#its like our groups anthem its great

[gilded-gheists]

gillion would fuck so hard with mr brightside, i can imagine him BELTING the 'destiny is calling me' part so hard.

[felassan]

Thoughts on the DA:TV reveal trailer from June 9th. DA:TV spoilers under cut.

this post is rly late, ik hh ◕‿◕

General and some random stuff

It's important to bear in mind what the trailer advised at the bottom, which is that the trailer is "game engine footage" and that "not all images appear in game".

Overall I really liked the trailer and it made me feel super excited!! I thought it was cool. the general more light-hearted tone of it and the music choice weren't what I would've guessed or expected, but they were interesting choices. I was a bit [dog cocking head from side to side in confusion] in the early portion hh, but it really came together for me all chills n stuff with the 'rise of Rook'-kinda shot and the group fight scene at the end, by which point I was overwhelmed with excitement, all the new stuff it had shown and the prospect of going back to Thedas fr to the point that I was teary lmao (don't look at me). I think as well the subsequent gameplay reveal video was more representative of the tone that the game will have, and that DA has.. previous [affectionate] for slightly ?? trailers and portions of the marketing. (remember the DA:O-era Marilyn Manson 'This Is the New Shit' metal trailers with like blood splattering all over the place & screen like strawberry jam fountains and stuff and the male Cousland who inexplicably looks about 40-50 years old? hhh. yea).

I think it looked great ^^ it's very pretty and detailed, it has cool art.

I also dug the sound design, like when there were sound effects like Venatori drawing swords and stuff (as a random example), it was just very crisp and satisfying

Trailer song

I'm so curious to know who the cover/rearrangement of "Heroes" is by and to be able to listen to it in full sometime. Do you think it's simply music for the trailer, or that it's part of the game OST? Didn't DA2's have some Florence and the Machine on it for example?

Interesting to note that "Heroes" is about two lovers from different sides. "Under constant fear of death, they dream they are free, swimming with dolphins". the song "represents two opposing forces", a sense that they will be separated, and the idea that love can endure or overcome anything (umm Var lath vir suledin? 😭). it brings to mind the idea of two people on opposite sides of something as parted friends or star-crossed lovers or something like that.

I also think this is interesting: "Bowie placed the [song] title in quotation marks as an expression of irony on the otherwise romantic or triumphant words and music". When Solas raised the Veil, he saved his people and the world but also doomed his people and destroyed the world - he is an ironic and sad/tragic hero. In a previous trailer, he says [to Rook probably] in a non-positive, almost bitter tone, "They call me The Dread Wolf. What will they call you, when this is over?" It sounds like he thinks (knows..) that though Rook may save the day now, they could poetically end up like him, a mirror of him - hated for it after the fact, or a big damn hero that sadly no-one knows about (remember in Mass Effect when Kirrahe says "We are trained for espionage. We would be legends, but the records are sealed. Glory in battle is not our way"? remember when Mark Darrah said that at one point or other, the 'vision statement' for DA4 was "We would be heroes, but the records are sealed"?), or being a hero at great personal cost to themself, or saving the world from one issue but inadvertently setting off another or causing great collateral damage or something like that. a "hero", but an ironic one in some form or other. it's argued by some that despite its sound, "Heroes" is not a feel-good anthem per se:

Describing the song, [Bowie] stated it is about "facing reality and standing up to it", about achieving "a sense of compassion" and "deriving some joy from the very simple pleasure of being alive". Likewise, Pegg contests the song contains underlying dark themes that juxtapose its uplifting chord sequence and delirious vocal [...] while the repeated announcement of "nothing will keep us together" asserts that time is short. Regarding the themes, Lurie stated: 'alchemy: We may be average and regular in the present moment, but we have the potential, at any time, for heroic thought and action – even if only for one day. The transformation can be brought about by an external event or through an internal change in perspective'."

Purple and bronze

My favs <3 :)

People we've met before

We knew Lucanis wasn't really dead

I really liked the focus of the trailer and its accompanying text blurb on the cast of characters, a thing which is a mainstay focus of Dragon Age and something that people really love about it. The trailer gives the impression that the game is about Rook becoming a leader, the leader of this specific A-Team crew; the relationships between them and the crew members; all their unique and complimentary strengths and personal storylines as woven into the main plot; and working as a team to defy the odds.. together. the old lesson of, if we work together, we have the power to resist and triumph. real The Power of Friendship, Found Family-vibes, yknow? 🥺 I really liked this line "Create memories with your team which will deepen your experiences and give you more to fight for." (Dates and friend dates with them please). In ME, Liara can ask Shepard what she's fighting for, and if it's a chance to give Garrus peace. Shepard can reply that Garrus has been hurt and betrayed, and that she would like to offer him something better. that's the sort of thing that that line makes me think of.

I also get the impression that yeah, the DA:TV prologue/lead-in comic Dragon Age: The Missing was definitely originally intended to end not long temporally irl before DA:TV marketing content of this kind came out. like if you read The Missing then immediately watch this trailer, you can see what they may have been trying to go for in that comic and how they connect together. The Missing ends with Varric and Harding in Minrathous, and in this trailer, here they are in Minrathous. At the time of The Missing, I wondered:

this sounds like it’ll be Varric’s role in DA:D, right? The person who puts together the new Team, but not a companion per se. so… Varnick Fury? he recruits us? maybe the various characters Varric and Harding meet in this comic series are part of the wider team in DA:D, contacts, folks we meet?

and

D] highlight these four groups/factions and introduce the two new ones (Veil Jumpers and Shadow Dragons) in advance of DA:D. [...] Certainly if I was Varric at the moment when Harding asks “So who are you thinking?” at the end here, after the events I had experienced and people & groups I had met in recent weeks, with those being fresh in my mind, I would be thinking about the Grey Wardens, the Antivan Crows, the Veil Jumpers and the Shadow Dragons, both as groups and terms of the mental list of people that I had recently met who Solas doesn’t know. again it makes you think about the popular speculation that the DA:D PC will have the background of being from one of these groups.

this trailer and subsequent marketing materials since then have indeed detailed that Varric is not a companion, that he recruited Rook, that the devs were kinda thinking of an 'Avengers'-type team, that Neve (appeared in The Missing) is a companion, that Rook can be a Warden, Crow, Veil Jumper, or Shadow Dragon (among other things), that those factions are all important in the storyline of the game, that the companions include a Warden, a Crow, a Veil Jumper, and a Shadow Dragon, and that the crew will also have contact with non-companion NPCs who will be "faces" of their respective factions!! like we don't know for sure that the 'face' NPC[s] of the Veil Jumpers will be Strife and Irelin or one of them, but we do know thanks to Game Informer that e.g. Strife and Irelin do appear in the game as NPCs. When Harding asks Varric in The Missing "So who are you thinking?", it mirrors the trailer, where Varric asks Harding "What are you thinking?" after she states that this will take more than just the two of them.

A fun fact about the trailer is that the 'most replayed' segment is the Lucanis and Bellara part. the people know what they want hh.. ^^

Opening segment: Venatori, Varric, Harding

The trailer begins with a view of Docktown, Minrathous, just from a bit of a different angle to the one in that screenshot. the now-familiar floating castle is in the sky. I guess the bright green light on the docks in the trailer version of this scene is one of Minrathous' magical neon shop signs, specifically one above the door of the building on the docks that you can see here (albeit it's unlit there because it's daytime/or at least not overcast). it's foggy/misty, with a general moody vibe. Varric and Harding are in a bar. I think the bar they're in is through the doorway with the neon green light above it, and I wonder if that bar is this one.

Are the carved creatures with human heads and wings in the foreground statues on the nearest shore (where the 'pov' is standing) or carved prows of ships in the harbor? they remind me of harpies or angels. have we seen these assets before in DA? in-world were they based on a Thedosian creature?

[points] repeating rings/concentric circles

this bit reminds me of the different shapes and patterns here. (around 'Level 30', around '0 points available', and the skill tree itself both in terms of design and the pattern behind it)

Who doesn't love a good Mass Effect-style lens flare? :D somehow these always make me feel nostalgic.. this bit reminds me of an eclipse (of which much could be said in the context of DA and DA:TV..) or other astrological event, or like an event horizon or something.

These guys are Venatori Soldiers. Compare with those in the gameplay reveal video. they even attack in a big group of guys in the trailer the way they do in gameplay, Power Rangers badguys-style (a Venatori classic..). ^^

What's the deal with some of their weapons being red btw?

It's giving red lyrium, it's giving red lyrium blade like Certainty (two), it's giving the vibe of the red lyrium weapons pack, it's giving general Venatori fuckery (they have messed with red lyrium stuff for their own nefarious ends several times before).

the symbol on their foreheads is also familiar.

It shows up in Dragon Age: Absolution.

(from here) the flag scene on the right is seen during Hira's flashback when the Venatori killed her family as an example, punishing them for helping those less fortunate in Tevinter. so it seems like the Venatori have a new symbol and a new look in the post-DA:I material, right? like irl art direction/art updates-wise. just, in-world, they actually were using it in the past, as we can see it in the Hira flashback, at which point she was a child, long before the time of the Inquisition forming. unless this is a specific faction or offshoot of Venatori..?

I'm not sure that it actually is or not, but when I see this type of thing I also think about red lyrium shards. also, some of them have lil spiky shoulder blades -

which reminds me of that 'hostile architecture' vibe Tevinter architecture and designs of stuff have going on, like the spikes on the back of the chairs here. and I wonder if the guy with the red face covering is the leader of this particular squad?

When it pans out to this shot, we get a good look at the bar and also it's clear what a bunch of cowards the Venatori are. What is this, like, 7 on 2 at least.. but it was actually more than that in the beginning because Varric and Harding have already laid several Venatori soldiers out flat on the ground (I count at least 3 there and 1 flat on the bar lol). 11+ v 2 LOL. there are also a couple of injured but not KO'd people crouching who could be more injured Venatori, or else just innocent bar patrons who got in the way. in the background you can see what looks like a hookah, which we have seen in northern Thedas before. also, at this point, Rook is right there, sitting there all casual and nonchalant at a table over by the window, with their hood up and their back to the fight hh. the other thing that strikes me about this shot is the intricate patterns on the rug and how beautiful the lighting is - all those shafts of sunlight and candle/firelight and stuff.

Bar fights are such a fantasy, D&D-type classic. I wonder if this bar is the Swan, the tavern Corinne mentioned as being in Minrathous which has good tavern music? or if it's the same bar as where the game starts off, where Rook has the choice of intimidating a bartender or not? an article also mentioned a pub in the streets of Minrathous which has a dozen NPCs in it and which is reached via a wide, winding pathway. (probably at least two of these various bar/pubs are actually the same one being described/shown in a different way hh.) the Venatori try to look all menacing and the barperson, understandably, tries to scuttle out the way.

Bianca looks great and has had a glow up. the carved patterns are so pretty, and with the eyepieces and stuff she looks almost steampunky or Fable-y. which makes her subsequent demise at Solas' hands in the gameplay reveal video all the sadder. 🥺 we can also see at this point that at Varric's belt, he wears a symbol of the Inquisition, even though it's been around 8 years.. 🥺 as in The Missing, you can also clearly see that Varric has been aging. he looks old and tired, he has more of a beard, and his hair is thinning and graying. this look of his, including the outfit and scarring around his eye, iirc first appeared in Issue 2 of The Missing.

I wrote then of that,

he looks Older and more tired, and also maybe redesigned (outfit, scar etc). if this comic is set around 9:52 or shortly beforehand, he’s over 50 years old now since he was born in 9:1. according to this tweet of Fernando’s, it wasn’t Fernando who did a redesign, BioWare had sent along the reference for Varric for this comic. are we looking at Varric’s DA:D Era (Dad Era..) Redesign? is this how he’ll look in DA:D? 

and it seems we were, and it seems it is! :D

When the shot cuts to Harding, we can see that the bar has a roaring fire (tho I question the heat efficiency of this with a wide open door :D). I like the symmetry of having Varric and Harding both shoot one Venatori each with their bow/crossbow at this point. Harding is in her new gear, the new look that appeared in The Missing. She looks so good! I love all the detailing on her and Varric's clothes, like the fur parts at their collar and shoulders (which up here in Tevinter seems so quaintly southern, Fereldan-y hh). my heart skips a beat when Harding whips her head around and blows her bangs out her face. 🥰 the motion of her and Varric's hair is soo goood (and for stuff like Harding's cape whipping around), and look at the detailing of her braided updo!!

Mid bar-fight, when despite being mid-fight Varric reaches for a tankard and Harding summarily takes it off him.. it reminded me of this panel from The Missing #2. at that time, I thought,

“food poisoning” ye sure okay bud. at the end of issue 1, Varric was after a stiff drink. this panel is a smart bit of continuity from that. [but] on a serious note though I hope Varric is doing okay like, and this was just a hangover after a celebration like he says, rather than part of his recent tired/sad/kinda strugglin vibe. otherwise coupled with his older tireder more haggard look it reminds me a bit of Ser Aaron. [and it's] sad to think about [anyone going through or struggling with that] :( (RIP Aaron...)

and the tankard moment in this trailer reminded me of that worry again. Varric, buddy... are you okay 😭

It's so funny (in a good way) when Harding in the background uses her bow like a freakin baseball bat to level a guy while in the foreground Varric is like 'yea it's fine, she got this' because he knows she can handle herself hh. and like, yea, in these few seconds Harding takes out three dudes herself. Varric is still looking forlornly at his now-empty hand when she's smacking a guy clean across the face with the mug. Harding.. make it rain!! :) bad guys drop to the floor and the sparkly effects of spilled drink both fall around her. also, does it look to anyone else that on the front of a pouch Harding wears on her front, there's the eyeball Scout-or-Inquisition symbol, like how there is on her bow? then Varric is like. 'okay, I'm listening'. :D

Neve

We see Neve meeting someone in a Minrathous backstreet. the setting here reminds of the Minrathous streets in the gameplay reveal, of this concept art and of this scene from a previous trailer. it's raining at night and she's meeting them - an informant or contact etc - at a specific time and place in a secluded area to make some sort of trade. they show her the goods and she offers them a pouch of what is presumably coin

from how the Venatori talk about Neve in the gameplay reveal, and maybe even a lil based on how this 'contact' (who is actually trying to rob her or maybe even trying to complete a hit/kill contract on her) is dressed, I wonder if this person was Venatori or one of their agents?

Neve's saunter made me weak in the knees. she seems so confident and capable. she has great instincts/reflexes, which makes sense for a character who investigates alone on the night streets; she saw the attacker's feint (and their real goal all along) coming straightaway. you can't get one over on Neve

In the final triumphant shot of her, when she holds the item aloft, she's got one foot on the felled person, who is lying on the ground hh

I appreciated the attention paid to the sound effects of her footsteps! it's like there's a metal clinking sound when she steps with her metal leg.

