NYDP Communication Enrichment Class

Feb 5: Some Simple Tips to Make Your Diet Healthier

Plating and Pacing Your Meals

Eat from smaller plates
The size of your plate can often affect how much you eat.
- Eating from a large plate can make your portion look even smaller but if you eat from a small plate it will make the amount of food looked bigger.
- Believe it or not if you don’t realize you’re eating less than you usually you won’t compensate by eating more at the next meal. By eating from a smaller plate, you can trick your brain into thinking that you’re eating more.

3. Eat your greens first

A good way to do this is to have a salad or green vegetables before you begin eating your dinner.
This will help you finish all your green vegetables when you’re hungriest. It will help you eat fewer less nutritious food items later.

4. Keep Dressing, Dips and Condiments on the Side

Sometimes without knowing it we put a lot of salad dressings on our salad. This makes it less healthy for us to eat.

Not all salads are nutritious. In fact, some salads are smothered in high-calorie dressing which may make the salads even higher in calories than the other items on the menu.

If you ask for the dressing on the side it makes it a lot easier to control the portion size and amount of calories that you consume.

5. Slow Down While Eating

How fast you eat can influence how much you eat, and how likely you are to gain weight.
Studies show that fast eaters are much more likely to gain more weight and have a higher body mass index than slower eaters.
Your appetite, how much you eat and how full you get are all controlled by our hormones. Hormones signal your brain whether you’re hungry or full.
However, it takes up to 20 minutes for your brain to receive the message. That’s why eating more slowly can give your brain the time it needs to decide its full.

Grocery shopping, meal planning, and Fast Food

Don’t Shop Without a List: There are two very important suggestions to help you shop in a healthier way. Make your shopping list ahead of time and never go to the store hungry. If you don’t know what you need ahead of time this can cause you to impulse buy and going to the store hungry can cause you to forget about the healthy foods and buy the less healthy options just to stop your feelings of hunger. This will also help you save money.
Stay Away from Diet Foods: Diet foods can be very deceiving. They have usually had their fat content reduced dramatically and are often labelled fat-free, low-fat, fat reduced, or low-calorie. However, to make up for the lost labor and texture from the fat, sugar and other ingredients are often added. This means that many diet foods contain more sugar and sometimes have more calories than if you eat the same product that isn’t fat-free. Instead of eating low-fat foods eat more fruits and vegetables.
Cook at Home More Often: If you make a habit of cooking at home more nights rather than eating out, it’s often easier on your budget. Also, if you cook the food yourself you know exactly what’s in it. You won’t have to wonder about any of the hidden ingredients that we learned about so far. If you cook a recipe with large servings you’ll have leftovers for the next day so that you can enjoy the meal again.
Try At Least One New Recipe a Week: Sometimes it’s very hard to come up with things that you feel like eating for dinner. We often end up making the same recipes over and over again. Trying a new recipe can also be a fun way to add more change to your diet. You can try making a recipe that is more health focused At least once a week. This can change your food and nutrient intake and hopefully add some new nutritious recipes to your enjoy. You can also try making a healthier version of your favourite recipe by experimenting with new ingredients like herbs and spices.
Bake or Roast Instead of Grilling or Frying: How you prepare your food can drastically change its effects on your health. Healthier cooking methods include baking, broiling, poaching, pressure cooking, simmering, slow cooking, and stewing. These methods of cooking make your healthier for you.

Foods to Add to Your Overall Diet

Increase Your Protein Intake:

Protein is often called the king of nutrients. It does seem to have some superpowers. It has the ability to affect your hunger hormones and is often considered the most filling of the macronutrients.
In one 2018 study eating a high-protein meal decreased the levels of ghrelin the hunger hormone more than a high carb meal did. Even more important protein can help you retain muscle mass and may also slightly increase the number of calories you can burn for a day.
Protein is also important for preventing the loss of muscle mass that can occur with weight loss as you age. If you are trying to lose weight it’s important to add a source of protein each meal and snack.
It will help you feel fuller for a longer time, stop cravings, and make you less likely to overeat. Some good sources of protein are dairy products, nuts, peanut butter, eggs, and beans.

2. Eat Eggs for Breakfast

Eggs are rich in high quality protein and many essential nutrients that people often don’t get enough of. One of them is called choline.
Eating eggs in the morning often increases feelings of being full. This has been shown to cause people to consume less calories during the day and At later meals. It can also help you to lose weight and reach her goal.

Swaps and Substitutions to Consider

Replace Sugary Drinks with Sparkling Water:

Sugary drinks have a lot of sugar in them. This is been linked to numerous diseases including heart disease, obesity, and type II diabetes.
Believe it or not, unlike healthier replacement drinks that are full of essential nutrients, sugary drinks and pop are usually made up of empty calories that probably will not leave you satisfied.
You can try replacing your sugary drink with either a sugar-free alternative or sparkling water. Doing this will lower non-beneficial calories and reduce excess sugar intake.

2. Drink Your Coffee Black from Time to Time

Coffee is rich in antioxidants and has been linked to many health benefits, such as a lower risk of type II diabetes, cognitive decline, and chronic liver disease.

However, many people add additional ingredients such as sugar, syrup, heavy cream, and sweeteners to their coffee.

By doing this, it takes away all of the health benefits of coffee and instead adds a lot of extra sugar and calories. Instead of doing this, you can try drinking your coffee black or adding a small amount of milk or cream instead of sugar.

3. Eat Your Fruits Instead of Drinking

Studies have shown that eating fruit can reduce the risk of several health conditions such as heart disease, type II diabetes and cancer.
Because fruits contain fiber and various plant compounds their natural sugars are generally digested very slowly and don’t cause spikes in blood sugar levels.
However, this is not the same for fruit juices. Many fruit juices Aren’t even made from the real fruit but rather from concentrate and sugar. Some varieties may even contain as much sugar as a soft drink.

4. Pick Popcorn Instead of Chips

It may surprise you that popcorn is a whole grain that’s loaded with nutrients and fiber. For example, a 100 g serving of air popped popcorn contains 387 calories and 15 g of fiber. The same amount of potato chips contains 532 calories and only 3 g of fiber.
A diet that is rich in whole grains had has a lot of health benefits like a reduced risk of inflammation and heart disease. For a snack you can try popping your own popcorn at home or purchased air popped popcorn.
Be sure to limit or avoid prepacked microwavable portions with lots of preservatives, butter, and other’s flavor additives.

5. Eat Fresh Berries Instead of Dried Ones

Berries are full of nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants. They can be bought fresh, frozen, or dried.
Dried berries are a much more concentrated source of calories and sugar since all the water has been removed.
Dried fruit varieties are often covered with sugar, which further increases the sugar content. By eating fresh berries, you will get up much juicier snack that is lower in sugar and calories.

6. Choose Baked Potatoes over French Fries

Potatoes are very filling and a common side dish to many dishes.
The way they are prepared determines their impact on our health. 3.5 ounces or 100 g of baked potatoes contains 93 calories and the same amount of French fries contains over three times as many. They contain 333 calories.
Replacing your french fries with the baked potato or boiled potatoes is a great way to lessen calories and improve your eating habits.

