#sometimes trends make songs mainstream

[heretodestroyou]

the way he is the one with a dark curls and the one with the watercolor eyes

[itwasnotahamster]

- Letters from the Dead - (Part 1)

Langhus, 21 March 1990 | © The Old Nick | Source: Letters from the Dead

The brackets will indicate possible context or corrections (sometimes commentary). - 💜

"Only Black is true, only Death is real!!! Gore is trend! Hello Nick! It's Dead here again. Hey- you're really good at drawing, I use to do some drawing stuff myself. I enclose something of it in this letter. Maybe we together can work something out, maybe even in Metal Destruction…? You asked of releases, if we need some artworks for that... Well we rarely give out much and as for the next release we'll probably have some photograph instead. But if we would need something that you might feel for help us out with I'll tell of it. So what we can use drawings for is for stuff like flyers, ads and letter­pages. So far I have done the drawings for that... well the main reason of that is that we have a (old!) xerox mashine and I'm the one in the band that 'can' draw. It's not so often that I have time left to spend hours or sometimes days by making drawings and too many don't like that kind of drawings I make (but fuck them wimps!). But onto the Deathlike Silence Prod. now. The 2nd edition of the 1st release on DSP. - Merciless is out now, the one you get here as promo. We're looking for distributors everywhere and everybody who can sell 10 (or more) records will receive a copy for free + that 10 records will be cheaper. As soon as this the 2nd ed. has paid, Imperator will go in studio.

Imperators LP will contain 8-10 songs (depending on how many "old demo songs" they'll use - but it'll be new trax as well) and it'll be entitled "The time before time". After that it'll probably be the colombian Masacre as the next release. Masacre will be very soon release a 7- inches with 3 demo songs on the greek label Scene of Love. That's a new started label and I hope they can give out enough copies, not limited ed. of it. Of course we give the bands free hands and they're not bounded to use at all, but I'm thinking of the fact that Masacre is selling so much... Only in Colombia their 1st, and only demo sold 1000 copies ( which is more than our Deathcrush demo has sold worldwide...). We can only press up 1000 copies each time of every edition of DSP, and the first ed. Of Merciless sold out as fast as we could pack and post it. This second ed. we recieved [received] for not a so long time ago will depend on how much stamps we can get, of how soon it'll sell out. In Norway it's very hard to sell records - it's far away from USA or South America and I don't think any real scene exists here. Do you think you can take care of some distribution/selling of DSP releases, or you maybe know someone else who's interested? [True dedication]. I think Merciless will be very easy to sell in Italy. Many zines exists there and we recieve many letters from there also. We also sell other records (given out by various underground labels) but it can be so different of what records of others releases we sell 'cos we usually don't get so many of them, so they sell out so soon. But anyway - I can tell of what we presently have got (except of Merciless)

LP's (£10000 + postage)

Agressor/Loudblast (split LP, France) "Licenced to thrash"

Arakain (Czechoslovakia, speed metal - I do not like this one!) "Thrash the Trash"

Nomed (France)... very boring mainstream... "Like..."

Abomination (USA)

Disharmonic Orchestra/Pungent Stench (Austria, split LP)

Malicious Intent (Canada) "Shades of black"

7's (£5000 + postage)

Asphyx (Holland, Limited ed. 1000 copies) "Mutilating Process"

Atrocity (Germany) "Blue Blood"

Pungent Stench (Austria) "Extreme Deformity"

Disharmonic Orchestra (Austria) "Successive Substitution"

Do not print this in Metal Destruction, I will explain it to you, ok. If you want any of these records above, please tell of how many and of what records so I can see how much the postage will be. Now over to Mayhem. For the first time we've been in studio and recorded 2 songs (first time with this line-up I mean). It'll be released on Chicken Brain Records, a swedish kind of underground label some time in this autumn. It'll be 8-19 other (swedish) bands on it, among them Merciless. I don't know the title of this compilation LP/CD. Our songs that'll be on it are "The Freezing Moon" and "Carnage". The Freezing Moon is a new one and pretty different from our other songs, as example it's a long guitar solo on a very long Doom part on it and that's because we wanted to have a solo at only one track (of our new ones). Carnage was made in '85 (!) so it's really old. It was on the 1st demo/reh - Pure Fucking Armageddon (released in only 100 copies and not available) but with the thought of the very bad sound on it we feeled for playing it again and try to keep the original sound of it. I'll tape these trax for ya but I'm not so sure of if it'll be enclosed in this letter or if I'll put this letter togeather [together] with the Merciless record but anyhow you'll get this tape. You can record it to others if you like to but please don't trade it, and I'll record some else bands too for filling out the rest of the tape. Have you heard of the INCREADIBLY KILLING GREAT band Tormentor from Hungary? Their demo is about 4 years old but it sounds like the Death/Black metal bands of today. We try to find out if they want a deal on DSP. But unfortunately they hardly speak any English at all so it seems like neither them or us understood it... We think of releasing a full-lengtht LP of Mayhem but it seems to take a fucking longtime before we got material enough for it... The only we know about it is a title that MUST be used - De Mysteriis Dom. Sathanas. That was about all future plans I can tell of I guess. I look forward to see Metal Destruction. There's a possibility that we can sell it also, but I can't say if for sure.

About Satanism... well, I'd like to join a very underground and Illful, Evil and Grim Coven. I think you know of the hassles by finding any or getting any contact with a such. I do NOT like what's created by Anton LaVey like 1st Church of Satan. I came in contact with a dude who's a degree in the American Satans Sons - Church of Satan and he explained of it has nothing to do with LaVey at all. I asked of if it does exist in Europe also and of what it is exactly... well he didn't reply. But I heard later thet Satans Sons shall exist in Europe but I still don't know in which countries it is. In Norway it's not much of this, but in Sweden (-I am swedish) that 1st Church shall be in Stockholm (the capital there) and it shall be about 5 churches built by satanic sects, used only by satanists, mostly it's under christian churches - like the one under "Mariakyrkan" (Mary's Church) in the South of Stockholm where the 1st Church of Satan use to hang around at. I know it exists really Dark covens that use human sacrifices and are eating human flesh - them are those I try to find. I do not know much about magic and I can't say I'm a practicer of it 'cos I havn't succed. What is depending on what one can do in magic (all of its kind) is of what books one can get...those are hidden in libraries and so hard to even see... 'cos of course they don't let anyone even see them. You must be a scientist or something like if you would see the microfilms of that kind of books. A great library of many various kinds of magical arts and the Blackest of Black Arts too is the British Museum in London. But it's so damned difficult to get ones claws on those books. One book I really wanna get is De Mysteriis Dom. Sathanas, unfortunately it exists only in one copy... are you practicing any magic and do you know of any covens? Have you seen/heard/felt anything supernatural? I have but I didn't understand much of what that was and I think the most of it was only so-called echoes from the past or the future [I am curious about this]. Do you know anything about astral planes and out-of body travelling? You seem to be into it and I agree about stupid trendmakers so it is something that I feel I can tell you of. I had a weird experience once, I had inner bleedings and it couldn't be found at x-rays so when it continued to bleed and bleed I finally fainted and dropped down the floor 'cos I run out of blood. The heart had no blood left to beat and my veins/artairs were almost emptied of blood. "Tecnically" I was dead. At that moment I fell down (into a door I heard of later) I saw a strange blue colour everywhere, it was transparent so I could, for a short moment, see everything in blue, till something shining white and "hot" surrounded me. What happened later is out of interest, I woke up when some ambulance men came and drove me to a hospital and there the bastards of surgery started to cut me up at the wrong side so I got a huge scar for that. However, it's someone I know who's had many out of body experiences and is using magic of various kinds and knows much more than I do of "supernatural" experiences, that I asked of this 'cos it was so strange about those colours. She told me that the first 'plane' in the astral world has the colour blue. The "earthly" plane has the colour black, then comes a grey one that is very near the earthly one and is easy to come to. The next one further is blue, and then it gets brighter and brighter till it "stops" at a white-shining one that can't be entered by mortals. IF any mortal succee enter it, that one is no longer a mortal and can not come back to the other planes nor back to this earth. After the white plane or level or whatever it goes further with other colour I don't know of, there only spirits and great sorcerers can travel. I was told that the white plane I then entered, without I knew it, was the dead world and I died. But I also got thrown back after a short time which very rarely happens. So of what I've heard of I have some kind of purpose to achieve here."

Reached the limit for this one, I will add on!

[lurkingshan]

Since you've watched a lot of kdrama, what are common things you've seen in kdrama that have been consistently ported into K-BL, and what is your assessment of that approach?

Ooh, interesting question. So first, let's acknowledge a few things:

Korean bl is short format, with even the longest shows (Light on Me, The Eighth Sense) not even half the length of a standard kdrama (16-20 hours), and most clocking in around 2-4 hours

Kbl operates under much smaller budgets and significant constraints around casting as compared to mainstream kdrama

Kbl often draws from webtoons and manwha and mostly does not have the kind of auteur writers and directors behind it that you get in kdrama (Hwang Da-Seul is the most consistent creator in genre with Where Your Eyes Linger, Blueming, To My Star)

All that said, there are a few features of mainstream kdrama that have definitely ported over into kbl despite these constraints:

Slick production values and strong use of setting and color: even the cheapest kbls still look decent, and there is always intentionally behind the setting and use of color palettes to set the tone and feel. Korea has a very well-developed film industry and it shows. Color Rush, Semantic Error and Blueming were fantastic examples of this: even within more familiar school romances, the settings felt specific and the use of color to communicate character and themes was striking. I also think often of Our Dating Sim and Choco Milk Shake and the very effective characterization work achieved through design of the apartments.

Sound production and music on point: the home of kpop is not going to be caught sleeping on the OSTs. Nearly every production has original songs and given the leads of these shows are usually idols, they're often the ones on the tracks. And when they use music that is not original, like in The Eighth Sense, it's a very intentional choice to set mood and tone. Korea is not going to let a boy who can't actually sing take the mic (*side eyes Thailand*). To My Star is a great example of memorable OSTs even in a fairly low budget production, and Wish You and Sing My Crush showed us what kbl can do when it decides to bring the full kpop treatment to bear.

A keen understanding of the international audience: kdrama production is a big part of South Korea's explicit goals to take the global media landscape by storm, and kbl is included in that. It's not a coincidence that Korea decided to step up its game in this arena shortly after Thai bl exploded (shoutout to 2gether and pandemic lockdowns). Kbl follows trends and explicitly caters to international audiences in a way jbl does not. The Eighth Sense was basically a case study in marrying kdrama sensibilities and western aesthetics for maximum international attention.

Second leads and valorization of unrequited love: you and I have discussed this one a lot because this is a feature of kdramas that will never die and that kbls also clearly love. Korea loves a one-sided love story and culturally, there is a certain dignity afforded to owning your feelings and being honest with the object of your affection, even when there is no hope of reciprocation. Often second leads don't get the guy/girl because they hesitate or hide their feelings until it's too late: the trope is used to underline the important of honesty and effort as well as providing a catalyst for the main lead to make their move. In Korean culture, the trying is what matters much more than the succeeding. We are meant to like most second leads and see them as honorable and dignified for their sincere feelings toward the protagonist. Second lead syndrome is a thing for a reason. It's also just a cheap and easy way to create drama so you'll often see it in the lower budget kbls. Second leads showed up recently in kbls like The Tasty Florida, Jun & Jun, Oh! Boarding House, Bon Appetit, etc. We also sometimes see kbls playing with the idea of unrequited love in the main pairing that is actually requited, like in Our Dating Sim.

Love triangles: relatedly, Korea loves them a love triangle, and they are uniquely good at doing it well when they want to. Light on Me is a fantastic example of a narrative where you can legitimately see the protagonist liking and ending up with both the main and second lead. And that is rooted in the way the narrative treats Daon with dignity even as it punishes him for his hesitation in reciprocating Taekyung's feelings (see above). When you have a strong second lead who engenders real sympathy with the audience, love triangle excellence is achieved.

