#exit festival 2023

[black-arcana]

Epica ➤ Martyr of the Free Word Live at Exit Festival 2023

[amons-hat-enthusiast]

LET'S FUCKING GOOOO!!!

First up will be The Prodigy in a few hours!! CAN'T WAAAIIIIT!!! :D

[ozkanyildizhan]

EPICA's full live set from the legendary Exit Festival in Serbia, recorded and broadcasted live on July 7th, 2023. 00:00 Alpha 1:42  Abyss of Time 7:06 The Essence of Silence 12:20 Victims of Contingency 16:17 Unleashed 22:39 Martyr of the Free Word 28:25 The Final Lullaby 33:37 Unchain Utopia 38:45 The Obsessive Devotion 47:20 The Skeleton Key 52:34 Code of Life 59:28 Cry for the Moon 1:07:58 Beyond the Matrix 1:14:48 Consign to Oblivion 🎫 TICKETS: https://www.epica.nl/tour 🎫 💿ORDER: https://geni.us/Epicamerch 💿

[kazifatagar]

NEW: The 1975 EXITED Malaysia Before Police Report Made

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay stated that the police only received reports about The 1975’s disrespectful antics at the Good Vibes Festival 2023 in Sepang after the band had left the country for the UK. He refuted allegations of police inefficiency, noting that the band had departed within six hours after the concert was stopped on July 21. 1975 EXITED…

[covetyou]

single rider

ao3 ⋆ main masterlist

pairing: Dieter Bravo x gn!reader  rating: teen (18+ only blog!)  warnings: broken theme park rides, fluff, hand holding, scared!Dieter, Cliff Beasts slander, swearing, seriously so much hand holding though. word count: 2.5k  summary: Not a thing goes wrong when you visit a theme park for festive fun with friends. Not a single thing at all.

A/N: happy dieter bravo brainrot club secret santa-mas @burntheedges! I'm so sorry this is basically at the last possible minute (15 minutes late, actually). The spoon drawer is empty and I'm working with forks rn.

I took liberties with your "accidentally booked the same rental" and "randomly assigned tour buddies" prompts and mashed them up with the real life experience of getting stuck on Toy Story Mania for like 10 minutes in 2023 (let me tell you, that music does NOT stop). it makes sense, I promise.

 @dieterbravobrainrotclub

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The time mocks you, numbers glaring down bright in the darkness. Seventy-Five minutes. Over an hour of your time. In a queue.

Another day, it'd be funny. Another day, you'd have the time to spare, no friends waiting in the parking lot for you to ride the one thing they all refused to. You suppose that's what you get for coming here with a bunch of thrill seekers.

You didn't really understand their objection. The thing had thrills and excitement, just not the kind that would flip you upside down and launch you into the air at a million miles an hour. It wasn't old and decrepit like some other rides.

Okay, so it wasn't exactly new, either. Or good. You knew that.

But you liked it. You liked the jaunty music and the silly little shooting game - pelting eggs at anything and everything that popped up as you slowly trundled through scene after scene. It was charming. Nostalgic, somehow, despite only being something you ever experienced as an adult. It was exactly what you needed after an entire evening of listening to your nearest and dearest scream themselves hoarse on rollercoasters.

But seventy-five fucking minutes? Was it worth seventy-five minutes?

The people still joining the queue seem to think so. The bored looking attendant waving them through seems less thrilled, staring into the middle distance as they absentmindedly wave group after group into the line.

That was just the thing. Even on a regular day, the queue was something to behold. It was cheesy and tacky and glorious, everything you wanted just about every day of the year. But, every year, they did something special for the holidays. A festive overlay like you've never seen. Gaudy and horrendous in all the right ways, and part of you just needed to see it.

"Single-riders can queue over there."

It takes you a moment to realize the monotone drone of the ride attendant is directed at you, standing frowning up at the sign that now reads eighty minutes.

The attendant speaks again, waving one hand to guide yet more people into the rapidly growing queue, while thrusting a thumb over to another sign - arrow pointed away from the main queue - that says single rider.

"But does it -" you start, before that same monotonous drawl cuts you off.

"Still got the decorations."

Naturally, you don't even think before you're moving. Even when the single-rider line looks supiciously like an emergency exit.

It's not. It's everything you hoped. You track alongside the queues and groups, music blaring and people laughing and chattering over it all. Outdated animatronics from all over the park sit in here, draped in holiday outfits, santa hats flopping around on their stuttering heads.

And then, once you've breezed past all eighty minutes of queue in no time at all, you make it to the front of an empty line, feeling like you've cheated the system and screwed over all the people infinitely more patient than you.

"Six to a car! Split up your groups! Six to a car! Three each side!"

You know the drill, even if the other people do not. Groups of four trying to scramble to fit into sides with only three launchers and not nearly enough ass space. Others getting split awkwardly between multiple cars. All while you stand, and wait, for whatever space you might be slotted into.

It takes all of two minutes. You missed who loaded into the front side of your car - too busy grinning to yourself at a particularly shitty animatronic and the absolutely not PG way it's moving in it's old age - but you're being called over and loaded into the car and whisked away to the training room in no time, the little jerking goblin soon forgotten.

And fuck is it just as delightful as you'd hoped.

Baubles and ornaments replace the eggbasket - each one smashing against targets as they hit home, no bursting yolk in sight. The car spins and turns with each new room, and you're poised and ready to begin firing each time, jingling bells and twinkling lights guiding you through scene after scene.

Even if you waited eighty minutes, it would've been worth it, you think as the car flips again, sliding you to one side as you begin shooting again, the sounds of giggles and shouts from other cars drowned out by your own laughter.

The score on your screen rapidly increases. You miss the hot air balloon, but you knock back the snowman with an ornament straight to the head. The big 1000 pointer just escapes you, but you nail three 750s in quick succession. You don't hear the swearing from your car mate, back to back and shielded from each other as you both are.

You're so lost in it, racking up points and taking in the music and carnage in front of you, that you're still shooting when the lights dim and the swaying car grinds to a halt. The launcher in your hand becomes unresponsive, the music going around and around in a loop as other cars start to look around with the same question in their eyes as you.

What the fuck is going on?

"Sit tight, the ride will begin moving again shortly!"

You don't believe the automated voice coming through the loud speaker the first time, and you certainly don't believe it the fifth. After eight minutes, you're starting to understand just why the queue was so long in the first place.

Then, just as you tap out a frantic message to your waiting friends, your car starts to rock and shuffle, your unseen car-mate moving around behind you.

"Hello?" comes a man's voice, just about audible over the repeated cycle of music.

"Anyone there?" he asks, a knock to the back of his seat making your turn in yours.

"I'm here."

You expect to make small talk with the unseen stranger until the ride starts moving again. You expect to never see his face and just shout over the music, between the calls of the automated message, having a stilted conversation until you're both back to shooting again.

You don't expect the ride car to sway again, or to hear scrambling feet on plastic, and you certainly don't expect to first seen an arm, then a foot, then a scruffy head, clamber around the side of the car, feet not touching the ground as he switches sides to sit right next to you.

"Thank fuck," he says breathlessly when he plops himself next to you in the car, looking around with frantic, terrified eyes.

You gape at him. Usually you'd be scared of a strange man climbing into your ride car, but his own look of terror far eclipses yours and, beyond that, you're certain you know him from somewhere.

"Are you okay?" you ask tentatively when his eyes shoot from side to side at the start of another loop of that music, once jaunty and cheesy in a fun way, now infuriating and borderline creepy.

"No!" he says. "Have you seen this shit?"

He finally looks at you - you definitely know him from somewhere - and you're stunned. He's a mess of scruffy, curly hair and patchy beard. He might be tanned in other lighting, but right now he just looks a splotchy mess of technicolor wearing loungewear and, fuck, is he beautiful.

Another sudden burst of color - a light glitching and resetting, yet again - and he recoils in the seat next to you.

"Oh fuck no. This is some Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory shit," he shouts, gripping the bar in front of him with white knuckles. He's looking around frantically, as if terrorized by the idea of Santa on his sleigh, until a jaunty looking snowman pops up and has Dieter throwing himself back in his seat with a yelp.

"The one with Gene-"

"Yes the one with Gene Wilder, there is no other."

He's holding himself now. It's surprisingly endearing watching him restrain himself from gripping onto you, and instead clutching his hands tightly to his arms, while he shakes his head and mutters something about how he can't believe this.

"Scared?" you probe, and he shakes his head again.

"You cannot tell me this isn't nightmare fuel."

You shrug. "I like the ride."

"So do I, but this," he says, flapping around to the swirling lights, "is not what I signed up for. I queued an hour for this. I've had bad trips better than this. This would be better on a bad trip."

The announcement sounds again - shortly feeling like more and more of an infuriating lie each time you hear it - and the man takes a deep breath, slouching back into the seat, releasing his arms, and gripping the plastic edge of it.

You don't know what compells you. You never would do something like this usually - you are a strictly hands-off person where strangers or vague acquantances are concerned. Still, you reach for his hand where it sits near to you on the plastic bench seat, and grip it softly in your own.

"What - What're you doing?" he asks, letting his hand sit limp in yours.

You clear your throat and stare ahead at the repeating scene on the screen - hot air balloon, target, Santa's sleigh, snowman, fireworks, hot air balloon, target, Santa's sleigh...

"Holding your hand."

He nods, as if that's all he needed to know, and looks ahead too, shuffling a little in his seat. You both watch another full cycle, the lights dancing in the same exact pattern they have over, and over again, and you think this must be how you go insane, sat trapped here on a ride car with a beautiful, if slightly unhinged, strangers hand in yours.

"Why?"

You blink. You're stupid. You're weird. You're unhinged. He climbed around the side of the car and yet you've out-stranged him in one simple movement, and now you're stuck here, committed to the bit until -

"You're scared. It's nice to have someone when you're scared," you say quickly, uncertain as you possibly could be as the words tumble out of your mouth. In truth, you don't really know why you did it, or why you're still doing it, other than he seemed like he needed it. And maybe you did too.

He just grunts, and you sit in as much silence as you can among the repetitive chaos of the ride.

Then, with no warning, he starts moving his thumb, stroking the side of your hand in a gentle wave of movement. Your breath catches, and you watch from the corner of your eye as his nervous energy dissipates until he slouches against the seat of the car.

"Dieter. I'm D - fuck - Dieter," he says softly, a red and green light blasting him right in the face and making him wince.

But then it hits you. Not the light - that, thankfully, stays on the other side of the car, blinding a squinting Dieter beside you.

No. It's this man. Dieter. You know him. You've seen him on your TV about a million times this last month - that shitty movie always plays just before Christmas, and this year is no exception. The movie was terrible, for all you'd seen of it. It was some ensemble cast mostrosity with terrible CGI monsters and even worse acting, not at all festive in the slightest and made even more annoying by the ads littered throughout it.

From what you remember, he was terrible too. An Oscar winning actor, cast in some movie so shitty it didn't even gain a cult following. The only thing you heard was any good was the documentary that came out of it, but if your friends were to be believed, that was only good because of copious amounts of explosions and illicit substances.

He sighs, easily spotting whatever baffled look just slapped you in the face the moment you realised his identity, and looks away from you.

"Yeah, that Dieter."

"Cool," you choke out.

Because it kind of is. It's not every day you get stuck on a ride with a famous actor. It's not every day you get to hold his hand and have him stroke soothing circles across your knuckles. It's not every day you get to see just how much more beautiful he is up close compared to his slick-haired, eyelinered counterpart in that god damned movie.

"Sit tight, the ride will begin moving again shortly!"

"Bullshit," he grumbles from beside you, shifting closer to your side so he can rest your arm against the seat.

"Favorite food?" you ask suddenly.

"What?"

"Favorite food? Time's gonna pass anyway, may as well fill it with something that isn't hot air balloon, target, sleigh, snowman -"

"I hate that fuckin' snowman. Tacos. Yours?"

"Who doesn't love tacos."

The ride never does get started again.

Instead, minutes pass, and you throw question after question back and forth with Dieter. The lights go out. He grips your hand a little tighter, and you pull to scoot him a little closer. The lights come up. The spell is broken. The nightmare is over. You're fairly sure you'll have that song ringing in your ears for weeks.

You still hold his hand.

One by one the ride cars are evacuated. Yours is last. Dieter helps you down from the car, his hand finding yours again, still warm from being in his for so long.

Then, you're walking beside an illuminated track and blank screens, abandoned ride car after abandoned ride car, and you're free, with Dieter by your side.

You escape via the gift shop - the novelty toys and candy ignored, Dieter's hand guiding you toward the exit so he can throw his head back in glee at the sight of the wide open sky above him.

In your pocket, your phone buzzes frantically, messages bombarding you now that you weren't trapped in the depths of a metal building. 6 new messages. 2 missed calls. Your friends, still waiting in the parking lot, trying to reach you while the lights blared and the music played.

>>did the ride eat you?

>>if she doesn't hurry up i'm gonna eat her

>>sorry I get grouchy when I'm hungry

>>have you got locked in the bathroom again?

>>THE QUEUE IS OVER AN HOUR?!>!?!?!

>>this egg game owes us dinner

"You want tacos?" Dieter asks from beside you as you hastily tap out a reply, and before you can answer you look up to see him striding away into the crowd, parting the stream of foot traffic with his broad frame until it engulfs him.

You can't help the feeble whimper that escapes you when you watch him walk away. Or the way your arms fall limply to your side when he's out of your view and gone.

You can't help the smile, either, that pulls at your cheeks when he bobs and weaves back through the crowd, stopping a few steps away and jabbing the thumb on one hand over his shoulder and holding the other out to you.

"You coming?" he shouts, with an expectant look on his face, and with a swipe of your thumb, the message is deleted, quickly replaced by another as you make your way toward him, hand reaching for his.

>you guys go ahead, I'm gonna be a while longer

[sgiandubh]

Security or minder?

Of course, the Disgruntled Tumblrettes across the street had to pitch in and croak. Extensive report of my post - oh, dear, must I hit a nerve.

For the idiot who accused me of not posting a reel I have abundantly linked to, here it is. Still not very bright, ever since I called her out for having no knowledge of business world and no street smarts:

Taken from Shelby Thimons' TikTok account. I never hid anything and marathon pics, whatever that was, well.. it was waaay before I stepped in here.

I am also told Meokeob, the woman who singlehandedly fabricated an entire Wikipedia evidence history about S allegedly being gay, thinks my 'prose is reminiscent of Puffy'. This is just about the credibility that person should have in the real world and life, I think. Zero. For the record, here is my debunk - we now know it was her, all along, she should stop the ugly inanity right now: https://www.tumblr.com/sgiandubh/729380092203122688/autopsy-of-a-gay-lie-the-wikipedia-trail

Back to the minder/security situation. Look, in all honesty, I can't be sure. But I took some intriguing screencaps:

He does have an earpiece he is not wearing and something that looks like a badge attached lower than the usual attire.

For comparison purposes, this is how a security team member looked like, last year, in Minneapolis. Not the same country and not the same continent, but the guy made world headlines for being fired: he sang along with the crowd and asked a fan to take a pic of him in attendance, neglecting his job:

[Source: https://en.as.com/videos/security-guard-at-taylor-swift-concert-fired-for-asking-fan-to-take-photos-v/, August 24th 2023]

Many posted about Steve the minder from the Australian OL tour, this spring. This is Steve, back in March, on stage with S in Sydney, courtesy of SHW (https://www.tumblr.com/samheughanswife/744265708912951296/the-question-is-missed-but-its-about-claire-and):

Same attire. Same person? I think so, but I stand corrected, as always. After all, the participation of the cast was orchestrated by *** all along, no doubt about it.

Anyhow, pursed lips are also an old reflex:

[EIFF Festival, Edinburgh 2015, first public appearance of You Know Who]

Oh and uhm, I have got more. But right now, exit polls in ten minutes in my country, excuse me for hyperventilating and being an involved citizen, right?

[Later edit]: Here is a close-up (thank you, you know who you are 😘. You be the judge, but the resemblance is eerie. Nose, cheeks, moustache, forehead. Very strange:]

[joocomics]

only for tonight

from ─ ⋆ dinna’s holiday special 2023 *ੈ✩

pairings: jooyeon x fem!reader x jiseok

genre: smut wc: 5k

summary: jooyeon sucks at secret santa, and when he shows up empty handed at the party where everyone’s exchanging their presents, he decides to gift his friend you for the night

warnings: dub-con, toxic relationships, possessive behaviour

contains: sub!reader, unprotected sex, cuckolding that turns into a threesome, dirty talk, pet names, oral sex (m/f), choking (f!rec), spanking, cussing, name calling (slut/whore), deepthroating, alcohol consumption, a few slaps here and there, a sprinkle of anal play but no anal sex (f!rec)

“Seriously, Jooyeon? How could you forget?” You whisper as loudly as you possibly could with the loud music blasting in the room. “It’s a Christmas party,” you add to emphasize his foolish mistake. He doesn’t seem to care though, swallowing the last few sips of yet another alcoholic drink, while you both follow Jiseok’s footsteps.

“Look, I get it, you can stop nagging now,” he hisses in a slightly irritated tone. “I’ll just get him something next week or something, it’s not a big deal,” he says, as you see Jiseok pointing at a white door.

You pass by the guests, leaving the living area and the three of you enter in which seems to be his bedroom.

You look around, enjoying the much quieter space. Jiseok’s apartment currently is definitely too crowded for your taste and this little empty corner of it was a nice change of scenery. Most of the time when there’s parties like this one you just decline the invitation, but it’s Christmas, and it’s Jiseok’s first big party in his new apartment, there was no way you could’ve miss it.

He was one of the few nice friends of Jooyeon who you didn’t mind being around.

He quickly opens and closes the wardrobe which is mostly empty like the rest of the room. The only thing he’s made is the bed and his gaming chair, the rest of his belongings are still waiting in an unopened boxes, except a few bags of clothes. He jumps over the scattered mess before walking up to you with a small present in his hand.

“Merry Christmas,” he gives you a genuine ear-to-ear smile before speaking again as you stare at the gift. “Pulled your name for Secret Santa.”

“Oh, really? Thank you, Jiseok…” you smile back, gently touching the red ribbon. “Merry Christmas to you too!”

Behind you Jooyeon leans back on the wooden desk, watching with interest how the scene unfolds.

“Awhh,” he imitates your surprised gasps while crossing arms to his chest. “Open it already! Let’s see if it’s better than what I got you.”

You roll your eyes at the comments just for Jiseok to see. He only laughs, finding Jooyeon’s overreaction humorous while you on the other hand couldn’t help, but feel like it rubbed you the wrong way.

Jiseok takes a step back, giving you time to open the gift. You rip off the festive wrapping paper, and after the small velvety box opens, you see a delicate silver bracelet that makes you swallow your tongue in surprise. You did not expect such a beautiful piece.

“Oh my goodness, it’s gorgeous! I-I don’t know what to say…” You take it out carefully.

“Phew, thank god I don’t have to go back to that store.” Jiseok’s face puckers as if he remembers something really unpleasant. “Glad you like it though.”

“Absolutely,” you say, when you feel Jooyeon’s presence appearing behind your shoulder.

“Do you need help putting it on?” He steals the jewellery from your hand, viewing it up close.

You nod without saying a word as something unsettling drops to the pit of your stomach from the way he’s suddenly behaving.

He reaches for your wrist while Jiseok is already about to exit the room.

“Alright, I gotta return to my party, I’ll wait fo—“

“Actually,” Jooyeon cuts him off, clasping the dangling bracelet. “I was supposed to get you something too, but I completly forgot. Hope you don’t mind.” He holds your hand between his two palms for several seconds before letting it go.

“Of course not,” Jiseok grins, finding the possibility amusing. “No biggie.” He opens the door, but his friend interrupts again.

“You’re not mad? It’s your party after all, and you got my girlfriend a nice present.”

“Dude, don’t worry about it. You’ll buy me a beer and we’re even.” He shrugs shoulders with eyes still smiling. His hand holds the door lock, as he notices some changes in Jooyeon’s expression.

“Now that I think about it… I actually might have something for you,” Jooyeon’s lips slid upwards, causing Jiseok to raise a brow.

“And that is?”

“Y/N. Only for tonight, of course.”

“What?” you exclaim, hoping for an immediate explanation.

Jiseok’s surprise follows yours with a delay, because he wasn’t sure if he heard right.

“What are you talking about?” he asks just when you move to stand between the two of them.

You and Jooyeon are face to face, but it’s like he looks right through you. You couldn’t understand a word of his at this point. Instead of giving you some clarity he takes a quick look at his phone.

“There’s an hour and a half left till midnight. I think that’s more than enough.” He shoves the cellphone back in his pocket, and waits for any reaction from Jiseok who could only stare at him in disbelief.

“I don’t think I get it,” he shakes his head, not able to take the idea seriously. It sounds too good to be true, especially from the mouth of Jooyeon who doesn’t let any guy from his friend group even breathe next to you.

“I’m giving you one hour with my girlfriend,” your boyfriend explains in a completely calm manner that made your skin crawl. “That’s my christmas gift.” A delighted smile takes over his face when he wraps an arm around his friend’s shoulder. “Come on, don’t pretend in front of me.”

Jiseok attempts to say something back, but he only gets silenced as Jooyeon’s rising voice dominates the conversation.

“We’re friends and good friends share with each other, right Y/N?”

You couldn’t recognise your own boyfriend at that moment.

“She was so worried that I didn’t buy you anything. Tsk, my sweet considerate kitten, always looking out for others.” He eyes you up and down, grinning mischievously and still not letting go of Jiseok. “I know you want to fuck her,” he whispers in his ear. “You’ve always wanted to.”

“Jooyeon…” your breath hitches as you look for the right words. He couldn’t be talking seriously. He couldn’t give you to someone else.

“Yes, doll.”

Jiseok flinches after Jooyeon pulls away. He comes up to caress your cheeks, anticipating your words. Either his fingertips are cold or you’re just on fire all of a sudden, you couldn’t tell.

Before you can form a coherent thought, Jooyeon forces his lips on top of yours. The jewellery box falls from your hand as you wince from his grip. The alcoholic taste flows into your mouth when he parts your lips to slip his tongue, stimulating all of your senses.

Whatever the situation was, Jooyeon’s touch always brought butterflies in your stomach, making you forget what’s happening around you, and that drove you crazy.

Your mouth begins moving like it has a life of its own, letting more of his tongue in, smooching his bottom lip and swallowing more of his breaths.

“He’s watching, right?” He drops the question between your kisses with an erotic raspiness to it.

You pull back, peaking from his shoulder and catch Jiseok’s stare. This makes him immediatelly look to the other side of the room, acting as if he didn’t see a thing.

“Go sit down.”

With your legs trembling, you do as Jooyeon commands, sitting at the end of the bed. He comes to grip on the sides of your turtleneck sweater, fully removing it from your body. The sudden chilly air makes you shiver as you remain in your lacy bralette.

“Let’s show him how fucking gorgeous you are.”

He tosses the piece of clothing on the ground and glares at his friend.

Jiseok sighs, running a hand through his dark hair as he always does when he’s contemplating about something. He walks around the room, straying away as far as possible, but his attention turns back to you every time. He tries to compose himself, however, his body language betrays him.

Suddenly all of the perverse thoughts he’s had of you on the days you’ve hung out together can be evident in his expressions.

Jooyeon sees them all.

“You’re very quiet over there.” Your boyfriend evokes.

“What do you want me to say?” Jiseok raises his voice as his expression transforms into something different than what it used to be. “Yeah, I want to fuck her, so what?” He scoffs after he sees Jooyeon’s satisfied smirk follow.

He watches him jump on the bed without paying more attention to him.

The truth is, Jooyeon has been secretly wanting to share you with someone for a while now, and the only person he’s willing to do it with is Jiseok. They grew up together, and Jooyeon has learned through the years how to read every single expression of his face. He’s perfectly aware that Jiseok has been dreaming to fuck you the day he introduced you to him as his girlfriend - alone, he can bet.

Your heart starts raising as both of them finally surround you. Jiseok gets closer only to drop down in your legs.

“He’s been wanting to do this for so long, sweetheart, let him have a taste.” He moves your hair across the shoulder to kiss your neck. He knows this is a very easy way to make you lower your guard, it was one of your favorite places to feel him on your body. The numbness in your bones gradually decreases with every warm nibble he makes at your flesh.

You open your eyes wide when you feel your jeans unzip. Jooyeon gets you to stand up and you nervously pull them off, so close to Jiseok who’s sitting on his knees in anticipation that’s too obvious.

He couldn’t control his gaze as much as before. He follows the length of your legs - from your feet, kneecaps, to your plush thighs, that seem not so resistant as before. Instead of staying closed, they slowly open, revealing the dark violet color of your underwear.

“My gorgeous, gorgeous girl…” Your boyfriend traces a finger down to your bellybutton. “With the most delicious cunt,” he presses his middle finger hard exactly on your clit, causing you to hold your breath. “Time runs fast, if you want to get your dick inside, you better start eating,” he glares down at his friend, before pulling your panties, leaving them to hang around your ankles.

For Jiseok this is like a slap in the face. He would’ve never imagined that of all girls he knows, he would get to taste you - the main character in most of his fantasies. He twitches in his underwear as he completely removes you from your own.

“Excited?” Your boyfriend asks, braking him out of his trance and gives your bare pussy a harsh slap.

“Fuck yeah,” he breathes out, wetting his lips.

Jooyeon watches with amusement the way he gulps while thirsting over the view. He can fuck you whenever he wants while his friend gets only an hour.

It takes you a second to realise this is really happening. When Jiseok goes in between your inner thighs and lets his flat tongue slide up your folds, you feel your brain shutting off.

He doesn’t start slow. He doesn’t even give you a chance to get used to his unfamiliar mouth. He twirls his tongue up your clit, causing you to gasp over and over again. His jaw moves in a rush, as he’s trying to eat as much as he can from you, in case Jooyeon changes his mind. You can feel how you warm up inside from every harsh lick he leaves on you, each one getting stronger and only better than the last one. It forces your teeth to chew on your lips, repressing every sound that creeps up in your throat.

It doesn’t feel right to show how much you actually like this.

“Damn, he’s not playing,” Jooyeon cackles at Jiseok’s face digging harder into you, as he holds your legs apart. “But a slut like you must enjoy that, right?” He looks at your lips pressed desperately together, taking it as an answer.

Jiseok moves onto slurping greedily at your slickness in a way that makes you believe a single drop doesn’t get wasted. His on going muffled moans shoot vibrations through your core only adding to the already existing moisture. You were not the only one aware of the lewd squelching noises in the room, because you could feel the growing boner poking at you from behind. It means you’re really as wet as you feel, and it means Jooyeon knows it too.

Your cheeks flush as the need for more gradually builds up in your lower tummy, making you muddle over the thought of cumming in front of them. If Jiseok doesn’t stop soon it will be impossible to keep hiding your emotions, and you’re not sure what would that mean for you. Is this really what Jooyeon wants?

“Shit, you sound so pretty down there, kitten,” Jooyeon’s warm alcoholic breath kissess your face, as you press your tilted head in the crook of his neck. “Getting wetter, huh?”

He makes sure to follow carefully every little flinch of your body; how your chest now falls quicker than it did minutes ago. How your legs occassionaly make his hands shake, forcing him to tighten the grip around them. He’s impressed you made it this far without moaning, but also flattered.

Your legs drop to the floor at the same exact moment Jiseok pulls back from your pussy for the first time since he went down on you. He allows you to take a good look of his glistening face, as the stripes of your bra slip from your shoulders. The lust in his eyes becomes so apparent as the lingerie exposes your chest, that all of your doubts and insecurities begin to fade away. The immediate thought that runs into your mind from gazing at his seducing plump lips makes your heart skip a beat. How have you not noticed his attractiveness till now? You watch him take his slender fingers to his mouth, gathering all of the wetness you coated him with only to suck it off with ease. The provocativeness in his act makes your adrenaline rush go higher, but the unexpected words after it even more.

“Sweet,” he humms in a dreamy voice. “Just how I expected you to be.”

You swallow shyly, as if you were sucking on the sticky mess along with him. As much as you want to, you can’t deny it - he turns you on.

You jerk up from your seat as Jooyeon’s own fingers brush through your exposed nipples, stealing your attention away from Jiseok, who on the other hand uses the opportunity to pull you down a little, so he could draw in your entire cunt into his face.

“Fuck her hole with tongue, she loves that shit.”

With your sensitive perked up nipples being pulled on, and Jiseok’s experienced tongue moving in and out of you, it’s no use to resist anymore. You squeeze your eyes and let it out as if Jiseok’s not there at all.

“Ahh, that’s it,” your boyfriend smirks approvingly over your soft cries, tightly holding you in his lap. “Don’t hold back, dirty girl, I wanna see how big of a whore you can get. Let it all out for me.”

When he catches your fingers tugging on the sheets from the overwhelming amount of tongue fucking, he leaves your breasts and forces your wrists behind your back.

Meanwhile, Jiseok suddenly moves his tongue between your lips, slowly sliding his way up to your clit. He sucks on the swollen bud relentlessly, as he fills up your needy hole with two fingers. You arch your spine, while every twist makes your legs shake every two seconds in the air. You don’t realise you’re about to close them around his head from the sensational feeling until he stops you with his free hand, as he begins to aim at your sweet spot with the other - knuckles deep inside you.

It feels so good you could feel the room spinning without lifting your eyelids.

“Fuck, gonna cum any second now…” Jooyeon grunts, but his words could be barely heard from your moaning, that only gets louder. “You’re so fuckin’ easy.” The knuckles of his hands are almost white from keeping your wrists tightly together while your body squirms out of control because of another guy. His vision turns hazy, an effect from the mixture of arousal and alcohol flowing in his veins while Jiseok savours every second of your orgasm.

After the fingers curled up between your walls slow down, your body loosens up like it’s made of jelly. You rest your head on Jooyeon’s thigh, feeling lightheaded and out of breath while his palm strokes your scalp gently like it’s praising you.

“Time to fill you up, doll.” He says, finding your mouth with his fingers. You stick out your tongue feeling their familiar warm texture, as you realise that for the first time tonight his voice sounds softer. The moment you’re about to wrap your lips around them though, he pulls away.

You shift on the bed, not sure what exactly to do, while both of them unbuckle their pants.

“You’re not allowed to look at her face from now on, got it?” Jooyeon warns Jiseok who only nods, but also very clearly tries to hold back a chuckle as well. “I’m serious.”

“Got it.” Jiseok replies more earnestly, stroking his erected cock at the sight of you waiting on all fours in the middle of his bed. The flushed look of your spread cunt dripping down your skin, and clenching from thin air makes him so impatient, but he has to wait for Jooyeon to do the first move, or he risks ruining his chance.

You suck your bottom lip, as you watch Jooyeon posing fully naked in front of you. He grabs a handful of your hair, forcing you to look up.

“If I catch you looking anywhere else I’ll get very mad, kitten.”

You’re only able to nod at his threat.

“I know you enjoy acting like a slut, but you should know who you belong to.”

“I’m yours, Jooyeon,” you murmur weakly, tracing his thigh with one hand. You see the corners of his lips slid up, and you repeat the same words again. Slower this time, letting the effect sink under his skin.

While you have this moment with him, you could feel Jiseok’s presence getting closer from behind, and it makes your skin burn with a new type of desire you haven’t experienced before. It makes your pussy tingle from excitement, as you’re aware this isn’t something you should be feeling. The second his palm touches your waist you shiver from eagerness to feel him entering inside. You still haven’t recovered from your first release, but you don’t care.

Your nails dig into your boyfriend’s flesh, as you expand to meet Jiseok’s cock. Everything happens so easily, so smoothly from the way you got slippery wet beforehand. The immediate pleasure that shoots through your body makes your jaw drop immensely, but Jooyeon makes sure to close it by grabbing your face roughly with his big hand. He squeezes harshly, and you couldn’t believe the amount of arousal this brought you.

“Enjoy this while it lasts, doll,” he stares down at you while soft mewls drip through your squished lips, as Jiseok glides in and out. “You get to whore out, because I let you to. Don’t fuckin’ forget that.” His erection twiches at your pretty sounds, leaking precum from the sweet pressure.

What you’re doing right now is scandalous, and you would’ve never thought that you would agree to something like it in your whole life, but seeing how turned on Jooyeon gets, makes you want to go all the way.

“O-oh my god,” you moan through hitched breaths from Jiseok’s hips now thrusting into a much quickening pace.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, slut?” Jooyeon asks.

“Ngh-h, y-yes…” you admit, not able to look at him for too long from embarrassment.

“I knew it,” he grins, gazing at your pretty face with smeared makeup all over it. How it immediately blushes from his words. “I know you so well, my doll. Better than anyone.”

Your head drops down from neck pain when he lets go, leaving it to move back and forth from the pounding. You squel from swallowing Jiseok’s cock even deeper now, taking every new hit he sends to your g-spot. The skin around your waist burns from his fingertips gripping harder, as he aims for steady and more intense thrusts. Nasty cussing and deep moans keep flying from his mouth, blending with your own sounds, and you can’t help, but shut your eyes and hold on Jooyeon for support.

“Fuck, look at you already passing out,” he chuckles, removing your hands from himself.

You’re just about to adjust when an unexpected slap lands on your face and for a brief moment you lose all sorts of orientation. Your upper body sinks into the mattres meanwhile your toes curl at Jiseok’s continuous thrusting.

“Eyes up, slut.” Jooyeon demands, as he wraps a fist around his base, waiting for you to face him.

The only reason you’re able to keep yourself on your elbows is because your hole gets emptied, allowing you to catch your breath. You feel it twitching miserably from the sudden absence.

“Shit, she feels so good,” Jiseok traces a hand along your spine, before going back to your ass, giving it a loud smack. “I can do this all night,” he slaps harsher, earning a squeal from you.

You’re so tempted to turn around, but you shouldn’t.

While he plays with your cheeks Jooyeon gets closer, causing his flushed tip to brush at your drooling lips.

“Wider.” He grumbles at your pathetic attempt to open your mouth. It already hurts enough from moaning so much.

His head falls back, as you take more and more, freeing him of some of the tension. Your tongue doesn’t stop pleasing his thickness, as you move further, winning yourself a few praises by managing to take all of his length.

“Good job, sweetheart, take all of it for me..” he groans, not able to hold back from bucking his hips up anymore. He wants to feel as much as possible of your warm throat.

You concentrate on moving your mouth around him, keeping his pace, but Jiseok becomes a distraction. You sense his fingers moving to your folds, teasing, before gathering some of the fluids. He catches you off guard, when you realise he uses them as lube to massage your tiny asshole while you blow your boyfriend. Your stomach twirls from the new burst of arousal. Jooyeon has never done this to you.

When Jiseok catches you whining softly, he decides to add a little more pressure, keeping the circles on the sensitive spot going.

The overstimulating feeling makes you slow down your sucking, and you end up with only your boyfriend’s leaking head inside your mouth. The circles are getting addictive, and not enough at the same time.

Once Jooyeon catches that he gives your cheek another slap, that stings for a little longer this time.

“You’re slacking,” he complains, and you instantly swallow him whole again.

“Have you ever fucked her ass?” Jiseok asks, sliding a small portion of his index finger, already aware of what the answer is going to be.

As you help yourself with your fist, you accidentally grip the exposed base of Jooyeon’s cock a bit harsher than you’re supposed to when you feel the finger twist around, streching you, and caressing your nerves.

Jooyeon hisses from the pain, but a part of him certainly got turned on.

“No,” he admits dryly.

“I think she’d like it.” Jiseok plays with the tight hole that squeezes half of his finger so nicely, that it leads to him automatically fantasising another threesome in the future. With you being filled up both ways.

Jooyeon chuckles when you spit him out to free a drawed out whimper.

“We’ll try it out, right baby? Just the two of us.” He asks, shifting up to fill your drooling mouth again. “You’re a good little slut who loves getting filled up after all.”

Jiseok removes his finger slowly, watching how the hole clenches desperately afterwards. Lucent mess drips between your cheeks only increasing his cravings. He couldn’t help, but wonder what other things you’re probably missing out on in bed, as his hand crawls up your back again.

You wrap your lips around Jooyeon’s red leaking tip, sucking just how he likes it, while your skin shivers from the warm wandering palm. The sheets under you soak with spit, as you go further, speeding up the pace to get him to finish. When you welcome the head back into your throat, you hold for a moment, preparing to spit it out in the next few second for a quick break. However, just when you try to pull away, Jiseok’s hand appears around your neck, pushing you all the way back down.

“Need a hand?” He asks in your ear, as he keeps your head down with Jooyeon’s emphasised tip stabbing your throat.

Your forehead sinks into Jooyeon’s lower abdomen, as you get teary eyed, dripping on his skin. You grabble onto him for support when the strong grip begins to move you up and down his hard length.

“F-fuck, love that dirty mouth so much..” Your boyfriend sighs, as you make his balls harder by coating him with saliva, gags and pleading noises. He rests back on his hands, watching like hypnotised the way his friend takes full control over your mouth.

With his other hand Jiseok takes your tangled hair up in order for Jooyeon to enjoy the sight of the visible lump in your throat, swelling from his pulsing cock. Seconds later that feel more like hours he drags you up, letting you cough your lungs out, before forcing you down again, causing Jooyeon to almost break down from pleasure.

You can swear you hear them exchange words, but you have no idea what they are, cause the only thing on your mind is how badly you need to breathe. Both of them throb from arousal, as they continue to bully your inflamed throat with never ending pushes. And despite the painful suffocation they bring you, you enjoy every moment of it.

Without a warning, Jiseok shoves his soaked cock back inside you, taking a pathetically sounding scream from your stuffed mouth. After he leaves your neck alone, you feel a shooting pain flying through your body, and all of it comes from him forcing his dick mercilessly in and out of you. You lose control and choke, turning Jooyeon’s low moans into rising wails.

“F-fuck, fuck, just like that..” your boyfriend whines, pressing your resisting head down his stimulated erection. “Take it like a true slut, baby.”

The lewd noises echo through the walls, clashing with the strong skin on skin slapping, that’s like music to Jooyeon’s ears. All sounds coming from the party outside the door are blocked out from his mind, leaving room only for what slips out of your mouth and drenched stretched out pussy. They pull his peak closer and closer, until it shatters.

You don’t know how or when, but Jooyeon’s cock is out of your mouth, and instead it’s spraying your whole face with ropes of hot cum. You gasp for air while also fight the urge to cry, as keeping yourself steady for him becomes torture with Jiseok chasing his own orgasm from behind. The thick seed sticks all over your skin, dripping down your neck and lips. Your jaw is stiff, your throat burns, your cheeks are puffy from tears, but Jooyeon is moaning from pure bliss, and that’s all you comprehend. Everything before that is a blur.

“F-fuck… so damn tight..” Jiseok groans behind your shoulder, leaving scarlet patches on your hips. He slams into you like he doesn’t care if it wrecks your insides or not, causing the sweet burning pain to tighten the overwhelming knot in your tummy.

You look up at the ceiling when your throat gets grabbed on from behind.

“God, the things I’d do to you if it was just the two of us..” He whispers in your ear. You can feel the mischievous smirk he speaks through, it leaves the same effect that a single lick from his tongue would’ve left you. “Hope you think of me next time he fucks you, sweetie.” He coos in quietly in your ear. “Bet he doesn’t eat pussy like I do, hm?”

You’re too perplexed from his bold words to do anything except listen and hope the way they make you feel doesn’t show through your face.

“I can eat ass even better than that.”

“P-please…” you could only sob in response. Your arched spine stiffens with pain, meanwhile you feel the burning sensation clearly as ever. “Please, let m-me cum, please..”

“Look at your whore begging me so nicely..” Jiseok scoffs, glancing at his friend who’s watching with his head tilted against the wall. But when your gummy walls grip his cock harder, the mocking sound turns into a deep moan.

Jooyeon shuffles in his place, peeling off his back from the wall. He takes a better look of his cum sliding down your delicious neckline, as he reaches between your legs.

“Should we let her?” Jiseok asks before scrunching his lips. His thrusts become slower and sloppier, but they don’t loose any of their strength.

Your boyfriend grins at your pleading eyes, that could barely stay open, as he stimulates your clit in addition to Jiseok’s tip hitting rough at your cervix. He nods at his friend and makes his slim fingers move quicker.

“You can cum now, doll.” He tells you, not able to look away from your dirty face. He sighs, feeling his weak cock trying to get hard again. It was expected, you look so hot covered in a total mess, while getting fucked in front of his eyes. Jiseok is going to think of this every time he looks at you from now on, and that excited him even more.

“Kiss me, please…” You beg, making Jooyeon lean in and slide his tongue into your dry mouth without hesitation.

His quick fingers work your clit, forcing your orgasm to come as soon as possible. His tongue plays with yours through erotic deep kisses that steal the few breaths you got left from Jiseok’s hands squeezing your throat.

When you crumble from the intense heat that quickly follows from the knot finally snapping, Jooyeon’s mouth swallows your mix of moans and whines. They make his skin run hot, and his blood boil in a way that could not compare to any alcoholic drink he’s ever had.

After you turn around to face Jiseok you can feel his words from earlier still lingering somewhere inside your mind. From his fixated gaze you get the feeling it’s the same for him too. His abs clench vividly, and when you go lower you see the view of his thick cock which shape you got so familiar with, filling his fist.

You surprise yourself when without even giving it a second thought, you lean down, allowing him to release on your face.

“You’re so nasty, sweetie..” He tilts your chin up. “Letting me cum over your boyfriend’s mess on that pretty face,” he speaks excited, while you look at him back through your tired hazy eyes. “I was gonna paint your sexy ass, but I like this idea too.”

Seconds later, Jooyeon watches his friend’s fluids landing on top of your face; some of it getting caught in your hair. They mix with his own turning your lovely features into a sinful mess he wants to capture forever. Without saying a word he jumps from the bed leaving you and Jiseok staring at each other with both your chests falling up and down in sync.

As you stay still, feeling all of the cum sinking under your skin, you follow your boyfriend’s figure. He returns with a playful smile and his phone pointing right at your face. You blink at him stunned.

Jiseok immediately claps approvingly, it’s like Jooyeon reads his mind sometimes. He was just thinking the same thing.

As many people have told them before, they’re the same person just split into two different bodies.

“Smile, gorgeous,” your boyfriend says with a cheeky grin, and you obey.

As you always do.

! please do not repost, copy or translate my works

! please keep in mind that english is not my first language. i apologise in advance for any mistakes i’ve might missed

[bucky-barnes-diaries]

Day 14 — Santa

Pairing || TFATWS!Bucky x Female!Reader

Word Count || Around 500

Contents & Warnings || Fluff, very Mild Smut — mild explicit language.

Disclaimer || English is not my first language so I apologise for any mistakes or misunderstandings!

Advent Calendar 2023

“Come on, babe, it’s gonna be fun,” you exclaimed, bouncing on your toes and playfully tugging Bucky’s arm as you joined the line leading up to Santa’s throne. The sound of holiday music resonated in the background, creating a magical atmosphere filled with anticipation and joy. The queue was adorned with vibrant decorations, and twinkling lights illuminated the path ahead. Families, children, and a few other couples patiently waited for their turn to seize a photo with Santa.

Bucky couldn’t shake off his reservations about sitting on Santa’s lap, a hint of standoffishness evident in his demeanor. You, on the other hand, bubbled with excitement. “I don’t know about this, doll. Isn’t this more for kids?” he questioned, arms crossed, his signature grumpy furrow accentuating his eyebrows.

You giggled, enveloping his waist from the side and gazing up at him with doe eyes and an adorable pout. “It’s for everyone who wants to create memories and capture a cute holiday moment together. It would be adorable to have a picture with Mr. Santa himself.”

He sighed, relaxing as your infectious enthusiasm softened his reservations. “I can’t resist when you’re being so cute,” he chuckled, embracing you tenderly and planting a kiss on your forehead, surrendering himself to a bit of festive childishness.

Finally, your turn arrived, and Santa, with a hearty laugh, welcomed you both to his throne. “Ho, ho, ho! What can I do for this lovely couple today?”

You grinned at Bucky before turning to Santa, your eagerness palpable at meeting the man, the myth, and the legend himself. “We just want a cute photo to remember this Christmas! If you don’t mind, Mr Santa?”

“A cute photo, you say? That’s a splendid request!”

Though slightly embarrassed, Bucky couldn’t resist the twinkle in your eyes. Your excitement warmed his soul, and he couldn’t deny that it also excited him.

As you settled onto Santa’s lap, he encouraged you to share your holiday wishes.

“I just want peace and quiet,” Bucky deadpanned, earning a chuckle from you.

Santa laughed heartily. “A man after my own heart! And you, young lady?”

You teased Bucky with a playful smile. “I wish for this guy to embrace the holiday spirit a little more.”

Bucky rolled his eyes teasingly, but a slight smirk played on his lips. The photographer captured the playful moment, freezing it as a cherished holiday keepsake.

Exiting the mall, Bucky couldn't help but feel grateful for the experience. You leaned into him with a happy sigh, and your warmth and infectious joy filled his heart.

"See, that wasn't so bad, was it, babe?" you teased.

Bucky chuckled, pressing a gentle kiss to your temple. "No, not bad at all, doll. Fun even. But hey," he pulled you close in the vacant parking lot, his firm grip on your hips contrasting with his sweet demeanor at the mall. "Next year, I'll be the one wearing the Santa hat, and then you can sit on my lap, completely naked, of course, and whisper all your wishes to me. And trust me, baby, I'll make them all come true."

Feedback through a comment is highly appreciated! Or let me know through an anonymous ask if that feels more comfortable. As well as a reblog to share my work with other people!

I don’t do taglists so please follow @bucky-barnes-diaries-library and turn on notifications to never miss out on my writing!

[jokeroutsubs]

📝 ENG Translation: Joker Out honestly on anxiety that is ever-present

Article by evrovizija.com, written by Alesh Maatko, originally published on 7.2.2024.

Joker Out / Photo: Urša Premik

The Song 'Everybody's Waiting' is coming

Just before a big European tour, Joker Out will present a new track, undoubtedly one of their most magnificent songs to date - Everybody's Waiting. This is the band's first release after their temporary move from their native Ljubljana to London, where they were driven by the desire to create a new album. Everybody's Waiting focuses on personal thoughts and reflections that accompany many young people these days. The premiere of Joker Out's new single will take place on Friday, the 16th of February.

Joker Out on Anxiety

The song Everybody's Waiting grew out of Bojan's sudden bouts of anxiety on stage and in everyday life. In an increasingly fast-paced society driven by success and individualism, anxiety is now, unstoppably, on the rise, but it still seems to be somehow overlooked and ignored. A song can act as a valve that offers the listener the opportunity to recognise himself as the main protagonist of the story, recognise his own feelings and release the tension.

The song was written last summer, when the band was recording the song Sunny Side of London in the Beatracks studio in Kočevje. It was produced by their longtime producer Žarko Pak, the mix was created by Sebastian Krys, and the final sound was provided by Maor Appelbaum. In the music video, which will also be premiered on the 16th of February, we will be able to follow the story of the protagonist, who struggles with his inner battles in the comfort of his own house, while the band, almost like an apparition, pours out its soul through its instruments around him. The video highlights the deep introspective nature of the song, while hinting at the role of music and art in overcoming personal challenges. Bojan took care of the direction in tandem with the long-time collaborator of the band, Mark Pirc.

Slovenija 2023: Joker Out – Carpe Diem | Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU

The 'See You Soon' Tour

The new single comes two weeks before the start of the big European tour 'See You Soon', which takes the band to as many as 13 countries, including France, Belgium and Italy for the first time. It promises 22 concerts at some of the world's most iconic venues, including the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire. The dates of some festival concerts are also known, including EXIT (July 10-14, Novi Sad), Sziget (August 7-12, Budapest) and Sea Star (May 23-26, Umag).

At the end of last year, Joker Out also released the album and concert film 'Live From Arena Stožice', which was created at their revolutionary concert in Ljubljana's Arena Stožice, in front of 12,000 fans. The album can be found on all music streaming platforms and an exclusive concert film directed by Mark Pirc is available on demand on the band's website.

The unique concert in Stožice that is still making waves. | Photo: Vita Orehek

With photos by Urša Premik, Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU, and Vita Orehek.

Translation by vessyvk, reviewed by @kurooscoffee, proofeead by IG GBoleyn123

If you repost quotes from the interview, please link back to this post! And if you repost the photos, do not crop out the photographer credit.

[fallingforel]

How about r is a popular singer and is performing at a festival and Alex is watching in the wings or in the crowd singing along. Thank youuuu

a/n ooh this is such a good idea... thank you for the request and I hope you like it and was something you had in mind. special cameo from matty healy too

PROMPT: NONE

WORDS: 1,162

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DECEMBER 15TH 2022

INSTAGRAM

yourusername

liked by arcticmonkeys, lewiscapaldi , sam_fender and 1,935 others

yourusername well its official... reading and leeds I'm seeing you, 2023 main stage east 1:30 saturday reading sunday leeds. My first ever festival... see you there

sam_fender gutted to be missing your set Y/n you'll smash it though

lewiscapaldi I'll see you there, be sure to catch her set guys

load 397 other comments

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AUGUST 26TH 2023

📍Reading festival

"what if I don't do well? It's my first festival. What if nobody shows Al?" I said from my dressing room at reading festival.

"Darling, you'll smash it out the park, I know you. You smash every set you do. And if nobody shows, I'll be there. Singing along to every word."

"Can I bring you on, just to sing one song"

"you don't need me to sing a song with you, besides you have Matty coming on to sing a song with you later. You'll ace it darling"

"Will I though?"

"yes. go and have a look at the crowd, just a peep. I saw it earlier when I was speaking to Jamie. Its fucking huge"

I go and walk down and have a peep from the side of the stage and there it was loads of people all come to watch me.

"I cant believe it... It's not real. How the fuck did I get here"

"Hard work, and Lots of promotion" Jamie, my manager says from where he just watched me look at the crowd.

"Your on in 1 minute by the way, they've finished soundcheck now."

"Okay. Al? last chance" I say which makes Alex pull his sunglasses down from his eyes "You don't need me, you'll be fine" He says before I shrug putting my in ears in and running out to the stage

"Readinnnng, how we fucking feeling" I shout running onto the stage. the Uproar from the crowd makes me cry

"you know when my manager booked me for this. I never ever imagined that there would this many of you. So thank you. This ones for you guys, for being such great fans, I wanna kiss you all" which was the perfect introduction to my first song of the set Kiss you

And Alex was true to his words, There he was side stage. Singing along to every word of my song.

As soon as I had finished my encore... and exited the stage I could hear people chanting for me to come back out "what do you think Y/n/n should we give them a run for their money" Matty asked me from where he joined me on the side of the stage, all rigged up for a performance. "Yeah okay I'll call you out in a minute"

"Okay, okay I can hear you from out there, you are all so loud. What do you say? one more song?" And I hear the loudest uproar from the crowd my in ears not even defending the sound anymore

"Okay, so here it is...spinning"

"found you at four in the morning. confidence soaring, thought you moved onto a new thing, but you keep it revolving. I look so good dressed in nothing. You ended up falling. I never needed your shelter. I'm good with no warning. My love like a city. All night everywhere. You love being with me. you never forget. 24/7 in heaven, you never forget. thought you'd get over the feeling." Is all I'm singing on my own before Matty comes out and joins in and the crowd a few meters from me is screaming, the lyrics back at me.

"but you just keep spinning over there. spinning over there." Matty and I sing together. The crowd joining in. and a few mosh pits happening from what I can see from the height of the stage.

"You must be feeling the pain." I sing

"You must be wondering" matty sings back we are just vibing, and all of my cares about whether the crowd would like me or not because I was just with one of my best friends doing what I loved.

"amphetamines in your brain" "maybe you're suffering" Matty sings at me with a shrug.

"I must be causing your pain I let you do the same"

"But you never regret a thing. Cause the game feels so good to win, darling" Matty and I sing together.

"Yeah, ooh, You just keep spinning" I sing by myself before Mattys joining back in for the chorus.

"My best friend taught me to sin, forgot that I had one, I'm on my knees and I pray, I shouldn't have mentioned, I'm back here after the states. Thought we could catch up. But I know that you fucking around. cause I know you're with it" Matty sang on his own, the crowd and alex from where he was stood backstage joining him. Before going back into the chorus with me one last time.

"thank you Reading, you've been fucking amazing." I say before running off the stage and running into Alex's arms hugging him and he's spinning me around and placing a chaste kiss on my lips

"How did I do?" I ask once he's put me back on the ground.

"You did fucking brilliant Y/n, It was amazing. I'm so proud of you" Alex says before I'm hugging him back, and we're running off to my tour bus.

28th AUGUST 2023

INSTAGRAM

yourusername

liked by articmonkeysofficial, truman_black, sam_fender and 2,359 others

yourusername reading and leeds you were fucking brilliant, I just want to say a few words though thank you Matty for joining me for one last song, thank you Alex for calming my nerves before I go on always and a big big thank you to Jamie for discovering me in that dingy little pub back in 2010 I wouldn't be performing a festival if it wasnt for you. And lastly a massive thank you to the fans, for giving me a festival experience to remember I love you. tour dates coming soon.

Truman_black thank you for letting me onto perform

username1 you were so good

sam_fender gutted I missed your performance

TWITTER

username 1 oh my gosh...I was just looking back on my videos from this weekend, Alex was singing every word to y/n's songs. I want what they have 😭😭😭😭

username2 I saw it on the telly too... it was so sweet when the camera was put on him. I love their relationship. They're both so supportive of the other

username3 Y/n absolutely smashed her set this weekend... such a shame she didn't bring alex on though...he knew every word. Has such great stage presence too

↳yourusername I tried getting him to come out...said no. he's watching over my shoulder as I'm typing this but said to say that it's because he didn't want the attention on him 😂😂 you heard it here first folks

↳username2 stop that's so sweet wtf, I love their relationship. Y/n really chose a good one.

[sister-2-sleep]

Rating all the artists I’ve seen in concert

(It's long srry)

Innings festival 2023

The offspring : 8/10 First concert and also my first festival. I didn't really know many songs at the time but they put on a good show.

Weezer: 9/10 2nd artist at the same festival as offspring. Great show. Got weezered live. I wanna see them again someday

Green Day: 9/10 the main reason we went to the festival. They were amazing but Billie was sick so he didn't really sound as good as he could've. So happy that i got see them tho

This is why tour (7/20, 2023)

The Linda Lindas: 9/10 really good & high energy. I don't really remember anymore than that tbh

Paramore: 100/10 literally so perfect. Cried multiple times. The reason I even got to see them was because the concert we were going to got canceled and the nosebleed seats weren't super expensive

Jaws of life tour (11/7, 2023)

Destroy boys: 10/10 opened for ptv. Great energy. But it seemed like no one else in the crowd liked them

L.S. Dunes: 8/10 I love dunes <3 I wasn't super into them at the time but I got to see frank iero in person for it was amazing

Pierce the Veil: (the first time) 1000000/10 actually so amazing omfg. I was literally sobbing durring hold on till may and emergency contact

Saviors tour (9/14, 2024)

The Linda Lindas: 9/10 still really good. So glad I got to see them again (and across the street from where I saw them the first time lol)

Rancid: 9/10 really good but I don't really listen to them

The smashing pumpkins: 10/10 they were amazing & I learned I knew a lot more songs by them than I thought lol

Green day: 80/10 so glad I got to see one of the first bands I ever fell in love with. & having them play my 2 favorite albums by them was magical

WWWY 2024

Ls dunes : 10/10 only saw like half if their set but they were just as good at the first time I saw them

Mayday Parade : 10/10 I didn't really listen to them besides Jaimie all over before but they're one of my favorite bands now

Cobra starship : 10000/10 ahhhh so happy I got to see them. So much energy and sounded great

Simple plan : 8/10 I dont really listen to them but hearing the Scooby Doo theme was fun

Taking back Sunday : -80000/10 they fucking sucked. I'm lowkey worried for the singers health because I'm like 99% sure he was either super drunk or high. Was super disappointing cuz I was exited to see them

The used : 7/10 Bert sounded like shit but I expected it cuz I watched a few videos before. They were still pretty good

Pierce the veil: ajhhhhhhhhhh/10 omg I'm so happy I got to see them a second time. I'm so happy I got to hear 100 sleepless nights live

Jimmy eat world : 9/10 again dont really listen to may of their songs but they sounded pretty close to the recorded version imo

A day to remember : 9/10 soooo good. Only knew a few songs but they were so good & I need to listen to more of them

Fall out boy : 1000000/10 ahhhhhh the the second main reason I wanted to go. I'm so glad I finally got to heal my inner elementary school (and now) self by seeing them. Also them bringing out travie & doing cupids chokehold killed me

MCR: ∞/10 I think seeing them actually fixed everything wrong ever. I'm so greatfull that I got to see my favorite band of 3 years. I was actually sobbing by the end of the show & didn't stop until we pretty much had left the venue. It was such a magical experience and I don't think anything will ever compare to it

[black-arcana]

Epica ➤ The Skeleton Key Live at Exit Festival 2023

[amons-hat-enthusiast]

I still can't believe that I've seen one of my favorite DJs, Skrillex, live yesterday... Holy shit 😅

[elminx]

Energy Update: December 2023

December is a “1” Universal Month [12 (December) + 7 (2023) = 19 = 1+9 = 10 = 1+ 0 =1] in a “7” Universal Year. Things have come full circle and we are back at the beginning all over again. “1” months always represents a beginning of some kind but this one will be bookmarked by “9” months on BOTH sides of it because 2024 is an “8” Universal Year which will make January a “9” Universal Month [1 (January) + 8 (2024) = 9]. This coincides well with December’s dubious honor as holding our fourth and final Mercury retrograde of the year which will transition Mercury, Jupiter, and Neptune out of retrogrades, effectively ending our retrograde season on 1/1/24. We are almost there. But, not yet.

The Set Up

We begin the month of December with the Sun and Mars in Sagittarius, Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn, Venus in Libra, retrograde Jupiter and retrograde Uranus in Taurus, and Saturn and retrograde Neptune in Pisces. Over the course of the month, the Sun will enter Capricorn, Venus will enter Scorpio and then Sagittarius, and Mercury will cross back and forth over the Sagittarius/Capricorn border three times. Additionally, three of our planets will station (change directions) – Mercury will station retrograde, Neptune will station direct, and Jupiter will station direct. We are exiting a sixth-month-long retrograde cycle, as of 1/2/24, only one single planet will remain in retrograde motion (Uranus).

The Nitty Gritty

December is a month that traditionally begins with a lot of warmth and joy (Sagittarius/Jupiter) but can often end in more solemnity than people like to admit to (Capricorn/Saturn). Where Sags sometimes seem to fly in the face of consequence, Capricorn stews in it. I say this because this switch-off between these two signs this year may be especially contentious for many and, for the most Mercurial of us, it will happen more than thrice. Mercury alone is going to make this journey three times (twice in December) but the Sun, Venus, and Mars are all soon to follow. That’s…a lot. If things are getting a bit serious and NOT festive this month, know that you are right one time.

Not only does Mercury enter Capricorn on 12/1 (an augury of the month ahead as a whole), but our planet of communication, technology, and travel immediately comes into a heavy sextile with Mr. Consequences himself, Saturn. Saturn doesn’t sit easily in the sign of Pisces because well, Pisces (and the 12th house it rules) is ephemeral and sometimes not even conscious. If you’re not living consciously and in this world, you’re not going to do well with Train of Consequences because you might not even notice that you’ve wandered onto the tracks. That’s going to be a theme of the month, for sure. Keep in mind that Mercury is already in its pre-retrograde phase here, this is pass #1 of this aspect which repeats again on 12/21 while Mercury is retrograde and again on 1/18/24 when direct. Is there a lesson you’ve been intentionally (you might say “not intentionally” but we’re being real here) avoiding? You might want to look at it sooner rather than later this month.

That first weekend in December is looking kind of rough. Not only do we have Mercury sextile to Saturn (remember here that even though sextile is a “supportive” aspect Saturn is rough no matter how you spin it), but we also have Venus in Libra squaring off with Pluto in Capricorn. That’s some pretty intense breakup weather if you catch my drift. Not if you are in a good relationship, mind. Breakup weather isn’t meant to scare you. But we all know – WE KNOW – that couple. The one that exists for red flags and long nights. That seems to manage to exist as a couple based entirely on what, we all assume, must be the best makeup sex ever. Venus in Libra will stay together no matter what, Libras is just codependent like that. On the other hand, Pluto in Capricorn is on the tail end of its 26-year tirade to end contractional obligations that just don’t work. (sidenote: not that I’m endorsing it, but this a good weekend to work magic to “help” along the desolvation of relationships that shouldn’t continue)

On Monday 12/4, Venus enters Scorpio and makes an immediate trine with Saturn which only accentuates this sense that we need to be in the right place, with the right people, or else. I’m a bit of a relationship anarchist so take what I am about to say with that in mind but: this is not the time to commit yourself to something that isn’t right for you or something that you don’t believe in. That’s a message for somebody. Venus in Scorpio can be quite the vindictive bitch (affectionate), so let people down as nicely as possible. Keep in mind that there’s about a 1/5 chance that Venus is in Scorpio during Sagittarius season (she is always within 2 signs of the Sun) and I promise you, this is the worst combination for the holiday crazies. We are all going to have to pack our patience and our very best regulation skills to get through this month as smoothly as possible.

Neptune stations direct on 12/6 but it’s likely we won’t notice it as much more than a bit of added muddle to the madness. Neptune is pretty effusive in the best of times and in its native sign of Pisces its energy is just mist. You may notice that time passes slowly during the mid-week as most planetary stations tend to create some time distortion.

On Thursday 12/7, our Sun makes a trine to Chiron in Aries. This is undoubtedly a pain point in our month which makes some sense given the holiday season and our aforementioned breakup weather. It is what it is. It might be hard to separate yourself from your triggers during this time – especially familial triggers. For those called to work with Chironian energy, this is a powerful moment to stand tall and own your own pain. (You know who you are)

On Friday, 12/8, Mercury makes its first trine of three with retrograde Jupiter in Taurus. You can expect some big ideas or plans during this time, but not a lot of follow-through. Mercury will trine Jupiter for a second time during their retrograde cycle on 12/18 and a third time in direct motion on 1/19. It’s worth noting here that Jupiter rules this weekend as Venus in Scorpio opposed Jupiter the next day. Things could go very well or very poorly during this time. A lot will have to do with how you are showing up and how stuck you and your others are in your own shit. There’s no great day to do abundance or money work this month, but Saturday will be the best one we’ll see until Mercury and Jupiter have left their post-retrograde shadows come January.

By Monday 12/11, things will be getting a bit dicey. Mercury will retrograde on Wednesday which means that it has already slowed to a near standstill in our skies as it prepares to switch directions. This tends to make all realms ruled by Mercury especially murky and untenable – watch out for all communication throughout this week. There will be misunderstandings. Catch them early if you can. We will also be experiencing a Mercury-Venus sextile on Monday and a new moon at 20° Sagittarius. This new moon is going to be closely trine to both the North Node and Chiron in Aries, so tensions will be high and pain may feel quite close to the surface.

This new moon has some very interesting numerology. Firstly, it’s on 12/12 which we should all recognize as 3/3 energy – three is a powerful number for creation and manifestations of all times. Additionally, this particular moon carries the energy of “9” of every Sagittarius new moon [Sun in Sagittarius (9) + Moon in Sagittarius (9) = 18 = 1+8 =9] and “1” [9 (Sag moon) + 1 (December 20230 = 10 = 1]. Nine is the number of endings and 1 is the number of beginnings which reflects the overall energy of our month wherein we go from 9 (November) to (1) December and back to (9) January again. This new moon will likely be a turning point in the month, either a major pivot or a significant Ahah moment. Using the numbers 1, 3, and 9 in any new moon spellwork that you do can help amplify your magic during this time.

On the next day, the Sun will trine the North Node and Mercury will officially enter its retrograde at 08° Capricorn. I have already written about this particular retrograde cycle here which you can reference for specifics. The gist is that Mercury will remain in retrograde until it reaches 22° Sagittarius on 1/1/24 which will be a major power day. Until then, we will need to sit tight and try to ride with the tides that come to us.

By Friday, Mars in Sagittarius will be trine to Chiron in Aries and the Sun will be squaring off with Neptune in Pisces so we enter a weekend that may be painful and confusing. There’s a lot going on here and not everybody will be on the same page. I’d stake a lot on the fact that someone involved in all of this is lying. Or at least intentionally obscuring the truth. Try to step away from your ego as you can. Be the bigger person. Or don’t. I can’t tell you what to do.

On Monday 12/18, retrograde Mercury meets up with retrograde Jupiter for their second trine. This is the lying times. It has Boy Who Cried Wolf energy. Whatever the story is right now, it’s still heavily obscured so don’t make rash decisions that you’ll regret later.

By the end of the week, we are back deep into the consequences and Saturnian energy. On Thursday, the Sun enters Capricorn and winter begins, retrograde Mercury meets up in a sextile with Saturn for the second time, and Venus opposed retrograde Uranus in Taurus. Not only do actions have consequences, but they may have dangerous consequences during this time. The Sun and Mercury enter full conjunction (cazimi) on Friday which means that all reasoning has been blocked out by the light of the ego. It’s not going to be pretty. We’re in the big holiday weekend, too.

I’d say stay home if you can this weekend, but I know it’s not an option for most people. It’s going to be a tough time to be around family. Retrograde Mercury enters Sagittarius on Saturday which means that everybody is going to be a know-it-all. Mars will be directly trine to the North Node so the words said are going to pack a punch. And the Sun in Capricorn is now directly sextile with Saturn, so the consequences are consequencing. Pack your very best self-care and ninja boundaries if you can. Maybe try to remember that most people are fighting with themselves and not with you.

By 12/25, Venus in Scorpio will be trine with Neptune in Pisces so we all might be a bit weepy over the things that were said and done in the days before. The full moon is on the horizon, too – peaking on Tuesday evening (EST) at 04° Cancer. We have a bunch of planets sitting between 24°-05° along that that are all tangled up in a nasty knot. The Sun is still conjunct to retrograde Mercury and Mars (their conjunction is exact the next day) and sextile to Saturn while the moon is closely conjunct with retrograde Jupiter. Both Mercury and Mars are bringing in Neptune in Pisces energy through a mutable square.

Nobody really knows what’s going on right now, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t up in their egos about it. Give everybody a break during this time, most especially yourself. Pick that fight on a different day – maybe even in another life where you are both cats.

The numerology of this Cancer full moon brings with it the energy of “5” [10 (Capricorn Sun) + 4 (Cancer Moon) = 14 = 1+4 = 5] that is found within all Cancer full moon and the energy of “6” [5 (Cancer full moon) + 1 (December 2023) =6] that is specific to THIS full moon. So what I am saying is that there IS a chance. 5 is a bit of a conflict number, but 6 plays an important role as the number that follows it – 6 can FIX the problems of number 5. This is the best auspicious thing about the entire month, we should all attempt to use it. You can bring the number six into your life by using six in any way that feels good to you during the 48 hours surrounding the peak of the full moon. (From around 7:30pm (EST) on 11/24 to 7:30pm on 11/27) This makes this time the cosmic right time to right a wrong, bring your big kid apology pants to this party. But also maybe remember to not take credit for things other people did.

We’re in the homestretch to our new year and Jupiter and Mercury both stationing direct, but the hits keep coming in. On Wednesday 12/27, retrograde Mercury and Mars meet up for a fiery conjunction (that could be good but watch your mouth – are you telling the truth or spinning a yarn?) while also squaring off with Neptune in Pisces. Remember that Mercury is really close to stationing direct and that means the mouse trap is close at hand. Is the immediate reward worth those consequences? Only you can answer that question. The Sun in Capricorn is trine to retrograde Jupiter in Taurus, so luck could swing either way.

On Friday 12/29, Venus in Scorpio sextiles Pluto for a hot minute (echoing that breakup energy from earlier in the month but with a lighter touch…dare I say it could be makeup energy but I hope not given who I think might break up) before entering into Sagittarius. Venus in Sag is a firecracker but she’ll be heavily tempered by the intensity of the Capricorn/Saturn energy we’re experiencing. Can you keep your dreams alive in the face of opposition? How do you hold space for the fire and inspiration in your life?

Finally, on New Year’s Eve, Jupiter stations direct at 05° Taurus which is an amazingly auspicious transit to ring in the new year with a bit of luck that all of us will certainly need. That may lead to excessive partying, so just beware. And finally, on 1/1/24, Mercury stations direct as well.

I find it absurd that we begin our calendar on an odd day in the middle of Capricorn season, but here we are. 1/1 is not just the first day of the month but also the first day of a year! This is a way to superpower the 1 energy of starting new projects (the magic behind New Year’s resolutions). This is very in alignment with Mercury and Jupiter stationing direct at virtually the same time. I personally will not be out partying because I want to be at my best to take advantage of this energy to start our new year.

As mentioned above, 2024 is an “8” year, the number of the Ouroboros. What has gone around will come around again because life never ends. That said, January is a “9” month, and hence, an ending. Contradictions are and I am really looking forward to this one.

The Details

12/1 – Mercury enters Capricorn 12/2 – Mercury in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces (1) 12/3 – Venus in Libra square Pluto in Capricorn 12/4 – Venus enters Scorpio 12/5 – Venus in Scorpio trine Saturn in Pisces 12/6 – Neptune stations direct 24° Pisces 12/7 – Sun in Sagittarius trine Chiron in Aries 12/8 – Mercury in Capricorn trine retrograde Jupiter in Taurus (1) 12/9 – Venus in Scorpio opposed retrograde Jupiter in Taurus 12/11 – Mercury in Capricorn sextile Venus in Scorpio 12/12 – New moon 20° Sagittarius 12/13 – Mercury retrogrades 08° Capricorn, Sun in Sagittarius trine the North Node in Aries and sextile the South Node in Libra 12/15 – Mars in Sagittarius trine Chiron in Aries 12/16 – Sun in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces 12/18 – retrograde Mercury in Capricorn sextile retrograde Jupiter in Taurus (2) 12/21 – Sun enters Capricorn (Happy Winter!), retrograde Mercury in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces (2), Venus in Scorpio opposed retrograde Uranus in Taurus 12/22 – Sun conjunct Mercury (Mercury cazimi) 00° Capricorn 12/23 – retrograde Mercury enters Sagittarius (29°), Mars in Sagittarius trine North Node in Aries and sextile South Node in Libra 12/24 – Sun in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces 12/25 – Venus in Scorpio trine Neptune in Pisces 12/26 – Full moon 04° Cancer 12/27 – Sun in Capricorn trine retrograde Jupiter in Taurus. retrograde Mercury in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces (2) 12/29 – Venus in Scorpio sextile Pluto in Capricorn, Venus enters Sagittarius 12/31 – Jupiter stations direct 05° Taurus 1/1/24 – Mercury stations direct 22° Sagittarius

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[deadcactuswalking]

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 09/11/2024 (The Weeknd & Anitta, Tyler the Creator)

Gracie Abrams snabs her first UK #1 this week with “That’s So True”, which just two weeks ago debuted at #19 and is now, thanks to special discounted sales, topping the chart, usurping Gigi Perez’s “Sailor Song” after just one week. As for what’s below, we have a cooler week so welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS!

content warning: language, references to sex, weapons, daddy issues and prostitution

Rundown

As always, we start the episode with our notable dropouts, those being songs exiting the UK Top 75, which is what I cover, after five weeks in the region or a peak in the top 40. This week, we bid adieu to not only all of the Halloween tracks, which aren’t really worth listing – you know them all by now and they’ll be back last week next year – but also a set of duos: Liam Payne’s solo cuts, “For You” (Fifty Shades Freed) with Rita Ora and “Strip that Down” featuring Quavo, two tracks falling victim to arbitrary UK chart rules: “Noid” by Tyler, the Creator and “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, more on those later, and Coldplay having both “WE PRAY” with Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna and TINI and “feelslikeimfallinginlove” drop off this week. Other than that, we say our farewells to “Mantra” by JENNIE and “You & Me” by Disclosure featuring Eliza Doolittle: a lot of good songs making their exits this week, sadly.

Now, what’s making up for all that? We have a few gains and four strong new entries to pick through later in the episode. As for our returns… well, it’s a slow week in November, meaning we begin our annual thawing of Christmas music, starting with “Last Christmas” by Wham! at #61 and “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey at #58. From this point on, these episodes may be shorter and forcedly more festive. We also see a spike in older tracks returning once again, amidst some newer tracks, with the list as follows: “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac at #75, “Belong Together” by Mark Ambor at #72, “Yellow” by Coldplay at #71, “Scared to Start” by Michael Marcagi at #70, “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls at #68, “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers at #67, “NEW DROP” by Don Toliver at #64 and perhaps most notably, “labour” by indie-folk one-hit-wonder Paris Paloma at #62. It peaked at #29 in 2023 the same week Ed Sheeran’s “Eyes Closed” debuted at #1, and due in part to its feminist themes, as well as fitting a wave of more emotionally open folk-pop from women on the charts, it has had a resurgence that I can’t really complain about – I didn’t remember the song but on relisten, I still like it, perhaps more than I did back then. Turns out in my old review for it that I almost predicted a similar trend to what is actually happening on the charts right now with a larger focus on organic, 2010s-resembling indie and folk-pop having a larger moment. Maybe I don’t always bullshit my way through these episodes – and, hey, she still has the time to launch a second track on the charts, it’s an opportune time for her.

There are some noteworthy gains here too, many of which have also been here a while, such as “Riptide” by Vance Joy at #65, unfortunately, “Slow it Down” by Benson Boone at #60, “The Days” by Chrystal at #55, “The Sound of Silence” by Disturbed at #54, “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction at #53, “I Only Smoke When I Drink” by nimino at #52, “TOO COOL TO BE CARELESS” by PAWSA at #51, “Burning Down” by Alex Warren at #50, “Heavy is the Crown” by Linkin Park at #49, “Don’t Dream it’s Over” by Crowded House at #48, “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen at #46, “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)” by Dasha at 42, “Close to You” by Gracie Abrams at #41 (she’s really having a moment right now and it’s beyond me as to why), then “Stargazing” by Myles Smith at #29, “The Emptinesss Machine” by Linkin Park at #28, “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims at #26, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey at #25 – I will say that sometimes it’s disheartening to see so many long-term hits rebound just as there should be a winter shake-up. Not that the newer tracks are any fit to replace them, with “Timeless” by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti at #21, sigh, but also “Bad Dreams” by Teddy Swims at #15 as he grabs a second top 10 with “The Door” at #8, a song that has grown on me a lot since my review, and finally, just on the cusp of that region is Billie Eilish’s fantastic “WILDFLOWER” at #11, which I think will be able to make it there in the next few weeks.

In terms of our top five, we already know about Gracie and Gigi’s folk-pop songs switching places at #1, but we also see Chappell Roan hit a new peak with “HOT TO GO!” at #5 and there’s a woman playing at least co-lead on every track here, as Abrams’ “I Love You, I’m Sorry” sticks to #4 and “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars is down to #3. I’m not sure if that’s a significant stat considering the political climate, but it’s something. You know what’s not… women?

New Entries

#69 – “One by One” – Central Cee

Produced by Cash Cobain

Okay, let’s get the needed waffle out of the way: this was initially promoted with the live performance on A COLORS SHOW, which genuinely has so little distinctly different from the official version that it may have just assumed that role instead. This beat samples Bryson Tiller’s 2015 track “For However Long”, which itself cribs from Jodeci’s “Alone” from back in 1993. Neither were released as singles, and both in eras where that actually mattered, so they never charted. What I most want to acknowledge in this is the top one slizzer, the Slizzy God, Cash Cobain, finally making his official dent on the top 75 after having influenced Jordan Adetunji’s “KEHLANI” earlier this year. As briefly discussed in the review for that, sexy drill, slizzy drill, whatever you wish to deem it, is a niche subgenre pioneered by Cash and surrounding artists like Chow Lee, PoWR Trav, wolfacejoeyy, etc. out of New York and taking a more melodic, R&B-sampling approach to that city’s burgeoning drill music. The lyrics are sexual, the vocals are dripping wet with meek Auto-Tune, and the beats have a certain constant underlying tension to them due to the drum patterns and mostly shoddy mixing. This year has been big for the genre thanks mostly to “KEHLANI” and, ahem, “Grippy”, and I’ve become somewhat of a scholar just because it’s a fun scene with often recognisable samples and funny lines or deliveries that creep up on you on multiple listens because they’re not immediately obvious or practically mumbled. I for one have been hypnotised by Cash Cobain’s debut solo album, PLAY CASH COBAIN, practically since release.

One thing Cench definitely isn’t is subtle or saying anything you won’t notice on first listen, given his crass delivery, but that perfectly fits with the shoddy bass master and chipmunk sample, and he leaves a similar amount of empty space, given the lack of ad-libs originating from the fact it was originally published as a live performance, so it functions perfectly fine as a sexy drill song, and is actually enhanced and made unique by Cench’s presence, as his lyrics actually have genuine attempts at multisyllabic rhymes and clever wordplay, unlike most slizzy drillers who rely on comically autopilot sex raps, not that this is a bad thing, but Cench is also just really funny here! He threatens those who are tweeting at him to log out of their account whilst also saying that he bought the PS4 and scented candles to his trap to help make it “homely” which is hilarious… though I guess Cench can’t even get a PS5. He seems to be slightly disdained, but not particularly, about not being able to watch Disney Channel but SPECIFICALLY The Suite Life of Zack & Cody – I question if that’s much of a loss – and that is all in the chorus. It does help that Cench’s flow, whilst mostly the same throughout, brings a typically British mouthful to a genre that is otherwise “less is more”, whilst still shouting out New York, as well as comparing himself to Jason Derulo and… Tyga, saying he had “young money”… I’m not sure if even he is aware of the other meaning there because I’m not sure he would have kept the lyric in otherwise. My favourite part of the whole song, which feels not like a mockery of the genre but him being very ridiculous over it, is when he starts the second verse by just listing the weapons he would own not only if he didn’t live in the UK, but in different time periods, because if he lived in the Stone Age, he would have had a spear. Great. Thanks, Cench. This is the kind of humour and unique production I found appealing before he started to succumb to the pressure of trends and virality, and I’m glad to see it back even if briefly. Let’s hope he locks in on the album.

#47 – “Casual” – Chappell Roan

Produced by Dan Nigro and Ryan Linvill

I’ve long been frustrated with not really connecting to Chappell Roan’s singles from The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess that have charted, often for small nitpicks of reasons that have to do with the production or structure not functioning as well as they could to uphold the strong writing and a narrative connection I often resonated with or appreciated to some degree. I’m glad that this one has actually been the one to click really well. That could be found in the lighthearted conceit of it all that speaks to deeper issues: the comical framing of her hanging with a potential romantic partner in a more platonic way and asking at what point during their sexual and more wholesome intimacy is it still a casual and not long-term relationship? That all gathers, through a droopy 80s synth and gated drums, a wave of distrust and disappointment about her girlfriend’s lack of commitment, and as the descriptions of sex get more intense and vivid, as well as the mental health sacrifices Chappell’s making for her girlfriend’s family get revealed, the longing turns into a hateful frustration, a bitterness that arises in large part to the expectations Chappell has coming into a relationship that she acknowledges aren’t only unfounded but perhaps unrealistic, shaming herself for them in the second verse for giving into “dumb love”. It has a more reasonable and less unlikeable bitterness than “Good Luck, Babe!”, no production issues that deweight its impact like “Red Wine Supernova” and the writing actually progresses quite sensationally towards the outro, unlike the somewhat muddled “Pink Pony Club”, so I think aside from the dumb fun of “HOT TO GO!”, this is the first of hers to really stick with me, and definitely elevates above that song, even if the core conceit isn’t too dissimilar. If I had one issue, it’s that I get too connected with the narrative that the effective, disappointed self-blame hits too close and makes me want to hear much more about how this relationship actually ends. If that’s not effective songwriting, I don’t know what it is.

#33 – “Like Him” – Tyler, the Creator featuring Lola Young

Produced by Tyler, the Creator

Out of all songs from CHROMAKOPIA to swap out “Noid” with, I did not expect the late-album ballad, if anything I assumed we’d see one of the bangers, like “Rah Tah Tah” or especially “Sticky” with Sexyy Red, GloRilla and Lil Wayne. I’m not complaining though, because this is one of the best songs of the year, it’s heartbreaking and I cannot do it justice. It’s not all doom and gloom, of course, as Tyler inserts some comedy in it as always, whether it be the “huh?” he slides in from what sounds like a shoddily-EQ’d Baby Keem sample but I stand corrected if he actually went in the studio to record a few sounds, or the intro, wherein Tyler’s mother Bonita compares Tyler to his father, setting up the “Like Him” theme but also listing every point of comparison on his body before she gets cut off. That kind of bittersweet, slight ironic humour comes with the familial territory the song otherwise works in, with the track acting as a bit of a plea to Bonita: if he’s so like him, why doesn’t he know who he is, or where he is? Where is Tyler’s father in his life? It’s a question that T has been struggling with for much of his career with constant references and some full songs directed to his absence like “Answer”, which is particularly potent in retrospect considering this song is full of questions.

Starting with sombre pianos and a frail high-register performance from Tyler, who sings for all of the track, it eventually develops into a progressive soul track backed by harmonies from British singer Lola Young and a gorgeous soaring guitar in the back and the detailed soundscape you should expect from one of Tyler’s slow jams, that fuzzy synth coating in particular contrasting with the breathless gasps that appear all across the album. You also have the chorus accentuated with what sounds like Bonita herself chiming in with “Like what?”, acknowledging the role she played with the absence of Tyler’s father, which is expanded upon firstly in the second verse, wherein Tyler croons directly to her, with a great pause before he delves into how everything worked out and there may even be a sense of guilt there that Tyler is still on the hopeless chase for something he never had and won’t ever need – hence all the empty gaps left in the production. It resonates particularly hard for me, not that I’m in this specific situation, but as someone without a father figure in adulthood, I can relate to the idea of having something inexplicably missing there that you just kind of have to fill in for yourself. The most potent point is that incredible bridge, wherein Tyler stops the question at simply, “Do I look?”, asking his mother whether it’s worthwhile searching for either his father or that part of him that’s missing due to his absence, before a glance of piano and a vacant hole failingly filled in by Baby Keem pre-empting a wraparound of synths climaxing the song with utter defiance. In his third, improvised-sounding verse, spent mostly in the mix as backing vocals, he half-raps about his devotion to his mother but simultaneously, the insistence that he doesn’t “look like him”, because he’s everything HE wanted himself to be, and even with how abrupt Lola Young’s belting ends, you still get the time to chew on that dynamic… before that crushing outro, a home recording of his mother apologising for her involvement in keeping Tyler’s father out of his life, a plea from her for forgiveness over an off-tune bass note and cascading keys that really tugs at the heartstrings as someone who’s followed Tyler’s career and knows just how common and meaningful this topic is to him. Hell, it even wraps up the closure Tyler desperately seeks on the album, and leads into another banger in “Balloon” that, in many ways, is a middle finger to what a father figure could have brought into his life, that being restriction, tradition and hypermasculinity. Once again, it’s a brilliant song from a brilliant album, I wouldn’t be surprised if we get yet another switcheroo but I’d be delighted to have this one stick around. It is a wonder of a song.

#22 – “São Paulo” – The Weeknd and Anitta

Produced by The Weeknd, MIKE DEAN and Sean Solymar

Named after the Brazilian city that he premiered the track in, this new single with co-star Anitta, a massive singer in her own right in Latin America, is in some ways an embracing of Brazilian funk, which has been having a viral surge creeping up in the western world and having major influence on western artists now after years of it soundtracking the country’s cities. This song in particular is probably the widest western audience funk mandelão will ever get, and it’s not compromising either! It’s not as minimal as what you may hear from the genre, but it’s got the raw aggression of the rough cheap synths and the bass-heavy rumble manned by an oddly-mixed Anitta who, despite the genre being so in your face, feels about as far away from the party as possible even when you translate her stuttering, Auto-Tuned chanting to English and realise just how filthy it is. In fact, that’s my main problem with the song: as much as it embraces the genre, it seems way too distant as an overall piece from the actual fun, and sexiness, that this genre could be used for, with Abel on a murmuring autopilot once again – he sounds so sick of even opening his mouth this whole album cycle so far – and drenched in a reverb that echoes him out of the immediacy this production needs, with his sexual lyrics not prompting anything all too interesting either.

I like the chaotic sample brought in to an almost off-beat bridge but that all leads to what should be a promising second half… and ends up just trailing off. The Weeknd somehow ends up both robotic and out-of-breath – I’m not accusing it of being AI because it absolutely sounds human, but that’s also how I would describe what happens when you filter high-pitch vocals through AI and it gets all glitched out, losing breath, life and also clarity like Abel does here. I do enjoy the sly reference of the prostitute being “desensitised with money” and him needing to pay for his pleasure with work of his own, but outside of a burst into a drop that fails to really make much impact thanks to MIKE DEAN’s wankery souring the party, I’m unsure to what point any of the song’s second half serves that the first didn’t. It’s not the worst of his singles from this album so far, but it’s the one that tests your patience the most and honestly shows the most frustrating potential. Sadly, trying isn’t exactly on the agenda for the team behind this final album, and I hope the album gives me at least something to latch onto, unless, and I fear I might be correct, this is part of a narrative that involves losing interest in the “Weeknd” persona and shedding that baggage away. I suppose we’ll just have to see.

Conclusion

I suppose it has to get Worst of the Week, given that it’s the only dent on an otherwise above-average set of tracks this week, though Tyler, the Creator still blasts them all out of the water so he grabs Best of the Week easily with “Like Him” featuring Lola Young. As for the Honourable Mention, choose your gender, and as for what’s on the horizon… I don’t know, JLS? Who cares? Thank you for reading, rest in peace to Nipsey Hussle, and I’ll see you next week!

[sgiandubh]

Lionsgate/*** quarter call - not so good as it seems

While I am still fumbling around with the strike's aftermath, let me just quickly say a word or two about ***'s last quarter call, yesterday. Nobody does it as @cb4tb, but FWIW, here goes:

I should immediately say I could not watch the replay on the link provided by the initial press release (here: https://investors.lionsgate.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2023/10-19-2023-140125017), despite my total good will to take one for the team, go to bed early and wake-up at ungodly hours. I have no idea why - maybe access is somehow limited? I would never know, I had no 403 error in my browser, so... 🤷‍♀️. Instead, I could peruse the paper version of the standard Company Quarterly Report (US SEC Form 10-Q), along with some scarce press comments, for a bit of context.

The document is damn long (94 pages) and it reads exactly like I presumed: a kidney stone would be easier to pass (https://investors.lionsgate.com/financial-reports/sec-filings). It's perhaps worth for this phrase alone (on page 43), which really made me stop in my tracks:

At the time of the document's public release, it is technically true and accurate that the tentative deal between AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA still has to be approved by the union's members. However, given the horrendous impact of the strike on almost all things Hollywood and California, for that matter (more on this in a separate post), it's more than likely the deal will hold. The rest is dire: more slashing of content to come, 'if the Company is unable to efficiently complete the production of the film, TV show or program or decides to abandon the production'.

While this does not seem to affect Season 8, this could (I repeat: could) mean that: a) BOMB is gone and b) MIK3 is no longer a priority (the fact that MIK 2, as OL, was listed among the last quarter premieres is not a guarantee it will be continued - not the same amplitude as OL). If so, Season 8 might start shooting as soon as January 2024, since it already has all the needed infrastructure and staff readily available at Cumbernauld (yes, Mordor, the peasant you all love to hate managed perhaps to save the day again!). So OL is doing ok on that side, unlike other productions of other studios, who reportedly started a mad scramble for location scouting and staff recruiting, just before the festive season - that is a big competitive advantage and one of the main reasons I believe it's still entirely possible to pull it off.

The 'thriving' future (according to Feltheimer, that genius 🙄) of *** as a standalone company is still something we severely lack data on, as Lionsgate kept its commitment to go on with the acquisition of Entertainment One (you know, the Peppa Pig people), for a mere 375 million USD, to be completed by January 31, 2024. At the same time, *** is not the only actor on the US media & tech market to proceed to lay-offs and it seems to fare better than many, as I already supposed and told you:

(Sourced at: https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/starz-layoffs-exit-uk-australia-lionsgate-1235779627/).

Something to be closely monitored in the upcoming weeks. I think it's going to be worth it. Sorry for not bringing any sensational content today and I know it's dull and probably uninteresting AF, but it's there and it has to be taken into account, for sure. So yes, 'not as good as it seems' (profit is now mainly driven by motion picture, not television production), but not as bad as expected by the prophets of doom across the street, who - as usually - have no damn idea of what they are talking about.