#Danse macabre is also a good one fuckin love that one

[mintytrifecta]

I think everyone deserves to be just a little bit obsessed with a random specific piece of classical music

[emjee]

WE’RE HERE, WE’RE QUEER, WE FILL ENGLAND WITH FEAR: A BLACK SAILS PLAYLIST

(that title is supposed to be linked but here’s a link to copy and paste in case tumblr decides to act up: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4FcExhIZO4RSDWyaTLc8S4)


Hello loves–


I haven’t managed to write any fic yet but I have managed to spend way too long making this playlist so that you too can share in my musically-induced Black Sails emotions. Full tracklist (with some annotations) under the cut! I limited myself to two (2) The Amazing Devil songs, please clap. Currently this is only available on Spotify; I’ll what I can do on 8tracks once their library is back up and running.


Cheers!


Tracklist:


1. “The English Dancing Master: Parson’s Farewell” - The Broadside Band (A straight-forward version of a tune that comes back again and again–most memorably, for me, as the Walrus and the Ranger sail off to rob some fuckin Spaniards of their fuckin gold. Fuck yeah.)


2. “Captain Kidd” – Great Big Sea (I checked the date for this tune and in fact both it and the text were published in 1701, the year that Captain Kidd was hanged, so it’s absolutely in-period for the show, which is exciting.)


3. “Wherever is Your Heart” – Brandi Carlile (Many of these songs ended up being about domesticity and home, in part because one of the things I love about the show is that it understands the value of domesticity and interrogates who gets to have homes, who gets to feel safe.)


4. “Ashes” – The Longest Johns (This one reminds me variously of Flint, Miranda, and Thomas.)


5. “The Horror and the Wild” – The Amazing Devil (This one reminds me of Flint, Silver, and the show as a whole, which I think you could almost subtitle “The Horror and the Wild”. There’s something about this song that evokes the post-Charles Town storm in particular.)


6. “Talk” – Hozier (Greek myth references? In my Black Sails playlist? It’s more likely than you’d think.)


7. “The Eye” – Brandi Carlile (A more direct storm reference, but for me it’s more about the pain of love. I first heard this song live (!) the summer someone broke my heart for the first time, and I’ve only recently been able to listen to it again.)


8. “MacPherson’s Lament” – Crossbow (Another one that’s in period! Jamie MacPherson was a Scottish outlaw captured by the English and sentenced to hang in 1700. He composed this piece in jail and, depending on who’s telling the story, either taught it to his wife while he was in jail or played it at the gallows. Either way, he broke his fiddle across his knee and jumped off the gallows ladder without waiting for the hangman to make the call. Crossbow is a local band who’s very dear to me; their lead fiddler always tells the story of Jamie MacPherson before they play this, and he ends it with a very rousing call of “Death to tyrants!”)


9. “Danse Macabre” – The Oh Hellos (Come on. This vibe is so Black Sails.)


10. “Wondrous Love” – Laudate Mennonite Ensemble (I had to do a bit of digging on this one—Bear McCreary uses the tune in the soundtrack, and that does appear to be period accurate. A lot of people relate this tune to the tune for “Captain Kidd”—they’re similar but not identical—and conclude that they’re contemporaneous. The words are definitely nineteenth century, published about a hundred years after the show takes place, but I’m fascinated by the implications of “wondrous love” in Black Sails both among people (James and Thomas and Miranda, Max and Jack and Anne) and of people for places (Nassau) and community.


11. “In Memoriam” – The Oh Hellos (There were originally a lot more Oh Hellos songs on here, but tonally they don’t always match what I was going for even when the lyrics are perfect. I had to keep this one, though, because I think it matches so many of the relationships in the show—“You are far too beautiful to love me” / “You’re far too beautiful to leave me” works for Flint and Thomas, Silver and Madi, Max and Anne—I’m sure there are others too.
)

12. “Here’s a Health to the Company” – The Longest Johns (Another one that blends domesticity with the transitory life—the singer is presently surrounded by safety and comfort but will soon return to sea. I especially love the progression of “let us drink and be merry” in that gorgeous minor key.)


