#like I hate to break it to you fellas but the people oppressing you do not see you as men.

[feuilletoniste]

No they’re not lmao.

[rist-ix]

The sparxshipping teasing from Iginio got me wondering.... if we ever did get canon sparxshipping explored, whether in a reboot or new adaptation, how would you like it for it to be done?

I'm gonna try to answer both of these in one post cause they overlap a little, but first of all thank you!

Buckle up fellas I'm bringing discourse.

This is gonna be a bit of an unpopular opinion I think, and it’s that I don’t want sparxshipping to be canon at all.

Feel free to get the pitchforks, but until then imma talk. I have villainships that I think not only add something to the overall plot, they kind of define it too. Reylo for examples, with its themes of redemption, masks and compassion, or Darklina and how important their relationship is to the war and Grisha oppression, or Lotor and Allura with its symbolism of breaking the cycle of abuse, making peace, reclaiming a heritage thought lost and so on.

To put it very briskly: an established Sparxshipping relationship adds nothing to the plot. It would have to be a plot of its own, and while there are tons of fascinating plot threads you could weave back into Domino, Bloom's family and the war before the Fall, it is simply, plainly, and rightfully so not the story Winx Club is telling.

Winx Club, at its core, is about the girls and their friendship. That is the show I love, and that is the show I am invested in. Fanfiction is a separate thing, I’ll get into that later. But canon, commercially produced and globally aired Winx Club is what we are talking about now. And the one defining truth of Winx Club is that it’s about the Winx. Their boyfriends are the side note, the Kens to their Barbies, to cement them as the cool popular teenagers younger kids are supposed to see them as. If Bloom and Valtor had a lasting serious relationship, Valtor would inevitably have to be shoved into that category as well, and that would ruin the entire appeal of him.

To boil it down even more: if sparxshipping were canon, either Winx Club would have to shift away from its intrinsic premise and formula, or Valtor would have to be diminished beyond recognition. So my longstanding opinion has always been: don’t make sparxshipping canon. Just don’t.

What I, personally, would do if I were ever to gain access to the mythical and likely overcrowded writing room at Rainbow SpA, is this:

Tease the fuck out of it.

Lean into their fucked up little hate-obsession. Every time they share the screen they have to be radiating unresolved sexual tension. Their chemistry has to be so off-the-charts it sparks a million fanfics before the season even ends. If there aren’t so many crappy amv's set to angsty Taylor swift songs it brings down the YouTube servers by midnight you have failed. Because canon is bound to certain limits, but fanfiction is NOT. The goal of any show should be to create something that will awaken an inescapable need to build on it, to continue where it left off, or to wonder but-what-if? To make people text incoherent keysmashes to their fandom buddies with shaky hands in the middle of the night and be unable to sleep until they’ve confirmed their buddy has seen it too.

I would want to see Bloom go fully I-have-lost-sight-of-everything-but-revenge until her friends manage to pull her back, I would want them to fight so vehemently the structures around them collapse and they don’t even notice. They should be in situations where they are UNDENIABLY going to die if they fight on and they still do it, they literally CANNOT stop, they don’t care to. To the point that everyone around them is seriously concerned and talking about their terrifying obsession with each other, more or less out in the open. And after a season full of epic fight scenes, high stake conflicts and frankly obscene tension between them, I would want Bloom to kill him.

Straight up.

Give her that moment of calm self assurance, at peace and perfectly in control, while Valtor tries to gaslight-gatekeep-girlboss his way out of this, contrasting the way her support network and genuine, unconditional friendships strengthen her while Valtor, who is always sabotaging everyone around him, is forced to confront his own powerlessness in the face of the power that created him. His manipulation attempts have nothing to latch on to. They have one last exchange where Valtor is visibly furious at her denial of him / his own failure — to really drive home that this is Bloom's triumph — but the last words they exchange are cordial. Maybe a comment at her growth, or a warning about his mothers, or another way to foreshadow future threats — if he couldn’t defeat her, no one should. He ends on a high note, but he does end, and it’s at Bloom's hands. She retakes the corrupted spark into the Flame she is guarding, and that is that.

And then, and this is important. He fucking haunts her for the entire next story arc. The next season, the next two seasons maybe, because she has learned a fuck ton of things from him and it is really, really difficult to move on knowing everything she does, knowing everything he implied or hinted at, or simply knowing so many really, really cruel ways to get her way now, which isn’t who she wants to be, but it would be easy, quick and effective for the greater good, right?

Boom, character conflict for the next season established, lots of potential for future flashbacks or visions, Valtor stays on his high horse of forever-the-juiciest-fucking-villain-of-the-franchise and the story can move on.

The End

Cue three decades of mind-blowing fanfiction. We all say Thank you Rainbow and cry ourselves to sleep thinking about what could have been.

[transthadymacdermot]

sorry if youve ever talked abt this and I just missed it but do aoife and mary know each other/have a realtionship & if so whats it like

They're actually cousins! wall of text info about their families from my notes below the cut but essentially all you need to know is that Mary's (deceased) father Aidan was the brother of Aoife's (still living) father Francis and that the cousins did actually see quite a bit of one another as children, as one might expect, but Aoife is a few years younger than Mary + Mary ofc is amab and was forced to hang out with her boy cousins more so Mary and Aoife weren't specifically close. after Mary left home to work as a servant Aoife low key stopped thinking about her by herself at all lmao but she does vaguely dislike her purely because Mary's brother Art is, like, basically a cop*, and almost all of Mary's other brothers are in the British army, and Aoife subscribes to the theory that if one person in a family is bad everyone in it is equally guilty forever #womenswrongs. Mary thinks Aoife is misguided at best and a dangerous fanatic at worst but also feels bad for her because she thinks Aoife has been taken in by the wrong people who are just using her, although more than most other characters she recognises that many of Aoife's beliefs are actually really her own beliefs rather than just ~corruption~ from the men in her life and that Aoife is far cleverer than anyone gives her credit for. + Mary would never admit this but also she low key doesn't like any of her cousins because her uncle Francis still considers her dead abusive father who she was unironically glad to see killed a sound fella with a few demons and therefore fuck all his children also.

Aoife on the other hand, if she thinks of Mary, similarly thinks she's either misguided or stupid as hell. she kind of just doesn't say anything about the fact that Eoin is clearly in love with Mary because first of all obviously Mary's not interested atm and if Eoin made any of the radical life changes Mary wants him to make to get together (leave the gang, etc) Aoife would no longer be even remotely interested in him and would have bigger reasons to fuck off somewhere else than him, uh, breaking up with her. like she loves Eoin (and he loves her too. kinda. that's another post) and doesn't want Mary Stealing Her Man but also recognises that she'd definitely jump ship far before they got to that stage. that being said though, I cannot emphasise how much Mary is an NPC in Aoife's mind. atp Aoife has def forgotten that Mary ever even transitioned and just assumes that any memories of an older camab cousin from her childhood were Art and then gets so mad thinking about Art that she passes out

This is half finished so ignore that one of the descriptions cuts off halfway through and there's no fadas I'm going to fix it soon I prommy

*by which I don't necessarily mean that his job is exactly like that of a cop (although sometimes it's close) but more that his having joined the wholly protestant armagh yeomanry is like similar young catholic man joining the b-specials in the 60s levels of unhinged. everyone hates him and low key the entire rest of his family too for it both because he's joined the direct force of oppression against them (!!) and because one has to wonder what exactly he did to ingratiate himself with the other yeomen, who will have originally despised him. he's been attacked multiple times and mysterious sods of burning turf falling from the sky keep almost burning his house down but as of the start of my nanowrimo project he's still kicking 😒

[betweenthescarletmoon]

Things I realized upon second watch of the batman 2022: [S P O I L E R S]