7. Drink Enough Water

Drinking enough water is very important to your health. Many studies show that drinking water can increase weight loss and promote weight maintenance.
It can even increase the number of calories you can burn daily. Studies also show that drinking water before meals can reduce your appetite and food intake when you eat.
Drinking water is also an important way to reduce your intake of sugar and other calories. You can use a soda stream machine when you drink water to make it seem like it’s pop. It’s a much healthier alternative.

8. Try to Be More Active

Exercise has been known to your mood as well as decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress.
These feelings have been known to increase emotional and binge eating.
Exercise can strengthen your muscles and bones but it also can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, and improve your sleep.

9. Get a Good Night Sleep

A good night sleep is very important. If you don’t sleep well it can affect your appetite which then can result in eating foods with lots of calories which increases the chances of weight gain.
Studies show that people that don’t sleep well tend to weigh more than people that get enough sleep.
Not getting enough sleep can also affect concentration, productivity, athletic performance, glucose metabolism and it can also affect your immune system. Not sleeping well can also put you at risk for inflammatory conditions and heart disease.

I thought we could finish class by watching a funny video of a man trying to get the baby to eat vegetables.

Fun Facts about Painting:

The world’s oldest known paintings, found in caves in Indonesia, are estimated to be around 40,000 years old.

The color blue was historically one of the most expensive pigments to produce, as it was derived from rare minerals like lapis lazuli.

Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous painters in history, only sold one painting during his lifetime, “The Red Vineyard,” which was purchased by a Belgian art collector. Vincent van Gogh likely died believing that he was a failed artist.
This is a very touching scene from the show Dr. Who where time travelers take Vincent van Gogh forward in time to see his work being appreciated.

Jackson Pollock, a leading figure in the abstract expressionist movement, was known for his unconventional painting technique of dripping and splattering paint onto canvas, earning him the nickname “Jack the Dripper.”

The most expensive painting ever sold at auction is Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi,” which fetched a staggering $450.3 million in 2017.

The Evolution of Painting

Painting is a diverse and dynamic form of visual art that has evolved over centuries, encompassing various styles, techniques, and themes.
From hyper realism to abstract expressionism, painting has continuously adapted and innovated, reflecting the changing perspectives and aesthetics of different cultures and periods in history.

One of the earliest forms of painting is cave art, dating back tens of thousands of years, where prehistoric humans used natural pigments to depict animals, symbols, and scenes from their daily lives.

Over time, painting evolved into more sophisticated forms, such as ancient Egyptian frescoes and Greek vase painting, which showcased meticulous craftsmanship and storytelling.

During the Renaissance period in Europe, painting experienced a golden age of innovation and mastery, with artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael pushing the boundaries of realism, perspective, and composition.

The development of oil painting techniques allowed artists to achieve greater depth, texture, and color in their works, leading to iconic masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

In the modern era, painting expanded into new realms of abstraction and experimentation, with movements like impressionism, cubism, and surrealism challenging traditional conventions and exploring the subjective nature of perception and emotion.
Artists like Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí revolutionized painting with their bold use of color, form, and symbolism, paving the way for contemporary artists to explore even more diverse styles and concepts.

One cool new way to appreciate art is to immerse yourself in it! Now, you can buy tickets to immersive art experiences where they use technology to project paintings around a room. These installations use light, sound, and space to create a dynamic and engaging experience where viewers are transported into the world of the painting. Let’s check out this recording of one for Salvador Dalí.

Painting in the 2020s

The world of painting continues to evolve with the emergence of new talents and exciting trends. While the digital age has opened up new possibilities for artistic expression, traditional painting techniques remain vibrant and relevant, with artists pushing boundaries and exploring innovative approaches.

One trend that has gained traction in recent years is the resurgence of figurative painting, where artists depict the human form with renewed vigor and diversity. From hyperrealism to expressive portraiture, painters are capturing the complexities of human experience with stunning detail and emotion.

Additionally, there has been a growing interest in sustainability and eco-friendly practices within the art world, leading to the adoption of environmentally conscious materials and techniques. Artists are experimenting with natural pigments, organic paints, and recycled materials, aligning their creative practices with principles of environmental stewardship.

In terms of famous painters, contemporary artists like Kehinde Wiley, known for his vibrant portraits of African-American subjects, and Kerry James Marshall, celebrated for his richly layered depictions of Black life, continue to garner international acclaim and influence. Their bold and powerful works challenge conventions and redefine the possibilities of painting in the 21st century.

As the decade unfolds, we can expect to see further exploration of diverse themes, styles, and mediums in painting, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of art and society.

Feb 27: Taylor Swift

Who Is Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift began her career as a country singer by the age of 16. She had her early hits like Love Story and You Belong with Me.

Country and pop fans enjoyed the songs and that is when her multiplatinum excess started.
Now she is a megastar with 14 Grammy’s and she is the first artist to when Album of the Year four times.
She has been named Time Magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year and she is currently performing her record-breaking Eras Tour.
She is now dating professional football player Travis Kelce.
She plans to release her new album called The Tortured Poet’s Department in April of this year.

Where is Taylor Swift from?

Taylor’s full name is Taylor Alison Swift. She was born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania.
She spent her early years with her parents Scott and Andrea and her brother Austin on the family’s Christmas tree farm in nearby Wyomissing. Taylor said, “I had the most magical childhood, running free and going anywhere I wanted to in my head.”
She learned to ride horses and even competed in the sport for a while. But her musical passion started to come alive.
Taylor followed in the musical footsteps of her grandmother Marjorie Finley. She was a professional opera singer.
By the age of 10 Taylor was singing at a variety of local events that included fairs and contests. She sang The Star-Spangled Banner at a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game when she was 11 years old.
She began writing her own songs and learning the guitar at 12 years old. Her early music idols were including Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks.
She often went to Nashville to work on her musical career because it was the country music capital. In Nashville he cowrote songs and begin trying to get a reporting contract.
Because of her dedication to music her family moved to nearby Hendersonville when she was 13 years old because they wanted to encourage Taylor’s career.
She attended Hendersonville high school before finishing her education through the homeschooling program of Aaron Academy.
This was a private Christian school. She needed to do the homeschooling program in order to continue working on her musical career.

Music Career

She is one of today’s biggest pop stars and has worked her way from performing at local venues in Tennessee to performing in stadiums full of Swifties, her adoring fans on international tours.
An amazing performance at the Bluebird Café in Nashville is what helped her get a contract with Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Records when she was 14.
She started her career as a country singer and her first single was called Tim McGraw. This song was written in 2006 in her freshman year and a math class.

