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‘This is America’ Song Review
By Lauren Rayman
Donald Glover, also known as Childish Gambino, released a new song on May 5, 2018, the same day he hosted Saturday Night Live.
Gambino’s new song, “This is America,” was released with a music video. In just over a week, the video has already scored 109 million views on YouTube.
Many people have posted the music video itself and clips from it on Twitter. “Childish Gambino,” “This is America” and “Donald Glover” have all trended on Twitter in the time since the song has been out.
Although many people have been raving about the song and hyping it up, many other people have been hating on it.
Memes, parodies, remixes, medlies, covers and mashups of “This is America” have also surfaced the internet in the short time the song has been out.
Many artists have been releasing new songs and albums recently, and some have not been that great. Unlike some of these songs, Gambino’s “This is America” is actually good.
The song has many different aspects to it. The beginning vocals of the song seamlessly transition into a different beat, and continue to do so throughout the song.
This gives the song depth and keeps listeners interested. The lyrics of the song are also very well written and thought out.
Young Thug, Slim Jxmmi, BlocBoy JB, 21 Savage and Quavo are all featured in the background vocals of the song.
Since Gambino has not released new music since 2016, his new song grabbed many music lovers’ attention. Gambino did not disappoint with his release of “This is America.”
Overall out of five I would easily give this song five stars. I would highly recommend this song to anyone who likes Childish Gambino and similar artists’ music.
An American Celebration Concert
By H. Suzie Lee
Wind Ensemble, the high school band, performed a patriotic concert called ‘A Salute to Broadway’ with the choirs as well on May 5, at 7 p.m.
Starting with ‘Star Spangled Banner’ by Francis Scott Key, the Color Guard from Boy Scout Troop 273 held the flag during the piece. Also, the choir sang the lyrics with the band.
The concert continued with many selections of broadway songs such as ‘Give My Regards to Broadway from Little Johnny Jones’ by George M. Cohan, ‘Highlights from Phantom of the Opera’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber and ‘Mambo from West Side of Story’ by Leonard Bernstein featuring trumpet soloist Nick Lavy, class of 2018.
Next pieces were ‘Somewhere’ featuring trumpet soloist Kendall Miragliotta, class of 2018, 76 Trombones from The Music Man by Meredith Willson, ‘I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables’ arranged by Michael Brown featuring vocal soloist Anne Marie McCombs, class of 2018, and ‘Highlights from Wicked’ by Julie Davalia.
With SMFHS Vocal Jazz, the Jazz 1 band performed Jazz piece ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ by Luther Henderson. Vocal Jazz is a jazz choir team including Will Bender, Nick Ely, Anne Marie McCombs, Randi Mohr, Johnny Oliver, Emma Razor, Danny Schneider and Hanna Shull.
After an uplifting Jazz piece, the Concert Choir sang ‘Being Alive from Company’ by Stephen Sondheim.
Within the narration of Tom Stephan, former teacher of the high school, ‘Ask Not’ was performed.
Two more piece were performed with the Concert Choir: ‘An American Tribute’ by Douglas E. Wagner, ‘Salute to America’s Finest’ arranged by Paul Lavender.
Also, the concert honored those who have served or are currently serving the country.
Finally, the American Celebration concert ended with John Philip Sousa’s ‘Stars and Stripes Forever’ with the Concert Choir.
Auditorium was filled with many people from the community in Stow and has earned positive feedback as well.
Next upcoming concerts are the Spring Choir Concert on May 12, the Band Spring Concert on May 14 and the Band & Choir Memorial Day performance on May 28 at the Stow Cemetery.
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