Workplace romances: kdrama loves workplace romances, and we have seen kbl start to move into that space recently with shows like Roommates of Poongdock 304, Love Mate, Our Dating Sim, Jun & Jun, and The New Employee. Kdrama workplace romances run the gamut, but they often feature chaebol characters paired with a "normal" aka not wealthy person, and we are starting to see that more in the bl genre as well, as we discussed a bit yesterday. I believe @nieves-de-sugui commented on your post about how the rich/poor romance fantasy trend in recent bl may be coming in from kdrama. I think there's some truth to that, but really it's a foundational romance trope that predates kdrama by literal centuries, and is absolutely rooted in heteronormative patriarchal dynamics that assume men are breadwinners and caretakers for women (translated to seme/uke dynamics in bl). Often in kdrama the chaebol character is unable to live an authentic life due to the demands of filial piety and the expectations tied to their wealth, and I do think that dynamic is ripe for enrichment when you layer on gay identity in a homophobic society. But that requires shows leaving the no homophobia bubble, which few kbls have done.

Physical intimacy squarely in the middle space: comparing to heat levels we see across the spectrum of dramas, I think kdrama and kbl are pretty consistent in that they tend to land right in the middle of the spectrum. It's rare to see straight up dead fish kisses from romantic leads anymore (though it still happens, wincing at Unintentional Love Story), but they are also not going to be serving authentic sex scenes. What you get instead is very pretty open-mouthed kissing that feels more realistic than, for instance, the pure jbl lane, but still polished and aesthetically pleasing. Think Semantic Error, Blueming, Roomates of Poongdock 304, Love Mate, To My Star 2, Jun & Jun. This seems to be where the genre is landing and I don't expect heat levels to get any higher for kbl, as this is right in line with mainstream kdrama. The Eighth Sense offered a less polished version of intimacy that felt right in line with its grittier sensibilities.

So, after that long list, on to your second question: my assessment of this approach is that kbls are doing fairly well for themselves when you consider the constraints they are operating under. Look at a show like Love Tractor stacked up against something like Hometown Cha Cha Cha. These are both based in the classic romance trope of a city slicker coming to the country and falling in love with a humble working person. But where HCCC has 16 hours to build a quasi-enemies to lovers narrative with a rich community of side characters, LT has 3.5 hours to achieve the same thing. So it makes sense that it would fall back on well-worn tropes and story beats it knows the audience will recognize to help save time. These shortcuts help the audience ground themselves and get invested in the stories quickly.

One thing I'll say is that kbl mostly stays in the romcom lane with very occasional ventures into melo, and despite what casual observers think, kdrama actually has a lot more to offer than that. It's a giant world with stories based in every possible genre, tone, and style, and Korean media is particularly adept at embedding romance plots that actually work in all kinds of stories including action thrillers, horror, crime narratives, mysteries, supernatural and fantasy epics. I'd love to see kbl try this, though of course it would require the resources and runtime to do it successfully. Here's hoping they get the chance.

[iwanthermidnightz]

You Are In Love TV needs to be gatekept from the general public by all means necessary. Like it’s such a beautiful song, and I definitely want people to listen to it and just bask in how beautiful Taylors lyricism is, even on what is considered her most mainstream and “basic” album. And I especially want people to hear it and think about Karlie as nature intended. But, if it blows up as a TikTok song trend or something so help me god I will lose my mind

Sometimes I really do wish that Taylor was the little underground indie artist that I so often feel like she is, before I wake up and realize she’s the most famous living artist in the world. But of course, it’s also so lovely that she gets so much well-deserved praise. I’m so happy that some people have brains that work and can recognize talent

Very much this! yail is one of her best kept unrated songs. It’s gives you that magical rare sparkly feeling when you listen to it. I hope people guard it and protect it 🤍

When I think about how huge Taylor is right now and how she’s getting the much deserved praise I always hope she would it makes me happy. But I still go back to being a teenager and sitting in my room smiling like a fool when she uploaded her charming and hilarious vlogs on youtube or when she tweeted her insanely humorous tweets or her doing all these performances and appearances and was just getting her foot in the door. She captured the hearts of us all. I was instantly smitten and still am. It was like she was our best kept secret (just for a little while).

What I mean to say is she has come so far and it’s been one of the highlights of my life to witness and be a tiny part of it. Taylor Swift is girlhood. She’s the epitome of capturing what a moment felt like and remembering it forever. She is and will continue to go down as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Her artistry and lyricism will stand the test of time and I hope she knows we feel that way about her. She deserves to be celebrated because she gives millions of people pure joy and happiness every day. I feel sorry for those who never get to feel the magic of Taylor Swift.

[oftlunarialmoon]

Going Against the Current – Royals Lesson!

Originally posted to www.onlyfunthings.org on August 29, 2018

Ciao Royals! Today’s lesson is about something that can be difficult- going against the current. It can be hard to do something that doesn’t mesh with the mainstream trends or social norms. Today we’re going to talk about why it’s perfectly fine to go against the norms and how to feel more confident doing your own thing.

Recently I felt pressured to change myself and my blog to fit in with norms. I felt like I had to do things like dress “normal” and make my blog into a place for only serious topics. But I knew deep down that isn’t who I am. (Not that there’s anything wrong with those things. They just aren’t me). And though I felt pressured to change, I knew I just couldn’t change myself so much and be happy.

Truth is, real happiness can come from just being who you are inside. You will only feel miserable if you try to change yourself to meet other’s standards. Be true to yourself, because the real you is amazing and perfect and wonderful just how you are.

But it can be hard to reject these norms being forced on you, and it can be scary to be yourself. How can we build the confidence to be ourselves in a world that tries to break us down?

OFT has some resources on confidence, including:

-How to Have Confidence without Tearing Others Down

-Why You Should Stop Saying “Sorry” For Everything

-5 Ways to Love Yourself

And these may help you in your journey, but today we’re talking specifically about how to combat the pressures of society and your peers to conform.

Tip #1- Surround yourself with friends who love you for who you are.

It can be seriously awful when the criticism you face for being yourself is coming from those close to you, so make sure to surround yourself with people who love you for your true self. Throughout high school I had friends who didn’t really like me for who I was, they tried to change me and make me into what they wanted for me. Some of them liked who I was at first, but later when I grew as a person and learned new things about life, and wanted to change some of my behaviors, they didn’t like me anymore. But now I’ve surrounded myself with loving and supportive peers who support my dreams and platonically love me for who I am. 

Tip #2- Be kind, no matter what.

There will be people who will be judgmental of you even if you are kind, but kindness is truly the way to combat judgement. I admit I have difficulty with this sometimes, like if I’m dressed up in my usual somewhat eccentric fashion and somebody stares at me, I have a hard time making myself smile back instead of glare. It can be very, very hard to combat judgement with kindness. But if you can manage it, in the end you will be happier for it.

Tip #3- Have some music you can turn to.

Music is a powerful thing. And in times of darkness, confusion, sadness, or anything else, I like to turn to music. Some of my favorite songs for building confidence are:

-          Dancing’s Not a Crime by Panic! At The Disco

-          High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco

-          Thunder by Imagine Dragons

-          Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons

-          SING by My Chemical Romance

-          Legend by The Score

-          Unstoppable by The Score

-          Higher by The Score

-          Centuries by Fall Out Boy

-          Burn by Ellie Goulding

Remember, inside of you is a brilliant light. Don’t let anyone dim it. Don’t let society’s norms dim your shining, brilliant light. (For more on the topic of a brilliant light inside you that you shouldn’t let dim, check out this article !)

Thank you so much for reading today, royals. I hope you can use this advice to find your way in the ocean of life and not get swept up in the undertow of societal opinion.

Remember to Stay Awesome and Love Yourself!

[coolfire333]

Genuinely really loving the rap/music discourse going around...let's all expand our perspectives a little but for the love of god some of you (not anyone I follow) are literally so stupid

Disclaimer: I am a little worried since it's easy to throw stones at "boring white girl music" which makes me wonder if this is just going to end up dunking on women in a veiled-sexist manner in general a la the "pumpkin spice white girls" trend that was popular a while back that basically was just making fun of women for having harmless fun under the guise that they were "basic white girls"

HOWEVER everyone in the notes of posts that are even slightly rude or poking fun at popular white musicians getting all up and arms because some (likely black) blogger poked fun at their (likely white) precious punk music or girlypop diva are really showing their ass on this one

As someone with a background in music and music history I can confidently say that nearly every popular genre in mainstream music would not exist without the innovations of black (usually American) musicians. And I think that's super neat! Ragtime, jazz, gospel, soul, r&b, blues, rock, pop, hip-hop, rap, all uniquely American genres that came largely, if not entirely, from the ideas of black Americans.

I'm undoubtedly missing some genres (I'm a bit old-school at heart so I don't know what's trendy now or where exactly it came from) but if you're American and on this website, doesn't that give you a form of national pride? That all those years ago people from your country were able to create new musical styles that have, for the most part, persisted and spread around the world? Honestly it brings a tear to my eye sometimes listening to old music and realizing how impactful it was on modern music genres.

Instead of going "ewww I don't like xyz" why not ask a fan of that kind of music why they like it and maybe what recommendations they have for someone who doesn't listen to that genre. And if you really don't gel with a genre for whatever reason, at least treat it respectfully and recognize its impact on the genres of music you do listen to.

"Ohhh but rap is just sex, drugs, and violence," I hear some of you saying. Well, keep in mind that that same critique has been used for pop, rock, jazz, ragtime, and pretty much every other "new" (keyword "black-influenced") art form so you really want to be careful labelling an entire genre as that. Controversy sells, so think about why exactly "mindless" rap might be the rap you're exposed to or most familiar with from the radio instead of more serious or contemplative rap songs.

Also realize that the songs you like probably also discuss drugs, sex, and violence, but perhaps less directly or in a way that's somehow more tolerable for you. Explore why! Why is it ok for (insert genre you like here) to talk about mature or "dark" themes but when rap does it it's suddenly offensive to you.

It's ok to have biases and be working on them! Also, if someone is trying to criticize a group you're part of for being biased, and they're trying to do it respectfully and seriously, don't joke around like "oh LOL that's so me" and don't get overly defensive either. Be serious and respectful back and genuinely listen to what they're saying.

Literally just don't be a jerk to music and art of marginalized communities! Is it really that hard to have respect for other people even if you don't 100% understand the culture from your perspective?

[bekolxeram]

So I know of (unwillingly) the behavior of certain cast members on social media in the past, here are my two cents:

It's generally a bad idea to dig that far back into someone's social media history.

I'm old, I was there in the early 2010s. Hell, I was raised by the internet because my parents neither had the knowledge of how dangerous it was to give a child unlimited access to the online world, nor did they have the time to actually parent me. The internet was a different place back then, social media was brand new, and people were still grappling with how forever and how integral your online activities were to real life.

Being vulgar was the mainstream, being edgy was the trend. People at best broadcasted every single one of their intrusive thought and ignorant, insensitive joke online, at worst released a successful song called "Transphobic Techno". Before I nuked my Facebook account, sometimes it would remind me of stuff I shared a decade ago, and I couldn't believe the things I tolerated back then.

Don't get me wrong, those things were not okay back then and they're not okay now. But the truth is, for anyone who had a shred of online presence in the 2010s, no matter if it's your fav or your sworn enemy, if you look hard enough, far enough, you'll find something. In my experience, no one's hands are clean, no one come out looking pretty after that search.

I'm not going to tell you what to think, you don't have to be okay with all this, you don't owe them anything, it's just a TV show. But this TV show also tells me sometimes good people act in unhealthy ways because of their environment, trauma, or insecurities. I would much rather take people for who they are at this moment, rather than pick a moment along their journey to portray them in the worst light possible.

With that being said, I'm just not that interested in the actors behind my favorite shows. I avoid interviews because to me they take away some of the magic, but that's just me. If someone is actively spreading hate and bigotry with their platform, or making their work environment hostile, then I would care about it. Until then, I have stuff to do, I have bills to pay, I have a mental breakdown scheduled in a few days so it's not really a path I want to go down.

[9w1ft]

ever since the jaylor break up, i've been seeing a lot of swifties become receptive to gaylorism subtly — for instance, they're more willing to accept when songs radiate queer vibes and they're hopping on the "boyfriend taylor" trend even though that's kind of our joke 🤣 as much as it annoys me a little to see swifties act like they're the pioneers of something us gaylors, kaylors, and related sub communities have come up for years now, i would hate to gatekeep it as that'd create an obstacle in their path to actual gaylorism, you know?

oh dear im sorry anon i went on a free-form tangent that i’m pretty sure isn’t aligned with your ask but i’m gonna keep it anyway because i wrote a lot 😆

i know what you mean about the attitudes and i do agree that sometimes it can feel annoying to see people lift things from tumblr, for example, and then these people get credited for the idea by their peers and they don’t correct or cite sources, which can be awkward

and sometimes i will see people reinvent the wheel when the answers are already available and written better here by all of us.. and i want to be like! come here!! there are some incredible things for you to find here!! you know? i know these feelings can often come off as gatekeeping, and, because i don’t really have any big issue with things spreading like folklore because that can become a haze to hide in, i do agree with you that it’s best not to try to micromanage things in general.

here’s the tangent… your ask made me think about how there were similar patterns to this in spring-early summer 2019, as lover promo was rolling out and it (the promo) was markedly optically gayer than rep. i remember seeing an incredible heel turn from some otherwise notoriously hostile swifties, where suddenly they were like yeah maybe taylor is bi, etc. i also remember there being a whole new generation of wide eyed gaylors on tumblr at the time—because taylor was still here—and so many were in my inbox and my friends inboxes asking and researching and it was all good and fun for the most part..

so i will say this from the perspective of someone that has experienced mass onboarding in the past and has seen how it can and cannot work

contemporarily speaking, kaylors can’t really gatekeep gaylorism. because we’re kinda already gatekept from gaylorism by Gaylorism tastemakers. lowercase g gaylorism exists in concept but i think that as it currently stands, it’s actually a pretty on-rails ride that is curated by some that would seek to influence their own worldview onto gaylorism subtly, that positions an onboarding to their benefit. and i don’t think it’s something always done with strategic intentions.. humans tend to want to tell and guide others to what they believe is right, and strive for an environment that works for them as opposed to against them, it’s human nature in a way.. still, Gaylorism presents gaylorism as something objective but, it’s actually done pretty subjectively, imo.

and i haven’t minded standing on the periphery as a kaylor because, one, i think that it’s better in some cases to gatekeep (or keep niche) parts of kaylor because, given it is true, taylor and karlie probably don’t want it going full-on mainstream. at least not right now. so i might see rumors or theories that make up stuff or use incorrect dates or just in general takes that feel so wrong and needing correction but i try to accept it existing as a way for lots of otherwise clever people to be distracted from seeing what kaylors see.

and also, i think it’s best for people interested in kaylor to come to conclusions on the basis of their own research, and at times be incorrect, yes, but for it to be first and foremost something people come to believe of their own volition. because if it’s directed under one tent pole then weird interpersonal dynamics can happen, as is the nature of fandom.. id rather a thousand people have all different slightly incorrect understandings of kaylor but an understanding that is unified by and grounded in love for taylor and karlie, than a thousand people have the same understanding of kaylor but for people’s feelings to be defined by one single source.

and separately, i worry about trying to make kaylor too approachable or to not gatekeep (maybe the word isn’t “not gatekeep” maybe the word is “overshare”) certain ideas because of the sensitivity of the subject matter. if kaylor gets too mainstream then you get a huge wave of people and statistically some of them will inevitably be people that are into kaylor not for the girls but because its the trendy thing to do. that can lead to a disconnect wherein people engage with kaylor as an endeavor for us to analyze and not an idea that is grounded in the lives of real people. and that disconnect can produce frenzied behavior…

sorry i don’t have a good way to tie these feelings together into one conclusion but basically, i don’t think we as kaylors can really gatekeep gaylorism but i think that’s fine and i also think that at times kaylor might benefit from holding back a little and maybe that difference is because of what each thing has as an end game, maybe. if that makes sense.. yeah.

i think what i mean to point out is, i think there has been an influx in people who see gaylorism as a concept without orchestrators, for better or for worse. the word gaylorism didn’t exist even three years ago, and nobody new seems to know why or think about it. for better or for worse.

[gaykey]

well im an older fan and i think this isn’t shinee in that this is following a trend instead of leading one. no matter how much others say it’s actually an homage to this !! well it’s still a hip hop inspired song which many boy groups are doing at the moment. it’s not that it’s shinee they can’t do this kind of song. it just sound to me that shawols are trying to find a reason that this doesn’t sound like it could be an nct song or any other boy group and a reason that they aren’t just doing what all boy groups are doing at the moment. that’s what’s disappointing to me about the song, beside the actual song. shawols hear people say nct and get in defensive mode and are like okay we need to justify this. and shawols are making it so that you have to stockholm yourself into liking it and you can’t voice your disappointment. this has turned to a fandom where you have to be on board with everything they put out. was there an intent to be distinctive in a style that is done by so many other right now? sure. but it’s done in a way that’s been done and is being done. where is shinee in that?

that's fair enough, anon? i said that there were still quite a lot of older fans who didn't like it, and didn't like the direction they were going - that post was specifically about newer fans

it's perfectly fine to just not like the song? like if you just don't like that mainstream inauthentic hiphop sound. i get it. i'm still very much holding strong that this isn't true hiphop - it's pop with 'hop hop style'. my opinion on that hasn't changed.

also i was one of the people that really wasn't into hard at all in the beginning - and people were pissed about it. i was told to stop being negative ect ect -

but i had an open mind, and felt differently after it dropped. that's that.

