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Miami takes down Pitt with power, win 9-4

Sebastian Font
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Miami takes down Pitt with power, win 9-4

After Wednesday’s shocking 10-2 loss to FIU, Miami turned their attention to their upcoming series against the University of Pittsburgh. Both teams look to be in desperation mode to save their season, meaning this series could tip the scales to decide that fate one way or the other.

And on a cold Friday afternoon game in Pittsburgh, the Hurricanes might’ve finally taken that step in the right direction with a 9-4 win over the Pitt Panthers.

Led by a dazzling offensive display by catcher Tanner Smith, the ’Canes scored more runs in one game than the last five combined.

Smith brought in five RBI’s on three hits which included a grand slam to put Miami up early.

Right-handed pitcher Griffin Hugus toted the mound for the Hurricanes and continued his excellence across 6.2 innings of work. But before the junior settled in, he struggled during the first inning. A single and an errant pickoff attempt put a runner in scoring position for Pitt, and they capitalized as AJ Nessler gave the Panthers the lead with an RBI single.

But rather than sit back and wallow in frustration, the ’Canes answered back immediately with four runs in the top of the second.

A double and a pair of singles loaded the bases for Tanner Smith, and with two strikes he made Pitt pay, launching a 398 foot grand slam to left.

From then on both pitching staffs settled down, combing for four scoreless innings through the sixth.

Pittsburgh attempted to mount a comeback in the seventh, after a Luke Cantwell double brought in two runs to close the Hurricane lead 4-3. And with all the pressure in the world, righty Will Smith was called into the game to get the Hurricanes out of the inning with the lead. A walk and a strikeout later, the Hurricanes headed back to the dugout with the lead intact looking for some insurance runs.

The Hurricanes immediately got what they were looking for as a trifecta of doubles from Derek Williams, Dorian Gonzalez Jr, and T. Smith brought in two runs before a Jake Ogden RBI single brought in a third insurance run in the top of the eighth. And the ’Canes kept it going in the ninth as a pair of walks tacked on two more runs to make it a 9-3 game as Alex Giroux came in to close for Miami.

Those insurance runs proved clutch as despite Giroux giving up a run in the ninth, Miami held onto the win 9-4.

The Hurricanes (16-15, 3-7 ACC) will play the second half of the doubleheader tonight against Pitt (16-13, 3-7 ACC), as they look to win their first series since February.

Miami baseball gets blown out for the second midweek game in row with a 10-2 loss to FIU

Max Diaz
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Miami baseball gets blown out for the second midweek game in row with a 10-2 loss to FIU

Midweek games have been an unusual hardship this season for Miami baseball. Last week they were blown out at home by Stetson Hatters, 11-2, and last Wednesday turned out to be a similar outcome with the Hurricanes once again getting blown out at home, this time against the FIU Panthers, 10-2.

The game seemed to be over almost as soon as it started. Miami’s starting pitcher, graduate student Reese Lumpkin, had probably the worst day at the office that a starter could have. FIU had his number the entire first inning. Lumpkin struck out the first batter he faced, but things just fell apart from there. The next five straight batters all got on base, either in forms of hits or walks. In total, Lumpkin faced eight batters in the first inning, he struck out two, but one walked, two singled and three doubled. After the final double by FIU freshman Cole Cleveland made the score 5-0, Lumpkin’s night was over as he taken out for freshman Lazaro Collera. It was a day to forget for Lumpkin as not even surviving the first inning is a nightmare for starting pitchers. Collera was able to get the final out of the inning via a grondout to the shortstop and the ’Canes looked to fight back to the early hole that had been dug.

No answer came in the first for the Hurricanes, but they were able to lessen the deficit in the bottom of the second. Team captain Dorian Gonzalez Jr. started things off with a solo homerun to bring the score to 5-1. The offense seemed to be getting in rhythm after the Gonzalez Jr. homer as the next three batters got on base. Freshman Ethan Puig started it off with a walk and he eventually made it to third after a wild pitch and single by senior Tanner Smith. Finally, freshman speedster Michael Torres hit one the shortest singles of the season to bring his fellow freshman to make the score 5-2. After the run, FIU made a pitching change and then proceeded the get the next two ’Canes batters out to finish the inning.

