#Hollywood music discussion

[esonetwork]

Songs Not Even Nominated | Tales From Hollywoodland

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Songs Not Even Nominated | Tales From Hollywoodland

Classic songs go with Oscar telecasts, but it’s simply amazing how many classics were never nominated in the Best Song category.  This week on Tales from Hollywoodland, Arthur, Julian, and Steve examine the musical track record of the Academy Awards, wondering aloud how so many songs not only didn’t receive Oscar gold but weren’t even nominated – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, “Singin’ in the Rain,” “To Sir with Love,” “Staying Alive” – they all came up empty. 

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[jeffcbliss]

About last night: It was Hollywood, "Stop Making Sense," and Talking Heads.

By most accounts, Talking Heads’ 1984 concert film "Stop Making Sense" is considered by many "a cinematic and musical masterpiece." (On many critics' and musicians' lists, the film and recording are viewed as the best concert movie and record...ever.)

Ahead of a new version's release on Blu-ray, fans were treated to a screening of it last night at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre—where it was originally shot over four nights. It included a Q&A led by Andy Richter with the members of Talking Heads: David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison. The chat was filled with recollections of the original shoot(s), the band's influences, and their individual takes on the film's place in popular culture.

In addition to the chat with the band and the film's screening (which was more like a religious revival meeting with dancing in the aisles, screaming, sing-a-longs, hands-raised-to-Heaven, etc.). the band, Blondshell, played “Thank You for Sending Me an Angel,” from the "Everyone’s Getting Involved" tribute album.

Photos: Jeff Bliss

[weallpartyatybcpatricksfuneral]

fall out boy should have done a youngblood chronicles type thing for folie a deux starring the suitehearts

[frenchtwistresistance]

Four fifty year old women with their original, naturally aged faces in mother-of-the-bride get-ups singing their old hits to sold out auditoriums across America in 1978… never not low-key thinking about this. 😍😍😍😍

[scapegoated-if]

DEMO (118K) SOUNDTRACK PINTEREST Chapter 1 Release Date: 14th Mar 2025

All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey.

18+ This interactive story includes graphic violence, sexual content, alcohol and drug use, profanity and more.

Disclaimer Gender and race-locked IF due to discussions of gender and racial politics throughout.

Take centre stage as a former-rockstar turned actress navigating your new career and the chilling grip of fan-obsession. Your once-famous band may be nothing short of a ghost of the past to you, but the rest of the world cannot seem to let go. The split in 1968 was scandalous, abrupt and mysterious. And although you’ve thrown yourself into acting and secured your first major role with a big time Hollywood director, whispers of blame have been on your tail ever since.

While most of Hollywood sees these rumours for what they are--empty gossip--a darker current takes precedence and poses a much more sinister threat to your life and the lives of those around you.

✼ Shape and mould into your truest ‘70s self. Perhaps you’re a mod-girl or a hippie? ✼ Interact with '60s and '70s icons on the Sunset Strip. ✼ Help uncover the identity of the 'Ampersand Killer' terrorising the West Coast. ✼ Decide which career path is more fitting for you. Are you made to live on the silver screen or stadium stages? ✼ Maintain and better your physical health and self-defence skills. ✼ Pick from a selection of love interests (including two gender-choice options). ✼ Includes an array of potential flings. ✼ A catalogue of original songs for fictional musicians.

Vincent "Vince" Buscemi, the ex-bandmate ⇢ You were part of one of the most renowned bands of the '60s together. Vince is a jaded soul, harbouring deep-seated reservations about many people--most notably the band's keyboardist--but he has always had a soft spot for you. Despite his guarded demeanour, he exudes effortless charm and impeccable manners, a testament to his healthy upbringing. Though widely celebrated as a pop-culture heartthrob, Vince defies superficial stereotypes. His truest passion lies in music, and it's clear that nothing in the world brings him greater joy.

Penn Hausler, the filmmaker ⇢ Though still considered an up-and-coming filmmaker, Penn has already made a name for himself as a creative force in the industry, thanks to his latest hit starring Faye Dunaway. He radiates charisma, with a shining personality and a sharp sense of humour. He's unmistakably a nerd--passionately devoted to his craft. He's also prone to being a bit of a square, often finding himself tangled in bouts of nervous awkwardness. Despite this, his unwavering commitment to his vision sets him apart, and he's not afraid to take bold creative risks. Case in point: he has cast you as a supporting actress in his next film.

Kai/Kaya Anahareo (m/f), the folksinger ⇢ Although they haven't yet broken into the mainstream, K is a highly skilled musician deeply respected by their peers. Their artistry intertwines seamlessly with their role as a political activist, with much of their protest powerfully conveyed through their music. K is the embodiment of levelheadedness, exuding an aura of calm and balance that draws people to them. Their presence is steady and reassuring, much like the songs they sing--thoughtful, impactful and unwavering.

Dorinda Fisher, the journalist ⇢ Dorinda is a sharp, driven and fiercely dedicated journalist. Relentless in her pursuit of a story or a hard-to-find answer, she doesn't back down easily. Hailing from a small town, she's well-read and possesses a no-nonsense approach to life. You first crossed paths through your bandmate, whom she dated earlier in your career. During the US leg of your tour, she joined the band on the road while freelancing, documenting the whirlwind of your band's journey during a fair few defining months in your rise to fame.

Please note: You will have the option to decide whether the two of you had a romantic connection in the past while you were on the road. If you choose not to follow through with this backstory, you can still romance her as a new connection.

Phillip/Phyllis Wright (m/f), the movie star ⇢ P is a Hollywood icon, a name already as timeless and celebrated as the likes of both Hepburns, Cary Grant and Sidney Poitier. An Academy Award-winning actor, they embody the pinnacle of cinematic stardom, capturing Penn's admiration and dream of collaboration. Known for their charm, striking good looks and effortless sophistication, P commands every room they enter.

Lesley Nielsen, the detective ⇢ Detective Inspector Nielsen is a man married to his work. His guarded and disciplined demeanour can often make him seem laborious, but beneath the tough exterior lies a dry wit and the ability to crack a well-timed joke. A strikingly handsome gentleman, he's adept with a handgun and keeps one at his side at all times. A seasoned veteran of the force, Nielsen only crosses paths with you once he's assigned as the lead detective on the high-profile Ampersand Killer case. Whether you share much in common is up in the air, but one thing is certain: your mutual determination to bring a cold-blooded murderer to justice.

[mistyheartrbs]

the barbie movie really does have everything. a utopian barbie society with a portal to our world. car chases. musical numbers. genuinely nuanced conversations around the double standards women are expected to uphold and never address, articulated multiple times by multiple characters establishing that the legacy of barbie (the franchise) is neither wholly positive nor wholly negative. BBC’s Pride & Prejudice (1996). an omnipotent narrator voiced by helen mirren. a second omnipotent narrator voiced by lizzo. ghosts. horses. half the cast of sex education? lesbian subtext. an original soundtrack full of brand new songs that also includes at least three separate needledrops of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.  sisterhood and also discussions of the difficulty of “sisterhood.” Beach. some of the best set design i’ve seen in a contemporary hollywood movie. existentialism. california. more lesbian subtext. earring magic ken. what a movie

[hotvintagepoll]

Vintage movie recommendations for getting through these dark times? 🙏 Looking specifically for anything joyous, especially if it's queer/progressive for its time. Thanks!!

ooh ok! that's a big ask, because queer/progressive doesn't always show in the ways we expect in older movies. still, joyous i can do, and as poly as I can I'll try for:

the talk of the town (you knew i would say this). jean arthur, cary grant, ronald colman are all tangled up in all sorts of ways, legally but also including in each other's pajamas. it's free on youtube and tubi last time i checked!

singin' in the rain (you also knew i would say this). cosmo brown, weird little third wheeling queerplatonic ideal that you are. gene kelly, debbie reynolds, and donald o'connor have fire chemistry and all three of their characters love the other ones so truly and with such joy they break all of hollywood with the power of song. (it is gorgeous and sublime that the story is built so only these three ever actually engage with the musical format—the format that is, in universe, the way of the future—structurally equating music and musicals with love. no one else gets a song or a villain number or a little ditty that's not a literal musical number. only these three break the story and heal it at the same time.)

the adventures of robin hood—i swear to god will scarlett is good for nothing else besides being robin's hot little friend. will alone makes this movie queer for me. also, watching a movie about a socialist uprising against a cruel and unjust government sure feels apt! for no particular reason! (this one is also on tubi.)

the philadelphia story—jimmy katharine and cary are absolutely a threesome in this movie and it's a crime they didn't just make more of this movie, again and again, forever. is there a plot? they're all by a swimming pool, it's hot, there's champagne. what else do you need for a film. oh yeah there's some discussion of autonomy and women's rights and wealth and class and marriage, some of which i disagree with, but i think mostly it's katharine hepburn in an evening gown and jimmy stewart in a white terry cloth robe and cary grant standing there not minding in the least. (content warning: there is one instance of a racial slur [not directed at anyone but still there], and one shove. also on tubi.)

the lady vanishes—i love this movie, so much, couldn't tell you why (i can: michael redgrave is here being hot). there are two bit characters who read as queer coded (they are also obsessed with cricket and are mocked for being english by the narrative, which is nice), and there's a weird plucky joy in michael redgrave's performance that feels like a departure from your usual Solid Very Serious Male Heroic Main Character. this movie does trend mildly xenophobic in a very England-in-the-30s type of way—there are shady "foreign" characters and other batshit stereotypes—but nothing I think that would cause direct offense. (let me know if I'm wrong on this though and I'll tag accordingly). this one is free anywhere and can be watched on youtube.

the wizard of oz—i know you've probably seen this before but it's worth seeing again. yes you're allowed to cry at the end i always do

[sweetiepoison]

Famous Baby (social media blurb)

Who’s (Y/f/n) (Y/l/n) Dating Now?

(Y/f/n) (y/l/n) has been in the spotlight since she was 15 so it’s no surprise her relationships have been as well. From first love to whirlwind romance , we’ve seen it all from the singing sensation. She’s mainly been in serious relationships, but the lineup is impressive.

Shawn Mendes

(Y/l/n) and Mendes came into the spotlight around the same time. The pair met, instantly hit it off, and became the new young Hollywood “it” couple. They dated for three years from 2014-2017 and wrote a few of their hit songs about each other. (Y/f/n)’s song ‘Dandelions’ on her debut album is about Mendes. The love wasn’t one sided though, as Mendes reveled many of his love songs were about (y/l/n). After winning an American Music Award, Mendes said, “All of my songs are about her, so this award is as much hers as it is mine, she’s my inspiration.

We loved watching their young love romance evolve, but the two split in early 2017. (Y/f/n) discussed the breakup on the Jimmy Fallon show. “We just realized we were growing apart and going in different directions, but he will always hold a special place in my heart as my first love and no can ever replace that.”

Harry Styles

The British singer is (y/l/n)’s longest and most high profile relationship. The two began dating at the end of 2017 and remained together for four years before breaking things off. Their love caught the attention of the world and had many talking. It’s believed Styles hit song, Adore you is about (y/l/n) before they were official.

The couple raised the bar for relationships. Harry took (y/f/n) on a vacation to Greece for her 21st birthday. Which she followed up by throwing him a massive surprise party with all of his close friends and family. When asked about their relationship in an interview (y/l/n) said, “Harry is the type of boyfriend girls dream of. He loves me so well and he wears his heart on his sleeves which is beautiful.”

The breakup came as a surprise to many as it seemed the couple was going strong. It didn’t last for long though as they got back together at the end of 2022 before finally calling it quits mid 2023. Neither have revealed why they split, but both have remained consistent and committed to supporting each other.

Michael B. Jordan

During her brief break with Harry, (y/f/n) dated Creed actor, Michael B. Jordan. Despite the 11 year age gap the couple had a lot in common and spent plenty of special occasions together. Jordan helped her celebrate her 24th birthday where we got their most infamous pictures together as a couple.

The relationship lasted 10 months before they broke up and (y/l/n) was back with Styles. Despite the sudden end Jordan had only good things to say, “She’s an amazing, hardworking woman who deserves all the success she’s had.”

Auston Matthews

The newest boyfriend on the list may be NHL superstar, Auston Matthews. An insider reveals they saw Matthews and (y/l/n) at a bar together in Toronto. They were with a group of friends including Justin and Hailey Bieber, but the two seemed particularly close. The pair was also spotted leaving together at the end of the night. While nothing is confirmed, we could definitely get behind this match.

[angrykittybarbarian]

Things that bother me about Dragon Age: The Veilguard part 3 (final thoughts)

I have finally finished the playthrough. I endured because I wanted to give this game a fair chance. I wanted to see it from start to finish in the hopes it would deliver something, anything capable of redeeming it. But it just didn't. Or more precisely, not in a way sufficient to make its flaws easy to overlook. These are my closing impressions on the game. I have already done two posts about this in which I documented my observations and comments as I progressed. I will link the posts here: Part 1, Part 2.

Let's finish this ride for now.

!Spoilers below the cut!

The music

I don't know what the direction of the music was meant to take. When it was announced Hans Zimmer would compose the OST I had high hopes. Hans Zimmer is a houshold name in Hollywood and skilled at what he does. I listened to a number of movie OSTs of his making and they were all excellent. So what happened here?

The music sounds generic most of the time without a clear theme or a unique piece that got me searching for it on youtube.

The main theme has sort of a recognizable composition but isn't anything outstanding. Emmrich's theme sounds like a halloween piece written for Wednesdsy Adams and the rest of the OST seems to mimic Trevor Morris' work for DA:I, namely the Lost Temple and In Hushed Whispers themes, but without the emotional impact the original pieces created.

It's as someone has already pointed out and I agree: Bioware has bought the name Hans Zimmer but not his quality. It sounds like he didn't even seriously create something but half heartedly whipped something out of his sleeve and called it a day.

The facial animations

The main problem with these is they often don't fit the emotions the VAs are communicating.

The VAs actually did a fantastic job. The scene that touched me the most was the one Rook confronts Solas in after they escape the regret prison in the fade. That was the first time Rook felt involved, raw and real.

But what broke the atmosphere in an otherwise flawless scene was how unmoving their facial expression was. There was the VA shouting their lung out and the animation couldn't even give half a fuck about it.

I don't even see an excuse for this lack of facial animation. It was possible to do since DA:O, hell, even since the first Mass Effect back in '07. Why is it not possible in the year of our Lord 2024, when technology is presumably better?

The handholding of the player

The plot is tightly paced. This is not necessarily a bad thing as I didn't really like the Open World approach of DA:I since it stretched the main plot too thinly and the maps created weren't filled with interesting side content but boring and pointless fetch quests.

But Veilguard went into the opposide extreme as it leaves only little room for the player when and how to do things. The quests are activated and must be completed in a specific order. They have also only one outcome without room to make different decisions.

Rook can never be truly ruthless. They can never disagree and butt heads with their companions.

And I hate how on the side of the screen the game exactly tells you what you have done and how it affects your companions' behaviour. It doesn't bake it into the interaction organically. Instead it has yet again, explained to me what I did and why it has this very specific effect without any of the characters discussing it. But the beauty of consequential decisions lies in the very unpredictability of its outcome. That's what creates the emotional impact. It doesn't work if I am being warned and explained to like a small child.

It's this lack of trust the game puts into the intelligence of its players that is so experience breaking, insulting even. It doesn't trust its players to figure stuff out themselves. It assumes we are too stupid to get any of the things it tries to tell us.

The ting is though, dear Bioware writers, if you think you have to overexplain your story because you think your audience won't get it then that's a telltale sign of the story being actually badly written.

Another area where this becomes appearant are the "puzzles". I used the quotation marks because there isn't really anything to solve. The solutions are obvious and at times your companions go out of their way to tell you.

The romances

Romances have always been a nice bonus on top of the otherweise amazing game content. They added some enjoyable extra fluff purely for enjoyment and some cases even deepened the main storyline.

In Veilguard they don't do that. In almost all of them the flirting is so meaningless that your cutscene with them just proceeds as if nothing happened.

There is no shift or change to their tone towards Rook. You don't build up the relationship with them. There is no last goodbye kiss before the last mission or passionate affirmations of love and trust. It just leaves you cold.

The only romance that seems to have that old depth is Emmrich's. The rest however, they don't add anything significant. There virtually is no difference to the game without the romances.

Companion relationships

Let's begin here with the simple fact that all deeper interactions Rook has with the companions are strictly scripted which ties back into the handholding part of this criticism. Rook cannot initiate a conversation and ask them some general questions about their histories and opinions on certain matters.

Rook only gets to interact with them when they happen to want something from them. Otherwise they cannot be bothered to acknowledge Rook with more than a one sided oneliner.

And then there are the relationships between the companions themselves. They either get along swimmingly or the game feels the need to stage some immature conflict between them without any deeper purpose.

Like Harding not understanding why Emmrich brings so many books on the road despite it literally not being any of her damn business bevause it doesn't personally affect her in any way.

Or Taash not understanding his profession as a Mournwatcher as they call him names so Rook has to point out Taash in turn likes dragons which is an interest he doesn't share only to culminate the discussion with a "We need to respect our differences" sort of statement.

These are not conflicts, these are squabbles of children and like children Roik talks to them which is brought ad absurdum with Emmrich because he is literally old enough to be Rook's father.

Why bother at all with writing conflict if it is only to be something as inconsequential as this?

Varric's death

This one is a .... choice.

I won't go into why the decision to let him die or not is good or bad because I feel like this is highly subjective.

However the impact of the reveal of this fact is only partly executed well.

