#acoustic tracks of the songs that play in the main game

[chknbzkt]

“A secret dialogue on the side of a mansion”

I FINALLY drew the boinky it’s been a long time coming \o/

Fool’s playing the linked song, probably amassing an army of birds like the Disney princess he is 😭

[arkanaea]

You ever think about the fact that throughout Outer Wilds, you find people by listening to them playing the main theme all together. And then when you get to the stranger, you pull out your signalscope to find - nothing. Silence. These people did everything in their power to hide, of course they're not going to broadcast themselves to you. But even so, once you reach the reservoir, River’s End starts playing. And embedded within this track, you once again hear the main theme - but while the song of the travelers is usually full of hope and curiosity, played in a major key, this time that melody is tragic, mournful, and very much final. And it’s played not by banjo or acoustic guitar, but by electric guitar, in this weird digitized approximation of the natural sound you know so well… a simulated version of the real thing, one might say. And while nobody is playing an instrument, there is still a person - the prisoner. And this song you hear, it’s almost as if he’s calling out to you In the only way the game has ever told you that someone is there. Desperately hoping to be found, but almost giving up hope.

[finalbossanalysis]

Final Boss Analysis #1:

Akira Nishikiyama

Yakuza 1/Kiwami

SPOILER WARNING! I’m assuming you know the events of both Kiwami and 0!

Akira Nishikiyama is the main antagonist and final boss of the first yakuza game, and he plays the part well, with a boss fight that is as epic as it is sorrowful.

0: The Place Of Oath

Late 1988

Kazuma kiryu and Akira Nishikiyama, both sworn brothers from sunflower orphanage, are low ranking yakuza grunts trying to make a name for themselves in the yakuza underworld.

Throughout the events of 0 we see Nishiki’s loyalty to Kiryu, and the Tojo Clan, get tested again and again. However, he ultimately stays loyal to his brother.

The Culmination Of 0

After the defeat of Keiji Shibusawa, Kiryu finds himself in a state of absolute rage. He thinks of everyone who has suffered, and lost their lives in the battle for The Empty Lot. Enraged, Kiryu prepares to deliver the final and fatal blow to a beaten Shibusawa.

However, Nishiki stops him before it connects. He tells Kiryu that he can’t cross that line yet, no matter what. He resolves that if Kiryu and him have to cross the line one day, they’ll do it together, as brothers.

He did not know of the fate that would befall on him 7 years later.

Kiwami: To Live Is To Not Run Away

In 1995, Kiryu and Nishiki, along with their barkeep friend Reina, and fellow sunflower orphan Yumi, are living a relatively peaceful life, 7 years after the events of 0. Kiryu has finally made a name for himself as the Dragon Of Dojima, and Nishiki is hyping Kiryu up at the prospect of starting his own yakuza family. Things seem great, until…

Patricide

After Tojo Captain Sohei Dojima attempts to rape Yumi, Nishiki shoots and kills him, traumatizing Yumi. Kiryu arrives, and convinced Nishiki to let him take the blame, knowing Nishiki is some of the only family he has left. Nishiki take Yumi, and runs. This is the catalyst for the fallout between the brothers.

Nishiki’s downfall, The Koi’s upstream journey

After Kiryu goes to prison for patricide, Nishiki slowly changes over the course of 10 years. Subjected to Yumi’s disappearance, constant comparisons to his brother, and the death of his sister, Nishiki becomes a cold, and calculating man of ambition, only thinking of rising to the top, and ultimately besting his brother, taking control of his fate at last.

Confrontation

After everything, Kiryu and Yumi unexpectedly meet Nishiki in Yumi’s bar after the defeat of Jingu. Kiryu and Yumi attempt to talk him down, which sets off an inkling of doubt in Nishiki’s mind, until Yumi once again compares Kiryu to Nishiki.

At that point, there was no other way, the two brothers had to settle it, one way or another, which finally leads us to

The Fight: For Who’s Sake

Theres a lot going down here, so lets analyze this piece by piece, starting with…

The Music

Nishiki’s theme, For Who’s Sake, is a melancholic and masterful theme that represents the sorrowful fight between brothers, and the downfall of Akira Nishikiyama. There are 2 versions of this song, so I’ll analyze both.

For Who’s sake

The original and first final boss theme in the Yakuza series, this track represents both Nishiki’s determination to rise to the top, and Kiryu’s determination to take him down, and settle the score with his brother. Unlike the rock elements of the other songs in 1, For Who’s Sake has an acoustic guitar up front and center, creating a melancholic feeling throughout the song. There are electronic elements scattered throughout that emphasize the growing coldness of Nishiki towards his brother.

For Whos Sake: Kiwami

The extreme remix of the original song, this track shows the downfall of Nishiki, along with the reprise of some elements of the original song. The acoustic guitar takes a backseat for some melodic bells. The track starts off determined, and fierce, but corrupts throughout, showcasing Nishiki’s fall to ambition, and jealousy.

Nishiki’s Fighting Style: Koi At The Dragon Gate

He retains his fighting style from 0, with some additions. He gains some moves from Kashiwagi, and Joji Kazama’s moveset. His style is reminiscent of street fighting, creating a pseudo mirror of Kiryu’s Dragon Style. He’s also among the only bosses to use heat actions against you, further emphasizing this. He’s a tough foe, but can easily be overwhelmed by a skilled player.

Heat aura

Nishiki has the same heat aura from 0, albeit paler, showing his descent from so long ago.

QTES

The QTES here are mostly one sided, consisting of Kiryu pummeling Nishiki throughout the bar. They have unique flashback segments, showing Kiryu reflecting on their relationship, and what lead to this.

Summarizing

What makes Nishiki a good final boss?

Nishiki may not be the hardest boss from a gameplay standpoint, but from an emotional standpoint, especially after 0, every blow you land against Nishiki genuinely hurts. A stark contrast from the other final bosses in the series, this is not a battle of honor, but one of sorrow.

Welp, this is the first post, finished. I don’t expect it to be good or blow up by any means, but I hope I improve at this more and more.

If you have a suggestion on a final boss to analyze, don’t be afraid to leave a note or comment!

[theshowliveontour]

Niall Horan‘s inaugural Melbourne show on The Show tour at Rod Laver Arena marked a monumental milestone in his solo career journey. Having risen from his One Direction roots, Niall has solidified himself as a formidable solo artist with three studio albums to his name, amassing a dedicated and loyal fanbase.

This concert, selling out two nights at Melbourne’s iconic venue, Rod Laver Arena, was not just a musical event but a testament to Niall’s connection with Melbourne, a city he considers a second home. The diverse demographic, comprising seasoned Directioners and newer enthusiasts who may not have witnessed the band’s glory days, contributed to an atmosphere charged with excitement and anticipation. As someone who still has a strong case of One Direction Infection, missing this show was out of the question.

British singer-songwriter Birdy opened the night, creating an incredible pairing with her timeless talent. I’ve been a fan of Birdy since her 2011 cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” went viral when she was just fourteen years old. Her elegant stage presence and brief yet sweet set, although mostly covers including her breakout hit “Skinny Love,” were still a beautiful addition to the evening.

The pre-concert setlist set the perfect vibe, getting the crowd hyped for the main event. The energy was infectious, with everyone radiating joy and happiness. The stage design, featuring old-fashioned curtains and retro graphics in line with his album The Show, added a nostalgic touch to the experience. Niall’s entrance with the hit single “Nice To Meet Ya” was very fitting, and had the crowd moving and grooving.

Seeing Niall take the stage at a venue where I once stood front row during One Direction’s prime was incredibly special. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude for his Melbourne fans, emphasising the city’s significance to him. Having briefly lived in Melbourne post-One Direction’s breakup in 2015, and frequently visiting for extended periods due to family ties, he shared a candid moment saying, “I’ve seen many an Aus Open Grand Final in this very arena – just over there.” He admitted to feeling nervous before the show, attributing it to a sense of homecoming. Reflecting on his boyband days, he briefly mentioned, “Ah, the memories we’ve had in this city, the shows we played, the stadiums we filled…” That moment struck an emotional chord with me, to say the least!

