Mercury's Musings

  Red is the fourth studio album by Taylor Swift. It is probably most notable for being the turning point in Taylor’s career between teenage country singer and more straight up pop star, and contains several huge hits that were inescapable in 2012 and 2013 (e.g. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “22”).   I was a bit surprised to see this album on the Rolling Stone’s list. I get that it’s a pivotal album for Taylor’s career, but I feel like I remember much more acclaim for her next album, 1989, when it came out, than I ever remember hearing about Red. And upon listening to this album now, I have sort of mixed feelings. The album’s singles are poppy earworms, with varying degrees of obnoxiousness. I’ve always been pretty annoyed by “22,” frankly. And listening to it now, as someone a few years past the age of twenty-two… is this actually how twenty-two year olds act? You’re going to “dress up like hipsters,” have “breakfast at midnight,” and “make fun of our exes?” Are you twe

1. Which U.S. state is known as The Lone Star State? ANSWER: Texas 2. Which 1979 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola is loosely based on Heart of Darkness (though it takes place in Vietnam rather than Africa)? ANSWER: Apocalypse Now 3. In which broad architectural style, which evolved from Romanesque, is the Cologne Cathedral built? ANSWER: Gothic 4. Which type of Spanish soup, commonly served cold, traditionally consists of olive oil blended with vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers? ANSWER: Gazpacho 5. Which planned city is the national capital of Australia? ANSWER: Canberra 6. On which AMC show did Jon Hamm portray advertising representative Don Draper? ANSWER: Mad Men 7. In the Rwandan genocide, the Hutu ethnic group slaughtered which ethnic minority? ANSWER: Tutsi 8. Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox are among the famous people diagnosed with which neurodegenerative disease, which causes tremors and difficulty of movement? ANSWER: Parkinson’s Disease 9. Antonio

 Having recently listened to every Billboard #1 from the year 2021, here are my very brief thoughts on each of them. “All I Want or Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey (January 2; December 25): Meh, pretty indifferent on this one. “Mood” by 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior (January 9-16): Missed this when it came out- apparently it got big on TikTok. Pretty fun, inoffensive pop-rap song. “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo (January 23-March 13): Man, 2021 was Olivia Rodrigo’s year. Wasn’t a huge fan of this song, however; I just can’t get into these weepy acoustic pop ballads that have become hugely popular over the past several years.  “What’s Next” by Drake (March 20): The enduring popularity of Drake never ceases to baffle me. Pretty annoying beat, coupled with some mediocre bars. “Up” by Cardi B (March 27): Pretty forgettable, sound just a little too similar to her song “Money” from a couple years ago. “Peaches” by Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar and Giveon (April 3): Cringe.