The Panthers took one of those two runs back in the next inning with a solo shot by senior Javier Crespo to bring their lead up to 6-2. After the homerun by Crespo, both teams’ offenses went silent as the next innings were scoreless. The next run would not come until the ninth inning when FIU decided to tack on some more runs for good measure at the end. 

The top of the ninth was a rough inning for the Miami reliever Jackson Cleveland. In total, he gave up two hits, two walks and four runs in the inning as FIU increased their lead to 10-2. Besides a Gonzalez Jr. walk, Miami did nothing in the bottom of ninth and Miami’s terrible night came to an end with a 10-2 FIU victory.

After the loss, Miami baseball moves to 15-15 on the season.

New Jersey senator breaks record in postering speech 

Lazaro Chavez
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New Jersey senator breaks record in postering speech 

Democratic Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey just squashed a decades-long speech record on the Senate Floor. Booker spoke for 25 hours and 5 minutes, shattering the record previously held by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond. 

 In an NPR interview following the speech, Booker admitted that his goal was largely symbolic, meant to highlight issues rather than directly influence legislation. While raising awareness is important, it does little to change the entrenched political realities of the Senate. While his speech had widespread media coverage, it had little political impact. If the goal was to effect change, then Booker’s approach was more performative than practical.

Breaking this record is particularly ironic because Thurmond’s record, which lasted 24 hours and 18 minutes, came as the result of him trying to halt a civil rights act in 1957. Thurmond was a widely known racist and bigot, so to have his record  broken by not only nearly an hour, but also broken by a black man — one of only five currently in the senate, does partially close a darker chapter of American history. 

However, aside from squashing a segregationist’s record, what exactly did Booker accomplish?  Booker did, after all, pledge his time to disrupt “the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.”

Unlike the traditional filibuster, which aims to block legislative action, Booker’s address was a broad critique of the Trump agenda– intended to draw public attention rather than effect immediate policy change. Booker tries to emulate a mentor, the late civil rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis, but falls flat. 

He began the speech by referencing Lewis, “This is the time to get in some good trouble, to get into necessary trouble.” He also used language and gestures Lewis was typically known for throughout his speech. This aligns with observations by some that the speech was designed to energize a democratic base, rather than try and get real change passed. 

It’s also important to note that Booker has been polled as a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028, according to YouGov in which 27% of Democrats polled said they wanted Booker as the nominee. His extensive speech not only made headlines but put him once again in the national spotlight. Booker had a failed presidential campaign in 2020, this recent act of showboating— showing he had the “higher” moral ground over Trump and the Republicans– is certain to be interpreted as an attempt to re-establish his presence on the national stage ahead of both the midterm elections and 2028. 

It’s also not the first time that senate Democrats have been criticized for grandstanding since Trump returned to the White House. The Democrats were criticized for videos released on a majority of Senators social media pages in which they each recited the same script word for word – including Booker. 

Despite the speech squashing part of America’s racist past, the speech is also not only a postering stance for Booker to make but also a strategic one. Certainly one that will keep in the spotlight long enough to get him to the primaries. 

Don’t panic during this era of market uncertainty; Hold your shares!

Daniel Gregor
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Don’t panic during this era of market uncertainty; Hold your shares!

In a time of economic uncertainty, the stock market is currently in a correction, with the S&P 500 down about 17% since its all-time high, as of April 4. The VIX, colloquially known as the investor fear index, has also spiked, since the market expects an increase in short-term volatility. 

This stock market downturn is a result of many of President Trump’s new policies, primarily with large tariffs imposed on major U.S. trading partners such as Canada, Mexico and China.

Many casual investors may be left confused, wondering whether to buy on the dip or sell to minimize their losses. During this moment of uncertainty and volatility in the market, investors, particularly young ones, should remain calm and hold their shares, neither buying or selling.

It is imperative not to make rash decisions, especially for college students with little experience in the finance world. Young investors have an advantage over older investors because they have time on their hands. Unlike people nearing retirement age, they have more time to recover from losses and earn money for future investments. 

Mark Patishman, a junior working as an Equity Analyst for SMIF and majoring in finance and entrepreneurship, says, “You can never go wrong with companies that are good businesses at the core.” He also added that there are certain businesses that have a monopoly on their market; therefore, a recession in the market will not affect their future outlook.

The market historically goes up in the long run. The S&P 500 has had positive 1-year periods in 73% of occurrences, whereas 94% of 10-year periods have been positive. This means that holding stocks for long periods of time statistically makes more money than buying and selling a stock within a short period of time. Therefore, it is generally advisable to invest for the long term.

