Arts & Entertainment
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU!
Published on Dec. 16, 2022
Story by Angelica Villa
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has always been a hit during the winter season for decades since October 1994 when it was released. Her song has been labeled as one of most favorite holiday songs. This song reached top of the charts during Christmas internationally.
This song was written by Carey and her co-writer at the time Walter Afanasieff. Although it is published in credits that Afanasieff was co-producer and co-writer, he felt frustrated that he was not publicly credited by Carey. Afanasieff spoke out and said that he and Carey are not on speaking terms but feels joy about the attraction the song has gained.
In December of 2019, the song's 25th anniversary, her song finally hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In December 2021, Carey’s Christmas song took home the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Diamond Award after reaching ten million sales and streaming units in the United States.
Amazon Music released a documentary titled “Mariah Carey is Christmas: The Story of ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’” where Carey explains how the hit song came to life while she was watching the movie “It's a Wonderful Life,” and she began forming the melody on a keyboard in her house.
The song has now sold over 14 million copies worldwide and holds the title of the best-selling holiday song by a female artist.
"The continued love for my song never ceases to amaze me and fill my heart with a multitude of emotions,” Carey said after receiving her Diamond Award.
NEW SEASON OF THE CHUCKY TV SERIES!
Published on Nov. 10, 2022
Story by Angelica Villa
Are you a fan of the horror film series “Chucky” ? Well, in 2021, the SYFY channel created a TV series including the well-known dolls Chucky and Tiffany. A second season is currently being aired on TV featuring Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif and Alex Vincent, the original actors who were cast in the movies and many more familiar well-known faces. The TV series contains all the gore, comedy and thrill you’d expect with a new storyline and new characters.
The story starts in a small town called Hackensack, New Jersey with teen boy Jake Wheeler purchasing a Chucky doll from a yard sale not knowing the dangers and changes the doll would bring him. Further on, he meets a small group of fellow classmates, and they begin to try to put an end to Chucky, but it isn't as simple as it seems. Chucky is on a mission to create an army of the Chucky dolls to murder large amounts of people around the country while facing obstacles with the teenagers and Andy Barkley, a man who was the former protagonist of the “Child’s Play” movie trying to stop his plans. Towards the end of the first season, the group thought they had put an end to Chucky. In season two, the story continues with the remaining teens of the group when Cucky reappears causing the fight to continue.
If you enjoy horror and comedy combined, this show is recommended by critics and other horror and comedy lovers worldwide. You can watch the series on NBC, USA Network, Bravo, SYFY, Prime Video, Vudu or Apple TV. Check it out!
ROCKING HISTORY
Published on October 6, 2022
Story by Stephanie Cruz Perez
There are many different types of genres of music in the world. There are some genres of music that you may not know about and should check them out because you never know if you’ll like them. Here are some genres and their backgrounds you may want to know about and some you already know about.
Indie rock is a subgenre of alternative rock music which originated in the United Kingdom in the early 1980s. It developed from alternative rock, becoming its own independent genre. Indie rock distinguishes itself from indie pop as it is generally rougher and more hard-edged. One difference between indie rock and alternative rock is that the term “indie” was used for British-based music, while “alternative” for American. Indie music is made by independent artists without the support of a record label. These independent artists who make indie music are left to design their own art, create and direct their own music videos, as well as promote themselves however they can. Indie music is interesting because it’s always evolving and influencing mainstream music.
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the early 2000s. A popular dubstep producer changed the genre into something much heavier with more growls, gritty basslines, and fat subbasses. Dubstep is usually instrumental and its tempo usually ranges 138 to 150 beats per minute. Dubstep songs have 2 bass drops, it switches rhythm, and bass lines occur. Dub is a type of music that has a similar sound to reggae but differs in that it is composed almost entirely of instrumental remixes. The bass and drum parts are emphasized, and the recordings are extremely edited with added effects, such as panoramic echoes, delays, and reverbs. Dubstep has not reached significant popularity even after the music fully evolved to the way we now hear it.
