#abba in general makes me go insane

[dailytunes6]

10.2.24 song of the day

if it wasn’t for the nights by abba

[r3medialch8os]

so since u guys liked that i did this with remedial chaos theory i will now also be doing this for epidemiology.

the most incredible thing about this episode is that it is in fact Not merely an homage like most concept episodes are; it actually happens. a zombie epidemic For Real takes place at greendale. it's not a gimmick or a game or a way to frame the plot. the actual conflict is derived from the fact that people are zombies and the study group need to outrun them/turn them back. how often can you say that a sitcom incorporates a storyline like this and sincerely pulls it off? never.

the emotional tension in this episode is framed around troy/abed/jeff and the dichotomy of being a nerd vs. being cool, which respectively get attributed the qualities of caring about the people around you who have turned into zombies or wanting to run and escape from the zombies without trying to help. abed and jeff's costumes are both pointed out in the beginning receiving clear denotations of 'lame' and 'too cool to care' and therefore their positions in the conflict are cemented. the episode has a push-pull with troy being the moving factor, having to decide what he thinks is most important. he gets swayed in the beginning by two girls rejecting him over his costume and jeff mentioning how expensive his suit is. he changes from his ripley costume into a 'sexy dracula'. abed spends the whole episode trying to get troy back to his side, even saying "what defines a nerd? committing to an awesome halloween costume with your best friend?" troy is eventually 'turned back' into his nerdy self (perhaps a zombie metaphor itself, keeping in tone with the theme of the episode) because jeff cares more about his suit getting dirty than surviving the herd of zombies.

a crucial part of the episode is that it is soundtracked by abba music playing from the dean's playlist. now, who would i be if i didn't investigate significant music choices connected to scenes? first up and probably the most important one: s.o.s. is used in the background of a scene where abed confronts troy about changing costumes. troy insults him and walks away. the lyrics are: 'you seemed so far away, though you were standing near. you made me feel alive, but something died, i fear. i really tried to make it up, i wish I understood. what happened to our love? it used to be so good.' next; gimme gimme gimme plays right before the scene where chang and shirley hook up. another insane choice is at the end when troy is fighting the zombies. the whole sequence has mamma mia playing in the background Faintly. then when troy eventually gets to abed and has to fight him, the music comes in much louder with the lyrics: 'here i go again, my, my, how can i resist you?', which i think fits perfectly. the ending song fernando has the lyrics 'there was something in the air that night', both referencing the thermostat changing the zombies back and the fact that it was just an incredibly weird fucking night.

troy is dressed as ellen ripley and also kind of acts as the ripley of this episode. his journey in this as being the sole survivor and the one to eventually save greendale adheres to a common science fiction model where a life-threatening force is faced against the protagonists and they fall off in degrees, resulting in one person being left to mend everything. here specifically, it seems to mirror ripley's journey in alien (1979) as it starts with a crew that eventually gets cut down leaving only her. i thought that was really cool.

more alien tidbits, but the jumping cat scene is also inspired by it. jones the cat is an imporant figure in the first alien movie. in various scenes, members of the crew will go looking for him, then get ambushed by the titular alien and subsequently killed. it is a minor homage to the movie through yet another subtle reference. the bit is also parodying jumpscares in horror movies in general, and how they are used to cheaply amplify the tension. anyways, it's quite the multilayered joke because it also really works out of context as a bizarre comedic moment.

troy and abed's scene in the basement pays homage to princess leia and han solo's scene in the empire strikes back. the conversation in the film takes place just before han is frozen alive in carbonite by darth vader. not knowing if he’ll survive, he kisses leia, only to be torn away from her by stormtroopers. she says 'i love you,' and as he descends into chamber, han replies, 'i know.' an undeniably romantic moment, maybe one of the most memorable ones ever, is applied to troy and abed who have held reign over the emotional core of the plot for the entire episode. it's pretty special that such an iconic moment is given to them, i feel like the creators of the show wouldn't just do this sparingly. it also perfectly resolves their conflict as troy makes such a vulnerable statement and abed assuring him that he already knew, validating their bond once again.

more on troy and abed, it is pretty amazing realizing the emotional implications tied to how dire the situation was. everyone in this episode was under the direct threat of Not Surviving, and still abed sacrificed himself for troy. he knew this was for real. he couldn't be sure if they were going to make it. but i think he had enough faith in troy to aid in his escape. it's very touching. further, it's incredible that troy is willing to fight all the zombies (all his friends) but when it comes time to punch abed, he refuses to do it. he's struck by the force of their friendship, mumbling 'we're friends' defeated before eventually succumbing to his bite.

troy saving the school by controlling the temperature; nicely setting up his further plot with the ac repair school.

him being the one to escape and abed saying 'be the first black man to make it to the end' subverts the common horror trope of 'black dude dies first'. a playful way of keeping up with the horror movie theme of the episode.

also ironically this episode, which features the song mamma mia by abba, sets up a plotline in season two about shirley not knowing who the father of her new baby is, which is functionally the plot of the movie mamma mia!, a musical based on abba's music. probably a coincidence but a pretty funny one.

at the end when the army arrives, they ask the dean about witnesses. when he says he is the only witness, one of the guards reaches into his jacket, suggesting that he's pulling a gun intended to kill the dean and get rid of the witness. when they notice everyone in the school is still alive, they abandon this plan and go for 'scenario b'. kind of dark but i laugh every time that scene happens.

anyways that's all i could pull from my brain crevices for now. this episode is a genuine masterpiece, it will never ever get old and will remain to be one of the most unique sitcom episodes ever created.

[allthegothihopgirls]

What kind of music do you think each of the Batfam members listen to? (Besides Jason who is obviously a Mitski stan)

OH I LOVE THIS QUESTION!!!!!!! i'm gonna tryyyyy and take this seriously

starting off i think alfred's music taste influences just about everyone in the manor to some degree. lots of classical music flowing through the hallways at most hours of the day, the music reminds everyone of home. i think it's a general rule of thumb in the family that if you want to locate alfred, just follow the sound of mozart.

drawing off a bit of canon, i think dick listens to a lot of popular 80s stuff. the cure, joy division, the b-52s, billy joel, abba etc. that one panel of him humming 'here comes the sun' also comes to mind, i think he'd enjoy the beatles. however i do think he'd also be into some soft rock, maybe just a little bit of more intense stuff too. fleetwood mac's a big one i think he'd like. i've mentioned in a post before how i think dick would enjoy foo fighters in his post-robin rebellion phase, and i stand by that.

i do also enjoy his insane love for david bowie in the live-action titans adaption... very dear to me. i take that as gospel. also have a slight feeling he's a bit of a jazz guy once in a blue moon.

however i don't think he'd be overly into music, (the artists though, that's a whole other thing), i think he's also just happy to flick on the radio to some random dated station... or, don't crucify me... the top hits of the day.

i think jason's taste is a bit more refined. he's the #1 victim of alfred's classical music agenda, sitting in the library he's got something like 'lacrimosa' looping endlessly.

