#Hillerska choir

[young-royals-confessions]

Confessing this anonymously for understandable reasons. First time I watched YR, I couldn’t understand how Simon was credible as the star of the school choir. Omar Rudberg has a good voice, but it’s very obviously a “pop music” voice. Choral music, at least at a high level, is a totally different type of vocal training.

It’s something I can hand wave away, upon rewatching. Because Simon is supposed to be a diamond in the rough who had no formal vocal training prior to starting at Hillerska a little over a month previously. So he would have the raw talent, but not the trained “choral/classical” sound.

But the first time watching the show, every solo of Simon’s made me think “This guy isn’t credible.” I just never admitted it because i know a lot of my fellow fans adore Omar’s music and his voice.

[raincitygirl76]

I just realized something. Hillerska must provide a fair bit of employment in Bjarstad. That bus stop can’t only be there for non-boarding students. There would be administrative staff, cooks, cleaners, groundskeepers, maintenance people. Plus occasional extra labour (from local catering companies, presumably) whenever Hillerska is having a special event like Parents Day or the jubilee.

And big regular orders to Bjarstad supermarkets, not to mention local tradespeople being called in whenever there’s a specialist problem the regular maintenance staff can’t fix. They’re old buildings. There would inevitably be plumbers, electricians, carpenters needed from time to time.

Adults Simon and Sara run into on campus would also be adults they’d run into in town. Which must have gotten seriously awkward for Simon after August leaked that fucking sex tape.

Also, while the housemasters and housemistresses would obviously have to live on campus, I doubt Hillerska would have room to house every teacher. Particularly the ones who have families of their own. And even if there was room, many teachers might prefer to have separation between work and the rest of their life. So they would live in Bjarstad.

Presumably teachers with families could send their own kids to Hillerska as non-boarders for free. That might even be a perk of teaching there. I wonder if the non-boarding kids of Hillerska teachers are treated with as much contempt as Simon and Sara.

Please note, I have discovered from helpful Swedish watchers of the show that none of the Hillerska students pay tuition to attend. It is illegal in Sweden to charge for schooling. Private boarding schools gets around this law by charging exorbitant amounts of money to the parents of boarders, theoretically for their room and board only. In practice, for the experience of upper class solidarity and an exclusive education. So non-boarders like Simon and Sara are seen as freeloaders by many of the boarders.

Please note, though, that Hillerska would receive revenue from the state for educating each and every student. I highly doubt those payments would cover all the fancy extras Hillerska offers. But Linda Eriksson is a taxpayer, and her taxes are helping to cover the expense of educating her non-boarding kids.

Also, private Swedish boarding schools can pick and choose which non-boarding applicants they will accept, unlike public schools which have to educate everyone. So I guess they’d pick the cream of the crop of Bjarstad locals, kids who stand out in some way, and will enhance the school’s standing.

Simon presumably for his musical talent, Sara probably for her grades. Or maybe on compassionate grounds, since she got bullied so unmercifully for years at the local public school. Hillerska could pat itself on the back for rescuing the poor girl from the scourge that is public education.

The above is my understanding from what I have picked up on Tumblr from Swedes. It’s entirely possible I didn’t get it all right. I’m just a Canadian, after all! If I misunderstood anything, please let me know and I’ll edit.

[raincitygirl76]

Holy shit, read this!!!!!

Okay but the scene where Wille sees Simon for the first time is cinematic excellence and in this essay I will discuss why

My cousin pointed this out to me that when Wilhelm arrives at the church, all our attention is taken up by the arrival of Felice, as she and Wilhelm greet each other.

We barely notice Simon entering the scene as it is Wilhelm's POV, and he doesn't notice Simon, so neither do we. Plus, they purposely placed him behing Felice so he never stands out.

Simon starts singing but he isn't giving his best. Wilhelm's attention is everywhere but not on Simon. In this scene, Simon is continuously going in and out of the camera's focus, sometimes even blurred. The lightening doesn't help either, Simon is clearly not the main subject.

But when the bloke interrupts the choir, that's when Simon starts giving his best and sings out loud in defiance. And that's when magic happens.

Wilhelm notices him properly for the very first time- he's the main subject of the camera and the lightening, he's the main lead now. Wilhelm actually ✨SEES✨ him, and so do we.

And for him Simon is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen at that moment, because just look at this- the angle, the light, his smile- everything just makes him look ethereal.

At that moment, he's the most beautiful thing we've seen too, all because Wille finds him to be. Combined with Omar's otherworldly singing, it's just *chef's kiss*

The cinematography of that whole montage is out of the world, it's so well thought out.

Stuck in my brain, it kept me sane ~

[young-royals-confessions]

How do I know Omar was sick in Remember scene? I'm a dinosaur in the fandom, Omar's hardcore (but quiet) fan and have a good memory.

Omar had an interview on youtube for brazilian channel Febre Teen back in 2021 (aired in 2022) where he answered some questions. Among other things he speaks a bit about his favourite song from S1, his experience with the choir and also mentions being sick while recording Remember.

Here's the interview, it's short and in English.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TgKnZTVABk

[learnthebreakdown]

The scene where the choir starts singing Simon's song instead of the og Hillerska song makes me so emotional. A lot of the show's classism/racism/prejudice is primarily shown through Simon's treatment, which I think as a fandom we often forget because it's become so normalized throughout the show. But think about it y'all- from day one Simon is bullied EVERYDAY day at his school for his socioeconomic class and values. That is EXHAUSTING, that slowly eats away at a person, and the fact that he manages to keep his sense of self throughout that at age 16 is impressive. And in season 3 that got compounded with the vulgar homophobic, racist, and classist hate comments he got from the public. He is constantly the one challenging that school's insane archaic and prejudiced values, despite the bullying. That school has NOT been kind to him, but when they sing the song that he was initially not allowed to sing, he sees that something he did at that school mattered. It did influence people, his bravery did change things. Simon Eriksson you will ALWAYS be famous.

[etvie]

Omar trying to walk like a nerdy choir kid in episode 1.

Omar saying fuck it, I’m a motherfucking star and so is Simon. Proceeds to walk through hillerska like a supermodel.

[young-royals-confessions]

I just started YR (once again). And was just wondering. Is this the first time the choir was preforming?

Because, Simon was first singing very still. He didn't know how loud he could sing in the Chapelle. (After Vincent being annoying, he gets loud)

Schoolyear just started for a month or so, right? Simon says to August he has been there a bit longer then a month. So school starts, maybe tryouts, practice...

They start at Hillerska when they are 16 not when they are 12 or 13 or so.

So, is it the first time the choir performs and it is immediately for the crown prince and prince Wilhelm. Everybody would be nervous for their first performance, right? (Even if you don't like the monarchy)

And olso the rest of the school reacts like they listened for the first time.

[othervee]

Finale thoughts!

Interesting to find out that Hillerska has had multiple warnings over several years and still didn't pull their heads in. Clearly they thought they were invincible.

Vincent and Nils stepping up to the plate when they see August's genuine distress, the way Vincent is stroking his arm. There's real friendship and love to be found, but you only see it when you're honest. Similarly, their reactions when they find out that August is backup. August receiving the posioned chalice. What else can he do now, though? He's lost Arnas, or at least part of it. He has to do the military service; he's in the position Wille has been in.

Haha, the housemaster having a drink with the boys. What else is he going to do?

Loved the scene with Felice dragging Wille to the party. Her facial expressions, she's so cute. Wille negotiating with Malin shows a level of maturity, but the male bodyguard is SO not impressed as he follows them to the palace, LOL.

LOVE that Simon brought Rosh and Ayub to the white party. And Ayub reassuring Rosh, after Stella shows herself for who she is. She's chosen the Hillerska way, all the way.

The scene between Wille and August in the clubroom. He didn't know it, but that was the closure he needed. THat they both needed. They've made peace, they can even develop a familial relationship again into the future, but right now this is as close to peace as they can have at this stage.

Nils, you giant dork. And also... They're shocked he didn't say anything earlier,  but would things have been different if he had?

No Royal house, no Prince, no socialist, no drama. No before. No later. Only now. As the previous song said, back to basics. Back to the pure connection they have with each other.

The lake scene. So beautiful.

Simon's Song! Did Felice initiate that, do we think? A few of the choir were smiling at Simon. Nice to see they all (or most of them) wanted that and not the musty old version.

Oh, Kristina, that really is too little too late, but I'm glad you came through in the end.

The little token the Queen and Duke put around August's neck is a frog prince. The symbolism would be a sledgehammer if the direction or script drew attention to that, but they don't.

In the car, Wille beginning to feel the panic attack happening, the constriction of the collar around his neck, and realising what that means. This is an unhealthy system and if he stays in it, this will be his life. The constriction, the desperation, literally struggling to breathe. Echoing Simon's words to him, "I've seen how it makes you feel". Being calm because he's no longer coming from a place of despair, a place where he has no control. And Kristina knows it. It was important for Wille to tell his parents he loves them. He's coming to terms and making peace with everyone.

That closing scene, oh my god. The montage was cheesy as fuck and I am here for it. The dialogue and the execution were not cheesy. They established the important things. Wille is doing this for his sake, not for Simon's. For the first time in his life he is making an informed, calm, active choice.

Simon's FACE. OMG. The shock, barely daring to believe it, but knowing when Wille says 'For my own sake' that this is it. It's real. And then! The tears, the gasping, the incredulous joy! Omar is a natural who stepped it up even more this season, and I do hope he continues to take on acting roles because he is amazing.

Wille's FACE. The joy but more importantly the PEACE.  His entire being, his posture, his aura changes and he radiates rightness. Edvin is incredible.

Also? They both look so, SO beautiful in this episode. This closing sequence, but really the entire episode.

Heading off into the sun, in white, whooping and cheering, Felice with her legs up on the dashboard, free.

And now I want LOADS of future fic about The Adventures of Wille, Simon, Sara och Felice. Tack, Lisa, for leaving it so open for us to do that!

[raincitygirl76]

He was SO happy about being commissioned to write the song in 2.01, and then in 2.05 Jan Olof took it away from him. And not for musical reasons.

SIMON ERIKSSON  Young Royals | 2.01

[caramelpenguin]

The most Wilhelm had heard Simon sing in Spanish was only a few muffled verses in Hillerska, when Simon thought he wasn't really listening. Then there was his birthday. And nothing after that.

Maybe it should've clicked months earlier, when he'd been invited to show his face at a concert celebrating Latin American culture, maybe he should've realised when Felice looked at him cautiously and double-checked if he was sure, maybe it should've clicked when he scanned through names and hovered over the word 'Eriksson', but he'd brushed it off as a common surname. A mere coincidence.

Or, maybe, he'd hoped from the first second he'd gotten the invite.

The venue is alive, humming with an energy that exists when music becomes culture and identity and history braided together. Simon is centre stage, bathed in a deep blue flood light, choir singers standing in a row behind him. His curls are shining, his eyes are gleaming with something unspoken. His voice, rich and velvety, floats through the air like a spell. He sings in Spanish with a confidence that sixteeen-year old Simon fought for, lost, and reclaimed along the way.

And Wilhelm has never been able to look away. He has always willingly succumbed.

It's been fourteen years since, and Simon is staggeringly beautiful. The years have made him sharper, brighter, has given pieces of himself back. Wilhelm almost feels as if he's been catapulted back in time. To the fragile moment when Simon's voice had enchanted him, had cracked open something in him.

It's been fourteen years, and Wille thinks about that time where Simon wasn't allowed to sing his song. Because it was linked to him, to his position.

It's been fourteen years, and looking at the man glowing on the stage, Wilhelm knows he's a fool to have ever assumed he'd fallen out of love.