Jazz is a music that originated in the African American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Jazz is a music genre that was partly inspired by blues and partly by ragtime. Over the years, people improvised and polished it into a very different genre. Jazz is always evolving, incorporating influences from other musical cultures as it travels the world, always creating new, distinct styles. It introduced new dance forms, such as the Charleston, Black Bottom, and the Trot. Jazz has many different styles, sometimes based on the location they were played, including Swing, Big Band, New Orleans Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, Be-bop, Dixieland, and more.
Latin music is a genre that originated from the Spanish and Portuguese in the 16th century. Latin music is a form of popular music played by people from Latin America. Latin music is a part of world music, which is the study of popular and traditional music in all countries. Also, part of the story is the influence of Latin music in other parts of the world, especially North America. Latin music is characterized first and foremost by rhythm. This genre of music has given Latinos a sense of pride in their heritage and identity.
These are just a few genres of music and their origins, but there are many more you can discover. You should definitely try out other types of music. Maybe one of them can become your new favorite genre. If you want to learn more about music, stick around for another article. If you're interested in other types of articles, make sure to check out The Regent Roar!
“Harry’s House” by Harry Styles album review: Reseda students can relate
Published June 8, 2022
Story and Photos by Mallory Blake
After Harry Styles dropped his new album “Harry’s House” at 12 a.m. ET on May 20, fans and Reseda students alike found a new album to keep on repeat.
“Harry’s House” is the third released album from Harry Styles as a solo artist since One Direction broke up in 2015.
During an interview with MTV, Styles mentioned that Sir Paul McCartney of the Beatles is his songwriting. Styles said he receives a sense of “freedom” from McCartney’s music.
In some ways, the two artists are comparable. They were both in a wildly popular “boy band,” and have both gone on to have successful solo careers.
This new album gives the world more of an insight into Harry Styles' love life, the emotions he is experiencing and what it would be like inside Styles’ own home, hence the name “Harry’s House.”
The top three songs on the album among fans worldwide are single “As It Was,” “Late Night Talking”’ and “Matilda.”
In “As It Was,” Styles continuously compares his present life, where he seems to be single, to his past life, when he had a significant other.
He sings repeatedly throughout the verses, “In this world, it’s just us. You know it’s not the same as it was.”
“Late Night Talking” is an upbeat banger in which Styles sings about worrying that his significant other is not happy. He is willing to do anything for them and finds himself thinking about them too often.
Lyrics in the song prove just that: “If you're feeling down, I just wanna make you happier, baby. Wish I was around. I just wanna make you happier, baby. We've been doing all this late night talking, 'Bout anything you wanna 'til the morning. Now you're in my life. I can't get you off my mind.”
By listening to “Matilda” once, fans gain an understanding of the hidden message behind the song. Based on the lyrics, Styles is trying to teach a girl to move on from the people that didn’t treat her right when she has outgrown them. The sung-about “Matilda” taught Styles so much throughout their relationship, so he is trying to repay her by helping her heal from the past.
“You can throw a party full of everyone you know and not invite your family, 'cause they never showed you love. You don't have to be sorry for leaving and growing up, mmh. Matilda, you talk of the pain like it's all alright, but I know that you feel like a piece of you's dead insidе,” Styles sings.
The song lyrics mention how Matilda doesn’t feel loved by her family, which may lead her to not want to invite her family around. The narrator tries to make her feel better by providing her a better environment that doesn’t require feeling guilty for moving out of her childhood home as an adult.
Moving away causes anxiety, sadness, happiness and excitement for the next chapter in someone’s life. There finally becomes freedom to change personality styles, clothing styles and leave bad habits in the past. Matilda may have learned how to love people on her own which her parents may be upset about.
This sentiment may be especially relatable to Reseda’s senior class.
Senior Bezhan Salimshoev said, “My favorite song has to be Matilda because of how much I enjoy sad but catchy songs. On the night of the release, I listened to the song at least 20 times.”
Styles’ new album is different from his freshman and sophomore albums, “Harry Styles” and “Fine Line.”
