#like Australia beating Denmark

[lfcs-bitch]

Wait why are the games so dramatic on the morning I don’t watch 😭

[daggryet]

it's wednesday! judgement day!

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Junior Senior - Move Your Feet 2002

"Move Your Feet" is a song by Danish pop duo Junior Senior from their debut studio album, D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat (2002). The song, originally released in June 2002 in the duo's native Denmark, was issued worldwide in 2003 and became Junior Senior's biggest hit, reaching #4 in Denmark, #3 in the UK, #10 in Ireland, and #20 in Australia. In 2013, the song re-entered the French Singles Chart at #11. The song was accompanied by an animated music video by British art collective Shynola, using low-resolution (90×72) pixel art produced using Deluxe Paint. The video features animated characters of the members of Junior Senior, dancing figures, and personified inanimate objects.

The second single, "Rhythm Bandits", was featured on the soundtrack for FIFA 2004, while the third single, "Shake Your Coconuts", can be found on the Looney Tunes: Back in Action soundtrack alongside "Move Your Feet", and as background menu music in the video game Worms 3D. The song "Good Girl, Bad Boy" can be heard in the film She's the Man when Viola arrives at the private school masquerading as her brother. "Move Your Feet" was also featured in the 2004 comedy film White Chicks and the 2008 comedy film Forgetting Sarah Marshall. "Move Your Feet" received a total of 82,6% yes votes!

[aroacesafeplaceforall]

Hello there!

Mod team:

I’m Jamie but I also go by Jay! I’m gender queer and use any pronouns but I am masc leaning (he/him), don’t be afraid to ask! I’m aegosexual-pansexual and a romance repulsed aromantic! I am neurotypical and the OG owner of this blog!

Hey people, my names Noah and I use they/them pronouns :) I have a long list of labels cause I'm a complicated human being lol. I'm non binary, lesbian oriented aroace, with a handful of microlabels (quoiromantic, apothiromantic, aegoromantic, apothisexual and aegosexual). I also experience platonic, aesthetic and sensual attraction B) I have diagnosed adhd and I'm an infp :D

My name is Ray! I go by any pronouns and I’m a Agender Cogirl. I am cupioromantic and aegosexual (and many other things, just ask if you want to know!). I also have diagnosed autism and I’m an ISFP

Carl D, all pronouns, allergic to garlic, aroace

We’re here for all your Questions, Rants, Vents and Confessions!

Ask box is always open and we’re always here for your asks!

We are here to educate, explain and help with anyone who needs it!

Stay safe, remember you are valid and its your box!

LOVE U ALL U ARE VALID

Commonly asked questions!

Link to my Aro-spec post

Link to a post containing most Ace Spec identities

Asexual Wiki, Aromantic Wiki,

the Asexual Visibility and Education Network -Asexual resource

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List of Aroace Spectrum resources

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This user acknowledges that the land they stand on always was and always will be aboriginal land. Sovereignty has never been ceded. This user recognises the past atrocities against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this land and that Australia was founded on the genocide and dispossession of First Nations people.

Recommend blogs

please feel free to ask me first, if I don’t provide a good answer or you want more you can ask again or go to one of these blogs! Please tag more blogs I should add to this list!!

@asexualadvice - asexual advice! (Read blog but helpful info!)

@aegosexual-moments - the aegosexual blog of all time (excluding myself /j)

@aromantic-diaries - Very cool aro person!

(Yes I know my profile pic is off center, suffer, its still off centre, suffer more)

(It’s seperate because aroace is unfortunately usually viewed as one identity, ace and aro are separated spectrums)

(If I hear one more complaint about my icon I’ll change it to what ever random piece of art crosses my dash next and you wouldn’t like that would you??) (i did that and got a new profile pic :D)

The Blogs

blogs that are kinda fan accounts???? wtf????

@aroaceplaceforsome they’re the neutral party here, they use pronouns

@throwawaysoiwontgeteatenbyjamie a whore

@jamies-a-great-person @aroaceappreciationplace -more whores (lovingly)

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO @la-creechura for drawing our profile pic!!!

Banner art by @pride-flag-planets

The forces:

A collection of multi member blogs dedicated to one country of aspecs… all against Denmark

@aussieaspecforces

@indianaspecforces

[iampancakeee]

Nigeria lost 🫠 I'm kinda vexed ngl. Like wow England beat us?? Nah I hope they lose their next match 🙏🏿

Anyways, for the next 3 matches in the round of 16, I hope Morocco and Jamaica win. I'm especially particular about Jamaica winning their next match. Like not only should they be the first country from the Caribbean to get to the round of 16 but they should also be the first to make it to the quarter finals. I mean USA and Canada are out already soooo they're about the only country left from N. America 🤪

As for Australia vs. Denmark, I'm fine with whatever outcome :)

[esc-is-holding-me-hostage]

Okay, I'm finally done with the annual quick reviews. Overall opinion: it's 2020 all over again but the lows are not so low (and the highs are not as high either). The competition is very open, which is refreshing after last year's one-horse race disguised as a two-horse race. There are no songs I would listen to after the contest but as a Eurovision lineup it's pretty entertaining and varied. Also, the girl-bopocalypse of 2021 was much better. Albania The decision of translating the song into English is already questionable but did we really need a fucking dance beat in the last chorus?

Armenia I love how fun it is, but I wish there were, you know, lyrics in the chorus

Australia You couldn't have made a more unsettling music video if you've tried.

Austria I don't know why they've decided to go with bloody eurodance this year. It does not feel updated for the modern times, it's not a cheeky pastiche either. We Will Rave feels like it's been lying around in a vault for the past 20+ years and then the Austrian delegation accidentally stumbled upon it and decided that yes, it will be a perfect Eurovision pick. I still don't hate it though? It might become my guilty pleasure of the year even.

Azerbaijan Why would you bring a guy with such a charismatic moustache just to do a little 10-second chant near the end? He deserves better!

Belgium I should love it. It should've been my number 1, it's Belgium going back to Dark and Moody™, it's what I always want from them. And yet I only like it. The last minute or so is great, but the lead up to that is whatever and doesn't do anything for me.

Croatia The chorus is weak and kinda generic, but the verses are so good they make up for it. The "please meow back" line receives the award for the best lyric of the year.

Cyprus For a twice (or possibly thrice) recycled song it's surprisingly okay. Nothing groundbreaking, it's still a dance-pop song from Kontopoulos, but it's fine.

Czechia I have a complex love-hate relationship with this one. The melody is great, it's exactly the kind of music I listen to outside of ESC. But good lord, do I hate the repetitive self-empowerment lyrics in the chorus.

Denmark Ehhh... She's a good singer I guess.

Estonia I think it's my favorite song of the year? Similarly to Trenulețul it just activates some primal dance spirit in me. Suit jackets on the naked body are still a crime against humanity tho.

Finland Yeah, I'm sorry, but if you hate No Rules, then you hate fun.

France France keeps trying to hide from us what's actually popular in their country.

Georgia It's another generic girl-bop ESC song, we've got half-a-dozen of these this year, but goddamn Nutsa is a fucking powerhouse.

Germany Imagine Dragons-ass production aside, the elephant sounds are such a bizarre choice.

Greece ... I'm sorry but Zari sounds like a bunch of noises with no melody to me, I'm very much not the target audience for this one and I don't get why everyone seems to love it so much.

Iceland Yeah, it's dated and kinda lame but in a very charming way.

Ireland Doomsday Blues is great, but because of all the layering and vocal distortions the live version will always be very different from the studio one. What I'm trying to say is that the live version sounds like an off-off-Broadway villain song.

Israel It's boring as fuck.

Italy It's nice but similarly to Greece I have no idea why is it so beloved by the fandom.

Latvia The song is so boring, that the most talked about part of Latvia's entry is Dons' lack of hair.

Lithuania After I've reassured myself that no, Luktelk does NOT sound like a Ruki Vverkh song it became pretty good.

Luxembourg So much potential in Luxembourg's comeback and yet they went with the most mid(tempo) song ever.

Malta Another generic girl-bop, and the closest we've gotten to an actual SloMo copycat, but it's okay I guess.

Moldova I almost forgot to write anything about Moldova before posting it, which is all you need to know about my opinion on In The Middle.

Netherlands I hate to say it, but I kinda love it? Yeah, Joost has the most punchable face in the history of humanity and I've made several references to my comedically exaggerated hatred of 90s dance music, but Europapa just keeps getting better the more I listen to it.

Norway I like it, but can't really say anything about it other than that.

Poland Very "topped at number 37 in Billboard hot 100 in 2019 and then was featured in a couple ads"-coded

Portugal One of the Portuguese entries of all time (i still like it tho)

San Marino Not as good as Arcadia but I'm happy Megara have made it to Eurovision anyway :)

Serbia It's fine.

Slovenia Similarly to Belgium, I wish I loved it more than I do.

Spain Really fun entry, iconic journey to ESC, but the weak vocals will be the reason the juries will murder Zorra in the Grand Final.

Sweden Not as forgettable as everyone says it is but it's still polished Swedish pop entry #569328

Switzerland From testing the limits of my attention span two years ago to making the most ADHD song of the year, huh. The Code is so many things at once and yet it works without feeling like a disjointed mess.

Ukraine I miss the times when Jerry was making funny meme songs, now we're stuck with her religious awakening era. Alyona's verse is the highlight of the song, everything else is good if you don't think about the lyrics too much.

United Kingdom I don't know how, but the UK has managed to make a decent song that I kind of hate yet again. The production in Dizzy annoys me to no end, I fucking hate the bells and the synths in the chorus, why are they so fucking annoying.

[chelseafcwmemes]

https://avisendanmark.dk/sport/lysten-til-et-nyt-eventyr-og-tysk-disciplin-lokkede-harder-til-bayern

I assume most of you won’t have access. So while I can still use this magic trick, here’s the translated version

The desire for a new adventure and German discipline lured Harder to Bayern

Pernille Harder is leaving Chelsea this summer to return to German football. This time for Bayern Munich, where she hopes to complete the trophy list. Pernille Harder is one of the world's very best soccer players, and there isn't a major European club that wouldn't want to have her on the team card. Her presence alone seems to guarantee championships. She has won the national championship eight years in a row in three different countries. In mid-May, she announced that it was time for a new adventure after three years at Chelsea.

