royaloceanxx

[royaloceanxx]

moments fade.

song of the week — song 14.

turn off the lights i’m watching back to the future, dance gavin dance

woah 2 dgd songs in a row?? i’m getting so bad about being consistent with this whoops but i started my summer job the other day and have also been studying for the lsat.. anywhos!

i’ve been spinning dbm and this song repeatedly so i thought it was fitting. if i had a nickel for everytime jon mess screamed about something related to EDs in a song, i would have two nickels. which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice

also i love jon’s screams during the early years <3

i have a half finished post about this album that i think i’ll start working on tonight!! maybe will post by the end of the month if i feel like it

lyrics copied below!

take the car and turn it into our alibis

discard the body, pop some pills and you'll be fine

purge, then binge, restart and insert the sutures

turn off the lights, i’m watching back to the future

before we go too far, i won't let you take this light

before we go too far, i won't let you take this light ('cause we laughed at assimilation)

breathe in all mistakes without coming clean into hobbling faith

no one i wanna know

is this surreal tonight? ee'll go for all this rain

is this surreal tonight? i’ll go far and I'll ride

they said that you have got a map of my insides

purge, then binge, pop some pills and you'll be fine

moments fade

we have come to place these hands on your braids

coming, the wind

he is alive, i have opened, now know

remove the ribs if you can't lean sideways

stay back from light, i thought my words would have mass appeal

costs your life, sly as always, stay back alone

i thought my words would have mass appeal

cover your eyes, i’ve stabbed you in the back

you stop this, i can't, please stop me

right here, i won't do this again

i can't do this, i love you for all of this shit

why? why? help

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

embrace this hope.

song of the week — song 13.

burning down the nicotine armoire, dance gavin dance

i missed last week cause i forgot :(

idk why but now that schools over i find it hard to keep up with posting on here. it makes no sense cause now i have more free time to dedicate to the blog

also i did not get to go to the ptv concert last week due to some last minute issues. i was forced to sell my ticket BUT i will be seeing them at a different show hopefully next week!!! if not i’ll have to wait till october </3 i also will not be able to see dgd in two weeks either but im more ok with that cause the ticket was dirt cheap and im more excited to see what they’ll do for their 20th anniversary next year (which i will DEFINITELY be attending)

anyways, in honor of dgd’s tour kicking off and this insane deep cut of a song being on the setlist, i had to pay my respects. i remember discovering this song by chance last year and it’s such a banger closer for an ep

lyrics copied below!!

side note: there is a really beautiful comment on this youtube video that says: “this song is proof that the human race was meant for something greater”

today your dream is dead

('til one remaining cold calculated thought)

and when you wake it won't be there

(and we framed these moments)

today your dream is dead

('til one remaining cold calculated thought)

and sew that smile up with threads

(and we framed these moments)

embrace this hope

('til one remaining cold calculated thought)

and let it flow

you failed it

too shy to know your worth

hurt from insensitive behavior

you're scared of what this really is

and where this might lead us next

and don't let me go, well i feel it

and don't let me go

that's how i feel about love

(it grabbed us by the throat)

(it grabbed us by the throat)

that it's not worth it

(it grabbed us by the throat)

(it grabbed us by the throat)

that's how i feel about love

(it grabbed us by the throat)

(it grabbed us by the throat)

(your license)

and in failure, dreams fall

pushing nightmares over pavement

walking these streets like a victim

writing death threats in the wet cement

you'll say that i will lie

and let me win this life

you won't regret my love

that's how i feel about love

(it grabbed us by the throat)

(it grabbed us by the throat)

that it's not worth it

(it grabbed us by the throat)

(it grabbed us by the throat)

that's how i feel about love

(it grabbed us by the throat)

(it grabbed us by the throat)

(your license)

my goal was to

make you happy at your best

you'd noticed all of this meaningless

i destroy you, even through

the only things that I have left for your

condescending eyes looking at each other's

white lies my heart ache is useless

so quickly we'll address the shadows running from light

it’ll take this breath

denying what is left of us

(crying, crying under pressure)

(crying, pressure, crying)

embrace this gold

(pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure)

and if you could just wake up tonight

i'd be with you under this sky

with you tonight

credit: musixmatch

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

jump in the fire.

