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rated-r-for-fear · 3 years ago

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The Untamed women: kpop mix

For the Spotify playlist go here!

Like it says on the tin, this is a mix for the women of the Untamed with songs either by girl groups or female soloists. This mix also runs the gamut in terms of genre and vibe, but I did put a lot of thought into all the song selections! With a few exceptions I got all the lyrics from Color Coded Lyrics which is an incredible resource. It puts Hangul, romanization, and English side-by-side, as well as color coding every artist if it’s a song with multiple singers. It’s a life saver.

Also the songs are listed in the order of uhhh character death just because making this list made me realize a lot of them do that, huh? At least we can send them out with some bangers!

Lan Yi; Deja Vu - Dreamcatcher

Your two eyes, their glow is lost, Please erase all my memories Far away through the dense fog The far path I departed on only left hurtful marks Even as I try to grasp the ends of the dream Eventually, longer and longer I fall asleep in a deep silence

You kind of have to give a song from the pop-rock-metal girl group to the sect leader who invented how to kill people with music, eh?

Although ironically this song doesn’t go as hard as some of Dreamcatcher’s other releases. Don’t get me wrong, it builds and builds to a final section that makes me kind of want to have a fight a death with my long-lost love in the rain. Most of the time though it’s surprisingly regal and restrained. There are many times when it drops into gentle near silence (albeit not in an anti-drop sort of way.) It feels like it’s stimulating a building anger at someone else that drops back into the loneliness of regret and longing.

The lyrics only add to this impression. So does the music video that depicts a damn near epic short story of love and loss. Prequel series about Lan Yi and Baoshan Sanren’s star-crossed love when?

B-Side: Poison – PinkFantasy. But maybe you want a pop-rock-metal song that does go hard throughout. In which case here you go! Selected this one for the lyrics about danger and confusion. It’s for that time period before Lan Yi went into seclusion out of remorse.

Cangse Sanren; Gotta Go - Chungha

Yeah I like it, how you talk informally to me Like it, your quiet way of talking It’s not bad Boy you know, know, know, know Like the way you wordlessly held my hand Like the way, even though I was surprised I didn’t hate it You know boy (boy, boy, boy)

The sky that was so blue As if it was painted on already turned dark Emotions running deeper, yeah I gotta tell you this This strange feeling that only we’re feeling I like it so much but it’s too late

I��ll be honest, I first considered this one in a jokey “haha, wouldn’t it be funny if I made this Cangse Sanren’s main song because there’s a flute melody constantly looping throughout and her son famously has a flute as a spiritual weapon?” But then this hypothetical selection became less of a joke the more I considered it.

The lyrics themselves paint the picture of a relationship that never quite got off the ground in a “ships that pass in the night” sort of way. Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze did end up together, however depictions of them are always steeped in wistfulness due their premature deaths.

All that being said, this is a powerful song that leaves an impression despite the melancholy at its heart both in its sound and lyrics. There’s a bit of playfulness, too, and certainly a sense of resilience. The narrator is in charge of this song the same way Cangse Sanren tried to take charge of her life.

B-Side: Stereotype – StayC. Cangse Sanren is one of those posthumous characters that casts a shadow over canon. Some people adored her, some people hated her. When canon kicks off, a lot of people have her caricaturized in their minds. But before all that she was a person too. And to quote this song: 자꾸만 널 유혹하듯/보이겠지만 미안하지만/색안경을 끼고 보지 마요 (It may seem like I’m tempting you/And I’m sorry but/Don’t create a stereotype about me)

Meng Shi; Midnight Driver - Fromm

Don’t worry, mama, I’m a night driver Try to see things from my point of view You trust the moment, right? With headlights on, headlights on We’ll have everything in view Headlights on, headlights on Even if the end is darkness

I’ll admit that I picked this one for the vibes rather than the lyrics exactly, although the lyrics are poignant too. Spotify radio for Sunmi introduced me to this song and I’m so happy it did.

My initial instinct was to choose a song that would exemplify her waiting on Jin Guangshan (and you can see the B-side for that one!) However, I sat with it for a bit and I realized the paradoxical sadness and optimism of this song reminds me of Meng Shi a lot. Just … this woman tried so hard. She tried so hard for her son. She got him books to learn from, she tried to get his powerful father to acknowledge him. She was outstanding at her art in order to get more money for their lives together. And she’s one of the few parents we know of in this canon that genuinely treated their child with love. Despite the stresses of her life she envisioned a better life for him and did her very best to get it.

So that’s what I want to highlight here. A peaceful, dreamy song that feels like it could be playing as she spend money from an especially profitable week to buy snacks for her son as he studies. Life is difficult but she’s doing her best and things don’t feel so bad today.

B-Side: After We Ride – Brave Girls. Of course, she did still have to expend a considerable amount of effort trying to get her piece of shit former patron to write back, and this song is perfect for that. This is absolutely one of my favorite songs of the year and it’s a work of art and it makes me so sad.

Yu Ziyuan; Twit - Hwasa

I’m a fool I’m the bitch for making you sick The whispers of the devil My greed pushes you away Even if I’m late, don’t wait for me

I could have picked one of the more stereotypical girlboss songs for Yu Ziyuan and I came really close. Then shuffle reminded me of this - one of my favorite songs of 2019 – and then I couldn’t pick anything else despite it not having the hallmarks of an in-your-face girlboss song.

This explanation video really gets into how much is going on in this song. In Twit the narrator eviscerates her partner for his emotional masochism and how he always makes her the bad guy. Unlike Yu Ziyuan, the narrator has a partner who is wholly obsessed with her. However, like Jiang Fengmian, the partner described in this song sounds uniquely weak-willed. He constantly gets compared to Sim Cheong, a Korean folk tale character who is unique in his selflessness. Sometimes he’s lauded for this, sometimes he’s seen as a cautionary tale. This song lands hard on the latter given the repetition of “I don’t like it/Nobody likes it.”

In Twit, the narrator knows she’s mean, often even cruel. However, her partner acts like a martyr, which just exacerbates her bitterness and self-loathing even more. The lyrics immediately after the quoted section on the image had too much English to fit the spirit of what I’m doing here… but they’re so important I’ll quote them down here:

I make you patient I make you puppy I make you hungry 주는 게 없지 근데 왜 나도 불행해질까 (I don’t give anything but why am I unhappy too?) 나를 위해서만 숨을 쉬지 마 (Don’t just breathe for me) 너무 외로워 보여 (You look so lonely)

In other words, he’s getting off on getting to play the hero to her villain.

It’s just a perfect song for the mutually miserable Jiang parent marriage. I also love the little sparks of flute notes that repeat throughout. That was unintentional but given that I picked a flute heavy song for the Cangse Sanren selection it fits here, too. Her ghost is hovering here, too.

B-Side: I Like That – Sistar. Some of the b-sides were selected to get into different aspects of the same character. This… is not that. This is more of the same in terms of theme. However it’s so fun I couldn’t not pick it. Also it made me giggle to follow up the song that asserts “I don’t like it” with a song called I Like That. Tacit admission that the Jiang parents decided they did kind of like each other seconds before death.

Wang Lingjiao; Dumb Dumb - Somi

Practicing in front of the mirror again Opening my eyes wide You like it when I make this face How can I look more vulnerable and innocent? Don’t want to look like I tried too hard

It’s been so fun watching Somi develop her musical identity over the years. She’s been leaning more and more into this snarky, meta vibe and I’ve been super into it.

And this song is hilariously acidic. The narrator explicitly outlines her plans to play dumb (dumb, dumb) in order to attract her crush. The music video really leans into this by having her sing that she doesn’t have much of an appetite, while she and her friends eat pizza and donuts. She sings about how she couldn’t kill a fly while we see her absolutely decimating a science experiment in school and getting blood all over her face. In the end she sings about how her plan totally worked. She got the guy and it wasn’t even difficult.

I feel like despite Wen Chao’s… everything, he probably had women throwing themselves at him so that they could end up as the mistress of someone so wealthy. And I like to imagine Wang Lingjiao enacted a similar plan as the one in this song to attract him. We definitely see her playing up a role at him until things really go off the rails. There were probably many moments when she was mentally like “난 네 머리 꼭대기에서 춤춰 you dumb dumb.” Aka “I’m dancing on top of your head you dumb dumb.”

B-Side: Hands Up – Cherry Bullet. This is a fairly standard “you have a thing for me, wanna do something about it?” song. What’s not standard is that it fucking samples Für Elise throughout, which makes it one of most pleasantly puzzling songs I’ve ever listened to. It also sounds exactly like the kind of song that would play during a fight with a mini-boss. It’s fantastic. One of the best songs of 2020.

Wen Qing; Hwaa – (G)I-DLE

I shall never let your trace leave a mark Shall burn the resentment left undone And shall take away the lonesome cold Step over the withered flower path Once I untangle han, I shall feel the spring once again All memories turn into ashes Then shall bloom a beautiful bright flower

I shall make a fire, a bigger fire To win back the spring that I’ve lost

On one hand this song sounds sprawling and epic. It sounds like it should play while a bronze age civilization collapses. On the other hand, it feels shockingly intimate. The soundscapes absolutely evoke a desolate, cold location. The lyrics also use the word ‘han’ which is one of those words that’s difficult to convey in another language in a 1:1 way.

The narrator is clearly going through it. She sounds like she’s lost everything. She also sounds like she’s lost a specific person. Despite all that, she sounds flinty and determined. No matter what happens, she won’t let life just bury her. She’s determined to see winter give way to spring. She sings about ashes nurturing the growth of flowers, and trying to make spring happen through sheer force of will.

This fits Wen Qing so well because even though she dies young and leaves the narrative halfway through she leaves such a mark. What’s interesting is she doesn’t just exist as a complication to other people’s relationships. She also did things that people continue to benefit from as well. She did the golden core transfer (which obviously has a complicated legacy but it did mean the Jiang clan could have its revival), she kept Lan Sizhui alive well before Lan Wangji found him. And of course Wen Ning continues to hold her dear (and he still exists because of her, too.)

The outro of the song also fits Wen Qing too. It’s one of my very favorites but it’s also like ten milliseconds long. I wish it had lasted longer, and I wish Wen Qing had lived, damn it.

B-Side: Remember Me – Oh My Girl. More of the same here, except softer and intended (by me) to be about Wen Qing/Jiang Cheng. Because Wen Qing did have a soft side. We rarely see her indulge it but it’s definitely there. And because that not-quite-relationship really is heartbreaking. “조금 이른 사랑얘긴/저 별들처럼 나를 비추고” Aka “The love story that’s a bit too early to be told/ Shine on me like the stars.” I mean, jeez. :,( There are also repeated mentions of fireworks which makes me think of Jiang Cheng making heart eyes at her during the lantern ceremony.

Jiang Yanli; Likey - Twice

But it’s so typical to say I like you It’s not enough to express my heart But I like you, I can’t even sleep I don’t care if I run late

I’m just looking at you But I couldn’t say anything Come a little closer, please know my heart I don’t wanna hide it anymore

YES, I am in fact using the “fishing for attention on social media cutesy Twice song” for Jiang Yanli. Why? Okay. Hear me out here. This is one of the cleverest, saddest k-pop songs I’ve ever encountered. If you just hear it then it’s a giddy sugar rush of pop music perfection. There’s a reason I often start out with this song when I’m doing cardio. There’s so much more going on here than its joyous sound, though. The full lyrics go into detail about how hard the narrator tries to look perfect on social media to impress her crush (and, probably, everyone else too.) The music video shows the girls dancing in surprisingly mundane looking locations … until a filter goes on and suddenly the garbage bin is gone and the plain walls pop with pinks and yellows. It all slips into a bridge that’s unquestionably wistful and sad, before it slides right back into the relentlessly cheerful vibes. This song is making a statement about how exhausting it is to perform to society’s standards.

Jiang Yanli wasn’t exactly looking for social media validation, but every time I revisit episodes with her I’m always struck by how much effort she has to be putting in to match what the people around her need from her. She’s not stoic like Wen Qing but she keeps her own needs close to the chest. She wants love – both familial and romantic – and like the narrator of Likey she’s almost always putting herself last.

Sidenote: This song also has some of my favorite choreography. I love how the beginning of the song stimulates pictures on instagram getting likes. (Posting the part switch version because this performance is so charming.)

B-Side: Mago - Gfriend. However, in despite of all the above … There was a chance there, near the end, where like was turning around for Jiang Yanli. Yes, she had married into the horror show that was the Jin clan at the time, but she had a supportive husband and a kid she adored. She wasn’t living under the threat of war anymore. Things were starting to thaw with Wei Wuxian a little a bit. We all know how that ended but … I want to end on this song that has the narrator singing about how much she’s feeling herself. I like the idea of using one of Gfriend’s mature songs here because they also had many, many lovely wistful and cute songs as well but they went out on this absolute banger anthem of self-love. This song also has a very expensive, decadent feeling to it which fits the vibe of the clan Yanli married into.

Madame Jin; L.I.E. - EXID

I pray that you keep this up until you die And go to hell, go to hell (Go away) Oh baby you You should have never been born What do I do, what do I do? I’m losing my mind because I can’t stand seeing you

Baby I know I know I know your lies I don’t like to see you breathing either

Another one of the absolutely miserable marriages in canon. Unlike those marriages though, there are no glimmers of love or even appreciation to be found here. Instead, things are straightforward. Madame Jin hates Jin Guangshan and is stuck with him.

The song is straightforward with its hatred too. So straightforward that there was some discourse back in the day about whether it was misandrist. All I know is that it has an air horn going off every few seconds and it shouldn’t work but it somehow elevates this vicious bop into even more of a bop for me. I know that EXID also often got some flack for having the same strong structures every time, but they really had a winning formula going and there’s a reason they’re one of my favorites. I loved how their songs would start out with Hani’s honeyed tones and Junghwa’s airy vocals. Then they would just slam into Hyerin and Solji’s powerful choruses. And then we’d get LE just absolutely going FINISH HIM with her raps. This structure is fun in their trademark sexy songs, but somehow it’s particular winning in a resentful breakup song.

B-Side: Hate – 4Minute. But if L.I.E. isn’t angry enough, this oughtta do it. Unlike every other song on here I don’t have unreserved love for this song. Every time I listen to it, the first verse has me going “wow this song is great I need to listen to it more.” Then it builds and builds before cannonballing into one of the most unhinged choruses I’ve ever heard. This song is so stressful it’s impressive. And well … I sympathize with Madame Jin, but she definitely takes her anger out on the people around her. So yeah.

A-Qing; Wannabe - ITZY

The nagging, stop it I got this Whatever I be it’s up to me so please I do what I wanna Can you just leave me alone whether I live a normal life or not? It’s me who lives this ‘cause it’s my life

I could almost throw a dart at a dartboard with ITZY’s other songs and hit a song with the vibe I wanted. Particularly Dalla Dalla (although going “bad, bad, sorry I’m bad, I’m just the way I am” while twerking is more fitting for Xue Yang.)

The narrator of this song is just so confident and unapologetic about it all. And so is A-Qing. She finds a way to survive and has no qualms about it. She doesn’t hide her distrust for Xue Yang either. Even when he literally silences her, she finds a way to make herself heard. Her sheer stubbornness when it comes to being heard means that Wei Wuxian et al get the keys they need to unlock a lot the mysteries underpinning the series. A-Qing absolutely maximizes her impact, even in death.