Why?

Because it only hits hard when the player has known and cared about Varric at least since DA:I if not DA 2. The execution of this plotpoint thus relies too heavily on nostalgia instead of building the tension up within its own setting.

When thinking about Bioware also wanting to be newcomer friendly with this game I am left to wonder then why they didn't introduce Varric properly and didn't give the players time to build up the relationship? Why would a new player care about Varric? They don't know him.

Bioware cannot in good conscience claim they designed the game to be new player friendly while simultaniously heavily relying on knowledge from previous games, dlcs, comics, novels and other spin-off media. They cannot claim this and have anything but DATV do the heavy lifting when it comes to executing their plot.

The final mission

For my final point I also want to lose some positive feedback about this game.

The ending was actually well written.

In relation to Solas it comes full circle. You can actually feel what's at stake and the decisions Rook makes actually matter.

The final questline roughly follows a Mass Effect 2 approach where it is classified as nothing short of a suicide mission.

Companion quests essentially function as loyalty missions and Rook gets to assign various posts in battle. Just like in Mass Effect 2 assigning a companion a post completely outside of their expertise may get them killed.

The dialogue is actually written well at this point in the game. There isn't really much to complain about.

But even this part is not entirely without faults.

For one I don't like the non negotiable sacrifice that has either to be made by Harding or Davrin. Rook doesn't even get a chance to save any of them. But again these non negotiable companion deaths where you only make the choice who's it's going to be isn't anything new (i.e. Hawke and whatever Warden you happen to get, Kaidan/Ashley in ME 1). So maybe a bit if a bummer but nothing experience breaking.

A stronger point however is that Rook will always keep the Veil intact in the end.

I suppose this outcome already is part of the game title itself but was it necessary to take it so literally?

With everything the elves have lost and the discrimination they faced it should absolutely have been an option to agree with Solas and tear the Veil down.

But since we don't talk about racism and slavery I guess Rook doesn't reflect on these points either. So I guess keeping the Veil intact is in line with the game's general sanitization of the world.

So in conclusion?

The game is far from great, not gonna lie. It feels like the devs actually wanted a new IP but were too afraid of the risks that come with such an endeavor and thought gutting an existing franchise that already did the heavy lifting of building a fanbase and using it as a package would save their ideas from flopping. Surely no one will notice it is actually something else if we market it as Dragon Age, right?

But we are not that stupid. This behaviour is insulting to put it plain and simple and I am heartbroken, angry and said that this was done to Dragon Age. I wanted to love this game. I was optimistic before the release. Everything looked fine, nothing in particular to worry about.

But I cannot continue to defend this without breaking my basic brain function.

The most frustrating part is that with the ending the devs showed they can write a story and meaningful dialogues. It left me wondering why it couldn't be done like this for the rest of the game and living with the reality that I will never get what this game could have been.

All in all this is not a good Dragon Age game. It is a massive disappointment and does not live up to the promises made by the devs.

I am sorry for everyone who preordered.

I am sorry for everyone who paid the full release price.

Nominating it for Game of the Year is not justified no mattee how you look at it.

If you are genuinely enjoying the game, I hope you continue to do so and all power to you.

For the rest: let's stop excusing Bioware's disrespect towards the fans and enabling them by paying them too much money for it.

Don't buy at release. Don't buy spin off media. Wait for sales. These people only understand the problem when you give them a good run for their money.

[ferrstappen]

Can I request petty jealous charles? He’s just quietly stewing in his anguish. I think it’s be funny if someone that he looks up to, like a musician or something, was flirting with his gf and this really upsets him. And he acts petty for a few days

a/n: sorry for the delay babeeee :( but here it issss. also this features Bad bunny bc I saw the pics of him arriving in Monaco and idk got the inspo. also we're going to pretend the last music challenge takes place after Monaco.

titi we don't care l Charles Leclerc

All eyes were on Monaco, and with good reason.

Engines roaring, cameras flashing, boat traffic (if that's a thing), Hollywood making their way from Cannes to the Principality, spotting old money meters away, most of them trying to get a word with Charles.

It was fine in the beginning, this wasn't the first Monaco GP you attended, but after the first free practice ended and Charles was grabbed from right to left, the Ferrari hospitality grabbing most of the attention of wealthy people, whispering how F1 was less exclusive by the day, too popularized, lousy celebrities getting an invite and they’d probably be present for Indy 500 and Le Mans. Shameful.

The same people were examining you, eyeing the “simple” Trina Turk dress and Bimba & Lola bag, gifted by Isa on your birthday, hanging from your arm, all before Charles PR manager approached to tell you he, the home hero, wouldn't be available until practices were over, too many press and meetings in between.

Then, a man with a glass of wine sat down next to you, telling you it was fucked up they wouldn't let the drivers prepare for what they were supposed to do, which was driving. Esta bien cabrón, those were his exact words.

He introduced himself as Benito, of course you knew him as Bad Bunny, his songs being everywhere and wasn't he dating Kendall Jenner?

He kept you entertained, bad mouthing the snotty people surrounding, stopping the conversation to greet people who approached him. Isa joined soon after, also shaking her head at the fact Carlos and Charles would have to spend almost the entire day worrying about media instead of resting and discussing strategies with the team for Sunday.

Conversation was easy, barely noticing the hospitality getting a bit more crowded, louder. It was the WhatsApp group with your girlfriends that got your attention, attaching pictures and asking what was going on between you and Bad Bunny. What?

Of course, Twitter was full of you laughing at something he said or before he pointed something funny or imitated a rich person making conversation on how quiet luxury was a trend now and how it wasn't fair for them, fucking Succession.

Suddenly, someone grabbed your waist from behind, making you jump because the only person allowed to grab you like that was supposed to be around somewhere, being interviewed or filming content, but you were wrong, a big grin appearing at the sight of Charles, full white and red, overall hanging on his waist and white Ferrari cap, hair fluffy from the heat and running his fingers through it.

"Bebé, I thought you'd be busy all the day," You kissed his lips, subtly squeezing his waist through the suit.

Yes, he was supposed to be busy until the day was over and you could head back home, but in-between interviews Charles checked his phone to the dismay of every PR worker in Ferrari, but his Twitter was filled with mentions of pictures. First they were pictures of you alone in the hospitality, Charles smiled knowing you were probably bored but stayed so he wouldn't be alone, but...

user1: Not Bad Bunny shooting his shot at Leclerc's girl 💀

user2: BENITO GET AWAY she's ms leclerc!!!11!

user3: damn, Charles Leclerc getting screwed by Ferrari and his girlfriend

user4: (y/n)'s probably bored af, Isa got to Monaco a couple of minutes ago and she's talking with Benito, big deal leave her alone she's there for Charles.

A strange feeling brewed in his stomach, he instantly knew he was jealous. Did he have a good reason? No, he trusted you and the relationship with his life, but he was obviously and painfully aware people wanted you; your good nature, gorgeous features, bright smile, perfectly shaped boobs... yes, it didn't sound fair when he left a trails of broken hearts and loving eyes everywhere he went, people being interested in F1 just because of his looks, but that was purely platonic, they didn't dare to make a move, but your case was different, he had seen with his own eyes how men tried to make their move right in front of him, he even made sure you always wore the gold necklace with a charm engraved with CL16 was visible.

Carlos, being part of the drivers' gossip network, eyed Charles' screen, whistling in a worried manner, telling him to be careful or he'd be listening to Bad Bunny songs about (y/n) on the radio.

"You know, there's pictures of Isa as well, look," Charles pointed out, annoyed by the teasing, but Carlos playfully dismissed him. "Hey, sorry but I have to get to the hospitality, I'm very overwhelmed and I need to see my girlfriend," Charles half lied; he wanted to see you, but just to let the second most streamed artist on Spotify know you were very loved and appreciated, and completely off limits.

Which takes him to the Ferrari hospitality.

"They gave us a couple of minutes before it's time for the last meeting," Charles tensed when noticing people were staring at him. "Why don't you wait at our lounge, bebé? It’s less crowded, Isa is there, Lorenzo and mum should be getting there soon,” he said in a hushed tone, but loud enough for the other man to hear. You nodded, getting up and collecting the small Bimba & Lola bag with some of the multiple passes and everything hanging from it.

"Oh, bebé, sorry. This is Benito, he was keeping me entertained," It was a bizarre situation, honestly, presenting a world-known singer to your boyfriend like he was a friend.

Charles squeezed your waist a bit tighter, shaking hands with the native from Puerto Rico. They exchanged a couple of words before someone approached the singer, making it easier for you to leave.

Charles was holding your hand a bit tighter than usual, maybe he was being protecting knowing people were watching every move. you asked him how the car felt, but he didn't give a real answer, just making a sound of approval.

That attitude carried on during the entire weekend, you thought it was the pressure of being home, past mistakes and bad luck haunting him. it ended when he crossed the finish line in first place, kissing you with tears on his eyes, relishing on being the home hero.

