#Dreamy Chelsea

[bweepy]

Dreamy ⭐️ Chelsea

[nakanosorami]

💫 by hanatizu

※Illustration shared with permission from the artist. Please remember to support the original artwork and creator by visiting the source.

[alchemist767676]

Having just read her first fight scene, Dreamy⭐️Chelsea is my new favorite, weirdly competent fail woman. Here’s hoping she doesn’t die.

[nancyydowns]

𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭, 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 this is from a daydream i had..

[magicalgirloftheday]

✧・ﾟ:Today’s magical girl of the night is: Dreamy☆Chelsea from Magical Girl Raising Project: breakdown!✧・ﾟ:

[onceuponaoneshotfanfic]

Head Over Heels in the Moment

I'm Bright Baby Blue, Falling Into You

How Chelsea!Roy met his coach's daughter for the first time.

Roy Kent x Coach's Daughter!Reader 0.7k words Warnings: Language, Chelsea!Roy, Roy already being a fool for the reader

Roy Kent wasn’t nervous about going to Chelsea. No way in hell. It was just Chelsea. Legendary Chelsea, with its history of greatness and high expectations for him.

Alright, fine, he was a smidge nervous.

But the moment he laced up his boots and stepped on the pitch, his nerves dissipated. Because no matter where he stood and no matter what kit he wore, it was still football. And Roy Kent loved football.

Just as he was starting to feel comfortable, a flash of pink caught his eye. He glanced away from the drill he was meant to be doing to take in the sight of a bright summer dress and a beaming smile. Fucking hell. If he thought his heart pounded when he ran around on the pitch, it was nothing compared to now. He tried to remember the last time his palms were this sweaty or his mouth this dry; he was failing to think of any instance.

He tapped the shoulder of the fella next to him. “Who’s that?” he asked, nodding towards the vision in pink on the sideline who had yet to even glance his way, instead cheering the names of other players. Players he suddenly wished he was.

His new teammate chuckled knowingly. “Ah. That’s Coach’s daughter. She’s always hanging around. Visits from uni whenever she can.” He clapped Roy on the shoulder sympathetically. “Stay away, though,” he said in a warning voice. “She’s completely off-limits.”

Roy rolled his eyes. “Not like I’m gonna do something,” he grumbled. “Just curious.”

Another knowing chuckle rumbled in his teammate’s chest as they resumed their drill. “Sure, Kent.”

Roy remained curious for the rest of training. He kept glancing over, trying to catch her eye. But she never looked his way. She stayed by her father’s side, watching training with a small smile on her lips. Players who came her way were greeted with waves and high-fives, as though they were old friends. He caught the way some of them looked at her; he wondered if he had the same stupid, dreamy expression on his own face. Probably did, he thought. Probably looked like a fucking wanker.

His curiosity finally got the best of him when he caught sight of her alone in the hallway after practice had ended. Telling himself he was just getting comfortable in his new home and trying to get to know people (what a fucking lie), he approached her with a half-wave.

“Oi,” he greeted as she stopped to look at him, eyebrows raised expectantly. “’m Roy.”

She nodded firmly. “I know.”

Roy tried to think of the last time a woman spoke to him so plainly. Some part of him kind of liked it. “You’ve heard of me then?” He dared to lean a smidge closer. “You a fan?”

Her eyeroll somehow managed to be charming. “I’ve been running your paperwork to HR all week,” she scoffed. Despite her aloofness, he could see the corners of her mouth tugging upwards. With another cool nod, she turned on her heel to walk away.

“Wait.” She glanced over her shoulder at him, curiosity finally coloring her face. “You going to tell me your name or what?” He cocked his head at her. “The guys just called you ‘princess’.”

Her eyes sparkled at what he guessed was a familiar nickname. “Guess you better get used to calling me ‘your royal highness’ then,” she mused.

Fuck. She was kind of funny, he realized; Roy tried not to find her so fucking attractive, he really did, but it was impossible. So impossible that he couldn’t help the smirk that crossed his face as he shook his head gently at her. “Alright, next time I’ll be sure to mind my manners and curtsy pretty for you.”

That did it. She smiled at him, a real smile that filled her pretty face and made his heart stop in his chest. “Looking forward to it,” she hummed. With a wave over her shoulder, she resumed walking away, this time with a bit more of a spring to her step. “Welcome to Chelsea, Roy Kent.”

