As another year comes to a close, it’s that time to reminisce on what happened during 2014. Filled with many memorable moments, the days of 2014 are slowly coming to an end. Here’s a list of some of the best and the worst music, movies, television and moments of the year.
Best of 2014
Movies
“Interstellar”
Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain took us out of this world when they learned time on Earth was slowly coming to an end. Their mission was the most important in human history as they traveled throughout space to see if there would still be a future for the people on Earth. With the outstanding visual effects, many have called this the movie of the year. Hold on, because it’s a bumpy ride.
“Gone Girl”
This one-of-a-kind thriller starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike kept us on the edge of your seats wondering if Nick Dunne (Affleck) killed his wife. Did he or didn’t he? That is the question.
“The Fault in Our Stars”
The story of Hazel Grace (Shailene Woodley) and Gus (Ansel Elgort) was an emotional journey based on the book by John Green. He knows how to make the viewer cry with this thrilling and tragic love story of two teenagers who meet in a cancer support group.
Songs
Women Take Over
“Shake it Off,” “Blank Space,” “All About that Bass,” “Black Widow,” “Break Free,” “Anaconda,” “Rather Be,” and “Dark Horse” were just a few of this year’s top singles. Girl power took over the music world. From the “Bang Bang” collaboration by Nicki Minaj, Jessie J and Ariana Grande to Taylor Swift’s new pop anthems, women were steady at the top of the charts.
“Stay With Me”
New artist Sam Smith surprised listeners with his sultry voice and beautiful tunes. His single “Stay With Me” is still a staple for any playlist and a perfect song to sing to in the car.
Albums Host of the 2014 Oscars, Ellen DeGeneres pulled off
Albums
“1989”
Taylor Swift’s not in country anymore. Her first official pop album was a hit. She already has four singles on the charts and continues to surprise us with her new and improved independent woman persona.
“X”
Quiet British redhead Ed Sheeran was the most streamed global artist of 2014. His latest album emphasizes his romantic lyrics and acoustic sound. The album is expected to go quadruple- platinum before the end of the year. “X” has also given Sheeran his first number one single in the U.S.
TV Shows
“True Detective”
In early 2014, HBO’s new show became a hit. Starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, the show is receiving tremendous praise for being only its first season. The show is a crime drama where they trace two Louisiana State Criminal Investigations. The homicide detectives hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana over 17 years.
“The Walking Dead”
The season five premiere broke the ratings record as the most watched cable show of all time. The AMC horror-drama will be going into its sixth season in 2015. This post-apocalyptic story centers on those who survive amidst mindless zombies walking through Georgia continues to take over TV and social media.
Trends
Ice Bucket Challenge
Remember when you saw everyone on social media dumping ice water on themselves? This funny and entertaining challenge raised millions of dollars for ALS. From celebrities to your boss, everyone was challenging people to pour ice water on their heads. This viral challenge resulted in over $100 million in donations to ALS research.
Flash tattoos
These temporary body tattoos flooded social media this year. Worn by festivalgoers and celebrities, these metallic tattoos were the newest accessory. They help dress up any outfit and can be worn to go anywhere.
Moments
Ellen’s selfie at the Oscars
taking a star-studded selfie with 12 different celebrities. This one beautiful selfie made history. In less than an hour, this became the most retweeted photo with over 1.2 million retweets.
“The Tonight Show”
Actor and comedian Jimmy Fallon replaced Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show” after 22 years. Jay Leno was a major icon for the late night show and Fallon was honored to be chosen to fill such big shoes. Leno cried the night of his last episode and touched fans with his heart-warming speech, making it a moment to remember in TV history.
Worst of 2014
Movies
“Tammy “
Usually funny Melissa McCarthy fell short in this summer 2014 flick. A fast-food worker loses her job, wrecks her car and finds her husband doing things behind her back all within a short time. She decides she needs to get out of there but with no money and no options her only choice is to take a road trip with her grandma. McCarthy let us down this time.
“If I Stay”
Main character Mia Hall is caught in the middle of life and death after a tragic car crash. She does not know whether to follow her dreams of going to Julliard and be with the one she loves or follow her family and leave the one she loves behind. The film was slow with mediocre acting. This romantic drama is no Nicholas Sparks tear-jerker.
