have the skills of a reliable catch-and-shoot player. MC Hammer - Better known as MC Hammer,
Quavo - Member of the hip hop group Migos, Quavo (Quavious Marshall) is a two-sport athlete. In his senior year at Berkmar High School, he became the starting quarterback. The team went 1-9 in the 2009 season, but Quavo was praised for his intelligence on the field and ability to read a defense. Quavo is better known today as a legitimately good basketball player. He recently won the MVP of the NBA Celebrity All-Star game. He has a good handle and a good jump shot, but more importantly, he is a great team player. He is a willing passer and moves well off the ball for open jump shots and lay-ups. Migos was formed in 2009, so a basketball career was out of the question, but Quavo is not to be taken lightly on the basketball court if challenged by a fan. Avril Lavigne - Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne played ice hockey at the age of 10. She played in the boys’ hockey league in her hometown of Napanee, Ontario. She claims to have earned MVP honors two years in a row playing right wing. In high school, Lavigne played on the girls’ ice hockey team and on the girls’ baseball team.
Courtesy of Getty Images
2 Chainz’s college coach compared his skill set to NBA player George Gervin, who played for 14 pro seasons.
Britney Spears - Before the release of her debut studio album “Baby One More Time,” Britney Spears was the point guard on her high school’s basketball team in McComb, Mississippi. Footage does not exist of her playing days in high school. There is a 2004 “Ellen” appearance where Spears and Ellen DeGeneres are briefly shooting on a hoop brought in by producers. Granted, Spears is in casual clothing, but despite failing badly on a few lay-up attempts, she hits the third and shows decent form on her jump shot. In March of last year, Spears
Stanley Burrell sold stray baseballs and danced in the parking lot outside of Oakland Coliseum as a child. Oakland A’s team owner Charles O. Finley hired the 11-year-old as a clubhouse assistant and batboy. Burrell was given the nickname “Little Hammer” by A’s players because of his resemblance to “Hammerin’” Hank Aaron. He played second base in high school and earned a tryout with the San Francisco Giants. Burrell was passed over, but just getting an opportunity to tryout indicates that he had some potential to play professional baseball.
Courtesy of Coolspotters
Avril Lavigne carries the puck up the ice at the RCA Records’ annual hockey game in 2004.
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