Roy unabashedly watched her walk away, his jaw slacking slightly. Off-limits, he reminded himself. Absolutely off-limits. But then she turned a corner, glancing back at him with that smile still on her face.

Fuck it, he thought. Maybe she’d be worth getting in a little bit of trouble for.

[nicolesainz]

Under the mistletoe, watching the fire glow (MM7)

Mason Mount x f!reader

Summary: You and Mason have been ride or dies since day 1. Spent every holiday together and sometimes even being each others gifts when separated. This Christmas, Santa will gift Mason something dreamy but definitely something he had been wishing for ages.

Author's note: I haven't written about Mason in quite some time and something festive will definitely lighten up the spirts. Hope you enjoy!

"It's definitely more chilly up here than in London." Y/n says, hugging herself tighter around the warm jacket Mason gave her. It is the first Christmas that she and Mason will spent apart. His family will drive to Manchester and she will be in London with hers. No family meet ups like the old days.

"I told you so. Now let's go inside before you catch a cold and then I hate myself for making you sick during Christmas." He took her hand and led both of them inside his warm house.

Mason's entire front and back yard was decorated with beautiful multicolored lights and small fake gifts with golden ribbons inside many of Santa's sleighs. The inside though was even more majestic. He wanted to make this christmas feel more like the ones in London so he borrowed a few decorations from his mother's house. A classic Santa doll that wishes you 'merry christmas' every time one opens the door, many fairy lights around the ceiling, a sparkling tree full of small stars, red, white, blue and green ornaments.

"Winter Wonderland is nothing compared to this, Mase." Y/n sits and admires the beauty of his house, whilst Mason admires Y/n's beauty from afar.

"Always an ass kisser, Y/n. But thank you" Mason says teasingly, earning a light shove from an equally giggling Y/n.

"It's true, your house looks wonderful. Just like your mother's during this time of the year."

"I was feeling nostalgic, I am not gonna lie, so I asked Lewis to send me some of mum's stuff. I asked her first and she was pleased that I would eventually decorate."

"Why? Were you not planning on decorating?"

"Nah, not really. I was not very in the mood but I didn't want to be a Grinch either so I asked Marcus and Luke to help me out with the lights. The rest I did it by myself followed by some music."

Mason didn't want to admit that he hated being away from his family and her. One of the things he regretted with his transfer was having to move from London to Manchester. Leaving behind 24 years, full of memories and heartfelt moments.

Leaving Y/n behind hurt him even more than it hurt her. As he was driving to his new home back in August, he was crying the entire time. He wished things were better for him at Chelsea so he wouldn't have to turn upside down his entire life.

"I could have helped you. I am one call away Mase. I will always be available, whenever you need me." She goes close to him and pulls him into a tight hug. Mason lets out a deep sigh and kisses the top of her head softly, thankful that she is in his life since day one.

As he is caressing her head, he looks up, just to notice a mistletoe with a note hanging alongside it. Mason squeezes his eyes to look more clearly at what the note is saying.

'Kiss her for the love of god' - L & M

Marcus and Luke knew how Mason truly felt about Y/n, the moment she unexpectedly showed up at Mason's first game with Manchester United. Once he realised she was in the crowd, his eyes sparked with happiness and was more than thankful that Ten Hag put him in the starting squad.

Mason had blurted out that he loved her during warn up, catching both of his teammates off guard. He had always loved her, just not romantically. He had to lose her from his side to realise that she was the one that kept his heart steady every time.

Every time Mason was heartbroken she would be the first to rush to his side in order to console him. Take care of him. Remind him that no matter what, she would never give up on him. For her, he was simply Mason. The sweet boy next door who became her lifelong partner after he has just moved from Portsmouth.

He was a 20 year old boy who back in 2020 was called up to represent his country in the Euros and then would jump and scream around the house as if he was 5 year old being given candy for the first time. He wasn't Mason Mount, the handsome, skillful footballer, wealthy and arrogant as most of the media presented him.

"You are the best thing in my life, Y/n. I seriously don't know what I would do if it wasn't for you. I wouldn't trade you for anything." Mason said with such ease but those words were tightening Y/n's chest. She had been madly in love with him since forever. Even when he was covered in mud, or missing a tooth from football practice, he was still making her heart beat faster than anyone else on the planet.

"Don't tell your parents but I am thankful that they moved from Portsmouth to London next to my house. Ever since we met my life has been better. And I would risk everything for you." And that's what made Mason feel guilty.

The fact that she had risked relationships, jobs, friendships, just to keep Mason in her life. No matter the cost her choice was always him. It was too late when he noticed that most of his girlfriends were taking him away from her, but she wouldn't say anything so not to interfere in his love life.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"If you seriously don't kiss her the next time, I will kidnap her and drag her all the way to Manchester and force you to do so. You're missing on a big chance, mate!" Declan threatened over the phone with Lauren screaming that she agrees from behind.

"What if she's not feeling the same? I will look like the biggest loser on the planet. She will laugh at my face."

"Did you seriously think that THE Y/n, would ever laugh in your face? That woman straight up rejected Conor's flirting and stood him up on a date just because you had a fight with Chloe and after two hours you made up again."

"Are you and Ben in sync? He told me the same thing!"

"Because we were all there when she turned Conor down. Whoever you ask, Luke, Phil, Ben, Jack, they will tell you the same thing. Why do you never listen?"

“She’s just been here my entire life and I would hate myself if I ruined the special bond we have just because I let my emotions get the better of me” Mason takes into his hands a picture with the three of them back when him and Declan were at the Chelsea academy and Y/n had attended their game, taking a picture with the winners.

Y/n may have had both her arms around the two boy’s necks but her looks were solely focused on a long haired, sweaty and full blown red Mason. She was shorter than the two of them and yet that didn’t stop her from looking up to the man she loved.

“Ugh, I really hate that I have to do this, and if she finds out she will kill me but, Y/n confessed to me that she’s been in love with you a long time ago.” Declan says and Mason goes silent.

What does he mean by “a long time ago”?

“How long ago? And why was it only you?”

“Don’t hate me, but back in high school, when you were about to be loaned at Vitesse, she came at my house crying rivers and confessed that she’s been in love with you forever but refuses to tell you or make a move because she’s afraid of interfering in your life and messing with your head.” Mason was shocked to hear this statement from Declan.

He was just told that the girl of his dreams, who was quietly sitting away from all his previous relationships, been forced to remove herself from his life because of insecure girlfriends, was in love with him.

“I’m such an idiot. I’ve been hurting her for such a long time and yet she remained beside me through thick and thin.” There was an intense tightening once again in Mason’s heart, with the realization that he wasted all those years in girls that only seemed to seek him for his fame, money and good looks, instead of being with a woman who loved him when he had ‘nothing’ and was a little boy from Portsmouth with a big dream.

“I think now it’s also time to tell you that you practically ‘married’ her back when we were 9, so you’re not totally missing out” that comment made both Mason and Declan laugh hysterically and after a few moments they hung up.

It was time for Mason to make things right. No matter the cost.

———————————————————————————

On Christmas Day the whole Mount family was gathered around a table, eating and enjoying their time, with the kids brightening up their day as always. Mason was sitting next to Summer who clearly wasn’t getting the entirety of her favorite uncle’s attention.

“Is everything okay uncle Masey?” The little girl asked whilst grabbing onto Mason’s hand, whilst the other was occupied by flinging with an envelope.

“Yes my darling. I’m sorry I haven’t asked you, how’s dinner? Enjoying my cooking skills?” He raised playfully an eyebrow, knowing that he wouldn’t be mad even if she answered negatively.

“I really like it! But maybe aunt’s Y/N a bit more” Summer said with a huge smile on her face. That kid was onto something, Mason said to himself.

“I’ll tell her you said that baby. I’m sure she’ll be very pleased to hear that.” Mason caressed her soft head and picked her up and placed her on his lap.

“Why isn’t she today with us? She’s usually eating here every time.”

He really didn’t that reminder today but how could’ve Summer known. She’s just a kid.

“She’s with her family back in London. She really wished she could make it but it’s very difficult.” Once more where he regretted the distance.

“So what’s that on your hand?” Summer was pointing at the envelope in between Mason’s fingers.

“It’s my letter to Santa. I was a nice boy this year so I think I deserve a gift, don’t you think?”

