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The Taylor Swift Phenomenon  in San Diego

The Taylor Swift Phenomenon

in San Diego

Students react to new album and Swift’s legacy on Generation Z

KARISA KAMPBELL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

From a young age, Taylor Swift has captivated audiences through her heart-felt lyrics and raw ability to put words to the feelings of growing up, falling in love, being heart-broken and everything in between. Now in the wake of the debut of her 12th studio album, Midnights, Swift’s remarkable ability to engage an entire generation must be recognized.

Some find it interesting thatTaylor Swift was able to completely transform her sound from a country artist into a pop artist. Swift’s debut album, Taylor Swift, as well as her subsequent albums Fearless and Speak Now featured traditional country twang as well as introduced Taylor’s ability to capture the essence of being a teenage girl through her lyricism and storytelling.

Red marked the beginning of a new era for Taylor Swift. This album combined the pop-country lyricism with a new, purely pop sound that Swift began to dip her toes in with this album. Pop Swift continued through her next three albums 1989, Reputation and Lover. Sister albums Folklore and Evermore, released less than six months apart from each other in 2020, combined Taylor’s roots as a country artist with her newfound identity as a pop icon.

Midnights, Swift’s most recent album released on Oct. 21, 2022 ,focuses more on her pop sound, collaborating with artist Lana Del Rey to create a new, slightly softer pop sound for Swift.

With such a variety of music and sound, many in this generation have an ability to connect with Swift, whether it be through her sound or her lyricism.

USD junior Evelyn Shettzline shared why she loves Taylor Swift and her music.

“Taylor Swift has a song for literally every emotion I’ve ever felt before,” Shetzline said. “Happy, sad, angry, in love, heartbroken, betrayal, she has it all. She covers every emotional base.”

USD first-year Tyler DeGuzman also shared similar sentiments regarding his love for Swift.

“Her music is super story-telling,” DeGuzman said. “I love going on morning walks to just listen to her music. It just hits.”

Additionally, with such a variety of music, Swift has been able to reach a variety of people through her different albums.

Shetzline shared her favorite Taylor Swift album.

“I love Folklore,” Shetzline said. “Her lyrics, vision, and cohesiveness are simply unmatched in this album.”

In contrast, DeGuzman has a different favorite album.

“I like Red. It just has much more of a variety of songs on it than any of her other albums.”

As a born again Swiftie, Shetzline described how, while she took a break from Taylor Swift’s music for a while, she still fully supports the singer.

“I started listening to her after Speak Now, but I took a Taylor Swift hiatus until she started re-releasing her albums,” Shetzline said. “I still listen, because this woman is a true star; she’s an incredible performer.”

Other students, such as USD sophomore Kate Peterson, have been long-devoted fans of Swift.

“I have been a Swift fan for as long as I remember,” Peterson said. “I have really good memories of when I was eight at a Taylor Swift concert with my mom. I still would consider that concert to be the best concert of my life because of the memories I made with my mom that night.”

Now, with the release of her newest album, Swifties reflect on the album with respect to her past work.

Shetzline has mixed emotions on Swift’s new album.

“Midnights reminds me of a mixture of 1989 and Reputation. She shows her rebellious side and uniqueness well in this album,” Shetzline said. “ As a whole, I didn’t absolutely love the album, but I can appreciate the meaning and message behind it and I did enjoy listening to it.”

Deguzman, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed the newest edition to Taylor Swift’s Discography.

“I thought Midnights was really good. My favorite song was ‘You’re On Your Own Kid.’ I like calm songs like that. I wouldn’t say it was her best album, but it was still good.”

Peterson shared these sentiments with DeGuzman.

“I love her new album. Right now, I really like ‘Lavender Haze’,” Peterson said. “It’s so good, she’s so talented. It’s crazy.”

While some may not enjoy Midnights as much as others, the impact that Swift has made on our generation continues to show through the excitement and discourse around her new album, regardless of how people perceive this album in relation to her other work. It is evident that Taylor Swift has made a lasting impact on Generation Z through her lyricism abilities, and lasting presence in pop culture throughout the lives of this age demographic.

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The USD Vista staff’s picks: spooky books

The USD Vista staff’s picks: spooky books
Scary stories for the Halloween season
SALENA CHACON

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

With Halloween right around the corner, now is the perfect time to get into the holiday spirit by reading a scary book. Mysteries, horrors and paranormal stories are ideal for embracing the spooky season.

The USD Vista staff put together their picks for must-read scary books for the Halloween season. (Just don’t read them at night.)

“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley — Jessica Mills / Arts & Culture Editor

In the novel, Dr. Frankenstein successfully creates a monster from human corpses. Today, Frankenstein is a Halloween icon and popular costume.

