As we near the start of the new year, many of us are feeling exhausted by this year’s events, but rather than remind you of all the negative things that you already know, we’ve compiled a list of some of the good things that came out of 2020.
New Music-Angie Mendoza
No matter your preferred genre, artists came in clutch this year with new music. We saw artists like Taylor Swift ensuring fans don’t run out of new music by releasing two full-length albums as well as lesser-known band, Neon Trees releasing new music for the first time in years. Bad Bunny released three new albums, including YHLQMDLG which turned out to be Spotify’s most-streamed album of the year. Breakout artists were also aided across platforms like Tik Tok, allowing artists like Penelope Scott and Claire Rosinkranz to receive millions of streams for the first time. Youtuber Corpse Husband and Twitch streamer Wilbur Soot also successfully launched music careers this year.
If you’re looking for some unqualified music recommendations, some of the Eagle Press team’s favorite new albums from 2020 were Love Goes by Sam Smith, Weird! By Yungblud, Your City Gave Me Asthma by Wilbur, Music To Be Murdered By by Eminem, Strange Days by The Struts, and Imploding the Mirage by The Killers.
Time for Hobbies-Chloe Zumwalt
Throughout the pandemic, many people may have picked up a new quarantine hobby or two (or more!!) This is due to a lot of people having way more free time than usual and for those who once led fast-paced and ultra-busy lives, they needed to find something to keep them sane amongst the numerous stay-at-home orders. We will be going through a few of these iconic quarantine past times.
I have seen so many new small businesses pop up left and right. Whether successful or not, many people have taken this time to turn their creative passions into a business, using numerous online platforms, such as Instagram or Tik Tok, to help get the word out there! I have seen jewelry shops, bounds of fashion, candles, woodworking, and beauty shops (particularly lip gloss). I have even seen thrifting and vintage shopping platforms making their way online like the high deserts own local drop shop locations that have been popping up in at least two locations (maybe more!) in Apple Valley and Hesperia (all socially distanced of course). Many people turned their quarantine hobbies or lifelong passions into something marketable amidst all of this extra time, so be sure to shop small and support local businesses (please).
Getting into the kitchen has been a huge hit this Covid season (and not in a sexist way). People of all kinds have started cooking and perhaps the most iconic of all quarantine cooking has been a freshly baked loaf of bread. Many people have taken on the fine art of bread baking, all the way from working with yeast, to proofing and baking the bread! We have all sorts of varieties I have seen across the ‘gram (and in my own house) from focaccia to white bread, to wheat bread, to challahs, rye... you name it! It’s been baked at three times the normal rate this year! Baking bread isn’t the only type of baking that has accelerated amidst the pandemic. I look left and right and see how people are truly honing their skills and making complicated confectionery treats! From macaroons to piecakens (a pie cake and cheesecake all layered together) all the way to soufflés and so much more! I have seen so many home cooks and professional chefs alike start online platforms to share their creations with the world virtually (since nobody can experience it physically) and as someone in the foodie community (follow me @chloe____cooks) I will be the first to tell you it is the most wholesome community I have been a part of online in a long time, and if you haven’t already I encourage you to take a step into that kitchen today!
Music Man-Asher Woodbury
Looking back on my experiences in 2020, one event really stands out to me as a good thing. During the first 2 ½ months of this year, Excelsior was planning something unique and special. The Excelsior arts programs were all collaborating on a huge project together, a full-scale production of The Music Man. Using VVC’s huge auditorium, Excelsior planned 3 performances of The Music Man for anyone to watch and enjoy.
As someone who was a part of the show, I know how hard everyone worked on this project. As opening night got closer and closer, Covid worries got higher and higher. Due to the unfortunate timing of the pandemic, our final 2 performances were canceled. All the time and money Excelsior and its students invested into this production pretty much wasted. Even if the last part sucked, it was still one of my favorite experiences of 2020, so I’ll give it a 7.5 out of 10
Attention to BLM-Angie Mendoza
The Black Lives Matter movement has gone in and out of the news since its organization in 2013, facing much opposition and villainization. While we saw as news outlets continued to paint the movement in a bad light, we also saw an outpouring of support, resulting in some of the largest protests in our country’s history in response to the murder of George Floyd this summer.
