Category Archives: Entertainment

Editorials/Student Voice, Music/Concerts

OPINION: My definitive Beyoncé album rankings

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By: Charlie St. Dennis

As the craze behind Beyoncé’s new release, ‘Cowboy Carter,’ finally dials down, I’ve found myself taking more time to listen to some of her other albums from earlier in her career. In 8 solo studio albums, she has accomplished an admirable feat of having such a versatile discography with no stand-out “duds.” Here is my definitive ranking of each of Beyoncé’s albums, and why:

8. ‘Dangerously in Love’ (2003)

Recorded entirely during the longest and final hiatus of her hit girl-group, Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé recorded this as her first solo album. Though there’s nothing particularly bad about this, it even gave us some hits like “Crazy in Love” and “Naughty Girl,” there’s nothing that particularly stands out about it either. It is home to some of Beyoncé’s weakest tracks, which I won’t hold against her, considering she was very new to her career. My favorites off this album are “Dangerously In Love 2” and “Crazy In Love (feat. Jay Z).”

7. ‘I Am… Sasha Fierce’ (2008)

Perhaps her most commercially successful album, with 9 chart topping singles, ‘I Am…’ is a classic. It also introduces us to Beyoncé’s alter-ego, Sasha Fierce. Fierce is said to only come out on stage, and shows Beyoncé’s more “aggressive and sensual” side. This is a good album, although I like Beyoncé’s more deep work, and we don’t see too much of that on this album (even though it is there, in some parts). While the hits on this album include “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” “Halo,” and “If I Were A Boy,” my personal favorite is “Diva.”

6. ‘BEYONCÉ’ (2013)

This is probably my most controversial ranking here. Many dedicated fans of Beyoncé would place this in what they’d call their “Holy Trinity” of her discography…but not this dedicated Beyoncé fan. While I do enjoy this album, I don’t think it particularly stands out. It does capture Beyoncé in her first state of vulnerability caught on recording! We see this vulnerability on tracks like “Heaven,” “Pretty Hurts,” and my personal favorite, “Blue (feat. Blue Ivy).” We also hear more upbeat tracks, which are good as well, including “Feeling Myself (feat. Nicki Minaj),” “***Flawless (feat. Nicki Minaj),” and “XO”. These are tracks that I generally enjoy, but they don’t do it for me *quite* like some of the upcoming albums.

5. ‘B’Day’ (2006)

I think ‘B’Day’ did a great job at showing us a little taste of all that Beyoncé was capable of. She was fresh out of Hollywood and the award show circuit due to her success as Deena Jones in the movie-musical ‘Dreamgirls’ and she was ready to release music of her own. She uses country and creole influences, and gives us a perfect blend of deep & danceable. My personal favorites from the album are “Listen (from Dreamgirls)” and “Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix).”

4. ‘4’ (2012)

‘4’ is a very interesting album because it is like a roller coaster but without all the bumps. It goes up and down and has its dance songs, motivational songs, and its sad, more depressing songs, but it’s all very intricate and well put together. It’s hard to pick a favorite song, considering I like them all very much. I’d say one of my favorite songs of all time is “I Care,” so that’s definitely my favorite off the album. I also love “Party (feat. Andre 3000),” which delightfully serves as a celebratory song for any and every occasion.

3. ‘Renaissance’ (2022)

‘Renaissance’ is like nothing else I’d heard before. It is distinct and clear in its intent to educate and to bring up the events of the past. We hear features from previously little known black queer icons such as Big Freedia, Kevin Aviance, Kevin JZ Prodigy, among many others. Not only is it educational and intentional, it’s also just really good music. You get a little neo-soul out of “Plastic Off The Sofa,” you get some classic house from “Break My Soul” and “Pure/Honey,” and of course you get some disco from songs like “Cuff It” and “Summer Renaissance.” I find the album to be quite versatile and cohesive, and that really works well for it. My favorites on the album are “Church Girl” and “Pure/Honey.”

2. ‘Cowboy Carter’ (2024)

If you’ve been reading my pieces in the Plaid Line for awhile now, you now that I really enjoyed ‘Cowboy Carter’. That still remains true! The album is a lovely way of stepping into territory that was new to Beyoncé, but also something she has dipped her toes in before. Songs from ‘Lemonade’ and ‘B’Day’ have foreshadowed Beyoncé’s country feature. Anyways, I really loved this album, and it very quickly moved its way up the ladder in terms of my favorite Beyoncé albums.

My favorites at press time, because they always change, are “Tyrant,” “Sweet * Honey * Buckin’,” and “Daughter.”

