2024 was certainly an exciting year in the world of arts and entertainment. Whether you gave in to the energy of “Brat” and had yourself a brat summer, started playing tennis after watching “Challengers” or purchased a pair of Adidas Sambas after seeing them everywhere, there is no denying the cultural and artistic impact of 2024. However, as we celebrate the dawn of a new year, there are plenty of new releases and art moments to look forward to in 2025.
Music: “Taylor’s Version”
Coming fresh off a record-breaking 149-show world tour, Taylor Swift is a force to be reckoned with who never seems to lose momentum. Even while on the road on The Eras Tour, Swift released two of her re-recorded albums — “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” and “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” — as well as a new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” While Swift has not officially announced when her final two re-recordings will be released, many fans anticipate that one if not both will come out in 2025. The two final albums Swift has yet to re-record are “Taylor Swift,” often referred to as “Debut,” and “Reputation.” In her career, these two albums hold a lot of meaning, as “Taylor Swift” was her first release, and “Reputation” was her last under her former label, Big Machine Records. With the success of Swift’s previous re-recordings — specifically the love fans have for the “From the Vault” tracks, which were not previously featured on the album — anticipation for the final “Taylor’s Versions” remains at a high for Swifties.
Fashion: The 2025 Met Gala
The Met Gala, held on the first Monday in May and often referred to as fashion’s biggest night, announced its 2025 theme last fall. For the first time since 2003, the Met Gala will be focused on menswear, titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” As explained by Vogue, the goal of the exhibit is to examine “the importance of clothing and style to the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora.” Additionally, it was announced that the Met Gala will be co-chaired by Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and honorary chair, LeBron James. Given Domingo’s viral fashionable moments on countless red carpets during recent awards seasons and Williams’ success as the men’s creative director for Louis Vuitton (to name a few), the co-chairs this season seem up for the task and will undoubtedly bring style and flair to the carpet. The actual dress code for the Met Gala has yet to be announced, but as seen in prior years, the theme and the dress code are connected and attendees tend to draw inspiration from both for their looks.
Theater: “Sunset Blvd.”
It is hard to think of a more talked-about performance this theater season than Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond in Jamie Lloyd’s production of “Sunset Blvd.” Completely stripped back with plain costumes and a minimalist set, Jamie Lloyd’s version of “Sunset Blvd.” is unlike any other — with technology and hand-held cameras aiding the story as opposed to sets. Not only are there differences in the visuals when compared to previous productions, but there is an inherent difference in the characterization of Norma. Norma is less of a sophisticated woman and more unhinged, constantly one second away from breaking — something that Scherzinger captures perfectly. From her occasionally unusual dance moves and physicality to her interactions with her love interest Joe (Tom Francis), Scherzinger embodies this new interpretation of Norma in a way that is incredibly fun to watch. While her acting certainly is not perfect, her vocals are truly unmatched. With her show-stopping solos “With One Look” and “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” Scherzinger proves that she is worthy of being on a Broadway stage and the flowers she is finally receiving after being in the entertainment industry for decades are well-deserved. Scherzinger’s performance is an unforgettable experience, and even if you cannot see her in person, a live album from the show’s London run is available to stream — highly recommend skipping straight to “As If We Never Said Goodbye” to understand just how powerful Scherzinger’s voice is.
Books: “Sunrise on the Reaping”
Suzanne Collins found major success with the original “The Hunger Games” trilogy and the prequel novel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” The beauty behind Collins’ writing when it comes to “The Hunger Games” novels is how she embeds political commentary into her novels and encourages readers — primarily young adult readers — to question authority and the society we live in through her fictional characters in her dystopian world. With her new “Hunger Games” novel, “Sunrise on the Reaping,” Collins was inspired by philosopher David Hume’s idea of implicit submission as well as the ideas of propaganda and narrative control — seemingly very relevant themes given the political and cultural nature of the world right now. The book is set to start on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games, which fans of the original trilogy will know is the Hunger Games that Katniss Everdeen’s mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, was reaped for. Set to release on March 18 with a film adaptation also confirmed for Nov. 20, 2026, “Sunrise on the Reaping” will be a must-read for all “Hunger Games” fans.
Television: “The White Lotus”
From Hawaii to Italy and now Thailand, the third season of the multi-Emmy award-winning show, “The White Lotus,” airs on Max on Feb. 16. Similar to the previous seasons, the third season has an entirely new cast with the exception of Natasha Rothwell, who is reprising her role as the spa manager, Belinda, from season 1. One of the reasons “The White Lotus” is so successful is because it blends social commentary with satirical, dramatic and comedic performances and constantly keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. With season 1, creator Mike White tackled themes of wealth and power while season 2 focused on sex, lust and greed. When the third season was announced, White said the third season’s focus would be a “satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality.” While there are limited details on the plot, many might be familiar with certain cast members like Lisa (Blackpink), Aimee Lou Wood (Aimee from “Sex Education”) and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy from the “Harry Potter” series).
