Halsey at the O2 Arena. Photo by JAKIRA.

Please consider signing this petition via Change.org, in hopes of getting Justice for Breonna Taylor, a woman who was shot to death (in her sleep) by several police officers. Today would have been Breonna’s 27th birthday, so please join me in honouring her. Thank you.

Can we just take a second to applaud the Ashley Frangipane, formally known as Halsey, for playing a SOLD-OUT show at the O2 Arena?! From her first UK show in the O2 Academy Islington in 2015 to the O2 Arena, 5 years down the line. Words can’t express how proud I am of her and how far she has come. So, Wembley, next?

Halsey’s show in February, which was part of her ‘Manic’ World Tour, was the last show I attended before lockdown. 2020 has been a whole mess; if this is the end of the world, I will die happy, knowing that Halsey’s show was my last one ever. I have seen Halsey a few times before – the last time being a one-off, intimate show in Camden’s Electric Ballroom, in June of last year. Her concerts always blow me away; the way she hypes up a crowd is something I’ve never seen before and her set-lists are always absolute fire.

I’ve listened to Halsey since the release of Badlands, back when I was an angsty teen. Her music, and her general existence, inspires me to create and she is honestly one of the most genuine artists I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing, live. She’s one of the only artists whose songs I don’t skip. I can genuinely listen to every single song that she has put out, back to back, and I think that says a lot.

I pre-ordered her newest album, Manic, on iTunes and when it was released, I actually lost my shit. I listened to ‘Graveyard’, ‘Clementine’, ‘Without Me’ and ‘SUGA’s interlude’ on repeat until the full album dropped. Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (HFK), her previous album, was literally the only album I listened to for MONTHS. Her first official album, Badlands, has always been my favourite of hers so I can’t believe that I’m saying this, but I think Manic just might be my new favourite. I know, I’m a traitor, but it’s just so beautifully written and produced; every track flows perfectly into one another, especially the transition between Forever… (is a long time) and Dominic’s Interlude. That transition is just, mwah… chef’s kiss.

I went to the show with my sister and our friend, who probably would’ve died in the pit, so we bought seated tickets. I really regretted not buying a standing ticket for myself and very nearly bought one but I nearly died at Halsey’s last show and I’m still not physically, or emotionally, prepared for the pit again. Halsey fans go hard. Unfortunately, my asthmatic lungs and I can’t keep up with the cool kids.

Halsey kicked off the show with one of her recent singles, ‘Nightmare’, which is the perfect way song to start a show. And followed up by ‘Castle’?! Halsey really wanted to kill us in the first 10 minutes of the show. She performed a few songs from Badlands and HFK, such as Colors and Eyes Closed (which she mashed up with her feature on Post Malone’s ‘Die For Me’ and it was amazing!) I never thought I’d get to hear her verse live so it was an extremely pleasant surprise – definitely one of the highlights from the show. Halsey also played ‘Is There Somewhere’ from her Room 93 EP, which is an ultimate crowd favourite so she always plays it. The set-list consisted of most songs from Manic, excluding ‘Alanis’ Interlude’, ‘SUGA’s Interlude’, ‘More’ and ‘Still Learning’. Also, Halsey recently released the song ‘Experiment On Me’, which is featured on the Birds of Prey Soundtrack, and she performed it towards the end of the show! We stan a screaming Halsey.

#BLACKLIVESMATTER

George Floyd’s murderer, a Minneapolis Police Officer, has been charged with Murder in the Second Degree and is now awaiting trial. The other officers who were with him at the scene have been charged with Aiding and Abetting. Although this is a form of justice, this is not the end! Many have been signing petitions, donating, and protesting all over the world for the justice of POC, Halsey included, but this is only the beginning.

If you would like to contribute towards the movement, please refer to the links, below:

DONATE:

Click HERE to split a donation, evenly, between the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and 70 other groups.

PETITIONS & NUMBERS TO CALL/TEXT:

Click HERE for direct links to petitions, important information for protestors and more.

Click HERE for ways that you can support the movement, here in the UK, and other useful information.

EDUCATION & FURTHER READING:

If you are hoping to educate friends & family members on anti-Blackness and the true importance of ‘Black Lives Matter’, click HERE. This is a great resource for anyone whose first language is not English as there are translations in Hindi, Korean, Farsi and more.

Thanks for reading. If you are protesting, please stay safe. To everyone who has contributed in some way, big or small, you’re amazing! Keep signing petitions, keep trying to educate yourself and the people around you even further and, most importantly, keep your head up. Hopefully, there is a brighter future ahead of us. Also, keep scrolling for photos from Halsey’s show!

Love,

JK ♡