13. “Battle Cries” – The Amazing Devil (I’ve tried to avoid songs that sound distinctly modern, but this one, with its references to box sets and season finales, was honestly too good to pass up. I also love the idea of this playing over James McGraw Flint walking across that plantation to Thomas—“that creaking you hear in my bones, it’s not pain, it’s applause.”


14. “Black Sails Main Title” – Bear McCreary (Fuck it up, Bear.)


15. “The Parson’s Farewell” – Bear McCreary (A bookend to the more straight-up traditional version this playlist opened with.)


16. “The Last Bristolian Pirate” – The Longest Johns (This is meant to be a post-script of sorts—it reminds me so irrepressibly of Jack Rackham, who would be thrilled at someone taking up piracy in modern-day Bristol, and seeing as he gets the last joke of the show, it seemed only fair to give him the last joke of this playlist.)


Thank you for reading this far! I hope you enjoy this and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

[theyearoftheking]

Book Twelve: Different Seasons

“The only reason anyone writes stories is so they can understand the past and get ready for some future mortality; that’s why all the verbs in stories have -ed endings...The only two useful artforms are religion and stories.” 

Guys... this is not an exaggeration/hyperbole/overreaction... Different Seasons is officially my current favorite Stephen King book. To hear Steve describe it, “...a book with stories in it about an off-beat prison-break, an old man and a young boy locked up in a gruesome relationship based on mutual parasitism, a quartet of country boys on a journey of discovery, and an off-the-wall horror story about a young woman determined to give birth to her child no matter what...” 

The first novella is Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption; which of course the iconic movie is based off of. Despite the fact the narrator in the story is a white guy, I couldn’t help but hear Morgan Freeman’s voice. The movie holds pretty true to the story, but the extrapolations are all well done, and make for a more robust movie. 

The second novella is Apt Pupil; which was horrifying. I remember seeing the movie when it came out, and there was a particular scene where Todd makes Dussander dress up in a Nazi uniform and march around the kitchen for him. I remember getting actual chills during this scene. The book had the same effect. 

One fun thing about these novellas, they sometimes reference back to each other. At one point, Dussander tells Todd, “Stocks I picked up after the war under yet another name. Through a bank in the State of Maine, if you please. The banker who bought them for me went to jail for murdering his wife a year after I bought them...” Yes, that banker was Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption.

There were a couple of notes I jotted down while reading Apt Pupil, “The only thing scarier than a Nazi who tortured and killed six million people, is a kid fascinated by him...” and “How well do we really know our own kids? Todd’s parents were convinced their son was smart, athletic, and a great kid. Meanwhile he was off killing vagrants, and helping his Nazi friend bury bodies in the basement.” Apt Pupil was my favorite novella in the collection, it was haunting, and the end was chilling... and unfortunately still relevant. 

The third novella was, The Body, better known as Stand by Me. 

Despite the fact the boys are on a mission to see a dead body, there really isn’t a whole lot of horror (psychological or otherwise) in the story. The most terrifying thing was the reference to Cujo, “Chopper was- at least until Joe Camber’s dog Cujo went rabid twenty years later- the most feared and least seen dog in Castle Rock.” Yep, the story is set in mythical Castle Rock. Which, while we’re on the subject, gets ridiculed, along with one of my favorite actual towns in Maine- Saco! “Lots of real towns sound stupid... I mean, what about Alfred, Maine? Or Saco, Maine? Or Jerusalem’s Lot? Or Castle-fuckin-Rock? There ain’t no castle here. Most town names are stupid...”

