By Leila Dunfee - Editor - May 19th, 2025

This past Valentine's Day, instead of waking up to a special message from a special someone, I found a new album by The Lumineers waiting for me, which, might I add, is even better than a Valentine’s date. Automatic consists of 11 tracks and 32 minutes of alternative folk music that the band is known for. 

The Lumineers, founded by Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, has been a band since 2005, making this album a celebration of 20 years in the music industry. In the Instagram post announcing this new album, Wesley Schultz said that “the album explores some of the absurdities of the modern world, like the increasingly blurry line between what’s real and what’s not.”

My take on the album? Lyricism, stunning. Music, not so much. They use their songwriting to touch on a number of topics, from political to failed relationships. It is a “quieter” album that is more reflective of their past four albums and requires some thought to fully understand their message. However, some of the music did not land well with me. I noticed an increase in electronic instrumentals from their previous albums, which was a feature I valued in the past.

Regardless of my instrumental grievances, this is a beautiful album that deserves more recognition and appreciation.

By Abbey Zila - Editor - January 27th, 2025

Grammys 

This year's Grammy Awards will be hosted Sunday, February 2nd. Let’s look at the 67th annual Grammy nominees. 

Category number one is titled Record Of The Year. The eight   nominees are: 

 1. Now and then by The Beatles 

2. TEXAS HOLD ‘EM by Beyoncé 

3. Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter 

4. 360 by Charli xcx 

5. BIRDS OF A FEATHER by Billie Eillish 

6. Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar 

7. Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan 

8. Fortnight by Taylor Swift 

Other categories are Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best New Artist, Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, and many more. There are 94 categories, which is way too many to cover in one article, so I urge you to visit the website for more details. The link to the website is 

https://www.grammy.com/news/2025-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list . 

Oscars 

The 97th annual Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 2nd. They include movies released in 2024. Some categories include Actor/Actress in a leading role and Actor/Actress in a supporting role. With a total of 23 categories, it is significantly smaller than the staggering 94 that the Grammys have. The Oscars include films of a variety of genres. Your favorite from 2024 might make the cut! The link to the Oscars website is https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2025 

Make sure to tune in to both to see the results!

By Isabel Bruecken - Writer - November 5th, 2024

Short n’ sweet; an album capturing love, hate, and everything in between. Sabrina Carpenter has done it again. 

With the songs of the summer, “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” the album had a lot to live up to. In my opinion, the album is more than I could’ve asked for. Carpenter

went from a sad girl album, “emails i can’t send”, to an upbeat album about every past

relationship she’s had and how she’s healed. 

What I love most about her rebranding is the “Short n’ Sweet Tour.” The tour is not just her singing, it’s her performing. Take a 90s sitcom like Full House and put it into a magnetic performance with an incredible set. From featuring her boyfriend, actor Barry Keoghan, in the “Please Please Please” music video to working with actress Jenna Ortega, Sabrina is killing the  pop music game right now. 

While she has sad ballads like “Dumb & Poetic” and “Lie to Girls” she also has her classic upbeat songs like “Good Graces” and “Taste.” Not only that, but she has a little country featured in a few songs like “Slim Pickins’” and “Coincidence.” Those two songs made this album skippable for me initially. Shortly after I listened to the whole album again, my opinion changed. I was definitely not expecting another artist to add a country twang to their music. Listen after listen, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is a no-skip album. I can confidently say that Sabrina Carpenter has done it again and I can’t wait for more.

By Advika Chaudhari - Editor - October 9th, 2024

Brat summer might be over, but the pop girlies are just getting started. Over the past year, a new genre of pop stars has skyrocketed to the spotlight—Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and Chappell Roan are leading a new wave in pop music. With catchy beats and fun but meaningful lyrics, many people relate to their songs. 

The one thing that sets them apart from other artists is their confident personas. Each one has a distinct personality that they don’t shy away from. Sabrina Carpenter has a flirty, fun, entirely honest personality that shines through her hits like the fan-famous outros from ‘Nonsense,’ and her summer hit ‘Espresso.’  Charli XCX has a rebellious vibe with her techno-pop hits from her ‘brat’ album, while Chappell Roan has a fun-embracing, authentic personality with songs like ‘HOT TO GO’ and ‘Femininomenon.’ 

These songs and distinct personas make them a lot more lovable opposed to the manufactured personalities that the older generation of pop stars used to gain their fame. I can’t wait for their new releases, where I know they’ll be brattier than ever.

By Leila Dunfee - Editor - April 4, 2024

Someone to recently gain incredible popularity on social media may come as a bit of a shock, Gypsy Rose Blanchard. She was released from prison after serving 7 years for persuading an online boyfriend to kill her mother. Gypsy suffered from Munchausen’s by proxy, meaning her mother lied to and manipulated Gypsy, doctors, and those around her in order to convince them all that Gypsy was terminally ill. Gypsy’s story has been shared across social media and gained more popularity through Hulu’s “The Act” which was released in 2019. Since her release this past December, there has been significant controversy as to whether her actions were justified or not. Some support Gypsy, and want to see her live her life the way she chooses to, but on the other hand, some want to see her back in prison for what she did. As of now, it seems Gypsy will continue to live her life in fame, alongside her husband Ryan Anderson, whom she married in 2022 while still in prison. 

By Pranya Duvvuru - Writer - 21 February 2024

Jo Koy was the first Filipino-American comedian to ever host a major television/film awards show. His tenure, however, was definitely not well received.

