#also they like SUPER changed the chorus lyric translation

[thinkin-bout-milgram]

Purge March: Initial Thoughts

Hello everybody! Sorry this took so long to get out, I got more distracted by real-life stuff than I expected since the drop. I made the decision back on the night of the Amane drop to wait for the audio drama and give myself time to think, and I'm glad I did, because in my opinion, Amane's case is really complicated.

I used the audio drama translation done by @/muu_kusunoki on twitter, which I'll link here, I'll also be doing a lot of referencing both the Purge March (PM) MV and the Magic MV. This is still going in as my Initial Thoughts rather than a synthesis theory, but it'll definitely be closer to synthesis than normal.

As usual, I'll be making bolded claims and then discussing them. Let's get started!

TW: Many kinds of abuse, indoctrination, murder, animal death suicide

The person Amane healed WAS actually a cat.

Truly insane. I'd assumed the whole time that the orange cat was symbolic for a human, but it's actually genuinely just a cat. That sort of throws out the whole theory from Magic that Riyone didn't have a role listed because their role related to the falling stage light, meaning that the injury on the cat was staged.

...Wait.

I think it still makes sense that the cat's injury was staged. Rather than being staged because the cat did something inherently wrong, though, I think it's more likely that the cat was staged to test Amane's belief of cult doctrine. She knows she's not supposed to heal using medicine, but here's an injured cat, just waiting for you. Amane takes the bait and heals the cat (the good thing to do), and as a result, she gets punished. Tased, it seems.

Riyone is the one responsible for electric torture. Because of that, I'm going to make the claim that Riyone was the one with the taser in the MV.

I've seen a couple different posts floating around say that they believe this is Amane's mother. The most convincing piece of evidence I've seen is from this alleged picture of the storyboards, but I have no idea how this was procured or if it's legit.

I think Riyone being Amane's mother makes a lot of sense, though. I mentioned earlier how Riyone doesn't have a listed role at intro like everyone else; that's probably because, to Amane, the role is just "mom." We know Amane's dad is frequently gone, so this probably isn't him. Additionally, it seems like Amane may live in this house we see in the MV, and as soon as she gets home, this other person is there. It would make the most sense if this person was her mother.

So, based on that, Amane's mother (Riyone) would have placed an injured cat right outside of their house to see what Amane would do. Amane heals the cat, and that results in Amane being punished for it. Punished, in this case, for interfering with divine will by using medicine to counteract fate.

Being the flag associated with destiny, it makes sense if Riyone is the one upholding the torture related to the cat. The cat seems to be dead and gone later, too, so it's likely that Riyone "fixed" destiny by killing it. But, in that case, who's that other guy?

Gozake is responsible for the water torture.

Safe enough claim. It's right there.

Anyways, the important thing is that means the hand you can see here is Gozake's.

This seems like it's in the same house as before, which I've theorized as Amane's house. If I'm right, that means that either Gozake is her dad, Gozake has access to her house despite not living there (the most plausible imo), or that all the cult leaders actually live here and it's more of a shared housing situation. In any case, what's important is that Gozake was in Amane's living space and tortured her there.

For what, though?

If I'm right that Riyone was the one handling torture related to the cat, that means Gozake was focused on something else. Let's check out those flags.

"Discard vulgarity" just kinda sounds like not swearing at first glance. However, vulgarity is defined as a more general lack of sophistication. I take this one to mean something like, "Behave in a way that is befitting of the cult."

Gozake seems to be in control of the cult's image and what they say to the public or something like that. So, to me, I think this means that Gozake punished Amane for outwardly doing something that the cult didn't approve of. Could also be the cat, could be something else. From Gachata flicking Amane at the beginning, it seems like the torture wasn't limited to "big mistakes" in the cult's eyes. Anything she did wrong could result in intense punishment.

Gozake is the one she killed.

If it's one, anyways. I'm still not fully convinced that she only killed one cult leader, but that's doesn't matter at the moment. Right now, my job is to convince you that Gozake is extremely dead.

The biggest point against him is the fact that Amane's prisoner card in UNDERCOVER shows that her murder took place in the shower.

It's kind of hard to see, but that's a bathroom. Based on the other prisoners' cards, it seems like the location on the cards is the location that their murder/related death incident occurred. Because Gozake was the one who tortured Amane in the shower specifically, that's a pretty bad look for him.

There's also plenty of reason to believe that at least one of the cult leaders is the one who died. All of Amane's lyrics about how she was sorry, but now the roles are reversed, makes total sense if a previous abuser of hers was begging for her mercy against being killed. Plus, there's the scene towards the end of Purge March where she's twirling her baton. It goes from clean to bloody at around 2:17.

Notably, this shot is taken from between times it shows the four cult leaders up on the cloud. We never see them again after this. (That's part of why I believe all four could possibly be dead, but I honestly don't consider it very relevant.)

We already know that Amane's murder weapon is a pole of some kind based on her kill shot of Es in UNDERCOVER.

She also uses her magic wand in Magic similarly. The point is, we know that Amane killed someone via whacking them with a pole. That's what we see in the end shot of Purge March.

That person? That's Amane's victim. Or, one of them, anyways.

Amane may have had multiple victims.

Again, I don't know how much it really matters, but it's definitely possible. That person looks like they're killed in the bedroom or something, right? And there's the light on in the bathroom.

I've seen some people say that they just think the person (Gozake) crawled from the bathroom to the bedroom before Amane finished them off. However... why?

What situation would that help in? I'm under the impression that the door out of the house is the other way, so if the victim crawled to escape, they'd likely head the other way. Additionally, Amane is still a twelve year old girl. If there were a prolonged fight, it seems like it would favor the grown ass man. So, this would have to mean that Amane would partially damage him before he crawled, out of the bathroom but AWAY from the front door. That doesn't make sense to me.

There's also the question of what Amane's murder weapon is. Let's look at that shower scene again.

A clothes washer (I think), a sink, some sort of pole thing (is that part of the clothes washer? Or is it more of a vacuum or something?), and some conspicuous bleach.

A big question for me is what that pole thing is. Could that be Amane's murder weapon? Is it detachable enough to bring to the bedroom? That's really relevant.

Basically, I think there's two options based on this.

The pole is detachable. Amane hits the guy's face with bleach and he tries to crawl away, but can't see where he's going. She then carries the pole over to the bedroom and finishes him off there.

Amane uses the bleach to kill him in the bathroom, leaving him there with the light on. Then, Amane uses either that pole or a different one and heads to the bedroom, killing whoever else is there (probably Riyone, if I had to guess).

I'm honestly kind of partial to 1 now that I've written it out. However, there is also this:

This is Amane's associated image from UNDERCOVER. We don't know what it relates to, exactly; we just know that it's something to do with her.

I would... assume that this is someone in the shower, based on the water torture. However, when I first saw it (and I know this is true for others, too), I thought it was rain. The way the water drops fall looks more like rain to me. And, based on what we saw, Amane was kneeling on the shower floor. That means that it should be Gozake in the shower, thus invalidating the theory that Gozake crawled out of the shower before getting finished off in the bedroom.

Except, what if it is rain?

If it is rain, that makes this matter a hell of a lot more. Because, if that isn't in the shower, that means that someone ended up on the ground like that outside of that house. Possibly someone who never entered the house, possibly someone who never entered the cult. Who knows!

...Possibly the little girl with the balloon?

Obviously if that's the case, it's someone related to the cult. Still, the sky is clearly the same sky, at least. There's the same rainbow despite the same clouds. Plus, we see the little girl's balloon wander off later in the MV. Maybe something happened to her?

I don't know what her involvement is otherwise. I don't know why she's important enough to be depicted. Interestingly, I believe Amane is the only one who hasn't gotten the reveal of someone important's actual face in the second round. We've seen a LOT of people with impact on her life, but none of them have been singled out with actual facial detail. Unless you count the swarm of Amanes, I guess.

Amane has or expects to take over a cult leader role.

She sees herself leading the Purge March. She seems to place herself in a position of authority. This, I'm sure, also relates to a very complex self image she likely possesses, but the fact of the matter is, she's the one leading it.

If she killed at least one cult leader (likely, Gozake is so dead), she might believe that she'd be the one to replace them. We don't know if this is true or not; Mu doesn't know what happened to her surrounding any legal punishments or authorities or anything, so it's possible that Amane doesn't actually know what the aftermath of her murder would end up being.

Still, it's something to consider. If Amane, unchanged, returned to the world, she could very believably recruit others into the cult and continue the cycle.

Amane wants to be innocent, but she has changed the meaning of what an innocent verdict is.

Amane is pulling a Trial 1 Kotoko. She's offered Es a deal surrounding verdicts. That makes it much harder for us to communicate with Amane, because she changed what the verdict means.

Much like Kotoko in Trial 1, Amane's Trial 2 audio drama is her guiding Es through the discussion she wants to happen. She tells Es that she wants Milgram's forgiveness so she can turn it into the ideal world for her cult.

That means that, if we vote Amane innocent, she likely will take it as Es approving Milgram for her cult. That's obviously bad, but the other prisoners (other than maybe like Haruka) are hopefully not impressionable enough for it to be a problem?

However, I still do believe Amane wants to be innocent. She asks Es to remember her pleas for forgiveness at the end of the Purge March MV. We all forgive Amane; the question is how to tell Amane that we forgive her disobedience and we're sorry for the situation she grew up in without approving the cult's beliefs.

It's wrong to torture a child in order to get them to conform to your beliefs.

This is what Amane's story is about. The cult leaders tortured Amane until she was brainwashed into their beliefs. Amane insists that, just because her beliefs aren't the norm, that doesn't make them wrong.

Arguably, a guilty verdict could be seen as doing the exact same thing. We'd be subjecting Amane to audio torture, at least, given that we know guilty prisoners are bombarded nonstop with the reasons why people voted them guilty. She would also be restrained, and due to Kotoko's attacks, we know it's at least hypothetically possible she could get physically injured from it to.

That's obviously not cool. Don't like that part.

Amane wants to kill Shidou.

Amane warned us that Shidou's actions (saving Mahiru's life and healing up Futa) disobey with her beliefs, and if we don't do something about it, she'll have to take action. It's not entirely clear whether that means she'll punish Shidou as she was punished, or if she'll attack Mahiru to kill her as God intended.

Either way, it's bad news for Mahiru if that happens. It's been directly stated that Mahiru is in a critical condition, and it's possible that the removal of Shidou as her doctor could kill her even if she doesn't get hurt again. If Amane killed Shidou, it could mean both of them could die.

However, Kazui has also promised that, if he gets an innocent verdict, he'll protect anyone he can from harm. Kazui could take Amane in a fight (I forget where but somewhere it's established that Kazui is the strongest in a fight, plus he beat Kotoko who I assume could easily beat Amane), so hopefully Kazui will be able to protect Shidou.

That also opens up the door for a weird possibility, though, which is the case of Haruka. Given that, in this case, Kazui would be focused on protecting Shidou and/or Mahiru from Amane, that means that Kazui would likely not have time to look after other prisoners, such as Haruka, who's threatened suicide if we voted Mu guilty. Which we did.

So, basically, the whole thing's a mess and voting Amane innocent makes it much more likely that someone dies, whether that someone is Shidou, Mahiru, Haruka or some combination.

VERDICT: ???

If you couldn't tell, the last four sections are me deliberating on which verdict to give her. In my opinion, there are a lot of arguments in both directions, which makes it difficult to decide. If I was ignoring meta voting, I'd obviously vote innocent, given that Amane is a highly traumatized child and she killed her abuser(s). That's forgivable. However, given other circumstances surrounding the dynamics of her vote, I have doubts on if it's really the "right" move.

I think that with Amane, there's no good option. To be clear, I don't regret the Trial 1 guilty verdict. I've seen a lot of people saying that this state of no good options is a result of stupid people thinking guilty was right last trial. I think that an innocent verdict would just mean that she'd be like Kotoko is right now, believing that she's right without a shadow of a doubt. Milgram is mean, intentionally. They weren't going to give us good options either way.

As a result, given that I can tell a lot of people have WAY stronger opinions on this one than I do, I'm currently not actually voting. If the margin gets close enough, I'll probably commit to a direction, but for now, I'm letting the rest of the fanbase steer the verdict. I was fully team guilty when I was worried about Kazui getting a guilty verdict. With Kazui innocent, I'm much more open to the possibility of forgiving Amane, because that verdict hopefully won't cost Shidou and/or Mahiru's lives.

If you have a convincing theory or argument in either the innocent or guilty direction, please let me know! If I'm ever convinced enough, I'll probably start voting, but for right now, I'm honestly neutral on the verdict.

NOTE: don't yell at anyone. Do not insult anyone else or get aggressive when pushing for a verdict. This is a fan blog for a fictional series that exists to have fun solving mysteries and calmly discussing ethics. Please, have fun and don't take this too seriously.

[journey-to-the-attic]

I don’t know if I actually said this yet since I keep falling asleep while checking tumblr at night but the song parody you’re making for oh dear me is super cute!!! It’s also doubly cool because you’re making it for two languages at once and it was neat to see some of your thought processes when explaining how you were changing Beel and Belphie’s canonical name spellings to share the first character.

thank you!!!! actually, to talk about this a little bit because i've just realised how much i'd like to... the thing with my level of chinese is that most of the new lines, i have to come up with in english first, then translate in a way that still fits the flow of the lyrics+rhyme scheme (then re-translate because of the differences in phrasing or exact definition lol)

there were some things that i didn't notice unless i went back and actually sung through the lines for myself, where e.g. repeated homophones or slight differences in rhyme made it feel awkward. in most cases this just entailed further changes to the original lyrics, which by now are only really fully intact in the final chorus

so the "why aren't you saying anything?" line from the og got changed to "you haven't punished anyone lately" because a change to a previous line meant that the "hua" sound was repeated, and that sounded weird. ultimately though i like the change better, since it tailors the song even more towards lucifer lol

actually i wanted from the start to have one of the items on lucifer's schedule be "argue with satan over something pointless", but that particular section of the song is tricky because it's delivered very fast, and i had two issues, both of which i wasn't sure what to do with, mostly owing to a limited vocabulary:

my translation of "argue over something pointless" took up too many syllables to fit into a pretty short line

i wanted to leave the last "zhui" intact - or at least the "ui" sound -bc the whole flow of the thing sounded just a little off when i changed it

i was saved very recently by remembering the phrase "抬杠拌嘴" so now the line is this

final note on the demons' names... there are standard chinese phonetic translations which as far i can tell are what the game uses? i'm sure there were reasons for the characters/sounds chosen for those that surpass my limited knowledge, so for the most part i'm just sticking to them-

(even though i have no idea why they chose dan for satan when there IS a tan sound in the language? satan -> 撒谈 -> sātán c'mon guys!!!! 谈 even has the character for fire in it! fire as in hell where he lives!!! it works!

（side note again but i was really amused by how simeon becomes ximian which yeah that makes sense but i was expecting something more complicated. btw if you switched one of the characters in mammon's name it'd translate to horse door)

-but for the twins specifically i just really wanted to make the change bc it's very common for siblings to share characters in their name, and bei'er as a sound fit better with how beelzebub is pronounced in english (to me)

[krenenbaker]

Obey Me! Song Analyses - Pomade

I absolutely love the songs released for this game, and have wanted to look into them a little deeper for quite a while! I'm starting off with the character song I've listened to the most - Asmodeus' character song, Pomade. While I technically should be starting with Arcadia... I'm kind of having Asmo brainrot right now, and want to talk about him ♡

link to the lyrics

This is probably my favourite OM! character song, though I am definitely biased (since Asmo is one of my absolute faves and I just LOVE Miura Ayme's singing and voice acting ^^;) but also, this song just suits Asmo so, so, so, so well!! 

For starters, the title is super interesting - Pomade. It's a clever reflection of Asmo's interests and focus (beauty, and specifically his *own* beauty.) And while this may be a bit of a reach, it also makes me think of his characterization, in how a pomade is often perfumed and is used to control hair, much like Asmo with his powers, both in terms of his ability to charm and his own perfume(s).

The genre choice is also perfect for this song. The soft, kind of… slightly seductive(?) synthpop-ish sound suits him well, especially with the gentle, yet upbeat instrumentals and vocals. It reminds me a lot of some of Hayley Kiyoko's music, actually, especially songs like Ease My Mind and Sleepover. (side note: Asmo would loooooooove her music. I'm 100% sure of it!!)

And if I could just go on about the vocals a little more, ahdkfaglsfh they're perfect. Not only is Miura's singing always amazing, his singing as Asmodeus is absolutely gorgeous!! it has such a different quality to his other songs, and is so wonderfully… bubbly, almost?? I just adore it. (Also, his vocal range is incredible, omgg ♡ The notes at the end of the chorus are SO clear and beautiful...)

However, it's the lyrics that really make me love this song. Like in all the songs the team has released, the internal thoughts and motivations of the character are made SO clear!! I feel as though Pomade shows a more vulnerable side to Asmo than we usually see in the game (which, as a side note, I feel as though his character development is a lot less... I don't know, noticeable? than the others? It's a little sad.) The lyrics do show his self-centeredness, narcissism, and his role as a demon, but that is more towards the beginning of the song. It's almost as though throughout the piece, there is a gradual acceptance on Asmo's part of his feelings, rather than his expectations of what he "should" feel. This is made especially clear with how the repeated lyrics shift, and how the chorus changes each time. 

For instance, the line in the first verse “Kimi wa boku no toriko” (“You're my captive”, or in the official translation, “For now, you're mine”) becomes the reverse (“I'm your captive" / “I'm yours”) in the second verse, which is a MAJOR thing for him to not only feel, but actually acknowledge to be true! The same can be said for how he goes from speaking about wanting to be seen and admired by you, to wanting to admire you instead.

It's also so interesting how the chorus changes each time, with the lyrics becoming more and more affectionate each repetition: 

“No matter who you are You're no match for me There is nobody but myself That is enough for me” 

turning into 

“Even if it's you You're still no match for me There is nobody but myself That I can fall for”, 

then finally,

“No matter who you are I want you to show me I fell in love with someone Besides myself for the first time” 

in the last chorus. Each repetition, he becomes more and more aware of his feelings, and more and more vulnerable, with his pride and ego giving way to genuine affection. He truly goes from being the charmer, to being charmed himself.

I just absolutely love this song, both for how well is showcases my darling Asmo, and just how nice of a song it is to listen to ^^

[thehaniverse]

[Han Radio 📻 #1] TXT - Chikai ✨ Album First Listen & Review

Eh hem.

Yes, I am aware this album dropped 2 weeks ago. And yes I am aware that Jimin's <Muse> dropped today, and I still have not written my RM <RPWP> review, but you know what, bite me - life happens!

Anyway, now that I've finally had a second to get my mind straight, and I will likely be hearing all of these songs live in Osaka next weekend, I'm finally ready to give <Chikai> my first listen and share my personal thoughts on the album!

So without further ado, let's jump in!

Track 01. We'll Never Change [Title Track] My Rating: 8/10

One thing I can confidently say about TXT is that their title tracks always hit the mark - and for me, their more ballad/RnB songs always match my taste perfectly - this song being no exception. 😌

The distorted piano rift at the beginning of the track creates an enchanted atmosphere, which I find is reminiscent of the unique fairytale influence that has become characteristic of TXT's concepts and musical message. Then it's complimented by the juxtaposition between the thumping of the bass representing a racing, anxious heart against Beomgyu's ethereal vocals which are instantly soothing.

My favourite part is definitely the pre-chorus with the repeating 'let go let go let go' motif - particularly in the second verse with the transition from Soobin to Beomgyu's voices. I think these two really have soft airy voices that truly compliment this track. And the layering of the other members' voices underneath really adds to the magical and emotive mood of the track.

I think using Yeonjun to build up the tension in the first pre-chorus, and keeping Hueningkai and Taehyun's more powerful vocals until the choruses was a great choice to build the atmosphere. On the flip side, I do have to say this song lost points for me because the chorus just didn't hit as hard as I was expecting for how much it built up the emotion. (It felt like all that build-up with no payoff?! 😭)

Again, Soobin and Beomgyu's voices really complete this song for me, the reprise of 'you you' after the chorus just causes my emotions to swell and both of them have these beautiful forlorn vocals, which goes wonderfully with the message of the song.

Speaking of the lyrics, I think the song is pretty transparent with the meaning from the title alone - it's a beautiful reflection of a promise between two (or more) parties to never forget their relationship regardless of how far apart they are and what else may change around them - they themselves, and the essence of their relationship will never change.

The other gripe I have with this song is the typical 2024 complaint, but the song is just so short 😔 I would have loved just one more chorus at the end, potentially with the more stripped-back audio and distorted piano and then a final crescendo of all the vocals and music... but yeah, streaming so short songs.

Track 02. Deja Vu (Japanese Version) My Rating: 10/10

Okay, as a self-identify 'translated song hater' - I have to say this is one of the best translated tracks I've heard in a long time! I don't know if it's a mental block or what, but in my 17 years of K-Pop, I have always found listening to translated songs SUPER jarring, even if I hear the translated one first, I could just tell.

And that does somewhat apply to this track too, like Hueningkai's rap and the chorus sounds a little staccato but otherwise, it's not a half-bad effort. (Honestly, the only song I can say is flawless is TXT's {Your Light}, but that's probably because they intentionally recorded all 3 language versions at once. I still only listen to the Korean one though! 🤧)

It also doesn't hurt that Deja Vu is just such a bop of a track. I loved it in <Tomorrow> and I love it in <Chikai>, and I love songs with dope fan chants too, and this is just hitting all the marks for me!

//I'm not going to get into the lyrics because I'm far too lazy to check if the translation matches the Korean, but if you want me to review the original <Tomorrow> album or at least {Deja Vu} track, then lemme know.

Track 03. Kitto Zutto My Rating: 7/10

I'm SO happy they kept an upbeat song after {Deja Vu} on this album just like they did on <Tomorrow> because my body was just waiting for {Miracle} to play, so having this album have a truck that's equally high tempo and high tension was great.

I also think this song is really tailored to the tastes of the Japanese audience, it would fit right in as the OP/EP of an anime or game - however, I do think that could hurt its marketability elsewhere. (However, it's no secret that K-pop idols' Japanese songs really do well outside of Japan, so maybe they just don't care at this point.)

For me personally, I do think the transition between the verses and choruses could have been a little smoother, the sudden change in the tempo of the vocals from the subdued verse to the upbeat chorus is a tiny bit jarring. In their defense, they do build up a little, which lets you know the speed change is coming, but it's just not my style and this is my review so... (It's also just a lot on my sound-sensitive ADHD ears.)

Nyangnyangs are taking it vocals-wise for me in this song, but Hueningkai starting the bridge was an absolutely artful choice, his voice is just perfect for those moments, especially in Japanese songs.

All in all, while it is a good song, it's definitely going to be one of those I enjoy when it comes up on shuffle, but isn't necessarily a track that I will search for, that's why I capped it out at 7 points.

Bonus: We'll Never Change [Choreography] My Rating: 10/10

WOW. Just WOW.

Honestly, my heart hurts so much for Beomgyu because I can only imagine how much they all practiced for a routine this artistically stunning.

When I talk to others about TXT, I often comment on how absolutely breathtaking their live performances always are, and this song is no exception at all.

The incorporation of their stage outfits into the dance, and the way the harp-like movement actually compliments the piano motif in the music is just... URGH, I LOVE IT.

I really hope Beomgyu's condition has improved by Osaka as it would be an absolute honor to see the first complete version of this stage in all its glory - but if not at our show, then I hope he is able to perform before the end of the Japanese leg of the tour.

While I know I said Japanese songs usually aren't that popular overseas, I do wish that K-pop idols would perform one or two of their Japanese tracks throughout the whole tour - especially artists with such amazing Japanese tracks like TXT.

If I'm completley honest, seeing {Ring} live is one of the major reasons I even wanted to go and see them in Japan so badly. It is undoubtedly my fave of their Japanese songs, and arguably one of my fave TXT tracks in general (the cute lyrics and Taehyun's vocals just blow me away every time) - so yeah, anyway, please show some love to your fave J-tracks and maybe we can set a new president.

-

Anyway, my final rating for this entire single album is a solid 8/10. While it's not perfect marks, with so few songs (one of which is a remake), I think it's a fair score for what we were given.

TXT never fails to impress me with their ability to add their own color to everything that touch, and the magic truly is never lost. <Chikai> is a fantastic way to round off this chapter and I'm excited to see what they bring us next once Act: Promise has ended.

One thing we can be sure of is that their unique musical identity will never change~!

//Okay, cheesy ending aside - I'd love to hear what you all think of the album, and if you agree or disagree with my review. This is genuinely my first listen so my mind may change in the future, but that's the beauty of first impressions.

Till the next one! Thanks for tuning in to Han Radio! 📻✨☺️

[struggle-but-its-all-ocean-floor]

Am I alone in feeling somewhat disconnected from Jungkook these days? He's so different lately. He's much skinnier and his hair is super long, so his face's changed a lot, and his personality is so much more relaxed and eccentric now? He finally looks more his age too. I don't know. Watching his live, I loved hearing him sing, like always, but this live reminded me of his first live after Festa. This Jungkook isn't that different from the "old" Jungkook, but he feels a bit like a stranger to me at the same time. Dunno.

Anyway, his More cover was really good and he sounded good in Vibe as well. I loved Dreamers and it was cute that he insisted on covering Fahad's part. He never finishes a song though! He tries but he doesn't know the lyrics that well haha. He killed the last chorus of Daeng! And omg Suchwita Daechwita RnB version, let's go. We almost got Stay Alive... Pls, is he ever going to perform that song.

He was so cute taking to RM. I guess we're not getting an album from him any time soon, and he's also not attending the Grammys for sure haha - unless Hybe forces him to cut his vacation short, but it seems like he has no plans to get back to work any time soon. I can't believe he introduced his tattoos, but I still have to read the full translation of what he said. Most accounts didn't translate everything (he talked a lot!). Unrelated, but I want to run my fingers through his hair. He kept doing it!

[jimimn]

He made a wonder. I was not expecting a lot of songs to sound like they do... Honestly who am I kidding I had no thoughts about this album, I was just really excited for it but he once again proved that he's an incredible musician who quite literally poured his heart and soul into this album. He got all these amazing people to feature on his songs, like when I first heard youjeen's voice I literally ascended. I felt like I wasn't even in my body when I listened to the album. Wild flower is such an amazing song and the mv was so pretty too.

His lyricism is still insane to me and I really really really loved the messages and/or the story he wanted to tell with the songs. AND THE SONGS OH MY. Lonely & change pt. 2 being the only two songs without a feature on them... And the ones I love the most... Like I don't know who broke his heart so hard that he recorded change while DRUNK but lock your doors bitch...

Jokes aside though, this is an incredible album. It makes me really sad sometimes but at the same time it heals me and gives me comfort too... Lonely will stay with me for a long time that's for sure. I hope he made peace with the parts of himself that might have bothered him before. Still life too: 'life is better than death. i'll prove it' knowing his past with mental health I'm happy to see these lines from him. And at the same time these words feel so fucking heavy to me. I can't explain it but ever since I read the translation I had this weight on my chest...

I really hope he's content with Indigo.

Which ones were your favorites? :)

-🦋

same omg when namjoon said that indigo is very different than mono, i did not know what to expect. but i knew it'd be, for the lack of a better word, amazing. the way his music speaks to people in so many different ways is incredible. listening to his music you can just feel how deeply in love namjoon is with his art. and i really really admire that about him. god yes, youjeen's voice, that fucking chorus, i haven't been able to get it out of my head. and whenever i listen to the song her voice and the melody makes me want to dissolve into tears. honestly i haven't been able to work through my emotions that well about the songs because i didn't have the time rip 💀 I've read the translations but i haven't thought about them, you know? god but yeah, "life is better than death, I'll prove it" this hit hard. i can't really explain why but it did. He really should be super proud of indigo. i really really hope he is. My faves are still life, forg_tful, closer, change pt 2, lonely, and wildflower <3 wildflower especially because i can't stop looping it 😭 it's so addictive. Also I'm sorry i answer asks so late these days and my answers are short and sort of empty without any input. I'm just not able to think much because I'm always tired from work 🥲 I'll answer your other ask after I've watched the magazine film <3

[obsessedwvampbois]

𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐋 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬

Oh boy so this is gonna make people really mad. I have listened to a total of 52 songs from the Diabolik Lovers franchise (that I could find) and ranked them for the hell of it. For this ranking I will be including all character songs, openings (both anime and game) along with the remixes. I will not be counting solo versions of songs (eg. Gin no bara), soundtrack bgm or the endings themes.

My ranking is based on these things:

how well does the song fit the character/s or game, both in lyrics and aesthetic

the overall production and performance of the song

is the song a bop? would I willingly listen to it again?

Couple of disclaimers: I do not speak Japanese so I will be crediting the translations of each song as I go through them along with any think pieces / essays that I come across. If there is any song I missed, please let me know and I’ll slot it into the rankings, its hard to find one source that has all the songs recorded. Finally, just a reminder because I know I'm gonna make someone mad, this is my list! If you don't like it make your own or ignore mine, I'm only one person and my opinion is not final!

With that in mind, my rankings are below the cut

*Least Best*

These are the songs I will probably never listen to again. I have a few gripes with them that I'll talk about in my explanation.

52. 誓いのカンパネラ (Chikai no Campanella)

Shu, Ayato & Subaru

~translation~

This song is just super underwhelming overall. The guitar is my favourite thing about the song but that's it. There is so much build up for a boring chorus. The lyrics don't have much for me either.

51. 血戦のDies irae (Kessen no Dies irae)

Tsukinami Brothers

~translation~

On the opposite end, this song is so overwhelming. There are so many elements to follow and its hard to keep up. This is the first time I'll bring it up but the volume of the voices is so quiet compared to the backing track, its frustrating. The lyrics is what brings it up a notch as it talks about the day of wrath (dies irae) as the day the founders take over. I was also low key hoping to hear some version of the dies irae song hidden in the background but I couldn't hear any.

50. S.O.S-ΑtoΩ-

Tsukinami Brothers

~translation~

This song just feels so forgettable, I just feel like there isn't much to comment on. There are some interesting lyrics sprinkled out like comparing literal self mutilation to abstinence. Also the actual delivery of 'S ah O ah S ah', I can't take it seriously.

49. Dystopia

Kino

~translation~

This had an interesting start because I hadn't heard anything similar for DL but then after a few lines the tone change was just a nope for me. Again, Kino's voice is super quiet and the constant barrage of all these instruments that don't really gel together its confusing. Overall, it didn't leave much of an impression and I couldn't really visualised DL in the song.

48. 吸愛ラビリンス (Kyūai Labyrinth)

Shu, Ayato & Subaru

~translation~

Praise for the saxophone! Props to that because it shines here and is really the only memorable thing besides that final line of the chorus. The song does give the vibe of the Vandead Carnival with its more playful energy though. The lyrics feel really typical, like there are so many times I read lyrics about drinking blood before I get bored.

47. 極限(UNLIMITED) BLOOD -Remix ver.-

Shu, Ayato & Subaru

~translation w/ original ver.~

I don't think I really need to hear EDM/dubstep and Diabolik Lovers again thanks. It feels super dated and the vocoded singing is a little much for my taste. Good source material and the stripped back vocals at some points is quite nice.

46. 愛しきPain (Itoshiki Pein)

Subaru

~translation~

First off please never let me see Subaru near a fedora again thanks. Overall I felt bored with this song, like its nice, but that it. There are similar sounding songs that just hit home similar themes a lot stronger later on. The best part of this song is the spoken word but it feels weird for Subaru to be singing such a slow song.

45. Luv Apple Juice

Ruki & Azusa

~translation~

Yes, I am counting Ruki's spoken word, its my list. Lyrics are a must read with references to Adam, Eve and Eden throughout. Again, the voices are super quiet and with how fast paced the instrumentals are its annoying. The tempo also backfires because these are two of the more 'chill' characters. The last complaint is that the speed of Ruki's speaking compared to Azusa's singing just isn't right.

44. DIE IS CAST

Kou & Yuma

~translation~

This has to be my least favourite opening to a song, the staccato is just really grating to me. The way I'd describe the chorus is loud, the same note over and over again isn't appealing. The lyrics are an interesting read but nothing feels super important. The highlight of the song is the pre-chorus, thanks production!

43. カレイドナイト (Kaleido Night)

Kanato & Subaru

~translation~

This song is just generic, like overall. The sound, the lyrics, the production. There just wasn't must for me to listen to without zoning out.

*Average*

These songs don't leave too much of a lasting impression on me, but I still enjoy them.

42. 苺の罪 (Ichigo no Tsumi) (strawberry sin)

Reiji

~translation~

First of the generic rock songs! I couldn't really find much in the lyrics of note I think the actual performance of the song is my favourite element here.

41. 真夜中の饗宴( MIDNIGHT PLEASURE) -Remix ver.

Shu, Ayato & Subaru

~translation w/ original~

One the best part of the original is that opening section with the steps, it creates some nice anticipation for the coming song. The chorus this time round feels a little low energy after the hype of the pre-chorus. After watching the actual opening with the remix, I kind of wish they had the voice over, the song is so chill the last chorus could have it to make it feel more grandiose.

40. ZERO

Subaru

~translation~

Second generic rock song, this time it actually suits Subaru's brand! The lyrics do have some hints to Subaru as a character which is better. My sustaining thought is that this sounds like an off brand Arcadia.

39. Bloody★Mayim★Mayim

Sakamaki Brothers

~translation~

This has to have one of the strongest hooks for DL. For how many people sing in the song, it's easy to keep track of and the chemistry between them all is in sync. The main issue is that it feels like its missing some element to make it shine, the lyrics aren't in-depth too which brings it down another peg. The bridge/interlude is the best part though as I can visualise some mini story within the song here.

38. ADDICTED (2) PHANTOM

Ayato

~translation~

This song would be so much higher if I felt like it was more memorable cuz the lyrics here really shine. My interpretation is that this is Ayato questioning where his love stops and his sadistic nature to satiate his desires begin, can he separate the two? He both loves and despises the idea of draining his s/o dry. Another gripe with the song is that its not quite Ayato's aesthetic sonically.

37. Kindan no 666 (Three Six)

Kou & Azusa

~translation~

What puts this song so low is the majority of the instrumental, it takes a backseat here when I feel there could be more added. Props to percussion, drums are great though. After watching the MB opening so many times its hard to not see DL. Lyrics match with this one line here describing Kou in a nutshell:

"Sin spread from mouth to mouth, saying 'I’ll be gentle' pulls the trigger on a casual disaster!"

36. Iolite (アイオライト )

Shu

~translation~

I don't know why the producers associate electro-pop with Shu, I can't really see it much. I think they should have gone full glitch-pop instead considering how the song does a deep dive into his mind and thought process. Again, I think the voice is also quiet here but the instrumentals have some great moments, especially the strings.

35. 常夜KNOW UNDERSKIN

Sakamaki

~translation~

Well this gives Sakamaki vibes, nice guitar! Again, I like how it isn't overwhelming despite the amount of people involved. Lyrics aren't super impactful but super catchy.

34. 冷たい血 (Tsumetai Chi)

Ruki

~translation~

You have to read the lyrics while reading this, please! Its surprisingly wholesome and emotional overall. Again, there is the issue of the voice being way to quiet as the instrumentals swallow him whole after the second clock tick. The delivery is really well timed and production does a great job adding elements that works with the lyrics. There is a subtle echo to the voice that feels super enchanting as he comes to terms with the fact that he has fallen in love. Biggest drawback obviously is that this is just spoken word.

33. KISS♥MARK

Shu

~translation~

This song delves into the more perverse side of Shu, but we haven't really reached the level of Laito (we'll get there). The phone feels a little out of character but it suits that narrative. The straight cut out of music for the intermission was a bit abrasive but the transition back to music makes me forget about that with how slick it is. At least its better than a generic rock song.

32. カモフラージュ (Camouflage)

Shu & Laito

~translation~

What a great match up for subject matter, my interpretation is a denial and inability to accept oneself, ultimately using a mask to hide. So please look up the lyrics for some gems. However, after the 'against the blood' nothing really hit that same point sonically, furthermore its not the most aesthetically fitting for the two characters.

