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(11/27/21 4:00pm)
Known for his fiery red hair, smooth English accent, and always clutching an acoustic guitar, Ed Sheeran has become one of the most beloved artists of our generation. = marks the fifth studio album from Sheeran succeeding the nationwide success of +, x, ÷, and most recently, No. 6 Collaborations Project—which featured the likes of Justin Bieber, Travis Scott, and YEBBA to name a few. There isn’t a musical stone Sheeran leaves unturned. In addition to releasing smash-hits, he’s also known for his exceptional songwriting skills. He’s written songs for countless fellow artists such as, “Little Things” by One Direction, “Love Yourself” by Bieber, and “Eastside” by Benny Blanco, Halsey, and Khalid, among many others. Sheeran took a 4-year hiatus from his mathematical symbol album series, but the Ginger Jesus is back in =, and showcasing a much more grown version of himself.
(11/22/21 11:00pm)
Joseph Robert Bellah—Prod. JRB—answers the Zoom call with a beaming smile spread across his face and a friendly attitude. He's repping his new found home, BobbyBoy Records, with him wearing their dad hat. On Nov. 3, I had the opportunity to interview the up-and-coming producer. We discussed the 14-year-old’s journey throughout the music industry, how he began producing, how he got signed to BobbyBoy Records, his debut beat tape—Legacy—and much more.
(11/19/21 3:00pm)
Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter are some of the most popular fantasy/science fiction franchises to ever grace God’s green Earth and dominate not only pop culture, but also the public eye. Each one recognized for their complex, well-crafted, original worlds and one-of-a-kind characters. Despite the massive success of these franchises, dare I say, Dune is significantly better than any of these—and only one film has been released. You might be asking yourself, how could someone make such a blanket statement that banks off the quality of only the first installment? Well, that chapter was the closest thing to perfection I have ever seen from a big-budget franchise, and that is why it is destined to be the next iconic franchise.
(10/14/21 8:30pm)
This one trick pony broke barriers for what listeners thought was just a “one hit wonder.” Country artist turned global pop/rap star—publicly known as Lil Nas X—has finally opened the floodgates and released his long-awaited and highly anticipated debut album, MONTERO. Nas achieved this status of success back in 2019 when “Old Town Road” became the anthem of the summer. This hit featuring Billy Ray Cyrus immediately threw Nas on the music map after it went viral on TikTok, then went 14x platinum, and became the highest certified song in Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) History.
(09/29/21 9:00pm)
Donda and Certified Lover Boy amassed a great deal of attention when they dropped—for these are two of the most prominent artists of our generation. Both albums came out within four days of each other, with Kanye West releasing Donda first. West and Drake have famously been in a feud for years, so it’s only fair to ask the question: Which album is better?
(09/23/21 2:00pm)
Standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers, carelessly dancing with them, clinking drinks, screaming lyrics at the top of your lungs, and smiling from ear to ear are all on the itinerary for a Trippie Redd concert.
(08/10/21 5:30pm)
By Arianna Sergio
Billie Eilish has been in the public eye for all of her adolescent life. She received praise from listeners in November 2015 after releasing her song, “Ocean Eyes” on SoundCloud at a mere age of 13. Ever since then she has been releasing hit after hit with guidance from Finneas O’Connell—her older brother, producer, and co-writer. Her debut EP, Don’t Smile at Me, was released in August 2017 and she began to grow a larger, more loyal fanbase. She then released her first full-length studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? in March 2019. This album was very well-received by critics and fans alike. It even went on to receive several awards, including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Of course, fame goes hand-in-hand with unwanted and often negative attention. She has been dissected and picked apart from social media for almost half of her life, given the fact that she is arguably the most distinguished teenage girl in the world. Eilish is notorious for her oversized, statement outfits and putting forth a cultural reset for what the “norm” is for women’s fashion.
In March 2020, Eilish started including a short film at the beginning of her concerts titled, “Not my Responsibility,” in which she focuses on the public’s view and personal opinions of her clothing choices and body. In this, she unzips a black cotton jacket and reveals more of her body than she typically does. This was the beginning of a new era of Eilish. She ditched the bright green roots and dark black hair for bleach blonde swapping her trademark baggy clothes for a softer, more sophisticated look. She debuted this look on her Instagram, and further on a British Vogue photoshoot for their June cover story, and on her Happier Than Ever album cover.
Tackling Sensitive Topics
“Getting Older” has Eilish reflecting on her past, specifically her past trauma, an expanding amount of responsibilities, and her own personal discoveries along the way, all over a gentle and elegant synth beat. The first track is the most revealing song on the album, which definitely sets the tone for how the rest of the album is.
