A Rhyme to End the Year
It's a little bit consumer, a little bit commerce, and whole lot (pop) culture
With permission, I am sharing and reposting this 2023 End of the Year Rhyme from my good friend and veteran consumer analyst Faye Landes. Faye has been putting together these end of year rhymes for years, and they always capture the business and cultural zeitgeist of the moment. This year’s version is no exception to this rule - it sums up many of this year’s moments you can’t believe you forgot about already (for me, it was the implosion of the Titan submarine that I can’t believe I forgot about so soon, after letting it live rent-free 24/7 in my brain for several days back in June).
The other 51 weeks when she is not putting together a year-end rhyme, Faye shares expert consumer insights and a highly curated reading list in her free “Weekend Reading” newsletter. It’s a must-read for me. If you would like to get on the distribution for Weekend Reading, email faye at faye@landesadvisors.com.
The Year in Rhyme by Faye
‘Twas the year of the Magnificent Seven,
Which for many was an investing heaven.
Hard to get worked up over Bezos’s exhibitionism,
When viewed through a happy shareholder’s prism.
Female superstars boosted GDP, entertained us, drove fashion,
And brought out fans who had earthquake-producing passion.
Rihanna kicked off the year with her Super Bowl reveal,
Swifties thought her concerts were an amazing deal.
The Barbie movie was just amazing,
Incredibly enjoyable consciousness-raising.
Ozempic and all the related meds,
Set entire industries on their heads.
A revolution in what people consume,
Producing headaches in every CPG boardroom.
Employees balked at returning to the office,
Should we pity real estate tycoons who are feeling nauseous?
Thinking about WeWork makes me laugh,
Some people just can never recognize chaff.
Almost forgot about SVB,
Feels like very ancient history.
Bob Iger – do you miss being retired?
Your magic touch appears to have expired.
Biohacking became all the rage,
Not sure I want to make it to a triple digit age.
The myth of Icarus involves death by flying,
OceanGate’s Titan demonstrated an opposite hubristic way of dying.
Elon Musk re-Xed the quiet parts out loud,
Perhaps Professors Bankman and Fried are no longer quite so proud.
A five seconds-long jury deliberation,
Maybe your pride and joy needed a more effective sort of education.
Clarence Thomas, monetizer Supreme,
Sam Altman, a true genius, living the dream.
Never realized college presidents were such inept fools,
Am feeling better about my rejection from certain Ivy League schools.
Wouldn’t have bet that the nanny, Fran Drescher,
Would have demonstrated stellar leadership under enormous pressure.
Pickleball drove us crazy with its pop-pop-pop,
We decided fake meat is an unappealing swap.
Is quiet luxury really all that quiet?
It’s long been the standard wink the one-percenter’s fashion diet.
The whole world was awash in pink,
Greta Gerwig, - hey, mazel tov! - we just love the way you think.
Friendship bracelets ruled the land,
Atop of every girl’s and woman’s hand.
So sorry if your Paris trip resulted in bedbugs – quite a blow,
I hope you were able to offset your aggravation by snagging something from Phoebe Philo.
Retailers claimed to suffer from shrink,
Deckers stock almost doubled in a blink.
Birkenstock finally had its IPO,
Aging hippies were suddenly investors in the know.
Footwear wearers yet again shunned heels,
As Sambas and low-cut Uggs gave us all the feels.
Macy’s continued to hope for a miracle,
And the Farfetch saga was practically lyrical.
Thanks, Lauren Sherman, for all the juicy scoop!
Now can you tell us if this Margaux bag is real or just a very good dupe?
You like long books and haven’t a care?
Then it’s time to try to plow through “Spare”
Barbra, I’m farklempt, you’re one for the ages,
About you I’ll gladly read 992 pages.
A banner year for movies, so delightful.
Oppenheimer was both riveting and insightful.
We got to see Ben Affleck play Phil Knight,
Those 90’s haircuts were quite a sight.
I loved Maestro, and didn’t care about THE nose,
And adored Past Lives, the rare film about prose.
TV also provided a wonderful distraction,
Yentas rejoice! Jewish Matchmaker was a charming attraction.
Succession wrapped up most of its loose ends and we’ll miss the Roys,
Will need to look elsewhere to see awful people and their toys.
Given the timing of Murdoch’s resignation,
Do you think the showrunners had inside information?
There’s no one better at personal PR than Jenna Lyons,
She was able to garner middle Americans’ buy-ins.
We lost Tina Turner, the queen of rock and roll,
And Henry Kissinger, a smart man who seemed devoid of a soul.
Jane Birkin, ultimate fashion icon, tres chic,
Angus Cloud, a great talent, tragic that your short life was so bleak.
Andre Braugher, you were amazing as Captain Holt,
Your death at 61 was a terrible jolt.
Charlie Munger, wise investor and all-around sage,
We’re glad you made it to a ripe old age.
Ryan O’Neal, we loved you and say we’re sorry you’re gone,
Norman Lear, thanks to streaming your amazing creations will live on.
Pee-wee Herman, truly one of a kind,
Trailblazer Sandra Day O’Connor, what an incredible mind.
Suzanne Sommers, tv star and fitness entrepreneur,
Raquel Welch, charismatic actress with a memorable contour.
Matthew Perry, our beloved friend,
We couldn’t be more sad that you met a premature end.
In the year ahead, we hope that we see a soft landing,
And a robust economy that continues expanding.
Yet additional tempering of inflation,
And ideally a much more unified nation.
Even more stimulating NYT Connections,
And minimal interference in key elections.
More good stuff from Blue Ivy Carter,
And less TikTok, so people become smarter.
We pray that we stop hearing from Vivek.
And that around the world there’s much less heartbreak.
ICYMI
I dropped a piece late in the afternoon on the Friday before Christmas reviewing my experience visiting the Sphere in Las Vegas, and my thoughts about what my experience could suggest about the prospects for the venue’s parent company, Sphere (SPHR).
I realize a lot of people were probably logged off for the holiday by the time it went out. In case you were one of them, you can find it by clicking here.
Etc.
Happy New Year! May 2024 be a prosperous one for your investing and in your relationships and personal development!
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation for a particular investment.
Disclosure: The author may have a personal financial interest in the securities mentioned.