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2022 has been an extremely fruitful year in terms of entertainment. As the first post-pandemic year, artists unleashed their work with a passion that can only have been created by time in forced isolation and seclusion; concerts have started up again, the theater is open with so many new movies, and musical tickets are being sold like hot cakes. We have had many new and fascinating releases in the areas of music and film, and as we head on into a new year, I decided to reminisce for a moment longer on how the releases of 2022 influenced all of us. I therefore asked you, the students of AU, which releases from last year you still hold close to your heart as you journey through 2023.

SZA’s album “SOS”
“SOS” is SZA’s sophomore album, released in early December 2022. It has become very popular since its release, mainly due to the social media platform TikTok, with her songs being used in various trends.

Nailea Soto (sophomore, global studies) shares her love for SZA’s album, saying, “ First, I liked the tribute, because it is towards Princess Diana, and I thought that was really creative and cool.” She mentions that, although it is overplayed, being very popular on TikTok currently, “it also means that people tend to underestimate a lot of the other songs on the album. I think if people were to listen to more than just the overplayed songs that you would usually hear on TikTok, they would think that this is actually a really solid album.”

Michelle Imani Thomas (sophomore, biochemistry) also adds on to this, speaking about SZA’s depth in her new album, “she has a variety of songs, that kind of speak from the heart and creates songs that can be relatable to her audience. I think she takes the time to write her lyrics that are sometimes relatable to understand what she is trying to convey.” She also adds, “Since this album has a variety of upbeat and calm tunes, I feel like I'm able to listen to it when I am in a happy mood or in a low mellow mood as well. I feel like that's something that I feel like most artists can't do so when it comes to SZA's new album I was really surprised by how much of a variety she had with her theme of the music.”

Beabadobee’s album “Beatopia”
Similar to “SOS,” “Beatopia” is also Beabadobee’s sophomore album, who is known for her alt/indie music style. It features a beautiful variety of genres, ranging from indie rock to dream pop. In a review for PopMatters, Jay Honeycomb, a freelance music journalist, noted that the lyrics deal with the challenges of human intimacy.

Vivienne Lupu (sophomore, social work) shares her love for the dynamic of the album, saying, “I liked it because a lot of the songs were soft spoken, but out of nowhere, there were also rock-ish songs. I really liked the dynamic between them because somehow the topic remains the same even as she splits it between 2 genres.” When asked about her favorite song, she declared, “my favorite one would definitely be ‘See You Soon.’”

“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“All Quiet on the Western Front” is a German movie based on the book by the same name written by Erich Maria Remarque. It is the story of an idealistic German soldier named Paul Bäumer who is faced with the harsh reality of war as he embarks on a journey of understanding reality and loses friends along the way. It is directed by Edward Berger, and features Felix Kammerer, Daniel Brühl, and Albrecht Schuch.

Ethan Delacruz (sophomore, biochemistry) says, “I liked this movie since it showed lots of the cruel realities of war as well as the misconceptions of war [that it is for a just cause or that it is a noble and wonderful thing]. The film is from a perspective that we don’t usually see in media (WWI Germany). It also shows differences in mindset about war.”

Taylor Swift’s “Midnights”
“Midnights” is Taylor Swift’s tenth studio album, and it is a concept album about nocturnal ruminations, inspired by her sleepless nights. It explores anxiety, insecurity, self-criticism, self-awareness, insomnia, and self-confidence.

Madison Vath (sophomore, English) says, “Taylor Swift writes about different facets and aspects of her life and what she has been feeling and thinking about and you see that translate into her music. Out of all the songs on that album, “Dear Reader” probably calls me out the most. That one has definitely been on repeat.”

Ruta Sepetys’ “I Must Betray You”
“I Must Betray You” is a historical fiction novel set in communist Romania of 1989, describing seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu's world in the isolation of Ceaușescu's Romania.

Melissa Moore (sophomore, nutrition) talks about her passion for the novel, saying, “It really keeps your attention while you get to learn about history and keeps you on your toes because you never know which characters you can trust.” She also speaks out about the plot, “It is a historical fiction about a boy from communist Romania who is blackmailed into becoming an informer for the secret police, but uses his position to try and double cross the regime before joining the revolution.”

David Crowder’s song “Thanks Giver”
David Crowder is an American singer who specializes in contemporary Christian music. “Thanks Giver” was released in 2022 as a Christmas song as a part of his holiday album entitled “Milk & Cookies : A Merry Crowder Christmas.”
 
“It's a Christmas song that talks about how one of the most important things in life is not how much money you make or the status you hold but it's the people in your life,” says Brennan Jackson Katsuren (junior, mechanical engineering). “God puts people in our lives to help shape who we are and events that will guide us into the best versions of ourselves.”

John Mayer, Lizzy McAlpine, and Jacob Collier’s song “Never Gonna Be Alone”
John Mayer, Lizzy McAlpine, and Jacob Collier produced this song in fall of last year. Jacob Collier is recognized for his ambitious blend of genres, especially by taking a jazz approach to the harmony and structure, which was very well demonstrated in this song.

“I really like this song because I feel like it is different from other music both lyrically and musically. Honestly, it is truly a masterpiece, please give it a listen,” Natalia Poloche (freshman, biology) urges.

Kendrick Lamar’s song “Auntie Diaries”
“Auntie Diaries” is featured on Lamar’s fifth studio album, covering themes such as transphobia. You might remember the stir upon its release, as it contained slurs which seemed to engulf the song in a sense of controversy. You can find more details about it here.

“It’s got a really powerful message about acceptance that I just really love,” says Kaleb Reiner (junior, elementary education).

& Juliet Broadway Soundtrack
& Juliet is a jukebox musical (a musical that features hit songs of a popular music group or genre) produced at Broadway in 2022. It focuses on the “what-if” scenario of Juliet not dying at the end of her and Romeo’s love story.

Bianca Loss (sophomore, elementary education) talks about the musical, sharing that “it has a great twist on old music, like “Since You've Been Gone” and “It's My Life.” I love Shakespeare, so of course I'm excited to have more Shakespeare on Broadway. Also, the cast showcases people of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals, I really appreciate the diversity it brings to the stage.”

All of these creative albums, songs, movies, and novels have been a memorable part of 2022, and we will carry them and many more forward into 2023 and beyond. We hope that 2023 will be filled with as much relatable and inviting media and entertainment as 2022 has been. For now, we keep our eyes on upcoming releases such as the second season of “Shadow and Bone” featuring Ben Barnes and Jessie Mei Li, and a new album by Sam Smith “Gloria.”