Well guys, we did it! We survived 2018! And as a reward, there are plenty of things to look forward to in 2019. It’s already shaping up to be a great year for media with the premiere of Brooklyn 99 on NBC, the new album by SWMRS, the third installation of the How to Train Your Dragon series, and most recently, the new Frozen 2 trailer. That being said, there is no doubt that 2019 will be just as weird and interesting as every year before it. However, there are some exciting things to look forward to in media this year and we’ve compiled them all in one place for you.
The summer of 2019 is going to be a big time for music with many new and returning artists competing for a spot on the Billboard hot 100. We’ve put together a list of the songs and albums we’re most excited for in the coming months:
1. Rihanna
Rihanna’s 2019 album might be the single most anticipated record of 2019. Since her last album in 2016, she has been busy coming out with multiple fashion lines, lingerie lines, starring in movies, and working on Fenty beauty. As much as we love and appreciate all that Rihanna has done in the last two years, it’s good to hear that she isn’t done with music. Rihanna confirmed that she was working on a reggae album in her Vogue cover story last summer and hinted that it’s set to release late 2019.
2. Tame Impala
Tame Impala indicated in an interview with Beats 1 Radio that we can expect a new album from them in the summer of 2019. Kevin Parker said he will be “very disappointed” if there isn’t a new album by next summer. Fans of the band have been looking forward to this record since their last album release in 2015. Tame Impala’s music is hard to describe as it doesn’t fit into one genre. Their style resembles a rock/psychedelic musical. If you haven’t heard any of their songs, you should check out “The Less I Know The Better” and “Let It Happen” from their album Currents and “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” from their 2012 album Lonerism.
3. The Regrettes
The sophomore album by Bay Area punk rockers, The Regrettes, is set to release in 2019 as well. After the departure of their bassist, the band announced their second full-length album will be released sometime in 2019. Fans got a sneak peek of what to expect as they performed two songs from the upcoming album in their 2018 tour with Alternative Press Music. Since then, they have released their first single from the album called “Pumpkin.” If you’re not familiar with their music, listen to “Seashore” and “Pale Skin” from their first album, Feel Your Feelings, Fool!, or check out their song “California Friends” from their 2018 EP Attention Seeker.
4. Lana Del Rey
Norman Fucking Rockwell is exactly what we’d expect Lana Del Rey to call her latest album. She has been teasing this album for quite some time now. In December, she confirmed that the album was ready for release and since then she has been teasing fans with trailers. Fans have already started to speculate the tracklist and who the album may be about.
5. The 1975
Only months after their album An Inquiry Into Online Relationships, The 1975 have already announced a new album. Fans can expect Notes on a Conditional Form sometime this summer according to the band’s manager, Jamie Osborne. The first single is set to drop this month. If you’re not familiar with their style, check out their most recent album An Inquiry Into Online Relationships or one of their classics “Chocolate” or “Girls” from their self-titled album.
2019 is going to be a major year for movies. The controversial conclusion to the Star Wars trilogy is set to drop this summer and so is the Pikachu movie. And most importantly, we get to see the fate of the Avengers. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the few most anticipated movies of 2019:
1. Captain Marvel
Set to release on International Women’s day on March 8th, Captain Marvel is going to be the first Marvel movie with a female lead. Sure we’ve seen Black Widow and the Scarlet Witch as main characters in other Marvel movies, but this one is going to revolve solely around Carol Danvers (Brie Larson). Moreover, the movie is set in the 90s and is filled to the brim with nostalgia. Brie Larson fights the shape-shifting Skrulls in a Nine Inch Nails t-shirt along with Jude Law and Gemma Chan.
2. Avengers: Endgame
The long awaited conclusion to Phase 2 of Marvel’s plan to take over the world is set to release on April 26th. Rumors say this is going to be the longest live action movie made by Marvel with a four-hour runtime. Fans get to see Tony Stark’s epic return to Earth and how the Avengers finally defeat Thanos (hopefully).
3. US
After Jordan Peele’s successful directorial debut with Get Out last year, fans have been waiting for him to make another movie. Well, the wait is over. Us, starring Lupita N’yongo, Winston Duke, and Elizabeth Moss, comes out March 15th. The trailer, released on Christmas Day 2018, revealed that the movie follows a family of four who find a threatening group of dopplegängers armed with scissors in their driveway while on vacation.