It became a top 10 hit on Billboard’s country chart which helped to launch Taylor into the spotlight. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill even asked Taylor to call on their Soul2Soul tour the following year as their opening Act.
As a teenager Taylor won the Horizon Award from the Country Music Association, and the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Female Vocalist in 2007.
in 2008 she was nominated for Best New Artist At the Grammys. She was the youngest artist to win the Grammy for the Album of the Year for her album Fearless in 2010.
Taylor then decided to start experimenting with her musical genres.
Her fifth album called 1989 came out and she introduced herself as a pop musician.
Her new sound was enjoyed by fans and the 2014 release is one of her most successful to date, it spent 11 weeks on the top Billboard 200 and it sold more than 1.2 million copies in the first week.
Her personal experience including romantic relationships continue to fuel her ideas in her songwriting. She said, “I’m enthralled by relationships, and I love the drama in them, but that’s usually where it lives. I’m not a dramatic person.”
She’s not the only person to do this to write songs. She doesn’t usually reveal who are songs are about unless they are family or friends. But her loyal fans always try to guess who her song and lyrics are about.
Since March 2023 she has been on her Eras Tour. It is her sixth international tour, she headlined her first concert series after the release of her award-winning second album Fearless.
When the presale tickets for her Eras Tour went on sale in November 2022, so many fans attempted to get their seats that Ticketmaster cancelled the general sale. This caused a congressional hearing about the stoppage of selling general tickets.
Taylor is already one of the highest grossing touring musicians as of July 2022. She has earned more than $1 billion on the Eras Tour so far.
This passes Elton John’s record-setting Farewell Tour that spanned over five years.
The tour wraps up in December 2024 after dozens more concerts all over the world.
She has been so successful in 2023 because of the release of the 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Album and the record-setting concert film called Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, 2 more, #1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, this ties with Drake as the artist with the most Billboard Music Awards in history.

Time Magazine also named her it’s 2023 person of the year. Taylor is the fifth woman to receive the honour.
Earlier this month Taylor became the first artist to win the Grammy for Album of the Year Award four times which put her in the history books again.

Hit Songs

Ever since she released her first single called Tim McGraw in 2006 her music has found a home on the Billboard Charts.
As of February 5, 2024, she has had 232 songs on the mainstream Hot 100. This includes 11 number one hits and the record-setting 49 songs in the top 10. No woman has had more top 10 hits.
Taylor she also has nine number one Hot Country Songs including Our Song and Should’ve Said No.

Fearless debuted at number nine on the mainstream chart in 2008. It was Taylor’s first top 10 song.
In September 2012 the Grammy nominated song called We Are Never Getting Back Together topped the charts at number one.

Some of her other number one songs include: Shake It off, Blank Space, Bad Blood, Look What You Made Me Do, Cardigan, Willow, All Too Well, Anti Hero, Cool Summer and Is It over Now.

The song All Too Well (Taylor’s Version) is the longest number one hit in history. It is 10 minutes and 13 seconds long.
Shake It off is Taylor’s only diamond certified song because it sold the equivalent of 10 million copies.

Documentary and Movies

In January 2020 Taylor released her Netflix documentary called Miss Americana. Miss Americana earned a limited run in theatres simultaneously to its streaming release on Netflix.

Taylor’s new concert movie called Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour shows her amazing star power. The film opens exclusively in movie theatres in 3850 locations in North America alone in October 2023. It also has showtimes in some 90 other countries and has grossed more than $261 million worldwide as of February 5, 2024. This makes it the highest grossing concert film of all time. The extended version, with three additional songs is now available to rent on streaming services.
She has also tried her hand At acting. She appeared in the 2010 Blockbuster call Valentine’s Day with Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, and other well-known celebrities.
She had a voice role in the movie the Lorax in 2012 and another role in the movie The Giver 2014.
In December 2019 she was featured in a live-action adaptation of the Broadway musical CATS with Jennifer Hudson, James Corden and Rebel Wilson.
She also teamed up with CATS creator Andrew Lloyd Webber to write a song called beautiful ghosts for the movie. She also had a cameo in 2022 Amsterdam.

I thought we could and class the funny video from Jimmy Fallon and Taylor.

February 22: Different Kinds of Families

Families come in many shapes and sizes, and each type is unique and special in its own way. Here are some examples of different types of families:

Nuclear Families

A nuclear family typically consists of a husband, a wife, and their biological or adopted children living together in one household.
This is often seen as the “normal” family structure, but it wasn’t always this way.
Examples: the Simpsons and the Griffin family from Family Guy.

Single-Parent Families

In a single-parent family, one parent raises one or more children on their own.
People can be single parents by choice, choosing to adopt or use in vitro fertilization to have a child with help from someone else.
People can also be single parents by circumstances, including divorce, separation, one parent being imprisoned, and the death of a spouse.
Example: The TV series “Gilmore Girls” follows the lives of single mother Lorelai Gilmore and her teenage daughter, Rory, as they navigate life. Lorelai gave birth to Rory when she was only 16 years old, which sometimes blurs the line between parent/child and sisters. Their close bond and unconventional family dynamic is central to the heartwarming and witty storytelling of the series.

Extended Families

Extended families include relatives beyond the nuclear family unit, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, living together or in close proximity.
This type of family structure fosters strong bonds and support networks across multiple generations.
Example: The show “Modern Family” features three interconnected families: the Dunphys, Pritchetts, and Tuckers. Each family represents a different type of extended family dynamic, including intergenerational relationships, step-families, and same-sex partnerships. The show explores the funny and heartfelt moments that arise from these diverse family dynamics.

Blended Families

Blended families are formed when two people with children from previous relationships come together to create a new family unit.
This can involve step-parents, step-siblings, and half-siblings living together.
Example: “The Brady Bunch” TV series follows the adventures of the Brady family, a blended family formed by the marriage of widower Mike Brady and divorcee Carol Martin. Together, they navigate the challenges of merging their families, resulting in a beloved sitcom that celebrates the joys and quirks of blended family life.

Adoptive Families

Adoptive families consist of parents who have legally adopted one or more children.
These families provide loving homes for children who may not have been able to live with their biological parents for various reasons.
Example: “This Is Us” tells the story of the Pearson family, which includes siblings Kevin, Kate, and Randall, who was adopted by the Pearsons as a baby. The show explores themes of identity, belonging, and family bonds as the characters navigate the complexities of their relationships and personal journeys.

Foster Families

Foster families provide temporary care and support for children who are unable to live with their biological families due to issues such as abuse, neglect, or parental incapacity.
Foster parents play a crucial role in providing stability and nurturing environments for these children.
Example: “Instant Family” is a heartwarming comedy-drama film that follows a couple, Pete and Ellie, who decide to become foster parents and end up adopting three siblings. The film explores the challenges and joys of foster care and adoption, highlighting the importance of love, patience, and resilience in building a family.

Multi-Generational Families

Multi-generational families include members from different generations living together under one roof.
This can include grandparents, parents, children, and sometimes even great-grandparents, all sharing the same household.

Example: The Villanueva family from the TV series “Jane the Virgin” is a heart-warming show that focuses on the intergenerational dynamics between the abuela (grandmother), mother, Jane, and Jane’s son. Because they all have different perspectives, they do argue, but they always make an effort to understand each other and show each other unconditional love.

