#jonge mama

[xiaolanhua]

Lee Jong Won as Park Su Ho Knight Flower 밤에 피는 꽃 (2024) – Ep. 1

[images-that-are-only-cursed]

Behold

The Jong

[godessofbucky]

My man is So Babygirl its crazy

[iwillgotoheavenforyou]

"Tell Me Now It's Killing Me Baby

Posting it here cause i cant get enough of this 🐣

[manawari]

An AU in which Cha Hae-in finding a young, tiny elf in the middle of the woods inside of a Red Gate. Helpless and vulnerable, so Hae-in can't help but feel bad for the young elf and decides to help her by sharing some food and a bit of aid from a reluctant healer. Turns out, the little elf has been abandoned due to being "weak" and it makes the hunter furious, which is why she doesn't hesitate to kill the leader of the tribe the moment she sees him.

Then, part of her doesn't wish to leave the little elf alone in the dungeon— what should I do? It's not like I will bring her with me to the outside world. The answer appears when the elf still follows her like a lost puppy and walks close next to her. Hae-in has no choice but to go with her first option.

With the help of the other hunters, Hae-in manages to hide the elf from the public eye and makes her way to her apartment where the youngling would stay. She also discovers that the elf's name is Sirka, thus hearing her speak for the first time, and Hae-in takes it as a good sign that she has earned the elf's trust.

Little does she know, it is more than a trust.

Sirka always keeps her promises and makes sure to behave when Hae-in is off to work. She wears shirts that turned out to be too big for her, but enough to make her comfortable, most likely because she smells her savior's scent on it.

Jong-in is the first person whom Hae-in told about the elf she had taken in. He's surprised, but he knows that his vice master knows what she's doing; he even teases her how she became an adoptive mother out of the blue. Hae-in flushes and immediately denies it. Meanwhile, Sirka has already looked up to her like a mom.

Hae-in buying new clothes for Sirka, as well as plushies to play with, and books for reading. She teaches the elf how to speak in Korean and write in hangul and English alphabet. Sirka is a fast learner as much as she loves it; Hae-in even teaches her swordfighting as she knows that Sirka is still an elf and it's in her blood to know how to wield a weapon.

some bonus featuring Jin-woo &others.

When meeting Jin-woo, Sirka grows protective and doesn't trust the hunter. Jin-woo is confused, but he still tries to get along with her. And as expected from an ice elf, Sirka gives him the attitude.

Jin-chul visits/calls Hae-in to check on her and Hae-in expresses how thankful she is for him to not call the association since she has no idea what the authorities will do to Sirka.

Despite being opposites, Sirka adores Jong-in! She always comments how warm he feels and adores the little fire creatures he makes with his powers. He even gives her some clothes to help Hae-in.

Yoon-ho being quite fond of Sirka and looks after her when Hae-in is busy. He also trains her kid-friendly hand-to-hand combat from time to time.

Hae-in wishing she could take Sirka out for a walk in places such as the park, so Jin-woo grants it by pulling a spell on a necklace where it turns Sirka into the guise of a human every time she wears it. I imagine her human version looking very similar to Hae-in.

Tae-gyu sees it one time and jokes how Hae-in and Sirka are mother and daughter. The S-Rank flushes while Sirka looks proud and says Hae-in is her 'mama'.

Sirka giggles every time Eun-seok shows his powers, fascinated by the electricity clawing in the air rather than just through wires. She even receives a cute scarf from him as a gift.

Bonus bonus: Byung-gyu walking in the streets with little Beru in his jacket and crossing paths Hae-in with human!Sirka.

[exo-wvrse-bbl]

15/04/24 - chen

Soondaeng-ah!!!🩷

What were you doing??

It rained here today, but the weather was How was it?

I like it even when it rains

But for some reason, I feel a little lazy when it rainsㅋㅋ

The good thing about rain is that

I feel like I'm being wrapped up…

There's a sense of comfort!

When it rains, I used to want to eat Korean pancakes..

