Each February, music lovers from around the world tune in to see which of their favourite artists will take home a Grammy. On November 7th, the Recording Academy announced the nominees for the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards via livestream, which will take place on February 1st, 2026. These awards are considered the most prestigious music awards in the world, and include categories such as Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year. 

The Best New Artist award highlights an upcoming musician who has made a significant breakthrough in the music industry this past year. This year's nominees are: 

Olivia Dean

KATSEYE

The Marias

Addison Rae

Sombr

Leon Thomas

Alex Warren

Lola Young

Song of the Year is an award that recognizes excellent songwriting. This year's contenders are: 

Abracadabra, by Lady Gaga

Anxiety, by Doechii

APT., by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars

DtMF, by Bad Bunny

Golden (from KPop Demon Hunters), by Huntr/x

Luther, by Kendrick Lamar and SZA

Manchild, by Sabrina Carpenter

WILDFLOWER, by Billie Eilish

Record of the Year honours the performance of the song. This year’s nominees are:

DtMF, performed by Bad Bunny

Manchild, performed by Sabrina Carpenter

Anxiety, performed by Doechii

WILDFLOWER, performed by Billie Eilish

Abracadabra, performed by Lady Gaga

Luther, performed by Kendrick Lamar and SZA

The Subway, performed by Chappell Roan

APT., performed by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars

Finally, Album of the Year is an award given to the best complete album, taking performance, writing, and production all into account. The chosen albums this year are:

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, by Bad Bunny

SWAG, by Justin Bieber

Man’s Best Friend, by Sabrina Carpenter

Let God Sort ‘Em Out, by Clipse

Mayhem, by Lady Gaga

GNX, by Kendrick Lamar

MUTT, by Leon Thomas

Chromakopia, by Tyler, the Creator

These are just 4 of the 95 categories that span genres from classical to Latin to rap. These nominations have sparked excitement, disappointment, and everything in between. If you are interested in seeing who will take home the iconic gramophone-shaped trophy, make sure to tune in for the award ceremony in February!

As snow glistens from bare branches and delicate flakes melt on our windshields—one thing’s for sure. It’s beginning to look a lot like Chris a long and excruciating winter that will freeze you to the bone.

It’s time for us to put up our wreaths and enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies chock-full of sugar. We’ll cozy up and pick from an assortment of movies—from comedic, to heartwarming, to unsettling in a way that makes you rethink your choices and wonder whether or not they will leave you fulfilled or painstakingly alone… Okay, that was pretty specific.

Remember ‘A Christmas Carol’? That one with the mean old man and the four ghosts? Fun Fact: It’s been adapted over 300 times since its original publication in 1843. Why? Because of its depiction of the very real consequences that selfishness brings, the concept of ghosts, strangely paired with the supernatural, has remained an intriguing one to humans. Additionally, deeper meaning lies behind the original narrative, enhancing its impact.

Imagine you’re in England, 1843. Where the wealthy flourish, large manors are teeming with servants, and entertainment like soirees and theatre to pass the time. Just toeing the line of affluence, streets brimming with extreme despair and poverty.

Despite being a previous rising sensation, Charles Dickens’s written works were no longer taking London by storm. His publishers were unhappy with him, his newest story was a failure, and he grew continuously more worried that he would fall into the common rhythm of unemployment and extreme economic struggle. Already struggling to pay off his debts and care for his family, Dickens could not afford any slip-ups.

The author campaigned often for change within Britain, but was struck through the heart when he learned of child labour so horrid that children were being put to work as soon as they could walk. Charles himself had to work in a shoe-blacking factory at 12 years old, since his parents were in debtors’ prison. Many  had written about the emerging issue of child labour, but none had experienced this firsthand, as or Dickens had.

Charles wanted to raise awareness of this issue, in the most impactful way possible. He had endured much hardship as a child, and he had also visited a school for impoverished children which  painted such a bleak picture, as if to seal out any childlike wonder. This was a key inspiration for A Christmas Carol explaining its prominent themes of ignorance and great poverty. Dickens wanted to remind his readers that to ignore a child was to rob them of their dreams and their future.