While Floyd was far from the first, and certainly not the last person of color (particularly as a black man), to be killed by police, the months of one-track news around the pandemic seemed to have created an unprecedented environment where outrage and calls for change couldn’t be drowned out. While the officers involved were charged and are awaiting trial, protesters recognized that the issue of systemic racism and police brutality goes deeper than an isolated incident and carried on protesting. Focus eventually shifted to the murder of Breonna Taylor, a young black woman shot by police officers in her apartment, and calls to defund the police gained traction.
Though we’re unfortunately entering the new year with continued issues of racism and police brutality, one can hope we’ll bring with us the same energy that fueled months of protests and demand some real change in 2021.
Among Us-Maya Innabi
A game that had lifted most people’s spirits this year was Among Us. It is an online video game that you can play with up to 10 of your friends or public matches. The game is about 10 people on a ship. 7 to 9 people are crewmates (which means they are innocent), and 1 to 3 players are imposters, (which means they are trying to pretend to be crewmates and they need to kill as many crewmates as they can without getting caught.)
The great part about it is that you can play anywhere with an iPad, computer, phone, pc, etc. Because of the easy mobility, many children and adults have found joy playing this game. You don’t have to play the game to enjoy it. Many big youtubers and streams have started playing this game, and you can get a good laugh watching these videos. You can chat with your friends in-game, so it makes it fun to joke around before the game starts and say good game after you finish a game.
The most impressive part is this awesome and beloved game was made entirely by only THREE people! That's insane! This game has been around since 2018 and only recently did the recognition it deserves. Many people also rose to fame because of this game. A youtuber who got famous for playing this game was Corpse Husband. He is known for his gaming and horror stories. He played with famous youtuber Pewdiepie and got a large increase in subscribers overnight. It's also played by established streamers like Pokimane, Sykkuno, Ninja, Shroud, etc. Also, a lot of mainstream celebrities like Logic, Lil Nas X, and T-Pain, as well as politicians like AOC and Ilhan Omar have played. When the creators put out merchandise for the game, it sold out in weeks because of the game's popularity.
With such tough times, this is a fun game to distract you from the horrible news, and I think this was one awesome thing that should define the good that 2020 gave us, not just the bad.
Increased Accessibility-Chloe Zumwalt
There have been many differences in our way of life since the coronavirus took over the globe, but not all of these differences have been for the worse. Our world is changing and while it may be scary now, perhaps it is ultimately a change for the better?
Accessibility and resources for everyone are higher than I have ever seen them. I have seen so many resources put online due to the fact nobody can go in person to get them and let me tell you it is amazing. This means that everyone has access to these amazing doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and more online and all of their fun informative Tik Toks that will ultimately only benefit our society. There are even free therapy services online for mental health! This means that minors who were previously never able to access this kind of help can now get it anonymously and for free. Along with many other online services that are just a Google away, the active community online is also booming, and you can follow online creators like blogilates or Chloe Ting to help motivate you to stay in shape and really keep you sane and going outside. I would highly recommend if you haven’t already to go ahead and check it out. It’s really a positive, loving, and encouraging space as well as a great way to keep engaged with people while having to isolate from everyone.
There has also been a boom in resources available so we can keep socially distanced such as Instacart where other people shop for you and leave it at your door, which is super handy if you’re high risk and can’t leave the house or sick and definitely cannot leave the house amongst many other things. Delivery services such as Grubhub, Door Dash, and Uber Eats have all been really handy too for all the same reasons and for the simple fact that it’s helping to keep small businesses alive. Another important impact of delivery or shopping services is that it has given many work opportunities after they have lost their job due to the coronavirus.
Accessibility is greater than ever in this new day and age, and that is thanks to Covid! It’s weird to think that even through all of the negative things that have happened, humanity has still found a way to shed some positivity on it and help humankind stay connected during the most distant time of all.
Sources
chartdata. “Spotify's Top 50 Artists of 2020.” CHART DATA, 2 Dec. 2020, www.chartdata.org/2020/12/02/spotifys-top-50-artists-of-2020/.
Lee, Sarah. “10 Facts About Among Us, the Game That's Taking Over the Internet.” Goody Feed, 18 Nov. 2020, www.goodyfeed.com/among-us/.
Turan, Cyan. “A Timeline of the Black Lives Matter Movement.” Cosmopolitan, Cosmopolitan, 19 June 2020, www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a32728194/black-lives-matter-timeline-movement/.
Waldrop, Theresa, and Brad Parks. “Former Officer Charged in George Floyd's Death Allowed to Leave Minnesota.” CNN, Cable News Network, 10 Oct. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/10/09/us/derek-chauvin-george-floyd-bail-release/index.html.
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