Beginning with his monologue, Koy went on a spree of jokes that were sometimes funny, sometimes not. The entire time he looked completely nervous, like he knew that he was experiencing a train wreck in real time but didn’t know how to stop it. The monologue was peppered with jokes that were… questionable, to say the least. A joke about Ryan Reynolds’s eyes and Taylor Swift’s NFL appearances was met with flat expressions — and a torrent of posts by Swifties on social media who were angry about the joke. There was an excessive bit about how long Oppenheimer was (which the cast did not seem to be enjoying) and a joke about how Barbie was a movie about “dolls with big boobies” — most definitely missing the point of the movie. Throughout the entire monologue, he made disclaimers saying that half the jokes weren’t written by him, and the ones that were, “they’re the ones you’re laughing at”. In all, it was a painful and awkward thing to watch.

Jo Koy is a very successful stand-up comedian, but his budding career as an awards show host is effectively over.

By Naomi Cook - Writer - 2 February 2023

The new Mean Girls has taken social media by storm. The movie is a remake of the original Mean Girls movie and the Broadway version.

 I had the pleasure of seeing the movie recently, and I would give it top reviews. But many people think otherwise. The movie was advertised in such a way that it didn’t appear to be a musical, and this had moviegoers shocked. This upset people who liked the movie version and not the Broadway version. Additionally, many fans thought the music was too depressing when the songs were supposed to be energetic. The song that featured the most complaints on TikTok was ‘Stupid with Love,’ sung by Cady about her crush. Hundreds of TikTok videos are comparing the Broadway song to the movie version and complaining about how the new version lacks emotion. In addition to the music, some people also disliked the acting, saying it was forced.

 In my opinion however, these opinions are misplaced. These opinions operate under the assumption that the new movie was supposed to top the originals. You’ll never beat the original, but the movie still has its strongpoints. The movie version isn’t supposed to be as energetic as the broadway version because the toned down singing fits better in cinema. The changes made by production largely make sense. Overall, the movie checked all the boxes for me. Don’t forget to wear pink on Wednesdays! 

By Morgan Brown - Writer - January 31, 2024

The prequel to the Hunger Games, A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, has been a hit in theaters. The origins of the Hunger Games captured audiences’ hearts and has been a blockbuster hit in theaters, but is the book different from the movie?

The short answer is yes, there are several differences between the two. Despite this, Eastview students have enjoyed the movie. Junior Evie Swenson says, “It was really cool to see the book come to life”. The biggest differences between the book and the movie came in the details. There were changes in the tribute backgrounds and storylines. Since it’s an adaptation from the book, it has significant plot changes. To keep the movie relatively short, some of the storylines before the games were cut or changed from the book. Since the book is over 600 pages, and the movie is less than three hours, some of the characters’ backstories and plot lines had to be shortened. Evie says, “It didn’t make the move any less enjoyable, it was just surprising to see the differences”. 

Overall, both the book and the movie are amazing, and the changes made didn’t affect the plot too drastically. Audiences loved the movie, but leave with the question, what would it have looked like if it stuck to the book?

By Madeline Link - Writer - November 13th, 2023

A viral video of an elderly man - by the name of John Robinson - ranting to the government via TikTok about the possibility of women being drafted, sparked a new trend.  Robinson’s 2-minute and 30-second video is captioned “You are not drafting my daughter”.  He spends the entire duration of the video lambasting the U.S. military for resorting to drafting women because they fell short of recruitment numbers.  His video has 6.9 million views and 1.1 million likes.

Since Robinson posted his video, many other creators have participated in this discussion.   One creator with the username “jddelay1017” suggested sending the entire prison population to fight in the non-existent World War III.  Other videos have been posted of fabricated clips of Joe Biden stating that women are being added to the draft, but such videos have no basis.  Following a common social media pattern, this discussion has evolved into a satirical trend. 

The trend itself involves girls and women captioning pictures of members of the military with casual and humorous dialogue.  One well-known example is a photo of an army soldier driving an army vehicle with the caption “IDK where I’m going I’m literally about to cry”. This trend is similar to another social media trend from early 2020 when social media felt threatened by World War III.  This trend entailed women filming or photographing themselves doing household chores, with a caption along the lines of “As a woman, I was born to serve and obey my husband, and not go to war”.  Both of these trends advocate for women not being included in the draft, but by opposite means.  

This viral trend is a hilarious spin on a largely baseless conversation.  There have been no recent efforts by the U.S. to incorporate women into the draft, so the fact that this discussion is occurring in the first place is somewhat comical.  Ultimately, this trend poses an amusing if inaccurate portrayal of women in the military, having built off of trends from the past with the same purpose.

By Lizzie Schiffman - Writer - November 13th, 2023

Even if you aren’t a Swiftie, you have probably heard that Taylor Swift  released a new album recently. On October 27th, 2023, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) graced Taylor Swift fans and the world as a whole. Starting with the release of Fearless (Taylor’s Version) on April 9th, 2021, Taylor Swift has been working towards owning all of her music. 1989 was Taylor’s fifth studio album, originally recorded in 2014. The original studio album, won 5 awards, including 2 Grammys. 1989 remained in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 for a full year after its release. It was one of the best selling albums of 2015. According to The Times UK, “Taylor Swift’s latest album of re-recorded songs surged to the top of the US charts as the most successful new entry in almost a 

In the re-recorded versions, the lyrics, sound, and layout of the songs are generally the same. In comparing both versions of the songs, you can hear Taylor’s growth, both as a singer and a person. Her voice has grown but her songs remain timeless. Along with the 17 songs that we already know and love, 5 vault tracks were released as well. These songs were written along with the familiar songs, just never released. Until now, that is. 

