#alba+reche

[jackredfieldwasmyjacob]

u.s. artist come to south or east europe challenge

[a-moth-to-the-light]

Comeback Celebration: Current Top Ten StayC Songs

So this has been sitting in my drafts since March... but that worked out great, actually, since today we're getting their FIRST FULL ALBUM !!! HAPPY STAYC COMEBACK Y'ALL !!! When it comes to the highs of StayC's discography, I really think that no one can do what they do. My appreciation for their work has grown slowly but steadily--I was only a casual listener of their debut, so it was actually "ASAP" that made me a fan. Then, the Stereotype comeback got them on my stan list, and with the "Run2U" comeback, they became my favorite kpop group (sorry, Twice and Mamamoo, I still love y'all!). Revisiting StayC's earlier songs for this list, I was actually surprised by how impeccably their music has aged--I love this group even more than I thought I did!

1. 247

The queen herself! I think I've done a few other write-ups about this song in my time on Tumblr, and it hasn't gotten any less perfect after two years. "247" really leans into the lofi side of StayC's signature sound, but it has a hell of a kick to it, too. I absolutely could not fall asleep to this one, or do homework while leaving it on repeat, because I would be stimming too hard--how could I not, with a beat like that? That staticky beat commands the song, and you can't even get used to it because it's constantly morphing, surprising you with little offbeats. In contrast, StayC's vocals are a sugar rush, as high and melodic as the beat is low and grating. This is StayC at the top of their game in both production & performance, and the result is a song that gets more dazzling the more intently you listen for its details.

2. Slow Down

It took me a while to notice this one--"Stereotype" and "Complex" had all my attention when the Stereotype album first dropped, but when "Slow Down" finally had its turn in my rotation, I knew the others just couldn't compete. I'm always here for the 10 hours chill lofi beats to study to style of song from StayC, but it's not just the production I love here. The members really add to the song--I especially adore the precision with which they handle the first verse, even as it just runs and runs and runs and runs headfirst into the prechorus. The rap in the bridge docks "Slow Down" a couple of points in my book, but the "haste makes waste" ad-lib wins those back easily.

3. Complex

And here's "Complex" !! This is the song that made StayC my favorite group--from the beginning, it's been brain-cleaning music for my soul. I find it hard to place what, exactly, makes StayC's music so special to me, but "Complex" has it for sure. It's something about the way the members enunciate sharply, but not aggressively, I think. "Complex" is a soft, understated song, but the StayC ladies are masters of enunciation--their performances, strong and confident, give the song these sharp edges that keep me absolutely captivated. StayC's music, soothing but not understimulating, is just so perfect for my sensory sensitivities, and that's what I mean when I say I feel like StayC's style was designed just for me.

4. So What

This was too obnoxious for me when it first came out--maybe because Itzy still ran the girl group landscape in 2021, so I was not in need of another 'sassy & self-confident but also cutesy & girly' type of song? "So What" got me eventually, though; I think it was during the "Beautiful Monster" comeback that this track became a regular fixture in my playlists. "So What" has some of the Itzy magic--flat verses set against soaring melodic choruses, a downright strange instrumental in the prechorus--but it has a lot of StayC magic too, I think. I can't be sure this is inspired by 8-bit music, but the chorus definitely has the sound of a retro video game. (If you've been enjoying that sound lately, you should definitely check this one out!) "So What" is more energetic than a lot of the others on this list, but it's just as cozy and comforting as they are--as the chorus hits you with a barrage of clashing instrumental bits, the vocals get softer and sweeter to balance it out, and the bridge could have been taken straight out of an IU ballad.

5. Run2U

It's kind of unfortunate that this one came out when it did--the music video for "Run2U" dropped right before a really major, terrifying event in my life, so I was replaying it all the time in the months when that event happened. As much as I enjoy "Run2U", I don't listen to it much anymore--it transports me back a little too well. (Luckily for me, the b-sides from this album managed to escape the Bad Memory Vortex!) "Run2U" is an absolutely perfect song, though, stuffed with hooks and textures that my brain loves to chew on. While revisiting "Run2U" for this list, I understood exactly why I was replaying the song so maniacally in the months after it came out (it was my most-listened song of 2022, and I think all those listens were from between February and April). The soaring vocals, the angelic chimes, the beat that feels somehow 3D? It's too much to process on just one listen--or just two, or just three... This could honestly be my favorite StayC song in an alternate universe--it's such a grand statement of just how much this group is capable of!! (And it turns the pop-princess aspect of their style up to 100, which I, as a Twice stan, am legally obligated to love.)