Warren Buffett, billionaire investor and owner of Berkshire Hathaway, advises investors to avoid panic selling. The market will always pull back from losses, even if it takes a while. During recessions, Buffett also advises researching and buying quality stocks at a discounted price. He recommends playing the long game as opposed to constantly trading in the short term.

Malakiyah Fairclough, a sophomore dual majoring in finance and economics, recommends looking at large companies as opposed to smaller, inherently riskier, stocks. “It is not like last semester with meme coins or Bitcoin; if you are fresh into investing, stick to blue-chip stocks.”

So if you are an investor with little experience, don’t panic during times of market uncertainty. Look at companies that have good fundamentals and companies that trade at a discounted price. Short-term trading is risky and should be left to the experts. 

Mahoney-Pearson patio collapse leaves students in a rubble of confusion

Keira Faddis
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Mahoney-Pearson patio collapse leaves students in a rubble of confusion

The outdoor patio connected to the Mahoney and Pearson residential colleges collapsed during a thunderstorm on Sunday, leaving residents scared and confused. 

While this patio is not technically part of the residential colleges, it is directly in front of the entrance. Its collapse was serious and could have hurt any of the hundreds of students living just feet away. 

The university sent two emails, one the night of the incident, and one the afternoon after, attempting to reassure residents that they were safe. However, it’s hard for students to trust UM with serious situations like these when there have been prior complaints about safety with no action taken. 

Given the university’s history of sweeping issues under the rug, many students feel its response was not enough to solve the issue and reassure students, including freshman Ariana Glaser, a Pearson resident. 

“I think the emails vastly undercut the severity of the damage, and I also think they weren’t quick enough to alleviate concerns that no one was injured,” Glaser said. “I think better communication was necessary but not enacted.” 

The Mahoney-Pearson residential colleges are notorious for their terrible living environments. These residential colleges are each more than 60 years old and are well known among students to be in desperate need of maintenance and renovations. 

“This instance is beyond disappointing, so many people could have gotten hurt due to the neglect of the building’s upkeep,” said Mahoney resident Ava Katla, who posted a TikTok video of the building that has since garnered over 400,000 views. 

TMH contacted the university for comment on the collapse. 

“As an added precaution following the March 30 incident, the University engaged a structural engineer to inspect Mahoney-Pearson Residential College and Eaton Residential College, and they have not found any area of concern in terms of structural integrity,” the University of Miami said in a statement to TMH. “The University has a robust preventative maintenance inspection program, and students should feel safe and have peace of mind.”

The statement also said the structure that collapsed “had no bearing on the integrity of the student housing structure.”

If it weren’t for the rain, dozens of students would have been outside, studying or socializing on the gliders now crushed by the fallen roof. Katla also compares the issues with Mahoney-Pearson to the luxuries of the newer dorms.

“Students in Centennial have much more, like people who clean their bathrooms and brand new dorms, while Mahoney-Pearson has to deal with fire alarm issues early in the mornings, fires, burnt clothes and even the building collapsing. It’s just unfair.”

In October 2024, a dryer caught fire in the third floor of Mahoney residential college. Just five months later, the fourth floor of Pearson experienced its own dryer fire. In March, The Miami Hurricane published an article highlighting students who have been affected by mold and mildew in these residence halls. 

“Since spring 2024 we have had three incidents of dryer fires. In two of those incidents, students left items, including plastic cell phone covers, in the pockets of clothing placed in the dryer. We have updated signage in all laundry rooms that cautions students to check their clothing pockets before placing them in the machines,” The university’s statement said. 

“In addition, there have been no confirmed cases of mold. In all complaints, mildew and/or dirt buildup due to high moisture levels were found and were addressed via established cleaning protocols.”

Stanford residential college faced many of these same issues and was torn down in 2024. According to phase three of Housing Facilities Strategic Plan, “a complete replacement and/or renovation of Mahoney, Pearson and Eaton Residential Colleges” is in the works. 

In the meantime, UM needs to focus on a deep cleaning and improving of safety standards, an issue that students and parents have been trying to address for decades.

While some residents feel unsafe in their dorms due to the collapse, others hope it was just a one-time occurrence. 

“I do feel safe in the building just because the patio roof isn’t technically a part of the building, so I’m hoping it’s unrelated,” said a Mahoney resident who wished to remain anonymous.