During a quick trip to Manchester, Dickens observed his disabled nephew, Henry,  and this visit led him to  an epiphany about the difficulties encountered by  families with disabled members.  This sudden awakening led to the creation of Tiny Tim—the son of Scrooge’s clerk, Bob Crachit. 

Eventually, Dickens was able to print his story—sans the help of his publishers—and all 6,000 copies of the book were gone by Christmas Eve. A Christmas Carol earned much bravado, as well as harsh criticism for the irony surrounding his claim of elevating those less fortunate, when the book itself was a luxury. Charles went on to speak about his book at public engagements, and these were actually more profitable for him than the book sales).  He also did a few readings each year until he passed in 1870.

  While the novella can be viewed as a one-dimensional tale, at this time of year, it is essential to note the significance of this classic being borne from empathy and kindness, especially during this giving season.

Dīpāvalī, also known as Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is a major festival that occurs in October or November, in accordance with the Hindu lunar calendar. 

Dīpāvalī originates from the Hindu epic of the Rāmayaṇam, in which the Hindu God of preservation, Viṣṇu, takes a human form on Earth as Rāma, the prince of a kingdom on the banks of the Sarayū River, Ayodhyā. In this epic, Rāma’s father is forced to banish him to the forest for fourteen years, in which Rāma’s wife, Sītā, the incarnation of Viṣṇu’s wife, Lakṣmī, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, was kidnapped by the demon king of Lanka, Rāvaṇa, at the start of their fourteenth year of exile. Dīpāvalī commemorates Rāma, his brother Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā’s return to Ayodhyā after Rāma defeats Rāvaṇa alongside Lakṣmaṇa and an army of monkeys. Dīpāvalī comes about as the festival of lights due to the detail in the Rāmayaṇam that lamps were lit to guide Rāma’s path home. 

Another reason that Dīpāvalī is commemorated is due to Kṛṣṇa, the incarnation of Viṣṇu after Rāma, and his wife, Satyabhāmā, an incarnation of the Hindu goddess considered to be the Earth, Bhūmīdevī, defeating the demon, Narakāsura, showing the main message of Dīpāvalī as the victory of good over evil. As summarized in the Harivaṃśa, a Hindu text, Narakāsura was the son of Bhūmīdevī and Varāha, an incarnation of Viṣṇu. He grew into a tyrannical king, conquering tens of kingdoms and imprisoning 16,000 women, as well as stealing the earrings of Aditi, considered the mother of the Hindu gods. Narakāsura had received a boon from the Hindu god of creation, Brahmā, that his mother, Bhūmīdevī, would be his only cause of death, believing that no mother would kill her own son. Satyabhāmā, upon learning of Narakāsura’s tyranny, sought Kṛṣṇa’s permission to wage a war against Narakāsura. Thus, Kṛṣṇa and Satyabhāmā went to battle against Narakāsura. Kṛṣṇa, aware of the boon granted to Narakāsura from Lord Brahmā, pretended to swoon during the course of the battle, in order to fully provoke Satyabhāmā against Narakāsura. Successfully enraged, Satyabhāmā attacked Narakāsura, allowing Kṛṣṇa to slay Naraksura, fulfilling Brahmā’s boon. 

Interestingly, Dīpāvalī is not only celebrated by Hindus, but also commonly celebrated by Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists. Sikhs celebrate Dīpāvalī as it is also known as Bandī Chōr Divas, or the day when the sixth spiritual leader, or Guru, of the Sikhs, Guru Hargōbiṅd Siṅgh, was released from prison after his wrongful arrest, freeing fifty-two political prisoners alongside himself. Jains celebrate Dīpāvalī to commemorate the liberation of Lord Mahāvīra, the last tīrthaṅkara, or Jain teacher of dharma (the righteous path). And, lastly, some Buddhists celebrate Dīpāvalī to mark the day that Emperor Aśoka-the former emperor of the Mauryan empire in India-converted to Buddhism from Hinduism. 

