Just Jaded Weekly
03/19/2021
Written By: Joanna Serrano
Artist Rec Friday: Why Don’t We
Who doesn't love a good boy band? A group of dreamy guys who all look and sound amazing? Sign us up!
Why Don’t We released their killer second studio album titled: “The Good Times and the Bad Ones” on January 15, 2021, which features ten tracks, including their smash singles “Fallin (Adrenaline)” and “Lotus Inn”. This album definitely lives up to its title and takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, while also taking a deeper view into the lives of the Why Don’t We boys.
Speaking of the boys, let me briefly introduce them to you. Why Don’t We is made up of five heartthrobs who originally started as solo artists, posting covers and original songs online, but came together and created the force that is Why Don’t We. These five boys are Jonah Marais (22), Corbyn Besson (22), Daniel Seavey (21), Jack Avery (21), and Zach Herron (19). Following the release of their second album, the boys have come forward stating that these are the first songs that they have written and produced themselves. They have blown fans away by displaying their joint musical abilities, ditching the boyband choreography for their instruments, and we can’t get enough! As listeners, we can definitely feel a stronger connection to the boys through this album, and can’t wait for what is in store!
Prior to this project, the boys have released another studio album titled “8 Letters”, which features eight tracks, including the title track single “8 Letters”. They have also released many stand-alone singles and five EPs, including their debut EP released in 2016 titled: “Only the Beginning”, and a Holiday EP released in 2017 titled “A Why Don’t We Christmas”.
If you haven’t listened to “The Good Times and the Bad Ones” yet, what are you doing? Why Don’t We’s new sound will have you floored! Although the Why Don’t We boys have been on the scene for quite some time, I sense their journey is only beginning, and this album is the proof.
New Music Spotlight:
This past week has been huge for music. From Nick Jonas’ third studio album “Spaceman”, Selena Gomez’s Spanish EP “Revalación”, Blackpink’s Rosé’s solo debut, and so much more!
For this week, we will be spotlighting the debut EP from our beloved, Mr. High School Musical himself: Joshua Bassett!
Bassett’s EP, self titled “Joshua Bassett”, released on Friday March 12, 2021. The project holds six tracks, including his smash single “Lie Lie Lie” and his newest single “Telling Myself”. Prior to this release, he has dropped two stand alone singles, including his debut single “Common Sense”, which was released in the Spring of 2020. Although he wrote and posted a video of him singing it on his Instagram, @JoshuaBassett, in 2018.
Bassett has never failed to amaze us with his amazing singing and songwriting, which is clear to see through his solo work, and work on the hit Disney+ show “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series''. Bassett and his co-star, and love interest on the show, Olivia Rodrigo, co-wrote the hit tracks “Just For A Moment” and “I Think I Kinda, You Know” for the Disney show.
Bassett’s smooth and sweet vocals are everything we need to get us through the week, and we are excited to see what he throws our way next!
Music’s Biggest Night:
The Grammy Awards: where artists from all genres come together and are recognized for their amazing music within the past year. This past Sunday, March 14 was the date for this year’s ceremony, and it surely was huge. Not only did the fashion blow us all away, but the performances were out of this world. There were too many iconic moments to mention here, but here are our highlights!
The show opened with none other than the One Direction heartthrob himself, Harry Styles. Styles opened the show with his summer smash single “Watermelon Sugar”, which later won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance. This is Styles’ first win, among a talently stacked category, and we could not be more ecstatic for him. Styles’ performance was then followed by a performance from the neon green queen herself, Billie Eilish, accompanied by her older brother Finneas of course. Eilish performed her haunting hit single “Everything I Wanted”, which later went on to win the Grammy for Record of the Year. This is Eilish’s second win in a row for this category.
Another standout performance was given by our dance pop princess, Dua Lipa. She performed a highly energetic medley of her two hit singles “Levitating” feat. DaBaby, and “Don’t Start Now”, both from her number 1 album “Future Nostalgia”, which won Best Pop Vocal Album later in the evening.
This night was a big one for female artists as a whole. First time Grammy nominee and favorite “savage” rapper Megan Thee Stallion went on to win three Grammys for Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song. Stallion took the stage for a medley performance of her hits “Body”, “Savage” and brought out Cardi B for the first ever performance of the TikTok hit “WAP”.
Someone who is no newbie to the Grammys stage, however, is Taylor Swift. She took the stage with a magical “Folklore” and “Evermore” medley including “Cardigan”, “August”, and “Willow”. She then took home her eleventh Grammy, winning Album of the Year with “Folklore”.
Speaking of Grammy veterans, we have breaking news! Beyonce has broken the record for the woman with the most Grammy wins, standing at 28. This year she took home the Grammys for Best Music Video, Best R&B Performance, and Best Rap Performance with Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage”. She shed light on her goal to empower other women, as well as the black community.
This show was filled to the brim with diversity and equality. Not only did H.E.R. take home the Grammy for Song of the Year for “I Can’t Breathe”, a track dedicated to the Black Lives Matter movement and the tragic murder of George Floyd in this past year, but Lil Baby performed his outstanding single “The Bigger Picture”, which was also written and released during the height of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Baby’s performance was filled with nudges towards the horror that was the Summer of 2020, with protests, police brutality, and a demand for a better future.
This surely does not sum up the entirety of Music’s Biggest Night, but does spotlight some of the best moments. The 2021 Grammy Awards Ceremony is definitely one to remember.
Photo Credits:
Why Don’t We - “TGATBO” © Atlantic Records
Joshua Bassett - “Joshua Bassett” © Warner Records
Beyonce - Photo © Craig Jenkins, Vulture.com, Article: “The Grammys Would Be Wise to Get Out of Its Own Way More Often”