“Harry’s House” has a mixture of songs that are danceable and up beat, with more slower, sad songs than his previous albums, which makes the album more mature. The album is more mature because Styles is singing more about his life than before.
In “Harry Styles,” he focuses on his view of women in pop punk and rock, whereas “Fine Line” focuses on figuring out who he is and who he wants to be perceived as.
As of June 6, “Harry’s House” had reached almost 1.3 billion streams on Spotify. It has his fans crying happy tears, crying sad tears, screaming and dancing with joy.
Salimshoev added, “I think this is by far Harry’s best album!”
7th grader Hayden Wagner stars in high school theater production
Published June 1, 2022
Story by Jenny Puban and Malka Miller
Photos by Jenny Puban
Reseda Middle School 7th grader Hayden Wagner performed on Reseda’s stage for the very first time as Peter, the titular character of “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
The show, which ran on March 31, April 1 and April 2, was Reseda Theater Company’s first play since the onset of COVID.
The set of the show featured bright lights, which gave off a yellow tone that shined on the actors while they were onstage. The props on set were simple but were sufficient for the audience to understand what was going on. When the scene was on an ocean, the puppeteers moved rope up and down to show the sea’s waves.
The effect was that of a fairytale. There was live music played by Susan Treworgy Calkins, and the theme was described as a child's imagination. The set had different physical elements, including a ladder, wood pieces, pirate ships made out of boxes and different other props that came out from scene to scene.
Wagner shared that her first time performing at Reseda was “really fun” and seeing the play put together “was awesome.”
“I thought it was a really different role. I wasn't expecting that, but that’s what made it fun,” she added.
It was remarkable to watch a 7th grader on stage in a high school show. Her acting was very professional, and Wagner clearly worked hard for this performance.
She said that “it was nerve racking” to be onstage.
“The first night, I was a mess behind the stage because I stuttered the first line,” said Wagner. “It was scary.”
Despite all the cancellations and long year due to the pandemic, everything went smoothly, including Wagner’s debut. The audience enjoyed the play as evidenced by their laughter throughout.
“It was great how we all got to come together and put on something,” said Wagner.
Reseda NJROTC celebrates with NJROTC Military Ball with John F. Kennedy High School
Published June 1, 2022
Story by Genesis Lopez
On Saturday, April 23, Reseda NJROTC took part in a memorable day with Kennedy High in which they celebrated the end of the school year with a formal dance called Military Ball. Marines and Navy members also refer to this social affair as “Mess Night” or “Dining In.“
A Military Ball is a well-established Marine Corps Navy tradition. Cadets use the event to build friendships and interact with their fellow Marines.
The ball, which took place in Northridge, was an elegant event that included a ceremony and a speech. At the entrance, the Reseda and Kennedy instructors stood in a line and greeted every individual who came in with a big smile. It was an extraordinary moment where everyone who walked in felt welcomed.
Everyone looked great, with guys wearing their black uniforms and ladies wearing beautiful long dresses. Students took the chance to let loose and pick cadets to drink “grog,” which is a concoction of disgusting ingredients like mustard, apple juice and spicy sauce. Everyone had a good chuckle along with Navy and Marine Corps instructors.
Navy-retired Reseda Instructor Lieutenant Commander Francisco felt excited and privileged to see his cadets enjoying the night.
“This is the first time since the pandemic that we were able to have the Military Ball, and it's been three years,” he said. “I felt not only excited, but happy for the cadets overall that they were able to experience something that they haven't been able to experience.”
This year’s Military Ball looked different from the ones held before the pandemic. In the past, there have been around 20 schools and thousands of guests that gathered together at the Bonaventure Hotel, but Covid did not allow for a larger event.
Despite the restrictions, Gabriela Cifuentes mentions that the event was special because students got to establish bonds with Kennedy’s NJROTIC Program.
“We see them at competitions, but we never get the chance to actually interact with them,” she said. “Now that we did, it was a great opportunity.”