I can't even bother eating when it rains these days ㅋㅋ

Jong

Dae

Time

You know even if I don't tell you, right?😎🩷

But still I want to tell you, I love you❤️

What song should I listen to today!

I found it😎

Yup!

The next song is

It's one of my favorite songs

I thought the acoustic version would suit you today! I recommend this one!

It's another pop song from my memory

It's really famous!!

John Legend👍

It's such an honor

We performed together before😎*

At the MAMA Awards!

I was so nervous

A pleasant shivering👍

Listen to this song, too💛

As expected, it's better to listen to songs together😎

Next time, I'll rent a cafe

I select the music

Let's drink coffee or tea together

Eat dessert, too

That would be fun👍

It would be better to have a live band too👍

Good, it's good just imagining it 🩷

Now, the last song!

It's a pity, but let's play together again next time❤️

Let's listen to it together!

Then let's meet again🔜🩷💛❤️🐈

*he was referring to 2014 MAMA

source in desc

[waitmyturtles]

As promised from last night’s post of hyperbolic surprise at the ending of The New Employee, my review: 

I was insanely excited for this show when I first caught up with it, because I thought (and honestly, I still think this) it had so much good stuff in balance -- it had heat and confessions, a boldness towards managing attraction between a superior and a junior in a workplace, two out guys being out and comfortable with it (and thus, none of the struggle of one of the characters being afraid of being in a queer relationship, as we see so very often in QLs), and it had this great story of an intern being immediately successful in a competitive workplace. All REALLY good storylines.

Before I go on, I desperately want to think that I’m not the kind of person that wants to see a show stick to the canon material -- I’m SO against that, philosophically and fundamentally. Directors and screenwriters are artists, too. Nothing in our lives is cemented in canon anything.

And yet. (Oh god, am I turning into my mother? Being someone I don’t want to be? AAAAHHHH.) I read the webtoon manhwa in the heat of being totally obsessed with this show, and I LOVED IT. Oh god, is Jong Chan a complicated character in the webtoon! He’s got a lot going on.

I got my hopes up that we’d see a bit more of that in the drama. I never wanted the drama to totally STICK to the material, but perhaps to lean into it a bit more at the end to ride out a more holistic conclusion. 

To the point of @linnie-la91, who I reblogged earlier today in their commentary about the webtoon being a slice of life piece -- I totally, 100% agree with this.  However, I would say that the workplace depictions, from the slice of life perspective, were a HEAVILY major piece to the webtoon that I had expected the drama to get a bit more into, especially for its conclusion. I’ll put a read more line here now to protect folks from manhwa SPOILERS, in case y’all ever read it.

So in the webtoon, the guys stay at AR Communications, but in different roles. We know from the drama that Jong Chan avoids management responsibilities. In the webtoon, he ends up taking on a managerial role in a different team, so that Seung Hyun can join the Planning team himself, because that’s what he’s ultimately excellent at, and Jong Chan knows that, for himself and for the sake of the company. Jong Chan plans a return to the Planning team after a few years, to re-join Seung Hyun on the same team.

It involved Jong Chan engaging in quite a bit of negotiation with the CEO, and there was a very good amount of inward-facing reckoning that he had to do to face that he, himself, was a huge part of the reason why Seung Hyun wasn’t originally offered a job. It really rocked Jong Chan.

All this stuff also came together to demonstrate Jong Chan’s love for Seung Hyun, which -- oh god, I hate myself for being all canon-mama here -- in the manhwa, had a lot of time to build up. The “I love you” between the guys in the webtoon had a long road behind it, with all that work stuff happening beforehand.

Separately, I saw on Twitter a quick commentary about the meaning, in the drama, of Jong Chan creating his own company, and how that’s indicative of his love for Seung Hyun. I totally agree with that. 

And I think I probably ruined the drama’s ending for myself by expecting to see more of the AR Communications struggle, likely because I think that I think (I’m still working on my thoughts, ha) that there was also love devotion from Jong Chan in every machination he made to get Seung Hyun a job at AR in the webtoon. You could SEE the LOVE that Jong Chan had in the process of his engaging in negotiations to secure a future for Seung Hyun at AR.

