#but seriously why are there so many songs called intro

[mackmp3]

Songs Called Intro

I was compling the 'songs under two minutes' post and released that I already knew three songs called Intro, which made me think of DVD Menu, which I love as a title because DVD Menus, the nostalgia, which got me thinking I should compile a list. I'm sure there are a lot more but here is what I knew / found and liked - songs called Intro/Introduction, by:

Sigur Ròs

Sonic Youth

Plastic Tree

the xx

Black Country, New Road

alt-j

Ms. Lauryn Hill

Nick Drake

Silver Jews

(and few that otherwise let you know it's the start of the album)

Prelude - Nico

Opening Title - Graeme Revell

DVD Menu - Phobe Bridgers

Introduction (Titles) - Danny Elfman

The Opener - Camp Cope

Opener - Ill Considered

Opener - Lordofon (yeah I know it's in Polish but I just found this song and it's a vibe)

and just for good measure -

Outro - Tash Sultana

Outro - Marlin's Dreaming

I dunno I just find a lot of these really peaceful... (not Camp Cope so much but it's cool so it's going on the list)

playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n06PHXCkmFEqUlEv1Qz0Q

[tildeathiwillwrite]

Tag Game: WIP Questionnaire

Thanks to @diabolical-blue and @paeliae-occasionally for the tags here and here!

Blank Questions:

1. What’s the first part of your WIP that you created? 2. If your story was a TV show, what would the theme song/intro be? 3. What are your favorite characters that you made? Why? 4. What other pieces of media do you think your fanbase would share? 5. What has been your biggest struggle with your WIP? 6. Are there any animals in your story? Talk about them! 7. How do your characters travel/get around? 8. What part of your WIP are you working on right now? 9. What aspects (tropes, maybe?) will you think draw your audience in? 10. What are your hopes for your WIP?

Gently tagging @faytelumos @thewritingautisticat @pluttskutt @illarian-rambling @somethingclevermahogony

@scaewolf @grimmdivinity @crwn-nrth and open tag! :D

Answering for The Legend of Orian Goldeneye under the cut:

1. What’s the first part of your WIP that you created?

I actually created Jas first. I fleshed out her design as a portal fantasy protagonist ages before I started thinking up the plot to TLoOG. It consisted of a character sheet with her name, appearance, and general sense of her personality, though that would get fleshed out later as I wrote the first draft.

2. If your story was a TV show, what would the theme song/intro be?

Oooooo I had to think long and hard about this, but I'd love for the song Ghosts That We Knew by Mumford & Sons to be the hypothetical intro. I think the lyrics reflect a lot of the characters' motivations, backstories and relationships.

3. What are your favorite characters that you made? Why?

Killian because I like to whump him, Jas because she's me but slightly to the left, Orian because he's precious baby, Diana because she's a bard, Henrik because he means well but needs improvement, Azura because she is multifaceted.

4. What other pieces of media do you think your fanbase would share?

I suppose other works in the portal fantasy genre such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Beyonders, The Owl House or the Cosmere (I guess?? Worldhoppers are portal fantasy protagonists???) would have overlap. I would say amnesia trope as well but it might be surprising to learn that I haven't read very many books with it. While there are some Wheel of Time elements I don't think there'll be very much overlap compared to the rest.

5. What has been your biggest struggle with your WIP?

This storming rewrite draft. I have a plan that I'm going for but I'm currently at a standstill because Diana didn't originally exist the way she does now and I'm trying to find a good way to introduce Azura that isn't just Orian talking about her. Seriously the first draft was very different than what I'm trying to do now and I'm having issues.

6. Are there any animals in your story? Talk about them!

Does Octavian count? Sure let's say his wolf form counts. Also Henrik's horse.

Octavian's wolf form doesn't come out very much, it tends to operate on instinct and its instincts usually are kill and maim and maul. But if Octavian's cornered he won't hesitate to call out to it and transform.

Henrik's horse's name is Swiftling, she's a powerful mare, former warhorse and as no-nonsense as a horse can possibly get. Asta's stallion learned early on that she won't tolerate anything she considers beneath her. A very fitting horse for Henrik.

7. How do your characters travel/get around?

Well Henrik obviously has his horse. Most of the story takes place in Saint's Shoal, so everyone just walks until they have to travel to Iron Hollow, a city some distance away. Then Diana hires a wagon and horse for the journey.

Some dreamshapers can warp space inside the dream, but only for themselves. Morpheus is one of these. Azura and Orian are not.

8. What part of your WIP are you working on right now?

I just got to Diana's introduction and am gearing up for Azura's. In the first draft Azura was introduced when kidnapping Jas, but I changed that because of reasons. I'm currently having a bad bought of writer's block in this scene though, and I'm considering trying to write it from a different POV instead. Orian's maybe? I'll have to decide soon.

9. What aspects (tropes, maybe?) will you think draw your audience in?

Portal fantasy

High Fantasy

Sarcastic female lead

Dreamcore magic system

Child of prophecy

Badass female villain

Lots and lots of whump

Minimal romance

Low/no spice or smut

10. What are your hopes for your WIP?

That I finish this rewrite draft hehe

[oatmealdaydreams]

SaSi: Incorrect Quotes - Vol. 4

Just random thoughts while I watched the video. Warning for drunk characters and spoilers!

the fact that Remus is on the thumbnail just made this my fave thing ever (Remus stan)

the lil intro jingle made me so happy to hear

starting off with Patton and a glass of wine - here we go

Remus' cackle and the "wasted!" - I love him (/p)

Pat, Ro, & Vi interrupting Logan's explanation with song is so fuckin' funny to me

Remus reads Roman's diary - classic sibling interaction

"Cup" / "This is a bowl" -> the ending got me

"Cry me a table" should be a phrase now and I will use it if only to cause some chaos <3

I love Janus' & Remus' dynamic so much, skdfsfjskd

"I did that on purpose, try again" skdsjkfjsd you lil asshole (/affectionate)

'height of stupidity' = Roman's height

I didn't expect that political joke in there, man (*insert the meme with the horse looking out to sea & the top text says 'man'*)

Patton is called Patton a lot

Thomas has some sense of self-worth for once & Virgil doesn't recognize him

Roman keeps getting hit in the eye

orange stress ball

"lesson learned" Janus is gonna throw it at Roman again, isn't he

"boop" / *explosion* -> I expect no less from Remus & Logan <3

microwaved ketchup = tomato soup, feat. Remus

Logan kills 100 people, a summary

Roman pushes on a locked door

Patton doesn't know how depression works

"take that depression" I will be using this out of context for the next five months

Intrulogical, my beloved

Logan makes a pun - proceeds to run away in terror

^(because of his fear of not being taken seriously & thought of as a joke bc he just wants to be important to someone, to anyone, and his perception of 'important' excludes indulging in pun humor)

"I beg your pardon" / "Then beg" -> HELLO??

Patton & Roman like cows. all cows are good cows bc they're adorable and I say so <3

Roman would cope by joking to deflect from the pain, he WOULD

^so would Patton, as seen in main storyline canon

^^theory: Patton (his Heart) & Roman (his Ego) do this because c!Thomas copes by making puns/jokes to deflect from the pain. this could mean many things concerning the Ego. may post about this more in-depth later

"those are wanted posters" it's bc Remus is wanted <3

Virgil, Get Some Sleep : a game Virgil does not like to play

oh hey, look, Sponsor

Patton doesn't think the Internet is dangerous (part of the Sponsor Time)

[Sponsor Time over!]

Virgil shuts the blinds on Janus while he's outside in a thunderstorm - glorious

Remus is Irish

"Disappointment" / "VIRGIL NO" -> ksfdksdfjdf I am Virgil in this instance

Janus doesn't take Roman seriously

THE BERT AND ERNIE JOKE, OMG

Analogical Love Confession

Remus pops out from the ceiling <3

"that's why I carry two swords" *big smile* / "no-" -> kfsjdfjs Roman looks so happy about his swords

Roman makes pudding at 4am bc ANGST. I mean, haha funny joke. but also ANGST

orange stress ball, pt. 2

Autistic Remus headcanon affirmed

Remus takes the words 'two large fries' literally - upset that he gets a bunch of average-sized fries

"My-reka!" -> will also be using this out of context for the next five months

Drunk Patton, omg

He would highlight everyone's face like that, he WOULD

UNICORN ONESIE, LOGAN'S IN HIS UNICORN ONESIE, YUSSSSSSSS

A great volume! Plenty of pairings, especially: Dukeceit, Intrulogical, Creativitwins, and Analogical <3

[ceph-the-ghost-writer]

WIP Questions Tag

Rules : Answer as many (or as few) of the questions about your WIP as you can.

Tagged by @drawnecromancy! Read their answers for Le Prix du Sang here.

1. What was the first part of your WIP that you created?

Apophenia was originally a short story called "Dysthanasia" I wrote for an event on Ao3. Now Dysthanasia is the name of the series overall, and the story's a novel-length rough draft in the process of being rewritten.

2. If your story was a TV show, what would the intro song be?

Something short, instrumental, and spooky but with a touch of whimsy. Gotta have that little spark of fun or it'd wind up taking itself too seriously.

3. Who are your favourite character(s) and why?

I'm in love with all of them, but I have to stand by my protagonist, Isaac. He's a squishy human nerd, with no supernatural powers to speak of, but through being resourceful and more than a little lucky manages to survive awful situations. A lot of his characterization has to do with principles and compassion, but not quite in the soft or naive way readers might expect. His enemies repeatedly try to buy or break him, punishing him every time he does what he feels is right, but Isaac remains defiant, refusing to become jaded or take the easy way out. Is he destined to become a martyr? A monster? Stay tuned.

4. What other pieces of media could share a fan base with your WIP?

I'd hope The Vampire Chronicles fans would get into it. Maybe The Witcher fans, as far as characters relying on each other in an unjust world goes? Possibly readers of Octavia Butler, whose work I enjoy. I guess anyone who likes fictional organizations and the paranormal might see the appeal.

5. What has been your biggest struggle while writing your WIP?

Juggling all the backstory and worldbuilding that influences the characters and plot. So much happens before the actual story even starts. The death of Isaac's family. Renato becoming a bloodborn and his eroding loyalty to his sire. A cataclysm that reshaped the map. I'm doing my best to make these come through the text without hitting the reader with a wall of exposition.

6. Are there any animals in your story?

Living and undead! There's Renato's beloved goldfish, Tesoro. The elk, coyote, and bear Motley transforms into. Likewise the species of sharks that some of the good people of Eureka, Nevada can turn into. Or the livestock they raise, mainly sheep, goats, and chickens.

7. How do your characters get around?

Electric cars, horses, trains, or by turning into a much quicker animal.

8. What part of your WIP are you working on right now?

I think I'm almost halfway through the outline for the rewrite? Isaac is getting to know the supernatural locals of America's friendliest town on its loneliest road, and they him.

9. What aspects of your WIP do you think will draw people in?

Renato being a hot vampire, and there being different factions to identify with will probably lure some in. Hopefully they decide to stay for the characters, emotional arcs, and end of the world too.

Dysthanasia Taglist (Sign up or ask to be +/-): @thecyrulik @thatndginger @sunset-a-story @space-writes @scoundrelwithboba (feel free to consider this a tag for the game itself too)

Additionally @izzyspussy @wintherlywords @authoralexharvey @chauceryfairytales @autumnalwalker @revenantlore @captain-kraken @angsty-prompt-hole

Blank questions beneath the cut

1. What was the first part of your WIP that you created?

2. If your story was a TV show, what would the intro song be?

3. Who are your favourite character(s) and why?

4. What other pieces of media could share a fan base with your WIP?

5. What has been your biggest struggle while writing your WIP?

6. Are there any animals in your story?

7. How do your characters get around?

8. What part of your WIP are you working on right now?

9. What aspects of your WIP do you think will draw people in?

[skeletonpunching]

Buddy Daddies music composer interview

Interview with Kitagawa Katsutoshi (music composer)

Interviewer: How did you first come to work on the music for this series, "Buddy Daddies"?

Kitagawa: Since it was a story about assassins, they were looking for music with a prominent horn section and a jazzy feeling to it. They told me that was why they brought me in, and I was like, "Gotcha." (laughs) That's how it started out. At first, I imagined the main theme, "Buddy Daddies Theme", as a cool, fast-paced jazz piece - something that would go with car chases and other action scenes.

Interviewer: What sort of requests were made for the background music?

Kitagawa: I received a slate of requests from the audio director, and had some briefings with the production staff, but there were already dozens of songs on the music list - it felt like an incredibly detailed instruction manual. So I really just followed that list and threw myself into the work. And I didn't just create songs inspired by the series - there were also cellphone ringtones, videogame music, songs for sports day, and so on.

Interviewer: The songs used in episode 9, for the sports day at (Unasaka) Miri's daycare?

Kitagawa: From their entrance music, to the song for the tug-of-war, to the music for the foot race - I came up with about six pieces for that episode alone. And what's more, they were all sports day exclusives; they'll never play anywhere outside that episode. (laughs) During the briefing sessions, I thought it'd be easy enough to conceive of all this, but when I realised how many songs there were in total, I was like, "Wait, hold up." I was seriously at a loss at first - it seemed like it was going to be an endless undertaking - but it turned out like running a marathon. I made steady progress on it every day, starting with whatever ideas came to me.

Interviewer: Was there anything you were particularly focused on, when it came to the main theme?

Kitagawa: The main theme is playing all the time, so it's absolutely vital. I was told to make it a cool jazz piece, but so-called "jazz" has a pretty broad definition. And if I just wrote the type of jazz I personally like... Well, it was pretty tough finding a middle ground. I didn't want it to feel like something from a straightforward detective drama; I wanted something cooler, more stylish... But focusing on stylishness was tricky too. I'm afraid I kept everyone waiting for a while, before I finally hit on something that made me go, "This is it!" Once the main theme was settled, I used that melody to branch out into various different versions, like ones with a slightly comedic vibe, or melancholy piano-only pieces.

Interviewer: Which songs were composed with the specific elements and premise of the series in mind?

Kitagawa: Miri's mother's song. It's a sad song, but it ends up being a key plot point in the series, so the staff and I had a lot of back-and-forth in order to nail it down. This one also has multiple versions with different arrangements. Miri hums the tune in the show, but without the chorus; she's only humming the intro. I had no idea about that until I actually saw the broadcast on TV - I thought, "That's where they're singing it?!" (laughs)

Interviewer: Out of the songs you composed for this series, which would be your favourite, if you had to choose...?

Kitagawa: Probably "Mission Complete ~ Theme of a Mission Concluded", which is basically used as a secondary theme. It features a band and horn section, and also contains strings; I think it's kind of stylish, and pretty fun. At first I thought this might end up being the main theme, but we ended up going with the current main theme because it had a more exciting vibe. But I'm very fond of this song as it is. And then there's "Battle of Spanish Joint".

Interviewer: That song is also used in the pre-broadcast trailer.

Kitagawa: I was initially picturing something with a breezier feel, but as we progress into the second half, the rhythm changes, and the scatting gets into a nice groove - it suddenly turns into a rock song. I liked being able to incorporate that too. Anyway, I was requested to make it more forceful overall. They asked me not to water down the performance and the vibes, so I figured I'd go for something aggressive - so aggressive they might get mad at me instead! And so it steadily got heavier and denser. (laughs)

There's also "Commence Operation", which is kind of like free jazz. The recording of this song was basically improvised; the score was just a few chords I'd dashed off really quickly, and then it was like "One, two!" and we were off. I was recording with performers I know very well, so that worked out, but since they had no idea what each other would be playing, there was a constant sense of danger that fit the scenes even better than expected. It turned out to be an incredibly cool song.

Interviewer: The songs with vocals, like scatting and choruses, are also very memorable.

Kitagawa: One of the songs with a cute chorus is "Watermelon Woman", which is kind of sensual. When those girls appear in episode 1, it's playing at their place, and I was like... well, if it's ever gonna play, it'll have to be there. (laughs) The chorus was also composed with that in mind. I was requested to give it a sexy vibe, but without being crude, so I played around with some Latin music I personally like.

And there's one song which I did the chorus for myself, and I think it's pretty neat - "Jolly Tutti". This also has Latin influence, and uses a type of drum called cuíca... You can hear it in the interlude; it sounds kind of like "ooho-ooho-ho". I wanted to include that, and the performers kindly fulfilled my request. I quite like upbeat Latin songs that include choruses and scatting, and make use of this sort of percussion.

Interviewer: Taking a look at the tracklist, there is also a song used in Miri's scenes.

Kitagawa: Oh, you mean "Franny! Rudolph! Francesco!" That's the theme song for the kids' TV programme Miri watches, but I had no idea what the specific footage would be like, so I went off my own image of "a ten-minute-long puppet show with three characters", and wrote the opening song and lyrics based on that. I decided the characters' names were Franny, Rudolph, and Francesco; there's a small one, a skinny one, and an enormous one. They're all puppets. (laugh) That's the premise I arbitrarily came up with for their great adventure TV show.

Interviewer: Looking back on the music composition for this series, what did you find the most memorable?

Kitagawa: Usually, I don't do that much background music, but this time I was told, "We want something in Kitagawa-san's typical style", and it felt like a privilege getting to do that. So I tackled the composition, putting in my trademark flourishes all over the place. There really were a lot of songs, so I worked on it regularly every day, chipping away bit by bit. This is the first time I've ever worked that way; it was really eye-opening to discover that I was even capable of doing this.

Also, I normally work with a variety of people, and I was delighted that so many people who've helped me out in the past could all come together for this recording. For example, Murata Yoichi-san in the horn section, Misawa Mataro-san on the percussion, and Kinbara Chieko-san for strings. These seniors were lending me their strength for the first time in a while, and that was kind of nervewracking but also refreshing. It felt like a nice dose of nostalgia. After putting together a lineup like this, I was sure it would be an amazing project, but the recording took place over two days, so there really wasn't much time to savour it. It felt like we were racing through it all at once, which was pretty rough. But it was fun.

Interviewer: Please tell us what you think are the selling points of this series "Buddy Daddies".

Kitagawa: All I can say is "the music". (laughs) Just a while ago, I was working on the mastering for the CD compilation; it was the first time in ages I'd listened to it all the way through in a proper studio environment. That was when it really sank in just how many good songs I'd made. So I do think the music is a selling point after all.

Interviewer: Finally, please give a message to everyone who is enjoying this series.

Kitagawa: Please do check out the music I composed based on the premise of "Buddy Daddies". The worldview might not be immediately apparent, but I do think that if you listen carefully, you'll be able to enjoy it while imagining the series.

[thefandom-casserole]

Episode 49 Notes-

Heheheh I had a snow day so I got to listen early!!!!!!!!!!!

THE INTRO SONG OMG

We are winning with the dndads music lately hehehe

“Like there’s a Druid in my mind saying it’s gonna be oak” SOBBING

Oak this is a bop actually

Holy shit there were so many things bad that happened to normal lately 😭 

They’re in the past!!!!!! Oh my goddddddd

Taylor’s Teen Fact: Taylor was the runner up of the Teen High Teen of the Year award (which Margarita Pizza won). Taylor is a very good cup stacker (third place in a competition)

We forget that Taylor is canonically the most popular kid 

Freddie’s facts are always the craziest of all time. I love it

Linc’s Teen Fact: Linc had to do things other than soccer playing so Marco and Grant got him into artsy stuff. Of course he only would pain/sculpt soccer type things. So he decided to start selling them on Next Door (with an account called Foot King). Marco and Grant took him off of the app. He’s a good painter basically

Normal’s Teen Fact: Normal always keeps his hot glue gun on him

Scary’s Teen Fact: Scary doesn’t have a New Years Resolution because she decided it was too resolute (too firm, too definite). She wants to be able to choose whether or not to do something 

Daddy Fact: Anthony’s goal is to write a porn thing and he was reached out to by a porn website to write for them. He was gifted a care package (picture as you will)

He’s already written the script 😭 

OH SHIT TAYLOR AND SCARY AREN’T WITH THEM

Ooohh AU where they ARE the four horseman of the apocalypse 

THE DOLPHIN CULT YAYYYYYYYYYYAGAJAHHSJDND

Sitcom staring the Porpy and Flippy: Cop sidekicks

NO DOOD HAS DOODLERIZED EVERYONEEEEEE

Well Willy did but whatever

Screw Willy

Grill Master the Dolphin!!!!!!! Ayyyyyy

Dang Willy is God

They’re in a five person (well four person now) marriage don’t judge the dolphins!!!!

Awww they’re only like. Fifteen. 

Heh Glenn Close/Jodie Foster (a good guy) in charge of Hell, Willy Stampler (a bad guy) in charge of Heaven

Yoooo wait the FBI is apart of the Hell now 

Lark still hates Henry omg

Sparrow!!! Omg 

Normal and Scary are so similar omg omg omg

Damn Good Omens much

What is it with Willy getting at the Oaks?

OH IS IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE PART OF DOOD IN THEM!?!?!?

“Brother” AYYY THEYRE BACK

The codependents of all time

HENRY NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

This dumb spell my goodness I love their debate

Why are they so set on killing Henry 😭 

Oh only 49 damage that’s not that bad 

TAYLOR BREAKS LARKS ANCLE OMG

Scary noooooooo

SPIDER BOIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Scary’s gonna die 😭 😭 😭 😭 

Taylors such an ass omg

Scary got 44 damage 

“I say no once in six years of podcasting” 

TEHYRE ON FUREEEEEBSJAJAHIWIW

SCARY AND HENRY A DUO I DIDNT KNOW I NEEDED

Lark and Sparrow make me so unwell omg

NO LARK LETS GO OF SPARROW NOOOO

Begging for Lark to have a whole thing about Sparrow with Normal

No one catches Lark 😭 

Taylor is so funny omg

TAYLOR WITH SPARROW OMG

They seriously are having season one vibes I missed this so much omg

Nooo that was such a good transition 

Taylor having his own mini adventure is because they played a Taylor Swift song for their intro

CASSANDRA OH NO

TAYLOR JS GOING TO KILL WILLY IF HE DOES ANYTHING ELSE TO HIS MOM

This whole Taylor thing is giving off BIG Leviathan Fabian vibes with Chungle Down Bim

YOOO THE MARRIAGE THING OMG STRIKES AGAIN

Please say this works 

Roll high

Ohh a 12

LINC JUST PRAYED TO WILLY

Voicemail box 😭 

Of course Taylor is going to find his name 

OMG WAIT FREDDIE’S PLAN WAS LITERALLY OREDICTED BY SOMEONE ON TUMBLR I SWEAR

I DUNNO WHO

BUT MAY APPOLO’S VISION BE UPON YOU OR WHATEVER

Nooooo and it’d be easier for Taylor too because HIS MOM MARRIED WILLY OMG OMG

HIS LAST NAME TECHNICALLY COULD BE STAMPLER MUCH EASIER NOW BECAUSE OF THAT

SCARYA ND HENRY YAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYAYSGHAHWHSHSHSHSVSAHWJHAHSB

Henry stopppppppp you’re messing with Scary :cccccccc

Nooo scary still has the hat omg oh dear

Oh dear Willy’s God now he could probably control someone’s mind through their sleepppp

Oh god I hate Barry so much. He sucked so much I hate him

AHHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHSHHAHSHHSHSH SCARY BEING A SOCCER OEROSN OMG OSBAKAJSH

Taylor squints so hard that someone dies 😭 

AYYY THATS CANON

I wonder if he’s gonna get the original daddies as well as the Kiddads 

Scary’s pulling what Riz did with Biz ayyyy

Aww that would’ve been sick if he believed her

NO NO DONT TELL HER SHE WAS LIKE YOU FUCK YOU WILLY

FUCKING GET HIM SCARY GET HIS ASS GET EM

Scary just wants attention :ccccc

“Good luck” ANTHONY THAT HAD NO BUSINESS BEING SO OMINOUS OMG

Noooo remembering the thing with the cheese :ccc

I miss early season two

NO THATS WHERE EVERYRHING WITH HERMIE HAPPENED AYLGHHHHHHSVSHHSHS

“YOU BITCH” omg normal 😭 

“Give me an L” “You’ve had enough Ls” “I’ll give you one of mine”

No the way it fits the intro

AHHH NORMAL USING HIS CHEER TO CHEER UP LINC

This episode is making me giddy omg /pos

Linc is getting so sad this is worryinggggg. He’s acting like Grantttttt

This whole eye thing is seriously the math questions on my tests 

A happy normal is something I’ve missed so so much

I think literally all of these kids (except maybe Taylor) have a guilt complex (Scary/Willy, Normal/Code Purple, Linc/im not quite sure)

DARRYL AUYYYYYAYAYAYYAYAHAHABBSHSJSJS

JODIE AND GLENN YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYABSJAHWH

Omg Jodie and Glenn together 😭 

WIAT WAIT OKG WAIT

THE THING THAT MAKES THEM BELIEVE JN SHIT

THE WHOLE THING WITH THE CLOSE FAMILY DID THAT FOR TAYLOR

AND HE GOT THE PERSUASION THING

DOES THAT MEAN THATLL HAPPEN FOR THE OTHER TEENS WHEN THEYRE THING IS COMPLETED

ITS LIKE WHEN IN FH THEY GIT TO REROLL A STAT AFTER SOOHMORE YEAR

Scary looks like Larry!!

Omg Freddie is genuinely so smart omg

HAMILTON AYYYYYYYY

Yam ya

I’m gonna use that

He had a flying spell wowwww

REVERSE GRAVITY AUAGAHHAJAHAHHAHAHJW

OhhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHH

Will and me both man

Larry is so cool omg

Dood nooooooo 

RONNNNAHGAHAHAHAHHSHS

FUCK YOU WILLY

FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOUHAGSJSHHAHAAHAHS

Mfer admits that Ron posed a threatttttt

Honey badger waits for no one 

I’m gonna start using that too

GO BETH OMG 

Willy likes the science kid oh my god I’m gonna sob

Larry gives off church camp vibes

Willy’s doing the spaghetti thing 😭 

OMG OMG

WILLY TAYLOR IS GOING TO KILL YOU IF YOI HURY CASSANDRA PIOE THAT HOLY SHIT

“You’d be a lot prettier if you smiled Cassandra” GET HIS ASS TAYLOR GET. HIS. ASS.

You know I hated Willy before 

But this is a whole new fucking level 

Awww that’s so sweet at the end <33

AHHAHAHAHHAHA THIS EPISODE MAN

I don’t know how I’m gonna be able to wait for the next episode ahhh

IVE LISTENED TO THE ALBUM BUT OMG IM SO EXCITED TO HEAR THE ONE THEYRE RELEASING TO ADVERTISE IT

I’m betting it’s either the Potatoe one or Dead and Gone

Hmmmmm

January 30th!!

Oh screw off siri

AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAIT IS DEAD AND GONE

YAYAYAYAYYAYAYAAYAYAYYAYAYYA

THIS EPISODE IS MT ABSOKUTE FAVORUTE THIS SEASON

[ick25]

Rockman EXE Movie Review. Part 1

Oh yeah! The people have spoken! The Megaman Battle Network Legacy collection is finally here! So to celebrate it I’m “Reviewing” the Rockman.EXE movie, The program of Light and Darkness.

A few things before starting. First, the “movie” is less than 50 minutes long, so it’s more of a very long episode with better animation than usual. Second, the movie takes place during the Stream saga, a season of the anime that never aired in America because the plot was “too dark” for a kid’s show, like Axess wasn’t violent and dark enough already. It’s even worse for people in Latinoamerica because Axess never aired there either, so enjoying this movie would’ve been impossible for me if I hadn’t watched the episodes online.

For those who haven’t watched the Stream saga, this is what you need to know:

1. The movie takes place somewhere after episode 17 but before episode 31 of Stream, I say episode 17 because Raika, the Hypocrite, now uses Cross fusion, just like everybody else.

2. The plot is based on Battle Network 5, minus the whole teams thing.

3. The whole story of Rockman.EXE Stream is not relevant, except for episode 2 because that is when Forte came back to steal Rockman’s Ultimate program, but after he fails to get it, he was defeated by an extraterrestrial Navi named Slur who throws him into the depths of the Undernet, where the movie begins.

Forte is shown floating in the cyberspace of the Undernet where he is woken up by strange light and a familiar evil laugh.

Those who played BN5 know what that thing is.

We cut to England, which is probably called Kingland, where a giant beam of light suddenly appears and disintegrates everything in it’s path.

Leaving behind a very ugly but also familiar face.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Japan, our heroes are in a Net Battle tournament taking place in a very weird building with roller coasters coming in and out of it.

Seems very dangerous to be honest.

Of course, as Netto plugs in Rockman, we get the theme song Be somewhere, with the karaoke, timing, and Spanish translations provided by yours truly.

Don’t believe me?

Yep, I was the head of this project, sure, I didn’t get paid and other people helped made this possible, but I’m still proud of this. Too bad not many people have access to this.

During the intro song we see Rockman fighting Gridman’s aka Footman’s first appearance in the anime, before becoming some random Navi in Beast. And in case you were wondering, no, Meijin is not Footman’s operator, it is actually this guy.

The guy who just gives hints in BN3 white version.

I think he is Mr. Famous’s aide, but I don’t remember.

Anyway, Netto wins, his friends, with new changes of cloths, congratulate him, and Meiru appears out of nowhere to hug him like she was already his girlfriend or something.

I personally don’t like this art style, it makes Dekao look even uglier and Meiru looks like she has less hair than usual.

Now, a surprise for those who haven’t  seen Stream, Dingo and Tomahawkman are now part of the cast! And Dingo for some reason has blue eyes in this shot.

I honestly don’t know why.

After Dingo wins his battle, we see more of the weird and unsafe building where they are with the indoor rollercoaster and all. Apparently this is Akihara’s 100th theme park.

We get a small appearance from Shuko and Higure-san who are riding the roller coaster, but its more of a segway to the next scene because Higure somehow spots Mariko-sensei while screaming. Like, how? Mariko-sensei was wearing a helmet until Netto and friends arrived. Turns out, she is cosplaying as her favorite Sci-fi character in a convention that also takes place in the weird building.

But she only appears for Netto and friends to mention that she has a lot of hobbies, and to have this very weird cut to the next scene that made me think it was an editing mistake.

Seriously, she didn’t even finish her line.

We immediately jump to a not so traumatizing scene of a group of men getting vaporized by the same light beams we saw in Kingland.

NOT TRAUMATIZING AT ALL! 

Turns out this was in Ameroupe as we join Meijin and Yuichiro watching footage of the damage.

Yuichiro seems to know something and after seeing a satellite image, his suspicions are confirmed.

The Internet service that is NOT all about you.

The light beams left what looks like giant algorithms, this is enough for Yuichiro to say some vague words, first “Spectrum”, and then “The Wily Program is active”.

HELLO? Why did we cut to a Duel Master scene?!

Oh, right, turns out the people who worked on this movie also worked on the Duel Master movie which was still a thing back then. That is why they made a little animation at the beginning of the movie were we see Crossfused Netto and Shobu working together to fight their respective opponents. They also put like 3 second cameos in both movies to let us know that both the Net Battle and the DM tournament are happening in the same weird building. 

For this movie, it’s a clip of Shobu summoning a monster or something, and for the DM movie we get an actual shot of Netto and friends cheering for Shobu in the audience.

It’s not even the same art style, or background! At least Meiru still has her hair intact.

In that movie they actually say Shobu’s name, in this one they just play the clip and then cut to Netto and friends reacting to something. Personally, I never cared for DM, I watched one episode and that’s it, I always saw it as a Yugioh bootleg.

The cameo is interrupted by Yuichiro who calls Netto to tell him that he must get to the Trident Tower ASAP, with no details whatsoever. Netto says bye to his friends and wishes them luck for their upcoming battle

Apparently some time passed after Netto leaves for the tower, because in the very next scene we cut to Yuichiro typing really fast in a computer (still not giving Meijin details as they watch the light beams appearing in Choina), and then asking if Netto is already at the tower.

LOL, he is stuck in traffic.

Although it is nice to see taxi drivers still have jobs in this future. At least the paying method is accurate.

Netto decides to skate all the way to the tower. I like this scene, its been a while since we’ve seen Rockman giving Netto directions from inside the PET and Netto showing off his sweet skating moves.

Will Netto  make it to the tower in time? Will Yuichiro finally tell us what’s going on? And will Meiru’s hair ever grow back? Stay tuned for part 2.

[pinkopalina]

Marimba looks like such a fun instrument! It's cool you have experience playing so many different things. Do you have a favorite song to play?

I always wanted to learn the violin, but when you're a kid it's more like work than fun bc it costs money and you're expected to take it seriously. I didn't want to give recitals or anything. 🙃

oh i completely understand! as a kid, it can be hard to want to commit to any one thing, especially if it doesn't line up with your interests or comfort level. that's so valid!! i was definitely someone who enjoyed music as an extra curriculum. i did choir and band during my years of high school, so i did a lot of recitals!

marimba is my very very favorite!!! it's hard to pick a favorite song to play, i played a lot of different kinds of things as i learned! i started percussion officially in 6th grade and i'm so grateful i had the opportunity to focus on it growing up because i LOVE percussion. i really wish in college i could have focused on just that somehow, rather than other aspects of music eheheh... not to be lazy, but that's one class i was truly passionate about.

i got to be in marching band, which was my entire life for all of high school, and then in concert band when it wasn't marching season, and we played all kinds of stuff. epic marching things, soft solos, cheesy soundtrack ensembles. i loved all of it :)

when i was a senior in high school, this was the solo i played for our region's annual solo and ensemble state competition :) (not me playing in the vid, just the song!! it starts at :20, theres a lot of intro fluff) it's called yellow after the rain.

it's really significant to me because i have never in my life been confident, ever. when i excel at something, logically i want to give myself credit for any hard work or attribute it to sheer luck/skill? haha, anything to avoid confidence... but i was really good at music. back then, at least, when it was my life. i memorized this solo so i didn't have the sheet music in front of me like other people might have, and that qualified me for state if i was to earn all the best marks on the music. when i played, a couple of people i hadn't expected to had asked me if they could watch me play. maybe i should have announced it to everyone and asked outwardly for more support, because i might have gotten it... but at the time, i was humbled even to have the few people interested that were. so there were my peers watching me play my memorized song, and then when the judge was following along, at a certain point he'd stopped watching and just clapped along because he was enjoying my performance. at the end, he rated me all top marks and told me that was the first time he'd ever heard the song played correctly. i was so full of pride and it felt like the peak of my time learning all i had about music.

when i was a freshman, i had a totally different experience. i was in the middle of a solo when the judge stopped me (a huge no no) and just... dismissed me. asked me if i knew the rest of the song, right? and kind of waved me off, i guess it was late in the night? and he gave me all high marks, but it was just placating me. it's hard for me to remember, but i think this was the snare solo i played, and i wasn;t as great at drum technique as i was keyboard technique, but i would have rather earned the 2s and 3s (mid marks, 1s are excellent and 5s are doo doo) on my sheet having played my complete shitty solo all the way through myself (whether it was snare or keyboard looking back) rather than some dude stopping me midway through and just shooing me along. it was so gross.

but that's why i felt like my senior moment playing the song above, on a keyboard, an instrument i adored, and being praised for my hard work... it meant the world, it felt like a form of redemption to me. i felt like i had finally found somewhere i belonged and could excel. i earned my spot doing what i considered myself, being a musician. i loved it. i'd be in an adult percussion ensemble somewhere around my local area in a heartbeat!!

[ladystrallan]

Once Upon a Time season 5A thoughts

I’m rewatching OUAT and I wanted to share some of my opinions on each season!

- The random girl shushing his ominous speech is so funny

- Wow he just poofed into dust

- Omg the end of excalibur is the dagger

- “Mate don’t” idk why but that is funny

- “We need someone wicked” yassss

- Omg the rose

- Wow iconic move to cut her hand off to remove the bracelet

- She is so good at manipulating everyone

- Gaslight gatekeep girlboss

- “Accent’s a bit much no?” Lol rumple

- “Out dwarves, adults only” Regina…

- “Well… you don’t look like a crocodile” why is this episode so funny

- Okay I remember really not liking Arthur and the whole Camelot plot line

- OUAT loves a memory loss plot

- Omg dark emma

- She’s got a cool look

- Not dopey turning into a tree

- OMG WHAT IS THAT THING???

- Hook: Emma look at me this isn’t you

- Of course she can’t dance

- Omg that guy is evil or something

- A demon sent from the underworld… hmmmm I feel like I know a hot guy from there

- I seriously can’t wait for 5b to see my man <3

- Omg Henry and Violet is so cute (I remember liking them together)

- He whips out the ipod lol

- This song is kind of a bop

- Omg she destroyed his village

- I guess there was a Robin fake out death before it actually happened

- Can you make the price like a dollar or something? Or does it have to be of equal value

- “WE’VE BEEN VIOLATED” lol

- “Have you thought about kissing it out?” Omg that’s so funny

- Regina is such a hypocrite

- She has done things just as bad if not worse than what Zelena did and yet she deserves redemption and Zelena doesn’t???

- “I wished him happy just not with my wife” lol

- “What’s that then” “It’s a picture from up inside Zelena” “Woah mate” I’M DYING

- Arthur is giving me Louis from Versailles vibes

- And if you’ve seen my Versailles thoughts, you know how I feel about Louis (I hate him)

- Noooo not on her birthday

- DAVID NO DON’T TRUST HIM

- Omg they kissed

- I mean, if you’re neglecting your wife it’s kinda understandable if she cheats

- “Well, there’s this girl” “Is there indeed?” Loved the delivery Killian

- “Is that your dad?” “No it’s my horse” lol

- That’s sinister, using magic to keep your wife from leaving you

- Arthur is such an asshole omg

- Omg Merida is back

- “I need you to make him brave” wow that’s what her movie is called

- Ooh that’s Merlin

- I’m pretty sure he was talking about Nimue (and she was the first dark one)

- Well that’s a way to meet the dad

- “When this kingdom is attacked by ogres” WHY IS IT ALWAYS OGRES???

- Awwww that’s cute a little date

- “Um hi milady” lol

- Not the friend zone

- This is giving me so much second hand embarrassment

- Taunting rumple with belle is the way to make him brave

- She is his courage… that’s so cute

- Love the arrow in the intro

- Wow I guess no one cares about rumple then

- Slay belle for standing up for him

- NO NOT THE CHIPPED CUP

- Please tell me they can fix it :(

- NOOOOO DON’T KILL BELLE

- I do like the idea of rumple being all heroic for her

- Omg I’m crying this is so sweet

- Zelena and Emma team up??? Iconic

- YASSSS RUMPLE

- “He’s not my sweetheart” I think he is belle ;)

- OMG SLAY RUMPLE

- “You saved me” “Actually I think you saved me” AWWWWWWWW

- “I would change everything for you” screaming

- YASSSSSS RUMPLE PULLING THE SWORD

- I’m a slut for good rumple (or just rumple in general lol)

- I do miss him having magic though

- Why is Zelena so slay all the time?

- The outfits, the acting, the trickery, 10/10

- Emma’s lucky she didn’t get the dark one skin condition

- She just got a bleach job and a new outfit

- Arthur is such a dickhead omg i can’t stand him

- Lol Rumple’s Merlin impression

- Zelena was like switched sides? Time for an outfit change

- Omg she’s going into labour

- Why does every evil person want a baby? How many dark spells require that?

- Omg the house that he picked

- “Did someone scream for a doctor?” Yasssss Dr Whale is back!

- Did he go to the same hair salon as Emma lol

- Yassss mulan is back!

- Mulan and Merida: iconic team up

- RUBY!

- So many characters I love are back this season :)

- OMG IT WAS ARTHUR

- Me anytime I see Arthur: “Dickhead”

- OMG RUMBELLE

- MY HEART

- THEY ARE SO CUTE

- Regina & co are actually so awful to Zelena about this whole baby thing

- Like I get that it’s Robin’s baby but it’s hers too

- And I’m pretty sure being away from the mother is bad for a baby’s development

- Like at least let her visit with supervision

- I guess when you become the dark one you immediately know how to use magic

- Ok I guess they are letting her see her baby

- SHE CAME TO THE WELL

- NOOOOOOOO

- Was not expecting the break up part 2 :(

- Me sobbing

- How is she pregnant in 5b though???

- They must get together by the end of 5a

- Catch me opening the underworld portal so I can see my man <3

- The visual of all the dark ones sitting in the boat together is so funny to me

- It’s giving summer camp vibes

- “The underworld is worse than you could possibly imagine” uhhhh no rumple my true love is there so I think it’s pretty great

- Awwww rumple sending her to see the world

- NOOOOOO RUMPLE IS MARKED

- That’s actually so vile to send her away so she literally CANNOT SEE HER BABY

- Slay move by hook

- Rip (until he gets resurrected)

- Belle didn’t leave!

- THEY’RE KISSING

- YASSSSSSS

- And the baby was conceived ;)

- Rumple being the dark one again, kinda slay

- Kind of bad for his redemption arc though

- “I will always find you” we love a good iconic line

- I am so excited to see Hades!!! Love of my life (and death)

How I feel about the characters this season

Love: RUMPLE (10/10 character development), Belle, Zelena, Dr Whale, Merida

Like: Emma, Hook, Mulan, Ruby, Nimue (idk she’s kinda cool)

Neutral: Snow, David, Merlin, Guinevere, Henry

Dislike: Regina, Robin

Hate: Arthur

Season rating: 6/10

Firstly, I HATE ARTHUR AND I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL HE’S DEAD. I don’t care for the Camelot arc, but I do like dark Emma and Rumple got some really good character development (even though he went back to being the dark one). I also like Merida and it was nice to see Ruby, Dr Whale, and Mulan again. Gets an extra 0.5 for setting up my absolute favourite arc in the show (the underworld)

[getmemymicroscope]

"Young bengal tiger" Mimoh Chakraborty (you know, in "sensational Fardeen Khan" vibes) comes to us as Rocky, a "much loved dancer" (they did the same thing in Jimmy, and no, it isn't working) whom every lady is gaga over (no, literally; one girl just intentionally runs into his car - which, BTW, he's definitely driving on a walking back - while on roller skates; another randomly shows up in his hotel room - lock your room, bro! - and undresses, before later threatening to kill herself if she doesn't get him; and, of course, the 'love you' jealous friend who is just jealous whenever he even talks to anyone else; his number is somehow public, because fangirl after fangirl calls him at home and expresses their undying love for him).

Before the intro to his 'fame,' we get a pre-intro sequence that ends with the stupid death of a girl (no, seriously - she's being chased by someone and spends her time calling people who don't answer, writing a long-ass note but not naming the person or why she's being chased, and then finally running upstairs in an unfinished building and again calling someone and apparently saying "help me, I'm in danger" without saying who is threatening her; in her defense, the call recipient also doesn't ask who is threatening her). It's played off as suicide - but clearly isn't, because this movie is called 'The Murderer.'

Then we get a bunch of jealousy being the actresses, leading to one tipping over a glass of orange juice on the other's towel and then writing a "your sister committed suicide because of the guy you're chasing after" (to make her hate him, of course). And a couple of meh songs, and a sequence where he shows a girl how to dance for his show and then, after she falls and sprains her ankle and has to sit it out, a dance show where he doesn't even use that step.

Ashutosh Rana, Shakti Kapoor, Vishwajeet Pradhan, and Milind Gunaji all show up as folks we're supposed to suspect as the eponymous 'murderer' - and the movie spends a lot of time making them look guilty, and then not guilty. In fact, the story literally feels like they got to the end and were like "shit, we've ruled everyone out; who's left?" and then had to scramble to come up with some stupid idea why said person would be the murderer. It flops, miserably. ... Also dumb: one of our characters claims to be an "encounters specialist" with like 56 or something encounters to his name, then turns out to actually be a contract killer - and yet misses, badly, twice. Whoever hired him really should've found someone more reliable. Another guy, after being found out, goes on the run and somehow ends up hiding in an abandoned train car that's just sitting in the middle of nowhere.

Two months after the "suicide" (or longer?), the cops finally investigate the place - and find not only perfectly preserved shoe prints, but also tire tracks of the car. Which, once the movie is spoiled, is even dumber - because how the fuck did the killer not see the car pushed into the randomly present body of water (so many stupid conveniences in this movie) when he would've clearly been upstairs.

I get wanting to making everyone look guilty, because it is a 'whodunnit,' but, damn - they spend more time trying to make literally everyone be not guilty. The final reveal is predictable, but also dumb - because, what the fuck was that. And the fact remains that our 'hero' and his friend literally interfered with, and hid, not only the evidence but also HER FUCKING BODY! (How did everyone know it was 'suicide' when there wasn't even a body?)

The main takeaway from this movie - other than the fucking ridiculous amount of nepotism that runs things (and runs them very poorly) - is that some people have enough confidence (and know the people) to create a horrible, shit story and turn it into something (still shit, but it is out there), whilst others sit on their ideas because they can't make it perfect. Guess it is time to lose that inhibition and just use the false confidence and put stuff out there, no matter how bad it is.

Because chances are you'll find a lot more stuff even worse than that.

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 15th March

Back to multiple songs, one of which is a cover, and one of which I definitely know - in fact, one of the lines has become practically proverbial, which is how you know a song's made it into the collective consciousness. Or how many other songs do you know that have become a sort of call-and-response greeting?

Memories Are Made of This - Dave King (peaked at Number 5)

I didn't massively love this song in its original Dean Martin form, but I didn't hate it, and a speedy google tells me that Dave King was a British actor and comedian, who got his first ever break in a comedy group called Morton Fraser's Harmonica Gang, which means I'm already in his corner from the get-go. So we shall see!

I can tell already from the intro that the speed has been upped a bit, and a jolly trombone added, both of which are very welcome additions. It turns it from a bit of a lecture into a swinging song you could genuinely dance to. And the little changes continue as the song wears on, with the addition of some church bells after the wedding bells lyric, and a separate female set of backing singers who take over the more religious with His blessings from above section while Dave steps back and briefly takes over the backing singers' lines. It's an effective little swap, and all the more so for the way it avoids slowing the song, which I remember not appreciating when Dean did it.

These are all little things, but they're enough to massively improve the song, at least for me. I was ready for Dave to add some comedy beats or a sort of comic sensibility to this à la Max Bygraves, but it turns out he didn't even need to, which I respect. This is just a solid cover, no comedy needed.

I would also be remiss not to mention that Dave gives us what I think is our first (but surely not our last) overlap between the words of British popular music and British soaps, having played a character called Clifford Duckworth in Coronation Street. He also appeared on an episode of Heartbeat in the 1990s, which is notable only because it's a police procedural set in the 1950s and 1960s, and what song did they play over the top of his exit? If you guessed Memories Are Made of This, well done! It's the kind of twistiness I really like, so kudos to their casting department, I guess?

See You Later, Alligator - Bill Haley & His Comets (7)

Come on, you know this song. Just about everybody I know, even in 2024, even in the UK, could quote you the response when somebody says "see you later alligator", and I'm sure a good proportion of them could also hum you the tune of this song. It was a phrase that was apparently already in currency when the song came out, but the song popularised it internationally. And honestly, I can see why.

There's just such a sense of fun to the track, from the pitched-up See you later, alligator line at the start, to the silly playground rhyminess of it, to the relish with which Bill launches in with each wellllllll and the way that the saxophone echoes his lines. It's not a song that takes itself too seriously, and I love that playfulness.

With all this, it's easy enough to ignore the fact that that yes, that iconic line is a break-up line from a cheating lady! From the moment that Bill saw my baby walkin' with another man today, to her iconic brush-off, to the even more devastating line where she tells Bill Can't you see you're in my way now / Don't you know you cramp my style, this song pulls no punches whatsoever. This woman, whoever she is, is going straight for the jugular!

Which makes it all the more satisfying when she comes crawling back and apologising, and Bill, now recovered from his heartbreak, can turn her words back on her, calling her out for how she doesn't really mean it, and bidding her farewell in the same callous way. His glee at this reveral makes the whole enterprise worth it, honestly. I particularly love the wild energy of Bill's final so long, that's all, goodbye line! He's just so glad to be shot of this woman, and you know what, good for him. It's a good, satisfying story, one you could absolutely find in a pop song today - think Forget You by CeeLo Green, or something of that ilk.

It's also catchy as heck, which, as I've probably said before, is really the main thing that matters in these early rock and roll songs. They're music for dancing along to, not for listening too hard to, and this song is repetitive, silly and has a heck of a riff to build on, with the way that the melody bounces between Bill and the saxophone. Plus, we get that sax / drum / guitar break in the middle, where the sax in particular cuts loose. It rocks, and I can absolutely imagine the youth going wild when it comes it!

It's also a very intense, full sound. I've noticed that about these rock and roll numbers - there's no space around the vocals or quiet bits, like it's been engineered for maximum volume, even on tinny radio or a jukebox. We're a way away from Phil Spector and the Wall of Sound, but we're already gunning for maximum loudness, and I kind of love it?

Well, those were two quite different songs, and while I did enjoy both, I think the sheer volume and dancability has to take it this time. While the adults are getting maudlin about marriage and kids, the youths are having all the fun, it seems.

Favourite song of the bunch: See You Later Alligator

[thenomadinside]

Soundtrack of My Life: 2020 (Mid-Year)

In my junior year of high school, I enrolled in a honors creative writing course called ‘Search for Self.’ The class helped students discover personal identity, meaning and purpose through a series of creative writing prompts and literature. A few solid reads that I recall from this class include A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Snows of Kilimanjaro and The Pearl. My favorite assignment that came out of this class was one called ‘Soundtrack of My Life.’ Each student was asked to curate a music album composed of 10 select songs and write a paragraph for each song about its context to your life. It was an assignment that really complemented my “ikigai” and I’ve made a conscious effort to continue doing this assignment periodically over the years. Music is one of the few constants in my life and best illustrates my mental health and headspace in that time and moment. After nearly a decade, it is refreshing to go back and review the different genres of songs I was feeling during that time in my life, as well as which songs have truly stayed with me and still remain in my ‘top 10.’

Bullet Train Fantasy by Ibrahim and Luvbird Considered as part of the “chillhop” lofi family, this song is perfect for one of those days when your head is in the clouds. It is very much a song that I can imagine myself listening to while riding the Shinkansen bullet train while casually eating a bento box and sipping an iced green tea. The past few months have all blurred together and sort of feels like riding a bullet train with no destination in sight (think Snowpiercer). The question in all of our minds is just when will the train stop and we’ll be finally let out to breathe?

“From Now On (앞으로)” by Kim Min Seung (김민승) When shelter-in-place first took place, it had me (along with many others I’m sure) spiral down into a dark rabbit hole of binge watching K-dramas. The first drama I binged was ‘Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo,’ which stars Lee Syung-Kung and Nam Joo Hyuk. Highly recommend this one to anybody looking for a lightweight drama as it is an innocently adorable, quirky and easily consumable slice of life series. “From Now On” was one of the drama’s main theme song that brought an upbeat and optimistic energy whatever scene it was overlaid over. I can confirm that my mood definitely perks whenever I hear it playing!

“Heartburn (Jarami Remix)” by Wafia Very few people know this about me but I actually suffered from constant heartburn during my adolescent years. I never had it diagnosed but my assumption was that the pulses were triggered by a poor diet and lack of exercise. It has since disappeared but was always a mystery to me growing up and I’d always ask myself, “Tell me, why does my heart burn this way?” That being said this time around the relapse is a different sort of heartburn.

“Yummy (Summer Walker Remix)” by Justin Bieber Seriously, don’t even bother asking. I am ashamed to say how weirdly obsessed I am with this song because it’s just so…damn… catchy. And yes, I am well aware that the lyrics are horrendous and the meaning behind the song is pretty disturbing. I do think I gain a few redemption points since I prefer the Summer Walker Remix over the original. Summer’s voice adds just a touch of sophistication and balances an otherwise repetitive song.

“Airplane Mode” by Younha I first heard this song in 2019 but it has since resurfaced. This song helped me build a deeper connection with a person who had a completely different taste in literally everything than me. It was truly a monumental moment to be able to identify commonality. I truly value the importance of turning on airplane mode both literally and figuratively. The song reminds me to disconnect from my phone which seems to be spewing nothing but bad news across the world recently as well as investing in self-care time. A minute detail, but I love how the intro to the song starts with the raw shutter sound of a DSLR camera.

“Crashin” by Saint Wknd & Dirty Radio If there was a song that gives me all the “start of summer” feels, it would be this one. This song had already convinced me that this summer was going to be an amazing one and surprisingly, it was! When I listen to this song, I feel as if I’m ready to go somewhere and gives me the confidence and swagger to go about my everyday routine. If you see me walking around with a bit more pep to my stride, chances are I’m probably listening to this song.

“Paper Hearts” by Tori Kelly I first heard of Tori Kelly from her “Rocketeer” cover with AJ Rafael way back in the day before her rise to fame. From that cover alone, I was sold and convinced that she would eventually blow up. I love Tori’s angelic voice and she’s one of the few artists that sound just as good live (if not better) as online. Last year, I organized at a dance series workshop and the choreographer chose this song which made me fall in love with it. The choreography felt very fitting with the lyrics and definitely challenged the class to “feel” the song more and be more interpretive with the movements.

“If You Were Here I’d be Okay” by David Choi This was one of those songs that I distinctly remember binge listening to in the car during my adolescent years. It would give me the energy to get me through the morning grind (clearly this was before I discovered coffee). I’ve recently been on a mission to clean out my files and just happened to stumble across this song amongst my old journal entries. To this day, I’m still shocked that this song didn’t blow and gain the recognition it deserved. The only live video I could find of David performing this song is here – check it out. (skip to 1:18)

“Less of You” by Keshi Yes, yet another lofi song has made my top 10 list! I love all of Keshi’s songs but this one in particular really captures the rawness of his voice which is complimented with the guitar instrumental. There is a sentimental quality to the undertones that really add to the “pain” of the song that is very relatable. I would also like to call out the looping gif on Spotify of this song because it’s truly a mood.

“The Space Between” by Cleopold I find myself more often than I’d like to admit “dancing in the space between” in my everyday life. It can be difficult to get out of and I find it a major blocker when it comes to decision making. Sometimes it works in my favor but other times it doesn’t. This song was perhaps one of the first songs that I started listening to towards the beginning of the year and it gets my juices flowing which is perfect for a good run outside of home workout.

[pyrriax]

ITS OK i entered hell and forgot i sent this ask in the first place because i just spam you with so many snips odfvndjkmld itss just my Thing and them i forgot to actually SEE this post bc i was reading fanfic. as i tend to do on my day off from this Event ahvfdnkjm

ALSO like. the full version of the dialogue makes it somehow Worse.

"It doesn't mean anything. I know. I didn't mean to pry. The offer still stands, you know I…" Clown lets it trail off, not knowing how to explain something they both already know. "Seriously? Still?" Zam sounds far more surprised than he should be. Probably because of how long the two have spent in the upper city together, spent with Leo in the depths of the city's seedy underbelly, in the heart trade. All he can muster is a pathetic shrug, looking around at the neon glow of signs pointing to businesses and the like, the chatter and constant noise of the city dulling the closer they get to downtown.

writing this duo IS gonna kill me one day bc they managed to make it angst when i did not plan for that to happen in the slightest. this was supposed to be a fluffy fic ................ AND ALSO LIKE... the fact they Were friends makes this worse :(

(Zam mentions the M.O.B., which was an alliance between Clown, Zam, and Leo [not present but mentioned in a part i did Not include]. Clown is trying to stay friendly but it is Not going well at all)

and then it just hits me with. this.

Really, it's a dumb question. Why the hell would he accept Redd's offer? It was scraps at best. But really… "I've thought about it, yeah. But for the time being, I've got a liability issue. It's not the safest idea for me to be dabbling in that market right now. Once everything's sorted out, then I'll be back to the usual, but still. Who in their right mind works for Reddoons?" Calling his friend a liability makes him feel sick in a way that he hates, but it's the reality of the situation, and there's no denying it. "What's so much of a liability you can't even take a break from swindling people to make some real money?" Zam scoffs, giving him a look that says he isn't going to get a say in what he does and doesn't tell. Normally, he'd just brush this off, call it a day and deflect by getting him to talk about anything other than Clown's personal life, but so be it. There's a name on the tip of his tongue, one that's familiar. One that Zam doesn't get to know. He'll never know it, as long as Clown has a choice in the matter. "Somebody being sick," he starts, only to see how the other gawks, confused until he elbows him in the ribs. "I need to keep out of anything that'll draw attention from anybody that'll hold a real grudge against me." "As though the people you mug don't hold a grudge! Don't pretend you're any better than the street rats you work with in the slums. You're just swindling for a quick buck. I still don't know how you've managed to keep being broke." All the playfulness and cheery tone just makes the words dig in worse, little claws buried in his back.

like. OWW......

ALSSSO angst is just. its my specialty and i love it sososooooo much i cannot resist the siren song of making myself (and others) sob bc of these fics. i cannot care less about ooc-ness, i am writing for the Story. the characters just simply bend to my will :3

this cyberpunk au is just. ripping my heart out

IT DOESNT HELP THAT LKKE.. this is the INTRO to the fic. its like. a test hook in the water. so i know if it'll be fun to actually commit to writing the fic...... and now im thinking i NEED to include more of this duo in it bc oh my godd. .. .. . im staring at the fact i have a scene planned that fits a prompt or two from a Thing and it just.

"Bleeding through the bandages" is one of the MAJOR scenes i have in mind and im just auvfhjndk im so..... i need to actually commit to this fic. and see if im gonna write it chaptered or not. it should be short (hoping desperately bc i CANNOT take another commitment like wtds rn)

hi jazzy!!

accidental angst is gonna kill me now

[...] "Anybody else willing to work on it? Or do I need to bring my tools next time we chat so I can try giving it a tune up?" "And owe you for the favor? No way." Zam's light hearted tone falters for a moment, the faux joy disappearing from his face before it returns to its rightful place. But before he can interject about it not being that much of an issue, Zam is talking again. "Besides, it's not broken yet, just a little stiff! I was going to as Vi for his help getting it back to tip top shape, but he broke his the other day, so I'm not letting him touch mine." "Your loss. It doesn't sound like it's doing good." Clown sighs, taking the lead and idly heading in the direction of the abandoned warehouse near the border of the two districts. "Besides, it's not like you'll be out much, I'd be happy with twenty. I know that's a hell of a lot cheaper than most people charge for servicing other maker's tech, but I don't mind. Friend's discount." Maybe he leaned a little too heavy, maybe he just hit a nerve, but it's hard to miss how the other bristles, shooting him a look that's far too dangerous. "We aren't friends, not after M.O.B. Look, just because I'm friendly with you doesn't mean--" "It doesn't mean anything. I know. I didn't mean to pry." [...]

:(

[ angst fueled by: gnaw by alex g ]

HIII SORRY FOR NOT ANSWERING. i was almost finished answering like days ago but my tumblr exploded and i didn’t have the energy to retype everything

BUT OH MY GOD UR KILLING ME. U WANT ME DEAD :(

‘Maybe he leaned a little too heavy, maybe he just hit a nerve, … "It doesn't mean anything. I know. I didn't mean to pry."‘ WHAT THE FUCKKKK :((((OUCH. :(((( just the . oughh man i’m crazy. they aren’t friends but clowns trying to reach out but they aren’t there yet and man!!! i know nothing about these guys but i wanna know what happened……. ur writing always kills me u get the angst so so well

[hangovercurse]

Our Song

At the last show of his tour, Kells invites you on stage for a duet, but it turns into a bit more than that.

Request: “Can you do one where the reader and Colson both are music artist. I know you're doing this with "The Thing We Can't Tell Pete about. But with this one they have been dating for a while and while they are in the middle of the song Colson decides to announce they're dating and gives her a kiss in front of the crowd, and the reader is just in shock. However it ends it up to you. Love ya!!!!!!!!”

Colson Baker x Reader

Warnings: implied smut/ mentions of sex, cursing

A/N: So, I used my own lyrics in here because why not (sue me I guess)

Word Count: 2326

The last two months had been absolute hell on Earth. Yes, you loved your job. Recording your third studio album was exciting but being busy all the time was exhausting. On top of that, your boyfriend being off on tour meant you hadn’t seen him in person in two months, which was driving you even more insane.

It also meant you hadn’t had sex in almost two months.

You’d called each other every night, even if you were both drunk off your asses or faded beyond belief. It had become your routine; get home from the studio, grab something to eat, then hop into the bath and facetime your blond boyfriend.

Tonight, was no exception, but the energy on the call was different. Colson was coming home tomorrow. Granted, he would be going straight to the venue for his concert, but he’d be here.

“You’re still coming tomorrow, right princess?” He asked, a joint hanging from his lips.

You smiled, nodding, “I haven’t seen you in two months. If I’m not there, you should assume I’m dead.”

He chuckled, “good.” He hesitated before continuing, “I was thinking you could perform with me. We haven’t performed White Sea in like a year.”

You bit your lip at the thought of performing with him again. He was right, after you’d finished live performance promo for the song, neither of you had performed it together. “Yeah, I’m down.”

The song was the first one you’d written together; it was actually the whole reason you’d met. “You don’t think people will get suspicious though? I mean, people are already catching on. I feel like performing it out of the blue would add fire to the flames.”

He thought about it, the wheels turning in his head. “I think it’ll be fine. Besides, it’s not exactly a secret.”

You nodded, “I know, we’ve just never really talked about telling people.” The last two words came out softer than you had intended.

Colson and you had been together for a year and still hadn’t officially told anyone outside of your closest circles. You liked the privacy, and getting the media involved always caused problems. So, you kept it to yourself. People saw you out together, but nothing had been confirmed.

Colson left the conversation there, not having a good answer. You had both agreed a long time ago that if people figured it out or someone slipped up and told you would be okay with it, and you would. You just didn’t think it was a big deal if people knew or not.

He started talking about his day on tour, the crowd he’d played to tonight. You told him about the song you were working on. Eventually he got called away by the boys.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, babe.” He smiled at you through your phone.

You smiled, “You better. I-“ You almost slipped up. Almost said those three words so casually. But you’d caught yourself. “I can’t wait.” You covered.

He gave you a small wave before your screen went back, the sound of the line disconnecting ringing through your bathroom. You put your phone on the floor next to the tub, leaning your head back and sighing.

You don’t know why it worried you so much. You knew you loved him, and you were pretty sure he loved you too. There was just something about saying out loud that scared the hell out of you.

 The next day was amazing. As soon as he texted you that he’d gotten to the venue, you were rushing to meet him there. When you stepped into the green room where he was, he ran up to you and grabbed you by your waist. Your arms went around his neck, legs around his as he lifted you up, burying his face into your shoulder.

“I missed you so much.” He mumbled into your skin. Your hands tangled themselves in his hair, holding him closely.

“I missed you too.” You whispered. He lifted his head up and pressed a deep kiss to your lips as your feet came down to touch the floor again. His lips were so familiar, it felt like the world had shifted back into place when you felt them on yours.

He pulled away, forehead and nose still pressed against yours. Your hands travelled from his neck to his shoulders, rubbing the fabric of his t-shirt. “I didn’t think I was gonna survive another night without you.” You said with a slight giggle, making him laugh.

“Well now you don’t have to worry about that.” He said, pressing a peck to your lips.

Before you could pull him back to your lips, your moment was interrupted. “We get it, you guys are cute. Whatever. Can we get hugs from our favorite girl?” Irv joked, pulling your attention to the group of guys near the couches in the room.

One of the things you loved most about being with Colson was how accepting his friends were of you. Slim and you had bonded over your love of music production and mixing, Baze had taught you some more complicated bass riffs, and Rook was your designated adventure buddy (after Colson, of course). You felt lucky that your boyfriend’s family had taken you in as one of their own.

You ran over to them, giving each of the guys a hug. When you hugged Ashleigh, she whispered in your ear, “don’t ever leave me alone with these lunatics again.” You both giggled at that, leaving the boys confused.

After messing around backstage for a while and catching up with your friends (mostly from the comfort of Colson’s lap), it was time for the guys to perform. You set up your spot side-stage with Ash, Irv, and Andre, excited to see the set.

Before he went on, Colson came over to you and pulled you in for a very giddy kiss. Pre-show Colson was your favorite Colson, except for maybe post-show Colson, only because he was so excitable. Every time you sat show side, he demanded you give him a good luck kiss. No matter who was watching.

Watching him was magical, in fact watching all the boys was magical. The way their passion showed through the music and the performance was something that not many other artists could perfect. You felt like you’d never match their level of performing.

When Colson brought out his acoustic guitar and two bar stools, you were a bit taken aback. Normally his shows were so high energy that he never wanted to sit down, even during the slower songs. It wasn’t really his style.

“I wanted to bring out a very special guest today to help slow this down a bit.” He said to the crowd as they screamed. “I haven’t performed this song in a very long time, but I figured today would be the perfect time to do it.”

He looked over at you, a smile on his face. It finally registered in his mind that he was talking about your song. Luckily, you’d had ears put in at the beginning of the show, so that wasn’t an issue. One of the venue’s techs handed you a microphone and signaled you to go on stage.

Once you came in view of the audience they erupted into another round of cheers, making you smile. Colson met you halfway and pulled you in for a sweaty hug. He led you over to the chairs, letting you sit down while he adjusted his mic stand. “For those of you who don’t know, not that there should be anyone who doesn’t know who this is, but just in case, this is Y/S/N. We wrote this song a little over a year ago today.”

You smiled as he started to strum the familiar intro, the lights dimming just a little bit.

Drownin’ in empty space.

You started singing.

Don’t even know my name

Feels like you’re miles away

Close my eyes, see your face

It’s okay

Rook brought the drum beat in as Colson smiled at you, his verse starting

Yeah

I was drownin’ in this darkness

Feeling like I was so heartless

All these drugs makin things harder

They tried to turn me to a martyr

You loved watching him party on stage, but you loved watching this side of him, too. Completely stripped down and raw. Hearing him rap the words you wrote together made your heart flutter, even if you’d written them so long ago.

I can’t handle shit I’m just a man

I tried to tell ‘em, they don’t understand

Riptide’s pulling me away from land

I couldn’t stand till you reached out your hand

And now I can.

The rest of the music came in, the sounds mixing as you began the chorus.

Drownin’ in empty space

Don’t even my name

Feels like you’re miles away

Close my eyes, see your face

The key raised.

Out on the open sea

Feel your eyes watching me

Wanted to fall asleep

Now I believe.

The music kept playing, but Colson’s rap didn’t enter like it was supposed to. Instead, he just looked at you, a fond smile on his face. You tilted your head, questioning him, but he just placed his guitar on the ground and kept looking at you.

“I just want to let everyone here know, that today is my one-year anniversary with this amazing woman right here.” He said into the mic, causing the audience to burst into screams. Your jaw dropped, eyes widening.

He caught your expression and laughed but kept going. “It wasn’t a secret that we’ve been together, but we’ve been quiet about it. But I mean, like, fuck that shit. When you’re in love you should tell everyone, right?”

You smiled at him, your heart picking up speed. “And Y/N I am so fucking in love with you.”

You looked down, trying to hide the heat on your cheeks and the idiotic grin you were sporting. You had never expected this from him. “Like, seriously, this past year has been the best year of my life. Even when we aren’t together you are the one thing that I look forward to the most, every day. You are one of the best things in my life, and I want everyone to know that.”

During his little monologue he had walked over to your chair and pulled you up into his arms. You nuzzled your face into his bare chest, making him laugh. He pulled the microphone away from you both so it wouldn’t pick up your conversation.

“Hey, look at me.” He said softly and you complied. “I love you.”

You had tears in your eyes as you studied his perfect features, “I love you, too.” You whispered. “I’ve wanted to tell you for a while I just…”

“I know, princess.” He smiled, leaning down and pressing your lips together in a sweet, passionate kiss. The audience erupted in applause, cheers, and awes. “Are you gonna say anything?” He asked once you’d pulled away, motioning to the audience with a smile on his face. You shook your head, burying it back in his chest and laughing. He spoke into the microphone, “she got all shy now.”

The crowd laughed with him, shouting supportive comments at you both. “But she said she loves me too so that’s all that matters.” He continued, earning even more cheers.

 After the show, Colson came backstage and immediately attached his lips to yours, hands holding you close. You pulled him into one of the unused dressing rooms, mouths never leaving each other. He hoisted you onto the counter, standing in between your legs, and leaned your back against the mirror.

Finally, he released your lips from his, making you whine. “I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you about all this, but after last night I couldn’t keep it a secret anymore. And you just looked so pretty out there that I-“ You cut him off with a kiss, lips moving together slowly.

He chuckled as you pulled away. “Colson, I loved it. I was hella embarrassed because the first time you told me you loved me was in front of thousands of people, but I loved it. And I love you.”

He smiled, pressing a peck to your lips. “How much do you love me?” He asked, slyly.

You raised an eyebrow at him, knowing something was up. “Depends on your next statement.”

A laugh fell from his mouth as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small rectangular box. “Because I really hope it’s a lot.”

“What are you doing?” You asked him, giggling.

He lifted the lid off of the box to reveal a key with your first initial painted on one side and a C on the other. “You don’t have to, but if you wanted to maybe think about moving in with me, now you have a key.” He smiled as you took the metal in your hands.

You looked up at him with wide eyes, lips open in shock. “So, you’re asking me to move in with you?” You confirmed.

“Only if you want to. But yes.”

You smiled, looking back down to the key and then up to his face before pressing a passionate kiss to his lips. Your arms went around his neck and his hands went to your waist. “Of course, I want to, dummy.” You giggled and reconnected your lips.

“We’re supposed to go out and celebrate the last night of tour tonight, you’re gonna come, right?” He asked and you rolled your eyes.

“You act like I don’t wanna be around you.” You pushed his chest playfully. “But we might be a couple minutes late.” You smirk.

Colson raised an eyebrow, “oh yeah? And why is that?”

Instead of responding you just giggled and pulled him back into a kiss.

[officialgritty]

Sometimes I ask myself

How much could the NHL handle? What would they do if I, Zoe, had the opportunity to become a GM of my own team?

Another short essay by officialgritty. Here is the masterlist, it would be best to read them in order!

The Drafting Process

First of all, I’ll only accept picks for even numbers besides 7, 13 and 69. Odd numbers can choke. 

I hate public speaking so I would nominate my assistant (still have not decided on one so feel free to send your applications into my DMs) to call out our picks. It’s probably the smartest decision considering I mumble a lot and have an accent so no ones names would be pronounced correctly anyway. 

Personally I would like to draft one (1) beer league player. I think they could really get the team riled up, maybe even rack up some decent penalties for other teams by instigating. 

“The Vermont Villains would like to select... big boy INSERT NAME.” - Assistant

“The Vermont Villains would like to select... string bean INSERT NAME.” - Assistant

“The Vermont Villains would like to select... sorry the mic cut out, after this can we have an intermission? I’m starving. Oh, we pick twinkle toes INSERT NAME.” - Me 

General Rules / Other

There are no Capricorn’s to be allowed within management or on the team besides me. I was going to say, “I’m sorry I don’t make the rules,” but I quite literally do. 

I am banning Crosby and MacKinnon from ever joining the team. In fact, when they visit for games the staff will ‘decorate’ a stall for them in particular. 

I will be starting a petition for teams to be allowed 5 non-forfeit forfeits, meaning you get 5 chances to say, “No I don’t want to play that team today.” Both teams get no points though. It’s almost like a mental health day and I think that's neat. 

The Team

(art via @chaos-hockey, please check out their account!)

The Vermont Villains are based in Vermont obviously, because there’s not a whole lot happening there. What even is Vermont for?

The team slogan is one everyone should be familiar with:

“No whole body, no murder.”

Our team intro song as players step out onto the ice is Be Prepared from The Lion King.

Our goal horn is someone sneezing, the audience will be sprayed with a light mist of sea water for effect. 

Our team song played when we win will be Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked by Cage the Elephant.

As for team rivals, we have @chaos-hockey​‘s creation the Insert Team Heres. They seem so sweet, I think the Villains would have a great time messing with them. I also believe we would have some beef with the Penguins, I don’t really have a reason for it, I just feel it deep in my gut. Maybe they get their knickers in a twist because we keep stealing their good stuff idk.

Mascot

The mascot wears a neon ski mask that changes based on the team’s choice in jersey. His name is Monday, because he’s always creeping up on you and causing mayhem through the grandstands. He has a water pistol attached to a tool belt, what's the tool belt for? No one ever truly knows until it’s too late. 

Gritty and Monday would get along like a house on fire.

Uniform

(art via @chaos-hockey, please check out their account!)

You may notice the presence of three jersey’s and think to yourself, “Oh there's a home, away and an alternate.” Wrong. We have two home jerseys and an alternate. 

On Wednesday’s we wear pink. Seriously. This jersey is only to be worn on Wednesday games.

All of the jerseys have players names written on the back but it’s only in a script font so it’s hard to read. Announcers will be confused, players will be confused but fans won’t be because they are used to it by now.

All of their numbers are written out in Roman numerals.

Each season the team colours change (besides pink Wednesdays). Why? Because I don’t like commitment. We would make hella money on limited time merch too.

Speaking of merch, every player will need to design a pair of crocs for fans to purchase as merch. This is not limited to the players, management must also participate. Yes, you can buy the George from Statistics crocs. I really just want my own crocs and to not be judged for it.

“I’ll take one of the Zoe crocs please!” - A fan

Now we can’t limit the uniform just to the team, I’ll show up to games rocking a power suit Michelle Obama inauguration style. Always in the same colour as the team jersey for that night. Yes, we are implying that I am Gritty.

“I want them to fear me but also want to fuck me.” - Me

(art via @chaos-hockey, please check out their account!)

For all working, team socks must be worn when entering the practise and game facilities. A sock check will be conducted at security. We will not let anyone in if they are not wearing Team Socks™️

(art via @chaos-hockey, please check out their account!)

You may be wondering about the away jersey still but don’t fret. We get to the arena early and steal the other team’s clothes. Some end up in their suits, some in their away jerseys and some are left shirtless. Whatever we can or cannot find before puck drop. 

Arena

The arena won’t be boring that's for sure. 

Out the front we have a massive V sign, just like how you see a McDonald’s sign from so far away, you’ll know when you get close to the arena.

Instead of stairs, each seating section has a harness that you get hooked up to for when you want to change levels. And each time that you want to get down, there’s a swirly slide.

Music played will be my favourite mashups from the YouTube account William Maranci to psych out competitors. Here is a link to one of my personal favourites:

Obviously the team will need to listen to these before they are played for the first time to desensitise them. This will be done at the monthly team Disco.

During the intermission, all the lights in the main area will be turned off. Unofficial nap time my friends.

The menu consists of mutton, bagels on a stick, your choice of charcuterie board, fairy bread and fairy floss. For drinks you can either have carrot juice, Corona beer (we have a brand deal with them) or black tea with no milk.

In conclusion, it’s a good thing that I don’t have a lot of money and/or power, the NHL would hate me because they ain’t me and I have too many good ideas in my brain.

Thank you so sticking through it for this long, here’s all my love and affection 😘🥰❤️

Once again a big thank you to @chaos-hockey for bringing my ideas to fruition. Also thank you to Mik for encouraging this whole concept in our messages ❤️

Here is a part 2!

Tagging some of my mutuals/favourite accounts (please don't feel pressured to interact with this if it isn't your thing, I won't be offended): 

@scheifefe @nikolajehlers @kempe @bowenbyram @d00dlebob @travisgermy @ifiwasshawnmendesidslapmyself @dmonchld @kiedhara @sortagaysortahigh @matthewthotchuk @babytkachuks @bricksatlandyswindow @canadianheaters @youngbeezersmixtape @pitoftrash @perpetually-anxious @kspitehockey

Sorry if I’ve forgotten anyone, I didn’t want to tag every single person I follow 💀

[altmusicposting]

Arcane: Intersection of Vibes and Meaning

In 2021, Netflix released an absolute bombshell of an animated show that fleshed out the backstories of some of the Champions (playable characters) of League of Legends from Riot games. As someone who's never played the game, I still enjoyed the show immensely. First of all, the art style is beautiful, and each character is well-crafted in appearance and mannerisms. With a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, a record sweep of 9 Annies (awards for animated shows), and being the only gaming series to win an Emmy, Arcane shattered expectations. The thing that I loved about it though, was how much there was to it. On the surface, the two main plotlines follow sisters Powder & Vi and inventors/scientists Jayce & Viktor. There is an overall comparison between Piltover, the ridiculously wealthy City of Progress, and its undercity, which has taken on its own name, Zaun. Beyond the obvious though, there is a strong sense of political commentary on wealth, policing, war, economics, and morality. There's so many moral gray areas, and the attention to detail is fantastic. But, this is a post about music.

Needless to say, I was very inspired by the show. In addition to the deeper connotations of the show, the aesthetics and general "vibes" of the show, it's cities, and characters were very strong. I decided to make a playlist that incorporated that duality. One that got you pumped but also got you thinking, as is my style I'm learning. For this assignment, I have linked an abridged version of that playlist (which is about 30 or so songs at this point) that I think gets the bulk of the jist across. I will say, the soundtrack used in the actual show is pretty solid in and of itself, and I recommend you listen to it as well. I did include two of the "official" songs in this mix, but most are just other songs that speak to both the surface and deeper levels of the show. I will say now though, I do focus more on the overall vibes, and the aesthetic of Zaun than of Piltover.

First up is Enemy, by Imagine Dragons ft. JID. This song was used as the title song for the show and honestly covers the feelings of the main characters, Jinx in particular, pretty well. The version used in the intro is the one linked above, and the official music video is linked below (spoiler alert for the video, if you don't know the show). There is also a version done without JID, where his rap is replaced by a bridge, but I personally prefer the version with him. Many of the characters in the show either are forced into, or willingly make decisions that turn them into the enemy in the eyes of someone else, even if they started on the same side. It is upbeat and high energy, but lonely and heartbreaking when you think about it too long, which is honestly fitting.

The second song on the list is Blood//Water by grandson. I don't really remember how I first found this song. It was most likely from one of the mixes Spotify makes for you based on what you listen to. I've listened to a few more of grandson's song since, and I like them all so far. In an interview with Audacity, grandson said "I think as we're confronted with more and more alarming headlines, and more and more of a sense of urgency, I think we all get more tribal." That idea comes through clearly in Arcane, the lines are so clearly drawn, too many mistakes have been made, too many people betrayed, promises broken, and damage done. There are people who still walk those lines and blur them though, which is interesting. The title, of course, also calls to mind the old saying "blood is thicker than water" and the arguments that go with it. Additionally, this song also keeps a high energy, headbangy musicality behind the seriousness of the lyrics (you'll notice a trend here).

Third is Go To War by Nothing More. The lyrics deal with war, obviously, but also trust and love, futility, and why people fight. Yes, this is another upbeat, heavy rock song with hard-hitting lyrics. I promise they're not all like this, but I like that kind of music a lot, and it fits. This fits with the show for reasons previously stated, which I will not repeat for the sake of keeping this moving.

Next is Enough by Ra ft. Dustin Bates of Starset. I found this song because Starset is a favorite band of mine, and I'm pretty sure I listened to their whole discography when I was on my last kick. This one is less energetic, and sounds more tired, like its carrying the weight of its lyrics. There is still passion and energy behind it though, especially during the chorus, because it is an outcry. There is a wondering of when and what will be enough that is mirrored somewhat in the show. However, I think this is moreso supposed to be a sentiment we have as a viewer, something we are brought to by seeing the individual and large-scale struggles in Arcane.

Following that is Mad Hatter by Melanie Martinez. And honestly, it just gave me such intense Jinx vibes I couldn't not include it. Jinx, one of the main characters, goes through a number of traumatic incidents, and suffers a lot of mental and emotional damage from it. She is what would be colloquially referred to as a "crazy" or "insane" character akin possibly to Harley Quinn. With Jinx though it exists in this weird back and forth state where she seems to question or reject her new persona sometimes and fully embrace it in others. This song seems to have that dilemma as well, with the lyrics switching between, "I'm not alarmed/so what if I'm crazy?/All the best people are," and "Doctor, doctor, please listen." There is also the line "poppin' poppin' balloons with guns," which is so very Jinx. The whole song has this very dark, creepy undertone hidden behind a sweet/fun melody, which is also, very Jinx.

Sixth is Daddy Issues by The Neighborhood. Honestly, this is mostly just in there because so many of the characters have trauma and/or problems, especially with regards to their parental/father figures. The refrain of "go ahead and cry little girl...I know that you got daddy issues," is also particularly fitting with Jinx and Vi.

The seventh song is Insane by Black Gryph0n and Baasik. This is actually a fan-made song about the character Alastor from Hazbin Hotel arriving in Hell. I chose to include it though, because I think the way the friendly/jazzy tune contrasts with the rather violent lyrics fits with the energy of the show, especially Jinx. Also, again, the reference to possible insanity. I am also realizing as I write this that a lot of the songs are vibes based on Jinx, which, as she's central to the show is probably fair.

The eighth song is Brittle by Icon for Higher. Oh look, another Jinx song. We are back to high energy rock/alternative songs, this time with lyrics about mental health. There are several moments in the show when Jinx is fighting against being perceived as weak, physically and mentally/emotionally. The lines "Maybe I have a tendency to snap on people telling me/"You fit inside this box we built, we know you better than yourself"/they're lying, they're lying, they're lying," especially evoke Jinx for me. There is also a distinct electronic, staticky element to the music itself that fits with both the steampunk vibe of both halves of the city and the glitchy, dissociative moments Jinx has.

Ninth is W.D.Y.W.F.M by The Neighborhood. The strange acronym stands for What Do You Want From Me, and I can see quite a few of the characters asking that, namely Jinx, Vi, and Jayce, as they are the most displaced in the show, trying to find out what the people in their lives want them to do/be. There is also a questioning of "maybe this is all that I can be," which fits with the themes of identity and station/class, and following lines question who's at fault for what has happened between the subjects in the song. This is another slower (relatively), pleading song. Emotions are at the forefront for this one.

However, in terms of emotional songs, number ten probably has W.D.Y.W.F.M. beat. Ten is It's Alright by Mother Mother. It's a song of reassurance, and understanding that sometimes people make mistakes, big and small. Pretty much all of the main characters need this. Like I said earlier, there is so much trauma, almost everyone needs a hug.

The last song in this abridged playlist is Misfit Toys by Pusha T and Mako. This is the other song from the soundtrack I've included. It is used to properly introduce one of my favorite characters (who I've not talked about yet) Ekko, The Boy Savior. He is working outside of the main adversaries, Piltover and Zaun, to create a more equal and safe community in the undercity. He is from and very much directly affected by the injustices imposed on the citizens of the undercity by Piltover and the heirarchy in Zaun. This song really encapsulates his third-party, justice at all costs angle, and is honestly just a bop.

As a collection, this (and the full playlist) will have you nodding, headbanging, in your feelings, and wanting to tear down the establishment. At least, that's how it makes me feel most of the time. If you find none of those options favorable, it makes a great playlist for working out or just feeling like a badass walking down the street. I hope this made you think about how music often blends making statements with creating a mood.