Perfect Strangers By JP Cooper

JP Cooper is a British singer-songwriter, whom I have followed and listened to his music since 2016. He has two albums produced, Raised Under Grey Skies and She, that depicts heavily over relationships. A lot of these are through the revelations of Cooper’s own personal experience that he has witnessed or gone through and placed them into melodies. One song, Need You Tonight, for example, was influenced by his own past relationship with a woman that he had an off and on again relationship with as he shared at his concert at The Sinclair in  Cambridge- Harvard Square. His music, that follows the genre of pop and soul, equivocally entices the movement of emotions and relationships we have with the world around us and the people that have or haven’t met in our lives. Similar to the song, If the World Should Ever Stop, that came out during the years of COVID Pandemic and exposing the connectivity that we should have amongst one another when the times are rough.

His stylistic choices in producing albums incorporates into threes. 1. the real version, 2. the acoustic, and 3. the choir version. Each melody, and each note that is placed throughout the vibrations and tones of the music elicits emotions and feelings at different times in many different ways. In my own personal experience listening to his music, I have been able to connect to his music on a multitude of ways. Each version allows me to form the emotion that not only the song is producing but also discover how I feel and respond to that version. The choir and acoustic, typically, are my favorite styles. I am able to feel every word, look back and understand how the songs made me feel.

In March of 2023, He performed a set of songs ranging from both albums and singles that he has released. In Boston, he performed the song, Perfect Strangers, that expresses the connectivity between two people meeting for the first time. Even with the thought that they may no longer be in touch or contact, they take the moments they have together. The performance, not only casted the emotional bond that was built between music, tone, audience, and performer but it also connected the people who listen to the music. The relationships and the understandings were interlocked in those moments, for one night.

I remember standing in the front, leaning on the taped-up lining of the stage. I felt the vibrations of the electric guitar, the drums, and the overall flow of the concert and how it illuminated the happiness within me. As this song began, Cooper stood in the back, wrapping his arms around his chest and closing his eyes. He began to sway with each step he took side to side and smile that began to grow. The emotions that grew in him also grew in his audience. I felt the overwhelmingly joy of the witnessing performance we were back to experience.

His performance didn’t derive for the artificial stereotype of typical concerts. Instead, he spoke stories, the meaning behind the songs, and spoke on how he originally was scared to go on tour. The authenticity that was presented in his character was presented, too, in the music. As the beats and vibrations began to course through my body, I felt the weight of the meaning of the song.

I began to create my own “Perfect Strangers” with the women that were standing in the front row with me. We didn’t know each other before and I have not spoken to them since; yet, in that moment we shared a bond and understood each other  similar to what the song was speaking to.

” Who knows the secret tomorrow will hold? 

We don’t really need to know

‘Cause you’re here with me now, I don’t want you to go

You’re here with me now, I don’t want you to go.” 

(JP Cooper performing Perfect Strangers) 

At the beginning of the song, as Cooper stood in the back of the stage, his electric guitarist opened up the song with the first several cords. Immediately did the music radiant beyond the surface. As the music grew, the realization that the studio version will never authenticate, truly, the impact that this performance had to each song, especially Perfect Strangers. This performance became a view that there doesn’t need to be a grand gesture of the concert environment( big scenes, stages, dance breaks, and crowd surfing). If anything, having a genuine, stand-still performance could elicit more appreciation and understanding of the words and the music.

Once the electrical introduction began to subside awaiting for the words to be told, Cooper uncrossed his arms and wrapped his hands around the microphone. Throughout the entire performance of the song, and overall the performance of the song he stood in that content behavior. For the majority of the time, he closed his eyes. In the most vulnerable state, in a performance that breaks away from the consistent engagement of dances, and movements the stand-still act creates more of an emotional connection like this song brought.

Perfect Strangers has always been one of my favorite songs that JP Cooper has released. Even though he is featured in this song, and each time it is in a rendition, Cooper allows the greatness through the words and sounds of the performance rather than what he does specifically. I think that is what separates him from most artists. He performs through the verses, each word, and the crowd’s reaction rather than presenting this grandiose concert where there is constant motion. And, in some retrospect the small venue adds to the nostalgia of what music can encompass. I appreciate music where I can feel through the soul and vibrations of the tunes.