6. ASAP

Rhyming "copy" with "decalcomanie" is the kind of audacity I like to see in a first comeback (only Lightsum has been more audacious--I love you, Lightsum, you'll get your own textpost one day). Though the production & songwriting for this spring lofi sunny day 1 hour chill beats mix sound would be perfected in StayC's later comebacks, the members perform the hell out of this one. Even before "Complex", they had the skill with enunciation to bring some real bite to the quirky-cute girl group sound! Also, that piano in the bridge is glorious.

7. I Like It

You could probably argue that this is just a dollar-store version of "Slow Down" and "So What", and I would probably agree with you--but like, I like this one, okay? I like how Yoon sings "I got my shades on" in the opening; I like the chanted bit in the second prechorus (GWAENCHANA NE TASI ANIJANA !!!!!); I like the whole damn chorus!! I think this one needed a lot more time in the oven production-wise, but I still find it super listenable. The members help "I Like It" flow smoothly despite its clumsy production, and the harmonies alone are worth coming back for.

8. Beautiful Monster

Despite some really clumsy production choices (this album was... interesting, to say the least!), I can't help but love this one--I find myself revisiting it a whole lot. (But, like, what are those claps leading into the chorus. Why are they so loud. Could you just... uh... blend them in, just a little bit? Like, could you just make them sound like they're actually coming from, like, the same song as the rest of the track? Anyway...) "Beautiful Monster" is a super-memorable showcase of StayC's vocals, though, so it's a classic in my book--those bordering-on-wailing high notes remind me of the most emotional moments in GFRIEND songs, and they're scattered throughout all of "Beautiful Monster", and they still hit like bricks every single time?? My heart was not ready for this song.

9. Stereotype

Another classic! This is one of those songs that really makes me think no one can make music quite like StayC's--like, "Stereotype" should not be as interesting as it is. It should not echo in my bones the way it does. We know StayC can bring their songs to stunningly high highs --see: "Run2U" and "Beautiful Monster"--but "Stereotype" manages to be an infinitely satisfying listen without any showstopping moments. This is like the sweeter version of "247"--it takes an even softer approach, but it still has that kick to it, like the sour part of a sip of lemonade or the fizz in lime soda. Admittedly, I don't listen to this one very frequently--I really should be obsessing over it a lot more, but the b-sides from this comeback really stole the show for me (see: "Slow Down" & "Complex" at spots 2 & 3 on this list). "Stereotype" completely deserved its success, though! It's really a perfect encapsulation of the pop-princess-meets-lofi aesthetic that makes StayC stand out.

10. Poppy (Japanese or Korean ver.)

Yes, we get one song from StayC's 2023, at least. (Look, 2023 wasn't really their year, but I needed a break from constantly gushing about how great their music is, anyway!) I think everyone else in the world would have this one on their list, too--I remember when "Poppy" took the fandom by storm, though I didn't get the appeal at the time. I'm sold on it now, though! "Poppy" is a pretty straightforward dance track, but the textures in the instrumental are unique enough that I find it an interesting, enjoyable listen whenever it comes up on shuffle.

Honorable Mentions: So Bad (vocals. oh my god the vocals.), Like This, Butterfly, I Want U Baby (that chorus is a real gem, i hum it to myself all the time), Love (i bring this one out every summer !!), Not Like You

[paperglader]

very few things quite as special as the relationship between a girl who listens to sad music, and the one (1) song by the artist she loves that happens to be the only happy in love song in their entire discography

[groovetrill]