She expressed that she felt the situation was handled adequately, noting that the fire department arrived within minutes of her learning about the collapse, though she was surprised by the initial news of the incident. 

“I was pretty shocked by the collapse, my friends told me about it way before the school released a statement and we all had pictures and everything. I didn’t think some bad weather would be enough to bring the patio roof down,” said the resident.

It is important to point out that bad weather should not have this effect on structures housing hundreds of students. After all, we are the Miami Hurricanes, so if a thunderstorm can spark a building collapse, what’s going to happen when the next hurricane hits?

This terrible event should serve as a wake-up call for the UM administration. UM needs to better communicate with students and parents regarding safety moving forward. A full inspection of the Mahoney-Pearson residence halls should be conducted to help gain students’ trust back. Students’ safety should never be compromised, and it should not take such a severe event like a partial building collapse for safety concerns to be taken seriously. 

Bounceback with a bang, Miami tennis sweeps Louisville 4-0

Sebastian Font
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Bounceback with a bang, Miami tennis sweeps Louisville 4-0

The Miami Hurricanes men’s tennis team returned to South Florida with a point to prove after losing their last two matches. That fire proved critical as the ’Canes swept the Louisville Cardinals 4-0 Thursday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

From the start Miami (12-8, 5-6 ACC) looked the dominant team compared to Louisville (9-16, 1-10 ACC), which began by the Hurricanes taking the opening doubles point.

The ’Cane pairing of Nacho Serra Sanchez and Leonardo Dal Boni won 6-3 against the Cardinal pairing of No.77 Natan Rodrigues and Hamza El Amine to start the day. And despite the Miami pair of Jules Garot and Medhi Sadaoui falling 6-3 to Will Mayew and Miguel Avendano, the Hurricanes secured the doubles point via a Martin Katz and Antonio Prat 7-5 win over Kosuke Nakanishi and Andre Steinbach.

With the lead heading into singles play, Miami kept their foot on the gas till the very end. Sanchez was again victorious with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Steinbach, and No.24 Katz made quick work of Louisville’s Rodrigues 6-1, 6-2 to put the ’Canes in clinching range. Dal Boni was the one to secure the win for Miami as he was victorious 6-2, 6-3 over Nakanishi.

The Hurricanes will host their final home match of the season this Saturday against Notre Dame at the ’Schiff.

Singles Competition

1. #24 Martin Katz (UM) def. Natan Rodrigues (LOU) 6-1, 6-2 

2. Antonio Prat (UM) vs. #80 Will Mayew (LOU) 4-6, 2-4, unfinished 

3. Nacho Serra Sanchez (UM) def. Andre Steinbach (LOU) 6-2, 6-2 

4. Mehdi Sadaoui (UM) vs. Miguel Avendano (LOU) 3-6, 4-3, unfinished 

5. Leonardo Dal Boni (UM) def. Kosuke Nakanishi (LOU) 6-2, 6-3 

6. Jules Garot (UM) vs. Hamza El Amine (LOU) 6-4, 1-4, unfinished

Doubles competition 

1. #72 Martin Katz/Antonio Prat (UM) def. Kosuke Nakanishi/Andre Steinbach (LOU) 7-5 

2. Leonardo Dal Boni/Nacho Serra Sanchez (UM) def. #77 Natan Rodrigues/Hamza El Amine (LOU) 6-3 

3. Will Mayew/Miguel Avendano (LOU) def. Mehdi Sadaoui/Jules Garot (UM) 6-3

Hurricanes coaches discuss new-look defensive back, wide receiver rooms

Drew Goyer
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Hurricanes coaches discuss new-look defensive back, wide receiver rooms

As Miami football spring practices push into the month of April, a buzz is abound inside of the Greentree Practice Facility. Even on an April Fool’s Day practice, it was all business as the team prepares for the upcoming 2025 campaign.

With an emphasis this offseason on improvements to the secondary, safeties coach Will Harris emphasized the impact of some of his new additions. Speaking about Jacksonville State transfer Zechariah Poyser, Harris emphasized that he is “a very smart young man.”

“Coming in and understanding the defense, we’re moving him around between free safety and strong safety,” Harris said. ”The biggest thing for him is just understanding both safety positions, but he’s doing a great job.”

He also commended the efforts of redshirt junior Markeith Williams, who had 28 tackles over the past two seasons.