What the story lacks in horror, it makes up for in quality writing. There were paragraphs that made my heart squeeze a little. Maybe it’s because my daughter is almost the age of the boys in this story, and I know how formative these years are. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of the movie (wittle bitty Cory Feldman!). Or maybe it’s just recognizing beautiful writing when you read it. Either way. Take this gem, “The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you’ve said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it...When the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear.” 

In the afterward, Steve gives his iconic declaration that his work is the literary equivalent of a Big Mac. I beg to differ, friend. 

But the end of the story, “Me? I’m a writer now, like I said. A lot of critics think what I write is shit... I sold the book and it was made into a movie and the movie got good reviews and it was a smash hit besides... the second book was made into a movie as well, as was the third...Meantime, my wife doesn’t seem to mind having me around the house and we have three kids now...” I can’t help but wonder how much of this story is cribbed directly from Steve’s life. 

The final story in the collection is The Breathing Method, and it’s the weakest of the four. It’s a strange story about a woman who is decapitated on the way to the hospital to deliver her baby, and despite not having a head (or an intact spinal cord), she’s able to give birth, and then dies immediately after thanking the doctor for his help. It was stupid. But the glory of the three previous stories more than make up for this idiotic one. 

We had one Wisconsin reference in The Breathing Method, “It made me think for the first time in years of the winter nights in the Wisconsin farmhouse where I grew up...” 

We also had one Dark Tower reference in Shawshank Redemption: “Sometimes they have to be hauled down to the infirmary and sedated a couple of times before they got on the beam.” All things must serve The Beam! 

Total Wisconsin Mentions: 13

Total Dark Tower References: 8

Book Grade: A+

Rebecca’s Definitive Ranking of Stephen King Books

Different Seasons: A+

The Shining: A-

The Stand: A-

The Dead Zone: B+

‘Salem’s Lot: B+

Carrie: B+

Creepshow: B+

Danse Macabre: B-

The Gunslinger

Firestarter: C+

Cujo: C-

Nightshift: C-

Next up is Christine, another book I’ve never read before. I have the distinct pleasure of driving to and staying over in Iowa this week, so I hope to finish it quickly. Hoping the book is more interesting than the entire state of Iowa...

Until next time readers, Long Days & Pleasant Nights,

Rebecca

[atomic-robo-pirates]

Is it too extra of me to ask for all 30? Cause I, honestly, want the answers to ALL of these.

For @rebellingstagnationblog Because they are my only friend and my new favorite because y’all are mean and no one else asked. Jk.

1. If someone wanted to really understand you, what would they read, watch, and listen to?

- They would probably end up reading lots of comics or fantasy novels. Especially stuff about dragons… Because dragons are pretty cool.- They would end up watching a lot of cartoons, mainly stuff from before 2010. - They’d also probably end up listening to a lot of audiobooks and a wide variety of music. My playlist runs all the way from Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre, to Bon Jovi, all the way to Mystery Skulls.

2. Have you ever found a writer who thinks just like you? if so, who?

- Oscar Wilde and I seem to lean toward writing very long run-on sentences; especially if they are describing places, places that need a lot of detail and visualization, because one simple or complex sentence would never suffice in order to give the reader the right idea of what I’m seeing in my head and trying to convey.

3. Your fandoms and one character from each that you identify with.

- There’s a lot, but I guess I could name a few.

- 1. Darkwing Duck - Drake Mallard and I share the same manic depressive weekends, bad pun making, and hatred for our neighbors. The ego thing is another matter entirely…- 2. Supernatural - A lot of my friends and cousins say I remind them of Dean Winchester. And frankly, that’s a little worrying to me…- 3. Sherlock - I frequently identify with John Watson and the faces/expressions he makes when dealing with Sherlock when I’m dealing with my own friends.- 4. Harry Potter - Charlie Weasley. We both really like dragons.

