#and yes I'm using those lyrics that song is such a bop

[avemstella]

And I told you one day you will see, that I'll be back I guarantee And that hell's coming, hell's coming Hell, hell's coming with me

- Poor Man's Poison

Egeriaaaaaaaa... I have so many thoughts about u that are probably going to be super wrong, but for the moment I can live in my Delusions of u being a morally... bankrupt questionable queen (also all my Furina headcanons).

though that new egeria lore via fontaine wings does mention her committing sins so I heeeeyyyyyy

[thisismeracing]

The one | CS55

― Pairing: Carlos Sainz x fem!reader (she/her) ― Warnings: mentions of break up and food; typos. ― Summary: Yn is doing well a few months after her break up with Carlos, and so is he. Everyone thinks that this paragraph of their lives is over, but as it happens they may be a chapter to each other, and Yn makes sure everyone knows he was her great love, the one - through her new song. ― A/n: None of the pictures used are mine, they are all from Pinterest and other apps, but the work is, and I do not allow it to be published on a different platform. I would appreciate it if those things could be taken into consideration 💛

▸ my masterlist | my taglist | patreon guide ▸ support my writing by reblogging, leaving a comment (don’t forget to follow me if you like the piece), or buying me a coffee

February, 2023

February, 2024

realyn

liked by charles_leclerc, sza, and others

realyn "The One" has just come out on all streaming platforms. I hope this piece of my heart reaches yours. Tune in and dive into the feels 💐🤍

view all comments

saintsainz "for old time's sake" HELLO?????

ynsummer omg another bop!!! I wish I could write songs when I'm sad, the few breakups I had I could only cry and try not to choke on my own phlegm

⤷ fan2000 ewwww LOL

hammert1m3 charles on the likes 👀

leclowns1655 in my head they're not over yet

⤷ mercmickey you need therapy, bestie

lewishamilton great music as usual 💜

francisca.cgomes 😍���

szadirection I love how the grid's still here supporting here even a year after she and carlos broke up 🥺

popyn WE WERE SOMETHING DON'T YOU THINK SOOO ROSÉ FLOWING WITH YOUR CHOSEN FAMILY 🎤🎤🎤🎤

ferraristrangers I have so many theories for the lyrics and the cover and kksjksdj aaaaaaaa

Old posts

March, 2018

realyn

liked by lewishamilton, ynfan, and others

realyn eat pasta, run fasta, they said 😋😂

view all comments

bieberf1 they my new fav couple now 💋

raintyresainz thank you for feeding us that last carlos pic

hurricaneyn welp now I wanna eat pasta but its like the middle of the night

⤷ alonsochamp eat pasta, sleep fasta 😙😂

carlossainz55 ❤️❤️

amarelorenault her glasses are so cool!!!!! her style is always on point

carlossainz55

liked by yourfriend, fernandoalo_oficial, and others

carlossainz55 we tried homemade, it worked 😋

view all comments

realyn we didn't run fasta this time though :(

⤷ carlossainz55 there wasn't any race this Sunday, cariño

⤷ realyn shhhh, let me be funny

harrystylistee I want what they have!

April, 2018

realyn

liked by hulkhulkenberg, renaultf1team, and others

realyn enjoyed April with my fav spaniard, wrote a few songs for you guys - new album dropping soon!!!!! 🥳

view all comments

aussiegrid howd you like Australia, Yn?

⤷ realyn I loved it, def gonna come back soon 🥰

ynfan 💙💙💙💙💙💙

carlosfullname1 where’s your jacket from?

⤷ realyn website.com 😘

fab2000 can’t wait for the new song and espec the new album!!!!!

July, 2018

carlossainz55

liked by pierregasly, realyn, and others

carlossainz55 Yn's new album "I used to know her" is out now and you guys should run to listen to it 💙💙 she did an amazing job as usual. I'm very proud of you, cariño @ realyn

view all comments

lewishamilton congrats, Yn!

hulkhulkenberg everyone here loved the new album, well done, Yn!

renaultf1team its our garage soundtrack 😎💛

March, 2019

realyn

liked by landonorris, mclaren, and others

realyn the past few months wearing papaya have been amazing! 🧡 and yes, last concert clothes were orange bc of the team

view all comments

landonorris looks like the concert clothes gave us some luck, make sure to wear orange again next time!

⤷ realyn I love you guys but I can't be wearing orange all the time

⤷ yourmanager yes, you can

⤷ realyn shut up, I'm gonna fire your ass

⤷ yourmanager no, you won't

⤷ carlossainz55 jajajaja

tifosinha I love how lando looks like their kid 😂

spaincarlos_ not yn and carlos adopting lando lol

ynfan4 her music taste is *chef kiss* 🤌🏾

ynandsainz yn, your album still on repeat on my apple music!

mclaren 🧡🧡

December, 2019

carlossainz55

liked by charles_leclerc, hulkhulkenberg, and others

carlossainz55 ¡Feliz Navidad! 🎄❤️

view all comments

saturnracer FELIZ NAVIDAD TAN TAN TAN PROSPERO AÑO Y FELICIDAD 🎤

szalover 😭😍 its the way she loves pasta

⤷ cowboyvettel @ realyn pasta or carlos? choose one

⤷ realyn carlos cooking pasta 😙😋😜

July, 2020

realyn

liked by lewishamilton, fernandoalo_oficial, and others

realyn compilation of some of the flowers Carlos gave me and pics he took 💖 Te amo, cariño 💐🌷🌹🌸🌺🌼🌻

view all comments

fonedirection God I see what youve done for others

carlossainz55 you’re my favorite flower, love 🌸💖

⤷ fernandoalo_official you guys know how to be sicklengly cute huh 🙄

piastripastry see? carlos gets flowers regularly to yn and yall out there crying over an ugly ass man who gives you the bare minimum 🫵

March, 2021

realyn

liked by carlossainz, scuderiaferrari, and others

realyn new character unlocked hehe ❤️💛🏎️

view all comments

ynfrance We want a new album, queen!!! save us!

swiftverstappen the way they went through everything togerher 🤧

⤷ russellsainz I want what they have

monegasque16 another day another yn post to make me cry in single and alone

carlossainz55 thank you for the endless support, cariño 💛 you’re my everything

tifosisunshine you’re 😭 my 😭 everything 😭

August, 2022

carlossainz55

liked by landonorris, pierregasly, and others

carlossainz55 my kind of free-weekends 🩵

view all comments

sunnyyn yn looks so good 😍😍

yourbestie ❤️ aweee

realyn te amo! 😘

January, 2023

realyn

liked by lewishamilton, francisca.cgomes, and others

realyn happy new year 🙃

view all comments

charlsmonaco where's carlos? 😟

mylightyn I don't like this vibe…

ynwardrobe what is she reading?

lewishamilton 💙

⤷ mclatinha lew do you happen to know something we don’t?

carlossainz55

liked by landonorris, fernandoalo_oficial, and others

carlossainz55 ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! 🎉

view all comments

brocedes2010 where's Yn??????

schumini_ at least they seem to be on the same place 🙏🏾🙏🏾

redsainz he looks so good it hurts

back to 2024 💬📩

────── ⋆🪩 VOICEMAIL: Hi! I hope you guys liked this piece! I'm set on publishing my drafts but I need time to work on them, this one was saved for a while now, and it's finally here heheh let me know your thoughts!

If you liked this piece and want early access to new ones and exclusive access to others, subscribe to my patreon!💘

▸ check my main masterlist | patreon guide and my taglist.

taglist: @sachaa-ff @mickslover @mishaandthebrits @fdl305 @iloveyou3000morgan @crimeshowjunkie @saintslewis @carojasmin2204 @chaoticevilbakugo @wondergirl101ks @smiithys @shhhchriss @f1kota @lunnnix @karmabyfernando @crashingwavesofeuphoria @schumacheer @callsign-scully @dearxcherry @elliegrey2803 @peachiicherries @he6rtshaker @therealcap @mehrmonga @the-depressed-fellow @cixrosie @darleneslane @buckybarnessweetheart @nichmeddar @fastcarsandshit @goldenalbon @balekanemohafe @jamie2305 @nzygftoji @leclercsluv @bbreezybitch @graciewrote @alessioayla @littlesatanicassholebitch @barcelonaloverf1life @noncannonships @fanboyluvr @is-just-a @love4lando @woozarts @namgification @formulaal @v1naco @skepvids

©thisismeracing ― do not copy, steal, or translate my work; do not repost on a different media platform.

[beauty-and-passion]

So... The Thunder Saga

Or, as we can call it, "Of Intentions and Pride".

By now, Mr. Rivera-Herrans is a guarantee of quality: he makes a song, it will be a bop. He will also psychologically destroy you and hype you up at the same time and give your brain a good scratch - especially if you know the Odyssey already - and the narration is so clear and the characters so flawed... let's just say, you will leave by being completely satisfied.

Fine, the songs might not be musically incredible, but the references, the voices and the lyrics are absolutely perfect. They pick up from all we experienced through Act I and introduce us to an Act that, with those premises, will definitely be characterized by pain. But, like, a lot of pain.

And we all like some sweet sweet angst in our lives, so let's talk about the songs a little more in detail.

__________________

Suffering & Different Beast: We! Got! The! Sirens! In my first post about EPIC, when the Underworld Saga wasn't out yet, I hoped we would have the sirens here and so here they are: the sirens!

I like how Mr. Rivera-Herrans decided to change the events regarding them, compared to the Odyssey. In the original story, Odysseus wanted to hear the sirens' song, so while the crew plugged their ears with beeswax, he was tied to the mast and he actually listened to that song. And yes, it drove him crazy, he begged and ordered to be released, but the crew didn't listen to him, until they were at a safe distance.

So the original Odysseus' encounter with the sirens was characterized by curiosity. He knew they were dangerous and still wanted to listen to them.

But the premises in EPIC are completely different: in the previous song, Odysseus just sang about wanting to become a monster. He won't let anyone stop him from coming back home. This is his main focus - it has always been his focus, since Troy: coming back home to his son and wife. He's not curious about everything, he's not willing to take risks. He's different from his Homeric counterpart.

(I think this also explains Jorge's short about not using EPIC as main source while talking about the Odyssey: he was about to change one of Odysseus' main characteristics, of course he wanted people to not mix up the two things)

So, when Odysseus meets the sirens here, he's not curious about them: he just sees them as a means to his end. He plugs his ears too just like his crew and gets to them the information he needs. That's it. No curiosity, no interest. They're just another enemy.

Hence why, he has to slay them. It doesn't matter if they're begging: he made a mistake once, he won't make the same mistake again. As Poseidon taught him: ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves.

Speaking of the sirens, I also love how their "luring song" isn't just a simple song: they literally use Penelope's voice and shape, to trick Odysseus into getting in the water. And that makes it way more impactful: just imagine this man, after promising himself he will come back home to his wife, sees his wife calling for him. The perfect temptation.

I would also like to point out this sentence from Wikipedia regarding the sirens:

"Some post-Homeric authors state that the sirens were fated to die if someone heard their singing and escaped them, and that after Odysseus passed by they therefore flung themselves into the water and perished."

I don't know if Mr. Rivera-Herrans knew about this, but I love the idea that Odysseus was responsible for their death both in the Odyssey and in EPIC. The only difference is that he was indirectly responsible in the original, while in EPIC he's a ruthless beast ready to slay the sirens firsthand.

Speaking of that, I really appreciate how his crew united around this new version of their captain. He's a "man-made monster" and, as someone on Tumblr pointed out (can't find your post anymore, I'm so sorry!), this can both mean "a monster made by a human" and "a monster in human shape" and they both perfectly sum up who Odysseus is now. Still, they accept this and actively support it... at least when the monster's ruthlessness is directed towards others. They will regret that soon.

One last thing; I like to think that the last line "Odysseus" is a reference to King, because that's another song when he will "kill them all" too.

We're off to a dark start and I love it.

__________________

Scylla: her voice is haunting and beautiful and I will never stop falling on my knees weak with love for those incredible singers. Mr. Rivera-Herrans, thank you for always finding great voices.

I also noticed how, from the moment Odysseus decided to become a monster, the monsters/powerful figures started to understand him. We will see this with Zeus too, but we see it way, WAY more with Scylla.

Odysseus barely talks for the entire song. He says three lines only. But he doesn't really have to talk, because Scylla perfectly explains everything that is going on in his mind.

Odysseus says he doesn't have a lot to say? She says he's hiding "a reason for shame", because he already planned the death of his men.

Eurylochus confesses he opened the wind bag? That left Odysseus "feeling betrayed" and "broke the bond of trust the two men made".

Eurylochus is sorry? Still, Odysseus already made up his mind to sacrifice these men and, since now Eurylochus confessed his betrayal, then he can be one of those six. As Scylla says, "There is no price we won't pay" and "We only care for ourselves".

About the last part, I love how cool and dark her voice is, so driven by bloodlust... it's perfect. And it still explains what Odysseus feels, the heaviness, the regret, the sadness: they're still his men, his companion, his brothers. And if all other times their death was unintentional, this time he actively betrayed them.

But still, despite what he feels, he did it. Because "We must do what it takes to survive". And so he did: in order to survive, he sacrificed the expendables.

And yes it's dark and terrible, but it's also perfectly coherent with the character he is now. He knows he has no chance against Scylla and he must pay a price. He knows must survive, to come back home. So, he decides to pay that price and sacrifice six men, to save more - and most importantly, to save himself. Because in the end, it's like Scylla said: everyone wants to survive. Homo homini lupus.

Even darker. Love it.

(One tiny mistake I would like to point out, because it's the second time it happened: "We're lonely demons from hell", what 'hell' are you talking about, Scylla? Maybe the Christian one? Because I can assure you, there's no 'hell' in Greek mythology. But okay, fine, I'll let it pass, because I've seen this same mistake in a lot of works too - especially fantasy stories with a made-up religion, mentioning a 'hell' that doesn't exist)

__________________

Mutiny: as said before, in Scylla (and in Thunder Bringer) we see the monsters/powerful understand Odysseus and see through him. Here, on the other hand, we see how Odysseus' crew doesn't understand him anymore.

Once again, I love it because it makes sense! Odysseus decided to become a monster, so of course now he's more similar to their enemies, than to the other humans. He's driven by one thing only: home. Empathy, kindness, brotherhood, nothing else makes sense anymore, except for home.

It was still okay, when Odysseus directed his ruthlessness towards their enemies. The problem rose as soon as he directed his ruthlessness toward his own companions.

Why? Because of intentionality. When Odysseus' (and Eurylochus') actions led to the death of most of the men, it was never intentional. It was always a mistake. A mistake he paid dearly, but not something he wanted. Hence why, despite blaming and probably having a grudge against him, the crew never rebelled against Odysseus.

This time, it wasn't a mistake. This time, he purposely sacrificed these six men. And he didn't do it to save others, he didn't even try another plan: he did it, because he had to survive. It wasn't even for his own crew: it was for himself.

That's why, despite six being way less than 500+ held more weight for them. An unintentional sacrifice means "I've tried hard to save everyone and failed"... but an intentional sacrifice means "I'm willing to kill everyone, to save myself".

So, we get the sun god's cows. And considering the premise, this episode is even more impactful. It's not just "Odysseus' men are fucking idiots and ate the cows despite knowing they were the sun god's cows". It's a crew of tired, broken people who went through a lot of shit and have lost all hope of coming back home. They're just men.

And so, as men, they make a mistake. They forget how powerful and vengeful gods can be.

But if they forgot, Odysseus did not and the last part perfectly shows his fear, the sense of urgency, the dread. He knows who is coming, everyone knows it and there's no need to tell who is coming, because everyone just knows he will come and that silent threat is enough to make them run away as fast as possible.

Jsut not fast enough.

__________________

Thunder Bringer: the other songs might just be good, but this one SLAPS SO HARD. I love dramatic songs and this one is INCREDIBLE. The singer's voice is deep, rich, powerful. It's truly a thunderous voice and you immediately know who he is.

That's another great choice: no one calls Zeus' name, nor introduces him. All other gods were announced by something/someone or introduced themselves - but Zeus doesn't need to. He's THE king of the gods, he's THE powerful one. He doesn't need others to tell his name, because everyone knows who he is.

And that makes him SO. FUCKING. COOL. Also because, consider what he said. He didn't tell "I'm pissed" or explained why he was there and his motives. He doesn't need to explain his motives. He just said "I'm here and someone will die, make your choice".

This alone emphasizes the sheer power this figure has. He doesn't need to justify his actions to the mortals: the mortals already know what they did. He's just here to deliver. As he said, he's "the judgment call/The one who makes her kingdom fall".

This is great too, because it's what Zeus does in myths too! In most of the myths, the final decision is up to Zeus: he decides who should be punished or rewarded and his choice is final. (Only the Moirai are above him, but they represent fate and fate was an unmovable aspect of life, so they don't count.)

And the whole metaphor Zeus uses to talk about pride is great too. Sure, it's sexual, but I wouldn't expect less from the guy who fucks everything that breathes. Still, the main focus is not on how much he wants to fuck (which is what most of the people who do rewrites focus on), but on his power. And, in this case, on his ability to unmask every pride and every pretense, to show people's true colors.

Just think about it: when he asks Odysseus

If I were to make you choose The lives of your men and crew or your own Why do I think they'd lose?

he's literally revealing his true colors.

As said before, Odysseus has ALWAYS been obsessed with coming back home to his wife and son. He said it during the Troy Saga, he reconfirmed in every saga: he fights for Penelope and Telemachus, because he wants to come back to them. His crew is made of his brothers and companions, sure, but he never said "I will come back home with them". He always said "I will come back home".

What Zeus is doing now is revealing who Odysseus has always been. He's giving him a choice, already knowing what the answer will be, because he wants him to admit who he truly is.

Do you know what that reminds me of? Berserk. I haven't read it in full, but I know the story and if you've read/heard of the Eclipse Arc, you know too and you understand what I mean.

If you don't know (and don't care about the spoiler - otherwise, skip the next two paragraphs), Griffith is the leader of a powerful army and, during the story, he talks about his dream and how he's willing to sacrifice anything to his dream. His companions? He owes them, he says. Why? Because they sacrificed their own dreams, to help him achieve his. They died, to let him follow his dream. So he needs to fulfill his dream, otherwise their deaths would be in vain.

And when everything goes to shit and after he loses everything and gets one final chance to fulfill his dream, but the price would be the death of ALL of his army... he does it. He willingly sacrifices them. Because that's who he has always been. Because that's what he has always done. Because his dream has always been more important than everything else.

Back to Thunder Bringer: I also love how all voices softer and more subdued, in contrast to Zeus' thundering one. It's a wonderful effect, it emphasizes how "huge" he is, compared to mere humans. Odysseus can't escape, no one can. The tears in his voice are full of pain. But he already made his choice back in Troy - he made it even before sailing from Ithaca.

Now, his nature has finally been revealed. and he will deal with the pain it brings.

But hey, he's not the only one to do it. You have to deal with it too, because, as I said, sweet angst is sweet and these songs are bangers. So listen to them, stream them and shower Mr. Rivera-Herrans with love because he deserves it.

And also, don't forget to stream the new versions of the Troy and the Cyclops Saga! They're new, updated, more beautiful, with better sounds and, most importantly, the revenue will go to Mr. Rivera-Herrans' company and not to the old company that never gave him a cent for them. Fuck them and their greed, this man deserves money and credit and to work on more cool stuff.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll do my 30th listen of Thunder Bringer...

[fashionteahouse]

hey! could you do a jared x reader where reader moves to la push from a small village in england, and out on a walk, she bumps into jared and he imprints on her? he tells her about it, but she’s unsure if she should accept the imprint or not. ps. I love your writing !!!

hiii ! sure i can and thanks so much ur too sweet <333 ! hope you enjoy :)

love scars - jared x reader

The looks you got from your family when you announced new location you were moving to, wasn’t anything new. They were used to the spontaneous trips that you loved to take.

The tight knit village that you came from motivated you to go out and see what more is out in the world.

When you traveled to the states, you didn’t expect certain places to steal your heart. La Push was one of those places.

As a young person, you always wanted to live in the US, so living there was like living your childhood dream.

You enjoyed the different culture, you enjoyed the landscapes as you loved to take walks.

On this particular day, your headphones hung from your ears. The lyrics wafted through your ears and set the peaceful tone as you moved your legs forward.

You saw a figure, he was around your age. Walking closer, you saw that he was listening to music as well. You both passed each other, the eye contact was overwhelming. You've never felt anything like it but, it still felt familiar.

You turn your head back forward, trying your best to listen to the lyrics that were whining.

You found the locals to be very nice and welcoming. You were referred to a good record store.

On this particular day, you took your time thumbing through the different music with designs printed on the media.

"Yes! They have my favorite." You hear. You look up to see who said such thing.

A smiling man holds up the hard copy. You must've stared for too long, his eyes snap to yours. You realize it was the guy from you had seen some time ago.

You turn around, due to not looking like a creep. You mentally kicked yourself.

"What are you getting?"

You pause, wondering if he was talking to you. You point to yourself and he found himself nodding with the friendly smile displayed on his face.

"I'm not sure." you say.

"Where are you from?" he immediately asks after hearing you speak. Your cheeks become hot, you realized this attractive person was in close proximity. You tell him where you were from.

He looked interested as he asked small questions about the different country.

"Man, I would love to visit that place." he voiced out.

"You should." you encourage.

On a bus, you two sit across from each other, as you both were going to the same neighborhood.

He made the ride fun. His sense of humor made you show your teeth due to his jokes. You were nervous to be in his presence but you felt yourself relax as each minute passed.

He leans forward and places a headphone bud in your ear and placed the other one in his ear.

You two were now close to each other as you both grin and softly bop to the song that he chose.

At your stop, you say a sad goodbye.

Your sad goodbye earned you his phone number.

That night, you two stayed up late into the night. You both talked about each other's interests, dreams, and hobbies.

"Why can't you leave La Push?" you ask one night as you both sat on a rock on the cold beach.

He takes a look at you before saying, "It's a bit complicated."

You look down to his lap as you felt bad that he seemed bummed at the fact.

He lifts your chin, "This place isn't so bad."

"Yeah but, you couldn't take your baseball scholarship." you say sadly as you thought back to the information he revealed to you.

He shrugs, being a good sport about it, "I have duties to fulfill here."

"What kind of duties?" you ask.

"One day you will know." he just says. The mystery was eating at you. You wanted to know right then and there.

He changed the topic. He asked about the places you have traveled to. You gladly gush to him about your experiences.

He invited you over. You both shared a first kiss. It felt right. It felt like it was supposed to happen. He had your stomach fluttering as he wasn't shy about working his talented mouth. As his tongue danced against yours in perfect rhythm, you clutch to the nap of his neck as your head tilted to give him a better angle.

You both sat across from each other at the intimate table. Both elbows from both bodies were folded on the table as both faces were near each other. The legs underneath the table were against each other as you both displayed the emotion of joy.

You were glad to accept the date.

You had to contain yourself from dancing when he asked you.

He leans forward and you both slowly taste each other, without a care in the world. You two were just two young people experiencing something great.

After a month of spending most of your days with him, a commercial ad break comes onto his television screen.

"Can I tell you something?" he asks quietly. You take a look at his face as he shows himself being serious, his face. You nod. You even go as far as interlacing your hand with his. He brushed his thumb across the back of your hand.

"We have legends about protectors." he says to you. Your interest peaks.

"Really?" you ask and he nods. He began to delve into the story of the spirit warriors. Your eyebrows raised with interest as you hear how he explains how the spirit warriors eventually evolved into physical transformation into wolves. The protectors in modern day is triggered by something called cold ones. You then learn that the cold ones are vampires.

"Okay, stop with the spooky stories." you tease as the living room was dark.

He gives off a chuckle, but it wasn't his usual amused emotion. The show you two were watching comes back on. You turn your focus back onto it, Jared turns his focus on how to tell you the other thing that's eating at him.

"Do you like it?" he asks you as his hands are cupping your happy cheeks.

You nod happily.

The necklace he gave you was handmade. You thought the gift was thoughtful and you kissed him to show your appreciation. He pulls back with a smack and you look at him stepping away.

Your silent question was answered as he then says to you, "Close your eyes but, please don't run." You nod slowly.

You stood still as you looked at the darkness through your eyelids. You open them to see a horse sized wolf staring back at you. Your heart is in your throat.

Your shaky hand is held in his as you both walk along the beach. You were dazed and confused.

"So, is it forever?" you ask him after he reveals to you what imprints are.

"Yes."

Its quiet. The only sound that's being heard is the footsteps you both are making.

You avoided him after that day. You lied through a text of why you couldn't come over.

It wasn't until he saw you in a grocery store. He called your name.

"What's going on? Are you avoiding me or something?"

You nervously shake your head.

He breaths in before asking, "I know that what I told you was a lot but, you know you can talk to me, right?"

"I know." you say in a small voice.

That night, he called you.

"I don't know if I can accept it." you say with your eyes closed.

It was silent on his end. You didn't know that he was slumped over as he sat on his bed, the phone to his ear. He swallowed the prickly feeling in his throat.

"W-why not?" he genuinely asks.

"I just...It's a lot." you say into the phone.

"Can I still see you?" he desperately asks, he doesn't make the effort to hide it.

"Sure..." you say. He detected the uncertainty in his voice.

"Do you still have the necklace I gave you?" he quietly asks.

"Yes. I do." you say and look at it laying on the nightstand. He seemed relieved.

Hanging up with him, it spun your mind as your mind thought back to the legends he told you. You didn't plan on coming here and diving into a supernatural world. You however, missed the simple moments with him.

Everything was starting to make sense as to why he couldn't leave. You put a pillow over your face as silent tears of frustration leaked out of your eyes. You couldn't imagine being stagnant in one place.

He looked at you as you both sat at the small intimate table. He knew it wasn't the same. He didn’t know love scars existed. He looked at your forced expressions and your somewhat fake laughs. He missed the easy going thing you two had going on. Regret started to flood his brain.

"I shouldn't have said anything." he thought in his head.

[mysadblacksoul]

Let's talk about Clancy, eh? (plus the livestream)

So I'm watching the livestream (the vod) and I decided to share my opinions about each songs!

without the first 4 singles

But tbh I think I'm an Overcompensate girly, that before hearing the rest of this album this is my top 1

With Backslide as a close second

Wait why should I increase my volume

Oh that's why

It was a trap

Okay Midwest Indigo, let's go I'm so ready

What an outfit Mr Joseph

Omg it's so bouncy

JIM

JENNA

I love the shouty lyrics

This MV is so goofy what the hell

Okay so it's so happy, so funky I love it!

The drums make want to do a lil dance

Hope the next one won't be sad

Yes Tyler, this song will go so hard live, I agree

And yes, put Josh on the mic!

Routines In The Night everybody

Oh so it's the rap one?

It's much less bouncy, but I can still tap my leg to it so I'm fine

You think that this is like the sister song to Ode To Sleep?

The chorous is so catchy what the hell

Yes! Give me those adlibs!

The dances, the visuals, the face card that never declines

What is he eating for Lord's sake

I can't pay attention to the songs when every time one ends those fools pop up on my screen again lol

"not every video is gonna be lore based" my ass

Wait so Routines is not lore oriented? But I see so many references :((((((

Vingette!

So it's a crowd's favourite? Aight

Oh it sound so nostalgic

More rap? okay, okay

Omg the vocals????

It's so different, like I can't predict where are we going with the beat

The bridge is so out of place but so in place???

What is going on

No but I see why they like it, for sure

God I love all the Joshes in the MVs

So Jenna's version will have another MV?

Sounds fun!

Oh it's soft version

So this is a fanmade mv for Jenna, how cute

No for real it is emotional, but in the best way possible

This version is filled with so much love, I can't even explain

The flashbacks to the young dudes? I might cry too

Yeah I se the vision. Like The Craving does feel more "right" played on the ukulele. It gives it much more emotion!

Now you just bully him lol. Tyler has two hands to hold two ukuleles, this is lore guys

Lavish whoo!

Before we start why the hell is the title of this song the only one written in different font in the lyric sheet in the CD, huh?

O damn man in black, get it I guess

The vocals are so dreamy, so different

Another leg mover

Why all of this songs are so catchy are you putting crack in it or what

It's also very chill so far

I also really like the use of the strings, it makes the song more full!

It kind of sounds like a movie soundtrack? Or is it just the MV that makes it feel this way

The silliest MV so far lmao

And seeing the amount of work that went into it makes it even better

And now Navigating!

I have to stop myself from looking for lore

I'm 3 seconds in, why it already sounds like a bop

This might be my new favourite song from this album

The electric guitar? With the synth? 11/10

The chorous is so amazing, simply

Will the bridge be sad or will he scream

Oh come through with this bass

JOSH ISN'T REAL THEORY WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK ARE WE IN THE FOREST FIC

Where did he go irl lmao

No for real it might be my favourite now, sorry Overcompensate

The Bandito one is the real one, write that down

NO I THINK I JUST GOT IT, THE WHOLE LORE MAKES SO MUCH SENSE NOW

What the hell Tyler, we have such a different taste then

Snap Back let's go!

What is going on

I'm like a second in

Oh no, it's broken

Instead of Snap Back premiere we have the premiere of Next Semester (ukulele version)

I'm not mad at all

Okay, let's go for real this time

Oh it's so dreamy

So this is the MV with head shaving lmao

BACKSLIDE, I heard that everyone

The drums are really shining on that song

And I love the contrast between low tone verses and more melodic, high alibs in chorous

The bridge seems sad I fear

Or are we picking up the tempo?

Nah we are putting more adlibs now!

Even better

Oldies station better be nostalgic

And quick question before we start, what the hell did you do to Josh?

Is this ballad?

Soft, fun and with funky vocals!

The lyrics are so beautiful, god

Omg Josh lmao

What a contrast to the song lol

Oh we are switching

I don't know how to justify it, but it feels like such a twenty one pilots song

Like it just makes sense for them to make it

I really like it

Honestly At The Risk Of Feeling Dumb sounds silly from the start

So is the MV

I really like the rollercoaster of the vocals. They are kind of all over the place, but still makes a lot of sense

It's the beat drop on the "drop"

Oh rap some more sure!

Why does he want to fight in every MV

Very fun, very chill and then you have the post chorous that are hard hitting

Love the contrast

Am I crazy or did they use kalimba in the end? I might be wrong tho

That's so sad that we are already finishing

One last track

Paladin Strait whoo!

I'm afraid that this one will be the sad one

The tears producer

The heart clencher

The ukulele strikes back

Love those low vocals

It's a song to sway this time

The drums strikes back

I don't know why it kind of sounds like the end of the western movie. Like after the good ending the cowboy is walking towards the sun, you see my vision?

This song is full of hope, so amazing

God the lyrics sounds like Clancy is finaly free

I might cry

It sounds like good ending to the trilogy

So it feels like a scam

It's too good to be true

But I don't know, maybe after all the ending of this story is good for all of us

What, is the silence in the official audio or is it just the end of the livestream

NO WAIT THERE IS MORE

no

wait guys no

FPE?????

WHO THE HELL

IS IT BLURRY

WHAT THE HELL

Now I need the MV to see what the hell is going on

The End

Nah, I'm not leaving you like this

I still think that Navigating is my fav from the new songs

But I'm gonna go listen to the album some more and then decide for sure

It's a good mix of everything, very twenty one pilots style

I just wished for more rage and screaming, but we need to be calm sometimes, I get it

There isn't a song that I don't like, that's for sure

So yeah! This are my feelings, thoughts (and prayers)

Give me your favourite song in the comments!

[colorisbyshe]

July 2024 Monthly Music NYAA

Current (within the last month... or so):

"Joyride" by Kesha. We've all heard it. A return to form and a celebration of Kesha's freedom <3

I finally listened to Cupcakke's album. I know people love to harp on her obscene lyrics and humor but can I just say her instrumentals are one of a fucking kind? Some notables off the album: "Water Balloon," "Aura," "Backstage Pass," "Rock Paper Scissors," "Dora," and "Dementia." If you like these, maybe give "Catman" by TeaMarr as well.

"Skyscraper Starlight" De De Mouse. City Pop sensibilities with a modern groove factor.

"Chasing Low Vibrations" Foster the People. Not as good as previous stuff but... idk... what it is what it says on the tin. Low vibrational.

"Corazon" & "Switch It (ft Cakes da Killa, GAWD). Glossy, disco-y, and MADE to get you on the fucking dance floor! Glad to have accidentally found the latter song through Cakes Da Killa and their song "Da Dat Baby" with its gay, flashy rap. If you like those, PIVOT WITH ME, and try out "Nowhere" by Shotaro Aoyama.

"Kiss" Penicillin. Just some Visual Kei rep on this list. The sound is very nostalgic for Jrock, at least vocally. Like 1998 vibes.

"Low Threshold" Navy Blue. A rap that feels like the intersection between a confessional and a sermon.

Looking at my "Share with Tumblr" playlist... this is longer than expected so uh... kpop dumping ground?? Which is bad because these are all WILDLY different genres but... I feel like the same group of people will give them a chance so:

"Hot Mess" Aespa (chaotic, bad but compelling). "Sabotage" & "Bad Blood" KWON EUNBI (Dancey, Loona-adjacent somehow?) "Dont" Lee Chae Yeon (Bop for the girlies) "Pricey" & "Rain Drop" NCT 127 (Songs I re-imagine as Exo demos) "Sweetie" PRSNT (Jiyoon from 4minute!! In a co-ed group!! Bubbly) "XO (Only if You Say Yes)" Enhyphen (I'm obsessed with the instrumental) "All Day" Onew (I SAVED THE VERY BEST!! GORGEOUS, ENTHRALLING, musically complex and great)

Jpop and mid-2000s AMV core... I'm here for "Underground" by F5ve and its semi-viralness.

I don't think its their best album, by a long shot, and I miss how weird they were but Glass Animals did have a bit of a comeback from that HORRIBLE lead single. Notables: "How I learned to Love the Bomb," "Wonderful Nothing," "whatthehellishappening?" Indie pop / alt rock.

"Super Breath" Karen 0 & Danger Mouse. MTV Teen Wolf era ass song. For the peeps who liked older Metric but also MTV's curated playlists for their teen dramas.

"Stupid (can't run from the urge" underscores. If hyperpop intrigued you but kind of scared you, if you ran back to like... madeon but gayly... this is the song for you.

If you like previous recs of Alex Anwandter's music, give "Mi Corazón" by Tango Astral a shot. Similar vibes, perhaps more basic.

Kinda generic rock song but "Delusion:All" One OK Rock scratches an itch. Still don't think they've ever done better than "Clock Strikes" but I don't follow them much

Older songs to shout out: "Passive" A Perfect Circle (Used to listen to this and think of Sasunaru, alt rock, nu metal... ish), "Last Smile" Love Psychedelico (Jrock from 2000, close your eyes and bop your head), "Eureka" Sakanaction (more Jrock, more energetic and poppy), "Something Good '08" Utah Saints (Kate Bush Sample and made a great AMV)

[suffarustuffaru]

hiii i made another rezero spotify playlist again.

so this goes through subarus Entire character arc from arc 1 all the way roughly to arc 8!! gonna put notes under the cut.

theres a few repeat songs from my other playlists, mainly from the emilia playlist and the other subaru playlist i made, but i keep it to a minimum!! these songs are important okay.

i use several rezero songs because. well a lot of official rezero songs are from subaru's pov if you look at the lyrics + play in certain crucial moments. and also theyre bops and this is my playlist so i do what i want HAH

also in general i wanted to choose a blend of. more depressing songs. but also more upbeat ones. and a mixture of both of those. subaru has a rollercoaster of an arc hah i had to get a specific Tone here.

the first three songs are the intro songs!! the ones that summarize subarus entire character <3 okay also i know "the whole being dead thing" is an absolutely hilarious choice for a subaru playlist. even in just the song title alone. but LMAO i stand by that choice. 1000%.

"waving through a window" is like. just a bit pre-arc 1, then "connect" is the arc 1 to arc 2 transition

"relive" and "peace and love on the planet earth" mark memory snow and the end of arc 2 overall. "all i've ever known" is in this section because of remsuba growing close together. "ceilings" and "same boat" are in this section because i think they kind of fit the specific kind of Yearning subaru has. just in the sense that rbd undos time hes spent with the others; he loves them, but do they love him back? he knows them, but they dont know him. that sort of thing. i had to acknowledge it ;-;;;

"wrecking ball" (yes i know its a very fitting song title aljsldf) to "mr loverman" are arc 3!! also yes i know theres a lot of songs from the show crazy ex-girlfriend in this section but like. hear me out okay those songs fit. i think it's easy to tell what theyre referring to with the song titles alone also alksdjfljksfd

(and yes "what is this feeling?" is referencing subaru and julius's unfortunate first meeting. i couldnt resist.)

"realize" (this is specifically the cover that subarus va did!!) to "hopes and dreams" is arc 4. "look whos inside again" and "this is me trying" can be seen as references to subaru's first trial also.

"haven't you noticed (i'm a star" to "fightsong" are the transition from arc 4 to arc 5. and yes i had to include the song "boy bi".

"theater D" to "zero to hero" is the rest of arc 5. and yes theater D is an extremely good song okay it deserves to be in this playlist twice. the second time just represents sirius fucking shit up <3 "i see stars" is supposed to represent subaru's heroic speech to the entire city!! "immortals" is also in reference to subaru learning reinhard can Also die and come back.

"soldier, poet, king" is the transition into arc 6. you can also see the "soldier, poet, king" as julius, subaru, and emilia.

"demons" to "soap" is the rest of arc 6 <3 and if you so desire it you can see "at my back" and "what else can i do?" as julisuba (platonic or otherwise) songs.

"collusion" and "malachite's theme" are the transition into arc 7-8 and the rest of the songs that follow after are the rest of arc 7-8!! "run boy run" marks the start of the child subaru arc yes.

"your reality" is the finale song... i know it's like a pretty calming choice for a subaru playlist aljsdlf but i feel like the lyrics are fitting for the entirety of his character arc and the possible direction it might take yes!!

[turquoisecobalt]

Happy Sabrina Carpenter Short n' Sweet release day! (Note: I live in Australia)

having just finished my first listen (doing second listen as i type this), the songs i added to my likes are Sharpest Tool, Bed Chem, and Lie To Girls! Theyre just the ones I vibed with most musically/lyrically which i'll talk about more in a sec.

wrote a little about each song under the cut <3

Taste made my jaw drop, damn girl youre gonna be tastin me! love it! totally a bop and is probably gonna join my favs after more listens. Love it as the opener.

(love Please Please Please, "beg you dont embarrass me motherfucker" tickles my brain so good)

Good Graces is just an absolute mood, same kinda message as Please Please Please, just be decent and we're chill lmaoo

Sharpest Tool I LOVE how shes uses the same word or sound at the end of a line and then the start of the next (took a left / left me, second guess / guess i'll, wondering if / if that, inbetween the lines / lyin to yourself) it's so satisfying to me, also that "we were going right then you took a left" just hits so good for some reason! overall yes, a definite fav

Coincidence is a bop, just misses out on being a fav cause the topic doesn't resonate with me personally! luckily haven't had this kinda experience, but LOVE the "your car drove itself to her thighs" took me so off guard cause i was expecting bed.

Bed Chem? oh hell yeah. come ride- uh,,,, comradery uhuh. horny bop. love Love LOVE

(Mountain Dew It For Ya :) )

Dumb & Poetic- oh yes go off Sabrina so many good lines in this one "just cause you act like one, dont make you a man" simple and so so true (+"just cause you leave like one" HAH) but "youre so empathetic, you'd make a good wife" is soo funny i love her. also love the slower vibes.

Slim Pickins is too real, why do we settle like this. so entertained by her flipping it to moaning and bitching. instead of bitchin and moanin. makes it stand out without feeling too off, i like it.

Juno is super cute but i'm gonna need people to write those genius annotations so i can really Get It (it's referencing that movie right? I havent seen it). fav line is "i showed my friends and we high-fived, sorry if you feel objectified" also its horny so A+

ok ok ok now LIE TO GIRLS! lyrics hit right out of the gate, and they keep hittin "you dont have to lie to girls, if they like you THEYLL JUST LIE TO THEMSELVES" sabrina stop im sobbing. absolute fav of the album. the buildup at the end. i am in love.

im sorry i couldnt really focus on Don't Smile cause Lie To Girls ruined me uhhhhh. yeah its a good song. im gonna go put Lie To Girls on repeat now

OKAY okay we're done, Mothica's new album also came out but I've gotta sleep that's a tomorrow experience.

[brisquad-unit-4402]

infinity thoughts

ok so 🍰 anon asked me about my infinity thoughts and an explanation here but unfortunately i'm american and got access to the song with the official mv release, so when i answered it i was in a post-negibanana haze and unable to comprehend abstract thought. sorry!

so anyways it's such a fire song. easy top 10 nijien songs. i'll be honest and admit i don't pay attention to a lot of niji music, even for some of my oshis, but hear me out. infinity bangs slaps bops jams etc

i'd like to point out the parts that i adore/can explain a bit

imma player imma play my game / imma slayer and i claim the fame

i'd like to imagine this is a double entendre for being a heartthrob AND a #gamer lmao. especially with the tiny internet/vtuber references all throughout

i make the dream that make believe

that should be "make-believe," with a hyphen. never catch 'em slippin

not a lyric but i'd like to formally thank yga for deciding that shu should be wearing a sleeveless hoodie and a turtleneck and a half-off jacket AND an arm garter. that arm garter is carrying everything

not a lyric but also thank you lord for giving sonny a scarf. he looks cozy and i'll be thinking of this factoid later. also the lightning effect in the rain/monster line 💛

we stay young forever

lol i see u anime boy png reference. also the ad libs here are peak. wait hold on classic og lxm fans: shu was the one that did the brr woo right? ...that a callback?

(yes sir)

YES SIR?

YES SIRRRRRRRR

i am not mentally well about an ad lib of all things. i'll be there for him. with open arms. and open legs. and an open mouth

better move that body that the big man gave ya

this is just funny to me. like yea this is what i wanted to hear in my kpop inspired dance song by two anime boys. a line that just barely dodges religion. that's hilarious and i want someone to sample this line specifically for a rap beat

ain't no gravity in my galaxy / we soar like planes, like birds, like angels

i get why they end the lines with "angels" (ethereal, beautiful, a body that the big man has given) but... if it ended with planes... it could be a slant rhyme with sonny's next lines

hundy degrees

also just funny to imagine sonny unironically saying "hundy." i can only see him in my mind's eye saying it when he's putting on the Big Stereotypical Bogan Accent. not so out of character for him now is it

you on your knees

ok wait hol d on hwat the fuck

tell me are you ready for me

ye s

honestly that whole bridge just fucked eternally and again, will not stop thinking about it. what tf are those high notes. knees, huh. the whole theme going on through the entire lyrics where the singers r nonstop but everyone else needs to be prepared/can't go on as long as they can (tehe stamina joke). whatever they were doing with the ascending "are you ready for me." whatever SHU was doing with that high note into the chorus SIR ?

so when this got announced post-ar live i threw the preview into my playlist bc it was just that good, and i always imagined it as one of those radio bumpers. so so so so so happy it was everything i dreamed of and more.

i love negibanana as a duo a lot and i'm glad they were the first to get an encounter, since neither have a original/cover song on their channel yet. especially for sani. he's my oshi but tons of tons of tons of people have expressed he's a very underrated and very talented singer, and if you don't happen to be there for karaokes or his features on other songs (ringo! mogire! beaaaaaam!) then it's easy to sleep on him.

and what can i say about shu that hasn't been said before. his voice is lovely and his high notes shine. negibanana is such a good duo because of their strengths. you can really tell that shu's at his best when he gets to use his falsetto and show off vocal runs, and sonny's energy when he raps is so infectious.

but never forget the goofy bits 💛 shu has no idea how to whisper sexily like "infinity yeaah" in the beginning sounds like a kid trying to learn how to do a death metal scream without waking their parents in the next room 💛 what was the entire verse about your neighbor and the big man who wrote that 💛 every time the pre-chorus hits i wait for the hyphen in make-believe and yet 💛💛💛💛

peak nijien in 2024 experience tbh

[thisselflovecamebacktome]

So I'm stealing this from @tayloralisonswift and you should definitely check out their version, but I'm going to listen to and rank all of Taylor's songs album by album (and then maybe her non album songs at the end). You can also see my debut rankings and what I've changed here + my Fearless rankings here.

So with that in mind, it's Speak Now's turn. The only thing to note before we start is that I will be primarily ranking the OG tracks (a reminder that I own all the CDs here before you come at me for that) as they are my preferred ones but will note when I'm listening to TV. There is also mentions of suicide (nothing too in depth but still), so read at your own discretion.

Mine: This is one of those songs that have somewhat grown on me with time. It's very cute and relatable. 7.5/10.

Sparks Fly: Always a fun time. Has always and may always be upper half of this album's ranking. 8/10.

Back To December: I have a very complicated relationship with this song for personal reasons. Ultimately it is great though and arguably underrated, even by myself. The tour mashup was also iconic. 7.5/10.

Speak Now: Now you may think that the girl who ruined her brother's wedding (obviously not in the romantic love way the song depicts but still) would love this song. And yes, my friends and I have a good laugh about how I did it before this song came out. But ultimately I think it's a fun little number that I don't go back to much. 6/10.

Dear John: I actually hated this song when it first came out... or moreso I was very in denial about my own situation so was not ready to hear it and called the song whiny. Obviously it has grown on me a lot in the 14 years we've had it and is one of her best both lyrically and production wise in my honest opinion. 9.5/10.

Mean: I'm sorry I still can't get over her being like "you can't lead me down that road" just to call him a pathetic loser who's alone in life in the same song. And all over one bad review? Anyway it's a song that I've never clicked with even outside of her. 3/10.

The Story Of Us: Definitely one of my most listened to tracks on this album over the years. 18 year old me had it on repeat for months (iykyk). An absolute bop despite being sad. 8.5/10.

Never Grow Up: This song is to me what songs like Ronan and Soon You'll Get Better are for the majority of the fandom. So I don't listen to it all that much, but it is very good. 7/10.

Enchanted: This song was a favourite when the album first came out but overtime has fallen a bit into the background. Had I been a bit younger/more naive, it could have been THE late 2021/early 2022 song for me (iykyk) but alas. Again, still a good song, and very nostalgic at that. 7/10.

Better Than Revenge: So I'm listening to TV here, but not for the changed line. I'm actually very much team 'she should have kept it the same'. But the production of TV feels harder/more in your face and I love that. Having grown up in a left leaning area, this is a song that never really hit for me lyrically though because even at the time it came out, it was the 'this is such a 13 year old song' to my year group (I was the ripe age of 15 when Speak Now OG came out lmao), so the production really carries it here. 5/10.

Innocent: My stan song from the album and first self love song from Taylor! Very underappreciated. It, especially in the era where fans are rude about other fans not wanting to separate Matty from the music, leaves me so frustrated that this song is underappreciated because these same people saying to remove Matty sure as hell didn't do it for this song. Anyway amazing song all around. 10/10.

Haunted: I spoke about how Breathe was on repeat for a lot of 2011 during my Fearless rankings, and Haunted (+ Last Kiss) were right beside it. While Breathe was my song for one friend's death and feeling like I could not talk to my other friends about it, Haunted was the exact emotion I felt witnessing the other friend's suicide. So yeah, it's another song that will always have a special place in my heart for helping me through the worst period of my life. 9/10.

Last Kiss: I don't have much to say on this past what I said in Haunted, but having the bridge (and whole song) retextualised as a song about losing someone to suicide really changed this song from a part time love to long term love for me. 9.5/10.

Long Live: This is one of those songs that I need to be in the mood for but when I am? God does it hit. I also nearly teared up hearing TV (in general I was surprised how much Speak Now TV had me emotional because it's the album [out of the ones being rerecorded] that I have the least emotional ties to). Great song all around. 7.5/10.

Ours: This is another one that I don't really listen to all this much, but love queer readings of and always have a good time while listening to it. 7/10.

If This Was A Movie: I don't care what Taylor says, this is and always will be a Speak Now track and I'm annoyed the TV version was not on the CD lmao. Anyway I've always loved this song. 7.5/10.

Superman: Very cute song. Not a favourite, but I feel like I like it more than most people. 7/10.

Electric Touch: ... I need to be real with you all, apart from When Emma Falls In Love, I really do not listen to this vault at all. Like this is maybe the third time I've heard this song (and the second was the piano tour version). And in Electric Touch's case, this is sad because I feel like this song has everything I would like in a song. It's pop rock, even though I am fussy with collabs I quite like FOB, it's about new beginnings and more. Like it should have been a home run for me, but it's just boring to me. 5/10.

When Emma Falls In Love: I know I'm in the minority here, but I really love this song. It's so cute and very much something I would have been obsessed with in my teens if it had come out with the OG album. 8/10.

I Can See You: I once said that Fortnight was my 'This could have been us, but for it to have been, I would have needed to be a different person' song, and this song lives in that same universe. Now is probably a good time to mention that I think that both the Speak Now and 1989 vaults were very much the blueprint for TTPD:TA and I can see both men in all of the choices made lmao. Anyway, it's catchy and the music video was such a nice moment for the rerecordings. 7/10.

Castles Crumbling: This is another song that like I get why she put it on the vault, I think objectively it's a great counterpart to Long Live, but ultimately I just find it boring. 4/10.

Foolish One: This is one of those songs that had it been on the OG album, I'd probably have a sweet nostalgic feeling towards it because teen me would have loved it. But it didn't so I don't and again, just find it pretty meh. 4/10.

Timeless: I sound like a broken record here, but like it's objectively sweet, definitely is a blueprint to what was coming, but ultimately I just don't click with it, feel it drags on and find it boring. 4/10.

Final score: 158.5/230 - 68.9%

[lil-scout-precure]

Junior Eurovision 2023 detailed opinions before the show. Part 3

After two parts of my Junior Eurovision 2023 personal opinions before the show, it was time for the third one. We already covered the fifth, fourth and third tiers of my list, from the decent songs to my personal tear-jerkers. And now, with the reveal of the running order this day, and 8 songs to talk about, it's time for the second tier, where my almost-winner alert songs are. And by little differences with the winner ones.

The tier-list for reference, again!

Tier 2: "I will kill OsterdahlEBU if they mess with the staging or the running order (or place the lower spots)/hj"

🇲🇹 Yulan Law "Stronger"

Malta is one of those countries that can make Junior Eurovision a real party. Two victories, one of them also slaying in the adult Eurovision (Destiny, in JESC 2015 and ESC 2021), and with most entries being bangers. After the robbery Gaia Gambuzza got in Yerevan at 2022 (and this year in adult Eurovision, Switzerland's 2nd Gjon's Tears copycat getting the final qualifier and not the happy lads from The Busker...), I was expecting a MIRACLE for them to have some justice this year. And it came in the shape of "Stronger"

Yulan's voice, my gosh, serving in higher levels than I ever expected for a ballad, and after hearing some of them before this song got revealed, I'm glad to put her in this tier! Her lyrics are so charming alongside her vocals, and the music itself elevates the entire song to a higher level of the previous ballads I covered. The setting of the clip, while not my favorite, it's so calm and inspiring as the entry itself. And you tell me this song was composed by some Swedish writers? No wonder it slays a lot.

I have no ideas about how would be her perfect staging for the live show, but if it can convey the same feelings of the entire song, maybe it can be a well-done Top placer, even if performing second!

🇲🇰 Tamara Grujeska "Kaži Mi, Kaži Mi Koj"

For North Macedonia, I was accepting anything at the point the song was revealed. They like to vary in their JESC song styles, from 2021's bop about saving the planet to protect it as our only home, to 2022's definition of, citing one of my close mutuals, "Shut TF off, I'm not your girlfriend!" (and fun fact I discovered recently thanks to Misja Eurowizja, the same writer of that song was also the composer of Hurricane's "Loco Loco" (Serbia 2021, Eurovision). A lively "the same voice" meme incarnation XDXD). But the song they sent for JESC 2023 is something amazing, something I've never expected

For a soft ballad-pop, it has some charm itself! The use of the ethnical instruments gives it more originality about the country itself, and it sounds so good with the melody. Even if not understanding the lyrics at first (without English translation, of course), Tamara's voice makes them so hypnotic and mesmerizing, one thing I LOVE of this song more than other ballads! And as for the video, they took the "smoke firework" theme from the slogan (and the "Heroes" theme) seriously to the point of incorporating it in the choreo.

The staging of this one can be (or not) linked to the studio video's scenario, but whichever idea it is, it has to be something enough to not ruin this song's feelings!

🇺🇦 Anastasia Dymyd "Kvitka"

I'm sorry for those of the ESC Discord server who have to watch me put this song in the higher places instead of lower ones. Yes, I understand there were better options in the Junior Vidbir like Polina Babiy's "Universe" or Denis Hryshchuk's "Dance", but somehow this song grew on me a lot after some listens. And after Zlata Dziunka's heart-breaking (and no joking about my feelings of that song T-T) yet beautiful song "Nezlamna" last year, I kinda felt a soft breeze of hope with this entry.

Sure, I agree with them it becomes kinda repetitive with the "Kvitka" verse playing constantly in the chorus, but the feeling is what counts here! Anastasia's sweet and kind voice, alongside the "Find yourself in this world, and stop this tragedy" verse, highlight this hopeful feeling I got in the song. And as the song says, one day something can blossom from the rubbles of chaos and give a future. I never thought I would become attached to a JESC entry so much(well, and the next one I will cover), even if not being my winner alert!

Knowing she performs third, after Yulan Law and Sandra Valero, while the Vidbir staging makes the song get more cheerful than it is already, they need to make it bigger and more beautiful for Nice's stage if they want Anastasia to not place low, shine among the other kids and get some good televote, because she deserves it a lot!

🇩🇪 Fia "Ohne Worte"

Germany had it difficult both in the adult and the Junior versions of Eurovision. If it's not Jendrik Sigwart, Malik Harris or fricking Lord of the Lost getting the last places in their editions (unfairly in the last case), zero points or not, it's their two Junior singers at 2020 and 2021, Susan and Pauline, starting the show and getting the lowest (if not last) places too. And when I heard they would try again this year after a rest in 2022, I knew I had to follow the selections to see who would be their hope.

For the five kids that showed in the selections, there were three I expected to get the place: Adriano with a good moving song "Be My Girl", Rahel with a Sara James-like melody "Believe", and of course, the song that won over them (and my heart) and now is the German representant for Nice: Fia with "Ohne Worte" (without words)

First, I gotta admit it, I'm BIASED with this song since the demo version (and as the first JESC 2023 song in progress), and there are some teeny weeny differences that place it not in my winner alert list. But it's for some good reasons!

I was surprised she decided to use sign language for her entry, and I wondered exactly why she did it. And after knowing the context and some of her before-JESC performances in The Voice using the same technique, she caught my heart.

Those performances, and the JESC song itself are for (and about) her little sister Emilia, the person that inspired Fia to do this special detail never seen in a Junior song, and something that makes this entry so relatable. If the demo version was alerting me with speakers I would get emotional over the entire song, it became true after the video (and full studio version) reveal (once again in the middle of work). And the final verses of the "without words" in multiple languages, that part made me love this song more than I already did, alongside the more-than-just-sweet videoclip :'3

The tier title was especially created for this one song, considering the past editions Germany had to struggle in Junior and adult Eurovision. And while at least they FINALLY have a decent running order slot, I'm still waiting for the staging to make this song more justice than it has already. There are rumours about a dance-break section for the live version and I hope, REALLY, REALLY HOPE, that it makes Fia get a Top 3 placement as she deserves it, and maybe WIN THE CONTEST (even above the next 4 songs I consider winners). I know, it's biased, but now you know why. But the thing I WOULD DREAD from all scenarios is that, even with the best made, somehow Germany gets last or lower places. That would break me a lot if that ever happens and I will get Osterdahl's head ;m;

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Well, that's 12 songs covered now in my ranking! Wait to the final part, the 4 songs that became my winners! See ya!

[catty-words]

for the album ask: does the jatp soundtrack count? 😜🧡

ABSOLUTELY.

the first song from this album I heard: "now or never", the show's abridged version. i'm honestly not sure if i listened to something different off the album once i downloaded it, but most likely i went chronological.

do I own the album?: yes.

my favorite song: they all transport me into a similar kind of effervescent joy but. "bright". "bright" is my favorite.

my least favorite song: i think "wow" or "you got nothing to lose" are the least enjoyable to revisit for different reasons. "wow" for the fact that it serves a very, very similar purpose to "all eyes on me" - i.e. exists as examples of dirty candy's sound and to provide contrast for julie and the phantoms as a band - and is the weaker of those two songs in my opinion. "you got nothing to lose" is bogged down by all the plot propping it up. like, it's a good time, but it's a weird one divorced from context. and i obviously think all the songs get a lot out being placed in their context, but they also mostly do a good job of being tracks onto themselves. "you got nothing to lose" doesn't accomplish that as well.

a song I didn’t like at first, but now do: "flying solo". i was downright dismissive of this track early in my relationship to show's music. can you believe that? this certified BOP?

a song I used to like, but now don’t: n/a

my favorite lyric: any and all of them that play on the music = spark of life theme (see those exhaustive lists i linked to earlier to track my musings on this). truly, though, that being the emotional crux of the show is what made me fall in love with it, and i definitely already felt that way about art - engaging with it, creating it yourself makes life worth living - but the show's bubbly and sweet and infectious joy about music specifically has enriched my life in far-reaching ways.

overall rating out of 10: 6. it's inextricably a soundtrack to a show i love and not a body of music i think about as an ALBUM. so that ranking speaks to my feelings about it in the context of all the albums i enjoy more than the quality of the music generally. if that makes any sense to you.

send me an album and I’ll tell you…

[bnna5813]

Set Me Free pt. 2: Jimin you killed it.

I was writing a response to someone's post but I figured I'd just make my own because my response was pretty long. I'm not in the music industry. I just listen to a lot of genres so please forgive me if I'm misusing terms. I've seen a lot of discourse about Jimin's song and I wanted to add a few thoughts:

Do I like the song? YES. I love it. I'll be transparent though. After I watched the music video, I wasn't sure how I felt. There was so much to digest. The song is so different from anything we've ever heard from Jimin, so completely beyond anything we expected. The music video was an orgy of mind-blowing choreography, loud ass brass instruments, aggressive autotune, stunning choir vocals, and heavy chest-thumping bass. The beat is just... everyone I've seen react to this song (including myself) made a stank face and started bopping their heads and doing body rolls as soon as the bass dropped. This song is dirrrty.

I implore everyone to please listen to it on Spotify or Apple Music. By now, you should know that Youtube has shit audio quality. Even the exquisite choir sounded muffled on YT. His voice is heavenly on Spotify. His modified voice has so many layers. I know the autotune is a very controversial topic in this song but I think he used it well to transform his voice into something you have never heard from him before. BTS tends to use autotune or voice processors to add complexity and texture. How many of you disliked this song and also disliked On and Black Swan?

I get that it can be too much for some people. Music is subjective and it's okay not to like this song. It's not for everyone. But for people who use the autotune as a drag to say he's using it because he can't sing on key, you should know that the music industry has moved beyond using autotune to correct pitches/tones. We're not in the early 2000s anymore. Some artists still use it to support their vocals but that's not the case in Jimin's song.

In this song, his voice is heavily distorted when the lyrics are coming at you. "I never stop, fuck all your opps" and "Hey fool, just get out of my way / Shut up, fuck off / I'm on my way". Even when he's saying "enemy" in the background, it's heavily autotuned. I also love the effect of the call and response between "oh yeah oh yeah" and his normal voice. The use of autotune is to emphasize aggression and anger. He's basically assaulting you with this vocal distortion because it's very jarring to your ears. Look, Jimin is not interested in making another Lie or Serendipity right now. He's already done that. Jimin wants to continue to grow and experiment as an artist. So even if this resulted in mixed reactions, I applaud him for trying something new.

Another thing I want to add is that this track is the LAST song in his album. I don't even need to hear the album first to know why it's the last song. He said this album is going to be a journey revealing hidden wounds and scars. We know this album is going to be dark. Set Me Free pt. 2 as an ending is him shedding his demons, pushing back against those who inflicted pain, and letting it go. That's why the song is so anthemic and aggressive. It's triumphant and it makes me want to throw a fist up. When we get listen to the album in its entirety, I think many people will agree that this is a powerful ending. If this is how I feel about one song, I really can't wait for next week to hear everything else.

[cloama]

MMATA covered the song from Freaky Friday on their new album. It's cute. The lead, Edith Victoria always has lots of personality but she needs some harmony help in these verses. Why we gotta wait for the chorus to get harmony? ETA: Iwas listening to this on headphones that were about to die. The quality was terrible. This song sounds great upon a second listen. I heard lots of background work. Sorry, babes.

The whole album is really fun and cute. It is full of breakup songs. Wasn't expecting that.

Love the bridge of Say it(to my face). She sounds like a punky lil angel there. It's also fun to see them get back at haters with an undeniable hit song.

The chorus of Kool is so chaotic. Why are you saying it like that?????? But the song with its very obvious Brainstew influence is just fun. They're wild for that one. Also Edith showing yall that she actually a mf vocalist. Bc that chorus be taking my lungs out. Yes, by the end I was singing it too. Very fun. Very silly.

Tea plays her ass off but I'm not hearing the shredding as much in this project. She's really restrained here but the parts shes writing a good. So solid. I kind of want her to compose for others. Similarly, Ava's feet aren't as heavy on the pedals this go round. It seems they've made a choice. It's fine. They get to do that. But choosing to leave that calling card off an album that's 50% breakup songs is a choice. Tea used to be fucking it up in the background. Just shredding her way through the verses which worked because there aren't a lot of bg vocals. Not singing backup as strongly, her playing made up for that. I miss it. I also miss Ava's heavy ass drumming. It's all really different on here. I need to find some interviews about this project. Need to know what went into these choices. I still really like what theyre doing. Young adult audiences should be in love with them.

After all that fun up top the albums takes TMI and Same Language into what I call the Frustration Break. A couple songs about mfs working on your nerves. They're cute songs but feel like a lull. It works because the choruses are so good and you feel relieved by the end of that chunk of songs. Also a-capella handclap breaks are my weakness.

A Few Tomorrows is the bittersweet midtempo song about how it's not goodbye, only a "see you later" which is placed in the right order because literally the rest of the album after this track is backloaded with breakup up songs.

Need Me(my favorite track of this album) is an upbeat breakup bop. Cute. MMATA has a gift for making songs you want to sing along to. Lyrics tho. The simplicity is good but I've seen the pen push harder.

This is where I noticed their hardcore influence is not present at all in this album. Poof. Gone. Aww.

It's Over for Me is another breakup song. Track sequencing is winning big. Love when songs are in correct order. This track is not as strong as Need Me. I would have left this one off the project.

Thx for Nothing is the last breakup bop in this chunk of songs. This girl is going through it. Very 5sos. I say this as a 34 year old who barely knows what a 5sos is. Oh and that main guitar part sounds like what i can only describe as family reunion music. Real ones know.

Rocket science is another optimistic bop taking us to the end of this album but the song is full of phrases from those Hang In There posters. It's cute. It's giving Disney Knees. Edith who usually enunciates to a fault just stops doing that. "Everything is possible" turns into "ennythahggihhhpohhhiiiubbboool" and I cant state enough that I loved that. The Gerard of it all.

King of Everything: lament about life being so unnecessarily hard and wanting a do-over. Hard relate. Don't love the melody as much as the others. Not a happy ending to the album but a resolution for sure. I think the last two songs should have been switched but they said what they said.

3.5 out of 5 stars to Meet Me @ the Altar for their sophomore long playing album. The sequencing of tracks is so strong. A lost art these days. The tracks work together to take your through a bunch of highs and lows then sticks the landing with that final track. The album is good at exactly what it set out to do. That's all I ask. Miss that hard playing tho. I'm sure the live shows will fill that gap.

[residentraccoon]

Esc 2023 Top 37

1. Moldova - Might be biased, might not, this is staying as my first, I love everything about this

2. Portugal - Man these upbeat, slightly retro songs with a touch of ethnic flavor are like a magnet to me, I'm absolutely loving this as well lmao

3. Latvia - How can such a soft and sweet song like this be so powerful at the same time. This is the Með hækkandi sól of this year for me, and I hope they'll surprise Q just like Systur did

4. Estonia - It gives me so much hope and confidence in myself, like it's empowering but not in a cheesy way. The instrumental is pure art as well

5. Czechia - Yes girls bring the harmonies. It's been playing in my head a lot lately

6. Norway - *sigh* okay I fell into liking this one, I admit. I overlooked the earworm-ness of this song and she carries the whole performance so well.

7. Australia - Had to put it in my top 10, dated dad rock never fails to dissapoint me (unless said dad rock is called Intention)

8. Iceland - Sounds a bit 80s which I love, she has so much energy on stage

9. Slovenia - Such a charming britpop, I love these guys

10. Finland - The power of cha cha cha has gotten to me, send help 🫣

11. France - What a neat bop, also love her style a lot

12. Spain - Sounds pretty bizarre and hypnotic, I actually like how hauting it sounds lol

13. Serbia - Same as Spain, his presence is also really cool ngl

14. Sweden - Grew off me a bit, I must say that the staging is really good, but in studio it really doesn't elevate to the same way it does live. As much as I like Loreen, her staging, and her song, which is good indeed, I don't really want her to win? It's weird I know lmao

15. Austria - I've seen this being very popular in the fandom but honestly beside the message and the vocals it just doesn't really do that much for me. It's catchy yes, but not something I'd go out of my way to listen tbh

16. Armenia - Didn't quite impress me but gotta appreciate that clumsy but sweet english used in her lyrics. They feel so real

17. Malta - Kinda grower?? The sax is too catchy

18. Italy - It's a very sweet, calming song. I noticed Italy is pretty underrated this year, which is a bit weird because they're always talked about

19. Germany - Wish I liked this one more but I feel it lacks more enthusiasm or power? Still I kinda like this glam rock style

20. Georgia - Oh my god girl what are those lyrics? Tag yourself I'm "love is a wordless". Other than that, I like the beat but man, those lyrics are giving me last stage dyslexia and totally ruin the song for me :(

21. Romania - It's not the worst song of this year 😤 I know most are put off because of that staging but listen the studio or his other live versions and I assure you it's more bearable this way. Even so, I agree that one might find the vocals grating or the pacing weird, but honestly I don't have a problem with that. It's a pretty competent song.

22. Denmark - Get rid of that awful vocoder and we'll talk later. I really like how colorful the music video is, and it's another one that I started liking a bit more, but still doesn't do that much for me

23. Netherlands - Yawned like 3 times listening to this, it's pleasant but that's it

24. Azerbaijan - Ahh finally they're sending something self-written and not produced by swedes. Even if it sounds like a camp rock-esque ballad that's a bit filler, I find it more heartfelt and authentic than literally everything else Azerbaijan wanted to bless us with in recent years, and hell, do I like this more than those ones

25. United Kingdom - A pretty nice pop song, but that's all I have to say. I think it will come alive more on stage

26. Ukraine - It's decent and catchy, nothing groundbreaking

27. Cyprus - Other than the chorus, it's extremely bland and way too polished imho

28. Switzerland - I quite liked the pacing of it, but those lyrics get a bit too much on the "war bad, give us points" side which rubs me the wrong way. That or I might be overanalyzing it

29. Lithuania - Too whiny for my ears, but the final part is pretty cute

30. Albania - What turkish soap opera is this, I need to know. Speaking of the song, I feel like it wants to be this grand, empowering ballad but falls flat and fails to be so

31. Belgium - Well, it's catchy and groovy and that's about it

32. Greece - Why does this remind me of Snap a bit? Maybe it's the rhythm or his pronunciation. I love how his voice sounds, but I feel like this song really doesn't do him justice. It kind of builds up to something but in the end nothing happens

33. Ireland - If the word "bland" would be a song. Just a typical, most Irish in Eurovision entry there is. No offense, their vocals are good at least

34. Israel - Sounds like 2012, not in a good way. Repeats the same thing in the chorus, tries to be a bOPppPp yassss grl powahhhh, we're bein phenomen femininallll today yassss dance break cuz we are quwueennzzz- okay sorry, this one has everything I dislike in a song ever. Halfway listening I wanted to close it, but I had to finish it to have a proper opinion and rank it

35. Poland - Same as Israel but somehow even less tolerable and more painfully generic, walmart Inna vacation at the beach kind of song I'd hear while taking a walk outside. Also the nf shitstorm helps me dislike the song even more, and I didn't even listen to Jann Gladiator

36. San Marino - Please this sounds like something I'd hear in Selectia Nationala in like 2017 that places last 😭

37. Croatia - This doesn't even remotely sound like a song, I'm sorry but could never listen to this more than the first minute

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 19th December

Well, it's still party season! Both of today's tracks are upbeat, cheery numbers, and thankfully, for me at least, neither of them are Christmas songs - just some solid, chipper pop bops.

Alone - Petula Clark (peaked at Number 8)

The title of this song looks like it ought to be sad, and honestly, if you just looked at the lyrics, you would be forgiven for assuming that you were looking at an angsty "how could it have gone wrong?" break-up ballad, with Petula starting the song singing Alone / Why must I be alone? / I've spent so many hours with you / How can I be alone?

Except, I mean... listen to it! The lyrics speak of heartbreak and loneliness, but from the get go you've got a pacy bit of guitar backing, those very distinctive and very vintage la la la laa la la la ya ya ya ya ya backing vocals, and a performance, from Petula, that honestly doesn't sound too bothered by the whole thing. So yes, this is indeed a break-up song, but it's maybe the least concerned break-up song ever. The tone throughout is thus pretty optimistic, with Petula reminding her love that There's such a thing as forgiving / So why can't you forgive? / There's such a thing as forgetting / So can't you forgive and forget?

It's an interesting vibe - reading into it, you get the impression, with the insistence on forgiving and forgetting, that whatever drove Petula and her love apart, it was kind of her fault? Except there's absolutely no angsting about that, or grovelling and apologies. It's not that kind of song, right? And so Petula's just there, with her apparently bulletproof self-confidence, making the case for getting back together. Not because she's sorry or anything, just because they were good together, and wouldn't it be better to not be alone, any more.

The whole thing is pretty cheesy, but it does put you in a good mood. And those backing vocals are really something - they kind of have to be heard to be believed. I love the enthusiasm that they're clearly throwing at every ya ya ya ya ya!

Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson (6)

Well, if Petula turned up this week ready to party, Jackie rocked up mid-party and immediately cranked the volume on the jukebox. The energy in this song is infectious, just really fast and fun, a rocking R&B number about just how how Jackie's girl is, all of it dressed up in these ridiculous vocal trills and tricks.

In amongst it all, there's some pretty cute stuff about how this girl is really sweet / The finest girl you ever wanna meet, or about how she's got what it takes / And with me she really rates. She's my cutie, my tutti-frutti / My heart, my love, my bathing beauty. So yeah, she's smoking hot, but also just really sweet. Cute stuff, Mr Wilson!

But yeah, like I said, the main attraction is less the lyrics and more the way that Jackie performs them. Because Jackie Wilson is a performer, my goodness. From the rolled r as he sings about rrrrrrrrrrreet petite, to the repeated ooh ah, ooh ah, to the lines about how his girl is just fi-yi-yi-yi-yiiiine, Jackie's pulling out all the vocal stops to keep the listeners on their toes. Whatever this song is, he seems to be saying, it is not going to be boring.

All that also gives us my favourite bit of the song, the repeated bit where Jackie does this oh, oh, oh, oh riff and then a trombone comes jumping in to echo it. It's just a cool instance of singer and musicians bouncing off each other and interacting, and I like it a lot.

In terms of chart performance, this song has an interesting history - it made number 6 here, in 1957, but we're actually going to see it again in 1986, when it makes a surprise comeback, with a claymation music video. More on that if we get to 1986, but I'll just say, that between the style of the song itself and the style of the music video, I'm seeing more than a little influence on Paolo Nutini's Pencil Full of Lead. And I bet there are other songs that try and harness this same energy - it's just too good not to try and rip off!

I enjoyed both of today's songs. Both songs I could see doing well at a Christmas party, both kind of goofy, and making good use of silly vocal noises. One has that American gloss, though, and just a slightly more intense energy - I'm hardly surprised that it managed a comeback, you know?

Favourite song of the bunch: Reet Petite