- Edit: had to add that i somehow thought nirvana's something in the way was non-diegetic music. Then he TURNED IT DOWN, it was diegetic after all, how I missed the biggest emo evidence astounds me

- bats takes 17 secs to pick that last letter bc he's afraid of rats (thought it was only a christopher nolan thing) (yeah I outed myself as a pretty casual movie watcher, tho one gets to dream to be a movie buff)

- he does not actually change clothes in two secs. He just throws on a rlly oversized hoodie and a helmet and calls it a day moto ride

- eyes are bloodshot to all hell after nights and nights of hud contact lenses and kohl in/around them, and no sleep

- jaw twitched when nashton said his real name in arkham

- the beginning holds a parallel for the end bc the victims and those who didn't wish to be criminals feared him the same as the criminals. in the end there is still fear until he actually becomes a protector and not an avenger. That's only when they feel safe

- batman only speaks at length with gordon and selina, while bruce only speaks with alfred. He actually sounds kind of normal too. With others he's submerged in silence, or speaking in a graver voice

- bruce felt completely hurt and invalidated by riddler in that last interrogation scene, but paralyzed bc he thought riddler knew who he was. He was trapped in guilt UNTIL he realizes nashton doesn't know the most hated and most idolized people in his eyes are the same person. This therefore frees bats from that frightened state straight to fury. Because he's triggered. And so he snarls back all the bitterness that nashton directed at bruce (esp when nashton regretted that they couldn't get bruce, when alfred almost died in that incident instead), and was almost maliciously cruel. Trauma ain't pretty fellas. We just witnessed an emotional flashback and THEN a breakdown from nashton. Riddler was at least right in understanding that both are very broken with skewed senses of justice. The difference is bruce learns. Edward does not.

- Bruce was at the lowest point when selina contacts him. He decides to see her only because he seems to be allured to her or to care for her, against his better judgement/bitterness/distrust/jealousy/whatever he feels that makes him lash out at her that scene. Perhaps it was also the guilt of what happened to Alfred that caused him to project. But what dawned on me was that he melts like BUTTER under her touch as she asks him who he is, because he was so lonely, especially without Alfred, and because the legacy of his parents was being questioned and unraveled, which was tearing down his entire sense of meaning and identity. Add in the attraction and touch starvation and mental illness and insomnia, and you see a broken man trying not to break down at a loving touch. Fuck.

- bruce tells her to take care of herself bc shed been trying to convince him she can the entire movie, how did that not sink in

- all the parallels of orphans, from martha, to mitchell's son, to nashton, to selina, to bruce himself. I love how suffering is portrayed in all of them, always valid, always showcasing how something so horrid destroys or hollows people out, and how while privilege makes things easier (for mitchell and the waynes) it never, never erases the trauma. To invalidate that pain simply bc one is white or male or rich is so tone deaf. I love that they handled that while also portraying that the systemic oppression of the poor, the women, and the poc is very real and needs desperately to be fixed, since it only causes retraumatization and less opportunity to heal (look at how maria kyle, annika, and almost selina died, strangled, by the same man. Selina didn't have much chances but to stay in that horrid place, she needed the money.)

- bats and bruce both ask "do you know who I am? [...] I wanna see [insert mafia boss]". These bouncers rlly couldn't put two and two together

- I believe the shock impact of the shotgun hurt him a Lot even tho the armor is bulletproof. I sincerely wondered whether he was wounded the first time, whether the bullets can penetrate slightly or completely upon such pressure

- sunsets and sunrises are showcased when hope seems to be involved. A promise of a new day. A promise right before the darkest hour where fear abounds. Even after the flood, because he's there, helping however he can, we see the sunrise. And when he and selina kissed the first time in the sunset, it was a window of opportunity to end a kind of loneliness for him

- finally, the obvious: i somehow didn't notice the first time, but the way Bruce winces at sunlight like the vamp he is, and cringes a failed smile at the ppl that call for him right outside the funeral the moment he leaves his car. GREAT acting choices rob

[fanfiction-funtime]

Alexander Vodka lines

I did most of the characters, but some I don't know or genuinely can't think of anything. Hope this is good >-<

Hello: Hey there, your that Traveler fella ain’t ya? Hope I don't owe you copyrights for  the name. Hm? I don’t? Well then, what can I help ya with?

Adventures? Sure why not, I could use the inspiration.

Two names: You’re curious why I have two names? Well it's sort of a thing in Snezhnaya that officers and other high ranking people have two names, like how harbingers do. Since I’m a high ranking member of the Schneznayan authors association, well former member, I have the name “Eis Cay’zar” meaning “ice ruler”. And Alexander Vodka is a pen name. Hm? What's my resistance name and real one? Well now Traveler, a man must have some secrets.

Change of tone: Ah yes, people often find the way I change from more eloquent speech to more casual off putting. Well it's the same reason I wear two sets of clothes: sometimes I feel like looking like an old noir hero, other times I like looking like a new age caped crusader. Sometimes I like sounding high society, other times I enjoy sounding like I’m from Khaen’ria.

How do you know about Khaen’ria: Well I was looking for accents and found out about a place called “New York” or something, a bit of investigation and I discovered everything. My source? That's a secret, ehe.

Good morning: Mornin’ Traveler! What's in the mornin’ paper?

Noon: Lunch time, my favourite time of the day. Let’s go get some pizza, I’m famished!

Afternoon: Almost time to punch out, let's go knock some skulls first.

Night: *yawn* Today was fun, thanks buddy. Get some shut eye, or if you can't come meet me at (wanmin/angels share/the tea house), first rounds on me!

When it rains: I am so glad I got over my fear of contacts.

When it rains(with glasses outfit): Hey can we get under something? I can barely see!

When it stops raining: The smell that comes after rain has always been one of my favorites.

When it snows: Perfect weather to bundle up with a nice hot cup of hot chocolate!

When it stops snowing: Do you ever miss home, Traveler?

About freedom: I warned Barbados, you know that? I knew that as long as he saw it coming, Signora wouldn’t stand a chance. But he just looked at me and said, “good, when I’m gone mondstadt will be truly free of the gods”. That’s a man I’d follow to the depths of the abyss and back.

About Venti: Speaking of Barbados, he’s a great drinking buddy. Me and him knock back a couple hundred rounds whenever I’m in Mondstadt! Course I’m always paying the tab, but I consider it a way of repaying him for making songs about my books.

About Kaeya: The cavalry captain? He’s pretty cool if you ask me, modeled as Rex Mondoleon for the cover of a historical fiction book I made. But I’d still like to know what he’s hiding behind that smile.

About Diluc: Don’t tell him I told you this, but one time I found Diluc after he was hit by an abyss spell that made him drunk. While he was drunk he kept ranting about how sorry he is for kicking out his brother. The poor guy has all that forgiveness in him but he’s too afraid to let it out.

About Jean: The acting grandmaster of the knights is someone truly deserving of respect. She leads by being a good person and earning the respect of her people, and she has never once tried to cover up the mistakes of the knights. In fact if a knight makes a mistake she’ll rush out to fix it. Jean should be the grandmaster, not that crooked old bastard.

About Lisa: Lisa was my first friend in Mondstadt. She mailed me about getting copies of my books into the Mondstadt library, I said I’d do a signing to promote a new one, one thing led to another and now we have tea every ninth day of the month.

About Rosaria: Don’t tell anyone, but I’m very sure she’s a vampire. A nice one, but still.

About Barbara: Awe that little doll? I once saw her kill multiple fatui because they threatened some sick and injured travelers. So I think she’s a great person, takes compassion to save lives and guts to handle taking them as well.

About Bennett: Bennett? Yeah I know him, nice kid. He likes my books but kept breaking them, so now I make special enchanted ones so he can’t break them even if he tried.

About Razor: The guardian of wolvendom? He’s a weird one alright, but he’s not a bad guy. I taught him how to read and write.

About Fischl: That crazy kid? I don’t care what everyone else says, she’s nice. People need to learn to just leave people alone, she’s not hurting anyone with her persona.

About Noelle: You will never find someone more dedicated too...well anything than Noelle is too the knights and her training.

About Klee: Klee and I are great friends! Nothing is more stimulating than massive explosions!

About Amber: She always has interesting stories to tell, like one time where she got rid of some bandits by making a dummy merchant cart filled with explosives! Or the time she had to help a kid get her pet giant snake out from the cathedral!

About Zhongli: Heh, he thinks he’s slick, but I know he’s Rex Lapis. Gotta say I kinda hate him for just giving up his gnosis, however he did it to free his people so I can’t be mad.

About Ninnguang: Never much cared for economics because I don’t know much about ‘em, so I can’t say anything about her business sense. But I can say that she’s a great leader who puts her people first.

About Keqing: Haven’t talked to her enough to know much, but she’s dedicated to her people and that's enough for me. Her dislike of blind faith in the gods is definitely enough to make me want to get to know her better though.

About Qiqi: Qiqi’s a nice kid, I don’t care what anyone says her being a zombie doesn’t make her bad.

About Baizhu: Snake man? Nice guy, helps me be accurate in my books. Always worry about him though, one hot breeze and he’s out like a light.

About Xingqiu: Xingqiu always tries to hide his good deeds, and while I can respect anonymity I can’t let a hero go unsung. So I’ve written multiple short stories about him using a different name, and put in the beginnings that it’s based on a true story.

About Chongyun: His popsicles are great inventions, I’ve played around with the idea a bit and made flavored ones. So far I’ve got strawberry and grape down and am working on this weird fruit called a..Banananana? I think?

About Beidou: Captain Beidou is so cool! She tells me stories about her journeys out to see and I write about them, but after seeing her in action I can’t really say that I do her justice.

About Kazuha: Kazuha has suffered so much, yet he refuses to give up and curl up away from the world when he so easily could. I have immense respect for him.

About Xianling: You’d be surprised at how good slime and boar tusk can be.

About Xiao: I’ve written down many myths and legends of the yaksha, but sadly I've never seen him in person.

About Verr Goldet: Oh she’s great company! Good business sense, and always polite.

About Gorou: Many people rightly attribute the Resistance’s survival and victories to general Kokomi, but it’s wrong to say general Gorou isn’t a brilliant strategist. He knows how to rally his men against impossible odds, and how to keep them standing against them. I’d follow general Gorou into battle any day.

About Ayaka: Ayaka seems so lonely, I hope when this is all done she can have some form of social life.

About Thoma: Thoma’s as cool as he seems. He always has a level head, and solves problems smoothly and without issues.

About Yoimia: KABOOOM!

About Kokomi: One time I was doing an interview of her excellency, to boost morale and draw new members. I intended on asking for her autograph, only for her to ask for mine! I’ve been riding that high for a while now and still ain’t come down.

About Signora: I hate fatui, but without that she has some good qualities: most of her power is her own unlike most other harbingers, and she’s a sharp dresser. Plus she’s actually justified in her choice to join the fatui, not excused, but isolation can justify many crimes in my book. But no matter what I can’t forgive her. She attacked my friend without a chance for him to fight back, and was unfairly cruel. Nothing can justify that, and I will not forgive her as long as she remains unapologetic for her cowardly cruelty.

About Childe: Fatui are scum, but Childe’s probably the best of them: he personally tries to keep civilians and the weak out of fatui business, and he’s only in it to make sure his family lives well. He also is powerful on his own, but most of his strength is the Tsaritsa’s well deserved gifts. Still though, he’s just a single stressful day from losing all his morals. I can’t leave the fate of my homeland to a madman like him, not unless he gets therapy.

About Scaramouche: Scaramouche...that bastard, it’s been five years and he still owes me 30,061 mora.

About the Fatui: The fatui are really just people who are lost or genuinely believe they’re in the right, and while I can sympathize and respect many of them I can't agree nor can I just stand by and watch. The grunts usually aren’t that bad, honestly they’re more like underpaid graduates new to the workforce, but the fighters you see daily? Almost all of them are scum no better than raiders, and debt collectors are the worst of them because they’ll do anything they can to scam you out of everything in their contracts.

About us-commissions: You know, if you’d like to commission a biography it’s 100 mora per ten pages.

About us-inspiration: You’re a font of inspiration for me, ya know that?

About us-fellow rebels: I’ve been with ya enough to know that this path you’re on, the one to find your sis/bro, you’re fighting against something far beyond my ability to deal with. I won’t abandon you, I’ll be here every step of the way.

About us-friends: We’ve been through a lot pal, I’m glad to call you my friend. Please, call me my rebel name: it’s Belgrade, named after the city where some very brave men took their last stand against oppression.

Hobbies: Well you have reading and writing, otherwise? Can't think of anything.

Favorite food: Grilled tiger fish, come get it while it’s hot!

Least favorite food: I really wanna try it, but I can’t have almond tofu. Or any nuts. Closes my throat right up.

Something to share: Hehe, I got embarrassing dirt on all the harbingers. Signora? She has a Tsaritsa body pillow. Scaramouche? He knits sweaters for his pet pig, cute but he hates letting people know. And Childe? Hoo man, the pics I’ve got on him have put a pretty mora on my head.

About me: Hey have you seen my dice? I wanted to teach the mondstadt kids how to play them...hm? What?! No, not gambling! It’s, uh, a tad embarrassing...h-hey look! Literally anything else, let's pay attention to it!

About me II: Alright! These rolls are great, can’t wait to use them next game. I’m so proud of Fischl, so young yet so imaginative. She’s already-ah! T-traveler! What are you doing?..

You know I’m the one meant to be learning the secrets here.

About me III: Back in Snezhnaya, everyone looks down on things that don’t “conform” where even the most rigid of nations like Inazuma have stopped caring. Adults can't play games, men can’t wear dresses, can’t even have a “weird” sense of humor. No laws against it, but being outcasted is...it’s not good…

About me IV: I wish I grew up in Mondstadt. The kids there are so free to be themselves, and the adults aren’t pressured to be nothing more than working hands. It’s not perfect, after all people are rude to Fischl and Benny for being “different”, but it’s better that’s for sure.

About me V: Hey traveler...this is...no it’s not embarrassing. You’re my friend and I have no reason to be embarrassed by wanting to enjoy time with you! Fischl’s going to run a pen and paper dice game, ever played one? It’s super fun, you get to be anything you want really, and it’s a great way to bond.

You will? Great! I’ll help you make a character!

Alexander’s troubles: It’s so hard to find publishers these days. Noone wants an actual plot, they just want twist after twist. What’s up with that?! Shock value is no substitute for characters you love living fulfilling lives.

Happy birthday: Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday you crazy bastard, happy birthday to you! Seriously pal, you put yourself in harm's way every day it seems, we literally met when you were fighting an actual god! Actually, know what? No danger all day! We’re wrapping ourselves in blankets and just relaxing!

Feelings about ascension-intro: woah, somethin’ feels different. I like it!

Feelings about ascension-building up: man, I’m feeling inspired all of a sudden! Hey traveller, give me a prompt!

Feelings about ascension-climax: HA! I don’t know what high I’m riding but I like it, I just finished writing a whole book series!

Feelings about ascension-conclusion: WOO! YEAH! ULRICH MIKAEL KEEPS WINNIN’!-I-I meant Alexand-ah forget it, I’m feelin’ too good to care!

OCs:

About Louis: That crazy inventor guy from Fontaine? I heard he got used by the fatui, damn shame that. Noone deserves to have their heart played with like that.

About Spritefather: You ever heard of Spritefather? I’ve only heard legends, but the fanmail I keep getting tells me that sometimes things are only legendary until someone writes them down.

