#music may

[digrupert]

several music mays behind now...my girl, my guy & the most melodramatic bitches ever

[yuuana]

Music May 2023 #16: X:IN - Keeping the Fire release: April 2023 genre: Kpop

Hooboy. Hokay, so, like, I'm trusting everyone reading this to behave like a rational adult or else stop reading right now, because I'm not here to listen to any whining or racist nutfuckery. And if that feels like an aggressive opening, well, I just came off research and the bugnuts bullshit these ladies are already having to face after debuting just last month is somewhere between actually insane and terrifyingly impressive. And I don't use any of those words lightly, so...

With Kpop becoming more and more of a global phenomenon, it's not surprising (or at least shouldn't be) that companies are getting more international hopefuls in auditions and including those hopefuls in new groups. As we're now tipping over into 5th gen (!!!), the way smaller labels are taking bigger risks putting together more internationally sourced groups is ... kinda nice? A bit surprising if only because I know how conservative the industry tends to be as a whole and how the metafandom can get really mean about anyone trying to do something different or experimental. So it's not all that surprising to see kpop fans already picking on these ladies for everything from their stage names to Nova's being Russian to Aria's request to have fewer Korean lines while she's still learning the language (her fourth).

As a debut single, "Keeping the Fire" should have been a pretty non-controversial song - it's a fairly standard kpop dance beat, brassy and loud, with uncomplicated vocals that reminds me strongly of Blackpink and 2NE1. It's a good song, but also the sort that could easily get lost in a playlist of dance beats and almost a let down compared to pre-debut single "Who am I" which feels, in my opinion, like a stronger showcase song. It's safe, but not really wow-ing as a song, and as I've made a review of their round of the music shows, it becomes clear why. Sure, I'm spoiled for live vocals by older, more stable idols, and the choreography for this song makes singing it live harder, but they probably could have used another six months of training to further stabilize before doing live singing stages. On the other hand, I fully believe the raw talent is there and hopefully their next comeback will have stronger live vocals.

The music video goes full brat energy, between camera work, pyrotechnics, and even a wet/rain stage section. As if the director heard the phrase "go big or go home" and took it to heart. There's a lot of sets for not even three minutes of video and a lot of attitude from each of the members, whether dancing or just prancing through the set. There's room to argue whether this is more sexualized or self-empowered (or both?), where you land is probably going to depend a lot on where you're starting from.

As a brand new group, X:in only has three tracks to their name, but their company has already shown a willingness to spend what it takes to get them out there as wide as possible, so they're likely on all the streaming services. How far they will go from here remains to be seen.

Want to sponsor a song selection? You sweet angel! For the low, low price of one (1) KoFi, I'll write up the song of your choice. ANY song of your choice. Yes, even that one that's been played to death. Yes, your obscure faves too. Sponsor a current CB for the next open Music Monday slot or sponsor a throwback for a Thursday feature! DW | Twitter | Mastodon | Ko-fi | Patreon | Discord | Twitch

[o3o-lapd-o3o]

after six hundred strike

*odysseus and poseidon are both still on the rocks in the middle of the sea*

odysseus: ok, let's just agree to both say we're sorry

odysseus: on the count of three

odysseus: one..two..three

poseidon:

odysseus:

odysseus: see, now i'm just disappointed in the both of us

[rin-solo]

One of my favorite post-EPIC headcanons is that Odysseus' family is just completely accepting of all the unhinged sh*t that he's done.

Odysseus, over dinner, some 2 months after his return: And then I finned the sirens, letting them drown. We ate the tails later.

Telemachus, starry-eyed: OMG GUYS THAT'S MY DAD!! THAT IS!! MY DAD!! (points excitedly) ISN'T HE INCREDIBLE?

Odysseus: And later when he wouldn't stop being in my way I stabbed a god repeatedly with his own trident.

Penelope, heart-eyed: That's my husband. My love. Love of my life. You slay, my king.

The rest of the people at the table are 100% freaked out and probably terrified, btw.

[ochiody]

what if penelope was in love in paradise

[sickneurotic]

telemachus when a hundred men break into his house and call his mom a tramp or something idk

[hamletthedane]

Still laughing at Brian May offhandedly writing the greatest understatement in the history of academia in his astrophysics doctoral dissertation:

Ah, yes - “various pressures.” Like being one of the greatest guitarists ever and playing/writing/singing for the most legendary rock band of all time.