song of the week — song 12.

props & mayhem, pierce the veil

this song is so magical 🪄

ITS PTV WEEK YALL IM SEEING THEM ON FRIDAYYY!!! and schools finally over HEHEH grades will be finalized wednesday. i passed all my classes expected for one 🙂 but imma retake it next semester! and im still able to keep my scholarships :DD

guys i don’t think ive ever done a dance gavin dance song 😳 imma do one next week cause im seeing them on june 8th hehe

anyways enough with the yapping. lyrics copied below!!

self medicate

while they sleep, we let the night chase

evil things away

and we're like animals homesick from shows

we've got to kill everything before the night gets wasted

maybe it's seem so strange

but we don't even stress at all

'cause we've got poisons in our wall

(poisons in our wall)

come at me with everything you've got.

burst into flames, scream in the dark

i'm gonna light up this place

and die in beautiful stars tonight

does it even make a difference?

when I'm sober, i feel pain

'cause we run under the stars through cemetery backyards,

celebrate the way the night hides scars.

so dance!

if it moves you

jump in the fire

if it burns you

i’ll throw my arms around you darling

and we'll turn to ashes drowning in the flame

scream in the dark

i’m gonna light up this place and die in beautiful stars!

what if these demons keep falling from the sky?

sometimes i love the way you swing the flame and everything inside!

separate me from my own two hands, i’ve killed so many times,

but i can't save the world from the creatures that don't die.

i kinda like the way you tell me, "baby, please come home,

i need you here right now,

i’m crying in the water so you don't hear the sound"

burst into flames, scream in the dark!

i’m gonna light up this place oh oh oh yeah!

and i will be the only light

i’ll be the only light

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

gold locks on the cage.

song of the week — song 11.

dive in, pierce the veil

finals week.. i literally have one more chance to pass two of my classes. so i currently am failing both of them HOWEVER if i get at least an 85 on one of the finals and a 90 on the other i can pass!!! currently my grades are two As, 1 C and 2 Ds. tonight imma lock in fr

anyways!! this is the best intro on a ptv album hehe. they need to play this at ICHY

lyrics copied below!!

dive in, take a breath

blow the smoke through the hole in my chest

still choking on the bed

found your waste while the ember red keeps falling down and burning holes

until the pillow and the mattress glow

now i wanna be the tattoo ink that swims down through the needle in your skin

and i wish i was poisonous

like a bottomless sound, like a violent drug

do you remember the knife i kept?

the sharper it got, the more you wanted me to use it

i was lying to you, but you were lying too

so what's left to do?

what's left to say?

stop making friends, just us

i'll decompose with you

so light the fuse inside your brain and we will detonate

yeah

you threw your drink at the wall

it started raining wine and glass so

stay and warm me with the gentlemen jack

gold locks on the cage

turn your diamond keys

open the door you'll see me digging out my getaway

hang the stars who pulled the pin out of my heart

and just because you're screaming for my attention

does not mean i will waste my time

so hold your breath and swim under the ice

and modern anxiety

that motherfucker never rests

our adrenaline is kickin' in so play the beat faster

head for the streets

we're the puke and decay

we're only dreaming, what's your problem baby?

don't mean to break your heart

i'm the new fragrance in fermented jars

in area code (six, six, six)

and just because you're screaming for my attention

does not mean i will waste my time

so hold your breath and learn how to swim underneath the ice

kill me if i end up like you

and just because you're screaming for my attention

does not mean i will waste my time

so hold your breath and swim under the ice

i know that it's not safe here

you did this to yourself but have no fear

just hold your breath and swim under

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

we held on. 💐

to everyone that has held on till may, i’m proud of each and every one of you. never let go and continue to have strength and perseverance 🤍 always remember that the time passes anyway.

