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Entertainment
February
The Bear Facts
The Bear Facts
Oscar-Worthy Moments were white. The outrage over the lack of diversity was expressed on social media using the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite originating from activist April Reign. Many stars opted out of attending the event, prioritizing equality over their own self-gain. Host Chris Rock addressed the issue head-on, with Hollywood’s culture of racism at the end of his jokes. “I’m here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the White People’s Choice Awards,” he said. “You realize if they nominated hosts, I wouldn’t even get this job. Y’all would be watching Neil Patrick Harris right now.” Ellen’s Iconic Selfie: Give thanks to the selfie gods, for they bestowed upon us an aweworthy selfie at the 2014 Oscars. The photo, taken by host Ellen DeGeneres, featured Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner and Angelina Jolie. The picture caught 37 million people’s eyes, breaking the internet and causing Twitter to crash. It was later revealed that the selfie was “product placement” by Samsung, who spent $20 million dollars on air time. The Times Up Movement: Hollywood in 2018 was focused on
the Times Up movement to “stop sexual assault, harassment and inequality in the workplace.” Though problems with sexual harassment, assault and inequality are problems all women face in the workforce, Hollywood has been especially brutal, with many male stars abusing their power and celebrity to take advantage of women. Though the 2018 Oscars did not prompt the all-black attire that the other award ceremonies did, there were nods to it in other ways with celebs wearing Times Up ribbons and bringing victims as dates. During the ceremony, Time’s Up leaders and sexual harassment survivors Annabella Sciorra, Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd spoke, with Sciorra saying, “This year, many spoke their truth and the journey ahead is long, but slowly a new path has emerged.” Judd then added, “The changes we are witnessing are being driven by the powerful sound of new voices, of different voices, of our voices joining together in a mighty chorus that is finally saying Time’s Up.” Then, the three women announced a video featuring Mira Sorvino, Lee Daniels, Dee Rees, Ava DuVernay, Greta Gerwig, Kumail Nanjiani, Hayek, Geena Davis, Yance Ford, Sarah Silverman, Barry Jenkins and Liz Hannah speaking on the importance of equality. The overall message was conveyed when Gerwig
told the audience to “make your movie because every story needs to be told.” The La La Land mix-up: Best Picture, the Oscar coveted above all else, is presented last to keep the audience watching until the spectacular finale. However, in 2017 a Best Picture mix-up occurred so bad, it goes down as the best moment in Oscar’s books. That night, Best Picture presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty announced La La Land as the winner, ushering the cast onto the stage to receive their Oscar. However, two minutes and twentythree into La La Land’s acceptance speech it is revealed that Beatty was given the wrong envelope, and that the real winner is Moonlight. The mistake was made by PricewaterhouseCoopers accountant Brian Cullinan, who has now been banned from ever working award shows again. As the confusion cleared up, Moonlight director Barry Jenkins ended the night and confusion by saying, “Even in my dreams, this could not be true, to hell with dreams, I’m done with it. Because this is true.” So, As we move on to the 2019 Oscars, let us look forward to more unforgettable Hollywood moments, ones that can only occur in a dream, nightmare or on a red carpet.
Courtesy of Billboard
By ABIGAIL MIHALIC ‘20
band has in each city. But for students who are not as familiar with the band, here is what you need to know about 2019’s JSB performers: COIN formed in 2012 at Belmont University in Nashville when lead vocalist Chase Lawrence and guitarist and vocalist Joe Memmel met on their first day of college and were later introduced to drummer Ryan Winnen and bassist Zach Dyke, according to Ones to Watch. After the release of the single “Run” from their first album, COIN signed with Columbia records. They released their self-titled album shortly after in 2015, and after “Talk Too Much,” they released their second album “How Will You Know If You Never Try.” “[‘Talk Too Much’] gave us a large boost to a new audience that we’ve never seen before, so we were able to play in front of people in essentially every major city that we didn’t know existed prior to that. ‘Talk Too Much’ gave us a good foundation to stand on before the album came out, because it was released well in advance to the entire full length, so I think more than anything it gave us a platform, and then it’s our job to collaborate on that,” said Winnen in an interview with Billboard Magazine. COIN made several big announce-
ments recently. Their bassist Zach Dyke left the band to focus more on the behind-the-scenes side of the music industry in production and engineering. Also, they have released two singles— “Cemetery” and “I Want It All”—with a third album set to be released this year, reports Billboard. They have a short month-long tour this February, where they will perform for some of their favorite cities including Dallas. The real question for COIN fans excited to see them perform at JSB is this: Is it worth it to shell out $100 or more when you can wait only 15 short days later to see them at the House of Blues on February the 17th for the low low price of $22? From a cost standpoint, it is not, but there is something to be said to having your beloved band play specifically for you and your fellow classmates across Dallas. Last year on March 2nd, my two sisters and I saw COIN perform at the Granada. It has been the smallest concert I have ever been to, but also my favorite concert because of how intimate it felt. COIN does not simply play their songs, they perform them with loads of energy and an authenticity that shows their love for what they are doing. COIN made me feel like they were having as much fun as me and I was rocking out along with them. I know I will be seeing
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February
By GRACE RISINGER ‘20
