Matonic on Music Six songs that either Reagan Martin / The Johnsonian cooled you down or kept you hot this summer ‘Adam Matonic _atonicazmynan.com “Nright"-endrick Lamar Enhanced by one of the best ‘music videos ofthe past decade and a cataclysmic ive perfor ‘mance on the BET Awards this song reached anthemic heights this summer. Te track fea- turesa surreal alto saxophone, a pulsating Pharrell sample, and grating eymbals that give the soundscape a dissonant ‘tenuousness. It manages along, ‘with the album from which i's cat ~to incsively serve as the soundtrack to racial tensions in the US. today “Cool forthe Summer” -Demi Lovato Easily the most exciting pop ‘moment of the summer, this siz- sling, sweaty tune was produced by hitsmaking mad scientist Max ‘Martin, the man behind “Blank Space” and “Teenage Dream, Lovato's delivery drips with charisma and asserts a burgeon- ing confidence as she whispers bisexual innuendos and belts bout body positivity. Those ‘who are complaining about this being too akin to Katy Pery are missing the point. Pop music is derivative; learn to live with it, ‘and life wil be a lot more fun, “Hotline Bling” -Drake Don't be fooled by the mini- smalist production; there's alot soing on in this one. Of course you have the typical Drake schmaltz and the familiar trope oflove being justa phone call away, but this song as a clean sense of humor. I don't know at ‘hich point Drake is winking harder: the repetition of ‘ell phone” (Aren'tall phones cell phones when you're singing to rllennials?) or the fact that this song uses a sample that sounds like hold music you would hear calling a locally owned hard- ware store. Drake's voeal isan ‘evocative meld of punehy envy ‘and smooth seduction. But the sexiest part ofthis song isthe fact that i's so aware ofits own cheesines, “Good for You" -Selena Gomez featuring ASAP Rocky ‘The best pop musi isa tle subversive, and this songs well aware of that. We find ourselves inthe era of watching Disney stars outgrow their industry imposed innocence, and i's as thing as itis unsettling In the Aligital age, the virtue of slf- esteem has become inereasingly abstracted, and Gomez hatnt- ingly embodies the struggles as- sociated with that. The Lana Del Rey comparisons are inevitable = ASAP Rocky's appearance on this song is no accident ~ but Gomer stands on her own with a ghostly incandescence that almost makes you wince. Also, props to ASAP Rocky, whose smirky sensuality both height- fens the stakes and lightens the mood, “High By the Beach” -Lana Del Rey Speaking of Lana Del Rey: this song's wispy, blurry vibe makes apathy in today’s world even ‘more enticing than it already is, Del Rey’ firm and whispery stand against an overbearing fanboy with flair may be refresh- ing to those who have ertiqued hr reticent stance on feminism. “Idon’t need your money to get, sme what I want” is an exciting development inthe life of Lana ‘who infamously said “Whenever people bring up feminism... just not realy that interested.” “annie” -Neon Indian Electronic, beachy, and guitar- driven, “Annie” is the summer fling you didn’t even knov you ‘wanted, This song isjust well ‘conceived fun, What more is there to ertique, really?TJA&C Activist dispels rumors about Islam and terrorism “What or Hews il notshow, mere to show ‘oa sid autor Zaha Sarva, who cameo ‘iit andtakto Wnt students. Photo by ‘Adam Matonic By Adam Matonte Special to he flonan ‘The media's treatment of Muslims has been dominated by "searetacties,” according to Mus- lim author Zohra Sarwat, who spoke in Din Place as apart ofthe DSUs lecture series on ‘Tuesday night “There is no race, gender or religion associated with terrorism,” said Sarwari, an entrepreneur tnd mother of four. "The media says that all ‘Muslims are not terrorists but all terrorists are Muslin.” ‘Sarwar presented the statistic that 48 percent cof Americans have an unfavorable view of Mus- Jims and said, H's one thing to be a minority but 'sanother thing to be hated by almost half of the ‘country you call home.” By clearly defining what it means to be a terror ist as opposed to what it means to bea Muslim, ‘Sarwar drew a strong distinction between the terms that are all too often perceived as mutually inclusive “What Fox News will not show, Tm here to show you,” Sarwar said. Defining the word "Muslim" as simply “one who submits his or herself to God,” Sarwari went on to Accentuate the unifying and peaceful principles at Islam's core by quoting a few benevolent passages from the Quran, the Muslim holy book ‘Sarwar also called for increased responsibility in the members of organized religions. “After reading several frequently misconstrued ‘excerpts from the Quran, Sarwar sai that Holy Scripture “is nt for us to take out of context and do whatever we want with it” "Before 9/11, people would tll you Muslims stand for peace, equality, and strength of char acter,” Sarwar said, also adding several glowing testimonials of Islamic faith by many leaders and scholars, ranging from Mahatma Gandhi to George Bernard Shaw. Citing the First Amendment's protection of freedom of religion, Sarwari questioned ifUS. lawmakers are really practicing what they preach ‘She spoke of laws in Georgia, Oregon and Nebras- ‘ea that prohibit Muslim women ftom wearing ‘traditional dress in certain settings. ‘When Sarwar travels by plane, because she chooses to wear traditional Muslim garb, she “almost always” gets stuck in customs and misses her connecting fight. "Ieactually brought me to tears” said sopho- ‘more art major Kathryn Thoma. “Iwas shocked by the extreme racial profiling she [Sarwar] has toface everyday.” ‘Michael Bowen, a junior social work major and religion minor, enjoyed Sarwar’s"high energy” delivery. "She gave a really good first-person ac- ‘count. I was nice to get this kind of information ina way that isnt just theoretical,” he said. “She was very straightforward,” senior psy- ‘chology major Kimberlie Kirkpatrick said. “She ‘opened my eyes to different aspects of Islam I wasn't aware of before.” ‘Attributing many ignorant opinions of Muslims asstemming from fer, Sarwari has made it her lifes work to help dispel wrongful stereotypes as- signed to people of Islamic faith ‘Sarwari said, "When you're afraid of something, learn about i.”