#can i call u synth let me know

[llondonfog]

For a painful soulamte au, what if the Dawn Knight was Lilias soulmate? And to make it more painful what if Dawn knew that Lilia was his soulmate somehow and still went to war with the fae because he couldn't stand to go against the family who raised him

Not a soul knew, except for Leia.

Leia knew because she knew everything about him— the leash of loyalty around his neck, the weight of despair upon his shoulders, the mark of his soulmate tattooed like a harbinger on the inside of his wrist.

Leia knew, and loved him for it all the same.

You are a knight, she would remind him on those moonless nights, delicate features as solemn as a saint as she laid her hands against the haunted hollows of his face, as merciful and sweet as her namesake. You are the only one out of them all who has the right to call himself so. What greater sacrifice have you given to my father, to our family, than the cost of love?

He loved her, too.

Her effortless charm and wit were always happy to fill his awkward and stoic silences, and she never shamed him for his reserved nature. She was a princess, born and raised to be a queen, and it sat right inside his heart that she should realize such a vision. Her kindness to their people, her kindness to her traitor of a knight— too kind, to allow him even into her arms and bed when his nerves fail him and the shadows creep in.

It's what he feels, when he places his hand on the swell of her gown, the gentle life growing inside of her: their child, steeped in kindness.

A tragic beginning that can only lead to a tragic end.

Leia is the only kindness that he's ever known, and the irony is not lost on him that she is not his soulmate, nor is he her own. She does not speak of the mark blurred and faded on her skin, and she does not press him for explanation when he disrobes for her and only her, and the bat in flight unfurls its wings upon his wrist.

She does not need to, for they both know whose standard he bears, whose symbol lays a claim that would spell betrayal and doom for his fate.

He lies there within the shelter of her embrace, her slim fingers weaving through his golden hair, and he wonders what manner of mark lies on the fae general's wrist. He wonders if it is of a gleaming sword raised to strike, or a loathsome owl, talons curled, both prepared to rid the fae of his heart and gift it to the enemy's feet. It must not be obvious, because the fae has never reacted to his presence beyond the expected vitriol to their immoral crusade. And each time that they meet, the gratitude of a coward lances through his veins for the sake of the helmet obscuring his expression— it is your eyes that give you away, Leia had murmured to him, her own dark and forgiving as they glitter in the candlelight. Your truest emotions lie within them, crystal clear and as unclouded as the brightest dawn.

He does not deserve her unshakeable belief, for he feels like the muddiest of waters, choked with debris and tainted by waste.

He does not deserve her, and as he clutches at his wrist in the night, nails all but digging into the taut flesh as if to pull the bat from his skin—

He knows that he does not deserve the general either.

[proqhetic]

can u do like a bodyguard nat x popstar fem reader? maybe readers on tour. like huge sold out eras tour level. and nat's in charge of her security. maybe reader gets mildly irritated bc nat's walkie interrupts her all the time?

bodyguard!nat x popstar!fem reader

nat initially applies for the job because the pay is really good!! and the responsibilities are manageable

howeverrr, she forgot to account for the fact that now she has to wait on you hand and foot, which shes obviously not very happy about. . .

upon first meeting, nat despises you. refers to you as ‘spoiled’ and ‘princess’ behind your back or under her breath allll the time knowing it pisses you off.

she loves music — “real” music — and the “bubblegum synth pop bullshit” you sing (in her words) doesn’t count >:(

and yes, she knows she’s being petty and isn’t really giving you a chance, but at this point she really couldnt care less. doing everything a so-called diva would ask of her sounds pretty fucking nightmarish

having to hear her voice in your ear at all times is reaaally starting to get on your nerves. you find that just hearing her voice from the walkie talkies makes you want to scream! and rip your hair out!! (i wonder why…)

but as the tour goes on, you two inevitably grow closer because . well she’s supposed to be glued to your side at all times. and if there’s one thing you can rely on nat to do, it’s her job

say what you want about that girl, but she always does her job and she does it well !!!!

bickering and endless eyerolls turn into more lighthearted banter and teasing jokes eeeeekk

going out to a cafe on your off day and she’s accompanying you, and she’s teasing you as you two occupy the small two-seater table with your cute little coffee cups.

( nat wears her hair tied up in a bun, sunglasses, cargo pants, and a leather jacket — the androgynous outfit would throw any passer-by off >◡< )

“i can see the headlines now: ‘has the princess found her dashingly handsome prince charming?!’,” she giggles, waving her hands up as she announces her tabloid headline. you almost spit out the coffee in your mouth in laughter. “oh please, you wish. you know, you’re the only person who actually calls me that,” you respond, setting your cup down. “am i? well then, consider me honoured, princess.”

she starts showing up to your dressing room much earlier than when she needs to, just to spend more time talking and laughing with you <3

grows VERYY protective of you. likes physical touch with you a lot, just to remind you that you’re safe with her

she’ll keep a hand on the small of your back, or when you guys are in more intimate settings she’ll even hold your hand the whole way WAAAHDJS

she’s your biggest fan!! while she can’t be present to watch any of your shows in entirety because she’s on the job, she always tries to catch as much as she can & cheers super super loud !! (perpetually losing her voice)

she’s secretly started streaming your music a lot just to hear your voice . . the rest of the yjs are like ?????? who is this and where did emo punk rock nat go……

(secretly has a folder of edits of you on tiktok that she just likes to scroll through sometimes 😵‍💫)

sometimes when the stress and pressure of being on tour — not to mention the influx of hate comments online — get to you, nat will always be there to comfort you and reassure you, showering you in compliments and praise

“they don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about, okay?” she says, her voice hushed. she found you sitting alone in your dressing room, doomscrolling under hate threads. she cups your face and continues, “they have nothing better to do with their— their sad lives, and are just aimlessly taking it out on a big name. because, you are so much more than that, okay? fuck, i’d be unemployed without you!” you can’t help but let out a soft laugh at that as nat laughs along, wiping your tears away with her thumbs.

admits to you that her impression of you has changed so much since you’ve both met. she thinks you’re one of the coolest people she’s ever met and admires you so much. this girl ADORES YOU!!!

she cant stop rambling really sweet confessions to you and you eventually cut her off with a kiss <33

the poor girl takes a second to process what’s happening, but the second she does she melts into the kiss, like she’s been waiting her whole life for this hhhjfjdhfjsh

dating her would just include lots more stolen kisses (and more🤭🤭) in between shows, as well as extra protective nat 25/8. they will have to pry you out of her cold dead hands!!!

and ofc, a shit ton of media coverage, speculation, and tabloids to deal with, aaand maybe a new lover-esque album from you coming soon? 🙈

a/n: HIHI i’m so sorry this one took so long😭😭 but i hope this is kinda what you were asking for!

[sinisxtea]

MOOT TAG: What genre of music does your moots remind you of ?

im honestly not a very big genre specific person, i listen to whatever slaps so i don't usually choose music based on genre lol... but these are just my thoughts!

psychedelic pop/acid pop - @ldh0000

everytime we talk i lowkey feel like we're both high as fuck and honestly psychedelic pop really fits ur vibe idk... haunting hippy??? love u, let's not get a divorce

kr&b - @aquaphoenixz

if the walk album is anything to prove lol… you definitely have a thing for r&b. (ahem seori ahem cough cough seori) but valid… i love r&b as well <33

hyperpop - @syatchy

this isn’t even a discussion lol. love u 🫶🫶

disco - @lyvhie

girl you give off such 70s vibes but with a modern edge kinda? like the whole, “stop thinking, let’s dance!” thing that bruno mars, dua lipa, lady gaga (kinda) have got going on!

indie pop - @polarisjisung

or the genre i like to call mental illness /j (for legal reasons that's a joke don't come after me) no bc you embody this feeling of nostalgia? that's kind of like peaceful and calming, but also can definitely turn up the volume if needed? i'm thinking lana del rey, mitski, tv girl, maybe some 21p in there too.

afrobeats/amapiano - @riri4andy

although the genre has recently blown up, you have to really feel the vibes in order to like this genre of music, from what i've noticed it's usually a hit or miss if someone likes this style, but the vibes i get from you really embody the soulfulness of the genre.

y2k pop - @chenlesfavorite

you might not listen to a lot of y2k pop, but the y2k vibes are really coming from you! you seem so stylish, classy and fashionable! your creative endeavors are all over the place! it very much reminds me of that period in between the 90s and the 00s, although some modern songs have that vibe (stream midas touch by kiof 🙏)

house music - @galacticnct

when i thought of music genres for u the first thing that came into my mind was "gay people getting it down in the club" which i was then like. idk what genre that is, but i think i've managed to just place it upon house music. think bibora...

alt r&b / indie rock - @spiderm444rk

honestly i couldn't decide between the two lol. i feel like you fit the alt r&b aesthetic more than the indie rock vibe, but i'm only keeping indie rock on here bc of... mark lee!

synth-pop - @yeonzzens

tbh i know we have similar music taste, so i was thinking of how i could categorize it as? synth-pop is quite broad actually, and there a lot of different sub genres under it, but i feel like it really embodies the type of music that you like.

city-pop - @lotties-readings

city-pop but purely for the vibes. <33 it's so cozy and comforting, but also feels like a blend of the past and present. both seem so nice and peaceful, that it's almost like you're perfectly content with where you are right now. (did not mean for that to get poetic um i just yapped)

kpop - @nanaxwi

SDJSKDJKS I GAVE UP i tried. i wanted to pick a unique category but honestly i can't get a vibe for what type of music you listen to. kpop is broad and embodies many different genres and music techniques and it's very experimental and open to new things, which embodies you as well!!!!

[theprogrockbstheorist]

HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY GEDDY!!!!

(meme credit to u/rtphokie on reddit)

OH, AND WHAT’S THAT?!?! IT’S ALSO THE 49th ANNIVERSARY OF NEIL PEART JOINING RUSH?!?!

In order to celebrate these wondrous occasions, I have compiled 70 reasons why I love Rush (especially Geddy):

70. They don't have any unlistenable albums. I can put on any Rush album and at the very least enjoy it, which is saying a lot!

69. ANDDDD they have 19 studio albums!!! 167 songs!!!

68. Alex's iconic Hall of Fame induction speech.

67. The movie I Love You, Man. The main plot of that is just two guys geeking out about Rush and then going to see them in concert.

66. The Bb5 in "Cygnus X-1 Book 1: The Voyage". For the record, the other famous Bb5 sung by a male singer in rock is the high note in "Bohemian Rhapsody", sung by Roger Taylor.

65. Geddy's range in general. Say what you will about his voice, but he had range.

64. Their pre-concert videos.

63. "Hey baby it's 7:45 and I need to go to bed soon, let's fuck"- In the Mood. The debut album was something else, man.

62. They wrote songs during soundcheck when they were on tour. This includes songs like "Tom Sawyer" and "Chemistry".

61. They went to a Yes concert while recording Caress of Steel, and almost quit making the album. I, for one, am very glad they didn't!

60. The "rap" in "Roll the Bones". Sit back, relax, get busy with the facts...

59. Gene Simmons thought they weren't into women because they didn't want to party with KISS. True story!

58. They listed their baseball positions in the liner notes for Signals.

57. Neil wrote lyrics to a song using only anagrams. The song is called "Anagram (For Mongo)", and is on the album Presto.

56. They thanked themselves in the liner notes for Hemispheres. Listed as Dirk, Lerxst, and Pratt, ofc!

55. They would challenge themselves to write last-minute songs. Results of this experiment include "Hand Over Fist" from Presto, and "Malignant Narcissism" from Snakes and Arrows.

54. The mere existence of "A Passage to Bangkok". I wonder what their thought process was to put a song about smoking weed around the world after a 20-minute long dystopian prog rock epic...

53. "La Villa Strangiato". Just... everything about it.

52. The kimonos. You know the ones!

51. Their nicknames for each other!! (see above)

50. They had the second-longest stable line up in rock music! The only ones with a longer stable line up was ZZ Top.

49. They had a 40-year career! Even longer if you include pre-Neil and their adventures since the R40 tour.

48. The synth era. I unapologetically love 80s Rush, especially Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows.

47. "The Necromancer" basically being self-insert Tolkien fanfic. I wonder who the "three travelers" are supposed to be... OH WAIT!

46. They're giant nerds. All prog bands are, but they are especially nerdy.

45. Hugh Syme's awesome album covers. He did every single one from Caress of Steel onwards, barring the front cover for Snakes and Arrows.

44. The 7/8 section in "Tom Sawyer". That was my first intermediate bass line! Thanks, Geddy!

43. They're Canadian icons. Unironically, they're the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions "Canada" to me.

42. The horribly cheesy, terrible, but also really funny music video for "Time Stand Still". That song, btw, might be my favorite 80s Rush song, and is probably in my Top 5.

41. The triple-entendre pun of Moving Pictures. They're filming a movie (moving picture) of people moving paintings (moving pictures), while someone is getting moved by the scene (moving...pictures...).

40. They quote the 1812 Overture in the overture for "2112".

39. Geddy taught Les Claypool how to properly play "YYZ".

38. The Permanent Waves era glasses!

37. The opening of "Xanadu".

36. The weird stuff Geddy would have on his side of stage after he stopped using amps. This includes rotisserie chickens, washing machines, dryers, and popcorn machines.

35. "Music by Lee and Lifeson, Lyrics by Peart" on almost every single Rush song.

34. The ending of "Spirit of Radio". OF SALESMEN!!!

33. Their inside jokes. Example: The Bag.

32. They took French classes together, and began announcing their songs in French in Quebec.

31. The progressiveness of Counterparts. What other 40-year old rockstars were talking about healthy relationship boundaries and openly supporting gay people in 1993?

30. Their vaults are practically empty because they scrapped songs that weren't up to their standards. This is why we have no sub-par Rush material!

29. Choosing to end their careers with grace.

28. Ending the last show of their career with "Working Man", the song that got everything started.

27. "Dreamline"--"Learning that we're only immortal / For a limited time".

26. Geddy and Alex inducting Yes into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

25. Then, of course, Geddy playing "Roundabout" with Yes during their induction! (Unfortunately, he did not play his Rickenbacker :( )

24. No decisions were made regarding the band without it being unanimous.

23. "Closer to the Heart". To me, that song is like a musical representation of their friendship, and it always leaves me with a warm, fuzzy feeling after listening to it.

22. Neil's books. Ghost Rider, in particular helped me get through a rough time earlier this year.

21. Geddy's Big Beautiful Book of Bass. I love that thing, and I am looking forward to his memoir in November!!!

20. That incredible Rickenbacker. I know it hasn't been his main bass since the early 80s but...

19. All their other creative projects. Geddy and Alex have a solo album each, Alex is involved with Envy of None rn, and Neil had his blog.

18. All their other stage interactions.

17. "ATTENTION ALL PLANETS OF THE SOLAR FEDERATION! WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL!" -"2112". Just... all of "2112".

16. They got me into prog. I wouldn't have this blog right now if it weren't for Rush.

15. The Lifeson chord. The F#7add11 voicing that you can hear in so many of their songs (it's the opening to "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres").

14. Neil's drumming. They call him The Professor for a reason!

13. Geddy's bass playing. And his singing. And playing keys. And... yeah, we would be here all day!

12. The Dinner with Rush video. I make daily references to this that no one notices...

11. "The measure of a life / is a measure of love and respect"- "The Garden". The final song on their final album, and possibly the most amazing closer of all time.

10. Their charity work. IIRC, this includes giving away the aforementioned rotisserie chickens, as well as various fundraisers.

9. Their constant strive to improve themselves. Including Geddy working with a vocal coach, Neil working with Freddie Gruber, and of course, disavowing that Ayn Rand shit.

8. They give me something to strive towards, both as a musician and as a person. If I could make records half as good as Rush, and handle the fame with half the grace that they did, I would consider myself well-accomplished.

7. Neil's lyrics inspired me to get back into writing.

6. They inspired me to become a musician, and to pursue a career in music. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have stayed in choir or picked up bass, and I would've never considered a career in audio technology.

5. Their music helped me bond with my dad.

4. Geddy talking about his family's story of survival during the Holocaust. I think that's really important to talk about.

3. Other Rush fans. Well, okay, some of them like to brag about how many concerts they've been to, or tend to be a little gate-keep, but most of them are really chill people.

2. Their music helped me get through the toughest times in my life. Without getting too personal, I even credit them with saving my life on multiple occasions.

However, what I admire about Rush, above all else...

1. Their friendship with each other.

Once again, happy birthday Geddy! Your music has inspired me in so many ways, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it.

[mrs-monaghan]

I just saw this on your blog about mimikoo and :

the honest to god truth is that these fucking jokers harass me for for being a 'jimin anti' while continuously droning on about how like crazy deserves more than seven

TRUE, because anyone with eyes and brain knows FACE is made by Jimin's blood sweat and tears and not just a song some producer given to him. More hardwork obviously deserves more appreciation and results. I thought we know it lol

is a better song than seven

Again, true. SEVEN is a pop summer song which is already abundant in both kpop and pop industry. While LC, is synth pop genre and its been few years since a syth pop music was made in mainstream kpop. Anyone can sing SEVEN while not everyone can sing LC, maybe not even JK, simple.

seven doesn't deserve a grammy

Ofcourse it doesn't deserve. Just like how BUTTER nor DYNA deserve a grammy. BTS has some of best songs which deserved grammy. If I have to say from solo releases WILDFLOWER or LC deserve a big award like that.

like crazy would have been more successful than seven

Isn't it obvious? Without any single push from his company, LC is still successful than SEVEN. It had more sales, more BB point than seven. Seven is getting current streams by combining 8+ versions while LC has 2. Seven is being maintained on BB chart with tons of remixes sales and radio along with spotify playlisting and streaming while Jimin only had streams from his fans and 2 remixes

jk wants bang pd and scooter to sabotage jimin

Now JK doesn't want to sabotage Jimin. BUT It's obvious af scooter wants to and bang pd selected JK to continue their BTS success. Jimin is easily ignored and even more sabogated in everyway.

jk wants to ditch enlisting - (BLAMING JUNGKOOK FOR SOMETHING HE DOESN'T EVEN DO, AS USUAL)

Not just JK, but all members want to ditch enlisting lol. Like who tf even want to go through compulsory enlistment? Joon openly said it isn't it ? No single member want to go there happily but have to go because of their country's rules. Idk what's the 'blame' op mentioned here tho.

don't celebrate seven because jimin is mistreated

Yep, even I didn't celebrated seven success coz why should I ? If success is brought then who tf will celebrate it ? Did even JK celebrated it properly? Lets be honest, everyone in Fandom and makes of song KNEW the results already. I was escastic when JK sand at FIFA and when he was most streamed soloist last year because he deserved it. But sorry I can't celebrate something which was already brought by money and influence. But I do listen to seven often, as it's a fun pop song.

AND NEVER GET CALLED A JK ANTI

None of the above feels like a JK ANTI to me as everything comes to a single point - SEVEN. It's people's choice what they want to support or not. I'm a JM stan and i didn't even streamed Angel pt 2 once, so I guess I'm a JM hater now according to mimikoo lmao. Just because their fav artist did it doesn't mean they want to support it. As long as no one is going around throwing hate at him, not overtly celebrating a payola song, yes it is, doesn't matter at all.

So user @mimikoolover can fuck off 🥺🥺🥺 no one cares about these stupid song record fights when she's literally throwing Jimin under the bus for his last live.

Publishing coz I love and agree with most of what u just said anon. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[rat-boots]

Hi I'm brand new to bob hund could u please infodump information to me about them bc I'm loving the music but know nothing about them

ohhohoho let's freaking go!

all right, so bob hund was formed in 1991 in stockholm by Thomas Öberg (vocals), Jonas Jonasson (synth) and Mats Hellquist (bass). A bit after that Conny Nimmersjö (guitar) joined the band because he had a rehearsal space (they even made him audition in that rehearsal space). Their other guitarist Johnny Essing joined the band because he owed Mats Hellquist 100 kr (which is like $10). They had a bit of difficulty finding a drummer at first but eventually found a guy named Mats Andersson

Thomas and Jonas went to school toghether in helsingborg before they moved to stockholm

They got the name bob hund from an animated short film called get a job (1985)

Their logo was drawn by Martin Kann, who is also the guy who designs all of their album covers

Blur's guitarist Graham Coxon is (or at least was) a huge fan of bob hund and he did a cover of the song min trampolin

In 2003 they released a self titled album in english under the name bergman rock. That album took several years to make and flopped commercially. In 2005 they released a second album as bergman rock called Bonjour Baberia pt II (both albums are very good i highly recommend them)

In 2009 bob hund gets a new drummer, Christian Gabel, to replace Mats Andersson who is now a passive member of the band

in 2013 they sold their instruments and played shows by borrowing instruments from their fans which somehow resultet in them performing at the malmö opera with the opera orchestra in 2014 (the recording of that performance can be found on their youtube channel under the name 'och bob hund dör i slutet')

in 2021 they did a musical where they are ghosts trying to stop a band called bob katt from breaking up (it's really good but there's unfortunately no recordings of it online) and from late 2022 to about mid 2023 they did some more theater with the show Den overkliga sanningen om bob hund, which is kind of an on stage argument about the band's history (no full recording of this either but there are a few short clips of it on youtube)

[vintagedoctor]

my friend is discovering fallout 4 for the first time

i love fallout 4. ive played that game to death and beyond. i know most details and all the endings and many of the quests and weapons and - yes im well aware of its problems, but i still enjoy it. i did enjoy it. ive moved on to other, better rpgs *cough cough baldurs gate 3 cough cough* and didnt think much of my beloved 1st person post apocalypse talking simulator. until my friend told me he got it and started playing it. for some reason i had already assumed he already played it but to my surprise, he knew nothing of the franchise. he had dabbled in skyrim for a bit, sure, but apparently he had no knowledge of bethesda's 2nd masterpiece. when i was in a voice call with him next, he of course, shared his screen so i could watch him stumble along the commonwealth, dying to bugs and raiders alike. he had gotten to the raider gang in the corvega assembly plant, the one in power armor and with a rocket launcher. i misremembered what the raider had and told my friend to beware the fat man. he didnt know what that was. he didnt know what the fatman was. thats when i realized something.

i had played fallout 4 for well over 400 hours, pretty low compared to other people but enough to where i can spew out random facts about that damn game. but my friend not knowing what the fatman was- the most iconic weapon in the fallout franchise- made me realize how fresh this is all to him. here is someone who is discovering this world with new eyes, not knowing a single thing abt the commonwealth or the minutemen or the shitty story or the repetive quests. when people wish to relive their favorite games in fresh eyes, they wish for this. here i was, as my friend's guide thru this junkpile of a game, seeing it thru new eyes once again. the thrill of discovery, smth i strive for but shy away from. im scared to try new things. i love my sameness. but that gets boring. it sure as hell gets boring. but not anymore.

i saw this as much when my friend stumbled upon covenant and i told him it was a good quest. i maybe shouldnt have even told him that but i wanted him to see it for himself and made sure he did it before it locked him out. he did the entry quiz, making a joke about how hes not getting let in and showed surprise when he was. now for me, i know u r let in no matter ur answer- a mix of irony w the whole synth test and also bethesda game design- so it was fun to see his shock. he walked around covenant and i suggested to him to get deezers lemonade. he tried to get infinite but sadly, all you get is what deezer has in stock. that started the quest and he was making comments about how sus the town was. yes! hes on the right track. he now had to track down a caravan and got mighty lost. i had to explain to him how quest markers work and surprisingly how to access his quest log. i guess its not all obvious to many. he had to leave shortly after but in dms he was telling me how he wanted to save a certain npc in covenant. my heart sank. bethesda doesnt work like that. if he turns against covenant, that npc that he loves will turn on him and he will be forced to kill her. idk if he has gotten that far in the quest line (i'll see later when he wakes up) but i dont want to imagine the disappointment.

thats what i realized with besthesda games. while they make great atmospheres and music and lore, the actual gameplay and rules are never clear. its not like baldurs gate where larian thought of every possible outcome for every quest. its more bethesda knows rpgs must have differing outcomes but doesnt understand what that means. when they market their games to be freedom of choice and play how you want and "see that mountain, you can climb that", it sets an expectation. an expectation they dont follow thru on. i hope this doesnt dissuade my friend from continuing. i think he will really enjoy some of the quests and especially power armor. he already decided to play for a power armor build. it would be very funny if he sided with the brotherhood of steel for his first run, as i did since i was a dumb kid and didnt understand the blatant military critique that it was. he might, as i did, think, big gun means fun time. thats perfectly fine. the factions in fallout 4 arent as deep philosophically as bethesda treats them to be.

all in all, watching my friend discover this great game for the first time has reminded me of my struggles with the game. he even had his first bugs due to modding. a bug i had similar issues with but we quickly solved. my hope for him is that he finds as much passion in the game as i do. theres a reason its in my top 5 games.

[nerdstreak]

I am extremely late but who cares being late is cool 😎

I looked over the songs you put in your pyg!au playlist, they're cool! Whenever you have the time and energy, I'd love to listen to why you chose the songs you did and what they represent! Whether it fits a personality trait, a story beat, or is just something you or Con.nor would actually listen to

(I enjoy making playlists myself, even if I don't do it much, and I do genuinely want to hear you ramble about it)

ok,,, i suppose i could Go Off a little bit abt my song choices thank u,,,

but its still gonna be under a cut ok here we go

let you down: so this is p much connor's general feelings as he progresses through the cases, not succeeding enough to learn about deviants. since hannah is a part of cyberlife, he has another face besides amanda to put to any disappointment he feels is being directed towards him, even if she's never expressed that. this really culminates in the next chapter :3

all these things ive done: connor knows hannah is one of the very few people he can go to, also "ive got soul but im not a soldier" hits

beneath the mask: both of them sort of mask themselves and are afraid of showing their true selves around others

cold heart pnau mix: first verse is def connor catching feelings, also i just always like some good good elton on my playlists (another contender was goodbye yellow brick road, and while its not on here i like to think thats a song they like slow dancing to)

divinity: some future-y porter robinson and the simple lyrics fit well enough

i hear a symphony: PERFECT deviancy song no one can change my mind

i really wanna stay at your house: more future-y techno, definitely more of a 'songs they like to listen to' vibe than strictly plot-related

in her eyes: CHAPTER 4 NAMESAKE LETS GO it was called that originally because the first scene of 5 was supposed to be part of it and really played into the lyrics and emotion of the song

instant crush: more synths!! and again more vibes of just putting all your trust into one person you love

iris: WHEN EVERYTHING'S MADE TO BE BROKEN, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WHO I AAAM!!! a recent addition thanks to my best friend having never heard the song before reminding me it fits for them

just the way you are (the less cheesy billy joel one): neither of them would change a thing about the other :)

lay all your love on me: who doesnt love some abba, plus like hell either of them are gonna share devotion to anyone else

like real people do: self explanatory waaaaa this song is just so soft

mr blue sky: hey you with the pretty face, welcome to the human race!! blame the prtl fic absolutely lol, but dammit if it doesnt fit both my favorite blue robots

once upon a dream: a small spoiler, but hannah did dream about connor before she went on to finalize his design

past lives: sort of an overall connah song with all the verses i have for this ship, finding each other and being intrinsically linked in every universe

rhinestone eyes: more of a beginning-of-the-ship song, where feelings are more distant but there's still that spark of attachment

somewhere only we know: before hannah started on the rk800 project, she was starting to get a bit jaded working for cyberlife, but he sparked her passion again and now wants to rely on him, and in turn he relies on her too, someone that can listen without judgement, just as he does for her

steal the show: purely put it here cuz that one scene in elemental made me think of them :)

yellow: gentle vibes of wanting to do anything and everything for the other person

you might think: no matter how other people might judge an android/human relationship, neither of them truly care what others think in the end, because all they need and want is each other

[stonyponyofficial]

hi!!!! :3 here are "some songs" ive been "listening to" that "i" think "you" should too!

spotify || youtube

notes on each below ^w^

Big Dipper - Death Grips: this song has such a good bounce to it, it makes me move no matter what, i cant help it. especially the chorus cuz ill start singing along and, well, then theres no stopping me. ill wiggle in my seat or like put some bounce in my step. which is all fun when im listening to music at home, but at work, where i mostly listen to music, i cant i have to skip the song. plus i love u songs that end with a good few minutes of noise just because, i never skip u i swear 🥺

classic j dies and goes to hell - glass beach: im fiiiinally getting around to glass beach and why didn't ANYONE say it was good? don't think ive heard the opinion that the first glass beach album is good yet. i wanted to listen to more bc of the hazel "Twinkle Park" version of the self titled song which is also very good but i put this one on this list bc it builds energy and emotion soooo well. it starts so somber but builds and builds till we're screaming about supporting each other and making a home for yourself despite despite despite.

DOGTOOTH - Tyler, The Creator: he creates once more! i always forget i had a kinda big tyler thing in high school until he releases new music. out of all his recent releases post-Flower Boy, Call Me didnt connect with me as much, but this single from the Call Me If You Get Lost "estate sale" of stuff that didnt make the album surprisingly did! it feels a little flowerboy-ish in the production but has the call me vibes of like "i can afford all these cars, buy my neighbors house, and ill still take my private plane to Switzerland for the day just cuz i was craving some nice chocolate" very braggadocio, very tyler, very good :)

Dumbass!! - Machine Girl: this song both sounds like and has similar effects as brainworms. it fuckin. got in there and made me quantifiably more insane than i was before. said brainworms make me wanna scream the lyrics and scuffle my feet and just like run into traffic and dance around the cars bc this song makes me believe i could and id be fine. i hope to fucking god they play this at the mg/100 gecs show. this song is also one of the few times ive looked up the lyrics for a machine girl song, usually content to just let the beats jar my head, and as soon as i did i couldnt get them out :) like some sort of... thought... eating... something or other idk theres probably a word for it (<-the worms are finally getting to her)

Fantastic Cat - Takako Minekawa: this song is sooooo cute, there is so much synth and whimsy to be had! unfortunately i don't know much about the artist bc this was one of the first songs i found after using Radiooooo (which u should be basically required to use if u like music and finding new music) set to Japan in the 90s, but she's part of the 'shibuya-kei' genre/subculture that was popular during that time, which sounds like an interesting topic to dive into :3 the whimsy contained in this song is almost too much tho. the melody is so sweet, that wind instrument is so silly, and the moog breakdown in the middle too is. well, its all quite fantastic.

HI 5 - Frost Children: i took too long making this post that this entry went from originally a cheeky indirect plug for their upcoming album bc i just really liked this single to just,, oh the album came out... but either way i wanted to talk about the song bc 2 me its just more proof of how exciting of a voice in hyperpop the frost children are. the bass on it is as crazy and slick as the one on the cover. this whole song just explodes with eccentricity i think ull really like it :) also check out the epic music video! its ai generated for those who'd like to know beforehand, but they use it to like. rotoscope real footage its preddy neat!

Introduce me to your family - Otoboke Beaver: i made a little post recently about Otoboke Beaver's influence on six impala's WFLYTD, and after revisiting their album, Itekoma Hits, after making that post i got this one stuck in my head for a while. the hook hooks (the main reason i had it in my head for so long), the bass is groovy, the guitars are sharp, the rage is channeled, its all here! they keep all the energy going and growing the whole time until you cant help but scream along.

こんがらがった! (Kongaragatta!/Tangled up!)- Necry Talkie: started reading the bocchi manga recently (im just past where the show ends as of now :3) and they have art at the beginning of each chapter with the kessoku band members that references visuals from like irl japanese bands and music videos which i thought was really cool! of course i had to find a collection of all the referenced songs, and what do ya know... this cute little number was in there! (if ur wondering it's the art for chapter 18 that references this song's music video :3) its such a dinky beat at first (said so so lovingly) but it evolves into a precise, energetic little jam.

One Million Dollars - 100 gecs: this fucking sonnng.. not everyones fav off 10k i know but it is for me :3 it just rattles me in such a specific way. it originated and is the only way to sate the need in my brain to hear what it was like for nic cage in that "not the bees!!!!" scene. i love it sm, but im absolutely biased from my hearing this at a gec show and falling for it right then and there. the live version and the album version are a bit different and i think the changes they made for the album make it a fuller song i just. loved the feeling of hearing this live so much. i would just search up the epic live version at terminal 5 where Laura fucking SHREDS on the guitar at the end over and over while i was waiting for the album. again, makes me very excitied to see them and machine girl soon :3

o (__*) - Hakushi Hasegawa: i dont know much about this artist but goddamn the few songs i have heard from them have made such an impression. u know a song is good when its not even dnb but uses the "yeah.. woo!" sample to keep everything going. and yeah with how crazy fucking banana bonkers jazzy and technical the drums and piano get at times it needs that tiny bit of stability at least. this song feels like the epitome of controlled chaos in the absolute best way possible.

PARTY GIRL - Angel Electronics: after rook's latest solo album came out i decided to go back and visit this collab project of hers with ash nerve i had missed at first and.... weeeeeeh ;w; this song makes me wanna cry every time. rook can obviously write some bangers but i love her more tender songs too. so many parts come together to make it just the sweetest thing. the part that stuck with me the most was the chorus, like it's sooo cute id just sing it to myself on loop bc it leads into itself so well. i wanna just keep talking about how fucking cute this song is but like George Costanza voice the love story between the party girl and the weird shy girl got to me okay?

Prime - Marnie Stern: kinda the reason im making this list hehe :3 this song was on char 'igottawin' mp3's most recent WILT (what im listening to) poast (hi char :3) and it was What Im was Listening To... too... (both of us bc of this epic animation) so here it is on MY knockoff WILT post too mwahaha hahaha! haha but seriously guys this song is quite good. it does so much with all the variations on just that one verse and i get sucked into the lyrics and the guitars. and by the fourth time im chanting this same unending verse the song is surprisingly over and i just wanna listen to it again. this one deserves a 10 hr extended version frfr

Wait and Bleed - Slipknot & 青春コンプレックス(Seishun Complex) - Kessoku Band: whats this? a double entry? ahaha yes! 😈 i would've put these songs here separately bc ive been getting into both slipknot (thank u char :3) and the actual kessoku band album, both of which are quite good on their own. but i only combine their entries here bc of this epic mashup of these two songs by the aforementioned rook blackdresses which makes me unable to sing either without thinking of the other song. like the first three chords of the bocchi theme start playing and my brain wants to scream the GOODBYEEEEEE from Wait and Bleed. the slipknot chorus melds with the kessoku band guitars soooo well. to me they are pieces from different puzzles entirely but they still fit together <3

wants mom to know she looks cool and doesn't plan on changing - leroy: i finally listened to the dariacore and accompanying berdlycore serieseses and ive loved diving into this little subculture of silly hyperpop meme mashups that fuck immensely. takes the silly to earnest and very good pipeline to a new level. plus having been a fan of dltzk and jane's other stuff its the one thing i never really got into but there are. so many dariacore related things i need to listen to now. i feel like theres lore i have to catch up on but im excitied :3 this is one of my faves off dariacore 2: electaria corebaloo (not what its called)

This has been... Post! thanks for your time. if u read this far i love u so much please never forget that. 'til summer music-heads! *curtsies and shows myself off-stage*

[rosenallies]

“do you think of me when you touch yourself?” If ur feeling smutty can u write this abt Gia and synth thank u 🙏🏻

phone sex<3

——

Gia was just about to crawl into bed after a long day when their phone rang, the special little blend of notes meaning only one person was on the other line. Sighing to themself, they checked the time. Just after one in the morning.

“Hey, baby, what’s wrong?” They said as they accepted the call, voice soft and gentle like they knew it needed to be when Synthia called this late. A call after 11 typically meant a nightmare or she was having trouble falling asleep all together due to her anxiety.

“N-nothing’s wrong,” Synthia replied breathily from the other line.

“Baby, it’s ok, did you have another nightmare or have you not gone to sleep?”

“No, Gia, I’m not-I didn’t..I’m just fucking-“

Suddenly, it clicked, the breathiness of her words, her halted breathing. “Synthia Kiss, are you telling me you called because you’re horny?”

Synthia shuddered. “Yes.”

“Mmm and are you touching yourself right now?”

“Yes,” Synthia squeaked.

“Do you think of me when you touch yourself, honey? Is that why you called? You wanted me to hear your pretty little sounds while you make yourself feel good?”

Synthia groaned, her hand exploring herself in her little pink sleep shorts, oh how she wished Gia would come over and rip those little shorts right off of her. “Please, Gi.”

“Please what, princess? Do you want permission? What do you need?”

It was unclear how long Synthia had already been playing with herself, but the way her breath hitched, Gia could guess she wasn’t too far away from finishing. Perhaps she just needed a gentle little push over the edge.

“C-can you tell me I’m doing good? I like that,” Synthia replied shyly, a deep flush warming her cheeks and body.

“Of course, baby girl. You’re so good for me, aren’t you? I bet you look the most beautiful right now, what I wouldn’t give to have your pretty little self right in my lap right now. I’d make you feel so good, darling. Tell me, are you using your hand or a toy?”

“Um a toy, the pink one you got me a bit ago.”

“Oh, the glass one? I always find the prettiest things for my pretty baby.”

“Yeah-it’s good, really good.”

“I’m glad, sweet girl. I want you to keep going for me, yeah? Let me hear you and if you’re extra good I’ll make you feel even better tomorrow, okay?”

Synthia felt her brain short circuit at the thought, that alone was enough to nearly make her finish.

“Can you say okay for me, love? I wanna know you heard me.”

Whining, Synthia bit her lip. “Okay.”

“Good job, princess, keep going for me.”

[staycgrls]

hi taylor!! 💖

happy new year!! 🥳🍾

i know you haven't been on a lot, but i miss you & i hope you're doing well!!

if you want to, favorite music releases of 2023, kpop or not?? 🎤

Hi Rinnnnnnnn!!! oh i miss u so much 🥹🥹🥹 sorry i haven’t been active the last months have been kind of crazy (and i also accidentally got waaay back into insta so i’ve been meaning to message u for urs 😘) i hope ur doing well too happy new year i love u 💕💕💕💕

and woooooo what a year for music im like tryna remember half of what came out 😪 ummmm im gonna do like top 10 albums/releases for me !!! in no particular order tho cuz i can’t rank perfection 😤

1. Exist - Exo The fact that this even happened is enough to make it memorable but also Let Me In is a masterpiece thats all I can say.

2. Chill Kill - Red Velvet Love love love, i loved the title and i loved the b-sides especially underwater and wings 😌

3. Eunoia - Billlie I am not writing that whole album title but know that Nevertheless IS that girl, god tier album

4. My World and Drama - Aespa girlies absolutely ate this year drama is so cunty so slay the boots house down and the synths in spicy are diabolical i went insane

5. Festa - Purple Kiss v underrated in my opinion, Biscuit, Mistake, Autopilot all bangers and I’m sad I missed their tour :(

6. Ichijikikoku - Atarashii Gakko !!!! saw them live this year and it was lit!! my niece loves them and wouldn’t stop singing tokyo calling at christmas :) fav from this is giri giri and otome no bigaku!!

7. Heaven Knows - Pinkpantheress the only bitch that can make a 2:30 song with no bridge and NOT make it boring for me hybe pls take better notes favs were mosquito, ophelia, and feel complete

8. Hearts of the City - Lee Jin Ah I just love her voice, fav was My Whole New World

9. New Gene - XG literally frothing at the mouth for their tour wow terrible album rollout but i was blasting every little single until it dropped favs are new dance and puppet show!!

10. and of course how could we forget Teenfresh - Stayc the absolute queens of bubblegum pop slayc did it again!!!! and i saw them live bestie it was so crazy someone literally passed out 😓 but i cannot blame them idc if ppl say they make kidz bop music im healing my inner child okay 😤😤 bubble was fun and i like having fun !!!!

okay brb running to ur inbox bestie 🏃🏾‍♀️💕💕💕💕ty for always letting me talk and i hope ur new year is fruitful and fun :D

[mooneyedmermaid]

i am pleased to announce that not only is he tall and skinny w a big nose, glasses, and a fuckton of hair, he is musically very talented and very apparently wants nothing to do with me despite having enthusiastically said yes when i asked him out!

to reconcile those last two contradictory statements, he for some reason got the ick when i asked if 1:30 was doable and has since then been leaving me on read

we were supposed to meet before work yesterday but i shot him a text the night before and was like,,, yo we still on? let me know about time and he was like hey it'd be great to get coffee sometime but tomorrow won't work and i'm like

COMRADE i literally DIDN'T go out on halloween bc u said u wanted to meet before work the day after which necessitates a) that I be in bed early enough to be up at 630 b) THAT I WASH MY HAIR THE DAY AFTER HALLOWEEN AND NOT ON HALLOWEEN so he stood me up and (indirectly and unknowingly and it's not his fault but i'm going 2 be mad anyway) deprived me of halloween which, me being a stevie nicks ass bitch, will throw my hormones out of wack for MONTHS if not the rest of the year

anyway i was like sure just shoot me a call when you'd like to reschedule and he has, obviously, not done so but is lookin at my stories

i am VITRIOLICALLY FURIOUS but also god i just want him to like me and not be all dithery and weird

and or tell me why me saying "is 130 ok? idk if i can do earlier than that i have to practice" turned him off so suddenly and profoundly

oh but he is so pretty! and. music taste is good???? and guitar play and synth play good? pls like me i will let you borrow my crumar :((((((

[merlinband-archive]

70s Invasion: Merlin Reviews & Fan Accounts

Page updated as of January 27, 2010. Fan accounts are dated as April 2006 and January 2010. Album review & information is undated.

Text and website screenshots are preserved below in case the link goes dead.

MERLIN photo from their lp

( scroll over to see more of the band ) > > >

updated as of Jan 27th '2010

recieved a writeup on MERLIN sent in by a music fan making some corrections to our reviews on Merlin here, we posted it below the other writeup sent in in 2006,

MERLIN

GREAT lp this band put out in '74, lots of variety and allthough it's along the lines of SLADE, and SWEET, the 1st 3 songs are different from the rest of the lp......

'SPACE RAIDER'

offbeat synth rocker , sci-fi prog element up front, listening closely it reminded us of the same beat of DEVO's 'SPEED RACER' that came out yrs later in '82, for a few seconds u can hear the background singers in MERLIN going 'ha, ha, ha , ha'.....very similiar to DEVO's 'PEEK-A-BOO' from that same lp.......i wonder if DEVO ever heard this song cause listening at first you'll notice this, however the band were not at all like DEVO in any way we just wanted to make this apparent....some lyrics; 'I SAID I MADE TRACKS IN HIS FACE, NEEDED SPACE TO FILL A HOLE I HOPED THAT I WOULD, FIND A PLACE, A PLACE TO CALL MY HOME'

' TAKING PART '

again this too is different from the rest of the lp, sounds like a cross between the MOODY BLUES and RUSH...guitar melody begins ' LIKE A CEASAR BALL, BUT THEY SEEM MORE HERE THAN ME, FOR ALL THE WORLD AND ALL IT's UNEXPECTED COMPANY', and 'TAKING PART, TAKING PART OF THE UNIVERSE, MAKE A START , AS TIME GETS CLOSE TO US, WE RUN OUT OF SIGHT......

'GETTING INVOLVED'

this one is gentle folk-pysch similiar to what maybe PINK FLOYD did in the late 60's.........'WERE GETTING INVOLVED LIKE A MYSTREY UNSOLVED , HOW'D YOU THINK IT WOULD END, BUT QUITE OF THE TIME I BEEN SEEING THE SIGNS, YOUR MORE TO ME THAN JUST A FRIEND

'GYPSY'

GOOD strong hard glam number, along the lines of SLADE or GEORDIE, they're trying for the 'so bad it's good sound'........elec guitar solo in the middle.....' I NEVER KNOWN A CHICK LIKE THIS SHE GOES WILD FOR JUST 1 KISS, NEVER KNOWN YOUR KIND BEFORE WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE SHE WANTS MORE, MORE, MORE, GYPSY, GYPSY WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO' ?

' HE THINKS ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME'

SLADE-like good time pop rock........unique synths..kinda has the beat from the GRATEFUL DEAD's 'ROLL AWAY THE DOOB'...some lyrics -..'HE NEVER REALLY GOT OVER U, YOUR MEMORY STAYS ON HIS MIND, HE SAID HE'D LIKE TO SEE U JUST WON'T COME AROUND', and ' HE THINKS ABOUT U ALL THE TIME, CAUSE HE's STILL A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE'....

'LOOK AT LIFE'

GREAT BALLAD ! this lps very BEST number !!.....begins with a slow piano into a pure SPARKS pop song or to be more precise they sound a lot like MR. BIG ( see below).....'I STEPPED OUTSIDE AND A WHITE LIGHT HIT ME ON A CLEAR LOS ANGELES DAY'...and .....'WHAT A FUNNY WAY TO FALL IN LOVE'....and 'ISN'T IT STRANGE THAT NOTHING MORE THAN A SMILE COULD CHANGE THE WORLD' ??? ends with guitar wailing, this song itself is enough to buy the lp, but side 2 has many other GREAT ones too......but about this song ya know after hearing it a lot or a few yrs later in our case it reminded us of a funny kinda pop number, a really beautiful pop number with a funny guitar riff that they pick up on and carry all the way to the end and the singer is asking you to look i mean really LOOK at life.......this song is so good is could have shoulda been at the top of one of those K-TEL or Ronco 70s pop compilations......the band did have some other single releases we've been told but one wonders if they ever topped this song ?

'MARLINA'

GREAT opener ! SWEET-like rock, u notice that after the beginning vocal intro of ' HOLD MY HAND WHILE WE'LL REACH THE SKY, DON'T LET GO WHILE YOUR FEELING HIGH'......bass chugs along just like one of SWEET's classics, elsewhere they sing 'DEEP BLUE HAIRDO', and 'TAKE ME AND SHOW ME WHERE U ARE'.......

'SWEET CHEATIN' RITA'

'SHE's MY SWEET CHEATIN RITA, AND I KNOW HOW MUCH U NEED HER, MY CHEATIN' RITA' ! ........thats right the ALVIN STARDUST glitter classic is covered here surprisingly, and they do a GREAT job too !....( to see reviews of ALVIN's lps, see page 5 )......we were later told that MERLIN did the original and Alvin covered it the next year in '75....

'ALLRIGHT'

GOOD NODDY HOLDER imiatation on this number with elec guitar and elec piano, campy sounds abound........ 'ALLRIGHT YOUR DADDY DON'T MIND, YOUR MOTHER DON'T MIND, YOUR SISTER DON'T MIND, ......ALLRIGHT YOUR TEACHER DON'T DIG, YOUR PREACHER DON'T DIG', and 'ARE U READY FOR ME AND MY BIG BIRD, SHOOT EM' UP' !........plus horns in the middle along with car racing sounds, in '74 u oculd find camp on almost any glam lp...

'LET ME PUT MY SPELL ON U'

...melodic glam pop rock similiar to SLADE.......'CAN'T U FEEL THE MAGIC VIBES ELCTRIC FIRE', and ONE LITTLE SPARK LEADS TO A FIRE, COME ON COME ON U KNOW U CAN TAKE ME, LET ME PUT MY SPELL ON U .......

'WILD CAT'

....the band has a GREAT closer, solid beat, EXCELLENT STONES-like guitar work ,SLADE sound however more like T.REX glam rock style...... 'HEY BABY DRESSED IN BLACK, COME ON WILD CAT AND SCRATCH MY BACK, OVER HERE AND LET ME LOVE U', and 'CAUSE IT AIN'T RIGHT LETTING U GO'.....( fades)

WRITEUP on Merlin sent in early April '06....

Merlin included vocalist Alan Love, guitarist Jamie Moses, keyboard player Bob Webb, bassist Paul Taylor, and drummer Dave Whitwhick.

Merlin arose from a band called Madrigal in late 1973. Madrigal had been on the scene since 1967, but only drummer Dave Whitwhick remained from the original lineup. Jamie Moses and Bob Webb joined Madrigal in 1973,and singer Alan Love joined soon afterward (he was previously with the psych band Opal Butterfly).

( see page 2 for reviews of Opal Butterfly )

With mostly new members a name change was in order, so on the way to a gig Webb came up with the name Merlin.

Merlin released a self-titled album on CBS in 1974 (UK CBS 80338). The group released a handful of singles, with two reaching the top twenty:

Put My Spell On You / Just Another Fish On My Hook (UK CBS 2146) Alright / Pictures In My Mind (UK CBS 2421) Wild Cat / Only Half a Man (UK CBS 2790) What a Funny Way To Fall In Love / Rock and Roll Express (UK CBS 3021)

NOTE: There were several Merlins around at the same time, so any other Merlin singles you might see are by different bands (I've confirmed this with Jamie Moses). The first three singles are taken from the LP, but have non-LP B sides. The fourth single is non LP and is rare as hell - the A side is lame, but the B side - Rock and Roll Express - is a KILLER glam track.

Merlin supported David Essex on an extensive tour in 1974, with Gary Strange (ex-March Hare) replacing Paul Taylor on bass. The group disbanded not long afterward.

Jamie Moses and Bob Webb would go on to join Royce, a band that featuring singer Nigel Benjamin just before he joined Mott.

Jamie Moses is now a member of the Brian May Band, and is currently touring as second guitarist on the Paul Rodgers and Queen tour.

Justin Purington

2nd writeup on the band sent in Jan 2010 by a fan

Hi, I recently came across your site reviewing the self titled Merlin LP. I thought i'd send across a couple of points for addition. It is stated that Sweet Cheatin Rita was an Alvin Stardust cover. Merlin actually released this a year before Alvin Stardust. Oh and Dave Whitwhick is spelt wrong. I know it is on the LP cover as that but it was actually a miss-print. It should be Dave Wightwick Also, they split on the opening night of the tour where Nigel Benjamin (Mott) was to join Merlin replacing Alan Love. Many thanks for the reviews, is great to see people have an interest. Kind Regards,

Peter

[dearkyeom]

thoughts of the album after a few relistens:

eyes on you: love house genre seventeen need more of it i'm always super into their electropop songs (shoutout to network love) so i'm like. very obsessed with this. the synths are perfectly balanced, super polished and work as the perfect complement to their voices. the post (?) chorus FUCKS!!! the vocal chop omg scratches such a specific itch in my brain. i could listen to the instrumental for hours. love the clarity of their voices in this. i can hear dk smiling through his lines and that makes me so happy.

love money fame: hate this fucking feature dude, can't emphasize that enough. anyway. super happy mingyu got more sung lines i've always been really fond of his singing voice. he brings a unique, husky vocal color that complements that crystal clear timbre that most of the boys have. i just don't feel like this is really title track worthy though. the bridge was kind of a let down, i wanted smth more since the song is already so mid-tempo. (but this is also a biased take coming from a dk stan you know i love a good baby u are my angel moment.) it's a fine song..! i just have always been a bigger fan of svt's more explosive songs (hot, all the freshteen titles, clap, etc.) not my particular wheelhouse but it's not bad.

1 to 13: a much needed tempo increase from love money fame. the synths are bouncy and light which makes for a satisfying, head bobbing vibe. clenches fist at the chorus. love the call back to ymmd... a very fond era of mine. the echo (beat, day, dawn) is very good and keeps the song bouncing. once again yay love mingyu's sung lines. i know he doesn't exactly have a lisp but that like slight lack of clarity in his pronunciation is just so good for me. the bridge is [chef's kiss] pretty much what i wanted from it. instrumentals pull back a bit then come back in as it goes which is always a good way to do a bridge. wish the bridge was longer but well. that's not what makes money now does it.

candy: sorry vocal unit i love you but this ballad is not one i will re-listen to. it's fine, it's pretty, love the lounge piano break. someone on reddit said that they can see themselves coming back to this during the holidays, which i totally understand, it's definitely kinda holiday ballad-y. i don't dislike it, i just have to be in a really specific mood for this type of ballad.

rain: mm that bass is tasty. love the little guitar riff (lowkey reminds me of the sample in infinite's come back again lmao) that repeats through the song and the electronic keyboard flourishes. that beat of silence after "don't stop the rain" is really satisfying. there's something that's super 2nd/3rd gen (positive) about this for me. i guess it's the genre that was just popular for the time? though it's funny bc it seems like ppl on reddit are saying this sounds like smth key or taemin would do and i have to agree. this is like an objectively well structured pop song that really suits the sultry vocal color of performance unit. hands down the best unit song of this batch for me.

water: not my favorite hhu track mostly bc the chorus doesn't really do it for me. i'm actually lowkey a fan of the autotune idk guys is m age showing LMAO love mingyu's opening verse, i am obsessed when idols specifically go for a slurred delivery it just exudes a cheeky confidence. scoups' part in verse 2 is sooo fucking good i love it so bad when they give him parts that change the texture of the song (his whispered part in cheers will forever be that bitch to me). once again i'm bummed that their tracks have gotten shorter. i'm actually a firm believer that a song does NOT need to be above 3 minutes to be good, but i wanted a bridge and i didn't get one... bummer. this feels more like an interlude/spotify track to me than a full song. probably goes off in a concert tho.

my tentative ranking (in terms of replayability): eyes on you > 1 to 13 > rain > love money fame > water > candy

despite my absolute bitterness going into the album, it was overall enjoyable! not my favorite mini, but i think eyes on you, 1 to 13, and rain are standouts that i would rank higher than a lot of other b-sides in svt's discography. as a cuties gathering and just general vocalist enjoyer, i do selfishly wish there were more standout moments for dk (and seungkwan for that matter.) he's fully in the album but i feel like i was missing him through it. this album is generally an easy, safe listen and i think they accomplished that cohesion (that i assume they were going for) even with hhu's song having its usual grungy misfit vibe. i'm guessing the thought process was that maestro/17 is right here era had a lot of energy so they decided to go with smth chiller.

overall, like a 6.5/10 or 7/10. if we threw out dj kh*led and gave dk and seungkwan some crazy high notes or adlibs, then 8/10.

finally listening to spill the feels. just finished love money fame. hey guys? why the fuck did we need dj kh*led on that track? guys? why did i need to hear his voice at the beginning and end of the track? he contributed nothing to the track?? guys??? what was the point of that.

[beautifulpersonpeach]

Why you say SM just takes from Black singers?? SM is the most innovative and Aespa has good proof. Have you heard Illusion by Aespa?? No song is like it no Black singer has a song like it so pls just respect SM and don't hate on other groups just because you're army!

**

Lmaooo.

Oh goodness.

You see, it's funny you mentioned Illusion by Aespa in particular. Let me tell you a short story.

When Illusion was released by SM Entertainment's group Aespa on June 1, 2022, I saw the usual suspects fawning over the song, calling it one of SM's best works. One thing I noticed a lot of people were talking about and calling "so cool", "very fresh", etc, was the syncopated phrasing in the chorus. I check out almost everything that's released in k-pop and was going to check out the song anyway, so I pushed it to the top of my list and checked out the song.

You know the first thing that came to mind when I heard Illusion by Aespa?

Dumebi by Rema.

The "cool", "fresh", syncopated phrasing was lifted almost beat by beat from a Nigerian artist who sings in Yoruba, English, and Pidgin and had released his song on March 24, 2019.

I'll show you what I mean.

Dumebi - the whole song repeats the same rhythmical motif (that's kinda what made it go viral in 2019) but it really kicks in from:

timestamp: 0:17 - 0:26

*

Now, the chorus of Illusion that was so innovative?

Timestamp: 0:42 - 1:04

It's the same melody, the same beats per bar (with one removed on the downbeat), the same rhythmical motif, just pitched lower, slowed down, and punctuated with rap verses.... Just as in the case of NCT U's 7th Sense.

And that's just the chorus of Aespa's song. There are other parts of that song that are literally lifted off verbatim from other Black artists, but I honestly don't have the time to get into it now. And honestly, this happens so often for me with SM songs that I don't even bother commenting on it, I just note it and move on.

Is Rema credited anywhere in Aespa's song? No. Is this interpolation mentioned anywhere by SM? No.

Granted, there isn't much overlap between people who listen to music in Yoruba and Pidgin and those who listen to music in Korean, so SM gets away with a lot of things like this because many people don't notice it. (Outside of the usual plagiarism scandals in k-pop). I don't think I've ever heard a song from SM that I haven't heard somewhere else before, or at the very least heard elements of it, and while that's a bit normal in k-pop, what gets me with SM is that even after all these years they're still unable to fully credit their samples or interpolated music. And that's partly why the musical output from that agency got very old for me by like 2017...

I'm not surprised at all that by 2018, the agency decided to switch things up by arranging whole segments from different genres into one song. Oh, and throw in a synth-padded bridge/pre-chorus and a random high note (whether or not it actually ends in a tonic key) and you're good. And people called that innovation. With SM it's always been more Mix n Match, rather than Blend n Incorporate for their musical fusion. It just seems very gimmicky and artificial to me, because it's one of the laziest ways to arrange music. In my opinion.

Now this doesn't mean I don't like Illusion. I do. I mean how can I not? The song is literally just an arrangement of elements from many talented Black musicians who have genuine bops. But I can also recognize where their songs come from, I can see that SM still refuses to credit too many Black creators they borrow from, and it's gotten a bit old for me. If you find it innovative Anon, you're more than free to do you.

[commonwealthoccurences]

If It's A War You Want

Request: Idea: Sole at the end of Blind Betrayal threatening "You lay one hand on Danse, and you start a war with me!" Can't trust Bethany Esda to write a proper conclusion for my boy Danse, so I trust u cuz ur writing slaps.

Word Count: 2,2027

Warnings: Threats, canon typical violence mentions

It was never supposed to turn out like this.

Sole hadn’t exactly come to love the Brotherhood’s ideology, specifically surrounding their opinions on synths, but it was a means to an end. It was messy, and at times downright infuriating. But Sole never intended to go face to face with them; the priority was the Institute. Once they were out of the picture, Sole intended to enjoy what was considered retirement in the Wasteland, and take up the role of a simple farmer.

Everything shifted once Elder Maxson told them about Danse and then ordered them to kill him. They couldn’t even think to react, to lash out in astonishment or in disgust. They were whisked away and before they knew it, they were being told his location by Scribe Haylen, and off they went. On an assassination mission for one of the people they cared about most in the Wasteland.

Of course, that was never going to happen. The walk to his location left them a lot of time to think. To come up with a plan, specifically. First, they wanted to hear his side of the story. It didn’t matter whether or not he was a synth, but they couldn’t imagine what he was going through, the stress, the betrayal, the possible resentment. Then, they would get him out. Wherever he wanted to go, they would get him there safely.

There would always be a place for him in Sanctuary. If it appealed, the Railroad could do what they did best, though they doubted he would want to lose what little he had left of his identity. Whatever Danse needed, they were there.

Before long, they were shooting down the turrets outside of the bunker Scribe Haylen said they would find him in, and they crept in, gun held in a tight grip by their side. Sole wasn’t sure what state of mind he’d be in. Whether or not he’d be defensive, whether or not he expected an enemy instead of a friend. He was smart. Maybe he expected Elder Maxson to test them the way he was, to send them after him to prove the loyalty Danse knew had wavered the very first day they stepped on the Prydwen.

There was water dripping from the ceiling, a leak of some sort made obvious from the heavy rains. The incessant dripping grew more and more irritating as Sole took careful steps through the damp hallways, jaw clenched, boots barely making a sound. It was a break in the structure of the wall that opened up to the end of their journey. Carefully, they straightened up, and stepped through the crumbled wall. “Danse?” Sole asked, cautious. They raised their hands on either side of their head in an attempt to appear non threatening.

But when Danse turned around, it was apparent he wasn’t going to make any attempt to defend himself. His gun was across the room, bullets scattered on the floor, magazine a few feet away. “Danse?” They repeated, tone softer, as they holstered their weapon.

“If you’re here to kill me, get it over with. Please.”

“Danse, I’m not here to kill you.”

He laughed, but there was no humor to his tone. “You should be. There’s no way you made it here without Maxson finding out, and if you’re disobeying direct orders….”

“I don’t give a damn about his orders, Danse. You know that.”

Danse scoffed. Yeah, he knew that. They had never been great at taking orders from anyone in the Brotherhood, until he asked them himself. It was obvious where their loyalties lied, and maybe he was selfish, but he had been okay with that. Now? Now, their misguided trust was only going to put them in danger. He knew that if they didn’t take back his holotags, they would be the next to fall. It was the way the Brotherhood worked. He had been a cog in their machine, after all; he knew better than anyone.

He turned away. It was nearly unbearable to look at them, at the hope they had represented for him in the year that they had been around, and the fact that they were looking at him pleadingly, a silent begging for him to go with them, and directly result in their death. “Get it over with, Soldier.”

“I’m not a soldier. Danse. You know I was never one of their soldiers. Don’t make this decision for me, please. It’s hard enough.”

Maybe if he begged them, they would go through with it, and they’d be safe. Of course, Danse didn’t want to die, if the loss of his life even counted as death, considering what had been discovered. But between the options of him living just a moment longer with the hope that he could return to some semblance of normal only for both of them to die, or for him to die for Sole to live, Danse would not hesitate in choosing them every time.

The drip hadn’t gone away. It drove at Sole’s patience as they stood there in silence, waiting for Danse to come to his senses. Or maybe it was them who needed sense, the sense to just move, to grab Danse and drag him away where no one could hurt him again. They nearly fully considered it when he spoke. “You’re not going to change your mind, are you?”

They wanted to laugh, but instead, sucked in a deep breath and tapped their fingers against their thigh. “Have you met me?”

Danse nodded slowly. “Yeah.” He turned and looked at them. “It was a blessing in disguise. More than I knew, in the beginning.”

They found themself clenching their jaw tighter in an attempt to suppress the urge to cry. “Danse, let’s go. We can go back to Sanctuary and figure this all out. You don’t have to stay here and be alone in this miserable ass bunker.”

“Are you sure?”

“Danse, please. Let’s go home.”

It would be a long process, of course. To get him settled in Sanctuary, into a civilian lifestyle, without all the heavy-duty armor and the rigid structure to keep him firmly in place. But he would figure it out, Sole knew; he was much more resilient than he’d ever given himself credit for. They held out their hand and placed it on his shoulder when he stepped forward.

They guided him over to his weapon and loaded it for him before placing it firmly in his hands. “You still need to defend yourself.” The double-meaning of their words hung in the air between them as Danse stared them down. He nodded choppily.

The walk out of the bunker seemed much shorter than the trip in, and to Sole’s relief, they put distance between them and the dripping leak faster than they expected. As soon as they were relieved from one pressure, the next appeared in front of them. Through the thick rain, they could see the shadow of a familiar figure, one dressed in an oversized coat that they had thought many times would go for a high price at Myrna’s. “We don’t have to do this, Maxson.” They had to raise their voice to be heard over the pounding rain.

“You had orders, Soldier. Explain yourself, or I end this now.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. And I’m not your soldier.”

Sole could feel the rage radiating off Maxson. The vastness of his ego must’ve taken a dent from being so blatantly disrespected. “Sole, he’s right.” Danse piped up from over their shoulder, not loud enough to be heard by the leader of the Brotherhood, but clearly heard by Sole. They shook their head and raised a hand, clearly signalling him to be quiet. “See, Maxson. I’m not as stupid as you think I am. I didn’t come out here blind. I knew you were testing me.”

They took a step forward, despite the fact that they felt adrenaline and anxiety thrumming in their chest. God knows the rain wasn’t helping, with the way they had to squint to be sure they had an eye on Maxson’s weapon. “I didn’t leave straight away. I have help, Elder, and I don’t take risks without insurance. I’m sure once you return to the Prydwen, after being unsuccessful in locating both Danse and I, that you’ll find many hidden explosive charges located throughout your beloved airship.”

Danse’s sharp intake of breath was barely audible, and they hoped he didn’t make his surprise too obvious. Of course, they were lying through their teeth; they hadn’t had time to even think before they were being ushered out of the Prydwen on their mission. But Maxson didn’t know that. He had simply sat back in his chair and expected them to clean up a mess that didn’t even exist.

“You’re bluffing.” Maxson called back.

“Do you really want to find out? You lay a single hand on Danse, and you’ll start a war with me. With me and the Minutemen, and while you may have protocols and guidelines, know that I will stop at nothing if something happens to someone I care for.”

Silence. If there was anything Maxson cared about more than being respected, it was the Brotherhood. If what they had said was true, they could turn the entire Eastern branch of the Brotherhood into gory, scrap metal ridden confetti and then follow up with their own, albeit small, army if there were any survivors. They shifted their grip on their weapon and raised their chin; this was the moment of truth. Would they get away with their companion in a nerve wracking scrape, or would they die for their loyalties?

Their heart thudded, even when Maxson lowered his weapon and took a half step backwards. The pressure was off, ever so slightly. “Go. You can return to wherever you came from, but if either of you are seen again-”

Maxson didn’t have to finish. The pair knew exactly how little they had as an advantage, and they were lucky to get as far as they did. Sole managed to not burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation and instead gave him a sharp nod before their hand returned to Danse’s shoulder, and they began their departure to Sanctuary.

The first half of their journey was silent. Each was lost in their own thoughts about the situation, about what their futures may look like now that Sole had threatened war against one of the more powerful Commonwealth presences. Danse’s footsteps faltered momentarily just as they made it to Quincy. “Were you- did you actually have the means to blow up the Prydwen?”

Sole, overwhelmed with the confrontation of what they had said, burst out laughing. “God, no, Danse! But I had to think of something. If I didn’t have any leverage we would’ve ended up as ghoul feed.”

Danse frowned. “I told you you should’ve-”

“I know what you said, and it was the worst idea you’ve ever had. Try not to top it in the future, would you?”

The humor fell flat, Danse’s expression barely illuminated by the first rays of sunlight peeking over the horizon. “Look, Danse. I made my choice, there’s no going back, and even if there was, I wouldn’t change my mind. Even if I couldn’t blow up the Prydwen at that moment, I was serious. I would’ve started a war that rivaled the Great War. I still will, if he sends anyone after you.”

“Sole, you can’t possibly mean that.”

Whatever semblance of humor fell from their demeanor. They closed the gap between them and Danse and looked him in the eye. “I know that the Brotherhood may have made you feel otherwise, but you have people that will fight for you, Danse. You have me, and you have the Railroad and Sanctuary now. And it might be hard to believe, but I’ll spend every day proving it to you. Do you understand?”

Danse swallowed. The nod he gave them was barely visible. Stunned. They gave him a weak smile and brushed a strand of his hair away from his eyes. “Let’s go home, Danse.”