by Canaan Wilson | Nov 18, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
With the way I grew up, the influence that R&B music was prominent. Whether it was car rides or cleaning the house the genre would be the soundtrack to a lot of the formative moments of my life. My parents would play the likes of Stevie Wonder, Al Green and many others that flooded the speakers with soul and vibes. It’s now the genre I gravitate towards and there is no shortage of artists today that have strived to create those similar songs and sounds that carry the genre forward. One example of this is the dynamic due of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak, who formed the group Silk Sonic. These two artists have created that nostalgic sound that many have fallen in love with. The smooth instrumentation and lyrics have brought back the sonance that artists of previous generations of music have laid the foundation for. They’ve added their own unique style and voice to it, which has brought R&B music back to the forefront of what people listen to today. The two feed off of each other in the music and it has been a seamless fit for the two to create together. They met back in 2016 when Anderson joined Mars on the European leg of the latter’s 24k Magic World Tour. After hanging and doing a bit of creating they would go on to record as a group. They haven’t looked back and the music they have created has been phenomenal. Their new album, An Evening with Silk Sonic, was released on November 12th and I have to say it may be one of my favorite albums to drop this...
by Camryn Given | Nov 2, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Uncategorized
A new film adaptation of Dune, the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert, hit the big screen and home screens on Oct. 22. The movie has a lot to offer crowds, from music to special effects to cast; this movie went all out, but many critics still seem to be against it. This is a movie that could be the start of the next big sci-fi franchise, but people seem to not be interested in devoting the time to get invested. They find the movie slow when really they aren’t dedicated to plot development. With a budget of $165 million, this movie could do, and did, a lot. However, when you want to feature giant sandworms and space travel, the money makes a big difference in the overall experience. This movie could have easily fallen short without these funds. That was one of my big takeaways from this movie, if you have the means to see this film in theatres, you should. All of the best parts of the movie are amplified in the theatre, both the visuals and the score. If you watch it at home on a small screen and with little speakers, you’re missing out. Going into this movie, it is necessary to pay extra attention to the first 20 minutes of the film. That was my first mistake, which resulted in me having to watch it twice. In fact, if you’re like me and haven’t read the book it might even be helpful to familiarize yourself with some key terms. For example, the names of the planets and the names of the houses are how I...
by Lumination Staff | Oct 29, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Camryn’s Choice: “Over the Garden Wall” Although “Over the Garden Wall” is technically a mini-series, it serves best as a movie watched all in one sitting. Since it only has 10 episodes, each only 10 minutes long, it is a quick and engaging tale that embraces all things spooky. The Cartoon Network show follows Greg and Wirt, two brothers on a journey to get home through creepy forests and talking pumpkins filled with humor and mystery. It’s the perfect Halloween watch for all ages. Available on Hulu Kathryn’s Choice: “Practical Magic” (1998) “Practical Magic” has been a part of my annual Halloween ritual since I was a kid. The film, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, manages to combine 90s rom-com antics with horror themes. The film ultimately puts an ethereal twist on grief, sisterhood and love. It seriously acknowledges heavy topics while embracing the beauty that can be found in dark times. Available on HBO Max Hannah’s Choice: “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” I really wanted to pick a horror movie for this list, but the more I thought about it, I realized that the movie I am the most scared of is “E.T.” I wouldn’t say that “E.T.” is necessarily a scary movie, but it is creepy and unsettling enough to make a great choice to watch around Halloween. The idea of an unidentified living creature hiding in my childhood stuffed animals is a fear I may never get over, but this classic movie introduced us to a young Drew Barrymore and the magic of Reese’s Pieces, so it’s probably a keeper. If you do have younger family members,...