She does her specialty, ice magic, and ice magic looks so lovely - a bright white light coming from it, snowflakes floating all around

though I know it's probably more like, this was her planned design and the comic artist was given BW's reference for her, I love how faithfully Neve's complicated, fashionable design was carried over from the comics into this trailer/vice versa/matches in each!! e.g. the toe of her boot, her leg, all the details of her overcoat, the shape of her snake-belt, everything

Also her mannerisms match too! the spell she does here, with its staff-less magic and both hands coming forward with a burst of ice magic, is exactly like she does in the comics. :D (on the right below). I just think that's such a thoughtful touch.

I'm rly curious about the item that she was after. the red shard-type thing reminds me of red lyrium, and at this point a red gem-like thing set in golden metal surrounds remind me of the Venatori. those are different shapes of course, but see above with regards to: the red and gold symbols on the foreheads of the Venatori guys who attack Varric and Harding in the bar; the red and gold brooch or clasp thing from Absolution; and the red and gold symbol of the Venatori on their banners in Hira's flashback in Absolution.

What is it, and why was she after it? the other thing it reminds me of is the round enchanted clay discs from her TN short story, The Streets of Minrathous. they were seals to the demon's prison (the one that is under Minrathous) and involved blood magic. (this is red and gold though so it doesn't super-match tho, as if I remember right the seals in TN were described as being seated in polished black shell on gold chains, with a long, thin, 4-winged dragon etched on the front that was rising out of a dark sea..)

Another thing to notice here is when Neve's name's splash text comes up, what look like orange-red leaves blowing in the wind blow across the screen. this imagery repeats in a few of the other companion segments.

Lucanis

He assassinates a target in a crowded, beautiful, colorful and busy marketplace. Do you think this is Antiva, Tevinter or somewhere else? ^^ the target is frantic, he knows he's in danger and that he's being chased/watched (makes sense, 'The Demon' has a reputation); but Lucanis is so stealthy that he has no idea where he is. Lucanis is quick and deadly.

the orange-red leaves swirl around in the air

on the back of Lucanis' outfit we can see the purpley wing motif and the patterning of many eyes (more thoughts on that here), these are placed really prominently in this trailer.

Again the detailing of hair movement, clothes etc is awesome! Even the back of the target's cloak is all bejewelled and detailed.

Lots of NPCs in the crowd. peer around at their hairstyles just in case they're among those that are available in the CC for Rook :D we also now know that we will be able to re-create NPCs like these in the CC, as it was used to make them all.

Who do we think the target is? they are a human man. is he simply a random person to showcase Lucanis' assassin-ness for the purposes of the trailer, or meant to indicate a person from a particular group or faction? can we infer anything from the design of his clothes? the red pointy spike on his shoulder pad for example kind of reminds me of that of some Venatori (see above in barfight segment). and in general he seems well-dressed, and maybe his outfit has a sort of mage-y vibe. a higher-up Venatori? a bad magister? we know Lucanis has been going around taking contracts to kill prominent Venatori from TN, and that he was intending to do more of these jobs.

It's a mixed crowd, there are humans present and you can also see elves, qunari and dwarves. :) (please ignore the top right hand corner of the image below, I guess a copy-paste failed and I didn't notice at the time hh).

After the target knocks someone over by mistake, an angry guy behind him gesticulates, understandably annoyed.

Lucanis catches and kills him in one fluid motion. I would let Lucanis assassinate me

Grabs em by the face hh (makes sense, he then covers their mouth so they can't scream and draw attention I guess - it's the middle of a crowded marketplace after all)

mullet singing magnificently in the wind

lil crowfeather-like hair tufts sticking out

And he snaps his neck rather than stabbing with one of his knives or swords (and he is wielding one in this encounter). I guess it's more efficient and quick in this instance than stabbing. it also makes less of a mess. :D The setting and dialogue line for this segment is smart too - Lucanis kills this person by leaping out of the shadows/where he was hiding into the broad daylight, and kills them when it's light outside hh.

Bellara

an ancient elven ruin in Arlathan (Forest or Crater). birds fly overhead. I love the lighting and all the greenery :)

the orange-red leaves continue to fall in Bellara's segment too. they aren't a surprise here of course, the gold/orangey 'omg it's Arlathan/the Veil[Jumper] archer place from old concept art' trees are in Arlathan, where this segment is set, but they also crop up in the trailer in e.g. Minrathous in Neve's segment, in Lucanis' segment. they're a nice continuous aesthetic linking the scenes together ^^ We also see them on the Golden City version of the DA vinyl cover art, twining through the dragon's wings and growing among the buildings, in a way connecting this foliage to the Fade.

the design of the place reminds me a bit of the bridge at the Temple of Mythal in DA:I. I wonder if this ruin was a temple or palace in the past, and if so, to/of whom?

it's so beautiful and makes me feel really excited to explore ancient elven ruins and Arlathan :)

the two startled halla look so pretty

interestingly, the black bird that flies near the halla looks like a corvid - making you think of rooks, and Rook.

green Fade-y light gathers in the archway and our Veil Jumper's official proper introduction, fittingly, has her leaping out of the Fade[?], or otherwise leaping through part of the Veil :D Bellara's segment is so fun and I love that for her and us. when she first appears, she looks so happy and thrilled to be on the adventure that she's on here.

in her hand she grasps her prize, which I guess she's just taken from wherever she was - a gold-colored triangley thing (so, a piece of ancient elven tech or another ancient elven artifact). when she gets caught and pulled back into the portal, she drops it and it falls out of her hands.

👁️ Now, about the tentacles. from previous materials like the short story Ruins of Reality and DA: The Missing, we know that in Arlathan, space and time, and reality, has been warping. the Veil is thin and wild, wacky stuff is going on in there. there are Veil Bubbles. the Fade is a mess close to Solas' ritual and demons are coming through, etc. the tentacles in this segment are very interesting indeed 👀 Veil Jumpers are also being attacked by tentacles in this DA4 concept art. here's another DA4 concept art with a tentacled monster in it. I wonder where Bellara was jumping from? a different pocket of reality in Arlathan or elsewhere? a place "in-between"? from a Veil Bubble? the tentacles also reminded me a lot of the Cekorax. it was a big tentacled monster that Dorian hired Hollix to kill in Minrathous. in that TN story, Dorian recalls that a Mortalitasi once told him of "things past the Veil of our world, neither demon nor spirit"...

Emmrich

Cut to Emmrich in the Grand Necropolis in Nevarra. See the bottom of this post for thoughts on the final shot of the Emmrich segment.

Digging up a lot of buried secrets.. it's giving the mysteries of the Grand Necropolis (the lowest reaches of it are quite ancient), and it also makes me think of secrets in the Deep Roads, Descent-style 👁️

The pov at the start of Emmrich's segment has the camera inside the chest (or coffin-type thing, since the skeleton seems to rise from it a few seconds later) these two people are opening and looking inside. the lore says that the geography of the lower parts of the Necropolis varies and changes, producing a disorienting effect on visitors which has successfully prevented robbery attempts. but we can probably assume from location and context cues that these people are looters or grave robbers right? you could imagine grave goods and other treasures/loot to be found in the elaborate Nevarran crypts. (and, some of the wealthiest Nevarrans decorate their crypts with their most prized possessions.) Emmrich is a Mourn Watcher, a member of an order which serves as guardians and keepers of the sacred Necropolis. so it makes sense to see him foiling an attempted graverobbing :) [disrespectful of the departed anyway, but especially so in a culture where their death-related practises are kinda sacred to them like Nevarra]

I wonder if the people are just random petty thieves created for the purposes of the trailer, or if they represent members of a specific group/'speak' of a particular plot-thread? like I could imagine e.g. some Lords of Fortune or something wanting to loot a storied tomb full of walking dead, for treasure and glory.

the way Emmrich casts his magic here, he reminds me of a pianist or a composer. he's so calm and composed.

he's behiiiind youuu, Pantomime-style hh :)

when the splash text appears on-screen, in the bottom right you can see a fire burning - looks to be one of the robbers' dropped torches, which is a fun touch.

Davrin

I really love Davrin's design and I'm super curious to know which Creators' vallaslin designs he and Bellara have. he's so calm in battle, you get the sense that he's a skilled warrior for sure and I immediately trust him with my life. like Harding and Varric in the bar fight, he's holding off loads of enemies just him (well, him and Assan ^^).

He's fighting darkspawn which have been afflicted by red lyrium. (here's the "red lyrium darkspawn" for real too). as if regular darkspawn and the threat of being Tainted by contact with them wasn't enough, now you need to be careful of their red lyrium claws and the spread of red lyrium and stuff too. look how gross they look from behind.

In the background is a statue of a griffon, so I think Davrin is fighting in a Warden-related area. there are stone structures around and you can see some banners (albeit, not with Grey Warden symbols on them from what I can see).

It's dark and all around are the signs of the Taint - the darkspawn themselves, the dead gnarled trees, the corrupted tendrils, things which look like they could be Blight pustules/sacs, etc. I think the Davrin scene is set in the same location as this screenshot (which as it happens, also features Davrin!):

in the bottom left of this screenshot you can see water, and in the trailer, Assan runs past a boat. plus the other stuff looks the same too. and being that it's apparently a Warden-y location (griffon statue), I think that it's maybe the surrounds (or.. remains..?) of Weisshaupt in the Anderfels, and I definitely think it's the same place as here from the DA Day 2023 trailer:

- as the rock, lighting, structures, red lyrium etc all match up. Remember the line from that trailer, "Grey Wardens don’t hide in our castle. I won’t ask good soldiers to turn tail and run"? chat, it's not looking good rn for the Grey Wardens or for Weisshaupt (ctrl-F "Weisshaupt" in this post, and see also this post, for more on this topic.)

when the big red lyrium darkspawn charges forward, it knocks over one of the small ones hh.

Cut to Assan. good boy Assan!! he's already taken out at least one darkspawn by himself over there and we see him sitting on it hh. I wonder if Assan will join us in battle if we select Davrin as one of the 2 companions? it looks like he and Davrin have a close bond - he knows what move Davrin is thinking of just by how Davrin looks over at him. :) he's a strong baby - when he leaps on the big darkspawn he knocks it right over all by himself from the force of the impact. I love Assan's model and I think he's so cute oml 🥺 the way his ears perk up when Davrin looks at him 🥺... his big blue eyes like a husky or something.. the way he's kinda rangy and a bit scraggly like a puppy in the 'teen' stage where they're kinda tall and leggy but haven't really filled out yet 🥺 the lil whinny and squeaky roar he makes. HIS LYNX-LIKE EAR TUFTIES...

The shield-launching move is so fun and cool :D I think it's my favorite shot in the whole trailer. I just love Davrin, the relationship depicted here between Davrin and Assan, the trust and fun in that moment, the bond between them. and when he launches Assan here, Davrin looks so joyful and happy, it's nice :)

On Assan - is he one of the thirteen griffon hatchlings Valya discovered in 9:42 Dragon? or is he from a subsequent clutch? it's about 9:52 now, the question is how long does it take for a griffon to reach maturity? ^^

I also really wanna know more about Davrin. :D like Bellara and Taash, he hasn't appeared in prior DA secondary media like a comic or story so we don't have insight into him from something like that. we got quite a bit of insight into Bellara as a character in the Game Informer cover story (how we meet her, her personality etc) and a few lil snippets about Taash have come out here and there from social media (though I'd also really like to know more about Taash!). I'm dying to know more about Davrin too!! how did he come to join the Wardens, what motivated him to do that? what Dalish clan is he part of (is it a known one or a new-to-us one?), and where did they tend to roam? was he specifically entrusted with the care of Assan as a Warden assignment, was it more happenstance that he came into his care, or did Assan when he was a lil baby see Davrin one day and kinda be like "yea that is my guy" (griffons chose their riders by themselves, not the other way around) ((also. valid))? what does Davrin think of the possible Grey Warden civil war, the First Warden, the Hero of Ferelden? how long has he been a Grey Warden for, and how far is he from his Calling? what are some random lil trivia factoids about him? does he travel around killing other monsters in addition to darkspawn and saving people from them, and that's how he made his name as a monster hunter ("monster hunter" is giving a lil Witcher-vibe to me, and the voiceover line here anyways implies that Davrin also fights demons)? ◕‿◕

Also at this point is a neat transition to darkness. back in the bar, Harding and Varric are fighting back to back, a trope I am a sucker for hh.

Taash

(reverb womp womp womp sfx like a giant boomerang is being thrown :D)

"We'll need someone with fire in their blood" [to face dragons]. I know what this conveys (fight fire with fire, Taash is badass, brave, bold in the face of danger, will fight dragons etc) but I also thought this was an inchresting choice of line for Taash's segment.. Iron Bull once said "So, when you face a dragon, does it get your heart pumping? Do you breathe a little faster, feel the blood racing?" When qunari Inquisitor speaks to Old God Soul Kieran, he tells them: "I noticed your blood. It doesn't belong to your people." Corypheus taunts Adaar, "What do they call you? A qunari? Your blood is engorged with decay! Your race is not a race, it is a mistake!" In some scenarios, Corypheus can say of Adaar that they are "a beast of strange blood". and some believe that the Tamassrans cultivate dragon blood within the Qunari. so 👁️..

Some thoughts on Taash's design. (so I don't repeat myself too much. I link to each post in that series btw, one for each companion, at the end of this post).

Taash's segment is set on the Rivain Coast (two). you can see the palm trees, beach, bright blue waters, the skeleton of a large dead creature, that statue in the background, etc. fittingly she's fighting a dragon and there's fire everywhere :) I wonder if the Rivain Coast locale is where we will recruit Taash. she isn't among the characters (like Neve) who Varric knew prior to the start of the game; at the timepoint he speaks his Taash line in the trailer, he doesn't know her.

omg, the physics on Taash's braid! :D it looks like the gold cuffs on her horns have an eye symbol carved on them. dear Taash, please tell me the story behind each shiny trophy that you wear. 🙏 in addition to the dragonscale-looking parts of her armor, it looks to me like on her gauntlets there are also teeth (assumedly dragonteeth). love that for her. and as she gets up to charge forward, she does a small smile or smirk to herself. she's havin a great time fighting a dragon :D the heat-warping effects from the fire are cool too.

