Category Archives: A&E

A&E, Alyssa Book

Beyonce’s vulnerability leads to new success

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By Alyssa Book

The metamorphosis of a singer is a natural movement in the lifespan of an artist. They grow up, go through new experiences, and take the good with the bad and mold it into a new style of music. Beyonce’s journey has been captured in her lasted released album, Year Of 4.

Her age and personal life are growing not only with a marriage, but now with a growing family. 4 shows off her new bold sound and more touching lyrics.

Recording up to 72 tracks that were possibilities for her new creation, this art took years to complete and master until it came to be the end product, 4. Beyonce has been known through her career for being a charismatic performer who had songs that ranged from club anthems to heart felt ballads.She has earned the right as being known as a “diva,” but with a positive connotation. She is a strong female spokesperson who believes beauty from within shines the brightest and believing in your talents will have the greatest impact in your life.My favorite tracks from this new album are “Best Thing I Never Had” and “End of Time.” “Best Thing I Never Had” presents the melody of a girl who realized that a guy choosing not to be with her was not her loss. Instead, it was the worst mistake he could have made.

This song relates back to those who can look back on a past relationship and see letting go was the best lesson they could have learned.

“End of Time” is another track on the album that I found blasting through my speakers daily. Saying that her love will last forever, Beyonce names an anonymous girl whose love for a boy is the strongest emotion she has ever felt. With an upbeat tempo and strong vocals, this is a song that really relates back to the Destiny Child lead singer we have all grown up listening to.

Year Of 4 is Beyonce’s best work in my opinion. Beyonce was the executive producer of this album and Tom Coyne mastered the album. I would recommend 4 because it has great party anthems and touching ballads.

When listening through the track list, the listener feels as if he or she is having a personal conversation with Ms. B herself. Beyonce has been quoted saying that her fears were let go of with this album, and with this release of inner emotion, the public has opened up with praise.

Release Date
June 28, 2011

Tracks
1+1
I Care
I Miss You
Best Thing I Never Had
Party Ft. Andre 3000
Start Over
Love On Top
Countdown
End Of Time
I Was Here
Run The World (Girls)

A&E

Meeting with the half angels

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By Lauren Holstner
The City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare is the fourth book in The Mortal Instruments series.  This story has plot twists at every corner and is full of action. The first three are filled with action, terror, and surprises.
This story is filled with werewolves, demons, fairies, vampires, shadow hunters, and much more. This is the perfect book for anyone who loves fantasy, action, suspense, and everything vampire.
For everyone who does not like destroyed legends with senseless plot twists, this is a good read, there are no sparkly vampires and no ridiculous contradictions such as vampires going to school in the middle of the day or fey that are not cruel.

The two main characters, Jace and Clary, are always causing trouble and are nothing like you would think. Jace is still a gorgeous boy who is strong and is never afraid. Clary is a marvelous artist, and a shadow hunter who is always doing something wrong, with a lot of personality.

This book can be enjoyed by people who like fairy tales. It has romance, fights, and a lot more.  Readers will also fall in love with Jace, one of the main characters, who never shows fear and is acclaimed as hotter then Edward and Jacob.  Clare’s writing is flavor filled with plenty of action and details which moves the story along at a great pace.  Readers never know what will happen next.

This series spent six months on the New York Times bestseller list, USA Today bestseller, Wall Street Journal bestseller, and Publishers Weekly bestseller.

“The Mortal Instruments series is a story world that I love to live in.  Beautiful,” said author of Twilight, Stephenie Meyer.  This is a perfect story for any fantasy story fans, it includes many fairy tale creatures, plenty of action, and something is always happening.  It is the ultimate fantasy story with plenty of action, blood chilling events, many fairytale creatures, and a pinch of romance.

A&E, Allison Werner, Alyssa Book, Nathan Hemminger, Weekly Playlist

Weekly playlist: 80s hits

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By Marah Harbison, Allison Werner, Nathan Hemminger, Chase Gosman, Lauren Holstner, Cody Repine and Alyssa Book
It is time to bust out your shoulder pads and big sneakers. A&E’s playlist of the week is a flashback to the 80s. That means you can jam to these stellar beats on your way to the arcade.


1. “In Between Days” by The Cure

2. “The King of Wishful Thinking” by Go West

3. “Sharp Dressed Man” by ZZ Top

4. “Material Girl” by Madonna

5. “The Promise” by When In Rome

6. “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners

7. “Oh Yeah” by Yello

8. “Take On Me” by A-ha

9. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson

10. “Call Me” by Blondie

11. “Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Mind

12. “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” by Elton John

A&E, Alyssa Book

‘E.A. Poe’ performance captures author’s heartache

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By Alyssa Book

“E.A Poe..Into The Mind of Madness” was shown Friday and Saturday evenings in Studio One. The play, directed by Chris Bundy, takes us into the disturbed mind of one of the most famous poets, Edgar Allan Poe.The performance started off with the aisles full of students dressed in torn clothing staring blankly beyond the crowd. The tone was set from the very beginning when audience members stepped foot into the auditorium. The audience became silent as the lights dimmed and the piano keys started in with a tune meant to send shivers down their spines.The play went through the details surrounding Poe’s life and what inspired his most famous pieces. It was great to see the poems we’ve read over and over again in school come to life on stage.

Another memorable aspect of the play was the use of lighting and the video backgrounds directly behind the actors performing on stage. As the actors were describing a scene or reciting a poem of Poe’s, the videos showed them actually performing the poem.

Although the material was deep and held raw emotion, the performance really brought a sense of forgiveness and sympathy for Poe. The audience saw the traumatic reasons for Poe’s twisted poems, especially through the emotional portrayal of Poe by senior Zach Hebert. Hebert’s performance was memorable, as he literally became the character on stage through his mannerisms.

The play was very dark and shared the most intimate moments of Poe’s life. It was discouraged for children to go, and that was a very good idea. The play went through topics such as abandonment and heartache, then spiraled into death and murder.

The overall experience of the play was very interesting and unique. As the last scene came to a wrap and the audience cheered out of their seats, the echos of shouting and the large applause gave the play an unanimous two thumbs up.

A&E, Allison Werner, Alyssa Book, Nathan Hemminger, Weekly Playlist

Weekly playlist: Adrenaline pumping music

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By Marah Harbison, Allison Werner, Nathan Hemminger, Chase Gosman, and Alyssa Book

Everyone loves a good rivalry and there is no better proof of that than this week’s face off with Providence on the soccer and and football fields. What is the best way to pump up before the big game? Listen to some music that will get your heart pumping and your blood flowing. A&E’s playlist of the week is the top 10 songs to get pumped up to. 

1. “Don’t Let This Win Over You” by Set Your Goals

2. “Dreams Be Dreams” by Jack Johnson

3. “Yeah 3x” by Chris Brown

4. “Feel It In Your Heart” by Abandon

5. “Hey Baby” by DJ Otzi

6. “Shoot To Thrill” by AC/DC

7. “The Pretender” by Foo Fighters

8. “Panama” by Van Halen

9. “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor

10. “Headstrong” by Trapt