B-Side: Cool – Weki Meki. This song has a similar vibe. I picked this over others in this type of genre because I love how there’s something particularly sharp about how girls of Weki Meki pronounce the words of the song. They seem to go bouncing over the heavy beat like they’re actively resisting the force of gravity. It Is Neat.

Qin Su; Heroine - Sunmi

In a movie only for us The real hero was you, baby As always the way you act Like a splendid hero

Do whatever you want Even if you’re mean And you make me sad You need to be yourself Even if I’m not feeling well And it’s sad ending

Okay, this is the song that made me wake up from a nap in a cold sweat realizing I had to make this fanmix.

This is absolutely one of those songs where you have to pay attention to lyrics, sound, and choreography to feel the full impact of what’s being conveyed here. Written out like this, the translated lyrics could potentially flatten out the meaning. It almost sounds like the narrator is preternaturally forgiving and understanding of her self-absorbed partner. I really don’t think that’s what Sunmi was trying to convey here. Quite frankly the emotions of this song hit me like a freight train every single time I listen to it and those definitely aren’t happy emotions that I’m feeling. The first verse has her sounding half asleep and confused. Maybe even feeling a little bit tortured. The choreography here has Sunmi sitting in a chair and twitching almost like she’s being shocked. The music video brings in a male backup dancer to duet with her at this point but they don’t really connect with each other. They seem like they’re in separate orbits entirely. The next time she duets with a male backup dancer she’s miming pushing him over and he still doesn’t react. And of course there’s those choruses that are just a gut punch after the almost dreamlike beginning.

This and many other little details have led me to this very scientific analysis of this song: When she’s saying you’re the real hero and you have to do what you want …. It’s sardonic and bitter. This is the song of someone realizing she’s been in a relationship with someone who sees the people around him as NPCs and pawns in his own life story. He sees himself as a tragic hero, and she gets to be the heroine. But she doesn’t really have a life of her own.

And, well, Jin Guangyao did seem to love Qin Su but it was so often for the things she did for him. The way she really was a rare beacon of kindness in her world. But despite his love for her he didn’t give her the information she needed to have agency over her own life. Because “the show must go on, [he] must go on.”

B-Side: Body Talk – Red Velvet. A haunting song about the end of a relationship. The narrator knows from body language that her partner is just not into her anymore, but he’s not saying it. She’s forced to guess what’s going on in his head.

Sisi; Ring x Ring - Billlie

A lot of lonely, faint names The sound of my heart ringing with all my might

This song is so off-putting it loops back around to become compelling. It turns out the Für Elise sample in Hand’s Up isn’t the most surprising choice on here. How about taking the Ring Ring the Bells Christmas song and making it as sinister as possible?

This was also an especially audacious debut song. There’s nothing about a crush or self-love here. No, the girls of Billlie are basically narrating a mystery novel here. The lyrics are all about discovering your friend has gone missing and there’s blood everywhere.

That’s pretty much the situation Sisi found herself in. But instead of one possibly dead acquaintance it’s everyone she headed out with on that awful night. There are a couple lyrics here I could have chosen for the horror of it all, but I decided on this short bit with the narrator fixating on “lonely, faint names.” Sisi is the only one left who can talk about what happened.

B-Side: Jam Jam – IU. Now let’s cool down with this extremely compelling IU song. It has its sinister sounding moments too, but it’s mostly a chill song about taking comfort in artifice. I’m sure Sisi had to do a fair amount of that to get by in life.

Baoshan Sanren; How You Like That - Blackpink

I crumbled before your eyes Hit rock bottom and sunk deeper To grab onto the last bit of hope I’ve tried to reach out with both of my hands

Again in this dark place, light up the sky While looking into your eyes, I’ll kiss you goodbye Laugh all you want while you still can Because it’s about to be your turn 1, 2, 3

LMAO. Okay I didn’t expect to have a Blackpink song for her. But … this fits the Lan Yi breakup shockingly well, doesn’t it? Especially this section. I feel like How You Like That is best known for the chorus and how it gets under your skin in a love it or hate it kind of way. The song itself starts out with those regal chords before shifting into the surprisingly ethereal Jennie and Jisoo section. In that part the narrator feels particularly distant and untouchable.

Which is a pretty great vibe for a cultivation master who will call you out for your harmful cultivation techniques and will not answer your emails.

B-Side: Me – CLC. I chose this one because of the similar feel and also because I love the chorus, particularly in this context. Especially these lines: “화려함에 담긴 청순함이/도도함에 담긴 순수함이” AKA; “The innocence in glamour/ The purity in arrogance.” We never meet Baoshan Sanren outside of flashbacks, but we do know she’s particularly uncompromising.

Mianmian; new - Yves

Blooming like sweet seduction Another shape of me found inside of me My face in the mirror I ask myself who it is

In the cold breeze of early morning Pulsating heart That moment I looked myself squarely I realized my new face

Out of the living women at the end of canon I’m choosing to end this fanmix with Mianmian because her journey is particularly satisfying. The way she chooses her self-worth over the clan she devoted a shit-ton of time to is just /chef’s kiss.

So it’s fitting I give her one of my favorite self-love k-pop song! There’s just something so entrancing about new. The narrator sings about how after a period of struggle. she’s going to be the love of her own life. It’s not because she’s beautiful or cool (although songs with that theme are great too!) Instead, she sings about how she’s bound to be the only constant in her life. Because that’s just how life works. Therefore, she’s going to love and cherish herself.

Mianmian made a similar calculation, too, and we saw that it worked out well for her!

B-Side: Holo – Lee Hi. Of course, getting to such a self-assured point in your life can be very lonely and it doesn’t always proceed in a straight line. I’m sure there were moments where Mianmian questioned what she had done or even mourned when she learned Jin Zixuan had died. This song takes a moment to pause and reflect on how difficult it can be, but also how those difficult moments will pass. And with these lines the song concludes that it’s still worth it in the end. “가만히 앉아 걱정하기엔/난 너무 소중해요/들여다봐요 맘속의 민낯/그대로 괜찮아요” Aka; “I’m too precious/ To just sit around and worry/ Take a look inside of your heart without a cover/ It’s okay to be yourself.”f

#the untamed #fanmix annotations

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chidoroki · 4 years ago

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In Defense of TPN S2

Okay, so before y’all start throwing your salt shakers at me, let me explain. Yes, I’m just as upset and annoyed with how the second season decided to cut out so much content that us manga readers were finally hoping to see: no Yuugo, Goldy Pond arc or GP Resistance, Lucas or Glory Bell escapees, Adam, poachers, or Cuvitidala Search. Since this season also (sort of) reached the 2047 time skip, we were also denied of the Paradise Hideout, Jin, Hayato, Ayshe, the Seven Walls & Imperial Capital Battle arcs and Alex due to the anime’s so-called “original story” idea. While some manga events still took place (B06-32 getting blown up, the trio’s reunion, Norman’s time at Lambda, the cursed blood and the Grace Field raid), they were all significantly changed and barely held the same emotional impact, as we see very little to no build up to these moments. Several volumes were skipped completely and despite others being touched lightly, we unfortunately missed out on major character development for everyone, most notably for Emma, but also the lighter side of things such as chef Ray, medic Anna, Rossi learning morse code, Minerva!Norman, etc. There’s honestly so much of the main story to talk about and I totally understand why we’re all so ticked off, especially since that darn slideshow did absolutely nothing to calm our hearts at the end of ep11.

However.. I’m not gonna stand by and say this season was worthless. Highly disappointing given everything I just mentioned of course, I get it, so don’t curse me out just yet. People can trash talk it all they want and I’ll sympathize 110%, but I personally won’t do so. I love this series too much and that’s a huge reason as to why I didn’t drop this season. Usually whenever I start a new series, it’s because I become interested in a character or two. I find that no matter what happens in that series, whether the story intrigues me or not, I’ll continue it if only to see more of that character. If the story is good, it’s just another plus for me to stay addicted, so while this season totally missed their chance to adapt the wonderful source material of my favorite series, I stayed to watch Emma, Ray and all the other children I’ve grown to love over the past two years. Another reason why I stayed on this train wreck was because of how thought provoking it became as turned into yet another guessing game for me. After first watching the OP and even more after ep3 aired, I kept wondering what would they include or leave out. How would they handle this scene if this and that were already changed? How would they fix this problem if so and so isn’t here? It felt like I was watching season one blind all over again; seeing all these little clues sprinkled everywhere and yet not having any idea on how the story was going to continue or end got me excited. That’s why I came to love this story in the first place, so having the chance to feel that again alongside characters I love so dearly.. it was fun for me (until the slideshow punched me in the face). While many people will look at this season and declare the manga and first season are both superior (which they are, I agree), I’m still sitting over here like “oh look, more content!”

With all that nonsense out of the way, I thought I would go ahead and ramble about everything I believe the second season did well enough, because if I can take any heat off this adaptation then you’re damn right I’m gonna try. So if you’re wondering why on earth a manga reader even mildly enjoyed this season, it’s honestly just the little things such as a decently adapted or improved panel/scene, any new, interesting elements the anime may have included, or other personal favorite moments of mine.. which there were a lot of.

So no negativity past here kiddos, we’re gonna be as optimistic and lively as an orange antenna.

(mild manga spoiler warning, I guess? but I’m sure it’s nothing y’all haven’t heard us readers mention/complain about already)

- If you’ve read any of my reactions to this season, you would know how much love I have for “Identity.” Not only is the song still an absolute banger, but the opening sequence itself is fantastic. From the contrast between human vs demon, the cameos, the symbolism, the match cuts, the build up to the chorus.. just everything. I could talk about it endlessly and watch it several times over and still be impressed.

- Lani’s stupid fall.

- How clearly it shows Emma’s condition becoming progressively worse.

- Her scream.

- Ray’s apology, especially how soft his voice was when saying “sorry, Emma,” and the smile he gives after she tells him not to worry about it.

- And his entire promise to keep everyone in their family safe. Oh I was so happy to finally hear him say that.

- This exchange between Don and Gilda.

- Rossi and those darn faces he gives us. This boy is such a mood.

- How involved the younger kids were so they don’t feel like they were just.. there, which served as a reminder that everyone from Grace Field is smart, not just Emma and Ray.

- How pretty the demon forest looked at night when all those odd creatures started glowing (even those darn goowee).

- So happy with how this panel was adapted. That smirk of his is everything.

- The fact they remembered a small detail such as the bell.

- Knowing now that they cut so much out of the manga, I’m glad we at least got the hug.

- The ending sequence gave us a small look at Sonja and Mujika’s travels by themselves. “Magic” is also so very calming to listen to.

- How the children hug both Emma and Ray, as manga only had our girl receiving the hugs.

- Sonju & Mujika’s voice actors fit them perfectly.

- How impressed Ray was when he first tried their cooking. No wonder he was so eager to learn how to cook.

- Sonju’s story about the demon world from ch46-47 practically adapted word for word.

- While the manga also shows us how frighted the duo is upon learning they’re living in the worst case scenario, it’s seeing them and their hands physically shake that help push this scene a little bit more (not that you can tell this by a still frame but trust me).

- Their synchronized smirks and how well their excitement was not only animated but how genuine and real it sounds too. Emma’s laugh and the fact they made Ray of all people sound hopeful is fantastic.

- They kept the small Ray from this panel and made him better.

- I just love seeing him be optimistic.

- The entire scene when Emma & Ray are both scolded by the younger kids for acting so recklessly is perfect.

- They kept this tiny comment of Nat’s.

- Finally getting chef Ray and hearing how confident he is with his cooking skills already.

- Seeing other children like Dominic pick up archery and be surprisingly good at it.

- Anime pushed Emma’s quick learning ability further with archery by showing us how easily she could land a bullseye even after hitting something midair.

- How well they animated Emma’s first kill, from following the arrow as she pulls it back to when she releases it as it flies towards the bird’s eye.

- The fact that this scene and the next both used a water droplet to symbolize death just like we saw during season one with Conny and Norman’s shipments are so satisfying.

- The gupna scene and how well it emphasized Emma’s reaction to taking a life and how upset/bothered she was in doing so. The addition of a butterfly helps as well, as it’s another way this series tends to convey the idea of death. (you remember how many the OP had, right? tons.)

- I only just noticed that Ray is seen looking at a similar butterfly in the following scene as well.

- The anime doing this panel justice. Ep2 is probably the episode that follows the manga the closest and did real well in regards to that.

- Ray beating Sonju at chess.

- Chris knowing exactly which way to go without using the compass, which makes sense as he was seen mapping out the surrounding area in the previous episode.

- The kid’s adorable little freak out.-

- Giving us a better idea on how large the reference room of the B06-32 shelter truly is.

- Finally being able to hear our boy Nat play the piano. The fact that his first song is named “Nat King Cool” as a possible reference to Nat King Cole is also great.

- Rossi being an accurate representation of the manga readers while watching this episode.

- Chris being his cute self.

- Seeing Ray’s sleeping face after the manga denied us so many times by hiding it.

- It’s.. close enough. We love our chef.

- I love the idea that Nat plays a couple songs before everyone goes to sleep. That’s so precious.

- SHE!! With her hair down!

- Rossi teasing Don and the fact that just mentioning Gilda is enough to scare him.

- It remembered that Gilda has a tendency to count all the children.

- The level of confidence Isabella has in her kids.

- Ray being oh so close to shooting a human with an arrow.

- This hug.

- Chris leading the group through the underground tunnels, which he also does in manga but we learn earlier in this ep it’s due to all the time he’s played down here.

- Because of his extensive knowledge of the shelter’s layout, Chris also guides everyone to one of the secret entrances to escape after he realizes the intruders are only stationed at the main two.

- Ray’s first demon kill is smooth as hell.

- Curse this scene for being so dark because that damn smile Isabella gives us is amazing.

- Since Andrew was cut, Chris and Dominic survive the aftermath of the shelter’s destruction without any injuries.

- Although we weren’t expecting to see their older 2047 selves this soon, they look good okay?

- The emotion in her voice throughout this entire scene (probably the closest we were ever gonna get to Emma doubting herself in ch109/114 too).

- Please just let me enjoy this moment when Ray noticed her negative thoughts and stepped in to help just as I expected.

- Vylk and that goofy smile of his.

- Watching the duo communicate without words during the chase through the demon town.

- Our girl clearing this jump effortlessly.

- Norman’s squishy cheeks.

- Ray’s slap could’ve been better, I know, but at this point I’m happy they still included it.

- The fact we can see Ray’s face during the reunion hug this time.

- And this hug.

- Remembering the small panel of Ray noticing Emma’s bluff.

- Finally hearing this conversation because both voice actors do a wonderful job with it and thankfully the dialogue is on par with the manga as well. Also that one moment when the shadow falls across Emma’s face like that.

- Gilda comforting Alicia after her nightmare.

- The scene is very dear to me so of course I appreciate every little panel we can get.

- How carefree Ray sounded with his “Nopes.”

- How I only realized just now that this panel was also adapted.

- Okay so who’s brilliant idea was it to have the sun rise towards the end of this conversation as Ray helps Emma regain her confidence? I just wanna personally thank them because it was a genius move and I’ll treasure it forever.

- They kept Barbara’s slip-up.