Experiencing multitude of variations with concerts, Pop, Country, and rock bands like Queen, for me, brings out intimate emotions that are shared equivocally between artist, the song, and the audience. To this day I still remanence of that night.

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Blog Post 3- Harrison Hayes

“Web users obsessively scroll through images online, but Art Museum attendance is down, especially at large premier institutions. Unfortunately, this is true, while millions of people use the internet online to look at all distinct kinds of images and paintings, sometimes even buying them. Museum attendance has shot down to a record low and no one is willing to go out and look at the beautiful paintings in person. This happened in a couple of separate ways, first I think just because of how easy it is to access these pictures over the internet. Simply by typing in the name of the painting you can get a good close of picture of the real painting, closer than you could in the actual museum. Now when looking at a famous painting through a computer screen you really are not looking at it “in person” but if you can access the exact museum, it is an effective way to look at it. One other reason people tend to stay in on their computers or phones I think not as much anymore but when Covid hit it could have been a significant factor. Staying indoors during Covid was a major part of all of 2020 and during that time people were going nowhere, that’s where online shopping really became big and that brings me to my next point. Shopping for paintings now has become extremely easy, you no longer need to go out and look around a big museum hoping to find a painting that goes with your house. People found it much easier to use different platforms to buy and sell the art that they did not want or wanted to have, this really took out the “fun” factor of going out with your family or friends and shopping for new pieces of art that you all like. This is a bad trend. It just keeps us on our phones and computers more than we already should not be. Technology is taking over pretty much everything in our everyday lives, and I do not think that is the right movement we should be on. I would find it more fun to go to a huge museum and look at a priceless piece of art in person. Now people are wasting beautiful life moments by not going out and seeing all the paintings they would rather lay in bed and look at on a phone that is half its size. I unfortunately think this trend will not get any better. As technology keeps advancing there are only going to be increased ways that you can buy and look at art and now with VR you can do virtual museum tours which really will change the whole way you can go to a museum.  

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“Perfect Strangers” By Jonas Blue ft. JP Cooper

By Taylor Smith

JP Cooper is a British singer-songwriter, whom I have followed and listened to his music since 2016. He has two albums produced, Raised Under Grey Skies and She, that depicts heavily over relationships. A lot of these are through the revelations of Cooper’s own personal experience that he has witnessed or gone through and placed them into melodies. One song, Need You Tonight, for example, was influenced by his own past relationship with a woman that he had an off and on again relationship with as he shared at his concert at The Sinclair in  Cambridge- Harvard Square. His music, that follows the genre of pop and soul, equivocally entices the movement of emotions and relationships we have with the world around us and the people that have or haven’t met in our lives. Similar to the song, If the World Should Ever Stop, that came out during the years of COVID Pandemic and exposing the connectivity that we should have amongst one another when the times are rough.

His stylistic choices in producing albums incorporates into threes. 1. the real version, 2. the acoustic, and 3. the choir version. Each melody, and each note that is placed throughout the vibrations and tones of the music elicits emotions and feelings at different times in many different ways. In my own personal experience listening to his music, I have been able to connect to his music on a multitude of ways. Each version allows me to form the emotion that not only the song is producing but also discover how I feel and respond to that version. The choir and acoustic, typically, are my favorite styles. I am able to feel every word, look back and understand how the songs made me feel.

In March of 2023, He performed a set of songs ranging from both albums and singles that he has released.

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Benjamin Roberts Blog Post 3 – Frank Ocean’s ‘Self Control’

Music has always played a major role in my life, especially in my high school years and even more so now as a college student. Wherever I go, I either have my headphones in playing music, or I have a speaker with me that will eventually be playing my favorite songs when I am able. The way that emotions are exuded through music, the lyrical meanings, the beat making, blending, production, and the true, raw feeling that I get when I play some of my favorite songs is unlike any other feeling in the world. I sometimes use music as a way of isolation and peace to try to get my mind off of whatever bad may be happening in my life at the moment, whether it be school-related, friend-related, family-related, or a plethora of other scenarios. Music as a whole has helped me get through a lot of rough situations compared to if I didn’t have the relationship with music that I have now, and I never thought an art medium such as music could do such a thing. Usually, you’ll catch me listening to rap or rock, but I’ve always had quite a liking for Frank Ocean, whose music is unlike any artist, especially the way his songs make you feel.