Niall’s band were stellar, and brought a unique folky rock element to the night, especially shining during the acoustic set with “Put A Little Love On Me” and “This Town.”

“You Could Start A Cult” saw Niall take to the stage alone with his guitar- a truly raw and lovely moment. Noticing that a fan needed medical attention, he stopped the show and ensured they got help. When it was safe to do so, he restarted the song and the magic was still there- a testament to the incredible performer he is.

It is well-known that each former One Direction member usually sings one or two One Direction tracks. With the hit single “Night Changes” on his setlist for this tour, fans were shocked and over the moon when the familiar sound of the deep cut “Stockholm Syndrome” started instead. For a moment, I forgot what year it was and fully embraced my sixteen year-old self. He absolutely did the track justice, and Melbourne was treated to a really beautiful moment!

He also treated the Melbourne audience to “Paper Houses” a fan-favourite from his debut solo album, and the first time playing it live in Australia on this tour.

After engaging with fans, reading signs, and even accepting gifts, Niall returned for an electrifying encore. “Save My Life” and the hit single “Slow Hands” wrapped up the night on a high note, leaving everyone buzzing with excitement and euphoria.

The Show was a perfect blend of nostalgia, musical brilliance, and Niall’s genuine appreciation for his fans. His vocals were outstanding, stage presence was infectious and his band was next-level. Whether you’re a longtime Directioner or a new fan of Horan’s solo hits, there’s a little something for everyone at The Show.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)

Niall’s latest album, The Show, is out now through Capitol Records.

[jaeellec]

This is not the soundtrack, this is a playlist I made comprised of songs that reminded me of or felt like the story. Some show up in the final, some don't. A lot of these are actually cut! But that doesn't make them feel any less like Wandering Star to me.

Go ahead and give a listen: YouTube | Spotify

Track list below the cut!

True Colors - Richie Kohan, Faux Fix {YouTube Playlist Only} Main trailer music; feels so much like Wandering Star it hurts.

When It's Cold I'd Like to Die - Moby Feels just so vividly like Carmen and her story. Really wish I could convey how much.

This Is War - 30 Seconds to Mars I have a bitchin' amv in my head for this one.

Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea - MISSIO Stripped version used in episode 3.

Put Your Head On My Shoulder - Paul Anka Actually used for a scene in the camp!

Some Things Last a Long Time - Lizzie Grant/Daniel Johnston Couldn't decide which version to put on the playlist so one is on Spotify while the other is on YouTube.

Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes - Perry Como Still debating if I'll use this in a scene or not. Because the lyrics? C'mon on.

Fire Up the Night - New Medicine

Happiness Is A Warm Gun - Joe Anderson/Salma Hayek Makes a tiny acoustic/background appearance.

Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival Cut song for castle siege prep at the beach camp.

Ho Hey - The Lumineers Cut camp song.

Time of the Season (Mono Version) - The Zombies Cut camp song (maybe)...

Say Yes To Heaven - Lana Del Rey

Counting Stars - OneRepublic Important, uncut camp song!

Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Lorde Trailer 2 music

Dancin' (feat. Luvli) (Krono Remix) - Aaron Smith Used for Carmen's "name game". Also, I have a little promo music video in my head to this one.

The Night We Met - Lord Huron

Dark Paradise - Lana Del Rey

Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass The very first thoughts I ever had about Wandering Star were to this song

Misery - Maroon 5 Reminds me of Carmen and Law for some reason??

No Surprises - Radiohead Another Law one. May use it

I Wanna Get Better - Bleachers Just feels like some of the story to me. But like...alot...Reminds me alot of the Heart/Kid Pirates

Knee Socks - Arctic Monkeys Cut song, but the vibes...There's one part in particular...

With You in My Head - UNKLE

High On A Rocky Ledge - Moondog This one I just HAD to have in Wandering Star the moment I heard it in Our Flag Means Death. Brook will sing some of it

Will the Circle Be Unbroken (Bioshock Infinite) - Courtnee Draper {YouTube Playlist Only}

Still Here - Digital Daggers

Coming Undone - Korn There is an episode of the same title

Celeste - Ezra Vine Cut song for the "bar incident" scene. Liked the lyrics, but not the sound for it

Come Out and Play - The Offspring

You're Gonna Go Far, Kid - The Offspring pfft...there's def not a cut lapdance scene to this song...

Lost at Sea - Lana Del Rey Does show up. Super important. Major moments - 'dress drop' scene.

Do You Feel It? - Chaos Chaos

Mermaid - Skott

Saturn - Sleeping At Last This one hits hard....really like it

Stars - fun. A certain character's theme song

Paradise - Coldplay Really good fit for the story - just feels like it

Song To The Siren - This Mortal Coil Yeah...This is another major one. It always shows up for Carmen. Even in Gundam it played for a key moment. It feels so much like her and will show up on her own playlist

Black Bird - Evan Rachel Wood Debating on whether to use this song or the one above for a major moment. They both just fit so well and hit so hard

Kingdom Fall - Claire Wyndam Wandering Star end credits

[tessathegamefreak]

3 unknown characters arrive to Sugar Rush. 2 of them look rather relaxed, while the third is unusually cautious.

"Aww, man! This looks exactly like our home world!" A girl with short white hair, sky blue eyes and a headband with white chocolate chip horns exlaims.

"Yeah. Really." A boy with pink hair and purple eyes nods. "I don't really see the difference."

Then, a boy with white hair, a blue hat and dark blue eyes sighs. "Doesn't mean that it's not dangerous." He reminds.

"Geez...why you gotta ruin the mood?" The girl groans.

Regardless, they start exploring Sugar Rush, wondering if this one is different from the one they're from.

[Oooh! This would be a fun roleplay concept! Characters used to the OG Sugar Rush visit the AU!]

Little did they know that this version of the game is quite different than the one they are used to. Not only is the game layout a tad different- such as the Taffy Marshes being replaced with the Fizzy Springs, there being a different part of the track called the Maize Maze, and Diet Cola Mountain having a shape that looks more like a Pepsi bottle, but even the once familiar characters are a tad different.

They would soon find that Taffyta, Candlehead, and Rancis are not the top three here, instead being Adorabeezle, Gloyd, and Snowanna. They would find that there aren't recolors for Adorabeezle, Jubileena, or Minty, but instead there are recolors for Taffyta, Swizzle, and Crumbelina. And they would even find that Vanellope has always been the princess here...

For now though, as the three wander the game a bit, music can be heard playing softly from the Candy Cane forest. It had soft, gentle acoustics that clearly was not part of the game's theme song. Should they figure out the source of the music, or keep following the main path?

[sinceileftyoublog]

This Is The Kit & Gruff Rhys Live Show Review: 10/19, Lincoln Hall, Chicago

This Is The Kit's Kate Stables

BY JORDAN MAINZER

On This Is The Kit's latest album Careful Of Your Keepers (Rough Trade), Kate Stables asks many questions without expecting answers to all of them. "When are we gonna get there, when are they?" "If we're holding hands, will we walk at the same speed?" "Boy, I'm talking to you, are you listening?" Okay, maybe that last one is easy (he's definitely not listening), but for the most part, Stables' philosophical quandaries and mantra-like repetitions are metaphors for the uneasy and paradoxical nature of relationships and time. "This is a how shit is this measuring stick," she sings, tongue twisted, on album opener "Goodbye Bite", having difficulty pinpointing exact beginning and ending points of certain eras in her life. If vagaries are the name of the game for This Is The Kit, the band's live performance last Thursday at Lincoln Hall brought to life, via instrumentation, Stables' gently agitated state.