When Taash's splash text appeared on screen, it was at this point (the last one lol..) that I realized there were different effects on the companions' name texts. Harding has horizontal lines through hers, like the flightpath of arrows. the bits in Neve's could be chunks of ice. Lucanis' looks scratched/slashed, as if by daggers. Bellara's contains the floating triangle pieces that indicate ancient elven magitech. maybe Emmrich's is the particle effects of his necromancy? Davrin's could be slash marks from a sword or claw marks from a griffon's talons. and Taash's is all burning and on fire, with dragon-looking claw marks. smart!!

check this out in the background, the rock structure which looks like a head with pointed teeth -

it's the same structure as in this shot of Rivain from the DA Day 2023 trailer.

only in Taash's scene, she's on the beach and the teeth-rock structure is in the background, whereas in this shot, the POV is like you're standing under the jagged overhang, looking out from the jaws of the 'beast'. in the 'in jaws' shot you can even see the beach Taash may be fighting on, it's the area with the big skeleton on the shore. when we saw this shot in the DA Day trailer, it reminded us of teeth, and now that we can see the rock shape from another angle, it really does look like the maw of a great dragon-y creature, with fangs on the top and bottom jaws. the placement of this in Taash's segment interests me because there is also the suggestion of a dragon-y creature with teeth in the background of her card art. ^^

I also wonder if we can identify what type of dragon it is here from the dragon's design? ^^

When Taash leaps through the air, you can hear her yelling. :D at this point it looks to me like this is the same place as in this screenshot of Rivain Coast that came out later. you can see the big skeleton ribs, the campfire, the wall, and the hanging line thing. it's just from a different angle.

Rook and back in the bar

Do you think the Rook shown in this trailer is the 'default' Rook for marketing, like mage dude Hawke in DA2? And/or the Rook from the gameplay reveal video? you can see a lil bit of their face in this trailer.

dae get the feeling that when Varric says "This crew needs a leader. Someone we can count on" he might be thinking of Hawke? not to suggest as the leader of this crew (remember how he gave the Inquisition the run around to protect Hawke when they were looking for them), but just like, he's thinking back to a different place, a different time, a different crew, a different found family. 20 years ago in Kirkwall, his home, when he was part of Hawke's gang and they sheltered all the DA2 misfits (affectionate) under their wings. a reality he hasn't inhabited for ~10 years now. 🥺 "Someone that the world can count on" takes me back to his line to Cassandra in her interrogation, "The entire world is on the brink of war. And you need the one person who can help you put it back together". And it also has me wondering if by that point he's also thinking of the Inquisitor, another leader that he followed, a leader that saved the world. 🥺

Varric also understands the importance of a good leader as the core of a group, of the power of bringing friends together around someone great. a lesson he learned at Hawke's side, then later solidified or emphasized at the Inquisitor's. then, with "But where are we gonna find...?" he's probably going through the factions he and Harding encountered in DA: The Missing in his head at this point, but I also feel like he's rotating the leader-hero blorbos he keeps in his head and scrolling through them. Hawke? [if not left in the Fade]. Absolutely not, the world has taken too much from them already and he just wants to protect his friend. The Inquisitor? Won't work [for the literal leadership role], at this point they know they need to find someone that Solas doesn't know. and it doesn't even occur to him that he himself could lead the new crew. for one thing, Solas knows him obviously, and he's tired, but for another, Varric knows he's the storyteller, just a character in other peoples' stories, a follower, not a leader (of that kind). its a lil meta but it (and the rest of the stuff I said here) is also just 🥺.. when you think about Varric's life and what's happened in it.

Where in the opening segment, Rook was there chillin sitting all casual at a table by the window in the bar, they've now gotten up and started laying into Venatori themselves. (contrasing with e.g. the bartender, who ran out of the way, and other bar patrons who stand around in the background during the fight at various points or are seen floored. you can see why Rook specifically attracts Harding's attention at this point.) it's so funny [pos] - Varric and Harding are now staring thoughtfully into the fire discussing their plan in a circle of KO'd Venatori, Varric with his hands on his hips, meanwhile Rook has taken the heat off them and fends off a gang of Venatori by themselves. and the Venatori are back to trying to like, 6v1 someone. Oh Venatori dudes, you're so retro Power Rangers badguys. Rook only came out here for a quiet drink, and they are feeling so attacked right now.

Varric and Harding conducting a demon-summoning Heroic Leader[™]-summoning ritual

The unconscious/dead Venatori on the bar is still there on the bar. Rook lays someone else out on a table. Harding hears the commotion behind her and slowly turns around. Venatori flail towards Rook. Rook, backlit all cool, smashes two of their heads together silly-style (pos) and then steals their stuff (a sword). Rook pistol-whips a guy in the face with the handle of one of their own swords. Rook then launches themselves off a bench (floored Venatori in the background), yeeting the Venatori on their back (floored-table Venatori also in the background) into the bar, then elbows them in the face. Harding, understandably, falls in love (I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream..). Varric isn't aware of what's going on yet, either because he's so lost in thought reminiscing about his glory days with Hawke and/or because maybe his hearing is going a lil in his old age. Harding makes bedroom eyes at Rook.

Five Venatori then run at Rook (haha.. these fuckin guys :D). At first I was like wait, where did this wave come from? but if you look around Varric and Harding's feet at this point, the Venatori that were laid out in a circle around them are no longer on the ground - so that's a nice touch, that it's the same ones who got back up to have another go. Rook executes the swashbuckling action-adventure trope of cutting a rope to drop a chandelier, crates or other objects on some bad guys, which is fun. this bar patron (hit the image limit on this post hh) with the magnificent feathery collar is unfazed and just enjoying their drink. Harding's cape whips as she turns around; Harding is paying ATTENTION. The Venatori tackle and swarm on top of Rook like they're playing rugby. The chandelier drops. The Venatori are taken out. Harding is like 'wake up grandpa, get with the program'. Varric turns ("HUH?") and then, understandably, also falls in love. Varric makes bedroom eyes at Rook.

And then Rook rises (backlit, among flames and from the heap of a whole football team of Venatori that they KO'd themselves), and also rises. at the same time the music is crashing to a crescendo and the song says "We can be heroes". :D And at this point I'm feeling a bit unhinged over trees, but it looks to me like some of the particles floating around at this point are the orange-red leaves again hh.. Having no "Rook" splash text at the Rook-focus segment makes sense, they aren't a companion and while they are always "Rook", that isn't their name and of course they are the player-defined character of the bunch. I really like the shot where they look over their shoulder, back at Harding, Varric, and the pov.

looping back to the question I first asked in the 'Rook' section of this post, in this trailer it looks like Rook is wearing this outfit, which is also the outfit Rook (there a Shadow Dragon Rook) wears in the gameplay reveal trailer. So I think we can surmise that the Rook in the character reveal trailer is a Shadow Dragon Rook (and a rogue too, as in the gameplay reveal). I wonder if this Rook, this Shadow Dragon Rook, is sort of the 'default' Rook for marketing? or whether in the next trailer, they have a different Rook?

About Rook's clothing in this trailer. it looks similar (e.g. hood shape, presence of a hood, diamond-quilt-like pattern in places, the diamond-shape pattern on the shoulder, etc) to this figure on a Minrathous street from the 2020 trailer, who I assume is a Shadow Dragon or Shadow Dragon Rook. like in that post, it again makes me think of the art which accompanied Minrathous Shadows, the short story about the Viper. the outfit of the person in that art isn't the same as Rook's, but there are similar aspects in the way that people from the same faction have similar aspects in their outfits. again I'm wondering if maybe the Viper is associated with the Shadow Dragons faction, maybe even the Viper leads it? and what if their contact in that story, a lady who is lightning smart, is Neve? ^^

Also, Rook already has the Veilguard symbol on their clothes in this trailer. I wonder which moment the trailer is depicting. Is it depicting the moment when Varric and Harding first met Rook, then after it they recruited them to join the team? Or is it depicting a time after that when Rook had already been travelling with them for some time (per some info we were told before we know that Rook has been with Varric for a while already before the start of the game), as just a lil part of the team, only their performance in this bar fight was the moment when Varric and Harding realized that Rook could lead? Is it neither of these, and more just a cool scene for a trailer for vibes (that is very valid btw, it's a trailer - we didn't see the Hero of Ferelden's eyes for example glowing blue as they entered that specific cavern full of darkspawn like in that one DA:O trailer etc) - the trailer did note at the start that not all images in the trailer appear in the actual game. the trailer also depicts a barfight, and we know the game can kick off with a fight in a Tevinter bar (depending on if Rook chooses to be aggressive in the bar, a fight scene can follow). or maybe the trailer is showing when Varric and Harding met Shadow Dragon Rook specifically? since we know that faction choice basically determines why Rook has been called to help in the fight against Solas, and in this trailer it's Harding being impressed by Rook in Minrathous as they fend off Venatori, specifically.

End group fight

I really love the tagline "Together - Defy The Gods". "Together" puts the emphasis on the companions, the characters and their relationships with Rook & one another as they work together as a team. it makes sense to flash up at this point too, when the whole party (not just Rook+2) is fighting a serious battle together and quite a few of them get a spotlight of them doing their thing as the camera pans around this battle. the tagline also reminds me of when the Inquisitor can say defiantly to Cory at the end of DAI, "I don't believe in gods". ◕‿◕ I also really liked the swelling of the music and the drumming as the trailer ended, it was cool.

At this point, we can see Shadow Dragon Rogue Rook, Neve, Harding, Lucanis, Davrin and Bellara, though in the next bit we also see Taash fighting in the circle. am I just missing her at this first point? can anyone see Taash in that image? ^^ (Emmrich runs up in a following scene.) they're fighting off loads and loads of red lyrium darkspawn (when I watched this scene a second time I realized those humanoid darkspawn remind me a lot of the husks from Mass Effect, only red instead of blue). the big darkspawn swinging a hammer near Lucanis looks like one of the redesigned ogres. I really liked the group fight scene, I thought it was really cool and heroic. :) I hope this is a cutscene and bossfight-type battle at some point in the game's main storyline, because it is a really cool scene. :D maybe the trailer version with all the companions in it is just that, the trailer cinematic version of the fight, and in the gameplay it's Rook+2 companions as in this screenshot?

from the way the structures around them look architecturally, the place they're in has ancient elven ruins. the red sky is ominous. from the darkness and the curling tendrils, and what looks like maybe sacs on the walls, the place they're in is afflicted by Taint corruption. there are also floating chunks of rock in the sky, a trait of the Fade or places in the mundane world where the Veil is thin and Fadey things are Fadin'. they are in the same place as in this screenshot. (when the dragon alights later in this segment, it also generally evokes the sense of this key art for me.) and like I said here, this place and dragon encounter bears a resemblance to the 2x cover arts of the DA Vinyl, which we know were called "Golden City" and "Black City". so here we are maybe, in the corrupted/Blighted Black City..? and if it has ancient elven architecture.. brb, lying awake at night thinkin of how the elven architecture on the vinyl cover art basically confirmed the long-held theory that Arlathan is the Black City. these tower-tops are quite like what we see here in Arlathan Forest and here in Arlathan Forest at Solas' ritual site in the gameplay reveal video, for example.

Bellara's bedroll in her backpack in this climactic battle is so cute and pratical. 🥺 when her 'arrow' hits its mark, darkspawn blood and guts go everywhere. Rook has a cool golden dagger. Lucanis, please move, you are about to be smashed by an ogre's hammer. I'm really curious about his purple wing ability - like how does it work and what does it do? he pretty much stays on the same spot, wings outstretched, for the duration of this scene. I love the way Neve moves when she casts magic, it's like she's dancing, like some forms of bending in Avatar or something. when she lights up with the bright light she looks even radiant-er than usual. and the flash of Neve's ice magic turning the screen white for the next text to appear is a smart transition. ^^

(darkspawn feet pic.)

I'm a sucker for a good ol' 'camera pans around the gang fighting something off together and looking cool'. you know that one shot in the Avengers somewhere where it circles round them when they stand ready in a circle? that's the vibe, and it reminds me of when the devs mentioned the Avengers in the context of talking about the game's name change.

Davrin's boots have spur-looking parts! you can feel the force of Taash's blow there. and then Emmrich comes running up to the team from somewhere else chased by more darkspawn and the freakin dragon. did.. did they use poor Emmrich as DRAGON BAIT (I kind of get the impression that they wanted to draw the dragon to this particular location, and I wonder if that has something to do with the circle)? 😭😭 Grandpa..?? they wouldn't let him help fight in the circle with his magic, or assign a more physical member of the team to be the bait, and were instead just like run old man, run. 😭 he's running for his life and Harding's like over here Emmrich, I'll keep them off you, promise. at this point you can also see lots of those Blight sacs on the walls. the dragon is huge and looks really cool and detailed - when it's getting ready to breathe fire, you can see light through the tissue of its throat, and the fire dripping from its maw is cool.

in the final scene with the dragon's wings outstretched, on the left you can see a red lamp-type thing. it's the same as the blue ones here, only red. I wonder what those are? and why do they change color?

and of course, like I said here, in the background at this point we can see the Evanuris symbols in the form of their headshapes, specifically on the tops of statues just like the ones that surrounded Solas' ritual site in Arlathan Forest in the gameplay reveal. this makes me wonder - this battle seems quite climactic, if it occurs at the end of the game, maybe the game ends where it all really began, back at the Arlathan Forest Ritual Site, which by that point has maybe become extra Fadey and has corruption spreading in it, which killed all the vegetation? that would be poetic. an alternative spin on this theory is that, since this place is kinda Fadey, maybe it's the in-Fade reflection (specifically the Black City) of the irl ritual site.

I've previously wondered if the dragon in this shot is Elgar'nan (dragons were a form reserved for the divine, i.e. the Evanuris, in the time of the Evanuris), but on a re-watch, from the way things are positioned (maybe that was intentional?), the statue-head directly behind the dragon in the center as it spreads its wings is actually the one with the Ghilan'nain headshape, so maybe it's actually Ghil? this dragon's horns curve down like Ghil's headpiece curves, not upwards like Elgar'nan's. this concept art piece for DA4 to me implies both Ghil and Elgar'nan take dragon form (2 dragons here, 2 Evil Gods rising), and as we know, they were a shape of the divine generally speaking back then anyway so it's totally feasible. the dragon in the trailer matches the one on the left in this concept art more than the one on the right.

The other big thing about the final shot is that there is an eclipse in the background. this is just like on the vinyl cover arts, and is something we've seen a lot in DA:TV marketing (ctrl-f "eclipse" here), e.g. the astral-looking spheres here, this previous iteration of the logo. it's also a thing that has cropped up in related lore in previous games, along with sun&moon imagery (example), like:

two shadowed spheres among stars / an eclipse as Fen'Harel stirred [Emergent Compendium]

and I looked up and saw the seven gates of the Black City shatter, and darkness cloaked both realms. [Chant of Light]

etc. and if you think about it, in a solar eclipse, the moon blocks out the sun. Elgar'nan in Dalish lore is the son of the sun; he threw the sun down from the sky and is known as He Who Overthrew His Father. throwing down the sun would cause darkness, and it could be a poetic reading of an eclipse-type event like we're seeing here. additionally, the Dalish believe that when he did so, he buried the sun in the abyss (which might be the Void), a place which sounds like it's in a different part of reality to the waking world and which sounds like it could potentially be Blighted. (and in this trailer we're looking at a Fade-y or Fade location, and it is corrupted).

as the trailer ends, we can see pretty designs similar to the one here around Rook's level in the top left.