Eilish released five singles before the release of her much anticipated sophomore album: “my future,” “Therefore I Am,” “Your Power,” “Lost Cause,” and “NDA.” “my future” is a heartfelt letter to Eilish from Eilish—with lots and lots of love. She opens up about her enthusiasm toward her future, singing that she's “in love” with it and can’t wait to see what’s in store. This song has a more optimistic and lively sound, compared to the others on the album. This sound creates a nice break for the listener amongst all the heaviness. This song's change in tone impacts the overall construction of the album by helping it. It still shows the listener that raw side of Eilish, but in a refined happier way.
“Therefore I Am” Eilish is blunt and demands that the people saying that they're "friends" with her and using her name for attention stop with her saying, "I'm not your friend/ Or anything, d***/ You think that you're the man/ I think, therefore, I am." Her vocals are conversational and natural. It’s as if she is having a direct conversation with the person accused, with her singing, “Stop, what the hell are you talking about? Ha/ Get my pretty name out of your mouth.”
“Your Power” is about someone abusing their power. She longingly and emotionally sings to the listener in this stripped down, acoustic guitar anthem. Eilish even admitted that this song was one of her “favorite songs” she’s ever written. She said in an Instagram post, “i feel very vulnerable putting this one out because i hold it so close to my heart. this is about many different situations that we’ve all either witnessed or experienced. i hope this can inspire change. try not to abuse your power.”
“Lost Cause” is about someone who isn’t worth pursuing anymore, because they have no desire to change, so at the end of the day it’s just hopeless. Something that is noteworthy that Eilish is doing more on this album is that she’s adding more of her personality. This is even evident in the music video she released for “Lost Cause.” She’s becoming more confident and comfortable with herself and her music. This shift impacts how you listen to her music and view her, because of the deepened connected to her and what she writes.
“NDA” Eilish details her troubles with her ever-growing fame, even discussing how every romantic partner she has ever had has to sign an NDA. Eilish wishes her life was different and that she didn’t have to jump through all of the hoops that come with being a celebrity. This song feels sneaky, almost like she is walking on her tiptoes singing these lyrics. I haven't heard this from any artist before, so this element pushes the song to a new level of artistry that I hope to see more of in the future.
Lessons Learned
“I Didn’t Change My Number” is an immediate standout. Eilish sings about a past relationship and how she intentionally doesn’t respond to that person, due to how poorly they treated her. This song has a hip hop-esque beat. When Eilish sings the line, “Maybe you should leave/ Before I get too mean/ And take it out on you/ And your best friend, too,” she whispers the last fragment and that one minor technical change in the song sets this song over the top. You can literally hear the sassiness in her tone, which adds much more personality to it, similarly to "Lost Cause."
“Halley’s Comet” is about falling in love. Eilish details every minute detail that makes one feel euphoric and on cloud nine when they are in love. She compares this love to Halley’s Comet, which is visible from Earth every 75-76 years. The love she is describing is a once in a lifetime type of love. It’s melody is tenderhearted and leaves Eilish sounding angelic.
“Happier Than Ever” begins with Eilish’s signature breathy vocals. She shares with the listener that she is indeed happier than ever. The sound is a bit muffled, which gives it the vibe of a 30’s -40’s love song that you could slow dance to with your loved one. Then halfway through, the song is flipped on its head and changes to a more crisp sounding, punk-rock ballad with her screaming, “You make me hate this city!” The listener is submerged into Eilish’s loud, passionate vocals and drowned in the heavy guitar. This contrast in genres makes this song the best on the album. Although the punk-rock style isn't her typical style of music, it works marvelously for the album. For the short period of time that Eilish sings this genre, she executes it extremely well, which gives her album a bit of an edge.
Eilish ends this 16-track album with “Male Fantasy.” This is another strictly acoustic guitar song, which works in favor of the song, considering the content matter. This song is about Eilish trying to get over a past lover and reflecting on their time together. She leads the song by examining the typical “male fantasy.” Throughout, she distinguishes the difference between real love and fake love, along with the nature of each. This song closes the album out very well. I feel closure after listening to the entire album, due to how Eilish left her heart on her sleeve in every single song.
Top Tracks:
Happier Than Ever
Male Fantasy
I Didn’t Change My Number
Recommended if you like:
Halsey
Alessia Cara
King Princess
Sources: SoundCloud, Metacritic, Metacritic, Grammys, YouTube, Instagram, Instagram, Instagram, Instagram, YouTube, Phys Org
Featured Image: Genius
(08/10/21 4:00pm)
By Arianna Sergio
Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, a.k.a Logic, is back. It hasn’t even been a year later before the rapper traded his mundane retirement in Montana for his classic bars and studio sessions. Back in July 2020, Logic released what was seemingly his final studio album, No Pressure. He took to Twitter and Instagram to announce his departure from the music industry, leaving fans from across the globe rattled by his decision but, at the end of the day, respected his choice. It was a wistful and heartbreaking moment for Logic and his fans alike, but as he said in an interview with Complex News, he just wanted to, “focus on his son [Little Bobby] and his family, because that’s what makes me [Logic] the most happy.”
