#both chloe and the squip are at fault imo

[aropride]

back in 2018 they'd send you anon hate for saying this is sexual assault

[asianjeremyheere]

part two to this post! aka i overanalyse act 2 from both recordings in the most concise way as i can manage, which is Not Very.

HALLOWEEN

Oh I like the very beginning better in the obcr… the way it fades in with the staticky noise? Love that. The ocr version is nice but the obcr version took it to another level man this song was already a banger and now its even more so. Orchestration? Fuck yeah! New verse? Yes!! The transition to the 'break a vase' bit was kind of jarring at first but I've gotten used to it? And I love the new verse and Rich being the most audible on "gasoline" and the harmonies on the "Halloween! Wooah! Yeaah!"

DO YOU WANNA HANG

Oh okay this goes to obcr too just because it's less uncomfy. Like obvs I can understand why people still don't like it and that's totally valid but I'm not going to get into anything potentially discourse-y wrt Chloe. I do prefer the Broadway version tho because it's (kind of) more focused on Chloe's insecurities and she sounds waaaay more wasted which. Props to Katlyn. AND MIKE ROSENGARTEN! HES STRINGS, RIGHT? GO. OFF. I LOVE THE STRINGS IN THIS. HES BASS I THINK? HIM? YEAH!!!!!!!

MICHAEL IN THE BATHROOM

They are. The same. They sound basically the same to me. Obcr is slower though I think? I do like how it picks up speed at the end, because that feels more representative of how my panic attacks generally feel? Like the whole ramping up speed thing? Other than that I genuinely can't really tell the difference.

A GUY THAT I'D KINDA BE INTO REPRISE

This isn't technically in the ocr but it IS still in the 2015 show so I'm gonna go find an audio of Two River and listen to it after the obcr version which, by the way, I'm in love with. I hear the opening notes and burst into tears immediately! The harmony on "agree"?? Is that a third? I think it might be? Are they singing in thirds? Their voices just compliment each other's so well and it's so cute and I know Christine rejects him at the end (which…. ouch) but like its such a cute, fun song and I love Will R's "Christiiiiiine"s in this. Okay, the Two River version is SO much faster and the slower tempo WORKS because it's like. A respite from the crazy fast-paced-ness of the rest of the part? And they don't have the harmony/Will C's "Christiiiine"s are all the same and kinda boring now that we've got Will R's :(

THE SMARTPHONE HOUR

TIFFANY!!!! KILLING IT!! I get why they changed it to "Jake's house" and like. It isn't actually that bad but it still takes me by surprise ngl. But Tiffany Mann….. damn…… love her. Lauren's "ignore" sounds so much more pissed off in the obcr skdjsks. Also, I am not a fan of whatever they did to Chloe's "Everybody was screaming" but the new melody during her "Rich set a fire and he…. etc" is good! I like it! It's just weird and came out of left field lmao. But god Tiffany's riffs and the new harmonies are GOLD and I am in LOVE. AND LAUREN'S SCREAM! But I do miss the ad-libbed part right before her scream where you can pretty clearly hear Jake Boyd yell "I hope Jake's okay!!!!" :(

THE PANTS SONG

Yes I'm doing this in Broadway order and yes I prefer the obcr because Jason Sweettooth Williams has such a distinct ~well-meaning white dad doing his best~ energy that it like. Reminds me of my own dad lmao. Plus the "NOOOOOOO sergeant? i don't know-" is so fucking funny to me skdjsjs. Also that last "put your pants on"?? Jason Sweettooth does that little run (does that count as a run? Is that a run?) and I love it. I do like it faster (ocr tempo > obcr tempo) though.

THE PITIFUL CHILDREN

I'll say this as many times as I need to but obcr Pitiful Children serves the plot SO much better by keeping the Squip as the villain and allowing us to see that no, it wasn't all Jeremy's fault and no, you cannot demonize him for what he did because he's being manipulated SO much more obviously in the obcr version! Also Jason Tam's riffs are god tier I'd give my life for this man and his voice! And Tiffany??? God they really just said Tiffany Mann rights, huh? They were like "oh we're a show with a pretty pop-rock focused score but ur an opera singer? cool, we can use that!" and damn did it pay off!!!! Also, the lyrics may have changed a bunch but it's still got the same energy and the same driving beat and stuff (I think? Imo, at least.) I miss EWM rolling his r's after the instrumental break though. And like, I don't know what's up with the 'ahhhh' at the end of the bway version? Is it supposed to parallel the end of BMC pt 2? I'm kind of neutral on that.