RAP ARTIST DR. DRE COLLABS WITH ROCKSTAR GAMES IN GTA-V DLC
Published May 25, 2022
Story by Mauro Arteaga
On Dec. 15, 2021, Rockstar Games made one of their biggest announcements in GTA V history: Rockstar collaborated on their newest DLC, or downloadable content, update “The Contract” with the famous veteran rap artist Dr. Dre.
DJ Pooh, who’s closely associated with Dr. Dre, introduced him to Grand Theft Auto V on PlayStation. Dr. Dre knew nothing about GTA but immediately fell in love with the game because of how deep into the world of GTA can be explored.
Reseda sophomore and GTA player Javier Gonzalez was excited about the release of the new update.
“It feels like the update is finally something new,” Gonzalez said, mentioning that it’s “not the usual heists and difficult missions. You work with a celebrity, the missions are easy and you get well paid.”
In “The Contract” missions, players help Dr. Dre stop the leaks of his new music. To do this, the player must be able to buy an agency to have the assistance of two well-known GTA campaign characters, Franklin Clinton and Lamar Davis.
By the end of the mission, Dr. Dre has paid the player $1,000,000 for their hard work. He then invites the player to his studio for a GTA-exclusive performance.
This update gives players an experience that not every person has of “meeting” and interacting with a celebrity let alone becoming the celebrity’s friend at the end of the story.
Those who want to know more about Grand Theft Auto V can visit Rockstar Games, and the game is available on Xbox, PlayStation and PC.
5 gift ideas for the mother figure in your life this Mother’s Day
Published May 6, 2022
Story by Aida Baltayan
As Mother’s Day on May 8 approaches, we remember how important it is to appreciate each day we get to spend with the maternal figures in our lives. However, for the past few years, families have been unable to celebrate many occasions due to COVID restrictions. As COVID is slowly but surely improving, it’s the perfect time to spoil mothers because they deserve it.
Here is a list of 5 gift ideas for the mother figure or figures in your life.
Shopping
As COVID restrictions loosen up, it's a great time to treat the mom in your life to shopping. Maybe a new collection came out at H&M or Wetzel’s Pretzels just made a batch of fresh pretzels. The Northridge or Topanga malls are great places to go to; with a huge variety of goods, a mall is the perfect place to shop for a gift or take her shopping. Going to the mall as a duo makes it so much more enjoyable to walk around and see what's new. Often, mothers will not buy something they want, so this is a great way to spoil mothers like they deserve.
Breakfast in bed
If going out isn't an option, breakfast in bed is an even better and an arguably more personalized gesture. Pancakes are a very popular breakfast food, and french toast is also a great idea for a sweet morning. And if you’re not a very good cook, just know that DoorDash is always an option.
This is a classic and very popular gift for many occasions. Flowers represent beauty, and what better way to put a smile on someone's face than with a bouquet of flowers. A perfect way to personalize flowers for someone would be to find out their favorite flower. Another way would be to buy a few variations of flowers and construct your own bouquet. If you don’t have a job, picking your own flowers is a great cost-free option that offers a fresher appearance and smell than store-bought flowers.
Faux flowers
Some people may not be fans of flowers, so faux flowers might be a better and longer lasting alternative. If arts and crafts peak your interest, origami flowers are a perfect gift to make. Putting in time and dedication into a gift for your mother figure can show her just how much you care.
Offering to step in and run errands for your mother is sure to lift a weight off her shoulders. Things such as a free car wash, picking up groceries, a shopping date, or a treat to dinner. This is a great opportunity to undertake chores or just a way to get mom out of the house and spend time with those you love.
The day to celebrate the mother figures presents many opportunities to show how appreciated mothers are. Whether it's acts of kindness or gifts, doing any sweet gesture is sure to put a smile on mom's face, brighten her day and leave her feeling greatly appreciated.
"Turning Red" sparks debate over movie's meaning
Published April 21, 2022
Story by Genesis Lopez
There are certain films that cause controversy due to their ostensibly political messages and the new Disney-Pixar film ”Turning Red" is one of them.
