#song lyric title: perfect by ed sheeran

[aceofbooks-creative-anthologies]

Lover: Sukehiro Yami

Birthday: September 17th Star Sign: Virgo Compatibility: Good Age Difference: 2 months + 3 weeks (Ace is older) MBTI: Neutral Compatibility: Good Height Adjustment: N/A

Current Status: Happily Married; Arguments as Foreplay; Co-workers; "Parents" (no bio children, and we don't legally adopt any of the Black Bulls) Previous Status: Rivals to Lovers; Co-workers; Belligerent Sexual Tension; Near-Death Experiences = Confessions

Library Stamps: #aceyami, #acamifue

Instagram Feed Meme: ✓

Wedding Instagram Feed Meme:

Camera Roll Meme:

Wedding/Engagement Rings:

Boyfriend/Husband Status Ranking: ✓

Bingo Card: ✓

Moodboard:

I will not give you up this time wc: 2208 Distance and Growth wc: 1780 Timeline wc: 784 Civil War wc: 786 Stinky Man wc: 862

[theredrenard]

Fic Title Ideas

I spent a good chunk of time sorting through my Spotify for fic title inspiration, and compiled a list of lyrics + their sources/links under the cut.

Fair warning, I did come up with these with a certain ship in mind so they’re specifically tailored to what was going through my mind at the time.

Enjoy, and keep being creative! 💛

Format: Lyric/Title "Song Title" Artist (Spotify link to song)

This list will be periodically updated as I find new lyrics

🌟.•*💫*•⭐️*~•.🌙.•~*⭐️•*💫*•.🌟

Can an angel fall past Hell? (Lived a life meant for someone else)

“Man Eater” Rivals (x)

No way out (You gave me light)

“On Accident” Nico Collins (x)

I swear (I only fell for you on accident)

“On Accident” Nico Collins (x)

Days like these, you wanna get away (Close our eyes, pretend we’re miles away)

“Thelma + Louise” Bastille (x)

They say that love is forever (Your forever is all that I need)

“Scene One - James Dean & Aubrey Hepburn” Sleeping With Sirens (x)

All my life I’ve been on my own (I used the light to guide me home)

“Stockholm Syndrome” One Direction (x)

You know what I’m thinking (See it in your eyes)

“Die for you” The Weeknd (x)

Open your eyes and see (The way our horizons meet)

“All of the stars” Ed Sheeran (x)

How do you fall in love? (Harder than a bullet could hit you)

“River” BRKN LOVE (x)

I know we only just met (So why do I feel invested?)

“Telephone” Waterparks (x)

I can be your best bet (Future favorite regret)

“Telephone” Waterparks (x)

I wanna kiss you every minute, every hour, every day (You got me in a spin but everything is a-okay)

“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” The Darkness (x)

My heart's in overdrive (You're behind the steering wheel)

“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” The Darkness (x)

A piece of you between my teeth (Keep me as a memory)

“Your Name” Artio (x)

So why do I still wake up, two in the morning (Cold sweat, screamin' your name)

“Why do I” Set It Off (x)

Screamin' my lungs out for you, not afraid to face it (I need you more than I want to)

“Shameless” Camila Cabello (x)

So many mornings I woke up confused (In my dreams, I do anything I want to you)

“Shameless” Camila Cabello (x)

There’s no hurry (Don’t you worry)

“Your man” Josh Turner (x)

I think I like you (Maybe more than I should)

“I think I like you” The Band CAMINO (x)

All my nights taste like gold (When I'm with you it's like everything glows)

“Waking up slow” Gabrielle Aplin (x)

I could rearrange (Would you do the same?)

“Waking up slow” Gabrielle Aplin (x)

It's like I never had a doubt (I love you like the sun came out)

“Waking up slow” Gabrielle Aplin (x)

I never thought I needed saving (I was right where I should be)

“What have I done” Dermot Kennedy (x)

Ever since the other night I've been thinking (About the way you smile golden)

“What have I done” Dermot Kennedy (x)

We were running in the dark (We were following our hearts)

“Falling Apart” Michael Schulte (x)

No grave can hold my body down (I’ll crawl home to [him]) *

“Work Song” Hozier (x)

*this lyric was changed from ‘her’ to ‘him’ to suit the ship I had in mind

If the Lord don't forgive me, I'd still have my baby (And my babe would have me)

“Work Song” Hozier (x)

I'm lost without you (A broken clock without you)

“Soft” Babygirl (x)

The world is ugly (But you're beautiful to me)

“The world is ugly” My Chemical Romance (x)

Blood on my shirt (Heart in my hand)

“Teeth” 5 Seconds of Summer (x)

I wish you were here (Won't you fall for me?)

“Fall for Me” Sleep Token (x)

I am yours to the end (Won't you fall for me?)

“Fall for Me” Sleep Token (x)

I don't wanna look at anything else (Now that I saw you)

“Daylight” Taylor Swift (x)

I don't wanna think of anything else (Now that I thought of you)

“Daylight” Taylor Swift (x)

Now that I saw you (I can never look away)

“Daylight” Taylor Swift (x)

I know l'm not the perfect lover (I can tell you love her)

“Lover” Plot Twist ft. Rose & Kennedy (x)

There's a space inside my mind (Where I keep on missing you)

“Missing You” The Vamps (x)

[spade-riddles]

Submission: Ed Louis Harry and 🎃

I’m the Ed Sheeran anon and further to the Ed, Taylor Harry, Louis links I wanted to add some further things if that’s ok!

Taylor refers to someone being ‘too young to know the song intertwined in the magic fabric of our dreaming’, among many other Louis Tomlinson song titles littered throughout TTPD.

In bejewelled we see the clock showing exile ends at midnight. The clock has the numbers 3,6,9 missing. Louis has plugged ‘3,6,9’ since 2022 alongside his album faith in the future. 3,6,9,(12)??. He has also said: he has written songs for other artists that he isn’t credited on. He also said his third album will be the kind of music he wants to make, that album 2 - faith in the future(3,6,9) is a kind of bridge between album 1 and the sound he wants to have by LT3. This was a reference to genre but if we are building to midnight.. LT3 would be his midnight like TS12 is Taylor’s. He has just registered a song called ‘Hello’ which reminded me of message 13 🎃.

wildest dreams and perfect are songs overtly related to each other, perfect was written by Harry and Louis and to Larry’s seems to nod to their relationship, despite the appearance it’s about Taylor in the same way HStyles is the Style red herring.

Within the days of the 1989 TV drop, Louis made a very vague unprompted Larry denial on Twitter that was immediate picked up and ran in the press (without once mentioning the word Larry in the Twitter question or response). I believe this took place on 31st October: the veil between this life and the next, thinner than ever🎃.

Again in the week or so lead up to the TTPD release, Louis made a Larry denial in an interview stating Larry’s are so ‘intertwined with what they believe’ there’s nothing he can do, nothing he can say - so be it. I checked the dates and it’s close to an anon spade msg here from April 10 that could maybe reference that? Aside from the intertwined parallels in his denial/Tays music and the 🎃, this denial has also been picked up to be referencing the lyrics of the song total eclipse of the heart… My only one, smoking gun, my eclipsed sun ❤️

He quietly dropped his live tour album the week of TTPD and tweeted a screen shot of him ‘listening’ to a song of his thought to be about closeting, but the song was paused at ‘13’ seconds which Louis fans have taken as support for Taylor.

The track Peter is no. 28- to Louis fans that’s his number the way that 13 is Taylor’s. He has it tattooed on his knuckles. Peter, my lost fearless leader, he also has a song called fearless asking someone if they remember being young enough to get it wrong in front of all these people. Taylor ordered ‘Louis champagne ‘ for $28,00 recently. I really think she wants us to be looking at Louis.

I did notice ‘face the music’ (a Louis song) written in the 🎃 messages as well as ‘they’ll say we’re lucky’ or something, another song of his ‘we were lucky once, I could be lucky again’. 🎃also constantly references faith like faith in the future.

But daddy I love him! Nods to harry’s t shirt (prior to BDILH searching that phrase would lead to basically just Larry edits and fanfiction) and also lyrically nodding to kiwi ‘I’m having your baby! it’s none of your business’ which for Larry’s evokes babygate. Louis has been loud on tour, changing a lyric in back to you to visibly mouth ‘I love him!’ every night for months. BDILH references braids which I think comes up again and again in the album, these braids (and as 🎃 says ropes) and intertwined fabric of our dreaming, or ‘stiching we were just kids babe’ pointing to Louis: ‘we were kids just trying to work it out’ .

As the other Ed Sheeran anon said, Ed tweeted about his best friends wedding on the 28th and Harry’s Joni lyric referenced the town hall- as does BDILH. 28 is Louis number, believed to be for this reason- some sort of commitment on that day so 28 September is a super significant date- I read somewhere Taylor did a cover of a song changing a lyric to ‘love was born on the 28th of September’ when it was supposed to be the 21st.

The Ed album fascinated me as both a Larry and Gaylor. It is littered with so many symbolic references to LT,TS and HS and then understanding the lyrics I find it’s difficult to discern if they are about Louis, Harry or Taylor narrative wise. It has a clock as one of the art symbols, showing its nearly 12 and a track called midnight. There is literally a ‘Bowery bar’ reference.

Ed’s song ‘friends’ has always felt like it was about Larry and he has played shows with imagery of a couple that looks like an exact clip of Larry in the background. 🎃 talks about friends - and friends of friends and I think as the other anon said Ed is such a close link between these two parallel stories. In promo of autumn variations he brought up how he loves pop and how great NSYNC and Britney Spears are. To me these are two tortured poets- one being a boy band including Lance Bass, a closeted band member who has since come out .. and that Taylor exchanged a friendship bracelet with. Two being Brittney who is evoked on the album thank u Aimee/*~ if you seek amy~. It seems Easter eggy that Ed referenced those two artists but that could be a reach.

I’ve been looking into Harry, Louis and Taylor’s allusions to ‘home’, ‘America’ and ‘London/England’ and they all tell an interesting story together about the safety of England, Taylor has loved that place for so long . The track English girl in an American town raised eyebrows if you consider it to be American girl in an English town, or, if the girl in the song is Harry. Lighthouses, darkness, the cold, ships, burning things down, being with your lover at night and then having to go to work for weeks.. these things are all in Ed’s album.

Taylor could make out the fairy lights through the mist in so long, London and in Ed’s song England the picturesque town ‘has fairy lights on the building supplying us power from the sea’. On open day, the town is cleaned up: the stones are hidden, the lighthouse is retired and a new one that’s taller hired. The town has a pub with a flag working flexible hours (glass closet, in my mind). The album also refers to things being in shade, or things being painted black (‘a home made of stones painted black’ for e.g). That song England solved the mystery of the nonsensical phrases in keep driving in Harry’s house: ‘choke her with a sea view, tooth ache, bad news, just act normal’ . The stone homes painted black have a glass window out at the back of them for the view (the sea view) as in, contrived moments giving a look into the privacy of the homes. There is only one sign in the town and people slow down to look on open day in Ed’s song, but harry says should we just keep driving?

The autumn variations cover art symbols have a grave with ‘bad news’ written on it, and a ring for ‘good news’. Along with a bird that looks like the tattoo on his chest and other lyrical allusions like to having a cup of tea ☕️ with a friend called Matilda; who doesn’t have to go home. (who is so Taylor in my mind). On tour he always began the song: this song is for a friend of mine it means a lot to me and I hope one day it will mean a lot to you, too. which I always found confusing but if comingoutlor is happening it makes sense to me as Matilda tied up her hair like it’s no big deal (like the now tight hair pins, no longer dropping, shown in TTPD vids) and is hosting a party with her friends but not the family who never showed her love (to be clear I don’t think of that so literally to be saying her blood family)

There are so many other parallels in their music: Harry’s been praying, ever since New York. Louis says he knows you left a part of you in New York. Taylor says… you know I left a part of me in New York. New York for me is the 1989 era: the girls and girls boys and boys, it is an interrelated, intertwined closet and why I think 🎃 references ‘wildest dreams’. We also have a lot of imagery parallels with the moon and saturn, ladders, clocks, the wizard of Oz, Alice in wonderland that all three use. As well as meeting in the hallway..

In exile WB and TS say they gave so many signs, all this time!!!! Louis has a song called all this time: ‘just have patience…’ ’building mountains hoping that they’ll turn to gold.. the friends we make, the love it takes it’s worth it, all this time’ reminds me of karma taking all my friends to the summit.

He has references about fabricated fairytales, half told stories and love being a lie in his music. One or two music videos show a group of people all standing together, uniting to be victorious I believe it’s in ‘we made it’ or ‘silver tongues’. (I am an I think Louis or both Harry and Louis are William Bowery clown, if you can’t tell🤡!! ). Louis has ‘sat down with a master plan’ and TS is a ‘mastermind’, which written on a shirt worn by Louis recently. Louis being with prince william within days of Taylor was so suss to me!!

Sorry that’s so long - I recently have clicked that my two separate interests in Gaylor and Larry come together in so many ways🙊🙊

[sparxaf]

The Sun in My Eyes: Chapter Titles

Obviously, when I began writing The Sun in My Eyes, I had no idea was going to take the rest of my goddamn life to complete 🤣 So I titled the first eight chapters whatever came to mind. My absolute favorite is "The Midnight Bombshell What Bombs at Midnight" which is a very obscure reference to an episode The Tick. Runner up is, "The Night was Sultry" which is from a movie called Throw Mama from the Train. I digress... When I realized that TSIME was gonna take awhile, I started using song lyrics for chapters. I have a file that has hundreds of lyrics that follow the themes of the story like weather, light, sky, moon, stars, etc. And they're all broken down into categories of: Love & Hope, Sexy, Angsty, and Hesitance & Longing. So for each chapter I'd decide the predominate emotion and then pick a lyric from the list. Or rather I'd pick eight of them and then make @throughthejunobush pick which one 🤣

Every once in a while someone on Wattpad messages me to ask about them. So, now that the story is done, I thought I'd just share what the songs were. Enjoy!

9. This Daydream is Dangerous – Treacherous by Taylor Swift

10. Follow the Sparks, I’ll Drive –  I Think He Knows by Taylor Swift

11. A Light Shining Through – Collide by Howie Day

12. Just Outside the Circle of Light –  Circle of Light by Ani Difranco

13. Need the Sun to Break – Need the Sun to Break by James Bay

14. I Want to Give You a Brand New Sky – Sunlight by Mason Jennings

15. Captivated By You Baby Like a Fireworks Show – Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift

16. Hand in the Flame of a Flickering Lighter – She Sets the City on Fire by Gavin Degraw

17. Here Comes the Sun in the Form of a Girl – Heaven Tonight by Hole

18. Everytime You Shine, I’ll Shine for You – Jump Then Fall by Taylor Swift

19. Kiss Me Once 'Cause You Know I Had a Long Night – Paper Rings by Taylor Swift

20. Shadows Bleeding Through the Light –  Almost Here by Delta Goodrem

21. No Comfort in the Shade of Shadows Thrown – Lover of the Light by Mumford and Sons

22. Got Scared When the Lights Went Low – Soldier by Gavin Degraw

23. Just a Touch of the Fire Burning So Bright – Just a Kiss by Lady A

24. Wrap Me in Everything that Glows – Hold On by Delta Goodrem

25. Just Keep Me Where the Light Is – Gravity by John Mayer (I know he's disgusting, but I titled the chapter before I knew how awful he was)

26. Toda Mi Vida, Se Abriga Con Tu Calor – Enamorada de Ti by Selena

27. The Fear Before the Flames – Glitter in the Air by Pink

28. One Minute There was Road Beneath Us, the Next Just Sky – Falling is Like This by Ani Difranco

29. You Should See the Way She Holds Me When the Lights Go Low – Hearts Don't Break Round Here by Ed Sheeran

30. You’re All I Want, So Bring Me the Dawn – Need the Sun to Break by James Bay (again)

31. And The Sky Turned Black Like a Perfect Storm – Clean by Taylor Swift

32. It’s Hard Letting Go of the Afterglow – Headfirst by This Wild Life

33. Praying for The Light I See in Your Eyes – Believe Again by Delta Goodrem

34. Flicker and Sway, Still Dancing on the Aftertaste – Old Flame by Kimbra

35. Baby, Look Up, The Sky is Falling – The Happening by Tanerélle

36. Keep Glowing, I’ll Follow Your Explosions – Kill the Lights by Matt Nathanson

37. Like the Colors in Autumn So Bright Just Before They Lose It All – Red by Taylor Swift

38. Deserted Like the Moon is at Dawn – Sanctuary by Delta Goodrem

39. We Will Lie Under Different Stars – Different Stars by Trespassers William

40. Feels Like Summer But It’s Earthquake Weather – Earthquake Weather by Matt Nathanson

41. Day Bleeds Into Nightfall – Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi

42. Morning Light, It Stings a Little – Forever by Lewis Capaldi

43. Been Burning for You Baby Since the Moment I Left – Paul by Cavetown (some sites say it’s "minute I left," but I’d already committed to moment)

44. My Eclipsed Sun, This Has Broken Me Down – Hoax by Taylor Swift

45. Weepin’ In a Sunlit Room – My Tears Ricochet by Taylor Swift

46. Remnants of Fire Blow Like Sand in the Night – Map of the World by Mariachi El Bronx

47. Skinny Dip in Water Under the Bridge – Skinny Dipping by Sabrina Carpenter

48. Every Shadow Disappearing Into Dawn – Gold in the Summertime by Matt Nathanson

49. Making a Shelter for a Flame – Lighting Matches by Tom Grennan

50. Pocketful of Sunshine - Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield

51. Starting Like a Fire, Tonight You Lit the Flame – Everything Will Change by Gavin Degraw

52. Old Flame, I Fell for Your Inferno – Old Flame by Kimbra (again)

53. Under the Exit Lights as Beautiful as Ever – Forever by Lewis Capaldi (again)

54. 'Cause You're the Storm That I Believe In – You're the Storm by The Cardigans

55. Like Stars in Hidin', You and I Burn On – Undercover by Zara Larsson

56. At Last I See the Light – I See the Light by Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi (Tangled soundtrack)

[morfinwen]

1, 5, 6, 9-18, and 21-25 of the Spotify Wrapped ask, please?

This was from last year (har-de-har), but i'm answering it... within a month, i think? which is quite respectable.

Catchiest song: "Tacky", which is one of my favorite Weird Al songs in general.

Oldest song (by release date)/6. Newest song (by release date): This is not easily-accessible information, and i am too stressed/lazy (your pick) to look it up, sorry.

Favorite lyric of your #1 song: "Hearthstone" doesn't have any lyrics, so here's one from "I'm Going That Way" (from the Kentucky Route Zero soundtrack), which is #2. Just have the whole song, it's short and sweet:

I've heard of a land of joy and peace and wonderful life A beautiful place of mansions fair and skies so bright Where all who believe the Savior dear forever shall stay And having been saved by grace divine, I'm going that way

I'm going that way, I'm going that way Yes, dear, the Savior I adore is with me each day I'm clinging to Him, and never to stray Just singing praises all day long, I'm going that way

Well, glorious news I tell and sing as onward I go For those who are still astray in sin, my Savior may know I want them to sing that praise above some beautiful day For glory to Him who died for me, I'm going that way

I know I shall meet Him at the gate when trials are past I know I shall meet Him face to face in glory at last Oh, I believe that when we meet, "well done" He'll say While trusting the soul-redeeming love, I'm going that way

I'm going that way, I'm going that way Yes, dear, the Savior I adore is with me each day I'm clinging to Him, and never to stray Just singing praises all day long, I'm going that way

A song that was also in last year's wrapped: Alas, i didn't save last year's wrapped playlist (will not make that mistake again), so i can't say for certain.