This Is The Kit's Stables and Rozi Plain

Take "Goodbye Bite", and its concoction of sinewy guitars, bass, synth, and woodwinds: When you're listening to it, it feels like it's encircling your brain, threatening to wedge its way in. Stables, bassist Rozi Plain, guitarist Neil Smith, and drummer Lucien Chatin made sure it finally did when presented live, with a looser structure. Holding it all together, though, was Stables' voice, smoky in contrast to the wiry guitars of "Slider", seeming like it wanted to leap off the page on "Stuck in a Room", a song about wanting to leave where you are but having to stay. Stables' deft delivery sported the stamina of an MC, but over the band's taut music, it sounded like it was bursting at the seams. The elastic-rigid dynamic made its way to even old songs, like on the interplay between Stables' spritely banjo and Chatin's controlled toms on "Bullet Proof".

This Is The Kit

I should emphasize one more time: Just because Stables--and really, almost all people--has trouble quantifying abstractions like time, doesn't mean the band can't show off their tightness. On the Nick Drake lilt of "This Is When The Sky Gets Big", Stables and Plain staggered their harmonies to stunning effect. "Inside Outside" captivated with a jazzy groove. Really, the main image on "Scabby Head and Legs", that of a pigeon who holds eggs too tight and breaks them, seems like a warning signal for the band itself, who instead follow Stables' repeated advice of "cutting once, measuring twice." Yet, they break the rules when they want to, as long as they know that they're breaking the rules. Or, as Stables sings on "Dibs", "Let's pretend to not know that we're out of time."

Gruff Rhys

Though This Is The Kit's growth is certainly organic, enlisting Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals as producer on Careful Of Your Keepers is as natural a match as I can remember in recent memory, his experimental whimsy bringing out just enough circular strangeness to the band's sound. Lucky for us, Rhys gave an opening set on Thursday, which meant that he did come out to do backing vocals on a couple TITK songs like on the record. It also meant we got to hear some unreleased songs from his upcoming album Sadness Sets Me Free, the title track, "Bad Friend", and the already released "Celestial Candyfloss" among them. That Rhys played mostly an acoustic set meant he didn't give away what the new songs sound like on record. For one, he admitted to not knowing them very well. The finger-picked guitars on "Celestial Candyfloss" are totally overshadowed by the orchestral chamber pop of the studio version. Sure, some back catalog highlights, like "Lonesome Words" and the metronome-laden "If We Were Words (We Would Rhyme)", were not far cries from their respective studio versions. But Rhys was able to play with volume and his ever-changing distance from the microphone to create a sonic spaciousness on "Pang!" and the melancholy hum of "Shark Ridden Waters". Best, these versions may eventually see the light of day, as Rhys claimed he was recording for a live album, as he held up title cards to a surprisingly sparse crowd that said things like, "Generic audience reaction" so we knew when to cheer. He didn't have to, though. Those of us who were there knew it wouldn't be every day we'd be able to witness two forcefully creative entities on the same night: Our cheers were constant.

[direw00f]

Yo! Blind Guardian is amazing! (This my main blog, @poll-tourney-enjoyer is a side blog I have for, well, poll tourneys lol)

They are the best in concert. My (now) wife introduced me to them, with a concert of theirs being our first actual date. I hadn't heard them before the day of the concert, but I cried hearing The Bard's Song there that night. My next planned tattoo is some lyrics from it.

Not sure if you are a gamer, but if so, you should try to track down Sacred 2: Fallen Angel. BG did the theme song, there's an in-game concert of that song, and you get to quest with Hansi for a bit leading up to it.

Fly is great! I'm partial to Skalds and Shadows from that album. I hope you have a blast at the concert!

Hi! A great first date if I ever say so haha, I got introduced to them by my oldest brother with the Bard's Song of course. My dad then introduced me to Ayreon with The Day That The World Breaks Down so I recognised Hansi immediately. I have heard him sing live before with the Ayreon Live Beneath The Waves concert and I was at the front row just blown away by his power.

I am a big gamer indeed and I do know about Sacred Worlds and the quest they have in Sacred 2, I do want to play the game for myself. I do love the song they did for one of my favourite video games (and book series the song is mostly about the books) The Witcher series. Blood Of The Elves is actually my alarm and I really should continue reading the books but I have read the song's namesake.

Thank you and Skalds and Shadows is amazing too I really love the acoustic ballads that Blind Guardian have they're always so beautiful. I decided to finally listen to Nightfall In Middle Earth and was absolutely blown away. The Eldar is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, the first time I heard it I just had their complete discography playlist on and I was getting something to drink. So I stood there in the kitchen with a glass of water in my hand just stunned by the beauty of the song. I appreciate you stopping by my blog I do not post often but that might change now.

[theprojectreneblogger]

🎵 Listen to Two New Paralives Music Tracks!

3. Februar

What’s up everyone! Andrei here ready to bring you some music!

As you might know, this past year and a half, we’ve established a lot of things concerning the audio direction in Paralives. We made many music exploration demos, tested different sound approaches for foley, ambience, UI sounds and many more little secrets! As a matter of fact, these past few weeks, we’ve been brainstorming the details on how our Parafolks will actually speak and communicate with each other (more to come in the future 😌).

At this point in the development, we are pretty much done with brainstorming our music direction, so we wanted to show you all what we decided to go for in the Build mode specifically! I’m going to go into the specifics of our core vision for the music, how we got to the end result, our plan to produce the rest of the tracks and how the music actually interacts with the game!

🎥 In the above video, you can listen to 2 new Build mode tracks:

🎵 0:00 - “Farewell Froggy” track 🎵 3:26 - “4 am” track sample (showcasing the day and night cycle music transition)

How we came up with it!

Our main vision for the music in the Build mode was to do something catchy, easily identifiable while not too distracting and avoid being annoying through repetition. The music should evoke a sense of spaciousness to reflect all the possibilities in the Build mode and inspire the player to come up with fresh new ideas. All of that while fitting the cozy mood we want to give to the game. That sounds pretty simple right? Well 😅, it took up until the 44th demo to find something that would really bring all this criteria to the next level. In that last demo titled “Unconventional”, I wanted to take an instrument (in this case my acoustic guitar) and play it in as many ways as possible and combine all the layers together in an “unconventional” manner. The result was pretty cool!

After reviewing all the demos created, we decided to combine this 44th demo with another demo called “Paradigma” that featured more ambient, spacious, soft elements. The end result were tracks just like “Farewell Froggy” and “4am” as featured in the video above. Both these tracks feature a main riff as the core of the song and have similar instruments such as electronic hi-hats, soft pads, and various acoustic instruments. And voilà! That’s pretty much how we got to the Build mode musical direction!

Here’s a screenshot of the many layers that comprise the track “Farewell Froggy”

How it works in the game!

The cool part about the music inside the Build mode is that each track will have 2 different versions: one for daytime and another one for night time. As the player switches time of day the track versions will switch too to fit the different mood. So, going back to what I said earlier, the “Day” versions feature mainly acoustic instruments  and therefore the “Night” alternative versions  feature their electronic counterpart. So technically the instrumentation and arrangement between both versions is (most of the time) “exactly the same” which allows them to transition smoothly. We had brainstormed many more ways to make the music interactive (more versions, divide it by layers) however, we concluded that either they were not a fit for the Build mode or they were too ambitious time-wise to do for the base game. Which leads me to my next topic!

How we’ll do the rest!

Our production plan is pretty simple. In order to produce a Build mode track, we have to make 3 different 1-minute demos first. Once completed, we’ll choose our favorite and leave the other 2 for consideration later in development. I’ll then polish and extend the demo up to 3-4 minutes and make an early mix to implement it in the game. The alternative version of the track will be produced later in the development. Once we attain the number of Build mode tracks we aim for, we will go into some post-prod polishing and maybe even do more tracks!