En qué lio estamos metidos

Yo que decía que nada nunca ha sido mío

Y aquí me tienes

Como delincuente

Robándome tiempo

Pa' verte a horas más decentes

Ya no respiramos a la vez

Solo a veces que me dejo ver

Ya no me deja el sueño al revés

Pero echo de menos verte tomar café

La dosis más pequeña de ti

Me convierte en la mejor actriz

Lo que afuera no se puede decir

Te lo digo si me quedo a dormir

Si me quedo a dormir

Si me quedo a dormir

Ya llegarás a la conclusión

Todos vuelven pometiéndome algo mejor

No ruego que me quieras, ni una explicación

Es cosa de tu orgullo

Lo importante ya lo sabe Dios

Si te dejo los límites claros

Si te dejo se me vuelve raro

Me confundes, me niegas la mano

Claro

Antihéroe, personaje plano

La dosis más pequeña de ti

Me convierte en la mejor actriz

Lo que afuera no se puede decir

Te lo digo si me quedo a dormir

Si me quedo a dormir

Si me quedo a dormir

[starz-saintz]

Creep Covers as Redacted Characters

Random assortment, whichever one came to mind when I listened to it.

Original 1992 -> Damien

1993 Pablo Honey -> Tank

Alexa Melo -> Lovely

Book Of Life -> Asher

Glee -> Angel and Baaabe Duet

Richard Cheese -> Milo, Huxley, Dear

Street Corner Symphony -> David

Twisted Measure -> Angel

Pretenders (Live; 2006 Remaster) -> Freelancer

Emile Beskow -> Treasure, Angel

Karen Souza -> Sweetheart

Alba Reche -> Treasure

AcaBelles -> Angel

Well-Strung -> Milo

I'm Not A Pilot -> Lasko

Brandi Carlile (Live; May 2006 @ Boston, MA) -> Warden

Gil McKinney -> Dear

Danny Janklow -> Baaabe

[pretentiouswreckingball]

ty for the tags loves @belleandsaintsebastian, @whorerific & @deermessrs <3

rules: list your top 5 albums from your top 5 artists (cant have a repeat of the same artist) on a poll, so your followers can vote which album they think captures your vibe the best

no pressure tags: @static-radio-ao3 @starchaserwrites @frank-lilac @blossoms-and-possums @malchai @fruityindividual @boydykepdf (I’m sorry if you guys have already been tagged) and OPEN TAG!!

[moff-times]

Thank you for tagging me, @molinaesque! 😻😻😻

Rules: shuffle your ‘on repeat’ playlist & post the first ten tracks, then tag people

(Oh dear... I barely use Spotify so this is going to be inch resting xD)

Soy un Truhán, Soy un Señor - Julio Iglesias

Tight Rope XX - Lacuna Coil

Killing me softly with his song - Pitingo

Desidia - Tanxugueiras

Raphael's Final Act - Borislav Slavov

Pano Corado - Tanxugueiras

The Power - Credit Song - Borislav Slavov

Trip the Darkness - Lacuna Coil

A veces tú, a veces yo - Julio Iglesias

La Mare - Baiuca, Alba Reche (????????)

No pressure tags for: @frenchy-lu , @tantive404, @thecatofdreams @lesbworth , @bluechiss , @air-mechanical and anyone that might want to play!

[ellegreenawayslover]

i was tagged by @baubeautyandthegeek (i forgot to do this yesterday)

pick a song for every letter of your url and tag that many people

e - emily i'm sorry by boygenius

l - lights are on by tom rosenthal

l - long live by taylor swift

e - enchanted by taylor swift

g - ghosts by banners

r - repeat until death by novo amor

e - ends of the earth by lord huron

e - exile by taylor swift

n - no cambies tu andar by alba reche

a - after the storm by mumford & sons

w - we might be dead by tomorrow by soko

a - anyway by noah kahan

y - you're gonna go far by noah kahan

s - still by noah kahan

l - leave a light on by edith whiskers

o - orange juice by noah kahan

v - vigilante shit by taylor swift

e - everything, everywhere by noah kahan

r - ride by lana del rey

@introverted-author @tedwinisconfused @inlovewithjemily @rowan-lee @waitaminuteashh @pagetprentissishot @thearcherprentiss @greencways @prentiss-theorem @red--opti @5ivebyfive @veeluvss there's no pressure to do it though haha :)

(19 people are a lot of people and my brain decided not to work today, so i tagged less haha)

[jackredfieldwasmyjacob]

BY THE WAY. GUESS WHICH TWO OT 2018 EXCONTESTANTSVWHO WERE MASSIVELY SHIPPED AND WHO HAVEN'T BEEN SEEN TOGETHER WATCHED THE FINAL TOGETHER . GUESS WHO.