Bobby Tarantino III is the third installment of the Bobby Tarantino mixtape series. The mixtape that started this journey was Bobby Tarantino, and it was released in July 2016. He announced on Twitter that, “This mixtape is for my fans. I wanted to give u something for the Summer. Thank you for always supporting me. Enjoy.” And enjoy fans did. This mixtape had singles such as “Flexicution” and “Wrist,” with “Flexicution” generating a whopping 176 million streams and instantly becoming the most well-known track from the mixtape. Then, in March 2018, he released Bobby Tarantino II. This mixtape had singles such as, “44 More,” “Overnight,” and “Everyday,” which features American DJ Marshmello. This mixtape is arguably one of Logic’s most popular pieces of work to date charting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart, following the success of his third studio album, Everybody. With this track record, Bobby Tarantino III was destined to be a smash hit.
How does the third installment compare to the others?
Bobby Tarantino III kicks off with “introll.” This song shows Logic’s humorous side and he’s doing what it says in the title: trolling the listener. Logic starts by rapping, “Hey, I didn’t see you there, I’m back,” and then he proceeds to warm up his voice like he’s going to start spitting some bars, but ends the song before he can even start.
Logic only has one feature on the mixtape and it’s from award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo on the song “Inside.” Before listening to this song I had never heard music from Erivo, but now that my ears have been blessed by her effortlessly alluring voice, I crave more from her. She enhances the quality of this song and takes it to a whole new level with her voice evoking such emotion and passion. Logic tells the listener about his problems that caused him pain and ate at him, yet they remained inside, because on the outside he continued to make music for the fans and put on a happy face.
“Flawless” is a homage to his wife. I admire Logic for showcasing not only the physical love for his wife, but also his emotional love for her. He raps, “I only want a good girl who give a f*** less 'bout all this / So I wrote this song for you, 'cause you're so f******—Flawless (Flawless, yeah)...” In the middle of the song, the song begins to fade out with Logic rapping “Oh you thought I was done?” I appreciated the cheekiness of this line, because it shows that he could rap so many more bars about her, which is a nod to not only his immense love for her, but his talent.
I’m usually not one for interludes in albums/mixtapes unless they add more context to the storyline that the artist is trying to convey, but “Stupid Skit” is an exception. This song authentically displays how much carefree, fun Logic had while making this mixtape. Whereas, with most of his past projects, he felt so much pressure from everyone around him. (Hence, why his retirement album was titled No Pressure.)
“Theme For The People” carries an extremely similar sound to “Indica Badu.” Both songs have a relaxing and soft beat that is easy to listen to. They each make you want to unwind, with Logic’s lyrics flowing smoothly and freely.
“God Might Judge” is hands down the best song off the mixtape. It has excellent beats! Hats off to 6ix, with the first beat being reminiscent of Drake’s “Nice For What.” This song has the smoothest beat transitions I’ve ever heard on any Logic song. Having the beat switch from the second beat back to the first in the last 40 seconds is the cherry on top of an already masterful sundae. The lyrics are superior in this song and are some of Logic’s most catchy.
Logic ends the mixtape with “untitled.” This song is the reason why Logic made Bobby Tarantino III: to have a blast and cater songs to his fans.
Weekly singles
Leading up to the release of Bobby Tarantino III Logic teased the mixtape by releasing 4 songs weekly—on every Friday. The first single he released was on July 1st titled, “Vaccine,” with his second being “Get Up,” then “My Way,” and lastly “Call Me.” In comparison to all four singles, “Vaccine” is the strongest one. “Vaccine” packs the biggest punch for the listener. “Get Up” and “My Way” fall flat. They weren’t memorable whatsoever. Now, listening to the mixtape countless times, they’ve grown on me a bit, but on the first listen they were nothing special; the beat along with the lyrics were just bland. “Call Me” is a sweet and endearing song. It’s about how people can always count on him when they need him and how he’s just one call away. Similar to what I said earlier, “Call Me” is like “Theme For The People,” with a sound that is similar to “Indica Badu.”
So why did Logic come back?
“See You Soon Space Cowboy” starts off as a fast-paced song showing off how fast he can rap and how cunning and clever his lyricism is. At 1 minute and 17 seconds, gunshots go off and the beat switches to a more slow-downed, honest, stream of consciousness.