Today, most people celebrate Dīpāvalī by visiting and decorating places of worship, with Hindus praying to the goddess Lakṣmī and the god Gaṇeśa-considered the remover of obstacles, as well as the god of intellect and new beginnings-Jains to Lord Mahāvīra, Sikhs to the one universal creator, and those Buddhists who celebrate to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas-beings who have reached enlightenment-as beings for inspiration and guidance. People also meet with family and friends, cook feasts, and, as Dīpāvalī is considered the festival of lights, light lamps-primarily clay lamps, called dīyās-and fireworks. 

It is fascinating to observe how events that occurred up to 7,000 years ago, now define a moment in a year for millions of people worldwide, showing, on a wider scale, the impact that culture and/or religion can have on the world.

*Historical events mentioned in this article may vary depending on the account*

Many are familiar with the celebration of Diwali, and were probably taught the history behind it in school. However, not as many know the story of Bandi Chhor, the Sikh celebration that happens around the same time each year. Learning the origins of Bandi Chhor means taking a deep dive into Indian history, specifically the 1600s, where our story begins with the 6th of the 10 Sikh gurus.

Origins & History:

Guru Hargobind Singh Ji was quite young when he succeeded his father, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, but his age was no match for his natural leadership. In the early 1600s, he recognised the growing threat of the Mughal Empire, just as his father had before his untimely death in 1609 (when Guru Ji was 11). Before passing on his title and responsibilities to his son, he’d understood that the differences in religious beliefs may lead to conflict in the future. Guru Hargobind Singh Ji’s response was to militarise the Sikhs, not to readily engage in battle, but to defend themselves and their ideologies if needed.

Although tragic, the loss of his father shaped him as a leader, and led him to take on the symbol of Miri Piri. This was shown by his wearing of two kirpans (swords), one representing political power, and the other spiritual power. By adopting this symbol, he taught all Sikhs to find balance between their religious beliefs and knowing when to engage in the events of the physical world, such as the defense of their faith. The significance of this symbol would be tested in the war that was about to begin, one that would last well over a century.

Guru Ji began to teach the Sikhs to fight and defend themselves, eventually forming the first Sikh military force which came to be known as the Akaal Sena. “Akaal” means “timeless” or “eternal”, and is used as part of many Sikh terms. Meanwhile, the Mughal leaders came to realise that he was training them for warfare, and decided to arrest him. However, this arrest had no real cause and was mainly fueled by political and religious controversies. None of the battles Guru Hargobind Singh Ji had led had been attacks, but defense against those attempting to force them to compromise their beliefs. It was that same refusal to give them up that led to Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s death.

One of the reasons that the Empire arrested him was his establishment of the Akaal Takht (eternal throne) next to the Harmandir Sahib (golden temple). It was a symbol of worldly authority, and further supported the symbolism of Miri Piri by being next to the golden temple. By having their main places of spiritual worship and political/worldly decision making in the same place, Sikhs further understood the balance they were meant to live by. Before his arrest in 1612-1613 (dates vary depending on the account, and there are no official records), Guru Ji had begun to ally with communities that had conflict with the Mughal Empire, who saw this as a direct challenge.

After about 6 years in prison, Guru Hargobind Singh Ji was finally offered release, but refused to leave unless he could bring the many kings that were imprisoned there with him. There were over 100 of them, but Guru Ji refused to leave without them. Wazir Khan, a nobleman and military commander of the Empire brought this condition to Emperor Jahangir, who agreed to release those of them who were short term prisoners (this was about half). However, he stated that if he wanted to free any more, Guru Ji could only take as many that could hold onto his robe.

While this presented an obstacle, Guru Hargobind Singh Ji came up with a clever solution. He had a robe made that had 52 tassels, and he and the kings walked free the following day, October 26, 1619. Bandi Chhor translates to “Prisoner Release Day” or “Day of Liberation”, and I can think of no other name to be more fitting for this event that shaped Sikh history.

Celebration:

While their origins are vastly different, Diwali and Bandi Chhor are celebrated in very similar ways, such as the lighting up of homes and gurdwaras (Sikh temples) with diyas and candles. The uniqueness comes from the Nagar Kirtan, a religious procession, and Langar, a community kitchen (open all year round but is emphasized on Bandi Chhor). Religion and culture are defined by history, and significant events like these are too often forgotten. I hope that one day, Bandi Chhor will no longer be forced into the same category as Diwali, and instead be recognised as its own holiday for its unique story and moral lessons.

