The Signal

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Tuesday April 15th

Arts & Entertainment


Brat, released on June 7, 2024, received critical acclaim and mainstream success this summer (Photo courtesy of Apple Music).

‘Brat summer’: A deep dive into the alt summer sensation

Charli XCX debuted the original tracks that would end up shaping the immortal “brat summer.” Even as we move into September, the abrasive chartreuse and pixelated text are inescapable in popular media. From its underground hyperpop beginnings to its sudden relevancy in the U.S.  presidential election, the “brat” legacy is unmatched.

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Many legal issues have arisen as a result of former President Donald Trump using songs during his campaign without the consent of the original artist. (Photo Courtesy of Flickr / by Scott Brenner).

What is fair use? The controversial use of music in campaigns

In recent years, the use of popular music in political campaigns has become a growing problem, specifically for the 45th President, Donald Trump. Most songs, which are handpicked to elicit excitement from large rally crowds, are not given consent by artists for usage. This practice has raised significant controversy, both legally and ethically.  With several lawsuits now in progress and dozens of angry musicians, copyright issues have come into question. Are politicians allowed to use music for their campaigns without explicit permission? How are musicians’ rights protected under the law?

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Their newest single, “The Emptiness Machine,” features vocals from controversial new lead singer Emily Armstrong (Photo courtesy of Apple Music).

Linkin Park faces backlash over its newest lead singer’s controversial ties to scientology and convicted rapist

Linkin Park revealed during a Sept. 5 livestream that Armstrong, a member of the band Dead Sara since 2003, was chosen to replace Linkin Park's former lead singer, Chester Bennington, who died by suicide in 2017. During the live stream, Armstrong is seen joining the group on stage midway through their performance of their newest single, "The Emptiness Machine."  Although many fans in the crowd appeared enthusiastic during the performance, others would not be so thrilled, especially as Armstrong's controversial past soon surfaced following the reveal.

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The series follows three amateur sleuths, Charles, Mabel and Oliver, who solve murders that happen only in their Manhattan apartment (Photo Courtesy of IMDb).

‘Only Murders in the Building’ returns with a murder victim too close to home

The murder mystery drama has picked up where it left off in season four of “Only Murders in the Building.” Charles-Haden Savage and his partners in crime, Mabel Mora and Oliver Putnam, are pulled into the depths of another murder case. As their true crime podcast, “Only Murders in the Building,” is part of the show and has covered three seasons worth of murders, we can only expect an additional plot-twisting season will be added to the series. 

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The film’s controversial nature has muddied most of its reception (Photo courtesy of IMDb).

Romanticization and the need for a happy ending: ‘It Ends with Us’ review

Despite all the controversy, at the center lies the film itself, which hasn’t received much attention in light of all the scandal surrounding its inception. It seems that, at least in terms of conversation around the film, most of the discussion is focused on typical celebrity drama, with most of social media debating which of the two leads is most wrong in the apparent feud.  

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The College’s Choirs and Vintage Feedback came together to give us a taste of some of the classic rock hits that defined the 60s up to the early 90s (Photo by Isabella Darcy / Arts & Entertainment Editor).

TCNJ Choirs break conventions with TCNJ Rocks On! 2.0

The Kendall Hall stage was fully occupied on April 20 by both a choir and rock band, which graced the platform with a smattering of smoke to mimic the atmosphere of a rock concert. The College’s Choirs collaborated with classic rock band Vintage Feedback and 11 other student instrumental performers in its performance of TCNJ Rocks On! 2.0.

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4/11/2025