Most famous/popular song (in your opinion): "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears has over 1.9 billion listens on Spotify, so i guess that one.

A song you feel should be higher up: Several!

"Wish My Life Away" by Laura Shigihara, "The Fly" by Rosie Tucker, "Pump Shanty" by The Mechanisms, and "Anchor - Reimagined" by Skillet get put on repeat pretty commonly when they come up on shuffle, so i'm not sure how none of them are in the top ten.

The song with the most peculiar sound (to you): "16 Seconds Pre-Death" from the Kaladin album. Appropriate, considering the context.

A song you think is underrated: I'd love to hear a cover of "Redwing" by Hem, which is a very sweet, pretty song, but there's like the music video, and that's it.

Most danceable track: "Perfect Duet", a cover of Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" by the Postmodern Jukebox, is pretty obviously a waltzing song.

A song everyone should know: "Baba Yetu" (cover by Peter Hollens and Malukah) is a beautiful cover of a beautiful song.

Saddest song: Hmm.

"Hearthstone" is my #1 song because i listened to it several times while writing a character death scene.

"Ghost" by Justin Bieber and "Samson" by Regina Spektor deal pretty blatantly with death.

"Even If" by MercyMe, "Begin Again" (cover by Megan Nicole, Alex Groot, and the Piano Guys), and "Wish My Life Away" are more hopeful than sad, but there's still the touch of bittersweet to them.

"Waterbound" by Dirk Powell, "Buildings" by Regina Spektor, and "Achilles Come Down" by Gang of Youths aren't necessarily about death, but they're about some pretty heavy subjects. "Surface Pressure" from Encanto, too.

A song that describes your year so far: Hahaha…

"Never Grow Up" by Taylor Swift. "Surface Pressure" from Encanto.

The song you think will be in next year's top songs again: "Wish My Life Away" by Laura Shigihara

Shortest song: "The Waste's Mystery" from the Don't Escape 4 soundtrack

A track that makes you think of a specific color: I was going to be boring and say (honestly) that apart from "it has 'gold' in the title" or "its album color is red", i don't have an answer, but let's force some color associations with some songs i haven't mentioned yet.

"Starlight" by The Wailing Jennys -- purple

"In Love with Your Soul" by The Collection -- pink

"Three" by Sleeping at Last -- burgundy red

"Feel Invincible" by Skillet -- cobalt blue

A song that could be the soundtrack of a movie: "Megalovania" by Toby Fox.

Favorite lyrics of your #100 song: So, "Creepy Old Guy" is from the Beetlejuice musical, and takes place as the teenage protagonist prepares to marry a centuries-old demon. It's actually a set-up for defeating him, so she and her family are all pretending they are completely cool with this while constantly making snarky comments about the situation/old men marrying young girls in general. So you get lines like "Girls may seem disgusted/But we're actually just shy!" and "Have you guys seen Lolita? This is just like that, but fine!" which… don't really work out of context, but are pretty funny within it.

Thanks for asking!

[thesinglesjukebox]

SHAWN MENDES - "WHY WHY WHY"

First Sabrina, now Shawn... we just need one more a triple-repeated title song to get a trend piece going...

[4.40]

Iain Mew: Shawn aims soft and tries to bring out the anguish and cyclical hopelessness in small moments. The musical stomp has other ideas, stomping out subtlety without bringing anything worth replacing it with. The resultant sense of aimless momentum leaves it sounding like a festival EDM track with all of its drops missing. [3]

Jeffrey Brister: On the one hand, it is a dated stomp-clap folk single with gang vocals and a hefty dollop reverb in the chorus; with nary a strummed guitar figure or slide flourish or mandolin accent out of place. On the other hand, this sounds really REALLY good. The worst thing I could say about this song is that it’s unmemorable, and it will fade into the swirling morass of competent-if-not-incredible folk songs that sit at the bottom of my mind, and will eventually get it confused with something else years later. But in this moment? Hey, pretty good. [6]

Nortey Dowuona: Mike Sabath can apparently work magic. I mean, he can lay down some firm, surprisingly sturdy but unambitious drums that allow Chris Thile on mandolin, Kevin Barry on lap steel guitar, Eddie Barry on guitar, Shawn himself on guitar with Scott Harris on background vocals to fill up the mix with all the angst and unalloyed joy that come with finding one's footing after years of grasping around in the dark for your parents to protect you, for your lover to return to you, for the small, imaginary bundle who you're convinced is crying out for you to hold them. Then you remember they're not imaginary. You wonder why you thought that. Then you get up and hold your infant son until you fall asleep instead. Mike then has to worry about maybe lowering the bass to let the lap steel sound better but makes sure to not disturb you or the baby. [8]

Michael Hong: The comparisons to Man of the Woods have been unavoidable, but "Isn't That Enough" sounds closer to the alt-country of Waxahatchee than anything by Justin Timberlake. Pleasant enough if a bit repetitive, but as "Why Why Why" attempts to kick up the dust into something anthemic, it sounds more like a deflated version of Avicii's "Wake Me Up."  [3]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: A perfect choice for listeners who found Benson Boone and Noah Kahan to be too aggressive. [2]

Grace Robins-Somerville: Sexless Ed Sheeran-ass Zoloft-ass fake deep pop music. [2]

Ian Mathers: Is it weird that this feels post-Iron & Wine to me? Something to do with the guitar tone and how it and the vocals are layered. It's pleasant enough, and the idea of post-teen pop Sam Beam makes me smile. Congratulations, you've justified your existence for another day! [6]

Taylor Alatorre: An emulsified soup of folky signifiers, "Why Why Why" achieves pathos of a sort -- not from the feelings described within it, but from the singer's need to transmute those feelings into rustic coffeehouse wallpaper. The once and future teen idol is mandated after a certain age to reveal more of himself, his true self, but only within well-defined limits: no to Big Star's Third, yes to "Garden Party." Or "Story of My Life," if we're being realistic here. The big reveal of "Why Why Why," that of deferred fatherhood, is given its requisite four bars in the limelight, then is quickly blotted out by the oncoming rush of billowy acoustic chords and twangy guitar stabs. This may be for the better, given Mendes's earnest belief in the mind-blowing lyrical power of the father-mother juxtaposition. Best to let the sound engineers do the real talking here; that coiled spring of rapid-fire strumming that sews up the aforementioned verse has replay value of its own. [5]

Jonathan Bradley: The best thing about this fibrous Shawn Mendes strum is how it inadvertently demonstrates the talent someone like Ed Sheeran or Noah Kahan has. They could make "Why Why Why," and a lot of time they functionally do. And that would sell, and people who want earnest and modestly rousing folk songs, which are a perfectly reasonable thing to want -- 12 years later, I'm still willing to defend "Ho Hey" -- would be pleased to cue it up on their playlists. But it takes skill to create an "A Team" or a "Stick Season," the versions of this sound that involve more craft and finesse than necessary. I don't think Mendes is capable of elevating his compositions to that level but, hey, at least he's capable of not sinking them to Lewis Capaldi depths. [4]

Katherine St. Asaph: Javiera Mena isn't supposed to sound like the Lumineers, but Shawn Mendes isn't not. The sound of basking blissfully in low expectations. [5]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[merlinfluffalooza]

Bonus 3

We’ve passed the middle of this fest, already! Congratulations to all of you on your fluffy creations. Now that we’ve watched movies and read some poetry, why not listen to some music?

Below is a list of 10 songs, with a few covers in bonus so you can have more inspiration. 

Siuil a Run | Celtic Woman / Seo Linn (male version) 

My attic | P!nk / Adam Lambert 

Perfect | Ed Sheeran / Perfect Symphony | Ed Sheeran & Andrea Bocelli

Can’t help falling in love with you | Elvis Presley / Pentatonix

Flying without wings | Westlife 

Might as well dance | Jason Mraz

True Colours | Cyndi Lauper 

Colours of you | Baby Queen

Sweater Weather | The neighbourhood / Pentatonix

May it Be | Enya

For ease of listening, we have prepared the associated playlists!

Youtube music Fluffalooza 2023

Spotify Fluffalooza

The rules for this challenge are quite simple: 

Create a work inspired by one of the songs 

It can be a long fic, a short drabble, a piece of art, a mood board, icons, a video, etc… Anything is possible!

You can take your inspiration from the lyrics, from the title of the song, from the general feeling you get from the song!

As always, you can bend things a little (all the lyrics do not have to exactly apply, for example)

Your creation must be posted BEFORE Sunday 22th of October at 23.59 GMT+2

You can post your creation directly in the AO3 collection but you can also share it in the library Discord channel.

!! Bonus fills aren’t mandatory even if you signed up for the fest! And you can create for the Bonus challenge even if you haven’t signed up !!

[tmwcs]

since heeseung is every much into music does him and yn have like "their song" ? or a song that he associates with yn? ¿

They absolutely do my love. For every occasion too. I already mentioned in another ask, that I listen to Zayns - Pillowtalk (explicit version) when I write their smut or love making scenes. When I think of their fight/argument scenes, it’s anywhere between Metallica - king nothing or telephone - lady Gaga.

Now, as far as their song in the series, the one that I think is most fitting, and I’m even going to mention them listening to it in one of the chapters (like them turning on the radio and listening to it or something) I’ll have the Spotify link in it. So you’ll see ;)

I love every type of genre, and when it comes to THEIR ultimate song, which is funny you mentioned it bc I’ll be inserting one of them, bc honestly, there are a ton of songs that I listen to and think of heethan and reader. To name a few…

chanyeol + punch - stay with me (beautiful piece and probably the one that I listen to most bc it does make me think of heethan and reader, and there’s a fic written from another writer that is an enhaXreader, it also makes me think of those two as well.)

Taylor swift - this love (love the beat of this song. It fits heethan and reader so well)

Enrique iglesias - escape (OMG this song is so fitting for them…”you can run, you can hide but you can’t escape my love.” That’s…100% heethan)

troye Sivan - Angel baby (I always think of Heethan’s perspective when he thinks about reader whenever I listen to this song. The rhythm, the lyrics, the tune and the oompf it has…beautiful.

Ed Sheeran - perfect duet (with Beyoncé) (puhleeeeeese….do I need to say anymore than the title? That song is soo Heethanxreaden)

Beyoncé - smash into you (my favorite Beyoncé song and I def think of the pair when I listen to it.

Those are just examples.

honorable mentions:

Heethan song: chaconne - enhypen (I immediately thought of heethan when they came out with this track) also, bite me by enhypen, enter sandman - Metallica (not so much the lyrics but the beat just makes me picture angry and badass heethan) and often by The Weeknd (ummmm yeah…I’m pretty sure you know why lol this just screams heethan bc of the whole sex god thing….parts of the lyrics “baby I’ll make that p*s*y rain often” …yeah, you can’t tell me that isn’t your man, especially after what you e read this far)

Readen song : sweet but psycho - Ava max (this is so fitting…bc of reader and Eden…..I can’t even begin to tell you how much this song fits reader like…woooow.) kings and queens - Ava max and Roxette - she’s got nothing on (but the radio) literally Ava max’s kings and queens just screams Eden and Roxettes song just makes me think of reader bc….i love the tune and in a way…kinda true since heethan has her stripped like 90%of the time bc of …you know.. lol

[officevalle]

Icons of Music: Bridging Cultures and Creating Timeless Art

Music has the unique power to unite people across cultures, evoking emotions and memories that transcend time. From the vibrant energy of Punjabi performers to the dynamic world of rap and the towering legends in global music, these artists inspire, innovate, and connect. This article dives into the stories of remarkable musicians and singers who continue to influence our lives.

Famous Punjabi People: Cultural Ambassadors

Punjab is a region synonymous with rich traditions and joyous rhythms. Famous Punjabi people have made their mark on the global stage, blending traditional folk music with contemporary beats.

Legends like Babu Singh Maan and modern-day stars like Neha Kakkar epitomize the versatility and resilience of Punjabi culture. Through their art, they remind the world of Punjab’s timeless charm while ensuring its legacy endures.

Explore the lives of these cultural ambassadors here, and discover how they bridge the past and present with their work.

Best Rapper: Masters of Rhythm and Poetry

Rap, with its roots in storytelling, has evolved into a powerful platform for social commentary and self-expression. The debate over the best rapper is ever-ongoing, but certain names remain unshakable in their impact.

Kanye West, with his groundbreaking productions, and Lauryn Hill, whose poetic brilliance transcends genres, are examples of how rap continues to evolve. These artists combine lyrical mastery with innovative beats to create music that resonates globally.

Who Is the Best Singer in the World Right Now?

In a world overflowing with talent, identifying who is the best singer in the world right now isn’t just about technical ability—it’s about the ability to move hearts.

Singers like Ed Sheeran, with his emotional storytelling, and Rihanna, with her genre-defying hits, showcase why they’re household names. Their success is rooted in their versatility, as they experiment with sounds while staying true to their artistic identity.

World’s Biggest Singer: A Title Beyond Music

Becoming the world’s biggest singer is no small feat. It requires not just unmatched talent but also the ability to influence culture and inspire millions.

Artists such as Elton John, known for his theatrical performances, and Shakira, a global sensation with her unique fusion of styles, embody what it means to achieve greatness. These stars continue to captivate with their creativity, pushing boundaries in music and beyond.

Ab to Forever: The Song That Stays With You

Every great song has the power to transport us, and Ab to Forever does exactly that. Its heartfelt lyrics and soulful tune make it a track that listeners return to time and again.

Perfect for moments of reflection or celebration, this song blends universal themes with a melody that touches the heart. Download it today to experience its timeless beauty and let it become a part of your cherished playlist.

Artists as Catalysts of Change

Music is more than entertainment—it’s a vehicle for change. Artists challenge norms, celebrate diversity, and advocate for causes through their art. Punjabi musicians, for instance, highlight cultural pride, while rappers address issues of race and identity.

Global icons like Beyoncé and BTS use their platforms to promote social justice and mental health awareness, proving that artists are not only entertainers but also leaders and innovators. Their influence extends far beyond the music charts.

Conclusion

From Punjabi legends to international superstars, music’s icons continue to inspire us with their talent and vision. They remind us of the power of music to heal, connect, and drive change. Whether through the beats of rap, the harmony of a ballad, or the cultural pride of regional music, these artists show us what’s possible.

What about you? Who do you think is redefining music today? Share your thoughts in the comments and celebrate the artistry that shapes our world.

[musicvalla]

The Journey of an Album to Streaming Glory

In today’s digital-first world, music albums aren’t just collections of songs; they are cultural phenomena that define trends, break records, and inspire millions. With the rise of music streaming platforms like Spotify, achieving the status of the most streamed album has become a hallmark of success for artists. But what does it take for an album to reach this level? From the creative process to marketing strategies and the influence of global fan bases, the journey of an album to streaming glory is as fascinating as it is complex.

In this article, we’ll explore the key elements that contribute to an album’s massive streaming success and highlight some of the most streamed albums in music history.

What Defines the Most Streamed Album?

The most streamed album is typically a combination of musical brilliance, strategic promotion, and fan engagement. Streaming numbers reflect how often listeners return to an album, making it a real-time indicator of popularity. Key elements include:

Quality of Music: Albums that feature diverse tracks, compelling lyrics, and innovative production tend to perform better.

Artist Reputation: Established artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, and BTS often dominate because of their loyal fan bases.

Marketing and Promotion: The right mix of social media buzz, collaborations, and pre-release hype ensures maximum visibility.

Playlist Placement: Albums with tracks featured on high-traffic playlists like Spotify’s “Today’s Top Hits” enjoy increased exposure.

Record-Breaking Albums in Streaming History

Over the years, certain albums have shattered records and become cultural milestones. Some of the most notable examples include:

Ed Sheeran’s “Divide”: With chart-topping hits like “Shape of You” and “Perfect,” this album has redefined what it means to create timeless pop music.

Drake’s “Scorpion”: As one of the most streamed albums, “Scorpion” showcases Drake’s versatility and lyrical depth.

Olivia Rodrigo’s “SOUR”: This debut album resonated with Gen Z listeners through its raw emotion and relatable themes.

Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti”: A testament to Latin music’s global appeal, this album dominated streaming charts in 2022.

These albums don’t just stand out for their music; they’ve also mastered the art of creating a narrative that draws fans into their world.

The Role of Streaming Platforms

Platforms like Spotify have revolutionized how music is consumed. For an album to achieve streaming success, the platform plays a crucial role in:

Algorithm-Driven Recommendations: Spotify’s algorithms ensure that trending tracks are recommended to users, increasing play counts.

Customized Playlists: Artists who make it onto curated playlists gain instant visibility, driving streams for their albums.

User Engagement Tools: Features like the ability to create Spotify playlist empower fans to include tracks from their favorite albums, further boosting streams.

Spotify’s global reach has also enabled non-English albums, such as BTS’s “Map of the Soul: 7,” to dominate worldwide charts.

How Social Media Drives Streams

Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter play a pivotal role in driving streams. Viral trends, such as challenges or memes inspired by specific songs, can catapult an album to the status of the most streamed album in no time. For example:

TikTok challenges featuring tracks from Olivia Rodrigo’s “SOUR” contributed significantly to its record-breaking success.

Fans of Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” organized coordinated streaming sessions to maximize its numbers.

By combining organic fan-driven initiatives with paid promotions, artists and labels ensure albums remain in the spotlight.

Challenges in Achieving Streaming Glory

Despite its allure, achieving the title of the most streamed album isn’t without challenges:

Saturation of Content: With thousands of new albums released weekly, standing out requires innovation and persistence.

Changing Listener Preferences: What’s trending today might lose relevance tomorrow, making it essential for artists to stay ahead of the curve.

Streaming Wars: Competing platforms like Apple Music, Tidal, and YouTube Music often divide listenership, impacting overall numbers.

These hurdles make the accomplishments of record-breaking albums all the more impressive.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Streaming Success

As technology evolves, so too will the metrics of success. Innovations like AI-driven music recommendations and interactive listening experiences may redefine how albums achieve the title of most streamed album. Artists who adapt to these changes will undoubtedly lead the next wave of streaming milestones.

Conclusion

The journey to becoming the most streamed album is a blend of creativity, strategy, and the ability to connect with listeners worldwide. From groundbreaking hits to savvy marketing campaigns, each step plays a crucial role in defining an album’s legacy. Whether you’re a casual listener or a die-hard fan, the stories behind these iconic albums make them even more remarkable.

What’s your favorite most-streamed album? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know which records you think will dominate next!

[lonelywhalien22]

I'm so excited for D-DAY! Yoongi is my bias-wrecker in BTS LOL and I'm forever in love with his mindset/lyricism. He has a way of writing things straightforward, but still being comforting (versus Namjoon's very poetic and wise writing style). That's my favorite part too!!! I also liked the reference to IU's 'Eight':

I loved this softer side of 'People Pt 2' and how it reflects Yoongi's growth as an artist and a person! Aaaggghh he's just one of those people that you wish a little extra success for, ya know? Idk - he makes me soft! LOL. All the references to past AUGST D and BTS songs (and maybe even IU's 'Love Poem'???) was tastefully done 🤌🤌🤌 I also really loved seeing him harmonize with IU 😍😍😍 they sounded really good together?! To be frank though . . . I don't quite understand the connection between the original 'People' and 'People Pt 2' yet, but I could also just be thinking too much into it (if you know, help a slow-brained friend out? 😅😂).