“Awesome as well … Being here for a while now, the biggest thing is just learning a new defense … but I think Markeith has a bright future,” Harris said.

Harris made reference to his recent arrival to the Hurricanes’ program, arriving this offseason from Florida.

Harris also emphasized the importance of physicality and tackling in spring ball as the Hurricanes’ secondary looks to improve on a poor 2024 season for the defense.

“We gotta be physical,” Harris said. “It doesn’t matter … from top to bottom.”

Beyond the safety room, there are also many unknowns regarding the wide receiver position, which is fresh with new faces. 

Last season’s Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, Sam Brown Jr. and Isaiah Horton have all either transferred or moved on to pursue a professional career. The pass-catchers for new quarterback Carson Beck include returning sophomore Joshisa Trader and LSU transfer CJ Daniels. Wide receivers coach Kevin Beard highlighted that the group is “taking steps” in spring practices.

“We came out hot like jalapeños … everybody was excited, but it’s day ten. It’s hot out there, we have a lot more installed … it’s a lot more details,” Beard said. “Things fall apart, and we got a lot of work to do.”

Beard stressed that Daniels has “done a really good job with leadership.”

“He’s the oldest guy in the room, and you need that big brother. [The receivers] lean on him … From day one he said, ‘Hey coach, can you make a group thread with just the players and not the coaches?’ They’re on it all the time; they’ll text, ‘Hey, we’re going to watch film at 5’ … We gotta take this thing to the next level.’”

With a few more practices scheduled before the spring game on April 12, Miami will look to finish up its installations and keep up the intensity as it moves toward the summer months.

A viral ‘The Office’ themed wedding is not a joke, Jim

Samantha Rodriguez
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A viral ‘The Office’ themed wedding is not a joke, Jim

Zach and Nicole Burgh wanted a wedding like no other. They chose the perfect cake, tux and gown, but something was missing.

“We wanted [the wedding] to feel like us,” Nicole said. “We wanted to capture who we are and our circle of people.”

They brainstormed ways to make a wedding so entertaining, they could turn it into a bedtime story for their future kids. Then, it finally hit them.

“Zach brought it up first,” Nicole said. “He was like, ‘Well, what if we do it in ‘The Office’ style?’” 

Zach and Nicole’s head then burst with all the possibilities. What if we interview the guests? What if we get a camera man to follow everyone around? What if we start it like an episode of the acclaimed comedy series?

Zach knew the only people he could call to make their dream a reality. Enter, Pxlworthy, a Miami-based production agency.

“We’re about a week away [from the wedding] and Zach goes, ‘What if we did this wedding like an episode of ‘The Office?’” Javier Estrada, a Pxlworthy co-founder, said. “ I was like, ‘Man, I love it.’”

Javier and his brother Julio Estrada, also a Pxlworthy co-founder, immediately got to work. They picked their cameras and prepared to break filming rules, like recording in a more shaky, handheld style instead of using a camera stabilizer, to document a wedding that’s setting a new standard.

On the wedding day, Javier and Julio thought they were going to have to give guests some quips for the camera. But, they were ready to improvise.

“I’ve known Zach for a very long time,” Angel Rojas, a guest, said. “I’m so sad to see him go.”

Rojas’ partner, Idora Sopin-Vilme, was at the ready. “So sad to see him go?,” Sopin-Vilme replied. “He’s getting married.”

Then, the punchline. “Oh, I thought this was a funeral.”

Even guests who had no idea about the theme, like Zach’s mother, were camera ready. Javier and Julio had to hold their breath to stop laughing during some takes. As Zach and Nicole danced away, the Estradas stuck to the wall like flies to capture every moment.

“I just loved watching it over and over again, and realizing something new each time,” Nicole said. “It just warmed my heart and brought a tear to my eye. It was really sweet, and it was just perfect.”

The world agreed. Just a day or two after Javier uploaded the wedding video to their TikTok, it reached over a million views. The wedding touched hearts worldwide, even to the point where the official Sprite TikTok account commented on it. Now, it has over six millions views and a million likes.

They tested their luck on Instagram. Sure enough, the wedding went viral again, reaching over 100,000 likes.

“My mom was out getting her nails done one day and somebody recognized her on the street and was like, ‘Oh, you’re that lady from TikTok,’” Zach said. “She has like 30 seconds of screen time and somebody recognized her.” 

