2016 was a year to remember, without a doubt. We saw our favorite stars rise and others fall. New music came out and old songs refreshed our memories of the past. New films entertained us and we gathered around the TV to watch our favorite classics. It gave us some things to celebrate. It also took things from us, and we have had to grieve for those losses.
It is hard when people leave our lives, there is no denying that. When those people are celebrities, that loss is felt by the industry they belonged to and their adoring fans. Many people actually claim they hate 2016 because of who it took from us. The loss of Carrie Fisher, famous for her role as Princess Leia not only impacted fans of 'Star Wars', but also the mental health community. Legendary performer Prince passed away this year and was even honored with his own memorial concert. Both icons would probably be surprised to see themselves represented in a Snapchat filter. These were just two memorable artists whose loss has already impacted the world.
This year, movies such as Finding Dory made a splash at the box office. We welcomed Moana, a new Disney princess. Old characters were re-imagined in Suicide Squad. We laughed at The Secret Life of Pets and were frightened by The Purge: Election Year. It was a big year for movies. doing away with Hollywood norms seemed to be an ever-present theme.
On a lighter note, 2016 brought with it new music. Ariana Grande released her hit album 'Dangerous Woman' and The Weeknd teamed up with DaftPunk to bring us 'Starboy". Along with new music comes concerts. Beyonce's Formation Tour and Adele's Tour for her third album were greeted by high sales. Selena Gomez brought her talent to the Revival Tour which had 58 different performances. Kanye West toured and had a memorable show with a floating stage.
2016 was a great year. Yes, many people passed away, but their memory will live on in their work and perhaps will be honored with new pieces of music and perhaps movies. I hope 2017 brings new talents and fantastic music and film for us to enjoy.