But two days later, he still had moments where he held his head a little taller, short answers and pretending he didn't hear you.

Charles knew he was being ridiculous, his fists tightening when some radio played a Bad Bunny song, even when one of them was voluntarily added by himself on a playlist, he had to take a deep breath. Irrational and disgusting behavior if you ask Charles, but he couldn't stop it. Not even when he saw you trying to hide the purple marks appearing on your hips.

He noticed your side of the bed dipped and light turned off, his back facing you as he pretended to be asleep, ignoring your soft chuckles. he didn't even flinch when your arms wrapped around his waist, placing your leg over his and loudly kissing his cheek.

"You are so cute when you're jealous," you told him, leaving another loud kiss, this time on his back.

"I'm not jealous!" He lied with a high-pitched voice, still not facing you.

"I know you are, but it's okay, it comes with having a girlfriend as incredible as me, you know?" This time Charles laughed, turning around and now placing his arms around your waist as yours moved to his neck.

"Shut up, he was flirting with you!" Charles argued.

"He was not! He actually saved me from a lot of creeps asking my name and whether I was free to grab a glass of wine or whatever,"

Charles knew that was the truth, he had witnessed it and was common talk between the drivers how their girlfriends and sisters were often approached by older men with not so good intentions.

Knowing he had no way to defend himself, he rolled his eyes at your giggles when your lips met his, but admiring him when he rolled on top of you, running your thumb through his cheeks.

[esonetwork]

Elvis is Everywhere | Tales From Hollywoodland

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/elvis-is-everywhere-tales-from-hollywoodland/

Elvis is Everywhere | Tales From Hollywoodland

In this podcast episode, Julian, Steve, and Arthur are joined by producer Mike in a rich discussion about Elvis Presley’s profound influence on the entertainment industry. They reminisce about Elvis’s captivating performances, his controversial gyrations, and his groundbreaking role in popularizing rock and roll. The conversation covers the strategic management by Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s transition from movies to live shows in Las Vegas, and the missed opportunities in his career. Personal anecdotes reveal Elvis’s interactions with fans and the challenges he faced, including financial struggles and drug use. The episode paints a comprehensive picture of Elvis’s legacy, his cultural impact, and the lasting significance of his work in music and film.

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#TalesFromHollywoodlandPodcast #ElvisPresleycareer #ElvisPresleydiscussion #Elvismusiclegacy #ElvisPresleymovies #Elvisrockandroll #KingofRockandRoll #ElvisHollywoodcareer #ElvisPresleyachievements #ElvisPresleyhistory #ElvisPresleyinfluence #ElvisPresleypopculture #ElvisPresley #ElvisPresleyimpact #ElvisPresleylegacydiscussion #Podcast

[mrs-stans]

Sebastian Stan Talks ‘The Apprentice’s Uphill Battle, Double Golden Globe Nomination, Lily James Reteam ‘Let The Evil Go West’ & Upcoming Cristian Mungiu & Justin Kurzel Projects

By Matt Grobar

On Monday, Sebastian Stan pulled off a rare feat, scoring Golden Globe nominations for Lead Actor in both Drama and Musical/Comedy categories. Following the announcement, Stan got candid about upcoming projects with Cristian Mungiu, Christian Tafdrup and Justin Kurzel, his experience on the awards circuit with his nominated turn as Donald Trump in The Apprentice, and more.

In discussing his upcoming slate, Stan seemed particularly excited about a project not yet announced with Cristian Mungiu, the Romanian filmmaker behind Palme d’Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, which he expects to shoot next year.

“I was born in Romania. I still speak the language, and I’ve been trying to find a project where I can go back and tap back into that history that I have,” said the actor, “so I’m excited about working with him, and hopefully that’s going to come together.”

A second project on the docket is Let the Evil Go West, a horror thriller from buzzy Danish filmmaker Christian Tafdrup, which reunites him with Pam & Tommy‘s Lily James. The film centers on a railroad worker driven to madness after coming upon a fortune, and his wife, who believes an evil presence has attached itself to their family.

Stan came to the project after seeing Tafdrup’s “unbelievable” horror thriller Speak No Evil, which Universal just remade. “This is a project that’s been going on for a while, and it always gets tricky. It’s about finding the right scheduling and the right time to do it,” said the actor. “But that’s something I’m really excited about.”

While he didn’t get into details, Stan also confirmed that he’s attached to star in Burning Rainbow Farm, a film that The Order‘s Justin Kurzel has in development. Plot details are unconfirmed, but we hear it’s inspired by true events, involving two marijuana advocates who face off against the FBI in a tense five-day standoff in Michigan, culminating in tragedy just days before 9/11.

Stan’s Globe nominations this morning came for Briarcliff’s The Apprentice, which examines Trump’s rise in the 1970s and 1980s New York real estate scene, as well as A24’s A Different Man. Hailing from filmmaker Aaron Schimberg, that title has him playing a man with a disfigurement who undergoes an experimental facial reconstruction surgery, before spiraling into a psychological crisis.

“Stunned and incredibly ecstatic,” Stan shared that the nominations are gratifying given the risks he took with each project and the uphill battles faced with each — The Apprentice, in particular, which struggled to secure financing, and later, distribution, amid the threat of a lawsuit from Trump himself. The project is one Hollywood didn’t seem to know what to do with, both leading up to and in the aftermath of a polarizing, pivotal election.

Sharing that he had “extreme trepidations” about playing Trump — in part, because many in the industry advised him not to — Stan reflected this morning about a disclosure of his that went viral: that while he intended to appear on Variety’s video series Actors on Actors in support of The Apprentice, no actor would step up to talk with him about his project, presumably out of fear of saying the wrong thing.

“For me, the Variety thing was just unfortunately another example of the uphill battle that the movie had been facing since Cannes, that there was some hesitancy and some fear around it…But it wasn’t my intention to point a finger or blame anybody else,” Stan said. “It was just simply saying, ‘Hey, we should be mindful of things that feel fearful.’ Because as artists, we have to hold ourselves as sort of the ambassadors of the truth, in a way…Today, of course, is a big day, in terms of hopefully allowing people to feel like they have permission, to talk about this film, and look at the work and have a conversation about it.”

From Stan’s perspective, we as a society need “all kinds of movies” and “have to try to not ever discriminate against any movie,” even if it’s something as polarizing as The Apprentice. In terms of the current climate of fear among Hollywood stars, when it comes to addressing certain topics, Stan’s feeling is that “there’s always a conversation that we can have about the work and what goes into it.”

A recent speech on Stan’s mind, when it comes to this, is the one given by honoree Richard Curtis at the Governors Awards. “He went up there and said, ‘Look, I am grateful to be standing up here and be recognized this evening. Buts also, I want to say, we love good ideas and we love embracing good ideas, but we also have to follow through on the action of it, even when you get to the last one-yard line, trying to get past it,'” the actor recalls. “Because I know the intentions are always good, and I believe that movies can inspire. I think they can reveal things sometimes that we have a hard time maybe understanding or communicating about in day-to-day life.”

In reflecting on the bold and diverse resume he’s carved out over the last decade-plus, Stan gave credit to his “Marvel family” for being an “incredibly supportive,” consistent presence in his life over the last 15 years, which has allowed him to “go out there and find other projects that allow me to kind of change it up and challenge myself.”

This, he says, is what he wants more than anything. “I’ve always tried to find other actors to learn from and grow from, and I want to be part of something meaningful,” Stan says, “and maybe that’s just me getting older. You want the work to have meaning and to stand for something.”

[b4mpyre-k1zz3s]

okay so this is kinda detailed but i have a fic request. so reader is a rockstar (not famous yet) and mtvs like “yeah we’ll do the show but add a chick” then steve-os like “i know someone” and long story short she becomes part of the cast and everyone thinks she’s gonna get with knoxville or bam bc she’s like a hot reckless rockstar then they meet up with the west chester guys and makes it no secret that she thinks dunn is HAWT; and everyone’s like “dunn?! out of everyone?” basically everyone thinks she’s way out of his league and idk after that but just something where ryan’s ego is BOOSTED by this hot girl everyone wants, wanting him. (also i fucking love you’re writing and you’re an icon. kisses 😘)

With The Band

Ryan Dunn X Fem!Reader

(Fluff, Angst)

2k Words

Warnings: Highly suggestive content, flirting, alcohol, awkward boners, flirting, jealousy, implied sex

An: Thank you so much for the request! I really appreciate more detailed requests, so no need to apologize! I always adore writing for Ryan, so I had a great time with this fic :) I did pen this during midterms, so please excuse any typos lol Thank you for requesting, and keep the requests coming!

The metal fold up chair was ice against your ass as you buckled up your egregious, patent leather heels. Instead of rehearsing for your show that night, you were slumming it with good ole Steve-O, who much like you, naturally gravitated toward the cooler. “Really? My first TV spot, an’ I couldn’t do anything besides…this?” When you heard his excited rambling over the phone about this huge ass opportunity he had for you, you’d assumed it would be something tangentially related to your music career and not just your awesome boobs. Steve slung a tattooed arm around your shoulders, “Welcome’t MTV, dude!” He laughed that wheezy, broken dog toy laugh, “Listen- just walk in an’ hold the number up. Piece’a cake!” It was odd, having the king of sleaze himself being the only one in that room not staring at you because, due in part to the fact you went way back in the partying scene, he’d seen you wearing much less than your little Federette outfit covered up.

On the other side of the room, the rest of the guys pretended to discuss whatever they were planning for this shoot. “So that’s the lady he was talkin’ about…” Knoxville’s sidelong glances were concealed behind his shades, but the same could not be said about Bam, who struggled to conceal his telescope goldfish staring. Woah, sexy metal chick in a bikini…

Johnny approached with his typical, Hollywood coolness. “Hey there, Sweetheart! Pleasure’t meet you, I’m-“ Sitting up from where you scrounged in the cooler, you took the hand he offered in your icy palm. Unfolding to your feet, you sized up Mr. B-Moviestar like he’d been not so secretly doing to you, “Knoxville?” Smiling in that coy, charming way, he bashfully nodded, “Yes, ma’am!” Your gaze then fell on Bam who, due to your platforms, was nearly eye level with your awesome boobs. Tilting your head to one side, you cocked an eyebrow and innocently asked, “Who’s the little one?” Briefly shaken out of his lusty trance, he straightened himself and proudly sniped back, “I am Bam-fucking-Margera.” Cute. The way he cursed like a twelve year old who just learned how to swear made you stifle a snicker. After a moment of you studying his features, you realized that he was the one that ran into walls. “Well, Bam Fucking Margera, I’m Y/N!”

Knoxville let out a bark of a laugh at your quick wit. It was clear to everybody in the room that you were a chick who could keep up with them. This point was most abundantly made to Ryan. See, from the way he was hiding in the corner and not swooping down to peck at you the way seagulls might to a beached whale corpse, one might assume he was disinterested. That would be far from the case. See, the costume department ran out of swishy satin shorts for the boxing stunt they were going to film, so he was stuck with these tight little spandex things. Long story short, if Dunn popped a boner, it wouldn’t just be noticeable- you’d be able to count the goddamn veins on that thing. And yeah, you were really fucking hot.

Sensing an opportunity, Ry decided to suck it up and say something because, if he didn’t, you’d be at the mercy of his dipshit friends. In the midst of everybody dogging on Bam, he got up and put on his best impression of a totally smooth, confident, flirty guy. Standing behind Bam,he wiped the corner of his friend's mouth with the pad of his thumb like a concerned parent.

It was charming. Unlike the rest of those freaks, you got the impression that he was a person you could spend a lot of time with. This contrasted with Steve, whose company definitely had an expiration date. The way Ryan’s golden curls fell on his face, the confident way he carried himself, and those broad shoulders…I mean, you could get past the spandex. Making no effort to hide your gaze raking over Dunn’s muscular build, your lips curled into a smirk as you purred, “Hey, hey…Who’s this butterscotch stallion?”

This suitable clunk echoed from jaws hitting the floor. Surprised that his flirting actually worked and he didn’t fumble this dream girl, Dunn gestured to himself, “Me?” He was just as shocked as everybody else that you were interested in him, but there weren’t any other butterscotch stallions in that room. “Ryan?!” the room collectively gasped. So that’s his name…Eyes twinkling, you nodded in recognition, “Ryan!”

“Greetings, and welcome to TRL! This is Y/N, comin’ to you live from time square, and we have got a real nice show lined up for you tonight-“ Gesturing to the soundstage behind you, packed with cheering fans, you pulled out your very best showman skills as you prattled on, “We’ve got…I think Hilary Duff up next- and afterwards, a performance of N*SYNC’s new- ah, i’m just messin with ya!” As you introduced the actual scheduled programming, which was far more your style, you thought back to how, not even two weeks ago, you were nobody. Thanks to strutting your cute ass on that dumb MTV show, this miraculous opportunity fell right into your lap. And Ryan.

Squinting at your image on the monitor in the back room, Bam wondered aloud, “How the hell’d you bag that?” His words were obviously pointed at the butterscotch stallion himself, a nickname many of the others had taken to. Even Johnny was a little bewildered, looking at you animatedly interviewing some rap-metal band, not to mention those tight little jeans… You didn’t seem like Dunn’s type at all. “Yeah- you got pheromones or somethin?” Taking off the sunglasses that concealed his hangover, Dunn shrugged as he nudged his way between the two to get a peep at the screen, “I dunno- I showered, I guess.” For once in a millennia, yeah…Sniffing him, Bam crinkled up his nose at the lack of booze and nicotine stink, “What’s that- Irish Spring?”

That’s partially what made Bam coming up to you out of seemingly nowhere. As you slipped away between commercials to hit the can and maybe get a smoke in, he dogged on your heels, fueled by his frustration at you domesticating his buddy. “Hey- Hey! Y/N- “ Your ears perked up at the brash, phillytrash accent that followed you down the hall to the stairwell, and you turned around to lean against the wall. Bam dropped his voice and leaned in close, but malevolent eagerness shone through his words, “Ryan Dunn’s gotta wrinkle and a head. Thing looks like a bellybutton- I’ve seen it!” His ranting echoed against the concrete as you lit up a cigarette, “Oh, have you?” Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he mimicked your nonchalance, “Yeah!”

“Y’know, I’ve been reading these tabloids,” you gestured with a smoky twirl, figuring to hit him where it hurts, “an’ I’ve been hearin’ yours is pretty sma-“ Eyes widening, he dropped his cool guy facade like it were red hot, “Atatata! Bullshit- that’s fake news.” Swatting your words from the air, he didn’t even notice when the door swung open, letting an intern in on a pretty absurd scene. “Listen lady, I’ll have you know I’ve pleased a lotta women with this-“ he exasperatedly whipped his head around to the person in the headset, “What!?” “You’re, uh…you’re on in five, Ms. Y/N. Oh, uh- you too, Mr. Margera….”

Ever since you met him, Ryan started glowing. Yes, he still had those sweet, sad eyes that just saw right through you, but there was this earthly lightness about him. Like he was in on some big, cosmic joke only you and him knew. He was showering on a regular basis as well, so that might have helped. Your meteoric rise in popularity turned into your first U.S. tour, and you’d managed to haggle with your manager to give you a day off around your Philadelphia show. Even in the darkness of the smoky, local bar he’d taken you out to, like a sailor on his last night of shore leave, he lit up that room. You were drinking there, unbeknownst to the fact that his buddies, heralded by the former, decided to stop by there as well.

Johnny was in Westchester to film an episode of Viva la Bam when you happened to drift back onto his radar. Yeah, he knew you were dating Ry, and he was a pretty good boyfriend, but he knew you could do better. As Ryan excused himself to hit the can, Knoxville’s low, sweet accent cut through the chatter of the crowd as he stepped up behind you. “If y’don’t mind, you are lookin’ mighty fine this evening, miss Y/N…” Not to much turn, you tilted your head back to meet his gaze with how much taller than you he was. Mister plausible deniability here, hitting on his buddy’s girl, but saying those words like he was talking about the weather. Good old fashioned southern manners…

“Hi- Johnny, right?” The cosmetic dent to his ego was hidden behind his shades, but you could see him falter before nodding with that signature grin. Sniffing the air, you smirked, “Did Jeff piss on your leg again? I heard the two of you do that…thing.” The time you’d spent in their company gave you some insight to their typical antics. Chuckling at the disgust in your voice, Knoxville glanced down at the dark blue on the thigh of his Dickies, “Ah! Well, it appears he has…” In a moment of great coincidence, that’s when Ryan made his grand reappearance behind you and Johnny because Houdini, pulling off his great disappearing act…

The end of the night was rolling around: when the beer goes flat and the company loses savor. Steve-O had gone from doing bar tricks for free drinks to threatening some poor sap with a splintered pool cue. Bam, who’d previously tried to be cordial with Ryan (and only Ryan, refusing to acknowledge you), was now quietly sulking in the corner while some girl tried in vain to talk him up. Noticing your unamused expression, Dunn spoke up first, “Y’wanna go back t’my place?” A tired smile crossed your face as you leaned the weight of your head against your palms. You groaned, amplifiers still ringing in your head from the day before, “Yeah, I’d love to. Anywhere quieter than here...”

Drinking in that crowded bar morphed into drinking on Ryan’s sofa. Maybe there was something about the way his face looked cascaded in soft, blue light from the fish tank in the corner that made him look so goddamn dreamy. Well, it was his roommate’s sofa, but he wasn’t about to screw you on the floor-mattress he slept on in the basement. From where you sat snuggled up into the crook of his arm while he flicked through channels and tried his hardest to look nonchalant, you couldn’t help but chuckle at the very apparent tension in Dunn’s face. He’s not the kinda guy who’d jump your bones right off the bat, but you found the way he looked tryin’a play it all cool in front of you kind of cute. You nuzzled against his cheek, placing little kisses against the warm skin of his neck and inhaling this delicate melange of booze and Irish Spring that was a prerequisite to close proximity to him. Ry let out a shaky exhale and a grin spread across your face- your fate was sealed.

Warm light flooding in through the living room’s far window, Ryan blinked awake with the worst headache of his life. But the throbbing at his temples all but disappeared when he looked down at the beautiful woman peacefully slumbering against his chest. Makeup smudged hopelessly around your eyes, your breath rose and fell steadily in this perfect, kinda screwed up picture of serenity. Tentatively running his fingers through a few locks of your hair, he muttered to himself through a smile, “I’m the luckiest guy on earth…”

[heart-of-ep]

• Elvis: A Stranger in His Own Hometown •

I recently ordered the Memphis boxset that came out this past summer and had a minute to look through the booklet inside, and wow, I was not expecting to find myself tearing up over a passage at the end of it. So, of course, I had a moment where I spiraled over the cultural impact of Elvis, as I often do after reading stuff like this. I'm very curious to hear yall's thoughts cause I've never really thought too much about this topic, and I find it super interesting. ♡

Elvis on February 3rd, 1976, getting his photo taken for his Memphis Police Reserve Captain ID.

To begin this discussion, here is the passage in question that tugged at my heart:

"At Graceland, the upstairs was Elvis's private domain. The curtains were kept closed, foil covered the windows and blocked out the sun. Access was limited, and as the coterie of friends, girlfriends, and hangers-on slowly diminished, fewer sought entry. There was no thrum of the streets, no Shake Rag or Beale, no winds of change. His bedroom door was kept closed, the air conditioning was always very cool, and he read oversized spiritual tomes, looking for a way out, looking for a way in.

His bedroom was isolated, less a room in a house and more a chamber in space. Tupelo was a million miles away, Vegas and Hollywood were further, and though Memphis was just outside the door, its inspiration available and attainable, no new air could seep in. He was an expatriate in his own hometown.

Memphis giveth, and Memphis taketh away, and the city had given Elvis more than he could ever have imagined asking for, more than he ever wanted, and then like the ocean before a tsunami wave, it had withdrawn. Or he'd withdrawn from it. The fullness was bare, the loud laughter now spare, the warmth artificial from electric blankets. Words turned to sounds but not the joyful scatting of childhood, more a mumble, a murmur, a confusion that he could neither understand nor express.

When asked what he missed about Memphis, a 25-year-old Elvis on his way home from the army said, "Everything. I mean that everything." Late in life, and too fully ensconced there to be comfortable, he might have replied with words the same.

Elvis died at Graceland, upstairs, a man alone, less than a year after the last wail from the jungle room."

Robert Gordon, Memphis, 2024

The Memphis boxset focuses on all of Elvis's recordings that took place in Memphis, TN from his start in Sun Studios back in 1954, all the way up to his final recording session that took place in the den (now famously the Jungle Room) of Graceland. The set features 111 tracks and offers up a beautiful selection of songs that showcase the progression of Elvis' artistic style over the years.

This particular passage by Robert Gordon sits at the very end of the booklet included in the boxset, endcapping the famous Junge Room sessions with an introspective look at Elvis' relationship with Memphis and how that influenced his music. But why did this passage stand out to me so much? Why did it tug so hard at my heart?

"Memphis giveth, and Memphis taketh away."

Such a simple sentence, and yet it speaks volumes for the landscape of how Elvis and Memphis are intrinsically tied together, both then and now.

While Memphis had famous musicians before and after Elvis' rise to fame, none quite reached the level of stardom that Elvis achieved, and unlike many stars of then and now, Elvis was proud of his hometown, holding a natural love and affection for the city that served as an escape from the Presley's poverty in Tupelo. Memphis wasn't just any city for the Presley family, it was a second chance. It was an opportunity for them to create something better for themselves. And for a young Elvis of thirteen years old, it offered hope. Elvis was constantly striving for something bigger, something better, for both him and his family, and Memphis offered that in spades.

Elvis was immediately enamored with Memphis, and soon after their arrival, the music of Memphis would take hold of Elvis. While in Tupelo, Elvis was already familiar with a variety of music styles, such as country and gospel, but in Memphis, there was a music for every sort of flavor, and no doubt Elvis listened avidly. Whether it be by turning on Daddy-O-Dewey, Dewey Phillips at WHBQ, or turning the dial to WDIA, an all black programming station that played many local artists such as B.B. King and Rufus Thomas. Even on Sunday nights, Elvis would be able to listen to a sermon from Reverend W. Herbet Brewster, appealing to the inherently spiritual side of Elvis' nature.

Elvis listened to it all, and in time, it helped to mold him into the artist he would become in just a few short years. Elvis was constantly inspired by everything around him, and it all came together, allowing him to develop a level of self-confidence that hadn't previously existed in the young boy. As his love for music continued to expand, his image evolved with it.

"It seemed as if he was determined to make a statement, he was intent upon setting himself apart, without ever raising his voice or changing from the polite, well-mannered boy that he knew he would always be. By his dress, his hair, his demeanor, though, he was making a ringing declaration of independence. More and more to his fellow schoolmates he was a “squirrel,” a misfit, a freak, as he would later describe himself, but not a freak to himself. Photographs show an increasing self-confidence, an increasingly studied self-image, even as he was being increasingly rejected by others."

The Rise of Elvis Presley: Last Train to Memphis (by Peter Guralnick)

There's no denying the influence that Memphis played on Elvis' life, but what did Elvis do for Memphis?

While Elvis had homes in other places, such as Beverly Hills and Palm Springs out in California, he always returned to Memphis. His home was always there. When asked in 1960 if Elvis had plans to sell Graceland, he said no. Graceland was his home, Memphis was his home. He always came back.

Not only that, but throughout the years, Elvis constantly found ways to give back to Memphis through his charitable donations. Beginning in 1961, Elvis made it a yearly tradition during the holidays to donate to 50 different local charities throughout Memphis, donating around $100,000 every year. One of his favorite charities to support was St Jude's Hospital for children, where in 1964, he gifted them a boat, which he purchased for $55,000. The boat would be auctioned off and sold soon after, raising the charity an impressive $75,000. On February 25th, 1961, Elvis Presley Day would be declared by both the Mayor of Memphis and the Govener of Tennessee and on that day, Elvis would perform two shows at the Ellis Auditorium for a Memphis Charity Show where $51,612 would be raised and distributed among twenty-six charities. On December 1st, 1967, he would donate $10,500 to the Memphis Jewish Community Center Building Fund and paid a $2,500 installment on that day.

These are just a handful of instances in which Elvis strived to give back to the community, and many of his charitable donations went unpublished. Elvis gave from the heart, and he truly only wanted what was best for Memphis, the city he called home.

Charitable donations aside, Elvis always returned to Memphis, not just to his home Graceland, but to record and make music. Elvis' music journey began the minute he walked through the doors of Sun Studios on 706 Union Ave, Memphis, TN during the summer of 1953 when Elvis was only eighteen years old. He would return one year later to record with the studio yet again, this time shocking the world with the debut of his first single: 'That's All Right Mama'. Elvis would stay with Sun Studios until November 20th, 1955, when he would officially sign with RCA Records.

Elvis wouldn't return to Memphis to record until January 13th, 1969 after hearing about American Sound Studios from his friend Marty Lacker. Elvis would take a trip down to the funky studio located on 2272 Deadrick Avenue to record several hit singles at American Sound, including 'Suspicious Minds' and 'In the Ghetto' alongside two full length albums which would proudly be titled: 'From Elvis in Memphis' and 'Back in Memphis'. These recording sessions were a much needed return to form for Elvis after several years of monotony while being stuck making picture after picture out in Hollywood. Life and soul seemed to be injected back into Elvis' music, and once again, he seemed to be inspired by the city he knew and loved.

A few more years would pass before Elvis came back to Memphis again to record, this time in an effort to give Elvis a closer to home option as he was disinterested in returning to Nashville or Los Angeles. This would come in the form of STAX Records, located on 926 E McLemore Ave, Memphis, TN. STAX was home to many famous recording artists, including Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas, and the electric duo of Sam and Dave. Elvis would first visit the studio July 20th, 1973 for his first recording session there. He would then return a few months later to cut another selection of songs beginning on December 10th, 1973. Three albums would be produced from these sessions: 'Raised on Rock', 'Good Times', and 'Promised Land'.