- Like our demon friends, I think the Lambda crew’s voices fit them rather well, although Zazie’s was totally unexpected, like dude you’re 5, why is your voice so low?

- Another “it could’ve been better but at least they included it” moment.

- Vincent’s smile here cracks me up and I don’t know why.

- Barbara’s anger.

- The short snippet we get of the ch126 conversation when the duo was visiting Chris.

- The table from Barbara’s outrage was never magically fixed like it was in manga, so we get this nice shot of Norman reflected in the broken surface.

- The trio’s conversation about the royals and cursed blood follows manga relatively well.

- Anime did this panel better, I’m sorry. Thank you for showing my girl getting angry.

- This frame of Ray.

- This comment of Norman’s that made me wanna slap him.

- How Norman’s face is constantly in the shadows during this scene, which is something his office at the Paradise hideout probably wouldn’t have given us, so hurray for this location instead.

- How he and Emma bicker over how many days their deal should last.

- When the camera shifts in and out of focus during Barbara’s seizure.

- How this scene hid Norman’s face until they revealed the demon the crew killed.

- It really is the small details that make me happy.

- This smile of Don’s.

- I’ll take all the hugs I can get.

- Emma and Gilda’s little headbutt.

- Why does my boy look so grown up and handsome here? Hello??

- I suppose I have to give credit for Peter’s voice actor too hm?

- Actually making Smee a bit more relevant.

- Since the fight against Legravalima was cut, this shot of Zazie is the closest we’re gonna get to seeing him without his paper bag, but it does improve on that one panel of him at the start of ch153.

- Seeing more of Norman’s time at Lambda as well as the aftermath of the explosion.

- While this scene pales in comparison to its manga counterpart, having the sun set behind him while Norman delivers his famous line was still a decent touch. It’s a nice contrast to the sunrise in ep6 and I enjoy it very much.

- Wild demons managing to somehow successful jump scare me not once, not twice, but three times in a single episode.

- Emma getting back up to protect her family despite her injury. (i mean, it’s no ch93 comeback but oh well)

- Ray getting in another decent shot at a demon.

- This face of his.

- Seeing just how quickly the drug causes the demons to degenerate and all the chaos it causes.

- Actually showing Norman attacking a demon rather than just saying he killed Yverk off panel in ch153.

- Hate me all you want but the anime did this panel better too.

- The ch153 discussion is more or less the same but the fact they added in Norman looking to Ray for help and just having him snap back instead was priceless.

- Sonju’s grin.

- The scene when Norman stops Zazie’s attack may only last like five seconds but it’s wonderfully animated and I find myself replaying it countless times.

- How to make the manga readers and anime-onlys panic with just one sentence:

- Isabella being clever as ever by leaking false info into the radio the escapees have to lure them back to Grace Field.

- I just think Emma looks so mature and pretty here?

- Had Norman actually apologize to the demons.. or was just about to anyways.

- Demon Emma is precious and must be protected.

- The adorable mixup between both Emmas.

- I haven’t a clue on where or how the kids managed to gather all the supplies to create several hot air balloons and explosives.. but they did, somehow, and I’m impressed because I’m assuming that all happened within a day.

- Ma’am, could you be any more smug?

- Simon! And he ends up surviving!

- Having Sonju fight alongside the Lambda crew.

- Which reminds me that this is possible since the Imperial Capital battle didn’t happen (yet, in this timeline), so the three of them never received their injuries from Legravalima either.

- The smoke bombs, only because I remembered how Sonju used them back in ep1 while rescuing Ray so it’s nice to see them being used again.

- Showing Norman actually use a bow and arrow this time. He also hits his target on the first try through a smokescreen.

- Ray having enough strength to knock out two demons with a simple metal pipe. In ch169 he’s seen holding down a grown man so yeah, I can believe this as well.

- Having Jemima, Yvette, Rossi & Mark disguises themselves as shipments in order to rally up the other Grace Field kids. Mark’s face and the noise he makes upon seeing Naila again is also precious.

- Peter actually falling for Vincent’s trap.

- Getting one young child to listen to you is hard enough, but Emma manages to get about 183 of them (yes I counted, give or take the four who also disguised themselves) to follow her orders in no time flat.

- Phil helping with the plan to lead all the children to the elevator.

- It made me nervous upon seeing it but they made the Day & Night ceiling real pretty.

- I knew the reunion was coming and still cried.

- Take all my hell yeahs.

- I could listen to her say this on repeat and be overjoyed every single time.

- She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’ll point at gun in your face.

- Getting to witness someone shoot at Peter since no one did so in the manga? Wonderful. Having that person be Isabella who literally lands a perfect shot not even a full second after he pulls out that disc? Perfection.

- Mujika and Vylk bringing in hundreds of civilian demons as reinforcements.

- James!

- Those real quick shots of the ancestors because I had given up on thinking we would’ve seen them at all since the Seven Walls arc was skipped.

- I’m actually surprised they kept his death in and it’s as harsh as the manga.

- Ray confronting Isabella with the addition of this line.

- This panel being animated along with Emma’s thoughts from ch177 towards Isabella even though that chapter’s major event didn’t happen.

- I certainly can not forget about this hug.

- At least anime!Emma told the boys her plan before reaching the door, or didn’t keep it a total secret? If not then I’ll praise the boys for accepting her crazy idea regardless.

- Boy, do you know how much I love you and your smirks?

- SHE. STAYS. ALIVE!!!

- Vincent and Norman’s little fist bump.

- Different but close enough. Still cute though.

- The amount of emotions this one shot makes me feel is limitless. Catch me crying tears of joy over it for the rest of my life.

- Having Phil not only getting the chance to see a train but to ride one as well.

- This pretty shot of Gilda.

- As well as this beautiful one with Emma and Mujika.

- They gave us older Phil. Not sure how much older but he’s still adorable.

- Lastly, the goddamn soundtrack! Of course we heard a bunch of the songs from season one, but the new ones such as “The Evil-Blooded Girl” and the Arabic version of “Isabella’s Lullaby” are absolutely fantastic. I still have to listen to full soundtrack but from what little bit I heard of such songs such as “Nat King Ballade,” “Crisis,” “Norman’s Lament,” and “The Temple Ruins,” I’m sure every track is an absolute joy. I’m so happy we had Obata back for this season.

And that’s the end of it, I guess? Of course it’s not a perfect list, as the majority of it was just personal favorites of mine but oh well. (this is just as long as ray’s birthday post too, oh lord)

I’m not gonna be one of those manga readers who continuously nag people to go read the original source material, because that’s annoying and I understand that some people just might not be up for it. They might watch a series, take it all in and then move on to the next one. Others might want to find out about every little detail and invest more time into the story. It’s totally fine to enjoy a series your own way and you shouldn’t feel pressured to continue something you’re only mildly interested in or feel bad that you love something others might despise. Just do whatever makes you happy. If you wanna check out the manga and see why us readers love it to pieces, then I promise it’s worth it, especially if you enjoyed the anime or wish to see more of any character.. or the entire story. If the manga ain’t for you, then I hope the anime did something for you. It definitely could have been better though, I can’t argue with that.

Whether you’re anime-only or manga reader, can we all still hope for a remake? This season had more flaws than any amount of praise I could give, but if years down the line we get the FMA: Brotherhood or Hellsing: Ultimate treatment where the next anime adaptation follows the manga perfectly, you know I’ll be all for it. I’m too deep in this TPN hole and I’ll probably never leave.

#the promised neverland #tpn anime #chidoroki used chatter #dont worry.. im still sad as hell about this adaptation.. this season just gave me a little excitement.. thats all #hey i re-watched this season so you wouldnt have to #..not like that says much considering ill probably go ahead and watch the dub too.. ah something is seriously wrong with me

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sytycdinternational · 3 years ago

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Eurovision 2021 pre-show ranking #26 - #1

I know the rehearsals are already out but I’m not gonna take them into account for this ranking since I might as well just do a ranking of the actual broadcasted live performances then. Ideally the following songs would be part of my dream final on Saturday. #39-#25

26. VICTORIA - Growing Up Is Getting Old - Bulgaria 🇧🇬: I begrudgingly accept Victoria's decision choosing this over "imaginary friend" (she seemed to have visible troubles singing it live after all) but gosh, it’s kind of hard for me to warm up to this. "imaginary friend" figuratively moved me to another plane of existence. I do think this song has the perfect set up for some amazing staging. (2020/2021)

25. Blind Channel - Dark Side - Finland 🇫🇮: Yesss Finland, give me that darkness. I wish I could unhear the lyrics tho because it’s teetering pretty close to edge territory. Okay, I guess it has crossed that threshold long ago, but still, rock songs are a rarity on this show that I will cherish no matter their flaws. (2020/2021)

24. Hurricane - LOCO LOCO - Serbia 🇷🇸: They’ve come to slay like a tropical weather phenomenon. I can already see the shreds of their fellow competitors lining their path. (2020/2021)

23. Blas Cantó - Voy A Quedarme - Spain 🇪🇸: It took a tone-downed, more intimate acoustic version for this me to connect with this song, but somehow it managed to flip a switch and now I get incredibly emotional even when I listen to the official version. I’d definitely prefer the acoustic version to be performed on the actual show though. (2020/2021)

22. Jeangu Macrooy - Birth Of A New Age - The Netherlands 🇳🇱: The lyrics feel refreshingly meaningful. It fills me with real warmth and good vibes as a whole. (2020/2021)

21. Anxhela Peristeri - Karma - Albania 🇦🇱: Albania is bringing drama and I’m living for it. Very effective revamp to make the song more memorable. (2020/2021)

20. Samanta Tina - The Moon is Rising - Latvia 🇱🇻: What’s up with that dreadful “eh EH eh EH” background track?? It’s driving me up the wall. Still, I’m floored by Samanta’s powerful vocals. It’s a pity the final misses the actual blood moon occurence, the lunar ecplise on May 26 by a few days. Oh well, it’s not like it can be seen from Europe this time anyway. (2020/2021)

19. The Roop - Discoteque - Lithuania 🇱🇹: The Roop really took their song from last year and turned it dark and in order to balance it out they changed the colors of their outfits to bright yellow. During all this some of the hypnotic qualities of “On Fire” was lost but the new song is still lots of quirky fun. (2020/2021)

18. Ana Soklič - Amen - Slovenia 🇸🇮: Simply glorious. What a woman, what a voice. The way the song develops is bombastic. (2020/2021)

17. Natalia Gordienko - SUGAR - Moldova 🇲🇩: The refrain and the rest of the song sound so mismatched to me lol. Still, the contrast between the bright sugary visuals and somewhat darkish, even sinister tone of the music is doing it for me. (2020/2021)

16. Montaigne - Technicolour - Australia 🇦🇺: I can’t stand “Don’t Break Me”, so Montaigne doing a 180 degree turn was well appreciated. This sounds sooo difficult to sing so total props for that. Hope she nails it during the liveshows. (2020/2021)

15. Lesley Roy - Maps - Ireland 🇮🇪: This gives me enough energy to travel the Irish plains all on my own. Gosh, I miss travelling. (2020/2021)

14. The Black Mamba - Love Is On My Side - Portugal 🇵🇹: Never got the hype for “Dancing in the Stars“, so if Portugal had to send a song in English I’m glad it ended up being this one. I love Tatanka’s raspy voice and the song just oozes style as a whole. I was surprised how bittersweet the lyrics actually are after listening more closely and that makes me like it even more. (2020/2021)

13. Måneskin - Zitti E Buoni - Italy 🇮🇹: F*CK ME UP. I have high hopes for you, Italy. Also I’m totally over the fact that Irama was not able to perform live on San Remo this year due to Covid-related issues and thus surrendered any realistic chances of "La genesi del tuo colore" taking the win and competing on ESC, I swear I am *sobs* (2020/2021)

12. Daði og Gagnamagnið - 10 Years - Iceland 🇮🇸: That bait and switch at the start kills me. I also unironically like this a lot more than “Think About Things”. (2020/2021)

11. Manizha - Russian Woman - Russia 🇷🇺: Are my ears deceiving me? A Russian entry that is NOT an inoffensive pop ballad in English playing it totally safe? I guess Little Big for 2020 was not an anomaly after all. I LOVE the traditional-sounding chanting used for the chorus and the energy is infectious. (2020/2021)

10. Efendi - Mata Hari - Azerbaijan 🇦🇿: Another entry, another banger. I love her harsh pronounciation of the lyrics. (2020/2021)

9. Destiny - Je Me Casse - Malta 🇲🇹: Talk about a glow-up from last year. Malta is absolutely bringing the funk and the sass. (2020/2021)

8. Vasil - Here I Stand - North Macedonia 🇲🇰: This song is FEELINGS and I totally feel it! Ugh, I’m such a softie for heartfelt, breaking-down-your-emotional-walls-type of songs. (2020/2021)

7. Eden Alene - Set Me Free - Israel 🇮🇱: The revamp catapulted this song from the very bottom of my list to this spot. It’s little things like the inflection after “on my own” among others that make this song such a joy to listen to. So many little details to explore. (2020/2021)

6. Elena Tsagrinou - El Diablo - Cyprus 🇨🇾: Another year, another powerhouse of a song by Cyprus. This is my favorite by far out of the last few years though, even surpassing “Fuego”, judging alone by the song itself. The drop literally takes my breath away. (2020/2021)

5. Albina - Tick-Tock - Croatia 🇭🇷: Who knew Croatia would deliver the catchiest beat this year? (2020/2021)

4. Stefania - Last Dance - Greece 🇬🇷: Say hello to Dua Lipa “Physical”’s long-lost sister. And just like the former I have the latter playing non-stop. I have yet to get sick of it. It gets me so pumped up, I love it. (2020/2021)

3. Gjon's Tears - Tout l’Univers - Switzerland 🇨🇭: Sensitive. Sublime. Majestic. It was like witnessing the ocean at high and low tide. At one moment deceivingly calm, the next I’m swept away by a riptide of thundering sounds and delicious falsetto. (2020/2021)

2. Go_A - SHUM - Ukraine 🇺🇦: I literally spasmed out in ecstatic bliss when I first listened to this. I think it was some kind of combination of Kateryna's piercing vocals that strike right through my hear, the intoxicating ethnic elements and droning bass, all delivered at an ever increasing speed that drove me into a literal ethno-rave-fuelled frenzy. (2020/2021)

1. Barbara Pravi - Voilà - France 🇫🇷: The first time I saw Barbara’s national final performance I was transfixed. I was clinging to every word escaping her lips, my heart almost stopping at each moment my ears weren't filled with her angelic voice. I was flooded with all kinds of emotions, particularly with an existential longing for something I couldn’t possibly describe. Excellent use of monochrome lighting and costumes as well which I’m sure was supposed to emulate the feeling of black-and-white films of the past. (2020/2021)

Predicting the results:

Qualifiers #1 Semi-Final:

Australia

Azerbaijan

Cyprus

Israel

Lithuania

Malta

Norway

Russia

Sweden

Ukraine

Belgium

Croatia

Ireland

North Macedonia

Romania

Slovenia

Qualifiers #2 Semi-Final:

Albania

Bulgaria

Finland

Greece

Iceland

Portugal

San Marino

Serbia

Switzerland

Austria

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Georgia

Latvia

Moldova

Poland

#ESC 2021 #Eurovision #Eurovision2021 #ESC2021 #Eurovision 2021 #rankings #text

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gh0stbra1nz · 4 years ago

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jiann x male reader

request: You're a K-Pop-centred Youtuber who occassionally does collaboration videos with idols. During the promotion period of Newkidd's latest release, Come, Jaewoo and you are set to do a video together during which you'll do one another's make-up.

note: hey bud. first of all, thanks for being my first request! i don't know newkidd super well and i don't know a thing about make-up but i did some research and tried my best lol. i hope it's alright!

word count: 2.6k

Room tidied, filming set-up prepared, lighting adjusted; [Y/N] had readied everything for the arrival of Newkidd's member Choi Jaewoo, also known as Jiann, and yet he was still fidgeting with the unbuttoned sleeve-edges of his baby blue shirt.

It was a typical video, that which he would be filming that day. He had done it a handful of times already, once his Youtube channel had really begun to grow in popularity and his offers to small entertainment companies for collaborations were accepted. [Y/N] had done this before, but nonetheless, the idea of meeting Jaewoo in person was something that brought upon him a strong sense of giddiness.

[Y/N] had been following Newkidd's activities as a rookie group for some months already and had quickly developed a low simmering crush on the very member he'd be filming with that day.

It was therefore on that high of utter excitement and nervousness that once Jaewoo himself had finally arrived, naturally glowing and somehow even more handsome than [Y/N] remembered, that the youtuber's behaviour morphed into one of a skittish hyper-activity, desperately trying to come off as calm whilst they introduced themselves.

Not much time was allowed to trickle by with their minimal conversation before [Y/N] had to get to work and the camera beeped to show it had begun filming.

Jaewoo gave his second small bow to [Y/N] prior to sitting, a broad yet somewhat awkward smile on his face. [Y/N] was determined, however, for this to not be a negative experience for the young idol.

Sloppily rolling up his sleeves, [Y/N] went to stand behind Jaewoo's chair, bare lips pulled into a happy smile and hands softly clapping down onto the other man's shoulders, mildly startling him.

"Hi!" [Y/N] cheerfully greeted his eventual audience, sight directed into the camera.

At his exclamation, Jaewoo curiously peered up at him, a baffled grin adorning his face.

"Oh, we're filming?"

His voice itself was melodic, [Y/N] came to realise, somehow a blend of soft and deep. That thought in itself though, also made him realise how much he was blindly infatuated by the man.

"Yeah," [Y/N] confirmed, cutting off his own wonderings, "We're going straight into it! Introduce yourself to the viewers."

Jaewoo nodded, quickly facing forward and flashing a winning smile.

"Hello, I'm Newkidd's Choi Jiann!"

"Mhm, and you guys know I'm [Y/N], your local mess of a fanboy!" He took the opportunity to lightly squeeze Jaewoo's shoulders, prior to letting his hands drag as he moved to instead stand abreast the idol, "You know what we'll be doing today, right Jiann?"

The black-head's lips momentarily pursed, his expression playfully twisting into one of pondering.

"Something related to make-up?"

[Y/N] chuckled, tilting his head in agreement.

"Well my desk is, in fact, currently covered by palettes and brushes, so that was a calculated guess," He allowed himself a quick glance down at the man, finding him to be already gazing up with a keen smile. [Y/N]'s heart skipped a beat.

"Today will be really fun, and quite possibly a disaster, because after I do your make-up you'll be doing mine!" He paused, squatting slightly so that he and Jaewoo were at the same height, eyes locking at what [Y/N] decided to call a safe-risky distance. "Have you ever done make-up before?"

Jaewoo belatedly shook his head, a light laugh bubbling past his lips.

"Never, I'm afraid."

[Y/N] offered an almost timid smirk.

"Honoured to be your first," He cheekily replied, tossing in a wink for good measure, prior to straightening himself and already reaching for some wipes.

The idol seemingly had no qualms about the joke, merely chuckling as the tips of his ears very faintly dusted pink.

"Alright, so, let's get started and in the meantime you can tell us about yourself or whatever else you like."

[Y/N] got to work with wiping the other's minimal make-up off, being careful to be gentle but to also let his touch linger across the expanse of his cheeks and wide chin. Jaewoo spoke rather stiffly at first, giving a status-quo introduction of himself as a member of Newkidd whilst continuously peeking at the youtuber, wanting to take a glance at the look of concentration that had settled upon the younger's face.

"Your skin is gorgeous," [Y/N] stated once Jaewoo had briefly paused, and the compliment brought on a stronger blush than the previous one, now possibly a shade of pink on his ears that could be evidently seen on video.

"Thank you," He gingerly murmured, and [Y/N] couldn't help but admire the way Jaewoo looked up at him with a bashful smile.

"I'm thinking － since you have black hair － we should go for a sultry type of look," [Y/N] eventually states, pulling away and setting down his wipes, "Smokey eyes, red-tinted lips, that kind of stuff. What do you think?"

Jaewoo simply nodded, more than willing to go along with [Y/N]'s plan as the other must have certainly known what he was doing, considering the following he'd been informed the youtuber had. Then again, perhaps it was also due to the fact that [Y/N] looked really cute with his blue shirt and ruffled [h/c] hair and Jaewoo would most likely agree to anything should it leave the younger's mouth.

"Perfect. So I'll apply some toner, which helps with any dry patches you might have," [Y/N] squeezed some into his palm, "This is more out of habit though, seeing as how your skin is literally as beautiful as the rest of you."

Jaewoo didn't get the chance to reply before delicate hands were patting and rubbing along the curves of his face, making his breath catch in his throat and his dark eyes lock with those already staring back at him. [Y/N] offered a warm smile.

"Next, I'll put on just a bit of lotion and we can get to work on your look."

Jaewoo thickly swallowed, head tilted up at a better angle for the artist to work. "Okay," He said, to show he was listening.

"Right, so you guys had a comeback a couple weeks ago, didn't you?" [Y/N] asked, instigating a conversation for while he did what he needed to. Jaewoo quickly caught on, humming.

"Yeah, on the 28th," He replied, then briefly looking to the camera, "It's called Come. Please support it a lot."

[Y/N] nodded, "You really should check it out, the song's a banger and they all looked super great in the video."

Jaewoo dipped his head that was liberated from [Y/N]'s hands as he wiped them clean. "Thank you," he spoke and proceeded to watch as said male fiddled around with his boxes, intrigued.

"Apart from your own," [Y/N] had turned to show he held a square box of sorts in one hand and a brush in the other, "have there been other comebacks you liked? Ah, and this is just some foundation I'll be applying now."

"Oh, there are lots of talented senior artists with really good music this month, like Got7's You Calling My Name and EXO's Obsession," Jaewoo answered, attempting to ease his pulse that repeatedly quickened whenever [Y/N] dipped in particularly close.

It was strange, because Jaewoo had had his make-up done countless of times and his body had never reacted such a way. Perhaps this was different because [Y/N] was a guy, who just so happened to be very attractive.

[Y/N] let out a sound of agreement, startling Jaewoo from his thoughts about him.

"Yeah, those were awesome," He brought the brush along Jaewoo's left cheek, gently dragging it straight down then to blend in the powder, "Even Jessi and Victon delivered this month." He lifted his gaze to that of the idol's that was intent on him, and he quirked a playful brow when he saw Jaewoo to be dazed enough to answer in delay.

"Definitely."

Giving the final strokes, [Y/N] leaned away again and changed the box with another, clicking it open and analysing the colour for an instant before swapping it for a different one.

"Now I'll be applying some light blush mixed with highlighter, just to give some colour to your face."

After having said so, [Y/N] proceeded to mix the two, tapping his brush to bring the excess to fall into the lid. Of the hand that held the box, he freed his index finger to gently nudge Jaewoo's head upwards by his chin, their faces once more closer than necessary and causing a spark to continuously flow in the air between them.

"We'll put some on your cheeks, nose and chin so as to better define your facial structure," [Y/N] murmured in explanation, pulling his eyes away to focus on the way the soft bristles of his brush swept over Jaewoo's smooth skin.

"So, Jiann, what do you like to do in your free time?"

The question seemingly caught the idol off-guard for he rapidly blinked himself awake from his unfocused state, sight momentarily dropping to [Y/N]'s hands that had since closed the box and begun grazing over his desk, clearly in search of a specific palette.

"I play the piano sometimes and listen to music, but other than that I spend a lot of time with my members."

[Y/N] hummed, eyes directed upon the box he'd picked up, studying the colours.

"I didn't know you played," He said, and Jaewoo was oddly happy to see that the youtuber had finally looked to him again, "I'd love to hear you one day."

Jaewoo instantly smiled, quickly nodding, "I'll make it that you do."

The eager response made [Y/N] chuckle, a fond upturn to his own lips as he adjusted his grip on the fine brush he held.

"You can't go back on your word now, it's on camera!"

"I promise, [Y/N], I'll play for you."

A pregnant pause ensued, Jaewoo's flush returning at full strength after he processed what he'd said, and [Y/N]'s heart beat wildly against his ribs.

"I'll look forward to it then," He swiped his tongue over his bottom lip, briefly biting on it before smiling.

"Okay, now I'll begin doing your eyes. We're going for a dark look: black eyeshadow blended into deep purple at the end, with a fine liner along your top lids and at the edges of your bottom ones."

Jaewoo nodded, raising his head without needing to be told to, and [Y/N] mumbled a quick "Thanks," before leaning in and beginning his work.

They stayed silent for a while, but Jaewoo didn't mind. He took the chance to watch the male from up close when he could and obediently shut his eyes when he had to. There was something careful and precise about the way [Y/N] did his make-up that was different from how the staff his group had usually did.

"Alright, open," [Y/N] ordered, "I need to work on the bottom."

Doing as told, Jaewoo allowed his lids to part and flutter open, [Y/N]'s [e/c] eyes glimmering with focus as they bore into the idol's own. He sharply inhaled.

The remaining minute seemed to be a time of stand-still, both passing too quickly and too slowly, their close proximity bringing the two males to shyness.

"We're almost done," [Y/N] quietly stated, in a way akin to a warning, "I'll put some red balm on the inner parts of your lips and blend it out with gloss."

Jaewoo mutedly nodded, heart still thrumming in his ears even after [Y/N] had momentarily distanced himself.

He blinked and the warm hold of [Y/N]'s index and thumb was back on his chin, holding his head and forcing their gazes to meet.

"Part your lips a bit."

And Jaewoo did, watched as the other carefully applied the colour to his mouth and held his breath until it was over.

"All done!" [Y/N] eventually announced, beaming, "I didn't think you could look any hotter and yet, here you are."

Jaewoo dipped his head, attempting to ward off his flattered smile and flustered blush.

"Here's a mirror," [Y/N] said, handing him a circular one prior to stepping aside, allowing him to properly look at the artist's work, "Thoughts?"

The idol spent a few seconds taking in his new appearance, a look he hadn't really tried out yet, and found that the heavier make-up suited him more than he'd initially expected.

"It looks great, thank you," He told [Y/N], looking up at him with a fondness in his eyes that made the younger's chest warm.

"Well, I didn't have to do much, you're naturally good-looking," [Y/N] set a hand upon the man's shoulder, a gleeful smile stretching across his face, "Now that you like your look though, you have to promise to make mine just as good!"

Jaewoo chuckled, playfully shrugging as his left hand went to rub at the nape of his neck.

"No promises, but I'll do my best."

With the timid affirmation, [Y/N] went ahead and fetched a wide headband to push back his [h/c] hair and make it easier for the idol － temporarily-turned-rookie-make-up-artist － to do his work.

Swapping seats, [Y/N] allowed himself to sink into the padded chair and peered up at Jaewoo, smiling. Jaewoo couldn't help but think that he looked adorable with his mussed up hair and supple cheeks.

"You don't have to do the skincare part," [Y/N] stated, vaguely gesticulating towards where he'd left the toner and lotion, on a corner of his desk, "Do you have an idea for a look in mind?"

Jaewoo paused, contemplated, because no, he hadn't thought of anything because he was too distracted by [Y/N]. He looked at the younger's pale shirt and grey jeans, and an idea came to mind.

"Maybe peach or pink colours?"

He was afraid the suggestion was a stupid one, he wasn't experienced after all, but [Y/N] bobbed his head in agreement, lips still smiling.

"Sounds good!" He leaned forward, found palettes of colours that fit the spectrum Jaewoo wanted, and set them in front of the idol, "Here's everything you'll need. Do your best, Jiann!"

The idol quickly got to work, spending more time than most simply to choose the shades he wanted and even more so being perplexed about which brushes were best to use.

At his confused pout accompanied by a frown, [Y/N] chuckled, finally lifting a hand to point at one of the finer brushes.

"This will be the easiest to use."

Jaewoo gave a grateful nod, too shy to speak as he came to realise that he must have appeared to be a fish out of water.

"You don't have too worry too much," [Y/N] said, attempting to put the man at ease, "I trust you'll do just fine."

With nervous hands and a speeding pulse, Jaewoo immersed himself into his work, making sure to do as well as he could and even mimic what he could recall [Y/N] having done on him. The youtuber found it endearing how seriously the idol was taking such a playful task and didn't want to disturb him in any way, only scarcely speaking up.

By the end of it, Jaewoo had given [Y/N]'s eyes a peach-coloured tone, his lips a light pink gloss, and his cheeks a dust of rose; he even went as far as carefully adding glitter along the high curves of [Y/N]'s cheekbones.

He took a step back and smiled, meeting the younger's eyes with somewhat pride and admiration.

"It's not as great as your work, but you still look really handsome, [Y/N]."

》》》

i had no fucking idea how to end it and i was afraid it would get too long so i trimmed the end down a bit. i'm sorry if it wasn't all that great, i'll do my best to improve.

#choi jiann #choi jaewoo #newkidd #kpop x male reader #newkidd x male reader #choi jiann x male reader #fluff #kpop #kaidenwritestuff #newkidd x reader

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maih-em · 4 years ago

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rules: list down the lyrics of songs that live rent free in your head that inspire you/vibe with/spill creative juices. created by @knivesplushearts

tagged by @bryndeavour thank u!! I could honestly write pages on this but I’m restraining myself a bit here we goo

Razzamatazz, Pulp. What a banger. I love pulp so much, and the last line is when I am at maximum excitement. I don’t really know how to describe it outside of my brain but I just REALLY ENJOY IT.

And now you're going to a party, And you're leaving on your own. Well, I'm sorry, but didn't you say, That things go better with a little bit of razzamatazz?

Welly Boots, The Amazing Devil. This lyric just makes me FEEL THINGS.

And I’m so proud of you And when they laugh at us You’ll feel my fingers down your back

Fair, The Amazing Devil. Everything about this song makes me want to explode because it’s so full of pining. For the first few times I listened to it I had to stop whatever I was doing because every single bit makes me feel a lot of things. But I picked out my favourite snippets.

He watches her get dressed as though she’s hurtling through time

How unreasonably in love I am with everything you do

Darling I was born to press my head between your shoulder blades

Dear heart, it’s me, its me, you don’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not

Mile End, Pulp. This just excites me. I have a playlist of songs that name drop other songs that I also know because for some reason that specific niche of music gets my brain so excited. It’s like a dog spotting a squirrel except it’s just my head going look!! We know that!!