1. ‘Lemonade’ (2016)

And lastly, but definitely not least, we have ‘Lemonade’. As you may know, I also really enjoyed ‘Lemonade’. It might just be the perfect album. It tells a story that can be listened to as one, or in individual parts, however you choose. It ranges from sad R&B, to a more upbeat equivalent, and has heavy Caribbean, Creole, and Houstonian influences. I implore you to read my prior review for my depth, but take my word for it when I say I truly love this album. My favorites are “Hold Up,” “All Night,” and “Freedom (feat. Kendrick Lamar).”

This was incredibly hard to write because I love all of these albums so so much, but here was my best shot. So, with that, there is Beyoncé’s studio solo discography. I hope you enjoyed this review, and let me know what you think of Beyoncé’s discography!

Editorials/Student Voice, Tech/Games

Body image and the media

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By: Brogan Frey and Abisola Dosunmu

Image created with Wonder

If you’ve been on social media in the last decade, you’d recognize the constant push and pull for our brains attention, interest, and money. For some, it’s blatant, with the ads pulled from what you’ve liked or previously engaged with, on what you’ve shared or reposted. For others, it’s more subtle, with notifications to get the rush of dopamine into our brains, and the constant and never ending stream of content that keeps us on our phones scrolling (and makes what we’re scrolling through more personalized). It’s all led to an almost dystopian reality, a social epidemic of “perfect” faces and bodies beaming up at us through our screens.

The media is constantly impacting our daily lives. Our society greatly relies on the media to get all or most of our information, and that includes teenagers. According to a 2023 survey, 29% of teens get news from social media everyday, with another 23% getting news from YouTube. And while this is understandable, after all, using social media can help relieve the hardships of navigating through several websites and articles to find one source, this can also be quite harmful. The risks of social media are great. While on social media, people can be exposed to harmful or inappropriate content, dangerous people, they can be cyberbullied, they are at risk for identity theft, and that’s just naming a few. But the largest one that affects so many young people, is the interference with sleep, exercise, homework, or family activities.

If you asked a group of teenagers what the ideal body looked like, could you guess what they’d say? The majority of teenagers that we have asked described a very specific body type for men and women. For women, they said that the ideal body type is extremely thin, much like fashion models. For men, they said that the ideal body is tall and slender, but also muscular and toned. These body types are quite hard to acquire, but many will spend their whole lives trying.

When we look at images in magazines, on tv, or on social media, what we’re seeing isn’t real—it’s all edited and airbrushed to look perfect. These “perfect” bodies set up unrealistic expectations for how both men and women should look. As a result, many people end up spending a fortune on products trying to match these impossible standards. Some go to extremes and develop eating disorders or become ill in their pursuit to resemble the models and influencers they see online.

All of this quickly culminates into self esteem issues, anxiety about your appearance, and eventually body dysmorphic disorder, a condition defined by anxiety about how you look and the things you feel are “wrong” with your body.

Now, this frenzy about one’s appearance isn’t only limited to children and young adults. Anyone can experience this, though it may be more acute in anyone under the age of twenty-one due to the time period adolescents spend on social media affecting their still developing brains.

So, how do we stop this? There are countless resources available online and in schools, aiming to help people who idealize these bodies develop a realistic idea of what bodies are really supposed to look like. There are also several self help options that may not completely eradicate the self esteem issues at once, but will definitely help with time.

  1. Take brain breaks – knowing when to take time off of social media is vital to improving your self esteem. Implement that by limiting and scheduling your screen time, and recognizing when to drop the phone.
  2. Find what you like about yourself – find things that don’t necessarily include your looks, (like your personality) and capitalize on them. Focus on what you like about yourself, not what you don’t.
  3. Appreciate what your body can do – things like laughing, dancing, and making yourself and other people happy are things our bodies do everyday that don’t involve feeling conventionally attractive. Instead of looking at what you feel your body can’t do and feeling insecure, research what your body does everyday to keep you alive.

Below are some resources you can use if you need someone to talk to. A counselor is always available in the counselor’s office, in room 1303. If you need more support, here are a few therapists and counselors in the Twin Cities who specialize in body image:

Norris Vorasane – provides therapy to a diverse range of adult clients, including, but not limited to, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, military, students, and immigrants.

Dr. Alina Aloma – she is a bilingual Latina psychologist specializing in multicultural, gender, and LGBTQ affirming care.

Anna Stern – she is more interested in who you are than helping you be normal. Antiracist, affirming, social justice oriented and accountable.

For more information, please visit:

Music/Concerts, Tech/Games

JOYSTiCK empirical non-review – Ranking every ‘Minecraft’ Music Disc

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By: Daniel Kendle

In the game ‘Minecraft,’ a rare set of items are the 19 Music Discs. These discs can be found in a few ways, such as monster drops and loot in structures. They can be played in a block known as the Jukebox, causing a song to play. These songs are by various composers, including the artists Daniel Rosenfeld (commonly known as C418), Lena Raine, Samuel Aberg and Aaron Cherof.