So there you have it! So far that has been our work with the music of the Build mode. There’s so much more I’d love to show you such as the music in the Paramaker and other game modes (which I won’t mention 😉) so those ones will have to be for another time! Thank you all for your support and I hope you enjoyed today’s post!

Buh byeee!!! 🪕🎵

Andrei

Edit - April 6, 2023: This post is now public, feel free to share it!

[frikinnerd]

Undertale is the only videogame to ever make me cry.

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR UNDERTALE TRUE PACIFIST ENDING

(yeah it's an old game at this point but truly if you haven't played the game that way, you need to experience it blind)

But anyway

2017, I was at a point in my life where I'd just realized that my mother wasn't the end-all-be-all of how my life should go, and was struggling with my sense of self and of safety. I finally buy Undertale and play it for the first time, and I'm charmed, naturally. But then I learn how to get the real good ending.

Undertale is really good in its usage of different leitmotifs--melodies repeated in different ways to evoke similar feelings (each character may have their own melody, each region, maybe specific overarching themes, etc)--to the point where it's frankly a fantastic introduction to the concept. One specific leitmotif that always gets me is Asriel's motif, AKA His Theme.

There is a chance to hear this melody during the mid-point of the game in Waterfall, but the average person probably first heard it during the march to Asgore's castle. The title track "Undertale" starts with an acoustic guitar playing the motif in Eb. The whole track builds up around this motif, adding some other motifs from throughout the game and swelling, all in theme with telling the main character the real story of why Asgore is needing human souls so badly.

Undertale is a game about empathy. You're supposed to feel for these characters, understand their emotions and motivations, and then use that knowledge to make the right choice in the end (or ignore it all and get funny bone man ending because you're a horrible person /bit). "Undertale" is used to tell the story of why everyone is trapped in the underground: the irrationality of humans, the sacrifice of Asriel, the anger of each Dreamurr parent in turn. All of this pain and sorrow and grief, all being relayed to you as you march to your suicide. And yet...."Undertale" is a song of hope. The monsters see you as their savior. You're gonna help them escape. You're going to set them free. THAT is what "Undertale" does. And it does this while wrapping up the whole package in the Asriel leitmotif.

Fast forward a bit, past the quirky lesbians and the science-magic amalgamations, and into the true final boss: Asriel Dreamurr himself. Flowey, revived with all the souls of the monsters in the underground, against you, one measly human. "Hopes and Dreams" uses mostly motifs from the opening of the game, "Once Upon a Time," that kinda become synonymous with the underground itself. And it throws in the "Your Best Friend" motif--the one Flowey uses in his interactions in the Ruins. Self-explanatory, I'd hope. But it also uses the motif first heard in Snowdin Town.... ?? Why that motif?

The beauty of leitmotif is in the potential of recontextualization, i.e. this shit can have different meanings if you look at all the underlying threads. In the case of the Snowdin motif, what thread could possibly combine that specific town with Asriel in his song "Hopes and Dreams"? Well....dreams. Snowdin is full of dreamers, people who have proper aspirations for life on the other side of the Barrier, once they're freed from humanity's prison. So that's cool.

Then there's a brief "oh shit I might actually lose this battle" schtick before Frisk goes on to actually save Asriel himself. It's at this moment, at the end of the last fight with Asriel in his true form, that we hear "His Theme" again. And this time, we hear "His Theme" in its totality (but in a different key from the OST fsr). Asriel was the brother of the first child to actually fall into the underground. He loved Chara so much. But then Chara died. And before Asriel could do anything, their souls merged. And the humans tried (ultimately successfully) to kill him. Asriel died at his father's feet iirc. And then he became a truly apathetic fucking FLOWER of all things. Only the absolute base feelings for survival, turned to madness over so many years of true isolation.

And then there's you. You're saving him. Why? Why are you doing this? Don't you know what he's done? All the hurt he's caused? Hell, depending how many times you've played through the game at this point, there's no telling how much he's hurt YOU. But here you are saving him anyway. It comes to a point where he can't even bring himself to kill you anymore. All that anguish of being a truly despicable being who should never have existed....being shown mercy. All accompanied by a melody consisting of 5 unique notes.

And then the game lets you forgive him. And embrace him. Asriel cries on your shoulder.

THAT broke me.

I've done some stuff I'm really not proud of in my life (there's a reason I don't use Twitter, even years before Musk), and my whole life I'd been emotionally neglected. I related to Asriel on a very personal level. So to see him spared, and forgiven, and embraced....I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

Also the ending of Deltarune Chapter 1 made me cry, that song is so fucking beautiful.

This is a REALLY weird poll but I have to know if I'm the only one who gets very affected by music itself (not just the lyrics or because you like the artist or because a song reminds you of something sad) so...

pls reblog friends I'm so curious <3 <3 <3

[sagehaleyofficial]

HERE’S WHAT YOU MISSED THIS WEEK (6.30-7.6.21):

NEW MUSIC:

Halsey revealed the details of her upcoming fourth album called If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power. The new full-length is produced by Atticus Ross and Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor.

You Me at Six dropped a new track titled “Read My Mind” ahead of the release of the deluxe edition of their latest album Suckapunch. The band also released an alternative version of their song “Voicenotes.”

Yungblud released a cover of Madonna’s hit song “Like a Virgin” through his Spotify Singles, recorded at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. The singer also recently covered David Bowie’s hit “Life on Mars.”

I Feel Fine revealed that they will be releasing their debut album The Cold in Every Shelter on September 10 via their new label Venn Records. They also released a new track off the album titled “Selfsame.”

Mod Sun released a new song titled “No Escape” in conjunction with an upcoming zombie-themed video game called State of Survival. It follows on from the release of the deluxe version of his latest record Internet Killed the Rockstar.

5 Seconds of Summer's Luke Hemmings revealed the details of his debut solo album When Facing the Things We Turn Away From. He also released a single prior to the release titled “Starting Line.”

Motionless in White released a new music video for their song “Thoughts & Prayers.” The track is taken from the band's latest full-length Disguise, which is out now via Roadrunner Records.

We Are the Ocean vocalist Liam Cromby recorded an acoustic version of the band’s song “Now & Then.” A second pressing of their album Go Now and Live is also being put out by Hassle Records.

With the release of his debut album Tell Me About Tomorrow, Jxdn released a new collaboration with Machine Gun Kelly titled “Wanna Be.” The highly-anticipated album dropped last week.

One OK Rock released an acoustic version of their recent song “Broken Heart of Gold.” The track served as the follow-up to their other single “Renegades,” featured on the Rurouni Kenshin: The Final soundtrack.

TELLE, the solo moniker of The Word Alive’s Tyler Smith, released a new single titled “Letting Go.” The brand new song features ex-Lydia vocalist Mindy White, currently of the band States.

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes revealed the details of their upcoming album Sticky. The new album will drop on October 15 and contains five vocals features from numerous artists.

Capstan released another new track ahead of the release of their upcoming album Separate. The track, titled “Alone,” features the vocal talents of Silverstein’s Shane Told.

TOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS:

All Time Low announced they will be joined by special guests The Maine and Meet Me @ the Altar on their UK tour later this year. The short run of shows will kick off in London on September 22 and end in Glasgow on September 28.

Twenty One Pilots revealed that they are going to be headlining Summerfest, taking place at the Amfam Amphitheater in Milwaukee on September 4. The show will be the band's first live performance since 2019.

Beartooth announced the details of a livestream following the release of their latest album Below. The event, titled “The Journey Below,” will be taking place on Monday, July 14.

Glassjaw announced that they are going to be bringing their 20+ year anniversary tour to the UK. The band will be taking over London's Kentish Town Forum for two nights, playing two of their albums in full.

Outbreak Fest announced the lineup for its rescheduled 2022 event. Taking place between June 24-26 at Manchester's Bowlers Exhibition Centre, the roster features Knocked Loose, Turnstile, Basement, Citizen, Loathe, Fiddlehead and others.

