Facing Terror and Its Aftermath in Spain to the Lovely Ladies of Atma
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The Undergraduate Magazine Published Independently at the University of Pennsylvania FirstCall Vol. IV, No. 15 | March 22, 2004 Tired of crosswords? Move over Atkins Penn undercover Battle of the Buck Try our BRAND NEW WORDGAME: Andrew Pederson reveals how to lose Brian Hertler reports the inside story Michael Patterson gives his two cents The Magic Anagram Square!! extra inches a few meters at a time. of fighting bioterror in West Philly. on campaign ad tactics. Page 6 Page 3 Page 8 Page 8 TIERRA ZERO: Facing Terror and its Aftermath in Spain BY BRENDON HOUSER OUR FACULTY DIRECTOR Spain’s sad history of terror attacks countrymen apparently did not, the PSOE’s surprise win prompted be meeting the Anglo-American interrupted my 9 a.m. class in and the resulting anticipation of as the opposition PSOE (Partido a Monday-morning pledge by José allies in the Azores for bonding Madrid last Thursday to tell us future attacks were inadequate Socialista Obrero Español) scored Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the sessions, and his actual vision that we should call our families preparation for the shock that a solid victory over the ruling PP Socialist leader, to make good on for Spain remains unclear. The in America. My first thought was Spaniards felt on March 11th. (Partido Popular). his campaign promise to withdraw potential Spanish withdrawal that America had been attacked This profound shock reverberated Finding themselves the victims Spanish peacekeeping troops from from Iraq symbolizes a choice again, but I soon found out that through the weekend and on of Europe’s most horrific attack Iraq. The PSOE cannot turn back that Spain must now make with Spain had been the victim this Sunday produced a stunning since Lockerbie, Spaniards were the clock and rescind Spain’s respect to its relationship with the time. The terror had occurred election result that could have understandably disoriented. The blessing of the war, but it can rest of the world; it may continue shortly before eight o’clock. I had significant consequences for both terrorists slyly cited Spanish reevaluate and reconfigure Spain’s participating in international been eating breakfast at the time, Spain and America. support of the war upon claiming international relations. affairs alongside bigger powers, or and somehow I had managed to When my Spanish host responsibility for the 3/11 attacks, Following his party’s victory, it may attempt to isolate itself once walk two miles across town to mother, a staunch conservative, and thus they reinforced the Zapatero moved quickly to make again from the external world. school without figuring out what murmured on Saturday that Spain perception that Spain was attacked friends with British Prime Minister Any attempt at isolation will, had happened. might be safer under a socialist because Spain made itself a target. Tony Blair and announced his however, fail miserably. Although As I recalled seeing the live government, I appreciated the This perception was undoubtedly intention to maintain “cordial” it has not been on the front-burner television images after returning depth of Spain’s fresh wound. She a boon for the PSOE, which has relations with the United States. of international politics since from my 9 a.m. class at Penn on regained her composure prior to lambasted Spanish participation Unlike his predecessor, José the 1930s, Spain is, by virtue of September 11th, I realized that going to the polls, but many of her in the war from the outset. Indeed, María Aznar, Zapatero will not its culture and geography, a key Continued on Page 4 IRON CAMERA To the Lovely Ladies of Atma: Rock On!! BY MICKEY JOU I HAD BEEN LOOKING for Atma’s satisfying. Kavita Ramakrishnan promotional flyers and promoters uses several different ways of on Locust Walk all year. I mean tying the music together, from the it. Ever since I went to see their animated “break-it-down” rhythm performance “Rice, Rice Baby” last section of “Hot Stuff/Too Good year and heard their mesmerizing to Be True/Knight Rider” to the blend of Southeastern Asian shared harmonic motives of “Silsila musical traditions and American Ye Chaahat Ka/ Waterfalls”. The R&B and rap, I have been waiting transitions remain genuine and to hear them perform again. If original and as interesting as the only they had copies of their songs themselves. performances for sale on CD! I Most of the selections guarantee they would make a lot performed, in fact, 10 of the 13, of money. are arranged by veteran singer/ The set up of this year’s “We arranger Ramakrishnan. It is to Don’t Need Your Instruments” her credit that the songs