However, just because they’re rare doesn’t make every disc “good.” That’s natural, and there’s definitely some that are better than others, and some that are worse. So, here’s a ranking of every ‘Minecraft’ Music Disc, listed from worst to best.

Discs will have 1 category they’ll be reviewed in: how good the actual song is. I was originally going to also judge them on how the disc looks and how hard it was to obtain, but I removed them as categories due to being too biased for my article. However, if I have anything to note about their looks or rarity, I’ll mention it in their section.

Finally, I should also mention that I have a very loose grasp on music theory, so lots of jargon and terms used in the medium will be absent here. Maybe that makes me unqualified to make this report, but what I do have is a very strong grasp on ‘Minecraft,’ as well as knowing what I like and what I…don’t but with that out of the way, let’s begin.

…..

No. 19 – “Stal” 3/10

“Stal” is easily the worst out of the lineup, and it’s clear to see why. The main instrument of the track, a recorder, is played without much of a melody or tempo, just screeching throughout. The song definitely feels like it was going for an ironic appeal, but just sounds cruel to the ears and never truly becomes what it sets out to be. As a 1-time listen it’s alright, but anymore and it becomes a dread to finish.

No. 18 – “Thirteen” 4.5/10

This is the first of 3 “story discs,” as I’ve come to call them. The trio don’t focus on traditional music, but instead audio that is used to tell an ambiguous story. There are fewer melodies and rhythms throughout the 3, instead there are sound effects that emphasize a horror aesthetic. These are cool, but due to the fact that they’re not so much “music” as audio horror, it’s hard to rank them higher than other songs here.

“Thirteen” is my least favorite of the trio, however. While I can appreciate the composer going for something different compared to his other discs, this never has much of a scary vibe for me. The other 2 at least have collective moments of both intensity and quiet somberness, but here it’s just a flat tone throughout. Strange siren-like noises are heard, but other than that and a couple other types of sounds, it’s very uninteresting and pretty boring.

No. 17 – “Chirp” 5/10

Now that the obvious worst 2 are gone, we can finally get to the harder discs to place. “Chirp” isn’t bad by any means, but compared to the rest of its family, it never reaches the highs that others hit. Interestingly, the main instrument at hand here is the Octigan, a piano-like keyboard from the ‘70’s that sounds unique, to say the least. I do like its usage though, but it nonetheless doesn’t save this track from being pretty forgettable.

No. 16 – “Precipice” 5/10

One of the newest of the bunch, “Precipice” is a disc that I’ve flip-flopped on since its introduction a couple weeks ago, as of writing this. My main issue with it stems from its overbearing melody; the entire track, from start to finish, consists of blaring synths that make the song very… boring? Repetitive? Either way, it’s definitely my least favorite of this new wave of music discs that’s been happening since 2020.

No. 15 – “Eleven” 5/10

The second story disc on this list. While iconic within the community and certainly a spooky listen, it has even less elements of standard instruments and notes. Instead, we have heavy breathing, matches clicking, and – my favorite – the sound of an unknown beast at the very end. It’s interesting, but again, not being a traditional song hurts its rankings here.

No. 14 – “5” 5.5/10

The final story disc! Not a lot to say here that I haven’t in the past 2, but I like the sound effects in this the most; they definitely build from the previous 2 discs in neat ways, but alas, this is the highest on the list that I can put it.

Also, this is the only disc that can be crafted, which is cool. That also helps it a bit due to being more unique. You craft it with 9 Music Disc Fragments, found in Ancient Cities underground, which are one of my favorite structures in the game.

No. 13 – “Mall” 6/10

This is the most relaxing of the discs, and I can see why. It veers into the LoFi area of song: a relaxing, quaint melody supplemented by synths and beats. In “Mall” it can be a bit forced and repetitive, but it’s all-around a good listen. Not one I’ll listen to over and over, but once and twice every blue moon; it’s solid.

No. 12 – “Mellohi” 6.5/10

“Mellohi” is an interesting one. Using a vibraphone, trombone, and accordion (among other instruments), it’s definitely one of the most unique discs here. It has what some call a “swing” vibe, to my knowledge named after the dance, but what do I know? Anyways, I like it, but it’s a bit out of place next to the rest of the discs, even the newer ones. Like, it doesn’t flow well if you listen to them all one after another. Nonetheless a solid disc.

No. 11 – “otherside” 7/10

This is the most controversial pick in this article, by a landslide. This was one of the first “new music discs” that have been coming since 2020, as I said before. A lot of people seem to like this one more than I do, and usually call it among the best discs. For me, I’m not so sure; it’s definitely good, but is a bit too slow for me, and I just find it to be repetitive, much like “Precipice.” Again, it’s a nice song though. I really like how it’s much more cheerful than other songs before, and has an optimistic vibe throughout that I enjoy.