[a-moth-to-the-light]

NEW ALBA RECHE SONG SPOILER. ON HER INSTA STORIES. SCREAMING CRYING PACING AGGRESSIVELY AROUND THE HOUSE. A FULL ALBUM LATER THIS YEAR I HOPE I HOPE I HOPE ??

[paperglader]

“El desarme”– Alba Reche// Open me carefully– Emily Dickinson// Killing Eve (Episode 0308)// Critical Role (Campaign 3, Episode 38)// The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the genius young lady (Episode 0104).

[randombush3]

love in the time of socialism from yellow house, you oughta know from alanis morissette, i don't smoke/ francis forever from mitski, estoy azul from alba reche, love in the dark from adele, bewitched from laufey. those are some of the songs from the posh and becks one. the first one is so accurate 😩

ok anon your music taste is perfection and I am BEGGING you to drop me a DM and send me proper links because I am dying to listen to the whole playlist

I've been struggling to write the last part bc no music is inspiring me atm and you could be the solution babe

[hadesisqueer]

The way I know that if she's nominated again against literally anyone Chiara is the one leaving because people hate her for some reason and I don't even care anymore because I've already kinda lived through this before and I know how it's gonna end.

See, I was a fan of Natalia Lacunza and Alba Reche back in OT2018 (those two and Julia Medina were my faves). Back in the day, they shared a fandom, similar to how Chiara and Violeta share their fandom now too; actually, it's the basically the same one (Violeta was part of that same fandom once too lmao I wonder how she feels now that she's the protagonist), it's the same fans. And I remember that people started hating on them as well. The thing is that, if I recall-- neither Alba or Natalia were ever nominated. They were among the best and worked their asses off more than anyone else, and they basically impossible to nominate-- and if they weren't nominated then they couldn't be kicked out, which made some people even more pissed off (lmao). Both became finalists without much trouble. What happened then is that there was vote division (again, shared fandom, this is what's gonna happen to Juanjo and Martin fans too if they both get to the finals, just wait). And that people who disliked them decided to join forces to make Famous the winner, so Alba ended up in second place and Natalia ended up in third place (I will never forget Alba's face when Natalia ended up in third place; she, just like me, thought she was gonna be the winner lmao she deserved it the most).

Now, I liked Famous, he had a great voice and I thought he definitely deserved to be a finalist from the moment I heard him sing for the first time. But he also passed by the contest being-- ignored, practically. And after winning, people basically ignored him again. Barely anyone went to his album signature events, for example. Nowadays, the guy still works in musicals and is fine and all, but when we talk about being relevant, he didn't really become relevant: Natalia and Alba are the ones who are remembered the most from that edition and the ones who still make the most numbers. And this is what's gonna happen with Chiara and Violeta: some people hate them and insult them, but then Violeta gets out and-- she is treated like a winner, fans go see her everywhere and she literally spends six hours signing autographs on her second day out, along with being followed and loved by some of the most relevant influencers or singers of the country (including Natalia herself, and Julia Medina, and most of the 2018 edition, along with Chenoa who is one of the most iconic people from this contest—OT1 everyone—saying she sees a lot of herself in her and that she knows she'll have a great career). And Chiara's more of the same, she is also very loved already by many people just like Violeta is, no matter how many unjustified hate she gets lmao. She and Violeta are the only ones who've already got over 200k followers on Instagram (230k for Violeta and 225k for Chiara I think??) and they are among the ones with most listeners on Spotify. So, yeah, keep hating on Chiara all you want and saying you'd all vote this random contestant over her because you don't like her; everyone in the industry likes her, is one of the only ones with a proper fanbase, she has thrice as many followers as that does, and his most listened song is the one he sang with Chiara-- which is also Chiara's least listened one. I'm sure she'll be fine. Lmao.

[kuthey]

soy eso