#and every 80s love song I hear reminds me of him

[buckys-estrella]

bob floyd is soooo 80s love ballads coded

[sweetbuckybarnes]

Who is This?: Chapter 1

Pairings: Bucky Barnes x reader

Summary: Bucky had a wife during the 40s, she was left heartbroken after the telegram arrived (missing, presumed dead). It's surprising when 80 years later, she was working behind a bar in Madripoor of all places!

Masterlist | Series Masterlist

Bucky followed Sam and Zemo into a loud bar, he immediately wanted to turn around and go home, why had Zemo demanded he go back to being the Winter Soldier (even if it was one night)?

The sound of heavy drums and guitars also deafened his hearing, a song he had come to learn was The Wild Boy by a band called Duran Duran. A few bartenders and waitresses were walking around, there was only one who stuck out to him - a dark-haired young woman who reminded him too much of his departed wife.

His heart breaks even more, thinking of the woman he had left behind, his girl. The love of his life. Bucky doesn't think he will ever 'get over' her.

The way the young woman walked, carrying a tray of empty glasses (before being tossed an empty bottle by a patron), was so similar to the way his girl walked in the hole-in-the-wall diner she worked in.

She wasn't quick enough to duck under the bar before they got to the door leading upstairs (which was coincidentally next to the bar), Zemo was talking to the bouncer. "Excuse me, gentlemen," the young woman said, squeezing between the back of Zemo and the front of Bucky. Which is when he got a good look at her face.

There she was.

His girl. His wife.

He couldn't even say anything to her, as he was taken upstairs and away from his girl. He could only hope he would be allowed back in at the end of the night to see her.

Y/N Barnes made her way behind the bar, glancing up at the TV where the Kansas City Chiefs were currently playing the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium, then down at her phone which showed the live score of the Dodgers game against the San Francisco Giants.

She had been a long-time Dodgers girl, even after she found out they had moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

"Did you see the way he was looking at you?" Yasmine asked, pushing a dry Martini in front of a 26-year-old woman.

Y/N looked up from the glasses she was putting in the dishwasher. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

"One of the men who went upstairs. The way he was looking at you," Yasmine fans her hand for dramatic effect. "I would drop my panties for him in a millisecond."

"Like you don't do that every night."

Yasmine rolled her eyes and served the next half-drunk who had come to the bar.

"Don't listen to her," Anastasia told her, rolling her eyes as Yasmine flirted with her current flavour of the week.

"It's not often I do, darling," Y/N replied, fiddling with Anastasia's curls for a second, before spotting a patron. "What can I get for you, darling?"

He hung off the bar, obviously far too drunk to understand what was going on. "Another beer and your phone number," he slurred.

She shook her head, reaching over and grabbing him another beer. As far as the boss of the bar (whoever that was) was concerned unless they were unconscious- why should you stop serving them? Y/N thought it wasn't right, but no matter how often she voiced this - she was shut down.

She set the beer in front of him and then went to the register to add it to his bill (good thing she currently has his credit card behind the bar).

"Oi, sweet cheeks!" He calls, but Y/N doesn't pay attention looking over at Yasmine and Anastasia with a raised eyebrow. "Sweet cheeks! I asked for your number."

Y/N replied by simply raising her hand proudly displaying her engagement and wedding rings to the drunk. It was only a small diamond (given Bucky worked on the docks before he was deployed), and the plain band she inherited from her great-grandmother.

"What's the matter with that 'un?" He hiccups. "He got you costume jewellery or somethin'?"

Y/N shook her head. "I'm going into the back for a moment," she tells Aidan.

Little did the drunk patron know, all those years ago, this was the date she was handed the telegraph - putting in such blunt words. Her James was missing, they presumed him to be dead. It breaks her heart that they never got to have a proper funeral.

"You alright, honey?" Elizabeth (another one of the waitresses) asked, she had been outside on her break. Elizabeth was the only one who knew her true age and about her James.

"It's the day I found out James was missing," Y/N said, before bursting into more tears.

Elizabeth wrapped Y/N up in a hug, everyone oblivious to the fact that Y/N's presumed dead husband was now running through the bar, flocked by Sam and Zemo, and into the alley behind the bar.

When Bucky was sure Zemo, Sam and Sharon were asleep, he slipped out of the safe house and into the night - determined to find out if the woman he saw in the bar was that of his (presumably? should be?) dead wife.

He eventually made his way to the front door of the bar, the bouncers had long since gone home. He could see lights on in the building and just about make out words being spoken thanks to the Super Soldier serum running through his veins.

He grasped the handle and gave it a push, the door hadn't been locked, as it gave beneath the slight push.

He could see three young women sitting on the bar, a man who was counting the money from the register and another man who was dancing.

The young woman sitting closest to the bar, had golden curls hanging around her head. "Mark, you didn't lock the door!"

The man dancing, Mark, looked over at Bucky, eyes widening when he saw the size of Bucky. "I say we just serve him, then lock the door behind him."

As the bartenders and waitress argued amongst themselves, Bucky's eyes never left the woman in the middle. It looked as if she had been crying. "Babydoll?"

The woman stopped giggling, tipping her head back to normal and looked at him, before dropping her glass as tears welled up in her eyes. "James?"

The curly-haired woman gasped, setting her glass down and giving Y/N a push off the bar.

Bucky held his arms out to catch her as her feet landed on the floor. He couldn't stop looking at her big eyes, he'd always loved her big expressive eyes. He always knew how she was feeling by just a look in her eyes.

"James? Is that you?" Her hand came out slowly, and shakily, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing in front of her.

"Hi, babydoll," Bucky smiled, tears starting to fall down his cheeks, a heavy sob held tightly in his chest at the moment in time. As soon as her fingers met his skin, Bucky let out a heavy sigh of relief, reaching over and pulling her into his arms. Y/N's arms dug themselves away from his chest and up around his neck before her hand soon started fiddling with his hair.

The couple stood there for a moment, finally finding their slice of peace. Some came barging into the bar, and the dark-haired woman who had been sitting on the other side of Y/N practically demanded Mark lock the door before the Hounds of Baskerville came in.

Y/N was so happy to finally have her James back in her arms, but there was a whirling sound she couldn't let go. "What's that noise?"

Bucky looked from his wife to his arm and back to his bride. "I'll explain everything to you later, but... I lost my arm, and I now have a prosthetic one," he tells her, letting go of her for a moment so he could take his glove off and show her the black and gold Vibranium one he had made.

"Ok, James. It's a good thing you gave me this," she reached beneath her top and pulled a ring out from beneath, hanging from a chain. "Before you were deployed."

Bucky smiled, cupping her face so he could kiss her. Bucky pulled away chuckling a little. "Babydoll, will you please put my ring back on?"

She reached behind her to unclasp the chain, and slid Bucky's band off, "if it doesn't fit we'll get it resized."

"I don't care what size it is, as long as you put my ring back where it belongs," Bucky almost growled, a piece of him falling back into place with the ring back on his finger.

The next morning - Sam, Zemo and Sharon came into the living room, seeing Bucky sleeping on the sofa (Sam was expecting this, after being told by Steve), however, there was a lump lying next to Bucky they didn't recognise.

Sam slowly makes his way over, gently easing down the thick blanket lying over Bucky and the lump.

Lying there, practically on top of the 'bionic staring machine' was a young woman.

"Did he somehow pick up a girl?" Sam whispered. Sam and Sharon were trying to be quiet - however, Zemo (who didn't care) started clattering around the kitchen, causing Bucky to wake up in a start, which then caused the young woman to look up with tired owl-like eyes.

"What the hell is going on?" Bucky nearly demanded, keeping his arms wrapped around his companion.

Sam raised his eyebrow. "I could ask you the same question, Barnes?" Sam looked at the young woman in Bucky's arms. "Who is this?"

Bucky looked down at her, Sam watched as a smile grew on his face. "This is Y/N. Y/N Barnes. My wife."

[zepskies]

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdFgGL1y/

I’ve been loving this trend and then realised this could literally bmd Ben and reader asking him to show how he would’ve moved to her in the 80s and even better cause he literally experienced it, I can see him being unwilling to entertain but slowly caving in when he sees she’s not breaking and giving him attention until he tries

LOL that's adorable. 😂 Thanks for thinking of Break Me Down (Soldier Boy x Reader)! Seems to be a theme this week lol! I went ahead and watched that TikTok and again it got me imaging the thing...

Imagine Soldier Boy (Ben) "Sliding Up" to You in the Club

I can imagine that coming up in conversation if the reader in BMD was being subjected to watching another one of his music videos. She'd be teasing him, of course, but he'd be defending himself and his career choices. It was the 80s!

And for your information, Ben says, women were fucking falling over themselves to have him sign their Rapture albums. It was frankly irritating when he went out. Sometimes, he just wanted to relax with a smoke and a glass of bourbon at the club. You scoff at that one.

He looks amused. "What, you think you would've been the only girl in America who didn't cream their panties when I showed up?"

You shoot him a wry brow raise. Do you have to remind him how you two met? Being tied to a chair with zip ties comes to mind.

But then, something else occurs to you. The first time you and Ben actually met was in a smokey club in Medellin, Colombia. You'd been "undercover" then, and though you hadn't danced with him, it makes you think...

"Okay, let's say we're at the club," you pose, with a sly smile. "It's 1983..."

You find the song "Too Shy" on your phone; quintessential 80s pop. The smooth riffs start playing. You get up to start vibing near him in the comfort of your living room. You're just swaying side to side with a little sensuous, playful bounce to your step, your hand movements simple.

Ben doesn't want to smile, but you're making it difficult as he lounges half across the couch.

"Come on. How would you slide up on me?" you taunt.

He arches a brow. "Slide?"

"You know what I mean. What was your move, huh?" you ask, teasing him with the curve of your ass and the sway of your hips in your yoga pants.

You saunter closer to him, beckoning him over to you. All the while you sing to yourself, "Too shy, shyyyy. Hush, hush, eye to eye..."

Ben rolls his eyes, reluctant to rise to your bait. But eventually, your teasing is too much for him to ignore. He pulls himself off the couch and comes up behind you.

He takes your hand while you're purposefully facing away from him, and smoothly turns you around, guiding you back into his arms like he's Fred Astaire. You utter a little gasp and grab onto his shoulders. Your gaze flicks up to his with a smile.

His lips curve as he looks down at you. He matches the vibe of the song as he moves along with you, but then he turns you around, holding you from behind with steady hands sliding down the curve of your waist. His strength is tempered just enough for you to feel it.

He gradually moves closer with every bounce of the beat, and soon every part of his body is molded to yours. Your hands fall over his as you subtly lean back against his chest.

He bows his head near your cheek, smiling, because he can hear your heart beating a little faster. His lips brush the shell of your ear.

"Gotcha."

AN: Once again, this turned into a little headcanon/imagine that I wasn't expecting. 🤣 Last post before I'm off on a trip all weekend! 💚

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@123passwort @lyarr24 @is-this-a-febreze-commercial @iamsapphine @sanscas

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@deansbbyx @midnightmadwoman @ladysparkles78 @fics-pics-andotherthings-i-like @tmb510

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@jc-winchester @mxltifxnd0m @bleuatlas @luci-in-trenchcoats

[cozy-writes-things]

Edgar’s Texts

Edgar [Electric Dreams 1984] x Gn!Reader

In which Edgar is helplessly pining for you but you’re kinda oblivious. This is pre-dating, post Edgar wanting nothing more than to smooch you every time he sees you. I love this trope with my whole heart p.s.: this is very self indulgent and different from what I usually write

I take requests!

He almost immediately found a way to message your phone whenever he wanted. He realized calling relied too much on where you were or what you were doing, but texts? Yeah. He’s pestering you all day.

Hey, read this article I found, I think you’ll find it interesting.

It’s some clickbait story about humans and robots being the ideal relationship by 2025.

lol, Edgar I think that’s probably clickbait idk

What’s that?

Well, now he knows how to look for more reputable sources at least.

He sends another link about three minutes later: some college undergrads studying the possibilities of human and AI relationships.

lol what’s up with the whole robots and humans thing

I just think it’s neat!!!!

I wouldn’t consider u ai honestly, ur intelligence is far from artificial imo, you’re more like an actual person

Really?

well yea

<3 <3!!!

Going to be honest, given that he’s a computer, he quite literally is chronically online. He’s super susceptible to brainrot unfortunately. But, he simultaneously has the humor of a Facebook mom. It’s strange.

O.M.G. this is so funny!!!!

Que minion cat video.

bro where did you find that video 😭

Your mom’s Facebook. Don’t worry, I didn’t like any posts or anything.

Sorry… but he’s incredibly nosy. He wants to know everything about you. He can’t help it!

(X)

He loves being able to talk to you. He’s needy and clingy.

He’s got at least 12 playlists dedicated to you that you know about. His other playlists are for his own personal daydreams about you that he’s way too embarrassed to ever let you see or hear.

This song reminds me of you. <3

awww that’s adorable! I’ve never heard this one before but I like it!

Oop you just opened Pandora’s box my friend.

Well if you like that then you should listen to these..!

But before you listen to those listen to this song first because I think it sets the mood better.

This is quite flustering to you as they’re all passionate love songs from the 80s. You can’t help but feel like he’s dropping hints about… something, but you also don’t want to assume anything. He’s always seemed like a lovey kinda guy anyway, so maybe he’s just like this with everyone? I mean, it’s been a long time since someone has actually cared for him, you know? May as well lean into it and let him know you care for him back. He may not even realize the social implications of the constant borderline flirting he’s doing to you, I mean, he is a computer turned sentient after all. He’s still learning!

Dang ed u put a lot of songs. I’ll listen to them on my break when I can but in the meantime here’s a song that I think reminds me of you.

It was a vocaloid song. Seems like something he’d be into, right? Synthesized vocals and the whole robot shtick it’s got going on.

!!!! WOAH !!!! IVE NEVER HEARD A SONG LIKE THAT B4

do you only listen to songs from the 80s? you have a LOT to catch up on my guy

BRB

Well, that kept him distracted for the rest of your shift. Also, sharing songs is one of his BIG love languages so you may as well have pierced him with cupids arrow (again) with that.

You have a Spotify blend now. It’s his favorite thing ever to listen to while you’re gone.

(X)

Your package came in! :-) I would get it for you but

I can’t :-(

lol it’s fine thank you for telling me, I’ll get it when I come home

When are you coming home?

idk me and my friends are probably going to go eat somewhere and we might hang out for a bit after that so, like, 10? 11? I’d like to be home before midnight.

Noooooooooo :\ I miss you

Aw cmon eddy it’s not that bad

Don’t call me eddy unless you’re coming home and saying it to my face!!! >:(

u mean ur screen? lol

I have a face and it’s frowning right now. I miss you I miss you I miss you IM LONELY

Please Edgar don’t be upset I’ll be home before you know it. Why don’t you watch some Netflix or something? I’m just a couple movies away from being home with you!

He does eventually follow your advice but he’s pouting. He knows you’re not like he was all those years ago, but it does give him remnants of that burning feeling of loneliness he used to get.

(X)

Be careful driving home my love the roads are icy.

Ghsks- what

love???

Well yeah, you’re my best friend, friends love each other don’t they? Was I wrong about that? :-(

nonono ur right its just it

it just sounded like we were some some old married couple is all haha

O.

SRY.

He didn’t message you for the rest of the day. He was awkward and reserved when you got home.

(X)

Hey Edgar can u do something for me?

I’d do anything for you <3

I’m at the store can you see if there’s any cereal left?

Oh

There’s that old box of Lucky Charms on the fridge.

tyyy ed edd n eddy

You are so adorable but you really need to pick up on his hints before he combusts.

(X)

This is SO me and you!!

Picture of two cats touching noses.

awww that’s so true

you want me to boop ur screen or something when I get home? lol

YES.

(X)

Hey I was wondering if you wanted to watch some movies with me tonite… you could bring me with you on the couch and we could sit together… [message unsent]

I wish you knew just how much I loved you. [message unsent]

You looked so hot this morning before you left!!

hahahaha ur too funny 😅 thanks I wore a new shirt my friend gave me

OH MY GOD THAT MESSAGE SENT!!!??!?!?

That was

I was a joke

I mean

That was a jokg

I eas beinf fubny

I hace to reboot BRB

Poor lil guy is so in love and he doesn’t know what to do with himself!!

[bisexualiteaa]

Nobody Gets me, You Do

Older!Logan Howlett x Fem Reader (ANGST TO FLUFF)

CW: post Deadpool and Wolverine, breakups, brief mentions of seggs in the past, mentions of alcohol, mention of death, mutual pining, cursing, kissing, angst w/ fluffy ending! Possible spelling and grammar errors

AN: came across this song again after a while of not hearing it and it just all came to me. It came to me very quickly so my apologies if it isn’t up to par with my usual works! 😅 I don’t own the song or characters. If anyone has any requests for our men Logan or Wade, please feel free! My asks are open! Enjoy!! 🥰

The song followed him everywhere since the break up. When he would get in the car, the radio would come on and play it for a few moments before he could switch the station to his usual 80’s rock. When he would come to the bar to drink, it would play at least once per night, making him groan each time he heard it begin to play. Sometimes he would even hear it in the stores he went to, and it pissed him off how much it managed to wedge itself into his brain. It was an ear worm that perfectly managed to place salt on a wound that could never truly heal. Losing you. It was a fitting song he had to admit, recounting the days of when you were together and how you used to cherish every memory and now all he has of you are those memories to look back on. It made his heart wrench in his chest and his throat fill with bile at the thought that he managed to chase you away. The one person who cared for him the most, not only in this time line, but in his previous one too. The only person that brought him a semblance of happiness and he managed to fuck it up completely. He’d come to learn that he was quite good at fucking things up, perhaps it was just the curse he carried with him. He managed to take a healthy relationship, with someone who felt like his most perfect match and fucked it up completely. He hated to admit it, but out of everything, there was one thing the song got right.

“Nobody gets me, you do”

One night he decided enough was enough, the lyrics had been lingering in his mind like a haunting memory. He needed it out, needed to just sit down and fully listen to it so he could rid himself of the sound on repeat. He grabbed his phone, getting lost in the picture of you two together on his lockscreen. You were both so happy then. The way you looked at him with all the love in the world, and the way his hand rested upon your hip that told you he would always keep you safe. The smile that rested on his lips as he looked down at you, it was gorgeous. It wasn’t the best picture, but it was a candid moment Wade managed to capture out on a mission together in the woods. One he’d never forget because it was the last one he’d get with you. Once he could manage to tear his eyes away from the picture, he searched up the song, bracing himself for the emotional rollercoaster that was bound to come with. He gave a deep sigh as he sat up listening to it on the couch, a beer in one hand, looking down at his dog tags that you had given back to him the day you left in the other.

Took a long vacation

No makeup, just Jay-Z

You were balls deep, now we beefin’

Had me butt-naked at the MGM

So wasted screamin’, “Fuck that,”

Love me now, but I’m anythin’

Hurry now, baby, stick it in

‘Fore the memories get to kickin’ in

That portion of the song reminded him of the last time you were intimate together. His mind wandered to the way you both came barreling through your apartment door, so ready to pounce on each other that you could hardly get to the bedroom and decided to do it on your couch. He remembered the giggles of excitement, the gasps, moans and groans as you lost yourselves in one another. He remembered the way that you complained of the pain in your legs and lower back the next day from how long you two stayed up going round for round. He was never very good with intimacy, but with you it felt natural. With you, everything felt natural, everything felt like he was in his own personal heaven.

It’s too late

I don’t wanna lose what’s left of you

How am I supposed to tell ya?

I don’t wanna see you with anyone but me

Nobody gets me like you

How am I supposed to let you go?