Songs
“Waves”
The 2014 single sung by Mr. Probz missed the mark. The lyrics compare drowning and love, which definitely confuses the listener. As of now the new artist seems to be a one hit wonder and will continue to have this “problem” if he doesn’t step up his game.
“L.A. Love”
The former Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie released her new solo song this September. The song is a love letter to her home of Los Angeles. She sings about different cities around the world as if she is studying for a geography test. The lyrics are repetitive but so catchy that it’s irritating. Fergie still seems to be stuck in her “London Bridge” phase.
“Yellow Flicker Beat”
Lorde’s single for the “Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 1” is dark and creepy. The lyrics reference the main character of the movie but her metaphors throughout the song are too complicated for the average radio listener. The song’s intensity and irritating undertone draws you to the next button.
Albums
“Talk Dirty”
Jason Derulo’s new album is a re-release and expansion of his 2013 album “Tattoos.” His four new songs don’t add much to the previous five songs. The entire album talks about women. From “Wiggle” to “Trumpets” his lyrics are repetitive and fall short of his previous singles “Marry Me” and “Vertigo.”
“Reclassified”
Iggy Azalea’s new album is also an expansion of her previous album, “The New Classic.” The album features five new songs and awesome collaborations but her songs seem to fall short. With multiple singles on the radio, “Fancy” seems to be her the only song radio worthy. Maybe Iggy will have better luck next time?
TV Shows
“Girl Meets World”
This show was extremely disappointing to fans of 90s sitcom “Boy Meets World.” Favorites Corey Matthews and Topanga Lawrence-Matthews are the only part of the show that makes it slightly bearable. The show is about their daughter, Riley, navigating through her life as a ‘tween. It was a good try, Disney, but it fell short.
“Selfie”
Any TV show titled “Selfie” is questionable. A comedy loosely based on the musical “My Fair Lady,” the show is about a woman who is obsessed with herself and has a big internet following that continuously tracks her posts and pictures. She realizes one day this doesn’t compare to real friends and decides she needs to learn how to live offline. But what does this have to do with a selfie?
“Dating Naked”
A reality TV show about people meeting for the first time and clothes are optional . . . what? Filmed in an exotic location, this show features a man and a woman who are followed around on three dates. At the end of the episode they talk about what they had learned and decide whether they want to pursue their match. Should this experiment really have been on TV?
Trends
90s influenced fashion
Daisy prints, chokers, jelly shoes, jumpsuits, and overalls are just some of the trends that made a comeback throughout 2014. Don’t get me wrong, we all want to go back to the 90s but some things are meant to stay in the past. This fashion does not inspire new or “hip” fashion. These “old school” trends make people’s fashion look “Clueless.”
Big hats
Either because of Pharell’s famous Smokey the Bear-inspired hat he wore to the Grammy Awards or the Kentucky Derby, hats were everywhere this year. Tall, short, floppy, straw, denim colorful — any hat you could imagine was worn this year. A hat is great for a bad hair day or a baseball game but this accessory choice could not be pulled off.
Moments
Celebrity nude photos leaked
Beginning in August 2014, thousands of celebrity nude photos were leaked across the Internet. Cellphone cloud storages were hacked and celebrities’ private photos were seen all over the world. Millions of people were talking about and sharing these photos across social media. But besides a select few, most celebrities were outraged at this leak.
John Travolta’s flub
At the 2014 Oscars, John Travolta introduced the performance of “Let It Go.” Instead of introducing the Broadway star Idina Menzel before her performance, he completely butchered her name by calling her Adele Dazeem. Everyone acted like nothing happened but it became so funny to people that a Twitter account was created to mock Travolta.
U2
Remember that day you opened up your iTunes and the new U2 album appeared? Apple agreed to download the new album to every iPhone for free without telling consumers. This aggravated many users and they felt like it was an invasion of their privacy. But hey, good idea U2!
2014 will definitely be a year to remember. Let’s leave the worst in 2014 and take the best to 2015. Cheers to a new year!