Taylor’s first vault track on the album is titled “Slut!” The song’s name is eye catching and risky. The song itself is a modern love story. One that Taylor Swift has come accustomed to while growing up in the spotlight. I would rate the first vault track a 3.92/5 stars. It is a great way to kick off the vault tracks. 

The following song is called “Say Don’t Go.” The song begins with deeper vocals and is accompanied by a feeling all to familiar, as relationships end, we often hope for more from the other side. Swift expresses these feelings of rejection and being let down. I would rate, “Say Don’t Go” 3.79/5 stars.

Next up is a song from which one of the most popular trend sound bites was pulled from. “Now That We Don’t Talk” shows Taylor’s approach to getting over a romantic relationship and how she came out the other side stronger. The sound bite pulled inspired people on TikTok to examine their own past relationships and personal growth. This song is one of my favorites on the album and gets 3.96/5 stars.

Continuing on, “Suburban Legends” highlights the expectations v. reality that one may experience in a relationship. It can be awful when things don’t go to plan, but beautiful things can come from that situation. I am giving the forth vault track 3.42/5 stars.

The album has impacted more than just Taylor Swift. 1989 has been rumored to be about Harry Styles since its release in 2014. With the addition of these emotional vault tracks, specifically the 5th vault track, “Is It Over Now?”, Harry Styles is rumored to have lost over 100 thousand followers on Instagram. I would rate “Is It Over Now?” an even 4/5 stars. 

I analyzed all of the vault tracks, rating them in 6 categories: sing-along ability,  story telling, general sound, word impact, listen-all-the-way-through-ness, and hype-ability. As with most of the songs the ratings will likely change the longer I have to listen to them. Considering that all of the ratings for the surprise songs are above a 3/5 stars, Taylor did amazing work on this album. The surprise songs were gifts. Now the question is, which album will she rerelease next?

By Leila Dunfee - Editor - November 13, 2023

One thing that all Eastview students can (or should) agree on is that Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is the best thing that happened in 2023. With 52 U.S. stops and a whopping 146 global stops, it's predicted that the tour will sell about $2.2 billion in tickets alone, which would crush current records by a landslide. With two of her shows being in Minneapolis, I had the opportunity to go and see her live on night two. To say Taylor Swift is an incredible performer is an understatement. With vocals that never wavered, high-energy choreography, multiple costume changes, and a lengthy 44-song set list, there’s no question that she is a great performer and loves her fans. It’s also important to acknowledge her backup dancers and singers, who were all extremely talented and helped make the show even better. It was clear that they had put countless hours of rehearsal in before the tour.

The energy that filled the stadium was like no other, every fan felt the anticipation and rush of adrenaline when Taylor Swift entered the stage, which was truly such a surreal experience. Any Eastview student who appreciates performing arts would understand just how influential this concert tour is, and I am eternally grateful that I was able to experience it live.

By Tanisha Senapati - Editor - October 10, 2023

This summer, Hollywood was filled with its fair share of drama. One of the biggest surprises was the announcement of the divorce between Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner. In May of 2019,  Joe and Sophie got married in Las Vegas, however, in early September, they announced their divorce after 4 years of being together. Another huge divorce broke the internet when Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez announced their split in July of this year. The divorce of this couple was a shock to the world and although they kept their relationship mostly private, many fans were sad to hear the news. One year after Britney Spears was finally freed from her 13-year contract with her agent, which left her with little say in her life decisions, it was revealed that Britney had gotten married to Sam Asghari, an Iranian-American model and actor who starred in one of Britney's earlier music videos. Within 14 months of their marriage, reports of the divorce started to surface, with both sides claiming that the other had cheated on them. 

This summer, Hollywood was heartbroken when it was revealed that up-and-coming Euphoria star Angus Cloud had passed away at the age of 25. His father had died just a week prior, and it was revealed that Angus had really struggled with the loss of his father. Many turned to social media to pay tribute to Angus Cloud’s legacy. When news broke out that the beloved host of The Price is Right, Bob Barker, had passed away in August at the age of 99, many game show fans were heartbroken. Outside of hosting the popular game show, Barker worked to expose animal cruelty in the entertainment industry along with helping the treatment of animals in the US and internationally. Many called him the “World's Greatest MC” and the Price is Right won’t be the same without him. Early in July, another talented star Coco Lee passed away after falling into a coma. While the name might not seem familiar, you definitely would be able to recognize her voice. Coco Lee gained popularity for voicing Mulan and singing “Reflections” in the movie. In 2001 Coco took the stage at the Oscars, singing “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” It was later revealed that Coco was struggling with depression, which ultimately took her life.

By Aisha Idow - Writer - October 10th, 2023

If you read this article’s title and thought that the Barbie movie was just about some bimbo dolls who came to life, well then you really need to watch that film again because it seems we were watching two different movies. The Barbie movie was far more than just another summer blockbuster for us to move on from, despite how hate from critics may make it seem.

When the Barbie movie was released critics went into a frenzy about how the movie didn’t meet their expectations. Hate towards the movie came from all directions, from critics writing that the whole movie was anti-men, to others arguing there actually wasn’t enough feminism. Between these two groups were the ordinary fans of the movie who were moved and brought to tears by the film’s relatable themes and messages. 