performed (and as an all-female a cappella are rhythmically compelling with group, they’re true to their word— a solid but creative take on the they don’t!) was similar to last harmony and a wonderful variety of year’s. They performed originally texture thrown in for good measure. BORIS SHOCHAT arranged songs and medleys In addition to her work behind from various sources of film and the scenes, her time on the stage popular music from both the States is equally something to behold. and Southeast Asia, showcasing Not only does Ramakrishnan Top 5 Musical Crimes Perpetrated fabulous vocal talents. It’s a have a rich, lusciously deep voice wonderful atmosphere—you can comparable to the British pop tell that the members of the group singer Des’ree, she’s also got a By Penn Masala on Friday:Go! are very close and really love what powerful stage presence. Listening they do. As a general rule, people to her singing “Too Good to Be BY JULIE GREMILLION like watching other people have True” was probably the highlight of fun. Needless to say, the energetic the concert for me. I HAVE SPENT the past two years avoiding a cappella crimes perpetrated by Penn Masala during their and spirited performance on stage performances like the plague for fundamental Friday night show: “Two Thumbs Up”. Her fellow singers are not to fulfilled the group’s promise at reasons. Penn has way too many a cappella groups, UNFORGIVABLE CRIME #1: THE SOUNDS OF be slighted! Following the sultry the beginning of the show, that and I take issue on face with groups who claim to SILENCE medley of “Hot Stuff/Too Good music ignites the passion, frees the perform pop music without accompaniment. But Let’s face it, guys. The only musicians who can to Be True/Knight Rider” comes imagination, and sends the soul after a recent good experience seeing my friend afford to put on a three hour show have at least Mehreen Hossain, who delivers flying. in Atma, I decided to indulge in another Hindi a seven albums of material or five opening acts. “Bole Chudiyan” with soaring cappella group—Penn Masala. I checked out their Scheduled at 8pm, the show didn’t actually start True, technical difficulties vocals, contrasting nicely with the cover of “Desert Rose” and was pretty impressed. until 8:19—bad form. Finally, Penn Masala decided did exit. There was a problem quiet, whispery delivery of Shivana Not to mention, these guys are legendary on campus, to grace us with their presence but then seemed with a small feedback on and Naidoo on the subsequent “Ishq so it can only get better from here! to spend a lot of time in the dark. They took a off through the show; the Bina”. Deepa Ravikumar stands I should have known better. couple minutes between each song to blackout the sounds are unbalanced with “Six out especially with her impressive Not only did my friend and I have to suffer with house, change positions, and drink a little water. I Underground” and “Hold Me, performance of “Hai Rama”. Here, three completely obnoxious guys sitting in front of realize it’s necessary to realign the members for an Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” to the both the vocal talent of Ravikumar us who drank Bud Light in Irvine Auditorium and arrangement, but we’re talking about nine people point where I can barely hear the and the arrangement prowess talked at full volume non-stop during the entire first here, not 40. Two minutes seems like an eternity in lead. Those minor problems aside, of Ramakrishnan complement act before we had the security guard escort them out the dark, particularly when it happens every four to this year’s show featured no fewer one another perfectly—the misty, of the building, but Penn Masala seemed to be one five minutes! The first intermission lasted at least 15 musical gems than last year. With blended opening really takes you really long interminable ballad, with the exception minutes, and the second act opened with a relatively some formal music background, to that place where the soul and of countless lights-out breaks. I wouldn’t consider long movie clip. When Penn Masala returned to the I especially enjoyed the seamless the imagination roam freely. The myself a High Fidelity snob, but I do have more than stage, they had changed nothing but their clothes. transitions between songs in the girl’s got skills—Ravikumar’s agile adequate experience with music and performing Why they didn’t have enough time to do that with medleys. It is one thing to arrange manipulation of the melody notes arts. So in Top Five style, I present the Top Five a transition, and quite another to make it musically interesting and Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 7 PAGE 2 MARCH 22, 2004 | FIRST CALL | VOL. IV NO. 15 FirstCall Editorial Vol.