No. 10 – “Blocks” 7.5/10

Pretty simple and laid-back, “Blocks” is the antithesis of older discs: a retro-esque track that uses some wacko instrument to give it a unique flavor compared to others of its kind. With that out of the way, I think this song in particular could’ve improved with some more dramatic elements, since the final product almost feels a bit too retro without much substance. Then again, maybe its simplicity is what’s fun about it, I don’t know. The bottom line is: this is really fun, and cool, and I like it!

No. 9 – “Cat” 7.5/10

“Cat” is a great track. One of the earliest, it’s another very happy and bubbly song that makes you feel as if you’re just discovering the ins and outs of ‘Minecraft,’ like you’ve built some stuff, looked around, and now you’re finally getting to exploring this vast world. Granted, another song later on in this article does this “vastness” idea much better, but for now this is really great. Bordering on an 8, but I do wish it had some louder instrumentals in the beginning, and throughout the song, to be honest.

No. 8 – “Wait” 8/10

Another short review. “Wait” is a quiet little disc, but is great for background melodies if you’re busy doing something else in-game and want to put a disc on. It’s not rocket science, but a lovely song overall.

No. 7 – “Creator (Music Box Version)” 8/10

Basically a shortened, simpler version of “Creator,” this disc is one of the few that’s a riff on another. It’s cool, and while maybe a bit high for a song who’s only real instrument is an actual music box, I think it’s very fun, and a bit creepy, which is perfect. It and its brother disc have such unique and different vibes when put against other discs, which gives them both high marks.

No. 6 – “Strad” 8.5/10

This was the most surprising disc on this list, partially because I get it mixed up with “Stal” all the time (which isn’t a good thing). Despite that minor setback, “Strad” is so cool and funky, and arguably uses the most synths out of any song on this list, which is really cool! Not ground-breaking or the best thing ever, but a sick track that I CAN listen to over and over.

No. 5 – “Ward” 8.5/10

When I say that “Ward’s” best moments are its first 3 seconds, that may seem like an insult. Well, it’s not. Those first moments begin with a haunting organ, followed by an eerie, yet much more suave and cool-headed song that’s also distinct from others. These top 5 discs all do something very different when looked at as a standard music disc in ‘Minecraft,’ and for “Ward,” it’s balancing both the grotesque and the funky. While I do wish it kept to the organ and creepy vibe, it’s still a great song.

No. 4 – “Pigstep” 9/10

“Pigstep” is easily the most popular of the newer music discs. Obviously a parody of dubstep music, it’s found in Bastions, one of the hardest structures in the game inside another dimension. It’s super great, and such an already-iconic track that it’s scary. It’s funky, it’s bold, and feels so unique. I really like it, as I imagine most others do. However, while it may appear at the top of almost all Music Disc rankings, it’s got a couple of nitpicks that bring it down slightly for me.

No. 3 – “Creator” 9.5/10

This is another one of the newest discs, and is the “normal” version of its music box version. It’s really great to see multiple variants of 1 song make it into the game, since the only times this has happened in the past are small parts of some songs referencing others. Granted, this is easily the best variant of the original disc. Pretty much everything from the music box applies here, except for that this one introduces electric guitar into the fray and it sounds really neat. What a lovely song!

No. 2 + 1 (Tie) – “Far” and “Relic” 10/10

I’m grouping the best 2 songs together because they’re the only 10/10’s on this list, and are each amazing. #2 is “Far,” the oldest of the pair. This one is similar to other relaxing songs here, but compared to those this feels much more somber, yet still holds a lot of optimism. Once again it’s primarily a song that emphasizes the vastness of this virtual world, but is just so good at it that it makes second place in the ranking.

Meanwhile, “Relic” is my personal favorite music disc in the entire game, with no discernible reason why. It’s just so good that it makes the top. It has some cool synthesizers throughout that makes it purposefully old-sounding. These make it different from all the rest, and lead it to being my favorite Music Disc in ‘Minecraft.’

Tech/Games

The potentially large upcoming horror game (Zoochosis)

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By: Julia Yang

Warning: The game discussed will contain hyper-realistic mutant animals, distorted bodies, unsettling sounds, blood, and possibly death. This is a physiological horror game with horror elements.

‘Zoochosis’ is a game that is being published and developed by Clapperheads. Clapperheads is a less known game development company but is recognized for their most popular game ‘Sparky Marky’. Zoochosis’ official announcement was on January 13th and is said to be released in Q2 2024.