While there is no official ‘full performance’ recording, Frank Ocean’s performance live at Way Out West in 2017 is regarded as one of his best performances, and one of relatively few shows that he has ever done, especially one that was somewhat publicized. This performance showcased songs from his newly released album Blond in 2016. Specifically, I have chosen to center in on my favorite song off of this album, which is titled Self Control, which was performed beautifully at this venue.

            Self Control is a compelling, beautiful, emotional, and passionately written song to begin with, and this live performance emphasizes this pure, raw emotion within the carefully chosen lyrics. When I first heard the four minutes and nine seconds of this song on Spotify, the feelings I got were just amazing, and I would love to be able to listen to it for the first time once again. It is relatively toned back for the majority of the track, but the ending makes me feel like I’m transcending into the music itself…it is a feeling I truly cannot describe, unlike any other song out there. While I would’ve given up an arm and a leg to be at this performance, there still is a great feeling that the recorded performance gives off, and having the live audience sing-along for the final lines of the song just makes it that much better. It sounds almost…heavenly; and this is just the recording of the performance, I could not imagine how it was in person. The lyrical breakdown of the song holds so much meaning behind it, but the ending choruses are really my favorite part of the song.

 

“I, I, I know you gotta leave, leave, leave

Take down some summertime

Give up, just tonight, night, night

I, I, I, know you got someone comin’

You’re spitting game, know you got it”

(x3)

 

Throughout the song, Frank continually describes a diminishing relationship, alluding to reasons why this relationship isn’t working out because the other figure involved is too immature. The song’s opening is said to be Frank reminiscing about events that had happened as far back as his youth, meaning this person has been in his life a long time. Seeing his true emotions pour out when he performs this song live is truly amazing. My emotional connection to this song carries on much more after I learned the true meanings of the lyrics, as I have also had people slowly fading out of my life as time goes on, with not much I can do about it. Another one of my favorite lines from the song is as follows:

“I came to visit ‘cause you see me like a UFO

That’s like never, ‘cause I made you use your self-control”

 

I truly encourage anyone reading to listen to this song, or the album itself, to try and understand the emotions it conveys. I have grown to learn that there is no point or reasoning to putting effort into a relationship that you can tell is falling apart, whether it be a significant other, or just a friend, if it is one-sided, that is all the information one needs to know. It’s not worth your time. In the end, everything will work itself out for better, or for worse.

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Under Wraps by Her’s

By Harvey Magun

Her's | SpotifyRanging from minutes to hours, days to weeks, months to years, I return to the calming whispers of Her’s. The title “Under Wraps” gives me ironic euphoria from how much it feels like a release for my soul. For many years, I have let this song scatter itself throughout my brain. The prolonged vocals and plucking of twinkling strings makes the concept of constantly feeling but with the inability to express how you feel take shape as life itself for me. With the slow tempo and personal lyrics, it feels like the songs were meant for me, though they could be for anyone, even no one at all. Even so, this song becomes everything to me whenever it saunters into my ears. It becomes true when they sing “It means more to you, then it does to them”. The singers encourage expression and allowing yourself to not fall victim to one-sided conversations.

“And I feel like I ran with a headstartAnd you’re only just starting to liveGot a lot to gain, not a lot to give”

The fear of speaking your mind about how you feel often haunts the mind. You might become scared of the outcome or if breaking your silence would be worth anything at all. People would do much more than you think to protect themselves from rejection. It feels justified for them to repeat:

“The lonely time you wander once, they’re awaySo you can’t act contentAnd who’s to say they’re gonna push you away”

The hardest part of a confession is getting started, but where would someone even start? There’s seldom any worthwhile answer to give other than just to jump in. After all, what is the worst that could happen? Every sentence, phrase, and conversation has to begin and end somehow. There’s hardly a way to simply cut it off and not finish what you began, no matter how much you tried to take it all back because you had second thoughts.