by Hannah Cron | Oct 23, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
The 52nd Gospel Music Association Dove Awards returned to Lipscomb’s Allen Arena Tuesday night in celebration of a Christian music community that is “stronger together.” After a yearlong hiatus of the in-person ceremony due to COVID-19, the energy of the crowd made one thing clear — everyone was glad to be back. Nominee Kelly Nelon Clark spoke of the feeling of being together again in her red-carpet interview: “We’re so thrilled; I want to hug everybody!” Lipscomb University President Candice McQueen kicked off the show by offering a welcome to campus, which was followed by a stunning performance from We The Kingdom featuring some African musical inspirations. Hosts Natalie Grant and Jonathan McReynolds began their duties with a video skit about the pitfalls of zoom meetings before coming together on the stage to officially open the show. The first award of the evening for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year went to Koryn Hawthorne for her record “I Am.” Next up were performances from gospel legend CeCe Winans, Tasha Layton and popular new group CAIN. “A Week Away,” directed by Roman White, took home the award for Inspirational Film of the Year, followed by the award for Gospel Artist of the Year which was presented to CeCe Winans for the 24th Dove Award win of her long career. “I feel so encouraged,” Winans said backstage, “and it reminds us that the word of God is always relevant.” Co-host Jonathan McReynolds took to the stage with Mali for a performance of their songs “Best Thing” and “Jump Ship,” and later GMA sweetheart Lauren Daigle returned to the Dove Awards stage...
by Abigail Kopp | Oct 23, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
When Lipscomb hosted the 2021 Dove Awards this past Tuesday, excitement buzzed throughout campus. Students eagerly watched from the Bell Tower or the back steps of Swang just to get a glimpse at a possible celebrity. Even a few guests sat out and watched from afar before they got to see the Dove Awards for themselves a couple of hours later. A group of three, Jenny, Blake, and Hannah, came all the way from Alabama, visiting the Dove Awards for at least the fourth year now. Many students were excited at the thought to see celebrities as they gathered around Allen Arena to get a glimpse of the event coming up. Students came together to talk about their favorite songs, bands, and more, creating an exciting atmosphere around Allen Arena that started off the award show. Not only did the students have fun watching from outside, but a select few were able to participate in the event by serving wherever help was needed. Student-workers were a seemingly small group of people, but an immensely crucial part to the Dove Awards experience for the guests. One student worker, Mackenzie McConnell, was handing out brochures for the event in the halls of Allen Arena. She said she loved the ambiance of it all and was excited for the chance to see that celebrities were people, too. McConnell has been working for the Events Management Office since the beginning of the summer and said she even got to meet Michael W. Smith when she worked at a concert. Her favorite song by Michael W. Smith is his rendition of “Awesome God”. I...
by Camryn Given | Oct 20, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Before the 52nd annual Dove Awards began Tuesday night, performers and nominees arrived at Lipscomb’s own McQuiddy Gym. The artists arrived with their guests, wearing their best attire, as hundreds of students and other onlookers gathered to watch. After checking in, the artists were guided inside McQuiddy to the red carpet. Cameras flashed and questions were directed to artists such as LeCrae, Lauren Daigle and for KING & COUNTRY. Zach Williams brought along his two children, and Jenn Johnson, a lead singer of Bethel, made an appearance in a stunning green dress. Another fashion standouts were Pastor Mike Jr. in a satin teal suit. He is known for his music with hits such as “I Got It” and his passionate sermons. He talked about his emotions that came up from being back on a college campus. “I just feel like a college kid all over again,” Pastor Mike said. “I’m excited to be here.” His advice to Lipscomb students: “Take advantage of college and begin to grow your gift and become how God calls you to be.” In an interview with Ellie Holcomb and two other members from the recent Faithful project, it was referred to as “a memorable evening.” Holcomb shared her excitement for the 12-song collaboration album made to address how God speaks to women. A real surprise on the carpet was an appearance from Miss Tennessee, Tally Bevis. She wore a sparkling champagne-colored dress and the classic crown and sash for her title. “Celebrating 100 years of Miss America, 52 years of the Dove Awards — it’s a really exciting evening,” Bevis said. As many other...