- I think it's exciting to enter new cultures and new clubs and to be in the phase where you join a new team and have to get to know a lot of new people and become part of a new culture, says Harder about the decision.

Several sports managers in the world's top clubs have undoubtedly stuck out a feeler. But what new adventure did Harder want after spending time in Sweden, Germany and England? Try the southern sun and crowded stands in Spain or Italy? The big teams PSG or Lyon in France? Or maybe the US? None of the parts. Together with his Swedish teammate and girlfriend Magdalena Eriksson, Harder signed a contract with the newly crowned German champions from Bayern Munich.

- I feel comfortable in Germany. Everyone works hard for the team, and you arrive on time. There is that "ordnung muss sein" approach and you are like a family on the team. It's cool, I think, says the Danish star striker.

Bayern Munich does not have a great history in the women's Champions League, but in recent years the team has played its way up to the top of Europe. The quarter-finals were the final stop in the last Champions Leauge season, but for the second time in three years they brought home the German championship in front of Pernille Harder's former club Wolfsburg. Bayern are currently fifth in the European rankings, and ambitions are high in the German club. Otherwise, the urge for German discipline would not have been enough to lure Harder back to the Danish neighbor to the south.

- There is no doubt that I want to play in the Champions League. I want to be in the tournament, and when I am in the tournament, I will do everything to win it, says Harder.

Three times she has been in the final, twice with Wolfsburg and once with Chelsea, but each time she has had to watch the opponents lift the trophy under the rain of confetti. Although Bayern beat eventual winners FC Barcelona last season, there are a small handful of teams who are still considered heavy favorites to triumph in the tournament. But that may very well change in the coming years, believes 30-year-old Harder, who has signed a contract with the southern Germans for the next three seasons.

- The club's goal is to win the league and the cup tournament and also get up to where you can win the Champions League. That is the goal for the future, says Harder.

These days she is gathered with the rest of the national team in Herning ahead of the WC finals in Australia and New Zealand, which begin on 20 July. On July 5, Denmark plays a test match against Spain in Gladsaxe, while the first match for Harder and co. at the WC will be July 22 against China. Then England and Haiti await in the group.

[chrisis-averted]

Eurovision 2023 Personal Opinions

Albania: not my thing but cute, it’s a whole family!

Armenia: first female rap in ESC history, love it!

Australia: fucking BANGER! I l love this!

Austria: ah, yes, this is going to be stuck in my head for several years

Azerbaijan: alright, I get it’s in Liverpool but these guys look and sound like a Beatles cover band

Belgium: could be a Gay Pride anthem but as a song it’s kind of lacking

Croatia: I hated it at first but it grew on me, I find the concept kind of hilarious

Cyprus: genuinely a good melody and voice, not a fan of the lyrics

Czechia: the opposite, I love the lyrics but I can’t bring myself to like the song, the music video creeps me a little

Denmark: why does Walmart Justin Bieber look like a very good looking lesbian?

Estonia: like the song but I feel like it was written for a different voice

Finland: weird enough to be enjoyable

France: it’s sure french, but it has a nice modern beat, feels like the soundtrack of a femme fatale

Georgia: still can’t decide whether I like this or not

Germany: about FUCKING TIME Germany sent a metal song! Can’t wait to see this live!

Greece: he is BABY but his voice doesn’t fit his face, great song tho

Iceland: kind of falls flat after the last couple of years

Ireland: nice pleasant song, but kind of lacks feeling, I’d listen to this in my car

Israel: most dramatic start of this contest, the music is great up the second chorus then it gets worse

Italy: very disappointed, there were much better and unique songs in the contest and the most generic ballad won; by no means a bad song, it’s just something I’ve heard before

Latvia: nice song, depressing lyrics, it reminds me of Death Stranding for some reason

Lithuania: not bad, I’d sing this

Malta: genuinely funny and enjoyable song, also MOOD

Moldova: glad to see the tradition of having an ethnic flute at eurovision isn’t going to break, a genuine ethnic bop

Netherlands: I can hear the Duncan Lawrence influence, nice song and meaning, the harmony is exceptional

Norway: YOU GO QUEEN

Poland: ...she can’t fucking sing and the whole music video is just shots of her ass and boobs, what is going on?

Portugal: ethnic and fun, I don’t think it will be popular but it should

Romania: I’m...not sure what this song wants to be

San Marino: after the last couple years, they kind of fall flat, especially in song meaning, down there with Poland, and they sound like they sing at birthday parties rather than at international competitions

Serbia: keep it weird, guys, I’m absolutely in love with his weird moans

Slovenia: another car trip song, but this one with a flavor of depressing meaning, wow my generation isn’t ok

Spain: I’m glad they tried something different, but it’s really not my thing

Sweden: I love Loreen, but I don’t understand how this is the favorite, it’s not that great a song

Switzerland: currently my favourite, both in melody and meaning, I don’t understand the bad feedback, are people really that petty?

Ukraine: not really my thing, I get they’re the winners but meh

United Kingdom: is the curse broken?? this is genuinely a good bop!

[tilbageidanmark]

998 Movies in 2023...

In 2021 I saw 885 movies...

In 2022 I saw 954 movies...

And in 2023 I saw 998 movies.

Yes, I've seen nearly 3 movies every single day for the last three years. Yes, I have no life, Etc. But I like it, and it works for me. So if anybody have an issue with that, they are cordially invited to fuck off. This solitary habit had evolved into an ongoing writing project, where I jog down every night a paragraph or two about each movie, and that fills me up with a sense of a minor achievement, sufficient enough to keep me going.

Most of the movies (like everything else in life) were mediocre, but about 150 were stand-outs, so on average, every two days I experienced some sort of an emotional release, a catharsis, if you will, which had made the whole project worthwhile for me.

Here are some stats, and a few random discoveries that I really enjoyed.

First of all, I made it a point to see more movies directed by women – 156 in total. I'm going to concentrate even more on female movie-making.

I also continued to explore the vast and interesting world of “foreign” cinema, (i.e. “Not from the USA”): 520 films in 2023 [52% of the total]. I plan on increasing this percentage much more next year.

The countries from which I saw the largest number were France (100), UK (70), Denmark (30), Italy and Japan (24 each), Germany and Spain (19 each), Iceland (14), Canada and Finland (13), Sweden (12), Ireland, Poland and Scotland (11). The other films were from Chile, Argentina, China, India, Mexico, Australia, Norway, Belgium, Iran, Korea, Hungary, Portugal, Brazil, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Greece, The Netherlands, Armenia, Austria, Bolivia, Colombia, Hong Kong, Iraq, Israel, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mauritania, Mongolia, New Zealand, Palestine, Polynesia, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Uruguay, Yugoslavia. There was even one movie in ancient Babylonian!

I don't keep track of the genres, and I sample nearly everything. I love to cry 'and laugh and cry all again', so I mostly seek stories with “real” personal emotions. Obviously, many are dramas, art-house fair. I still have never seen any superheroes movie in my life. And I usually refuse to watch any horror, space operas, franchise, most blockbusters, supernatural, sci-fi, fantasy, and not too much 'action’.

Recently, I started picking up movies from this Wikipedia List of films with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as lists of winners and contenders from various European film festivals.

Of the 998 movies, 103 were documentaries, 119 were films I've seen before, 150 were shorts, (and 26 were so bad I couldn't finish them).

For their age, I only saw 35 silent movies, but a whopping 111 movies from 2023. The rest are spread in between.

I did discover many new directors I fell in love with with, too many to list here. If anybody is interested in reading my personal opinions, they can re-visit the tag 'Movies' here. I post about 20 reviews every Monday.

So here are just a few of my off-beat favorite 2023 discoveries:

'The Mill and the cross' (2011) by Polish poet Lech Majewski: A literal recreation of Bruegel’s 1564 painting ‘The Procession to Calvary’, done in Newport Beach’s ‘Pageant of the Masters’ style. With a minimal narrative and nearly no dialog, it transports a masterpiece from one medium into another.

'The organizer' (1963) by Mario Monicelli, with Marcello Mastroianni. A unionist trying to organize workers laboring in inhuman conditions at a late 19th Century textile factory in Turin. A Neo-realistic and unsentimental look at the eternal struggle for control of the means of production.

'Close' (2022), innocent lost, by Belgian Lukas Dhont. Movingly and tenderly it details an intimate friendship - love, rather - between two 13-year-old boys.

The documentary 'Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb' (2022), about the relationship between two remarkable men: The LBJ biographer and his lifelong editor.

'The Maid' by Chilean director Sebastián Silva, a perfectly simple drama about the life of a live-in housekeeper. It was one of a dozen movies I saw about 'Domestics', an emerging sub-genre, mostly from South America and South-east Asia.

'Timbuktu' from Mauritania (2014), by Malian film director Abderrahmane Sissako. A heart-breaking tragedy about terror in the barren Sahara desert. Senseless religious laws imposed by a patriarchal and fanatic group on simple villagers.

'Spring Blossom' (2020), a gentle drama of a shy 16 year old girl who falls in love with a 35 man she sees outside a local theater. [Like Quinn Shephard’s ‘Blame’], it’s twice as impressive, because it was written by the talented Suzanne Lindon when she was only 15, and she directed it and starred in it before she was 20.

The earlier films of Irish director John Michael McDonagh, 'The Guard' and 'Calvary', both with Brendan Gleeson. (But not 'War on everyone' which was awful).

All of Lynne Ramsay's Glasgow-based dramas, especially 'Gasman', her first short, and 'Ratcatcher', her debut feature. Heartbreaking, transformative masterpieces. The same goes for Ken Loach's 1969 'Kes' and 'I, Daniel Blake' from 2016.

Re-watch: Nils Malmros's 1981 'The tree of knowledge'. It has always been my favorite Danish movie, and also one of my general All-time Top-Five favorites - Ever. Together with Truffault’s ‘Small Change’, it’s also the best movie about children, the pains of puberty and the joys of adolescence.

