#i have successfully put the lyrics in mama's head

[chibi-pix]

You remind me of the meme. What meme? The meme with the mittens. What mittens? The mittens of Bernie. Bernie? Sanders. Do what? You remind me of the meme!

Hey y’all! So yesterday, Mama and I were chatting about the Bernie Sanders meme and as I joke, I told her I should put him in a scene of Labyrinth. Well, I did. And I have no regrets. Mama said I should share it along with the little lyrics I could come up with earlier here, so here I am sharing it.  I hope y’all enjoy!

[violetsandfluff]

Could you write something where shawn has a day off and spends the day looking after his toddler and they’re like sitting on the floor colouring princess books whilst watching Disney films and they’re like singing the songs together goofing off

“Just go, honey,” Shawn assured his wife. “Dani and I will be just fine here all day. Plus, you take care of her all the time. I’ve got it.”

“If you insist,” she reached up to kiss his cheek. “Dani, be good to daddy. Daddy? You be good, too, okay?”

Shawn nodded with a grin as Daniella grabbed his hands and began pulling him away.

“You be good, Mama.”

“Daddy, I wanna watch Elsa!” Dani cried as soon as she had brought him successfully to the living room. “Can you turn on Elsa, please?”

“I can put Elsa on, sweetheart. Why don’t you go get some coloring books or toys to play with as we watch?”

Daniella ran off in excitement as Shawn pulled up Frozen on the Tv and settled down on the floor in front of the couch.

Daniella stumbled into the room with an armload of stuffed animals, coloring books, and crayons.

Shawn watched with amusement as she lined up her stuffed animals on the couch, in their special order before spreading the rest of her things out across the floor.

“You can help me color these ones,” she instructed as she pulled out her favorite princess coloring book. “Me and mommy started this one, but I don’t like it very much. Which one do you wanna do?”

Shawn watched her flip through the worn pages, until he stopped her at one particularly sweet-looking princess. “This one,” he decided. “She looks like you.”

“No,” Daniella shook her head in exasperation. “I wanna do this one. Don’t you think this one looks more like me?”

“Definitely,” Shawn agreed as he helped her open her crayon boxes. “Which colors should we use?”

Daniella handed a handful of crayons to Shawn as she bag to color the pretty girl’s gown hastily. “Her dress is blue like Elsa, and her hair is orange like Anna!” she decided, her face lighting up with the start of the movie she’d seen so many times before.

Shawn busied himself with the broken crayons he’d been handed as he listened to his little girl’s voice speak along with the movie. A rosy smile crept onto his face as he listened.

Shawn’s rare day off was spent on the living room floor with his daughter, coloring Disney princesses and watching Frozen on loop, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Every time Let it Go came on, he and Dani sang it at the top of their lungs,

By the time his wife returned home, he had every lyric to all of the songs memorized. When they crawled in bed together late that night, he closed his eyes to see the brightly animated movie, etched permanently into his eyelids.

Taglist: @fishingirl12 @monikamendes @chocochipcookie305 @pamelagramm @wayfcharlie

[eurovision-del]

And now, just before the show tonight, here’s the conclusion of my ranking of the entries this year, with my top 10.

10. Sweden – Move

I never got the hype for any other song in Melfest this year so I was overjoyed when this song won! It’s just such an expression of love and joy, with a message that may be familiar but still very important. The Mamas nail those harmonies and each gets a moment to shine, their voices are so incredible. I enjoy the pop sounds in the chorus well enough, but the moment I love is when it moves in the properly gospel bridge, it just brings the energy right up.

9. Georgia – Take Me As I Am

Georgia have become one of my favourite countries in Eurovision, up there with Albania and Portugal. I’m so grateful that they stick to their guns and do their own thing, sending interesting varied music. As a halfway decent rock song, this was always going to make my top 10. It’s not perfect as far as rock goes, I feel it could do with a little more variety, it’s all very loud with long notes, and I could do with some different rhythms and levels in the verses, but the scream of anguish works very well in the chorus, and I like the grungy sound the song has. I do think this song is saying something important with the idea of wanting to be loved as who you are while taking a dig at the big 5, but I do feel the lyrics, while to the point, can feel a little basic. Tornike is one of the artists confirmed for next year, and I’m very excited to see what he brings!

8. Norway – Attention

This is the best straightforward ballad this year as far as I’m concerned. I find it deeply moving, Ulrikke sings this song and sells it so well. Lyrically, I think this is actually really strong, at first I was put off by how needy it sounds, but the main line in the chorus ‘why do I think it’s ok not being me because of you’ brings it all together and makes it clear it’s about someone who knows it isn’t healthy, but can’t help themselves, and it makes the song feel so much more relatable and painful to me. The melody is also really strong, and I adore the moment after the quieter bridge where the song absolutely lets loose in the climax.

7. Germany – Violent Thing

Sometimes a song just cuts through, and I don’t care about the lyrics, and I can’t point to what it is, but it just sets the mood so well and I just want to dance. This is that song this year. I could point to a good production, and a unique voice, but in the end I can’t really justify my love for this song other than the instrumental just works for me! I want songs to make me feel something and this is just makes me feel happy, I can’t really explain it.

6. Czech Republic – Kemama

So remember when I ranked this song 5th out of 7 in the Czech selection? I still stand by that ranking, that’s how strong that selection was this year. That said Kemama did grow on me over time. I’ve just finished my final semester at Uni and submitted my dissertation a couple of days ago, and I’m not sure when it was, but at some point this song became my relief from it all, I love how chill it sounds while still being really uplifting, and those pre-chorus lyrics (I just work like this, 24/7) became a bit of an anthem for me these past months. The lyrics hit the perfect spot between being really personal to the singer, but also very relatable. I didn’t hate the first revamp either, though it was poorly mixed, and I really like the final version, those little guitars are so nice, though like Alcohol You I wish it had upped the intensity on the final chorus by working on the backing track without having to resort to changing the melody and forcing in a dramatic note in the main line, but I think it’s still a great track.

5. Israel – Feker Libi

So looking at the average mood of my top 10 (with some exceptions), apparently I just wanted to feel good things this year. This is the song that encapsulates that, it’s such a burst of joy and fun, and the one that most successfully fills me with happiness and makes me want to dance! I think the blend of different ethnic influences in the backing and the different languages works so well here. There’s so many things that just work here, from the little instrumental line at the very opening, to the vocal calls, to the way it repeats the chorus just enough to get it well and truly stuck in your head, but switches up the beat to keep it interesting and exciting. I love the second half of the chorus where the heavier ethnic beats come in, but I think part of why it works is because it contrasts so nicely with the more familiar dance beats in the first half of the chorus. My favourite part though is the end, where it ramps up the energy with the beat switch and it’s just so good! And to top it all off it’s sung by Eden Alene, who is such a great charismatic performance, she exudes joy on that stage and just seems like someone you’d want to party with. Of all the artists who are confirmed for next year, she’s the one I’m happiest for.  

4. Ukraine – Solovey

In Feker Libi I could point to so many individual parts and say why they work for me, for Solovey I just have to point to the whole song. The blend of ethnic sounds with that singing technique and the modern beats works really well, and while drops are very hit and miss for me, this one just works. It’s a truly unique entry, I can’t think of anything I can really compare it to, and one that I absolutely love.

3. The Netherlands – Grow

This song was one of the later ones released, at a similar time to many others, and I thought it was nice but kind of overlooked it the first time I heard it. I can’t remember when it was, but there was one time I was listening through all the songs, and it just reached out and touched me, and I absolutely fell in love with this song. I love the structure here, the way it starts contemplative with several verses, before the final section builds up to a peak right at the end of the song, taking you on a journey from almost bittersweet reflection to a final note of confidence and hope. Jeangu has such a great voice, and I adore the way he sings this song, he brings so much texture and emotion to the lyrics. And about those lyrics, these are easily my favourite this year. I tend not to look up lyrics for songs, if I can’t pick them out in the song, I won’t judge them, and that was absolutely true for this song, but this song really puts the lyrics front and centre so I couldn’t help but pay attention. Similar to Kemama, they’re a good mix of deeply personal and relatable, but the emotional connection is so much deeper in this song. This is the point in my ranking where I really start to mourn that we’ll be missing these songs on stage, I’m sure Jeangu will bring something great next year but this song is so excellent I’m disappointed we’ll never see it on stage.

2. Iceland – Think About Things

Looking back on my rankings at the time I almost can’t believe I didn’t rank this song first in Iceland in the semis. But by the time the final came round I knew I wanted it to win though, and it’s only grown on me since. There’s not much I can say on this song that I haven’t said before, the instrumentation is top tier, I love the 80s synth, that brass in the instrumental, and that baseline. The song progresses so nicely into the best key change of the entire Eurovision season, national finals included, and puts such a smile on my face. It might not make me want to get up and party like Feker Libi does, but it’s just so uplifting and enjoyable, and you can’t help but dance along a little. It’s also got some great lyrics which are a genuine expression of love for his daughter. I was worried the staging might make it seem a little goofy, but the overall internet reaction has been really positive, and the whole performance is just a lot of fun.

1. Lithuania – On Fire

And finally, my favourite song of this year. The perfect combination of a slick instrumental production with a real soul. The message of never being too old to live is great, and that instrumental line on the drop is just infectious. I also actually really like the way the lead singer sings, it’s a little rough but it compliments the backing track perfectly. This song absolutely stands out on it’s own but it is elevated by the staging. It’s definitely one of the best staged performances of the national final season, ‘winner vibes’ might not be the most helpful term, but this was the performance that really gave me them. We’ll never know who would have won this year, there were certainly options, but I do feel for Lithuania as this was their big chance to snatch their fist win. I don’t know if The Roop will come back next year, but I do worry that this was lightning in a bottle, I’ve listened to some of their other songs and they’re very good, but everything about this was perfect, from the song, to the staging, to the performance, and it’s going to be very hard to replicate.

Overall, I found this year a little less interesting than last year, with a lot of songs in the grey ‘this is fine’ zone, but there were plenty of songs that did stand out, and five that I truly love and look forward to listening to for years to come, as part of the Eurovision canon.

[girlbabyvelez]

Hasta La Muerte // Chapter Five

Word Count: 1.3k

Warnings: Swearing, Violence, ya know murder, sexual harassment (not from one of our boys tho), and thats it??

@cnchoe-imagines (aka the best person ever) made me this movie poster for Hasta La Muerte. And I am soooo grateful. Thank you for this amazing bomb poster Tati. I literally love it with my whole ass heart. So please go check our her blog and give her love (im crying) I love you so  much Tati.

His dark eyes focused on your picture, looking over your features as he thought about his next move. He needed to do something to you that would scare you and a little threat wouldn't hurt you. Santiago stood up from his desk, one his hands picking up the picture of you before looking up at the two men in front of him.

"¿Cuál es el plan, jefe?" Paulo asks, linking his hands in front of his body ready to hear the order of his boss. Santiago looked between Sergio and Paulo for a moment, making sure he picked the right men for the job, then looked down at your picture before throwing it back onto the desk.

"Warn her. We need to scare her, and warn Richard not to mess with us." Santiago orders.

~

You step back into the room, gently closing the door behind you. You spin on your heels and see Christopher, his back leaning against the head of the bed and his fingers pulling at Aaliyah's stuffed animal. He was aware of your presence but he kept his focus on the toy in front of him.

"She has the cutest laugh." He whispered with a smile. You shake your head and let out a laugh, making your way over to the bed.

"She does." You reply. You were surprised how good Christopher was with Aaliyah, mostly because of everything he did with the mafia. "You treat her like she's your own," You say, crawling up on the bed until you were able to rest your head on his legs. Your words cause him to pause his movements, taking that moment to look down at you before shifting his focus back to the toy.

"I wish she was," He mumbled, hoping you didn't hear him but you heard the words loud and clear. You freeze in his lap and think of your next words, you didn't want to put either of you in this situation.

"You want kids?" You ask him, lifting yourself from his lap and into a sitting position. Christopher looks up at you and drops the toy on the bed. He grabs onto your hands and looks at you, oblivious to the fear and dread running through your body. You couldn't raise a child in the dangerous life that Christopher lived, they would be destined to follow in his footsteps and you knew how hard it was for you to get out of that life.

"Yeah. I can't wait until I have a little baby Velez in my arms. But I want three kids and all of them would be the perfect babies." He answers. You noticed the smile he got when he said he wanted a little baby Velez and your heart shattered for him. "¿Y tú?"

"Chris..." You begin. You honestly didn't know where to begin, you wanted to make this deal work for your brother but you couldn't destroy Chris' dream either. You opened your mouth to finish responding to his question, break the truth to him when you heard the light knocks on the door and Aaliyah's sobs. You let out a sigh of relief now that you had time to gather your thoughts, getting off the bed and opening the door. Aaliyah stood there with tears rolling down her face and her arms outstretched towards you. You scooped up the young girl in your arms and rub her back for comfort.

"Papi," She cried out, her head resting on your shoulders, your heart broke for her.

"He'll be here soon mamas. Want to sleep with me?" You ask her, moving your head from her back to her hair and twirling it in your fingers. You could feel her nod her head so you turn back towards the bed, avoiding Chris' gaze and crawling under the covers with Aaliyah.

"Y/N," Chris whispered and adjusted himself so he was laying next to Aaliyah, an arm reached over her and caressing yours.

"We'll talk about this tomorrow." You tell him and bring the girl closer to your body, humming a song to help her sleep. Christopher ran his hand over your arm to silently communicate with you, but you just ignored him and focused on the girl in your arms.

~

His dark brown eyes were the only visible part of his face, the mask was wrapped around his face and his hair was hanging in front of his face, hiding his identity. Yashua held the gun tightly in his right hand, finger hovering over the trigger.

"Do it," Romeo taunted. He had dry blood matted to his hair and fresh blood pouring out of his nose, his face was different shades of blue and purple. He was on his last legs, but he was never going to give up the information that he held. He wasn't going to give up the plan that Santiago had in mind for them, he would take it to the grave. At his words, Yashua quickly leaned up and pressed the gun harshly against Romeo's temple. It had been one week since Romeo had been locked up in the room, legs and arms chained to the chair, and yet he hadn't given up any information. He was fucking useless to them now.

"Any last words?" Yashua questions, shoving the gun harder into his temple. Romeo winced at the action, the gun digging into a bruise he had. But he only did it for a second before he smirked at Yashua.

"Santiago is going to kill all of you. I promise you that."

~

"Pa' arriba pa' abajo pa' centro pa' dentro!" You shouted, clinking the shot glasses with Lydia's and Tatianna's before you all down your shots. The alcohol burned your throat as it went down but it felt good to be able to let go for the night with your closest friends. You would have to face Christopher soon, after successfully avoiding him for a week and drowning yourself in work. But that wasn't a worry for tonight, you just wanted to get dumb drunk to forget how badly you would disappoint your brother and hurt Chris.

"Let's go dance!" Tati shouted over the loud music, she managed to grab your wrist and drag you and Lydia to the crowded dance floor. You shook your head and let a laugh out at your wild friends.

"Come on Y/N!" Lydia encouraged and began to shake her hips to the beat of the music. Tati nodded her head and copied Lydia's moves. You smiled at them before dipping your hips and shaking them side to side.

It felt like the three of you were there for hours, dancing to the music that blasted over the speakers, and belting out the lyrics when your songs came on. The worries seem to wash away with every sway you guys made. But you could feel the alcohol begin to wear off, and you needed more.

"Hey, guys! I'm going to go get us some drinks!" You shout to them over the beat of the music. They nod at you for a quick moment before turning back to their dancing. You managed to make it safely off the crowded dance floor, making your way over to the bar. You pull your phone out of your clutch, looking at the notification that immediately popped up.

Chris: Can you come over tonight? We need to finish our conversation from last week.

You ignore the message and shove the phone back into your clutch. No worries for tonight, just letting go. And that's when it happened. You were leaning against the bar, ordering another round of drinks for you guys, when you felt the hands slide up your thighs. Another pair of hands snaked around your waist and kept a firm grip on your hips, keeping you in place.

"Listen mamacita." You could hear him whisper in your ear.

"Get the fuck off me before I punch the both of you in your throat." You threaten them.

"Remember our names, so you can tell your brother Paulo and Sergio are here as a warning." One of them whispers. The other leans over to you, lips next to your ears and hands still on your ass.

"Sleep with one eye open mamacita because now you and Richard are targets."

Note: guess who’s back? back again.  heyy guysss im backkk. i know I took a month away from writing, its been a rough month for me ngl but thank you to all those who checked up on me, you guys are the best. but now that I am back, I have all the content coming for you guys so stay tuned. 

Taglist: 

@cncloca @wowvelez @babecita-1 @yashuazbabygirl @getmealife @phanislife124 @valeriiaaass  @cyaneaa @codename-nyx @cnchoe-imagines @moonlitzabdiel@damnthoseyes  @disneydejesus @ourkarlanicoleuniverse @niallisworld @multi-fandomgoddess @california-creator @ ego-allie-bap

[cieloxcnco]

yo te haré mía (cnco) - ch7

Chapter 7

Words: 3,900+

Warnings: little suggestive sexy stuff, nothing too awful. but God knows i’m not the best judge. Only two sentences of a sex scene frfr

A/N: pretty major note- now fully in third person POV. hope that hasn’t thrown anyone off.

chapter 1 is here chapter 2 is here chapter 3 is here chapter 4 is here chapter 5 is here chapter 6 is here if you need to catch up

Upon entering the agreed upon location for brunch, Isabella stormed directly to Kaja and swatted at her arm. “Ow! What was that for?” she squealed, rubbing the afflicted area. “Still can’t believe you didn’t tell me he knocked you up,” Isabella grumbled as she sat down across the cafe table from her friend. “The pill isn’t perfect,” was all Kaja could surmise, shrugging her shoulders as she too sat down. “Not only that,” Isa conjured. “I’m just shocked you both finally lost your virginities to each other. Like it was about time. But now from that idea alone to suddenly being engaged was unreal. I felt badly because Naomi kind of took over discussions that night and I didn’t get to really talk to you about much.” “It honestly just all happened so quickly. I missed my period, I told Joel because I was nervous, we took a test, we went to the doctor who confirmed it, and a week later he got down on one knee. I didn’t expect it, but I honestly think when he told his family about it that they pushed the idea into his head. You know how traditional they are in their ideals. He never really so much as kissed anyone before me, and now all of a sudden there’s a baby involved? It was almost all instantaneous and then he was telling me I’m the love of his life and he wants to spend it all as my husband.” “He also,” Isa interjected, “might be considering a lot in the idea of his public image. Not that it minimizes the fact that he does want to get married, of course, but he’s always been el inocente and now he’s gotten his girlfriend pregnant. He went from not even knowing whether he wanted to be arriba or abajo to now he obviously as done enough of both to have successfully put a baby up in there.” Kaja laughed and playfully smacked at Isa’s shoulder. “Will you shut up?” Isa giggled to herself. “While we’re on the subject, which does he in fact prefer?” “Oh my god,” Kaja choked, her face flushing bright red before she hid it in her cupped hands. After taking a small sip of coffee, she straightened in her chair. “Well I have the new sonogram pictures, but there’s no point. You can’t see much more than a speck. Joel at first thought it was an habichuela.” Isa cackled at the thought of Joel spinning the print of the ultrasound in his hands, searching for his baby behind what he thought was a bean. “Well you know,” she began once she stopped laughing, “that if you ever need any help with anything, Jasmyn and I are here for you. I’ve been there and back with everything pregnancy related so no question is stupid and I’ll be there when the boys are stuck traveling around and Joel can’t be with you.” Kaja reached for her friend’s hands across the table and squeezed them between her own. “Thanks, Isa. Love you.” Isa winked. “Love you too, mama. You know that.” Kaja let her hands go so they both were able to grab their drinks and sip. “So, we both have babies incubating, and that’s great, but I want to check on you.” Isa’s eyes widened slightly and she sat a little more straight in her chair.  “So have you talked about names and what gender he’s hoping for?” Kaja rolled her eyes. She had expected deflection. “Isa. I only want to help.” Isa’s shoulders fell, her body surrendering and abandoning its defensive stance. “I know that, mama. I just… There’s nothing to help.” “There’s always a way to help,” Kaja offered. “It just has to be discussed to find out what that help can be.” The waiter stopping to take their orders was a distraction for only a moment. Once they thanked him and he stepped away, Isa knew just by the look in Kaja’s eyes that she wasn’t going to let it go. Isabella nervously tucked loose hair behind her ear. “Zabdiel and I had a bit of a… discussion the other night and he’s been avoiding me more than usual the past two days. We haven’t really spoken.” Kaja sighed quietly. It killed her to see two people she cared about so deeply start to lose grip on a relationship she had always admired. Perhaps she’d only liked the way it appeared looking at it from the outside. “What was the discussion?” Isa busied herself with stirring her spoon idly around her teacup. “God, I could use a mimosa instead right now.” Kaja waited patiently for a response without interrupting. Her friend might need to be given a moment, but she would come around and speak. The quiet was broken by Isa’s phone vibrating on the tabletop to alert her of a text message from her lover. Cada segunda que no estas conmigo es una eternidad. He decorated the beginning of the lyric with musical note emojis and the end with his favorite smiley sticking its tongue out. Pensando en ti siempre, nena. Te amo tanto. A second buzz from another text from Christopher. ¿Que haces, mi vida? Her fingers danced across her screen in a fast reply, eager to take advantage of a moment when the band wasn’t engaged in an activity that he could correspond with her. Comiendo brunch con Kaja, hablando del bebe y todo. Te extraño, mi principe. ¿Que hacen ustedes? “Isa?” Kaja pushed to bring her focus back. Seeing her friend would not relent, she placed her phone face up on the table and sighed. “He had promised he would spend the evening with Joaquin because he’s gone so much. He spent time at the studio but afterwards went out to dinner with Carlos and had too much to drink. As soon as he came home, I was angry because Quin was so upset all night and all Zabdiel wanted to do was forget about that and have sex. I said no and that our relationship should be more than that. It should be fun, love, caring about our family and I feel like he’s putting that to the wayside. I know he’s working on the new music a lot, but at some point make me feel like I matter. Right now I feel like a broken record, repeating however many times that I should mean more to him than just being there to have sex and have his kids.” Kaja broke from nibbling her lower lip to speak. “He does love you, Isa.” “He may,” Isa offered. “But this has been so stressful it’s enough to make the baby pop out at any minute. So I told him… Maybe it’s time to let this go. And he posted a very fitting cover on his instagram the next day after the radio show like a petty teenage girl.” Kaja gently rolled her cup around between her closed hands. “So you think it’s over?” Isa took a short gulp of tea and let out an unsure murmur as she swallowed. “We haven’t said the words. But we know where we both stand.” Kaja tapped her nails along the table anxiously. “At this precipice in limbo, neither of you wanting to make a move to better it or cut ties?” She laughed in spite of herself. “Yeah, I suppose.” Her phone shook against the table again so she looked down and read a reply from Christopher. Estoy aqui solo en la oficina del director. ¿Recuerdas que el gestor iba a organizar un camefeo papel para mí en esa película este verano después de la gira? She had forgotten. But that proud feeling was immediately washed away by realizing that Zabdiel was not with the band recording as he had said he would be. “He’s still avoiding me,” Isa said, clicking her tongue in her mouth. “I thought he was recording with the band today. Chris just said they’re not all together.” Kaja tried to change the subject to bring her friend’s anxiety down. “Is that Chris who keeps texting you?” Isabella nodded immediately, not realizing until after she had that the safer response probably would have been to deny it. Kaja scoffed. “You both get on so well and when he isn’t being his wacky, weird self he’s really thoughtful and insightful. I’m sure he’s probably been helpful through all this. You always light up when you talk to him.” Isa nodded again, slower this time. “You know how his stupid comments just make you laugh.” Kaja laughed at an obvious memory. “Claro. So maybe try and get some feedback from him about it. I’m sure he’s the most understanding and mature about it. That is… if you want to try to work it out.” Isa’s upper teeth gnawed on her lower lip. “I feel like… everything we built our life on was only because I got pregnant. Since Joaquin was born we’ve just been trying to hold together, pretending that it’s alright. Maybe the foundation that we had wasn’t strong enough to support the weight and responsibility of a family.” Kaja took the final sip of her coffee and gave a hesitant smile. “Sometimes when there’s a weak foundation in something, all that’s needed to make it better is to stop, go back to where you started, and reinforce it.” Isa bit the end of her drinking straw rather than continue to bite her lip. “How?” The waiter came and interrupted again, setting their plates down on the table. Kaja smiled and took a quick bite. “Marriage is proving difficult. Go back and date again like teenagers - build it up from the start. Don’t have sex immediately, let it be about getting to know each other again. See if that helps, if that makes it worth it. I know Joel told Zabdi to do the same thing.” Isa had picked up her knife and fork but, upon hearing that, instantly put them down, almost offended. “Joel suggested that to him? He spoke to Joel about all this?” A cringe flashed across Kaja’s face, realizing the slip of her tongue that she shouldn’t have allowed, but her friend also deserved the entire truth. “This bothered him just as much. He doesn’t know exactly how to handle it either. So maybe taking that step toward the same idea might help things. But I mean, Isa, you have to vent about it or you’ll lose your mind. You don’t think he’s entitled to do the same?” As suddenly as she’d become angry, she exhaled the emotion and relaxed. “I guess.” Her phone vibrated on the table again and she realized she’d forgotten to answer Chris so he’d probably written back with something. But her husband’s name flashed across the screen with a new message. Erick y Yanelis van a llegar a la casa con Joaquin a la 5. Yo estare alli pa pasar un ratito con el. Despues, tenemos que hablar. All she could muster to type back was an Okay. Kaja tried to study Isa’s change in expression to sense the emotion of her thought process. “I mean, do you really want to fix it?” Isa anxiously pressed the lock button on the side of her phone repeatedly, only to have that make the lock screen picture of Zabdiel holding Joaquin high in his arms flash on and off. Joaquin’s smile while being in his father’s arms couldn’t be denied. It didn’t matter if her heart was sad, that happy smile on her baby boy’s face meant more. He was everything. This family deserved a chance to rebuild. “Yeah, I really do.” - Zabdiel rapped his knuckles against the front door to his bandmate's mansion, then shoved his hands into his pockets anxiously. Spilling his soul to Joel during a moment of frustration was one thing. He'd just been frustrated, quiet, and tense, so when Joel had asked what was wrong it was the dam breaking. Zabdiel told him everything. Almost everything. But Chris he could be a little more candid with. Closer in age and experiences, as well as being a close friend with his wife, Zabdiel figured that Christopher would be able to give him more insight as to the direction he should begin taking. He was a little taken aback when a female figure clothed in only an oversized t-shirt answered the door instead of his friend. "Krista. ¿Como estas?" She smiled widely at Zabdiel, shifting her weight to her other leg, her bare feet still arched as if she were wearing heels. "¿Bien, y tu?" He focused his eyes on hers, ignoring how scantily she was dressed and how long her legs appeared when she stood on the balls of her feet as she was. "Bien. ¿Donde esta Chris?" She shrugged, turning around and walking across the foyer. "Meeting at management about a small role in a show or something. Should be back early evening." Zabdiel stepped inside and shut the door behind him. "I won't bother you, then. I just wanted to talk to him for a bit." She giggled, sitting on a barstool at the kitchen island. "Is that really why you're here, Zabdiel?" His eyebrows knit together. "¿De qué hablas?" She let her hair down from her ponytail and let her clasped hands fall between her spread legs. "He is one of your best friends. You didn't know he had that meeting today and wouldn't be home? You didn't want to come over when we would have the house to ourselves for a few hours?" "Krista," Zabdiel groaned, his tone warning. "Obviamente no. Ya te lo dije." "¿Que tu me dijiste, papi?" she laughed innocently, biting her lip and flipping her hair over one shoulder. “Lo que hicimos fue un error," he gulped. "Y no va a pasar otra vez." She stood, padding softly over to where he remained still, leaning up to whisper in his ear. "¿Que no va a pasar otra vez, papi? Que no me vas a tocar, no me vas a besar, no me vas a comer?” Krista subtly moved against him so her hips rolled against his. “¿No me vas a coger?” "One time," he mumbled. "We were drunk. It was a mistake. I told you it was never going to happen again." She smirked, letting her fingertips trace over his belt. "You let your inhibitions go when you were drinking and finally did what you wanted to. You still want it now." He gulped down the heavy lump in his throat. "Estoy casado. No puedo hacerlo otra vez. Mi esposa… esto va a romper su corazon. No puedo.” Her smirk grew as her lips pressed against the side of his neck. "Pero tu lo quieres, tu lo necesitas. I see how you look at me." She arched up higher on her feet and lightly gripped his collar, pulling his head down to meet hers. Krista's lips brushed against his as she gently spoke, "Don't deny yourself what you need, mi amor." No longer able to resist, he leaned down and kissed her with the fever he had been fighting. They swiped their arms across the counter behind her, clearing it of anything that might get in the way of their bodies as the heat rose between them. And without thought of consequence, they repeated the mistake he had promised himself he would never make again. - Thiago and Joaquin started racing across the front yard to see who could get to the front door fastest as soon as Erick and Yanelis let them each out of their carseats. No sooner did they reach the door did they see Zabdiel’s Escalade following up the driveway and ran back to greet him. “Tio Zabdi!” Thiago yelled, squeezing his leg as he exited the car. “Papi!” Joaquin screamed, jumping up into Zabdiel’s arms. Zabdiel struggled to grip onto his little boy, not having expected the leap he made. “Hey mijo,” Zabdiel chuckled, kissing his forehead and ruffling Thiago’s hair. Joaquin tugged at Zabdiel’s shirt with a cautiously hopeful question. “Papi, are we going to play futbol like you said?” “Claro que si, Quin,” he said with a wide smile. Joaquin’s eyes went alight in disbelief. “¿De veras? You promise?” Zabdiel nodded. “Si, antes de la cena, papo. Did you have fun with Tio Erick?” “No, amigo,” Erick interrupted. “You ask the chicos, ‘Did you torture Tio Erick?’” Both boys laughed, running back off to the house. Thiago touched the latch that opened the front door for them and they continued to run into the house. Zabdiel clapped Erick’s hand in his in greeting, leaning in for a half hug. “Pero la verdad- ¿se portó bien hoy?” Erick rolled his eyes while his sister laughed and kissed Zabdiel’s cheek. “Claro que si, Zabdi. Como siempre. No te preocupes.” Zabdiel kissed her cheek in return. “Muchisimas gracias por cuidar a mi niño hoy, Yanelis. Te lo agradezco.” “¿Y que de mi?” Erick huffed. “¿Que de ti, bro?” Zabdi laughed again. Erick, jokingly offended, was about to storm off but Zabdiel caught his shoulder to stop him. “Esperate - You think you could watch him inside for just five minutes? Tengo que hablar con Izzy for un momentito.” Erick’s expression changed from smiling and playful to a solemn one. “Por supuesto… ¿Todo está bien?” He tried to hide his defeated sigh under a soft laugh. “Pues, vamos a ver.” Yanelis had already gone inside behind the boys and ran out into the backyard onto the trampoline with them. Isa had just watched the whirlwind run by her, hand on the bump of her belly. “Did you sugar up my son?” she questioned Erick as he headed out the back patio door. “Of course not,” he laughed innocently before running to catch up to the screeching children outside. “Carajo," she giggled with a roll of her eyes, rubbing over her belly as she made her way over to the counter to continue preparing dinner. “Is it okay?” Zabdiel murmured, slowing his approach. She didn’t turn to face him, only busied her hands with chopping the lettuce for the salad she was making. “Is what okay?” “The baby,” he said simply. “You keep rubbing your stomach like the baby is bothering you.” She shook her head, her face stoic. “Not bothering. Just kicking.” His eyebrows raised and his mouth hung slightly agape. He hadn’t realized it was far enough along now that he would be able to feel his baby moving within her womb. “You can feel it?” She couldn’t suppress the smile that crept across her face. “Si.” He took a few steps closer. “Can I?” Isabella paused, but soon turned and grabbed his hand to press it to the swell of her stomach. “Right here.” It took a few moments, but as soon as Zabdiel began to whisper, “I can’t feel it,” the baby knocked against the spot where he rested his hand. His face instantly lit up, joyously laughing and pressing his hand harder against his wife in an attempt to intensify the contact if it were to happen again. She was careful as to the phrasing as to not reveal the gender he wanted to keep secret. “The baby reacts to your voice. Hearing you talking makes the baby kick and move around- dances around when they can hear your music.” His eyes welled with excited tears. “Hola, mi bebe. No puedo esperar a conocerte.” “Pues, tienes que esperar, Zabdi. Baby isn’t done cooking yet,” she chided gently, his smile contagious. But his grin faded as he searched for the words. “Izzy… Can we talk, please?” She turned her attention back to the food preparation in front of her. “¿De que?” “Izzy… Please. We’ve needed to talk for a long time and haven’t. Por favor, mi vida.” And even he didn’t know if he was using the endearment sincerely or out of pure habit. She grabbed for his hand and allowed him to lead her to the kitchen table to sit. She wanted to allow him to speak first since he had wanted to initiate this talk, but she could see he was struggling to find the words. He finally managed, “I don’t like what this is now, what we are now.” “Yo tampoco,” she whispered. Zabdiel cupped her clenched hands between his own, only able to stare down at the floor. “I don’t want it to remain like this. I want to live up to the words I told you at our wedding, the promises we made. We made a family, and for our babies we ought to give it more of a chance than giving up and pushing the other away when things get hard.” She looked out the window, hearing Joaquin shouting and laughing from the other side of the backyard, and then back to where her hand rested on the rise of her belly. “I know we do.” Zabdiel didn’t realize he was squeezing her hands so tightly until he felt his palms sweating and let go. “I know we can’t fix what’s already happened - how I’ve made you feel with me being distant and how I’ve felt you pushed me away. But we can try to start from the beginning. We can date again, learn more about each other like we should have from the start, back like it was before the stress of kids and worldwide music releases.” She was quiet, lost in thought, but in reality it was just spinning in the same circle. She had to give this a try- for her family, for the vows she took, for her son and daughter to get the chance to have the household she never did. “I want to try anything, Zabdiel. I hate how tense it’s been and how uncomfortable I’ve been feeling.” He nodded. “We’re having a new baby. Our family is growing and deserves a happy home. Let me take you out tomorrow night?” She took the initiative of leaning in and pressing her lips to his. “It’s a date.” He smiled and cupped her cheek, leaning back in to kiss her soundly. “As much as I want to begin now, I have a date with a little soccer star outside first.” Joaquin hopped off of the trampoline as soon as Zabdiel joined them in the backyard. “Papi! Time to play!” Erick stopped Zabdiel and silently showed him an email from Renato about their time at the recording studio and their upcoming deadlines for new music. “Is he serious?” Zabdiel snapped. “We were supposed to have more time. What do they expect us to do?” “Well, we have tomorrow. We have to head over there then to finish Alejaste de Mi,” Erick supposed. Zabdiel huffed. “We have no choice. But we could get some mixing done before dinner. Sound good?” Erick nodded and began texting the band’s group chat the details of what they’d just worked out. “Papi?” Joaquin questioned, tugging gently on his pants’ pocket. Zabdiel shook his head “Not now, buddy. Papi has to do something quickly. Later. I know I promised.” As Zabdiel walked away, Joaquin threw the ball he’d been holding onto the ground and began kicking it around alone, missing the goal by a few inches. The truth was his father could make any sort of promise he wanted, but unless he lived up to it what was the point?

if this sucks, blame @cncocubanita she rushed me

chapter 8 is now here.

[americanahighways]

It’s not everyday you go to a show with a dress code.  But when the dress code—flannel—fits right in with a mission to help friends and neighbors in need as the weather takes a turn for the worst, you know you’re going to have a great time.

Entering its 6th year, Flannel Fest 2019 is a tribute to the best of Americana roots music.  This year’s festival occurred over two nights beginning with Flannel Fest South in Madison, Wisconsin at the High Noon Saloon on Friday, November 8.  Flannel Fest North occurred the following night at Gibson Music Hall in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Flannel Fest featured six bands—each bringing their unique styles and rhythms to the stage and playing to packed houses on both nights.  The Festival, co-organized by Madison-area singers, Beth Kille and Erik Kjelland, is intended to highlight local, regional and national bands that are considered among the best in their craft.  And looking at the accolades and awards won by the performers, one would be hard pressed not to agree!

Giving back to the community was one of Beth and Erik’s original goals in organizing the festival.  Flannel Fest 2019 once again supported the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund, a statewide nonprofit charity that assists those most vulnerable in need who cannot afford to survive Wisconsin’s bitter cold and increasingly hot summers.  Founded in 1996, KWW/CF has successfully provided over $32.5 million in aid to more than 111,300 households facing energy related crisis situations.

KWW/CF also partners with local county agencies assisting low-income households by arranging more affordable energy payment plans, offering budget counseling, and teaching ways to conserve energy.

Let’s take a look at the bands as they appeared on Friday at the High Noon Saloon.

The Listening Party – Constantly Evolving

The Listening Party opened Flannel Fest.  The trio, comprised of Milwaukee area artists, Weston Mueller, Joshua Hester and Jacob Wood, provided their unique mix of folk and soul, with a bit of bluegrass added in.  They describe their style as constantly evolving and take great pleasure in mixing up their songs, jumping genres and changing up their instrumentals.  Exhibit A evidencing this was their song “Train”, which was accompanied with a playful train whistle and a rhythm imitating the sound of train wheels.

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The North Code – Inevitable Comparisons

Hearing Madison-based The North Code for the first time draws one to think of The Head and the Heart or Bon Iver.  Others have compared them to The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons.  Yet, such comparisons don’t begin to fully define or limit the breadth of the band’s music.  Their music has been described as “indie-folk music with a twinge of Americana,” which was plainly on display in their set at Flannel Fest.

They sing about the subjects closest to their hearts—warm relationships with loved ones and the beauty of nature—accompanied by driving guitars, a winsome violin and a rather unusual Peruvian cajón box drum.  The North Code includes Josh Pankratz, Adam Prinsen, Craig Hoffman, Ben Strohbeen and Rin Ribble.

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Beth Kille Band – A Force of Nature

You know you are in for something special when the band’s playlist is titled “Facemelting Set”!  Led by (quite literally) high-kicking Beth Kille, the band virtually exploded on stage from the beginning with an in-your-face set.  The band definitely represents the hard-driving rock side of Americana.

The band is made up of stars of Wisconsin music, beginning with Beth herself—the recipient of 22 awards over the last 20 years from the Madison Area Music Association (MAMA), and the 2019 Wisconsin Area Music Association (WAMI) President’s Award.  In addition to Beth, the band includes Michael Mood on bass, Michael Tully on guitar and Tony Kille on drums.

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The Mascot Theory – Folk-Rock in Four Part Harmony

Together for 8 years, the members of The Mascot Theory perform like a well-oiled machine.  The band brings together a perfect balance of folk music with rootsy bluegrass and touches of gospel and country to create their unique sound—high-energy, toe-tapping folk rock that kept the audience up and swaying in appreciation.  Towards the end of their set, Trapper Schoepp joined the band as they covered Tom Petty’s “Walls.”  Beth Kille also came on for the band’s “Part-Time Valentine.”

Winners of 18 MAMA awards, including back-to-back Artist of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017, The Mascot Theory is Erik Kjelland on guitar, Corey Mathew Hart on guitar, Nick Fry on bass, and Paul Metz on drums.  Shawndell Marks sat in with the band on the keyboard and providing accompanying vocals.

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Trapper Schoepp – Moving Out from Dark Places

Rounding out the evening, Milwaukee-based singer-songwriter Trapper Schoepp has been making big waves nationally.  Receiving accolades as one of America’s most gifted new singer-songwriters, Schoepp has toured extensively in the US and internationally over the past several years.  He brought to Flannel Fest his songs reflecting heart-felt personal experiences, personal loss, and characters he describes as being on the fringes of society.

Before playing one of his best-known tunes, Trapper relayed his experience with “On, Wisconsin”—a song he credits with revitalizing his career and reenergizing his writing.  In 2017, he came across an auction featuring three unpublished verses titled “On, Wisconsin” written by Bob Dylan in 1961 before Dylan left Madison, Wisconsin to begin his professional career in New York City.  After the lyrics failed to sell at the auction, Trapper set the lyrics to music and added some of his own.  Shortly after putting the song on You Tube, Trapper was contacted by Dylan’s attorney who said that Bob Dylan was so pleased with the song that he would agree to share a song-writing credit.  Trapper readily said yes, with the song then being featured on his 2019 album, Primetime Illusion.  The result is a co-writing credit with one of the best-known singer-songwriters that would be the envy of every artist.

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Prior to the show, I had an opportunity to pose a few questions to Erik Kjelland, a co-organizer of the Festival with Beth Kille.

AH:  This is the 6th year of Flannel Fest.  What led the two of you to organize the event originally?  

Erik Kjelland: Yes, this is the 6th year of Flannel Fest in Madison, and it will be the third year that we have also held the festival in Appleton, WI. Beth and I began writing songs together many years ago, and at one of those sessions we discussed the idea of putting on an event that showcased talented local and regional (and sometimes national) bands including our own bands, The Mascot Theory and the Beth Kille Band. We knew that we wanted to find a charity to work with as well, and after considering many national charities, we found out about the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund and realized they were a perfect fit for our event(s).

AH: Has the Festival supported The Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund since the beginning?

EK: Yes, KWW/CF has been the Flannel Fest charity since the beginning. Every year they have a presence at the festival with a staffed table giving out information about how they help our friends and neighbors in need. We appreciate that, with this charity, ninety-five cents of every dollar contributed goes directly towards helping those most in need. We honestly couldn’t have found a more perfect charity to work with as the weather turns colder and people start digging into the back of their closets for warmer clothing.

AH: What are your future plans for Flannel Fest? 

EK:  We are so humbled by the generosity from the Madison and Appleton areas as they continue to support Flannel Fest and KWW/CF and the local and regional music scenes, year after year. We definitely plan to continue the festival for years to come. We have discussed adding a third Flannel Fest event in a different area of the state at some point in the future and will continue to keep our eyes and ears open for a perfect situation to expand.  But for now, our focus is to make sure we put on the best quality festival we can and to continue to introduce attendees to amazing musical acts and to support our charity with funds and awareness.

PostScript

Erik Kjelland reported that the two nights of Flannel Fest 2019 successfully raised $5,300 in contributions to the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund.  Madison Gas & Electric Company, which provides electricity to Dane County, Wisconsin, gave a 2-for-1 match, which raised the total contribution KWW/CF to $15,900!

Not bad for a couple fun-filled nights in frigid Wisconsin listening to warm, friendly music.

Not bad at all!

  Show Review with Interview: Flannel Fest 2019 – A Warm Celebration of Americana Music on a Frigid Wisconsin Night @flannelfestWI @northcodeband @bethkille @themascottheory @trapperschoepp It’s not everyday you go to a show with a dress code.  But when the dress code—flannel—fits right in with a mission to help friends and neighbors in need as the weather takes a turn for the worst, you know you’re going to have a great time.

[theharvestersbook]

01: Meredith

Meredith had no idea where she was, and she didn't really care because there was warmth, and a sense that nothing could go wrong. 

She felt safe.   From a distance, she could hear laughter, like a melody just out of reach.  It was a gentle static that contained the lyrical sound of her mother’s voice.  Meredith couldn't make out any words, just muffled laughter and music.  It was lovely, and she wanted to stay there forever. But slivers of a shadow crept in, and began to divide and dim the warmth.  The laughter and music fell away and Meredith found her luxurious confidence being replaced by nervous anticipation.   Suddenly, there was a horrible tearing sound.  Meredith heard voices screaming, as a wave cold darkness rushed over her.  

#

Meredith sat up with a gasp, sweating in the dark. The dreams were getting stronger and more real.  She couldn't even call them dreams anymore because it felt as if she was actually there, in that chamber of warmth and safety.  And she could feel it all being ripped away. Meredith lay back and tried to control her breathing.  They definitely weren't dreams anymore.  They had become something else, but she didn't know what.  She knew she would have to tell Maya about this.  But, she didn't want her mama to worry.  Mama worried about everything already. Meredith placed her hand on her chest and breathed slowly and deeply.  She closed her eyes and tried to think happy, peaceful thoughts.  She tried to find her way back to the safety of that warm chamber.  Instead, she wrestled with dread and anxiety for a long time. She finally fell into a fitful sleep and dreamt real dreams about large balloons rolling around and over her.  Every time one of them rolled over her, it felt heavy, like thick, gooey rubber, and she couldn't breathe.  It was an awful feeling, nearly suffocating.  Then the balloon would roll on past and she could breathe again.  The dream went on all night.  Suffocating.  Breathing.  Suffocating.  Breathing.

#

The next morning, Meredith dragged herself out of bed and staggered to the bathroom mirror and pondered the stranger looking back.  Crazy nap-head.  Dark circles.  Pale complexion. "Sheesh." She worked her worn wetsuit on over her hips and let the top half hang off her waist.  It was cool again outside and the water would be sharp.   She pulled on a hoodie, zipped it halfway and grabbed her ragged gear bag and cap on her way out of her bedroom. Spaz was in the kitchen, waiting to be fed.  Meredith dropped her bag on the floor and bent down to scratch her cat on the head.  He purred loudly. "Good morning, slacker.  Do any good last night?" Spaz turned and glared at Meredith with angry green eyes. "Alright," she smiled as she stood up, "Not judging.  Just asking." Meredith poured food into a dish on the floor for Spaz, and grabbed a quick bite for herself.  She checked the time.  Five fifty-five. Four minutes later, Meredith stepped aboard the Queen Caretta.  The breeze felt cool, but that wouldn't last.  The colors in the sky and the water announced the coming of the sun, and the robe of heat she would drag across the gulf.  But while it lasted, Meredith loved the chill of early morning.   "Mornin', Mama,” Meredith sang out,  “Papa Gill." "Mornin', Mer," they replied in unison without looking up.  Maya was making notes in her log.  Papa Gill was checking the harvest equipment. "How'd you sleep?" Maya asked casually as she wrote her notes. "Ugh," Meredith sighed, "stupid dreams." Maya looked up from her log and narrowed her eyes at Meredith, who was stowing her gear.  Then, Maya looked over at at Papa Gill, but didn't catch his eye.  So, she went back to her logbook. "Mmmhmm," murmured Papa Gill without looking up. "Dreams can be stupid as stones, and just as heavy."   Meredith finished stowing her gear, and then sat on the gunwale, facing Maya.  She looked at her mama, wearing shorts and a white t-shirt under a zipped hoodie, with her thick, brown hair pulled back under a suncap.  So clean.  So strong.  Her mother's eyes flashed with the color of the shallow gulf water on a clear day as she scanned the sky for weather signs. They were both of the water, Maya and Meredith, both tan and both fit.  Sometimes, people mistook them for sisters, which secretly tickled them both.  Meredith, because she wanted to finally be a grown woman, and Maya, because she didn't.  But unlike her mama, Meredith had blonde hair and brown eyes.  Meredith thought about this difference as she sat and ate her breakfast, waiting for the other harvesters to arrive. Her eyes found their way out over the flat gulf water.  On the horizon, she saw the silhouette of a commerce tanker hovering over the water as it left port.  Probably taking a load of artifish to one of the other Quads.   An angry buzz from overhead announced the passing of a patrol drone, headed out to look for food smugglers, no doubt.  Meredith took a slow bite of her breakfast and was grateful that Mama and Papa Gill knew how to hunt and harvest.  GM food, like artifish, funnel-corn and vita-green made her gag, and she could not imagine how the Corporates and Creatives ate it.   "PG Wales, Powering Forever", Maya muttered angrily. Papa Gill nodded and kept working.  “Let it go, Hun.” Even though it was illegal, Papa Gill managed to stow a real fish or two on the boat after a day's harvest.  The local corporate food inspectors looked the other way because the harvest crew of the Queen Caretta made quota, and Papa Gill shared the real fish he speared with the inspectors.  The patrol drone would be searching for real smugglers, the ones who sold fresh fish illegally.  Not Harvesters, who were just spearing their dinner. It made Meredith glad to be a Harvester, even if the Corporates and Creatives dressed in Superbia clothes, and got private drones and long holidays.  She wasn't sure what she would do with any of that fancy stuff, anyway.  She tried synthahol once, at a Harvester party, and it was just as gross as artifish.  She was happy to have real food, crappy clothes, and spend every day in the ocean. The drone buzzed off into the distance, so Meredith turned her gaze back to the tanker, moving slowly across the horizon. "Mama, ‘member the Spill?" "Of course I do, Meredith", replied Maya, sounding a bit irritated. "Do you think my daddy would have helped?" Maya put down her log book and looked up at Meredith. "I do, Mer," she said a bit more softly, "I do." This made Meredith feel good about her daddy.  She never had a chance to know him very well; there were only a few, blurry images of him during the First Northern Oil Conflict between SonTech and Moon Energy.   Most of the images she had of her daddy were with his mates in the 32nd Cyborg Drilling Platoon.  But there was one of just him without his mates or his exo-suit.  It was her favorite because she could tell where she got her hair and eyes, and her smile. Her daddy’s Platoon was ambushed in the Arctic oil fields and he fell through the ice and drowned, Mama said.  Pulled down to the bottom of the Arctic by the weight of his exo-suit.  The PG Wales Corporation sent a posthumous award to Mama that said something about "successfully defending a hostile takeover", but Mama just threw it in the trash.   "Your daddy was a good man, Mer," Maya reassured.  "He would have helped us clean up after the Spill." Meredith thought back to the Great Gulf Oil Spill, when that giant drilling platform exploded and just puked all this oil into the Gulf.  Some oil Harvesters were killed, and so many sea creatures, she couldn't even count. That lady from PG Wales, Sue something or other, got on GlobaVision and promised everyone how PG Wales would make everything right.  Meredith heard they even interrupted the Murderball Championship to send out Sue Whatshername’s message. But nobody believed Sue. Mama said she didn't have time for "That Fool" from PG Wales, and that was the last time they looked at the Globavision.  Instead, Mama just volunteered, she and Meredith and Papa Gill, to help clean up.  It was almost the hardest thing Meredith ever had to do. Almost. She thought back to the cleanup.  There were lots and lots of volunteers, and they did save some animals.  Which was good.   But it seemed like tons more animals died.  They died choking on thick, black oil.  It still made Meredith's stomach move to remember all the goo-covered animals she pulled from the gulf.  Pelicans, gulls, skimmers, terns; so many birds, dead or dying, blinded and flopping around in the black, gooey mess.   And there were fish everywhere, too.  Thousands, maybe millions of fish had washed up on shore.  Papa Gill said they looked like they had been battered for a fish fry in hell, which Meredith always wondered about, because she never heard of a place called hell.  But, she didn't ask Papa Gill at the time, because it was a very grim day. It was the big animals that really made Meredith sad.  Some were fast enough to get away from the oil.  But most weren't. They got trapped between the oil and the shore.  Mostly, it was manatees and turtles.  Some dolphins.  Mostly turtles.  Lots of turtles.  They said it all but wiped out the last loggerheads. Some were kinda saved.  They got picked up and taken to places where they were cleaned up and put back in a less polluted ocean, far away.  Some couldn't survive in the wild anymore, and were given to amusement parks or zoos, like Globa-World. Meredith knew that the animals they put back in the wild all died anyway.  She looked at her Mama and Papa Gill and wondered how she would survive without them. No one ever thought about how smart animals would do without their families.  Everyone was completely clueless when porpoises and dolphins beached themselves everywhere after the spill.   Meredith knew what it was; they were all going crazy with grief.   She looked at Maya and thought, that's why Mama works so hard at everything; to keep from going crazy. "Yo, Bitch!" called a raspy voice that yanked Meredith away from her thoughts. Meredith turned to see a big girl with brown dreadlocks walking toward the boat.  She wore a dive bag on her shoulder and a mean grin on her face. Meredith smiled and waved.  "Hurry up, Sam.  Or we'll leave your sorry butt behind." "Yeah, leave this behind," Sam responded, as she grabbed her crotch and thrust her hips at Meredith.  Then she saw Maya and Papa Gill and quickly softened.  "Oh, sorry, Maya.  Sorry, Papa Gill," she said guiltily. "Mornin', Sam," said Maya sweetly. "Howdy, Samson," teased Papa Gill. Sam frowned and tossed her bag under one of the benches on the boat.  "Papa Gill, that doesn't even make sense," she said.  She turned to Meredith and shook her head.  "Old man jokes." "C'mon," laughed Meredith as she slapped Sam on the back, "Papa Gill, we're going to get the rest of the gear loaded." Papa Gill stood up and looked at the girls.  He grinned again and added, "’Bout time you two did something around here." Sam bobbed her head sideways and pursed her lips as she grabbed the cart on the dock and pushed it toward the storage shed.  She and Meredith were halfway across the compound when they heard a shout and looked up. Walking toward them and waving were two boys.  Kaikane, dark and lean, with tribal tattoos that curled like vines from his shoulders to his wrists, and good-natured Hamish, lumbering along with his shock of white hair and perpetual grin. With them came Neha, a slight girl with her perfect, black hair, perfect skin and perfect smile. "Hurry up, slackers!" Sam yelled over her shoulder.  The boys shifted into a trot.  Neha smiled and waved, but did not change her pace toward the boat. "Fucking princess," muttered Sam. "Sam, be nice," scolded Meredith. "Yeah, I'll be nice when Neha starts pulling her weight around here.  Just because she's rich doesn't give her an excuse." Meredith frowned at Sam as she opened the door to the gear shed.      As she stepped inside, the irony of calling the huge building a "shed" struck her.  It was actually a very big building.  Inside was a large, saltwater pool that Papa Gill and Mama used for training Harvesters. Two doors to the side led to locker rooms with showers where trainees could change before and after training.  Papa Gill had told Meredith that in olden times, it had been called a "natatorium". At the far end was Papa Gill's shop, or laboratory, if you wanted to call it that.  He was always building weird contraptions and doing secret experiments in that room.  No one but Maya was allowed in, and she usually left smiling and shaking her head.  Whatever went on in there, Papa Gill kept it locked tight. On the near side of the saltwater pool was Maya's workshop.  She  had her own special setup, but hers was aimed at helping sick sea creatures.  There was an operating table, several saltwater tanks for smaller creatures, and even a lift for hoisting big animals, like dolphins and manatees in and out of the pool. Meredith was amazed at how much her mama knew about sea animals, and couldn't even count how many sick animals she had nursed back to health. But everything that Meredith and Sam were looking for was neatly shelved in steel cabinets just to the right of the door as they walked in.  They had just started loading the harvest gear onto the cart, when Hamish and Kaikane trotted breathlessly up. "Don't hurt your wee selves, girls", Hamish teased, "the men are here to save you." "Shut up, Hamish," Sam snapped.   Hamish stopped, and looked with raised eyebrows at Kaikane and Meredith.  Kaikane just shrugged and grabbed an empty charger.  Hamish started to say something to Sam, but Meredith interrupted him. "Where's Neha?" Meredith asked. "Doing something for Maya," Kaikane gestured back to the boat. "Figures," Sam sneered. "What is wrong with you, today?" asked Meredith. "You've been bitchy ever since you got here." "Yeah, well," shrugged Sam, "couldn’t sleep last night.  Fuckin’ dreams will not stop.  But, whatever.  Let's just get this stuff on the boat, okay?"  Sam kept working without looking up.  Clearly, she did not want to talk about it. Meredith watched Sam for a moment.  Sam was having dreams, too.  Were they the same, like Meredith's?  Were they as real?  As intense?  She opened her mouth, but decided not to ask.  Not here.  Not in front of the guys.  Instead, she started loading gear and looked at Hamish.   "How's your Gran doing?" "Great!  She was off in her skiff with Max before I even got up,” he yawned.  “Left me lunch and a note.  All it said was, 'Hamish, off to find more samples.  Safe Harvest!  Love, Gran.'" "More samples?" "That's what she's calling it these days.  She's convinced Corporates are watching her, and doesn't want to leave any 'evidence'.”  He emphasized with his fingers.  “So, she leaves cryptic notes instead." "Funny," Meredith chuckled, shaking her head, "she's a funny lady."   "Yeah," Hamish shrugged, "I guess." Meredith admired both Hamish and his Gran. Him, for how physically protective he was of his tiny Gran; it was sweet that he believed he could protect her with his physical presence.  Her, for how she refused to be protected. Meredith turned to Kaikane.  The minute she did, she felt her heart hiccup a little.  Kaikane was quiet and smiled in a kind and relaxed way that made Meredith drowsy.  She took a slow breath to calm her heart and said, "Hey Kai, you know Papa Gill is gonna want to know what's going on with your application." "Yeah, I kinda figured he would," Kaikane answered.  He stood up and caught her staring.  She looked away.  "Why is he so worried about whether I go to the Academy or not?" "Cause he cares about you, Kai," Meredith said, trying to pretend to count how many regulators she had in her hands.  "He knows you don't really want to go to the Academy.  Everyone knows you don't want to go." "Everyone but my father," Kaikane mumbled.  He looked back down to check the charges on the batteries he had grabbed.   Meredith carefully looked back up at Kaikane, secretly grateful that he was not looking her way.  She noticed the way his dark hair fell in thick locks across his face.  "So, what are you going to do?" she heard herself ask. Kaikane looked up and answered with a surprisingly sharp tone, "Well, I guess I'm gonna go, aren't I?"  Seeing that he had stung Meredith, he relented and added in a softer tone, "Sorry.  But, it's not like I have much choice."   "Geez, Kai," Sam said from across the room, "You don't have to get crappy about it.  She's just asking a question.  Hope you don't go off on PG when he asks, cause he is going to ask." "I know he's gonna ask," Kaikane said.  "Can we just talk about something else?"  He paused and raised a sarcastic finger at Sam.  "I know, let's talk about your dad, Sam.  How's rehab?" "Fuck you," Sam replied without looking up. "Don't start shit you can't finish, brah" Kaikane said.  He gave Sam a slight smile and went back to loading batteries. "Fuck.  You." Sam emphasized by standing up and glaring at Kaikane. "C'mon mates," Hamish interjected, "It's all bollocks.  No way to start a dive.  Lets just get this stuff loaded."  Meredith looked at Sam and Kaikane and thought, what just happened?  She looked at Hamish for an answer, but he only shook his head and kept loading gear. Just as he loaded the last piece of equipment, Neha appeared. "Hey everyone," Neha announced as she entered the shed, "how can I help?"   She stood smiling flawlessly in the doorway. Sam looked up and said, "Oh, great.  Perfect timing." Neha's smile faded.  "What?"  she asked, "did I miss something?" "Just all the work," Sam said, more than a little sarcastically.  She pushed past Neha, giving her a small shoulder bump as she passed. "Sam!" Neha objected.  But Sam did not look back.  She just pushed the equipment cart down the dock. "Maya asked me to...," Neha started to argue, but was interrupted by Hamish. "Don't even try," he advised, "she's in a regular mood today.  Better off letting her stew.  Probably that time of the month." Neha and Meredith looked at each other, and punched Hamish in both of his arms. "Ow!" Hamished objected. "What was that for?" "Your lucky it wasn't somewhere else," Neha threatened while Meredith nodded in agreement.  Hamish just watched stupidly as the girls turned and jogged off after Sam. "Brah," Kaikane said, sliding up behind Hamish, and placing a hand on his massive shoulder, "Don't try to understand it.  Just take it like a man and move on."  He looked up at his friend and offered a casual nod. "Time to dive, brah," Kaikane said.  He slapped Hamish on the shoulder and headed toward the boat.   Hamish frowned and rubbed his arms.  "I don't like getting punched all the time," he mumbled as he closed and locked the door to the shed.  The deck bounced as he trudged after the rest of the harvesters.

#

Maya started the silent engines of the Queen Caretta and pushed the sturdy boat down the canal and toward the open gulf. Once they were up on plane, Meredith enjoyed the cool breeze and the gentle motion of the Queen gliding across the flat gulf water toward the artifish fields. She sat and watched the brightening sky.  She loved this time of day, when the blue, grayness of the water and the sky met on the horizon in a way that she could not tell where one ended and the other began.  It reminded her that she really lived at the bottom of one ocean and the surface of another.  Two oceans?  Or one, layered ocean? The Queen Caretta swayed on the incoming tide and the only sound was the rhythmic splashing of the her wake.  Meredith studied each of her friends, captured by the hypnotic morning dance of the Queen, and lost in their own thoughts about anything and everything. Sam was surely thinking about her father's struggles with his demons.  She had been the only force that had kept him from completely giving in to the siren song of sniffies.  But it was a struggle, and a lot of pressure on Sam.  Soon, she'd have to make a choice whether to move on and live her own life, leaving him to his self-destruction, or stay and keep fighting the losing battle to save him.  Either way, Sam would lose. Kaikane had different problems with his father.  His family had been relocated here by PG Wales after their island home was finally covered by the oceans.  Kaikane's father, having lost everything to the rising tides and to PG Wales, who turned what was left of their flooded island home into a water park for Corporates, became obsessed with the idea of wealth and influence.  He was determined that his son would follow the secure path and enter the Corporate Academy.  Kaikane had other ideas about what he wanted, but he struggled to find the courage to live his own life. Fatherless Hamish was worrying about his Gran, out somewhere on her skiff with only Max, gathering her "samples".  Hamish's father died with Meredith's daddy, although Hamish never spoke of it.  He just fretted over his Gran, who was as fiery and wild as anything you could find in the ocean or the swamps.  Gran had been a Harvester forever, and looked both old and young at the same time.  Hamish thought he could protect Gran, maybe because he couldn't protect his father.  But gran didn't need protecting. Meredith suspected that Gran was the strongest and smartest of anyone. Meredith's eyes settled finally on Neha.  Neha smiled blankly at the horizon as the wind tossed her perfect hair.  She looked like a fashion model on Globavision.  What did Neha worry about?  Did she worry about the parents she never knew?  Did her wealthy aunt have any secret problems that Neha quietly wrestled with?  Even though her natural beauty and grace made her an easy target when Sam or Kaikane were venting their frustrations, Neha never reacted badly, never returned anger or spite.  Neha was always steady and calm, and it made Meredith curious, and sometimes, furious. "Hey Kaikane," Papa Gill broke the early-morning trance, "Have you heard back from the Academy?" Everyone looked at Kaikane with an awakened curiosity.  Kaikane took a slow breath, nodded and, without looking at anyone else, said, "I got my acceptance last night."   "Your father must be very pleased," Papa Gill observed. "Congratulations," he added sincerely.  Papa Gill sat beside Maya and watched Kaikane with steady, cool eyes that always sparkled with a secret smile.  Kaikane looked relieved, and grateful for Papa Gill's support. "So, are you actually going to go?" Neha asked innocently.  She leaned toward Kaikane with sincere interest.  "I mean, just because you've been accepted doesn't mean you have to go, does it?" "Well, I don't really have a choice," Kaikane shrugged.  "My father says it's my ticket off the artifish fields."  He stopped and looked at Maya and Papa Gill.  "I mean, no offense..." "None taken," Papa Gill assured with a smile. Up to this point, Maya had been quietly listening from the wheel of the Queen.  "You have to do what's right for you, Kaikane," she called back, "There's no shame in that.” "Well, I mean, it's what my dad wants; what he says," Kaikane explained. "Not so much how I feel about it.  I like it out here, on the water.  It feels free." "So, why are you so worried about what your father wants?" Sam challenged.  "It's your life.  Worry about what you want.  If you want to stay on the water and on the fields, then stay." Meredith put her hand on Sam's arm.  "Sam," she said softly, "don't start."   Sam pulled her arm away from Meredith and looked at Kaikane.  "So, seriously, Kai.  What do you want?"  She stood up and took a step toward Kaikane.  "What do you want?" she repeated with emphasis.

"It's not that easy, Sam", Kaikane defended.  "My father served in the Corporation.  He shut down the last tuna processing plant in Samoa after tuna went extinct.  He was part of the artifish development program.  He's been a Corp most of his life.  So, it's a family thing.”   He shrugged and looked out at the water, “It’s just different for me, is all."

"Different than what?" Sam suddenly snapped.  "You think it's easy for me to say 'No' to my father just because he's not a Corp?  You think it's easy to do what I want because I'm adopted?  Because I have a shitty home life?"  

Neha stood up and faced Sam.  "Whoa, Sam," she held her hand up like a shield between Sam and Kaikane.  "Where did that come from?  Kaikane's just saying that there's an expectation, him being a Corporate legacy and all.  This isn't about your situation at home.  And, oh.  By the way?  Let's not forget that you're not the only orphan on the boat, okay?  So maybe stow the attitude?"  She emphasized her statement with wide eyes and crossed arms.

Meredith looked at Hamish, who just sat, watching everything play out.  She expected him to say something about being an orphan, about having a difficult home life, but he just sat and watched the drama unfold.

"Shut up, you fucking princess!" Sam jabbed a finger at Neha.  "Your aunt is so rich, you have no idea what anyone else here has to go through.  Why are you even here?  You sure don't need the money."

Meredith looked away, out at the water, and stopped listening. "I'm going to watch for the field buoys," she announced, as she stood up and walked to the bow of the boat.

Sam leaned in on Neha and pointed at Kaikane, "All I'm saying is either do what you want to do, or don't whine about it when you decide not to.  It's your choice."  She let out a heavy sigh and added, "God, this is so stupid."  Shaking her dreadlocks, she stalked up to the bow of the boat.

Neha watched Sam as she went.  Then, she turned back to everyone else, she asked, "What is her problem today?"

"Who knows?" shrugged Hamish.  "She's been like that all morning.  She said something about bad dreams.  But last time I had an opinion about it, I got punched."  Hamish smiled at Neha, who just rolled her eyes.

"Her father's back in detox," Papa Gill revealed.  "It only just happened last night.  So, ya'll might want to think about cutting her a little credit.  Like my Paw always said, 'You go poking' a cross varmint with a stick, and yer likely to get bit.'” He looked around at everyone, then added,  “I'll have a small word with her later.  But in the meantime,... well, I'd let her be."

Papa Gill nodded once for emphasis, and then walked over to Maya.  He rubbed her on the back and whispered something into her ear.  Maya nodded in response, and Papa Gill went below.

#

Sam sat by Meredith's side.  From the bow of the boat they watched the horizon for the buoys.  The Queen sliced through the grey-green morning water as the sun began to rise behind them.  

They sat in silence.  Sam stared at the water and wrestled with herself.  Meredith looked at her hands and thought about her daddy, drowned in icy, black water.  She didn't have the problem of deciding whether or not to listen to his advice.  There wasn't any.  

She opened her right hand and looked at the birthmark on her palm.  Four concentric rings, broken by intersecting lines.  If she didn't know better, she would have thought it was a tattoo, the lines were so clean.  But it wasn't a tattoo.

When she was little, she hated it, and tried to scrub it off.  Mama joked that she had the cleanest hands in the harvest village.  But as she grew older, Meredith came to love the strange mark.  She never could decide on a meaning for it, and never could think of a clever story to explain it.  So in the end, it simply belonged to her, and only her.

Like not having a father, having the birthmark defined her.  

[dafuture0-blog]

DA Future

How You Can Become Hip Rap Artists

Need some tracks to play at a celebration, or simply exit dancing to? Here is my checklist of the very best hip hop dance music out there right now...

Gold Digger by Kanye West

Flip It Up by Chamillionaire

Bubber Band Man by T.I.

Hynotize by Younger Jeezy

30 One thing by Jay-Z

Ms. Jackson DA Future Social Network by Outkast

Get Low by Ying Yang twins

Lean Back by Fats Joe

Yeah by Usher

Get it on the floor by DMX

Pump it by Black Eyed Peas

Blunt Ashes by Nas

Jesus Walks by Kanye West

Go Getta by Younger Jeezy

Over Here Hustlin' by Lil' Wayne

Salt Shaker by Ying Yang Twins

So what makes these songs stand out as the best hip hop dance music? The video? One thing that bumps at a membership? Admittedly, the record is biased upon my personal preferences: I like the extra heady lyrical stuff with a robust driving beat behind it, which leans in the direction of Outkast, Nas, Eminem and early Kanye West tracks extra so than tracks by Ying Yang Twins or Younger Jeezy. However, I've included a few of their songs as well to spherical out the checklist.

I additionally tried to go away out most underground rap/hip hop songs to maintain it as accessible as possible. Most, if not all of these songs could possibly be performed in golf equipment or show up on MTV as a rap video. Positive, I may play Useless Prez or Ras Kass, however most individuals at a party- at the very least those I'm going to- wouldn't have a clue who they're. It is unusual, irrespective of how hot a a DA Future music is, you may normally get a greater reaction if folks know the music and may sing along with it. Guess that's why there's so many cover bands in bars... Lastly, I included several songs from the previous few years, reasonably than just itemizing off a "what's sizzling now" playlist of current music. Anyone who thinks GoldDigger won't get a good response at a celebration is lacking the point (until it's a wedding.

Hip hop dance songs are the preferred type of dance music in clubs proper now. Nonetheless, what precisely makes a very DA Future good dance tune? Is it a catchy hook? Dope lyrics? Here's the deciding components for making successful dance track...

First, the music itself needs to be unique, even if it is based on samples from other bands (many rap artists have successfully sampled George Clinton, Led Zeppelin and Queen just to call just a few). The key to sounding distinctive is to add your personal private stamp on the track. Take Run DMC's cowl of Aerosmith's "Stroll This Means." Whereas the lyrics and guitar riff didn't change, Run DMC's private fashion got here through on the monitor.

For hip hop dance songs, tempo is also a deciding factor. Hip hop tracks are inclined to run between 90- 115 BPM, with dance hits tending in the direction of the higher finish of the spectrum. Along with velocity, a quality dance music must be properly combined. All this means is that the listener ought to be capable of hear every instrument individually, without any one piece standing out an excessive amount of. Consider a highschool band: you already know the kid who at all times played too loud and drowned out the string section? A effectively blended music can keep away from this.

Once the music is properly mixed, it's time to master the observe. This, along with mixing, is what separates a tune your buddy put collectively, navigate to these guys and a hot club mix. Mastering basically smooths the music out and provides it that polished finish (suppose Dr. Dre beats).

I've included a listing of scorching hip hop dance songs that work in a membership or at a party. Before I share it with you, a few points: First, I left out most underground rap with a view to hold this checklist familiar to a bigger audience. These are songs most definitely to hear in a membership. I've additionally listed a number of songs from a couple of years in the past, as a consequence of the fact that they haven't been (too) played out.

If you wish to study extra about good hip hop dance music, take a look at Pandora, a free radio service that plays music according to your chosen style. you possibly can at all times delete the songs you don't like, and save the music you think would work effectively at your social gathering.

So here's my checklist:

? Kiss Me Thru The Phone by Soulja Boy

? Right Spherical by Flo Rida

? Final Night by Puff Daddy

? Love Intercourse Magic by Ciara

? California Love by Tupac

? In Da Membership go now by 50 Cent

? Low by Flo hip hop dance moves list Rida

? Independent by Webbie

? Shawty get Free by Lil Mama

? Lose Control by Missy Elliot

? Crank That by Soulja boy

? Get Silly by Soulja boy

So there you will have it. What's your favourite hip hop dance songs?

Hip Hop Dance has a dynamic history. From Breakdancing to the moonwalk from michael Jackson to Krump dancing to Bboy dancing to plain outdated head nodding. Everybody had their very own means of expressing love

for hip hop dancing.

Hip Hop Dance Historical past has individuals buzzing. Why you ask ? As a result of they're watching all these crazy Hip Hop dancing music movies on tv they usually need to know the historical past of it. The place did these things come from.

The historical past of hip hop dance began with Breakdancing. It began across the late Seventies to early 80s. Breaking began within the south bronx ny. It was a type of Hip Hop dance that was utilized by road gangs to settle variations with out using violence. This was a optimistic for black and peurtorican youths at the time. Folks were not losing there lives over bs ya know. One of many first Hip Hop Dance crews in Historical past are the rocksteady crew.

They help usher in a new type of breakdancing that included acrobatic styles corresponding to headspinning, windmills, DA Future underground hip hop artists backspins, waves and all that great things. The Rock Regular Crew dropped on the scene around 1979 to 1980.

They have been encouraged by a legendary DJ by the name of Afrika Bambatta to use break dancing as a instrument to attain greatness. Afrikaa Bambatta was instrumental in pushing break dancing ahead by motivating youth to pursue their love of the artwork form.

Hip Hop Dance as we know it at present, for instance the dancing we see in music movies is a fusion of a wide range of standard and unconventional dance kinds and techniques. This consists of Jazz dance, indigenous folklore dance and even martial art.

Attributable to its sturdy nature, City Dance could possibly be maybe a more acceptable title for what we commonly classify as Hip Hop Dance. Regardless of the array of types and techniques added to its present repertoire, the roots of Hip Hop Dance might be attributed to avenue dancers in America. For many of those dancers, the artwork types they created are probably the most accurate classification of Hip Hop Dance.

Breaking & Funk Sytles

During the Nineteen Seventies, DJs in America would set a wholly new trend, mixing what known as drum breaks which are drum solos in funk and soul music again to back between two flip tables. The result would produce an entirely new sound containing a repetitive drum break monitor. In essence, the dancing that emerged from this new form of music was known as Breaking or B-boying (not break dancing). These forms of breaking would come with but aren't exclsive to:

? Footwork - A series of steps executed with the toes both standing and on the ground previous to creating energy moves.

? Power Strikes - A collection of thoughts boggling actions often carried out on the floor that would include moves reminiscent of backspins, headspins, windmills and extra. Often, when individuals hear about Breaking or b-boying or the wrong term, "break dancing" they consider these strikes.

? Up Rock/Prime Rock - A series of movements following a specific rhythmic and systematic pattern.

Although breaking was predominant among avenue dancers within the east coast, the west coast would more information on wikipedia nonetheless take pleasure in their own artform utilizing Funk and Soul music known as Funk Kinds.

The birth of Funk Styles on the west coast, occurred within the identical period as breaking and umbrellas an array of genres. The suite of types would come with:

? Popping - Robotic and/or jerky movements. Strobbing and Ticking are additionally underground korean hip hop artists similar sorts of movements throughout the Popping family.

? Waving - Fluid and smooth movements.

? Gliding/Floating - Gravity defying moves that create the illusion as if an individual is moving seemlessly and effortlessly across the floor.

? Locking - A series of animated actions that entails sharp and distinctive stances.

? Tutting - A series of movements emulating dafuture Egyptian Hieroglyphics.

You most likely go through YouTube to seek out hip hop dance tutorials - like many others, together with me as nicely. Do not get me fallacious, it's undoubtedly a great way to learn what your body can do in hip hop dances. Nevertheless, it will waste too much of your time trying to imitate those moves.

Moreover, you'll be lacking your personal model. Good hip hop dancers have their very own unique signature strikes. By the time you finish studying this, it is best to be able to really differentiate hip hop dance from different types of dancing.

It's worthwhile to know the fundamentals of hip hop dance. And after figuring out it, you'll be able to give you your own fashion of dancing. Knowing the basics of hip hop dancing also boosts your potential to learn moves from the experts. That is undoubtedly among the finest shortcuts to be taught hip hop dancing.

Probably the most fundamental idea of hip hop dancing is doing actually easy strikes that define Hip Hop.

Firstly, it is advisable to know that hip hop dances separates / isolates the actions of the higher and lower physique. That simply signifies that each of those predominant parts of your body best hip hop songs 2017 must have its own life, it's own rhythm. When you get this into your head, you'll eventually have it constructed into your body rhythm and have the ability to build on this dance habit.

With that in mind, bear in mind to not just focus in your footwork like what most beginners would do. You might have skillful footwork and in male hip hop artists list a position to dance at incredible speeds. However, you'll lack the showmanship issue and that doesn't take your dancing to the next level.

Categorical your self in your dance. Put your character into it. Don't be a robot (no pun supposed!).

My second recommendation is - take up house. Hip hop dancing is a avenue dance. I do know many people who are in some way afraid of taking on large quantities of space when dancing. Really put your www.youtube.com/channel/UC76BA22_6J2c52ao3M7xi6g dance strikes out there and let it shine. I am unable to stress enough that this is likely one of the very essence of hip hop dancing. Get folks to notice you, and notice your awesome actions.

There are literally 5 fundamentals to hip hop dancing and for the sake not cramming too much into your head, let me record one other one.

Know your music.

Only dance to hip hop beats that you simply love. Some hip hop songs annoy the hell out of me - or just merely not my fashion, so i just avoid them. Do not dance to a tune just because your mates like it or simply because it is famous! Love your music. You show your love for the music by means of your dance moves!

Hip hop dance music is already thirty years old. That will sound hard to believe, nevertheless it's true. The first actually large hip hop song, at the least in line with most music writers, was "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang. When that track debuted in September of 1979, it quickly rose to the top of the charts, and a big a part of why it did so was as a result of it gave the impression of nothing else on the radio. Again then, America was nonetheless caught up in the throes of disco, which wouldn't start disappearing off the radio for another year.

However after Rapper's Delight, hip hop dance music was nonetheless fairly rare on the radio. It was widespread for its novelty, and for its infectious tune and humorous lyrics. However it did not actually start any trends in and of itself, even though it was considered fairly groundbreaking on the time.

It would not be till the early Eighties that this style of music started to get any severe play on mainstream radio station. There were just a few stations in big cities equivalent to New York and Chicago that made it a part of their playlists, however they were stations with tiny audiences.

However lastly, in the middle years of the 1980s, hip hop dance music started to realize traction. Part of the explanation was that mainstream rock was dropping its momentum, and youngsters have been looking for the next huge factor in music. America's altering demographics performed a big half within the increased popularity of rap, too.