Queer Family Village/Chosen Families

People belonging to the lesbian, gay, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, and more (LGBTQIA+) community often create support networks for each other and their allies.
Sometimes this is necessary if an individual’s biological family has rejected them due to homophobia and transphobia, but not every biological family is unsupportive.
There is a diverse range of structures and dynamics within these types of families, such as: two parents with the same gender identity (e.g., two men, two women, or two non-binary people), polyamorous or non-monogamous families (e.g., three or more people in a romantic relationship), and co-parenting arrangements with adults outside of the romantic relationship who the parents trust (e.g., chosen extended family).
The show “Modern Family” features various family dynamics, including a same-sex parent family. Mitchell and Cameron, a gay couple, raise their adopted daughter, Lily, navigating the joys and challenges of parenthood in a modern world.

Childless Families

Childless families consist of couples who have chosen not to have children or who are unable to conceive.
These families often prioritize other aspects of their lives, such as caretaking for other family members, careers, and/or travel.
Example: The film “Up in the Air” (2009) follows Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert who travels extensively for work and lives a nomadic lifestyle. Ryan is portrayed as intentionally childless, preferring the freedom and independence of his lifestyle without the responsibilities of raising a family. Throughout the film, Ryan’s decision to remain childfree is explored, along with the challenges and rewards of his chosen path. “Up in the Air” offers a nuanced portrayal of an intentionally childless individual and the complexities of modern adulthood and relationships

To Sum Up…

Let’s wrap up by talking about the history of different families, and how the nuclear family became presented as the “normal” family.
There is nothing wrong with nuclear families, but presenting one family structure as “normal” can make people who have different family structures feel like they aren’t “normal”.

Each type of family is valuable and contributes to the rich tapestry of human relationships and experiences.
Regardless of how the structure of the family looks like, what matters most is the love, support, and connection shared among family members.

February 20: Usher

Who is Usher?

R and B singer and pop artist Usher has won eight Grammy awards.
He is best known for his album Confessions.
The songs called Yeah!, Nice And Slow, U Remind Me, and My Boo, a duet with Alicia Keys.
He started to become famous when he was 14 after a performance on Star search.
It led to a recording contract with La Face Records.
Usher released his first album in 1994 when he was 15 years old.
In 2004, the album Confessions gave him even more success.
It gave him his first number one album and it sold more than 1 million copies in the first week and then he got three Grammy awards.
His most recent album is Hard to Love, and it was released in 2016.
Usher is currently performing a Las Vegas residency that is scheduled to finish in December 2023.

Early Years

Here is a picture of usher recording in July 1994 when he was 15 and he signed with La Face Records.

Asher Terry Raymond IV was born on October 14, 1978.
He was born in Dallas and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He started singing in his church choir when he was six years old.
Two years after moving with his mother and brother to Atlanta he performed in the talent competition called Star search and was able to get a recording contract with La Face Records.
He released a self-titled first album in 1994 when he was only 15 years old.
He soon became known for his vocals, broad range, style sense, sexy dance moves and sensual but meaningful ballots.

Songs and Albums

Since the late 1990s, Usher has become very well known in the music industry.
He has challenged himself to try different musical genres including R&B, blues, and pop, with his eight solo studio albums.
In 1994 he released his first album called Usher.
In 1997 he released his second studio album called My Way.
This album included singles called Nice and Slow which became his first number one hit, and You Make Me Wanna.

This helped Usher move very quickly to fame selling more than 7 million copies to date.
He was very well known for his fluid vocals and addictive melodies.

He also became very well known for his ability to incorporate sensual moves into a songs, performances, and music videos.
Usher released 8701 in 2001.
This was another very successful album, and it included the number one song called You Got It Bad as well as the Grammy award winning singles called You Reminded Me and You Don’t Have To Call.
The album sold more than 4 million copies in the United States alone.
In 2004 he released the album called Confessions. This was an extremely well-received album, and more than 1 million copies were sold in the first week and 20 million copies worldwide.
This album included the number one songs called Burn, Confessions Part Two, and Yeah. The song called Yeah was a collaboration with Ludacris and Lil Jon and it held top spot on the Billboard hot 100 for 12 weeks.

Billboard later named Yeah the hot 100 single of the year.

here is the version that was on the Super Bowl.

The song called My Boo was a duet with Alicia Keys was also released in 2004 and gave him another number one song.

By this time, Usher had an amazing track record.
He had achieved 13 top 20 hits, seven of them were number one singles.
He was named Artist of the Year At the 2004 Billboard Music Awards.
In 2005, he received three Grammy awards. They were for Best Contemporary R&B album for Confessions, Best R&B performance by a Duo or Group for My Boo and best Rap/Sung Collaboration for Yeah! and two Peoples’ Choice Awards.
In 2008 fans were finally given the next album called Here I Stand.
The album went to number one spot on the Billboard 200 and had big hits on it including the number one single called Love in This Club. It featured Young Jeezy. The song went Platinum within two months of its release and the album did too.
After the release of Raymond V Raymond in 2010, Usher won 2 more Grammy’s for Best Contemporary R&B album and Best Male R&B performance for There Goes My Baby.
In total the singer has won eight Grammys and 19 Billboard Music Awards among other honours.
In June 2012 he produced Looking For Myself which was his fourth consecutive album to hit number one on Billboard’s album chart.
In September 2016 Usher released his eighth studio album. It was called Hard to Love. It featured the singles called No Limit, Crash, Missin’ You, and Rivals. At first it was released and available on the streaming service called Tidal which Usher co- owns with Jay Z and other big-name musicians, but later it was made available on other streaming services as well.
Usher is planning to release his ninth studio album called coming Home on February 11, 2024.
That same day he will headline the halftime show for the Super Bowl which will be held in Las Vegas. He said, “it’s an honour of my lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before.”

Movies and TV Roles

Besides his music, Usher has worked as a movie and stage actor.
One of his earliest roles within the teen horror film called The Faculty in 1998.
He made guest appearances on several television shows including the role as Marvin Gaye on the program called American Dreams in 2002.
In 2005 he played a disc jockey in the movie called In the Mix and in 2006 he landed the role of Billy Flynn in the Broadway play Chicago.

In March 2013 Usher returned to reality TV to be a judge and coach.
He worked with Latin singer Shakira on the Voice on season four. They replaced Cee Lo Green and Christine Aguilera. They worked with returning judges Adam Levine and Blake Shelton.
He soon won over TV viewers with his offbeat coaching style.
He was not on The Voice for season five but returned for season six. Under Usher’s guidance and coaching Josh Kaufman went on to win the season.

Philanthropy and Business Ventures

Usher is very busy with his usher was also very busy with his charity. It is called The New Look Foundation, and it was founded in 1999. This organization provides funding for children in foster care and service programs, holds conferences and camps for at risk youth, and works to promote leadership skills for kids in impoverished communities.
Usher has received honours for his work with this organization from such groups as the Boys and Girls Club of America, The Trumpet Foundation, and the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People.
Usher also has invested in several entrepreneurial activities.
He owns the record label US Records and a men’s cologne line.
He is also part-time owner in the music streaming service Tidal and is the co-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers Basketball Team.

Children and Girlfriend

In the early 2000’s, Usher dated Chili, a former member of the all-female group TLC.
In 2007, he married Tamika Foster. He and Foster have two children together. They are Usher Raymond V, born in 2007 and Naviyd born in 2008, the couple divorced in 2009.
In July 2012 Fosters 11-year-old son from a previous relationship, (ushers stepson), Kyle Glover suffered a severe brain injury in the water and after being rushed to a local hospital he was declared brain-dead.
Tragedy struck Asher’s family again the following August. His son Usher Raymond V got caught in the pool drain at the singer’s Atlanta home.
Usher’s aunt was watching the child at the time and tried to save the boy. The child was taken to a nearby hospital and survived his injuries.
After this accident Usher’s ex-wife Tamika Foster tried to start a legal battle to regain custody of the couple’s two children. She claimed that Usher wasn’t capable of providing daily caregiving and supervision for the minor children. But the judge in the case disagreed with her And Allowed Usher to retain custody of the children.
In September 2015, Asher married his long-time girlfriend and manager Grace Miguel who is a top executive at Def Jam Records. After two years of marriage, they announced they were separated In March 2018.
In September 2020 Asher and his girlfriend Jenn Goicoechea welcomed a daughter named Sovereign Bo. The following September they had their second child together. Her name is Sire Castrello.
After the Super Bowl it is rumoured that Usher and Jenn got married while they were in Las Vegas.

Let’s finish class by watching a funny video with Usher.

February 15: February Holidays

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it has lots of holidays!
Most importantly, February is Black History Month! We could easily do a whole lesson on this month, but this lesson is for all February holidays, including Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Family Day, and Chosen Family Day.
Today, we’ll talk about each of these holidays’ history and how they’re celebrated today.

✊🏿Black History Month

Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and achievements of Black individuals throughout history.
This holiday is celebrated in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
Did you know that the idea originated in Canada? This is thanks to Dr. Carter G. Woodson!

Dr. Woodson was a Black Canadian historian who saw the need to recognize the often-overlooked accomplishments of Black people. In fact, in many classrooms today, the contributions of Black Canadians are still not taught, which paints an inaccurate picture that the Black community hasn’t had a major impact on our country’s shared history. As the quote above says, this erasure can negatively affect Black people’s inspiration and lead to limiting beliefs about themselves.
In 1926, Dr. Woodson launched what he called “Negro History Week” in the United States. He chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. This week-long observance was eventually expanded into Black History Month.
Today, Black History Month is celebrated by educating, celebrating, and reflecting on the rich history and culture of Black communities. It highlights the struggles and triumphs of Black individuals in various fields, including politics, science, literature, and the arts.
People participate in events, lectures, and exhibitions that honor the legacy of Black leaders and pioneers. It’s a time for all individuals to learn from the past, promote equity, and work towards a future of inclusivity and justice.

🦫 Groundhog Day

Photo by Jesper Giortz-Behrens on Unsplash

February 2nd is Groundhog Day! Look at this majestic rodent!
As you probably know, if the groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, it means that there will be six more weeks of winter. If it doesn’t see its shadow, then spring is right around the corner!
Have you ever wondered where this tradition comes from? Is there any scientific proof of this? Let’s watch this video to find out!

People don’t often do much to celebrate Groundhog Day, but the main way is to either attend (or, more realistically, watch on TV) the outdoor community gatherings where large crowds of spectators visit certain towns to witness the event.
In Canada, this tradition is most famously observed in the town of Wiarton, Ontario, where Wiarton Willie makes the annual prediction.
The other famous groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil, who is the most beloved groundhog in the United States. He’s named after his Pennsylvanian hometown.
Like the video mentions, the movie Groundhog Day with Tom Hanks is one of the reasons why this holiday is known around the world.

💘 Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th.
This holiday’s origins is in Christian and Roman traditions. It honors St. Valentine, a Christian martyr who lived in ancient Rome.

Over time, the day became associated with love and romance, but it’s not only for people in romantic relationships — it’s a day for expressing affection and appreciation for friends, family members, and romantic partners.
People celebrate Valentine’s Day by exchanging cards, chocolates, flowers, and gifts between loved ones. Modern celebrations often include romantic dinners, outings, and special events organized by businesses and community organizations.
Did anyone do anything to celebrate yesterday?
Let’s see how people celebrate love around the world!

🏡Family Day & Chosen Family Day

Each year, on the third Monday of February, Canadians celebrate Family Day!

Family Day is a relatively new holiday in Canada. It was first introduced in Alberta in 1990 and has since been adopted by several other provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. Ontario started celebrating it in 2008.
Family Day is meant to celebrate the importance of family and encourage people to spend quality time with their loved ones. It’s a statutory holiday, so people get the day off work! Many businesses and organizations also offer Family Day promotions and discounts to encourage family-friendly activities.
This holiday provides an opportunity for families to bond. There’s no wrong way to celebrate the day! The focus is quality time.
Also, there is no right or wrong way to navigate Family Day while you are grieving. However you want to spend the day is the right way to spend the day.
Here are some tips:
- Acknowledge and process your feelings without judging yourself for having them.
- Consider incorporating rituals or activities that honour the memory of your loved one. This could include lighting a candle, sharing stories, or visiting a special place that holds significance.
- If large gatherings feel overwhelming, consider simplifying your Family Day celebrations. Focus on low-key activities that bring comfort and connection, such as cooking a favorite meal together or watching a family movie.
- Lean on friends, family members, or support groups for emotional support. Talking about your feelings with others who understand can provide comfort and validation.

🫂Chosen Family Day

There is also Chosen Family Day in Toronto, which was announced by former Mayor John Tory in 2022.
This day recognizes the importance of chosen families, which are relationships formed through close bonds of friendship, support, and love, rather than biological ties. The announcement of Chosen Family Day reflects acceptance for all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances.
This beautiful song explains the concept very well!

Chosen Family Day celebrates the diversity of Toronto’s communities. The holiday acknowledges that there are lots of different kinds of families, including people who have been there for us and supported us even though we aren’t related by blood.
Next week, we’ll discuss different kinds of families!

To sum up…

Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Family Day, and Chosen Family Day are significant holidays in Canada, each with its own history and modern traditions.

These holidays provide opportunities for Canadians to come together, celebrate, and create cherished memories with their loved ones.

Remember that you don’t have to celebrate every holiday. The point of holidays is to add joy and not stress to your life!

I think that there are so many February holidays because otherwise it’s a very gray winter month. Which February holiday is your favourite?

February 13: Toby Keith

Who Was Toby Keith?

He was a country singer known for his songs that were about patriotism and partying.
He began his career early in the 1990s with a self-titled debut album that went platinum in 1994.
He reacted to the events of 9/11 by writing the song called Courtesy of the Red and White and Blue (The Angry American). This struck a chord with military personnel but caused a controversy.

He was a two-time Academy of Country Music entertainer of the Year Award winner and he frequently performed for US military members.
His multi-platinum number one albums include Unleashed and Shock’n Y’all from the early 2000’s.
His most popular songs are Should Have Been a Cowboy, Red Solo Cup and the Grammy nominated duet Beer for My Horses. It was sung with Willie Nelson.

In 2022 Toby revealed he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and he died at age 62 on February 5, 2024.

Early Life

He was a singer, songwriter, and musician. His full name was Toby Keith Coval, and he was born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Oklahoma.
He was raised in Oklahoma City and started playing music at a young age.
He was inspired by the musicians who worked in his grandmother’s supper club.
After working for a while in the industry and playing defense in the USFL football league he decided to pursue his career in music.
In the early 1990s Toby Signed with Mercury Records.
By 1994, his self-titled debut album from the previous year became certified platinum.
His follow-up records called Boomtown In 1994 and Blue Moon in 1996 were just as successful because of his popular hits called Who Is That Man and Me Too.

In 1997 he worked with Sting to record I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying which earned both of them a Grammy nomination.

It was Toby’s first of seven throughout his career.
He got even more successful with the release of 1999 album called How Do You like Me Now?! For this album he won album of the year at the Academy of country music awards.
He was also named The Top Male Vocalist that year.
In 2001 he released the album called Pull My Chain which topped the country album charts. This was a career first for Keith.
At the end of 2001 Keith got his first Country Music Association award as Male Vocalist of the Year.

Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue

In 2001, Toby’s father was killed in a traffic accident. It was that incident combined with the events of September 11, that caused Toby to write the controversial song Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American). It was very popular especially among military personnel.
It was released in May 2002 and was on the Unleashed album and it became a multiplatinum record.
Unleashed became his first number one album on the Billboard 200 and included a hit duet Nelson.
It was called Beer for My Horses. It was nominated for two Grammys: Best Country Song and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals.

Toby was named entertainer of the year by the Academy of country music in 2002 and 2003.

Country Stardom

In November 2003 Toby released Shock’n Y’all which reached the top of the country and pop album charts.
The record’s title is a play on the military expression shock and awe. It was from the Iraq war, and it was his way of honouring the troops. The song American soldier was a big success.
He continued to create his good old boy image with songs like I Love This Bar and he showed his sense of humour with the song called Weed with Willie.

This song was about the story of getting high with Willie Nelson. Shock’n Y’all earned Keith another ACM award for Album of the Year.
In 2005, he released Honky-Tonk University. It featured a duet with country music icon Merle Haggard. It was called She Ain’t Hooked on Me No More.

The biggest single on the album was a ballad called As Good As I Once Was.

This song helped the album Honky-Tonk University go to the top of the country charts for seven weeks. The video for this song also won the CMA for Music Video of the Year.
Also, in this year Keith was honoured by his home state because he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
In 2006 Keith released White Trash with Money. This album had hits on it like the upbeat song that was honouring a friend called Get Drunk and Be Somebody, and A Little Too Late. This album sold a lot and many positive reviews.

USO Tour and Movie

In 2007, Keith Toby released Big Dog Daddy and A Classic Christmas which were both very popular with the record buying public.
Toby and his family result a very difficult personal matter around this time. They reached a settlement in their lawsuit regarding the 2001 accident that killed his father.
In April 2008 Toby played 18 shows for US troops in the Persian Gulf as part of the USO tour. Keith even had to pause during one of his performances because of gunfire but he returned to the stage after the attack stopped.
Later that year he starred in the big-screen comedy called Beer for My Horses as a small-town deputy who arrests a Mexican drug Lord, this leads to the kidnapping of his girlfriend by the drug Lord’s brother.
He cowrote the screenplay and produced the movie which featured appearances by Ted Nugent and Willie Nelson.

More Hit Songs: Red Solo Cup, Made in America and Don’t Let the Old Man in

In 2008 Toby released That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy. It got to the top of the country album charts and had to hit songs. They were called God Love Her and Lost You Anyway.

He still continued to tour a lot. In 2009 Toby’s Americas Toughest Tour had dates in the United States and in Europe.
In 2009 he released the album American Ride.
In 2010 he released the albums Bullets In the Gun.
In 2011 he released the album Clancy’s Tavern it had the songs Made In America and Red Solo Cup.

In 2012 he released another album called Hope on the Rocks. This album didn’t do as well as dubious albums. The title track on the album only got to number 29 on the Billboard country charts.
In 2013 he released another album called Drinks After Work. This album had the popular song called Shut up and Hold On. This song debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 2014 he released the single called Drunk Americans. This was from the album called MPH Town. It was released in 2015.
That same year was Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2017 Toby signed on to perform at Donald Trump’s pre-inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial on January 19.
He did say that his appearance was for the country not in support of a politician or political party.
He said, “I don’t apologize before for performing for our country or military. I performed at events for previous presidents like George W. Bush and Obama and did over 200 Shows in Iraq and Afghanistan for the USO.
For his next song he got inspiration from film actor and director Clint Eastwood.
Toby attended Clint’s golf tournament in 2018 when he found out about the soon to be 88-year-old’s upcoming movie called The Mule.
He asked where he gets his energy and Clint replied, “I just get up every morning and go out. And I don’t let the old man in.”
This was where Toby got the idea for the song called the same name for the film. It eventually got to number one on The Country Digital Song Sales Chart in October 2023.

This was after Toby performed it at the People’s Choice Country Awards. He also worked with BMLG Records to release the song to country radio at the same time.
In 2021 President Trump awarded Keith The National Medal of Arts.
Nine months later Toby released his final original album. It was called Peso In My Pocket. It had the two popular songs called Happy Birthday America and Old School.

In December 2021 he received the PMI Icon Award.
Toby’s most recent album called 100% Songwriter was released in 2023 and it featured a collection of his early career hit like Should’ve Been a Cowboy, You Shouldn’t Kiss Me like This, and Who’s That Man.
A month after its release the streaming service called Pandora recognized Toby with a Billionaire Award because in December 2023 his songs had occurred 3 billion streams.

Wife and Children

In 1984 Toby married Tricia Lucas. They had two children together. Their daughter’s name was Krystal, and she was born in 1985 and a son named Stelan and he was born in 1997.
Toby also adopted Lucas’ daughter Shelley after their marriage.
They met at a bar not long after he graduated high school in 1979.
He had taken a job as an oil field worker, while playing at local bars with his band called the Easy Money Band.
She said “I was 19, and he was 20. He was just one of those larger-than-life guys full of confidence.”
They dated for almost 3 years before tying the knot.
In 2006 she helped Toby Started the Toby Keith Foundation to help children and their families battling cancer.
Krystal became a musician like her father but decided to step back from the spotlight in recent years to focus on raising her two daughters. Stellan is a real estate investor.

Cancer Diagnosis and Death

In June 2022 Toby revealed that he had been under undergoing treatments for stomach cancer since fall 2021.
He underwent surgery and received chemotherapy and radiation treatments over the course of six months.
By June 2023 Keith indicated that the treatments were working. He said that the tumor are had shrunk by one third and his health was approving.
He attended the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards in September where he received the Country Music Icon Award.
After his acceptance speech he sang Don’t Let the Old Man in for his first life performance since his diagnosis.
He also played at Park MGM in Las Vegas for three nights that December.
However, his improved health didn’t last. Toby died peacefully on February 5, 2024. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.

Net Worth

According to celebrity net worth Toby’s net worth was estimated at around $400 million in early February 20, 2024.

Let’s finish class by watching attribute to Toby Keith. I hope you enjoyed learning about such a talented man.

February 6: Glass Tiger

Glass Tiger is a Canadian rock band from Newmarket Ontario that formed in 1983.
The band released five studio albums.
In 1986 they released their debut album called The Thin Red Line.
It went quadruple platinum in Canada and gold in the United States.
The two most successful singles from this album Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) and Someday went to the top 10 US.

The History of Glass Tiger

In Newmarket Ontario vocalist Alan Frew and bassist Wayne Parker were in a band called Onyx.
Keyboardist Sam Reid was in the band called The End from River Drive Park.
Michael Hanson was the drummer was in a band called Tokyo. Lastly guitarist Al Connolly joined the band in 1980. Together they all formed glass Tiger.
In 1986 glass Tiger released the first album called The Thin Red Line.

It was produced by Jim Vallance and he even cowrote two of the songs.
Bryan Adams created a vocal cameo performance on the song Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone.
Glass Tiger won 3 1986 Juno awards: Album of the Year for The Thin Red Line, Single of the Year for Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone and Most Promising Group of the Year.
The album’s producer Jim Valance was named composer of the year.
The band won two more Juno awards in 1987 and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
The band performed in the United States as part of the group Journey’s Raised on Radio Tour and on Tina Turner’s European Break Every Rule Tour.
The band released a second album called Diamond Sun in 1988.
The album was certified triple platinum in Canada and featured the single I’m Still Searchin’ which placed number two in Canada.

At this time Hanson left the group in 1988 following the release of this album.

Glass Tiger’s third album called Simple Mission was released in 1991 by Capitol records. The album received radio play in Canada and Europe. It was certified platinum in Canada.
The band went on a hiatus in 1993. After pursuing other projects, the band reformed in 2003 with a new drummer Christopher McNeil and began touring again in March 2009.

Glass Tiger and the members of the NHL alumni visited Canadian Forces stationed in Kandahar Afghanistan.
The visit included live performances and footage was shown on an episode of entertainment tonight Canada.
The band returned to Afghanistan for a second performance in 2010.
In in 2012 glass Tiger went on to work across Canada with the band Roxette and performed as part of Penticton BC’s Rock the Peach Music Festival.
On July 1, 2013, they performed a free concert in Leduc, Alberta as part of the Canada Day celebrations.
The band performed at a number of festivals in the summer of 2017.
On September 23, 2017, Glass Tiger performed at Canada Games Plaza in Prince George British Columbia. This free concert was held to thank the city for receiving over 11,000 evacuees from the southern interior who had displaced by wildfires.
In February 2018 to celebrate 31 years of making music they released an album entitled 31. This album was produced by Scottish Canadian country artist Johnny Reid.
The album includes special guest contributions from Julian Lennon who worked on The Thin Red Line, Alan Doyle who worked on My Song, Veronic DiClaire who worked on Someday, and Susan Aglukark and David Maracle who worked on Diamond Sun.
In May 2019 glass Tiger released their fifth studio album called 33.
After the release of this album, they joined Corey Hart on his Never Surrender Cross Canada Tour in June 2019.

The band continued to perform a number of headlining shows throughout the summer and performed as part of the Sopot International Song Festival in Poland.
They even surprised a fan Pleasant view nursing home.

Alan Frew and His Stroke

What people didn’t realize is that in August 2015 Alan Frew had a stroke. The Scottish born singer, lead singer of the hugely successful Canadian band glass Tiger was now lying in the bed in Toronto paralyzed on his right side and facing terrifying uncertain future. But even then he was already determined that the stroke would not define. When his wife and daughter came from Edmonton he would hear them say “this is not who you are. We see you getting back on stage and being the man, we know and love, the artist and singer that the world knows.” He said, “until that moment I’ve been thinking my life was over. But hearing those words well that’s when we have really begun for me.” He was doing things like putting his hand and a bucket of rice and pulling out objects that were hidden in it. He was picking up coins and putting them in a can. He had lost his speech so he would take any chance he could to speak because his goal was to get back up on stage and sing just the way he knew he could. He remembers even being afraid that things would be very difficult for him to do when he went home. The one thing that helped him was knowing that they had a concert booked in the spring of 2016 in Toronto, so he had to get back into shape. He went through outpatient therapy to or three times a week and never gave up. When he was asked what stroke has done for him he replied, “stroke has shown me that I have inner strength the likes of which I could not have amendment of imagined.” His goal is to bring the story of the stroke to the public and they’ve been filming a documentary, and they would like to have it seen by millions of. It is Alan’s hope that it will provide a source of strength for people going through the same thing going through the same thing or even different challenges in their lives.

Glass Tiger Being Inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame

Grammy Award nominees and five-time JUNO Award winners (13 times nominated), Glass Tiger formed in the early ‘80s out of Newmarket, Ontario and has become one of the most successful bands in Canadian music history with over 5 million albums sold. Their 1986 debut album, “The Thin Red Line’ went multi-platinum in Canada, gold in the U.S. and led to the hit singles Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) and Someday. Throughout their illustrious career, Glass Tiger has shared stages and performances with some of the world’s leading acts, such as Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Bryan Adams, Journey, Julian Lennon and Cheap Trick, to name a few.

February 1 & 8: Pop Music

Pop music is short for “popular music.” It’s designed to appeal to a wide audience.
Pop music has a way of bringing people together because it’s something many people can enjoy and talk about.
Pop songs are usually easy to remember and sing along to! Feel free to sing in today’s class!

A Brief History of Pop Music

Over the years, pop music has undergone a major evolution, which reflects the shifting tastes and cultural changes of society.
In North America, pop music originated in the 1950s with upbeat and catchy tunes.
Early pop music featured simplicity in lyrics and melodies, often centered around love and youth.

The 1960s brought the “British Invasion,” with bands like The Beatles revolutionizing pop with their experimental sound and songwriting.

There were also classic songs coming from the U.S.!

The disco era in the 1970s infused pop with danceable rhythms, leading to iconic hits.

The 1980s saw the rise of synthesizers and MTV. MTV influenced pop with visually compelling music videos and diverse sounds.

Pop music continued to evolve in the 1990s, and gave rise to multiple boy bands, like the Back Street Boys, Boyz II Men, *NYSNC, as well as girl bands, like the Spice Girls, TLC, and Destiny’s Child.

In the 2000s, advances in digital technology paved the way for more electronic-sounding music. Pop music was also more influenced by hip-hop than previous decades.

Let’s enjoy some other pop songs from the 00s and 10s!

The gradual changes to pop music’s sound is like a mirror of society’s social and cultural evolution.
Pop music is able to capture the spirit of each era while still maintaining its universal appeal.

Pop Music Around the World

Today’s pop music is a diverse landscape, incorporating global sounds, genres, and innovative production techniques.
Pop music exists in many languages and cultures around the world.
Some examples are K-pop from Korea, J-pop from Japan, and Latin pop.
These songs show that you don’t need to speak the language to love the song! This genre is like a shared language that connects us all.

January 30: Jimmy Buffett

Who Was Jimmy Buffett?

Jimmy was born in 1946 in Mississippi, and he grew up in Alabama.
After he finished college he moved to Nashville Tennessee to pursue a career as a country singer. He released his first solo album in 1970.
He gained a large loyal following within a few years and broke into the mainstream with his sixth album which contained the song Margaritaville.
Margaritaville was released in 1977 and became the name for all Jimmy’s business ventures.
Four decades later Margaritaville Entered the National Recording Registry.
He released 40 albums over the course of his career and went on tour often.
He died in September 2023 when he was 76 years of age.

Early Life and Career

This picture was of Jimmy Buffett at the start of his musical career around 1970.
He was a singer and songwriter.
His full name was James William Buffett, and he was born on December 25, 1946, in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
However, He Grew up in Mobile Alabama and attended Catholic high school.
He left Mobile and eventually attended the University of Southern Mississippi.
He started learning the guitar to supposedly pick up women.
After college he moved to Nashville to pursue a career as a country singer, but he first worked as a journalist for Billboard magazine.
He first started working with the cover band called The Now Generation.

After he finished working with them Jimmy landed his first record contract in 1970.
Later that same year, he released his folk debut album called Down-To-Earth. The next one was called High Cumberland Jubilee. Neither of these were not very popular.

Mainstream musical success with “Margaritaville”

Jimmy was always drawn to being near the sea, so he moved to Key West in the early 1970s. It was here that he adopted his trademark beachcombing persona.
He signed a contract with ABC Dunhill and put out White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean in 1973.
The album had party hits on it like Why Don’t We Get Drunk.

He began to get a very loyal following of fans who appreciated the laid-back atmosphere that his shows had.
Soon his fans began to wear Hawaiian shirts with a Grateful Dead style to his shows. They began to call themselves “Parrotheads.”
He broke into the mainstream with his sixth album in 1977. It was called Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes. Margaritaville was on this album.

He got the idea for this song after a night out while drinking margaritas in a bar in Austin Texas. He originally wrote it on a cocktail napkin and finished the song later that day on his trip back to the Florida Keys. He played it for the first time that night at a bar in Key West.
It was his only top 10 song on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
In 1978, he released his follow-up album called Son of a Son of a Sailor.
This album had a classic record called Cheeseburger in Paradise. This album also went platinum within a year of its release.

Margaritaville The Business

Jimmy won a lawsuit against Chi-Chi’s restaurant chain. They attempted to trademark a Margaritaville drink special.
After that Jimmy decided to use his business savvy to capitalize on his beach bum image.
In 1985, he opened a Margaritaville store in Key West. He opened a restaurant two years later with the same name.
He partnered with John Cohlan in the 1990s and accelerated his business with more restaurant openings and the launch of a tequila brand and Land Shark Beer.
The Margaritaville name has been used on a beach apparel and footwear line, casinos, a chain of bars, a radio station, a cruise ship, a musical and many more things.
Today there are 30 branded resorts and hotels across nine states and five tropical countries.
It was reported in the New York Times and Bloomberg that the company’s annual sales were $1.5 billion.
This was before the Covid19 pandemic though.
Jimmy’s other entrepreneurial also included starting his own custom record labels. They Were Margaritaville Records in 1992 and Mailboat Records in 1999. He also wrote several books.

More Songs and Records

This is a picture of Jimmy and Alan Jackson When They Won the CMA Award for the Vocal Event of the Year for their song It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere.

Margaritaville Records produced his two best-selling albums from the 1990’s. They were called Fruitcakes in 1994 and Banana Wind in 1996.
In the 2000’s Jimmy was starting to collaborate with other big-name country artists. This proved very successful for him. As pictured above, It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere was with Alan Jackson and they won the CMA award for local event of the year in 2003, and a Grammy nomination. Jimmy and Alan teamed up again the next year for the song called Hey Good Lookin’.

This song also featured Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, and George Strait. This song gave them a second Grammy nomination.
Hey Good Lookin’ was the first song on the album License to Chill in 2004. It was Jimmy’s only number one album on the Billboard 200.
Jimmy continued to release and produce new records including 2013’s Songs from St. Somewhere and most recently Life on the Flipside in 2020.
In April 2023 the Library of Congress inducted Margaritaville Into the National Recording Registry.
It is one of 625 preserved songs.
Jimmy and his Coral Reefer Band played numerous concerts across the country every year up until months before his death.

Declining Health and Death

Jimmy died on September 1, 2023, at age 76 at his home on Long Island New York.
A statement on his website and it he had been going undergoing treatment for Merkel cell skin cancer for four years.
He was hospitalized at least twice in the year before his death. In September 2022 he was briefly hospitalized for an unspecified health issue.
He had to postpone three concerts and cancel two others on his Life on the Flipside Redux tour.
A statement on his website read: “Jimmy will need to refrain from touring for the rest of the year. On doctor’s orders, he must take time to recuperate and heal. Jimmy looks forward to getting back on-stage next year.”
He began his next tour in February 2023, and it was called the Second Wind Tour.
However, he had to abruptly postpone his concert in Charleston South Carolina in May 2 days before the scheduled date Jimmy wrote “I had to stop in Boston for a checkup but wound up back in the hospital to address some issues that needed immediate attention. Growing old is not for sissies”.
His final onstage appearance was in Rhode Island in early July. It was a surprise for all the fans. The barefoot performer played half a dozen songs at Mac McAnally concert. McAnally is a long-time member of the Coral Reefer Band.

Personal Life: Wife Children and Interests

In 1977, Jimmy married Jane Slagsvol.
They had two daughters and one son. Their names are Savanah and Sarah, and their son’s name is Cameron.
Jane was Jimmy’s second wife. He had previously been married to Margie Washicheck from the years 1969 to 1972.
Jimmy had a home in Palm Beach Florida where he was an avid sailor and pilot. He was a very outspoken environmental activist.
His Florida ties and environmental passion collided when scientists named a newly discovered crustacean after him. It was called the tiny Gnathia jimmybuffetti.

Here’s one I know you will all recognize. I hope you enjoyed our class on Jimmy Buffett.