#I'm actually a real life country guy so this song is so me

[j0nesy]

WE GOT MAN CAKES. AND PANCAKES. A WHOLE STACK OF TROUBLE WHEN THE ACTION BREAKS

[victorbutnotreally]

OMG I'M FINALLY FINDING A BLOG WHICH IS MY CUP OF TEA. YOU'RE AWESOMEEEEE

i have an idea but i can't write for shit, so i'll give it to my favorite tumblr writer (which is youuu)

smau where han messages the wrong number and it's some guy from like another country. and they become friends and then han comes to find out that his text pal is actually a celeb he fanboys over.

(bonus points if mn knows han as well)

OMG

A/N: Love that!! Thank you sm for requesting <3 (I can't title things for the life of me, so you can ask for a different title in the replies and I'll change it) French music makes writing so much more fun. warnings: slight swearing blue {} - han purple {} - Mn

{Oh. How nice of this person to wish me a good practice session.

"Is he getting here anytime soon?" Minho's voice echoed through the practice room.

"I'll ask!"

When he opened his phone again to change the number, he saw a familiar figure in the random person's profile picture. Mn Ln. Finally, someone who he can rant about the Mn Ln. }

{ Great. Got my hopes up for nothing }

{ Naturally, Mn wouldn't want his personal number leaked. So he lied. He was surprised at how smooth that was, but hey, it's text. He wanted to know more, though. Is that narcissistic?

He set his coffee mug down on his nightstand and looked a lot more like a contortionist as he continued to text, the risk of spilling coffee being gone now. }

{ Being called the best vocalist ever was certainly not something he expected. He was great, sure, but the best? Not when Freddie Mercury has music out there. But he'll take that compliment.

He was impressed at the fan. 'Achilles, my love" was one of his more niche songs, having been written when he was only 15 when he got completely shattered after reading 'The Song of Achilles' and decided to pour his heart and soul into a song which he released years later.}

{They don't know Mn yet, but who wouldn't like him after listening to Achilles my love? The way Jisung made the members listen to Mn's music was like a little kid making their parents watch Frozen. But the members never complained, the music was really good. Would they roll their eyes when Jisung keeps sending Mn memes into the groupchat? Sure. Did they have certain parts of certain songs memorized because Jisung kept watching his edits on repeat? Oh yes. }

{Mn didn't want his identity leaked. He had to think of a name quick. Chris, as in Bang Chan from Stray Kids was what came to mind. }

At the Paris Fashion Week

{Jisung found a spot away from the cameras and was texting 'Chris'. After a few months of them being 'text pals', he was pretty fond of the random citizen. But despite the sheer amount of songs, pictures, and videos he's sent of Mn, 'Chris' was never as obsessed with him as Jisung was.}

{Holding a glass of champagne in his hand and dearly missing his coffee, Mn who was decked head to toe in Hermes, makes his way over to the figure he recognized as Han Jisung of Stray Kids. How he loved that band. He was listening to Han's song 'Volcano' on the way there. As he goes to talk to him, his eyes caught onto the rapper's phone screen. And by instinct, he accidentally read a few texts. Texts that were from him. He wanted to tell Jisung, but how?}

"Hi! Huge fan, Jisung.." Jisung's eyes widened as he shoved his phone into his pocket and extended his hand for a handshake. It was his first time seeing his favorite singer in real life.

"Oh my god...you..sorry, I'm just flustered all of a sudden. I'm your biggest fan, really."

"I appreciate it. We should collab someday." "Yes!!" Was that too loud? No, right?

Mn was endeared by the enthusiasm. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and unlocked it.

"Care for a selfie?"

"I'd love to.." Jisung tried keeping his voice from sounding too loud and excited as he smiled beautifully in the selfie he took with the singer. He took one on his phone as well, along with a photo of just Mn, not being able to resist the opportunity.

A/N: I'm ending so abruptly since I have really bad writer's block rn and I didn't even know how I posted this much. If you have any ideas on how Jisung finds out he's been texting Mn all this time, then let me know in the replies or send a DM.

[awesomewithoutme]

Dear swifties:

I've had the time of my life experiencing the Eras Tour with you guys! By the time I joined this community Eras was already in full swing, but everyone was so welcoming to a swiftie who was new to tumblr. We've lived so many lives since the beginning (and let's be real, so has Taylor.) Within all that time I managed to pretty much recover from health issues, let go of people and memories that weren't serving me anymore, make tons of new friends, and become a (kind of??) popular blog! And during that time friendship bracelets have become a core part of our legacy, we had a whole Eras movie released to theaters, we had 3 WHOLE ALBUMS!!! One of which literally became a whole new era, Cruel Summer is probably the song of all time now, we've had more outfits than I can count, and many exciting surprise songs! (Also there was Travis 🤭) it's been magical running @erastourtoronto-n2, seeing the movie in theaters, and then actually going on Toronto n2! I'll hold on to these memories forever. Special thanks to @cages-boxes-hunters-foxes for making this community fun and accessible for everyone! We're all thankful for you! Thanks to @hope-ur-ok for providing the surprise song audios! I love listening to mine. Thanks to @stuckinthistaydream for having a lovely space to talk about all things Eras! Thanks to all the beautiful gifmakers! I see and love all the time put into making gifs to capture the magic. Also thanks to @merryoliveoil. Thinking about her supremacy 😌. And an extra big extra special thanks to Taylor Swift! I'm so happy about everything you've done! We've made so many magical memories and it's all because of you! It's an honor that Eras ends in my country. I'm ready for the final show tonight!

Long Live the magic we made,

- Katelyn

@taylorswift

[megafaunatic]

fer @vinelark tagged me so here are my

5 no skip albums

HARD MODE: NO MOUNTAIN GOATS (JUST ABOUT EVERY MOUNTAIN GOATS ALBUM IS A NO SKIP ALBUM)

💿 you will not die (deluxe version) (2018) by nakhane. nakhane has such a clear, beautiful voice, and their instrumentation is by turns sparse and lush, bright and unsettling. listen to "by the gullet" with good headphones for a really weird and cool binaural intro with the syncopated marimba (?). also i love really deep sounds so when they hit me with the cello AND the fat bass kick drum AND the natural depth of their voice, i am IN IT!!! also i'm a lyrics guy first and foremost and their lyrics are so interesting and beautiful

💿 transangelic exodus (2018) by ezra furman. WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE? incredibly romantic. trans and gay as hell. fucking full of rage. explicitly jewish trans gay angel (i love those). i love a concept album! her scratchy punk vocals combined with fuzzy electric guitars and intense drums kill every time. every time i listen to this album i hear something new

💿 three futures (2017) by torres. ugh torres's voice. UGH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR THREE FUTURES BY TORRES!!! what can i say i love a melodic low voice over lofi droning. and synths. god i love synths. this whole album is like a thick gauge compression spring: the instrumentation on many songs works on a rapid beat while the vocals are drawn out and almost strained. and then when they synchronize (like in much of "helen in the woods") the tension is released and you feel it in your gut!

💿 ripely pine (2013) by lady lamb. the violin key changes in the crest of "you are the apple" changed my life. next question! ok but actually half of these songs are 5+ minutes long and every one earns it. it's like every song is a little opera. the transition from fairly standard acoustic love song to [REDACTED FOR SPOILERS] in "crane your neck" is SOOOOOO!!! holy fuck!!! it's so hot when women yell

💿 pony (2019) by orville peck. ok well first of all more musicians should make it so clear that their persona as a musician is a character they're playing and not a 1:1 reflection of who they are in real life. second of all have i mentioned that i love low voices singing beautifully? men are so scared to sing beautifully. it's a wasteland out there. it's like orville peck and fucking. michael bublé holding down the fort. anyway every song on this album is so fucking fun and boppy, i love a steel guitar. really good album for walking to work to (beat of most songs is comparable to walking speed) and singing really loud. thank you orville peck for saving country!

thank you for tuning into lore's music hour! everyone go listen to all 5 albums! you're welcome!

i tag @houtaroo @whatisthiswitchcraft @uhuraisgay @rose-indigo-and-tom AND @sleepnoises

[dearunreliablenarrator]

Writeblr Interview Tag

thank you, thank you to @sableglass for the tag, you can catch their original post here!

Short stories, novels, or poems?

Novels! Sometimes, I think the ideas i have are too large to stay as short stories or that i couldn't capture what's needed for poems.

What genre do you prefer reading?

I've found myself dabbling a bit more into psycho thrillers now a days, otherwise the toes are buried in sci-fi, romance and the occasional philosophy book.

Are you a planner or a write as I go kind of person?

Girls/Guys/Theys', I couldn't plan a thing and stick to it if my life depended on it. I try to do both, just for consistency sake, but I often go off line anyways, but the most important scenes are always written first.

It does make editing a bitch though.

What music do you listen to while writing?

I honestly write in silence (scary i know). Otherwise, Kitchen Nightmares or Hell's Kitchen reruns are on in the back. And unless, I've already curated a playlist for what's being written, there's nothing in these ears but air.

I guess the easy answer is it depends!

Favorite books/movies?

The Menu (2022)/Bottoms (2023)/EEAAO (2022)

Song of Achilles/ A Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires/ Act Your Age, Eve Brown.

Any current WIPs?

Cherries Under the Sun! A new branch of writing for me, I always kinda felt like I had to stick to romance and burnt myself out. So here, we have a exploration of relationships with God and life (in both destructive and favorable manners) and the horrors of which one would go to achieve what they believe to be a righteous way of living.

I don't know...religion makes people do some weird shit in the name of their god and that something I want to explore. Did I mention there are vampires?!

If someone were to make a cartoon out of you what would your standard outfit be?

wide legged pants or leggings, oversized t-shirt and pair of crocs. although, a lot of the time; i'm winnie the poohin' it.

Create a character description of yourself: 

a fluorescent beige girl with copper sister locs, tortie glasses and a slew of patchwork tattoos with facial piercings. of average height, and my clothes probably have a layer of cat hair on them. i'm probably lifting weights or somethings.

Do you like incorporating actual people you know into your writing?

Lol yes, but half of the time its not even on purpose. kid you not, in the first chapter of Where the River Bends, i've actually had a man say that to me; and that was after I wrote it. (might be a soothsayer yall) Quite the experience!

Are you kill happy with your characters?

I have yet to kill anyone, but its in the plans. ugh, its gonna be an old lady. i'm sorry in advance; but yall might not even like her so *shrugs*

Coffee or Tea while writing?

don't shoot me! but i think dr.pepper is the ultimate answer. someone should make a dr.pepper tea. 

it might be too country of me to ask for it to be cold with lots of crushed ice.

Slow or fast writer?

I'd say i have my spurts of fast writing, but i think the slower i write; the more I get out.

Where/who/what do you draw inspiration from?

Real life, i think is the most agreeable answer at the moment. I like people watching or taking my own life experience and stories I've heard over the years and not replicating them but retelling them from my lense on life; which is very...dramatic and mystical to say the least.

If you were in a fantasy world, what would you be?

Oh, theres so many options for this...but a cook/pub/tavern owner would be the first thing. I love feeding people and making sure they have a place to get warm food, and it'd be pretty cheap too! Or, house staff to some hoity-toity family, maybe get their son or daughter to fall in love with me so I can get some inheritance...but daddy, i love them kind moment

Most fav book cliche:

nerdy girl gets the jock

Least favorite cliche:

misunderstandings/miscommunication; oh god shoot me now! or the "she's hotter without her glasses" move (9x/10 the glasses are what makes them hot!)

Favorite scene to write?

Lore dumping scenes! They may be long and a little tedious to get through but they give so much insight into the smaller behaviors that characters have.

why does character A pick their nose comfortably in public? cause once upon a time; their grammy said it was okay and it's better than having it hang in there all day with people noticing!

I think my favorite so far though, is Warren and Sabryna's talk after a disastrous dinner. It was something in that moment, that they both really needed. Tough conversations equals great rewards in this case.

Reason for writing?

Cause I can! I mean; I'd really come to hate myself if i didn't let these ideas meet the paper or the keyboard in this matter. I think its very freeing to create something of your own, just getting past what others may think is the hard part.

and yall i cant draw for shit besides doodles so i guess writing is it for me.

no pressure tags below! sorry if you were double tagged! @rumeysawrites @inadequatecowboy @lady-grace-pens @tito-sober @shepardsherd @dyrewrites @goldfinchwrites @caninecomplex

[notyouraryang0dd3ss]

Thank you for creating this account, you are so brave.

Prefacing: I used to tolerate TS and her music when I was a teen and couldn't really avoid it. Now I'm 25 and I find her abhorrent as a human being.

(I'm not American and where I am from TS was never a Big Hit, unless we're talking 14 year old girls that eventually grow out of liking her. It's not entirely for a good reason, my country's a bit too conservative-brainwashed to like a self-proclained "girl boss" on a gov. level.)

Something that I noticed about that cult-like worship of that frankly boring woman is that most of the interesting shit about her is 1. made up 2. not about her music and I DO NOT understand how this is even considered a singer anymore.

Like, for example. A bunch of liberal queers like her because they take her bland music and fill it with their own meanings. Her lyrics are so soulless and boring and generic you can apply them to anything. You don't have to go listen to staples of quuer music like what drag queens, or queer women, or Black gay men create: because their music is visceral, it speaks onto real lived through opression that not everyone can relate to. But not with fucking TS! She writes the most TYPICAL line and a bunch of people assign some secret gay meaning to it. The amount of times I saw TS added to playlists for queer content is ridiculous. Like she wouldn't be half as popular if her music was regarded as what it is: straight white girl soliloquy.

The shit about her love life? Should not be fucking mentioned in regards to her as an artist. She's SO fucking fake. She will complain that people only see her as some girl who dates all those guys but she's the one fucking monetizing her love story. I'd understand if she didnt TRY TO but she fucking does! She knows she's bland and boring and she relies on people liking gossip enough to listen to her crap.

ok quick note when you said “liberal queers” it should be “queer liberals”. im assuming english isnt your first language so your native tongue has different grammatical rules but in this instance you put “queer” in front of “liberal.” i just don’t want you to be accused of being homophobic or anything so this is a quick note for you

you said you were 25 and everyone who’s been following this blog has been 20+ demographic in particular. i think it must be because we’re old enough to remember her entire journey starting w the 2009 kanye west mtv incident up until this moment. her staunchest swifties on here were born after the fearless release 💀

hmmmm i always wonder what people imply by Taylor Swift being a global superstar. like she’s isn’t popular in the entire continent of Africa but that doesn’t count apparently? and as much as she is popular in south asia, so much news is framed with a western perspective and all westerners think whiteness is default, and this includes taylor swift. i wouldnt be surprised if theyre inflating her popularity abroad as they are here in the states. idk

and so true! she’s known for her controversies and dating drama. even her music is known not for its success but ppl questioning the legitimacy of her grammys she’s received for her music.

also your gaylor hate—i understand. im not straight and i think gaylors were lobotomized by taylor swift’s music like genuinely these bitches have bricks for brains. there are soooooooo many better queer musicians especially musicians of color who write songs of their literal shared experience of queer love, identity, etc. but here they go theorizing that taylor seift and karlie kloss secretly dated 😭 it reminds me of this convo i had with my friend about gay people admiring/looking up to straight and cis people and labelling them as “gay icons.” its so stupid and reductive and continues to marginalize actual queer artists.

also talking abt taylor swift playlists i will never forget when i found spotify’s bad bunny x taylor swift playlist inspired by their photo from the 2023 grammys 💀 it was so dumb

“straight white girl soliloquy” PERIOD ANON! i need to start making a list of what you guys say cause its fkn fire

taylor swift embedded her relationships so deeply into her brand and music that its inseparable from herself. she really does define herself by her partners and her fans do too, which is why they expected this to be a joe alwyn album.

she really is so unoriginal and unremarkable and that’s why her thing WORKS. because to swifties she’s like “another everyday girl like you and me :)” 🙄 whatever. yuck!

[adultswim2021]

The Boondocks #34: “The Story of Jimmy Rebel” | May 23, 2010 - 11:30PM | S03E04

Homina homina homina

In this episode, Uncle Ruckus gets in the good graces of an exceptionally racist country star. You see, Uncle Ruckus is, despite being black, an anti-black racist himself. Uncle Rucks adores Jimmy Rebel’s wonderful country-fried bigotry. “Wonderful country-fried bigotry”? That’s not too good. Oh well, it’s staying in. Ruckus sends Rebel a demo and–guess what?--he loves it! Matters get complicated when Rebel wants to meet Ruckus. They do meet, but Ruckus pretends to be the house boy Toby (a reference!!!), and he eventually charms Rebel into no longer hating black people. 

The real star of this show is the insanely funny/horrible lyrics of Rebel’s songs. Jimmy is actually based on the real-life Johnny Rebel, whose work I didn’t have the nerve to sit with for the sake of this write-up (didn't wanna mess up the youtube algo). I think we’ve all encountered insanely racist music before. A common reaction to it is (I hope) to be completely gobsmacked at the notion that such a thing can not only exist but also be a thriving industry unto itself.

After the shock fades you might feel a queasy horror that compels one to turn the racist music off. Or, if you're a disaffected white guy from Northern California, a sorta dark bemusement. It’s like discovering mass-produced entertainment intended to be consumed by a religious cult, which I guess it sorta literally just is that. Anyway, the music in this matches that feeling of “holy shit”, and I sorta think Aaron McGruder just really wanted to outdo the racists at being racist. Boy, did he succeed. He’s better at being racist than I’ll ever be. 