Sources:

https://dvnetwork.org/page/guru-hargobind-ji-the-warrior-saint#:~:text=Guru%20Hargobind%20Ji%20was%20arrested,to%20political%20and%20religious%20reasons%20.

https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/blog/art-culture/akal-takht 

https://www.sikhnet.com/news/detention-and-release-teghzan%C2%A0guru-hargobind-sahib-gwalior-fort

Halloween, the time of year to wear costumes, carve jack-o-lanterns, trick-or-treat, and get spooked at haunted houses. But why do we even celebrate it? How did it even come to be?

Well, Halloween began as a tradition for the ancient Gaelic Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced SOW-in or SAH-win). This was to mark the midpoint between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice, also known as the end of the harvest season and beginning of the dark half of the year, also translating to summer’s end. It is still celebrated to this day from October 31st to November 1st by Pagans and Wiccans.

Samhain was one of the major fire festivals of the ancient Celtic calendar, the others being Beltane in May, Imbolc in February, and Lughnasadh in August. The Celts would celebrate with bonfires, animal sacrifices, communal feasts, and rituals for protection over crops and livestock in the dark months ahead. Pagans and Wiccans who celebrate normally use practices such as tarot readings and ancestor altars. A tradition these groups all have in common is Dumb Supper. This supper, the dumb part meaning silent, is held after inviting the spirits of ancestors in where children would play games in order to entertain them, with the adults updating them on the past year’s news.

They believed that the veil between this world and the spirit realm was at its thinnest, so spirits, mainly mischievous ones, would be roaming around. In order to keep peace, offering of bread, whisky, or milk would normally be made. Children tended to dress up on that day too, usually as the dead or the sidhe (pronounced shee) singing songs and reciting verses in order to receive gifts of food, normally cakes. Another reason as to why people would dress up was in order to scare off the spirits, which is also why we have jack-o’-lanterns! Although, the original ones were made of turnips, not pumpkins.

After Christian missionaries came to convert the Celtic people, they had wanted to get rid of all Pagan practices; however, they decided it would be much easier to do so if the already existing festivals and celebrations were changed to be of the Christian faith. This meant that festivals such as the Winter and the Summer Solstices were changed to Christmas and St. John’s day. Samhain was then branded as being satanic, along with the people who still celebrated it. The Christian version of Samhain was named All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows for November 1st. This was more of a substitute feast for the Celtic people, but most still did not participate, opting for Samhain instead. As a response, the missionaries added All Souls Day, which was to be celebrated on November 2nd. This date was put in order to pray for the souls of the dead, although it still was not extremely common to celebrate. Alternatively, since the day before All Saints Day was considered to have the most activity of evil spirits and humans, so the Celts celebrated that with the same traditions as Samhain, now calling it All Hallows Eve. 

Now, you may be wondering how this holiday and its traditions came to North America. This started during and after the Great Famine, also known as the Irish Potato Famine. The Irish came to North America in order to support and improve their lives, along with escaping the massive famine. With this, their traditions and celebrations also came, including All Hallows Eve which in the time between the coining of the term and coming to America, changed to Halloween. After a while, the traditions and practices of this holiday became more secular and less sacred. The tradition of giving out cakes changed to giving out pre-wrapped candy, carving turnips to pumpkins, and the holiday became more “spooky” than celebrating and honouring the dead.

Nowadays, the only people you will see actually celebrating similar to the original way are Pagans and Wiccans, however it is still interesting to see how much the holiday has changed from a sacred practice to a fun little tradition for all.

https://iso.mit.edu/americanisms/halloween-origins-and-current-traditions/ 

https://www.pagangrimoire.com/what-is-samhain-how-to-celebrate/ 

https://www.history.com/articles/samhain 

https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/ 

https://www.ccsna.org/samhain-halloween-and-the-day-of-the-dead 

https://archives.oxfordcounty.ca/blog-archive/history-of-halloween-in-canada/ 

On October 3rd, 2025, Taylor Swift released her twelfth studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” This is her first album since the iconic Eras Tour, and it reveals the behind the scenes of her life as a performer. The album was announced on August 12th, 2025, on her fiancé Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast. Swift explained how proud she is of this album, and how each song holds great meaning to her. She told the podcast that this album would not be complete with one more or one less song. Every song was carefully crafted by Swift and her producers. “The Life of a Showgirl” features twelve tracks, which are individually dissected and explored below.

