2024 was an interesting year in music — one that perhaps foreshadows the future of music-listening habits. As we move further away from monoculture, and people's musical listening experiences are increasingly curated by algorithms, ubiquitous songs that everyone from grandparents to their grandchildren know are becoming rare gems. In that way, a list looking at the top 100 Canadian songs of the year is more representative of the music that rose above the fray in each respective genre, rather than simply the most popular songs. The 15 best Canadian albums of 2024 A committee of CBC Music producers considered streaming numbers, record sales, cultural impact and artistic merit when putting this list together, with an emphasis on highlighting artists from all 13 provinces and territories. Songs released between Nov. 1, 2023 and Oct. 31 were eligible for the list. It's a big endeavour that gives us a small snapshot of the year in music. From the rap beefs that kept people glued to their phones to the songs with messages about social change amidst an increasingly uncertain world, this year was full of singles that got people talking. Scroll through the list to discover the songs that made us dance, sing along and, most importantly, stop and think in 2024. 100. 'Beautiful Neighbourhoods,' Braden Lam Braden Lam's inviting voice rings out over gentle guitar and vibraphone on "Beautiful Neighbourhoods," a timeless single that hums with warmth and longing. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Oct. 9 ) 99. 'Tides,' Gnarwhal Yellowknife band Gnarwhal fuses alt-rock and progressive metal on this fuzzed-out track that hits like a wall of sound while lead singer Mark Kilbride chants prophetic lyrics. 98. 'Mr. Rain,' Joce Reyome "Mr. Rain" is a grooving blues number that finds Charlottetown-based Joce Reyome begging the rain to stay away, and in turn keep her woes at bay. 97. 'Shine Your Light,' Echoes Of... feat. Naja P and Maazes Echoes Of..., a collective of musicians and producers who live in Iqaluit, teamed up with Naja P and Maazes for this serene, but uplifting, mood stabilizer. 96. 'You've Got Gold,' Hendrika "You've Got Gold," an empowering song about the magic in everyone, builds and builds until Hendrika unleashes the full powerhouse quality of her voice. 95. 'Devil Talking,' David Myles A soulful rave-up from this master of entertainment from Fredericton, N.B., complete with sweet backup vocals from Reeny. Kellie Loder, the East Pointers, David Myles lead 2023 East Coast Music Award winners 94. 'Jiujitsu,' Merv xx Gotti Merv xx Gotti's glimmering, guitar-driven bedroom pop hits its peak on "Jiujitsu," a charming, mildly nonsensical song about going through the motions. 93. 'I Feel Alive,' Art d'Ecco A wild, brassy, glam-rock dance-a-thon courtesy of this Victoria rocker on a rapid rise. 92. ' The Raven and the Dove,' Old Man Luedecke A total sound departure from this Juno-winning banjo man from Chester, N.S., in that there is no banjo to be heard on this Afie Jurvanen-produced electro-indie makeover. 91. 'Sunrise Roulette,' Jordan Astra The slinky production and swinging drums of "Sunrise Roulette" gets shoulders shimmying and toes tapping, while Jordan Astra sings about hitting the road, gambling with more than just money and losing track of the moments in between. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Sept. 25 ) 90. 'I Believe in Love (And It's Very Hard),' Rose Cousins Few artists can move you from tears of sorrow to fits of laughter in one song, album or live set, but Rose Cousins can — and she does it effortlessly on "I Believe in Love (And It's Very Hard)." 89. ' Vibrations,' Mick Davis and Thin Love This was the most popular song of 2024 for seven straight weeks on CBC Music's Top 20, thanks to the unabashed energy these Newfoundland rockers pour into it. 88. 'You,' Wolf Castle feat. Zamani Pabineau First Nation rapper Wolf Castle's R&B collaboration with Halifax's Zamani goes down real smooth, as "You" blooms into a gorgeous song about romantic devotion. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 8 ) 87. 'Ayoye,' Sarahmée Senegalese Canadian rapper Sarahmée's single "Ayoye" is packed with explosive energy and boisterous bars, as she melds hip-hop, Afrobeat, reggae and electronic sounds. 86. 'Ghost,' Sebastian Gaskin With immense gusto, Sebastian Gaskin sings straight from their soul over sweeping, bombastic beats as they learn to accept that although they'll never see the person they lost again, their spirit is always near. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 1 ) 85. 'Wake Up,' Backxwash "Wake Up" is a shining example of Backxwash's evolution: a seven-plus-minute epic, the track serves up an industrial metal soundscape as Backxwash turns out gospel-inspired verses, fighting through every line with heavy determination. ( Songs You Need to Hear, April 24 ) 84. 'El Cosechero,' Lhasa de Sela feat. Yves Desrosiers This posthumous release from the Félix and Juno Award-winning singer Lhasa de Sela is a stirring folk number sung in Spanish. 83. ' Quviasukkuvit (If It Makes You Happy),' Elisapie Elisapie's stripped-down cover of Sheryl Crow's 1996 mega-hit "If It Makes You Happy," translated into Inuktitut, creates a warm, soft update titled "Quviasukkuvit." 82. 'Redneck Rehab,' Corb Lund Corb Lund infuses this country track with some stomp-clap-hey sensibilities as he sings about trying to ditch some unhealthy vices. 81. 'Buffalo,' the OBGMs The rip-roaring punk-rock single "Buffalo" reveals a tenderness to the OBGMs, as lead singer Densil McFarlane laments the end of a relationship: "Used to drive me to the show/ now we don't even talk at all." 80. 'Jungle,' Lou Phelps Wealth is the name of the game on "Jungle," a booming track from Lou Phelps where he raps about dripping in "Diesel, Kiko, acne" and everything in between. 79. 'Pon My Mind,' Bolu Ajibade "If you lost, I'll find you/ puzzled, I will solve you," sings Bolu Ajibade to a new love interest on this sultry Afrobeats tune that's filled with passion. 78. 'Evening Dream,' Mo Kenney This Dartmouth, N.S., singer-songwriter has a knack for steady melodies and choruses that pull on the heartstrings, and "Evening Dream" is one of their best. 77. 'Get to You,' Begonia Yearning is central on Begonia's moody pop single "Get to You": "And I can't contain don't even try/ like a star up in the sky you're an explosion," she sings as she burns for a lover. 76. 'Babyboo,' Sylo, Nonso Amadi "Keep holding on, keep holding on, I'm there with you," sings Sylo before his and Nonso Amadi's vocals intertwine on this blissful R&B love song. 75. 'Live,' DijahSB and Veggi DijahSB gets celebratory while romanticizing the grind, bringing their signature charm and humour to each verse: "Playing with the heat like Bron in his prime." 74. 'Come Out,' Aysanabee feat. Raye Zaragoza Gentle guitar and Aysanabee's soaring vocals generate warmth on "Come Out," a tender ode to lovelorn strangers seeking connection. 73. 'Seven Ponds (live),' Sina Bathaie Sina Bathaie's immersive live performance of "Seven Ponds" flows beautifully and spotlights the multi-instrumentalist's knack for injecting his electronic music with the sounds of his Iranian heritage. 72. 'Chabakrou,' DJ Karaba, Kawtar Sadik This sizzling house song blends Kawtar Sadik's rich singing with DJ Karaba's tropical beats for a transportive, summery listen. 71. 'Pathways,' Julian Taylor feat. Allison Russell Julian Taylor and Allison Russell's voices blend together effortlessly on this rootsy number about romance: "I'll be there as we grow older," Taylor sings, offering a love that's eternal. 70. 'Goon,' Dear Rouge Slick guitar and edgy vocals bring a defiance to Dear Rouge's electrifying track that aptly describes the moment when unwanted male attention at the bar goes too far. 69. 'Proppa Ghanda,' King Cruff, Banx & Ranx Rapper/singer King Cruff, a grandson of Bob Marley, teamed up with Quebec's hitmakers Banx & Ranx for one of the catchiest earworms of the summer. 68. 'Shake,' pHoenix Pagliacci This soulful single from pHoenix Pagliacci is supremely enthralling, speaking to the uncertainty and dread many people feel looming overhead. 67. 'Botoxxx,' Isabella Lovestory Isabella Lovestory's tongue-in-cheek lyricism — joking about Botox freezing her face so no one can tell she's sad — amps up the fun on this high-octane, neo-perreo track. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 8 ) 66. 'Silver Lining,' Claudia Bouvette Claudia Bouvette is Montreal's rising alt-pop tour de force, and her song "Silver Lining" makes space for sadness while still breaking free of its stranglehold. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Oct. 9 ) 65. 'Neon Signs,' the Weather Station Toronto's Tamara Lindeman tells a story of controlled confusion on "Neon Signs," the lead single off her forthcoming album, Humanhood , set for release in early 2025. 64. 'Back for More,' Liza and Tobi The old-school R&B of this duet from Toronto artists Liza and Tobi is a perfect hit of early aughts nostalgia, as they sing about irresistible attraction. 63. 'Silencio,' Patrick Watson feat. November Ultra Patrick Watson's characteristic, whispered falsetto is captivating on this song about the power of allowing silence in, and how it can make you a better listener. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Oct. 23 ) 62. 'The Angel and the Saint,' Goldie Boutilier A new beginnings anthem for anyone in need of one, "The Angel and the Saint" is Goldie Boutilier's celebration of her own grit and perseverance after years of hardship. 61. 'Pain or Pleasure,' Moonshine feat. Amaal Nuux, Aluna, Vanyfox In this infectious tune, batida (an electronic genre created by Lisbon's African immigrant community) and R&B meet to encourage increased heart rate, hip-swaying and bodies melting together on the dance floor. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Nov. 22, 2023 ) 60. 'Slide,' SadBoi With a nostalgic beat that evokes "Tokyo Drift" by Teriyaki Boyz, and braggadocious lyrics that will make anyone feel like the hottest person in the room, "Slide" is the song to listen to while getting ready for summer exploits. ( What is this year's song of the summer?, June 26 ) 59. ' Spiralling Out,' Softcult Softcult sisters Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn create a sound that feels like a happy memory from the late '90s on this latest track. 58. 'Get Back Again,' the Tragically Hip Long considered the holy grail of unreleased Tragically Hip songs, this touching ballad was recorded for 1991's Road Apples but was ultimately left in the vault until this year. Its staying power and beauty are undeniable. Gord Sinclair reworks unreleased Tragically Hip song for charity: listen 57. 'Daydream,' Billianne The Milton, Ont., pop-folk singer premiered "Daydream" live on NBC's The Today Show , with an endearing performance that captures the song's playfulness, her serene vocals playing tag with acoustic and electric guitar, drums and a resonant harp. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 1 ) 56. 'My Forever,' Sophie feat. Cécile Believe This previously unreleased track appeared on British producer Sophie's posthumous self-titled album, and it's a touching ode to a close friend that takes on new meaning following Sophie's death, with Cécile Believe cementing their friendship in song: "I want to go back to forever/ you'll always be my forever." 55. 'Feeling Alive,' Jayda G "Feeling Alive" builds on the euphoric feeling peppered throughout Jayda G's 2023 album, Guy , leaning into an even more upbeat dance sound. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Aug. 14 ) 54. 'Hey Mom I Made It,' Sacha The empowering song details the emerging country singer's journey of personal growth and healing: "Yeah, I've been through hell and back again and I'm still standing," she sings on the explosive, infectious chorus. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 1 ) 53. 'Bomb,' Kelly McMichael Newfoundland-based singer Kelly McMichael blew up summer with this awesome '90s throwback indie rocker that lands somewhere between Liz Phair and Sloan. 52. 'About Us,' Maggie Andrew In this pop-punk song about domestic violence, the Halifax singer and 2024 Searchlight winner shows off her ability to craft an earworm while delivering heartbreaking material. CBC Music's Searchlight 2024: the winners 51. 'Magpie,' Peach Pit Vancouver indie pop-rock group Peach Pit comes roaring in with the title track from its 2024 album, delivering a chef's kiss of a live show sing-along. Watch Peach Pit's delightful post-rainstorm performance at CBC Music Fest 50. 'Love Like That,' Jonita, Ali Sethi "Love Like That" is a stirring merger of American pop with Indian folk — specifically, 13th-century Qawwali rhythms — as Jonita and Ali Sethi's vocals soar on this duet about embracing an ideal love full of devotion. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Jan. 24 ) 49. 'Fortnight (Blond:ish Remix),' Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone While Taylor Swift's original track builds drama through its subtle soundscape, the sonic stakes are raised on Juno-nominated DJ/producer Blond:ish's official remix. ( Songs You Need to Hear, June 5 ) 48. 'Shine', Ardn feat. SiR Edmonton rapper Ardn teams up with American R&B singer SiR for a slow jam about rising above life's challenges. 47. 'Explode,' Mother Mother Mother Mother siblings Ryan and Molly Guldemond lean into the push and pull of loving too much and never knowing when to let go — until things explode, which they appropriately yell on the head-banging chorus. Song Cycle: How Mother Mother's 'Hayloft' was made 46. 'I Got You,' Devon Cole "I Got You" is an aspirational friendship model that the Calgary singer wrote for herself, but Cole's sweet vocals and that catchy melody will get anyone hooked. 45. 'Manic Pixie Pacifist,' Haleluya Hailu Over bright synths, cheery guitar and vibrant drums, Haleluya Hailu gives an indie-pop nod to one of the best-known character tropes in film: the manic pixie dream girl. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Feb. 21 ) 44. 'Cave,' Wild Rivers Knowing you need to leave a relationship is not the same as actually leaving but, while you're in limbo, Toronto folk-pop trio Wild Rivers has just the right blues-inflected song for you. 43. 'Validate,' Clairmont the Second Clairmont the Second's dexterous lyrical ability is on mighty display on "Validate," a song that starts with sirens ringing out and an unforgettable bar: "I cannot f--k with no frauds/ street's cold but I never shiver." ( Songs You Need to Hear, Nov. 6 ) 42. 'Hooked,' Zeina In English, Arabic and French, Zeina sings about all the ways she's infatuated with her lover, uplifted by an earwormy melody that samples Shawn Desman's snappy early aughts track "Shook." ( Songs You Need to Hear, Jan. 10 ) 41. '2wice Again,' Planet Giza "2wice Again" slides between R&B and hip-hop with ease, as MC Tony Stone infuses every lyric with charm and an old-school feel to the jazz-tinged beats that give the song an air of timelessness. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Feb. 21 ) 40. 'Body,' Lokre Leaving hyper independence behind, Lokre flits between soaring high notes and languid, deep tones effortlessly, as she recounts all the ways her love is blossoming and expanding for her new partner. ( Songs You Need to Hear, April 3 ) 39. 'Off With Her Tits,' Allie X "An upbeat borderline ridiculous satirization of particularly agonizing thoughts that never give me a break," Allie X wrote when she released this electro-pop song that builds and builds until everyone is screaming the title. 38. 'Let it Rain,' Valley The alt-pop trio deliver a downtempo hit of nostalgia on "Let it Rain," with twinkling bursts of piano that sound like raindrops splattering on the ground. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Aug. 28 ) 37. 'Easy to Miss,' Mackenzie Porter A country-pop ballad for the broken-hearted, "Easy to Miss" enumerates all the hard things after a breakup — except for the missing. 36. 'Confusion Song,' Luna Li A lush pop meditation on the breakup recovery period, written during a time of big changes for Luna Li after she broke up with her partner of eight years, and moved from Toronto to Los Angeles. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 22 ) 35. 'Need Nothing,' Katie Tupper The dulcet tones of "Need Nothing" are a balm, and Saskatoon's Katie Tupper is at her best when she's leaning into sweetness. ( Songs You Need to Hear, March 6 ) 34. 'Here to Stay,' Boy Golden Winnipeg guitar slinger Boy Golden delivers a stripped-down toe tapper that would slide perfectly into a barn dance playlist. Introducing Boy Golden, your new favourite country outlier 33. 'In Montreal,' Kaïa Kater feat. Allison Russell "In Montreal" is Kaïa Kater's nod to Leonard Cohen, Kate and Anna McGarrigle and "all the other incredible songwriters of Montreal" — elevated by two voices of folk music's future. ( Songs You Need to Hear, April 3 ) 32. 'Fur Elise,' Faouzia The Carman, Man., artist gives the classic Beethoven composition a modern twist in this heartwrenching song where she begs her lover to "play me like my name is Fur Elise/ lie to me and say you'll never leave." 31. 'Ridin',' Jessie Reyez feat. Lil Wayne This pearl-clutching rock-R&B number with highly suggestive lyrics, and a particularly raunchy verse from Lil Wayne, isn't for the faint of heart . ( Songs You Need to Hear, Sept. 4 ) 30. 'Laminate the Sky,' Ombiigizi Daniel Monkman and Adam Sturgeon of Ombiigizi use the flimsy, laminated treaty cards they received in their youth as a symbolic motif on "Laminate the Sky," a psych-rock song exploring freedom of movement, expression and self. 29. 'In Emerald,' Wyatt C. Louis "In Emerald" is a musical postcard from a trip Wyatt C. Louis took to Seattle — a country-tinged folk song co-written with Nixon Boyd (Hollerado) and beautifully enhanced with pedal steel guitar played by Matt Kelly (City and Colour). ( Songs You Need to Hear, Jan. 24 ) 28. 'No Chill,' PartyNextDoor The Toronto R&B star flexes his vocal acrobatics over this moody track where he tries to show love to someone, but admits: "Ever since I copped you all that ice you got no chill." The 5 best songs PartyNextDoor has written for other artists 27. 'One Last Dance,' Baby Rose and BadBadNotGood BadBadNotGood provides a wistful backdrop for Baby Rose's lovelorn melodies, delivered through her achingly soulful voice. 26. 'In 2 Deep,' Chikoruss Montreal newcomer Chikoruss isn't afraid to chase a girl who's in a relationship in this glossy 2000s R&B-inspired number. 25. 'Bucket,' Ruby Waters On "Bucket," Ruby Waters' voice is playfully elastic, stretching up as she tries to entice a lover to get into trouble with her before admitting she's burning the candle at both ends. ( Songs You Need to Hear, April 3 ) 24. 'Black Ice,' Rezz x Subtronics Two EDM powerhouses reunite for this chilling, nocturnal anthem, which takes listeners on a few exciting and unexpected turns. Meet Rezz: the Canadian producer making 'eery and grungy' EDM hits 23. 'Corazón,' Nelly Furtado feat. Bomba Estereo "Corazón" is a celebration of Latin drums and sticking to your guns, and Nelly Furtado's defiant lyricism is emboldened by the explosive percussion of Colombian supergroup Bomba Estereo. ( Songs You Need to Hear, July 17 ) The story of maternal solidarity behind Nelly Furtado's new single, 'Corazón' 22. 'Did Life Work Out for You,' Charlotte Cardin "Did Life Work Out for You" is a tender song, with pared-back piano and shimmering guitar chords as Cardin sings with a mild country twang, reminiscing on a summer fling that perhaps could have been something more. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Sept. 11 ) 21. 'Dead Man,' Alessia Cara "Dead Man" is a tragic song about an ill-fated romance, and over a jazz-inspired drumbeat and bright bursts of horns Alessia Cara wonders: "If you really care, then why am I feeling you slip right through my hands?" ( Songs You Need to Hear, July 24 ) 20. 'To the Dancefloor,' Debby Friday "To the Dancefloor" is a call to all the club girls who believe anything can be solved with a night of hedonistic release, as Debby Friday delivers an anthem for surrendering to your desires and letting the rhythm take you. ( Songs You Need to Hear, April 24 ) 19. 'Red Future,' Snotty Nose Rez Kids feat. Electric Fields "We them ground movers, earth shakers, no saviour. While they preying on us, we been building something greater," Snotty Nose Rez Kids rap on this powerful anthem that reminds the next generation that the future is in their own hands. 18. 'Spit,' Bambii feat. Beam and Lady Lykez Bambii gets raunchy and feral on "Spit" — the synths ring out like sirens, the drums hit at hyperspeed and the reverberated bass creates a nocturnal atmosphere. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Aug. 14 ) 17. 'My Way,' Charlotte Day Wilson The sleek opener to Charlotte Day Wilson's sophomore album, Cyan Blue , "My Way" is both unabashed in its R&B swagger and in the Toronto artist's starkly honest songwriting. Video Experience the soulful sounds of Charlotte Day Wilson live! 16. 'Who's Gonna,' Lu Kala The addictive bassline in "Who's Gonna" officially opened the door to rising pop star Lu Kala's funk era, and an unexpected sax solo really brings the song home. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 15 ) 14. 'Bora Bora,' AP Dhillon feat. Ayra Starr A transportive track that fuses traditional Punjabi music with tropical Afrobeats grooves, from two rising stars in global music. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Sept. 4 ) 14. 'Takes One to Know One,' the Beaches Hot off the heels of their first Polaris Music Prize shortlist nomination, these Toronto rockers released an honest look into the messy layers that unravel as a relationship advances. ( Songs You Need to Hear, July 17 ) 13. 'How Far Will We Take It?,' Orville Peck feat. Noah Cyrus Noah Cyrus's voice beautifully complements Orville Peck's signature baritone on this sombre ballad, one of many standout duets on the latter's album, Stampede . How a duet album with friends helped Orville Peck return to music The year of yeehaw: 5 Canadian country music moments that shaped 2024 12. 'All I Want is You,' Cindy Lee A perfect encapsulation of what it feels like to yearn for someone, as Cindy Lee's Patrick Flegel admits in the most simple yet heartbreaking line: "All I've got is the truth/ all I want is you." A quick guide to Cindy Lee's Polaris-shortlisted album, Diamond Jubilee 11. 'Honey,' Caribou An irresistible, pulsating bassline drives one of Caribou's most rave-worthy tracks, complete with a drop that'll land listeners into a blissful state of euphoria. 10. 'Antidote,' Karan Aujla Karan Aujla's "Antidote" is like a reflex test — if your body doesn't respond immediately upon hearing this song, are you even alive? The Punjabi Canadian artist got his start writing songs for other artists, but since his 2018 breakthrough, Aujla has proven his own star power as a vocalist as well. His voice is mesmerizing and the production on "Antidote," courtesy of Ikky, perfectly conveys the song's push-pull that lives in every antidote — tempting fate and then trying to survive the aftermath. Watch Karan Aujla and Ikky bring a Punjabi pop explosion to the Juno stage 9. 