In the last minute and a half of “See You Soon Space Cowboy...” he explains his return to the rap industry by saying, “Alright, well I guess I just—I woke up one day and I was like ‘You know what? I kinda feel like rapping again.’ You know what I'm saying? So I did. And I been chillin' with Little Bobby and his fine a** momma and we out here in the country. Shooting guns, riding dirt bikes and s*** and I was just like ‘Man, I want to do this.’ So I invited all the homies in the middle of nowhere. And uhh we just decided to do this Bobby Tarantino EP, three-peat, off the cuff just for fun, just for the summer, just for all the homies.” If this is Logic impromptu, just having fun, I am extremely eager and excited to listen to his next piece of work.
With that, he also reveals that he’s working on his last album with his current record label, Def Jam. Logic ends the song by saying that he’s doing all of this for his fans, because they wanted him to come back to rapping so badly, so he finally decided that it was time.
Top Tracks:
God Might Judge
Flawless
See You Soon Space Cowboy...
Recommended if you like:
Kanye West
Drake
Mac Miller
Sources: Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Spotify, Billboard, IMDB, Spotify, Genius, Spotify
Featured Image: Genius
(04/23/21 2:15am)
By Arianna Sergio
You can’t call yourself a music connoisseur if you’ve never listened to Sir Paul McCartney. McCartney changed the music world forever when he emerged on the scene with his fellow Beatles bandmates—John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—and soon enough, Beatlemania swept the nation. With hits like “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Hey Jude,” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” among many others, The Beatles were the biggest thing at the time and were unstoppable. That is, until McCartney famously announced that they were breaking up due to, “Personal differences, business differences, musical differences, but most of all because I [McCartney] have a better time with my family.” Since then, he has had an outstanding solo career, releasing 26 studio albums. His newest album, McCartney III Imagined, is unlike anything he, or anyone else in the music industry, has ever done. Of course, there are plenty of artists who do covers of other artists’ music, but other than McCartney, I have never seen another artist openly invite other artists to create new interpretations of their own compositions.
The holy trinity
McCartney III was released last December; this third installment follows his debut album McCartney, released a few months after The Beatles split, and McCartney II succeeding a decade later. This holy trinity is home-recorded and gives the listener an intimate look into McCartney’s psyche. It’s experimental and untapped territory. Sure, he’s collaborated with Rihanna and Kanye West on “FourFiveSeconds,” but he’s never done anything like this. He gives each artist he collaborated with the creative freedom to put their personal touch on the song they perform of his, and “reimagine” it.
McCartney has been in the game for a long time, so bringing in some current, popular artists to cover his songs with him is revolutionary. More artists should take notes from him and follow in his suit. This is a great way for the younger generation to broaden their horizons and learn about classic artists and the older generation being educated about modern artists. It’s a win-win.
Collaboration at its finest
McCartney first released this teaser, shocking fans across the board. What could these colorful dice mean? Seeing all these talented artists only piqued his fans' interest, and rightfully so.
One track on this album completely and utterly blows all the other songs out of the water. That song is Dominic Fike’s rendition of “The Kiss of Venus”. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that this song will go down in history as one of the best songs ever created. McCartney’s original version is a slow, acoustic ballad, but Fike took what McCartney said and truly made this song his own. He brings a fresh, vibrant, timely take on the song. With McCartney’s version once being focused on astrology—singing about the Sun and the planets—Fike changed a large chunk of the lyrics, shifting its focus from astrology to the divisiveness of the news today. Lyrics like,
Then I asked her, have you read the paper? (Okay)/People talking about which side they're taking/ And if you know, then, baby, what's your take on it?
really make the listener think about how divided our society is when it comes to the news and politics in general.
Taking this idea one step further, the music video was filmed at the printing press for The New York Times. Fike sings about this with such passion and personality. He proves on this song that, yet again, he is one of the greatest blessings of music today. Fike is the future of music, and he continues to execute every single song he is on flawlessly.
Exploring different sounds
Besides Fike, McCartney collaborates with quite the repertoire of artists: Beck, Anderson .Paak, Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, Khruangbin, Blood Orange, Ed O’Brien, Damon Albarn, Josh Homme, and 3D RDN.
“Find My Way” featuring Beck is a funky 70’s blast from the past. It’ll make you want to get up, put your dancing shoes on, and groove! Beck’s vocals drip down the synth and bass lines on this song and mesh extremely well with McCartney’s worn vocals. “Pretty Boys” featuring Khruangbin has that same vibey tone. Khruangbin’s soft vocals whispering the chorus are truly haunting and pull the listener in.
People talking without no education, yeah/Look, go to college (College), go find your major (Major)/ Realize you're minor in the scheme of everything
“Slidin’' (EOB Remix) shows McCartney rock and roll like he’s never rocked and rolled before. This remix is everything I didn’t know I needed from McCartney. It’s fast-paced, upbeat, and catchy. The chorus, “I'm slidin', glidin' through the air/I can see my body through windows in my hair/ I'm slidin', glidin' through the air,” reflects the carefree tone of the song and encapsulates the feeling of not having a single care in the world and living life for what it is. A feeling similar to this is “Deep Deep Feeling,” (3D RDN Remix.) This 11 minute and 23-second song is the final song on the album. In its entirety, it’s a song you can just sit down, close your eyes to, and peacefully exist with.
Top tracks:
The Kiss of Venus
Slidin’
Seize the Day
Recommended if you like:
The Rolling Stones
Bob Dylan
The Who
Sources: History, Spotify, Spotify, History, Spotify, Inlander, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, Instagram, YouTube
Featured Image: Genius
(03/14/21 1:15am)
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
(03/13/21 9:30pm)
by Arianna SergioThe opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board. It’s no secret that the film industry lacks diversity and inclusion. In 2015, the Oscars were called out with the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite because every category listed lacked an artist of color. And I mean literally every category. This movement was the beginning of the shift that the film industry is slowly making to be more diverse and inclusive. When April Reign, a media strategist and advocate for diversity and inclusion, created the hashtag and spilled it onto every social media platform known to man, the Academy membership was 92% white and 75% male. Since then, the membership has improved. In 2020, the academy membership was 84% white and 68% male. The UCLA 2020 Hollywood Diversity Report is an analysis of the top-grossing films of 2018 and 2019. It includes a workplace analysis of 11 major and mid-major studios, which found that 91% of corporate-level executive positions were held by white people and 82% were held by men. Among all senior executive positions, 93% percent were held by white people and 80% by men.
(02/14/21 6:00pm)
Welcome back to another episode of Remixed! On this special Valentine's day episode, join us as we talk about love songs, what they mean to people, and why they're important! Tune in as we talk about all this and more on another episode of Remixed!
(02/15/21 3:43pm)
Once the Christmas season passes and we bid adieu to jolly St. Nick, the ruby and blush colored rose bouquets, countless brands of heart-shaped chocolate boxes, and colorful plush animals of all types as big as the eye can see start barreling in on the shelves. Tis’ the season for the only day of the year where it’s socially acceptable and celebrated to be super corny and mushy with your lover. This day practically oozes affection. This kind of love is a challenge to flee from when it surrounds every move you make throughout February, so the majority of people either completely love it or completely hate it. I have certainly flip-flopped from one side to the other, but something that remains a burning question in my head is how did Valentine’s Day become a holiday?
(02/15/21 12:30am)
by Arianna Sergio
Once the Christmas season passes and we bid adieu to jolly St. Nick, the ruby and blush colored rose bouquets, countless brands of heart-shaped chocolate boxes, and colorful plush animals of all types as big as the eye can see start barreling in on the shelves. Tis’ the season for the only day of the year where it's socially acceptable and celebrated to be super corny and mushy with your lover. This day practically oozes affection. This kind of love is a challenge to flee from when it surrounds every move you make throughout February, so the majority of people either completely love it or completely hate it. I have certainly flip-flopped from one side to the other, but something that remains a burning question in my head is how did Valentine’s Day become a holiday?
Lupercalia and St. Valentine
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="414"] Image from Mental Floss[/caption]
This story kicks off with the earliest origin of Valentine’s Day: the pagan holiday Lupercalia. This holiday, which celebrates fertility, took place for centuries in mid-February. Lupercalia was one of the few pagan holidays that was celebrated 150 years after Christianity was legalized, showcasing how popular and influential it was within the Roman Empire.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="413"] Image from Catholic Online[/caption]
At the end of the fifth century, Pope Gelasius became the new pope and stopped anyone from celebrating Lupercalia. Shortly after he announced this, the Catholic church made Feb. 14 their feast day to celebrate the martyred St. Valentine. I have to preface that in the early martyrologies three various St. Valentine’s are discussed, all sharing Feb. 14 as their feast day, and because the historical records are very few and scattered no one can wholeheartedly confirm who the “real” St. Valentine is. The first St. Valentine was a priest who doubled as a doctor. He not only educated the fellow Christians in his community to follow Jesus, but he also aided people who were sickly. St. Valentine was a publicly recognized leader in his Christian community, and at the time Christians were tormented for their faith and were highly sought after and jailed, so he eventually became jailed and then beheaded. The second St. Valentine was a Bishop of Terni, then known as Interamna, and he also became jailed and then beheaded. The third St. Valentine suffered martyrdom with many others in Africa, but nothing else is known about him. Some believe that all of these versions of St.Valentine are the same person, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
Why is it associated with love?