The way I see the movie is the complete opposite to the critics. Barbie was written with immense depth, and the message displayed was undoubtedly meaningful. The main theme of the Barbie movie is the reality women’s struggles and how they are perceived. The movie's message was for all girls, telling them that “we see you.” Another thing to notice is that the hate on the Barbie movie and its themes often aren’t even well grounded. One argument for example from billionaire Elon Musk is that the movie focuses too much on themes of patriarchy. He went as far as saying that "if you take a shot every time Barbie says the word ‘patriarchy’, you will pass out before the movie ends.” Its easy to see from this that the critiques from men like Elon are largely surface level, failing to look at what the film is really communicating. Putting everything together, its easy to see that critiques of the Barbie movies are plain poorly executed, and the reasoning behind them will forever baffle me to my core.

By Max Huberty - Editor - October 10th, 2023

With her hit song, “Summertime Sadness,” breaking over one billion streams on Spotify, it is undeniable that Lana Del Rey is one of the most popular artists of this decade. Eastview’s students are no exception to this rule; Lana Del Rey frequently appears on many students’ playlists. Her recently released album, Did You Know There is a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard, has ignited a new wave of popularity. Now taking time off from her job at the Waffle House, Lana Del Rey is touring across the U.S. 

Sadly for Eastview and the midwest as a whole, Lana Del Rey’s tour has been confined to the American South. Sticking to her brand of skipping over large cities, Lana has so far been in Franklin, Huntsville, West Palm Beach, and a few other southern cities. Her setlist typically includes 19 songs, many of which are her top hits. 

I was lucky enough to get tickets to the September 23rd show in West Palm Beach. With help from her opener, Zella Day, Lana Del Rey put on an amazing show. For being such a large artist, she set a personal mood by performing with just her three extraordinary backup singers, five dancers, a bassist, and a pianist. One of my favorite songs was “Young and Beautiful,” which is memorable for many Eastview students who have taken Honors American Literature. The song is a hallmark of The Great Gatsby unit as “Young and Beautiful” highlights the soundtrack of the 2013 film with Leonardo DiCaprio. 

As Lana Del Rey puts on her 2023 tour, it is undeniable that she is only growing in popularity. For me and many other Eastview students, her songs will continue to be favorites, and we eagerly anticipate a Midwest tour.

By Morgan Brown - Writer - October 9th, 2023

The release of 1989 Taylor’s Version has been a highly anticipated event, both in pop culture and the Eastview community. There is a lot of anticipation specifically regarding the songs added to the album for the rerecording, also known as vault tracks. Everyone from students to administration is looking forward to the release on October 27.

Athletic Director Mr. Percival is a Swiftie himself, having attended the Eras Tour in June. He says, “With the vault tracks it is almost like reading a book and wondering what were the chapters that didn’t make the final publication.” The vault tracks are new songs added to the album during the rerecording that didn’t make the final cut the first time around, but Taylor deemed album-worthy. They are a fun twist to the album and shed light on the era of Taylor’s life the album took place in. 

The most surprising vault track according to senior Rhea Saarang is titled “SLUT!”. She says it doesn’t fit the theme for 1989 because it is an upbeat pop album with song titles like “Welcome to New York” and “Blank Space”. Fans speculate on the topic of this song and the direction Taylor is going to take it in.

When 1989 was first released in 2014, it became an instant sensation. Its timing meant that many high schoolers today listened to it as young kids. Rhea says, “1989 was the album that really got me into Taylor Swift in the first place.” This album is a reminder of childhood for many teenagers and brings back many nostalgic memories. 

It is also significant to the Eastview community because of its feature in the 2023 bravo show The Big Apple. “Welcome to New York” was a featured song in Bravo, and as Mr. Percival puts it, “it was the start of an unforgettable show.”

Taylor Swift may be an international pop star, but her songs strike home in the hearts of many and bring back many memories—from childhood to an unforgettable Eastview event.

By Tanisha Senapati- Editor - March 14th, 2023

While many watched the Super Bowl for football this year, even more tuned in to watch Rihanna’s comeback after a multi-year hiatus from the music industry. Many around the world have been waiting for her to return to the stage, and it was probably the most important factor in this year's Super Bowl, which recorded the highest audience in six years.  There were many mixed reviews about the halftime show on social media, with some praising Rihanna's performance, while others criticized it as underrated compared to previous artists. 

"Rihanna's performance was captivating and entertaining," said an Eastview student. "The music was of high quality, the lighting and pyrotechnics helped create a great experience, and the choreography was creative and engaging."  Rihanna is one of the most outstanding performers of the century and has a long list of well-known songs that undoubtedly contributed a lot to how people appreciated her performance. However, for some, it wasn't enough and they didn't really like the show. A freshman at Eastview ranked the performance a “7/10 because although it was good, there were parts that did not satisfy.” Some argue that Rihanna's performance was not as enjoyable as previous performances such as Prince, Michael Jackson, or even the 2016 collaboration between Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars. 

Despite the controversial reviews, most music fans were just happy to see one of the biggest stars in the world making a comeback on one of the biggest possible stages. The excitement was multiplied when the star announced her pregnancy with her second child during the performance. Many also noticed Rihanna’s promos for her brand Fenty Beauty through a quick pause to fix her makeup with the Fenty Beauty palette and dressing all the backup dancers with Fenty outfits. Overall Rihanna’s performance was very popular and took over all forms of social media throughout the days after the Super Bowl and many are patiently waiting to see what Rihanna releases next. 

By Reagan Mushett - Staff Writer - January 16th, 2023

2022 was a year to remember, especially in the pop culture industry. From record-breaking albums to celebrity conflict, there have been many memorable moments this year. Here are, in no particular order, ten of the most unforgettable moments of 2022:

#1: Will Smith’s Oscar Slap

Our jaws are still on the floor from Will Smith slapping Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. While Smith originally laughed at the joke, when he saw his wife’s face, he lashed out. As a result of this slap, Smith’s actions were condemned and he has been banned from the Oscars for 10 years. Did Rock deserve to be slapped? Did Smith overreact? It is an ongoing debate. 