*Great*

These songs I actively enjoy, think about and do listen to occasionally and would recommend you check it out too.

31. >REDRUM<-

Ayato & Subaru

~translation~

This song is full of anagrams in the lyrics, I mean look at the song title. Its super catchy and is hard to forget about. The bridge is the weakest part of this song but it is made up by the distortion of vocals after the final chorus.

30. Fanatic of Night

Sakamaki Brothers

~translation~

Well time to party, talk about a bop and a half! Its just so fun, even though its to exactly DL to me, but that's Lunatic Parade for you. Shout out to the guitarist and percussion once again.

29. Bad Howling

Shu, Ayato & Kou

~translation~

This is super catchy, its nice to hear Kou in the opening song this time round, it spices things up. Theres some really nice elements played with the vocals as they sing over one another that is really well balanced. The biggest peg down is that I don't get super DL vibes and the lyrics aren't the deepest.

28. I.M.I.T.A.T.I.O.N. G.A.M.E

Kino

~translation~

Overall this song is a little generic and doesn't sound like DL but! There is a lot to love here too. Starting off with the performance, I really like the vibrato in his voice and the decent of notes at the end of the chorus is just, yes. It a nice hook and the lyrics are pretty good too. My only other complaint is that the drums mask some smaller elements in the background of the song which would have been nice to hear more in the forefront.

27. 極限(UNLIMITED) BLOOD

Shu, Ayato & Subaru

~translation~

This is where the rankings get pretty hard cuz I wish this was higher but oh well. the dramatic shift from the opening piano to the song is so abrupt but it gets you pumped. The intermission does a good job of changing things up without cutting tension. The lyrics themselves seem to be from the view of the Adam project during more blood and the unquenchable thirst they get in the story.

26. アルカディア (Arcadia)

Ayato

~translation~

Immediately I get Ayato vibes from this song and the rapping does help too with a nice flow that isn't too jarring from the rest of the song. These lyrics are basically Addicted2Phantom on steroids, I can't see anyone else other than Ayato in them.

25. Kekkyoku Night

Ayato

~translation~

Don't know why but the guitar melody just seems like I had heard it before but I can't put my finger on it. The bass is super slick here and I really enjoy it. The vocal distortion at the start of the verse sets a scene for him to hunt down this person and its a narrative choice. The main issue is that I wish there was a little more pizzaz to the chorus.

24. Kaikan DEATH-TRUCTION

Kanato

~translation~

Spoilers but I have placed both a Kanato's songs pretty high up so this was a little bit of a let down after the other two. The main issues here is that I don't really get too much of Kanato in the song and the yelling before the chorus is a little much. This, to me, is a self reflection from Kanato which is a good switch up from his last two songs. Overall, the song is abrasive in a good way that isn't overwhelming and the 8-bit section is my fave.

23. 血濡れた密会 (BLOODY SABBATH)

Laito

~translation~

Oh boy, look these lyrics up for a good time. This song is about his hook up with a women with the song getting progressively darker as it goes on. Nice psycho reference but I don't know if it does much in the end. Really catchy hook and the escalation of the final chorus is just so good. Also I'm just going to leave this line from the song here:

“You wend all out with the rodeo girl play? So then, let’s grind!!!”

22. 幻日理論-Parhelion Logic

Ayato

~translation~

This song is meant to be kind of an open letter to Cordelia and my word these lyrics are haunting. It fits the vibe of Haunted Dark Bridal so well, super strong overall. I just wish there was a stronger performance vocally.

21. 暴言シンドローム (Seiron Syndrome)

Yuma

~translation~

Yuma, to me has some pretty good observation skills and its really highlighted here. The first line just hits the nail on the head in terms of how rough he is both in and out of the bedroom. This song is the best of the 'generic rock' with production being really smooth despite the high energy, it matches him really well. First line:

The pain of your sprained neck won’t subside

20. 蠱惑のParade (Kowaku no Parade)

Reiji & Kanato

~translation~

We got another catchy banger here! This song just screams 'the two of us are here to hunt you down and we won't stop till we get a taste.' I mean this song is super pleasing aesthetically and great lyrics to boot!

19. KILLYOU,AGAIN

Azusa

~translation~

The strings are an immediate attention grabber and its hold it throughout the whole song. Super catchy, and these lyrics are Azusa, especially this chorus. Id be interested to hear what people think about the second verse in particular cuz there's a lot to read into:

"In a worn out state of mind, no matter how many nights we question it... We’ve idealised too much."

18. SQueeze…

Subaru

~translation~

Okay before anything else, the squeeze at the start is goofy, I can't take it seriously. Anyway, I can't help but tap my foot to this song. Third times the charm, finally hitting Subaru's aesthetic to a T. The voice is a little quiet on the track but what takes over just sounds so good. The contrast of the bell and the guitar is just, yes thank you. The pre-chorus is a nice mix up to the status quo and these lyrics are great too.

17. 愛の檻 (Ai no Ori)

Ayato & Laito

~translation~

The opening is a nice tone setter for a haunting head bopper. These voices work together so well, just like how the sirens work with the strings. The singular violin during the bridge is great, praise to anyone who can do that my god. The string motif climaxes at the final chorus and it creates an awesome song!

16. 月蝕(Eclipse)

Kou, Yuma & Azusa

~translation~

Well we have a nice build up ballad here. The opening is a little out of place but I forget about it as it builds to this final chorus with the tempo getting faster and faster. The stripped back production also ends up aiding the song in the end with its punches and message. Speaking of which; I get the idea this is about watching some either currently or in retrospective how their personality changes after turning into a vampire; a loss of innocence. How fitting for the Mukami's.

“Despising the sunlight that filters through the blinds is only inevitable, I suppose”

*Faves*

This is what I think the best of the best is. It reflects the themes, ideas and characters of Diabolik Lovers in the best way possible. When people ask me what music from the franchise to listen to, I point to these songs.

15. Count off

Kino

~translation~

There is so much to talk about here, this is a mix of singing and spoken piece and it works so well for me. The delivery over this contagious beat I can't help but get hints of a k-pop vibe here. The movement to singing then vocoded voice are interesting and fun. The bridge switch up too is great, my only wish is that the choir hand a little more presence in the final chorus cuz its fun the first times round, it would be a nice call back.

14. A Certain Prophet's Fate [とある預言者の、運命 Toaru Yogensha no Unmei]

Reiji

~translation~

I can visualise a Nutella Kookie moodboard with this opening alone. To me, this is Reiji explain his views on women with allusions to Faust too, not the Ikemen version relax. there are some cool allusions to his mother in the lyrics too. The bass is so cool to listen out for and the guitar nodding to the chorus at the end is a nice way to end. I was just hoping for a little continuation to the opening like Reiji finding this person escaping on horseback.

13. CHAOS☆PARTY

Laito

~translation~

Aaaaaand another innuendo song from Laito, what a surprise! The jazzy, circus-pop vibes are super fun and catchy, I love it. It's like an upgraded version of Bloody Sabbath to me. The distortion on the guitar is also great to listen out for.

"Don’t decide where’s the critical point, grind as you feel it,

Till the moon oh, mockingly"

12. Mr.ButterflyMask

Reiji

~translation~

The opening may be cliche but it works so well, this is such a deep dive into Reiji's psyche; his mother, inferiority complex and village burning to name a few. The actual song is easy to remember which makes it even better here, the descending notes at the end of the chorus is a highlight.

"Burnt black, that awful land mark"

11. 真夜中の饗宴 (MIDNIGHT PLEASURE)

Shu, Ayato & Subaru

~translation~

The song to start it all, thank god it's such a highlight. I get so hyped from hearing the opening footsteps; mirroring the prologue with You stepping into the mansion for the first time. I feel so nostalgic for this and I'm hyped to play the game every time I hear this. The spoken section is the high point in terms of the HDB aesthetic but these lyrics maaaannn:

"With a scream that shatters the moon itself I’ll give you this extraordinary pain called “love”!"

10. Guilty×Guilty!!!

Shu, Ayato & Subaru

~translation~

I'm gonna get crucified for putting this above midnight pleasure but my list and this is my fave game op. The only peg down is the lyrics but it makes up so much for the actual sound variation. The unnerving energy from this scifi-y noise, it screams danger with the Tsunami arrival. The variation between the two verses in robs what places it high and the bridge is excellent to boot.

9. Farewell Song

Shu

~translation~

If I had to make one song recommendation outside of DL with this list it is this song here. The lyrics and melody match up the same way and both are strong in their own right. Onto the song, these lyrics really shine wrangling with ideas and the thought process of depression; something that hits close to home for me. With the inclusion of the destructive nature vampires its truely impactful. The sound of the song aids these lyrics too while all sounding like Shu.

Without pause, the drops of a drizzle had begun to weep...

...Comforting the screams of the things you’ve touched"

8. Mr.SADISTIC NIGHT

Shu, Ayato & Subaru

~translation~

This is my favourite opening of all the games and anime and it is the most on theme with the DL franchise, not just the one game. The guitar rifts at the start are just sooooo iconic. The actual line "Mr Sadistic Night" is delivered so well too. I mean the song speaks for itself. I will make the observation though that this song is the epitome of kids unknowingly singing a song with dirty lyrics.

"If I’m so aroused by the snare of your enticing blood

Tonight, as I thrust deep into you, a lust for death awakens from within you!"

7. 悪魔的（Devil's）Spire!!!!

Kou

~translation~

This song is just Kou at his best, I can imagine him singing this at a concert as a debut single. It has all the elements of a catchy pop song with some sinister elements that just reflects his personality. Production has my praise here too. The song seems to be a friends with benefits situation Kou has as he recounts the tale. Also, more innuendos:

"In the deep red velvet sheets, Do you want to taste my forbidden syrup?"

6. Operation X

Tsukinami Brothers

~translation~

Haven't seen these guys in a while! You can tell production had fun adding all these medical sounds in the back like the sirens and heart monitor. The song itself is super catchy too, that bass just hits you at the core! The lyrics look like the Tsukinami's observation of You as she has become entangled with all these vampires and the situation just seems to spiral even more out of control.

"The risk spreads further the deeper you get involved...

...The more you give up, the more that guy mocks you"

5. GRATEFUL★DEAD★MARCH

Kanato

~translation~

Production had fun again, you can tell. It's more upbeat there is still a sinister vibe here. The constant switch ups within the song all flow so well. I feel genuine despair listening to this chorus, like Kanato is mocking or toying with me before going in for the kill. My only complaint is that the slowing down at the end is a bit of a mood killer.

4. 切断★舞踏会 (KIRISAKI CARNIVAL)

Kanato

~translation~

In terms of character aesthetic, this is sheer perfection. There is a narrative within this song that you need to look at the lyrics for the best experience. The sound effects act as a good way to heighten the story as they match the lyrics. One moment to note it both the chorus and pre-chorus as they act as the extreme ends on Kanato's personality and it creates a great dichotomy when placed together.

3. Q.E.D.

laito

~translation~

My favourite solo song, and the one I constantly visit the most. Laito is a complex character and this song does a self reflection in the best way possible.I would also recommend reading this great analysis by everything laito because I can't do a proper analysis justice. For the song itself, the piano is a great mood setter as it acts as if we are approaching Laito as he plays the piano about to go into one of his many monologues to himself. The intercut from the piano to the guitar is abrupt but it works so well as if there are crack in his facade showing through. The change back to the piano is great too and isn't distracting in any way. I also think this is such an emotional performance, like I can feel the sadness and despair along with almost a self deprecating humour to the delivery. Top notch stuff

2. 罠-If You’re Diablo- (Wana -If You’re Diablo-)

Mukami Brothers

~translation~

I want mention first off that the spoken word from Ruki is such an aid here, the pace is slower, more haunting and despair-inducing in tone. The speaking adds a nice break to the vocals. The chorus in particular packs such a punch its kind of nice to lie on the ground and just let the song envelop you. The lyrics give the impression that there is a mutually destructive relationship here with the Mukami's mentioning of betrayal yet they suck the blood of this person. There is also a feeling of hopelessness that the Mukami's know they can never achieve their goal of becoming Adam.

"I'd been resigned to become Adam since who-knows-when...

I continue to hate this fate, my prayers in zero"

1. Gin no Bara

Sakamaki Brothers

~translation~

And we're finally at the end! This song encapsulates everything that Diabolik Lovers is. Vocally, it's really catchy with such a somber vibe, because that's what DL is. It's a dark series but you can see that darkness with each backstory, the actions these characters take and just the overall hopelessness in this one song. The Sakamaki's all singing together packs such a punch too. There are so many gems in these lyrics, to literally acknowledging the pain and suffering their mothers' caused and coming to terms with the actions they have committed as they fall in love.

"The proof remains on your neck while you sleep quietly Even if an eternal curse awaits me beyond those overflowing tears

I now hold this love and pain in my chest"

*SHOUTOUTS*

I want to give a huge shout out to the following people. They have helped immensely with translation and just overall accessibility to the songs because they would be 1000 times more harder to find without them.

Silvermoon249 (Live Journal)

Asyqin98 Creator (YouTube)

S I s o v o l i (Youtube)

DIABOLIK LOVERS (YouTube)

Dialovers otaka (Tumblr)

Starlight voices (Tumblr)

Cannonette (Tumblr) @canonette

The Precious Sugar Chan (Tumblr)

One final note, I would recommend listening to these with headphones because the audio sometimes does that thing where it jumps from ear to ear and it creates the best effect to be more involved in the atmosphere.

[bubmyg]

there was no particular reason i wrote all this down other than reading the translations to my universe made me cry last week because i’m just Like this. this is a mini compilation of yoongi lyrics that i hold gently in my palm and close to my heart in a he’s my artist for life kind of way. these aren’t all my favorite yoongi lyrics, i certainly have more but not ones that fit this general vibe. 

this is like extremely disorganized, i kind of just wrote it like a journal (and i’ll probably copy it to my bullet journal at some point actually). interpretations are my own, music is cool in that we can all read and hear the same thing and get different things out of it (which is why yoongi has often said he doesn’t attach specific meaning to things, giving it up to the listener instead)

so yeah. here’s me being fond of yoongi in 4k for no reason other than. idk. i wanted to. all translations are from doyoubangtan and doolsetbangtan. 

song request - lee sora ft suga

“I’ll be with you, for your birth and your end; That you’d remember that I’m with you, wherever you are; I’ll be a comfort for your life at any time, and so; please, that you’d lean on me and take a rest, every once in awhile.”

to me, this perfectly encapsulates what creating music is for yoongi in a two-fold kind of way. not only does he want his music to be a source of comfort for those who listen to it (just as the art of music is for himself), he’s also consistent in his assurance that taking a rest is okay. not being okay is okay. simply existing for the time being is okay. it’s a gentle empathy that comes from the experienced heart of someone who’s not going to tell you that it is okay, but will tell you that it won’t always be like this. friendly little moon trying to get you to smile with him on sleepless nights.

so far away - agust d ft suran

dream, will eventually be in full bloom at the end of hardships

this was on my undergrad graduation cap. it’s one of my favorite lyrics of all time. if so far away is my heart song, this is my heart lyric. this is a common motif in yoongi’s lyrics; dormancy is only temporary, you will bloom at the end of the cold winter.

dream, hope it to be there with you at your creation and at the end of your life

creation to end is another common motif n his lyrics. in this specific context, i imagine it to most closely be analogous to holding dreams close to you your entire life. dreams are dreams no matter how they manifest, even if they’re simply something you long for until your “end”.

Hope it to be there with you at your creation and at the end of your life; It will be generous to you wherever you stand; It will eventually be in full bloom at the end of hardships; The beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will the future be

the entirety of this song reads like a story and this last refrain reads like the conclusion (kind of). the slight wording change from the previous choruses means a lot in that regard, more definite and firm. you will be okay. maybe not now, maybe not next week. but you will be.

suga’s interlude - halsey ft suga

Though the dawn before sunrise is darkest; don’t forget the stars you longed for only rise in the darkness

just a really pretty but heart wrenching lyric in the context of the entire song. he’s also used this metaphor several times. i love me a good string of consistency with minor adaptations to fit the vibe. this song also made me cry the first time i read the translations lmao.

my universe - coldplay ft bts

Because the trial we face now is just for a moment anyway; All you have to do is to just keep shining bright like now; And we will follow you, embroidering this long night

this could mean so many things depending on how you wanted to contextualize it. of course the song is about love, so you could view it in that way. we’re in the midst of a global pandemic where we can’t see each other. or maybe it’s simply existence. continue to exist and one day your bright light will be followed even in the darkest of nights.

also the og title of telepathy being 잠시 (for a moment) is so...min yoongi you are so cool

people - agust d

Did someone say humans are the animals of wisdom?; The way I see it, humans are the animals of regret

Your ordinaries are my extraordinaries; Your extraordinaries are my ordinaries; Your ordinaries are my extraordinaries; Your extraordinaries are my ordinaries

super simple to understand which i think makes it more poignant. especially if you contextualize it with everything he’s said or written regarding the plight of fame and how he himself grapples with it as min yoongi.

28 - agust d ft niihwa

just this whole song. if song request encapsulates yoongi’s musical ethos, this captures a lot of his general musings.

paradise - bts

Just living like this, surviving like this, that’s my small dream; Dreaming dreams, grasping dreams, breathing breaths, it’s often too much

a more blunt take on the simply existing is a good enough dream. yoongi’s 2018 new years message was one of the things that made me go “yes. Him™” so paradise is very <3 for me

interlude: shadow - bts

Flying high scares me; I mean, nobody had told me; how lonely it is here –;how my leap could be my fall

another thing he uses frequently, even as recently as an interview regarding permission to dance. the contemplation of how a fall is far scarier than landing because getting back up is uncertain.

Yeah, I’m you and you’re me, do you finally get that now?; Yeah, you’re me and I’m you, do you finally get that now?

the entirety of this song is haunting particularly paired with the sampling and the music video as a visual but this part is just...the whole idea of competing internal voices throughout the narrative of the song or if you’d rather truly treat the lyrics like a piece of literature, you have quite the unreliable narrator, one that’s trying to grapple with his own sense of self.

140503 at dawn - agust d

Pretending that I’m not lonely, pretending that I’m not suffering; needlessly pretending that I’m okay, and pretending hard that I’m strong; I built a wall in front of me, “Don’t come inside”; I’m an island in this wide ocean, “Don’t abandon me”

the entirety of agust d just makes me ache but i mainly pulled this part because he uses the island metaphor consistently. here, it’s used like i said before; achingly.

this song also gets overlooked a lot in the larger context of agust d but anyway

eight - IU ft suga

Island, yeah this is an island; a small island that we made for each other; Yeah, mm, forever young, the word ‘forever’ is a sandcastle; A farewell is just like an emergency text warning of a disaster; A morning met together with yearning; As each of us pass this eternity, we’re sure to meet again on this island

can i be honest and say i forgot this song came out at the beginning of the pandemic. anyway, if you haven’t heard the various times that jieun has spoke about this song and it’s conveyance, i encourage you to. the music video also gives a beautiful visual.

i wrote a small analysis of this when it came out so i’ll just put it here 

burn it - agust d ft max

I hope you don’t forget that giving up decisively also counts as courage

of course this can absolutely be taken at a literal meaning especially considering he said a similar iteration of this to someone on kkul fm BUT i also like looking at it in context of the entire song because maybe this is him trying to convince himself too, especially considering the wording of the last chorus doesn’t change it so it implies in order to get past the fire u need to let it burn first? burn it = giving up on some aspect of pain?

i see why max didn’t shut up for eight months about making this song i wouldn’t either hello

outro: tear - bts

im including this one firstly because i love the song but secondly to say i knew the second u all were surprised by yoongi saying he wrote this as essentially a break up song for bts and they all cried while listening to it that y’all don’t actually read or interact w their lyrics fjdklafjsd

just bc it’s a rap song doesn’t mean it’s a diss or a flex. weirdos.

intro: never mind - bts

I hope you forget about all your mistakes and such; Never mind; It’s not easy, but engrave this in your heart; If you think you’re going to crash, accelerate more, you idiot; Never mind, never mind; Whatever thorny path it may be, go run; Never mind, never mind; There are a lot of things that you can’t control

the entire composition of nevermind is similar to first love and shadow to me where you can just hear the emotion in his voice while performing it

this is also another general idea that he mentions a few different times through different songs which as we’ve seen i am <3 for

intro: the most beautiful moment in life - bts

once again i don’t have a specific lyric to pull i just love this song so much and i feel like it isn’t talked about enough because first of all the use of the basketball throughout the instrumental, the incorporation of the origin of his stage name into an entire song regarding his general existence as a performer and coming into the beginnings of sizeable fame, and just his general way of essentially writing one giant ode to something he loves and analogizing it to something else he loves to talk through internal struggles.

aka im once again saying min yoongi you’re so cool

first love - bts

same line of awe from above this whole song is just a story, a poem, a journal entry, a beautiful confession, i don’t know. this is yoongi’s best bts solo u can argue with a wall about it also if you were able to see this live i hope u have a terrible week (im joking)

every fancam i’ve ever seen of this makes me cry. so. do with that what you will in regards to how i feel about this song.

[imhaunting]

so um what did maneskin sing about actually?

okay so i started to translate but realised it sounded too weird cause i'm not good at translating poetry or lyrics and a lot of turns of phrases make sense in italian/ are not over overused in italian, just don't work in english. Also the swear words translated directly make no sense unless i take a good while to properly rework things.

But baseline - it's a fuck you to present day italian society in all of its outdated values (misogyny, patriarchy, heteronormativity etc..).

It's kind of difficult to explain the song without the background as to what type of society it was created from. It might not be anything super new message wise to places like idk uk, usa, but the context of italy is crucial.

No surprises here, but italy is really far fucking behind with trying to fight and counteract these things, so the fact that a young band using alternative music (not a huge alt culture here) and presenting gender nonconforming (like what they wore is just a huge no no in my experience of the culture here) just adds to the fuck you they're going for and shows that maybe this new generation will start to try bring real change here.

Their gender non conforming look and lgbt on stage kiss comes at a crucial point in italian culture as we're trying to finally pass a law that would protect lgbt individuals from discrimination ( we don't even have marriage equality)

one if the examples -

Parla la gente purtroppo Parla, non sa di che cazzo parla Tu portami dove sto a galla Che qui mi manca l'aria

they talk, these people unfortunately

Talk without knowing what the fuck they're on about

Please take me some place i can stay afloat

there's no room to breathe here

the chorus says something along the lines of ' we might be insane but we're different to them' (ie. the mainstream old value society)

and by we it encourages the listeners to self identify

So basically the fact that these guys are hitting the mainstream is in of itself a change.

[cto10121]

Thoughts On Aimer (Multilanguage)

Back into another Aimer hyperfixation, so here’s some meta on the translations of various versions! Note that this comes from the perspective of a non-native speaker of most of these languages (except for Spanish) relying on English translations. I’m mostly basing my analysis on the lyrics, not so much the arrangement or singers. And so, in no particular order:

French: The simplest but purest expression, almost to the fault of triteness. That said...weirdly enough...it’s still the best version. I really can’t say the other versions do it better (except perhaps the Hungarian). I think it’s the juxtaposition between Romeo’s light/heaven/flying imagery vs. Juliette’s the time/life/fire/burning imagery that works so well—it even forms part of the imagery in the Shakespeare as well, even in the equivalent scene in the play. I’m so amazed Presgurvic had picked it up even in translation. The other versions do not quite understand this (even the Hungarian mixes it up) and when they do, it’s not as powerful. Otherwise, I’m stumped. Maybe it’s the power of the infinitive? French being a Romance language? The privilege of being first? The D&C dream team? That splendid Chorus backed with the power and might of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra? All of the above?

Hungarian: The best apart from the French, no question. Faithful in both translation and intensity, while resolving some of the repetition of the French. That new Chorus verse before the Juliette one is super nice, and R&J not singing it really works. That “Nincs szebb, égni e tűzben!” line especially hits so. damn. hard. The only thing that maybe makes it not surpass the French is that it’s a little too smooth and lacks a bit of emphatic punch that the French gives. YYMV. Also, show-wise, after the showstopper of La Haine in-show, it does feel more of an anti-climax. Still my most revisited version, and even the covers are a bop.

Spanish: The most faithful of all the translations—that Hector King had it so easy, I’m crying in envy. Probably too easy, though: A lot of it is grossly simplified and awkwardly kiddish. First of all, I would have translated it as “Amar” instead of “Te Amo,” frankly, since the latter is much more awkward to sing; we don’t do that nifty Italian trick of using contractions so “T’Amo” is out. Also “Amar” is much more impressive in the infinitive. “Y soy como un ave en vuelo” (And I am like a bird in flight) is probably nicer than the French equivalent, (And touching the wings and birds) but Juliet’s “Et brûler au cœur d’un volcan” (And burning in the heart of a volcano) is turned into “Y quema en mí este fuego” (And this fire in me burns), which is just lamer. Their shared verse is inferior to the French. I would have been much more adventurous; at least the Italian had “E brucia nel desiderio”—“y quemar en su/mi deseo” would have worked. King obviously wanted more of an intimate address, but the infinitive works just as well in Spanish as in French, right??? It’s only in English that the direct “you” has more power. And “Aimer,” despite being a love song, is just not an intimate one. It’s emphatic, triumph, occasionally sweet and longing…but not intimate. But at least it’s coherent and they kept the “paying the price” part!!!! They’re the only version that manages this and I am so grateful. I always do like my foreshadowing.

German: The Austrians are always professional, though Michaela Ronzoni’s translation is uneven in the Austrian (her Les Rois is especially lame). I do like her Liebe, though. They use the united/binded motifs to especially good effect at the end especially, which is always strong in Germanic languages. It’s only too bad they had that slowed-down concert-hand-wavy arrangement—no doubt they were inspired by that Production That Must Not Be Named.

Dutch: Always awkward with the zijns, which the German managed to avoid, but there is at least some good lines, namely “Liefde—haar kraft zu leven.” I’ve always liked the sound of Dutch, those nasals are attractive, but overall it’s definitely one of the weakest of the official versions.

Russian: It’s hard to judge this because they went in a way different direction, pretty much writing original lyrics more in the lines of a wedding vow song. In general I prefer this direction over others the Italian one, but it could have been much better done. There is intensity in the “Give us, in the name of all lovers” and “Time, prolong this moment!” lines, (hardcore) but the beauty, passion, fire of their love...it’s all gone. :/ Can’t say I prefer it. Exchange vows as you like, but where is the love??? One amateur Russian production had lyrics closer to the French; no idea if they were better, but the Russians seemed to approve if the comments are anything to go by. It at least sounded less strange.

Japanese: Again, this is part of the Russian-Japanese-Romanian trio that make it more of a wedding vow song. The first half is very weak, a too-simple paraphrase of religious wedding vows, but it does get better and the last two choruses do deliver the intensity needed and they fit with the soaring melody. So it does redeem itself somewhat, but it’s still the weakest sung. But I do have a soft spot for the Toho, and Japanese does have a kind of pure sound that is apropos for the song and lyrics.

Romanian: Pleasant surprise with this one, introducing a pinch of Hungarian into the mix (with the hearts and the flying) but otherwise going its own way. More eternity motifs, and a nice imagery about two dewdrops always united (dos pequeños rocíos...your Latin is showing, Romanian). It’s not as developed as the Hungarian, though; Romanian’s Latin may have impeded it from following the Hungarian too closely, or perhaps they wanted a purer imagery on the song. They may have done better just by going with the French.

Italian: Not the worst, but by far the biggest disappointment. “Love and change the world” is especially lame; it sounds like a self-help slogan. Love and change and the world! Light up the darkness! Shout out your presence! Learn how to be your best you for only $29.99! I feel like ReG are trying to sell me something. They could have been much more faithful to the French imagery, frankly, which is much more impressive. At least “Ama” is a good starting note. “T’Amo” could have been another option. I remember there was an amateur Italian version on YT that began with “Cosa ti fa sognare?” Still remember it after these years, so maybe they were on to something. (Ed: Found it! YMMV, but it doesn’t sound too bad. Much smoother than the Incenzo and less dry, but it does lacks punch). Overall, it feels much more shallow than most versions, which have at least some gravitas.

Korean: Never mind, this may be the most faithful translation yet, as far as I can tell. Incredible for an Asian language. I like how the Chorus obscures the subject until the last line—gives it more punch that way. Def one of the nicer versions.

English: Hi, we interrupt Romeo and Juliet to bring you National Geographic: The Musical! The worst, hands down. Nature metaphors /= love. Don Black actually has a good track record with translating otherwise tricky French songs (re: Legrand’s Les parapluies de Cherbourg as “I Will Wait For You”), but he was obviously too out of it or just too old to do a decent job with Aimer. This is a song that really does not tolerate much deviation from the original meaning or even the original arrangement. I would have assumed he would have at least glanced at the Shakespeare or did an indirect translation with the same theme. Not...whatever the hell this is. The best that can be said for this is the meme-level quotability; once you hear British Romeo shout-sing THESE ARE MY MOUNTAINS!! you can never go back again.

[sailor-freak]

Girls in the Park (GWSN): THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOON - Album Review

(image source)

Alright then, let's get into this... IT'S A LOT.

(I've actually had to put triggers in the tags... I only mention them by name and don't go in depth but yeah I'll play it safe)

Burn - A VERY SOLID START this was a unit song between Miya, Seoryoung, Anne and Lena (they chose Miya and Seoryoung my 2 biases hhh), but was the shortest song so it works really well as a start to this album. It was kinda slow, intense, had an almost haunting sound? Definitely some sparky fiery vibes in the sound, and the use of autotune and vocal effects getting into it REALLY lifted it up. It was a sudden end after the second chorus, but it serves as an intro song to this album so I think it works. Again, very solid start.

I Can't Breathe - I'll start of by saying, with the teasers and concept a lot of us were expecting this album to be a little dark... WE DID NOT EXPECT THIS DARK. I'll get into the lyrics soon, but musically this again has a haunting sound and is now paired with lower toned vocals and even more intense backing vocals, and the way they have sudden silence and words like "wake" and "daytime" AND THE FUCKING BREATH AT THE END OF THE CHORUS ohhhh it hits. And the actual lyrics, looking at a piss poor google translation of the Korean parts they seem to be singing about a loss of self identity and made even self worth? And then the English lyrics, "sacrificial lamb", "death by drowning"?? KBS DIDN'T BAN THIS I'M NOT MAD I JUST WANNA KNOW WHY 😂. I think this is my favourite song on the album, there's another that comes close second and that one's also unbelievably dark 😂.

Like It Hot - THE TITLE TRACK I haven't done a post on the MV but I did give thoughts on Twitter when it came out, this song I guess is the one for the non-GWSN stans? It's not generic, at least not in my opinion, I think it does something with a bad style and makes it good. It starts with that kind of slower vibey sound, it builds slightly but stays pretty consistent, until the chorus hits and it is QUITE A CHANGE, it becomes more up tempo, the vibey sounds leave and it's more of a funky bass guitar sound, however unlike a lot of songs that use this trend the two sounds still fit together? They're different but they're both funky and dancey, the sounds will stick in your head. Considering they're nearly at 3 years without a huge fandom, a song like this could be really good for them, using modern trends but not completely changing and losing themselves to try and be popular. Also Miya singing in the bridge my heart 😭.

e i e i o - Okay this is another one with a lot to unload... uhh so this is a song about torture? Just as a song, it's fucking TERRIFYING if you think about it, they're using this twisted blend of children's songs and death threats, Lena legit sings head shoulders knees and toes it's REALLY twisted. Lyrically there's mentions of nightmares, chasing, and there's musical elements of childish melodies and dark intense electronic sounds. At the beginning and end there's literally an "e i e i o" chime sound like the nursery rhyme, it's used in a playful way which paired with the lyrics is truly CHILLING dark GWSN is here and we should all be scared, full on this song was banned by KBS FOR REAL.

Starry Night - I think this is more of a sad song than a dark song, it's not super slow and super somber but lyrically it's more about loneliness in general rather than the dark breeding of I Can't Breathe. Musically it's just kinda nice? It stands out to me more cos it really reminds me of Actually this is a secret by ZN of LABOUM, and while the vocals are really nice if it wasn't for the fact it sounds a lot like that song (they had the same producer it's okay I can say it lol) it wouldn't be as memorable to me. It's great, I LOVE it, but in an album that has sacrificial lambs and e i e i fucking o it's not gonna hold up as high to me unfortunately.

I Sing (lalala) - Honestly this song is kind of what I expected it to be, a mid tempo slightly jazzy song, it's a common type of song at least in the groups I stan (SNSD Love Is Bitter, Nine Muses Hate Me, Dreamcatcher Jazz Bar), so I guess along with Starry Night it doesn't stand out as much to me, but it's still such a sweet song 😂. I have to talk about Miya tho, first of all SHE SINGS AND IT'S GORGEOUS, and then ofc you get her rap WHICH HAS A LINE IN JAPANESE I'm so happy for her 😭. This song was also banned by KBS for the Japanese line (which ffs e i e i o I understood that shit is dark but a line in Japanese warranting the whole song being banned not okay) which is a shame cos I think this would have been a nicely promoted song with Like It Hot, but oh well.

Okay, overall thoughts, GOOD SWEET LORD THIS WAS DARK. I would say dark for GWSN, but... they sang about drowning and torture legit I don't even think Dreamcatcher could ever and they're VERY dark 😂. So this is an interesting album, I am liking this darker direction and if they continued with songs like this in the future I would be rather content 😂. But GWSN could release anything and I'd love it all their songs are so good 😭. Favourites, I Can't Breathe and e i e i o, least favourites Starry Night and maaaaaaybe Burn, but they're all such good songs 😭. Music show promotions start tomorrow and I am absolutely not prepared I'm gonna be getting up 8am every day for as long as these promotions go on 😂. Doesn't sound bad, recently my wake up time has ranged from half 9 to half 11 😂.

[ramudamemura]

ranking fling posses songs even tho nobody asked

i havent looked at translations for the lyrics so this based off of only the melody also I hope I don’t offend anyone for not liking certain songs as much I’m really really really sorry if i do

Umm I’m doing them in alphabetical order btw

3$EVEN—

ok so I really like this song it’s super super catchy but. But 😭 it has like those cash register sounds in the background and I mean it doesn’t ruin the song or anything but like it sounds like they’re trying to hard JDJDJDJJS I would not listen to this song in front of friends just because of the sound effects BUT like I said it’s really catchy so it kinda makes up for it!! My favorite part is when there’s the instrumental part that leads into a key change!! I rate this an 8.5/10

BATTLE BATTLE BATTLE—

i like this one a lot too! One thing that’s kinda cool is how they go back and forth on the chorus like matenrou is first I think and then fling posse and the way they’re going back and forth almost makes it seem like they’re really fighting yknow!!! Ummm also it has like Moments where like idk they’re memorable like when doppo screams or Gentaro does the whispery thing and I like that!! This ones also 8.5/10

Black Journey—

dont get me wrong I do like this one but it’s probably in my bottom three 😭 I don’t actually dislike it THAT much it’s just that I really like all the other songs ig? There’s really only one song I dislike but we’ll talk about that later anyways this song is pretty nice I’m not good at recognizing voices but whoever is singing in the very very beginning (Gentaro???) did a very good job I’m gonna give this a 6.5/10

Calyx—

a lot of what I’m gonna say here goes for both of gentaros songs but they both sound almost unfinished? That’s not really what I mean idk how to describe it they both sound like they’re missing something?? theyre both extremely catchy and really well written which kinda makes up for it but it’s still kinda noticeable yknow? BUT im not saying this song isn’t good like it’s really good but it COULD be better I think but um for some reason the chorus makes me nostalgic?? I have no idea what for but yeah. Hmm 8/10

Drops—

Im insane for liking this song so much it’s so obnoxiously upbeat and I swear I should hate it but I DONT because like yeah it’s obnoxious but it’s catchy and I can never be sad or angry while listening to it cuz it cheers me up. im embarrassed to like this song as much as I do 😭 but like. IDK it’s got a really good tune and it gets stuck in your head and it’s super cute umm I’m giving this one a 9/10

