#also prelude and the prelude ARE different songs i listened to them to check. preludes from genesis frog and the prelude is from sburb albu

[greensparty]

Album Review: Prince and the New Power Generation "Diamonds and Pearls" Super Deluxe Edition

One of the coolest things I've gotten to do with this website is cover Prince. You see, he was one of the earliest musicians I got into as a kid with Purple Rain on cassette tape. A few years after his passing in 2016, The Prince Estate and Legacy Recordings announced a definitive Prince catalog project. In 2019, I got to review his 00s reissues (Musicology, 3121, and Planet Earth) and his 90s reissues (The Versace Experience: Prelude 2 Gold, Chaos and Disorder, and Emancipation). In 2020, I got to review his early 00s reissues (The Rainbow Children and Up All Nite with Prince: The One Night Alone Collection). No matter what phase I was going through (metal, punk, alt-rock, classic rock), I always checked out whatever Prince was doing. By 1991, Prince was in the prolific space of releasing an album a year and had been for quite some time. Following his Graffiti Bridge album, he formed a new backing band the New Power Generation. Their first album Diamonds and Pearls was released on Oct. 1, 1991. At exactly the moment that Nirvana, grunge and alt-rock exploded, he released this album. But it wasn't an album that was brushed aside and ignored, it did feature a #1 song with "Cream". I picked it up on CD (with that reflector cover) and looking back it was one of his strongest albums of the 90s (his best 90s album was easily The Gold Experience), which was a mixed decade for him. This week Legacy is releasing a special Super Deluxe Edition of the album.

album cover

Disc 1 is the original album remastered. There are some masterpieces on this album like "Willing and Able", "Cream" and "Gett Off". But there's also some filler. Now let me clarify, Prince's filler is better than most artists non-filler, but the bar is set rather high with Prince and by this point and time, you expected more. Disc 2 is Singles and Mixes Remastered. This is where the set gets into For Fans Only. The outtakes are awesome, but how many different remixes do you really need of the same song? It doesn't add anything to the album to get the radio edit version, the club version, the a DJ's mix of it. Discs 3, 4 and 5 are Vault Tracks, which is where it gets into shelved tracks from the album's sessions. Many of them are actually quite good, but others are subpar, and then there are different versions (again - the long version, the band version, the different take) of ones that did make it on. Disc 6 and 7 are a live concert Prince and NPG did in January 1992 at Glam Slam, Prince's Minneapolis club. There is also a blu-ray, which contains the 1992 Diamonds and Pearls Video Collection release (a compilation of all of the album's music videos, including Money Don't Matter 2 Night" directed by Spike Lee), the Glam Slam concert (the filmed concert that appears on Discs 6 and 7 in audio form), and some footage of Prince performing at the 1991 Special Olympics. The packaging includes tons of essays, including one from Chuck D.

the original 1991 album cover

When this album came out it was one I listened to quite frequently. It was his best album in years, probably since Sign O' The Times. NPG as musicians were quite good, but let's face it, following The Revolution was a very tough act to follow. When I saw The Revolution in 2018, I was reminded of what a tight unit they were when they backed Prince. NPG continued to work with Prince on more albums, but this was their magnum opus. The various versions of the album's songs are interesting...but not really necessary. I think the highlight of this set is actually the Glam Slam concert. I wished that the concert had been released as its own live album and DVD. I was lucky enough to see Prince in 2010 at Madison Square Garden and he is easily one of the greatest performers of all time. Last year's live release Prince and the Revolution Live was my #1 Live Album of 2022. But burying this concert in the album is sort of like burying the lead. There's really not bad Prince releases...but some are very much better than others. If we compare this Deluxe Edition to the Sign O' The Times 8-disc deluxe edition released in 2020, that was a bit much...but the quality of the outtake and concerts were just a little better than this one. But hard to complain when there's some gems buried throughout.

For info on Diamonds and Pearls Super Deluxe Edition

3.5 out of 5 stars

[homestuckmusicbracket]

Bracket Information

There will be a total of 513 songs in the bracket (with 585 prior to preliminary rounds)! Each round will last one week, and each batch will be staggered by one day, With two days in between rounds. Propaganda is not only allowed, but encouraged! Assuming nothing goes awry, I also have a surprise planned for the winning song >:3c

This SHOULD include every song in Homestuck, excluding Hiveswap music and Beyond Canon, however, because there are an absolutely insane amount of songs in Homestuck, it’s possible I missed one or two. If there are any you think I DID miss, feel free to send me an ask and let me know!

The bracket is seeded randomly, in no particular order.

this brackets was inspired by other brackets like it, such as @character-of-all-time @transfemswagbracket @eyepatchbracket @movingmusiccomp @undertale-ost-bracket @notp-poll-showdown

Preliminary Round

For this round, the results of a draw will conclude in the original version of the song being chosen

All Polls

Showtime (Piano Refrain) vs Showtime (Original Mix) vs Showtime (Imp Strife Mix)

Aggrieve (Violin Refrain) vs Aggrieve vs Aggrieve (Violin Redux) vs Aggrieve Remix | DRAW

Sburban Jungle (Brief Mix) vs Sburban Jungle

Harlequin vs Harlequin (Rock Version) | DRAW

Explore vs Explore Remix | DRAW

Rediscover Fusion vs Rediscover Fusion Remix | DRAW

ohgodwhat vs ohgodwhatremix

Dissension vs Dissension Remix

Three in the Morning vs Three in the Morning (TJ’S I Can Barely Sleep in This Casino Mix) vs 3 in the Morning (Pianokind) vs Three in the Morning (Aftermath)

Blackest Heart vs Blackest Heart (With Honks)

I’m a Member of the Midnight Crew vs I’m a Member of the Midnight Crew (Post-Punk Version) vs I’m a Member of the Midnight Crew (Acapella)

How Do I Live (D8 Night Version) vs How Do I Live (Bunny Back in the Box Version)

Pondsquatter vs Pondsquatter (Live Chamber Version)

Candles and Clockwork vs Candles and Clockwork (Alpha Version)

Creata vs Creata (Canon Edit)

Eternity, Served Cold vs Eternity Served Cold (Canon Edit)

Mother vs Mother (Piano)

Vagabounce vs Vagabounce (Remix)

Trollcops vs Trollcops (Radioplay)

Guardian vs Guardian V2

Verdancy (Bassline) vs Kinetic Verdancy

Hoschestra vs Horschestra STRONG Version | DRAW

Walls Covered in Blood vs Walls Covered in Blood DX

Doctor vs Doctor (Remix)

Overture (Canon Edit) vs I - Overture

Sarabande vs II - Sarabande

Serenade vs III - Serenade

Homestuck Anthem vs IV - Anthem

Beatdown (Strider Style) vs Beatdown Round 2 vs Beatdown DX

Lotus vs Lotus (Bloom)

Pyrocumulus (Kickstart) vs Pyrocumulus (Sicknasty)

Even in Death vs Even in Death (T’Morra’s Belly Mix)

Round One

All Polls

Batch One

Ante Matter vs Land of the Salamanders | DRAW

Upward Movement (Dave Owns) vs Crustacean

Hardlyquin vs Phaze and Blood | DRAW

Aggrievance vs Skaian Summoning

Contention vs Medical Emergency | DRAW

The Thirteenth Hour vs Skaian Skuffle

Underworld vs Nannaquin

Chorale for Jaspers vs The Beginning of Something Really Excellent

psych0ruins vs Sarabande

Aggrieve vs Dissension

Homestuck Anthem vs Hardchorale

Enlightenment vs Endless Climbing

Atomyk Ebonpyre vs Skaian Dreams Remix

mIrAcLeS vs Harleboss

Spider’s Claw vs Space Prankster

Verdancy (Bassline) vs The La2t Frontiier

How Do I Live (Bunny Back in the Box Version) vs Greenhouse

Beatdown (Strider Style) vs Showtime (Piano Refrain)

Amphibious Subterrain vs Ace of Trump

Dupliblaze COMAGMA vs Nightlife | DRAW

Descend vs Vertical Motion

Dead Shuffle vs Clockwork Contrivance

Lotus Land Story vs Phantasmagoric Waltz

Skaian Skirmish vs Valhalla

Happy Cat Song! vs Candles and Clockwork (Alpha Version)

Revelawesome vs Tall, Dark and Loathesome

Sburban Jungle vs Mutiny

Welcome to the New Extreme vs Three in the Morning

Versus vs Ballad of Awakening

Black vs Snow Pollen

Octoroon Rangoon vs Pony Chorale

White vs Homestuck

Batch Two

Bed of Rose’s / Dreams of Derse vs Harlequin

An Unbreakable Union vs ohgodwhat

Song of Life vs Hauntjam

Joker’s Wild vs Planet Healer

Gardener vs dESPERADO ROCKET CHAIRS,

Hollow Suit vs Biophosphoradelecrystalluminescence

Skies of Skaia vs Get Up

Keepers vs Sburban Countdown

Upholding the Law vs Moonshatter

Softly vs Walls Covered in Blood

Light vs Vagabounce

Savior of the Waking World vs Pyrocumulus (Kickstart)

Sunsetter vs Showdown

Crystalanthemums vs Carefree Victory

Sunslammer vs Ectobiology

Clockwork Melody vs Carbon Nadsat / Cuestick Genius | DRAW

Moonshine vs Plague Doctor

Explore vs Chorale for War

Death of the Lusii vs Hearts Flush

Rediscover Fusion vs Livin’ It Up

Liquid Necrocity vs Virgin Orb

The Ballad of Jack Noir vs Crystalmanthequins

Pumpkin Cravings vs Heirfare

Clockwork Sorrow vs Throwdown

Squiddle! vs Unsheath’d

Blue Noir vs Skaian Ride

Ecstasy vs Hauntjelly

Knives and Ivory vs Can Town

Ruins (With Strings) vs Doctor

The Lemonsnout Turnabout vs Skaian Flight

Skaia (Incipisphere Remix) vs Guardian V2

Endless Climb vs Jade’s Lullaby

Batch Three

Stormspirit vs Heir Transparent

Make a Wish vs Karkat’s Theme

Chaotic Strength vs Time On My Side

Eridan’s Theme vs Wacky Antics

Scratch vs Clockwork

Spider8reath vs Trollcops

Trial and Execution vs Frogs

The Deeper You Go vs Rex Duodecim Angelus

Fly vs The Broken Clock

Darling Kanaya vs Horschestra

Rest a While vs Pumpkin Tide

Catchyegrabber (Skipper Plumbthroat’s Song) vs Nautical Nightmare

Squiddissension vs Phrenic Phever | DRAW

The Blind Prophet vs Terezi’s Theme

Savior of the Dreaming Dead vs Apocryphal Antithesis

Science Seahorse vs Beta Version | DRAW

Boy Skylark (Brief) vs The Nic Cage Song

The Sound of Pure Squid Giggles vs Carefree Princess Berryboo

Dreamers and the Dead vs Play the Wind

Gaia Queen vs Knife’s Edge

Warhammer of Zillyhoo vs Vriska’s Theme

Forever vs Mister Bowman Tells You About the Squiddles

At the Price of Oblivion vs Dance of Thorns

No Release vs Variations

Alternia vs Eldritch

Frost vs Ocean Stars

English vs She’s a Sp8der

Jade Dragon vs Rumble at the Rink

Friendship is Paramount vs Heir Conditioning

Omelette Samdwich vs Let’s All Rock the Heist

Sun-Speckled Squiddly Afternoon vs Nepeta’s Theme

Chain of Prospit vs Lazybones

Batch Four

Havoc to be Wrought vs Umbral Ultimatum

Arisen Anew vs Rainbow Valley

Shade vs Blackest Heart (with Honks)

Light vs Crystalanthology

Trollian Standoff vs The Carnival

Awakening vs Rhapsody in Green

Tangled Waltz vs Time Paradox

Squiddle Samba vs Terezi Owns

Atomic Bonsai vs BL1ND JUST1C3: 1NV3ST1G4T1ON

Lies with the Sea vs A Tender Moment

Squiddles the Movie Trailer - The Day the Unicorns Couldn’t Play vs Rain

Let the Squiddles Sleep (End Theme) vs Heat

Plumbthroat Gives Chase vs You Won a Combat

AlterniaBound vs Killed by BR8K Spider!!!!!!!!

Squiddles in Paradise vs FIDUSPAWN, GO!

Wind vs Tribal Ebonpyre

Courser vs Requiem of Sunshine and Rainbows | DRAW

Squididdle! vs Tentacles

Elavatorstuck vs I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing

WSW-Beatdown vs Squiddle Parade

Chartreuse Rewind vs MeGaLoVania

Swing of the Clock vs Catapult Capuchin

Baroqueback Bowtier (Scratch’s Lament) vs A Fairy Battle

Midnight Calliope vs Walk-Stab-Walk (R&E)

Squiddle March vs Dawn of Man

Clockwork Reversal vs Humphrey’s Lullaby

Squiddles Campfire vs Friendship Aneurysm

Black Rose / Green Sun vs Earthsea Borealis

Gamebro (Original 1990 Mix) vs Lifdoff

Maplehoof’s Adventure vs Squiddle Happytime Fun Go!

Even in Death vs Frost

Trails vs Temporal Piano

Batch Five

Nightmare vs Battle Brotocol | DRAW

Hussie Hunt vs Pink Cat

Black Hole / Green Sun vs Emerald Terror

Litrichean Rioghail vs Red Disc

Calamity vs Mayor Maynot

Chronicles vs Teal Hunter

What a Daring Dream vs Iron Knight

Teal Seer vs Cyan Beast

Homefree vs Prospit Dreamers

Hallowed Halls vs Questant’s Lament

Creation vs Escape Pod

Tomahawk Head vs Revelations II - DISQUALIFIED

Indigo Heir vs Serenade

Coolkid vs Olive Scribe

Requiem for an Exile vs Bargaining with the Beast

We Walk vs Green Ghost

Judgement Day vs White Host / Green Room

Carapacian Domain vs Gust of Heir

Derse Dreamers vs Endless Expanse

Purple Bard vs March of the Batterwitch

Purple Tyrant vs Years in the Future

Bronze Page vs The Golden Towers

I’m a Member of the Midnight Crew vs Do the Windy Thing

Raggy Looking Dance vs Song of Skaia

The Vast Glub vs Terraform

The Lost Child vs Rust Maid

Gilded Sands vs Genesis

Orchid Horror vs Love You (Feferi’s Theme)

Exodus vs Cobalt Thief

Requiem vs Flare

Arcade Thunder vs Blue Atom

Rapture vs Violet Prince

Batch Six

Fuchsia Witch vs Violet Mariner

Frog Hunt vs Pendulum

The Meek vs The Prelude

Airtime vs Pilot Light

Riches to Ruins Movements I & II vs Iron Infidel

Havoc vs Indigo Archer

Rust Servant vs Eden

The Obsidian Towers vs Temporal Shenanigans

Phantasmic Youngsters vs Infinity Mechanism

Revered Return vs Galactic Cancer | DRAW

Nine Lives One Love vs Bec Noir

Revelations III vs Cascade (Beta)

Sburban Reversal vs Jade Mother

Kingside Castle vs Orange Hat

Galaxy Hearts vs Scourge Sisters

Cobalt Corsair vs Null

Pale Rapture vs ohgodcat

Fuchsia Ruler vs Davesprite

Center of Brilliance vs Jade Sylph

Carefree Action vs Your Universe

Revelations I vs Bronze Rebel

Afraid of the Darko vs Squiddle Song

Darkened Streets vs Cupcake Girl

Core of Darkness vs Aimless Morning Gold | DRAW

Cascade vs Frostbite

Made of Time vs WV: Become Mayor of the Cans

Gold Pilot vs Do You Remem8er Me

Unite Synchronization vs Ruins Rising

Frog Forager vs Drift Into the Sun

Temporary vs Ocean Stars Falling

Skaian Birth vs Gold Mage

Superego vs Olive Rogue

Batch Seven

Speaker (Skaia’s Reflection) vs Lunar Eclipse vs June Sleeps / Skaian Magicant

Aggrievocation vs Feel (Alive)

Of Gods and Witches vs The Lordling

Red Sucker vs Moonsetter

Ascend vs Cairo Overcoat

Respit vs Princess of Helium

FantasyP vs Conclude

Beatup vs Frogs’ Intermezzo

Bridge of Stars vs Mother (Piano)

Portrait vs Eternity Served Cold (Canon Edit)

Dord Waltz vs Reverie

Firefly vs Entrance of the Salamanders

Breeze vs Frustracean | DRAW

Stargaze vs Trepidation

Another Chance vs Pipeorgankind | DRAW

Solar Voyage vs Overture (Canon Edit)

The Vast Croak vs Crystalmethequins

Pumpkin Party in Sea (Redacted)’s Water Apocalypse vs Stride

Breakshot vs Prospitian Folklore

The Temple’s Withered Bloom vs iRRRRRRRRECONCILA8LE

Constant Confinement vs Elephant Gun

A Taste for Adventure vs Despot

Jane Dargason vs Hate You

Negative Aperture vs Starfall

October vs Another Countdown

Clockstopper vs Creata

Sweet Dreams, Timaeus vs Checkmate

Requited vs Busting Makes Me Feel Good

Our Glorious Speaker vs Carne Vale

Game Over vs Voidlight

Noirscape vs Lilith in Starlight

Train vs Firefly Cloud

Batch Eight

Red Miles vs Skaian Shrapnel

Coursing vs The Lyrist

Bilious vs THIS Pumpkin

Dapper Dueling vs Encore

Pink Shells vs Battle Against an Unfathomable Enemy

Stress vs Minihoof’s Adventure

Power Fantasy vs Consorts’ Intermezzo

Everything is Something to Somebody vs Skaianet

Vodka Mutiny vs Cumulating Dreams

Cancerous Core vs Castle

Pondsquatter vs Moonsweater

Frogsong vs Flying Car | DRAW

Skaian Happy Flight vs Thanks For Playing

A Little Fight Mewsic vs Heir of Grief

Constant Conquest vs Anbroids V2.0

Stoke the Forge vs Freefall

Sunrise vs Unlabeled | DRAW

Breeding Duties vs Expedition

The Scratch vs Before the Beginning and After the End | DRAW

Buy NAK Sell DOOF vs Ugly Betty

Renewed Return vs Green Lolly

ASSAULT vs Lancer | DRAW

You Killed My Father (Prepare to Die) vs Dogfight

Rustless Fall vs Underfoot

Another Jungle vs Whistling Jackhammer | DRAW

Thip of the Tongue vs GameGrl (Original 1993 Mix)

Austin, Atlantis vs Stellarum Salve

The Changing Game vs Negastrife

Oppa Toby Style vs Great LOFAF Expedition of 2009

Skaian Overdrive vs Sound Judgement

Under the Hat vs Three’s a Crowd

Prelude vs Miasmajesty

Round Two

All Polls

Batch One

Ante Matter vs Land of the Salamanders vs Upward Movement (Dave Owns)

Hardlyquin vs Phaze and Blood vs Aggrievance

Contention vs Medical Emergency vs Skaian Skuffle

Underworld vs The Beginning of Something Really Excellent

Sarabande vs Aggrieve

Homestuck Anthem vs Endless Climbing

Atomyk Ebonpyre vs Harleboss

Spider’s Claw vs The La2t Frontiier

How Do I Live (Bunny Back in the Box Version) vs Beatdown (Strider Style)

Ace of Trump vs Dupliblaze COMAGMA vs Nightlife

Descend vs Clockwork Contrivance

Lotus Land Story vs Skaian Skirmish

Candles and Clockwork (Alpha Version) vs Revelawesome

Sburban Jungle vs Three in the Morning

Black vs Ballad of Awakening

Octoroon Rangoon vs Homestuck

Batch Two

Bed of Rose’s / Dreams of Derse vs An Unbreakable Union | DRAW

Hauntjam vs Planet Healer

Gardener vs Biophosphoradelecrystalluminescence

Skies of Skaia vs Sburban Countdown

Moonshatter vs Walls Covered in Blood

Vagabounce vs Savior of the Waking World

Sunsetter vs Crystalanthemums

Sunslammer vs Clockwork Melody vs Carbon Nadsat / Cuestick Genius

Plague Doctor vs Explore

Death of the Lusii vs Rediscover Fusion

Liquid Negrocity vs Crystalmanthequins

Pumpkin Cravings vs Clockwork Sorrow

Unsheath’d vs Skaian Ride

Ecstasy vs Knives and Ivory

Doctor vs The Lemonsnout Turnabout

Skaia (Incipisphere Remix) vs Endless Climb

Batch Three

Heir Transparent vs Karkat’s Theme

Time On My Side vs Eridan’s Theme

Clockwork vs Spider8reath

Trial and Execution vs Rex Duodecim Angelus

The Broken Clock vs Darling Kanaya

Pumpkin Tide vs Nautical Nightmare

Squiddissension vs Phrenic Phever vs Terezi’s Theme

Savior of the Dreaming Dead vs Science Seahorse vs Beta Version

The Nic Cage Song vs Carefree Princess Berryboo

Dreamers and the Dead vs Knife’s Edge

Vriska’s Theme vs Forever

At the Price of Oblivion vs Variations

Alternia vs Frost

English vs Jade Dragon

Heir Conditioning vs Let’s All Rock the Heist

Nepeta’s Theme vs Chain of Prospit

Batch Four

Umbral Ultimatum vs Arisen Anew

Shade vs Crystalanthology

The Carnival vs Rhapsody in Green

Time Paradox vs Terezi Owns

BL1ND JUST1C3: 1NV3ST1G4T1ON!!! vs Lies With the Sea

Rain vs Heat

Plumbthroat Gives Chase vs Killed By BR8K Spider!!!!!!!!

FIDUSPAWN, GO! vs Wind

Courser vs Requiem of Sunshine and Rainbows vs Tentacles

Elevatorstuck vs WSW-Beatdown

MeGaLoVania vs Swing of the Clock

A Fairy Battle vs Walk-Stab-Walk (R&E)

Dawn of Man vs Clockwork Reversal

Squiddles Campfire vs Black Rose / Green Sun

GameBro (Original 1990 Mix) vs Maplehoof’s Adventure

Even in Death vs Temporal Piano

Batch Five

Nightmare vs Battle Brotocol vs Pink Cat

Black Hole / Green Sun vs Litrichean Rioghail

Mayor Maynot vs Teal Hunter

Iron Knight vs Teal Seer

Prospit Dreamers vs Hallowed Halls

Escape Pod vs Revelations II

Serenade vs Coolkid

Requiem for an Exile vs Green Ghost

Judgement Day vs Carapacian Dominion

Derse Dreamers vs March of the Batterwitch

Purple Tyrant vs The Golden Towers

I’m a Member of the Midnight Crew vs Raggy Looking Dance

Terraform vs The Lost Child

Gilded Sands vs Orchid Horror

Cobalt Thief vs Flare

Blue Atom vs Violet Prince

Batch Six

Violet Mariner vs Pendulum

The Prelude vs Pilot Light

Iron Infidel vs Havoc

Rust Servant vs Temporal Shenanigans

Infinity Mechanism vs Revered Return vs Galactic Cancer

Bec Noir vs Cascade (Beta)

Sburban Reversal vs Orange Hat

Galaxy Hearts vs Cobalt Corsair

Pale Rapture vs Fuchsia Ruler

Jade Sylph vs Your Universe

Bronze Rebel vs Afraid of the Darko

Darkened Streets vs Core of Darkness vs Aimless Morning Gold

Cascade vs Made of Time

Gold Pilot vs Unite Synchronization

Drift into the Sun vs Ocean Stars Falling

Gold Mage vs Olive Rogue

Batch Seven

Lunar Eclipse vs Feel (Alive)

Of Gods and Witches vs Moonsetter

Ascend vs Respit

Conclude vs Beatup

Mother (Piano) vs Eternity, Served Cold (Canon Edit)

Reverie vs Firefly

Breeze vs Frustracean vs Trepidation

Another Chance vs Pipeorgankind vs Overture (Canon Edit)

Crystalmethequins vs Pumpkin Party in Sea (Redacted’s) Water Apocalypse

Breakshot vs iRRRRRRRRECONCILA8LE

Constant Confinement vs A Taste for Adventure

Hate You vs Starfall

October vs Clockstopper

Sweet Dreams, Timaeus vs Requited

Carne Vale vs Game Over

Lilith in Starlight vs Firefly Cloud

Batch Eight

Skaian Shrapnel vs Coursing

THIS Pumpkin vs Encore

Battle Against an Unfathomable Enemy vs Stress

Power Fantasy vs Skaianet | DRAW

Vodka Mutiny vs Castle

Moonsweater vs Frogsong vs Flying Car

Thanks for Playing vs Heir of Grief

Anbroids V2.0 vs Freefall

Sunrise vs Unlabeled vs Expedition

The Scratch vs Before the Beginning and After the End vs Ugly Betty

Renewed Return vs ASSAULT vs Lancer

You Killed My Father (Prepare to Die) vs Underfoot

Another Jungle vs Whistling Jackhammer vs GameGrl (Original 1993 Mix)

Austin, Atlantis vs Negastrife

Oppa Toby Style vs Skaian Overdrive

Three’s a Crowd vs Miasmajesty

Round Three

All Polls

Batch One

Upward Movement (Dave Owns) vs Aggrievance

Skaian Skuffle vs The Beginning of Something Really Excellent

Aggrieve vs Homestuck Anthem

Atomyk Ebonpyre vs The La2t Frontiier

Beatdown (Strider Style) vs Dupliblaze COMAGMA

Descend vs Skaian Skirmish

Candles and Clockwork (Alpha Version) vs Sburban Jungle

Black vs Homestuck

Batch Two

Bed of Rose’s / Dreams of Derse vs An Unbreakable Union vs Planet Healer

Biophosphoradelecrystalluminescence vs Sburban Countdown

Moonshatter vs Savior of the Waking World

Sunsetter vs Sunslammer

Plague Doctor vs Rediscover Fusion

Crystalmanthequins vs Pumpkin Cravings

Unsheath’d vs Knives and Ivory

Doctor vs Endless Climb

Batch Three

Heir Transparent vs Time On My Side

Spider8reath vs Rex Duodecim Angelus

Darling Kanaya vs Nautical Nightmare

Terezi’s Theme vs Savior of the Dreaming Dead

Carefree Princess Berryboo vs Dreamers and the Dead

Vriska’s Theme vs At the Price of Oblivion

Alternia vs English

Heir Conditioning vs Nepeta’s Theme

Batch Four

Umbral Ultimatum vs Shade

The Carnival vs Terezi Owns

BL1ND JUST1C3: 1NV3ST1G4T1ON!!! vs Heat

Killed by BR8K Spider!!!!!!!! vs Wind

Courser vs Elevatorstuck

MeGaLoVania vs Walk-Stab-Walk

Clockwork Reversal vs Black Rose / Green Sun

GameBro vs Even in Death

Batch Five

Pink Cat vs Black Hole / Green Sun

Mayor Maynot vs Iron Knight

Prospit Dreamers vs Revelations II

Serenade vs Green Ghost

Judgement Day vs Derse Dreamers

Purple Tyrant vs I’m a Member of the Midnight Crew

The Lost Child vs Orchid Horror

Flare vs Blue Atom

Batch Six

Pendulum vs Pilot Light

Iron Infidel vs Temporal Shenanigans

Infinity Mechanism vs Cascade (Beta)

Sburban Reversal vs Galaxy Hearts

Fuchsia Ruler vs Jade Sylph

Bronze Rebel vs Core of Darkness

Cascade vs Gold Pilot

Ocean Stars Falling vs Gold Mage

Batch Seven

Feel (Alive) vs Moonsetter

Ascend vs Beatup

Eternity, Served Cold (Canon Edit) vs Firefly

Breeze vs Overture

Pumpkin Party in Sea (Redacted)’s Water Apocalypse vs iRRRRRRRRECONCILA8LE

A Taste for Adventure vs Hate You

Clockstopper vs Requited

Carne Vale vs Lilith in Starlight

Batch Eight

Coursing vs THIS Pumpkin

Battle Against an Unfathomable Enemy vs Power Fantasy vs Skaianet

Vodka Mutiny vs Moonsweater

Heir of Grief vs Anbroids V2.0

Unlabelled vs Ugly Betty

Lancer vs You Killed My Father (Prepare to Die)

GameGrl vs Austin, Atlantis

Oppa Toby Style vs Three’s a Crowd

Round Four

All Polls

Batch One

Upward Movement (Dave Owns) vs The Beginning of Something Really Excellent

Homestuck Anthem vs Atomyk Ebonpyre

Beatdown (Strider Style) vs Descend

Sburban Jungle vs Black

Bed of Rose’s / Dreams of Derse vs Sburban Countdown

Savior of the Waking World vs Sunslammer

Plague Doctor vs Crystalmanthequins

Knives and Ivory vs Doctor

Batch Two

Time On My Side vs Rex Duodecim Angelus

Darling Kanaya vs Savior of the Dreaming Dead

Dreamers and the Dead vs At the Price of Oblivion

English vs Heir Conditioning

Umbral Ultimatum vs Terezi Owns

BL1ND JUST1C3: 1NV3ST1G4T1ON!!! vs Killed by BR8K Spider!!!!!!!!

Elevatorstuck vs MeGaLoVania

Black Rose / Green Sun vs Even in Death

Batch Three

Black Hole / Green Sun vs Iron Knight

Prospit Dreamers vs Serenade

Derse Dreamers vs I’m a Member of the Midnight Crew

Orchid Horror vs Flare

Pendulum vs Temporal Shenanigans

Cascade (Beta) vs Sburban Reversal

Fuchsia Ruler vs Core of Darkness

Cascade vs Gold Mage

Batch Four

Moonsetter vs Beatup

Eternity, Served Cold (Canon Edit) vs Overture (Canon Edit)

Pumpkin Party in Sea (Redacted)’s Water Apocalypse vs Hate You

Requited vs Carne Vale

Coursing vs Skaianet

Vodka Mutiny vs Heir of Grief

Ugly Betty vs Lancer

Austin, Atlantis vs Oppa Toby Style

Round Five

All Polls

Batch One

Upward Movement (Dave Owns) vs Homestuck Anthem

Descend vs Black

Sburban Countdown vs Savior of the Waking World

Crystalmanthequins vs Doctor

Batch Two

Rex Duodecim Angelus vs Savior of the Dreaming Dead

At the Price of Oblivion vs English

Umbral Ultimatum vs BL1ND JUST1C3: 1NV3ST1G4TION!!!

