#live laugh 25th anniversary concert

[motions1ckn3ss]

big fan of my friend waving her red sock for do you hear the people sing

[spitonyourlove]

Neon Pink

Matt x himself (?)

it's entirely based on the south park 25th anniversary concert and how much he bounces up and down during the show... anyways, enjoy!

The drawer in Matt’s bedroom hadn’t been opened since two weeks ago, when he bought a six inch bright pink dildo from a sex store he and Trey visited as a joke. Originally, he’d bought it to make Trey laugh, but now he’d gotten more and more interested in the secret item in his bedside drawer. The attendant had offered a lube at half price, Fuck Water, which Matt bought as well because it made Trey laugh even harder. 

Tonight marked the two week anniversary of Matt buying the… dildo. And it marked the two week anniversary of him thinking of using it. So tonight, he thought why the hell not and finally took a look in the drawer. A neon dick stared back at him, a naked woman on the packaging biting her lip suggestively, which, should have caught his attention but his eyes kept going back to the item in the plastic packaging. 

Sighing in shame? Arousal? A bit of both, maybe, he grabbed the package along with the Fuck Water and made his way to his bed. He stripped himself of clothes and locked the door of his room, which wasn’t necessary as he lived alone, but, he could never get caught doing what he was about to do. He took a minute battling the package of the dildo and finally got the thing out, grabbing it by the shaft and feeling it out.  He could do this, he wanted to do this, and he’s wanted to do this for a while. 

Matt laid down on his bed and grabbed the bottle of the Fuck Water, putting a good amount of it on the dildo and jerking it off with the lube, successfully getting it coated in the lubricant. He sighed and led his hand down to his ass, his legs spread with his feet planted on the bed. The dildo nudged his opening, cold and blunt. He added some pressure with his hand, gripping the base of the dildo, but it didn’t entirely want to go in. “What the fuck?” He sighed, laying the dildo beside him on the bed and grabbing the lube, putting some on his fingers and going down to check out the problem himself. 

One finger went in just fine, it was cold and it felt weird but he acclimated to it pretty fast. He figured another wouldn’t hurt so he added the other, his pointer and middle finger in his ass and pumping them in and out slowly, trying to find out what to do down there. His hips twitched a little, leading his fingers into his ass a little deeper, and at an angle. He felt something go through him, his body shook with something, like someone sucking on the tip of his dick but better, it was something he needed to feel again. He started to shove his fingers in desperately, stretching them out and trying to find the angle, letting out frustrated whimpers when he didn’t feel it again. 

Enough was enough, Matt decided, and he slid the fingers out. The dildo that laid on the bed taunted him but he knew he could do it this time, if his fingers fit, he could get the dildo to fit. He put the base of the dildo on the bed and hovered over it, making sure the dildo was right where it needed to be and started sinking down onto it. 

This time, his hole wasn’t so opposed to having the dildo go inside, with the lube and the stretching Matt did beforehand the dildo slid in just fine. Slowly, Matt sunk down on the dildo, letting out little whimpers and sighs of delight as the toy filled him in a way he had never thought possible. His cock was sitting against his stomach bobbing slightly as he started moving around to find that angle that he needed. He quickly sank all the way down onto it, surprised he took the whole thing and started grinding onto the toy. “Oh my god…” Matt whispered feeling the toy in him and started letting out moans as he grinded onto the dildo harder, the bed shaking and sheets clutched in his hands. 

Suddenly he felt the spark he was yearning for. A loud whine escaped his lips and he started bouncing up and down at the angle he found to be the most heavenly sensation he’d ever felt. The bed rocked as he shoved down onto the toy, color blooming across his face and chest. his pace was animalistic bouncing up and down on the pink toy while letting out a stream of unyielding moans and curses at no one in particular. His hand came up to his cock and started stroking it, a thumb swiping over the leaking tip making him shudder from all the stimulation he was feeling. His other hand came up to his hair, pulling at it and starting at his scalp making him fall over onto his pillows and let out a pitched moan. 

His hands came down to grab at the toy and fix it to be at the angle it was in, his hips shoving onto the dildo, completely blissed out and trying to get back to the ecstasy he was feeling just seconds prior. Finally, the dildo reached the angle and his hips jerked onto the dildo on their own, his body going on auto pilot and grinding own onto the dildo. His face was shoved into his pillows blocking out the begs and cries he was letting out, a pool of spit forming on his pillows as he drooled from the sensations of having his prostate stimulated for the first time in his life. 

His free hand made it’s way to his balls, grabbing them and rolling them around in his palm the way he liked it, his thumb traveling to his perineum and feeling how slick everything was at the moment, a mewl coming from his mouth as he realized he was being fucked. By a dildo, sure, but he was being fucked nonetheless. The realization made his body jerk with arousal, and his cock started twitching as he felt his release. His body twitched and he shoved onto the dildo, finally feeling the knot in his stomach come undone feeling cum spill onto his stomach as he let out loud whimpers onto his spit soaked pillows. The dildo milked his prostate for every drop of cum he had, his eyes rolling back into his skull and curse words falling from his lips, his voice completely thrashed. 

After a minute of the most intense orgasm he’d ever experienced, he fell limp onto his bed, dildo still shoved deep in his and his stomach sticky with his own release. His cock flagged onto his stomach and he was left satiated on his bed until he became overstimulated from the dildo in him and pulled it out, mouth agape looking at what he was just ramming in himself. 

No one could ever know. 

[khihi]

As a french person who read les misérables at school but has never watched the movie/musical, I'm quite curious about what has attracted many (foreign) people to it. Feel free to rant and share your thoughts, I'm genuinely curious

OH GOD OKAY LOOK HERE'S THE THING FIRST OF ALL the musical is absolutely incredible. I'm a musicals fan in general but les mis is something else. It will make you cry and laugh and somehow it will also make you proud to be French even when you're not French.

Long rant/fucking essay under cut so I'm not bombarding everyone who doesn't care about musicals or dead French dudes

I wish everyone could watch a live performance of it as their first experience of les mis because I feel like most people only see either the movie or the 25th anniversary concert. And while I adore the 25th anniversary concert and I'm a Les Mis 2012 Movie Defender 4 lyfe, I think both of those won't anchor you into enjoying les mis quite as much as an actual, professional live performance of the show will (bc the anniversary is mostly just standing and singing and the movie is.. flawed).

Also I imagine your first experience of it being the brick probably would not help you see why foreigners love this story so much because that thing is CHONKY and I've absolutely not read all of it - I've literally only read bits of it that include my faves. Sorry Hugo but I'm not here to read your rant about Paris' sewage system, I'm here to read about Grantaire bullying Enjolras and laugh at Marius for crying against a tree for hours xx

Les Amis de l'ABC are the main attraction for me and I think a lot of les mis fans tbh. Their friendships combined with their doomed narrative is just the absolute best and worst, emotionally speaking thing. Just the fact they believe so strongly in wanting to change the world that they're prepared to fight and die for it but they're also just a bunch of super young guys who drink and laugh together makes my heart hurt. They're martyrs to a hopeless cause but they're so human.

It makes you want to see them happy and victorious (I know there are a lot of mundane college kids les amis fics out there where they're "all happy and nothing hurts" because of this) but also that doomed narrative is so delicious every single time (which is why me and other les mis fans come crawling back to rewatch the musical whenever we're presented with the opportunity).

And DO NOT get me started on ExR. Grantaire and Enjolras are THE most angsty ship in the world, they make me ill. Grantaire is so in love with Enjolras even though his depression makes him a lot more aware of just how fucked they all are in this revolution, he's like a moth to a flame. Also the guy who played Grantaire in the 2012 movie shipped ExR. George Blagden if you can hear me right now I owe you my life and I hate them for cutting your Drink With Me solo.

Also the female characters in les mis are SO FUCKING GOOD HOLY SHIT like yes Cosette and Eponine are both madly stupidly in love with Marius "Just Some Guy" Pontmercy but to me it always felt like Marius was their love interest rather than the other way around. He's the chain that links Valjean to the revolution and back to the Thénardiers, but Eponine and Cosette are both so much more interesting to me personally than him.

AND FANTINE?? Fantine who had her life torn to shreds and does everything in her power (of which she has NONE) to protect her little girl and is punished, like fucking everyone in the story, for being a good person?? but who is always shown to be a sympathetic character?? written in a time when women were possessions and prostitutes were seen as scum of the earth?? Once again it's emotionally catastrophic, but it's beautiful. I for one enjoy when stories reach into my chest and squeeze my heart to pulp.

ALSO I'm such a sucker for motifs and symbology and themes and all of that Good Literature Shit, which les mis has in buckets, so there's also that.

so yeah

tl;dr the characters are my babies, i love a masterfully crafted story, and the music makes me feel shrimp emotions. PLEASE SEE THE MUSICAL.

thank you for letting me infodump this fine sunday afternoon <3

[kokiafans]

As previously posted here, KOKIA updated her official webshop KOKIA Jirushi with pre-order pages for her upcoming releases: the 25th anniversary concert Blu-ray release (including a limited edition including a special booklet and signature), and her 25th Anniversary Best The Lighthouse. All are currently scheduled to ship around September 21.

In preparation for today's stream of the concert, I have posted the track lists below under a Read more link, so you can either choose to read up on which songs to expect, or to fully ignore this and go into the stream unspoiled. I will be listing the albums on which the songs first appeared, so you can use this list as a way to track down the album if you discover a new song you love!

I will update the discography page later today.

KOKIA 25th anniversary concert 'you and me' tracklist

Masquerade (prologue)

Maigo no watashi wa gin no kitsune to kin no koucha o (’I would have golden tea with a silver fox during being lost’) (from Gin no kitsune to kin no koucha o)

Fukurou ~Fukurou ga shiraseru kyaku ga kita to~ ('The Owl ~The owl tells that we have uninvited guests~') (from Animal CD vol.1)

Hontou no oto ('real sound') (from moment)

Kotou ('isolated island') (from Hoshi no uta kaze no naka)

Tora ~ hiru to yoru ga ai shita kemono~ ('The Tiger ~The beast who was loved by day and night~') (from Animal CD vol.4)

Cells (new song; will appear on her new album The Lighthouse)

Life ~seimei no hibiki~ ('Echo of life') (from EVOLVE to LOVE)

Hoshi no keiji ('Star revelation') (from PIECES 2)

Dragon (from Animal CD vol.4)

The Lighthouse (new song; will appear on her new album The Lighthouse)

Utau hito ('singing people') (from Uta ga chikara)

Anshin no naka ('in peace') (from Remember me)

Hoshi no uta (’Song of stars’) (from Hoshi no uta kaze no naka)

Moment ~ima o ikiru~ ('Live in the now') (from moment)

Wataridori ('Migratory bird') (from Animal CD vol.4)

Kaze wa yuu (’Wind whispers’) (from Hoshi no uta kaze no naka)

Yume no tochuu ('on my way to my dream') (from Where to go my love?)

Kisetsu hazure no sakura ('Late blooming cherry blossoms') (from Gin no kitsune to kin no koucha o)

Jinsei wa uta no you ne (’life is like a song, isn’t it’) (from ALIVE the live history)

From the day 1 performance (not in the stream, Blu-ray only):

Chiisa na uta ('little song') (from the VOICE)

Chouwa ('Harmony') (from trip trip)

EXEC_COSMOFLIPS/. (from PIECES)

Backstage, interview

KOKIA 25th anniversary best album 'The Lighthouse' tracklist

NOTE: The web shop mentions that the track list is possibly subject to change before release.

Disc 1

The cell / ＊new song

Hoshi no keiji ('Star revelation') / From the album PIECES 2, theme song for the game Shan Hai Jing Hua ('Flowers in the mirror of mountains and seas')

Shoudou ('Impulse') / From the album PIECES 2 theme song for the game 'Echocalypse'

Otentou-sama wa waratteru (’the Sun is laughing’) / From the album Kono sekai no katasumi de ('In this corner of the world')

Yagi ~ninja yagi ya~ (’Goat ~I'm the ninja goat~’) / From the album Animal CD vol.3

Maigo no watashi wa gin no kitsune to kin no koucha o (’I would have golden tea with a silver fox during being lost’) / From the album Gin no kitsune to kin no koucha o ('Golden tea with a silver fox')

Dragon / from the album Animcal CD vol.4

Hollow / ＊new song

The Lighthouse / ＊new song

Ochite yuku... ('Falling down...') / ＊new song

Hoshi no uta (’Song of stars’) / From the album Hoshi no uta kaze no naka ('Song of stars in the wind')

Hoshi ni natta inu (’the dog that became a star’) / From the album Kono sekai no katasumi de ('In this corner of the world')

Kisetsu hazure no sakura ('Late blooming cherry blossoms') / from the album Gin no kitsune to kin no koucha o ('Golden tea with a silver fox')

Wataridori ('Migratory bird') / from the album Animal CD vol.4

Kaze wa yuu... (’Wind whispers’) / from the album Hoshi no uta kaze no naka ('Song of stars in the wind') Disc 2

Fukurou ~Fukurou ga shiraseru kyaku ga kita to~ ('The Owl ~The owl tells that we have uninvited guests~') / from the album Animal CD vol.1

Kurage ~uchuuyuuei Floating soul~ (’Jellyfish ~space walk~’) / from the album Animal CD vol.3

Kotou (’isolated island’) / from the album Hoshi no uta kaze no naka ('Song of stars in the wind')

Makenai you ni (’Don’t give up’) / from the album Kono sekai no katasumi de ('In this corner of the world')

I'll be there / theme song for the game Marfusha

Tora ~ hiru to yoru ga ai shita kemono~ ('The Tiger ~The beast who was loved by day and night~') / from the album Animal CD vol.4

Rakuda ~kiri e ni natteku~ (’Camel ~would make for a cut-out picture~’) / from the album Animal CD vol. 3

Buta ~mondai nai buu~ (’Pig ~no problem, oink~’) / from the album Animal CD vol.3

Kuma ~kuma ono hatsukoi kuma tta na~ ('Bear ~the bear’s first love, he’s stumped~') / from the album Animal CD vol.1

Tanuki ~matsuri no yoru~ ('Raccoon dog ~festival night~') / from the album Animal CD vol.1

Hebi ~hanihohebi tanchou fujin~ ('Snake ~hanihoheto Madam minor~') / from the album Animal CD vol.2

Tokei jikake no TikTok ('The TikTok of clockworks') / from the album Gin no kitsune to kin no koucha o ('Golden tea with a silver fox')

Sagashimono wa uta no naka ('The things I'm looking for are inside songs') / from the album Gin no kitsune to kin no koucha o ('Golden tea with a silver fox')

Kakurenbo ('Hide-and-seek') / ＊new song

I LOVE YOU 2020 / from the album Hoshi no uta kaze no naka ('Song of stars in the wind')

Uma ~kaze no uma~ (’Horse ~horse of the wind~’) / from the album Animal CD vol.3

[hotarutranslations]

Takeuchi-san!!!

Evening

Everyone in Angerme! Good work at Yokohama Arena!

Takeuchi Akari-san!

Congratulations on graduating!

🥹👏

I cried! I laughed! It was really wonderful!

Everyone was really cool...... 🥹❤️

In high spirits, being on stage at YokoAri, In high spirts, towards Takeuchi-san, I was mesmerized feeling the crackling energy! I also liked everyone like this!

It was really cool, that Takuchi-san, Who had started the engine up till now, entrusted it with her thanks from now on!

The other day at Nakano Sunplaza, It was announced Kamikokuryo Moe-chan will be the next leader, I was watching in the wings, I was seriously crying though ()

Listening to Takeuchi-san's encouraging words, Looking at the cool Kami-chan yesterday, I'm really looking forward to it from now on 😌❤️‍🔥

During NamaTake as well, Kami-chan's cheer, left an impression but!

That's right, that's right,

During NamaTake,

Dojima Kohei-san was a guest, we talked about "Ikenakucha", and he asked a lot of questions 😳

Therefore yesterday, while watching Takeuchi-san sing on stage,

At that time Dojima-san was asking, Takeuchi-san talked about always practicing singing, she talked about how everyone who made the song cried, and she talked about a song that will be sung not only now but also in the future,

Remembering all of that, I cried so much 😢

So much love was put into it 😢

Her dress was also cute!! It was sad she took it off so early though!! lol

Yesterday, Takeuchi-san, smiled the whole time!

Like she wasn't putting on airs, like she was standing just as she is, it was really like that,

I was attracted to not just Takeuchi-san's charms as an idol, but her people skills as well--, It was a concert that made me realize that 😌🍀

With that,

Even with that, she is graduating with a bright future, its realllyyyy great, right!

From now on Takeuchi-san, I also, am looking forward ❤️‍🔥

Well then I hope you are fast asleep today lol

When we meet when you've done good work, even if you hate it yourself← I'll praise you a lot

From now on lets continue our friendship

I also, have a Nippon Budokan performance on the 26th...... ❤️‍🔥 Lets do our best...... ❤️‍🔥

live 🎫

"Morning Musume '23 25th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT TOUR ~glad quarter-century~"

Final 6/26 (Mon) Nippon Budokan

→ Live Broadcast

→ Live Viewing 6/19 0:00~ Ticket sales start at each theater

"ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2023" Morning Musume '23 is performing on August 13th 🔥

"Morning Musume '23 25th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT TOUR ~glad quarter-century encore~"

We're also holding this tour from 7/15~9/3!

"Inazuma Rock Fest 2023" Morning Musume '23 will perform for the first time on October 9th (Monday Holiday) 🔥 I'll do my best~~ Look Forward~~

🎫 Advance reception is until 6/30

see you ayumin <3

https://ameblo.jp/morningmusume-10ki/entry-12808965506.html

[rockshrimp1989]

For #1, I present Trey's speech at the Evergreen High Class of 1999 commencement ceremony😁🎓 I choked up over how excited he was about giving a speech at Red Rocks, never knowing how it would come full-circle for him (and Matt) 23 years later with the 25th anniversary concert!🤩 But it's the latter half of his speech that earns the top spot for me, because it's incredible advice I feel we can apply to all chapters and obstacles we encounter in our daily lives:

"[My agent] gave me the best suggestion of all. He said, 'Tell them that there's hope.' It took me a long time to figure out what he meant, but then I remembered how I felt coming out of high school. See, anyone under 30 is part of the Earth Day Generations, where mankind's faults are pointed out more than our strengths and achievements...It makes us a very cyncial, self-hating society, and it HAS to change if we're going to get anywhere...You can still fix the world without being a cynical hippie activist spewing a bunch of negative crap. I've always been an extremely optimistic person, and I suppose that that is the biggest thing that attributed to my success...But the way you [be optimistic] is by learning how to laugh at things. And that's what South Park is all about: Laughing at our faults rather than being angry about them."

[kcrabb88]

Ooooh ranking of stage Enjolrai tactileness?????

Bless you for asking me this, anon! I'm gonna do a ranking out of 10 in no particular order, of the Enjolrai I've seen, either live or recorded.

Jason Forbach (2012 US tour, my first live Les Mis): 5/10. I liked him fine, but honestly I was so blown away by my first time seeing the show live that details escape me, and he was a little Loud for my tastes, and not that tactile but not like, Cold, you know?

Kyle Scatliffe (2014 Broadway revival): 6/10. Friendly and definitely kind of like, a hugger, but he wasn't tactile in the specific WAY I imagine Enjolras to be. I liked him though! Great voice.

Wallace Smith (2015, again Broadway revival): 10/10. This guy was AMAZING. The only other African-American Enjolras I've seen, and goodness he was perfect. So many shoulder squeezes, quietly nodding and listening to his friends, but passionate when needed! He was so Enjolraic in the easy, gentle way he physically communicated with his friends.

Bradley Jaden (2016 West End + the most recent concert recording): 9/10. LOVE him. Very easily affectionate. Nice hand grasps. He did a lot more laughing with his friends in the production I saw, which was nice. He also had a red ribbon in his hair which is very specific to me and not related to being tactile but I loved it.

Johnny Purchase (2017 West End): 5/10. Kind of like Forbach, not much about his tactileness stuck with me. Hyoie O'Grady was principal that year and I know he was known for it but he was not on that day.

Matt Shingledecker (2017 US Tour): 1,000/10 THIS GUY. This guy. GOD I will never forget him not ever in my whole life. Hand grasps. Shoulder squeezes. Affectionate looks. A quiet smile as he ran his hand through his blond hair. I felt like Enjolras had leapt out of the pages of the book and came to perform. Some folks on this blue app were with me and they can attest.

John Campione (2014 Les Mis Dallas Modern production I watched a boot of A LOT): 8/10. Not like the most tactile Enjolras I've ever seen but he did love a good shoulder grasp and I Just Think He's Neat.

Ramin Karimloo (2011 25th Anniversary Concert): 7/10. Pretty touchy!! And clearly loves his friends. Not my favorite Enjolras, but you know, it's Ramin, and I have a baseline affection for him.

(Also I know, I know, I need to watch the boot with Daniel Diges I dunno how I've been in this fandom so long and haven't done it!)

[jiminieloved]

Ultimate Jikook Timeline Pt 73

Love Yourself: Her Era Pt 1

1. September 1, 2017:

JK’s Birthday

a) Jimin Twitter post

Trans: Happy Birthday 🎶✌️✌️😂 #HappyBdayKookie #JIMIN #HAPPYBIRTHDAY

b) Jimin Twitter post

Trans: It hasn’t been long since Jungkook wore a uniformAlready😂😂Happy Birthday #HappyBdayKookie #JIMIN #HAPPYBIRTHDAY

c) RM Twitter post

Trans: #Nochu Happy Birthday

2. September 2, 2017:

Seo Taiji’s 25th Anniversary Concert

3. September 4, 2017:

a) Serendipity MV release

b) Serendipity Trailer Making Film

0:46 Jimin talks about some of the meanings of the song

2:56 Jimin explains the meaning of “calico cat”

4:17 Jimin talks about destiny

4. September 7, 2017:

a) BTS x CREA Magazine

b) Love Yourself: Her Concept Photos

5. September 10, 2017:

Jimin Twitter post

Trans: Calico cat 🐾 #JIMIN

6. September 18, 2017:

a) Big Hit Twitter post

b) Comeback Vlive

1:55 they are supposed to pick their favorite track from the album, Jimin chooses “Serendipity”, JK smiles at his choice

5:56 Jimin gets closer to JK, they stay very close until the end of the live

c) Comeback Special

7:53 they start talking about JK’s famous Hawaii picture and Jimin goes close to him with a bigger version of it and says he is going to hang this picture in his room.

8:16 Jimin keeps holding the picture and says this JK is way cuter

27:44 Jimin has his arm on JK’s knee and looks at him 

31:07 Jimin says JK’s Hawaii photo has healing powers

39:35 Jimin sings a song for the game and JK looks at him fondly

1:04:16 Jhope asks Jimin to speak and JK randomly says “Jimin-shi”

1:05:50 JK speaks and Jimin teases him saying he always makes that kind of announcement

d) Bangtan Bomb

Jimin putting JK’s Hawaii photo on the wall and saying he is cute

e) DNA MV reaction

0:36 Jimin says JK lost a lot of weight and tells him to gain some weight

1:46 Jimin gets excited from JK part

3:39 JK gets impressed by Jimin’s part

7. September 21, 2017:

a) Big Hit Twitter post

b) M-Countdown

0:35 JK shows his move to Jimin and smiles at him

c) DNA comeback show

14:25 JK watches Jimin being cute in front of the camera

15:13 Jikook together with Jin in Jimin’s room

15:24 JK talks about Jimin and then films him talking about himself

16:49 Jimin says they didn’t initially plan showing the whole dorm room like that and JK asks if they were forced to reveal it because of him

19:21 JK looks at Jimin while he dances

34:42 Jikook and Jin together in Jin’s room filming his pet

49:12 Jimin says JK always sleeps in his room

51:47 Jimin is practicing and JK teases him

d) Bangtan Bomb

2:35 Jimin shows his abs as part of the choreo and JK glances at it

8. September 22, 2017:

a) Arriving Music Bank

In the first part of the video, a fanboy screams jimin’s name, JK reacts to it and then looks at Jimin (note that Jin also looks at JK when the boy screams Jimin’s name)

b) Music Bank Interview

0:32 JK says something funny, Jimin laughs and JK looks at his reaction

c) Aladin Fansign

I couldn’t find subtitles, but here is compilation of moments from this day

9. September 23, 2017:

a) BTS Twitter post

b) BTS on Knowing Bros

11:34 when it’s Jimin’s turn to play, JK goes closer to him 

13:04 Jimin gets excited when JK succeeds on doing kick-ups 

16:48 when Jimin succeeds on doing the kick-ups, JK gets excited and says “Jimin-ah”

17:54 and they do the group hug, JK keeps looking at Jimin

10. September 24, 2017:

a) SBS Inkigayo

11:06 JK gets close to Jimin and puts his hand on his shoulder

Stage moment

11. September 26, 2017:

a) SBS MTV The Show

They share some glances throughout the video

b) Behind the Show

1:42 Jimin puts his arm around JK

3:03 Jimin holds JK’s arm to show the dance move

4:30 Jimin rubs JK’s back

12. September 27, 2017:

MBC Show Champion

2:10 JK acts cute and Jimin keeps looking at him and says “Junkookie has changed”

13. September 28, 2017:

a) BTS Twitter post

b) Mnet Mcountdown

0:39 JK goes closer to Jimin

1:57 JK puts his hand on Jimin’s shoulder

2:05 they stand close and look at each other

2:12 Jimin says JK is his obedient subordinate

c) Bangtan Bomb

7:16 Jimin says something to JK

11:55 JK shares some glances with Jimin while he speaks. JK says he is surprised Jimin didn’t cry.

12:14 JK says they made Jimin feel small and looks at him fondly

d) Bangtan Bomb

3:55 jikook backhug

4:34 jikook playing together

6:28 JK goes to Jimin’s side

e) M-Countdown Backstage

10:59 Jimin and JK appear together 

16:20 Jimin and JK appear together again and then Jimin jumps on JK’s back for a piggyback

14. September 29, 2017:

Arriving at KBS Music Bank

15. September 30, 2017:

a) ‘LOVE YOURSELF 承 Her’ Fansign (Sinchon) and (Myeongdong)

Compilation of jikook moments in both fansigns

b) Vlive

2:00 Jimin says he was there with Jin to buy JK’s birthday gift

3:05 JK says he, Jimin and Jin go to that restaurant frequently to eat and then says “Jinjikook”

20:56 RM asks JK to broadcast on vlive, so Jimin says he and JK will do it

21:56 Jimin stands up and JK stares at him

Information compiled by @lagalaxiedemochi​​​, please direct all questions to this account.

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[voice-of-anarchy]

ARCH ENEMY / “I HADN’T BEEN STANDING UP PLAYING GUITAR FOR A LONG TIME,” MICHAEL AMOTT SAYS

Arch Enemy will release their eleventh studio album, Deceivers, on the 12 August via Century Media. MetalTalk’s Dany Jones caught up with guitarist and founding member Michael Amott.

Amott is in London, mid-way through a brief promotional stint, having recently played a US Arch Enemy tour. “Yesterday we were in Berlin,” he says, “and tomorrow we’re in Paris. So it’s one of those whirlwind promo trips, but that’s cool. It’s exciting now, after everything that’s been happening in the last couple of years, being out meeting people. We just came back from North America. We did the tour. We played concerts for the first time in two and a half years. So it’s all back, and we feel great.”

Amott is half-British, with a sexy accent. “I have British and Swedish passports,” he says. “I grew up in Sweden for the most part. We spoke English at home, and then I spoke Swedish at school and with my friends. I think that was a good idea.”

A very skilled guitarist, Amott has a career of 30 years, and with Arch Enemy, they are celebrating a 25th anniversary. He was placed at number 74 on Guitar Worlds Top 100 Guitarist list.

“I’ve been decorated with a few awards,” he says. “I’ve won best guitar player of the year and things like that, and have a few of those from Japan. It’s cool to get these things, you know. It’s not the reason why I do this, though. I have had a passion since thirteen years old to play the guitar, and I never really developed any other hobbies along the way. I would ride my bicycle to the rehearsal room with a guitar gig bag on my back. It just kind of went from there. In many ways, I’m still that same person. Now I’m flying around the world or getting on a tour bus doing the same kind of thing. It’s just been a great journey, really. Music is still my passion and the self-expression part of it, with the guitar playing and the songwriting.”

Michael says there have been moments when he has felt like he had finally arrived, but he is a grounded man. “It’s easy to get spooked if you work yourself up too much. You can let nerves take over and get a bit anxious about playing certain big shows or things like that. I’ve had those moments where I look up from the stage, and I’m like, ‘wow.’ I’ve seen an ocean of people, and it’s being broadcast live on tv in Germany, and you realize that’s actually a pretty big moment. I try not to focus on that, though. Every show is kind of the same in a way, if it’s 300 people, or 30,000 or, in some cases, over 100,000 people at some of these festivals. My eyesight is not that great, so I can only see the first few rows. Then it’s all a blur.”

Arch Enemy were formed in 1995 by former Carnage members Amott and Johan Liiva, and while it might originally have been seen as a one-off project, it certainly exploded.

“I didn’t really know what it was going to become,” Amott says. “We made those choices, we found the band name, but we didn’t think that 25 plus years later, we would still be talking about this.”

The first album was Black Earth, released in ’96. “It came out on a very small label of a friend who, at the time, put it out in Sweden. But what happened was that he got it licensed to a Japanese label, and that label really built up the band there. We started touring there. We were the first Melodic Death Metal band that played in Japan. We became the biggest and remained the biggest band of that style over there. It’s been a very long relationship in that territory.”

The rest of the world did catch up, though. “It took a while,” Michael laughs. “In the beginning, in the ’90s, we’d play like quite large shows and concerts in Japan. Then we came back and played little basement venues in Germany, something at a youth centre or something with a couple of hundred people. Balancing that in those first few years was a bit weird.”

Michael still talks fondly about the Metal family in Japan. “I would say Japan is very dear to our hearts, and we owe them a lot. We’ve been worldwide for many years, but it’s always nice when somebody is going to give you that first chance, right? It just happened to be over there, so it’s cool.”

I describe Michael as a man of the pentatonic scale, particularly the Aeolian mode. “One of my favourite bands is UFO, and Michael Schenker uses a lot of that. My ears are tuned to that. I’m a self-taught musician, a self-taught guitar player, and I try to be very melodic. But, I like all kinds of music, and I love all kinds of players.”

In terms of style, there was a distinct plan for Arch Enemy from the very beginning. “I came from a more of a Death Metal background, when I formed Arch Enemy. I wanted to have those very high tempos, the double bass drum, very fast drumming, screaming vocals, lowered tuning of the guitars, and all the heaviness. But I also wanted to have high-quality guitar parts with melodies and harmonies and push that to the forefront.”

But with the balance and attention to great songwriting. “I wanted to write really great songs within that style of music, instead of just trying to impress people with how fast or how low and heavy you could be,” he says. “I wanted it also to be about good songs, and I think that’s what we continue to do to this day, just trying to write great songs.”

This is something I can totally relate to. Michael’s technique and ability are undeniable, but ultimately, people want to hear songs. They want to hear something that is memorable. With Deceivers, Arch Enemy will show the world that memorable songwriting is still in their lockers, as repeated listens show how crucial this is, as the album is absolutely excellent.

“Thank you, that’s cool,” Michael says. “I mean, that’s what we do. Songwriting is really my main interest nowadays, more so maybe than being a lead guitarist. It’s become more and more important to me, songwriting.”

Possibly this is the head of experience. “I’m really trying to be very minimalist,” Michael says. “I come from a background of, always in the past, trying to create very, you know, tricky and complicated guitar parts that other guitar players would be impressed by. I found myself moving away from that a little bit. I mean, we do have moments of that, which I think is also cool for the energy. You sometimes need really mind-blowing guitar things going on. But for the most part of it, I’m more interested in something that’s going to connect with people on an emotional level and usually, that’s something quite primal actually.”

At the turn of the century, vocalist Johan Liiva left Arch Enemy and was replaced by Angela Gossow. Was Michael concerned that it might have been a risk?

“At the time when Angela joined, it was not like a template for success,” he says. “It was not a recipe for having people liking your band or something like that. It was a little bit of a risk at the time, I guess, but it felt very exciting at the same time, too, because I knew what she could do. We were a much smaller band at the time, so we were just prepared to take that risk.”

But that is not just in the sense of replacing a male vocalist with a female one. “Changing a singer at any point in your career in a Metal band is a big thing, and at the time, there were not that many female singers doing it with that extreme vocal style. It was something different for sure, but I think that was a big plus as well.”

Although there were challenges to overcome. “Some people didn’t like us because of that,” Michael says. “There are a lot of people that would never listen to Arch Enemy because we have a female singer still to this day. That’s just how it is, you know. I don’t really care about those kinds of things, [laughs]. In music, I don’t think it matters. I think it’s great. We have always been very open-minded about that. I think we all have in the band. It’s been a challenge in a way sometimes to deal with those issues. There were a lot of people who were kind of shocked in the beginning when Angela joined. But at the same time, we enjoyed it. We had fun with it.”

Angela Gossow certainly has a huge personality and a huge voice to back that up, and in my times as a DJ, Nemesis was one of my playlist staples.

“I never liked it when people saw it as a gimmick,” Michael says. “Sometimes you see bands, and they have [women] almost like models as the front person, but they’re not all successful anyway because the music maybe isn’t that great. You’ve got to have great songs, a great band and a great singer and a great, great total team. The full picture has to be great. I think at the heart of it, every position has to be a killer.”

2014, and Angela decided to take a step back from touring while remaining as the band’s manager, cherry-picking Alissa White-Gluz as her replacement.

“It was a very difficult time for us,” Michael says. “Angela had been in the band for over 12 years at that point, was very well established as the front person of the band and was the face of the band in many ways.”

Amott, drummer Daniel Erlandsson and bassist Sharlee D’Angelo met to discuss if they should fold the band. The consistent theme was that they all still wanted to play together. “Angela didn’t want us to quit,” Michael says. “She thought that Alissa would be a good replacement.”

Michael had been working on material for a new album, the follow-up to Khaos Legions.

“Alissa came over to Sweden,” Michael says. “I tried recording a little bit with her, some new demos. We wrote a little bit with her. She came to the rehearsal room that we had and sang the old material with us, and it just sounded great. Every aspect of it was really good. So that gave us the confidence to move forward, and then we went into the production of what became the War Eternal album.”

Amott spoke about his expectations for War Eternal. “I’ve said this in many interviews, but I personally thought that our popularity would drop for a little bit,” he says. “But I really believed in the album and the new lineup. I thought slowly, but surely we will pick up and kind of come back to where we were. But what happened was the opposite, basically. It just took off like a rocket into the sky, and the band became more popular than ever. It just goes to show that you never can tell what’s going to happen. The chemistry was right, the album was right, and the time was right, I guess.”

Alissa was no shrinking violet. A huge personality, stunning and with an amazing stage presence and such versatility in her vocals, from the melodic through to the death growls, you can easily experience why the performances would be so appealing to so many fans. As a band, it has been great.

“But, as a songwriter as well, it has been great,” Michael says. “To have that in the toolbox, with all the different voices that she can do, that is so great. Our main focus, I think, will always be on the heavier side of things, that’s just the natural sound for us to go to as about as a group, but to have these other tones and atmospheres that we can put into the music now… like in the first song on the new album, Handshake With Hell, we can use different parts, a completely different atmosphere and then bring it back to the heaviness. I think it’s cool. It’s a great dynamic to have.”

Deceivers, the third album with Alissa, is not a concept album but a consistent theme developed. “We noticed, when we were putting the record together, a few songs had this commonality,” Michael says. “Lyrics about masks and betrayal and stuff like that. So we just thought, why not? It sounds pretty good, I think.”

The Deceiver might be someone who presents a false image of themselves on social media or some politicians, and this is a theme which seems to run through today’s society. People who are “out for themselves or have their own agenda,” Michael says.

The creative process is interesting, with Michael and Daniel building up songs in Daniel’s home studio. “We then have a meeting, where we say ‘yes’ to every idea, even if it’s something different for us. Later we sift through everything and make some more difficult decisions. Putting it together musically is super fun and creative. We get a little bit more serious later on when turning it into real songs.”

Alissa worked on her demos in Canada, and then the band met together to fine-tune the vocal arrangements before entering the studio.

Michael has spoken before about how he shuts the world out and enters a deep artistic zone during the writing process. “This time, it was almost crucial for my mental health because, when we were making this album, there was so much negativity and uncertainty in the world. I really needed something to focus on, and I just stopped watching the news. It just seemed so hopeless. I think we all needed this project.”

The Sony music team in Berlin loved the new album, and four singles have been released, “a foreign concept to me to do this in Metal,” says Michael.

But, he has now changed his mind. “It’s been a very positive experience,” he says. “People have been more inclined to check out the songs on a deeper level than if they get everything at once. We certainly noticed it when we played in North America. We were playing Deceiver, Deceiver, Handshake With Hell, and House Of Mirrors, and people were singing along in the mosh pits. The recognition for those songs was huge.”

Arch Enemy play six festivals this year, and after the album is out, dates with Carcass follow. “I just saw Carcass play in California,” Michael says. “I’m still good friends with them. I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

For now, with gigs, it feels like things are almost back to normal, with Amott back again standing up to play guitar. “I hadn’t been standing up playing guitar for a long time. I had been sitting down at the studio at home practising.”

Even the touring is a joy again. “I loved the social aspect as well,” Michael says, “you know, hanging out with my bandmates, with our crew or with the other groups and meeting the fans again. It was a readjustment to being such a social creature again, but I liked it. We had a great time and we feel very energized and ready to move forward.”

Arch Enemy will now release Deceivers on 12 August 2022.

[rockcrow20]

Reasons I Still Believe in Kaylor - 

Observations since the red “wedding” that make me still believe that Kaylor are still together.

Thank you to everyone in this fandom for there contributions, posts, observations and secret government agency level clue finding skills. (X = links to relevant posts). 

Oct 22nd 2018 - Taylors forget me knots flower t-shirt while in OZ..X

Oct 31st 2018 - New Video in Karlie’s Kitchen and she still had the Kaylor photos up.. X

Nov 9th 2018 - Tay sings out of the woods on Tour and Karlie and co post photos in the woods.. X

Nov 16th 2018 - Taylors matching Karlie Clutch at the AMA’s.. X. also kinda matching outfits..X

Jan 15th 2019 - Karlie’s Astrology post with Sagittarius book shown underneath.. X

Feb 25th 2019 - Karlie rocking a Tye Dye t-shirt at Paris Week with Gigi in tow, hello lover merch and also similar to a shirt Tay was seen in also another PR episode themed tye dye (in 2020).. X X X

March 3rd 2019 - Karlie was in Paris for fashion week - Off White walk on 28th Feb then mysteriously posts that she was passing through NY on the 3rd of March before appearing back in Paris for the Stella McCartney show on the 4th March. Where did she mysteriously fly to and why point it out that she was back in America for some unknown reason - plus we know beginning of march is significant for them aka Big Sur or Love locked down...X X X X

March 14th 2019 - Taylor leaving/disappearing early from the Iheart awards the same night Project Runway Premiered..X

March 14th 2019 - Watch what happens live - Karlie getting asked about Taylor - there is a smirk..X

March 14th 2019 - Interesting anon telling Kaylors not to give up.. X

March 31st 2019 - Tay and KK liking the same Ciara post - X

April 2019 maybe??- The i need to make a phone call when filming ME when adopting Benjamin..X

April 16th 2019 - The Lover Butterfly Mural - 2 lady birds, giraffe print, similar previous to karlie VS wings..X X

April 2019 - Berlin video of karlie playing piano with “a interesting” female voice laughing at the end and saying you always.. X X

May 18th 2019 - Tays ‘we’ slip on the Ellen show then saying its just me and the cats.. X  X

May 30th 2019 - Karlie using ME! and 2AM in a story.. X X

June 3rd 2019 - Tay wearing a yellow T-shirt with her Wango Tango rainbow outfit.. X

June 6th 2019 - Karlie using a BBF vogue video gif.. X X

June 17th 2019 - THE HAND in the YNTCD teaser video - no one can convince me this isn't Karlie’s hand.. X X X X X

June 17th 2019 - Lover straw in the YNTCD video similar to Karlie’s bride straw. Also the Mint mojito it’s sitting in linking to Karlie’s 73 Question video where she says Mojitos are a favourite..X X

June 2019 - YNTCD with Taylor carrying out a Daisy from her burning trailer plus Daisies making a number of appearances.. X X X X

June 25th 2019 - KK’s Dad liking certain comments on the Wyoming stunt..X

July 4th 2019 - Abigail liking a KK insta post after the SB drama started.. X

Aug 3rd 2019 - Tay posts Lover Heart crispies pic on KK’s birthday.. X

Aug 16th 2019 - Release date of Lover Track being 13 days after KK’s bday and also track 3 aka KK birthday day also its 3.41 long (3+4+1=8).. X X X

Aug 16th 2019 - Lover lyric video with the kaylor sparklers video plus potential daises and big sur falcon pic.. X X 

Aug 22nd 2019 - Lover video fishbowl scene X

Aug 23rd 2019 - Lover release date may coincide with a certain date range where Kaylor may have gotten engaged.. X X

Aug 23rd 2019 - Lover album in general - Cornelia street, Lover, False God etc etc we all know it plus the release letters all over NY..X X

Sept 10th 2019 - Lover Paris Concert Mural ummm a polaroid, locket..X X X

Nov 14th 2019 _ Karlie’s off the wall post during when SB was not letting Tay perform her songs - which i think is her being off the wall angry.. X

Nov 14th 2019 - Selena liking a Hung Vanngo post of Karlie..X

Nov 13th 2019 - Lover remix released on the anniversary of their first meeting VS2013 - “the girl in my story has always been you”..X X X

Nov 21st 2019 - The orange girl In YNTCD along with the Karlie Vogue cover in orange with cactus jewellery.. X X

Nov 25th 2019 - Use of a ballerina for her Lover AMA performance and then karlie also mentioning said ballerina months later in a insta story.. X X

Dec 4th 2019 - Taylor Wearing the VS angel ring on the kiss gate anniversary X X X X X

Dec 6th 2019 - Christmas Tree Farm song lyrics and happiness 

Dec 12th 2019 - Taylor posting a pic of her with the huge cats door and then low and behold the following PR episode Karlie walks through a giant door for a Cats promo episode.. X X X X

Jan 2020 - PR episode with Cyndi Lauper aka photo with Taylor at Billboard Women awards and also having Laverne Cox as a guest too..X X

Jan 2nd 2020 - Martha liking KK’s post celebrating her vogue covers which includes the Kaylor one..X

Jan 23rd 2020 - The use of the song Karlie what you want, (karlie would you want to) song in Miss Americana when talking about her partner also the home video.. X X also this X 

Feb 6th 2020 - The song release of the Man and KK having a suits themed PR episode..X X X

Feb 12th 2020 - KK’s Daisy coat X

Feb 18th 2020 - The drawn Bethany Richards picture of the rainbow dress Taylor wore to the NFL draft on KK’s Galantines insta story..X

General - Karlie continuously latergraming and the Fiordland spelling mistake incident plus always periods of days where she is  MIA aka christmas and coming back looking a bit sun reddened and wearing jumpers, posting dark pictures.. X

OTHER posts to note..X X X X X X X X X

Let me know if i have missed any other obvious big observations.

[glassprism]

Thank you for bringing to my attention that video of Nicole Scherzinger singing with 4 phantoms I have not seen that before! I literally burst out laughing when the curtain went up and the 4 of them are just standing there posing with the fog and the candles around them! But seriously this is like the fifth video I've watched of 4 phantom's singing to one Christine. Why is this such a thing? Why can't we have 4 Christine's and one phantom or hell just 4 Christine's and no Phantom!

While I’ve seen the “four Phantoms” (or more) thing done a few times before - the Toronto production’s tenth anniversary performance had five Phantoms performing different scenes in one show, and I think the tenth anniversary of the London production had perhaps an after-show with several Phantoms worldwide appearing - but the 25th anniversary concert seemed to make it really popular, with variations of it showing up for the Nicole Scherzinger performance, the Broadway production’s 25th, and the 2016 West End Live performance. But hey, at least the 30th anniversary changed it up by adding a second Christine!

I imagine that it’s done mainly because the character of the Phantom is the most notable and remembered, and their actors tend to get the most notice, so if you’re going to make a celebration, invite a bunch of them and you’re set. But Christine? Eh; Christine is nice but not that remembered, just one actress is totally fine. Maybe two, max. But no more than that, this is the Phantom of the Opera, people, not Christine of the Opera. (And Raoul who? Why would we need more Raouls? Some people think one is too many.)

This really makes me miss that one video of three Dutch Christines (Joke de Kruijf, Els Bongers, and Maaike Widdershoven) serenading a former Phantom (Henk Poort) on his birthday by singing a three-Christine rendition of ‘Music of the Night’...

[emptymasks]

If You Kissed Me I'd Be Happy Enough to Die

i'm so happy to have finally written something for these two, but not at all the versions of them i expected to write about

this is based on ramin karimloo's enjorlas and hadley fraser's grantaire from the 25th anniversary concert, and also ramin as enjorlas in the 2004 west end production - this clip in particular where instead of how most enjorlas are annoyed at grantaire during red and black, ramin's grins at him. i saw someone on tumblr say aaron tveit's enjorlas is a gryffindor and ramin's is a slytherin and that feels very accurate.

read on ao3 and support me over there (and my other les mis fic that has like zero notes on here and i’m not bothered at all about it pfftt) (link to ao3 in the replies to this post so tumblr doesn’t block the post)

He'd done it. He'd finally cracked and done it.

Grantaire had kissed Enjolras.

What had he been thinking? He could blame the drink, of course he could always blame the drink for his actions, but he knew deep down the drink wasn’t to blame. Not for the desire anyway. He was a sorry, sad man, pining and in love with someone who would never see him as more than a friend.

And it was hard. It was so hard when there was those nights where no one wanted to hear him, no one wanted to sit near him and his nihilistic poetry, and yet Enjolras would look at him. He would notice him. When he'd get rowdy for a little too long and the others would drag him to his chair, Enjolras would give him that small grin. And it would give him hope. Because, perhaps that grin meant something more, perhaps Enjolras didn't even realise he was grinning and it was just slipping out without him realising.

But, Enjolras had to know, right? He had to know how Grantaire felt. He knew a couple of the others had noticed how deep his affections went and he silently thanked them for only teasing him about how much he liked Enjolras when Enjolras wasn't around. No one wanted everyone to fall out, and certainly not kicked out of the group.

Grantaire had long ago resigned himself to merely watch and never touch, for Enjolras was untouchable for him, untouchable to all but the sun ray's and the dawn's determination. His flushed cheeks and his raven hair and his wild eyes. He was everything Grantaire was not. What could Enjolras possibly want with him?

It had been just the two of them in the room. The others had already left and Grantaire often hung around until Enjolras resigned himself to sleep, sometimes just to make sure he actually got some. Some nights it was nigh impossible to tear Enjolras away from his maps and plans.

Tonight the papers were scattered haphazardly around the desk as Enjolras moved around the room, talking animatedly with his hands. He'd had an idea, an epiphany, and he was talking so fast Grantaire could barely keep up with him. He always felt as though he was barely keeping up with him. But the idea was good, they always were.

They were lucky to have Enjolras. Too often those with wild determination are blinded by their optimism and dreams, but not Enjolras. He was smart and cunning and knew when to be calm. And he cared about them all.

He'd spun around the room in almost a dance and when Grantaire had stood, he'd grabbed him, clasped his hands against Grantaire's upper arms. And he had smiled a smile so full of glee and joy and he was so close and Grantaire hadn't had any more to drink than normal but he felt light headed and heady and he could feel Enjolras' hands burning through his shirt and he smell him, was close enough to taste him.

He couldn't even remember moving forwards. He remembered what happened once he did, though. How could he not? Enjolras' lips had been so soft against his own. Soft, but unmoving.

Grantaire had snapped back to himself quickly, nervously laughing as if perhaps it could be played of as a show of brotherly love. He took a glance at Enjolras' face, but his expression seemed frozen. He's stumbled out a goodbye and out of the door, returning to his run down and barren apartment.

God, he wanted to drink until he passed out. Drink until he couldn't hold onto the realisation that he'd just ruined the best friendship, the best relationship of any kind, that he had. It would be so easy and the bottles were so close and tantalising.

But what would he do in the morning? He couldn't show up half way through the day, his head roaring like a beast, for Enjolras to pause and stare at him. Would he go on and act like nothing had happened. Would he let him stay? But ignoring him wouldn't be acting like nothing had happened. The others would notice. So what then? He'd be asked to leave. That seemed better, if he was being honest. Not being able to see him again rather than live by his side constantly ignored, loved even less than he was, if he had ever been loved at all.

He hugged the bottle to his chest and wept. His head fell to the side against the splintering walls. He'd go out with some dignity, at least, even though he didn't deserve it. Enjolras was always the first to arrive, so he'd arrive there before him and wait and if Enjolras didn't force him out he'd tell him he was leaving. He couldn't do this anymore, not when he'd pushed them over that fine line.

Sleep didn't come to him, and why should it? He stared at the clock across the room, though he couldn't read it at all in the darkness, and waited. The bottle stayed against his chest, but he kept his grip on it tight. The least he could do is save Enjolras the job of having to beat down a man who could already barely stand.

As soon as the run speared through the thin curtains, he unfurled himself, wincing as his body complained about being in that same position all night. He made a point of putting the bottle down on the floor and almost having a staring contest with it. He closed his eyes. He wasn't strong enough for this, but it had to be done.

The cafe was empty as he'd been sure it would be. He realised he'd never been in it while it was empty before, well not when the sun was up and shining through the gapes in the walls and through the window. The room was warmed as the light shone through the red flag Joly had hung up above the window, blocking out the rest of the world.

His hands were shaking. His legs were bouncing. God, why did he leave the bottle at home? There was alcohol hidden here of course, but no, no. No, he couldn't. He could just sit here and if need be grab one of the books that cluttered the room, everyone was always getting their textbooks and notebooks that is was normal for there to be piles of them around the cafe now.

There was a law book inches from where his fingers rested against the table. It was probably Courfeyrac's, he tended to leave things there the most. He wasn't sure how long he'd already been sitting here, and who knows how early Enjolras would show up. Perhaps he'd show up later to try and avoid dealing with him.

Grantaire reached forwards across the table.

"You're never usually the first one here," Grantaire jumped, standing up so he didn't fall out of his chair onto the floor. He'd been so engrossed in his thoughts he hadn't heard Enjolras opening the door.

So this was the end then.

"Yes, well, I thought... If you're going to kick me out I'd rather save myself the embarrassment of it not being in front of everyone else. And then you don't have to explain anything to them either."

"Kick you out?" Enjolras' brows furrowed slightly.

"However you want to call it. I know what I did... I crossed a line and I..."

Enjolras looked away from him for a moment. "Had you been..." It wasn't like him to pause mid-sentence. "Drinking too much yesterday?"

There it was, an out. Enjolras was giving him an out! He could just say yes and they'd laugh about it and everything could go back to how it was. But he looked at Enjolras’ eyes, eyes full of some emotions he'd never seen on his face before. Was he apprehensive? Did he fear Grantaire saying no? Dare he hope... that he would be disappointed if he said yes?

What a stupid, slim, impossible chance. No. No, that could never be it at all.

But he looked in Enjolras' eyes again even though it hurt and he knew what he'd always known if this came out: He couldn't lie to him.

"No." His voice echoed back at him in his ears. Enjolras just stared at him. "Does that surprise you? Does it truly? Some part of you must have... Enjolras, you must know. You are not blind. You notice things all the time no one else sees, and yet have you not seen me?"

Grantaire always dreaded opening his mouth. Once he started he often seemed unable to stop. And this, this had been bottled up for so long he couldn't stop himself and he could feel his throat closing up around his words and the corners of his vision turning wet.

"Do you know how I feel? Perhaps you were trying to be kind, perhaps you'd hope it would pass. But it can't... I can't... I would follow you forever, wherever. I have accepted my death and I wish for it to happen by your side. And I know what a folly it all is, I know that... For even if you wanted to love, even if you could love another man, what would you see in me? You haven't ever had a use for a drunken fool, and allowed me to stay anyway. So, I ask you now, if you would allow me to leave."

He took steps backwards until the table bumped against him and he slumped onto it. He couldn't raise his head nor his eyes.

How pathetic was he? Even now he was still asking for Enjolras' permission for things.

It was staying quite for too long, but he supposed that was better than Enjolras just walking out.

"You're..." Enjolras eventually spoke. "You're in love with me?"

And he asked it with no hint of disgust in his voice and it made Grantaire want to cry harder still.

All he could do was nod.

Black shoes came entered his eyes.

"Grantaire," Enjolras' voice was so soft, a siren's call that Grantaire couldn't refuse and though he feared it, he meet his eyes. "You're in love with me?"

Enjolras emphasised the words as though he needed to be sure, needed to double-check.

"Yes. Are you happy that you have made me say it. I'm in love with you. I love you. I have for so long and I think I will until I die. If I could ask for you not to hate me... But I do not deserve that. I don't... I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," The words spilt out of Grantaire's mouth as a river would burst through a dam.

His voice gave out to a whisper as he repeated his apology over and over again.

"Grantaire, stop. Stop it, hey," Enjolras' hands came up to his shoulders, brushed up and over his neck. His thumbs dug under Grantaire's chin, forcing him to look at him again. "I should apologise to you, I think, not the other way around. I had... suspected that you might... I couldn't be sure until last night and I was convinced I wouldn't see you at all today. We all have our worth, my friend, and I would not put any of us above each other, and I would be sad to see you go."

His thumbs softened against Grantaire's skin. "You ask for my permission to leave?" Grantaire nodded, ashamed. "I refuse to give it."

Enjolras' eyes were twinkling and there was a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth and Grantaire didn't understand. He didn't understand.

"What worth do I see in a 'drunken fool' as you call yourself? I don't think I've ever met someone more loyal than you. You doubt some of the beliefs shared here and yet you stay... You've stayed for me, yes? And when you come out with your ramblings, it makes me want to fight harder, even if just to prove you wrong. I think it makes the others feel that way too. I think there is something wicked in me that likes to see you get them riled up."

"I noticed you... don't seem as annoyed as anyone else does. You're always... I keep looking up and finding that you're watching me."

"Oh, do you?" There was Enjolras starting to grin again like he was waiting for Grantaire to catch up with him.

"Would you stop?!" Grantaire pushed himself off the table and into Enjolras. "My heart and my feelings are not a game. Stop being cruel and just tell me whatever it is I should know. You couldn't understand what it is like to love you. To love something so beautiful and loved by many and unattainable."

"Grantaire," Enjolras seemed exasperated and he didn't get to do that. He didn't get to be tired of Grantaire's feelings when he bearing his soul open to him.

"Am I anything to you at all?" Grantaire puffed his chest up, his nose now brushing against Enjolras'.

"How can you ask me that?" Enjolras' voice murmured between them. He reached up and put his hand against Grantaire's cheek, the way Grantaire had often done to him when they said goodbye for the night when he let his emotions take control a little too much. "You think you know so much about how I feel, about how I can love..."

"I wonder if you even feel love at all."

Enjolras' eyes flashed something hot and sharp. A dangerous sharpness that had Grantaire wanting to clutch back at the table behind him less Enjolras would throw him over it.

And Enjolras did move, pouncing forward and pinning him, trapping him, between the hard edge of the table and his own warm body. Grantaire didn't have time to take in the feeling before there were two hands on his face, one on either cheek, and a soft, burning mouth pressing against his own.

Alright, so he had drank that bottle last night until he passed out and this was all a dream. There you go, now it all made sense.

But... But the table pinched at the backs of his thighs, and Enjolras was pushing his legs open and his fingers were gripping tighter and tighter on his face and his mouth was hot and wet and parting and moving against his own and oh dear lord.

God, if this was his reward for not getting drunk again then he would never drink again. He wouldn't need to when he was so easily getting drunk of this instead.

They had to part for air eventually, and Enjolras rested his forehead against Grantaire's.

"Not only," Enjolras panted into his mouth. "Do I not give you permission to leave. I absolutely forbid it."

"I don't understand," Grantaire tried to plead at Enjolras with his eyes. It had been hard enough to think through the desperation and the guilt, and even harder now he was trying not to lose himself in the feeling of having Enjolras so close... And Enjolras had been the one to cause the closeness.

"Yes, you do. If everything you said was true, and I do not doubt you, then yes you do."

Grantaire's heart threatened to tear out of his chest at the implication that Enjolras could return any of his feelings. That his kiss hadn't been purely out of instinct or anger or frustration of pent of urges.

"You're not allowed to leave," Enjolras leaned back and let Grantaire try to right himself.

"I..." He looked up at Enjolras. His hair was pushed out of place, the flush on his cheeks spread down his neck and his eyes were burning differently. It was a subtle difference, but a difference all the same. "Alright."

With that one small world Enjolras' face lit up, that grin breaking out. "Good. So, you'll still stay behind tonight?"

Grantaire tried to blink the room into focus. "Like usual?"

"Well," Enjolras' grinned turned. "Perhaps not completely like usual."

"What-" Grantaire didn't have time to pry further into what that meant before the front door opened and their friends started to spill into the hallway.

Enjolras moved to go and greet them as he always did, but not before pausing next to Grantaire and sliding his hand around his wrist.

"I think that was also proof that you don't need the bottle with you, and besides," Enjolras' voice brushed against his ear as he whispered. "I'd rather not be able to taste it on you in the future."

The grin was clear in his voice and he clapped Grantaire on the shoulder before bolstering out into the hall, enthusiastically saying good morning.

What had Grantaire finally gotten himself into?

also i spent too much time compiling all my favourite enjorlas/grantaire moments from various productions of the musical, because a friend hadn't seen any clips from the west end versions and didn't know they hugged in it, so if anyone wants to watch that here’s the link (please look at it i totally shouldn't have spent an entire day on it)

was working on something else and started thinking of them and had to pause what i was doing to write this oops

[mondoholic]

Josh Homme spoke to Kyuss World Radio about the 25th anniversary of KYUSS's final album, "…And The Circus Leaves Town". The Californian four-piece split three months following the LP's release, resulting in it being less critically and commercially successful when compared to the two KYUSS albums which helped birth the stoner rock movement — 1992's "Blues For The Red Sun" and 1994's "Welcome To Sky Valley".

"I'm not good at keeping memorabilia and I'm not too nostalgic because I guess it makes me feel a little sad sometimes," Josh said. "And I feel like there's such a huge pile of things to do. And sometimes I feel like when I look at a picture or something, I go, 'Man, it'll never be that. That's only where it was.' So I tend to focus forward.

"Hearing that [the album] is 25 years old, that makes me happy. It makes me a little bit proud that I got to do something that long ago, and I'm not dead yet. [Laughs]"

Asked if he had an inkling that "…And The Circus Leaves Town" would turn out to be KYUSS's swansong when he chose the LP title, Homme said: "I think the way Brant [Bjork, drums] left [after] 'Sky Valley' was a real shock, and it was very much like the rug being pulled out from under you. Because I didn't really understand [why he was leaving], and he was never able to make it really clear. Because I think it's difficult, too — when you're young like that, it's difficult to say, 'I need to go this direction.' When he left, he had our manager tell us that he was leaving, so we didn't really get to speak to Brant. And one of the things that he had said was, 'I think the band should be over.' And I really loved Brant. And I think that was a difficult moment to hear your friend was gone and he wasn't explaining why and that he thought it should be over.

"One aspect that I always agreed with is that bands, especially at that time, I was adamant that bands shouldn't go on too long," he continued. "At the time, I really felt like you do your best work, and when you realize you've done your best work, that's when you should explode the band — to preserve it is to destroy it; that you end [the band] at the absolute apex of your creativity as a group of people. And for me, personally, and I probably should have shared this, but in my gut, I was, like, 'We'll do one more record, and it'll be everything we have.' And so when I suggested that title, I think I knew that that was it, or I felt that it was coming to a close. It just felt very sort of Edgar Allan Poe, or it felt like 'Something Wicked This Way Comes', which is one of the [most] beautiful I've ever seen for a book. It's just got this beautiful ominous darkness to it. And so '…And The Circus Leaves Town' just felt timeless, and it's over, and you watch the exit on the horizon."

In March 2012, Homme and ex-KYUSS bassist Scott Reeder filed a federal lawsuit against Bjork and ex-KYUSS singer John Garcia over their involvement in the band KYUSS LIVES!, alleging "trademark infringement and consumer fraud." Five months later, a judge ruled that Garcia and Bjork could not release any recordings under the name KYUSS LIVES! and warned them that future concerts under the KYUSS LIVES! mark "might continue to subject them to liability for trademark infringement."

Asked if there is any scenario under which he would consider taking part in a KYUSS reunion of some kind, Homme told Kyuss World Radio: "My philosophy has always been, never do a reunion, never do a sequel. It's not what it was; it's what it is. And that's kind of how I've felt. A legacy that involves having been at the epicenter of a scene that got created, it's so fragile; it's like an ice sculpture. And I don't wanna be a blow dryer on that thing. That being said, I was in full support of KYUSS LIVES! and I would go to the shows and I told them as much, until what Brant and, unfortunately, what John tried to do. And that was terrible."

Elaborating on the breakdown of his relationship with Bjork and Garcia, Homme said: "All you have to do is show each other respect and say, 'Hey, we wanna do this, and we wanna talk about it.' Once Scott Reeder told me they were wanting to put out an album, I said, 'Let's sit down and talk.' So Scott and I went and talked to John and Brant. Sorry, it wasn't Brant — it was just John, because the band as it is, Brant had quit, so he wasn't part of that, what it was when it stopped, [which was] me and Scott and John. So I said, 'This is a discussion for me and you and John.' So I went and talked. And I said, 'We should find out a way for you guys to continue that's respectful.' You don't trample on what the legacy is and that you kind of let everyone understand what's going on moving forward. And the name they chose was a little unfortunate, 'cause it's actually literally saying KYUSS is alive again, which wasn't my favorite thing, but I was, like, 'Who cares?' But unbeknownst to me and Scott during that meeting, they'd already applied for a trademark to steal the name away. So I'm sitting there talking to these guys in good faith, and their managers, and they'd already applied, and you have, like, 20 days to object to the application. So the notion that I'm sitting there talking in good faith about how they could continue, and meanwhile, at that exact moment, in another room somewhere, they're applying to take the trademark for the name KYUSS so we wouldn't own it anymore, so John and Brant would own it. And so John had felt like he was robbing himself for something, and that's just not right — I don't play that way. And it also meant that they couldn't be trusted to be honest. 'Cause I'm sitting in a room, and instead of telling you that, it's like being stabbed in the back, essentially. There was no choice but to actually take action, because you can't sit down and say, 'Let's talk about this,' because now you told me that I may say something to you with my right hand, but my left hand might be stabbing you in the back. It's made it impossible to trust what was going on. And Scott and I both were, like, 'Jesus.' And it was only three people — me and John and Scott. It was, like, 'John, what are you doing? You are allowing you and Brant to take the name from you and me and Scott.'"

Homme continued: "I suppose at the end of the day, they didn't need a blessing [to play KYUSS music], but I was giving it to 'em. I want those guys to do well. And they were playing KYUSS music for a generation that had only heard of it and never heard it. I didn't see the harm in that. But trying to usurp it and take it away was just like dirty pool. The problem with all that stuff is that in a lawsuit or something like that, everyone loses; everyone looks bad. People that have loved KYUSS for so long go, 'Fuck these guys.' And that's terrible. That's why I say it's so fragile. That's why I say I've always wanted to err on the side of don't finger bang the ice sculpture; it's gonna break. If you don't touch it, it's just classic. But you don't punctuate the end of a band with a lawsuit. Those things are tragic, and they're awful. And then they lost, because, of course, you lose when you do things like that. But that damage is awful.

"But to be honest with you, and to answer your question, there have been times I thought it cannot end that way, and the only real way to end it correctly now would be to play," he explained. "And because they sort of perverted the punctuation and they knocked the wing off this beautiful dragon that's an ice sculpture, and the only way to put the motherfucking wing back on would be to [play again].

"I have thought about this, especially in the last few years, to do something special, and even to make up for that mistake of Brant and, unfortunately, John, to make up for it. [I thought we should] play and give all the money away. Like, play for the fans — cover your costs and make it five bucks. Figure out a way to be, like, this is how the punctuation will end the sentence of this band. Because it was never about money — it never was about money. It never was about fame, and when it felt like that was the move they were making, I was so sad."

After KYUSS split in 1995, Homme went on to form QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE.

In a May 2012 interview with RolllingStone.com, Bjork stated about Homme and Reeder's lawsuit, "They don't want to mention that they trademarked the name KYUSS after I left the band, assuring that I had no rights in KYUSS's future. They're both accusing John and I of doing something that they actually did themselves. Their inner conflict is this: both Josh and Scott want control and money from KYUSS LIVES!, but they don't want to participate and they ultimately don't want us to exist. The double standard is unbelievable."

He added, "Josh and I were the creative force within the band and after the completion of our second record, 'Blues For The Red Sun', we developed an opposing view on how the band should exist and operate. In 1992, Josh discovered publishing, which is the financial revenue stream for songwriting. After that, he wanted to write all the songs. As a drummer, I couldn't make him play my songs. I wasn't going to compromise my heart and soul and play drums for Josh to make money in a band I started. So I left the band. I was a confused, angry and sad 19-year-old idealist who sacrificed my love of my band for what I believed in. Two and a half years later, Josh would break up the band after John confronted him about the same thing; his need to control the band for personal gain."

[deukaeloveclub]

Favorite dreamcatcher live performances?

Wow this made me realize how much they’ve done because this is my shortlist and it ain’t short at all.

180127 | 180210 Full Moon Buskings - I am able to recall these two dates without reference because these two are really important to me. They were the first performances I watched. I found out about dreamcatcher like 2 or 3 days after they dropped full moon and then two weeks later I saw the fancams of them performing it live IN SUITS and I that was what cemented my interest. And then another two weeks later they perform full moon live again and a dance cover of Believer that I was obssesed with. They hooked me in good early on. (1, 2, 3) I’m not gonna link them but you should also watch the individual fancams from those days too.

170422 100 Day Anniversary Busking - Dreamcatcher looking comfortable and totally cuddle-able?? What’s not to love I love really love the matching sweaters And it’s just a great example of how clean their dance has always been.

180510 - Full Moon Siyeon Focus - this fancam left me breathless the first time I saw. Just watch it.

170519 - I really love they way Siyeon really looks like she’s being pulled by the other girls in the opening move of this performance. I also love how they make hearts while having completely serious faces. Now they’re more likely to smile and laugh during performances but you can see how seriously they were taking the concept back then.

181013 | 181020 AITC Fansign What Handong Focus - I felt so disrespected when I watched these. Like she’s so cute but then she gets serious and smizes. Did I watch anything else the day these videos were posted? You’ll never know. there’s a chest pop in there that still haunts tbh

180113 - First Anniversary Fanmeeting Full Moon - Full Moon was basically my first dc song and this was basically their first concert and I love these outfits

180621 - Faded Siyeon -new InSomnias if you haven’t seen this you need to watch it. This performance is everything. If I had to explain to someone why Siyeon is called a wolf this is what I would show them. (or any performance of this song)

180909 - Hallyu Pop Fest - dc in general having a great time and giving a great performance but mostly this Siyeon moment

180428 - C-Festival at Coex - I love how much you can hear their voices esp Handong you can hear her over the recording of Siyeon for that one line in Chase Me. Also their outfits make me feel like they’re working at a cafe together which I think is really cute.

180310 - 1st Concert Welcome to the Dream World Troublemaker Jidong - I’ve mostly tried not to add obvious ones like the subunit stages bc I think every insomnia loves those but I had to include this one. This shit took. ME. OUT. I watched it over and over again and it’s power did not fade. Jiu in that particular hat and blazer? Handong in that blouse and shorts?? Their physicality??? Their confidence???? I was ruined.

180623 | 180627 - FIFA Russia World Cup Cheer Celebration Stage - Gotta follow that up with the only non subunit fancams that take me out even more troublemaker (as soon as dc gets into subunits they just automatically go for the throat but I digress). The deaths I die that first day and for subsequent weeks after… God bless the stylist and their scissors. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

180812 - KCON LA 2018 Havana - OT7 Havana with center Yoohyeon wasn’t something I thought I needed until I saw this.

181213 - Yookwoo White Family Day You and I Handong Focus - Handong looked extra expensive that day and their are some good smizes

180828 - Random Dance at Sua Birthday Fanmeeting - She’s so cute and looks so good in that suit

190302 - Piri Fansign Sua Focus - esp for the part at the very end

190308 - Piri Fansign Daydream - it’s a casual but sweet performance of Daydream plus they’re in Over the Sky suits. I will never get over how Siyeon sounds just as good in or out of the studio. 

190425 - MBC Idol Radio - Dc always go wild and have fun together and we already know Sua is extra but it was amazing to watch her energize the other idols and have them join in her fun. Also gonna link their intro sequence cuz Sua lowkey stole the scene every time she was on camera.

181225 | 181228 - COEX Winter Festival/Happy Busking - (full cut 25th, 28th)

Anytime dc has sung live on Arirang Radio in particular when they sang Wonderland. Siyeon forgetting to to sing because she was laughing at Gahyeon will never not be funny.

And this is where I stop myself.

[hotarutranslations]

Morning Musume ‘23 【Nonaka Miki, Makino Maria, Haga Akane】What are your thoughts as the middle members who will lead the group in the future?

For the fourth VOCE x Morning Musume ‘23 25th Anniversary Collab, 12th generation Nonaka Miki, Makino Maria and Haga Akane are here. While livening up the group as the middle-members, what things are important for these girls with outstanding presence? Don’t miss this interview where you can feel the bonds and relationships as they greet their 10th year since joining as the 12th generation.

–What kind of person is Nonaka Miki?

Makino Maria: Nona-chan has a doggy, she loves Tofu-chan. She shows me lots of videos and photos like “Maria, look~♪ Its Tofu-chan♡,”. Tofu-chan is really cute, but Nona-chan showing me Tofu-chan is cute (laughs). On my birthday she made a video of Tofu-chan saying “happy birthday” and sent it to me, which made me really happy. She is super duper dependable but her fluffy parts that peak out are also cute.

Haga Akane: She’s a returnee that speaks English well, she can make songs, in any case she is talented! In the past she was a clumsy girl who fell down a lot, she hasn’t been like that lately but, around the time we joined I heard she “had the habit of forgetting to close the lid on her bottles” and that is the only thing she hasn’t fixed since joining! It's so cute and I super love it (laughs). 

–What kind of person is Makino Maria?

Nonaka Miki: She’s a girl who has a really strong love for lives. It's not just our live videos, she watches past Morning Musume videos a ton, and she will often watch videos of other artists' lives, she is very studious. I think that's something you would only do if you love lives. Sometimes we’ll watch them together; the other day she was copying movements from a Beyonce live video perfectly (laughs). Also, she is great at balancing. 

Haga Akane: She is the perfect idol everyone recognizes! Although, she is always troubled when there are many different kinds of bento to choose from, and she is someone that is a little easy going about preparations before a performance. Sometimes she will pamper me and I think that kindness is a cute gap; I like that about her.

–What kind of person is Haga Akane?

Nonaka Miki: She sticks to various members so her personal space is small! Sometimes she’ll sit on others laps, she gets close with other people (laughs). For better or for worse I’m too serious, I’m not really the type who can do that so I’m really envious. Also, she has this in common with Maria but she has high ability in balancing, flexibility, and her ability to read the room. She is really good at having fun conversations with jokes and quips. 

Makino Maria: Akanechin has a doggy, she loves Crouton. I used to think that Akanechin didn’t talk about her doggy but recently she has been showing them often. Unlike Nona-chan, she’ll show them off like, “aren’t they cute?” in a cool, slightly smug way (laughs). She is the youngest in the 12th generation but she has it the most together with a “Nona-chan, Maria, lets go!” feeling. In terms of her role, she is the older sister.

–Please tell us what you keep in mind as the middle members of the group.

Nonaka Miki: I think it's the same even if you aren’t in the middle but it's the importance of timing. Looking at the entire situation, I will offer help or speak out at the right time. With juniors and seniors, I think it's important to read both the emotions and atmosphere to keep a balance.

Makino Maria: The fulfillment of my private and work life! As all of the fans know, my private life is mostly baseball but, for example in February, I went to a baseball camp and there were various articles like from Sports Newspaper-san “Morning Musume ‘23’s Makino Maria Comes To The Camp,”. They’ll also write “This week she has a concert at ○○ and her photobook is currently on sale,”! It's not because I’m a middle member but it makes me happy that I can advertise for Morning in my private life, it's important to me to go to the Fighter’s matches.

Haga Akane: Definitely watching the member from a bird's eye view. Of course, we’re obviously making the group together but, for the “whole group” the seniors lead us with their opinions so, while I’m not a counselor, it makes me happy to be able to support “each member” in such detail.  That's the role of the 12th generation since we’re in a middle management position close to both the seniors and juniors. Trying to be a good listener to everyone, I want to be someone who is easy to talk with.

–Is there anything you’re training towards in anticipation when you will one day bring the group together?

Nonaka Miki: To be able to be more flexible with everything. Since I’m quite the theorist, if I say this now, I’ll wonder about what will happen after; I have a habit of overthinking and overanalyzing too much. As a result of overthinking, sometimes I can’t say anything. I want to mellow my mind a bit and be more flexible in everything. I’m learning from Maria and Akanechin’s balancing ability and responsiveness in that sense.

Makino Maria: It's completely having a “batting eye”! Of course, it's not about finding the strike zone in baseball; Fukumura-san says ‘I’m always looking out for you whether you’re close or far away’ when a new member joins; even during dance lessons, she is always watching like looking through the mirror to see if the new member is troubled. I think it's important to look around the group and properly get a grasp of the situation like a “batting eye” so, I want to train towards it more.

Haga Akane: To express my opinion. How far I can say something, until what point would it be bad, I wonder if it's something I should say or not,  I don’t know the boundaries, so there are often times where I don’t say anything but, as I get more juniors and I’m getting older, there are things that I must say for the group and to not keep it inside myself; I think I need to voice my opinions.

–What is your best memory with the 12th generation?

Nonaka Miki: Up until now we’ve discussed our problems as we’re in the same generation so, scenes where we discussed our problems come to mind. Most recently, it was when I was troubled over how to respond as a mentor. I’m 16th generation’s Sakurai Rio-chan’s mentor; I tried sharing information with all the members while mentoring to involve the group as a whole to keep going in the same direction; at that time, the other members' differing opinions came up. When I didn’t know what to do, I consulted the 2 of them. These 2 have a balancing power and are kind, they have a flexible way of thinking so it helps me a lot.

Makino Maria: There are a lot of things but, there is a photo I really like. Its a photo from when we were decided as the new members and were picking out a dress to wear for the unveiling; it's the backs of the 4 of us lined up (laughs) Akanechin was the shortest, everyone is nervous and we aren’t smiling, its cute that we’re just standing there super awkwardly. About 5(?) years after joining the manager told me “this is the first photo of the 12th generation” and gave it to me, even looking at it now my feelings and atmosphere from that time are revived, it's just one of those memories.

Haga Akane: In 2018 when the 4 of us went out to yakiniku. We haven’t been able to get together since then, which is still very 12th generation-like, I think. We often have fun times in the dressing room as the 3 of us talk about silly things. People tend to think that the 12th generation doesn’t really get along but, it's not like that! But, I think the next time the 4 of us all get together will be next year (the timing will be 10 years since joining) (laughs).

–What are your generation mates to you?

Nonaka Miki: It's natural for us to always be together, I can discuss my honest self with them. Even now in the dressing room we naturally sit near each other. It's the easiest to talk with them if I’m having any troubles, I can always rely on them when something happens. Also, I show these 2 pictures and videos of my dog Tofu-chan every day (laughs) when I just got them I showed them to all of the members but, in middle I thought “I wonder if they’re getting tired of the dog photos every day,” so then I had feelings of holding them back; I’m a bit reserved about it with the other members but, I’ll show my generation mates every time I see them (laughs).

Makino Maria: Without needing to say anything, we can tell what the other is thinking as generation mates. Even when the members are discussing things, I’ve come to roughly understand like, ‘they’re probably thinking about it this way’. All 3 of us can read the atmosphere, it's perfect for our position as the middle members in the 12th generation. No one is super duper in charge or super duper spoiled, I think the 3 of us are well balanced.

Haga Akane: They have a cozy feeling, like family, I’d be in trouble if they disappeared. I can tell what they’re thinking just from making eye contact, I can be natural with them. We don’t go out for meals much, and we don’t really take photos and upload them but, we’re always next to each other in the dressing room, before I knew it the 3 of us would be talking about personal things; we talk about our dogs, and we also talk about the group a bit seriously. We will talk to each other first about anything.

–Please tell us what you’d like to do as an individual from now on.

Nonaka Miki: This is really personal but I like anime and 2D characters so, I want to make an “ita-bag” once in my life.

Makino Maria: Advancing in MLB!! I want to meet the New York Yankee’s Aaron Judge.

Haga Akane: Talking with people outside (of H!P) about various things. When doing group activities I don’t have a lot of opportunities to talk with other talent-san’s, but when I get to appear on variety shows on TV, I want to be able to actively speak with them.

–What is one piece of advice you would give to the 17th generation members who will be joining soon?

Nonaka Miki: One thing is to follow your heart, to cherish what you “like”. Currently it's like I have a “muscle training character” but, because I liked muscle training I shot videos and put them on Instagram. From that point I would be told things like “you’re doing your best towards self-improvement” and that I’m “stoic”, and so my muscle training character was established. Other than that, if you like Sanrio characters, we have a character collab where “Gaokki” were born, I like music and have made songs, and I got the opportunity to show them off; there are many things that I’m happy I liked! Therefore, I hope that you’ll cherish what you “like” decisively. 

Another piece of advice! There will be things you don’t understand at first, it's ok if you don’t remember entertainment world manners all at once. I want to convey that I couldn’t remember anything at all, and came to be filled to the brim with it.

Makino Maria: I won’t give you any advice as soon as you join! When Shinjo became the manager of Nippon Hams he said that he “wouldn’t say anything to the rookies for 1 or 2 years,” but, so many people have said that; you won’t know what the right answer is and because I think it could crush your sense of self, be free at first; I want you to make the most of your personality. I hope to be able to give you some advice after a little while.

Haga Akane: I want to convey that “love” is great. I have a passionate love for Morning Musume, I love the members. Sometimes I am worried about Morning and hit a wall, but in the end Morning is what gets me through it. Therefore, even when things are rough, I think you can push through with your feelings of loving Morning Musume; I want you to continue holding those feelings. I joined Morning Musume as an otaku, I was able to do my best at school because Morning was my purpose. Even now when I look back on the music videos I watched at that time, I remember how I felt then. From now on I’d like you to dye yourself in Morning Musume.

https://i-voce.jp/feed/2595059/

[greensparty]

Album Reviews: The Rolling Stones and Nirvana reissues

This week there’s not one but two albums being reissued that are highly important albums in my collection and it’s crazy that they are both getting the reissue treatment on the same day.

The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

50th anniversary box set

Released in Dec. 1969, this was the Stones’ 8th album. But it marked my own personal introduction to them. When I was about 6 or so, one of my pre-school teachers brought in two records she played: Rubber Soul by The Beatles and Let It Bleed by the Stones. I was enamored by both albums and shortly thereafter while shopping at Caldor, my Dad bought me both albums, which are still in my record collection today. The thing that I was taken by with Let It Bleed even more than the music was the album cover. It was a cake with figures of the band members on top of a tire, a pizza, a film reel all atop a record. What kid wouldn’t be blown away by that?

original album cover

The album has so many classics: “Gimme Shelter”, “Midnight Rambler”, and one of their best songs ever “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, the new box set is being released today from ABKCO. LP1 is the original album in stereo. LP2 is the album in mono. Then there’s the Hybrid Super CDs in both stereo and mono. Last but not least is the 7″ vinyl single of “Honky Tonk Women” / “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. There is also an amazing coffee table book with classic photos and lithographs. All of these bells and whistles are cool for fans and collectors, but the real treat here is the music itself. It’s probably my second favorite Stones album and we’re lucky to be able to experience it in both mono and stereo.

For info on Let It Bleed: https://abkco.lnk.to/LetItBleed

5 out of 5 stars

Nirvana MTV Unplugged In New York (25th anniversary 2LP vinyl)

Recorded in Nov. 1993 live for an episode of MTV Unplugged that aired in Dec. 1993, Nirvana’s episode was hands-down one of the greatest episodes of the stripped-down acoustic series. After Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain’s passing in April 1994, the episode of MTV Unplugged became a legendary performance, not only was it one of their best performances, but it felt like it was impossible to top it. In Nov. 1994, the episode was released as a live album and is considered by many to be one of the all-time greatest live albums ever. It was a CD I bought the day it was released and have listened to thousands of times. Here is my piece I wrote about it in 2014. 

The vinyl reissue

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the album release, UMe is releasing it on vinyl featuring an exclusive gatefold jacket including silver foil detail on the front and back cover. There is also limited edition color vinyl available from Nirvana’s website. 

original album cover

If you’re a fan who already owns the album, you might be asking “why buy it again?”. Here’s why: included in this vinyl reissue are 5 rehearsals, that previously only appeared on the MTV Unplugged in New York DVD (released in 2007). It’s so cool to hear them talking and even laughing between songs. Since this album’s 1994 release, we’ve been lucky enough to have some classic Nirvana concerts released, i.e. Live at Reading (their 1992 performance released in 2009), Live at the Paramount (their Halloween 1991 concert released on the Nevermind box set in 2011), and Live and Loud (their 1993 MTV concert released on the In Utero box set in 2013). But MTV Unplugged is so amazingly special! Not sure if it was the pure musicianship, the unique covers from David Bowie, The Vaselines, Lead Belly and The Meat Puppets (the later with some of The Meat Puppets), or the passion and emotion in Cobain’s voice or all of the above, but this was definitely time capsule worthy. Still is!

For info on MTV Unplugged in New York: https://nirvana.lnk.to/Unplugged25

5 out of 5 stars