Enter Shikari revealed that they will be releasing a new concert film later this month titled Live at Vada. The film was recorded at Vada Studios, the same venue where they tracked their most recent album Nothing is True and Everything is Possible.

OTHER NEWS:

Bob Bryar, ex-drummer of My Chemical Romance, announced he is selling one of his old used drum kits. The kit was used during the band's performance at the MTV VMA's in 2005, as well as during some of The Black Parade recording process.

Beartooth announced a new graphic novel in conjunction with Z2 Comics, titled The Journey Below, to go along with the release of their latest album Below. The novel is currently available for pre-order.

Green Day revealed they have been made into Funko Pop! figures, modeled after their American Idiot era looks. The figures are currently available for pre-order through Big Apple Collectibles.

___

Check in next Tuesday for more “Posi Talk with Sage Haley,” only at @sagehaleyofficial!

[kishimoto-did-us-dirty]

Naruto Arts School AU

Reposting bc I love this post and bc I can lol

Character

- major

description

Naruto

-Drums

okie nobody can deny that our main boy over here is a loud soul, however, he can also carry a damn good beat that compliments his band mates’ music really well. Tbh, he sucked at music to begin with and had trouble matching rhythms and listening to his band mates when they played, however he eventually became a really good rhythm maker.

Sasuke

-Guitar (lead)

He’d be assigned to the same band as Naruto, and that’s how they met. This boy is a damn good guitarist y’all, but has attitude problems™, and used to not be able to deal with Naruto’s haphazard beat making, thus perpetuating a rivalry between the two. He constantly feels overshadowed by his elder brother Itachi, a piano major.

Sakura

- Dance

Ya girl fucking demolishes every single dance routine. Initially starting out with a focus on ballet (pre-shippuden in canon), our pink headed queen soon realized that she wasn’t getting the full experience of what it meant to dance. Her point shoes were her loves, however they hurt and nipped in places not just physical. She realized that she didn’t want to be pigeonholed into a genre of which she would be inhibited by standard, and rather to dance so as to forget technical perfection. Thus, what would partner with post-shippuden Sakura in canon, Art School AU Sakura got into hip-hop. And bitch, she goes hard. A lot of the other girls who she used to dance ballet with admire her for her absolutely BODYING her dance routines, but also for never sacrificing her femininity to dance and not taking BS for being a girl who goes so hard in a male-dominated genre. (Some people believe that hip-hop is heavy hitting and a little metaphorically “dark” so to speak, which Sakura is not. So obviously I expect a little disagreement regarding this, however if you look at people like Delaney Glazer or Kaycee Rice, that is how Sakura would dance).

Hinata

- Creative Writing

Shy and bookworm-like, Hinata can write the best poetry, romance and adventure pieces out of all the creative-writing majors. She’s especially good at writing character relationships and development, and has such a subtle sense of intelligent wit in her writing, that if you blinked you would miss it. However should you catch it, you’re sure to chuckle. Her only struggle is that she tends to drag on in important scenes, stretching them against the regular flow of the rest of her writing. Needs validation for her writing through an IV drip.

Kiba

- Drums OR Photography

Drums for obvious reasons (loud and obnoxious), although ruff boi looks good with a camera, too. Great at landscapes and street photography.

Shino

- Creative Writing OR Photography

I could definitely see Shino having fucking beautiful handwriting, and being a beast at writing anything within the sci-fi realm. I could also see him doing some journalism, and writing for the school paper. He’s very good at the logic of his sci-fi books and coming up with logical but enrapturing stories, that intermingle knowledge and mystery. He’s a very specific type of read, however, and may not appeal to all, however if you enjoy anything similar to Star Wars or Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, then Shino is your author. If this doesn’t float your boat, though, try photography-major Shino. He can get the best angles of bugs he sees, and has an extensive portfolio with entomology-related snapshots.

Ino

- Dance

Like Sakura, she, too, began with a focus on ballet, however began to branch out into contemporary ballet a little later than Sakura. This is another reason why Sakura switched her focuses, as she and Ino had always had a fierce rivalry for dieting (ballet dancers are pressured to be as thin as possible) as well as battling for technical perfection when they were ballet focused. As the two grew, Ino focused more so on contemporary, but can certainly do some hip-hop with Sakura every now and then, just as Sakura occasionally takes a contemporary class with her. The two still have a rivalry, however, just not to the previous extent as when they were actively competing against each other. They’re more like sisters.

Shikamaru

- Guitar (bass) OR Creative Writing OR Architecture

Smart boy’s a tricky one. He would either be a bassist, a mystery and historical fiction writer, or, of his school offers it, be great at architecture. Idrk.

Choji

- ermmmmm….. maybe graphic design? Tech theatre (props)? Vocal???

Choji is hARD dwnccnpc (that’s what she said). I could see him behind a computer screen, animating and designing games/covers/posters or whatever. He could also do something in theatre, but I don’t think he would do anything up on stage. Something like props would suit him. He might do something in music, tho???? Can he sing???? Help???

UPDATE: Choji is a band kid. He plays tuba or some shit. Big boy got big lungs.

Tenten

- Dance

Always has been, and always will be a hip-hop dancer. She wanted to be like Tsunade, a legendary dancer and followed in her footsteps, taking up hip-hop. (that’s why Sakura focused on hip-hop, too, because Tsunade mentored her and taught a few of her classes, too). Tenten is fast and can keep up with any beat. Not only is she a great dancer, but she’s also athletic, and does track and field (cross country), football, and softball at another school too, since the arts schools doesn’t offer it. Overall great dancer with styl. She’s really looked up to by some of her underclassmen for her cheery, but badass style and skill.

Lee

- DANCE (hip-hop, too)

It’s sweat. It’s burn. It’s energy. It’s Lee.

Neji

- Violin

First chair violinist in his freshman year for the school’s philharmonic orchestra. He be extra like that.

Gaara

- Guitar (bass)

He had a lonely childhood with neglectful/abusive parents, and rock music really helped him with that. Emo music is emo and often made fun of, but the songs have messages and Gaara related, so self-taught himself the bass guitar to help cope, and bring him closer to the music that salvaged him.

Kankuro

-Art

Specifically sculpting. For obvious reasons.

Temari

- Acting

Girl can make you cry with some of her monologues. Total lead. Has a seriousness in her acting that makes her believable, however can falter on the less-serious roles. She may also double-major in whatever Shikamaru does. And she’s better at it than him.

Itachi

-Piano

Boy could play any etude at age 7. Performed at Carnegie Hall when he was 10. And no, he didn’t pay to play there. The hall invited him. Began composing at 9. Has perfect pitch. Owns international awards. If he’s not at school it’s because he’s traveling to play for crowds. He excels at classical and baroque, however has an ear for romantic, and enjoys playing/composing pieces either written or inspired by romantic pieces. Enjoys Schumann, Debussy, and Tchaikovsky. Hates modern classical music, though. Can only take cinematic pieces composed by people like Williams, however can’t stand Prokofiev at all. He does like modern music, though, so long as it’s outside of the orchestral/classical music realm. He likes R&B. He would have liked to do film with Shisui, particularly producing, however his parents pressure him with piano, so he helps Shisui with student films and projects outside of school (will probably pursue film after graduating, tho).

Shisui

- FILM / VIDEO PRODUCTION

Fight me on this!!! THIS BOY IS SO GOOD AT CINEMATOGRAPHY MY FILMMAKING ASS CAN’T EVEN. AS SOMEONE WHO IS IN LOVE WITH FILMOGRAPHY, TRUST ME, SHISUI HAS IT™. THE IT™. HE’S GOOD AT EVERYTHING. CINEMATOGRAPHY. DIRECTING. SCREENWRITING. GRIP-WORK. EDITING. PRODUCING. HE’S SUCH A FILM NERD TOO, AND WATCHES OLD FILMS ALL THE TIME. HE’S JUST TOO GOOD AT IT. DOES STREET PHOTOGRAPHY TOO. HE’S OVERALL A GENIUS WITH CAMERAS. Does film with Itachi outside of school and teaches him, and the two are overall geniuses at filmography. They want to start their own studio together (they do, and it becomes huge). He becomes a leading director, while Itachi becomes a producer and directs sometimes too.

Sasori, Deidara, and Sai

Guess.

Kakashi

- Saxophone

It’s the only thing that suits him and it suits him so well. Has suave.

Obito (omfg his arms y'all)

- Not to say drums or anything, but…. drums.

Narutard 2.0. But he also dabbles in other areas of music. Like, he can also play guitar and sing. He’s also pretty good at music production. Makes R&B sometimes. He wasn’t always the best musician but proved to be a late bloomer, and really harnessed his potential. Tries to be as suave as Kakashi and his saxophone. He isn’t.

Hashirama

- Vocal

OkaYYYYYY. VOCAL GOD. CAN DO RIFFS AND RUNS AND HAS PERFECT PITCH. ALSO THE SWEETEST GUY??? WAS A CHAMBER SINGER AS A FRESHMAN. EVERYONE LOVES HIM, GOOD BOY ENERGY.

Likes to belt.

Madara

- Piano

Total prodigy, but hates classical music. Once was accompanist to Hashirama for a solo vocal performance and hasn’t been left alone since.

Tobirama

- Viola or Cello

Some sort of string instrument and takes it very seriously. Probably plays cello because violas are violas and that’s lame (if you know, you know). Has almost as many awards as Itachi and Madara, but hates his usual piano accompanist, Izuna.

Izuna

- Piano

Also a piano god. The uchihas breed them. Hates being accompanist for Tobirama. They’re secretly best friends though, don’t tell anyone.

Karin

- Tech Theatre.

Idk why. Probably started out with props and made her way up to TD (technical director) in senior year.

Suigetsu

- Tech Theatre

Fucking hates theatre kids. Assistant TD. Karin hates him.

Jugo

- Visual Art

Paints landscapes and nature. Really good with oils and gouache respectively.

Yamato

- lmao Trumpet.

Met Kakashi since they both play brass, but boy he ain’t got that suave. That’s why he plays trumpet. Lmao he plays the fucking trumpet anjdwcnojdnn.

Rin

- Vocal

Sweetest voice and could also play the acoustic guitar when she sang. Died in a car accident junior year. Kakashi was at the wheel when they got hit by a drunk driver. Obito saw the whole thing.

Kurenai

- Visual Art

Can create dream like paintings that almost seem like illusions.

Asuma

- Cello / guitar

Used to play cello because of his parents, but loves to play guitar. Can sing but his voice is raspy from smoking.

Gai

Who the fuck do you think teaches dance?

Jiraiya

- Guitar (lead)

Used to major in lead guitar. Sucked at first. Probably has a couple, casual Grammy Awards (they’re actually not that hard to be awarded with, The Recording Academy award many people outside of mainstream media. My school has a few). Now teachers as head of the Band department at this school.

Tsunade

-Dance

Legendary dancer. Probably toured with a few famous people. Now teaches. Mentored Sakura, and mentored Ino but for a shorter time.

Orochimaru

- Idk, didgeridoo, or some shit

Definitely a wood wind. Flute maybe??? Teaches now but no one knows what he does. Pedophile. Has a thing for Sasuke.

[gayenerd]

I just realized I didn’t post that 2007 Rolling Stone article I posted about here. 

Billie Joe Armstrong

The Green Day leader talks Bush, Britney and being a middle-aged punk for our 40th anniversary.

DAVID FRICKE

Posted Nov 01, 2007 8:19 AM

You have two young sons. What kind of America will they inherit?

This war has to finish before something new blossoms. There's no draft — that's why none of the kids give a shit. They'd rather watch videos on YouTube. It's hard to tell what's next — there is so much information out there with no power to it. Everything is in transition, including our government. Next year, it's someone else in the White House. There's no way to define anything. It's Generation Zero. But you gotta start at zero to get to something.

Is there anyone now running for president who gives you hope for the future?

Barack Obama, but it's a bit early to tell if this is the guy I like. I get sick of the religious-figure thing. People don't question their rulers, these political figures, just as they don't question their ministers and priests. They're not going to question George Bush, especially if he goes around talking about God — "I'm going to let God decide this for me. He's going to give me the answer." The fear of God keeps people silent.

When did you first vote in a presidential election?

In 1992. I was twenty. I voted for Clinton.

Did you feel like you made a difference?

Yeah. The Eighties sucked. There was so much bullshit that went along with that decade. I felt like Clinton was a fresh face with fresh ideas. There were times when he was dropping bombs, and I'm thinking, "What the fuck are you doing?" But he became a target. We have this puritanical vision of what a leader is supposed to be, and that's what makes us the biggest hypocrites in the world. We got so inside this guy's sexual habits. Now we have a president going around, killing in the name of what? In the name of nothing.

What did you accomplish with your 2004 anti-Bush album, "American Idiot"? He was re-elected anyway, and the war in Iraq is still going on.

I found a voice. There may have been people disenfranchised by it. People have a hard time with that kind of writing: "Why are you preaching to me?" It does sound preachy, a bit. I'm a musician, and I want to say positive things. If it's about self-indulgent depression or overthrowing the government, it's gotta come from my heart. And when you say "Fuck George W. Bush" in a packed arena in Texas, that's an accomplishment, because you're saying it to the unconverted.

Do you think selling nearly 6 million copies of that album might have an effect on the 2008 election? A kid who bought it at fifteen will be voting age next year.

I hope so. I made it to give people a reason to think for themselves. It was supposed to be a catalyst. Maybe that's one reason why it's difficult for me to write about politics now. A lot of things on that record are still relevant. It's like we have this monarchy in politics — the passing of the baton between the Clintons and the Bushes. That's frightening. What needs to happen is a complete change, a person coming from the outside with a new perspective on all the fucked-up problems we have.

How would you describe the state of pop culture?

People want blood. They want to see other people thrown to the lions. Do audiences want rock stars? I can't tell. You have information coming at you from so many areas — YouTube, the Internet, tabloids. Watching Britney Spears the other night [on the MTV Video Music Awards] was like watching a public execution. How could the people at MTV, the people around her, not know this girl was fucked up? People came in expecting a train wreck, and they got more than they bargained for.

She was a willing conspirator. She didn't say no.

She is a manufactured child. She has come up through this Disney perspective, thinking that all life is about is to be the most ridiculous star you could be. But it's also about what we look at as entertainment — watching somebody go through that.

How do you decide what your children can see on TV or the Internet? As a dad, even a punk-rock dad, that can make you conservative in your choices.

I want to protect them from garbage. It's not necessarily the sex and drugs. It's bad drugs and bad sex, the violence you see on television and in the news. I want to protect them from being desensitized. I want them to realize this is real life, not a video game.

The main thing I want them to have is a good education, because that's something I never had. Get smart. Educate yourself as much as you can, and get as much out of it, even if the teacher is an asshole.

Do you regret dropping out of high school?

Life in high school sucks. I bucked the system. I also got lucky. My wife has a degree in sociology, and there are conversations she has — I don't have a fucking clue what they're talking about. College — I could have learned from that.

But I was the last of six kids. At that point, my mother was fifty-eight, and she threw up her hands — "I'm through with this parenting thing." Also, I could not handle authority figures. But I wouldn't say I'm an authority figure for my kids. I provide guidelines, not rules.

What is it like being a middle-aged punk? Isn't that a contradiction in terms?

