90% of the world’s population listens to music, that’s over seven billion people, making music one of the world’s biggest ways of human connection.
“My friends and I bond the most when we listen to different types of music from different genres, especially in the car. There’ve been plenty of late nights with us driving home blasting and belting to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,” said 12th-grade student Olivia Lane. Within the 930 students and faculty members at Laguna Beach High School, music is a way for Breakers to connect with their peers and teachers. Though many of us know what kinds of music our fellow students like, I went to find out what some of our favorite teachers at our school listen to and more about why they like these artists.
Mr. Tu: K-Pop
Mr. Derek Tu, a Statistics and Calculus teacher, is a campus celebrity for his dance moves at pep rallies for the K-Pop Club. Within K-Pop, he enjoys listening to BTS, Big Bang, Girls Generation, and Dean. He first got into K-pop in high school, “It was really popular and all of my friends were really into it, I think it was Girls Generation that really got me into the genre.”
He now spreads K-Pop to high school students around Laguna Beach through his student-run club. “I like that they brought K-Pop to Laguna because they didn’t have it before. I know many people don’t speak Korean or don’t understand it, but I think it’s okay. I think it opens up a new world to people.”
K-Pop club has opened a new world to many students and continues to get LBHS students excited about their pep rally performances.
Mr. J: Beyoncé
Mr. Jonathan Walters, a new English 12 and Journalism teacher at LBHS, has established himself as the Beyoncé superfan of the school by playing her music during class work time and using her “look around everybody on mute” challenge as an attention-getter. He was introduced to Beyoncé’s music as a child and was immediately hooked, “My sisters and my mom used to listen to her. I was looking at this woman as an entertainer; she has the swag and work ethic, and she has that “it” factor. To do what she did in high heels, maintaining the vocals in that key, the work ethic and creativity blew me away.”
Besides her creativity, Mr. J believes that Beyoncé’s innovation sets her apart from other singers. “There are performers that can sing a cute song and write nice music, but in terms of innovation–moving music forward, she doesn’t do things twice, she always does something new, she makes us look at music differently.” Beyoncé has also impacted Mr. J with the essential messages she conveys through her music. “Her vision, the way that she uses music to uplift Blackness and express the multiple aspects of what it means to be Black, not just heterosexual and Black but also queer and Black, it’s just beautiful and amazing.”
Mrs. Holtz: Taylor Swift
Mrs. Alexandra Holtz, the Integrated Science I and II Honors teacher and well-known Swiftie on campus, wore an Eras Tour t-shirt on the first day of school to show her new students her love for Taylor Swift.
Her interest in Taylor Swift began when she was our age. “I was 17 years old, and at a family party, I heard her first single, Tim McGraw, and because we aren’t that far apart in age, her lyrics and melody spoke to me.” What sets Taylor Swift apart from other artists for Mrs. Holtz is her musical genre, “My favorite genre of music is folk-pop music, so Folklore and Evermore are some of my favorite albums by her.” She mentioned “Invisible String” and “The Great War” as her other favorite Taylor songs.
Mrs. Holtz saw Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour this summer and had a fantastic experience. “I just kept thinking, she’s a perfect human, this is amazing, and she’s a really good entertainer.” During the Eras Tour, she felt the warmth of the Swiftie fandom.“I didn’t bring any friendship bracelets but a couple of girls gave some to me”.
Ms. Hanson: Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac
Ms. Heather Hanson teaches AP European History and AP Art History but also lived in Italy for some time. Her favorite artist, Stevie Nicks, and her band, Fleetwood Mac, remind Ms. Hanson of her memories of living in Europe. “The first time I saw Fleetwood Mac, I was with my two best girlfriends–we were living in Rome at the time and we flew to London to see them. For the three of us to be there, together, seeing them for the first time, it was the best thing ever.”
Music is a valuable way of connection and human interaction, especially with our teachers and peers here at Laguna Beach High School. Finding out what your teachers like within the music world is a fun way of getting to know them and a great way to relate to and understand each other.
