Songs to Help Navigate University Alicia

TRENDS.

Ward

Vienna - Billy Joel. “Slow down you crazy child, you’re so ambitious for a juvenile.” A carpe-diem song about embracing transitional growing periods and the process of coming of age.

Give Yourself A Try - The 1975. “And what would you say to your younger self?” With an electrifying guitar backing and exuding dancepop joy, The 1975 discuss the importance of embracing yourself and the time you have now.

Work, B*tch - Britney Spears. “You better work, b*tch.” Because at some point, every student has to do some work and it may feel as urgent as this song, depending on how much you procrastinated before the deadline.

Ribs - Lorde. “You’re the only friend I need, sharing beds like little kids, laughing ‘til our ribs get tough.” Light, upbeat and uplifting while lamenting the anxieties and joys of aging, party culture and friendships.

Peach - Oscar Scheller. “I’m feeling myself kinda pretty like a peach.” No bad thoughts, no insecurities, just lots of hyping yourself up and good vibes.

Garden Song - Phoebe Bridgers. “I don’t know how, but I’m taller, it must be something in the water.” All about manifesting your dreams and creating your own reality by deconstructing your fears and obstacles.

Lost - Frank Ocean. “Now you’re lost, lost in the thrill of it all.” At some point, everyone gets lost on campus and can’t seem to find their seminar room.

New Romantics - Taylor Swift. “Every day is like a battle but every night with us is like a dream.” A fun, whimsical and nonchalant pop song focused on the dynamics of young relationships, whether that be platonic or romantic.

Songs Stuck in Vision’s Head

Tilly: ‘Unholy’ - Sam Smith

Joe: ‘Everlasting’ - Polock

Will: ‘Bloomsday’ - Samantha Crain & The Sun

Dan: ‘God Is A Freak’ - Peach PRC

Matt: ‘Holy Branches’ - Radical Face

Katie: ‘Bejewelled’ - Taylor Swift, ‘Hot Girl’ - Charli XCX

Emily: ‘Inner Smile’ - Texas

Emilia: ‘Endlessly’ - Omar Apollo

Otty: ‘Bled White’ - Elliot Smith

Alicia: ‘About You’ - The 1975

Marti: ‘Candy Cane Lane’ - Sia

Jed: ‘What Could Have Been’ - Sting

Live Review: Fontaines DC Alicia Ward

Dublin’s infamous post-punk, five-piece band Fontaines DC brought all the angst of their introspective sound to Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse this weekend, showcasing tracks from their recent and third album, Skinty Fia. Debuting earlier this year, the album has secured the band a spot at the top of the indie music charts after being on the scene since 2017, with critics comparing them to past punk bands such as Joy Division and Oasis. The band’s sound remains true to themselves, however, pairing heavy guitars with frontman Grian Chatten’s passionate, poetic lyrics detailing Irish rage, vehemence and grit.

In their hit ‘Roman Holiday’, the band sing “don’t forget who you are”, and this is certainly apt to their stage presence, presenting as aloof, slouched and humbly everyday, yet lighting up the Manchester stage and commanding the audience. Chatten is instantly capivating, drawing attention with his magnetic, trance-like voice. I didn’t see anyone not singing, dancing or throwing themselves as far into the pit as humanly possible. With such a simple stage set (minimal graphics and lighting, merely the band’s name in lights as pictured), the performance speaks for itself. It seems the stage is where Fontaines DC thrive most in their natural state, as all the ambivalence of their music renders into absolutes: intense songs delivered with commitment and laidback confidence.

Fontaines DC stunned the crowd with an impeccable setlist, including their hit ‘Jackie Down The Line’ and a touching rendition of ‘I Love You’ that closed the set with emotion and self-assurance. The new songs were paired with some of their classics from the last five years, including a particularly electrifying performance of ‘Televised Mind’ that threw the crowd into a mayhem that only an elite few punk bands could produce.

To me, the highlight of the night came with their song ‘Boys In The Better Land’. With all of its charming ire, it blew the roof off the intimate venue. Judging by the audience’s response, this was a song that was wished for from the instant Fontaines DC took to the stage.

The show exuded passion and electricity. Despite already smashing charts and releasing three incredible post-punk albums, it seems Fontaines DC are only on the way up and are not a band to be ignored.

Rating Concerts I Went to in 2022

For me, 2022 was mostly characterised by going to concerts. I historically only attended one concert a year and, especially since Covid-19, my concert-going experiences have decreased to essentially zero over the past few years.However, with lockdown restrictions easing at the end of 2021, I got to look forward to four gigs in 2022.

Beginning with Marina and the Diamonds, newly releasing music as the eponymous “Marina”, I was incredibly excited to go to my first concert in Manchester. An incredibly talented live vocalist, Marina was an amazing stage presence, playing lots of her iconic hit songs from her hugely successful Electra Heart album.

I was more than satisfied with Marina’s performance. My first time seeing Marina was amazingand hopefully won’t be my last.

The day after seeing Marina in Manchester, I voyaged down to Milton Keynes with my friend to see a band that we had been waiting almost four years for: My Chemical Romance. A band I was majorly into during my teenage years, the impact of Covid-19 had pushed the band’s UK tour back quite significantly, meaning I was far less into them in 2022 than I was in the end of the 2010s. The concert itself was great. MCR played many hits including ‘Na Na Na!’, ‘Dead!’ and, of course, ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’. The show itself was definitely a highlight of the year for me. However, the night was greatly let down by the incompetence of the venue. As we had travelled down from Manchester the night before, we had to leave our rucksacks in baggage hold before the concert.We were in the baggage queue for two hours after the concert, meaning we did not

Katie Preston

get home to Northamptonshire until at least 2.30am when the show had finished at 11pm - me and my friend were not happy!

Later in the year, however, another concert took us back to Manchester, and this time we saw someone with a much more fun vibe: Harry Styles.

Joining some friends at Emirates Old Trafford, an incredible venue, Harry was an incredible showman, interacting with his fans and even showcasing his primary school teacher who had attended the concert in support. Opening with the incredibly catchy ‘Music for a Sushi Restaurant’, a song that has recently had a music video released that haunts me to this day, the highlight of the set was definitely when Harry surprised fans by playing ‘What Makes You Beautiful’, an iconic song from his One Direction days. As an ex-1D fan, I was incredibly excited.

I was overjoyed to witness the marvel that is Harry’s House

My final concert of the year was one that I had anxiously awaited for months. I was going to London to see ABBA. Bringing along my mum, who had never been to a concert, my auntie and my grandma, who hadn’t been to a gig in decades, it was a great pre-show day walking around London and seeing the sights. . Completely made up of holograms and light shows, the concert was amazing from start to finish. Playing some of my favourite underrated songs such as ‘Summer Night City’ and ‘The Visitors’, everyone in my family had an amazing time and got to marvel at the holograms - with me having to explain the difference between the real-life supporting band and the holograms of Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid.