#maybe not the last verse but DEFINITELY the first two and the chorus

[tartrat]

Concept based on my previous post where i suggested Queen's Killer Queen as a Night Swan and Cygnus duet. i didn't want to make something super detailed so its mainly a sketch with basic colouring, and darkest hour's background

I said in that post that i saw it as taking place sometime around Darkest Hour, so Night Swan has her Leda appearance from there. I didn't know how to make cygnus look younger so i just removed his hat

The poses above would be struck when Freddie Mercury sings "killer" (imagine that Leda's hands are actually in a claw shape here) i probably should've had cygnus point at leda for this instead of into the air, followed by them moving to the opposite side whilst spinning their hands round their faces to "Queen". Lastly at "Gunpowder, Gelatine, Dynamite with a Laser Beam" They'd start doing a marching on the spot motion whilst pointing to the top right and bottom left like in Woof's chorus but more like in the style of a marching band, if you understand what i mean its kinda awkward to explain that motion (theres another map that uses that move in a way thats closer to my description but i can't remember what one it is. I tried to do pictograms in the corner to illustrate what i mean.

During the verses they'd probably have different moves, but i don't know what they would look like. I guess it would sorta be Cygnus acting out certain words and Leda doing more exaggerated movements akin to how she moves in witch. The lighting would probably be darker and the background would probably change location throughout.

Whats funny is that i always envisioned that if they were to do this song that it would be a quartet with three guys fawning over a Killer queen figure. Like it would be the three acting out how she acts wih her mimicking the moves of the one who is currently "speaking", but more exaggerated. The moves that i mentioned above are what i thought would work with this original idea and it just stuck and they're all i can think about when i hear the chorus.

I guess a good way for this hypothetical routine to end would be it turning out to be a memory that Cygnus is having, and him looking ashamed. I definitely do see the relationship that they probably had as sorta romantic, but whether it be romantic or platonic, beggin does make it out that he regrets what he's done and more than likely the time he spent with her. He'd look back on this memory with guilt after seeing what she did during Locked Out Of Heaven and her further plans that come up.

Someone else has definitely suggested this song for the series before, probably during 2017 and 2018 when Don't stop me now and another one bites the dust were relatively new to the series and some were expecting another queen song for 2019, (Though in all the fanmade songlists i've seen on youtube i haven't seen any queen songs mentioned). I'm not sure if i was the first one to suggest this song for these two particular coaches either, maybe someone did last year when Beggin' came out and Sweet Dreams was still believed to be released at some point.

This was just something quick to show what i think it would look like. probably should've made a title card but i might make a more detailed version at some point and include one.

[rebelwhodoesntknow]

Aikatsu-ing again (everyone has to put up with my shit)

So the first real set of Aikatsu Academy performances came out and I have many thoughts!! I’ll talk about the mechanics first and the music next, I think. This may be a stream of consciousness I have no idea. It’s also VERY LONG so it’s under the read more for your sanity.

So the models I would say are pretty decent! I’m not sure if they’re still using the vtuber models with pre-choreographed movements or if they gave them proper Aikatsu style models, but my guess is the former. One thing that really annoyed me was that their mouths were definitely not synced to the lyrics they were singing, which definitely broke the immersion for me a bit. Like come on if you mapped all the other movements surely you could make the mouths at least mimic the vowels they’re singing! I also feel like the camera angles were really trying to compensate for the animation/choreo at points. It did its job, but I just had a feeling if we zoomed the camera out there may be some awkwardness that I don’t think you’d find in other cg performances.

They did have a bit of coord transformation, but I would say it’s very stiff. They did have the sort of sparkly bodies that come to mind when you think of og Aikatsu transformations, but the coords didn’t come on in sequence which kind of sucked. Didn’t really get the photo thing either, doesn’t feel anywhere as connected to the Aikatsu system as the cards did.

The stage itself was…fine, I suppose. I recently rewatched Idol Kiwi’s video on the Aikatsu stages and I think she made a really good point on how the fantastical Aikatsu System leads to endless stage possibilities, and i definitely felt like this one was slightly too grounded. The lack of appeals and coords that didn’t push too many boundaries definitely did not help. BUT THEY GAVE THEM AURAS!! They are extremely simple but at least we know a vestige of the old system was there!! My hope is that they’re trying to portray these girls as absolute novices (like Akari initially) and the aura showing up during the last song is a sign of their progression. Maybe they’ll do appeals soon!!

One thing that was interesting to me was the insistence on doing full song performances. Up until now, Aikatsu performances have usually consisted of a singular verse and chorus (sometimes two choruses), and sometimes a bridge if the chorus is short. So I don’t really get why they decided to lengthen it. Was it to justify the definitely simpler choreography? But if that’s the case, why did they do the full song of Diamond Happy and add a bunch more stuff? Personally, I would have liked a shorter stage if it meant there was more effort put into the animation and choreography or if an appeal was thrown in.

Okay now for songs!! We had the two songs that had already come out, one new song, and a Diamond Happy cover. I think I’ll cover songs and then go into individual vocals.

I don’t have much to say about Full Bloom Helianthe other than it’s good and it sounds like Aikatsu. I will be adding it to my playlist! It’s the same sentiment as Akogare Sky, but Sky sounds a bit more modern. What I’m really interested in is the newer songs.

The Diamond Happy cover was… okay, I say begrudgingly. I miss Ichigo, her voice really brought something to that song that is definitely missing. I also missed her expression on ‘happy’ which was not mirrored in any of the girls. Also, THEY KILLED MY HARMONY IN THE CHORUS! WHERE IS THE LOVELY HARMONIZED CHIKARA—AH-AH!! I really thought the cover was good until that point and that just killed me. They can hit those notes! Why didn’t they… why…. Aaaagh. *head in hands*

Peek-a-boo was kind of fun? Idk about the intro. It gets you sufficiently pumped but it also repeats peek-a-boo like 10 times which is going to be an embarrassment hurdle for me. It might grow on me though. The first thing I thought when I listened to it was ‘oh they’re doing Tristar with this one!’ Because it pretty much sounded like a Tristar Photokatsu song. Kind of cool, but now I wish Tristar were the ones singing it… can’t win them all I suppose. Okay onto vocals! Just a note I am a singer but I am not classically trained, so I’m saying more what I feel than Evidence This Singer Is Good/Bad.

Mieru’s voice has definitely grown on me! I was a little bit nervous that she was too quiet of a voice to really stand out, but I ended up quite liking her in the songs, even though she didn’t seem like the main character in them. Her voice actually fits great in Peek-a-boo, so much so that I almost wished she was a sexy-type idol. I hope we see that mature tone again!

Pairin is still my favorite for having the most amount of sheer power behind her vocals. She feels like the main character to me, which is funny because I’m pretty sure it’s definitely supposed to be resident cute-type Mieru. But I can hear Pairin the most on the songs and she’s really what gives them impact. She sounds more like Ichigo, Akari, and Yume, so my brain pegs that down as the main character. She can definitely play up the pop typing when singing like she did in Diamond Happy, but I like it better when it’s just clean pure vocals from her.

I feel really bad for Meh, because it seems like she’s struggling with singing the most. She’s obviously supposed to be a Sumire-type cool idol (and she sounded great in Tarte Tatin on a livestream) but she doesn’t hit this sort of butter-smooth vocal pocket that Sumire does. She just doesn’t have the same richness in her voice. In fact, I think she has real trouble switching between head, throat, and chest voice, since I hear these little vocal splinterings that I recognize from my own singing endeavors. I think she has potential, it’s just… not being tapped into, and it’s sad!

Anyways yeah those are my thoughts! I at least like that old Aikatsu stuff is still being engaged with in this new time. But I’ll keep on keeping tabs on Aikatsu Academy!

[mothmanofwords]

guy guys guys timothy stoker amv for this would go so hard

it's so angry and perfect for like end of season two/three tim, even the album art is fire and kinda reminiscent of lighting a fire/detonating a bomb??

standouts include

Oh, you look like an angel Look like a saint Oh, you look like a little Annabelle But behind my mask Is a cynical face And I know that you know that well

could refer to not sasha or nikola orsnikov or just the stranger, but i think not-sasha would fit best

How you doin’? How you doin’? Welcome to my home Do you like it? ‘Cause you’re my guest here <- maybe elias speaking And it’s time to atone

this feels like his bitterness at the archives, definitely sarcastic

Ah, set me on fire in a crowded room What a shame, what a shame, what a shame And I burn so bright And I burn so pretty Take a picture, I’ll sign my name

the chorus is perfect for the unknowing, and in my mind it the first line is tim realizing he has the detonator, then the what a shames zoom out wider and wider to show the wax museum, then idk the rest, BUT! on the repeat of the chorus set me on fire in a crowded room is a close up on tim with the detonator and the what a shames show nikola, jon, and daisy/basira, with nikola pissed off and the rest just scared and confused. then in the instrumental break afterward the last line the bomb detonates

Well you ain’t Dick Cheney But you still kinda suck You got a certain kind of je ne sais quoi But it ain’t your fault No it’s never your fault

feels like tim yelling at jon

A perfect God And a perfect ghost Shout them out if they don’t speak the truth Oh, someone in this room Got a message from God But boy, I don’t think it’s you

this verse in particular could be really interesting for desolation!tim, like finding the perfect god/fear, perfect ghost could be maybe his brother or sasha, and the message from god could be pointed at jon or maybe elias or peter, but i think it would have to be another avatar

anyways anyone with artistic talent is encouraged to take this idea because god knows i don't have anywhere close to the skill required to create this

[thesinglesjukebox]

DOECHII - "NISSAN ALTIMA"

Accelerating right to the top of our charts...

[8.44]

Ian Mathers: I hadn't forgotten "What It Is," but this one hits like Doechii wants me to. Two minutes (and it feels like it's that long because the job is done, not for some algorithm), high intensity, great delivery, and I think even a better chorus. Definitely the only earworm I've heard in a while prominently featuring the phrase "face fuck." [9]

Alfred Soto: With Rapsody and Noname releasing excellent work in the last two years, we're living in a fecund time for female-identifying singer-rappers. "Nissan Altima" proves she can do the slither-tongued swagger as well as anyone. "I'm the trap Grace Jones," she admits after a trip to Spain results in tsunami-ing someone's vagina. [9]

Mark Sinker: It’s like you can’t say "cunnilingus dalai lama” without me handing myself over to a Doechii YouTube deep-dive for hours on end, happy as a dim little lamb in some Cenobite Hellraiser dimension. Sometimes she’s even gentle and charming, like the director dropping out of character to explain the logic of a move. Not here though — and anyway those are never the best bits, though they are the most reassuring. The best is when her mind is flashing at frightening speed and the words and voicings and just grunts are breaking open into unexpected hidden corridors, running at angles behind the walls to energies you didn’t quite want to imagine, maybe.  [9]

Katherine St. Asaph: It took me several (exuberant) listens to figure out what this reminds me of: the sparkly instrumentals and kinetic charismatic presence of early Azealia Banks, except better because to my knowledge Doechii is not a rampaging drama-seeking TERF. [9]

Al Varela: You know, we've had such a rough streak of terrible fast raps from Eminem and Eminem wannabes lately that it's easy to forget how fun fast raps can be when it's done well. Doechii immediately jumps in with this roller-coaster flow in the first verse after the chorus that's so infectious that if the song was just that verse and two choruses I would have been satisfied. But the second verse is just as good! Doechii is such a firespitter and some of her pop concessions make me forget that sometimes. Glad to have a song where she truly proves herself and reminds us she can and will take over the rap game when the time is right. [9]

Jel Bugle: A short rap song, not too bad. I liked the brief acapella bits, and change of speed.  [6]

Will Adams: Initially the brief run-time felt unsatisfactory. But when you pack as many scorching lines (and line deliveries) as Doechii does in "Nissan Altima"'s 120 seconds, who cares? [7]

Taylor Alatorre: Even when listened to with intent, the refrain registers not as individual words but as a percussive barrage of obscenity, which is more or less how Doechii wants it. It can still be diagrammed if you're into that, but its purpose is to soften you up for the more stylish and surgically targeted body blows to follow. She's unsparing yet economical with her flows, always giving the impression that there's more to her than what she’s choosing to reveal at the moment. She uses the breaks in the instrumental to fool you into thinking a beat switch is coming -- it never does -- but when it starts up again the beat feels slightly fresher than it did a few seconds ago. "Give us nothing,” but unironically. [8]

Nortey Dowuona: All rise and put your sticks up for the motherfucking Princess and that short ass second verse. [10]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[hrtnsolofytube]

Time for a ☎ Scam Likely Song Breakdown ☎

Today is Unsweetened Lemonade by Amélie Farren in regards to Daniel Jacobi from Wolf 359

Warning for brief mentions of sui//cide and death!

Let's get this started under the cut!

Starting off strong with the first verse of the song. We all know Jacobi is a very volatile person. Consider the fact that onstead of dealing with his grief, betrayal, and other emotions, he went ahead and threatened to blow the entire ship up if the target of his emotions wasn't shot dead in front of him. Knowing that, it's not hard to believe he's always been this stubborn and volatile with his feelings. Even if he doesn't like confrontation, he'll start and finish what he has to in order to get through whatever he's feeling at the time.

These two go hand in hand as pre and post Wolf 359. From what we know about his childhood, he faced a lot of scrutiny under his father. It wouldn't be hard to believe that he didnt think he'd make it past 12 — or maybe even didn't want to. That's a hard age to be dealing with the kind of emotional abuse he likely faced from a dad who had a specific ideal of how he wanted his kid to be — especially one who wanted him in the military. From my experience, that can end in a lot of pushing for physical elements that one might not be able to handle at a young age.

The second verse there is very post, him realizing he's stuck alive while everyone he cared for is gone. The way its said in the song is very flippant, especially with the usage of the words 'I guess' as if it wasn't what was planned, but it's what he has to deal with now.

This... Does give me very Kepcobi vibes, sorry to anyone here who dislikes them. You can move to the next verse if you want! But it definitely makes me think of how Jacobi felt for Kepler. Especially towards the end — he had lost all trust for the man, how could ever want him to have his heart after that? The whole 'its pathetic how you think youre being smart' makes me think of how Kepler definitely thought he was. Thought he was playing it slick by being on the enemy side. He let his ego overpower him, control him, and for that he was already as good as dead to Jacobi. The worthless parents/stupid kids part can be in regards to himself. I personally doubt he knew that much of Kepler's past, and even then we don't know much expect for what's hinted at in his playlist. Jacobi probably faults his parents for his own stupidity in giving his whole life to one person, one thing. Just like his father gave himself — his body, his soul — to the military, Jacobi did the same with Kepler and the SI-5.

Another two that go hand in hand! The first chorus I see as him after being given the offer to join the SI-5 and realizing it's his last chance. He doesn't really have anywhere else to turn for work — he'd do anything at this point. Everything he thought he was meant for had crumbled beneath him and left a gaping hole where it had previously stood. An air of grievance and lack of purpose.

The second gives me after the events of 61. He's never been so out of control in his life. He'd do anything to get that control back, even if for a bit. His entire life has been a lie up to this point, and now he's going home without the two people who made everything truly worth it. He doesnt know what he'll do with himself — lifewise, jobwise. He's lost, out of control, and grieving. The last line definitely makes me think of Maxwell, Kepler, and his job itself — everything he'll ever love. He feels like that's it now. It's all decayed, all gone. What else does he have to love?

That's all for now!! Join me next time for another ☎ Scam Likely Song Breakdown ☎

[claudiaesbrutal]

Everything and Nothing

We sat on the corner of the restaurant, all and nothing left unsaid. For the first time in months, I saw you, truly saw you. Something in me lowered its head in shame, I felt so high and mighty in my pain that I forgot you hurt too. We spoke so softly as if to not disturb anyone with all our big words. You told me you hated the word hurt, that you wished there was something else to describe what you did to me last time we spoke. "But that's what I feel, I feel hurt." I said to you while tears escaped from my eyes. Your body softened, like it always does whenever I cry. We held hands for a bit.

"If perfect is not what I want, then maybe I don't know what I want."

My heart dropped. Until that very moment, I never realized how tragic love could be. For some it might sound pathetic, but in my 22 years of life, I've never felt such romance. Never had I ever felt like my love made someone question what it is they want from life. And even though I was definitely crying my eyes out that night, in a way, I got exactly what I wished for: a love so sincere it changes you.

Nothing could prepare me for this scene. All those times we sat in that same restaurant flashed before my eyes and suddenly, I was softly giggling at your silly jokes as a few more tears leapt from my face. We never left. Twenty-two is so young, and here we are, dwelling over how much we love and how much we hurt. I could feel our future selves looking back at this fondly. Time did not stop, but it left the room. And for a second, it was just us two.

"I don't think the biggest difference between us is that I feel too much and you feel too little, I think I love you and you don't."

This is probably the harshest thing I've ever said to you. I'm still dwelling over if it was wise or unkind to just spit that out. Its funny how I can cry an ocean in front of you, but my anger feels too personal, made me second guess how close we are. Nothing I said strayed from the truth though— I do love you, and I don't think you feel too little. Maybe we weren't meant to love each other for longer, but to say that we left unscathed would be a lie. A love that doesn't have to end in betrayal is hard to come by, a love that shakes up our worldview and makes us question our purpose is pretty much what the bible is based on; and we did that. Everything and nothing.

You paid for the meal, I lost my appetite halfway through, we exchanged so many loving and knowing glances I almost forgot we broke up. We hugged before you took the train back home. I cried walking back to mine.

My clock ticks at the same time my heart beats, that's probably why I feel like time stops every time my heart does. Tick, beat, tick, beat. I lead an orchestra of melancholy and yearning that fills the room with the sounds of someone who loves so hard and falls even harder. I am cursed to love everyone I've ever loved for eternity, or at least, until the music stops.

You are part of my song. A lovely verse with a poppy melody. A soulful guitar solo. A magical bridge that leads you into the vocalist's enchanting chorus. Maybe someday we can sing it together. It starts with everything and ends with nothing.