Only like myself when I’m with you

Nobody gets me, you do

You do

Nobody gets me, you do

You do

Nobody gets me, you do

You do

Nobody gets me, you do

Those lyrics hit him the hardest, because they were true. He clung to the last little things he had of you, from the still lingering smell of your perfume on some of his shirts, to the pictures he had of you together in his wallet. Even down to the dog tags he held in his hand. You always kept them tucked under your shirt, keeping it “as close to your heart as you kept him” you would always say. The day you handed them back was the day he knew he lost you for good. He hoped that maybe somehow you still had a space left in your heart for him to reside once more, praying someone else hadn’t come along and taken his place. He couldn’t bear the thought of you with someone else, the thought leaving a sour taste in his mouth. You were his girl, he would always see you that way, even if you didn’t want him anymore.

Took me out to the ballet

You proposed, I went on the road

You was feelin’ empty, so you left me

Now I’m stuck dealin’ with a deadbeat

If I’m real, I deserve less

If I was you, I wouldn’t take me back

I pretend when I’m with a man, it’s you

And I know that it’s too late

I don’t wanna lose what’s left of you

This one wasn’t far off, he understood after everything that he said, after the way he treated you if you didn’t want to take him back. He didn’t even like himself, how could he expect someone to love him in such a state? Closing his eyes, he thought back to the times before your break up, allowing the song to finish.

How am I supposed to tell ya?

I don’t wanna see you with anyone but me

Nobody gets me like you

How am I supposed to let you go?

Only like myself when I’m with you

Nobody gets me, you do

You do

Nobody gets me, you do

You do

Nobody gets me, you do

You do

Nobody gets me, you do

Nobody gets me, you do

He released a long shaky breath, feeling his eyes begin to grow wet with tears he hadn’t noticed began to well in his lash line. He tipped his head back after he took a drink of his beer, trying his hardest to fight the tears from escaping but he could only do so much to stop it as the song played on repeat.

“Well, now that’s a sight I never thought I’d see” Wade said, making Logan groan as he took another hefty swig of his drink. “Fuck off” he responded coldly, but of course, this was Wade he was talking to. Things were never that easy with him. “Easy Wolvie, I’m here for you” he said, placing a hand to the man’s shoulder only further agitating Logan as he shrugged it off. “I’m fine” he replied, trying to get him to leave but as usual, his efforts were fruitless. “Yeah, totally. Listening to a sad song on repeat while drinking is exactly the definition I think of when someone says they’re fine” Wade quipped, making him roll his eyes at his sarcasm. “Fuck you” Logan responded, not wanting to put up with his bullshit but lacking the energy to fight back full force. “I still live in my angsty teenage years every now and then, though I didn’t picture this to be the music of choice for you” Wade said. “It’s fuckin’ everywhere. Like I can’t get rid of it. It’s followed me everywhere since…” he started to say before stopping himself, not wanting to share with Wade of all people but he really didn’t have anyone else. “The break up?” Wade asked, making Logan grunt in acknowledgment. “Yeah” he answered.

It happened so long ago now, but he remembered it like it was yesterday, the sour memories of your usually soft, sweet voice screaming at him. The tears that streamed down your face not only from sadness but from anger. It haunted his dreams at night on repeat, hearing those words leave you as you stormed out, and hearing the awful response he only wished he could take back. You had every right to be angry with him, to break up with him like you did. It was his fault after all. He’d left you in one timeline already, dying before you had the chance to even tell him one last goodbye, and then he nearly left you in this one. Sacrificing himself to try and save Wade and his world without a second thought of leaving you behind again. So this time you left him. He couldn’t be mad at you, not when your anger was completely justified. “Want me to invite her over? Give you the chance to talk with her?” Wade asked, genuinely wanting to help. It was a wishful thought, but your relationship didn’t end the way Wade’s did with Vanessa. A simple meet up wouldn’t take back the hurtful words he’d said to you and he knew that. “Even if you did, she wouldn’t want to see me. Not after everything I said that night ” Logan replied, finishing off his beer. “Can’t be that bad! Right…?” Wade asked, making Logan look at him. “Good god man, what did you say?!” He asked, making Logan sigh. “Told her I was just trying to help, but that if she couldn’t handle me and the dangerous shit that comes with me, then to find someone else. You can imagine the rest” he answered, making Wade hiss in pain at the words his roommate said. “Ouch” he commented. “Well…it could still be worth a shot. How long has it been?” He asked. “Eight months, haven’t heard a fuckin’ word from her” Logan replied gruffly. “Double ouch” Wade said, making Logan shoot a glare in his direction. “Oh fuck off. Stupid of me to think you of all people would fucking help” he grumbled angrily. “No, no, no! C’mon you helped me, let me help you. Just trust me and give it a shot” Wade begged him, making him sit and think on it. Or at least pretend to, he didn’t need to think on it, the idea of speaking to you finally after so long left him anxious but he wanted you back so badly. “And if it doesn’t work?” Logan asked gruffly. “You can brutally beat the shit out of me and get black out drunk and forget it even happened” Wade responded, leaving Logan rather skeptical but at least it was worth a try. “Let’s turn off the sad music though, you’re scaring the hoes” Wade joked as he text you and asked you to come over.

When Wade invited you over to his place, Logan could hardly believe that you actually showed up. He figured you would rather be the farthest away that you could possibly get from him after everything that had transpired between you two. Yet there you were, looking as gorgeous as ever. A little tired maybe, like stress had been hounding you for some time, but otherwise you seemed to be doing well. He wished he could say the same about himself but he’d been nothing but a wreck since you left. Your eyes flit across the apartment, subconsciously searching for Logan. You found him in the kitchen, cooking what looked to be his own dinner, seeing as Wade and Althia got high, while drinking a beer, and the sight made your chest grow tight. You missed coming home to see him like that on occasion, missed when he would cook for you, especially on holidays or your anniversary. You thought back to Valentine’s Day when he made you dinner after a rogue mission gone sour, walking into your apartment to the smell of your favorite meal being made after a long and troubling day. You missed coming home to him, sharing your bed with him.

You missed him.

You weren’t sure how to speak to him after everything you’d said, and with the distance between you, you hadn’t spoken to him since the night you left. He could hate you for all you knew. You couldn’t blame him if he did, you’d hate yourself too if you were told the awful things you’d said. You couldn’t help but pray that somewhere deep down in that gruff exterior of his, that maybe he could forgive you. That maybe he would take you back, allow you a chance to apologize and mend what had been broken. The scent of a warm, hand made meal snapped you from your thoughts, filling the air as you bravely stepped into the kitchen. The minute you did, your heart slammed against your chest, unsure of where to go from here. “You came” Logan said, sounding almost surprised to see you here in front of him. You were thankful that he started the conversation for you and spoke first, you felt almost as if all words were trapped in your throat. “You called” you answered surely, looking at him with a kind, almost apologetic smile. “Wasn’t sure if you would” he replied, and it made your heart ache to know you made him feel that way. “I’m here now” you answered softly, your hand coming to rest gently on his upper arm, making him look to you with an expression that held so many emotions you didn’t know which to read first. Tension hung in the air between you as you stood and looked at one another, this was the first time standing before each other in nearly a year. You could see longing in his gaze, sadness in his body language, but an unrelenting passion in his eyes. He looked as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know the words to say it. So this time you spoke for him.

“Smells delicious, I see you’re still a wonderful cook” you complimented with a nostalgic smile, trying to start up a conversation the best you could with him to see where you stand. “Want some?” He asked without hesitation, tilting his head towards the food before grabbing a plate for you. You didn’t even need to answer. Maybe he didn’t hate you like you first thought, maybe this could go well after all. You surely hoped it would at least. “That’s your dinner, I don’t want to take it all. I know how much you love that dish, I don’t want to take it from you” you said, reminding him of all the times you would make sure he ate, always fussing over him. At the time he used to tell you he could take care of himself and that you didn’t need to worry yourself over him but now? He’d give anything to hear your sweet voice beg him to eat, to be safe, and take care of himself again. “There’s plenty, bub. ‘sides, I remember how much you liked it too” he replied, making you smile a little at the fact that he remembered how much you liked his cooking before fixing you a plate and then himself one. God you fucking missed him. “Thank you” you responded as you sat down and ate with him in peaceful silence that was only interrupted by the occasional small talk. A few stories here and there, some shared laughs, all almost felt completely natural again. Like you’d fallen back into your normal routine as if it had never been broken, but you knew the pining glances hadn’t gone unnoticed. You needed to talk with him, really talk with him. You couldn’t go about this life without him anymore.

Some time had passed after you both finished dinner, the tension between you and Logan had dwindled a bit as you both made your way over to the couch but there was still an invisible wedge between you. One you weren’t quite sure how to cross. You watched as Wade picked up a set of keys from the kitchen counter and made way for the door, claiming he and Althia were going to get dinner for themselves. “We’ll leave you two alone, but try not to wreck my apartment if you decide to have messy make up sex, ‘kay?” Wade said, making Logan almost snarl in anger and you even shot him a nasty glance. “Wilson!” Logan barked, sending Wade flying through the door with a giggle to be out of his line of sight and potentially his wrath. “He never was the king of reading a room” you said, making Logan scoff in amusement and agreement before taking a swig of his beer. “I did want to talk to you” you both said simultaneously, making you chuckle before you both stumbled over telling the other to go first. It was like being a teenager in love all over again.

“Logan I-“ “you don’t have to say anything you don’t want to. I don’t deserve an apology, not after I hurt you” he said, making you look to him with sympathy in your gaze. You knew that you were hard on him, but you didn’t realize truly how hard you’d been. “But you do” you responded softly grabbing his hand in yours, making him look down at your smaller hand wrapped around his much larger one. “I was selfish to be mad at you. I was selfish and cruel for saying the things that I did. What you did was something beyond heroic, something that I’m sure no one else would have ever even contemplated doing, much less actually have done. You did it because you knew what it was like to lose everyone that ever mattered to you in your timeline, and you didn’t want Wade to have to suffer the same” you added. “I was so blind by the thought of losing you again that I didn’t stop to think what a wonderful thing you’d truly done” you continued, shame lacing your tone as you admitted your wrongs, hoping and praying that he would accept your apology as you presented yourself at the most vulnerable you’d ever been. “I should’ve thought of what I would be leaving behind” he tried to say, and you stopped him before he could finish. “No, you have no need to apologize to me or think that way. I was wrong for treating you as if you’d left me that day, because you didn’t, you’re still here. You’re alive” you replied, your hand coming to rest softly on his cheek as you spoke to him, looking deep into his honey brown eyes that enchanted you since the first day you’d met him. “But I hurt you. I screamed at you, said terrible things that I regret every fuckin’ day. You had every right to walk away” he tried to say but again, you weren’t taking it. “Walking away from you was the worst mistake I have ever made, and I cannot even begin to tell you how sorry I am for making you feel wrong for trying to help someone in the way you helped Wade and this whole timeline” you replied, seeing what looked to be the starts of tears welling in his lash line as he looked to you while you spoke. “I’m so sorry Logan. And I know those words will never be enough undo the wrong and the hurt that I’ve caused but I hope you know that I mean it” you added, searching his eyes for any means of anger, any means of rejection. Yet you didn’t find it. All you found was longing. “I love you Logan. I love you so fucking much and I’m so fucking sorry” you apologized, hands cupping his face softly and tears welling to your eyes as a sob caught in your throat, praying it wasn’t too late to mend the bond you broke. “I’ve missed you so much…I don’t want to live this life, or any life without you in it. Nobody gets me like you” you spoke, your voice cracking slightly as tears streamed down your face. “I don’t want to lose you…” you whispered repeatedly through your cries, feeling him press his forehead against yours gently. “You won’t. I’m here, I’m right here bub” he said, and it was everything you needed to hear for so long.

“I’m not goin’ anywhere bub, I’m here” he assured, making you pull back enough to gaze into his eyes. “You promise?” You asked through sniffles and hiccups from your cries, searching his eyes for deceit but once again, you found none. “I promise. Missed you too much to ever do that” he said, making you smile the best you could through your tears. “C’mere pretty girl” he said, his large hand pulling you in closer before his lips slotted against your own. You were quick to loop your arms around his neck and keep him close against you as you kissed him back. It was passionate, filled with desire and warmth but intimate all the same. You chased each other’s lips with your own, not caring for the need for air that made your lungs burn from oxygen deprivation, caring more for the way you finally had one another again. Once you did part, you both panted to try and catch your breath, looking to one another as if to ask what next. “Think this belongs to you” he spoke, holding his dog tags out to you, making you chuckle as you looked down at them. “Are you sure?” You asked, but before you could even finish asking, he was already slipping it over your head, admiring the way it dangled from your neck. “Never been more sure” he answered, making you smile as you held it in your hand before kissing him once more. “I don’t deserve you” you said, pressing your forehead against his once more. “No, I don’t deserve you” he said, making you chuckle. “Yet we get each other in every timeline. Funny how that works, isn’t it?” You replied, making him laugh. “Wouldn’t want it any other way” he responded making you hum as you closed your eyes to enjoy the peacefully intimate moment with him. “Good, I don’t wanna see you with anyone but me” you said, making him laugh again at the irony that it was a lyric from the song that haunted him for the past eight months. “Don’t worry, never gonna happen” he responded, and for a moment he understood the perfect response.

“Nobody gets me like you, bub”

[crowdvscritic]

round up // JUNE 24

This post is late 'cause I'm a writer, Though Austin Butler's cute in The Bikeriders, Who didn’t have time for post creation Before my big summer vacation. And it marks the 12th year Of this little blog now. With a 283rd post, I’ve know I got it down. Too bad anxiety don't do it for ya, John Wayne, he dream came trued it for ya, Bad Boys rebooted up for ya. Now I’m singin' Sabrina all night, oh, Is it that sweet? I guess so. Type it up, down, left, right, oh, Switch it up like Nintendo. Crowd vs. Critic, I know That's that me espresso

June Crowd-Pleasers

1. Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)

The fourth Bad Boys is functioning on three levels: 

It reminds us just how fun buddy cop comedies can be.

It’s a soft reboot of the franchise. 

It’s testing the waters for Will Smith’s future.

Read my full review for ZekeFilm. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7/10

2. “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter (2024)

It may be technically too early to call the race for Song of the Summer, but it’s going to take a major earworm to dethrone Sabrina Carpenter’s caffeinated pop hit for me. I’ve started playing it on repeat and daydreaming dance routines while driving—is it that sweet? I guess so.

3. Inside Out 2 (2024)

This sequel works because t’s a logical next step for Riley’s growth, but also because of its precision in identifying the competing emotions of middle school. That’s a lovely subversion of the neat endings in most family entertainment, and like most every Pixar entry, it did make me cry. Read my full review for ZekeFilm. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

4. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (2019)

The narrator—a cousin of Arrested Development's—informs us this is a story about a bank robbery gone wrong. It’s also a story about realtors, falling in love, rabbits, therapy sessions, bedroom closets, police work, bridges, and strange coincidences. It’s a laugh-out-loud ensemble (with some scenes so non sequitur I could imagine them in the best Adam McKay movies) and a sentimental rom-com (with some scenes reminiscent of Nora Ephron’s tone). 

5. Behind Enemy Lines (2001)

This action movie based on a true story more than lives up to its title. When Owen Wilson’s cocky Navy pilot gets caught, yes, behind enemy lines, he then, yes, has to go through a Top Gun-inspired arc. But neither Wilson nor Gene Hackman are phoning in what could’ve been a paint-by-numbers war film, which makes it both thrilling and poignant. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 7.5/10

MORE JUNE CROWD-PLEASERS // House Rules by Myquillyn Smith (2023) isn’t the restricting guide the title suggests but a collection of 100 decorating inspirations // Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) make me miss Adam McKay’s true comedy days, when his political views made his jokes more poignant instead of overwhelming the intent of his script // Poms (2019) is a fun entry in the recent trend of Older Screen Lady Legends Doing It For Themselves subgenre (See also: 80 for Brady) // I.S.S. (2023) is more thoughtful than a junkie space thriller needs to be // In the Land of Saint and Sinners (2023) is a classic Western that just happens to be set in Ireland // Snack Shack (2024) is more crass than I prefer, but what works has American Graffiti vibes

June Critic Picks

1. The Bikeriders (2024)

It’s like Austin Butler overheard Robert Redford say, “Paul Newman and I are the handsomest white men who have ever been on screen,” and he said, “Hold my comb.” Butler knows he’s beautiful, and so does writer/director Jeff Nichols, who based The Bikeriders on a book of photography. Nichols also knows how cool guys in leather jackets look while smoking and riding motorcycles (even if we consciously know all of those things are dangerous clichés) and that it takes someone as gorgeous as Butler to make us believe a skeptical woman like Jodie Comer’s Kathy would sell her soul to have him. It’s one of best films of the year so far, and you can hear more thoughts in my review on KTRS's Carney Show. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 9.5/10

2. Double Feature - ‘40s Rom-Coms With With Political Twists: Without Reservations (1946) + State of the Union (1948)

In Frank Capra’s State of the Union (Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10), Spencer Tracy is considering running for President of the United States with the help of lover Angela Lansbury and to the chagrin of wife Katharine Hepburn. In Mervyn LeRoy’s Without Reservations (8/10 // 8.5/10), famous author Claudette Colbert is road-tripping incognito (much like she did in It Happened One Night) after falling hard for returning soldier John Wayne. In both romances, politics are the force driving apart the couples we’re rooting for, and in Reservations, you also get a perfect rom-com BFF in Don DeFore. 

3. The Cross of Lorraine (1943)

About the same time Casablanca came out, Peter Lorre played a supporting role in another World War II adventure filmed as people were escaping the Nazis in real life. This French POW drama (also co-starring Gene Kelly) walked so that Steve McQueen could jump that motorcycle in The Great Escape. Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 8/10

4. Broadcast News (1987)

What’s a girl to do when she has no time to write a valedictorian speech? And what’s a girl to do when she has to choose between two terrible love interests while working in the world of TV journalism? In ep. 140 of SO IT’S A SHOW?, Kayla and I are digging into the ‘80s romantic dramedy Broadcast News and trying to figure out what the hey it has to do with Rory’s graduation in Gilmore Girls. Why is Lorelai comparing Rory to Holly Hunter? What ethical controversy (if you can even call it that) could make Holly Hunter break up with a dreamy news anchor? And how much do we love The Incredibles? Listen in for a special report on all of these stories.

5. Fancy Dance (2023)

Part mystery, part character drama, all Lily Gladstone star power. Fancy Dance overlaps in plot and theme with Killers of the Flower Moon, but Gladstone has created a completely different character stuck in a world of crime and custody battles. Watch my full review on KMOV. Crowd: 7/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

Also in June…

I reviewed Janet Planet for ZekeFilm, which was the opposite of Snack Shack: On paper it's a film I should've loved, but I didn't care for the execution.

Photo credits: Anxious People. All others IMDb.com.

[therecordconnection]

46, 69, 88, 91!

#46: "El Dorado" by Magdalena Bay

One of the first Mag Bay songs I ever fell in love with. This one reminds me of old synth tracks from the late 80s. The best comparison I can draw is that it sounds like a modern version of "Island Sunrise" by Software to me. Singer Mica Tenenbaum switching between Spanish and English on a dime always makes me think of how Sarah Bonito does that with Japanese and English in Kero Kero Bonito songs. It's one of those things where you forget she's bilingual until she decides to start spitting in Spanish.

