CULTURE
February 18, 2015
Page 15
Brian Williams: No Longer America’s News Anchor By DELANEY BENISON STAFF WRITER
After years of watching newscaster Brian Williams, arguably the most popular evening news anchor in America, many have come to be shocked, angered and disappointed by a man they had come to respect and trust as a reporter. The “NBC Nightly News” anchor was initially reported as saying he was following a helicopter that went down in Iraq in 2003, only for the story to evolve and change over the next 12 years into a harrowing story of courage under fire. This is Brian Williams’ initial report from that day in 2003 recalling the events in the helicopter: “On the ground, we learned the Chinook ahead of us was almost blown out of the sky. That hole was made by a rocket propelled grenade or RPG, fired from the ground. It punched cleanly through the skin of the ship but amazingly it didn’t detonate.” Reasonable enough. The Chinook that Williams was in had to land because the one ahead of him was shot down. They landed for safety purposes. This, however, is the tale he decided to tell on the Letterman show in 2013: “Two of our four helicopters were hit by ground fire, including
the one I was in, by RPG and AK47.” This was followed by Letterman asking, “What happens the minute everyone realizes you’ve been hit?” Williams responds, “We figure out how to land safely, and we did. We landed very quickly and hard. And we put down and we were stuck four birds in the middle of the desert and we were north out ahead of the other Americans.” Williams almost sticks to his story, with the exception of being hit with RPG’s and AK-47’s. The question really is why did Williams do this? He is the most watched news anchor on television, averaging 9.3 million viewers a night. This being the case, it seems surprising that someone so popular would need to exaggerate not only a news report, but a war experience. Was it a play for stardom? Was he trying to outshine his predecessor Tom Brokaw? , was he fighting to stay relevant at the time and attract a bigger audience? These are all questions that a reporter thought to be one of the most trusted men in America will probably never answer. Once it came time for Williams to face the music, his apology was very singular to the report he’d done the previous week, trying to reach out to the veteran that helped him in 2003. While he did apologize to the men and women who serve and relayed his respect for them, he did
MARK DUNCAN/ AP
The controversy with Brian Williams has affected his career and public images, making it tough for him to regain trust.
not make it abundantly clear for what he was apologizing. During his apology, he did clarify the story about his helicopter and he said he made a mistake in recalling events of 12 years ago. This, however, seems to be an
Review | Theater
‘Beautiful’ Celebrates Renowned Talent By DELANEY BENISON
apology for misspeaking, rather than for increasing his lie over the past 12 years. As for as Williams’ future,
one thing has been determined. NBC has suspended him for six months without pay. Due to the recent findings, other reports by Williams are being investigated, including some of his coverage of Hurricane Katrina. All of this will only lead to more trust issues between Williams and his audience. So, what will this mean for Williams? Will it be a cooling off period during which watchers will forgive and forget? Or will this turn into a life sentence, leaving him off-air forever? It will be tough for Brian Williams to regain the trust of an audience after he reported a story about himself, knew the truth, but exploited a false story anyway. There was no way, in this day in age, a story like this could be buried. It is possible Williams will be looking at a very similar fate to Dan Rather, who reported a false story on President Bush in 2004, ultimately forcing him to step down from CBS as its evening news anchor. NBC is a business and, as such, I am sure they intend on putting someone at the desk that will drive up ratings, while instilling an honest and trusting relationship with its viewers. This is a task in which Williams is no longer equipped to handle.
Culture Shock | Claire Kim
Strong Vocals and Simple Tones
STAFF WRITER
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a celebration of talent that crossed decades and music that has stood the test of time. It is a story following the rise of Carol King’s musical career and the ups and downs of her life. The show opens with 16-yearold King, a Brooklyn native, bright eyed and dreaming of becoming a professional song writer. She attends college, where she meets Gerry Goffin, who will become not only her writing partner but her husband. The play follows the amazing story of Goffin and king’s balanced talent with music and lyrics. It shows the harsh reality of their marriage and how their art suffered at times as a result. The story reveals the power of the music business and the relationships that are built among like-minded artists looking for the next great sound. The show, of course, would be nothing without its music. Some of the most popular songs of the ‘60s were showcased, just to name a few: “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?,” “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” were written by Goffin and King and their close friends, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The songs are performed with such energy and charisma you can feel the glimmer of their accomplishments and the heartbreak of songs that inspired and have lasted as classics for the last 50 years. As the show develops, so does
COURTESY OF JUNIPER STREET PRODUCTIONS
Beautiful showcases great talent and amazing music, depicting King’s life.
King. Her grace in the midst of adversity shows her admirable efforts to become the voice of a generation. She spends most of her young life trying to overcome self-doubt and her shy and goofy demeanor. While clearly the most talented amongst her peers, she is also the most shaken in her confidence. She comes to recognize her own talent and takes her pain, emotion and creativity and throws it into her music. Jessie Mueller, who plays the
young King, has captured the essence of the rock star in her youth. The great supporting cast of Annika Larsen as Weil, Jarrod Spector as Mann and Jake Epstein as Goffin creates a funny, energetic show that reveals the struggle and beauty of the music at that time. Well-written and amazingly choreographed, the musical aptly depicts the life of King and the talent that was found in the most unexpected of places.
Swedish recording artist and songwriter Seinabo Sey has finally released her long-awaited EP, “For Madeline.” The twenty-three-yearold success story from Stockholm, Sweden first wowed critics in 2013 with her single, “Younger.” Her solo debut topped charts in Sweden and Norway, as well as going to number one on U.S. Billboard’s Hot Dance/Club Playlist. The song repeats the infectious warning that “you aren’t getting any younger,” which is matched with Seinabo Sey’s dark and sultry vocals. The spliced synths and bobbing percussion builds, drops, then builds again, leaving the listener wanting more. After two years, Sey’s audience has finally been given new material. In early 2015, the six-song EP, dedicated to her mother, was shared on iTunes, Spotify and Soundcloud. The EP opens with “Hard Time,” a dramatic show-stopper. It is definitely one of the darker songs on the EP. The lyrics talk about her failing relationship, in which she feels her time and emotional stability has been robbed of her. Despite the difficult subject, the clapping in the background, the steadfast and sure tempo and the aloof tone sends an alternative message of hope for the future. The song is angry, but not broken. It plays as a warning or promise to become stronger and not to let negative experience stain a whole person. “Pistols at Dawn” begins with a full composition, but is soon left with only vocals. Sey’s memorable
voice is deep and luscious, merging with the instrumentals in the background. Her inky voice and the subtle electronic beats of the background reunite with the piano towards the end of the song, creating an emotional and rewarding experience. This song unites the simplicity of using only vocals with the complexity of the lyrics. It is at once powerful and vulnerable and sultry and innocent, a mesmerizing paradox in one song. “You” is comfortable, neutralizing and safe. It feels like a fluttering heartbeat anticipating only good things. The many vocal tracks, whether they are layered in the main song or humming in the background, give the song a full sense of completion. The chorus is where her voice takes off, and the listener is left in complete awe. The mixture of layered then un-layered and altered then unaltered voice is collaborated perfectly. The final song of the EP, “River,” combines all of Sey’s artistry into one song. The deep voice we have become accustomed to is now met with sharp, piercing, high notes that excite and energize the listener. The entire song feels like a sprint: exhilarating, fast-pace and overwhelming. Her intricately crafted and refreshing combination of pop, hip hop and soul truly shines in “River.” With the release of “For Madeline,” Sey has made a place for herself in the music world, proving that she is not a one-hit-wonder and making sure that listeners anticipate her next release.