There are copious theories as to why the holiday is associated with love. A few of the most popular being: that in the Middle Ages in France and England it was commonly believed that Feb. 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance; St. Valentine signed a letter that ended with “from your Valentine,” to his jailer’s daughter, who he fell in love with and healed from being blind to a certain degree; and lastly St. Valentine opposed Emperor Claudius II commands and, in secret, married couples to pardon the husbands’ from war. All of these beliefs can provide us with some sort of idea to entertain, since none of us will for sure know what the “real” reason is.
Next time you are shopping at your local grocery store purchasing some of the discounted limited edition Valentine’s Day treats, you can ponder about the mysterious theories that surround St. Valentine, why the pink and red doused holiday is celebrated for love, and how it came to be what it is today.
Sources: BBC, Britannica, Catholic Education, History, National Geographic, Saints Resource,
Images: Catholic Online, Mental Floss
Featured Image: History
(02/09/21 3:25pm)
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
(02/09/21 2:40pm)
by Arianna SergioThe opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board. A Fourth of July’s worth of fireworks, a light-up tunnel, and masked dancers oh my! The camera fades out from the classic Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show logo and zooms into a neon Las Vegas-inspired welcome sign, featuring: a globe of the world, an old and new Pepsi sign, pink tulips, a dancer, and of course, the Weeknd wearing his signature After Hours glittery scarlet blazer sitting in a decked out Mercedes-Benz. From here the camera pans with the singer as he walks toward the front of the stage and sits on the edge; the choir’s sound-enhancing sounding ethereal. A crimson-eyed “angel” descends from the ceiling and the choir gets progressively louder, singing more eerily and hauntingly, as they wear Star Wars-esque C-3PO masks. This worked in favor of creating the ideal atmosphere for his much-anticipated performance. The Weeknd, known offstage as Abel Tesfaye, waits a few seconds before he opens up with “Star Boy.” He kept the performance of this song fairly low-key, besides the cluster of fireworks going off above the grand choir. He relied solely on his smooth vocals and his happy feet.
(02/01/21 4:28pm)
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
(01/31/21 10:59pm)
by Arianna Sergio
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
Lately, I haven’t been able to stop listening to Dominic Fike. No matter what I do, I find myself pulling up his Spotify profile and pressing the shuffle button, so much so that it has become a part of my daily schedule—like second nature. I first discovered Fike in 2018 when his song “3 Nights” blew up. Whenever I was driving I would turn on the radio and instantly hear the beginning chords to that song. Normally when I hear a song that is overplayed on the radio I immediately change the station or shut off the radio altogether, but not with this song. This time it was different. For some reason, I became mesmerized by this song and addicted to his voice. Every time it ended I found myself hungry and craving more. Alas, I never ended up hearing any more music from him let alone hearing anything about him. It was like he fell off the face of Earth. This past July, I was browsing through Spotify’s new releases and I saw an album titled, What Could Possibly Go Wrong. The cover drew me in, with the neon salmon words of the title smeared to the right and the aesthetic mountain landscape in the background, so I clicked on it. I was shocked, to say the least, when I saw Fike’s name attached to it. From the moment I pressed that play button it’s been an album I consistently go back to every day.
Why don’t you know Dominic Fike?
The 25-year-old artist really emerged out of nowhere. As a child, Fike would always play music. When he was ten, he received a guitar and taught himself how to play it. When he got older, Fike joined a local formative rap collective called Backhouse. Born and raised in Naples, Florida, Fike and the rest of Backhouse started making waves in the local scene and began culminating a following. Fike shifted gears and started focusing more on himself and his craft and, soon enough, he released his solo music. Some of his early music that is still online is an EP titled Dishwasher and a single titled “Jada Pinkett,” but everything else has ceased from existence. He released the EP Don't Forget About Me, Demos in December 2017, which was recorded while he was on house arrest for battery of a police officer, as an independent artist while he was serving time in Collier County Jail. The EP ignited a very public bidding war from a handful of record labels who wanted to sign him. He ended up signing with Columbia Records for around $4 million and his music that was already posted was taken down and re-released months later through Columbia.
