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Seems like I’m the only one who doesn’t really enjoy “folklore” all that much...

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(Not So) Short Opinion On Taylor Swift’s “folklore”

I feel kinda conflicted about folklore. The lyrics are amazing, but all the songs make me feel. so. damn. sad.

Like, pretty much every song sounds sad, and it’s kind of emotionally tiring. After listening to the entire album, I just felt emotionally drained, and not necessarily in a good way. And this is maybe just a personal preference, but I think an album is better if it doesn’t just have only happy sounding songs, or only sad sounding songs. There needs to be a little bit of a break. Lover was an incredible happy sounding album, but it still had some songs that sounded sad. Here, after a while, all the songs start sounding kinda the same. Which is sad (pun not intended), because now I can’t enjoy the lyrics as much as I normally would otherwise.

And I get that this is probably intentional. The focus is very much on the lyrics and the singing, so the music takes a bit of a backseat.

So yeah, folklore. Lyric-wise: ten out of ten. Music-wise: maybe a high five, low six? Somewhere around there.

And unfortunately for this album, my enjoyment of music is more determined by the music than by the lyrics.

Songs I currently feel are worth listening to more often:

betty, definitely betty (the key-change was heavenly, and the storytelling amazing),

my tears ricochet,

cardigan,

the last great american dynasty,

(and I guess also)

the 1.

2 additional notes:

1. Taylor’s singing is great, which, you know, kinda obvious, but I still feel like it needs to be said.

2. One of my biggest pet peeves is when song titles aren’t written with capital letters (same with “the”, “a/an”, “of” and similar words in titles of songs, movies...). This didn’t influence my opinion on this album, but it did annoy me to no end.

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The Old Guard saw the “action movies need a male lead”-stereotype, and just decided to say “Fuck that. Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne kick ass.”

The Old Guard saw the “people won’t watch movies if the main cast isn’t white or American”-stereotype, and just decided to say “Fuck that. The 6 main actors are South African, American, Belgian, Dutch, Italian and British.”

The Old Guard saw the “men aren’t supposed to talk about their feelings”-stereotype, and just decided to say “Fuck that. All main male characters have scenes talking about their feelings and emotions, which are relevant to the plot and the character’s motivations.”

Hell, The Old Guard saw all the stereotypical gay tropes, and just said “Fuck ‘em all.”

“Bury your gays”-trope? Fuck that. Immortal gays.

“Gay men are fragile”-trope? Fuck that. The gays kick ass.

“The film will loose money if a character is explicitly gay, so it will just be implied through subtext”-stupidity? Fuck that. They flirt, they kiss, there is an entire monologue dedicated to the love these gays have for each other.

And on top of all of that, The Old Guard has a great and clever plot, amazing action scenes, good pacing, great music, emotional beats that don’t drag the story down, and a well-executed setup for a sequel.

The Old Guard is a fantastic movie, and it is a great example of diversity that isn’t “forced”, but feels natural and makes a lot of sense in the story. This is diversity done right.

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I don’t know what this new update for Tumblr on mobile is, but the reblog-button looks wrong and I don’t like it.

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I am so incredibly happy for Louis right now. I mean, I just don’t have words to describe how happy I am for him.

So proud of you, Louis, you truly deserve this, you deserve to be happy.

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The Watermelon Sugar video is, truly, a piece of art. Right up there with Panic! At The Disco’s Girls/Girls/Boys. Truly beautiful.

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I was not prepared for the Watermelon Sugar video.

Sure, I know what the song is about, but, you know, the video couldn’t actually be just about that, could it?

And sure, I was a little worried when I say the teaser, and even more worried when I read the message on his website, saying “Kiwi Walked So Watermelon Sugar Could Run”.

And sure, when the video started with the message “This video is dedicated to touching”, I was even more worried.

Let’s just say I was absolutely not prepared.

I lost it 15 seconds in, when Harry was sensually caressing a slice of watermelon.

And then I still had 2 minutes and 53 seconds left to go.

This video broke me.

I’m not surprised, totally not. If I would have guessed what the video for this song would be, Harry eating watermelon while surrounded by beautiful women, with a lot of sensual looks, and, you know, Satisfied™ looks, would have pretty much been my guess.

I just didn’t think that that video would actually happen.

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I. Just. Can’t.

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I really wish I could say I am excited that the official recording of Hamilton will be streaming on the third of July, but unfortunately for me, the majestic gods at the temple of The Mouse have not deemed the lowly mortals of the peasant region known as Belgium, worthy of being allowed to gaze upon the beauty that is Disney+, before summer’s end, till we have reached the beginning of fall, in the month of September.

(Seriously, it’s Belgium, not fucking Narnia.)

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To be honest, “Ashton’s net worth” is both the funniest and cutest thing ever.

Currently listening to Luke Hemmings reading the definition of Pop Culture. This is the most fun I’ve had in weeks.

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I look away for 5 seconds, and all of a sudden they’re ordering Ikea furniture. I don’t know what’s going on, and neither do they.

Currently listening to Luke Hemmings reading the definition of Pop Culture. This is the most fun I’ve had in weeks.

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Currently listening to Luke Hemmings reading the definition of Pop Culture. This is the most fun I’ve had in weeks.

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oh no

Eurovision 2020 is cancelled

oh no

whatever will I do with my life?

I was so looking forward to watching... ehm... watching... *googles Eurovision 2020 Belgium*

I was so looking forward to watching Hooverphonic perform this year

I was so sure we were going to win this year, because... ehm... because... *googles Hooverphonic song Eurovision 2020*

I was so sure we were going to win this year, because Release me is an amazing song

I mean, we haven’t won since 1986, and the past 2 years we didn’t even make it to the finals, but, you know, this year was going to be our year

so horrible

such an awful, awful tragedy

how will I ever be able to cope?

this will literally change... ehm... well, let’s see...

This will change literally nothing about my life

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Favourite Seconds From The Heartbreak Weather Music Video

The music video for Heartbreak Weather is just 3 minutes and 25 seconds of great moments, but these are my favourites/top 5.

5. The dramatic turn and werewolf howl @ 0:20

4. Shouting “It won’t get beter” into the phone @ 2:53

3. The dramatic turn when he sings “Now” during the bridge @ 2:17

2. Everything about “It won’t get better” during the second chorus @ 2:03

1. The superhero-like dramatic handmovements when he sings “Heartbreak Weather” the first time @ 1:14

Honorable mention: Niall just being happy and having fun the entire time

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So the music video for Heartbreak Weather is basically just a ‘behind the scenes’ for all the little teaser videos we got for all the songs. And I’m not even mad at it.

I really enjoy this video, for some stupid reason.

It’s literally just Niall goofing around with fun costumes and props, set to a catchy song.

But yeah, really great video. 10/10, would recommend.

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I don’t care if someone says otherwise.

One Direction’s solo careers are really great.

Harry’s Selftitled is emotional and original.

Niall’s Flicker is sweet and lovely.

Harry’s Fine Line is phenomenal and charming.

Louis’s Walls is stunning and heart touching.

Liam’s LP1

Niall’s Heartbreak Weather is fun and beautiful.

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So, Heartbreak Weather, right?

I mean, definitely not what I expected.

Kinda the same as with Fine Line and Walls, somehow this album managed to exceed my expectations. Like, I expected to like it, cause I love the singles and I love Flicker.

But like, damn, damn. This album is good.

Heartbreak Weather and Still are my favourites right now, but there’s a couple others that also come really close.

And man, the lyrics are just, like, overall they’re really good, but then there’s also a couple times where the lyrics just hit me.

Good job, Niall.