#best trap music 2022

[bluewinnerangel]

FITF Tour exit songs

- NA LEG - Uncasville: Tina Turner - The Best

Gilford: The Smiths - This Charming Man

Laval: Petula Clark - Downtown

Toronto: Bryan Adams - Summer Of '69

Cuyahoga Falls: The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony

Sterling Heights: Shed Seven - Chasing Rainbows

Cincinnati: The Killers - All These Things That I've Done

Columbus: R.E.M. - The One I Love

Indianapolis: Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

Maryland Heights (St. Louis): Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode

Kansas City: Van Morrison - Moondance

Milwaukee: Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now

Chicago: Earth, Wind & Fire - September

Minneapolis: Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

Council Bluffs: Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)

Sioux Falls: Don McLean - American Pie

Seattle: The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Vancouver: The Police - King Of Pain

Troutdale: Elvis Presley - Always On My Mind

Berkeley: INXS - Never Tear Us Apart

Los Angeles: 2Pac - California Love

Las Vegas: The Killers - Human

Phoenix: Spear Of Destiny - Liberator

Irving: The Doors - Hello, I Love You

Austin: Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag

Houston The Woodlands: The Police - Walking On The Moon

St. Augustine: The Police - Every Breath You Take

Hollywood: Elton John - Your Song

Tampa: Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Atlanta: The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want

Nashville: Duran Duran - Hold Back The Rain

Charlotte: Lou Reed - Perfect Day

Raleigh: Van Morrison - Moondance

Columbia: Commodores - Easy

Boston 1: Boston - More Than A Feeling

Boston 2: Pixies - Here Comes Your Man

Philadelphia: Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

Asbury Park: Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark

New York: Queen - We Are The Champions (dj elf asked a fan to pick between this one and David Bowie - Heroes)

- EU & UK LEG - Hamburg: Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

Copenhagen: Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure

Oslo: Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends

Stockholm: The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

Helsinki: Elvis Presley - Always On My Mind

Tallinn: Smash Mouth - All Star

Riga: AC/DC - Thunderstruck

Kaunas: Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling in Love

Krakow: Iggy Pop - Lust For Life

Łódź: Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop

Vienna: Oasis - Supersonic

Ljubljana: The Killers - Smile Like You Mean It

Budapest: Bloc Party - Helicopter

Bucharest: Foo Fighters - My Hero

Sofia: Rage Against The Machine - Bombtrack

Bilbao: Pixies - Where Is My Mind

Lisbon: White Lies - Farewell to the Fairground

Madrid: Editors - Munich

Barcelona: At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor

Turin: Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way

Bologna: Bloc Party - Helicopter

Luxembourg: Pixies - Where Is My Mind

Antwerp: Queens Of The Stone Age - My God Is The Sun

Paris: Biffy Clyro - Bubbles

Amsterdam: Blur - Song 2

Cologne: The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now

Prague: Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl

Berlin: The Cure - Friday I'm in Love

Munich: Fatboy Slim - Praise You

Zurich: The Strokes - Last Nite

Dublin: Inhaler - These Are The Days

Sheffield: The Killers - Mr. Brightside

Manchester: The Smiths - This Charming Man

Glasgow: The Snuts - Gloria

Brighton: Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated

Cardiff: T. Rex - 20th Century Boy

London: The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now

Birmingham: Boyz II Men - End Of The Road

- ASIA & AUS LEG - Jakarta: Iggy Pop - Lust For Life

Melbourne: Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl

Brisbane: The Temper Trap - Fader

Sydney: Oasis - Rock 'N' Roll Star

- LATAM LEG - Panama: Hard-Fi - Living for the Weekend

San Juan: Pixies - Where Is My Mind

Rio de Janeiro: Nirvana - Heart-Shaped Box

Like last time the plan is to keep editing this post as tour goes on - 2022 LTWT here

Apple music playlist here

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

a list of some spring movies/series 🌷

spring is here!! and so is your friendly neighbourhood little organisation freak of a goblin to give you a list of some spring movies and series. as always, just close your eyes and point somewhere on this little list, or even put the numbers in a generator and go with whatever the result is ♡

summer | autumn | winter

🐝 ‧₊˚ ⋅ movies ⋅˚₊��

mary poppins (1964)

the sound of music (1965)

aristocats (1970)

alla vi barn i bullerbyn (1986)

my neighbour totoro (1988)

kiki's delivery service (1989)

a league of their own (1992)

the secret garden (1993)

pride and prejudice (1995/2005)

whisper of the heart (1995)

clueless (1995)

my best friend’s wedding (1997)

parent trap (1998)

10 things i hate about you (1999)

notting hill (1999)

she's all that (1999)

but i’m a cheerleader (1999)

bring it on (2000)

miss congeniality (2000)

spiritied away (2001)

the wedding planner (2001)

legally blonde (2001)

princess diaries (2001 + 2004)

spy kids (2001-2003)

maid in manhatten (2002)

bend it like beckham (2002)

tuck everlasting (2002)

school of rock (2003)

how to lose a guy in 10 days (2003)

something’s gotta give (2003)

13 going on 30 (2004)

finding neverland (2004)

howl’s moving castle (2004)

saving face (2004)

the notebook (2004)

imagine me and you (2005)

nanny mcphee (2005)

penelope (2006)

miss potter (2006)

step up (2006)

she’s the man (2006)

bridge to terabithia (2007)

enchanted (2007)

atonement (2007)

stardust (2007)

ps i love you (2007)

wild child (2008)

made of honour (2008)

ondine (2009)

bride wars (2009)

valentine’s day (2010)

leap year (2010)

easy a (2010)

from up on poppy hill (2011)

jane eyre (2011)

crazy, stupid, love (2011)

what to expect when you’re expecting (2012)

remember sunday (2013)

saving mr banks (2013)

about time (2013)

now you see me (2013 + 2016)

love, rosie (2014)

testament of youth (2014)

kingsman (2014-)

paddington (2014 + 2017)

far from the madding crowd (2015)

burnt (2015)

brooklyn (2015)

cinderella (2015)

the man from u.n.c.l.e. (2015)

lady chatterley's lover (2015/2022)

creed franchise (2015-2023)

me before you (2016)

mother’s day (2016)

this beautiful fantastic (2016)

the light between oceans (2016)

paterson (2016)

how to be single (2016)

hidden figures (2016)

gifted (2017)

dunkirk (2017)

ocean’s eight (2018)

life itself (2018)

peter rabbit (2018)

christopher robin (2018)

tomb raider (2018)

set it up (2018)

crazy rich asians (2018)

spider-verse movies (2018-)

1917 (2019)

the art of racing in the rain (2019)

can you keep a secret? (2019)

booksmart (2019)

someone great (2019)

endings, beginnings (2019)

emma (2020)

enola holms (2020-)

the last letter from your lover (2021)

the world to come (2021)

we live in time (2024)

🌼 ‧₊˚ ⋅ series ⋅˚₊‧

little house on the prairie (1974-1983)

moomin valley (1990-1992)

greys anatomy (2005-)

gossip girl (2007-2012)

skins (2007-2013)

the great british bake off (2010-)

new girl (2011-2018)

brooklyn nine-nine (2013-2021)

the fosters (2013-2018)

the 100 (2014-2020)

jane the virgin (2014-2019)

outlander (2014-)

grace and frankie (2015-2022)

poldark (2015-2019)

critical role (2015-)

howards end (2017)

girlboss (2017)

she's gotta have it (2017-2019)

the bold type (2017-2021)

mr. sunshine (2018)

queer eye (2018-)

crash landing into you (2019)

the witcher (2019-)

dickinson (2019-2021)

sex education (2019-2023)

bridgerton (2020-)

ted lasso (2020-2023)

nevertheless (2021)

abbott elementary (2021-)

flatshare (2022)

[jikookuntold]

The Untold Truth of "Letter"

Back in 2021, 2022, or even early 2023, if someone had told me about the possibility of JK having vocal credits in Jimin's solo album, I would have called it wishful thinking at best. But it happened, and we got the song "Letter" (AKA Dear Army) as a hidden track in Jimin's first solo album, FACE, with back vocals by JK, and his name written invisibly in the album book.

The perfectly matching vocals of Jikook, with the heartfelt lyrics and soft instruments, undoubtedly made one of the most beautiful songs of the year, which could break many records for Jimin and his album if it was released in the streaming and buying services. The release of Letter as a hidden track in Jimin's solo album raised many questions and debates among Jikookers, and as someone who barely scrolls in the Tumblr app, I know I'm a bit late for the party, but I may or may not have some notes to add to the already made discussions. FYI, these are my analytic views and speculations, I am fully aware that this song has been named "Dear Army", and Jimin called it a "Fan song" on different occasions. So, I do not intend to ignore that and diminish Jimin's expression of love for his fans.

What's a Hidden Track?

Before getting into "Letter", we need to understand what a hidden track is. Well, the definition is pretty clear; When a song is not listed in the official track-list of a music album, but it exists in (some versions of) the physical printed CD, cassette, or LP, it's called a "hidden track". 

Hidden Tracks of BTS

There are several techniques and reasons to "hide" a track in an album, but in the case of BTS discography, the hidden tracks exist for a specific reason, and I'm going to explain it with the only examples we have. The debut album (2013) and Love Yourself: Her (2017), are the only BTS albums including hidden tracks, and if we ignore the skits in each album, "Path" and "Sea" are the only hidden songs BTS ever released. So, these two songs must have something(s) in common and different from the other BTS tracks that caused them to end up as a hidden track. To find that common factor, we need to check their lyrics first:

Path

[Intro: RM] Yeah, wassup? You know, time flows like stars (Check it, check, check, check, check it out) [Verse 1: RM] I started from imitating Eminem, Garion, Epik High To writing my own raps Now I see that I’m already at Hongdae My lyrics back then were all (****) Bossy But we dunno, we dunno When I dreamed without anyone to stop me Reality tied me down and trapped me inside Oh, my youth trapped me My hot heart lost to my cold mind (Damn) As I blindly told myself my decision was right I don’t know whether it’s an angel or a devil, but it says to me "Do you really have any plans to rap properly?" (Yes or no?) I didn’t have more time to hesitate and didn’t want to be stupid So I came here and three years passed by Some say art is long, life is short But for now, art is life Life is sports, just do it, uh [Chorus] If I had chosen a different path, would have I been any different? If I stopped and looked back (Oh hey ya, hey ya) What will I see at the end of this road? Where you should’ve been standing? (Oh hey ya, hey ya) [Verse 2: Suga, Suga & Jungkook] A long time passed and by 2013, I was a trainee for three years I was a high school student who grew overnight (I became a child) White hair grew from my desires and one by one my many friends (Parted ways with me) I spent my time in Seoul alone without a family (That was my third spring) I thought my worries would disappear with my debut ahead of me I closed my eyes to the present that had nothing to change But the reality was different, even as my family and friends tried to stop me I walked into the tunnels that shed no light on my own I thought I would be alone (Why?) As it turns out, there weren’t seven bare feet but we were wearing the shoe named Bangtan We’ll have to go forward, take one more step, become newer And that’s how I spent my fourth spring in Seoul (Whoa) [Chorus] If I had chosen a different path, would have I been any different? (Hey) If I stopped and looked back (Hey) Oh hey ya, hey ya What will I see at the end of this road? Where you should’ve been standing? (Oh hey ya, hey ya) [Verse 3: J-Hope] 2010, the year I walked towards Seoul! I just loved to dance, and now I’m standing on top of the stage Until then, I overcame many pains and scars to prepare myself I survived with my belief to bend, not break, and ran for three years Let the stars inside my heart shine! Now shine on me differently Write “Bangtan” on the paper world I walk my future with more lights on Give a smile to that far future (Ha, ha)

As you can see, the lyrics are simple and self-explanatory, so I guess we don't need any lyrics analysis, and the description section of the Genius translation I used here, says it all:

“길 (Road/Path) follows the member’s decisions to become idols in the Korean music industry. They recall their different upbringings from listening to hip hop in school to the hard years of being trainees under BigHit Entertainment. BTS pose the questions of how their lives would be different if they made a different decision, and they ask themselves what the future entails. A very introspective track about their career for a debut album, BTS display their thought processes as they enter the music scene.”

Sea

[Intro: Jungkook] Oh, ah, yeah [Verse 1: Rap Monster] I just started walking and ended up at the sea I'm looking at the coast from here There's endless sand and the rough wind I'm still looking at a desert I wanted to have the sea so I swallowed you up But I'm even thirstier than before Is what I know really the ocean? Or a blue desert? [Refrain: J-Hope] I don't know, I don't know If I'm feeling the waves right now, yeah I don't know, I don't know If I'm being chased by the sand wind, yeah I don't know, I don't know Is this the sea or the desert? Is this hope or despair? Is this real or fake? Shit [Pre-Chorus: J-Hope] I know, I know, my hardship right now I know, I know, I'll overcome I know, I know, open me up It's the place I can rely on Think positive, I'm swallowing my dry spit Even if I'm nervous, even if I'm in a desert I'm in the beautiful Namib Desert [Chorus: Jimin, Jin] Where there is hope, there is always trial (4) [Hook: V, Jungkook] Where there is hope You know, you know You know, yeah yeah (2) [Verse 2: Suga] I thought this was the ocean but it's a desert A medium-sized, ordinary idol was my second name Countless people get cut from broadcast But someone's empty spot is our dream They say some of these kids can't make it cuz their agency is too small I know, I know, I know too Times when the seven of us had to sleep in one room With foolish hope that tomorrow will be different before we fell asleep We saw the mirage in the desert but we couldn't grasp it Praying that we'll remain in this desert till the end Praying that this isn't truly our reality [Verse 3: Suga] In the end, we reached the mirage and it became our reality The scary desert became the ocean with our blood, sweat and tears But why is there this fear in between the happiness? Because we know too well that this place is really a desert [Refrain 2: Suga] I don't wanna cry I don't wanna rest No, who cares if we rest a little? No no no I don't wanna lose It's always a desert I told you everything Then I'll just be more depressed [Chorus: Jungkook, V] Where there is hope, there is always trial (2) [Hook: Jimin, Jin] Where there is hope You know, you know You know, yeah yeah (2) [Bridge: Rap Monster] Ocean, desert, the world Everything, the same thing Different name I see ocean, l see desert I see the world Everything's, the same thing With a different name It's life again [Hook: V, Jungkook] Where there is hope You know you know you know yeah (2) [Chorus] Where there is hope, there is always trial

Compared to “Path”, we have more innuendos and metaphors in “Sea” because of Namjoon’s lyricism (it was supposed to be in his mixtape at first), but as the description says:

"It discusses the hardships BTS has experienced since debut, particularly struggling to compete with groups from other, larger agencies. In this song, BTS reflects on these hardships, fearing that their global fame and success could leave as suddenly as it arrived."

Common Denominator

These two lyrics have one big thing in common, and it's the topic they are discussing. They talk about the members' struggles, fears, hopes, and dreams career-wise. I was thinking maybe these issues are something they can only share with their longtime fans, not the general public, therefore, they decided to release them as hidden tracks in the physical album for their real fans who buy them, something like the difference between Weverse and Instagram, I guess? Then I realized that’s something Namjoon has mentioned himself to Billboard Magazine, in LYS: Her interview:

And if fans are so lucky to own the physical album, they’ll hear two hidden tracks at the very. Why keep them secretive?

"I think they’re hidden because you have to be a real fan of BTS to understand them. Otherwise, you won’t. Otherwise, you’d like to be, “Why are they feeling so confused about things? They’re good?!? They’re No. 1 somewhere, they have so much stuff, why are they worried?” People always talk about that. But if you are a true fan of BTS and you buy the album and you listen to the hidden track �� if you are an Army and we spent time together from 2013, 2014 — they could understand. It’s kind of more special, more closer, to our true hearts"

What about "Letter"?

In conclusion, hidden tracks for BTS, are something between them and their real fans who know about the path they have wended, therefore they can open up to them through lyrics and talk about their fears and struggles and ambitions without being judged or misunderstood. Also, we have to debunk some of the misconceptions going around (especially after the release of FACE) about hidden tracks. For example, some claimed that Letter is made for fans because hidden tracks are always supposed to be “gifts” for fans. This claim obviously can’t be true when you are able to listen to a hidden track legally, only by purchasing the physical album. Gifts are supposed to be free of charge, like Promise, Still with You, Christmas Love, My You, and so on. 

Then what about “Letter”? Why this song is a hidden track in Jimin’s first solo album? Did Jimin want to say something by hiding this track in FACE? To answer this questions, we need to pay attention to the lyrics and how the song was made:

 [Verse 1] What should I say? And how should I convey it? I'm really not getting my words right I know it sounds so clichéd So that it's not taken lightly Let me say it to you properly [Chorus] I say oh-oh, I hope you can be happier You, who stretched your hand out to me whenever I fell I say oh-oh, I'll hold it now (I'll hold it) So when you feel like crying, you won’t fall [Verse 2] After all this time has passed Will we still be the same? Just like we were when we first met, hmm-mmm If we are together, even the desert could turn to a sеa Just like how we were then, oh-hoo-ooh [Chorus] I say oh-oh, I really hope that it’ll last forever You, who felt like a warm spring to me in a cold winter I say oh-oh, I'll always cherish it All those moments between you and I [Refrain] Baby, don't leave Just stay by my side, yeah To you, who see me bigger than what my little self is (to you) So that I can give as much as I’ve received (oh-oh) So that I can keep my word (oh-oh) Don't worry, just stay by my side, yeah (Yeah) We don’t know what the future holds (holds, yeah) And that’s scary and makes us afraid (oh-oh) But don’t forget that we’re always together (don't forget) [Outro] I know it sounds so clichéd So that it's not taken lightly Let me say it to you properly

The Feelings

If you compare these lyrics to "Path" and "Sea" you can clearly see the differences, and except a mention of "sea and desert" there's nothing in common between them. Letter is not a monologue about career issues, it's a romantic song. These lyrics are expressing the feelings and addresses them to an audience and appreciates them. But how was this song made?

According to Jimin, at first, SMF Pt2 was supposed to be the last track of his solo album, but in their YTC promotion and recording era when they announced that they have planned to put their group activities on rest, Jimin decided to express his feelings of the moment through a letter, and turned that letter to song lyrics. Producers liked the song so much and decided to add it in his album and that’s how “Letter” was born. Although Jimin didn’t explain much about those “feelings” and left the conclusion to us like a true artist, we all know that this song is totally different from the other tracks in his album.

All the tracks of FACE are dark and sad. Jimin’s first album is all about himself, and he talks about the painful emotions he had as an artist and a person in the past few year, but with “Letter” there is a different story. Recording Academy admitted this and wrote:

“Though the EP is technically only six songs, the physical version has an additional “hidden” track called “Letter”. The song provides an intimacy that stands out from the other FACE tracks, capturing Jimin in his best form. The lyrics are poignant and vulnerable as Jimin pleads for someone to stay (“Baby, don't leave Just stay by my side, yeah”) The biggest surprise though? Fellow BTS member Jungkook contributes vocals to harmonize with Jimin.”  

A Fan Song?

“Letter” being a “Fan Song” is a stated fact by Park Jimin himself, and there can’t be any arguments about it, but that fact doesn’t mean Jimin made this song with the thought of fans in his head and all about them. In one of my old posts, I said that a faceless crowd can’t be the muse for a romantic song, especially when that song has a "standing-out intimacy".

Another reason for calling "Letter" a fan song, is the fact that it starts at 6:13 of the album, the numbers that remind us of the debut date of BTS. We can't call this a coincidence because we know how thoughtful and punctual Jimin is. But don’t forget that 6.13 is more of BTS time than ARMY time. So, as much as you call this track a song for fans, it can be called a song for his fellow BTS members.

Why JK?

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. Why JK was a part of this song? Did it mean something for Jimin, or did he have no other options? Jimin said that FACE is an album about himself, and he didn’t feel right about featuring other artists in it, that’s why he decided to record SMF Pt2 all alone and do all the rap parts by himself instead of featuring Yoongi in it. He collaborated with several producers and songwriters (including Namjoon), but there was no featured artist in the whole album.

About the background vocals of the album, he did most parts by himself, and for the other parts, he worked with artists who already had credits in his album, such as BLVSH, Sumin, and James Keys. But JK didn’t have anything to do with Jimin’s album. Jimin was fully capable of doing the background vocals of Letter by himself, as he did for the first parts of the song. Jimin never really explained why he decided to have JK in the song, other than saying their voices match. This known fact doesn’t give us much information, but we can have our speculations. 

Closer Than This?

Another thing that questions the idea of “Letter" being inspired by fans, is the existence of “Closer Than This”. The newest release of Jimin is the exact definition of a fan song, the lyrics are straightforward and directly address the fans and leave no place for speculation. If CTT is the result of Jimin getting inspired by his fans, then “Letter” must be inspired by something different because these two songs are not comparable. 

The difference becomes more obvious when we look at the initial version of the Letter lyrics in Jimin’s drafts. I wonder what the Grammy journalist who called the final lyrics of “Letter” intimate would have said if they read this: 

You hugged me tightly Only you who protected me Hold my hand, hold my hand tightly You who reached out my hand You held out your hand to me

We don’t know what was going on in Jimin’s mind when he wrote these, but we can see that the initial lyrics have been moderated, and the intimate parts, which clearly refer to a person, didn’t end up in the final lyrics. FYI, I’m doing a lyric analysis here, and this is not a complaint or conspiracy theory because Jimin said that he liked the way the final version came out, and it's all that matters.

For Fans, Not About Fans

So far we made it clear that "hidden tracks" are not about fans, they are for fans like any other BTS song, but the hidden tracks are a secret between the artist and the fan, something that only the true and dedicated fan can understand, and this applies to Jimin's "Letter".

Jimin gave up on many records for streaming and buying by releasing this song as a hidden track in his album. So, there must be an important message in this song that he wanted to convey to the true fans. He did his share of being thankful to fans by CTT, and I don't think he needed to do it twice in a year.

Maybe you prefer to think Jimin just made this song for ARMY and hid it in the album as a surprise or because it didn’t match with the whole concept of FACE, and you might not be wrong about any of that. But, don’t forget that he didn’t explain anything about this, and we both are just making assumtions.

Yes, maybe Jimin didn't acknowledge JK being a part of Letter in his promotion era, but JK did everything he could for his share. A few hours before the release of FACE, he started a live and played a part of it with his guitar, and months later, he watched Jimin's live performance for Festa while harmonizing with it and reminding us that he knows the lyrics very well. In Jimin's documentary he was very supportive and even teased for a live performance with him in future.

Why Just Jikook?

Jimin and Jungkook are not the only members of BTS. But I don't know why everytime Jimin or JK do something with romantic undertones, the fans (OT7 ARMYs, to be more specific) immediately try to label it as "About ARMY". I usually don't see this energy with the other five members. I'm perfectly sure they are also very grateful for ARMY, they have released several songs about them, and they would have loved to collaborate in a fan song with Jimin, too.

Then why Jimin only included JK in Letter? Why he wanted to sing for "ARMY" with him? Unless we assume Jimin's gratitude towards ARMY has connections with JK, and I don’t even want to bring up 2019 "I am army" jokes. But "Letter" is the song the most optimistic Jikookers didn't expect to exist. You may try to ignore and normalize it, but you can't deny the fact that Letter proved Jikook's unbreakable connection as two harmonic colleages, long time friends, and inseparable souls.

[ppeonppeonhan]

Which BL Couple do you want to see in a Sequel?

And not just a cameo or an Our Skyy 2-episode arc.

HIStory 3: Trapped (2019, above) - I want to keep seeing how their relationship works as their morals clash.

Bad Buddy (2021) - I know we risk ruining a good thing and that we got the Our Skyy episodes, but I could watch more of these two as they learn to nurture their relationship in spite of the negativity surrounding them.

Not Me (2021) - There is SO much that can be done in this universe with these twin rebel characters. They should absolutely revive it as LGBTQIA legislation and police corruption evolves in Thailand.

Love is Science? (2021, above) - I could watch 12 whole episodes of Ou Wen learning to trust playboy bi Mark.

Semantic Error (2022, top) - Park Seoham returns from military service later this year, but IDK. I feel like there's not much else to explore here. Loved every minute of it though.

KinnPorsche (2022) - This is another couple that I feel ran its course. I would sooner watch a spinoff of Kim and Chay, even though I think Jeff Satur is more interested in music these days, because I need to know if Kim loved Chay or if he just pitied him. Plus, Kim is next-gen mob boss and I'd love to see it. And while I did enjoy Pete & Vegas, it appears we are still up in the air about whether the actor who played Pete...is a piece of sh*t. What a plot twist?

Love in the Air (2022) - Both couples contributed some of the best sex scenes to BL history, but I doubt there's more story to tell.

The Eighth Sense (2023) - They fucked me all the way up. 😭 Made To My Star 2 seem like a cake walk. I need a sequel just to know where this is going.

[imjustania]

How to study

Everyone has experienced that situation where they have a lot of homework and assignments to complete, yet it can be difficult to get started (I can relate!). We try various methods and even tidy up our room, but still struggle to concentrate. As someone with ADHD, I have faced this challenge throughout my life. Therefore, I have dedicated this blog post to researching the best strategies for getting motivated and staying focused while studying. My aim is to assist all those who also struggle with this issue, just in time for exam season!

Pinterest

This one is my own tip, however its very helpful! I personally love the social media Pinterest, its just a space where people get together to share their gallery! Create your own study board, and go look at pictures of people studying. Usually looking at the tidy spaces and notes help inspire someone to actually do the same. It would make you think “oh, this is pretty… maybe I should do the same!”. It also inspires you to put effort into your notes or work, as you might want to recreate this. If you need an inspiration board feel free to check mine! Trust me, this will inspire you and I update it consistently https://pin.it/8lpKfrA

Create a study space

This one is suggested in many researches, including in the International Carer Institution. They mention that “Your study environment should be clean, quiet, organised, and comfortable. Remove any distractions like game consoles and tablets, and ensure you have comfortable seating” (2022). Make sure your study space is the ideal place, because even the tiniest distraction will send you into a spiral which will lead you to distracting yourself even more. Just dedicate a good amount of your time to cleaning your desk, room, and bed. I know many people would not want to leave their room, and thats ok! You can definitely study in your room, but you have to make sure you don’t fall into the trap of the bed. Your ass can not leave that chair. The second you sit on your bed you will succumb to it’s comfort and wont leave it. Instead stand up from you chair, walk around your room. If you really want to sit not on your chair, sit on the floor (I know this sounds weird, but try it).

Set the mood

This is another personal tip that has worked for me for many years. I like to set the mood of my study space, as it helps me work more effectively! It help me when i imagine i am somewhere else while still in my room, for you it could be anywhere, library, coffee shop, work office, etc. For me, I like to set my mood to hogwards. Just imagining i’m studying in the great mighty magical school of witchcraft, helps me going. You can set your mood through ambiance YouTube videos. Some of those even have a Pomodoro installed in it, which is really helpful to getting started slowly slowly. Here is my favourite videos which you could use to set the mood!

https://youtu.be/YwMSH3dHTw4?si=DO43svTvA4BWhk5f - Christmas at the Great hall with Harry Potter! Ambiance and soft music.

https://youtu.be/5epBz_hHYiM?si=BeaYwcAH5DsqmfDb - an Astronomers Great library! Ambiance

https://youtu.be/zCi9ABxuQZQ?si=ds2nAs8CM2i5bi7d - Hogwarts Classes ambience. 4 classes total. Pomodoro

https://youtu.be/BRgPGqCV_cw?si=pMtfK7uSOsogG_Fe - 24 hour Hogwarts ambiance (intense). Pomodoro

https://youtu.be/Aw0BfB4EMY8?si=ntorGn2aEmvf0iAf - hogwarts library ambiance and soft music

https://youtu.be/m8HEoICBdTY?si=pUx-LMcV0ENKK85X - sunny ambiance - perfect for morning mood setting

More ideas to setting the mode could include the following actions: candle, diffusers, change of clothes, and adjust the light (if you have LED lights, or a smart lightbulb like Wiz, defiantly set a warm light for a relaxing atmosphere or bright white one for focus).

For the love of god put your phone down

This is the number one reason you cant get up from wherever you are seating right now, and unable to study. Your phone is a curse and a saviour at the same time. Your phone has all kind of distractions which are stopping you from actually standing up and starting your study. You start with “oh lets just take 5 more minutes” or “oh… 3 more videos wont harm” YES IT WILL. Put your phone far away, under a pillow or in the drawer. Put it on do not disturb mode, and make sure your phone is whitelisted to important people like your guardian in case they need your help. Trust me, the second your phone is away, everything will become easier. Only use your phone on long breaks, after you had a long session.

Write down your to do-list

So you finally sat down on your desk, everything is clean, everything is perfect… what now? Write your to do-list. Writing down everything you need to, helps you actually realise how much you have to do. And when you see everything written down, its easier to sort and understand what you need to do.

Work in your pace

I know you’re watching those influencers online that study for a really large period of times, but not anyone can do this AND it doesn’t work for everyone. Set your own pace, work for 20 minutes or 15 minutes and take a 5 minute break (🍅), and as you do that, you end up getting hyper concentrated at some point, and then watch the magic of studying happen.

And thats all for today folks! I hope you find this blog helpful, and let me know if this has helped you get started to study! I hope you have a wonderful day, and don't forget to keep smiling because you’re beautiful.

[svt-rosalie]

. . . ♡ GOING ! ? 🛝 SEVENTEEN ★ ﾟ๑

ׁ ׅ ୨ ❪ masterlist! ❫ ୧ ⊹ ࣪

© 2023 , svt-rosalie rosalie masterlist!

2018

TTT (MT SVT REALITY)

2019

SVT TRIP ☆ MBTI of SVT ☆ Escape Singing Room ☆ Debate Night ☆ TTT (Camping Ver.) ☆ SVT Playground ☆ SVT Secret Santa ☆ The Secret of Going Sevong

2020

Mystery Mystery ☆ Don’t Lie ☆ Boo Seungkwan’s Past Life Destiny ☆ Insomnia Zero ☆ Seventeen Brain Survival ☆ SVT Escape Room ☆ Delivery Food Fighter ☆ Human Chess ☆ Debate Night #2 ☆ Pie In The Sky ☆ Four Wheeled Rider ☆ Ad-lib: Seventeen’s Got Talent ☆ The8 and the 13 Shadows ☆ The Tag ☆ Christmas in August ☆ Mouse Busters ☆ Bad Clue ☆ SVTSIDE OUT ☆ Bungee Jump ☆ CARNIVAL ☆ Don’t Lie #2 ☆ GOING VS SEVENTEEN ☆ TTT (Hyperrealism Ver.) ☆ GOING

2021

Ad-lib : GOING COMPANY ☆ One Million Won ☆ Let’s Go! Seventeen ☆ Treasure Island : 14 Raiders ☆ Don’t Lie #3 ☆ Ad Genius SEVENTEEN ☆ Roulette Life ☆ Planting Rice and Making Bets ☆ Kickball ☆ TTT (Water Sports Ver.) ☆ Debate Night #3 ☆ Tribal Games ☆ Catch Stock ☆ EGO ☆ Insomnia Zero #2 ☆ Best Friends ☆ Seventeen’s Kitchen for Two

2022

Going Seventeen Special - GOING COMMENTARY ☆ How To Eat Rice the Perfect Way ☆ Infinite GOING ☆ The Truman Show of Mr. SVT’s We Live Alone ☆ SVTSIDE OUT #2 ☆ GSVT Triathlon Championship 2022 ☆ Runner-Up Sports Day ☆ SEVENTEEN GOING Radio Special ☆ Know Thyself ☆ HIDE N SEEK ☆ WONWOO’s Diary ☆ Christmas in August #2 ☆ Good Offer ☆ Talk Get-Together ☆ Bad Clue #2 ☆ I Know and Don’t Know

2023

Going Company Outing ☆ Surprise Don’t Lie ☆ Don’t Lie : Clue ☆ Don’t Lie : The Chaser ☆ Court : The Eyes That See The Truth ☆ Finding KSY ☆ A Company Dinner for EveryWON ☆ Everything Possible in the White Zone ☆ Going Vol. 2 ☆ BOOmily Outing ☆ The Guest Who Left Secretly ☆ Point of Omniscient Interfere Penalty ☆ Rock Scissors Paper ☆ Comeback Special - God of Light Music ☆ Grudge

2024

Going Ranger ☆ 14 Angry People ☆ Liar Liar ☆ Insomnia-Zero III ☆ Class President Election ☆ Grrreuk Kak TTT ☆ Horror Special : Trap

[mlleclaudine]

En couverture de Vanity Fair: Noémie Merlant, portrait d'une actrice en feu

by Norine Raja - Vanity Fair France, July 24, 2024

Tragic, comic and now erotic: Noémie Merlant continues to prove that she can play anything, including a radically contemporary version of Emmanuelle.  But how do you reconcile sensuality and feminism in an era that leaves so little room for nuance?  Norine Raja asked her.

Suddenly, the interview’s soundtrack changes drastically.  At the café terrace where we're chatting, the lyrics of Maître Gims give way to an electro remix of the familiar melody of Bella Ciao.

Is it a sign?  The music seems to have anticipated Noémie Merlant's thoughts: «At one point, I felt trapped.  Now, it's like this song: freedom, freedom, freedom!»  she says to the beat of the chorus.  Has she reached the point of total emancipation?  «Not yet, but I’m getting there», she says with a smile.

On this June afternoon, the actress is back home in the Paris suburbs after having attended two festivals in a row – Biarritz and Nantes – to present her second feature film as director, Les Femmes au balcon.  Espresso started, unfussy outfit, bag casually laid on the floor, hair in a ponytail.  She weighs her words, relishes the silences.  Then, the next minute, she rivets you with her electric gaze and makes her point with total conviction.  Just try to pigeonhole her.  She’s got a 14-year career under her belt and as many different roles: a rebellious teenager in Les Héritiers (2014), a naive aristocrat in Le Retour du héros (2018), a trans man in A Good Man (2020).  «She's a perfect blend of precision and abandon», said Céline Sciamma, who directed her in Portrait de la jeune fille en feu (2019).  «She can play a powerful woman, but also hint at vulnerability», adds Audrey Diwan, winner of the Lion d’or for L'Événement (2021), who has just directed her in Emmanuelle – more on that later.

Because she remains an enigmatic figure in the public eye, no persona seems too outsized for her.  Think she’s limited to dramatic roles?  She displays unexpected comedic flair in L'Innocent (2022), in which she plays Louis Garrel's brash best friend: twinkling eyes, a mischievous attitude, raucous laughter.  Her feigned nervous breakdown in a highway restaurant is unforgettable.  The role (finally) earned her the César for Best Supporting Actress in 2023.  Audrey Diwan hasn't forgotten that performance: «Every time she smiles in this film, she turns the world upside down.»

That same year, the filmmaker was working on a remake of Just Jaeckin's Emmanuelle, the famous erotic feature film of the Giscardian era.  At the time, Noémie Merlant had never seen this landmark of 1970s sexual revolution, the first installment in a 15-part saga.  So she met the director without any preconceived ideas or images.  She was inspired by the character.  «She must be exhausted in her search for pleasure», she suggested to Audrey Diwan, who offered her the role before the meeting was over.  She insisted on watching the original film after shooting was done.  Her verdict?  «It's a disaster.  The first part is interesting, with this open relationship.  But then there's a storyline with Emmanuelle and an older man.  She gets raped in front of him...»

The film has aged badly, but the 2024 version is free of any misogyny.  The look and feel have been modernized.  Replacing the postcard Thai décor and its whiff of orientalism is a luxurious Hong Kong setting.  Not a young woman pandering to the desires of others, but an ambitious thirtysomething in the throes of self-discovery.  A complete reinterpretation, in other words.  I hesitate to ask: was she afraid to embrace this character and her sultry aura?  She dismisses the idea out of hand: «That never even occurred to me.  What interests me these days is working with women directors who are seeking to redefine representations of women, their imagination, their sexuality.»

Céline Dion, her idol

Sorority was Noémie Merlant's guiding principle, long before she became aware of or defined the concept of female solidarity.  The daughter of a pair of real estate agents, she grew up in Rezé, a town of 40,000 people near Nantes, in a happy household where television held center stage.  Evenings were spent watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and crying over Titanic, she admits with a touch of embarrassment.  Like thousands of French people, we'd like to tell her.  She is very close to her mother and older sister, who suffers from a disability.  To avoid adding to her parents' burdens, Noémie learned not to take up too much space.  After years of therapy, she's come to realize: «It's nobody's fault, just the dynamics imposed by society. And then, at the same time, school teaches you not to make waves, society tells women to be well-behaved.»

So she found other means of expression.  She was a soloist with the Nantes Conservatoire choir, and dreamed of following in the footsteps of her idol Céline Dion.  She also practiced ballet and modern jazz for ten years.  Her father was convinced that Noémie was destined for a career in the arts.  One day in the mid-2000s, he saw an advertisement for the Cours Florent and encouraged her to try her luck.  The 17-year-old was scared, but eventually let herself be convinced.  She headed for the capital, where the transition was rather brutal.  «When I arrived, I was thinking: “I don't know anyone, I have no culture... What am I going to do?”»  She compensated for her imposter syndrome with a thirst for knowledge.  Here she lists the directors she needed to catch up with: Bergman, Cassavetes, the great Italian filmmakers like Visconti.  And reading?  «There's nothing to be done about it, I just can’t», she says frankly.

At the same time, she pursued modeling to «earn money, even if you only got paid in clothes», she says pragmatically.  She did photo shoots, fashion shows, and trips without really thinking about it.  She didn't want to «bite the hand that fed her», and would realize only much later the full extent of the toll this experience took on her.  The «Shut up and look pretty», the memory of being sexually assaulted by a photographer, the feeling that her body was no longer her own.  To the point where she weighed only 45 kilos.  «That gave me a massive eating disorder, which I'm still trying to overcome.  I was anorexic-bulimic for almost ten years.  I'm not any more, but I'm still hypervigilant about what I eat, and I'm always careful not to let myself go.»

There was only one thing to do: get out of the fashion world as quickly as possible.  Sometimes, it's all about meeting someone.  In 2013, the actress auditioned for Les Héritiers, a film by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar inspired by a true story.  It tells the story of how a teacher enrolls her most unruly pupils in a history competition, an experience that will change their worldview.  Noémie Merlant was 24, but looked young enough to play the class rebel, wearing a leather jacket and with headphones on.  On set, the filmmaker was impressed by her talent and intense presence.

Filming with Desplechin

A year later, another text message: «Would you be available to meet?  I'd like to talk to you.»  [Mention-Schaar] offered her the role of an average young girl, radicalized by jihadists, in Le Ciel attendra.  To prepare for the role, Noémie Merlant met with teenage girls in the process of deradicalization, and tried to understand their mindset.  «We found girls from all social backgrounds, cultures and religions.  For many of these teenagers, there was the feeling of being misunderstood by society, but also frequently the beginnings of anxiety about death and shame.  The desire for an ideal, for something unconditional, even in love stories.»  The film was released in a volatile context, less than a year after the attacks on November 13.  But the actress took a cleareyed view of this phenomenon, which she believed revealed youth in search of meaning.

This total commitment paid off: in 2017, she was nominated for a César in the Most Promising Actress category.  In an interview filmed around this time, she appears smiling and fulfilled.  Well aware, too, that the road ahead is fraught with pitfalls: «The hardest thing is to maintain self-confidence, even when you don't believe in yourself, or when you have periods of emptiness.»

What was Noémie Merlant dreaming of at this very moment?  When asked about whom she’d like to collaborate with, she almost mechanically cited Arnaud Desplechin or Abdellatif Kechiche.  She didn't know it yet, but the revolution would be born in a female microcosm.  In 2019, the young woman played a painter hired to create the likeness of an aristocrat (Adèle Haenel) in Portrait de la jeune fille en feu.  Céline Sciamma's fourth feature is an incredibly intimate costume drama: a manor house, a cliff overlooking the sea and just four characters.  At first, the actress was confused by the script: «Conflicts are nonexistent or immediately defused.»  The absence of dominance hierarchies unsettled her: there were no saviors or anyone being saved; there were creators but no muses.  «Just a gentleness and a wonderful equality.  And in spite of everything, there’s an exciting story full of surprises.  That's what makes it so powerful.»  A head-on collision between two great actresses, where their eyes meet, sizing each other up, caressing each other.  Like when Noémie Merlant’s character places a mirror between her lover's thighs, then sketches her self-portrait.

A box-office success across the Atlantic and a critical triumph, the film was in the running for ten awards at the 2020 Césars.  But on the evening of the ceremony, one name brought all the tensions into focus: Roman Polanski.  The director, who is currently facing several rape allegations, had been nominated in several categories for his film J'accuse.  French cinema had never been so fractured.  Adèle Haenel, who revealed that she had been molested as a child by director Christophe Ruggia, was in shock.  For her, honoring Polanski was tantamount to «spitting in the face of all victims».  No one heeded her: the filmmaker won the prize for best director, to the applause of part of the audience.  «Someone shouted: “Well done!” recalls Noémie Merlant.  It was clearly a response to Adèle's speaking out.»  In protest, the cast of Portrait de la jeune fille en feu left the auditorium, after shouting a resounding «Shame!»  In the wake of her commitment, Adèle Haenel announced her retirement from cinema in 2023.  Has Noémie Merlant thought about following her example?  «It wasn't easy to keep going, she acknowledges.  I admire Adèle's courage.  But staying is also a way of continuing the fight.»  The actress has no illusions about the seventh art.  No promotional newspeak, no generalities or shortcuts in her remarks.  Even when she salutes the «extraordinary people» she has worked with, she qualifies that with «but that's not always the case».  You get the sense that she is torn between the desire to talk about her difficult experiences and the fear of endless controversy.  She mentions «casting directors, actors, who promise you things».  How do you recognize them?  «Thanks to my experience as a model, I'm like a fish that spots the hook before the worm.»

Portrait de la jeune fille en feu «changed everything» for her.  She set off in search of more meaningful roles.  She reassessed her place not only in cinema, but also in the world.  She reflected on «patriarchal oppression», confronted the traumas that resurfaced.  «Even my relationship dynamic no longer suited me.»  She left her partner at the time and moved in with Sanda Codreanu, a friend from the Cours Florent.  She hesitates over the precise terms, but speaks of «escape» and «sanctuary».  In this haven, words flow freely and bodies are liberated.  They laugh as much as they talk about the violence they've suffered.  She, who used to move from one relationship to another, embraced a new perspective on relationships.  Why should romantic love count for more than friendships?  Why force yourself to have sex to please the other person?  Noémie Merlant now knows what she wants... or rather what she doesn't want.  These days, she's in a «healthy, unstructured» relationship.  She adds: «We're not afraid to experience things separately.  The important thing is that each of us is fulfilled.»

The Cate Blanchett method

Recovery also involves the body.  Onscreen nudity doesn't bother her.  «There are fewer and fewer actresses who agree to undress, which I understand.  But I don't have any issue with it, so I'm happy to go for it.  I think there are things to explore and advocate for in this freedom.»  She asserts her willingness to explore eroticism and sexuality through the eyes of other directors.  Female desire in all its forms is a common thread running through her filmography: she develops an attraction to an amusement park ride in Jumbo, plays a writer infatuated with a libertine photographer in Curiosa.

For a long time, sex scenes had been reduced to a few lines in a script and improvised on set.  In Jacques Audiard's Les Olympiades, the ballet of bodies is carefully designed.  Playing a thirtysomething woman who becomes fascinated by a camgirl, Noémie Merlant was coached by choreographer Stéphanie Chêne.  She learned to abandon dialogue in favor of her gaze and body language.  For the first time, she thought about her character's movements.  «It allows you to feel safe and to work with respect above all else.  And so you can go further, seeking precision through imagination.»  Farewell to the good little girl.  She avoids tyrannical filmmakers, those who push the actors' limits.  At one point, when a director tried to manipulate her to extract emotions, she almost walked off the set.  «I made him understand that I was making this film above all for pleasure and for creativity, and that I couldn't accomplish anything with that kind of method.  In the end, it turned out well, but I wish I hadn’t had to go through that.»  It was like revenge for all those outbursts she’d had to swallow.

Behind the camera, Noémie Merlant has also chosen irreverence.  In her second feature, Les Femmes au balcon, she imagines a Marseilles-style Rear Window, somewhere between comedy and outright gore.  The pitch: three girlfriends have fun spying on their mysterious neighbor across the street, with whom they develop a relationship that goes beyond exhibitionism.  It was difficult for her to find an actress who would agree to film naked, until she came across the luminous Souheila Yacoub.  One question nagged at her: how to film a body without sexualizing it?  First, by disarming the issue with humor.  «Right from the start, I give the viewer a heads-up: “Here you go, boobs.  Now that you've had a good look at them, let's move on.”»  She also uses the expression «shirtless» for women, a way of denouncing double standards.  There's no idealizing of her heroines' bodies.  She films them in their everyday lives, in positions that are not always flattering, and welcomes a touch of vulgarity.  «It's a form of sincerity as well.»

Taking risks is finally paying off.  In the last couple of years, Noémie Merlant has turned a corner in her career.  Like Marion Cotillard, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Juliette Binoche, she is now sought out by foreign filmmakers.  In 2021, Todd Field sent her the script for Tár.  And for a significant role.  She plays the assistant to a famous orchestra conductor, starring opposite Cate Blanchett – and speaking perfect English.  An intimidating experience?  Idolization is not her style: «It's important to demystify people who are in the limelight.»  Still, she took the time to observe Cate Blanchett in action.  The way she handled a complicated sequence shot or filmed the same scene twenty times without complaining.  Her ability to juggle lessons: piano, German, baton handling.  «There's no mystery.  It's all about the love of the craft, precision and the quest to relinquish yourself to the role.»  She adds, a bit idealistically: «Often the ones who succeed are also good people...  Not always, but I prefer to tell myself that.»

Yet Noémie Merlant has no desire to sacrifice her whole life for her profession.  For a long time, she took one role after another, as if for fear of missing out or being forgotten.  These days, her priorities have changed.  «I want to do Qua-li-ty», she says with a smile and a funny inflection.  Wouldn't this be a good time to enjoy it, too?  Her financial situation now allows her to help her family.  She has adapted her house to accommodate her father, who has been in a wheelchair since having a stroke in 2009.  She has helped her parents find a new home, and paid for outside help to relieve her «very exhausted» mother.  How does her father view her success today?  «He's very, very, very proud.  He tells himself that he was lucky, because it might not have worked out.»  He follows every step of her career, keeping track of every press article.  «He's definitely going to be handing out Vanity Fair to all his friends.»  You can sense her admiration for this close-knit clan, for their ability to face adversity.  A few years ago, she took out her camera to film them in their daily lives, around Christmas time.  She has started editing, but still has some work to do.  Recently, she went back to the rushes, but hasn't managed to finalize the project.  Perhaps it's too intimate.  I propose a hypothesis: what if she had primarily sought to freeze time?  She continues: «There's something interesting about the way they talk, the way they live, with a lot of humor and joy in spite of everything.  I want to share this story, because it can do a lot of people good.»  Could this be the next step toward freedom?

[Please don’t repost this anywhere, in part or in whole.  Feel free to reblog, or at least cite your source and provide a link back here.  Asking permission would be nice in an ideal world, but I’m a realist – I know far too well how easy it is to appropriate stuff on Tumblr.  I would be the first to admit that my translations are not perfect – there are some words and phrases that simply do not drop neatly into an equivalent in English, and I constantly fix typos and make changes or corrections in older posts – but they do take a lot of work and time.  Thanks for understanding. - C.]

h/t @morningmightcomebyaccident - thank you, Grey!

[thatsofic]

BEST SOLOIST (FEMALE) IS A GRAND PRIZE AKA DAESANG AWARD!

Who's the best soloist in the fic? Meet the eight amazing female artists who are nominated for BEST SOLOIST!

BORN IN THE CAPITAL OF THAILAND, naiyana’s introduction to the world was bloody and wretched. She danced because her m jiho loved when she danced, enrolled in singing lessons, and was whisked to seoul to audition at a company she didn’t know. because she ought to put her talent to good use, no? \\ @xonaisu

VERONIKA  (  베로니카  ),  a  fictional  female  soloist,  emerges from the shadows with  unique  haunting  music  style  and  witch-themed  visuals.  her  self-titled  debut  album,  released  alongside  an  intense  music  video,  created  a  buzz  in  the  industry  with  its  dark  and  mysterious  theme.  the  concept  resonated  strongly  with  audiences,  who  were  drawn  to  the  blend  of  mythology,  witchcraft,  and  music. \\ @iamvercnika

HEEJIN KWAN, also known by her stage name, ASTELLA is a fictional soloist that originally debuted on July 13th, 2017 with her former group PARADISE, and later in late 2021 as a soloist is managed by STARSHIP Entertainment. \\  @heejinkwan

Dayna Seo was originally set to debut with CLC, but due to a lineup change last minute. she was benched. That's in the past because now she is a talented producer, creating all of VIVID's songs alongside Sora under the duo name SoDa. She finally made her solo debut on January 12, 2021, with the single "거기너!" and has also contributed her songwriting and producing talents to various idol tracks, working closely with Sora. \\ @alwaysvivid

Sora first gained widespread recognition by competing on Unpretty Rapstar in 2016, where she placed 3rd, and Produce 101 from 2016 to 2017, just missing the final I.O.I lineup by placing 12th. Her solo debut came on April 4, 2022, with the release of her debut album CHERRY under Angelico Entertainment. Every song on the album was written and produced by Sora and Dayna under SoDa. Sora’s creativity and artistic vision have made her a standout figure in the music industry. \\ @alwaysvivid

Judy (judi. 주디, often stylized in all caps) is a soloist managed by cult creative. The singer was originally a part of Project HotPink, she debuted with Heart Attack in the spring of 2013. Gaining the name disaster rookie due to her debut being a complete disaster. it wouldn’t take long for the singer to redeem herself, however; the release of Purple Night did wonders for her failing career — peaking at two on the Gaon Digital Chart and securing her two end-of-the-year awards. \\ @anqelsweep

SHIM MIYEO, also known as MEW is a fictional south korean soloist under glasshouse inc. she debuted in 2017 with a single album, CATz TALK. originally under alfea labels, MEW was in the lineup to debut with VENUS TRAP in 2020, but after a conflict in her contract, she left the company three years earlier to debut as a soloist. \\ @mimcw

CHLOE KWON is a kpop SOLOIST and CEO of LOVELY RECORDS. she was first introduced in the survival show SIXTEEN, where she placed 10TH overall, just missing the final lineup of TWICE. she then debuted as a SOLOIST less than a year later, skyrocketing in popularity. \\ @chloekwon

  ┈─★ ⠀⠀⠀CLICK HERE TO GET TO VOTING!

[foxes-that-run]

A previous Anon asked you if Harry was the reason that Taylor's relationship with Joe didn't work out. I feel like in the beginning Taylor worked very hard for that to happen. But as time went on and Harry still writing songs about Taylor in Fine Line and Harry's House, how could we not think that Taylor didn't listen to both albums? Of course she did. Harry even wrote those albums while seeing Camille and Olivia. I'm not saying Harry was the cause, but if both H&T want successful relationships with other people 'the muse' needs to change. Being friends is easier said than done when you've loved someone so deeply. Haylor's history is just too rich to throw away.

I don't think they wrote music to affect the other person's relationship but what they felt. Also Taylor has written as much, if not more, problematic things about Harry while they are in other relationships, I have picked one from every album, but there are so many more here.

Joe had no rep, like didn’t get mentioned about his own movie premiere, but Harry did/does have a reputation' in 2017. “I wanna be your endgame, endgame / Big reputation, big reputation / Ooh, you and me, we got big reputations”

What could "I get drunk, but it's not enough / ’Cause the morning comes and you're not my baby / I look through the windows of this love / Even though we boarded them up" possibly mean in 2019?

"And if my wishes came true / It would've been you / In my defense, I have none / For never leaving well enough alone" in 2020.

"I don't like that anyone would die to feel your touch / Everybody wants you" .... .... see top TikTok thirst traps below 😂 poor Joe. These numbers are similar I need to say one has 7 digits.

and in 2022, "Does it feel like everything's just like / Second best after that meteor strike? / And what's that that I heard? That you're still with her?"

[ifollowmagicalrivers]

New Romantics

Heartbreak is the national anthem

We hang back

It's all in the timing

It's poker

He can't see it in my face

But I'm about to play my Ace

———

I'll see you and raise you… 4️⃣ ?

fyi - favourite numbers - only the ones that can be divided by✌️count - we all know that 😭 - pisces = exception

———

6 billion streams you say? just delete some shit from your phone in the middle of a show it’s fine - please don’t change - i can’t 😂 - fuckin’ bangerz was HOT TO GO!

ehm… i love black 👀?!

this fan fiction is getting better by the day

———

dear diary

Nobody said it was easy

No one ever said it would be this hard

Oh, take me back to the start

going, going, going

gone, gone, gone

people have probably been

playing the other game for too long

this end of all the endings

no proof not much

still processing brain freeze

me? cuckoo’s nest maybe

also spelling is fun

but we know better by now

“gay pride making you you”

is called queer baiting

most people choose what to believe

🌈🌈🌈🌈

nice colours

dress in it from top to bottom

be the major of gaylor town

put the word ‘gay’ in a song

speculation is a crime

whatever

the best people in life are free

3️⃣

———

*homophonic - the greap escape

piazza new york catcher probably/allegedly gay - no way that a 14yo girl (me) has this song (album) on repeat without you going 🤨 it’s starting to give slapstick - not sure if i was really listening to the lyrics though (like singing along to shaggy on the bathroom floor or thinking that ‘let me lick you up and down’ was abt icecream)

i guess 90% of US liking this album back then 🔜 (neurodivergent) gay NOW

this album is so f* gay - it’s bottomless - 83 - infinity - 5x3 rainbows - i can’t be the only one noticing this shit 🫡 taylor girl - half of my heart- i’m a fucking idiot -🙈- that was you - hits different now ——— < always think before speaking > seriously starting to consider taking johnny’s advice - i’m never going to speak up again - back to being non-vocal

iykyk

spot(ify) the difference - trapped - out (now) i listen to a little bit of everything (until miley came in)

me: i don’t really listen to country music (boomer music snobs aka my dad thought they were too cool for country) - started to listen to johnny cash after the movie. dolly parton - jolene? well.. it took me a little too long to realise that this was not the original version (bisexual anthem says hi) i will always love you is a whitney houston song - soundtrack from the bodyguard. okay cool cool but where the hell is this sam outlaw coming from then driving through a ghost town in 2022? ry cooder produced it? that’s americana - totally different. genres - labels - who cares - 🙇‍♀️ - it’s a country song btw.

———

Now That We Don't Talk (Taylor's Version)

You grew your hair long You got new icons

I don't have to pretend I like acid rock

it's not rocket science. you just have to want to see it

skeletons......

i really really really love my icons

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

a list of some summer movies/series 🌞

hi hi hi!! it's just me, your friendly neighbourhood little organisation freak of a goblin here to give you yet again a list of some seasonal movies and series. this time, say it with me folks, summer! as always, just close your eyes and point somewhere on this little list, or even put the numbers in a generator and go with whatever the result is ♡

autumn | winter | spring

🐚 ‧₊˚ ⋅ movies ⋅˚₊‧

roman holiday (1953)

jaws (1975)

friday the 13th (1980)

Indiana jones (1981-)

dirty dancing (1987)

the princess bride (1987)

paris is burning (1990)

point break (1991)

jurassic park (1993-)

before sunrise (1995)

a goofy movie (1995)

clueless (1995)

birdcage (1996)

boogie nights (1997)

i know what you did last summer (1997)

my best friend's wedding (1997)

parent trap (1998)

bilboard dad (1998)

tarzan (1999)

the talented mr. ripley (1999)

10 things I hate about you (1999)

the mummy (1999)

cast away (2000)

almost famous (2000)

our lips are sealed (2000)

charlie’s angels (2000 + 2003)

holiday in the sun (2001)

the wedding planner (2001)

the fast and furious franchise (2001-)

princess diaries (2001-2004)

lilo and stitch (2002)

blue crush (2002)

crossroads (2002)

how to lose a guy in 10 days (2003)

under the tuscan sun (2003)

the lizzie mcguire movie (2003)

pirates of the caribbean franchise (2003-2017)

sisterhood of the traveling pants (2005-2008)

monster in law (2005)

aquamarine (2006)

she’s the man (2006)

the cheetah girls 2 (2006)

high school musical 2 (2007)

camp rock (2008)

vicky cristina barcelona (2008)

fool's gold (2008)

mamma mia (2008 + 2018)

adventureland (2009)

bride wars (2009)

hannah montana the movie (2009)

the last song (2010)

letters to juliet (2010)

eat pray love (2010)

one day (2011+2024)

a little bit of heaven (2011)

soul surfer (2011)

the impossible (2012)

magic mike (2012+2025+2023)

the big wedding (2013)

lovelace (2013)

endless love (2014)

chef (2014)

the longest ride (2015)

mad max: fury road (2015)

the shallows (2016)

it (2017)

girls trip (2017)

baywatch (2017)

jumanji: welcome to the jungle (2017)

gifted (2017)

call me by your name (2017)

crazy rich asians (2018)

adrift (2018)

ibiza (2018)

every day (2018)

bad times at the el royale (2018)

tomb raider (2018)

the red sea diving resort (2019)

midsommar (2019)

we summon the darkness (2019)

spider-man: far from home (2019)

the devil all the time (2020)

palm springs (2020)

the last letter from your lover (2021)

raya and the last dragon (2021)

luca (2021)

uncharted (2022)

glass onion (2022)

do revenge (2022)

the lost city (2022)

the gray man (2022)

death on the nile (2022)

barbie (2023)

bottoms (2023)

anyone but you (2023)

la passion de dodin bouffant (2023)

road house (2024)

the challengers (2024)

players (2024)

twisters (2024)

🍦 ‧₊˚ ⋅ series ⋅˚₊‧

the o.c. (2003-2007)

america's next top model (2003-2018)

project runway (2004-)

h2o: just add water (2006-2010)

gossip girl (2007-2012)

private practice (2007-2013)

rupaul’s drag race (2009-)

the walking dead (2010-2022)

new girl (2011-2018)

the fosters (2013-2018)

black-ish (2014-2022)

jane the virgin (2014-2019)

grace and frankie (2015-2022)

critical role (2015-)

stranger things (2016-)

the durrells (2016-2019)

big little lies (2017-2019)

she's gotta have it (2017-2019)

the bold type (2017-2021)

queer eye (2018-)

station 19 (2018-2024)

euphoria (2019-)

roswell, new mexico (2019-2022)

valeria (2020-2023)

911: lone star (2020-)

outer banks (2020-)

bridgerton (2020-)

sex/life (2021-2023)

the white lotus (2021-2025)

daisy jones and the six (2023)

[black-arcana]

ANDREA FERRO Explains Why It's Important For LACUNA COIL To Still Release Full-Length Albums

In a recent interview with Damian FitzGerald of V13 Media, Andrea Ferro of Italian metallers LACUNA COIL was asked if he and his bandmates still like putting out full-length albums or if they are starting to think about maybe focusing on singles going forward. Andrea said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " I think the rock music and metal in particular is one of the few genres where it still is important to release an album. But it's the only one probably, because I don't see that for trap music or stuff like that. But we still even sell quite a lot of physical products, between the vinyls and the digipack, the special edition mostly. Obviously not so much the jewelcase, but the other more complete versions are still very researched by the fans. So it's still worth it, for sure."

He continued: "I think it's still important for us to work a certain number of songs. It doesn't have to be exactly one album. So it could be also five or six songs — maybe not necessarily 12 or 10 — but for us, the more we songwrite, the more it gets better for us. Usually the last songs you do are the best ones because they're the ones that move away from what you've done in the past a little bit so they sound a little bit more interesting without — obviously, we're not gonna change the style completely, but at least you have more time to experiment by songwriting. So it's important for us in that sense and in that sense that we wanna bring out a certain number of topics that we wanna talk about. But obviously we could also just release single by single and just do four or five singles and that's it. It would still make it work maybe for a tour or for a festival appearance, but for us we still like to do the full record and having to work on multiple layers. Because sometimes you just start and then the more you work, the more you go into interesting things and you find out some gems that maybe weren't coming out in the beginning. So, for us, it's still worth it. Maybe not as much for everybody else."

LACUNA COIL will release its tenth studio album, "Sleepless Empire" — the band's first collection of new songs since 2019's "Black Anima" — on February 14, 2025 via Century Media Records.

Inspiration to create "Sleepless Empire" came during the sessions for "Comalies XX" (2022),the acclaimed remake of LACUNA COIL's breakthrough third record "Comalies". Writing and recording took place in northern Italy between Milano (the band's hometown) and Como, where SPVN Studios are located. As with their previous albums, production was done in house with Marco "Maki" Coti Zelati at the helm, and artwork was hand curated by the talented Italian artist Roberto Toderico. Two other very special talents enrich the album, namely the guest vocalists: LAMB OF GOD's Randy Blythe on the song "Hosting The Shadow" and NEW YEARS DAY's Ash Costello on "In The Mean Time".

Last month, Italian guitarist/producer Daniele Salomone confirmed that he has joined LACUNA COIL as the replacement for the band's longtime guitarist Diego Cavallotti.

Salomone made his live debut with LACUNA COIL on August 4 at the Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Râșnov, Romania.

This past June, LACUNA COIL announced Cavallotti's departure. Diego, who joined LACUNA COIL in 2016, initially as a fill-in guitarist following the exit of Marco "Maus" Biazzi, later said in a social media post that "this decision is not the result of my dissatisfaction or desire to explore new opportunities."

When LACUNA COIL announced Cavallotti's exit on June 17, the band wrote in a statement: "As we step into a new cycle, writing and recording our next album, we are parting ways with Diego 'DD' Cavallotti. We thank him for the many unforgettable moments shared over the years and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.

"All future live plans remain unchanged and the new songs are taking form, we can't wait to share them with our fans."

Cavallotti and Salomone played together in the Italian metal band INVERNO, which released its debut album, "Stasis", in December 2023.

LACUNA COIL will release its tenth studio album, "Sleepless Empire" — the band's first collection of new songs since 2019's "Black Anima" — on February 14th, 2025 via Century Media Records.

Inspiration to create "Sleepless Empire" came during the sessions for "Comalies XX" (2022),the acclaimed remake of LACUNA COIL's breakthrough third record "Comalies". Writing and recording took place in northern Italy between Milano (the band's hometown) and Como, where SPVN Studios are located. As with their previous albums, production was done in house with Marco "Maki" Coti Zelati at the helm, and artwork was hand curated by the talented Italian artist Roberto Toderico. Two other very special talents enrich the album, namely the guest vocalists: LAMB OF GOD's Randy Blythe on the song "Hosting The Shadow" and NEW YEARS DAY's Ash Costello on "In The Mean Time".

Photo by Cunene

[rabbitechoes]

definitely a less eventful week than the last, but still some interesting songs dropped. one of these songs is one of my favorites of the year!!!

to see last week's post, click here!!! also feel free to follow me on rate your music and twitter <3

"SIN MIEDO" - JPEGMAFIA

◇ released: July 15, 2024 ◇ genres: experimental hip hop, hardcore hip hop, rap rock

For the last JPEGMAFIA single, I wrote a long-winded diatribe about how irritated I was with his ongoing antics - I don't feel like doing that for "SIN MIEDO" too. I'm not absolutely in love with this track, but there are some good ideas here. For one, the beat is unreal. He sits comfortably in the upper echelon of experimental hip hop producers. I'm not crazy about Peggy's lyricism on these new singles though, it just feels way too generic for him. Like he's playing into his hallmarks rather than pushing himself further. Anyway, I do like this song! It seems like there's a new album of his on the way so maybe these songs will hit harder in the grand scheme of things, but for now they're just decent.

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"HOODLUMZ" - Denzel Curry feat. PlayThatBoiZay & A$AP Rocky

◇ released: July 16, 2024 ◇ featured on King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2 ◇ genres: trap, southern hip hop

Denzel Curry's new album drops this week and this single "HOODLUMZ" dropped a few days prior. This is another solid cut. Curry seems to be getting back in touch with his roots on this project and he sounds reinvigorated. Not that he ever "fell off" per say, but he just sounds so energized here. PlayThatBoiZay and A$AP Rocky also offer good verses here. Looking forward to listening to and reviewing the full album!

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"I Am Dog Now" - Chat Pile

◇ released: July 16, 2024 ◇ featured on Cool World (not yet released) ◇ genres: noise rock, sludge metal

After bursting onto the scene with their 2022 album God's Country, The Flenser's Chat Pile are gearing up for the follow-up. "I Am Dog Now" is the lead single for their new album Cool World releasing this October. The pieces from the last album are all hear, but everything sounds more claustrophobic. There were moments on God's Country you could seek shelter from, but "I Am Dog Now" offers no such respite. It cranks up the intensity a lot, it's really cool. I'm curious to hear if that's the case for the rest of the album. This is a good single and I'm really looking forward to this new record.

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"Satellite Business 2.0" - Sampha feat. Little Simz

🥇 BEST SONG OF THE MONTH

◇ released: July 16, 2024 ◇ genres: alternative r&b, UK hip hop, neo-soul

Oh, boy. Sampha's masterful sophomore album Lahai was one of my favorite albums from last year and it's only grown on me ever since. Hearing he was going to be releasing this new version of the 1-and-a-half minute "Satellite Business" with Little Simz got me incredibly excited. This is as great as I thought it would be, perhaps even greater. Two of the brightest artists of today firing on all cylinders together. For starters, the production here is immaculate, it sounds otherworldly. Sampha's verses have this funky-ness to them, they just have a strong groove. This isn't one of the Sampha songs you sink into and relax to, this is a banger. The verse from Simz is incredible too, further proof that she's one of the most unique rappers currently active. This is amazing. Please go out of your way to listen to "Satellite Business 2.0." One of the best songs you will hear all year, trust me.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"In the Night" - Childish Gambino feat. Jorja Smith & Amaaerae

◇ released: July 16, 2024 ◇ featured on Bando Stone & the New World ◇ genres: alternative r&b, alté

The second single for the final Childish Gambino album that drops this week is drastically different than the previous. "In the Night" goes in a more R&B and alté direction which is pleasant, but it never reaches a second gear. Jorja Smith and Amaaerae give the song some extra depth though. I'm curious to hear how many different directions the album goes in and if it'll come together in a coherent way - I'm also curious about the accompanying film itself for that matter. These two tastes we've gotten from Bando Stone & the New World are cool, but nothing extraordinary. By the time this post comes out, I will have probably already formed an opinion on the actual album itself so ... I guess we will see!!!

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"Brush Pile" - Diary

◇ released: July 16, 2024 ◇ featured on Speedboat (not yet released) ◇ genre: indie rock

I came upon this single randomly, I had never heard of Diary before, but "Brush Pile" rocks. Just a confident, sort of throwback indie rock cut that harkens back to the lackadaisical vibe of early 90s Sonic Youth - just significantly less noise rock. Their influences are evident and, while this song is very good, I'm hoping the band can carve out their own sound beyond that. Regardless, Diary seem to have all the right tools and I'll definitely be sure to give their upcoming EP Speedboat a listen.

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"Detective Alice" - Alice Longyu Gao

◇ released: July 17, 2024 ◇ genres: trip hop, pop rap

I was first introduced to Alice Longyu Gao through her abrasive Let's Hope Heteros Fail, Learn, and Retire EP from last year. It was certainly a unique project, but I never found myself revisiting it too much. "Detective Alice" has her popping up on my radar once again and this is fun! Gao sings about using Instagram as a dating app and spying on people's exes. It's tongue in cheek, I do wish it had a bit more substance though.

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"that's what time does" - Oso Oso

◇ released: July 18, 2024 ◇ featured on Life Till Bones (not yet released) ◇ genre: indie rock

New York indie rockers Oso Oso are back with a new album dropping in a few weeks which I was totally unaware of. In high school, I really liked Basking in the Glow for like the span of two weeks or so. It was just what I needed for that time! I just lost track of them since then, but this new single "that's what time does" is a solid track. Their music sounds brighter than I remember, there's a shimmer to it. I'll definitely be sure to check out Life Till Bones, I'll try not to lose track of you next time!

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"Lets Get On Dey Ass" - Lil Yachty

◇ released: July 19, 2024 ◇ genre: trap

Lukewarm off of a middling collab album with James Blake last month, Lil Yachty has returned to old stomping grounds with a trap song - a genre he has talked condescendingly towards ever since his psychedelic rock record Let's Start Here. from early last year. The single's cover art harkens back to some vague 90s rap aesthetics, but the song is nothing like that. This is just Yachty doing trap again, it just kinda rolls along leaving no lasting impression. Made even worse by his aforementioned dismissal of the genre he made a name for himself in. Total snoozer, but I guess it isn't offensively bad.

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"15 MINUTES" - Madison Beer

◇ released: July 19, 2024 ◇ genres: dance pop, slap house

My interactions with Madison Beer's music have been brief outside of checking out her album Life Support back in 2021. I was pretty unimpressed by that album, but "15 MINUTES" kind of impressed me. Mainly due to its transfixing production. It puts in a trance almost. Beer's presence is understated, but not bad. Definitely wish she could've brought a bit more, but this is a solid track. Not enough to get me stoked for a future Madison Beer project, but she's on the right track.

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"into place" - Midrift

◇ released: July 19, 2024 ◇ genre: shoegaze

Midrift is a band of teenagers from California making some pretty decent shoegaze tunes. They've been at this for a couple years, and while I haven't ventured through their other work, it definitely sounds like they've grown confident in this sound. If you're in the mood for some no-frills shoegaze, give "into place" a quick listen. The future seems bright for them - which seems ironic because shoegaze is a bit of a dour genre, but still.

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"Work It Out" - Joe Jonas

◇ released: July 19, 2024 ◇ featured on Music For People Who Believe In Love (not yet released) ◇ genre: pop rock, new wave

Joe Jonas is embarking on his second big solo run with this unremarkable, sanitized brand of pop rock. It's not bad, it just isn't particularly exciting either. I mean ... it's Joe Jonas - I wasn't expecting this to be great. After hearing "Cake By The Ocean" and that one big Jonas Brothers hit from a few years ago literally everywhere, I was expecting something way worse so maybe it's good that this is just bland rather than irritating!

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"Alexander" | "Guitar Song" - Rex Orange County

◇ released: July 19, 2024 ◇ featured on The Alexander Technique (not yet released) ◇ genre: bedroom pop, indie pop

Besides being taken to courts on six counts of sexual assault - in which he was seemingly found innocent - Rex Orange County has had a relatively uneventful last couple of years. I remember around the big Flower Boy boom of the late 2010s it seemed like he was the next big thing. Hell, I used to love his music to death - but then I grew up. Every project I've heard of his since has lead me to one conclusion; I've grown up, but he hasn't. That remains true on these two new singles, the leads to his upcoming album The Alexander Technique. Mopey bedroom pop that's overly earnest and exhausting to my ears now. I don't know, I think I'm just past this. I do think there are some cool parts in the arrangement for "Guitar Song," like the instrumental break for example, but it's not enough to make it super compelling. Can't say I'm too excited about this new record.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ thanks for reading :3

psssst. i made a discord server called COSMIACORD ... if u wanna join and have fun, talk about music, play fortnite, or whatever here's the invite :3 https://discord.gg/rsHMenTU

[rjjameshiii]

RJ's Platinum Collection #12: Stray

Achieved on 10/5/2022 at 6:30 PM

Do you know how happy I was when I discovered Stray was available as a free monthly game on PS Plus?

EXTREMELY happy. I get to play as a CAT?

I didn't even hesitate to pick this game for my next platinum.

I decided to start my trophy journey off by playing the game blind and seeing what trophies I could get. And can I just say, the fact that this story starts off with a precious little kitty falling into a deep hole and ending up in an underground city is surprisingly heavy?

Anyway, entering the city got me my first trophy.

1/25: Missed Jump - Fall into the city.

And then I quickly got a second trophy because I abused the hell out of the button that made the cat meow.

2/25: A Little Chatty - Meow 100 times.

And then I met a robot friend who accompanied me on a journey to continue exploring the city populated by taller robots!

3/25: Not Alone - Meet B-12.

4/25: Cat Got Your Tongue? - Have B-12 translate a robot for the first time.

Ok, so I wasn't going in to this completely blind. I knew from one of my friends who played this game that there was a trophy for having the cat sleep for one entire real-life hour. So I decided to do that while I was in the Slums just to get it out of the way.

5/25: Productive Day - Sleep for more than one hour.

And then I continued through my blind playthrough, this time being completely surprised by all of the trophies I got as me and B-12 journeyed to reach the surface and free the robots trapped in the city - and get the cat home once and for all.

6/25: Tele A Chat - Browse through all the TV channels.

7/25: Cat-a-Pult - Jump 500 times.

8/25: Curiosity Killed The Cat - Wear the paper bag.

9/25: No More Lives - Die nine times.

10/25: Cat-a-strophe - Try to play mahjong with two robots.

11/25: Catwalk - Reach Midtown.

12/25: Al-Cat-Raz - Go to jail.

13/25: Eye Opener - Complete the game and open up the city.

Now with the game finished I started doing clean-up, starting with me deciding to get the trophy for completing the first Zurk chase sequence without getting caught. This trophy was VERY difficult but I eventually managed to get it after about 20-30 tries.

14/25: Can't Cat-ch Me - Complete the first Zurk pursuit without being caught.

Then I returned to the Slums level and decided to bring all of the music sheets hidden throughout the neighborhood to a robot musician named Morusque. There are eight total music sheets, and I also got two other miscellaneous trophies while I was in this area.

15/25: Boom Chat Kalaka - Dunk the basketball.

16/25: Meowlody - Bring all the music sheets to Morusque.

17/25: Cat's Best Friend - Nuzzle up against 5 robots.

After that I got the two other "challenge" trophies out of the way. These were completing the Sewers level without killing any Zurks with the flashlight weapon, which took me a few tries, and the one for completing the ENTIRE Midtown level - including the entire factory sequence AND sneaking into Clementine's apartment - without getting spotted by a single Sentinel. That one was much harder, but I did eventually manage to do it.

18/25: Pacifist - Complete the Sewers without killing any Zurks.

19/25: Sneakitty - Go through Midtown without being detected by the Sentinels.

After getting that trophy, I decided to continue on to the nightclub so I could get one more miscellaneous trophy.

20/25: Scratch - Scratch the vinyl in the club.

And then I realized that I needed all the badges, to scratch something in each chapter, and to finish collecting all of B-12's memories. However, I could not remember what chapters I had or hadn't scratched in, so I decided to just play the entire game all the way through one more time to get those three trophies.

21/25: Badges - Collect all badges.

22/25: Territory - Scratch something in every chapter.

23/25: I Remember! - Gather all B-12 memories.

And finally, I had one trophy left. I absolutely detest speedrun trophies, but luckily I found a YouTube video that basically gave me a step-by-step guide on how to finish the game in the time limit. It still took me about three tries, but I was able to finish the game in 1 hour and 46 minutes, getting me my last trophy and then the Platinum!

24/25: I Am Speed - Complete the game in less than 2 hours.

25/25: All Done - Unlock all trophies.

Like several of the games I have gotten platinums for, Stray is not very long, but my goodness is it fun. The cat is really great to play as, and I think the story is heartwarming. All cat lovers should get the platinum for Stray!

Rating: 10/10

[thisaintascenereviews]

Stand Atlantic - Was Here

Two years ago, Stand Atlantic dropped one of my favorite albums of that year, and maybe even of the 2020s as a whole — f.e.a.r. Standing for “fuck everything and run,” that record really blew me away when I heard it in 2022. It was a refreshing dose of pop-flavored pop-punk with some pop-rock, hip-hop, and hardcore thrown in. It was a unique album, especially for a genre that doesn’t like to be unique. I absolutely loved it, and I couldn’t wait for the follow-up. Now we got it in the form of Was Here, and I had no idea this was coming out soon, unless I just wasn’t paying attention. I was instantly excited about this, because if their last album was any indication, this thing was going to be just as good, if not better.

I’ve given this album a bunch of listens throughout the last week, and I’ve got some mixed feelings on this album, but I do love it a lot. It’s a fantastic album, but not without its issues. Their last album, for as much as I loved it, had a couple of small issues, too, but I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not Was Here is better than f.e.a.r. I came to the conclusion that it’s not better overall, but they’ve improved quite a bit on other stuff. I would definitely listen to this if you enjoyed f.e.a.r, but I would also go into this album with an open mind and realistic expectations, especially if you loved their last album as much as I did.

Let’s start with what they’ve improved on, and it comes down to two key things: their sound and their guest features. There wasn’t much you could really do to their sound, but this album ups the ante with how unique and eclectic they could get. This album features metalcore, pop-punk, pop-rock, straight up pop, some R&B, trap, and many more styles of music that really shows the band taking on unique and interesting influences. Each song has its own feel, whereas their last album had a few songs that fit one style, you can’t say that here. No two songs sound alike, and that’s not something I can say for a lot of albums this year.

They also make use of the guests on here, but there aren’t a whole lot. Singer Sueco is on “Nose Bleed,” which is a fun pop-punk banger, and the song “GIRL$” features PVRIS and Bruses. The latter artist I know nothing about, but PVRIS is a solid pop band, and this song is basically a pop-rock cut. The last guest is progressive metalcore band, and fellow Aussies, Polaris on “Criminal,” and that’s a really cool and inventive pop-punk meets metalcore track. Most of the song is an upbeat pop-punk track with a cool riff running through it, but it suddenly erupts to a metalcore bruiser in the bridge with some harsh vocals and an awesome breakdown. They didn’t quite utilize the few guest spots on f.e.a.r, but they don’t miss out this time.

Now, like with their body of work, they’ve got some stuff that’s always works, such as their vocalist being one of the best in the scene (and she sounds even better throughout this album), or the band being in top form throughout the album. They’re chameleons of the pop-punk scene, being able to change their sound at a moment’s notice, most of the time in the same song at a later point. It’s absolutely impressive, but that also leads me to the issues I have with this album, and there are two big ones: its eccentricities and its lyrics.

As much as I love how unique and off the wall this album is, that also comes to bite itself in the ass, because this album is a little too eccentric for its own good. It would work a bit better if the album was a bit shorter, but it’s around 42 minutes, which is a good length on its own, it’s just a bit long for an album with a lot jammed packed into it. With more unique albums, you almost need a shorter runtime to help with how overwhelming it can be. The album’s sounds don’t feel so jarring, but it’s when each song is so different, it can be a bit of musical whiplash. I love the unpredictable sound it has, but at that same time, this album has its clear highlights and some lowlights.

I don’t think anything is bad here, make no mistake, but the highs and lows are more noticeable when everything is so unique and different. I can see this album being a lot for some people, especially people that just wanted a catchy pop-punk album, but for what it’s worth, this album is a lot of fun. Its unique sound is a great aspect, but it also brings it down slightly because it’s a little too eccentric at times.

The other main issue I have with the album are its lyrics, and while I enjoyed the band’s weird and twisted sense of humor on their last album, I don’t quite like the lyrics as much here. The lyrics are played less for laughs and they’re less cheeky, but they’re played straight here and they just aren’t that good. A handful of songs have some solid lyrics, but a good example is a song like “GIRL$,” which has a good message but reads like a “girlboss” anthem and it’s a bit cringy. Some tracks work wonderfully, like “Love U Anyway,” and “17,” but a lot of others just don’t stick the landing for me. They don’t hinder the album enough that I hate the album, or even dislike it, but it makes me not want to go back to it that much.

I still love this album, and while it does improve on some things, it also takes a couple steps back, so it’s not quite on the same level as their last album, although it’s close. The vocals, hooks, and instrumentation is awesome, being some of the most inventive of their career, as well as this record being the most unique of their career so far. Unfortunately, it’s uniqueness is a little much at times, because of how each song is completely different, and the lyrics aren’t anything special, despite not being horrible. They don’t have that cheeky sense of humor they did on their last album that made them so fun. This is still a really good and unique album, so if you want a unique pop-punk album, I definitely would listen to this one.

[caliform-ula]

mind motel ✰

creative direction by guillermo cardenas / photography by christina bryson (2023)

the day i’m writing this, it’s been exactly a month since mind motel has been yours. after two years of this record being my little secret….. what a crazy thought. playing this project live and hearing how its affected all of you has been a whirlwind of emotions that i'm just beginning to process

i started conceptualizing mind motel in 2021 i’ll never forget the day i came up with the title - one, last melancholy day in the east village . little did i know i had a traumatic fall coming my way. mind motel was my motivation to keep moving forward and making art i love.

I began writing for this record in early 2022. shortly after, i went through a very painful experience that reshaped my life and transformed the record i thought i was making. i had to part ways with a best friend and an (ex) boyfriend, who were also my creative team at the time.

i had to toss the version of the record I had been building and start from scratch.

i spent the next year living alone and rebuilding my life from the ground up. i started journaling….. a lot. this was such a lovely experience through such a low point of my life. i had so much to say and a newfound confidence in my songwriting.

i’d never written so much solo music in my life than i did for this record. and god damn did it feel good. songs flowed out of me in a way they had never before.

i had the privilege of bringing the world of mind motel to life with my best friends. all living on opposite sides of the country at the time. mind motel quickly became a passion project for us. escapism at its finest. this project is my greatest dream come true.

to guillermo, nick, shelby + zach: i love u more than i can explain. this was such a special experience and i’m so lucky to have shared it with you. you helped me find my voice again when it was trapped in my head.

thank you to everyone listening for allowing me the space to share this story. creating and performing these songs has allowed me to have some of the best experiences of my life and allowed me a level of healing I never thought would be possible..