It's about the energy you bring with you, the pulse inside your head. I want to get older. I don't want to be twenty-one again. Screw that. My twenties were a difficult time — where my band was at, getting married, having a child. I remember walking out of a gig in Chicago, past these screaming kids. There were these punks, real ones, sitting outside our tour bus. One girl had a forty-ouncer, and she goes, "Billie Joe, come drink with us." I said, "I can't, I've got my family on the bus." She goes, "Well, fuck you then." I get on the bus, and my wife says, "Did that bitch just tell you to fuck off? I'm gonna kick her ass right now." I'm holding her back, while my child is naked, jumping on the couch: "Hi, Daddy!" That was my whole life right there — screaming kids, punks telling me to fuck off, my wife getting pissed, my naked son waiting to get into his pajamas.

There's nothing wrong with being twenty-one. It's the lessons you learn. At thirty, you think, "Why did I worry so much about this shit?" When I hit forty, I'll say the same thing: "Why did I worry about this shit in my thirties?"

What have you learned about yourself?

There is more to life than trying to find your way through self-destruction or throwing yourself into the fire all the time. Nihilism in punk rock can be a cliché. I need to give myself more room to breathe, to allow my thoughts to catch up with the rest of me.

Before Dookie, I wasn't married and I didn't have kids. I had a guitar, a bag of clothes and a four-track recorder. There are ways you don't want to change. You don't want to lose your spark. But I need silence more than I did before. I need to get away from the static and noise, whereas before, I thrived on it.

Are you ready for the end of the music business? The technology and its effect on sales have changed dramatically since Green Days' debut EP — on vinyl — in 1989.

Technology now and the way people put out records — everything comes at you so fast, you don't know what you're investigating. You can't identify with it — at least I can't. With American Idiot, we made a conscious effort to give people an experience they could remember for the rest of their lives. It wasn't just the content. It was the artwork, the three acts — the way you could read it all like someone's story.

Is music simply not important to young people now the way it was to you as a kid?

People get addicted to garbage they don't need. At shows, they gotta talk on their phones to their friend who's in the next aisle. I was watching this documentary on Jeff Tweedy of Wilco [Sunken Treasure]. He was playing acoustic, and he ends up screaming at the audience: "Your fucking conversation can wait. I'm up here singing a song — get involved." He wasn't being an asshole. He was like, "Leave your bullshit behind. Let's celebrate what's happening now."

We need music, and we need it good. I took it very seriously. There's a side of me where music will always send chills up my spine, make me cry, make me want to get up and do Pete Townshend windmills. In a lot of ways, I was in a minority when I was young. There are people who go, "Oh, that's a snappy tune." I listen to it and go, "That's the greatest fucking song ever. That is the song I want played at my funeral."

Now that you've brought it up, what song do you want played at your funeral?

It keeps changing. "Life on Mars?" by David Bowie. "In My Life," by the Beatles. "Love," by John Lennon.

Those are all reflective ballads, not punk.

I disagree. They are all honest in their reflection. The punk bands I liked were the ones who didn't fall into clichés — the Clash, the Ramones. The Ramones wrote beautiful love songs. They also invented punk rock. I'd have to add "Blitzkrieg Bop" to the list.

What is the future of punk rock? Will it still be a voice of rebellion in twenty years?

It's categorized in so many different ways. You've got the MySpace punks. But there is always the subculture of it — the rats in the walls, pounding the pavement and booking their own live shows. It comes down to the people who are willing to do something different from everybody else.

You are in a different, platinum-album world now. What makes you so sure that spirit survives?

I'm going on faith — because I was there. Gilman Street [the Berkeley, California, club where Green Day played early shows] is still around. And that's a hard task, because there is no bar — it's a nonprofit cooperative. It's like a commune — this feeling of bucking the system together, surviving and thriving on art. Punk, as an underground, pushes for the generation gap. As soon as you're twenty-five years old, there's a group of sixteen-year-olds coming to kick your ass. And you have to pass the torch on. It's a trip to have seen it happen so many times. It gives me goose bumps — punk is something that survives on its own.

[in-superbloom]

8 songs, 8 rules (or something)

RULES: 8 song prompts & tag 8 people

hai hai so @bandsanitizer tagged me to do this lil fun game so here we are <3 alison i can't explain how much i love opportunities to talk about my music so pls just feel the soul crushing hug i'm sending you right now 💜

also i'm completely incapable of choosing only one thing for anything ever – let alone music, so enjoy this catalogue of all over the place songs with a lot of unsolicited commentary <3 also all links are from spotify because i don't support iphone supremacy <3

anna from the future came to say: this got way too long, so i'll put it under the cut & i'm sorry in advance if you're reading this and pls know you don't have to read it at all, i won't blame you 👁👄👁

1. favorite song at the moment.

oh man. gotta say starting line by our resident sad boi hemmo ofc. it hasn't left my head since i first listened to it & i'm honestly still digesting it 🥺 but also ! can't not mention my main men <3 wrecked by imagine dragons also just came out and already managed to give me way too many breakdowns which is completely uncalled for but i can't complain 💜

2. a song you associate with your favorite ship.

which one 👁👄👁 i have so many favorite ships that i just stopped keeping track of them lmao but like, i don't really know? i used to associate songs with ships a LOT when i was younger but it's been a while since i did it. so let me check.

oh boy okay, alison mentioned glee which reminded me of klaine and the amount of love i have for these stupid lil gay men. the song that immediately stands out for me is teenage dream (acoustic) which yes it's the katy perry song but like. big big sad. i literally can't listen to it without wanting to cry. if you know the context, you know. and if you do, i'm sorry </3 this is not my absolute favorite ship ever but it's the one i relate with music the most, so let's leave it there or else this will get way too long lmao but also ! all you need is love 💖

3. a song that could be about you.

ehhh i have a whole playlist of these. like. over 100 songs. so let me pick 😌 okay there's too many so let me list them or else i'll end up talking too much about each one:

hear me - imagine dragons (13-years-old me cried over this on a weekly basis no joke) // clean - taylor swift (no link bc we're waiting for the taylor's version) // my kind - alessia cara // body - julia michaels // matter of time (interlude) - ashton irwin // memórias - pitty bc this woman singlehandedly built half of my personality so i gotta mention her <3

4. a song that you think is underrated.

look i might make a whole playlist for this someday, but for now i'll list artists that i think are underrated with my current favorite song from them:

honest - mali-koa // bardot - raffaella // i like myself (most of the time) - k.flay // get high - herizen // breaking my bones - friday pilots club

and honestly? my man ashton irwin does not get enough credit for the masterpiece that is superbloom and i'll never shut up about it <3 i know 5sos is not really underrated but i think we all know how things would play out if/when all the boys release a solo album, and we're getting a taste of that now, so yeah. gotta praise my main man <3

5. a song that reminds you of a good memory.

very unsurprisingly there isn't many for this category bc unfortunately my brain mainly associates songs with bad moments in my life 🥴 however, i will say more than words by extreme bc it reminds me of my babe/soulmate/love of my life @bluesdelis and of the best month of my life hands down. not much context for this one bc it's too damn special and personal but it's our song™ so yeah <3 (but i also almost put the glee version <3 love you tho 😌🖤)

6. the last song you listened to.

brutal - olivia rodrigo, shocking i know 😌 it was playing from my disco cowgirl playlist while i showered <3

7. a song that makes you laugh.

at this point almost anything from glee, especially if it's from season 4-5 lmao (why glee won't leave my head, alison this is your fault) but i already talked about them so let's go with don't phunk with my heart by the black eyed peas bc this song is absolutely ridiculous & i love it 💖

8. A song you want your mutuals to listen to.

all of the songs mentioned above <3 😌 but let me leave one from my new favorite band (thank you kaykay): hush - the marías ❤ so in love with this album 🥺

tagging: @bluesdelis @suchalonelysunflower @wastelandcth @ijustdontlikepeople @mulletcal @littledrummerangie @aintmyjewelry @talkfastromance4 💜 (i have no idea at all of who already did this so i'm sorry if you have !! but if you haven't, no pressure at all !! <3 and if you see this & wanna do it then i'm tagging you 😌 pls do it & tag me bc i love to take a peak at people's personality through their music <3)

also if you've read all of this? i love the shit out of you 💜 and i'm sending you the warmest hug and a tender forehead kiss 😚💓 here have a candy too 🍬

[polar-stars]

My OC’s music taste part 2

Me being myself of course forgot that I still have to do a second part to @takoyakitenchou​‘s ask

In this one we’ll cover some of the youngsters & the kids that ain’t on Totsuki 

Moe Saito 🐼

As a big fan of ballet, Moe majorly listens to classical tunes, from...well, ballets. Her favorite part from her favorite ballet “The Nutcracker” is the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Aside from that, she probably mainly listens to Disney songs or anime openings.