#2: Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard

The defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard was a very public trial that brought about many jokes via TikTok regarding their accounts, testimonies, and behavior in court. After six weeks of chaos, the trial ended in favor of Depp with him receiving $10.4 million in damages, but there is still scrutiny about the verdict.

#3: Wordle

The word game that took phones by storm. As it gained fame, people would post their results on social media and the game was later bought by the New York Times. It became so popular, in fact, that spin off games were created and even a board game. Who knew a game where you guess five letter words would be the most popular game of the year?

#4: Taylor Swift

The pop star dominated the headlines this year. Swift won many awards including six American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three People’s Choice Awards, and three MTV Video Music Awards. She also released her new album “Midnights” in October that broke multiple records including most streamed album on release day, first 24 hours, and in one week. Swift also announced her “Eras” tour which caused Ticketmaster shut downs and intense competition for tickets. It is safe to say that Taylor is not going away anytime soon.

#5: Queen Elizabeth

One of the most notable events from this year was the death of Queen Elizabeth II. At the age of 96 and after a 70 year-long reign, the longest ruling British monarch died in her beloved Balmoral Castle. Her death brought up so many emotions, both good and bad, but also instilled a feeling of instability as one of the most consistent parts of our lives was lost. Queen Elizabeth II was a true icon and an inspiration to so many.

#6: The Try Guys Become the Tri Guys

Popular YouTube quartet, the Try Guys, got thrown into the spotlight after Ned Fulmer, the token family guy, was caught cheating on his wife with one of his employees. He was then fired from the company and quickly excommunicated by fans. The scandal drew attention all over social media and was even parodied on Saturday Night Live. Now a loveable trio, the Try Guys are entering a new era, full of good vibes only.

#7: Movies

After two years of movies premiering almost exclusively on various streaming platforms, 2022 brought a whole slate of excellent movies in theaters. “Top Gun: Maverick”, “Elvis”, and “Avatar” were not only incredible movies, but also box office record breakers. This year was a great way to reintroduce the classic movie theater experience back into our lives. 

#8: World Cup

The FIFA Men’s World Cup returned this November in Qatar and united the whole world for a month. So many people in just our school community were watching that it nearly shut down school Wifi. While it was a short feat for the United States, we got to see so many great matches, a controversial situation that resulted in Christiano Ronaldo being benched, and Lionel Messi’s first World Cup championship. It was so fun to experience this historic World Cup during the holiday season, rather than the usual summer months, as well as a school community.

#9: BeReal

This social media platform blew up over the summer, being called the one “truly real social media”. They send a notification out to all users at a random time during the day and give them two minutes to take a picture and post it. When taking a picture, it captures from both the front and back facing cameras. What makes this app so appealing? It is a fun way to see what your friends are up to with lowered pressure of being perfect or facing unrealistic comparisons. How much longer will this app be popular? I guess we will have to wait and see what 2023 brings.

#10: Prequels

All of our favorite TV show franchises got together and asked each other “how can we keep the stories going but make it new and fresh for the audiences?” Their answer, prequels. “Game of Thrones” brought us “House of Dragon”; “Lord of the Rings” brought us “The Rings of Power”. These producers obviously were not wrong in their decision because they have been extremely popular and brought new and old audiences together to enjoy some new TV. Maybe next year, we will see even more prequels.

Reflecting back on this year and all of the crazy, amazing moments we as a society shared this year brings a lot of excitement for what 2023 has to bring.

by Max Huberty - Staff Writer - November 2nd, 2022

As the pandemic hit the entertainment industry, movie theaters were hit especially hard. The global box office lost billions of dollars as viewers streamed content instead of going into movie theaters. Yet, many movies have hit the big screens recently, including Smile (note that Smile is rated R for violence, grisly images, and language). The hit horror movie being exclusively shown in theaters has received a lot of attention. So, is Smile worth making the trek to the movie theater? Maybe. 

Smile follows a therapist, Dr. Rose Cotter, after a traumatic encounter with a patient. The experience haunts Rose in a string of terrifying events. She starts to notice a pattern; something is making people who witness suicide also die. The question lies in whether these deaths are caused by psychological or supernatural factors. This plot felt a bit dated to me–the “psychological or supernatural” plot has been played out many times in older horror movies. Also, I thought the movie had excessive gore. However, while I might call Smile dated and gorey, it can be an enjoyable classic for others. 

A 10th grader, Alana Zych, said, “I thought the movie was good. It was actually scary because of all of the gore. If people like horror, then I would recommend the movie.” 

Overall, Smile is a great chance for horror fans to see a movie on the big screen after a long break from the theaters. But, for those not into horror or gorey scenes, Smile might not be the right fit. 

by Morgan Brown - Staff Writer - November 5th, 2022

Taylor Swift released her newest album Midnights on October 21st, 2022. It was a highly anticipated album, and many students here at Eastview were looking forward to the release. The album consisted of thirteen songs with another seven released at 3 AM as a surprise. It was her 10th album as well as a pop album which hasn’t been seen by her in a few years. Taylor Swift has been releasing music since 2006, so many Eastview students have grown up listening to her music and it holds a special place in their hearts. 

Senior Sam Quady was anticipating the release and said she stayed up to listen to the entire album when it was released at midnight, as well as she woke up at 3 AM to listen to the rest of the songs. Her favorite on the album was “Karma” because of how catchy it is. The album overall was different than many people thought it would be since Taylor’s last few albums have not been as upbeat as this one. 

However, not everyone is a fan of the album, and junior Neal Rajvansh said he only listened to two songs. He also said her songs are pretty average with a few outliers such as “Cruel Summer” from her 2019 album Lover. His favorite song on the album was “Lavender Haze”, but he said the album didn’t live up to his expectations. 

Although not everyone is a fan of Taylor Swift, her widespread fame means that practically everyone knows who she is. But does her success and popularity affect Eastview? For some people, yes. Many students relate to the songs she writes and follow her life through social media. For others, not so much. They can easily not think about her or any of her songs on a day-to-day basis, especially if they don’t relate to them. Overall, the release of Midnights has impacted the lives of much of the Eastview community, and many students are anticipating her upcoming tour. 

by Clare Murray - Staff Writer - October 3rd, 2022

This past summer, many new movies debuted only in movie theaters (instead of on streaming which has been popular since the pandemic started). Besides Top Gun and the new Minions movie, another highly anticipated movie came out this past summer and recently was put on HBO Max- Elvis. From the director of the 1996 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet (the one we all watched in 9th grade English class starring young Leonardo DiCaprio), the Great Gatsby adaptation (also starring Leonardo DiCaprio) and Moulin Rouge (did not have Leonardo DiCaprio), Baz Luhrmann continues his style of fast-paced, over the top movies with this Elvis biopic. This style can be polarizing. Personally, I like how it seems like there’s always a million things going on at once, but some people (like my mom) got motion sickness from the fast camera movements and how it never seemed to stay on a shot for more than four seconds. 

One interesting aspect of the movie was the perspective it was told from. Rather than being told by Elvis Presley himself, it took the point of view of his manager, played by Tom Hanks. It followed Elvise's rise to fame and the spiral that led to him falling out of popularity until nothing was left. At the end of the day, this movie had a lot of things going for it. Take for example, Austin Butler's performance was amazing and at times I even forgot that I wasn’t watching the real Elvis. The soundtrack was great as well, including some of Presley's greatest hits and new songs created for the movie, including Vegas by Doja Cat. 

Overall, Elvis was a very memorable movie that gave me a great experience going back in-person to movie theaters!

Clare Murray • Staff Writer • December 20, 2021

Taylor Swift is one of the most influential and successful pop-stars in the world. She’s released a total of nine albums in just fifteen years, appeared in movies, and earned a total of 11 Grammys along with other awards for her work. She’s shown her versatility as an artist, starting in the country genre then branching out to find success in pop and folk-inspired sounds. She’s broken countless records, topped music charts, and smashed expectations in the music industry. 

2021 has been no exception for Taylor’s success. Following the success of her two albums Folklore and Evermore in 2020, she has continued to impress the public and her fans. In April of this year, Swift released a re-recording of her second album Fearless to regain the rights and ownership to her work, previously owned by Scooter Braun and Big Machine Records, her old recording label. 

On November 12, 2021, Taylor continued with her re-recordings with the release of Red (Taylor’s Version). This new album contained re-recordings of all 16 songs from the original Red, along with new songs “From The Vault” that were not released on the original album. 

Fans and the public alike have caused commotion over the re-release of All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version). Swift dropped the full ten minute version of the song and made her directorial debut with a short film, also titled All Too Well, featuring the full song and starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien. This short film has reached almost 50 MILLION views on YouTube as of today. Taylor Swift was able to create a song that was both emotional and engaging for ten whole minutes, a feat that not many current artists can achieve. Red (Taylor’s Version) features collaborations with artists such as Phoebe Bridges on Nothing New (From The Vault), and Ed Sheeran on Run (From The Vault) and Everything Has Changed (Taylor’s Version) along with other significant artists. On November 15, Swift released a video directed by actress Blake Lively for the vault track I Bet You Think About Me Ft. Chris Stapleton. 

Though many of the songs sound similar to her original recordings of Red, it’s not difficult to see how much Taylor Swift has grown as a musician.

Thomas Nelson • Editor • February 21, 2021

In any normal year, Hollywood’s awards season would start in early January, with the first major ceremony taking place: the Golden Globe Awards. Just as it has impacted every other area of society, the covid-19 pandemic has indeed affected these awards shows as well. Last year, we were just lucky enough to have made it through the end of the season before restrictions came into full force; this year, things will not be quite as convenient. For one thing, the entire season has been moved back by quite a bit. The Globes have been pushed back to February 28, while the Oscars, the traditional end of the awards season, will not happen until late April. On top of this, the ceremonies themselves will look a little different; the Golden Globes will be held in two locations in New York and Beverly Hills simultaneously, limiting how far attendees need to travel. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, no strangers to the job, will be hosting the event from the Rainbow Room in New York and the Beverly Hilton Hotel, respectively. Despite the drastic changes to the way the awards are presented, the categories will remain mostly the same. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the great films, TV shows and performances that have been nominated this year.

Mank, a biopic about the late screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz starring Gary Oldman, and The Crown, a Netflix series about Queen Elizabeth II, have the most nominations with six apiece, in both cases including the top award available to them. Mank’s competition in the Best Motion Picture - Drama category includes The Father, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman, and The Trial of the Chicago 7. Notably, Hamilton, a filmed version of the wildly popular Broadway musical, is nominated for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. On the television side of things, The Crown will have to go up against Lovecraft Country, The Mandalorian, Ozark, and Ratched for the title of Best Television Series - Drama. Netflix is responsible for a whopping three out of the five nominees, and the total produced by streaming services is notched up to four by The Mandalorian, which aired on Disney+. Streaming services are also behind four out of the five nominees for the Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy category, although the odd man out, Schitt’s Creek, is the favorite to win.

