Qthe What do you hear in the "My friend corridors of Queens' HOTor School? self­harms GOOD OR BAD? ­ what do I NOT Social Media do?" Ask our Agony RACIST COSTUMES Aunts! S At Queens’ School we aim to take every student in our care on a most P extraordinary journey, and one which can nurture their individual talents and provide the skills and experience to last a lifetime. This newly re-launched school R newspaper does just that: it is fully designed and created by students, with just an oversight from staff. I am impressed by the talent and dedication of the editors and sub-editors who have been the driving force behind The Q. The content reflects I our school STAR values and I hope you will agree that the content is full of N scholarship, tenacity, altruism and respect. The content, layout and design have all been created by the students. A special mention must go to Evie Pullen as the first G editor of the paper, who has had oversight of the rest of the editorial team including Maia Anselmo, Ella Clarke and Danny Robinson who contributed a lot to the paper. By turning the paper into an on-line editorial, we welcome a much wider 2 readership: students, parents, staff, governors, alumni and indeed the general public. This has helped us to mirror the same process that the media use in creating their 0 publications. The aim of this newspaper is to go beyond the school newsletter, which gives up-to-date information about the events and success of the school, and give 1 students the opportunity to create content and editorial pieces about current affairs that are meaningful to them both as individuals and the school body. 9 This content is testament to the passion around writing that is the epicentre of the curriculum at Queens’. These articles are both well written and designed to make you think about some of the current local issues. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have. Mr. Morrell, Head Teacher Ella Mai easily won the jackpot this year twice with her old-style R&B tracks 'Boo’d Up' and 'Trip' which Casual Listener brought her to the top of the US charts – the first woman since 1992. ELLA MAI However, she didn’t get half as good Study Playlist a response from her home country. Cycle – Sabrina Claudio Last year, Ella released her first cheating on their partners, Chris and Seoul – RM studio album, gaining her a 6.6 on Mai meld their voices together in a Therapy – Khalid Pitchfork and the peak position of satisfying melody to deliver a story Honey – Kehlani 18 on the UK chart. She brought a that is not well beloved by many Instagram – DEAN total of 16 tracks, including 3 fans. It’s followed by a calmer tune, We Find Love – Daniel Caesar previously released singles and 3 ‘Cheap Shot’, which delivers the the Take Me – MISO new collaborations with A-list emotions of a loveless relationship CRAZY – John OFA Rhee musicians. well with the addictive chorus and Emerald - RINI the haunting melody that lingers Ella carries her familiar R&B sound behind her soulful voice. ‘Shot Clock’ efforts in this album. to this album, starting off with follows, bringing back the old R&B ‘Good Bad’. This song, to me, is The final three songs slow down ear candy with some pleasing reminiscent of a low-lit bar full of the tempo even more and carry a backing vocals and harmonies, people milling about, swaying to the much more romantic tone than the sampled off of Drake’s 'Legend'. music – but it lacks something. It majority of the album. ‘Easy’ is a fails to capture my attention and ‘Everything’, featuring John Legend, passionate and emotional piano even feels typical at times thanks to is a cute soulful song centred on an ballad full of harmonies and the generic beat. She follows it up attentive couple that hold a loving featuring a choir. It displays Mai’s with ‘Dangerous’ which begins with and careful relationship. Their voices powerful vocals incredibly well. It’s a noise that reminded me of a weave in and out of each other followed by the atmospheric lo-fi dungeon in a Pokémon game. It perfectly; silk-smooth vocals slow ‘Close’ that speaks of the pride and doesn’t even lead into the song – it down the pace of the album and happiness in being able to love a ends abruptly and threw me a little bring a much calmer and sweeter significant other. ‘Naked’ is the final off track. The rest of it was actually story to it. The ballad is followed by track on the album, rounding it off enjoyable with a lively experimental ‘Own It’ with a 90’s R&B sound perfectly with relaxing acoustics and beat that contrasts her usually more sampled from Adina Howard’s 1988 honest lyrics – ‘Are you ready to ‘chill’ songs and brings something track ‘T-Shirt & Panties’ and brings a fight just to see what’s lost behind new to the table. ‘Sauce’ is a slightly sexier vibe. However, the hi- my flaws?’ Mai carries pure emotions braggadocious track accentuated by hats and multitude of layers drown in this song, asking to be loved what the critics called a ‘meme- out Mai’s voice, pushing down its despite her faults. worthy’ pronunciation of the title. impact. ‘Run My Mouth’ is a slower, Overall, Ella has brought forward a This song breezes quickly past my smoother song framed by her pleasing debut album, though it ear and leaves little imprint if not passionate harmonies. It leads into lacks the true strength that I believe none – the synth melody playing ‘Gut Feeling’, the final collaboration she can achieve. Her spoken-word behind her voice this time reminds in the album with H.E.R., who brings interludes often don’t fit the song me of Animal Crossing, the bass and her crystal clear vocals and nifty (‘A: Assertive…forceful’ she says, synth chords lack the ‘sawce’ she piano runs to push Mai’s own vocal after preaching the importance of speaks of. love in ‘Everything’) and acquire the ‘Watchamacallit’ is the promotional same effect as SZA’s grandma single for this album, and for good talking – a skip. In my opinion, the reason. This collaboration with Chris pop sound she began with restrained Brown captures my ears immediately her ability to deliver the depth she and quickly turns into a fairly attempts to convey in her (albeit pleasant earworm. Catchy and generic) lyrics and her potential was attention-grabbing, an abundance of not lived up to. Despite all of this, it riffs and harmonies and a terrible promises a step forward in her message unite to make a slightly musical versatility, and I look less-than-perfect new anthem. forward to her future releases. Promising not to spill secrets of - Maia Anselmo COLOURISM Discrimination based on skin tone within the same community How many of you have heard of the term colourism? specialising in products that help ‘lighten the skin’ to Whilst racism is a frequently talked about issue in discrimination in the film and modelling industry, India society since the early 1930’s, ‘colourism’ or is known for following old traditions and beliefs, one of ‘shadeism’ is an equally important problem that is not the main ones being that darker skinned people are talked about enough in the media and often inferior to lighter skinned people. overlooked by many people as a minor issue. Just like racism, colourism, has many negative impacts A massive example of potential colourism in practise such as how it promotes a narrow standard of beauty is the idea that light-skinned black women have it and self-hatred and also ensures that many talented easier in showbiz. According to the BBC, many people individuals don’t get the same opportunities and a level believe that celebrities such as Rihanna, Beyonce and playing field, in many different careers and industries. Zendaya find it easier to become more successful in Even though times are changing, it is important to the industry due to their lighter skin tones. recognise the fact that apart from major issues that are Of the 68 female solo artists who’ve been in the constantly brought up in the media, there are many British Top 40 chart since the start of 2017, 17 are of minor issues that affect many people around the world, black heritage - and the vast majority of those are and as the generation of the future, it is important to lighter-skinned. This a prime example of how acknowledge these matters and shed light on them. colourism is affecting the music industry and how Preena Madlani many dark-skinned artists are not getting the same recognition and opportunities due to their skin tone. The Oxford dictionary definition of colourism is 5 embarrassing things you ONLY did in Year 7: “prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same •Use a whole tray in the canteen for a single slice ethnic or racial group”, however colourism can go the of pizza. other way, as in the black community, there are cases of discrimination against light-skin people for ‘not •Run everywhere. Like, EVERYWHERE. being black enough’. The black community, however, is not the only •Scratch lines into your tie. Wow, you’re so cool. community affected by colourism as there are many other communities in which there is tension between •Do gaming celebration ‘Fortnite’ dances on the people of different shade skin tones including India.