unlike dick who's got a happy-go-lucky approach to music, i think jason feels into it a bit more. he's joyriding through the city and listening to slipknot, sleeping with sirens, misfits etc etc. he's just looking for background music, maybe he's playing dashboard confessional, or... hear me out... lana del rey. he's out on patrol and is playing 90's rap through his helmet's bluetooth.

i think he'd also enjoy amy winehouse, the boys next door, no doubt, alice in chains, and maybe a bit of lorde. he's definitely into more indie bands too, local stuff. makes his own mixtapes and you'd only be able to recognise like 20% of the bands by name. he's also the one batfam member who i think would go to war to defend the songs he feels deeply about.

tim's a bit more difficult to narrow down, but i'll throw 90s alternative out there; jimmy eat world, oasis, radiohead, weezer, pearl jam type stuff. i'm also very set in my ways about femme-pop tim, which is definitely more out there and harder to justify. in terms of that i think beyonce, rihanna, and britney spears are the big three he'd enjoy.

i just think he likes anything with a beat tbh, it's not so much about genre or the actual song, as it is about the mood. similarly to dick, i don't think he's typically meticulous with defining his taste or anything, just happy to listen to whatever's making him feel good.

as for damian, i think anything with soothing instruments entices him. mainly classical, but not just limited to european stuff, i'm thinking of tyagaraja, toru takemitsu etc just off the top of my head. he'd also like elton john, queen, and other older artists with a polished vocal and avantgarde nature. i'm also going to put cartoon soundtrack music into the mix, specifically songs from adventure time. for whatever reason i'm also super drawn into the idea of him being big on kpop, although i don't know enough about the genre to make specific assumptions.

steph (ik she's not exactly batfam but i'm including her anyways) listens to predominantly female artists, and oscillates between very uplifting pop stuff, and.. societal hatred. so i think on one hand she's very into marina and the diamonds, kesha, and olivia rodrigo, but also paramore, hole, fiona apple, lorde etc. in contrast to all of that though she's also a huge fan of the beatles' solo careers, particularly paul mccartney.

cass is into a lot of the music she's done for ballet performances. the music for the snow queen instantly comes to mind as something that would be a favourite of hers. this might be a bit out there, but i think she'd enjoy grimes a lot, mostly because of how enriching it is to just listen to the sounds of, without having to pay much mind to the words she's speaking (grimes never really makes a lot of sense anyways). apart from that i don't think she really listens to all that much music, maybe some 2000s pop she hears on the radio driving around with steph.. i did enjoy the all star gag in batgirls (2022).

babs has a pretty similar taste to steph i think (i believe steph may have gotten some of her taste from her). she's a big fan of stevie nicks, gwen stefani, maybe the cranberries, hole, dolly parton, janet jackson, lauryn hill, and lesley gore. i'd like to say she enjoys a bit of 70s eccentric too, the doors, blondie, bowie etc. i don't think she's overly fussed with what she's listening to, as long as it doesn't sound too watered down and modern-pop like.

and i don't really know enough about duke to make assumptions, so i'm just going to let him sit out of this one. i also don't think bruce has any time for music, except for a bit of classical to help him concentrate every so often.

[maraguanabana]

Please. I ask to all lestappies and lestappen writers to gather around me and listen to this grown up woman that has gone crazy. I have no fucking idea on how to or to who make a request for a fanfic. so. tumblr it is.

I was happily scrolling on TikTok instead of doing the stuff I'm being payed for in my work, when I saw this uhhh kinda edit of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc with the Evelyn Hugo+Money by ABBA audio. and I went insane. clinically insane. right now I probably should be either on meds or in a mental hospital.

so. I am kindly asking to any writer or anyone in general brave enough to give it a go, for a Evelyn Hugo Lestappen AU. specifically Lestappen, if it is not too much trouble to ask for.

I don't give two flying fucks on how or who makes it. I just want (need) it. feel free to just take inspo on my desperate request. I'm just asking for it, it's your work. and as the only thing I'm capable of writing are complains about anything on either X or tumblr or long-ass comments on AO3, I'm only able to ask and wait to see if I'm listened. me writing would end up in a disaster (been there, done that. scientifically proven. I still have two story on hiatus. the most decent one, since august of 2022 and the worst one, since january of 2012. I'm sorry, five readers. I'm not going back)

that's it. thank you for your attention. I apreciate it.

[spittyfishy]

Hey, it's me, and I'm asking. Plz explain the dvr3 despair au playlist. Plzzzz

You got it!!

•New Americana by Hasely

This is one of the ones I listened to a bunch while first figuring out the au back in 2022! It’s mostly there for just general vibes for the whole cast

•I Love You Like An Alcoholic by The Taxpayers

This is one of the ones there for Kaito and Maki lol, hard to go wrong with evil ship-y songs

•P.S I Love You by Robin Sparkles

One of the most Remnant Tenko songs ever lol, every part of it fits, she’s going through it lol

•Mary On A Cross by Ghost

This one is there for Angie! Not necessarily for any specific lyrics but just for the vibes lol

•Villain by Stella Jang

Fully a Tsumugi song, largely because there’s a really cool animatic with her to that song on YouTube

•Murders by Miracle Musical

I put this one on there for Rantaro as Kamakura! It has the kind of unnerving vibes I like for him

•The Fine Print by The Stupendium

This just has generally good remnant vibes, and really most villains in general (it’s on my Carmen Sandiego playlist as well)

•The Red Means I Love You by Madds Buckley

Another Tenko one! Focusing on her fixation on Junko

•Killer Queen by Mad Tsai

This one just is for Junko lol, applicable for cannon as well

•Who is She? by I Monster

Also Junko, it’s a really neat song!

•Seventeen by Marina

This one’s there for Kirumi! I think at the time I was thinking it would be good for if the future foundation showed up and tried to reason with her and she was sort of arguing sort of explaining what happened

•Disobedient from Steven Universe

Another Kirumi one!

•Someone Gets Hurt from Mean Girls the Musical

I believe this one’s on there for Junko manipulating Kaito but I can’t fully remember

•Cough Syrup (Glee cast version)

First one we got for Himiko!

•Magic Dance by David Bowie

Another Himiko one, with the others as the goblins interjecting lol. Mostly it works because it mentions magic and that’s her whole thing lol

•Below The Surface by Griffinila

This one’s for everyone! I did an animation with part of it for the au and it was fun!

•Evil Like Me from Descendants

So this is in the context of remnant Tsumugi talking with the tsumugi ai that was put in the neo world program (the Chiaki equivalent) since the ai one isn’t actually in despair she’s just programmed that way lol

•Monster by Beth Crowley

I don’t remember who this was for specifically but really it could fit anyone lol

•We Will Rock You by Queen

I this one was a combo of characters with each verse being about someone else, I feel like Kaito and Kokichi were involved but really you could probably make anyone work

•All Star by Smash Mouth

Another that’s just for the group as a whole!