“And once it’s set in motionYou will not be looking back”

Who is to say that any conversation started has any worth or purpose? One of the most important parts is the discovery of if that question warrants an answer. The journey for the answer makes the commencement of the conversation worth potentially everything. The outcome has no guarantee that it will end for better or for worse. Either way, it is important to remember that you are worth the time it takes to find the answer.

“Will uncover a beauty thereThey never could expect”

From my own experience, I know that speaking your mind about your emotions is a challenge. You can formulate a lot of self doubt and fear just from the hope that a confession would be worth something. The pondering of if you should or should not is painfully extensive. It is best to simply take a deep breath and just begin, as if you were ripping off a band-aid. This song has led me towards many thrilling events and to many wonderful people and it has become my tune of advice if I am ever in doubt about voicing my emotions. Your emotions matter and you should not fear letting yourself be emotionally free. It may end up being your only option for the sake of your own health.

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JJ Spoerl- Release from Cultural Bondage

 

The entertainment industry is essential to society’s functioning. As Ted Gioia outlines in his article “The Most Dangerous Thing in Culture Right Now is Beauty,” our culture is so consumed with the addictive and informing nature of entertainment. He speaks on the ideas of David Hickey, a critic who compared the institutions that place a dampener on culture to prisons. In this scenario, the warden’s part is played by the overreaching governmental authorities while the prisoners are those who truly appreciate the liberating culture that enables creativity and individuality. 

Furthermore, Gioia posed a confounding question: Why are beneficial cultural institutions struggling when the power and influence of entertainment are increasing? He includes a visual aid titled “The Prisoners Have been Released from Cultural Bondage” which exemplifies the de-institutionalization of arts and culture. One example from the aid states that “Elite colleges now offer classes on the full range of arts and entertainment” yet “The number of students in arts and culture programs has collapsed.” It would seem that progressively implementing programs that encourage an appreciation of art and culture would result in an increase in interest in those programs. However, I believe this perplexing statement can be explained by the future of those in art and culture collegiate programs. Many believe that the key to success in college is a business degree that can lead to a stable career in the future. It’s difficult and rare to find that assurance in the complex world of culture. In order to solve this overwhelming issue, more jobs need to be created in the artistic and creative industries. Unfortunately, that plan starts under the jurisdiction of the government, which happens to be reluctant when it comes to the appreciation of culture. 

Art and culture classes at the college level play an important role in fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a well-rounded education. These classes go beyond just the improvement of technical skills, these courses ameliorate students’ lives by exposing them to diverse perspectives, historical contexts, and the beauty of art. Studying art and culture encourages an appreciation for cultural creativity throughout history, promoting a deeper understanding of our society. Moreover, it supports communication skills, problem-solving ability, and cultural awareness, all of which are qualities that are essential in today’s interconnected world. By embracing the arts, students not only enhance their intellectual abilities but also have the opportunity to contribute to a society that values expression, diversity, and the preservation of its cultural heritage.

In society today, art and culture-related jobs hold profound significance by contributing to economic, social, and individual well-being. These professions, ranging from artists and painters to movie directors and musicians, shape people’s identities and inspire future generations. Moreover, these jobs need to be protected and encouraged by the government. In a rapidly evolving world, art and culture-related college courses play a crucial role in shaping future societies of people passionate and skilled in all aspects of art and culture. One of Gioia’s main points in his article was “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” The beauty of the world is culture and it’s up to us to behold it. 

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Runaway

At MTV Awards, Taylor vs. Kanye Part 2 - The New York Times

Anti-semitic statements aside, My beautiful dark twisted fantasy is one of the most ear-catching albums I have ever listened to. After a horrific disaster at the VMA’s where Kanye barged on stage to interrupt Taylor Swift’s award acceptance, Kanye would exile himself to a recording studio in Hawaii to prove himself to Everyone and also apologize for what he did. He wanted to be reaccepted into the public eye by proving his music was too good to get rid of.

The lyrics of the album jump into topics like Mr. West’s celebrity status, consumer culture, self-exaggeration, and the American Dream. With songs like Monster, with it rough and grumbly sound and heavy bass drums, or the ever famous POWER with its 40 Million views on Youtube.

No one man should have all that powerThe clock’s ticking, I just count the hours

With its military like chant in the back or the incredible chopped samples interspliced between, its the perfect song for a burst of energy or even the perfect motivational song to let play in the back while you panic and type out a 500 word essay about music, which makes sense as to why commercials began using it to push forward their products. I can’t begin to count the number of times I have heard this track in a movie trailer.

But the only track I have listened to on replay for the whole afternoon is Runaway. The longest track on the album, sitting at an impressive 9 minutes, the song opens with haunting piano keys in the beginning, so iconic now that Kanye just has to play one Key in his concert for everyone to freak out. “LOOK AT YA” being repeated to a sickening degree but still in a recognizable rhythm.

And I always find, yeah, I always find something wrong
You been puttin’ up with my shit just way too long
I’m so gifted at finding what I don’t like the most
So I think it’s time for us to have a toast

Kanye admits that he’s a pessimist. He admits he’s not perfect and that he has flaws but nonetheless he says to toast. To celebrate the flaws in everyone and that everyone has to come to terms with the fact that we’re all a little messed up to some degree.

Even without all the meaning, the song still rings in my ear, the piano keys repeating in my mind constantly. Even the soulful ending of the song with a barely distinguishable voice, he sings the chorus, with his voice so distorted it now mimics an electric guitar more than a human voice. I listened to this over and over and over again during high school, alone in my room with the lights off. The youtube thumbnail illuminating my screen since I’m too broke to afford any premium music app subscriptions.

While the song acts as a public apology for his personality, underneath it all, the song kind of hints that he’s not gonna change. The world just has to figure out how to deal with Kanye being Kanye, or “Run away fast as you can.”

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Mighty Morphin Power Rangers !

“Tyler, Tyler come here for a second I want to show you something I watched a lot while I was in the AMighty Morphin Power Rangers | Season 1 | Full Season | Full Episodes | Power  Rangers Official - YouTubermy”.  I didn’t think much of what he was going to show me. It probably was something I already saw him watching in passing and immediately chalked out to be uninteresting, but as I entered the living room and as it started to play I was mesmerized then and still am now. Years and years later, far from that initial memory in 2012. He pressed play and the whole house shook from the 90s upbeat rock that came from the opening theme song from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers episode. An eerie voice yelped ““ahh, after 10,000 years I’m free, it’s time to conquer Earth”  as the manhole cover was hastily removed and a flash of light took over the screen. A red and silver robot frantically scrambles as a white silhouetted face in a tube of blue goo instructs  him to find “Recruit a team of teenagers with attitude”  to combat the return of Rita’s, the same yelping voice, evil intentions. He quickly finds his team of teenagers of attitude and in a flash they are shown in their colored spandex uniforms and our great hope to fight against her. Flashes of red, yellow,black, pink, and blue bright lights as each ranger was introduced. Amazement flew across my face as my Dad told me about each and what I should expect. “ That’s Zach , yeah he breaks dances and fights at the same time. And he be kicking butt with it too” Woah, woah Dad you’re telling me that this guy fights by break dancing, What!” “I’m telling you son you just gotta watch”. Gigantic mechanical prehistoric animals sprawled the screen and combined into a giant metal robot ready to topple anything put in front of it. 

As a young kid I just took in the epicness of it. Seeing these larger than life heroes briefly fight in a flashy montage before really getting into life lessons from each episode. I always saw it as a significant spectacle that I shared with my Father. The spectacle of this theme song wasn’t just the combination of action and the catchy tune. It was the connection from it that my Father and I developed. I always knew from early on that me and my Dad don’t have the best relationship. The silence early on is what I remembered most the time when me and my Dad we’re together.

I don’t know what caused it or why it became a thought I had acknowledged from an early age, but when that upbeat tune played that thought washed away. The silence was filled with excitement and a blast of the epic tune. We talked about anything and everything when it played. No matter what we were talking about before, or how old I was. From high school tests, to college choices, to future careers whenever that catchy beat plays I go back to that memory of being called into the living room not knowing what would play, and how much it still means for me and my Dad’s relationship.