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

a million kisses underwater.

song of the week — song 10.

the sky under the sea, pierce the veil

i'm late this week but to be fair it's the end of the semester and im lowkey getting f-ed every which way so :D

i've slacked a lot ngl so i'm now tryna pick up the pieces of my mistakes *cries* but the cool thing is i won two scholarships for next year!! so my parents can't be too mad if my grades aren't the best this semester.. :00

anyways roughly two weeks till i see ptv!! so imma do a ptv song every week until the concert and probably a little bit after too hehe.

lyrics copied below!

i still remember the night you tried to kiss me through the window i tried to settle for the taste of touching glass over the sound of answering machines because i love the way your voice, it says it's gonna get back to me someday

as i brace my knees you hold me down with your eyes and someday i'll drive close both my eyes we'll swim in circles in the blue lights it's gonna be the best day of my life

and oh my god you'll never be as beautiful without me beauty needs an animal to breathe and baby you'll be alright as long as i'm not so do that dance in the dark sharpen your teeth and bite as hard as you want

and someday i'll drive close both my eyes we'll swim in circles in the blue lights and just want to fade away into the sky under the sea

a million kisses underwater as we walk into the ocean (ocean, ocean) oh, no and this is gonna be the best day (of my life) a celebration of an ending come on

and do you really trust your tongue or did you bury the taste and is this fantasy real or is it all home-made and did you call me last night just 'cause you couldn't get laid ladies and gentlemen, introduce the selfish machine

do you think you're the only one (afraid) do you think you're the only one (afraid) do you think you're the only one afraid of this machine

and someday i'll drive close both my eyes i'll be your breath if you can be mine and i just want to fade away into the sky under the sea

a million kisses underwater as we walk into the ocean waves oh, no oh, no (one, two, one, two, three, four) and do you see me at all under the tall waves do you see me at all

la da da, da, da da da, da da da da, da da da, da, da

(i luv this outro)

credit: musixmatch

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

close my eyes... just for tonight.

song of the week — song 09.

when the sun sleeps, underoath

this song is so dear to me. i've got no words today, enjoy lovelies and happy easter to all those who celebrate <33

lyrics copied below!

i thought you'd come back at least i prayed (so i prayed) the romance has been dead (the romance is dead, the romance is dead) for years (you come back) but i've been too afraid to dig the grave (so i prayed) relief support never came

memories carry me through the day of when we were kids and angels came to watch us play

close my eyes, just for tonight the sun still sleeps, and when she wakes close my eyes, just for tonight the sun still sleeps, and when she wakes

a movie that plays in my mind remembering you helps me survive every day a re-run of the next i promised to stay by your side that all would change, i can't complain another victim of the game

close my eyes, just for tonight the sun still sleeps, and when she wakes close my eyes, just for tonight the sun still sleeps, and when she wakes

maybe love will find us again for there is always tomorrow sincerely 'til the end close my eyes just for tonight the sun still sleeps and when she wakes close my eyes just for tonight the sun still sleeps and when she wakes

close my eyes, just for tonight the sun still sleeps, and when she wakes close my eyes, just for tonight the sun still sleeps, and when she wakes

you'll be a memory! you'll be a memory you'll be a memory! you'll be a memory you'll be a memory! you'll be a memory you'll be a memory! memory! memory! memory!

credit: azlyrics

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

i held a diamond to the sun.

song of the week — song 08.

chemical kids and mechanical brides, pierce the veil

i cannot believe it took me so long to post something pierce the veil LOLZ. this is my favorite pierce the veil song, the best song they've ever made, the best song on afftd, just everything. i wish i could say it's the best opening from all their albums however dive in exists :((

when it comes time to hear this song live on may 16th, 2025, i think i might collapse to my knees or have some sort of weird epiphany. this is a song that i want tattooed all over me, in places seen and unseen. and on that note!

lyrics copied below!!

like a rush shot through you

everyone is watching you

told you why i see no need for the sun

(i’ve found a reason to say)

a love you light is a love soon gone

if this is it

don't bother cause this love is a lie

i’m a chemical kid

you're a mechanical bride

i held a diamond to the sun

to count the moments on account of the way you

smile, smile for me

(oh, we're in slow motion when you)

smile, smile for me

but, oh my god, i've been looking

but i still hold your breath so you won't leave

pastel-red and —— star-white

ghost on the altar

we breathe, don't leave

say that the night sings alone

and if there's a god

then i’m letting him go

all for you, you alone

raise my hands

at the thought of you leaving me alone

what if i… what if i...

what if i, i still care?

don't torture me or beg me

can you make me believe in tiring?

as you fall fast asleep, it reminds me

of the slow symphonies behind me

(they sing along)

all the nightmares you'll see tomorrow

all the stars on your ceiling

they glow but not for you

through the trees, i'll blow

credit: musixmatch

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

taking on seven years.

song of the week — song 07.

seven years, saosin

i finally landed my hands on a copy of translating the name so in honor of that, i had to go with this song hehe

lyrics copied below!

taking on seven years

the holy ghost had left alone

test my arms, kick like crazy

i’ve been trying way too long

only push the way off to fight you

now i’m sorry, i’m sorry, i’m not sure

getting off my chest

the story ends

i will find a way without

tell him his eyes see too clear

i will find a way without you

tell him his eyes see too clear

that mistake was gold

i know that without you

is something that i could never do

that was why, staple the eyes and

seven dates for me to sell machines

and tear on

seven years, you assured me

that i’d be fine if i complied

only push the way off to fight you

only push the way off to fight you

now i’m sorry, i’m sorry, i’m not sure

getting off my chest

the story ends

i will find a way without

tell him his eyes see too clear

i will find a way without you

tell him his eyes see too clear

that mistake was gold

i know that without you is something that i could never do

that was why, stand through the cold and

seven dates for me to sell machines

and tear on

don't treat me, i’m to blame (sorry, i’m sorry, i’m not sure)

don't treat me like i ever accused you (don’t treat me like that)

don't treat me, i'm to blame (sorry, i’m sorry, i'm not sure)

don't treat me like i ever accused you (don't treat me like that)

don't treat me, i’m to blame (sorry, i’m sorry, i'm not sure)

don't treat me like i ever accused you (don't treat me like that)

don't treat me, i'm to blame (sorry, i'm sorry, i'm not sure)

don't treat me like i ever accused you (don't treat me like that)

don't treat me, i'm to blame (sorry, i'm sorry, i'm not sure)

don't treat me like i ever accused you (don't treat me like that)

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

the snow melts away.

song of the week — song 06.

the weight of love blinds eyes, emarosa

self titled is such a special emarosa album.. the two records he made with them was peak jonny craig.

lyrics copied below!!

i wanted to believe that i could be anyone but i'm lonely when i'm not alone and obviously, there's no danger in having hope having hope in anyone but me on a better day, i would be way more awake falling off, i'm losing faith if it's all the same, i will just take my things anyway

if this is love, if this is love then i would run far, run fast from me forgive me if i leave the keys

i knew i would let you down i'd betray your confidence how much do you trust me now? no

well, everyone else here sees your eyes, they can't perceive me i hate the sound of your voice cause it still haunts me like a ghost but i know that i'm to blame cause i've never been anyone else but i'm not numb cause i'm lying awake cause i know i'll never change

if this is love, if this is love then i would run far, run fast from me

i never said i was an angel there's a simple explanation for it all it's all my fault the snow melts away i'm close to the ending now i don't want to be saved

if this is love, if this is love then i would run far, run fast from me forgive me if i leave the keys

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

with my eyes sewn shut.

song of the week — song 05.

the undertaker's thirst for revenge is unquenchable (the final battle), chiodos

*yells* WITH MY EYES SEWN SHUT

i’ve been on a huge chiodos kick lately hehe and this is my fave song off of bone palace. i might post a commentary about this song soon so stay tuned!

lyrics copied below!

my eyes are glistening with the ghosts of my past the memories that we once had

now that you've turned the world against me i'm only trying to win them back

with my eyes sewn shut to shut down and bathe in these words about me and now you're standing alone with your eyes to the sun standing alone with your eyes to the sun

that heaven and earth may strike their sounds together worlds are ruined this way and we've all been there time and time again

before the battle always seem so still (and i will see you someday again in the clouds) and i will see you someday again in the clouds

all the world's a stage! and all the world's a stage!

with my eyes sewn shut to shut down and bathe in these words about me and now you're standing alone with your eyes to the sun standing alone with your eyes to the sun

that heaven and earth may strike their sounds together worlds are ruined this way and we've all been there time and time again

time

my eyes are glistening with the ghosts of my past and what we once had

and all the world's a stage i existed because i dreamed and well, i dream no more i've given up on the entire human race

credit: genius lyrics

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

in this hybrid land.

song of the week — song 04.

