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bobbystompy · 7 years ago

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My Top 120 Songs Of 2017

Previously: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

The one saving grace is we do have 12 fewer than last year.

As always, criteria and info:

This is a list of what I personally like, not ones I’m saying are the “best” from the year; more subjective than objective

No artist is featured more than once

If it comes down to choosing between two songs for an artist, I try to give more weight to a single or featured track; not the ultimate factor, but it typically makes sharing the music easier

Speaking of… each song on the list is linked in the title if you wanna check any or every out for yourself

Oh, also, off the suggestion of Mike Gilkes -- and a few others -- I made this whole thing into a Spotify playlist, which you can peep here (includes 114 of the 120):

Let’s go?

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120) Big Sean & Metro Boomin f/ 21 Savage - “Pull Up N Wreck”

Some mediocre, listenable rap made by dudes who know a bit better (well, at least 2/3rds of them).

119) Maroon 5 f/ Future - “Cold”

This song makes me feel mostly nothing... but the first minute of the video does have some solid Adam Levine alone-in-the-car acting.

/oh my god it has 119 million views

This was a lot easier to enjoy when I assumed it went unnoticed. Bonus points for the Wu-Tang shirt at the end.

118) Bleachers - “Hate That You Know Me”

Closed out 2017 undecided as ever on one Jack Antonoff. Should we hate him for dating Lena Dunham? Somehow respect him more? Give him mega credit for his big time pop songwriting collabs? Or is that a ding? Is he a nerd or the coolest guy in the cocktail bar? I do not know the answers to any of these questions, and this song is merely OK.

UPDATE: THEY GAWN

117) B.o.B f/ T.I. & Ty Dolla $ign - “4 Lit”

Real bad song with a mindless/terrible/misogynistic chorus. Yet... something about professional musicians sitting in a room and coming up with “4 Lit” as some sort of escalated to catchphrase to “lit” is just hilarious.

116) Prophets of Rage - “Unfuck The World”

Sure, this hits a lot of the same beats as Rage Against The Machine’s “Sleep Now In The Fire” from 18 years ago, but in these increasingly polarized, political times, I welcome their voice.

115) Kacy Hill - “Like A Woman”

This song is so chill and ethereal that it seems almost unfeasible for my punk/hip-hop/XX chromosome havin’ ass to completely sync with its wave.

114) The Decemberists - “Ben Franklin’s Song”

What happens when pop indie teams up with the lyrical stylings of Lin-Manuel Miranda? Well, this. I’m not sure if The Decemberists drop f-bombs in any of their other songs, but it pleases me to think it only happened here.

113) Offset & Metro Boomin - “Ric Flair Drip”

Mostly here for the beat.

112) Hurray For The Riff Raff - “Hungry Ghost”

A cool song that’s hard to put into a box. Indie? Pop? Rock? Forget labels, just enjoy.

(Minus a few points for the low hanging “girl/world” rhyme)

111) Wavves - “Dreams Of Grandeur”

I was pretty let down by the new Wavves LP, but this song sounds enough like the old stuff to be a net positive (despite being, like, 70 seconds too long)

110) Culture Abuse - “So Busted”

Culture Abuse got on my radar with last year’s all-timer, “Dream On”. It was an unrelenting, robotic pulverization. “So Busted” is more of a drug comedown; a ballad, even. While “Dream On” wanted to seek you out and kill you like a terminator; “So Busted” just wants a cuddle.

109) Trey Songz - “#1Fan”

This song is so dumb and funny and pseudo competent. Really not sure how the R&B guys get away with this shit.

108) The Killers - “The Man”

Is this in a movie? It should be in a movie. It’s kind of, like, a better version of what Arcade Fire has been trying to be.

107) New Lenox - “Protest Sweater”

A good song for the ending 2017 -- or any year, really -- and its run time (1:30) would make Joyce Manor proud.

106) Logic - “Everybody”

This is really good, but it reminds me so much of Kendrick that it becomes distracting.

105) Gorillaz f/ DRAM - “Andromeda”

Didn’t spend enough time listening to the new Gorillaz record, but I actually put the blame on them: it was long, man. So while I woulda loved to pick one of the songs with a cool cameo (hi, Vince Staples!), this is the one I actually had around the most. It’s all we’ve come to expect from this cartoon band -- kinda British, kinda futuristic, very undisturbed. Also, if it gets you back to the album before me, I heard that Damon Albarn told all collaborating artists to record their parts like the world was ending tomorrow.

104) Dropkick Murphys - “Blood”

If you know me at all, you know I historically have not been a fan of this band. But for whatever reason, this one connected -- bagpipes and all.

103) Captain, We’re Sinking - “Books”

CWS was never, ever going to top the falling-apart-desperation of 2013′s “The Future Is Cancelled”, but this song comes pleasantly close.

102) IRONTOM - “Be Bold Like Elijah”

My buddy Crooks rec’d this band, and the guitars give me Queens Of The Stone Age vibes in the best possible way. A bio on lastFM compared them to Arctic Monkeys, and you know what? I agree with that, too.

101) Jidenna - “A Bull’s Tale”

This song feels primed to explode and makes you wanna rip the shirt off your chest; only we don’t know if the bomb’s gonna blow in the middle or at the end.

100) Jeff Tweedy - “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart”

Yeah yeah, the original version of this dropped in 2002, and yes, it’s just a cover by the dude who originally sang it. I... do not care. It made me appreciate the confessional regret all over again.

99) Talib Kweli f/ Yummy Bingham & Jay Electronica - “All Of Us”

It was all bad just a week ago

Kweli and Jay Elect are a collab made in conscious rap heaven, so this song was more than a pleasant surprise.

98) Rise Against - “House On Fire”

This song could have been on “Revolutions Per Minute”. Or maybe I’m just saying that because of the hand grenade lyric in the chorus.

97) HAIM - “Want You Back”

Can’t imagine there being a lamer song on this list. HAIM and Bleachers should get in a wuss rock beef that ends with pistols.

96) The Bigger Empty - “By Its Own (So What)”

My producer plays bass in this band. This song is super solid, and, maybe most importantly in these completely divisive times, unoffensive and approachable. Kinda Hush Sound-y.

95) Little Big Town - “Lost In California” (note: link is to live version)

From the bros and broettes who brought us “Day Drinking” comes this much more subdued track. If you squint, it doesn’t really even seem like country. Granted, if they sang “Alabama” instead of “California”, you could probably call that claim out immediately.

94) Lana Del Rey - “Heroin”

Another beautiful/dreamy song from an artist who’s near-perfected that niche.

93) Wavves & Culture Abuse - “Up And Down”

Wavves and Culture Abuse have already made appearances on this list, and we haven’t even cracked the Top 80. Fortunately, their collaboration scored a little higher than their individual outputs. Shout out to their uplifting outro “I’ll just get high and I’ll die alone”.

92) The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - “Something Just Like This”

This song played at my gym all the time, and I was positive it was Coldplay. Then someone told me it was The Chainsmokers. Then I looked it up on YouTube, and it says “The Chainsmokers & Coldplay”... so what’s the deal, assholes?

91) Lil Peep f/ Lil Tracy - “Awful Things”

I hadn’t heard of Lil Peep when I found out of his passing in 2017. After looking up some pictures, I was nearly 100% positive his music was not for me. This was incorrect. I haven’t really listened to songs that sound like his; it’s kind of like rap that treads this line of being bad while also kinda sounding like alternative rock; destructive love song that doesn’t flinch.

90) AFI - “Dark Snow”

Nothing new, but Davey Havok can still sing circles around almost anybody.

89) Dashboard Confessional - “Love Yourself” (link is to live, partial version)

Well, Dashboard covered Biebs, and we all lived to tell the tale.

88) Garrett Dale - “2016 Was...”

This song would be a blast as a singalong in a late night hotel room. There’s something calming about celebrating -- or at least acknowledging -- everything sucking.

87) Katy Perry f/ Skip Marley - “Chained To The Rhythm”

Got more than a few issues with this song, but it’s catchy, so they’re mostly forgiven. Even though it’s Katy Perry, I was pretty surprised to see it racked up 444 million views.

And seriously who the hell is Skip Marley?!

86) The Ramblin’ Boys Of Pleasure - “Glug, Glug, Glug”

Now is probably a good time to plug the lead track from my band’s b-sides record that came out this year (ten years in the making, baby!). Mandatory listening if you’ve ever bonged brandy, partied in Champaign, or counted down in a country voice.

85) Charly Bliss - “Glitter”

It’s been nearly a year, but it’s still somewhat difficult to calibrate this singer’s voice. Is it a little too saccharine, too childlike, or just perfect? You be the judge.

84) Emperor X - “Wasted On The Senate Floor”

This singer is real god damn frenetic.

83) Father John Misty - “Total Entertainment Forever”

/obligatory “yes, this is the one with the Taylor Swift lyric” reference

FJM has such a pro’s pro voice and makes super sound music... but it’s also kinda hard to have an overall opinion. The more 50-50 I get, the more I think it’s not all that great. The video is a microcosm. Like... why is Macaulay Culkin paying Cobain? Is this a commentary on capitalism? Oooh, nah nah nahs are nice! As divided as I still am, I’m pretty positive this song is good-if-not-great.

82) St. Vincent - “New York”

This song is further proof that soft, radio friendly music can still benefit from a well placed “motherfucker”.

81) Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - “Dead Man’s Dollar”

As long as Andrew McMahon’s project is called “Andrew McMahon In the Wilderness”, I will make fun of him like clockwork.

This song is nice. I sometimes sing “I want Thon Maker” when he says “I want to make a” in the chorus.

80) Kele Okereke - “Streets Been Talkin’”

Kele’s most impressive feat was sneaking “bae” right into the chorus without me noticing until literally right now.

79) Rick Ross - “Summer Seventeen”

How the hell did this dumbass song get so high up on the list? I have no explanation. Classic Roazy though -- aim high, fake it till you make it. When I started my new job in August, IT reset my password to “summer2017″, and I had this song’s hook in my head nearly every time I typed it in. All told, a pretty hilarious way to start a work day.

78) Michelle Branch - “Best You Ever”

This song sounds so dark and sultry, but I’m not totally sure why. Branch rules.

77) Calvin Harris f/ Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean - “Feels”

The best way to ruin this song for anyone is to point out how much the hook sounds like Katy Perry singing “Don’t be afraid to catch fish”.

76) Morrissey - “Spent The Day In Bed”

This is a very low maintenance lyric video. So you can either make fun of that or the “I spent the day in bed / I’m not the type, but I love my bed” line.

75) Red City Radio - “If You Want Blood (Be My Guest)”

The “We don’t need a god damn thing from you” chorus is a little punk cliche to win me over, but the Oklahoma City reference (”where our dreams come true and die”) is the line I’ve been waiting for since I found out RCR was from there.

74) Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs - “Talk 2 Her”

The closest we’ll get to a new Clash song in 2017.

73) Bad Cop/Bad Cop - “Womanarchist”

Factoring in the 2017′s themes (#MeToo, Harvey dead, etc.), this has to be the song title of the year. I smiled ear-to-ear watching this music video.

72) The Movielife - “Mercy Is Asleep At The Wheel”

Hey, The Movielife reunited!

71) The Rocket Summer - “Gone Too Long”

Unlike that lazy ass Morrissey, The Rocket Summer gave us a lyric video that basically passes as a legit music video.

70) Miguel f/ Travis Scott - “Sky Walker”

Me, every time I listen to this song:

“Ooh, beat is pretty solid.”

“Ah yeah, the hook’s good. I thought I really liked this song though...”

/falsetto part

“AW YEAH.”

69) Queens Of The Stone Age - “The Way You Used To Do”

Had never known about the Josh Homme/Elvis comparisons, but after hearing this, I totally get it now. Also: god damn it, man.

68) Macklemore f/ Skylar Grey - “Glorious”

What can we do to make Skylar Grey more famous? She Ginger Rogers’d for Em on “SNL” -- seriously, she played piano and sung Dido, Beyoncé, and Rihanna hooks (that’s a solid ass trinity!) -- has unarguably awesome songs, and never takes anything off the table. I honestly don’t care if she has another hit... let’s just, like, all Venmo her five bucks or something.

One of my fav music videos on the list so far. Be as skeptical of Macklemore as you want, but when his grandma offers him a drink (haha) then says she wants to “do it all” with their day together, it warms the hearts.

67) Direct Hit! - “Blood On Your Tongue”

Direct Hit! continues to be the best modern version of Green Day, The Ramones*, and themselves.

(* - without being Ramones-core)

66) Boyd & The Stahfools - “Party Penguin”

I’ve been in the game for a long while, but, for the first time in my career, I finally was part of a music video. If you told me it was a 2Pac parody that advertised craft beer, I’d, well, I’d believe you. We got Dave Hernandez on the hook, Mike Healy as Dr. Dre, and yours truly as Makaveli.

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And all jokes aside, “On vacation like Bev D’Angelo” is one of my favorite penned lines.

65) Rancid - “Telegraph Avenue”

I like when Tim sings about grabbing his left-handed guitar.

64) Big Sean f/ Jeremih - “Light”

Sean Don made a forgettable 2017 album with many throwaway tracks -- but “Light” ain’t one of ‘em. I liked this song even before the touching video cemented its power.

