Many students at CHS have family traditions where they pile into their family car and drive around town, viewing the assortment of decorated houses. The luminous Christmas lights have become a favorite in the eyes of many people as each year families show off their creativity and spend quality time together donning their house with various decorations.

The tradition carries on with Coppell family man Jim Hall, who takes the traditional decorated house to a whole new level. Not only is his house beautifully decorated with an assortment of lights and trees, the lights on his house are actually synchronized to Christmas songs.

Hall has his own broadcast station on which he chooses an arrangement of songs and has them playing through the station. In his cul-de-sac, cars can tune their radio to 107.3 FM to listen in on the music. For those who want to enjoy the outside ambiance, they can sit on a bench provided by Hall and listen and observe the sight through a speaker outside his house.

The outside speaker plays until 8 p.m.; then it shuts off in respect of Hall’s neighbors. However, the radio station that can be accessed in people’s cars until 9 p.m.. People are encouraged to come and bring their families to enjoy this one of a kind light show.

“The kids really enjoy watching [the light show],” junior Hannah Griffiths, Hall’s neighbor, said. “They think it is cool that the lights synchronize with the music.”

The house is truly something to see, with the dazzling lights flashing in time with the upbeat songs, and the heartwarming nativity scene, it is a sight to be seen firsthand. The newest attractions to Hall’s house are the lighted icicles hanging from the tree and a “Merry Christmas” sign against the brick house underneath the right window. The song list this year includes favorites such as “Jingle Bells”, “Santa Clause is Coming to Town”, and “Deep in the Heart of Texas”.

“During Christmas time I listen to the radio, and I pick about ten songs and envision how it will look,” Hall said. “The elements generally stay the same; I mainly figure out if the song will work out or not, then it comes down to the order of the show.  I try to get a flow through the show and I try to balance it out with some techno songs and rock songs. This year it’s heavy on the rock music.”

Besides picking the songs that go into this light show, Hall has a considerable amount of physical setup and programming to do in order to get the perfect show. This year, he used 110 channels of light with a total of 16,000 lights the puts up. He starts setting up the outside decorations Nov. 1, but the programming he does is year round.

“[Hall] does a great job at setting up the show,” neighbor and junior Bailey Aguilar said. “It’s enjoyable for everyone and it is a new family tradition of mine to see the show. You can tell that a lot of hard work goes into this production and it is definitely appreciated by everyone.”

Hall is not the only one in the Dallas area with a light show house. Lonestarholidays.com provides a contact link page with a display map of all the light shows on a map for people to visit.

A good way to soak up the holiday cheer is to head down to the Hall house for a free light show, filled with catchy music and the hypnotizing light performance. It is a great activity for the family, as well as a fun hangout for friends. However, in respect of the neighborhood and the Hall household, it is appreciated if attendees keep the noise level to a minimum in order not to wake up the Hall children and the other families in the neighborhood.

“Wide assortments of people come, from families with young kids, to the show choir, Vivace!, that came out to sing one year which was interesting; we get a wide variety of people. Overall it is a family friendly environment,” Hall said

With the growth of ideas such as Hall’s comes the time for new family traditions; this year a big one on many people’s lists is to see the new lightshow put on by Hall and his family. The pastime of viewing Christmas lights has turned into its own Christmas light show that is sure to dazzle many with its vibrant show filled with joy and good tidings.

Music is dazzling. It is romantic. It is happy. It is depressing. It is life.

Where would we be without bands such as The Beatles, Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pixies and many more acknowledged artists who forever changed the face of music? (If you don’t recognize the names of these bands I highly suggest you grab the nearest Internet source. Now.)

American 21st century pop-culture has degenerated, and to put it bluntly, reduced our music into either sexually explicit content or babbling words slapped together with a catchy tune. It is difficult to understand why song covers performed by the cast of Glee (pardon me, Gleeks) top music charts while so many talented artists remain unacknowledged.

Alternative music is my thing; I have listened to lesser-known bands for hours, and they deserve a second glance; for your own pleasure (and sanity), I give you three unknown and underappreciated artists. It is time for a breath of fresh air.

Birdy
STATUS: UNKNOWN

(From left to right) The covers of “+” by Ed Sheeran, self-titled album by Birdy and “Lights” by Ellie Goulding. Courtesy of Atlantic and Polydor.