i am not one of those people that think you have to be onboard with everything they put out at all. there are shinee songs that i think are pretty weak. as is normal with a group with such a long-standing and vast discography.

i don't think i'm trying to find a reason to say this doesn’t totally sound like an nct song either? i just think there's more to it.

the song grew on me, what can i say? is it their best? no. but i'm enjoying it.

i have said numerous times though, that i understand why people don't like it. and that everyone is of course totally entitled to their own opinions. i just enjoy the discussion, so i hope you don't think i'm saying you can't not like it anon. that's not my intention. i just think some people's reasoning is off and voiced why i think that.

lol, maybe i have stockholmed myself into liking it? maybe there's no hope for me, and i'm such trash for shinee, that i'm always gonna be doing somersaults to try and excuse when they have a shitty release?

and to say every boy group is doing the same right now. i guess yeah - but i can't fully comment on that because i don't listen to many other new bgs. i tend to go by 4th gens fans reaction, and even a lot of them are thrown off by hard - sorry but that's so shinee.

not every comeback they've had has been toootally new and diversive of the trends. sometimes they conform to what's popular in order to stay relevant. idk if that's controversial to say but?

we always say shinee does something totally out there and different every time, but it just honestly isn't true.

that's not a bad thing.

anyway yeah - i'm sorry you've having a shitty time in regards to fandom right now. i don't agree with people attacking anyone who has a differing opinion, especially without listening to their reasoning - especially those older fans that are voicing their dislike.

[disco-cola]

honestly it just makes me feel even more misunderstood and lonelier that whenever i do a diary like entry rant talking about my era struggle and not feeling so happy in this decade that someone says something like you can still have that life - how? i forcibly see modern houses and cars everyday. people dressed in modern clothes or 70s style clothing being back in style but then not being able to tell actual classic rock people from people just digging the pure style without further passion for that time its from - no offense no critique intended here just makes it a lil harder when u get excited about a potential new friend and theyre like "i dont like """OLD""" music - and people always on phones. like always. you meet up with people but theyre on their phones. people driving and looking down while being in active part of traffic. you get on a train and almost everyone is staring down at a screen. someone almost running you over bc they just cant even look up while walking. people filming fucking everything to post it on social media in hopes to go viral just for one day. the whole toxicity behind social media but it being so present its hard to find a way around it - even typing this im just as guilty of that but i havent managed to ditch all of it yet because sometimes i need to just put thoughts out there. but even if i decorate my whole apartment authentically 70s and buy a car that is now labeled as "oldtimer" and not affordable to drive everyday or keep in shape for most working class normal formal people - it just is not the same now as it was then. i want everyone around me to decorate their places like that. i want wood panelling and flower tiles and shag carpeting being the latest craze in home trends. i wanna sit in traffic full of colorful pretty cars. i wanna get called on my rotary dial landline or scrape up some coins for a phone booth. i want to hear an amazing guitar solo in almost every song no matter what radio station i turn on. no auto-tune, just talent. i wanna go to a store and buy vibrant dresses and boots and vests. i want to see men in bell bottoms and platform boots. girls too. i want all my friends to dress like that. i want us to sit together and read the latest issue of creem magazine. i wanna turn on my big ass tv set to top of the pops and see my favorite bands play as their young selves and know they are out there right now. i wanna go to their shows and see them live. its just not the same now anymore. an imitation will never be an original.

and i seriously wish i was "normal" in a sense that i would just have no desire to teleport back to another decade and not even lose a single thought about it and just enjoy whats popular on streaming sites and young artists music and social media and just go with trends and identify with recent mainstream taste bc it would make everything easier, and i tried, but i just cant do it. i literally cant. it makes me feel so uneasy and bad i wanna cry. like on a random day in late 2k13 classic rock (or basically any genre from the 60s-80s tbh i like everything from pop to rock to punk to reggae to disco whatever as long as its from that era tbh) including that era struggle just took over my life and has had me in a grip ever since, i really didnt choose to like it that much and nothing else, i just cant help it like why me???

[daz4i]

whats up man. got any opinions or things to share with the crowd? love to hear your thoughts on whatever

HI HELLO FIRST OF ALL MWAH MWAH MWAH THANK YOU 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

i started typing a rant in a new post but then i remembered your ask. thank you for giving me an opportunity to ramble 🫡

ok so. inspired by a thread i saw on my dash

i still don't get why so many ppl on this site use electroswing as a punchline and treat it like it's the worst genre and such. like it's one thing to dislike a genre but this one's used in a lot of jokes about bad music and???? i don't get it

i mean. setting aside the whole "just because you personally don't like this music doesn't mean it's bad"/"just because you didn't like the few songs you ran into doesn't mean the whole genre is just these songs" arguments bc that's a given and it's not like people making jokes do it out of some burning hate (usually. i hope). it's just a bit disappointing to see ig 🤔

but i really don't get it. i saw someone in the original thread explain and i didn't get their explanation either. "it's riding a trend that wore off years ago" sometimes people just like a genre so they want to make music in it regardless of popularity?? "it's overproduced" i don't think that's a genre issue i think you just ran into some specific songs that fit this description and decided that's representative of all electroswing. also that's probably smth you can find in some songs in every genre? it's not unique to just this one

ig the core of it all is. why is this some running joke i feel like i'm not in on. i think making fun of people's personal taste is always kinda mean spirited as is but why do ppl keep coming back to hating on electroswing specifically. if the trend wore off years ago then where do you even run into this music if you don't actively look for it. how do you keep finding yourself annoyed by its existence enough to be vocal abt it (it feels like a lot of people are just joining in on the joke without actually knowing anything abt the genre or more than a few songs in it if at all, just bc they wanna be involved)

(i'm ngl i think that's a thing in a lot of. um. for lack of a better word i'll say types of culture? the whole finding one thing and consistently making fun of it even tho it's not uniquely bad. you usually see it in smaller things like for example fans of a game series hating on the most mainstream one, but here it's more general and not even hating on a popular thing 😭 like the average person doesn't even know what that word means. which again makes me repeat that part from the last paragraph, how do you keep finding yourself annoyed by its existence enough to start making memes and jokes about it and having a kneejerk reaction to make fun of every online stranger who mentions liking it)

so tldr my opinion here is. making fun of people's personal taste is mean. and this repeating gag of making fun of this completely harmless thing that people like is annoying. get a new joke 👍

[luceirosdegolados]

It's a new day, and I will say this: upon reflection, Eurovision public votes have always been unpredictable.

The jury is consistetly very stiff and boring (and sometimes has motivations), but the public has a great tradition of both voting for their friends and doing things you wouldn't expect.

At the same time, a lot more people tune in for the grand final than watch semifinals religiously. A lot of things depend on mood, pee breaks, mainstream music and a whole lot of other factors. The public votes with the heart... and that manifests in a million different ways.

It's alright. They go out and sing us a song, and unless it's incredibly terrible or there's a political hot topic happening, the audience claps. It's a party! There are a lot of frills and bones to Eurovision, politics and preference and trends and tradition, but it is just music. So thank you for putting it out there.

On a side note; I'm still annoyed at the festival organization making the whole thing about themselves smh

[sorrel-minis]

Finished the 02 tamers

Copying this directly from my 6:00 am reddit post

So this first set is for 02. They're cousins currently doing the whole foreign exchange student thing. They're pseudo punk kids who have kind of plain names but prefer to go by Puck and Loki. They're also really into music

They notice the main kids having their club meetings a lot and think they seem like a neat bunch. Puck (blonde girl) is the one to suggest they actually get to talking to them instead of just watching. Loki (boy who can see with all that hair) just wanted to wait to be noticed.

Puck is extroverted, always ready to try new things, and makes friends very easily. She's an early adopter of new trends, but abandons them if they feel too mainstream. Her voice is soothing, and she's at the age where she's obsessed with scented lotions and sprays. She always has some to spare. Her main problem is that she talks before she thinks. She thinks out loud a lot, too, and has a habit of unintentionally offending others. It takes her a minute to figure out why. She gets pretty close to Yolei and Kairi, and often initiates "girl days" with them. She likes bonding with them through shopping for clothes and music. She and Daisuke mock each other a lot, but it's all in harmless fun. They really do consider each other

friends.

Loki is introverted and quieter than his cousin. He's shy, and wants to say things, but can never find the words. Loki likes the alternative scene because he thinks emulating his heros will make him more outspoken. He's a fan of stuffed animals, sugary food, and any hairstyle he can use to hide his face. Loki gets alona best with TK. Kairi. and Codv. Don't get him wrong. He loves being around everyone in the group! He just sometimes prefers to stay closest to the calmest ones.

Their Digimon are Serpentinemon and Houndramon. They're both named for songs (Serpentine Fire and Hound Dog, respectively), and have opposite mannerisms. Serpentinemon tends to always screw towards happy, and screams when sad or mad. His emotions are big. Houndramon cries a lot. Tears of joy, confusion, sadness. She is sensitive.

Anywho, their Digi eggs are two halves of a broken one. Something happened with the egg of enthusiasm. It split into the eggs of pep and cheer.

Pep turns Serpentinemon into Jackmon (or Captmon...I just really wanna keep the music theme), cheer turns Houndramon into Alsikemon (Alsike Clover...like... The Clovers...it's a Bring it On reference, you see...)

I got tired of working on this after inking Serpentinemon's evo, so this one is pretty flat.

Let's see how long it takes me to draw the 03 Tamer

[aung-khant-kyaw]

Do toxic fans in some online spaces make it difficult to become or identify as a fan?

Let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind for a while: fandoms. They can be such beautiful spaces, filled with creativity, connection, and passion. But let’s be real—sometimes they can be really toxic, and that toxicity can make it hard for people (like me) to even want to call themselves fans.

Take anime, for example. I’ve loved anime for as long as I can remember. I even learned Japanese because I wanted to experience anime and anime songs without relying on subtitles. It was a labor of love, something that made me feel closer to the stories and characters I admired. But, here’s the thing—I struggle to call myself an otaku or anime fan. Why? Because the terms "otaku" and "weeb" have such a reputation. The image of an anime fan in mainstream culture is often someone who’s socially awkward, obsessive, or even downright creepy. And while I know that’s not fair or true for everyone, it still makes me hesitate to identify as one.

It’s not just about the labels, though. It’s also about the online spaces where these fandoms exist. Spend any time in the comments section of a popular anime discussion post, and you’ll see gatekeeping in full force. People arguing about whether you’re a "real fan" if you only watch the mainstream stuff like Attack on Titan or My Hero Academia. Others tearing apart anyone who prefers dubs over subs. It’s exhausting. Like, why does everything have to be a competition?

And then there’s K-pop. I never even gave myself the chance to get into it. The fandom seemed so overwhelming and, frankly, toxic. Every time I’d see K-pop trending on social media, it was either because fans were clashing with each other, dragging another fandom, or dogpiling someone for having an opinion they didn’t agree with. It’s not that I don’t like the music—I’ve listened to BTS, BLACKPINK, and a few others, and I genuinely enjoy their work. But the thought of engaging with the fandom? Nope. Hard pass.

I think what makes it worse is how these toxic fans overshadow all the amazing, positive things fandoms can do. I mean, fandoms have the power to create incredible art, music, and stories. They raise money for charities, organize events, and build communities where people can feel seen and heard. But the loud, toxic minority often drowns out the good.

Social media definitely plays a role in amplifying this toxicity. Platforms like Twitter and TikTok make it so easy for arguments to spiral out of control. And let’s not forget cancel culture. One wrong opinion or an innocent mistake, and suddenly, you’re being dogpiled by hundreds of strangers who don’t even know you. It’s no wonder people feel scared to express their love for something publicly.

So, where does that leave fans like me? The ones who love something but feel like we have to enjoy it quietly to avoid the drama? It’s a weird, lonely space to be in. You want to connect with others who share your passion, but you don’t want to deal with the toxicity that often comes with it. It’s like walking a tightrope—you want to be close enough to the fandom to feel the love and excitement but far enough away to avoid the chaos.

I think the real issue is that toxic fans gatekeep fandoms, turning them into exclusive clubs where only the "right kind" of fan is welcome. They make people feel like they have to prove their love or knowledge to belong, which is so messed up. Being a fan should be about joy, not judgment. Whether you’re a casual listener of K-pop or someone who’s watched every anime on MyAnimeList, your love for something is valid. No one has the right to tell you otherwise.

For me, I’ve decided to keep my fandom experience personal. I’ll enjoy anime in my own way—listening to the soundtracks, watching my favorite shows, and maybe even writing about them (like now!). As for K-pop, I’ll stick to being an admirer from afar. And that’s okay. You don’t have to engage with a fandom to love something.

If you’re reading this and feeling the same way, just know you’re not alone. Toxic fans don’t define what it means to be a fan. You get to decide what that looks like for you. Whether it’s quietly enjoying something on your own or finding a smaller, more supportive community, your love for what you’re a fan of is what truly matters.

Let’s all try to be kinder, yeah? The world (and the internet) could use a little less gatekeeping and a lot more positivity.

References

Princen, G., 2023. Otaku culture. [online] Yokogao Magazine. Available at: https://www.yokogaomag.com/editorial/otaku-culture [Accessed 25 November 2024].

Ponthieux, T., 2023. Weeb vs. Otaku: What's the difference? [online] Japan Crate Blog. Available at: https://japancrate.com/blogs/news/weeb-vs-otaku-whats-the-difference?srsltid=AfmBOopKyhSKXe2TTOJFuBPQrkt-lTccvA-DB8mZKiQ32xQC9l2KxAZB [Accessed 25 November 2024].

Novella, F., 2023. The My Hero Academia fandom and its problems. [online] The Student Voice Network. Available at: https://thestudentvoicenetwork.com/830/opinion/the-my-hero-academia-fandom-and-its-problems/ [Accessed 25 November 2024].

Tay, A., 2022. On BTS, K-pop, and toxic fan culture. [online] Campus Times. Available at: https://www.campustimes.org/2022/10/30/on-bts-k-pop-and-toxic-fan-culture/ [Accessed 25 November 2024].

Haasch, P., 2021. Online mob stan Twitter: Harassment problem in fandom music fan culture. [online] Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/online-mob-stan-twitter-harassment-problem-fandom-music-fan-2021-7 [Accessed 25 November 2024].

Novella, F., 2023. Gatekeeping: What it is and its impact. [online] The Student Voice Network. Available at: https://thestudentvoicenetwork.com/643/opinion/gatekeeping-what-it-is-and-its-impact/ [Accessed 25 November 2024].

[momtorturedthecat]

5 Times I Resonated with a Song…

Hey Everybody, it’s Spaz here, and I’m gonna tell you about 5 times I resonated with a song on a personal and emotional level. I’ll try to keep this within rock and metal culture, but my music tastes stretch further than that—everything from modern pop to 40s jazz music.

In case you’re feeling insecure about being a metalhead, punk, or goth and still liking mainstream music or some dusty stuff from grandma’s magic trunk, remember: these subcultures are rooted in moral beliefs, not just music.

As long as you’re anti-violence and discrimination like a metalhead, against corruption like a punk, and accepting like a goth—and you listen to the music—then who cares if you need a switch-up sometimes?

Listen to whatever the fuck you want!

Here we go!

1. “Scars” - Papa Roach (2004)

Lyric:

“I tear my heart open

I sew myself shut

And my weakness is

That I care too much”

“Scars” by Papa Roach is a deeply reflective song for me. Just like the lyrics suggest, I tend to be the type of person who cares about others a lot. I value friendships and laughter and do whatever I can to keep them going. I never forget the people who’ve been kind to me. But sometimes, I care about others at the cost of myself. Being around people 24/7 can wear me down, but I keep going because I feel like, if they were there for me, I need to be there for them. It’s caused me anxiety at times, feeling like I need to respond 24/7. This lyric reminds me that it’s okay to have an off button and that I need to strengthen myself, not just for others, but for me.

2. “Vienna” - Billy Joel (1977)

Lyric:

“Slow down you crazy child

You’re so ambitious for a juvenile

But then if you’re so smart tell me

Why are you still so afraid?”

“Vienna” by Billy Joel is a song I hold close. It’s perfect for when I need a break. The reason it’s so personal is that it feels like it’s written about my life. Achievement after achievement goes by, but I still feel pressure. There’s always a voice saying, “Will I be able to support myself when I move out?” or “Will I be successful?” or “Have I done enough to make my mom proud?” Lyric: “Slow down you crazy child Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while It’s alright, you can afford to lose a day or two (oooh) When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?” These words speak to my desire to succeed but also my need for rest—a break from the expectations that exhaust me inside and out.

3. “Dance with My Father” - Luther Vandross (2003)

An honorary mention.

Lyric:

“If I could get another chance,

Another walk, another dance with him

I’d play a song that would never, ever, ever end

How I’d love, love, love

To dance with my father again.”

My dad passed away the day after my 6th birthday. Sometimes this song just pops into my head, and I start to miss him again. He was an amazing man.

4. “Redemption Song” - Bob Marley & The Wailers (1980)

Lyric:

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds.”

I relate to this song because it aligns with my belief that we’re often mentally enslaved in today’s world. This comes in many forms: trends we participate in, social media, the way we view ourselves, how we think society views us, and more. Bob’s message reminds me that self-liberation is key.

5. “Stripped” - Rammstein (Depeche Mode cover) (1998)

Lyric:

“Let me hear you make decisions without your television.”

This song hits home because we, as a society, have become a hive mind. We no longer value differing opinions. Instead, we bully them into hiding. Everyone wants to be right, but no one wants to understand. We’re heavily influenced by what we see and hear, and when the masses believe something, it becomes harder to think for ourselves.

There you have it!

Five songs that resonate with me on a deep and emotional level. Music, regardless of genre, has the power to reflect who we are and what we’re going through.