#i finished falsettos at 12:15 am and i was crying

[xoxo-byler]

me: stupid gay dudes from the 80s making me cry will: oh no, was it us? mike: i don't think so... remus: sirius, what did you do? sirius: IT WASN'T ME THIS TIME, I SWEAR! marvin: it was probably us whizzer: whizzer's ghost: you know what, i think you're right

[duskodair]

so I’ve just spent several hours compiling my eurovision top 41

it will probably change but bc i’ve done that, its going on here bc what else am i meant to do with it?

it also contains more words than i’ve written for the essays ive got due in soon but oh well

1)     10 – Norway – Spirit in the Sky – Norway have written themselves into song. I love this song so much. When the beat drops I’m never ready for it, so it always blows me away. The joik part is exceptional. Alexandra has the most beautiful voice. The northern lights aren’t the only things dancing. I could, and I have, listen to this song on repeat for hours. Every time it has the same effect as the first time.

2)     9.5 – Iceland – Hatrid Mun Sigra – this is funky from the outset. It makes me wish I spoke Icelandic. I love the juxtaposition between the rough growl and the almost angelic singing. I love the lyrics to this, I think they’re a very bold message.

3)     9 – Spain – La Venda – Whenever this starts, I automatically start smiling. This is happiness in a song and I’ve loved it since I first heard it at the national selection. I love the way he performs, you could see and hear how happy he was to be singing it. I’m not too impressed by the revamp but I do like the emphasis they’ve added to the drums.

4)     9 – Switzerland – She Got Me – this has got me dirty dancing. I love the way this sounds. I love practically every element to this song. I like the little echoes and repetitions of lyrics. I also enjoy how it is stripped back before there is a clapping section.

5)     9 – Malta – Chameleon – this is funky, and I love it. I’m not quite sure what she’s saying for most of it, but it doesn’t matter, I’m too busy dancing to it. I like the noise of the muted trumpet. I like the clapping bit.

6)     8.5 – Greece – Better Love – this is great from the start. I love her voice. I love the almost whispered backing vocals juxtaposed with an almost choral sound. This is a really good song.

7)     8.5 – Russia – Scream – another powerful ballad. He has a great voice. It’s a very dramatic song, which I can appreciate. I like how it builds as the song continues.

8)     8.5 – Albania – Ktheju Tokes – this is a very powerful song and I love the use of language in it. I really like the message behind it. It’s very intense to listen to but all the elements mesh together well. Her voice is so strong. I like the backing singers that were added in the revamp.

9)     8.5 – Israel – Home – he has a strong voice and it really fits this song. You can feel the power of the emotions behind the lyrics and I love the background singers harmonising with him. I like it.

10)  8.5 – Belgium – Wake Up – I like the tambourine. This is a nice pop song but its not exceptional. I like the way it builds through the verses. He has a nice voice. The variation between the verse and the chorus is quite nice. You can clap to it so that’s good.

11)  8.5 – Denmark – Love is Forever – I love this song – its so catchy and I love the use of language – she has a very nice voice – I also like to sing along with this one. I like the use of pizzicato in the music. Its nice to see Denmark back on their favourite song topic, love.

12)  8 – Italy – Soldi – clap clap. I like the speed with which he sings and that he varies it throughout the song. Its not as good as the last two years’ Italian entries but its still strong.

13)  8 – Netherlands – Arcade – he has a nice voice. The song sounds nice but its not especially special. His voice sounds right for the song, unlike others. I like the different levels of sound. It’s a very dramatic song. I like the clapping bit.

14)  8 – Azerbaijan – Truth – I like his use of falsetto. I also enjoy the emphasis put on ‘shut up’, that sounds really nice. It has a really good beat. I like the pause before the chorus begins.

15)  7.5 – Poland – Pali Sie – I love this song. It’s funky and I keep getting it stuck in my head. It’s a shame that they made it bilingual for Eurovision. I like the way their voices interact with the music before coming into a sort of unity for the chorus.

16)  7.5 – San Marino – Say Na Na Na – this is funky from the start. It makes you want to dance. I like all the small references to other Eurovision entries ‘love all colours of this life’ and ‘say yay yay yay’. It’s very hopeful and uplifting and I hope this does well.

17)  7.5 – Ireland – 22 – this is funky, and I’ve enjoyed it since it was released. It makes me want to dance, and I really like her voice. I like the background string instrument. The background singers are used well.

18)  7.5 – Cyprus – Replay – this doesn’t do much for me. Its fun to listen to but it reminds me too much of last year’s entry. I don’t feel anything special when I listen to it. Yes, I can, and do, dance to it but its not really for me.

19)  7.5 – Hungary – Az En Apam – He’s back! This has a cool chill feel. I like the use of language here. The whistling fits in well too. I like the unity between Joci and the backing singer for the chorus. Na na na na na…

20)  7.5 – UK – Bigger than Us – a strong power ballad. It needs a bigger start to get it away but once its going, does it go. I like the choral sounding backing vocals. I keep hearing ‘cry no more’ in it but I think that’s also just me.

21)  7.5 – North Macedonia – Proud – powerful ballad, meaningful message, great voice. I can get this stuck in my head

22)  7 – Romania – On A Sunday – it’s a chill song and I like listening to it. It has a good beat that comes in. her voice fits well with it. I like the use of echoing in the song.

23)  7 – Czech Republic – Friend of a Friend – its funky and you can definitely dance to it. I like the woman saying, ‘I’m only a friend’, I think she’s the best part of this song. It’s catchy and I think it will quite well at Eurovision.

24)  7 – France – Roi – its grown on me, but he needs to work on his live singing. It’s a shame its not all in French. This has a great message and I do like to sing along to it. He’s clearly very emotionally invested in it and the crowd love it, so good luck to him.

25)  7 – Serbia – Kruna – I like the use of Serbian in this. She has a very strong voice and I like how she alters it through the song. I like the use of the guitar to build up to the chorus.

26)  7 – Germany – Sister – I like their voices but they sound rough sometimes. I do enjoy this song though and frequently find it stuck in my head. I like the way it builds as well as the twinkly music box instrument noises.

27)  7 – Armenia – Walking Out – She has a strong voice, but I feel like this song doesn’t go anywhere. Its excitement is wasted. Even the strong chorus is futile, the song finishes and then I instantly forget it. The parts don’t feel entirely unified. But I do like the choral feel to the later parts of the song.

28)  6.5 – Austria – Limits – she has a very unique voice. I like the quiet start to the song. I like it when the background music comes in and the song begins to build, before dying back down. It puts a lot of emphasis on her voice. I would prefer if the song built up to something bigger. The small climax is nice, but is it big enough for Eurovision?

29)  6.5 – Australia – Zero Gravity – this is an interesting song and its grown on me. But the high note, for that high note she’s just screaming, and I don’t like that at all. It’s catchy and I can sing along but I’m still not attached to it. Its weird and I’m not sure if it works.

30)  6.5- Sweden – Too Late for Love – fun pop song – format feels overused Sweden – please get a new one, I’m finding it hard to differentiate between your songs – he sings well though – I like the backing singers

31)  6.5 – Slovenia – Sebi – I like the use of language but the song doesn’t really do anything for me. It has an interesting sound. It doesn’t feel like the singer particularly cares about the lyrics. I could get this stuck in my head though.

32)  6 – Finland – Look Away – I’m not sure about the singer’s voice. It just doesn’t sound right for most of the song. It’s a funky and catchy song, though, so I enjoy listening to it. Darude’s bit is very good, so that brings this song up.

33)  6 – Moldova – Stay – she has a powerful voice. I like some of the notes particularly. It builds up quite nicely.

34)  6 – Latvia – That Night – I like the melody of ‘lo-o-o-o-ve’ but some of the vocals are rough. Nevertheless, some of it is catchy – I keep mishearing ‘there is a house in New Orleans’ from the house of the rising sun in it but I think that’s just me. Quite repetitive.

35)  6 – Lithuania – Run with the Lions – weird falsetto singing in parts – catchy in parts – it’s a nice pop song but doesn’t really go anywhere

36)  6 – Croatia - The Dream – I like his voice and the bit in Croatian but he’s always singing flat out – it would sound better with variation – I do like to sing along though, which I don’t do for other songs

37)  6 – Estonia – Storm – this is quite a generic pop song. It reminds a lot of Sebalter’s song ‘Carry the Light’ and it just doesn’t do much for me. It’s more a piece of background music for me rather than a song I’d actively seek out.

38)  6 – Belarus – Like It – lots of ‘oo’. Slightly repetitive. Its an ok party pop song. I’m not enamoured with it. The chorus is quite catchy however. I’m not sure about her voice.

39)  4.5 – Portugal – Telemoveis – discordant and fragmented. I don’t understand it. It doesn’t come together as a whole for me. The pizzicato strings are interesting, but this song is just not for me at all.

40)  4 – Montenegro – Heaven – its much better with the revamp but this song still isn’t great – the new instruments move it always from the realm of total generic-ness but it’s still not ideal

41)  2 – Georgia – Sul Tsin Iare –I like the use of language but I just don’t like this song. It feels very clunky and forced – that one judge seems to love it though

[hallucinosims]

Hi here’s the get to know me tag let’s get to knowing

I was tagged in this by @gunthermunch

125 questions under the cut, if you do decide to read i suggest getting a snack first

I tag @emovatore @humanitys-shortest @liliithvatore if you haven’t done it yet

1. WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME? Elio

2. WHAT IS YOUR NICKNAME? Lee and Leo are the go-tos in real life but I get called Hall on here and I think that’s a rad nickname too

3. BIRTHDAY? Feb 5th

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK SERIES? I am a slut for the Percy Jackson series and Leo Valdez was one of the reasons why I started going by Leo more often then my full name

5. DO YOU BELIEVE IN ALIENS OR GHOSTS? Yes yes absolutely yes. One, earth really can’t be the only planet in a universe with infinite possibilities to have life on it, you know? And ghosts is more like a spirit thing.

6. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR? oooh fuck me up this is a hard one uhhhhhh Classic author probably Edgar Allen Poe but Contempoary I’d say Tony Kushner

7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RADIO STATION? the Musical Theatre station

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLAVOR OF ANYTHING? I don’t really like... food. I don’t enjoy it. But I guess I like savory over sweet

9. WHAT WORD WOULD YOU USE OFTEN TO DESCRIBE SOMETHING GREAT OR WONDERFUL? neat

10. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE SONG? Liar by Queen or Greek God by Conan Gray

11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORD? I-Cunt-tic, pronounced like iconic but... you know

12. WHAT WAS THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO? Please Never Fall in love again Ollie MN

13. WHAT TV SHOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR EVERYBODY TO WATCH? Kidding, that Jim Carrey tv show that premiered this year. Beautifully edited and told story

14. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE TO WATCH WHEN YOU’RE FEELING DOWN? I’ve seen Bohemian Rhapsody 6 times this month alone so probably that on wards

15. DO YOU PLAY VIDEO GAMES? yes

16. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? dying in the same place i was born

17. WHAT IS YOUR BEST QUALITY, IN YOUR OPINION? my empathy

18. WHAT IS YOUR WORST QUALITY, IN YOUR OPINION? the depression (tm) 

19. DO YOU LIKE CATS OR DOGS BETTER? idk, i’m not really an animal person

20. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON? fall

21. ARE YOU IN A RELATIONSHIP? nah

22. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU MISS FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD? playing in the ika playscape

23. WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND? i have quite a few best friends but when im at school/work then my good friend Julio

24. WHAT IS YOUR EYE COLOR? a very doe eyed dark brown

25. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR? i re-dyed my hair black recently so let’s go with that

26. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU LOVE? my mom

27. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU TRUST? my dad

28. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN? myself

29. ARE YOU CURRENTLY EXCITED ABOUT/FOR SOMETHING? going to denmark to be a farm gay on my semester off

30. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST OBSESSION? currently Sims, Queen, and Falsettos (the musical)

31. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW AS A CHILD? i didn’t have cable but there is no way in hell i’m saying cyberchase so, Mia and Miguel

32. WHO OF THE OPPOSITE GENDER CAN YOU TELL ANYTHING TO, IF ANYONE? Julio

33. ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS? very

34. DO YOU HAVE ANY UNUSUAL PHOBIAS? none that i can think of

35. DO YOU PREFER TO BE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA OR BEHIND IT?i actually really enjoy both

36. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY? sims

37. WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? True West, it’s a really good play

38. WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? ...Bohemian Rhapsody for the 6th time

39. WHAT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS DO YOU PLAY, IF ANY? most stringed instruments i can figure out pretty quickly but i’m best at guitar and piano

40. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL? humans

41. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 5 FAVORITE TUMBLR BLOGS THAT YOU FOLLOW? i follow over 5k people i don’t even know who i follow

42. WHAT SUPERPOWER DO YOU WISH YOU HAD? basically Kirby. I want the power to take others powers

43. WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU FEEL MOST AT PEACE? in michigan on rainy afternoons in my bunk bed with my laptop on my lap. Or like, the floor of a bookstore

44. WHAT MAKES YOU SMILE? loaded question

45. WHAT SPORTS DO YOU PLAY, IF ANY? I used to do competitve dance, competitve cheer, biking, and volleyball

46. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DRINK? watah

47. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WROTE A HAND-WRITTEN LETTER OR NOTE TO SOMEBODY? like a week ago to my grandma, she likes getting post cards in the mail

48. ARE YOU AFRAID OF HEIGHTS? i used to be. not so much anymore

49. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PET PEEVE? people who saunter. We got places to be fellas

50. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A CONCERT? yup!

51. ARE YOU VEGAN/VEGETARIAN? i’m to anemic to be either 

52. WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? a performer

53. WHAT FICTIONAL WORLD WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN? i’m actually not to into media that take place in other... wait i take it back i wanna live in Hobbiton

54. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WORRY ABOUT? breathing

55. ARE YOU SCARED OF THE DARK? ehh sometimes

56. DO YOU LIKE TO SING? It’s a part of my career so hopefully

57. HAVE YOU EVER SKIPPED SCHOOL? i’m skippin school rn

58. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE ON THE PLANET? manhattan Lower East Side

59. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE? Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I live in the Upper West Side right now and it’s aight but it’s not the LES

60. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? nope

61. ARE YOU MORE OF AN EARLY BIRD OR A NIGHT OWL? i just dont sleep

62. DO YOU LIKE SUNRISES OR SUNSETS BETTER?sunrises

63. DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE? nah

64. DO YOU PREFER EARBUDS OR HEADPHONES? earbuds

65. HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES? yee

66. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC? anything

67. WHO IS YOUR HERO? Tony Kushner

68. DO YOU READ COMIC BOOKS? yee and before you ask my fave is Deadpool

69. WHAT MAKES YOU THE MOST ANGRY? when people be on some bullshit

70. DO YOU PREFER TO READ ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE OR WITH A REAL BOOK? real book

71. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL? IN High School I loved history

72. DO YOU HAVE ANY SIBLINGS? one sister who is ten years older than I am

73. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT? ... iced coffee despite it being 30 degrees out

74. HOW TALL ARE YOU? 5′3

75. CAN YOU COOK? I’d like to think so. Wish I had a oven tho

76. WHAT ARE THREE THINGS THAT YOU LOVE? music, my family (sometimes) I’m trying to love myself so let’s throow that one in there

77. WHAT ARE THREE THINGS THAT YOU HATE? people who stroll/saunter, when people are on their bullshit, dark chocolate

78. DO YOU HAVE MORE FEMALE FRIENDS OR MORE MALE FRIENDS? male “friends”. But, I know a lot more girls that I keep up with more often.

79. WHAT IS YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION? lesbian

80. WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE? Manhattan, Upper West Side

81. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TEXTED? Me mam

82. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Thursday in my Theatre class but we were all crying so i’ll let it slide

83. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE YOUTUBER? i don’t really watch anyone consistently

84. DO YOU LIKE TO TAKE SELFIES? i do

85. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE APP? tinder

86. WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARENT(S) LIKE? prety solid i love them both even if my mom hates my sexuality and threatened locking me at home when i came out to herelol

87. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOREIGN ACCENT? italian

88. WHAT IS A PLACE THAT YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO, BUT YOU WANT TO VISIT?Copenhagen! I’ve wanted to go to Denmark since I was ten

89. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NUMBER? 7

90. CAN YOU JUGGLE? Nah son

91. ARE YOU RELIGIOUS? defenitly a lot less than my story style insists lol. I do believe in God tho

92. DO YOU FIND OUTER SPACE OR THE DEEP OCEAN TO BE MORE INTERESTING? LOADED QUESTION BECAUSE I WANNA EXPLORE BOTH 

93. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF TO BE A DAREDEVIL? ehhhhhhhh no

94. ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO ANYTHING? strawberries and some medicine that i can’t remember the name of

95. CAN YOU CURL YOUR TONGUE? yes i’m a lesbian it’s what we do

96. CAN YOU WIGGLE YOUR EARS? nah

97. HOW OFTEN DO YOU ADMIT THAT YOU WERE WRONG ABOUT SOMETHING? Literally anytime i’m wrong about soomething. I love being exposed, put in my place, roasted.

98. DO YOU PREFER THE FOREST OR THE BEACH? Forest so I can find my mans... my MOTH mans

99. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF ADVICE THAT ANYONE HAS EVER GIVEN YOU? you know what you want, don’t let your concerns get in the way of your ambitions

100. ARE YOU A GOOD LIAR? Yes

101. WHAT IS YOUR HOGWARTS HOUSE? Ravenclaw

102. DO YOU TALK TO YOURSELF? Deadass I talk to myself more often than otherpeople

103. ARE YOU AN INTROVERT OR AN EXTROVERT? introverted

104. DO YOU KEEP A JOURNAL/DIARY? yee

105. DO YOU BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES? I give everyone I can think of second chances because i’m a forgiving sone of a bitch and yet they continue TO BE ON SOME BULLSHIT

106. IF YOU FOUND A WALLET FULL OF MONEY ON THE GROUND, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? THat be mine i may be forgiving by moral compass be broke as hell and I haven’t eaten in like 3 days because i’m so broke

107. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF CHANGE? When I’m answering this question for a job application i sure do

108. ARE YOU TICKLISH? tragicallu

109. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON A PLANE? yes

110. DO YOU HAVE ANY PIERCINGS? i have 5 holes in my ears and a nostreil piercing

111. WHAT FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU WISH WAS REAL? Mark Cohen or LEO VALDEZ

112. DO YOU HAVE ANY TATTOOS? yes 2, one chest, one forearm. But that’s only because I don’t have money i need more

113. WHAT IS THE BEST DECISION THAT YOU’VE MADE IN YOUR LIFE SO FAR? move to new york

114. DO YOU BELIEVE IN KARMA? yes and she’s a bitch

115. DO YOU WEAR GLASSES OR CONTACTS? both

116. DO YOU WANT CHILDREN? eventually I feel like I would make a pretty solid kid

117. WHO IS THE SMARTEST PERSON YOU KNOW? my dad

118. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING MEMORY? Being high for three days straight

119. HAVE YOU EVER PULLED AN ALL-NIGHTER? i just finished pulling one

120. WHAT COLOR ARE MOST OF YOU CLOTHES? black as you can see by my simself  i really do dress pretty much only in black because i aged poorly out of my goth phase

121. DO YOU LIKE ADVENTURES? yeeee

122. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON TV? Yep, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Trade Show stuff, probably for school or local news a few times

123. HOW OLD ARE YOU? 18

124. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE? Know in your soul like your blood knows the way from your heart to your brain, know that you’re whole. - HEdwig and the Angry Inch

125. DO YOU PREFER SWEET OR SAVORY FOODS? This is a really boring last question but savory but if you made it this far i’ll expose myself a little more. I’m black and Jewish, I go to a performing arts Conservatory, and this took me so long to answer because I hooked up with someone in Brooklyn last night and i had trouble getting back to my dorm.

[windchimchim-blog]

100 reasons to love kang younghyun

i was inspired by this really good hanbin post i read.

(lot of win, man in a movie, pocket live and fancam references)

*with the widest grin on my face, i will proceed to type this.*

1. His love and appreciation for each member’s talent and genuine appreciation for them, especially on radio shows(hongkira)

2. His unfailing ability to describe loneliness and solitude perfectly with his lyrics.

3. That one pre-debut cover of gd’s butterfly

4. his dimples

5. “NOT Brian. Who is BRIAN?!”

6. grey hair, i’ll say no more

7. “MURUGESO BABAY!”

8. That one radio-cam of him jamming to Baek-ah-yeon’s song. with her. in the studio. 

9. “BOOM!!”

10. Him getting all flustered on ASC when Dreamcatcher sang im serious(”my favourite group”)

11. “She called me to her hotel room”

12. “Yess, good morningg”

13. every single time younghyun has ever rapped hunt while treating a HEAD BAND as if it were a BLINDFOLD.

14. his dimples.

15. “wh-wh-whAt is in your bAg?”

16. him imitating dowoon on a vlive while watching a jaesix vlog

17. while we’re on dowoon, his genuine adoration for the maknae like you can SEE it in his eyes it’s beautiful

18. that one fanmeet photo of him in the harry potter merch really buttered my beer

19. The broccoli hair yes in this house, we apprec8 that

20. while we’re on that,the HEYJUDE COVER.

21. His ability to take on a million ranges vocally, take incredible falsettos, and also sing from the gut fascinates me

22. jaehyungparkian.

23. “i’ll try harder to be like young k”

24. “i wish i nEver knEW you bABy”(the english rap it ended me.)

25. “knock you with my punchlines” WIN era younghyun, best younghyun

26. “TORONNO, KANADA”

27. that one fantaken photo of him with the sipper and multi-coloured hair and a denim jacket and a guitar on his back.

28. the be lazy pocket live but hold up, the behind the scenes of that where he’s sweating(ah the struggle to be sexy)

29. the “what can i do” pocket live. i think about that a lot.

30. everytime he’s ever done the nose scrunch.

31. that one gif of him rolling up his sleeves to reveal !!! his biceps !!! boi!!!

32. Blood rap translation. bye

33. mathletes dance compilation.

34. him dancing to gashina and literally  pelvic thrusting in everyone’s faces

35. oh oh that fancam of him dancing to “all that i have” and doing that back thing. you know what im talking about 

36. “JOUUA”

37. BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAMBAMBAMBAM. (what can i do live bass vocals by one and only kang younghyun!!)

38. wooyoung exposing drunk k “why do you fucking do this to me, hyung” i love him

39. “why am i alone?” every time i hear him sing that line, i get chills. pure art.

40. “yg get an attitude”(he dropped it like it’s hot)

41. youngfeel.

42. while we’re on youngfeel, him replying to a tumblr ask saying “love wonpil” is a goal for 2018.

43. hungry k(”best part of songwriting is breakfast, lunch and dinner”)

44. that one video of jae and young k using the jyp card and young k squealing-”it’s not our money, it’s not our money eehehe!!!!!!!”

45. his rap in congratulations. i c o n i c

46. him mouthing “sarangeul haetdaa” when hongki played love scenario. im an ikonic and  a my day and this was just the most satisfying thing ever

47. every. single. part  he has in man in a movie. it’s all us young k stans ever think about.

48. his relationship with terry. terry we love you.

49. pre-debut video of young k falling off the stage while performing. rip his ego

50. his rings. p l e a s i n g 

51. that one baby pink shirt he wore on hongkira while promoting I loved you

52. a fancam of him doing the whole “yess, good morning” thing, and the mic falls down

53. the video of day6 performing man in a movie on nct’s night radio and johnny looking at young k in complete and utter amazement.  same, johnny, same.

54. him describing the percentage of alcohol in their drink on a rooftop live and the giggling about it and yelling “we gon’ get craaazyy”

55. HIS COVER OF BAD DAY. NOBODY DID IT BETTER.

56. the arirang avatar thing where he wore a hanbok and the headgear too. ded.

57. his appreciation for good music. he’s really out there listening to neon trees, arctic monkeys, lauv and daniel powter

58. the beginning of a day6 moments video where  he’s singing i like you but effortlessly and it should be funny but yet again, im just very impressed none of those notes are falsettos

59. when he danced to knock knock and then got all shy. my boy knew ALL the steps :‘)

60. when he forgets lyrics while busking and makes shit up. priceless.

61. on his solo live, when he made that song about soy sauce and dipping meat in it and it being delicious to the tune of what can i do. istg younghyun what can you not do

62. his business administration windbreaker

63. in general, his love for business administration lmao i love him

64. his efficacy and will to get good grades even while touring

65. his dubsmashes and that baby sound one in particular

66. “I GOT TACOS”

67. his vibratos in songs. they’re like a separate entity altogether. we’ve got young k’s beautiful versatile voice, then we’ve got his vibratos. right there, on a pedestal.

68. that one fantaken picture of him at the recent thailand concert where he’s wearing a blue shirt and hugging himself(?) idk it’s cute his cheeks are full , he looks happy :’)

69. when he loses his shit during “sing me” in concerts and just vibes with the crowd. best.

70. kang younghyun’s DayDreaming. pre debut. go listen to it if you haven’t. rightnow.

71. the thumbnail of the last third degree video. young k with terry. it’s the look on his face. the innocence. i melt

72. his relationship with people around him and friends. it’s so cool and he literally leaves no stone unturned while thanking his friends :’) (KMESS4LYFE i c u)

73. i don’t say this enough but the lyrics of all alone. younghyun’s part. “i wish someone would hug me and tell me i’ve worked hard when i came home”. come here bby i’ll hug you you’ve worked so hard.

74. kang younghyun’s eyes.

75. him in a black cap and earrings and a white tee.a look.

76. “someone pls teach me how to tweet” 

77. him forgetting his own collab song with jimin on a live broadcast of ASC

78. him admitting in a concert that he’s felt like running away at times and he’s here only bc of the fans’ love for day6. im not crying u r

79. this one tumblr post of him growing up thru the years it’s like an ‘evolution of his smile’ post it brings me to tears

80. his habit of repeating something someone says if he finds it amusing

81. him opening a bottle of beer for dowoon

82. the look on his face when my days are singing man in a movie from start to finish without any percussion or bgm. an in a movie. a song he wrote. a b-side track.

83. the way he says bye to the camera swaying from side to side

84. when he was a total sport and jammed to b.i spitting freestyle rap in his face(WIN)

85. “noo. nooo he’s lying. i beat him i hit himm”

86. “YOU ARE MY DAY!”

87. the aaa falsetto at the end of that part^^

88. his verse at the beginning of “i would”. i think that’s what he’d sound like in the morning.

89. he’s just so humble. he literally writes the lyrics we all love so much but never misses an opportunity to commend everyone’s talent “i get the most ideas but jae has the best ideas”

90. “young k has maximum experience when it comes to girls. he knows what warms a woman’s heart”. lmao i agree

91. him singing “oh wonpil you play the piano so well” at the end of a pocket live

92. the fact that he was dating in canada without his parents’ knowledge and that’s where he gets the inspiration to write songs from. idk it’s adorable

93. his borderline jazz version of pouring in a pocket live. i hear you jazzy rhythmic finger snaps

94. his smirk when he does the “aah” part in “what can i do”

95. his awe and admiration for his dongsaengs like he’s genuinely in love with how talented the the stray kids boys are

96. “i ask people to call me young k bc as young k, i can make up for the inadequacies of brian. brian is weak.” this is why i often stick to young k now. yeah it’s fun to joke around but maybe he dOES feel more emotionally and mentally adequate as young k. maybe he feels more empowered or stronger and i don’t want to invalidate that. it takes courage to say what he said in front of a crowd.

97. just the stuff he’s gone through and how strong he is. he’s overcome so much. brave and powerful.

98. the fact that he doesn’t ever fake it with his lyrics, he remains true to his music and so does the rest of day6. stan day6.

99. he’s so interactive with fans and always wants to see us happy. you could say your fav idol does that too but this really IS why i love younghyun

100. the final reason is just because he lives. he lives despite all the obstacles that were probably thrown at him, and i respect and adore that. the way he makes us feel a little less lonely with words that he’s penned out of his own sorrow. the selflessness. i am lucky to listen to songs he has written and day6 has sung. he’s a beautiful human who deserves all ALL the love :’)

thank you for reading, my dudes

[theygettogetherintheend]

Homework EP Release Show

I just finished watching Darren’s live-stream in its entirety, and I have some shit to say...

1. Bare with me, because there is no possible way I can articulate my emotions in any form of coherency or order, but I’m going to try.

2. I am so grateful that Darren, not only gifted us (his fans) with this collection of songs, but that he made it perfectly clear how much he appreciates us and all the support we (and his family and friends) have given him. I am thankful that this ep, and the release party, was for us, and to a point, because of us. Not to mention, he live-streamed it so that fans who couldn’t go due to distance, or financial situations could still be a part of it - for FREE.

3. “I will be your song; you are mine.”

4. This is the best Darren live show I’ve seen to date. The set list, the musicians, the interpretation, and his vocals were all FANTASTIC.

5. The strings and horns sections played brilliantly, and the quality of writing for the violins and cello... gorgeous.

6. His falsetto.

7. One Fine Day - he slayed this. I’ve seen / heard other versions, but this is by far my favourite. 

8. He’s so soulful.

9. Biceps.

10. I’ve always been more drawn to Darren on the keys, as opposed to the guitar ... however, this show challenged that thought, which has never happened before - until, of course, he started playing the keys. By the end, I came to the conclusion that the piano is Darren’s soulmate.

11. He’s so soft.

12. “I just figured this out a few hours ago, so I hope it goes ok” - vintage Darren

13. I stopped breathing at Midnight Radio. It’s my favourite Hedwig song to begin with, and he just ... I have no words. It made me cry, especially at the quality in his voice when he sang, “...know in your soul, like your blood knows the way, from your heart to your brain, know that you’re whole.”

14. “Holy shit, I was on Glee.”

15. Teenage Dream, although it is sentimental to me, I realize that it’s over-done. But, this rendition of it fucked me up. It was so powerful and emotional. I’m so glad he played it.

16. He reminds me of Schroeder from Peanuts.

17. Hopelessly Devoted ... oh my good God! His interpretation of it is the best I’ve ever seen him (or anyone) do. Absolutely stunning. Perfection. He killed it. You can tell it is one of his favourites, and it is now one of mine.

18. Cough Syrup ... small glimpses of Blaine. And that hip clap. Yes.

19. Foolish Thing & The Day That The Dance Is Over were so good. I’m glad he didn’t cut those, given his time constraints.

20. Sami and Jealousy ... I cry.

21. I’m glad he played Glee songs, because this show was about his journey, and like Starkid, Human, Broadway, and now Homework (among other things), Glee is part of his story ... a poignant and wonderful part of him. Darren embraces it still ... and I am so happy for that.

22. Lauren Lopez, ladies and gentlemen

23. As we all know, Darren is so so so so talented, but watching this show ... you can tell that he’s in a great place, and that he’s just getting started. I am so proud of him, so happy for him, so grateful for him, and I love him to the moon and back.

Feel free to add your fave notes to this, because Darren, and this epic show must be celebrated!

[flairandpassion]

tagged by @moreracquetball thanks for tagging me c: this is like the longest post ive ever been tagged in so that’s fun :D

I tag @subtleglories @chickenmerengo @stephaniejblockmotherme @eldertwelvecupsofcoffee @elderandrew @weisenbxchfelds @nikolaevna-romanova @whizzerbrwn @strengthsbasedmediocrity @wihzzerbrown @livefortissimo @whizzerbrowne also if you wanna just go ahead and do it and tag people, go right on ahead! you can consider yourself tagged by me haha

last 

1. drink? five alive mango citrus

2. phone call? my mom

3. text message? my dad

4. song you listened to? making a home (falsettos)

5. time you cried? it was in may, on my road trip to ~ orlando ~ and it was ‘cuz my cousins were bullying me and usually it’s good-natured teasing but it was getting a bit much so i ended up crying in front of them lmao (but i had a lot of fun, and i definitely sang kevin’s “ORLANDO” way too much)

have you ever

6. dated someone twice? nope

7. kissed someone and regretted it? no

8. been cheated on? no

9. lost someone special? no

10. gotten drunk and thrown up? lol yes

favorite colors:

11. red

12. golden yellow

13. navy blue

in the last year have you

14. made new friends? yes!

15. fallen out of love? nope

16. laughed until you cried? i think so? probably; i laugh a lot and i laugh often

17. found out someone was talking about you? yes

18. met someone who changed you? no

19. found out who your friends are? kind of? in this last year, ive kinda been finding out who *i* am, and as a result, im finding out who really appreciates me for me, and that’s nice

20. kissed someone on your facebook list? nooope

general:

21. how many of your facebook friends do you know in real life? most of them

22. do you have any pets? nah, but i live with a dog who belongs to my ex-roommate

23. do you want to change your name? no, i quite like it :)

24. what did you do for your last birthday? i cleaned my room in the morning, my parents sent me these delicious chocolate strawberries, i watched the newsies pro-shoot with one of my best friends, we went out to eat korean food, and then bought drinks and came back home to finish act two of newsies--it was one of my favourite birthdays!

25. what time did you wake up? 10am? i had an alarm for 8am but it just didnt work out lol

26. what were you doing at midnight last night? i got frustrated i couldnt sleep so i pulled out my tablet and reread the second chapter of @moreracquetball‘s “the games i play” because honestly it’s such a good note to end the day on

27. name something you can’t wait for? ive decided i want to go to a sparring class on friday and the instructor’s kind of cute, so if im being completely honest, then that! but there’s a lot of other things, like dodie’s new ep, and im heading to skyzone, and falsettos being on broadwayhd! it’s been a good month of exciting things

28. when was the last time you saw your mom? on monday (two days ago)

29. what are you listening to right now? the sounds of the city outside; i live by a highway so i hear cars passing all the time and it’s soothing

30. have you ever talked to a person named tom? yeah! it took me a bit to remember, but i knew a guy in high school names thomas so i guess he counts? although now im second-guessing his name l o l

31. something that is getting on your nerves? my inability to take care of myself and my eating habits; i always forget to eat and it’s so bad

32. most visited website? ao3

34. long or short hair? short

35. do you have a crush on someone? the closest thing would probably be finding that instructor cute, but i dont think it really counts as a crush

36. what do you like about yourself? my enthusiasm! i’d also like to think i’m pretty open-minded and good at listening

37. piercing? just my ears

38. bloodtype? O+ ?

39. nickname? my name is basically already a nickname, so i dont really have one that has stuck

40. relationship status? single

41. zodiac? cancer

42. pronouns? she/her

43. favorite tv show? bbc merlin (find me on my main blog @reineyday if you like merlin as well #shamelessselfpromo)

44. tattoos? yep! a merlin on my left arm, a crown (king arthur’s tbh, but it also kinda refers to my name as well) on my right arm, a small stick-and-poke umbrella on my right heel (it’s a pun), and i kinda want a fortissimo tattoo on my left ankle bc falsettos tbh, but i want to know how to read music properly before i get it

45. right or left handed? right handed

46. surgery? yeah ive had surgery on my ears multiple times (my ear drums, to be specific)

47. sport? taekwondo, and also rock climbing

48. vacation? yes please! right now, i most want a new york trip to see more broadway shows, but i’ll honestly take anywhere new

49. pair of trainers? im not exactly sure what trainers refer to, but i wear those standard red converse

more general

50. eating: nothing rn, and im wondering if that is a correct move to make

51. drinking: nothing rn, but i just finished my five alive

52. i’m about to: finish a cover letter, download some stuff, buy tickets to a thing, and head to bed... lowkey thinking about putting off the cover letter tho

53. waiting for: the perfect time to listen to the last act of “36 questions” cuz ive been too tired to listen to it and properly appreciate it, y’know?

54. want: a falsettos movie poster

55. get married? maybe? probably? ideally? who tf knows

56. career? something artsy; the pipe dream right now is musical theatre--being on stage singing, or being backstage doing lighting or set designing--and even though the pipe dream changes from time to time, it’s always in an artistic direction

which is better

57. hugs or kisses? hugs? i havent really kissed enough to make an informed decision

58. lips or eyes? eyes

59. shorter or taller? taller, but short is good too

60. older or younger? older

61. nice arms or nice stomach? arms are the more visible of the two, but nice stomachs are great too, so can i say both?

62. hook up or relationship? relationship

63. troublemaker or hesitant? both have their appeals

have you ever

64. kissed a stranger? nope

65. drank hard liquor? yeah

66. lost glasses/contacts? yeah lol

67. turned someone down? yeah, but it was like, the fourth grade l o l

68. had sex on the first date? lol no

69. broken someones heart? nah, unless my mom counts (sorry mom)

70. had your heart broken? i dont think so, no

71. been arrested? nah

72. cried when someone died? no, but i think it’s just cuz ive been lucky enough not to have lost anyone close enough to me to prompt tears (unless we’re talking fictional deaths, ‘cuz i’ve cried at many of those)

73. fallen for a friend? yeah :/

do you believe in

74. yourself? on most days, i do :)

75. miracles? yeah, i think so

76. love at first sight? nah

77. santa? no, but i like thinking he exists--i believe in him like i believe in angels (see #79)

78. kiss on the first date? sure c:

79. angels? only in a fanciful way? i believe in angels like i believe in anything else i come to know about through stories

other

80. current best friend’s name: robyne; kristine; carolyn; elaine

81. eye color: brown

82. favorite movie: about time; eternal sunshine of the spotless mind; tangled

[baileysayswhat]

I know I kinda did a recap already from Oct ’18-19 – and I was going to write one of my rambling, lovable, GIF-heavy recap posts but I kind of like this bullet points idea.

I looked back through my calendar and feel like 2019 had a lot of wonderful in it. It was a solid year. Here’s a chronological look:

January

Rang in 2019 by watching Millie & Stanley, 2 cantankerous and lovable neighbor pugs. Also got food poisoning.

My first MINt team (Dec ’18-Feb ’19): Abominable SnowMINts

Playing with Pinafore (Nov ’18-Oct ’19) at CSz

Volleyball w Apple buds on team “How I Set Your Mother”

Continuing to teach Level 1 Krav Maga classes at Titan Gym

I go to work on Polar Vortex day! It’s pretty quiet.

February

Promotion to Senior Sales Executive at Grubhub

I’d only been there 10 months!

Flew to Phoenix for family time

Decided to visit the AZ office since my boss was in town too (for actual work)

Then worked in the office for 3 days

Work paid for my flight back

I felt v. v. fancy.

My parents drove 3.5 hours each way for me to see the Grand Canyon. On first sight walking up to the rim I cried. How is anything that vast and majestic? Whew. Full stop.

Sedona was wonderful and kooky and I need to go back.

Visit to best/favorite KBBQ – Cho Sun Ok – in Chicago with Neal AND we went to a concert – Dean Lewis & SYML

  March 

Started Crossfit at Windy City Strength and Conditioning

KBBQ at the same restaurant – Cho Sun Ok – 2 weeks after Neal BUT with Kalin.

I still don’t know how this happened but my stomach ain’t complaining about it.

Started final ID class w UW-Stout.

It will be the hardest class I’ve ever done in my life.

I just don’t know it yet.

Due to this ^^ took sabbatical from teaching Krav at Titan Gym

Flew to Dayton to see Trace/Dinah and Xander/Abs (PLUS YOU, COTY) and I’m so glad I did.

April

Took a Music Improv workshop through MINt with Alex

I sang a song about how I still have a Washington State Driver’s License but mid-song realized it was really was about how I missed home and cried in public, in a workshop. I’M FINE.

Went to a Cubs game IN A BOX for work

Yes, it was v chill and fancy.

Cast on second MINt team: BlooMINt Onion

Alex & Jake from the Little Rock crew came to Chicago

We get Old Fashioneds at the Broken Shaker

This is the best Old Fashioned in the city. I am convinced.

I will not be moved.

Interviewed for dream job while still in school for said job field.

Got dream job.

May

Started dream job

Saw Hamilton w Josh.

We are in the second row.

I immediately want to see it again. I do not.

It closes in 2 weeks (aka Jan 15, 2020) from now LETS GO

Bekah Brown (and Potato and Sully) in town!

We roam and nap and laugh.

Sat in with Oh Cecelia at iO twice

Being asked to sit in is bananas nice and I have done it several times this year with different teams. Thank you everyone for your trust in my make-believe!

Went to PHX for work to train 5/13 class

Do not feel prepared as I JUST started said job.

People are v nice.

I got upgraded to a suite and neither of my 2 bosses did. BIZLIFE.

Abby (L&D Boss) and I do not eat bread bowls from Panera by the hotel pool, WHICH I WAS PROMISED would happen. Still sad.

Officially resigned from Titan Gym/teaching Krav due to new job

Originating dream job position and possibly traveling every 2 weeks for it just wasn’t good for students, for the gym or for me. But I miss y’all.

Saw Falsettos (Broadway) show

it was NOT a comedy

I was NOT prepared

AND if meme photos of me crying on the train alone after ever come out it is Todd’s fault. The end.

Finish/graduate from UW-Stout’s Instructional Design Graduate Certificate program

I survived the aforementioned hardest class in m’life.

Genuinely sad/miss my group TO THIS DAY.

June

Mom & Dad come to Chicago –

Father’s Day

Field Museum

Architect River Cruise

CHICAGO HOT DOGS!

Had huge audition for something I really wanted. Felt good about it. Didn’t get it.

Did a 5 Things CSz workshop

July

Performed for the first time w Ben, Nicole & Nate as music improv team AirBRB

Had lunch with Toni Berry, writer, bud, fellow Sagittarius, former Apple co-worker

By ‘lunch’ I mean we hung out for like 4 hours. WE ARE LONG WINDED.

Decided to apply (and got) a workshop spot with RIFF; a music improv short form show that performs at iO.

Did improv set in a church service with Susan

it was a planned set; we didn’t just jump up and start, I swear

Lunch with Jenean, former work wife and also, strangely, my first time eating poke

I now love poke

WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG

Fly to Washington to drive to AZ with Mom & Em

August

4-Year Chicago-versary!

Me and the Bean are very happy together in a committed relationship over halfway to a common law marriage

Drive from Lynden, WA to Phoenix, AZ in 2 long days with Mom & Em

YES TWO DAYS

Teach 2nd training class in AZ for 8/5 class

Abby, L&D boss and of the 2 women I report to leaves the company. I hate this but still love her.

Sit in with Goat Milk Goddesses to perform at the Women’s Funny Fest at Stage 773

Dana comes to see me!

She’s the best.

I try my first Pole Dancing class at Brass Ring Chicago

Due to a Groupon I bought 6 months before that was about to expire 3 days later. I keep it up through EOY.

Compete in music improv competition “Verses” at Second City with AirBRB – we lose to some of my favorite people on Home Entertainment so I’m ok with it.

2nd RIFF show!

September

Audition for Anarchy, another music improv team

I don’t get it

But I know a ton of people in the room

I’m ok!

Speak to my UW-Stout instructor’s class about being hired to work in ID/Learning & Dev field as a Sales Trainer right out of our program.

Feel v accomplished.

Toggle from Crossfit back to LSAC gym by my house

Y’all CF is cool BUT MY WALLET WAS SCREAMING.

Play volleyball for Fall Season with people I met in Spring Season at Lincoln Park High School.

Catherine (Sales Boss) the second woman I love working for leaves the company. I hate this but love her.

I got her some goodbye cookies that Carrie makes and they are PERFECTION (see pic below) support Carrie she does amazing work and a percentage of every order supports a different charity every month. HERE IS HER LINK I LOVE IT. 

I got myself a massage. I am stressed/sad about the boss situation above BUT NOT THE COOKIES.

I got it on Groupon, I am fiscally responsible.

Start meal plan service to eat Keto for the month of October (officially 9/30-end of October).

Not fiscally responsible but IT IS OK.

Keto doesn’t let me eat fruit as as a Washingtonian this is a crime I do not like.

Make it the 30 days, lost 10lbs in Oct.

I get a new boss to report to on the Learning Team side at work. He seems cool although I don’t know it yet.

October

Final Pinafore show at CSz. I have the sads that this core group of people I love is done.

Yes, yes, I know we can still play together

IT WAS A GOOD BITTERSWEET THING

I know all things must end I used to watch Lost

Started some personal training with Brian at LSAC

I warn Brian I am a talker.

Brian makes me do weird double kettlebell swings. I am not good at it right away and hate it.

Literally all I do is try to make Brian laugh to get my mind off of sweating.

Guys, don’t worry. I got plenty of sweating in still.

Started an Olympic Weightlifting class with Keith at LSAC

I AM SHOCKINGLY GOOD AT THIS.

Thank you to the Crossfit gym and also Coach DeHoag at LC, I guess.

Cry at work 3x in one day after feeling overwhelmed w my 2 bosses being gone and the announcement we are upping our hiring aka much bigger training classes.

1. After a meeting

2. In a stairwell mid-afternoon

3. In first 1:1 with new boss

Is this a record and if so please get me a medal

I go to DC for the first time and get to hang with David, Bekah, Adam & Dana (and Millie)

I needed this.

Performed in Hocus Pocus Redacted at the Music Box as Allison.

 Yes, yabbos

November

Work tells me they approved hiring a 2nd person to do my role; we begin applications/interviews

Robbie becomes 2nd trainer at work and I begin trying to explain how/why I do what I do.

Audition for CSz & cast onto new Rec League team: Potluck

Watch Heather, Dan & Jess’s Bloody Christmas Carol show

My friends are fancy and sing & dance really well.

I came straight from a volleyball game and am very sweaty smushed next to strangers in this small theater.

See Robbie Ellis’s truly hilarious orchestra with Ben.

We fancy dress up.

We are seated in the front row.

We did not know we would be in the front row.

Thanksgiving week is my first week ‘off’ of training since starting my job on 5/1; I get so much work done and also contract a cold.

I do nothing except sit in my apartment alone for Thanksgiving, make myself mashed potatoes and I love it.

December

Record size massive training class (for us)

I am responsible for the learning & logistics of 20 people and gain (probably) 17 gray hairs.

Work approves a 3rd (Arizona) and 4th (Philadelphia) trainer; applications & interviews begin

I start seeing a therapist – it helps.

Nothing specific; I’m just noticing circular behaviors as I look back over my shoulder for 30+ years.

Added to the ensemble of RIFF

After performing as a sub several times since that workshop in July!

I’m added in the same class as Ben, Sarah & Will who I feel so honored to sing (and rhyme) with.

I fly home for 12 days to Lynden, WA

I turn 32 sitting at home, surrounded by my family.

I tell my family I plan on climbing Kilimanjaro in October 2020. I announce it at my birthday dinner so I can’t back out of it. NAME IT AND CLAIM IT BBS.

Yes, another blog post will come to flesh this ^^ out.

Performed with Upfront Theatre’s ensemble, including Ryan Stiles, for the 2nd time in Bellingham on the day after Christmas. My family is there seeing me do what I love and I am happy.

2019 Overall

Performances – with Pinafore, with MINt teams, RIFF and so many other opportunities to sit in and play with teams. Feeling grateful.

Shows – I saw countless shows; CSz matches, iO & SC improv, staged shows, musicals, Broadway, even just at movie theaters! Ya girl is stuffed full of stories. Also I have crazy talented friends.

People – I saw family 4 times! That’s almost a record for one year! Lunches, grocery store runs, shows and coffee times with so many friends too.

Health – Got my first ever stitches (shoulder), which was a weird first to have post-30. Overall healthy but somehow got food poisoning 3x this year. Probably won’t be asked to be on Bear Grylls show because of it ever.

Work – very happy to be working in the Learning & Development field as a trainer, instructional designer and general weirdo. Finally. GH has been very good to me.

Mental state – I’m pausing here and looking around my house, just thinking about this one.

I’m proud to be taking steps to correct patterns and behaviors that are unhealthy. Seeing a therapist that gives homework to work on between sessions is great.

I’m improving at recognizing progress as progress even when I wish the progress was bigger.

I’m proud/terrified to be setting the goal of climbing Kilimanjaro in October 2020. It scares me and excites me. More to come on this!

I’m thrilled to be an ensemble member on a long-term team. This has been a goal since I got to Chicago – I don’t need to drive my work to SNL or Mainstage. I just want to be on a consistent team of talented friends that I laugh with and improve my skills.

Hiya, 2020. Let’s go.

She’s Solid. I know I kinda did a recap already from Oct '18-19 - and I was going to write one of my rambling, lovable, GIF-heavy recap posts but I kind of like this bullet points idea.

[deadcactuswalking]

BLAST TO THE PAST: Reviewing the UK Top 40 from 27th May, 1981

I’mma try something different.

Top 10

So, steady at the top spot is the classic “Stand and Deliver” by Adam and the Ants, the first of the six consecutive non-moving songs. Yep, that’s right, the top ten was just as stagnant in 1981 as it is in 2018. Joy.

“You Drive Me Crazy” by Shakin’ Stevens is not shaking up at all, still at the runner-up spot from last week.

Now here’s something interesting: Starsound. They were a Dutch cover band who had extreme success covering pop songs in little disco melodies, one of which, “Stars on 45” is at number-three here.

At number-four, we have “Chequered Love” by Kim Wilde.

At number-five, we have “Ossie’s Dream (Spurs are on the Way to Wembley)” by Chas & Dave and... the Tottenham-Hotspur 1981 FA Cup finals squad. Football fever was really alive in the 80s, huh?

We also have “Swords of a Thousand Men” by Tenpole Tudor staying in the sixth spot.

Jumping up 16 spots, however, is number-seven, Smokey Robinson’s “Being with You”.

That pulled off REO Speedwagon’s “Keep on Loving You” from its prior space as it ventures down to number-eight.

Also up back into the top 10 is “I Want to be Free” by Toyah, up four spaces to number-nine.

And finally, we have “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes, still at number-ten.

Climbers

We do have a few big climbers this week, with “How ‘bout Us” by Champaign leaping 17 spaces up to #11, as well as “Don’t Let it Pass You By” / “Don’t Slow Down” by UB40 going up 19 spots to #17, with “Ain’t No Stopping” by Enigma up 15 spots to #18. “Chariots of Fire” by Vangelis is up nine spots to #25, also, but we do have quite a few fallers as well.

Fallers

“Grey Day” by Madness is down seven spots to #15, as is “When He Shines” by Sheena Easton to #19. “Chi Mai (Theme from Life and Times of David Lloyd George)” has landed 11 spaces down to #20, while “Al No Corrida (I-No-Ko-Ree-Da)” by Quincy Jones is down eight to #22, “Making Your Mind Up” by Bucks Fizz is down 10 to #26, the Killers Live EP by Thin Lizzy is down eight to #27, “Only Crying” by Keith Marshall is down 12 to #29, “Drowing” / “All Out to Get You” by the Beat is down six to #31, “Is Vic There?” by Department S is down seven to #33, “Can’t Get Enough of You” by Eddy Grant is down 11 to #35, “Can You Feel It” by the Jacksons is down 12 to #39 and “Good Thing Going (We’ve Got a Good Thing Going)” by Sugar Minott is down 11 to #40.

Dropouts

Okay, so, obviously, we have limited info on these charts. We don’t know all of the songs that dropped out, however we do have some of them. These include “Attention to Me” by the Nolans from #20, “Bermuda Triangle” by Barry Manilow from #30, “Is that Love” by Squeeze from #40, “Muscle Bound” / “Glow” by Spandau Ballet from #22, “Pocket Calculator” by Kraftwerk from #39, “Don’t Break My Heart Again” by Whitesnake from #31 and “Night Games” by Graham Bonnet from #33. The reason for this absolute massacre in the fallers and dropouts has an easy culprit: the avalanche of new (and maybe returning – again, we don’t know) entries to the top 40, which we will start to review right now.

NEW ARRIVALS (and/or returning entries)

#34 – “Just the Two of Us” – Grover Washington, Jr.

Yep, you read that right – this is the absolute classic “Just the Two of Us”, the intimate funky jazz track that will have much more of a legacy than its Will Smith remake. Just listen to that iconic lead-in piano melody and that delightful strumming of the guitar, providing a perfect backdrop for Washington’s deeper falsetto croon, definitely a lot more stable than a lot of his competitors at the time. Then that beautiful, borderline iconic hook comes in, with that strong bassline and at the final chorus, a choir and some damn impressive cowbell – seriously, can these be used more often? Before the song ends, we have a fantastic climax with choir vocals and a steadily increasing speed pattern in the drums all being the assistance to a grand saxophone solo. The best thing about this track is that despite how sensual it may sound, it is not about sex at all. It is instead about true love, and how there’s no point in being sad or crying. Nothing will come out of it in the end, and if you persevere, you could make anything work. “Just the two of us, we can make it if we try.” I’d say I recommend this, but you’ve heard this.

#32 – “Spellbound” – Siouxsie and the Banshees

A lot of the songs in this new series will be ones I’ve never actually heard before, or have only passively heard once or twice, so it’s nice that I get to hear artists I’ve always heard about but never really sat down and listened to, one of which would be Siouxsie and the Banshees, female-lead post-punk group formed in the late 70s. Now, I love my classic alternative rock, so you’d imagine I’d be all over this, right?

Yes, yes, I am. What, did you think that was a fake out? I love this guitar riff, especially when it’s surrounded by the haunting synths and a... tambourine from the sounds of it, before Siouxsie starts to sing excellently in the intro, prior to a sudden kick to a more upbeat track, with some great strumming and a steady, albeit blocky, drum beat that Siouxsie rides on excellently. Not to mention how catchy and surprisingly rushed the whole thing is, with its abrupt ending. Did it deserve to get the Banshees’ guitarist into Mojo’s 100 greatest guitarists of all time list, like it did? Hell, yes, the guitar work is absolutely fantastic here. Great track, that will probably be in rotation for me for a long time. You could say I’m spellbound by how I’ve been missing out on them... yeah, sorry.

#30 – “Let’s Jump the Broomstick” – Coast to Coast

So, “Let’s Jump the Broomstick” has been performed by many people, and I don’t care for any of the others here. Will British group act Coast to Coast finally show me how well-written this song is and how elegantly-composed... nah, let’s quit the act. I can’t take any song with “broomstick” in the title seriously, in all honesty, and I don’t think anybody else did, because the damn thing’s impossible to find on Spotify. Hence, I had to resort to YouTube, and yeah, this was not worth the effort it needed to find it. It has a solid guitar riff – mostly because it’s a cover – and everyone performs decently except that singer with no range at all, which wouldn’t be needed if he was so obviously trying to impress us. This is a clumsy effort at retreading their last hit, with was also a classic cover. This is just kind of nondescript, actually. Skip it.

#28 – “More than in Love” – Kate Robbins and Beyond

This is a magically smooth song. With its subtle acoustic guitar strumming, gentle synth melodies and grand horn arrangements that make a lovestruck ballad seem so much more full of life than it has any right to be, you can tell that this isn’t just another soppy and soft 80s cheese-fest like the later years in the decade would offer. Nope, with the choir backing up Kate Robbins’ wide range and A-game delivery as well as just perfectly-fitting vocals overall, this is funnily enough effortless in how much more effort it puts in than other pop ballads. Just listen to the synth tones in the bridge while the choir sings your hearts out. It’s a damn good ballad that I did not expect, especially since I don’t know how this Beyond guy is. Is that the choir? If so, that’s a pretty uneven duet, since Robbins runs away with this majestic track.

#24 – “One Day in Your Life” – Michael Jackson

Now, I like soul. I like ballads. I like MJ, he’s one of the greatest period... but, man, this is dreary and boring. Wow, that sure is a Latin-inflected guitar melody and some pretty nice notes being played, with an incredibly uninteresting string-synth – nobody’s being fooled here – backing up Michael here on the weaksauce hook. His performance is okay, but is ridden with problems I have with young Michael, including over-singing and simply not having much natural charisma. I’m pretty sad that this is the first time I talk about the King of Pop on here, saying that his song sucks, but it sure does, so I’m sorry, MJ, but your song’s bad – albeit mostly because of the production. Oh, and it’s also way too long for that matter. This would be nowhere near as bad if chopped in half.

#23 – “Will You?” – Hazel O’Connor

Who? What? Where? When? Why?

Those were the questions I started and ended the song asking, because I’m still unsure if this is monotonous or one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. Those horns and the steady drum beat support the guitar to make a smooth new wave beat with an urban tinge, while O’Connor sings about spilling tea – “oh, silly me”. Apart from questionable lyrics, this is just kind of a bore for all of the five minutes it goes on for, even if it does develop with some interesting instrumentation and hell, experimentation. If this was two minutes, I’d argue it’s a masterpiece, but with an already repetitive hook and beat, it just can’t hold its own. The worst thing is that there’s a perfect place for it to finish at 2:36, but it starts back up again for some ungodly reason. Just... go away, I like the solo but come on, let the song end. We don’t need it to be this long, and I’m surprised that at its length it didn’t flop entirely, but apparently this got a ton of radio play somehow, with all its quirks and lack of normal construction. This may grow on me, but for now, this is a bit of a sleeper that never hits.

#13 – “All Those Years Ago” – George Harrison

This bassline and guitar melody in the intro isn’t really regarded as an iconic moment in music history, but it definitely should be. Those few notes pack a whole lot of punch, especially when packed by that oddly menacing synth, before George Harrison comes in and uses those elements to make a damn catchy song somewhat reminiscent of an 80s take on Beatles psychedelia, with smooth vocals, a keyboard solo and some beautiful choir backing. It experiments quite a lot with off-beat pitch-shifted vocals as well as guitar licks coming out of bloody nowhere, but it makes a great pop tune throughout all of the chaos, perfectly constructing it into a LEGO tower that will never fall – a timeless achievement that will hopefully be recognised as a solo Beatles highlight at some point, because this is one of my personal favourites. Yes, of course, it’s recommended, it’s a classic.

Conclusion

So, Worst of the Week is easy – that goes to “One Day in Your Life” by Micheal Jackson, with Dishonourable Mention for “Let’s Jump the Broomstick” by Coast to Coast. Best of the Week is definitely more difficult though, however I think “All Those Years Ago” by George Harrison pips everything else at the post, with a tied Honourable Mention going to “Spellbound” and “Just the Two of Us”. I have no clue what will happen next time, so Reviewing the Charts tomorrow, I hope. See ya!