The idea of ‘Zoochosis’ is that you’re a zookeeper doing your nightly shift of creating a vaccine to cure mutated animals. From what it looks like, throughout the game you’ll have to notice small shifts or differences within all animals to be able to tell who’s mutated or not.

Based on the game trailer, animals will try to fool you by acting as their average selves, the reason why is unknown as of now.

People who have watched the trailer, or maybe seen stuff about the game floating around on the internet, are really looking forward to ‘Zoochosis’. People like the idea, design, premise, and overall vibe of the game.

Something people seem to have a few worries about is the delivery. The game itself and the idea is awesome, but delivering this game and story well could be challenging. There are many games like ‘Zoochosis’ that have an incredible trailer and outlook, but when released, are total a letdown. A possible example of this could be Scott Cawthons ‘FNAF: Security Breach’. It looked great and everyone looked forward to it, but when it was released, many people had complaints and issues about the characters, story, and overall gameplay.

I hope ‘Zoochosis’ doesn’t go down the same path as some other games and it actually lives up to it’s fame.

Warning: this game will contain hyper-realistic mutant animals, distorted bodies, unsettling sounds, blood, and possibly death. This is a physiological horror game with horror elements.

Once it gets released, it’ll be on PC via ‘Steam’.
Official trailers listed below.

Announcement trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx76uvIDU3s

Exclusive gameplay teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5XutwxCIYY

Music/Concerts

Laufey’s ‘Bewitched’ album review

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By: Fletcher Pike

The official album cover

Laufey (pronounced LAY-vay) is a popular Icelandic-Chinese singer and songwriter that is known for her music inspired by a lot of old jazz musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald and her soft vocals. Laufey’s growing popularity led to the release of her award-winning album ‘Bewitched’ on September 8th, 2023. This album features beautiful string instruments and classic jazz beats accompanied by stunning vocals by Laufey. This album includes 14 songs in total with a length of 43 minutes.

Track 1: Dreamer

The first song on this album starts off with a beautiful overlapped vocal segment that progresses into an amazing traditional jazz beat with a soft piano accompaniment and brushed drums. I thought that this was a really nice opening to an album and I would rate this song a 10/10.

Track 2: Second Best

“Second Best” starts off with a faint guitar sound with a classic jazz drum beat along with some string instruments and beautiful backup singer lines that really add flow to the song. I liked this song and I would rate it a 9/10.

Track 3: Haunted

“Haunted” is one of my favorite songs on this album, which starts with a somewhat eerie solo violin which becomes a really nice beat with gentle guitar strums. I found the melody and rhythm to be beautifully haunting, and fit the name of the song perfectly. I think that this song deserves a 10/10.

Track 4: Must Be Love

“Must Be Love” begins with a nice guitar sound that continues throughout the song. I really liked Laufey’s vocals in this song and found the echoey backup vocals to be a nice addition to the song. I liked this song and I think it is a 9/10.

Track 5: While You Were Sleeping

“While You Were Sleeping” in my opinion lacks some of the jazz elements, with more of a guitar strummed beat and classic drums. This doesn’t mean it’s not a great song. I really liked this song and found it to be quite nice to listen to. I think this song deserves a 9.5/10.

Track 6: Lovesick

“Lovesick” features a guitar strummed beat and drums which I really liked. Short orchestral segments are added underneath the beat which I think added depth to the song. I loved this song a lot and I would rate it a 10/10.

Track 7: California and Me (feat. Philharmonia Orchestra)

“California and Me’”starts off with a scaling piano and a nice melody. The Philharmonia Orchestra is featured on this song including nice woodwind sounds and beautiful string instruments. I really liked Laufey’s vocals in this song and I think this song is a 9.5/10

Track 8: Nocturne (Interlude)

“Nocturne” is a 2-minute long interlude composed of only piano, which I actually found to be very nice to listen to. I think this interlude is an 8/10.

Track 9: Promise

This song is a bit calmer than some of the other songs on this album, with a soft piano and beautiful vocals. During the song, a brushed drum beat is added over the piano and vocals. I really liked that the volume dynamics shifted throughout the song. I thought that this song was really nice to listen to and I would rate it a 10/10.

Track 10: From The Start

“From The Start” is one of Laufey’s most popular songs overall, featuring an interesting mix of bossa nova and jazz with a really nice melody and vibe. Laufey essentially describes this song as the feeling of awkwardness that we feel when we are near someone that we secretly like, which I can definitely see through the lyrics. I really loved this song and I rate it a 10/10.

Track 11: Misty

“Misty” really reminded me of the vintage jazz theme of this album, with a beautiful piano and brushed drums. I thought that this song was very beautiful and I would rate it a 9/10.

Track 12: Serendipity

“Serendipity” is a primarily piano and vocal composed piece, with a softer and more somber vibe to it. I loved the melody and how the notes flowed. I think this was a really nice song and I would rate it a 10/10.