Indie Pop Band COIN to Perform at JSB Every day on our drive to school, my older sister Isabella and I would listen to her “Favs” playlist on Spotify, which consisted of an assortment of indie pop songs with the occasional nostalgia-inducing early 2000s throwback. As indie pop/rock listeners, we learned that we had to sift through the rubble of painfully mediocre songs to find a gem that was worthy of a spot on “Favs.” Indie pop bands are not widely popular, and in my opinion, most have only one or two songs that have high-energy, unique lyrics, and are actually fun to listen to. COIN is different. My sister and I discovered COIN with the release of their single, “Talk Too Much,” in 2016 from their sophomore album. “Talk Too Much” can immediately put the listener in a good mood, and it is the perfect song to make even the worst dancer jump up and move. Our love for the song turned into curiosity about what else COIN had to offer. To describe COIN’s songs in one word, they are rolling-down-your-windows-speakersblaring-singing-along-on-a-cool-summernight. Hyphens count, right? As a COIN fan ever since, I have discovered others who love the band as much as I do, especially after the announcement that COIN would perform at this year’s Junior Symphony Ball. COIN has almost 1.8 million monthly subscribers, and Dallas ranks third in the number of fans the
Entertainment
‘Flor’ Plays House of Blues
By ELLIE SKELLY ‘20
The Oscars: a cherihed Hollywood tradition giving celebrities a chance to congratulate themselves with an extravagant party and popularity contest since 1929. Though the 88-year-old award is no stranger to insane celebrity moments, the last ten years seem to have risen above all, offering the onlookers plenty to feast on in terms of Hollywood glamour and scandal. In honor of the upcoming 2019 Oscars, here is a look back at the top five Oscar moments in the past 10 years. Leo’s (finally) gets his Oscar: Poor Leo, always the bridesmaid and never the bride. At least, that was the case until 2016 where Leo won Best Actor for The Revenant, after six previous nominations dating back to 1994. After finally snatching the little gold man, Leo goes on to use his well-deserved platform to speak on his experience with climate change, saying, “Production needed to move to the southern tip of this planet just to be able to find snow. Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating… Let us not take this planet for granted.” Chris Rock Monologue: 2016 was a year of activism and outrage, as for the second time in a row all 20 actors and actresses nominated for the lead and supporting role categories
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COIN perform at some point in February, and I hope JSB attendees enjoy the incredible band performing for them.
My appreciation for Flor’s music started accidentally; free tickets gifted to me by the supporting act to their show in Deep Ellum led to an instant connection to their high-energy live performance. Nearly a year later, I found myself at the House of Blues dancing deep into a crowd surrounded by smiling faces -watching them support Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. Ironic, right? Comprised of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Zach Grace, lead guitarist McKinley Kitts, bassist and producer Dylan Bauld and drummer Kyle Hill, Flor’s unique sound has cultivated a very close-knit fanbase and has repeatedly earned them a ‘needto-know’ title. However, Flor has not always been the synth-fueled, indiepop band they are known as. Before there was Flor, there was Sunderland, the high-school band of Hood River Valley students Grace, Kitts and Bauld. With Kitts singing lead vocals and Grace on lead guitar, Flor accepts the trio’s life-long bond, throws in Hill, another forever-friend, and takes an entirely new approach to their sound. 2014 became the year for Flor. Releasing a new single about once a month, Grace’s synth experimentation led to Flor’s unparalleled, new-waveindie-pop-esque creation. Their debut single “Heart” was unforgettable, amassing them a grand following and an eventual record deal with Fueled by Ramen in 2016. Flor’s originality is not limited to their sound. Through writing Flor’s
first album under Fueled by Ramen, come out. you’re hiding, Zach Grace established himself as quite the songwriter. While each song on the album
Just as I began to hit the wall of teenage boredom, the familiar, almost bubbly synth-intro to “Get Behind This” rang throughout the room, officially beginning
holds its own song-
my night. Grace smiled and instantly began to bounce around the stage. As writfaces lit up ing with sheer briljoy and a liance, touch of “Hold adrenaline, On” “Restless was Soul” mirwritrored the ten in energy the span of a shower and pulsing Courtesy of Flor throughout the House “Warm Blood” is about a video game, The Witcher 3. Unsurprisingly, “Hold of Blues. Swapping On” and “Warm Blood” are among the his electric guitar for an acoustic, Grace band’s most popular tracks. Did I menattempted to sweetly serenade the crowd tion that they are somehow even better during the chorus, failing to notice his when played live? guitar was not actually plugged in. FortuThat brings us back to where our nately, Kitts came to his rescue, exchangstory left off: the crowd in the House of ing friendly banter and causing fits of Blues’ Music Hall. As the lights brightgiggles to erupt from the crowd. ened and dimmed, I waited eagerly for With the perfectly-catchy combination Flor, watching in anticipation as the of pop-influenced synth, melodic guitar Grizfolk wore-in the stage for the perriffs, a prominent bassline and steady formance I was dying to see. Time could drums, “Unsaid” furthered the night’s not pass soon enough. vibrant energy; as the audience jumped
to the beat, we silently agreed that the night should never end. It was impossible not to smile as Grace sang “Rely”, with the audience singing and dancing lovingly, surrounded by those they could rely on. Grace’s dreamlike voice brought the crowd back to reality with the lyrics to “Back Again”. Slightly mellowed, yet still bursting with energy, the crowd shouted along to the song as loud as they could without muffling Grace’s ethereal vocals. “Warm Blood” cast a loving aura over the venue, with the unconditional love expressed through the song spreading across every inch of the crowd. As Flor announced that their next song would be the last song of the night, the audience was rather composed, contently appreciating Flor’s mesmerizing performance. This tranquility very much exemplified the phrase “the calm before the storm”, in this case, the storm being fan-favorite “Hold On”. The crowd was electrified as the opening notes to “Hold On” vibrated throughout the venue. It looked as though the crowd was levitating, with every foot off the ground, jumping to the beat of the enchanting song. Grace could not help but smile in unison with the crowd as we shouted the lyrics with pure joy. As the colored lights shined across the audience’s faces, it was almost impossible not to acknowledge the complete, utter happiness radiating across the House of Blues; I could not help myself from wishing the moment would last forever. As “Hold On” came to a close, I knew I would be holding on to Flor’s performance until their return.