And now we're living in the sky I never thought I'd live so high Just like heaven (If it didn't look like hell)

Just Like Heaven, The Cure. One of my all time favourite songs. I mean I named a fic after it so it’s now completely tied to that in my head, so now every time I hear ‘spinning on that dizzy edge’ my brain has another ‘hey look we know this!!’ moment. I have the mind of a toddler probably. Anyway there is so much love in this. SO much serotonin. ‘all the different ways i had to make her glow’ DOES THINGS TO ME i highkey want it tattooed.

Spinning on that dizzy edge Kissed her face and kissed her head Dreamed of all the different ways, I had to make her glow Why are you so far away she said Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you? That I'm in love with you?

Bang Bang, BA Robertson. Not necessarily the lyrics themselves but how this song sounds?? It’s my current favourite I was listening to it all through my holiday and I love it so much. It’s such a tune with very good vibes and I’ll be listening to it on repeat for the foreseeable future.

Bang, bang, the mighty fall Bang, bang, when love has called

Honourable mention to the red dwarf theme song for being an absolute banger and living rent free in my head for the last week because all I’ve been doing is binge watching it. Yes I have fics to write and uni to pack for. No I’m not doing it until I’ve finished red dwarf (possibly twice over) because I have PRIORITIES OK

I can’t remember who has already been tagged in this but i’m tagging @bau-gremlin @broadchurchs @dangerously-human @astridcontramundum and @fitzrove if u want to! and anyone else who wants to do this because it was so fun

#tag thing #my music #i don't usually pay lots of attention to lyrics because #i think i have auditory processing issues as i can never hear what the lyrics are unless i google them #combined with actual hearing problems & not liking to play music super loud anyway #But occasionally a specific lyric will just punch me right in the chest and incapacitate me for a moment #like these ones!!

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plastic-portrait · 5 years ago

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Can you write something with Sal where his SO plays the ukulele and sings? Tysm!!

This is probably one of the cutest concepts oh my lord-

(Sal’s POV) S/O who plays the ukulele:

I woke up, my mind hazy, to the aberrantly loud buzzing of my phone on my nightstand. Seeing the number as I flipped it open, I smiled and answered with a groggy hello.

“Good morning Sal! Happy Valentine’s Day!” Y/n chirped happily, as she does every holiday of every year. I couldn’t help but feel upbeat whenever she was around, lighting up a room.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, y/n. What are you up to today?” I wondered in the back of my mind who she would be celebrating with.

“I don’t really have a strong plan yet, but I think I want to see if you and Larry aren’t busy so we could all go to the diner together later today.”

I quickly responded, without hesitation, “Larry and I never really have plans on Valentines Day. Is 6:30 okay with you?”

I could almost see her smiling when she answered, “Absolutely. I’ll pick your asses up then. My treat”

I laughed and said okay. We both said our goodbyes and hung up, leaving me to get ready for the day with way too much energy.

After brushing my teeth, I noticed my eyesocket was a bit irritated and redder than usual, which didn’t help the situation that was my entire face. Large scars covered my face like wood under a microscope, some jagged and some smooth. The flat pink flesh behind my eyelid was a stark contrast to my good eye, and I finally put my glass eye in when the sight of my socket started to bother me. I swiftly pulled my hair into twin tails and buckled my mask straps so they were nice and snug.

I called Larry to inform him about our new plan for the day.

“Dude I can’t go, you’re on your own.”

“What!?” I was surprised, and kinda scared, of being left alone with y/n because I was afraid of being boring company.

“Yeah I’m going to a party downtown, some chick handed me an invitation flyer in the hall. It’s gonna be a banger!” He chuckled on his end of the phone.

“Have fun man, I’ll tell you later about how the night goes,” I said, and ended the call. Fuck.

Later that evening, I was dressed in one of my nicer sweaters and my red jeans. I felt red was appropriate for the holiday, anyways. Y/n pulled up to the apartment building in her f/c car, rolling down her window and pointing her thumb towards the other side of the car.

“Get in, loser,” she said, jokingly. “By the way, where’s that party Larry’s going to?”

“Up the hill, I think. Rich neighborhood or something.” I responded as I made my way over to the passenger seat. “He told you already?”

“Yeah, kinda.” She shrugged nonchalantly, putting the car back onto the road. I knew the diner was by the school, but she turned in the other direction.

“Where are you going? The diner is on the other side of town.”

Y/n smiled mischievously. “Somewhere better. I promise”

She sped up once the road was clear and rolled down all the windows, the wind whipping at our hair. My nerves were eased by the minute, and I decided that tonight would be good, whatever may happen.

Y/n pulled over at the lake and grabbed a backpack as we got out. The sun was setting, bright yellow-orange filtering through the oak leaves above us on the giant tree and dancing across the ultramarine water with a glittery finish. Y/n’s h/c hair glowed in the setting sun, her skin dappled with gold. It was a beautiful sight.

We set up a blanket on the grass and set out boxes of takeout, all of which y/n had brought with her. And, lastly, she set something on the blanket: a ukulele wrapped nicely in its case.

“You bring that thing everywhere you go,” I said playfully.

“Of course. It could always come in handy.” She smiled, “But I have a reason this time. We have to eat first, though.”

“Sounds good to me,” In my head, I sighed with relief knowing it would be easier to eat out here than in a restaurant.

We talked about random things while we ate, from childhood memories to wondering what Larry was up to at the moment. We’d probably have to help him get home. I couldn’t help but steal a glance at y/n’s eyes, so bright and vibrant as her e/c eyes mixed with resplendent light.

Afterwards, she pulled out her ukulele and began tuning it meticulously. I watched how careful she was with awe.

Then, she began playing.

It was surreal, as it was the first instrument other than an electric guitar that I had heard in person in quite a long time. Y/n began to sing along to her strumming, a tune I quickly recognized as Can’t Help Falling in Love, by Elvis Presley. A classic. Her voice was lovely and suited the ukulele perfectly, and I couldn’t do anything but watch. Its seemed almost like a scene out of a painting, both vivid and distant, untouchable.

The magic was gone too quickly, and the song ended. I was speechless, and y/n could probably tell.

“That was...” I began, “Truly amazing. I’ve never heard anything like that, y/n”

She smiled shyly, clearly not used to hearing that kind of thing, especially from me.

“Thanks, Sal. I..” She laughed nervously, “I learned how to play it for you, and I told Larry about it so we could get you to come out here.”

That made sense, considering the conspiring bastard Larry is sometimes, although I couldn’t be mad this time. “Well, I’m glad you did. It was lovely.”

Y/n took a deep breath and then looked me in the eyes. “Sal, will you be my Valentine? Like, for more than just Valentine’s Day?”

My heart practically exploded out of my chest. “Yes! I would love that, y/n.”

“I’m glad, because I almost died trying to get that out loud.” She chuckled. I joined her, and it turned in to full-on laughter, both of us laying on our backs and just cachinnating until our ribs hurt.

After that, we just sat on our blanket, watching the sun set even further on the horizon. When it was gone, we stargazed for hours, talking back and forth endlessly. It was truly the best Valentine’s Day I’d ever had.

#sally face #sal fisher #sally face x reader #sally face headcanon #sally face imagines

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danyka-fendyr · 6 years ago

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Scar Tissue Chapter 1: Gotham at Fight

A/N: The name is a pun off of “Gotham at Night.” I’m tagging @writingtheworks bc...well, she asked to be tagged. This is meant to be a full-length fic, and this first chapter is just to kind of give people a taste of what’s to come. Enjoy!

The air over the city buzzed, hot and heavy like the rain pelting down through the night. Even in the dead of summer, it still rained in Gotham. If New York was the city that never slept, Gotham was the city where the sun never shone.

Jason looked over at the girl crouching on a gargoyle next to him, her cape fluttering behind her, a wash of darkness fading into Gotham’s sky. He could still remember when Bruce had brought her home. It was the tail-end of his first year of being Robin, and he had been offended by her existence. It was only natural, of course. He had been training, had earned his way here. She was only a little girl with a tiny, quaking frame, drenched in rain like she was tonight. She was quivering, curled in on herself and unsure, black hair slicked down to her head and dripping water. Defying all of this, her eyes glowed the brightest green Jason had ever seen. It was unearthly almost, the way they cut through him like knives, hesitant and afraid, but also curious and sharp.

Jason had to admit that a lot had changed in the 3 years he had known her. She had gotten taller, for one. Had filled out some, thanks to the regular food she was provided with. Jason told himself that it was only the food causing her to fill out, and that there had been no other changes, even if the Batgirl suit was skintight. Her sharp elbows and knobby knees had turned into softer, rounder edges, but Jason knew better than to mistake her for being soft. Maybe some other girl, but not his Rorie.

He winced at the possessive note in his thoughts, brushing it aside. It was true. She was his Batgirl, just like Barbara had been Dick’s. That was all there was to it. And if maybe he was falling in love with her a little, well, Dick had done that with Barbara too, so Jason reasoned that would probably be fine as well. He wasn’t, but if he was.

Her hair fluttered in the wind, inky strands reaching out towards the twinkling stars. When another dark haired child arrived at Wayne Manor, Alfred had wasted no time in making a joke about how if Bruce wasn’t careful he’d end up with a collection. Jason scoffed at the idea that any kind of trend would start with that. Clearly more than just hair color went into choosing a Robin.

“Where to next, Boy Wonder?” she waggled her eyebrows teasingly, interrupting his thoughts.

Thunder cracked across the sky, and a grin cracked across her face. Rorie had always like thunderstorms, crazy and wild just like her. One time, in the first few months she had been at Wayne manor, Jason had found her standing underneath a tree in the middle of a storm, arms thrown wide as she basked in the chaos. Jason had quickly yanked on a jacket, rushing out to scold her and explain the probability that she would be struck by lightning. She had turned up her tiny, sharp little face to him, and said, “Huh.”

Suffice it to say, she had not moved a muscle until the storm was over. Jason nearly had a panic attack the whole time, but he also wasn’t a snitch. Either Bruce hadn’t known, or he hadn’t bothered to go out and save her. Either way, she came back inside later, much to Jason’s relief.

“Your call,” he said, shrugging nonchalantly.

“We could visit that bakery on the upper east side,” she sing-songed suggestively, hopping off the gargoyle and shimmying over next to him.

“We could.” He continued to stare impassively out at the city.

“Hey!” she pouted. “You said it was my call!”

There was a beat of silence.

“Fine. We hit the lower east side, see if there’s any scum there by any chance, and then we visit the bakery.” She said it like the matter was already decided, not like she was offering a truce.

“Deal,” Jason said anyway.

“Yay!” she lurched forward, wrapping her arms around Jason’s neck, fingers grabbing handfuls of his cape as she teetered from the strain of reaching to his greater height. She was by no means short, but neither was Jason.

His hands reached around her waist to support her, and he laughed into her ear.

“Careful Batgirl. You’ll hurt yourself before tonight’s thugs have any chance.”

She pulled away, rolling her eyes, but she still bounced on the heels of her boots.

There was a rustle and she stilled, narrowing her eyes. Jason looked over their heads, finding the Batman himself hovering in that brooding manner he always had when the cowl was on.

“I see you two were productive while I was gone.”

If you looked carefully, you could detect an undertone of humor in his voice.

“Yes, we were. We decided where to head next for you,” Rorie piped up, hands on her hips in an ironically Superman-esque pose.

Clark would be proud when Jason told him later.

“Oh? Where to then?” Batman did not sound unskeptical.

Jason said, “Lower east side,” at the same time she said, “Cookies!”

“Those are in opposite directions,” Bruce pointed out.

“Not if we hit the lower east side first and then head toward cookies,” Rorie reasoned.

“That would still put them in opposite directions,” Jason piped up.

“Hey! I thought you were on my side!” She elbowed him, hard.

“I’m on nobody’s side,” Jason teased. “I’m a rogue. An outlaw!”

She giggled, and Jason could swear he saw Bruce roll his eyes behind the mask. Then again, maybe it was just a trick of the light.

“Well, this outlaw still has an hour of patrol left. Patrol first, then cookies,” Bruce said.

“So we are getting cookies?” Rorie gasped.

“I’ll think about it.”

Before he could say anything else, Rorie was launching herself off the edge of the building, grappling her way over to the lower east side. Jason ran after her, and Bruce sighed before shaking his head and following suit.

“So, that was nothing short of awesome!” Rorie said, looking up at Jason in awe, a wide grin plastering her face.

Jason felt the hot blush sweep across his cheeks, but he told himself it was only from the post-patrol excitement. Never mind that he was already chewing on a cookie in the kitchen of Wayne Manor and his adrenaline had sufficiently disappeared.

“Wasn’t anything special,” he said, mouth full of chocolate chip.

“Are you kidding me? You totally saved me.” She giggled, half-nervous and half-gleeful, still coming down from the near-death experience high.

“You would have done the same for me.” He shrugged.

“Nah,” she joked. “I would have just let you die.”

“Heartless.”

She hugged him again, still wobbling. Jason wondered if there would ever be a time when she wouldn’t wobble or have to reach up on her toes to hug him in this most impractical of ways, arms wrapped around his neck and face painfully close to his own.

“Thank you, Robin,” her voice was softer, the joking tone gone.

She sounded tired, something Jason could relate to. She also sounded grateful, like she knew just how dangerous the metal bat zeroing in on her face had been. Jason watched it replay in his head again for a moment, her body there on the ground, the gang banger poised to ram the end of his bat down into her head, wild with whatever drug had been in his system.

She pulled back, and Jason felt something soft against his cheek. Her lips, feather light, pressing against him, her eyelashes fluttering against his temple. Jason’s hands seized up around her waist, his heart going almost faster than it had been beating the crap out of that thug.

She turned to walk away, presumably to go to her own room and sleep in her own bed, but Jason stopped her.

“Hey Rorie?” She paused. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She turned around, giving him a shaky smile.

“Yeah. It’s not the first time, right?”

“Doesn’t have to be the first time.” Jason frowned. “You wanna be alone?”

She paused for a moment, deliberating. Jason knew what that meant.

“You could always come sleep in my room, if you wanted.” He said it casually, easing her pride into the idea.

“I mean, I guess if you’d be alright with it.” She shrugged, traipsing off to her room to grab some pajamas.

When she came back, she looked, in a word, cozy. She was wearing her comfort pajamas, and she looked 5 minutes away from stress baking and stress eating while the cookies were in the oven. What? Jason was a detective, he noticed things.

Her thick, fuzzy pants and oversized flannel top hung loosely off of her frame, and when she smiled Jason could see the tops of her retainer. Bruce’s wealth and social standing had provided her with a set of designer teeth, but they did not come without a certain amount of maintenance.

“You wanna watch a movie?” she asked.

“We have school tomorrow,” Jason pointed out.

She groaned. “Please don’t remind me.”

“You like school.” Jason laughed.

“Yes, but you know what I don’t like? Waking up. And you know what I have to do for school? Wake up.”

“You would sleep forever if you could,” Jason teased, slinging his arm over her shoulder as they headed down the plush carpeted halls of the manor to his room.

“I like sleep,” she whined, leaning into him.

“Then why did you volunteer for a job that keeps you up all night?”

“Well once I’m awake there are so many distracting things to keep me awake. I like being asleep, but I don’t like actually going to sleep. An object in motion tends to stay in motion, Jay-bird.”