The sitcom storyline sorta plays out how you’d expect it to, which is sorta the only thing you could ding this episode on. It’s a perfectly serviceable plot! But, this one is about the music. This one is for those of us with music in our hearts. 

This is one of those episodes that is frequently excluded when the show appears on streaming services. I watched this exactly one other time, in 2019, and had to find a dailymotion link or whatever. Notably this was deleted before 2020 and the murder of George Floyd spurred a huge wave of protests, which NBC-Universal saw, thought was about them (??) and responded by removing 30 Rock episodes with blackface in them. Pretty weird of them to do that. Anyway, that was all to point out that this episode was “banned” before that. I somehow have a nice uncensored HD copy of it on my Plex server, so it’s blue skies ahead for me.

EPHEMERA CORNER:

King of the Hill World Premiere Week (May 17-21st, 2010)

During the final season of King of the Hill, four episodes were produced that actually didn’t air on the Fox network. So, after the much-touted finale aired, eventually these four episodes followed; airing first in syndication (mere weeks before airing on Adult Swim according to online episode guides). The first place a lot of us saw them were on Adult Swim, who made a week out of it. These were: 

The Honeymooners

Bill Gathers Moss

When Joseph Met Lori, and Made Out with Her in the Janitor's Closet

Just Another Manic Kahn-Day

And then they capped off the week with the Adult Swim debut of the finale, To Sirloin, With Love. Which I don't think I've ever actually seen? Fun fact about me: I'm not sure I ever saw the final episode of King of the Hill!

[hildyj]

Fuck it, let me rank my 10/10, perfect, best of all time, no-skip album: Ram by Paul and Linda McCartney

12. Ram On (Reprise)

This one was pretty easy to place in last place, cause it's a 55 second reprise of another song on the album, sounding mostly like some quick studio improvisation. Charming but forgettable compared to the rest of the album.

11. Eat At Home

The McCartneys' tribute to oral sex - I think(!). Softly rocking and poppy. Something to bop your head to and allow you to come up for breath from the rest of this amazing album. I especially love how they turn the word "love" into a 10-syllable word.

10. Heart Of The Country

A real toe-tapping crowd-pleaser. McCartney using all of his tricks as a writer of pop songs to charm you.

9. Smile Away

Silly but it always brings a snile to my face. I love the condensed and rocking soundscape - makes me feel like I'm sitting in smokey music club in 1958.

8. 3 Legs

A blues-y number that sounds like it's been recorded backwards and then played in reverse. Simple but I love it.

7. Ram On

Paul McCartney doing the whole indie ukuele girl thing about 40 years before the invention of youtube. Ethereal and elemental.

6. Too Many People

A great opener to the album. The lyrics are so bitchy and condescending that *I* feel attacked, and my name isn't even John Lennon. "Now what can be done for you?" - Imagine your closest friend and song-writing partner saying that to you after your band broke up. And an amazing guitar solo as well. What did you say about granny music, Lennon?

5. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey

I just love the transition between the two halves, from staccato strings to honky-tonk piano, perfectly matching and also provoking the listener to sit up and pay attention. And why do Uncle Albert and Admiral Halsey fit so well? The first is melancholy, the second is rousing. Maybe it's because the McCartneys' infectious sense of humour is a rich seam running through all of it.

4. Monkberry Moon Delight

It's complete nonsense but completely infectious. And Paul's vocal performance is amazing. Why is he like that? How can he do everything?

3. The Back Seat Of My Car

Listen, it's my personal theory that Queen as a band would never have existed if it hadn't been for this song doing the tonal-shifting rock opera before they even got started. It's probably bullshit and shows a complete ignorance of rock history, but there it is. But listen to Paul building up into the Freddie scream, around the 3 minute and 20 sec mark and tell me you don't hear the basic ingredients that created 1970s rock as a genre.

2. Dear Boy

The most beautiful diss track in existence. The unfolding harmonies between Paul and Linda have to be heard through head-phones to be fully appreciated. It makes me feel like I'm floating, it makes me feel like crying, it makes me feel like spitting Linda's ex-husband in the face. It's an absolutely beautiful piece of work.

Long Haired Lady

Linda finally takes centre stage and she's great. I love the back and forth between the two of them and how their voices complement each other - Paul being the perfect crooning troubadour, singing about his beautiful lady, while Linda brings it back down to earth with slightly comical, nasal tones, demanding the guy to actually be precise in what this perfect love means to him. And then the second part - The Second Part! The Love Is Long part. The building, freeing, flying, expanding part, filling your heart until you're sure it's going to burst. I want to live the rest of my life in the final two minutes of this song, immersing myself in absolute beauty.

[hitsdifferents]

stop Liv 🥺! ilysfm ❤️!!

firstly sorry about the teal vinyl, i know how rough it is when you want to finish something and that last thing is getting in the way 😩. but i wanted to say that i am so so so proud of you for cleaning up your office yesterday!!! You did absolutely amazing, and i am so proud 💓. Rooting for you as you try to get out of this rough past couple of months ❤️. You are so strong and inspiring.

also i can't believe you're going to tsou opening night!!!! that sounds incredible. I wanted to tell you earlier and i hope this makes you happy, but you were basically the final reason i decided to listen to Gracie right before tsou came out. I had heard good things and i was going to start listening to her but the final push was when i saw you posting about her and then i started listening right in time for tsou release and OHMYGOSH. so many songs on repeat!! she is a phenomenal vocalist and writer and i can't believe i wasn't aware of her sooner! So jealous of you getting to see her opening night and Maisie in October!!

How's wedding planning going if you've started anything? If not, what time of year are you guys thinking? Not that I'm married or even with someone 😅, but choosing a season for your own wedding has always seemed like so much fun to me lol.

Sending all my love and best wishes to you always. Never forget I am always here for you 💓💓💓.

mwah 😘

i’ll survive without the vinyl (for now) it’ll be a dream gift for myself at some point if i ever accomplish anything exciting!

thank you for always being so damn supportive when i’m on a hard place and even when im doing better! it means so much to me that you care. <3

i’m so fucking stoked for opening night!! it’s literally always been a dream of mine to see a tour on its opening night with zero clue what it’s going to be! it’s so exciting i check daily to make sure my tickets are actually there and they exist and this is real life!!! i’m so stoked. AND YAY!!!! i’m so glad you found gracie and i’m happy to have helped in that. she is so fucking talented and i’m so excited about how things have been going for her this album cycle!

wedding planning is good! kind of at a stand still - we have all of our vendors booked but it’s far enough out that we can only do so much! we tried on dresses and i think i’ve found mine!! we’re getting married in august so mid/late summer and it’s going to be outdoors at a beautiful country club that has a stunning outdoor garden for the reception! thank you for asking!! we’re so excited! (but lowkey terrified that if trump wins we won’t be able to get married by this time next year… so trying to just keep our spirits up and stay hopeful and excited) <3333

[toribookworm22]

Listen. I've had The Tortured Poets Department on loop since it came out. I really really love it and only love it more with each repeat.

So. Here's my First Listen Notes:

Fortnight

What a way to start an album: I was supposed to be sent away. But they forgot to come and get me.

Love the synth rise and the beat drop

Post Malone's voice sounds SO good!

The Tortured Poets Department

Like who uses typewriters anyway 😆

Who else decodes you

No-fucking-body

Oooh the drop... it's so sad and quiet 🥺

My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys

Oooh fun beat

I'm queen of sandcastles he destroys 😲

He saw forever so he smashed it up 😶

Daaaaaamn

Down Bad

Digging this soft music, okay

The chimes!!

THE CHORUS

So fuck you if I can't have us

The bridge instrumentation

OOOOH IT GOES OUT OF TUNE

So Long, London

The choral sound!!!

The ramp up!!!

How much sad did you think I had in me

Oh this is gutwrenching

I'm just mad as hell cause I loved this place

But Daddy I Love Him

No I'm not but you should see your faces 😄

An adult Love Story

It's my own disgrace

I love this

Fresh Out The Slammer

Ooh twangy first beat

Tone shift hello

I did my time 🥺

FLORIDA!!!

THE DRUMS

Ooooh Florence's voice

Somehow it sounds like both of their songs????

Guilty as Sin?

How can I be guilty as sin?

What if the way you hold me actually was holy

Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?

Villain Song! Villain Song!

You don't get to tell me about sad

Sounds old country

If you wanted me dead you should've just said

So I leap from the gallows

WHOS AFRAID OF LITTLE OLD ME (you should be)

What the hell?!?!

Was it a wonder I broke

I was tame I was gentle

Well you should be

The lowering beats!!!

Then I'm fearsome and I'm wretched

I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)

Love the old country open

Almost ghostly

Your good lord doesn't need to lift a finger

I can handle me a dangerous man (no really I can)

Woah maybe I cant!!!

loml

Aww it's just piano

Who's gonna stop us from waltzing into rekindled flames if we know the steps anyway 🥺

I felt a glow like this never before and never since

Still alive and killing time at the cemetery

Holy ghost you told me I'm the love of your life 😭

She's so sad...

What we thought was for all time was momentary

Mr. Steal your girl then make her cry

Talking rings and talking cradles

Something counterfeit's dead

Oh my good god I want to analyze this my goodness

You're the loss of my life 😭 Taylor no!!

I Can Do It With A Broken Heart

It sounds like pool in the background

Very 80s arcade glitch pop

I'm a real tough kid I can handle my shit

He said. He'd love. Me all. His life.

I'm so depressed I act like it's my birthday 🤣

No, not depression pop!

I can hold my breath; I've been doing it since he left

Taylor I've never understood you more 🤦‍♀️

You know you're good when you can even do it with a broken heart

You know you're good! I'm good

Cause I'm miserable

And nobody even knows!

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

The exhale no!

Who the fuck was that guy

They just ghosted you now you know what that's like 😲

I don't even want you back I just want to know

🫢

This is the most sadly disappointed jab of a song I've ever heard

WERE YOU SENT BY SOMEONE

IN 50 YEARS WILL THIS ALL BE DECLASSIFIED

AND ILL SAY GOOD RIDDANCE

I WOULDVE DIED FOR YOUR SINS

YOULL SLIDE INTO INBOXES AND BETWEEN BARS

You kicked out the stage lights but you're still performing

And I'll forget you but I'll never forgive

Hot damn.

Claiming this as mine yes please

The Alchemy

But I'm coming back so strong

Honestly who are we to fight the alchemy

But I'm making a comeback to where I belong

He jokes that it's heroin but this time with an e

Where's the trophy he just comes running to me

Clara Bow

Ooh windup

Yes guitar!!! Love this intro!!

This sounds so indie and small I love it

Soft and comforting

Take the glory give everything

The crown is stained but you're the real thing

Oooh some small town lore

Hello something reminiscent of The Lucky One

Character Song Acquired

It's. Hell. On. Earth. To. Be. Heavenly.

You've got edge she never did

What a way to end that song damn

The Black Dog

Sad piano no

You forgot to turn it off

Her voice sounds so fragile

Until it doesn't!

Old habits die SCREAMING!!!

YESSSSSSSS

okay miss back to soft but slowly growing

Her voice is so earnest

Yes the beats are so good!

Six weeks of breathing clean air

Beat change!!!!!!

Screeeeeeeeeaaaaaammmmiiiiing

And I hope you heeeeeeeeeeaaaaaar it

And I hope it's shitty in The Black Dog

Keep the beat going!!! Yes!!!

I adore this so so much

The last screaming is WHISPERED!!!???! what!??!

Top songs. I'm calling it.

imgonnagetyouback

I hear you 1989 energy

And I'll tell you one thing honey delivery stunning

Ooh okay!

Sparkly alright okay!

Instrumentation is so fun

I'm loving the ultimatums 😆

Even if it's handcuffed I'm LEAVING HERE WITH YOU

pick your poison babe I'm poison either way

Cut the music alright!

The Albatross

Ooooh this is so pretty already!

I love the softness contrasted with the short lines

She's the albatross she is here to destroy you

One less temptress one less dagger to sharpen

And they tried to warn you about me

And I tried to warn you about them!

I'm the life you chose and all these terrible dangers

So cross your thoughtless heart

Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus

Simple instrumentation

Oh but I love the title drop

If you wanna break my cold cold heart just say I loved you the way that you were

If you wanna tear my world apart just say you've always wondered

I changed into goddesses villains and fools

Will that make your memory fade from this scarlet maroon

Cause I wonder

Will I always wonder

How Did It End?

Oooh no I'm scared

The piano is scaring me already

No not oh-oh's

We hereby conduct this post-mordem

We must know... how did it end?

Oh-oh oh-ohhhhhhhh

Her backing vocals are so gorgeous

Lot the game of chance what are the chances

Walking in circles like she was lost

Didn't you hear they called it all off

One gasp then how did it end?

Ooh key change oh no

My beloved ghost and me sitting in a tree d-y-i-n-g

But I still don't know how did it end?

I didnt understand until I did hot damn

So High School

Ooooh the instrumentation sounds so 2000s!!!!

That just soft pop rock energy

Bittersweet 16 suddenly

I love the contrast between her soft airy vocals and her gritty lows

Are you gonna marry kiss or kill me

You know how to bottle I know Aristotle

I feel... like laughing

And in the blink of a crinkling eye

Such a sweet grinning song

Sounds like she's really recapturing something teenage

I Hate It Here

Quick quick (lyrics before music what??)

Tell me something awful like you are a poet

When I was a precocious child

Small town fears

Cause I hate it here

Everyone would look down cause it wasn't fun now seems like it was never even fun back then

Only the gentle survived

I'm made most of the year

This is really really pretty

A fun I was a quietly angry child song

This place made me feel worthless

She sounds timeless

This could actually be a kids movie song with this lullaby like instrumentation

thanK you aIMee

(Her first play on capitalization?)

And I forget the way you made me feel

Screaming fuck you Aimee

Ooh I like the build

Nice build!!! Oooh so fun!

But she used to say she wished you were dead 🫢

I built a legacy that you can't undo

That there wouldn't be this if there hadn't been you

Miss Taylor did you write a whole new bully song for me??? A la Mean???

I don't think you've changed much do I changed your name

Only us two are gonna know is about you

Soft and powerful

Like every kid who came out of bullying with a kinder heart

I Look In People's Windows

Ooh fun instru- wait wait what? That glitch of a noise? Hello?

I'm afflicted by the not knowing

Backing vocals! Fun noise!

The music is sounding a little more strangled okay!

I'm addicted to the if only

Music leaves her isolated when she calls herself weird hmmm subtext there

The Prophecy

Country sings again with the indie guitar

I got cursed like eve got bitten

A lesser of a woman would've lost hope a greater woman would've begged

Ooh the begging is so pretty

Sounds a prayer for real

Feeling like the very last drops of an ink pen

Gathered with a coven round

But even statues crumble if they're made to wait

Spending my last coins so someone will tell me it'll be okay

And said *please*

Cassandra

Oooh follow piano notes

Build some strings okay

When it's burn the bitch they're shrieking

When the truth comes out it's quiet

So they killed Cassandra first

So they killed my cell with snakes I regret to say do you believe me now

What happens if it becomes who you are

So they set my life in flames I'm scared to say do you believe me now

Bloods thick but nothing like a payroll

It's so sad but still powerful like Greek mythology I guess

Ooh but the gravel on "heard"

I think I hear static like fire in the background at the end

Peter

Oooh okay some powerful piano notes alright

Love this instrumentation

Is it something I did

I thought it was just goodbye for now

Said you were gonna grow up then you were gonna come find me

Such a simple melody I love it

We said it was just goodbye for now

And I won't confess that I waited

Cause loves never lost when perspective is earned

Lost to the lost boys chapter of your life

But the woman who waits by the window has turned out the light

The Bolter

Oooooh

Okay I'm here for this alright

Storytelling like folklore!!!

Behind her back her best friends laughed

It's cheery but so devastating my goodness

All her fucking lives passed before her eyes

Oooh ramp up a little with some subtle beats

She's been many places

Yes ramp up

Chariots are waiting

There's a scape in escaping

But she's got the best story

Robin

(In here for all the names okay)

No sad piano!!!

Long note no!!!

You are bloodthirsty (ethereal version)

This is so pretty

The softest battle cry

It's nostalgic power?

We all vowed to keep it from you in sweetness

Is this like you did a good job being sweet now be angry?

You have no room in your dreams for regret

You'll learn to bounce back like you trampoline

This is such a be whatever kind of kid you wanna be

The Manuscript

One note and I'm crying

Love the isolated notes Oh my gosh

Love this end already

Now and then she rereads the manuscript

In the age of him she wished she was 30

Afterwards she only ate kids cereal

She wasn't sure

Okay some growing notes yes! Grow power

The professor said to write what you know

Looking backwards may be the only way to move forward

And at last she knew what the agony had been for

The only that's left is the manuscript

But the story isn't mine anymore

That is a... okay, wait... that's a really really good way to end this album... I need time to digest that actually... hold on...

[redwoodrecords]

038. a road trip across country, music blaring through speakers

with the gang of ROs?? or wtv character(s) you like <3

love this one!! i’ll do it with the ros and mc. this mc will just be called mc so it’s easier for me to write <3 i’ll also be using m!ali, m!max, f!frankie and f!sam for this prompt. also this is really dialogue heavy i'm so sorry in advance.

“why is alistair driving? i wanted to drive." samantha pouts from her position stuck between max and frances. the five of you had decided on renting a car to drive down to a vacation town not too far from redwood.

"it's nothing against you sam." you smile from the passenger seat. "ali rented the car so it's easier if he drives. when we rent the next car, you can drive."

"no! she can't." frances blurts out as everyone gives her a confused look. "i just don't really want to die anytime soon."

"don't be so dramatic frankie. if you're so scared of my driving, why don't you drive then? oh wait, you can't!"

"i think," max starts loudly to interrupt. "i think we should play some music and also, i should sit in the passenger seat. my legs are cramping stuck in the back."

"hey, i'm tall and you don't see me complaining maxy max." sam rummages in her handbag for some lipgloss as she speaks. she applies a thin layer. "wait. actually i will complain. i should drive and maxy should sit in the passenger seat." "that's not fair." frances says.

"life isn't fair honey and max and i are the oldest. we have the most life experience of driving and being in the passenger seat." max nods slowly at sam's explanation. "okay." alistair says, as everyone looks at him. "i'm going back to the car rental place."

"wait? what?" you say.

"i need a bigger car."

"for my legs?" max asks.

"for me to drive?" sam says. "because i'm fine driving this one."

"no, i need a bigger car with a bigger stereo system so that i don't have to listen to you guys."

"now that's just unnecessary." sam pouts. "i'll be quiet. i promise."

"thank you." ali smiles in the mirror so that samantha can see.

"but, i want to play some music."

"okay, that's fair." ali nods to you to pass sam the cord to plug her phone in. she smiles at you and taps on her phone for a few moments before suddenly a recognisable song plays. flooding the car with guitar noises. it's life is a highway by rascal flatts.

"seriously sam." ali's lips are flattened. "the cars soundtrack?"

"c'mon ali." frances grins. "it is a good song."

max nods as samantha sings along. after a moment, all three of the passengers at the back are attempting to sing. you roll your eyes and join in after a while. alistair keeps his eyes focused on the road but you can see his lip quirk up for a moment.

"best impromptu car concert ever. you really brought it all together with your backing vocals." samantha nods at max as he places a hand on his heart.

"thank you samantha. backing vocals is really where i shine." "we should start a band maxy."

"i was thinking the exact same thing!" "we're in sync." the two start to dramatically point their index fingers against each other in a synchronised gesture, as the three of you stare in confusion.

"this wouldn't happen if you let samantha drove." frances said.

"but you said she couldn't drive and she'd kill us!" you respond.

"yeah, well, i changed my mind. anything is better than watching this."

you all laughed at frances' deadpan expression. obviously the possibility of a band forming might have been a whimsical idea, but the bonds you were building were very much real, woven tightly together by the threads of music and the open road.

[jjsanguine]

BL/QL Ask game: The Ugly, the Bad and the Worst

From @clara-maybe-ontheroad

I feel like starting a random tag ask game for all the terrible shit us QL-lovers put up with, sometimes for pleasure, sometimes for pain, sometimes for both! The list of questions ended up being very long so no one has to do them all, just the ones you want, but I'm excited to see what everyone comes up with :)

The categories are:

Worst soundtrack / weirdest song choice in a BL

I listen to basically anything so I've yet to really be weirded out. I have kpop, world music, afropop, Afrobeats, gospel, country, drill, R&B, praise and worship (?) and others I don't know the genre names for jumbled together in the same playlist lmao.

Most cringe-inducing line (cute)

"Let's kiss the dog together" in Lovely Writer. I don't like dogs so this made me crease even more. Kissing animals is gross I'm sorry.

Most cringe-inducing line (actually bad)

Any line I truly disliked is blissfully gone from my memory.

Most stupid decision made by a character

Any of Phupha's decisions in The Promise (2023), but chiefly the decision to disappear from 10 years. I know it was the driving force in the show but it was still a fucking terrible decision.

Worst plot line

Gram x Eugene in Not Me. Literally huh ??? I choose to ignore it.

The most problematic show you've watched

Probably Tharntype. I do not care what happened in Lhong's life man. Why are you muddying a cartoon villain with a sob story.

A show people love but you find bad

I never finished Love In The Air or Gap the Series. I didn't find them bad really, I just got missed an episode and then never caught up.

A show people find bad but you will defend

I don't know if people dislike the while show but secret crush on you episode 1 makes you want to peel off your skin and wring the ick out of your bones. But after you've taken a month or so to recover from that, it's a masterpiece.

A show that is just objectively bad but you enjoyed it

Probably Tharntype, purely based on me watching it several times but also wanting to throw my phone for like 80% of the runtime. It's like when I eat food and go "I'm not sure how I feel about this" the entire time, but have to conclude logically that I liked it somewhat since I finished it all of my own volition.

A bad show that you kept watching because you were intrigued/fascinated

A lot a lot of them. I am easily pleased.

A bad show that you kept watching because you were horny

There's no level of horniness that will make me stick with a show that I'm losing interest in. Why would I bother with something that has a plot in that case lmao.

A bad show that you kept watching because of that one character

I've never done this with a QL because I could just watch a fancam, but I am going to keep watching Outer banks even though season 3 was character assassination because Pope is my baby.

A bad show that you would still recommend

Why would I recommend a show I think is bad??

The character that ruined a show the most

He didn't ruin the show but Not's off screen redemption arc in Be My Favourite soured the ending a tiny bit for me. Not everyone has to win y'know?

Most awful character that you hated /Most awful character that you loved / A character that wasn't awful but that you just don't like

If I dislike a fictional character I usually just forget about them.

A hero that should have been a villain

Joke in Hidden agenda. He was a troubled guy but they could have gone full on toxic with it.

A morally bad character you're into

Kinn. Well, most characters in Kinnporsche. If they were real I'd want a few dozen degrees of separation between me and anyone with such casual disregard for human life.

A morally bad character you're not into and you wish people would stop being into

I don't really keep track of who others are into.

The show that disappointed you the most

Step by step. You don't even need to change the plot, just the pacing.

The Worst Show of Them All Because of Your Own Reasons

I 100% purged my memory of it, whatever this show was.

[thoughtsbyharu]

Webtoon Review: Happily Ever Afterwards

Synopsis:

What would you do if you were reborn as a character from your favorite romance novel? For Peony, an avid fan of “The Song of Askar,” the answer is simple: Marry her favorite character, of course! Reincarnated as the princess of the Kingdom of Garten, Peony is determined to marry Richt, the second male lead of “The Song of Askar” and former prince of the Fairspren Empire, who was banished to an inhospitable land after the novel’s happy ending (which didn’t end so well for him). Amidst trials and tribulations, can Peony and Richt make the most of their second chance at life and love?

Status: Completed

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Isekai, Drama, Josei, Comedy

Original Work By: Hwang Do Tol

Adapted by: Jeongseo

Review:

Hello Hi Annyeong and welcome to my review blog!

Today I will be reviewing a cute romance manhwa entitled, Happily Ever Afterwards!

This review will be a bit short since I finished it last February and I don't remember ALL the details, just the important ones.

Anyway, this title is another novel isekai.

But the thing is, the MC was not reincarnated as a part of the main cast, instead, she is a background character of the original story, a princess from a rich, neighbouring country.

The timeline also happened after the ending of the original story which made me interested.

So far, I've only read novel isekais where the MCs are either involved in the story from birth (reincarnated) or they went back in time.

For this one, the original princess died and the MC took over the princess' body. Unlike other isekais, the MC has no idea what will happen next since it's already the after-story. So it's up to the MC to create her own story thus, the title "Happily Ever Afterwards".

In her previous life, the MC, now called Princess Peony, has a favorite character/bias in the novel name Richt. In the novel, Richt is the tragic second lead who was exiled after starting a rebellion against the novel's hero and heroine; his brother and THE crown prince, Mikhail and his first love and brother's fiance, Hestia.

Peony absolutely LOVED Richt and thinks he is misunderstood and deserved to be happy. If only she could bring him happiness right? Then an idea struck her. Since she is at the novel's after story, she could change Richt fate and save him! And how you ask? By marrying him and becoming a great wife of course!

The premise of the story is totally relatable! Fictional guys are hot but they ain't real. But what if they WERE real? What would you do? Well, Ms. Peony here knows what she wants, she will marry her favorite character no matter what.

Peony now has a goal but conflicts got in her way. You see, the original Princess Peony is very fragile and sickly (thus why she died). Because of this, her family is overprotective and doted on her so much. The land where Lord Richt was exiled is very cold and almost unhabitable, it's a big red flag for her and her health. But girlie really wanted to make her bias happy so she said fck it, I'm going no matter what. Convincing her family to go and propose to him was challenging but Peony managed to convince them anyways.

Fast forward, Peony was able to travel to Lord Richt's residence and has many plans of winning him over. She proposed to him but was rejected. However, she won't back down without a fight! He is her bias after all so she knows everything about him! She believes that if she makes the right moves, he will eventually warm up to her.

However, making Richt fall for her was harder than expected. Despite knowing the things on how to pull his heart strings (example: giving him sweets), he is still so rude, aloof and cold towards her.

Despite Richt pushing her away, Peony would almost push back and would never leave. She put her foot down and declared that she WOULD marry him. Eventually, the two made a truce that if Peony made him fall for her in 100 days, he would marry her. And thus, begins their love story.

Their love story is actually cute. I won't spoil anything but I really love the development between the two as well as their chemistry. Sometimes I find myself giggling about how cute they are. I really love Peony as she is so pure, adorable, cheerful and strong. She's strong in the sense that she is very determined, driven and she knows what she wants. She is not afraid to try as she always takes the first step all the time which I admire very much. This attitude of hers really fits well with our male lead, Richt.

Now with Richt, I love him and Peony together but alone, I don't think he is on my favorite characters list. For me, this guy is just a big red flag. I'm not really a fan of tsundere male leads so I might be biased on this but he really gets on my nerves sometimes. He gets angry all so suddenly and he expects Peony to know why the hell is he angry about. And when Peony wants to talk about it, he lashes out like, okay dude chill, she just wants to understand you.

He has his moments sure, he even makes me swoon sometimes, but most of the times he is just a big jerk. I almost dropped this series because of how he treats Peony badly on the first half of the series. As much I love Peony, she sometimes can be so pushy. She has that "I can fix him" mindset so yeah, I kinda get annoyed at her sometimes because it hurts to see her so determined when her efforts aren't even reciprocated.

Despite that, I kept reading this manhwa because my good friend recommended this to me and she loved it very much so I gave it a chance. I was thinking the whole time that Peony is so perfect for him because she has so much patience dealing with his moodiness. If I were her, I would dump his ass a long time ago :D

Anyways, the story itself was interesting. The main focus is the main couple's romance but the subplots are good too. The story of the rebellion has an unexpected twist and the love story of the second couple is very adorable as well. I really love Andy since he's such a cutie and a green flag! He is one of my favorite characters.

Reading it is entertaining and I was satisfied with the ending.  My only problem is with the male lead at first but I guess it worked out for them both at the end. It was cute and I would recommend it to those peeps who loves the cold guy x cheerful girl dynamic. 

------

Overall Rating: 4/5

Status: Finished

[thesinglesjukebox]

IZZY HELTAI - "25"

From Thomas, a country-adjacent trans singer-songwriter reflecting on his quarterlife...

[6.38]

Thomas Inskeep: Heltai's a trans male folk-adjacent singer/songwriter in his mid-20s who's been getting better with each release, but "25" is a genuine knockout. The song starts out with him worrying about worrying too much and "try[ing] so hard"; his mom reminds him that he's got plenty of time to do, and figure out, things. It's a sweet and simple, loping, strummy number -- think Jason Mraz if he were actually good. But then the bridge comes along, and OOF: "And if I peaked in high school/Then maybe I wouldn't care/But I was just another queer kid/And I thought that I'd be dead/By the time that I turned 20/Guess I'm pushing all my luck/Living past my life expectancy/'Cause trans kids normally don't get this far." The first time I heard this, I started sobbing; it still nails me in the gut and the heart. As someone who was a queer kid in high school who thought (and often hoped) I'd be dead, let alone who realized in my early 50s that my gender identity is neither what the world nor I had perceived it to be, I feel these lines acutely. And Heltai's singing style is so laconic that the lyrics creep up on you. He's not overly emoting, just being very "this is my truth" about it, which makes the impact that much harder. He's one of our best right now, and this is without question my single of the year. [10]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: Oh no! I think this song is sweet and meaningful and a beautifully honest rendering of trans and queer young adulthood but I also think it sounds like Mac DeMarco! Diversity win? [6]

Will Adams: There's an earnestness that elevates "25" above the more cynical spate of mental health pop songs we saw in the late '10s, and a warm pop-rock arrangement is always welcome. But I'm 31 now; while I still struggle with how to just live in this world -- we all do -- I've aged out of this particular mode of struggle, which verges on the naive. All I can do is take comfort in its existence; what "Vermillion" was for me at a point in my life, "25" will be for someone out there. [6]

Oliver Maier: I tried for a moment to think of what genre you would call this, but truth be told it just sounds like Spotify to me. It's Vibe-core. Soulful but not effortful indie rock-lite that's always home by curfew. I feels like it's everywhere, but I couldn't name another song that does it because they all feel so disposable (probably something by Rex Orange County; if not patient zero, he's surely a super-spreader). And Izzy is trying to sing about something of enormous importance on the bridge here! Why do this topic such a disservice with such nothing music and self-infantilising lyrics? The way he punctuates the god-forsaken therapist line with a seltzer spray of guitar noise (wake up!!! Mental health is happening!!!) makes me groan. 25 is not too old to have a little more imagination. It's too old to be singing like that, though. [1]

Vikram Joseph: A neat way to recalibrate yourself in time is to remember all the things you worried you might be too old to do 5 years ago, and then to think about how young your 5-years-ago self seems to you now, and then to think about how young your current self will seem to you in 5 years time. Izzy Heltai talks himself round in a similar way on "25", a sweet and wholesome (if slightly unadventurous) bit of country-pop. It's all lolloping guitar and creaky synth, gentle and comforting, at least until Heltai reminds us that "trans kids normally don't get this far." [6]

Ian Mathers: It'd be real easy for me, a cishet white dude who remembers 25 and also remembers not having a lot of 'real' problems at 25, to shrug off this guy worrying that he hasn't done enough at that age. But even if things didn't feel different in general in 2023 (and they do!), Heltai takes time in this sweet and charming song to make explicit why my demographic peers should maybe shut up and think about it a bit: "Guess I'm pushing all my luck/Living past my life expectancy/'Cause trans kids normally don't get this far." It can take a lot to actually feel like you've still got time. "25" is lovely because it feels like, even if just recently, Heltai knows he does. [7]

Hannah Jocelyn: "Why do I try so hard?" I'm working four jobs, and it's not enough; I'm lucky to have a supportive family and supportive friends, I'm lucky in so many ways. I have people telling me I'll get there someday, but it's a ticking clock, isn't it? We know where the country's going; who knows how much time we have left regardless of age. On the bridge of the year, Izzy Heltai says: "Guess I'm pushing all my luck/Living past my life expectancy/'Cause trans kids normally don't get this far/That's why I try so hard." I wasn't sure I'd get this far, either; my egg cracked at 17, and it took the world ending at 22 for me to pursue transition. Sure, I had the privilege of passing as a cis guy, but ask anyone who really knew me and it did not outweigh the suffering I felt. Even now, I have trouble thinking about a five-year plan because I don't know what life will look like for people like me and Izzy in the future. So I find the purposeful naivety of this song affecting; we're going to keep on going anyway and inspiring one another, fuck you. "25" isn't a masterpiece; the production is pristine but uninspired adult alternative (give or take some distorted guitars and a pretty chorused bit at the end), and the pacing of the song is too slow even if the bridge pays it off beautifully. But it doesn't need to be a colossal achievement. We're just trying to live. [8]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: The perfect soundtrack to an award-winning, coming-of-age tearjerker premiering at Sundance. [2]

Katherine St Asaph: His heart is in the right place, and his guitars eventually get there. "25" is self-released, so I'm sure this is exactly the sound he wants to make. But as the Mandy, Indiana single demonstrated, it's possible to have both a message and an instrumental that doesn't sound like James Blunt. [3]

Taylor Alatorre: At first this comes across as a less knotty and warbled take on Pinegrove's emo-Americana fusion, though the unaffectedness of the writing tells me Heltai likely arrived at this synthesis independently. Then that classic alt-rock crunch drops in, with a tone that says "hey, I don't usually use guitars like this in my music, so you'd better listen up." It's a good way to mirror the shifting worries and impulses depicted in the lyrics, without veering too far away from one particular headspace in one particular moment. Unlike the most famous emo-adjacent song about being 25 and aimless, the mood here is more reflective than exhortatory, with an unhurried pace that matches the implied conversational tone between Heltai and his mother. [7]

Brad Shoup: The plain-spoken nature of this--the genial self-deprecation, the way he names his fears with a shrug, the reminder to get some sleep--gets me thinking about those fantastic queer compilations that the Folkways label put together in the '70s and '80s. They're insular and open: a window to warm and messy worlds I will never truly know, but were everything to the musicians and their communities. It makes sense that the trickster coffeeshop-folk would be replaced with drawling adult alternative, and it's touching that Heltai sees the anthemic in such a straightforward text. I hope he's singing this for decades. [7]

Wayne Weizhen Zhang: "25" comes from that feeling where you look around at everyone else enjoying a pleasant day and wonder if you're the only one gripped with anxiety inside about things you've put off or forgotten to do. It comes from that feeling where even after you've done the work of rejecting toxic stress and begun defining success your own way, you still feel self-conscious about your life decisions; where you feel genuinely happy for your peers upon learning about their accomplishments, but secretly and ashamedly wonder how they've all managed to reach their full potential, while your own dreams feel like a perpetual work-in-progress. It's a feeling that one day you realized your other queer friends had too, each of you gripped with the pressure of proving your own happiness and worth in a society that denied your very existence. When Izzy Heltai sings, it feels like he's one of those friends, reminding you that you're not alone. Set to an ambling beat, each confessional is accompanied by the crescendo of a lazy guitar. I hear serious healing and self-care in his voice, even as he conversationally shares interventions from his mom and therapist or casually mentions being a trans kid who didn't think he'd make it to adulthood. I turned 27 last month, officially entering into the late 20s. As an adult, I often experience happiness and community my younger self couldn't have even imagined. But on my worst days, I still feel like I'm constantly chasing a future version of myself--and I'm exhausted by that chase, and scared that I'll never stop feeling that way. I'm also a high school teacher who runs a GSA, seeing the cycles of how young queer kids mask their insecurities by pushing themselves to be the best, setting themselves up for standards they'll later need to unlearn. I want them to hear this song and o know that they're enough the way that they are and they don't have to try so hard--and I want to believe those messages for myself. The most powerful message of "25" is about extending ourselves grace. We will never run out of time to become who we truly want. [10]

Nortey Dowuona: We both got a lot of time left. [10]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox ]

[artzychic27]

Camp camp quotes pls

Ismael: *As Adrien picks him up* You are the bane of my existence.

—

Adrien: Hang on a sec, what are you even doing out here?

Ismael: Well, it's definitely not because the bus only comes in from the city to drop off and pick up campers And so far seems to be my only reasonable method of escaping this fucking nightmare of a camp. Definitely not that.

Adrien: Heeeeyy... language.

—

Adrien: Gooood morning, Marinette!

Marinette: Motherfucker!

Denise: *Tied to the ceiling fan blades and spinning around* Crank it to high, I can take the G's!

Marinette: Kim, you don't crank shit! Get down from there, Denise!

—

Adrien: Here at Camp Damocles, we pride ourselves on the variety of our curriculum.

Marinette: There's Extreme Sports Camp. *Lacey becomes tangled in the faulting climbing gear* Fashion Camp. *Reshma sucks on her finger when the outdated sewing machine pricks her* Space Camp. *Denise and Max are glaring at the outdated solar system model featuring Pluto* Theatre Camp. *Myléne and Jean have tomatoes thrown at them* Art Camp.

Nathaniel: *Painting a German Shepherd* It's a dog!

Marinette: Music camp. *Juleka gets electrocuted by the faulty wiring* And lots more. Lots of stuff.

Max: How much more stuff?

Adrien: Well I'm glad you asked because I have a little song that I can sing- *Is about to pull out a guitar*

Marinette: No!

Adrien: When Marinette’s not around.

—

Alix: This is bullshit!

Ismael: Woah, check out the balls on new kid.

Cosette: *Looks down* Where?

—

Marinette: Oh God it's coming back, the crippling anxiety and regret!

Adrien: Uh, Marinette!?

—

Adrien: Well, I think we all learned a valuable lesson today.

Nathaniel: Don't ever work together!

—

Ismael: He can't be real! Oh God, I'm gonna crack and live the rest of my life as a Wood Scout!

Kim: Actually, we've been talking about this. Cuz yeah, we exist. And we decided that I am the best camper.

Luka: Hold up. I thought we agreed that I was the best camper. I'm the COOLEST.

Marc: But I'm the most creative!

Reshma: No, I'M the most creative!

Rose: Yet I'm the most adorable!

Jean: And I'M the only one who seems to be taking this theater performance SERIOUSLY!

—

Austin A: It's why we ran him out in the first place.

Jean: You RAN him out?

Austin A: Of course! It was for his own good! He's just so... Feminine and stuff. He likes baking, shopping, and exercising in order to sculpt the perfect body image.

Austin Q: It's like if a girl came in here and tried to do what we do.

Jean: Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on! The hell's that supposed to mean?

—

Ismael: *After just flinging the camp mascot to the next island with a huge rock instead of hitting Adrien* Aw, man…That was supposed to kill you.

—

Marc: Lady-sickness. My moms used to get that all the time.

Simon: How do you cure it?

Marc: Edge closer to death… YAY! MASCOT HUNT!

—

Kim: Does this mean we’ll be the Camp Damocles Platties?!

Adrien: No, I don’t think so.

Simon: …What about the pussies?

Adrien: Definitely not!

Sabrina: Yeah, I like that!

Juleka: Pussies for life.

Campers: *Chanting “Pussies” while Adrien just gives up in trying to stop them*

Nathaniel: I’ll make the flag!

—

Zoé: That was super gay.

Jean: We JUST learned a lesson about stereotyping!

—

Ismael: This sucks…This is the kind of peasant work my parents left their home country to avoid

—

Ismael: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold the hell up! Did you nerds forget who revolutionized this place?! I should be leading you! Not "x-treme sports barbie” over here! *Points to Lacey*

—

Adrien: You guys are here to rescue me?!

Alix: No! Shut up Adrien!

Adrien: Aw…

—

Nino: Wh-what do you think about that moaning and wailing?

Aurore: Pssh, it’s just teenagers from that church camp working on those repressions again. Not that I know anything about it, just being a kid and all.

—

Nathaniel: Thank you, Mr. Adrien. Under my rule, *Raises his paintbrush in the air* I WILL MAKE CAMP DAMOCLES GREAT AGAIN! *Thunder and lightning*

Adrien: *Thinking* …This is probably fine

—

Cosette: WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MAX, KIM? SHOVE HIM IN A LOCKER? MAKE HIM PROM QUEEN, ONLY TO COVER HIM IN BLOOD?!

—

Adrien: You see, I feel that letting the campers take over gives them a sense of pride and purpose, that you just don't get with those other 'traditional' camps. I've... *Nathaniel taps him on the shoulder* Oh, uh, yes Nathaniel? How can I help YOU?

Nathaniel: Where are your papers?

Adrien: … Uh, I'm not quite sure what you mean.

Nathaniel: Your papers, where are they?

Adrien: *Sweating*

Nathaniel: It's a very simple question, Adrien. You are only hurting yourself by lying.

Adrien: … *Noticies the construction paper in Nathaniel’s hand* Oh… Oh, you want more construction paper!

Nathaniel: Yeah, what did you think I meant? I'm not some sort of secret police or something.

—

Nathaniel: Someone is hiding from art’s divine presence?! Unacceptable! We shall make an example of him! Let the hunt begin! *Thunder and lightning*

Adrien: … This is still fine.

—

Isnael: Yo, did someone say black magic?”

Myléne: *Facepalming*

Jean: Amateurs!

—

Jean: I don’t know who this BITCH is, but she is KILLING IT! AH!

—

Jean: The theater! The cruelest mistress of all! My career! Like the mistakes of so many teenage girls, has been aborted.

—

Ismael: The United States moon landings were a hoax filmed in Area 51 orchestrated by the government as a publicity stunt designed to humiliate the Russians in the space race!”

Denise: Noooooo! No! I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you!

—

Adrien: Today’s the day I get hard!

Marinette: Okay, maybe we don’t phrase it like that…

Adrien: Oh no! Rule 1: no backing down! Look out, world! I’m hard and I’m coming! Whether he likes it or not, Ivan is gonna let me in! *Badass kicks the door open* Ow.

Ismael: …So does he want to help Ivan or fuck him?

—

Nino: Well, I guess it turns out at the end of the day…sometimes you just gotta hit kids.

—

Max: YOU SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH, JEAN!

—

Nino: Yo, Adrien! I think I speak for all of us when I say that I don’t wanna become some fascist military peon!

Nathaniel: *Raising his hand* He does not speak for all of us.

—

Rose: Marinette, why is Adrien dressed like a turkey?

Marinette. Because he’s fucking Adrien, Rose, you’ve been here long enough to figure that out.

—

Kim: Tell us now, turkey man!

—

Max: Adrien. Witness me. Witness my love for nature! *Tries kissing the platypus but it bites him on the lips instead* Ow! You whore! Let me love you, goddamn it!

—

Alya: Wake up, buttercup! *Fires an arrow*

Marinette: Alya! No more arrows!

Alya: You can’t control me, white devil!

—

Adrien: Yes, Ismael?

Ismael: *Points at Félix* Who the fuck is that?

Adrien: Why, what an excellent question!

—

Adrien: Again with these cult jokes, Ismael? Please.

Simon: He gave everyone a "de-toxification” diet then started spouting off Latin from a book with a pentagram!

Adrien: He’s bilingual and cares about nutrition?!

Reshma: *Sweetly* Hey, Adrien?

Adrien: Yes, Reshma?

Reshma: WAKE UP AND SMELL THE KOOL-AID!