One of the most interesting categories to watch will be Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, in which Oldman is nominated for his portrayal of Mankiewicz. However, most of the intrigue comes from the fact that the late Chadwick Boseman, known for playing the title role in Black Panther, is nominated for the film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. If he wins, he will be the first person to win this prestigious award posthumously. In the film, he stars alongside Viola Davis, who is also nominated for the Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama category. 

One curiosity is the fact that two people have a better chance at winning in their category than any other nominees: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, best known for their work with the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. They are nominated in the Best Original Score category - twice. They collaborated to score Mank and Soul, a Pixar animated film that is also nominated for Best Animated Feature Film. Since both of these movies ended up being nominated, Reznor and Ross are twice as likely to win as their competitors in the category.

Regardless of who wins in these categories, the ceremony should be fun and exciting to watch, and it should hopefully provide a pleasant distraction from the state of the world today - just like a good movie or TV show would.

Rimika Dhara • Rhea Rajvansh • Editors • 15 November 2020

Bollywood! Bollywood! Bollywood! Bollywood is pure MAGIC! 

Bollywood is the Hindi language film industry based in Mumbai. Bollywood is the largest film industry in the world, it produces 1,000 movies every year. One of the reasons why Bollywood is so popular is because of the wide range of films it produces. From romance to mystery to comedy, there is a movie for everyone! Bollywood has covered it all! Below is a guide for our new enthusiasts that want to dip their feet into the realms of Bollywood and are confused about where to start! 

Fair warning - you WILL get addicted!

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (netflix): 

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Romance

This movie suits almost every type of audience that wants to relive their college adventures and aspirations through three college best friends. As they initiate an adventurous road trip across Spain, they try their hands on everything from deep-sea diving to sky-diving to running with the bulls in a life or death situation. And en route, they liberate themselves from all the bindings of the world while navigating their way through the complexities of their personal lives they left behind before Spain. Zoya Akhtar (director) and Reema Kagti’s writing is simple, straightforward, well-etched, and character-driven with realistic and riveting feel of their escapade. It’s ironic that it took female minds to come up with, perhaps, what one can call the most authentic film on boy-bonding. However, this remains one of the most thought-provokingly enjoyable movies perfect for all of our adventurous viewers.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (amazon prime):

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Drama

YJHD remains one of the most cherished and wholesome movies in the hearts of almost all teenagers, young adults, and even adults. Two polar opposite characters in terms of their thinking and ambition instantly develop feelings for each other on a trekking trip. Naina, the girl, is very studios, ambitious, shy, and wants to become a doctor. Whereas Bunny is a free-spirited guy who doesn’t want to conform to the social norms and wants to travel the world with no expectations or goals in life. As fun and fulfilling as their trek is, they soon have to go on different paths to live their definitions of life. The eight years they live apart, life gives them a taste of each other’s lifestyle. As you figure out the complications of their lives, you get a chance to reflect upon yours. This movie is perfect for our romance-loving audience to enjoy Naina and Bunny’s relationship in the most comedic and entertaining way possible. 

Taare Zameen Par (amazon prime):

Genre: Emotional, Drama

Taare Zameen Par is a movie that will touch your heart and move you deeply. It is far from your typical Bollywood chick-flick. Anyone who is up for a few tears and an inspirational story should definitely watch this movie. Taare Zameen Par follows the life of Ishaan. While Ishaan is creative and imaginative, he struggles to pay attention in school and often gets in trouble. After being forcefully sent off to boarding school, Ishaan befriends his free-spirited art teacher, Mr. Nikumbh. Mr. Nikumbh soon notices that the reason Ishaan struggles in school is because he has dyslexia. Taare Zameen Par brings light to what it is like to be dyslexic. Movie director, Amir Khan is successful in bringing recognition to dyslexia through this film. This film truly brings you back to your childhood. This movie is perfect for anyone who is willing to look through at the world through a child's point of view, and be naive again. 

Race The Series (amazon prime):

Genre: Action, Intense, Thriller, Crime 

With the intention to encapture the darkest side of human psyche through another thrilling study of wickedness, Race capitalizes on its audience’s search for money, thrill, suspense, drama, and race. The plot is something that most of its audience would not be able to relate to –– and that’s exactly the point. The characters are absorbed in a life of luxury, competition, style, money and success, and constantly seek to sabotage one another. However, to everyone’s surprise, the reason behind their rivalry isn’t monetary success, but rather, personal revenge. Through all three movies part of the series, Race encapsulates the most corrupt ways one can ruin the other in the most classy, stylish and suspenseful way possible. For everyone who is in for a great chase for monetary success and thrill, Race is the perfect series to watch to start your Bollywood quench!

Other Quick Recommendations:

• P.K. (netflix): Satire, Comedy, Fiction

• Dhoom Series (amazon prime): Thriller, Crime, Intense

• Barfi (netflix): Comedy, Emotional, Drama

• Drishyam (netflix): Mystery, Crime, Suspense

• Queen (amazon prime): Adventure, Feminism, Comedy, Drama

HAPPY BINGE-WATCHING!!!

Allison Champ~ Writer ~Nov 15 2020

There are many different things that run through people’s heads when you say the word ‘anime’: some may think of extremely popular action animes, such as Naruto Shippuden or Dragon Ball Z, while others may think of cute girls with pink cat ears speaking in voices so high they’ll shatter your eardrums. Likewise, there are many different things that run through people’s heads when you say ‘anime fan’: many people think of five-hundred-pound guys covered in Dorito dust sitting in their mother’s basement lamenting over the fictionality of their waifus, while others may imagine teenage girls in full cosplay at a convention, screaming the lyrics to their favorite anime opening theme song in butchered Japanese. 