“Whatever you say.” He rolled his eyes.

Jason opened the door to his room, and Rorie snickered.

“What?” Jason asked, confused.

“I forgot you were like this,” she teased.

“Like what?” He was seriously lost here.

She gestured to his room. Jason couldn’t see anything wrong with it. The bed was made, sheets crisp and clean, not a wrinkle to be seen, and all his clothes and other various belongings were off the floor and in their proper places. His music was neatly stored off to the side, organized alphabetically by artist for ease of access, and his books were stored alphabetically on his bookshelves by author. It was flawless. What could her problem possibly be?

“You’re so clean cut!” she giggled, bursting into laughter. “You don’t even realize what a classic good boy you are Jason Todd.”

“I am not!” he protested, even as her crouched body grew concerningly nearer to the floor.

If she started rolling on the floor laughing, Jason was convinced he would suffer the ultimate humiliation.

“You get straight-A’s, you’re a complete nerd for Shakespeare, and I’m calling it now, you’re going to audition for the school play. Also, you spend your spare time stopping evil. Goody-two-shoeeeesss,” she sang.

“I hate you. So, so much.” Jason sighed, her teasing relentless.

“Gosh,” she said, her apple green eyes locking with his own, “I love you Jason Todd.”

Jason gasped, quiet and almost imperceptible. The way she said it was so raw, so truthful. The most casual thing, hitting him like a 50 lb weight landing square on his heart.

“I love you too,” he whispered to her back while she crawled into his bed, peeking out from under the teal comforter.

“You coming?” she asked.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t be a bed hog, okay?” he said, pulling his own pajamas out of the drawer.

“Never fear. You should know by now, boy detective. I am a cuddler, not a bed hog,” she informed him as he headed to the bathroom to change.

When Jason came back, she was once again sober and solemn. Her eyes were dark and clouded, filled with all of her thoughts. Jason walked slowly, as though he were approaching a wounded animal. She didn’t hesitate, though. She reached out her arms towards him, and he fell into them, hugging her tightly as Gotham’s dark night sky wrapped around their consciousness like a blanket.

“I’m tired, Jay,” she whispered.

“I know. Go to sleep Rorie. It’ll be better in the morning,” he told her.

Jason knew he was lying. He knew the city would still be bursting at the seams with crime in the morning, dotted with seeds of people willing to murder teenage girls in one overripe sewer of a city, and the sun rising wouldn’t change anything about that. Jason knew the city better than anyone else in this family, and he knew it would not be better in the morning.

But this was Gotham, and sometimes lies were necessary if you wanted to make it through the night.

#scar tissue #jason todd #jason todd x oc #batman #batfamily #gotham

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brutalhearts666 · 7 years ago

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What Have You Done

- A Brütal Legend collab fic between @sonicsora and myself

Continue below the cut for chapter 1!

Chapter 1

A Touch of Evil

The fog was thick and the air was cool and crisp against the skin. For both reasons most of Ironheade made sure to stay within spitting distance of the campfire. The whole land was covered in a seemingly permanent darkness so staying close to the light was their best bet at not being ambushed by the enemy. They just needed to collect the dry ice and leave back on their mission to the Sea of Black Tears. After patrolling, the roadie made his way back to the leader of Ironheade, joining her at her side.

"Alright," he initiated, “Lets grab this ice."

The blonde cocked a brow. "Now?" A bit suspicious of the man's certainty.

"Yeah..." Eddie drifted unsurely, "My only worry is that we're not alone here." he broke apart from the woman to look around.

Lita did the same, having the uneasy feeling of being watched. Catching a glimpse of something moving at the corner of her eye. She quickly turned to see, Eddie following suit. Slowly a dark figure arose from the ground. It took only a moment for the dawning realization to hit the two.

"Ophelia?" Lita spoke out in surprise.

The dark haired man shook his head in disbelief and blinked. "What... happened to you?" The drowned woman's black licorice lips pulled into a chilling smile. "Do you really want to know?" and questioned as she motioned in an Organist.

The two humans drew their weapons and went into a defensive stance against the woman. "Oh don't worry. This song only hurts me." She reassured, hanging her head in anguish. The ghostly piano player threw his hands up in the air and began to play. Lita and Eddie both seemed to stop in their tracks, as if in a trance.

In the distance Ironheade troops paused for a moment and looked at one another before a headbanger spoke up. "C'mon lets kick those sons of bitches asses!"

The rest of the group cheered with agreement until the Fire Baron spoke up. "Hold on, now!" he placed one foot firmly on the ground and sat up on his bike, "If any of you gets within ear shot of that organist, you're all gonna go brain dead too!"

The group murmured in agreement. "Well... what do we do then?" A different Headbanger questioned.

"Just hold up a damn minute! The song doesn't seem to be doing any harm and it has to end eventually!" he announced to the worried troops.

They all settled down and watched intently to make sure nothing else happened. Before they knew it, the song ended and the Organist sped away before anyone could go near it. Lita was the first to snap herself out of it. She whipped around before settling her eyes on Eddie who still sat there looking off into the void.

"Eddie... Eddie!" Lita called out to try and get his attention. It worked in breaking the roadie's focus. He shook his head and glanced around. "What... What happened to her?" he turned to the other woman who could only give a startled shrug in response.

The Fire Baron settled back down into the seat of his bike and drove forward to meet the two disoriented leaders. Coming to a stop by them, a light that shown through the fog caught his attention. The two looked back at him then snapped to face what the Fire Baron was looking at.

"Uh-oh." Was all the Baron could muster as they witnessed the enemy stage being rapidly built. Eddie spun back around and pointed to Mangus and the rest of Ironheade on standby. "Fire up the stage!" he commanded. As always Mangus was one step ahead and had everything ready to go to swiftly set up the stage.

Weapons clashed, blood was spilled staining the ground. The Drowning Doom definitely had the upper hand here with the thick fog and the overwhelming sense of gloom. It was almost a stalemate as they tried to get control over the geysers. Eddie took to the skies to try and spy on Ophelia's next move. Moving closer to her end of the battle field, the roadie caught a glimpse of something glowing purple on top of the center hill of the battle field. It was one of the many Tab Slabs relics this world had placed around.

With a smirk Eddie landed atop of the hill and approached the relic. Suddenly stopping short at the grave feeling that something was watching him. Pivoting on heel, he looked back to find his concerns were very real. Ophelia stood there idly, a large smile on her face as if she expected him to come here. The dark haired man narrowed his eyes.

"Well, I didn't expect to see you here." She spoke sarcastically.

Eddie decided to cut directly to the chase. "Why are you doing this Ophs?" Ophelia crossed one arm over her chest and looked at her nails on the other. "Um, maybe you're forgetting the whole part where you called me traitor and left me for dead?" she shrugged.

Eddie began to sternly approach her. "I didn't leave you for dead Ophelia!"

"Well you weren't necessarily taking my side either..." as she spoke, Eddie wasn't paying attention to how close she was getting. "But don't worry, you'll find a way to make up for it somehow." Before the roadie knew it Ophelia closed the gap between them. Grasping onto his jacket lapels and pulled him in for a bitter kiss. Eddie quickly pushed her away, backing up from her. Spitting and sputtering, trying to wipe the kiss off his lips and his mouth.

"Ah fuck! Gross! What the hell? Definitely not how I remember that being!" he went on as he recoiled from the woman. Although at some point Eddie found himself unable to move his legs any longer. He realized his entirely body was slowly ceasing up. Panic began to set in.

"Ophelia, what have you done?" his voice tremulous. "Oh, you know," she casually flung her hair back, "just making sure you can never cross me again."

Eddie was rapidly losing all ability to move. Before he even got the idea to scream for help, his jaw was already locked in place. With eyes turning glassy, his heart slowed back down despite the panic still apparent in his mind. Finally, his body stood slouched and motionless. The Drowned woman let out a dark chuckle, "Now, that's not the way to present yourself in front of your Queen. Stand up straight!" she commanded with a snap of her fingers. With that the disassociated man did as told and straightened up. A wide smile crept onto Ophelia's face as she tilted her head and looked him up and down. "That's better."

"Hey guys, look!" A Razor Girl exclaimed, pointing out into the fog. The group present all craned their neck to see what was going on. Through the fog they could make out the enemy stage, bit by bit, set on fire. The stage's alarm blaring through the battle field. A confused murmur began to spread through the crowd of Ironheade warriors.

A Thunderghog rider lifted his sunglasses and squinted ahead. "Uh... Was that us?" Lita looked down at her own walkie-talkie Eddie had given her, not recalling hearing any traffic over the line for a while. She looked back up and turned back to the Fire Barons and Zaulia. "It wasn't any of you, right?"

"The Zaulia would not go against the orders of the Son of Riggnarok." Rima huffed, seemingly appalled she would even ask. The Fire Baron just looked down at his own bike then back to his two men. "Uh, we've been here the whole time." A loud crash caught Ironheade's attention again. The Drowning Doom's stage was briskly falling to pieces and the left over Doom scattered.

A head banger cracked his knuckles. "Does it matter how it happened? We won!" With that he chased after a few lone Gravediggers. The group of warriors rejoiced before parting ways to go and hunt down the left overs as well.

"Riggs must of taken care of it himself." The Fire Baron remarked, starting his engine back up. Lita smiled readjusting her grip on the halberd. Whatever happened they'll sort it out later, for now... Lita went with the Razor Girls to chase down a few Frightwigs.

Carnage eventually came to an end as most Doom members managed to flee. Ironheade regrouped back at their own stage, briefly celebrating their apparent victory. Lita ultimately decided to comb through the crowd to find Eddie and ask what happened. After a bit of ducking through groups of people and interrupting conversations it didn't seem like the roadie had made it back.

"Yo, Mangus! Why's the stage still up? C'mon, lets get packed up and roll out!" One of the roadies called out from the crowd to the stage.

The engineer walked out onto the stage, clearing his throat. "Has anyone seen Eddie? He... hasn't reported in for a while." The crowd became a buzz of people trying to recall the last time they saw the man.

A Headbanger started calling out into the fog. "Eddie!” He paused before calling again, “Eddie!"

The rest of Ironheade followed suit, quickly realizing he was nowhere around.

#Brutal Legend #brütal legend #fan fiction #fan art #eddie riggs #Ironheade #Lita Halford #mangus #Drowned Ophelia #Drowning Doom #myart&muses #sonicsora

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kuciradio · 7 years ago

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Day N Night Fest Recap (Part II)

Day N Night 2017 - Recap

By Miguel Ochoa

Photos by Brandon Chang

Day 1

7:30 pm - Khalid

One of the newer names in the modern music, Khalid certainly surprised me with his performance at this year’s Day N Night Festival. The 19 year-old Texas native showed up to his set with a heart full of American spirit, complete with two backup dancers dressed as high school cheerleaders in patriotic red, white, and blue uniforms. And with songs that emanate a young John Legend and a voice to back it up, it’s no wonder every girl wanted to sit on someone’s shoulders to get a closer look at the teenage heartthrob. His backup band provided some new texture to his live music, while still keeping the slow, wavy vibe that compliment the singer-songwriter’s sticky-as-syrup lyrics (I’ve only heard his hit single “Location” about 4 times and I already know most of the words). Above all, the great Khalid seemed like a natural on stage, perfectly comfortable interacting with the thousands in the crowd - which might have been the biggest shock considering his first (and only) album was only released 6 months ago. But with a combination of song topics relatable to millennials (like falling in love at school, texting your crush in class, and sneaking out of your parent’s house to party) and an all-around wholesome stage presence, it certainly was no surprise why the young Day N Night crowd resonated with Khalid so well.

9:00 pm - Travis Scott

I’ll be honest, I didn’t know much about Travis Scott before his performance besides that his song “Goosebumps” was all over the radio (I actually only listened to it because Kendrick Lamar was featured). Out of the 3-day festival’s headliners, Scott was the only one I had never seen live. I had never listened to an album of his, and frankly didn’t even really know what he looked like. One performance later and I’m a huge fan, and I’ve listened to his albums multiple times. How was this possible?

First off, it’s important to note that while Travis Scott employs a heavily auto-tuned voice, similar to other contemporary Southern-based rappers like Future, his musical style is more of an experimental trap-soul fusion, like something off of Kanye West’s MBDTF. This production provided for some epic live moments, such as on the songs “Outside” and “Through the Late Night” - a dragged-out, drugged-out rendition of Kid Cudi’s 2009 hit song “Day ‘N’ Nite”. Add to that Scott’s decisions to ride a giant metal eagle around the stage and you’ve got yourself one hell of a live performance. With lights, visual effects, and backdrops that made me feel like the whole stage was pulsating with a heartbeat, the 20,000 or so people in the crowd (including me) were quickly intoxicated with Scott’s raw, unfiltered antics, eerie vocals and larger-than-life persona.

Day 2

2:20 pm - Ugly God

The memelord and internet superstar emerges from his cave to play. With the hit single “Water”, a spot in XXL’s 2017 Freshman Class, and a brand new album under his belt (it’s called The Booty Tape, in case you were curious), Ugly God is quickly becoming a fan favorite and a prince of parody. A relative newcomer to the trap-rap scene, Ugly God’s quick wits, raw lyrics and hypebeast personality are making a splash both on and offline. While many of his beats are oddly minimalistic and play like something off of a Soundcloud playlist, the Booty Gang Captain’s crowd is largely drawn by his songs like “Stop Smoking Black & Milds”, “Bitch!”, and “FTBT” (an acronym for “Face, Titties, Booty, and Toes”, in case you were curious again).

His performance at Day N Night seemed like something out of an Adult Swim cartoon. Sporting a vintage Supreme racing jacket, Supreme ski goggles, and his signature black skinny jeans, Ugly God performed most of his debut discography, including my personal favorite “Fuck Ugly God” - which is actually a diss track about himself, a paradoxical spin on a big element of the rap game. With ad-libs like skrrt! and phew! phew! the Houston-based lizard aficionado felt right at home here under the Orange County sky. Yet, the show felt incomplete - until Ugly God and his posse rushed back on stage after his set and shot wads of dollar bills into the crowd with Supreme Cash Canons, causing a ruckus in the crowd as people savagely climbed over each other only to collect $3. The Booty Gang strikes again.

3:20 - Rich Chigga

If you follow Brian Emmanuel’s online presence, you’ll know that he’s got some fast bars, fat beats, funny Vines and dank tweets. The young Indonesian MC pulled a big crowd at the Postmates stage, and rocked a two-piece matching striped suit that looked like Macaulay Culkin’s outfit from Home Alone. Though he has no album, EP or even mixtape in his roster, Rich Chigga’s singles have taken the internet by storm, even getting him signed with the Asian-centric, Bay-area based music label 88rising. During his performance, he performed bangers like “Seventeen”, “Who That Be”, and “Bankroll”, a Diplo produced song that featured Emmanuel alongside Young Thug and Rich the Kid. He also played his latest song, “Glow Like Dat”, a slow, dreamy breakup ballad that’s quite different from the rest of his tracks and proves that his music can be more than just hype and bass. He finally closed out the show with an extended version of his biggest song “Dat $tick”, which was the original track that garnered the internet’s attention to the young lyricist (it currently sits at over 60 million views on YouTube).