Those various pressures.

[iguessthisisanewobsession]

The ring was small and silver with a single emerald embedded in the metal.

It wasn’t something flashy, it probably cost less than the smallest gem from his vault all together.

But it was perfect.

Which made it so heartbreaking to turn it down.

“Dick.. you know me so well.. I wish I could take this ring, i really do.”

Dick was still on one knee in the little apartment, but he put the small box down on the floor as he asked.

“Then what’s stopping you?”

Danny let out a bitter chuckle,

“The US government.”

[caitmayart]

Who wants to go listen to weird gnomish emo music and enjoy the (non sexual) nudity tent?

[protagaster]

Calypso, gesturing to herself and the rest of the suitors: Now, which of us will be the object of your attraction?

Odysseus, very obviously uninterested in any of them: Hm, wow, what great options. This is going to be so hard.

[Penelope walks in, hair disheveled and clothes ripped up. She is also covered in blood]

Penelope: Oh, sisters. I’m back from war.

Odysseus, with hearts in his eyes while he shoves every single woman out of the way: Hello, sailor!

[ishouldsleepbut]

this came to me about 0.2 seconds after the stream ended

[digrupert]

another edition of my little music may project dropped on monday on my silly little substack, check it out

[yuuana]

Music May 2023 #14: The HU - Mother Nature release: September 2022 genre: Mongolian folk metal

So I know Mother's Day is kind of a mixed bag for a lot of people ... and actually The HU originally released this video earlier this year for Earth Day. So of course I'm doing it for today instead.

It's been awhile since I last wrote about The HU ... okay, it's been years. Like almost three of them. I'm terrible, especially since they've released a whole ass full length album since then, with the deluxe edition of it coming out next month, meaning even more new music.

So if you aren't already familiar with this band, The HU are a Mongolian metal band, with room to argue over exact subtype, but mostly they tend to be labelled as folk metal, due to the use of primarily traditional Mongolian instruments and throat singing techniques. "Mother Nature" feels almost like a lullaby, except the lyrics are aimed at the nameless mother rather than a child, with a soft and gentle rhythm that both is and isn't typical of The HU's style. This isn't their only ballad, but it is in the minority.

As a lyric video, the words on the screen are arguably the most important part and the timing and typesetting on this make it one of the better lyric videos I've seen recently - the CC are a phonetic version of the Mongolian while the hard-coded words are a translation of the lyrics into English, probably as a nod to how much of an international fanbase they've cultivated. The various sceneries shown in the video are taken from all around the world, though given the band's deep pride in their Mongolian heritage, I wouldn't be surprised if the bulk of the land shots are from Mongolia. On the other hand, the exact locations are less important than the natural beauty they present, especially as a video created to celebrate Earth Day.

Rumble of Thunder, the source album for this track, is out now for physical sale via the band and streaming on all major services, with a deluxe edition scheduled for release on June 30th. The HU are going back out on tour next month, starting in Europe for June and July, and while they have two festivals already on their calendar for later in the year here in the US, more dates will likely be announced later.

Want to sponsor a song selection? You sweet angel! For the low, low price of one (1) KoFi, I'll write up the song of your choice. ANY song of your choice. Yes, even that one that's been played to death. Yes, your obscure faves too. Sponsor a current CB for the next open Music Monday slot or sponsor a throwback for a Thursday feature! DW | Twitter | Mastodon | Ko-fi | Patreon | Discord | Twitch

[dootznbootz]

POV: You're Anticlea and Laertes of Ithaca and your son came back from Sparta after swearing he was just going for politics

[achillesbeloathed]

major major major kudos to steven rodriguez who already has one of the most delicious voices ever, period, but the way he fucking nailed the end of six hundred strike??? like vocally - it's obviously mad impressive. but then for his screams of agony to feel so gutteral while being so musical at the same time? unmatched. AND THIS KIND OF GUTTERAL SOUND? that's hard to produce, that's raw and honest and intimate. to produce that in a recording booth?? is. insane. i cannot stress this enough