 

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Harry Styles Love on Tour

By Maddie Seren

Growing up every year, about twice a year, my family and I would make an eight hour drive to Pennsylvania to visit family. At this time in my life we traveled in style, a minivan! The playlist consisted of my parent’s CD’s, they would take requests occasionally, but it mostly was whatever they wanted to hear. Every time it was the same artists without fail; U2, Beastie Boys, Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, Carrie Underwood, and Fergie. It was an odd mix, but I quickly learned to know almost every word. As much as I grew to appreciate my parents’ music, I knew it was never going to be anything I would listen to on my own. 

Around 2012, like most young girls my age, I fell victim to the “One Direction Infection”. Me and my best friend Lillie were the biggest fans around, and I have her older cousins to thank. I have vivid memories of us playing their music videos on my families’ computer and we would watch on repeat to try and copy their exact moves. We loved it, we were young and excited over a boy band. It was fun! I begged and begged my mom for concert tickets. I quite literally would have done anything to see my favorite band in the world in front of my eyes, in the same room as me, breathing the same air. Unfortunately my mom had to break my little heart and tell me the tickets were too expensive and that we could not go. This was a scenario that played on repeat in my mind for many years. To break my heart even more, the band broke up in 2015. I had lost all hope of ever seeing them live.

Fast forward to 2019, all five of the boys have pursued solo careers post break up. Harry Styles has just released his second album, Fine Line, and tour dates have dropped. My heart dropped and I knew what I needed to do. I was going to get those tickets, I was going to be at the concert, and I was going to be watching one fifth of my childhood perform live in front of me. The day finally came around, after the show was postponed due to covid. On October 12th, 2021, my friends and I got out of school early to drive three hours to Raleigh, NC. Words could not describe the anticipation we were feeling in the car. At the hotel, I couldn’t even keep my food down, because I knew in a few short hours my idol would be singing to me. The traffic and the lines to get in only added to my anxiety. I could not believe this day was finally here. We were ushered to our seats and my jaw dropped at how close we were to the stage. Chills, tears, laughter, screams, pure joy and excitement were the only words I can use to describe what I was experiencing. The second the lights went down, the graphics started playing on the screens, and I started to scream while tears streamed down my face. Hearing him sing What Makes You Beautiful made my inner child smile ear to ear, because right then I knew I was fulfilling my younger self’s dream the best I could.

 

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“History” One Directions Final Performance

By Cayla Resnick

I can still picture me as a 10 year old sitting in the family room with my mom when she turns on the tv. She changes the channel to the X factor as I hear “Performing for one last time”. One Direction appears and starts to play their last released single History. The song begins with everyone in the room clapping which first brings the feeling of joy and celebration of all the band has accomplished. As Harry Styles starts to sing you can hear the support from their fans in the audience. This is a full circle moment for them since they first started out on the X Factor and it is the place that brought them all together.

The song that they are singing, History, is on their fifth and final album Made in the A.M..  Although one of their band members, Zayn Malik, isn’t with the group anymore they still include him in the slideshow, since he still had such an impact on the band both for the fans and the other members. Although it is a hard moment for the members and they don’t know if they will ever be back as a group all four of them have a smile on their faces as they continue to sing. This is especially noticeable in Niall Horan as he is singing the second verse with his positive energy glowing through the screen.

When the chorus hits, all I can do is take in their final moments as a band with the flashes of old images of the band in their happiest times behind them starting to appear while they are singing. Every time even to this day when I watch the performance and see the slideshow in the background it moves me in such a joyful way even though the performance also brings such despair with being their last one. Although the song can be taken in many ways I see it as a song they wrote for their fans and the history that they have created getting to connect with their fans and create a lasting impact for them. Which I feel really shines through this performance.

As Louis Tomlinson sings the bridge he sings the lyrics “this is not the end” which is still to this day my favorite moment of the whole performance. Although the band knows that they are taking a hiatus and don’t know if they will ever be back together, it doesn’t mean that the connections and relationship with their fans is also ending. The band’s impact will continue to live on even if they aren’t actively making music and performing together, and as of today they are all still around creating their own solo music.

As the performance comes to a close and they sing the last line “we can live forever” you can sense the changes on their faces. As reality is starting to hit them that they just finished  their last performance together for who knows how long and that their future together remains undetermined. Their final moment on the screen is them all hugging each other which is an image that I still think about all the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bY256ed42k

 

 

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