Monday, November 16, 2015

Bring on the Powder Puff Girls

by Margarita Forbes

The first things that come to mind when you think of fall are football games, the pep rally and the homecoming dance.  But something else to get excited about is the annual Powder Puff game!  Going to events like the Powder Puff game to help give support back to Woburn High, is another way to show your Tanner Pride. 

For those who don’t know what the Powder Puff game is, it’s a single football game that happens every fall, meant for those upperclassmen girls who don’t mind getting down and dirty. The only requirement for girls who sign up is that they show up for the two or three practices and, of course, play in the game.  Teams are separated by juniors and seniors, who are coached by upperclassmen football players, and are monitored by teachers refereeing the 1 hour game. Many girls find this game to be a great tradition to look forward to.  Junior Mckenna Canty shared her thoughts on the tradition.

“I think that the Powder Puff game is a great way for juniors and seniors to come together and learn to work with one another.  It’s a great way to show spirit and unity among the classes,” mentioned Canty. 

However, many high schools no longer have this event around, but many find that keeping the annual tradition of the game at Woburn High is something different, out of the ordinary, and a great way to advocate enthusiasm for school spirit.

Although it is all about the girls learning to work together, in the past years it seems as if the senior girls almost always win the battle, no matter how hard the juniors seem to try.

Senior Jojo Mandra, who took part in the Powder Puff game as a junior stated, “Due to the amount of knowledge and more experience that the senior girls have, compared to the junior girls’ each year, I think that seniors are always bound to win.  Seniors just have the advantage of knowing what to expect and knowing what plays work out the best,” said Mandra.

The event is run and coordinated by The Student Council, but participants play a large role in keeping the tradition going. 

“The Student Council runs the event, organizes it, promotes it, chooses who should be involved to help during the game, and chooses captains for the teams when the time comes.  But a lot of the organizing and planning is actually done by the junior and senior girls who play in the Powder Puff game themselves.  For instance, almost all of the players taking part in the game are recruited by captains, or by other girls,” stated Adviser and history teacher Kimberly Vogel.

Even though the Powder Puff game is exclusive to only upperclassman girls, there are other ways to be involved in the game besides playing in it.  Students can volunteer at food stands, selling concessions like hot chocolate to people watching the game, or students may be able to sell tickets at the door or accept donations from people in the crowd. 
Another way that students in the school can help the event is even by just spreading the word about when the Powder Puff game will be and at what time!  All of this help is beneficial, especially if you are looking for a way to get some community service hours.

Since these are the last days of high school for the fellow junior and senior girls, it is a great way to have a final time to be united. Members of Student Council and the players can use all the help they can get to make this night for the upperclassmen girls a spectacular one, so join them on Tuesday, December 1!

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Defining a true diva: a tribute to Mariah


by Laura Zakrewski

Many a diva has come and gone, but one has stood the test of time.  The name’s Carey.  Mariah Carey, and feel free to wear it out.  She loves to see her name in lights because, well, she’s a diva and that’s her right.  However, loyal fans of Ms. Carey’s don’t mind it at all.  She’s just the right amount of sassy mixed with a hint of sweet…or should I say Honey

Her career began before all of us youngsters taking classes here at Woburn High were even a thought, way back in the year 1990.  Her first hit song "Vision of Love" catapulted Mariah Carey to the top of the Billboard Charts.  The accompanying music video is often described by music critics as “simple and very focused on the power of her vocal ability.” 

At the 33rd annual Grammy Awards, Mariah won Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.  This gave her the proper platform to let out her inner diva.  The exposure that she was getting for her debut album, self-titled Mariah Carey, created a high demand for her second studio album. 

Still, many people felt that she was nothing more than a passing pop star and that she would fade after the success of songs such as "Vision of Love", "Someday" and "Love Takes Time".  Luckily, Mariah showed the haters just how wrong they were.   

Her album Emotions came out in 1991, successfully producing a few hit songs and highlighting the impressive whistle register that Carey is known for.  At this time in Mariah’s career, she was having difficulties with her record label and lawsuits were filed all over the place.  However, this tumultuous behind-the-scenes action never surfaced in her songs, as they still came out better than ever. 
       
In 1992, Mariah Carey was set to perform on MTV unplugged, which was a television show where artists performed stripped down versions of their hit songs.  However, Carey wanted to go for the unexpected and decided to sing a cover version of Hero, a song originally by the Jackson 5.  This turned out to be a smash hit, and to date remains one of Mariah’s most popular songs. 
        
This success continued with her album Music Box, which became one of the best-selling albums of all time.  She followed this up with a small, yet successful concert tour of North America.  After only three years on the music scene, Mariah had officially earned the title of diva.    
        
We mustn’t forget about the merriest song of them all.  Mariah Carey’s contribution to Christmas has been named a “holiday standard” by Rolling Stone Magazine.  "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is a modern take on the holidays that gets people, young and old, in a celebratory, festive mood.
        
After the 1990s ended, Carey kept the 2000s real with songs such as "Obsessed" and "We Belong Together."  Her songs have reached the ears of many listeners.  To date, Mariah Carey has had eighteen songs hit number one, and countless other songs make the charts. 

Now, it’s not to say that Mariah is perfect.  Her personal life has been hectic at times, with a couple of failed marriages, an emotional breakdown circa 2001, and a failed foray into film with Glitter.  Her vocals aren’t what they used to be, but that’s what happens after years of wear and tear on the vocal chords. 

It is safe to say that Mariah Carey is not just a diva, but the diva.  Her contributions to pop and R & B are immense and her influence on modern music can be felt even today in 2015.         
         
                   
                                                                   Mariah Carey's Hits:
                                                                                                                                               Honey
                                                                                                                                                                            Dreamlover                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        One Sweet Day
                                                                                                                     Emotions
6                                                                                                                                                                        Mine Again
                                                                                                                                                                               Butterfly
8                                                                                                                                                                            Circles
                                                                                                                                                                   Vision of Love
                                                                                                         Don’t Forget About Us
                                                                                                          We Belong Together
                                                                                                           Always Be My Baby
                                                                                                                  Without You
                                                                                                                         Hero
                                                                                                                Touch My Body
                                                                                                                        Bye Bye
I'                                                                                                                  I’ll Be There
                                                                                                                                                                             Shake It Off
                                                                                                                      Obsessed

                                                                                                                 It’s Like That

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