Fast forward two years, and Elvis' last recording session ever would take place right in the comfort of his own home at Graceland. RCA was struggling to get Elvis back into the studio, so in turn, they brought the studio to Elvis. These sessions would begin on February 2nd, 1976 in the den of Graceland with an RCA recording van parked out back. The songs recorded during this time were an obvious reflection of Elvis' emotional state at the time, his selection focusing on slower, almost bitter sweet style ballads that compliment the deep tombra of his voice. He would cut several hit singles, including 'Hurt' and 'For the Heart', and would produce two albums to be released over the next year: 'From Elvis Presley Boulevard Memphis TN' and 'Moody Blue' respectively.

Despite Elvis' label RCA Records not having a studio in Memphis, Elvis always found himself returning to his hometown to record. Something about Memphis drew him back while places like Nashville and Los Angeles failed to strike that same creative cord. It's almost poetic in a way. The first place Elvis ever recorded was in Memphis, and the last place he would ever record would also be in Memphis. His career would begin and end in the city he called home.

With Elvis and Memphis so closely tied together, one might expect the city to love and cherish the Presley name in a similar way to Elvis' birthplace of Tupelo, MS. But unfortunately, that's not the case. In Memphis, Elvis is nothing more than merchandise. A commodity, a tourist attraction, and in some cases nothing more than a joke. But why? Why has Elvis become a stranger in his own hometown? Why is it that the man who gave his all to the city he loved while he was alive, and a man who continues to give through the charities founded in his memory, so often overlooked and underappreciated by the city he adored?

Simply put, the majority of people visit Memphis because of Elvis. While Memphis has so much important history and cultural influence, many never discover that until entering the Elvis world. This was my personal experience and the experience of many other friends of mine.

To put it into perspective, over 600,000 people visit Graceland annually, generating an estimated $150 million dollars in revenue for the city of Memphis. Not only does Graceland as an enterprise profit, but small businesses, hotels, and larger chain establishments all profit from the visitors brought in because of Graceland. The Elvis Presley estate is also the most visited home in America (not counting the White House) and serves as a museum and the final resting place of Elvis and his family. In 2023, the Memphis economy increased by 6% from the previous year, growing by $6 billion dollars. It can be assumed that the release and popularity of Elvis (2022) being released played a part in that increase, bringing in even more tourists now that younger fans have become interested in the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

So, what's the point? For many, especially local Memphians, the image of Elvis Presley has usurped the man who lived and breathed the same air as them years prior. Graceland was no longer just a home, it was now an attraction. And while Graceland supports the community through the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation (EPCF) in various different ways, there is a large cavern that sits between Elvis and the people of Memphis.

It's easy to speculate that this could also be influenced by the years of constant misinformation in regard to the influence that black music played on Elvis' style, and how despite there being more than enough evidence to prove otherwise, many still believe Elvis to be appropriating black culture and label him as racist. Misinformation can damage a reputation, and there's no doubt that this rampant spread of misinformation had an effect on Elvis' legacy in Memphis.

So, what's the conclusion?

"Memphis giveth, and Memphis taketh away."

Memphis gave Elvis more than he ever could have asked for, more than he ever could have possibly dreamed of. It gave him hope, it gave him inspiration, and it gave him a home. In turn, Elvis gave back to Memphis throughout his entire life and continues to do so today through his name and legacy that were left behind.

Elvis is a part of Memphis, just as Memphis is a part of him. The two are forever intertwined, but despite the two being so closely related, Elvis forever remains a stranger in his hometown. They drive down Elvis Presley Blvd, they pass that mansion on the hilltop where the light is always on, but they don't see a man who gave his all to the city he loved, they see tour buses and merchandise, a business now and a home no more.

The image remains, the man gone from the public eye, trapped in the upstairs room of Graceland, watching quietly as the cars pass by.

"I took a ride with my baby by my side

And the Elvis Presley Blvd. where all the faithful cried

And I saw that silent mansion and I knew that I was lost

They were selling plastic souvenirs of Elvis on the cross"

- Elvis Presley Blvd. (by Billy Joel)

I definitely let myself get carried away with this topic, but I find it extremely fascinating, and I think it's super important to understanding the cultural impact and the modern view of Elvis, not just as a whole throughout the world, but more so from his hometown where Elvis is expected to be loved and cherished.

Elvis is more than just a product to be sold, he's a man with a legacy that worth the recognition, and a life and heart worth remembering. ♡

Disclaimer: I could say a LOT more about EPE as a whole and their impact on Memphis and how they fail, in many ways, to show any real support to the community considering the sheer amount of money they make annually as a business. Unfortunately, I didn't want to make this post about EPE, cause honestly that's a whole subject of it's own, but I'd love to make a seperate post about that sometime as I do think it plays a major role in how Memphians view Elvis and how ultimately Elvis has been turned into nothing more than a piece of merchandise to be sold, rather than a human being that played a large role in American history and the culture of the 20th century.

I love Graceland and I love Elvis, but I do not love EPE as a business and have many, MANY issues with how they decide to run things. But that my friends, is a topic for another day. ⚡️

[itsallmouthwashing]

Band AU bullet points / slight timeline of events

This IS an AU, and they’re MY barbies I can make them kiss when I WANT /silly

Here are general bullet points for the Band AU with a slight timeline of events. Reblogs are so appreciated :)

If I write out a scene that's here I'll link the post and reblog this post as a sort of master list? Maybe? I'll figure it out. Also here's the playlist for the AU :)

Cw: mentions of parent death, implied neglect, drug abuse, assault, ooc characters

A little context---

Band Name: Tulpar

Record Label: Pony Express Records

Genre: Rock and Metal 

Canon divergence note: Anya does get assaulted, but by her boyfriend instead of Jimmy. I don’t really have a character set up for the boyfriend yet, but I wanted to keep that as an element of her story 

Curly on guitar and vocals, Jimmy on guitar and scream vocals, Anya on bass and fills for drums, Daisuke on drums and synth/keyboard, fills for bass sometimes when he’s feeling confident and Anya wants to switch it up

Swansea is their manager right before they go pro and remains their manager when they sign with P.E Records! He is the one the band has to impress with their new songs. If he doesn’t like it, it doesn't get used 

Curly and Jimmy formed Tulpar in their junior year of high school. Originally it was going to remain the two of them(Curly was learning drums), but the two clicked with Anya and Daisuke almost immediately during senior year (they were both transfer students). 

It for sure took convincing for Jimmy to let them join the band. He made them ‘prove’ they were ‘worthy of finding a place in their art’

They totally fucking blew him away (Curly was a little smug about it after Jimmy conceded.)

Jimmy does bond with Dai and Anya over the years

Dai is the one to propose they go pro. His parents have lots of connections in Hollywood and production, so it’d be easy to find someone willing to listen to them and give them a chance on the billboards

Jimmy gets a little pissy about this (he’s huge into actually working for things in life and hates the idea of using connections to get his success) and storms off without saying anything (normally he’d be dragged out of the room screaming. He’s been working on his temper since senior year. Curly literally slapped it into him that the world isn't highschool and he needs to change the way he acts around people if he wants to retain friendships)

But Jimmy’s mom dies. His dad can't take the grief and follows her into the afterlife. Jimmy breaks down and he’s lashing out at every turn

The rest of the crew take it for months and months, with Curly explaining that Jimmy's really going through a lot and should be patient. He would talk to him later if he hasn't calmed down in a few days

But it just gets worse over the days 

Jimmy is constantly putting down the rest of his bandmates but mostly targets Anya as she is the most insecure of the group and finds it easier to spit poison at

One day she visits Curly to discuss this (Salt and Mouthwash scene here)

Jimmy ends up apologizing but it takes time for things to return to normal for all of them

Dai brings in Swansea, a music critic for them to workshop songs with

He goes full manager mode, disapproving of songs the crew thought for sure he’d love and approving ones they were really on the fence about

Insert training montage here

Swansea eventually brings them in front of P.E Records execs

After a brutal five week waiting period, Tulpar officially signs with Pony Express records

To celebrate, the crew goes out clubbing. Anya hooks up with a girl for the first time. Lesbain shenanigans ensue in the bathroom. Jimmy and Curly get a little too drunk. Daisuke pukes outside of the car (and tries really hard to not puke inside the car. He fails.) 

Sleepover at Curly’s house (they all forgot they had exams in the morning and Curly’s house is right next to the campus.) Jimmy gets flirty and lonely when he’s drunk and through the heightened emotional states of it all, he goes in for a kiss

Daisuke stumbles into Curly’s room thinking it’s the bathroom. Almost pukes on the carpet like an ill cat. 

They startle apart and when Curly comes back from leading Dai to the bathroom Jimmy is already asleep (he’s a little faker- he’s just embarrassed)

Exams go like shit the next morning and everyone is too stressed to go back out and get their cars so it’s a week-long study session at Curly’s while everyone crams

Song writing breaks that become too frequent. Swansea suddenly appears to oversee the studying (Dai’s parents sent him over to check on him, but he finds a reason to stay and supervise. Writing breaks become nonexistent) and he actually helps everyone with studying. He’s the one to propose flash cards and Anya hs to scream into a pillow because why didn't she think of that sooner? Then again when she realizes She did, but her flashcards were in her car. Which was at the bar. Which was an hour away because they’re all idiots. 

Swansea and Curly get her car for her and convince her to take a break from her own material while they’re out (Dai just asks her to help him with studying.)

Jimmy like a fucking DOG keeps himself from begging to go with them, but Swansea says “I’ve known how to drive longer than your daddy’s been shooting into socks. Anya’s car will be safe with me, kiddo,” and pushes Curly out the door lmao

On the way, Swans and Curly have a little heart-to-heart and Swans reveals he’s been family friends with Dai’s parents for years and they’re actually large shareholders of the record company. 

Curly doesn't care, not really, but he feels his stomach drop and his heart drown in fire. Jimmy could never find out about this. He can hardly keep the radio on during his solo drive back

When they arrive back at Curly’s, Dai and Anya are passed out on the couch while Jimmy sits wide awake at the dining-room table. Swansea sees no reason to stick around (“I went to the club for the first time in twenty years, Grant. I need to get home and sleep it off.”) and dips. 

Exams go a little better, but on the last day Anya gets pulled over on her shame-stop to Burger King. She has a panic attack during the stop and it gives her the idea to write HAMMS IN A GLASS. She’s caught humming it and tapping on the coffee table one day while Swansea is over discussing logistics or whatever with Curly. He full stops their conversation, tells Anya to polish it and have it to him by the end of the week (“Motherfucker I might not have a degree if I think about anything other than my tests and where the fucking rotator cuffs are, PLEASE”), and then LEAVES (“Guess I’ll find what our budget will be after you’re finished…”)

She tries to workshop it with Dai between classes (he’s in an engineering course, but their buildings are pretty close together)(Ive only taken online college classes please) but Dai is becoming increasingly unavailable. She turns to her boyfriend. The night they work on it, he gives her a drink to help her relax from all the stress she’s been under

But he takes advantage of her that night. When she realizes what he’s done she flees to Curly’s house. Her boyfriend follows her, accusing her of cheating when she gets to the door and Curly is there to catch her. 

Curly tries hard to deescalate the situation, but when Jimmy catches wind of what’s happening at the door he makes his appearance (anya had no idea why he was there (gay reasons) but grateful for the surprise help). Jimmy punches his FUCKING lights out (“I didnt do it for you, Anya. That guy was pissing me off. So I took care of it… Now he won’t mess with either of us, alright?”). Everyone thinks it’s a little hot, even the guy getting punched (hey, everyones having a gay awakening this evening, huh?)

Anya stays the night, thwarting Jimmy’s plans to dick Curly down sexual style at last. 

[abstractnaturaldisaster]

is over now? (was it over then?)

part one: baby, was it over / when she laid down on your couch?

Of course everything had to blow up on Eddie's first first anniversary. He hadn't quite started to allow himself to shed his usual pessimism about celebrity relationships but was he had with Steve was starting to become permanent in a way that was wholly new to Eddie.

Eddie was used to sneaking through back doors, meeting in coat closets, finding partners in well appointed hotel rooms after being slipped a key at an after party but he had been hoping those days were over once a certain Steeeeve Harrington had siddled up to Eddie at a 30 under 30 event. Eddie and his Corroded Coffin boys had made the list as an apparently "revolutionary" mash up of gay pop and heavy metal. Corroded Coffin had actually laughed out loud when the proof of the article came through their publicist and Jeff had the audacity to blame Eddie's Conan Gray heavy break up playlist becoming too high on the band's tour bus rotation and inadvertently influencing their newest album. Eddie might have thrown his slipper at Jeff for the insinuation. It wasn't Eddie's fault that the band all happened to be going through some shit on the last tour and he was actually good a curating a vibe. Steve had come over to ask Eddie about his music after his red-headed friend had practically pushed Steve into Eddie's path narrowly avoiding a plate of passed apps. The rest was, as they say, history. Steve and Eddie had very quickly become permanent fixtures in each others spaces as they both preferred the general anonymity of takeout and movie nights versus paparazzi filled nights out.

They weren't exactly "out" as Steve's agent liked to insinuate that Steve and his acting partner Robin were in some sort of a will they won't they friendship based on their frankly insane on and off screen chemistry. Eddie really hadn't minded as he was perfectly happy to avoid being tabloid fodder or propped up as some sort of satanic succubus depending on what audience was buying. He understood Steve's unique position as somewhat in between a hollywood heartthrob and indie darling. His career obviously benefitted from fangirls and costars alike thinking he was attainable in some way. In some ways Eddie had become a third wheel to his and Robin's outings being drug along to whatever event the pair had to go to or attending one of Robin's artsy friend's gallery openings. He really didn't mind playing best friend in public because he and Steve spent almost every spare minute curled up into each other in one of their apartments or a hotel in a random city if Eddie was touring or Steve was shooting.

Before Eddie, Steve had been a very open serial monogamist with a string of short term high profile relationships until he met Robin and begin starring with her in almost every new film he was in. Right before Robin came into his life, Steve had a pretty public and nasty breakup with New York Times Entertainment critic Nancy Wheeler who left him for her photographer. Eddie and Steve had a lot of discussions about publicity and Eddie could feel the old scars of public humiliation and never pushed Steve to be more public than Steve suggested. They'd struck a good balance of providing support and reassurances in private and working with their publicity teams to avoid any articles that struck too close to old insecurities. Steve in particular was often the subject of gossip and suggestion that he slept with any woman he interacted with for more than a few moments. Eddie learned that Steve hated the rumors and was glad that Robin came along to cut some of that out.

Steve loved to be romantic and bring flowers and send gifts to Eddie when they were apart. Eddie had never had a partner who liked doting on him in such a loud way but he'd quickly become used to Steve's grand gestures and decided on their first anniversary Eddie would be the one to be romantic and mushy. He'd convinced Steve to block off a whole weekend to stay with Eddie. Eddie had set up an elaborate film projector on the roof of his apartment and found the reels for some of their favorite movies from the beginnings of their relationship. He'd already arranged meals from all of Steve's top cravings and stocked his apartment with all the snacks and comfort items they could want. Eddie had been looking forward to the weekend for at least a month and was buzzing with excitement as he waited for Steve to come over.

But then he waited. and waited. and didn't hear from Steve.

It wasn't like Steve to be this late or not let Eddie know what was happening. Eddie was catastrophising a little but he figured it wouldn't be overstepping to head over to Steve's. Eddie had a key so after a fairly hectic uber ride across the city he let himself into Steve's building greeting the doorman and front desk staff who knew him almost as well as Robin at this point. Steve's apartment was almost eerily quiet. There was usually always music or the sound of Steve and Robin bickering over the phone or in person so it freaked Eddie out when he pushed the door open and was met with nothing. He crept in quietly in case Steve was down with a migraine and set his keys down on the kitchen counter.

Eddie walked into the living room and almost backed straight out of the apartment. Nancy fucking Wheeler was sleeping on Steve's couch in his fucking college sweatshirt Eddie had become particularly fond of looking like she'd never left. Eddie had started to turn heel and run when Steve tried to interrupt him.

"Eddie, please, wait! I'm so sorry, there was a bit of a personal emergency, I was just about to call you, baby, please," Steve called across the room.

"I really don't want to hear it. It's our fucking anniversary Steve," Eddie answered as he was pulling his shoes back on.

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry, I just lost track of time getting a few things handled before I could come over. Please. It's nothing, Eddie," Steve pleaded.

"Steve, it's not nothing. If it was nothing you would have been at my house like we planned. I guess I know why you never wanted to come out now. Of course you'd have been waiting in the wings for Nancy and the white picket fence and 2.5 kids and perfect hetero family bullshit," Eddie was being mean but Steve could fucking deal.

"Eds, that's not fair. She's just a friend and was in a tight spot. I literally was about to head out and come over," Steve held up the bag he had in his hand to indicate he was telling the truth.

"And would you have told me she was over at your place or let me find out the next time TMZ started a rumor about the two of you?" Eddie asked.

"Come on. She just needed a place to stay. It's literally not a big deal," Steve said.

"Steve, that's not an answer. You were going to keep me in the dark about this and I didn't even know you were still in fucking contact. I can't do this anymore. I just. I'm leaving. Don't follow me," Eddie said as he felt tears well up in his eyes.

"Eddie, please. Let me make it up to you?" Steve was almost begging.

"Steve our whole fucking thing is based on me trusting you that exactly this shit isn't happening and believing you when you tell me tabloids are just making things up about you. How am I supposed to be okay with your ex being on your fucking couch and you just never telling me?" Eddie asked as he started opening the door.

Steve looked defeated as Eddie started down the hallway but didn't try to answer. Eddie flagged down a cab outside and tried to hold back his tears the whole ride.

part two