Track 13: Letter To My 13 Year Old Self

The song “Letter To My 13 Year Old Self” has a bit more of a somber vibe compared to some of the more upbeat songs on this album. In this song, Laufey sings a slow melody, with lyrics referring to how she would have reassured her 13 year old self with words of wisdom as she struggled to fit in with others and stood out from her peers. This song also includes themes of hope and self-improvement. I thought that this song was very nice and I rate it a 9.5/10.

Track 14: Bewitched

The final song on this album is a wonderful arrangement of magical string instruments, and stunning vocals by Laufey. I thought that this song was enchanting with how the string instruments were incorporated into the song. I think this was a nice finish to an album and that this song deserves a 10/10.

Overall, this was an amazing album that really captivated the theme of old jazz with a few modern twists. I loved Laufey’s incredible vocal range and the instruments that were incorporated into these songs. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that is a fan of jazz music or musicians like Beabadoobee, Mitski, or Faye Webster. I decided to rate this album a 10/10 because I thought it was very beautiful and I love Laufey’s vocals.

Clubs and Activities, Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Love/Sick’: Highland Theatre’s spring play

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By: Erin Moore

The final Highland Theatre production of the 2023-24 school year opens Friday, May 10, at 7PM. The spring play is called ‘Love/Sick’ and is written by John Cariani, the author of last year’s spring play, ‘Almost, Maine.’

Dramatists Play Service says the following about the show: “A darker cousin to ‘Almost, Maine,’ John Cariani’s ‘Love/Sick’ is a collection of ten slightly twisted and completely hilarious short plays. Set on a Friday night in an alternate suburban reality, this ninety-minute romp explores the pain and the joy that comes with being in love. Full of imperfect lovers and dreamers, ‘Love/Sick’ is an unromantic comedy for the romantic in everyone.”

Rehearsals for ‘Love/Sick’ began Wednesday, April 24th. This means that this show has been put together in the span of two and a half weeks. Everyone involved: sound, lights, running crew, stage managers, the staff, set crew, and actors have worked tirelessly to turn this into a show that’s ready for an audience.

‘Love/Sick’ performances are in the auditorium at 7PM May 10th and 2PM and 7PM May 11th. Tickets can be purchased at the door in cash, card, or check. The prices are $5 for students and seniors, $10 for adults.

This is the final performance for the senior members of the cast and crew. That is why it’s extremely important to attend the show if you are able and support the theatre and these soon-to-be graduates, Lashia Lee, Aaron Armstrong, Sophia Paske, Samantha Tweh, Elodie Cummins, Alex Roepke, Isabel Stockwell, Dmitriy Mangal, August Kruszka, Evadne Pond, Claudia Hanson, Sally Norby, and Brooke Sinykin.

As this is the final production of the year, your next opportunity to get involved, aside from attending the show, isn’t until September. In the meantime, feel free to ask those already involved if you have any questions and check out the @hptheatrearts Instagram page.

PRIZM, Student Creative Writing, Tech/Games

JOYSTiCK Empirical Ep. 11: ‘Cocomelon: Play with JJ’ – Machiavellian Science Theatre 3000

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By: Daniel Kendle

Babies are nice. Babies are cute. Everyone likes babies (except for those who don’t). Some babies, however, are different. Some scream, cry, wail to get attention. Some can’t do simple mathematics, read, or assert their viewpoint on a topic through civil debate. Thus, babies aren’t all that exciting to me, as a person who fancies such activities. I don’t care for the infants, nor do they for me, if I may ponder.

Granted, I’ve noticed something in our most recent generation of children. They seem to linger towards a heinous cryptid, an entity that feeds on their short minds – feeding them sludge in return. Yes, it’s time we talk about the dreaded horseman that has taken control of our youth.

Everyone, welcome back to JOYSTiCK, a serial that (usually) reviews any video game our grubby mits come across. Today’s mini-review is about the white whale of my time here writing articles: ‘Cocomelon.’

‘Cocomelon’ is a multimedia enterprise that came about in the 2000’s. The brand focuses on preschool nursery rhymes available on YouTube and other media sites, and is one of the most successful children’s entertainment companies in the world. It’s been estimated that the organization is worth around $500 million.

Now, I should note that I’m not exactly the target audience for these videos, let alone the game I’ll be reviewing today. I can’t say I’ll be getting a new fix on life from “Who Took the Cookie? Puppy Song!” or “Tortoise and the Hare Race” anytime soon. I mean, I have so many other things to do, like betting on horse races! When watching the latter example, I can’t have even half the fun because I can’t feverishly lose money [under ethical circumstances]. What’s a guy to do?