THE PLAY

I'm gonna be honest, this song is too long for me to actively pay attention to the whole thing. BUT I think obcr has more content in it? The MDR fight and stuff with Will R's glitchy vocals which are. God tier. I miss Jake's longer solo :( I prefer the obcr for most of it though? Brooke and Chloe's lines have improved and I like that they aren't as focused on who slept with who (although Michael's "ugh" was legendary…..) and instead setting themselves up for a possible reconciliation arc. And CHRISTINE!!!! Love her. The 'Jeremyyyy's sounding almost more dissonant with the Squip speaking in between each one??? God!!! I'm in love!!!!! The Squip is generally just more malicious in this. I think the ocr starts the track at a better time though? Like. The start of The Play in the obcr is kind of weird if you don’t have the context of Jeremy offering Christine a Squip and getting rejected. 

VOICES IN MY HEAD

Oh I love both versions of this song but Michael’s line being taken higher and Rich’s lisp being included in the recording and that harmony at the “listen and ohhhh” is SO pretty so THANK YOU obcr for my LIFE. Also, I don’t really know why they changed the popular kids’ lines to Jeremy but I’m digging the new ones (but also I am Very Glad that they didn’t change Jake’s) and the squad line is so good….. and him and Christine’s conversation!!! Bowling alley performance art instead of just lunch to show that Jeremy listened to her and is willing to step out of his comfort zone but in a positive way to help her fulfill her wish! With the LGW tune playing in the bg!!! Will R and Stephanie are so so cute and they have SUCH good onstage chemistry and I just. Adore them so much. Jeremy’s little “woohoo!!” when she agrees to go out with him?? God!!!! They’re both good but ocr has a calmer energy? Which is good but I personally just prefer the more upbeat, over-the-top-ness of the obcr in general!Anyway tl;dr I love both albums but ultimately prefer the obcr even though they’re like. Pretty close. Very close. Love them both. 

[actualbird]

been a while since ive recced some fics but here are some new stuff ive read and LOVED lately (previous fic rec lists | bmc fic rec page)

boyfs

Protector by DivineProjectZero

With Michael, he feels safe.

(wherein Jeremy Heere is scared of girls and Michael Mell is his last line of defense.)

okay this entire rec list is jenny’s fault because she just finished protector and i wanted to yell about it more than i already have. i know ive recced this before but now it’s COMPLETE AND YOU SHOULD ALL GO READ IT, FUUUUUUCCK.

ive been screaming about this fic ever since it started. it’s a fantastic, well written, hilarious, GUT WRENCHING masterpiece with all the fun things that makes a fake dating fic a joy to read + 10000 more incredible things. i have laughed out loud reading this fic. i have shed real fucking tears reading this fic. i nearly threw my phone out the window of a moving car, one memorable moment. please. just. if on the off chance you havent read this fic yet, please do. it’s a long, lovely journey that’s wonderfully written with fantastic characterization and chapters that have u clawing for MORE. im tryna stay vague about describing this fic bc i f i went into detail, this post would be too long.

read this fic. please. you will thank me, but u gotta thank jenny first for creating all of it.

It Don’t Mean a Thing (Cause He Ain’t Got That Swing) by AMRV_5

Jeremy loves jazz, but really, really, really can't play it. After a disastrous recital, he swears off jazz forever and gives up his dreams of performing to major in music education... until a fateful scheduling issue forces him into a jazz and improv class. There he meets Michael Mell, an insufferably cool bassist who doesn't know how talented he really is. Together, they have the potential to create something incredible. That is, if they can get along for even half a second.

okay so it takes A Lot for me to get into a WIP but holy SHIT im fucking obsessed with this fic!!!! it is exactly what is says on the cover and so much more. this fic is PHENOMENAL. i know nothing about music, but the way it’s written makes me not just understand whats going on but feel just how charged that scene is too. I DIDNT KNOW DUETS/QUARTETS COULD HAVE THIS MUCH FUCKING TENSION, BUT THIS FIC DOES IT, and i dont even know what any of the technical shit means!! just. it’s execution is done so so well, im fucking floored. like. this entire fic is very well written, but the music scenes are dripping with skill. if im not making sense, i guess youll just have to read the fic to get what im talking about //eyes emoji

another thing among Many Things that knocks it out of the ballpark in this fic is the characterization. jeremy. oh god, jeremy. i wont spoil, but this version of jeremy is by far one of the most interesting interpretations ive ever seen and it’s  pulled off fantastically. our boy has a lot more bite in this fic and i love it. it’s so good. god. everybody in this fic is so good. god. looks like you’ll have to read the fic to get what im talking about //eyes emoji but more intense

JUST!! READ THIS FIC!! START FOLLOWING THIS FIC!!! it’s got Pining and Slowburn and Misunderstandings and some of The Most engaging scenes ive read in a long time. this whole fic is so clever and so crisp and each update has me fucking screaming.

a little unsteady by starlithorizons

Michael's hidden domain has always been the rollerskating rink - a home away from home. Jeremy isn't so suited for the environment.

Maybe he can fix that.

OHHHH gosh this. this fic is so good?? it’s like the ideal fluff imo??? like, it’s not all Perfect and happy but that little conflict that happens just kinda emphasizes how these boys can always work to make things Better and Happy and it just warms my heart lots. the pov here is so lovely to read because it’s michael “hearteyes” mell and it’s Beautiful. the jokes r in this fic are hilarious and land so well. this is such a prime feel-good fic i Love It Lots.

flash point by Kalopsia

you know what they say, jeremy heere. those who play with fire are bound to get burned.

(Jeremy kisses Michael on a worn red leather couch the summer before their junior year. Then he takes the Squip, and it’s all ablaze from there.)

i HONESTLY do not have words to either praise this in the way it deserves to be praised which seems to be a mcfcuking trademark for emma’s writing hksjfdshh. but god. this fic is a breathtaking read with fantastic imagery and beautiful overarching metaphor hhhh!!! the emotions are so clear and!!! //aggressive gesturing!! just read it!!!!

a crimson headache, aching blush [series] by pondify

He supposes that it began, as it always does, with Michael.

a series of short yet HEARTBREAKING fics. every fic is a study of jeremy’s pining while he’s in a fwb relationship with michael and. jesus. this series is a testament to how much punch you can pull in short scenes. fucking incredible writing right here.

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meremine

Gewissensbisse by Nymm_At_Night

Old rumors get a new lease on life, high school is shit, and Jeremy, Christine and Michael learn to make it a three player game.

AAAAGGGHHH GOD THIS FIC WAS SO FUCKING GOOD. this fic does not shy away from so many issues and consequences that happen post-musical, and reading it hurts so much at times but it all comes together and it’s ridiculously satisfying. this fic is super well rounded cuz it’s got so much and it’s all done AMAZINGLY?? characterization and writing are INCREDIBLE here. the humor in this fic is so well done i was clutching my sides wheezing at times. and overall, just watching jeremy go through everything +++ being in love with TWO people is such a ride. such a fantastic ride. 

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pinkberry

sweet like vanilla is by loveinamaltshop

Brooke didn’t deserve to love someone like her. She deserved the complete opposite of Chloe—kind and maybe a little shy and nerdy but was constantly and needlessly good to her. Someone constantly smiling like she is, too. Someone like Jeremy.

She looks at Michael, who’s so close to passing out and wonders if she looks exactly like he does right now. Tired and pathetic. Rubbing at her face, she decides she definitely does.

— In which Chloe and Brooke are both insecure in ways they'll never admit to the other.

THIS FIC HURTS BUT GOD, IT’S SO DONE WELL. multipov with phenomenal characterizations for every character, this fic is a heartbreaking peek into tiny tragedies. the scenes in this fic are simple yet brutal and yet so undeniably real and human. this fic is beautifully written, and if you can handle unrequited feelings pain, you definitely need to fucking read this.

when i'm close to you (we blend into my favourite colour) by sulfuric

statistically, most people don't take more than five seconds to say something to their soulmate after realizing the universe has paired them together. brooke and chloe take approximately six years, but better late than never, right?

soulmate au!! this fic quite literally one of the most gorgeous pieces ive ever read. the writing is incredible and the imagery is so vivid at the soulmate universe, something im not usually a fan of, is turned into an incredible setting for a riveting love story. the character povs are incredible and every emotion is conveyed so well. sometimes too well bc hjhksdfhshh pain but really, this fic is a masterpiece, jesus. JESUS!!

happy reading everybody! leave comments and kudos on fics u liked!! fic writers are So Good and we’re So Lucky