'It's OK I'm OK,' Tate McRae Although Tate McRae was barely alive at the time, she's really leaning into the Y2K resurgence with "It's OK I'm OK," where her coy vocal delivery and the banging 808s would fit seamlessly on a pop-R&B crossover from the early 2000s. Nostalgia is very sexy right now, and modernizing a familiar sound or sample (as she did with 2023's hit single "Greedy") is a surefire bet — and one that's paid off for McRae, to the tune of 130 millions streams on Spotify and counting. The music video takes things a step further with rhinestone mania, low-rise denim and trucker hats à la Simple Life , but most clearly, the choreo seems like an homage to Britney Spears at her peak. If there's one thing McRae always delivers, it's visuals that are just as scintillating as her music, and the video has already racked up 24 million views since its release in September. 8. 'Timeless,' the Weeknd and Playboi Carti "Timeless" premiered at the Weeknd's live-streamed São Paulo concert in September, just as he and Playboi Carti were each teeing up new albums. (Spoiler alert: the Weeknd's upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow , won't be out until January 2025, and Playboi Carti's is still pending.) The collaboration, which is the streaming superstars' second together, opens with an ethereal mix of synths and the Weeknd's falsetto before that smooth, slinky beat drops and Playboi Carti hops on (with a production assist from Pharrell Williams). It's a coming together of two of the most popular artists in the world right now — and the song, which has only been out for two months, has already amassed more than 270 million streams on Spotify, and 25 million on YouTube. 7. 'Heart of Gold,' Shawn Mendes On "Heart of Gold," a standout track from Shawn Mendes's latest album, the pop star sings about a childhood friend who died of an overdose. There's a delayed sense of grief as he sings, "I didn't even feel the pain/ and then it hit me all at once/ when we talked about you yesterday," which nods to the cost of fame and how friendships can fade with time and distance. But on the other side of that heartbreak is an outpouring of love, a gratitude for the time they did get to spend together. "We shot for the stars/ I see you up there," he sings to him. At his best, Mendes's music can hold a multitude of staggering feelings and distill it into something truly beautiful and cathartic. 6 must-hear songs from Shawn Mendes's new album, Shawn 6. 'Family Matters,' Drake May 3, 2024, will be remembered as a pivotal day in rap beef history, marked first by the release of Kendrick Lamar's "6:16 in L.A." and followed up shortly after by Drake's explosive track "Family Matters." A seven-minute trap and drill assault with three beat switches, "Family Matters" solidified that Drake could stand tall in the self-proclaimed "20v1" battle. While directly addressing accusations against him as well as returning pointed shots at Lamar, the Weeknd, Rick Ross, Metro Boomin', A$AP Rocky and more, Drake's fierce lyricism and unrelenting energy were a return to form, captivating fans and swinging the momentum, however briefly, in his favour. Even though he would ultimately lose, he was going to take most of his opponents down in the process. While Lamar's "Meet the Grahams," released less than an hour later and followed up the next day by "Not Like Us," would prove to be too much to come back from, "Family Matters" still stands out as a defining moment. Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar: the juiciest moments in their beef 5. 'Dirt Roads,' Tia Wood Tia Wood honours her Salish and Plains Cree background on "Dirt Roads," a touching tribute to her home in Saddle Creek, Alta. Blending traditional Indigenous singing with a contemporary R&B/pop mix, she uses her striking vocals to evoke nostalgia: "Dirt roads lead me back home," she sings. There's so much heart in every verse and Wood makes you feel the immense joy, fear and hope she's experiencing in real time, as she balances chasing success with staying grounded. Being unapologetically herself is what makes her artistry distinct, and the lyrics about her identity are proof: "Should I take out my braids or leave 'em in?/ They look at me like I'm a Martian." The song appeared on her debut EP, Pretty Red Bird , and its anthemic, moving delivery cemented it as a standout. 'It almost felt unreachable': Tia Wood on pursuing music full-time after TikTok stardom 4. 'Imaan,' Mustafa The beauty of "Imaan" shines in its juxtapositions: Sudanese strings and the Egyptian oud meld with an acoustic guitar as Mustafa sings of a love between "two Muslims journeying through their love of borderless Western ideology and how it contradicts with the modesty and devotion in which they were raised," as described in the press release. "There is nowhere for me to go (there is nowhere for me to go)/ Imaan, you hold/ everything in your palm," Mustafa's gentle voice rises with longing, while Swedish singer Snoh Aalegra steps in with backup vocals that add depth to the song's already rich texture. "Bursting with emotion, 'Imaan' is a seismic followup to 'Name of God' that hints at how affecting Mustafa's forthcoming debut album will be," CBC Music's Natalie Harmsen prophetically wrote in March 2024 when the song came out: Mustafa's Dunya album nabbed the No. 1 spot on CBC Music's " 15 best Canadian albums of 2024 ." On Dunya, Mustafa wants to be remembered correctly Mustafa wins the 2024 Prism Prize for outstanding video 3. 'Stick of Gum,' Nemahsis 2024 was a sink or swim year for Nemahsis, and swim she did. The Palestinian Canadian singer-songwriter says she was unceremoniously dropped by her label in October 2023, after posting about " the occupation of my homeland ." In an interview with CBC Q ' Tom Power , she shared that all her music industry connections cut off contact with her in the following weeks: "I was fully ostracized ... I didn't think there was going to be a future in music." All of this on the precipice of her debut album, Verbathim , that she was worried might be shelved indefinitely. After another label letdown, she and her team made the decision in May to release the album independently, starting with the first single, "Stick of Gum." Her defiance is palpable, as is her disdain for an industry that attempted to cast her aside. The driving guitar melody and buoyant synths rise above the fray, as Nemahsis unleashes layered lyricism about navigating the social politics of desirability and marketability. She filmed the music video in Jericho in the West Bank where her family lives, turning the song into an ode to her homeland as much as it is an indictment of her mistreatment. 2. 'Bloom,' Aqyila Aqyila's dreamy vocals make "Bloom" the sweetest love song released this year. A snippet of the song went viral on TikTok before it was released, and by the time it hit streaming platforms it had already lived up to the hype: majestic instrumentation, complete with a sweeping string intro, brings Aqyila's vision of a healthy relationship to life. "This kind of love is freein' me," she sings on the chorus, tenderly letting her feelings flow. It's the tug of wanting to completely give in to her emotions that propels the song, and she sounds elated to have found a love that is gentle and kind. "Everything you do, how you call my name/ Sunday afternoon, come and make it rain," she sings softly, the ecstasy of the romance taking over and allowing her to be mushy. Q&A 'I was in shock': R&B star Aqyila on winning a Juno after finding viral success 1. 'Witchy,' Kaytranada feat. Childish Gambino Kaytranada and Childish Gambino cast their own spell with this golden-hued R&B ode to the magic of falling in love — the ultimate incantation. "Witchy" could have easily soundtracked Saturday nights at the roller rink in another era, but Kaytra's sorcery here is the ability to make even the most vintage-sounding production feel thoroughly contemporary and fresh. As his alter ego, Childish Gambino, Donald Glover is clearly having the best time, his falsetto twinkling like a meteor shower. The result is a feel-good, star-dusted anthem of the year that conveys one of life's pure pleasures: the dizzying, intoxicating, all-consuming enchantment of being thoroughly under another's thrall. Meet Kaytranada, the dance music producer taking over hip-hop and R&B Kaytranada's 11 most timeless collaborationsFortnite OG start time, weapons, Battle Pass and more revealed ahead of iconic returnHampton Roads-based medical device company ivWatch, LLC racked up several prestigious recognitions and awards this year for its innovative work in enhancing IV safety. The company, headquartered in Newport News, was named to the Inc. 2024 Best in Business list in the health products category. The annual list celebrates the exceptional achievements and contributions of companies that find “new ways to outperform, iterate, innovate, and drive change across their industry and their community.” ivWatch’s product is a small sensor and patient monitor that monitors an intravenous therapy (IV) site. IV therapy procedures involve fluids, medications and nutrients being directly administered through a patient’s vein. However, problems can arise when the drugs accidentally leak from an IV into the tissue surrounding the vein, in a complication known as “IV infiltration.” Infiltration can cause tissue damage and, if left untreated, could result in pain, swelling, amputation of the affected limb and sometimes death. ivWatch CEO Gary Warren said peripheral IV therapy failure rates due to infiltration are estimated to be between 25-50%. “​​It’s crazy how bad the problem is,” Warren said. “I refer to it as health care’s biggest issue right now that isn’t being discussed.” To prevent the side effects of infiltration, ivWatch has created a sensor that is placed near an IV site to detect infiltrations and extravasations. If the fluid leaks into the tissue, the monitor notifies clinicians to assess the IV site. One of ivWatch’s patient monitors waiting to be tested Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot) CEO Gary Warren talks about the role ivWatch plays in saving lives Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot) One of ivWalk’s patient monitors waiting to be tested Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot) Korry Allende, biomedical manufacturing technician for ivWatch, operates the converting machine Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot) Kenton Powell, biomedical manufacturing technician for ivWatch, examines a sensor he just assembled Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot) Nat Chem, biomedical manufacturing technician for ivWatch, tests a patient monitor Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot) One of ivWatch’s patient monitors waiting to be tested Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot) Warren said the recognition from Inc. felt “great” and credited those who work at the company for their dedication. Related Articles Health | Your black plastic kitchen utensils aren’t so toxic after all. But you should still toss them, group says Health | Bird flu virus likely mutated within a Louisiana patient, CDC says Health | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes Health | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families Health | Maryland sues maker of Gore-Tex over pollution from toxic ‘forever chemicals’ “We’re on a mission to solve one of the biggest problems in health care by reducing IV injuries, and this recognition belongs to the passionate ivWatch team who have started a movement along with our customers to keep patients safe from IV harm,” he said in a statement. Also this year, ivWatch was awarded first place in the Virginia Manufacturers Association’s list of “Coolest Things Made in Virginia” and recently took third place in the Startup World Cup — a global startup competition. The ivWatch company was founded in 2010 and has since monitored more than 300,000 patients globally. The company’s technology is now available in the U.K., Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Qatar, Israel, and Kuwait. Helen Stephens, ivWatch’s vice president of global sales, said it’s difficult to predict how long it takes for infiltration to become fatal from the moment the leakage starts. That’s why she said the technology is “critical” to detect the problem as soon as possible so clinicians can adjust the treatment of the patient accordingly. “We have to trust the technology, all of the data, all the clinical evidence that we have that says something’s going wrong, remove the catheter, prevent that injury to that patient,” Stephens said. “So it’s about patient safety, avoidable harm, and protecting the clinician as well as the patient. Because we don’t go to work to cause harm. You know, our job is to make somebody better.” Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Warren said the company will focus on developing and rolling out additional sensors that can detect additional drug types. He also hopes to continue the product’s expansion, noting there are 2 billion peripheral intravenous catheters used worldwide each year, with 300 million used in the United States. He said at least half of those should have an ivWatch sensor on them. “So, what’s my game plan? Someday, that we’re on a billion IVs a year,” Warren said. 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When Katja Vogt considers a Jaguar, she pictures a British-made car purring confidently along the Italian coastline — a vision of familiarity that conveys "that dreaming, longing feeling we all love." She's not sure what to think about Jaguar now after the 89-year-old company announced a radical rebranding that featured loud colors and androgynous people — but no cars. Jaguar, the company says, will now be JaGUar. It will produce only electric vehicles beginning in 2026. Bad attention is good attention, Jaguar execs would appear to believe. The car brand has prompted mockery online for posting a glitzy ad without a single car in it. Say goodbye to British racing green, Cotswold Blue and black. Its colors are henceforth electric pink, red and yellow, according to a video that sparked backlash online. Its mission statement: "Create exuberance. Live vivid. Delete ordinary. Break moulds." "Intrigued?" @Jaguar posted on social media. "Weird and unsettled" is more like it, Vogt wrote on Instagram. "Especially now, with the world feeling so dystopian," the Cyprus-based brand designer wrote, "a heritage brand like Jaguar should be conveying feelings of safety, stability, and maybe a hint of rebellion — the kind that shakes things up in a good way, not in a way that unsettles." Jaguar was one of several iconic companies that announced significant rebrandings in recent weeks, upending a series of commercial — and cultural — landmarks by which many modern human beings sort one another, carve out identities and recognize the world around them. Campbell's, the 155-year-old American icon that artist Andy Warhol immortalized in pop culture decades ago, is ready for a new, soupless name. Comcast's corporate reorganization means there will soon be two television networks with "NBC" in their name — CNBC and MSNBC — that will no longer have any corporate connection to NBC News, a U.S. legacy news outlet. CNBC One could even argue the United States itself is rebranding with the election of former President Donald Trump and Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Unlike Trump's first election in 2016, he won the popular vote in what many called a national referendum on American identity. Are we, then, the sum total of our consumer decisions — what we buy, where we travel and whom we elect? Certainly, it's a question for those privileged enough to be able to afford such choices. Volumes of research in the art and science of branding — from "brandr," an old Norse word for burning symbols into the hides of livestock — say those factors do contribute to the modern sense of identity. So rebranding, especially of heritage names, can be a deeply felt affront to consumers. "It can feel like the brand is turning its back on everything that it stood for — and therefore it feels like it's turning its back on us, the people who subscribe to that idea or ideology," said Ali Marmaduke, strategy director with the Amsterdam-based Brand Potential. He said cultural tension — polarization — is surging over politics, wars in Russia and the Mideast, the environment, public health and more, creating what Marmaduke said is known as a "polycrisis": the idea that there are several massive crises converging that feel scary and complex. Campbell's soups "People are understandably freaked out by that," he said. "So we are looking for something that will help us navigate this changing, threatening world that we face." Trump's "Make America Great Again" qualifies. So did President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" slogan. Campbell's soup itself — "Mmm Mmm Good" — isn't going anywhere, CEO Mark Clouse said. The company's new name, Campbell's Co., will reflect "the full breadth of our portfolio," which includes brands like Prego pasta sauce and Goldfish crackers. None of the recent activity around heritage brands sparked a backlash as ferocious as Jaguar's. The company stood as a pillar of tradition-loving British identity since World War II. The famous "leaper" cat Jaguar logo is pictured in 2019 at the Auto show in Paris, France. Jaguar said its approach to the rebrand was rooted in the philosophy of its founder, Sir William Lyons, to "copy nothing." What it's calling "the new Jaguar" will overhaul everything from the font of its name to the positioning of it's famous "leaper" cat. "Exuberant modernism" will "define all aspects of the new Jaguar world," according to the news release. The approach is thought to be aimed at selling fewer cars at a six-figure price point to a more diverse customer base. The reaction ranged from bewilderment to hostility. Memes sprouted up likening the video to the Teletubbies, a Benetton ad and — perhaps predictably — a bow to "woke" culture as the blowback intersected with politics. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

When you need some investing ideas, it's always a good idea to consider the moves of people who have proven their expertise. A perfect example is Ray Dalio, a self-made billionaire who got started by investing $300 in a stock at age 12 and tripling his money. Since then, he has had a flourishing career, and in the 1970s, launched Bridgewater Associates. He grew that firm into the world's largest hedge fund, with about $100 billion in assets under management today. Dalio believes in long-term investing -- holding onto stocks for a number of years and benefiting from their growth rather than moving in and out of positions over days or weeks. But he also knows when it's time to lock in profits. He has emphasized the importance of selling stocks when they are fully valued and reallocating those funds into stocks that still have room to run. Historically, Dalio's moves haven't necessarily gone along with the crowd. That was again the case with two of his maneuvers during the third quarter. Bridgewater sold what remained of its stake in cybersecurity leader CrowdStrike ( CRWD 0.22% ) , which Wall Street analysts generally predict will rise in the coming 12 months. At the same time, Bridgewater opened a new position in an S&P 500 artificial intelligence (AI) player that has soared 300% so far this year -- and that Wall Street thinks is headed for a 40% decline. Does Dalio know something Wall Street doesn't? Dalio's latest moves So, let's consider the details of those moves. Dalio's firm closed out its position in cybersecurity powerhouse CrowdStrike -- selling 7,140 shares -- after gradually decreasing its stake over the past year. Bridgewater originally bought CrowdStrike in the third quarter of 2022. Since the start of that quarter through the start of this year's third quarter, the stock has climbed about 118%, suggesting the billionaire locked in profits on the investment. Now, let's take a look at the new S&P 500 AI stock Bridgewater bought in the recent third quarter. That's Palantir Technologies ( PLTR 6.22% ) , a company offering AI-powered software to help clients make better use of their data. Bridgewater increased its position by more than 500% to 523,548 shares. This was after it originally bought the stock in the first quarter of 2022. Palantir has proven to be a winning investment so far, heading for a gain of more than 400% since the end of that quarter. From today's price levels, Wall Street's average analyst forecast calls for CrowdStrike to advance by about 2.5% over the coming 12 months -- not a big increase, but positive movement all the same -- and for Palantir to drop by about 40%. Has Dalio made the right move by locking in his profits from CrowdStrike and increasing his bet on Palantir? Pressure on CrowdStrike It's still too early to know for sure. But it's true that CrowdStrike could face some pressure in the months to come. The company's faulty software update in July unleashed the biggest information technology outage ever, and CrowdStrike has said it expects the costs of packages to compensate customers for the losses that caused will weigh on its growth in the coming quarters. It's possible this also will limit the stock's near-term performance, though the company still represents a top long-term investment. As for Palantir, yes, the stock's valuation has skyrocketed -- it trades for 184 times forward earnings estimates right now. But some investors -- including Dalio -- may be willing to accept that since Palantir is in the early stages of its AI growth story. The S&P 500 invited Palantir to join this fall, showing that it has entered the ranks of the companies that drive the modern economy. Palantir's AIP demand Palantir launched its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) a year ago, and demand for it is soaring. The company's commercial customer growth has taken off in recent times, but with only about 300 U.S. commercial customers right now, Palantir still has plenty of room to expand. Finally, forecasts that today's $200 billion AI market is on track to grow to $1 trillion by the end of the decade suggest more growth ahead for today's top AI players. Palantir's recent earnings results support this optimism, with the company reporting its highest profit ever in the third quarter. All of this means that Dalio may have the right idea about investing in this high-flying AI stock today -- even if Wall Street isn't as optimistic about how it will perform in the coming months. It's also important to remember that long-term investing can mean holding onto a stock for five to 10 years or even longer. That means that no matter what happens over the first few months you own an investment, it still could be a winner for you over the long run.Slate Office REIT (TSE:SOT.UN) Trading Up 53.7% – Still a Buy?

SHAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION: Halper Sadeh LLC Investigates LBRDA, CFB, NBR on Behalf of Shareholders

EEPC India proposes faceless GST audit to empower MSME sectorLOS ANGELES — It's always a good idea to bundle up at Mammoth Mountain, but anyone hoping to get in some holiday ski runs may want to consider some additional layers. A storm forecast to hit this weekend is expected to bring strong winds with gusts of up to 70 mph at the mountain's summit, according to the National Weather Service . A high-wind watch has been issued for most of Sunday, with sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph expected along with the more powerful gusts. A new snow layer of 1 to 2 inches is also possible — welcome news for those looking to hit the slopes before ringing in the new year. But while conditions may be blustery, visitors shouldn't expect the same sort of scene depicted in a viral video that's been making the rounds on social media. That video, which was posted on X on Christmas Day, showed hundreds of skiers lining up for a ski lift while being pelted by snow and wind. However, the video was originally posted on Instagram more than a week earlier — and was taken at a time when most lifts had been closed due to wind gusts up to 100 mph at the mountain's summit, Mammoth Mountain spokesperson Emily van Greuning told SFGate. Jake Baisley, who took the original video, said it was on the fourth day of his first trip to Mammoth Mountain. "The conditions were pretty crummy," he said, "lots of rocks showing and the lines were long on the weekends." Despite the wind and lines, he'll likely head back to Mammoth, he said, adding that the area is good for van life . Other than that now-viral moment, Van Greuning said, the busy holiday season has been going as expected. The Eastern Sierra ski resort has seen a good turnout so far this season, which usually starts in November and ends in May. With 3,500 acres available for skiing, there's not much concern for crowding on a typical day, Van Greuning told The Times in an email Thursday. Last year's season extended into August for only the third time in the resort's seven-decade history, when the main lodge saw a record 60 feet of snow. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

1. Cookie Swap! , a cookbook with 50 recipes: everything from thumbprints and oatmeal to flaky cardamom palmiers and matcha sandwich cookies with almond cream — does anything sound more fun than missing school AND spending the day making cookies?! No way. This snow day is gonna be a core memory you're all sure to treasure forever. I have this book! My husband loves baking and *I* love baking...recipes that are not hard. We make cookie tins for friends every year (I know, how wholesome, right?) and this book was a great way to shake up our ideas! The recipes are clear, the pictures are gorgeous, and this definitely a fun gift. Promising review: "I love the concept for this book! I organize a cookie swap every year for by neighbors at holiday time. This book is absolutely perfect for ideas and recipes. It even tells you how to organize a swap and the recipe yields are all divisible by 12. The author has thought of everything, including advice on a 'bag of tricks,' which includes discussions on chocolate, types of butter, equipment, and types of cookies." — Falmouth Get it from Amazon for $12.09 . 2. And How to Cook Everything Kids — this is a cookbook that'll grow with your kids, encouraging them to participate more and more in the kitchen as they get older. Initially, the book's cute illustrations (such a clever idea!) engage tiny minds and interest them in learning about HOW to cook. After that, the images of kiddos cooking and the meals themselves help readers feel confident that they, too, can make a *real* meal! Promising review: "This book will grow with your children. With it, you can teach them about the utensils used in cooking, how to use a stove, oven, mixer, and food processor. If you have young children they can add and mix some of the ingredients while the adult or older children chop and cook over the stove or oven. This book teaches them how to organize the ingredients needed to make food, prepare it, and cook it. They will enjoy surprising their friends with guacamole, chicken chowder, and chocolate chip cookies! " — Terry Biehl Get it from Amazon for $28 . 3. A 1986 version of Clue , a beloved board game complete with a dark and foreboding mansion, sinister suspects, and hidden weapons sure to be a hit with older kids. You're gonna need to use your powers of deduction to solve the mystery and be the first to identify the killer, the weapon, and the location. Good luck! Number of players: 3-6 Recommended age: 8+ Pieces: Illustrated mansion board, pewter candlestick, knife, wrench, pipe, and gun, plastic rope, weapon cards, character cards, one case file, and six plastic character pawns. Promising review: "We try to get the family one game every Christmas and we chose this one! This retro edition is so fun. My girls love the mystery of this game and we enjoy being brought back to our childhood. Great for family night or rainy day!" — GreenChile33 Get it from Amazon for $21.99 . 4. A portable ping-pong set to turn your dining room table into *the* place to hang out (even when there isn't a crumb of food around). Set includes a retractable net, two paddles, three balls, and case. Promising review: "I got this for my son for Christmas. We don’t have a lot of space for a full ping pong table but I have a long dinning table that is perfect. This is easy to assemble and it changes up family game night. Great fun!!" — Heather Gould Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in three set styles). 5. An indoor-friendly scavenger hunt game that'll save the day when said day is cold, snowy, dreary, and dull. Rather than coming up with specific objects, this game gives your kids a chance to be extra creative by finding things that are "scratchy," "warm," "fuzzy," and more! Promising review: "These are a lifesaver for us during the quarantine. My 7-year-old is enjoying challenges that I time, having to find five things to match five cards in five minutes. There are also two games with instructions that are fun. My kiddos are being so creative finding things. My son found a compact mirror and breathed on it to steam it up for 'steamy.' Hooray for igniting thinking skills. Grandma gets involved finding silly things that make the kids crack up. I love the bag they come in and that it’s a compact card game that can be played anywhere." — Jami Lilo Get it from Amazon for $7.69 . 6. A terribly charming toadstool tent sure to be beloved by imaginative kids who prefer pretend play to structured sets and games. If your family has too much energy for your *regular* house, send your little faeries off into the "forest" and have them scavenge for things to fill up their toadstool home. Promising review: "The mushroom playhouse tent added enchantment to my daughter's 4th fairy-themed birthday party! It became the whimsical centerpiece, creating a magical space where imagination soared. The easy setup was a parent's dream. I will be moving it to her bedroom after the party and probably to the backyard during summer. This mushroom tent playhouse is a must-have for fairy-tale tykes! 🍄✨👧🧚‍♀️" — Gizem Aktan Get it from Amazon for $99.99 . 7. A World Full of Spooky Stories , a compilation of stories that'll give your older kids a cultural world tour *and* keep those little thrill seekers entertained when they're old enough to enjoy a good spooky story. If scary stories aren't your family's thing, you can also get A World Full of Animal Stories and A Year Full of Stories , both are filled with fun folktales from around the world. Promising review: "This book has wonderful short stories from all around the world to broaden a child’s cultural knowledge and imagination." — Jamie Rodriguez Get it from Amazon for $17.97 . 8. Acorn Soup — this cooperation cooking game is sure to be to your *taste* if you're teaching your kids how to take turns. It also provides risk-free family fun because there's no winner (and thus, no frustrated kiddos at the end). To play, pick an ingredient card and place the correct number of each item inside the pot to make Squirrel's favorite meals. Dinner's served! Number of players: 2–4 Recommended age: 2+ Pieces: 8 recipe cards, 1 wooden spoon, 24 wooden ingredients, instructions, and a parent guide Promising review: "My kiddos (3 and 2) love this game! There are a few different ways to play with different instructions and varying degrees of difficulty, so the game grows with your little one. The ingredient pieces are wooden and feel sturdy in your hand. Even the recipe cards are on thick cardboard, so this game will last you a long time even with players who may not be gentle. :) My kids love just 'making soup' with it even if we are not playing the game as directed. I love that it helps with number recognition, counting items, identifying items, and recognizing colors. There is no real 'winner' which is fine as we are working on teaching turn-taking right now and not necessarily the idea of win/lose. This is a great, fun game for toddlers and preschoolers." — CA gal in TX Get it from Amazon for $21.95 . 9. A Dungeons and Dragons essentials kit so you can finally give this cult-classic a chance and expand your kids' gaming skills beyond screens. It's time to put your creativity to the test by controlling all of your family's fates as THE Dungeon Master. Number of players: 2 to 6 Recommended age: 12+ Promising review: "Honestly, this kit is what the original starter kit should have been. The story is easier to follow for a newer DM. The adventure is a lot more streamlined. The breakdown of character creation is amazing and simplified. It doesn't just toss you some generic character that you have no connection too. It simplifies character creation and allows you to ease into more complicated characters later on. The cards that come with this kit are something I wish I had when I first started. They help with initiative, conditions, and the sidekick cards and magic item cards are awesome. I would recommend this kit over the original to any person wanting to start playing DnD." — Bryan Get it from Amazon for $17.69 . 10. Pokko and the Drum , a laugh-out-loud funny book that's sure to be an instant classic loved by both kids and kids-at-heart who need *drumroll please* ATTENTION. Promising review: " This book is clever and cute and unexpectedly hilarious. The kids and I were all a little surprised at one point when one of the members of the friend group spontaneously eats another member of the group, but, well...that's nature? :D This is a great little story with beautiful illustrations." — Tripp Get it from Amazon for $12.39 . 11. Zingo! , which is a new take on Bingo that's gonna be *extra* fun. It's fast paced and the toy does all the hard work for you! Just slide it and watch the tiles fall down...here's hoping you get your bored covered first! Number of players: 2-7 Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 1 Zinger tile dispenser, 6 double-sided Zingo cards (for two levels of play), 72 double-sided tiles, and a parent's guide Promising review: "My 4-year-old loves Zingo! We play almost every night. Not only is this game fun but it teaches kids patience and to take turns. We love playing this as a family." — Bri Get it from Amazon for $24.97 . 12. A pack of Crayola Globbles (sans sticky residue) — these cling to the wall and slowly drop down...tricking your kids into being patient after they've thrown these as high up as their little arms can manage. Promising review : "Amazing toys! My 1- and 2-year-old LOVE them! They scream 'sticky balls!' and run around throwing them on the fridge, windows, cabinets, walls, etc. Easy to wash and air-dry, and don't lose their stickiness! My new go-to gift! Love them!" — Rachel Get a pack of six from Amazon for $7.49 (also available as a 16-pack). 13. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine — this'll walk your space rangers through 50 cooperative space missions in a trick-taking format (like Spades) that only gets more difficult as they move along. Spooky! Number of players: 3–5 Recommended age: 10+ Promising review: "I gave this game to my brother for Christmas, and that night we all stayed up until 4 a.m. playing! Takes a little time to learn, but the instructions walk you through it." — Jackie Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 14. A pair of Wackadoo dice for Bluey fans who jump up and dance every time the intro song turns on. One die has a direction, like "dance," "jump," or "floss," and the other has a selection of critters your child will pretend to be while doing the action. Get ready to see a bunch of flossing kangaroos in your basement! Number of players: 1+ Recommended age: 3+ Pieces: 2 large Bluey dice Promising review: "These have provided hours of fun. They are very durable and lots of fun. Gets the kids moving and active." — Kendall & Robyn Nash Get them from Amazon for $19.14 . 15. A jealousy-inducing Melissa & Doug ice cream counter — it'll be a total (ice) scream playing retro soda shop with this fun set. One egg cream please. The wooden ice cream counter comes with eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, cup, scooper, tongs, wooden spoon, reusable menu card, and six pretend dollar bills. Promising review: " Fun toy set for a creative toddler. My newly-turned-3-year-old daughter instantly fell in love with this set! She loves seeing how high she can stack the ice cream cones and pretending to serve Mom and Dad her creations. She's been obsessed with climbing things around the house, and we *desperately* needed a distraction to get her to stop, and this is working so far — she plays with this thing for HOURS! " — West Family Get it from Amazon for $38.99 . 16. A 100-piece set of Picasso Tiles that reviewers say work with and are comparable to Magna-Tiles (which is helpful if your tiny architect already has that brand), because apparently building blocks are now blasé and kids are going wild for these shiny tiles. Promising review: "I wish I had known about these sooner! PicassoTiles are *exactly* like Magna-Tiles but way more affordable. We just received the 100-tile set today - an early birthday gift for our soon-to-be-four-year-old. We have two sets of Magna-Tiles — one with the grommets (purchased new last year) and one without (purchased secondhand [no idea how old they are]). The PicassoTiles are the same weight and size as the MagnaTiles and have the same exact magnets. They do not have metal grommets, but the old MagnaTiles are indestructible, so I know that these will be too. And PicassoTiles are much prettier, in my opinion, because they are slightly more translucent and have brighter colors. They integrate into the collection seamlessly. I highly recommend this product. And if you are considering buying any kind of magnetic tile toy for your child, I recommend purchasing as big a set as you can for versatility of play. Our son has played with these all day and night off and on every single day since we bought them last year. After integrating the new PicassoTile set, he hugged his enormous structure and declared them his favorite...twice. A wonderful toy!" — skater mom Get it from Amazon for $39.99 . 17. A Barbie Dreamhouse so your child's favorite dolls can live in style with a working elevator, a PARTY ROOM WITH A DJ BOOTH, a slide, puppy area, balcony, and a rooftop deck. If we can't have it all, at least our kids... dolls can. Promising review: "I got this for my granddaughter for Christmas, and she absolutely loves it! Putting it together was very easy, all the pieces just snapped together, no tools required, except a screwdriver for the battery compartment. It comes with a great variety of accessories and realistic sound effects with the push of a button throughout the house! There's so much to do; keeps my granddaughter busy for hours at a time! Her favorite part is the dance music and flashing lights for Barbie and her friends to have dance parties! But it's not just fun for my granddaughter, my daughter and I also have fun playing with it. It did cost a lot but it's well worth every penny , and I would highly recommend it! It makes a great gift that would make any little [kid[ very happy!" — Barbara Gratton Get it from Amazon for $224.99 . 18. A 2-in-1 rocking bike from Strider that'll help your baby become confident on the seat of a bike even before they're able to walk! This grows with your child, starting as a "rocking horse" that'll stay in place as they ride it inside your home. Once they're a little bigger, the base can be removed, and you'll have a classic pedal-free bike for your little tyke! My baby started using this around nine months old (pictured above, right) and she is a HUGE fan. She loves this *practical* "rocking horse." I love its durability (her older cousin used it on our deck and was riding it so wildly we were sure he'd end up doing a front flip...this thing held up - and kept the kid intact - like a champ). The bike can be removed from the rocking base as your child starts walking, making it a prime choice for teaching your kiddo how to balance on a bike. Promising review: "The bike paired with the rocking base has been a favorite since day one! Some days he rocks other days we take it off the stand and ride in the backyard! This is learning how to ride a bike made easy!" — Tracy Get it from Strider for $209+ (available in eight colors). 19. Eatz-A-Lotl , a card game for kids who love (even if they can't spell ) axolotls! This is a fast-paced but simple matching game featuring an axolot eating popcorn, pretzels, pizza, Popsicles...and other food that probably doesn't start with the letter P. Probably. This card game is suitable for kids ages 4+ and works with 2-4 players. Promising review: "This is a super cute and fun game! We love Mudpuppy products and this one was no exception. Super cute game, easy to learn, and fun. My axolotl-loving daughter was so happy to get this as a gift. I would totally buy it again!" — Callie Larson Get it from Amazon for $9.39 . 20. A sushi-making kit that'll keep your family's cooking skills on a roll as your kids continue growing comfortable in the kitchen (without an oven...which is a stress-free win for everyone). It comes with two rolling mats, a rice spreader, a rice paddle, and five pairs of chopsticks, along with a downloadable recipe guide! Promising review: "I got this kit on a whim, basically I just wanted to try to make sushi for the first time. For the price, you can't really go wrong! The mats were great and everything else included was helpful. It comes with an online guide which is nice, but you can also go online and find a ton of videos on how to roll sushi. I've made about four rolls over the course of two nights and am really satisfied. Making rolls is a breeze and fun! A great starter kit for anyone interested in trying this out." — J. Leaver Get it from Amazon for $8.48 . 21. A Blipblox synthesizer — a fully functional synthesizer for kids of parents who laugh in the face of quiet time. This has a learning curve so simple that babies can start jamming right away. Turn it on, twist some (kid-friendly, indestructible) knobs, and you've got a beat! It's intended for ages 3+ and a toddler hit, but it's also a great way for older kids to learn the ins and outs of electronic music — next thing you know, your kindergartener will be lecturing you about oscillators and low pass filters. We bought this toy for my daughter's first birthday and it is now the coolest thing in our entire apartment. Recently we were having a party and while I was looking for my daughter I went into the living room and found her surrounded by our friends who were waiting (impatiently) for their turn with this thing. It's TOO cool. Promising review: "The built-in beats and effects are a blast. Super fun to just mess with. For adults you can learn more about how the signal is impacted by each nob to get to some more reproducible sounds. Lastly you can hook it up to a midi keyboard or sequencer to use it as part of your actual musical kit!" — Dreyco Get it from Amazon for $199 . 22. A magnetic shape-shifting puzzle cube that'll bend your kid's brain as they manipulate it into over 70 different shapes, revealing mesmerizing colors and patterns. It's like instant origami, and I'm INTO IT. You can also collect all 12 puzzle box designs to connect different magnetic cubes to build even larger structures and sculptures. Promising review: " Fun for older teens. I bought one each for my 16- and 19-year-old son and daughter for Christmas. It made a great stocking stuffer. It was very intriguing and they enjoyed linking them together for new shapes. The boxes were sturdy enough for teens to manipulate without breaking and the magnets are strong. Not sure if younger hands would be too rough. If forced to move in the wrong direction they could break. The designs were beautiful. I plan to buy a few more for a bigger variety of shapes!" — Shellbug99 Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 19 designs). 23. A 5-in-1 gym so your child can get out their energy without turning *you* into their personal jungle gym. It can be configured in various ways so your tiny rock climber can switch up their routine whenever they want. Check out Avenlur's landing page for more gorgeous kid products and see all that they have for sale this Prime Day! Promising review: "This was easy to put together, my husband and I did it in less than an hour. The packaging is nice and doesn’t feel cheap. It feels very solid and the wood smells like wood, so that’s nice. Also all the holes are drilled where they are supposed to be and only two holes (of about 64 total) were slightly stripped once fully tightened, but it doesn’t seem to impact the structural integrity and nothing is loose." — Gullyfluff25 Get it from Amazon for $179+ (available in three colors). 24. A 1,000-piece video game-themed puzzle that'll combine your love of puzzles with your boo's video game addiction. Romantic! Promising review: "Great puzzle of retro games and consoles. Each piece is unique and fit together snuggly. Image is high quality (text and small details are easy to see/read). Finally, it was fun! Glued and mounted." — AJ Koch Get it from Amazon for $19.95 . 25. Azul just might be the only game to convince the craft-lover in your life to put down their crochet and play a game with you! The whole point of this board game is to create gorgeous (and point-scoring) tile mosaics featuring Moorish art-inspired designs. Number of players: 2–4 Recommended age: 8+ Promising review: "This is such a great game for both board game fanatics and non-gamers. It's easy to teach, simple to set up, plays in under an hour, and it's FUN! Azul is an abstract tile placement game that features drafting, set collecting, and pattern building. It's pleasing to look at and the components are well made. The tiles feel especially nice. This is one of those games that everyone we've introduced it to loves and wants to play again right away. It hits the table quite a bit." — Shelly Get it from Amazon for $31.97 . 26. Horizontal Parenting , a laugh-out-loud funny (and surprisingly clever!) book that'll beloved by parents who would happily do ANYTHING if they could lie down for just a minute . Grab this book, draw some roads on one of your old shirts, hand your kid a toy car, and let them play "Back Street" while you fall sound asleep. Promising review: "My kid loves this, and so do I! The games are good and are wonderful for days when you are low energy. It's a must-have." — Miai G. Get it from Amazon for $12.85 . 27. Slapburger — it's sure to be a hit with anyone who has a real appetite for game night! On each turn, a player will lay a card face up in the center of the table, then everyone slaps cards down to make some primo meal combos: like a SlapBurger card, Double Decker or Sandwich. The last player holding all the cards wins. Number of players: 2-6 Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 52 cards Promising review: "This is a perfect family game. It's a fun card game that is easy to learn. I got it to play with my 4-year-old daughter and she loves it! It's a perfect gift and compact for traveling purposes." — Zoro Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . 28. What Do Machines Do All Day? , a brilliant and bright picture book full of color and information on every machine your child could possibly name. Promising review: "My son LOVES this book. It teaches us so much about various professions and machines and it is a great jumping off point to discuss so many other things !" — Sarah A Get it from Amazon for $13.02 . 29. The Reverse Coloring Book sure to have your child feeling soothed as they sketch out a story about a princess fire-breathing dog living in some watercolor woods...or something like that. Each book includes 50 pages of watercolor art for you to add lines, along with suggestions for what to add if you want a jumping-off point. B onus: the pages are perforated, so you can easily tear them out and frame them! (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $8.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) Check out a TikTok of the Reverse Coloring Book in action. And if you've already tried this copy, there are newer Reverse Coloring Books from the same creator to try! Promising review: "Changed my life. So I get anxious doing the adult coloring books. This was so much fun and made me really think outside of the box. I'm not the best at drawing, but I felt like I was when I was a kid doodling in my textbooks in school." — Carley C. Get it from Amazon for $9.90 . 30. A LeapFrog animal book , which is frequently on the Amazon bestsellers chart. The interactive book teaches kids fun facts about all kinds of critters, and it'll even sing songs in both English and Spanish. Promising review: "This talking book is hands down the best thing I bought my daughter. She was a bit delayed in speech and since buying this book she’s been spitting out new words left and right. It responds well to touch and the pages are very durable which is great in the hands of a toddler!" — ApL Get it from Amazon for $12.97+ (available in six styles). 31. Forest Friends , which is a 3D board game that's sure to shake things up during game nights when you're away. You can play two unique games with this set. First is "Hide and Seek," where players help Mia Mouse guess which hole her animal friends are hiding in. If you guess correctly, you get a wooden star. If not, you shout out what you see, and the other players try to remember that info for their own turn. You can also play "Animal Tracks," where the animal tiles are flipped over to only show their footprints. Then you've gotta figure out which animal that footprint belongs to before your search begins! Number of players: 1-4 Recommended age: 2+ Pieces: 1 3D cube board, 8 star tokens, 1 wooden mouse, and 8 unique animal/footprint chips Promising review: "These games are the best for really young kids! We love the wooden pieces. This is a high quality product overall and lots of fun for the youngest board gamers ." — N. Robinson Get it from Amazon for $23.99 . 32. A pair of toddler-sized Unicorse and Bob Bilby hand puppets for Bluey fans who watch these two mischievous characters on television and would love to play with them for real life . Promising review: "Our daughter, her cousins, and my husband love playing with Unicourse and Bob Bilby. They look just like the cartoon characters and have given us hours of entertainment." — Naturecrazed Get them from Amazon for $15.99 . 33. A giant Jenga set to put everyone's stacking skills to the test. This version is 4 FEET, which makes sense, because finding family-friendly games this fun is a tall order. Promising review: "I purchased this for get togethers with friends and family and this is, and always has been, a party favorite. Good quality as well." — Mark Get it from Amazon for $99.95 . 34. Pancake Pile-Up! for the tiny chef in your home who would love starting up their own brunch spot while the parents go out to dinner. They can get their home restaurant-ready by flipping an order card. Once flipped, they make the pancake shown as fast as they can, using the spatula to place it on their plate, race back to the starting point somewhere in the room, and hand the plate and spatula to the next player (like a relay-race). The team or individual that correctly completes the stack shown on the card wins the round! Number of players: 2-4 Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 10 plastic pancakes in 5 flavors, 2 plastic patties of butter, 2 plastic plates, 2 plastic spatulas, 10 order cards, and a plastic griddle game board Promising review: " I’m a Preschool teacher and a mom to a 4-year-old and I’ve recommended this game to every parent with young ones! This game is great quality, fun, and teaches so many concepts. Highly recommend" — Chris and Brittany Causey Get it from Amazon for $19.87 . 35. A pop-up tunnel play set — your kids are gonna love crawling in and out of these obstacle course of tunnels. (BTW, it also has a ball pit!) Promising review: "One thing my kids never tire of is hideouts and tents. I'm always hearing, 'Mom can you build us a tent?' So, instead of sticking blankets in drawers and hanging them from bookcases, I ordered this set. They play in them for hours and love them. This play set is great. It has three sections for them to sit and play in and three tunnels." — Stephen schuresko Get it from Amazon for $64.95 (also available in a princess version). 36. An open-ended marble run set for inquisitive kiddos who would love creating a massive marble run all on their own — no rulebook included! Promising reviews: " My 5- and 3-year-olds (and me) have spent hours building towers and watching marbles clatter down these chutes, steps, gears and spirals, HOURS! And they’re not bored yet! It’s also educational learning the physics of slopes by experience. Plus, it comes with enough marbles so that losing a few doesn’t matter." — Joyce Parker " This is a really neat toy that has provided literally hours and hours of enjoyment for my 4-year-old nephew (and me!). The pieces fit well together, it is very sturdy and stands up well even on carpet. There are an infinite number of ways to build these runs, and this toy never gets boring. Highly recommended." — Becca Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in four kit sizes). 37. A modular kids' couch made with sturdy foam and easy-to-clean fabric so you can take your family's play fort skills to the next level, while saving your own sofa from destruction. Promising review: "This 'couch' is wonderful — exactly what we had been looking for. The covers are super soft and the color is gorgeous. We have built several different forts and tunnels so far and the kids love it! We had a tiny problem with one of the arches but customer service took care of it. I would definitely buy from this company again." — Chris and Charly Get it from Amazon for $168.99 (available in 10 colors). 38. A Play-Doh restaurant for parents who can't bear to wait another year for the next season of, well, The Bear . Okay, okay, this is actually gonna be a gift for your kid . But will the two of you have a ton of fun making meals and filling orders together? Yes, Chef! This set includes 2-oz. tubs of red, yellow, blue, green, and brown Play-Doh. It can stamp up to two food shapes at a time and make burgers, pizza, chicken, or spaghetti! Along with the prep table, this comes with a spatula and plate. This is suitable for kids ages 3+. Promising review: "This is a fun activity. Just great overall! It's a fun gift idea or to keep at home. Lots of variety in shapes and molds. And the pieces clean easily. Definitely worth having." — Em Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 39. A children's digital camera with 32 GB of storage, photo and video capabilities, sticker filters they can add to their photos, and even games (watch yourself steal this from your kid to play a nice game of old-school Snake)! After a full charge, your kid can take nonstop photos for 1–2 hours. Enjoy watching your kid run all over the place, taking creative photos of the world from their own special POV. This is suitable for children ages 3–8 and it's a HIT with reviewers! It has over 18,000 five-star reviews . BTW, it's shock-proof and includes a lanyard to keep it secure around your kiddo! Promising review: "I purchased this for my 3-year-old grandson. It is far more high tech than any 3-year-old will fully take advantage of but taking simple photos was accomplished with ease. I was astonished at the quality of the photos as well as the storage capacity. It is a fantastic value for the money. " — KayBee Get it from Amazon for $26.39 (available in five colors). 40. Flushin' Frenzy , a game specifically made for families who are *very* pro potty-humor. Players must plunge away and do their best to catch the, ahem, flying poop before anyone else. Number of players: 2-4 Recommended age: 5+ Pieces: 1 toilet, 1 plunger, 1 die, and 10 score tokens Promising reviews: " My 5-year-old niece loves it! What can be said really? It's a game where you use a toy plunger to make a smiling rubber poop fly through the air to be caught for points. My niece, like many little kids, is going through a phase where anything related to poop is absolutely hilarious, so I thought this game would be just the thing for her. She loves it! The game is very easy to pick up for 4- and 5-year-olds, the components are well-made, and the poop is...oddly realistic, except for its smiling face of course. This is without a doubt the cleanest option for playing with poop on the market. Your kids'll love it." — Brendan Williams Get it from Amazon for $39.86 . 41. Ooko , a clever character you'll be thrilled to introduce your family to. This savvy little fox's heart is searching for something that can't be stored in a tree trunk (which is already full of everything a fox could need; a stick, leaf, and rock)...Ooko simply wants a friend. Promising review: "I want to be Ooko's friend! Esme Shapiro is a very talented artist/writer. In a brief and successful journey, Ooko finds what he's (or maybe he's a she?) been missing his whole little fox life. With fanciful illustrations and the best fox dialogue around, Shapiro takes the reader into the world and psyche of a carnivorous mammal with a yearning heart. " — Brody Madrid Get it from Amazon for $13.85 . 42. And finally, a talking, singing, rainbow poop , which, upon first glance, may not be the toy you want in your house. Think again! This thing plays hide-and-seek with your kids — which means a piece of poop just saved you from hiding inside the bathtub until your five-year-old finds you. Ugh, they are so bad at seeking. Look, potty humor is the funniest thing this side of the second grade. BTW, this runs on two AA batteries (which are included). To play someone hides the toy and it will, ahem, "fart" to give the seeker hints as to where it is. Once it's found, it sings a victory song! Promising review: " I was looking for a game to play at our 5-year-old's b-day party, which had ages 5-15, and this was an absolute hit! All the kids loved it and we even got in on the fun for a few rounds. I can see this being very popular in our house on a regular basis. It's nice to get the kids up and active looking for it rather than just sitting playing a game. Countless people of all ages can play. When it was just the two older boys they timed themselves to see who could find it faster. It was very entertaining just to watch them too!" — Lisa Meade Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (also available as an egg). Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.A federal law to shield journalists from unwarranted government snooping once enjoyed near universal support. It has lately become a political football — but it shouldn’t be. President-elect Donald Trump took to social media recently to urge Republicans in Congress to kill the PRESS Act, the shorthand name for the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act. Until then, this bill enjoyed broad bipartisan support. What would the PRESS Act do? It would shield journalists from being compelled to reveal their confidential sources and other sensitive information gathered in the reporting process. It provides reasonable exceptions, however, in cases involving terrorism, other serious emergencies or journalists suspected of crimes. The PRESS Act passed the House in January with overwhelming support from both parties. Its chief sponsor, Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-California, reminded his colleagues then that “liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and journalists are often the first to expose government fraud, waste, abuse and encroachments on personal freedoms. In a free country, we need to make sure that the government cannot unmask journalists' sources without good cause, and that is why the need for this legislation is so strong." The PRESS Act has languished in the Senate, however, where it was sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, and includes cosponsors Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois. Now, with Trump calling on GOP members of Congress to deep-six it, its fate hangs by a thread. We at the Society of Environmental Journalists urge the president-elect and members of his party to reconsider. Our group is a membership organization of 1,500 journalists who cover climate change and the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Our members rely on their ability to protect sources and the information they provide to hold government officials and corporations accountable, report corruption, expose malfeasance and publicize the most important stories of our time. While some who question climate change might see our group's support of the PRESS Act as ample reason to oppose it, that’s akin to cutting off your nose to spite your face. As the bill’s advocates have pointed out, the PRESS Act would protect conservative, independent and nontraditional journalists just as much as it would those in the mainstream press. Indeed, one of the most outspoken advocates for the PRESS Act is Catherine Herridge, a former Fox News reporter facing fines — and possibly even jail time — for refusing to identify her source for her stories about the founder of a Virginia school who has ties to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. In a recent appearance on NewsNation, Herridge said her reporting on those and other stories relied on confidential sources and “a credible pledge that I would protect their identity.” She said if she could sit down with Trump, she’d remind him of how he had praised her reporting eight years ago that found flaws in the investigation of Russian collusion in his 2016 election. “It’s not a political thing,” Herridge concluded. “It’s really a democracy thing.” For the sake of democracy and the First Amendment, we appeal to the Senate to pass the PRESS Act without further delay. It’s urgently needed and long overdue. Tim Wheeler is chair of the Society of Environmental Journalists' Freedom of Information Task Force and a former board member and president of the organization.When Katja Vogt considers a Jaguar, she pictures a British-made car purring confidently along the Italian coastline — a vision of familiarity that conveys "that dreaming, longing feeling we all love." She's not sure what to think about Jaguar now after the 89-year-old company announced a radical rebranding that featured loud colors and androgynous people — but no cars. Jaguar, the company says, will now be JaGUar. It will produce only electric vehicles beginning in 2026. Bad attention is good attention, Jaguar execs would appear to believe. The car brand has prompted mockery online for posting a glitzy ad without a single car in it. Say goodbye to British racing green, Cotswold Blue and black. Its colors are henceforth electric pink, red and yellow, according to a video that sparked backlash online. Its mission statement: "Create exuberance. Live vivid. Delete ordinary. Break moulds." "Intrigued?" @Jaguar posted on social media. "Weird and unsettled" is more like it, Vogt wrote on Instagram. "Especially now, with the world feeling so dystopian," the Cyprus-based brand designer wrote, "a heritage brand like Jaguar should be conveying feelings of safety, stability, and maybe a hint of rebellion — the kind that shakes things up in a good way, not in a way that unsettles." Our brands, ourselves Jaguar was one of several iconic companies that announced significant rebrandings in recent weeks, upending a series of commercial — and cultural — landmarks by which many modern human beings sort one another, carve out identities and recognize the world around them. Campbell's, the 155-year-old American icon that artist Andy Warhol immortalized in pop culture decades ago, is ready for a new, soupless name. Comcast's corporate reorganization means there will soon be two television networks with "NBC" in their name — CNBC and MSNBC — that will no longer have any corporate connection to NBC News, a U.S. legacy news outlet. CNBC One could even argue the United States itself is rebranding with the election of former President Donald Trump and Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Unlike Trump's first election in 2016, he won the popular vote in what many called a national referendum on American identity. Are we, then, the sum total of our consumer decisions — what we buy, where we travel and whom we elect? Certainly, it's a question for those privileged enough to be able to afford such choices. Volumes of research in the art and science of branding — from "brandr," an old Norse word for burning symbols into the hides of livestock — say those factors do contribute to the modern sense of identity. So rebranding, especially of heritage names, can be a deeply felt affront to consumers. "It can feel like the brand is turning its back on everything that it stood for — and therefore it feels like it's turning its back on us, the people who subscribe to that idea or ideology," said Ali Marmaduke, strategy director with the Amsterdam-based Brand Potential. He said cultural tension — polarization — is surging over politics, wars in Russia and the Mideast, the environment, public health and more, creating what Marmaduke said is known as a "polycrisis": the idea that there are several massive crises converging that feel scary and complex. Campbell's soups "People are understandably freaked out by that," he said. "So we are looking for something that will help us navigate this changing, threatening world that we face." Trump's "Make America Great Again" qualifies. So did President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" slogan. Campbell's soup itself — "Mmm Mmm Good" — isn't going anywhere, CEO Mark Clouse said. The company's new name, Campbell's Co., will reflect "the full breadth of our portfolio," which includes brands like Prego pasta sauce and Goldfish crackers. What is Jaguar? None of the recent activity around heritage brands sparked a backlash as ferocious as Jaguar's. The company stood as a pillar of tradition-loving British identity since World War II. The famous "leaper" cat Jaguar logo is pictured in 2019 at the Auto show in Paris, France. Jaguar said its approach to the rebrand was rooted in the philosophy of its founder, Sir William Lyons, to "copy nothing." What it's calling "the new Jaguar" will overhaul everything from the font of its name to the positioning of it's famous "leaper" cat. "Exuberant modernism" will "define all aspects of the new Jaguar world," according to the news release. The approach is thought to be aimed at selling fewer cars at a six-figure price point to a more diverse customer base. The reaction ranged from bewilderment to hostility. Memes sprouted up likening the video to the Teletubbies, a Benetton ad and — perhaps predictably — a bow to "woke" culture as the blowback intersected with politics. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.