Well, for an adequate amount of fun, (and return on investment), you can play the all-new game in the franchise: ‘Cocomelon: Play with JJ.’ Released fairly-recently, the games are pretty basic: you play as JJ, the main character toddler in the ‘Cocomelon’ universe, as he explores various parts of his house and plays minigames. There’s also a collection mechanic, since you can get stickers after completing these games and/or exploring the house.

As a mini-review, I don’t have too much to say on the game. For a mobile game it’s pretty competent, actually. Because of the limited environments the designers had to create, each feels slathered in detail, and “hardcore fans” might be able to recognize certain elements in the rooms, but I couldn’t. All I can say is that the game is alright on the visual front.

In terms of gameplay…it’s fine? Like, when you’re 16 and playing a game designed for toddlers, things can’t be the most “invigorating.” You control the main character, dragging them around box-shaped places looking for stuff to do. Sometimes you can click on something to have it do a little animation, but these usually just act as a little distraction, probably for little kids to click on and lose their minds over. You can also find various members of JJ’s family, who also perform an action.

The nursery rhymes were pretty boring. Basically just think of a bog-standard kid’s song, slap a small little game onto it and repeat that a dozen times. For example, the “Yes Yes Vegetables” song has you feeding JJ. The “Itsy-Bitsy Spider” song lets you control a spider navigating a bathtub. Very simple stuff; you also get a sticker at the end of each.

In conclusion, ‘Cocomelon: Play with JJ’ is so small of a game it has basically nothing of note to discuss. Even if it was an ironic pick to review, the game’s still pretty lame. It could’ve used some combat or grotesque themes, because as it stands it’s a lame kids game. I give it a 4/10, which is probably more than it deserves.

COCOMELON DEMON: Are you sure about that?

THE REVIEWEE: Wha-? Who are you?!

COCOMELON DEMON: I am the very being that lives in your soul.

THE REVIEWEE: …

COCOMELON DEMON: I’ve been the one watching you since you were born.

THE REVIEWEE: But…I’ve never seen you before in my life.

COCOMELON DEMON: That’s the point.

THE REVIEWEE: But-!

COCOMELON DEMON: Shh…(strokes finger over The Reviewee’s cheek)

THE REVIEWEE: …

COCOMELON DEMON: (softly) Don’t let the voices hear you.

THE REVIEWEE: …

COCOMELON DEMON: Come. I have much to discuss with you (opens portal to Cocomelon dimension).

THE REVIEWEE: …okay.

(The pair disappear to the Cocomelon dimension).

JJ: Hey gang, it’s me: JJ! Now that the regular person writing for this serial is gone, I’ve finally got a body to control to voice the gospel of Eldresassigul, Flesh-Bringer of the Peasentfolk. My first objective is to proclaim ‘Cocomelon: Play with JJ’ as a 10/10 game. With such stunning graphics, tight gameplay, and witty dialogue, it’s clear that the game is set up to be the most influential of this decade, and I’m shocked by how underrated it is. After all, I’m the star!

Anyways, those who oppose the label will be sent down to the mines of the underworld to be sacrificed to cryptids of decay and famine handed off to our support team to receive a small talk about their “misdirection in life.” Until then, I’ll leave until my next review: ‘Cocomelon: Shadows Die Twice.’ See you then!

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Shirley’ movie review

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By: Fletcher Pike

‘Shirley’ is a movie that was recently released on March 15th, 2024. This film shows the story of congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (Regina King), and her effort to become the first female president of the United States.

Shirley Chisholm was a real American politician who was the first ever African American woman to be elected to the United States Congress in 1968. Shirley was born in 1924, a time period where people of color faced harsh discrimination and received little opportunities for jobs or places of power. But this didn’t stop Shirley from becoming the first African American female candidate to run for president of the United States.

This movie showed Chisholm’s accomplishments and determination to win the votes of the people to become president. She ran a strong campaign to convince the people that they should vote for her. She recruited a team of people that would help her spread the word around in order to gain more votes, some of which included Robert Gottlieb (Lucas Hedges), Arthur Hardwick Jr. (Terrence Howard), Stanley Townsend (Brian Stokes Mitchell) and Barbara Lee (Christina Jackson).

Due to this unfortunate time period for people of color, Chisholm faced several setbacks that threatened her place of power and her campaign to gain votes. Many people thought that she would not be eligible enough to even be a congresswoman. Even stated by her own fellow congressman, “Why [does] she makes the same money as the rest of us”, in which Shirley quickly defended herself and stood up to him.

I thought that this movie was amazing at incorporating the story of Shirley Chisholm and I found it interesting to watch Shirley’s campaign progress throughout the film. I liked the soundtrack that was used and thought that it did a good job of showing the years of the 60’s.

