music

Valentine’s Day Playlist: Black History Edition

/ Haley Cole / Leave a comment

Happy Valentine’s Day, and importantly, Happy Black History Month! 

Since 1976, U.S. presidents have recognized February as Black History Month. February’s historical designation makes it a time to celebrate African American and Black people’s voices, cultures, adversities, and triumphs. 

Though Black people in the United States have a resilient history of fighting the forces of racial injustice prior to the Civil Rights Movement, the American Civil Rights Movement is formally acknowledged as a period in the 1950’s and 60’s. This period was marked by historical moments such as the Brown v. Board of Education case decision, Rosa Park’s school bus arrest, and the March on Washington – to name a few. The Civil Rights Movement prompted the passing of two pivotal pieces of legislation, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

During the Civil Rights Movement, Black musicians continued contributing to their art. In honor of Black History Month and Valentine’s Day, enjoy this playlist of love songs by Black artists from the Civil Rights Movement era.

  1. Only You – The Platters (1956) 
  2. In the Still of the Night – The Five Satins (1956)
  3. When I Fall in Love – Nat King Cole (1956) 
  4. You Send Me – Sam Cooke (1957) 
  5. My Baby Just Cares for Me – Nina Simone (1959) 
  6. At Last – Etta James (1960) 
  7. Won’t Be Long – Aretha Franklin (1960)
  8. Part Time Love – Gladys Knight & The Pips (1961)
  9. Careless Love – Ray Charles (1962) 
  10. Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals (1963)
  11. Be My Baby – The Ronettes (1963)
  12. Together – Marvin Gaye featuring Mary Wells (1964) 
  13. Your Wonderful Love – The Temptations (1964) 
  14. My Girl – The Temptations (1964) 
  15. Stop in the Name of Love – The Supremes (1965) 

Happy Black History Month, happy Valentine’s Day, and happy listening! 

Haley Cole is a first-year student at BC Law. Contact her at colehc@bc.edu.

#FREEBRITNEY, Now Free Yourself From Stress 

/ Melissa Gaglia / Leave a comment

Recently, one of BC Law’s arguably proudest moments has been notable alum Mathew Rosengart ‘87 freeing Britney Spears from her conservatorship. To celebrate this victory for the pop culture queen, here is a fitting Britney Spears playlist to help you survive the remainder of the semester. 

  1. Don’t Let Me Be the Last to Know (2000, Album: Oops!…I Did It Again) 

This pop ballad will get you in your feels when you are searching the LSA outline bank for that one class where you have no idea what is going on. Whether you’re sliding into an upperclassmen’s DMs for help or desperately emailing your professors to set up office hours, you will be singing this song with Brit. 

  1. …Baby One More Time (1999, Album: …Baby One More Time) 

Does your professor talk too fast in class? Is the Rule Against Perpetuities confusing to you? Do you just need something repeated, say, one more time? Then this is the song for you. 

Continue reading →

It’s Raining Mens Rea! Week 4: Singing in the Rain & Walk-Up Music Breakdown

/ Rob Rossi / Leave a comment

What is the worst thing about law school softball? The fickle weather. Sometimes, while we’re playing outside, it rains. Maybe one day scientists will figure out how to control rainfall, and lawyers will have to argue that controlling rainfall is totally legal, but until then, rain will continue to figuratively dampen our spirits and literally dampen everything else on occasional Saturdays throughout the season.

Thankfully, a certain team has a name and a theme song tailor-made for persevering through such stormy conditions. Both came in handy this past Saturday, as It’s Raining Mens Rea easily dispensed with its opposition on a cold, wet morning, and in doing so earned itself a most satisfying victory dance to that most appropriate theme song at the end of the game.

The winning effort and its accompanying soundtrack highlighted the importance of developing and maintaining a positive attitude in the face of a tough situation. Is this a metaphor for law school or the practice of law? Maybe. But more importantly, it’s a great reason to analyze the X-factor of a great law school (softball) experience, the individual walk-up music each batter chooses to play as s/he approaches the plate for an at-bat. A breakdown of some choice cuts from the members of the Mens Rea roster follow the break, along of course with your weekly standings update.  Continue reading →