In a tumultuous year, we at City Express turned to art, literature and alcohol for solace. We also realised that there are far too many memes, sneaker trends and must-listen playlists for anyone to really keep up with. So here’s your cheat sheet: skim through the best and worst of 2016 — everything from memes to strange reports and what’s buzzing and bizarre in the beauty world. We’ve truly lost some ‘greats’ too this year – be it beloved franchise actors, iconic athletes or stellar litterateurs – and some have hit harder home than others. Our movies and reading lists are never going to be the same again. Forget making your list and going over it twice, we capsule the year for you and can only have our fingers crossed for the next. Here’s plenty of strange goodness to tide you over until then…
Kylie Jenner had the internet talking about her lips (among a few other things) throughout the year. Tongues wagged about her lip injections after looking at her photos — which she denied obviously. But nothing stays secret in tinsel town, does it? And they were only ‘super natural fillers!’ This sparked a huge big-lip beauty trend, which had women rushing to cosmetic surgeons, buying lip plumpers, over-lining and partaking in challenges called ‘Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge’
Before contouring became #contouring, it was just a little technique used only at photoshoots, and if you’re a drag queen. This year had a barrage of contouring trends take over, and the more you lurk on Instagram or fall down the YouTube rabbit holes, the stranger your contouring trends get. Clown contouring, henna, and even glitter contouring!
Those eyes…those lips…and oh, that stubble! Yes, because with all the strange things, came the realisation that good makeup doesn’t depend on gender and it’s all about pure technique. Men like @sjt_mua, @aidensempire and @makeupby_bran showed us some serious colour correcting skills that Crayola would be jealous of.
Talking about glitter, crystal and sparkly lips had their moment this year too. Art deco-inspired puckery pouts embezzled with pretty stones ruled the ramp walks and the streets. They became popular despite looking like they belong in a magazine shoot (though we’d have fun wearing them on a trip to the grocery store too!)
Ever wondered what you would look like if you applied 100 layers of foundation? Or maybe lipstick? Or nail polish? The internet took a strange turn when bloggers took up a challenge to layer their faces/nails with products. Why did they do this? Guess this secret will remain lost and buried in the times of 2016.
Pen Pineapple Apple Pen (PPAP)
This has to be the most meaningless, craziest, funniest and weirdest. While the video is a pain to watch, one cannot stress how stupid it sounds while giggling too.
What does it even mean?
While many interpreted it as a sexual innuendo (no surprise!), the overall impact was just that it was catchy! It is a single by Pikotaro, a fictional singer–songwriter, created and portrayed by Japanese comedian Daimaou Kosaka. It was released as a music video on YouTube on
August 25 and has had over 104 million views and spawned parodies too. It became the shortest single to chart on Billboard Hot 100.
FUN FACT: Kosaka came up with the song at his house. He was listening to the tune when he picked up a pen to start writing. He thought about his Japanese background (he hails from the biggest apple-producing region), as he also realised that he had an open can of pineapples on the table.
Damn Daniel!
A 30-second Snapchat compilation that was retweeted, liked and looped on Vine in millions, it’s hard to explain why it went viral. One easy reason could be the repeated phrase ‘Damn, Daniel!’ The clip features Daniel Lara walking around in school with his friend Joshua Holz complimenting him. In 2016, Time magazine listed Lara as one of “The 30 Most Influential People on the Internet”. Internet can take you to places…that’s true now as it can ever be!
FUN FACT: Lara and Holz guest appearing on The Ellen Show where Lara received a life-time supply of Vans’ shoes. Lara donated the shoes to patients at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in California.in California.
Chewbacca Mom
If you are depressed or need a healthy dose of laughter, you HAVE to watch the Chewbacca Mask Lady aka Chewbacca Mom! We guarantee you will not stop laughing along with 37-year-old Texas mom Candace Payne who filmed herself while trying out a Star Wars Chewbacca mask. The video was posted to Facebook with the description “It’s the simple joys in life....” Couldn’t have titled it better!
FUN FACT: The video became so popular that Forbes reported that the mask sold out from every online retailer. Payne visited Hasbro headquarters with her family on June 19 and was presented with a ‘Chewbacca Mom’ action figure that had 13 pre-recorded Payne phrases such as “That’s not me making that noise, it’s the mask,” and “I am such a happy Chewbacca.”
Angel – Taher Shah
If you were able to watch it halfway through, we applaud you. If you watched it till the end and heard it again or caught yourself singing it to yourself — what’s wrong with you?! Angel is a 2016 song and music video written, produced and performed by Pakistani singer-songwriter Taher Shah. His first song,
‘Eye to Eye’ made him an internet sensation (we suggest you take a peek…you only live once, after all) and Angel was viewed over five million times.
FUN FACT: #TaherShah was a trending topic on Twitter in Pakistan, India and the UK. It inspired many memes and parodies, courtesy: the costumes and the helpless child who featured in the video.
Harper Lee
Few authors can claim to have as big an impact on literature as Harper Lee, especially when her 1961 Pulitzer Prize-winning To Kill a Mockingbird was her only novel for nearly 55 years. The book, which unravelled the social fabric of race and inequality in the American Deep South, was soon hailed a classic of modern literature and required reading in schools around the world. When she finally died peacefully in her sleep in February 2016, the reclusive author was still responding to criticisms of Go Set A Watchman, an unofficial first draft of her first book. In her own words, “People in their right minds never take pride in their talents.”
Alan Rickman
Perhaps there was no actor in the Harry Potter franchise who slid into the shoes of his character as uncannily as Alan Rickman! With a prominent drawl and perfect portrayal of Severus Snape, Rickman was already an established actor before courting worldwide fame through the films. He truly lived and breathed Snape, his role rising and falling with the character’s trials in the series. His death in early January shocked fans and not-so fans across the globe…us in CE included! But he would ‘always’ live in our hearts, and of course, in the world of Harry Potter.
Gene Wilder
Sadly, most netizens only knew of Gene Wilder through his most famous character because it was an ever-popular meme — the condescending Wonka meme that stemmed from his famous portrayal of the eponymous character in 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. But to old-timers, the comic actor was well-known for his collaboration with Mel Brooks (Blazing Saddles (1974), Young Frankenstein (1974)) and Richard Pryor, and was twice nominated for an Academy Award — for Supporting Actor and for Screenplay. A prominent cancer awareness advocate, he died in August of complications from Alzheimer’s.
Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds and Kenny Baker
Star Wars fans were shocked by the death of English actor Kenny Baker, who gave life to the droid R2D2 in the franchise. One of the very few cast members to have played a role in the original films as well as their prequel trilogy three decades later, the 3 ft 8 inch actor had his final film role in the latest reboot, The Force Awakens (2015), before his death in August. Christmas morning brought more bad news to the Force fans when Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) suffered a cardiac arrest and later passed away due to complications on December 27. An iconic character from the original trilogy, Fisher also garnered global acclaim for her public admission of bipolar disorder and drug abuse, even writing a book on it titled, Wishful Drinking. As a character from Rogue One (2016) states, “She is one with the Force, and the Force is with her.” A day later, her mother actor-singer Debbie Reynolds also passed away. The Golden Globe nominee, became famous through the film, Singin’ In The Rain (1952).
Muhammad Ali
“I’m gonna show you how great I am!” will be the defining memory of Muhammad Ali, celebrated boxing champion and activist, whose controversial yet inspiring life proved to be the stuff made of legends. From upsetting world champions and staking his claim to glory to changing his ‘slave name’ and his faith to Islam, Ali courted infamy at every point by his staunch criticism of the white establishment in the US and his support for the Civil Rights Movement. He not only became a prominent sports figure, but also an icon of counterculture as well. Despite suffering from Parkinson’s, ‘The Greatest’ died in June, leaving behind a legacy that can be categorised as ‘one of the most iconic athletes/people of the century’.
Pokemon Go
The location-based augmented reality game had everyone glued to their phones this year. The players used GPS to go around their location to locate, capture, and battle virtual creatures called Pokemon. The 90s kids who grew up watching Pikachu and friends did have a ball of a time.
Kareena Kapoor Khan’s motherhood
It all started with speculation if the Bollywood starlet was indeed pregnant. Later, she and her actor-husband Saif Ali Khan were accused of determining the sex of the baby! Then she ‘rocked’ the pregnancy fashion, and was on the covers of almost every magazine…it seemed, for a while, that she was the only woman to become pregnant and have a baby! Oh, of course the name controversy – ‘fans’ broke into a war because of the name. Frankly, a lot of us didn’t give a s**t!
Jon Snow is alive!
In the second episode of season 6, fans of Game of Thrones heaved a sigh of relief when hazy pictures of Kit Harrington shooting in Belfast made rounds on social media before the news was out in June. But they were also shocked when the Red Woman’s true identity was revealed. The sixth season, especially after the fan theory (R+L=J) of Jon Sonw being Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen’s son almost being proved, has left everyone gasping for more and the makers of the cult fantasy series are taking their own sweet time. Now, the plot and pictures from the shoot of the seventh season have leaked and we are assured of a suspense-filled 2017.
Aiyo! is in the dictionary
South Indians rejoiced when the most oft used ‘Aiyo’ was added to the Oxford dictionary. It’s now a legitimate word and kids, tell your teachers not to cut marks if you use the word in a sentence.
Feminism’s new name: Chetan Bhagat
Urgh…it’s painful to say this even if it’s meant to be sarcastic! After judging a dance show and performing in it, the ‘master’ of all trades attempted his fate with feminism and thankfully, received a lot of flak for it (not enough by our standards). While being a self-confessed feminist, he also explained feminism as a term to bridge a gap in the society (confused smiley). He admitted in many interviews that it was his take on feminism. And he is a feminist. Umm…WHAT?! But hey, guess what, according to a poll by Elle India, he is the most read author in India. Time to reevaluate our reading list maybe?
JK Rowling saga
The Harry Potter-author launched her much awaited ‘eighth book’ Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a two-part play in July. Set in the UK, the cast was in contrast to the ones seen in the film. An African-American Hermione…who would have thought? Next up, was her Fantastic Beasts trilogy where she assured there will be two sequels to the film.
Ranveer Singh meets his match
During the promotion of his film Befikre, Ranveer Singh and Baba Ramdev met for a chat. What followed was a laugh riot. While Ranveer was in his element, Ramdev taught him a few of his moves that left him huffing and puffing. What’s more…Ramdev carried Ranveer on his shoulder and spun so fast, it left the quirky actor dazed.
Taylor Swift vs Kim Kardashian/Kanye West
After Taytay denied that Kanye had checked with her to approve the lyrics of a song where he called her a b***h — and then publicly chastised West for doing so — Kim K released an audio note of the phone call itself. Who won? The Kardashian West clan, of course!
Taylor Swift vs Calvin Harris
How did Miss American Dream become Miss Controversy Queen in a single year? With a lot of sneaky tweets and sidelining a past relationship, it is unclear who came out as the winner of this one.
Trump vs Megyn Kelly & (most women on Earth)
After Kelly asked about his misogynistic comments during the first GOP primary debate, Trump, at one point, suggested that it was because there was “blood coming out of her wherever”. Let’s all take a minute to calm down, yes?
JK Rowling vs Natalie McGarry
After the Scottish parliamentary member McGarry accused Rowling of defending “misogynstic abusive trolls” on Twitter, Rowling demanded an apology. She later admitted to having made a “misguided reference” and bowed out of the duel. Rowling for the win!