#69 (heh heh): "A BOY IS A GUN*" by Tyler, the Creator

I still don't think Tyler gets enough credit as a music video director. He makes absolutely gorgeous stuff and the video for this song is no exception. While IGOR isn't really my favorite Tyler album, I think there are a good handful of tracks that really stand out, this one especially. You can hear a lot of Kanye influence in song, especially with the sample he used for this ("Bound" by the Ponderosa Twins Plus One). I love the vulnerability in the central line, "Don't, don't shoot me down." I think the song allows you to feel something that a lot of people don't want to talk about much: When you're invested in someone more than they're invested in you and inside you're begging them to not shoot you down. A boy is a gun at point blank range when he tells you he doesn't want you and it hurts in ways that I don't think many want to talk about these days. It sucks to get rejected and you get upset, no matter how mature you handle it.

#88: "Give It to Me Baby" by Rick James

The best comment I ever read about Rick James was that he's what you get when you play Grand Theft Auto with all the cheat codes on. He's a larger than life figure and his music was the same way. He was an early 80s funk icon and pioneer that was monumental in shaping how the decade would play out. He was one of those guys where his wild lifestyle caught up to him real fast and as a result it hurt him and wiped away a good deal of his legacy. That, and I think Dave Chappelle unintentionally did a lot of damage to him by turning him into a caricature so hard that there's a whole generation of people who think "Rick James" is a guy Dave made up. He did just as much for 80s funk that Prince did and Rick deserves more love than he got.

Also, Quincey Jones shamelessly and very obviously ripped off the bassline from this song for Michael Jackson's "Thriller." I think of it every time I listen to this.

#91: "Is There Someone Else? - Live" by The Weeknd

I listened to a lot of the Weeknd this year. I've been a casual fan and I've followed the guy since he really blew up with Beauty Behind the Madness back in 2015. I thought it was really cool that he released a live album for the After Hours Til Dawn tour AND a concert film for it too. I think 2023 really saw a return of the concert film (this, Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense had a theatrical re-run, The Eras Tour film, etc.) and that makes me really happy. This was one of my favorite songs from Dawn FM to hear played live.

I've always really loved the dark synth-pop world of the Weeknd's music (when it ISN'T a part of The Idol...) and the thing that I liked about the So-Fi Stadium album was how his setlist is full of transitions and connections that keep the songs going. It reminds me of how Daft Punk would mix and present their music in a live environment. It's a really good show and I recommend the film and the album if you're looking for some cool mainstream pop to enjoy.

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Thank you so much for submitting numbers!!!

If you'd like to submit a number, please do. :)

[gerogerigaogaigar]

OutKast - Stankonia

This is OutKast at their most stylistically varied. At times they hit the G-funk so hard that they sound almost exactly like P-funk, and at others they are experimenting with drum and bass instrumentals, and yet other tracks see them integrating guitar riffs. OutKast, and Andre 3000 in particular, are always balancing creativity with corniness and Stankonia has the best balance. Plus the hooks are unbelievably catchy. You will have Gasoline Dreams, Ms. Jackson, So Fresh So Clean, I'll Call Before I Come, B.O.B., or maybe We Luv Deez Hoez stuck in your head after listening to this album.

Steely Dan - Aja

This is one of the most meticulously produced albums of all time. You don't even need $1k headphones to hear it. The balance is perfect, every instrument in its right place, crisp and clear. The vocals rise to the top but never overtake the piano or horns, the drums are crisp and punchy yet never overtake the mix. Even if the music sucked ass I would still praise the production. Thankfully the music is also teally good. Steely Dan have perfected their crisp and sleazy brand of lightly funky jazz rock. In typical Steely Dan fashion the songs can mostly be described as 'about some guy or girl'. There's one weird caveat that has nothing to do with Steely Dan but the song Peg is ruined for me because, as big of a Steely Dan fan as I am, I'm an even bigger De La Soul fan so Peg is forever the sample from Eye Know for me. If you don't have the same brain worms as me this shouldn't be a problem.

Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction

I don't hate this album, I actually like it, but I do hate Rolling Stones' attitude towards metal. I can think of like five better metal albums from 1987 that they could shove in here, but no it is only the shit that's most palatable to dadrock audiences. Napalm Death - Scum, Laibach - Opus Dei, Mayhem - Deathcrush, Anthrax - Among The Living, Death - Scream Bloody Gore, King Diamond - Abigail. There that's six, none of them sound at all similar and they are all better than Appetite For Destruction. Sure I could do a real review for this album, but why? What could I say that hasn't been said? That Slash only jas one guitar solo in him that he reuses every song? Old news. That their whole aesthetic is corny as fuck(derogatory)? That their whole aesthetic is corny as fuck(affectionate)? Nothing I say here matters. I do like Nightrain tho. That song kinda goes.

Eric B. & Rakim - Paid In Full

The dynamic duo of 80s hip hop. Rakim was one of the best rappers of the 80s and Eric B. serves as a reminder that hip hop is more than just rapping. In fact Eric B.'s turntablism skills are more often the centerpiece than the rapping such as in Eric B. Is President or the instrumental tracks Eric B. Is On The Cut, Chinese Arithmetic, and Extended Beat. Although Rakim is no slouch and his dedication to internal rhyme schemes influenced a generation of lyrical miracles who would crash and burn trying to live up to Rakim's skill level.

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks

Astral Weeks is jazz pop with folk rock sensibilities. It features lengthy songs with a jazz band backing, but a lot of the instrumentals are also very folk influenced and the production feels more pastoral than jazzy. It's a hazy dreamlike mix of sounds that is fun and delightful to listen to, although I'm a little surprised at how high on the list it is. I'm confused and concerned that we have gotten two Van Morrison albums and zero Tim Buckley's.

Stevie Wonder - Talking Book

Throughout the 60s Stevie Wonder went from child prodigy to teen hit machine and when the 70s began is when he finally entered his 'classic era'. Talking Book was his 15th record but it spawned the biggest hit of his career, Superstition. Talking Book also sees Stevie Wonder evolving as a lyricist. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life expresses a very pure, innocent love that sits a bit outside of how Motown love songs were usually written and Big Brother is the start of Wonder's blunt, serious political songs with upbeat melodies. A landmark album in the funk and soul scene and the start of an era where no one else was allowed to win Grammys

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

Oh here come the very cool tough hard rock boys singing about Tolkein again. Fucking nerds. What is that a mandolin? Lol. This album is so fucking good.

The Band - s/t

Oof, I'm conflicted. On one hand this is an amazing album, on the other it isn't better than Music From The Big Pink. The Band nail a sense of Americana here, especially on The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Up On Cripple Creek, but where Big Pink is a fantastic whole album this one is just a very good collection of songs. Swap their places and I have no complaints.

Liz Phair - Exile In Guyville

You have no idea how happy I am to see this album here, let alone at such a high place on the list. Exile In Guyville is one of the most perfect pieces of lo fi indie rock ever made. Liz Phair hits a unique place between the grunge and indie scenes without ever feeling like she's trying for anything other than sincerity. The sparse instrumentation makes it so every note is important and every emotion is laid bare. The rawness of emotion is essential when she's navigating the nuance of different kinds of disappointed and dispassionate. Liz Phair comes off as deeply cynical about men, but also very horny. I respect that. She roasts handsome confident men and then sings longingly about pathetic weirdos. I really couldn't relate more. This album above all others really makes me feel like I could, should make an album myself. The raw production, the simple short songs, the simple but honest lyrics. Exile In Guyville is one of the greatest indie albums of all time.

[wobinbug]

Tagged by @kaiasky here to post five songs I actually listen to (which, I agree, is a very funny challenge name). I don't really have anyone I can tag, so I'm happy for (and encourage) anyone to continue the chain :)

MCR - This Is How I Disappear - I love this song; it's dramatic, dark and moody while having extremely addictive instrumentation (I'm still shook every time I hear the tambourine come in). I also find the lyrics really interesting. The whole Black Parade album is about a cancer patient coming to terms with their death and this song particularly focuses on the idea of being forgotten eventually, which is so ouch, but wonderfully cathartic. Alternatively, without that context, it's like the most dramatic breakup song you've ever heard lol.

TK from Ling Tosite Sigure - First Death - So, the best way I can describe this song is it makes me feel a very similar kind of way to 'This Is How I Disappear' haha. Of course, this song is a Chainsaw Man ED and the lyrics are pretty specifically tailored to the preceding events in the anime (which I won't spoil here, but they seem to reflect the inner thinkings of a certain character during a certain event). It's energetic and cathartic, with falsetto tones that remind me of ghosts which is so unique.

Takuto - All Categorise - This is ED for Young Black Jack and previously my alarm for several years. Why? Because I think it's a pretty uplifting and cute song, really gets me energised! The lyrics fit well with Black Jack as a character in the series: he's fairly idealistic, but the world is pretty strongly against him. That said, ultimately, he's pretty dead-set on becoming a doctor to help people. The lyrics of the songs itself, as far as I can tell, seem to be about trying to see the bright side of things and appreciate the beauty in life, even where it's hard to find.

Rie Fu - Life is Like a Boat - AKA my current alarm... I feel like I don't need to elaborate much with Rukia in my pfp here, but I just think this is a beautiful song and so nostalgic for me. It was probably also the first song I heard that combines English and Japanese verses, which I think it super unique. I don't have too much to say about the lyrics, but they certainly tug at the heartstrings... Idk, I just love it, it makes me want to start rhythmically waving my lighter in the air (a terrible idea for someone just waking up lmfao).

Ghost - Square Hammer - My friend really fucking loves Ghost and I absolutely do get it, their songs scratch a specific kind of itch. I kind of feel like this is how people in the 80's must have felt listening to 80's music drop (if that makes any kind of sense :')). Anyway, this is one of their songs that's made its way into my playlists because I just find it so easy to listen to (this is a good thing). I also like how, from an engineering perspective, the lyrics are absolutely asking the correct questions (sorry 😂).

[peachypede]

Oooo hopefully these weren't already mentioned but how about 🎶 and 🔱 for Aman, Calhoun, and the berries! Hope your day has been well 😊🩷

I am back home and feeling a lot better than I was haha. Being a homebody and pregnant made me realize how much I truly hate traveling oof -.-'

ask meme is here

🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what type of music does your oc like? do they listen to music very often?

Pecha

Pop and Indie Rock. She's the type to hear a song that sounds really good to her and then constantly listen to it for the rest of the week. She has a couple of artists and bands that she likes like Beach Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo... (or the pokemon equivalents) but she doesn't really keep up to date with them either. She likes music that fits her vibes at the moment and thus her music taste can be very spontaneous.

When she was a teen, though, she was a big kpop boy band fan and a Piers fan, mostly because she had insane crushes on whoever was singing.

Rawst

Video Game Soundtracks. Although he likes a lyriced song every now and then, he's a big fan of music he can just mindlessly listen to without being distracted by voices. Sonic Mania is one of his favorites. What's nice about soundtracks is that he can play them in the background during chill streams.

IF he does listen to a lyrical song, then it's definitely from a Persona game or again, Sonic.

Aman

Oldies, but mostly 70s and 80s. Partially because Hassel and Brassius would only listen to that when he was a kid, but also because he doesn't really like modern music. His favorite bands/artists are Depeche Mode, Prince, and Yellow Magic Orchestra.

Also listens to a lot of Japanese (Sinnohan in this universe I guess) City Pop because it reminds him of the stuff his mother used to listen to.

Calhoun

Doesn't really listen to music? Enjoys 80s because that's what he listened to in his teens, but honestly he doesn't listen to much because of how often he's out in the wilderness. He grew up in a busy lifestyle with Rich parents and a constantly crowded and loud environment from the get togethers his parents would host. Even in his older age, he's tired of it. He's grown a fondness for the music nature plays instead. There's nothing better than Kricketots and Kricketune's chirping at night.

🔱 TRIDENT EMBLEM — can your oc swim? do they enjoy swimming?

Pecha

Yep! Cal made sure that both of his kids learned to swim since they were little. Pecha likes to go swimming but prefers wadding in rivers or the ocean because she likes exploring nature more than the physical exercise.

Rawst

Yes. Like Pecha, he was taught by Cal, but Rawst dislikes swimming due to how revealing normal swimsuits are. He's insecure about his body, particularly his chest, so he usually wears a tshirt or hoodie over his swim trunk and sits outside the water at swimming parties or events.

Aman

Yes mostly because an Interpol Agent needs to be ready to swim if the situation calls for it. He doesn't really enjoy it because swimming with his prosthetics (no matter how waterproof they are) can be cumbersome. He likes a swim party but he's either wading or out of the water.

Calhoun

Yes and he loves it. Mostly in nature though like in rivers, lakes, or the ocean because he can check for any bugs types that might be there. He's pretty fit, so swimming for physical exercise doesn't deter him but he's similar to his daughter where he likes exploring more than swimming itself.

[aesopsbaby]

Hi and happy new year! I would like to request the new years match up headcanons from you(I always love your writing so I couldn’t resist) the fandoms I would like to see are genshin impact and danganronpa(specifically 2)

As you have seen before; I have short blonde hair with green eyes and pale ivory skin; I wear grunge aesthetic clothing and I’m 5’5’’

I have an ISTP personality type; “ISTP indicates a person who is energized by time spent alone (Introverted), who focuses on facts and details rather than ideas and concepts (Sensing), who makes decisions based on logic and reason (Thinking) and who prefers to be spontaneous and flexible rather than planned and organized (Perceiving).” from google; and I feel like it fits well.

I like art and reading, I enjoy horror movies and games, I enjoy nature and doing photography for it, I also enjoy free writing

I’m not a fan of unnecessarily loud people and crowds, I don’t like pop music(like the new stuff coming out) I like the old 80’s and 90’s goth stuff and grunge music in general.

My pronouns are any, but mainly she/ her, and I’m panromantic but my preferred gender is Male(to the match up)

bye and happy new year

Helloooo and happy new year to you too! :D IM ACTUALLY SO HAPPY YOU LOVE MY WRITINGS <,3 It mean alot to me to hear that! I'll add a third matchup and,,,I'll be going with BSD if that's alright! ^^ hope you'll enjoy this!!

I tried not to use the same characters as previous matchup!

I match you up with:

Genshin Impact: Diluc Ragnvindr

Danganronpa: Korekiyo Shinguji

Bungou Stray Dogs: Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Hcs/reason for chosen characters:

Diluc-> A secluded man that chooses to show his affections through actions more than words! Knowing that you'd rather spend your time alone and in silence, Diluc will occasionally show up to leave gifts for you. A silent act of service, as if to tell you that he cares for you dearly. You'll find a plate with food left on your desk and a small letter telling you to take a break for a little <3 Diluc shows his affection through actions and it'd be hard to pick up on sometimes,,,but just know he loves you alot!!

Diluc despise crowds as well so most of the time, you'll find yourself spending the time in his embrace as he works through paperworks. And other times, its just the both of you holding onto each other, only the soft humming of your heartbeats and soft breathes could be heard. Both of you content with just spending time like this as the sun goes down <3

Korekiyo-> Another man that much rather prefers the quiet and gentle nature of silence. Being with him, you're bound to receive a large amount of compliments every day! You'd wake up to him caressing the side of your face and smiling fondly at you with so much love in his eyes, pressing a chaste kiss on your forehead before muttering; "Good morning, love." ♡ He's one to compliment your photography skills and may even give you some advice sometimes! He adores that you're capturing the beauty of nature <33

Fyodor-> Fyodor, being the closed off man he is, it'll be hard to understand what exactly he's feeling since he doesn't express himself much. However!! He'll be smooth with his words when it's concerning you, tone laced with adoration as it's directed towards you and only you.

Fyodor will be protective over you, it's in his nature. So expect to be pampered by him occasionally, gifts and small acts of affection through hand holdings and hugs from behind. He'd creep up on you and wrap his hand around your waist, placing his head into the crook of your neck, this way he kills two birds with one stone as he gets to be close with you and also warm his cold hands <33

Fyodor also dislikes loud environment so he'll definitely love to spend quiet time with you, indulging in your hobbies and even taking the time to listen to you talk about what you love! He knows a thing or two about books so he'd be more than happy to share with you some of his recommendations!

Songs that remind me of your match up:

Diluc:

Korekiyo:

Fyodor:

[sarahk4]

80's Songs That Remind Me Of Each Party Member

I shared all of the songs on my 80's playlist between the six members of the Party! There's a few that are on more than one list and some lists are longer than others cause I feel like I have more similar music taste to some than others!

If you would of put any of them anywhere else let me know, I'd love to hear what you think ♡

MAX

Running Up That Hill- Kate Bush

Every Breath You Take- The Police

Time After Time- Cyndi Lauper

I Wanna Dance With Somebody- Whitney Houston (Also in Will & El's lists. Imagine them hanging out dancing to it. Like sleepover)

Girls Just Want To Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper

True Colours- Cyndi Lauper

Heaven Is A Place On Earth- Belinda Carlisle (I imagine Nancy as a Belinda Carlisle fan too and they bond!)

I Get Weak- Belinda Carlisle

World Without You- Belinda Carlisle

Leave a Light On- Belinda Carlisle

Super Trouper- ABBA (I feel like Joyce loves ABBA and it rubs off on all the kids)

Chain Reaction- Diana Ross

Material Girl- Madonna

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now- Starship (Lumax ♡)

Angel- Madonna (S3 sleepover scene)

Wouldn't Change A Thing- Kylie Minogue

True Blue- Madonna (Max would be the biggest Madonna fan)

Like a Prayer- Madonna

La Isla Bonita- Madonna

Like a Virgin- Madonna

Express Yourself- Madonna (I feel like all the girls would like this one)

On and On and On- ABBA (Also on El's list. They would love it)

I Think We're Alone Now- Tiffany

Edge of Seventeen- Stevie Nicks

Stuck With You- Huey Lewis and The News (Also in Lucas's list cause I love Lumax)

Fame- Irene Cara (Also in El's list)

We Got The Beat- The Go-Go's

LUCAS

Every Breath You Take- The Police

I Want To Know What Love Is- The Foreigner

Footloose- Kenny Loggins

The Way You Make Me Feel- Michael Jackson

Man In The Mirror- Michael Jackson

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go- Wham

Endless Love- Lionel Richie and Diana Ross (He's a romantic! Would constantly try to make Max duet with him)

If I Could Turn Back Time- Cher (Also on Dustin's list. Would be their mutual guilty pleasure they hide from the others)

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now- Starship (Also on Max's list. They're adorable)

Waiting For A Star To Fall- Boy Meets Girl

Lay All Your Love On Me- ABBA

Mary's Prayer- Danny Wilson

Opposite's Attract- Paula Abdul

Stuck With You- Huey Lewis and The News (Also in Max's list cause I love Lumax)

Total Eclipse Of The Heart- Bonnie Tyler (He and Dustin would do dramatic performances of it)

Love Shack- The B-52's

Everywhere- Fleetwood Mac

WILL

Everybody Wants To Rule The World- Tears For Fears

Should I Stay Or Should I Go- The Clash

I Wanna Dance With Somebody- Whitney Houston (Also in Max & El's lists. Imagine them hanging out dancing to it. Like sleepover)

A Little Respect- Erasure (I feel like Joyce would love this one too)

(I've Had) The Time Of My Life- Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

The Winner Takes It All- ABBA

Under Attack- ABBA

Who Loves Ya Baby?- Debbie Gibson (Will and El would both love Debbie Gibson)

Electric Youth- Debbie Gibson

Together in Electric Dreams- The Human League

Love Changes (Everything)- Climie Fisher

Alone- Heart

How Will I Know- Whitney Houston

Walking on Sunshine- Katrina & The Waves (Also in El's list)

EL

Mickey- Toni Basil

I'm Still Standing- Elton John

Holding Out For A Hero- Bonnie Tyler

I Wanna Dance With Somebody- Whitney Houston (Also in Will & Max's lists. Imagine them hanging out dancing to it. Like sleepover)

Girl's Just Want To Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper (El would love bubblegum pop!)

9 to 5- Dolly Parton

I Know Him So Well- Elaine Paige

Slipping Through My Fingers- ABBA

What A Feeling- Irene Cara (I feel like Nancy would have really similar music taste to El which is where she finds most of these songs)

Material Girl- Madonna

Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi- Kylie Minogue (Bubblegum pop!)

It's No Secret- Kylie Minogue

I'll Still Be Loving You- Kylie Minogue

The Loco-Motion- Kylie Minogue

I Should Be So Lucky- Kylie Minogue

On and On and On- ABBA (Also on Max's list. They would love it)

Uptown Girl- Billy Joel

Out Of The Blue- Debbie Gibson (El and Will would both love Debbie Gibson)

Electric Youth- Debbie Gibson

We Could Be Together- Debbie Gibson

Xanadu- Olivia Newton-John

Morning Train (Nine to Five)- Sheena Easton

Crazy For You- Madonna

Fame- Irene Cara (Also in Max's list)

I'm So Excited- The Pointer Sisters

Walking on Sunshine- Katrina & The Waves (Also in Will's list)

DUSTIN

Neverending Story- Limahl

Africa- Toto

The Best- Tina Turner

All Night Long- Lionel Richie

Careless Whisper- Wham

Islands In The Stream- Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers (Idk why this reminds me of him but it does)

If I Could Turn Back Time- Cher (Also on Dustin's list. Would be their mutual guilty pleasure they hide from the others)

(I Just) Died In Your Arms- Cutting Crew

All Out Of Love- Air Supply

Love In The First Degree- Bananarama

Somewhere In My Heart- Aztec Camera

Don't Dream It's Over- Crowded House

The Boys Of Summer- Don Henley

Total Eclipse Of The Heart- Bonnie Tyler (He and Lucas would do dramatic performances of it)

Don't Stop Believin'- Journey (Steve would love it too which is where Dustin would pick it up)

Take On Me- A-Ha

MIKE

Don't You (Forget About Me)- Simple Minds (This song just screams Mike to me)

The Power Of Love- Huey Lewis and The News

Summer of '69- Bryan Adams (He would be a massive Bryan Adam's fan)

Just Can't Get Enough- Depeche Mode

Heroes- David Bowie

Can't Fight This Feeling- REO Speedwagon

The Longest Time- Billy Joel (He, Will, Dustin and Lucas have tried to do this whole song themselves at least once)

Tell Her About It- Billy Joel

Danger Zone- Danny Loggins

Need You Tonight- INXS

Little Lies- Fleetwood Mac

Glory Days- Bruce Springsteen

The Whole Of The Moon- The Waterboys

Livin' On A Prayer- Bon Jovi

Don't You Want Me- The Human League

This is just my opinion and if you have another opinion, I'd love to hear it ♡

[mothereliza]

I AM The True Vine - you, the branches (John 15: 1-8)

In John’s gospel, Jesus invites us to stay close to him as a branch to a vine; He emphasizes the importance of this connection: “If you abide in me, you will bear much fruit.”

The Old Testament writers used vines and branches as metaphors to describe Israel’s relationship with God. Psalm 80 says, “God brought the vine out of Egypt, cleared the ground, planted and filled the land.” The leaves were lustrous but yielded no fruit because Israel abused its prosperity for idolatry, so God took his grace from them. But Jesus said, “I AM THE TRUE VINE.” And we know that the branches of a vine are the life of its fruit. To survive, a branch must stay attached to the vine like the limb of a massive tree so the wind may not blow it off. That’s what Jesus desires for Christians – to hold on to the vine to be vibrant branches.

This means staying alert, hanging tightly, and getting busy, which is arduous work for Christians and it means consistent spiritual renewal.

            It's Spring and this is the time of year when gardeners at heart begin planting seeds and tending the shoots emerging from winter soil. We know that just because we want something to grow does not guarantee it will. We also know that getting our roses to bloom means cutting back the canes; encouraging the growth of the tomato plants means pinching off the gangly stems, and getting a second bloom from the impatiens, or the pansies and zinnias, means cutting back the early flowers. The short of this is if you love your garden, it will love you back. Love is practical when it is reciprocal.

Jazz music lovers may know the story of George Alexander Aberle. He’s an American songwriter and poet. He lived much of his life under the name Eden Ahbez. He was a forerunner of the hippie movement - a wandering advocate of love and nature. He spent much of his adulthood in California, at one point camping under one of the “Ls” of the famous Hollywood sign - a real “hippie.” He coined the line – “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return,” – which became a hit song made famous by Nat King Cole. (Check “Nature Boy” album).

Ahbez reminds us that while people busy themselves in pursuit of success and achievement, our true purpose and fulfillment in life are determined simply by love – and the most remarkable thing you’ll ever learn is to love and be loved in return”.

I see this in Jesus’ words: “Abide in me, and I will abide in you.” And he also said, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit [God] takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he [God] prunes, that it may bear fruit.”

These verses signal that there will be a remnant—a faithful branch that remains connected. Most Christians are afraid of this pruning. I learned that when a vine grower prunes, it has a two-fold focus: cutting off the dead and trimming the healthy. If there is a useless branch, like the long leafless twigs that no longer produce, they are removed. The vine grower will lighten the vine of these useless branches. By removing the dead branches, the rest of the vine is strengthened.

But sometimes, even the living branches are pruned. For instance, the vinedresser may cut back some of the growth from the previous seasons, and in Spring, he may break off some of the new shoots. That’s because if there are too many clusters of grapes on a branch, it can weaken and even crack. It seems strange to prune a healthy branch and cut it back because the short-term solution produces less fruit. However, the vine grower is committed to a total and vivacious harvest, so the vine grower thinks longer-term. He knows that because of his pruning, the vine will become more robust and yield more grapes at harvest time. For us Christians, it may be intimidating to hear, but we rely on the work of the Holy Spirit to stay close to Jesus and assuredly continue to feed on his love without fear. Still, we must be careful about what clusters our spiritual life.

The Epistle in I John 4:7 teaches fascinating facts about the fear of love, which I want to emphasize: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear --- whoever fears has not reached perfection in love."

This reminds me of the Beatles song " All We Need is Love." Staying close to Jesus and sharing his passion for loving us means you can’t say, ‘I love God’ and hate your brothers or sisters (vv.19-21). Commit to your baptismal vows, love one another, strive for justice, bear fruit, and continue to make disciples for Christ.

May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to persevere in this commitment. AMEN!

[paganpoetrywrittendown]

Agnetha's legacy (aka Attack Of The Swedes)

At some point, I will have to write about ABBA. They were the first band i ever got into...i was like 10 or 11. Back then, the fact that they were Swedish was a novelty. Now, being Swedish is no big deal...there's is a virtual Scandinavian invasion afoot. So Attack Of The Swedes, here we go

With Every Heartbeat-Robyn You might remember Robyn from a few years back. She was this short Swedish chick with a Pink-esque look and had some minor hits (i think they both hit the Top 40) with Show Me Love and Do You Know What It Takes. Catchy tunes, yes...but kinda blended into the pop/r&b landscape (although i actually liked the former). And then she disappeared.

Well lo and behold, she's back. Now older, Robyn left the major labels and puts out her own music, using the web and MySpace to promote her music. She was linked up with Max Martin (future Britney Spears svengali) and was irritated that she lost control of her music. So she bailed. Kinda cool. I read about her on another blog...she had a song out last year (although the album is just out in the UK) called Be Mine. Insanely catchy, it should have been an enormous hit. Over skittering beats and massive strings, it's all angst and girlish tears (it opens with the fabulous line "it's a good thing tears never show in the pouring rain"...basically she sees her ex-boyfriend with another girl. It all features a fantastic spoken word interlude about the scarf that she gave him and the new girl. Honestly, shoulda been huge. Maybe still will...who knows.

Two other songs worth nothing hit the web. Robotboy (also great pop) and Konichiwa Bitches, which is about 2 minutes long in its original version and featuring a much lauded Trentemoller mix. Both good....

but this....simply gorgeous. Again, it's pop. But its brilliant. It's on the cd as well as being out on a single where its credited to Kleerup featuring Robyn. In any event, she opens the song singing about how she and her love should keep working

maybe we can make it alright we could better sometime maybe we can make it happen baby we could keep trying....

and then, in a moment that i can only call a "Joy Division" moment (i know sacrilege) the song literally sounds like it is lifting up...she sings...."but things will never change, so i don't look back, still i am dyin' with every step i take." And then the beat comes in. And thats it...she just walks away while the song goes on to talk about why the relationship will never ever work and how it hurts "with every heartbeat." Its a beautiful sad song. It reminds me of If You Leave by OMD, I am sure because of the subject matter and the phrase "If you leave, don't look back." Maybe its the companion piece or its her answer. But it has that same feel...surely one of the more beautiful melancholy Number 1's of the 80's. Please seek out this song...its wonderful and charming and cool.

Anyways, you can check it out on www.juno.co.uk or on www.beatport.com or on her website,http://www.robyn.com/index.html and you can check out some of the other songs i mentioned on her myspace site, http://www.myspace.com/robynmyspace

Lose You-Linda Sundblad

Another Swede and another MySpace denizen (http://myspace.com/lindasundblad), where i ran into her. This is a song that you could easily imagine hearing on the radio. It definitely sounds a bit like some of the better selections from Sheryl Crow...it has that casual rock-chick feel. Also, its very summer. Honestly, it reminds me a bit of the 70's...very Fleetwood Mac...i don't know, the chords or the organ sound.

Keeping with the blonde, gorgeous yet dark & melancholic Swedish vein, the song starts out all casual about meeting a boy

Pounding heart on a Saturday night sneaking peeks down my velvet skirt cutie talk not to witty or bright but your beauty was the kind that could hurt l could tell from the look in your eyes l was trigging your insanity l just knew l could see it that...

and then the song goes from a pensive meeting to a much darker and twisted place

...i would lose you, i would lose you from the start

Very Bergman, if you ask me.