Well, none of those things are completely wrong. But none of those things are also completely right either. But first, let’s get into what anime is. Anime, defined as animated shows originating from Japan, as a genre is extremely varied. And when I say extremely varied, I mean extremely varied. There is no exact number for how many anime exist in the world, but estimates range from 10,000-30,000 total shows, with the number increasing every year. Within that number, anime splits into even more categories: romance, horror, comedy, sports...basically, whatever floats your boat, there’s most likely an anime for it. In addition, anime ratings range from being suitable for babies to being R-rated. So no, anime is not just for little kids, as many people believe. 

Now, as I stated earlier, many people will stereotype anime fans as smelly, lonely, introverts who lose themselves in fictional worlds and buy twenty trillion body pillows. This could not be further from the truth. Anime fans come in all shapes and sizes, ages, races, and genders. In fact, there are many celebrities who like anime! Ariana Grande and Keanu Reeves are just a couple that comes to mind, but there are no doubt millions of anime fans across the world. 

Finally, one gigantic barrier that many people experience when watching anime is the fact that it’s in another language. Understandably, a lot of prospective fans are turned off by the subtitles and find it hard to read and watch at the same time. However, this problem is easily remedied with the English dubs that exist for virtually every single anime, so you can still enjoy the show without having to multitask.

Alright, now that I’ve addressed the stereotypes behind anime, let’s get into some recommendations! A lot of people want to get into anime, but don’t know where to start or watch it. Fear not, I’ve compiled a list of great starter animes for lovers of any genre. 

Romance

Ouran High School Host Club - 2006 - dir. Takuya Igarashi - TV show - available in sub/dub - PG-13

• Plot Synopsis: Ouran High School Host Club revolves around the hijinks and adventures of Haruhi Fujioka, an honor student transferring into the prestigious Ouran Academy, a high school for the children of Japan’s richest families. Looking for a quiet place to study, she stumbles upon the Ouran Host Club, a club of six male students that entertain female guests with their unique personalities. Due to her gender-ambiguous appearance, the hosts mistake her for a boy. Unfortunately, she accidentally breaks a vase worth a lot of money and must become a member of the host club to pay it off. 

• Weeb Thoughts: This is a very popular anime, which makes a lot of sense considering how funny and heartwarming it is. This show is more of a romantic comedy, and I’m absolutely recommending it to everyone. It really is extremely funny and a great, lighthearted starter anime. This anime is also one of the few that I would recommend the dub to watch.

• Where to watch: you can watch this show on Netflix, Hulu, or Crunchyroll(an anime streaming service)

• Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OzcXZ7SKsg

Thriller

Death Note - 2006-2007 - dir. Tetsurou Araki - TV show - available in sub/dub - PG-13

• Plot Synopsis: Death Note revolves around Light Yagami, a brilliant but bored high-school student who happens upon a Death Note, a notebook that kills whoever’s name is written down. Light quickly concocts a plan to kill criminals around the world and eventually, to become the god of the “new world” he plans to create with the help of the death god who dropped the notebook, Ryuk. Unfortunately, a brilliant detective by the name of L is recruited to stop him, resulting in a game of cat-and-mouse that spans years. 

• Weeb Thoughts: This is another extremely popular anime, perfect for anyone who loves a good thriller. The story twists and turns to span over the course of years, so you really get to see the characters and how they change. It raises a lot of philosophical thought as well. The dub is also pretty good, so you should give it a watch!

• Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll!

• Trailer: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlJZ-YgAt-c

Sports

Haikyuu!! - 2014-present - dir. Susumu Mitsunaka - TV show - available in sub/dub - PG

• Plot Synopsis: Shouyou Hinata loves volleyball and believes that he can be the next “Tiny Giant”, a legendary volleyball player who shares his short stature. To achieve this, he attends Karasuno High School(the same school once attended by the Tiny Giant) and joins the volleyball team. There, he meets a group of new friends, including Tobio Kageyama, his volleyball rival from middle school. The story then chronicles Karasuno’s journey to regain their former glory as a powerhouse volleyball school. 

• Weeb Thoughts: Honestly, this is one of my favorites. I haven’t finished it yet, but Haikyuu!! has it all: humor, heartwarming moments, and an underdog team you just can’t help but root for. There are also many other teams you can root for with extremely interesting character motivations. In addition, the show also explores topics like perseverance, talent vs hard work, and found family. 

• Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll

• Trailer: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhZG9Uw7PxM

Action/Drama

Banana Fish - 2018 - dir. Hiroko Utsumi - TV show - available in sub - R

• Plot Synopsis: Banana Fish follows two protagonists; Ash Lynx, a teenage gang leader in New York City dealing with the effects the Iraq War has had on his family, and Eiji Okumura, a college student in Japan who’s come to America to do a report on street gangs. The story revolves around Ash and Eiji’s relationship and their investigation into the mysterious condition of Ash’s older brother Griffin(a veteran of the Iraq war driven to insanity) and his mysterious last words(“banana fish”) mean. 

• Weeb Thoughts: I actually haven’t watched this one, but it’s definitely on my list. I’ve heard it’s extremely sad, but also action-filled and humorous at certain parts as well. I’d also like a warning, this show does deal with some mature topics(hence the R rating), so please watch at your own discretion. 

• Where to watch: Amazon Prime

• Trailer: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7jlkh3i4nI