Now, listening in late 2025, I no longer felt heroic. Instead, what I felt most strongly was tenderness. Tenderness for that young man who believed he could outwork any obstacle, who thought the American dream was just a matter of refusing to quit. He had no idea what was coming-the failures, the losses, the ways life would refuse his tidy narrative.
One of the great Irish songs is The Parting Glass. Nobody performed it better than Liam Clancy. At the end of every December, he sang it to remember those who had been lost during the year.
Music has long served as both a mirror and a refuge-reflecting private pain while offering language for experiences that feel unspeakable. Few songs have embodied this dual role as powerfully as Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful." Released in 2002, when mainstream pop rarely centered vulnerability or marginalized identities, the song and its music video offered something quietly radical: affirmation without conditions. Psychologically, representation matters because being seen supports emotional regulation and belonging.
But I do think, for me, the cold definitely does bring out a different set of music tastes. There are certain, I think, organic sounds, certain gloomy sounds, cozy sounds. If you think about the way that you spend the winter - and what do I want to hear while I'm sipping hot cocoa on my couch? What do I want to hear while bundled up and walking through the neighborhood as the snow falls?
"I went into a meeting the other day and mentioned that I'd watched 'Wild at Heart' the night before," says Rae, who's 25. She's wearing tight jeans, heels and a baggy Harvard hoodie and twirls the sweatshirt's drawstrings in her fingers as she speaks. "They were so astounded. I was like, 'Is this not just one of the things you should know if you're in this business?'"
December. What is it about this most wonderful time of the year? Lights appear. Playlists shift. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas or It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year spark memories and singing. A musical phrase takes us back to a childhood living room, a parent singing in the kitchen, a snowy sidewalk, the smell of cookies waiting to be decorated, a gathering long past. Nostalgia, celebration, reflection, gratitude, joy.
What do you want to express that you feel you can't in everyday life? That's the question composer and producer Max Cooper posed to his audience in hopes of unearthing some of the hidden parts of our shared emotional landscape. In return, he received more responses than expected, many of which tapped into passionate displays of pleasure and pain. "It was like finding a secret window into our collective psyches," he writes.
She enjoyed a distinguished career in public education, remembered for her intelligence, articulate teaching style, and dedication to preserving history and culture. Beyond the classroom, Ms. Boyce was celebrated for her joy in singing and her beautiful operatic voice. She performed widely, bringing to life African American spirituals, operatic arias, Broadway classics, and art songs. Her recitals often included sing-alongs, inviting audiences to share in the music and storytelling traditions she cherished.
Rapping rocker Poorstacy is dead at 26. TMZ reported that the Floridian performer appears to have died from suicide in Boca Raton based on social media posts. Police and medical examiners there haven't responded to a request for comment. Poorstacy, also known as Carlito Milfort, was reportedly staying in a hotel with a woman and a toddler when he was rushed to an area hospital Saturday.
It's that time of year, when we get ready to travel home for turkey, dig through Black Friday sales looking for holiday gifts... and vigorously argue with friends over the best music, movies, and TV shows of the year. The Consequence staff is already deep into debate over our 2025 Annual Report, and now it's your turn to join in the screaming match conversation with our Readers' Survey.
The UK and Ireland are entering a dark time, according to the singer Joy Crookes, who said the influence of far-right ideology on mainstream politics was comparable to the 1970s when the National Front was at its peak. Crookes, who has just played two sold-out shows at the O2 Academy in Brixton, said the recent wave of nationalism and the far-right march through central London in September made her feel unsafe in the UK.
Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true.
Perhaps there's only one person who can rival Keanu Reeves for the title of Hollywood's nicest actor. He could also easily win the award for most charismatic, effortlessly attractive, and for what some call having chemistry. Jeff Bridges, 75, the owner of all those attributes, was literally born in Hollywood and made his film debut as a baby, long before people talked about the privileges of nepobabies, which he's well aware of.
It is with the deepest sadness that we have to announce that John Lodge, our darling husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law and brother, has been suddenly and unexpectedly taken from us. As anyone who knew this massive-hearted man knows, it was his enduring love of his wife, Kirsten, and his family, that was the most important thing to him, followed by his passion for music, and his faith.
He devoted much of his life to the sounds and the magic of song. He played many instruments and the chances are, if he had the opportunity, he would have learned how to play the trumpet too, like the angels. In death, life is not ended but changed. The music of heaven that awaits the faithful departed is there for Tommy too. This is our great hope as Christians," said Fr Hartnett.
From one of hip-hop's most entertaining stars to a plethora of pumpkin treats, we're looking at a fine, fun weekend. So let's get to it, shall we? (As always, be sure to double check event and venue websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines or other details.) Meanwhile, if you'd like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.
The highly-anticipated sequel stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, rookie cops who are out to prove they make a good team. They get their chance when they come face-to-face with a viper named Gary De'Snake, voiced by Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan. Snakes haven't been seen in Zootopia in quite some time, so this meeting is a surprise.
Tickets go on sale at 10 am unless otherwise noted. MUSIC Dirty Dancing in Concert Keller Auditorium (Jan 20, 2026) Dogs in a Pile Wonder Ballroom (Jan 24, 2026) GoldFord: Space of the Heart Tour Revolution Hall (Apr 5, 2026) Health x Carpenter Brut Roseland Theater (Apr 3, 2026) JADE - That's Showbiz Baby! The Tour Crystal Ballroom (Feb 5, 2026) New Year's Eve with Eagles of Death Metal Crystal Ballroom (Wed Dec 31)