OMG OMG OMG NCT Dream concert 😭😭😭 if I had more money I would definitely go again HAHAHA. I think I'm still going through post-concert depression LOL because I woke up kind of down and tired today for no reason 😓

My favorite performance was 'Trigger the Fever' and (surprisingly) 'Saturday Drip'!!! Mark did a little bit of 'Golden Hour' as well so that was fun!!! (Thoughts on this solo song too???) NGL, I had a little bit of Renjun tunnel vision, so I only remember him and bits of Haechan/Mark during 'Trigger the Fever' 😭😂 They looked like they were having so much fun and just feeling themselves, it made me so happy! I'm always a little biased towards rap line performances in Kpop LOL because I just like the hyped vibes. I actually don't listen to 'Saturday Drip' all that much, but the NCT Dream rap line did a really good job with performing it!!!

I'm so sorry with how long this is LOL, but it feels like catching up with an old friend after a minute and I do just really like talking music with you hahaha. Are you going to any other concerts this year other than Ed Sheeran? Happy Tuesday 🤗

@twogyuu don't be sorry about the length of your post because mine is disgustingly long as well. like i'm actually deeply sorry for my word vomit:

Wow that’s a fantastic line from the song you shared as well! Love the sandcastle analogy. And omg the way I missed all the IU song refs…like Love Poem is my fave song from her 💀 (is it obvious i don’t speak korean??? lol 🤣). I love songs where you pick up on something new in the lyrics the more you listen to it! And at the ending when he shared he wrote it during covid like ahhhh I really felt that - It’s been so interesting to me as a music listener to hear works by artists that were made during covid/about covid…I just think it’s fascinating and like this little time capsule/archive of a very specific moment in time where we can see all the different emotions that came from that period and how they were expressed in so many different ways.

Also that is literally such a perfect way to differentiate between Namjoon and Yoongi’s lyrical styles - like you took the feelings right out of my brain and worded them perfectly. Yoongi has always been my favorite of the rap line for that reason. And then jhope is one of those rappers who’s like the vibey rapper if that makes sense??? It’s like his stuff always has this groovy flow to it that’s so distinctly him - I like to think it’s because he’s a dancer too but idk lol.

And girl lol we both need help bc idk what Pt. 2 is referring to either 😭 i’m not one of the kpop lore people, even for the groups I really follow, so I’m always in the comments section learning new things too lol. Heck I barely understand why Set Me Free is a Pt. 2😅 ik bts likes referencing their old music a lot in song titles so I’m just blindly used to that now and don’t question it lol (fellow armys help us with the receipts pls bc I’m useless for this sort of thing lol)

Wow just checked out Trigger the Fever - never heard it since it looks like it was on the very first mini album before I really followed them but omg I love it - it's right up my alley and I love the optimistic vibes and the harmonies they hit are just really pretty to me. Saved on Spotify hehe. idk when they performed it but it sounds like it would be perfect towards the end of the concert when they wanna make the fans all emotional and crap as they start to say goodbye 🥺

Saturday drip is such a great concert choice, I bet the crowd went wild. The super hype songs are always my fav during a concert bc everyone goes crazy and shouts out the iconic parts and it's such a good time!!!

Golden hour wasn’t my vibe BUT i did really like the concept and the mv for some reason. Like it was one of those songs where the mv actually made me vibe with the song more than i would have if i just heard it with no visual. That’s actually one of the things i really love abt kpop in particular - the way they build whole concepts and visual narratives around songs and seeing how it all comes together in the mv…it has definitely opened my ears a lot more if that makes sense and there are so many kpop songs that upon a second listen or bc of something in the mv/choreo/etc. i have come to absolutely love. NCT especially always challenges tf outta me. For ref I am a Sticker enthusiast and I still get crap for that lol but what can I say??? NCT is experimental so i’m always surprised by the songs from them that I wind up liking, and golden hour was memorable if nothing else lol

dont feel bad about reaching out to gush about music!!! normally i don't have any other way to let out my feelings besides watching reaction vids or reading social media comments on my own during comebacks so it's great to have someone to chat with stuff about directly! I really wish I could have seen NCT Dream but the date for my closest city just wasn't the best and I already saw NCT 127 a few months ago with their The Link tour. I was like - I saw Mark recently I don't need to see him again for awhile (LIES) 😭 but Haechan was sick at the time so I didn't get to see him then and I really like him and Renjun ahhh!!! Next time!

You asked about other concerts and BRUH. I can't feel too bad abt missing Dream bc I'm still seeing/have seen so much! Everyone's got that one thing they splurge on and for me it's concerts. Back in 2020, my very first concert was gonna be Map of the Soul with BTS and then…well we all know how that story went 😭😭😭I’m still incredibly sad that I never got to see them all together live before the military service so after that and 2 years of lockdown I was like I have to see as many of my fave acts as I can because you never know when this might be an artist’s last tour for whatever reason. Once i could afford it I started going to as many concerts as I could and haven't looked back. There’s just something about experiencing music live with the artists and other fans around you that just gives me a rush idk i love it!!! Besides Ed (saw ur post and you should totally see him if you can make it work money-wise btw hehe. his tickets are some of the most affordable i've EVER purchased in terms of comparable seats at other concerts <3) I'm also seeing TXT in may WHOOP! And then i managed to get beyonce tickets even though my wallet hated me for awhile after that one ngl. I’m seeing her this one time and that IS IT lol. I heard SM said baekhyun and wayv are gonna have tours so if that’s true i’m gonna try getting tickets for those. I would love to see Ten perform live, he’s one of my faves in all of NCT, and then Baekhyun - I just REALLY need to hear his vocals live lol. Like he could just come out on stage, sing Bambi and then leave, and I’d feel like I’d gotten my money’s worth from that alone 🤣 Hoping to see The Boyz again on tour as well now that Eric is back and doing better but they haven’t announced anything rn. Saw them once but the seats were sooooo bad omg…gotta see them again with a better view because their performances and stage presence are phenomenalllll. I found out about them during Kingdom!

Unfortunately no yoongi for me bc the locations were more limited and I knew it would be a bloodbath lol. Also I still haven't recovered from taylor swift (i truly was one of those peeps in the queue for 8+ hours and still did not get tickets 😭😭😭). next time she tours (please please please let there be a next time istg) i've gotta go.

Not that you asked but since I'm on a roll and can’t shut up - I've seen some other groups in the last year and and hands down, without a doubt, the best for me was Ateez. They are my ult group besides BTS and cannot stress enough omg their stage presence is freaking insaneeeeee. Saw them two nights in a row and have literally no regrets. Best two nights of my life. Came back to my place with voice gone after that second night, ate a post concert meal and passed out in my bed. Was on a high for like a week after and I still miss them lol. Will always try and see them when they’re in my area.

Also recently saw SZA and that was a literal dream. she was amazing and i still have random concert flashbacks every few days.

[roosterforme]

roosterforme's fic challenge #love is in the air tgm

Let's celebrate Valentine's Day the Top Gun way! Choose a love song, any love song that you want, and write a fic about one or more of our favorite Top Gun characters!

Rules:

Please use the #love is in the air tgm hashtag!!!

Once you have your song selected (first come, first served, no duplicates), please send me an ask letting me know which song and character(s) you want to write about. If your song is not listed below, just let me know what you want with your ask and I’ll add it (within reason, of course). If your song has been claimed already, I'll let you know so you can choose another one

You can use the song in the fic however you would like. Use it as the title, use some lyrics, have the song playing in the background, anything you want!

Minimum word count: 1k

There is no real time limit, but please try to post around Valentine's Day, or during the month of February.

Please make sure you tag me (or send me a message) when you post your story so I don’t miss it. I can’t wait to read and reblog!

Please reblog and share this with anyone who may want to participate

If you’re under 18, do not submit or read smut

Songs are listed after the cut:

If you don't see a song you like, send me an ask and I will add it for you!

Current Playlist:

1 @familyvideostevie Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye (Bradley)

2 @semperhuggs Perfect by Ed Sheeran (Jake)

3 @bradshawsbitch You're My Best Friend by Queen (Bob)

4 @gretagerwigsmuse Everlasting Love by Love Affair (Bradley)

5 @bradshawsbaby My Girl by The Temptations (Hannix)

6 @wkndwlff Slow Dancing by Aly & AJ (Jake)

7 @beyondthesefourwalls Wildflowers & Wine by Marcus King (Bradley)

8 @roosterforme Hello, I Love You by The Doors (Bradley)

9 @hangmanbrainrot At Last by Etta James (Jake)

10 @cherrycola27 Desire by U2 (Bradley)

11 @theharddeck Yours by Russell Dickerson (Jake)

12 @bradshawsbaby Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli (Bradley)

13 @wildbornsiren Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis (Bob)

14 @thedroneranger Talk You Out of It by Florida Georgia Line (Jake)

15 @whisperofsong Late Night Talking by Harry Styles (Jake)

16 @mothdruid Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars (Javy)

17 @sometimesanalice Like I Can by Sam Smith (Bradley)

18 @little-wiseone Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding (Jake)

19 @bolaurel You Can't Hurry Love by The Supremes (Bradley)

20 @high-bi-imgonnacry Next Thing You Know by Jordan Davis (Jake)

21 @thedroneranger Kind of Love We Make by Luke Combs (Bradley)

22 @cherrycola27 Burning Up by the Jonas Brothers (Jake)

23 @laracrofted Delicate by Taylor Swift (Bob)

24 @beyondthesefourwalls The Good I’ll Do by Zach Bryan (Jake)

25 @cherrycola27 Until I Found You by Stephen Sanchez (Bradley)

26 @blackwidownat2814 All of Me by John Legend (Jake)

27 @godsfavoritebabe Endless Love by Luther Vandross (Bradley)

28 @cassiemitchell Friends Don’t by Maddie and Tae (Jake)

29 @sylviebell Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift (Rooster x Phoenix)

30 @madsnowstorm Beyond by Leon Bridges ft Luke Combs (Jake)

31 @jynxmirage If I Ain't Got You by Alicia Keys (Bradley)

32 @bussyslayer333 Lovefool by The Cardigans (Bob)

33 @desert-fern La Dah Dee by Cody Simpson (Jake)

34 @cassiemitchell Worldwide by Big Time Rush (Bradley)

35 @jynxmirage Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton (Jake)

36 @desert-fern Dandelions by Ruth B (Natasha)

37 @avaleineandafryingpan Like My Father by Jax (Bob)

38 @roosters-girl Just What I Needed by The Cars (Bradley)

39 @hangmanstigerlily Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon (Jake)

40 @call-sign-shark Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer (Mav)

41 @myfaveficrecs I'll Make Love to You by Boyz II Men (Bradley)

42 @roosterforme The Kind of Girl I Could Love by The Monkees (Bob)

43 @rae-gar-targaryen This Old Heart of Mine by the Isley Brothers (Mickey)

44 @shrimping-for-all Letters by Why Don’t We (Bradley)

45 @bradshawsbitch Secret Love Song by Little Mix (Natasha)

46 @floyd-luvr About You by The 1975 (Bob)

47 @floyd-luvr Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (Bradley)

48 @semperhuggs Need You Tonight by INXS (IceMav)

49 @nocapesdahling You Send Me by Sam Cooke (Jake)

50 @nocapesdahling By Your Side by Sade (Bradley)

51 @ssprayberrythings Black and White by Niall Horan (Jake)

52 @daughterofautumn All You Need Is Love by The Beatles (Mickey)

53 @daughterofautumn Lay All Your Love On Me by ABBA (Bob)

54 @callsignseagull I love you by JP Saxe (Jake)

55 @gennyanydots Untouched by The Veronicas (Bradley)

56 @gennyanydots Here In Your Arms by Hellogoodbye (Bob)

57 @thebirdandthebee Congratulations by Mac Miller (Bradley)

58 @endofdays56 Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx (Bob)

59 @notroosterbradshaw These Arms of Mine by Otis Redding (Bradley)

60 @avengers-fixation I Don't Wanna Set the World On Fire by VoicePlay (Jake)

61 @amysteryspot I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston (Bradley)

62 @beyondthesefourwalls I Don't Love You Like I Used To by John Legend (Javy)

63 @valhallaas Love Me Tender by Elvis (Jake)

64 @daughterofautumn Your Body Is a Wonderland by John Mayer (Mickey)

65 @hangmans-wingman I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith (Jake)

66 @tongue-like-a-razor Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden (Bradley)

67 @tongue-like-a-razor I Wish It Would Rain Down by Phil Collins (Jake)

68 @hurricanerex666 Kiss Goodnight by I Don't Know How But They Found Me (Bradley)

69 @roosterbruiser Fruits of My Labor by Lucinda Williams (Jake)

Songs You May Want To Use:

At Last by Etta James

Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer

Desire by U2

Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye

Just What I Needed by The Cars

You Can't Hurry Love by The Supremes

Late Night Talking by Harry Styles

I'll Make Love To You Boyz II Men

Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis

Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli

Beautiful Stranger by Madonna

Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding

Lovefool by The Cardigans

Best I Ever Had by Drake 

Perfect by Ed Sheeran

Love Story by Taylor Swift

All You Need Is Love by The Beatles

Need You Tonight by INXS

I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

All Of Me by John Legend

Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars

My Girl by The Temptations

[thesinglesjukebox]

BENSON BOONE - "BEAUTIFUL THINGS"

WE ARE SO BACK once again, with a theme day too! Can you guess what it is?

[3.71]

Kayla Beardslee: "Beautiful Things" evokes a desperate, heartfelt plea to a higher power that I, too, often find myself asking when the things I treasure are under threat: that is, Jesus Christ, how do we keep letting men get away with this? [2]

Taylor Alatorre: So much for "Thy will be done," I guess. "Thy will be done, as long as it means I get to keep this hot piece by my side" just doesn't carry the same moral or lyrical weight. Boone's hairless hair metal wailing may bring to mind the nu-glam crossover smash "Lips of an Angel," but even a pro-adultery power ballad with that title manages to avoid being as theologically challenged as this one. Anyway, religion talk over. This is a gawky, lumbering Frankensong whose body is grafted together from the three or four types of rawk music that are allowed on pop radio this decade, and the only reason the score isn't lower is that I'm constitutionally incapable of going below a [2] on a song that prominently features palm-muted guitar. [2]

Julian Axelrod: I didn't know anything about Benson Boone's backstory until I read TSJ Legend Katherine St. Asaph's writeup in Stereogum, but suddenly "Beautiful Things" made perfect sense as an audio origin story. You can hear the American Idol also-ran in the earnest six-string swell of the verses; the Imagine Dragons protege in the pained wails of the chorus; and the years in the TikTok trenches in the way he strings together several 30-second snippets into a semi-coherent whole. I had no idea he was a rollerblader until two days ago, but if you told me this song blew up soundtracking inline skate tricks I would absolutely believe you. [5]

Joshua Lu: It's easy to write this sudden chart-topper off immediately when you see the words "TikTok" and American Idol in Benson Boone's biography, and the familiarity of every component of "Beautiful Things" doesn't help its case. Rarely, however, does a Big Explosive Chorus actually feel earned — Ryan Tedder has been trying to create that exact climax for over a decade — and the ease with which Boone slides into that emotional outpouring tingles my brain. [6]

Jeffrey Brister: Definitely not the most distinctive song, but there’s something in the execution. "Beautiful Things" has momentum: always pushing forward, anchored around Boone’s capable vocal performance. It drops out at the right moment and then absolutely EXPLODES in the chorus. It's like an ideal version of the vaguely bluesy folky hoot-stomp music of the early- to mid-10’s.  [7]

Rachel Saywitz: A mishmash of all our worst musical impulses from the 2010s: Ed Sheeran’s melodramatic pop lilt, Imagine Dragons’ overprocessed and underbaked rage, being inspired by Jon Bellion. I’d have a bit more fondness for “Beautiful Things” if it fully leaned into the Christian hard rock that its hefty chorus pulls from, but Boone’s melodies are already much too drab. Add any more weight, and the cliff he’s standing on would crumble instantly. [3]

Katherine St. Asaph: I kind of like this! Seldom does someone unmarried come off as this much of a Wife Guy. [6]

Isabel Cole: The verses are fine, I guess, but the chorus is so unpleasantly shrill that it zooms right past anxious and even beyond desperate, all the way into the realm of the guy who will physically block the door to keep you from leaving. [2]

Aaron Bergstrom: I have spent far too much time trying to parse these lyrics, and I am no closer to unlocking Benson Boone's theory of relationships, personal or supernatural. There's a simple chauvinist reading here: girls are "things," lacking in agency, given to men by God. Then again, chauvinism requires a belief in male superiority, and Boone seems to ascribe even less agency to himself. His mindset is something akin to learned helplessness: these "things" may be taken from him on the capricious whims of forces wholly outside his control. It's not exactly Calvinist, as the future is still in flux, but there is nothing he can do to win or lose God's favor. In the later verses, Boone gestures at acceptance: the idea that peace and sanity will come when he stops trying to exert his will in relation to the "things" is vaguely Taoist. Of course, this is immediately undone by the theatrical outburst of a chorus, pleading simultaneously with a girl who can't help him and a God who won't, and we're right back where we started. So "Beautiful Things" is either a studied meditation on the human mind's ability to entertain multiple contradictory thoughts at the same time, or it's a lazy, jumbled mess of a song that I have now spent more time thinking about than Benson Boone ever did. [2]

Nortey Dowuona: The first verse is bland, unobjectionable pablum of the Noah Kahan variety, then the pre-chorus is a slimy plea for her continued presence. Then, apropos of nothing, Boone pleads to God not to take the beautiful things he has. He can't grasp the fears that make him believe he could lose his girlfriend, parents, fragile sense of self -- he just pleads with an imaginary figure to hold onto the very real relationships he has, which he refers to as things. Things are cupboards, chairs, chips -- creations of those who need them to be fed, to rest, to store food and clothes and sentimental trinkets. They can be beautiful, but they cannot be taken away by a God, simply forgotten or destroyed by people. Boone's plea, which feels more like a demand, feels shrill and weak, unable to carry the sentiments it is supposed to express. The blustery, frustrated delivery of the chorus is appealing but feels out of nowhere -- Boone is plaintive, even ruminating as the first verse trickles forth. The second verse is more compact, but its brevity sucks the power of the second chorus, since we are launched into a bellow after a whisper: unsettling and irritating, rather then engrossing and emboldening. The inability of Boone and producer/engineer Evan Blair to properly capture this despair forces mixing engineer Serban Ghenea to make certain leveling and processing choices to Boone's voice and the piano that further sabotage the song due to the failings upstream. But ultimately, unlike some other folks here, I don't hold this against Benson and his team. Grappling with the unending despair that comes with being a human being, then finding reasons in the relationships you have with your parental figures/romantic/platonic partners to not succumb, then fearing the loss of these relationships plunging you even deeper into that despair, is difficult. Many a songwriter has failed to convey these emotions. And failing to convey them is painful, but it is not worth any vitriol. [4]

Alfred Soto: He's cuddly, and he doesn't care who knows it. Take his beautiful things and he gets mad. Or "mad." I believe the rage like I believe the second half's rock freak-out, i.e. not at all. All is not lost: he's got passion, can leverage the sincerity, and, best, has good hair.  [5]

Brad Shoup: Boone's divebombs on the chorus are so post-grunge, it's like he's regifting a heart-shaped box. He's certainly not desperate enough to hold my interest, nor to distinguish his voice from any host of TV-soul mushmouths. [4]

Dave Moore: I instinctively shuddered when this started, but then the Adam Lambert glam whoa-oa-oas came in and I remembered, and even sort of missed, the important role of American Idol in the pop schlock ecosystem (Boone auditioned but withdrew). I guess AmIdol is like college now -- why take on the debt when you've already got a job lined up? Anyway, I can tell this guy must already be or at some point will be enormous because I immediately thought of three family members I should send this song to. [5]

Ian Mathers: I always knew there'd come a point where I felt like an old and out-of-touch curmudgeon when it comes to pop music. I hoped with the optimism of youth that it wouldn't happen, but c'mon: why would I be the exception? It is profoundly disappointing that when it came, it was a lot less "I cannot understand these radical new genres, sounds, thoughts, emotions that are happening around me" and a lot more "can I please opt out of hearing generic pop/rock for as long as people are going to sing like this, it is profoundly annoying." [3]

Andrew Karpan: Despite his repeated, bleating agitated, sadboynumeta-framed requests to the contrary, someone really should take “all the beautiful things” away from this evil, short-mustached man.  [2]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: Really interesting as a piece of work without ever being "pleasant" or "good to listen to." The verses feel like a calculated attempt to write one's first song, all of the obvious plainspokenness and gee-shucks invocations of the almighty lined up with a clean execution that actual first songs tend to lack. The chorus is something else entirely, a rootsy stab at the soulful dubstep pop moment of about a decade ago. "Beautiful Things" is a puzzle with only unsatisfying conclusions, all of its choices together amounting to nothing much at all. [3]

Leah Isobel: Gormless. [2]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox ]

[sincerelylaurel]

how to make a wip playlist

@writingwithacutlass on instagram <3

source: me :)

hello and welcome back to my page! today’s post is exciting because i absolutely l o v e making playlists for my wip and characters. i know lots of you have playlists for your wip, but i’m sure many of you are wondering where to start, where to find songs that fit your wip’s vibes, etc. luckily for you, i’m here to help you with that :) let’s get on with the post!

characters

probably the first thing you want to brainstorm songs for is your characters. i prefer to make individual playlists for each of my main characters, but you can add these songs to your wip playlist as well. things to think about: their childhood, their personality, pivotal events in their life, their relationships, etc.

plot

the second thing you’ll want to find songs for is your wip’s plot. what songs would be playing during certain scenes in your wip if it was adapted into a movie? it can be helpful to think of your wip playlist as a soundtrack! for example, if your wip contains lots of battle scenes, artists like ruelle and valerie broussard have some very cool battlefield-type songs! if you’re writing a contemporary romance, find some fluff songs like cloud 9, or some angsty or sad breakup songs such as champagne problems or last kiss by taylor swift.

vibes

this is key to creating a perfect wip playlist! okay maybe this is just me since literally everything i do is based on ✨vibes✨ but you know what i mean. think movie soundtracks—the overall vibes of the song are just as important as the lyrics. is it ethereal or spooky? does it sound like a fairy could be playing this on a pink mushroom? does it make you feel like you’re standing on the battlefield with a sword in your hand? how does it make you feel?

where to find songs?

now you may be wondering, where on earth do i find songs that fit my wip ?? fear not, i’ve got you covered. i recommend using spotify because it gives you song suggestions to add to your playlist based on the songs you’ve already added to it! i haven’t used any music streaming app besides spotify so maybe there’s others that do this as well but yeah. you can also find playlists that other people have already made and choose songs from there! for example if you have a scene in which a character is running from the cops, you could search “running from cops” and a bunch of playlists with that title will come up, and you can listen to those and choose songs you think fit.

songs starter pack

and because i’m just that helpful, here are some artists whose songs might fit your wip based on its genre / vibes. and you simultaneously get to experience some of my superior music taste. you’re welcome <3

fantasy: ruelle, valerie broussard, halsey, fleurie, tommee profitt, beth crowley, SVRCINA, ramin djawadi

romance: taylor swift, ed sheeran, olivia rodrigo, lana del rey, bruno mars, harry styles

mystery / thriller: billie eilish, lana del rey, ruelle, lorde

scifi: michael giacchino, hans zimmer, alan silvestri

dystopian: imagine dragons, lorde, billie eilish, 2WEI, arctic monkeys, J2, hidden citizens

contemporary: taylor swift, olivia rodrigo, conan gray, girl in red, clairo, dodie

[jeongvision]

unconditional love

synopsis. if you were to ask yourself, ‘when did you realize that you were in love with lee jeno?’, you wouldn’t know how to respond. in fact, there was never a moment where you weren’t in love with him. but what happens when he asks you the same question? you might have to take a rain check, literally.

pairing. best friend! lee jeno ✗ fem! reader

genre. fluff, humor, childhood friends au, friends to lovers au

word count. 1.6k

warnings. none! but highkey though this made me fall in love with jeno :(

song. walking in the rain by chancellor & younha

author’s note. happy birthday @sehunniepotwrites​!​ not sure if this is fluffy enough for you but hope you enjoy this lil blurb! cheers to another one of your milestones and many more in life!

ps. there are two lines in this fic that are from a poem written by e.e. cummings! not going to say which ones or the title of the poem bc it might spoil future plans i have oop

You were one of the few fortunate people on the planet to still be friends with someone from your childhood. To have so many worthwhile memories shared with someone must be cherished at all cost. And many times were you afraid that Jeno might get tired of being friends with you, but being the ethereal person he is, he casted all your worries away and assured you that he had no plans on leaving you any time soon.

And perhaps somewhere down the line, the love you had for him went far beyond what people would label as ‘friendship,’ and dared enough to say, you were in love with him. If a stranger were to describe how you looked whenever you were with him, many would describe you to be enamored.

And if you happened to be enamored for your childhood friend, then so be it.

You fear no fate, for he is your fate, your sweet.

“Can I ask you something, y/n?”

Currently, you two are sat outside of a café near your home: 7 Dreams. It was a beautiful day out, the sun warming the air around you, flutters of clouds scattered throughout the blue sky. You expressed your desires to Jeno earlier that you wanted to sit out on the tables they placed outside their shop. It has been a little chilly from the past few days with occasional rain showers here and there, and you want nothing more than to relish in the warm weather after days of being forced into the solitude of your home.

“Sure. What is it?”

But before you could take a sip of your green tea latte, you’re thrown off by his question.

“When did you first fall in love with me?”

Your fingers stilled at the ceramic handle of your mug. You didn’t know what brought that question to the latter’s mind. Granted, you two have had your fair shares of flirtations and courtship, but never acted beyond past it. It was all done with jest, as you two would put it. You could easily lie to him, saying that you only saw him as a friend, but never to yourself; your heart betrays you with palpitations and inclinations for your best friend from just the mere thought of him.

You forced a stoic expression on your face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He huffs out a breath from your response.

“Y/n, there’s no point in trying to hide it. I’ve known you for almost my whole life, so I know when you’re lying to me. The look you give me is different from how you looked at Johnny when you two were together.”

A snort escapes from your lips.

“And what does my ex have to do with this?” You could see a teasing grin poke through his demeanor, prompting an eye roll from you.

“So you admit that you do look at me differently then.”

“No, Jeno, I am not admitting to anything. And even if I did look at you differently, how would you know if I was in love with you?”

“Because you would’ve denied it by now. And right now, you’re just stepping around the question.”

You squint your eyes a little, to which Jeno does the same back.

“Oh, so I’m the bad guy now? How about when I asked you for the name of the person you liked a couple years back?”

And so, his eyebrows rise a little at your bold question, head tilted a little to the side.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he counters.

You couldn’t help but let out an incredulous laugh, your head shaking from disbelief.

“Oh, don’t fake naivety, Jeno. Senior prom, when we were each other’s date because you ‘didn’t receive any prom-posals from anyone’, when I knew fully well that you received many of them from both guys AND girls. You just denied them all.”

You could clearly play the memory out in the back of your head, a movie projector showcasing your youthful-self slow dancing with a bashful Jeno in the middle of the dance floor, your arms wrapped his neck and his hands on your waist. Both of your feet moved in sync with one another, eyes searching within the depths of each other’s soul, oblivious of the whispers and stares around you that spoke nothing short but envy for the sight that laid before them is one worth capturing.

“We were dancing to Hearts Don’t Break Around Here. You know, the one by Ed Sheeran?” you followed.

His smile grows fond at the memory of it.

“Oh, we’re in love, aren’t we?”

“Jeno!” You give a light slap on his forearm and he laughs at your response. “Now is not the time to start saying song lyrics!”

It’s a wonder how you managed to last this long from professing your feelings out to him. You two did almost everything together and experienced many firsts together. First road trip together, first beach date together - you even experienced your first pet purchase together. So what’s stopping you from confessing to him?

“Look, what I’m trying to say is that I have a feeling that you’re in love with me,” you said.

There’s a glint in his eyes filled with mirth.

“And how can you be so sure?”

“Because of the way you look at me?”

“And it’s the same way as how you look at me?”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure.”

“So you admit that you’re in love with me.”

Before you could continue on with your playful banter, you stopped yourself short. You take a moment to process his words in. Wait, did he just? Your words get caught in your throat. Did he just admit that he feels the same way towards me?

He notices your shock and uses this moment to his advantage to continue on, each word laced with certainty.

“If you’re saying that the way you look at me is the same as how I look at you, then that means that you are in love with me, because I don’t know how else to say that I am very much in love with you, y/n.”

Heat resonates all throughout your body. Your heart beats erratically and you’re at loss of words. Flustered you are, but who wouldn’t be? For years, you’ve pinned after your best friend, hoping for the day to come where he reciprocates your feelings. You had an inkling that he had some sort of romantic feelings for you as he always seemed to reject everyone’s relationship proposal, justifying his reasoning to be that there’s already someone he likes.

“Who is it?”

“An angel.”

“What’s their name?”

“Something pretty.”

“Jeno.”

“Y/n.”

And you just drop the conversation like that, frustrated by his vague answers. But nevertheless, you could never get tired of him. Something about him gravitates you towards him, the feelings you’ve harbored in secrecy burning brighter than ever whenever you’re by his side. He’s not perfect, but to you, he’s the best thing to appear in your life. From the crinkling of his eyes to the sweet smiles of his lips to the red tint of his neck and ears.

You want no world, for he is your entire world, your true.

“Look, it’s raining.”

Breaking out of your reverie, you look up to Jeno to see him peering out on the streets. You follow suit to see raindrops falling onto the pavement. It slowly gains momentum, growing heavier and louder with each passing second. Fortunately, you two are shielded from the rain with the veranda attached to the cafe. The sun peaks through the crevices of the clouds, still lighting the world around you with a subtle rainbow blossoming up into the spring sky.

You hear Jeno let out a laugh, bringing your attention back to him. There’s a wistful smile on his face when he asks you, “Remember when we were little, we would always run out in the rain on the concrete and just jump around? Pretend that we were in some kind of movie?”

You mirror his expression, your mind replaying a distant memory you shared with him.

“Our parents would always yell at us for that, saying we’ll get sick if we don’t stop.”

Your gaze trails back out onto the pavements. Then, you felt an itch in your fingers, an itch in your feet. Not literally, but you have this sudden urge to move. To dance. To celebrate. To relive those moments once more.

It’s almost as if the stars were aligned at that moment and heard your wishes, because you see Jeno get up from his seat and take a step forward and immerse himself out into the rain. His entire figure instantly gets drenched from the falling raindrops, not caring for a single second that he might catch a cold from his actions. Before you could call out to him, he looks back at you with a grin, and perhaps it might be your most favorite accessory he wears on himself.

He offers his hand out to you.

“May I have this dance, ma chérie?”

You’re taken back to the same distant memory again. Every single time, without fail, young Jeno would always ask for your hand to dance with him under the rain, to which you would always oblige with, “Well, of course mon cher.” But this time, you decide to switch it up a little.

You stand up from your seat and step closer to your best friend, a push away from falling victim to the rain with him. Your pupil flourishes with adoration for the man that stands before you.

“Only if you hold onto my hand, mon cher.”

He raises an eyebrow at your proposition. Amused he is, for there is a sliver of smirk adorned on his lips.

“Is that a threat, ma chérie?”

If Jeno were to ask you again when you first fell in love with him...

“It’s an invitation, mon cher.”

… you would say that you were always in love with him.

“If it’s like that, then I’d never let you go.”

[lochsides]

You Signed Up For This Review

If you're following me, you really did sign up for this review. I love that the title of this album lends itself to so many puns. Maybe that was the second indication that I would adore this album (the first being that its a Maisie Peters album). God, where do I even begin to review the pop mastery that is YSUFT? The album is both cohesive and chaotic in the best way possible. Maisie is one of those songwriters who approaches writing with quick wit and personality. That’s my biggest takeaway from this album. YSUFT has so much personality. It is very authentic while being refreshing. I’m so glad it finally here, to be consumed in all its glory. She really hit it out of the park and it was well worth the wait. There is not a single skip.

For those of you interested, below the cut you will find a review for each song. My favourites are 'I'm Trying (Not Friends)', ‘Love Him, I Don’t’, ‘Hollow’, ‘Villain’, ‘Brooklyn’, ‘Elvis Song’ and ‘Volcano’ — yes I know that’s half the album. This is my review and I make the rules. I've also included a little ranking at the very end.

You Signed Up For This — This song has so much main character energy. My favourite thing about Maisie as a songwriter is that her songwriting has a sense of humour to it. This song says so much in 3 minutes and 15 seconds. Its the perfect album opener, particularly for a debut album, but it's also a really good introduction to Maisie Peters for new listeners and old fans alike.

I'm Trying (Not Friends) — I can't decide what my favourite part of this song is: her sharp, witty songwriting or the cadence. This is what I mean when I say that the album is authentic while being refreshing. The cadence is unlike anything I’ve heard before, especially from Maisie, but the passive- aggressive lyrics are so Maisie. She has always had this unvarnished honesty to her songwriting that I really appreciate about her.

John Hughes Movie — Pop perfection! That's it, that's the review. I love the message of this song. It has a sense of self-worth and confidence despite being let down. And when I tell you I adore the fuck out of the bridge of 'JHM', it's an understatement. It was actually the perfect lead single for an album with so much main character energy.

Outdoor Pool — 'Outdoor Pool' is basically Fifteen (Maisie’s Version), when all you wanted was to be wanted. She really captured that in this song. I felt so sad listening to it because 15 really is such a delicate age. The music and production felt very cinematic to me and that really brought to life this story that she was telling. It really is almost Skins. I have so much affection for this song in like a big sister way.

Love Him, I Don't — Ooft, this song hurt my feelings. The production at the start with her ‘ooh’s was already chilling but then she hit me with ‘I wasn’t eating and you still said nothing’ and ‘guess that was my stubborn season’ and took me out. ‘Love Him, I Don’t’ is a song about toxicity and I’ve been there. I have friends who have been there. The lyric ‘what a waste of your twenties’ reminded me of a relationship my best friend was in. There are so many little details in this song that make it so relatable in a way the hurts. I love the melody of the pre-chorus and chorus, and then she goes and strips it back in the last verse. The whole song is a 5-star experience. It's so raw and the emotion in her vocal takes it to another level.

Psycho — Maisie Peters said feral girl summer and make it catchy. There are two bridges in this song. That should be enough to sell me, but she had to go and write ‘you made me feel so useful then so used.’ All in all though, ‘Psycho’ is probably my least favourite and that’s only because there are so many good songs on this album that outrank this.

Boy — I’m joining Maisie Peters’ fight to take away men’s rights because valid. It’s funny because I can hear Ed Sheeran’s writing in this song, mostly in the production. I love the tone throughout this song, but specifically when she says 'I can tell that you've never been hugged, boy.' It's sassy as fuck and I love that for her. My favourite aspect of 'Boy' is that the catchiest part, the one that is most likely to get stuck in our heads. is 'I can do better than this' and that feels very intentional, like a little message from Maisie reminding us that we can do better than The Boy ™️.

Hollow — 'Hollow' is such a good heartbreak ballad. It has all the makings of a great classic pop ballad, from the piano to the production to the poetic lyrics. Was it fair of her to put the lyrics 'now I'm a comma in your explanation of your learning curves and your mistakes' in the same song, in the same verse, as 'you're the one that got away and you got away with a lot' and then follow it up with a bridge of memories and 'I just miss my friend'? Let's discuss. I think the reason I, personally, love this song so much is the lyrical links to other songs like 'Villain' ('now you're kissing that girl I shouldn't worry about'), 'Volcano' ('you got away with it') and 'Tough Act' ('saying goodbye to a best friend' / 'drain it all 'til its all so hollow'). I love it when there are layers to a story.

Villain — I’ve had the hook of ‘Villain’ stuck in my head all morning. The way she explores rage in this song as something bitter that we all swallow but it burns the whole way down our throats, that dichotomy being explored through the subtlety of the production and the feral lyrics, is absolute genius. The song is told through the perspective of someone that feels wronged but they are still the villain of someone else's story and that's something I can personally relate to. I love how much angst is in the bridge, aided by the build up in the production, as she sings 'whole town's gonna hear how you messed me up.' Truly excellent songwriting.

Brooklyn — I think Maisie absolutely shines when writing songs about her sister. 'Personal Best' is my most played song on Apple Music, ever. 'Brooklyn' is almost like a continuation of that, or a deeper dive into her relationship with her sister. The storytelling aspect of this song feels very organic, like a friend telling you all about the adventure of their transatlantic trip over a cup of coffee. And the production is chef's kiss.

Elvis Song — I think this song is the one I connect with the most. The nostalgia factor always gets me and that's what this entire song is. Is the whole second verse a callout? Maybe. It's fine. If I end up calling the person this song makes me think about, it's Maisie's fault. My favourite lyric is 'I was scared to throw my heart off the edge, easier to tell myself we'd mess it up instead, so I left.' That line reads me, but it also captures the tone of regret that comes with reflection on something that ended. The production of 'Elvis Song' gives me old-flame montage vibes. I think it's the perfect candidate for an end-of-summer single.

Talking To Strangers — 'Talking To Strangers' is such a cute song. The whole concept of random people knowing such minute details about your life, that maybe even the people in your life would overlook, just because this one person that loves you so much can't help but tell everyone they meet about you is so fucking romantic. This is such a romantic song. It is 'this made me think of you' in a song except instead of telling the person you think of, you're telling literally everyone that it made you think of them.

Volcano — 'Volcano' is very reminiscent of Maisie's musical roots, which is why this song is one of my favourites. The lyrics are an actual gut punch and her vocal delivery only makes it hit harder. I think the lines that really get me each time are 'in the silence when you stood there, you just stood there' and the bits in the chorus where she sings 'and your friends said nothing' or 'and the world said nothing.' When you're in a situation that can be toxic, it fucking hurts when no one says anything. Then you look back on it and wonder 'why did no one stop you from absolutely breaking me?'

Tough Act — I think many of the songs on YUSFT accumulate to 'Tough Act' and placing it as the album closer makes so much sense in terms of closure from a lot of these stories that Maisie has shared with us. 'Tough Act' is acknowledgement and growth. I think this is best described in the lyric 'I got busy and you forgot how to miss me when I'm not much of who you grew up with.' She has come to terms with the fact that things have changed and this break up is just 'the bad part of the right thing to do.' The melody of this song is so beautiful and it's only heightened when those strings come in under the piano. Maisie's lovely vocals are the cherry on top.

Ranking the songs on this album was so difficult because each one is so outstanding. I think YSUFT is honestly one of the best pop debuts in recent history. She absolutely nailed it.

Love Him, I Don't

Volcano

Villain

I'm Trying (Not Friends)

Elvis Song

Hollow

Brooklyn

Outdoor Pool

Tough Act

You Signed Up For This

Talking To Strangers

John Hughes Movie

Boy

Psycho