VIRAL NEWS: ALL THINGS GRAMMYS
A peek into the topics buzzing at Cassandra
Friday is here! And with it our weekly recap of what’s going on the internet. This week, we will focus on the Grammys, the annual celebration of music. Do they hold any meaning for Gen Z? What happens when faves from different generations come together? Was it the year of women in music? And for our readers who are history buffs, you will note that it is particularly relevant to to be talking about Gen Z and music today, since February 9 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the Beatles playing All My Loving on the Ed Sullivan Show, which was not only the first time many Americans heard the British band, but it was the moment that ushered in the youth culture movement and its ripple effect in the US (and around the globe). And we continue to talk about the impact of youth culture six decades later!
REVIVING A CLASSIC
Tracy Chapman might be a name that’s not particularly known by Gen Z folks, at least not before last Sunday in the annual Grammy Awards where the popular country singer Luke Combs invited the singer to perform for the first time in 15 years her hit 1988 song “Fast Car.” The performance was met with an overwhelming wave of nostalgia for older people but was also embraced by younger generations. So much so that it ended up topping the iTunes chart right after the Grammys. Many took it to social media to express how emotional Chapman’s comeback made them and others used the occasion to reflect on how necessary it was to see a showcase of union over music
MUSIC IS FEMALE
The Recording Academy went all out this year to shine a spotlight on the incredible achievements of many artists in music, but It was a particularly a huge night for women, with female musicians dominating the major categories—though there was also talk about the lack of diversity when it comes to Album of The Year winners with SZA not getting the anticipated award. There were a lot of firsts, Paramore became the first female-led rock band to snag the Best Rock Album award, while Karol G made history as the first woman to win Best Música Urbana Album, and let's not forget Miley Cyrus, who not only delivered an epic and hilarious performance but also clinched her first Grammy. The whole night was just one big celebration of female musicians, something we couldn't even have imagined a few years back. Taylor Swift, of course, stole the show by breaking records and bagging her 4th Album of the Year award, all while dropping the date of her next album release—sending the internet into a frenzy for a couple days… right before her private jet and subsequent carbon footprint took over the headlines.
- Reynalis, 16, PA
AWARDS CEREMONIES & GEN Z
We’ve been tracking for a while what is the general sentiment around awards ceremonies for Gen Zs and, even though they do like to watch clips and share content in social media about them, the actual recognition meant to be given by awards in different areas is not necessarily respected.
With a generation that is so aware of the machinery behind industries like the entertainment one, it is not a surprise to see them challenging the “prestige” these kinds of events are supposed to have and instead just looking to enjoy the show, performances, and red carpet. Too much discourse can be a turn off for many Gen Zs. More Tracy Chapman for everyone!