Who’s Next, Cancer?
November 10, 2015
Thirty-year old Belgian rapper, Paul Van Haver, also known as Stromae, sings about the causes of cancer in his new French song “Quand c’est?”, which was released back in 2013. On Sept. 14, Stromae’s music video was released. In the three minute long black and white video, it shows Stromae himself in an old, empty theater, trying to fight against deadly spider-like legs which represent cancer; their design was inspired by the art style indie-game called Limbo. The video also includes English subtitles for the viewers to understand what he is trying to prove about the vicious malevolence of cancer. From his lyrics, Stromae meant to have the words “quand c’est”—“when is it” in French—and “cancer” sound alike
When hearing this song, I get a strong feeling of sorrow and sympathy for those who went, or is currently going, through cancer. On the month of Sept., my family discovered that my grandmother got colon cancer, but recently she got surgery to remove it and will soon go through chemotherapy this Nov.; my grandmother is a strong woman and I know she will stay strong for this powerful therapy. Although Stromae does not have cancer, he is a smoker and still fighting to prevent nasty cigarettes from destroying his lungs. He knows the effects of cancer and how it can affect many people. Everyone should know that this disease can still prey on others without notice. The question is, who is next?
Stromae was born on Mar. 12, 1985 in Belgium with a Flemish mother and Rwandan father, who worked as an architect. During his childhood, he never spent very much time with his father. His father was killed during the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, and Stromae was raised by his mother with his four siblings. In his 2013 first single “Papaoutai”, he raps about how much he misses him and how he wondered where his father could be; “Papaoutai” means “Father, where are you?” in French. At the age of sixteen, Stromae failed in public school, so his mother placed him in a Roman Catholic Jesuit school. During his years there, Stromae formed a small rap group and got his first rapper name, “Opsmaestro”, but then switched it to “Stromae”, which is “Maestro”, but with the syllables reversed. As the years went by, Stromae eventually became an international success in singing, rapping, and songwriting.

Contreras plans to put her video filming and editing talents to use by going out into Downey’s community and filming the various stories she finds particularly unique and uploading edited videos of them to the Downey Legend website. She is also interested in possibly creating a YouTube channel for the Downey Legend, on which she would regularly upload and promote.
Driven by sheer curiosity, Contreras first became intrigued by videography as an inquisitive 9-year-old after watching various YouTube fan videos attributed to Sonic the Hedgehog. These videos sparked her inspiration to become a YouTuber and upload her own fan videos, which she made in tribute of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After becoming frustrated by her inability to understand the technology, Contreras temporarily departed from her newfound interest, however this cessation did not last very long. She occasionally attempted to understand various video-editing programs, and once she got the hang of it, she continued to improve and is currently a successful YouTuber. Among other videos, Contreras’s favorite videos are reaction videos and tribute videos.
Contreras’s parents have been very receptive to their daughter’s successful YouTube channel, and consistently show support for her.
“Jazlyn’s YouTube channel has a lot of subscribers…she has great ideas and she’s really smart. She’s also really childish; she likes to cosplay and post pictures and videos on her Instagram,” Juan Contreras said. “She has the desire of learning more about videography and use higher programs to edit videos. I know she will accomplish what she wants.”
Along with her parents, Contreras is also continuously supported by her 12-year-old sister, Jazmyn, who was actually inspired by her older sister to create her own YouTube channel.
“Jazlyn is a nice sister to have. She actually understands me unlike anyone else,” Jazmyn Contreras stated. “Her video editing actually inspired me to make movies and videos and taught me how to use iMovie; she even taught me how to make screen recordings.”
Contreras’s popularity has grown so much over the past couple of years that she had had the opportunity to create multiple collaboration videos with fellow YouTuber, Calista Helmrich, who is a resident of the Netherlands.
“Jazlyn is a really nice friend to have. We do live far away from each other but she’s really caring and understands me,” internet bestie Calista Helmrich said. “She makes wonderful videos and inspires many people.”
In fact, Contreras suspects that within a month, another collab video will be uploaded to her channel relating to the anime Attack on Titan.
Contreras has remained humble in her endeavor to become a better YouTuber, and ultimately a better videographer. She has created opportunities for herself through videography, and above all, it has helped her come out of her shell.
Proud of you Jazlyn
Très bien mademoiselle!