At the end of this post I'm gonna link to some more of the other posts I made about the trailer & related things at the time, just for the sake of completion. ^^

Post with the reveal trailer in it

Related official new screenshots from the website

Yeyyy, griffons are back (outside of the books)

Vallaslin

We saw you from across the bar

Lucanis wings compilation pic

Floating building, welcome back

He is here

A dream come true

Thoughts on the companion 'tarot-style' art pieces: Taash | Neve | Davrin | Harding | Bellara | Emmrich | Lucanis

Yoooo

They have come to deliver this world..  (◡ ‿ ◡ ✿)

[bad268]

In honour of u predicting Arvids wins this weekend I have a request for u 😭😭

If possible could it be a kind of part 2 to passenger princess but if not its fine

Anyways his gf comes to Silverstone and he has this great weekend and prema says she's good luck and is saying she needs to come to every race now and reader starts to get shy and blush and arvid is like "yea she is"

His Good Luck Charm (Arvid Lindblad X Reader)

Fandom: RPF/F2/F3

Requested: Clearly (don't tell me i predicted it lol don't make me more delulu)

Warnings: Aged up Arvid

POV: Third Person (She/her)

W.C. 909

Summary: Maybe Arvid's "secret girlfriend" is a good luck charm.

As always, my requests are OPEN

MASTERLIST // HITLIST

<-Part 1

~~(^@/Arvid’s insta from May 26, 2024)

It was her first race. She had a general idea of what to expect, but this was so much more than she ever could have imagined for Arvid. When he won the sprint, she was over the moon! Her first race attending with Arvid, and he wins? Hell yeah! She knew that the feature race would be harder since he was starting down in tenth place, but she jokingly told him that if anyone could do it, he could. Then, he won the feature. To say she was ecstatic was an understatement. 

She ran out of the garage with the rest of the Prema team to Parc Ferme and straight up to the gate where Arvid would pull up behind the first-place slot. She was pushed up against the barriers by the team and she knew he would run and jump into his team. Well, she wasn’t exactly prepared to be almost knocked over by him when he jumped over the gate almost entirely on top of her. Thankfully, the team caught him and tried their best to redistribute the weight.

“Hey don’t crush our good luck charm!” Rene chuckled as he pulled her over to not be completely covered by Arvid’s body. “We need her in Hungary!”

“Woah woah!” She interrupted in protest when all of the team erupted in agreement, “I didn’t say I was doing a world tour! I still have school!” She felt her face grow hot under the newfound attention from the team. The team quieted down as they all looked at her, letting Arvid stand on his own, so he could wrap his arms around her separately. She felt like she was under a spotlight as she turned into his chest before whispering, “I just came for his home race.”

“She is our good luck charm,” Arvid chuckled, looking down at her as she hid further into his chest as she shivered. From more attention or the weather, he didn’t know. He wrapped his arms around her tighter as he ran a hand along her arm to help her heat up as he turned to look back at his team. “She has her studies though. I’m sure she’ll make an appearance another time this season. We still have plenty of races, and I’d rather save her charm for races we need the luck in.”

“I second that,” Dino said as he came up to the group after he parked his car and got weighed in. “Maybe next time, I can get some better luck!”

“I make no promises,” She mumbled before pulling away from Arvid so he could go up for the podium celebration. She gave him a brief kiss before he was ushered away, and she split off with the rest of the team towards the podium. She stood beside Dino, Gabriele, Sebastian, Luke Laurens, Tim, and the rest of the team as they all cheered when their friends walked out. When Arvid came out, she threw everything out the window as she screamed to her heart’s content. She shouted with a laugh at the end, “That’s my boyfriend!” 

The rest of the boys around her join in with similar shouts about Arvid being her’s or they were claiming Arvid as their friend. As soon as he was announced, they all started in it together, causing Arvid to look straight at them and laugh. He blew a kiss to his girlfriend as he tripped on his way up to the top step, smiling sheepishly before taking his hat off for his anthem. Arvid stood proudly on the top step in front of his people for the second time this weekend as he muttered the lyrics of his national anthem. 

Toward the end, he looked down at his friends, his team, and most importantly, his good luck charm. His girlfriend, who was already looking up at him with tears in her eyes, stood with the rest of the crowd, staring up at him with so much endearment and love. She was beyond proud of him every week, but this was a different feeling for both of them.

After the podium celebrations and after pictures were taken, he ran down the stairs. There she was, waiting for him right off the side with her arms open. Arvid did not hesitate as he immediately handed his trophy and leftover champagne to his engineer as he ran into her arms. He swung her around a couple of times before gently setting her back down and just swayed with her as he buried his face in her neck. 

“I’m so proud of you,” She said softly as she planted a kiss below his ear. She pressed her hands more against his shoulders. “You drove amazingly this weekend. Maybe I’ll let you drive Baby.”

“You’d let me drive Baby?” Arvid gasped, pulling away slightly to look at her. Her face held a level of seriousness that Arvid decided to snatch up. “I’m driving us to celebrate tonight.”

“Works for me, but if you’re drinking, I’ll drive us home,” She chuckled as Arvid turned out to lead them toward the car park. She pulled out the chain-filled keys to her beloved Honda Civic from her pocket before holding them out to him with a mock sigh, “I guess you’ll need these.”

“I’m breaking so many laws,” He mumbled as he ran off to the driver's side, completely leaving her in the dust.

“Hey! Where is my passenger princess treatment?”

~~~~~

© BAD268 2024. DO NOT REPOST WITHOUT PERMISSION.

[gemsofgreece]

Wishing a smooth Olympic hosting to France!

Overall very solid ceremony, the weather was definitely not feeling it, which makes me worry a little about the performance of the athletes in the following days after getting THAT drenched... On the positive side, the entire last act from the hooded rider horse-sailing the Seine onwards, the segment with the Notre Dame and the medal making, the clever performance of the French National Anthem, most of the music choices, the Olympic Hot Air Balloon ablaze, the Eiffel light rave and Celine Dion's majestic performance. I am all for Lady Gaga actually but on this day Celine wiped her out and it was great to see her in good health and good spirits.

Now, on the less ideal stuff, there should be a little better preparation for adverse weather (movable roofs and tents for emergency???), first part of the show didn't really have any Olympic essence about it, poor camera work, too much boat back and forth, it was a little messy, olympic flag upside down!?!?!?!, the dance and fashion segments, although needed, they kinda dragged pointlessly and to be honest the first dancing groups looked like they practiced their routine exactly ten minutes before the ceremony started.

Since I said camera work; everyone in Greece is laughing about the fact that FIBA, Greece and Paris were raving about Giannis Antetokounmpo being the Greek flagbearer who would therefore open the parade and somehow French director managed to miss the 2.10m dude entirely behind the blue banner.

Giannis Wazowski

I also had a big clown / Karen moment because I thought the French betrayed us and casually chose to not hoist our flag and sing the anthem but then I googled it and found out this happens in the closing ceremony, sorry, okay in fact I haven't been watching the ceremonies all that closely in the past and I got confused! So... I'll be waiting... because so far from the few ones I have seen the best anthem performance has been in the Winter Olympics of Vancouver 2010.

As for the Olympic anthem performed this night, fun fact: it is a Greek composition by Spyros Samaras with lyrics written by poet Kostis Palamas. The anthem was composed for the first Modern Olympics in Athens 1896. Initially, every host country was assigned to compose its own Olympic anthem which soon proved too much of a hassle. In 1936, an anthem composed by Richard Strauss was chosen as the supposedly permanent one. In 1954 it was switched to an anthem composed by Polish Michal Spisak. In 1958 the International Olympic Committee voted for the original anthem of Samaras and Palamas to be the official Olympic anthem and it is the one that is performed ever since, although sometimes host countries translate the lyrics to their own language. In Paris this year I could honestly not pick up much of what they were singing but their first line was definitely "Ἀγιο Πνεύμα αθάνατο" (áyio pnévma athánato, = Holy Spirit Immortal) so apparently they sang the original.

[kaizey]

Ceol comhaimseartha as Gaeilge (Contemporary irish language music recommends)

Many foriegners looking more into more music as gaeilge following from Unreal Unearth and have been asked afew times about it. So Im gon give afew recommendations

Seo Linn - Folk/Indie/Soft Rock group formed in Conamara and have a good range of sounds ranging from newer covers of our most popular folk songs (Óró sé do bheatha abhaile , Siúil a Rúin and Mo ghile mear are among the best) and are a good intro point

IMLÉ - More of a collection of artists who bring different sound styles together and topics in their lyrics. Honestly, just take the entireity of the self-titled album as a taster

Róisín Seoighe - A great soloist and someone who transfers aspects of Canadh Sean Nós into a newer format. Alot of her work and songs touch on the state of Gaeilge (Níl mé marbh and Sín do lamh).

Kneecap - One of the more well-known, atleast over here. A rap trio from Belfast/Derry, and alot of their lyrics and flow focuses much more on the specific experience of both millenial life and Gaeilgeoirí and An Ghaeilge in the North, and what its actually like trying to engage with society through our language when half of the the governmental institution has contempt for its existence. CEARTA, one of their singles, has still stayed a sort of aintiún (anthem) for language rights up here in the North. Also, heavy heavy anti-colonialism, mar sin craic Mhaith (see their JOE.ie interview). Otherwise, some of ther best works you might like are Cearta, Bouncers agus Gael-Gigolos

TG Lurgan - A sort of summer school/learning scheme that started out of the Connemara Gaeltacht, meant to help irish learners pick up the more natural flow specifically by learning through music. Nearly all of the music is sung by school kids and leading musicians with the majority being covers of pop songs. So you can find the lyrics online easily, and can be a helpful way for people trying to learn how to deal with the lack of real word-for-word translation ó Ghaeilge go Béarla.

This is just a handful of artists, and the first handful rarely scrape over 2000 streams a month. Modern irish music is still very much a niche in its own way, miserably so even on our island. Theres no shortage of music you can find being made by newer artists though, even if ceol as gaeilge only makes up some of their work

Tá súil agam go bhfaighidh tú roinnt a mbaineann tú taitneamh astu, agus má tá tú ag foghlaim, go gcabhraíonn sé leat

[loonarii]

Ari's K-Pop Roundup: February 2024 (Twice, Le Sserafim, BabyMonster, JYP Family, BIBI + MORE)

If there's a comeback coming up you want to see talked about in March's roundup, drop me a message/ask and I'll make sure to include it :)

I Got You + One Spark - TWICE (With YOU-th)

GIF credit: @femaleidols

Twice are officially back lets fucking go, the girls are here.

Unfortunately for TWICE, only one girl group can have a good release at a time in JYP apparently, and NMIXX have snatched that privilege from them in this instance (Fe3O4: Break is a 10/10). The concept teasers for this era were super interesting and really beautiful actually, kind of reminiscent of 2018 LOONA and the ASAP - NewJeans music video, but its JYP, so naturally that vibe was completely absent from the music videos whatsoever, but I digress. The pre-release, 'I Got You' is a thrumming, synth fueled track that attempts to be anthemic, but doesn't quite meet the bar. It's pretty catchy, sure, and the lyrics are actually reasonably good, but it feels slightly uninspired and very dated. The y2k trend's days may be numbered, but its still a bit early to be referencing 2015 in our 2024 tracks, in my opinion at least. While I see the appeal, this track really doesn't blow me away, and I don't see myself returning back to it much in the near future.

The title 'One Spark' suffers the same pitfalls as 'I Got You' if not even more so. Maybe it's just me, but I found the hook to be so unbelievably boring, and the rest of the song felt wholly pedestrian in its construction. It's really quite frustrating that a song this dull got past the many rounds of production required to be released, because the producers for it are certified hit makers, and TWICE are far too talented to be releasing insultingly boring music. The music video is all about TWICE being timeless, which they are, but if they keep releasing subpar title tracks like this, that's not how they will be perceived by the average kpop listener. It's a shame, really, but with JYP's track record over the last couple of years, I can't honestly say I'm surprised. It's not unlistenable, but it's hardly up to TWICE's standard.

What's even more frustrating is that the b-sides are actually really fun, 'Rush' is evocative of PinkPantheress and is super cute, 'New New' is such a punch up from 'One Spark' that's far more exciting and catchy, and 'Bloom' is gloriously ethereal and kind of giving Chungha realness - its SUCH A FUCKING HIT. Even 'You Get Me' that I assumed was going to be the apparently obligatory end of album ballad turned out to be a laid-back, easy going finale that is both catchy and well produced. How is it possible that the two least exciting songs on the record are the only ones promoted??? Literally any of the b-sides could have been the title, especially 'Bloom' which I will be treating as the title track in my delusions. Great b-sides, boring promoted tracks, JYP doesn't know what they're doing yet again, what's new.

Easy - LE SSERAFIM (EASY)

A little bit Rosalia, a lot a bit Tyla, with a healthy dose of platinum blonde Chaewon, this is Le Sserafim doing CONCEPT better than pretty much everyone else in the industry right now.

Right off the bat, this is leaps and bounds ahead of 'Unforgiven', which had its moments, but generally failed to make an impact. 'Easy' is an effortlessly cool R&B trap track that's heavily inspired by the afrobeats trends in western pop. It's stylish, exciting, and suits Le Sserafim well - this is how to develop a musical style while not abandoning your roots. The overall metaphor that harkens to a swan on a lake (pure elegance on the surface, intense effort below) is interesting and works for their concept, but the actual lyricism in this song is utterly nonsensical. Maybe I'm just being dumb, but does 'pull up and I rip it up like ballet' actually mean? There's an English version out, which is somehow even more unintelligible, but I digress.

Lyrics aside, I like this track a lot, and the music video is utterly gorgeous. Does it live up to the heights of 'Antifragile'? No, not really, but it's definitely up there with 'Fearless', in my opinion.

The b-sides were okay, not bad, but not especially exciting. 'Smart' was easily the most exciting out of the trio, but I don't see it having the longevity of 'Blue Flame' or 'EPATBW'.

Great title, slightly dull mini album - I am seriously excited for where Le Sserafim goes sonically, they and NewJeans are undoubtedly the trendsetters of the 4th generation, and I can't wait to here more of their stuff.

Like Magic - JYP, Stray Kids, ITZY, NMIXX

GIF credit: @thankyou-taeyeon

If you are ever in doubt that capitalism is destroying music, feel free to give this one a stream. Genuinely awful.

Bam Yang Gang + Sugar Rush - BIBI

requested by @a-moth-to-the-light

Bibi is such an exciting idol. Her music is consistently exciting and innovative, and rarely dull. 'Bam Yang Gang' is such an honest, realistic, and in many ways comforting song that is as simplistic as it is perfect. It's a little nonsensical, and oddly relatable. Not sure what the rat thing in the music video was about, but on the whole, it's a beautiful, hilarious, highly enjoyable song, and I'm so happy it is charting so well in South Korea.

'Sugar Rush' is a little less my speed, but it is successful in what it sets out to achieve. The production is trappy, synthy, and feels a little bit NCT 127? This kind of concept is difficult to pull off, and when some idols do it, it comes off as kind of goofy, but Bibi pulls it off 100%. Not really my thing, but a fun song nonetheless.

(also yena and soyeon make cameos in the mv so that's fun)

Stuck In The Middle - BABYMONSTER

'Batter Up' was a huge grower for me, originally I found it a bit dull and uninspired, but I'm a dancer, and sue me, the dance is fun, so naturally I ended up streaming it a bunch while learning the choreography, and now I think I enjoy it. It was undeniably a controversial release though - the comparisons with blackpink inevitably flooded in, the whole drama with Ahyeon being on hiatus and potentially being fully out of the group was a total shit storm, and there were zero performances on music shows to boot. Not sure why that last one happened, BabyMonster do not have the kind of influence to chart with longevity without domestic promotions but me being confused at YG's creative directors is literally nothing new.

Then we got 'Stuck In The Middle', an slightly bizarre English ballad with decent (if a little vapid) lyricism, and 'Moonlight Sunrise' meets Kwangya esque music video sets. I'm not going to do my monthly rant about how shit the vast majority of kpop ballads are, and how boring this song is, but I will say this. BabyMonster currently has no clear concept that sets them apart from their predecessors and everyone else in the industry, and outside of the YG bubble of ad boosted music video views, this song was unsuccessful. It went utterly undiscussed by the wider kpop fanbase, and has minimal streams on Spotify for a big three group. I don't say this to rub it in the faces of the girls and their fans, if anything, I am hugely upset that young women this talented are under a company so stuck in the past. YG needs to get their act together if they actually want a shot at creating blackpink the sequel, because what they're doing right now is not working.

Since the release, it's been announced that the it girl of the group, Ahyeon, is making a return for the first mini album, 'BABYMONS7ER', thank god for that, and apparently YG is now labelling all songs released thus far as predebut tracks, which is actually hilarious, they have no idea what they are doing.

Good luck babymonster, I think you will need it.

BONUS:

Super Lady - (G)-IDLE: (I know this was a January release I just forgot to talk about it ok) kind of iconic ngl; some of the English lines were questionable but the song is fun so lets move on; not sure why the song is only like 2 minutes literally nobody wants short songs

DNA - YENA: (requested by @a-moth-to-the-light) Yena is such a strong performer, but I think the production team let her down with the mixing of this song. The vocals should have more layers, or at the very least, be louder than the bass line. Overall though the song is super fun, and super Yena. I love the j-rock influences, I love Yena's gorgeous vocal colour; she is a soloist I am always sure to keep up to date with. It is so evident in her performances that she loves the music she is releasing, and for me at least, that's enough.

Holssi + Love Wins All - IU: Love wins all had a beautiful music video although the song itself felt a bit boring, but Holssi was unexpectedly groovy and understated - I can feel that it's going to majorly grow on me.

Diamond - TRI.BE: I was very pleasantly surprised that this song is actually really good? I haven't really tuned into their discography since the whole 'pretty savage' plagiarism stuff, but this is such a fun song that is impressively unique to them considering most groups of smaller companies like them tend to follow what the bigger groups are doing. Maybe I should check them out more - any tri.be stans reading, lmk some good recommendations :)

Young Posse Up - Young Posse: As a british teen, this sent me into fight or flight lmao

That's all for February, feel free let me know your thoughts on the comebacks discussed (or any I didn't mention) in the reblogs or comments, I'll look forward to reading them. Make sure to check back in for next months roundup but yeah thats it so byeeeeeeeeeeee

[day6source]

DAY6: Retelling the paradox

DAY6 shows what makes them special on their new album Fourever by Kim Doheon

“I’m so moved by the stage, I won’t be alone any longer / Among all of the possibilities, thank you for choosing me.” The first song on DAY6’s Fourever, “Welcome to the Show,” which marks the band’s return to full strength after taking three years off for its members to complete their military service, is an anticipatory start. Along with Young K's lyrics, which directly express the overwhelming emotions of the members who did not give up music during the long hiatus as “moved,” the song opens with a synth riff that signals a new beginning for the band, followed by a bright guitar performance with a thumping bass drum. What comes next is interesting. “The future that you’re welcoming with me might be risky. But there might also be tear-filled emotions.” After a thank you reminiscent of an idol’s fan song, Sungjin warns of an uncertain future. Wonpil then creates a twist by saying, “Even so, if you won’t let go of my hand,” and their show begins in earnest. As all members sing the main melody heard at the start, Young K affirms once more in a firm voice. “I promise you this much. I’m going to give my all.” A warm hello from the returning band moves from anxiety and chaos to great joy, becoming a beautiful anthem of promise. Before the first verse of “Welcome to the Show” is over, we can glimpse DAY6’s path traversed, their identity, and a vivid musical surface that hints at the future they will embark upon.

DAY6 is all about paradoxes. They started out by internalizing the clash of values that come with being an idol band from a powerhouse agency. Despite unabated critical views toward the idol bands in the early 2010s, their agency chose to believe in the power of paradox instead of contradiction. To overcome the negative perception, the members, who had never held an instrument before, practiced for more than 14 hours a day, spent more than 100 hours a week performing together, and set a goal of debuting with their own music. Prior to their debut, the band performed small-scale busking gigs and rock festival stages, starting with Live Club Day on July 31, 2015, to get a feel for a real-life experience. Their debut showcase was held at the West Bridge Live Hall in Hongdae area, and they followed a real indie band’s schedule, announcing performance venues on Instagram, performing on the street, and communicating with fans instead of performing for televised music shows. Since 2017, the group started improving self-sustainability by releasing two self-written songs each month with the “Every DAY6 Project,” a steady stream of creative output. Naturally, the attention given to the new band was not as widespread, but through hard work, DAY6 has been able to chart a path to the seemingly incompatible idol band ideal. But the real key is that, in the process, DAY6 has established their own creative perspective and narrative delivery. Paradoxical situations and the process of resolving them are at the center of DAY6’s musical world. They capture universal moments in everyday life from a different perspective. Their debut song “Congratulations” marks the beginning of what is often called “running while crying,” an expression that refers to the songs with lyrics that go against the feel-good beat of the song itself. The person congratulating you for being so great is an ex-lover who coldly abandoned you. “You Were Beautiful,” an iconic staple of DAY6’s discography, also looks back on the good times with a past lover, but there is a dark sense of nihilism that it’s all over. The same goes for “I Smile” from their first studio album, Sunrise. The vow to be invariably cheerful is actually an expression of perseverance to clench your fists and bite your lip to avoid ruining an awkward reunion with a long-lost lover. “I Like You” goes, “The days that go as I wish, there weren’t many.” In “Time of Our Life,” which has become a generational anthem to youth, DAY6 confesses, “I’ll be honest with you. It wasn’t that easy for this moment to come,” in contrast to the bright melody. We can understand why Sungjin chose to share their uncertainty in “Welcome to the Show.” And nowhere is this formula more evident than in “Happy,” the second song on Fourever. DAY6 desperately cries out for happiness in a bleak reality where “Algorithms only apply to successful people” and “I'm sinking. I think I'm going to cry.”

Crises and climaxes are particularly prominent in the compositional stages of DAY6. In “Zombie,” where they are at their most precarious, their nihilism is taken to extremes. That’s why it’s all the more poignant and precious when they finally get their happy ending. They repeatedly question their beliefs about happiness and love, search for answers, and then defend those answers with unwavering faith. It’s a deep sincerity that only those who have fought to achieve and protect something can bear. It’s a journey that starts in “Hurt Road,” where they sing, “You knew and I knew that this is not an easy road. It’s not that you and I didn’t know that not many flowers bloom on this road,” and ends with, “But I can push through as long as I have your love,” in “You Make Me.” “Time of Our Life” says, “I waited so long for this day to come,” and encourages us to write together “a page of our beautiful youth.” “Sweet Chaos” sings of a good love that overcomes a chaotic disorder. This also becomes the case when we encounter the upbeat synth-pop “The Power of Love” as the next song for “Happy” in this album. DAY6’s music matured as their narrative grew stronger. While in the early days, DAY6 centered on Korean indie soft rock and embraced the trendy pop and rock music of the time, they continued to make musical strides by maintaining the appeal of straightforward rock music, adding electronic sounds, and expanding into various genres such as sentimental ballad and jazz. The expansion started with “days gone by,” which took on a 1980s new wave vibe and picked up steam with The Book of Us series, yielding rich musical results like “EMERGENCY,” “365246,” “Day and Night,” and “Love Me Or Leave Me.” The Book of US : Negentropy - Chaos swallowed up in love, their last album as a complete group before enlisting in the military featured a romantic blue-eyed soul song “Only” and an honest love song, “so let’s love,” while maintaining the electronic sound texture throughout. The project that took on a stronger pop feel was DAY6 (Even of Day), a trio sub-unit of DAY6 absent of Sungjin’s guitar and vocals. Wonpil’s keyboard-heavy production brought textures reminiscent of early 2010s bands like WALK THE MOON and Neon Trees, while Young K refined his talents as a singer-songwriter.

With all four members participating in vocals since their debut, they have now found the optimal combination that conveys different sentiments within a single song using their voices. Young K, who writes lyrics, is the vocalist who can most empower DAY6’s music. The range of his voice, which is as strong and cheerful as his bass, has expanded from the raps in their early days to the choruses that now promise the team’s sureness. Having released a solo album, Letters With Notes, with the composer Hong Jisang, who has worked with DAY6 throughout their career, and written “Rose Blossom” for the girl group H1-KEY, Young K is now a fully-fledged singer-songwriter. In contrast, Sungjin, the rough-edged main vocalist, is the pillar of the band. He retains the raw emotion from DAY6’s early days and adds a touch of rock in various areas of a song, from the run-up to the takeoff. The instantly recognizable voice of Wonpil is multi-dimensional. His clear voice creates a zone of coexistence between the innocent youth, the fragile and wounded youth of today, and the youth who desperately dream of the future. Wonpil, who delivered his unique lyricism and presented “A journey” in his solo album Pilmography, is truly a member who “runs while crying.” Dowoon’s drumming is the foundation on which all of this music can be stably unfolded, a vast canvas for DAY6. FOUREVER is packed with the quartet’s inner strength. After the sing-along-inducing “Welcome to the Show” and a cry out of “Happy,” which they must have dreamed of countless times during their long hiatus, they preach the power of positivity in “The Power of Love,” fix their shoelaces and try to forget a breakup with “Get The Hell Out” and run through the track once again with “Sad Ending.” After this youthful rush, the album calmly closes with the romantic “Let Me Love You” and the DAY6 (Even of Day)-esque “didn't know,” looking back on the past and staying true to DAY6’s music. As the quartet didn’t have much time after Wonpil’s discharge last November, they chose to take a style that fans are familiar with rather than bringing big changes, a choice made possible because they had confidence and faith in their masterful work. Tickets for DAY6’s three-day concert, “Welcome to the Show,” held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium from April 12 to 14, sold out in a heartbeat. Referring to their popularity, some entertainment outlets titled their articles “An urgent need of self-grasping.” Jamsil Indoor Stadium is the largest concert venue in Seoul following the Gocheok Sky Dome, KSPO Dome, and INSPIRE Arena, as the 60,000-capacity Seoul Olympic Main Stadium is being renovated. Mobilizing more than 30,000 spectators over three days for a team that hasn't performed as a full group in three years is no small feat. It’s a testament to the public’s support for them. When the articles were trending on social media with their titles, no one doubted DAY6’s status. It wouldn’t be out of place to see them on an arena or stadium-sized stage shortly. The band’s story of overcoming paradox and singing of love and the power in their voices bring them as “one” and make them invincible as their song suggests. In an era where the dark values of mistrust and individualism are spreading, it’s beautiful to see these four men reunited to brighten the world with their music. DAY6 never fails to deliver. I believe in the band and their sincerity.

[tomorrowxtogether]

Do It Like That, the Summer Smash TOMORROW X TOGETHER Brought

Meaning Behind the Collaboration of TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers

2023.07.08

In early June a soundless video snippet was released in which we see Ryan Tedder and TOMORROW X TOGETHER in a studio listening to what we can guess is a new track. Ryan Tedder is known as OneRepublic’s lead singer, but he is equally famous in the industry – perhaps even more so – as a producer and songwriter.

He contributed to Beyoncé’s “Halo” and Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love,” and he already has under his belt three Grammy Awards for Album of the Year for his work on “21” and “25” from Adele, and Taylor Swift’s “1989”. A few days ahead of that clip being posted, Tedder had teased on his Twitter account with a selfie at TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s US concert with the jesting text “Joining @TXT_members ??” One could sense from the tweet that his familiarity with the group was too great for this to be a simple shout-out. Indeed, that video clip itself had been captioned with “A big one is coming”, and we most certainly got that.

By mid June, TOMORROW X TOGETHER posted a group photo by a pool with the caption reading, “We go Together”. It’s clearly designed to remind us of the cover art of the album “Happiness Begins” released by Jonas Brothers in 2019, as was the text which happens to be the opening line to their hit song, “Sucker”. And what do you know, it also happens to have been written by Ryan Tedder. Finally, on June 22, TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers officially announced their collaboration project “Do It Like That” which will be released on July 7.

Jonas Brothers is one of the most successful boy bands of the past two decades. It is not an overstatement to declare this quite a singular feat, especially for an American boy band. Their longevity and continued new music releases to this day since 2005 – despite disbanding and reuniting in between– is another uncommon feat. From 2007 to 2009, the band appeared mainly on the Disney Channel and solidified their position as the unquestionable heartthrob for teens and enjoyed some of their most glittering years during this time. The members went on to pursue solo careers for about a decade after which the brothers at last found their collective adult identity as a pop rock band. Their being family might be brought up to downplay their success as a group, but maintaining the band as teenage idol musicians and consistently evolving over time is no small feat. 

One of the biggest contributing factors of this successful artistic reinvention is “Sucker”. Not only did it make its debut at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, but it remains their sole single to have reached that pinnacle to this day. What’s even more remarkable is it held its position in the top 10 until August, earning itself the accolade of being one of the “Songs of The Summer” in 2019, alongside Post Malone’s “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse).” While the title “Songs of the Summer” may not be an official concept, it holds significant weight in the industry. With summer traditionally being the season with much family time – especially outdoor activities – it’s the perfect season for music to become embedded in our collective memories and transcend time and space. Summer anthems become global megahits dominating airwaves everywhere and very likely go on to become still-beloved golden classics. We all know how “Livin’ La Vida Loca” returns every summer.

In fact, Billboard has been running a “Songs Of The Summer” chart since 2010. In the most recent years, “Sucker” still reigned as one of the most successful summer songs. Along with the likes of “Peaches”, “Levitating”, and “As It Was”, for the foreseeable future we are going to hear “Sucker” during the heatwave months on beaches, by pools, and in shopping malls and cafés.

The meeting of TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers for “Do It Like That” takes place like some learning-by-osmosis for a still fresh boy band that only debuted in 2019. “Do It Like That” has all the makings of a summer hit such as its danceable rhythm that’s bouncy yet chill, a hook that sinks in quick to reel you in fast, and chill and relatable lyrics. TOMORROW X TOGETHER is certainly one of the more successful K-Pop acts performing today, but adding to their loyal teen audience, acquiring universal appeal, and getting significant radio play are not easy tasks for any artist. “Do It Like That” presents an opportunity to clear all these challenges in one go. It’s especially apropos for TOMORROW X TOGETHER this summer as they gear up to make their summer festival rounds where a song like this really adds to their arsenal as a number that can get people vibing immediately regardless of whose fans happen to be in the crowd. 

As for the Jonas Brothers themselves, they have a massive 37-date North American tour planned. “Do It Like That” can be a nice follow-up to “Sucker” as it brings fresh blood to the group’s summer song catalog, especially since the song will bring in the broader K-Pop listenership. That is why the recent social media activity from the Jonas Brothers such as their “Excuse me BRUHH” TikTok with TOMORROW X TOGETHER that reenacts that meme-able moment from the film “Zoolander” and the adoption of a K-Pop industry move of releasing “concept photo” as part of their promotional material, all appear to be much more than just spur-of-the moment online humor. In short, “Do It Like That” is a definitive snapshot of how K-Pop’s most recent forays into the US market have evolved. It has a better understanding of what comprises the market's essence. With this insight, their moves are much more calibrated, thereby yielding opportunities for a mutually beneficial collaboration within the ecosystem. It’s a deft mix of the team’s musical color and K-Pop’s commercial cachet. This masterful positioning was also on display in last summer’s collaboration with iann dior who provided a direct line to the musical sensibilities of Gen Z, and now this summer TOMORROW X TOGETHER is aiming for the charts with Jonas Brothers. You don’t get to see a band like this every day.

[spaceorphan18]

Glee Musical Retrospective: Express Yourself (The Power of Madonna)

Sung by: New Direction Girls Original Artist(s): Madonna

Welcome to Madonna week guys!!

Overall, I think this is a good episode full of great performances but the biggest thing is that it completely changes the way music is used on the show. While, yes, it does start a little with the previous episode, here is where we get not only a thematic episode, but our first full on tribute episode. The story is molded to fit the theme, and that theme is Madonna. We can argue about how well these tribute episodes work later on, but here is really the apex of this idea. Everything is bold and brash and in the flamboyant style that is Madonna. And the show kind of never looks back.

The other thing I want to point out about the music in this episode is that how its used deviates a lot from the original set up. Not only are we getting flashier, styled performances that don't really jive with what a high school glee club can do -- we also get music being used outside of reality (though that's later). The whole concept of having the music be sung in a realistic way is just kind of thrown out the window. And you know what? That's not necessarily a bad thing....

Story Analysis

While not the first music heard in the episode (I'll get to that in the extra long extras post for this episode) this is the first performance. And the set up is important -- the fact that the girls feel like they've had to take a second seat to the guys, or feel belittled by the guys... Or just don't feel sure of themselves in general.

As Sue however hammers the message of the episode in -- the whole point of Madonna is help women feel empowered. I kind of side eye the fact that the girls don't come up with it themselves and Will does - but at least he has a good point in that they should be allowed to express themselves however they want. And to not have the guys be asshats to them in the process.

Then Puck makes such a weird comment that Madonna doesn't translate to show choir. I realize it's for the sake of the narrative. But haven't we learned by now that you can turn anything into a show choir song?

Anyway... I'm glad the girls get to kick it off with this song, which boils down to the idea that men should really treat women with the respect that they deserve.

Don't go for second best baby Put your love to the test You know, you know, you've got to Make him express How he feels and maybe then You'll know your love is real

It's interesting that the song is called 'express yourself' and is about a woman singing her thoughts on romantic relationships, but really calls out the man (or partner) to express actual feelings. It's such an interesting twist -- in that the woman of the song doesn't want fake things money can by or fleeting sexual encounters but something real. And the women knowing this and not backing down? Knowing what they want and being able to express that? That's where the real empowerment comes from.

While each of these characters will go up and down with the idea of self worth and empowerment -- in this moment, and in this performance, they do own it. They're confident in themselves, and the point of the episode is that singing Madonna helps them get there. This song is definitely an anthem for them. And while each of them have individual struggles -- the come at this song as a unit, as a unified front that says -- hey, we're here and not backing down -- so deal with it.

It's the first time we really have a performance that the whole group of them can relate to -- it's not about one person's story, but the collective story being told.

I'd argue there's a metatexual element to this song as well. I'm sure this must have been one of Ryan Murphy's get up and go songs he listened to as a young person. There's a kind of air about this song that says --- hey, this is the new Glee -- so you need to get on board because we're doing this and not backing down.

Technical Thoughts

Okay, there is a lot going on...

One of the nice things about this song is that we get to hear all the girls' voices. It's the first song that Naya sings on. And the first time (it sounds like) they aren't doubling and tripling back up singers on the track. These ladies are talented, and they sound great together. It's nice that you can hear the different strains of voices come in and out of the bigger text.

The choreography is based a lot on Madonna's original choreography. They do a really good job with it -- and it's so different from the (sometimes dull) look that New Direction group numbers often had up to this point. The girls are also really throwing themselves into this performance - and it looks really good.

Another thing inspired by Madonna is the costumes. Interestingly, Madonna stayed with a black and white theme, while the costume designers used a lot of color here. Not only did each of the girls wear a color that looked good on them -- but the color pops on the stage, making them look even more striking. There's just an overall really captivating visual componant to this song -- and it's done purposely!

The other thing about the song itself is that it's very energetic and upbeat. I think that adds to the intention of the song -- to get these girls (and the show) energized and empowered. It never lets up and never backs down.

As an interesting exercise - check out all the guys uninterested reactions. Kevin McHale said it was hard to do because the girls were so good on stage! However - Chris, as usual, is hamming it up in the background as Kurt. I will say, though I understand why they did what they did, it's hard to believe that a bunch of teenage boys wouldn't be captivated by these girls dancing so provocatively.

Also - random thought, there are certain little strains of this song that remind me of Lady Gaga's Born This Way -- I wonder if this song inspired her.

vs. The Studio Version: Stylistically, there isn't really any difference (though I always appreciate how the studio version sounds cleaner). They add in the second verse, as well as a bridge - that gives the song another minute or so.

vs. The Original Version: This episode pushes really hard to copy everything about Madonna. The arrangement for the Glee version is exactly the same -- and it's a trend that Glee is going to continue to do, backing away from a more show choir-esque style of the Front 13. Head to about the middle of this video if you want to see the costume and choreography inspiration for the girls' performance.

[married-2-the-music]

K-pop Discography Deep Dives: NCT Dream

A Disclaimer: I was planning, when I first started Tumblr, to be a lurker, but then I began an office job and needed something to listen to to keep myself occupied. And then, I started going through entire K-pop groups’ repertoires, album by album, and jotting down my thoughts. And then, I stumbled into K-pop tumblr and decided, you know what, there’s at least four people on this hell site who would read in depth rants about these discographies and at least five who wouldn’t read it and then get mad because it’s kind of our job as K-pop fans. My lukewarm takes should be taken with an entire silo of salt and the knowledge that this is completely for fun and occupying my very bored, very neurodivergent brain. With that being said, enjoy!

So, we’re talking about NCT Dream today; here are my credentials. I haven’t been interested in them for very long, to be honest. It’s only been since around the beginning / middle of June, when I was recommended their videos. Since then, though, I’ve listened to a decent amount of their songs (mostly title tracks but a few b-sides too), and while I wouldn’t call myself an NCTzen, I would definitely call myself a fan.

They debuted in 2016, at around ages 14-16 (and now, no longer being those ages, I wince internally), with the song Chewing Gum, which I did like. It has a nice mix of hip-hop and singing, but it’s definitely not as much my style as their later work. For obvious reasons, it feels childish, and I’ve never been a fan of sing talk.

The other two songs in their first single “The First”, are My First And Last and Dunk Shot. My First & Last starts out with a surprisingly hard-hitting beat, reminiscent of SHINee, and I liked it a lot more than I expected. Dunk Shot is actually my favorite, continuing the SHINee vibe, which of course I loved, hence the blog name.

What stuck out to me the most in these early songs is how distinctive and honestly great their voices are, even as young as they were. (I know I keep emphasizing age here, but being a celebrity at 14…just let that sink in.) I can almost always tell who’s singing, even not knowing their voices very well.

The voices who stood out the most, though, are probably Mark and Haechan. Haechan’s voice has a great balance of nasality and chest voice, and as a singer myself, I think he has great control. Mark’s is very different from that, but unlike many rappers, I almost always enjoy his parts in the songs; his breaks are good, he has flow, and a good singing voice too. Renjun, Chenle, Jisung, Jeno, and Jaemin have good voices too (especially Renjun’s lower tones, which offer a good contrast)

The next comeback is We Young, which, despite its somewhat silly intro, manages to balance the youthful feeling and their talents well. It feels like a day at the beach or a road trip, and also a bit like Seventeen. Walk You Home is my favorite b-side from the EP, because I’m a sucker for acoustic guitar, but I also love the anthemic nature of Trigger The Fever.

I know I’ve heaped praise on them so far, but as a first year of material, these songs are really good. Unfortunately though, we then get to NCT Empathy 2018, and their song Go, which feels far more like an NCT 127 song than anything to do with Dream…which unfortunately isn’t a good thing. After all the beautiful harmonizing and the floating melodies, the hip hop beat and pop-trap mix feels especially harsh.

We Go Up follows the hip-hop sound that Go established, although the chorus, though less melodic than the other ones before, is alright. The b-sides are also less melodic but better than the title; Dear Dream especially is very sweet and makes me smile, especially the “I’ll be your home”.

Some of their best songs are the nostalgic, feel good, and somewhat understated ones, with a stripped back production that allows the Dreamies’ voices to carry the weight and harmonize together, turning something average into something quite good, like Candle Light, written when Mark left the group due to becoming an adult. (He did return, although not for two years, and his absence is clearly felt; the songs feel a bit less full.)

Fireflies is also sweet; the full chorus is a welcome return to form and it becomes an anthem in its later moments. Boom, meanwhile, returns to the hip-hop sound, and although the choruses are alright, it’s also not close to their best. We Boom (Boom’s album)’s b-sides are also (mostly) not it. They embrace the NCT 127 idea of uncomfortable sing talk and waste their great voices, Stronger especially. Dream Run is pretty good, though.

Ridin’ is not their best, and again I’m reminded that they have so much potential that isn’t being used. The chorus is almost great and usually I can articulate better, but something stops me from liking it more.

Hot Sauce marks….well the return of Mark (sorry), and as happy as I am to hear him bring more balance, I wish he could’ve gotten a better song for that. The sing talking is back in spades and its genuinely grating on the ears, which I never thought I’d say about an NCT Dream song. The b-sides are alright, with All Night Long, Be There For You, and especially Irreplaceable (which feels a lot like old Dream with its bright energy) as some nice hidden gems.

Hello Future is, at last, a title track that reflects the best of NCT Dream: upbeat, hopeful, and optimistic, It’s delightfully odd and a bit off-kilter, and manages to blend hip-hop, straight pop, and even a little bit of the dreaded sing-talk in to make an honestly delightful song, which isn’t an easy talk. Bungee is a great b-side from this album too.

But, of course, this can’t last, and we’re back to the sing-talk with Glitch Mode, which I’ll admit is marginally better than Hot Sauce but still gets on my nerves because it has a pretty good build-up in the pre-chorus, but just no pay off, which is one of my pet peeves, I’ll admit.

The b-sides are all pretty good (barring Fire Alarm), and I especially liked the sleepy warmth of Teddy Bear, the upbeat drive of Better Than Gold, the chill road trip vibes of Drive, and the electro / R & B influences of On The Way. In fact, their b-sides after Hot Sauce are almost all good, and even the ones that don’t end up on my playlist, I don’t usually find myself skipping much.

Candy is a cover of H.O.T., but I really like it. It’s very much a holiday feeling song, which surprisingly I, a certified Christmas cynic, don’t mind. It’s fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is a must with this kind of subject matter.

Graduation isn’t technically a single, but since it has an MV (and because I’m biased but let’s pretend I have a legit reason), I’m treating it as such. In my opinion, it’s one of Dream’s best songs. What could so easily become just another easy listening b-side turns into an honestly lovely ballad with their voices adding sweeps of genuine emotion. Overall, I think that it’s one of their most honest songs, which makes sense if you know the backstory, and it reminds me of my own (quite imminent) graduation, which means I never fail to sing along.

Broken Melodies starts like an understated ballad, but soon spirals into an anthemic song with an earworm of a chorus, a great chorus, and excellent use of their voices, which sound imbued with warmth and better than ever. It’s no wonder that I became a fan after listening to this song.

ISTJ, the actual single from the album, isn’t as good as Broken Melodies, but it’s miles ahead of Hot Sauce and Glitch Mode; the chorus is sprawling and definitely has me tapping my head. I’m not a fan of the intro though. As for the b-sides, Blue Wave has a nice beachside beat, but my favorite is Like We Just Met, which was written by the band members themselves, and feels like a warm hug or a walk by the water.

Overall, again I’m super glad I did this. I’ve added a lot of b-sides and early songs of theirs to my playlists and gained a whole new respect for the members’ voices. I think after my deep dive, I can consider myself an NCTzen, at least of NCT Dream, although that doesn’t extend to the other subunits yet.

So my top five songs by NCT Dream are Graduation, Broken Melodies, Fireflies, Hello Future, and Trigger The Fever / Dunk Shot (because I couldn’t choose). Overall, NCT Dream gets an 8.5/10 from me, because they are pretty good most of the time but when they lean into the sing talk…well, I don’t need to repeat myself. I do really enjoy the greater part of their discography though, and when they stick to their strengths, they’re hard to beat.

See you next time for a girl group!

[lyriclens]

BLOG ENTRY #2

Sail with Confidence: Aespa's 'Live My Life' Inspires You to Be the Captain of Your Own Ship

Introduction

"Live My Life" is an impactful b-side track from Aespa's 1st Studio Album, "Armageddon." This track is a cheerful guitar-based pop punk song with outstanding vocals and drum lines. Known for their cutting-edge music and powerful performances, Aespa is a Korean girl group featuring four talented members: Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. This track showcases their distinctive style and of lyrical depth. "Live My Life" highlights Aespa's vocal capabilities and thematic boldness, reinforcing their rising prominence and influence in the K-pop scene.

"Live My Life" is an upbeat track that comes off as a cheerful and energetic song. This track showcases its thematic boldness by empowering listeners to break free from societal norms and expectations. Listening to aespa's "Live My Life" feels like a waking call to action, urging me to break free from societal expectations and embrace my true self. This track is a powerful anthem of self-empowerment and authenticity, showcasing aespa's unique ability to connect with their audience through profound lyrics and captivating melodies.

As an individual who prioritizes what other people would think, I find aespa's "Live My Life" inspiring and powerful. This track perfectly captures the essence of self-discovery, individuality, and the pursuit of dreams.

Lyrics Analysis

The song starts with a strong message against societal norms and outdated thinking with lines like, "Bye to the boring / Rigid way of thinking." It feels like a call to action for anyone who has felt restricted by expectations. This line emphasizes the need to break free from the tight box of expectations and mindset that restricts your own growth.

This line, "Say what you really mean / Don’t lie to yourself," encourages listeners to embrace their true selves by allowing themselves to raise their voices and to let other people know what they really want.

"Live My Life" does a great job of acknowledging the uniqueness of individual dreams. The lyrics, "You and me / Our dreams are just drawn different," emphasize that everyone's desired path is unique but valuable. This message empowers that individuals can have different dreams and that they don't need to follow the paths of other people just for the sake of societal norms or expectations.

The chorus delivers a liberating affirmation: "I live my life / break out from the box that defined me / Your obvious way of thinking." This self-empowerment declaration reminds us that we are the authors of our own stories. The GIF excerpt from the Music Video itself shows that Aespa is hanging out cheerfully and in a care-free matter. It shows that the girls have broken out from the box of expectations and control that confines them as they are seen enjoying and doing the things that make them happy. "The protagonist of my life is me" reinforces the idea that we have the power to shape our destinies, and we are the ones who control our own lives and not the society.

The song builds on its empowering themes, with lines like, "Even when it’s tough / The precious light that comes to me / Don’t give up, believe in yourself." These words remind us of the importance of resilience and self-trust, offering comfort and motivation to anyone that every challenge is bearable as long as they believe in theirselves and that they can do everything.

"Live My Life" concludes with a powerful statement on personal freedom: "There’s no right answer to life, you know best / You just live your life." This message encourages listeners to create their own paths based on their values and desires, free from societal pressures. The lyrics emphasize the need to break free from the common framework of life that society built and to continue living life independently.

What makes "Live My Life" particularly special is how it mirrors the journey of Aespa. Aespa is known for their unique and innovative concept that blends virtual and real-world elements. This kind of concept is not what is usually seen and used in the K-Pop scene. Since their debut, Aespa has embraced their unique identity in the industry. This track serves as a reflection of their commitment to individuality and authenticity, both in their music and their public personas.

In summary, "Live My Life" by aespa is more than just a song, it’s a declaration of independence and a celebration of individuality. It urges us to break free from societal constraints, embrace our unique identities, and live courageously. Aespa has created a track that not only showcases their vocal talents but also delivers a profound message of empowerment.

Ratings for "Live My Life" by Aespa

- Lyrics: 10/10

The lyrics are powerful and empowering, encouraging listeners to embrace their individuality. This is a track that openly talks about living life independently and outside of the usual framework of life.

- Vocals: 10/10

Aespa delivered a wonderful vocal performance, showcasing their range and emotional depth.

- Emotional Impact: 10/10

"Live My Life" resonates deeply with its message of self-empowerment and resilience, inspiring listeners to take control of their own destinies.

- Production: 8.5/10

The production quality is high, with a seamless integration of musical elements such as guitar and drum lines that enhance the song.

- Replay Value: 9/10

The song's inspiring message and catchy melody make it highly replayable.

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

It perfectly captures the spirit of individuality and self-discovery. Aespa's ability to connect with their audience through this powerful message makes "Live My Life" an essential addition to their discography.

[cyarskaren52]

There’s nothing like a good collaboration with mcs that really gets the fans excited

There are some posse cuts that are undeniable.

We all know "The Symphony" and "Buddy." And who doesn't love the star-making turn Nas gave us on "Live At the BBQ" or Busta's scene-stealing verse from "Scenario?" And there are posse cuts that may not be as inescapable as those tracks, but are just as noteworthy. The one-upmanship of "Don't Curse." The camaraderie of "Watch For The Hook." So many others that deserve way more love that don't get discussed as much as the go-to tracks. 

But what is a posse cut? In this day and age of constant collaboration, the thought of several emcees hopping on a track together may seem routine. But a posse cut is when a corp of rappers team up and take turns showcasing their skills on the mic. For the purposes of this list, we're gonna stick to songs that feature at least four emcees (sorry "I Wanna Be Down" remix) and couldn't be group cuts like "Triumph" by Wu-Tang Clan. 

But here are songs that we think you might wanna check out, if you love hearing emcees bringing out the best in each other over a dope track.

#26

"VIBIN'" (REMIX) - BOYZ II MEN FEAT. CRAIG MACK, TREACH, BUSTA RHYMES, METHOD MAN [BONUS SONG]

Our BONUS SONG is a celebrated guest spot! Or in this case--four emcees taking over for the harmonizing Philly quartet.

#25

"DA LADIES IN THE HOUSE" - BIG KAP FEAT. U-NEEK, PRECISE, LAURYN HILL, BAHAMADIA

This track from Big Kap may have had quite the on-the-nose title (and very 90s spelling: "Da?"), but it's one of the most underrated posse cuts of all time. Shout-out to Precise and Uneek, Bahamadia and the one they call "L," who shows up and shows out in this early (Pre-THE SCORE, that is) appearance.

#24

"DUSTED N DISGUSTED" - E-40 FEAT. MAC MALL, 2PAC, SPICE-1

Everyone came with heat, and in the video they held it down for 2Pac, who was incarcerated. The Bay Area represented to the fullest on this classic from 40 Fonzarelli. 

#23

"1 TRAIN" - A$AP ROCKY FEAT. BIG K.R.I.T., YELAWOLF, DANNY BROWN, KENDRICK LAMAR, ACTION BRONSON

An impressive lineup of 2010s emcees go bar-for-bar on this banger from LONG.LIVE.A$AP. Hit-Boy produced this track with the intention of capturing a 1990s East Coast underground feel. Mission accomplished. 

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#22

"GOT MY MIND MADE UP" - 2PAC FEAT. THA DOGG POUND, METHOD MAN, REDMAN

A great lyrical showcase that debunks the East-vs-West mythology of 1996; this is lyricism at it's finest. And 2Pac quotes Run-D.M.C. and Rakim for good measure, just to remind everyone he was as Hip-Hop as anyone. 

#21

"SYMPHONY 2000" - EPMD FEAT. REDMAN, METHOD MAN, LADY LUCK

We could not talk about great posse cuts that deserve more love and not mention this heat rock from the Def Squad/Hit Squad crew. Everybody snaps the fuck out on this track. And it'll make you wish we heard way more from Lady Luck.

#20

"WATCH FOR THE HOOK" - COOL BREEZE FEAT. OUTKAST, WITCHDOCTOR, GOODIE MOB

The Dungeon Family was at the peak of its powers when Witchdoctor, the members of Goodie Mob and OutKast teamed up with Cool Breeze for this anthem. Highlighting a handful of the greatest emcees in Atlanta rap history, it helped solidify the talent throughout the crew and still has one of the coolest videos of the 1990s.

#19

"24 HRS TO LIVE" - MA$E FEAT. DMX, BLACK ROB, THE LOX

Ma$e became one of the biggest rap stars of the late 1990s on the strength of slick pop hits, but this classic was one of the grimier moments on the multiplatinum-selling Harlem World and features a star-making appearance from Dark Man X.

#18

"MAKE 'EM SAY UGH" - MASTER P FEAT. FIEND, MYSTIKAL, SILKK THE SHOCKER, MIA X

New Orleans rap stormed the mainstream in 1997, and this anthem from Master P's GHETTO D album was the rallying call. No Limit smashed through and showcased some of the brightest stars on the label, with Mia X, Fiend and Mystikal ripping the track to shreds. 

#17

"JOHN BLAZE" - FAT JOE FEAT. NAS, RAEKWON, BIG PUN, JADAKISS

You can feel the respect in the room. These are all emcees who hold each other in the highest esteem and they bring the best out of each other here. Pure late 1990s Mafioso rap greatness, all on one track. 

#16

"STRANDED ON DEATH ROW" - DR. DRE W/SNOOP DOGGY DOGG, KURUPT, LADY OF RAGE, RBX

It may seem contradictory to act like any track on one of the most famous rap albums of all time is something you might've slept on, but seriously-- why don't we talk more about how great the album closing Death Row call-to-arms is here? And there' a Bushwick Bill cameo!

#15

"I SHOT YA" (REMIX) - LL COOL J FEAT. KEITH MURRAY, FAT JOE, PRODIGY, FOXY BROWN

It may suffer in the shadow of a hit single like "4,3,2,1," but we can't front on LL's grimy, gritty group shot from 1995. Featuring one of his most bombastic verses, a straight up classic by Prodigy, and a star turn from Foxy Brown, it reminded everyone (once again) that LL can go hardcore with the best of 'em.

#14

"MONSTER" - KANYE WEST FEAT. NICKI MINAJ, RICK ROSS, JAY-Z

Kanye flew his collaborators to Hawaii to record this standout from MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY, and Nicki Minaj's hyperkinetic verse absolutely steals the show. The controversial Jake Nava-directed music video remains one of Kanye's most memorable. 

#13

"BANNED FROM TV" - N.O.R.E. FEAT. JADAKISS, STYLES P, BIG PUN, CAM'RON, NATURE

Swizz Beatz was a new producer when he laced N.O.R.E. with this anthemic beat and six hungry wordsmiths let loose on it. It's an anthem that sounds of its era—and we mean that in the BEST way. 

#12

"RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE" - THE FUGEES W/A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, JOHN FORTE, BUSTA RHYMES

Over one of Clef's best productions, these legendary crews repped from Native Tongues and the Refugee Camp while singing the praises of none other than Muhammad Ali. It's the Blackest, dopest shit you've ever heard. Is it the most underrated posse cut of all time? We think so.

#11

"DON'T CURSE" HEAVY D & THE BOYZ FEAT. PETE ROCK & CL SMOOTH, Q-TIP, KOOL G RAP, BIG DADDY KANE

Heavy D knew that he was every grandmother's favorite rapper and decided to poke fun with that image (and with the idea of censorship) while recruiting some fellow legends to do it. It's a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek moment that showcases real camaraderie, over a sick Booker T. & The M.G.'s flip.

#10

"STAY FLY" - THREE SIX MAFIA FEAT. EIGHTBALL & MJG, YOUNG BUCK

Legends gon' legend. It's a victory lap for some titans of Memphis rap. Call it a "crossover" hit all you want, some songs are just dope. And this is one of 'em.

#9

"4, 3, 2, 1" - LL COOL J FEAT. REDMAN, METHOD MAN, CANIBUS, MASTER P, DMX

The song that launched one of the most infamous beefs in rap history, it's almost taken for granted that it's also one of the dopest posse cuts of all time. Erick Sermon provides the beat, as a handful of rap icons do their thing.

#8

"NOT TONIGHT" (LADIES NIGHT REMIX) - LIL KIM FEAT. ANGIE MARTINEZ, MISSY ELLIOTT, LEFT EYE, DA BRAT

Hip-Hop had precious few all-star female posse cuts when Lil Kim tapped four fierce emcees for this girls-night-out classic. An iconic performance at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards cemented it as a rap standard.

#7

"LIVE AT THE BBQ" - MAIN SOURCE FEAT. NAS, JOE FATAL, AKINYELE

The legendary track from CRITICAL BEATDOWN is famous for announcing a pair of newcomers named Akinyele and Nas, but let's not forget that "...BBQ" is also just a blazing posse cut that captures the round robin energy of friends freestyling in the basement. 

#6

"I GOT 5 ON IT" (REMIX) - THE LUNIZ FEAT. DRU DOWN, E-40, SHOCK G, RICHIE RICH, SPICE-1

Some shit you just have to do. Whether this is an widely hailed classic or woefully slept on masterpiece might depend on where you grew up, but we weren't going to do this list and just not mention this Bay Area roll call. It's just all NoCal love, and it's just as cool today as it was 25 years ago.

#5

"FLAVA IN YA EAR" (REMIX) - CRAIG MACK FEAT. THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G., RAMPAGE, LL COOL J, BUSTA RHYMES

The song that really let the world that Bad Boy had arrived. Craig Mack's original single was a hit, but it was subsequently overshadowed by this classic. Fans can recite everybody's verse on this one. 

#4

"BUDDY" - DE LA SOUL FEAT. JUNGLE BROTHERS, Q-TIP, MONIE LOVE, QUEEN LATIFAH

The Native Tongues were already earning a reputation for outside-the-box creativity when De La Soul dropped this D.A.I.S.Y. Age ode to coitus. It's so freewheeling and whimsical that you might not notice how naughty it is; but the vibe stays breezy. 

#3

"INTL PLAYERS ANTHEM (I CHOOSE YOU)" - UGK FEAT. OUTKAST

It's a song that has come to epitomize rappers gettin' grown. After years of songs about being playas and pimps, two of the South's most iconic acts gave the Dirty an ode to matrimony. Produced by DJ Paul of Three Six Mafia, the ceremony begins with an uber-classic verse from André 3000, and Big Boi, Bun B and Pimp C do the rest from there. Three Six joins in on the remix. 

#2

"SCENARIO" - A TRIBE CALLED QUEST FEAT. LEADERS OF THE NEW SCHOOL

Widely considered one of the greatest posse cuts of all time,  “Scenario,” which was the third single from "The Low End Theory,"  also served as a launchpad for Busta Rhyme’s solo career.

#1

"SYMPHONY" - MARLEY MARL W/BIG DADDY KANE, CRAIG G, KOOL G RAP, MASTA ACE

Marley put together Hip-Hop's Avengers for this Juice Crew-defining cut. Indisputably one of the greatest rap tracks ever, and a posse cuttour de force, this is one of Marley's masterpieces.

Sent from my iPhone

[lageografiademicamino]

UMK 2023 Song review - Portion Boys

The hype is very real around Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the Finnish national selection for Eurovision and the race to Liverpool continues with glam rock anthem!

Portion Boys - Samaa taivasta katsotaan

Portion Boys have been around for a while. They originally started from Youtube back in 2010 and by releasing regurarly singles slowly but surely made theirselves a name in Finland. Especially the few last years have been succesful for them. They’ve become known as a positive dance-pop group with a lots of personality. 

Samaa taivasta katsotaan represents quite well the band’s musical repertoire and style. It offers a great ending to UMK23 series (as it was released as the seventh and the last track) and also to UMK23 show on February 25th. This is a very rich song, we have several elements and genres mixed in this one and it is the thing that might keep the viewer hooked for the entire 3 minutes but it might also be the thing that breaks charm.

I get the feeling of the song trying too hard. It’s trying to please everyone - we have the rock rap, anthem like instrumental parts, heavy metalish screaming going on. Even the lyrics mention several countries and make references in foreign languages. It’s a mess and it’s up to one’s personal taste whether it’s a mess for your taste. 

The song reminds a bit of Eurovision Movie: Fire Saga by its vibes and with its to be honest Eurovision clichés. Even reference to Latvian Pirates in 2008 has been made in social media. There’s a certain sillyness in here but also the spirit of becoming one despite all our differences. Usually these kind of entries haven’t done very well in ESC.

However,  this might be one of the rare UMK23 entries that I do not wish to advance to ESC. On another year yes but not in 2023 when we have better options. However, I have to admit it does hold the strongest hook in UMK23. This might go against the lovers of Cha Cha Cha as it musically and spiritually stands completely on the other side of the edge. However, I can see this becoming a true Finnhit classic and bringing people together on the dancefloor.

What do you think of the seventh UMK23 track and would you vote for Portion Boys’ Samaa taivasta katsotaan to go all the way to Liverpool? UMK final takes place on February 25th!

[starmotions]

musical shuffle tag meme

tagged by @hanjisoonie (and @hungerpunch in another musical tag meme) to do this cute music tag meme!!

rules: shuffle your ‘on repeat’ playlist and post the first 10 tracks & list 10 songs you really like, each by a different artist, and then tag 10 people to do the same !!

i'm shuffling my spotify wrapped here bc i have way to many playlists to choose from.

10 random tracks:

seventeen by sjowgren

everybody breaks by ivan & alyosha

crash by mai.la

our love (from arcane) by curtis harding and jazmine sullivan

parents by YUNGBLUD

little me by duumu and karnaboy

achilles come down by gang of youths

the kill by thirty seconds to mars

too much by HONEYMOAN

in the kitchen by mree

a pretty solid listing all around. no repeats, goes from artists with only 1k listeners a month to those with 5mil, from poptimism to rock, lot of lyricism and indie pop lol. i like to discover smaller artists a lot but will also get into a vibe trend where only one song will cut it or i have to devour one musician's album (see: yungblud) so i have to listen to that. i also did listen to like three soundtracks sooo heavily this past year. arcane takes the cake though, it was phenomenal in every way. if you haven't watched this breakdown of creating 'what could have been' by arcane musical composer alex seaver, you should!

10 favorite tracks:

blemish by mae mae and the colourist has some upbeat-sad contemplative vibes, which i'm always into. sonically it's just very appealing, the 'hate to burst your bubble, but you're always causing trouble like you always do', i listen to it on repeat a mmmm lot

i'm still here by john rzeznik from treasure planet! yeah, i'm still not over it!!!! it's so fucking good. sweeping and captivating, it builds in your chest like you're truly flying

jigoku tengoku by TWINKIDS it's just pure vibes, so very vibes. also: 'i'm thinking bloodstone/your cold li looving will/be keeping me warm' yeah i do love that vampire love thanks

nothing new by the strike i listened to the strike a lot this past year. a lot of their songs have a fabulous tempo that is perfect for furiously typing or running or cleaning or highway driving

this hell by rina sawayama when people talk about an anthem, this is the type of song they mean. anthem IS its genre. i jam, i groove, i sing along. i wanna do the two-step like in the music video

supercut by lorde i don't listen to a whole lot of lorde but supercut has a perfect late night driving echoing in the blue headlights atmosphere, with the echo of the vocals and the staccato in the bridges, it's very satisfying

the funeral by yungblud like i said, this album on repeat! 'do you hate yourself? well that's alright. do you love yourself? well that's alright! do you dream about the day you die?' lots to love, including the oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-ohs

powder blue/cascine park by yumi zouma here be vibes again! it's a very soothing sort of musical swimming, good for listening to on repeat and keeping a consistent tempo. most of this group's songs fall in the same home lo-fi vibe

vivaldi storm by 2CELLOS ha, i almost always have a little instrumental interlude in my playlists and i enjoy this little mashup a lot. emphatic and vibrant !

i love it when hot guys cry by link lauren honestly everyone should listen to this song. whenever i listen to it i wanna put it on repeat for days. when will it be on drag race, etc. it's just campy great goodness. i get recommended a lot of smaller queer artists on spotify and almost always enjoy them bc they are just so unabashedly themselves and over the top and romo and delightful - shout out to be steadwell, gregory dillon, heartthrob and kelechi!!

thanks for the tag, hon! i'll go ahead and no pressure tag:

@deadhoneysalama, @fromadifferentphase, @lomku, @somekindofsheepl, @sevenpoints, @spareourworld, @crent-trimm, @the-faultofdaedalus, @alexenglish, @docdracula ! 💖

[talenlee]

A Software Pirate Looks at 40

A Software Pirate Looks at 40

There’s this song.

A Pirate Looks At Forty

Watch this video on YouTube

This song, from 1975, was written by Jimmy Buffet, born in 1946. My whole life as much as I’ve remembered it, this song has had a deep reverence, a mournful seriousness to it. It got to be on the regular rotation in the car’s road-trip songs, despite it having that swear in it, and the references to drugs (that I did not understand, of course). We would sing along with the Jimmy Buffett tapes in the car, but when this song came on, we wouldn’t sing along, we’d just listen. There was something about it. There was something heavy to the words, something I didn’t quite understand.

When I hit my teenage years and started trying to make sense of everything, listening to the lyrics and reading the liner notes and trying to put every song into this like, structured and meaningful coherent whole where all the fictions that stories told were in fact part of some greater truth, I thought it was about Jimmy Buffett himself turning forty, and that crystallised something – it made sense. This was the anthem my father saw, sharing with Jimmy Buffett, when they were both facing turning 40, and that was when the song was made.

Jimmy Buffet was not forty when he wrote the song. He wasn’t even 30. He wasn’t forty until 1986, a year in which I was three. My father was 38, and two years later, he was 40. My dad has been on the far side of 40 most of my life. I never really saw someone facing turning 40 until members of my peer group did it. And, thing is… they’ve mostly been fine about it. Nobody I know has been making a point of their anxieties at getting older. There hasn’t been this anguished cry of ‘oh no I’m old,’ in fact most of my peer and friend group has been looking at their life getting through their 30s and shouting defiantly at the world thank god that’s done with.

Nobody I know makes being 40 bad. Most of them make it something great. I love you all, especially those of you repeating to our youngers: Don’t feel you wasted your 20s. You’re allowed to take your time working yourself out.

The Last Saskatchewan Pirate by Captain Tractor

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Maybe growing up with role models who were pirates was part of the place the rot started. My family after all were good upstanding Christians but I somehow grew up seeing laws as things to be gently circumvented where necessary and eventually entirely meaningless when they were never fairly deployed. I know that this song, The Last Saskatchewan Pirate, got me into a weird head space in my teen years of wanting to know about Canada and Canadian culture, a door that, once opened, I think, is where I met a lot of my best friends.

I remember this song being so… appealing to me, because of its oddness and silliness while still being a banger to sing. It wasn’t even an actual Captain Tractor song, though they wound up helping form that period of my teens into twenties, a sort of interesting bet-you’ve-never-heard-of-them musical icebreaker. Like a weaponised ship part. I have memories, in the time just after graduating from school, standing in the front yard of my parents’ house, spooling up a hose while singing this song to myself, and by myself, I mean the whole street.

I really wasn’t good at being a person.

But thing is, I got this song from mp3 dot com, which was like Kazaa and Limewire and Napster, but it didn’t go down. It was just bands asking you to take their songs. How cool was that? I couldn’t see how it would make money. The fact I wound up buying both of their albums at some point later, well, that may have played into it.

[Bulldog Mansion] (2002) Funk 15. Happy Birthday To Me

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I started a ritual of listening to this song after I heard it, first in the There She Is!! series of videos. I downloaded it from a bootleg site because I couldn’t even find the name of the band that made it, what with it being in all squidgy letters I didn’t know. Now it’s on Youtube. Now it’s easy to find.

I have files on my computer that are snippets of anime episodes from 30 years ago, that have managed to successfully cling to my digital presence this entire time, since I very first got onto the internet. I can namedrop people like Mike Rhea and Megazone and Richard Pelley and Anand Chelian and Blade and Epsilon and gilmae and µ and Guardian and there’s a time anchored to those things, things that the right people might head-snap around and go oh holy shit, I remember that… but not many people do.

Deep, old magics from a time when the internet was smaller, and where so much of what I was doing, I was doing for free, shared by people for the sake of sharing it, for the novelty of it. I learned to do Photoshop work on a pirated copy of Photoshop, and moved to GIMP when my partner wanted to, because she hated Photoshop (and I didn’t have a copy any more). I’ve been using GIMP for something like twenty years. It was free. A free version of something I’d have had to pirate that’s about as good, as the thing you have to pay for gets worse.

You can’t beat the pirates. Free is a hell of a price point. For a little more than free, I’d expect to get good, as well. You can’t even make a moral case any more. I’m technically pirating a copy of Word, because the version I paid for doesn’t do what I want, and I can’t buy the version I want to use any more because it’s too old. When I can’t even buy the thing you tell me you sell, because of where I live or your controls or price point incentives, all those things tell me the only correct course of action is to steal. And to steal from the people who have so much, and where the stealing cannot hurt people who matter.

How to be a Pirate Captain! 🌈 ☠️ 🌈

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As this post goes up, I have just turned forty.

I feel sad.

I do not feel old. That is part of it. I feel like at forty my dad had been a priest and a traveller and in the military and a chef and had lived a childhood of hijinks with his twin brother and his famous dad. I feel like I have spent the past two weeks learning how to finally, properly, do the dishes, and that I am still responding to a world around me that is here to punish me for not being good enough.

I feel a little bit hollow and a little bit wasted.

But I can at least delight in knowing that gleeful, joyous, shameless piracy is not a thing behind me.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

#Diary #BoatsToBuild

[oliviab-scstudyabroad]

Argentina, Me Encantas

Hey friends! This past week and a half I had off for Semana de Turismo, like Spring Break in the U.S. All of the girls and I from my apartment decided to spend it in Argentina! There is so much to write about, so here is part one of my 10-day trip to Argentina.

The girls and I left early on Friday, March 31st and took a bus ride to Colonia, Uruguay, where the port is located for passengers to take a ferry to Buenos Aires. We rode on the Colonia Express ferry and enjoyed the 45-minute ride. When traveling to and from Argentina, most Uruguayans take the ferry because it’s cheaper, more convenient, and fun!

We arrived in Buenos Aires that afternoon and spent the night there. Something I immediately noticed is that Buenos Aires is HUGE! It’s so full of life, and it seems like there is always something to do (great people watching too). My first objective was to change my dollars to Argentine pesos, and it was a startling to hear people in the street yelling “cambio, cambio!”. Luckily, my friend who’s from Argentina had told me that the cuevas are wanting to exchange your dollars for pesos under the “blue dollar.” Because the rate of inflation in Argentina is between 60-70%, the Argentine peso isn’t worth much, so Argentines like to “buy” the dollar because it’s a much more stable currency. And how does this help foreigners? Essentially, tourists can either can change their dollars for pesos under an official bank and receive 170 pesos for every dollar, or they can change under the dollar blue rate and get 350 pesos for every dollar. Fortunately, one of the girls’ cousins who is studying abroad in Argentina took me to a secure place to change my dollars, so I had money to burn!

After a night of munching on empanadas and trying some delicious helado (ice cream), the girls and I woke up early the next day to catch a flight to Salta, which is in northern Argentina! We headed straight to our Airbnb after arriving, which had a gorgeous view of the whole city! We then went to eat at la Vieja Estancia (recommended by our taxi driver) and tried a regional dish of locro! It’s basically a stew with cooked meat and vegetables. We also had a glass of white wine to go with it (Torrontes) because Salta is known for their local wines and brews. My entire meal was about $7. Can you believe it?! Everything was ridiculously cheap.

After that, we roamed the city and stopped upon some beautiful churches, including the Basílica Menor y Convento de San Francisco. I noticed that people are very reverent and respectful in the Catholic churches. Even if they are just stopping by to snap a picture, an Argentine will kneel and do the sign of the cross before leaving. The faith is an integral part of Argentines’ lives.

If you’re traveling to Salta, you must visit a peña. I had found through my research that peñas are restaurants in northern Argentina that have live folk music! I had asked the Airbnb host where the most local peña was, and she suggested La Casona del Molino. We decided to have dinner there at night! The line was long to get in and there was even some sort of security guard at the door with James Bond glasses, but once we finally got in, sat and watched a group of four play the guitar and tambourine and sing famous Argentine songs. There were several rooms in the Casona, each one with its own singer. I was most amazed by the fact that every Argentine knew the words to every song! The national anthem played at one point, and everyone stood and sang along. It was a special experience; I had goosebumps the whole time. Salta’s nickname is “Salta la Linda”, and for good reason.

The next morning, the girls and I rented a car to head to Tilcara-Jujuy! It was a struggle to rent the car because a lot of people had the same idea to travel to Tilcara during the break, and we couldn’t make reservations online. We finally lucked out and did the 3-hour drive through the foothills of the Andes. It was incredible to see loose horses, pigs, and lambs in the middle of the road!

We arrived and headed to our Airbnb (probably my favorite out of the 3 we stayed at). It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, but that’s what I liked about it. We had a gorgeous view of the mountains, and because we were so high up in altitude (11,000 feet), the clouds were right above us! We went to another peña that night and listened to an incredible guitar player. He gave us a book of songs in which we could request one for him to play, and the book probably had about 200 songs in it that he knew by heart! We asked him to play “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and “Love of my Life” by Queen. We were seated next to a group of five Argentine ladies, and at one point, they stood up and invited us to dance! We took each other’s hands and strutted around the restaurant, did the conga line, etc. Again, another experience I’ll never forget. They gave us their Instagram and told us that if we ever needed anything to let us know. Que linda!

Those were my first three days in Argentina. Stay tuned for Part Two!