[justanotherblonde]

it's sasodei week 2024!

i have precisely one thing to contribute, but ffs it's not done yet grr!! maybe we can blame my dog... she demanded i come play with her no less than nine times (i kept track) as i wrote this post (she does this by shouting at me then humping my leg to show me who's boss, sometimes pulling on my sweater sleeve with her sharp li'l teefs, beagles, man, i tell ya...) 🐶

anyway!! here's a TEASER of my Day 3 Band/Rockstar/Idol AU story ahhhhh!!! it's not even titled yet!!!!! i don't even really know what the tags will be! and i haven't had time to make a header image!! 😫

but this i know, oh this i know:

Sasori is first chair cello of the Sunagakure Philharmonic

He has a dirty little secret hobby: listening to metal (among other genres that are definitely not classical)

One of the bands he listens to is called C4

Guess who's the lead singer???

Yes, you guessed it, it's Deidara, singer/song-writer, perhaps much more...

In this AU, everybody lives!! Well... okay fine, Sasori's parents still didn't make it, i'm sorry

But that means two important things: Third Kazekage is alive! And there are a LOT of Uchiha running around.

There's more, a lot more, but you'll have to wait until i steal more minutes and hours from my dog and my work! but i'll give it to ya, come hell or high water! or wildfires, earthquakes, debilitating PM 2.5 ratings, or uh... dare i say... another pandemic??? FEAR NOT!

if you want to wait for the full thing to drop to read, i've left the teaser excerpt below the cut.

a million thanks to @sasodeiweek for hosting this event and encouraging us SasoDei creators to flex our creative muscles! loving all the contributions so far!

and without further ado...

Rehearsal ran circles round Sasori’s ears. The music followed him always, all hours.

Chapter 1

Rehearsal ran circles round Sasori’s ears. The music followed him always, all hours.

The fine, agile fingers of his left hand twitched; his right hand swayed side to side, marking the strokes of his bow. Eyes half-closed, his feet kept time on the pavement as he walked. It was Haydn this week, Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major. A weighty yet familiar responsibility for Sasori, first chair cello of the Sunagakure Philharmonic.

He sighed. Rehearsal had wrapped half an hour ago. He was on his way home, and tomorrow was a rest day. He didn’t need to torture himself like this. 

The headphones around his neck were a comforting weight, as friendly and intimate as the straps of his cello case on his shoulders. He flipped them over his ears and dug in his coat pocket for his phone. Scrolling through the saved playlists on his music app, he skipped all of the classical “homework” and went straight for his guilty pleasures: dance-pop, glam-rock, musicals… and heavy metal. 

No one at work knew about his low, low tastes.

Well, the Third had known. 

Sasori gritted his teeth, biting back unbidden memories. Now he definitely needed to blast his brain clean with some noise. 

Something heavy.

Something loud.

Something to transport him far away from the sand-scraped streets of Sunagakure.

His thumb landed on the album he was looking for.

Art is an EXPLOSION by C4. Track 1: “Light It Up.”

From that first haunting guitar chord, the tension Sasori held in his chest and face dispersed. He rode that twisting whine down, down… someplace dark and cool, far beneath the earth. As the barreling drums built to a crescendo, he held his breath—wait for it!—

A million years, through timeless stone I’m damned to walk this path alone This darkness, all I’ve ever known…

The lead singer had a deep, melodic voice. He molded each word of the verse carefully, tenderly, as if he were embarking on a ballad… then WHAM!

Cymbals crashed; the roaring chorus caught the last two notes of an electrifying riff like a surfer hopping a wave:

Light it up! Hey, light it up! Strike a match and light it up! My fuse is short, ’m ready to blow, Crush the ceiling down to the floor!

Not in a million years would Sasori admit out loud to anyone that he listened to C4, especially not now that the public were actually aware of their existence. The metal band had catapulted to fame last year with their single “Burn Down All the Discos,” but Sasori had been listening to them well before that. Three years ago, his music app had recommended him a track from Art is an EXPLOSION—C4’s debut album—based on his eclectic streaming history. 

If the first song Sasori had heard by C4 had been anything but “Artist,” he’d probably never have given them a chance: their usual sound was, on the surface, sloppy, and most of the lyrics were childish boasts. “Look at me!” their vocalist seemed to say in every song. 

But “Artist” was different. It was, inexplicably, an up-tempo perversion of Vivaldi’s Winter Largo in F Minor, lamenting how hard it was to live for art’s sake when the world ran on money and heroic virtue. Listeners without classical training would be unable to appreciate or likely even identify the subtleties of what had been done with the classical score, but the first time he heard it, Sasori had been riveted. Vivaldi’s rhythmic harpsichord had been replaced with a softly tapped snare drum; a mournful electric guitar carried the melody when it wasn’t sung. 

Curiosity piqued, Sasori had investigated the rest of the album, and found similar nods to classical music throughout the tracks, much harder to notice than the adapted Vivaldi, drowned as they were in a thunderstorm of electric guitar and percussion. C4 were more than just a metal band: they experimented with typical traits of the genre and also drew from pop rock, classical music, even musical theatre to create a sound unlike anything Sasori had ever heard. They broke all the rules and they did it with glee.

One day—a rest day—home alone and bored, Sasori had looked up the band online. It surprised him to learn that the lead singer had been only sixteen when the band was formed. That powerful voice certainly didn’t sound like it belonged to a teenager. But the band’s website was light on biographical information, and Sasori hadn’t felt like digging deeper. An overwhelming amount of fan sites and social media accounts had sprung up since “Burn Down All the Discos” and C4’s world tour. Bored as he was that day, Sasori wasn’t about to use his precious free time to obsess over some flash-in-the-pan rock band, especially one fronted by a kid.

And yet, he still listened to them.

“Artist” often competed for the position of most frequently-played song on his app, but only when he was feeling particularly moody. 

It crossed his mind that he ought to check if C4 had come out with anything new lately—the app usually sent a message when artists he’d followed released new music. Pausing to wait for a traffic light, he dug for his phone again.

Lo and behold, a new album had dropped not three days ago.

Beauty of a Moment, it was called. The cover art featured the Venus de Milo... mid-explosion.

Sasori chuckled under his breath. “He really does fancy himself an artist, doesn’t he…” 

What a fool. Popular music was not art. Rock music was not art. It came and went, but the classics stayed. For centuries. Forever.

It was the one thing Sasori and the Third had always agreed on, despite all of their differences. 

Speaking of which… 

...

[key-to-the-shadow]

Just An Act

Just An Act ~ Eddie Vedder X Fem!Reader

♫ trope: colleagues, tension tension tension, angst

♫ warnings: strong language, alcohol, drugs, angst, use of y/n, predetermined last name (poncier pronounced like pawn-see-a)

♫ words:

♫ a/n: loosely based on the movie 'singles'

Masterlist

----

I wore my loose light-washed jean shorts over thin black stockings that had holes ripped all around them from the last gig we played. We were playing a small set today because there were about ten of the most popular Seattle Grunge bands playing tonight. Each band got four songs.

I pulled my hair up in a messy bun letting small strands of my hair out to frame my face. Having your hair in your face during a gig wasn't fun so I always needed it out of my way.

We were the first band up and I watched as the crowd began to grow.

"Hey, Y/N," Eddie walked up to me. I acknowledged him with a tilt of my head. "You good with this set?" He asked handing me a crumpled sheet of printer paper with messy black ink scrawled onto it.

I looked over the song choices.

We would open with Garden, personally my favorite, then Given to Fly, Why Go, and then finally close with Go.

It was a pretty solid set. "Yeah, this is good."

I've known Eddie for a very long time. We were neighbors as kids and he and my older brother Cliff were best friends. When Cliff and I moved out and into an apartment, Eddie moved into the apartment right next to us.

Eddie used to be the drummer of my brother's band, Citizen Dick, but the band eventually decided to part ways because my brother wanted to work on solo stuff for the moment. We were all still close and still lived next door.

When the band split up, Eddie asked if I wanted to be the second singer for his new band, Pearl Jam. I agreed. I was good at harmonizing and writing lyrics and he was good at creating melodies.

"Well we're up," he says after a few more minutes of warming up. I nodded in agreement as the crowd was practically deadly at this point. People occupied every open space. "Good luck," He says, pressing a hand to the small of my back. A chill crept up my spine at the contact.

I was wearing a short-cropped black wife beater that I has cut myself. His hand was touching my bare back. Skin on skin.

"Thanks, you too," I shot him a smile before we walked on stage. Matt, Stone, and Jeff were already on stage which caused the crowd to already be pumped up.

When they saw Eddie and me, screams erupted from everyone. I didn't like to admit it but when every music magazine says that the two of you are the definition of sex appeal it was hard to ignore that some of the fans in the crowd looked at you and Eddie with lust in their eyes.

There had been many times that rumors had been spread that Eddie and I had been dating or at least hooking up. Pictures had been taken, completely out of context in every way, where Eddie was hugging me around the waist. Granted his hands were a little low and my hands were curled into his hair but it was always in a platonic way. It was right after a concert where I'd completely screwed up multiple songs and I had a panic attack right after the show.

Maybe it didn't help that while we were performing we wrapped arms around each other but I think that's pretty understandable. Again, we have known each other for like twenty years.

The stage smelled like old weed and alcohol but it was something that I'd become accustomed to.

After Eddie introduced us, we kicked off the first song. Garden. I loved the mystery this song brings about. I let Eddie sing the first verse along and I joined in when the chorus hit, letting our voices crescendo which made the crowd scream and pump their hands in the air.

His voice went as deep as it could and I went as high as I comfortably could which made the contrast of our voices reverberate off the walls melodically.

The second and third songs did just as well and then we got to the last song.

We gave the cue to the band that was coming up after us to begin to set up as we started our song.

I would never admit to Eddie how his voice in "Go" makes me feel.

This was another song that I didn't sing until the chorus but it gave me time to appreciate his voice.

While he started singing, I walked to the edge. of the stage, letting eager hands claw at me. I didn't let them touch my legs but I crouched down and let them touch my hand.

A girl who looked as though she was crying with happiness passed me a white tee shirt with our logo printed on it. I took a sharpie out of my back pocket, biting the top of it off before scrawling my name on the cotton, leaving a small heart next to my name.

She screamed in hysterics when I passed it back to her.

"Suppose I abuse you, just passing it on," Eddie sang as he watched me interact with the crowd. I knew that as I crouched, my shorts rode up, showing even more of my legs than they already were. "Go," Eddie screamed with the band. "Fuck." This was just one part of the song that made me cave in on myself. His voice quivered when he sang that one-syllable word. It shouldn't make me think about what it would be like if the rumors were true If Eddie and I were in fact more than just partners.

I stood up, neglecting to adjust my shorts again. I pretended not to notice Eddie's eyes scan me.

I put a slight swing into my hip as I raised the mic. "Please," I sang, dragging out the syllable in a deprived way. "Don't go on me." Careful not to go too far for fear that my brother might be in the crowd somewhere, ready to jump Eddie, I stared up at the curly-haired boy. He took a hand and moved some of his long hair out his face, never missing a beat in the music.

After the guitar solo, Eddie sang a few more words until my next favorite part. I guess he caught on to the desperation that I'd put into my voice, no matter how fake it was.

"Please, please please," He sounded like he was practically begging at this point as he stepped closer to me. There was a thin line that we had always drawn in the sand and we both knew not to cross it. Eddie was getting dangerously close to that line.

It was just an act.

The rest of the song should have just been Eddie singing "Don't go on me" for the next couple of measures with me singing "Please" in the empty spaces.

That was until he decided to change up the lyrics.

"Don't go on me," He sang with a rasp in his voice. He took another step closer. Just an act.

"Please," I followed his lead but my heart fell when he placed a callosed hand in the space between my neck and shoulder. His fingers played with the small strands of hair that had fallen out of my bun.

"Don't you want me?" I opened my mouth, ready to sing my line again but I faltered. His blue eyes were boring into mine. Seriousness was written on his face.

He crossed the line.

It was no longer just an act.

He's changed the lyrics, insinuating that there is something unspoken between us. And the crowd believed it now. If the news articles didn't convince them, then something like this at a live show would.

Anger bubbled in my throat. I counted the seconds until the song was over for when I could grab Eddie and drag him off that stage.

When the guitars finally faded, the crowd erupted in cheers. I gave Eddie the moment to thank the crowd for coming and told them to make some noise for Alice in Chains.

I grabbed his wrist and yanked him as hard as I could. He stumbled as he followed me.

"Y/N what are you doing?" He asked but I didn't respond.

We walked until we heard the guitar and drums of Alice in Chains pick up with their song It Aint Like That.

I pulled him into a corner where there was no one around. The only sound was the distant beat of the music.

"What the hell was that?" I spat, pushing him back with the palms of my hands. His reaction made me angrier.

He let out a soft laugh. "You're making that face."

I scoffed before pulling in a sharp breath. "What face?" I seethed.

"That one you make when you're caught liking something you shouldn't."

"I don't make a face."

"You're doing it right now," He says, drawing a circle around my face with his finger. "The one where your mouth is slightly open and before you say anything you have to scoff or roll your eyes or something."

My face heats up as I shut my mouth, realizing that it was open at that moment.

"Well you're wrong," I counter. "I didn't like it. Would you have done it if Cliff were here?"

At the mention of my brother his face shifts. "Probably not but he's not-"

"No, he's not here. But you know who is? Our fans. News reporters. Photographers. They all post things that Cliff will see!"

"And what if he does?"

"Are you fucking serious? We both know Cliff would fucking kill us."

He shrugs, making a dramatic roll with his head. "And who cares?"

"You don't care what my brother thinks?" I cross my arms, leaning into my hip.

"No," He responds blankly. "I care what you think. What did you think, Y/N?" He steps forward.

I let out a snippy laugh. "I think you're a massive dick."

A smile curves the corner of his lips. His hand comes towards my face and his thumb pushes the bottom of my chin until my mouth closes again. I thank the dim lighting and black walls that conceal how bright my face is.

His hand doesn't leave my face. His fingers just move behind my neck like they did on stage. The very notion that pissed me off beyond belief.

"Cliff doesn't have to know."

The closer he gets to me, the more his fingers burn at my neck. He towers over me, his brown hair falling into his face as he scans my eyes for any hint of emotion.

I don't know what I feel.

Don't you want me?

The question he indirectly asked repeated in my head as he stared at me. I hadn't even realized that my back was now up against a wall and that his free hand was resting lazily on my waist.

"If Cliff finds out..." My voice trailed off as his grip on me tightened.

"Hmm?" He questioned softly.

I met his eyes and a confident surge forced me to flicker my glance to his lips. He took it as permission to close the seemingly neverending space between us. His rough lips found mine and I was sure I would've collapsed if he wasn't holding me up. I breathed heavily against him as his lips trailed to my neck.

"Fuck," I closed my eyes as he left a bruise on my neck. The vibration of the noises he made against my skin made me want to cry.

"Y/N? Ed?" A familiar voice of our drummer, Matt, was heard around the corner. I pushed Eddie off of me but it was too late. Matt saw. "Holy shit," He laughed. "I fucking knew it."

"You don't tell Cliff, understood?" I said with the strongest voice I could muster. He threw his arms up in defense.

"Got it, boss." He turned on his heels and he left the way he came.

I rubbed my eyes with my palms in embarrassment.

"Here," Eddie shrugged off his flannel and passed it to me. "Might want to cover that up," He nodded towards the bruise on my neck.

"Fucking hilarious, Vedder." I snatched it and flung it around my shoulders.

"I'll drive you home, come on." I followed the boy out the back doors of the bar to the apartment building.

[creature-phases]

Backslide Analysis

I want to preface this analysis by saying that Backslide is about two things, one more so than the other. Surface level it is about Tyler being afraid of his career with Twenty One Pilots failing.

On a deeper level, it is about the cycle of depression. Here’s the fun thing about clinical depression, it does not go away. Sure you can heal, get better, and learn how to manage it so it isn’t so overwhelming, but it never truly disappears. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that when you have depression there is a fear that you will slip back into your worst moments.

This is something I think Josh captures well with the music video. When he posted it to his Instagram he put the caption “This song is really meaningful to me.” If I had to guess I’d say Tyler probably laid out the album and let Josh pick whatever track he wanted. Probably with the exception of Next Semester since Tyler knew what he wanted to do with that one.

I’d wager that this is either Josh’s favorite song on the album or the one that spoke to him the most or likely both.

One last thing. Twenty One Pilots has always been a way for me to deal with my own mental health issues. When I pick apart their lyrics it is with heavy bias towards myself. There is a overlay of “if I wrote this this is what I would have meant”.

Anyway onto the analysis

[Intro]

I don't wanna

[Verse 1]

“Rat race, place to place, adding weight/Tendencies on repeat, innit”

This plays into the cycle of everyday life especially with depression. How it feels like you are just going with the motions and how that begins to weigh on you. This sort of monotony causes you to fall back into old habits, or maybe the fact that you are just going through the motions is the bad habit.

“Benefit from a shoe with no lace”

I’m not confident in what I think this line is saying. My interpretation of this line literally is that having shoes with no laces means there is one less thing you need to do, one less thing to think about, which can be a benefit or a detriment. A less literal interpretation is this line being more sarcastic and it being more like saying he feels like a shoe with no lace. That part of him is missing or that something is wrong. There isn’t a benefit.

“Take the seat with the crease in it”

This goes back into the discussion of cycles and going through the motions. The seat having a crease implies that he sits in that seat a lot. It’s part of the routine. This connects directly the line “Tendencies on repeat, innit”. In both its rhyme and its meaning.

“I don't mind if it's lonely, I don't mind if it's fair/I don't care, you control me, leading me anywhere”

To me, this reads as denial. He does care, a lot actually, but he’s trying not to, or he’s trying to convince his dark thoughts (Blurryface) that he doesn’t care. When you let depression and anxiety control you you try to convince yourself that you’re okay with that. That nothing is wrong.

“I don't wanna backslide to where I've started from/There's no chance I will shake this again”

When I first heard the “I don’t want to backslide” part I thought he meant his career, but the second half of this pre-chorus takes me away from that thought completely. I am of the firm belief this is saying “I am terrified of relapsing because I don’t know if I have the strength to get better again.”

The definition of “backslide” according to Merriam-Webster (yes I’m pulling out all the stops) is to “lapse morally or in the practice of religion” or “to revert to a worse condition”. I’m ignoring the religion aspect because I personally do not view TOP through a religious lens. I think the fact that this is the specific word choice means this song is very much focused on backsliding in mental health.

“'Cause I feel the pull, water's over my head”

If you listen to Twenty One Pilots you know that Tyler Joseph loves his water references. People have already connected this to the pre-chorus of Fall Away which I do agree with. This song and this album in general seems to be a love letter to everything that came before it.

Have you ever been caught in a rough wave? Because it is not fun and it can actually be terrifying. This line is about Tyler feeling the tug of old dark thoughts pulling him under the water. People will often describe depression as the feeling of drowning because it is a very apt description.

“Strength enough for one more time/reach my hand above the tide”

Struggling with mental health is exhausting and there are plenty of times where you have the thought “I don’t think I can do this anymore.” You don’t think you have the strength to keep reaching out for anything to grab onto.

“I'll take anything you have/If you could throw me a line/I should've loved you better”

I’m of the firm belief that a big part of this song is Tyler talking to his younger self and Blurryface. I know I’ve seen people say “Oh, ‘you’ is god obviously” which it very well could be, but that just isn’t the case for me.

I relate this to the feeling that my depression is kind of in cahoots with my younger self. I picture it as being willing to take any beating just so you can get out of this one hole. Obviously, no one is at fault for their depression and how that takes away their childhood, but it often feels that way. Like you are personally responsible and your younger self resents you for it.

I think a lot of people hate their younger self. You hear it often people saying “I was so weird back then” or anything like that. But those thoughts just make it all worse. I think in order to heal you need to realize that you often need to love who you were.

I also come at this from the perspective of a trans person. So part of that self hatred comes from that. Hating the fact you didn’t get to grow up as who you actually are. But once again, that isn’t your younger self’s fault. It isn’t your fault either.

“Do you think that now's the time/you should let go?”

This is the response to the previous lines by those dark thoughts. Give up, let the wave drag you down. Aren’t tired, just accept it. Which is then followed by

“It's over my head”

Which implies that Tyler listened.

[Verse 2]

“Bad place, on a hundred-dollar bass/kinda wishin' that I never did "Saturday"

I view this line as being about No Phun Intended. If you’ve listened to that album you know just how dark of a place someone has to be in to write that kind of stuff and sing it the way Tyler did. Also considering that Tyler was a high school student it wouldn’t surprise me if he had a super cheap bass. If not about No Phun Intended then I would say it would be about the Self-Titled album or Regional At Best for very similar reasons.

This connects directly to the idea of not wanting to Backslide. That fear of falling back into your worst moments. Not wanting to be in the headspace he was in when he wrote those songs.

This is then somewhat contradicted by him saying that he sort of wishes he didn’t put out “Saturday”. One thing I will say is I always appreciate Tyler’s sincerity when it comes to regret and anxiety. This is most blantant on Blurryface which makes a lot of sense. Considering this song is sort of the return of Blurryface it is even more appropriate. I’m not a huge fan of Saturday. Not because its “different” to what they usually put out, but I just don’t vibe with the music. It has some great lines but it does admittedly feel too produced.

I think part of this line is showing that the backlash from Scaled and Icy, which is best represented by Saturday, got to Tyler. He is only human. He has been very upfront in saying that he does, in fact, care what people think. This line is actually perfect at encapsulating his anxieties combined with his desire to not go back to a dark place.

Maybe he also feels like he wasn’t true to himself in that song, or that the response to Saturday is part of what caused his fear of backsliding.

“‘Is that a stain? You should change/Are you doin' good?/Did you solve all of your problems?’”

I’m very much of the opinion that the boy at the lemonade stand is meant to represent a younger version of Tyler. I often picture how my younger self would react to me now. I know one of the main questions young me would have would be “did we get better?” Then there is an even younger version of me that has no idea what he’s in for. He would represent “Is that a stain/you should change”. This is obviously referring to the back paint Tyler uses that represents his depression and anxiety. That younger version of him doesn’t know what is in store, so the paint is seen innocently as a stain.

“Thanks for asking, in a way, but/accidentally uncovered a new one yesterday”

Tyler has talked in the past about the cycle of getting better and then falling back. This line most directly connects to what I was talking about in my intro about the fact that depression never really goes away. Life goes on and new problems arise.

“What happened to what I brushed under the rug?”

This alludes to the fact that Tyler never truly solved some of his problems. Instead he just brushed them under the rug, but it didn’t stay under the rug,

“I used to be the champion of a world you can't see/now I'm drowning in logistics”

I’ve seen this connected to both Bandito and Forest as both have a bridge that focuses on Tyler being in control of a world and the destruction of said world. When you have depression you tend to be in your head a lot, and when you are a creative like Tyler, you are in it even more so. I heavily relate to creating worlds inside your head to feel a sense of control. There are ways I could relate this to the lore ™ but I’m not going to for consistency's sake.

The part about drowning in logistics. Creating a world as in-depth and with as many moving part as Tyler did is exhausting. Creating can be exhausting. You can get to a point where you over think it. It all ties back to the fact that Tyler could destroy this world.

“I don't mind if it's lonely (It's over my head)/I don't mind if it's fair (You should let go)/I don't care, you control me (It's over my head)/Leading me anywhere”

The earlier denial is being challenged and their is this sense of giving up.

“I don't wanna backslide”

The outro cycles back into the beginning with the “I don’t wanna-”. The fact that it is also lower and not as audible reflects the defeated nature of the song.

[writingmochi]

an honest review of orange blood from musical and conceptual observation (not proofread)

opening remarks: wow... they really let go of manifesto saga all together, huh? ngl i think they're doing this to cater towards the dark moon audience (as per what sunghoon said in the vlog they did in lotte world towards solon, "are you more famous than me? you are me."

also, i'm gonna be truthful here: i haven't kept up with their lore stuff after border era finished (actually it's more of because i've been straying from kpop a lot now). i used to read webtoons but idk man i still think that hybe is really pushing their artists into making intellectual properties so they can license it to everyone (the successful ones are tiny tan and bts universe) but when you're here for the artistry in the music and audio visual aspect of the music, you kinda feel being left behind. so, relating to another hybe artist, i kind of like txt separating from their star seekers character but dark moon is technically enhypen's (and &team's) dna now.

concept-wise visually, i think it's good. we love a sanskrit representation with ksana and kalpa, but i think it'll be more interesting if they dig deeper into what it means cosmological, mythological, etc and relate it towards dark moon, sooha/selen, the werewolves of sunshine city and more.

also, it's an interesting choice on hybe's behalf to make a comeback between &team and enhypen around the same time, especially since they are brothers-with-rivalries group (yes, i just coin that teehee)

i can go on on a tangent about how belift doesn't know where enhypen's is going long-term wise but... eh, that's for another time...

let's start!

1.mortal: intro track as always! i love the more lo-fi instrumental of it (it can be a good bgm to reflect on mortality akfbauewiue4g) i also love that every member participates here, either by monologuing or singing. it's like a poem in a short film (it could actually be in the concept trailer, cmiiw) and i think it's gonna be a good visual spectacle on concerts (which given the state of kpop now. they will do tours even for EPs, too criminal actually)

also WHY THE FUCK IS THIS LONGER THAN THE TITLE TRACK FFS (unless this is not a monologue, but dialogues between differing perspective, i agree that it should be that long) oh gosh...

2.sweet venom: AINT THIS JAKE'S ERA?! my boy!!! also WE GET A FREAKING BRIDGE ISTG YOU DON'T KNOW HOW UNEXPECTED THAT IS AS SOMEONE WHO MISSES ENHYPEN'S BRIDGES (given-taken my love). from the post i made before this, i mentioned hybe is doing something interesting and the answer is... we're returning to 2020 hybe again with their retro-sounding title tracks like chasing the feeling, god of music, and this. also, i watched the mv first before hearing the audio and i love the stop-motion mv like for real (definitely matches the music)

i definitely can see and hear the michael jackson influence for this comeback and the choreo, funk is his genre after all. but the funk is making it easy-listening that it doesn't overwhelm those who aren't funk and disco listeners. the orchestral bytes in the bridges make it nostalgic towards songs in the 90s. it definitely is trying to cater towards gen z's affection towards nostalgia (which hits me too with the mj influence, riki probably likes this comeback so much :D)

highlights? oh the three oldest hyungs get it. jake has never been the center of a comeback (it's always heeseung or jungwon) and i love that he can hold himself up, for my fellow jaeyun lover be prepared to see him in thumbnails now~ heeseung and jay's vocals? chef's kiss! get those falsettos, kings! and their runs in the verses is just so good ughh

also, another tangent of me of the vocal mixing incoming. i think it's better but niki's voice sounds unrecognizable in the audio. maybe it's because his voice hasn't stop evolving or what not but yeah, if i didn't watch the mv first, i wouldn't recognize niki's voice. also the last chorus can be given two more bars cause it just unsatisfyingly ends? and i can understand why sunghoon doesn't have that much lines here because (and don't cancel me on this) it doesn't suit his timbre much because his voice is more on the baritone range than the others who are tenor and this song is in a high key. if maybe they can lower the key like a full step than it can match his voice more...