Maybe what I didn’t see in the drama was as much of that love build-up. Don’t get me wrong -- I LOVED THE HEAT of the earlier episodes. Jong Chan in the drama didn’t hold back (and he def def def did no holding back in the webtoon, hoooooooo weeeeeee). I loved that he didn’t hold back; I loved that he followed Seung Hyun during the company outing to confess that he was bad with words, and I LOVED the softness and comfort of episode six as definitive of their close relationship.

But there was a real internal struggle in the webtoon. Not to say that resigning from your job and starting your own company isn’t as much of a struggle in the drama! That’s deep shit. 

I just think it was glossed over.... and I’m not sure why, since from the start, I thought there was an expectation of there being eight episodes. The last episode did ultimately feel rushed to me.

I appreciate seeing commentary on the tag from folks that really liked this series, including the ending, and I don’t think there’s anything NOT to like about the way it ended. It had a wonderful and warm happy ending. 

But I think I expected to see more by way of an emotional struggle for Jong Chan, because it was there in the webtoon, and getting to know this reckoning side of him would have been really cool to see. I ABSOLUTELY understand that the focus of the episode needed to be on Seung Hyun and how he recovered from the rejection. I just wanted to see a bit more of our guy Jong Chan in there, too. 

Gah, so I’m conflicted, obviously, ha. I truly think this was a darling show, and will highly recommend it, but maybe don’t do what I did and read the manhwa beforehand, because that really got my heart racing, and I totally FELL IN LOVE with Jong Chan even harder because of the webtoon. 

I’M VERY EXCITED FOR THE MOVIE VERSION! Give us more scenes! Overall -- I’m very glad I fell for this show, and I’m looking forward to seeing Seung Hyun and Jong Chan again soon.

[lgcmedia]

Type Zero’s Derek show off his funny and competitive side on Running Man

On the March 5th episode of Running Man, Type Zero’s DEREK will be making his first guest appearance on the show! In the episode the idol will be teaming up with Yoo Jae Suk, HaHa and Lee Kwangsoo to go up against Gary, Ji Suk Jin, Kim Jong Kook and Song Jiho to obtain the grand prize at the end of the episode - the golden compass.

Their mission for this episode is to compete the Running Map by finding the R-Mon and cracking the secret of the map. There will be a tons games throughout the episode where viewer will get to see DEREK more competitive side. Unfortunately the name tag game will not be present in this episode. Their final mission was curated for DEREK as it will be a relay cook off. Announcer Kim Hwan, and culinary specialist Big Mama, Lee Hye-jung are said to be the special guest judge for the cook off.

Tune into the episode to see if DEREK and his team will take home the golden compass.

[ + / - ] derek and running man are the two things i’ve dreamed of ㅜㅜ i was hoping one day he would make a guest appearance on running man after seeing type zero’s appearance in law of the jungle and it finally came true!! i’m going to watch this episode!!

[ + / - ] geez, just when i thought about watching running man again, they decide to guest a lgc idol 🙄 can’t they find anyone else to appear on this variety show???

#LGCENT #LGCBOYS #TYPEZERO #DEREK #YOODAEHO

[bezhevyyosminog]

Jenny: Automatic (auto), automatics (yeah), in the trunk

Jenny: Shoot the maggots, shoot the maggots with the pump

Kari: Thot and addy (thot), love the Patek on my arm (Patek, uh)

Kari: We got static (static), pussy nigga run your charm (hey)

Kari: Ghostface killers (killers), Wu-Tang, 21 news gang (news)

Kari: Drug dealers in the Mulsanne, at the top of the food chain (hey)

Kari: Trappin' the cocaine (yeah), no gang, shooter with no name

Kari: We can play tall games, the whole gang, kick in your door, man

Jenny: Yeah, put on the Patek, pave setting, I'm an addict

Jenny: Break the mattress with a baddie on the addy

Jenny: Diamonds flashing, need some glasses for the flashing, yeah

Jenny: Michael Jackson with this fashion, bitch I'm dabbin', yeah

Kari: All of this shit on purpose got these bitches slurpin'

Kari: All your pockets on hurting, nigga you can be my servant

Kari: Go to the lot and young nigga don't lease it, I purchase

Kari: After I cut off a thot I give her some money for service

Jenny: Wherever I go the whole gang gon' go, yeah (fame)

Jenny: You cannot tame the ho because you want fame for sure (tame)

Jenny: You think that you rich 'cause you got a hundred or more

Jenny: I got an over overload like I just sold my soul

Jenny: I, pour up a four, a liter, I got the stripes, Adidas

Jenny: I got a foreign mamacita and I been known to beat it (mama)

Jenny: Niggas ain't goin' defeated, we get the guns immediate

Jenny: Don't burn in the Coupe, it's an Italy

Jenny: You niggas is broke and it's pitiful

Kari: Automatic (auto), automatics, in the trunk

Kari: Shoot the maggots, shoot the maggots with the pump

Kari: Thot and addy (thot), love the Patek on my arm (Patek)

Kari: We got static (static), pussy nigga run your charm (hey)

Kari: Ghostface killers (killers), Wu-Tang, 21 news gang (news)

Kari: Drug dealers in the Mulsanne, at the top of the food chain (hey)

Kari: Trappin' the cocaine (yeah), no gang, shooter with no name

Kari: We can play tall games, the whole gang, kick in your door, man

Violet: Yeah, Kim Jong, yeah big bombs (21)

Violet: Wonder Bread man, make your bitch lick crumbs (yeah)

Violet: Audemar Piguet flooded, got my wrist numb (bling)

Violet: Grab the hitstick, nigga tryna blitz some'

Violet: Dope boy, dope boy, I sell coke boy (21)

Violet: You broke ass rappers food, it's a po boy (21)

Violet: Everybody the same, all these niggas sound alike (dick riders)

Violet: Fox 5 gang, turn you to a candlelight

Violet: Bitch boy, I'm a mobster, shrimp in my pasta

Violet: Jamaican Don Dada, hang 'round the shottas

Violet: Mad Max nigga, yeah I hang with the killers (21)

Violet: Planet of the Apes, yeah I hang around gorillas (on god)

Violet: I got AK, SK, HK, broad day (21)

Violet: You a fuckboy, we ain't with the horseplay (bitch)

Violet: Shrimp ass nigga, did you do your chores today? (21)

Violet: Do you wanna take a ride with the coroner today? (21)

Kari: Automatic (auto), automatics, in the trunk

Kari: Shoot the maggots, shoot the maggots with the pump

Kari: Thot and addy (thot), love the Patek on my arm (Patek)

Kari: We got static (static), pussy nigga run your charm (hey)

Kari: Ghostface killers (killers), Wu-Tang, 21 news gang (news)

Kari: Drug dealers in the Mulsanne, at the top of the food chain (hey)

Kari: Trappin' the cocaine (yeah), no gang, shooter with no name

Kari: We can play tall games, the whole gang, kick in your door, man

Violet: Drop from the heavens straight in the wild (yeah)

Violet: Trunk in the front, top gotta slide

Violet: Ride suicides, we keep this shit alive (yeah)

Violet: Jumping out the public houses, don't you come outside (Straight up)

Violet: Private status, tryna land the jet at Magic (it's lit)

Violet: Goin' way up, on my way to cut through traffic (what you poppin')

Violet: Pop the ceiling, pop the bean, I need the balance (pop it, pop it)

Violet: Bloody ass is what I'm seeing, it's way too graphic

Violet: Watch your fingers 'cause the cactus dangerous (yeah)

Violet: Broke, you ain't us, we don't speak that language

Violet: On the couches

Violet: Tom Cruise, I'ma make her see, she snort a mountain

Violet: Rackades on the outfit will make her bounce it

Violet: Good drank my life yeah, CPR my pipe, yeah

Violet: Please need the energy, only got a night, yeah (it's lit)

Violet: Nike boys, we don't do three stripes (yeah)

Violet: I'm living for my niggas that do life, yeah

Kari: Automatic (auto), automatics, in the trunk

Kari: Shoot the maggots, shoot the maggots with the pump

Kari: Thot and addy (thot), love the Patek on my arm (Patek)

Kari: We got static (static), pussy nigga run your charm (hey)

Kari: Ghostface killers (killers), Wu-Tang, 21 news gang (news)

Kari: Drug dealers in the Mulsanne, at the top of the food chain (hey)

Kari: Trappin' the cocaine (yeah), no gang, shooter with no name

Kari: We can play tall games, the whole gang, kick in your door, man

[godessofbucky]

"Strangers from Hell" Review (Spoilers)

Just got done watching "Strangers from Hell" and I just want to say that I give it an overall score of 7.5/10. Maybe I'll re-watch it when I'm not tired (Crazy sleep schedule) but the plot twist at the end where it turned out that Jong-u actually killed all the residents kinda blew it for me, honestly.

Before they showed the Plot twist, I actually liked the first ending where everyone was basically was killing each other 'til the end because it was like a showdown where they would each put everyone against each other and then the both strongest (Seo and Jong-u) fought against each other, but no, that didn't happen. Instead, Jong-u actually killed everyone himself but it was hinted that Seo was still alive (for some reason) and that he was still out there (or whatevs) and that Jong-u was his greatest artwork because now he had a little inexperienced killer on the loose who could do whatever he pleased.

Now, this raises some questions like:

#1: Was Seo trying to turn the Foreigner guy into a murderer as well?

(It was shown that Jong-u and the Foreigner wrote the word "die" multiple times and went crazy as a result of Seo)

#2: Did Seo actually die or was he alive at the end of the show?

(It was shown that he was was seen in the elevator by Jeong-Hwa and that he was in the crowd which was seen by Jong-u. Or was this figments their imagination? Idk.).

#3: Would Jong-u really be able to kill everyone there?

( The idea that he would be able to is a little confusing because it would make sense that Ms.Um killed the "Pervert" while Seo killed the other twin and the timing would be perfect timing but I guess if Jong-u imagined that he killed Seo, then the character placement is what matters because if he killing them one by one then wouldn't one try to help other one?

If anyone could help in a Reblog or a Comment by telling me somethings or answering someone of my questions then I would be really grateful since soI might have missed some key clues.

Thank you!

[honestlyboringperson]

I feel like Lei and Nanako would be really friends due to not being very good at fighting and wanting to love.

Zhang would be sort mentor towards lei and Nanko and other like younger magical girls with on the side Myile ethsort have being tough love teach Nanako, Lei and other the "proper way" of being better magical girl or the crazy aunt who talks alot nonsense probably rare monemt were she sometimes care them but going to no sense after.

Feel for the of kid magical girl would sorta similar cutie mark cruders from mlp but there 4 of them I think.

Lei and Nanako would absolutely be best friends! They would understand each other better than anyone else, and would bounce off the other quite well.

Zhang would definitely be protective of them, and might would go full Mama Bear mode if they were in danger. I also imagine they would pick up some colourful vocabulary from Jong, one of Zhang’s teammates.

Myrtle would give them a knife and let them go ham while she drinks an entire bottle of wine.

[salernoah]

Zondag | 19-05-2024 | 25°C | Salerno | Dag 6

Het is vroeg in de ochtend. Ik ben gisteravond vroeg gaan slapen, zo rond negenen. Aangezien zondag een rustdag is, beloof ik me hier vandaag aan te houden. Wellicht zo’n gek idee nog niet. Ik voel namelijk dat mijn weerstand minder begint te worden en ik heb keelpijn. Een dagje thuisblijven kan heus geen kwaad. Dan kan ik een beetje studeren en online werkwoordoefeningen maken. Verder merk ik dat ik geen behoefte heb aan sociaal contact. Eindeloos appen hoeft van mij niet en middels deze blog hoop ik het thuisfront te plezieren en up to date te houden. Ik wil zo min mogelijk bezig zijn met mijn mobiel (blog uitgezonderd).

Gisteren is mijn huisgenoot uit Tsjechië vertrokken en is de eigenaresse van het appartement langsgekomen om te schoonmaken. Ze heeft ook mijn kamer en badkamer meegepakt, wel zo fijn. Vandaag, vermoed ik, komt het oudere echtpaar uit Brazilië de andere kamer betrekken. Ik vond het wel fijn zo vaak alleen thuis te zijn, dus ben ik benieuwd of dat nu heel veel anders zal zijn of niet. Stiekem hoop ik dat de Brazilianen veel op stap en excursies zullen gaan, zodat ik rustig in mijn eentje mijn eigen ding kan doen zonder tegen iemand te hoeven praten. Ook hier kan ik mijn kluizenaarsbestaan enigszins voortzetten.

20:16 | Ik ben vandaag de hele dag binnen gebleven. Ik heb 's middags zelfs nog even geslapen en hoorde daarna de Brazilianen binnenkomen. Ze waren erg luidruchtig en praatten hard. Ik heb ze vooralsnog ontlopen, want ik kon me er niet toe zetten om met ze te praten en leuk te doen. Vanmiddag heb ik even met papa en mama gebeld. Papa heeft zijn vliegtickets geboekt en kom begin juni hierheen en verblijft dan in een airbnb vlakbij mijn huidige adres. We kijken er allebei erg naar uit. Ik hoop dat het die week wel beter weer wordt dan aankomende week.

Hoewel ik dus geen stap buiten de deur heb gezet, ben ik toch nog productief bezig geweest. Ik heb een nieuw spelletje, Storytelling, gedownload (alleen verkrijgbaar met een Netflixabonnement), eerst uit verveling en nieuwsgierigheid. Het is een puzzelspelletje waarbij je alleen de titel van een verhaal te zien krijgt en de scenes zelf in elkaar moet zetten. De taal heb ik ingesteld op Italiaans en zodoende heb ik een hoop nieuwe woorden geleerd. Daarnaast was ik vanochtend al ijverig bezig met notities overpennen uit Valeria's schrift, waarvan ik foto's had gemaakt. Het verschil tussen de werkwoordstijden en het gebruik daarvan; en nog een uitleg over de voornaamwoorden. Wat dat betreft lijkt het Italiaans heel erg op Spaans en is het voor mij niet lastig te vatten.

Morgen zit ik wederom in een nieuwe klas. Of althans, zit ik met degenen die hier nog een week (of langer) blijven in de klas, maar krijgen we een andere docent (een meester, dit keer) en verwachten we nieuwe medestudenten. Onze docente had gezegd dat deze week een groep jonge Amerikanen zou komen, wellicht voor een uitwisseling of cultureel programma. Ik hoop dat er leuke mensen tussen zitten. Wel jammer dat we nu een andere docent krijgen, want ik vond Anna een goede docente en bovendien erg aardig. We begonnen elkaar net een beetje te leren kennen. Morgen is het tevens de enige dag dat het echt warm wordt, namelijk 28°C. Misschien ga ik morgen wel weer naar het strand om te zonnen. Zo bruin ben ik helaas nog niet.

[manawari]

Su-ho: mama! I learned a new word from Uncle Jong-in today!

Hae-in: oh, that's nice, sweetie. What is it?

Su-ho: shit! :D

Hae-in: . . .

[suzettefamilyhistoryhunter]

Let's take a brief break from the mystery. While reviewing what we've covered so far, I realized I hadn't introduced myself. After all, we're all the main characters in our own stories, right?

My name is Suzette de Jong, your official blogger and family history hunter. Discovering that I had long-lost siblings I never knew about turned my world upside down. Honestly, how could it not?

I was in my early teens when I found out. I needed to figure out who I was and who I wanted to become before I could start searching for my brothers. It's a big decision—do you want to uncover old history? Are you willing to risk heartbreak for the chance that your dreams could come true? That one day, you might have a solid, beautiful brother-sister relationship? Sometimes in life, you have to take risks.

What's my story, you ask? I'm a wife (we recently celebrated seven years) and a fur mama of two, and I'm a very proud aunt! I have a total of three nieces and three nephews (from my sisters-in-law and my stepbrother). I have a full-time day job and a fun side gig as a blogger. I've always dreamed of being a motivational speaker—maybe this could lead me there one day!

I was born, raised, and still live in Ontario, Canada. Life hasn't always been easy, but through the good and bad, I'm very thankful for where I am and what I've overcome.

I've noticed that when people go through tough times, they often forget the importance of perseverance. But that's when life gets interesting. How do you navigate through it? People judge you based on your decisions, but do they know the options life gave you?

That brings me here. I can't imagine what my dad, his wife, their children, or anyone else went through, but it couldn't have been easy. Part of the history I'll uncover might get messy, but I will focus on the facts and remember that there's good in everyone. I hope this journey helps me find my missing puzzle pieces—my brothers.

Perhaps one day, my father's side of the family, who chose not to be involved in my life, will have a change of heart and join me on this journey.

Through this blog, I hope to find answers to questions I've always pondered. But I also want to remind people that even in trying times, there is good in the world.

Thank you to the readers of this blog and to those who have encouraged me not to give up, even when the trail goes cold.

[jurjenkvanderhoek]

THE MAUREENS TOVERT EEN GLIMLACH OP IEDERS GEZICHT

Op het moment dat ik de cd in de speler schuif schijnt de zon mijn kamer binnen. Ja, werkelijk. Het is voorjaar. Niet de meteorologische lente, maar muzikaal breekt de zon door het grijze wolkendek. Het is begin maart. Het album "Everyone smiles" van The Maureens is net anderhalve maand uit. Bij het ontluiken van de eerste sneeuwklokjes was deze er. Maar de muziek brengt nu al de zomer dichterbij. Met de aanstekelijke gitaarpop sla ik de lente makkelijk over. Wanneer ik de hoes bekijk kan ik een glimlach niet onderdrukken. Dat grappige rode figuurtje op die metalen raamuitzetter zet een vraagteken. Waar kijk ik naar. Is het een gimmick, een beeldgrap? De sound op de schijf is minder mysterieus.

De min of meer gedateerd klinkende klanken die uit mijn boksen komen zijn echter meer dan op de plek in het hedendaagse muzieklandschap. De bandleden hebben als het ware de stoffige muziek opgepoetst en er de eigen opgeruimde sound tegenaan gezet. De songs liggen prettig in het gehoor. Na enkele keren luisteren zing ik in elk geval de refreinen en neurie zo met de muziek mee. “The Maureens are the perfect soundtrack for a late summer night, though the band gives you that feeling just as easily on a sunday afternoon in February. Guitar pop inspired by the greats of the golden 60s and 70s; songs you hum along to after one listen!”, lees ik ergens op het internet. Ik had de sound van The Maureens niet beter kunnen omschrijven.

De gitaarpop klinkt gelikt, maar heeft niet die geschaafde samenzang van The Beach Boys of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Het laat schijnbaar nog weleens een steekje vallen, maar het steekt daarentegen wel goed genaaid en gebonden in elkaar. Dat er eens een naadje los zit maakt de stijl juist heel wel te beluisteren. Niet alles hoeft zo perfect, het streven daarnaar kan alleen maar de ondergang van een dergelijke band betekenen. Waar die jaren 60 bands in dit genre als The Mama’s and The Papa’s en The Byrds nog transparante muziek maakten, dat jong oogde en nieuw klonk voor die tijd, is de muziek in handen van The Maureens volwassen geworden. Natuurlijk is daar de manier van opnemen in de studio mede debet aan.

De opnametechniek is in die 60 jaren vooruit gegaan en bij geschaafd. Daarom klinkt de klassieke westcoast nu modern en hedendaags. In het spel laat het oude tijden herleven, vooral voor de oude knarren die hun roots als luisteraar en muziekliefhebber vinden in die woelige jaren 60 van de vorige eeuw. Toen schijnbaar alles anders moest en niets houdbaar leek. The Maureens hebben net als hun illustere voorgangers in deze muziekstijl softrock en folkrock gecombineerd met country & western waar overheen strakke vocale harmonieën zijn gezet. Melancholische zang in de meeste songs. Lekker in het gehoor liggend, pakkend in sound en tekst. De jaren 60 klinken er waarlijk in door. Niet alleen die van de Amerikaanse westkust, maar ook van het Engelse Liverpool. Nog voor de beat zich ging toeleggen op het experiment. Gewoon het authentieke geluid van welhaast aan de wortels van de popmuziek. Ongecompliceerd.

The Maureens brengt een compacte, weinig volgespeelde en gezongen stijl met korte en puntig door surfpop en jaren zestig garagerock beïnvloede nummers, met wel melancholieke teksten over vroeger. Met de jeugd en jeugdherinneringen als thema en rode draad. Maar dat wil niet zeggen dat het zwaarmoedig wordt, de band probeert altijd een hoopgevende, positieve draai aan de teksten te geven. De songs zijn autobiografisch, de tekstschrijver diept uit zijn eigen verleden en zet dat vrolijk in het heden. Natuurlijk speelt de liefde een rol, het is een vast gegeven, maar het zijn allesbehalve afgezaagde liefdesliedjes van 13 in een dozijn. Er is wel smart en treurnis, maar ergens raadt het mij aan de slechte dingen te bewaren voor een regenachtige dag.’ Always look at the bright side of life’, schijnt ook de lijfspreuk van The Maureens te zijn.

In de instrumentatie ondersteunt de basgitaar treffend de gitaren. Waar de slag de solo bijstaat. De sologitaar soleert niet om de virtuositeit in het spel te laten horen, maar neemt in de instrumentale gedeelten de zang over. Zingt de melodie. Zo zijn er gezongen woorden en woordloze teksten. De drums onderwijl zetten een duidelijk ritme dat de maat houdt. Strak en stevig, zonder veel opsmuk en tromgeroffel. Niemand in de band treedt op de voorgrond, niemand hoeft uit te blinken. Alle vier hebben ze evenveel inbreng. Natuurlijk komt de zang het meest sterk naar voren, anders zou deze wegzakken in het behang van geluid.

De songs zitten degelijk in elkaar en zijn creatief dichtgetimmerd. Hoewel het uitstekende dansmuziek is hebben de songs zeker een diepere laag, een contemplatieve achtergrond. Mag The Maureens een Nederlandse band zijn, met wortels in Utrecht, het heeft een Amerikaanse sound. Het is zo open en transparant als de bands van de westcoast. Geen overproductie wat de speelsheid van de muziek tot een hoger niveau brengt. The Maureens hadden ook uitstekend uit San Francisco naar hier overgewaaid kunnen zijn. Maar eigenlijk is het wereldse muziek, overal op de plek waar de zee is en een strand aan de kust, een stralende zon en een cocktail binnen handbereik. Overigens zullen ze deze sfeer uitstekend in de binnenlanden van Afrika kunnen brengen, of op de toendras in Rusland. Het is niet de omgeving die de sfeer maakt, maar de muziek die de streek kleurt.

De band heeft met 'Everyone Smiles' een uitstekend werk verricht. Met deze muziek op de koptelefoon of door de oortjes zal het iedere luisteraar een glimlach rond de mond tonen. Wat zal het een vrolijke sfeer geven in trein, bus en langs de winkelstraat. Het brengt de zonnige westcoast naar het klagende lage land. Optimisme geeft waar de pessimisten welhaast de leiding nemen. Laat The Maureens los in de Kamer en de sfeer zal meteen omslaan. Laat het de huisband zijn in het torentje. De herkenningstune van het land. Volgend jaar op het Eurovisie in Utrecht wanneer Joost dit jaar het festival wint? Het zal wat mij betreft maar zo kunnen. Een Nederlandse band met een professioneel Amerikaans geluid. Hoe werelds wil je het hebben.

Everyone Smiles. The Maureens. Meritorio Records, 2024.

[neske-de-wijzervrouw]

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