by Hannah Cron | May 2, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Unless you have been off the internet for the past month, you have probably heard a lot about Fearless (Taylor’s Version), the first release of Taylor Swift’s re-recorded first six studio albums. If you are unfamiliar with the situation, in 2019, Taylor Swift’s original record label, Big Machine Records, sold her masters – original completed recordings used to make physical copies and digital files of music to be distributed – without her permission or knowledge. Essentially, this means that she has no control over what the original recordings of her songs are used for and will see only a small fraction of the profits from their sales. Due to the loss of her masters, Swift has planned to re-record each of her first six albums — 2006’s Taylor Swift, 2008’s Fearless, 2010’s Speak Now, 2012’s RED, 2014’s 1989 and 2017’s reputation. Fearless (Taylor’s Version) is the first of Swift’s re-recorded albums to be released. In addition to all 13 of the tracks included on the original record, the re-recorded album also includes six songs from the platinum version of Fearless, “Today Was A Fairytale” off the soundtrack to the 2010 film Valentine’s Day as well as six “From The Vault” songs written around the recording of Fearless that didn’t make it on to the original album. I don’t think it is a reach to assume that I’ll probably be doing quite a few of these “Taylor’s Version” album reviews in the foreseeable future, so I’m going to plan on giving out a few superlatives of sorts for each. For each, I will select a song that was a single...
by Camryn Given | Apr 28, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, BREAKING NEWS, News, News Slider
Tonight, during IMAGINE “The Soul of America Today”, President Lowry officially announced a new opportunity for those pursuing a future in the music industry. The lead singer of MercyMe, Bart Millard, has joined forces with Lipscomb’s George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts. This partnership will create the Imagine House. According to Lipscomb’s press release, “Imagine House is the only initiative of its kind in the country that offers students with varying artistic interests, an innovative education, real market entertainment experiences and a nation wide mentoring network.” Imagine House will serve as a teaching facility and place for students to get hands-on experience in their field. The branches of the program will include an opportunity for online degrees, a production studio with a house band, and ways to create contacts and relationships with experienced musicians. Some of Lipscomb’s own will contribute to the leadership team. Both Brown Bannister, the director of the School of Music, and Steve Taylor, the director of the School of Theatre and Cinematic Arts, will work closely with Imagine House. Millard reached out to Lipscomb with this idea and after much planning and energy, the initiative will launch this fall. Many members of the Lipscomb community are excited about the potential of this new program. “Imagine House is the place where you can dream about your future, ignite the wonder of your faith, apprentice under successful pioneers that have blazed a trail ahead of you and collaborate with other multifaceted artists to create what’s next,” said Mike Fernandez, dean of the College of Entertainment and the Arts. ...
by Lumination Staff | Apr 16, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Reporting provided by Camryn Given, Jayme Foltz and Hannah Cron Despite the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down most movie theaters, 2020 still brought us some amazing films. Three Lumination staff members, Camryn, Jayme and Hannah, share who they think will win Oscars at the 93rd Academy Awards. Actor in a leading role Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”) Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) Anthony Hopkins (“The Father”) Gary Oldman (“Mank”) Steven Yeun (“Minari”) Camryn’s choice: Steve Yeun The Walking Dead favorite really proved himself as an incredible actor as the ambitious and determined father in Minari. Yeun’s ability to immediately turn from a caring father to an enraged husband showed his depth and should earn him this award. Jayme’s Choice: Chadwick Boseman Chadwick Boseman has played many amazing roles in his career and I can’t help but think that this was one of his best. It was an exceedingly passionate and heart-wrenching performance as he gave life to Levee, a young troubled man looking to make a name for himself in the music industry. Hannah’s Choice: Chadwick Boseman Throughout his scenes, you could feel Boseman’s every emotion through the screen. He was a phenomenal talent and by all accounts, an even more phenomenal human being, and this award would be a fitting tribute to his life and legacy. Actor in a supporting role Sacha Baron Cohen (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”) Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) Leslie Odom Jr. (“One Night in Miami”) Paul Raci (“Sound of Metal”) Lakeith Stanfield (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) Camryn’s Choice: Daniel Kaluuya Since Kaluuya didn’t walk...
by Micah Kennedy | Apr 2, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Planted in Nashville’s honky-tonk district on Lower Broadway, the National Museum of African American Music offers tourists and Nashvillians the chance to easily visit the nation’s musical diversity. Located on Broadway, the museum is in the heart of Music City, right across from the Bridgestone Arena and just a couple of blocks from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Convention Center, where easy parking is available. The new museum is part of the “Fifth + Broadway” development, a business park that features a 31-story luxury high rise, restaurant options, clothing stores and event space. Of course, the main element is the long-awaited exploration of African American Music. When visitors enter the museum to begin their tour, they will first be guided into the Roots Theater. In the theater, an introductory film is shown guiding the visitors through the story of African American history and the musical traditions that were developed over time. Genres such as spirituals, blues, jazz, gospel, R&B and hip-hop are included. The film also emphasizes the different historical periods in America and how they shaped the music made by African Americans. After the presentation in the Roots Theater, visitors can enter into the Rivers of Rhythm Pathways. This central corridor features touch-panel interactives with headphones to listen to music through African American history. Along the walls, there are animated timelines projected and historic moments in African American music displayed as well. From the pathways, visitors can access any one of the five major genre galleries. Museum officials suggest visitors start with the “Wade in The Water” gospel gallery and end with “The...
by Abigail Davis | Mar 26, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
The “Soul of America” has been constructed by decisions, often by leaders learning from past mistakes and righting the course. That was the theme of the Human Docs film by that name shown during the Office of Intercultural Development’s “Welcome to the World Week.” In the documentary, historian John Meacham looks for patterns in history to identify society’s better accomplishments and worst instincts. Sometimes his examination found that when steps were made toward justice in one area, justice moved further from reach in another. The documentary concludes with three characteristics that Meacham said are imperative for good leadership, but equally as important for citizens: Curiosity, humility and empathy. “The country was built by people who were willing to learn from their mistakes,” he said, adding that former U.S. presidents provide many examples. As examples of such “learning,” he cited Lyndon Johnson’s picking up where Kennedy had failed and pushing aggressively to get the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made into law. Other presidents who learned and changed the course of history include Lincoln’s successful push for the Emancipation Proclamation, Nixon reversing course and engaging China and Ronald Reagan’s change in his regard for the Soviet Union, viewing them as colleagues on the world stage rather than enemies. “Human Docs is grounded in the conviction that faith means working for a more just world, and that people of faith are called to a critical awareness of their times,” said Lipscomb Political Sciences Professor Richard Goode, as a way of introducing the panel after the screening. Sophomore biochemistry major, Audrey Tsague and freshman acting major Shelby Smith were on the panel...
by Jayme Foltz | Mar 14, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Like the more recent Disney Princess films, Raya and the Last Dragon follows the story of a daring and adventurous heroine who embarks on a journey to save her world. Raya’s tale is one of empowerment as an independent young woman embraces change and modernity. The storyline is familiar in some ways, but what is unique to the film is the Southeast Asian representation. Kumandra, the film’s fantasy world, is heavily influenced by Southeast Asian culture, and in fact, Raya is Disney’s first princess from that region. Raya and the Last Dragon was directed by Disney veteran Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada and written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim. The film featured the talented voices of Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina as Raya and Sisu, respectively. In Kumandra, humans and dragons lived united in peace until shapeless monsters referred to as Druun began to ravage the land and turn everyone to stone. To save their world, the dragons sacrificed themselves and left only a remnant of their magic behind inside the Dragon Gem. 500 years later, a young girl named Raya (Tran) is tasked with protecting the gem, but a dramatic betrayal leaves the gem shattered and lost, allowing the Drunn to escape. A few years after the monsters have returned to her world, Raya with her hybrid pet Tuk Tuk, seek out the last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), to help her destroy the monsters yet again. She must travel to the other kingdoms to find the stolen pieces of the Dragon Gem. Along the way, the duo will assemble their own ragtag crew. After all, what better team is there...
