#the baby blake shelton

[self-humsafar]

when lorde said "my mother's love is chokin' me" and lou le blanc said "grief for the mother she could have been" and helene aquilla said "curse this world for what it does to the mothers, for what it does to the daughters" but also, also when blake shelton said "she would always save me because I was her baby"

[bigforeheadbaddie]

Fuck you, I’m a girl!

Just A Girl - No Doubt / Live in Holland circa 1997

[paigesfuturewifey]

authors note! IM SORRY FOR BEING MIA college was kicking my ass (still is) and i’m trying my hardest not to crash out but here is an angsty fic :D

this is also heavily inspired by she wouldn’t be gone by blake shelton IK IK country music sue me it is unfortunately part of my roots so yes here she is

“i’m sick of this caitlin!”

you two had been going back and forth for a while about this, both too stubborn to admit who was in the right and who was in the wrong.

it’d been two months since caitlin went first pick in the wnba draft. two months of caitlin continuously forgetting about your date nights, two months of caitlin lagging hours on end and then eventually responding to your messages with one word replies, two months of wondering if caitlin would be home from practice at a decent hour or if you’d go to sleep in a cold, empty bed.

two. fucking. months.

of course, you understood the fact that caitlin’s job required almost all of her undivided attention and you were extremely proud of her and all her accomplishments.

but being second priority to her job was taking a toll on your mental health.

you were tired of being alone all the time. the sacrifices you made, picking up everything and moving to indiana with caitlin to be with her, felt pretty fruitless when you had barely seen her in your own apartment.

caitlin’s response came low at first as she rubbed her temples, “what do you want me to do?” and then she repeated it louder, throwing her arms up in frustration, “what do you want me to do?!”

“i want you to be here! you’re never here anymore, caitlin! i’m alone ALL THE TIME now!”

“that’s not fair. i’m doing this for us! for— for you!”

you shook your head, pointing an accusatory finger at her. “no. no. not for me. this is what you wanted! you wanted this! i didn’t—“

“i didn’t ask you to move to indiana with me!”

the statement felt like a slap to the face. caitlin, of all people, knew how hard of a decision it was to move to indiana. to be away from your family. your sister, your parents.

caitlin never pressured you into it, of course. she was insistent that if you had decided to stay in iowa, you’d make long distance work. but when you ultimately decided to stay with, whom you thought was the love of your life, caitlin couldn’t of been more happier.

the two of your popped a bottle of champagne in celebration and spent the night talking, laughing, planning your futures together.

a bittersweet memory that seemed so distant at the moment.

as you narrowed your eyes, you felt a tear roll down your cheek, followed by three or two more. “you know what, caitlin? you’re right. you didn’t ask. but it was a sacrifice i was willing to make for you!”

“you’re not the only one making sacrifices—“

the mere start of the sentence had you letting out a laugh, putting your hands behind your head as you paced back and forth. “you’re not listening.”

“i am listening—“

“no! you’re hearing me but you’re not listening to me!”

silence fell upon the two of you, both contemplating your next words because you both knew you guys were pretty close to crossing lines that couldn’t be uncrossed.

you placed your hands on the counter, leaning on it while hanging your head low, letting the tears drop onto the floor. “i can’t do this anymore,” you finally let out in a small whisper, but it hit caitlin in the gut. “i don’t want a life where i spend more time waiting for you than being with you.”

“you don’t mean that. please baby, stop.” caitlin’s warm hands were suddenly around your waist, leaning her head on your shoulder and kissing softly. “let’s just go to bed, yeah? i promise, i promise things will be different, okay? i’ll make more of an effort. i’ll try and get home on time for dinner. i know things aren’t easy right now, but i can’t lose you. we’ll figure it out, i’ll— i’ll try harder. okay?”

but even when those words eased your mind a little, you both knew the promise wouldn’t be kept.

so it wasn’t really a shock to you when you sat at the dinner table, candles lit and your meal sitting in front of you with the empty chair across from you.

you cooked caitlin’s favorite meal, wore her favorite set underneath your clothes that was her favorite color. you looked at the clock, and when it read 10:30, you scoffed.

you were fed up. you were well over your boiling point.

and, so, when caitlin entered your guys’ apartment at midnight, her heart ached a little at the sight of your untouched meals at the table, and candle she assumed was lit at one point.

she rubbed a hand over her face, quickly walking to your shared room. then she froze in her spot.

your side of the room was empty. from your nightstand being stripped of its decorations, to your side of the closet being completely empty.

the suitcases you used for when you guys planned vacations were gone. along her your toothbrush, makeup, hair products, basically everything that made your shared apartment shared was gone.

caitlin wasted no time picking up her phone and clicking your contact, holding the phone to her ear. she anxiously waited, suddenly feeling as if her whole life was falling apart.

voicemail. she tried seven more times. all went straight to voicemail.

her mind immediately went straight to denial, there was no way you picked up and left, right? you always said you would, but caitlin never believed you. never truly believed you.

or maybe she just didn’t listen to you.

she snatched her keys from the table, leaving the apartment and shutting the door loudly behind her. she bet all her money that her neighbors hated her.

that’s how she ended up in her car, speeding down the highway on a rainy night, frantically calling all of your shared friends.

she started with your mom, driving down the road at 90 miles an hour and switching lanes like an absolute maniac. she’d gotten honked at at least four times already.

“caitlin.” your mom greeted, though judging by her cold and and distant tone, and her use of caitlin’s full name instead of cait, caitlin could tell the news had no doubt got back to her.

“do you know where she is, mrs. l/n?” her question came right off the bat, figuring she had no time to waste in finding you.

your mom’s answer was quiet. and caitlin learned your families habits quickly enough to know that when she went quiet, she was lying. “please—“

“i’m afraid i can’t speak with you now, goodbye caitlin.”

then the line went dead.

with her left hand on the steering wheel, she punched the middle with her right and threw her head back.

her next call was kate because you three all had been very close throughout your iowa college years. kate always understood you in a way that made caitlin jealous.

and for a while, she she was a topic of argument in your relationship because caitlin constantly needed reassurance that she was the one you wanted.

there was clearly a rift in caitlin and kate’s friendship after, but after the move to indiana, they seemed to be mending their friendship. until now.

kate answered on the first ring with a hard question. “what’d you do, clark?”

“kate, i— i fucked up. she’s gone. i don’t know where she went. her stuff’s gone, her clothes are gone, she’s gone.”

“damn it, caitlin. you always do this shit— you drove her away, again.“

“do you know where she is?” caitlin demanded, arriving to her first destination.

“no.”

“you’re lying.”

“no i’m not—“

“i should’ve figured you wouldn’t help me find her. you’ve always been pathetically in love with her, ever since college.” caitlin scoffed out bitterly.

“caitlin—“

“know what? no. you’ve always been on her side, since day one. i can’t even do this right now—“

“you’re frustrated with yourself, about driving y/n away, so your picking a fight with me.” kate spoke calmly, fueling caitlin’s anger.

“don’t fucking psycho analyze me, right now martin.” with that she abruptly ended the call, getting out of the car and walking into the ice cream shop the both of you loved dearly.

after that, she went to your favorite coffee shop, after that, nalyssa’s apartment, then aliyah’s, then the hotel near your apartment.

she held her face in her hands, finally letting the sobs ripple through her. she suddenly realized how under appreciated your voice was. she was forgetting how sweet it was, how beautiful it was when you hummed her to sleep.

she was forgetting your voice already.

and she realized that she should’ve fought harder. should’ve told you how much she loved you, cherished you, needed you.

maybe, just maybe, if she had done that, you wouldn’t be gone.

safe to say caitlin didn’t find you that night, and no one told her where you might’ve went.

[youremyheaven]

vedic astrology observations pt 2

in my previous post i had briefly talked about how moon influence, cancer rashi, jupiter influence tend to give the natives a large chest and make them very curvy. ill expand more on that here:

Pushya (cancer rashi) stellium (sun, rising and venus) Selena Gomez is known for her generous curves

Hasta sun, Pushya moon + mars native Monica Bellucci is known for her luscious curves

Punarvasu sun & moon, Sofia Vergara is blessed with a big bosom

Vishaka moon, Pushya mars & rahu, Hasta jupiter & saturn Beyonce made it cool to be curvy back in the day

Punarvasu moon, Penelope Cruz

Punarvasu moon, Mariah Carey

Purvabhadrapada sun & mercury, Alexandra Daddario

Milana Vayntrub, Purvabhadrapada sun & rising

2. Serpent Yoni is present in the charts of most seductresses/femme fatales/sex symbols. Nakshatras associated with snakes, like Ashlesha, Rahuvian nakshatras (rahu is linked to serpent), UBP etc are also commonly found in the charts of many sirens 🐍

Rohini sun, Angelina Jolie. Her atmakaraka is her mercury in mrigashira

Mrigashira moon, Jennifer Lawrence (she also has Ashlesha sun)

Natalie Portman, mrigashira sun

Megan Fox, venus in mrigashira atmakaraka (moon in ashlesha)

Margot Robbie, swati moon (rahu is associated with snakes) and has venus in rohini

Parveen Babi, Mrigashira moon

Urmila Matondkar, saturn and ketu in Mrigashira

Sridevi, ashlesha stellium (sun, rising and venus)

Mila Kunis, sun in ashlesha, moon in swati

Marilyn Monroe, sun & mercury in rohini

Pola Negri, a silent era sex symbol, rohini mars and ketu in ashlesha

Theda Bara, the first ever sex symbol had UBP rising

Clara Bow, the woman because of whom the term "it girl" was coined, had venus in mrigashira atmakaraka

Snakes have long been associated with mysticism, hypnotism and evil. A seductive woman can put anyone into a trance and make them lose their mind and forget the reality they inhabit, similar to how a snake charmer can make a snake twist and turn according to their will by playing certain tunes, a highly magnetic woman can get anything she wants by channelling her inner serpent.

3. Homewreckers, Mistresses and Concubines

Camilla Parker Bowles is probably one of the most famous mistresses in the modern era. She has Punarvasu sun & mercury and is Pushya rising

Monica Lewinsky has Pushya sun & Punarvasu mercury

Angelina Jolie has Pushya venus & rising, along with Saturn in Punarvasu amatyakaraka

for those of you who don't know, Ben Affleck cheated on JLo with Jennifer Garner and then married her. JGarner has Ketu in Pushya whereas JLo is a Pushya moon

Tom Brady left his pregnant wife to marry Gisele Bundchen, who has Pushya sun and Punarvasu mercury

Blake Shelton was still married to Miranda Lambert when he started seeing Gwen Stefani who has Punarvasu moon

Madhuri Dixit, in perhaps her most iconic role, plays a courtesan named Chandramukhi in the movie Devdas. She has Pushya moon conjunct Jupiter

its pretty well known that Priyanka Chopra had an affair with the much married Shah Rukh Khan (not the first time she was accused of being a mistress) PC is Punarvasu sun & mercury

Marlene Dietrich who was best known for playing femme fatale- esque, mistress-y roles had Pushya moon

I was very surprised to find Punarvasu and Pushya nakshatras crop up so often as they're often considered to be the "goody good girls" but perhaps this is what makes them so desirable to men, so much so that they're ready to wreck and ruin their lives, careers and marriages to chase these women. I had mentioned in another post about how since Cancer is the most feminine sign, women with these placements are often considered the ideal wife/gf and I suppose this is the shadow side to that. Desirability is a double edged sword and must be wielded carefully. obviously i dont condone cheating nor am i making it sound like a positive thing but i thought it was an interesting recurring pattern nonetheless!!

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

tumblr only allows 30 images per post so this is part 1<3

[happinessismusic]

Gwen Stefani's middle son is officially 16!

On Thursday, Aug. 22, the singer, 54, shared a Reel on her Instagram filled with sweet throwback photos of her son Zuma as he celebrated his 16th birthday. The proud mom included baby photos and pictures of Zuma growing up, as well as a few clips of the teenager playing guitar.

"Happy Sweet 16, Zuma !! we love u SO much !! 🎉🎂," she wrote in her caption.

xxx xxx xxx

At the end of July, Zuma made his stage debut when he joined stepdad Blake Shelton at his Ole Red bar in Tishomingo, Okla.

Before he walked out on stage, Shelton introduced his stepson, with the two wearing matching cowboy hats. In a fan video, Zuma could be seen sitting down as Shelton adjusted his microphone and went, "This is him, everybody!"

In the video, the "God's Country" singer stood to the side as Zuma covered Zach Bryan's song "Oklahoma Smokeshow," sitting on a stool while singing and playing the guitar.

[caplanbuckybarnes]

Songs4Caplan Challenge

(I located an older song fic challenge from a deleted blog I had that had this graphic on it. LOL)

Rules:

Tag me in the authors notes & send me a message with yuor fic once it's posted! (along with the hashtag so I know which Masterlist to place the fic when I post it)

Please tag the proper warnings before the fic

Can be ANY CHARACTER YOU'D LIKE!!

More than one person can write for the same prompts

RPFs are allowed

If you’d like to write for more than one song, please make them separate fics

the songs are randomly picked from my playlist, so don't judge lol.

Can be however long you’d like the fic to be, however, please be considerate to the folks using the app and place the 'keep reading' feature on your posts!!

PLEASE tag the fic as #songs4caplan so i can easily find your fics!!!

Addicted to you simple plan

Africa Toto 

All downhill from here new found glory 

All for you sister hazel 

All summer long kid Rock 

Alone together fall out boy

Amnesia 5 seconds of summer

Animals maroon 5

As it was Harry styles 

as the world caves in Sarah cothran

Ashes of Eden breaking Benjamin 

Attention Charlie put 

Bad guy Billie eillish 

Bad things jace Everett

Beautiful mistakes maroon 5

Beautiful soul Jesse McCartney 

Before he cheats carrie underwood 

Before you go Lewis capaldi 

Beggin maneskin 

Better than me hinder

Blue ain’t your color Keith urban 

Burn usher 

Car radio twenty one pilots 

Church fall out boy

Climax usher 

Come & get it Selena Gomez 

Count on me Bruno mars 

Criminal Fiona Apple 

Deja vu Olivia rodrigo 

Delicate Taylor swift 

Diary Tino Coury 

Dirty laundry Carrie underwood 

Dirty thoughts Chloe adams 

Don’t call me up Mabel 

Downtown lady a 

Drivers license Olivia rodrigo 

Easy on Adele 

End of me a day to remember 

Every breath you take the police 

Every morning sugar ray 

Everybody hurts r.e.m. 

Fall for you secondhand serenade

Fallin Alicia keys 

Fast car Tracy Chapman 

Flowers Miley Cyrus 

For the first time the script

Forever young alphaville

Forever and ever amen randy Travis

Fuck it Eamon 

Fuck you bitch wheeler walker jr

Ghost of you Justin beiber

Glimpse of us Joji

God gave me you Blake Shelton 

Hate (I really don’t like you) plain white tees

Havana Camilla cabello 

Heart attack Demi lovato 

Heartbreak anniversary giveon 

Heaven Kane brown 

Hello darlin Conway twitty 

Hold on, we’re going on drake 

How do you sleep Jesse McCartney 

Hurt Johnny cash 

I fall apart post Malone 

I miss you blink 182

I see red everybody loves an outlaw 

I wanna be your slave maneskin 

I’m not the only one Sam smith 

I’m the only one Melissa Ethridge 

I’m yours Alessia Cara 

In my blood Shawn Mendes 

It ain’t me baby me Johnny cash 

Jealous nick Jonas 

Just one yesterday fall out boy 

Just the way you are Bruno mars 

Keep Holding On Avril Lavigne 

Killer queen Queen 

The last of the real ones 

Leave  the door open Bruno mars 

Leavin’ Jesse McCartney 

Let her go passenger

Like I can Sam smith

Lips of an angel hinder

Little do you know Alex & sierra 

Little Talks Mumfords & sons

Mama's broken heart Miranda lambert

Man down Rihanna

Misery Maroon 5

My Boo usher & Alicia keys 

Needed Me Rihanna 

Never gonna be alone Nickelback

New Rules Dua Lipa 

Not Over You Gavin DeGraw

Obsessed Mariah Carey

One Call Away Charlie Puth

One More Night Maroon 5

Our Song Taylor Swift

Picture KidRock & Sherry Crow 

PillowTalk Zayn Malik 

Please Don’t Leave Me Pink

Red Taylor Swift 

Remember the time Michael Jackson

Rolling in the deep Adele 

Say My Name Destiny’s Child

Say So Doja Cat 

She’s Got You Patsy Cline

Shower Becky G

Smokin out the Window Bruno Mars 

Someone You Loved Lewis Capaldi

Stay With Me Sam Smith

Take a Bow Rihanna

Take Me to Church Hozier

Take You Dancing Jason Derulo

There’s Nothing Holdin Me Back Shawn Mendes

Title Meghan Trainor

Too Good at Goodbyes Sam Smith

Too Little Too LAte JoJo

Trip Ella Mae

Trouble P!Nk

True Love P!NK

Unfaithful RIhanna

Unholy Sam smith

Unsteady X Ambassadors

Uptown Girl Billy Joel

Wait For You Elliot Yamin

Walk Me Home P!NK

Walkin After Midnight Patsy Cline

Want U Back Cher Lloyd

What a Man Gotta Do Jonas Brothers

What Ifs Kane Brown

Wolves Selena Gomez

Would You Go With Me? Josh Turner

You Found Me The Fray

You Had Me @ Hello A Day to Remember

You Need to Calm Down, Taylor Swift

[shefanispeculator]

Come Back as a Country Boy

A Guy With a Girl

Every Time I Hear That Song

Doin' What She Likes

Neon Light

Sangria

Gonna

I'll Name the Dogs

Mine Would Be You

Nobody But You(With Gwen ON VIDEO)

Happy Anywhere (With No Gwen)Play Vide

Who Are You When I'm Not Looking(Joe Nichols cover)

Nobody but Me

Home(Michael Bublé cover)

The More I Drink

The Baby

Ol' Red(George Jones cover)

Austin

Sure Be Cool If You Did

Honey Bee

Hillbilly Bone

Boys 'Round Here

God's Country

Encore:

God Gave Me You(Dave Barnes cover)

[child-of-of-the-sunshine]

She Wouldn’t Be Gone

Warnings: Cussing, mentions driving unsafe,

Tyler came home to an empty house, all her stuff was gone, her side the closet was empty, her drawers in the bathroom empty, her half of the room empty. Did she really walk out them, or was she cooling off and she would be

Red roadside wild flower if I'd only picked you Took you home set you on the counter Oh, at least a time or two Maybe she'd thought it through

Yellow sunset slowly dipping down in the rear view Oh, how she'd love to sit and watch you I could have done that a whole lot more If I hadn't been so stubborn, been so selfish Thought about her more, thought about me less Joked and make her laugh, held her when she cried A little more that, maybe I

He thought she was joking when she said she would leave if didn’t change something’s about himself, but he didn’t believe her at the time now he believed her. She was gone, Tyler ran out to his truck and started driving around, he was driving like a bat out of hell, flying down the highway, he first started by calling her friends asking if they knew where she was, but they wouldn’t say if they had seen her Tyler had tears soaking up his, as screamed at the dash “Y/N where are you!”

Wouldn't be driving like hell flying like crazy down the highway Calling everyone we know stopping any place she might be Going any place she might go beating on the dash Screaming out her name at the windshield tears soaking up my face If I had loved her this much all along, maybe maybe, yeah maybe She wouldn't be gone, she wouldn't be gone

Tyler watched as the polaroid of them fell from his sun visor, and it to his lap, it was picture of them at the county fair, the tears fell more, he knew he should have believed her, they looked so happy he knew what changed it was polymer project, spending more time in Oklahoma, then with her

She warned me it was coming said if I didn't change She was leaving I just didn't believe she would ever really walk out, God, I believe her now

Tyler drove back home, he called her momma and she didn’t say a word only that Tyler had fucked up what he had with her, after that he called her best and cried like baby to her, but if they had seen her they weren’t telling him, he hung up and threw his phone down on the couch beside him, he let out a scream

Called her mamma, cried like a baby to her best friend If they've seen her, they ain't sayin', they ain't sayin' Now, I'm cursing like a fool, praying it ain't too late All I wanna do is fix my mistakes.

Tyler walked back to his truck, and prayed he would find her somewhere, maybe he could fix is mistakes put her above the YouTube channel more, above the project more, maybe convince her to come with him to Oklahoma, all he wanted was find her and beg her for one more chance

Find her beg her for one more try, until then damn it I'll Be driving like hell flying like crazy down the highway Calling everyone we know stopping any place she might be Going any place she might go beating on the dash Screaming out her name at the windshield tears soaking up my face

“Fuck!” Tyler yelled at the windshield, he hit his dash, he drove to anywhere she would be, he could feel the tears soaking up his face “Come on Y/N.” He screamed at his windshield, maybe if he had loved her this much all along she wouldn’t have left him

If I had loved her this much all along, maybe maybe, yeah maybe She wouldn't be gone I wouldn't be beating on the dash Screaming out her name at the windshield tears soaking up my face If I had loved her this much all along, maybe maybe, yeah maybe She wouldn't be gone Red roadside wildflower if I'd only picked you Took you home set you on the counter, oh at least a time or two Maybe she'd thought it through

He hoped maybe she would come back home to him, so he fix his mistakes but for now she was gone from his life, the box with her engagement ring sitting in his night stand drawer, he grabbed it and looked at it, he put it back and laid down, she was gone never coming back to him. He stared at the ceiling and started crying again maybe he should have love ld her this much all along, and he did he just didn’t show

A/N: how would we feel about a part like maybe she goes to somewhere Tyler didn’t think of like maybe Boone's place, and stays there until she actually thinks it through and Boone tells how much of a wreck Tyler is without her. So they drive to Oklahoma, where Tyler is because he couldn’t be in the house anymore. We know I’m going to write it either way lol

[toastedkiwi]

BC copies one of the things in Riley’s shows. It’s where the ball cap switches to a cowboy hat and he sings Should’ve Been A Cowboy. She does it too but switches out the country songs. She tells her adoring fans: “I’ve got a lot of people telling me that I should do a country album- but here’s the thing, I won’t. But to heal some heartbroken souls, I’ll sing you guys one country song. And if I butcher this, I’m sorry. I’m not a country singer.” The heels/booties come off and switch to the cowboy boots that Riley gifted her. The cowboy hat switches. It’s either one of Riley’s or one of her own. She’s done covers of everything from Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys to Where The Wild Things Are. And eventually you can catch her bringing out country artists like Blake Shelton or Kelsea Ballerini for the segment.

[ourpickwickclub]

From FB: "I bought FRONT ROW seats to Miranda Lambert because my baby loves her so much. She walked all the way out and stood about 10 feet from Olivia and did not acknowledge her one time. The fact that Blake Shelton looked straight at Olivia, waved and pointed at her was so intimate and personal. Not only did he acknowledge her all throughout the night but then he pointed at her and let her come to the stage so that he could sign her boot. That’s GENUINE!"

.

[lightscamerabitchsmileee]

Vote for your fave, reblog & share your thoughts and list your other faves even if it's not on this list in the tags I would love to hear it ☺️☺️

Thank you and have fun also check out my masterpost for the other open polls ☺️☺️

[bigforeheadbaddie]

Since No Doubt has announced their return for the upcoming Coachella 2024 music festival, I present to you…

A Newbie’s Guide to:

✨No Doubt✨

I’ve split up this guide by mediums of ~education~. Essential viewing, listening, and reading. This will help you get caught up and be guaranteed to sing along to every word, come April. It’s in April, right?

But first off…

Part 0. Controversies

I know what you might be thinking:

Wait. Isn’t Gwen Stefani a cultural appropriator?

And the answer is yes. And no. And yes & no. Honestly, it’s up to your personal opinion because there is no definitive guide for identifying or diagnosing cultural appropriation.

It’s defined as “the inappropriate or unacknowledged adoption of an element or elements of one culture or identity by members of another culture or identity” so, take that as you will. Gwen has definitely acknowledged her ‘adoptions’ of ‘cultural elements’ so it’s up to you to decide whether or not it is ‘inappropriate’.

This video is a great one about Gwen/No Doubts’ controversial moments that doesn’t spare any details, and is hilarious: https://youtu.be/NRUdZMngGTw?si=7tFJ4ZWEL4hBSkSy

Part 1. Essential Viewings:

E! Pop of Culture No Doubt Special (2012): https://youtu.be/TRIDg9B7sW0?si=jMlLkrGEOlucOwBU

This mini doc gives you the general run down on No Doubts history including some really great rare footage and interviews from the members (excluding Gabe & Stephen who I personally consider a part of the band)

Comprehensive List of Music Videos in Chronological Order: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrKMiVh6uoiJJ92beCveEbnpIGMonNyvS&si=YBZk0F5uRuVFewcF

I must warn you, this list includes Gwen’s solo stuff…some good, some not so much. I chose this playlist because it is uncertain if the ND (that’s what real No Doubters use as short hand for No Doubt 😎…get it? ND…No…yeah, you get it) setlist will include Gwen’s solo work, so it’s always good to be prepared.

Live in the Tragic Kingdom (1997): https://youtu.be/qf_tfei05oU?si=N_nsc5W7DzNpTb9C

Are you really a No Doubter if you haven’t seen this? It doesn’t cover Return of Saturn, Rock Steady, or Push & Shove as this was recorded after only their first 3 albums, but it is widely considered by No Doubters as their most iconic concert to date.

Part 2. Essential Listening Materials:

The music videos you watched probably have got you covered, but it never hurts to listen to a musical artist you’re looking to get into…musically…duh.

The Singles (2003): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL45FxAW8gNeH7NxBy2n1iIVwbWDxWXmNv&si=KGacYtdAezI0V0LD

The “essentials” playlists on Spotify or Apple Music should do, but if you have neither streaming services then this will do brilliantly. This doesn’t include anything from the Push & Shove era, but the best songs off that album were on your aforementioned music video playlist so, no worries! They probably won’t play anything from that era at Coachella anyways 😬 Just saying!

Unreleased & Demo Tracks: https://youtu.be/0msQzzIDf-M?si=O_p76KXX2YOBP_4k

If you really want to get on the PhD in No Doubt-ology track then give this a listen and once you’re done with that head on over to

Everything in Time (2004): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQvL6GLJiX93FVje8cjh1kZro5EFonJ-m&si=7gkM0rKo_tl0hKZE

which is another compilation of unreleased materials, but from the later years.

Part 3. Essential Readings

How Gwen Stefani Went From No Doubt to the Hollywood Walk of Fame: https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/gwen-stefani-career-no-doubt-to-hollywood-walk-of-fame

This is a great article that truly covers it all when it comes to lead singer Gwen Stefani’s career. Including, of course, her time with No Doubt.

However, it did left out some valuable information on Gwen’s greatest songwriting inspiration: love 🤓

So here’s some context for the songs on Tragic Kingdom: https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/491341/a-look-back-at-gwen-stefanis-bittersweet-romance-with-no-doubt-bandmate-tony-kanal/

And for all the other years…yeah, this one’s a doozy…https://www.nickiswift.com/632277/things-you-forgot-happened-during-gwen-stefanis-relationship-with-gavin-rossdale/

Oh and Blake Shelton? All you have to know is that they’re currently living happily ever after together and it’s all very ooey-goey so…good for her!

Part 4. Final Exam

You thought I wouldn’t quiz you? Well, you’re dead wrong, pal. Don’t worry, it’s gonna be fun.

In 2020, Gwen (independent of ND) released this single: https://youtu.be/vZvkyfwD8mI?si=aCOxu-a225mZFH4o recreating several looks from her past. If you can identify about 80% of the references then you are ready for Chelly! Yuck, sorry.

Okay that is the rundown on all things Gwen Stefani & No Doubt. If you watch/listen/read everything above then you’re a certified No Doubter. Congratulations & welcome to the club. See you at Coachella!

[coochiequeens]

Gwen Stefani is 54 and Blake Shelton is 47. Waiting too long to have a kid together is not infertility.

Gwen Stefani and her husband Blake Shelton want to have a baby through surrogacy.

A source spilled to the National Enquirer, “Gwen and Blake have been wanting a baby of their own for years now.”

“They’ve had surrogates on board, but something always seems to fall through at the last minute. It’s been a struggle,” shared an insider.

Gwen , who has three children with her ex-husband Gavin Rossdale, revealed thet they had been trying to get pregnant before their 2021 wedding.

Another source revealed that the couple had “ no luck with conventional methods, the pair looked to surrogacy”.

“They’ve even talked to other celebrities who’ve used surrogates successfully, like Nick Jonas, whom they befriended on The Voice,” remarked an insider.

However, nothing has worked out as other source revealed, “It must be a complicated situation.”

“Maybe something just didn’t feel right for Gwen or Blake or both of them,” continued another source,

The source told the outlet, “In one instance, friends say Gwen wanted to use a surrogate in California and Blake wanted someone far removed from Hollywood.”

In another case, the surrogate “backed out because of the pressure. When it doesn’t work out, it’s wrenching for Gwen and Blake”.

“They both want to connect with the surrogate because there’s a lot at stake,” stated an insider.

The source added, “It’s a huge commitment and they just want to get it right.”

“While this whole process has been extremely difficult for them, it’s really brought them closer together,” mentioned an insider.

The source stated, “Blake just wants Gwen to be happy and she wants the same for him. She knows he desperately wants to be a dad.”

[wherewhereare]

Just in case it wants you sign in.

Blake Shelton plays Hershey: Throwbacks, new experiences, ‘beyond country’ behavior Updated: Feb. 23, 2024, 8:32 a.m.|Published: Feb. 23, 2024, 5:55 a.m.

By Kaylyn Greene | kgreene@pennlive.com Country singer and former “The Voice” coach Blake Shelton kicked off the 2024 leg of his “Back To Honky Tonk Tour” in Hershey last night and completely blew the roof off the Giant Center.

Shelton is taking on this tour with the help of country artist Dustin Lynch and former “The Voice” contestant Emily Ann Roberts. As someone who is very unfamiliar with country music, I was impressed by Shelton’s performance.

If I enjoyed Beyonce’s recent country releases, then I felt like I could feel similarly about some of Shelton’s discography. The country singer has a few hits I was familiar with such as “Austin” and " The More I Drink,” but by and large, country music is not my forte.

Here are 5 things that I found interesting and enjoyed as someone attending their first country music concert.

The demand and the enthusiasm for Shelton and country music. As I found my seat, I realized country music isn’t just popular in the south. The Giant Center was packed from the floor to the very top sections. Shelton’s fans of the singer were shouting, screaming and having the time of their lives. About 20 minutes into Shelton’s set, he stopped for a second to encourage the crowd to have even more fun.

“I feel like some people here are a little bit reluctant to really just turn loose, We need to all get involved here, this our night! We need to do some sing along (expletive)or something,” Shelton said. Then he got the crowd rowdy and ready by singing “Gonna” with a corn husk microphone.

The crowd was very mixed as there were couples, young and adult, women out with friends and family, there was room for everybody. Although the crowd remained seated for most of the concert, the energy was palpable. Fans were clapping, cheering and singing their hearts out to all of Shelton’s songs. The woman seated next to me had to be one of Shelton’s biggest fans, as she sang nonstop the entirety of his set and knew all of his older songs as well. Pennsylvanians proved they do love country music.

Shelton’s phenomenal crowd interactions

As an avid concert goer myself, I know a lot of bigger stars won’t stop to read fans’ signs or autograph memorabilia. Many fans will only get that chance if they buy meet and greet tickets or manage to catch their favorite stars outside a tour bus, but Shelton made time for his fans. He signed a fan’s hat, a poster board and even stopped to take a photo with a fan while continuing to sing.

He was very interactive with his audience and I liked the more hands-on approach to performing. While looking over the crowd, he noticed a lot of fans with a drinks in hand. “It’s a Thursday night in Hershey PA,” he said,, “and it is beyond country to be drinking and singing country music tonight.” Then he moved right into a fan favorite, “Hillbilly Bone”.

Shelton’s vocal ability

Prior to tonight, I associated country music with a slight twang in someone’s voice more than singing ability, but the Oklahoma singer has a very natural talent. This man performed for about one hour and 45 minutes with no backtrack behind him. There was not one moment where he relied on the backtrack to do the singing for him. He has a great voice and is a strong performer.

Halfway through his set, Shelton decided to take a few minutes to highlight some of his older music and one song in particular seemed to be quite a fan favorite despite its sad message. “The Baby,” a song based on the life of country singer Michael White, is a touching song that highlights the importance of family and not taking them for granted. The song brought tears to the eyes of a lot of fans, and I felt a little choked up listening to it. It was a beautiful tribute and I can appreciate the sentimental value of such a powerful song.

The fashion, or lack thereof

Shelton performed his entire concert with no wardrobe changes and no flashy outfits. I was fully prepared for a cool-looking cowboy hat, studded jeans and colorful attire, but instead found a button-up black shirt, blue jeans and brown cowboy boots. Fashion tends to play a large role for a lot of singers and it adds to the concert experience. Beyonce changed her wardrobe numerous times when I saw her in Philadelphia last year, but Shelton dressed in everyday attire. His female background singer was wearing exactly what I expected to see, a bedazzled top and cute bottoms along with some shiny cowgirl boots, but the main act was very casual.

Audience members, however, did not disappoint. I spotted one fan with an American flag cowboy hat, others in leather jackets and cowboy boots. The appreciation for all things country.

Watching Shelton sing along with his wife

While Gwen Stefani, popstar and Shelton’s wife, was not there in person, he was able to sing “Nobody But You” with her as she was projected in a video on the screen behind the band. I thought this was quite an interesting way to “sing along” with your wife. While it was a little comical to watch him sing to a screen, the two sang beautifully together and the song itself was very endearing.

I was not expecting to enjoy this concert as much as I did, but as time went on I noticed myself singing along to songs I never realized I knew. Shelton put on a wonderful performance, and is was a great start to his 2024 tour. With a powerful performance and a solid setlist, Shelton’s tour is one country fans are not going to want to miss.

Setlist:

“Come Back as a Country Boy” “A Guy With A Girl” “Everytime I Hear That Song” “Doing What She Likes” “Neon Light” “Sangria” “Gonna” “I’ll Name The Dogs” “Mine Would Be You” “Nobody But You” “Happy Anywhere” “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” “Nobody But Me” “Home” “The More I Drink” “The Baby” “Ol Red” “Austin” “Sure Be Cool If You Did” “Honey Bee” “Hillbilly Bone” “Boys Round Here” “God’s Country” “God Gave Me You”

[burntheedges-updates]

Over Again - Mix CD & Playlist

I'll start posting the fic soon! Maybe this weekend? In the meantime, this playlist goes with the fic. The first 19 songs are the ones Joel and Sarah burned on a mix CD for you/reader late in 2001. After that it's just more vibes (and relevant songs…).

I was a teenager in 2000 and I grew up in the south (not in Texas, though I lived there later), so I was aiming for songs I would have heard on the radio and songs the reader and Joel definitely would have heard on the radio and when they went out dancing (we're talking two-step and merengue, and more). You'll see more of this later, but Joel teaches you to dance in this fic. Thank you to @thatoneobsessedlinguist-writes for your help and song suggestions!

Read on for my annotated list with headcanons for the first 19 songs.

Mild spoiler warning for the fic - there are some notes and context for various bits of the story, so I'd hold off on reading until later if you're not into that.

Joel & Sarah's ~Awesome~ Mix

Link to playlist here

Some general categories -

Songs 1-6: those inescapable songs you would have heard every time Joel took you dancing. Some of them were the songs playing when he taught you the steps.

Songs 9-15: the same, but for country night/dance clubs, for two-stepping and line dancing.

Just take a moment and let the truth settle in your heart - the Miller brothers know how to two-step and how to line dance. And they'll break those out or a bit of merengue or bachata and more on a night out or at family gatherings.

La Bomba - azul azul (2000) This song played in every club in 2001, and you can't convince me otherwise. Also, there's a moment with this song in the fic that cracks me up (no spoilers).

Suavemente - Elvis Crespo (1998) Just imagine Joel leading you through a bit of merengue to this song in a club. I'll wait.

Lambada - Kaoma (1989) I'll be honest, I can't imagine this playlist without this song. Everyone would have known it, they'd have heard it out and at every family gathering, forever.

Fruta Fresca - Carlos Vives (1999) Once you start to catch on, Joel throws these faster songs at you, whirling you around and keeping his eyes locked on you the whole time. Ese beso con que sueño, cuando, las penas me acechan...

Rie y Llora - Celia Cruz (2000) Sarah's Abuela/Joel & Tommy's mom loves Celia Cruz. Her songs play at every family gathering, and the whole family knows the entire Celia Cruz catalog. They have to. (This is the song Joel and Sarah are dancing to in the backyard in the excerpt I posted the other day.)

Arrasando - Thalia (2000) Another one of those songs that Joel throws at you once you've got the steps down. Ellie thinks the fast songs are the best ones, later.

Que Me Quedes Tú - Shakira (2001) We have to have a couple of slow songs, at least, and this album was huge in 2001. I think Sarah, a bilingual kid in Texas, would have loved it.

¡Que Bonito! - Rosario (1996) This is the song that plays when you and Joel are slow dancing in the backyard, after he teaches you to dance, when he kisses you for the first time. Qué bonito poder sentirte así...

Austin - Blake Shelton (2001) Look, they lived in Austin. This song came out mid-summer, 2001. There is no chance it didn't play in every single country night club in Austin for years.

The Way You Love Me - Faith Hill (1999) This song was inescapable. I've line danced to it myself.

What About Now - Lonestar (1999) Joel Miller would have loved this song. Imagine him taking you for a spin around the dance floor to this one. Baby, for once let's don't think twice...

Cowboy Take Me Away - The Chicks (1999) I feel that this one speaks for itself. I also think Sarah would have laughed at both of you every time you got emotional about it. Ellie would do the same 20 years later.

Man! I Feel LIke A Woman! - Shania Twain (1997) Sarah helps Joel make this mix CD as a gift for you. You know she'd add this song – you and Sarah would have sung this song at the top of your lungs while dancing around Joel and Tommy in the kitchen, as they watched and laughed. Joel also loves watching you line dance to it when it comes on at a club and the men clear the floor (this is exactly what happened in the early 2000s every time this song played, in my experience).

Boot Scootin' Boogie - Brooks & Dunn (1991) I think it might be illegal not to play this song at a country night club. I'm serious. Especially in 2001.

All My Ex's Live in Texas - George Strait (1987) They live in Texas. I'm pretty sure they're still playing this song in Texas, even though I haven't lived there in 8 years.

No One Needs To Know - Shania Twain (1995) In my mind, this song captures the moment you set eyes on Joel the first time, in the first chapter of the fic. And maybe you would have told him that, later, when it came on the radio one day in his truck. I met a tall, dark and handsome man, and I've been busy makin' big plans...

Forever and Ever, Amen - Randy Travis (1987) Joel Miller is a cheesy romantic. And he would sing this song to you in the kitchen like the big sap he is.

Amazed - Lonestar (1999) This is Joel’s song for you, like No One Needs To Know was your song for him. That man feels every single lyric as he slow dances with you to this song in his backyard. He also thinks this is the last song on the CD, which is romantic, but Sarah sneaks one more past him. I wanna spend the rest of my life, with you by my side...

Pickup Man - Joe Diffie (1994) At some point, you and Sarah establish an inside joke about this song and Joel, and it makes you laugh your asses off every time it plays. (You tell Ellie the story later, in the fic.) Joel pretends to be grumpy about it, but secretly he loves seeing the two of you get along like that. Sarah sneaks it onto the CD without Joel noticing until he hears it later and sighs, long-suffering, hiding his smile from the two of you as you shout-sing the lyrics at him in his pickup truck. I met all my wives in traffic jams, there's just something women like about a Pickup Man...

I can hear you, fellow olds - 19 songs? On a burned CD? Look, it’s not impossible. I definitely had a few with 18 or 19 songs on them. Let’s just assume it worked.

[happinessismusic]

"xxx The tempo would change a little bit by the time the man of the hour took the stage, but when he did, everybody knew why Shelton’s name was biggest on the marquee.

With a set that spanned the better part of an hour and 45 minutes, Shelton settled into a pocket that felt as comfy as your favorite barstool. With the brooding intro of “Come Back as a Country Boy” from 2021’s “Body Language” (his most recent full length) he opted to build the energy rather than come out of the gate hot. It would take a few songs for things to really rev up, but Shelton was every bit of an entertainer as his television persona, a combination of no-nonsense country star turned comedic everyman.

Between interacting with the bar up front and his storytelling, Shelton tried to make an arena feel as intimate as can be at times. He would jest at a fan at the bar who didn’t dress up as much as his wife did for the show, before segueing into “Doing What She Likes.” Later, he would tell a story about supposedly FaceTiming with Luke Bryan over crowd interaction before asking the arena to sing along with “Gonna.” When he wasn’t playing around, he was sincerely thanking the fans for being able to come back to cities like Milwaukee year over year and be greeted with large crowds. Every bit of crowd work seemed to set up the next part of the show, a veteran move that felt organic in the moment.

Shelton also wasn’t afraid to explore the slower and lyrically heavier elements of his 20+ year career on Saturday, admitting that he was bringing back “The Baby,” a heartfelt song about a mother passing away, and breaking out love songs like “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” as well. A pseudo-duet with wife Gwen Stefani via video screen for “Nobody But You” also made for a special moment, and a subtle reminder that the husband-and-wife duo just released a single two weeks ago. While the pace would slow down at times, the set was designed in a way that never brought the crowd entirely out of it before bringing things back up again. “The Baby” would be the heaviest moment, but an immediate turning point, countered by the introductory drones of “Ol’ Red” that got the crowd up once again. From then on, it was a barrage of some of his biggest hits.

Though the night may have overall paced a little slower than expected, the closing string of his greatest hits seemed to be the most economical. Almost no time was wasted between “Hell Right,” “Sure Be Cool If You Did” and “Hillbilly Bone,” each warranting spirited singalongs from the crowd that made for a tidal wave of voices. The party was in full swing for closers “Boys ‘Round Here” and “God’s Country,” making you think that there genuinely might not be an encore after the lengthy main set. The house lights stayed down, though, and a version of “God Gave Me You” served as last call before it was bar time at Fiserv Forum. 

To the casual fan, it may be easy to forget that Blake Shelton has maintained a nearly two-and-a-half decade run at the top of modern country music. On Saturday night, though, he showed everyone the crossover entertainer that he had become, without being afraid to nod heavily back to his roots."