“I read this book many years ago and the quote, ‘Beware; for I am fearless and therefore powerful’ has always stuck with me,” Mills said.

“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides — Olivia Synek / Associate Editor

Published in 2019, this book follows a therapist searching for the reason why a woman suddenly and brutally murdered her husband.

“[As a mystery and thriller] this one had me on the edge of my seat,” Synek expressed.

“Verity” by Colleen Hoover — Karisa Kampbell /Editor-in-Chief

Although not explicitly a scary book, “Verity” still harbors an eerie vibe, as it tells the story of a Verity, a famous author unable to finish her thriller book series, who hires a struggling writer to complete the work for her. The main character discovers shocking secrets, leading to many plot twists.

“It’s not super scary, just a little spooky and also a really easy read,” Kampbell said. “It’s a super unique concept. Verity makes a really great weekend read.”

“The Amityville Horror” by Jay Anson — Maria Simpson / Opinion Editor

The scariest thing about “The Amityville Horror” is that it is supposedly based on a true story.

The book chronicles a family who moves into a house recently owned by a murderer. The family moves out after a horrifying 28 days, positive that the house is haunted.

“It’s really interesting and it has made me forever terrified that I will accidentally buy a haunted house one day,” Simpson confessed.

“The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” by Grady Hendrix – Abigail Cavizo / News Editor

Another thriller, but with a supernatural twist. This book has the quintessential component of the perfect Halloween read: vampires. The story follows a women’s book club who suspects an attractive newcomer of being a vampire, all set in a 90s Southern town. Although written by a male, Cavizo was impressed by how well he wrote a female perspective.

“It has some mystery, some horror aspects, and all around was a great paced read!” Cavizo said.

“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” by Alvin Schwartz — Haley Jacob / Feature Editor

This haunting collection of short stories was collected from folklore, and it contains both creepy and comical stories. It doubles as a picture book as well, with illustrations by Stephen Gammell.

“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” is a short but spooky read sure to get you in the Halloween spirit.

“This book scared me so much as a kid. The stories are super short but so creepy,” Jacob said. “It’s a very nostalgic book, and it was my first real experience with horror.”

“The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe,” by Edgar Allan Poe — Colin Mullaney / Copy Editor

Known for his tormented and dramatic narratives, Edgar Allan Poe wrote many famous stories in the gothic genre such as “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Both detail the circumstances of cold-blooded murders but are unique in their execution.

As a Maryland native, Mullaney has an affinity for the poet and writer, who died by mysterious circumstances in Baltimore.

“In high school, we read a lot of Poe, because he was so prolific in our area. My favorite was probably ‘The Raven’ which is about a man who’s tormented by his lost love.”

The “Nancy Drew” Series, by Carolyn Keene — Mei Flory / Managing Editor

The beloved teenage detective began solving mysteries in the 1930s, when the first “Nancy Drew” book, “The Secret of the Old Clock” was published. Drew conducts interviews and solves various mysteries.Known for her many movie and television adaptations, Nancy Drew is the perfect character for those who love a good mystery.

“I read the first book when I was probably ten, and coming back to the series almost a decade later still satisfies my craving for a not-so-scary read. I’m not a huge fan of horror, but I love spooky mysteries like ‘Nancy Drew,’” Flory said.

Scary books can feature elements of mystery, monsters and psychological thrill.

No matter what spooky title you decide to read, the USD Vista staff hopes you enjoy their recommendations, and that they don’t scare you too much this spooky season.

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Fashion Week San Diego

Person in yellow top and red and orange flowy skirt with black lipstick and sun looking head crown

On the night of Fashion Week San Diego (FWSD), a line snaked around the corner of F Street and Seventh Avenue. People from all walks of life waited patiently to file into the Andaz Hotel, where the event would take place for the 15th year in a row. Inside the venue, designers, volunteers and elites alike sat beside the runway in anticipation, while others mingled on the rooftop bar. 

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Honoring all of fall’s special holidays 

table with orange flowers in front and colored paper decorations behind it. differently colored frames with peopels faces and skulls on table

Many people anticipate the fall season for the popular and widely celebrated holiday of Halloween — a night that consists of spooky decorations and fun costumes. However, many other celebrations take place during the fall season which hold important cultural and religious value to people worldwide. Holidays such as Day of the Dead — also known as “Día de los Muertos” — All Saints’ Day and Diwali bring unique forms of comfort, hope and inspiration into the lives of those who celebrate. 

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Ocean Alley: Live at Music Box

Sydney psych-reggae-cruise rockers Ocean Alley performed at Music Box this past week, leaving many stunned. First, they gained momentum in Australia, having won Aussie public radio station Triple J’s Hot 100 in 2018 with their hit song “Confidence.” Now in Australia’s music pantheon with the likes of Powderfinger and Australian Crawl, many are eager to see where they go next.

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