Also, the DJ mentioned to the crowd that it had recently been Emmanuel’s 18th birthday, and the audience soon broke into singing “Happy Birthday” to the rising star. After the set, I had the opportunity to go backstage and briefly meet with Emmanuel and his media team. They had been arguing for about 10 minutes over what the caption on the video from the performance would be. That’s some serious attention to detail.

4:20 pm - Playboi Carti

Another member of XXL’s 2017 Freshman Class, Playboi Carti had a unique stage presence for the weekend, and an energy that focused more on the ab-libs and vibes than the actual music. With graphic, gruesome cartoons playing in the background, Carti’s energy was translated into the numerous mosh-pits that formed like tornados in the crowd - quickly forming and wrecking everything in their paths (my glasses got broken during Carti’s set, but that’s the price paid of having a good time I suppose).

Playing tracks like “wokeuplikethis”, “New Choppa”, and “Lookin”, Carti was more personality than performance, as he mostly let the song play on its own and chose instead to dance and move with the crowd. But even the people in the back were getting into it, as Carti’s IDGAF attitude infected the crowd and had everyone vibing. Widely criticized as a mumble rapper, his performance had me better understanding Playboi Carti’s popularity. Without the lyrical chops of contemporaries like Denzel Curry or the intricate beats of Young Thug, Carti’s set was more mischief and chaos than anything, and surprisingly had me wanting more.

5:30 pm - SZA

Probably one of the most enthusiastically anticipated performers of the weekend, I went into SZA’s set with extremely high expectations. And they were not met.

They were exceeded.

Though SZA’s recently released debut album, CTRL, had its release date pushed back multiple times due to internal music industry turmoil, it was met with large commercial success and has even garnered the 26 year-old singer-songwriter some heavy radio airplay. All this translated into what was perhaps the largest crowd at Day N Night for a non-headliner I saw all weekend, and for good reason. As TDE’s only female artist (label mates include Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Kendrick Lamar), SZA’s very personal, honest and intimate lyrics on tracks like “Love Galore”, “Doves in the Wind”, and “The Weekend” had the Orange County crowd singing at the top of their lungs. Even Chance the Rapper was spotted on stage admiring the Missouri native prance around on stage, with her pumpkin-patch orange hair waving wildly against the Anaheim sunset. Sporting some cut-up jeans, a sports bra, and some clunky Timbs, SZA was one of the few artists who chose to forgo a DJ for the support of a full backing band. Though with a voice like hers, she could have had a parakeet playing piano and would’ve still sounded beautifully.

6:35 pm - Post Malone

Trap-rap’s crooner king was present in full-force at Day N Night 2017, and was welcome with nothing but open arms on the Postmates Stage. Though this was Malone’s second year playing Day N Night, a lot has happened for him since we saw him last year at that small dusty campsite. Since then, his album Stoney was released on Republic Records, he’s played shows all over the country (even making a pit stop at The Observatory in Santa Ana back in March), and his song “White Iverson” has been certified quadruple platinum (a fact he thanked the Day N Night crowd for, as “it ain’t nothing without the fans, man”).

Though obviously a bit inebriated, you could tell Malone was up on that stage to have a good time and to vibe with anyone else who wanted to do the same. With his long hair unraveled from its iconic braids and his yellow flannel waving in the wind, Malone performed hits like “No Option”, “Too Young”, and “Go Flex”, even taking a break during his set “for a quick smoke”, playfully encouraging those in the audience to do the same. Holding a beer/cig combo in one hand and microphone in the other, the 22 year-old Texas native talked about life, love, and the importance of friends in between songs - even giving a nod to pop superstar Justin Bieber for lending his vocal chops to the track “Deja Vu”. He finished his set with “Congratulations” and a shout-out to everyone who didn’t believe in him growing up, mentioning that their doubt and pessimism turned into false applause after he made it big.

Sauce on, White Iverson. Sauce on.

9:00 pm - Chance the Rapper

Have you ever been on your way to a rap concert, gotten the directions wrong, and ended up at a Baptist Church? I haven’t either. But I honestly felt like that as Saturday’s headliner took the stage at Day N Night.

Chicago’s Lil Chano and crew had a full house on stage, with band support coming from brass powerhouse Nico Segal (known otherwise as Donnie Trumpet), a percussionist, an organ player, and a four-piece choir that had the vocal range of a hybrid with a full tank. Rocking his iconic “3” baseball cap and a simple baby blue t-shirt (perhaps an homage to the song “Baby Blue” with Action Bronson?), Mr. the Rapper’s set was one feel-good song after another. He even did some fan service, playing a few songs off of his first mixtapes and EPs instead of sticking solely to his 2016 album Coloring Book’s tracklist. And during his track “All We Got”, Chance even gave a shout-out to his homeboy and mentor Kanye West, showing footage of the two of them hanging out on the jumbotron, saying that Ye was one of the best friends he could have ever asked for (I’m not crying, you’re crying!).

Chance the Rapper is a rarity in the hip-hop world, as he continues to remain unsigned years into his career, even becoming the first artist to ever reach the Billboard Top 200 with a self-released album that was only available on digital streaming services. This, combined with his pastor-like stage presence (just about every song off of Coloring Book has religious undertones) equates to him commanding a large degree of respect from his fans. And considering he’s headlining festivals and working with the biggest names in music (Justin Bieber, Future, Lil Wayne, and Young Thug to name a few), it seems Lil Chano has no ideas of stopping anytime soon.

Day 3

2:20 pm - Princess Nokia

New York’s Afro-Latin lovechild came out in full force to Day N Night weekend, and brought an attitude and style onto the stage to be reckoned with. Rapping under the pseudonym Princess Nokia, 25 year-old Destiny Frasquieri was rocking a floral sundress, spitting bars and pumping the crowd up with bangers like “Tomboy”, “Kitana”, and her recently released single “Kitana”. With the upcoming release of her extended mixtape 1992 Deluxe, fans were almost as pumped as she was, as the East Coast rapper often sticks to her side of the continent for performances, making this appearance somewhat of a rarity (though, she is set to perform in late November in Los Angeles to promote her new record).

7:35 pm - YG

Honestly, YG’s whole setup, performance, and overall vibe had me speechless. But I’ll do my best.

Bompton-based bangsta bapper YG was clearly out here for a good time, not a long time. With his West Coast fusion of old-school G-funk and new-school trap-rap, the 27 year-old didn’t skimp out on the pimpin’. With a stage setup that resembled something out of a Katt Williams routine, a whole crew of about 15 was on stage, vibing and tossing water into the crowd. Playing club hits like “Why You Always Hatin’?” and “My Nigga”, the DJ Mustard-produced beats and YG’s antics had the whole crowd tooting it and booting it. The rapper than proceeded to rant about politics, mentioning that politicians “ain’t nothing but crooks”, following up with his 2016 hit - and one of my personal favorites - “FDT” (an acronym for Fuck Donald Trump” if you were wondering).

But the atmosphere wasn’t complete until YG brought out two strippers, with poles and all (might I remind you, the show was advertised as “All-Ages” not “Family-Friendly”), out for his song “Who Do You Love?”. Dollar bills were thrown, fishnet stockings were ripped, and I’m pretty sure I saw a bottle of Hennessy on stage. What a legend.

9:00 pm - Kendrick Lamar

What’s to say about King Kendrick that hasn’t already been said. One of the biggest names in not only hip-hop, but music overall, Kendrick Lamar has managed to stay on the Billboard Top 200 without compromising originality and the message behind the music. With his album DAMN. coming at a divisive time in our nation’s history, Lamar’s lyrics provide insight into the Compton rapper’s beliefs and offers an introspective peek into the mind of K. Dot. If Saturday’s headliner, Chance the Rapper, had a performance full of gospel and inspiration, then Kendrick closed out the show with fire and brimstone. Pyrotechnics aside, his performance was minimalistic, with no band, no possee, no dancers, and no DJ. A crowd of 20,000 was all Kung Fu Kenny needed to light up the night, showing short skits about martial arts training in between songs (one which included the classic training montage with an old monk).

Performing both classic Kendrick tracks like “Backseat Freestyle” and “King Kunta” and newer releases like “DNA” and “Humble”, the crowd came with the energy to match. Ending with a bang, Kendrick closed out the show on high gear, and fireworks started to fill the sky, launching from behind the Postmates Stage. Until next year, Day N Night.

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newmusickarl · 3 years ago

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Album & EP Recommendations

Another absolutely stacked week for new music so no single Album of the Week, instead five records and five tracks all well worth your time. My suggestion would be to simply pick the ones that sound intriguing and dive right in – here’s what’s good...

Swimming Static by Elder Island

June is here, the sun is out (in the UK at least) which means summer has officially arrived. As if on cue, Bristol-based indie electronic outfit Elder Island have this week released their incredible sophomore effort, Swimming Static - and already it is an early contender for the soundtrack to the summer.

Opening on a whisper of atmospheric strings and synths on Embers, it is hard to not get immediately pulled into the sonic wonderment the trio present. From that point on it is simply great track after great track, from the infectious pulse of Purely Educational, the magical neon glow of Small Plastic Heart, the bass-driven growl of Feral to the bluesy, soulful groove of closer Late at Night. I will also say it is a more synth-pop experience to their debut, but you can also evidently hear how their sound and craftmanship has been honed since their first effort too.

There are also two standout tracks here for me, the first being the mightily catchy Sacred, with its classic dance beat and hypnotic chorus. A brilliant track that will have you singing, dancing and then hitting the repeat button to do it all again. The next is the album’s centrepiece, Queen of Kings, that begins with a string-tinged medieval melody, which wouldn’t sound out of place as the backdrop to an episode of Game of Thrones. That is until the track quickly evolves, suddenly transforming into a futuristic club banger. It makes for quite a mesmerising contrast and a dazzling moment right at the heart of the record.

All in all, this album is simply all killer and no filler and one I can see myself returning to constantly over the coming months. If the sunshine is getting you in the mood for a dance, then I honestly can’t recommend this album enough.

Cavalcade by Black Midi

However, if this weather is instead making you want to strap on your headphones and settle in for a weird and wonderful experience on a long walk instead, then look no further than Black Midi’s Cavalcade. Coming off the back of their highly acclaimed, Mercury Prize-nominated debut Schlagenheim, the pressure was certainly on the experimental London rock outfit to deliver big with their follow up. My experience with that record, I certainly enjoyed parts of their debut but could never really get invested in it to the same degree that I know other people did. Cavalcade, however, is quite a different story.

Here Black Midi return at their experimental, genre-defying best, but at the same time everything here feels more calculated and considered – dare I say it, more refined. To be clear though, this is not a cohesive listen – the band still erratically jump between fascinating elements of jazz as well as math, prog and art-rock. But that is not a negative point, that is very much a big part of this album’s charm.

From the tense stuttering strings of opener John L, to the early-Wild Beasts theatrics of Marlene Dietrich and Chondromalacia Patella, to the psychedelic shoegaze of Diamond Stuff, Black Midi absolutely revel in the chaos that they paint here. The album eventually draws to a triumphant close, with the waltzing magnificence of the 10-minute epic Ascending Forth, by the end of which you’ll be hard pressed to not be completely blown away.

Overall, Midi objectively set a high standard with their debut, but this expressionist masterpiece means they have somehow still exceeded expectations. Schlagenheim was easy to admire but hard to love, this time around with Cavalcade, for me at least, Midi achieves both admiration and adoration.

Nobody Is Not Loved by Solomun

Outside of these two year-best records, electronic artist Solomun also released his wonderful guest-laden new record this week. Whilst Jamie Foxx on soulful opener Ocean and Tom Smith from Editors singing through a vocoder on closer Night Travel provide two of the highlights, it is arguably Solomun on his own for euphoric single Home that offers the best moment of the entire record.

Life’s A Beach by Easy Life

It would be easy to sell R&B outfit Easy Life as the UK’s answer to Mac Miller, but that would be a disservice. Bursting with originality and natural charm, this chilled-out, slickly smooth record sees the Leicester group take elements of hip-hop, pop and even jazz to forge what it is quite an enchanting debut from start to finish.

Reprise by Moby

And finally on the albums front this week, dance legend Moby teams up with the likes of Gregory Porter, Jim James, Mark Lanegan, Kris Kristofferson, Skylar Grey, Mindy Jones and more, for some beautiful, orchestral reimagined versions of his classic hits. Somehow the likes of Natural Blues and Porcelain sound even more majestic.

Tracks of the Week

People, Let’s Dance by Public Service Broadcasting

It has been a huge week for tracks this week too, with musical historians Public Service Broadcasting the pick of the bunch, dropping what is easily one of the best songs of the year thus far.

Their next album, Bright Magic, will see the band explore Berlin’s musical history, with this first taster the perfect introduction to the timeless sound of that city. A fusion of Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder, with a smattering of David Bowie to top it off, this is a song that manages to feel both warmly familiar and gloriously refreshing at the same time. To top it off, they also released the perfect video accompaniment featuring some brightly coloured roller skaters doing some synchronised dancing on a pier – linked above for you to watch for yourself.

How Not To Drown by CHVRCHES & Robert Smith

A collaboration that just feels oddly right, the Scottish trio team up with The Cure legend for a moody, atmospheric, synth-soaked belter of a track. Although incredible right the way through, the spine-tingling moment comes during the song’s outro thanks to the ghostly vocals of Smith being cast over some hauntingly melodic guitars. Absolutely stunning.

Catch You On The Way Back In by Spector

Having already treated us this year to their fantastic compilation record Non-Fiction, Spector have now announced plans for their fourth album Now or Whenever due for release in October. The first taste of this new record features some wonderfully buzzy guitars and an earworm chorus that you’ll struggle to not stop singing in your head for hours after listening.

Midnight by Creeper

Southampton-based goth rockers Creeper have also dropped the brilliant first taste of their forthcoming EP American Noir, which is a typically theatrical ballad that’s wonderfully capped off by a soaring guitar solo in the track’s second half.

Lost Cause by Billie Eilish

And finally this week, Billie released her latest single from forthcoming album Happier Than Ever, a bluesy, understated break-up anthem that sees her tear into her undoubtedly regretful ex-boyfriend.

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theaudioglow · 4 years ago

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Underwater Club Thump in a Gay Egyptian Nightclub: The Sounds of Lady Gaga's Chromatica

Reading Time: One cold beer.

I crawled on hands and knees through pages of new releases to find that perfect first album to review AKA judge without mercy. Upon hearing that The Killers delayed what will surely be an epic sonic sheen of Brandon Flowers ejaculating charisma, I figured I would have to just go with something obscure and under-the-radar. And that’s exactly what led me to the new Lady Gaga album. Obscure and under-the-radar.

This is how we’re going to do this. Since The Audio Glow is so edgy and unique, we won’t listen to the album first, then craft a careful narrative around a central theme of thoughts. There will be no prior research. I’m simply going to douse my body in pink sequins and write what it evokes as I listen…

Sound good?

*A STAR IS BORN SPOILER* Now, let’s just hope by the end of this album, Bradley Cooper hasn’t hung himself again.

Headphones In. Commence Lady Gaga’s Chromatica.

Track 1 – Chromatica I

Feel like I’m at the Oscars right now. So symphonic. Is this Lady Gaga on Ice? Climactic intro – this is Lady Gaga clearing her throat with an orchestra.

Track 2 – Alice

And we glide right into Alice. I already want to fall down a flight of European stairs into a basement club soaked in blue aura. Definitely a late 90s synth vibe creeping about here. This is like the 2020 version of Rhythm is a Dancer. That was honestly sheer power. Between her always declarative voice and the booming euro-synth – alright, what’s next, Gaga?

Track 3 – Stupid Love

Mmm love me some stupid love. As long as it doesn’t end in the pregnancy thing. Pulsating and urgent. Not my stupid love – the song. Sounds like the anthem that would play during the skate-off scene of a Disney middle school rollerblading competition movie: Oh no, there’s Zach watching from the bleachers in his Billabong shorts! And mom! And my always disapproving vanilla dad who showed up to see what this rollerblading dance thing is all about and is begrudgingly entertained!

I watched the Stupid Love video after hearing the album and the exact way to describe it is Mad Max: Fury Road meets Empire of the Sun. Really pretty generic for a Gaga joint.

Tell me Gaga and Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun don’t use the same eye paint artist.

Track 4 – Rain On Me (with Ariana Grande)

Two powerhouses on the same track. I wish I could ponder whether this song was an innocent take on the rejuvenating qualities of rain or a deluge of liquid innuendo, but the video’s been out for two weeks already. If you go by that, it’s about being able to cry in gothic glam outfits with a dance crew.

The beat is infectious – that’s what you get when you mix a Pop Overlord with the candy apple that is Ariana Grande. I appreciate the underwater swirls of euphoric resonance which ride under the track. Another reason why this song’s already a quarantine banger in your mom’s 2018 Kia Sportage with the bass turned up: the production is so tight. Obviously, with an album as obscure and indie lo-fi as a Gaga joint, I did not expect this level of gloss.

Track 5 – Free Woman

“I walk the downtown, hear my sound.” Nice line. Already loving that firm, strong beat with the currents of electricity reverberating off her voice. Notice all these songs so far are almost exactly three minutes. There were probably like, 27 producers working to cut these tracks just right (as would be typical of an indie garage pop album), but it’s noticeable how focused she is on pumping out straight dance snack tracks.

Unless I’m mistaken, Lady’s Gaga’s empowered yell of “I’m a free woman” leads me to believe this song is probably not about submitting to a man and cooking him casseroles.

Track 6 – Fun Tonight

This song is already primed to be the seventh song in a two-hour set in front of 70,000 fans with glowsticks. Sparser, simpler beat than some of the previous tracks. Leaning more into her pop element versus the euro/club vibes from the first few. What’s the theme here? Declarative. Power. Leaning into the night.

Track 7 – Chromatica II

The symphony has returned. The Lady Gaga lets the orchestra take over so she may chug a bottle of glitter water.

Track 8 – 911

Lady Gaga feeling dangerous. This beat is like seven women in leather stride confidently into the room and demand to see the DJ. On a serious note, this song is completely about Lady Gaga’s use of anti-psychotic medication and her battles against herself. Gaga’s been a moon goddess of the stage for what, 13 years now? She still effortlessly melds her struggle into dance tracks that sound like a dominatrix standing on top of a moving train. If I were a guy who had a site that was, say, into analyzing sounds and emotions, I’d observe that the power of her sound is her way of saying “I claim who I am through the sheer authority of these beats – I own myself”.

Track 9 – Plastic Doll

Ah, hell yes, Guh-ga. This beat is like a cryogenically frozen robot awakens and learns human emotion on the dance floor. Ironically, it sounds like a meta take on her own image as a caricature of a pop star. But it’s ambiguous if she’s talking about society judging her or a man. “No, I’m not your plastic doll.”

Track 10 – Sour Candy (with BLACKPINK)

Bringing in that freaky vibraphone. This is what I was waiting for, Gaga. Show me that freak stuff. I take that back – I came into this album with an open heart and clean mind…. No, I stand by it. I was looking forward to the freak stuff.

That vibraphone beat is what all dictators should listen to before making a bad decision. “Sir, don’t bomb that village – please listen to the Gaga first.” I guarantee more dictators doused in Gaga vibraphone glitter beats is better for the world.

Track 11 – Enigma

Opening with those subtle swirls of layered resonance. And her voice rises to that declaration of power again: “We could be lovers”. I know I’m heaping a lot of positive energy towards the album, but this song sounds like a generic euro-pop track. Thankfully for the Gaga, her voice carries and it will be fine for future mall background music.

Track 12 – Replay

Gotta praise those intro swirls of euphoric production for the 77th time. Just subtle ripples, and then they let the beat and Gaga carry the rest of the song. Just enough neon phosphorescence to classify the sound as Club over Pop. “Replay” and “911” have the heaviest Club thump-thump.

Track 13 – Chromatica III

It’s hard to commentate on a 27 second song, but…it drifts right into a song with Elton John. Like I said, no prior research! Of course, she needed a cinematic buildup into a duet with Elton John.

Track 14 – Sine From Above (with Elton John)

Oh my goodness, that trance beat break-in at 1:27. I’m gonna keep laying in this song like a puddle of melty starglow, but definitely check out the lyrics. Appreciation is deserved.

Wow. Most powerful on the whole album. I must replay. I listen to August Burns Red in the shower and I’m putting a Gaga song on repeat. I so strongly empathize with songs about holding on to your life, especially one with beats that sound birthed from an underwater gay Egyptian nightclub.

So impressed.

Track 15 – 1000 Doves

Is there really anything else after Sine From Above? Having another powerhouse dance track is like trying to have sex again 15 seconds after having sex. No way this works.

Yeah, I’m spaced. Can we listen to Sine From Above again?

Track 16 – Babylon

Yes, jungle sounds! Please be more Gaga freak stuff. Okay, here we go. This is more of that Gaga-dancing-on-a-giant-pink-penis melded with a…saxophone? 90s dance-jungle-saxophone vibes. Last song on the album, and Gaga wanted to swag out with some dance fluff jungle-saxophone-Egyptian party vibes. I dig.

That’s it. Lady Gaga’s Chromatica. Yeah, I know it was a 1,400 word review – get off my back, peasant!

The Audio Glow’s rating for Chromatica: seven confident dominatrix women dancing in an underwater gay Egyptian nightclub….

that means it’s really good!

Artist Links:

Gaga’s Insta

Gaga’s website

Upcoming Lady Gaga shows:

July 24th, 2020 — Paris July 30th, 2020 — London August 5th, 2020 — Boston August 9th, 2020 — Toronto August 14th, 2020 — Chicago August 19th, 2020 — New Jersey

#lady gaga #new releases #self-empowerment #club music #pop #rain on me #album playlist #electro #dance pop

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chorusfm · 6 years ago

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Mitski – Be the Cowboy

Mitski Miyawaki (mononymously known as Mitski) is a powerhouse. The Japanese-American artist is only 27 years old, and her new album; Be The Cowboy is her fifth album in six years. Her 2016 album Puberty 2 was released to universal critical acclaim, single “Your Best American Girl” landed on multiple “best songs of 2016” lists, and starting in March this year, she joined Lorde as an opener for the New Zealand artist’s Melodrama World Tour. To say that Mitski has been having a hard working, busy, few years is an understatement. Within Be The Cowboy, there’s a new central focus for Mitski: the loneliness that accompanies a young woman as she relentlessly tours to continue being a musician for a living. Of course, her words are as sharp and powerful as ever. There’s no one who has so effectively mastered the art of explosive, endlessly fascinating songwriting. She switches between personifying fictional characters, while a number of tracks follow her relationship with music (“Geyser” and “Remember My Name” spring to mind) rather than other people, or herself. This is undoubtedly Mitski’s most ambitious album yet, and also the culmination of all her past work. The album has an unbelievable amount of musical ideas wrapped up inside it, and in any other artist’s hands, it might not work. Be The Cowboy is only 33 minutes long – only three songs are longer than two and a half minutes, but it all flows beautifully. All the ideas are anchored by ethereal vocals and haunting lyrical gems. Just looking at the singles, it’s clear that Mitski is confident in making yet another sonic departure. Take second single “Nobody”; an infectious disco-pop banger that’s nothing like anything else in her discography. Album opener “Geyser” is bombastic and combines the piano and organ found in her first two records, Lush and Retired From Sad, New Career In Business and joining them is the crashing, distorted guitars that defined her breakout album, Bury Me At Make Out Creek. Final single “Two Slow Dancers” is a gorgeous, nostalgic piano ballad. There’s no one who tackles nostalgia and loneliness like Mitski. Apparently, Mitski has a real knack for writing pop songs, too. Is there anything she can’t do? “Nobody,” “Why Didn’t You Stop Me?,” and “Washing Machine Heart” are some of her grooviest songs yet. They should be mega hits. “Why Didn’t You Stop Me?” is deceptively upbeat. It’s also pretty crazy, featuring horns, a fun repetitive synth sample reminiscent of the one that framed Puberty 2’s “Happy,” and a synth-and-guitar-lead climax to close the song. Of course, it’s not all fun and games. Mitski sings in a slightly higher register than usual – this immediately caught me off guard, I thought I knew her voice and different tones like the back of my hand. She is dissecting the end of an important relationship, and asks to just “paint it over.” “Washing Machine Heart” could easily be a companion to “Why Didn’t You Stop Me?.” It’s another poppy, unusual song where someone is invited to toss their dirty shoes into her washing machine heart, and “bang it up inside.” The contrast between the self-destructive lyrics and the catchiest melodies in her entire discography is so very Mitski. Be The Cowboy could’ve been “Washing Machine Heart” x14 and remained a captivating listen. Personally, I couldn’t be happier that “Old Friend,” a song that captures wistfulness for a “blue diner” that I’ve never seen but would now love to visit follows “Why Didn’t You Stop Me?.” “Old Friend” is a plain but lovely track that features Mitski back on the piano, and simple acoustic strumming holds it all together. Her longing request to visit the blue diner and “take coffee and talk about nothing, baby” takes listeners to a place everyone in town would know; it’s retro but familiar. Mitski has a talent for writing songs that sound old-timey, like the Angel Olsen-lite “Lonesome Love” and the misleadingly jaunty “Me And My Husband”. In the mournful “Lonesome Love,” we hear Mitski trying to prove that she’s over someone. She spends an hour putting on her make up. She walks in wearing her high heels, “all high and mighty” but ultimately loses once they say “hello.” She then takes the blame for getting hurt again, and explains that “nobody butters me up like you” but “nobody fucks me like me.” “Me And My Husband,” on the other hand, is a bit more unusual. There’s a deep sigh just before the piano and drums come bursting in. Again, Mitski sings in a higher register. She’s already indicating that while the music is joyful, the story is not as it seems. In an interview with the 405, Mitski says this about “Me And My Husband”: …I think a lot of marriages are like that because that’s what it is; it’s no longer about being in love. It’s really hard to stay in love and keep the spark. When you get married and you’re with someone for years and years, it no longer becomes about infatuation or having your heart aflutter. But the song is just about “you know what, this may not be love anymore, and I may be unhappy, and I’m going to die one day and this is just going to be my life.” But then turning around and saying “this is the decision I made, and you’re the person I chose, so I’m just going to stick with you. We have our problems, but this is our life and we’re going to live it.” And that’s what it’s about. It’s heartbreaking, but fits right in to the multiple narratives and themes running throughout Be The Cowboy. Hearing her misdirect listeners with accessible, uplifting sounds and juxtaposing them with some of her most self-deprecating (“I am the idiot with the painted face”), candid lyrics is genius. “Nobody” is arguably the song that accomplishes this the best. “My god, I’m so lonely / so I open the window to hear sounds of people”, Mitski croons in “Nobody,” one of Be The Cowboy’s standout tracks. Like a majority of her lyrical content, “Nobody” is raw. We hear a woman completely vulnerable, and that vulnerability is seeping through the wonderful pop song. In the music video, it’s largely Mitski ft. Mitski in an eerie nightmare scene. It’s interesting watching the colourful, peculiar video for “Nobody” compared to the equally dramatic but grey video for “Geyser.” Be The Cowboy is fully immersed in drama and intimacy, and most importantly: confidence. Mitski continues to explore intimacy in the album’s second half. She shares the softness she feels in her heart through recurring motifs. Recurring motifs in music have always been fascinating to me, and I find it unfortunate that most artists don’t experiment with their lyrical approach and apply a motif or narrative. From “Nobody” onwards, we hear Mitski express a desire to be kissed. She’s “just asking for a kiss,” just “one good movie kiss” and she’ll be all right. In the beautiful, sweeping love ballad “Pink In The Night,” she’s glowing pink because she’s so infatuated with somebody and confesses, “I know I’ve kissed you before, but I didn’t do it right.” In the delightful “Washing Machine Heart”, she’s exasperated and craves to be kissed already! Then, she pleads, “somebody kiss me, I’m going crazy” in “Blue Light.” Mitski is an artist who knows her ambitions, is extremely self-aware and allows herself to portray the need to burst open through her music. Although she’s threatening to burst at the seams, there is something Mitski won’t let herself or listeners forget: she is a woman in control. For Be The Cowboy’s press release, Mitski explains the album title as “a kind of joke”, and continues to say, “There was this artist I really loved who used to have such a cowboy swagger. They were so electric live. With a lot of the romantic infatuations I’ve had, when I look back, I wonder, did I want them or did I want to be them? Did I love them or did I want to absorb whatever power they had? I decided I could just be my own cowboy.” Be The Cowboy is electric. The music seems to effortlessly veer from sombre piano ballads to upbeat pop, to slight jazz to sublime indie rock. This is something Mitski has always excelled at – making the complex sound remarkably simple. And, the simple things she does do are always fantastic. The straightforward fuzzy guitar riff running through “Remember My Name” has been in my head for days, and “I need something bigger than the sky, hold it in my arms and know it’s mine” is already a fan-favourite line. As is “it’s just that I fell in love with a war, and nobody told me it ended” from the epic and melancholic “A Pearl.” “A Pearl” may be the most essential song on Be The Cowboy. It’s the track that nails what Mitski asked herself in the press release – did she love them or did she want to absorb whatever power they had? “A Pearl” finds her rolling the pearl that was left over in her hand, only looking at this pretty object and avoiding examining toxicity that lies inside a relationship. Mitski doesn’t just look at something pretty, for nostalgia’s sake. She takes her listeners on journeys. She brings us to a school gymnasium in Be The Cowboy’s album closer, “Two Slow Dancers.” She keeps her dry wit with her as she reminds listeners of the smell of school gymnasiums; “It’s funny how they’re all the same.” The school gymnasium is the chosen destination for two ex-lovers to share a final dance. They are “two slow dancers, last ones out”, wishing the moment could last forever. “Two Slow Dancers” is mellow, but Mitski doesn’t hold back from sharing the anxiety of growing old. Though she’s still young herself, she can’t help focusing her fifth album on longing for the past and imagining relationships better than they actually were. To be honest, I’m relieved that Be The Cowboy breaks from the album closers of her past work. While “A Burning Hill” and “Last Words of a Shooting Star” are stunning, intense songs, they are worryingly frank songs that had me feeling like I was snooping through her diary. But here, she embraced fiction and larger-than-life storytelling. She became her own cowboy. With Be The Cowboy, Mitski has a newfound assurance that’s just wonderful for fans new and old to watch blossom before their eyes. Do you want to be your own cowboy? I know I want to be. --- Please consider supporting us so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/review/mitski-be-the-cowboy/

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