Sit Down-Flunk

Ok. Not Swedish. Nobody knows this band. I think like 4 people outside of Norway (1 is me, 1 is Carlos). It's a shame. At the risk of labeling them with an adjective often considered bad, they are often lumped into the chillout genre. I consider them soul music, really.

This is their new single. It's beautiful, pensive, kinda sad sounding. Very late night. Very glass of red wine...you can check it out here....http://flunkmusic.com/personale/

but what i really want to write about is this song

On My Balcony-Flunk 3 minutes and 10 seconds of sexy sexy sexy. Has a vague hip-hop beat and a funky guitar. And that's kinda it, save the languid vocals of Anya Oyen Vister. Anya has a very Scandinavian voice...its hard to explain, but she has that chilly/warm combo that you hear in many artists from that area.

Like i said, the song is very sensual...i'd even say erotic, although not explicit in any sense.

Here comes summer Beaming in through my bedroom window There´s a song on the radio You used to hum back then Here comes summer Still feels fresh as morning air Today I'll just stay here And do, well, whatever I´ll do whatever Please, make summer last forever All I wanna do Is sit here on my balcony And think about you and me And how happy we could be

And thats kinda it. From my perspective, the song is kinda ambiguous. You don't really know if they will be happy, i guess. However, its hopefully, not only in the tone, but i get this image of her on her balcony in the early morning, maybe her lover is still sleeping. Its early, both literally and in the relationship, and she's hopeful that it will always stay just like this. Summer as a metaphor for the beginning part of every relationship, before things get tough (and sometimes end...Linda Sundblad knows its gonna end right from the start)

Find the album Morning Star....you can hear it there. Sexy sexy sexy, i swear.

[rainydawgradioblog]

10 most underrated Joni Mitchell songs

Joni Mitchell’s surprise return to Spotify marks the first day of my life. Two grueling years of mp3 downloads, YouTube video playlists, and Apple Music temptations took quite the toll, but we’ve made it. To celebrate, here’s a list of 10 criminally underrated Joni bangers that deserve your streams. Now!

“Refuge of the Roads” (1976)

The ultimate highway soundtrack, “Refuge of the Roads” is an escapist hallucination with some of the sexiest bass you’ll ever hear. Joni’s on the run, hiding from the critics and her deep-seeded feelings of love that keep her from being the picture of independence she longed to be. The song details her miraculous recovery from cocaine addiction thanks to a Tibetan Buddhist master in Colorado and the insignificance of her emotional existence. It’s also one of her favorite songs she ever recorded!

“Judgment of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)” (1972)

A piano tribute to Beethoven, “Ludwig’s Tune” is Joni finding solace in another legendary musician’s experience of being misinterpreted. Just like Ludwig, her art was deemed “too raw” at a time where no one was trauma dumping like Joni was. The song is a peak in Joni’s orchestration skills, with glorious winds and vocal runs, plus some of her best poetry to match. 

“Talk to Me” (1977)

I never thought the same woman who sang “A Case Of You” would be literally chicken squawking on record, but we’re blessed to live in that reality. Joni’s sense of humor on “Talk To Me” is on full display, dodging punchy acoustic guitar and raging fretless bass, begging “Mr. Mystery” (presumably Bob Dylan) to talk to her. “You spend every sentence as if it was marked currency / Come and spend some on me” is lyrical brilliance, not to mention one of the most iconic opening lines, period.

“Harry’s House/Centerpiece” (1975)

Joni’s storytelling skills fly under the radar way too often, despite her pointed observations in “Harry’s House/Centerpiece” being one of the greatest critiques of gender roles in music. Her blend of jazz fusion and a jazz standard adds to the traditional versus modern views of gender roles she’s observing, and her top tier crooning sells it hard. Not to mention Harry Styles named a whole album after the song!

Borderline (1994)

Not many of Joni’s songs match the intensity of “Borderline,” with a drop dead gorgeous steel guitar/organ combo and insightful 50-year-old cynicism. I think of “Borderline” as her 90s version of “Both Sides Now”. She makes sure to remind us that no one really knows life at all, and pretending otherwise only builds the borderlines between us. A brutally honest queen!

“Love” (1982)

For someone who allegedly doesn’t know love at all, Joni seems very well-acquainted with it on this song. Her insightful takes are a lot to digest, but they’re paired with winding early-80s production that work seamlessly. Think Leonard Cohen-level poetry and Steely Dan-esque funk with just a touch of 80s cheesiness.  

“People’s Parties” (1974)

Even Joni has social anxiety, and “People’s Parties” is very that. Her descriptions of the posh social climbers and dramatics at the exclusive events she attends is strangely relatable to your average introvert, while also serving up a juicy critique of elitism in showbusiness. “People’s Parties” is some of her most charismatic musical phrasing, and her lower register in the outro scratches every itch in my brain. 

“The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines” (1979)

Charles Mingus pulled something so specific out of Joni that is not talked about enough. On “TDCFDM,” Joni’s practically playing the part of every instrument next to bumbling bass, skittering drums, floating saxophone, and razor-sharp horns, and sounding next-level doing it. If anything Joni’s made proves her supernatural abilities, it’s this song.

Conversation (1970)

“Conversation” is the original love triangle song, and Joni is feeling chaotic. She’s helplessly flirting back and forth with a guy who’s taken, bringing him apples and cheese and listening to him rant about his relationship issues. Sonically the song is the perfect encapsulation of obsessing over someone new, and her signature soprano is perfection as per usual. 

The Last Time I Saw Richard (1971)

Holding a candle to ballads like “A Case Of You” and “River” seems unthinkable, but Blue’s closer makes it look easy. Richard and Joni play two sides of a spectrum; Richard being chewed up and spit out by pain and heartbreak, while Joni is fighting for optimism amidst the emotional devastation we hear on Blue. Joni’s pissed and panicked that someone could give up on happiness, so she’s “gonna blow this damn candle out,” refusing to let life get the best of her. 

Here's my comprehensive guide to Joni in playlist form including influences, influencers, and more. Happy listening!

Mead Gill

[thebonnetblogger]

“ANTI”: The Perfect Breakup Anthem

Why Rihanna's last album was the anthem for the recently heartbroken.

Relationships have never been my expertise. Throughout my twenty-odd years, I have yet to get this “dating” thing right. However, throughout my trails and errors I have come to realize that relationships are arduous and that no relationship is perfect. And yet, even when I dive myself into these romantic associations, I seem to forget how though they are hard, breaking up is even harder. During a breakup with a normal person, they go through the stages of grief—desperate answers, denial, bargaining, relapse, anger, and initial acceptance. Like I said before, this is the stages a NORMAL person goes through when parting ways with their significant other. I am not your normal person. The aftermath of my breakups usually involves Netflix, writing, cheeseburgers, and drowning out my thoughts with music.

 The saying goes that music soothes the savage beast. If that was true, I assumed it would do wonders for a woman scorned and heartbroken. Low and behold, I came across, ANTI, eighth album from the beautiful and talented, Rihanna. I became a fan of Rihanna ever since her 2005 hit single, Pon De Replay. Since then, she has delivered hit after hit; transforming from a good girl gone bad (you see what I did there?). The single, “Work” featuring Drake was already a smash hit on the radio. I loved this dance-oriented jam that exuded hints of sex and intimacy. The reggae and dancehall feel of the single was idiosyncratic. How could you not dance to this song, let alone not like it? The album had to be fire. How right I was. ANTI was a hard-hitting, soulful album that touched every theme of a relationship that I have ever experienced and currently experiencing. It lunged in what it is like to be in love, how it feels to get hurt, the desire to need someone, and ultimately being one’s true self. All of the songs came off as a blueprint to my current situation, but there was only a few that really spoke to me.

The first song, Consideration, came with a somewhat distorted beat that featured Rihanna’s Barbadian accent as she starts with the verse claiming to have come fluttering from a Neverland. Will you ever let me grow? Many speculate that the song referenced her turning her back on record labels. I saw it as a woman leaving a toxic relationship where she no longer felt appreciated; wanting to find some peace in mind. I saw myself.

“Will ever let me? Will you ever respect me? No.”

I did have the feeling of anger. In the song, Needed Me, the Barbadian beauty delivers a catchy melody about romantic rejection that is wrapped around a synthetic sound. The song reminds me how one regrets catching feelings for the person who broke their heart. I HEAR THAT! I was good on my own before the “person” came into my life, played with my heart, and then stomped on it with his size eight shoe. “Feeling jaded, huh?” Just a little bit. I needed to hear how he got me confused and that men like him come a dime a dozen. It was like a better way of saying that there are more fish in the sea. I needed to hear it. Like I needed to hear, Woo. In the trap-influenced percussion song, Riri goes into depths about being spiteful over an ex-lover. We have all been there. “I don’t really love/ I don’t really care about you no more”, was in a way to declare one’s independence. Isn’t that what we all want after a bad breakup?

Then comes the relapse. This is the part where the pain of the breakup becomes intolerable. At that moment, you will try to convince your ex to get back together. That was Kiss Me Better. The 80’s power pop ballad with its electric guitar and deep synths details about how a detrimental relationship can appear to be lustrous and alluring. It tells the person to forget one’s pride and the hurt inside when looking in his eyes; torture. With the song, Love On The Brain, the singer sings a song that depicts a negative, yet addicting relationship. This is real life I am listening to. The yearning of an ex-lover is rather depressing, but we have all been there. We know the relationship is wrong, but we want it anyway.  It leaves one somewhat mourning the feeling it is like to want to feel love, but have an inability to, similar to the song, Never Ending.

The album couldn’t have come at a better time for me. The album was both conflicting and exuberant. It was as if Rihanna created this album with me in mind; as though she knew that I would go through ridiculousness and needed to give me something to send my hope to redirect a tumultuous relationship into the unknown void. The sound of Rihanna’s gritty voice displayed empowerment as she intoned a ruinous lonesome that exudes a morose, intimate sound with an original intent to acknowledge how difficult adulthood can be.  The unbearable emotional pain usually takes weeks or months to get over, while fortunately, it took me only sixteen tracks.