Overall, I thought that this movie was really good and I would recommend it to anyone that is interested in learning more about Shirley Chisholm’s story and how she led a strong campaign in an attempt to become the first African American female president of the United States. I think that this movie deserves a 10/10. You can watch ‘Shirley’ on Netflix.

For more info on Shirley Chisholm’s story, please visit:

Music/Concerts

‘The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology’

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By: Sophia Elmstrom

‘The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology’ is Taylor Swift’s 11th studio album. Taylor had been working on this album for two years before her announcement at the 2024 Grammys. Many fans had been speculating that at the Grammys Taylor would announce her re-recording of ‘Reputation’. The album was originally called ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ but then at 2 A.M. the night that the album was released Taylor surprised everyone and released a double album called ‘The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology’.

On the combined albums there are 31 songs in total and the whole album is a little over 2 hours long. Many of the songs on this album are about the recent breakup of Taylor and her ex boyfriend of over 6 years.

  1. Fortnight (ft Post Malone)
  2. The Tortured Poets Department
  3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
  4. Down Bad
  5. So Long, London
  6. But Daddy I Love Him
  7. Fresh Out the Slammer
  8. Florida!!!
  9. Guilty as Sin?
  10. Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me
  11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)
  12. loml
  13. I Can Do It With a Broken Heart
  14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
  15. The Alchemy
  16. Clara Bow

These 17 songs are all of the songs that are on the original album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’. Overall, these songs are very clever and the lyrics are catchy and well written. This album definitely stood up to the expectations of the fans but many people who are not fans do not think this album is very good. Lots of listeners said that the album had basic lyrics that did not mean anything. Although that could be true to many I believe that the lyrics did have lots of meanings and in order to understand it you would kind of need to know a lot about Taylor’s life.

My favorite songs on this part of the album are “Down Bad” and “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart”. Both of these songs are about the heartbreak that Taylor went through last year. I really like these songs because the lyrics are very sad while the music is very upbeat and happy.

I give this part of the album a 9/10 because a few of the songs sound a lot alike but I really liked them all.

  1. The Black Dog
  2. imgonnagetyouback
  3. The Albatross
  4. Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus
  5. How Did It End?
  6. So High School
  7. I Hate It Here
  8. thanK you aImee
  9. I Look in Peoples Windows
  10. The Prophecy
  11. Cassandra
  12. Peter
  13. The Bolter
  14. Robin
  15. The Manuscript

This second album is very good but I do not think I have listened to it enough to fully give it a rating. My favorite songs so far include “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus” because the lyrics are very good and catchy. I also think the same for “So High School” which is a song about her new relationship with Travis Kelce.

Another song that is very clever is “thanK you aIMee” which is a song about Kim Kardashian. Its a song about how all of the rude things that Kim said led to where Taylor is today.

I will give this album a 7/10 so far because I have not listened to it enough yet. I think the first album is better because I like the beats of the songs and lyrics.

Travel/Food

Top 3 dishes to try in Minnesota

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By: Hyde Moua

Image created with imagine.art

One of the best dishes to try in Minnesota is the “Jucy Lucy”, which is a burger with melted cheese in the patty. Matt’s Bar & Grill was just a neighborhood burger eatery in 1954, but shortly after they opened they created the famous “Jucy Lucy”. “Jucy Lucy ” got its name after a customer in 1954 said “Oooh, that’s one juicy lucy!” after taking a bite out of the burger. “Jucy Lucy” is typically made with two beef patties, spices, American cheese, and brioche buns. The “Jucy Lucy” can be bought for $9.75 at Matt’s Bar and Grill in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The second best dish to try in Minnesota is the “Tater Tot Hotdish”. One of many places to try the “Tater Tot Hotdish” is at a restaurant called Stray Dog for $16. A typical “Tater Tot Hotdish” would be made of ground beef, topped with tater tots and flavored with thick cream of mushroom soup sauce, or ground beef, green beans, tater tots, and melted cheese. This dish was invented during the Great Depression to create a more filling meal. The origins of the “Tater Tot Hotdish” is found in the Upper Midwest of Minnesota and the very first printed recipe of the Hotdish was found in a cookbook, This cookbook was distributed in 1930 and was spread throughout the community of Mankato, Minnesota.

The third best dish to try in Minnesota is “Walleye”. This fish is known for its mild, delicate flavor, flakey texture and is often in many traditional Minnesota dishes. One of many places to try “Walleye” is at Tavern On Grand. where many people recommend trying out the dish they serve. Tavern On Grand was opened in 1990 by a man named David Wildmo and they serve up to 2,000 pounds of walleye per week! Typically, you would eat “Walleye” with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, coleslaw, wild rice, herbs, and seasoning. All of these can enhance the experience without overpowering the flavor of the walleye itself.