About the Storytraveler: There’s this woman who travels from universe to universe to fix things, she’s in Teyvat right now. You should meet her, really nice person. But her powers are a bit weird, why does she transform like that? It takes so much time!

_____________________

Tagging: @love-psxlm, @storytravelled, @genshin-obsessed, @golden-wingseos

[kob131]

Rap As A Man’s Soul: A Story In Three Parts

*cracks neck* Okay, let’s see how well I can do at dissecting music.

It’s not something I usually do, but it is an aspect of media so I need to talk about it more. And since Gurren Lagann is my actual specialty (as in, I actually know more about it then RWBY), I figured I should start here.

Precisely, how Rap Is A Man’s Soul, Rap Was A Man’s Soul Right? and Libera Me From Hell actually showcases and encapsulates Gurren Lagann in three segments.

Gurren Lagann can be basically split into three different parts, each with their own challenge to the hero, Simon.

Part 1 is the Pre-Timeskip episodes with the challenge of Simon being forced into his role as the hero, overcoming the typical challenges of a normal hero like the death of the mentor, the call to action, rising from despair and triumphing over the final bad guy.

You can easily feel this in the music. The song begins with a swelling orchestral sound, a sound that feels restrained and simmering as though waiting to burst. This part symbolizes the first episode of the show, where the episode is confined in Simon and Kamina’s village, with tensions rising as the world is set up and the stakes are being established. This is also reflected in the fact that swelling first part of the song has no lyrics, as the show hasn’t begun to truly express itself at that point.

The first chorus as well as the beginning of mix of grand triumphant music alongside cocky record scratches can be seen as representative of Episodes 2 and 3, where the other iconic mech of the show, Gurren, is obtained through the reckless and unconventional actions of Kamina as well as the hidden ability of Gurren to merge and combine with other Gunmen to empower them being revealed as Gurren Lagann. The chorus is more climatic and grandiose than the bridges, with these events being much bigger in comparison to many other episodes. Supporting this is the lyrics:

Do the impossible! See the invisible! Raw! Raw! Fight the power! Touch the untouchable! Break the unbreakable! Row! Row! Fight the power! What you gonna do is what you wanna do, Just break the roof, and you see the truth, uh-huh, This is theme of the "G" coming through baby! Row! Row! Fight the power!

Doing the impossible and fighting the seemingly much more powerful Beastmen is established in these episodes, those being the basis of the rest of the first half of the show. It also refers the previous episode as well through the talk of ‘breaking the roof and seeing the truth’ as the roof of Shion village was the one big barrier that allowed the status quo of Simon and Kamina’s home. All in all.

The first bridge is more grounded and calm, though still high energy showing the hopeful and optimistic tone of the show at this point. The music has a settled down version of the instrumentals, giving us some breathing room to expand on the song just as the episodes before Kamina’s demise expands on the show while also giving the audience some time to relax before the next major event.

The lyrics as follows:

Power to the peeps, power for the dream, (Simon and Kamina giving power to the fellow humans and their dream of freedom) Still missing piece scatterings, so incomplete. (referencing the incomplete cast) We be the most incredible soldiers from underground, See how easy they all fall down. (Team Dai-Gurren being the best of the human resistence) Digging through the core to see the light, Let's get out of here, babe, that's the way to survive! (Breaking out of the underground using the buried Lagann to truly live) Yeah, top of the head, I'm on the set, Do the impossible, don't you wanna bet? (Kamina’s constant daring to the world and his followers to watch as they do what is considered impossible) 'cuz a lot of things changed, we be waiting in vain, If you wanna get by, no pain, no gain. (Foreshadowing Kamina’s demise as his death allowed the capture of the Dai-Guton) Wow! Fakers wanna test me again? Sorry, my rhyme's gonna stunt your brain, yo! (The Beastmen hunting down the team but ultimately failing) I'm still struggling for some straight-up skill, We're gonna make it a-happen with our crazy rap skill! (The inexperience in comparison to their enemies being made up with the natural human ability to fight and evolve) Get ready to rumble, now be the time, uh-huh, If you ain't know, now you know. (The climatic moment that decides their war and fate.

further support this through the events they reference.

Then we have a brief moment before the next chorus ((Good luck, fellas!)), referencing Kamina’s demise and how his last moments where him trying to impart one last piece of advice while ensuring his comrades’ safety.

The next bridge, I believe, represents the episodes focusing on the fallout of Kamina’s demise. While the show slows down during these episodes, it's ultimately one final build up until Simon takes the helm as the focus and face of the show, upholding Kamina’s ideals as truth as he does what was thought impossible of him and recovering from his sorrow and becoming the leader of Team Dai-Gurren. Not to mention how Simon comes into his own is a repeat of the events of Episode 1 (a bunch of humans being trapped underground, death imminent and all hope lost before Simon starts digging and encounters Lagann again before bursting out of the underground, high into the air, to defeat a much larger and more menacing foe.)

We then have the next bridge-

Second verse is dedicated to the real peeps, (the real hero now taking the stage What we got to say is so real thing, 'cuz, (the show showcasing real stakes with Kamina’s death) Revolution ain't never gonna televise, Kicking the mad flow, microphone phenotype! (Team Dai-Gurren thinking their efforts will go unthanked but still fighting) Open your third eye, seeing through the overground! I'm about to hit you with the scream from the underground! (the underground humans rising up from their prisons for their revolution) Whole city is covered with the cyber flavor, (the capital city of Tepplin being a giant Gunman) "G" is in your area, one of the toughest enigma! (The enigma of Simon’s strength and how far he’s gotten despite the odds)

Sums up the feel of the show before the final battle against Lordgenome, which is represented by two repeats of the Chorus, fitting as the final enemy of the first part of the show is a man with the same power and mech type as Simon, using many similar powers and abilities. But with the last Chorus, Simon pushes through Lordgenome’s Lazengann and finally gets the killing blow.

And just as sit seemed in the show, the song seems to end with a grand triumph...

Only for Part 2.

Here, the song lyrically is the same as Rap Is A Man’s Soul, just as the world is still thee one we were in before. But the tone is completely different. The trumpets and record sounds are swap with an echoing, melancholy piano and the confident, boastful, cocky rapper is replaced by an odd, awkward and uncomfortable auto tune. Before the song represented the heroic journey of Simon as he upheld Kamina’s ideals and beliefs. Now, we feel his sorrow, pain, misery and sheer hopelessness as his efforts are torn down, the people he saved turn on him, his friend Rossiu has seemingly betrayed him, he’s imprisoned against better judgement, his lover has been turned against him and the very thing that defined him before is thrown into question. This extends to Rossiu as well, as his paranoia and desperation to save humanity as well as his lost faith in his friend and leader’s ideals tears him apart as he feels forced to do what he hates in order for a greater good. And their enemy? Random mooks being sent after them, constructs that are completely unknowable to them with a master they don't even know. 

Team Dai-Gurren is split, humanity is desperate and scared, the best chances at survival will leave so many to die and Simon has just...given up, accepted his fate and waits to die due to his insecurities rising again. The question is brought up:

Rap Was A Man’s Soul...Right?

Right up to Part 3. Part 3 is perhaps the most famous piece of music from the show, and for good reason. The song is a final remix of Rap Is A Man’s Soul but now, the song takes the form of two songs in one. The first song actually isn’t the lyrics from Rap is A Man’s Soul but actually a song in Latin based on the roman catholic chant sung for the absolution of the dead called ‘Libera Me’. The song is important in many ways even without the lyrics. The instrumentals for the first part are mournful, reverent and solemn, reflecting the feeling of death and the hopes for peace. Which fits the final part of the show as many members sof Team Dai-Gurren sacrifice their lives, the prime example being Kittan whose sacrifice was the first appearance of this song.

The lyrics by themselves are just as I said before: a prayer for the dead to be absolved. But the instrumentals being so loud and oppressive transform it into a prayer from the Anti-Spiral for Team Dai-Gurren to give up and be absolved of their sins after their deaths. The connection between the latin chanting and the Anti-Spiral is further reinforced not just by it becomes more and more intense as the song goes on, just as the Anti=Spiral becomes more and more involved and emotional as the battle rages on, but also in that Latin is one of the bases for the English language, marking the Anti-Spiral as an ancient form of Team Dai-Gurren.

But the true beauty of the song shines when the lyrics from Rap Is A Man’s Soul start to play. Like before, it has a build up to the song except instead of a swelling, complex orchestra it’s instead a single, simple but clear piano playing, the only addition being a drum alongside the piano as the first verse concludes. the simple but clear piano gives a feeling of single minded, pure hearted determination, conjuring an image of a man standing even after a horrible beatdown which is fitting given it plays after each Latin Chat section, which only grow louder and more oppressive, just as the Anti-Spiral intensifies it’s efforts only for Team Dai-Gurren to overcome them.

Then we have the third verse from the Latin Chant, with the rap’s chorus playing underneath the song, symbolizing the face to face final confirmation as the Anti-Spiral overwhelms Team Dai-Gurren. The chant overwhelms the chorus more and more until the Rap takes center stage with one big ‘FIGHT THE POWER!’, the Anti-Spiral being the greatest power they can face.

There, the Rao starts playing over the chant, not only showing the protagonists gaining the upperhand against the Anti-Spiral but also fitting into the show’s themes of evolution and progress, the Anti-Spiral being a powerful but stagnant force that is overwhelmed by the growing strength of Simon and his crew. It even showcases how Simon and his team only grew through the Anti-Spiral as the rap plays off the latin.

Then, the rap builds in the background as the Latiin keeps going, same as always, until the rap bursts through, silencing the latin chant. Just like how Simon made his way to the Anti-Spiral only to personally pierce through him. The song ends with one last line from the rap, the Ant-Spiral’s plea to Simon to take up it’s torch, with the rap responding in kind, without instrumentals to showcase how definitive the end is.

All in all, you could get the general journey of the show without even watching it, because these three songs work so well conveying the themes, emotions and impact,

And that’s truly amazing.

[ambroseblack]

Open your mind for a moment.

Put down the phone. Unless you are reading this on it. That's the only exception. Fuck Facebook and Hashtags. Fuck Tindr...that will only lead to ass crabs. Sit down. Relax. Breathe. And...

Just think with me.

Close your eyes. Take a breath through your nose. Ignore the bitch chewing with her mouth open in the cubicle next to you. Just for a moment, take some time to clear your head. No emotions. No thoughts. Just...

Silence.

I'll wait. I'm just words dwelling eternally on a screen strung together by a shabby bastard who was smoking a cigarette while writing me. I have nothing but time. Take as much of it as you need.

How did that feel? Feel good? I'm just words...so I cant comprehend the feeling of blank space. Wherever I am, no matter how little there is of me, the space is never empty. But maybe before I live there in ink and pixels the space is blank? Nothingness. I don't know. That would be a mind fuck though wouldn't it?

Ok. Here we go. Now that you have had a moment to yourself I want you to think with me. We'll travel together on a journey of the mind. Of thought. Of something you probably didn't think about today. But maybe you did? I'm not a psychic. I don't get paid for making up shit.

Here's a thought. Think this with me. There are people who still exist that think the color of their skin is better than another color. But we all know the only reason the white crayon in the box is ever used is to draw on an egg before it is colored. Color. Ethnicity. Culture. All irrelevant. Just false divisions to keep us all in line.

Another thought. Genitals don't matter. The male G-spot is in the butt. Some people dont know the purpose of the clitoris. Fuck, some cultures cut them out with knives. Sick bastards. Hate towards any form of genital structure should be despised. Think that being gay is wrong? Afraid of the same set of junk on someone else that you have? Hate to break it to you fellas...you first came out of your daddy's dick. And ladies...the day you were born you rubbed your face against your momma's clit after squeezing your screaming purple body out of her uterus. Picture that for a moment. Bet you haven't thought about that before.

Another thought. We are owned by our rich masters. I mean...I'm not...I'm just words. But you are. Trust me. Think you can do anything you want? Go ahead...try it. If you are white you might just get hit with a ticket by the boys in blue. If you are any other shade than peach, the result will probably be worst. Bullets to the dome just for being free in a place where freedom can only be bought. Truth is, you are slave with invisible chains. Chains of oppression and debt. And the worst part is, alot of people think that this is the best it can be. Far too afraid to bring out the guillotine. Heads in the sand pretending this is the only way to be.

Another thought. Alot of people dont think at all. Well, no thoughts beyond the current moment of the self. Their own needs and wants. Everyone else are just faceless background characters with no significance. Most have their heads shoved so far up their own ass that it has been decades since they have seen the sun.

Final thought...well a question really. Why do people buy Kleenex and toilet paper? Surely, paper for one sphincter is acceptable for another. Is a nose a sphincter though? Sort of connected to, I guess. Just seems like a waste of money to buy something in a box when in comes on a roll. Doesn't really make a difference to me though.

I'm just words.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

@halo4rules replied to your post “Majority in Brazil’s top court to make homophobia and transphobia...”

@unseen-arts

blocking someone online cause u dont like what they say is one thing. LOCKING SOMEONE UP CAUEE U DONT LIKE WHAT THEY SAID IS EXACTLY WHAT THE NAZIS/SOVIET RUSSIA DID. Or they just killed u in the street. So yes I'm worried for the state of the world when free speech is under attack. U CANT STOP PEOPLE FROM SAYING OR THINKING. If u dont agree with what they are saying like I do then just dont listen. Otherwise it giving them the attention they want.

@halo4rules replied to your post “Majority in Brazil’s top court to make homophobia and transphobia...”

@[REDACTED BY REQUEST] 1)neither of those words are a real thing, a it nobody afraid of someone cause they gay or just an confused idiot 2)I anit some leftist, snowflake, SJW sissy that gets angry when I dont get my way. Learn to see things from a view other than your own like I have. And go UNFUCK YOURSELF. And if u looked at my blog then u should have read the header dumbass.

@infinitegrowthlover replied to your post “Majority in Brazil’s top court to make homophobia and transphobia...”

@unseen-arts "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." In other words, if people are easily offended by words and we jail them for it, that's oppression. It's complete asinine to say otherwise. I'm upset when someone tells me that America is evil, but I don't let it bother me. Because WORDS ARE NOTHING BUT SOUND. Words CAN'T hurt you.

Hey, fellas! 

Look, I get your concern. I truly do. But while I do believe it’s genuine, I do not think you have anything to fear from the criminalization of LGBT+phobia in Brazil. It isn’t just “words”. LGBT+s are systematically discriminated in the workplace, in adoption services, in healthcare, in house purchase, in schools, etc. We’re not talking about a random internet troll saying “lmao fags”. We’re talking about people being denied services, rights, and even lives for being who they are. LGBT+phobia is grave and deadly, a common motivator for hate crimes here, we’re quite a deadly country for these people. And I disagree when you say “words can’t hurt”. Countless psychology studies show that effects of emotional, verbal, psychological abuse are as real as of physical abuse - so when it’s abuse, it should be tackled as such. And we already have laws that fight discrimination - sexism, racism, xenophobia, and religious discrimination have been illegal in this country for decades. We have not descended into a dystopian systematic censorship because of that, and we won’t now (at least not because of that either). Same thing with Germany, for example, where nazism has been crime for, like, ever. 

Freedom of speech is a pillar of our society, sure. But, since we live in a society, our freedoms end where the rights of others begin, and that also applies to freedom of speech. No one’s talking about the government chasing down dissenters and critics in order to silence and censor them. First of all, judicial responsibilization comes after what was said be said, what was done be done. Second of all, it isn’t the government itself suing people, it’s civilians who are going to sue someone for discrimination. And third, it’s not the federal government who’s going to judge and carry out sentences, it’s the civilian’s own respective local courts, with the accused person keeping their right to defense, etc. So I don’t really think this is comparable to what was done in these horrible regimes you mentioned.

This decision by our Supreme Court was way more of a final dot in the discussion of “if LGBT+ discrimination should fit our discrimination laws” and it serves to guide future sentences by other judges. No one’s giving the government any censoring power. We could talk if sentences to punctual verbal aggressions should be civil and not penal, so people don’t go to jail because of words. That’s a valid discussion to have too. But, when it comes to free speech, I do not believe we have to fear for it because of LGBT+phobia criminalization, and I hope I could show you why. And, if I could add a slightly unrelated note, if we have to fear for free speech in this current government, it’s probably going to be more for censoring LGBT+ content than for fighting LGBT+ discrimination (Russia being an extreme example of what I mean).

Cheers!

-Mod Nise da Silveira

[pigeonacademic]

Sweetums, I'm sorry but you DID. Your dumb ass got too scared of backlash, so you've blocked me and instead of reblogging, you're talking via chat, as if that's going to save you!

Yeah, you've sort of already did argue with me and you're dragging it on. I admit it was funny seeing some self entitled wannabe victim of something you never personally experienced, and no, trauma CAN'T pass down through the generations like one of your other buddies claimed. That is pure fucking bullshit, anyone with even a quarter of a brain knows that. YOU are never going to change, BUT you should, for the health and safety of everyone else around you. Nobody could give two shits what happens to someone as hateful as you. You're no better than the Nazis you claim you hate. You want to make fun of my fanart? What the hell do you draw? At least I'm doing something instead of bullying people!

Yeah, I fucking love Hetalia, you know why? I spent most of life in shitty small towns in Alabama, we never even had internet because of how poor we were. When my grandparents adopted us after Mom was unable to care for us because a certain health care program fucked her over so badly and on top of losing her job because of her injury, for once we had a home where we had luxuries like internet. Quotev, my first social media site, introduced me to Hetalia. By then, I was twelve going on thirteen, struggling from the MAJOR transition from South to North, and to having new family who I hadn't seen in years on top of being mercilessly bullied JUST for being Southern to where I had junk chucked at my head by assholes whenever I tried to get to my locker. Hetalia was the first anime I was introduced to (if you don't count Dragonball Z and Hamtaro, which I seen when I was REALLY little on TV. I don't remember much of either) so yeah, it may be cringey to you, but whatever hell you're into right now sure is just as bad.

Yeah, it's 2017, SO GET SOME TASTE OF YOUR OWN AND STOP BULLYING PEOPLE YOU SHITHEAD. Also, you want to talk about taste, sugar? I noticed your username when said aloud, sounded VERY familiar. I remember Dad’s dad (Southern grandpa, in other words) telling me stories of such a creature when I was little, but it’s been a good decade or so since I heard about them, so with a little google search-

Look at your damn username. Naming your blog after a MYTHICAL CREATURE? (As well as something from the White Wolf fandom, so either way, you're a tasteless ass nerd.) 

Look you’re even hostile, just like it! I bet by just going into the wiki page, I can find a whole loto shit that applies to you. You may actually even be a Fomori- Let's see what you look like then based upon your species:

PFFFT. Yeah, you're actually just what I imagined you to look like. @saiyanhero  @diaroon  It’s hilarious, because they were rabbitting on me for having no taste-buuuuuuuut when you pick a creature like this for your blog, then go around bullying people, well, if you’re going to do that don’t dare bring up blog quality, looks and fandoms. Not when the creature you picked is this ^ 

Now that that’s done, let’s take a looksie at their blog, okay? 

Oh, let’s see what’s wrong with this picture:

-NB lez.What's that supposed to mean? I know NB can stand for nonbinary, but the lez part?? I don't want to make assumptions here and assume that's a abbreviation for lesbian.

-Oh dear GOD, the fact you used the term MENTAL to describe yourself.. Yeah, you've proven you're a peice of shit already. I guess people weren't taking you (rightfully) seriously when you claimed to have PTSD because of what some Nazis did to your great grandparents in the concentration camps, so if you thought by putting "mental" this would somehow make you look more legit?? It makes you look more like an edgy twelve year old. If you actually HAVE something (which I bet you don't) then just fucking write it, mate! When most normal people see 'mental', they usually click out of the page, because we know what that edgy shit entails. 

-You're white. Good, because whilst I'm white passing I already posted photos of my Native American mother and grandparents just to prove to bigots like you that I'm actually mixed. So, since you're so FOND of pulling the "I'm Jewish so NANNANA!" card, can I pull the "I'm Mixed, so NANNAA!" card too? IF you want to talk bigotry, you are being a racist shitlord :) and my great grandparents went through just as much hell as yours, sooooooo- (Including the one who went off to fight those damn Nazis.)

-Seventeen, just like me! YAY! 

We can dance! 

We can jive! 

Having the time of our lives! Ooh, see those kids- Watch that scene! Dig in the dancing Queens- Young and sweet Only seventeen-

I'll look into your "read before following" later.

  Oh, so you're in Britain or are you paranoid because you pissed off a few Brits, thus why you want to know who's viewing your blog?SLAM POETRY BANDCAMP?? X'D I'm sorry, but when I first read that I thought "HOLY SHIT THERE'S A CAMP FOR THIS?!" Because holy hell that was golden. So after recovering from laughing. You might want to change where you place your links :') By the way, slam poetry is just Baby's First Rap Battle. 

-Believe in reverse oppression. Uh, I hate to break it to you, but you have no right to be calling it reverse oppression (It's just oppression) BUUUUUT since you want to go there, let me bring up one itty bitty thing that this site deems invalidates you from ANYTHING oppressive:

YOU. ARE. WHITE. Yeah, according to Dumblr, Jewish or not, if you're white then you're automatically more privileged than anyone else! Me, I'm barely scraping by since I'm white passing, but you just outright said you were white, so therefore you're oppressing me :) See how ridicolous this is? Yeah.

-Are truscum/transmedicalist/you know what I mean. Uh, I actually don't. I've heard truscum before but I never knew it's meaning. I'll google it real quick-

OH.. Well that just solidifies that you're a stinky piece of shit.  I guess being Jewish wasn't enough for you, you had to get something else to balance out that whiteness. Being nonbinary is actually okay, but the fact you don't think people need dysphoria to be trans..well, fuck you and everyone who thinks like you. Several of my friends are transgender, one who just came out to me very recently. The one I know has a transphobic family so he's dealing with a lot of bullshit from them as well as people like you!! He can't even transition because of his family and it fucking TEARS HIM DOWN. Then you people say you don't need dysphoria to be trans?? Okay, so what, are you supporting of transtrenders taking up all the hormone pills for transitioning, then them at BEST stop taking the pills because they're getting dysphoria, or at worst, killing themselves because of that?? Pretending that they were transgender but the moment they actually start taking treatment, they regret it?? Wow. Piece of fucking shit confirmed even more so than it has already been.

-are a terf / gender critical / sympathetic w terfs and the like

Okay, at least this part I agree with. However, how do you determine if someone is a terf sympathizer? Do you do it the same way you label people as Nazi sympathizers? Yeah, I bet you do. 

-ship dirkjake (at all), willhannibal, or any other abusive ships (u can shoot me an ask or w/e if ur a survivor and ill take the situ into consideration)

OH MY FUCKING GOSH- Listen kiddo, YOU NEVER take that into consideration!! I already made a post on this before but IF YOU PULL AT THIS AND YET PUT "But this doesn't apply to survivors tho UwU" then I'm sorry, BUT YOU ARE ALREADY HURTING SURVIVORS. Also, not even that you'd "take it into consideration" so what, if the person disagrees with you on something you automatically take away their SA or CSA status? Damn, you truly are one hell of a horrible, nasty ass fomori.

-interact w anyone on this list -interact with kin of dirk from homestuck Er, I'm not into Homesuck but I can tell that whatever this is, you're definitely the crazed one here. If anyone is kin with a fictional character, yeah I get weirded out, but honestly, what do you have against this Dirk fella? 

-i am:

white english i do not experience transmisogyny

Yeah, you don't experience trans-misogyny because you're NOT transgender! You're nonbinary, but not transgender.

and

nonbinary lesbian

Now this got me really confused: How can you be nonbinary and a lesbian? That, and your pronouns said "they/he", so I am assuming 'she' is not part of your identity. When I'm done with this, I'll look it up, because otherwise, it's just..it's not looking good for you.

-nd (autism and trauma stuff etc)

Welcome to the club, buddy! :D I personally have AS (doctor diagnosed), which is on the autism spectrum. As for your trauma, judging from the shit you send, is it because of what the Nazis did to your great grandparents? I'm sorry, that is not actual trauma, it's just you feeling VERY strongly for how they felt. A good part of me is saying that you just self diagnosed, so you don't even have any of what you claim. Another part of me wants to believe you on the autism one at least, but it's a rocky balance.

-working class Same here, buddy, and it's to where my grandparents can't even afford a babysitter for my two little sisters so I have to stay home to watch them all the time while they work.

-if ur in britain and this is ur first time viewing my blog send me an ask telling me who u r and that ur not a threat. (if u wanna be extra kind, click my viewcounter and lmk which one is u)

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA- Remember what you said on how my blahblahbalhblah instilled to where I thought you and the others were threats??

That was the pot calling the kettle black, YOU JUST ADMITTED YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE THREATS BEFORE THEY EVEN MEET YOU HOLY SHIT- Talk about paranoid, and I thought my paranoia was bad when this truck pulled up alongside me when I was going somewhere so I decided to be safe and run-BAHAHAH! Wow..just wow.

-please identify yourself if youre gonna thoroughly go thru my blog and/or personal tags, it really REALLY stresses me out.

AW, what a little pansy!! People going through YOUR BLOG YOU KEEP UP an the TAGS YOU KEEP OUT IN THE OPEN BY YOUR OWN WILL stresses you out?? Aww!!  Maybe later Mummy can get you a juice box and cookies to help you feel better about it!!

Seriously mate, you do realize that people are doing this without even consulting you?? HOW is it stressful?? Are you worried people will find something you wanted to keep hidden??

What a poor excuse for someone that hails from the UK. 

-im shit at tagging triggers. if theres smth you really need tagging lmk n ill try my best but im forgetful

"Shit at tagging triggers" BRO. All it takes is a FEW SECONDS to type at LEAST "TW".  Nah, you're just really lazy and you don't want to deal with people on your ass about tagging triggers. I mean, you're NOT a decent human being so I don't expect you to understand what a common trigger is.

-i post a lot of fuck knows what. aesthetic? theres some fandom but idk what fandoms but everythings tagged and its mostly aesthetic and memes afaik, i wont put shit i like here bc i never update my theme but like? good omens and That Gay Shit

Generic ass description of what people typically blog. Gotcha.

-blacklist

SO YOU DO HAVE A BLACKLIST! Here's a hint for everything above: USE IT!

Let’s take a look in that list, shall we? 

-tag or die -rare and necessary:

Pfft, sorry but when I saw the title of your blacklist I immediately thought about the "Join or Die" thing that the USA had during the Founding Fathers' era. Not relevant, just something I found hilarious.

-loss -slits Okay, these are typical triggers that do have a lot of relevance, so I won't fault these.

-ketchup (!!!)

Ketchup?? Uh, is it because it looks like blood? Once again not judging the UK's quality of ketchup or if you've ever actually seen blood in your life, so I will let this slide.

-baked beans (!!!) ..........Baked beans? Seriously? Uh, I THINK I have a reason on why this would trigger you, but unfortunately, you would get triggered by me saying it. Either ways, what have baked beans done to you?

-condiments (!!!) - preferably this one over the two above because just mentioning those things can upset me. i know. its weird. fuck off.

Wow, you're one to talk to me about shit, lol. "Wahhh its weird, FUCK OFF M8!" (You in a nutshell) Ketchup I can actually see some people getting upset with, seeing if its not on food and splattered everywhere, it can look like blood depending on how runny it is, the coloring and people who don't see a lot of blood in their life.  What other condiments upset you? Mustard?  (I think I know the reason behind this one too, lol). Mayo? Kind of weird since you're 100% white, but I guess it does look like a body fluid. Relish? Well, it doesn't look like vomit, so I don't know what you have against it.

-repulsion stuff (necessary af): Once again I can agree with this.

-essentially everything and anything sex related i blacklist most tags trifold so ur covered Okay, this I can understand. -other

-dirk strider (i also blacklist #dirk) homestuck dirkjake

..............Okay, like I said I know nothing about the Homestuck fandom, and it seems you hate it too, and it APPEARS that the DirkJake ship is abusive/problematic with you, so I'll let that slide. However what the fuck do you have against one character?

-furry mlp my little pony

Furries, yeah I can see. I'm friends with one, but nobody wants to see two animals at it on their dash. However, MLP? What, are you allergic to friendship or something or feel so miserably lonely because nobody wants to bother being friends with someone like you? I don't blame them honestly.

-stridercest bro strider trypophobia bright red Welp,  I looked up trypophobia..I don't blame you for blacklisting it, that shit is freaky.

-food eating

....................Okay, are you a plant or something?

-catch all

rigdontlook

No idea what those are.

I just took one look at your whole blog..HOLY SHIT people, we got ourselves a contender for Guineapig Kin!! It’s as if Mubz, Guineapig Kin, Morning Star and Lucifer all spliced theirs to make this! This will have to be a whole new post, gdi-

[trevorbailey61]

Moseley Folk Festival

Moseley Park, Birmingham

Friday 1st September 2017

There are few things that can engage me quite like making a list. I should perhaps qualify that by saying that the lists I compile serve no practical purpose whatsoever; at the supermarket I am a hunter gatherer, prowling the aisles until I catch a sighting of my prey with nothing as organised as a list to influence what ends up in the trolley. Whereas my wife will have sorted out what she needs for a holiday at least a week in advance, my packing consists of randomly throwing things into the bag just before we leave resulting in an abundance of old concert t-shirts but no toothbrush. No, the lists I carry around are on much more important matters, my top 5 Bowie albums, top Scorsese movies, top varieties of apple, top underground stations,… you get the drift. My interaction with Facebook rarely goes beyond wishing friends a happy birthday but when a list is required, then it will usually be in the process of being formed before I have finished reading the status. That is not to say it is easy; making “Low” a better album than “Hunky Dory” or “Good Fellas” a better film than “Raging Bull” is not a decision that can be made lightly and much soul searching is required before a commitment can be made. Buying a car takes less time than deciding that an Egremont Russet tastes a little better than a Worcester Pearman.

