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lifestyles
review
Drakes single: the best start or rock bottom? By Cameron Ferguson Staff Writer Fresh off his recent Grammy win for Rap Album of the Year, Canadian musician Drake is already gearing up for his next project with the release of his latest single “Started From The Bottom”. While the new track might not live up to the Grammy standard Drake has now established for himself, it provides a stellar lead single for his upcoming third studio album Nothing Was The Same, which is expected to have a summer release. Originally scheduled to be released on Grammy night, plans were scrapped with the single being dropped earlier than expected. The audio was accompanied with a personal written statement from Drake explaining the background behind the song. “I feel sometimes that people don’t have enough information about my beginnings” the rapper posted on his official blog. “My family and my second family (consisting of the best friends anybody could ever have) all struggled and worked extremely hard to make all this happen.”
Despite the pre-analysis provided by Drake, the song itself is one of the least complex works the rapper has put forth. Consisting of two brief verses and one bridge (all in eight bar format) sandwiched between an overly repetitive chorus, the single may seem like a lazy effort from the MC. However, despite the song’s overall simplicity, “Started From The Bottom” maintains the classic catchiness that have come to be expected from Drake singles. The chant-like chorus, “Started from the bottom now we here, started from the bottom now my whole team here”, is bound to become stuck in one’s head and repeated constantly. The instrumental is courtesy of Mike Zombie, a producer affiliated with Drake’s October’s Very Own conglomerate. The track features an eerie and distorted piano loop for a backdrop which is accompanied by heavy percussion. Drake recites his lyrics in a laid-back melodic style that fans have grown accustomed to, adapting a certain drawl in his voice to blend with the haunting instrumentals. The song’s content includes
the Toronto native providing a loose autobiography of his rise to rap stardom. In typical Drake fashion, his story of struggle is much more dull than the average rap superstar. While his lyrics about wanting to move out of his mother’s house and keeping his uncle’s car out all night may seem like schoolyard bragging compared to more hardcore hip-hop content, it is these relatable topics that allow many fans to identify with Drake. After his last album Take Care resulted in a Grammy award and international success, the music world will be patiently waiting to hear how Nothing Was The Same measures up. While “Started From The Bottom” is not a total miss, Drake will need to release better material going forward if he wishes to stay at the top of the rap game.
Medaille Perspective February 25, 2013
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Pat McGuire Staff Writer Songza
“It gives pandora a run for its money.”
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Shannon Ruda Staff Writer MyMusic YouTube show “Better than comedy shows on TV.”
EVENT
Movie 43 rated as a hit and miss comedy. By Pat McGuire Staff writer
Ever heard the phrase “The sum of the parts is greater than the whole”? That phrase pretty much sums up the new comedy “Movie 43”. Featuring an all-star lineup, this movie is a series of comedic short films which represent the movie ideas a filmmaker (Dennis Quaid) is pitching to a studio executive (Greg Kinnear). These short films include a teenage girl having her period at her boyfriend’s house, causing a big production from the boyfriend’s family, the iBabe; an iPhone of sorts in the form of a naked woman, and a truth-or-dare game between Halle Berry and Stephen Merchant gone wacky. As the movie progresses, the executive eventually resorts to holding the filmmaker at gunpoint in attempt to be “wowed” by an idea. While these short films are a kick, they tend to blur the overall theme of the movie. The average movie has a plot. But, in this movie, with each scene having a completely different scenario from
the other, if there’s actually a plot, you have a hard time following it. Yes, there may be a plot involved in the scenes with the filmmaker and executive. But, when it breaks away to the short films, the plot seems unfinished and disorganized. Another downside to “Movie 43” is that it is, at times, sexist towards women. (Yes, this is coming from a dude.) For example, the iBabe scene is suggesting that women and their “parts” should be taken advantage of. Another sexist moment is during that fake tampon commercial in which the shark eats the girl who’s having her period. This may imply that women having their periods are hard to deal with. This is basically a movie that would be discussed heavily in my Gender and Communication class. What’s my final verdict? “Movie 43” is one of those movies that you just want to fast forward to the funny moments when watching it on DVD. This movie is hard to follow and the moments that aren’t so funny are really nothing special.
Alec D. Pinterpe Jr. Staff Writer Bandits games
“Cheap way to have as much fun as you do at a Sabres game... except they win.”
NoT So
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Josie Martin Staff Writer Cosmopolis movie
“The dialogue is really weird and cheesy.”
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“HE SAID SHE SAID”
“His qualities have made this decision very difficult. I personally want Lindy to know that he can consider me a friend always.” - Terry Pegula (Sabres owner)
Cherise Slazyk Staff Writer Buckwild
“I don’t know why people want to watch a show about people being stupid.”