#this verse fits them and the mood sm

[mjesechii]

When you lie, I cover it up

When you hide, I cover it up

When you cry, I cover it up

When you come undone, I cover it up

[rikiws]

GANG!

I have one of those silly little moot thingies!

(No pressure you don't have to do it if you don't wanna!)

But! What music you automatically assume your moots listen to😼😼

To me, I imagine you fw brent faiyaz or the arctic monkeys, maybe some Daniel Caesar

Dude how did you know that... I fw Daniel Caesar and Brent Faiyaz HEAVY dawg are you psychic 😨 (Kendrick and Don Toliver TOO THE ENTIRE DAMN. ALBUM SIGH... ALSO KESHI I like too many artists this yap won't end so let me just stop myself) I never really got into the Arctic Monkeys but I still think they're awesome musicians, even if the music doesn't hit for me that much personally

I love this game though thank you for this, forgive me if I get any of you guys horribly wrong I'm a terrible judge of character...also I really like to talk about music so best believe I'll be listing a few songs out and explaining them too, very sorry if its a lot to look at 😭

@sugariricookies : you first ofc. I'd say you'd be into something fresh, I don't want to say cutesy bc its not exactly that but close yk. Beabadoobee FOR SURE and New Jeans too. Glue Song - Beabadoobee : its very quiet coffeeshop meetcute with a ton of flowers involved ykyk Melting - Kali Uchis : honestly any song by her bc CMON. I think it matches what you're like really well, if you don't listen to her much How Sweet - New Jeans : can we bfr this song is so heart emoji and you're also very heart emoji are we making sense

@sungbyhoon : Idk bit I feel like you'd be into something a little darker...? Not maybe something like Alt or Grunge, actually maybe yes if its something like Cade Clair or something, but more like Cigarettes After Sex and Chase Atlantic. Also very chill but less upbeat and more mature sounding I'm so sorry if this makes no sense, Another thing I feel like you'd also judge songs not just on the melody but also the lyrics so: Sunsetz - Cigarettes After Sex : Any song by them man bc they're lyrics are basically always so 🙏🙏🙏 Heavenly - Cigarettes After Sex : "Tell me it's love, tell me it's real" MAN 😢😢 LET ME SEE YA MOVE! - Lumi Athena & Cade Clair : HEAR ME OUT HEAR ME OUT IT'S JUST REALLY GOOD OKAY I'M NOT PROJECTING (I might be)

@copyhanni : hey...😼😼 okay but you're giving me Chase Atlantic, The Weeknd, and Tory Lanez full stop. You'd be more chill but also upbeat?? but like less cute and more roadtrip-with-your-headphones-in-esque: Out of My Mood - brian mantra & gate 문 : I think indie would be up your alley too, esp brian mantra I love him sm Bloody Hands - brian mantra : another one, his songs don't have too much going on I think instrumentally and his tone is AWESOME it's just 🔥🔥 Swim - Chase Atlantic : need I say more the synth and drums are EVERYTHING.

@suneng : okay just because you said you like Sunflower I want to think that you really like Metro and Swae Lee (bc SAME.) Also these songs imo seem really nice to study to, and to me you come off as an academic in a way so I think this fits (STEM girlies 🙏): Too Many Nights - Metro Boomin, Future & Don Toliver : the bass the BASS god I love the bass SO MUCH. I remember being a trap hater when I was like 11 chat I was WRONG. I think you'd fw this honestly I'd say its pretty easy to like and super catchy and just very chill Love me Harder - WOODZ : this is a very bassy music selection I'm gonna be so embarrassed if you don't like bass 😭😭 but the guitar here was life changing I think you'd love this Link up - Metro Boomin, Don Toliver, wow there's a lot of people involved in this one hold up: Afrobeats/Raeggaeton I'm not very sure but its really good sigh...honestly I think any spider-verse soundtracks you'd probably love.

@stariikis : not sure what it is but imo you'd be into maybe something softer ykwim? Def have wave to earth on your playlist somewhere there has to be 👊👊 Kind of similar to riri I'd say something a little calmer ykyk: daisy. - wave to earth : such a good song wave to earth man GOODNESS. I think this is such a perfect song for the vibes you give off The Long Drive - tv room : okay tv room is a little eccentric with the hyperpop and everything but I think this is one of the tamer songs from him, much slower tempo than his usual ones but still super upbeat in a way An Art Gallery Could Never Be As Unique As You - mrld : long name alert 🚨🚨 jokes aside I think you'd be into songs with less synthetic instruments in it instead and this song is perfect for that

@nishiriki : okay I really had to squeeze out the brain juice for this one and its gonna be such a huge stretch but hear me out you sound like you like rap,,, maybe nothing too dark lyrics wise like JID but something sort of playful-ish... okay let me just get the songs out I think i'll make more sense then: Two Tens - Cordae & Anderson .Paak : see like something a little silly but still nice to listen to, like the kind of songs you'd play in the car with your friends, otw to some random place to hang out LOVE. - Kendrick Lamar : again, the entire damn album still has me in a chokehold to this day there's no way. This is def my favourite from them all though (and a huge obsession of mine rn) and I think it matches you really well PICK IT UP - Famous Dex & A$ap Rocky : I was obsessed with this like a few years ago and then that dance challenge came and I got obsessed again. I don't think I've ever seen so many interludes in just one song before and it's so well done like its so goofy oml, no but I'd think you'd be into rap that's a little more upbeat, less serious ykyk ++Blueberry Faygo honorable mention here

chat I may have yapped just a tiny bit...okay but I fs missed a few moots since I haven't interacted with them enough to justify the music they'd be into I think 😭 nah but if you want me to write you in too please let me know bc I'd be more than happy to :)

[acebytaemin]

top 5 perfumes, top 5 makeup products & top 5 songs you would play to bracha… 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🤭💘

ouhhh i haven’t actually gotten to smell very many perfumes that i liked 😔 i truly mostly don’t like anything (at least out of the things i’ve gotten to smell which is all like. drugstore available stuff like no niche perfumery things which i rly do want to get into!) howeverrr… i do have some that i like:

1. killian angel’s share (i WILL buy this for myself.. one day 🧿)

2. givenchy l’interdit rouge

3. d&g the only one = ysl libre intense

4. tom ford black orchid

5. fuckass lush honey i washed the kids LMFAO i really love it it’s my after-shower scent, doesn’t smell incredible upon first spritz but it develops into this gorgeous subtly sweet scent that i looove to go to sleep with. same goes for lush twilight but it’s a lavender scent so you’d hate it kfhskkd

makeup products well 🤭 i WOULD usually put l’oreal 24h matte foundation here prob as number one however i haven’t worn foundation in almost a full year now so!

1. fenty beauty gloss bombs yes they’re incredible yes they’re worth it. every single cent. i get one every time i travel somewhere w a Sephora LMAO i currently have fenty glow & fu$$y currently 💋

2. maybelline lifter gloss (currently own 5 tubes (moon, 2x silk, topaz, red flag and looking to get more i need one in every bag at every occasion. way cheaper but also way less thick/long lasting version of fenty)

3. maxfactor 2000 calories mascara in waterproof listen no matter how i flip it no matter which mascara i try (ive tried too faced, benefit, ysl, dior and soooo fawking ON) this one is just IT. the only one with such good separation and holding up a curl and lasting the entire day. my main girl always

4. nudestix! i have 3 shades rn (naughty n spice, bondi bae, in the nude) i use them depending on my mood for the day as blush & bronzer and they give such a beautiful sunkissed vibe i love them sm. longwearing too

5. maybelline age rewind (fuck you in advance teo) concealer in shade 5 brightener it’s so good stays all day doesn’t crease mwaaah mwah i also use it for spot concealing if i get spots 😌 gorgeous & cheap you gotta love it

BEST FOR LAST…. literally where do i beginnnn bang chan answer my calls i need you to HEAR my vision. this is just going to be off the top of my head bc if i really got out my playlists and started to get into this i’d need to quit my job to focus on this alone 🙏🏼

1. periferija by voyage & nucci i have already gone ON abt this and i want to show this to them with super selfish intent like to talk them into doing something similar bc i just really really truly need chan and changbin going STUPID on a balkan beat it’s actually crucial to me. lyrics gotta be in a similar vein too A JA JAK KAO TERIJER i know you know. these fits bc you KNOW i need the tank top + chain combo

2. nad****a by zera oh listen this is again selfish of me bc i have this VISION of all of them doing this and ofc felix starts the song what with ‘dragon’ being in the meaning of his name and it’s gotta be a super dynamically shot video kinda like aespa supernova only at the club. felix insane face to voice ratio has to shock your system within the first 5 seconds of a song for it to truly HIT so he goes ‘ko zmaj bebo ja sam tako nadrkana’ [slaps the camera away from himself] ‘oko nas samo momci s lošim navikama’ [an almost 360 spin of the camera wherein you see bracha and then it gets to hyunjin who gets the next line] ‘ceo splav noćas popunjen je barbikama’ [zoom out to see all of danceracha aka my pretty dollface racha w hyunjin in the middle] i could go on. what i personally would change abt the song though is instead of the prechorus/verses i would do a lot of rapping i know my bracha would devour the track i am 100000% sure of it. the one other line i would NEED to keep is chan doing ‘gde god dođem imam pratnju kao predsednik’ ofc coupled w a shot of them all behind him 😌 uhm can you tell this was ALL i thought abt on todays walk LMFAOOOO i need to be like. sedated

3. keeping it SHORT NOW PROMISEEE i just gotta show nyokosuzi to my channieeeeeee i know he’d love it i know he’d relate jebeni lider etc you know how it goes i would LOVE to see his flustered face LMFAO you know how he writes the most suggestive nastiest lyrics and then pretends he doesn’t know shit. Yes exactly

4. opanci - nucci LOOK the nasty fucking tone of voice this man has just screams changbin to me and the mix of traditional singing w the rap strikes a chord to me (loš momak by nikolija another good example) i just think they’d both love it anddd sound so good on the track it’s a win win situation

5. a classic.. GLUH I NIJEM ZBOG NJE i can’t explain to you how much i want a bouncy beat from chan i know he’s got it in him ive heard what he can do. if they WANT to be pathetic i neeeeed ‘bacam ruže sto i jednu ružu na kučku bez duše ❤️‍🩹’ energy over a delicious beat and not fuckass lose my breath with underwhelming vocals type pathetic shit (+ bonus something like Divljam w the bouncy beat and added balkan spice in the instrumental PLUSS kako gleda me ko vučica vuka no no now ive said too much.)

[sprinklesandshatters]

A Review on NCT 127′s 3rd Album <Sticker>

So NCT 127 just came back with their 3rd Full Album <Sticker> and this is my first 127 comeback since I became a fan last year! Neozone is such a special album for me as it was their first album that I explored entirely. I've known NCT as the group who never fails any expectations so I've kept mine up although I know they'll exceed it anyway. And guess what, they did! I absolutely love their new album hence this review~

This isn't a technical music review—as I am not a musician myself—but rather a listener's honest takes, goofy notes, and interpretation on each of the tracks in the album. I admit I've also struggled to build my own opinions on some of the tracks until I listened to them over and over again.

I have also heard there are mixed opinions on the title track <Sticker> and a lot says it's another acquired taste. But I think it's not just that, as it can be a grower, just like how most of NCT's songs were for me. Maybe after a few listens and a right passage of time, it will grow on those people. The bottom line here is, I like it a lot! 😛

So I listed down the songs according to their respective track numbers and followed each with a bulleted list of my opinions and interpretations.

(Viewer/reader discretion: before you continue, minors, do not interact as there are few 18+ contents under the cut. Thank you.)

1. Sticker

THEY DIDN'T JUST PUNCH A NEW NOTCH ON THE BELT LIKE THAT

THIS SONG SLAPS, LITERALLY SLAPS… AND WHIPS 

The recorder at the intro boyyyy I thought something was wrong but then I remember it’s NCT lmao

It already stuck in my head from my first listen from the Instagram audio.

With Taeyong opening the verse with his divine rapping, I knew I'm in for a new ride.

STICK-UH STICK-UGH STICK-UGHGHGH

To those complaining it sounding like noise music, imagine it sounding generic. I don't think it would fit as the title track. Not a b-track or in their repertoire, even. They are called NCT because they define the NEO in the music culture and music technology!

It honestly was an unorthodox, just like all of their title tracks, which I’m inherently here for.

Literally, no one does it like them!

The growls and the vocal flexes and adlibs! (You can tell it has Yoo Youngjin's brand.)

The crisp metronome sound that’s consistently ticking except for the pre-chorus and the dance break adds depth to the soundscape. I love how it’s used instead of the usual snaps.

The production quality blew my mind. Like how can someone think those melodies would sound so exquisite? CAN I CALL THEM GENIUS?

The piano at the back, oh my God—Yes! It adds this mystifying element to the song.

I'm not sure if it's a midi violin at the pre-chorus, but it added thrill to the song. It was a great transition from the bass line in the verses to the combination of the flawless harmony with the same instrumental.

"You treat me like a boy, like a grown-up child chasing a dream" JUNGWOO BABY NO MORE HUH

Taeil, Doyoung, and Haechan—the bridge vocal trinity!

But why the heck are they cowboys? I dig the concept, but why? LMAO

BTW GUNSLINGER MARK I’M ON MY KNEES YEEHAW

This is easily one of my favorite tracks from NCT 127's entire discography 💚

2. Lemonade

(⌐■_■)

Jaehyun starting off this song with his deep voice eee

The song opens to a verse oozing with chill confidence. They're like, yeah you're lurking because we’re cool.

This is such a huge slap to their haters. NCT's not chillin' like a villain, nah they're the main characters!

Well maybe they’re villains, but still ya not cooler than them ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Funny enough how they could have just referred haters as simply lemons whose sour/bitter to the taste, but 127 squad's success is sweeter than all the haters' spiteful remarks so yeah, SIPPY SIPPY LEMONADE 🧃

"WOOF"

I might have just barked too wOW

Yuta’s vocals hooooO his voice just sounds so glamorous mhmm

Also Mark referencing their previous title tracks such as: Firetruck, Cherry Bomb, and Regular (it's Irregular in the lyrics) in his rap part 👌💅

I just love Mark's energy when he raps. HE RESOLUTELY BITES AND STRAIGHT UP EATS EVERY TIME HE DOES.

3. Breakfast

Now breakfast time, oh jeez!

AAAHAHFU—

Summer 127's bestie!

If Summer 127 talks about dancing all night long, Breakfast is the morning after.

You know what it is.

"Even if I gulp and drink you, it's not enough for me." oho Taeyong no you ha—STOP

Sexual innuendos aside, isn't it just sweet if someone tells you they'd want to have breakfast with you every day?  Okay maybe I'm melting at the thought 😩🙈💞

And I can see myself dancing to this song as I make breakfast (in the afternoon or at midnight bc I’m crazy)

This was an okay b-track for me at the first skim on the album, but boy it grew on me wildly.

Honestly one of my favorite tracks in this album.

4. Focus

Did I just invade a private call? LMAO

The analog voice filters make it like so.

Dude, this feels intimate in the level of eavesdropping a phone call between seasoned lovers. Then you realize you hear them whispering their kinks over the line and you're ooh, that's sexy! hfgklhfhf

My first listen to this, I almost went feral because,

"I can't wait to eat you…" when it's actually "I can't wait 'til we chill…" aahaha

"Baby call me when you want me." OKAY!

This sounds relaxing and chill. I'd love to play this on a late night drive or just before bed time along with Fly Away With Me, Sun & Moon, My Youth, and Long Flight.

Belongs to ‘make out session’ playlist  ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

That was lowkey a playlist recommendation, huh?

I'd be kidding if I don't say I could touch myself while listening to this song AHAHAFGHFJFJ

I didn't know this would grow on me this much lol I love love LOVE THIS!

5. The Rainy Night

Ooh, the holy melancholy!

Piano at the intro—I knew I'd cry to this.

This song isn't just about break-up, but the heartbreak after one.

The yearning; the remnant pieces from the shattering of what was once there.

I think I crumbled from this one.

This hit so hard I felt like I fit in the shoes with the lyrics throughout the entire song.

What’s fascinating is I clearly forgot the title when I mentally said this sounds like a sad rainy day song from the first listen.

Something I’d turn up when it suddenly rains, just because I want to feel the blues.

Taeil and Haechan singing in lower register? I wanna cry :( they’re just one of the best vocalists in K-music industry right now.

Could have been also nice if they added Yuta to the vocals.

"My selfish heart who waits for you to come back," OKAY WHO HURT THEM?

And the fact that they sang it so good that it translated every ounce of the emotions well even before I looked up for English translations is the reason why I love this song too.

6. Far

Hmm… What the hell?! Do I like this? Wait...

Alright!

The jumpy vibe from the first verse to the pre-chorus set the mood for this song. It sounds merry and heavy. It was honestly too much to take until I’ve reached the chorus part.

Honestly, I think this song could fit NCT Dream better, as it gives off a vibe similar to Hello Future's b-tracks. If some credible source say this could have made HF’s track list, I might believe you too fast.

Also Dream’s Deja Vu where they go na nananananana na na na~

Playful yet confident! That’s what I mean!

As usual, the vocals are insane! Vocal flex from left to right!

I swear Jungwoo sounded a bit like Taemin at the second verse that I had to replay it hahaha

I love hearing Johnny as a vocalist! SM, how many signs do you need until you utilize his vocal talent???

Taeil's part where he sings, "go nuts, go nuts, 'til we go bust, go bust" IDEK BUT I SNORTED A LAUGH AT FIRST LISTEN HFCAHKFHK

Not my favorite, but still great though!

But wait it’s actually stuck in my head???

7. Bring The Noize

Yes, they never beat those noise music allegations

HERE'S SOME NOIZE, BITCHES

I love me some noisy percussions. AND THE BASS YO

This screams so much confidence!

The build up from the pre-chorus to the chorus—FIRE!

This song reminds me a lot of SuperM's Super Car, especially with the engine roar samples and the battle cry-like singing at the chorus.

JAEHYUN RAPPING? You mean Jaehyun the visual, the vocalist, the actor, the model, the funny dude, aka my everything?! (markie bb look pls look away for a moment)

THEY DELIVERED IT STRAIGHT FROM NEOCITY THAT'S SOME NCT MUSIC RIGHT THERE NO ONE DOES IT LIKE THEM

When I said I'd play Focus on a late night drive, and if I add this in the playlist, VROOM VROOM SPEED LIMIT WHAT

OUTTA MY WAY

“We got no shame” ouh TAEYONG’S FLOW IS JUST VERY HIM AND HE’S IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN

You know what's so clever about this song? It's how it ended with Mark's final rap without any instrumental, leaving you  standing there with a doppler effect-like post experience.

A super car on a super speed just whooshed past you and you look its way as it zips through the road. It's gone in an instant but you're floored dumbfounded at a sidewalk. That's how I describe this song.

8. Magic Carpet Ride

This song… Wow. Oh gosh it's so beautiful.

Their harmony in the chorus—it makes me want to kiss someone so passionately that I'd cry.

This makes me want to feel love that transcends the universe. Literally, just please take me on a magic carpet ride :(

The background harmonies too oh my goodness—HEAVENLY.

Jaehyun's voice is so warm and soulful it fits perfectly with songs of this genre.

Okay alright Doyoung Grande!

And Taeil makes me feel like I'm listening to old school R&B.

The first time I heard this from the track video, I can't stop replaying because it's just that great.

This makes me want to love. I think that sums it up.

9. Road Trip

This is such a soothing song for me, especially how I easily become nostalgic thinking about the road trips I've had.

Whenever I listen to this, my brain immediately conjures up thoughts of my ideal getaways. Gazing at the sky through the car window, stirring up from a nap in the middle of the ride, and   eventually reaching your destination.

Oh, to travel around anywhere... (curse you covid-19)

Okay that's it. I'M PACKING UP.

But where do I go—

I could also imagine Mark playing this on the guitar and the other members sing along together, something like that.

Just Wholesome™ vibes.

I love how it evokes such a nice emotion within me effortlessly.

This isn't my favorite, but I still love this.

10. Dreamer

Eyyyy such a refreshing song!

This song is so bright it makes me want to dance. I play this first in the shower!

It reminds me so much of Elevator (from Neozone)

The horns make it more lively I think!

Yuta and Jungwoo's voice suits lively songs like this.

The background vocal in low register in Taeyong's part in the first verse is so good ahhfhf

Taeil, the R&B vocal king you are...

There's this part where Doyoung and Johnny harmonized, that at first listen they seemed to clash, but it sounded actually fine after a few listens. Maybe it's just that I've never heard them do it before.

And I think it's Doyoung's laugh at the end of the bridge? Oh my goodness I really love this too!

11. Promise You

MY FIRST LOVE AND MOST FAVORITE SONG IN THE ALBUM!!!

The first time I heard this from their NCIT Sharehouse Sitcom, I fell in love with the song already.

It sounds like something you'd feel from a warm, welcoming hug.

The lyrics are so beautiful and endearing. It's definitely a be-there-for-you type of song that will touch your heart.

It definitely sounds like a promise.

A song about platonic intimacy.

This really fits to be the closing song of the album. It's like the end of it but holds a promise that says “see you soon.”

Because they cherish their fans like that.

It's also like I've watched a movie with a happy ending, where the camera pans up to the clear sky and this song starts playing.

Speaking of ending, I would love to hear them sing this as an encore stage in their concert. You know, that moment just before the stage lights die down at the end of the concert where they send final blows of flying kisses to NCTzens. Then you come home smiling and crying.

This wasn't supposed to be this long since I originally planned to write this with just simple phrases and emojis but I got too engrossed lol. I also meant to include my own ratings but I figured it’s pointless since I can’t really decide about them hahaha

I really enjoyed the whole album and I love how they're progressively defining what NEO means by breaking through standards. It's not NCT music if it doesn't make you say "WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?" But then you realize it’s stuck in your head and you’re enjoying it already.

✨ OVERALL RATING: 127/10 💚

if you’ve reached until here, thank you for letting me share you a braincell or two 💞

[greywindys]

New songs analysis??

Yup! I'm rusty and I don't want this to get too long (but of course it will), so consider this a start, and informal collection of thoughts.

Some context that I'm working with: I'm not trying to know EVERYTHING about Notting Hill Carnival, but I did a quick google search about it. It began to take shape in the 1960s as a celebration of culture in the face of racial tension. It, from what I gather, brought people together in difficult times.

Fast forward to today, in the midst of a pandemic where outdoor concerts and festivals are struggling. That connection that you strengthen with a friend or form with a complete stranger is easily found, or if it is, it's formed at a distance, from across a screen or sheet of plexiglass. Fittingly, there's an uncertain, somewhat somber tone to the EP. Lyrics acknowledge the celebration ("play your song, we'll get along," "I am pretty, pretty, put you in a good mood") and the hesitancy and disorientation that comes from having your entire world disturbed by a significant event, and the unclear future that comes with it ("I been searchin', lookin' for a permanent reason // Out of sync with the seasons, not sure what I believe in," "I love carnival beers // It don't feel the same").

The tone of our world and by extension, this EP is fitting for the first music Gorillaz has released post-TLC. Because we all have that questions. What is there relationship like now? Specifically, what is the relationship between 2D and Murdoc? I presume it isn't too different. There's the hope, the optimism that they can reach a better understanding of one another, that there can be reconciliation and recovery, but it's weighed down by uncertainty, emotional exhaustion and distance.

It's going to be hard to analyze the lyrics without knowing who wrote them (watch Noodle or Russel wrote them lmao), but some quick thoughts, song-by-song:

Meanwhile: This is the one I've seen the most about thanks to the lyrics, "Do you really think I'd leave you?," and "Do you really think I'd forget you?"

Basically, I mostly agree. Those two lines, on their own, make me think of that they could have gone through 2D's head during TLC as he reached his hand out to Murdoc. However, the song seems pretty literal in that it's about being at carnival and not feeling the same way you did at previous carnivals. Still, I'd love to believe 2D wrote this because if you think of "carnival" as a stand-in for Murdoc's name, the song still makes sense. 2D's drinking beers with Murdoc, partying with Murdoc, dancing with Murdoc, and it's the same as it's always been, but it still doesn't feel the same. They're doing everything they used to do, trying to be what they were before SM, but it's not the same. Why? Because....so many reasons.

2Doc rating: 7/10 (10 being the most 2Doc)

Jimmy,Jimmy: On a personal note, I like this song! Let it be known here that greywindys like a new Gorillaz song, finally.

Anyhow, the lyrics remind me of Murdoc during SM1 a lot. The desire to be loved, yet running away from it - "And a burden, why is bein' loved so appealin'?" The loss of identity in response to his perceived loss of control over the band - "I been searchin', lookin' for a permanent reason //Out of sync with the seasons, not sure what I believe in," and "Now you're out of control and the lie you're livin' is a dead-end road."

I don't really have a clear 2Doc interpretation of this, other than the thought that if 2D wrote this, he was pretty observant and he took notes. I'm a sucker for 2D watching Murdoc while he isn't looking, so that's what I'm sticking with for now lol.

2Doc rating: 5/10

Déjà Vu- I like this one too! That's two songs!

This is the last song on the EP and also the most 2Doc of them all. I'll let the lyrics speak for themselves: "I got my time travel on from your distant past where I've always been with you // I got my time travel on from your distant past where I was always lovin' you."

Also, "Life is meant for living, if I do it again I'll do it with you," and "Baby we are perfectly imperfect, but that's what makes it you"

The lyrics also sound VERY 2D here. I chuckled at the seatbelt references and the new word creation ("creserted"). The verses sound like actual 2D dialogue "I like the future, but it's hard to get there," "My brain is creserted, that means I'm lost in the desert." Lmao? He also sounds so comfortable and sure of himself. I don't like neo-2D, but I like this 2D. If he wrote this song like I think he did and using it to not so subtly declare his forgiveness and willingness to try for a friendship or a relationship, then that's even better.

2Doc rating: 8/10

So, that’s my start! Other thoughts are always welcome.

[kpopgerapitico]

Song of the Week

So . . . all the releases huh? I’m hopefully going to have a lot to talk about.

Honorable Mentions:

So, this is only a sort of recommendation, but if you like some of the chiller, simpler Zico stuff, you might enjoy DNEIRF’s Mischief. If I was in the right mood, I definitely would.

For a ballad duet this week, Phone is a good option. Both vocalists play off of each other well, and the video is sort of adorable for how simple and sweet it is, so there is that too.

It’s trot o’clock, this week featuring an incredible pink suit. Insert Lady Gaga gif for my opinion. Also, it’s trot without as much of the vibrato I’m used to, and the flower suit.

I was minorly shocked to find Chanyeol on a video with under a quarter of a million views from an artist I’ve never heard of. I wish he was less auto tuned, but his verse section in Faded is decent.

And now, the releases. All of the releases.

Following up 100, SuperM dropped Tiger Inside this week, which screams SM pretty constantly from start to finish, with pulls from their current largest groups (who are obviously represented in the group). It has the vocal harmonies that EXO songs love to show off, the rap and dance breaks that fit even when they have a different feel from the rest of the track of NCT, and just a dash of the experimentation that has made SHINee so successful. It doesn’t however combine those ideas as well as Jopping did, and is thus a little bit of a struggle for me. It’s fine, but not great.

Did you know D&E was having a comeback, because I sure as hell didn’t. Bad is a nice combination of throwback and the more mature ideas that Super Junior has dealt in more recently. I like the fun of it, especially for this duo, but it will probably ultimately end up being forgettable, despite the super fun riff in the chorus, and the addicting vocals in that chorus.

For a group that has often been towards the cuter side of the girl group spectrum, I was not expecting something like Obliviate from Lovelyz. It hits beats harder, and notes deeper than they would usually go for. And it still includes the dreamy high notes they’ve had for a while, with a nice contrast to the much darker backing track. It is easily my favorite thing they have done so far, and a solid contender this week.

I make the rules, and the rules say I can give lots of people the win, right? Because for the first time, it’s three songs.

I think we all suspected that a solo from Wonho was going to be a lot. And while Losing You was more of a thank you ballad, Open Mind is an announcement of purpose. It is sexy in all the ways you would expect and more, with some effortless cool, especially in the production. I was mildly worried his softer tone wouldn’t lend itself to anything besides ballads once he was solo, but damn I’m happy to be proven wrong. And all the reactions are frankly a mood. It gets a win for surprising me and being more than I could ever have guessed or expected.

To no one’s surprise, CLC is still great. Helicopter hits hard while being relatively simple. The chorus gives all the vocalists a chance, while the verses highlight the rest of the group. And the bass hits that would feel more comfortable on any number of boy group hype tracks works amazing throughout. The final hook is a beautiful build in the best way, leading into a driving beat that doesn’t stop until the end. It is another strong track in a discography that has popped off in the past couple years. It gets the second win spot.

I like A.C.E. I have liked them for a while now, and known about them since debut (hot pants y’all, hot pants). They also put on the best of the online concert of the year (fight me, actually fight me on this). So I was excited for the comeback, and the teasers only bumped that up, with the beautiful concept work. The song, Favorite Boys (or  도깨비), is a different sound from the group that I didn’t initially feel particularly anything for. On more listens though, I think it does a great job highlighting the group, which has 3 incredible singers and two that can rap and hold their own singing. The dance is appropriately hard, and the composition allows for their talent to be on full display while still being as hype as I would hope from them. And every listen after the first has made me like it more. For that it gets the final win.

[cirrus-lily]

my first listen of resonance pt. 1!

i wanted to start doing these since i’m very interested in music and stuff and i wanna learn how to properly express musical things etc. etc. so yea!! feel free to ignore and these are just my opinions, so pls don’t come @ me thanks :)

track 1: make a wish (birthday song) - nct u (ft. taeyong, doyoung, jaehyun, lucas, xiaojun, jaemin, shotaro)

i actually really liked this, if we’re talking purely about the music (the mv is another thing....i won’t talk about that). the music was interesting all the way through and was full of unexpected twists. all the members did so well!!! but the members that really stood out to me in the mv and also just listening to the song were jaemin and xiaojun! they did so well and they nailed their parts so well!!! there’s just something very satisfying about jaemin’s rap in this song, and all of xiaojun’s parts suited him really well and it was nice to see him sing in a style that was different to the typical wayv style. also rapper jaehyun!!! his parts suited him so well and i’m so happy we got to see him do a rap-esque part hehe :) the only part i probably didn’t like was the part where there was that time-warp effect before the final chorus like that felt so out of place ... why is it there?? also where’s shotaro tho?? like i didn’t even hear him,,, if you’re gonna add a new member at least use him sm :/ | okay so i just watched the line distribution and jaemin has so little lines :((( shotaro doesn’t have many solo parts but has a lot of adlibs and honestly? good for him!! it’s really good for a debut!! doyong and lucas should’ve had more lines too :/ anyways overall i really love this song and i’m so excited to see the stages!!!

track 2: misfit - nct u (ft. johnny, taeyong, mark, hendery, jeno, yangyang, sungchan)

this is legit my favourite song so far it’s incredible!! when the song started i just started full-on vibing!! this song is so fun and has so much energy and i had no expectations at first but the track video blew me away, which made me so excited to hear the full song, and it did not disappoint :) everyone in this song SLAYED. i have nothing else to say except that because the raps were fire and each member pulled their verse off so well it continued to make me smile line after line after line. for sungchan’s debut, it was incredible to hear him spit fire like that and i am so excited to see how he grows as a rapper if he’s already this good at debut oh gosh. but my favourite part has to be mark’s second verse where the music cuts out and he keeps going and his rhythm actually speeds up once the music cuts. that blew my mind in the track video and still has the same effect on me listening to it again. the genius of cutting out the music is incredible and it adds so much not just to the rap but to the song overall. my only complaint for this song is that johnny got like...4 lines. cmon sm please give him lines he’s more than just a visual!! overall this song is something i really enjoyed and something that the members pulled off so well even though it’s so different and unexpected from nct :)

track 3: volcano - nct u (ft. taeyong, doyoung, jaehyun, winwin, jungwoo, lucas, mark) (aka nct 2018 boss unit)

what is going on in this song......at the beginning it gave me similar vibes to limitless but as i listened to more of the song, it kinda fell apart for me ;-; like the vocal parts were really good (jaehyun high note!!) and the rap parts were really good but they didn’t flow together as well as they should have, and it ended up feeling as if i was listening to the rap of one song and the vocals of another song :/ also where are sicheng’s parts?? i thought i just didn’t hear him but when i went to check all he has is like...2-3 adlibs?? why is he even in the song then it doesn’t even have choreo?? feels like boss all over again rip sicheng :’( 

track 4: light bulb - nct u (ft. taeyong, kun, doyoung, and sungchan)

wow this song...i was very fascinated by the member lineup at first, and then i heard the song and it all makes sense :) everything melds so well together, with ty and sungchan’s rapping pairing perfectly with kun and dy’s vocals, and there are kinda ‘pairs’? like ty and dy and sungchan and kun,, and their voices compliment each other so well aaaaaaa. the only part i felt weird about was the start when ty was rapping over the piano...the rhythm clashed a little but as the song went on it resolved itself thankfully. the vibes reminded me of yestoday and it’s a very different mood from the first 3 songs on the album so i’m kinda confused as to why they’ve put it as track 4 but oh well. sungchan showcased a different side of his rapping here and he’s really beginning to show himself as a very well rounded rapper so i’m actually super impressed but as expected from nct :) my favourite thing about this song has to be kun’s vocals tho. the first time you hear him in the song is when he harmonises with doyong and i tell you the way i Lost It. and every time he sang as sungchan rapped it blew my mind. and doyong and kun’s harmonies,,,, chef’s kiss. can you tell i really love this song aaaaaa okay end of ramble. i think overall i just really appreciate the change in pace of the album since the first 3 were very hype lol.

track 5: dancing in the rain - nct u (ft. taeil, johnny, yuta, kun, jaehyun, jungwoo, xiaojun, chenle)

ok this song blew my mind 🤯 firstly, can we talk about jaehyun and johnny rapping??????? i’m so happy that we got to hear them rap!! it was so beautiful :’) secondly, vocal kings!!! chenle high note!!  their voices sound so beautiful together and i’m so happy we got that in this song!! the vibes are also so pretty?? like a lofi jazzy vibe and honestly it feels like singin’ in the rain modern version and i am living :) the only minor issue i have is that because there are so many vocalists in the unit, some of them had really few lines :/ but i think they needed more people to create that effect in the chorus of a lot of people harmonising together, so we gain some we lose some i guess,, but wow i love this song so much can someone write a fic or make an mv based on this song pleaseeeeeeee i would love to see it :’) p.s. i listened to this song twice once on spotify and once on colour-coded lyrics (just to see who sang what) and the more i listen to it the more i love this song aaaaaaaaaa :)

track 6: interlude: past to present

ok this was interesting...i was so confused about the first part cos i couldn’t make sense of what was being narrated, but the second part is another story,,, it’s chock full of references - like there’s that one sound (idk how to describe it) but it’s in both the awaken the world interlude and the neo zone interlude, and the part after that is reminiscent of the punch intro thing...which is why it’s so interesting,,, would the theorists like to have a go? but honestly it was very interesting musically and very nct lmao...i have nothing left to say lol that’s it.

track 7: déjà vu - nct dream (OT7)

wow the vibes on this song are so fun!! this song really suits dream and i think it’s a fitting return for ot7 :) it’s got the playfulness of we go up with a bit more maturity which is very representative of dream’s current phase where they’re growing up but they’re still kids hehe :) i will complain about the line distribution again except everyone’s probably sick of hearing about it lol...but mark has a lot of lines and jeno and jaemin don’t sigh. the line distribution for the vocalists was really quite fair tho :) also renjun bridge!!!! it was so good!!! and haechan intro!!!! wow i love this song so much heh but my favourite part has to be the bgm,, like the dang dang sound that was in the bgm for the entire track really helps to push the song forward and adds a spring to the song that really makes it more playful and fun!! i’m super impressed by this as well since the track video didn’t make me that excited but now i really like it so i think this song was so fun :)

track 8: nectar - wayv (OT7)

let’s formally welcome nectar to the list of nct’s hoe anthems 😌 okay but that aside, i quite liked the song!! the intro was weird but once you get into the song it’s pretty okay!! it’s also slightly different from the wayv sound we’re used to but the members pulled it off well!! i love the bgm too hehe :) ten and sicheng!! i can finally hear them!! and it was so nice to hear them both sing aaaa. also wayv’s vocal line continue to astonish me...that’s the highest i’ve heard kun and dejun sing and it sound so good!!! the rap was fire too and lucas, yangyang and hendery have done it again, they sound so swag which really fits the vibe of the song!! i also love how most of the song is pretty low and starts pretty low but the vocals are such a complete contrast cos they’re so high and that really adds to the song!! i’m so wayv biased but i genuinely really do like this song and ‘gimme that nectar’ will be stuck in my head for the next 24 hours :/

track 9: music, dance - nct 127 (OT9)

this track is so hype 😳 and i enjoyed that so much!! what stood out to me more than anything else in this song was the bgm, and i love how they cut the music, yell “drop that beat!” and then the beat actually drops 🤯 also the bridge,,, a masterpiece...i thought we were gonna get a solid high note and the airy high note comes from nowhere and suddenly i’m so stunned 😳 also this album really is the return of rapper jaehyun huh :) it’s so nice to hear him rap again :) and this song is really satisfying in so many ways, like the rhythm is really good and the bass hits deep and the dance break music thing was so well timed and so well produced and oooooooh i like this track more than i expected :)) oh and ‘music, dance’ will be stuck in my head for the next 24 hours with ‘gimme that nectar’ :/

track 10: faded in my last song - nct u (ft. taeil, johnny, yuta, ten, lucas, renjun, haechan, jisung)

the way i was trying not to SCREAM throughout this song :’) IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL AAAAAA i mean it in the best way possible when i say this could be an ost it’s so beautiful :’) the VOCALS i nearly lost it when ten sang the pre chorus then nearly lost it when renjun sang the second pre chorus and then almost completely lost it during the bridge (especially cos haechan and taeil) holy moly that was a journey :’) also johnny and yuta’s rap style and lucas’ lower tone really fit so well with the song, like it didn’t take away from the sad vibes of the song but it added to the mellowness of the overall song. and can we just take a moment to talk about park jisung’s rap??? it was so short but he nailed it!!!! this entire song was a masterpiece because all their voices fit perfectly together and complement each other so well it just makes this song shine in a different way??? i have so many things that i wanna say about this song but i’m internally screaming so i’m basically incoherent lol. one thing i will say though is the bgm is so pretty and the piano is so nice :’) (also p.s. idk why but this song lowkey gives me got7 vibes but in the best way possible)

track 11: from home - nct u (ft. taeil, yuta, kun, doyoung, renjun, haechan, chenle)

i’m crying........i’m actually crying.....can they not come for me like this..........this song is so beautiful o m g :”) hearing them sing in their native languages about home is so moving?? like it hits a spot and suddenly my eyes are sweating :”) and the way that the transition from one language to another is so smooth and seamless?? like renjun and chenle are singing in chinese and suddenly yuta pops in with a line of japanese and i completely lost it lmaoooooo. and the way they all come together in the bridge is so beautiful, and taeil’s high note after!!!! and the bgm of this song suited it so well, it allowed you to focus on the vocals and still adds to the overall mood and atmosphere of the song, plus at the start it’s a bit muffled out as if it’s being played on an old record and then it becomes unmuffled and the sound is so bright :) and the way that this song sounds a little bittersweet?? i swear when the mv comes out and when i read the translations i will cry even more i’m not even ready and we still have a week to go. this was the song i was looking forward to most and honestly? it didn’t disappoint at all :)

track 12: from home | korean version - nct u (ft. taeil, yuta, kun, doyoung, renjun, haechan, chenle)

it’s just as beautiful, but with less tears lol :) there isn’t really much to say, it still flows just as well in korean as it did in 3 languages, so i think sm just wanted there to be a version that was completely in korean since nct are a korean group lol.

track 13: make a wish (birthday song) | english version - nct u (ft. taeyong, doyoung, jaehyun, lucas, xiaojun, jaemin, shotaro)

well this is interesting....the english version of the song sounds a bit like a hoe anthem (only a bit!!!) so i’m curious about the lyrics to the korean version o_O also i find it a little strange how they say ‘i can do this all day’ in the korean version but say ‘i can do this all night’ in the english version,,, like what’s the difference?? i literally don’t know why they did that but oh well :) still a great song hehe :)

overall, it’s a really interesting album!! it’s a little different from what i expected, but i still really love it!! i think the songs will grow onto me more as i listen to the album more, so yea :))

[cas-kingdom]

Ok so for the ask could u literally do every single one for B M B? Because that story is my fave (and I miss it sm) And I wanna know the bts 😍😍 (ok if not btw there’s a lot so I understand!)

Omg yes this is a big one so a huuuge pat on the back to everyone who reads it😂 (couldn’t answer the bonus questions as I needed more for those but I hope these are okay!)

What was the motivation behind the story?

Well, I’ve always written Sherlock reader fanfiction, and I was just so interested with the idea of reader and Mycroft’s relationship evolving after Sherlock’s death. I had so many ideas surrounding it that a one-shot just didn’t seem enough, so I planned a big story and here we are!

What was your favorite part?

My favourite parts are unashamedly the sweet and fluffy parts ;) Especially when Mycroft & reader spent Christmas and Sherlock’s birthday together... those were so lovely to write and definitely a break from all the angst lol.

What was the hardest part?

Hmm... the part I’m writing at the moment is pretty hard. Mainly because it’s just focusing on reader and her time at school with her friends and all which, to be quite frank, I find boring to write considering there’s no Mycroft soo.... there’s your explanation for why the next chapter hasn’t yet been written! XD (Soon, guys, soon!)

What was the feeling it mood you were going for?

Mainly the fluffy family feel, you know? John’s still there, and his and reader’s relationship is to dieee for... as is reader and Mycroft’s! But we of course have the angsty feels though... shown in basically all of Sherlock’s scenes as we can see how much he’s missing his lil sis. :(

Who was your intended audience?

Anyone with a love for the show and Mycroft, really! I didn’t think I’d get many readers considering it’s mainly a Mycroft-centric story, but the response has been pretty great. Glad to know I’m not the only one who thought (and still thinks!) there’s a lack of Mycroft fics in our fandom lol.

Was there one scene you were building up to/knew you had to get just right?

Well, yes... but I haven’t reached it yet! It’s not so much a spoiler so I can tell you it’s reader and Sherlock’s reunion. That has to be absolutely perfect. 2 years is a long time and a looot will have happened in their years apart - for them both. This scene will be a bitch to write but I’m sooo looking forward to it!

What were you thinking when you wrote it?

‘It’ being the scene above or the whole story? If it’s the scene above, then as I said I haven’t written it yet, but undoubtedly I’ll be thinking a hell of a lot while I write it. :,) If the whole story... I think a lot of things. Mainly ‘oh shit this is cute’ and ‘oh shit this is sad’ and ‘oh shit my poor readers’.

Were there any tv shows, books, or movies that influenced this verse, if any?

Oh, I really wonder. #Sherlocklol

Was there a clear character arch you wanted____ character to go on?

Hell yes! For all my characters! For Mycroft, I wanted him to grow to be more ‘human’, if you will. For reader, I wanted her to mature and consequently make the reunion that bit harder considering the amount she will have grown. For John, I wanted to show his grieving journey as well as reader’s, and also tell my story of how he and Mary met (yeeeeees I cannot wait for that). And, probably most importantly, for Sherlock, I wanted to show how he dealt throughout those 2 years. It must have been extremely difficult for him as it was in the show, but adding a beloved little sister to the mix makes it all the more hard. Ahh. Angst.

Were there any scenes you were nervous about? For audience reception or otherwise?

I don’t think so... perhaps the scenes coming up in future chapters that deal with reader’s mental health.

Did you consider killing off any of the characters? Did you?

I meeeannn.....

Did you title your chapters? Which title do you like best?

Yes, I title all my chapters! Not sure how many of you noticed but each chapter is a song title. I think my favourite would have to be  ‘Un Nouveau Soleil’, which means ‘A New Sun’, perfectly symbolising the turn slowly taking place in both reader and Mycroft’s lives. Also a beautiful song that you can listen to here.

Was there symbolism/motifs you worked in?

None I can think of, though knowing me there are probably a lot in there.

Did you have a playlist/piece of music that went with this story?

Basically the song that I took each chapter title from! If you listen to each song, the chapter revolves around it. I chose each one for what it represents for the chapters. :)

Do you want to write something like this again in the future?

Probably not lmao. I’m not sure how you could fit this kind of story into another fandom! But I’ll definitely write more multi-chapters.

Did readers influence change any part of this story?

Not yet!! Though they probably will! ;) I only have planned chapters up to 25 or so and there will be more than that.

Would you go back and change anything if you could?

I don’t think so? Not yet, at least.

What’s a scene/paragraph you’re proud of?

I like this one from chapter 5!

‘A large oak tree stood tall and proud a few metres away from the newest grave in the yard. Its green leaves and brown branches swayed in the light breeze, residual raindrops clinging to the buds and falling every so often. The canopy of leaves easily sheltered the man hiding behind it, black coat collar turned up against the wind. His messy curls were flying about his face, but his blue-green eyes were still able to see it perfectly. Hear it perfectly. Every word was like a knife to his heart; a painful reminder that this was the last time he would see you in God only knew how long.

He took in a shaky breath before shutting his wet eyes. “Take care, little sister.”

And with that, he turned his back and left.’

What was the best piece of encouragement you got? 

Well... every single positive bit of feedback I receive for this story is my encouragement, so thanks you guys!! You all keep me and BMB (and all my other fics!) going.<3

Did you learn anything while writing it? About yourself? Writing?

That dealing with a loved one’s death is hard to write about. Experiencing it in real life is even worse, and in a way that helped me write the scenes where it shows any kind of grieving. It’s tough.

Any writing advice for people who want to write something like this?

Just go for it. Don’t let people have a go at you or be negative for YOUR fanfic. It’s called fanfiction for a reason. People write for themselves and for the people who they know will enjoy it ONLY. Don’t worry about anyone else. They have no business harassing you for writing a fictional story you’re not getting paid for. :) Good luck!

Read Brother, My Brother here.

[autisticstarseed]

if u could, perhaps, bless us with all the applicable symbols from that fic ask for hvh 👀

ooOoOOOoOO Rub s gay hands togehter omg ty friend 😍;;;;;;

💡 - What was the motivation behind the story?

hHH i hadnt written in 10+ years so when i latched onto this plot idea i just thought itd be a good time to jump the shark and try it again !! i just wanted smth really edgy and depthful bc im emo and the rest kind of snowballed

💎- What was your favorite part?

osdlfksd;lf it’s hard to pick a fav but the drunk scene was definitely the most fun to write at least

⛰️-  What was the hardest part?

THE SCENE WHERE THE GANG IS KIDNAPPED BY ENKI,,,, i debated toning down the violence but in the end i knew where the story was going (and where its still going) and that its gonNA be kinda dark so why hold back now ig

🎭- What was the feeling or mood you were going for?

BITTERSWEET AF,,, sort of just treading the line of ‘hopeful’ and ‘hopeless’ at all times to fully portray the feeling of being at your lowest, but with that classic tss ‘silver linings just around the corner’ kind of undertone

🏟️- Who was your intended audience?

mostly all the adults that watched tss as a kid and felt like spirituaLLY MOVED BY IT cuz i really tried to tap into that Emotion Tee Em we all felt when we found out that zak was [redacted]

🔬- Was there one scene you were building up to/knew you had to get just right?

hHH theres actually a LOT of scenes like that and i think a lot of my general motivation to keep going comes from that ‘WAIT FOR IT WAIT FOR IT’ vibe slkdf:SDF but the Plot Twist tm in the latest chapter was definitely a big’n, and theres a few more of those still to come :^)

🗝️ - What were you thinking when you wrote it?

kjdjFSDs:DF tbh whenever i start really writing, [’im shifting into soup mode’ seinfeld meme voice] im shifting into maladaptive daydreaming mode

🎥- Were there any tv shows, books, or movies that influenced this verse, if any?

:^) devilman crybaby pls forgive me for everytHing

📈- Was there a clear character arch you wanted____ character to go on?

i actually have a short list of what i somewhat consider to be the story arcs in my notes !! mostly just for organization and obvs i wont list the future ones but so far we’ve seen the kushtaka arc, the enki arc, and now we’re in what i call ‘the annunaki’ arc.

🎢- Were there any scenes you were nervous about? For audience reception or otherwise?

ALL OF IT JSHDJSKD, but again a lot of the enki scenes i was worried would be too edgy TM, and the whole annunaki plot as well i was worried might be too ‘out there’ for ppl, but it takes the story exactly where i always wanted it and lines everything up perfectly so i went for it lol. i was also ofc worried if people would like ila or not bc oc but most ppl love her actually which is so 😭❤️

☠️- Did you consider killing off any of the characters? Did you?

8^) [mickey mouse voice] this is a surprise tool that will help us later ,

✉️- Did you title your chapters? What title do you like best?

yes! the next one actually has my favorite chapter title yet, but so far i like ‘so strikes the harpoon’ since its a throwback to the first couple chapters

☀️- Was there symbolism/motifs you worked in?

o every single paragraph is an overly thought out middle school poem im entering in the talent show actually

🎵- Did you have a playlist/piece of music that went with this story?

Yes !! i have HVH insp part 1, Part 2, and an extra one for all those songs that have the vibes but just dont fit enough to make sense in a playlist

📜-Do you want to write something like this again in the future?

probably ! ive learned i definitely like the edgy/darker and emotionally driven stories with ongoing plot, so that trend will almost definitely continue. idk if ill write a dystopia again anytime soon, but i think my future stuff will at least retain that long and heavy vibe

💁- Did readers influence/change any part of this story?

oh yEA like basically i was ready to quit after the very first chapter before it was even written and kinda just got it all out on a whim of motivation but was expecting to flake on it like i tend to do with projects, but the invested response to it was just so uplifting that its what ive been riding on all ten chapters and im so grateful for it :’)))

✏️-Would you go back and change anything if you could?

hHHHHHHH yes and ok this is terrible but i actually tend to avoid re-reading my older chapters until i hAVe to bc i suffer from that sO much ,,, , its just little things like tiny words i wanna change or bits i wanna take out/put in and once or twice ive even caught a mistake or plot hole/smth i forgot to add that i rly do have to go back and edit and i just turn to dust every tim e

⭐- What’s a scene/paragraph you’re proud of?

i really liked the northern lights scene!! it was meant to be a pivotal moment of that ‘bittersweetness’ vibe i was talking abt and it was another one of those scenes i had been planning for a while;;;

“ I think of how much the rest of the family would love this. This isn’t like the moon and the sun, where I can see it and know that even if it looks different, they’ll see the same one soon enough, wherever they are. This reminds me only that I am not with them. It stings. It seems unnatural for something so gentle and natural to appear before us as if we aren’t in complete, total fucking chaos. After all we’ve been through, and the sky still dances. “

📣-What was the best piece of encouragement you got?

AVERY ALL OF UR LIVEBL OGS AND COMMENTS GIV ME SUCH L I FE, ,, ,, CRYIGN CAT FA ce

🔦-Did you learn anything while writing it? About yourself? Writing?

isdfhSDF YEs, part of my hesitation to write came from this thing where i always just assumed there was a wildly high standard of writing in fandom spaces like in original literature spaces, where you had to have like 10+ sentences to a paragraph and you had to describe every tiny detail of a setting and you had to follow every single grammar rule or it was unreadable but like. genuinely its like sculpting with words as long as you have a shape ppl get the idea which is such a weight off my shoulders lol, its still a lot of work but so much fun to know i can to an extent do what i want and ppl actually like it like that. i also learned that like most other writers i have to cause my favs emotional and physical pain,

🎁- Any writing advice for people who want to write something like this?

hhHHHH 1. please do it its so fun just give in to the edge my guy , 2. try to get comfortable re-reading your chapters, for me its like when ppl listen to themselves sing/act but im trying to do better bc its so much more consistent when i keep it fresh in my mind and it also boosts confidence when u can pick out the things u like instead of the things u dont, 3. trying to have at least one scene in mind for each chapter that ur excited to write so u can have motivation to update faster! for me it doesnt have to be smth i think would excite the audience either like it could be the most basic thing but just having an idea of it and knowing i want to see it come to life rly helps me stay on top of it all

TY SM FRIEND THIS WAS SO FUN x x )

[starsreign]

☆ /  @irnmaidn​ :  🌠 give me all of them !!! 💖            SEND 🌠 && I'LL RECOMMEND A PLOT FOR US TO TRY OUT !!  || accepting !!

i added a few recently too so like...this gonna be long sry....

☆ AHRI.   i mean...would cass like to meet a sexy fox spirit ?? because she could if she wants !! she’s curious && fairly cordial but she’s very deadly && mysterious && just kind of comes off with an air of uncertainty whether u should trust her or not && i think that’d be fun with cass cause we kno she loves dangerous mysterious women with a taste for biting wit. but in my tangled verse it’s similar to her canon -- she’s a fox spirit && has been alive for so long, ever searching for where her people like her are && where she came from. so perhaps cass could run into her && help ahri post series ?? or she could simply be along for the ride with mysterious && selfish reasons she won’t say but either way it’s always interesting to think about when her cloak finally drops && cass gets to find out about the fox ears && nine tails ;’) also she’d probably flirt with cass sry not sry

☆ NEEKO.   iiim admittedly still working on her tangled verse cause she’s a chameleon but pls love my lesbian chameleon girl she deserves the world tbh ?? she’s extremely sweet despite her entire tribe being destroyed && killed && she FELT every single bit of it && felt her people fade away. she’s pure sunshine but she WILL fight when she has to, when there’s no other option or when people with good sho’ma are endangered. she’s looking to make a new tribe for herself now -- made up of everyone, not just oovi-kat, so she really takes in everyone who she can && who is willing. she can shapeshift by extending her sho’ma to other’s sho’ma which is a sort of spiritual essence && she can borrow their appearance, gain current emotional state && recent memories to better camouflage as them && immediately kno friend from foe so i think it’d be rly neat tbh for cass to encounter that ?? plus with neeko she wouldn’t have to open up too much or have to fight to express her emotions or voice them since neeko can feel && sense && taste emotion -- they have colours && tastes to her. she can also split herself into two, sending out a clone of herself while she becomes invisible && has a lot of floral / plant based magic as well so i think she’d rly vibe with ur cass portrayal !! but tbh she’s very chipper upbeat && kinda rapunzely personality wise -- she’s just very curious about the world && wants to learn everything since she was from a magical tribe that isolated themselves from the world, so for hundreds of years she’s literally ONLY known her tribe && their home && it’s EXTREMELY different from the world ?? she’s so used to not physically speaking && just extending sho’ma && reading emotions from each other, so she struggles with communication && that can frustrate her sometimes, but she’s knows emotions && she can see past like faking things or past all those walls she’s got up !! it’d be neat...theyd be....cute tbh... i rambled too much but i just rly love neeko sm n if u wanna kno more about her or any of these u can ask too !! also...not for nothing but neeko rly rly loves n swoons for strong badass ladies !!

☆ KINDRED.    kindred is literally just...y’kno...death, the grim reaper whatever u wanna call them !! they’re as old as the concept of death && started as one man who cleaved himself in two so he’d have a friend -- they understand the deep pain of loneliness despite having each other now because they were born from loneliness. they’d sense that from her && i think there’s plenty of times she could have met them, when death was near to her or around her && theyre certainly not entirely happy about her resurrection. they’re easily translatable into any verse but they are very ethereal && magical && love to play with people. so anything considering death. near death or perhaps just running into them if cass happens near a particularly brutal bandit robbery about to take place on the road that ultimately she wont be able to stop even if they tell her about it :’)

☆ HANA.   hjdksmd u kno i love these already n all we’ve talked about aa !! but also i’d literally be up for anything i love them sm already !! but like ?? soft moments ?? cass getting to come to her kingdom ?? getting to pilot the mechs n getting to just uuhhhh live her life be free n be happy ??

but also :eyes: hehe what if we also have a plotline where hana finds out about the moonstone thing n meets her while she has the moonstone n tries to talk her down :’) possibly mushy stuff they don’t wanna say could come out too mayhaps :thinking:

☆ AMITY.   she’s a little witch !! in her tangled verse she’s still a witch but she && her family are more in hiding about their powers && school so they’re all hidden away but amity’s family is a very, very noble family with a lot of money && power -- which extends to magic too lol. but it’d be Neat to meet cass n like amity looking up to her ?? she’s a lot like cass tbh, pretentious mean girl type who is rly rly icy n mean n sassy on the outside but she’s soft inside she just CANNOT show weakness n she oof is rly oppressed by her family n standards set for her n she ALSO has a crush on a sunshine girl who happens to be human. n she reads to younger kids n helps them out she’s softe secretly...just has a lot of pressure on her -- her parents wont let her hang around witches with lesser talent either. they’d get along i think after like tension but she’s just a lil teen witch n needs a good strong role model but she could also help cass out with the whole magic thing ykno ?? 

☆ PERFUMA.   ooooh they’d be cute !! perfuma is just...so sweet n positive n !! i’d love to interact with her in any of ur she.ra verses or i could absolutely try to fit her into a tangled verse but i’d absolutely want to keep her plant powers but that’d be neat with ur cass n her powers too !!

oh !! or aaalso, concept: we could have perfuma interacting with chrys !! n like when her n cass start working with the princess alliance n her helping them out n giving them insider info even if shes nervous n its dangerous n just perfuma helping her with that n giving her pep talks about her being brave ?? helping her with fashion stuff, helping her adjust to life where her sister can’t help as much ?? that’d be so cute bhadjksbh

☆ AKALI.   hehehee akali n cass would be hilarious at first i swear it -- they’re both headstrong, stubborn && sassy tbh. she’s from an order of acolytes that try to keep the balance of the spiritual / magical realm && the outside realms; she was raised in it && her mother && father were higher ups && very powerful in the order -- her father died in an attack led by her master’s friend on the order && they had to flee && try to remake with smaller ranks when she was very young. she succeeded her mother as the fist of the shadow but could not vibe with the way her master wasn’t taking action like she wanted to -- she wanted to restore balance in her way && she wanted to spill blood to do it because that’d be the only way to do it, so as an adult she just peaced off to do it her own way. && tbh that could fit in with a tangled verse -- just in the shadows, keeping the balance of magic unseen to most. she’s a trained assassin && she can literally throw three kunai && pierce three different hearts while in the midst of a smoke bomb like she’s insanely good -- she is also tiny n has some amazing muscles on her arms back && has very visible abs n she sexy n she kills me daily !! but they could get along ?? she does some magic but she was never the best at it tbh but depending on where in the timeline they meet it could be interesting ?? like s1 would be neat for her to meet someone like akali ?? another strong woman fighter but she also comes from a place that praised women’s strength instead of putting it down -- buuuuut she was hiiiighly ignored by her own mother in favour of another neophyte growing up so....ykno...Mood right ?? it stings a lot -- she saved everyone from a corrupted tree spirit n had the girl she looked up to spit in her face because she lost her leg n blamed it on akali && then her mother praised the girl instead of akali despite the other kids telling her what akali had done n singlehandedly dragged them to safety n she was like around nine or ten or so at the time... but it’d be cool if they met s1 n got to kno each other n maaaybe akali joins them on their journey since it has a lot to do with restoring the magical balance of the world n they could use a master assassin but also...the angst with cass taking the moonstone n the conflict akali would face about having to oust her cause ykno...shes fucking up the balance n thats her ykno....entire purpose riiiip

☆ WIDOWMAKER.   IDK BUT OOF i love widow. i haven’t thought about a tangled verse or a fantasy verse but like uuhhh something about being a french noblewoman married to a freedomfighter but ending up being brainwashed by some magical sect or talon but they’re part of zhan tiris crew or whatever ?? might be neat. she killed her husband && she’s just a little bit possessed now && a ruthless killer. so maaaaaybe....her trying to stop them on their journey to the dark kingdom ?? but her brainwashing starts wearing off the more she’s away from the source tbh -- but also, she’d be on cass’ side when she has the moonstone n honestly that’s very powerful, she’d have a very powerful ally to keep her on track && help like tell her she’s doing great because in the end she’s on zhan tiris side && she can probably see her the whole time && would be working to help get her back to power. also up in the air whether she ends up regaining herself later on && helping cass escape or whatever but she’d feel intensely guilty yikes but anyway i think it’d be honestly rly rly interesting n i’d love to do something with this if u’d be up for it bhdajkmd n like i said we can talk about any of these if u want too !! 

☆ BENSON.   i have zero ideas for this right now because his series is just so far removed from tangled....it’s a post apocalyptic universe where there’s extremely large animals some of which can talk n want to destroy humans who all live under the surface mostly except the ones who try to survive on the surface. TBH u’d love it...i think u’d love wolf specifically too ?? i dont wanna spoil anything but yeah it might be something u might enjoy ??

but also like mlm wlw solidarity pls ?? he’s a pretty carefree but smart gay teen, he’d get along pretty well with her n play off her iciness cause he’s just like that ?? he started off just caring only for himself n his bug buddy n just thieving a lot but like got a lot of character development -- but i guess he could be a thief in tangled verse ?? n like grow out of it or she could show him there’s better ways n stuff ?? idk...

[hisangelrosalie]

tagged by: @rosefromdeath​

tagging: @fuitcormeum​, @psychicdoll​, @cindydoll​, @iterumme​, and whoever else!

LAYER ONE : THE OUTSIDE

NAME - Rosa.lie Lili.an Ha.le EYE COLOUR - Violet (human), Golden (vampire) HAIR STYLE / COLOUR - Wavy, blonde hair that reaches the middle of her back. Rarely worn up. HEIGHT - 5′5 CLOTHING STYLE - Lots of designer clothes, styles vary. Wears both dresses and pants alike, as well as jeans. Often sporting heels. Rarely wears clothing with a pattern to it. Enjoys darker shades. BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE - Her beauty in general, otherwise her violet eyes (human) or golden hair (vampire)

LAYER TWO : THE INSIDE

FEARS - Losing her loved ones, deeply disappointing Carlisle or Esme GUILTY PLEASURE - Killing (primarily) men who abuse others, working on various vehicles, holding wedding ceremonies BIGGEST PET PEEVE - Edward’s attitude and him disregarding her thoughts and feelings AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE - Find a way to have children of her own, save as many people as she can from abusive situations 

LAYER THREE : THOUGHTS

FIRST THOUGHTS UPON WAKING UP (HUMAN): “What will I wear today?” WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT MOST: Contrary to what SM always puts out... Rosalie is often thinking about helping other abused and battered women, including those in shelters. She is also often thinking about family, and all the kids who are in abusive situations and those in the system without a family, wishing she could adopt them all as well as have some of her own.  WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT BEFORE BED: She goes over her day, and sometimes thinks back on her human life - she thinks of it often because she doesn’t want to forget. She sometimes thinks about new things to learn - languages, school courses, etc. And the future. WHAT YOUR BEST QUALITY IS: Her loyalty and the fact that she would go out of her way to help others being abused, whether she knows them or not - and typically does it behind the scenes.

LAYER FOUR : WHAT’S BETTER ?

SINGLE OR GROUP DATES - Depends on her mood, she enjoys both. TO BE LOVED OR RESPECTED - Both. BEAUTY OR BRAINS - Contrary to SM’s belief, both.

LAYER FIVE : DO YOU…

LIE - Yes, whenever she feels the need to, but she tries not to do it to the family BELIEVE IN YOURSELF - She has learned to BELIEVE IN LOVE - Yes.  WANT SOMEONE - She already has someone, the only thing missing is children of her own.

LAYER SIX : EVER BEEN …

BEEN ON STAGE: For school, but she avoids it if possible in her vampire life. DONE DRUGS: No. (verse dependent) CHANGED WHO YOU WERE TO FIT IN:  No.

LAYER SEVEN : FAVORITES

FAVOURITE COLOR - Pink or lilac FAVOURITE ANIMAL - Elephants  FAVOURITE MOVIE - Titanic FAVOURITE GAME - Tomb Raider, she loves the badass ladies

LAYER EIGHT : AGE

DAY YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY WILL BE - April 16th HOW OLD WILL YOU BE - 18 eternally AGE YOU LOST YOUR VIRGINITY - 18 DOES AGE MATTER - Not much, in her mind, unless anyone under 18 is involved

LAYER NINE : IN A PERSON

BEST PERSONALITY - Honesty & kindness BEST EYE COLOUR - Green BEST HAIR COLOUR - Brown BEST THING TO DO WITH A PARTNER - Talk deeply

LAYER TEN : FINISH THE SENTENCE

I LOVE - my family, myself I FEEL - everything I HIDE -  my selfish desires I MISS - the choices of humanity I WISH - to have my humanity again

[kpopreviewcafe]

Red Velvet – Summer Mini Album ‘Summer Magic’ Review

THE QUEENS OF SUMMER ARE HERE! SM Entertainment really love their seasonal promotions! We have Girls’ Generation and EXO owning the winter, and the lovely Red Velvet ruling the summer! I really loved this mini album – it was fresh and exciting,  whilst simultaneously showing off Red Velvet as the mature and experienced artists that they are.

I have to say that Red Velvet are the queens of Kpop title tracks. Every single one is catchy, well produced and experimental, with beautiful vocals and an interesting concept. Power Up is an amazing song that is so different to their last releases (Peekaboo & Bad Boy), which just shows off the amazing versatility of the group. I really loved the rich beat and tuneful melody in the chorus. Also, how could I not fall in love with the catchy “Ba-banana” part (plus the cute ‘baby shark’ dance)? This was a fresh and exciting track, which fit perfectly with the heat of the summer. Sure, I was quite shocked when I first heard Joy’s clashing high note at the end of the bridge, but that’s Red Velvet for you! They will always be sure to make push their Reveluvs, as well the boundaries of pop music.

With You is a heartwarming song that is delightful to listen to. It is definitely my favourite non-title track on this album! The ladies’ sweet voices blend together perfectly in this happy ballad, and the vocalisations in the last chorus are overwhelmingly beautiful. I also really enjoyed the edgy concept of this song, which was Christmas in the summer. I mean who doesn’t love Christmas?!

When I’m with you, It’s like Christmas in summer… Santa, if you are real, I have a wish, Please let us be together For the rest of the summers to come

The next track Mr E is as confusing to listen to as the title suggests!  I like the word play between Mr E and mystery – though I’m not sure what they’re implying with the name… There is a sharp contrast between the relatively slow verses and the upbeat high pitched chorus. This song definitely does evoke the feeling of a hot and humid jungle, which fits quite well with the next song also…

Mosquito is a VERY interesting song, especially lyrically. The song has a simple electric beat and is fairly talk-rap heavy, but the concept and the lyrics are very funny and mature, showing a new side to RV, and making this worth listening too. In the song, they cheekily compare the unnamed male love interest to a mosquito…

When did you come into my dark room? You’re like a mosquito… You keep crossing the line.

I also enjoyed the pleasantly funny onomatopoeia in the chorus where Irene goes “zzzzzz” which could cleverly be either a mosquito’s buzz or a phone’s.

The next track Hit That Drum is one of my favourites too. It’s fun and upbeat, and fittingly has a strong and lively drum beat throughout the song. The chorus is full of bright harmonies and classic RV sing-shouting. Think of this song as the cute younger sister of Super Junior’s legendary hit Bonamana. Hearing Wendy belting out “Play my drum” in the bridge was pretty hilarious too.

Blue Lemonade is a like a tall, cold drink on a hot summer’s day: fizzy, sweet and a little tangy. The sexy vocalisations at the start set the mood of the song immediately. While this track has a slower place than the rest of the songs on this album, it still has a dash of cheekiness that makes RV songs so exciting to listen to. I love the “Pop pop pop” of the drink (or the girl’s feelings) in the chorus too.

Bad Boy is my all time favourite Red Velvet title track, and I didn’t think I could get any better… Turns out, it could! The Bad Boy (English Version) is a girl power anthem, with fierce and cool lyrics. I really appreciate Red Velvet for considering their international audience and making an English version of this song.

Coz I, I know how to make the Devil cry… Every time I come around, ‘nother bad boy down… Just one look from me lights out, watch them hit the ground…

Summer Magic was an amazing compilation of songs of all different genres, with tracks that are perfect for generating a summer mood, no matter what time of year! I have literally never been disappointed by a Red Velvet album. The production quality, vocal prowess and versatility is amazing. This album just proves why Red Velvet one of Kpop’s current ruling girl groups.

Kpop Review Café’s Overall Album Ranking: 7/10

[crazylivingx]

me expressing my love for love yourself: answer

it’s only been 3 days into 2019 and i’ve been emo about love yourself: answer because i recently bought the album in korea and their lyricism makes me want to cry pls ignore this if you don’t wanna read about my feelings towards the solo songs released throughout the love yourself era because the pure genius and passion put into this project is truly astounding yalls pls love yourselves this is also really personal you’ve been warned (also apologies if i’ve made any grammatical errors lmao)

*i’m going by the ly: answer sequence

(as im writing this in my language and literature class my lecturer goes “my daughter loves bts” and cue my friend and i shouting the member’s names to guess his daughter’s bias and its jhope like wow we stan a jhope stan he said she thinks he “has such a blinding smile’ and thats honestly the biggest mood)

euphoria

this song is innocent af when i first heard it i knew it was a bopping bop the synths in the chorus can kick me to switzerland i barely even remember what the video was about all i remember is jungkook and that yellow jacket lmao his vocal runs when he sings “won’t you please stay in dreams” is just heavenly it honestly feels like i’m floating through the clouds with this song this song can convert people who don’t like good songs with synths bet i can’t imagine anyone other than jungkook singing this song tbh if you get an s.o. i hope you experience this song

favourite line (i know it’s not a singular line pls bear with me):

You’re the sun that rose again in my life

A reincarnation of my childhood dreams

I don’t know what these emotions are

Am I still dreaming?

This dream is a blue mirage in the desert

A priori deep inside of me

I’m so happy, I can’t breathe

My surroundings are getting more and more transparent

I hear the far-away ocean

Across the dream, over the horizon

I’m going to the place that’s getting clearer

Take my hands now

You are the cause of my euphoria

trivia 起 just dance

this whole song shows how much jhope loves dancing and it’s so sweet??? wanting to dance with your partner under the moonlight and slowly falling in love???? the song just screams jhope especially with the chorus you can just imAGiNe him dancing like he has no bones because he DoeSn’T,,,, it has a synthetic feel but it also feels really passionate and human like jhope can #getit we stan a multitalented man the lyrics in this song is probably the lightest but it’s still fun and easy to understand and listen to

favourite line (yea i know it’s like an entire verse but i love their lyrics okay):

In my muddy life

You were like a single stem flower

Even this suffocating studio

If we’re together, turns into paradise

My dreams that once had no answer

Now becomes something we can relate to

Because our rhythm is matching

Because we have our dance, it’s a fate-like beat

serendipity

i remember covering my screams when the mv for this song came out before dna was released and my mom instantly knew what was up lmao this song was kind of my style of music with the #chillvibes it gave out but the chill-ness of the song didn’t make forgettable i’ve played this song in the car before and now my dad can recognize it lol even khalid liked it you go you funky little chimchim,,, i never really paid attention to the lyrics in this song but it sounds really innocent and possessive at the same time lmao i’ll give bts the benefit of the doubt (i also prefer the short version over the full length version don’t kill me)

favourite line (at least these are lines. i know i said line not lines let me live):

As much as my heart flutters, I’m worried

Destiny is jealous of us

//

Since the creation of the universe

Everything was destined

Just let me love you

trivia 承 love

this song man. namjoon. the piano chords in the beginning is what gives me life. the moment i heard them i instantly knew this was going to be a fave. i love the slight discordance no matter what i will instantly start bopping to it because it’s such a bop that you HAVE to bop along with it. rm loves wordplay in his lyrics, and when it crosses with his intellect something beautiful emerges. this song feels like a flower i love the melody of chords like the chords sold me immediately. and then after i was sold the lyrics stabbed me. there is no escape.

favourite line (god where do i begin):

I live so I love

//

I'm just a human, human, human (the ㅁ in 사람 saram which means human)

You erode all my corners

And make me into love, love, love (becomes ㅇin 사랑 sarang which means love)

We're humans, humans, humans

In that myriad of straight lines

My love, love, love

When you sit on top of it and you become my heart (if the ㅇ the word 사랑 is squished, it’ll look like a heart ♡)

//

You make I to an O

I to an O

Because of you

I know why human (saram) and love (sarang) sound similar

You make live to a love

Live to a love

Because of you

I know why a person should live by love

//

It's a long way from I to U

Fuck, JKLMNOPQRST

I crossed all the letters and I reached you 

(i really suggest going to genius’s website to fully understand the song if you want to)

singularity

kim taehyung better square up because i would buy burger king and fight him in the parking lot because he stole my toenail,,,, bighit released this song while i was in hell aka university and bOY was i hshshshhshdhdh <— thats the best way i can describe my feelings,,, like he made my tears flow upwards or something the music video was aMAZING and i was shooketh ihatehimsmjkidontbutyouknowwhatimean back to the song - serendipity was also pretty chill but in a darker way and i love it as well. to me the lyrics mirror fake love because it portrays how walking on thin ice feels and how you’ll lose your own voice just to suffer to make sure the person you love will continue loving you (the lyrics are also really slow so it made it easy for me to read the lyrics in karaoke lmao) singularity was a goddamn package for me the mv, the performance and v himself just hshshshshs when i listen to this song i feel like i’m lying down on a giant leaf floating on a clear pond watching a dim but twinkling meteor shower with giant water flowers surrounding me and fireflies are swaying along with wisps of smoke and this is getting too long winded i’ll stop here as i’m writing this i just remembered namjoon wrote this song in one shot after having surgery what a mans

favourite line (its long but it doesn’t feel complete if i break it up):

A thick ice has formed

In the dream I shortly went into

My agonizing phantom pain is still the same

Have I lost myself

Or have I gained you

I suddenly run to the lake

There’s my face in it

Please don’t say anything

Reach my hand out to cover the mouth

But in the end, spring will come someday

The ice will melt and flow away

Tell me if my voice isn’t real

trivia 轉 seesaw

oh boy. suga. min yoongi. this has been said before but the use of seesaw as a metaphor for a dying/toxic relationship is truly artistic and clever. the way he describes it in his lyrics creates a really clear picture of what’s happening. how if one person gets off a seesaw the other will get hurt as they’ll start to fall to the ground, how neither wants to get off because they know they’ll hurt whoever’s on the other side, and how staying or leaving this “repeated seesaw game” will hurt the both of them no matter what choice they choose. i’ll let the lyrics speak for themselves. (suga singing and dancing was also a pleasant surprise i fell on the floor)

favourite line (get ready i’m about to put like 80% of the song in here the lyrics is a masterpiece):

Repeated seesaw game

I'm tired of this

Repeated seesaw game

We're getting tired of each other

Were the petty arguments the start?

The moment I became heavier than you

Because there's never been parallels in the first place

Maybe I became more greedy and tried to fit in with you

Is there really a need to keep repeating ourselves

Saying this was love and this is love?

They're tired of each other, they seem to hold the same hand

//

People can be so crafty

They know they’ll get hurt if one person is missing

Because we don't want to be the villains

In the midst of a series of vague responsibilities

And we get so tired or if that we finally became parallel

But we didn’t want this kind of parallel

At first, we showed off who was heavier

We'd brag and smile

Now we're trying to beat each other

We're in a competition

The fire of a quarrel

It’ll only end if someone gets off right here

We’re acting like we’re comforting each other

But it’s mixed with thorns

Can’t keep doing this, we need to make a decision

//

(Hol' up Hol' up) I walk on this seesaw without you

(Hol' up Hol' up) Just like the beginning when you weren't here

(Hol' up Hol' up) I walk on this seesaw without you

(Hol' up Hol' up) I'm getting off this seesaw without you

(like trivia 承 love, you can read more about the song on genius’s website)

epiphany

stream epiphany. our boy kim seokjin’s vocals have truly improved huh. this to me felt like a response to awake (you can fLY JIN) and i applaud bighit for giving him this song. he finally gets the recognition and lines he deserves smh. you really feel like a proud parent when you watch the fancams throughout the love yourself tour and hear how his voice improves after each performance. the song is also kind of the ‘final act’ to all the solos in ly: answer and they finally get to spread their message of “its hard to love yourself, but that’s why you should so you can love others as well”. after becoming the shell of what you once were, the only way you can fill it up again is to love yourself, and that’s my pov of the whole point of the song. i’m gonna be honest i wasn’t really into this song in the beginning but i started to fall in love with it after a few listens (i listened to it sm that when i was downloading the ly: answer album i forgot to add epiphany cause i was streaming it LMAO)

favourite line (i know they’re verses as well hshdhds):

I’m the one I should love in this world

Shining me, precious soul of mine

I finally realized so I love me

Not so perfect but so beautiful

I'm the one I should love

//

I may be a bit blunt, I may lack some things

I may not have that shy glow around me

But this is me

My arms, my legs, my heart, my soul

bonus song - answer: love myself

doing a pewdiepie and adding a bonus song lmao my first listen of this song was in my friend’s house and we had the lyrics on and let me tell you the moment we read the lyrics we wanted to hug bts because it was so soft and it was so uwu we were so ready to love ourselves lol yes it sounds like a church song but like epiphany i learned to love it too this was also my first song of 2019 so if you decide to, please listen to it with an open heart

favourite line (hey look actual lines this time yes lines not line):

Maybe I fell in order to take the place of those countless stars

The target of thousands of bright arrows is me alone

//

Why do you keep trying to hide under your mask?

Even all the scars from your mistakes make up your constellation

that’s all from me bye sorry for the long post

bighit pls hire me as an album promoter

[felicityb-reviews]

‘90s 5HINee - Feature Spotlight

Hello, babies!! It's Jace (aka Felicity B), and it's our first SHINee Feature Spotlight!! I am so excited to be doing this, because SHINee was literally the second group that I got super attached to (EXO being the first). And, believe it or not, but Jonghyun was my first bias before I fell into Jinki hell. I'm a sucker for the soft leaders, sis...

Era Spotlight

So!! Today's era that we will be pulling songs from is '90s 5HINee!! I wanted to do this era first, because I absolutely love everything about '90s music. I love Funk, I love RnB, I love New Jack Swing, I love Deep House, I love it all!! And SHINee me something of everything from that era. Once again, these Feature Spotlights are not a Best Of™ list or even my favorites from the albums, necessarily, they're songs I think would fit well together. So no getting mad if your fave isn't here!!

Odd Eye (Odd)

Oh, Odd Eye...

I really wanted to avoid the Fan Favorites™ to the best of my ability (which is kind of impossible, considering how beloved this album is), but I simply couldn't do that with Odd Eye. Yes, everyone and their mother fucking loves Odd Eye, but this song represents the best parts of Odd, to me.

Odd Eye is smoky. She's smouldering, sis. She's SHINee at their sexiest. Odd Eye's beat doesn't really do much, but that's exactly what the doctor ordered. The beat is basic, but it gives SHINee the chance to just... SHINE!! I absolutely had to start this list off with Odd Eye, because a) this is a modern interpretation of a '90s RnB midtempo if I'd ever heard one and b) this song just really shows that SHINee are That Group™, sis. Don't get me wrong, I love when SHINee flame broil my wig with all the bells and whistles, but they are just as arresting and breathtaking as a group without them. When will your faves ever be this iconic?!?!?!?

SHIFT (1of1)

See... I really set myself up for failure here, because I said I was trying to avoid the Fan Favorites™, but two songs in and I've already got two in a row, so... WHAT'S THE TRUTH,SIS?!?!?!!

SHIFT is a banger, baby. SHIFT is Deep House at its finest, baby. Play this song around A N Y O N E, and they'd jam/bop. EVEN JUST A LIL!! SHIFT is that powerful, babe.

The instrumentation in this song is just so lush, sis. I wouldn't call the texture of this song sweet (because we associate sweet textures in music with warmth), but it's similar. Everything about this song is just so easy on ears. The intro is, easily, my favorite part of SHIFT. That arpeggio with the e.piano and harmonies on top?!?!?!

It's fucking magical.

The harmonies in this song are unreal. SHINee showed up to the studio with their A-game the day they recorded this. No other group harmonizes like SHINee does in their music (most groups treat harmonizing like a cute trick for concerts), but they really outdid themselves this time around.

So Amazing (1of1)

So Amazing (the special track that isn't really that special) is a New Jack Swing song with lots of funky elements, which is right up SHINee's ally. Idk why it took SM so long to throw a NJS song at SHINee with 1of1 because they fuckin' killed that shit (I will have nothing of you losers saying it sounds too much like a typical NJS track, that's the fucking point of a throwback), but better late than never, sis.

So Amazing is really nice. It's got a really bright texture, but it's also really warm and easy on the ears. These types of uptempos are usually cheesy af, but a) that's the '90s babe and b) that makes So Amazing a great mood lifter. I can play this on those days that aren't "cry in bed all day", but aren't all that good, either. Plus, I love imagining all the silly dances the SHINee members did to the dance break, cause that horn section is so fun and playful.

Savior (Married to the Music)

It's another Deep House song!! But not quite. She's more Funk n RnB than Deep House, but shh... She's still Deep House in my heart.

The first time I heard Savior, I was little thrown off by the chorus. They sound like they're shouting in unison over the beat, but it's not as grating as you'd think it'd be. It's actually a whole lotta fun, if you ask me. And this would be such a great song to perform in concert, because it's high energy af. I wouldn't say this chorus is euphoric (Euphoric EDM usually has a note of sadness in the brightness of it all), but I wanna jump around to it like it is. And that's really all that matters, sis.

Romance (Odd)

Part of me feels like someone is going to be mad at this, but their wig is dusty. So I don't care

Romance is a song that I was hugely let down by on first listen. It, obviously, grew on me (this bitch grew on me like a fucking rash), but Ms Romance sounded way cooler in teaser form. The chorus was annoyingly bright and chipper, Minho's rapping was so off putting (which, to be fair, syncopated rapping is hard for most rappers to pull off, so that was just me being a dick), and the whole thing just felt far too long for how flat sounding it was.

I was not a fan, kids.

But Romance, like the album it was pulled from, grows on you. It seems like too much at first, but the more you listen to it, the more you start to Get It™. This isn't one of my favorite songs from the album, but it's one that I look forward to listening to.

Love Sick (Odd)

Oh my God, Love Sick!! Odd Eye and Love Sick are my top two favorite tracks from Odd, and 90% of the reason I held onto Odd for as long as I did. Odd was not an album I liked on first impact. But it kind of hit that this album couldn't be as bad as I made it out to be, because it has quite a few of my top tier SHINee faves. So me and Odd?!?! We cool now. We fucks with each other.

And yes, I do realize Ms Love Sick is another Fan Favorite™, but she's a damn good song. Y'all got me fucked up if you thought I wasn't adding this.

How does one describe Love Sick?!?!! Firstly, let's discuss these harmonies, baby. Love Sick was always gonna be a favorite of mine (that Groove™, sis), but these fucking harmonies take it to the next level. Y'all, SHINee did not have to snap the way they did on the refrain of this song, but they snatched every single follicle of hair from my wig and used it as kindling for the SM Annual Bonfire. I felt like I was floating the first time I heard this song. Love Sick would have been amazing without these over the top harmonies, but once again, SHINee are not content to do just the bare minimum.

As a whole, Love Sick is bouncy, fun, and there's a bit of melancholy there (the song is about unrequited love, after all), but it's just so Good!!

Don't Stop (1of1)

SHINee decided to get Grown n Sexy™ for the kids, y'all!! Got a bitch outchea trynna find a mans just to slow grind on.

But y'all not trynna hear alladat.

Don't Stop is Love Motion's spiritual cousin. They're more alike in vibes than actual sound (BEG being the Grown n Sexy™ idol group), but I mean... if you ever needed a part two to seduce your mans, baby.

Don't Stop, like Odd Eye, is a '90s RnB midtempo if I'd ever heard one. SHINee's vocal here is far more restrained than it was on Odd Eye (they actually let the beat do some of the work), but I like that. This song is a lot more subtle than Odd Eye is. And how does one even describe the beat?!?! I'm not sure that syncopated really does it justice, but it's not something you hear a lot in K-Pop. One complaint I have about this song is that I wished Key's rap break was just an instrumental section. I don't dislike it to the point where it turns me off from the song, I just think it would've been cool to do a dance break there.

Feel Good (1of1)

Feel Good is appropriately named, because she makes a bitch feel real good. Don't let her trick you with the soft intro and first verse, because the bulk of the song is Groovy™ af, baby. You could dance to this, but I'd prefer to just bop to the beat and make stank faces at the appropriate times.

The rap bits in Feel Good, unlike Don't Stop, are Just Right™. I have very much enjoy Minho's evolution as a vocalist *and* a rapper. Rapping in K-Pop is a concept I've just had to get used to cause so many of these idol rappers are not good by any stretch of the imagination. But if you can give me something that's fun, I've learned to roll with it. I liked Jongin as a rapper (before he became Vocalist Kai™), because he was very aware of the fact that that was not his calling in life, but he made it fun. And Minho gives me a fun verse here. Issa highlight.

Rescue (1and1)

If ballads are not your thing, then I wouldn't be surprised if you skipped the entirety of the 1and1 repackage (and therefore, Rescue). Which is a shame, because SHINee have some of the best ballads in K-Pop, but quite understandable.

But Ms Rescue is not much of a ballad, fam. The intro/first verse might trick one into thinking this isn't gonna be much of a song, but just like Feel Good, the song *really* starts with the chorus. And lemme tell you something - the chorus is F I R E!! You've got a nice little beat going with the prechorus, yes, but the chorus takes it to the Next Level™, sis. You've got thumping 808s, a badass chord progression, and the SHINee Boys™ givin' us That Good Good™. The chord progression is a particular favorite of mine, because it's got this gritty, almost anxious feeling to it. It's perfect for this song.

The first time I listened to Rescue, I made the stankest of faces. This song is just *so* fucking '90s, and it's one of my favorites from the repackage.

Alive (Odd)

So on top of giving us Grown n Sexy™ tracks for seducing bae into our lairs (or den of iniquity, if that's what you prefer), SHINee has also provided us with Alive. A song for... Well, do I really have to say it?!?!?!

Doing the frickle frackle!!

Alive is aggressive, kids. Like, EXO's MAMA aggressive. I was kind of thrown off by it on first listen, which is funny considering how I was very much into Everybody (or more specifically, Jinki with blonde hair and eyeliner singing Everybody). This is the type of song I picture boy bands practicing the stomp routines they receive from the National Boy Band Assembly® upon completion of their lineup.

Because boy bands sho' do love they over the top stomp routines, baby.

Alive starts out with a very loud, very in your face drum pattern that almost sounds like a giant making his way through the hills at night. Then, the verse comes crashing in with equally as loud and frenetic synths and The SHINee Boys™ matching the aggressiveness laid out by beat with a whole lotta attitude. And then, my favorite part of the song, the chorus. Out goes the Kill Bill Sirens frenetic synths and in come the RnB chords and harmonies. Cause God Knows™ these boys can't make a song without some killer harmonies. Bless the Lord almighty.

Wish Upon a Star (1and1)

This song always makes me wanna cry. I still love it, tho. Top 10 favorite ballads.

Wish Upon a Star is a soft classical ballad, if I've ever heard one. But The SHINee Boys™ sure know how to dress these up Just Right™ to make them worth your while. Wish Upon a Star sounds like it belongs in a Disney movie. It's soft and wistful, but sweet in texture, at the same time. I'm not exactly stoked for the SHINee World V concerts that are happening in February, but I hope they sing this song for Jonghyun. It'd be perfect for him.

This song always makes me so happy when I listen to it (despite always making me wanna cry my eyes out), because it really just shows how far SHINee have come as individuals and a band. They've always worked so hard to improve and comeback stronger, and this song is the perfect representation of that. 1and1 was the perfect time to release this song, because that era represents SHINee at their best, to me. Listening to this song makes me really happy, despite how sad I am.

Chocolate (Married to the Music)

Because no SHINee playlist (or album, really) is comeplete without a gay up straight up Funk track. Because SHINee are the K-Pop Kings of Funk. I will accept no other opinions about this.

Chocolate is Funk for the kids. The Actual Kids™, that is. Chocolate gives us those Funky elements we all know and love, but with a modern twist. The verses have an almost dissonant quality to them with how syncopated and off kilter the rhythm track is. I'm not gonna lie, it's definitely something you gotta get used to. But when that chorus/refrain rolls up on you, you're definitely gonna be happy you stuck with Chocolate. As typical with any SHINee song, there's lots and lots of harmonies. SHINee sees these groups only doing 5ths, and is like, "Oh no ma'am, not our gay extra asses".

Chocolate is, to be quite honest, SHINee on auto-pilot. It's SHINee doing what SHINee does best, and that's why we fucks with ha. I've never disliked a Funk song from SHINee, and I never will. These SHINee Boys™ have an understanding about Funk, and know how to make Funk songs Just Right™. It's always a pleasure to hear them make songs like these, especially when they give us a modern twist to go along with it.

Alright guys, that's it for today's list!! Tune in next week for my next Feature Spotlight, featuring songs from SHINee's experimental era. And don't forget to tune in on Wednesday to my Review Roundup of this week's releases!!

Love you guys.

[kpopgerapitico]

Song of the Week

Let’s see if a better mood can be reached on this slow Friday night.

EDIT From future/past Sam: While I gave GOT7 the win, the spiritual win belongs to SuperM, who gave me the most affecting music experience of the week, with this video. Idk what my favorite part is, BoA just randomly being there, Lucas and Ten getting their sweat on, or all of the other bull the boys are doing on a plane. Maybe its the tight zooms they do on crotches when explaining how seat belts. Or maybe its the duet rap with a bunch of small children. Honestly the whole thing is a trip, and you owe it to yourself to go watch.

Honorable Mentions:

Acapella is always a choice that will get my attention. Green screen effects will often get my attention as well. The deep bass on Vincent’s Burn it All is what kept my attention, because every chorus made me immediately dig in to listen. The rest does a little bit too much, or maybe a little bit too little for me. It is solid on the whole, and definitely has my attention. I also love the very end, because of love all versions of a record scratch.

I love the disco influence on Dongkiz’ Fever, but I don’t think it can be underestimated I was that this wasn’t a trot song. They had every opportunity to go just the full way. They even had beats that are still associated with the trot genre today. So I’m disappointed, even if it is just as cheesy as Blockbuster was. And the whole visual is great again (though I doubt it is dancing ghost good).

I can’t decide if I like Dumb, or an just indifferent. BVNDIT seems decently talented, and the song is . . . Latin inspired power pop from a sexy girl group. And I think that might be the problem. In a saturated market, good is not longer enough for me. It is a specific genre that already has plenty of acts in it, many of whom I know and like better. It makes a new group have a lot to stand up against. I can see why people like it.

Literally the last guy listed on Ravi’s Limitless is my favorite part, and I don’t even really like it? It is all autotuned so so so so so much. And I don’t mind a little autotune, but a lot always ruins a song for me.

WayV is on the attack. Half the boys are shirtless, the song is pretty easy to interpret sexually, and the whole thing is shot in SM’s favorite box style. Oh, and it’s an NCT subunit in full English, so all us international fans can feel attacked by lyrics and visuals (TOUCH ME TEASE ME FEEL ME UP?!?!??!!). Though I will say some of the lyrics struggle to make any sense (not the native born English speakers manage to make sensible lyrics). Musically, Love Talk feels a little 90s boyband, and I’m not sure how I feel about that part.

It is very very very rare that I listen to more than 10 seconds of a Korean ballad. To add some perspective, I probably listen to a majority of ballads a week. And they very very rarely make it to the list. At this point in the week, I’ve probably listened to 12 or so. And honestly, I’m not really sure why I paused at Kim Yoon Hee’s Love Myself. It doesn’t avoid any of the tropes I hate. It doesn’t have particularly special vocals, or melodies, or emotion. The only thing I can place is a feeling of honesty, and bravery that I get from it. IDK if that is even what the song is about. Do with all that what you will.

The music only chorus of 1TEAM’s Make This is really interesting. Not enough to make me listen to it again, but definitely worth hearing once.

Hinapia’s Drip is in the same genre as BVNDIT, minus the Latin influence. I like it a bit better, but again, it is fighting in a saturated market. And again, I get why people like it, I just don’t think I’m people this time.

Tattoo fits into the same genre as The Boyz’ previous track No Air, with a few dreamier choice (that have been incredibly common among idol groups this week). Maybe, like No Air, it will be somewhat of a sleeper hit for me.

I have OPINIONS of GOT7′s comeback. First, Jinyoung is coming for me personally, and I do not deserve this kind of disrespect. Also, Mark’s verse is bad (don’t @me). And the whole vibe is not something I’ve heard from K-pop, and has a Billie Eilish pause on it, which is spectacular. If I get past the fangirling, it is still a pretty strong track. For such an established group (the video is over 21 million views in 4 days, which is nothing to sniff at), I appreciate that they haven’t let one sound define them. Well, besides songs that almost always have a strong dance influence. If you like GOT7, or hearing a new concept in K-pop, You Calling My Name is a pretty good place to start. And in a week where not a lot got to me, it hit hard. So it gets the W.

[jiora]

Top 10 Best KPop Songs of 2016

30. Still Alive by J.Y. Park

This song is about an aging pop star still trying to be cool and popular with young people. It earned extra points with me because I am a little older than the median KPOP fan. The first listen is a little awkward but that seems to add to the concept. He's not supposed to be totally smooth.

29. I Just Wanna Dance by Tiffany

This was the song that had my favourite choreography this year. The title was very apt. The only problem is that she sings "I just wanna dance the night away" and yet the music video shows them dancing in the middle of the day. Regardless, this KPOP song has a genuine retro feeling and makes me want to sing even more so than dance.

28. Whatta Man by I.O.I

Any fan who was familiar with the Salt N' Pepa version of this song would have been anticipating great things and great things is what they got, indeed. The I.O.I version of "Whatta Man" had everything the old school one did in terms of catchiness. I originally had it ranked much higher but after a few listens I began to notice little parts in the vocals that were just a little off. That detracted a bit from my ability to appreciate it as deeply as I would have wanted to.

27. Me Like Yuh by Jay Park X Prepix X Purplow (feat. Hoody)

"I'd even dye my hair blonde for ya, I can be your Justin Beiber" Jay totally ruined the English version of this song with that line and it took me a while before I was able to see the beauty of the Korean version. Jay isn't into subtlty when it comes to lyric writing so Korean lyrics usually a safer bet with Jay Park songs for those who don't understand Korean. This song is consistant with what Jay Park usually delivers. Great dancing and the "cha cha beat".

26. Fire by BTS

"Fire" was supposed to be the big follow up to "Dope", the high energy song that got everyone to take note of BTS last year. The music video even begins with a sample of "Dope". In my opinion this was a mistake. "Fire" is not on the same level as "Dope", so being reminded of how good "Dope" was lead to a bit of a let down when "Fire" started. However, this song started a bit of a trend in KPOP. It uses loud, industrial sounds which I believe influenced other KPOP songs like "Hard Carry" by GOT7, and "Fire Truck" by NCT 127.  This song is no "Dope", but it does grow on you and can really get you pumped up!

25. I Just Wanna Sing by Esbee

This is a debut and not many people noticed it. Perhaps it just hit me at the right time but it really struck me as beautiful. From the R&B melody to the harmonies he infuses into it this song is fluid and sentimental.

24. Deepened by Brave Girls

Keeping with the subject of sentimental and fluid songs. The Brave Girls (now with new members) had a stunning comeback with "Deepened". Brilliantly composed, this song sets a chill yet sultry mood. The rap break is one of its strongest points. Often a rap break is put into a KPOP song despite not adding anything to it but this was so necessary and brought the song to a new level.

23. Fire by J.Y. Park (feat. Conan O'Brien & Steven Yeun & Jimin Park)

When KPOP makes its way into the American mainstream some people reject it. But this song is so much fun. Don't deny yourselves pleasure just to seem cool, you guys! I like that J.Y. Park has a throne. I like that Conan has a face full of makeup. I like that they incorporated Conan's string dance into the plot of the video. I like Steven Yeun just for being Steven Yeun. Also, I recognized the costume TWICE wore as being very similar to what Ariana Grande wore at the 2014 Victoria Secret fashion show. Anyone else notice that?

22. Mistake by Drug Restaurant

I am not big into rock music of any nationality. I was surprised that I liked this song as much as I did. The composer has so much talent. The guitar kept me engaged the whole time and then the guitar solo in the middle of it really did me in.

21. Mama Don't Worry by Sam Kim

This is a song written by an 18 year old boy about what it is like to be away from your parents for the first time. It has something that is rare in KPOP and that is authenticity. Most songs are not written by the singers themselves. Often the songs are written about something that even the song writer him/herself has not experienced. But this song was written in real time, as the Sam Kim himself was experiencing it. The song takes the form of a letter written by the mother to her son, then the final verse is a the reply letter from the son to the mother. With the refrain "Mama don't worry" in between. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you I can't listen to it while reading the lyrics without tears building up in my eyes.

20. Love Me the Same by Jessica

Of all the Girls' Generation solos and subgroups this year Jessica's was the one that did the most for me. It is a slow song which are often challenging to make appealing but this song has emotion in the composition. The story in the music video is a cute and totally endearing metaphor.

19. High Heels by Brave Girls

This song is so brainless, but I can't help loving it. The more I listen to it, the more I can't live without it. This is the Brave Girls second entry on this years chart. I don't want to jinx anything, but I think the Brave Girls are becoming my new Girls' Generation. Emphasis on my. They do not have enough cache to be a true replacement for Girls' Generation who seem to be turning a corner in their careers.

18. Lucky One by EXO

You can always expect a high level of production from EXO songs. The song is so layered and intricate and you have to appreciate that. One beef I have is that "lover" does not rhyme with "clover". Take that line out!

17. What Is Love by Yu Yeong Jin X D.O.

This song is sung with so much passion. If you did not know who Yu Yeong Jin is then I recommend that you look him up. He is a song writer, and his writing credits are so vast you are likely to find that he wrote many of your all-time favourite songs. From the sounds of things he is quite the vocalist as well. This song was released on SM Station and, although I did not include many of those songs on my list, they really did show us a lot of interesting collaborations and solos that really enriched the KPOP world this year.

16. Ah-Ha by SS301

This song was released in the summer at the same time as many big name comebacks so it was kind of buried. But it still stood out for me. In my opinion it really is more about the music than the group. This song was really engaging, and more fun to listen to, and more dynamic than a lot of the other songs of that time of year.

15. Crush by I.O.I

This was the first song released by I.O.I and, as someone who had not been interested in the competition show Produce 101, it took a while before I really took note of it. But "Crush" shows off some really strong vocal skills and it is a concept I think we need more of: the teenager concept. I hope it s obvious what I mean by teenager concept. I'm talking about songs about things relevent to teenage life like having a crush on a boy. It makes some people uncomfortable to see young women acting too sexy and it makes some people uncomfortable to see young women acting like small children, so the teenager concept is a fair comprimise, it would seem.

14. Feel So Good by B.A.P.

The first song I've really, really liked from BAP. BAP has used a variety of concepts this song is very happy, fun, and boy-next-door. The music video uses the brightly coloured sets and wardrobe that one would hope for from a KPOP video. The chorus is uplifting. The rap breaks did not add anything but hey, you gotta have a rap break! (that was not sarcasm)

13. Boombayah by BLACKPINK

I had two immediate reactions after hearing this song:

1. I love Lisa! Lisa opens the song with an English rap and exudes attitude all over the video. She also has the number 1 best line in KPOP this year "BRRR Rambo!"and 2. This sounds a lot like "Fire" by 2NE1 just not quite as good. It does have the same song writer as many 2NE1 songs, including "Fire". It might be unfair to compare a new song to one of my all time favourites but when the sound is so similar it is hard not to. If I can block out the memory of "Fire" by 2NE1 I do appreciate "Boombayah" a lot more. "Boombayah" is like a thrilling amusement park ride.

12. Very Nice by Seventeen

Is it cheating to have so many members? It makes the choreography look so good, makes the sound so much more energetic and dynamic because there are so many different voice types. They definately used their numbers as an advantage in this song. I love the break down near the end. This song deserves all the love it gets.

11. Dancing King by EXO

Most would not rate this song so high relative to their other comeback "Lucky One". We've all heard songs like this before. It is a very common Latin beat. This is nothing ground breakingly innovative. But, I have a tendency to rate songs higher depending on how much they make me wanna dance and I could dance the this song all night. I was confused into thinking I didn't like this song at first because the music video had some pretty trippy editting. It's hard to make cute pink puppets and EXO boys dancing look bad and yet somehow they managed to edit it in a way that did exactly that. Only later when listening to the song without watching the video did I realize how happy it made me.

WATCH THE TOP 10 HERE: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHiUfH0z--g&feature=youtu.be

10. Excalibur by N-Sonic

The first song I've ever heard from N-Sonic and, apparently, their last song together before military conscription. What timing. The choreography fits the song and looks like something that might have come from my own imagination. I like that there is enough freedom in the choreography to see their personalities. Also, one of my least favourite things about KPOP dance is that the person who is singing breaks out of formation and steps forward. This dance, very cleverly, avoids that by creating formations that are centered around the member who is singing so that is doesn't ruin the symmetry.

9. I'm Fine by Grace

This is the debut song from Grace. Even though this video did not have a huge budget they still went all out. In fact, they went ALL out and then kept on going. Just like what you'd want from KPOP. It has the loud wardrobe and so much random. Ultimately, it is Grace and her attitude that sell it so well. She has that je ne sais quoi! You'd never suspect this was her debut. I originally thought the English part of the lyrics were the result of someone who had completed only one English lesson. Like the writer was all "Hey we need to put some English words in this song, but I don't know any." Then he took one English lesson and put the phrase he learned in the song. But, that is clearly not the case because Grace speaks fluent English and is American.

8. Save Me, BTS

This song is just ultra beautiful. I was contemplating putting it in the number one spot, but I didn't. Why not? It was just too beautiful, too easy to love. The instrumental is so moving, the dance is so emotional, the lyrics are so meaningful.  Where is the part that challenges me? Where is that weird bit that I don't like at first and then grow to love. Perfection isn't always a good thing. and I do not write this tongue-in-cheek I mean it sincerely. A song that is so perfect doesn't seem human and that makes it dull. But hey! It is at the number 8 spot, so perfection will get you pretty far!

7. HookGa, HIGH4 20 (feat. Hwasa of MAMAMOO)

This is my first encounter with the group HIGH4. I could listen to this beat everyday for the rest of my life and the dance fits it so perfectly. The choreographer is Canadian! Rep-re-sent! Hwasa speaks French in her feature I heard "Maxi beaucoup" rather than "Merci beaucoup" but good effort yeodongsaeng. I have to say I do not appreciate the play on words for this sub-group or the song. I find drugs to be such a turn-off. I suppose that makes me not cool and I don't care. But the name does not take away from how much I dig this song.

6. Still 24K, 24K

The instant I played this song for the first time I knew it was great. It takes me back a few years to when Super Junior was making the best songs I'd ever heard in my life. Those were the type of songs that made me fall in love with KPOP. Still 24K has a great balance between melodic and hip hop. I found the plot of the music video really compelling and it was cool that it left on a cliff-hanger. Visually, this video did not use colours but used only black, white, grey and metallic which was so effective. The fashion in the dance scenes was uniform and monochromatic (either all black or all white) and so intricately accerssorized. I especially appreciated the rings they wore on the upper part of every finger. That is something I had never seen before.

5. Press Your Number, Taemin

This song changes and flows so well. I usually appreciate repetitiveness in my music, but this one evolves so organically that I can't even tell that it is changing. Each verse sounds different and blends into the song seamlessly. This isn't one of those "Franken-songs". And the plot of the music video is challenging and full of symbolism. What does it really mean? Are we even supposed to know?

4. Shut Up & Groove, Heize (feat. DEAN)

Words fail me here. I think I should just do as the song says and shut up and groove. and enjoy looking at DEAN's flawless face.

3. Whistle, BLACKPINK

This song had me in its clutches even before I listened to it. BLACKPINK was so highly anticipated and I was sure it was going to be phenominal. It was epic. I hate admitting to biases, but I don't actually believe that my anticipation coloured my judgement in any way. Of the four BLACKPINK songs this year this is the only one that truely blew me away. These girls' voices were so on point with one small exception: Jennie's verse in the middle of the song (1:54) "just whistle to my heart". Jennie is a rapper so her singing voice was not likely not a priority in her training. But it did pull me out of my state of bliss for a moment when I was having that transcendant first listen and that is how I can say with confidence that the high rating of this song was NOT a result of a bias! LOL.

2. Love You More, Kim Jae Joong

I like TVXQ a lot but I have a terrible memory for Korean names. I didn't know Kim Jae Joong was from that group when I heard this song. It caught me off guard and made me want to run, turn, leap and fly. Apparently, this song was released while Jae Joong was still in military service. Amazing that he managed that. Even more amazing that it was part of a full album. Every song on that album is worthwhile, by the way. No bad songs on that album, not even one.

1. Blood Sweat & Tears, BTS

I was nervous that there wasn't going to be a huge boy group smash this year. But BTS did it! You can always tell when you've heard a good song because when it's over you feel like you've just been smacked across the face. This is one of those songs. The instrumental makes me think of India or the middle east. I wouldn't anticipate this kind of sound from KPOP. It's the thing that was missing from "Save Me" something to confuse me at first and then learn to love. In the vocals I especially liked the breathy, descending "ga~" and how it mimicked the wail of someone on verge of emotional and physical exhaustion. In the video . . . well wow. Every second is saturated with metaphor, symbolism and references to art, literature and philosophy. It's even got me reading the book that was quoted in the spoken part in the break of the song just so I can understand and appreciate the music video better (Demian by Hermann Hesse is the book if you were wondering). So much brain and heart was put into the comeback. KPOP SONG OF THE YEAR!

Watch the list here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHiUfH0z--g&feature=youtu.be