MeGaLoVania vs Black Rose / Green Sun

Batch Three

Black Hole / Green Sun vs Serenade

I’m a Member of the Midnight Crew vs Flare

Temporal Shenanigans vs Cascade (Beta)

Fuchsia Ruler vs Cascade

Batch Four

Moonsetter vs Eternity Served Cold (Canon Edit)

Pumpkin Party in Sea (Redacted)’s Water Apocalypse vs Carne Vale | DRAW

Coursing vs Heir of Grief

Lancer vs Oppa Toby Style

Round Six

All Polls

Batch One

Upward Movement (Dave Owns) vs Black

Savior of the Waking World vs Doctor

Rex Duodecim Angelus vs At the Price of Oblivion

Umbral Ultimatum vs MeGaLoVania

Batch Two

Black Hole / Green Sun vs Flare

Cascade (Beta) vs Cascade

Moonsetter vs Pumpkin Party in Sea (Redacted)’s Water Apocalypse vs Carne Vale

Heir of Grief vs Oppa Toby Style

Round Seven

All Polls

Black vs Savior of the Waking World

Rex Duodecim Angelus vs MeGaLoVania

Flare vs Cascade

Moonsetter vs Heir of Grief

Round Eight

All Polls

Black vs Rex Duodecim Angelus

Cascade vs Heir of Grief

Round Nine

Black vs Cascade

Winner: Cascade!

Current Bracket

[fwoopersongs]

《红颜旧》 - afterthoughts

We were talking about the three songs 《红颜旧》, 《风起时》 and 《赤血长殷》 from Nirvana in Fire in Langya Hall back in January. Someone wanted a poll to find out which was our favourite among the three, and thinking of how to answer that made me realise I couldn’t remember which I liked the most! So of course I had to go listen to them again, right? As it turns out, though it’s been about five to six years since first hearing them all, I still have quite a bit to say…

This will be the first of a three-parter on the NIF drama songs. I'll be rambling on (really just a whole lot of rambling lol) about my thoughts, feelings and new stuff found in the elapsing time between 2016 and now for 《红颜旧》. There’s also been so many translations! WOW. At least 6 full ones from English to Chinese - some of these have really interesting notes! One retelling in classical Chinese following the style of the Classic of Poetry (Shijing) and one tumblr meta about its use in the drama. There are many things I love about everyone’s work so I’ll definitely be mentioning them later as we go on.

Feel free to join in and chat, because nif song talk will always be welcome in this blog ~

The non-exhaustive list of 《红颜旧》 translations: 19 Oct 2015, Changing Face by 墨白妈妈 04 Dec 2015, Aging of a Beauty (and translation notes) by Joyce 02 Jan 2016, Fading Beauty by Fwoopersongs 03 Feb 2016, Bygone Beauty by xjc396 24 Jun 2016, 《红颜旧》by Yvonne 23 Mar 17, Shijing style classical chinese by 之梦轩主人 06 May 2017, Faded Beauty by Kana @chiyanjun 30 Jan 2021, The Aging of Beauty, chorus only & meta on its use as an insert song in Episode 54 by @hunxi-after-hours.

All the kudos to Joyce’s ‘Notes Made When Translating: Aging of a Beauty’ because her cultural notes and analysis are just so good!!!! She did it for the other two songs and also the NIF game theme too. Would strongly recommend checking those out as I learnt a lot and had a fantastic and rather educational time reading them \o/ rabbit holing in song translation is such a MOOD.

ORIGINS

Lyricist: 袁亮 Music & Arrangement: 赵佳霖

Originally released as 《忍别离》 Endure Separation, the third song of Cui Zige’s guofeng themed album 《小美人》 The Little Beauty in Dec 2013, 《红颜旧》 was later adopted as an insert song of the 2015 drama, Nirvana in Fire. I thought it was specially written as Mu Nihuang’s character song, but apparently not! But it’s really the beauty of music and credit to whoever picked it that it’s just so easily relatable to her.

The one difference I can spot between the two songs would be in the last line, likely as an improvement for better flow:

不变是此情悠悠 - 《忍别离》 bù biàn shì cǐ qíng yōu yōu 唯不变此情悠悠 - 《红颜旧》 wéi bù biàn cǐ qíng yōu yōu

TITLE

As both Joyce and Yvonne have noted, 红颜 | hóngyán is used here to refer to the lovely features of a beautiful woman. 

Although 红颜 is more often used to refer to a woman, sometimes in poetry it also evokes the image of a youth, young men or boys in the peak of health with fresh faces and pinkish-red cheeks. For example, this poem by Shen Yue of the Northern and Southern Dynasties and also this one by Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty. Before, I vaguely knew of the word 红颜 through the chengyu 红颜知己 | hóngyán zhījǐ, which one would call a close female friend and confidante. A relationship with a 红颜知己 is somewhere between platonic and romantic. Something like how we imagine Lin Shu and Nihuang’s relationship would have been like once upon a time.

Then comes 旧 | jiù, a word with many meanings! Yvonne covers most of them in her little preface; something worn out, something old, something from the past, perhaps an old lover.

Most of us seem to have gone with the ‘old’ or ‘growing old’ shade of meaning; choosing to use ‘beauty’ for 红颜, and rendering 旧 either as an ongoing process of aging/fading or as something of the past that is faded or bygone. There is something melancholy about this title I think, in the passing of a lady’s youth and beauty, but something strong in there too, in a young face that is aging with grace.

My first attempt at the title before making any attempt at translating the song was ‘Lady Love of Old’ and it was left as that for some time before I gave in to a nagging feeling and changed it to ‘fading beauty’, then eyed ‘bygone beauty’ for some time. I can still see it as all the options though. Especially when squinting (figuratively xD) and that’s why I prefer to call it hongyanjiu to this day. That way you don’t lose any shade of the meaning...

And oh! An interesting exception among us would be 墨白妈妈 who went with Changing Face, as a reference to the William Butler Yeats poem ‘When You Are Old’.

“But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face”

And you know what? This is so valid. I like it a lot as well!

OKAY, and now for the song! I’ve gone as literal as possible for all the interpretations. I’ll go over it line by line for interesting points in the original lyrics, plus across the various translations. Maybe a little bit afterwards on more feelings and/or why I chose to deviate a bit sometimes.

INTRO

西风夜渡寒山雨  A west wind blows past in the night; in the cold mountains, rain falls. 家国依稀残梦里  With home and country indistinct in fragmented dreams, 思君不见倍思君  thinking of him but not seeing him, my longing doubles. 别离难忍忍别离  Parting is hard to bear, but it is borne.

One of the things I’ve learnt since 2016, is that 西风 | xī fēng, a wind from the west is often associated with autumn wind, and with it a certain heaviness, sorrow, grief and loneliness. As an example, this poem (in English here) by Song Dynasty minister and poet, Ye Mengde, which I love for its imagery in the first two lines.

《水调歌头·霜降碧天静》 - Water tune prelude · after the snow falls // 霜降碧天静 秋事促西风 | after the snow falls, the azure sky is clear and all is quiet; autumn preparations are hurried by west winds. 寒声隐地初听 中夜入梧桐 | the whooshing of that chilling wind, indistinct in the beginning, rustles the parasol trees as we enter into the night

Photo source

渡 | dù, a word I’ve been thinking about lately, has multiple meanings. Crossing (a river), to cross, ferry or move pass. Here, because the location is in a 寒山 | hán shān cold mountain, the 渡 would be referring to the west wind blowing past. Both 墨白妈妈 and Kana used ‘sail’ in their first line as a nod to the word’s other meanings, which is very clever and a really nice touch because it calls the same associations to mind.

残 | cán, the word for fragmented of 残梦里 | cán mèng lǐ - within fragmented dreams - is the same as that of the word for cruel, 残忍 | cán rěn. When I first heard the song with the lyrics in front of me, I didn’t know 残梦 was a word by itself and understood it as ‘cruel dreams’. Home and country as you remember them being dangled in front of you, but barely in sight and out of reach. I still like that interpretation right now, and thus kept the line as is.

For the line 思君不见倍思君, the word 君 | jūn here refers to a man who could be her husband, could be a beau, could be a friend - Joyce covers it all already!

Special mention for 倍 | bèi, meaning many times over or double in this context of 倍思君: it was difficult to express that feeling (I gave up xD) of thoughts reaching out for someone, finding a void and only able to settle back - not subsiding but growing instead. It was so cool to see that someone did manage to capture it in the end! In Kana’s ‘Missing you but not seeing you, twice does the yearning grow’, that return of the yearning twofold is expressed so elegantly!

The fourth line of the intro along with some of the lines from the next verse calls one of Li Shangyin’s untitled poems to mind, so I’ll introduce it below.

VERSE 

狼烟烽火何时休  When will the beacons of war rest? 成王败寇尽东流  Victors become king, losers - outlaws; it all flows east (to the sea). 蜡炬已残泪难干 Although the candles have burnt till only reside is left, it is difficult for tears to dry. 江山未老红颜旧 Before the mountains and rivers grow old, the beauty ages.

For the first two lines, Joyce already covers them with a really detailed explanation and pictures. Do go check that out if you haven’t already! I especially enjoyed learning about 狼烟 | lángyān, beacon fire, or more literally, ‘wolf smoke’, possibly being named that because a component of it may or may not have been wolf dung. She also digs into the next line pretty thoroughly. I’d just like to add on something I found out about the origins of the chengyu! (It’s a bit of a rabbit hole, so feel free to skip!)

The exact phrasing of 成王败寇 | chéng wáng bài kòu, succeed - hailed king, defeated - condemned outlaw, originates (at least, this exact phrasing does) from one of six short poems by Liu Yazi (1887 - 1958), a Chinese poet and political activist, for his review of the book《太平天国战史》on the Taiping Rebellion by Sun Yat Sen.

Rough interpretation following as I’m not familiar with the context, and none of this information is available in English:

成王败寇漫相呼，直笔何人纵董狐 chéng wáng bài kòu màn xiāng hū, zhí bǐ hérén zòng dǒng hú Victors are hailed king, losers condemned as outlaws, on this, all are in accord. (But) when it comes to penning down history, is there anyone who will give Dong Hu free reign?

(Confucious praised Dong Hu as a good historiographer of the Spring and Autumn period. His rule for writing was not to never conceal the truth.)

Snapshot source

Alright, back to 《红颜旧》!

Special mention to the Chinese classical poem rendition, because I really love the rhythm of this line: 王兮寇兮，滚滚东流 wáng xī kòu xī, gǔngǔn dōng liú, which is like (you can ignore 兮 unless it amuses you to read it as HEY! it’s actually a slightly gentler dragged out sound, but I heard it sung once in hokkien and the heyyyyy stuck fast xD) king, outlaw & the river surging east. But the word for surging is 滚滚, which also reads as boiling/raging/surging. When pitted against overwhelmingly powerful forces of nature, like raging rivers, like time, titles and labels are just words that feel so insignificant.

For line 3, 蜡炬已残 | là jù yǐ cán, is like ‘of the candle, only remnants are left’ and the following photo is roughly the image that pops into mind.

Why candles? Because recall:

a west wind blows past in the night; in the cold mountains, rain falls.  with home and country indistinct in fragmented dreams, thinking of him (but) not seeing him, my longing doubles. parting is hard to bear, (but) it is borne.

It is still that cold Autumn night. 

The last line of this verse is, 江山未老红颜旧, literally ‘before the mountains and rivers grow old, the beauty ages’. And the beauty of this (if you’ll pardon the pun) is that both the kingdom and the mountains and rivers? They are ageless. The passage of time will only be apparent to and on her.  For this, I love love love how xjc396 puts it as ‘lands 'nd rivers are in bloom, but my beauty is past’, because of that wistful? mournful? feeling evoked by the contrast of placing something at its zenith and another in decline side by side.

And oooooo, so as mentioned before, there’s a little poem rabbit hole for the last two lines which extends also to the chorus. I’ll introduce it at the end of all this.

CHORUS Part 1

忍别离， Bear the parting, 不忍却要别离， even if you can’t, we still must part. 托鸿雁南去。 Entrusting the geese to go South, 不知此心何寄。 I do not know how to send this heart.

Again, Joyce has our backs with her Notes Made When Translating (thank you!!!!! haha I don’t know how you did it, and with such beautiful pictures too!).

It’s pretty obvious even at the first glance that we all have rather different styles. After all, in translation - at least, how I see it, the differences come from how we’re always balancing between these three things:

And of course, any personal associations we have with certain words in both the source and target language. Maybe there are more things? Idk hahaha. I’m just a hobbyist >.<. Back to the song!

So so so there are two versions that are similar which I like a lot, and then one which surprised me at first but then grew on me more and more. Starting with the two that I like:

Faded Beauty: I plead the birds to bring my message south. But how do I send my heart with them? 《红颜旧》: I entrust the swan-geese flying south with my heart, but I don’t know where to tell them to send it

The main difference being in their interpretation of 何 | hé in 不知此心何寄, which can mean both how and where. 

‘I may write my hopes and longing into a letter and send them to you, but that isn’t enough. It does not convey my heart - would that I may be by your side too!’ - That is my understanding for ‘how’.

‘I would send my letter and my heart to you, if only I knew where (because you are no longer here)’.  - This is my understanding for ‘where’.

I leaned toward the latter for my final version because 《红颜旧》, with its melancholy and resolve, feels like a ‘after Chiyan’ song. But really, I love both interpretations and regret that they must be split in English (but aha therein lies the awesomeness of multiple translations. It’d be weird if I post several versions of one song, but if a bunch of people do it together…)

The one that surprised me: 墨白妈妈: Letters may reach you. Envelopes fail to bear my heart

And just as as another example of a poem in which the poet sends his longing home with the returning geese (um metaphorically).

《次北固山下》- Stopping at the foot of Beigu Mountain // 乡书何处达 归雁洛阳边 | Where might my letter to home be delivered? With the returning geese to Luoyang.

CHORUS Part 2

红颜旧， The lady ages; 任凭斗转星移， Let the Big Dipper turn and the stars shift (and time fly), 唯不变此情悠悠。 with only these feelings remaining unchanged, unwavering.

THIS. This is the turning point of the song. Parting, war, home and country distant, pointless conflict, passing time wasted - keenly felt, lost bearings. But the bedrock of her resolve is love. And with that, though it is painful, even when she’s grieving, feeling unmoored, her love is unwavering. 

The fact that it’s the last line but sung without calling any attention to it just before the verse and chorus repeats... it’s like, blink and you’ll miss it. But after that when she repeats the chorus again and again, it really hits home - the vulnerability but also steadfastness that comes with that love. I’m just so in awe, and usually in tears. Tao-jie’s singing + these lyrics are so emotive.

I want to specially mention the Shijing version here because how this last portion was ‘rephrased’ there is exquisite. But first to break down the last (and most important) line: 唯不变 | wéi bù biàn, (the) only (thing) that does not change 此情    | cǐ qíng, (is) this love 悠悠    | yōu yōu, that goes on and on 

And then how it is said in Shijing version, starting from the line about the shifting stars (references not included...that would be a whooooole ‘nother post of its own): 浩浩河汉，无情之游。 The vast, boundless sea of stars, cold and unfeeling on their paths 我心匪石，永以弗休。 My heart will not be turned, forever shall it refuse to rest.

- and isn’t that just SO very much like Jingyan, Nihuang and Mei Changsu in spirit? 

Final Comments

Overall, I feel like both  Faded Beauty and  《红颜旧》 come the closest, in their own ways, to expressing the vibe of the song while very close to the original lyrics <3 all my kudos to them as a fellow translator. 

I really love xjc396′s version (Bygone Beauty) as a whole. They have somehow managed to preserve the meaning of the song while also being very poetic and beautiful.

墨白妈妈 took the phrase ‘artistic license’ and ran with it, in Changing Face, keeping the core but getting there in a slightly different way. I really enjoyed their creativity!!!

I’m honestly still very impressed and blown away by the shijing version?????? IT’S SO GOOD. 之梦轩主人 \o/ \o/ \o/

Also, hunxi’s answer about its use in episode 54? so insightful! Seriously, go look at it.

Oh and one my tags from 2016 was this: #loving how this shows her as a warrior/general/princess/lady. And yes !!!! YES I still would shout this from the rooftops. Usually, these - forgot the word for them, but there is like a genre (?) theme (?) of poetry written from the perspective of ladies longing for their men who are garrisoned far far away, worrying for their safety while in the war. But it’s a little bit of a play on that trope here, because framed from Mu Nihuang’s perspective, certain lines can take on very different meanings from how they would ‘traditionally’ go.

For example, 家国依稀残梦里 | with home and country indistinct in fragmented dreams, as a general leading her troops in the South, who is doing so while grieving her father and her betrothed - very likely dead, labelled a rebel and forever disgraced… All these identities and the responsibilities on her shoulders. And her home and Da Liang forever changed.

Another example: 狼烟烽火何时休 成王败寇尽东流 | When will the beacons of war rest? Victors become king, loser - outlaw; it all flows east (to the sea). Instead of a deeply worried wife, resenting the pointlessness of the war, Mu Nihuang gets the front and center seat for witnessing the clashing of vipers and conflict stemming from the Emperor's painstaking balancing of power. Which is another, probably even more infuriating and disheartening POV to be experiencing to be honest.

...............................................................................................................

Okay and the final rabbit hole is another Li Shangyin poem! 

Intro 别离难忍忍别离 // parting is hard to bear, (but) it is borne Verse 蜡炬已残泪难干 // although candles have melted, wax hardened, it is difficult for tears to dry. 江山未老红颜旧 //before the mountains and rivers age, beauty fades. Chorus Part 1 忍别离 不忍却要别离 // Bearing with parting is difficult, yet we must part Chorus Part 2 托鸿雁南去 // Entrusting the geese to go South,

《无题》- untitled 相见时难别亦难 | It is difficult to meet, difficult also to part; 东风无力百花残 | spring’s east wind weakens, its myriad flowers withered. 春蚕到死丝方尽 | Only unto death does the silkworm cease to spin its thread; 蜡炬成灰泪始干 | only when candles are burnt to the quick do tears begin to dry. 晓镜但愁云鬓改 | She sits before the mirror at dawn, distressed at the change in her hair; 夜吟应觉月光寒 | murmuring poems in the night, how chilling the moonlight must feel! 蓬山此去无多路 | Between here and the mythical Penglai mountain, there are few roads; 青鸟殷勤为探看 | may the blue bird often visit on her behalf.

That is not to say that the song either does or does not allude to this particular poem, because there are many mediums of creation that do use these themes and imagery. But just that I found the poem while googling that line about the candles’ remnants and tears drying, and it added an extra dimension to my reading of it. Because wow. This is so desperate and intense O.O 

[cosmiclatte28]

Radio Romance (Doyoung x reader, Jaehyun)

This was on my wattpad too! Do check them out, I am working on my SuperM fanfiction.

Warning : Fluff, Doyoung and Jaehyun are radio DJs! Sweet ones obviously 

fluff and safe for work ;)

enjoy !!!

A great hit by Adele fades out as the familiar prelude to my beloved radio segment chimes in. The catchy yet simple jingle makes me perks my ears.

"Good evening citizens! This is DJ Doyoung"

"And this is DJ Jaehyun. You are now listening to Night Paradise of One Two Seven Regular Radio"

"Where you can relax and sleep with sweet dreams." Said Doyoung.

"The time now is nine o'clock. It is Wednesday May 8 and tonight we will receive your song requests and of course the favorite Radio Romance program is still available." Jaehyunexplains their rundown.

I go to turn up the music louder, well the channel I am tuning in right now is our Campus' radio station and since freshman days, this radio station really helps me during the stress nights before finals until the lonely nights when I miss mother's home cook meal. I really love the program, listening to music, witnessing a guy confess to a girl he likes, sometimes I just like to listen to the bickering of the DJs, and mostly I just like having sounds in my silent room. I share an apartment with a foreigner from the same country but he is currently busy. And during these nights, the radio really entertains me.

"As we collect your messages and requests, first composition tonight will be from the latest hit by NCT. As the night is still early, we think a lot of our listeners are still sticking their nose to books and papers. To energize you, we present you Highway to Heaven." Jaehyun's deep voice echoes.

I smiled; this song is currently my mood booster. Picking up my pen, I can return to read my textbook and try my best to study more; Though it is challenging for me to keep on reading, instead of singing on top of my lungs while dancing wildly. As much as I want to do those two badly, I know that my parents sent me here to the United States from the Country of Ginseng and Kimchi to learn something and be someone. Halfway through the song, I can't hold back my feelings and grab my phone.

I quickly text a private message to someone,

"Seriously.. I can't focus. Finals are around the corner. Mum will kill me if A is not present."

I Hit the send button and locked my phone. I must not get carried away into chatting. That will end my life.

After calming my excited nerves with water, the radio DJs return with different love confessions and questions.

Ranging from

"What should I do to get this girl's attention? I'm super shy while she's the total opposite." The two each suggested dating advices. Which I believe were not from their experiences. It's definitely a google answer.

"I just broke up with my boy friend, and I need more comfort songs. Can you two please fulfil my request. Thanks, and DJ Jaehyun you're the best." To which Doyoung replies jokingly "Noted. More love songs. DJ Doyoung is in charge of songs tonight. You pick the wrong guy."

"I can't sleep tonight. I need to finish 3 works by 7 a.m. tomorrow. Please tune up the bpm." Jaehyun's cheeky remarks was "I think coffee will help you better than us. Our program ended at 10.. anyways, we hope you for the best! Fighting!"

Those are messages coming into their homepage

"Now moving on to the tweets, I have.." Doyoung laughs a bit

"To @osaka_prince I really miss you, let's meet for Takoyaki this week. Call me asap. From @nct_is_life"

"You heard that @osaka_prince, someone misses you! And next we have.."

tHis time Jaehyun's soothing voice exits the stereo

"To @ice_yongie how are you doing? I heard you tune into this channel regularly. Wish you all the best for your finals. From @fire_jung"

"Right... to every students, please stay healthy, have enough sleep, and prepare for your finals." Jaehyun said and continue with two more mentions.

After that they play another hit song, this time as the atmosphere starts to go bittersweet. Their choice was Because of You by Taeil.

The sweet voice and words I understands, made a good company for me. I finish reading my books as the last beat of the song drops and Doyoung'strademark voice comes in.

"We have one more hour to accompanyyour night. Now for the news, we have one from the school's Baseball team, one from the hospital and another from the cafeteria. After the news we'll head on to the Call Me Maybe segment. Please wait for it."

Jaehyun reads the news about the upcoming grand Baseball match this Thursday, it's Trojans vs Eagles. Don't forget to come with all your Trojans attire and merchandises we all know how the season will end. Winning is our middle name.

The next news was only about reminding students to take care of their health during finals and a new boba stall will open this Monday. Discount 50% for first 100 cups.

No matter how cheap that will be, I know I can't skip class just to queue for a boba. Not if I want to have my ass bloody red.

The Call Me Baby segment comes after 2 other compositions and oddly I love this segment. Though it may be weird to some people, listening someone making a voice note on air to their special ones and getting no reply.. still there is something in my heart that likes hearing those.

Apparently a lot of calls were desperate. From 5 voice message, 2 are clearly in a phase of knowing someone and trying to win their heart, the other 3 are asking how someone has been.. clearly they broke up one misses the other one, but have no choice other than to use the radio to ask his or her condition. Ego always wins right?

I feel bad for those three who cannot directly ask how the people who used to be special to them is feeling right now. Lucky I'm not in that condition.

Then they take a break with several advertisements and music.

I leave my room to wash my face and clean my books. Well I am sleepy, but I am waiting for someone to return home.

The radio DJs are currently online with the twitter. Since it is impossible to read every tweet on air, they take time answering some lucky listener's tweets. I scroll my twitter and smiles a little when my tweet got replied.

"Have strength! You can do it~" – DJ Doyoung

I retweeted it and afterwards continue scrolling and reading a lot of replies and stories. Apparently there's much more than love and broken heart problems. Some are posting questions of which food to eat, some are just saying hi, several others requested songs; others even post thank-you letters for the two DJ who work hard to make their nights enjoyable and fun.

I glance at the clock. It is 30 minutes to their closing. Turns out two hours is not a long time. Hufht if only every two hours lectures can be this quick and enjoyable.

The last segment was the story sharing time. Basically everyone can submit their inspiring stories to the channel's email and then the team will choose which one is good to share. Tonight the speaker was none other the school's favorite baseball captain. Lee Taeyong... he shares his baseball career path. He shares his hard works, his passion, and what keeps him moving forward. His 10 minutes talk is inspiring. I wiped a tear that falls from my eye, his story is really touching.

Jaehyun and Doyoung also seem to honor the man talking on air right now. They salute his never ending passion and hard work. Taeyong gets to greet some of his fans and cheer them up. The segment ends after 15 minutes and Both DJ wraps his visit by telling all listeners to support Taeyong and his team on field this Thursday.

More tweets are read and replied directly on air, soothing songs for sleeping also fills the room.

"We did not realize time is running. It was fun listening to your feeling. The stars are starting to shine on the clear sky. You might want to take a peek out of your window for a moment.And as the night deepens,our segment must end after this." Doyoung shares his regret.

"Right, we are sad Paradise Night is over, but worry not for we will see you again this Friday. Please keep on tuning into One Two Seven Regular Radio. I am DJ Jaehyun"

"and I am DJ Doyoung"

"We present you the last composition, UN Village by Baekhyun. Sweet Dreams and Good night." The two host harmonize and the calm upbeat prelude from UN Village takes over their voice.

My phone lights up as the song almost reach its chorus.

"I'm done. Going home now.. wait for me!"

I typed a reply and turn the volume louder.

I know that, I know that, I know Yes we are now

Hannam-dong UN Village hill Looking up at the moon from the hill

I walk from my room to the small balcony. The radio song fluently escapes my opened room. Isomehow remembered that Jaehyun or Doyoung earlier said the sky is bright. Turns out I can see sea of stars tonight. It's relaxing and pretty.

The front door of my apartment opens and closes. I turn around and see someone returning home with a tired face but a smile is still there.

"Thank you for waiting me... the stars are dancing tonight and the moon is big!" His attention distracted by the picturesque sky in front of our eyes. He stands beside me, one hand over my waist to bring me close to his warm body.

You and me, umm yeah

UN Village hill, eh

Side by side we look at the moon

We sway to the rhythm and the song ends not long after it. It was a nice closing song!

"I should be the one to say thank you!" I turn my head to face him.

He looks puzzled but a hint of smugness can't escape his lips which form a smile.

"Me? Why?"

"Because you did a great job hosting Paradise Night! I don't feel lonely and I can study better. Thanks to you and Jaehyun." I hug him and bury my face on his chest.

Doyoung softens at my words and returns my hug "Anything for my girl! Now, let me shower from the sweat of walking home.. and maybe I need some ramen tonight. I'm always hungry after hosting the radio." He walks to his room and after collecting his clothes and towel, he enters the toilet.

I make my way to the kitchen. Taking a pot to boil water and choosing our favorite night snack. While he clean himself under the shower, I prepare the dish and the side dishes.

"Hmmm it smells amazing! Thanks for cooking it for me." Doyoung greets me with a fresh smell of mint shampoo and he takes the sit across of me.

"Saranghae~" he sincerely gives me a heart with his fingers and digs into the food.

After a stifled laugh, I also begin eating mine.

Once again a beautiful night spent with the best radio DJ, who is luckily mine. Doyoung... na do saranghae💛

[ryqoshay]

Happy Life: Sweeter Than a Choir

Primary Pairing: YohaRiko Words: ~1.4k Rating: G AU: Angelic? Time Frame: Sometime after their college years Story Arc: Stand Alone Set: “Thank You” For Your Smile (HtHaN) Sweeter Than a Choir (HL) All I Can Say (TA)

Author’s Note: A second salvo for the seasonal scene barrage.

TheFallenAngel: Ne, Riri!

TheFallenAngel: One of my little demons just gifted me the new Christmas cosmetics pack!

TheFallenAngel: I know we have plans after dinner but do you mind if I stream before?

SakurauchiRiko: Of course you can stream

SakurauchiRiko: Have fun!

SakurauchiRiko: See you when I get home

“I’m home!” Riko announced as she walked in the door.

“Taste the minty wrath of Santahane’s Candy Scythe!”

Riko chucked to herself as she realized Yoshiko was already lost to the world as she focused on the game she was playing. Then, a grey dog and a black cat scampered around the corner into the entryway.

“Hey, Prelude, Phobetor.” She knelt to greet the pets of the apartment, offering both scratches behind the ears and under their chins.

After a minute or two, Riko took off her coat and boots and stored them before making her way to the living room. It came as no surprised that those watching the stream noticed her presence before Yoshiko.

“Uwah!” Yoshiko seemed to notice her girlfriend’s name being spammed in chat and glanced at Riko. “Hey, Riri! I’m almost do- Ha! Ring out! Fall into winter’s abyss! Santahane shall rain coal down after you for your naughtiness!” Her final taunt issued, she tossed her controller onto the cushion beside her and popped up off the couch. “Welcome home!” She spread her arms wide.

By the gods, she looks cute, Riko thought to herself as she fought down her embarrassment and stepped forward into her girlfriend’s waiting arms.

Yoshiko had apparently found an old outfit from one of their Christmas themed photoshoots back during their time with Aqours. Or perhaps she had made a new one in a similar style, Riko couldn’t quite tell. Either way, the bells and beads and poinsettias and cape and tiny hat, all in Christmas colors, suited Yoshiko well. And the tousled twin tail hairstyle was a pleasant change from her normal side bun.

It was all so adorable, Riko couldn’t help herself when she pulled back from the embrace just enough so she could reposition her head and lean down for a kiss. She tried to ignore the surge of notification sounds as cheers and subscriptions flooded in from the still-live stream.

Finally, Riko pulled away and turned toward the camera. “Hi, everyone!” She greeted cheerfully, hoping her blush was being kept to a minimum, though realizing it probably was not. “I know you’re all enjoying Yocchan’s bonus stream today, but I’m going to need to steal her back in a little while so we can decorate for the holiday.” She smiled as she skimmed some of the responses. “Hrm, we’ll see. I’m still not that good at fighting games, but perhaps I will join Yocchan next time. Maybe.” She turned to Yoshiko. “I’m going to go make dinner, so you have until then to keep playing.”

“Right!” Yoshiko grinned before pouncing back onto the couch and grabbing her controller. “Alright, who among you is willing to face Santahane to claim their place on the Nice list?”

Riko also smiled as she made her way to the kitchen. Over the years, she had become quite fond of listening to Yoshiko’s streams and occasionally even participating in them. But it hadn’t always been like that. The younger girl’s energy had, still to this day, the potential to overwhelm the more reserved older girl, but time and time again, Riko found herself drawn in by the enthusiasm. The smiles, the laughter, even the melodramatic antics. Riko had come to love it all.

“You can’t stop my Jingle Bell attack!”

Haughty laugher burst out from the living room as Riko assuming another little demon was felled at the hands of the skilled fallen angel. Yoshiko was obviously enjoying herself, which in turn was what Riko enjoyed watching, or listening to in this case.

“Yocchan!” Riko called. “Dinner is ready. Come help me set the table.”

“The time has come, little demons.” Yoshiko announced to her viewers. “Yohane must bid thee adieu, for now. But fret not! Thy master shall soon return! Pay heed to thy standard digital messenger systems so that thou might participate in our next gathering from across the void.”

A moment later, the blue-haired girl practically skipped into the kitchen, her cape flowing behind her and twin tails bouncing over her shoulders.

“Thanks for making dinner!” Yoshiko said, sliding in to set a shameless kiss on Riko’s cheek before gliding away to grab plates from the cupboard. Silverware and napkins were nabbed next and the winter holiday wrapped whirlwind spun out to the living room.

Riko followed the other girl with their meal and set it on the table before taking her seat.

“Itadakimasu!” Yoshiko clapped her hands together before reaching for her fork. “Mmm! Riri’s cooking is always the best!”

“I’m glad you like it.” Riko replied, taking her own first bite.

No matter how many times Yoshiko said as such, part of Riko continued to worry about making mistakes when she prepared meals. And of course she knew full well that Yoshiko would eat just about anything she made, despite, and sometimes because of said mistakes. Nonetheless, she doubted she would ever tire of watching Yoshiko enjoy the food she had made for her.

The notification for the Aqours group chat sounded on both of their phones.

“Someone must have finished decorating already.” Riko decided. “Should we check?”

Yoshiko agreed and retrieved her phone. “Ah, Ruby and Zuramaru.”

“It’s a lovely display.”

“Yeah, but we can out do them.”

Riko was about to point out that it wasn’t really a competition but was interrupted by Yoshiko laughing. She checked her phone to find Mari being scolded by Dia for her commentary while Kanan played an all-too-casual mediator. She set her device down to resume her meal but continued to listen to her girlfriend laugh as the situation unfolded.

It was a completely different laughter than earlier during the stream. Yohane’s laugh was hearty, deep and more than a little mischievous, while Yoshiko’s was gentler, purer and decidedly sweeter. Like her singing voice, the girl’s laughter had the range of an entire choir. And like her streams, Riko enjoyed listening.

After a few minutes, Yoshiko settled back down and the couple began chatting about various things like their respective days at work and what decorations they most looked forward to putting up. Once they were done, they both cleared their places and headed for the dining room.

“Ne, Riri,” Yoshiko spoke up “one of my little demons sent me a play list of Christmas parody songs. The ones I’ve listened to so far have been pretty funny. Do you want to listen? Otherwise, I have a more normal playlist prepared as well.”

Riko was about to choose the normal list when she realized the parodies would mean comedy. Comedy more than likely meant more laughter from Yoshiko. Suddenly, the weights shifted on her decision-making scale.

“The parody list is fine.” Riko agreed after a moment.

“Thanks, Riri!” She grinned. And with more flourish than was necessary, Yoshiko paired her phone to the stereo and started the music.

“I should be thanking you, Yocchan.”

“Huh?” Yoshiko tilted her head. “For what?”

Oh, had she said that out loud? Well, may as well tell her.

“For your laughter.” Riko started to explain. “For your smile. For your joyful energy that fills this place and makes it a home worth living in. For just, you know, being you. And for being with me.”

For a moment, it looked like Yoshiko might burst into tears, but just as moisture was starting to gather at the edges of her eyes, she blinked it away. “Riri~!” she cried, launching herself at Riko.

Having mostly anticipated this reaction, Riko caught the other girl and pulled her into an embrace.

“You’re welcome! And thank you!” Was all Riko heard before Yoshiko became incoherent.

Riko contented herself by running her hands through curled twin tails while Yoshiko babbled into her shoulder. However, it wasn’t long before what she thought was a classic carol started to play and Yoshiko chuckled. A moment later, she pulled away. Magenta eyes shone like the lights the couple was about to hang.

“This one is one of my favorites.” Yoshiko said excitedly. “I think you’ll like it too, Riri.”

“Alright, I’ll be sure to pay attention to the lyrics.” Riko assured. “Shall we start decorating?”

Yoshiko agreed and the couple started opening boxes. Another Christmas season was underway and Riko quietly prayed for a hundred more to come, each as wonderful as the last.

Author’s Note Continued in Followup Post

[mayquita]

Damn You For Making Me Love You (6/15) - Don't Stop Me Now

Thank you so so much, for your likes, reblogs, kudos and comments. It means the world to me.

Beta-Reader: Thank you so much, @ultraluckycatnd​​ I couldn’t have asked for a better beta. Thank you for all your effort, your suggestions, your advice and for always being there when I needed you.

Special mention to @saraswans​​ and @onceuponaprincessworld​​​, thank you so much for your perpetual support and for believing in me and in the story. Thank you again to the moderators of the event, @captainswanbigbang​​​ for giving us this opportunity and making this possible. You all are the best :)

Summary: Emma Swan and Killian Jones are close friends and co-workers. And both are in love with each other. The problem? They keep their feelings secret not only to the other but also to the rest of their friends. When Elsa, Emma’s best friend and Liam, Killian’s brother and Emma’s boss find out, they decide to form an alliance and work as a team with a clear goal, to get Emma and Killian to take the next step in their relationship and confess their love for each other.

Rating: M

Word count: ~ 10700 (98k total in 15 chapters)

Ao3 / FFnet

About this chapter: New flashback from Killian’s point of view, new performance … and new attempt on Liam and Elsa’s plan. If last week's episode was one of the shortest, this is the longest. I may have gotten carried away a little by the flashback... Sorry? I hope you like it, anyway :)

//

Chapter 5: Don't Stop Me Now

Killian - Two and a half years ago

Music had always been a constant in Killian's relationship with Emma. In fact, he had been playing the guitar and singing when they first met. The memory of that first meeting always accompanied him everywhere, to the point that he kept it as something precious. 

It was impossible to forget that first moment when she entered the premises and how the lyrics of the song he was singing seemed to acquire a new meaning because of her. Certainly, she had looked like an angel, with a kind of ethereal aura surrounding her due to the way the bar lighting fell on her. That particular verse — You're just like an angel — had ended up being a kind of prelude since Emma had become the savior angel not only of The Kraken, but also of himself. 

The first look she had given him would always be etched in his memory. He had found himself unable to take his eyes from the fire of her emerald gaze. To say that he fell in love at that very moment would be an exaggeration, but he would never deny that something stirred inside him when their eyes connected. He had definitely felt a kind of electricity enveloping them.

That feeling had not only not faded away but had increased as he got to know Emma. A rather difficult task, considering that she was a reserved woman, reluctant to open herself to others. There was something about her, though, a halo of mystery surrounding her, along with her determination and her incredible talent, that kept him completely bewitched.

His brother Liam, faithful to his standard of taking care for people in need of protection of some kind, took her under his wings from the beginning in such a subtle way that Emma didn't seem to notice. Little by little, she began to trust them, letting her true nature out to bloom and with it, causing his growing feelings towards her to increase even more.

No doubt the music in its different forms had helped to strengthen his feelings since it was as if his passion had always been the soundtrack to all the experiences he had begun to share with Emma. Something that wasn't surprising considering that they spent most of their time in the bar and that he was a musician. Still, he soon began cataloging his favorite songs based on the memories associated with Emma.

The Eye of the Tiger would always be connected with one of their first conversations, back when they barely knew each other and he tried to absorb any bit of information that she allowed herself to reveal.

Livin’ on a Prayer was playing in his favorite pizza shop the first time Emma had decided to accompany them after closing the bar. She even dared to joke with them by using the song's lyrics as an excuse, alluding to the fact that she hoped that the waitress who was serving them didn't have a life like the one of Gina in the song.

The song that opened his first performance in The Kraken was Sweet Child O’ Mine, chosen by Emma. In fact, she was in charge of supervising his entire repertoire and collaborated with him on everything related to his performances on Saturdays in Concert.

There was a song that stood out above the others, though. He had soon learned to respect Emma's reservations about being open to the idea of them as a couple. He also knew that he should be patient with her, perhaps because he had been harboring feelings towards her from the beginning. She had intrigued and seduced him in equal parts, with that look full of determination, her fierce expression, and her disarming smiles. His need to know more about her was overwhelming at times, but he restrained himself, waiting for the right moment. 

The long-awaited moment came on a Monday night one and a half years after they met Emma for the first time. The evening had begun as usual, with a session of Netflix and pizza at the Jones brothers' apartment.

When the show they were watching ended, Liam decided to go to sleep, saying that he had to get up early the next day. Neither Emma nor Killian were in a hurry to call it a night, so they decided to check the set list of songs that Killian would sing next Saturday, putting the player on a low volume so as not to disturb Liam.

Killian couldn't help smiling the moment he recognized the first song by simply listening to the first chords. Don't Stop Me Now had always had that effect on him to the point that Liam had used it as a resource on several occasions when he had needed to lift Killian’s spirits. The song also seemed to have the same effect on Emma, as her lips curled into a bright smile as she began to hum the song softly.

"What?" she asked when she noticed he was staring at her.

His smile widened before answering. "Nothing, it's just that... I feel aliiive."

He chanted the last words, emulating Freddie's tone and causing, of course, Emma to roll her eyes. Still, a reluctant smile tugged at her lips before she decided to play along, much to his pleasant surprise.

"Let me guess, are you having a good time?"

"Oh yeah, I'm having a ball."

They both looked at each other for a few seconds before bursting out laughing while Freddie's voice accompanied them. It was a delight to see Emma in this way, so carefree, so relaxed, so he tried to make his brain work to continue creating situations like this that would allow her to shine even more than she normally did.

On this occasion, it seemed that he wouldn't have to make any effort because once the laughter subsided, their eyes met again, a mischievous spark crossing her gaze.

"Do you know what would make us have an even better time?" She paused deliberately while arching an eyebrow conspiratorially.

"Enlighten me, love."

"Alcohol."

That's how they ended up sharing shots — rum for him, tequila for her — while they continued to check the repertoire and sing along.

It was obvious that they were, in fact, having a good time. What Killian hadn't anticipated was that the ingested alcohol helped play into a sudden wave of nostalgia hitting him in the most unexpected way.

"I love this song," he commented as they listened to Another One Bites the Dust.

"Really?" she asked skeptically, narrowing her eyes. "It doesn't seem to suit you. I would say it's rather a bad-boy kind of song."

"Are you implying that I'm not a bad boy, Swan? Because maybe you would be surprised to know some aspects of my past." He was aware that it was the alcohol in his system that was speaking for him, making him use a tone that was perhaps too suggestive as he gave Emma a look full of intentions.

He wasn't surprised to see Emma rolling her eyes again before turning a little on the couch to stare at him more closely.  "So you've been a bad boy, Jones? Now I want to hear that story."

His brain had become numb enough to make him not care about the consequences of what was about to happen. After a brief hesitation, he took a new shot to drag down the emotions that struggled to emerge as he remembered his past and started to tell his story.

He told her how after his father's abandonment when he was barely fourteen he had entered a rebel stage, constantly getting into fights, smoking, drinking, and even committing some minor crimes.

He also told her that it was his brother who took him out of that spiral and put him back on the right track but that his good behavior was short-lived, much to Liam's despair.

He didn't even hesitate to tell her about Milah, ignoring how his pulse quickened and his heart hammered in his chest at the mere mention of her name. It was as if he had been accumulating all those emotions inside and finally found a way to release them, so he decided to hold on to that opportunity.

"Milah was my first love. I fell in love with her when I was just twenty years old. She was a few years older and came from a failure of a marriage, so she was looking for adventures and new experiences. It was something that I could offer her at that time although that would mean going back to my old habits. We were behaving as if we had the world at our feet and we could achieve whatever we set out to do."

Before continuing, he cast a sidelong glance at Emma. The expression on her face was indecipherable, but she was watching him closely, so he felt confident enough to keep baring his soul.

"I proposed to her a year later. Although Liam never expressed it openly, he never approved of my relationship with her. Anyway, our relationship was not meant to be since we were only engaged for six months." His voice trailed off while he took another sip of his drink, drowning out the intense emotion that threatened to overwhelm him. 

Emma reached for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. The corners of his lips moved slightly upward in appreciation before continuing. "She died in a car accident and… well, let's say that my brother acted like my lifeline in those days. His perpetual support was the only thing that kept me afloat. And since we're using nautical metaphors, The Kraken served to anchor me to try to forge a future, at least professionally." He didn't mention that his heart was still healing six years later, but Emma's sympathetic look seemed to indicate that she had caught the hint.

Silence fell on them for a few seconds while he felt the pressure in his chest loosen, as if he had freed himself of a burden after his confession. He expected some kind of words of encouragement from Emma and was even prepared for some expression of pity towards him. What he didn't expect was that she also decided to open her heart.

She seemed hesitant, struggling with herself, until after an almost imperceptible nod of her head, she downed the contents of her glass in one swallow and looked at him, her eyes showing a special glow.

"Well... Since it seems that this is a confession kind of night, here goes mine. I was also a bad girl. I mean, that's how they usually catalog you when you're a foster kid and you don't seem to adapt well to anything or to anyone. In my case, I was determined to live up to that description." She sounded quite restrained, but Killian did not miss the hint of bitterness in her voice. Before he could offer any gesture of support, she continued. "I ran away when I was sixteen and, like you, I got into some trouble. A few months later, I met this guy, Neal, and let's say we didn't use the most legal methods to survive."

Killian already knew from previous conversations that Emma was an orphan. She had also dropped some glimpses into her awful romantic experiences, but always without going into details. Until now.

"I fell for him like an idiot. Maybe that's why it hurt a lot more when he decided to run away and even worse, he got me involved in a crime he had committed years previously." Her voice trailed off as she clenched her jaw and averted her gaze for a moment. He debated whether he should reach for her or not but before he decided, she hardened her features and continued speaking in an unexpressive tone. "I would have ended up in prison had it not been for the fact that I was a minor and my social worker decided to take pity on me. She worked hard until I got included in a program that would help me graduate from high school and prepare me to gain entrance into college."

Only when she paused for another drink did Killian realize that he had been holding his breath. He also noticed that he had his right hand curled into a fist to the point that his knuckles turned white, such was the tension he felt when he heard Emma's story. He was aware that there was still more to come, but at least the worst part seemed to have passed since Emma's expression eased a little, much to his relief.

"And that's where the Arendelle sisters come in. Anna was my roommate during college but Elsa lived relatively close to the campus and we saw her quite often. You already know how Elsa is, always wanting to take care of others. For some reason, she seemed to be fond of me and took me under her wings, involving me in all kinds of activities and inviting me to spend every vacation together with them."

Killian liked Elsa. She was a kind, caring person, who always had a gentle smile or words of encouragement for the people around her. He was aware that the connection between Emma and Elsa was stronger than that with Anna, probably because they were more alike and because Emma saw Elsa as a kind of older sister since Elsa was four years older. He was thankful that chance or fate had put the two sisters in Emma's path, thus giving her the support she deserved after a childhood marked by loneliness.

"Well, that seems like it hasn't changed over time. I mean Elsa and her tendency to take care of the people around her."

"You're right, of course. In fact, during the time I was in New York after finishing college, she called me constantly to make sure I was eating enough." She sounded annoyed but the smile that appeared on her face was full of affection. "Speaking of New York," she paused for a moment, her expression becoming more serious. "We're already reaching the last chapter of Emma's pathetic life." She let out a humorless laugh before continuing. Once again, he was tempted to reach for her and offer her some comfort, but he restrained himself once again to let her resume her story. 

"I went to New York for a job opportunity and I soon met this guy there, Walsh. Everything went well for a few months until the company I worked for went bankrupt and I discovered that Walsh was cheating on me. So I took my belongings and returned to Boston with Elsa with a broken heart and hardly any savings. And you already know the rest."

"Well, I would say that our lives are no longer pathetic, Swan. Look at us, running a successful business and fulfilling our dreams in some way, me with my music and you with your creative magic and your pictures."

"It's not that bad," she admitted reluctantly while her lips twisted up in an attempt at a smile. At least the bitterness seemed to have disappeared from her voice and her features had softened. "Look at us at... " She paused for a moment while she looked around with a confused expression on her face until she spotted her phone and grabbed it, looking at the screen "...at almost two in the morning, listening to our favorite music and a little drunk.  And we don't have to get up early tomorrow, which is pretty fantastic and besides... At least for my part, I have my heart sealed so there is no risk of anyone breaking it again. So everything is fine, isn't it?"

Killian felt his heart drop into his stomach after hearing her last words, but he chose to ignore the feeling of disappointment that threatened to emerge, focusing again on Emma. She looked beautiful with her flushed cheeks and her emerald gaze intensified by her slightly watery eyes. Her innate beauty was undeniable, although he suspected that alcohol — and the moment of confessions — had something to do with those two aspects. Her speech had also become a bit slurred, so, although they hadn't drunk that much, he wondered if it was time to stop. Again, Emma surprised him before he could even open his mouth.

Her gaze shifted back to the phone she was still holding, her brow furrowed in an expression of concentration as she slid her finger across the screen, as if she were looking for something. The living room remained silent for a moment until she got up from the couch and the first notes of a song began to play. A well-known song. Again. 

Don't Stop Me Now. The song that had started this entire cathartic night.

"Tonight, I'm gonna have myself a real good time, I feel alive and the world I'll turn it inside out, yeah and floating around in ecstasy." 

Emma Swan was singing to him with a soft and suggestive voice as she stared at him. Killian remained still, watching her performance with rapt attention as he pressed his lips together to keep his mouth from hanging open. She wasn't an angel anymore, she was a goddess and he was totally at her mercy.

Well, his thoughts might run a little wild due to his state of semi inebriation, but then Emma offered him her brightest smile as she raised her hand holding up her glass and making the gesture of toasting. "Come on, we're having a good time." She hummed again as she grabbed his hand and pulled him up. He had no choice but to oblige, of course.

It was in this way, singing and dancing in unison to the rhythm of the music, when Killian was finally able to admit his true feelings. He was in love with Emma, that incredible woman, who had risen from her ashes and who, despite the darkness she had gone through during her early years, now was able to bring light to the people around her. His heart was finally healing, although it was evident from Emma's words that it would still take her a long time to reach that level, if she ever got it. Still, he set himself a goal, to try to keep Emma in the light and not let anything or anyone ever hurt her again.

"What the hell are you doing? It's two in the bloody morning!" Liam's unexpected angry voice brought him back to reality. He snapped his head in the direction of the voice and found his brother leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest, and a scowling expression on his face.

Although the music was still playing, the two of them suddenly stopped singing as they looked at each other and then at Liam. When he heard a giggle from Emma, he couldn't hold it anymore. A chuckle bubbled in his throat as the two of them looked back at each other and finally burst out laughing.

"Ha, ha. It's not funny, guys," Liam grumbled as the wrinkle in his brow deepened, causing their laughter to grow even more intense.

"Come and join us, Liam." Once the laughter subsided Emma gestured to Liam with her hand while offering him a glass of rum. "We're celebrating."

"Don't be an ass and have some fun even for just one day. Or night," Killian added while smirking at his brother.

"What are we supposed to be celebrating?" Liam ignored him and instead stepped forward and grabbed the phone to stop the music. Next, he focused his gaze on Emma as his features softened. It was obvious that his brother had a soft spot for her, and he didn't really blame him. The funny thing was that he had never felt jealous of his brother because, in his eyes, the relationship between Liam and Emma was rather fraternal, as if she were his little sister, which sounded a bit weird considering his own affections towards her…

Stop. Bloody hell, he was definitely drunk.

"We're celebrating—" Emma stopped for a moment while waving her hand as if she were holding a microphone, "that we're having a good time," she hummed, emulating Freddie's voice.

"So don't stop us now," Killian sang, going along with her.

Liam let out a deep sigh before raising his eyes to the ceiling while hissing, "Dear Lord, give me patience." Then he grabbed the glass Emma was offering him. "Why are we toasting now?"

"To us," Emma responded by raising her glass.

"And because a broken heart means that it still works," Killian ventured to add as he cast a sidelong glance at Emma for her reaction. Her head snapped in his direction as she held his gaze for a moment, her cheeks tinting a soft pink hue. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything out loud, his brother came forward.

"Did I miss something?" Liam asked, his narrowed eyes flicking from him to Emma.

"Nothing," Emma hurried to answer after throwing Killian one last furtive look. "It's just that your brother seems to become a little sappy when he drinks."

Liam grinned, any trace of his previous anger faded from both his voice and his face when he found his favorite entertainment, messing with Killian. "He definitely can't hold his liquor."

"I'm still here." This time, it was his turn to sound moody. "And I can definitely hold my liquor."

"Whatever you say, little brother. Come on, we're going to toast one last time and then I'm dragging you to bed." Killian rolled his eyes, holding back a harsh retort. He instead focused on Emma again.

"Since it's so late, I guess my old brother would agree with me that you should stay overnight. You know there's room for you, Swan."

In response, Emma raised her glass, her lips curved into a wide smile. "Let's make a toast to us and to the succulent breakfast that Liam is going to prepare for these two poor hangovers."

This wouldn't be the first time Emma stayed for the night and, although Emma wasn't a morning person, it was always a pleasure to see her sleepy face first thing in the morning. While their glasses clinked together he hoped that these special moments would be repeated more often. He was willing to experience this sweet torture as much as possible.

//

Killian - December 2019

Saturday night. The adrenaline rushed through Killian’s veins and his whole body vibrated in anticipation of what was to come that night. He could almost feel the touch of the guitar strings on his fingertips, and how his vocal cords tensed, impatient to begin to work out their magic in the form of a melody.

This state of excitement was not something new to him. On the contrary, it was his usual condition on his concert nights. Everything was possible when he was on stage, he could feel it on every fiber of his being. He felt so alive in those moments, freer to express his feelings through the music. He felt powerful, able to get anything he set out to do. Well, almost everything.

The sounds around him brought him back to reality. He was behind the bar, following his usual routine on concert nights. He forced himself to act that way every Saturday night as a means of distraction, to keep his excitement at bay.

And tonight was not going to be any different. In front of him, two young women waited for their drinks. He offered them his trademark smile, a flash of white teeth and curled lips as he unfolded all his charms over the two customers. They, in turn, gave him bright smiles and suggestive glances, full of promise.

He was fully aware of the effect he had on the female clientele —and also on some male clients of course— but this kind of seduction game was just a part of his job. At the end of the day, he always went home escorted by his two favorite people in this world. His brother and his... well, his friend. For this reason, although his smile was directed at his avid clients, his gaze had only one goal, Emma Swan.

She was stunning that night, slipping through the crowd as she took photos right in front of him, teasing him like a bloody siren. Her choice of attire did not help to calm his agitation, but rather the opposite. She wore a tiny black top and black leather leggings, which, along with the heels she was also wearing, made her legs look slender. Her golden hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, which enhanced her features, making her even more desirable. A bloody siren.

He couldn’t take his gaze away from her. His eyes watched all her movements through the room and she seemed fully aware of his scrutiny. Maybe he was just imagining things, but the truth was that her suggestive movements were driving him crazy, especially when thinking that a little later they would have to share the stage.

His lips curled into a smile at the thought of their next performance together, his mind bringing to his memory the moment he unveiled the mystery and informed her of the song they would sing tonight.

 //

He hoped he had made the right decision. 

After their kind of impromptu and then failed date the night before, Killian was going to meet Emma early at The Kraken to begin rehearsals for their upcoming performance. As he waited, his mind relived, again and again, some of the moments experienced the night before.

Emma had come to the restaurant wearing the same bloody dress from two months ago when they met by chance in that bar. Killian suspected that she was aware of the effect her attire had on him, yet he did his best to hold her gaze and keep his eyes from straying a little lower. ‘Bloody hell’. The sole image of her impressive neckline was enough to make his blood run hot in his veins.

Something different was happening between them. It was such a subtle change that Killian still couldn’t identify its meaning, but from that fateful day that he confessed his feelings about Emma to Liam due in part to Belle's betrayal, it was as if his attraction to Emma had multiplied. He felt freer now that he didn’t have to hide in front of his brother's eyes. The hope that his feelings might be reciprocated became more and more intense, as Emma was closer than ever; more affectionate, more tempting. Maybe it was only a matter of time. Or maybe it was just his imagination and Emma still saw him as just a friend.

The temptation to choose a romantic song as an instrument to express his feelings had been strong. After the experience with ‘Because The Night’, the idea of following the pattern his brother had started was quite attractive. He had even created a list of possible candidate songs. But this time, he couldn’t use his brother as an excuse as to the choice of the song. This time, the weight of the choice fell entirely upon him. Maybe he would be exposing himself too much, risking her picking up the hidden message and pushing herself away, raising her walls again.

No, he couldn’t take the risk, not now that her walls were so low that the line between friendship and something else was so faint. He would choose a fresh, positive theme that would at least allow them to have fun on stage, but that at the same time would have a somewhat deeper meaning which he expected Emma to grasp.

Killian grabbed his guitar and began to play the first notes while clearing his voice and trying to adjust the tone to the song. Just then, the front door of the premises opened with Emma appearing there in all her splendor.

Emma Swan was not a morning person. Killian became aware of that fact shortly after meeting her for the first time. It was a day where they had to take inventory at The Kraken at a time when ‘it should be forbidden to get out of bed’ (her words). Her complaints and sulky expression softened only when she had ingested a sufficient dose of caffeine. This time wasn't going to be any different, of course. Her features were still marked by sleep, her eyes slightly swollen, and her lips pursed in an adorable pout.

She grunted something like "morning," and dropped into one of the bar stools, burying her head in her folded arms on the counter. Killian couldn’t help but smile as he set the guitar on the stage and moved behind the bar. He pulled out the to-go cup of coffee he had previously bought and gave her a gentle squeeze on her arm to get her attention. 

Emma raised her head enough for her eyes to detect the cup. "I'm still blaming you. Coffee is not enough." She pointed at him with an accusatory finger, but grabbed the cup and brought it to her lips, her throat emitting the most delicious sounds as a sign of appreciation for the hot liquid.

A few minutes later, Emma seemed to have recovered enough. A small wrinkle still remained on her forehead but she straightened her back and, at last, she focused her gaze on him.

"I need a reminder. At what point did this one-time thing become something else?" Her tone still had a harsh hue, but though her words were meant to be a reproach, her voice seemed to hide some amusement with the whole situation.

"Since we started using it as a business strategy, maybe? Or because you and I had a good time up there?" he offered, pointing toward the stage. Then he leaned over the counter, invading her personal space. "Or perhaps because it's the perfect excuse to spend time with a devilishly handsome guy?"

Emma rolled her eyes, a faint smile adorning her lips. "We already spend all our time together, I do not need any excuse." The fact that she had not denied the devilishly handsome thing didn’t go unnoticed by him, a wide smirk pulling up the corner of his lips.

"Shall we start the rehearsals now that the caffeine has taken effect?"

Emma let out a puff of air through a loud sigh. "Okay, if it has to be... Can you just tell me which song we are going to sing?"

Killian cleared his throat as he gave her a mischievous look. Then, he just hummed.

“Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time I feel aliiiiive”

Her eyes widened in recognition, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. Good. That was what he intended, for her to grasp the implications of his choice.

"Seriously?"

“And the world I'll turn it inside out - yeah

And floating around in ecstasy”

"You're serious, aren’t you? You want me to sing ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’? Why?" She seemed pleasantly surprised by the choice, but Killian did not miss a hint of disappointment in her voice. He tried not to read too much into it, but still, the idea that she might be somewhat disappointed because she expected a more romantic song caused his stomach to make a small somersault.

Killian stepped out from behind the bar and approached her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as he pulled her to her feet. "Because we already have experience singing this song together. Because it brings me good memories. And because we'll have fun."

"We'll have fun," she parroted his last words as she tilted her head slightly, seeking his gaze, her eyebrow raised in question. "There's something else, right?"

Killian wagged his eyebrows at her, schooling his features so as not to betray the delight it meant to him that she knew him so well. "Well, I've prepared a musical base that can fit well with our voices. Besides, there may be another surprise..."

"Like what?"

She was both intrigued and excited; he could tell both from the slightly demanding tone of her voice as well as the intensity of her gaze, so Killian decided to go a little further with the game. "I'm thinking maybe it's a good idea if we leave the surprise for Saturday..."

"Don't you dare, Jones." She cut him off while hitting him in the chest with the palm of her hand. "I won't get on that stage without knowing what I'll find on it."

"Oh, but sometimes facing the unknown can be exciting, Swan."

"Just tell me."

"If the lady insists..." Killian let out a heavy sigh of resignation to give more effect to his confession. "I'm going to play the piano."

Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at him with a strange expression on her face. "You mean Saturday on stage?"

He nodded his head, holding her gaze. "This song brings me very good memories, although some may be somewhat blurry. You know what I mean..." Before continuing he winked at her to emphasize his words. Her reaction was as expected, she offered him a look of complicity as she bit her lower lip in an adorable and yet so tempting gesture that he had to suppress the sudden urge to kiss her. "What do you say, Swan? Are you willing to create new memories with me and with the help of the piano?

The bright smile that blossomed on her face did nothing to mitigate the desire to finally taste those lips. Her response also did not help in the least, to be honest.

"But no alcohol is allowed before going on stage, okay? I intend to remember every detail of our performance." This time it was she who winked at him before separating from him and heading towards the stage.

He needed a few seconds before reacting, unable to decide if that game of seduction recently initiated by Emma was innocent, hiding a promising meaning or, on the contrary, was just a way to torture him. Oblivious to his inner turmoil, she went up the stage first and held her hand out to him. "Shall we begin then?"

Bloody hell. He was so fucked up.

 //

“Killian! You start in five minutes.”

Liam's voice coming from the other side of the bar brought him back to reality. Killian shook his thoughts away for at least a while, looked in his brother's direction, and nodded his head. 

Killian didn't miss that while serving, Liam was chatting animatedly with Elsa. Fortunately, she had already recovered from her cold, and, in her words, she wouldn't miss their performance for anything in the world. Actually, Killian had begun to suspect — he was totally blaming Emma for this — that her usual presence there lately had another explanation.

Elsa even had come up with a plan for the next day that included the four of them. A soft chuckle escaped from his lips when Killian remembered Emma's reaction to this new plan, looking at him while raising an eyebrow in a barely subtle gesture, as if she were saying, ‘See? I told you so!’

Killian paused for a moment to observe them. Liam and Elsa were totally focused on each other as they chatted as if they were sharing something confidential. Killian wondered if maybe he should ask his brother about this change in attitude towards Elsa. He wasn't quite sure what the most appropriate way to approach the subject would be, given that Liam's relationship history was rather sparse.

He shook his head making a mental note to share the news with Emma later. Now he had to focus on his performance. He went into the office to pick up his guitar and tune the strings before starting. When he came out, he headed toward the stage. The pre-performance adrenaline ran through his veins, his muscles tensed in anticipation.

Emma was already waiting for him in her usual spot, on one side of the stage, a wide smile of encouragement drawn on her face. If things were different, he would kiss her senseless before climbing the stage. For now, though, he could only settle for a tight embrace. Their bodies joined for a few seconds while he buried his face in the crook of her neck and inhaled her intoxicant scent. He had become accustomed to these hugs as a prelude to his performance. It was as if the contact with her body gave him the necessary energy to give the best of himself up on the stage.

Before pulling away, she gave him a soft kiss on his cheek as she lightly squeezed his arm. He, in turn, took two deep breaths and smiled back as he nodded. He was prepared. Emma held up the camera as she told him, "Don't think I’m taking my eyes off you for a second."

"I would despair if you did, love. I'll see you in a while up there." He winked at her before walking to the center of the stage where Liam was already announcing the performance.

As the public began to clap and cheer, Liam stepped aside and patted his shoulder. Killian turned his head, looking for the sound engineer, and nodded subtly. His heart pounded against his rib cage as the music began to play, wrapping the entire room. He closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them, his gaze sought Emma. 

There she was, in the middle of the crowd, right in front of the stage, camera in hand. She smiled at him as she nodded. 

That was all he needed. 

His fingers slid over the strings of the guitar, creating the first chords as his vocal cords began to vibrate, and from there the magic appeared in the form of a melody.

For the next little while, he devoted himself to the music. He let it flow through his body, as the public accompanied him enthusiastically, chanting the songs, and cheering him on with applause and whistles. 

Despite being focused on music, he kept track of Emma's movements. She, in turn, kept taking pictures of the crowd, but above all, took many more of him. He couldn’t wait to have her by his side. Although he would never acknowledge it, Liam's idea of Emma singing with him had been brilliant, on all levels.

He continued to sing a couple more songs, moving around the stage and encouraging the audience to sing along with him. Tonight there was something in the atmosphere that made him feel more exhilarated than on previous occasions. He let himself go and enjoyed the most of the moment. After one last song in which he gave everything of himself, the moment to share the stage finally came.

The last musical notes still echoed in the room when he grabbed the microphone with both hands and set out to introduce Emma.

"Thank you all, you are the best!" he shrieked, his breathing trying to normalize after the last song. "We still have one last performance as an encore for this special night. I ask for the loudest applause to welcome a great and talented person, a good co-worker, and the best friend that anyone can have. I present to you all, Emma Swan!"

She was ravishing tonight, he thought as he watched her step onto the stage. He was going to have a very hard time concentrating while Emma looked at him in that intense and suggestive way. Her lips curved into a smile he wanted to erase with his own lips on hers. But he was a professional first, so before the music began, he gave her a brief hug as he handed the microphone to her. He could feel she was nervous; this was new to her, after all. In an attempt to reassure her and before he took his place at the piano, he whispered in her ear, "Remember the rehearsals, love. Let yourself go, everything will turn out well." He squeezed her arm slightly, Emma nodding with a small smile. Then he walked over to the piano, trying to pull himself together.

Once more, he closed his eyes for a second, put his hands on the keys and, after two deep breaths, began to sing.

Their performance was everything he had imagined and more. Killian was especially inspired with the piano that night even though he hadn’t played the instrument for some time. That night, though, his fingers slid over the keys as if they had a life of their own. His voice sounded totally tuned, fitting with Emma's to perfection.

Perhaps her presence was what inspired him to give the best of himself. She was a goddess on stage. Maybe it was his partial vision because of his feelings for her, but the truth was that she was a natural up there. Once the initial nerves were over, she got into the performance, encouraging the crowd to sing with them. She jumped around and gestured towards him at times, like during the line ‘give me a call’ in which she simulated she was holding a phone while holding his gaze. He was surprised that he could be so attuned to the music with such distraction in front of him.

When the performance ended, his heart was beating frantically against his chest, his body was sweating but he felt elated, the discharge of adrenaline had had its effect. He couldn’t resist the temptation and pulled Emma towards him, wrapping her in a tight embrace to which she responded with the same enthusiasm, to his satisfaction. After a few seconds, they separated a little, but they held their arms around each other's waists. The public was still roaring and cheering around them, so they thanked them with a bow as they waved their hands.

Before leaving the stage, though, Emma had something prepared. She grabbed the microphone again, addressing the audience, her voice still sounding slightly breathless after her performance.

"Thank you very much to everyone for joining us tonight, and we hope to see you again next week for a new session of 'Saturdays in Concert.' Remember, you can visit our website and leave your comments there. And you can also choose what song you would like us to sing together next time. Thank you!" Emma applauded the audience, getting well deserved new cheers. Killian was impressed with this brilliant woman. She not only was able to shine on top of a stage but had the ability to seize the opportunity to boost their business. His admiration for her grew at times.

The ovation of the crowd accompanied them on their way to the bar, where Liam and Elsa were waiting for them. His heart swelled in his chest as he saw the proud smile his brother was wearing. Liam's approval meant the world to him, after everything he had done for him in recent years.

"Very well done guys," Elsa greeted them with an amused smile. "You two make a great team up there."

"You don’t have to thank me for having this great idea," Liam added, waving his hand in front of them.

Emma snorted at Killian’s side at Liam's words and he was about to reply, but then he realized that Elsa had looked away as her lips curled into a thinly concealed smile. He followed her gaze, seeing that what Elsa was watching was his hand and Emma's, which had remained entwined since they left the stage.

That didn’t seem to matter to Emma since she made no attempt to free her hand, so he ventured, giving her a slight squeeze, while his thumb brushed her palm. Far from pushing him away, she turned her gaze to him, her lips drawing a small smile, matching his own. He then looked at his brother, who was giving him a penetrating look that contained a special glow. He could also notice that Liam nodded almost imperceptibly. It was as if he were telling him, without needing to express it aloud, that he was following the right path on his journey to win Emma's heart.

//

Two hours later, all the customers had left The Kraken with the exception of Elsa, who had even helped them clean up after closing. Ruby and Robin had also left the premises, so there were only the four of them left, a picture that was becoming quite common lately, something that he didn't mind at all.

They were now sitting at the bar sharing shots to celebrate another successful night. It was nice to share these moments of camaraderie with the most important people in his life. The addition of Elsa to the small group was an incentive, as it had been like a breath of fresh air, giving them the opportunity to carry on new experiences.

And that was what they were talking about at that moment, about the new idea Elsa had suggested as a plan to hang out together. The idea of going ice-skating at an outdoor artificial ice rink that was open during the winter hadn’t seemed too attractive at first. Killian had barely skated previously and felt a bit clumsy in that aspect. But little by little, he began to see the advantages of the plan. Since both he and Emma seemed to have the same level of clumsiness, perhaps they would have to hold on to each other to avoid falling to the ground. 

Yes, it was definitely not a bad idea. Not at all.

"I'm not sure I like that plan." Emma, sitting next to him, didn’t seem so convinced. "I mean, it's freezing outside, and I don't want to fall on the ice. Just thinking about it makes me shiver." She groaned as she crossed her arms and rubbed them with both her hands as if she wanted to warm herself up. Her lips pursed into a pout that was meant to show annoyance, but which Killian found adorable.

"Oh, come on, Emma, we'll have a good time. Don't be afraid of falling. Besides, exercise will make you warm up quicker," Elsa encouraged her.

"Well, guys, I don't know about you, but I'm starving. What do you say if we close and go to the restaurant next door? You're coming with us, aren't you, Elsa?" Killian raised an eyebrow at hearing his brother refer to Elsa directly. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but all this looked promising.

That's how they ended up at a twenty-four-hour restaurant eating pizza at two in the morning. They chose a booth away from the entrance, with Elsa and Liam sitting together on one side, while Emma and Killian were on the other side. Sleep seemed to have abandoned them all despite the hour, no one was in a hurry to go to bed. Instead, they chatted nonchalantly about any subject that went through their heads, making the half-empty premises fill with their voices and laughter.

At some point, Killian put his arm around Emma's shoulders as she placed her hand on his thigh, close to his knee. It was an innocent gesture, just a display of affection between two close friends. He was aware, though, that the image they gave to the rest of the people was quite different. Anyone who saw them that way would think of them as a couple. But as long as he could maintain that confidence and closeness with Emma, he couldn’t care less what people might think about it.

What he had with Emma now was so precious that he wasn't going to risk losing it by acting hastily. He had the impression that Emma might feel more for him than a simple friendship, especially if he compared it to her relationship with Liam, the other person closest to her. However, her fear of ending with a broken heart again kept her paralyzed. 

He just had to be patient and show her again and again that he wasn't going anywhere. And these new opportunities offered by both his brother and Elsa were bringing them closer. For that reason, the plan to go skating was so attractive. It was the perfect excuse to maintain the physical contact between them, something to which he found more and more difficult to resist himself.

Perhaps if he added an incentive to the experience, it would improve even more. The corners of his lips rose slightly as an idea settled on his head. "What do you think, guys, if we make a bet?"

The three of them looked at Killian with the same expression of confusion on their faces. Once he got their attention, he continued.

"The first to fall to the ground tomorrow will have to pay for a round of drinks for the others."

The first to react was Elsa, who smirked while rubbing her hands together. "I like that idea. I know that no matter what happens, I'm going to get free drinks tomorrow."

Liam, though, didn’t seem so convinced. "We aren't especially skilled in this matter. I don’t get the point. It's very likely that the first thing that happens as soon as any of us step on the ice is that we fall."

"You know I like a challenge, brother. What do you say, Swan? Are you aiming to get this idiot to buy us some drinks?" As he spoke, he held his arm even more tightly around her shoulders, drawing her closer to him.

"Yeah, we're gonna beat you, Liam."

"Hey, that's not fair. This is supposed to be an individual competition and you two have already allied against me," Liam grumbled, frowning as he pointed to both of them.

"Don’t complain, you have an expert to help you stand up. You're going to help my clumsy brother, aren't you, Elsa?" Killian cocked his head slightly, his teasing words disguised in an innocent tone.

Elsa's cheeks flushed furiously, raising Killian's suspicions that something between them could come up. He would be glad if that happened. Liam had been so focused on taking care of him in the first place and then running the business and trying to keep it afloat that he had barely had time for himself. Elsa was perfect for him, sweet and calm but with great determination. Maybe Emma was right and they just needed a little push…

Liam's sigh brought him back to reality. He seemed to have resigned himself because then he held up his beer. "Okay, do we have a deal?"

Everyone toasted as a way to close the deal. The friendly talk still went on for a while. Killian hoped the next day's plan would bring them at least as good a time as they had experienced today.

//

It was a cold, Sunday afternoon. Killian adjusted the beanie he wore to protect himself from the cold and rubbed his hands together in an attempt to warm himself. He could feel his fingers were almost frozen despite the protection of his gloves. The idea of ice-skating was no longer so appealing to him, especially as the cold filtered through his bones as he waited for the lasses. They were late.

"There they are, at last." His brother gave Killian a nudge to catch his attention as he pointed to them.

Bloody hell. Emma was impressive on that Sunday afternoon. She wore a beanie, her golden hair falling in curls and framing her features. Her cheeks had a rosy hue, her bright eyes and her gleaming smile were enough to warm both his body and his heart.

The two brothers greeted the two friends with kisses on their cheeks. After a brief chat, they all approached the skating rink and slipped on their skates. The moment his feet came into contact with the ground, he had to cling to the railing to avoid falling. Bloody hell, this was going to be more complicated than it seemed at first. How on earth would he stand on only two blades on that slippery rink?

Killian looked around; both Liam and Emma had the same problem keeping their balance. Emma's expression even showed a little panic. Fortunately, Elsa soon came to their rescue. Since she was the expert on the subject, she stood before them, prepared to give them a little lesson. Elsa taught them the basic motions, showing infinite patience to their endless questions and reassuring all their fears. Killian listened attentively, feeling somehow like one of the children Elsa taught to skate. He was willing to absorb everything she could offer him if that would help him stay up long enough not to be the first to fall.

"Okay guys, so far we’ve only done the theory. Now let's start practicing slowly. You two look at our movements," Elsa said to the two brothers. Though her words held their usual soft tone, she imprinted a touch of firmness in her voice. "Emma, come with me."

"What? Why me?" Emma cringed a bit at his side, her panicked expression became more evident.

"Come on, don’t be afraid. I won’t let you down." Elsa's soft, reassuring voice seemed to have an effect on Emma. When Elsa held out her hand to her, she seemed hesitant at first, but then grabbed her friend's hand firmly.

That's my girl, he thought with pride. The two women moved in front of them, Emma emulating Elsa's movements as she tried to keep her balance. The addition of Emma to this kind of masterclass was an incentive, no doubt, since it was the perfect excuse for him to observe her carefully. Once Elsa made sure that the three of them had assimilated the basics it was time to move to the next level. She offered Emma her hand again. "Now let's skate a bit through the skating rink. Slowly, just so you can gain confidence, okay?"

Emma nodded hesitantly but gripped Elsa's hand firmly. Both began to move away with slow movements at first, Elsa holding Emma's hand as she did her best to move without falling.

Slowly, Emma was gaining confidence in her movements, adding a little more speed as she slid down the rink. Killian couldn’t take his eyes off her, following her every move. He felt bewitched by her rosy cheeks just as much from the exercise as from the cold of their surroundings; by her hair dancing in the wind as she moved. And by her smile, hesitant at first, but that was widening as her confidence increased. She was a goddess and she seemed to perform a show just for him. 

At least it was what he deduced when he realized that Emma took any opportunity to look for his eyes, her gaze so intense that it could take his breath away.

"Close your mouth little brother." His brother's voice filled with amusement brought him out of his reverie.

He finally turned his gaze from Emma and fixed it on Liam as he mumbled. "I don’t know about you, but I'm trying to learn not to be the first to fall. The bet is still up, older brother." His lips curled into a smirk as his eyebrow rose defiantly.

Liam snorted at his side but didn’t reply to him. They both continued to stare at the ladies in silence. A few minutes later, the two lasses skated in their direction, both of them clearly excited as they approached.

Maybe it was the speed or maybe Emma still didn’t have complete control on the skates at all. Regardless, the truth was that she rushed directly at him with so much momentum that Killian had to hold onto her with one hand and cling to the railing with the other to avoid both of them ending up on the ground.

"Easy, Swan. You don’t want us to lose the bloody bet before we start playing."

"Whoa, it's been incredible." Emma made no attempt to move away from him, to Killian's satisfaction. It was a delight to see her with that level of emotion, vibrating in his arms.

"Okay, next level." After catching her breath, Elsa continued. "Since Emma is no longer a beginner, I'm going to take Liam now, while you, Killian, let Emma guide you. Remember, guys, it's important to keep the balance point; don't lean your weight on the other person, use your joined hands as support to keep your balance. And don't be afraid, let yourself go and have fun!”

Killian had to admit that he had some respect for the ice. He had always preferred water in its liquid state and found it much less dangerous to sail in a rough sea than to slip on the damn slippery ice. But he liked a challenge. He had set a clear goal, that he and Emma would stand for longer than Liam. And, if to beat his brother he had to skate, so be it.

"What do you say, love? Do we show these two what we can do together?" As he spoke, he offered her his hand and she took it with determination and a smile drawn on her face.

"Sure, let's go."

Emma grabbed his hand and they began to move, moving away from the safety offered by the railing. It was much more difficult than he imagined; he had to make great efforts to avoid falling to the ground. Still, having Emma by his side was an incentive as she managed to convey the confidence he needed to keep moving.

They began to move faster, the grip on the ice felt firmer, and Emma's support helped keep his balance. Once overcoming his initial fears, Killian found himself enjoying the experience more than he imagined at first.

The initial cold he felt was gone. The mixture of exercise and seeing Emma with that carefree, happy expression as she gripped his hand while occasionally smirking confidently, was enough to warm him.

Killian looked for his brother and found him a few steps ahead of them as he tried, and almost failed, to keep his balance. Despite Elsa's help, Liam didn’t seem to be having a particularly good time. He moved his free hand up and down, unable to control his body on the skates. Killian's lips curled into a smirk. It was only a matter of time before Liam fell to the ice.

After a few minutes, the self-confidence he felt was such that he dared to let go of Emma for a few seconds. She wanted to take a picture —how not?—, so she let go of his hand while looking for her phone and skated away a few steps to get a better angle. After taking a couple of photos, she came up to him again, with somewhat hesitant movements as Killian reached out and pulled her to him. He held her in his arms as they regained their balance. When they found their stability again, Emma held up her phone to take a couple of selfies of the two of them together, immortalizing the great moment they were experiencing.

"It's my turn now, Swan. Hold on there for a moment." Killian felt the need to take a picture of Emma to capture the joy they both were feeling. He skated slowly, moving away from her, took his phone out of his pocket, and took a few photos, capturing the image of Emma all excited, vibrant, and joyful.

Just as he began to approach her again, something happened that froze his heart and paralyzed him completely. Killian watched in horror as a damn reckless guy swooped past Emma at full speed, causing her to fall to the ground, her head and shoulder slamming into the icy surface.

"Emma!" A gasp escaped his throat as he staggered, suddenly feeling the damn skates as an obstacle to reaching her. When he finally got to where Emma lay on the ground, Killian knelt, his gaze traveling frantically over her face to determine her condition. "Emma, love, are you alright?" He didn’t bother to hide the worry in his voice. It was at that moment that he discovered she was bleeding through an open wound just above her left eyebrow.

Emma looked confused, but fortunately, she hadn’t lost consciousness. She tried to sit up, but a wince of pain crossed her face as she reached for her left arm. "Shit, my shoulder hurts like hell."

"Do you think you can get up, love? You're going to get frozen on that bloody ice." Killian realized that it was hard for Emma to fix her gaze, so his worry grew, his heart caught in his throat.

Liam and Elsa arrived at that moment, Elsa kneeling at his side with concern marked on her face. "What happened?" Without waiting for an answer, she continued. "We have to get her out of here, her clothes are soaking from the ice. Liam, can you help us?"

When Killian looked up at his brother, his gaze met the damn asshole that had caused the problem. He was a little away talking to a group of people, totally oblivious to what he himself had caused, laughing and having a good time. The sight of the unconcerned dude in contrast to Emma's pitiful situation was too much for him.

A sudden rage seized Killian, clouding his reason. "I'm going to kill that asshole," he mumbled as he sat up abruptly, arms on both sides of his body, his hands curled into fists and his jaw clenched. He felt an urgent need to discharge all of his fury and worry in the form of a punch to the face of that guy with the aim of erasing his stupid grin.

Just as he was moving toward the guy, something slowed him. His brother seemed to see his intentions, because he reached him in an instant, his firm grip on his arm preventing his advance and causing him to turn. "Hey, Killian, look at me."

Killian forced himself to take two deep breaths, trying to calm his inner rage. Reluctant at first, he finally looked at his brother. When Liam seemed sure of getting his attention, he began to speak in a slow voice. "Believe me, brother, I'm the first one who wants to go for the guy who's harmed Emma, but we have a priority. She needs you now."

The mere mention of Emma’s name was all he needed to come to reason again. He took a deep breath once more, trying to slow his racing heart, letting his fury fade away. Killian nodded then and knelt, taking his previous place beside Emma.

He searched her gaze for any hint of her condition. She looked back at him, but her eyes had lost all of their previous vivacity. "Emma, let's get you up. Do you think you can walk?" She nodded in silence, the corner of her lip raised slightly in an attempt of a tiny smile.

Killian's heart broke when he saw her in that state. A few minutes earlier she was full of life and now she was barely able to stay conscious. It was as if the fall had drained all her energy. Although his inner rage still persisted, he tried to put all his efforts into ensuring her well-being.

They managed to get her off the rink and reached a nearby bench. Emma had started to shiver, so he didn’t hesitate and took off his coat, something that took longer than desired since his trembling fingers refused to cooperate. He then put it over her shoulders while rubbing her arms in an attempt to warm her up.

Elsa was trying to plug the wound over her eyebrow, but this one was still bleeding and from the grimace on Emma's face it looked like her shoulder was still aching. They had to take her to the hospital.

He searched her gaze again. "Emma, love, we're going to take you to the ER, so they can check your shoulder and head, okay?"

She nodded again and finally spoke, her voice coming out as barely a murmur through a small smile. "It seems that I lost the challenge and it’s my turn to buy you all a round of drinks."

A wave of affection swept over Killian, along with an almost irrepressible desire to take her in his arms. He felt unable to hide his feelings and at that moment, he couldn't care less.

//

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think :)

What to expect in the next chapter? Just a reminder, this is not an angsty story... We'll know the consequences of Emma's accident and we'll also have the opportunity to learn a little more about both Liam and Elsa's backstory.

[chicoriii]

🎶Made for @lovesquarefluffweek Day 1 - Concert 🎶

Please, click on the picture to see it in full resolution, it looks awful when small and Kwamis are hardly seen.

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It’s the first time I take part in event like this. When I noticed concert day, I knew I need to do this, since instrumental music is my the biggest passion. I love jazz and classical piano so much, even though piano is not my favourite instrument.

It's great to combine my love for Miraculous and instrumental/classical music. I'm not a musician, but I can do it by drawing a fanart which illustrates music scene with my favourite side of Love Square.

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It’s one of my first attempts at drawing humans from years, I’ve never been good at it, Miraculous gives me lots of motivations to improve my terrible skills. I prefer drawing things like animals or various creatures (so also Kwamis), but humans are getting more and more enjoyable. So there’s lots of anatomy mistakes and so on, but it’s not too bad for now, I guess. Despite I made many improvements during drawing it, there’s still something wrong with Marinette’s face and I couldn’t fix it enough.

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Some background for this fanart:

I imagine it’s a first private concert which Adrien is playing specially for Marinette, he even rents a concert hall (he’s rich and romantic enough to something as much extravagant) when it’s not used. It’s not just one piece or two, he’s playing about 1-hour long piano recital (look at playlist below) only for his girlfriend (and magical creatures). It’s post-reveal, so Kwamis also can enjoy it without being hidden. While Tikki is excited about it not less than Marinette, Plagg is more interested in his Sugarcube, since he’s used to listening to Adrien’s piano and sometimes he’s playing with him. But rather cheerful jazzy-like improvised pieces, because he doesn’t like classical as much, especially sad compositions (Feast gave me some thoughts like these). Adrien decides to give a concert in a melancholic theme (so slow, soft, beautiful etc. pieces are played) to make this date as much romantic as he can. Even though blond boy is usually closing his eyes while playing on piano (like many instrumentalists), he can’t stop staring at his sweet girlfriend with his signature soft look™.

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One of my the biggest wishes is to see a scene when Adrien is playing on piano specially for Marinette, any good composition (I don’t like that one from Heart Hunter), preferably classical one. And I’d love to see an episode with a classical instrumentalist based akuma, rock and pop are not the only musical genres out there.

Classical music (and instrumental music in general) is highly unappreciated, so I'm happy when it’s represented in media, especially kid shows. This is what I love the most about classic cartoons, there’s lots of classical music. The Cat Concerto, Tom and Jerry episode which won an Academy Award, is one of the best examples of very creative use of classical piece for a slapstick comedy. Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 was even played by two pianist, by classical and jazz ones.

Classical music can be enjoyed by anyone who has some passion to music at least. It’s a very eclectic type of music where you can find everything. Classical is not only over 1-hour symphonies, there’s also compositions shorter than typical radio-friendly song. It’s not only serious music, classical can be also playful with very catchy melodies. Everyone can find something for themselves.

🎹🎹🎹🎹 Playlist 🎹🎹🎹🎹

I'm also enjoying choosing played pieces so much and it's too hard, since there's tons of beautiful piano music, though I know only a very small part of classical world. It’s about one-hour long concert, so also recordings were chosen to last about 1 hour together.

As sonata is a musical form with several movements (usually three or four) and since not all of them fit melancholic theme of this concert, Adrien play only one or two selected movements. For example only the first movement of extremely popular Beethoven's Moonlight sonata - Adagio sostenuto - is that dark and sad piece which everyone knows. The shortest second movement Allegretto is still not fast but quite cheerful, while the last Presto agitato is... Check it yourself, it's one of my favourites music moments ever. 😊

I also decided to try selecting lesser-known compositions (but it doesn't mean they are all little-known) to promote them, so there's a chance than maybe someone gives this music a shot and discover something new to appreciate.

Fryderyk Chopin - Nocturne in B flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1 - I couldn't choose anything else for the beginning. Nocturnes are my favourites Chopin's compositions and this one I love the most. No word describe how much I adore it, it's the most beautiful piece ever composed.

Franz Schubert  - Minuet in A Major, D. 334  - The first time I heard it, I thought about Adrien. I think this short sweet piece describes his childlike innocence quite well.

Fryderyk Chopin - Prelude Op.28 No.15 in D Flat Major, "Raindrop" - This thing is shown on the screen of Adrien's smartphone in few episodes (like Captain Hardrock), but for some reason it's not what's actually played. I have no idea if it was supposed to be played, but was changed after rendering was done or it's just an error. It's so nice composition, though not my favourite Chopin's prelude, even if it's the longest one. Unfortunately, the piece which is actually heard in the show is unknown for me, I'd love to discover it, but I can't. All I know it's definitely not any other Chopin's prelude.

Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110 - I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo and III. Adagio ma non troppo – Allegro ma non troppo - It’s almost the whole sonata, the only missing thing is the shortest second movement. It's probably my favourite piano sonata, so I couldn't not choosing it.

Franz Liszt -  Consolation No. 3 in D-Flat Major, S. 172 - If once I wonder why I love this, this is because it's so Chopin-esque.

Franz Schubert - Piano Sonata No.16 in A minor D.845 -  I. Moderato - I discovered this wonderful composition thanks to Nodame Cantabile, my favourite anime and manga ever, which is focused on classical music college students and professional classical musicians. Two main characters are also opposites who learn much from each other. I gave a link to the performance made specially for Nodame Cantabile, because I'm mostly attached to it. Usually this piece is played faster and it kills the atmosphere in my opinion. This rendition is the most emotional I've ever heard.

How would be this list without any French composers? I believe Ravel and Debussy are a mustm since they are the most known and important, I believe, and I also added something from Satie, because he wrote lots of soft compositions for piano solo. Chopin was also half-French (from his father), but: "Chopin's biographer Adam Zamoyski writes that he never considered himself to be French, despite his father's French origins, and always saw himself as a Pole." (source: Wikipedia) Besides Chopin's music is very Polish.

Maurice Ravel -  Jeux d'eau

Claude Debussy -  Rêverie

Erik Satie -  Gnossiennes: No. 1 - Lent

Maurice Ravel  - Ma mère l'Oye, M. 60: I. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant  - finish it with something very short but so beautiful.

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Many beautiful things are missing, probably the most fitting for this concert would be Liszt's Liebestraum No. 3, since it's love music essentially, but it's too well-known (one of the most popular if not the most popular compostion by Liszt) and I'm kind of tired of this. I'm also very sad because of Chopin's Prelude in E Minor, but two pieces of the same composers are enough and this is his the most known prelude, too. I couldn't not recommend this jazz trio cover, because it's too good, too atmospheric though a different take on this theme.

Jazz musicians are often turning compositions into something much different. Everyone knows Beethoven's Für Elise, one of the best- known and (in my opinion) boring classical pieces in existence, but this jazz trio cover (sorry, I can’t find it outside of Spotify and other streaming services, it’s a very niche band) is just outstanding, I can't stop listening to it! Jazz arrangements of classical music is something I love so much.

[noelleddog]

Album Review: Eluvium - Copia

        Eluvium is an incredible artist for a multitude of reasons, one being the wide variety of different sounds he experiments with and the quality at which he executes them. There are no two of his albums that sound alike. This is also impressive considering how prolific he is, coming out with 4 albums consecutively in 2007 and continuing to make music since then. While he does play around with many different themes and sounds, most of his music falls into the ambient genre, with lots of classical influence. Copia, in my opinion, is the best introduction to this sound.

        On Copia, Eluvium takes his classical influences and his talent with producing ambient works and composes one of his most compact, expressive, and visceral projects yet. He also manages to incorporate many post-rock elements which mix stunningly with the rest of the influences and sounds he incorporates on the album.

        “Amreik” is a slow, subtle, and moving introduction to the album. The horns blend beautifully with (what I think is a synth?), and gives the listener a taste of what is to come for the rest of the album. Despite the continuing, repeating motif which sounds annoying in theory, Eluvium manages to make this 3 minute composition, without any crescendo whatsoever, and turn it into something very special.

        The second track, “Indoor Swimming at the Space Station”, fleshes out the post rock elements of the album, with a simple but constantly expanding motif that is reminiscent of many post-rock legends such as Talk Talk and GYBE, while also maintaining the ambient mood. The crescendo is subtle, but the track transforms into a very atmospheric and quite frankly transcendental piece.

        “Seeing You Off the Edges” is reminiscent of his previous work, “Lambent Materials”, which is also an incredible album that is worth checking out. The instrumentation is dense, but soothing, and a good segway into the next track.