4. Detective Pikachu
After starring in Deadpool, everyone thought there was no possible way for Ryan Reynold to outdo himself. We were all wrong though as he stars as Detective Pikachu in the new movie coming out May 10. If the handsome and hilarious actor doesn’t sell you, the trailer surely will. It features a range of adorable Pokemon (except for Mr. Mime) in the real world.
5. Aladdin
Aladdin became the most controversial movie this year after its trailer released during the Superbowl quickly becoming the number 1 trending topic on twitter. The movie stars Naomi Scott, Mena Massoud, and Will Smith as Jasmine, Aladdin, and Genie respectively. Although Aladdin has received a lot of criticism, especially for its costumes and use of CGI, fans of the original movie are still holding out hope. It’s important to remember that the movie will likely be successful as it is aimed at children and not angry 20-year-olds on twitter.
This year is already shaping up to be a great year for books. If you’re ready to start adding books to your list of must-reads in the new year, we have a great big list for you:
1. Feed
Poet Tommy Pico is a queer and indigenous author who takes inspiration from artists like Beyonce all the way to A.R Simmons. Pico describes his writing method as a “Trojan Horse”, he tells painful stories disguised as Grindr jokes and bad first date anecdotes. His 2018 book Jnk consisted of many break up poems. He hasn’t hinted at the topic of this book yet.
2. Black is the Body
This collection of essays was written while Emily Bernard was in the hospital after being stabbed by a white man in a hate crime. Bernard uses her powerful words and strong words to comment on racial tension in America. “I am black–and brown, too,” writes Emily Bernard. “Brown is the body I was born into. Black is the body of the stories I tell.”
3. On the Come Up
The second novel by Angie Thomas is expected to quickly become a bestseller as fans have been waiting for another novel since The Hate U Give. This installation follows 16-year-old Bri who wants to follow in her father’s footsteps and become the greatest rapper of her generation. Though her dreams are quickly pushed aside as her family faces homelessness.
4. The Path Made Clear
Oprah Winfrey attempts to explain our purpose in life in this guide to bettering yourself. She guides the reader on how to find our purpose in life and to look deep within ourselves to find what truly matters to us. Throughout the book, Winfrey calls on her own experiences to relate to the reader.
5. Lost and Wanted
Nell Freudenberger takes on the voice of a renowned physicist to explore a plethora of topics including female friendship, romantic love, and parenthood–bonds that show their power in surprising ways. The novel follows two women as they appear in and out of each other’s lives over the course of their lifetimes.
As the number of new shows continues to grow, it can be difficult to tell which ones are worth watching. We’ve compiled a short list of the most anticipated new and returning shows in the new year:
1. Stranger Things
Deviating from its usual season premiers around Halloween time, the third season of Stranger Things is set to release on July 4th this year. The official synopsis of the show is as follows “one year after the defeat of the Mind Flayer, things are not all that they seem in Hawkins. The town has a new leader, the morally corrupt Mayor Kline, whose administration supported and presided over the construction of the new Starcourt Mall. With the Fourth of July approaching, strange things start to happen: Lucas’ sister Erica discovers a mysterious new threat, and a lifeguard at the community pool suddenly disappears, triggering fear in those that still have the events from the previous year still fresh in their minds.”
2. Big Little Lies
Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, as well as the rest of the main cast, are set to return to our screen this summer. Season 2 is confirmed to come out in June of 2019. The official synopsis says that the second season “will continue to explore the malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and, of course, the vicious ferocity of sound parenting.” Rumors have already been spreading about the confirmation of a possible season 3.
3. Brooklyn 99
After a dramatic summer, Brooklyn 99 returned to TV for its sixth season on January 10th. The series was dropped by FOX after season 5 but after receiving a lot of backlash from its passionate fanbase, it was picked up for another season by NBC. The new network also hosts some of the most popular comedies of the last few years such as The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, and even Friends.
4. Game of Thrones
The eighth and final season of Game of Thrones comes out this spring with its first episode premiering April 14th. Although the whole season is only six episodes long, it is expected to be the most watched show this year. Fans are very excited as cast members have been teasing them with behind the scenes pictures since filming began in October 2017 until when it ended in July 2018. Like the seventh season, it will feature mostly original content not found in the novels.
5. Jane the Virgin
Another show premiering its final season! The directors announce the fifth season in April in 2018 but it was Gina Rodriguez herself who revealed that it would be the last season. Fans are going crazy because we finally get to find out what happened to Michael. Additionally, Gina Rodriguez will return as a director this season.
There’s no doubt that 2019, just like any other year, is going to have its ups and downs. We hope this list helps you focus on the positives rather than the negatives and gives you something to look forward to.