•Class Fight by Melanie Martinez

Tenko again! I’m pretty sure all the Tenko songs are related to her feelings for Junko lol

•Kiss With A Fist by Florence and the machine

This one if for both Tenko and Angie! Because they do not like each other one bit in the au lol (it also works Really Well for Kazuichi and Gundham lol)

•A Change Would Do You Good (Glee Cast Version)

Junko talking with the whole v3 group

•Don’t Speak (Glee Cast Version)

Gonna be honest I fully don’t know why this is on the playlist anymore lol

•Insane by Black Gryph0n

I think this was for everyone

•Cuphead the Musical by Random Encounters

This one’s for all the remnants planning on what to do with Makoto once the thh survivors defeated Junko

•That Beautiful Sound from Beetlejuice

Remnant Kaito and Maki >:3

•Boys Will Be Bugs by Cavetown

I think this might be the only Gonta song on the playlist, whoops?

•Brutal by Olivia Rodrigo

Another for the whole group! I did an animation for a bit of this one as well

•Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

Whole group!

•Lay All Your Love On Me by Abba

Everyone talking about Junko lol

•Tricks Up My Sleeve by Trixie & The Illusions

Himiko!

•You Give Love A Bad Name by Bon Jovi

I think this is another about Junko

•Mad World by Tears for Fears

Whole group

•Dirty Night Clowns by Chris Garneau

Kokichi I think?

•& by Tally Hall

Just a good remnant song in general lol, for any group of them

•Welcome to the Circus

Kokichi again! I think largely Junko taunting him

•Watermelon by Queen Chimera

Tenko still thinking of Junko lol (when isn’t she)

•E.V.O.L by Marina

Any of the remnant ships, take your pick lol

•Hypnotic by Zella Day

Junko manipulating everyone!

•EVIL by Melanie Martinez

I’m afraid I can’t remember who this was for because more recently I put it on my Akuma playlist for miraculous ladybug (for Vanisher specifically) so now that’s all in an think lol

•Oleander by Mother Mother

Tenko about Junko

•Lights Out by Mindless Self Indulgence

Remnants in general, it’s a fun fight song

•Gross by Penelope Scott

And Tenko once again!

[nyoomfruits]

🔀 for landoscar if you like :)

i got super trouper by abba so OBVIOUSLY my brain immediately went 'landoscar boyband au' and uuuh. i actually wrote thing for it??? so??? here you go????

Most of the time, Lando’s relieved they gave up on trying to do any kind of synchronized choreography long ago. He’s never been very good at remembering all the different steps, always sort of missed his que, and next to George ‘what like it’s hard?’ Russell, anyone ends up kind of looking like a floppy fish anyway.

But right now, he kind of misses it. At least it gave him a purpose, especially during slower songs like these, the romantic love ballad that means he can’t just run around and make weird faces at the crowd for a bit while he waits for his turn to sing again.

They all have their thing during this song, anyway. George is center stage, carrying most of the verses and the chorus, belting like his heart depends on it. Pierre and Charles are doing, well, whatever Pierre and Charles do. Right now it looks like they’re doing some kind of ballroom dancing, Pierre twirling Charles around as they giggle loudly and nearly miss their que for the chorus, coming in just a second too late.

Meanwhile Alex is off to Lando’s other side, blowing kisses at the crowd and encouraging them to put up their flashlights and sway along, making a group of girls in the front row giggle and swoon.

Speaking of the front row, Lando glances out in the crowd again, searching, as he has been all night. Their lighting set up is insane, so he’s barely been able to see the crowd, but with the ballad it’s softer, more forgiving. He can actually see people’s faces now.

And so it doesn’t take long, before he spots him. Oscar is kind of awkwardly crammed between the barrier at the walkway stage and a girl holding a sign that says ‘CHARLES WILL YOU MARRY ME’. He looks horribly out of place, wearing a plain dark blue t-shirt and a pair of black jeans, a stark contrast with the decked out glitter covered fans around him. But his face, god.

There’s about 17.000 people in the venue right now. Many of them have posters of Lando above their bed, have entire Instagram pages dedicated to him, write his name next to theirs surrounded by hearts in the margins of their notes. And yet no one is looking at him with more love in their eyes then Oscar is right in that moment.

The bridge of the song comes around, and Lando fumbles for his mic, raising it just in time to start singing. He sings the whole cheesy, generic, saccharine sweet thing right at Oscar, not breaking eye contact for a moment.

No one knows about them, and maybe they never will. Maybe they will have to spend the rest of their lives in the shadows, hiding and sneaking around and keeping it a secret. It’s the prize, of the ridiculous level of fame Lando finds himself in.

But this moment, this little moment in the harsh glow of the spotlight, this is theirs. And no one is going to take that away from them.

[florallylly]

side b: steve harrington

side a side a: eddie munson

side b

explanation post

FORGET THE FORMATTING!!! PLS BE QUIET!!! anyways into steve harrington. his playlist is SAUR bubblegum lesbian pop. and tbh i really tried to kind of blend new/old in side a with eddie and make it smth MAYBE he would listen to? but steve, i automatically pegged him as 80s pop and lesbian music like. you probably listen to bruce springsteen but in my heart u know who rina sawayama is. anyways yes steve harrington coping through partying and then falling in lurv.

YES he admits it as soon as it happens bc he's emotionally intelligent and he knows himself thank u for coming to my ted talk

“Perfect Places” Lorde; “Have another drink, get lost in us/this is how we get notorious” “Every night, I live and die/meet somebody, take ‘em home” YEAH…. steve harrington coping post season-2 and stancy break up by  partying and drinking and sleeping around. like i see it…. i was there and it’s so. desperation to find peace and eventually settling for oblivion bc nothing is better than everything 

“Heaven/Hell” CHVRCHES; this song is so steve harrington to me i can’t even describe…. like it’s so disillusionment with his former sense of self and what he used to attach importance to. and he feels like a fraud and also an imposter, surrounded by people who he’s outgrown. and somehow it also feels like no one has truly realized that vital shift. it’s SAUR “is it right if i’m a perfect actress/playing the princess in distress?” “is it alright if i save myself and/if i clean up my own mess” IDK. why is that so steve to me. 

“Stand Back” Stevie Nicks; like LIKE this song is so everyone wants me except for you/you’re the only one i want. idk…. steve harrington this is so you to me. he is so pining he is so what if he is so i built our future in my head and now everything is crumbling down around me. you have changed me so deeply that i can never go back to the same person i was before i met you. and the world around me stays stagnant and stuck in time, with me out like a sore thumb. like i’m sobbing crying frothing at the mouth…. 

“Head Over Heels/Broken” Tears for Fears; a classic… a classic… but also like a little mashup moment to make it narratively appropriate in my head. also the applause at the end is giving the curtains are down the performance is over… king steve lays down his crown… AM I INSANE IN THIS MOMENT… 

“Honey Understand” Noso; to me this is a little bit of a moment like if i’m misinterpreting this song wrong SO embarrassing. but literally?? i think it’s so steve… bc it’s like in any break up it’s always going to be him at fault because he’s the ladies man and the popular jerk. he’s always going to be made out to be a villain in certain people’s eyes. like what am i even saying but you get it right… and it’s like how can i even keep fighting when i’m already crumbling apart. but also you’ll never know bc i’ll never let anyone know how bad it is … i’m unwell 

“Deliverance” CHVRCHES; i think this is actually about religion (maybe?) but i’m thinking of it as more of a general framework or life view that steve held before the upside down. he’s had to rethink what’s important and what matters like fr…. and now that he’s spending more time with eddie and realizing things about… naur it’s like this moment is his watershed moment and he’s being set free of smth like… his king steve persona?? his guilt over barb?? any other head canon ??? or maybe it’s like his fucked up coping viewed as something that’s bringing him back to his “normal” self… like back 2 parties back 2 alcoholism 

“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight” ABBA; like YEAH of course this song is on here. and it’s so hello steve harrington are you on the prowl are you looking for something so you can actually feel something

“Take Me Home Tonight” Eddie Money; pretty self explanatory like… steve harrington you are turning to sex to distract yourself and chasing the way you felt before. also in comparison to gimme gimme gimme, this is a more self aware reflection like. post nut clarity. but also in my head this is steve harrington meeting with eddie munson s2 and making the impulsive decision to follow him literally anywhere, kick starting everything that follows. 

“Yours” Now, Now; attraction bantering cockiness like it’s all there like it’s everything… it’s everything…. 

“Untouched” The Veronicas, I DON’T CARE IF IT DOESN’T FIT … this song is so important to me and it’s saur…. steve harrington you are getting attached steve harrington you are falling in love. to be clear this is before they get together or do anything like…. this is the pining this is the wanting 

“Don’t You Want Me” The Human League; so basically added for vibes, didn’t pay much attention to the lyrics and meaning. IT’S JUST SO …. 80s pop and 80s pop is so steve. HOWEVER i feel like i can use this as my little soap box bc “you were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar… turned you int someone new/now five years later on, you’ve got the world at your feet” is saur nancy and “the five years we have had have been such good at times, I still love you/ but now, i think it’s time i lived my life on my own” is SAUR steve. like nancy wheeler in s4 reflecting on steve’s changes and the fandom’s reflection of pushing this narrative that nancy was the main reason and the greatest influence on steve’s change. my pet peeve…. let’s not forget the trauma he went through that could have shook his entire worldview. also ??? he’s a big boy with his own thoughts let him have a little ponder. i would add more but i’m not capable of totally explaining this at all JUST !!! ugh but yeah steve harrington you are attracted to eddie munson song

“Forever Tonight” Kelechi; “love me like there’s no tomorrow/kiss me like we’re out of time” DO I EVEN NEED TO SAY ANYTHING??? I AM IN REAL PAIN!!! 

“I Was Made For Lovin’ You” KISS; KEYSTONE SONG. yes they fucked yes they fucked. and OKAY idc if it’s cheesy YOU try to fit in a semi-metal song into your 80s/lesbian pop playlist

“Lay All Your Love On Me” ABBA; OMG …. it is so necessary. that is all. LIKE SO NEEDED. 

“Hungry Eyes” Eric Carmen; it’s literally from dirty dancing like what else can i say… steve harrington is having his little romcom moment. honestly he’s practically one of the brat pack. he’s LIVING it he’s living it

“Keep on Loving You” REO Speedwagon; okay they were killing on anniversaries i just know it. like this is so my parent’s wedding. it’s so puffed sleeve dresses and slow dancing at prom and steve is a ROMANTIC. steve is a ROMANTIC in a small midwest town like. where was his prom king moment 

“Seven Wonders” Fleetwood Mac; lowkey a filler song but yes can anything compare to the beauty of this moment something very romantic. this is on the mixtape for sure 

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” Blue Oyster Cult; ONCE AGAIN I KNOW IT DOESNT FIT THAT WELL… but this is a keystone song… a metal song forcefully inserted into the playlist. this is supposed to mark the point where steve falls in love love. but what i got from the song is basically like. we’re going to die anyways let’s just fall in love. i’m sure that’s way simplistic but vibe… 

“Horses” Maggie Rogers; sorry I’m…. gay….? and it’s like it’s like it’s like i wanna be free i wanna be free with you do you wanna be free with me. in a more romantic and AHHHH way but like how do i even begin to try and describe how this song makes me feel like… unreal. but it’s also like a little stop for steve to doubt and think about what he’s feeling and deciding to do ??? idk where i was going with that. but yes my little interlude for pondering

“Black Butterflies and Deja Vu (Acoustic)” The Maine; keystone song keystone song. when steve admits he is in lurv of course. chose the acoustic version bc i feel like it fits better and also i think it’s more of a soft realization for steve rather than the absolute car wreck that is eddie. please understand my thoughts immediately 

[jennycalendar]

hello! firstly GREAT taste in music fabulous playlist. id be curious to hear about deep blue somethings breakfast at tiffanys and cruel to be kind (letters to cleo cover) if you dont mind? also thotoughly enjoyed waterloo by abba right at the begining. its very them, even down to the random use of a napoleonic battle as a metaphor! :)

HI THANK YOU!!!! for giving me the opportunity to talk about this! and i feel so gratified by your appreciation of waterloo for them fdfjd i was walking home listening to abba last year and almost fell over. took me like 7 yrs to realize that's Their Song.

was going to put this under a cut before i realized that everyone really is following me with the understanding that i'm going to be insane about jenny and giles sometimes-to-all-the-time. so.

breakfast at tiffany's is a song about a relationship that is on the precipice of dissolution with two people mutually recognizing that they do still have this one flickering thing in common. like --

that specific set of lyrics, man!!! thinking very specifically about jenny and giles directly after angelus, and how this big rift has sprung up directly from jenny's omissions and giles's outrage. how they have this consistent pattern of flinching back when one of them learns just a little too much about their partner, who is desperate to earn back their approval. also "now your eyes see through me" + giles literally refusing to look at jenny, hello.

but this song is really about, like, two fundamentally different people who do not lead compatible lives --

and yet they do still have these things in common that they are both holding onto so hard, and it's ambiguous as to whether that will be enough, but maybe the wanting is going to make it enough, yk? AND the (male) singer is the one persuading his girlfriend by saying "look, we can fit back together, see? we DO have things in common, see? don't give up on this and don't try to talk me out of it." very giles and jenny.

as for cruel to be kind, it's first important that u know i SPECIFICALLY chose the letters to cleo version because that's the one from 10 things i hate about you and sometimes i look at that and go "teenage giles/jenny would go like that."

but also just in general -- the entire song is about this idea of one lover floundering and struggling because the other person is jerking them around and tripping them up, & their honey asserting "no, this is how i love people. i'm being a dick to you BECAUSE i love you so much." which is. like. (gestures very pointedly to jenny lying about spilling coffee on giles's books. and taking him to monster trucks. and making fun of his clothes. and giggling whenever the kids make fun of him. the list goes on and on and on forever.) and it's actually soooo vital to me to adore that aspect of g/j, because so often i have seen in fandom people point to jenny being terrible and go "this is why calendiles doesn't work," OR they downplay her being terrible and go "calendiles is such an adorable twosome of cuteness and she's so supportive of him!!!" no. that woman bites and that man is repeatedly putting his hand in her mouth bc he wants her to draw blood.

[celiastjamesoscar]

😁 Magda and her wifey are also both playing for Bayern, so we got an amazing team. Georgia is our own personal bodyguard, attacker and sweetheart in one. I actually laughed out loud when Megan missed her last penalty shot in her last game ever. Serves her right. The Olympics will be amazing, even though only 2 teams from Netherlands, Germany and Spain will make it, which is honestly a criminal offense. They all deserve to take part.

Okay woah. That sure IS a controversial take. A curly red bob that perfectly frames her beautiful face and sharp jawline is the worst?? Excuuuuuseeee me! Nat could be bald and she'd still be gorgeous! Apologize right now 😤

Impossible questions time: 1) What were your favorite moments of 2023? 2) How has 2023 treated you in general?

Ps. On January 23rd I got my final presentation and on January 17th and 18th I will get my arm tattooed!!

I absolutely admire Magda and Pernille, they are so cute together. I saw a tiktok of the Bayern team doing an initiation performance of ABBA, but nothing will be able to top Georgia’s initiation performance of ‘Sweet Caroline.’

If Megan Rapinoe has no haters, I’m dead; I’m so glad that she missed her last penalty shot as well. Spain is definitely going to make it through, they are insanely good for no reason. Like how have their players won the Ballon D’or three years in a row? 😭 Whichever team beats the USA has my support as well. also, my best friend and I have decided to cheer for Germany

It’s the bob that ruins it for me 😭 nothing can top her hair in Black Widow, Civil War, or Winter Soldier. And I apologize, don’t hate me!!

These are some tough questions!! But I think my overall favorite moment from 2023 was going to the Eras Tour!! And overall 2023 has been fairly nice, even if it did take away 9 months from my favorite footballers: Leah, Viv and Beth. How has your 2023 been for you love?

Good luck with your final presentation!!! You better have finished everything by now 🤨 and yayyy for your new tattoo!! You’ll have to send pics

[prienova]

Thank you so much @hrhgeorgerussell​ for tagging me to do the bill clinton swag thing! I just gave him some of my fav/most listened to albums :)

Ricky Montgomery’s Montgomery Ricky is always such a joy to listen to, it is always stuck in my head at all hours of the day // Talon of the Hawk by The Front Bottoms makes me go insane each time it plays, say what you want about Brian Sella’s voice but their songs are great! // The Family Jewels by MARINA is everything to me. Her voice makes me go crazy and her music is so relatable, I am obsessed with it // okay tbh I just love ABBA in general, I get hit with nostalgia each time I listen to them, I love it. I will just be going about my day until suddenly I get transported to the backseat of my mother’s car as she drives me to meet some family friends that live like an hour away <3

I’m tagging @foul-milk @lancestrolls @lipe-drugovich @meowwcedes @103grandprixwinnerlewishamilton @whorgerussell​ No pressure ofc! <3

[starks-hero]

Okay you did not need to deliver such a fucking fantastic fic! Apologies for the entire ass rant I'm about to leave but you don't get to write something this good without some maniac of a fanfic reader squealing and flailing about it so...

Firstly, the title absolutely divine, but then I am a sucker for romantically poetic notions especially if there's a thread of angst in it

This is the first Thorin fic I've ever read, I'm not that big on Thorin (esp not when fili is right there👀 ) but *ahem that gif also your note of 'the intimacy of going insane with your crush' reeled me in, if that isn't the best genre ever! 🤣

You captured the eerie murkiness of Mirkwood so well and you really got Thorin's essence like nothing seemed out of place at all

THE DIALOGUE 👏👏👏 magnifique

'In the bogs of a cursed forest with your friends lost and your mind bewitched, all so that the king would keep looking at you as he was now'>>> I loved every word of this. You know that feeling when you haven't listened to ABBA in a while and then out of nowhere you hear it playing somewhere and there's a rising of joy in your soul and it feels like all the world has been righted. That is the feeling of that paragraph. Sorry but I love words and I love reading and you just killed it with that wording okay

🌌THE WHOLE INTERACTION WITH BOG CREATURE THORIN!!!! "I'm so glad, Amrâlimê, you must not look so surprised, my love" his thumb grazed your jaw, "that I should wish to call you such a name">>>cue me almost throwing my phone and screeching like the fell beasts of the Nazgûl🌌

Not to mention Thorin's interaction with the bog creatures! "Reader" being dismissive about the safety of the others and 'Thorin offering a baffled look that doubled as a warning'

Once again need I mention THE DIALOGUE IN THIS FIC! 💕

Question about the LOTR Dead Marshes, if you drown in there you become one of them, right? So if an siúlóir portaigh get you drowned do you become one of them?

In case you couldn't tell (lol) I'm seriously loving your own irish mythology infused into Tolkien's world

I feel like celtic/irish stuff and Gaelige fit quite well in Tolkien's creation. I dunno why but the Irish language feels at home in Tolkien's world to me, same with Scottish Gaelic

I have such little grasp of my own language it feels like old world/other worldly literary/mythical creation to me. Probably why it meshes so well with Middle Earth in my mind. Like it doesn't seem real to me but maybe that's cuz I'm from the North 🤣 (I will get my ass in gear and learn it better one day but laziness and annoyance win thus far)

Thorin staring off into nothing. Being brought back to reality by the sting of his wound. And then the first thing he does is worry/obsess over the illusion he saw. **weeping**fucking weeping* Your honor I need them to be together 😢 If you ever part 2 this pls tag me girl

P.s. I find it cruel that you aren't a published author. I need to read a whole book by you. Your writing style is sublime. It's just in that exact vein that is just so appealing to me. I'm not great at articulating myself so I'll just say this had me like 'ooh you bastid (affectionate).' YOUR. WRITING. SLAPS. If you ever publish your own book pls alert me cuz I will read it despite the possibility of it inducing cardiac arrest in me. Sorry books make me excited. From your mythology of the siúlóir portaigh and your general writing style I'm getting V.E. Schwab vibes but way way better

Imma shush now. Peace out ✌ God Bless 🕊 and Slán

Putting a read more option because I'm about to lose my mind :)

I want to start by saying that this is one of if not the kindest messages I've ever received, I mean wow. You completely moved me to tears. Watch me drive to the North right now just to give you a hug.

If it's okay I'm going to rant right back at you lol because there's so much things you mentioned that I want to discuss!

The title is actually based on a poem about sirens! I thought it fit the vibe of the fic really well.

Dialogue is something I've always struggled with. I could use a thousand words to describe a tree but I always get nervous when it comes to dialogue. I feel like when I write conversations they're always clunky so to get such positive feedback about that aspect of my writing is so lovely <3

GIRL YOU DID NOT JUST COMPARE MY WRITING TO ABBA! I needed to sit down reading this part. This is the greatest compliment I've ever received–

“If an siúlóir portaigh get you drowned do you become one of them?” when it comes to the siúlorí I haven't really fleshed them out enough (haha get it) to have any solid lore for them. So far all I have is that they roam bogs, marshes and wetlands and use a siren-like approach when hunting their prey. Wether they attack people to sustain themselves, to condemn their victim to the same faith as them or just out of maliciousness I haven't decided. It's completely up to interpretation :)

Bestie, don't get me started on how well the Irish language and Irish culture fits into the world of Tolkien. I could write essays. I think that's why I've always found middle earth so comforting, it's a fractured reflection of my own home.

As someone who's been out of school for a year and is still learning gaeilge, I promise we'll get there someday :)

Prior to my Thorin fic I hadn't written anything since October of last year due to writers block and self doubt. So to not only hear such lovely things about my writing but to also be compared to a published author– You have no idea how much it means to me. Thank you so much! You are every writer's dream.

Slán go foil, mo chara! Agus go raibh míle maith agat <3

[missfingers]

for the voice ask prompts: 2, 4, 13, and 15!

2. give a hot take about your f/o's source.

oh mannn youre making me prod a hornets nest austin. ill settle for Just y0 since nishitanis only in that game (well. not counting whatever fiasco is happening with gaiden) but. hmmm. its not a hot take that makotos treatment in general is garbage but i dont see nearly enough people criticising how weird the game is for curing her eyesight. able bodied people just accept it. and even if they draw/write her while shes blind they dont incorpoate any kind of disability typical behaviour into her e.g Just using her fucking cane. let her use her cane let her have autonomy

4. if you have more than one f/o, do you notice similarities between them? differences?

this is so funny theyre the same guy. austin you dont get it theyre literally the same guy. ok so let me explain it majima meets nishitani when majima is 24 and sees his whole hedonistic "live life as you want it and die trying" attitude and when he finally breaks out of the abusive situation he was in (he didnt really. but thats another story) he incorporates the aspects of these men he met into his new carefully crafted persona. lees compassion sagawas calculating nature and tenacity and nishitanis .... nishitani-ness.

so now majima age 40 is just as much of a batshit insane hedonist masochistic fuck who treats combat as sex. theyre different in that nishitanis was (mostly) genuine and majimas is entirely a constructed mask. its a mockery of nishitani

13. give a headcanon about your f/o or ship.

i love thinking about his old man isms. he snores so loud he sounds like hes dying and i force him to wear one of those snore strip thingies. he'll go on a three day bender from club to club having the most horrendous despicable sex in toilets and doing so much coke but then he'll come home and just sit on the couch falling asleep. "m just restin my eyes..." he cant cook for shit. hes also fat as fuck people who draw him skinny can die

15. name a song or lyric that reminds you of your f/o or ship, and why.

not to have an abba moment but man in the middle is SO him. exorbitant wealth.

ADDITIONALLY i am the city is SO him on a symbolic level. he IS sotenbori he is its sleaze and exorbitance he represents every user of the sex industry and the nightlife and reflects to majima every terrible thing about his prison cell

:)

[ghost-proofbaby]

🧡sunset orange

bit of a nerd here, mostly music(I play 4 instruments, learning the 5th).

also a huge bookworm, but I'm the most insane reader I know cause I'll go from murder mystery to happy romance to the saddest book you'll ever read.

also also an ABBA stan. dunno what that has to do with anything but thought it was worth mentioning. don't like Mama Mia! though.

btw congrats on 1K literally so proud of you and next thing you know we'll be back for a 5K celebration! <3

thank you so so much!!! <3 and gah 5k??? i can't even picture it oh my gosh. absolutely wild. no way.

you already know i think you're one of the coolest people on here and that ily, which is why i'm trusting you with the heart of none other than steve harrington.

ya know the drill. don't make me say it. okay i'll say it let me explain-

so here's the thing - we know steve harrington has a type. i've touched on it before i'm almost positive. he likes the nerds, he loves to listen to rambles and be left in lovesick shock. he'd listen to every rant about every book you read no matter the subject matter. but what really got me is that you're an ABBA stan but don't like mamma mia. because i headcanon steve as an ABBA stan as well, and modern steve would be a menace about mamma mia. he loves it, it's a comfort movie. as a matter of fact, your first conversation with him would probably be an argument because he defends it with his life, and it's just not your cup of tea. and steve knows it's fine, even as he goes red in the face defending the movie, and when he left the argument somehow still smiling despite the personal offense he should have walked away with, he figured he might just be smiling at the opportunity to talk about his favorite movie.

it wasn't the movie. it was you.

you didn't leave his head for days, and when he finally gets the nerve to ask you out, he's a goddamn mess. stuttering over his words, completely flushed pink, just... a mess. a beautiful, sincere, hopeless romantic of a mess. he's never been happier to embarrass himself in such a way, because in the end, it all worked out. now, he gets to spend his days watching you play your instruments, listens to you try to explain the mechanics of the instrument as it goes in one ear and out the other. he's never been good with musical ability - he's never had very good hand-eye coordination, he can never quite catch on when an instrument is a smidge out of tune, and he just frustrates himself to no end when trying to learn them. but you're patient, and you wow him endlessly, and it's a sacrifice he's willing to make. you keep on his toes; from that first conversation, you challenge steve harrington, and he'll never tire of it. and if you offer to teach him some ABBA on one of his instruments, how can he say no? he's got a smile on his face the entire time, absolutely glowing even though he knows he's not hitting most of the notes, and he doesn't miss the way you cringe when his instrument is ever so slightly out of tune, something he didn't even notice until you reacted. it's awful and could be taken as pathetic, but that afternoon with you becomes one of his absolute favorite memories.

the song you attempted to teach him, why did it have to be me?, becomes yours and his song. and in steve harrington's defense, he may not be able to play the song worth a shit on an instrument, but boy oh boy, does he get to have a field day with it when you two decide to pick it as a duet for karaoke night with the gang.

1k celebration - requests for this are now closed, but you can still send in general requests! just check out my rules first <3

[kamuikunt]

woah gay little obito playlist (constantly changing)

commentary and standout lyrics under the cut cause god ive thought so much putting this playlist together and some of these songs may need some fucking explaining

…because i'm young arrogant and hate everything you stand for-machine girl

-mmm general rebellion vibes killing the world anger etc etc. very obito you know how it is. also the so little time/so much pain makes me think of how much shit happened in a short time n when he was so young

Out of the mall

And into the fray

So little time

So much pain

A flash in the pan

A smack in the face

Kill the world with whatever it takes!

coul as a ghoul-the voidz

-fuck if i remember why i put this one in. feels right though

I'm a lush, I'm a saint

I'm a phoney, I'm a fake

I'm going insane

I'm going insane

You made me this way

I'm going insane

mr.manson-max diaz

-song about being fated to be horrible/ do horrible shit. yeag

And I never even had a chance to be myself

But today's the day I'm gonna give hell

うずまき (UZUMAKI)-machine girl

-1. lol. like naruto. 2. spiraling hatred etc

Someday, I will feel no pain

Someday, I'm gonna be okay

Cycle of blood, it's all the same

And then I forget everything I wanna be

Getting a strange reality

hell-clown core

-instrumental. get it cause he says hes in hell. also just a good instrumental

2007-YOU LOVE HER

-initially added as a reflection of his like. use of rin + her death as the symbol of everything being fucked up in the world and him getting to that view of the world; its a twisted version of whatever he felt when they were on the same team that he has bulit up in his head n created a Meaning for. later realized that Oh kakashi did Similar Shit at obitos "death", building him up in his head. perhaps this is even more fitting as kakashi didnt have this love or respect for obito before he died (not romantically in this case, a platonic love of the idea of him). idk

I've been searching for

We've been searching for

I've been searching for a life

You love her 'cause she's dead, because she's dead

Because she's dead, because she's dead

And everything she meant was in your head

Was in your head, was in your head

therefore i am-billie eilish

-entirely the fault of that one amv i do not listen to billie eilish on my own lol. you get it though. like a lot of the song has a lot more. superiority than i think obito to have but it works well enough

Top of the world, but your world isn't real

Your world's an ideal

truth and life-clown core

-another clown core instrumental lol. idk the name felt good and ill take any excuse to sprinkle a little clown core

mamma mia-ABBA

-yes i added this one cause of the edit. it is also just fitting

So I made up my mind: it must come to an end

Look at me now, will I ever learn?

I don't know how, but I suddenly lose control

There's a fire within my soul

ghost (of 7th street)-roar

-hopelessness, unchanging fate, etc you get it

There's so much here to ignore

The world's much uglier than we gave it credit for

It's a shame to make the same mistakes

But I'm afraid people don't change

You'll never save the moth from the flame

niji-shinkuhorou

-this is his one outro song i had to + i really like it

inked in red-vision video

-yknow tragedies, wanting to raise the dead, blood imagery, dreams

A tragedy is written—inked in red

Words bleed onto pages—I try to raise the dead

Whoa, as it seems that this life is a waking dream

Ohh, as it seems that this life is a waking dream

dead man-teddy hyde

-basically an instrumental But its two whole lyrics feel very obito to. anyone. he thinks himself nothing, he thinks of everyone and everything as nothing

I am nothing and so are you

Let’s be nothing together

[genderfluid-faerie-bf]

49. tall, blond, american (red flag ik)

50. somewhat, but not enough to know what a bias is slfjghdl 51. a couple days 52. cold 53. flowers, but if i got either i would go insane. still, flowers are cooler but both awesome 54. no <3 55. idk i dont remember that kind of thing 56. jam rolls (recipe i will post someday) 57. nope 58. literally anything from THE GAY CHEF WHOSE NAME I FORGET 59. 'merica 60. yes, and absolutely not. hate it. 61. cruella 62. pitch perfect series 63. nope!! music in general is just good. 64. paranoia, maggie lindemann. mania by fall out boy. narrated for you by alec benjamin. 65. don't watch yt 66. yeah! 67. always, but wish i didn't 68. plum pudding 69. nick <3

70. driving 71. whatever nick listens to??? indie rock i think???? 72. chill. i wish i didnt know.

73. late night or early morning. midday is just bad. 74. both

75. wyoming, michigan; venice; rome 76. that they are really in tune with that other people think different things. and will try to get your thoughts rather than assume 77. no.

78. hair

79. yes but also no. tell me, then i forget, and then i get the surprise later! both!

80. my pfp on insta

81. the shadow hunter chronicles, by cassandra clare

82. yes

83. my red rose earring, matching w nicky

84. my family is just me actually. i have no family, i don't claim them as my relatives

85. no but i want to be, one day

86. boxers

87. apartment with library room, this has not changed

88. KITTY. TSC. KITTY. 89. michigan

90. the thursday murder club by richard osman, and the sequels

91. never has been one!

92. THE SHADOWHUNTER CHRONICLES HANDS DOWN 93. oh boy. too long to bother with but. later.

94. one i'm at rn

95. we bumped into my brother. while kissing. he didn't know i was gay.

96. nicky <3

97. spontaneity babyyy

98. in general, no, but i think i have a closer view of what i am than most people do, if that makes sense. i know i'll never get it exactly right but i think im pretty self aware

99. house md

100. dancing queen by abba

Get to know me asks✨

So introverts who never talk to their mutuals can get to know each other lol

1. What were your summers like as a kid?

2. Do you enjoy thrilling rides like rollercoasters?

3. Who was your childhood hero?

4. What is your favorite book?

5. What do you find most attractive about your crush?

6. What’s your favorite outfit?

7. Does seeing people in love make you happy? Sad? Annoyed?

8. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?

9. What CD did you play to death as a kid?

10. Hike to a mountain top to watch the sunrise or drive out of town to stargaze?

11. What song has the most relatable song lyrics to you?

12. Iced drinks or hot drinks?

13. Bright colors or neutral tones?

14. Breakfast for dinner or pizza for breakfast?

15. Do you have a green thumb or a black thumb?

16. What’s your favorite feature of yours?

17. Would you rather be a lawyer or a doctor?

18. What type do you tend to go for physically?

19. Power of invisibility or flight?

20. Would you rather wake up with your makeup magically done or your hair?

21. What’s the stupidest fight you’ve ever gotten into?

22. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen someone do in public?

23. What’s your dream date?

24. Do you tend to gravitate more toward using logic or intuition to make decisions?

25. Do you like parties?

26. Did you enjoy high school?

27. Who is the craziest person in your family and why?

28. What’s your favorite holiday tradition?

29. Can you describe your laugh?

30. Instagram or Twitter?

31. What’s a show that everyone loves that you didn’t?

32. What song is stuck in your head?

33. Do you like exercising?

34. Do you scare easily?

35. Who are your top 5 celebrity crushes?

36. If you could learn one language fluently what would it be?

37. Would you fly to the moon if given the opportunity?

38. What’s your favorite flower?

39. What non-sexual touch affects you the most?

40. Do you enjoy cuddling?

41. Do you like valentine’s day?

42. Do you enjoy driving and are you a good driver?

43. What would you be most likely to become famous for?

44. Do you have a favorite quote?

45. Are you a romantic?

46. Do you have any tattoos or want to get one?

47. Biggest pet peeve?

48. Favorite personality trait about yourself?

49. Sum up your type in three words.

50. Do you listen to Kpop and if so who is your bias and why?

51. What’s the longest you’ve ever stayed awake?

52. Hot or cold weather?

53. Bouquet of flowers or box of chocolates?

54. Can you do any good impressions?

55. What’s the best prank you’ve been witness to?

56. Favorite dessert?

57. Is there a vine or tik tok you quote often?

58. What tumblr post always makes you laugh?

59. What country that you haven’t been to do you want to visit most?

60. Can you cook and do you enjoy it?

61. What’s your guilty pleasure movie?

62. What’s your comfort movie?

63. Is there a genre of music you don’t like?

64. What’s an album that you think has no skips on it?

65. What’s your favorite thing to watch on youtube?

66. Would you make the first move to ask someone out?

67. Do you often dream or have nightmares that you remember when you wake up?

68. What are you craving right now?

69. What turns you on?

70. What’s something you haven’t done that you think most people have?

71. What genre is your favorite playlist right now and what’s it called?

72. Are you a sad or happy drunk? Chill or energetic drunk?

73. What time of day do you like best?

74. Do you tend to enjoy being babied or do you prefer to be the one taking care of someone else?

75. What top three cities do you want to travel to?

76. What’s your favorite feature about your best friend?

77. Do you have any pets? What are their names?

78. Back scratches or having your hair played with?

79. Do you like surprises?

80. What’s your favorite picture of yourself?

81. What books influenced you most as a child?

82. Do you like kids?

83. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? (or other accessory if you don’t wear any)

84. Any wild stories passed around in your family?

85. Do you consider yourself an independent person?

86. What are you most comfortable sleeping in?

87. What was your childhood dream?

88. What’s your fictional OTP?

89. What’s one thing you want to achieve this year?

90. What has been your favorite book you’ve read in the last 5 years?

91. What was the first movie to make you cry?

92. What book world would you live in if given the opportunity?

93. What’s your craziest work related story?

94. What’s the best job you’ve had so far?

95. Worst tinder or date experience?

96. What’s the first thing you think of when you wake up most mornings?

97. Are you more of a planner or a spontaneous adventurer?

98. Do you think you see yourself the way other people see you?

99. What’s the last show you binged?

100. What’s one of your fondest memories?

[slavghoul]

Impera track by track in TF’s own words. From Total Guitar 5/2022

 --

Imperium

It was meant almost like a national theme to this empire. It’s a very bombastic and grandiose start to the album. At some point I want to re-record this song with a full orchestra and choir, almost like a classical version. And though it’s a pretty simple melody and chord progression, it sounds really big because of all the harmonies. In the final mix, we actually took the harmonies down compared to the demo – they were even louder there!

Kaisarion

The funny thing is that I originally wrote the intro as a simple picking thing. At first I was using the open frets and then we reinterpreted it higher up the neck as more of a lead guitar thing, which is why it sounds like it does. It suddenly became so much more difficult and sounded difficult, which therefore made it more metal and cool! I think the reaction to the song has been good so far but once people have heard the record and know the song it will make more sense. We’ve done this weird thing before where we start a tour pre-album and open the set with the first track and people are like deer in the headlights! But it’s fine, and a good opener!

Spillways

I can proudly say ABBA are one of my favourite bands of all time. As a songwriter, I’ll always feel like I’m in the absolute shadow of their legacy because it’s hard to find such enormous talent and impeccably fine-tuned songwriting. They’ve been an influence on our songs in general, maybe this one in particular. To make things extra nerdy, we recorded this album in Atlantis Studio in Stockholm, which is the old Metronome Studio – where ABBA recorded most of their hits. There’s a video on YouTube of them making Dancing Queen and it’s the exact same outboard gear, mixing console, microphones, marimba and piano we had around us. You’d play the piano and it would sound exactly the same as it did on Money, Money, Money, or try the marimba and it would sound like Mamma Mia. As an ABBA fan, being there was so wonderful. And our third album, Meliora, was recorded in Benny Andersson’s own studio, which is where they made the new ABBA record. It’s weird how some of our albums seem to follow their footsteps, but with that album we recorded somewhere before they did!

Call Me Little Sunshine

I like to use open strings and clashing notes in my riffs. I came up with this one in my head, just like I did with Cirice [from Meliora], and hummed it into my phone. Then I make sense of it using a guitar and try to find the most effective way of playing it. This one is kinda special because you have to fret the fifth fret on the lowest string first, and then the next string played open, for the first two notes. I chose to do that instead of hitting the same string twice. Basically, I’m trying to create more problems out of something simple in order to find the ultimate riff! I also did something similar with our song Majesty [also from Meliora]. The opening melody came first, which sounded very ABBA – and then I came up with the chords underneath. It’s like working backwards, a bit like writing a good detective novel. You never start at the beginning, you start with the finish so that you know that the payoff and end is worth it. You start with the murder and go back from there.

Hunter’s Moon

This song has a nostalgic, sad and almost romantic kind of feel where it’s unclear whether the narrator is a protagonist or an antagonist. With lyrics like, ‘It’s been a long time coming, I’m coming back for you’, it’s sort of inviting but also threatening. I wanted the guitar and synth leads at the end of each chorus to symbolise this moment of insanity – a bit like the theme music in Kill Bill when Uma Thurman gets angry, it’s this alarming sound that’s a symbol for when she loses it. So I came up with that part to signal this is where madness kicks in, with all those guitars going through old synth pedals plus actual synths as well.

Watcher In The Sky

There were a few things we added on this record to enhance the drum kit. We’ve never had double bass drum before, so this song was the first we’ve made with a big kit. The double bass allowed for that Vinnie Paul [of Pantera] thing where there are triplet-feel things on the kick drum. Nothing against Pantera, but what influenced me there was actually a track called Blood Ritual by [Swiss extreme metal band] Samael, which had that feel I wanted to tap into.

Dominion

If you listen to the vinyl record, Dominion will be the first track on side B. It gives you a sense of break and rest for the ears. I wanted it to feel like a re‑introduction for the new side. And even if you are listening to a CD or stream version, a break like this is often needed in order to segue between two contrasting points.

Twenties

When we were working on this song, I kept imagining: ‘What would Slayer and Missy Elliott sound like doing a song together?’ That’s how I wanted it to come out. Sometimes it can be a dreaded term in rock and metal, but this had modern pop qualities I wanted to explore... just to see if it would be doable. And I think we succeeded. It’s a very aggressive song with very thrashy guitar playing and very evil lyrics about doing evil things. I always try to write songs I haven’t heard or at least that we don’t have. And this song felt like exactly that.

Darkness At The Heart Of My Love

It’s the ballad of the record. As with most things Ghost, if it sounds pretty, the lyrics will be extra nasty. Honestly, we struggled with the writing a little. The original idea was the chorus, which I tried out in various forms. For some time it was sped-up in another track that doesn’t exist anymore. As an experiment, we decided to slow the chorus down and build the song around it. It went through quite a few versions – one was even just an acoustic version, with five or so guitars for this Jeff Lynne wall of acoustics. Then it ended up being a metal version, which was harder and heavier. So it really morphed itself along the way, especially compared to tracks like Twenties – if you heard the first sketch I made for that song, it would be pretty close to the end result. This one took on new qualities. It got written and rewritten and rewritten again and again, continually getting altered. But it turned out cool! If we ever play it, I’d definitely like to see if we could execute it the acoustic way, because I feel that was also a really interesting version of it.

Griftwood

What made the song for me was the fact that there’s this crazy breakdown in what’s otherwise a Sunset Strip kind of thing, which I see as more Van Halen than Ratt. It goes from this 80s homage to a completely different kind of rock. That’s what makes it unique and different, though I’m sure there were a lot of songs that came out of the Sunset Strip in the 80s about the same subject! It felt like a good way of paying tribute while also doing something different, almost Tarantino-ing old things into something new.

Bite Of Passage

This piece ties into the album closer, which was actually written on piano. I’ve done that before on tracks like Deus In Absentia. I always try to find a good closing scene, I guess.

Respite On The Spitalfields

I find writing on the piano can make a song end up sounding a certain way. This was definitely one of my favourites while making this record. I feel like it’s the most interesting song. My favourite part of the whole record is actually the solo after the first chorus, where we go up half a step. It’s the best bit and only 25 seconds long! As much as there’s a victorious feeling when you squeeze in a three-minute banger at the end, it’s nice to have a seven-minute freeform track that doesn’t take any commercial appeal into consideration. It lends to a certain freedom, which is why it came out that way, and eventually closes with the same theme from the opening track.