63) blink 182 - “Parking Lot”

This is that weird mix of what makes all new blink really good and really eh at the same time -- Skiba involved (for better or worse), inspired Mark (for better or worse), and Travis’ overplaying (for better or worse). It’s for sure easier if you just turn your brain off and go with it.

Why does he reference Chicago in the verse then California in the pre-chorus?

I SAID “OFF”.

62) New Found Glory - “Your Jokes Aren’t Funny”

This song doesn’t break a ton of new ground, but it’s got this circular, easy chorus that keeps me coming back.

61) Teenage Bottlerocket - “Goin’ Back To Wyo”

Similar to Red City Radio writing about OKC, I can’t get enough of TB writing about their home. Did I blast this song while driving across the entire state alone this summer? Do you know me an ounce?

60) Frank Turner - “The Sand In The Gears”

A little dissatisfied with the current administration? Frank may be from across the pond, but he’s with you on this one, man. One of my favorite parts of this song is when he breaks the rhyme scheme just to angrily say “I thought that we were winning the war against the homophobes and the racists”.

59) Billy Bragg - “Not Everything That Counts Can Be Counted”

Billy Bragg is here for all of us, with perspective, wisdom, and insightful guidance in tow.

58) Dave Hause - “The Flinch”

Send this one to an old flame if you’re hoping, you know, to maybe rekindle.

57) Selena Gomez f/ Gucci Mane - “Fetish”

That’s right -- “Bad Liar” got beat out by this significantly less popular single featuring one of my least favorite rappers.

/looks up play totals

”Fetish”... 130 million

“Bad Liar”... 214 million

Comparably popular, I say! For me, this one is all about the chorus -- and that beat’ll get you swayin’.

56) Jay Electronica - “Letter To Falon”

‘Cause who gon’ save them babies? / And finally put a definite to all those maybes

Death, taxes, maybe death again, and Jay Electronica never releasing a full length album. Our man has been on Roc Nation for nearly ten years. I hate him so much. /anxiously awaits his next move

Jay Electricity in his zone on this one; so comfortable, in full operation within the confines.

55) Laura Jane Grace - “Adore”

I don’t know who Amy Shark is, but LJG covered her song and punted my heart into Lake Michigan.

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54) Russian Girlfriends - “Antidote”

Upbeat, direct song that starts kinda Metric-y with the riff but then gets more pop punk as it progresses.

53) Brian Fallon - “If Your Prayers Don’t Get To Heaven”

My fiancee laughed when I looked up how to play this song on the guitar and the guy who tabbed it out wrote “Typical Brian Fallon open chords” in the intro.

52) Cloud Nothings - “Enter Entirely”

If “Womanarchist” is the ‘best’ song title of the year, “Enter Entirely” is certainly the coolest. And please don’t let the very boring music video fool you -- this song gets after it, man. If you are a fan of rock music, it would blow me away if you found this song remotely objectionable.

(After seeing CN open for Japandroids on back-to-back nights this November, it feels criminal to have such a slow song represent the band, as their drummer is the Russell Westbrook of the indie scene. That dude does not tire and comes off as more machine than man.)

51) Conor Oberst - “Napalm”

Oberst released a 10-song album in 2016 that was super brooding and piano-y... then he released another album in 2017 (17 songs) that had every track from his previous record and seven new ones. Kind of a weird move, no? This is one of those seven; suffice to say it’s a little more upbeat.

50) Sorority Noise - “No Halo”

You could tell me this song came out in 2002, 2007, or both -- but not 2017. How is this not a time capsuled rival of Taking Back Sunday or My Chemical Romance? I don’t know, but if you like a lot of death, this one’s for you.

49) N.E.R.D f/ Rihanna - “Lemon”

Let’s lighten the mood back up with some RiRi rap. My buddy Crooks’ take: “That's how every 2017 hip-hop beat should sound.”

48) Kesha - “Praying”

It’s damn near impossible to talk about this song without talking about The Note. It occurs at 4:21, and it will make you a little faint.

Kesha dusts herself off and gets beyond empowered in this one. This song could legitimately soundtrack the entire #MeToo movement. When the drums kick in halfway through, you’ll be ready to fight back too.

When I’m finished, they won’t even know your name

47) The Smith Street Band - “Laughing (Or Pretending To Laugh)”

This soft, hopeful love song is almost *too* respectful when it comes to interactions with the opposite sex. I’m not sure there’s a more endearing 2017 lyric than “And I don't wanna marry you just yet / But at least let me get you a cider / And I don’t even think I’d have to pay for it / Hopefully there’s a couple left on the rider”.

46) Run The Jewels - “Legend Has It”

Whenever I think of this song, I will always have that image of El-P holding up that gun to the bunny’s head. This song is braggadocious, each line one-upping the previous in perpetuity. Man, they probably rule live.

45) Vic Mensa - “Say I Didn’t”

Vic Mensa's Roc Nation debut (CAN YOU HEAR ME AT ALL, JAY ELECTRONICA?!?!?!?!?!?) was real strong, and this one gives you a good taste of what he’s about. He’s intense but controlled and even gets a little soulful. And depending what sphere you come from, you’ll either be extremely more or extremely less interested after he drops a Weezer reference. If that gives you trepidation, maybe the Nate Dogg namedrop will reel you back in?

44) Kendrick Lamar - “HUMBLE.”

I like Kendrick Lamar and will always recognize his talent, platform, and body of work (there’s a real case to be made that his “Control” verse killed hip-hop, and it’s just been an animated zombie ever since). Having said that...

He doesn’t always make it easy. The all caps song titles, the weird high pitched flow, the massive reliance of “bitch” in his choruses... yet, he’s the same dude who begs for stretch marked butts and body positivity. I don’t know, man. By the time he hits the “I make a play fucking up your whole life” line, I’m nearly all the way back in.

Last complaint: that organ-y keyboard thing could be so much louder. The beat almost feels diet because of that decision.

43) PKEW PKEW PKEW - “Cold Dead Hands”

This song is about how you can’t freeze this band to death, because they’ll party their way out of the situation.

42) Weezer - “Any Friend Of Diane’s”

This song puts me in a trance; they sing the same chorus lyric a million times, and I still almost want more.

41) Taylor Swift - “I Did Something Bad”

If this song isn’t a hit in 2018, then I do not know anything. For as uneven and questionable as her new singles were, this song has none of that. By the time she’s rolling on the tremendously magnetic “over and over and over again” part, you’ll feel like it’s 2009.

Maybe the old Taylor is still alive after all.

40) Best Ex - “Someday”

What’s that, you want your pop with a lot less baggage? This song is currently at 1,042 views, which is further proof of no justice in this world. I remember grocery shopping with this in the headphones, and you woulda thought it was the happiest moment of my life by the expression on my smiling, dumb face.

39) White Reaper - “Judy French”

“There are no good new rock bands wahhhhh”

Nah -- you just suck at finding music when it’s never been easier in human history, I guess?

38) Anti-Flag - “The Criminals”

This band has always lived in this dramatic life-and-death world, and it’s been going on for so long, that it’s like their vision of what they were always rebelling against was willed into existence.

37) French Montana f/ The Weeknd & Max B - “A Lie”

My dislike of French Montana is so high that I sometimes think about having to answer for saying something heinous about him. Kinda like when Kevin Garnett was accused of calling Charlie Villanueva (who has alopecia) a “cancer patient.”

KG’s all-time response:

“I am aware there was a major miscommunication regarding something I said on the court last night. My comment to Charlie Villanueva was in fact ‘You are cancerous to your team and our league,’" Garnett said in a statement to the media on Wednesday.

Hahahaha.

French, you are a cancer to hip-hop and our league. His verse even references stupid Karl Malone, because why wouldn’t it? The good news is we have The Weeknd on the hook *and* in the first verse, so you can basically just pretend it’s his solo song with a few regrettable cameos.

36) The Penske File - “Oh Brother”

The Penske File make it look effortless sometimes. After hearing this song and doing a Malört shot with their singer, I have higher hopes than ever for their 2018 full length.

35) The Front Bottoms - “Don’t Fill Up On Chips”

TFB’s new album didn’t give me everything I wanted in terms of uptempo bangers, but the lyrics, sentiment, and craftsmanship are all still very much present.

34) Vince Staples - “Big Fish”

The Juicy J chorus might not win a Pulitzer (”I was up late night ballin’ / Countin’ up hundreds by the thousand”), but Vince is rapping invincible, and by the time the lyrics call back his monster single (“Norf Norf”), you won’t be questioning anything anymore.

33) Julien Baker - “Shadowboxing” (link is to live version)

I know that you don't understand 'Cause you don't believe what you don't see When you watch me throwing punches at the devil It just looks like I'm fighting with me

I swear, Julien Baker might be one of the only people on this planet with the power to shut us all up and listen.

32) Paramore - “Fake Happy”

Paramore is a band that does dumb shit all the time. Infighting, legal drama, horrible makeover after horrible makeover. Seriously, this is real:

But through it all, there’s that unbreakable Hayley voice, and it’s like everything is gonna be OK again. I mean, no, it’s not -- but let’s still enjoy these fleeting moments, full blown pop transition or not.

31) Nothington - “Cobblestones”

This song briefly sounds like Lucero before turning into no nonsense despair punk.

30) Lorde - “Perfect Places”

Such a phenomenal album closer; great to have her back in the pop music fold. Car, headphones, party, whatever -- this song goes all around you.

29) Remember Sports - “I Liked You Best”

If Kesha’s high note in “Praying” was pop music’s peak vocal moment in 2017, I’d like to nominate the “You made this me-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-hess” (2:37) part as punk’s.

28) Phoenix - “J-Boy”

This band makes such gorgeous music.

27) Drake - “Free Smoke” (no link)

Drake’s full album output, in minutes, for the last four years:

2013: 59 minutes 2014: N/A 2015: 108 minutes 2016: 81 minutes

And this doesn’t include stray singles, diss tracks, or cameos (2014 had “0 To 100″, for example). What I’m saying is, despite high quality material, Aubrey has saturated us with music for nearly half a decade. So even though I dig him lots, it was like “Really?!” when I heard he was releasing 2017′s “More Life” and “WHAT” when I found out it was another 81 minutes (the same length as 2016′s “Views”). Though the record is stylistically very different -- I keep hearing people use the word “grime”, though I have no idea what it means -- it’s still got bars. My favorite stray lines (they add up):

- “More life, more everything” - “I dunk text J-Lo / Old number, so it bounce back” - “Hilton rooms, gotta double up / Writin’ our name on a double cup” - “I fall asleep in sororities / I had some different priorities” - “Women I like was ignorin’ me / Now they like ‘Aren’t you adorable?’ / I know the question rhetorical” - “I make too much these days to ever say ‘Poor me’” - “I wanna move to Dubai / So I don’t never have to kick it with none of you guys”

But, it wouldn’t be Drake without making fun of him some. The song beings with, well, him sampling himself at an award show. The sample:

And more chune for your headtop So watch how you speak on my name, you know?

Which begs the question: did he do the weird Jamaican accent knowing he was gonna sample it? It treads this weird genius/calculated doofus line. All I know is it makes me laugh.

26) Tigers Jaw - “Favorite”

This song could make me pensive and unhappy on the sunniest of days.

25) Tee Grizzley - “First Day Out”

Like many, I first heard of Tee Grizzley from a LeBron James Instagram workout video. It was an easy sell: Detroit, ferocious beat, and the dude goes *hard*. I got a little too excited and emailed my hip-hop friends: “What the fuck is this? This is GOOD.”

This was before I realized he kinda sounds the same in every song. It’s no matter -- we’ll always have “First Day Out”, a brief time in June 2017 where I thought Tee Grizzley could be the next to run the game.

I can’t even be in public with my hoodie on

24) The War On Drugs - “Strangest Thing”

It’s very difficult to write about The War On Drugs without mentioning how transcendent it is to listen to them in the car. Everyone is right about that, but, for me, I also have to mention how much this dude sounds like Dylan. People say Springsteen, but I hear so much Bob. You don’t necessarily have to get “past” it, but you do kinda have to get used to it. Once you do, the lead guitar will carry you into the clouds. This music will make you contemplate and reflect.

23) Foxing - “Night Channels”

Let’s keep the mood contemplative; you almost feel sleepless if not completely locked in to this one.

UPDATE: This dropped in 2015, /sigh

22) Craig Finn - “God In Chicago”

This is more of a movie than a song -- and the visuals agree. Focus in on the lyrics, take in the story, and then do it again soon because you’ll catch new wrinkles each time. One of the year’s best videos, for sure. Punk News phrases it well: “Here he’s made a solo album of losers who have no idea they’ve already lost.”

21) DJ Khaled f/ Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, Lil Wayne - “I’m The One”

No one wanted you to know he had sex in 2017 more than DJ Khaled. He made his infant son Asahd the “Executive Producer” for this video. Why? Because he’s an idiot. Khaled’s still existing fame continues to confound. He’s more faux-platitudes than man at his point. So why do the best artists in the world collaborate with someone so seemingly unintelligent? I don’t know, but this song bangs and was probably my Song of the Summer. We got JB on the hook, a dumb-but-amusing Quavo*, Wayne trying to gain footing, and Chance running across the finish line backward with Best Verse title belt. But Khaled won’t let you forget about him, blaring DJ tag and all. This song suffers for that, and it’s all his fault.