Don’t Forget About Me, Demos
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="291"] Image from Amazon[/caption]
“3 Nights'', needless to say, is the breakout song on this EP, generating a whopping 536 million streams, and being what put Fike on people’s radars in the first place. This song talks of the evolution of a relationship: going from someone not being fully interested in someone else, to falling in love with them, to then hesitantly straying away. Even though this song amassed the most attention, with its prominent guitar strums and carefree, sunny chorus, it isn’t the best song on the EP. The two songs that are tied for best song in the EP are “She Wants My Money” and “Babydoll.” In “She Wants My Money,” Fike sings about an ex-lover who only wants him for his money, but Fike needs his money more than his ex, so he doesn’t give in. The lyrics, “Look, f**k 'em, I gotta get the money too/ I got three to protect, I need a money tree/ Like, what you need the money for?” showcase his clever lyricism and play on words with Fike counting from 1 to 4. In “Babydoll,” Fike gets personal and opens up about his upbringing. He vulnerably sings about his father being a “pimp” and not being in the picture and how his mother dealt with drug abuse. This song makes you want to bop your head up and down to the retro bass that shines though. In “Westcoast Collective” Fike takes the listener back on his journey of living on the west coast in a house with a substantial group of people, aka Backhouse, and being an unknown rapper wishing for a discovery of some sort. This was before he adapted the alternative pop genre he has mastered today. In “Falling Asleep,” Dominic Fike sings about consciously distancing himself from people because he has a difficult time trusting others. He also gets candid about the pitfalls of his latest fame and wealth. This EP is as transparent as any artist can get for how fresh Fike is to the music game. Fike lays it all out on the table and he definitely serves.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="293"] Image from Pitchfork[/caption]
The common themes on What Could Possibly Go Wrong are the trials and tribulations of being in a relationship and Fike reflecting on his roots, upbringing, and where he hails from. One characteristic that I love about Fike is that he literally couldn't care less about the fame that goes hand-in-hand with being a “celebrity.” In “Cancel Me” he discusses some of the stresses of his newfound rise to fame. He mentions living in LA being overwhelming and how he wishes that he could just go back to his family. He hopes that people “cancel” him, or that people stop supporting him. “Cancel culture” has become an extremely common phenomenon in recent years. Fike raps the lyrics, “I hope I never, ever have to go on TV/ Mothaf**ka, Jimmy Kimmel does not wanna meet me,” and this lyric is one of the strongest on the whole EP. It oozes sass and character, which I personally appreciate in lyrics, and it gives the listener a small taste of Fike’s personality. “Why” is the standout in the album. It’s catchy beyond belief with its simple yet enticing chorus paired with Fike’s delectable high-pitched vocals about having chicken tenders with a lover. “Chicken Tenders,” blends his signature alternative pop sound with R&B, as he sings about living lavishly with his lover. As its title suggests, “Vampire” gives the listener an eerie Halloween in the summer. The creative aspect is what makes this music video hands down the best music video Fike has ever released. In “Wurli,” Dominic sings about being in a toxic relationship and how he can’t help but feel like a “glorified doorstop.” “Florida” is the final track on the album. Fike ends the album by reflecting on where he hails from and sharing how he’s “still the same” man as he was before fame and fortune and how he remains grounded. What Could Possibly Go Wrong is an exceptional debut album for the young artist highlighting all of his strengths as a musician and putting his one-of-a-kind voice on a pedestal.
BROCKHAMPTON, Kenny Beats, and what’s next
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="420"] Image from The Fader[/caption]
Some notable features Fike has done are in “Peach” by Kevin Abstract, a rapper/singer in BROCKHAMPTON, “Hit Me Up,” by Kenny Beats and Omar Apollo, “Stop Selling Her Drugs” by Bakar, and “Dominic’s Interlude” by Halsey. Fike has a close relationship with the hip/hop group, BROCKHAMPTON. Abstract directed a video titled, “This is Dominic Fike,” which was posted to the BROCKHAMPTON YouTube channel. In this video, Abstract does a deep and raw interview with Fike, which then shifts into an offhand “3 Nights” music video.
To best describe Fike is to say that he’s a wildcard. Fans can’t predict his next move, but just anticipate that one is coming. Fike recently posted a short video to his Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube of him blindfolded with a baseball bat and hitting a number two piñata while a nameless song, presumably by him, plays in the background. All these posts are followed with the caption, “What’s next?” One can only infer that the number two signifies his upcoming second album; meaning the new music drought will shortly be over and fans of Fike will be able to see the light of day again.
Sources: Florida Arrests, Instagram, Merriam-Webster, Soundcloud, Spotify, The Fader, Twitter, YouTube
Images: Amazon, Pitchfork, The Fader
Featured Image: GoRadio
(12/23/20 10:31pm)
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
(11/06/20 6:00am)
By Arianna Sergio
Ariana Grande is one of the most popular and influential people in the world right now and, needless to say, needs no introduction. With a whopping 205.5 million followers on Instagram, 78.4 million followers on Twitter, and 57 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Grande has made her mark on the pop music industry forever. Positions is Grande's sixth studio album, after the massive worldwide success that was her previous album, thank u, next. Positions delves into themes of trust, sex, love, falling in love, and intimacy. Grande captivates listeners and takes them with her on her journey of falling in love, dubiously, after previously being hurt time and time again by it. She uses various metaphors and clever play-on-words to assert and reveal her intimate desires and needs.