3.still monster: emo-ballad enha? is that you? the start does sound a bit more bossa-nova ish before the drums kick in. i love how muted the instrumental is so that we can hear the vocals more. it definitely has the analog phone filter to it, kinda of reminds me of haru haru by big bang but mellower. i think i know that synth keyboard sound font is because it sounds so vintage and i like how it harmonizes with the guitar. i can definitely play bass to the song *cue me trying to make the bass tab in my free time after this*. i can hear sunghoon again yay! also we love the ad-libs at the last chorus. get it, heeseung! and this song is very heeseung actually lol

4.blind: wow... synth? at the start i think this is gonna be like cyberpunk by ateez but then it goes into a more rnb route. i almost thought also jersey club percussion, okay drum fills in the pre-chorus. and BAM... synthwave! this is more like take me home by ateez. i think this could even be an ateez song, but it's not as abrasive as the ones ateez makes. that post-chorus part though when the bass kicks in, the fuck was that? and why can't we got more of that D:?

but i actually like how slow it's taking, like they're trying to take the vibes in first, ya know? i think it is because this is their first venture to synthwave from a more rnb/hip-hop-based set of songs. they tried it with tamed-dashed but this is a mature, slower version of it. also, heeseung with the ad-libs istg!!! heeseung stop it, don't tug my heart string like that. that bounce between sunghoon and niki, we like that!

5.orange flower (you complete me): *cue onf's complete* you complete... ME~~~~ when i see the tracklist, that's the kind of song i predict with this title. and, a signature of enhypen in this album, we have a more mellow version of the style they're going with this song. they're also catering this towards gen z as this is like the type of songs that's gonna be placed in a "indie rock end credits" type of music. it's pretty predictable with a name like orange flower for it to be a feel-good song. i actually like this more than tfw cause the instrumental is more optimistic.

i also like the verses more than the chorus (kinda a bit anti-climatic for me) but it still gives of a music that you play while riding bicycles with your friends around sunset (wish i could do that again but growing up is pain ehheheheeh)

6.sweet venom (english ver): since this is just sweet venom but in a different language, i'm gonna focus more on vocal performance and lyrics.

i like how gritty they sound, like the textures in their voice i can hear it better. the way the pronounce the words is clear enough to be deciphered. i love the pre-chorus in korean version better but i know that they're trying to make the lyrics make sense in the language. idk why but heeseung sounds better here like my man wtf is on with you istg

7.sweet venom (ft. bella poarch): first: i don't have beef with bella poarch cause i don't really care about her. she's just another influencer trying to survive the internet and life honestly. i think it's also another situation how engenes are jealous because enhypen's with a girl because they're delulu that enha can only be with them through sooha lmao (read: enhypen now performing bite me with female partners) because they dig into controversies that don't really involve them (international engenes, especially westerners). i just think that what western engenes are doing with the situation is reacting the same way that korean engene react to them during bite me era. it's part of stan culture and to break it, it's gonna be hard.

second: since this is technically sweet venom eng ver with bella poarch, i'll be focusing on vocal performance and lyrics (if they decide to change it)

even from the mixing, you can hear the difference from the vocals. bella's voice is much more airy with more reverb than enha's. i also think that it makes the song more richer, especially with the harmonics, some are a bit unnecessary. but from me, this changes sweet venom's color from a full orange color towards a peachy one with bella's feminine influence.

closing remarks: i definitely didn't expect to like this album as much.

coming from unliking three enha title tracks in a row, even i can't believe that i like the sound of this album. the sound is more cohesive; a mellow rnb touch in every track as they combine with other genres (sweet venom with funk, still monster with emo-ballad, blind with synthwave, and orange flower with indie rock) yet they still try to push the boundaries of genres they wanna try.

the highlight of the overall album is definitely heeseung. he kills it with his vocal performance and i love how versatile he is as he pushes some fancy things in one song and dim it in another, creating a more diverse set of texture for each song. jay is close second because this album just shows how much of a powerhouse he is (i think his music diversification with listening to rock songs helps him with that).

when it comes to the whole comeback, imo, it doesn't really match that well from both audio and visual. it's like they have two different visions cause the theme doesn't matches with between the art and music direction. it's like if belift just said "the main theme of this album is orange." okay so what do you mean orange? like visually, the concept photo is very orange-like and the music does sound orange to me, but what is the connection here? it also definitely shows with how enha can't explained what orange blood means in one interview they did. because i don't understand what they're trying to say with the phrase orange blood. is it orange because it's like fire? is it orange because it is derived from red blood? if it's like fire, then why did we get a funk song?

also, what saddens me is the track listing like only 5 new songs + one is more like monologue. even i can see it as a scam if you actually are trying to use your money to buy an album + they have 3 versions of this album with randomized photocard. please treat your money carefully!

final ranking:

7.sweet venom (english ver.)

6.mortal

5.sweet venom (ft. bella poarch)

4.still monster

3.orange flower (you complete me)

2.sweet venom

1.blind

small conclusion: DON'T INTERACT WITH VENOM AND POISON, FOLKS. ITS DANGEROUS FOR A REASON: YOU CAN DIE!!11!!! THERE AREN'T ANY SWEET VENOM UNLESS IT IS SUGAR (N EVEN THAT CAN CAUSE YOU DIABETES)

also, here's my predictions for the next entry of the blood series:

following the colors of the rainbow, it's gonna be yellow/golden blood. it's gonna make the blood series have seven albums from the colors of the rainbow (red = jungwon, orange = jake, yellow = ???)

following the next phrase related to blood (and because of selen from the lore), it's gonna be blue blood: a term used to refer to noble birth, royalty, etc here's me hoping they do a more dpr ian miito sound for a regal comeback

[kamiimiya]

TEEHEE 1, 3, 5, and 7 with kokonoi hajime >:D

THANK YOU LOVEBUG I APPRECIATE YOU SOSOSOSO MUCH ♡

ask game here

♡ If you have one, what's your ship name?

kokomiya !! just a silly basic little shipname cuz those are the ones i'm used to in most fandoms and i'm simply not creative enough to think of something unique and funny.

i honestly like the tag misconceptions more than i do the ship name, because i Thought about that for a little while even though its kinda basic so it doesn't even really seem like i did much thinking. but for a long time we didn't like each other, he thought i was wayyy too nice and just going to be used by everyone around me ( deadass projecting but go off koko dearest ) and i couldn't understand why he has such a grudge against me. we understand each other a little bit too well in some regards, despite each of us being on the opposite ends of The Horrors. sometimes he mentions that i would understand inupi more than i understand him, and he just doesn't understand why i'd choose someone like him when it's so obvious that he had the capability to hurt others. he's so blinded by his lack of self worth and inability to truly understand other people's depths that there's just a lot of miscommunication between the two of us for a really long time.

♡ What song would you duet for some chaotic late night karaoke?

umbrella by rihanna. is it because of that one scene with inupi where koko was hiding behind the umbrella and trying his best to act confident even when he was losing it a little bit ? yeah. maybe. who cares. it's also a BITCHING song and you can't look me in the eyes and tell me he doesn't know it by heart. and to be very clear, i'm not saying he's gonna be jay z and i'm rihanna. we alternate lines like how god intended. i will step out of the spotlight this one time and let him have the last little bit with the last few lines because i feel like he needs them a little bit. maybe it would do his psyche some good who knows.

in the tune of rihanna, also s&m is a very good choice. my minds eye can see him swaying his hips and doing a little dance and dammit he's feeling himself. gonna do that silly debby ryan thing where he pushes his hair behind his ears trying to be hot but its kokonoi hajime so it just works idk how to explain it. first verse is his and he'll sing it alone, i'll just sing the background vocals. we alternate the lines of the chorus & sing the post chorus ' come on, come on, come on ' part together at the same time. second verse is mine. if you see him blushing at the mention of whips and chains no for the love of god you do not.

♡ If you were dogs, what breeds would you be?

so he's definitely going to be something like a doodle or a golden doodle. something that looks pretty but actually may not be the best pets. i lived in a house with golden doodles and let me tell you they were wild and rowdy if not trained right and also practically impossible to kennel train at any point in time, and maybe it was just the dogs that the person had but they had the worst separation anxiety i've ever seen in dogs, and that's pretty much just koko. if you look at them from a distance you think that they're pretty and fancy looking and then you spend more than a minute in the same room with them and you realize that they're actually a handful, and i love koko for that.

for myself, i don't really have an in depth answer. i like pomeranians and also i too have a bark wayyy bigger than my entire bodyweight. they're like 3 apples tall and mostly fur, and have one of those super annoying barks that just simply don't shut up ever, and i'd like to think that's me going on and on and on about stuff that no one objectively really cares about. they're also extroverted but can get aggressive with dogs much bigger than their own size. and yeah that honestly just checks out with me i will body check a dog 4x my size because i don't like the way that it didn't look at me.

♡ Describe how your f/o smells, be absurdly specific.

oh boy he's expensive but also depressed. you can tell he's having one of those days where he just can't be half assed with anything because the cologne he wears will be sprayed so much that you can't smell anything else. he chooses savage from dior because it's one of those colognes that covers up everything else with just a little bit sprayed, but he'll still overspray it to the point it almost chokes you with the scent of it. if he's not wearing any cologne ( rare, but not impossible. i just have to catch him at the right time ) he probably smells like a mix between his lotion he wears and his body wash / exfoliant. he shops at bath and body works for lotions because he likes the deals and also has a thing for their candles.

if he's out doing ' business ' i think honestly he sweats wayyy more than he likes to let on especially since most uniforms are a jacket of some kind and they're actively fighting most of the time, so he has to use a pretty strong deodorant to hide it. definitely carries deodorant with him and he's so shameless about it. he definitely hops into the shower the moment he's home though.

sometimes, though, he smells like blood and a housefire, with the smell of smoke so thoroughly coated in his hair and blood underneath his fingernails, and i can't mention it because it's really not the important part going on right now. sometimes i just gotta pull him into the shower and wash his hair for him really well and fix dinner for him without mentioning it. tears or worried words from either one of us may break the fragile thread hanging on and it's just not worth it. i know he's okay, he knows that he's safe. it's,,, important that the nights we're together stay as normal for him as possible, especially on nights like those.

and anyways so i - ( gets shot )

[dollestte]

A House In Nebraska: My Thoughts ౨ৎ

This song, by Ethel Cain, has undoubtedly been one of my favorites since early last year. Although it isn't exactly the most popular off the album it's on, Preacher's Daughter, it's definitely still the one I've listened to and liked the most. Now, with that being said, let's continue!

First off, I'd like to thank Hayden for giving me an opportunity to cry the most I ever have in one night, all to this song. If you're out there, you're amazing and I love you. Special mention goes to @ddepressedbookworm for introducing me to this impactful album. Okay, enough dilly-dallying, let's go.

The song starts with some, frankly, insane piano. It's dark and gloomy, setting the atmosphere for the rest of this seven-minute song. Hayden uses many past tenses in the lyrics, allowing us to visualize the impact of Ethel's lover leaving her.

These lines of the chorus, "Where the world was empty, save you and I/Where you came and I laughed and you left and I cried" really resonate with me. The fact that Ethel's misses her lover Willoughby Tucker (canon name) so much is just so insane to me because I've felt that before. Again, this song really hits me hard.

Skipping the next few verses of this very very slow song, we have the bridge/ending. I suggest you read the entire last two verses as I will NOT be quoting them here (it's too long). However, I will never fail to emphasise these lines "And you might never come back home, and I may never sleep at night/But God I just hope you're doing fine out there, I just pray that you're alright" I'm genuinely so hurt by this.

It's so awfully good because Willoughby isn't going to see Ethel again, but Ethel still hopes he's doing well. That is so painful, as a listener, to hear.

Overall, if you didn't want to read all that yapping, I rate the song a solid 98/100- the first time I heard it, I genuinely shed tears of pure anguish. I know a lot of people wouldn't do the same, but it's just my personal opinion, please respect that!

Once again, thank you for reading! I love all my devoted followers. Even if you're not my follower. Maybe I don't love you then.

Xoxo,

iz ౨ৎ

[skoulsons]

Why you think Ellie writes the specific lyric “all the promises at sundown i meant them like the rest” in her journal ?

Well, the lyrics are from the bridge or third verse of “Future Days” that I’m sure Joel sang to her at one point. We only hear him sing the first verse and chorus, but he obviously sang the whole song to her (maybe in parts), hence why she knows that line

I think the interpretation could be different for people? I’ve never really sat down to think about it, mainly just crying over her drawing the owl of his mug and writing that under it 💀

But that song/music in general is one of the last links she has to him, so it’s understandable she’d write a line from it.

I like to think she writes it in Joel’s voice. Like it’s him talking to her, reassuring her. In their last conversation, he says “…i would do it all over again,” which is a promise. She does write at another point of her journal- “all I have is our last conversation, looping like a chord progression,” so she thinks about it often. Definitely because it’s the last time she ever spoke to him, but I think for that line and telling him she wants to forgive him and all that good stuff.

I don’t know where this went 💀 my two cents, I suppose

[lil-scout-precure]

Junior Eurovision 2023 detailed opinions before the show. Part 3

After two parts of my Junior Eurovision 2023 personal opinions before the show, it was time for the third one. We already covered the fifth, fourth and third tiers of my list, from the decent songs to my personal tear-jerkers. And now, with the reveal of the running order this day, and 8 songs to talk about, it's time for the second tier, where my almost-winner alert songs are. And by little differences with the winner ones.

The tier-list for reference, again!

Tier 2: "I will kill OsterdahlEBU if they mess with the staging or the running order (or place the lower spots)/hj"

🇲🇹 Yulan Law "Stronger"

Malta is one of those countries that can make Junior Eurovision a real party. Two victories, one of them also slaying in the adult Eurovision (Destiny, in JESC 2015 and ESC 2021), and with most entries being bangers. After the robbery Gaia Gambuzza got in Yerevan at 2022 (and this year in adult Eurovision, Switzerland's 2nd Gjon's Tears copycat getting the final qualifier and not the happy lads from The Busker...), I was expecting a MIRACLE for them to have some justice this year. And it came in the shape of "Stronger"

Yulan's voice, my gosh, serving in higher levels than I ever expected for a ballad, and after hearing some of them before this song got revealed, I'm glad to put her in this tier! Her lyrics are so charming alongside her vocals, and the music itself elevates the entire song to a higher level of the previous ballads I covered. The setting of the clip, while not my favorite, it's so calm and inspiring as the entry itself. And you tell me this song was composed by some Swedish writers? No wonder it slays a lot.

I have no ideas about how would be her perfect staging for the live show, but if it can convey the same feelings of the entire song, maybe it can be a well-done Top placer, even if performing second!

🇲🇰 Tamara Grujeska "Kaži Mi, Kaži Mi Koj"

For North Macedonia, I was accepting anything at the point the song was revealed. They like to vary in their JESC song styles, from 2021's bop about saving the planet to protect it as our only home, to 2022's definition of, citing one of my close mutuals, "Shut TF off, I'm not your girlfriend!" (and fun fact I discovered recently thanks to Misja Eurowizja, the same writer of that song was also the composer of Hurricane's "Loco Loco" (Serbia 2021, Eurovision). A lively "the same voice" meme incarnation XDXD). But the song they sent for JESC 2023 is something amazing, something I've never expected

For a soft ballad-pop, it has some charm itself! The use of the ethnical instruments gives it more originality about the country itself, and it sounds so good with the melody. Even if not understanding the lyrics at first (without English translation, of course), Tamara's voice makes them so hypnotic and mesmerizing, one thing I LOVE of this song more than other ballads! And as for the video, they took the "smoke firework" theme from the slogan (and the "Heroes" theme) seriously to the point of incorporating it in the choreo.

The staging of this one can be (or not) linked to the studio video's scenario, but whichever idea it is, it has to be something enough to not ruin this song's feelings!

🇺🇦 Anastasia Dymyd "Kvitka"

I'm sorry for those of the ESC Discord server who have to watch me put this song in the higher places instead of lower ones. Yes, I understand there were better options in the Junior Vidbir like Polina Babiy's "Universe" or Denis Hryshchuk's "Dance", but somehow this song grew on me a lot after some listens. And after Zlata Dziunka's heart-breaking (and no joking about my feelings of that song T-T) yet beautiful song "Nezlamna" last year, I kinda felt a soft breeze of hope with this entry.

Sure, I agree with them it becomes kinda repetitive with the "Kvitka" verse playing constantly in the chorus, but the feeling is what counts here! Anastasia's sweet and kind voice, alongside the "Find yourself in this world, and stop this tragedy" verse, highlight this hopeful feeling I got in the song. And as the song says, one day something can blossom from the rubbles of chaos and give a future. I never thought I would become attached to a JESC entry so much(well, and the next one I will cover), even if not being my winner alert!

Knowing she performs third, after Yulan Law and Sandra Valero, while the Vidbir staging makes the song get more cheerful than it is already, they need to make it bigger and more beautiful for Nice's stage if they want Anastasia to not place low, shine among the other kids and get some good televote, because she deserves it a lot!

🇩🇪 Fia "Ohne Worte"

Germany had it difficult both in the adult and the Junior versions of Eurovision. If it's not Jendrik Sigwart, Malik Harris or fricking Lord of the Lost getting the last places in their editions (unfairly in the last case), zero points or not, it's their two Junior singers at 2020 and 2021, Susan and Pauline, starting the show and getting the lowest (if not last) places too. And when I heard they would try again this year after a rest in 2022, I knew I had to follow the selections to see who would be their hope.

For the five kids that showed in the selections, there were three I expected to get the place: Adriano with a good moving song "Be My Girl", Rahel with a Sara James-like melody "Believe", and of course, the song that won over them (and my heart) and now is the German representant for Nice: Fia with "Ohne Worte" (without words)

First, I gotta admit it, I'm BIASED with this song since the demo version (and as the first JESC 2023 song in progress), and there are some teeny weeny differences that place it not in my winner alert list. But it's for some good reasons!

I was surprised she decided to use sign language for her entry, and I wondered exactly why she did it. And after knowing the context and some of her before-JESC performances in The Voice using the same technique, she caught my heart.

Those performances, and the JESC song itself are for (and about) her little sister Emilia, the person that inspired Fia to do this special detail never seen in a Junior song, and something that makes this entry so relatable. If the demo version was alerting me with speakers I would get emotional over the entire song, it became true after the video (and full studio version) reveal (once again in the middle of work). And the final verses of the "without words" in multiple languages, that part made me love this song more than I already did, alongside the more-than-just-sweet videoclip :'3

The tier title was especially created for this one song, considering the past editions Germany had to struggle in Junior and adult Eurovision. And while at least they FINALLY have a decent running order slot, I'm still waiting for the staging to make this song more justice than it has already. There are rumours about a dance-break section for the live version and I hope, REALLY, REALLY HOPE, that it makes Fia get a Top 3 placement as she deserves it, and maybe WIN THE CONTEST (even above the next 4 songs I consider winners). I know, it's biased, but now you know why. But the thing I WOULD DREAD from all scenarios is that, even with the best made, somehow Germany gets last or lower places. That would break me a lot if that ever happens and I will get Osterdahl's head ;m;

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, that's 12 songs covered now in my ranking! Wait to the final part, the 4 songs that became my winners! See ya!

[fiorimaya]

hiii since you seem to be doing a lot of electric mayhem stuff,, could u maybe do a floyd pepper x reader😳😳 only if you want to no pressure ofc

Sure thing!! :D Hope you enjoy!

Floyd had started his solo career, and it was off to a pretty good start. His name was known well from him being with the Electric Mayhem, so that helped a lot. The band had ultimately called it quits and remained in contact while they started doing their own thing.

And you were one of the biggest supporters of his new career. You had been his supporter for everything, actually; given that you and Floyd had grown up together. You lived on the same street and did basically everything together throughout your childhood and teen years. You always supported his passion and then supported the band in every way you could once he joined it.

It was just a couple months before, though, that you two had become something romantic. Not long after the band split up. You had liked him for quite some time but never made a move of any sort. It was actually him who initiated the relationship. Turns out he'd been feeling something for you as well, and finally got the courage to tell you.

It had been a great couple of months with him. You would go over to his apartment and help him write songs. You knew how to play guitar, thanks to him- he had taught you back in the day. It definitely came in handy now. The present day was another songwriting day for the two of you. Floyd had already released a handful of the songs you had written together, but he was working on an album and needed just one more song to make it ten. You were sitting at the end of his bed with your guitar, and he was against the headboard with his. The first verse and chorus were finished, and the second verse was close to finished.

You wrote down the next chord above the lyric that it went with, and when you looked up you noticed Floyd looked deep in thought. "Floyd?"

"Hm?"

"Are you alright?"

He smiled a bit and nodded before laying his guitar beside of him on the bed. He sat up straight and reached for your hand. Without putting your own guitar down, you held the neck of it slowly and used your free hand to take his hand.

He rubbed the back of your hand gently with his thumb. "I was just thinking."

"I could tell," you laughed a little. "What were you thinking about?"

"You... us..."

That made you a little nervous. What did he mean by that? Was he ending it with you already? You swallowed hard, and he had noticed you seemed a little uneasy. He was about to continue but you accidentally stopped him for a moment. "Are you gonna break up with me?"

He let out that raspy laugh that always made your heart do backflips and shook his head. "Nuh uh. Never." He planted a kiss on your hand with that.

You felt your cheeks get warm as you smiled. You looked down and giggled before sighing a breath of relief. Finally, you looked back up at him as your smile grew; and your smile always made everything right in his world.

"Then what about us?" You asked.

"I was just thinking how lucky I am. I'm lucky that I got to grow up with you, to know you so well... I was thinking about how you've always been my biggest support, along with my parents of course. You always believed in me, and made that especially known on the days I didn't believe in myself. If it wasn't for you, I probably would have given up even before the band got started. If I never thanked you for that before, I'm thanking you now."

You were a blushing mess at that point. "I've always believed in you, Floyd. I always knew you were going to do big things with your music."

Less than half an hour later, you two had finished the song. Floyd picked up the notebook that had the new song written in it and read through the lyrics. He nodded his head a little before setting it back down. "I think this is it. The last song for the album."

"Really?" You beamed.

"Yeah!" He leaned forward and gave you a soft kiss. "Thank you."

"Of course."

"Cuddle time?"

You giggled and put your guitar down beside of the bed. He did the same and moved the notebook as well before laying down and opening his arms to you. You crawled back onto the bed and then into his arms. He'd always hold you close to him, so securely. It always made you feel safe there, like that, in his arms. This "cuddle time" had become a habit every time you were at each other's apartment. You two always just laid there cuddling, talking about this, that, or whatever.

This time, the talking was cut a little short. Floyd could tell you had fallen asleep by the pattern of your breathing. He glanced down at you and couldn't help but think about how adorable you looked sleeping. He gently kissed your forehead and closed his eyes. "Sleep well, (adjective you prefer)." And before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep himself.

[totaldramafan-lauri]

First Impressions part 6

PROMISE ME IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT, WHOA, OH-

Georgia

They’re still here, huh.....Wonder how long before they qualify again, pfffff.....

Choir and drums!? OK, I’m interested! O__O

Other songs are doing similar to this, but I’m still liking it so far!

I wish I had more to say about this......um, the chorus is nice and big

This is probably the best entry Georgia’s sent since......geez, “Keep The Faith”? I’m not blown away, but I’m impressed! They’re trying for sure! O__O  What a GRAND song! Potential grower!

Better than last year?: Yes, but not by a LOT cuz of how memorable Circus Mircus were

San Marino

Another rock song!? That’s two in a row from them!

Do I like it more than the Slovenian song tho....? Let’s see.....

I like the vocals.....and it’s bouncy.....

Y’know what? I’d say it’s pretty close....I’m gonna have to listen to them back-to-back XD

This is fun! Nothing more to say! It’s yet another song with energy and a nice beat! The best kind of rock

Ooooooh, nice ending. Good departure from the abrupt ones XD

Uhhhh....yeah, good, solid song from San Marino! Dunno how well it’ll go over, but I liked it

Better than last year?: Definitely yes. The much better song, altho “Stripper” had fun staging. Will this one? We’ll see.....It seems this song’s more serious

Austria

Um.......what the heck is that title?

I’m expecting an explanation quickly. You don’t title your song something like that for no reason

WHAT-

OK, DO CONTINUE-

This is a CONCEPT

Y’know what? I’ll stop typing and listen. Entertain me

*a bit later* What am I listening to? XD

This is something you CANNOT prepare for- This is the “Eat Your Veggies” of the year-

I-it’s fun, but um......WHY XD

It’s....memorable, that’s for sure! O__O

No but seriously, I’ve read Edgar Allen Poe’s work in middle school and it hurt my brain just as much as this song did, so......i-it tracks.....I guess....?

.......S-seriously, what

Better than last year?: NO!

Albania

Right away, this sounds like......an Albanian entry

OK, it’s getting more interesting

It’s less out there than last year’s, but I like it more. It’s got more actual singing

I wouldn’t say I love it, but it’s a potential grower that I definitely like right now. It just.....sounds a BIT like I’d expect from Albania, but a BIT stronger

Better than last year?: Yes

Lithuania

A Eurovision entry named “Stay”? You got a BIG act to follow for me....

More Lithuanian? Cool! .....Nevermind, it’s in English

Another ballad, huh?

“My heart is bleeding....I need your healing...” OK, maybe there’s something for me here-

OK, it picked up! I like this now! If I had to say, I’d call this comparatively toward the bottom of my ranking with how strong the competition is tho

But the lyrics are good.....and I like the drum part....It’s not bad

I need to be healed.....I need your healing.....

(Gosh, multiple of my interests are being pandered to this contest....Strange...)

Better than last year?: About the same....? Maaaaybe a slight no....?

Australia

Finally....the rulers of Why Are You Still Here

......These lyrics sound like clickbait in song form- *shot*

OK, it was just the first verse XD

WGHOAESGFDG CHORUS HELLO-

OH MY GOD

HOLY CRAP

IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT!!!!

OK, HOW DO WORDS, I LITERALLY CANNOT, I DIDN’T SEE THIS COMING

WHY IS IT METAL NOW, HELP

I PROMISE, I PROMISE, I PROMISE IT’S ALRIGHT, OK

JUST DON’T STOP, DON’T STOP!!!!

THAT FLIPPING INSTRUMENTAL!!!!!

IT’S ALRIGHT!!!!!  ALRIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!!

I TAKE IT BACK, I TAKE THE CLICKBAIT COMMENT BACK

It’s over!? NOOOOOOOO-

.........

...........

I have no idea WHAT THE HECK I just listened to, I just know that it was INCREDIBLE.....a-and I need to listen to it again but I can’t-

OK, this is just NARROWLY my new favorite, neck-and-neck with Finland, I’m gonna need to listen to both of them more to make my decision

But even tho both songs b-blindsided me in the best way, th-this one got the bigger r-REACTION outta me, so I’m gonna give it the s-slight edge

H-holy c-crap.....on a stick, what the HECK......@___@

Better than last year? YES!!!!!! (Altho they were still really good last year)