4. Do you like your name?  is there another name you think would fit you better?

- I hate my name. I want to change it so badly… But I can’t think of one that would really fit me. Plus it would kind of crush my dad…

5. Do you think of yourself as a human being or a human doing? Do you identify yourself by the things you do?

- I’m definitely a human being… Sometimes I can’t help but feel like I’m just existing instead of living. But that’s a sappy sob story no one needs to hear. I definitely identify myself by the things I do though.

6. Are you religious/spiritual?

- I go back and forth. I know that’s kinda disrespectful in a way, but it’s really hard for me to find just one position on the whole thing, you know?

7. Do you care about your ethnicity?

- It’s not a really big part of my life to the point where I’ll angrily list out my entire heritage if you get it wrong. I’m probably the closest thing to a Mutt as the word gets. I have family from all over, but I really identify closely with my Latinx heritage.

8. What musical artists have you most felt connected to over your lifetime?

- I haven’t been particularly connected to artists, but more to genres and specific songs. Classic Rock and 80’s One Hit Wonders playing throughout the house, garage, and in the car pretty much shaped my childhood. That’s also what makes up the majority of my music playlist now.

9. Are you an artist?

- I try to be.

10. Do you have a creed?

- My personal creed would probably be something a long the lines of, “Not everyday is going to be the best day ever, but you can still try to at least have a good one.”

11. Describe your ideal day.

- Watch the sun rise, then go back to sleep.- 9:00 - Wake up again and put on some music.- 9:30 - Make some breakfast.- 10:30 - Work on a project of some kind like an art piece or animation.- 12:00 - Go to the beach/pier and grab some lunch. Spend the day there and have some fun.- 6:00 - Come home and make dinner.- 7:30 - Get some more work done. - 10:00 - Go to bed like some kind of healthy person or something.

12. Dog person or cat person?

- Doggos.

13. Inside or outdoors?

- Outdoors if I can help it.

14. Are you a musician?

- I can play a few melodies on guitar and piano but I’m not exactly great at it.

15. Five most influential books over your lifetime.

- 1. Can the Harry Potter series count as one book?- 2. The Outsiders - 3. Treasure Island - 4. 20000 Leagues Under the Sea- 5. The Sherlock Holmes Collection

16. If you’d grown up in a different environment, do you think you’d have turned out the same?

- I don’t know. I like to think I probably wouldn’t have turned out as cynical or depressed… But I don’t think I could have done it any different. I never would have met my friends or ended up enjoying the things I like to do. Life’s funny that way. I’m fine with playing the hand I was dealt and yeah, some days it gets rough but I haven’t folded yet, so I guess that’s a plus.

17. Would you say your tumblr is a fair representation of the “real you”?

- Probably not this one, but definitely what was important to me during my childhood and it represents what makes me happy.

18. What’s your patronus?

- My official Pottermore patronus is a Beagle.

19. Which Harry Potter house would you be in? or are you a muggle?

- Gryffindor.

20. Would you rather be in Middle Earth, Narnia, Hogwarts, or somewhere else?

- ….Don’t make me choose….

21. Do you love easily?

- Too easily. I hate it.

22. List the top five things you spend the most time doing, in order.

- 1. Watching movies/TV- 2. Working- 3. Drawing- 4. Editing my writing - 5. Reading23. How often would you want to see your family every year?

- More often than I do now.

24. Have you ever felt like you had a “mind-meld” with someone?

- Yep. All the time with certain friends I’m really close with. It can get pretty creepy at times.

25. Could you live as a hermit?

- I do?

26. How would you describe your gender/sexuality?

- Fuckin weird, man…

27. Do you feel like your outside appearance is a fair representation of the “real you”?

- No.

28. On a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is it for someone to get under your skin?

- Like a 6 maybe? It really depends on the person/what was said or done.

29. Three songs that you connect with right now.

- 1. Dancing with Myself” by Billy Idol is my happy song.- 2. Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas is my favorite song.- 3. Ghost” by Mystery Skulls can play at any time and I’ll probably turn it up.

30. Pick one of your favorite quotes.

- “You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!” — Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire