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splendidemendax · 3 years ago

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The Frogs in "Plato's Stepchildren": The Source

There's enough going on with "Plato's Stepchildren" that I think I'm just going to work on that for my presentation. Because wow, there's a lot to unpack here. The most pressing thing is the whole Plato bit, but I kinda hate Plato so first I'm focusing on a reference to Aristophanes' comedy The Frogs:

[After Scotty tells Kirk, Spock, and McCoy that the transporters are non-functional, they go to see Parmen. The scene cuts to Alexander performing for Parmen.] ALEXANDER: Great Pan sounds his horn. Marking time to the rhyme with his hoof, with his hoof. Forward, forward in our plan. We proceed as we began. [Kirk enters.] ALEXANDER: βρεκεκεκεξ κοαξ κοαξ.

There are two elements that make the reference here interesting: the source and the significance. Because there's a lot going on here, I'm just going to deal with the first part, the source, here.

This bit is mostly an explanation of my research process, because I found the twists and turns pretty cool. If you're only here for analysis of the significance, that'll be part two, coming later (probably tomorrow). But if you're into weird textual stuff or have always wanted to know what sort of rabbit holes a classical philologist falls into on her days off, here you go.

*N.B. I've tried to make this readable for non-classicists. I've put about zero effort into making this readable for non-Trekkies (sorry), though there's not that much context required for this part. Either way, feel free to ask for clarification. I'm way too ready to talk about any and all of this.

The Source

That weird little bit at the end (βρεκεκεκεξ κοαξ κοαξ [brekekekex koax koax]) is the ancient Greek onomatopoeic frog sound; it's their "ribbit, ribbit." It's used iconically in The Frogs, where the titular frog chorus will not shut up:

FROGS: Brekeke-kex, ko-ax, ko-ax— DIONYSUS: Listen, my melodious friends, put a sock in it, can’t you? FROGS: Ko-ax, ko-ax, ko-ax! What, silence our chorus? Ah, no! (Ar. Ran. 239–243, trans. David Barrett)

So, Alexander is making a Frogs reference at the end there. Cool! What about the rest of the song?

Honestly, it sounds vaguely like about half of the Greek choral odes in existence. I was putting various phrases into Google to see what it would pull up, but I wasn't expecting to find much. And, to be fair, I didn't, but @mintaka-iii did.

The TV Tropes recap page for "Plato's Stepchildren" lists Alexander's song as a shoutout and says this:

The problem with that bit is that it's played slow and dignified, and with a mistake in the lyrics to boot. It's not "Great Pan sounds his horn," it's "Great Pan nods his horn." And the whole chant was supposed to be loud and crazymaking, as the frogs were trying to drive Dionysus batty.

For there to be a "mistake in the lyrics," there has to be a (more authoritative) version against which to compare them. And apparently, it's also supposed to be in The Frogs. Cool! I went back to my translation to try to find it.

I found nothing.

The closest passage I could find was this:

Our plantation of reeds For all musical needs In the very best circles is known... We’ve exactly the type That Pan needs for his pipe When he plays for our chorus... (Ar. Ran. 230–234, trans. Barrett)

Pan's there (it's the only time the frogs mention him) but that's not at all the same thing. I went to other translations. First the Loeb edition (trans. Benjamin Bickley), both because it's the Loeb* and because it would make it easy to find the line numbers for the Greek so I could translate it myself. I also checked the Matthew Dillon translation on Perseus. Both came up with something similar.

*Loeb editions are bilingual (Latin/Greek text with facing translation) and the translations are pretty literal and tradition, if painfully prosaic and boring. If you need a classical text for an academic thing but can't read the text in the original language, Loeb is usually your next best bet. Nobody really objects to a Loeb translation.

I also translated it for myself:

{ΒΑ.} Ἐμὲ γὰρ ἔστερξαν εὔλυροί τε Μοῦσαι καὶ κεροβάτας Πάν, ὁ καλαμόφθογγα παίζων· προσεπιτέρπεται δ' ὁ φορμικτὰς Ἀπόλλων, ἕνεκα δόνακος, ὃν ὑπολύριον ἔνυδρον ἐν λίμναις τρέφω. Βρεκεκεκεξ κοαξ κοαξ. {FR} For the Muses, skilled in the lyre, and horned Pan, the player of reed-tunes, love me; And Apollo the lyre-player rejoices, because of [my] reeds, the lyre-reeds, water-grown, which I farm in the pond. Brekekekex koax koax. (Ar. Ran. 229–235)

Now I had a source on the horn bit (κεροβάτας [kerobatas], "horn-footed, hoofed, horned"), but nothing about the making rhythm or moving forward. I checked a critical edition* for major variations in the text and found nothing. I went back to Google, but this time with the supposed "correct" phrasing, "Great Pan nods his horn."

*critical editions are copies of the text in the original language which include notes about variations in the text in different manuscript sources. If you've never seen a critical edition, rest (un)assured: there are way, WAY more variations than you think. Basically, when you're reading an ancient text, you're actually reading the result of a millennia-long game of telephone that some nerd somewhere has tried to turn back into a sensible, coherent piece of literature; the critical edition is the record of all the possible versions they didn't pick.

Bingo. I turned up an early 20th century translation by John Hookhan Frere, which has this:

Mighty Pan Nods his horn: Beating time To the rhime, With his hoof, With his hoof. Persisting in our plan; We proceed as we began. Brèke-kèsh, Brèke-kèsh Kööash, Kööäsh.

I have no idea where Frere got this (or why on earth he transliterated βρεκεκεκεξ κοαξ κοαξ like that). He doesn't mention the version of the text he used, so I can't figure out if it comes from there or if he just...made it up? It seems pretty unlikely to me that he did, given that his translation was highly praised in a review at the time for its "fidelity," but I can't find a version of the text or any other translation that has anything like this.

But this is clearly the translation that was used for the episode. It's actually quite funny, because the Memory Alpha page for The Frogs has this note:

The title and playwright were noted in the episode's script. Upon his review of said script, Kellam de Forest noted in his research document for the episode: "Advise check with author over translation used, it may be copyrighted and clearance would be required. If translation is author's own, no clearance required." (Note: Evidently it was the author's own translation, as it remained unchanged from the script to the aired episode.)

It definitely isn't the author's own translation. It's blatantly someone else's translation with a couple words changed. But it was good enough for government work, I guess.

(Now I really want to see these notes.)

#trek and the classics #tos #classics #greek #mea res #star trek

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swiftgronmasterpost · 4 years ago

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Winter 2013 - The Beginning of the End and Dianna’s Private Tumblr

January 4, 2013 - Haylor Breakup

Taylor and Harry publicly split and leave us with this iconic picture:

January 10, 2013 - People’s Choice Awards

Haylor is done, Harry is back in the UK, but Taylor shows up with a hickey anyway. (Dianna is in LA at this time.)

Some time this month Taylor writes How You Get The Girl which is about obviously someone who comes back to get the girl. She references “standing in the rain” and “a long six months.” It’s hard to know if these details are more “fanfic” or actual autobiographical details.

This six months may actually refer to the end of bearding for a while (because it seems like Swiftgron did reunite in Paris in early October.) Exactly six months after Taylor started dating Conor Kennedy would be January 25th, 2013.

As for the rain...

It rained twice in LA this month according to weather reports on the 21st and on the 23rd:

Dianna is in LA at this point and has started a private Tumblr blog under the name whosirmesir (we verified it was hers over on @swiftgron-get-married - and you can click here for more on that if you’re curious and actually I did an entire podcast episode walking people through it if you’re like like to listen to an in depth breakdown of it click here for apple OR click here for spotify OR click here for google.

I also recommend searching the whosirmesir tag on @swiftgron-get-married because we’ve logged a lot of interesting moments and connections to Taylor (quotes, art, and other items that tie DIanna and Taylor together.)

On the private tumblr on January 25th Dianna reblogs this:

It reads “i think we’re just gonna have to be secretly in love with each other and leave it at that...”

This is also the time period it is rumored that Dianna proposed to Taylor. I’m not sure what to make of these rumors. I have not been able to get anywhere near confirming them. It’s entirely unsubstantiated - but I explored the rumor further in this blog post (click for link.) And also on the podcast (will link just a bit down in this post because it relates to something else we’re about to discuss.)

February 4, 2013 - Dianna recommends “Far Nearer” by Jaime on twitter:

The lyrics are essentially:

“I feel better when I, you feel better when I I feel better when I have you near me

You Me You I do, I do, I do“

repeated over and over again

February 9, 2013 - Neruda quote on Tumblr from Dianna

Dianna posts a quote to Tumblr. The translation is, “I love you as certain dark things are loved, secretly, between the shadow and the soul.”

It’s worth noting that Taylor namechecked Neruda in the Red album booklet.

February 10, 2013 - The Grammys

Dianna wants to make sure everyone is watching:

And Taylor posts:

“Look what happened! :)”

She won for Safe and Sound:

And she performs her circus themed rendition of WANEGBT (where she mocks Harry Styles on stage making fun of his accent when she sings the “so he calls me up on the phone” part of the song even though this song was written before she was even with him.)

The only other time Dianna tweeted about the Grammys was when Glee was involved the year before.

February 14, 2013 - Achele breakfast and The Inside Source at Glee Tweet

According to a Facebook user Cory, Dianna, and Lea have breakfast this morning (or around this time):

Later that day Taylor posts the infamous tweet:

The Glee Episode “I Do” airs and there is no Taylor song included. However Dianna and Naya’s characters hook up:

After the episode airs Taylor deletes her tweet.

As always I’m not entirely sure what to make of this but to me it boils down to three possibilities:

1. The fandom seems to think this proves that Dianna purposefully tricked Taylor into watching her “hook up” with Naya on screen. It’s completely possible that that’s the case but I think the next two options make a bit more sense.

2. It was a simple misunderstanding or a joke gone wrong. Taylor had a song earlier on that season of glee (Mine sung as a breakup song by Naya) and I have been told another song of Taylor’s was marketed for another glee episode later that spring. Perhaps someone got their wires crossed and misinformed Taylor.

3. Other nefarious parties:

a. It’s possible that Lea was behind this - she publicly had beef with Taylor at one point and she had been with Dianna that morning. Maybe she met up with DIanna, heard about Swiftgron being happy and back together and got a little jealous and decided to prank Taylor.

b. Ryan Murphy also seemed to despise both Dianna and Taylor around this time. He was also famous for stirring up drama with Gleeks on twitter and generally sewing discontent (particularly surrounding wlw ships and fans). Ryan seems to have a problem with women/lesbians in general. He treated Brittana as a couple horribly on Glee as well as their shippers.

He very publicly shaded Taylor in season one of Scream Queens and said in an interview that Dianna ruined Quinn for him because he said she made her sympathetic.

Not only that but in season 3 he destroyed her character - he made her have a mental breakdown - he had her try and steal a baby - he had her get hit by a car - and a huge plotline in season 3 was Quinn begging Rachel (Lea’s character so Dianna’s irl ex) not to marry Finn (played by Cory - literally the guy Lea chose Dianna over - this is like...emotionally abusive if you ask me.) After season 3 Dianna only appeared in 8 episodes of the remaining 55 after being in every episode and the top third billed of the cast in the first three seasons.

Furthermore in a show called The New Normal there was a bitchy actress character named Brynn who he wrote as high maintenance and unpleasant and then killed off.

So yeah...seems fair to at least consider that Ryan or Lea who publicly had problems with both Taylor and Dianna may have been trying to create problems for Swiftgron. One last note about Lea - there was not a single Achele interaction for the entire year of 2013. The most we got was Dianna liking a tweet about Lea’s album in December 2013 and when asked about one another in interviews they would vaguely say they were still friends. No tweets to one another, no birthday messages, no candids, no hang outs. Lea’s book was also written around this time and does not make a single mention of Dianna - her former roommate and “best friend” even though she spends plenty of time talking about others on the Glee cast.

I did a podcast episode on both the proposal rumors and the inside source at Glee tweet if you want more extensive takes on that!

While I’m not entirely sure Dianna had anything to do with this tweet Taylor references this date (2-14-13) by putting it on a dollar bill as a serial number in The Man music video:

At any rate Taylor deletes the tweet and replaces it with one about her dancers:

Dianna tweets 9 hearts that day (I don’t know if that’s significant but if they were together from March 2012 to July 2012 and then October 2012 to this point it would mean 9 months together...)

February 19, 2013 - Sad Charlie Brown Tumblr post from Dianna:

February 27, 2013 - Fitzgerald quote

Taylor listed this as a quote to live by in an interview with Marie Claire a few months later.

I’m not sure if it’s important but Dianna is very quiet this winter and spring in terms of showing up at events, parties, even being papped out on the street compared to other years around this time. She seems to disappear a bit.

February 27, 2013 - Taylor gives a bday shoutout to her Fiddle player Caitlin:

“Happy Birthday to my magical friend, fiddle extraordinaire @/caitlinbird”

March 12, 2013 - Weird tweets from Dianna “One of those days.”

March 13, 2013 - It’s the first day of the Red tour (is that why Dianna had questions?)

About the Red Tour - the last act of the tour seems to be circus themed which may have been inspired by Dianna’s 26th birthday the previous year and really interestingly Taylor has a white rabbit, which is a reference to Alice in Wonderland (Dianna’s favorite piece of media ever) follows Taylor around stage during the WANEGBT performance as she’s dressed up like a circus ringleader:

March 18, 2013 - Dianna goes on a Girls HBO rant (we know who also loved Girls the show and its creator Lena Dunham (Taylor))

End of March - Lena and Ashley show up at the Red Tour backstage

Conclusion - Swiftgron is on but completely underground. Dianna is blogging and tweeting romantic things about missing girls, Taylor’s interests, and secret love, all while watching Taylor perform at the Grammys and encouraging others to tune in. Something weird happened with the inside source at Glee tweet but who knows what. Dianna seems a bit restless and emo while Taylor leaves to go on tour.

Click here to keep reading!

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taehyung-rambles · 4 years ago

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Best BTS Songs of All Time - A.K.A. BTS Songs that Deserve a Grammy (Up To BTS, the Best)

So, I’ve been wanting to make this list ever since the Scammys incident, and I’m excited to share these opinions will all of you.

I’m saying upfront that I really do think, at the very least, BTS’s last three album series deserve a Grammy (for all a Grammy is worth now), but I’ve made this a short list to highlight the very best in BTS’s music. I’m going to post about my favorite BTS songs later because most of BTS’s music, to me, is the best music there is. However, I tried to stay objective with this list and only mention songs that have a special quality about them that sets them apart from even BTS’s own exceptional discography.

Here’s the quick list in order from bottom to the best BTS song of all time:

DNA

Magic Shop

Life Goes On

Mikrokosmos

Dionysus

MIC Drop

BLACK SWAN

Blue & Grey

Spring Day

Note that, by the numbers, Dynamite is technically BTS’s best song of all time. However, I’m not making this list based on commercial success, but rather, the qualities of the songs themselves.

If you want to read my thoughts on these songs, please keep reading:

10. DNA

There have been many BTS songs that hit perfectly the entire way through for different reasons. For instance, Boy In Luv has interesting melodies for every member at all times; the vocal throughout Lights is consistently gorgeous, the production in FAKE LOVE is stunning. DNA is the only song in BTS’s discography that hits all of those elements perfectly, and turns it up to eleven. The other songs on this list have a degree of this, too, but DNA can even be separated from those songs because it’s got a special vibe and energy to it that no other BTS song has. Ergo, I think DNA is probably one of the most well produced BTS songs of all time.

9. Magic Shop

I couldn’t resist dropping Magic Shop on this list. The intent of this song was very important to me in deciding to include it. How many artists today would write such an intimate song dedicated to their fan base? I kind of have a similar reasoning for including MIC Drop, but Magic Shop is always going to be a legendary BTS song. I don’t think sensationalism determines a good song, but in Magic Shop’s case, the sincerity and emotion that was put into everything from the vocal to the production (shoutout to Jungkook for that) makes it feel really special. Beyond that, the melody line is stunning; Magic Shop probably has some of the best melodies in all of BTS’s discography.

8. Life Goes On

Besides the peaceful melodies and relaxing vocals, I think Life Goes On deserves to be on this list because of the message it sent. It came at an extremely necessary time during a difficult period in human history. However, I don’t actually think that’s enough to put it on this list; the reason Life Goes On made it is because it conveyed it’s message throughout every facet of this song. Taehyung’s vocal tells the story, the melodies tell the story, the way Yoongi’s vocal tone was used tells the story, and so on. It’s really rare to be able to tell a story with only sound in modern music, but Life Goes On is able to do it, even if you’re only listening to the instrumental or the hum of the member’s voices.

7. Mikrokosmos

Mikrokosmos has such a punch of emotion to it and, honestly, may have the best melody line out of any song on this list, let alone the rest of BTS’s discography. It’s not easy at all to produce something that's so gripping, so BTS managing to produce that with Mikrokosmos counts for something. It’s an almost unexplainable perfection that comes out of the production, the melodies, and the vocals, but I think “perfection” is the correct word to use. I mean, how could that not be considered one of BTS’s best songs of all time?

6. Dionysus

When I was making this list, this was one of the songs I put on it before even considering what else could be on it. In fact, Dionysus is one of the two songs that made me think about making this list. I mean, what a power song this is. The themes used within the lyrics, the analogies used within the themes, are enough to place Dionysus on this list, but the production. The production value in Dionysus is absolutely through the roof. Everything from the way the instrumental was mixed to the way effects were used on the vocals makes Dionysus stand out. Whatever BTS did to produce this song, it was golden.

5. MIC Drop

We start off the top 5 with MIC Drop. MIC Drop is on this list because it’s iconic, but it isn’t iconic in the same way Dynamite or FAKE LOVE is; it isn’t iconic because of the repeatability or the melody line--it’s iconic because of the quality. That isn’t to say that Dynamite, FAKE LOVE, or any other highly successful BTS song doesn’t have a high degree of quality in them, but MIC Drop was sensationalized despite the lack of a distinct melody line. Again, I’m not doing this based on popularity, but I do think MIC Drop’s popularity came because it’s such a brilliant piece of songwriting. The lyrics of MIC Drop are, more or less, the sole reason it’s made this list--and I think that’s a damn good reason considering the lyrics MIC Drop has. You can find clever and cutting lyrics all over BTS discography, but nothing can touch MIC Drop.

4. BLACK SWAN

BLACK SWAN is so unlike any other BTS song--really, any song at all. There are a lot of things I could say about BLACK SWAN, but the main points are: production and concept. The concept for the lyrics in BLACK SWAN are absolutely heartbreaking, and connecting that to the process of turning into a black swan is genius. The production is--for lack of a better word--insane. Like I said, this sound cannot be found anywhere else in BTS’s discography--not even on MOTS: 7, which is probably BTS’s most experimental album to date (even though BE is a close second). The fact that BLACK SWAN is able to stick out that much in my eyes makes it clear that it’s one of the best BTS songs of all time.

3. Blue & Grey

This song. Oh, my goodness, where do I begin? I genuinely believe that Blue & Grey is one of the best songs ever, period. Taehyung did an amazing job writing and producing this masterpiece. The lyrics alone are enough to include it among BTS’s best songs of all time, but melodies and the vocals are absolute gorgeous. Blue & Grey has the best harmonies of any BTS song, in my opinion. Also, in the same way Life Goes On is able to tell its story throughout every facet of the song, Blue & Grey is able to do that also. You can feel every bit of emotion Taehyung was feeling when he wrote it, whether you’re listening to Yoongi rap, Jikook harmonize, the instrumental, or Taehyung closing out the song. Everything about Blue & Grey speaks, and I don’t think any other BTS song has done that.

2. Spring Day

Were you expecting Spring Day to be on this list? Were you expecting it to be number one? I don’t think there’s a lot to say about Spring Day that hasn’t already been said. It’s a masterpiece. It feels big, doesn’t it? It feels like it’s telling you something important, and you’re beholden to listen. That’s the magic of Spring Day is that it’s so captivating. From the production to the vocals to the melody and everything in between, Spring Day stuns me every time I listen to it. It’s a song that’s very much alive, if that makes sense, and I don’t think anyone would disagree that BTS found something special when they created Spring Day.

1. ON

ON was the main reason I wanted to make this list. I knew it was gonna be on here, and I knew it was gonna be number one. Something about ON is so, so special. The arrangement of the song is exceptional, and that working around the instrumental is absolutely brilliant. By the way, the instrumental is so good? The production slaps; I’d say this is definitely the absolute best production in BTS’s discography. Also, the tone and sound of ON is so unique, similar to BLACK SWAN. A big part of ON being on this list, though, are the lyrics. What a concept, honestly. Every point I’ve made on this list for why these songs are the best BTS songs of all time apply to ON, and more. It’s so hard to explain clearly, but when I listen to ON, it immediately grabs my attention. Ever since I heard it the first time, I’ve known this is BTS best song, and it absolutely deserves a Grammy.

Thank you for reading. Let me know if you agree, disagree, or would change anything about my list. Again, I think BTS’s music is the best there is, so maybe you think there are other songs that deserve a Grammy. Let me know in the replies!

#bts #bangtan sonyeondan #kim taehyung #park jimin #jeon jungkook #min yoongi #kim seokjin #kim namjoon #Jung HoSeok

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sambergscott · 5 years ago

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i’m gomez you’re morticia i feel so happy when i’m witcha (the addams family wedding rap origin story)

written for @outofinspo for the @b99fandomevents Fall 2019 Fic Exchange. you gave me the prompt of a couple’s halloween costume and this is not... quite that but still i hope you enjoy :)

also shoutout to @amyscascadingtabs for helping me!!

(set a few months after Amy joins the nine-nine)

Jake prides himself on being the self-confessed best detective in the Nine-Nine. His arrest numbers are off the charts. He holds the precinct record for quickest time to get a signed confession out of someone. And just last week he beat Rosa at an intense final showdown of rollerchair derby. Yet for some reason he can’t figure out what Santiago is planning on wearing to Boyle’s Halloween party.

T-minus two hours to go and it’s driving him a little crazy.

“Sexy librarian?” He guesses, scrolling through a Google Image search of ladies Halloween costumes. “Sexy superhero? Sexy zombie cheerleader?”

She rolls her eyes. “Not every Halloween costume has to be sexy, Peralta.”

“The good ones do,” he says with a wink.

“Gross.” She throws her pen at him.

“I guess your costume is just gonna be super lame, Santiago,” he goads, knowing it will get a reaction out of her. She’s so competitive, it’s practically in her DNA to rise to a challenge.

“Your costume will be the costume that is lame,” she fires back. So predictable. And so adorable.

“Sick burn,” he teases. “Anyway my costume is dope.”

“Are you going as yourself? Because that’s terrifying.”

“Ha-ha,” he deadpans, throwing back her pen. He misses her head by a inch. “I’ll have you know, detective, I’m going as a super awesome movie character that you’ll never be able to guess-.”

Right off of the bat, she says John McClane.

Which, to be fair, is a pretty good shout. He has mentioned John McClane being his hero pretty much every day since the day they met. But, alas, he went as John McClane last year. And Jake Peralta is no outfit repeater. Not on Halloween.

“007?”

“Nope.” He grins. “Last guess.”

She drums her fingers on her desk and bites her lip as she flicks through a mental rolodex of iconic movie characters. It’s kind of distracting how hot she looks biting her lip like that and he’s totally not listening when she speaks again. She rounds their desks and has to wave her hand directly in front of his face to snap him out of it.

“Sorry.” He blushes wildly. He’s been having a lot of those thoughts lately. About how pretty her hair looks when she wears it down. About how good she looks when she wears semi-decent clothes to Shaw’s instead of her usual grey pantsuits. About how much he loves making her laugh. Sometimes he thinks he’s developing a crush on her but then he remembers she’s his annoying, nerdy partner and thoroughly quashes any thoughts of liking her romantic-stylez. “What were you saying?”

“Superman,” she responds. “My final guess is Superman.”

He makes a loud buzzer noise. “While I am thrilled that you think I could save the planet, detective, you are incorrect. Again. I thought you were supposed to be the smart out of the two of us!”

“I am smart.”

“Not smart enough,” he retorts. “Clearly.”

“Hey, it’s hard! You like a lot of movies! And, besides, you’ve been guessing all morning and you’ve still yet to get mine.” She smiles smugly, folding her arms across her chest.

“OK,” he responds, rubbing his hands together eagerly. “Gimme another clue.”

“I am also going as a movie character.”

“Holly Gennaro!” He guesses immediately.

She rolls her eyes. “No. Stop being so obsessed with Die Hard.”

“I’m not obsessed with Die Hard, I just know all the words and have seen all of them a thousand times.”

“Sounds pretty obsessed to me,” she nudges his shoulder. “Die Hard’s not the only movie out there, you know. There are other movies. Better movies.”

He gasps and recoils like Scully when he poured hot coffee all over himself. “Take that back! Die Hard is the greatest movie of all time!”

“Wrong. Ignorant and wrong. The Lion King’s a great movie.”

“Never seen it.” He shrugs.

“You’ve never seen The Lion King? But it’s a classic. We watched it all the time when I was a kid.”

“I was alone a lot,” he explains, “single mom who worked, absentee father. I just watched sports and Die Hard.”

“Oh,” she whispers, making this sad, frowny face. “Wanna watch it together some time?”

“Uh, ye, yeah,” he stutters, a little taken aback at the invitation. He thought she found him childish and annoying.

“I still think you’re annoying,” she says as she returns to her desk, like she can read his mind.

“Ditto,” he grins.

He’s the first one to arrive.

While he normally insists on showing up at crime scenes/morning briefings/family events fashionably late, this time Boyle specifically asked him to come early and it’s his duty as The Best Friend™️ to resolve all Rosa-is-coming-to-his-party-related meltdowns.

“Smell my breath,” Boyle demands, getting real close.

“OK. Personal space, Charles. We talked about this, remember?”

“Of course,” he nods, taking a few steps back. “I just don’t want Rosa to think I have bad breath when we make out.”

Jake grimaces, relieved when there’s a knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” he excuses himself before Boyle sticks his mouth in front of his face again.

He opens the door and stares at the other early bird in silence.

It’s Amy. Of course it’s Amy. She’s always early. Even after drinks at Shaw’s, hungover, she’ll get to work forty-five minutes before she has to. It’s not surprising that she’s early, it’s what she’s wearing that has him speechless.

In a long black dress with a long black wig, she is unmistakably Morticia Addams. Not as iconic as Holly Gennaro, he has to admit, but still. She’s rocking it.

The only issue?

He’s dressed as Gomez, the patriarch of the Addams family, Morticia’s husband.

They’re matching.

They’re wearing matching Halloween costumes!

Amy blushes beneath her heavy make-up. “Um. Nice suit.”

“Nice dress,” he responds, equally flustered.

“This is weird, right?” They say at the exact same time before dissolving into giggles.

Jake scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. “I guess we’ve been spending a lot of time together the last few months. I must have telepathically given you the idea.”

“Unless I thought of it first.” She raises one eyebrow, challenging him. Before he can come up with response, Boyle appears behind them, incredibly excited about their accidental costume situation.

“It’s nothing,” Jake brushes it off.

“Yeah,” Amy agrees, still standing in the doorway. “The Addams Family are just popular Halloween costumes. That’s all.”

“It definitely means something,” he insinuates in his super high-pitched, annoying insinuating voice. “It means that you’re soulmates.”

Jake rolls his eyes. First the wedding bells comment on Amy’s first day, then the constant questions about whether she’s seeing anyone, now this. He gets that his best friend is just trying to be a good wingman or whatever but it’s A Lot. Even if he did like Amy, nothing would ever happen because she’s obviously uncomfortable about the whole thing. She is the most professional person he’s ever met and would never do anything to jeopardise her integrity at work, especially not something as scandalous as a workplace romance!

Not that anything would ever happen anyway. They’re just friends. Co-workers. Portners. He doesn’t even like her in a romantical way.

Sometimes, for example later in the evening when she steals his last slice of pizza, he doesn’t like her at all.

But then he tells a dumb joke and she’s the only one in Charles’ ex-wife’s, new boyfriend’s basement who laughs and he thinks that maybe Charles is right. Maybe he does have a crush on her. A little one. Tiny.

Not that it matters anyway. Someone like Amy would never date someone like him. They’re just too different. He’s the Gomez to her Morticia, the Detective Peralta to her Detective Santiago, and that’s all it’s ever going to be.

(Eight years later, it’s only fitting that they end their wedding day with him performing his Addams Family themed wedding vows rap in just his boxers. There’s no beat boxer and he’s horribly out of time and he’s forgotten most of the lyrics, but it’s perfect. And Charles was right after all -- they are soulmates, just like Gomez and Morticia).

#my writing #jake x amy #b99 fall 2019 fic exchange #b99fandomevents #b99 fics

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smileandasong · 4 years ago

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a fever you cant sweat out!

oh BOY!!! who is ready to see me get Emotional™ STRAP IN FRIENDS (or unfollow, i wouldn’t blame you) 1. Build God, Then We’ll Talk (i am a SUCKER for closing tracks, and this is possibly my favorite closing track of all time. and the best way to experience this is the video from Live at Denver. which is also the whole way to experience the album, imo!) 2. But It’s Better If You Do (this was my favorite as a kid, so it’ll always have a special place. love that me and ryan ross both vibed with a song about strip clubs when at the time, neither of us had ever been in one istillhaven’t) 3. Camisado (i’ve always loved this song, but ever since becoming a 2020 ryan ross stan, this song just hits so differently now and climbed so high up my afycso ranking!) 4. The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage (what. an. OPENING TRACK!!!) 5. There’s a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven’t Thought of It Yet (shoutout @ ryan ross for teaching 11 year old me what surreptitious means) 6. Time To Dance 7. I Write Sins Not Tragedies (i heard this song playing waaaaay in the distance from one of the shops at work the other day and i dropped EVERYTHING. this song will never not be iconic and i will never not have a visceral and practical involuntary reaction every time it comes up) 8. London Beckoned Songs About Money Written by Machines 9. I Constantly Thank God for Esteban (i wish this ranked higher for me, because it’s ryan’s favorite) 10. Lying Is The Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off (i cANNOT think of this song without thinking of the fact that ryan ross looked like this while writing these lyrics. it’s literally all i think about when i listen to it, and i’m not sure if it enhances or hinders my listening experience!) 11. Nails for Breakfast, Tacks for Snacks (i feel like this will upset people...lyrically, i lOVE IT, but the sound has and always will be a touch strange and just Not It for me) 12. Introduction 13. Intermission (though i do enjoy the piano and brendon’s weird radio announcer voice)

//send me an album and I’ll rank the songs from my favorite to my least favorite :)

#I Constantly Thank Ryan Ross for this Album #and pete wentz for responding to his annoying livejournal messages #and making this happen #because not to sound dramatic #but i likely would not be here blogging about emos and their music #if not for this album #......maybe pete shouldn't have responded to that message #KIDDING #i love afycso dearly #top 5 of all time!#thank you for giving me the chance to go off about it hannah!#asks #meganfoxluvr #album rankings #<-- in case you want to blacklist my rambles

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iridescentides · 5 years ago

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CREATOR SPOTLIGHT: Kat (@sarahsjeffery)

Support your local gif makers! In celebration of my one year gif-iversary, I am posting shoutouts to gif makers who have motivated and inspired me with their creativity in the past year. This post is for Kat, whose gifs can be found here.

Kat’s standout traits are their passion and care. From Legacies to Descendants to Disney, to helping others, they have exemplified immense dedication to their craft that has motivated me to work hard on my own gifs. I know I can rely on Kat to help me through any gif-related issue I may be having, and to support me when I’m feeling a little lost. Kat’s spirit and friendliness are ultimately what sets them apart, along with their impressive sharpening skills and imagination.

MUST-SEE EDITS

Audrey and Uma - This was one of the first gifsets of Kat’s that I saw, and I was instantly blown away by the expert blending of moving shots of Audrey and Uma, along with the vibrant pinks, blues, and reds that add to the overall expressiveness of the set. The way Kat merged these images will never cease to amaze me, for they used sparkles and gradients to paint a seamless portrait of two iconic Descendants characters. The top right gif is especially impressive for the way Kat perfectly blended the two gifs and skillfully took advantage of dark negative space to create the effect of Uma looking down at Audrey; Uma’s mischievous smile and the motion of Audrey’s staff contribute to the stunning overall effect created by this gif.

Kristoff and Ana - In this recent creation on their Disney sideblog @mirandasanchez, Kat perfectly arranged and colored pastel scenes of a beloved Frozen couple. This muted set shows off Kat’s diverse skill set and eye for composition. In contrasting blue hues with orange, Kat made this pastel set very appealing and eye catching, alternating scenes that featured different color schemes; looking through Kat’s edits, you will see clever patterns and arrangements like this frequently, as Kat is great at balancing coloring in their compositions. The cherry on top that makes this set so attractive to the viewer is the speed of each gif; Kat used frame rates that gave the overall set a very smooth feel.

Maya Fell - This set stands out for its subtlety. The mark of a seasoned gifmaker is not always editing in a flashy way that includes obvious effects, but instead making adjustments that tie a composition together in such a seamless way that it goes unnoticed to the untrained eye. This set uses beautiful reds, greys, and blacks to tie each gif together. Kat cleverly emphasized these colors and omitted others to create this harmonious creation.

Peter Pan - In another gorgeous display for their Disney sideblog, Kat used vibrant colors and lively action to capture the essence of the nostalgic film Peter Pan. Kat’s stunning balance of blues, purples, yellows, and a hint of red jumps out at the viewer immediately. This bright and shiny take on a classic film features iconic elements like Big Ben, Tinkerbell pouting, and even Captain Hook. The action shots, like Wendy slipping off a cliff and Peter Pan jumping into a room, give this creation its excited, spirited vibe.

Sofia Wylie Descendants Dance Party - This set is a testament to Kat’s impeccable sharpening skills, paired with some vibrant coloring. In these gifs you can clearly see the texture of Sofia Wylie’s skin and hair as she passionately recites lyrics to a popular Descendants 3 song. This clarity provides an immersive experience when you look at the gifset because it almost makes you feel like you are right there. The bold red hue of her jacket also plays a part in this creation, calling attention and capturing the spirit of the dance number.

CREATOR’S TOP PICKS

Kat has too many favorites to list at the bottom of this post, so click this link to check out each one individually!

Thank you to Kat for inspiring me over the past year! Be sure to check out all of their amazing gifsets, reblog them, and leave nice feedback!

#creator spotlights #1yrgif #sarahsjeffery #userkatza

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smiledtothedog · 6 years ago

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My Top 10 Eurovision Songs of All Time

I did this previously but that was like... 2 years ago and so things have shifted a little bit, so here we are again. It’s Eurovision season so I’m in the mood. Enjoy.

10. My Number One - Helena Paparizou (Greece 2005)

iconic

9. 1944 - Jamala (Ukraine 2016)

i HaVE VeRy UNcOmfORtAblE QueSTiOn tO yOU no but for real this is a great song and performance

8. Rändajad - Urban Symphony (Estonia 2009)

hauntingly beautiful and Estonia’s second best ever

7. Fairytale - Alexander Rybak (Norway 2009)

another icon, this is a classic that never gets old

6. Satellite - Lena (Germany 2010)

my first Eurovision favorite once I really started paying attention (I mean I’ve watched Eurovision my whole life so some of the earlier winners on this list are hardcore favorites too, but I think 2010 was one of the first years I actually cared a LOT, mostly bc Romania was a big favorite)

5. Gravity - Zlata Ognevich (Ukraine 2013)

her voice, her song, her performance... just wow

4. Wild Dances - Ruslana (Ukraine 2004)

GO GO GO WILD DANCES also I love this bc the ethnic sounds in it are very close to traditional Romanian music, so I relate

3. LoveWave - Iveta Mukuchyan (Armenia 2016)

(hey... it’s me) this song is just so different but like... it’s AMAZING, just give it a listen trust me

also HOLY FUCK THIS PERFORMANCE

2. Moltiva - Marija Šerifović (Serbia 2007)

Favorite winner of all time. A masterpiece. Honestly just watch this performance, and then watch it again. I get chills every time.

1. Goodbye to Yesterday - Elina Born & Stig Rästa (Estonia 2015)

I have no words for how much I love this song. It’s... the composition, the style, the instrumental, their voices together, the lyrics (shoutout to “I smiled to the dog”). Deserved to win and I am forever bitter that it only got 7th, that’s much too low. This is my favorite Eurovision song of all time and honestly I don’t forsee that changing probably ever. MASTERPIECE.

#eurovision #elina born #stig rasta #marija serifovic #iveta mukuchyan #ruslana #zlata ognevich #lena meyer-landrut #alexander rybak #urban symphony #jamala #helena paparizou

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rndyounghowze · 6 years ago

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Emanon Players perform Jesus Christ Superstar at Absegami High School in Galloway, NJ

By Ricky Young-Howze

The time is finally here! I have been a huge fan of Jesus Christ Superstar since I was in high school so many years ago. This rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Weber and lyrics by Tim Rice has not just been a part of my life but a part of my psyche! I have just never seen a production of it onstage. It is so fitting that my first time is with this production directed by Chip Garrison with the Emanon Players. I have been getting chills just looking at the promo photos! So all the waiting since last fall is over. Now it's time to figure out what's the buzz!

Just in time for Palm Sunday follow the last days of Jesus Christ throug the lens of a 1960's rock opera. While most of the apostles are wondering when the revolution will happen Judas is busy wondering if it's all going to end in disaster. Mary Magdalene is wrestling with feelings she didn't think she'd have, while Caiaphas is wrestling with what to do with the "miracle wonderman". It seems that anyone who has any contact with Jesus of Nazareth ends up wrestling with some dilemma or another. But in an opera full of questions and people seeking answers the main crux is clear "Jesus Christ Superstar. Who are you?" And that's the individual question all of us take away as we leave. But first we must follow the story all the way to its inevitable end. (Or is it the beginning?)

Direction by Chip Garrison was just epic. I have seen a little bit of everything from this man and loved all of it but nothing suits this man best than a good opera. That's where his attention to detail and his ability to coach great performances out of these kids comes into play. He can take kids of all shapes and sizes with many different talent sets and weave them into a cohesive performance. I would love to see more shows like this from them.

Now I rarely ever give standing ovations or even clap during performances. If you see as many shows as I have you just know when you feel it and you want it to be sincere. This show made me want to jump up and down and dance in the aisles, both with pride for these kids and the love of this show. However I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't a curtain call at the end of the performance. I understand that there is a heavy message to this story and you want us walking away with a certain feeling but I was more worried that someone was hurt backstage. I hear that they are giving a company bow at the end of Sunday's performance. I really wish I had gone to that one.

Grace Vu as Judas Iscariot follows in the footsteps of Broadway Alum Shoshana Bean who started the trend of female Judases just last year. I think that it's a great change. I was holding my breath when her wonderful deep voice took control of the stage for "Heaven on Their Minds". That doesn't mean that she can't scream either! This girl has some range both vocally and physically and she brought all of it to bear on this character.

Coby Alavez as Jesus: Well in short YESSSSS!!!!! At length I could gush about this young performer's voice for hours. I've seen him progress for awhile and I can tell you that he's only gotten better with every show. His voice is just this wall of sound that comes at you (even though his mic would sometimes add some distortion)! I felt his energy much better in his chest and head range than when he was screaming to the rafters. It is very hard to step into this role and bring both a strong yet broken energy to the show and still keep up that arena rock energy. And this isn't a seasoned stage vet this is a senior going to college next year. This is a boy with room for improvement and it astonishes me what his future holds.

All Mary Magdalenes in this show are judged by one song and I think it's unfortunate. It's just not about mastering a ballad it's embodying a soothing spirit in a cankerous world. Sydney Mullin as our Mary Magdalene tonight was just the balm to soothe the savage ear. It's very hard to be the calm one in the middle of this rock concert setting but she really did it. I can't believe that such a young performer had that kind of maturity.

A lot of people know Mara Platt who played Simon the Zealot. She has a signature voice. I just didn't get her yet as a performer until her performance tonight. She really just is a young performer with a screaming voice that's tearing at her throat just dying to get out. It's almost impossible to know her off the stage because she doesn't truly transform until she walks the boards.

I have been following William Platt who played Pontius Pilate just as long as young Coby and I can't tell you just how proud of this guy am. Every role he's taken, both big and small, he attacks with such a veracity. He leaves his heart out there for all to see as if he doesn't mind if it gets broken. If he keeps it up there is nothing this this guy won't be able to do. It is my hope for every young performer to take on a role to the hilt just like him.

You heard Connor Morrissey who played Simon Peter before you heard his character's solo. His featured solos in other numbers really showed this guys devotion to range. And then his moment comes and he knocks it out of the park. Simon Peter's time is so short on this stage and he really made the most of it.

My Supporting Shoutouts go out to two bad Sadducee mother- (shut your mouth) and a glitzy and glam Herod.

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for these two characters. You're not some mustache twirling villain here. You're religious leaders trying to do the best for your community. Makael Rogers as Caiaphas and Courtney Jones as Annas brought that dynamic to the stage. My wife Dana summed Makael's voice up nicely by just typing "whoa". And that's where I'm gonna leave it because that voice can't be improved upon with more words. A big kudos to Courtney for taking the role of second banana Pharisee well. This is the best vocal work I've seen her do.

As expected Johnny Keen as Herod made the grandest of entrances. Yes this is just a pastiche but it is a really big tent pole performance and one of the most memorable numbers. I really love how he leaned into it. It's an on and off time onstage where you're gone as quickly as you appeared and he really made it his own and did his best.

My Background Standouts go to the amazing background dancers for two of my favorite numbers. Most of them were also main performers doubling their role so I found their ability to blend amazing. So this goes out to Andrea Brandt, Daryl McAllister, Breana Smail, Samantha Garofolo, Chloe Verderber, April Kachnic, Sydney Mullin, Isabella Nieves, Mara Justine Platt, and Emily Deibert.

From the very opening chords of the overture I knew that Music direction by Brian Conover was epic! It took the iconic score that made my youth and gave me chills all over again! Even the "small" version of this orchestra is an eleven piece hardcore group of rock awesomeness!

Choreography by Katie Taylor really took the spurs to these kids. I have a feeling that they can now do the choreography in their sleep. I do love the times though when the kids could freestyle more and be themselves. They were really more loose. I just know after a good night's sleep that stiffness will shake itself off for tomorrow's performance.

I feel that where set design by Chip Garrison held tightly to the classic "Brown Album" style costume design by Ashley Winkler is a big throwback to the NBC live concert performance with more modern clothing. I feel that this makes a great synergy especially with lighting design by Peter Avagliano bringing the rock concert vibe with intelligent lighting and bright hues. It melds into a living history of all the incarnations this opera has had over the decades.

I was really biased towards this musical from the beginning. Some would be tempted to say that my bar was set really low. In fact I came in excited yet skeptical. These kids were going to have to work harder to do a show that I know every note intimately. And they not only exceeded my expectations they leaped over them as if they weren't even there. You definitely need to come see this show. It runs both tomorrow and Sunday. You definitely won't be disappointed.

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lipsyncforyourlife · 3 years ago

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June Jamabalaya Isn't Tired Of "It's Chocolate" Yet + "Moulin Ru!" Recap (Issue #12)

The RuPaul's Drag Race Official Newsletter

In this week’s Drag Race newsletter, we recap “Moulin Ru!,” say “oui, oui!” to our favorite Rusical moments, and share an exclusive interview with June Jambalaya. Don’t forget to subscribe so you can stay tuned for all of the latest Drag Race updates!

Bonjour, and welcome to the Moulin Ru! They say drag, like love, is a many splendored thing, and that’s certainly true on the latest episode of Drag Race, which more than delivered the theatrics—both on and off the stage. There’s a quibble over casting, a demanding Rusical, the question from Ru that every queen dreads, and, for the final act, the dramatic reveal of the golden bar! I’m Cameron Scheetz, and I’ll be your emcee, so grab a seat and make yourselves comfortable; it’s time to recap one hell of show.

The Set-Up

It was a new day in the Werk Room, and the girls gathered to pay their respects to the dearly sashayed Jasmine Kennedie, who goes down as “the most lip-synced diva” (at least in traditional season’s LSFYLs) in the show’s her-story, and holds the honor for longest mirror message ever. Closing with a shoutout for Angeria, DeJa, and Jorgeous to “go all the way,” Jasmine—no offense—left Daya with one last thing to roll her eyes about. Are we going to miss this sibling rivalry?

With no Mini Challenge in sight, odds were that the week’s Maxi would be a doozy, and, girl, was it ever! This season’s Rusical is Moulin Ru!, a dragged up take on the Broadway jukebox musical Moulin Rouge!—which, of course, is an adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s bombastic movie musical from 2001. RuPaul walked the queens through each role and announced they’ll be rehearsing alongside choreographer Miguel Zarate, composer/Drag Race musical mastermind Leland, and a mystery director! But the real gag? They would have decide on the roles themselves.

That’s when things got tense. After the “60s Girl Group” challenge, everyone decided to take a page from The Book Of (Daya) Betty and make a loud stand for the part they wanted. This actually worked out for the most part, until we arrived at the lead role of Saltine (a play on Nicole Kidman’s star performer/courtesan Satine). Bosco saw a role custom-built for her—the sultry object-of-affection—while Lady Camden recognized a chance to push her theatrical talents into the spotlight, and no one was backing down. Considering these two have been largely drama free throughout the season, I’ll admit there was some fun to watch them with their claws out… until it became clear someone’s feelings were going to get hurt. Taken to a non-anonymous vote (poor Willow, the tie-breaker), the girls decided Bosco was suited for Saltine, knowing Lady could nail the role of the bearded narrator, Mama Z.

As the Moulin Ru! cast got to work, both Bosco and Lady Camden separated from the pack and were in their feelings. It took some encouragement from Angie to turn Lady’s mood around (yet more fodder for Camgeria ‘shippers), reminding the queen that she can have a lot of fun with Mama Z, especially if she channels her free-wheeling Freddie Mercury energy. When the girls got to stage for rehearsal, they were greeted by Miguel, Leland, and—surprise—their director, the iconic Leslie “Baby Wipes” Jordan. As everyone practiced their choreo, spirits were high (because how can you not be happy around Leslie Jordan?), and it looked like the Rusical was shaping up to be quite the showstopper. Leslie was only worried about Ru, who would have the unenviable task of sending one of these talented queens home.

The Challenge

Curtains up on on Moulin Ru! The opening number gave us a taste of showgirl quartet—Angeria, Daya, DeJa, and Jorgeous—as well as our emcee, brought to sparkling life by Lady Camden. It was clear that this Rusical, like Moulin Rouge! itself, would be a “jukebox musical,” meaning it’s comprised of pre-existing songs, resulting in some clever mash-ups of music and lyrics from across the Drag Race-verse. There’s an added bit of fun just recognizing which songs are being referenced, and I was especially thrilled to hear nods to both Drag Race UK’s earworm-y “UK, Hun?” and Bebe Zahara Benet’s unforgettable “Drag Up Your Life” verse (“Rrrrra-ka-ta-ti-ti-ta-ta!”)

The second number really locked us into the “Lady Marmalade” super-group qualities of Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent. As the foursome’s Mýa, Angeria got things off to a spirited start, followed by Daya who better captured the energy of Pink here than she did in her premiere Talent Show act. With the Lil Kim rap solo, DeJa has a killer moment, a dancer on a leash in each hand, and Jorgeous brought the Xtina fantasy like the star she is (not bad for someone who was hating on theater gays earlier in the episode). Then they ceded the stage for a proper introduction to Bosco’s Saltine, with a sexy cabaret number right up her alley.

Leland and Leslie Jordan even got in on the fun, playing Saltine’s penniless suitor and the greedy duke, respectively, following a truncated version of the film’s plot. Real Moulin Rouge! heads should be tickled by Leland and Bosco’s swooning, “Elephant Loved Medley”-esque duet, and I was really vibing with the tango-fied take on “Covergirl,” pulling Saltine in two directions. Then came Willow’s spotlight moment as the green Absinthe Fairy, which she totally destroyed, keeping pace with the comedic heightening of the music.

Typically in “original recipe” seasons, the Rusical shows up earlier in the competition, but here, with half of the cast remaining, everyone had more of a chance to shine. With no flops in sight, the queens that really stood out were those who were able to tap into a character and find a way to make every note of their performance sing. When it was all said and done, Moulin Ru! played like gangbusters on the Drag Race main stage—when are they going to take this thing on tour?

The Looks

Let’s reflect on that runway, shall we? Category is: Mirror, mirror! First out was Lady Camden in a shimmering tribute to kid-lit classic, The Little Prince—those touches of stardust makeup were gorgeous, even if the stoned tights seemed to tell a different story. Bosco was once again corseted with cheeks exposed, but it was hard to deny how stunning she was in this sex-bot look, which she hilariously dubbed the “Tin Man’s slam piece.” And Willow made sparks fly on the stage in her Evel Knievel get-up, continuing her track record for some of the season’s most unique and unexpected runways. Her mind!

Angeria was pure galactic royalty in her gown and matching headpiece, each blue-tinted shard of the garment catching the main stage lights in some truly remarkable ways. Heavy metal and reflective, Daya glammed it up as the secret fifth member of KISS, which is kind of a band of drag queens when you really think about it. If DeJa wasn’t exactly giving mirror, she at least stomped out there like an evil queen should, adorned with a vibrant crown and cage reminiscent of a rainbow oil slick. And, finally, Jorgeous delivered glistening WAP in a “ribcage dress” inspired by Cardi B in Interview Magazine, complete with boots, gloves, and slicked wet hair.

The Critiques

On the Judge’s Panel this week, Ru (giving full Mamaru album cover realness) was joined by Michelle Visage, Ross Matthews, and extra special guest Andra Day wearing a piece apparently inspired by Utica Queen’s sleeping bag couture last season—which I mean as a total compliment! Andra was a treat, bringing her musical expertise and a surprising number of jokes.

Immediately Lady Camden was singled out for her professionalism and showmanship; after snagging the win, it’s clear this queen is Broadway ready! On the other hand, the judges felt that Bosco lost the narrative a little bit. This was the role she fought for, but, as Michelle pointed out, she never really managed to inhabit the character. That’s probably why, when Ru asked the girls the dreaded question—“Who should go home tonight and why?”—all of them said Bosco. Jorgeous, perhaps sensing she’d once again have to fight to stay in the competition, offered up the fieriest response: “And also, if we want to talk about track record, she was in the bottom three times in one episode.” Wig!

In the end, we were left with Bosco and Jorgeous, ready to face off in a Lip-Sync For Your Life set to the Hex Hector remix of Whitney Houston’s “Heartbreak Hotel” (also featuring the powerhouse vocals of Faith Evans and Kelly Price). It’s frankly hard to imagine anyone outperforming Jorgeous in this setting, though Bosco held her own by focusing on the lyrics and the big emotion of the song. By the time Jorgeous was popping and locking to the beat, she had that win all sealed up. Facing elimination, Bosco’s future was in the hands of the Drag Gods, and—Oh my god, she had the golden bar!! We’ve been teased by this moment all season long, but nothing could undercut the shock and pure elation on Bosco’s face as she unwrapped her fate. The demon queen rises again!

Burning Questions

Villainsco

In pre-season interviews, Bosco was proud to call herself “the villain of the cast” (and recently changed her Twitter name to reflect it), but 11 episodes in, we had yet to see much of her diabolical side—just a sweet and supportive queen with a dry sense of humor. That all shifted this week thanks to her fight for Saltine, a move that her sisters would later admit rubbed them the wrong way. Could this be the start of her villainous streak? Considering that any lingering drama was all but quashed by the end of Untucked, it’s doubtful. By I’m eager to see how two near-eliminations in a row might super-charge Bosco’s competitive spirit moving forward.

Track Records

Let’s do a quick run of the numbers: After owning the stage in the Rusical, Lady Camden now ties Angeria and Bosco on the leader board with two wins apiece. With two competitive episodes left, that means one of them could pull ahead. Or, perhaps Daya, DeJa, Jorgeous, or Willow could catch up? In short, this season still feels like anyone’s game, and Ru and Co. are really going to have to split hairs to narrow this down to our finalists at season’s end.

Next Week: Boom, Roasted!

Get those marshmallows ready, it’s time for a roast! In the teaser, Ru announces the guest of honor will be the hilarious Ross Matthews. Who’s got jokes? In rehearsals, Angie’s motel line gets a big laugh from Michelle and special guest Dulcé Sloan, while Bosco seems to have forgotten her punchline. Regardless, we’ve seen these girls excel in the reading Mini Challenge, so I’m hopeful this will be a roast to remember!

The Other Half Of The Story

You know the drill: If you’re not watching Untucked, well, you’re missing out, babe! Let’s shout out a few of the most notable moments from this week’s episode.

Once a season, Ru asks the girls who they think should go home, typically queueing up some drama for that week’s Untucked, but Bosco’s never been one to let emotion get in the way of her gameplay, so she’s pretty level-headed about it. “No tea. You had to name a name.” In a confessional, Bosco admitted to feeling somewhat dismissed by her sisters, but she’s not disheartened. Instead of going on the defensive, she spent most of Untucked preparing for an inevitable lip-sync.

Lady Camden can’t help but think of her tussle with Bosco over the Rusical’s starring role, worried she might’ve come off as a brat, or weak for eventually backing down. But the girls back up her decision, and cheer her on for listening to critiques and really coming out of her shell.

This week’s super-sweet video message was from Mama Camden herself, sharing some words of encouragement to her “babycakes,” and offering up a delightful glimpse into Lady’s childhood: “By 5 you wanted to marry me, and by 10 I was replaced by Baby Spice.” I think a lot of us can relate to what Lady was going through.

Andra Day also paid the girls a visit, clearly in awe of the queens who were in awe of her right back. She told them, “you are here for a reason,” and the story of how she somewhat unexpectedly found herself in an award-winning movie role deeply resonated, especially for Jorgeous who is dynamite performer that nevertheless struggles with acting challenges.

Untucked ended with a brief glimpse backstage after Bosco’s gold bar reveal, and the energy was off the charts. Willow joked, ‘I’m so happy and I’m so pissed;” Bosco’s lifeline is a reminder that, at this point, there are no second chances left in the competition.

The Serve-ey w/ June Jambalaya

Each week, we’ll get to learn more about one of the queens of season 14 when they take our brief questionnaire, a.k.a. The Serve-ey. They’ll all get the same six questions, and then we’ll throw in one final “wildcard” question just for fun. This week: It’s the Real Housewife of Drag Race, June Jambalaya!

1. In keeping with the season promo’s board game theme: What was your favorite game growing up and why?

Well, I got a lime green Nintendo64 for Christmas one year, like the one where you can kind of see through it. And I got Donkey Kong, so that was my game, my favorite. And I remember, when it got a little old, I used to have to blow on it, and then push it down.

Yes! The classic technique.

Oh my god, yes. But I think I just liked Donkey Kong because—well, being from Florida, I just naturally loved the scenery of it, the nature, even the peeled bananas and swinging from the vines. I just really love the freedom, that’s really what got me: The Tarzan-esque adventure of the game.

So it was that until I got my first Gameboy—a Gameboy Color. And I had my Pokémon, and I was just good. Because I could always just take it with me.

2. How would you say the city you’re from helped define your drag?

June was born in LA. Drag was just—well, I had choreographed for queens in Florida, but I never experienced it for myself. But I think I take some of my southern housewife antics from Florida, and I tried to merge it with my, you know, nightlife, designer-bag, LA girl. So I merged the two sides of me to make June, and I definitely think now my Instagram aesthetic and makeup is very much LA.

You said the word “housewife,” and I know you’re a big fan of The Real Housewives, so we have to get into that a bit. Are you loyal to specific seasons? Or maybe you have a few favorite housewives who inspired June?

So, I have a top three! I actually worked as a personal shopper for Phaedra Parks, so I really love her. And then Porsha Williams is my drag blueprint. And then the last slot would probably go—oh, this is tough. Because I love Teresa [Giudice], but then I also love Nene [Leakes.] Because they’re both badasses, so they both have special places in my heart. They can tie for third. They just bring that—they own the crown in their franchise.

3. With this season’s candy bar twist, I’m curious: If you were a piece of candy, what kind would you be?

If I was any piece of candy, I think I’d be a Twizzler because I’m twisted yet sweet.

Plus a Twizzler is—well, it’s not chocolate.

[Laughs.] That is true.

Have you been surprised by the reaction to that moment on the show? I mean, it’s become a meme that’s endured all season long!

It’s everywhere. Everywhere! It’s the one. It’s on TikTok, I’ve heard people say it, I’ve seen TikToks where it’s like my voice over a song, I’ve seen Nina West and other queens make memes about it, it’s on Twitter—oh my gosh. In my mind, I’m like, “Oh my god, am I having my Miss Vanjie moment?” [Laughs.] I mean, obviously I don’t think it’s that big, but I’ll take it!

4. What can you tell us about your “confessional” interview look? How did you decide what to wear? What do you think it says about your style out of drag?

So, I actually changed my confessional look, I think, a week before we left? Because I had a different idea I was going to do, and it was a lime-green turtleneck and a Scotch And Soda cardigan. But my sister was like, “Oh, but that’s really not you—you know, you just like to wear your fedoras and your shirts.” And so my sister actually got me—we were in the mall—and she got me this All Saints shirt that just came out. And she’s like, “That is what you should wear.” So she bought the shirt for me and that’s what I wore. And I had the thought, like, “Oh, I probably should wear a fedora!” Because, you know, if I have my hair cut for putting the wigs on and off, I’ll be able to have a hat on all season and it’ll be fine.

So it’s fashion and function then; I love it. And you’re wearing a hat right now, too—do you consider yourself a hat person?

Yes, yes, oh yes. A fedora, a baseball cap, whatever. Typically, I tell people that June is very, you know, housewife, Instagram girl, but Ty is like a t-shirt, a hat, sneakers. Like, I typically look like someone’s dad on his way to pick up his kid from soccer practice. [Laughs.]

But I think, because I was working as a personal shopper and a style assistant, I was putting women in these incredible dresses and super high heels. I wanted to try it. And it’s like, now doing it to myself, I don’t ever want to half ass it because I put them through it. [Laughs.] So now I can see what it’s truly like.

5. What’s a fun fact you can share about one of your season 14 sisters that might surprise the fans?

I don’t think people know that Kornbread is an anime fan.

Oh, interesting! I know that, from the Meet The Queens videos, DeJa made it very clear she was an anime stan. But I definitely hadn’t heard Kornbread was too.

Oh yeah. I believe she even has a few anime tattoos!

So are you an anime fan then too? Do you two recommend anime to each other.

I am not. [Laughs.] But I know Kornbread really is. Her and my roommates, they talk about it all the time. So that’s how I know—I’ll listen and catch on where I can.

Well, now that you say that, I can definitely see an anime influence in some of her drag. Honestly even in that Meet The Queens look. And, speaking of Meet the Queens looks, I’ve always thought yours was so fabulous with the earrings and the two-tone dress.

So, fun story: Again, that was not even my original idea, actually. I had such a simple simple idea, and Kornbread was like, “I really do think you should do something that you’ve always wanted to do and never done.” Like, this would be the time. So she’s like, “What’s a look you’ve always wanted to do?” And I told her I was obsessed with the Schiaparelli earring dress where the dress is like hanging from the earrings. But obviously I didn’t want to just recreate that look, because it’s been done before. So I was like, “What if the earrings were hanging from my head and just floating and you didn’t see where they were coming from?” And so that’s why—a lot of people don’t know that the earrings weren’t in my ear, they were under my wig. So it was a headpiece that went under the wig, and the earrings were just hanging from there.

But it was very heavy. It was a heavy fifteen hour day. [Laughs.] Because I had the headpiece on with the two earrings, and then the fabric was hanging all day long. And then we put the wig on top. And the wig, by having that top knot, there were metal wires to keep the shape. So it was, you know…

Drag is pain, sometimes.

Needless to say, I won’t be doing that look again. [Laughs.]

6. Here’s a chance to shout out another drag performer, designer, hair & makeup artist, etc… who really helped inspire you or prepare you for your journey on Drag Race.

I think who helped me prepare was a beauty influencer by the name of PinkNeinu—that’s his Instagram and then he has, like, over like a million followers on TikTok. But I took quick drag lessons with him. And I needed to learn because, you know, with Drag Race, it literally is a race. So I really needed to learn how to paint efficiently and quickly. And so he taught me a lot of tricks, like, instead of gluing my brows down, I just shaved the back of them so I had more space to do different shapes and different eyeshadow techniques. So, in the short time that we have to get ready, I really used a lot of the tips that he taught me.

I hadn’t really thought of that before. It’s one thing to be able to get into drag, but to have the skillset to do it on a time crunch—

Yes, absolutely. It’s a pressure cooker! I follow him, so check him out.

7. You talked about your dance training on the show, but when did you first fall in love with dance? And who were some of the earliest dancers who inspired you?

Obviously growing up in the South with my parents, I got to watch a lot Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. But then I went to a plethora—more concerts than I’d like to admit—of Beyoncé shows. And then I also saw Britney Spears’ Toxic tour, which is really what inspired me to dance. So, when I started training and learning, I always got the feedback of how, yes, I’m a powerful mover, but how feminine my quality of moving had always been, which made it difficult to pursue [a career] as a male dancer. And that’s where, you know, drag really came in. Like, it’s impressive to be powerful, but then to still have that feminine quality that really works for drag.

And because you evoked Beyoncé I have to ask: What’s your favorite album of hers? Do you have a favorite song?

Ooh, it’s tough. In terms of a favorite album, I do think Lemonade was pretty spectacular. And, really—so, two people really inspired me: Beyoncé and Todrick Hall. My first internship in LA was for Todrick Hall, and I got to watch him do his YouTube videos and then the whole thought process behind what he covers and all of those ideas. And then it was watching Beyoncé do these visual albums, which took my mind to do these visuals for the [runway] categories. So that kind of approach, Lemonade, really holds a very special place in my heart. But I do love her Four album because I think it’s just fun and poppy. And then a favorite song of Beyoncé’s? I know a lot of people probably don’t know this song, but it’s off of B’Day, and it’s called “Flaws And All.” It’s just a one of those songs that just kind of makes me—well, it’s like, “I don’t know why you love me, but I love you for loving me, flaws and all.” It’s a good one.

You really have been turning it out with the looks and those videos. Each piece then becomes this big artistic statement from you.

[Making those videos] was therapy. You know, Drag Race is hard. And I’ve only been doing drag for two and a half years, so this was a hard experience. That’s a lot to get ready and then go through. So it made me question my art, like, “Okay, am I really ready?” Was I really ready? And so all of this, doing these projects with my friends who are incredible dancers—and all these people that came and helped me put these projects together—it was the therapy I needed to know that I was still doing the thing that I was meant to do.

I’m so glad you’re able to share it with the world. As one final question, do you have a favorite of these videos you put together? Or maybe it’s one we haven’t seen yet.

I think my last video will be it. But the toughest one was JLo. Because even some of my friends that were in that JLo video—who have danced for, like, Beyoncé’s Super Bowl and are professional dancers—none of us move, or can dance like that anymore. [Laughs.] That early 2000s style. So, when I said that we were doing that, we were learning it and workshopping it, and it was like, “My god, this is a lot of movement.” [Laughs.] A lot of compact movement. And to mirror it—because we were going to take inserts of the actual video to show that we matched it, which was a ballsy thing to do.

But I like my last one because it’s going to be a little bit more intimate. And there’s not a lot of bells and whistles. It’s a different style of dance than I’ve done in any other video. And it was just, you know, that final “mwah!” to all the videos that we’ve done.

The Looks You Didn't See

It’s practically tradition that eliminated queens will take to social media to show off the stunning looks they didn’t use on the runway. Every week, we’ll reserve this space to shout out our favorite “unseen looks.“

Jasmine (the producer) Kennedie

@jasminekennedie

🏍 Let’s Ride 🏍 missed this runway by once challenge 😭 shot by @TweetingBryan #mirrormirror #jasminekennedie #dragrace https://t.co/wlUPXi3N5p

10:49 AM - 26 Mar 2022

Oh, girl, VROOM VROOM! Jasmine Kennedie is a total cyberpunk biker babe in this jaw-dropping robot body suit from Drag Race Thailand‘s Bunny Be Fly. Jasmine shared a peek of this in her Whatcha’ Packin’ conversation with Michelle, but it’s to gag for in the photo and surely would’ve been a high point of the runway. I want a Cybrerpunk Jasmine action figure now! Also don’t miss: Alyssa Hunter‘s brilliant ode to the Evil Queen’s magic mirror, Maddy Morphosis’ reflective elegance, Orion Story‘s disco ball transformation, and June Jambalaya’s sickening silver-and-black style.

Gagatrondra! It's The Tweets Of The Week

We wrap up every newsletter with a rundown of some of our favorite reaction tweets of the week, so use #DragRace and you may find yourself here!

el 🧷 #TEAMDAYA

@el_bettyy

she knew exactly what she was doing and i love it #dragrace https://t.co/RXJwcFaTbj

8:15 PM - 25 Mar 2022

lucas

@lucasisbasic

the rehearsals better go something like this #DragRace https://t.co/w9zYnsDuwl

8:24 PM - 25 Mar 2022

Jewell 💎

@Fbjewell_

“If we wanna talk about track record, she was in the bottom 3 times in one episode” #DragRace https://t.co/KwYHCYCHZC

9:18 PM - 25 Mar 2022

JushForFans

@jush_for_fun

I’m gonna miss the “it’s chocolate” and the sad trumpet music #DragRace https://t.co/Ama1HYEeBh

10:05 PM - 25 Mar 2022

Want More?

An international drag all-star, Drag Race Thailand co-host, and noted Moulin Rouge! stan Pangina Heals is The Pit Stop‘s guest of honor this week, and she joins the lovely Monét X Change as they get into the drama and rate the Rusical. If you haven’t tuned in yet, you can watch below:

The Pit Stop S14 E12 | Monét X Change & Pangina Heals Come What May | RuPaul’s Drag Race

#RuPaul's Drag Race #Newsletter #June Jambalaya #It's Chocolate #Moulin Ru: The Rusical #Pokemon #Nintendo 64 #Donkey Kong

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monterey-jack · 7 years ago

Photo

NEWSIES IN MANILA!!!!1 (I decided to post this after the show is done because I may post some spoilers lol) This is going to be a mess so bear with me.

It’s hard not to compare it to Newsies Live, but I feel so proud that an all Filipino cast and crew are able to create this kind of quality theater! They didn’t adopt the Tony-winning choreography but they still had those awesome jumps, spins, cartwheels, and pirouettes that would just make your jaw drop to the ground.

Everyone was amazing! Their singing skills are on point (I especially love Once and For All. It was so hot but I still got chills), the execution of the choreography was perfect, and there were some trick shots during Seize the Day that made everyone go WOAH and it was so fun to watch a fresh take in this show.

I still hold my position that newsies are humans made out of rubber. And compared to the Broadway stage, this is too small so I’m amazed that they’re still able to fit that many newsies in that tiny stage AND they’re still flying around without falling to the audience like damn.

When they were singing the latter part of Carrying the Banner there were two groups dancing depending on which part they were singing it was adorable. The fight scene during Seize the Day is more like a dance off lol it was funny for me I’m sorry.

Also they knocked out Crutchie before handcuffing him AND THERE WAS BLOOD HOW DARE THEY.

Also the actor playing Finch is a 15-year-old boy. He was able to tap while wearing a sling! I hope he’ll have a good career in theater if ever he’ll pursue it.

I just realized Elmer is adorable. I thought he was gonna get the whole tray from the nun before thanking her lmao.

I love Race you can always depend on him, and he loves his cigar so much

yer werld is yer erster

yer erSTER

YA KNOW YA FANCY CLAM WID DA POIL INSOIDE

The characterization of Morris Delancey is very different from the original, but I think it was so cute. Can Morris be my favorite newsie now?

Les sounds and looks like a 13 year old boy. Sorry kid you don’t pass for 10, especially 7.

There were girlsies I repeat, there were girlsies!!!!!!! (And they're dressed as girls so they're easily seen) They were not there during Carrying the Banner but they're there during the rest of the ensemble numbers.

I also want to give a shoutout to the newsies AND girlsies who were moving the towers while the cast is dancing. No one got hurt! Also, pushing around those sets is also a workout, so it’s not just the actors who got ripped lol.

Tap dancing is hard and tap dancing King of New York is hard but they still produced a good big tap dance number that wowed the audience.

Of course there were some bad points like the sound system is breaking up at some songs and Katherine’s mic was either not loud enough or it’s super loud. But the fact that the sounds are still crisp and you can hear every lyric in an open area, they still get my thumbs up.

My favorite number ever is Seize The Day, mostly because of their iconic newspaper dance, but for this production, it has to be Once and For All. You can really feel that it’s the last straw and these boys won’t take shit anymore and my sister said that the 3 towers formed together and became the printing press with the turning cogs and everything (I didn’t see it because I was overwhelmed with everything. I hope I had a hundred eyes while watching this) and after the key change during “There's change coming once and for all” as they were presenting the Newsies Banner, PAPES FELL FROM THE CEILING AND IT’S THE NEWSIES BANNER AND I HELD IT HIGH LIKE A NEWSIE I’M SUCH A DORK.

From all that’s new in this production I love what they did during the Santa Fe Reprise. So Jack was singing in his penthouse for the first part then he threw his hat during “Captain Jack just wants to close his eyes and GO!“. Then for the remaining part of the song he went down and during the sweet piano notes after "Save my place, I'll be there", he looked at his hat and slowly picked it up. I know it’s a tiny change but something about that scene made me think. Jack threw his hat because being a poor and orphan newsie sucks and being on strike is worse and his friends just got beat up and his best friend got sent to the refuge and he’s so tired he just wants to escape. But he looked at his hat, picked it up, and knew that this is his reality. That’s why he said “just be real, is all I’m asking, not some painting in my head”, because at least if Santa Fe is real, then he has something else to hold on to after the riot in Newsies Square. (I have a lot of feelings okay shut up)

Also during the scene when Jack, Davey and Spot were waving to the newsies at Joe’s office, they were looking at the audience pretending to see the newsies ensemble at the back of the stage. Jack looked in our area and I thought he was looking at me so I nodded my head and smiled, and guess what he did? HE WAVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED MY EXISTENCE. And like a dork I waved back.

AND OF COURSE MY DEAR CRUTCHIE MADE ME SWEAT THROUGH MY EYES. During “watch me stand, watch me run”, he threw his crutch, spread his arms out and tried to take a step until he fell and Jack got him. Cue the tears. Also after “I don’t need a limp to sell papes, I’ve got...” he paused, went to the middle of the stage, gave a big smile and “POISONALITY!!!”. Cue more tears. He really showed that having a disability does not define you. And during Seize the Day while the whole cast is flying about he’s just in the corner cheering and flailing his arms and dancing with his crutch. I love this cutiepie so much. And he knows how to rip your heart out and step on it during Letter from The Refuge.

M O R R I S D E L A N C E Y

The music and score is phenomenal it sounds so perfect and the singing was amazing, like most of the time I had to bite my lips because the songs are just so catchy and they are hitting all of the right notes and I just want to sing it too but I don’t want to ruin it. (However Davey’s poor gUYS head is spinning was a downer, he was screaming than singing that precious note)

Speaking of Davey he’s one of my favorite newsies because I love his development from being a shy, background type of guy who was hesitant to join the strike he became the brains of the strike, he held down the boys who were about to soak the Scabs during Seize the Day, and he was the one who lead the rally at the theater INCLUDING the Brooklyn newsies while Jack was missing. He grew up from a boy to a man and a leader and honestly I didn’t see that in this Davey. All throughout the show he's quiet and doesn't have any strength to lead the newsies. It even seemed like he's always second guessing. I don't even see him as the protective big brother to Les. I don’t know what they were thinking for removing that character development. I have nothing against the actor though, he was amazing. I’m sorry this is such a negative point but I love Davey too much and they didn’t do him justice.

After curtain call they sang Carrying the Banner again and I just can’t help myself anymore. Since I was already standing up, I just sang to my heart’s content. And the newsies at our side of the stage kept on looking at me because I know all of the lyrics and I can be a newsie too????? (just kidding lmao i can’t dance for the life of me)

It’s just a damn good show and it’s one of the best things that I spent with my hard earned cash and I’m going to watch Newsies Live for the 150th time now goodbye

#gianna posts #newsies in manila #newsies #filipino pride!#closing night was just last night #congrats to the whole cast and crew!!!!!!!!

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thebandcampdiaries · 6 years ago

Video

youtube

Promisques - Way Back When

An exciting new album with a direct vision, and a unique flow.

Summary: Australian rapper Promisques released an engaging new album, featuring 15 rap bangers. The songs span different genres and styles, exploring old-school hip-hop, as well as modern trap and a lot more.

Promisques is a rap artist based in South West Sydney, Australia. His music is a great combination of old-school rap and modern influences, often tipping the hat off to icons the likes of Biggie Smalls, 2Pac Shakur, or A Tribe Called Quest, only to mention a few.

Recently, this talented Australian rapper set out to release a new album titled “Way Back When.”

This is a full-length album featuring 15 studio tracks, each with its own outlook and creative scope. Let’s dive right into it!

Intro

This short, yet powerful intro gives listeners a direct and edgy outlook on the sound of this release, as the songs kick in among a cheering audience.

Way Back When

This is the first full-on album track, and it is an absolute banger. I love the gritty beats and the amazing style of this release. In particular, I really enjoy the tone and feel of the vocal delivery, as well as the unique vibes of the funk-inspired melodic lines. If you enjoy Wu-Tang Clan or The Pharcyde, you’ll love this one.

Mind Like Mine (feat. Menace)

This song has a diverse approach and a really unique style, which explore a more modern attitude. The beat has a dark, experimental twist, which combines trap influences with post-hip-hop and other lush tonalities, with filtering effects and unique vocal arrangements.

Killa S**t

This song is a classic trap banger, with a huge, yet simple melody and an 808-style beat that gets straight to the point. Promisques stands out for his one-of-a-kind lyrical flow and unique vibes.

Fwyh (feat. Dunn D)

In this track, the artist mixes a direct and hard-edge attitude with an immersive soundscape. The turntable scratch sounds are used sparsely in this number to create a full-rounded song that highlights the artists creative and edgy lyrics.

Where’s The Cash

In “Where’s The Cash” there is an infectious heavy beat with an impressive lyrical flow from the artist. This is one of the standout tracks on the album and the tongue in cheek wordplay is reminiscent of master wordsmiths such as Kendrick Lamar and Eminem, to mention but a few.

F***d Up (feat. Amun Ra)

This song is an absolute banger with a unique twist, and the sound has a cool early 2000s throwback vibe, with a sense of playfulness that brings a breath of fresh air to the mix.

Girlz

This is one of the catchiest songs on this album. In particular, I love how the guitar tones click in with the beat, creating a really intriguing, yet uplifting groove. This track makes me think of releases such as some of the earliest Snoop Dogg stuff, but it also has a really unique vibe that’s difficult to categorize.

Like Its Nuffin (feat. OFB Yung)

This song is a collaboration with OFB Yung, and I really love the way that they were able to set the bar higher, not only in terms of the intricacy of their lyrical flow but also when it comes to the fast pace of their delivery. Not many modern rappers can pull this off, and as a result, we have so much mumbling on the scene!

Titts out for the Boys

This is definitely one of the most unique tracks on this release. I love the patterns of the beats, and more importantly, the way the vocals lock right into it. It isn’t easy for a rapper to fit in so perfectly when the delivery is so challenging, so it’s really awesome to see what’s happening here.

Lil Sheep (feat. Two Tokez)

This song is a killer collaboration with Two Tokez, and it definitely brings something different to the flow of this album. The song is loud, punchy and cinematic, with huge overdubbed vocals and great melodies.

Promiskis Skit

This is a short, yet fun skit that breaks the musical flow, before leading into the next track!

Nothing from Me (feat. Merkulese)

This song is catchy, and it has a cool radio-friendly sound, in the best possible way. The hooks are really memorable and they stand out with the great vocal arrangements. The melodic elements such as keys and brass instruments are also really spot on!

Merk Shoutout

This is another interlude segment, which leads up to the last song of this release!

Dfwm3

Last, but definitely not least, Dfwm3 is actually one of the most aggressive and energetic tunes, closing in with a blast! The trap-inspired beat is aggressive and loaded with massive bass tones. The lyrical flow is really direct and unapologetic flow.

Find out more about Promisques, and do not miss out on “Way Back When,” which is currently available online throughout the major digital streaming and retail platforms:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJMmQRVPC6g

We also had the chance to chat with the artist: keep reading to learn more!

I love how you manage to render your tracks so personal and organic. Does the melody come first, or do you focus on the beat the most?

Answer: It use to, but these days I like to find the beat first & then tailor my lyrics around it, like a wwell-made suit haha.

Do you perform live? If so, do you feel more comfortable on a stage or within the walls of the recording studio?

Answer: Probably in the studio, don’t get me wrong I'm comfortable with being on stage too, but I can do what I want in the lab, at the gigs I have to behave and follow venue rules.

If you could only pick one song to make a “first impression” on a new listener, which song would you pick and why?

Answer: I would have to say “Way back when” because it’s a song that’s going to get stuck in your head if you like it or not.

What does it take to be “innovative” in music?

Answer: Staying true to the one rule of hip hop “Keep it real”. Stay tue to yourself, cause at the end of the day theres only one you.

Any upcoming release or tour your way?

Answer: I just dropped the album “Way back when” & we are doing a tour for it but no dates are set just of yet.

Anywhere online where curious fans can listen to your music and find out more about you?

Answer: Yeah most def, www.promisques.com has a bunch of free mixtapes you can download and links to my other work. You can also find me on insta, fb, snap all that under promisques (E.g www.facebook.com/promisques)

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