2008: People of the Year

December 28, 2008 by Phoebe

2008 has been a year of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows; a year that has seen economic meltdown and political upheaval on such a large scale that it’s hard to look back at it all with any real perspective yet. But, despite all the madness, a few key figures stood out on the cultural landscape and dominated our conversations and debates throughout the year. Below is a selection of my people of 2008, a selection formed mainly on the first names that sprang to mind when I tried to recall the last twelve months (I figured that was as good a selection process as any) Have a read, and, as ever, feel free to ruthlessly slate my selection and/or comment with your own suggestions…

Runners Up…

Jourdan Dunn

Every fashion year has its ‘It’ model and this year that girl was Jourdan Dunn. Dunn’s feline beauty saw her bag campaigns for retail giants Topshop and Gap, and walk the runway for everyone from Alexander McQueen to Marc Jacobs to Dries Van Noten. Models aren’t usually high on my kudos list, but Dunn gets a special mention for sparking the debate about the lack of Black models on the runway and providing the inspiration for on ‘all-Black’ Vogue Italia. Clearly much more than just a pretty face (and maybe even the next Naomi…)

Estelle

2008 was a massive year for homegrown black music and no-one repped the UK bigger, better or badder than Estelle Swaray. The past twelve months saw the West Londoner pen one of the catchiest hooks of the year (even my Mum knows the chorus to ‘American Boy’), break America and steal the show at this year’s MOBO awards. The whole thing was rounded off beautifully with not one but two Grammy nominations, proving that Estelle’s journey towards household name status has only just begun.

Lil Wayne

The pint-sized rapper has been spouting lyrics since the tender age of 15, but 2008 was the year that Lil Wayne ruled (and arguably resurrected) hip hop. Love him or hate him- and I’m aware that the ATCN readers are very much split between the two camps- but an album that goes Platinum in one week is really nothing to fuck with. Here’s hoping that the little man has a few more of those psychedelic, soul-baring verses left in him for ’09, before the Sizzurp really begins to take its toll and he goes the way of Winehouse.

Heath Ledger

Despite his untimely passing on 22nd January, Ledger undoubtedly delivered one of the strongest cinematic performances of the year as the Joker in the Dark Knight. Inspired, original and utterly captivating, the Australian actor’s take on a iconic character reminded us that his death marked the loss of one of the best of his generation.

Usain Bolt

9.69 seconds with his goddamn laces undone. Nuff said.

Cheryl Cole

If you didn’t fall in love with Cheryl Cole whilst watching this year’s X Factor, then you are clearly some sort of gargoyle with a heart made of stone. The hair…the smile…the usually-infuriating-but-now-strangely-endearing Geordie accent…What was not to love? 2008 got off to a rough start for Cheryl when she had to endure the public humiliation of a cheating (and clearly blind/insane) husband, but she has bounced back and is now a national treasure and the crush of every man, woman, child and dog.

And the winner is…

Barack Obama

Who else? The impact that Obama will have on the world remains to be seen but if 2008 was anything to go by, it will be immense. This was the year in which we saw Obama’s face emblazoned on a thousand newspaper and magazine covers, t-shirts, and blog posts, and heard his name referenced in endless news shows and radio broadcasts, not to mention a god-awful song by Young Jeezy. Never before has a presidential candidate inspired a generation of young people to put an end to their political apathy and become involved, actively or vicariously, in his campaign and the landslide election in which it culminated. Beyond the media hype and the obvious symbolism of his victory, Obama’s impending Presidency is significant for so many reasons. His inauguration in January ’09 will hopefully be the beginning of real change to US foreign and domestic policy, marking the start of a (very) gradual undoing of some of the destruction that has been caused by the American government in recent years. Certainly, the new administration is facing a mammoth task and there will inevitably be some disappointments along the way, but Obama’s obvious intellect, charisma and, ahem, physical attributes leave me in no doubt that he is the best possible man for the job and therefore my choice for person of 2008.