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Northern Star

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Use music to get out of those new semester blues

By Sarah Contreras | January 16, 2013

Every once in a while, I find myself getting frustrated. This is one of those whiles. It’s the beginning of a new semester and, like clockwork, I am a ball of stress. Multiple calls to the Financial Aid office and many instances of screaming at the...

Music is made for everybody

By Katie Finlon | December 3, 2012

Music is supposed to reflect creativity. Music—or art in general—is supposed to be a means of expression, a means of marking time. What could be the only thing that ruins the spirit of music? A snob. Now, I understand snobbery could be a byproduct...

Finals week requires good balance of work, music

By Beth Schumacher | December 2, 2012

Finals week is approaching. Bring on the stress. I would hit the gym to get those endorphins going but quite honestly, sleep seems more appealing. One thing that has always relaxed and motivated me in times of stress is music. However, it can’t be just...

Music can bring back strong memories

By Sarah Contreras | November 28, 2012

I can’t listen to the Rolling Stones without thinking of my father. In fact, I can’t listen to Queen, The Beatles, The Eagles, Peter Frampton, Creedence Clearwater Revival or Sade without thinking of my father. And you know what? These memories, at...

Giving thanks for good music

By Sarah Contreras | November 19, 2012

On Thanksgiving, I will be curled up on my sofa, watching Elf and The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (me plus Ken Burns equals homies for life). I’ll be reading for fun and drinking coffee spiked with Bailey’s. I’ll be eating the leftovers...

Scene writer performs with Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra

By Shelby Devitt | November 12, 2012

Saturday afternoon, I loaded my car with weekend road trip essentials: blankets, my trombone and a case of beer (a gift for friends hosting me over the weekend). My first stop was The Metro, a venue near Wrigleyville in Chicago. About a week before, I...

Rock autobiographies offer peek into lives, music

By Kevin Bartelt | October 10, 2012

Well-written autobiographies can be quite the intellectual journey. Readers gain knowledge and wisdom when the authors share personal experiences from different points in their lives. Autobiographies written by musicians have their own unique beauty....

Music charts don't always tell the full story

Music charts don’t always tell the full story

By Sarah Contreras | October 9, 2012

This week, catchy English folk band Mumford & Sons became the first band in since 1964 to have more than six singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The last band to achieve this? The Beatles. This tidbit spawned countless headlines and even prompted Billboard...

Karmin wins Women Who Rock

Karmin wins Women Who Rock

By Kevin Bartelt | October 3, 2012

When you see a short white girl from Nebraska who enjoys rapping, and her hairstyle is called a “suicide roll” (which I’m sure you see on a regular basis), is the first thing you think, “That girl rocks?” Me too. Karmin is on the cover of Rolling...

‘It’s called Freakalb for a reason’

By Katie Finlon | October 1, 2012

Get down with your bad self, and get freaky in DeKalb this weekend. The third annual Freakalb festival will take start at 7 p.m. Thursday and continued at 7 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday at The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway. Tickets are $12 at...

Country artist to perform at Convocation Center

By Northern Star Staff | October 1, 2012

Country artist Phil Vassar will perform at the Convocation Center Nov. 17, according to NIU Today. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the concert begins at 7 p.m. DJ Waldo and DeKalb’s own Back Country Roads will be the opening acts. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m....

Magical moments make a good song great

By Katie Finlon | September 24, 2012

It was just another day of hanging out with my friend and her family, and her father—knowing I’m a music enthusiast—asked me, “Have you heard of this blog called The Greatest Song Parts of All Time?” Nope, not entire songs. Parts of songs. I...