Music Review on Alicia Keys
by Becky Johnsen ‘10
Culture Editor
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This album has given me fourteen more reasons to love Alicia Keys. Keys, an accomplished musician, and R&B and soul singer, has graced the top of music charts worldwide with singles like Fallin’ (2001) and My Boo (2004, a co-op with fellow R&B artist Usher), and most recently with No One (2007), which is track four on As I Am. With her release of As I Am, her third studio album, Alicia Keys has proven once again that we cannot get enough of her clear voice and signature piano chords.
The album opens with a short but powerful instrumental with Keys on the piano accompanied by harpsichord and synthesizer. Keys then immediately drives into the edgy Go Ahead, providing a strong start with pointed lyrics and a steady beat. Her next track, Superwoman, is a little slower, but no less empowering as Keys belts out in a song that would have made Aretha Franklin and Gloria Gaynor proud. In No One, probably the most recognized song on the album, Keys finds a way to sing passionately yet sweetly, a combination that, when paired with sincere lyrics, makes for a good song at the top of anyone’s playlist.
Alicia Keys keeps her listeners on their toes in switching things up with Like You’ll Never See Me Again. This track is considerable slower and is epically romantic, essentially the musical equivalent to The Notebook. Here, Keys proves that she is not exclusively an alto singer as she graces higher registers that are more difficult to sing along with in the car. But the price of a few minutes of silence has been worth it as I love this song more each time I listen to it. Lesson Learned, a song sung with John Mayer, incorporates more instruments than her previous songs, and although a little repetitive, provides a nice transition into the next tracks. Her next track, Wreckless Love, has a nice jazzy feel that perfectly complements Alicia’s rhythmic vocals and lighthearted lyrics. It is one of the many happy songs on this album.
Conversely, Alicia slips back into a moving vein with her The Thing about Love. Although Keys sings strongly in all of her songs, this track is noteworthy as she audibly tests her vocal limits, alternating between crooning softly and belting out. The last track I found particularly unique was Teenage Love Affair, which is an adorable tribute to those in their younger years exploring puppy love.
Before listening to this album, I recognized Alicia Keys as an accomplished artist, but I took for granted what makes her so special among scores of other singers and musicians. This album is a testament to her ability to combine different singing and musical styles to help us understand greater issues of equality, regret, resentment, and love. In naming her album As I Am, Keys has used it to open herself unabashedly to her listeners. In seeing Alicia Keys as she is, we could use her music to help us figure out who we are. Five Yellow jackets.
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Alumni Spotlight
by Virginia Seatherton ‘08
Staff Writer
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Bruce Adkins, a Political Science Major and English Minor, graduated from R-MC in 1970. As a student, Adkins was part of the Marine Corps. He joined when he was seventeen and was commissioned officially into it at graduation. Adkins was an avid member of the Glee Club and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. In addition, like many of his classmates, he was “busy chasing girls.”
As soon as Adkins graduated, he was sent to Vietnam to fight for thirteen months followed by a three year stint in Japan. When Adkins returned to the United States, he taught at The Basic School, the school all Marines attend. At Quantico, the marine Base outside of Washington D.C., Adkins was in charge of a company.
When Adkins left the Marine Corps in 1978, he spent twenty years working in Fredericksburg as the Vice President of Sales for General Products, a door manufacturer. He then became the Director of Sales at White River Hardwood in Fayetteville, Arkansas. White River Hardwood produces fancy moulding.
Adkins is married to Suzie and has an eighteen year old daughter called Katie. Last week he won the Randolph-Macon Alumni Salute and is very active in raising money for the school. He has been Chair of the Presidential Society twice and Chairman of the Board of Associates. Currently, Adkins is a member of the Board of Trustees.
Avoiding the upperclassmen when he was a freshman was “paramount in [Adkins] mind” at the time. To Adkins, the Political Science Department was top notch. When he was a sophomore, the late Doctor Unger was a first year professor. Adkins “really enjoyed” his time spent in his major department.
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Spotlight on Drama
by Katlin Farrell ‘10
Staff Writer
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“Drama. Drama. Fun!” says the Vice President of Activities, Michael Jarvis, when describing the Drama Guild. He first joined the Guild because of his work in the theater shop along side many Guild members. He decided to stay an active member because of his desire to help the Guild continue to grow in size and the “types of things they accomplish.” The goal of the Guild members is to effectively organize and produce an atmosphere for theatrical viewing.
The Guild has many different productions throughout the year and is co-sponsoring the Spring Arts Festival MOAN event on April 5th with the Campus Activities Board. They will have refreshments and three different types of art forms: Guitar Hero (Musical Art), Sumo Wrestling (Kinesthetic Art), and Mask Creations (Crafting Art). “We will have Gift Cards to give away for the winner of the guitar hero tournament and the best crafted mask… We are very excited about it!” says Michael Jarvis.
If you want to join in on the fun, make sure to check them out, because they are more than open to members with all kinds of interest in theater. “Whether you like acting, behind the scenes work, working in the shop, or just going to watch local theatre” the members of the Drama Guild would love to welcome you into their midst!
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