JACKPOT!—

I feel like everyone really really likes this song but idk I don’t think it’s that great again I don’t DISLIKE it but I’d say it’s my second least favorite fling posse song? Umm what’s something good I can say about it well it has a nice beat I do like the beat a lot idk I’m just gonna give it a 5/10

pink colored love—

okkkk I’m trying not to be mean but like I HATE this song so much 😭 I’m trying to think of something nice to say about it but I genuinely cannot think of a single part I like im giving it a 1/10 because I feel bad giving it a 0

reason to FIGHT—

love this one!!! It’s very like energetic and pretty fast paced and I really like the chorus which duh is important cuz it gets repeated a lot umm my favorite part is when they like announce the group names??? I don’t speak Japanese but ik they say mad trigger crew and fling posse and Id try to find the lyrics but again I can’t understand Japanese and ik they say the group names several times and I don’t want to put the wrong part 😭 but yeah I like that umm idk it’s just a really good song 10/10

scenario liar—

just like with Gentaro’s other song this one sounds a bit unfinished and I don’t like it quite as much as his other one but it’s still really really catchy his voice sounds very smooth and nice here!!! Also it has this one like piano bit in the background that I like :)) I really like the chorus but the reason why I like this one less than the other is because the rest (outside of the chorus) is a tiny bit boring but still I’ll give it 7.5/10

SCRAMBLE GAMBLE—

im also embarrassed to like this one as much as I do but this might be one of my favorites 😭 no idea why but I really like it my favorite part is the right to left left to right part there’s more lyrics than that but that’s all i can remember AND it doesn’t have cash register noises so it’s a step up from dices other song I really really like it 10/10

SHIBUYA GHOST NIGHT—

Maybe it’s just me but I feel like this one doesn’t seem to be as popular but for whatever reason I’m like obsessed with it 😭 I really like Halloween and in theory this could be considered kind of a Halloween song??? Not really but like ghosts and stuff idk and it always gets stuck in my head I really like it 9.5/10

SHIBUYA MARBLE TEXTURE—

this ones cute the beginning sounds like .idk how to describe it like bouncy??? It’s very bouncy???? I like how they say the name of who’s rapping before they start that’s nice and I like the kind of call and response part thats a little towards the end idk I don’t have much to say 8/10

SHIBUYA MARBLE TEXTURE remix—

I like the original a tiny bit better than the remix but this ones nice too! It doesn’t have as much of the like bounciness but it still sounds good. The background part when each person like individually raps makes me really nostalgic for some reason? My only complaint is I don’t really like the siren noises they always take me by surprise even tho I know they’re coming 8/10

stella—

this is the only one I’ve looked at lyric translations for and the song itself AND the lyrics are both really nice. I love the piano part a lot it’s really nice and there’s this really specific line in dices part that I really like when it has the like descending violin thing which gets me EVERY TIME 😭 also towards the end I think it’s the last time they sing the chorus there’s like a drum roll added in (sounds like snare????) and I’m obsessed with it and also again towards the end they add like more background instruments to like flesh out the sound (?) and I really like that 10/10

[thepsykoshipper]

Psyko’s Top 10 Kpop Songs Sung in a Different Language and Released in 2020

This list is based on what I listened to the most. I’m including songs sung by a Kpop group or if they were performed at a korean stage.

10. Losing You by WONHO

This song was the first song released by ex-Monsta X member Wonho following his scandal in October of 2019. Fans has speculated that he was learning english to prepare for his solo debut, but no one expected his first song released to be an English ballad. Not gonna lie, some tears were shed.

9. Put it on Ya by Jessi feat. BM, nafla

This was my favorite song off of the album that skyrocketed Jessi to the success she has deserved. Because Jessi and BM are able to rap in their native languages, there’s just a little bit more swag to it which it why I think I enjoyed it so much.

8. 100 Ways by Jackson Wang

Jackson never disappoints when it comes to the beat of his songs. They’re bouncy and easy to dance to, which is probably why I listened to this so often. Plus the fudal warlord aesthetic was super attractive in the music video.

7. Happy Without Me by Monsta X

It’s not secret that I am of fan of Jooheon as a vocalist, and I think this was one of the best songs off of their English album “All About Luv” that demonstrated his singing ability. When Jooheon just gets to riff, it automatically makes the song better.

6. Pretty Please by Jackson Wang

The only reason I put this song above “100 Ways” is because it is physically impossible not to dance during the chorus.

5. You Can’t Hold My Heart by Monsta X

This song is able to more fully put on display the vocals of each member in Monsta X, which is why I enjoyed it so much. Kihyun and Jooheon also kill the pre-chorus.

4. Dream of You by ChungHa feat. REHAB

ChungHa is another one of those artists who seems to fly under the radar for me, but whenever I listen to her songs, I adore them. This song has some sort of sexy dancability that makes it fun to perform in the shower.

3. Levanter (English Ver.) by Stray Kids

I know a rule for me in the past with these lists had to be that they were original songs and not just translations but this song changed my mind on that. This song is just beautiful, and for me, actually being able to understand the lyrics just really hit home for me. Incredible vocals, incredible lyrics, stray kids are winning.

2. I Can’t Stop Me (English Ver.) by TWICE

This is Twice’s first English release of an already released original song, and it is fantastic. The lyrics are deep and don’t just sound like they were put through google translate. Plus I love singing to it.

1. Dynamite by BTS

I really put off listening to this song for a while because I tend not to listen to songs that have a lot of hype surrounding them. But when I did get around to listening to this song, I understood why everyone was raving about it. It’s one of BTS’s best songs. It’s fun and encompasses all the reasons why ARMYs love BTS. The dance isn’t too difficult to learn, but it so fun to perform. I was blown away.

[juminhandfs]

Hantober Day 10

Choir Practice: Favorite song that reminds you of Jumin.

I made a playlist actually 👀

I went overboard and tried to include songs fitting of every significant moment of his life in chronological order, including the bad endings and even when he crashed Seven's car... ending with the Good Ending.

If you are going to listen to this I have to warn you, it has 2 songs that touch on the bad ending 2 and can be triggering for some people: Lullaby from The Cure which is more metaphorical and Prison Sex by Tool whose lyrics are very graphic. Listen at your own risk and take care.

But here I want to talk about the first song on the playlist that sorts of encapsulates Jumin's life and what meeting MC means to him.

The song I'm talking about is Lateralus, also from Tool, which has the particularity of relying heavily on the Fibonacci sequence both in the metric of the syllables and in the meaning of the song. This is a song about grow.

If you have never heard about the Fibonacci sequence, also known as The Golden Ratio, I recommend to you to watch all these videos on YouTube talking about it because is something super interesting!

Basically The Fibonacci sequence is the mathematic that you can find in the nature, which goes like this:

0+1 =

1+1= 2

2+1= 3

3+2= 5

5+3= 8

8+5= 13 and so on...

Theses numbers when put on a graphic look like this: a spiral

A grad student made a video about the Fibonacci in Lateralus for a project and there it's infinitely better explained of what can I do here, but sadly the video was taken down, what I could find is this same video from someone who reposted it.

I want to encourage you to watch it so you can understand better how the lyrics match with Jumin's life:

Black/ 0+ 1 =

then /+1 =

white are/ 2 + 1 =

all I see/ 3 +  2 =

in my infancy/ 5 + 3 = 8

This is like a perfect description of Jumin's life growing up and raised like a businessman, with no place to emotions and creativity

Red and yellow then came to be/ 8 - 3=

reaching out to me/ 5  - 2 =

Lets me see/ 3

Red and yellow could stand for V and Rika. They showed him another way for things to be: these are the colors more vibrant in the rainbow. Trough them Jumin got to experience friendship and love. And they "came came to him, reaching out to him" he didn't went looking out for them.

As below, so above and beyond, I imagine/ 13 - 5 =

Drawn beyond the lines of reason/ 8 - 3=

Push the envelope/ 5 -2 = 

Watch it bend 3

Below, above, beyond: the lyrics are describing the dimensions of a box, that's the envelope to push made by "the lines of reason". Also note how the number of syllables were in crescendo, but now they are descending, why? What is stopping the spiral from growing? What is stopping Jumin? The answer is in the following chorus: 

Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind

Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must

Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines

Then we have the repetition of the same verses and the chorus + the following verses

There is (2)

so (1)

much (1)

more and (2)

beckons me (3)

to look through to these (5)

infinite possibilities (8)

The next verse marks the moment the song changes, it stops counting syllables and with it both the song and the lyrics go in an endless crescendo...

Feed my will to feel this moment 

Urging me to cross the line

Reaching out to embrace the random

Reaching out to embrace whatever may come

A thing I haven't noticed, but I do now as I'm writing this is that the voice and the style of the singing also changes here. Up to this point was kinda robotic but here is really soft, in awe, you can feel the sincerity of the singer in his voice. If I had to parallel this moment in the song to one in Jumin's route it definitely would be when he tells you about his threads at 2 am. It's my favourite moment in the whole song, as I imagine Jumin saying those words:

I embrace my desire to

I embrace my desire to

Feel the rhythm, to feel connected

Enough to step aside and weep like a widow

To feel inspired

To fathom the power

To witness the beauty

To bathe in the fountain

To swing on the spiral

Swing on the spiral

Of our divinity 

And still be a human

With my feet upon the ground I lose myself

Between the sounds and open wide to suck it in

(He complained about the noise, remember the standing alone in an empty field? The noise is no longer noise, is "sounds" , "words have a meaning once they reach you"

I feel it move across my skin

(He didn't liked to be touched)

I'm reaching up and reaching out

(He is out of the box, or the cage?)

I'm reaching for the random or what ever will bewilder me

What ever will bewilder me

And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been

We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been

Spiral out, keep going

Translation of all of this? Why I put it at the beginning of the playlist?

Well...

Because of the heavy trauma he received in his early years, Jumin had to rely on rationality and logic to conduct his life (V called him "scientist" and Rika said she wanted for him to find the perfect balance between emotions and logic). Thus ignoring emotions but also his inner intuition, his gut feeling. (Update after the dlc: Now we know the big part his mother also played in this)

Because Jumin's trauma is in direct relation to his body, Jumin tried to distance as far as he could from it and treating it as a machine ("separating the body from the mind"). He mentions how loose clothes make him uncomfortable "because he needs a constant restraint all the time" (if corsets for men were an item you can bet Jumin would wear one)   which leads to his body speaking to him in the way of symptoms: this symptoms are the headaches, the numbness he says he feels in the dlc, the feeling of drowning, etc...

Basically, his body (wether by his emotions, gut feelings or directly through his headaches and mild-amnesia) is desperately trying to talk to him and Jumin is doing everything he can to not listen to it, because he isn't ready for it yet, because these are years and years of unspoken trauma trying to hit him  at once (this is why therapy is important! Guys!) .

So Jumin rationalizes things: he must be having headaches because he ate something bad, or the temperature in the room is below 2 grades, and V must be distant because he is still grieving, not because he is hiding something, not for what Yoosung is telling everyone. And Yoosung is also grieving, so that's why he's acting like this.

And Rika was V's fiance, so he couldn't have feelings for her

All of this changes when he meets MC: first she doesn't treat him as a robot like everybody else, but as person with feelings and with a right to feel and express those feelings, and second and (maybe) more importantly: she doesn't allow him to project his own emotions onto her (as he did with Elizabeth) thus Jumin doesn't have any other option that confront his own emotions, to recognize those feelings as his own… and this scares him to death, but he has to do it if he wants to be with her.

And this, that this battle is for her and for a future with her, is what gives him strength.

Now, onto the song again, Jumin has to listen to his body to do this, he has to decipher what is trying to tell him "Why im feeling like this?" "Why I acted this way". There's another song, also from Tool ("Forty Six & 2") that goes deeper in this process Jumin has to do "I want to know what I've been hiding in my shadow (...) Listen to my muscle memory"

It can't be only raw emotion because that's the bad ending 2 (or he stealing Seven's car), both mind and body had to work together (or to say it in the words of the song, the body can't be keep separated from the mind) for the well being of the person. And if it's in the natural design of things to tend to expansion and growth, why we'll be different? This is to live riding the spiral: self awareness.

"Swing on the spiral

Of our divinity 

And still be a human"

And the best part of all of these? Once this big rock is out the way? 

