Category Archives: A&E

A&E, Blake Dykes

‘The Help’ wows reader

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By Blake Dykes

Photo from Photobucket.com
In my 15 years of life I have read hundreds, maybe thousands of books, and have yet to come across a book as inspiring as The Help.

The book, The Help, written by Kathryn Stockett and number one New York times best seller, is honestly one of the best books I have ever read.The Help takes place in 1962, Jackson Mississippi. This is the time of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King.

Down south, times are tough for the colored folks of Jackson Mississippi. Discrimination is spreading like wildfire and the treatment is getting worse. Not to mention, the tremendous amount of economic troubles colored people are having, being paid little to nothing, with such high expectations of work to be done.

Aibileen, a black maid, after raising 17 white children and one of her own, endures a series of challenges she must overcome. Even though Aibileen lives solo, she still struggles to pay the bills with her low income.

However, Aibileen’s best friend, Minny, who is also a maid, finds herself unemployed after her last job did not end too well. She starts to doubt she will ever find another job after what she did to Hilly, one of her employers. However, having five children of her own, it is crucial that Minny put food on their plates and clothes on their back. This is quite difficult to do with no help from her drunk husband, Leroy.

Surprisingly, colored people are not the only ones concerned with the civil rights movement and treatment of blacks. Skeeter Phelan, who is a white woman of Jackson, cannot find any where to fit in, with her beliefs on equality.

There are many things that make this book very unique and different then other ones. Stockett’s colorful use of words and ability to tell the story from very different characters could be perhaps, the reason it is the #1 New York Times bestseller.

To anyone who is looking for inspiration to get through rough times, The Help is the cure.

A&E, Danielle Rehor

Rock this Country: 2012 Country Grammy Predictions

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By Danielle Rehor

For starters, let’s just say, Taylor Swift is overrated. The chances of her winning every award are likely, and that embarrasses me. So she shall not be included in this Grammy preview.  With that said, let’s get down to the nitty gritty of the country grammy nominations.

Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, and Blake Shelton are all tied with three nominations, including Best Country Album. Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter, and newcomers Thompson Square are tied with two.

Best Country Album

Will Win: Own The Night Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum’s transition from hearty country to pop country crossovers have won them a whole new fanbase, and in turn caused their music to be played on every station from here to Japan. Currently ranked number fourteen on itunes, this twelve song album, Own the Night, continues in a way that pop-country fans adore.

Should Win: My Kinda Party Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean has been in the music business since 2005, has been known since 2009, and playing guitar since age 15. Up until this album he has won, one major award. He wont Top New Male Vocalist by Academy of Country Music. But his current album has won him eight major awards. His collaboration with season one American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” qualifies as one of his best songs to date and “Dirt Road Anthem” brings the first rap country song. This transition brings a whole new side of country music and it was done with much finesse. this album as a whole embodies his rock infused sound and country music as a whole, hell-raising and everyday blessings included.

Dark Horse: Red River Blue  Blake Shelton

This album should be a shoe-in for the best country album award. Blake Shelton has had a year like no other and this album shows it.  Every song brings something that represents Shelton, as well as chart topping country music.  But the fandom of Lady A over shines this six album, three EP musical masterpiece.

Best Country Song

Will Win: “God Gave Me You“ Blake Shelton

I don’t know if it’s Blake Shelton or Miranda Lambert, but one of them is a good luck charm. Both artists won top entertainer of the year at the Country Music Awards, and their most recent albums continue to blow the compeitition out of the park. Blake Shelton’s ballad to his new wife shows his love and dedication to her in a truly heartfelt, if cheesy way.

Should Win: “You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney  with Grace Potter

This song is perfection…not quite.   Kenny Chesney’s songs tend to revolve around beaches and hot women, and I tend to believe they all sound remarkably similar, but this one is different.  Maybe it’s because he is singing about alcohol or, the more likely of the two, because he has folk rocker, Grace Potter singing with him. Her soft vocals add more to the performance than any amount of beach lyrics.

Dark Horse: “Threaten me with Heaven” Vince Gill

Having won this exact award both in 1992, and in 1995, Vince Gill may seem like a washed-up artist, but with eighteen albums ranging from bluegrass to country pop, to christian music, Gill is incredible. He has 27 Grammies as well, so maybe he isn’t such a dark horse…

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

Will Win: “You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter

Kenny Chesney’s decision to bring rocker Grace Potter on to this song was a life changer. When asked, Potter didn’t even know who Chesney was, but this collaboration brings a new side to Chesney and his music.

Should Win: “Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson

The passionate chemistry that “Don’t You Wanna Stay” brings, is unlike any other song of Jason Aldean’s. This song brings a sort of revival for Kelly Clarkson as well. She has done well for herself, but this hit pairs their vocals amazingly well and shows chops I didn’t even know the hard rocker Aldean posessed.

Dark Horse: “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” Thompson Square

The lyrics do leave a bit to be desired, but this first song for Thompson Square shows the true chemistry between real life couple Keifer and Shawna Thompson.

Best Country Solo Performance

Will Win: “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” By Martina McBride

Having been nominated for 13 Grammys up to this point, the chances of Marina McBride winning this award are high. More than just experience, McBride’s song talks of strength and courage even through the toughest times, exemplified through developing breast cancer.

Should Win: “Honey Bee” Blake Shelton

Further showing great affection to his wife, Miranda Lambert, this song is a classic country song and is found relatable to most country fans.

Dark Horse: “Mama’s Song” Carrie Underwood

This song possesses some great lyrics and shows the importance Carrie Underwood places on family, but because this song wasn’t a single, or played on the radio, so the chances of it winning are slim.

A&E

Rocking to the beat: 2012 Best Dance/Electronica Album predictions

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By Jared Murray

This year’s nominations for the February 12th Grammys’  Best Dance/Electronica Album showcase the many equally
wonderful variations found in dance music today: Cut Copy’s 80’s tinged summer-sounding goodness;
the relentless and sometimes aggressive house music of Deadmau5; Robyn’s forward-thinking, sassy
dancepop; the bleeping dubstep of Skrillex; and the Eurodance stylings of David Guetta.

Having recently becoming popular riding the wave of dubstep, electronic dance music with
overwhelming bass and tight percussion samples, Skrillex may be the first to come to mind after hearing
all of the nominees. The nine-song EP consist of well-produced and always energetic dubstep with influences from house music. Despite the music producer’s large teenage fan base, Skrillex’s EP Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites remains an unlikely winner of the coveted gramophone.

French music producer David Guetta is no stranger to the Grammy Awards, having won two
Grammys in the past two years. His two-disc album Nothing But the Beat serves up a heaping portion of
Top 40-friendly hits. Being primarily a music producer, Guetta leaves the singing to more capable people,
with the vocals being contributed by artists such as Nicki Minaj, Sia, Will.i.am and more.

While certainly no media darlings, Australian electronic band Cut Copy has been getting lots of
positive attention for their latest album Zonoscope. The 11-track album showcases the band’s newfound
sound; the guitar work often found in their last album In Ghost Colors has been replaced almost entirely
with handclaps and 80’s style synthesizers, and only shows up to add to the texture of a song.

Deadmau5 fifth studio album 4×4=12 continues his trend of hard hitting house music fused with
electronics and synthesizers. The album is mostly instrumental, leaving Deadmau5’s melodies and beats
to do all of the talking. However exciting that may sound, Deadmau5’s real appeal lies in his energetic
and light-filled live shows.

Swedish pop-sensation Robyn finished off her critically acclaimed series of Body Talk mini-
albums with Body Talk, Pt. 3. The songs found off the 5-song EP exhibit a mildly futuristic tone in
regards to dancepop. Robyn’s expertly controlled and always emotional vocals compliment the
sometimes icy and mechanical sounding Eurodance and help to emphasize the occasional melancholy
lyrics.

My predictions:

Who should win: Body Talk, Pt. 3 by Robyn

Dark horse: Zonoscope by Cut Copy

Who will probably win: Nothing But the Beat by David Guetta

A&E

Columnist Previews February’s Grammys

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By Jared Murray

For the popular musician, the Grammy Awards mark the end of the holiday season, with the ultimate post-holiday gift being the always-coveted, miniature gold-plated gramophone. This year, the number of categories at the Grammys has decreased, dropping from 109 to 78. Now the different categories for male and female awards are integrated, along with several other changes affecting world music.

Despite the decrease in categories, British singer Adele is poised to sweep this year’s awards with her latest album, 21. Like the late Amy Winehouse, Adele is nominated for most of the major awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

It is Kanye West, however, who garnered the most nominations this year. He is nominated in seven categories including Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song for his hit “All Of the Lights.”

Other multiple nominees include Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars with six nominations each; Lil Wayne and Skrillex with five nominations each; and Drake, Bon Iver, Nicki Minaj, Mumford and Sons, Radiohead, and Rihanna each having four nominations each.

Here are a few of the more prominent awards and their nominees:

Record Of The Year

“Rolling In The Deep”- Adele
“Holocene”- Bon Iver
“Grenade”- Bruno Mars
“The Cave”- Mumford & Sons
“Firework”- Katy Perry

Album Of The Year

21– Adele
Wasting Light– Foo Fighters
Born This Way– Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans– Bruno Mars
Loud– Rihanna

Best New Artist

The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex

Best Rock Song

“The Cave”- Mumford & Sons
“Down By The Water”- The Decemberists
“Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall”- Coldplay
“Lotus Flower”- Radiohead
“Walk”- Foo Fighters

Best Alternative Music Album

Bon Iver– Bon Iver
Codes and Keys– Death Cab For Cutie
Torches– Foster The People
Circuital– My Morning Jacket
The King Of Limbs– Radiohead

Best Rap Song

“All Of The Lights”- Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
“Black And Yellow”- Wiz Khalifa
“I Need A Doctor”- Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
“Look At Me Now”- Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
“Otis”- Jay-Z & Kanye West
“The Show Goes On”- Lupe Fiasco

Best Country Album

My Kinda Party– Jason Aldean
Chief– Eric Church
Own The Night– Lady Antebellum
Red River Blue– Blake Shelton
Here For A Good Time– George Strait
 Speak Now– Taylor Swift

In the weeks leading up the ceremony, keep checking The Bagpiper Online for continuous coverage and predictions of many of the most heated categories. For a complete list of nominations visit the Grammy’s website. This year the 2012 Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 12 on CBS at 8/7c.