Imagine Adele, age 15. After winning the music competition Open Mic UK at age 12, Jasmine Ven den Bogaerde, or Birdy, has increasingly become more popular in both Europe and the United States as a distinguished indie and alternative artist.

This young phenomenon demonstrates a very distinguished and mature voice through her whimsical dreamlike tunes that feature a variety of instruments such as the harp, violin, cello, flute and the vibraphone (similar to the xylophone).

Her ability to go from high to low notes is both striking and impressive for her age. “Birdy” her self-titled album, was released Nov. 7 and features her hit single “Shelter.” What is significant about this young sensation are the lyrics behind her songs. Instead of a repetitive chorus like many songs, her lyrics go deeper to explore human nature, daily life, and of course, the inexpressible aspects of love.

The album is more on the slow side, and has a coaxing rhythm. This, however, is Birdy’s style, and what distinguishes her mesmerizing and melodramatic voice.

Ellie Goulding
STATUS: UNDERAPPRECIATED

Goulding is only the second artist (after Adele in 2008) to top both BBC’s annual “Sound off…” poll and win the Critic’s Choice Award at the BRIT Awards the same year. Her unique electronic-folk, or “folktronica,” music style allowed her album “Lights” to climb to No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and sell over 380,000 copies by the end of 2010 after its release.

Her voice complements the techno music. She creates masterpieces through song, each crafted to tell a story. The narrator: her voice.

The British sensation not only sounds spectacular on tape, but her live performances show immeasurable amounts of talent and enthusiasm. Her ability to constrain the strong wavering notes during her performance takes skill and practice.
“Lights” features a great variety of songs that explore different aspects of techno.

Ed Sheeran
STATUS: UNKNOWN

In June, Ed Sheeran’s breakthrough single “The A-Team” debuted at No. 3 on the UK chart. A mix between Michael Bublé and Bruno Mars, Sheeran possesses ridiculous talent.

His music has a carefree feel and contains a valuable meaning behind each song; his sound is very soothing and dreamlike. The ambience of his album “+” is open and welcoming. Sheeran conveys feelings through his music that are both overwhelming and fulfilling, like a sip of hot cocoa on a winter night.

At first glance, Sheeran appears to be an ordinary guy, but his catchy boyish persona makes for a good clean reputation with great sound. This is the kind of music would listen to on a rainy day or long car trip. It is the kind of music that makes you happy.

The radio no longer serves as a medium for diverse music. It is time to venture out on our own and find new music. Give these artists a chance. You never know you—might discover the next hit sensation.

Tonight, August 26 at 7:30, the Coppell Cowboys will be playing Mesquite Horn away as both of the teams season openers.

Both Coppell and Mesquite have lost starters from last years senior class including Joe Minden, quarter back,  and Cam McDaniel, running back, of the Cowboys. Jake Larson is stepping in as the new starting QB and showed promise during the spring and preseason practices. Luke Jenner, will be stepping in for McDaniel as RB and has been improving and impressing the entire team. The Cowboys starting offensive line has returned for their senior season and proved themselves in last years deep playoff run. Hopefully this years defense, which suffered extreme losses, will show up to play tonight and prove themselves for the rest of the season.

The team and coaches all seem to be extremely confident that they have prepared as well as they can. Also, according to maxpreps.com the Cowboys are ranked as the leaders of our district which is great motivation for the team going into the game tonight. The game starts at 7:30 at Mesquite Horn will sure to be a great game as both teams have to prove themselves for the new season.

Holiday decorations line every building from the view on a Starlight Flight Tour. Photo courtesy of David Snell.

Driving around neighborhoods to bask in the twinkling strung lights decorating houses is a common holiday-time activity. Now imagine the breathtaking view of these houses and more while looking down from a single engine Cessna 172 passenger airplane thousands of feet in the air.

Every winter, Starlight Flight hosts an aerial tour of Christmas lights in the Dallas area. Departing from Addison, the plane soars not only over the Dallas skyline, but also nearby neighborhoods and Frisco Square.

“Our Christmas tour flight is similar to our regular 30 to 60 minute flight,” pilot and Starlight Flight owner David Snell said. “We leave from the Addison airport, fly by the Galleria, over Highland Park, visit Love Field and the Texas Stadium. We then see Las Colinas, go downtown, pass the American Airlines Center and Reunion Tower and circle downtown Dallas.

“After that we pass Fair Park, the Cotton Bowl, White Rock Lake, and SMU. That would be a typical 30 minutes flight. The longer you fly, the more you get to see. Our Christmas tour also includes Interlochen [in Arlington] and Deer Park [in Harris County]. If you tell us first, we can even visit your neighborhood.”

Along the way, passengers also fly over the Frisco residence of Jeff and Bridgette Trykoski. Unlike its surrounding homes, this property is notorious for being the largest and most original synchronized light display in all of North Texas. Jeff’s company also organizes the lighting display at Frisco Square.

“I love being able to be a part of what helps bright Frisco during the Christmas season,” Jeff said. “We have more than 85,000 lights that are all synchronized with a radio station and make for a very good show. We even try to give back by collecting canned good for the Frisco Food Bank.”

Both Jeff and Bridgette, among hundreds of other people, have taken Snell’s flight. Aside from being only a fraction of the cost of a normal helicopter ride, passengers love how each flight is customizable. People have the option to include roses, change the flight of the path and passengers can bring the drinks of their choice.

Starlight Flight also allows guests to choose if they would like to donate their flight to a non-profit organization, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“We’ve seen a bunch of people of all ages and types board these plains, from giddy 4-year-olds to white-knuckled first time flyers,” Snell said. “Being in the business for more than 13 years, it’s important to help those who help us. So, we have some flights that go straight towards organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and Make-A-Wish. If it’s something we can do, we do it.”

Starlight Flight tours began this past Sunday and will continue through Jan. 1. For more information about the flights or how to book one visit www.StarlightFlight.com or call (817) 588-1817 to request a flight.

Entertainment Editor

Cowboys fans were able to cheer for the first time in weeks when they defeated the New York Giants, who lead the NFC East with a 6-3 record. This win comes only six days after head coach Wade Phillips was fired and replaced with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

Garrett won his first game as a head coach and made fans wonder, ‘Where has this team been all season?’ Despite having to use the backup quarterback Jon Kitna, the Cowboys dominated in their game against the Giants, a surprise to almost everyone. The team has circled the drain all season. However, they hit bottom last week when they were defeated by Green Bay 45-7.

Even though Jerry Jones chose to end Phillip’s Cowboys career, no one expected the complete turn-around of last night. I myself disagreed with Jones’ decision to fire him, but I stand corrected. Obviously such a drastic move had a great effect on the players, and if that’s what it takes to win, I don’t think any fans will have qualms about it.

Another interesting part of yesterday’s game was when the lights went out. The stadium lights suddenly flickered during the third quarter and delayed the game for a while. Officials said that the generators of the new stadium went out, but either way, the Cowboys dominated.

Rivalries; they run throughout the sports world from little league to the pros.  Here in Coppell we have our own football rivals, but one sticks out in particular: the Southlake Carroll Dragons.

For years we, the Coppell Cowboys, have battled the Southlake Carroll Dragons in varsity football and we had our chance to win this Friday night, which we did 35- 17 Cowboys. Both teams went  into the game undefeated, and with their win, the Cowboys remain as the only unbeaten team in District 7-5A. This game, to some, may just sound like an important football game but to truly understand our rivalry with these Dragons you have to rewind a couple of years.

Our rivalry had been brewing for many years but our meeting in 1998 sealed the deal and made Southlake our permanent football rivals. Days before the game Southlake students were talking the usual smack talk and one comment changed Coppell traditions forever. The comment was made about the people of Coppell being a bunch a “trailer trash” and from this, Coppell alum Luke Pierson spawned the tradition that the Plunger Boy. We ended up winning that game making Southlake our permanent rivals.

“I hate Southlake more than Mondays,” Coppell Plunger Boy Cody Cammack joked.

Southlake, since that game, has been in our district off and on, and when we played them in the past it was mostly one sided with Southlake pulling off most of the wins. Three years ago Southlake ended up in our district and the rivalry game was set once again. There was a lot of talk surrounding the game because Southlake was coming into the game undefeated and was the favored team over us, but the game was at our stadium and the Cowboys came prepared.