Let’s talk about sex, baby
“Positions” is the lead single off of Positions. This song discusses Grande’s commitment and love for her boyfriend with her flexibility in trying to make their relationship work. The chorus,
“Switchin' them positions for you/ Cookin' in the kitchen and I'm in the bedroom/ I'm in the Olympics, way I'm jumpin' through hoops/ Know my love infinite, nothin’ I wouldn’t do/ That I won't do, switchin’ for you,”
gives the word “positions,” a double meaning. In one way, it refers to how Grande is changing her role in the relationship, from doing housework to becoming intimate with her significant other. Contrary to that, it could be taken a step further, and be interpreted as literally changing positions while being intimate with her significant other.
“34+35” adds up to 69, which is the sex position Grande is yearning for throughout the entirety of this lustful song. The song title also acts as a play on the album’s title. Even though the song is extremely sexual throughout, Grande sings the lyrics,
“Math class/ Never was good,”
as the song’s outro. She jokingly ends the song with the fact that she was never good at math, undermining the sexual nature in the majority of the song and letting her goofy personality shine.
“Nasty” just oozes sex appeal. The chorus repeats Grande singing how “tonight” she wants to get “nasty” and she doesn’t want to wait any longer. She then rhetorically asks what her significant other is waiting for. It flawlessly depicts one of Grande’s consistent themes on the album, sex. In this song, Grande is straightforward with her significant other, by telling him how bad she needs him and wants him.
Collabscollabscollabs
“Motive” feat. Doja Cat and is produced by Murda Beatz. Murda Beatz has produced many songs for popular mainstream artists, like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and Drake. This is Murda Beatz’s first collaboration with not only Grande but also Doja Cat. “Motive” is the type of song that you would hear while you’re shopping in Forever 21 and trying on clothes in the dressing room. It’s upbeat and uptempo but falls flat along the way. The chorus is too repetitive and a pitfall, making it boring and ultimately bland. Doja Cat’s verse is not as memorable as it was expected to be. Her verse didn’t pack a punch like her verses/lyrics in her hit songs, like “Say So,” “Juicy,” and “Rules,” have.
“Safety net” feat. Ty Dolla $ign is about giving your everything to make a relationship work and taking that extra leap of faith. In the chorus,
“Tripping, falling, with no safety net/ Got me tripping, falling, with no safety net,”
Grande sings that even though you don't know if that relationship is going to work, she is willing to still give it a try and, in the end, risk it all for that person. Ty Dolla $ign’s voice flourishes with Grande’s, creating an enchanting and divine experience for the listener.
“Off the table” feat. The Weeknd is the strongest collaboration out of the three. This is Grande and The Weeknd’s second collaboration after their 2014 smash hit, “Love Me Harder.” This song includes a slow, synth-heavy instrumental, topped off by profuse and delightful strings in the background. The first verse,
“Will I ever love the same way again? (Way again)/ Will I ever love somebody like the way I did you?/ If I can't have you, is love completely off the table?/ Just wanna know is love completely off the table?”
has Grande questioning if she will ever find love again. She is dwelling on her previous relationships and second-guessing if she will ever find that again. The Weeknd plays her love interest, and he assures her that he can fill those shoes and be exactly what she needs. Throughout The Weeknd’s verse, he makes references to his past songs, “Hurt You,” “Love Me Harder,” and “The Hills.” This works in favor of the song because he is leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for his true fans. This is something more artists should do when they are featured on songs.
Another shot at love
“Obvious” talks about how Grande is starting to believe in love again and how her current significant other is helping her in believing in love again. This song has a sweet and comforting melody that drips onto her endearing lyrics. “Love language” is about Grande learning her significant other’s love language in hopes that she can improve in expressing her love for him and she communicates how she wants her significant other to do the same for her. Love languages are various ways that romantic partners give and receive love. There are five different types of love languages: quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, and receiving gifts. In “my hair,” Grande quite literally lets her hair down and bares it all. This 90s style R&B song is about being comfortable enough for her significant other to “run his hands through her hair” when they are intimate, which is an extremely vulnerable action to do, which is another sign that she is opening up to love.
“Pov” is hands down the best song on Positions, no competition. This song will surely make you cry the first time you listen to it. It’s about the heartbreaking reality of not loving yourself and wishing to see yourself from your significant other’s perspective, to know why they admire and love you despite all of your imperfections. And maybe after seeing that, you will believe that you are good enough and worthy of someone’s love. Her silky vocals are on full display as the relaxing percussion and string instrumental plays in the background, building up throughout the song only to let her powerhouse voice take center stage. The lyricism in this song solidifies Grande at her best.
Top Tracks:
pov
34+35
off the table
Recommended if you like:
Selena Gomez
Camila Cabello
Demi Lovato
Sources: 5 Love Languages
