#and tbh I’d rather be called that than acoustic

[actual-real-table-salt]

How are there still nt people who use autistic as an insult?

[jaunes-hoodie-my-beloved]

hi!! how are you doing? could you maybe do some music taste headcanons for the bakusquad? 🥺

Hi! How are you? Thanks for asking, I'm doing fine! Sorry about the late answer, I just have a random music taste and don't know many songs so this got me thinking, y'know? But it was really fun!

Alright so I'm doing classic bakusquad (bakugou, kirishima, mina, sero, denki) + shinsou and Jirou.

BAKUGOU

-Okay so. I think that he has the most complicated taste, right? Because there's many styles that would fit him.

-In one hand, we've got songs with a lot of power and focus on drums, most of which he listened to while learning to play. Nice rhythm, kinda a vibe, right?

-Then there's also part of me that says like, he's got a couple songs that remind him of their friends. Buy they're all kinda very energetic in a "this song SLAPS"

-Has a secret playlist which while it's algo a bit heavy, just had some lyrics he can scream. Whether that means sad lyrics or just rage, that's for you to never know because he won't let anyone find out (it's both tbh)

-Hums and taps a lot so of course Jirou ends up knowing what he listens to.

-All in all has a pretty good taste in music but it's not really for you unless you like that kind of beat.

-Definitely picked up a couple songs from his time with Best Jeanist and whenever someone hears that it's a little shocking because uh, very different styles I suppose.

KIRISHIMA

-Some normal stuff I'd say. Just gives me the vibe of "unironically includes the Shrek song in his playlist". I KNOW IT HAS A NAME I don't know what it is tho.

-Will vibe to anything but really just likes something he can sing to. Unlike Bakugou's "just drum along", Kiri is more of a "I am going to sing and you can't stop me"

-Which is why he has a pretty good range but like. Uh, like instead of being really good at like either high pitched or low or whatever, he's fairly good at all of them.

-Okay so I think he'd be the one who finds a good portion of his playlist through memories, y'know? Instead of going through like recommended stuff, he vibes more to things he can remember fondly. Say, a movie he really liked, or the one song that played during the best day of hanging out, stuff like that.

-Likes meme songs, as long as they're good to him AKA they fit his taste. He'll like never gonna give you up, but he won't really listen to the distraction dance a lot.

-YOU KNOW THOSE MELANCHOLIC SONGS? the ones that are like almost rock but not quite?? Those ones.

MINA

-Ok so a long time ago I saw an edit of the squad singing bubble pop electric and that scenario lives rent free in my head now.

-What I mean is that she listens to like, things to vibe and dance to, and generally goes more ln the trendy side than Bakugou or Kiri do.

-This doesn't exclude genres. Like, if she can dance to it and likes it's vibe, it's going in the playlist. Also sings along a lot, so she and Kiri usually alternate between singing.

-I feel like she'd enjoy the random background music from videos she sees and is like "oh? That slaps" and just finds it so she can vibe to it.

-Has a couple of rather emotional songs that when she sings them, everyone is just like 👁️����👁️ because she sings so beautifully and with such feeling it gives the song an extra layer of wow, nice.

SERO

-Has quite a number of songs that are the vibe of "remind me of home" and it's a very diverse playlist but it's actually really good.

-In fact, he likes listening to those compilations of "songs that remind you of X year at X place" or whatever.

-Definitely some lo-fi or something nice to vibe to whenever he or his friends are stressed or just wanna hang out and chill.

-I feel like he also listens to some like, acoustic guitar covers of songs or something... I mean just a song he likes in a nice vibe? Go for it.

-Has a couple meme or videogame songs there too, some of them were definitely Denki's recommended, but they were pretty good songs and they're very nice.

-I don't know how to describe this, but sometimes his and Shinsou's playlists have a similar energy even if they don't share a single song (though there's usually a couple songs they both enjoy and sing)

DENKI

-Electronic music is, as you'd expect, a good portion of his playlist. However since I don't really know about that kind of music I can't say much further.

-Meme! Songs! And in this case, it included things like the Coconut Mall song, the don't be suspicious audio, etc. (Can you tell I'm projecting?)

-Of course, trendy songs. Some of them stay on the playlist temporarily, some stay forever.

-Once again I'm projecting. He has a TON of playlists but they're like, actually tried to make one and gave up halfway through because he started saving memes.

-So the playlist that he's got that actually work and he can just put it on and vibe to music without scrolling three hours of memes, are playlists made for him.

-Has some songs that no one ever heard of before but they're absolute bangers too.

-And of course sweet Caroline. That reblog lives rent free in my head now.

SHINSOU

-I have NO idea what his general music taste could be, but I can name a few things I can see.

-Some sad songs to vibe to (Nobody by Mitski, Goodbye to the World (yes the among us song), uh... My music knowledge is lacking tbh. Polish cow! Which he found via Denki I guess)

-Wont admit it but he actually has a couple songs that he found from his dads' playlists. Which I don't know what they are like but you get the idea.

-Will vibe with everyone's music, honestly. They have good taste, yeah, but it's also the "oh I'm too nervous about sharing my music" feeling.

-Also likes specific playlists like Sero does, mostly as background vibes while he does something else.

-ASMR. But like the ones with like keyboard typing, writing on paper, etcetera. The sound of company. But this is mostly whenever he can't just vibe around his cats or get like a group hang out session.

-A couple songs for kids (Eri) that are actually a bop.

JIROU

-Guitar and voice. Like people just grabbing a guitar and singing, whatever that's called. Mostly low-pitched or very melodic.

-A couple of songs that snuck into her playlist after making one for everyone else. And some she added on her own because her friends have good taste.

-Romantic songs!! Personally, I'd like to think she has soft love songs that remind her of Yaomomo, or that Momo herself sent her.

-Movies and series soundtracks. The whole thing of creating a vibe throughout the entire soundtrack is something she likes to see.

-Maybe includes a couple songs of her own when she really likes how they turned out or if she poured a lot of emotions into it. Embarrassed if someone finds out though.

Thanks for the ask!! Hope you liked it.

[polar-stars]

ok. i must know the music tastes of *preparation cough* [insert all of your ocs here] :}

Thank you for enabling me to talk about this 🙏

Kimiko Yukihira 🍳

Kimiko has her own little radio in her room and this radio is pretty much her main source of exposure to music. She therefore listens to a lot of Pop and is especially fond of the upbeat kind. Thanks to the men in her family she has been introduced to various Rock or more Alternative songs as well though. 

Favorite Artists: I feel she’d like Owl City & possibly also Paramore

Hiroshi Aldini-Tadokoro ⚓️

Hiroshi listens to soft things that ease him down. His playlist is full of cute, soft-sounding pop songs and acoustic stuff. 

Favorite Artists: Hm, Jason Mraz, Sleeping At Last & Ai Means Love, I think

Mika Aldini ☀️

As an avid dancer, Mika mainly listens to songs that you can also dance to. So her playlists mainly consist of very fast-paced, exciting songs. Her favorite Genre is Latin-Pop, but she listens to a lot of regular Pop as well (as long as it’s good for dancing). She also does enjoy some Reggae once in a while, especially if she does feels like relaxing.

Favorite Artists: Shakira & Jennifer Lopez 

Kaori Hayama 💐

Kaori listens majorly to Soul, R&B & Blues. She considers it very relaxing and she does mainly listen to music in order to relax. Kaori does also have a little soft spot for a lot of older jazzy tunes from her mother’s favorite movies.   

Favorite Artists: Aretha Franklin, Sade, Alicia Keys & Adele

Lola Nakiri 🦊

Lola is Daddy’s little girl when it comes to the matter of music. When Lola Nakiri puts on headphones, she’ll be blasting her ears off with Rock & Heavy Metal. She’s also known to have a rather impressive collection of band T-shirts. She can find some appreciation in the sassy Pop her mom listens to, but ultimately Rock & Metal is where her heart is. 

Favorite Artists: Iron Maiden and Led Zeppelin I guess. And probably another Metal Band. I sadly only know a few and only by name because I do not listen to Metal, ever. 

Mona Nakiri 🐺

Techno. Mona walks around with her headphones a lot more than Lola does and what she listens to is all sorts of Techno sub-genres and House, with a good number of  Remixes in-between. 

Favorite Artists: Lea doesn’t know any tbh sfghgfhg

Takayuki Hojo 💥

Takayuki listens to Rock like the tough cookie he is. Should he ever listen to anything that isn’t Rock, his father or Suzume most likely made him listen to it. His two favorite songs of all time are “T.N.T” by AC/DC & “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor (Takayuki loves the Rocky movies)

Favorite Artists: As long as it’s Rock he doesn’t care who sings. Okay but he is pretty fond of AC/DC and Guns n’ Roses

Kazuo Mimasaka 💕

My boy Kazuo surely has one big playlist that is filled with nothing but the most sappiest and emotional love-ballads imaginable. And I don’t even want to think about how long it would be. Kazuo can listen to almost anything, the exception being Hardcore Gangster Rap, but what he listens to privately is...yeah, Ballads. 

Favorite Artists: Lionel Richie & Celine Dion are the first names to come to my mind. “My Heart Will Go On” is at the very top of Kazuo’s playlist

Yasu Ibusaki 🌲

Shun passed his liking for Rock down to Yasu. When growing older, Yasu additionally also developed a love for all things Indie & Folkish. Has been called a Hipster for his music taste more than once by Hideyoshi. 

Favorite Artists: Arctic Monkeys, Twenty One Pilots, Hozier 

Chieko Marui 📚

Chieko does listen to a lot of LoFi or Movie/Video Game Soundtracks for studying and relaxation. Her favorite movie soundtrack is that of “The Theory of Everything”. However, when it comes to casual listening her mother got her into Pop. And also thanks to her father, Chieko kinda became accustomed to Pop from all decades. She majorly listens to all sorts off love songs. 

Favorite Artists: TAYLOR SWIFT, Chieko is a confirmed Swiftie. Also really likes Britney Spears tho I feel. 

Hideyoshi Kawashima 🎤

Hideyoshi listens mainly to things you can #party to. Out of all the characters he’s the one who keeps up with the charts the most. Likes Pop and also K-Pop! His dad did successfully get him into some HipHop as well though. Hideyoshi also has a secret soft spot for the boybands of the 90s.

Favorite Artists: Jason Derulo, Backstreet Boys & BTS

Daisuke Aoki 🎸

Daisuke is our Retro-Kid. His music libraries is mostly 80s and 70s, with some songs of the 50s and 60s that his father likes in-between. Is usually the last one in Polar Star to discover the newest hit in the charts, because he’s too busy bopping to the past. Lea can relate. 

Favorite Artists: Queen, A-ha & Huey Lewis & The News

Hiraku Yukihira 🐙

Hiraku likes the modern Rock from the 2000s and 2010s. Occasionally he will stumble over something in the Indie and Alternative department and then be real proud over being the only one who knows a particular song. 

Favorite Artists: Panic! at the Disco, Coldplay and Imagine Dragons

Akio Hayama 🌱

The same as Kaori. This is a thing they have in common, they both do enjoy the same music pretty much. Though I can picture Akio liking some Reggae once in a while in addition. Also just a few days ago, I established that he’s a secret theatre kid who also listens to a lot of Show Tunes. 

Favorite Artists: Stevie Wonder & Marvin Gaye 

Suzume Hojo 🔥

Out of all the characters in the cast, I’d say that Suzume probably has the broadest music taste. She is capable of enjoying a lot of stuff. Being the Meme-Lord that Suzume is, she does love to put on some Meme- and Guilty Pleasure songs. Though of course, there is irony playing into that enjoyment. When it comes to the songs she enjoy unironically, they’re mostly very fast-paced and energetic. I guess you could say her favorite genre is bouncy pop of all decades. Her favorite song of all time would be “Girls just want to have fun”. 

Favorite Artists: Lizzo, Beyoncé and Cindy Lauper. 

Shigeo Eizan 💎

Jazz is Love. Jazz is Life. Shigeo listens to Jazz ahdhd. A lot. He basically always has Jazz going on in the background when he’s working. When he finds the time to listen more attentively, he loves listening to Swing the most. 

Favorite Artists: Frank Sinatra. Also likes Michael Bublé tho I feel. 

Noboru Shinomiya 🍂

Noboru loves nothing more than his collection of classic French Chansons. It’s what he listens to on his long autumn walks through Paris and it makes him happy and content. He also does like the Enka-songs his mother enjoys though.

Favorite Artists: Joe Dassin and Édith Piaf

Kiyoko Saito 🌸

Kiyoko really loves Classical Japanese music a lot but she only really does listen to it on special occassions. She does also enjoy a lot of modern Pop and also K-Pop as well though and she really loves to put it on whenever she dresses up, paints her nails... etc. (Also I can see her being into Vocaloid tbh). 

Favorite Artists: BLACKPINK. I can also see her liking Ariana Grande

Masashi Eizan 🍜

Okay this is our true Classic-Fanatic. All of Nene’s efforts to bring Masashi to operas, ballets and just plain classical concerts have paid off. Masashi listens majorly to Classical Japanese music or Western Classical music. He also does really like Enka. 

Favorite Artist: His favorite Western composer is Beethoven, I haven’t figured out anything else yet. 

Ran Mimasaka 🖋

Ran listens to a lot of operas actually ahdh because, well, she likes operas. Aside from that, she does also enjoy Rock and ChillHop though shdhf. To some this might be a weird combo, but it do be like that sometimes.  

Favorite Artists: In the Rock-department it’s David Bowie. 

-

I admittedly only did the most important high schoolers here, I will need a Part 2 I guess ahdhdf

But still thanks for asking ☺️

[putschki1969]

Hikaru Tsumugu ~ Live Report

Notes: Got a 2-hour train ride ahead of me so I thought I’d use the opportunity to write up a little report. Please note that I was very exhausted during the live so I wasn’t able to pay as much attention as I usually would. Also, I didn’t know 7 out of the 17 performed songs so I had a hard time appreciating them properly. I didn’t cry which kinda surprised me. Maybe I was too tired. Hikaru did get a little teary eyed during the Kalafina section but aside from that, she was mostly happy and excited. Overall I think this live was much more powerful and cheerful in comparison to Hikaru’s birthday event from last year. Maybe that’s why it wasn’t as tearful. Then again, I know quite a lot of people who were sobbing like crazy. Anyways, let’s get this thing started:

Goods: I didn’t buy much tbh. The pamphlet, the tapioca set, the pen and the badges. The other stuff looked a little cheap if I am being honest. A little disappointed with the quality of the pamphlet. Quite expensive but very thin and it’s made up of some sort of rough paper material. Some pages have ugly printing marks (;_;)

Stage production: Pretty simple I’d say. The musicians were lined up on either side of a small staircase. There were some walls in the back and curtains/fabrics on top. They played the PVs of Hikaru’s songs during each H-el-ical// performance, it was nice to have the lyrics on screen to sing along. and for the other songs they mostly used elaborate lighting.

Hikaru’s look: As you can see from the pictures, she had her hair down for most of the live. It was styled very nicely with big curls. She wore a bold red lipstick. The live started with her wearing the white gown/coat. Pretending to take a drink, she went to her little table and all of a sudden she started stripping XD (it was like the Blue Day “signal” performance). She quickly dropped the coat during her MC before “Fili” and revealed a sexy red dress which was very reminiscent of the old Kalafina days (laces, corset style). After the instrumental she returned with a long blue dress that kinda reminded me of Kalafina’s 9+ONE denim style outfits due to the colour scheme. For her anisong section she surprised us once again by dropping the dress and revealing the sexiest outfit ever!!! Black high waisted leather pants and a black leather bralette. *nosebleed* During the encore she wore a black denim skirt and a long sleeved H-el-ical// shirt. Her hair was up. I wish they would have sold that shirt too since it looked much nicer than the normal t-shirts she was selling. As for shoes, she wore shiny black pumps with white laces. Speaking of laces, laces were definitely the main theme of her outfits that night. The coat, the dresses, her leather outfit and even her pumps had laces everywhere. Guess it all boils down to Tsumugu = Spinning. In her pamphlet you can see all the threads spinning around so I guess she was trying to go for the same vibe regarding her fashion. So glad Hikaru was kind enough to provide pictures of everything!!

Musicians: Everyone was in such a good mood!!! Gussy (Hikaru’s composer and one of the guitarists) was particularly hyped, he seemed to be really into it. Was a lot of fun to watch them perform.

Overall sound: I think for the most part, the live sounded great. Hikaru was in good shape and sang her songs well. If you don’t like the studio version though you won’t like the live version either. Hikaru pretty much used the same singing style which she used for the recording. The backing vocals were playing in the background to create a little more harmony. I think Hikaru was far more concerned about having fun rather than delivering a technically perfect performance! Hence, she ended up sounding a little off key or frail at times. Nothing that took away from the performance though. With someone as engaging as Hikaru I really don’t mind if the singing is less than flawless. Just seeing her having a blast was making up for any missed notes XD Wasn’t a particularly big fan of her anisong section because I didn’t know the songs and she got quite shouty there but I guess that was on purpose. Apart from some slightly screechy shouts she also did some very powerful shouts!

Random observations: The live was completely sold out! BANZAI!! The goods were also sold out (including the H-el-ical// CD). So happy for Hikaru’s “major debut“. I hope many people will watch the anime so she can have a lot of success as H-el-ical//. As has already been established, Keiko and LiSA were there to support Hikaru. They sat in the first row of the second floor (at the very left). Akihiro Tomita was also there. I think he might have taken up the role of producer. Masayuki Ohashi was also there. He was the one taking the picture of Keiko and LiSA. Then we have Takeshi Kato of course. I am expecting a SPICE live report very soon. When Hikaru did her infamous goods corner she also introduced her CD. Once again she mixed up Kalafina and H-el-ical// when she said that there were eight tracks by Kalafina included (during the SPICE broadcast she also mixed up the two if you can remember). It was super cute. Old habits die hard.

Amanhecer: Great start for the live, I LOVE this song. She sat on top of the stairs and sang it beautifully. It almost seemed like she was sparkling in her white coat. Like an angel.

Splendore: The pace really picked up here. Hikaru was running around on stage, jumping up and down. It was amazing to see her so happy. You can tell she was born to be a solo performer (something that cannot be said about Wakana XD).

粉雪 (Cover: Remioromen): Didn’t know the song but it was quite beautiful. Hikaru did a great job. Definitely one of the more memorable performances of the night.

WINTER SONG (Cover: Dreams Come True): Another song I didn’t know, unfortunately I didn’t particularly like it. Can’t really remember any details.

Fili:The first unreleased song from the CD. I loved it. Hikaru said it made her think of the earth. Too bad I can’t listen to my CD while I am in Japan.

Avaricia: Probably my second favourite H-el-ical// song. Awesome performance. Her dress was perfect for the more mature and jazz-y vibe of the verses. But of course my favourite part of the song is the chorus!

yolcu: Hands down the best H-el-ical// performance of the night (and my favourite song so far). This is such a good song!! Can’t believe how much I loved it! The way she was pushing her arm in the air, I literally felt power surging through me. Also, damn, Hikaru was so sexy moving to the exotic rhythm in her red dress.

Instrumental: That was kinda all over the place, didn’t really like it. It started with some sort of extension of “yolcu” and then it became very slow with just Hirotaka Sakurada and the violinist. Then the pace suddenly picked up again and everyone was playing. No idea if it was a special song or them just playing random stuff. I didn’t recognise it.

ARIA & blaze & sprinter: The Kalafina section was super special as expected. Hikaru said that she consulted Yuki Kajiura on the matter, about whether or not it would be a good idea to sing Kalafina songs. Everyone agreed that she should sing them if she wanted to, after all, they made these songs together (as long as the songs aren’t released on DVD/BD I am guessing Hikaru is free to sinf as many Kalafina songs as she wants). Only fitting that she should sing them. Also, her live is called “Tsumugu” which means spinning. It’s about the future of H-el-ical// which she is spinning right now but also about everything that has been spun so far and of course that includes Kalafina. It was just Hikaru, Saku-chan and the violinist. They used the acoustic arrangements from past performances. “ARIA” sounded different from her Birthday Event performance though. It was even slower and more dramatic. I LOVED it. Every time I hear a new version of “ARIA” I fall a little more in love with the song and Hikaru. If you have seen that short snippet of “blaze” in the 10th Anniversary Film then you get an idea of what it sounded like. “sprinter” was super emotional. Not as tear-inducing as during the Arena Live or during Hi’s B-Day Event but still, incredibly powerful. I definitely teared up and so did Hikaru!! “ARIA and sprinter” were shortened considerably since Hikaru didn’t sing any Kajiura-go parts. For the most part she also didn’t sing the Wa/Kei lines. I think she sang“blaze” in its entirety though (except for the bridge).

History Maker & Paradise Lost & 青空のナミダ: I have a hard time saying anything about these songs. I knew “History Maker” from the Birthday Event but the other two songs were completely new to me. No idea how the originals sound like but Hikaru certainly knew how to make the songs her own. I just wish she would have chosen songs better suited for her voice. Occasionally her singing sounded quite off. Or maybe I am wrong and the original songs simply sound like that. Most popular anisongs sound quite noisy to my ears. Whenever I am in Akihabara I have to cringe due to the loud not very pleasant sounding music playing in the background (I feel like it’s always something by Ao Eir or LiSA...no idea)...Hikaru was sexy as hell with her leather outfit so I mostly focused on that. Thank God I brought my binoculars. She was really bad-ass during the anime secret so it was a joy to watch.

Existence: I don’t remember anything about this song tbh, except that it had a very rock-ish vibe. I actually thought it was another anisong at first but then I kinda recognised Gussy’s trademark style and concluded that it must be the other unreleased H-el-ical// song. I probably won‘t be relistening to this a lot.

pulsation: Nice powerful ending! Nothing else to say about it.

EN

This is me: I had heard that song before but I couldn’t really place it. Either way, it was a very engaging performance! There are a lot of ooohhh parts in the song, Hikaru would sing one part and the audience would sing the other part. Everyone had a blast!! This was probably the most active song of the night in terms of audience interaction. Otherwise the audience was pretty tame I would say. Everyone remained seated during the entire live.

TSUMUGU: Not as emotional as I had expected, however, the lalala at the end killed me. We didn’t really sing along properly (neither were we asked to) but it was nice to have everyone waving. More teary eyes but no proper tears.

[thatrandomalix]

12-24! (I expect lots of Red Vox)

(is that a challenge)

12. a song you can scream all the words to

In fact, throwback to fuckin’ January of this year, I sang all of the songs on Slipknot’s songlist when they were in Manchester, but if I GOTTA pick one, it had to be Unsainted.

13. a reboot of a song/songs you already loved (remix, mashup, acoustic, etc.)

Honestly, in a reverse sort of way, I like the two versions of Dancing In The Moonlight, the original by King Harvest and the cover by Toploader! I didn’t know the King Harvest one existed until recently! (The cover by Jubel is okay, I guess)

14. a song with the name of a place in the title

AM HEADIN’ ON BACK TO RENO // HEADIN’ ON BACK TO RENO!!!

15. a song that reminds you of traveling

I suppose, in a literal sense, the first thing that comes to  mind is Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car

16. your favorite childhood song

This song really stuck with my as like a perpetual earworm but I love it sm so it can stay: Lady Hear Me Tonight

17. a song that reminds you of a good time

good... time? Haven’t heard that name in a while...

Seriously tho, I am blanking on this one, bUT!!! Honestly, some of the Jackbox OST had made me think of some really fun games, such as Quplash 2, Fibbage Enough About You, Split The Room, some decent stuff!

18. a song that reminds you of a bad time

Tbh, for the sake that this song GAVE me a bad time, I’d rather not link it here, in case it might trigger anyone else. The song really amplified my despair and spiralled me into a real bad thinking place and really put me in a bad mood.

19. a song from an artist whose old music you enjoy more than their new music

UHMN... I can’t really say! If I might have a preemptive guess, I might prefer the older Static-X stuff, but I’m a real stickler for their Start The War album, and that’s the only album I’ve delved into so far.

20. a song that empowers you

The Light by Disturbed, as silly as it is to say, really is uplifting for me, please sir this is my emotional support song

21. a song from a local artist

I’m afraid the ones I REALLY wanna showcase don’t really have active Youtubes that I can plug but there’s a heavy metal band that I saw live in the labour club called Anarcadia. Here’s their song Karma!

22. a song you related to in the past and present, but for different reasons

Hmmm, I gotta rack my brains for this one..

I can’t really think of one, but I suppose MIKA’s Relax, Take It Easy shifted with it’s purpose to me. From having it be a nonsense head cinema I had on my mind for it to shift to really ground into me and how I really gotta chill with my overthinking.

23. your favorite cheesy pop song

Oh that WILDLY varies a lot, but right now, it’s Wings by Little Mix

24. a song from a soundtrack (musical, movie, video game, etc.)

Actually, today I was thinking about how much the Tekken 5 soundtrack slapped, so here’s a selection: Moonlit Wilderness, The Finalizer, Anatares, hell even the Character Select music is boss!

[daffydom]

Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? spotify, but i have an account with apple music.

is your room messy or clean? clean atm. 

what color are your eyes? green with blue around it.

do you like your name? why? i like it only because people compliment it and that it’s unique. 

what is your relationship status? you wish. 

describe your personality in 3 words or less. goofy. experienced. kind. 

what color hair do you have? brunette.

what kind of car do you drive? color? i love my subaru & it’s white. 

where do you shop? tj maxx mainly.

how would you describe your style? linen, & statement jackets.

favorite social media account. snapchat.

what size bed do you have? double.

any siblings? i’m the yougest. with 2 brothers & 1 sister.

if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why? i liked taiwan but i’d love to travel to europe.

favorite snapchat filter? rainbow hair. 

favorite makeup brand(s) bare minerals. & jeffery star.

how many times a week do you shower? tbh 4. 

favorite tv show? trash tv being married at first sight. but i haven’t found another tv show i enjoy seriously.

shoe size? 10

how tall are you? 5 11?

sandals or sneakers? sneakers.

do you go to the gym? i would if my apartment complex would open.

describe your dream date. if it’s a dream then something fancy & expensive, but with real love behind it.

how much money do you have in your wallet at the moment? a cc & less than $20 cash.

what color socks are you wearing? barefoot.

how many pillows do you sleep with? one.

do you have a job? what do you do? clean rentals & homes atm.

how many friends do you have? a few.

whats the worst thing you have ever done? this question is out of my context.

whats your favorite candle scent? vanilla notes. midnight rain.

3 favorite boy names. brendon. theo. james..

3 favorite girl names.  kirey, ava, & idk.

favorite actor? jack nickolson. jim carrey. robert de niro. 

favorite actress? susan sarandon. diane keaton.

who is your celebrity crush? theo james.

favorite movie? allegiant from the divergent series. new moon from twilight series or closer.

do you read a lot? whats your favorite book? no & i prefer health books.

money or brains? brains. But i believe even that doesn’t get you far.

do you have a nickname? what is it? niqueeyyy.

how many times have you been to the hospital? a couple.

top 10 favorite songs. turn by the wombats. glorious by muse. sweet thing by van morrison. i’ll never love again by lady gaga. to love you more by celine dion. last you heard of me by joyce maynor. rodent by the menzingers. cherry bomb by the runaways. somebody else by the 1975.. haha by mates of state. 

do you take any medications daily? just supplements.

what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc) normal. i remember to scrub the face well.

what is your biggest fear? afain, out of context.

how many kids do you want? 0. couldn’t feel right letting them grow up in the antics of the world. 

whats your go to hair style? up in a bun. 

what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc) 1 bedroom apartment. 

who is your role model? dad. various reasons.

what was the last compliment you received? my name was beautful.

what was the last text you sent? left a gift for mom at her house saying where i left it. 

how old were you when you found out santa wasn’t real? oh please.

what is your dream car? anything extravagant & fast.

opinion on smoking? nah.

do you go to college? briefly online, but it wasn’t what i wanted to do.

what is your dream job? director of sorts.

would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs? rural.

do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? sometimes.

do you have freckles? used to. 

do you smile for pictures? depends.

how many pictures do you have on your phone? 1,560

have you ever peed in the woods? & more.

do you still watch cartoons? bob’s bourgers.

do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonalds? wendy’s.

Favorite dipping sauce? chick fil a orignal sauce.

what do you wear to bed? t-shirt & undies.

have you ever won a spelling bee? could’ve.

what are your hobbies? photography.

can you draw? want to try again.

do you play an instrument? wish i played acoustic & piano.

what was the last concert you saw? cover band for led zepplin. 

tea or coffee? black coffee.

Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? either or.

do you want to get married? mhmm.

what was your first crush’s first and last initial? A.B.

are you going to change your last name when you get married? standard.

what color looks best on you? orange/coral/black.

do you miss anyone right now? yes.

do you sleep with your door open or closed? closed.

do you believe in ghosts? you know they’re all demons, right?

what is your biggest pet peeve? “professionally taken” bad photos or badly directed movies.

last person you called? mom.

favorite ice cream flavor? chocolate with fudge.

regular oreos or golden oreos? both.

chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? both.

what shirt are you wearing? calvin klein pj’s.

what is your phone background? blue flowers with red setting sun.

are you outgoing or shy? outgoing.

do you like it when people play with your hair? yes.

do you like your neighbors? yes.

do you wash your face? at night? in the morning? night.

have you ever been high? :)

have you ever been drunk? :)

last thing you ate? white rice with thai curry soup and chicken.

favorite lyrics right now. i’ll get back to you on that one.

summer or winter? summer.

day or night? night.

dark, milk, or white chocolate? milk.

favorite month? does it really matter. 

what is your zodiac sign. not into astrology. 

who was the last person you cried in front of? joe.

[shes-soparticular]

I adore you for all of the music references in your fics. Do you have a playlist?

I adore you for noticing and asking this question! Like mostwriters, I rely on music BIG TIME for inspiration. I don’t have any playlistscreated, but here’s a little masterlist of songs I’ve referred to in my writingthat usually play some kind of role. Warning, it ended up way longer than Irealized lol

Darling, So it Goes“Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley – Okay, don’t we ALL fantasizeabout Shawn singing this song to us acapella? That old clip of him singing it?Kill me. The title of this one-shot comes from that song as well, of course.

Take Me Back to theStart“The Scientist” by Coldplay – I think this would be Shawn’s go-to breakup song,the one he’d play on repeat to try to process his feelings. Which is exactly whatI had him do when he and Alex hit the rocks. Naturally, that’s where the titlecomes from as well.

Every Little Part ofMe is Holding on to Every Little Piece of You

“End of the Road” by Boyz II Men – Just as The Scientist isShawn’s go-to heartache song, Alex’s is End of the Road. Her mantra is “if thelove don’t feel like 90s R&B, I don’t want it”. Also, I have to admit I kindof stole this from my OG crush Seth Cohen, as that was his “play on repeat”breakup song.

“Water Runs Dry” by Boyz II Men – Alex’s backup song to cryto, which is playing when Shawn shows up.

“I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men – Sensing a theme? Luckily,Boyz II Men is there for you both in times of sadness and times of makeup sex. Andas Shawn knows, Alex cannot resist a slow jam.

“Tough” by Lewis Capaldi – I took the title from the lyricsof this song. Lewis Capaldi is one of my favorite artists to listen to forangst/fluff inspiration.

Wouldn’t Fall forSomeone I Thought Couldn’t Misbehave

“Nobody” by Hozier – This one-shot is all about Shawn’sjealousy over her fangirling for Hozier. So it was a no-brainer to choose aHozier lyric as the title, which comes from this song.

“Movement” by Hozier – I don’t call this song out by name,but it’s the one I imagine her teasing him to in the car. It’s just a hell of asultry song and would have definitely driven Shawn even further up the wall.

Put in Work

“All Mine” by Kanye West – As we ALL know by this point, Kanyeis Shawn’s go-to gym music. When it comes to a one-shot that’s literallyuncalled for fantasy gym smut, what song would have been more fitting? Yeah, you supermodel thick, damn, that assbustin’ out the bottom, I'ma lose my mind in it. Definitely the wordspounding through Shawn’s airpods while watching Alex on the stair climber.

Bonus: “Skin” by Rihanna – Alex is a freak too, let’s bereal. Although I didn’t mention it in the fic, her gym play list is 100% heavyon Rihanna. This is the song that ends up on repeat anytime she watches Shawnlifting.

Might Just Be MyEverything and Beyond

“What’s Your Fantasy” by Ludacris ft Shawna – If you’re alate 90s baby and don’t know this song? You won’t understand how ridiculous itis that it’s Alex’s go-to karaoke song.

“Beyond” by Leon Bridges – For one, this is an altogetherbeautiful song. I listened to the acoustic version non-stop while writing thisone-shot and thus it’s where the title comes from. Just the kind of fluffyboyfriend vibes I imagined Shawn feeling waiting for his girl to come home.

“Lost in Japan – Remix” – Okay, ya’ll know this one. But I’mmentioning it anyways since it pops up in the insta story of Alex jamming outto it pool side, a proud girlfriend hyped for her man.

Slow Burn

“There’s No Way” by Lauv ft Julia Michaels – This songinspired the entire fic, tbh. It’s the definition of a Slow Burn song.

“American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Only mentionedin passing, but Shawn and co realize at some point early in the European legthat if you play this song? Alex loses her fucking shit. Even if she’s having abad time, cranky, pissy, argumentative, what have you – this song gets her to shoutalong and dance like the happiest little bean on earth. So it becomes a runninggag for them to play it whenever possible, just to watch the only American chickin the bar go nuts.

“Free Fallin’” by Top Petty and the Heartbreakers (but alsohave the live John Mayer cover in mind) – As slightly established in the firstchapter, Alex is a huge Petty fan. In chapter six, this is the song Shawn isattempting to teach her on the guitar. The one she’s too impatient to learn andmakes him just play for her instead.

“Feels Great” – Cheat Codes ft Fetty Wap & CVBZ – I couldn’tthink of a better song for the “young crew” to be listening to during a heated pre-showping pong game in the green room. It’s just a fun fucking song about beingyoung. That’s all.

“Outta My Head” by Khalid ft John Mayer – This is the songAlex is mumbling in the elevator before everything…intensifies. No deep reason here, I just bet they’ve all beenlistening to Khalid’s new album a ton and that song is a bop. Oh, and I GUESSthe lyrics are kind of fitting…. Can youfeel the tension? You’ve got my attention, I know we’re just friends but I’drather be together.

“Power Over Me” by Dermot Kennedy – These are the lyrics Iuse in the opening of the second chapter and a song that definitely inspired my interms of Shawn’s feelings for Alex. Especially early on, when everything isstill completely unspoken. Honestly, Dermot’s music has inspired me A LOT whilewriting this fic, so check him out if you’re not familiar.

“Uh Huh” by Julia Michaels – First off, Julia is a QUEEN. Hervibe is something I picture for Alex so I listen to Julia a lot particularlywhen writing more deeply from Alex’s point of view. Hence using it as theopening lyrics for chapter three. This is definitely a song that demonstrateshow Alex’s mind and body are at odds over her feelings for Shawn.

“Lost” by Dermot Kennedy – Again, on a constant Dermot kick.His lyrics are so poetic and it’s impossible not to take inspiration from him.I used his lyrics to open chapter four and I think they perfectly describe theatmosphere of that night in Krakow. I particularly love the lyric “since thatnight the moon has never looked the same” which I think perfectly puts the wayShawn and Alex both feel after that turning point of a night, dancing oncobblestone streets in the moonlight. Yep. Lost in feels again.

“Can I Be Him” by James Arthur – The perfect song about aguy falling for a girl that’s already attached. Because using TYB would havebeen to on the nose, haha.

“Peer Pressure” by James Bay ft Julia Michaels – If you’veread chapter six, it’s pretty obvious why I used these lyrics to start itoff. Generally, it’s another song I’ve listened to a lot while writing Slow Burn.It seems fitting for two people that are used to being in control of themselvesand their emotions but losing that control and giving into one another.

Look How They ShineFor You (Slow Burn Bonus)

“Yellow” by Coldplay – This song is a HUGE part of this littleblurb and I highly recommend listening to it while you read that one. It’sbeautiful as a piano cover and if you’ve ever heard the Vitamin String Quartetversion??? Jesus. Let’s just say that’s going to be the song Alex walks downthe aisle to someday. Now I’m all in my feels.

BONUS: Current Songson Repeat While I Write

Pretty much all of Lizzo’s “Cuz I Love You” album. It puts me in a kickass mood. That’s all.

“Falling like the Stars” by James Arthur – It’s just a sweetsong that makes me want to write Shawn and Alex all loved up.

“Wilderness” by Jon Bryant – See above. A song that makes mea soft little puddle of inspo.

“Can I be Honest?” by Anatu ft Zubi – I don’t know how Istumbled across this song but it’s fucking fantastic and you should listen toit.

“Night Moves” by Bob Seger – Alex is a classic rock junkie,if she could time travel she’d head straight back to the 70s (possibly the 60sso she could live through both decades). That’s her entire aesthetic, honestly.This is the type of song she puts on to dance around her hotel room while Shawnbegs her to hurry up and get ready to leave.

“Drive” by The Cars – Honestly, this is just a personalfavorite of mine because there’s something so 80s RomCom about being drivenhome by a guy you have romantical tension with. Maybe it just very, veryspecifically relates to my high school experience. A song that puts me in a starry-eyed,butterflies in the stomach type of writing mood.

[mandoandbb]

LOVER FIRST LISTEN

I wrote out my reaction to the Lover album songs as I listened to each one when I woke up this morning. Thank you Taylor for blessing us with this album and thank you for falling in love at the same time as me so I can relate to heavily to your love songs.

I forgot that you existed:

Fun beat, I like the music. I like the story, but I am pretty sure this was more about getting the whole drama story over at the beginning of the album so that both she and the rest of us could move on than actually being a song to listen to on repeat and I respect that. Nice tie in with the final song saying she had lost her sunshine - which she clearly gets back by the end. Standout lyric: “Lived in the shade you were throwing ‘Til all of my sunshine was gone, gone, gone”

Cruel summer:

I like it but it feels a bit like a song I’ve already heard, you know what I mean? The lyrics are definitely more on point with what I heard in reputation, not the “Old Taylor” we had back in the singles. I was already singing along to the chorus by the end of the song. Standout lyric: “Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes, if I bleed you’ll be the last to know” I’ll probably use that in an insta caption someday

Lover:

Heard this already obviously, love the whole thing but ADORE the wedding bit near the end. Taylor says this is her favourite song she’s ever written and I definitely wouldn’t go that far but it definitely has some fantastic imagery and she did a great job with it. Standout lyrics: “My heart’s been broken and yours has been blue, all’s well that ends well to end up with you” and a personal shoutout to “I’ve loved you three summers now honey but I want em all” because that’s just right for me!

The man:

This is such an accurate representation of how Taylor has been treated in the media and the sexism she faces as a woman writing music! Really well written. I’m very impressed with how she flipped the narrative around for this without victimizing herself for it. I don’t know how much I’ll want to listen to it on repeat though. Standout lyric: “They say I hustled, put in the work. They wouldn't shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve”

The archer:

Another single I’ve already heard, so not a first listen. Adore the verses of this song, the imagery and the sound. I definitely think it’s more about Taylor’s relationship with herself rather than any type of romantic story. Standout lyric: ‘Screaming, "Who could ever leave me darling... But who could stay?"’

I think he knows:

Definitely not my favourite from a first listen. Very cute lyrics and I might come to enjoy it more after a few more listens. Started to like it more by the end even. A little too fast and high overall though. Standout lyric: ‘“So where we gonna go?"

I whisper in the dark. “Where we gonna go?" I think he knows’

Miss americana and the heartbreak prince:

What a LONG title. I quite like the sound but the lyrics will definitely take some time to unravel. Pretty excellent beat though. The bridge is very reminiscent of a high school football game (on purpose obviously with the “go, fight, win”) but I wonder why. Standout lyric: It's you and me, that's my whole world

Paper rings:

Made me smile as soon as it started playing. Yessss that bridge. Oh shit almost crying at the chorus. God I definitely love this. I wish it was slower I’d use it as a wedding dance song. I want to hear a slowed down acoustic version asap. I am very happy with this song. As is its perfect for a happy romcom. Standout lyrics: “I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings” and the whole bridge “Kiss me once 'cause you know I had a long night. Kiss me twice 'cause it's gonna be alright. Three times 'cause I've waited my whole life” AND “Honey, without all the exes, fights, and flaws, we wouldn't be standing here so proud”

Cornelia street:

I don’t think I’ve ever been to Cornelia street in London but I’ll need to now. I quite like the sound of this but I feel like it’s going to be one the ones I forget after I finishing listening to it you know? The music is great but I am finding it hard to concentrate on the lyrics. I definitely relate to the story though, no way I could go back to Waterloo if this love ended. Standout lyric: “We were a fresh page on the desk, filling in the blanks as we go”

Death by a thousand cuts:

Not sure about the starting. Ok, better than I was expecting from the title. VERY interesting instruments I like them. Reeeeally love that bridge actually. Yes. Definitely want another listen if this. Not what I was expecting from the beginning and I’m very impressed actually. Standout lyric: “My heart, my hips, my body, my love, tryna find a part of me that you didn't touch”

London boy:

I think I mostly like this because of the references of London places that I’ve been! I also love high tea and Camden market. But the sound is really fun and catchy too, this will stay in rotation for sure. Standout lyric: “They say home is where the heart is, but that's not where mine lives”

Soon you’ll get better:

Ugh it hasn’t even started yet but I know it’s about her mum’s cancer I’m not ready to listen. Ok. Let’s try. Yup here we go here’s the tears. Dammit. I need to call my mum. This is obviously beautiful but please don’t mind if I never ever listen to it ever again. OH DEAR GOD her shuddering breath in the final chorus. Nope, never again. Standout lyrics: “I know delusion when I see it in the mirror” And “And I hate to make this all about me, but who am I supposed to talk to? What am I supposed to do if there's no you?”

False god:

Not sure about this one. The lyrics or the sound. Maybe with a few more listens it will grow on me but I don’t think I’ll love it. Also the “the alter is my hips” line kinda squicks me out. I’m not huge on the lyrics in general. Kinda reminds me of Dress from Reputation but nowhere near as good. Standout lyric: “I know heaven's a thing, I go there when you touch me, honey. Hell is when I fight with you”

You need to calm down:

Obviously a MAJOR bop and made moreso when the video came out. But to be fair the very first time I listened to it the “uh oh uh oh UH OH” bit seemed like too much so some songs need a sec to show their true rainbow colours. Love this. It’s a bop and an anthem. Standout lyric: “Shade never made anybody less gay” (which I’ve already used in an insta caption tbh)

Afterglow:

Not bad but not really catching me so far. The chorus is nice. I’m a bit underwhelmed overall. It’s good but not a standout. At least not at first listen. Standout lyric: I need to say, hey, it’s all me, just don't go... Meet me in the afterglow”

Me!:

Another single that is a clear and obvious bop. Yes we all know the “hey kids spelling is fun” bit is foolish but that’s the fun of this song: it’s FUN and it doesn’t mind being a little foolish. This song is a delight and Brendon Urie is a treasure. Standout lyric: “Livin’ in winter, I am your summer” (another lyric I’ve already used as in insta caption

It’s nice to have a friend:

The dumb title is giving me a bad vibe before it even starts. Uhhh weird starting with mandolin sounds... yeah wtf is this song? It feels very... off... with the mandolin sounds (unless I’m missing something here) and the lyrics leave a lot to be desired. Yeah for sure not my fave. Honestly doesn’t have a standout lyric.

Daylight:

Been looking forward to this closer for the whole album I have high hopes. It’s almost 5 minutes long. Yes it definitely feels like an old school Taylor Swift closer. Love the build up of the first few verses. It IS brighter now, Taylor. For me too. This isn’t a bop that I want on repeat but I feel peace listening to it and it sums up both her love and mine. Strong finish. Nice recorded voice memo at the end too. Standout lyric: I once believed love would be burning red, but it's golden like daylight”

Overall, I really enjoyed this album and can’t WAIT for a tour. Paper Rings was my favourite song that wasn’t a single but honestly Taylor is a genius and I respect everything she creates because she does it with love and care and precision. Xoxo.

[more--than--music]

2018 Albums of the Year

Here’s my albums of the year. 2018 has been a brilliant year for music, and so I thought I’d lay out my favourite albums, and the reasons why they’re my favourites.

10: Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Sex and Food

Kicking the list off at ten, we have the fourth full-length project from the New Zealand lo-fi psychedelic group Unknown Mortal Orchestra. An album that calls to mind at various points dusty late 70s grooves, 80s synth work and yet very modern production sensibilities, Sex and Food bounces between deeply introspective balladry, and funky danceable beats. A sure step forward for a band that only looks to become more experimental as time goes on.

9: Ben Howard – Noonday Dream

The Devon based singer-songwriter gives a compelling vision of the future of indie-folk with this transient and supremely accomplished set of songs. Taking a further stride away from the straightforward acoustic sound of 2011’s Every Kingdom, Noonday Dream shows an artist unafraid to utilise aspects of electronic and ambient music into his soundscapes, resulting in a transcendent, elegant, and above all beautiful set of tracks. The opening duo of Nica Libres At Dusk and Towing The Line are a particular high point.

8: Thom Yorke – Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film)

Surprisingly his first ever venture into soundtrack work, Thom Yorke’s masterful score for the Luca Guadagnino film of the same name could be in this list simply on the strength of its lead track; Suspirium is an otherworldly waltz, a spartan piano line presided over by Thom’s instantly recognisable vocals. But it is the deeper cuts for which this album earns its place; Open Again begins with a fingerpicked guitar progression that grows into a monolithic walk to the gallows and then fades out once more. A master at the height of his powers.

7: Sports Team – Winter Nets

Undoubtedly the least well-known name on this list, the debut EP from the London-based indie-pop outfit Sports Team has been one of my most played records yet this year. A cerebral mix of Jarvis Cocker-style lyricism preoccupied with the minutiae of suburban life, and pitch perfect indie rock arrangements teetering on the edge of chaos, this shows talent beyond their years; the only EP on this list, these five tracks managed to catch my attention early on, and have stayed with me through the year. Ones to watch.

6: MGMT – Little Dark Age

A name I would not have expected to see on this list at the start of the year, the comeback from the early 2000s electro-pop group is unexpectedly brilliant. Far from the runaway chart success of singles such as Electric Feel, Little Dark Age is full of tracks that could have been pulled from the dusty archives of pretty much any 80s synth bands, but combined with so many left-field production choices, and lyrics that belie a dark sensibility beneath the bright instrumentation, this album becomes a very mature release indeed. The single, Little Dark Age, is just magic. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

5: Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy

Bringing us into the second half of this list is Will Toledo’s project Car Seat Headrest, with a rerecorded, remastered version of his 2011 breakout album Twin Fantasy. Toledo’s DIY ethos calls to mind contemporary Kevin Parker, of Tame Impala, although the two go about their self-imposed individualism rather differently. Toledo’s recordings retain the lo-fi teen emotion of the original Twin Fantasy, while adding the production sensibilities of Toledo’s later Car Seat Headrest ventures, resulting in such a dizzying barrage of pitch perfect indie ballads that display mature, incisive and insightful lyricism. The peaks of the album slip off the rails in the most glorious way, and culminate in simple, honest, and resounding emotional resolutions. Few albums so perfectly capture the teenage experience... a brilliant achievement.

4: Father John Misty – God’s Favorite Customer

It will come to no surprise to those of you who know me that Josh Tillman has made his way into this list; I have been following Father John Misty since last year’s existential crisis of an album, Pure Comedy. But God’s Favorite Customer is an entirely different beast- aside from the single, Mr Tillman, the typical luscious arrangements of a usual Father John Misty album are conspicuously missing here. Gone are the chamber pop orchestras and parlour ballads; here is FJM with an acoustic guitar, a month��s stay in a hotel room, and some utterly shattering songwriting. Tillman has abandoned his lofty perch overseeing the human condition in favour of personal, painful lyrics that dissect a failing relationship in real time. Many of these songs are addressed to, or from the perspective of, Josh’s wife, Emma, and the narratives are as autobiographical as ever. But the key here is that Tillman has ceased to be just an observer of the phenomena he comments on; in God’s Favorite Customer he has no choice but to experience them from the inside, and it makes for devastating listening in places. However, Misty has not abandoned all hope; closer We're Only People (And There's Not Much Anyone Can Do About That) ends the album with a remarkably beautiful and optimistic look at humanity, and leaves you ready to emerge from the hotel room, blinking against the sunlight, into the outside world.

3: Blood Orange – Negro Swan

London born producer, multi-instrumentalist, and general prodigy Devont Hynes, has outdone himself on his fourth project under the moniker Blood Orange; Negro Swan represents exactly the kind of progressive song writing Hynes is so sought after in the pop world for, and brings together a beautiful collage of sounds and textures to produce an album that is so of the moment, it feels like a time capsule of today. Swan embraces diversity, revelling in a celebration of sexuality and identity that feels almost carnival-like in its embrace of so many aspects of modern R&B and Hip-Hop. On what other album can you find Puff Daddy monologuing about his own fear of being loved? This whole project is filled with moments such as this, with trans black activist Janet Mock providing a loose narrative thread tying the album together. But for me, the true highlight of this album is Hynes himself; a young black artist showcasing a striking talent that simply refuses to obey the laws of genre or society. The musical prowess on show is undeniable; in particular, Hynes’ guitar work is so accomplished, tracks such as Charcoal Baby are sheer joy to listen to because of it. The vocals on this record are equally impressive; comparisons will undoubtedly be drawn to Prince, although personally I see Hynes as akin to Frank Ocean, both showcasing a new vision for R&B in the 21st century, and Swan feels in many ways a sibling to Ocean’s 2016 album Blonde, in its transient nature and almost soundscape-like mixture of sounds and feelings. Negro Swan is a glorious celebration in which all expression is embraced, and no identity is off-limits. This is what all modern R&B should aspire to.

2: Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

Those monkeys, eh? Four years after their last studio effort, with each member having done something entirely different (and accomplished, see Alex Turner with The Last Shadow Puppets, and Matt Helders on the latest Iggy Pop record) with their sabbatical, no one quite knew what shape their return would take. Recorded in London, Paris and Los Angeles, the sixth album from the band synonymous with early 00s indie could have taken quite a number of directions; furthering the slick arena rock of AM, delving deeper into the baroque pop offering the Last Shadow Puppets pursue, or perhaps even a return to their raucous indie rock roots. Naturally, they did none of the above. The first sign of their step in a different direction was a video they posted in mid-April, announcing a return with an eerie synth line and a fuzzy guitar lick; in hindsight it was the perfect segue into the TBH&C era, both a nod to the leather-clad rock of AM, and yet the space-age synths and fictional space resorts of Tranquility Base. And when the album did come? Oh boy. I’m not sure a release in 2018 divided fans quite like the Monkeys’ did. I’ve heard it variously described as “sheer genius”, “derivative retro nothing” and “f*cking lift music”. It really was that polarising. I’m sure that from its spot on this list you can guess which camp I fall into. From the go, the surreal lyricism of Alex Turner is front and centre, and the record is all the better for it. From surreal references to Kubrick film techniques, and obsession with sci-fi jargon, to ridiculous pastiches of Hollywood clichés, critics weren’t short of liner notes to unpick. But the key for me was the way that the album, as all great sci-fi does, comments on modern life through the lens of futurism, while also keeping you scratching your head the whole time. Furthermore, the actual songwriting is as good as ever, with Turner making a tune about a less than perfect review for a taquiera on the moon into the rhythmic centrepiece of the album. I do have to confess, I am slightly biased; I’m a lifelong AM fan, and I did see this performed live, which only deepened my admiration of it but truthfully- listen to this album. Then listen some more. And then some more again. Because when it clicks, you won’t experience anything else even remotely like it all year.

Bonus Round

These are albums that I discovered in 2018, but weren’t released this year… they deserved recognition along with the rest of these projects.

5: Frank Ocean – Endless

Frank Ocean is one of, if not the, best and most innovative artists working in modern R&B. That much is undisputed. But until 2018, despite being a huge Frank Ocean fan, I had neglected his 2016 visual album, Endless. Perhaps this was due to laziness, not having Apple Music, or perhaps it was because for me it was vastly overshadowed by the release of the seminal Blonde a few days later. Or maybe I simply thought a visual album wasn’t worth my time. Whatever the reason, I was a fool to overlook it. Endless is an ethereal journey through Ocean’s psyche, with a vast soundscape of beautiful, flowing synths and guitars. Furthermore, Endless features some of Ocean’s best rap work since Channel Orange. A truly beautiful project, and Higgs is, for me, Ocean’s most devastatingly sad track… further evidence that Frank doesn’t put a foot wrong.

4: Leonard Cohen: Songs Of Leonard Cohen

In 2016, the music world lost one of its most treasured talents, in the form of Leonard Cohen. However, although I have always been aware of Cohen’s work (Hallelujah, his inspiration of Nick Cave, The Last Shadow Puppets’ Is This What You Wanted cover), I had never taken the time to sit down and immerse myself in his work. Well, I was very much missing out. His cinematic, confessional storytelling, and his instantly recognisable voice and manner, mean that his songs are almost exactly the type of ballads I love, and Songs is his finest work. From start to end, you see the world through Cohen’s eyes. A poet.

3: King Krule: The OOZ

King Krule (real name: Archy Marshall) is a divisive artist; many see him as a visionary, however he is also, to many (including my dad) just “the one with the awful voice”. To me, Krule is a fantastic lyricist and producer, with an instantly recognisable sound. From the moment you enter The OOZ, you are in Marshall’s world, a London of grimy concrete and eerie loneliness. However, there are moments of beauty among the sluggish, smog-filled music; Slush Puppy, despite descending into madness near the end, is a really quite endearingly desperate performance. Cadet Limbo also shows off Krule’s more jazzy influences, and is all the better for it. A view into the future of singer-songwriting.

2: Father John Misty: I Love You, Honeybear

Josh Tillman has already featured on this list once, and it’s no secret I think he’s one of the best artists working today. However, until this year, I had never given his 2015 romantic opus, Honeybear, a proper listen. I was turned on to Misty by his 2017 work Pure Comedy, and after an existentialist view on all of Humanity, a romance album seemed like a step back, so I didn’t give it the time it deserved. How wrong I was. Honeybear is a beautiful, tender, and being an FJM record, deeply satirical and funny, look at love, relationships, and society. It features lush, beautiful arrangements, and gorgeous melodies, all delivered with Misty’s characteristic tongue-in-cheek smirk. Not one track on the album is dead space, and there are several high points, right from the start. Favourite for me is I Went To The Store One Day, which is a simple, yet incredibly beautiful and moving ballad to close the album. Stunning stuff indeed.

1: Everything Everything – A Fever Dream

I’ve known of Everything Everything for quite a while now, but in early 2017 I was gifted tickets to see them on their A Fever Dream tour, and it absolutely blew my mind. EE have crafted brilliant electronic indie music in the past, with catchy melodies and odd, skittering rhythms. However, A Fever Dream builds on this in the best possible way, building on their electronic sound and adding an even more fiercely of-the-moment view on songwriting. One of the highlights for me was Jonathan Higgs’ vocals, which electrified the music with a fierce intellect, and sparkling melodies. An ecstatic blend of so many musical styles, which results in a fantastic album. A masterpiece for today.

Okay, finally the main event. My album of the year 2018 is…

1: IDLES – Joy as an Act of Resistance.

Here we are then. Number one spot. And again, if you know me, you know there could never really have been any other album here. I first discovered IDLES earlier in the year, riding off the success of their breakout debut album Brutalism, an unstoppable punk locomotive of an album, with guitar and bass lines that are so, well, brutal, that they break down the door and hold you at gunpoint until you sit up and pay attention. This band is the perfect voice for austerity Britain, more mature than Slaves, more relevant than Sleaford Mods, and yet they walk an incredibly fine line. It’s almost impossible to define until you hear a band that possess it, but they simply make. So. Much. Sense. Joe Talbot talks with such a fiery intensity that it’s impossible not to listen, and an eloquence that is so often missing from punk. He’s so likeable, and oddly enough for punk, easy to listen to. However, don’t mistake that for the album lacking brutal riffs. Because it has those in spades. From the opening bass rumble of Colossus, JAAAOR picks you up by the scruff off your neck, and doesn’t put you down until the last manic notes of Rottweiler fade away. This is a rock record that defies rock, a punk record that doesn’t define itself as punk, and a political statement that bases its politics on the phrase “Love yourself.” This provides an infectious alternative to the toxic masculinity of so much mainstream rock, and a uniquely vulnerable take on an incredible variety of issues. Beginning with an immediate left-footing with Colossus, the album the catches its witty and caustic stride with Never Fight A Man With A Perm, going from strength to strength the whole time. I’ve never quite identified with a track lyrically as much as I’m Scum, a rallying call for liberals everywhere: “I'll sing at fascists 'til my head comes off, I am Dennis Skinner's Molotov / I'm lefty, I'm soft, I'm minimum wage job”and erupting into the chant of “this snowflake’s an avalanche”. It goes on to postulate about not caring about the next James Bond, as “we don’t need another murderous toff”. The next track is the joyous Danny Nedelko, an ode to Talbot’s friend, and frontman of Heavy Lungs, Danny Nedelko. It’s a quite magnificent celebration of immigration and diversity, and embodies the sentiment of the album as a whole quite simply with a roar of “Unity!”. Potent stuff. The next highlight (or rather lowlight) for me is the one-two punch of June and Samaritans. June is a singularly moving ode to Talbot’s stillborn daughter, building all the time to a non-existent crescendo, and repeating the six-word mantra “Baby shoes, for sale. Never worn.” Incredibly painful, raw and poignant; you feel as if you’re witnessing a moment that you really shouldn’t be, a would-be father grieving at the bedside. It then transitions into Samaritans, an anti-toxic masculinity manifesto, furious in its denial of male stereotypes: “Man up, sit down, chin up, pipe down”, and building relentlessly to sheer ecstasy of the decree: “I kissed a boy and I liked it”. Powerful, powerful stuff. Track eight, Television, is pinned down by a juddering riff complimented by the incredibly able drumming of Jon Beavis (a very much unsung hero of the group), and a wonderful self-love mantra. Moving on, Great is an anti-Brexit track than manages to reveal the hypocrisy of nationalism without ever moving into preachy politicism, which is Talbot’s greatest strength; he can make any point sound like the simplest and most honest declaration ever. Gram Rock and Cry To Me are witty, and the least overtly political tracks of the album; but even these apparent low points aren’t by any means stale, quite the opposite. Every moment of this record fizzes with energy. Finally, Joy rounds off with the magnificent Rottweiler, a searing discrediting of the UK media, ending in the wheels coming off as the tension built throughout the 42 minutes comes to a chaotic end, with Joe yelping “Unity!”over and over. I have one final thing to say about Joy; it’s production is pristine throughout, with clarity in even its most chaotic moments. This is my record of the year, because I feel no other record held my attention so completely, and was so representative of the sentiment of this year. Pure joy.

Well then, thanks for sticking with me. 2018’s been a belter of a year for music, and I can’t wait to see what 2019 brings.

[nickavalens]

17 questions, 17 people

tagged by: @honestlydarkprincess

nickname(s): I don’t really have any, and I specifically ask that no one shorten my name to its natural nickname, due to the death of a friend who went by that. 

zodiac: Virgo. 

height: 5'4"

hogwarts house: I most consistently over the years been a Gryffindor, though, the first time through, Pottermore said I was a Hufflepuff. I did it again a few years later, and got Gryffindor again, though. I feel like that house fits me best, tbh.

last thing I googled: the terminology for the part in an animal’s eye that makes it reflect in the light, because it was referenced in a tumblr post and I had no idea what it was!

followers: 447, but I think more of them than not are inactive. I’ve had this blog a long time, and only rarely get notes on my posts, mostly from the same few people. BUT! If you routinely like/reblog, I definitely notice you! Hii!!!!

song stuck in my head: Lately, it’s been a few musical theatre songs that keep popping in there! Since it’s Rent season, there’s been Seasons of Love. I recently saw Tick, Tick, Boom! on Netflix and loved it, so there’s been When and Johnny Can’t Decide. 

how much i sleep: It varies. Me and Sleep haven’t been very friendly lately. I’m mostly in and out. 

lucky number: 7

dream job: I’d like to be the frontman of a successful band. I trained to be an actor while I was in college, but as a rather large transman, I don’t fit the typical archetypes, and had trouble getting cast, even when I received positive feedback from auditions. That, the lengthier amount of time it takes me to learn lines compared to my peers, and my addiction to bright hair dye make it all but impossible to pursue. But, I love to sing, and I love to perform. I think that if decent singers weren’t a dime a dozen, and if I were in the right place at the right time, it’d be like lightning in a bottle!

wearing: slippers, pajama pants, and a tshirt. Not a cool one, mind, but one I got at old navy a few years back.

favourite song: As someone who so loves music, it’s really hard to pick just one! I tend to break it down by genre and era to select a few faves. If I have to pick, I’d say Cemetery Drive from My Chemical Romance. But even still, others that I love and would call “fave” are really apples and oranges to each other. 

favourite instrument: To play? Or to watch someone skillfully perform with? I can only somewhat play the guitar and the ukelele, and between the two, my (blue) Tim Armstrong Hellcat acoustic guitar is my favorite. I also have a Cordoba concert sized ukelele. I enjoy listening to skilled musicians playing the cello, though.

aesthetic: I’m gonna be comfy and also wear my favorite bands across my chest. 

favourite author: I don’t really have one. I don’t read a lot of books. The ones I do read have movies or tv shows attached to them. I find them easier to digest, simply for the fact that I already know the characters and the backstory. I’m pretty sure this is because of my ADD.

I primarily read a shit tonne of fanfiction.

favourite animal noise: the noise my dog makes when he gets the good pettings. Like, it’s not a whine, and it’s more audible that a rumble...it’s kid of like how humans sound when they’re getting a good stretch. 

something random: Hypotheically, I will be seeing My Chemical Romance in concert next year, so long as it doesn’t get delayed again.  I don’t think I have 17 people to tag, but I tag @hangmancole , @reindeereddie ,  @cowboy-eddie , @jackanthony1 , @crinkled-emotions . If you don’t wanna, or have already been tagged, that’s cool. And if you’re not tagged and wanna snag it, by all means, please do, and tag me!

[mind-body-and-spirit]

I’m bored ignore me

Describe your current mood/feelings

I feel awful. I’m so unhappy in my current situation and I got a glimpse of what it’s like to be outside of it and I can’t wait to make that happen.

Which is your favourite country that you’ve been to?

Ireland probably.

What are the first things you notice when you look at/meet someone?

Smile and usually eyes but I haven't been great at that lately.

Have you ever been in love/are you in love currently?

I have been in love, I’m not currently.

Are you currently in a relationship?

I am not. 

Would you ever date someone online?

I’d date someone that I met online but not someone I couldn't be with in person.

Is there anyone of your friends that you would ever consider having sex with?

Yes.

Sex in the morning, afternoon or night?

Night is more my thing.

What side of the bed do you sleep on?

Left.

Have you ever taken your clothes off for money?

LOL no.

Would you choose love or money?

Right now, money probably except for one person that I would choose over that. 

When did you lose your virginity?

When I was 18.

 Do you prefer men or women?

Men usually but gender really doesn't matter to me. I’m attracted to personalities.

Do you have a sex playlist?

No but I’ve heard someone else’s and I am totally into it.

When was the last time you had sex?

Saturday 🙊

Has anyone ever gone beyond your personal line of respect sexually?

Yes.

Where is the most romantic place you would want to have sex?

When I picture romantic sex it’s usually in a bed, sooooo.

Where is the weirdest place you would want to have sex?

Balcony.

What would you do if you were ever caught having sex?

Depends who caught us.

Would you ever go to a bar just to get sex?

I’d go to a bar to flirt.

Has anyone ever tried to pick you up in a bar?

Yes.

Would you have sex in a movie theater?

YES that’s so risky I dig it.

Would you have sex outside?

I would as long as its not dirty.

Would you have sex in a bathroom?

Probably.

Does anyone have naughty pics of you or are you on film?

There’s pics of me out there.

Have you ever had sex with someone and called them the wrong name?

Not physically said it but I have thought of someone else and almost said it.

Would you ever use ‘toys’ in bed?

I would.

What would you do if your partner suggest a threesome?

I’m down.

How many people have you slept with?

5.

(1/2) If your lover/crush were in your bed right now, what would you do?

Sex probably.

(2/2) Then?

CUDDLE he’s great at that and probably talk a lot. 

What are your favorite bands? 

Set it off, Beartooth, Grayscale, As it Is, Mayday Parade.

What are your favorite singers? 

Barret Wilbert Weed, Taylor Louderman, Carrie Hope Fletcher, I’m obsessed with the Broadway stars right now.

What are your favorite albums? 

I’m LOVING the Mean Girls Cast Recording right now, also Dear Evan Hansen and Heathers. Only Human by Calum Scott is pretty good, and The Greatest Showman.

What are your favorite songs? 

Would You Be So Kind - dodie

Someone Gets Hurt, Revenge Party, World Burn, I’d Rather Be Me, and Apex Predator all from Mean Girls

Requiem, Waving Through a Window,and You Will Be Found all from DEH

And I’m gonna stop now because this list could go on forever.

What is the best concert you’ve ever been to? 

Oh gosh. Can I cheat and say Warped?

How did you first find out about your favorite band/singer?

Okay top two: I found SIO by accident at the mall in Hot Topic in 2009. Loved them ever since. And I found Barrett through Heathers.

If someone asks you what music they should check out, what are your go-to recommendations? 

Usually SIO unless were talking about musicals.

What was your first concert? if you haven’t been to one, what do you want your first concert to be? 

Omg Hilary Duff when I was like 8 probably.

How do live performances, whether they’re from your friends or professionals, tend to make you feel? 

SO HAPPY

Singing in the shower or singing in the car?  

Both but I sing in the car more. I only sing in the shower when I’m home alone, but I love that more cause acoustics and the steam is good for the voice.

If you could pick one instrument to learn how to play, what would it be? 

Trumpet!

What is your singing voice like? what singers do you remind yourself of? 

I’m a mezzo/alto. I try my hardest to be like Barrett tbh.

Have you ever been involved in any music programs? which ones and for how long?

Uh yeah like all through high school and college.

Which instruments do you know how to play? what’s your skill level? 

Flute/picc - advanced but I’m probably a bit rusty since I haven’t practiced in a while.

Piano, guitar, and ukulele - self taught/beginner

How do you feel about video game soundtracks? 

I like them if they’re super dark/edgy cause it’s fun to dance to.

What soundtracks do you enjoy listening to the most? 

Mean Girls, Heathers, DEH, Man of La Mancha, basically any musical.

How do you feel about musicals?

You’ve probably figured this out already but I live for them.

What are some songs whose lyrics you relate to? 

Would You Be So Kind - dodie

Are You There? - Bare (taken out of context, of course)

parts of Beautiful - Heathers

Breathe In Breathe Out - Tich

I’d Rather Be Me - Mean Girls

Someday - Zombies (taken out of context)

Do you prefer songs that have good melodies or songs that have good lyrics? 

BOTH. I usually really like songs that feel good to sing (good melodies) but I will download and listen to a song just for the lyrics.

Look at your country’s song charts, listen to the first unfamiliar song you can find, and share your opinion on it.

Billboard Top 100 said Psycho - Post Malone. And I hated it. 

Any cover versions that you think are better than the original? 

Chandelier - PVRIS from Punk Goes Pop

Uptown Funk - Against The Current & SIO

How often do you listen to music? 

Literally every day.

How do you feel about classical music? 

I love it.

Would you ever want to have a career in music? 

I think it would be fun but like realistically probably not.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is music to you? 

16.5 I couldn’t live without it.

How do you feel about rap music? 

Not a fan.

How has music affected you as a person?

It’s been my life since like 6th grade so it pretty much made me who I am.

What songs do you listen to when you’re sad?

I just listen to Mean Girls all the time

But sometimes Bare bc sad

What songs do you listen to when you’re in a great mood? 

Still Mean Girls.

What songs do you listen to when you’re getting ready for sports/to work out?

Anything from Mean Girls (do you see a trend here?)

What is your favorite movie?

The Kissing Booth was good, The Greatest Showman, I mostly listen to music.

What are you currently watching on Netflix/Hulu?

Skins UK (for the second time)

What shows have you finished?

13 Reasons Why, Grey’s, The Fosters, Misfits, Skins UK, Dance Academy, Degrassi, Backstage

Do you binge watch shows on Netflix or Hulu?

Netflix if I can find a good one. Hulu is for episodes that I missed when they aired.

What colour palette are you most drawn to?

Cool tones. Blues, purples, silver, but also rose gold.

What other country would you move to if you could?

Ireland or England

Which accent do you find most attractive?

IRISH

Would you rather be able to shapeshift or teleport?

Teleporting would solve a lot of my problems.

Would you do a destination wedding? where at?

Does Disney World count?

Dream honeymoon?

....Disney World.

Which celebrity’s voice do you wish you had? 

BARRETT

Would you rather live on a beach, mountaintop, on a farm, in the city, or in the forest?

The middle of a big city.

Do you still want to be what you dreamed of as a kid?

No I wanted to be a marine biologist and work at Sea World.

Would you rather live in a functional tree house, a rustic but renovated barn, and old stone cottage, a tiny house, an antique victorian character home, or an artistic cob home?

Antique victorian character home with an updated interior that's modern but still preserves the charm.

What do you want your life to look like in 1 year?

Living in a big city (preferably Baltimore or DC) and having a real job.

4 favourite youtubers?

I've really been into Shane Dawson and the squad lately. Also Soph (Sophdoesnails), Shelby’s DCP vlogs, and Sophie Lousie

What would your absolute dream partner look like?

Goofy smile, bright eyes (not necessarily in color, but like they light up when they’re excited and have life to them), taller than me, got meat on his bones

What would your absolute dream partner be like?

Sweet, an absolute nerd, adorable, knows how to charm the heck out of me, ambitious (I’m describing someone if you haven't caught on yet)

7 names that you really love?

James, Amelia, Sophie, Noah, Riley, Madison/Maddie, Samuel

Do you like your name? what would you change it to if you could?

No I hate it, I’d change it to Elizabeth which is my middle name. 

What is your biggest but most impossible-seeming dream in life?

Living in the middle of NYC

Do you collect anything? why’d you start?

Tsum Tsums because they’re cute af and I can’t resist, and I really want to start collecting pins.

When you’re hanging out in your room, do you usually sit on the bed, a chair, the floor, or somewhere else?

Bed.

How many pillows are on your bed?

6 because I bought all of the pillows for the apartment aside from the two he brought and I took them when I left.

Do you share a room with anybody? Have you ever (as in long term, not a sleep over)?

I don’t currently, but I shared with Lexi when were little, I had roommates for 3/4 years of college, and I shared with Nick in our apartment until the end.

Are there any posters or artwork on your walls? What are they?

I have an SIO poster, a One Direction poster, posters of the 5SOS boys, and a Callahan family crest from Ireland. (I really need to redecorate).

Where do you keep your clothes?

Dresser and closet (and the laundry basket of unfolded clothes that never seems to get emptied)

What color are your walls?

Purple.

Is your mattress on a frame or the floor?

On a frame.

What position do you sleep in?

On my side usually but I can sleep in all positions really.

What’s your favorite part of your room?

My bed.

What’s your least favorite part of your room?

It’s a god damn mess right now and that it heats up with the morning sun so it’s always hot.

How many hours a day on average do you spend in your room?

LOL way too many.

Have you ever been told that you spend too much time in your room/never go outside/live in your room/etc?

Yeah all the time.

Is there a desk in your room? Do you actually use it for homework?

There is and no I literally don’t but I should.

Is there a tv in your room?

Yes there’s a TV in my room.

If your bedroom could look any way you want, forgetting cost and practicality, what would it look like?

Clean and Tumblr-y

Do you put stuff under your bed?

I don’t try to but stuff ends up under there.

If you play an instrument, do you practice in your room or somewhere else?

When I was in college I rarely practiced in my room. If I do practice now (rarely) I do it in the living room.

Do you charge your phone next to your bed?

On my bed.

How many windows are in your room?

Just 1. 

Do you have a private/connected bathroom?

No I wish.

Do you keep makeup, jewelry, lotion, perfume/cologne, and hair stuff in your room or the bathroom?

It’s in my room. I keep it all in the Alex 5 drawers from IKEA.

What is your dream job?

HR but I’ve also been super interested in marketing lately? Also interior design or wedding planner.

What’s your favorite sport to watch on TV?

Baseball but also hockey? I’ve never been a hockey fan until I started watching the Preds in the playoffs this year and I’m totally into it now.

Who is your favorite athlete?

Nick Castellanos 😍

Have you ever been in love?

I have.

Do you currently love someone?

It’s unrequited and complicated so I just say no usually.

Do you want a relationship?

Not right now. In the future, yes.

How long was your longest relationship?

Over 2 years.

How long does it take for you to know you love someone?

Not long.

Is it special to you if your s/o meets your parents?

Depends on the situation. Like for my exes it wasn’t but if I started dating someone in Tennessee it would be different cause my parents live 500+ miles away.

Do you watch Game of Thrones?

I’ve watched parts of it.

Have you ever been to Michigan?

Lived here for most of the 22 years I’ve been alive.

Have you ever went on a road trip with a boyfriend?

Nick and I drove back to Michigan once but we were mad at each other the whole time so there's that.

Do you support abortion?

I have no say over what someone else does with their body.

Are you an extrovert or an introvert?

Introvert hardore.

Glitter or feathers?

GLITTER

Daisies or buttercups?

Daisies

Have you ever self harmed?

Yes.

Are you more rational or emotional?

Emotional lmao.

What’s something you love to do but feel guilty about after/during?

Inevitably someone makes me feel bad every time I have sex with someone I’m not dating. 

Have you ever had sex with someone you weren’t dating (but had feelings for) in the hopes that they would ask you out later?

Lol, not for that reason, although I would love it if he did ask me out.

Do you ever turn your phone off because you don’t want to talk?

The only time I ever did that was after Ashlyn died because I was mad at Nick because he wouldn’t stop playing video games with his friends to come over.

Have you ever been to a gay pride parade?

Not a parade but I went to the pride festival in DC this past weekend.

Would you take your dream job if it were out of the country?

More than likely. I’m in a position where I could right now.

What is your zodiac sign?

Libra

What do you like to do when you’re home alone?

Sing very loudly.

Should the guy always pay for the date?

No. I’m hella independent and most of the time I hate when other people pay for shit.

What kind of music calms you down?

Most music calms me down.

Who did you last go to a park with?

I went walking on a path/river thing with sunshine this past weekend. It’s not really a park but like idk?

Have you ever been robbed?

My iPod got stolen when I was like 12.

When was the last time you were on an airplane?

Last week.

Are you currently crushing on someone? 

Yeah.

Do you think your crush likes you back?

I actually don’t know how he feels? I know he liked me at one time and then a thing happened and we accepted that we couldn’t actually be together but then we were together and it felt really right and I don’t know how he feels now.

Is anyone currently crushing on you?

Other than him probably not.

Have you ever been in a long term relationship? 

Yes two.

Have you ever been asked out? 

Yes.

Have you ever asked someone out? 

I've pushed someone to ask me out but that’s the closest.

Have you ever kissed your crush? 

Yes.

Has your crush ever kissed you? 

Yes. 

Are you more of a flirt or a hopeless romantic? 

Both

Do you have a crush on the person you last kissed?

Yes.

Have you ever confessed your feelings knowing they were unrequited? 

Lol story of my life.

If the person you like/love was with you right now, what would you say/do?

Um we would probably be cuddling and talking or kissing honestly. 

Have you ever broken up with someone? 

Yes.

Have you ever been broken up with? 

Not officially. Only for a break and then he begged for me to take him back.

Do you like cuddling? 

I LOVE IT

Have you ever had romantic feelings for a best friend?

That’s usually how it works for me.

Tell me about your crush:

Hair color? 

Brown

Eye color? 

Brown or green(? I’m pretty sure they’re brown and I suck I know)

Age?

We’re the same age but he will not tell me his birthday so

Build? 

He’s a little bit taller than me, he’s not scrawny but he’s not big either, like the perfect dad bod.

Clothing style? 

He barely has any clothes. He wears like jeans and t shirts and shorts he can find on sale basically. 

Stereotype? 

He's a TOTAL nerd and I’m so into it.

Hobbies? 

Computer stuff. He likes techy stuff and board games.

Are they your type? 

I don’t really have a type. He's got a killer personality and he’s SO sweet and charming and that’s what gets me. 

When did you started liking them? 

Like January I think?

Do you talk to him/her everyday? 

Not everyday.

Do you talk about them to your friends? 

Yes Colby lets me talk about him all the time.

Do you like hearing their voice? 

Yeah, it’s nice.

Do you like receiving text messages from them?

Um, yeah? That seems like a weird question.

Do you like their laugh/giggles? 

His laugh is adorable. 

When you see them, are you shy? 

NO he makes me feel so comfortable. I’ve never felt so comfortable around someone I wasn’t dating.

One day will you be with him/her?

Honestly, probably not but maybe?

Do you get jealous when he/she talks to the opposite sex? 

No. This is weird, but we actually encourage each other to get out there and be with other people since we really can’t have each other and we’ve accepted that.

Will you wait for him/her, to be yours?

I honestly don't want anything right now, so I’m willing to wait for now. Once I’m settled and know what I want in life I’ll move on if were still not together. 

Are they more shy or outgoing?  

He's outgoing

Y'all have the same group of friends?

No 

Does your crush smell nice?  

I mean, yeah. He doesn’t wear cologne or body spray or anything but his normal human smell was nice?

Does your crush have a nice smile?

That goofy smile tho (yes).

Are they kind to you?  

Yes he is SO sweet it hurts.

Are y'all considered friends or acquaintances?  

We’re friends. 

When’s the last time you saw them?

Saturday.

Do you have their phone number?  

Yeah but we usually talk through snapchat.

Is your crush talkative or more of a listener?

He's a talker but he’s a good listener too.   

Can they speak more than one language?  

90% sure he can speak at least some German. 

Where did y'all meet?  

Work.

Do they live close to you?  

No. He's literally over 500 miles away.

Have you ever been to their house? How about their bedroom?

Yes and yes.

Do you even vaguely believe your crush is interested in you? 

I answered this earlier. It’s complicated.  

If given the chance, would you have sex with them?

Yes.

Have you ever hugged or kissed your crush?  

Yes.

Ever seen em naked? Do you wanna?  

I have, and I wouldn’t say no to doing it again.

Does your crush have long hair?  

No it’s super short.

Do you think you’ll lose contact with your crush within 5 years?

I hope not but maybe.

Is your crush more naughty or good/innocent?  

He can be both.

Is your crush gay/straight/bisexual/transgender?  

When I asked him he said “bi-ish” so 

Is your crush a freak? Sexually speaking…

I’d call it adventurous and experienced.

Is your crush a virgin?  

No.

Do they have any pets?

No. 

Do they have a job? If so, where do they work?

Yes he has a job at a company which I’m not going to name. 

Do you know if they have an STD or not?

If he does he hasn’t told me, and it’s kind of common courtesy to tell someone you have an STD if you sleep with them sooooo   

What kind of music are they into?  

Um, rock probably? He also likes musicals so there’s that. 

Their fave color? If you don’t know just guess

His favorite color is blue (even though he’s blue/green colorblind). 

How long have you known em?  

Less than a year.

Their fave type of food? Guess if you don’t know

I don’t know but probably like burgers cause he tried to take me to a bar for food. 

When will you see your crush again?

Quite possibly never which is literally awful to think about. Hopefully sometime in the future.

Is your crush extremely confident?

He’s pretty confident.

What’s ultimately stopping you from making them yours?

Distance.

[huntsthemoon]

All the evens! :D

Thanks for asking my friend

2. If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would it be?

It wouldn’t be a place per say... I’d just have the ability to bring all of my family together. Blood and chosen in one place. It’s been too long since I’ve seen some of them.

4. Does anyone in your real life know you have a tumblr and do they follow you?

NOPE, absolutely not. Tumblr is my own little private oasis away from life. Hubby knows but he doesn’t get what it is.

6. What’s one thing that people compliment you on and you don’t know why they do that?

My hair, people want they can have it ;) it’s a thick, messy, curly mess most of the time.

8. Do you talk to yourself?

not out loud, but i find myself having conversations and answering them silently. i’m alone allot when the kids nap and hubby is at work. although when i’m working on numbers for work i do work math problems out, out loud so i guess…  yes :d

10. What are somethings you’ve written?

Well obviously The Moon Huntress and Above All Else. But I’m also currently working on a reader insert Bucky Barnes smut.

12. Have you ever gotten a love letter?

Yes, Hubby wrote me a really beautiful, thought out letter for our ten anniversary of being together. And he’s not a big writer or gesture kind of guy. Made it that much better.

14. Name one book that you will always remember. 

This weird stand alone book by RL Stine called Camp Fear. It was masterful and messed up and I loved it! Our library was scrubbed of stuff like this growing up being a catholic school that even got rid of Harry Potter. I found it hiding and I’m pretty sure I took it out like 100 times over the years lol.

16. What are your 5 favorite songs right now?

The Way ~ Zack HemseyHuman (Acoustic Version) ~ Rag’n’Bone ManRenegades ~ X AmbassadorsI’m So Sorry ~ Imagine DragosHurt ~ Johnny Cash

18. What do you do when you wake up?

COFFEE, before all things COFFEE

20. Beer or Wine?

I actually don’t drink but when I did. Neither. I have a condition that makes anything dry or bitter worse than normal. I’d rather have a whiskey and coke tbh

22. Morning or Night?

I’m a total night owl. It’s usually when I get to spend the most time on here.

24. Rain or Sun?

I’m a wierdo because I hate being cold. But I love summer rains. They smell so awesome.

26. Sweet or Salty?

Salty usually. Unless you count reeses which is both.

28. Has any one person ever made you so angry that you couldn’t forgive them?

Unfortunately yes. I am big on trust. I have a hard time with forgiveness. You only get one chance with me.

30. Has someone ever made you cry?

I’m such a cryer when someone hurts me it’s ridiculous. 

32. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt?

When Hubby and I first started dating he broke up with me. I had to pull over when I was driving home because my chest hurt and I started to have a panic attack. So yes.

34. Does anyone have a crush on you?

I would hope my husband does lol.

36. Name a person you love?

My kids!!!! That’s two people but I don’t care.

38. Ever been heartbroken?

Yep!!!!!!40. Who are five people you find attractive?

Tyler HoechlinDerek HaleJonathon “Dells” DellmonicaGlen McReynoldsMartin Brewer

Just kidding lol (if you got that you rock)

Tyler HoechlinDylan O’BrienSebastian StanDeborah Ann WollMy Hubby :D42. Has someone ever bought you a drink?

Yes, I was a flirty drunk....

44. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?

In RL yes, but put me in front of a computer to write a smut and NOPE

46. Would you get back with the person you were last in a relationship with?

ABSOULUTELY NOT EVER, EVER, EVER. I have grown and moved passed that.

48. What has been your most favorite moment of 2017?Not sure, it’s still happening ;)

[peanutdream]

Hey.............. Do all those ask things please I am Curious enjoy

1.      Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? 

Spotify. I don’t think I can even use Pandora since I’m from theNetherlands?? Last time I checked I couldn’t.

2.      is your room messy or clean?

A combination ofboth.

3.      what color are your eyes?

I think it’sgreenish??

4.      do you like your name? why?

 I used to really dislike it, but that was mainly because there was a Dutch song about my name (this one) that some boys from my class sang EVERY fucking school day, and sometimes even multiple times a day. It really ruined my name for me. Recently, though, my mom told me that?? The song came out somewhere around the time before my grandpa died when he was still hospitalized?? and?? he heard the song and liked it??? So i don’t really hate the song anymore, and I’ve kinda grown to like my name again. A lot of people still refer to me as ‘Rose’, though, since that’s just a lot shorter.

5.      what is your relationship status? 

Single and ready to eat an entire baguette.

6.      describe your personality in 3 words or less

funny jumpluff eat

7.      what color hair do you have?

Dark blone

8.      what kind of car do you drive? color?

I haven’t really driven in my mom’s car yet but it’s silver colored.

9.      where do you shop?

stores, usually. I mostly buy stuff at the mall that’s in my town, but sometimes I feel Fancy and I take the bus to a nearby city.

10.  how would you describe your style?

“i wish I was as cute as some of my clothes”

11.  favorite social media account

??????????????? of the ones I own?? someone else’s??? U gotta be more specific.

12.  what size bed do you have? 

a normal one. for a single person. because i’m single.

13.  any siblings?

Nope!

14.  if you can live anywhere in the world wherewould it be? why?

Mmm, somewhere near a forest is Great.

15.  favorite snapchat filter? 

I Don’t Use SnapChat Enough For This But I Remember One With A Princess In A Car And I Think That One Is Pretty Rad

16.  favorite makeup brand(s)

I never......... buy make-up............. I wish i did, though. Sometimes I want to buy some, but then it’s like?? it’s expensive, and I don’t really know what I would need to buy anyway.

17.  how many times a week do you shower?

Depends on how many times I need to go out. I do shower atleast once every two days, though.

18.  favorite tv show?

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Do series count? or just?? random shows?? Or can I just put in a random show that I’ve recently watched?? because then I’m just going to say Grace & Frankie because that one is Very Good.

19.  shoe size?

smol. 38 I think.

20.  how tall are you?

also very smol. 1.57 meters.

21.  sandals or sneakers? 

Sneakers when I have to walk A Lot, sandals when I’m at the beach or just?? at home I guess.

22.  do you go to the gym? 

lol no.

23.  describe your dream date

That’s a tough one. I’d have to say April 25th, because it’s not too hot, not too cold. All you need is a light jacket!

idk dude I think just?? hanging out with the person I really like would be very chill already?? Maybe some looking at the stars and?? laying outside in a grassfield?? that sounds pretty chill I think.

24.  how much money do you have in your wallet atthe moment?

About 7 euros I think

25.  what color socks are you wearing? 

Black + pink.

26.  how many pillows do you sleep with?

One normal head pillow + 2 neck pillow things.

27.  do you have a job? what do you do? 

haha no.

28.  how many friends do you have? 

6 close friends and?? a Whole Bunch of people that I consider friends but that I don’t talk as much with.

29.  whats the worst thing you have ever done? 

I’m not sure honestly, although I probably have done or said some bad things?? 

30.  whats your favorite candle scent? 

Roses and other flowers.

31.  3 favorite boy names

shrek, donkey, farquaad.

32.  3 favorite girl names

fiona, dragon, uhhhh fiona’s mom.

33.  favorite actor? 

Ryan Reynolds or Tom Hanks.

34.  favorite actress? 

Merryl Streep or Viola Davis

35.  who is your celebrity crush?

shit I don’t know dude. 

36.  favorite movie? 

shit there are so many movies that I love??? The Swan Princess, Matilda, Forrest Gump, A Lot Of Disney Movies, La Vita e Bella, Miss Congeniality and?? a lot more I think??

37.  do you read a lot? whats your favoritebook? 

Dead Withc Walking by Kim Harrison, although I really love the HP books too. I love reading and wish I did it more tbh.

38.  money or brains? 

money seems to be working pretty well for trump but honestly i think i prefer brains.

39.  do you have a nickname? what is it? 

Rose. There was this one week where my nickname was Cheese though.

40.  how many times have you been to the hospital?

I went to the hospital pretty often as a child because I was?? Not Very Tall?? and the docters were Concerned or something. they basically took some blood and checked how much I had grown since the last time I visited. 

When that was done I didn’t visit the hospital until I got hit by a car on my way to school and broke my clavicle. It hurt. A Lot.

The last time I went was like, 2 years ago?? To get my thyroid tested?? I was basically Really Fucking Anxious back then and constantly felt like?? Like shit I guess?? And as if I was going to die?? Sort of?? but not really?? Let’s just keep it at “I was really anxious about having a fast heartbeat” to keep it simple. I’m over it now, though. God, even just walking made me anxious back then. 

41.  top 10 favorite songs

NICE that’s more than ONE song. They’re not going to be in any particular order though. And also probably more than 10.

Day6: I Wait - Congratulations - I’m Serious.

Fall Out Boy: Sugar, We’re Going Down - Miss Missing You - Young Volcanoes - Rat a Tat

BTS: RUN - INTRO: What Am I To You - Crowtit - Ma City

Shortstraw: Thailand

Walk the Moon: Tightrope - Anna Sun - Shut Up and Dance 

Man Man: Loot My Body

Raleigh Ritchie: The Greatest - You’re A Man Now Boy

42.  do you take any medications daily? 

hell yeah. The Good Shit That Helps Me Against Hayfever.

43.  what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc)

Dry hands, oily face

44.  what is your biggest fear? 

Losing my friends.

45.  how many kids do you want? 

Not sure. No kids?? One kid??? I think it eventually also depends on my partner I guess??

46.  whats your go to hair style?

“Listen I combed my hair but the moment I stepped outside the wind acted like an asshole.”

47.  what type of house do you live in? (big, small,etc) 

medium house.

48.  who is your role model? 

ONE, as in, the one who came up with One Punch Man. 

49.  what was the last compliment you received?

“I like your sweater.” 

50.  what was the last text you sent?

“I’m home around 2:30, want to drink some coffee together?” = me @ my mom.

51.  how old were you when you found out santawasn’t real?

I never believed in Santa. as in, the american one. I think I was like, 10 or something when my mom told me Sinterklaas doesn’t exist??

52.  what is your dream car? 

one i can drive in without crying.

53.  opinion on smoking?

please don’t blow your smoke in my face. I personally dislike it but?? it’s your choice if you want to smoke.

54.  do you go to college? 

hell yeah.

55.  what is your dream job? 

Something I genuinely enjoy, that happens to pay decently.

56.  would you rather live in rural areas or thesuburbs? 

Suburbs I think??

57.  do you take shampoo and conditioner bottlesfrom hotels? 

I don;t visit hotels often enough to steal enything from them.

58.  do you have freckles? 

Don’t think so.

59.  do you smile for pictures?

I do. That is, when I’m not avoiding the person who is taking the pictures. 

60.  how many pictures do you have on yourphone? 

117

61.  have you ever peed in the woods? 

Yes. It is necessary if you want to play in the woods without peeing your pants, really.

62.  do you still watch cartoons? 

hell yeah!!

63.  do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s orMcDonalds?

I didn’t visit a Wendy’s during their one year stay in the Netherlands, so I can’t really compare them. 

64.  Favorite dipping sauce? 

Sour Cream.

65.  what do you wear to bed? 

Pyjama’s. As long as it’s something that I can wear pj pants with, it’s fine for me. I really hate not wearing pants during summer. the sticky sweat feeling between my legs is the worst.

66.  have you ever won a spelling bee?

We don’t really have those in the Netherlands lol.

67.  what are your hobbies?

Reading, writing, gaming? ? I think?? can talking with friends count as a hobby?

68.  can you draw? 

Depends on what it is that I need to draw.

69.  do you play an instrument?

I can play the (acoustic) guitar and the glockenspiel!! Also a little bit of recorder!! 

70.  what was the last concert you saw? 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I think it was a Fall Out Boy concert?? From their American Beauty/America Psycho tour??

71.  tea or coffee?

Coffee. Tea is alright but it’s?? ?? ? yeah.

72.  Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?

it’s been, what, a month since a Dunkin Donuts first opened in the Netherlands??? Somewhere in Amsterdam even I think?? So uhhh. no. I don’t really have any reference material.

73.  do you want to get married?

I think so.

74.  what is your crush’s first and last initial?

l i sten  n o.

75.  are you going to change your last name when youget married? 

Maybe?? If it’s not something like Naaktgeboren?? because there was an episode on Zoop where someone’s name was Ben Naaktgeboren which may sound ok if you’re not Dutch but it’s not a name I’d like to have.

76.  what color looks best on you? 

Green/red??

77.  do you miss anyone right now? 

I sometimes wish I lived closer to my online friends so I could hang out with them more but?? I can still talk to them whenever. I do sometimes miss my grandparents though.

78.  do you sleep with your door open or closed?

It’s usually not entirely closed.

79.  do you believe in ghosts?

Not really.

80.  what is your biggest pet peeve? 

when an inanimate object still falls over even though i’ve called it “dude!” and “bro!” many, many times.

81.  last person you called`

My phone says it��s my mom.

82.  favorite ice cream flavor? Lemon

83.  regular oreos or golden oreos? 

what the hell are golden oreos????? Why would you eat gold????

84.  chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? 

Chocolate

85.  what shirt are you wearing? 

One with Dory on it with the text “I have 99 problems but can’t remember ONE

86.  what is your phone background?

(This picture)

87.  are you outgoing or shy?

I used to be Super Shy, but now it’s getting a little bit less I think?? I’m pretty outgoing when I’m with friends, though.

88.  do you like it when people play with your hair?

hell yeah.

89.  do you like your neighbors? 

I don’t really know them but I think they’re alright??? 

90.  do you wash your face? at night? in themorning?

Before + after sleeping.

91.  have you ever been high? 

nah

92.  have you ever been drunk? 

nope

93.  last thing you ate? 

un petitfour

94.  favorite lyrics right now

Basically just?? the lyrics of If I Could Tell Her from Dear Evan Hansen. god I love that song.

95.  summer or winter? 

summer.

96.  day or night? 

both?? 

97.  dark, milk, or white chocolate? 

All of them. 

98.  favorite month? 

June bc it’s my birthday month B)

99.  what is your zodiac sign

Cancer

100.   who was the last person you cried in frontof? 

My mom, probably?? 

Thanks for letting me answer all these questions!! 

[twinskeletonsquad]

do them all loser

A song you like with a color in the title‘love in black and white’ by mars argo even though those are technically shades i love that song more than anything

A song you like with a number in the title‘20 dollar nosebleed’ is fall out boy’s best song by far

A song that reminds you of summertime‘absentee’ by jack campbell but only because i used to listen to it pretty often when i’d go biking in the summer

A song that reminds you of someone you would rather forget about‘she’s the prettiest girl at the party and she can prove it with a solid right hook’ by frank iero with my ex-girlfriend (but i’m not trying to forget about her bc we’re good friends now but i just wish i didn’t make a big deal outta that song bc it’s really great and now i cringe a little when i listen to it which sucks).

A song that needs to be played LOUDna na na by mcr cause once my dad was driving on the highway and turned it up so fucking loud and it was a fun time

A song that makes you want to dance‘mad as hell’ by U.S. girls is SO funky it makes me involuntarily shake my hips

A song to drive to‘lt. headed’ by m.a.g.s. has a cool beat it’s a nice lil windows-down tune

A song about drugs or alcoholit’s not reallyyy about drugs or alcohol but ‘loud’ by titanic sinclair cause it’s vaguely about being an alcoholic going through gay-panic

A song that makes you happyproletR’s remix of ‘april showers’ puts me in a good-ass mood and tbh so does the original

A song that makes you sad‘falling in love’ by teen suicide has a very emotional instrumental make up

A song that you never get tired ofi don’t think ive ever skipped either ‘dead!’ or ‘headfirst for halos’ by mcr when i put my music library on shuffle

A song from your preteen years‘backfire at the disco’ is the first song i ever heard by the wombats and they used to be my favourite band back in the day so that

One of your favorite 80’s songseverything from the atomic blonde soundtrack or by the clash tbh

A song that you would love played at your weddingthe only ones i can think of are ‘if i could fly’ by 1D or ‘truce’ by top bc they both make me and caitlin emo n shit. other than that idk bc we have very different music tastes lmao

A song that is a cover by another artistthe new politics cover of ‘whatsername’ was the only good song from that green day cover album kerrang put out a couple years back so i’m choosing that one

One of your favorite classical songs‘youkali (tango habanera)’ is such a sick tune as far as classical songs go. also there’s snippets on youtube of that time natasha negovanlis sang it and it was phenomenal 

A song that would sing a duet with on karaokeliterally just cause of that scene from glee ‘don’t you want me’ by the human league

A song from the year that you were born‘all star’ by smash mouth cause im a meme

A song that makes you think about life'i will, tonight’ by the brobecks but not cause it’s deep or anything, just cause it’s about a nuclear holocaust and makes me panic cause i start thinking about the world’s current political state

A song that has many meanings to you‘props & mayhem’ by pierce the veil

A favorite song with a person’s name in the title‘ramona’ by beck is one of the best songs from the scott pilgrim soundtrack and i said what i said

A song that moves you forward‘ode to sleep’ by top

A song that you think everybody should listen tothere’s this band called the symposium that’s super underrated so if you havent heard of them i would recommend listening to either: ‘the fifties’ ‘ACL’ or ‘dracula’s lunch’

A song by a band you wish were still togetherliterally every song by mars argo, mcr and the brobecks

A song by an artist no longer livingi don’t really listen to a lot of not-current artists so most of my faves are still alive so im just gonna say ‘lithium’ by nirvana bc it puts me in a really good mood until i remember that kurt’s dead and then i get bummed out 

A song that makes you want to fall in love‘young jersey friend’ by vince dynamic. it’s a good song and you should look it up if you’ve never heard it.

A song that breaks your hearteven though i love it so much, ‘using you’ by mars argo (especially the acoustic one) bc it really makes me think about what couldve been for her career :(((((

A song by an artist with a voice that you love‘faded heart’ by garrett borns is such a good song and his voice is gorgeous and tbh it helps makes all of his songs as unique as they are

A song that you remember from your childhood‘99 red balloons’ cause i used to listen to it a lot when i was little

A song that reminds you of yourselfi don’t like this question bc i don’t have an answer for it