—

Nathaniel: … I would just like to point out the fucked-up implications of specifically YOU *points at Lila* putting specifically ME *points at himself* into a gas chamber!

—

Alya: Chloé, leave me alone, or so help me, I will post photoshops everywhere of you kissing girls!

Chloé: Woah! Hey, somebody’s a little tense. You might want to look into some agression therapy. Besides, maybe I already tried to explore my sexuality…you don’t know… Kagami, why did you leave me?

—

Alix: It’s a chat bot.

Nino: What do you mean?

Alix: I mean, it’s a programmed, repetitive, humorless, inhuman, simulation of a person.”

Nino: … Yeah, Max.

—

Markov: Calculations complete. My analysis is…absolutely fucking not! You humans all suck!

—

Ismael: So what you're telling us is you basically failed at everything. And then you wasted our time with this boring, dumbass story.

—

Lacey: You never used to try to be cool for other people before. You were so confident that you didn't even think about other people! You're just you! And that was cool.

Kim: … So you don’t think this’ll make me cooler?

[anotherghoul666]

FUCK ME DUDE I sent the ask off without the damn answer in XD I'm so sorry hahahaha @devoured-by-shadows here's the actual post holy fuck.

(Answers 19 and 25 are below the others under a read more cause there’s talks of sensitive topics in there, 19 light mention of the topic of death, and 25 especially be wary of if you’re sensitive to topics like addiction, overdose and someone withering away over years.)

12:A song from your preteen years Ooh, interesting, what was big in my musical life between 9 and 12. Let's see. I got into metal at age 7 thanks to my dad showing me Iron Maiden, so needles to say Maiden was My Band in those years. While yes, there were other bands that managed to pique my interest then - things like Linkin Park, System of a Down, Nickleback (people need to chill with the Nickleback hate, yes they're commercial as fuck but dear god Silver Side Up and The Long Road fucked back in the day ok, and I will respect and appreciate those albums for what they were) and my first forray into power metal through Gamma Ray and Helloween and Blind Guardian - let's be real, Maiden was basically my whole life. When I discovered Maiden through their older albums, they were currently fronted by Blaze Bailey. Bless the guy, he tried his best and there are legit good songs on his two albums with Maiden, but you just can't fill Bruce Dickinson's shoes man, nobody can. All we were waiting for was Dickinson's return. So when he did come back in 2000 for the Brave New World album, that felt like the biggest event of my short life, and that album became my hyperfixation and favorite thing on the planet.

Iron Maiden - The Wicker Man I could link the entire album here as my “song of my pre-teen years” but this is the first track off of the album, it’s the start of the obsession, it was one of my favs to drum to back in the day. Lots of good memories with this classic!

15:A song that is a cover by another artist You know what's excellent music? 80s synth-pop / new wave like Tears for Fears.

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World

You know what's even better? When a silly-yet-actually-super-talented youtuber band does it over 30 years later and nails the atmosphere.

Ninja Sex Party - Everybody Wants to Rule the World Listen, the world can say that it wants about the whole Game Grumps / Ninja Sex Party / Danny Sexbang persona, I kinda don't care. Objective truth is, Dan Avidan has fucking pipes, his voice is a fucking treasure, and serious albums like that one cover album from 2016 really show off these guys' potential. I get what their shtick is and I respect the hustle. But dude, when they cover 80s tracks like this one or A-ha's Take on Me? This is where they shine in my opinion. There's something so comforting, so soft and smooth in this version, this song feels like a hug for my brain. I remember multiple occasions in 2016 when this song alone carried me through panic attacks.

18:A song from the year that you were born So I was born in ‘91. Solid year in music, and in metal specifically. Metallica’s Black Album came out in ‘91. Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tears, Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger, classics everyone knows. Over in Europe in the Nordic countries, the late 80s to early 90s with ‘91 smack dab in the middle was the creation and solidifying of black metal. And while of course I did not listen to black metal as a baby (tho I wish XD) the genre became my favorite genre of metal nowadays. ‘91 was the year when Darkthrone released their first record. When Samael released their first record. And when Bathory, already legends back then, released Twilight of the Gods.

Bathory - Prologue / Twilight of the Gods / Epilogue Piece of fucking history this track is.

20:A song that has many meanings to you Ha XD Come try to crack the code of Genesis’ The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway storyline hahaha. 23 songs of the most beautiful madness in the world. Listen, I have listened to this album countless times, pondered meanings, I read the story, my dad saw the original show, we saw the officially sanctioned replica of the show together multiple times, with the costumes, the original videos, everything. I understand The Lamb, and at the same time I understand absolutely nothing about The Lamb.

Genesis - In The Cage Make your own meaning. The more you look at The Lamb, the more confused the creature will make you, and that’s the way I like it! Peter Gabriel era Genesis is the best music that humanity’s ever created. You can spend your whole life trying to get it and you won’t and you’ll still be on awe.

19:A song that makes you think about life I tend to think about life through the lens of death most often. Idk how morbid of a person that means I am, or how much of a realist it makes me maybe? I don’t like to spend too much pondering life cause I know it can easily take me somewhere dark in the mind. But I do instinctually think about the value of life and artistic output, and the limited and fragile nature of life itself, when I listen to songs by people I’ve never known or met or seen while they were alive, and yet here they are, alive and well somehow in my hands and ears. How trippy.

Windir - Journey to the End Raising a (non-alcoholic) glass to Valfar for his soul to share in whichever hall of the afterlife he’s at. The soul of the Sogndal scene, unbeatable creative who I firmly believe could have influenced black metal and changed the course of the scene if he hadn’t died walking home in a snowstorm in 2004. Life’s funny like that. Sometimes all it takes is a walk home that you never arrive from. That type of shit makes me ponder life and its weirdly thin meaning. You take a look at the lyrics, it’s almost like Valfar knew what was coming. Nevertheless, Valfar and Windir left us some of the absolute best black metal offerings in the history of the genre. You cannot tell me this guy wasn’t ahead of his time with that synthy / electro / dreamy second half.

25:A song by an artist no longer living Aaah I unknowingly preemptively answered this one with the Windir answer before uh XD Alright, well, let’s talk about another artist that’s passed away then. An artist I actually got to see playing live multiple times before his passing. An artist that we, in the melodeath community, thought was so fucking cool. His self-destruction, which was very vividly broadcasted to the public mind you, was glorified, it was so epic and wild and awesome. The Wildchild, Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom fame. We aspired to be half as cool as him. Because for some strange reason when you’re a teenager, a person showing off how much he can drink and do drugs is cool. A metal musician you admire showing himself blackout drunk and passed out and making himself sick day and day out, was cool.

That’s nuts to me now, as an adult, as someone who has mildly dealt with addiction and even that fucked me up, as someone who works with addicts and sees the damages of this disease day in and day out. We all watched Alexi killing himself slowly in front of us, at shows, on camera, on the tour buses, etc. and thought it was cool. We encouraged him, egged him on. Fucking madness. It claimed him, in the end. In 2020. I saw it coming for a few years so I was zero percent surprised. I know it caught some fans off guard, I don’t understand how.

I saw CoB in 2019, less than a year before the guy passed. I also saw CoB multiple times from 2011 to then, so I saw the decline of the frontman, and I feel you had to willingly be blind to it to not see it. In 2019 the guy was a living skeleton. No energy, barely able to play on stage, haggard unfocused eyes, caved in face, skin over bones. I read reviews of this 2019 show, people wrote about how he looked good and had energy and was “at his best”, like?! Was it denial about their favorite musician’s health status? Or pandering to the music industry, unable to review a show honestly? That performance was beyond difficult to watch. It hurt. Still hurts when I think back on it. I was physically uncomfortable. We left before the end. I couldn’t stand watching a literal wraith shredding guitar on stage knowing full well this night too would end with him passed out drunk at the bar after.

It was a whole story, Alexi’s antics. It caused tension and conflict within the band, and of course, how can it not be harmful to watch your frontman and friend do this to themselves. But metal was and unfortunately still is a culture of excess and substances, and nobody did it “better” than the Wildchild. We all thought it looked rad, but in the end we watched this guy die for two decades. When the news of his passing came out in 2020 (from an overdose of lots of different substances on top of liver disease and basically an organ breakdown) I cried a ton. For the reality behind this precious piece of my childhood and teenage years that was CoB; but mostly for how unhealthy the live music scene can be and how it can encourage artists down very dark paths. I don’t understand anymore how watching people get fucked up on substances is supposed to be cool. So I do my part when I can, to honor Alexi Laiho and other musicians like him whom addiction claimed, and to remind whoever reads me that alcoholism and drug abuse isn’t “cool”. Taking shit doesn’t make anyone more manly or more metal or impressive. Addiction shouldn’t be trendy. It cost us too many great musicians already.

Children of Bodom - Thrashed, Lost & Strungout Man I miss this motherfucker.