The film, released March 11, captures the wild energy of adolescence by introducing viewers to a girl named Meilin who is trying her hardest to please her mother and, like any human being, goes through ups and downs.
Reseda junior Nick Crabtree said, "We watched it in yoga class to learn how to regulate our emotions."
When Meilin's emotions such as embarrassment or anger overcome her, she transforms into a large red panda, which, to some, represents changes in a teenage girl's life like puberty and menstruation.
Some critical viewers and parents don't like the idea that puberty might be the topic of a Disney film. Cast members and supporters stood up for the film after it was accused of "promoting disobedience " while it earned 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Everyone who's upset about Pixar Turning Red’s Meilin disobeying her parents and ‘sneaking out of the house,’ let me remind you of a few Disney films where the girl disobeyed and no one was in an uproar about it,” said Twitter user @raisingwhasians, who then cited Riley from “Inside Out,” Mulan and Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.”
In another tweet defending the film, @IzzzyzzzArt said, “People saying Turning Red is ‘too mature/over sexualissed’ are really weird.”
Perhaps the purpose of the movie is for Tween Girls to relate to this narrative. Everyone goes through some kind of transformation in their lives, and no one should be ashamed to talk about it. Change should be embraced rather than avoided.
William Hurt actor part of the Marvel Universe dies on March 13
Published March 21, 2022
Story by Sofia Romero
On Sunday, March 13, 2022, actor William Hurt died at the age of 71 due to natural causes, days before his 72nd birthday.
In 2018, the actor revealed that he was suffering from prostate cancer. The family has not disclosed the exact cause of death and have only said that it was due to natural causes.
The actor's family has so far requested privacy, and, according to Variety, the family has spoken only to share a few words about his death: "he died peacefully, among relatives, of natural causes," they said.
Hurt was in his acting heyday in the 80s, when he participated in many classic movies such as "Body Heat," "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and "The Big Chill".
Most recently the actor participated in several films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe such as "Black Widow," "Captain America: Civil War," "Avengers: Infinity War " and "The Incredible Hulk."
Hurt brought the character of Luis Molina to life in 1985’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” which won him an Oscar and a BAFTA Film Award for best actor.
Hurt was nominated for two Oscars, two Emmy Awards and six Golden Globes throughout his career.
According to BBC News, actor Mark Ruffalo, known for his role as the Hulk within the Marvel Universe, shared on Twitter, "Wow, another Major loss to the acting community. Great actor. Great mind. RIP."
Fans of Marvel movies like "Iron Man," "Captain America" and "The Avengers" have Hurt to thank for paving the way for these films. Rest in peace, William Hurt.
"Friends" actor passes away at 59
Published November 5, 2021
Story by Sofia Romero
Actor James Michael Tyler, best known for giving life to the character of Gunther in the famous 90s series "Friends," died on Oct. 24 at his home in Los Angeles.
Tyler was more than an actor, as he was also a musician and an advocate for cancer awareness, although he became known in 1994 when he starred as the well-known character of Gunther in “Friends” during the first 150 episodes of the program.
According to The Washington Post, the actor was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018, and, in an interview that same year, he confessed that the cancer was beginning to spread through his bones and that it would probably get him completely.
When this unfortunate news was released, co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow tributed the actor with a tribute giving some words through their post on instagram.
"'Friends' would not have been the same without you. Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives. You will be so missed #JamesMichaelTyler," actress Jennifer Aniston wrote in a post. Some other actresses and fans shared photos, videos and memorable quotes from the actor.
According to CNN Entertainment, the series' co-creators described Tyler as "a genuinely kind and sweet man."
In May 2021, the"Friends" cast reunited, and Tyler had a small appearance.
"Honestly, they were the 10 most memorable years of my life," the actor expressed during the reunion. "I could not have imagined just a better experience. All these guys were fantastic. It was just a joy to work with them. I felt very, very special."
Many people who enjoyed the program and knew the actor have suffered from his loss.
Many will remember and miss this great actor. Rest in peace, James Michael Tyler.