Though Javier has worked with Drake, Sexyy Red and Oscar-winners, recording Zach and Nicole’s wedding is one of his favorite projects he’s ever done. 

“This is probably the most successful project I’ve ever done,” Javier said. “This just felt so good, seeing the logo, a Pxlworthy company that my brother and I made blow up.”

Julio knows Pxlworthy will strike gold again soon. As Zach and Nicole continue looking back at one of the happiest days of their lives, Javier and Julio work with the Florida Panthers toward their next viral moment.

“I could see ourselves doing big things,” Julio said. “Big films, Super Bowl commercials, I’m putting it out there, and it will happen.”

Click here to see Pxlworthy and the Burgh’s one-of-a-kind wedding.

Alexis Garcia flexes his brass knuckles with ‘A Working Man’

Samantha Rodriguez
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Alexis Garcia flexes his brass knuckles with ‘A Working Man’

Alexis Garcia has seen everything in the entertainment business. It’s easy to lose track of original ideas when you’ve been in the industry for over 20 years. 

With his new production company, CAT5, backed by Fifth Season, the studio behind Apple TV’s “Severance,” and Brass Knuckle Films, his joint venture with “Sin City” director Robert Rodriguez, Garcia aims to bring new heart-pumping action to the forefront. 

He’s already crushing the competition. “A Working Man,” CAT5’s first project starring Jason Statham, is blowing Disney’s “Snow White” and A24’s “Death of a Unicorn” out of the water with its $15 million opening week. 

With the label’s next project, “True Threat,” led by Emmy-nominee and “Creed III” star Jonathan Majors, there’s no telling what’s next. 

“CAT5 is an opportunity to apply the variety of roles and experiences I’ve amassed throughout my career across these companies to build a focused and consumer-facing slate,” Garcia said in an interview with Deadline Hollywood.

Garcia’s experience is limitless. As the former film head for Fifth Season, he financed more than 40 movies while producing over four years. He helped bring South by Southwest Film Festival award winners like “The Peanut Butter Falcon” and “The Long Game,” to audiences worldwide. 

Pulling on his previous time as the executive vice president for Endeavor Content selling films like Ryan Gosling’s “The Nice Guys” and “Drive,” Garcia looks to make action films of the future with CAT5.

He’ll be making a splash with CAT5’s next project directed by Gerard McMurray, “True Threat.” It follows Jonathan Majors’ Vernon Threat seeking vengeance for his murdered son. The movie is Majors’ second film casting announcement following his domestic abuse conviction in 2023.

Keep an eye on CAT5 to not miss their next spectacle. Catch “A Working Man,” a thrilling, fight-filled action flick, in theaters now. See Garcia’s next picture A24’s “Friendship” starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in theaters this May.

Review: Holding space for Ariana Grande’s ‘Eternal Sunshine Deluxe’

Marissa Levinson
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Review: Holding space for Ariana Grande’s ‘Eternal Sunshine Deluxe’

In this era following the release of “Wicked,” Ariana Grande has rarely been seen apart from her green to her pink co-star Cynthia Erivio as they continuously embark on their joint press run. 

Somehow, amid interviews, red carpet appearances and even a performance at the Oscars, Grande still managed to make time to step into the studio and create “Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead,” released March 28, just over a year after the standard version. The complete record now features 19 songs, including six new additions. 

Grande’s short film, “Brighter Days Ahead,” was released just a few hours after the deluxe album and is inspired by the 2004-released movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” The project is a creative follow-up to the movie, a glimpse into what characters in the movie would experience as a lifelong consequence of their wiped memories. 

While the movie follows a memory-wiping company titled Lacuna, Inc., the “Thank U, Next” singer’s version gives us Brighter Days, Inc. Both, however, serve to “[relieve] people from painful memories.” The story is her life, told through the same character, Peaches, whom she played in the music video of “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” released last year. 

This time, the story is set decades into the future, Peaches’ hands wrinkled and a hearing aid resting on her ear in frame in the first few moments. The visual concept resembled The Weeknd’s “Dawn FM” theme. 

If you’re anything like me, you’re grateful for the extended version of “Intro (End of the World)” that the deluxe version of “Eternal Sunshine” granted us. On the original album, the one-minute-length track served its purpose of bringing us into the album’s world. 