(* - his ad lib of just repeating everything becomes charming once you start to get Stockholm Syndrome with the song)

20) Ed Sheeran - “The Shape Of You”

What a 2017 for the man behind the year’s best (super successful) pop song. At the turn of the calendar, I barely knew who he was, but before we all knew it, there was a legitimate public outcry because he was on “Game of Thrones” for, like, two minutes. What a time. Oh, also, the “Come on, be my baby...” bridge gave me some “Real World: New Orleans” acid flashbacks.

Great meme, take us out.

19) Minus The Bear - “Last Kiss”

If the shattered neon heart didn’t give it away, this is a “the relationship is definitively over” breakup song. Seeing them play it at Riot Fest made me miss my late friend Luke; I wish he could have heard this.

18) Hot Water Music - “Never Going Back”

I’ve always maintained Chuck Ragan plays guitar and sings songs like a running back. Well, this song carpe diem’s me enough to play actual running back*.

(* - jk, would never do this unless it was against very small children)

17) Lucky Boys Confusion - “Good Luck”

My hometown heroes released their comeback album in 2017, and I’m not sure any track sums up the effort better. By the time Adam sings “Burned out, they call us / Screw ‘em, we got endless memories / Punk rock and the polish / I hope it gave you something to believe”, there are no dry eyes left.

(And yes, this could totally be an AM Taxi song, but with Ryan Fergus’ killer-fills-only drumming, I’m glad it wasn’t.)

16) Hodera - “Baltimore”

This song would likely have a Top 5 objective approval rating of any on the list.

...“The Wire” forever.

15) Iron Chic - “A Headache With Pictures”

It ain’t heavy, it ain’t heaven

If Hot Water Music is carpe diem, what is Iron Chic -- seize the life?! My favorite description of the band came from Sam Sutherland, who tweeted: “Whose day has already been derailed by the unavoidably weighty introspection of listening to the new Iron Chic record.”

They are a certified run-through-brick-walls outfit. One of my final 2017 memories of this song was subtweeting “Now I know” the night I got engaged and having my buddy Ricky think she might’ve declined the proposal. May have to include a ring emoji next time.

14) The Flatliners - “Indoors”

Had to listen to this, like, five or six times before its brilliant greatness overtook me like falling into a river. The chorus is so, so heartfelt.

Don’t sleep on the video, either (especially the end).

13) Sylvan Esso - “Die Young”

Though I have tickets to see them for the first time in 2018, I am not mega-versed in the catalogue of Sylvan Esso. But this feels like their best song. Imagine if Romeo and Juliet turned out OK.

12) Oso Oso - “Shoes (The Sneaker Song)”

Jade from Oso Oso would likely want all of the above stylized in lowercase -- but this ain’t Jade’s list. This was my favorite new band of 2017, and I do believe they made the year’s best album. It’s early-2000s emo at times, pop punk at others, and all ear candy.

11) Sincere Engineer - “Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7″

Staying in the new artist lane, I proudly introduce Sincere Engineer. This band sounds like if Modern Baseball had a little sister. By the time singer Deanna Belos sings “I’m still learning how to be”, you want to pat her on the back and give her all your best advice.

Fantastic music video -- and she confirmed to me this past weekend that it’s real mustard, not puffy paint (“I have a towel that is all yellow from cleaning it up”).

10) new.wav - “Girls”

Alright, so stick with me on this: new.wav is the band, covering The 1975′s song “Girls” in the style of “Enema of the State”-era blink-182. Confused? Yeah, I was too, but check it out. Maybe more impressive than the arrangements/performance is how they were able to match blink’s production style -- no easy task.

9) Jay-Z - “Family Feud” (starts around 5:30; partial version)

Shawn Corey Carter wants to get right with everyone -- America, his peers, and, of course, within his own home. And though I may never understand the “New n****s is the reason I stopped drinkin’ Dos Equis” lyric, I’m on board with about all else. Similar to the Oso Oso record, “4:44″ is such an album that it feels unfair to single out a song to represent all of its parts. Stripped from the LP, the song does not hit as hard, but in the groove of the record, it’s the apex. And despite Hov seemingly desiring peace, the song does have more than a few call outs:

- “My stash can’t fit into Steve Harvey’s suit” - “And old n****s, y’all stop actin’ brand new / Like 2Pac ain’t have a nose ring too” - “Al Sharpton in the mirror takin’ selfies / How is him or Pill Cosby s’posed to help me?”

In the latter stages of his career, it’s hard to call everything Jay does ‘necessary’, but “4:44″ definitely checked that box.

8) Rozwell Kid - “Wendy’s Trash Can”

Vacillated all year between this one and “Michael Keaton” and literally flipped a penny my cousin Maggie loaned me to decide. “Wendy’s Trash Can” was heads.

7) The Weeknd - “Reminder”

This one got backdoored in as a latter single from The Weeknd’s 2016 album. One of my favorite parts about Abel is how little he has had to change to succeed. Sure, it’s silky smooth, but he hasn’t sacrificed the drugs, darkness, or ego that should offend (but doesn’t because it he pulls it off so well). After bragging early in the song about he won a kids award for singing about cocaine, he calls out peers for biting his sound, blings out his entire crew, and, well:

When I travel 'round the globe, make a couple mil' a show And I come back to my city, I fuck every girl I know

/clutches pearls

6) The Bombpops - “Be Sweet”

The guitar riff in this song is why I fell in love with punk music. Also, super cool story behind the lyrics:

“'Be Sweet' is an homage to our dear friend, the late Brandon Carlisle of the band Teenage Bottlerocket," vocalist Jen Razavi told AP. "Back in 2010, we were partying in a hotel room with Brandon and Ray Carlisle. There was a guitar in the room and Brandon was showing us an idea he had for a song. He had written it for his wife, but he told us we should play it and change the lyrics to 'getting rad with my boyfriend.' He wrote down all the lyrics on four sheets of hotel notepad paper. Since then, the melody and the chord progression were forgotten, but I still had the lyrics. So we wrote our own version of the song in the studio and used every single lyric that Brandon had written down.

Did I mention the video has an “In Bloom” feel? Stop reading, go listen.

5) Action Bronson - “Let Me Breathe”

Action Bronson ain’t givin’ nothin’ up. This is my pick for rap song of the year. It’s got TV brags (”I got two shows, I’m about to pitch another”), a tight chorus (”Let me breathe for a minute / White Range Rover blowin’ trees all in it”), and whimsy shit too (“Honey bouncin’ up and down, she nearly broke my dick”). Ghostface’s disciple is having more fun than just about anyone.

4) Japandroids - “North East South West”

Only a Canadian band could get me to care this much about my own country. The Vancouver duo penned an Americana ode to the road -- but there’s a twist... they talk about their cities too. For every New Orleans, there’s a Toronto. For every California, a Vancouver.

Maybe they’ll be the ones to end all the border wars.

3) Alex Lahey - “Every Day’s The Weekend”

This is the only submission on the list I’d feel comfortable calling a perfect song. Relatable themes, a chorus that’ll tangle you up, f-bombs in all the right places, and every part maximized. She has this way of weaving between cool confidence and youthful insecurity, all in the matter of one verse.

2) Carly Rae Jepsen - “Cut To The Feeling”

When it comes to “Call Me Maybe” and its legacy, I do not fuck around. This song gets really, really, really close. Just watch this dude.

Queen Carly blessed us with another one. The chorus soars, arms go up, and clouds are your closest companions.

1) The Menzingers - “After The Party”

It's the little things my mind commits / To etch behind my eyelids

When this song dropped, my buddy Dave Rokos called it his favorite Menzos song ever. That felt like high praise, but man, he might be dead on. “After The Party” rips me in half with its lyrics of palpable desperation:

Like a kaleidoscope in vibrant hues I navigate around your tattoos Said you got that one on a whim when you were breaking up with him And that Matryoshka Russian doll That lines your shelf from big to small What a way to start anew To shed your skin and find the old you

If Carly’s chorus flies, this one holds us down like gravity. You feel everything, you feel nothing, you feel full yet voided, but after all of this -- the life, the party, the friends, the bars, the experiences, the nights, the lights, the fights, the city you live in -- it’s still her and you. Or him and you. Or whatever it is you come home to at the end, when it’s finally quiet.

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yewtongue8-blog · 5 years ago

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The Year in Celebrity Bagel Drama

Despite the wild popularity of crepe towers, banana split sundae croissants, and Russian honey cakes, the humble bagel was the breakfast option that kept making headlines throughout 2018. Some celebrities attracted the attention of gossip sites with their unusual bagel-ordering habits, while other famous people told surprising stories on late night shows that involved the old roll-with-a-hole. Here’s a look back at the year in celebrity bagel drama.

Kendall’s New Year’s bagel revelation

Getty Images

As the clock ticked down to midnight on New Year’s Eve 2017, model/reality TV star Kendall Jenner was embroiled in a bagel-related controversy. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star had shared a photo of herself wearing a tight, midsection-hugging party dress, prompting some Instagram users to question whether she was trying to tell the world that she was pregnant (this is often how members of the Kardashian clan announce these big life changes). During the last moments of 2017, Jenner shared a message to her fans, setting the record straight: “i just like bagels ok!!!” This oddball intersection of celebrity drama and bagel fixation would set the tone for the year to come.

The time Jim from ‘The Office’ got bagel bombed

America’s TV boyfriend, John Krasinski, had an incredible year, becoming both the new Jack Ryan in a televised Tom Clancy series, and the writer/director/star of one of 2018’s biggest hits, A Quiet Place. But things weren’t always so rosy for the Hollywood hero. Many years ago, when he was a lowly intern at 30 Rock in New York City, the Boston native was the victim of some carbohydrate-related bullying from a complete stranger. “I was wearing a Nomar Garciaparra jersey,” Krasinski told Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show in April. “I was walking along about to get lunch and just something hit me in the back of the head. It was a full, cream cheese bagel.” The actor concluded that the bagel bomb was hurled from a “taxi going like 20 miles an hour.” Clearly, this incident still haunts Krasinski till this day.

Bieb’s sad Brooklyn bagel run

In August, Sleazcore couple du jour Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin surprised guests at Frankel’s, a neo-delicatessen in Brooklyn, by gracing the bagel shop with their mopey presence. After placing their order, the couple proceeded to shuffle around the store, their arms draped around each other in a loose embrace. Guests were clearly weirded out by their demeanor, and Instagram users also questioned why they looked so sad and/or zonked out during this bagel run, prompting one commenter to remark, “They look miserable.” But, strange though it may seem, this might just be what true love looks like between an international pop mega-star and a runway model in 2018: Justin and Hailey got married just a few months after these photos were taken.

The bagel order heard round the world

Getty Images for PRIDE MEDIA

On Sunday, September 9, Sex and the City actress-turned-politician Cynthia Nixon placed an order at famed Manhattan market Zabar’s that would send shockwaves throughout the bagel-loving community. In an interaction that was surreptitiously caught on camera by Gothamist, Nixon ordered a cinnamon-raisin bagel stuffed with cream cheese, capers, tomatoes, onions, and lox. This combination, which she referred to as “a full load,” only has one element that throws people off: the sweet bread hugging all of those traditionally savory ingredients. And yet, the New York Post found this melange of textures and flavors to be outrageous enough to earn the title of “strangest bagel of all time,” while a Food & Wine staffer called it ”basically criminal.”

Nixon tried to change the conversation by owning up to the order on Twitter and urging her fans to donate to her campaign for Governor of New York, but this move didn’t stop the Twitter snarking about Nixon’s breakfast of choice. Later that week, she lost the primary race to Andrew Cuomo.

The bagel surprise of the year

Getty Images for IEBA

Although Ice-T has spent much of the last two decades filming a New York-based cop procedural, last month, the rapper-turned-actor revealed that he somehow had never tried one of the quintessential NYC foods — the bagel — until he filmed a recent scene on Law and Order: SVU. This detail was revealed on Twitter, when the celebrity responded to a fan’s inquiry about his favorite bagel variety by tweeting, “Lol. I’ve never eaten a Bagel in my life...” A few hours later, after many Twitter users had expressed their shock and disbelief at this revelation, Ice-T told fans, “White people.. Don’t lose your Fn minds because I’ve never eaten a Bagle [sic].. Take it easy.... lol.” During a Tonight Show appearance a few weeks later, Ice-T explained why he’d never tried a bagel before this year: “I’m from South Central. Can you imagine Snoop singing, ‘Rolling down the street smokin’ indo eating some lox and bagels?’”

And in other bagel news...

Twitter users found the original sketch of the bagel emoji to be hilarious, but the revised edition — which featured cream cheese and a craggily surface — was a much bigger hit. Former New York Times critic Mimi Sheraton incurred the wrath of Montreal bagel lovers by tweeting that eating their local speciality was “like chewing broken glass.” And speaking of Montreal, that city’s Plateau-Mont-Royal borough imposed a ban on wood-fired ovens, but thankfully, ancient bagel shops like St-Viateur (pictured above, with Adam Sandler and his family) and Fairmount Bagel are exempt from this piece of legislation — long may they reign.

• All Year in Eater Coverage [E]

Eat, Drink, Watch.

Food entertainment news and streaming recommendations every Friday

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Source: https://www.eater.com/2018/12/19/18146004/cynthia-nixon-ice-t-bagel

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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harryandmeghan0-blog · 6 years ago

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Tabloids: Duchess Meghan’s Cinderella story unravels - Toronto Star

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/tabloids-duchess-meghans-cinderella-story-unravels-toronto-star/

Tabloids: Duchess Meghan’s Cinderella story unravels - Toronto Star

Life & Style

Cover: George and Amal had a good run (four years) but it’s all over now. And what are the grounds for this alleged uncoupling? Many things, but my favourite bit is when Life & Style claims he doesn’t like her being “chummy” with Cindy Crawford. Yes, one imagines George would prefer to be the one flirting with models. The article doesn’t hesitate to imply that since Amal is an Oxford educated lawyer, she’ll use all her legal tricks to steal his cash. Oh, is The Hague doing divorces now?

Nanny fiiight!: How do you solve a problem like which duchess gets Maria, the favoured royal nanny already employed by Kate and Will? Hopefully by rending garments and throwing tiaras!

Maleficent momager: E! host Andy Cohen had a baby and now two Real Housewives and Carrie Bradshaw are fighting over who will get godmother duties. Nobody tell Kris Jenner she wasn’t invited. We don’t want a curse befalling the kingdom.

In Touch

Cover: The cover really paints a vivid picture of the duchess in a pile of rags on the steps of Buckingham Palace, weeping as her coach turns into a pumpkin and her prince reverts to a frog while the evil queen lurks nearby, ready to give all her royal duties to the evil stepsister. If only any of this fractured fairytale were true!

Bachelor Ben: “Who Should Ben Date Next?” asks In Touch. Hilariously, the article (if one can call seven photo captions an article) also includes a somewhat unflattering pic of ol’ Ben. Let us propose a new headline: “Who Would Want To Date Ben Affleck At This Point?”

OK!

Cover: Jennifer Aniston is now 50 and so must retire her mantle of tabloid cover crone. Yes, the gossip gods demand fresh blood! Thus, a new Jennifer will rise and be sacrificed to the Old Ones. Praise Cthulhu and ready yourself for several decades of headlines screaming about Jennifer Lawrence wedding/offspring/divorce rumours, not necessarily in that order.

Batman Begins Again: Now that human misery machine Ben Affleck has yelled “NOT IT” when it comes to playing the caped crusader, OK! wonders, will John Krasinski replace him? I hope so! Can’t wait for Batman to *look directly into the camera.*

Monkey shines: OK, fine. Justin Bieber admits he’s made some bad decisions. Biebs is apparently talking about relationships, but perhaps somebody could remind him that not long ago, he bought and abandoned a monkey?

Source: https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/analysis/2019/02/17/tabloids-duchess-meghans-cinderella-story-unravels.html

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placetobenation · 7 years ago

Link

Welcome to the Wednesday Walk Around the Web, where we weave & wind through weblinks weekly. Hopefully you will find the links on offer amusing, interesting, or, occasionally, profound. Views expressed in the Wednesday Walk do not necessarily reflect those of anyone but the writer.

This Week in Personal Plugs: I’m trying a new thing on the ol’ Podcast Hour Spectacular; my dear friend Steve Wille is coming on to do an advice show, and we need your questions! Email us or go to our Ask.fm page to send your questions today. (Your name won’t be read on the show without permission (so tell us what to call you, if anything), and Ask.fm allows anonymous submissions.)

Kate Beaton is a webcomic artist (and more) who’s brought a lot of mirth to a lot of people, including adorable quickly-drawn family-time comics when she’s visiting relatives. Now she’s asking for quite a lot of money to cover expenses for her sister’s cancer, and it’s really heartwarming to see the huge response it’s gotten.

This Week in Cleansing Fire: I had no idea that burning steel wool is so satisfying.

PTBN big bossman JT Rozzero brings word of the zombie fungus that hijacks ants’ bodies by replacing the signals from their brains, which on the one hand is horrifying…but sometimes there are just too many decicions to make in life, you know?

JT also wants us to know about the nude photo of Justin Bieber that Macklemore has in his bedroom. (Warning: Link contains an image of a nude painting of Justin Bieber. Quite NSFW, unless you’re at my office and nobody’s around this week.) I mean…okay, I’m not yucking any yums, but it is completely in line with Macklemore’s “I’m such a geat ally! Do you know what an awesome ~ally~ I am! I’M TOTALLY STRAIGHT, NEVER FORGET THAT I AM STRAIGHT, but I’m annnnn allllllly” schtick to also own softcore celebrity twink porn. (Also in cans of worms: is this nonconsensual softcore celebrity twink porn, or is the Biebs into it?)

I can’t imagine the fate that would’ve befallen me as a kid if I’d tried these sick wheelbarrow stunts with my dad’s wheelbarrow.

There’s a new Sexiest Man Alive, which means of course that the ritual must commence anew.

I don’t really get listening to podcasts at fast-forward speeds, but I’m not here to judge.

If you’re trying to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow and somehow mess up the meal, Pringles has you covered.

The Weather Channel set up a great shot of the Georgia Dome imploding, before…WELP.

RIP John Raines.

The first asteroid from another solar system passed through our neighborhood recently. Surely there must have been a spaceship hidden behind this one, right?

I think I’ll celebrate the holiday season by indulging in some festive alcoholism. Who’s with me?

Interest in the publicly-available form of Stephen Hawking’s PhD thesis crashed the Cambridge site when it was posted. Good news, though — the site’s back up and you can grab your copy here.

This Week in Tattoos: Any tattoo can turn into body horror when something goes wrong, eye tattoos doubly so. (Some of us generally think tattooing tips into body horror, but again, not here to judge.) (Warning: slight medical gore, autoplay video.)

This Week in Headlines: An Abandoned Roman Salami Factory Becomes an Illegal, Inhabited Museum.

There was some unrest among fans of Junkie XL when he got booted from the new Justice League motion picture, and I’ve got to say, now that a selection from Junkie’s unused score has surfaced, they had a point.

#IFTTT #Place to Be Nation

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thesinglesjukebox · 7 years ago

Video

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JAMES HYPE FT. KELLI-LEIGH - MORE THAN FRIENDS [5.38] Well, what is it gonna be?

Crystal Leww: Kelli-Leigh is one of my favorite house vocalists, and "More Than Friends" is such a great showcase. This pulses and thumps with equal parts pleading and drama, and her vocal feels timeless and referential all in one. One of my favorite moments is the way that she sings "heartbreaking" (twice!); it reminds me so much of the way that Martha Wash would have sung it in the 80s. Shoutout to James Hype's production work here, too; I especially appreciate how the vocals never get buried under the mix, a problem that even great pop-house tracks run into. [8]

Alfred Soto: The source material is En Vogue's "Don't Let Go," still almighty twenty years after its release. I have no problem with house piano pumping up the pre-chorus. I've no problem with anyone having a go at it -- tear down statues in the park and all that. But the other effects are so pro forma that I'm surprised Biebs didn't drop in for patly sung passive aggression in exchange for songwriting credit. [2]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: A song like this is practically begging to be called superfluous. To its credit, though, the "I won't be satisfied till we're taking those vows" line has a vibrant energy to it now that it's replanted in a song with a higher BPM. I suppose the short runtime is a display of wise prudence, but it also just makes it easier to forget what I had just heard. I'd say that's a pretty bad problem to have when your song is already a quasi-cover. [3]

Thomas Inskeep: Kelli-Leigh Henry-Davila has sung on a shit-ton of UK house pop hits, including #1s for Duke Dumont and Secondcity back in 2014. I wonder if this clever-but-not-too reworking of En Vogue's "Don't Let Go (Love)" might join them as chart-toppers, because this is a damned smart record. James Hype (great name!) does just enough to strip the chassis from En Vogue's classic and rewire it as a hot-to-trot dancefloor jam that works just as well on the radio or streaming, and wisely brings in big-lunged Kelli-Leigh to handle the vocals, ensuring they stand up to his big four-on-the-floor beats and house pianos. And it's all done in 2:21! [7]

Claire Biddles: Liberal use of rave piano and "Don't Let Go" both rank in my top 10 pop things ever, but combining the two seems... unnecessary? [5]

Maxwell Cavaseno: Kelli-Leigh's vocal mimicry makes for a fascinating career, as much of her value appears to come in the shape of duplicating that which has already occurred (here, En Vogue's Organized Noize produced "Don't Let Go") to avoid... sample clearance? Redoing it to the tempos of the intended dance grooves? It's a bit of a mystery. James Hype here curiously put some effect on her to give her a vibrato distortion that while I'm sure doesn't affect the record over speakers, in headphones makes her sound like a cassette approaching its end of days (and not in a good way). The track itself is about as run-of-the-mill as it comes and while her ability to mimic the classics is second to none, it rings hollow when everything about the record feels like crass cashing in on obvious methods to win. [3]

Jessica Doyle: In 2006 or so I saw Dawn Robinson performing solo; she had stuff to promote (although I think the then-significant other she was promoting with has since been banished to the ether) but most of her set list was En Vogue hits with a trio of anonymous-to-me backup singers. By standard calculations that was the cynical, valueless retread and "More Than Friends" has the benefit of time and additional imagination. But those benefits add up to so little that, as happy as I am to see Kelli-Leigh get a proper credit, I think I got the better end of the deal. [3]

Nortey Dowuona: Funky bassline, light sprinkling of piano, bouncy bass drums and Kelli-Leigh sings her heart out as the song swings dizzyingly around her. [8]

Scott Mildenhall: It was only a matter of time before this one got its perfunctory reanimation along with the rest of the Kisstory playlist, but it's also one lyric that is hard to divorce from its original setting. "Don't Let Go" is supremely dramatic. It offers lines like "if I could wear your clothes, I'd pretend I was you, and lose control," and gives them the space to sink in. "More Than Friends" makes the same line, along with all others but "hold me tight and don't let go," inconsequential. Full credit to Kelli-Leigh -- literally! -- for trying to inject some life into it, but while it thinks it's perky, it comes over flat. [5]

Tara Hillegeist: Kelli-Leigh's voice, always rich and full of real life no matter how much a producer might try to chew it up and obscure it, feels warm and comfortable here. Hype's sleek, simple bounce gives her plenty of room to build a plea upon it, kicking in with gently insistent pitch shifts and doubling: an emphasis that uplifts instead of overrides. I couldn't tell you who built the melody around who on this song, it's as much hers as his; I couldn't imagine a more enjoyable structural metaphor to underpin a song about taking a partnership to a more intimate level than that, either. The end result's a burbling ode to the potentially deep sincerity of a simple physical connection that's heady without being demanding. When you find a real good singer, letting her work with you as an equal collaborator on a track pays off; who knew? [8]

Katherine St Asaph: Going from pumped-up Whitney and Toni covers to a pumped-up En Vogue cover isn't quite a career coup, but it isn't nothing. Neither are those old songs. [7]

Ashley John: James Hype and Kelli-Leigh inject an urgency that the original song by En Vogue created the framework for. The speed and thumping beats exaggerate the desperate plea of the lyrics, which oscillate between enforcing an ultimatum and showing vulnerability. Dancing to the line "if I could wear your clothes I'd pretend I was you/and lose control," should be distressing, but I can't think about it long enough in the space between beats. [5]

Katie Gill: Eventually talented female vocalists will break their bonds and overthrow the boring one trick pony EDM men that the music industry seems to continually shackle them to. Unfortunately, with "More Than Friends," that time has not come yet. Which is a damn shame as Kelli-Leigh's slightly soul, pseudo Whitney era vocals are easily the most interesting part of the song. [6]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox ]

#James Hype #Kelli-Leigh

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kissyellowfairy · 7 years ago

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Grayson Dolan Phone Number (17)

Gossip Girl Is Revealed! Plus, Which Partners Ended Up ?

We need so you could continue to access our quality material in the future you to turn-off your adblocker For That Telegraph site. Subverted because Serena is abundant but not at least in the event you exclude the start of season two after she and split up again and John reconcile. Observe, Rome's phone didn't get hacked, per se. At least no more than Jennifer Lawrenceis did during the Fappening. It truly is straightforward, under there is specific the number' and before long you obtain Beyonce mobile number that is actuall. the CFL and Biebs fell of being a perfect fit, short, and his set that was quick was peppered with all football fans' boos. Justin Bieber's Goal 2016 World Tour is the best present in 2013 going to on Vivint Grayson Dolan phone Smart Home Market to date. Justin-Bieber is signed under the Raymond Braun Media Group (RBMG) and School Boy Records labels. Dull and Foster are out to dinner one-night each time a birthday party receive text happens, using the signoff: Love and bears - Paris. Gray transforms for the very, blonde Foster with an fascinated laugh, How many Parises are you aware? He texts back, requesting that his friends Frank and Liza be wear the record. Imagine you have included over 4500 people as buddies (you do not really understand these individuals in real life)All these people can now view your true contact number provided that you employ your phone with a facebook application to gain access to your account once a little while.

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tune-collective · 8 years ago

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The 15 Best Justin Bieber Songs

When it comes to pop reinvention, Madonna may be queen, but Justin Bieber is an undeniable king. He started as the cherub-faced heartthrob of your tweenage dreams, quickly grew up into public cultural enemy number one, and somehow rebounded as someone hipsters, dance fans, pop kids, and R&B lovers could agree on.

Throughout his many phases, the one thing that’s remained constant is the music. If anything, the quality has exponentially increased. Love or hate him – and most people love him now – Bieber is a talented singer, songwriter, musician, and dancer. He’s the total package, and his choice in collaborators is more than impressive. Here we go through our picks for the 15 best Justin Bieber songs from the start of his career to now. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z5-P9v3F8w

15. Justin Bieber – “Never Say Never” feat. Jaden Smith

Will Smith is one of Bieber’s ultimate mentors, so of course he and son Jaden Smith got together in the studio when young Smith’s remake of Karate Kid needed a soundtrack. “Never Say Never” still has a bit of young cheese, but it went on to be one of Bieber’s defining early career moments. It was originally written as an adult song called “Sexy Together,” but writers changed the message to reflect one of great courage and confidence, a much more important message for kids to hear, and in 2010, the great majority of Bieber’s fans were still young tweens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4em3LKQCAQ

14. Justin Bieber – “As Long As You Love Me” feat. Big Sean

Who’s ready for some Bieb-step? It’s like dubstep, except it’s Justin Bieber. You get it. This song tries to be a bit dark, but it’s more pink sugar than it is black coffee. It’s still one of the highlights of any Justin Bieber set. The Big Sean feature isn’t the rapper’s best work, but it gives the song a bit of added bite, and who doesn’t enjoy a few verses from Big Sean?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXUSaVw3Mvk

13. Justin Bieber – “One Less Lonely Girl”

You know why you can’t help loving this Justin Bieber song? Because Usher wrote and produced it. That and the angelic voice of 14-year-old Bieber is sweeter than honey on vanilla ice cream. While a lot of the baby Bieber tunes are overly saccharine and don’t necessarily translate into our adult lives, “One Less Lonely Girl” is one of those kiddy pop songs that transcends your tweenage puppy love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys7-6_t7OEQ

12. Justin Bieber – “Beauty and a Beat” feat. Nicki Minaj

Remember when Justin Bieber’s “computer was stolen” and someone threatened to release the personal footage contained within? The world waited with baited breath (some of us, anyway) for the juicy details, but in the end, it was just a ploy to drum up excitement for this Bieber video. It is a good jam, though, and it represents Bieber’s first strong step onto the dance floor. It’s produced by Zedd and Max Martin, which explains that crunchy synth breakdown I love so much. It was originally written for someone else, but it was Bieber’s idea to put Minaj on the track. Well done, sir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdx7gN1UyX0

11. Justin Bieber – “Company”

Love in the 21st Century is hard. You want to get to know someone, but you have to keep a healthy distance. It’s the game we’ve created for ourselves, and though none of us really wants to play, them’s the rules. “Company” is a beautiful take on modern romance, a sweet invitation to come closer while maintaining the perfect veil of coy casualty, and it’s just a damn good pop song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GuqB1BQVr4

10. Justin Bieber – “Boyfriend”

I know Bieber’s reinvention campaign really kicked off with Jack Ü and the Purpose album, but for me, the turning point from teenage hearthrob to adult-ready pop star was “Boyfriend.” That darker sound, that whisper intro, it’s so sexual it almost hurts – even though he still looks like a cherub. Many comparisons have been made to Justin Timberlake’s step-out solo single “Girlfriend,” from the obvious title mirroring down to the similar parking lot pimpin’ music video treatment. This was Bieber stepping out into his “swag” trap ish, and if we listen closely, we can hear the incoming dance music production partnerships coming a mile a minute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC2yu2a9sHk

9. Justin Bieber – “All That Matters”

Sunday slow jam me so hard with this song. This is some slinky, bluesy, babe magic. The acoustic guitar mixes with the harsh electronic beat perfectly, creating a modern R&B sound that can bridge audiences and age gaps. The lyrics were written during a “happy time” in Bieber and Selena Gomez’ relationship, which is kind of heartbreaking but adorable at the same time. Play this at my wedding, and then again at the honeymoon when no one is watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47YClVMlthI

8. Justin Bieber – “Confident” feat. Chance the Rapper

This was another one of those music videos that pulled Bieber into the world of awkward adult lust. These dance moves are too cute, as is our boy. That he teamed up with Chance the Rapper only solidified my strange, building love for the Biebs, and this was before Chance had the Kanye co-sign. “Confident” is beat-heavy with a playful, wonky melody that sticks in your brain and won’t let go. Definitely some feel yourself music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kffacxfA7G4

7. Justin Bieber – “Baby” feat. Ludacris

Justin Bieber is actually 16 on this song, though he looks and sounds like he could be 12. At that tender teen age, he stole our hearts with a saccharine hook that actually really stands the test of time. “Baby” may have been your tweenage little sister’s favorite jam and your dad’s least favorite song of 2010, but in retrospect, it’s an effing great pop tune. His childlike voice is so earnest and clear, and the fact that Ludacris co-signs a teenage heart throb is more than enough to tell you, this kid is up to something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_0jXPuIr0

6. Justin Bieber – “What Do You Mean”

First of all, this music video is freaking amazing. John Leguizamo is a national treasure. Bless him for co-starring in this totally insane clip. Why does Bieber think faking an attempt to kidnap is a good date idea? As if falling into a skate park rave makes the trauma go away. That being said, Bieber’s tropical house follow up to Jack Ü breakout “Where Are Ü Now” is a fanciful, fun-loving breath of fresh pop air. He’s back in the studio with Skrillex and Diplo on this cut, which is turns out was not a solitary experience in any way imaginable. Skrillex is all over the Purpose album, and this is one of the best take-aways.

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

5. Major Lazer – “Cold Water” feat. Justin Bieber & MØ

Bieber’s third phase career as one of the leading dance music vocalists continues to amaze. This collaboration with Major Lazer is a great follow-up to the work he did with Jack Ü, and the addition of MØ’s instantly-recognizable rasp is as bolstering as the bright horn work on the hook. It’s got a bit of that dancehall flavor Major Lazer is known for, but it’s still one of the poppiest works from the trio to date. Put this tune on when you’ve got a friend who needs a life saver and a night on the dance floor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euCqAq6BRa4

4. DJ Snake – “Let Me Love You” ft. Justin Bieber

Once Bieber found such success with Skrillex and Diplo, the dance producer flood gates were opened. DJ Snake had to get his own Bieber-assisted super hit, and “Let Me Love You” is one of those pop songs you hear and instantly want to hear again. It’s got that same wonky horn synth from “Lean On,” and it’s got all the dreamy falsetto a young heart can handle. It’s one of the best tunes from DJ Snake’s debut LP Encore, and it was one of the biggest moments of his recent Main Stage closing set at 2017’s Ultra Music Festival in Miami. We can’t help thinking Bieber had a huge part in the song’s success, because, well, he always does, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyEuk8j8imI

3. Justin Bieber – “Love Yourself”

I hereby nominate “Love Yourself” as being the Justin Bieber song with the best lyrics. First of all, opening your track by berating someone for using your name to get into clubs is a clutch superstar move. Also, a chorus all about how your mom likes everyone except your ex is absolutely brilliant. We’ve got to give a nod to Ed Sheeran to the songwriting assist, but we are pretty sure we here honest Bieber all over this. It’s an overly-simple tune, mostly just Bieber and an acoustic guitar with a bit of trumpet thrown in for good measure. It’s incredibly raw, when you think about it, but it plays like a celebratory pop anthem. It’s quite vulnerable for mainstream radio, and Bieber pulls it off with grace and the gusto of a man who knows exactly what he’s doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRh_vgS2dFE

2. Justin Bieber – “Sorry”

The Bieb’s big reinvention LP Purpose is, at its core, all about forgiveness. We as fans needed to forgive him for that weird period where everyone decided he was the worst – or the best, depending on how you feel about young, famous tricksters. He needed to forgive himself for making an ass of himself publicly, and of course, there’s the whole romantic notion of Bieber apologizing to the women (cough Selena Gomez cough) he may have hurt along the road to maturity. “Sorry” is, in that sense, the peak of the Purpose album. Thinly veiled as an amorous apology, he’s just laying it all out over an infectious rhythm with a hook that can’t be denied. Oh Justin, when you come into the room looking like this and singing like that, we just can’t help but forgive you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nntGTK2Fhb0

1. Jack Ü – “Where Are Ü Now” ft. Justin Bieber

I once saw Bieber’s famous manager Scooter Braun give a talk at P. Diddy’s Revolt Music Conference, and he said the moment he knew they had won the Bieber reinvention campaign was when he took the stage at Ultra Music Festival Miami with Skrillex and Diplo, and nobody boo’d. Bieber greeted the Main Stage and performed this song live with the Jack Ü crew, and it was straight glorious. The work with Jack Ü helped solidify Bieber’s new sound as an adult pop star. It’s more grown-up, but it’s still got that sheen of candy-colored fantasy. The pitched-up vocal line in the hook is instantly recognizable and was certainly a game changer in the pop and dance production world at the time. “Where Are Ü Now” is truly a milestone in the pop-dance crossover canon, and it will remain on of Bieber, Skrillex, and Diplo’s best songs for perceivably the rest of the trio’s career.

This article originally appeared on Billboard.

https://tunecollective.com/2017/04/27/the-15-best-justin-bieber-songs/

#15 #bieber #critics #justin #picks #Songs

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mystery-star · 2 years ago

Text

Well-Meant – John Biebe

Pairing: John Biebe x reader (gender neutral)

Warnings: none, maybe some suggestive talk in the end

Words: 630

A/N: Merry Christmas/Hanukkah or whatever you celebrate. If you celebrate something that is.

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

“Another one?” you asked in surprise when your husband handed you a second present. He only chuckled

“It’s a little self-serving too” you raised your eyebrows and started opening it. When you recognized that it was a sweater – a white cable knit sweater you started laughing. Of course you knew the meaning for the present. You had the habit of nicking John’s sweater whenever you felt like. Which, to his dismay, was once a week on average.

“Wait” you cried, got up and ran to the bedroom to get your husband’s jumper as well, tossing it in his direction after you returned to the living room and getting changed into your new jumper. “Put it on” you ordered and when he didn’t comply quickly enough, you tried to take off his current jumper until he reacted and got changed as well. Happily you grinned and leant back, clapping your hands after he too was dressed “Now we’re matching” you squealed, falling round his neck. “That’s a great present. Thank you” digging your fingers into his sweater you pulled him into a kiss. “Let’s take a picture”

“From now on you won’t’ steal mine anymore, right?” you only smiled. He didn’t know that the main reason you stole it was because it was his. And smelled of him and reminded you of him. But you still gave a nod – now you surely wouldn’t take it as often as before.

Only five days later you had taken his sweater. Yours was in the laundry and you had found his lying around from the last evening and had taken it while he was under the shower today. Not much later, he left the bathroom and soon after he was in the kitchen

“Did you put it away?”

“What?”

“My sweater?”

“Oh…” you smiled “Well, it was lying around…” he cocked up an eyebrow and threw a closer look at you

“Wait a moment. Is that mine? Again? Really (Y/N)?”

“Mine is in the laundry” you said with a pout “and I saw yours lying around so I couldn’t resist. I just love them too much”

“And what should I be wearing now?”

“Well…” you grinned “I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t put something on. However, if you do insist” you made a dismissive hand movement “You got other sweaters”

“Maybe I should only buy ugly clothes from now on so you’ll leave them alone” you giggled.

“I’d still get them. Or I’d take your jackets even more” he crossed his arms

“So the best course of action would be if I owned three pieces of each clothing. One for me, one that you can wear and one that’s being washed” you shrugged

“Maybe a jumper for yourself would have made the better present… but then I’d have nicked it twice as much. Now, with my own it’s probably only half the times” he came closer, stopping in front of your chair

“You’re aware that this is theft you’re talking about”

“So what? You planning to report me?”

“Even better” he cupped your face and kissed you. Smiling, you wrapped your arms around him while his hands wandered down to your hip. All of a sudden he yanked up the jumper and pulled it over your head after moving away from you so quickly you couldn’t’ even react.

“Oi. Give that back!” immediately he tucked the clothing between his arm and side.

“Careful” he said using his other hand to keep you away “If you stop now I might leave it at a warning and taking possession of the stolen goods” with that he left, leaving you behind. After a second you caught yourself.

“Wait! I wanna make a report. People must be warned that there’s a guy around who just undresses others!”

#Mystery Alaska #john biebe #john biebe imagine #john biebe x reader #john biebe x you

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mystery-star · 2 years ago

Text

Weather God – John Biebe

Pairing: John Biebe x reader (gender neutral)

Warnings: none really.

Words: 853

A/N: Happy winter!

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

You could not understand why your little daughter found it necessary to wake you up when John was already up and having breakfast in the kitchen.

“She woke you up?” your husband asked as you groggily carried her into the kitchen.

“Nah, I actually thought I’d give her a taste of her own medicine and wake her up for once” in passing, you kissed John’s cheek and sat the girl down in her chair. When you wanted to get the toast for her breakfast, she let out a scream. Both John and you turned to her and saw her breaking out in tears. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” through sobs and cries she babbled something unintelligible but her finger pointed to the window accusingly. Your husband went to have a look

“Another animal?” you asked

“No” he shook his head, taking another sip of his coffee.

“What’s wrong out there?” you asked the girl again

“It’s white!” she screamed and as you turned around you did realize that it was snowing, meaning summer was already over in Mystery. There only were two, sometimes two and half a month in which Mystery was (sometimes not even wholly) snow free.

“The snow? You don’t like the snow?” John was surprised. And so were you. A couple of months ago, she had happily played in the snow for hours. In fact, she had even thrown a little fit when it had started melting. Vehemently your daughter shook her head.

“Make it go!”

“Sweetheart” you started with a sigh “It’s snow. We can’t just remove it” after the crying intensified she climbed out of her chair and clung to her father’s leg.

“Make it go. Make it go. Make it go” putting his mug away, John lifted her up

“It’s just snow. Look” instead of looking, the girl buried her face deep against his jumper and the crying continued. “Oh well, that will be some hard months for her then”

“Make it go away!” she pleaded again and you almost felt a little sorry for her.

“I can’t just make the snow go away. It’s like rain or the sun, when it’s there, it’s there” at least she now lifted her head but only to stare at him in disbelief

“Put it to jail”

“Yeah well, I can’t arrest snow, you know”

“No snow! I don’t want it!” she was pounding her little fists against his chest. John threw you a glance that said as much as ‘help me’.

“You know…” you started “snow is also great. You can build snow mans, igloos or draw patterns in it. How about you eat breakfast, then we go out and play a little, huh?” you had your answer when she started screaming again. To her further dismay, John had put her back on the ground, making her grab his trousers and begging him to make it go again.

“There’s too much of it. We can’t just get rid of it. And there will be more” she looked up and a miserable sob escaped her mouth. Then she sat down on the floor, leaning her back against the wall and she cried into her hands. Out of experience you knew that you just had to leave her until she calmed down by herself. With a sigh, John took his coffee back to the table and sat down again.

“She’ll calm down” you assured him but this time you didn’t even know how it would be later on when she saw the snow again.

“I know” he replied “The question is for how long”

“I know” you sighed “Maybe I’ll watch a movie with her. One with snow, then she’ll be happy about it again” you continued to prepare your daughter’s breakfast, hoping the prospect of food would calm her. After a while you realized that the crying had died down and the girl got to her feet again, wiping her face. She toddled to one of the lower cupboards and started rummaging it. “What are you looking for, sweetheart?” you didn’t get an answer and after a bit of clattering she opened another cupboard, suddenly humming happily. When you went closer to have a look, you saw that from the first cupboard she had taken some kitchen utensils such as your strainer, a roasting tin and a funnel. Before you could even ask what she needed them for, she loaded as much as she could into her little arms and toddled to the door. A clatter told you that she had dropped the items in order to open the door. Now both John and you shot up to stop her but she already was outside in her pajamas and barefoot; placing all the kitchen items on the snowy floor with the opening facing up.

“She is ingenious, I leave her that” John mumbled

“Well, if no one helps her she’s gotta do all by herself” you threw a glance at your daughter who proudly stood next to her makeshift ‘snow trap’ and presented it to you. “Best not tell her it’s not gonna work like she hopes. She’ll find that out herself”

#Mystery Alaska #john biebe #john biebe imagine #john biebe x you #john biebe x reader

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mystery-star · 2 years ago

Text

Set it right – John Biebe (Part 3 / 3)

Pairing: John Biebe x fem!reader

Warnings: implied smut

Words: 2714

Series Navigation: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

A/N: This one makes a leap in time to the last part

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

One thing you loved about morning shifts was that you had the whole afternoon for you. Or to spend it annoying John who still was at work. That was what you had planned today, so you walked to the newly built sheriff’s department with some cookies you had baked earlier.

“Oh hello” your father greeted you “what a nice surprise. And how lovely of you to bring me cookies” he came forward and tried to snatch one off the plate you held but you moved it out of his reach.

“No” you protested “I left some at home. You can eat them when you’re home. These aren’t for you”

“And who might they be for instead?” Richard, one of the candidates for the post as sheriff teased “Me?”

“Well, you’d have to ask John nicely” smiling, he nodded his head to one of the offices. John didn’t even look up when you entered so you watched him for a little while “Hey” you said as you closed the door.

“Keep it proper you two” Richard shouted

“He’s just jealous” John said as he walked around the desk to be closer to you

“Look what I brought you” you showed him the star-shaped cookies “but you better hide them from the others. Though I left some at home for Dad but well” you shrugged. He took the plate from your hands placed it on the table and hugged you instead. You pretended to pout “I spent so much time on them and you just put them away?”

“Am I not allowed to greet you properly?”

“Hm okay” you agreed and wanted to hug him back but he already changed his grip on you, so he could kiss you. “Are you nervous?” you asked him

“About the election?” tomorrow evening the election for the sheriff took place. Your father, Richard and John had all been nominated for election. At barely 21 and fresh out of the Police Academy, it would be an honor for your boyfriend to be elected. Although, also Richard had just completed his training at the Academy. Upon arriving in Mystery, your father had to realize that no one even fulfilled the requirements to become a sheriff, so your one and half year stay was prolonged until they had a couple of trained people and elected their first sheriff. Until then, your father led the department and had his two deputies, respectively four during the time both Richard and John were absent to complete their training. Which meant, if your father wasn’t elected (Mystery’s mayor had insisted he’d run for the post too) you would be returning to Anchorage. Somehow you weren’t sure if you wanted that. By now, you had really settled down in Mystery found a good job and you didn’t want to leave John. That was the reason you were nervous about the election because it could again change your life.

“Yeah. Of course the election” he gave a shrug

“A little. Your father told me I most likely won’t get elected because of my age. Maybe it’s also better if I can be deputy for a couple of years now” you gave a shrug.

“Yeah. I get that. I wouldn’t want to get promoted at my job right now either” chuckling, he kissed you again, before he lifted you up and sat you down on the desk. Soon, the kissing turned into making out when suddenly the door opened.

“(Y/N)” your father said “John’s here to work”

“Right” you breathed and hopped off the desk. “I should let you work, not that you’re fired before the grand election” you pecked his lips and wanted to leave.

“Don’t you have your book and you’ll sit in the corner as usual?”

“No. I should clean the kitchen or my father thinks a bomb exploded there” he gave a nod you slipped past your father, giving Richard a smile before you returned home.

Since you really had no idea who to vote for, you decided to leave it be and just live with the result. Because your shift started early, you went to bed even before the votes were counted but you couldn’t really fall asleep. There was a knock at the door and you weren’t sure if you were glad or not.

“Hey” John said and his glance fell to your pajamas “Did I wake you?”

“No, I couldn’t sleep” you admitted. He surely had come to tell you the result. Could it really mean he had won? Was that the reason he was here so late? “Do we have the result?” John nodded and smiled

“It’s Richard” you felt your shoulders sag. Out of all the options, this was your least favorite. But well, what could you do? “And your father announced that now I’ll be Richard’s only deputy since he could lean back now” you just nodded. “I mean Richard said I might have to support him here and there because his knowledge is as good as mine. Or bad. I guess that really was the best outcome” again you nodded “Hey, you okay?” you shrugged.

“You know what it means…. my father was only here until Mystery has a sheriff established. It would have been different if he was elected but like this… he’s not needed anymore and he’ll have to return”

“Oh” he looked down “it means you’ll be leaving too”

“Yeah” you may be an adult now but your father still expected you’d go to college and then got a proper job. If you stayed here, you could go to Fairbanks to study but there wasn’t much to do in Mystery with a degree. John hugged you and you couldn’t tell if it was to comfort you or himself.

To your surprise, your father didn’t mention anything about returning home the next day and you held the tiny hope that maybe he’d come to like this place and wanted to stay. Early in the evening, John returned, saying you had a couple of hours until your father returned because he was discussing some important things with the new sheriff. As always, you used the chance when you had the house to yourself in the best way you could. Just this time, neither of you wanted to be alone, so John decided he’d stay for the night. And you were happy it would be that time, when neither of you had to leave early in the morning and you could enjoy more time together.

Once it was morning you didn’t do much, you just lay there, a tangle of sheets and limbs and drank in each other’s presence. After all, who knew if that was the last time you ever were that close to each other?

“I’m sure we can visit each other” he promised as if he had read your thoughts “Or after you have finished college you come back. If you want. Or move to Fairbanks, so we’ll be closer”

“I don’t know. I mean I can’t really put my degree to use here, all jobs are taken by someone and since it’s such a little town it doesn’t need more people with that degree. Unless I take a job for which I’m overqualified in the end...” you sighed. Suddenly, the door opened and your father peeked into the room. Instantly, John pulled up the blanket to cover your upper body.

“You needn’t hide her chest, John. She’s my daughter, I’ve seen her like that before” there was something like a warning tone in his voice, as if he meant to say that he would be the only one to see you like that “Anyways” he cleared his throat “I wanted to ask if either of you plans to get up and have breakfast anytime soon”

The next day, your father did mention returning to Anchorage and that he was planning to leave within the next week since his superiors had already prepared something. Feeling too weak to say something, you only nodded.

“What about you?”

“What do you mean with that?” he chuckled

“If you want to return to Anchorage of course” you glanced at him “Don’t act so surprised you’re an adult, (Y/N), I can’t force you to come with me if that’s not what you want. I know got to like it here. Might only be because of John but he is a good man and I can see why you wouldn’t want to leave him”

“What about college?”

“Fairbanks is only 55 miles from here; you can go there if you really want a degree”

“No, I meant…. don’t you insist I go to college to study?”

“Of course not. I always recommended it because it would increase your changes in the job market but you found a good job here in Mystery. And I mean you already settled down here, back in Anchorage everything would be new again for you” and maybe there would be people making jokes which you clearly wanted to avoid. But in Mystery, you finally were accepted. Sure, there sometimes still were little comments but you had actually made some kind of truce with Sean and you two interacted like normal people not like bully and victim. But still, your father’s offer surprised you.

“I don’t really know what to say. I mean… I’d have to think about what I want”

“Of course. I know it’s not an easy decision but life’s full of them. Sometimes you might hate them in the beginning but you’ll be happy in the end” you knew what he was referring to. To his own decision two decades ago when your mother had simply dropped a baby that was a couple of months old in his university residence hall, claiming it was his and leaving never to be seen again. (You doubted they’d never seen each other again but your mother surely didn’t want you back and you never saw her) But your father had kept you, even before doing a paternity test that confirmed you really were his daughter. “And you know, Anchorage isn’t running away, in case you don’t like it here or something happens… you can always come back” you nodded. This actually was easier than returning now and then going back to Mystery one day.

“I’ll think about it. But I think I should talk to John too. I-I mean what he never wanted an actual long-term relationship?”

“Do that but I doubt he’s not serious about what he feels for you” your father smiled.

Somehow you almost dreaded the talk with your boyfriend. What if he didn’t want you to stay? Or wouldn’t want to be with you if you did? Finally, it was John who brought up the topic because apparently some people were collecting for a goodbye present and how he couldn’t believe you were leaving. You let out a sigh

“Dad said I can choose for myself. I mean… he’s right, he can’t insist that I go with him because I’m not a child anymore. But… I don’t know what I want. I’ll either leave you or my father and one of my homes”

“I understand. And college?”

“He said that’s my decision too and that Anchorage didn’t have the only college in Alaska”

“You’d sure have more options outside Mystery”

“Yeah, I know” you glanced up at him “What about you? What would you want?”

“You mean if I’d leave or not if I was you?”

“No. If you want me to stay or not” he placed his hands on your arms

“That’s not my decision. It’s yours”

“So you don’t even care if I stay or go?”

“Of course I care. But I don’t wanna influence you” feeling tears in your eyes, you hugged him. Maybe you needed him to influence you that you could make this decision.

Also the following days you pondered over your possibilities. Your father also promised you could live in the house he currently owned if you stayed and that he would see to it that you got the rest of your belongings from Anchorage if you wanted. By now, the departure had been scheduled for the end of the month, so in a little less than two weeks. And you knew you should make a decision now because there were things you had to take care of, no matter if you stayed or left. You had even tried to talk your father into staying; just for a couple more months but he refused, saying he was needed back in Anchorage. The impending departure was currently topic number one in the town and also that you couldn’t make up your mind.

“I just don’t feel like I can do it” you told John one day “I can’t make a decision let alone act on it and prepare for my new life. I don’t want things to change” you let out a huff.

“Have you had contact with your friends from Anchorage?”

“A little. But some say I should come back, some recommend I stay others say it’s my decision. And I just don’t know what to do. I’m scared of being alone. No matter what I choose, I’ll lose someone very dear to me. I mean my father is my father forever but if I leave you… you might forget about me or move on”

“Or you’ll be the one to move on” he said making tears spill from your eyes again. You didn’t even care, you had cried quite often already these past days.

“Don’t think I could. Or want to. But I’m scared of being alone”

“You’ll never be alone, no matter what you choose” you let out a sad huff and wiped the tears away

“Well, I’d be living alone if I stayed and I don’t know if I can do that”

“What about a roommate?” you looked at him

“A roommate?” he did have a point.

“Yeah” he said “Or…” one hand let go of you and he reached into the pocket of his jacket, handing you a small wooden box. Giving him a glance you opened it and felt the breath hitch when you recognized a ring “a husband maybe?” again tears were rolling down your cheeks and you stared at the silver ring. “I know I promised not to influence you but I bought it before the election. I asked your father and wanted to propose the evening I told you about the result. Somehow, I’d forgotten you might be leaving”

“You had this all this time and yet you never said a word and let me worry my brain about everything?” you weren’t really mad but the words were harsher than you intended to. It was more like that now everything fell in place. Hell, you didn’t want to leave. Not when John had just proposed!

“Didn’t want you to stay just because of me. I talked to your father and he said I should wait two or three days and do it if you didn’t make up your mind until then to help you along. I mean… not that he wants you to stay as in he doesn’t want you with him but… to help you make a decision” he sighed “And even if you say yes, you can still go and get your degree. Or if you stay you don’t have to…” you cut him off with a kiss.

“If you keep on talking I won’t even be able to tell you my answer” he swallowed and you took his hand to squeeze it “Hey now, don’t worry, of course it’s yes” his smile didn’t just contain happiness but also relief. Guiding your hand to his lips he nodded at the ring.

“May I?” after nodding, he put the ring on your finger and although you wanted to examine it further you first wanted to kiss him again. As so often, the kiss soon got more heated but you pulled away.

“I’d like to prolong this but there’s a lot of packing to be done”

“Packing?” he sounded horrified and you enjoyed your little game even more “You’re actually leaving?” you chuckled, placing your hands on his chest.

“Not me. You’ll be packing ‘cause you’ll move in with me after my father left”

#Mystery Alaska #john biebe #john biebe imagine #john biebe x reader #john biebe x you

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mystery-star · 2 years ago

Text

Set it right – John Biebe (Part 2 / 3)

Pairing: John Biebe x fem!reader

Warnings: inury, swearing, bullying, allusions to sex, molesting remarks

Words: 2416

Series Navigation: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

“All good?” he asked

“Shit” you muttered when moving your foot made you see stars. Obviously noticing something was wrong, he came closer and tried to help you up but stopped when you cried out.

“What happened? Where does it hurt?”

“My foot. Ankle” you whined and he carefully moved to have a look.

“Can you move it?”

“Not without pain” you panted

“Do you think you can get up?”

“No” you almost let out a laugh. And even if you could you’d be standing on skates again and you certainly didn't want that right now.

“Alright. Wait here, I’ll get our stuff” he promised and left you, obviously wanting to retrieve your shoes. You considered crawling to the edge of the ice surface but decided against it. Once he was back, John helped you off the ice then assisted you with taking off the left skate “Do you want me to carry you to the car?”

“What?” of course you understood the question

“Or do you want to try to walk?”

“Dunno” you muttered tossing the right skate away and realizing too late that he would have to retrieve it “Sorry I’m such a nuisance today”

“Hey” he said “Don’t you worry. All that matters now is getting you back to your feet” you let out a grunt

“I mean getting you healed, of course” he admitted with a smile “now do you walk or should I carry you?”

“I’ll try to walk” you insisted and after putting on the other shoe, he too changed his shoes, packed up the rest of your stuff and then helped you up. Clinging to his side, you hopped to his car. It took you half an eternity to get there and towards the end you got tired so he lifted you up anyways and carried you the last eight feet or so. “Thanks” you muttered as he sat you down on the passenger seat.

“Do you want to go home?”

“No. To the doctor”

“What about your father?” you shrugged

“I’ll call him when we’ve arrived. I’m sure I can use the telephone in the doctor’s office”

In the end, John had called your father while you were being treated. Luckily, your ankle was only sprained but you’d need to walk with crutches for at least a week. When the doctor told you, you almost laughed because now your teacher had no choice but to let you do the test later. Maybe the day had not been a total mishap. To your surprise, John had still been there when you were discharged to go home; he had wanted to make sure you were doing okay before he left. At least your father was now driving you to school for a week so you wouldn’t have to go there yourself. But unfortunately, some guys from your class approached you.

“What the hell happened to you? Trying to weasel out of the test?”

“Or did you get hurt while trying to skate?” you gave him a glare and they realized that was what really happened “No shit? Wouldn’t have thought you’re that bad”

“Well” you said, grinning “at least I was trying to do something against my deficit. You never tried to become more intelligent” around him, his friends laughed. You saw John among them and he gave you a reassuring smile. The guy you had insulted, however, didn’t like it one bit and he stepped forward, pushing you hard so you lost your balance on your crutches and fell on your bum. Now his friends laughed with him again and when you tried to get up, he wanted to push you down again but this time, John interfered, placing his arm on the guy’s chest

“Guess that’s enough” luckily, they listened and after sharing a high five they walked away “You okay?” only now you saw that John had stayed

“Yeah, I guess” he picked up your crutches, then held out his hand and helped you up when you took it “Thanks. Also for stopping him” he only gave a nod and held out his hand again. Unsure what to do, you took it. He laughed

“I meant to take your bag but that’s fine too” before you could pull the hand away, he tightened his grip on it so you couldn’t let go of him

“I can’t walk like that” you remarked, nodding your head at the crutches.

“How about you give me your bag and I’ll give you back the crutches?” you didn’t want him to carry your bag “or you want me to carry you?” he added in a teasing tone

“No!” you took off the bag and tossed it to his feet, taking back your crutches.

The sports teacher absolutely wasn’t happy about your accident and believed you were just lying but luckily the doctor had written you a note, saying you couldn’t participate in sports lessons for two weeks at least. You didn’t know if you wanted to practice again before you had the test and found it couldn’t hurt. Also your social situation seemed to improve a little; it was like you finally had a friend now. Or at least John made sure no one bothered you again and sometimes talked to you. When you had phoned one of your friends in Anchorage and told her about him, she instantly tried to tell you that he probably was in love with you. From them on, it was more difficult to spend time with John without thinking of your friend’s words.

As the finals approached, you spent even more time with John because he’d asked you if you wanted to study together. The good thing was, while you were with him, the bullies just steered clear of you. But not so today, as John led you to his (respectively his father’s) car to get you home for another study session, Sean – the biggest bully – approached you.

“So, what’s the deal, (Y/L/N)?”

“What deal? What the person you sold your brains to gave you in return?” he ignored your comment but you could see it irked him, especially since his friends laughed.

“No. The one you made with Johnny that he spends time with you”

“Maybe I’m just not as much of an asshole like you are” or maybe one of the reasons Sean left you alone sometimes was because you had started to retort. “Though you really are a good friend to your buddies here” you nodded your head at them “By trying to roast me you make them laugh twice because I roast you back. Of course you don’t need the extra laughs, bet you get them all day when you look in the mirror” when he pushed you, you almost were a little surprised and stumbled a step back. John placed a hand on your arm, threw a checking glance at you before he slightly moved in between you and Sean.

“Honestly, now, John, what’s she got we don’t? Or is it just you play her bodyguard and she spreads her legs for you?” you let out a shocked gasp. “What about we make a deal too, (Y/N)? You get on your knees for me and I leave you alone” you were trying to come up with a witty remark but before could even think about it, John had already leapt forward and punched him in the face.

“Stop” you cried, clinging to Johns’ arm, fearing he’d get in trouble if someone saw him. Luckily, he had calmed down but wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you closer almost protectively. No, possessively. Swallowing, you tried to urge him on to his car but Sean spoke again

“What the fuck’s wrong with you? Is this just because you want to impress her father to get that job in the new sheriff’s department? And because you try to improve your grades to increase your chances?” with that he and his friends walked away. This time you swallowed harder.

“You applied for a post in the department?”

“For after graduation, yes” he sounded hurt

“So that is why you befriended me!” you tore away from him “Because you thought if I told Dad about you being my friend, you’d have higher chances” tears were burning in your eyes and you took a deep breath. After he looked down, he glanced back to you, opened his mouth, then closed it again and looked away. “Wow” you just said and left.

“Aren’t you hanging out with your friends today?” your father asked when he found you sitting in your room and reading

“It was only one friend”

“Was?”

“I just thought he was my friend”

“What did he do?” your father pulled the chair from your desk and sat down on it.

“He used me”

“Used you?” he sounded surprised

“Dad… I know you’re trying to help but I don’t want to talk about it right now” the tears were back and you were glad your father left so you could cry in peace.

Somehow you were almost disappointed when John didn’t talk to you the next day. A part of you had hoped he would at least try to talk about what had happened or deny what you had blamed him for. To you it proved you were right. This afternoon, your father came home much earlier than expected.

“What exactly happened between you and John?”

“Why do you ask?” you had told yourself that you would not let your father know what John did. After all you didn’t want to ruin his career even if he deserved it. No, he just had to look how to get the job himself, without your help.

“Because today, your friend has been at my office and withdrew his application”

“What?” you jumped to your feet “he did what?”

“He said that after what you’d told me he’d better do it this way than ending up as a disgrace”

“What?! Why would he do that?”

“That’s what I’m asking you. What happened yesterday?” you swallowed

“One of his friends said John only wanted to be my friend because he thought it might impress you if John was my friend. Or that he needed me to study for good grades… I…”

“And just because someone claimed that you believed him rather than your friend?”

“No! I asked John if it was true and he said nothing. Also today he said nothing to tell me I was wrong. Or at least trying to tell me his version” he rubbed his face

“I already had an interview with him… I was pretty impressed and I want him to have fair chances to get this job since he clearly wants it” he gave you a hard glare “So you will make sure he’ll revoke the withdrawal”

“What?”

“You heard me. And maybe it’ll do you two good if you have a talk” with that, he left, leaving your thoughts spinning.

After the last lesson on the next day, you wanted to talk to John about it but when you called his name, he didn’t react.

“Would you look at this?” it was Sean. Of course. “No bodyguard this time, huh? Weren’t you satisfying enough anymore?” not knowing what to say, you ignored him and called after John “Hurts, huh? Losing your only friend. Or customer or whatever he was to you” Sean stepped closer and gave you a push “Why don’t you go back to the big flashy city you came from? Bet you got loads of johns there” in your anger you pushed him back and tried to run after John but he was already gone. Luckily, you saw him again outside and after calling out a third time and speeding up you reached him and this time, he stopped.

“Dad told me what you did” you breathed out “That you withdrew the application”

“Suppose I had to. Better than to lose face”

“He was angry at me because he thinks this is my fault” well, maybe it was “I mean… I told him what happened and he got angry at me. He wants me to set it right and have you apply again. Dad says you deserve a fair chance. And I wouldn’t have told him about this. I mean, I don’t want to ruin your future or something”

“He wants me to apply again?”

“Well, more like revoke the withdrawal”

“And he doesn’t think I used you?”

“I don’t know. But it doesn’t sound like it. Or he wants to find it out”

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What do you think?”

“You never gave me an answer. But you also never denied it. I honestly don’t know what to think. Maybe I reacted too harshly...”

“Sean is wrong. I didn’t befriend you because of the job or your father. Because I wanted to” he smiled “Well, maybe I stepped back from the bullying because of who your father is. But more because I didn’t want a state trooper to hear I bothered his daughter. And because I think what they did was wrong” you looked at him, then you just hugged him.

“I’m glad” you breathed and he pulled you closer to his chest

“It’s the other way round” he suddenly said

“What?”

“I didn’t try to befriend you to impress your father and have better chances for the job… I hoped to get the job in order to impress your father and…” he stopped abruptly

“As if you need to impress my father to become friends with me” it was meant as a joke but then you saw his blush and understood “Oh shit” you let go of him. Was he actually saying he was hoping to date you?

“Guess that time I ruined it for good” he said and turned around, wanting to walk away again. You grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to stop. When he turned to you again, you didn’t even think before you moved your arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. He was too surprised at first to do something, then his hand came to your waist.

“Good thing you have me to set it right, huh?” he just looked down at you as if in shock, so you pulled on his elbow “Come on, as far as I remember we had a study session planned for today. But first you have to drop by in my father’s office or I’ll be in trouble”

#Mystery Alaska #john biebe #john biebe x reader #john biebe imagine #john biebe x you

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mystery-star · 2 years ago

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Treasure hunt– John Biebe

Pairing: John Biebe x reader (gender neutral)

Warnings: none

Words: 540

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

“Are you looking for something?” you asked when your husband was aimlessly wandering through the house.

“My hat” he said and you threw a glance to the clothes rack where he usually hung it but couldn’t spot it.

“Hm” you said “Can you remember where you last had it? I mean are you certain you took it home yesterday after work?” he nodded. So you went to the jackets and hat next to the entrance to have a look. “Then it should be here. I mean unless you put it somewhere totally different” as you had a look on the floor the door opened and your son ran it with his friend.

“Come look!” your son tried to pull on your sleeve but you grabbed his wrist, examining his dirty glove. Well, not just the glove was dirty, jacket and trousers as well.

“What’s that? How did you get so muddy?”

“We buried our treasure”

“Your treasure?” the boys nodded

“A pirate treasure. Come on, you and Dad have to find it” you let out a sigh but exchanged a glance with your husband

“Alright” when you left the house you noticed how their hands could be that dirty. Now as it was getting warmer and a great part of the snow melted, you soon were digging in dirt instead of snow. It seemed like the kids had done exactly that. And your whole yard looked like a huge mess.

“Where did you bury it?” John asked and your son put his hands on his hips

“We’re pirates. We don’t tell you, you have to search it”

“And we don’t even get a hint? Or a map?” the boys exchanged a look. Seemed like they hadn’t thought of that.

“Well” you said getting a shovel “since you are muddy and there is one spot that seems like you have dug away all the snow, I figure it must be there” from the corner of your eye you saw the two friends sharing a grin. It probably meant they had tricked you but you just went there to dig anyways. Your suspicion turned out true and there really was nothing.

“My turn” John said and with a big step he was with the boys, pulling your son closer “Looks like I caught one”

“No” your son screamed but your husband just started tickling him

“You better tell me where you hid the treasure, pirate!”

“Sto-hop” he tried to evade the tickling but stood no chance. “Help me!” he shouted at his friend but the other boy just took a step back. Finally, your son cracked and told you where they had buried the treasure. Instantly, you went to the spot and started digging. John let his son go and joined you.

“You didn’t arrest him?” you joked. Before you got an answer you had dug up the treasure which turned out to be a shawl in which they had wrapped two cookies that must have been nicked from the cookie jar in the kitchen. “Oh well, at least we got the treasure. And see, we found a piece of clothing” you gave him one of the cookies “Let’s see if we can extend the lucky streak by finding your hat too”

#mystery alaska #john biebe #john biebe x reader #john biebe x you #john biebe imagine

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mystery-star · 2 years ago

Text

Set it right – John Biebe (Part 1 / 3)

Pairing: John Biebe x fem!reader

Warnings: bullying

Words: 2658

Series Navigation: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Do no repost my work on other sites or platforms

Let me know if you wanna be added to the taglist.

Adjusting from city life to small town life had been rather hard. Or at least the people had been hard. When your father had to move from Anchorage to the little town of Mystery, you had to accompany him; only four months from your graduation! Which meant you had a new class for the last four months of High School. Some other students from your new class (or the ones below you because there were too few students to make one class per year, so it were two or three together taught in the same room and by the same teacher) made it their mission to make you feel as unwelcome as possible. Upon learning that your father came here to help them establish a sheriff’s office so they could be more independent of the State Troopers, they found it necessary to remind you that once, a State Trooper had been mauled by a bear just outside their town. Since you were one of the only students who couldn’t skate properly, they had to push you around to make it even harder for you. And when you complained about any of it they would just say: ‘Why don’t you let your father State Trooper know?’ When you did tell your father about the bullying, he only said that it was always hard in the beginning and it had only been your first two weeks.

In the third week, it still didn’t get better. No, now even one of the two teachers had started making comments. Just like today, as he was talking and talking about the different reasons that led to the great depression and then suddenly stopped in front of your desk, throwing a glance at your paper full of notes.

“Well, look at this. Miss (Y/L/N) being all eager and making notes about everything I say” you glanced up but when you felt tears in your eyes you looked down again, trying to hold them back even more when you heard most other students laugh. As if nothing had happened, the teacher shushed them and then continued talking. You put your pencil down and crossed your arms, hoping this wouldn’t be part of the exam. Then most of the teenagers turned around to one classmate from your year, John, who was packing up his stuff, shouldered his backpack and walked to the door “Where do you think you’re going?”

“If we’re not even allowed to take notes, I don’t see the sense in wasting my time here” it was dead silent and you felt a warm shiver running down your back.

“Yeah” someone agreed and soon, three others were packing their stuff. Now you smiled again and when your glance met John’s you quickly looked down again.

“That’s it. All of you sit down. You know how I meant it” he turned to you “I shouldn’t have made the comment. It’s good you’re taking notes but you don’t have to make them about all of what I say. Just the most important stuff” you only nodded and picked your pencil up again while your classmates sat down again.

Once the day was over, you hurried outside, hoping to intercept John before he left. After you shouted his name, he stopped and you hurried over, thank heavens not slipping somewhere.

“I-I just…” you tried to catch your breath “wanted to say thanks. You know, for what you did in the lesson. I really appreciated it” he just gave a nod “And you know, the whole action just was brilliant, as if you beat him at his own game. I hope you’re not in trouble now”

That evening, when your father returned, he stopped dead in the doorframe when you were doing your homework at the kitchen table while humming.

“You seem to have had a good day today?”

“Yeah, kind of. Someone stood up for me against a teacher”

“See? I told you it would get better” you only nodded but still knew you were looking forward to when you’d be able to leave in a year and half. You had considered going to college in Fairbanks but then you either had to stop studying and continue in Anchorage, stay in Mystery or move to Fairbanks. So you decided to take a year off, maybe work something and start your studies once you were back home.

Apparently, the school in Mystery found it necessary to grade its students for how well they played hockey. There obviously had been a test announced a couple of weeks ago – before you had arrived – and now it was next week and you couldn’t even stand properly on skates. Just great. You had tried to discuss with the teacher: that you had not known about the exam and had never really skated before. He only meant that you could have informed yourself and then practiced. The asshole wouldn’t even grant you another week to exercise a little more. When you told your father about this, he couldn’t understand your problem.

“Ask one of your friends to help you”

“I don’t have any friends! That’s the problem!”

“Well, then one of your classmates”

“They hate me”

“I’m sure they don’t. Maybe that could even be the start of a friendship. It’s possible they’re just jealous, wary or something. Maybe you asking for help will make you seem less… restrained, I don’t know. It could really break the ice”

“They make fun of me because I can’t skate! I don’t want them helping me. And the only guy who doesn’t make fun of me is the one kid that can’t skate either! Plus, he’s an arrogant ass and moping around because his girlfriend just broke up with him”

“Then ask the sport teacher”

“He told me that I was old enough to practice myself or get help” you huffed “Can’t you help me?”

“(Y/N), you know that you’re the better skater already” he thought for a while “But one of my new colleagues has a son. He’s thirteen, maybe he can help you?”

“Do you know what the others would say if they hear a thirteen year old has to help me?” you screeched.

“Or one of my colleagues?”

“I don’t know. It would be weird with a stranger” you sighed. Seemed like you had to practice all by yourself.

“What about someone who’s in another year but your class? Is there no one that could help?”

“That’s the same problem as the others. I already counted them as my classmates. I hate this town! Why couldn’t they send someone without kids here?”

“Easy, relax” he took hold of your shoulders “What about the kid that stood up for you lately?”

“Oh no” you shook your head “I can’t go to him ‘Hey random guy, you’re like my only friend here because you once stood up for me and I need your help again’”

“Well, I suppose you at least know his name, right?”

“Yeah”

“Then go ask him. Worst that can happen is he says no”

“He’s friends with some of the bullies. They will know. What if they come too and throw snowballs at me again?” he sighed

“Look, I’m only trying to help you. But in the end you’re old enough to decide what you want or need”

You didn’t know why but the following day you approached John anyways.

“Hi, uh… I feel really bad asking you but…. I kinda didn’t know what else to do. I mean there’s this hockey exam coming up next week and I was wondering… if maybe you could help me? It doesn’t have to be long or so, just teach me a few basics or give me tips I don’t know…”

“Yeah” you just wanted to continue explaining when you realized he had said yes already.

“Oh? For sure?”

“For sure. Saturday? After the game?”

“Game?”

“Saturday game”

“What’s that?”

“You don’t know what the Saturday game is?”

“A game on a Saturday?” you guessed, making him laugh. When he explained it was their weekly hockey game you gave a nod “So each Saturday some guys play? Like anyone can?”

“No. The players are always chosen by the committee and they’re on the team for a couple of years”

“So you have like your own little league here?”

“Sort of. You know what?” he didn’t wait for your answer “I come pick you up in the morning, we watch the game together then we practice”

“Okay” you agreed a little perplexed. Maybe your father had been right and asking for help would help you find friends.

You regretted not having dressed warmer for the game but somehow you had really thought it would take place in some sort of stadium. On the other hand, you should have known there was no such thing as a stadium in Mystery... So once the game was over, John decided to first take you to the diner for a hot cocoa so you could warm up again.

“I’m sorry” you muttered when you used the mug to warm your hands and held your face over it to warm it too “now you’re wasting your whole day because of me”

“I don’t. Any time spent with hockey isn’t wasted”

“If you say so. Could anyone make it to the team?” you wondered if you had to specify which team you meant but he already understood.

“Basically. You just have to be good enough. Though, as far as I know only men were in it”

“Has this been going on for a long time?”

“Yeah. Even before I was born”

“You mean you watched such a game every Saturday in your life?”

“With a few exceptions” you chuckled

“At least I now know where the whole town was at the past Saturdays. I wondered if we’d missed some evacuation or something in my first week”

“No” he chuckled too

“But it explains why everyone skates so well. I mean their interest in hockey surely has something to do with it. Maybe they’re all hoping to get on the team… The boys at least”

“Maybe” he gave a shrug

“What about you? Do you hope to be in the team?” he nodded “Good luck then. But I’m sure if you can teach me something about skating or playing hockey, I’m sure they’ll take you” he already finished his coffee, so you quickly drank your cocoa that you could go practice. Since the field that was used for the game was now occupied by a bunch of kids, you went out of town, to the river to practice skating first. You would have preferred to do something connected to hockey but found that John was right and it was of no use if you tried that as long as you still weren’t steady on skates. He held out his hands to you and started skating backwards so you could go forward.

“You’re skating backwards” you remarked

“I know. Better me than you, huh?” you just nodded and tried to focus again “Don’t look down. Face where you want to go” biting your lip you tried to listen but he scolded you again, saying you could horribly bite yourself if you continued that. Soon you realized that now that you had help and had something, someone, to hold on you were quite steady on your feet. “Let’s go faster”

“No” you shrieked and when he sped up you refused to move, even trying to pull back which only ended in the two of you falling to the ground. “Ah shit” you cried, feeling angry at yourself. “I’m sorry. I’m such a hopeless case”

“No, you’re not. You can do this. Just stop being scared and too cautious or you’ll never learn”

“But if I’m not I get venturesome, overdo myself and then I get hurt and ergo scared again”

“Then just don’t get venturesome. Take tiny steps” you huffed

“It looks so easy when you do it”

“We all could skate almost before we could walk”

“Then how am I supposed to learn all this in less than a week? The test is on Wednesday! I can’t even skate”

“Yes, you can! You just need a bit more practice” he held out his hand and after you reluctantly took it, he helped you up. “Try it on your own”

“What?”

“Try it. You can’t hold onto something during the test either” you huffed again. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there to catch you” you gave him a doubting glance but nodded, carefully speeding up a little. It all went pretty well until you reached the first sharp bend and ignoring John’s calls you just couldn’t turn or brake so you drove full speed into the snowbank. Great. You weren’t even there twenty minutes and you had already been a laughingstock twice. “You okay?” John asked as he pulled you out of the snow and brushed it off your jacket.

“I’m not hurt. Can’t we at least try the exercise for school? Maybe I can at least learn some of this to some extent and not fail miserably on Wednesday” he gave you a look, then nodded. You returned to the field where the kids were playing and he started setting up a situation like you’d encounter it next week. The kids seemed delighted and instantly had to try the slalom out. “Great. Now even toddlers beat me” when it was your turn, the youngsters watched you intently. Somehow you managed it all accident-free but needed at least three minutes. And you had done it without a puck… One of the boys came over to you and offered you his hand, obviously wanting to help you. Finding it cute you let him help but you weren’t much quicker. Now another boy came and took your other hand, steadying you from both sides. A third one even tried to push you from behind but John stopped him. Three tries later, none of them under 2 minutes 30, the kids got bored and returned to their game. “I’ll try it with the puck now”

“Are you sure?”

“It won’t get much faster than that. Or do the curves better. So I better learn how to handle the puck as well. And maybe I can use the stick to steady myself. Ha.” he got you a stick and a puck. “Well, here goes nothing” as imagined, you were much slower this time. And even further tries didn’t change much with the time but at least you found a better way to handle the puck. When you’d done it another seven times, John positioned himself next to the goal.

“Pass me” he told you. Because at the end of the ‘parkour’ you had to exchange a pass and then score a goal. Of course the puck went nowhere near your classmate and you felt embarrassed when he had to go after it. He passed it back to you and you were too surprised to react, so it went right past you between your legs.

“One thing’s for certain, the NHL sure won’t want me”

“Get it back” only now you realized you had to get the puck back and went after it trying to pass it to John again once you were back. Again, the pass was too bad that he could do anything but when he passed back you were ready to catch it but still too slow.

“Damn” the third time, he managed to catch the puck but of course you failed again (after all managing to stop the puck with your foot didn’t count). And the fourth and fifth time weren’t better. The sixth time, you asked him to pass you the puck a feet next to you so you wouldn’t have it in front of your body. But as you tried to get it, you lost your balance and landed on the ground, a pain from your ankle shooting through your body.

#john biebe #mystery alaska #john biebe imagine #john biebe x you #john biebe x reader

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