The Fate of Ophelia

The opening track of the album, as well as the lead single, is a love song inspired by William Shakespeare's “Hamlet.” The character Ophelia, tragically drowns after going through a spiral of insanity. Swift sings, “And if you'd never come for me, I might've drowned in the melancholy,” referencing the drowning and how her heart was saved from death. “You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia.” Shakespeare's character inspired the cover of the album as well, as Swift lays submerged in a tub of water. She explains, “I really love this song because it blends Shakespearean storytelling, drawing on the legend of the tragic hero Ophelia, with a modern twist that imagines escaping her fate.”

Elizabeth Taylor

The second track on the album, “Elizabeth Taylor,” is about how it is not always so glamorous to be in the spotlight. “Oftentimes it doesn't feel so glamorous to be me.” Swift sings about her past partners leaving her due to the pressure of the spotlight, and asks Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor if her current relationship will last, “Elizabeth Taylor, do you think it's forever?” Elizabeth Taylor was an American actress and icon, and Swift spoke to her in this song because of their shared connections. They both struggled with building lasting relationships, while being the focus of so much public attention. Elizabeth Taylor was a woman who had eight marriages and seven divorces, making her a person who would understand Swift's concerns. “In this record, there’s a song called 'Elizabeth Taylor,' which is sort of my emotions and my issues with fame through the lens of cosplaying the life of Elizabeth Taylor, so you kind of meld the two experiences together.”

Opalite

“Opalite” is a track about building your own happiness, rather than expecting it to come naturally. The title was inspired by the opalite crystal, which is manmade. Swift admired the idea of this beautiful rock being created by man, and used that as inspiration for creating your own happiness. “Opalite is a song on my album that radiates an irresistibly joyful energy. It’s truly an expression of happiness. The song is about deliberately choosing happiness, especially in the face of adversity, and finding your own unique path to joy instead of waiting for it to happen by chance. Opalite itself is a man-made opal, and I used that as a metaphor: just as opalite is crafted, happiness can also be something you create for yourself. I loved drawing this analogy, and it became the inspiration for one of my favourite tracks on the album.”

Father Figure

The track “Father Figure” is about the strength of being a protective mentor. This is proven with lyrics such as: “My dear protégé, I'll be your father figure.” "You remind me of a younger me, I saw potential.” and “I dry your tears with my sleeve, leave it with me, I protect the family.” This is also a song about taking power as a woman, which is something Swift feels passionately about. This was discussed mostly during her “Lover” era, back in 2019. Specifically with the song “The Man,” which is about how her success would have come easier if she were a man. At the end of the song, Swift takes back power from betrayal, “Mistake my kindness for weakness…this empire belongs to me.” Overall, this is a song about personal strength and growth. 

Eldest Daughter

Since the beginning of her career, Swift has been known for the track five rule. Every track five on each of her albums is a vulnerable and emotional song. "Eldest Daughter" is about the need to fit in and seem strong. Acting in a way you think you have to, to appear cool. “I have been afflicted by a terminal uniqueness, I've been dying just from trying to seem cool.” Then she admits in the song she doesn’t have this careless and tough persona she appears to have, and she’s actually quite soft and caring. “But I'm never gonna let you down, I'm never gonna leave you out.”