Favorite Artist: Tchaikovsky of course!

Kei Eizan 🐯

Kei’s favorite genre is HipHop and Rap. In fact some of the stuff he listens to probably broadened his library of cuss words. He also finds a lot of liking in Rock though, especially the edgy 2000s kind, and will be blasting both that and HipHop loudly in his room whenever he is upset. Lastly, being the Epic Pro Gamer that Kei is he does also hold a strong affinity for Video Game music. Would def listen to Minecraft music to calm down, lol. Though his favorite soundtrack is one hundred percent Splatoon’s (which I think would also be one of his favorite franchises)

Favorite Artist: Eminem ahdhd, and the Gorillaz. 

Ayano Mimasaka 🥀

Ayano doesn’t have a very easy to identify music taste. I think she can quite frankly listen to just about everything. She’s especially fond of music that have this psychedelic sound to it? There’s this playlist on youtube, that I think captures that vibe ahdhd. She enjoys things that are calming but have this underlying melancholic tone to them? Think this track from Splatoon’s Octo Expansion called “regret”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5NlMBW_0M4&t=1s 

Favorite Artist: Does not really have any...tho now that I think about it, given that she enjoys this type of “sad nostalgia” she possibly likes Lana del Rey quite a bit

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Miyu Megishima (isn’t a fanchild btw)

Miyu developed a strong love for Country, thanks to her uncle. Aside from Country, she generally likes acoustic Indie stuff as well.

Favorite Artists: Uh...Dolly Parton, I guess ahdhf

Yuu Tsukasa

Shockingly, to Eishi, Yuu actually likes Rock quite a bit. In reality, what Yuu listens to the most is probably Softrock but even that’s too loud for Eishi I think. 

Favorite Artists: Doesn’t have one in particular.

Shouhei Tsukasa 🥢

Being the chaotic man Shouhei is, his music taste is kinda all over the place as well. He can enjoy a great many things, from Pop to Rock. But his heart, at the end of the day, will always belong to Funk and Reggae. This is his main vibe. 

Favorite Artists: Earth, Wind & Fire and Bob Marley

Tsubame Tsukasa 🕊

So. Tsubame plays piano. And what she enjoys playing most is the OSTs from movies she likes. I’m convinced she’s capable of playing every Disney song. She therefore also listens to a lot of movie soundtracks but also quite a lot of show tunes. She also enjoys Folk.

Favorite artists: Joe Hisaishi

[zet-sway]

@the-wip-project day 90:

This question is about the Heroine's Journey. Let me start by saying thank you for putting this out there because a lot of us want more women protagonists in the world.

However, I'm going to use today as a free exercise.

I've written a lot about a nameless individual who caused me a lot of pain.

Well, I met a counter to that person. Someone who pulled me out of that tragic headspace by doing nothing but being a good friend. He helped me re-learn what a healthy, close friendship with boundaries looks like. Even though we never talk about ~*~*-!feelings!-~*~ the way I did with the friend I lost, I feel a deep and powerful sense of gratitude toward this person.

I like to write the moments that feel like poetry. I'm inspired by the times in my life where I felt like I was touched by something special. Most of these moments have been during mundane, everyday things. This is one of those times. More context to follow.

Lyrics are from Soldier's Eyes by Jack Savoretti. The song is very central to this writing moment.

The below could be considered very, very mild spoilers for the game Days Gone.

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It's a lazy weekend morning, and like always, I'm watching him play and listening to him talk. I can't remember what he's saying but I'm sprawled out on my couch watching my computer screen from across the room - because for whatever reason I can't stream discord to my Chromecast.

Lately I've been wondering what's been going on

It's what we always do. Sometimes in silence and sometimes deep in conversation but always together. I think this makes him happy - he wouldn't be doing it after these years if it didn't, right?

I've been here before but I don't remember when

When we met, I was slow to trust. I'd learned that men who talk to me for no reason always have an ulterior motive. And here's this guy, with a conspicuous accent I can't place, texting me on a Saturday morning like it's nothing: "I'm in discord if you wanna talk about butts."

That's our thing. There's a gaggle of us that met by happenstance online. We talk about the kind of stuff that makes middle-schoolers laugh. It's immature and perfect in it's levity. All of them are flawed and it's likely none of us will know each other forever, but we weave in and out of life's responsibilities to talk about "divide my cheeks" and other stupid shit.

Eventually I learn they do want something from me - friendship. Normal human companionship and respect.

And every time we get to where we're entering

I feel my beliefs and hopes surrendering

But sometimes - a lot of times, actually - it's just me and him. And he'll play and I'll watch. He loves video games, probably more than even I do. Maybe even more than anyone I've ever met. And today he's playing Days Gone.

We're about a week into it. The most heartwarming thing is sometimes he holds off progressing in his own time so I don't miss what comes next. And I'm glad I'm not missing this.

But I know, I'll be coming home soon

Deacon, the main character, is a man learning how to get by in a changed world. In this moment he's offering comfort in the best way he knows how to his sick friend while they drive to get him help. His companion Boozer might be his only remaining friend. They grit their way through the uncertainty on Deacon's motorcycle.

On discord, silence falls between us so we can both appreciate the moment unfolding.

"Do you know why we do this?" Deacon asks.

His companion, Boozer, dazedly responds with a simple "No."

"Because what the hell else are we gonna do?"

Yes I know, I'll be coming home soon

The music kicks in. Just like that, I'm transported.

I'm back at the farm. Back in during simpler times when my only responsibilities were showing up for work and planning my wedding. Back when I listened to Hozier while driving by green fields on quiet roads, wondering if 200k miles was enough to justify getting a new car, dreaming of where life could take me. Those days when the place I called home was so beautiful I used to whisper "goodbye" to the flowers every night because I knew one day I would leave and the longing would never stop.

Something in that acoustic melody takes me straight back there. Sprawled on my couch and capturing the lyrics in my mind to google them later.

I pass my quiet revelation to my friend, knowing he has enough context to know what I'm talking about even if he doesn't understand the feeling. And the silence stretches on until Deacon and Boozer arrive at their destination and the moment is over.

My friend doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve like I do, but I've spent enough time with him to know he's in contemplation just like I am.

Neither of us speak for a while. And that's okay. In the silence, my thoughts thank him for his kindness.

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I was totally and pleasantly shocked to learn the song that soundtracked this simple moment was by Jack Savoretti. I know only one other song by this artist, and it's very special to me. It's called Home, and it makes me think of my husband.

It reminds me of when someone tried to tear us apart, and my resolve to not let that happen. It reminds me of when my parents fought me over his "priorities" and his "work ethic" and all the ways they had not yet seen his growth, his determination, his strength and patience. It reminds me of the years we spent only being able to see each other on the weekends and the home and workplace I left to start my life with him.

Help me stand, help me rise

I can't bear the changing tides

This is the road we chose to take

No regrets and no mistakes

What's striking is the parallels. "Home" and "Soldier's Eyes." The friend I lost, and the friend who loves video games. The moments I shared, with each of these people respectively, while we listened to these songs. The same moment with different music, different people, at different times. This lazy morning was like a special confirmation that I made it through, and I'm on the right track.

Here's the scene on YouTube: