#uptight

[rwpohl]

https://bclrwp.tumblr.com/

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material und analyse: boris kaufman, cinematographer

[rolandrockover]

To Tear Uptight

Some, ahem, might hear a discontinued version of Kiss' own God of Thunder (1976) in the opening and main riff of Tears are Falling (1985), and others, well, the bass line from Stevie Wonder's Uptight (Everything's Alright) (1965).

Paul Stanley claims to have heard and recognized the latter from a Eurythmics song in the mid-80s, which is how he got the idea for Tears are Falling's main riff in the first place (1). But to follow the current he has set, one would not want to doubt this at all, because the Eurythmics have in all probability used Uptight's little motif just as surely as they have appropriated and further developed Lipps Inc.'s Funky Town (1979).

By the way, the Eurythmics song that Paul cites with a pure heart is Would I Lie to You (1985). The factor that good old Paul doesn't come out with, of course, is that the layered harmonies of the vocal arrangements of Would I Lie to You must obviously have been a key source of inspiration for the chorus of Tears are Falling. And nothing else but exactly that, and, of course, only the Stevie Wonder element in it appealed to him.

I wish Soul Station Paul and the above-mentioned Statement Paul would one day cross paths through some cosmic coincidence and be forced to discuss this matter calmly with each other in public, under the observation of all their fans.

I mean, you could almost assume he wanted to get caught. Like in a not quite 100% psychological sophisticated crime thriller with a cat and mouse game between perpetrator and investigator. Except that the investigator would be an old and worn-out, unshaven, 3rd class investigator smelling of booze and would kinda catch him with ease.

And that should not necessarily be a compliment to my values.

Side Note:

(1) Which doesn't rule out the possibility that Stevie Wonder might have had a small but not insignificant influence on God of Thunder (1976) nine years earlier. I'll save what else The Beatles might have to do with it for another entry. Or maybe even two.

Tears Are Falling (1985)

Would I Lie to You (1985)

Uptight (1965)

[howardhawkshollywoodmusic]

66. Uptight (Everything's Alright) by Stevie Wonder debuted Dec 65 and peaked at number three, scoring 904 points.

Steve was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins, then became Stevland Morris, in Saginaw, Michigan, and has 64 chart entries 1963-95. 28 made the top 10, with nine number ones.

Three 1966 remakes of Uptight by Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson, and The Jazz Crusaders charted but failed to make the top 40. Bill Cosby's parody, Little Ole Man, peaked at number four in 1967.

[texasnaturist]

How long have I been an uptight person?

It’s interesting to think about my history as a pretty uptight person. It goes WAY back. Maybe uptight isn’t the correct word but I’m not sure what other word to use. I remember as a young boy, my TV heroes were Higgins from Magnum PI, and Charles from MASH. Is that weird or what? They just had that air of control and restraint. Regular people would have been more likely to associate with Magnum…

[rokaya77]

I have been trapped in Sisyphus body since the summer of 2021 and, consequently, completely detained from loose joy. My body had forgotten what relaxation and deep breathing were. Most of my days didn't amount to anything but suffering, which kept me on the fringes of all my survival emotions. I thought I was broken and helpless; it brought me immense shame. I'm surprised nobody could notice it; maybe they did, but surely not as bad as it was because it was taller and bigger than me, and I carried it everywhere.

[konagod]

Thinking on Pot

I need to take sphincter relaxers to unchain my mind.

[taub-truther]

We know that the new cast members in S4 were basically auditioning for their jobs as much as their characters were, and i can't help but notice how exceptionally cunty Taub is in these early episodes

he werked his little ass off for that job!

[lilly-townshend]

Redemption arc for not sharing on day one

[chloesimaginationthings]

I don't know why, but, I kind of see your game Vanny as a disaster bisexual

VANNY IS THE QUEEN OF DISASTER..

[fruityumbrella]

one piece is set in a nautical world with presumably nautical idioms and exclamations to match, right, like swearing by the sea rather than on a god etc. to wit, there's five seas (the four blues + the grand line) so we can assume when you're feeling particularly dramatic, you might refer to all those vast oceans to get your hyperbolic point across.

keeping that in mind, lets live in a stupidly romantic corny ass world for a moment ok? take my hand.

"I swear on all six seas, if you don't shut the fuck up right now—"

"What?" Sanji looks at him like he's stupid. Nothing new, really.

"Ha, even you're going deaf having to listen to your own annoying ass whining all the time, Cook. I was—"

"No, you—"

"Don't interrupt me! Oi!" he yelps as a wooden spoon bounces harmlessly off his shoulder. He's not impressed that Sanji manages to catch it before it hits the counter.

"You said six seas," Sanji states.

Zoro stares back in lieu of an answer.

"Huh, maybe this has something to do with why you're always lost. There's only five seas, dummy."

And ah, now he gets what the idiot cook is on about. He's surprised and a little disappointed, honestly. You'd think the guy would be a little more aware about his own fucking dream, but whatever. He's got that annoying smile, smug and cocky like he's oh so much better than Zoro.

"Would you like me to count them out for you? I know it's a big number, it's probably confusing for a simple creature like you."

Zoro crosses his arms in clear warning, something the cook, as always, blatantly ignores. He's leaning on the counter that's between them now, eyes sparkling with glee. Idiot. Zoro's thoughts do not have a fond tone to them. Thoughts don't have tones at all, thank you very much.

Sanji lifts a hand and proceeds to count off on his fingers with the precision of a drill sergeant.

"I'm sure you at least know our ocean, the East Blue. There's also the West Blue, North Blue, South Blue, and of course the Grand Line," he wiggles all his fingers as he puts his thumb up for the last one like he's emulating fireworks.

Zoro snorts indelicately. "And?"

Sanji frowns with a tilt of his head.

"And?"

Zoro holds up his index finger.

"And," he says, stifling his amusement as Sanji goes cross eyed trying to follow said finger as it arcs towards him, "your All Blue. Dummy."

He punctuates the last word by poking Sanji in the forehead, snickering when he sputters and swats the digit away in a huff. Then Zoro's words finally sink in, and he straightens up almost too fast. It's not endearing at all.

"Wait," he says quietly, "you count it?"

Zoro doesn't like how Sanji's looking at him with an open expression he's not usually allowed. He looks earnest and sincere. Zoro feels suddenly out of his depth.

"Don't you?" he deflects uncomfortably.

"Well yeah, but that's different. You're—" he shrugs half heartedly and looks away. Zoro can't tell if the end of that sentence was going to disparage him or the cook. Odds are likely split down the middle. Sanji keeps looking at him, and he feels pinned. The bright look is gone, replaced by something more reserved but perhaps...searching? Considering, at the least. It's making him increasingly self conscious. He needs to get out of here.

"Okay. I'm gonna steal some alcohol now," he says shortly, striding to the cabinet and swiping a bottle before Sanji blinks out of his stupor.

[stuckinapril]

Reprogrammed my own brain by realizing that people don’t just get your devotion outright, but have to work for it. You do not go from 100 to 0 as people fault u. You go from 0 to 100 as they prove bit by bit that they are worthy of ur trust and patience. I used to be infinitely patient & understanding bc I thought that was my “gambit”—an initial investment I was hoping would beget more investment from the other party. I don’t do that shit anymore bc it has never served me once. I will show kindness and compassion to someone, but unless they prove they’re willing to put in the work to make a relationship work (platonic or romantic alike), I’m not going out of my way to emulate patience bc I’m hoping that somehow that will change them. Never ever ever. Humans almost always never work like that. They either give a fuck when they see you’re on the outs w them and change, or they don’t and you’re better off. It’s not “you’re worthy of my time until proven otherwise.” It’s “you’re not worthy of extra effort by me until proven otherwise.” And that may sound harsh but it’s healthier than the opposite approach

[divanchedraws]

they dont know yet 🤌

[bbbbbbbbatman]

Some random superheroes debating whether or not Batman fucks: I mean there's no way Batman fucks, right? Man definitely doesn't fuck

Dick, who walked in on Bruce and Harvey together back when he was first adopted: -_-

Jason, who definitely heard one too many of Talia's stories about Bruce: -_-

Tim, who heard him with Selina after Bruce forgot to turn off his coms once: -_-

Damian, who recently had sex ed and knows exactly where he came from: -_-

Cass, who reads body language perfectly and while has never caught him in the act, has def seen him looking around: -_-

Steph, who accidentally saw some lewd messages when she stole his phone for a prank: -_-

Duke, who found out exactly what Bruce's penthouse is for in an unfortunate accident: -_-

Barbara, who has caught Bruce in inappropriate positions on security cams way too many times: -_-

[benoitblanc]

no no you guys don't get it. the x files cancer arc was, excuse the pun, a fucking white whale of a tv plotline that would not have worked nearly as well on literally any other show. it was a complete hail mary. the writers' room nearly didn't make it happen because they were worried it would fall too deeply into soap opera territory. and on any other show, it would! but the x files is about four key things: mistrust in the government, faith in both science and the otherworldly, building a life around trauma, and the fine line between love and codependency. it is the only show where the entirety of this situation- a government experiment on an unwilling young catholic leads to a terminal illness that is counteracted by a literal scientific miracle in the eleventh hour due to her partner's refusal to accept her impending death- could both happen at all and happen well. none of the themes in the cancer arc were new to txf at all. they'd all been lurking, to some extent, in the background since the pilot. the cancer arc wasn't merely milking a left-field catastrophe for the drama, it shoved the overarching themes of the show to the front and said look. look what these people are to each other. look how impossible it is to face the darkness alone. regardless of when the plotline was conceived, it was always going to happen. it was the only way the story could have ever gone. they were always doomed from the beginning

[devildom-moss]

Flowers for Them (Lucifer)

Continuation of a request where MC returns the favor for the characters giving them roses. Kind of a sequel series for the Roses for You series (links here)

Lucfier x gn!MC

(Suggestive)

Word Count: +700

Pink wisteria

Lucifer had been working so hard recently, and with Diavolo’s latest project taking up much of his time outside of school, you rarely saw him over the past few weeks. Even when you offered your help, Lucifer insisted that he had everything under control.

“As long as I have you waiting for me, I can handle anything.”

His words popped into your mind as you snuck into his bedroom. You were determined to surprise him and melt his heart, and you were certain that seeing a vase of pink wisteria and you, waiting patiently for him to get home, would cause Lucifer to break into that shamefully delighted smile that only you could bring out. After setting the vase on his coffee table, you plopped down on the edge of his bed.

The entire room smelled faintly like Lucifer, but his bed clung to his scent more – or maybe his scent clung to the bed. Then again, maybe they held each other so desperately for the sole purpose of luring you into Lucifer’s bed. His scent was a comfort to you, and as the wisteria slowly perfumed the room, you found yourself inching up his bed until your face was buried into his pillows. Before you could think to pull out your phone to check on Lucifer’s whereabouts, you had fallen asleep.

When Lucifer returned, he entered his room without turning on the lights. However, the unexpected floral scent caught his attention before your gentle breathing did. He blinked a few times, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. There was just enough moonlight filtering in through his windows that Lucifer could see the light pink petals of the flowers you left and your familiar outline, curled up in his sheets. He sat down at the foot of his bed and stared at the flowers before turning back to you with a gentle grin. Lucifer laid back in his bed so that he could face you. His rough hand reached out for you and caressed your cheek where the moonlight had been lucky enough to touch you, casting a shadow over your face.

The gentle caress of Lucifer’s hand caused you to stir in your sleep, and as you opened your eyes, his sweet smile – the one you were hoping to see – came into focus. He patiently waited for you to adjust to your surroundings and return his grin before he inched closer and snuggled into your chest. Only when he had buried his blushing cheeks against your body did he find the strength to whisper, “You’re full of surprises tonight.”

“Good surprises, at least, right?”

“Wonderful ones. Thank you.” His tone was so soft and gentle, and you could tell that he wasn’t quite sure how to respond to someone being sweet to him like this. Diavolo had made his attempts, but it wasn’t the same. When you were kind to him, every bit of tension melted from his body – and he melted right along with it. “What kind of flowers are those?”

“You don’t know?” you scoffed – surprised that he couldn’t identify them.

“I know it’s a human world plant; give me a break. It’s dark, I’m tired, and human world flowers aren’t my forte,” he grumbled against your chest. His pouting struck you as cute, and you kissed the top of his head in response.

“They’re pink wisteria, baby boy.”

Lucifer squirmed at the pet name and quickly readjusted in your arms, hoping you wouldn’t realize the effect you had on him. “Did you pick them for a special reason, or. . . is it just because they’re pretty?”

You laughed. He was surprisingly shy today, dancing around the question he really wanted to ask. “Do you want to know what they mean?”

“Yes.” If he had not been so comfortable and at ease in your arms, Lucifer would have been mortified at how transparent he was to you. With little thought, he quietly added, “please.”

“It means a number of things: affection, tenderness, lust. It’s a symbol of devotion that can transcend death, and for humbling yourself before a lover. And it’s given to say, ‘I cling to you.’” Your grip tightened around Lucifer slightly, as if to say, “as I do now.”

Lucifer could feel his face burning and his heart racing. How were you able to make him feel like this so easily. He gulped before speaking, “Did you rest well in my bed?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty comfortable,” you admitted. “Why?”

“I just wanted to make sure you got some quality sleep,” Lucifer pulled back to stare at you before continuing, “because neither of us will be getting any more rest tonight.”

Mammon | Leviathan | Satan | Asmodeus | Beelzebub | Belphegor | the others

(If there's no link, that character is coming soon-ish)

[ohmeadows]

"how can you ship them they only have like two lines in canon???" babygirl canon will not be dictating this shit to me. i have written ships of characters that had zero interaction in canon simply because their themes and arcs were compelling to smash together before, and i will do it again. arguably, in a piece of media that will never explicitly confirm nor deny a couple's status, canon is irrelevant to shipping. hope this helps!