Ruin The Friendship

“Ruin the Friendship” is a song about taking that risk and telling that person you have feelings for them. Swift sings about a high school crush, and how she “should've kissed you anyway.” Near the end of the song, the lyrics grow deeper, as she mentions her high school best friend calling with bad news. “Goodbye, and we'll never know why…I whispered at the grave, should've kissed you anyway.” The person passed away, and Swift will never know if he had feelings for her as well, because fear held her back. “My advice is always ruin the friendship, better that than regret it for all time…and my advice is always answer the question, better that than to ask it all your life.” Swift speaks on this song and her meaning behind writing it. “Ruin the Friendship is a song that wistfully looks back at moments in life where hesitation, fear, or anxiety held you back from doing something you were truly curious about. It explores the idea that if you confessed your feelings to someone or kissed them, you might ruin the friendship. The song goes back over those moments, questioning what really would have been so bad if you’d taken a chance. Ultimately, it’s a beautiful story about embracing opportunities when they arise and not spending your life wondering what could have happened if you’d acted.”

Actually Romantic

The next track, “Actually Romantic,” is about drama manifested on one side of a relationship, and how it’s “actually romantic,” how much time the person on the other side has spent obsessing over you. “Actually Romantic is a song about realizing that someone has been in a one-sided, adversarial relationship with you without your knowledge. Suddenly, they begin acting out and making it clear that you’ve been living in their head rent-free all along. What presents itself as animosity or conflict is really their way of focusing intensely on you. Instead of resisting it, the song reframes this dynamic as attention, even affection, almost flattering in its intensity. When you think about it, being such a central part of someone else’s reality, without even trying, can actually feel pretty romantic.” Swift sings about how the hate given to her doesn’t hurt her, it flatters her. “It's actually sweet, all the time you've spent on me.”

Wi$h Li$t

This track is a love song, about Swift's hopes and wishes for the future. She explains she hopes that everyone else gets what they want, but this is all she wants. “I just want you.” It’s an affectionate song, wishing for her and her partner to create a family and grow old together. “Have a couple kids, got the whole block looking like you.” In an interview with Jordan North and Sian Welby, Swift confesses this is her favourite song on this album. It aligns with her current relationship status, her and Travis Kelce being engaged, and soon ready to start a family. "It's a song that was actually the last song that we made for the album, and it was the song where after I finished it, I was like 'Oh, we're done. We're good. We're done with this. This is the final piece.’ It's a really dreamy song, it's a really romantic song. It details all these different things that people aspire to have in their lives, and all the wishes that people are making all over the world of things in their lifestyle or things they wanna buy. Or places they want to go."

Wood

“Wood” is a song about superstitions and overcoming unlucky romance. “I'll admit I've been a little superstitious, fingers crossed until you put your hand on mine.” There is a saying that goes, if you say something that could be jinxed, you knock on wood. But Swift says “we make our own luck…I ain't gotta knock on wood,” meaning her current love life is stable, and she does not have to worry about the jinx curse. “The curse on me was broken by your magic wand.”

CANCELLED!

The next track, “Cancelled,” is about her own personal experience with hate, and her compassion toward her friends in similar situations. “They stood by me before my exoneration, they believed I was innocent, so I'm not here for judgment.” Swift is supportive of her friends facing the same things she experienced, and helps them come back stronger. “Now they've broken you like they've broken me, but a shattered glass is a lot more sharp,” is a personal favourite lyric of mine, which takes us back to the meaning of coming back stronger. This song feels similar to her hit single “Look What You Made Me Do,” from “reputation.” With the lyric “But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time. Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time.” No matter what happens to her, she always comes back stronger.

Honey

The song “Honey” is a love song about changed meanings. From the lyrics, “If anyone called me "Honey" it was standing in the bathroom, white teeth, they were sayin' that skirt don't fit me, and I cried the whole way home,” to “You can call me "Honey" if you want because I'm the one you want…you give it different meaning 'cause you mean it when you talk.” In the past, nicknames such as honey or sweetheart were said to her in a cruel and condescending way. This caused those words to seem vicious and hurtful in her mind, until someone came along and changed those meanings. Honey is no longer seen as a hurtful word, but as something that makes her feel loved and treasured.