While I was excited for this full version, the delivery fell short. The transition from where it originally ended into the new verse feels choppy and forced. If the execution of the production was better, I would enjoy this track more, but unfortunately, the original version is the one I’m going to keep streaming. 

The deluxe’s second track and the album’s fourth promotional single, “Twilight Zone,” feels like an 80s anthem. It’s waiting to be the next hit, though some of the harmonies do sound a bit choppy again, a repeating pattern in this album. There’s an evident muse in this one, lyrics like “Why do I still protect you? / Pretend these songs aren’t about you / Hope this might be the last one / ’Cause I’m not foolin’ anyone” pointing towards ex-husband Dalton Gomez. 

“It’s warm in your arms.” The hook is simple. The melody is catchy.  “Warm” just exudes pop-hit energy, supported by a fast-paced beat (I can already hear it faintly playing in the background on repeat in department stores at the mall, but I wouldn’t mind it.) 

A… trumpet? While the intro did throw me for a loop, “Dandelion” is Grande’s typical R&B song. It’s not anything new for her, and quite frankly, feels like a recycled product of her past work. The metaphor in the lyrics isn’t anything deep, either. It’s just kind of there and surface-level.

Fifth track on the deluxe, “Past Life,” is a personal favorite. It feels clean. It feels like one of the few songs on “Brighter Days Ahead” that truly takes advantage of its potential. It draws similarities to her work on third-album “Dangerous Woman,” while still feeling like something new. 

The closing song, “Hampstead,” refers to the district in London where she spent much of her time filming “Wicked.” With a haunting-esque effect caused by the fusion of crashing, harmonized vocals and a low-octave piano, the song is reminiscent of Camila Cabello’s “Godspeed.” Grande’s voice here has a certain lightness and freeness to it that returns listeners to her past style. It ends with an applause, representing the end of the album, and with that, her time in the spotlight – for now. 

The standard version of “Eternal Sunshine” reigns supreme following the release of the “Brighter Days Ahead” tracks, which is slightly disappointing considering I did want more of it. It wasn’t an album that had a distinct beginning and end that couldn’t weave new songs into the pre-existing story. It had room for more. The “more” just simply wasn’t as good, though I do have to give credit to my top three on this edition, “Warm,” “Past Life” and “Hampstead.”

The idea for this album is there. If there were a few more exciting elements and the production was smoother, it could be something. This final product, however, feels a bit boring and generic. As a vocalist, Grande is an undeniable talent. However, most of this project doesn’t showcase that, rather it puts a spotlight on areas where she has room for improvement: lyricism and production. 

Rating: 3.5/5

Surf, sand and sound at Tortuga Music Festival

Jenna Simone
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Surf, sand and sound at Tortuga Music Festival

Held on the white sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, the Tortuga Music Festival is ready for you. With three stages and some of the biggest names in country, rock, and roots music, the festival held from April 4 – 6 brings together like-minded fans of all ages for an unforgettable beach weekend experience. Artists such as Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Corey Kent, Parker McCollum, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban and more will perform.

Three-day general admission and VIP passes range from $355 to $2,474, while one-day general admission passes cost $199 and one-day VIP passes are $799. Hotel packages are also available. GA provides access to a selected day of music, unlimited entry to Conservation Village, food, drink and craft vendors, free water refill stations and shaded areas.

VIP pass holders receive all GA amenities plus access to VIP Grove at Main Stage and VIP Oasis at Sunset Stage. Additional perks include premium complimentary beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages, private air-conditioned restrooms, pool and Coconut Lounge access, VIP entrance and exit, dedicated concierge service, misting chill zones, phone charging stations and exclusive VIP-only food vendors.

Beyond the music, the festival partners with the Rock The Ocean Foundation to raise awareness for marine conservation. Rock The Ocean, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013, is the festival’s host and founder. 

Over the last 11 years, nearly $5 million has been given back to the festival’s Conservation Village partners through ticket sales and donations, supporting scientific research, education and ocean conservation initiatives. These funds have aided Rock The Ocean’s efforts, as well as over 100 nonprofit partners and five universities, sponsoring groundbreaking research in the United States, the Bahamas, South Africa and Asia.

Grab your boots, cowboy hat and be ready to sing! The festival will take place at 1100 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. For more information, check out this link.

OPINION: Staying fit and fab at Suntan U

Jamison DeLaine and Sophia Metzner
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Jamison and Sophia discuss the best ways for UM students to stay in shape.

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