It was at university that being able to put things in order was most importance. I still remember the incredulity that greeted my suggestion that “Stranded” was almost as good a Roxy Music album as “For Your Pleasure” and probably better than the debut. My companions stared at me open mouthed, how could anyone think that what followed challenged the dominance of the Eno influenced start to their career; I was immediately ostracised until I had listened to “2HB” enough times to realise the error I had committed. About the same time, the student newspaper, “Bias" invited readers to select their favourite songs and inevitably the challenge was immediately accepted. In the end nothing was to come of this; either the number of students willing to spend hours compiling this list was very small, maybe even as limited as one, or the huge variety of responses made it difficult to draw any conclusions. Songs were added, crossed out, some discarded altogether, some to reappear later but eventually the list was completed and has been carried around in my head ever since. Thinking about it now, what strikes me is just how sad most of these songs are, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, “Tears of a Clown”, “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, “Ticket to Ride”, all songs that deal with the fragility of relationships, particularly those that are formed during adolescence. From the time that people started putting their feelings to music there have been break-up songs but as a distinctive youth culture emerged in the post-war era, so did the variety of ways in which the mourning of the end of a relationship could be expressed. The emotions are so much more intense when they are experienced for the first time, the thrill of first love and the wreckage when it breaks down adding beauty to the sadness. Everyone has experienced the pain of separation, the heartbreak of finding out that the intensity of your feelings are not reciprocated with music reflecting and shaping this emotional turmoil. With young people having greater access to music than ever before, the quickest way to their heart was by reminding them of what it was to feel like like to break it.

Songs have the power to tear us apart and put us back together again within the space of about two minutes, simultaneously making us weep and smile. Folk music carries more than its share of pain so a festival would appear to provide of plenty emotional disintegration and with a collective known as Cultural Dub Orchestra already on the stage when I arrive, this pain is brought into focus. A quartet, their songs use folk instrumentation, guitar and bass, along with Indian percussion to create a background for a melody of eastern intervals played on the violin. Introducing one of their instrumentals, the bass player informs us that its haunting melody was inspired by the end of a relationship, in this case with the violinist; their musical bond, apparently strong enough to withstand even their personal break up. For John Moreland, the pain is in loneliness; the line “I thought I was somebody nobody could love” from the song “On Julia” captures this painful self loathing. It seems a bit lazy to describe someone of Moreland’s physique as a “bear of a man” but it is also difficult to think of anything more apt. He is formidable, his size complemented by a huge beard and tattoos that mark the contours of his arms. Across his knuckles, the letters Oklahoma spell out the name of his home state, along the freeways of which he should be tearing along on his hog. He says little and his deep gravelly voice fits his appearance but the words to his songs show the sensitivity and insecurity behind this rampant display of masculinity.

More Americana follows in the form of Courtney Marie Andrews. Despite her elfin looks and tender years, she is 26 but looks younger, she has already spent over a decade on the road, both as a solo artist and as lead guitarist for Damien Jurado. Her sixth album, “Honest Life” was released earlier this year and this, together with the short European tour that brings her to Moseley, is starting to introduce her the wider audience her work deserves. Her clear voice caresses every word, adding the country inflexions that mean comparisons with Emmylou Harris do not flatter her. In keeping with her delivery, her songs tell stories of the everyday lives of those down on their luck and are full of longing and regret. The hollow emptiness of the first song, “How Quickly a Heart Mends”, is typical,“The jukebox is playin’ a sad country song; For all the ugly Americans; Now I feel like one of them.” whilst also hinting that redemption is offered through change. Ryan Adams has described Andrews as a “phenomenal songwriter” and this brilliant set, which also included a new song; “Long Road Back to You”, shows that she is also a compelling live performer. Two incredible acts already, and it is still only mid afternoon.

With Andrews still on the stage packing up her guitar, the man standing next to me turns to his companion and mutters, “it’s downhill from now on”. With a scowl on his face, he strides past the Lunar stage where John J Presley, don’t call him Elvis, he hates it, is starting his set. His deep hoarse voice and sparse thumping accompaniment was perfect for his remorse filled bluesy songs. It does, however, give a possible explanation for the flounce that had just occurred next to me. Moseley has a record of booking good American acts and with these occurring so early in the day, the rest of the evening starts to look very parochial. This Sceptred Isle, however, has its own stories to tell and in Seth Lakemen there is someone to tell them. Rather than painful introspection, the themes Lakeman explores are bigger. Driven along by a ferocious beat and accompanied by his fiery violin,  “The Hurlers” sets this out: “Come on make your choice; Where you stand”; the mixture of traditional folk songs and Lakeman’s own focus on the dehumanising exploitation of workers by the oppressive forces that control them. “The Colliers” is a harrowing account of the death of 140 miners resulting from negligence and a criminal disregard for the safety of those working underground. Lakeman largely ignores the ballads of his most recent album to present a lively set with the showmanship of the performance offering a stark contrast to the bleak themes he explores.

After sparse beauty of break-up songs Kiwi style with Nadia Reid, whose pain is particularly raw even compared to what we have already heard, the light pop of The Magic Numbers offered the promise of some relief. Starting with their best know song, “Love’s A Game”, everything is as it should be but as they move on to their new material, that they are using this slot as an opportunity to work through, the bright hooks are replaced by a dull loud grunge. There is no doubting the intensity they commit to this but as they finish with the easy charm of “Love Me Like You” you can’t help but feel that something has been lost. If hummable melodies and bright arrangements caused the moans earlier, then I’m guessing the man has not been looking forward to the headline. Amy Macdonald may not seem an obvious choice for a folk festival but for the organisers, her popularity brought in plenty of fans, many of whom were crowding around the stage long before her appearance. These fans seem to fit into two main groups; on the one hand girls in their early twenties are here to relive the music of their adolescence, for the group next to me made up for a night out and wearing smart leather jackets, this appeared to be their first experience of a festival and I wondered whether they had been there long enough to have the life changing experience of visiting the toilets. In introducing her, Janice Long mentions that she was one of the few acts that she worked with that her mother showed an interest in, drawn in by her voice. It is impossible to discuss Macdonald without commenting on her voice; clear and powerful, it accounts for her popularity amongst an older audience who wait alongside the younger fans.

Macdonald turned thirty about a week before the festival and this may, in part, explain her decision to perform here. In between songs, she often notes how the sparse arrangements and pared back show provide a change from the concert halls in which she normally performs. She is also at pains to remind us that with over 12 million sales of her work, she is enormously popular, betraying at a little insecurity through being well out of her comfort zone. This is, however, exactly what she wanted; she has been recording and performing music since she was a teenager and as an adult has known nothing else. With a potential career lasting many decades ahead of her, however, she could well be looking for a direction that involves more than just repeating the innocent songs she wrote in her youth and which may not mean that much to her now. This could well signify a change of direction that will help to shape her music in the years to come. She mostly pulls it off, the band create some wonderfully atmospheric textures for the songs to which Macdonald herself occasionally adds a second guitar and despite the absence of any percussion, many of the songs are driven by a lively rhythm, particularly the wonderfully exuberant “Dream On”. Her voice is strong, clear and shows the power she is renowned for although at times it does feel a little too strident above the sparse arrangements. Generally she gets away with this; many of her songs could be described as power ballads which often show a tendency to resort to motivational cliches; “Don't worry ‘bout the little things; Keep fighting; Keep trying” as she sings in the opener, “Under Stars”. Here her voice works perfectly but if she looking for that change in direction, you can’t help but feel that both her writing and singing need to become a little more nuanced. As an encore she does a beautiful cover of Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” that shows both the restraint and subtlety that she will need, the challenge will be to apply this to her own material.

It has been a glorious day but with the sun having long since departed and a cloudless sky above us, I am suddenly aware of how cold it has become; the shorts that earlier had seemed ideal now leaving the bottom of my legs exposed so it is a while before I am fully aware of what my feet are doing. The stumbling way in which I weave my way towards the exit draws disapproving looks from others no doubt feeling that at my age I should know my limits. A beautiful day of mostly sad songs then but we have always known that sad songs can also be so uplifting. This gives me such a warm glow that I manage to deal with the lad in a VW who cuts across the front of me at the roundabout at Halesowen without calling him a twat. By then, however, the list is being compiled, the acts are being put into rank order, the highlights confirmed. I may agree with my grumpy friend that these came early but that is not to say that the rest of the day was not thoroughly enjoyable. A great start to this great festival.