Now he can allow himself to feel everything! Both the good and the bad, his love for MC, his friendship for the RFA, and by him now being better, he can also be a better, more honest friend to those he loves. And by being more honest, he can now help them to get on their feet again just as MC helped him, and accept help from them . Without fear.

"We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been"

And that's why I love this song and Jumin Han.

.

.

.

.

Note: So this didn't came out as I wanted :/ (that's why I couldn't post it like 1 month ago), but that's kinda of the point of the song I guess? 😅 Certain things can not be explained, only experienced and when you try to dissect them (overanalyzing) they lost something very important in the process. Even the same phenomenon doesn't guarantee the same experience for different individuals... But that's the good thing in the end 😅

How boring life would be if we all experienced the world in the same way...

[meatyliver]

Ok, since i got up today and whenever i had time in classes i was listening to the scaled and icy lyric videos. here is my opinion on them!

disclaimer- i am in no ways a professional musician, or a super-in depth reviewer. i am doing this for fun, and to share my opinion with others. i am not trying to criticize the band twenty øne piløts nor am i trying to dismiss anyone else’s opinion.

track 1- good day

one of my favorites from this album, it sounds like the beginning of a musical? kind of. it sounds really happy, but some of the lyrics are kind of dark- and i live for that verbal irony shit in music. my favorite verse is “lost my job my wife and child, homie just sued me.” as far as this song goes it’s a lot more ‘pop’ than what i am used to with the regular tøp music style, but in my humble opinion it sounds awesome and i like that tøp is experimenting with different styles of music.

track 2- choker

good beat at the beginning, i really like the music video. i don’t have as much to say about this one because i’ve already listened to it a lot. i like the rap for this one- “like a little splinter buried in your skin, someone else can carve it out but when you’ve got the pin, it hurts a little less and you can even push it further in, when you body’s screaming out trust you mind’s listening.”

track 3- shy away

this one i also listened to a lot. it’s got really good vocals music wise, and it’s got cool guitar!! i don’t have a favorite lyric for this.

track 4- the outside

funky beat, i like the chorus because the guitar sounds cool in it. my favorite lyric is “kids will try to take my vibes” the rap is also a bop about sharks, summer, and vibing.

track 5- Saturday

unfortunately this is my least favorite track because it sounds like it will be very over played. i still like it though. i like the lyric “catch me floating circles in my fish bowl”. i also think “might get loud on friday” is a nod to the livestream on 5-21-21. i also like that it is a little ocean themed, or like a reoccurring motif. the phone call with tyler and jenna as a bridge (i think) is a nice touch.

track 6- never take it

i like this one because it tells a clearer story that i don’t have to dig deep and analyze to understand. this song also reminds me a lot of the song “here comes the end” by gerard way. my favorite lyric is “why cure disease of confusion when your the treatment facility?” and “the summer i watched the tube i saw enough, taught myself to play guitar tearing it up and my advice on those too things that i picked up you better educate yourself but never too much.” all in all this song has good vibes. and an epic guitar solo!

track 7- Mulberry street

one of my favorites. i like the piano tune at the beginning. it just makes me happy and has a nice sound. the bridge sounds sadder than the rest of it but i think it links the song to other tøp songs that sound sad aswell. my favorite lyric is “i might be cynical towards you, i’m just worried that my loyalty will bore you.”

track 8- formidable

this song is about josh? i think i don’t know all the details of the lore. it’s a nice song and i think it links josh to how he acted in the choker music video.

track 9- bounce man

this has such a fun tune!!! i think it’s about josh running away. my favorite lyric is “i don’t know if you’ve got your phone, cause this went straight to voicemail.” people are seeing josh on the news and it might have some correlation to the choker music video. it has lyrics about playing one last song, and josh is in the band with tyler. this song is really good but very sad. it sounds a little nostalgic.

track 10- no chances

awesome bass. awesome rap. awesome synth. i saw someone comment on the video that it sounds like a translation between the album trench and scaled and icy. i like the metaphors and it just sounds great. it could be about the banditos trying to rescue someone? i like that is another song that tells a somewhat clear story. i don’t have a favorite lyric for this one but i like their rap songs because it’s like poetry but also sounds good and has meaning behind it. i think the chanting “we come for you no chances” might be the bishops.

track 11- redecorate

the final track, it sounds similar to neon gravestones at the beginning. the first lyric is “taking inventory of my his life” i saw a theory that this points to tyler being controlled. i like the chorus, it sounds nice. my favorite verse is “blankets over mirrors she tends to like it. she’s not afraid of her reflection but of what she might see behind it. she had plans to change her name, yeah. just not the traditional way, yeah. haunted by a couple big mistakes, she covers all the dents with the way she decorates then one night she got cold with no blankets on her bed, so she ripped them off the mirror .. etc” there’s a ton of crossed out words in the lyric video which could hint to more things.

overall this album is great. there is a lot of lore and stuff that i don’t know to much about so take my theory’s and opinions with a grain of salt. this was for fun and i had a good time doing this. idk if you can comment in tumblr but if you have any more theory’s feel free to share them with me.

if you do not accept my opinion on things please do not interact with this post :-)

feel free to clarify things or make a post about your thoughts of the songs.

have a wonderful day everyone and if you read this all the way through ily💕

[euphoricsunflowers]

heyy it's me again

so I loved your analysis on the Korean version of lose and the English version and you said you love musical analyses (correct me if I'm wrong)?

so would you like to analyse devil and yk tell me your thoughts (only if you want of course) cuz I'd love to read it ❤️

~ wonho in a skirt anon

fucking absolutely my guy i l o v e analyzing songs and comparing them like u g h i am a music nerd for a reason!!! and i finished my stuff for one of my classes super early so!!! let’s do this now!!

here’s the english translation of the lyrics!! i know english translations aren’t always reliable but ya know we gotta work with what we got!!

i’ll do this analysis like the lose english v. korean version one!!! so it’ll start out with analyzing the lyrics and then move to the musical components!! also a reminder that wonho didn’t actually write devil so uhh yeah!! keep that in mind!! let’s begin!

so! idk if you’ve taken a look at the lyrics yet but uhm... they do indeed make my soft dom heart skip a beat ajshdshdf like musically this is my favorite wonho song by like a little but like lyrically this is definitely my favorite wonho song 👉👈 like by a lot :,)

because there’s no comparison like there was in the other analysis, i’ll just go section by section of the song!!

bro ngl ‘the voice that rings in my ear like a spell, blinds my eyes’ made me think of him being blindfolded ajshdhs sorry. anyway i really like how the stong starts lyrically. his voice is incredibly soft throughout the whole song, but especially during this first verse and it really adds to the melancholic vibe. the beginning immediately sets the defeated tone this song has, so peaceful yet sad.

i really really like this part. it’s a good intermediary part in between the softness of the first verse and the rush of the first chorus. i dont 100% get what the lyrics themselves mean but it might be like he’s in a dream where he’s lying to himself that you (or the object of the song) that you don’t have control over him. idk i get that vibe from that last line in the verse “the truth disperses”. there are a lot of different ideas played with in this song (good vs evil, control vs freedom), but the idea of truth vs lie comes up somewhat frequently.

i L O V E this chorus, oh my g o d. when i say the lyrics have this submissiveness to them, i’m not even talking from like only a sexual perspective (even tho uhhh ‘turn me on, i’m soaked in breathtaking ecstasy’ 👀👀) . they’re very resigned lyrics (this song reminds me a lot of the english version of lose!! they’re both incredibly soft and sad and have this toothless hostility to them!!) i’m also not exactly sure what the storyline of this song would be, maybe like this person left him and he’s still so attached and wrapped around their finger?

(uhm so i just hope you know because english translation lyrics are so unreliable, i was watching a lyric video of this song and that third line was translated as ‘i can’t resist your absolute dominance’ and i just- i think i stopped functioning for the day lmao-)

i love this verse so so much, more than the first one. there’s a silence right in between that first chorus and this verse and it’s bEAUTIFUL MY GUY.

‘lie after lie, you’re killing my soul’ is such a somber lyric. it’s not exactly angry or accusatory, but it makes the song seem just desperate. whether it’s like a desperate to surrender to this person or desperate for the pain of love to stop is made intentionally unclear. this is demonstrated by the lyrics not exactly contradicting each other but having different meanings i.e. ‘you’re killing my soul’ vs ‘i offer my everything, even give my breath away’.

in short, i just love how multifaceted this song is. like it mentioned earlier, it’s submissive in a sexual context but also in an emotional context and i just love it!!!

the bridge is really interesting to me. like the whole song is incredibly beautiful lyrically but this section has so much depth to it.

‘i’m trapped in a prison i can’t escape from nor go back to, this curse must live on’ hits kind of hard. he’s trapped and can’t escape, but he also can’t go back to. i have a slight idea of what that might be referring to but idk i don’t think it’s right. like m a y b e it’s like even if he does escape, he can’t go back to it, and even though you cause so much pain, he still wants the ‘ecstasy’ that comes with it.

‘i now punish myself with you and jump inside hell’ sounds incredibly toxic?? like obviously if we set aside the idea of punishment in a sexual manner, this seems to refer to the pain this person is indirectly causing him. it’s indirect because they’re not punishing him, he’s punishing himself with them as the weapon.

also uhm the genius lyrics don’t change for the final chorus but obviously he’s singing different lyrics so i tried to find a replacement!! it’s from a lyric video so i just wrote them down!! (also also the genuis lyrics never mentioned the ‘ex is a devil’ part but i’ll get into that in the other section of this analysis!!)

anyway there’s not much to talk about here besides the fact these lyrics make me incredibly horny lmao i can’t wait for his concert i really want him to sing devil live!!!! so so excited!!!

now on the the ‘ex is a devil’ bit!! honestly there’s not much to say about the lyric itself but i genuinely didn’t think it was in english at first until i read the lyrics lmao i just love the part with the distorted voice!!! (also here is where we’ll transition into the musicality of the song) the whole song has a peaceful and somber atmosphere, even with the emotional rush that seems to come with the chorus, and then this part completely changes the vibe. like okay from the album preview i wasn’t a big fan of devil for the pure fact that the chorus seemed really bright from what we heart but the song is anything but bright!!!

i also really like the instrumental of this song (i couldn’t find an instrumental on youtube so there’s no way to listen to it without his vocals :,( but we’ll make do)!! the very ethereal sounding effects mixed in with the repetition of the kick and then how the distorted ‘ex is a devil’ part is completely different with the percussion oh my god i love it!!

it’s actually a bit harder to go over the instrumentals because there are a lot of pretty sounds that aren’t instruments that i can pick out easily lol but i can tell you that i really like the overall feeling that comes with the chorus. because the prechorus is so light and different from the verses, it adds to the huge ‘rush’ as i keep calling it that comes with the chorus. the percussion and the bass parts keep the pace of the song but the brightness of the beautiful sounds in the chorus (my soul is telling me that’s some kind of pitched percussion instruments or m a y b e a piano or keyboard with a specific sound effect but god i just don’t know) is just so pretty!!

it is so hard to tell because his voice is in the way but i think there’s some orchestral parts in at least the verses??? but probably all throughout??

and not to ignore his vocals??? i think one really interesting thing is the fact that wonho doesn’t sing like intensely or loudly in this song. maybe it’s because i’m used to kihyun popping the fuck off bit wonho in general has a rather softer voice and i actually really thing that helped the atmosphere of the song. i think some of the lower notes could have been more emphasized especially in the second verse and the prechorus because he has such a beautiful low voice but!! the softness in his voice helped the song keep that very resigned and somber vibe to it.

also in the last chorus, i’m not sure if it’s easy to consciously catch but there’s another vocal line and it doesn’t sound like wonho lmao but it also doesn’t sound like any voice i can recognize (maybe it was someone who produced or mixed the song??? i have no idea) it also could have been wonho with just a little distortion in his voice but idk again wonho doesn’t usually go for intense high notes so i’m not sure.

also i tried to listen to whatever i could find on youtube and i came across an 8d audio of it (these things are so weird but i love it) there’s some descending notes from what feels like a clarinet almost lmao also i again have no way to describe them but i really like the distorted sound effects that make this song seem so pretty but so off if you know what i mean.

anyway tldr: idk what’s going on musically but the song is very subby lyrically so i like it 👉👈