I love the beginnings of things.
Endings can be similarly satisfying.
I love new years because of the promise they bring. When I wake up, I can be a new person — a better person. I still have a chance to improve.
The world does too.
It’s also why I love graduations: the promise, the optimism.
The Gregorian Calendar begins the new year on Jan. 1, ushering in the resolution rush.
It’s not the only option though.
Incremental self-improvement is something to strive for.
You could also start your resolutions in February, like this New York Times story recommends (gift link), because “it’s short, and it’s not January.”
You could start your new year itself in February, like Lunar New Year, which began Feb. 10 this year.
My birthday was 10 days prior to Lunar New Year, a milestone for me, with me entering a new decade, giving me multiple reasons to both reflect and look to the future.
Birthdays are a good restart: a chance to look back at what’s changed and to look ahead at what changes are to come.
I made two big, general resolutions this year: they both revolve around putting myself and my creations out in the world enthusiastically.
Did you resolve to do anything different this year?
Songs I Listened to This Week
On the theme of reflection, here’s the playlist Spotify made of my most-listened-to-songs of 2023.
Podcasts I Listened to This Week
New years bring an annual tradition: the Super Bowl. Let’s delve into the music.
“How Usher Arrived at the Super Bowl Halftime Show” | New York Times’ Popcast
Danielle Amir Jackson, editor-in-chief of The Oxford American, and Thomas Hobbs, music journalist for places like The Evening Standard and The Telegraph, join the podcast to talk about Usher’s 30-year-career, the evolution of R&B and more.
Listen for gems not included in Jackson’s recent New York Times Magazine profile of Usher, including the phrase “Aristotle of baby-making music” and the knowledge that Usher has daily voice lessons.
Before you listen, read Jackson’s great piece: “Can Usher Turn America On Again (to R.&B.)?” (gift link)
For Memphis readers of this newsletter: Jackson is from Memphis and is working on a book about her grandmother’s North Memphis restaurant and the role of women-owned juke joints in the blues.
“The Star Spangled Banger!” | Vulture’s Switched on Pop
Data journalists Jan Diehm and Michelle McGhee walk us through their analysis of more than 140 U.S. National Anthem performances at events (including Super Bowls) to find the biggest “diva score” among these.
In this extensive piece, complete with lots of audio, the journalists define the “diva score” as diversion from the standard melody — not necessarily how good or bad the song is sung.
TV/Film I Watched This Week
Both of the series this week have a common theme of location being a defining aspect of the work — a character in itself. Long Beach, California, and Chicago are the locations in question.
“The Vince Staples Show” | Netflix
Vince Staples is one of my favorite rappers, and with his acerbic, deadpan sense of humor, it’s no surprise that he now has a TV show. (Mental note that I need to catch up on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” before it ends.) For Vince Staples’ show, the adjectives “absurdist” or “surreal” apply.
Kind of famous and sort of rich, rapper and actor Vince Staples navigates the challenges and surprises of everyday life in his hometown of The Beach.
“The Bear” | FX on Hulu
I’ve finally (!) started watching this and will be done binge watching before Season 3 premieres.)
Carmy, a young fine-dining chef, comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop. As he fights to transform the shop and himself, he works alongside a rough-around-the-edges crew that ultimately reveal themselves as his chosen family.