        “Prelude for the Time Feelers” takes the post-rock influence and produces a near-perfect track. This is a track that I put on repeat for about half an hour, it’s just that beautiful. His classical influence takes the reins, with slow, building backing instruments. The piano motif is so simple, yet so stunning and pure, and when combined with the horns and synths it turns into something absolutely gorgeous.

        “Requiem on Frankfort Avenue” is the song that introduced me to the album, and is a great way to introduce people to Eluvium’s sound on this album. It’s pristine and low-key, just like most of the album, but is executed in a way that is so alluring that when I heard it in my Spotify recommended I absolutely had to check out the rest of the LP.

        Now, “Radio Ballet” is one of the tracks on this album that keeps it from being perfect in my opinion. While most of the motifs on this album are simple and expansive, this one is just simple. They’re chord changes I’ve heard a million times over, and is unfortunately a very weak track for me.

        The Intermission and “After Nature” mark the halfway point of the album. While there is not much to say about them, they function well as an intermission and introduction the the latter half of the album.

        “Reciting the Airships” is another track I skip consistently. While not as Boring as Radio Ballet, it is still pretty forgettable for the same reasons.

        Thankfully, “Ostinado” makes up for the past 2 forgettable tracks. The organ mixed with the rest of the instruments is very dense, but soothing. It builds and builds, and is a perfect example of a warm ambient piece that’s well executed.

        While “Hymn” is very short, it is a nice, cozy and low-key track. It’s a foil to what is about to come with the final track on the album.

        “Repose in Blue” is a 9 minute conclusion, and ambient anthem. The instruments are simple, but pulsing and visceral. Just like the rest of the post-rock tracks, it crescendos into a massive, dense piece of music (relative to the rest of the album of course). We get some percussion which isn’t present on the rest of the project. This percussion is all the more strange because it’s very blown out and distorted, kind of like the drums on “The Glow, Part 2″ by The Microphones. But while it’s very different from the rest of the album, the core elements remain the same and it fits in with the rest of the album perfectly. It’s a fitting, massive conclusion.

        Overall, Copia is a beautiful, transcendental ambient work, with two tracks holding it back unfortunately. But despite these, it’s very much worth giving it a listen, seeing that most of the tracks are incredible, and especially with “Prelude for the Time Feelers” being a near-perfect track in my opinion. It’s an 8/10 :)

[blogviolin]

Best Violin Of This Year

1. Stentor 1400 Stentor 1400

Our first violin is the Stentor 1400, a classic beginner’s violin that is also a kids violin! If you want a violin in a smaller size this one is worth your consideration. It’s available in all the smaller sizes, 3/4, 1/3, 1/2, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64. It’s everything your child needs to get started playing the violin, for a reasonable price. A bow and a lightweight case are included. We would recommend this kids violin especially in the smaller sizes for smaller kids.

When kids start playing the violin the focus lies on teaching them how to hold the violin and bow properly and how to stand with correct posture, learning how to play on one string at a time and so on, so you don’t really need an extraordinary sounding quality instrument for little children unless they’re child prodigies, they won’t be playing difficult things in the beginning anyway.

This solid maple and spruce violin looks good and will give the kids the feeling that it’s a ‘real’ violin. Its top is made from spruce and the sides and back from maple, just like many other violins. The fingerboard is made from blackened rosewood, which is quite oily and a good material for fingerboards, however ebony would be preferred, but for this price we can’t really complain!

Here is a video review where you can listen to it being played and also hear a professional violinist’s opinion.

Why We Liked It - This is a good violin to buy for kids. You don’t want to spend too much on a violin for a growing child since it will need to be replaced once in a while. This violin might not be the best sounding instrument of all times, but it gives your child everything it needs to learn the basics of violin playing. A bow and a case are included so that you don’t have to buy them separately.

2. Stentor 1550 Stentor 1550

Let’s move on to number two, an epic Stentor Violin. This is a good violin for adult and teenage beginners that need a good full-size violin. Its hand carved and crafted with full ebony fittings and a solid spruce top and solid maple back. Spruce is a solid wood that is good for the top and maple is harder, good for the sides and back. These are the most common materials for string instruments and are proved to be good both for practical reasons and sound wise.

The violin is very good-looking with a fiery red color and shellax clear lacquer finish. A bow and a deluxe case with an instrument blanket and shoulder rest compartment are included.

This is the best violin on our list sound wise and it’s definitely money well spent, it’s actually possible to play proper music on this violin, which cannot be said for all budget options. It has a pretty, rich tone and the high notes are well sounding, not as squeaky as many other cheap violins can be. The Stentor Violin is definitely the cream of the crop!

Check out this video review to hear what a professional violin player thinks about it and listen to it being played!

Why We Liked It - If you are serious about your violin playing but don’t want to spend too much money on an exclusive violin this is the one to go for! It’s everything you need as a beginner or amateur musician, and we believe that you will be using it for quite a few years before you need to upgrade, if you ever will feel that need. A bow and a deluxe case are included as well.

3. Crescent Starter Crescent Starter

If you’re an adult beginner that don’t really care about the quality of the violin and just want something that works this might be the violin for you! Its incredibly cheap and pretty good value considering that you get a bow, a rosin, a case and a tuner with it. Just get a shoulder rest and you’re good to go!

Funnily enough this violin looks like it could be way more expensive than it is, it’s actually beautiful and feels really nice, however you will never be able to play advanced music on it.

This violin can be a good option if you’re one of those people that sometimes try a new hobby for a few weeks and then lose interest and go on to something else. It’s good that there are violins like this on the market so that anybody who wants one can afford one.

We’ve noticed that some people even buy violins to simply use as ornaments at home, and this violin could definitely work for that, because it looks great.

Why We Liked It - Everybody loves a bargain right? Especially people who just want to try something out before they invest a lot of money! This instrument lets you try out violin playing without breaking the bank. Sure, it’s more like a toy for adults, but sometimes that’s all that’s needed.

Some people might buy an instrument to be able to play just a little bit, maybe even just for a single song with their band or something similar, and if that’s the case they obviously want to spend as little as possible. However, if your goal is to become a great violinist, you should probably buy another violin.

4. Stentor 1401PK Harlequin Stentor 1401PK Harlequin

You might ask yourself: “How can I make my child practice the violin more?” The answer is: Give him or her a violin in a cool color! This violin from Stentor is available in black, pink, blue and purple. It looks really good and will make playing the violin less like a chore, more like something to look forward to when they come home from school. Your kid will have the coolest instrument in the orchestra!

A lightweight grey case is included as well as a bow. This violin is a 3/4. This is a good violin for a kid that will upgrade to a full-size violin in a couple of years but want to have some fun before investing in a proper violin that might not look as cool. We would recommend this violin for kids that hate practicing and need some encouragement, if you have a youngster that is ambitious and is really serious about their music you should probably look elsewhere and get a better sounding violin. Every kid has different needs!

Why We Liked It - We have a feeling that if violins like this one were around 20-30 years ago there wouldn’t be so many adults regretting that they stopped playing when they were children and grew tired of the violin. It’s available in black, pink, blue and purple, meaning that no matter if your child is a rocker, a princess, a clown or a bohemian there is a color that will make him or her practice more.

Sure, it’s not the best sounding violin on the market, but it’s definitely more than just a toy, it’s a tool that will help your kid practice more often and eventually, when your kid has become an accomplished violinist and you upgrade to a proper violin, you will finally be able to enjoy beautiful tunes from your personal musician and it will all be worth it!

5. Cecilio CVN-300 Cecilio CVN-300

Number five; the Cecilio CVN-300 is next up! Cecilio violins come with many extra things included! You get two (!) bows, a good rosin, an adjustable shoulder rest, an extra bridge, a chromatic tuner and a lesson book and it’s strung with high-quality D’addario Prelude strings.

It’s available in 4/4, 3/4, 1/4 and 1/2 and it has a nice antique varnish finish.

This is a violin that offers incredible value for money, since you don’t only get so many extra things, but also a pretty good and playable violin. The manufacturer seems to be confident that it’s a good violin since they offer a 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects.

It’s obvious that they have done all they can to make a good violin with everything you need to get started for an affordable price while not compromising on quality, which, to be honest, is quite rare. In other words; a really good violin for beginners that will make it easy for you to get started.

[kelstitch]

It’s official, I now have a new favorite gothic musical that I really can’t stop thinking about! For those of you that follow me, this is a bit different than what I usually do since I also really like musicals alongside my other interests. This is inspired by @earnkeen ‘s animatic character designs and art for Victor Frankenstein and for the Convict/the Creature (only I genderbent them, calling Victor, Victoria, and the Convict, well,,,,,the Convict bc she has no name) from her recent stunning animatic for the musicial Frankenstein on youtube (not the Mel Brooks one) which I have a feeling might interest more people to check it out bc after listening to the musical score, I picked up a copy of the book to start reading during my term break in a couple of weeks! This musical is really something so criminally underrated and it portrays everything so well. My favorite songs have to be An Angel’s Embrace, Amen, the Prelude, and the Amen Reprise. Even reading about what some people take away from the book with its themes is so beautiful that it makes me love this musical even more. I’m probably gonna go and immerse myself into even more goth lit bc I haven’t since The Picture of Dorian Gray in high school so wtf is wrong with my late ass lol asdhjfjafjkajsdfhkj
The designs of Victor Frankenstein and the Convict/Creature belong to @earnkeen
The world and characters of Frankenstein belong to Mary Shelly

EDIT: Went int to fix it bc I realized I made the neck too long on the convict/creature asgdjfhsjsdh lol 

[xheartsigh]

yoonkook week day7: visiting studio for the first time

genre: fluff setting: producer yoongi and solo singer jungkook, set in the same universe as prelude (can be read separately but it makes more sense if you read that before) words: 1.8k

Ever since it was decided at the meeting that kpop sensation Jeon Jungkook will have his next album produced by award-winning producer Suga, it made it to every possible news station it existed in South Korea. The music industry has been buzzing in anticipation even though their work has barely even started.

Yoongi would like to think it’s not because of him. He works just as diligently as always, if not harder to find the kind of music that would fit the singer’s voice. However sadly, the young idol’s tracks are usually too autotuned to appreciate his smooth voice and natural talent. The producer has heard him sing live and he knows he’s great but without a good management and production team, his talent will go to waste. That’s why he has asked Jungkook what kind of music he wanted to make but the boy never directly contacted him ever since. He would send music samples with his manager or via the official BigHit e-mail, so Yoongi’s best guess is that he’s still embarrassed of their first encounter despite knowing that the fact he didn’t recognize the elder doesn’t bother the producer at all. So after all that fuss it's a big thing when Jungkook willingly agrees to come to his studio to listen to a few rough drafts.

Genius Lab isn’t the studio he welcomes most of the artists. It’s more private since it’s his safe place. Only a few people know how to get in, so when he asks Hoseok to accompany Jungkook to Genius Lab when he arrives, the assistant looks at him as if his morning pills got flushed down the toilet. The producer isn’t stupid. He knows that this work with Jungkook is very beneficial for both companies and he doesn’t want to mess it up. Also there’s something about Jeon Jungkook, maybe the way he talked when they first met in the elevator shy but determined that he can’t shake his mind off.

Sure Yoongi has met enough trainees and idols to know if he sees real talent, a talent that shines because the owner loves music and that’s Jungkook. Even if he has a shitty company going for too mainstream stuff to maintain his popularity. And the producer set his mind to change that. He wants to give the boy a song – or songs if he wants – that he really likes, that’s made for his voice, for him. He also wants to prove the entertainment that there’s no need for clichés, overused beats, corny lyrics or autotune for his fans to like Jungkook and his beautiful voice.

When the doorbell of his studio rings, he pushes himself away from the computer and standing up he turns the doorknob to let his visitor inside.

“It’s been a while, Jeon Jungkook,” he greets the idol casually, with a slight hint of smirk on his lips. The singer does a better job of hiding his blush than last time. Though, he has the same determination in his eyes like he needs to prove something.

“Hello hyung,” he waves a bit, a boyish smile clear on his face which is endearing but the producer tries not to feel too affected by it.

“All alone? No manager?” Yoongi raises a brow because he’s got used to the company of idols’ bossy managers during studio visits. Not that he’s against being alone with the nation’s favourite boy.

“Ah Jin hyung dropped me off. He will come and get me after we’re done,” Jungkook shrugs still fidgeting by the door frame until Yoongi beckons him closer.

“That might take a while,” he says firmly and there’s no hidden intent behind it. He just takes producing seriously and he isn’t satisfied until the work is close to perfect which of course makes it a time-confusing activity. The singer seems to understand.

“I warned him.”

His bunny smile takes the elder aback for a moment but then he shakes his head dismissively.

“Okay then. Close the door, will you? Or are you that afraid of staying alone with me?” Yoongi teases softly as he steps backwards, falling back into his leather chair. Even though he doesn’t mean anything bad by it, it’s funny to watch the idol’s face taking up different shades of red.

“What? No!” the boy protests quickly and firmly like the possibility of being afraid could make him less of a man. It doesn’t.

Yoongi finds it cute as it reminds him of their first meeting. He gulps and then leans over his computer. They might as well start on it, right? That’s why the idol came over.

“I checked your music evolution to find your voice. The genre and vibe that fits it,” he explains what he has been doing in these weeks since they didn’t meet.

“Yeah?” Jungkook asks shyly as he plops down in the seat next to him, knees touching when he slides closer the his hyung who clicks on a few files searching for his latest works.

“You used to rap on your debut album,” Yoongi says out of the blue but it sounds like s question. The younger looks up and finds those deep, mysterious eyes already on him and understands what the man is asking: why did you stop?

He shrugs again.

“Yeah but the agency decided against it. They wanted a cute boyfriend image,” he winces slightly embarrassed just by talking about it.

“Cute?” the producer snorts, unconvinced since the sight of the idol lifting his shirt during performance that had been fried into his brain since the last MAMA awards screams everything but cute.

“Well it changed when I came of age,” Jungkook admits with a half bashful, half cocky smile. As they stare at each other, a strange feeling settles in the producer’s chest.

They haven’t talked much, not face to face. They know each other’s music but not the person behind them. They are practically strangers, co-workers for a while and yet, Yoongi feels something he rarely has a privilege to feel with ‘practically strangers’: he feels at ease. Like he can freely tease or coo at the younger because the other knows when to take him seriously. He hopes Jungkook doesn’t feel as uncomfortable as he did during their last meeting and he needs these kind of small talks before talking about work to ease up to it, to break the ice. He can already feel it melting.

“And what do you want to do?” he asks which receives a surprised blink.

Jungkook gapes at him, eyes wide, mouth hung open. It’s an unusual question in this industry, the producer knows. There’s no such thing as requests when you are only one of the thousands of trainees that line up each year. Either you get lucky because you are that talented, the agency will form an image for you, but if you’re not then you can go to hell. Yoogi knows it, he lived it. That’s why he started as an individual producer: because he didn’t want to do anything with entertainments that act without taking the artist into consideration.

“I love softer sounds, melodies,” the idol finally says, breathless, like it was a dream waiting to come true. Yoongi hums.

“You like piano?”

“Yeah,” the singer nods slowly, his gaze shifts to the synthesizer in the room, eyes longing and fingers twitching.

“Can you play?” the producer can’t help but be interested. Jeon Jungkook is a phenomenon that intrigues him.

“A little. Not too well.”

“Show me,” he asks and it’s a little bit like plea. He’s curious.

Jungkook doesn’t say anything, just sits close to the instrument and takes a deep breath. He opens and closes his fist before laying his long fingers on the keyboard trying the sound. His eyes flutter closed for a moment and then he starts to play.

It’s a slow melody, an awfully familiar one therefore it’s risky but Yoongi barely notices mistakes in the harmony. It warms his heart and when the song ends, his voice is stained.

“It’s my song,” he says with other question hidden behind the vowels and consonants: why?

The way Jungkook smiles at him as if he’s proud that he made the great Min Yoongi a bit speechless is dangerous. It’s hard to remain unfazed.

“Yeah. I really like it. It’s on my inspiration playlist,” the idol admits and Yoongi has to clear his throat to change the subject.

“So softer sounds it is,” he concludes and goes back to click more on his computer. He invites Jungkook closer and they listen to the snippets, the drafts, check the lyrics he has previously made and talk about the concepts. They talk for hours until their stomachs grumble and they have to order food because neither of them wants to go out. Not yet. The song and even more songs starts to come to life, gaining their forms. Yoongi is on the roll because Jeon Jungkook is a best muse if he’s ever had one.

Sometimes the singer’s gaze lingers on him, a touch is more fleeting than it should be or their thighs press together firmer because they sit so close. It’s all these little things and Yoongi would be a liar to say that he didn’t fall for the nation’s favourite charms like everybody else.

It’s only then when sometime after 11pm Seokjin rings Jungkook quite annoyed after many ignored texts. They are so so close to the finished product but they can’t prolong it any longer. The younger has to go. He has a concert in Taiwan tomorrow evening.

“I– I have to go. I have an early flight,” the singer mutters as if it wasn’t obvious. Yoongi understands, that’s his job after all.

“Okay.”

Jungkook seems unsure to leave, he just fidgets with the too long ends of his sleeve and looks around searching for something, anything. The producer clears his throat to gain his attention. Those doe eyes snap at him immediately. They exchange a soft smile.

“Can… can we continue it after I come back?”

And oh, Min Yoongi is a weak man. How could he say no to that?

“Of course. Just don’t be a stranger, Jeon Jungkook!” he casually leans against the doorframe and he hovers over the singer while he packs, shoving the bag onto his back and catches the glint in his eyes.

“I won’t. Thanks hyung,” he mutters and waves cutely just like when he came but his gaze holds more confidence now. Yoongi sighs as he watches him go, heart aching in a good way. Very good indeed.

[the-real-compucat]

Wow, it’s been a while: looking back at Origins

First of all, if anybody still reads content here: hi! Sorry I kinda left you all in the dark. I’ve been busy working on other projects, and this Tumblr fell by the wayside. Its purpose become less relevant as I’ve progressed, to be quite frank. Nevertheless, it’s still here, and as long as it’s still here, I’ll still eventually have something to write. 

Before I launch into the rest of this post, what’ve I been up to in the years I’ve been gone? For one, college happened. I’ve still got lots of work as always, but it’s now on my own schedule and towards my own goals: liberating, in a way. (A side benefit: transferring my musically creative mindset into the kitchen produces delicious results. :-) I’ve also picked up another project that’s taken up a lot of my time: linux-wiiu. (Essentially, we’re working on a proper port of Linux to the Wii U; a development release is currently available for download. Check it out, if you like!)

I’m still an active musician and producer, don’t worry! I recently released “Standing On The Edge Of Time” (a J-rock piece that completely rips off the style of anime openings) and am currently working on something called “Reign Of The Dark”. (Spoiler alert: Eurobeat is fun to write.) I’ve got some other ideas in the works too. Knowing a bit more guitar (and a lot more bass) has certainly helped.

Anyway, on to the main reason I’ve returned to ramble and muse.

Just over two years ago, I released Origins, the first (and so far, only) album I have ever released. Earlier tonight, I went back for the first time in a while, sat down, and properly listened to it the entire way through. For the first time, I’ve stopped cringing like I always used to when I’d listen and inevitably hear the endless mistakes and areas I could have improved upon. Instead, I found myself seeing past me’s work in a more admirable light. (Wow, that got deep fast.) Here’s what I mean:

Overall, everything on this album was really exploratory and unafraid. I didn’t know enough about audio engineering to know what I was doing wrong, and so I just threw myself at the task of writing an album without stopping to think. In doing so, I was able to look past most of the trouble of professional-quality perfection, especially in sound design; I simply wasn’t able to see it! This allowed me to concentrate all my abilities as pure creative energy; as a result, beginning producer me was able to create a full 7 track EP in 9 months.

Something about past me was able to take rough inspirations and transform them into full-on musical ideas. I’m still trying to figure out what that was. According to my old notes, my inspirations for each track were:

Isle Genesis: make a track at all

Prelude (The Denizens): Elton John-style piano, carefree/happy/fun. (I seem to remember Animal Crossing’s simple theme having something to do with it too...)

Soul Scream: somebody asked me to write a YouTube channel jingle

Isle Genesis reprise: total ripoff of James Cronin’s “Dead Horses” album: his title track has a solo reprise of the main melody halfway through the album, and I thought I’d try that idea. (Great album, by the way.)

Deity Duel: wrote an energetic hook, but needed to flesh it out. Heard trance producer JayB do a rock remix of some video game song...immediately thought “a rhythm guitar would sound cool here”

Aftermath: listened to a ton of electro jams by Jouni Ollila’s BURG project and wanted to copy the general style.

Reunion: “hey, most of this album kinda maps out the story for a roleplay project I’m part of...why not extrapolate a bit and have two characters reunite in a fanfiction ending?” The two lead instruments symbolize two different characters from that old RP, actually.

Listening now, instead of hearing all the shortcomings, I’m beginning to appreciate just how wild it was that I could come up with this many ideas and just lay them down on tape, no questions asked. Sure, they could use some polish. You know what, though? I’m liking them more and more just as they are: it’s like a little time capsule of the raw excitement I had back then.

I should take a second to mention something else. I’m not sure if I’ve publicly talked about this before, but Isle Genesis was written during a time in my life when I was involved with a role-play community writing project called Islands of Origin. As the roleplay’s world was fleshed out, I started to draw parallels between my ideas and the theoretical backstory of the fictional world; in return, I noticed the world’s backstory shaping my ideas. I suppose I started to write a concept album without even realizing it, now that I think about it. Islands of Origin gave Isle Genesis a purpose and direction.

Besides the fact that obsessive perfectionist me can now hear the finer mistakes I make, this is probably the reason I *still* haven’t been able to release the 2nd album I’ve challenged myself to write every year since. I’ve just been sketching ideas with no real topic or overall backbone. This should have been more obvious to me earlier: it’s one of the entire reasons I love the Pet Sounds album by the Beach Boys! Pet Sounds was one of the first albums (to my knowledge) that served as a logical progression of music, rather than a collection of hit singles. 

Is there a conclusion to this ramble? I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll form a grand plan for my second album. I’ll likely just as soon get rid of it. I’m really not sure what this all means.

I’m certain of one thing, though: for the first time in a long while, I truly enjoyed listening to Origins. Maybe I should make some music to top it.

Time to write that second album.

A bit of logistics: I’m not sure how much (if at all) this Tumblr will be used in the future. I’ll always release my major works on all major platforms as CompuCat; I’ll also continue to use my SoundCloud page as a more informal release platform for ideas and works-in-progress. If anybody’s still reading here, though: seriously, thanks. I never thought anybody would still be paying any attention here. I’ll be back with more music....eventually. :)

[malevaristananda]

Hello. It’s been awhile.. and I’m finally writing again

Hereby lies my overflowing thoughts of my journey in my 3rd year of studying composition & arranging at Lasalle College of the Arts. Hereby i present to you my logbook. I hope it’s interesting to read..

SEMESTER 1

WEEK 2 || Monday, 7th September 2020

note: Lesson 1 started at Week 2 in 2020.

Topics:

Review of Harmonic Landscape

Advanced Modulation

HARMONIC VOCABULARY

(Belinda Foo. Lasalle College of the Arts 2020)

ADVANCED MODULATION

refer to Max Reger’s text on Modulation

Some key concepts;

No Enharmonics

All modulations approached via cadence-like progressions

Observations;

The modulations are ‘logical’ and can be accountable via tonal relationships

All modulations are arrived at cadentially: IV – V – I, II – V – I, bII – Ic – V – I

It is easier to work out the modulations ‘backwards’ from the dominant of the new key

Relationships between Keys

Pivot chords

Borrowed chords

Neapolitan 6th chords (especially for remote modulations)

Dorian 6th chords (E.g. D major triad in A minor)

2nd super-dominant (E.g. D major triad in C Major)

REVIEW ADVANCED REHARM

Review Menu of Chord Choices

Using Outer Line Movement: Directional interaction between Melody and Bass line 

Contrary Motion

Parallel Motion

Chromatic Movement

Tonal Movement

Tritone Movement

Pedal Point

Free Bassline

Contrary Motion

Parallelism

Chromatic Movement

Tonal Movement

Tritone Movement

Pedal Point

Free Bass line

Use of Polychords

C Major triad over Bb7 

F# Major triad over A7 

Bb Major triad over D7

Use of Minor 11th Shapes:

Open 4th at the bottom

Triad (2nd inversion) at the top

————————————————————————————— WEEK 3 || Monday, 14th September 2020

In week 2, Belinda discussed the same topics from Week 1 because we had not yet covered everything last week. My summary from this week is concluded in week 1 as it is also pretty much the same from last week. Belinda also further talked about Max Reger’s techniques.

Topics:

Review of Harmonic Landscape

Advanced Modulation

————————————————————————————— WEEK 4 || Monday, 21st September 2020

In week 3, Belinda further talked about Max Reger’s modulation again. The summary for this one is also included in my week’s 1 summary. Other than that we discussed about Romantic and Late-Romantic music, Wagner’s Lohengrin, and writing for strings.

Topics:

Max Reger Modulation Review

Romantic & Late-Romantic Orchestration

Analysis of Wagner’s Lohengrin

Writing for Strings

ROMANTIC MUSIC PERIOD

basic information:

From about 1830 to 1900

Characteristics: expressive, expansive, virtuosic, inspired by art, literature

New forms beyond the Classical forms, such as: rhapsody, arabesque, song cycle, nocturne and programmatic music

Greater Chromaticism 

Extended melodic lines, themes

Romantic Composers

Berlioz, Hector

Brahms, Johanne

Bruckner, Anton

Chopin, Frédéric

Dvorák, Anton

Grieg, Edvard

Mahler, Gustav

Tchaikovsky, Peter

Strauss, Richard

Wagner, Richard

Relevance of Romantic Music Today

Melodies and Harmonies still used in Film & Animation music

Leitmotif: a theme associated with a character, place or idea

Orchestration: Romantic Orchestra & Orchestral techniques

COMPOSING FOR STRINGS

Characteristics of the Strings Family;

Homogenous timbre throughout the family

Virtually tireless for both player and listener

Flexible, versatile in terms of register and ability

Writing for Strings Masterclass:

link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yST6mS8W1f8&ab_channel=JeffPifher

personal note:

This was actually a homework from previous week from Belinda, and i watched the video beforehand. There were some key takeaways to make writing for strings more interesting like (which are actually unbelievably so simple) ;

- “know what to look for” — pay attention to your melody, style, phrasing - playing with texture (e.g. one line playing staccato, another line playing legato/long lines)  - accents!!! — articulation is key!!!

The Strings Choir as:

Foreground

Middleground

Background

Homophonic Writing

Accompanying Choir

Contrapuntal Textures

Special Effects and other 20th Century devices

String Section Sizes

General String Writing Tips

Divisi: divides the section, used to add/ complete harmony. Div a 2, Div a 3, Div a 4 (not common). Not a good idea to divisi violas if they are less than 8 players (6 players minimum)

Double stops: most commonly used to add harmony part. Stick to slow moving passages. Check that the double stops are feasible on the instrument.

Pizzicato: Best kept to the lower 3 strings

Octave combinations: It is common practice to double very high violin lines (Violin 1) an octave lower (Violin 2) to lend the former support.

Bowing Effects

Belinda asked us to refer to this video, which I also watched before the class as it was part of our homework from last week.

link:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEBN2UkJavk&ab_channel=VIOLINLOUNGE byViolinistZlata

ANALYSE WAGNER’S LOHENGRIN PRELUDE 1

note;

during this analysis, our main focus was the string writing, string choir: homophonic writing primary line against accompaniment

link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT1AfIUgO88&ab_channel=ClassicalMusicScores

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 5 || Monday, 28th September 2020

Topics:

Max Reger Modulation Review

Writing for Woodwind

Analysis of Wagner’s Rienzi

MAX REGER MODULATION REVIEW

This week, Belinda reviewed about the Max Reger modulation. The summary is pretty much the same with the previous weeks we had it.

WRITING FOR WINDS

Characteristics of the Wind Family

Less homogenous in sound (unlike the Strings)

Single reed and double reed timbres differ

Wind players need to take breath

Some Interesting Effects

Double-tongueing/ Triple tonguing

Harmonics - The pitch of the harmonic sounds exactly as it is notated

Fluttertongue - Flautists flutter their tongues to create a “frrr,frrr” sound

personal note;

because of the lessons and workshops I had from Felix’s class (Specialized Ensemble Workshop), these effects were no strangers to me and I am quite familiar with it. I have also used these effects in my composition (mainly in his class). But this lesson was a good refresher to me.

Common Functions

Harmonic background - Homophonic wind writing

Solo passages - Choice of timbre/colours

Contrasting colors - To repeat or echo; create relief

Double other instruments - add richness, warmth; brighten up

Contrapuntal Writing

The unique color of each wind instrument makes for ideal contrapuntal writing

Refer to Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Fugue, mm 1-55

Refer to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, “L’Adoration de la terre” mm 40-60.

Special Effects and other 20th Century devices

Belinda showed us some pieces that has examples of special effects. The pieces we discussed were;

1. Penderecki, Dies Irae “Apocalypsis” mm 2-4

Winds first play the highest pitch they are able to produce. Then they trill on the specified notes until the end of the dark line with arrow.

2. Stachowski, Irisation for Orchestra, third movement, mm. 79-83

The composer asks the winds to remove their mouthpieces from their instruments and “play through them.

ANALYSES OF WAGNER’S RIENZI

note:

during this analysis, our main focus was the woodwind writing, homophonic writing, choice of color,relief, highlights, adding warmth, and color

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 6 || Monday, 5th October 2020

Topics:

Writing for Brass

Analysis of Wagner: The Flying Dutchman

WRITING FOR BRASS

Characteristics of the Brass Family

Most powerful sound resource in the orchestra

Not as homogenous in sound as the strings although horns and trombones can blend fairly well

Not’ tireless’ on players and listeners — the brass sound is an imposing one and players need to breathe

Common Functions

Homophonic Unit

Pay attention to voicing, spacing, voice-leading and doubling

Refer to overtone series

Strengten and clarify harmony

Reinforcing harmony played by another choir

As a pedal

Harmonic ‘glue’, background line

State a melody

Choice of timbre, dynamics

Combinations

Double other instrument(s)

To add colour

add weight, power

Build Climaxes

Hold back first, save the colour for climactic event Contrapuntal voice

Use instruments in their best register — clarity go line and balance

Pay attention to timbral differences and articulation

refer to Stravinsky’s J.S Bach Choral Variations, Var. IV, mm. 1-6

Special Effects in Brass

refer to “Contemporary French Horn Techniques - Guide for Composers”

link(s):

https://youtu.be/_FPDrQzRE3o

https://youtu.be/-IwXEyr4uV8

https://youtu.be/qQ1oe3YSqsY

ANALYSIS OF WAGNER’S “THE FLYING DUTCHMAN”

note:

In this analysis, our main focus was the brass writing, choice of color, and orchestral combinations. 

another note (not important); everytime i hear the word Flying Dutchman, it reminds me of the movie Spongebob Squarepants :))))). The Flying Dutchman is the ghost that Spongebob and citizen of bikini bottoms most feared of

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 7 || Monday, 12th October 2020

Topics:

Motivic/Thematic Development

Orchestral Devices

Analysis of Holst’s Mats, Mercury, Venus

MOTIVIC DEVELOPMENT

Repetition

Sequence

Changing intervals

Fragmentation

Extension

Inversion

Changing the rhythm

Decorated repetition

Changing order of notes

Augmentation

Diminution

Contraction

Expansion

personal note:

Belinda showed us examples (played it on her keyboard) of motivic development by playing a short motif and expand it by using the devices above. It is such a simple idea yet so useful and i foresee myself using these techniques many times because of the very little amount of time i’ll be having to write for my recital. a.k.a squeezing juice out of my brain!!!

THINKING ORCHESTRALLY

Basic Concepts

Balance

Sonority

Unity, Variety

Tone/ Timbral colour

Clarity, Brilliance

Expressiveness

Orchestral Textures

Orchestral Unison

Melody and Accompaniment

Primary and Secondary Element(s)—Melody, secondary line(s), accompaniment

Part Writing

Isolated Chords

Complex Texture

ORCHESTRAL DEVICES

String Quartet & Wind Quintet

Within Family timbres

Solo feature

Combination of timbres

Tutti unison

String devices; bowing techniques (detaché, legato, marcato, staccato, spiccato, au talon, Punta d’arco), Pizzicato, tremolo, col-legno, sul ponticello, glissandi/portamenti, harmonics

Wind devices; Double-triple tonguing, flutter tonguing, harmonics, slap-tongue

Brass devices; mutes, stopped, double-triple tonguing, glissandi, bells up (horns)

Percussion; Types of Percussion— pitched, unpitched, Metal, Wood, Non-metal, Membranous, Keyboard

ANALYSES OF HOLST’S “MARS”, “MERCURY, and “VENUS”

note;

during this analysis, we focused on the choice of color, orchestral combinations, and motivic/thematic development

personal note; i love love love uncle Holst so much. I wish i wrote his pieces. Some of his pieces from The Planets series also has become my inspirations in writing my recital pieces!

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 8 || Monday,  19th October 2020

Topics:

Review Compositional Devices

Analysis of Holst’s Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Uranus

COMPOSITIONAL DEVICES

remember remember remember this!

Common Practice Tonal Centers — Major and Minor

Chord Extensions — 9ths, 11ths, and alterations

Added note chords

Chromaticism and Tonal Ambiguity

Meter-Mixed and Asymmetrics Meter

Modes and other Scale sources, including Synthetic scales

Pandiatonicism

Polyharmony—Polytonality and Polychords

Non-Tertian Harmony — Quartal and Quintal

Scandal Chords — clusters

Parallelism

12-tone Technique and Serialism

Limited Composition—based on intervals

Hexachord Writing

Unrelated Triads

Neotonality

Mirror Writing

Harmonic Direction; Progression, cadential services

Harmonic Synthesis

Indeterminate Procedures

NEOTONALITY

basic information;

Tonality that is not based on any particular diatonic system nor functional harmony (Common Practice Period)

Features non-traditional concepts such as tonal assertion or contrapuntal movement around a tonal centre (which may shift).

Combining the features of Common Practice Period tonality with 20th Century tonal ambiguity and atonal characteristics

Neo-tonal Composers

Paul Hindemith

William Schuman

Roy Harris

Samuela Barber

Vaughn Williams

Sergei Prokofiev

Igor Stravinsky (Neo-Classical pieces)

ANALYSIS OF HOLST’S MERCURY, VENUS, JUPITER & URANUS

i love holst’s piece because it sounds like a film score!

Mercury

The Winged Messenger

Energetic, momentum

Changing tonalities-darting from key to key

Rhythmic & Metric ambiguity

Venus

Bringer of Peace

Woodwinds — overlapping winds, tertian harmonies, sweet

Twinkling effect — 2 harps, glockenspiel

Lines —lower strings

Jupiter

Jollity

Full of beautiful themes, melodies

Use of Timpani

Syncopation

Uranus

Rotates on its side (axis is different from other planets

‘Lop-sided feel’

Strong motif: G-Eb-A-B

personal note:

my favorite is probably the Jupiter piece. It has also become an inspiration for my recital pieces. The sounding-like-film also very much suits my style!

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 9 || Monday, 26th October 2020

Topics:

Review Compositional Devices Pt.4

NEW: Media Music

REVIEW COMPOSITIONAL DEVICES

My summary would be pretty much the same from last week

MEDIA MUSIC

basic information:

Music that is written for film, TV, animation, games, commercials, web applications with the intention of enhancing the production or product.

Practicalities to Note

Specificity of usage

Duration, mixes

Open-ended (looped), Closed-fixed duration

Style, Concept

Target Audience

Functions of music in Media

Commenting

Illustrating Movement

Enhancing Momentum

Create Atmosphere

Portray Emotions

Social/Cultural/Geographical references

Time/Period references

Connects scenes and montages

Alternate the perception of time

Imply a sense of space

Create unreal situations

Create contradictions

Physiological Conditioning

Imply size relationships

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 10 || Monday, 9th November 2020

Topics:

Serial & Atonal Counterpoint

Counterpoint in Hindemith, Bartok, and Stravinsky

Chapter 27 &28 Harold Owen, Counterpoint

SERIAL & ATONAL COUNTERPOINT

during this discussion Belinda showed us examples from;

Schoenberg, No.4 from Five Piano Pieces OP. 23

Webern, Variations for Piano Op. 27, Movement II

Things to pay attention to were;

Texture

Cohesion

Use of Dissonance & Consonance

Temporal Elements,Rhythm, Pulse, Meter

Canonic Qualities

HINDEMITH, BARTOK, AND STRAVINSKY COUNTERPOINT

Belinda showed us examples from these pieces;

Hindemith, Fuga Quarta in A, Ludus Tonalis

Bartok, Theme and Variation from Mikrokosmos, Book IV

Stravinsky, Great Chorale from L’Histoire du Soldat

we also discussed about the things noted below;

Hindemith

Compare the melodic style of hindemith’s fugue with Schoenbrg’s piece

Describe the vertical sonorities, cadences, and treatment of the major triad

Describe the temporal aspects in Hindemith’s fugue and compare them with Schoenberg and Webern

Bartok 

What is the tonal centre of this piece?

Describe the melody in this example

What are the intervallic relationships?

Explain the significance of ‘Theme & Inversion’

How are the parts related and yet maintain their independence?

Discuss the rhythmic treatment

Stravinsky

How does the ‘Great Chorale’ resemble a Bach Chorale?

What key is this chorale in? Describe the cadences.

There is liberal use of chromaticism, yet the voice-leading is diatonic. Explain this.

There are triads in the harmony. Discuss how they are used here in comparison to music of the Common Practice Period.

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 11 || Monday, 16th November 2020

Topics:

Review Series & Atonal Counterpoint

Passacaglia writing

Creating Harmonic & Textural Worlds

REVIEW SERIES & ATONAL COUNTERPOINT

Discussed the same thing from last week, and Belinda discussed the things she has not yet covered, making the topic more in-depth. My summary for this is the same from last week.

PASSACAGLIA WRITING

What is Passacaglia form?

Passagcalia is a musical form of continuous variation in triple time. It was a courtly dance that originated in Spain in the 17th Century.

The passagcalia usually begins with an ostinato in the bass, but is also found in other voices.

How to write a Passacaglia?

Begin with a ’tonal’ line that will work well as a repeated pattern

Variation is created as other lines are layered over/ under this repeated pattern

This initial theme can be sequenced, but it should not be modified too much

The initial theme should always be present in at least one of the voices

Famous Passacaglias include:

Bach- Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor for Organ, BWV 582

Ravel- Piano Trio in A minor, III. Passacaille

Copland- Passagcalia for Piano (1921-22)

Hindemith- Passagcalia, Noblissima Visione Suite

William Schuman- Symphony No. 3

Things discussed;

How is the initial theme repeated, varied?

How are layers added?

How is the theme sequenced?

How are dissonances and consonances manipulated?

Observe density and contour

Observe textural changes

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 12 || Monday, 23rd November 2020

Topics:

CONSULTATION FOR HALF RECITAL

General Types of Musical Material

CONSULTATION FOR HALF RECITAL

For my consultation, I showed Belinda my first draft of my first piece from my recital, titled “The Bushfire, The Flood, and The Virus”

GENERAL TYPES OF MUSICAL MATERIAL

Unaccompanied melody

Unified harmony

Composite harmony

Imitative counterpoint

Similar Counterpoint

Contrasted Counterpoint

Composite musical material

Unaccompanied Melody

Solo

Doubled Unison

Doubled at the Octave(s)

Tutti Unison

Unified Harmony

All parts move in the same rhythm

May be minor, incidental rhythmic differences

Uniform tone-quality

example;

with some minor, incidental rhythmic differences;

Composite Harmony

2 or more chordal components are layered, each harmonically completely alone

May be treated as harmonically unified or composite

a large vertical distance between the 2 shapes divides it into 2 parts. The harmonic effect is divisive.

The contrary motion of 2 simultaneous chordal units: produces the effect 2 constituent harmonic units

The presence of 2 or more chordal units, with independent rhythms

The effect of unified or divisive harmony depends on these factors:

Tone-quality: the use of a single tone-quality or similar tone-qualities will produce a unified effect

Direction: parallel movements tend to be more unifying than contrary motion

Common rhythms are unifying

Large distances between harmonic units have a divisive effect

Imitative Counterpoint

This involves canonic situations.

To bring out the relationship of imitative parts, one tone-quality should be used.

‘Similar’ Counterpoint

This is non-canonic counterpoint.

The parts are related by common rhythmic and intervallic ingredients

Contrasted Counterpoint

The lines are have noticeable differences in intervals and rhythms

The differences may be accentuated with the use of different timbres

Composite Music Material

A melody with its own rhythm, accompanied by unified harmony in another rhythm, plus composite harmonic interjections:

next example; Imitative counterpoint (piccolo & clarinet) superimposed on unified harmony (strings) in contrasted rhythm, plus a bass line (tuba) in a different rhythm.

Next example: Composite harmony- violins & violas in 1st group, cellos & basses in 2nd group- enclosing a 2-part ‘similar’counterpoint (2 horns), whose rhythm is different from the harmony.

—————————————————————————————

HALF RECITAL

for my Half recital, i submitted 3 pieces out of 4. They were the;

The Bushfire, The Flood, and The Virus (2′20″)

Purple Pinkish Cotton Candy Sky (1′57″)

Full Moon (2′32″)

———————————————————————————

———————————————————————————

———————————————————————————

SEMESTER 2

WEEK 1 || Monday, 18th of January 2021

Topics:

Review semester 1

Scoring for Film, Animation, and Media

Review Semester 1

It was finally the first day of school again! at the beginning of the class, Belinda asked about what we had been doing during the holiday. I personally spent my holiday working on writing 3 shanghai jazz songs for a short film. In addition, I was arranging for lasalle’s Composer’s Concert 2021. Planning the date, concept, musicians (for my own band), and composers who are interested to showcase their pieces at the concert. —— BACK TO THE TOPIC —— Belinda mentioned that she was surprised to hear some of the works from half recital which me and my classmates did and we were happy to hear that! afterwards, the lesson started.

Scoring for Film, Animation, and Media

Finally....SCORING. One of my biggest interest in music is Film Scores. And to be honest with you, the reason i went to Lasalle and took Composition & Arranging as my stream was because i wanted to be a Film Composer. I’ve always dreamed of being one ever since i was young. So, this topic really interest me indeed. I had been looking forward for Belinda to teach this ever since the start of my day 1 studying at lasalle. “Finally... i thought.”

Here are a little summary from it;

Film Scoring — The People

The Producer: responsible for developing and nurturing the project from beginning to end. He hires the proper people, raises money, seems the film. His role is varied and straddles the administrative, financial, and creative.

The Director: responsible for envisioning and approving creative decisions. He wants the score to reflect and enhance the idea of what the film is about.

The Executive Producer: Usually the CEO of the production company. He is not in charge of the daily processes but will exercise final control over all the elements—business and creative.

The Editor: works with the director and cuts, edits his footage into a story flow. He is likely to have a good idea of how the music should fit the footage and can be an excellent liaison between composer and director

The Music Supervisor: handles the administrative part (and sometimes creative) of the music for the film/ TV program. He works with budgets, negotiated deals, hires contractors, arranges recording sessions, etc.

Film Scoring — The Screening

Go in with a notepad

Concentrate on the big picture—the overall emotional effect, the film’s effectiveness

First impressions matter—note them

Get a sense of the mood, feeling

Do not do any spotting yet

Film Scoring — Rough Cut

Establish a concept for the score

Demonstrate that concept the composer

Whilst helpful in providing the composer with a clear musical direction, they can also be a bane when the director is so used to the music that anything else will not satisfy him

Film Scoring — Style & Genre

In every style, genre of film, there is an appropriate response, an expectation, a vocabulary. These expectations are based on a precedent, a thorough study of classic films in a particular genre is essential to successful scoring. It’s not about imitation but about knowing the language and eliciting an appropriate response/reaction.

Film Scoring — Main Genres

Action

Adventure

Animation

Comedy

Crime & Gangster

Drama

Epic/Historical

Fantasy

Horror

Musicals/Dance

Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)

War

Westerns

Film Scoring — The Concept

The concept is the heart of the score. It can be discussed in terms of musical style and will form the basis of the thematic material of the film score. The composers needs to understand the central character and motivations.

There is also another dimension to scoring the character apart from scoring his/her personality, and that is, getting inside the character’s head. That dimension can chance from scene to scene, moment to moment.

On my personal note; i went to surf the internet and read more about this. After reading more about film music, i discovered that film theorists often categorize film music as diegetic or non-diegetic. Diegetic music, the music we perceive the characters can hear, is part of the story world. Meanwhile, Non-Diegetic, also called as commentary or nonliteral sound, is any sounds that does not originate from within the film’s world. Non-Diegetic music (such as a film’s title theme) narrates the film from “outside” the story world and is only audible to the audience. When Belinda mentioned about the music getting inside the character’s head, it can also be referred as diegetic music. 

Back to the topic, to summarize, when talking about the concept of the film, it’s important for us the composer to know what the film is really about. Explore the characters and their themes. Often, films will have more than one dramatic theme; a personal theme and a larger overview sort of theme.

another thing to take note is that musical genres/styles are often part of a score and it is IMPORTANT to stay CONSISTENT to those styles throughout the film. Composite style (where several different stylistic elements are fused together) are also permissible but think of the appropriateness of the music to fit what is happening on the screen.

Film Scoring — The Tone

Tone refers to the attitude of the dramatic work. Whether is it dark or uplifting, etc. The composer needs to get a clear direction of tone in order to ‘assist in the storytelling’. 

example: “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is a movie whose tone changes drastically from moment to moment: from humor to terror, from impending doom to a swashbuckling escape.

Checklist:

Overall dramatic theme

The central character

other themes

Time (period) / Place / Ethnic flavor

Instrumental Palette

Musical Style

Combination of styles, colors?

personal side note:

Perhaps what i understood about this is that the tone of the music is something that everything revolves around with, and in order to set the tone of the music, we need to understand the concept of the film well enough. Understanding the character, mood, and genre.

The tone can be set by things like our orchestration, instrumentation color palette (timbre), and also the techniques we use to compose like harmonic language and texture.

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WEEK 2 || Monday, 25th of January 2021

In week 2, Belinda resumed the topics from week 1. She also discussed more deeply about it. In this week, she also talked about the devices/musical techniques that we should considerate when scoring for a film.

Topics:

Scoring for Film, Animation, and Media (Part 2)

FILM SCORING — ETHNIC, PERIOD

When scoring for films with ethnic/period character, the composer needs to decide if he/she will score totally in that style, just flavored by those musical elements or not influenced by that time and place and all.

In some instances, musicological accuracy is necessary, but most situations call for a combination-approach: ethnic/historical accuracy and other harmonic/melodic language to score the drama and action.

Things to consider:

The film’s point of view

Scales, motifs, folk tunes, harmonies of that ethnicity/ time/ place

Rhythms of that ethnicity/ time / place

Instruments

There us a fine line between authenticity and stating the obvious. Avoid music clichés and other tires and overused references.

FILM SCORING — PLAYING THE DRAMA

Your audience has expectations: as a composer, you need to know what they are before you can use those expectations as tools for manipulation.

You can surprise your audience, but never betray them. Their expectations are tied closely to the function of the score and the style of the movie. The score must do what the audience expects it to do- excite them, lift them up, tug at their heart strings, make them curious, etc.

The composer knows the ending but the audience doesn’t, so it’s really important that the music never “spoils” it or gives too much away.

Whose point of view are you playing? The audience or the character?

If you are playing the audience’s POV, you’re scoring their emotional reaction. If you’re playing the character, then you’re scoring the emotional/ mental state or action that the character is in or is doing.

Main Title: The main title establishes the overall tone and setting for the movie and primes the audience’s expectations.

Dialogue:  Underscoring dialogue is tricky as the composer needs to ensure that the dialogue can always be heard and understood. Where the lips can be seen, comprehensibility is easier as the audience can lip read. In instances where the lips cannot be seen, extra care needs to be exercised. 

notes on Dialogue:

 In general, smooth musical textures are less intrusive. Also, try to keep out of the speaking range.

 Stay away from accents and distinct solo lines: allow the spoken line to be the ‘soloist’

 Don’t overwrite. It’s an underscore.

MUSIC AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS

Many styles of music already have their visual and emotional associations: Gritty Jazz puts us in a big city, Gregorian chant brings us into a monastery. Use the power of musical associations to get the audience in the right place, in the right state.

for example: the film “Out of Africa” scored by John Barry has the genre of classic romance. The score is associated to the romance rather than about the period film set in Africa.

Musical Points of View

Getting inside the character

De-emphasizing the scene

Juxtaposition—playing against the scene

The minimalist approach (ex: “American Beauty” plastic bag scene by Thomas Newman

Silence

Highlighting, accenting the drama

MUSICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Now that you have a concept for the score, the next step is to translate that concept into musical terms.

The basic elements to consider are melody, harmony, rhythm, and instrumental color.

Unity and Variety

Strong scores strike a fine balance between repetition (recognition) and variety. Repetition in music can help to develop emotional power through the cumulative reactions of the audience to the repetition of a theme. With repetition, the association between the music and the characters/ situation becomes stronger.

The same theme can also be modified/ varied to suit a different setting.

Tempo/Pulse

This is the first task of the composer: to determine the pace of the scene/cue

Checklist:

Does the tempo feel emotionally compatible with the scene?

Does it provide forward motion?

Will it provide too much forward motion?

Is this a comfortable tempo for dialogue?

If the cue calls for tension, play a low repeated note with basic pulse and check if there is dramatic build-up

There are cues/scenes that require a change in pulse and tempo. The composer will need to plot a variable click in those instances.

Hitting/Catching the action

Unless the composer is scoring for cartoon/ animation, he/she will not be catching all the action. This is also known as Mickey-mousing.

The average score catches less and more subtly and often plays through the scene. Composers will score the emotional shifts in the scene, usually subtly, through entry of themes, change in colour, rhythm etc...

Composers need to analyze the scene by taking note of the shifts of emotional emphasis, shifts in action, shifts in camera angles, editorial cuts.

Beginning the Sketch:

Plot out the shifts on your sequence. Note the timings

Decide on the tempo and tempo changes. Plot the click and adjust meters accordingly.

Compose the thematic material for the cue.

Plot it into the sequence. (It may not appear at the beginning of the cue)

Check to see if the entry of the theme is compatible with the visual and shift it/ adjust it until it fits.

Write around the theme- into its entry and after it is stated.

Using the 4 basic elements of melody, harmony, rhythm and instrumental colour, finish writing the cue.

The motif is a powerful compositional tool that composers have used throughout the centuries. The motif allows the composer to write with unity and leaves him/her room for variety.

A strong motif is the key to a strong score.

Examples of strings motifs;

Beethoven’s 5th Symphony

John William’s Jaws

John Barry James Bond- Octopussy

Nino Rota Godfather- Love Theme

John Williams- Return of the Jedi- Darth Vader Theme 

Bill Conti- Rocky Fanfare

HARMONIC CONSIDERATIONS

Harmonic language is the emotional palette that composers use to elicit a desired response from the audience.

Triadic shapes and traditional progressions elicit different emotions from atonal and dissonant sources. Composers need to pay attention to the tension or placidity of their harmonic choices and combinations.

Choices:

Diatonic Harmony and Chromatic Harmony 

Modal Harmony

Pandiatonicism

Quartal/ Quintal harmony

Exotic/ Synthesized scales

Limited Composition, Hexachords 

Polytonality

Atonality/ Serialism

Harmonic Devices:

Vertical Structures (Homophony)

Linear writing (contrapuntal writing)

Pedal points

Ostinato

Complex Texture

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WEEK 3 || Monday, 1st of February 2021

Topics:

Influence of Great Composers

17 Functions of Music in Film

INFLUENCE OF GREAT COMPOSERS

In week 3, Belinda showed us some of the most influential composers in the past that also affects film composers nowadays. Some of the composers and their pieces she discussed in the class were;

Stravinsky - “Rite of Spring”

Bartok - “Music for String instruments, Percussion and Celesta”

Orff - “Carmina Burana”

Brahms - ”Symphony No. 3, 3rd movement”

In the class we discussed and analysed about the musical devices that are happening in the pieces. like;

The melodies, lines, motives and identity, motivic development

The harmonies, harmonic devices; harmonic language as an emotional device

Rhythmic devices; rhythm as a thematic idea, uneven meter, polyrhythms

Orchestral devices; orchestration as a tool for characterization/setting, orchestration as an emotional device.

17 FUNCTIONS OF MUSIC IN FILM

1. Commenting

This is a function that shouldn’t be overdone. Music can put a judgement on certain movie scenes, it can state that a certain battle scene is heroic, a certain dialogue is sad etc.

In the early days of film music, the function of the music was most of the time to comment on the images. Nowadays we perceive this as an annoying redundancy most of the time but used cleverly it will help push the audience into the right direction.

2. Illustrating Movement

Another function that feels rather old fashioned and comedy. Accenting with the music every movement seen on screen is so-called mickey-mousing (coming from a scoring technique that was often used in Mickey Mouse cartoons). Hearing xylophone “plings” when someone raises his eyebrow etc. feels very cartoony however it can be great in slapstick moments and when done well even in dramatic situations.

3. Creating Plot Relationships

The use of so-called leitmotifs has been established by Richard Wagner in the opera and has often be used in film context since the early days of film music. Giving certain characters/situations/places thematic identities helps to connect certain plot points together.

When the villain gets a theme and later we hear that theme again when somebody talks about a “stranger” we get a very clear hint of who that stranger might be. It doesn’t need to be that obvious for leitmotifs to work, of course. However, be warned to not overdo that technique. Not every supporting role needs a motif/theme and it can quickly feel very old fashioned when using this method extensively.

4. Creating Atmosphere

This is one of the strongest function of music in the movies. It can set the tone of the movie. Just by the way the score comes in for the first time in the movie makes it possible to know the genre and the “level of drama” of the movie. Of course exactly this really strong function can be used to create plot twists.

5. Portray Emotions

Another very strong function. Music can serve the movie by getting into the emotions of the characters. A face with a neutral expression can be pushed into “feeling” many different things just by what kind of music is used. In the same way it works of course very well to evoke certain emotions with the audience.

6. Social/Cultural/Geographical references

Music can work very well to make clear the heritage of a character/group of characters or the geographic setting of the movie or a scene. Often so-called pseudo authenticity is used that uses music that feels like a certain location to western ears as opposed to actual music that can be heard at that location (which differs quite heavily sometimes).

If for example Irish sounding music can be heard during a certain scene etc. we can easily spot where it’s taking place without the need of visually establishing the location too much.

7. Time/Period references

Music can also work very well to establish a certain time or period. Music that sounds very baroque will put us back into the 18th century but references can also be more subtle. Flashbacks over a few decades for for example can be very well supported by the musical style which adapts to the time portrayed in the movie and therefore makes the flashbacks more understandable.

8. Connects scenes, montages

Music helps very well to glue scenes together. Rather harsh scene changes can be softened by adding music over the scene change. One of the extremes of these forms are montages which work beautiful with music. Even though we might have a lot of jumps in time/places or even periods, when the montage is covered under one score cue it will at the same time be glued together and understood as a whole.

9. Manipulate

One of the functions of music that is and has been used quite a lot, even though it is not one of the most noble functions of music. Doubtful contents of a movie can be pushed into the “right” direction by music as it has been seen with lots of propaganda movies from all periods of times. However it can also be used very cleverly. For example when a character that is being portrayed as “the good guy” but actually is the villain.

However in this case this fact will only be revealed at the end of the movie. Any moment before where the audience might get trapped into maybe thinking that he might be the evil guy, the music can jump in and manipulate in the way of working against these doubts.

10. Alternate the Perception of Time

The perception of time is a fantastic playground for music. Just by altering the tempo of music, it can heavily push or drag any scene. Imagine a chase sequence where the music pushed with lots of tempo, exciting orchestration etc. compared to the same sequence with a calm, slow music. The latter one would almost feel like it’s real but it would make the scene way less exciting. Same goes for any time perception. A scene where we see a person waiting which lasts only 30 seconds can be extended painfully in the perception by the music.

11. Imply a sense of space

Not only the perception of time but also the perception of space can be influenced by the music. Using a very intimate piano+violin duo on a space science fiction movie might seem just as wrong as using a full symphony orchestra in a two character movie that’s taking place in a small flat. Also by the use of register (very deep sub bass or very high violin notes as opposed to music that plays mainly in the middle registers) can leave an impression of “size”.

12. Creating unreal situations

Characterizing nightmares or situations of shock or being paralyzed can be done perfectly by the music. Anything that gives the feeling of not being real can be greatly enhanced by the music. Nightmares of characters can be made much more impressive with the right music.

13. Creating Contradictions

Music that sounds like something that is not expected in a certain scene will create a feeling of “something is not right”. It works great for example on dialogues that are actually neutral from the content of what is being said. However having a really dark and sinister music under this scene will leave the impression that something will be happening, something might be wrong here.

14. Parody

Music can influence very strongly whether we find a scene to be serious or laughable. It can use this ability to create fantastic parodies of characters or situations in the movie. One very simple example would be a character who pretends to be very evil and acts like this, however the music just gives him/her a quirky wannabe-evil march.

15. Physiological Conditioning

Music can also influence and stimulate our very basic emotions like fear and therefore evoke in a best case scenario every physiological consequence that comes with that emotion like racing heart, sweaty hands etc. Especially in the genre of horror and thriller, these effects are used extensively. A certain level of volume will make it impossible for the body and the conscious mind to detach from these emotions.

16. Implying Size Relationships

A little boy walking alone through a huge city is just a scene that might be very suitable for this use of film music. In this case the music can enlarge the visual differences between these things by giving the boy a little innocent flute motif on top of a very low, boiling music which might symbolize the huge city. In this way, things that can’t be seen like that on the screen can be set into relationship.

If this little innocent boy from above might actually be a really brave, heroic person who has done or is about to do big things the music might set him into another “size” dimension to the city even though the images don’t reveal that yet.

17. Psychologically Uniting The Audience 

One of the most obvious case of such a function of music are national anthems whose function of course also is, to unite the “nation”. The same works in the music. Especially euphoric, heroic emotions can be used very effectively to get this collective emotion. Often, well known songs/music pieces can be used for that as they are easier accessible than music that the audience hears for the first time.

However, even a very heroic score cue on top of a scene where the heroes of the movie walk through a crowd applauding a cheering at them after they fought the last big battle and won can create exactly this collective feeling of having been part of all that also with the audience.

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WEEK 4 || Monday, 8th of February 2021

In week 4, Belinda delve deeper into the topic she discussed briefly in week 2 about musical considerations.

Topics: 

continuity from week 2—

Musical Considerations

Melodic & Harmonic Considerations

Rhythmic Considerations

Orchestral Considerations

Scoring Examples

When discussing about HARMONIC CONSIDERATIONS, Belinda showed us some examples of good scores, like;

John Williams: Star Wars- The War Reel 1 Part 3

E.T.- The Departure

Jerry Goldsmith: The Omen- The Demise of Mrs Baylock [Youtube- The Omen Pt 8, 1:05]

The Omen- Ave Satani

Michael Small: Star Chamber- Main Title

and when discussing about RHYTHMIC CONSIDERATIONS, she showed us a reference from

Omen- Altar of Sacrifice

Hans Zimmer- Man of Steel (Drums sessions) and Oil Rig, Tornado

The first reference is to showed that rhythm can be a powerful thematic idea on its own. Rhythmic ostinatos are often employed to provide drive and forward motion. Whereas the second reference showed that the percussion section can bring into the score its own color, texture, dynamics, and emotion.

things to note:

Composers should explore asymmetric meters for variety or when the cue calls for a less even rhythmic pattern.

Aleatoric rhythms (improvised) may also be explored as long as the emotional/ dramatic direction of the cue is clearly indicated to the musicians.

ORCHESRAL CONSIDERATIONS

Orchestral colour is a powerful emotional tool. After answering the initial questions: What kind of music does this need? What tempo is this?

The next most important question is: What kind of sound does this need?

Belinda discussed about the how the size of an ensembleand how it affects the sound and the mood. She also gives reference of different scores with contrasting orchestration palette. some of them were;

Vangelis- Chariots of Fire

Daft Punk- Tron Legacy (Mixed- electronic and

Orchestral)

Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) & Atticus Ross- The Social Network

things to take note:

A change in orchestral colour will cause an emotional/ dramatic shift.

A theme can take on different meanings with different orchestration treatments.

Apart from typical idiomatic colours, there are also special effects and extended techniques that can be employed today to inject drama and emotion in new and fresh ways.

The best way to learn how to orchestrate is to study orchestral scores of the Masters, especially the scores of the Romantic and Late romantic composers.

Pay attention to their use of colour, balance, weight, span, sonority, transparency and other orchestral devices.

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Week 5 || Monday, 15th of February 2021

First of all, i was excited for the lesson by seeing the topics list that Belinda showed before the class. Because Neoclassicism has always been apart of my writing style and i draw a great amount of inspirations from the Neoclassicism composers, especially William Schuman. Although Belinda has taught us in Year 2 about this and mentioned it quite a few times, but it was a very good refresher to learn about this again and listened to her explaining about it.

Topics:

Neoclassicism

Score Analyses: 

- Stravinsky: Symphony in C - Hindemith: Mathis der Maler - Schuman - Symphony No.3

NEOCLASSICISM

basic Information:

A return to ‘Classicism’- to clarity, order, balance, economy, and emotional

restraint.

A reaction to the emotional excesses of Romanticism and dissonance of atonal 20th Century musical movement.

Emphasis on form, rhythm, contrapuntal texture, updated/ expanded harmony

Started between the 2 world wars- 1923 to1950

Composers & Works

Pulcinella — Stravinsky

Symphony in C — Stravinsky

Mathis der Maler — Hindemith

Appalachian Spring — Aaron Copland

Symphony No.5 — Prokofiev

Symphony No.3 — Roy Harris

Symphony No.3 — William Schuman

Menu of Compositional Devices

Common Practice Tonal Centres — Major and Minor

Chord Extensions — 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, and alterations

Added note chords

Chromaticism and Tonal Ambiguity

Meter-Mixed and Asymmetric Meter

Modes and other scale sources, including Synthetic scales

Polyharmony— polytonality and polychords

Non-tertian Harmony — Quartal and Quintal

Scandal Chords — clusters

Parallelism

12-tone Technique and Serialism

Limited Composition — based on intervals

Hexachord Writing

Unrelated Triads

Mirror Writing

Harmonic Direction — progression, cadential devices

Harmonic Synthesis

Indeterminate Procedures

Noise, Sound, and Electronic devices

Extended Techniques

Texture

Microtones

SCORE ANALYSIS

my thought:

I loved the examples that Belinda showed. But my favorite would be Roy Harris’s Symphony No.3. Belinda showed us this technique called “micropolyphony” or actually complex texture. There’s this section from the piece at timecode 7:00 (in youtube) where Harris used the micropolyphony and it sounded beautiful. Although every part plays different notes, but the section just sounded beautifully because their parts shared the same pitch classes. After learning about this technique, I straightly have an idea to use it in one of my recital pieces “The Rain and The Rainbow”. To feature it in the Rain part.

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WEEK 6 || Monday, 22nd of February 2021

This week, Belinda taught us the importance of analysis and how you can benefit greatly from it. I totally agree with the idea of analysis. Whenever i writing something, usually i would always draw and idea from a music that i like.  After listening to the music, usually i would transcribe the section that i like then i always learn something from it. In a way i also analyzed it. Even though only in a small chunk, but i benefit so much from it.

Topics:

Analyses: What are you looking for? What are you looking at?

Texture & Timbres

WHY ANALYSE

You’ve heard of the phrase/ method, “reading to write”, which refers to the practice of reading for the purpose of becoming a good writer.

There is an equivalent in music, and that is, analysing scores for the purpose of becoming a better composer.

We begin by developing the habit of listening to good music, and allowing the music to open our ears to good compositional and orchestral devices.

We learn/ imbibe a lot through ‘osmosis’, through a process of immersion. If we immerse ourselves in good music, some of that inspired style and musical eloquence may just seep into our subconscious.

With the score, we then apply analytical skills to better understand how the parts work together to make up the beautiful whole.

A good method for analysis is the ‘Funnel Method’- by starting with the big ideas, broad strokes first, then working through the piece with greater specificity and detail.

A good place to start is the concept of the composition, the purpose or intention for the piece.

Form and structure would be the next logical parameter for analysis: sectional form, phrasal structure and transitions.

Thematic analysis, primary and secondary materials, development and variation would be next.

Texture and Density would follow.

Orchestration, timbre, orchestral devices should be examined.

Rhythm, Meter, Articulation and other devices associated with movement, momentum should be examined.

At all times, dynamics and emotional contour should be observed and all the elements mentioned above taken into consideration.

Don’t forget to ‘pull back’ and take note of the balance of unity and contrast in the composition.

How does the composer achieve cohesion in this piece?

Is the piece comprehensible? If so, how does the composer achieve this comprehensibility?

Annotate, annotate, annotate.

Take note of first impressions and latter impressions.

Compare your analyses with others, share and compare notes.

Listen to various recordings/ conductors you can glean different things from different interpretations

Make a note or make sketches of ideas you can ‘borrow’

TEXTURE & TIMBRES

Texture is the combinations of pitch, timbre, and rhythm

Common categorization of texture: Homophony, Polyphony & Complex

Considerations:

Harmonic/scalar language

Density

Intervallic Relationships

Belinda showed us examples of different textures from different pieces. My favorite of the Micropolyphony examplewould still be in Roy Harris’ Symphony No.3 (timecode 7:00 on youtube).

—————————————————————————————WEEK 7 || Monday, 1st of March 2021

Topics:

Debrief — Composers Concert

Character, Mood, and Emotion

DEBRIEF — COMPOSERS CONCERT

Belinda talked about what went well and not from our Composers Concert 2021.

notes:

As of my piece “Mrs. Puss” that was performed, Belinda told me that the Violin in the piece was quite soft whereas it supposed to be louder since it played some lead lines. I agreed to that, however it wasn’t because of the playing, but was because of the sound that was coming out from the speaker that the audience heard. To me (as the musician who also played together in the band), the Violin sounded okay from my perspective. I was hoping that that they will adjust that in the mixing post-production.

Khushi and Matt also had the same issue with the balancing. But really it was more of the mixing.

Another issue that they were facing was muddiness.

As of the other pieces (string quartet), Belinda referred many of it to be not-so cohesive and comprehensible. and that is one of the key takeaway that we can learn from. The solution lies in the composer himself actually. 

Belinda told us that when a piece is cohesive and comprehensible, you won’t notice it, but when it is not then you’ll notice that. I understood what she meant and that’s what i also felt like when hearing the pieces for the first time in the google drive that was shared to me. 

A few miscommunication between me and my other peers. Can be improved.

Otherwise, it was a quite successful show. Now just waiting for the release date!!!

regarding the issues that we had (compositionally), Belinda gave us notes about a few things which we can learn and apply it when we’re writing for our pieces for our final recital;

FOCUS & DIRECTION

Intentionality

Focal line(s), focal sound?

Unity (the constant) vs Contrat (variation) beyond the structural, the vamp, the progression. Where are you taking the listener?

Emotional Contour — shape and climax(es)

Pace—maintaining and building momentum

ARTICULATION, DYNAMICS, AND EXECUTION

Ensemble playing & hits:

Accents — the long & short of it

Communication & Tightness

Contrast hits with flow, unison with open voicings

Tight with dynamics, play with changing dynamics

Contrat quick passage with space and breath

regarding communication and tightness, Belinda also critique about my band’s articulation. She told me that my double bassist in the band (Eugene) seemed to be the only who gave the correct articulation whereas the others are too focused in playing the right notes. I mean, playing the right notes is crucial, but afterwards you should learn how to enjoy the song. Honestly, i head bopping and trying to enjoy the piece too, but i guess its true that i was still too afraid to play wrong notes and my gestures was too small. And i guess hm my head bopping was some sort of....hmm..how should i say it.. only gimmick? and perhaps that showed too.

VERTICALS & SONORITY

Pay attention to register- close intervals at lower registers will sound muddy

If the verticals are ‘hot’, it will sound muddier!

Use polytonality with intention & caution. Control dissonances, voice appropriately.

Combine familiar shapes (e.g. triads & quartals) to construct polyharmonies

FORM

The most complex of compositions can be comprehended if FORM is apparent

Pay attention to constructing clear sections (that flow/ transition cohesively)

Pay attention to building & developing motives/ themes: maintaining unity, yet creating diversity/ contrast

important questions:

What am i saying?

How am i saying it?

Finally, Belinda linked it to the lesson——————

CHARACTER, MOOD, AND EMOTION

Music and extra-musical associations

Clarity of expression

Tools:

Melodic line(s)

Harmony/ Verticals

Texture

Orchestral color & devices

All about sound:

The overtones series-consonances and dissonances

Melodic and motivic ideas: steps, skips, and leaps

Intervallic tendencies

Melodic Shape and Contour

Phrasing, Cadences, and Breath

Primary, Subsidiary

Harmonic Language— 

Tonality (poly, neo)

Atonality, Key/Mode Colours

Chord/Vertical Colours

Rhythm— 

Pulse, Tempo, Natural rhythms

Momentum 

Duple/Triple and Asymmetric Meter 

Subdivisions, Triplets

Orchestration— 

Orchestral Colors 

Orchestral Devices 

Orchestral Elements and Texture

Form and Structure—

Organization

Development

Sense of Unity

Recognition, Logic, Cohesion, Comprehensibility

FINAL RECITAL

finally Belinda briefly talked about our Final Recital and some checklists;

String Quartet

Wind Quartet: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon

Optional: laptop playback

Possible Combinations:

Full ensemble + Laptop playback

String Quartet

Featured Wind(s) with Strings Quartet

Featured String with Wind ensemble

—————————————————————————————WEEK 8 || Monday, 8th of March 2021

NO LESSON.

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 9 || Monday, 15th of March 2021

Topics:

Key Centers/tonal Centres

Shifting Tonalities

Neotonality

KEY CENTRES

There are many degrees of key center gravity or keylessness

Apart from chordal progression, melodic direction, repetition of notes and instrumentation can suggest/emphasize tonality

MODULATION

The concept of Modulation is based on the relatedness of any chord to any of the 12 tonal centers.

‘Traditional modulations’ are based on pivotal chords.

‘Less traditional modulations’ may be abrupt parallel shifts or based on looser pivots, such as pivot notes and then softened by voice-leading.

POLYTONALITY

Be careful that the combined effect does not produce a haphazard sound. The music must be conceived in polytonal context and not sound accidental.

The composer needs to work this in a ‘total organization’ framework, paying attention to tonal planes.

The Harmonic total must have a sense of direction, flow, tension design and textural consistency.

Use spacing, register, texture and omission to create clarity and avoid muddiness.

examples of displaced tonality;

SERIAL HARMONY

The choice of notes in Serial Harmony are either dependent on the row (Total Organization) or include endless possibilities if the method of serial composition is less strict.

Intervallic relationships: consonances and dissonances are important factors in deciding how verticals are formed.

Melodic direction, voice-leading and texture also determine the overall effect of sonorities.

Motivic/ thematic features support cohesion and comprehensibility.

Rhythmic features and articulation are prominent characteristics.

examples of serial harmony;

NEOTONALITY

Tonality that is not based on any particular diatonic system nor functional harmony (Common Practice Period)

Features non-traditional concepts such as tonal assertion or contrapuntal movement around a tonal centre (which may shift).

Combining the features of Common Practice Period tonality with 20th Century tonal ambiguity and atonal characteristics

Neotonal Composers

Stravinsky

Bartok

Kodaly

Janacek (maleva likes him)

Vaughn Williams

Prokovief

Shostakovich

Hindemith (maleva likes him too)

Samuel Barber

Villa-Lobos

Ginastera

William Schuman (MALEVA’S FAVORITE)

Roy Harris

William Walton

personal note:

on my personal note, i listen to these composers during my free time. and i found my pieces that really interest me. Some even has become my own personal “temp track” for my recital pieces! for example; Janacek’s “The Cunning Little Vixen: II. Allegro” was my inspiration when writing my piece “Purple-Pinkish Cotton Candy Sky” and “Full Moon”.  Other than Janacek, I also took great inspiration from pieces from William Schuman, and others! Don't believe me?? Look at my SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!!! i legitly made playlists for each of the pieces that i want to write. I collect pieces that inspires me the most and built my creativity based on that.

maleva’s playlists for “Purple Pinkish Cotton Candy Sky”;

maleva’s playlists for “Full Moon”

BACK TO THE LESSON;

at the end of the class, Belinda finalised the instruments that we will be having for our recital and remind us again regarding some checklists.

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 10 || Monday, 22nd of March 2021

This week’s class was so interesting, as we dissected the piece of our own BELINDA titled JOB 

Topics: 

Deconstructing JOB — A Symphonic Dance

Thinking timbrally

JOB — A SYMPHONIC DANCE

form

narrative driven

Dance form

“Through-composed”

Thematic thread

sections in order;

Parade of the Celestials

Gigue of the Adversary

The Challenge

Sabean Attack

Chaldean Attack

The Wind-Collapse-The Sores-Job’s Wife’s Curse

Sitting in Silence

Duet (Dialogue 1)

Dialogue2

Dialogue 3

The Whirlwind

My Eyes Sees Thee

Repent and Retract

Coda-Allegretto

THINKING TIMBRALLY

Wind Quintet & String Quartet configurations

Woodwind

Individual characteristics-flutey, reedy, hollow

Combines timbres

Dove-tailing

Spacing

Register and Dynamics 

Harmonic balance

Unison and Doublings

Strings

Individual characteristics

Spacing

Harmonic balance

Register and Dynamics

Unison and Doublings

Combinations

Timbral combinations

Oboe & Cello

Bassoon & Cello

Flute and French Horn

Solo Wind with Strings

Solo Strings with Wind Ensemble

Contrapuntal, mul-timbral applications

Textures: harmonic textures, contrapuntal streams

Percussion & Miscellaneous

Definite and Indefinite pitch writing

Accents, shimmer, highlights, weight

As a features instrument

Orchestration Principles

Balance: feature, main, secondary...

Dynamic and emotional contour

Clarity

Span, register

Weight, Float

Interest

Momentum

Readability

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 11 || Monday, 29th of March 2021

Topics: 

Review Form

Analyze Stravinsky’s Babel

Analyze Schwanter’s Aftertones of Infinity

FORM

Binary Form: A B

Ternary Form: A1 B A2

Sonata Form;

Exposition: 1st Subject/ Transition/ 2nd Subject/ Codetta

Development

Recapitulation: 1st Subject/ Transition/ 2nd Subject/ Coda

Simple Rondo Form: A1 B A2 C A3

Rondo-Sonata Form

Exposition: 1st Subject/ Transition/ 2nd Subject/ 1st Subject

Development

Recapitulation: 1st Subject/ Transition/ 2nd Subject/ 1st Subject/ Coda

Theme and Variation: featuring a main theme followed by altered iterations

Passacaglia: A series of variations over a basso ostinato

STRAVINSKY — BABEL

texture and density

Ostinato

Verticals

Chorale treatment

Narrative-Form

Momentum and Motion

SCHWANTER — AFTERTONES OF INFINITY

** i think this piece is amazing. Belinda also mentioned that this piece won a Nobel prize! there were a few things to take note of like;

Shimmering musical timbres

Layers of Sound

Protoset: C#-A-F-Gb-C-B-Ab-Eb-D

Predominant intervals

can be watched from here;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sns6KLvrb_o

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 12 || Monday, 5th of April 2021

Topics:

Review Compositional Devices

Analyze Toru Takemitsu’s A Flock Descends into a Pentogonal Garden

COMPOSITIONAL DEVICES

Common Practice Tonal Centers- Major and Minor

Chord Extensions- 9ths, 11ths, 13ths and alterations

Added note chords

Chromaticism and Tonal Ambiguity

Meter- Mixed and Asymmetric Meter

Modes and other Scale sources, including Synthetic scales

Polyharmony- polytonality and polychords

Non-tertian Harmony- Quartal and Quintal

Secundal Chords- clusters

Parallelism

12-tone Technique and Serialism

Limited Composition- based on intervals

Hexachord Writing

Unrelated Triads

Mirror Writing

Harmonic Direction- progression, cadential devices

Harmonic Synthesis

Indeterminate Procedures

Noise, Sound & Electronic devices

Extended Techniques

Texture

Microtones

TORU TAKEMITSU 

Belinda mentioned how amazing that Takemitsu — although his music is very modern, but he would always never lose his Japanese touches in his music. Belinda also mentioned us about the importance of having a signature sound in our music. And it’s good if we can feature our own identity like where we come from for example.

Takemitsu’s music:

Straddled “parallel music cultures.”

Bi-musicality in modern Japanese culture: mixture of Western music with traditional Japanese music

In this piece, he uses the pentatonic scale (called the yo scale in Japanese.)

TORU TAKEMITSU — A FLOCK DESCENDS INTO A PENTOGONAL GARDEN

Clustered verticals

Silvery glisses

Lyrical melodies

Metallic, bell-like textures

Pentatonic base: C#- Eb- F#- Ab- Bb

Belinda also showed us some examples of some Contemporary String Quartets pieces;

String Quartet No. 2, "musica instrumentalis": III. Double Triple Gigue Fugue- by Aaron Jay Kernis, performed by Jasper String Quartet

link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1dxsWGrtzQ

String Quartet No. 1, Op. 8: IV. Fugue- by Alan Hovhaness, performed by Shanghai Quartet

link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTQmztjK_2g

Love letters for String Quartet by Carter Pann, performed by Ying Quartet

link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER0faKEz0Ss

my personal note; 

The “Love Letters” by Carter Pann was my personal favorite and i even listened back to it after the class ended.

—————————————————————————————

WEEK 13 to WEEK 16 

throughout these weeks we had no more lessons but more consultation for our final recital. 

[secretradiobrooklyn]

SECRET RADIO | Sept.5.20

“Crosscountry Rabbithole” curated in the van on a drive between Brooklyn and the countryside of Illinois on Labor Day Weekend 2020 (Hear it here.)

As there’s still very much a pandemic going on, we really didn't want to stop overnight if we didn’t have to on our drive from New York to Illinois, so after we exhausted the fantastic Saturday NPR lineup we figured a great way to stay awake was compiling the second issue of WBFF. You’ll hear a lot of the African and tropical vibe from last week, plus more French yé-yé and Europe in general. Here’s the track list, and of course, detailed notes below: 

WBFF, édition 2,  5.SEP.20

1. Michel Polnareff - La lezione del capellone

Le Beatnik is one of Paige’s all-time favorite songs — the guitar is just such a rad riff, and it was a real debate on which version to put on, the French version of the Italian, and we figured we didn’t have much Italian yet… plus check out how he rolls his Rs! That’s one thing about the major hitters of French pop in the ‘60s — they all sing in different languages. (Keep an ear out for France Gall later!)

2. Antoine Dougbé - Honton Soukpo Gnos

Dougbé just hit us like a ton of bricks — these arrangements are completely perfect to our ears. So detailed, and with super funk and super Velvet Underground tones at the same time (check out the freakin guitar solo, and guitar outro), plus of course a Beninese pulse that is just unstoppable. This one was produced, uncredited, by Melomé Clement, and Dougbé isn’t the singer, he’s the composer.

3. The Velvet Underground - Cool It Down

The guitar tones here come so naturally out of the T.P. Orchestre sound. There’s plenty of stuff he’s saying that I don’t understand, and he’s saying it in English.  

4.  Ranil - Ranil y Su Conjunto Tropical - Licenciado

This is another Analog Africa release, with a fantastic album cover. Paige dove into it and soon found that she was checking every day to see if the vinyl was out, cos it was under 300 copies and falling. It’s got a parrot on the cover that looks like the Greenwood parakeets. This song is how she learned that she loves cumbia music.

5. T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo - Trop Parler C’est Maladie

The guitar launches into these endless patterns that wind around an unknown number of percussionists. Everyone feels so fluid together. “Trop parler c’est maladie”: “Too much talking is bad,” literally, which Paige imagines as essentially meaning, “Let’s stop talking and make out.” But we don’t really know.

    The way the voices layer together when they’re singing, and then the guitar rises into the spaces between them, twisting and winding and droning and melodizing, is just completely mesmerizing. This incredible guitarist is Papillon, and he died in 1982. What a huge loss — he plays so eloquently and so conversationally.

6. Janka Nabay & the Bubu Gang - Somebody

I learned about Janka Nabay by hearing that he had just died. Listening to KDHX, the DJ (Caron House?) said she was sorry to hear about his passing and put on this song and I had to stop driving so I could just listen to all of the patterns crossing. I sure would have loved to see this band perform live — I feel like this is a specific reason we want to be in NYC, to meet people with capabilities I hadn’t previously known existed and work together.

7. Anna Karina - Roller Girl

Our friends Phil and Archie are an intercontinental love affair. When Phil tries to express an American accent, it’s always dripping with RRRRRs. This song feels like that, a French singer dramatically unrolling her Rs like she’s messing with her English teacher.

8. Wells Fargo - Watch Out

We believe we first heard about Wells Fargo from a Snap Judgment episode. It’s really great, starting with how they picked the name from the side of a stagecoach in a Western movie as a completely random phrase.

9. Patrick Coutin - J’aime regarder les filles

This song — this pretty freakin radical recording — became a huge hit in France in 1981 and apparently served as the soundtrack of that period. It was his big hit.

That main phrase he keeps repeating translates to “I like to watch girls on the beach,” which gets weirder and sometimes creepier with each pass.

10. Jacques Dutronc - Les cactus

Credit to Pandora for bringing us Jacques Dutronc! He sounds like Bob Dylan on a lot of songs, but he doesn’t seem to be the Dylan of France — that would be more like Serge Gainsbourg. But we could be wrong about that too. He’s also longtime partners with Francoise Hardy, which made them two of the hottest and hippest and most talented musicians of the ’60s.  

Clip from Diablo Menthe 

This is the clip of the schoolkids that we told you about, singing the Sylvie Vartan song from last week.

11. El Rego - Zon Dede

One of our main appreciations now is how deeply and broadly and internationally James Brown hit the ’60s and ’70s. People seemed to be struck by him and his approach planetwide, and it shows up like a shockwave through the whole era. This is Benin’s El Rego (thanks to Analog Africa once more for pointing him out), and his whole character seems to be in conversation with James Brown, shouting at each other from opposite sides of the world.

12. T.P. Poly-Rythmo, Bentho Gustave - Iya Me Dji Ki Bi Ni

The level of simultaneous groove and drone happening here is just unstoppable. This song has a sound I feel like I’ve always been looking for, not to play but just to dance and freak out to. Bentho Gustave is T.P. Poly-Rythmo’s bassist. We just got his headlining album on vinyl, so amazing!

13. Cambodian Rocks 1 - Yol Aularong - Jeas Cyclo (Ride Cyclo)

It’s amazing to think about how many sudden collisions of American and Cambodian experiences there were in the ’60s — so many disastrous ones, but also whatever combination of factors lead to the existence of this music. It’s so incredibly skilled and smooth, and I want to know more about who made this and how.

14. Adriano Celentano - Prisencolinensinainciusol

Don’t miss the videotape version of the live TV version via YouTube. Celentano is an Italian singer, but this is him tweaking Americans with a songful of non-English English.

15. France Gall - Der Computer Nr. 3

Another example of French pop multilingualism. One of Paige’s favorite voices, just throwing herself into the melodies all casual and easy breezy. We found out about this song because Paige was listening to a bunch of Quebecois radio, and they were talking about her, and they were playing a bunch of clips of her performing, including this one. It turned out that she had just passed on. We had to find it find this track.

16. Saigon Rock and Soul - Thành Mái - Tóc Mai Sợi Vắn Sợi Dài (Long, Uneven Hair)

What a vocal performance! Everything about the tones and melody of this recording — voice, organ, guitar — make it feel like a dream of hardcore hippie rock, minus even one shred of San Francisco. Every time I hear this song hit its crescendo I am completely in its thrall.

17. Ofege - It’s Not Easy

So these guys are from Lagos, Nigeria, and were in high school when they recorded this. Which is just freakin perfect. It sounds like enthusiasm and bad gear and good voices and that singular feeling of being sixteen and having a stone blast.

18. Avolonto Honore et l’Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - Sètché Wêda

It took some time for us to find this song. This version is from an album we found online, but it also exists on an Analog Africa album. The hand drums locked in with the guitar lick for the verse get so deep when the other voices come in. And the cascading guitar riff creates a sudden electric waterfall, while the horns point straight over to jazz and western rock and soul.

19. Ranil y su Conjunto Tropical - Marlenita

Paige became completely smitten with this album, which we found after getting caught up in an album promising Peruvian chichidelica.

20. National Wake - Everybody Loves Freedom

When I started looking for African punk, I found this set of videos of National Wake and pretty much all of them are this good. They’re a Black and white band (the first?) from South Africa in apartheid ’70s and the rock and punk that they make overflows with feeling. There’s a documentary called Punk in Africa that clearly needs watching.

21. English Beat - Mirror in the Bathroom

The live version of this song really amps up the energy from the studio version I’m used to. This song always makes me think of my friend Audrey, who made me a mixtape when I was just a wee twig, and this was one of the songs that broke through and made a lasting impression. I think of her every time.

22. Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight

“Translation from the original English hrm hrm hrm”

This song structure is so very cool, where he’s kind of playing around, setting the stage, warming up his story, and then the horns crash in with a shocker part, which gives away to this cartoonish, endlessly repeating horn phrase, like a piece of early Disney footage on repeat. Also like loop-based recordings that were still more than a decade in the future. This is one of my favorite versions of Fela, where he’s exploding with a new self and a new mode of music.

23. Fela Ransome Kuti and His Koola Lobitos - Ololufe

Now some time travel - this is from a collection of earliest Fela Kuti, when he’s in a completely different mode, more in the high life and samba form. He and his band are playing in a crowd-pleasing style, and it’s really very beautiful, with gorgeous vocals and horn passages. But this is also all prelude to Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a character we haven’t even glimpsed yet when this song was recorded.

24. William Onyeabor - Atomic Bomb

We really don’t know much about this song except that it seems to always show up at just the right time — or maybe its presence just makes the time right.

25. Assa Cica - Tinma Sa Le

We were down a different rabbithole when we saw this video appear that we couldn’t pass up. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rpI09vbq_Q) It’s a long and winding song that was one of Assa Cica’s most notable hits in Benin.

I love the three slapped notes in the middle of the song that never come back — that’s the way to slap. The bass throughout this song, but especially in the choruses, is exceptional, telling its own separate story but staying in relation with the vocals. And Paige’s favorite part of the melody is the bridge.

We just learned that Assa Cica died on May 22 of this year. It feels so strange to fall hard for a person’s music just as they leave the stage for good. (See also Janka Nabay.) It also feels good to realize you’ve already become part of a musician’s music living and giving beyond their own lives.

——

…And now we are safely arrived in the woods of Illinois. Time for a whole bunch of screenprinting and music listening!

[ofieugogyshz]

30 utapri questions!

@dekiaibadchoices​ tagged me forever ago and i only noticed a week ago that there was a blank version linked in gmdsjdksjds

30 utapri questions! Tag yo friends

1. Your best boy? this one!

2. Your least favorite boy? i don’t dislike any of them?? oh wait I guess heavens counts nowadays huh. Eiichi. Not sorry. Miss me with him. I’ll take Nagi over him and I don’t even like Nagi either but at least he realizes his mistake sooner and tries to fix it instead of having to get shoved at and told that he’s a manipulative prick.

3. A character that you never thought you would love as much as you do now? hmmm... all of the 11? Maybe Reiji, but that’s like mostly attributed to @dekiaibadchoices​! I love seeing how happy he makes her. :D 

4. A character you can relate to in any way? goSH. I’m actually.. .not sure... I mean I do relate to otoya and how much he loves fun and brightening up people’s days, but i’m not nearly as... good at it? as on top of it?

5. A character that you think deserves more love? Is Natsuki or Syo popular by themselves or only in a pair? Because, individually, they both do. And Yamato and Van are a lot better in mlk, but i don’t know if there’s any material between s4 and mlk, because i would LOVE to see yamato’s character arc/progression from his “tch” to “AND YOU’RE AWESOME, AND YOU! AND YOU!” like he’s frickin’ oprah

6. A character you would want as your partner/lover? ehhhhhh none of them really? like maybe a few it’d be interesting but mostly i’m just like, nah. they’re fine on their own/with others.

7. A character you would want as your mentor/senpai? oh!! um. .... I don’t know. D: Maybe Natsuki? I feel like he would be very good about being nurturing and helping build confidence in people who feel unconfident or don’t like themselves...

8. Your favorite ship? haruka x tomo? none tbh it’s just my “if i had to pick a ship”

9. A character that you want to cosplay/have already cosplayed? my son!!!! and maybe if we ever saw more of tomochika, her. and a friend wants to cosplay syo and she’s small enough that i could easily be natsuki tol to her smol at only 5′6. xD

10. Favorite side character? TOMOCHIKA AND RINGO

okay the next few are about songs and i haven’t looked up the lyrics for most of these so i’m mostly going based off what i know/recall of them from the mobile game...

11. Your favorite solo song?

shit. I don’t know. I like a lot of them. There’s a lot of Tokiya’s and Natsuki’s, and then there’s Brand New Melody and some other one of Otoya’s... 

12. Your favorite duet song? QUITE A FEW BUT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BABY!! MY STRAWBERRY!! AND HYPERXSUPERXLOVER!!

13. Your favorite trio song?

I DON’T KNOW i had to boot up the game and the first one I found was Dream More Than Love

14. Your favorite group song?

god all of the movie songs were good but i think QN killed it with The World Is Mine because GOD THAT WAS SO AMAZING IN THE MOVIE, but then again, Fantasic Prelude brought in all the tears. Every time that slow build.... and I’m not a crier and laughed at all the other girls in the audience that did. BUT NOW I’M THE ONE THAT’S CRYING AND GETTING EMOTIONAL.

15. Your least favorite song? ugh... the first heaven’s song? esp when they were three but even after 7 it just. sounds bland. but i’m supposed to believe that it’s THIS EPIC THRILLING HIT??? like kids sit down and listen to QN’s two songs from the movies then come back and tell me what a thrilling epic song in your repertoire looks like.

i just don’t really like most of heavens and i’m also really mad that their two songs in the movie were so damnably catchy. fuck them.

16. Your favorite singer?

NATSUKI. his [satsuki?] songs are so. heavy. oh my god. tokiya is a close second though because wow beautiful voice.

17. Your favorite group/trio/duo?

fuck if i know i just go ha ha song make me go brrr

18. Your favorite member of Starish?

otoya!!! love my son!!!

19. Your favorite member of Quartet Night?

*flips coin*

heads. looks like it’s reiji today. tails is ranmaru.

20. Your favorite member of Heavens?

uhhhh van. him and eiji are the only ones that didn’t make me go ugh at upon their episode/interactions at any point in time, and eiji is sure, pure bean too good for this world in a way different than otoya but he’s just not the kind that appeals to me meanwhile van is a fun flirt---HEY GOME I FOUND YOU AN IDOL VERSION OF YOUR CURRENT FLAME. ha ha jk gome would never read this-- but also really sweet and fun. and then yamato i didn’t like at all but his movie? personality? upgrade?? Really fun. Love it. Would have loved him more from the start if they showed this evolution in the season.

21. Your favorite seiyuu/voice actor?

I don’t really follow them tbh and I’ve only seen Otoya’s, Tokiya’s and Syo’s content, and it’s a tie between mamoru and shimono

22. Favorite Drama CD? haven’t listened to any

23. Your favorite shining live card? UM CRAP this one

LOOK AT HOW CUTE MY SON IS??? LOOK AT THAT SMILE!! THAT ADORABLE FACE!!! I LOVE HIM

24. Your favorite song beatmap? buhhh i don’t even play anymore outside of auto tbh so i can’t recall off the top of my head

25. Your least favorite song beatmap? ha ha ha ha anything on 13* and above

26. Black Deja Vu or White Gravity? i forget what each one sounded like but i think black had more of the boys i liked in it

27. Utapri merch that you own/want? I can’t recall if there’s another line of starish alters that aren’t ml1000, but if there ARE...... otherwise I think that i’ve gotten most of what I want? I mean I wouldn’t mind the rest of otoya’s plushes but i’m also not gonna.... repeatedly check ebay for ‘em.  maybe for the full size bag of the little one that I got?? 

28. How did you get into Utapri? klab advertized shining live in llsif as a text notice or something? or maybe just on the en twitter??? anyways my friends and I looked, I was the only one who could get it to play on their phone, and i KNEW otoya would instantly become my fave bc he sounded so much like my best girl rin, and WOW. GUESS WHAT. I WAS RIGHT!!!! who knew.

29. A set theme in shining live that you want to see in the future? fuck i forgot it but there WAS a set that’s in llsif that’s not in sl that i was like “this would be so great to see one for the utapri boys”

30. Why do you love your best boy?

*cracks knuckles* OKAY EVERYONE GET READY I CAN ACTUALLY WORDS WHEN IT COMES TO MY KIDS OKAY

so. first off, rin is my best llsif girl and they run a LOT of similarities in character profile alone. they’re both happy people who have a lot of energy and smile a lot and are always beaming happiness and I just REALLY love the sunshine kid trope okay?

now, for otoya specifically, i LOVE that it’s totally canon that his smile is like sunlight on a cloudy day, that he’s just this. super sweet and earnest, endearing kid who will help people when he can, however he can, if they ask or don’t that doesn’t really matter, so long as he is allowed to help then he’s gonna do his best at helping!!! He works REALLY HARD!! he cares people. a lot. so much. big heart!!!! biggest heart in all of starish if i do say so myself. maybe in all of utapri boys. he’s just so. caring!!! and good!! I DARE you to find and tell me something bad about my son. I DARE YOU. it’ll be a waste of time because you WON’T find anything. 

and oh my gosh his reactions in the anime are a GOLDMINE, TREASURE TROVE of reaction images. i can have a whole ass platter of every emotion under the son and i hate that sometimes thanks eiichi. he’s just. so funny sometimes and it’s adorable and precious and he’s just so pure and good and sweet and kind and caring...!

he also!! back to the working hard thing!! He works hard bc he came from humble roots. I don’t know much about the VNs so all of my knowledge is from the anime and shining live, but like, orphan?? who works hard to learn how to write songs and play the guitar? and then still comes back to the orphanage he grew up at to volunteer and help there after he debuts??? like. i love this boy. he is so sweet and willing to give back and HE IS SO PRECIOUS?????? im. good kid. 

and!!! i hate bringing up this shithole writing of an episode. it can use SO MANY IMPROVEMENTS but so can all of s4 in geneneral hahahahahah BUT ANYWAYS!

he re-experiences trauma that he had amnesia of? no thanks to some certain megane asshole. and, through poorly structured writing, he learns to move on from his pain and learns how to smile again? Like. baby. sweetie. precious son. you did not deserve that, it was a horrible Break the Cutie moment that did NOT need to happen like that, and you deserved better resolution than what you got. 

but the point of it is! he learns how to smile again through his pain. that doesn’t quite make it sound right in the way that is inspiring, but like. he... has his own battle with depression and grief and pain and loss of innocence/childhood, and he still manages to retain a childish manner and happiness and spark, and smiles through that, and he smiles because he wants others to be happy and not suffer the same pain.

[hazydreamerneko]

2017「Shingeki no Kiseki」8/7 Concert in Chiba (PART III)

Original Report (Chinese) found here

Original Text (Chinese) by：初霜翼 Image report by：-流曰-

Translations by: HazyDreamerNeko/LostNeko (Referencing Lyrics Translations by marchen-v-friedhof)

Finally at the last part with Encores! Lots of MC which are my favorite to both read and translate XD

It’s SUPER LONG so I split it to 3 parts, this is part 3 Part 1 Part 2

Any use of the original text please contact the Chinese site/writer to seek permission. Any mistakes with translations please feel free to contact me!

Encore

Commander returned to the stage after we shouted 「Jäger」again.

Commander: Thank you everyone. I underestimated everyone from the Ichihara branch. I didn’t expect you to start shouting 「Jäger」before the 321 countdown.

Commander: There were almost no MC during the main concert, we kept a very fast pace until the end. So we hope to conduct the encore in a relatively more relaxed manner~ (Audiences cheered) Before that, where are the P-seats until?

(P-seaters raised their hands in the audiences)

Commander: There was a questionnaire for P-seaters this time, it was for you to choose a song. The one chosen for Ichihara concert was 《Nikagetsugo no Kimi e (To You in Two Months) 》. This was your unanimous… no, it was not unanimous, it was chosen by majority rules. Only in this concert will it be fully per your wishes. If 《Nikagetsugo》appears too frequently the in the future, we might adjust it. But what is this for?

Commander: We frequently do interesting things for SH. For LH, this time I want to concentrate on doing music… not that I don’t concentrate on doing music for SH! No! Just that SH still need other things like acting skills and such! So this time I want to try something refreshing for LH.

Commander: There are various types of sounds in the songs. This time, even though I want to make it as simple and easy to understand as possible, there will always be a limit to that, I can’t concede further after lowering to a certain extend. Personally, I, too, hope you can hear the love I pour into making it yourself. Should I say it’s S-ish (TN:…sadistic), I also don’t want to underestimate you all too much. Perhaps that’s why the CD doesn’t sell much. A lot of adjustments are made now, for all the sound to be tweaked just right, hoping all the various sounds can be conveyed. But everyone has their preferences, some prefer it to be more like rock music, some prefer the sound of strings, so you may feel that there are some sounds you really want to listen to closely, but you just can’t hear it well. So this time we prepared this segment, remixing the songs chosen by the votes live. You make take this chance to clearly listen to parts of the songs that sounds unclear originally.

Commander: But one song is very long, so likely only half will be played. We will try it today, if everyone here reacts positively, then we will continue this segment. If all of you find it rather uninteresting, then this segment might be gone by the time we are in Tokyo. To prevent that from happening, I will do my best as well.

Commander: Then I will choose someone….. there in the second row! You with the glasses! In 《To You in Two Months》Which instrument do you most want to hear?

(The chosen one was completely caught off guard, and was stuck for a long time)

Commander: Yes, P-seats are the seats that you pay to be force into uncomfortable situations!

(The audiences shouted \Do your best--!/ together. The chosen one hesitated for a long time, then said 「Drums」)

Commander: Alright, Drums. The staff are making the preparations now. There’s no way to prepare for this beforehand, only after hearing your answers do the staff members hurriedly arrange the preparations.

- DJ Revo -

Very soon, the staff pushed a Mixer onto the stage. The front of the Mixer has the LH logo printed on it.

Audiences \Oh oh---?/

Commander: An instrument of civilization!

Then, the staff set up the mic stand beside the Mixer (He can’t hold the mic because his hands will be on the mixer) Commander went behind the mixer.

None of the audiences could suppress their laughter… Someone said \Looks a lot like a school principle--/

(The mixer looked like a podium, once he stood behind it he almost looked like he was about to give a speech)

Commander: Hm? …… This isn’t new, right?

(The image of Revo-Sensei behind the podium had already appeared on the 2013 Gomen-T)

Commander: I look like a DJ right

(Then he started to sway as if to the rhythm of music)

Commander: The sound of drums is coming in–– It’s coming in –– So let’s give it a check ––

(The prelude to Nikagetsugo begins)

Commander: Yes good the sound is there. Next, let’s raise the sound of the drums a bit ––

Then he started playing around with it. Bringing this sound up~ bring that sound down~ Making the drums louder~ softer~ removing all the accompaniment, leaving only his own voice reverberating~ Making his voice louder, softer, louder softer loudersofterloudersofterloudersofter …… He was too High from the fun he was having and halfway through the equipment suddenly ceased functioning. It paused for a while.  Thereafter he only left the drums and the voice playing, and even then, he still cut the voice right when it was about to get lit.  

Commander: This is how I can normally play around with it. All sorts of different versions could be created in this way. But it’s usually not ideal to overemphasise a particular instrument like this, as I still hope to present the various sounds together. With this segment, lots of different versions will be born from this tour (It will be remixed in a new way as specified in every concert.)

Commander: Next up will be the encore everyone is waiting for. But actually, LH don’t really have that many songs…… How many years has it been? 5 years? I can’t even really remember. Simultaneously doing SH and LH and SH and LH and also going on the radio occasionally… There really isn’t many CDs despite it being five years. Perhaps it will be more substantial by its 10th year anniversary? But this is the only aspect I can’t improve on my own. Please offer me jobs –– (Slight bow)

Commander: Aside from LH, there were lots of songs written for the SH side. Even though this time, the LH tour is to lower the entry barrier, welcoming those who didn’t know us at all, there will still be some who came here from the SH side. For those familiar with SH, if you hear songs from SH, you may feel “Ah! I can’t believe I heard songs from SH today, I’m super lucky”. For those unfamiliar, after you listen to the songs, I hope you will feel that “Eh, the other songs from the Sunglasses-ojisan are also not bad”. So there will also be a few songs from SH this time.

Commander: After all, aside from the songs included in CDs, there are also some songs from SH that are currently not for sale.

(……Wait? Wait a second?? Encore will include songs from SH that are not being sold??? What is it it couldn’t be new songs??? That’s impossible, this is still the opening show there couldn’t be new CD in the next half a year? So what is it, the Live-only songs? If it’s a Live-only song won’t that be the song by a certain golden haired falsely similar person first revealed at this exact venue six years ago……) (TN:… took me a few seconds to realise the dubious falsely similar person they refer to is probably… Idofried… no wonder the author’s reservations…. X”D)

Commander: Anyways, let’s allow the band members to come up first.

The band members came up one after another, and the fangirls below were shouting: JUNJI––! YUKI––! Acchan––!! While waving their hands. Members on stage also waved a little.

Commander (stood aside and watched for a while): There will be member intro segment later~

Only then did the audiences calm down.

Commander: 「It will be interesting to let this person sing this song」 It’s with this thought that I wanted to have this person sing the next song –– As for which song is it, let’s leave it as a pleasure of discovery once the song begins.

(……It’s apparent that it won’t be a Revocal song. So they are letting one of the singers from this concert cover an SH song, who will it be ––)

Encore 1: Kimi ga Umarete kuru Sekai (The World You will be Born Into)

The sound of water could be heard the moment the prelude started, and the bubbles effect that were used during the 10th Anniversary concert (Can be seen in The Assorted Horizon) appeared on screen.

( ––AaaaaaaaAAAAHHHHH?!)

The singer who came on stage was Eiko Matsumoto. The one who sang 《14 Lettered Message》as Eren’s mother.

(It is??! Actually this person singing this song?!?! Wait that’s too unexpected?!? Reasonable?!?!)

Everyone screamed. (Then quickly quietened down)

All the narrations were done by Eiko Matsumoto herself, none of it was cut. Her singing was very steady. The narrations were also not bad. The actions were the same as the ones for the 10th anniversary included in TAH. It was very good.

After she finished the song, Commander came up again.

Commander: 《Kimi ga Umarete kuru Sekai》, the CD that included this song is no longer being sold.   (––Wait weren’t you just advertising to people! You were getting them interested, but then the first song that comes up is one they can no longer purchase!)

Audiences immediately: \Rerelease please!!!!!/

Commander (Completely ignoring audience’s request for rerelease): Live is a singularly unique encounter between us, please remember that when you leave. Perhaps you can only listen to this song this one time, and you will never hear it again in the future.

\Ehh––/

Commander: Ah, but since there’s already been effort put into rehearsing it, it will probably be performed again in the future.

Commander: The song just now was sang by Ms Matsumoto, it’s definitely suitable! Although the world view is different and the original song was not entirely from the perspective of a mother, this song is still very sad, and contains the emotion of a woman to her child. There are a lot of commonalities in terms of atmosphere.

Commander: There are still two more songs after this. We can’t keep singing SH songs since it’s a LH tour right. Although LH doesn’t have a lot songs, aside from Shingeki songs, there’s were also songs written for a game called Bravely Default, although we didn’t organize a tour for it then. It’s the first game in the Bravely series, and actually, the second game doesn’t include Sunglasses-ojisan anymore. But there shouldn’t be anyone who will start playing from the second game in a series right! Start playing from the first game!

Commander: For next song, I also felt that「It will be interesting to let this person sing this song」. It’s like a cover of the song.

Encore 2: Hinadori [Vocalized Version] (Fledgling)

As if psychic, I anticipated the song and singer before the song started! (V)

Sung by Misaki Fukunaga. (《Cold Coffin》，Annie)

She sang Edea’s song from BDFF. Regardless if it’s quality or texture of her voice, or the content of the lyrics, It’s! All! Very! Fitting!

There’s 「Black or White?」in the lyrics. Will it actually be 「Black」or「White」? It’s a song that’s very fitting for Annie’s POV. The actions are also the same as in RLBDC. Even the actions for the singer when bandmembers where showing off their skills were the same. The only difference was the set of actions towards the end, Fukunaga performed Annie’s fighting actions. It was super cool and super impressive.

After it’s over Commander came up. On his way up he was carrying the concert pamphlet against his chest, and he walked backwards onto the stage like that. \?????? wwwwww/ What is this inexplicably adorable creature.

Commander: The song that was just performed was from BDFF. It’s game music. It’s collected in an Elbum (Mispronounced)… No! AL! BUM! called 《Luxendarc Daikikou》.

Commander: It actually started with the original game music, then on the basis of the game sound track, we added Vocalization.

Commander: It was sang very well. This song is very high, not everyone can sing it. You can try to sing it, not everyone can sing such a high note on demand. Oh but actually, you have all sang it before? Like when you all were just born? The kind like “UAHUAHHH––”.

Commander: Let’s do the member intro next. You can now fully appreciate Aniki and all. Initially the member intro were always very with one sentence per person, but let’s ease it up this time. Let’s do it in the form of a Talk.

Commander: What am I holding in my hands~ It’s (Holding the pamphlet in one hand for the audience to see, with his eyes on the cover, and in the tone of Doraemon introducing his gadgets): 「Linked Horizon Live Tour 2017 Shingeki no Kiseki pamphlet——」

Commander: And! It’s actually being sold outside now! Some of you may not know, it is being sold!

Commander: In it, one of the questions in the members interview was who was their favourite Shingekyo character. Let’s invite the members to have a more detailed conversation around this topic now. But there’s quite a few of them who wrote 【Secret】, I would like to dig a bit more today.

- Member Intro -

There’s too much going on, so I will only share a bit of the important (funny) parts that still left an impression on me.

Commander: Let’s start from the singers. The first one, MANAMI

MANAMI came out flapping her wings… no, flapping her arm with tassels on the sleeves. Seeing this, commander started humming 《Swan Lake》: 「dun~ dundundundundun~ dundun~ dundun~ dundundundundundun~」 Upon hearing it MANAMI also switched to ballet steps as she came up. As MANAMI flaps her wings… arms, commander also started flapping his wings… no, arms with tassels on the sleeves.

Commander: We are the same~  So happy that we are so like-minded~ (Two of them flap flap flapping together)

What is this adorable bird creature x2

Commander: MANAMI said her favourite character is Sasha. MANAMI: I really relate to how she can eat a lot. I participated in some sort of eating competition in the past, finishing 30 plates of sushi and 30 stick of skewered food to win 10 000 yen. And after I was done I felt like I still had the stomach for more. Commander: I think you can totally pursue this field. MANAMI: I used to play basketball, I could eat a lot more then than I do now! So when I see Sasha it’s like seeing a reflection of myself.

Commander: The second one is Tsukika. Commander: How many plates of sushi can Tsukika eat? Tsukika: ……30 plates are way too many. Commander: Tsukikia’s favorite character is Nanaba. Oh Nanaba. Her younger brother will be called 「Hachiba」.

\......Pffffttt (snickering)/

(…… The “nana” in Nanaba is homonymous with 7.. so “7ba”’s brother is “8ba”… such a cold joke. So cold!)

Commander (Seemingly well prepared to anticipate that nobody would find it funny, he started making the scissors hands gesture): Okay cut! Commander: Oh this (Snip snip) means that this part should be cut from the DVD.

\There’s DVD––?/

Commander: But actually for today’s show, there might not be anyone recording it at all.

(We all believed him, because it’s the opening day, and there had never been videos generated from opening days in the past, so it’s very likely not recorded. In thE END! LIAR! Can’t believe there is the opening show digest video after that! WHO SAID THERE WEREN’T ANYONE RECORDING!)

Tsukika: From a female’s perspective, Nanaba is very handsome. Even though I can’t tell if they are male or female. They are just very handsome! Commander: That’s true, there’s a lot of character in Shingeki whose genders are ambiguous. Isayama-sensei mentioned before that it’s okay to perceive them as either male or female. Tsukikia: I think that Hanji is a guy. Commander: The important thing is the character’s spirit and their way of living. Gender doesn’t matter. Hanji is just Hanji!

Commander: Next is Mami Yanagi. Mami Yanagi: Hi everyone, it’s been a while. Commander: Mami Yanagi’s favorite is Mikasa. She also repeatedly emphasized her liking during the last tour (Referring to Jiyuu e no Shingeki Talk & Live in 2013). Mami Yanagi: I still love her now! (Completely in a fangirl state) Mami Yanagi: The last episode in the second season was so cruel to Mikasa. I want be wrapped by the scarf–– no, I wanted to wrap the scarf around her!! Commander (Imitating Eren): 「 I’ll wrap that around you as many times as you want」

 Then it’s Eiko Matsumoto.

Commander: Her favourite is Carla. Matsumoto: Yes, I can’t help being drawn into the character. Because I also have a 10-year-old son. Commander: Yes, that’s the standard I used to choose singers. Matsumoto (Shocked): You must be lying?! Commander: I’m lying–– Matsumoto: Revo-san didn’t research me right?! Commander: No no. I chose based on sensing how this person’s voice will really suit this song. Matsumoto (Still recovering from the shock): I thought you found out from my Wiki page. Matsumoto: When Carla said 「Don’t go」, that was her most sincere feelings. Matsumoto: The lyrics for 《14 lettered》will make people wonder 「Perhaps Revo-san has children?」

\?!?! (Commotion)/

Commander: Mentioned before that perhaps I was a mother in my past life~ Gave birth to around a hundred children.

He was so careless about it wwwwwwwww

Thereafter it’s Misaki Fukunaga.

Commander: Favourite is Sasha. Ah it’s the second time someone picked Sasha. She is so popular. Fukunaga: When Sasha first appeared, she always spoke very politely. Initially I thought that was her character, I didn’t expect to see her pounced onto the food once it appears. Commander: In the second season there were interesting aspects focused on Sasha. The scene of the mother being munched by the Titan. The part where she just returned home to discover the mother being munched munched munched. （もっちゃもっちゃされた） Fukunaga: I really like Annie as well. But if I have to pick a favourite, it is still Sasha.

Then it’s all the dancers.

Commander: Next is Ayu Hosoki. For Nein, she was the one displaying the bread in the bread shop (Striking the pose of holding the bread) Commander: Favourite is Mikasa Hosoki: Mm, I like the sound of her name.

Commander: Next is Yosuke Sato. Very handsome. For Nein, he was the 「Single nighhawk~」(A solo dance in《Shokumotsu》) Commander: His answer was 「Will answer after rereading」。Which part are you at now？ Sato: I’m now on the second book now. At this stage, the one I am most attached to should be Mikasa. She is very strong, pretty, but also pitiful. I want to protect her well.

Commander: Next is OBA. The Abnormal among the dancers. (He acted as the Abnormal in《Daishou》) Commander: For Nein, he was 「the one in the food chain that writhed and collapsed in some very powerful posture after being shot, and then even became a worm.」 Commander: The answer written was 「Can’t be sure」. What about now? OBA: I guess Abnormal. As a dancer there are a lot of aspects that is worth learning. Every movement is very worth leaning Commander: For ordinary people like us, the most we can do is imitate human movements. But for OBA-kun’s level, he can already gain experience from animals or even insects.

Commander: The next one is Akane Takasugi. In Nein, he is the one at 「The flower bloomed, and was scattered」(The part around 4:19 in《Kotonoha》). The dance was very sexy at that part. Commander: Answer was 「Secret」。 Takasugi: Can I keep it a secret? Commander: No. Takasugi: Then it’s…… Heichou. Commander: What do you like about Heichou? Takasugi: His cold gaze! Commander (Imitating Heichou’s way of speaking, keeping his voice low, biting his pronunciations):「You bastard（このクソが）…！」「What is this situation（これどういう狀況だ）」

\(Bursting with laughter)/

Commander: Aah it’s so fun to act as Heichou.

-

I forgot which dancer was it at.

Commander: The dancers are so strong. If it’s me, just one song like《Nikagetsugo》will be enough for my legs to start cramping.

-

Then it’s the musicians.

The first was YUKI.

Commander: Favourite is Hanji. YUKI: It was completely coincidental at first, I can’t help paying attention because our hairstyles are similar. Then when I saw her drooling when she sees the Titans, I really relate to that. I really like things like temples and castles and such, and when I see them, I will be holding Chu-hi (A fizzy fruit alcohol under Kirin) in one hand while drooling. Commander (Imitating Hanji’s overexcited tone at seeing a Titan): 「WoOO~~~~~~WOAHH~~~~~THIS SHRINE IS TOO AMAZING~~~~~~~」Like this? YUKI: Yes yes.

Commander: After Hanji it’s Junji! Commander: He said he likes all the Titans. Junji: Yes, I like every one of them. Commander: Every one? There’s always that one special Titan right. Junji: It’s impossible to neglect the Abnormals, I want to follow them. But actually, compared to the gigantic Titans, the 2,3 meter ones feel the scariest. They are closer to humans. Commander: Is it because when you see the ones around 3 meters, you feel like you can defeat them if you just try a little harder. Junji: It’s impossible! Junji: All the Titans have that smile on their faces, it feels really creepy. Commander: But you like it. Junji: I like it.

Next is Atsushi Hasegawa.

Commander: Acchan’s favourite is Reiner. Acchan: Yes, he seems very brave. He feels sort of like an older brother. His personality is also very earnest, he only became like that (mental breakdown) because he is overtly sincere. Commander: That’s because Acchan is also a very earnest person. Acchan: I’m not that earnest?! Acchan: And the Armoured Titan is very cool. Like a robot. Commander: Yes, the Armoured Titan was exceptionally cool when it first appeared. It was like Woosh (Poses like when the Armoured Titan was going to start dashing)

Next is Gen Ittetsu.

Commander: Gen Ittetsu said his favourite is Mitsuru Hanagata (Not a character from Shingekyo, but one from 《Kyojin no Hoshi (Star of the Giants)》)

Then the two began a heated discussion revolving around Star of the Giants. I have never watched so I can’t keep up with their conversation, I had no idea what they were talking about. The two were engrossed in their own world for quite a while before returning.

Gen Ittetsu: I happened to be very busy during the tour pamphlet interview period. So, I just answered randomly. So that’s what I said.

Next its members from Gen Ittetsu Strings.

Commander: Aside from Gen Ittetsu, I still want to ask the members of the Strings. But there are a lot of people in the Strings, so I’ll ask one person for each concert. This time it will be –– Cameroon Maki. Commander: Maki’s answer was not published in the pamphlet. So we can only listen to it live! Maki: I have only watched 3 episodes of Shingeki so far. For now, rather than favourite, the character I am most attached to is Keith. I am attached to his role as a teacher. Commander: Such a shiny bald head. Maki: A very strict instructor, his words are very stern and severe. This makes him very endearing, I do have such a strict person around me.

As he said this he looked at Gen Ittetsu beside him. Gen Ittetsu looked around as though unaffected and he wasn’t talking about him.

\wwwwwww/

Commander: Keep watching! Instructor Keith still has an important role later!

Next is Takeshi Nishiyama

Commander: He likes Ymir. Aniki: The timeline for the original Shingekyo manga is quite confusing. I went and reread it for Shingeki no Kiseki, and I had a lot of new emotions when rereading it with the impression I got from the CD. Recently I feel like I’m getting old and my memories are deteriorating, I only realized Ymir’s story was already at the start of the fifth book when I went to reread it. Aniki: Being able to write such a song from such a short story, Revo-san is really amazing this way. Commander: There were a lot of characters in the original manga, among them some died soon after they debuted. Commander: Only Isayama-sensei knows the exact follow up for a lot of characters. There are a lot to look forward to. Commander: There are also some members who just started reading it. Perhaps by the end of the tour, everyone will become professors of Shingekyo.

The last one is Koji Ikarashi

Commander: Rashi’s favorite is Armin. Commander: This time, I will pick a musician for every concert to dedicate a performance to their favourite character. It will be Rashi today. Rashi: For Armin. Commander: Sometimes it will become Gesumin (Gesu = lowlife/scumbag, this nickname originated from some of Armin’s expressions which Isayama drawn really twisted and ugly)

Then, Ikarashi played Chopin’s Fantaisie Impromptu.

Yes, the Fantaisie Impromptu everyone is familiar with.

The Fantaisie Impromptu from 《Yoiyami no Uta》!!

After he was done with one part..

Commander: This melody is truly very difficult. But if you can’t play this, you won’t be able to play the song 《Yoiyami no Uta》. Ikarashi: That’s true, and it needs to be played at 1.5 times the speed I played just now.

Then, using the crazier speed from 《Yoiyami no Uta》

He really played the part from 《Yoiyami》

He really played it!!!!

A certain Märchen fan seemed to have heard the sound of blessings!

-

Commander: The next song will really be the last song.

\Eh –– /

Commander: But you all should have anticipated it.

Commander: It can’t be helped. Time will always pass, people will ultimately die. But that is also the value of life. People don’t know when they will die, which is why they need to live on now undauntedly.

Commander: The last encore song is 《Youth Much like Fireworks》。

Commander: It’s also a song I wrote very, very seriously, but because it’s original purpose was paro, I very seriously, with my best efforts, joked around. It’s very cheerful and energetic（ワイワイ盛り上がる）. This song will include some actions (Singers demonstrated the actions), and then you need to jump. It’s okay if you can’t keep up, you can try to follow if you want to do it.

Commander: Bravo together with the Bravo-ojisan in the end! Give it all you’ve got!

Encore 3: Seishun wa Hanabi no Youni (Youth Much like Fireworks)

Su←per↓Cute↑

It might be a substitute for the 3 songs in the「Chou Uchu」series from SH, a song for jumping around.

Follow the jumping on stage. It’s indeed difficult to keep up without instructions (……

The lyrics appeared line by line on the screen, in the same style as in the BK. But it doesn’t match the speed of the music, it just appears line by line at an even pace.

- MC -

Commander: This is the end now. Everyone come and stand in front.

All the performers stood in a row.

Commander: It’s surprising when we stand in a row, there are so many people. There will be concerts with more people in the future, the special guests are not here yet either, wonder if we can still all fit in one row then.

Commander: Hope there will be more people joining us soon, and that we can perform for many others.

Commander: Thank you everyone for today ––

(All performers on stage bowed together to bring the show to an end)

Commander: Let’s offer up our hearts in the end. We took the liberty to create this Linhora Corps setting, and we will take another liberty here, when you salute, shout「Jäger」.

Commander: Offer up your hearts!

\(Everyone salutes) Jäger!/

After expressing their thanks and clapping, all the performers left. In the end, Commander came up alone to do the final MC as usual.

Commander: You have offered up your hearts.

Commander: What should you offer your heart to? There are a lot of things you can dedicate to in life. There are a lot of times you need to fight. Even if the opponents are not titans, you will still need to fight. Fighting with sad things, fighting with painful things. But you can definitely overcome them. And life will go on. Music have this power. Even though there are sad songs as well, I hope I can support all of you with music. When you want to improve your mood, listen to music, and you will feel better, I hope my music can achieve this.

Commander: There were quite a few members who had never performed before today, everyone were actually really nervous. But you were all very encouraging, there were no sense of remoteness at all. Thank you very much, for watching over us with such warmth.

As he said this, Commander did a 90-degrees deep bow.

Audiences clapped.                          

Commander: Everyone here, perhaps I will have the chance see some of you again, if you come for concerts again. The encore will be different every time, so please look forward to the future concerts.

Commander: During the last concert, it ended after 《Guren no Yumiya》was played. It will be the same this time, you can sing a bit of Karaoke before you leave. It is the second season this time, so of course it’s《Shinzou wo Sasageyo》

Commander: Of course, it’s without lyrics!

(For a moment I seemed to look through Commander and saw him being possessed by a certain tyrannical King)

Commander: But it’s okay if you make a mistake while singing it!

Then the commander left. When he was leaving he ran off like an Abnormal with a twist in his steps.

What is this adorable creature!