The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)

The final track, “The Life of a Showgirl,” is a summary of Swift's performative life. Swift explains, “The last track, and the album’s title track, is The Life of a Showgirl. It tells the story of a fictional showgirl named Kitty, and my character goes to see her perform, becoming totally inspired by her. Instead of responding with superficiality, Kitty tells it like it is, warning me about the reality of this lifestyle, which goes far beyond glitter and glamour. The song is an ode to the women who navigate the challenges of show business, facing its pitfalls and obstacle courses.” This track is the only one with a feature, artist Sabrina Carpenter. “For this track, I invited the ultimate showgirl, Sabrina Carpenter, and thankfully she agreed. She’s incredible on the song.” The ending of this song touched many fans’ hearts, as she included a clip from The Eras Tour crowd on the last show. The Eras Tour was the biggest performance she or any artist or performer had ever put on, and it deeply changed her life. “One of my favorite parts is that we ended it with actual crowd noise from my last Eras Tour show in Vancouver. It’s a deeply nostalgic touch that brings me right back to that memorable moment on stage. As the closing track, it’s a really special part of the album.” 

Imagine harnessing a passion for Egyptian history so strong, you discover a literal egyptian tomb—holding the boy king—Tutankhamun, no less.

I happened to stumble upon the discovery of King Tut’s tomb online a while back—I found it pretty interesting, so I thought I’d summarize it in this article to save you the internet rabbit-hole. 

After developing poor physical health in the late 19th century, a young boy named Howard Carter was sent from London to Swaffham, Norfolk, for most of his childhood. There, he was able to view many historical artifacts that kindled an ardour for Egyptian history. This led him to pursue a career in Egyptology and become an archaeologist.

After many ups and downs in his field of study, Howard made the acquaintance of George Herbert, otherwise known as Lord Carnarvon. Thanks to him, Carter had the funding necessary to commence extensive research and find King Tut’s tomb in Egypt. All of a sudden, a new development was made when a boy carrying water tripped over a rock to find that it was the beginning of a series of steps! Upon hearing of the discovery, Carter hid the entrance and phoned Carnarvon immediately.

On November 26th of 1922, Howard anxiously held a candle for light as he peered through the small hole he had carved into the door—Lord Carnarvon in tow. Some would say that this was the defining moment of Howard’s entire career. Carter was ecstatic to find many precious treasures within the concealed space, however, their search did not halt there.

On February 16th, 1923, Carter finally opened the door to find the near-pristine sarcophagus (tomb) of the king himself. In the tomb, Carter and Carnarvon discovered a collection of beautiful objects—chariots shrouded in gold, jewelry, personal shrines, furniture embedded with precious stones, and more. The tomb itself was primarily intact, but spots of mold were visible, hinting that the paintings weren’t completely dry before the tomb was secured. This mold may have also been the cause of Lord Carnarvon’s blood poisoning and death, subsequent to the full discovery. Not many people knew about the mold and thus, rumours of the ‘mummy curse’ spread like wildfire. Howard did not appear to be similarly affected, as he died a peaceful death many years later after dedicating his life to the discovery of King Tut’s Tomb.

The story of King Tut is also pretty interesting, considering his succession and how he died. His original name was Tutankhaten—before changing it to Tutankhamun three years into his reign. He was coronated due to the deaths of Smenkhkare and Tut’s alleged father, Akhenaten, with whom he co-ruled. Tut ascended to the throne at nine years old (not joking), and married his half-sister (still not joking) when he was ten. The boy king tragically died not even ten years later at nineteen. This is widely believed to be due to malaria and degenerative bone disease.

While separated by thousands of years, Carter and Tut shared their determination to rise above adversity. Both were only children when faced with great struggle — Carter with sickness and Tutankhamun with the weight of the monarchy. Carter was faced with many challenges in his childhood and in his career, yet he still studied his passion above all else and ended up making history in the archaeological world. After his father’s unorthodox movement and negligence of Egyptian tradition, King Tutankhamun made a monumental difference in his short life by helping to restore sacred places of religion and art that had been previously destroyed.  Both truly inspiring stories — And if you didn’t know, now you do.  

SOURCES:

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Howard-Carter-Tutankhamun/ 

https://www.metmuseum.org/met-publications/tutankhamuns-tomb-the-thrill-of-discovery 

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43355357 

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tutankhamun