Not Just Another Spider-Man Movie By SARAH NGUYEN ‘20
Courtesy of Coin
Courtesy of Coin
Wait. Another Spider-Man movie? There have been so many Spider-Man remakes from Spider-Man in 2002 with Tobey Maguire to Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017 with Tom Holland. Some initial thoughts may be “ugh, it’s just like the others.” False. This SpiderMan movie is not just another ordinary superhero movie. First, it is not a live-action film but an animation. Second, this movie is on the next level when it comes to cinematography. The comic book format and color explosions mesmerize viewers and guarantee a never-seen-before hour and 56 minutes. The film combines both traditional 3D computer animation and comic aesthetics to treat the public with out-of-this-world graphics. And besides the occasional blur and confusion, Sony and Marvel created an overall success. “Throughout the movie I could not keep my eyes off the screen, and even the sound track was fire which is surprising for a cartoon movie,” commented Sophomore Annie Nguyen. Many people, especially teenagers would have to agree with her claim. Most times cartoons appeal to kids thus including sappy, overly excited tracks for the eight-year-olds to jam to. On the other hand, Into the Spider-Verse’s soundtrack takes a different approach and appeals to teens and young adults. Besides the technical features that have made Into the Spider-Verse so
a kick start. Soon after, he discovers the different alterations of himself in alternative universes that have been forced together into Miles’ world by the evil villain’s contraption. Some The examples of these story begins with “Spider-Men” include a Miles Morales, an ordimiddle-aged bum Peter, the nary mixed American high black-and-white Spider-Man schooler who occasionNoir, and female Spider-Gwen. ally fights with his Although they do not share parents and despises any similar physical or perschool. Starting at sonality traits, they all have a a new school for similar backstory and a central privileged socialobligation to help the vulnerites, he feels lower able; every Spider-Man had in status and like been an outcast of an outcast. His father society, lost someone particularly pushes Miles dear, and turned his to follow this path due to or her life around his fear of Miles enduring through kind actions. a similar life of poverty. Soon, they join Due to these expectations, forces to stop KingMiles frequently struggles to pin, the main antagoembrace his own passion and nist who wishes to individuality. His longing to revive his dead son and wife express himself, his awkward teenage through alternate dimenmoments and his frustration towards sions. But to do so, the other his newly discovered abilities all create Spider-Man alternations a plot that speak to the internal issues must use the machine and of any teenager battling to establish his return to their own or her identity. Courtesy of We Got This dimensions before After getting bitten by a they no longer spider, his Spider-Man life takes Covered recently renowned, the plot itself is a fun adventure and shares a message regarding self-love and self-identity. This is Miles Morales’s story: it is a coming-of-age story.
cease to exist and rip the space-time continuum. Compared to other superhero movies, this movie is not simply a story of an outsider and his progression to stardom but one that focuses more on Miles Morales and gives insight into the teenage mind. The Spider-Man franchise has mostly aimed at the same character with the same story, but Into the Spider-Verse demonstrates the true potential of a superhero film, breaking the pattern. According to The Verge, “SpiderMan isn’t one particular person; it’s an idea accessible to anyone, no matter where they come from or what they look like,” In the film, the older multiverse Peter Parker, a middle-aged bum who lives a miserable, lonely life in spite of all of “the built-in advantages of being a superhero,” teams up with Miles (The Verge). Although Peter Parker teaches Miles to fight and supports him through his identity crisis, Miles Morales teaches Peter Parker as well how to live life the right way by accepting his faults and repairing his love life. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is not just another Spider-Man movie; it is an adventure that teaches the importance of self-love and self-acceptance. With relatable moments and unique stylistic approaches, it is a world worth experiencing.