'The Ballad of the Weeping Spring' is a “different” (and hard-to find!) Israeli cult film from 2012. An homage to Kurosawa’s Samurai films, and to Sergio Leone’s Westerns, it’s a mystical pilgrimage into the origins of “Oriental / Mediterranean Music”. After inadvertently killing his two friends and living off the grid for 20 years, the mythical band leader of the defunct “Turkish Ensemble” is recruited to “put the band together”, and is looking for 9 other musicians to play for his dying ex-partner.

Jody Foster's documentary 'Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché' (2018). Alice Guy-Blaché was the first ever female filmmaker, and history’s first director of narrative cinema. An enormously important figure, who was erased and forgotten until her recent resurgence. Like ‘The Méliès Mystery’ documentary, these two biographies are a must-see for any film lover.

'The house is black' (1963), by another female pioneer, Iranian avant-garde poet Forugh Farrokhzad. A harrowing documentary about a real leper colony.

Werner Herzog, Radical dreamer, a 2022 German documentary about the greatest living filmmaker, one of the greatest of all time.

And not to be accused for being an elitist, I've re-watched (some as many as FOUR times this year!) many of my all time 'guilty pleasures': 'In the loop', 'Long Shot' with Charlize Theron, The Icelandic 'Echo', 'Office Space', 'After the wedding', 'Hot Fuzz', 'A simple favor', 'Cold war', 'Margin call', 'Belle de Jour', 'Chinatown', 'The conversation', 'Game night', 'To kill a mockingbird', 'world of tomorrow', 'Midnight run', 'Burn after reading', Etc., etc.

[Photo Above: I didn't realize, and didn't find it mentioned anywhere, but Buñuel gave himself a little cameo in 'Belle De Jour'!]

So what does it all mean? Nothing, really. Except of food, air, and some minimal travel, I don't consume much of anything any more. I don't have a TV, cars, streaming services, any belongings, or attachments. But I recognize that this obsessive viewing is also some form of unhealthy consumption. Anyway, for the time being, I'll just keep doing it.

[And to answer a question that may come up, I view 100% of these movies on “free” streamers. I'm not ashamed of it, on the contrary!]

So far, in 2024 I only saw 2 movies, both of which I've seen before: René Laloux's 'Fantastic Planet', and one of my most precious films from last year, Celine Song's 'Past Lives'. 10/10 for both - will watch again!

Adios, mothers'.

[This is copy from my r/truefilm post]

[one-tired-enby]

Eurovision songs are wayyyy too fire this year.

My opinions/feels on each

Albania: loved the video and the song, the beat and singing slap

Armenia: ....i have mixed feelings, it's just an Ariana Grande copy and a twist

Australia: I am intrigued but not in love even with the screamo change

Austria: I am confused about the video and the addition of ball room in it but love the whole thing

Azerbaijan is so Weazer coded and I love it. They look like they're 12 tho.

Belgium: gives pussy so hard and I am amazed

Croatia: I am stupidly obsessed

Cyprus: ....naw.....

Czechia: hello I love???? I'm scared and intrigued

Denmark: not all the auto tune 😭😭😭 also Boy is too skinny

Estonia: no strong feelings in any direction, not too much of a fan

Finland: i love how chaotic Eurovision people are

France: i can forgive the French for this one time, it's giving Gaga

Georgia: not bad, not my type of music

Germany: 😭😭😭 why do y'all gotta be like this, i love you germany but dog damn it

Greece: ...I know this aesthetic and style is popular but I am not a fan

Iceland: she's adorable and I love her

Ireland: I have feelings but I can't explain them. I like the sound but hate the masks.

Israel: power of a unicorn,,,,????????? No

Italy: he's cute

Latvia: I am so confused 😭😭😭

Lithuania: is this not a girl group???

Malta: im a fan with that saxophone

Moldova: I wanna dance in the club to this for sure

Netherlands: cute

Norway: damn girl that voice

Poland: 1000% white girl party song and I like it

Portugal: i like the group and the vibe

Romania: I wish I knew what he was saying

San Marino: they put in a hell of a show, I liked it and they sounds good

Serbia: YALL WHAT, this is fire

Slovenia: I will definitely listen to this over and over

Spain: :/ my ears aren't a fan but I want to like them

Sweden: not bad

Switzerland: this should be an American anthem 😭😂

Ukraine: daaaaaaang im kinda obsessed fr

UK: I don't know why I assumed it would be Ice Spice for the UK.

[sparkleapple]

Eurovision 2023 Review

Albania - Albania's back to what they usually do, but I'm not mad at this. Considering we are lacking ethnic songs this year, we need something I like and I'm digging the electric guitar.

Armenia - After a few listens, I really like this song. Her voice reminds of Zoey Deschanel in the beginning though.

Australia - It's just there

Austria - I want to like this song, but acapella does not appeal to me whatsoever

Azerbaijan - It's to nice see that it's a locally written and produced song and not some manufactured song by Swedes, but it's not a very memorable song. I hope that doesn't discourage more actual Azerbaijani songs in the future.

Belgium - What tf were they smoking when they chose this?! It sounds like something that would play in the background when I used to work at Express.

Croatia - Hot mess

Cyprus - He has a great voice, but it sounds too much like an Imagine Dragons song... Not the first time in recent year they sent a song that sounds like another...

Czech Republic - Fun fact: This is the only country whose NF I keep up with for whatever reason and for the first time, they chose the song that was my top choice! I love it and I actually like the rap part.

Denmark - Sure it's basic, but it's grown on me. It's catchy and I think it's cool that he's from the Faroe Islands

Estonia - One of the better ballads this year and she has a nice voice.

Finland - Ooh this one's an earworm and he's one hell of a performer. I'm also a sucker for some techno and something outside the box.

France - Why did they select someone that's not French? Anyway I think it's. nice, but it's missing something to feel like a complete song.

Georgia - They didn't play around this time. They have a former ESC Junior singer and she delivered even if the song song isn't about anything.

Germany - The actual authentic German song we needed that won't end up in the bottom 5. The song title, "Blood and Glitter” feels gimmicky and made for ESC though.

Greece - After years of a tacofest, we got a male singer for once! The song is a let down though. It's pretty basic and I don't like cursive singing.

Iceland - She's got a great voice, but this is giving Christian pop

Ireland - It's just there as always

Israel - Really try hard and feels like a 4 different songs. I like the beginning of the song, but it gets annoying towards the end.

Italy - It's pretty and classy, but it pretty much sounds like your typical Italian ballad. Marco is cute though.

Latvia - Not much to say here, but I appreciate it for what it is and I've realized Latvia usually sends some degree of electronic songs.

Lithuania - It's just there

Malta - Another nation that is lo longer a tacofest. The song is not very competitive, but I like it. it's a fun with a nice saxophone.

Moldova - I usually don't care for their songs, but I love this! I'm a sucker for a great ethnic sound and Moldova accomplish this and takes me to a mysterious and enchanted forest.

The Netherlands - Basic and it sounds too much like a Zedd song.

Norway - I like a good techno beat, but y'all are overhyping this song. It isn't that special and I do not like her voice.

Poland - Oh my christ on a bike, this song does not deserve to be here and Blanka seems like a very unlikable person, yet I'm here liking the song. It's the type of music I would bop too, even if it's trash...

Portugal - I was expecting a nice ballad, but I'm not complaining about this upbeat song. It's been a while Portugal sent something fun.

Romania - Sooo underrated. If you overlook that mess of a national performance, it's a really song and he has a great voice.

San Marino - I keep forgetting about it

Serbia - I've realized it's been a while they sent a male performer, but I can imagine him killing it on stage and the industrial sound will stand out. I love the parts where he throws in some Serbian.

Slovenia - A pleasant surprise. It's one of my favorites! I hope they give Slovenia their highest result yet!

Spain - A pleasant surprise. It feels like I'm at a cultural theatre. I wouldn't be mad if this was in the top 3 (unlike the trash last year).

Sweden - Sure the song is good with a great performance and Loreen is singing her heart out, but I really do not need her here and I certaintainly do not want her to win again.

Switzerland - Another slow song? It's one of the better ballads this year and the piano is so pretty.

Ukraine - So underrated by fans. I love this song.

UK - It's a cute bop. I like it.

Overall, another bland year in a row. i couldn't even write interesting comments, but here we are.

[alexbkrieger13]

Here are the groups in Nations League A:

Group 1:

England

Netherlands

Belgium

Scotland

Group 2:

France

Norway

Austria

Portugal

Group 3:

Germany

Denmark

Iceland

Wales

Group 4

Sweden

Spain

Italy

Switzerland

You play each team twice in the group stage, and the four winners will advance to a play off, where the two best teams, other than France, will qualify for the Olympics. So if France makes the final, the winner in the 3rd place match will reach the Olympics. If France doesn’t reach the final, it’s the two finalists.

Will obviously be incredibly difficult. The Olympics having 12 teams and only 3 slots for Uefa is of course getting ridiculous given the increased competitiveness of women’s football. It leaves out so many teams. As a comparison AFC (Asia) had 6 slots for this world cup, including Australia’s automatic spot. The Olympics doesn’t even have as many teams as the Euros which has 16, and not even half as many teams as the world cup. I still can’t believe they didn’t chance it to 16 teams for this tournament, like the U23 men have. But that’s a different discussion I guess.

Then there is also the issue of England and Scotland being in the same group, which probably shouldn’t have been allowed. It’s England’s result that determines Great Britain’s participation in the Olympics. So if Scotland manage to beat them, those players destroy their own chances of reaching the Olympics. You obviously want to avoid situations like that where you risk talk of biases and of teams not doing their best.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_UEFA_Women%27s_Nations_League_A

yea next few international breaks are going to be very stressful

[rmfantasysetpieces1]

Womens World Cup 2023 Round of 16

Switzerland vs Spain

Last round Spain were beaten by a better technical team. Switzerland isn't that. But Switzerland proved they can fight against an exeprience UEFA side, so Spain is not unknown to them. This is a battle.

Netherlands vs South Africa

Netherlands drew against the USA so a team that can run with the Netherlands or run more than them can put them in the heels. But this is a one off match so both teams will know it is win or go home. South Africa know this current form they are in can't keep a clean sheet so they have to execute sharply in attack.

Japan vs Norway

Nippon last round evaded a big woman team. And beat highly skilled, newbie, or in flux. Norway isn't the most skilled opponent Nippon will have faced, not a newbie. Did Norway knock themselves out of flux with their last match. Norway will prove how narrowly escaped or how slow a starter they are this tournament. Nippon are focused, take no team for granted. Will look to progress and can't show inconsistency, haven't lost and now must win.

Sweden vs USA

This is a battle, Sweden knows who they are and play to who they are. The USA will not have athletic dominance and when the USA doesn't have the ability to override athletically, it becomes rough. Is Sweden is on the rise, Is the USA on the decline?

Australia vs Denmark

Two battling sides. Australia is at home. This is winable. Denmark must be ready for the fight. Can't count denmark out but the crowd might energize Australia.

France vs Morocco

This is like Nigeria versus england... Morocco plus Nigeria have a huge chance for their identity. Morocco knows France ,morocco can beat France. Morocco will show their mentality while France if wise will not be unprepared. Their coach certainly won't underestimate.

England vs Nigeria

England will be familiar with many of the Nigeria players. Can England technically rise as Nigeria have athleticism. Nigeria womens team , if it ever wanted a moment to make a statement, it is now. England like France in Africa is an old enemy, but an enemy that has become idolized as well as hated. A win against England for Nigeria women is a trophy.

Colombia vs Jamaica

Funny how colombia plus Jamaica connect through the caribbean. Jamaica can look aat Morocco and view Colombia as defeatable . Colombia to be a big team has to know how to do both, defeat the big plus the small consistently. Great Battle.

#RMSoccer

[andiessoccerblog]

Group Stage Update

I have been busy being a tourist in New Zealand, which is a beautiful country, and have not had time to sit down and talk through all the games happening. Groups A, B, and C have already played their last group stage games and teams have moved on to the knockout round, and other teams will do the same in the next three days. 

Group A

Group A was the wildest group by far, with each team getting at least one win. This meant that each team had the ability to advance to the knockout stage with a win in their last game. Switzerland ended up winning the group with a win and two ties, and Norway took second place with only one win and one tie. The last games were probably the least dramatic–Norway steamrolled the Philippines 6-0, and Switzerland held New Zealand to a 0-0 tie. It was a hard game to watch, as Switzerland seemed to be playing for the tie instead of a win, while New Zealand threw everything they had at the game and still came up short.

Group B

This group also had some chaos, with the marquee teams Australia and Canada both struggling, and both needing a win against the other to move on. But it wasn't the close match a lot of people expected, Australia ended up dominating 4-0, preventing Canada, the current Olympic gold-medalists, from moving out of group stage. Big Oof. Nigeria also qualified for the knockout stage, with two 0-0 ties, and a surprise win over Australia, which seems to have kicked the host country into action before their Canada game. Maybe they owe Nigeria a thank you?

Group C

This was a classic group stage–no ties, no upsets. Japan won all three games, including a decisive 4-0 win against Spain, even though Spain held 77% possession. Japan's counterattack is LETHAL. For their part, Spain won pretty easily against the other two group opponents, but they will need to be on their toes in the knockout stage.

Group D

This is another group shaping up to be a classic group stage with no upsets–but although the results look normal, the games have been anything but. Haiti has kept both of their games to only 1-0 losses, and England has only had 1-0 wins. England can go through with a win or a tie, but could technically get knocked out if both Denmark and China with with goal differentials greater than 2. Math is fun!!

Group E

USA play tonight against Portugal, and need a win or a tie to go through. Although both USA and Netherlands are slated to go through, either team could get knocked out by an upset. I'm stressed.

Group F

F is for…France? Fail? Freedom? Right now, France and Jamaica are the top two teams in the group. If things go as expected in their games tomorrow, France and Brazil will be the top two. But none of the games in this group have been "as expected". I'll be at the France vs. panama game in Sydney tomorrow night. Allez les Blues! 

Group G

Sweden has locked in their path to the world cup with two wins, but any other team could be the second team to go through. Argentina has a tough task with their last game against Sweden, but Italy and South Africa will literally be battling head to head for the last spot. Italy could get through with a win or a tie, while South Africa needs an outright win. 

Group H

Colombia has surprised the world by beating Germany for their second win, locking them in for the group stage. Germany did generally play well and will likely take the second spot, barring any HUGE upset by South Korea, but that's not impossible after two upsets in their last three games (Zambia and Colombia). 

[valkerymillenia]

Watching the second Eurovision semifinal!

Thoughts:

Not a fan of Denmark's song. Feels bland to me. Idk, maybe it's just me.

Armenia has a lovely voice but the song kinda lacks personality? Plus she's trying to do too much on stage but that doesn't make up for the song itself. It's not for me.

Romania is just plain boring. Very weak song.

Estonia is another one with a lovely voice and a bland song. It's not a terrible ballad but lacks a wow factor.

So far this semifinal has had a very weak start.

Ok, Belgium finally picks up the slack. Very disco pop, catchy, fun. I like. Plus drag on the screens, fun.

Is it me or is there a lot of pink in this semifinal?

Cyprus is pretty ok, not a winner but pleasant, I like it.

And there's the fire performance of this year, I guess.

Iceland is not bad but idk, maybe I'm having an off day but I find it boring too.

Oh look! Greece is NOT performing in white. It's a miracle. Still, full beige, dude?

Ugh, I don't like Greece's song either. Wtf is this, dude? You're not even trying half the time.

Meh. This semifinal is disappointing so far.

Ah, yes Polish song that everyone's been talking about. Catchy chorus, nice beat, yes, and kinda cute but still not a winner.

More "fire", huh?

Ok, Slovenia, I'm liking the beat but still feels real generic and kinda boring.

And now pink clothing. Huh, is it a trend this year or something?

Georgia giving us something a little different, which kudos, but... Again, not captivating me.

Oof, seizure warning, ma'am.

It's that Luke Evans???

San Marino giving discount Mika vibes. Don't hate it, don't love it either. Meh.

Not a very competitive semifinal this time, is it? Idk, maybe I'm being too harsh.

Ah, yes, Austria! Finally, something fun! They better pass!

Oh... Ok, I'm digging Albania, very pretty. Please let them make the final.

I think I saw the official video for Albania, it was quite emotional.

Lithuania, it's ok, not bad.

Australia is good, not a winner to me but it's good.

Oh cool synth. Haven't seen that in a while.

Not many campy or showstopping stage performances this year, I see.

Favs: Albania and Austria.

But they still don't surpass my favorites from the first semifinal, I still prefer Czechia, Norway, Moldova and Portugal.

[thankstothe]

1. Denmark. Literal child? Voice doesn't have enough power to hit those notes. Like that pink to green change on stage

I SEE THE DADI FREYR IN THE BG OMG ICELAND BABY (btw did they bleach their flag?)

2. Armenia. Laying on the floor. Classic. Somewhat continued pink theme at start. The thing I love, no sarcasm, is that sometimes you can't tell if they actually sing in English. Oh it wasn't a floor, it was a wall. Revolutionary.

Ew, showing Beatles statues. Have to shove your famous boys against a poet and clowns? This is why no one likes you UK

3. Romania. Oh let's go, native language, cool voice, pink suit, playing with genres. This is why im here. Staging is a letdown, you could literally just follow with the camera on foot.

4. Estonia. Oh piano plays itself, no fire yet. Now she plays it. I hope it ends with piano retaliation and attack. Average ballad and in English, boring. Go off piano, love that it has a mic too.

5. Belgium. Pink is back, yas. Love asymmetrical hat. Okay back up vocals have more power that main man, like damn, turn them up! Kinda like that low beat. Fun.funfun

Graham yooo, the only uk host im excited to see in final. So weird to see him and hear him at the same time lmao.

6. Cyprus. wooo. Didn't get memo for the pink theme. woooOOOooo. English, but accent is thick so I'll take it. wooooOoOoO. Gets some shoes boy, barefoot look didn't add shit. I wonder how warm is the floor tho, lights and all the pyre prob heats it up good. Woooo

7. Iceland. Everyone shut up its iceland. Im biased. Laying on the floor, brilliant move. Oh red lining in the coat, great. Some pink light's so were in the clear there too. Asserting more dominance over the floor and laying on in some more. She jacked, wow. Good voice. Song? I felt nothing.

8. Greece. Laying on the floor. Waiting for the pink to cross it off my list. Oh no your voice isn't there to jump or even move and sing, sorry. Also no pink. ФEELINGS. Why are you doing that with that alphabet shuffle. Causing me pain, that's what. Do that with sung word and we'll talk.

9. Poland. Pink hell yah. This is makes me have flashbacks to the 00s radio. Everything, voice dance, costumes, underwhelming. Oh so her dress was shitty because it was hiding another dress and not 00s reference? Makes sense. Fuego attempt, sorry you're not HER

10. Slovenia. Not English + nasty bass, okay boys! Some pink clothing. Raided their parents closet from 80s. Can't pinpoint the high singer sadly.

11. Georgia. I was excited that she was yelling at me and then she stopped... Obsessed with the instrumentals. Pink appears on the screens briefly, if you care. Amazing voice, blew the dress away.

WELSH FLAG YES BITCH

What is that actor forgor here, he's not here to talk about anything substantial I bet. Alluding to Ukraine, not even head on mention, are you kidding me?

12. San Marino. Rocky. What's with the sound mixing this year, they let this one down. Oh eyes on the walls, ok. Laying on the floor gives you some kind of points, at least I can have list. No pink, but there was like only red.

13. Austria. Okay fun start, go queens! Very interesting vocal turns and melodies. Staging is immaculate! Costumes are great. UGH. Edgar lmao. A lot of red, we moving the spectrum it seems.

14. Albania. I swear Albania sent this before. Sorry, deja vu is insane for me here. Flashing aggressive red lights solidified spectrum change. Native language is an automatic W. Wait, I thought the limit was 5 people on stage, they had 6.

15. Lithuania. Pink and red, bold choice, bringing it all together. Okay more of a purple and orange, shut up. Back up is overpowering her when they sing chorus, at least it mixed better.

16. Australia. Oh I liked thier postcard bridge. Doing interesting thing with camera, lights. Some pink and red. Oh was that a brief breakdown, alrighty. Crisp guitars and synth. Ending with headbang, very energetic!

Pretty fun semifinals overall