Throughout the game when one team would score the other would match and eventually the game went into overtime with both teams having a score of 43. During the first overtime both teams scored touchdowns and both crowds were becoming extremely uneasy. Finally, with Southlake scoring a field goal, the Cowboys looked as if there was no way of coming back. During our Cowboys final drive we scored a touchdown and won the game. Of course, being Coppell fans we all stormed the field and celebrated in front of our arch football rivals leaving the stadium.

Obviously, Southlake Carroll students and players were not happy with this lose to a “lesser team” in their eyes, and they came back two years ago and scheduled our rivalry game as their homecoming game. The game was extremely hyped up not just because the long time rivalry but because of what was at stake for the Dragons if they lost their homecoming game against us. Southlake ended up winning the game by a few touchdowns and the Dragons got vengeance against us from the previous year and an embarrassing defeat.

“Our rivalry is purely hate,” sophomore Tommy McClenahan said. “Most of the smack talk is going on before the game on Facebook.”     

This year the game was played here at Buddy Echols Field and the Cowboys pulled off the win 35- 17. Prior to the game, the Cowboys,  were picked to win because the Dragons lost a lot of starters to graduation last year and they also lost their starting quarter back to UIL residency regulations rendering him ineligible to play. From the start of the game, it was evident that we would be able to pull off a win and declare our dominance atop our district.

“I feel our rivalry is kind of a love, hate relationship,” Principal Brad Hunt said. “I think the reason we are such good rivals is because our communities our extremely similar and we just want to compete against each other because we are both good teams.”

District play is continuing and as we get closer and closer to playoffs, it will become clear if we will be able to defeat the Dragons once again in the postseason this year. Next season will bring another Cowboy vs. Dragons game because we will stay in this district at least for next year due to UIL district rules. Even though they do pose a threat to our team now, Coppell fans are ready for another rivalry game either in the playoffs or next season, and no matter how you view the rivalry Coppell vs. Southlake is always a fun game to attend.

Friday nights are what Texas high school football is all about and the players practice everyday for there chance to go in but what preparation do the fans have to go through before the big game?

True fans of the team either have a tail gate or go eat with friends and family before the game. After being stuffed with pre-game food they head out to the stadium and complete there appearal for the game. Many fans just wear the school colors and cheer on their team but some go to the extremes.

Body paint is always a likey choice for a football game with the combination of some type noise maker. Many noise makers that I jave seen recently at games are either blow horns or just big mega phones. Its really great to see fans cheering on our team and at the same time distracting the other.

For all you fans out there great job keep it up!

I often find myself mesmerized by the lights that illuminate the streets at night, but not by your typical street lamps. I’m referring to the Christmas lights put up every year at just about this time time of year, the holiday season. The lights that not only attract my eyes but also assist in brightening dark streets.

Similar to previous years, I’ve seen the earliest of decorations out in October, lights explicitly displayed even as early as Halloween. I have a profound respect for the individuals who participate in covering their houses with lights, whether through paying for the decorations or putting them up themselves, partially because my parents have never participated in such festivities.

Even without much effort, individuals can transform a bare house into a public showing with the addition of just a few lights. I see quite a few homes applying simplicity with lights tracing the outline of the frame along the roof. Yet, there are those that participate in distinguishing their homes from the majority with the addition of a mass of colorful lights that surround not only the house but also bushes and trees. Some even go as far as buying lights that flash.

To see some examples, click here.

The much anticipated Spirit of Coppell Holiday Parade of Lights on Saturday, December 5 will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Samuel and follow down Parkway to Town Center Plaza where Coppellians will meet the lighting of Town Center.

This year’s parade theme is “wreaths and trees, ribbons and bows” so expect to see festively decorated floats and parade walkers who will be passing out glowing items and candy. The night is guaranteed to be brilliant and bright with each float required to have at least 200 lights. Before the parade, floats will be judged and first and second place winners will be selected. Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause will be atop last year’s first place winner’s float.

The celebration and lighting at Town Center is an annual tradition full of holiday cheer and jolly good fun and this year will include a snow area, performances, carolers, refreshments and a special appearance from Santa Clause. Festivities are to begin immediately after the parade.

All intersections along the route of the parade will be temporarily closed for safety and reopened as the parade passes. Parking is available at the Aquatic and Recreation Center as well as the north side of the Justice Center (click for directions).