#i have so many super specific animatics for EACH song its all so good

[zaynes-ocs]

Just a mini list of songs that fit my characters cause I have brain animatics all the time lol

(Note that some of these songs pair better with a respective character, namely jasiker and xadian’s playlists have a lot of overlap meant to be shared as a sort of duet between the two characters and one of jasiker’s is to be shared with his sister wendy)

Rothgar:

Villain by Stella Jang

Revived by Derivakat

Dont Mess with me by Temposhark

Hell’s comin with me by Poor Man’s Poison

Sound of Madness by Shinedown

Ashes by the longest johns

Xadian:

Wanna be your slave by Måneskin

Confrontation by Anthony Warlow

Stalkers tango by Autoheart

Pretty much any song from the beetlejuice musical but in particular “Say my name” and “Fright of their lives”

If I killed someone for you by Alec Benjamin

One Big Beautiful Sound by Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards

Jasiker Willowspeak:

A sadness runs through him by hoosier

Jekyll and Hyde by five finger death punch

Welly boots by the amazing devil

Shit by Bo Burnham

Milo Thatcher:

Battle Cry by Shayfer James

The mind electric by tally Hall (specifically from their album Hawaii: part II) [bonus is that this is the song that inspired his entire character!]

The soul eclectic by chonny jash

The heart acoustic by chonny jash

Ready to die by Andrew W.K.

Alexander:

Chariot by burn the ballroom

Waving through a window by the original cast recording of dear evan hansen [this song also works as a voice headcanon for him]

Ship in a bottle by Fin

Saint bernard and saint bernard 2 by Lincoln

Karma by AJR

[banana-pancake5]

Dude I finally read the neon void and I’m going a little crazy.

I just kinda really really love it. I knew it was good but I didn’t expect it to be that good. So that was pleasantly surprising. I also for some reason didn’t expect to get Leo narrating for whatever reason but I’m so glad we did. It makes me so sad the misunderstandings the boys had when Leo’s being Leo but with a darker appearance (and being so unnecessarily aggressive with the remarks toward himself like baby no 😭)

I can’t exactly speak from experience but the way grief was written was so so nice. I guess I could be completely off base bc I have yet to experience that type of grief (the perks of not getting close to too many people I suppose) but it feels really realistic. I super appreciate it bc I’m gonna use it as an actual reference bc it’s written in a way that’s understandable? I guess? Like I didn’t really get the specifics of grief before and I guess I can’t really now, but I do have a better grasp I think. Ah it made me hurt a lot tho

I’m still kinda taking it all in but all of everything was just so so good. I would love to hear about all your favorite moments and aspects bc I feel a ramble on my bones but it needs to be awakened teehee

Yesssss im so glad you read it dcisjncedjindecinwdijwdcnijcen it so GOOD!!! (Also I literally went insane when I read it XD)

A reason I’m so obsessed with TNV is how Leo is characterized. I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I LOVE crazy/insane characters Idk what it is about them but they always peak my interest. And the way @/sugarpasteltmnt writes Leo’s madness just feels so real!!! Insane characters + unreliable narrator (especially if it’s the insane character) = NCSDJHDSCNDJSJCN#NJISCDNDC I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!! The misunderstandings of the brothers is also written so incredibly well. Again, it just feels so real. Their theories of who Neon Void is, their greif, their reactions to the taunts, etc. is all so realistic dfhuncfeuhncefihncufehneuhfcn

Oh and I also want to mention this fic made me LAUGH OUT LOUD. That does not happen with me!!! Especially with a fic????? Unheard of. (Specifically it was the Highschool TV show chapter)

Another thing I really like is how Donnie is written!!! I don’t even know what specifically about it, it’s just perfect!!!

Yeah I know what you mean!! The greif is written incredibly well, and though I haven’t experienced a loss like that, it definitely seems like a valid and (like I’ve said above) realistic way for each of them to react. I think it definitely does give me a better grasp on how some people grieve as well!

Hmmmm more of my favorite moments and aspects let’s seeeeeee

OKAY WELL THE WHOLE SPACE ODDITY SCENE MAKES ME WANNA SOB AND DIE OF EXCITEMENT AT THE SAME TIME. ESPECIALLY, IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY SEEN IT, LOOK AT THIS ANIMATIC BY @bowandbrush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ITS PHENOMENAL!!!! I think a (small) part of this is I’ve realized when a song I know and like is referenced in a fic it makes me go “edcjhefncihednchdiencsidjncdeijnjicedniscdjnds”

The 2012 reference with the whole rap makes me EXPLODE (ESPECIALLY DUM DUM LEOS PART NEDCIJNCDEEIJDNCIJEDCNJIDENC STOP BEUNG SO MEAN TO YOURSELF BUD)

Literally every scene with Leo is so cinimatic I can’t ndeicndwuchsdnuhnd

Whenever Leo is talking with his brothers and feels their Ninpo and such is so heartwarming and tragic

Oh! I really like the detail of him HATING that Cassandra is like “a part of the family” because it makes sense (SHE WAS IN THE FOOT CLAN, FROM LEOS PERSPECTIVE WHY WOULD THEY TRUST HER!!?!?!)

The chapter when Mikey rips off his arm is fantastic (I really like Leo’s reaction!!!)

I’m trying to remember all these scenes rn but I think that’s all I’ll say for now

If this invokes the ramble inside of you, you know I’d love to hear it!!!!!

[morningstarrook]

Thoughts on the Wisdom Saga

This had been stuck in the drafts for a while, but since the release day for the Vengeance Saga dropped recently, I decided to finally buckle down and finish this. I had initially listened to this saga on release but, as can be clearly seen now, Ive been kinda putting off writing down my thoughts. But no more! Ive listened to the entire saga a second time, and now want to share my thoughts on it.

I’ll put it under the read more because I know I have a lot to say so, I won’t waste anymore time on it.

Song 26 - Legendary

A lovely introduction to this next saga, I must say. I adore the upbeat instrumentals, and I think they work well with introducing Telemachus. In my view, they help kind of push this idea that Telemachus has this naïve sense of being considered a legend, and that he doesn’t yet fully understand the struggles and battles he’d have to face that would come with going down the path of being a hero. And it makes sense, considering it seems like he’s been shut in his room/home for his entire life for his safety, I just find the first half of this song really sweet, and a nice set up of Telemachus’ character, especially when we meet the suitors and, primarily, Anitonius. And can I say, Ayron really put his whole chest into that “BOY” cause DAMN-

All in all, while I don’t have much to say about this song in general, I do like it quite a lot! I’ll give a solid 8/10 :)

Song 27 - Little Wolf

MMM BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE CHAT, been waiting for this one specifically for a while. I honestly love the video game imagery used during the live, first and foremost. Secondly, ANITONIUS’ VOICE ???? To get back on track, this is probably the main song I was waiting patiently for and safe to say, I was not disappointed. No thoughts, head empty, just Little Wolf playing on repeat fr

Adore it, no further comments, 10/10

Song 28 - We’ll be fine

I won’t lie, listening to this song for the first time, it caught my eye immediately. And listening to it on repeat after that only served to enhance my love for this song.

The vocals were exceptional and the imagery that accompanied the song even more so. Even if it’s the shortest song in the saga, it just. It’s so good! The best way I can describe it as a sweet little intermission that helped to transition from Little Wolf and Love in Paradise, and the characterization too !!!!! Omg, Athena admitting to seeing Odysseus as a friend and admitting to the fact things could have turned out differently, and all for the better?? Telemachus seeing her a friend immediately?? Athena Ody friendship in general???

Im very charmed by this song, and it has definitely earned its place on my favorite song list overall. I give this song a 10/10

Song 29 - Love in Paradise

Honestly, while Love in Paradise is not a song I listen to on repeat, I can admit I love it dearly, and for lack of a better word, seeing different perspectives for this song and all the dark possibilities that could’ve happened between the 7 years Ody was trapped have been certainly some food for thought. The full showcase of the Time Dive was absolutely stunning, Wangui nailed it with voicing Calypso, and just. I can’t really find any other way to put it instead of just this song was super well done!

All in all? I can appreciate this song for what it is! I’ll give it a solid 7/10

Song 30 - God Games

FINALLY I have been waiting for this song’s release since first hearing the snippet like, years ago? And how was it like hearing the full song? I wasn’t really disappointed!

I always knew that with there being so many gods to go through and many different song sections for each of them, some sections were going to be much shorter than the others. And safe to say, I was proven right in that. But for what we did get, this song was just a banger!

AND THE ENDING???!!?! I SAW THE FINAL PART OF THE ANIMATIC IN THE LIVE AND I FINALLY UNDERSTOOF WHAT THE COMMENTS WERE GETTING AT OMG ATHENA???? Jorge when I CATCH YOU JORGE The plot armor better save her cause her actually armor ain’t gonna do shit! I am not lying when I say I actually shed tears watching that for the first time cause I was just? so?? Flabbergasted?? In the best way ofc :]

God Games is, for lack of a better word, great. I love it, it met my expectations, and the ending of the livestream animatic left me a changed person, I can say that for sure. I give God Games an appreciative 9/10!

Im happy to finally get this out of the drafts, and will be sitting very patiently waiting for the Vengeance Saga to drop (here’s to hoping I can make it to the live but I have my doubts I’ll actually be able to tune in for the entirety of it).

[lunarblazes]

i made a desertduo playlist and then decided to be a nerd and write explanations for all the songs! like a nerd!

playlist link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ZGylutQpyTbgX7MY7Lrzz?si=t8_kBwBHSYG5kxTvZoIrTQ&dl_branch=1

QUICK DISCLAIMER: i am aware that a lot of these songs may have or imply romantic connotation! i would really really like it if these were not read as though those romantic connotations carry over to scar and grian. even if we’re just talking about the third life characters, i would prefer not to ship them or imply romance between them on this post. thank you so much and keep reading if you’d like to see the playlist analysis!

and now that that’s out of the way, PLAYLIST TIME!

•

passerine- the oh hellos

“you were the song that i’d always sing/you were the light that the fire would bring/but i can’t shake this feeling that i/was only pushing the spear into your side again”

this song really just... firstly, it’s one of my favorite songs, and the line i chose there pushes home the sort of terrified devotion i think the desert has. plus there’s a fun line about the cold wind blowing in from the north in the ending bits that i think very much fits their conflict with the red army, and a lot of legally obligated flight imagery that i need to have in every possible song because i’m a fuckin nerd.

•

no children- the mountain goats

“i hope that our few remaining friends/give up on trying to save us/i hope we come up with a failsafe plot to piss off the dumb few that forgave us”

i will admit that no children isn’t a perfect fit, but the general vibe of sort of defiant pessimism and betrayal fits very well with them! it’s very triumphant in its death, and i think that is very desertcore, because what’s more triumphantly dead than being the last duo left alive?

•

skulls- bastille

“when all of our friends are dead and just a memory/it’s always been just you and me/for all to see”

okay like this entire song is SO MUCH DESERT VIBES? LIKE SO MUCH. if i were to ever make an animatic for them i’d do it with this song. “a match is our only light, it’s day of the dead i’m indiana jones, yeah,” “i hope you can make me laugh six feet under when we’re bored of each other,” “i don’t want to rest in peace, i’d rather be the ghost that annoys you,” IT JUST KEEPS GOING. i think this song would work well with any third life duo, honestly, but these two in PARTICULAR just because of how it ended with them literally ‘buried’ next to each other, and again, the chaotic death vibes.

•

freaking out- mystery skulls

“i just keep out of my tongue/til all you want is done/and you just wanna leave me, oh yeah”

this song is a very third life grian song to me in particular! it could be my bias because of my little headcanon of grian burning on his red life, but seriously, this song is very reminiscent of the back and forth of loyalty that grian has with scar. the above line is sort of representative of the betrayal on red, and of course grian’s life debt.

•

night running- shin sakiura

(this song is in japanese! these lyrics are the rough english translation i found on google.) “someday we will stand at this place once again/for sure we will stand up again and again/we will watch it will the end/i want you to live freely”

this song is actually the ending theme for the anime bna, which i adore, and i just added it on a whim before looking at the translated lyrics. but um. holy hell the lyrics hurt me because they’re about running in search of someone, running for no reason, looking for something, and it just really hit, because the desert never really had a goal! they didn’t expect to survive, they were trying to survive, but what was their longterm goals? nothing. so that sort of endless search felt fitting for this. plus the song is a parallel for the two estranged best friends of the show so! perfect.

•

summer nights- siames

“it’s summertime/singing al green in your car/heading to a party/and the night air feels alive”

okay again, i will admit this song is mainly on here because i absolutely love it, but i also do think it fits well. it’s also about healing/estranged friendships, with a very distinct feeling of nostalgia for a happier time. maybe for a time when this was all a game, when there was no blood or betrayals on their hands. little canon divergent, but it’s fun for me, so into the playlist it goes!

allies or enemies- the crane wives

“are we allies or enemies/this will be the death of me, this will be the death of me/all’s fair in love and war but i can’t fight with you anymore”

. i just. points to that lyric. it literally led to both of their deaths. are they allies or enemies? it also fits with scar still wanting grian to be his friend even after he’s no longer indebted with the line “what happens now? do we have another go, do we bow out?” another very good animatic song that i’ve considered heavily. i listen to this playlist a lot

•

burn him down- kitsch club

“you must destroy, oh you must destroy, beyond all recognition/you gotta burn him down, you gotta burn him down, beyond all recognition”

this song just has a lot of fire and arson and high energy vibes. my little war criminals look at them go

•

rose- the oh hellos

“what's true is like a sickle/it'll cut you to the middle/your rose is without a thorn/but no, my mouth don't taste of metal/from the pot here to the kettle/i think we got a lot we gotta learn”

this one is like the exact opposite vibe of burn him down. the oh hellos are so poetic and this song just... feels like the healing potions after a battle. many of the metaphors here fit, i think

•

lone digger- caravan palace

“hey, brother, what you thinking/that good ol' sound is ringing/they don't know what they're missing/(they call it lonely diggin')”

okay this song is straight up just a dance song. i added it because i like it and also for some reason it feels ominous to me? i’ve got no idea why, it’s seriously just a club song, but it’s a banger and it’s in this playlist because i said so

•

feed the machine- poor man’s poison (suggested by my friend argonaughtkeene!)

“somethin’s goin” on, just look around/fear is on the rise, and there’s blood all over the ground/let’s all just blindfold the poor, we all know what’s in store/ we got ‘em now, just break ‘em down a little bit more”

this song is a VIBE for both desertduo members. there’s parts for both of them. it’s ruthless, gritty, very maniacal, perfect. listen to it and you’ll immediately understand why i added it.

•

sweet tooth- scott helman

“i hold hands with cosmic entities/i’ll take this two-ride if i please/i got this sweet tooth baby, yeah i got this sweet tooth baby/i exploit my opportunities/some broken hearts, some cavities”

sweet tooth is super upbeat and bright with these strangely dark lyrics? like i’m pretty sure it’s about addiction. in any case, i thought the “i hold hands with cosmic entities” very funnily fitting for both of the desert boys. it’s a banger!

•

necromancin’ dancin’- bear ghost

“when i’m necromancin’, everyone’s dancin’/nobody can stop me, i dare you to try/the dead are infused with insatiable groove and they’re coming for you, there’s nowhere to hide”

necromancin’ dancin’ just. bastard vibes. there’s not much more to say it’s just huge villain song vibes. i adore it.

•

crazy = genius- panic! at the disco

“if crazy equals genius/then i’m a fucking arsonist/i’m a rocket scientist/if crazy equals genius/you can set yourself on fire/but you’re never gonna burn, burn, burn”

i. yeah. y. yeah. more bastard vibes. also shoutout to an artist i saw (i think it was strifesolution?) who made a desertduo piece to this song because i have not stopped thinking about it ever

•

sweet bod- lemon demon

“i’m diggin’ up your coffin/and pouring out the contents/your sexy, sweet solution/is ripe for distribution”

you know how i said freaking out was a grian song? this one is a scar song. it’s my favorite lemon demon song and also it has the total macabre capitalism vibe that third life scar NAILED. more bastard vibes good for him <3

•

drunk- the living tombstone

“feel so much better than usual/i feel indisputable, oh/but now i’m feeling so beautiful/don’t wake me up from this spell i’m under, if i’m still breathing/i know that i will be ugly when i feel like myself again, oh/but right now i’m feelin’ so beautiful”

the descent of this song, starting off with a polite gathering and ending with a gasping drunk in the parking lot gazing at the stars that he can barely see? yes. yeah. mhm. i used a line from this song for a fic, actually, it fit so well.

•

oh no!- marina

“one track mind, one track heart/if i fail, i’ll fall apart/maybe it is all a test/cos i feel like i’m the worst so i always act like i’m the best”

bubbly pop track about false confidence, the ruthlessness of the pop industry, and the influence of the media? you know why this is here. it vibes. it rocks.

•

do it all the time- i don’t know how but they found me

“we’re taking over the world/a little victimless crime/and when i’m taking your innocence/i’ll be corrupting your mind/no need to cry i’m only doing everything i want to do because i do it all the time”

EVEN MORE BASTARD VIBES! SOMEHOW THERE IS MORE! this playlist is half villain songs and half heart-wrenching ballads and that’s the real desert experience i think.

•

the phoenix- fall out boy

“i’m gonna change you/like a remix/then i’ll raise you/like the phoenix”

BATTLE SONG BATTLE SONG! i’ll be honest i partially chose this song because i am a huge sucker for phoenix grian imagery in particular, but it’s also just a very good war song for them. villain song no 18372948 except this one originally had a hero vibe and now it’s changed specifically for them?? wild. their power

•

the other side- the greatest showman

“right here, right now/i’ll put the offer out/i don’t wanna chase you down, i know you see it/you run with me/and i can cut you free/out of the treachery/and all you keep in”

scar and grian’s desert monopoly conversation went exactly like this canonically because i said so fuck you <3

•

icicles- the scary jokes (suggested by my friend demizorua!)

“icicles don’t soften when they die/so why should i, why should i?/oh, icicles don’t soften when they die/they sharpen into sabers and they stab you in the eye”

this song actually has specific parts for both grian and scar! my cool epic friend mx demizorua pointed both of them out to me and i adored it so much. it’s a very spiteful song, just like the desert boys. also it feels vaguely murderous. perfect

•

problems- mother mother (suggested by my friend demizorua!)

“i’m a loser, a disgrace/you’re a beauty, a luminary, in my face”

literally this entire song fits them. particularly their relationship with the flower husbands, to me, honestly— the whole “when we meet at the pearly gates/you’ll get the green light/and i’ll get the boot in the face” reminds me a lot of them hdksjdks

•

tongues and teeth- the crane wives

“i know that you mean so well/but i am not a vessel for your good intent/i will only break your pretty things/i will only wring you dry of everything”

h. yeah. this song is literally gaslight gatekeep girlboss and i attribute it to the desert for that reason alone. songs to commit murder to!

•

you’re nobody til somebody wants you dead- saint motel

“you’re nobody til somebody wants you dead/and the list, it grows, and grows, and grows/it grows, and grows, and grows/and grows, and grows, and grows/until it’s everyone you’ve ever known”

this one is very self-explanatory. enemies pogchamp

•

curses- the crane wives

“there’s a fire in my brain and i’m burning, love/oh my, oh my/keep running to the sink, but the well is dry/oh my, oh my/every word i say is kindling/but the smoke clears when you’re around”

okay again! this one has two very specific parts for both of them. grian’s the first verse, which is above, and scar’s the second verse!! i really do like my fire imagery for these two don’t i? well, i blame them for having a fuck ton of tnt on them at all times and literally burning their enemy’s banners as a final act of defiance.

[propheticfire]

Dogma for the character ask thing! Oh, and Viren too if you want xP

Aaaaah thank you! I would LOVE to talk about both of my boys! :D :D

DOGMA: favorite thing about them I have to go with the meaning I assigned to his symbol on the clone trooper tattoo I got: his conviction. He’s so committed to being the best soldier he can be, and yeah at first that led him to follow his orders pretty strictly, but when he finally saw how flawed those were, he stepped up and chose to think for himself. ...also he’s gorgeous and his tattoo is so great. least favorite thing about them I guess being a tightass? Lol. But since I love him it’s also kind of endearing. favorite line I really love the way he hisses out, “We have to tell [the general]. If we know what they’re up to, and we keep our mouths shut, then we’ll be complicit in their insubordination. Do you really want to be court-martialed?” brOTP Dogma & Tup is kind of the default answer for this. But maybe also Dogma & Echo? I like to think that if they’d met, they’d end up good friends. OTP Dogma/happiness, lol. But actually, probably Dogma/Fives? I’ve built a little AU around it; you can read some of it on AO3. I’ll get back to writing it eventually, I promise. nOTP I don’t really know that I have a nOTP, so much as there’s just one ship that I don’t particularly jive with, and it’s Dogma/Mace Windu. There’s nothing wrong with it, and I fully support people who ship it, but I tend to skip over that content when I run across it. random headcanon Dogma will make a big show of not liking spicy food, but secretly he wishes he could enjoy it. unpopular opinion I honestly don’t know what opinions about Dogma are popular or unpopular. I suppose, I think he’s more competent and less shiny than some parts of the fandom believe. I don’t know if that counts. song i associate with them I have a whole playlist, actually, from kind of an AU where Dogma learns how to play music as part of his therapy in prison after Umbara. It’s basically just most of the Smoke+Mirrors album from Imagine Dragons. But more specifically, their song Release. favorite picture of them This one might be cheating because it was run through the FaceApp filter to make it look younger, but that’s why I love it. Makes him look more the age that he’s supposed to be.

VIREN: favorite thing about them Viren is the most badass motherfucker on the show. And I don’t just mean because he can use powerful magic, or because he’s got decent fighting skills and hella stamina. He is absolutely willing to throw down and put his life on the line for what he believes in. He’s all in. ...also he’s really hot good god. least favorite thing about them The way he straight up gaslit his son. That was really not cool. favorite line Everything this man says is gold, so I can’t possibly choose a favorite. I do like when he says to Runaan, ”What a beautiful challenge you’ve given me.” Not for its profundity or significance out of context, but because he says it so smoothly it’s so very Viren. brOTP Viren doesn’t...have any bros. :(( But actually, Viren & Amaya. Their friendship would consist almost entirely of sass and badassery, but there would be some gentle moments. I wish they could be friends again. OTP Virrow! There’s something about Viren/Harrow that just really pulls at my heartstrings. I ship Viren with so many people, lol, and I love all the different things you can explore with each ship, but virrow is my favorite. nOTP idk, maybe Viren/Ezran? idk how many people even ship that (and I always support people’s right to ship what they want), but that’s not really my thing. random headcanon Viren is fluent in so many languages, some of which you’ve never even heard of. unpopular opinion Viren has done nothing wrong in his life ever. ...but to be serious, I guess it depends what part of the fandom you’re in, what constitutes an unpopular opinion. As a Viren fan, most of what I think is unpopular to a good chunk of the fans. Outside of canon, I guess I have two unpopular opinions: 1. Viren’s not exclusively or even primarily a sub or a bottom 2. I’m gonna come clean on this one. There’s a fandom art trend going around right now of hobo timeskip Viren. And all the art is super great! I love and support all the artists. But most timeskip Virens have grown out the mustachy bit of his beard, and dear god I just wanna shave it off please get rid of it I hate it. I want his chinstrap beard back. song i associate with them I don’t really listen to a lot of music these days, so I don’t strongly associate Viren with a particular song. But there’s this awesome animatic type thing that @artaline did, to a song from a musical about Jafar(?) that’s pretty badass, so I guess that one. favorite picture of them There are so many great pictures of Viren it’s hard to choose, but I have to go with this one, since it’s the first one I ever screencapped and posted on tumblr declaring my love for him.