The Arts Desk’s weekly picks for music, movies and more
By ZOEY MORTAZAVI — arts@theaggie.org
Album: “Portrait” by Samara Joy (2024)
Samara Joy is a truly incredible jazz vocalist. Her technique is flawless, and her tone and range are beyond impressive — I might be a jazz fan already, but Joy is genuinely a thrill to listen to. Her 2024 album “Portrait” is one of my most recent music favorites, beginning with a magical rendition of Nat King Cole’s “You Stepped Out of a Dream.” A five-time Grammy winner, Joy reinvents jazz standards in addition to crafting original songs, and her vocal abilities are stunning throughout. Other personal favorites on the album include “Now And Then (In Remembrance Of…),” “Reincarnation Of A Lovebird” and “No More Blues.” I don’t think it would be at all dramatic to call her a generational talent; even if you’re not a jazz fan, this album — and Joy’s repertoire in general — is definitely worth a listen.
Book: “Anywhere But Here” by Mona Simpson (1986)
This coming-of-age story is one of my favorites. Set in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the story follows Ann August and her mother, Adele, as they move from Wisconsin to Beverly Hills in search of an idealized lifestyle. Ann’s skeptical view of the world resonated with me when I first read this book. To this day, I appreciate Simpson’s informal but personal prose as Ann adapts to the move, navigates conflict with her mother and grows into a new person. She is nostalgic for her life back home, wishing to be anywhere but where she is, and explores her past in tandem with her rapidly changing present. While I enjoyed the 1999 film adaptation starring Natalie Portman and Susan Sarandon, it fails to delve into as much of Ann and Adele’s family history as the novel itself does, which explores their relationship with past trauma. This book is one that I used to re-read on family road trips, and I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a story that will make you reappreciate familial sacrifices — despite the complicated dynamics that mother-daughter relationships so often bring.
Song: “Deyar” by Shahram Shabpareh (1993)
This Persian song is a great one to dance to, and you might not notice from a first listen that its lyrics are deeply nostalgic. The song delves into feelings of missing one’s homeland — or “diar” in Farsi — and only having one’s faith to rely on when you’re away from the place that is dear to both your heart and history. This message deeply resonates with people from all walks of life who have emigrated, faced displacement or have left their homelands for other reasons. Exemplified by “Deyar,” Iranian music has a way of combining upbeat instrumentals and vocals with deep, pensive lyricism. This song is one that I definitely recommend; amid ongoing conflicts in Iran, it’s more important than ever to uplift the country’s culture by appreciating its many facets. Persian dance music, whether or not you understand its lyrics, is definitely worth listening to; “Deyar” is a great place to start.
Movie: Amélie dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet (2001)
This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and one I just recently rewatched after returning from a semester study abroad program in Paris. Maybe the currently gloomy Davis weather is making me nostalgic for the film’s brightly-colored recreation of Paris, but regardless, the film’s cinematography alone makes it worth watching. The main character, Amélie, played by Audrey Tautou, begins conducting small acts of kindness (and the opposite, for those who deserve it) for strangers and friends in her life. Her character is memorable, endearing and impossible not to root for. “Amélie” is charming, romantic, witty and well-crafted. In particular, its iconic soundtrack features instrumentals that show a clear love for the city of Paris. The score, composed by Yann Tiersen, matches the energy of the film perfectly. I often listen to the soundtrack while studying or doing household tasks, which I also highly recommend.
Written by: Zoey Mortazavi — arts@theaggie.org