[raincitygirl76]

In 1.05, Simon gestures at Wilhelm to come here as they’re walking to class. But then August calls Wilhelm over, and he leaves Simon alone. Can’t let on in public how much he wants to spend time with Simon. And that’s even before they’ve been outed. Wille is in full closet mode.

In 2.06, Simon makes that same gesture, this time in a much more loaded situation with tons more witnesses. The Queen and the Prince Consort have just walked past the choir on their way to the jubilee, and Wilhelm is on a tight schedule. Also, Simon’s gesturing isn’t particularly subtle. Nonetheless, Wille demands Jan-Olof stop everything for a few minutes so he can talk to Simon in private. Even though there is literally a chair under the marquee waiting for Wille, and the queen is probably wondering why her son hasn’t emerged yet.

Gotta love character growth. Season 1 Wilhelm was a lot more worried about keeping up appearances and being discreet. Season 2 Wilhelm will absolutely follow Simon to the nearest semi-private space for a chat, no matter how many people it inconveniences and no matter how it messes up the jubilee schedule. And no matter whether it causes people to remember about the sex tape Wille claimed he wasn’t in.

Growth.

He is so 🥺🤏😩🫶 with his little kom

[themarsbar]

Getting emotional about Wille seeing Simon sing for the first time.

How many times are Wille’s feelings and agency dismissed just in the first ten minutes? A decision was made to move him to Hillerska, he was completely excluded from the discussion, all his protests are promptly ignored, his anxiety about the situation is brushed off with a literal slap and he’s forced to speak to the nation and pretend that he’s okay with all of that. He doesn’t go down without a fight but his attempts are feeble. He’s had an entire system against him all his life and that system is also his family.

And then he starts at this school where he has no reason not to expect everyone to be complicit with that system (why should he?), and here comes this (cute) choir boy who’s so beautifully defiant, so unafraid to literally raise his voice to make himself be heard and respected. It’s all Wille has been trying to do and this boy does it with such grace and with such power, and so naturally I bet that for a moment it made Wille feel like he could do anything.

Of course he’s immediately smitten here, of course

[bluedalahorse]

Jag var lost, innan jag hittade hem: Simon as Composer

A post written for YRFavesFest2024, graciously hosted by @youngroyals-events. This is in response to prompt #24.

credit to @scatteredpiecesofme for the screencaps

My favorite moment of Simon singing comes in season 2, where he’s composing his own version of the Hillerska school song. Compared to the choir scenes, this is a more intimate moment. The light is dim and the piano is propped up on the bed. Simon’s comfy clothes and Wille’s sweater. (I do love a good stolen sweater scene for any character and pairing.) This is the version of himself he isn’t showing to the world, yet.

One of the things I like about this scene is the way we see Simon healing through art. He went through a lot with Wille in the previous season, and it’s important that Simon has this creative space to process what he went through. While he’s been asserting boundaries in Wille’s prescence, here in his room he can be vulnerable. It’s also important that Simon is rewriting the school song. Hillerska hasn’t exactly been a kind space for him, but as he composes, he attempts to claim a piece of that experience for himself. This is his way of saying I am here and you can’t erase that.

While Simon is in his room, we hear Linda softly talking on the phone in the background. It sounds like she’s speaking to relatives about a potential family reunion, and we hear who’s coming from what part of the world. It’s a really subtle touch that reminds us of Simon’s second generation immigrant status—how that comes with a scattered sense of home and family, but also a kind of resilience.

I really like the way this scene brings together so may important themes for the series and Simon’s characterization. It’s quiet, but also meaningful.

To close it out, a little photography:

Do you think I can resist posing one of my American Girl dolls as an homage to Composer Simon? I absolutely cannot.

[triz-costa]

Young Royals Fic Recs II

Strings Attached by kuramasgirl17 (Chapters 18/18) (Canon Rewrite) (Part 1)

Duty versus love. Head versus heart. There have always been two parts to Prince Wilhelm: Wilhelm, the prince he was born as, and Wille, the normal boy he wants to be. Then he meets Simon, and suddenly, everything changes. Wille changes. So, he invites Simon to spend Parent’s Weekend with him at Hillerska, beginning a relationship that tests the boundaries of what it means to keep both parts of himself separate. But, when stakes become higher, and their feelings become stronger, can Wille reconcile the two parts of himself without losing Simon? - - - OR, a canon rewrite where Erik lives, beginning just before Parent’s Weekend, covering S1-2.

Tethered by kuramasgirl17 (Chapters 18/18) (Canon Rewrite) (Part 2)

Everyone has a choice. Or, that was at least what Simon believed before he met Wilhelm. Wilhelm should represent everything he detests – the monarchy, title, unearned wealth and privilege. But then Simon meets him, and he finds just how wrong his assumptions were. As he gets to know Wille, who’s just an awkward, endearing boy, Simon just. can’t. stay. away. So, when Wille invites Simon to spend the weekend with him, Simon learns there is one thing you can’t choose: who you love. But, as feelings grow in secret and promises can’t be made, is love truly enough to conquer all? - - - OR, Simon’s POV of the companion story, Strings Attached.

All the people are fake (young royals one-shots) by allofthestarz/@allthefakepeople (Chapters 13/?)

A selection of Young Royals one-shots based on tumblr ask prompts

Like the Open Highway by Ripki (Post S3)

“I’m keeping you,” Simon murmurs, grazing his teeth over Wille’s ear, “I’m keeping you forever.” In the immediate aftermath of the season finale, as they drive away from Hillerska, Simon is utterly, hopelessly in love.

Sorry about the blood in your mouth (I wish it was mine) by witchjeons

In the aftermath of the video, Simon falls apart. Wilhelm is there to put him back together.

The neon lights on your face and your body on mine by andycreations

What if the first episode ended a little differently and not so cliff-hanger-like? - There was a slightly glistening outline of his palm across half of Simon’s face as sweat collected around the digits of his fingers. Simon licked his lips in a sinful way, tasting the saltiness of the sweaty layer on his tongue, noticing how Wille’s gaze fell down on his lips. Goodness, so he noticed. -

Kiss me like you wanna be loved by Skamtrash (Erik lives)

Simon and Erik unexpectedly meet + Wille and Erik talk about Simon + the boys can't keep their hands off each other after dinner with Erik

We should escape for the night by Piebingo/@piebingo

By the end of the practice, he is confident that he will get into the choir, thus securing a place at Hillerska with Sara. The teacher dismisses them and motions for Simon to come and see her. As he makes his way to her, the girl who had been eyeing him earlier lets out a squeal. “Prince Wilhelm will transfer here next week!” She says, effectively creating chaos in the room. *** Simon and Sara transfer to Hillerska the same day Prince Wilhelm does. What happens when Wilhelm and Simon have their initiation at the same time?

Young Royals Watch the Show by emwrites19 (Chapters 4/8)

The morning following Wilhelm's whole... face butting a person on camera situation, his mother, father, and brother all are snatched up by a time-twisting, dimension-traveling girl who goes by the name Adahlia. She reveals to them that she's brought them all together to watch Wille's, and subsequently their own, future! AKA: A reaction fic where Erik is besties with Simon AS HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, Kristina exists, and Erik doesn't die - or does he? - though he does feel extreme guilt for dying.

Rewinding Young Royals by At_the_Gates (Chapters 8/?)

Wilhelm had already been having a bad week. His black eye still stung from the fight at the club, and soon, he'd be attending Hillerska Boarding School for three fuckin' years. So, when he is seemingly kidnapped by crazy people who want him to watch 12 episodes about his future, it would make sense for his week to plunge from bad to awful. Except, there's something intriguing about the curly-haired boy that's supposed to watch the episodes with him.

[raincitygirl76]

LOL, @zee-has-commitment-issues is definitely not wrong!!!!

Absolutely wild that Wilhelm and Simon still thought they were a secret even though they kept sneaking off and openly staring at each other longingly and loudly arguing in open common areas and storming out of rooms when they got jealous and being petty in PE by throwing dodgeballs at heads and refusing to pass each other the ball and asking Jan Olof for a second so they could share a prolonged hug in a visible hallway.

Truly remarkable how their teenage brains work.

[piebingo]

More yr fanfic recommendations here you go!

All my loving (I will send to you) | chaptered | completed | by pagegirlintraining / @pagegirlintraining

“ Especially now that they’d been happily dating again for nearly ten months, Simon could’ve easily just teased Wille about being a drama queen and then kissed the pout off his lips.

He didn’t, though. Instead, he kept staring at Wille’s handwriting, usually scrawly but now tidy and precise, feeling his heart slowly break for the sad, lonely boy who’d written and never sent this letter all those months ago.”

In which Simon finds an unsent love letter from Wille and decides to reply in big style.

I have read this one many times, because it’s just that good. As is everything by this author. This fic is just full of love and sweetness and captures everything I love about wilmon and their love. Do yourself a favour and read it (again, if you’ve already read it).

You’re still the one | chaptered | completed | by queerfrogprince / @thewaterloovases

Simon and Wille meet on tumblr as teenagers, but when they lose contact, Simon doesn't think he'll ever hear from Wille again, much less bump into him in a supermarket in Stockholm one random afternoon. It's been five years, after all. He barely even thinks about Wille anymore.

But, it seems, Wille never stopped thinking about him. Maybe it's not too late to rekindle what they had at fifteen, after all.

AKA Simon has only ever loved two boys: Harry Styles, and Prince Wilhelm of Sweden.

If, like me, you can be a bit hesitant when real people are included in fics, this is one I recommend anyway! It’s really cute and feels a bit like an ode to tumblr. Wilmon starting as best friends will always get me. Also read the second one in the series!

The season of rebirth | chaptered | completed | by notalotgoingonatthisinstant/ @notalotgoingonatthisinstant

Simon knows two things:

1. Wille is the love of his life and Simon would have married him already if not for him being the Crown Prince. Plus, Simon knows that they won’t be treated like a serious couple by a lot of people until then. BUT,

2. Marrying Wille will be a spectacle that will change his life forever and strip him of his civilian identity, apart from giving the Queen and the Court the satisfaction of tiring Simon out.

But Easter is the season of rebirth, and maybe there is something poetic to be said about it triggering the death of Simon's civilian identity and the birth of Prince Simon.

This fic is a pure delight! It’s sweet and funny, and Wille is a little shit and Simon is Simon, and you should really check out this whole series actually.

See you (soon) | chaptered | completed | by gulliblelemon / @gulliblelemon

All of a sudden Wille didn’t hate everything. Or, he still hated most things. But he didn’t hate whoever this person was, singing with all his might on a sunny stage in front of hundreds of boring, judgemental spectators.

OR

Wille never attends Hillerska but is still dragged to the jubilee celebrations, where he sees an angelic choir boy for the first time and maybe falls a little bit in love. He drums up the courage to talk to him, and then does everything in his power to see him again. And Erik is around to tease him a little bit too.

This was very sweet (I like sweet fics, what can I say?) and I loved seeing how they would meet again and again. I love those kind of AU where they meet anyway, even if Wille doesn’t go to Hillerska. I suggest reading the whole series.

Simon-Appreciation-Posts | oneshot | completed | by DrogonTheDragon

Wille didn't mean for it to blow up as it did. He didn’t.

… or

Wille makes a secret Simon Eriksson fan account and it gets a lot more attention than he intended.

Listen, I love me some good media posts in fics, but I love it even more when Wille makes them because he’s obsessed with Simon. He loves to look at pictures of Simon! We’ve seen it! Anyway this a nice fun fic that brings the mood up.

Ours | oneshot | completed | by RubyIntyale / @earlgrey-lateatnight

He leaned over Simon’s bed to grab another pillow, something to rest his back against so the ridge of the mattress would stop digging in so badly.

Huh. That was weird. Why did Simon have…? Oh.

I love love love when people write that missing scene, and this one is amazing.

Other recs: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5