What Grief Sounds Like

Plus: how ChatGPT paraphrases the Web; the busted myth of the Iowa caucuses; and “Magic Mike’s Last Dance.” View in browser | Update your preferences Thursday, February 9, 2023 In today’s newsletter, the limits of music, and then: • How ChatGPT paraphrases the Web • The busted myth of the Iowa caucuses • The cynicism of “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” The Sound of Grief After the sudden death of a young son, listening to Bill Evans, Frank Ocean, and a therapist. Illustration by Nicholas Konrad / The New Yorker When Matthew Schnipper’s son Renzo was a few months old, Schnipper introduced him to death metal. “He doesn’t erupt with joy, but he’s largely unbothered by the furious guitar solos and guttural vocals,” Schnipper writes. “Not yet a convert, but seemingly open to further explorations.” Over the next year, Renzo’s musical journey with his parents continued: viral TikTok songs, disco hits, Dua Lipa’s “Levitating.” But, after an unthinkable tragedy, the author’s experience of music was jolted out of place by grief, rendering familiar sounds foreign or hollow. In a delicately beautiful and deeply moving personal essay, Schnipper explores how the suddenly uncertain and even frightening act of listening provided a way forward. Read the story Support The New Yorker’s award-winning journalism. Subscribe today » From the News Desk The Political Scene The Myth of the Iowa Caucuses Got Busted The Democratic Party charts a new path for its Presidential candidates, avoiding the cornfields. By Eric Lach Tune in: On The Political Scene Podcast, Benjamin Wallace-Wells discusses the elevation of the primary in South Carolina, and the powerful alliance between Joe Biden and James Clyburn. Editor’s Pick Annals of Technology ChatGPT Is a Blurry JPEG of the Web OpenAI’s chatbot offers paraphrases, whereas Google offers quotes. Which do we prefer? By Ted Chiang Culture Dept. Books Daughters Outgrow Their Parents in Two Unsparing Novels The fiction of Gwendoline Riley ruthlessly depicts the fragile tedium of broken people who are desperate to be normal. By James Wood The Front Row “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” Is a Cynical Movie About Cynicism The last entry in Steven Soderbergh’s trilogy continues to rue the gap between talent and its exploitation, but the joy and swing are gone. By Richard Brody Gestures Shooting Your Shot with Hilary Duff The star of “How I Met Your Father” takes a flower-arranging class with Tasha Muresan, a D.M.-sliding florist turned friend. By Rachel Syme Fun & Games Dept. Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Will Nediger Daily Shouts New You Shopping Spree It’s the smell of the handbag’s leather—shiny, rich, and layered—that makes student loans no longer exist. By Catherine Mevs Crossword A Beginner-Friendly Puzzle “Fine, fine, I give up”: six letters. By Paolo Pasco Daily Cartoon Thursday, February 9th By David Ostow P.S. The pop composer Burt Bacharach, whose credits include “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” “Walk On By,” and “I Say a Little Prayer,” died yesterday, at the age of ninety-four. In 2013, Hilton Als wrote, “My first brush with existentialism came not through my college-era reading list—Kierkegaard, Kafka—but when I first heard Burt Bacharach.” Today’s newsletter was written by Ian Crouch. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up for The Daily. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2023. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.