look mom, i'm on tv, mozart season

one of the few jon mess features! i love him so much hehe. also it's cool that some of the guys in mozart season go way back with dgd. makes more sense why jon did this song. i try not to type so much for my weekly songs but i think this song requires it so indulge me. if you’re not familiar with jon mess’s writing style, the lyrics might be shocking. but this is just how he writes! i talk a little bit about it in my people you know commentary. so check that out to further your understanding. and just a warning, some of the lyrics might be triggering for those with EDs, so please proceed with caution!

lyrics copied below!

well i can see right through that bitter smile you wear so proudly on your face you're nothing more than a huge disgrace so children take my hand we'll lead you down the road that you've been following so you can see the outcome of your sins you're falling, you're falling further down with every pound so be all that you can be and eat all you can eat put a gun up to your head and pull the trigger see what happens you might get your very own tv show

(well headlines they always scare me i'm pretty sure if you hit the blunt you'll die on my back is a target, not the store racking up those extra credit miles

blonde, fake as hell, —— by her dad it's a good tv show gay, talks hella gay, dresses hella nice it's a good tv show)

you hide yourself so happily in your cookie cutter community you rank so highly in this hybrid land, forget it man if ever there was a time for you to hold onto something more dear, the time is now be all that you can be, eat all that you can eat be all that you can be, eat all that you can eat oh, when will this all come to an end? oh, when will this all come to an end!? you hide yourself so happily in your cookie cutter community you rank so highly in this hybrid land, forget it man if ever there was a time for you to hold onto something more dear

(tropical norfolk pollock in nighttime leaving a bank right before the blimp lands no thank you block building mace, when a shrimp liver hand lies line line corrupt dog, i need new shoulders? bloated, under a blanket of tires under a blanket of tires

well i hope my lawyer man he shoots and connects basting a turkey, playing some croquet blind tax collection is a horrible c section rummaging through some old dead trolls)

credit: genius lyrics

(you can find the uncensored lyrics on the website, i just didn’t want to include that word)

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

her heart beats on.

song of the week — song 03.

a dead language for a dying lady, vanna

i love the layered cleans and uncleans, it just adds to the intensity. this song is truly a product of its time

lyrics are copied below!

as her insides screaming, let me out she speaks as if someone's in the room with her (someone sits quietly on the ceiling tile) still facing the corner with eyes gouged out these tears of blood fall, for blood is all she's crying out

her heart beats on she's just not, giving up yet though blinded by the devil's touch she rises above him

(she rises above)

she races towards the light her heart beats on (she stares death straight in the face, heart beats on) these tears of blood fall, for blood is all she's crying out

as he cuts into her chest her heart beats on she's just not giving up yet though blinded by the devil's touch she rises above him (rise above) she floats towards the light the darkness recedes (let me out, let me live again) in this most desperate hour (she cries) a most desperate hour

in this crowded room in this crowded room in this crowded room with an empty view in this crowded room

save your goodbyes, we all know it's not the end save your goodbyes, we all know it's not the end save your goodbyes, we all know it's not the end save your goodbyes, we all know it's not the end

credit: epitaph website

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

ride into oblivion.

song of the week — song 02.

pulmonary archery, alexisonfire

when i heard this song for the first time, i felt so frenzied.. it was a beautiful experience to say the least. sometimes, when this song comes on while im in the shower i start thrashing around LOLZ. its great

lyrics are copied below!

let's go! it's never too late to be early or try and maintain some scrap of integrity and certainty i guess

(my fingers are blistered and bleeding) won't apologize and 1977 was a long time ago (there's no longer discomfort that you brought) was a long time ago... i don't care

i don't care how things were and i won't apologize, i won't apologize fuck yout

the Alamo has been penetrated and there is little hope for the white man so hop on your rainbow ride it...

(my fingers are blistered and bleeding) so hop on your rainbow and ride into oblivion (there's no longer discomfort that you brought) for all i care, you could be early, or late, whatever

credit: genius lyrics

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

the stars are out tonight.

song of the week — song 01.

in san francisco watching slc punk, ghost runner on third

words can't explain how much i love this song... it makes me think of the one i love.

no speeches for this, just enjoy. lyrics are copied below <3

i simply stated you blow me away with these longing glances, i'll take this chance to slowly sweep you away

would you throw it all away for just one taste of what you know you crave?

the stars are out tonight, the reflections in your eyes make it easier for me to crack a smile i ask you about your life and where you've been all mine if only i could stop the hands of time

would you throw it all away for just one taste of what you know you crave?

the air it stands so still, but still i get a chill from every passing moment we lay here staring at the sky, you start to laugh as i slowly run my hands up your thighs by kissing on your neck, what lines have i crossed yet? or would you even stop to think or have regrets? and am i worth it or will i leave you in the end? broken hearted and lonely should we kiss?

and i will brush the hair from your eyes and stumble over words to make you smile and i will lean in for a kiss and pray that i am worth it

credit: genius lyrics

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

where did our honor go? i think i know. a commentary on jon mess.

the battle hymns — issue number one.

i got a wish

i got a wish

that all of this

was something special.

people you know, dance gavin dance.

my classes have not been letting up on me lately, so as a result i haven't had much time to dedicate to this blog. but in my spare time i try to lay something on the page and this is what came out of those fragments. i'm not entirely satisfied with this but i give myself a pass since these commentaries are opinion based and therefore subjective.

with no time to waste, welcome to the first installment of my newly established dance gavin dance commentaries. make sure you wipe your feet at the door! if you haven't noticed already, i plan on having such a series for all of my favorite bands — and coming up with a clever name to boot ;) — so as always, stay tuned!

despite being in a downtown battle mountain mood lately, for this first issue i felt eager to talk about one of my favorite people and dgd songs, jon mess + people you know, which appears on death star. i was first introduced to this gem of song through a good friend of mine. i will never forget he said to me one afternoon "wanna hear one of the realest songs ever?" and my life was forever changed. i remember being blown away by the raw, unashamed screams of jon mess. i had never heard anything like it in my life. everything sounded so violent.. like i was being ripped apart and then handed the pieces of my flesh to sew back together… truly a violent delight. it was entirely too much for me to handle but i continued to consume, like a disobedient child who disregards warnings from those who know better than them.

but truly, bless this mess. it's amusing to me that his name is jon mess. do those two names combined not reek of contradiction? maybe my sense of smell is not entirely there but let me explain what i'm pointing out here. the name jon is the epitome of practicality and simplicity. but mess? my god. now that speaks for itself and it does a pretty damn good job. it's few and far between when someone's name suits them so well it borders a humorous sort of irony. and while it does make me giggle, i think it really does speak to his character. now let me pause for a brief interlude, as this is where i begin to consider what direction i want this commentary to go towards. i'm having too much fun blabbering about our subject that i'm teetering on the edge of forgetfulness. well, i digress. and i do so righteously! however i truly think it's important to discuss the artist with as much vigor as the art.

i like to say that jon mess is meta. he's so meta it makes my head spin. back in january, i stumbled across an article about him where he discuses his artwork. yes, artwork. for those of my readers who may not know, he is also a painter... (so what if i was just a painter..?). he actually did the album art for their first ever ep, whatever i say is royal ocean ;)) i really love what he says in this article. check out this snippet

credit: Submerge magazine

when i read this for the first time, it was like a lightbulb went off over my head. on dgd's first album downtown battle mountain, the first track "untitled", serves as a charged opener and segue to the first official song "and i told them i invented times new roman". in "untitled" the lyrics are sparse but i hope you can make a connection.

i believe there's meaning

no, i believe there's nothing

i believe there's meaning

no, i believe there's nothing

and jon mess repeats these lines until it smoothly transitions into jonny craig's belting opener in times new roman. these lyrics also return in the penultimate song "surprise i'm from cuba". do you see what i mean when i say he's meta? why does something have to have some deep meaning? the answer is that it simply doesn’t. why search for something that’s not there? just enjoy it for what it is.

he’s without frills, there’s a plain honesty of his character and the way he presents himself but the chaos that erupts when he writes music and presents those lyrics to us is a beautiful contrast. and i adore it. he’s also incredibly witty in a way that borders flippant but it all adds to his charm. and when i say this, im specifically referring to the context of that one interview he did after one of jonny’s scandals HAHA.

ok before i shut up about him, look how fine he is in these old pictures. also hello kurt!! ;)

credit: pinterest + the watermarks on the photos!

wowie. phew. he sure is something! no wonder he's married (and to a beautiful lady at that!). lord help me. that was a treat for my eyes and yours as well hopefully. now, i hope to provide a treat for your ears.

when it comes to talking about a song in such a format as this post, it's hard to pinpoint what exactly to talk about. what do people want to read? what do i want to say? do i talk about the instrumentals? the lyrics? i want to talk about what i like and what stands out to me but i don't know how to structure it properly. so i'll give it my best shot. i'm sorry if it's choppy and awkward but these trials will hopefully help me improve in the future.

i think the biggest the draw for me is the lyrics. it's so incredibly earnest with this fervent energy in his screams. when i was attempting to dig into the dgd lore, i discovered that this song was most likely inspired from jon's life at the time. he had contracted lyme's disease and as a result was struggling quite a bit. he probably felt extremely fed up with life and penned this song in his haze of frustration. of course, these are just my speculations so do not take too much stock into this. this part resonates with me quite a bit. check it out

the weak are the liars

the strong think too much

i am too cynical to say i dont't give a fuck

and in true dance gavin dance style, the instruments are stellar and only enhance the bitterness of the song. they carve a path for this anxiety induced sound. it's fast paced, it's relentless, it's unforgiving. and it will absolutely leave you behind if you can't keep up. some of the guitar bits dig into you with such cruel disposition.

credit: rise records on youtube

well my dear readers. to end this, i pose an inspired question to you all. truly, what do you know about loyalty, honesty, trust, respect, humility, sincerity? think about it and reflect. and maybe you’ll come to realize that people you know is actually people we all happen to be.

with love xx

royal ocean

[royaloceanxx]

attention all of my worst critics! the first of many odes to chiodos.

the chiODES — issue number one.

so... i think i have a thing for craig owens...

what a crazy preface right? but can a girl help it?? i often find myself mindlessly scrolling flickr looking at old pictures of the band and my goodness they are just so good looking its unfair!

i have a very close relationship with the DeepRockDrive series of live performances chiodos did back in 2008 that yall just wouldnt understand *rolls eyes*

but no seriously, i love those videos. not just because of those damn good looks (cmon im not that far gone) but also because of how tuned up they all are (special shoutout to the sound engineer!!). you can hear each instrument extremely well and they mesh so well together. god they're just soooo cohesive it's unreal. i will lay dead and dying on the hill that the AWTEW / bone palace lineup was spectacular and can never be recreated. what they did on those first two records is something very special.

there's this one part of their performance for BYWLAMOTC that lives rent. free. in my mind. check it out

credit: Deep Rock Drive Vault on youtube

ugh. fucking mind killer. first we got derrick going ham on that kit and looking like a classic seventies music star with that haircut and those buttons popped. my god he was sooo tight during this performance it's insane. also i think he was using click tracks on his ipod! cause multiple times throughout these videos towards the end and the beginning of each song you can catch a glimpse of him changing the track on his ipod and i think it was somehow connected to his in ear haha. and there's an interview he did where he talks about how he basically can't live without click tracks anymore. not sure the date of this interview but my point still very much stands.

my favorite part of this whole video is that one shot of jason and matt i included in the above clip. where jason looks over in the direction of the keyboard and physically cues brad's glissando but matt catches his eye and does a slight nod of acknowledgment while continuing to pump out that bass line (side note: chiodos has some really good bass lines and it's great that you can hear them in not only live performances but on the record as well). this just shows how much they all listen to each others parts. it's not mindless individual playing, although i'd reckon that's pretty hard to do in a fucking band of all things but hey i'm sure some bands have adopted that mentality haha. but these dudes are interwoven. i legit have found myself double tapping the ten second rewind for that clip one too many times that's for sure.

jason and matt make such an appealing duo musically that it's almost sinful to watch. the groove between those two is so seamless it's almost tangible. matt is in the pocket so much that i often find myself peeking in there to check on him. i have to make sure he doesn't get lost you know!! the part in the song where everything slows down and that bass part comes in swinging. ugh. matt goddard the man that you areeeeeeee. and jason makes it looks so effortless. i love how he rips out these enchanting melodies like it's absolutely nothing, but you can tell he knows he's smashing it.

continuing to break down this performance. that beast bradley motherfuckin bell. he throws down on those keyboards oh my lord. he truly is a necessary component of that chiodos sound. without him, it's not chiodos. it won’t let me upload multiple videos <//3 but there’s a part of him going cuckoo bananas in that very same performance and then it cuts to a view of derrick with pat in the background and they’re both so into it it’s great. someone in the live chat kept spamming the comment “brad write sheet music” and i thought that was the funniest thing. i’m sure he had written some — how else would he have played and recorded his parts (unless he’s fucking cam jansen) but it’s either lost or somewhere buried in his house. one can only imagine. it would’ve been so cool if he uploaded them but alas. also that live chat was going insane... some of those people were weird as hell.

another thing that caught my attention during these performances was the fact that brad has a chiodos tattoo on his arm. under normal circumstances it would probably be hidden under the sleeve of his shirt but when he lifted his arm you could see it. i know craig has one on his lower arm and due to my flickr doomscroll, i consequently discovered jason has one as well — and in true rock star fashion — on his right butt cheek! this leads me to wonder if pat, derrick or matt have one. the former two are not so likely or they’re just hidden under clothes since they really have no visible tattoos or body mod. derrick on the other hand has plenty of tattoos to go around, leading me to believe he indeed has one as well. ahh the noticings of a too keen fangirl, but i press on.

for what it's worth, i must dote on pat as well. i don't think i give him enough credit, or anyone does for that matter. while jason pumps out those signature tantilizing riffs that lodge themselves into our subconscious, pat is the one keeping us all grounded with those steady rhythms that often match up with our beloved drums (we <3 you derrick). i absolutely love what pat did in TWBFBR from this very same live show but i’m corking that for a separate post. i also love watching pat get into the music. he has this classic sort of boyish charm about him. very much the midwest boy next door... except this boy plays guitar and is in a band. makes the heart flutter even more, am i right?

and to our frontman, mister craig owens himself. let me just say that his screams are absolutely lethal. definitely some of my favorite in the phc umbrella. i don't understand how he can go from cleans to uncleans and uncleans to cleans so flawlessly.. (i feel the same way about vic fuentes mind you). craig always knows how to put on a show and his crowdwork is very clever. for me, the biggest draw with craig is that his voice is kinda unique. he's not the best vocalist.. but it works?? and in no way am i bashing craig and i mean no disrespect towards him, these are just my opinions. but he doesn't have to be fucking luther vandross. i mean.. let's not even talk about jonny craig HAHA. but what craig (owens) does with his voice works for the art he and the guys create. he may sound questionable at times if you listen too closely but somehow it still sounds good cause it fits the music. i love his voice. also what the flip to that lil commentary from him towards the end. he was giving people high fives and said "i like touching everybody." and some girl screamed "TOUCH ME CRAIG!" me for realzzz. and then i guess someone in the crowd said they could see his underwear and craig went "oh you can see my superman boxers? whoops.." ugh. i am so sorry to be that fangirl but he sounded so yummy when he said that LOLZ.

but i genuinely cannot fathom how the crowd was so lax throughout this. the CRAIG OWENS of davison michigan was standing right up close and they were acting like this was a normal occurrence?! what the helllllll. life is so unfair. i would have been baring those lyrics wholeheartedly from the depths of my soul. they would've had to pump me with anesthesia to keep me subdued cause aint no way in hell! on a side note, i often wonder if even i was a teenager during this time, would i have been into this type of music? it's something i find myself thinking about a bit too much but we'll definitely be filing that discussion for another post hehe.

there is plenty for me to lay on the table about the Deep Rock Drive videos but i think i’ll make this a series and pick on a specific video whenever it strikes the mood like i did here to incorporate into my chiODES ;))

what should i title this series? i'm toying with chiODES LOLZ but i feel like that's bit too close to the other vulgar word. unfortunately it's such a neat play on the band name and the word "ode" so i might give in. chiODES? chiOdes? chiodes? chiodeos? chiODEos? i dunno. it really is quite clever though so i'll have to think about it.

this was so much fun to write and i'm excited to do more posts like this!

with love xx

royal ocean