“I think that if Santa brought me a brand new dollhouse than he will bring what you want too!” She was clapping in confidence.

“I hope you’re right Summer. I’m counting on it!”

“What did you ask for?”

Mason sighed and replied “Your aunt Y/n. She’s been my only wish this year.”

“I’m sure Santa will bring her here with his sleigh before he goes back to Lapland.”

Mason giggled with Summer’s comment and before he could pick up the glass of wine, the doorbell rang.

That was quite unexpected.

“Are you waiting for anyone dear?” His mother Debbie asked.

“Uh, none that I think of” he walks up to the door, opens it and in front of his eyes, Y/n is revealed, carrying a bunch of bags with candy and gifts for everyone but most importantly a massive, beautiful smile plastered on her face.

Mason picked her up, despite the weight from everything she was carrying and held her firmly inside his arms, refusing to let go. He was over the moon.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe you’re here! How-uh,when, what?” He was at a loss of words. Very thankful she was in Manchester but questioning as to why she’s not in London with her family.

“Wait, first of all, Merry Christmas everyone. I couldn’t spend this holiday without seeing my favorite family or bringing any gifts.” She said to the entirety of the table, whilst everyone was coming to greet her.

Summer ran into her grasp and hugged her as tight as she could with her little arms. Y/n picked the young girl up and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Did Santa bring you here with his sleigh?”

“Well in fact yes he did Summer. Hence why I’m carrying all those gifts!” She played along with the whole Santa act.

“Uncle Masey, your wish did come true. See? She’s here! You can be with auntie now!” The little girl screamed at her uncle and Mason’s face turned instantly red. He was caught red handed.

“What wish?” Y/n looks at the both of them confused and baffled.

“Uncle Masey said that his only wish this year was you. And Santa did grant it!”

Y/n couldn’t tell whether Summer had misinterpreted what Mason had probably said or was in fact saying 100% what he mentioned before.

“Baby, would you mind, leaving us alone for a couple of minutes? I need to speak to your auntie” Mason asked softly and Summer nodded.

“Of course. Go play with your toy.”

Mason took Y/n’s hand and led the both of them to the living room away from the noises of the Christmas table.

“There are a few things I need to say and please be patient but first, why are you here?” He needed to know why she drove all the way to Manchester. Why she was sacrificing time with her family?

“I am in love with you Mason. It took me 24 years to say it because that’s how long I’ve loved you. I never once experienced this feeling with any other man and no one could ever make me feel special or appreciated like you did. I was saving money to travel to the Netherlands just to see you play and then fly back to England the same day. I always lied when I said I was staying at a motel. It didn’t matter than you were in love with someone else, as long as you were, that was making me more than happy even though it pained me to see that I couldn’t be the one from who you were receiving the love.”

If Mason threw out there the whole ‘marriage’ thing Declan said to him, he would take the both of them away to a chapel and marry her in the blink of an eye. That’s how much he loved her. Instead of scaring her away by remembering something that happened all those years ago, he limited himself.

“I don’t know why it took this transfer to realize that the only person in my life that I truly want to be next to me, is you. In all my girlfriends I was looking for traits that only you had and yet I couldn’t find them. Because none of them could compare to you. You are unique and irreplaceable. That’s why I love you. It had always been you and yet I was too blind to realize and see for myself. Y/n it broke my heart to pieces when I was moving my stuff from London to Manchester and I was crying all the way up here. I didn’t want to celebrate Christmas because it would be the first that I wasn’t going to spend with you. You are all I need”

Mason felt a weight being lifted off of him after this confession. Now, not only was Y/n full blown red as well, but also crying with his statement. Her heart was beating so fast and was filled with excitement after what Mason had just confessed.

“Are you willing to fight all odds, beat the distance and be my girlfriend? I promise to take care of you no matter the cost. I promise to give you all the love that I should’ve given you years ago. I promise to appreciate you every second of the day. Only if you let me.” Mason took her hands into his, tangling them up, playing with the promise ring he gave her and was always wearing.

“I am more than willing! I was always ready and I want to love you unconditionally Mason. I want to give you all my love. Yes, I want to be your girlfriend!” She jumps into his arms and Mason closes entirely the gap between them by finally kissing her under the mistletoe. A kiss full of love and pure affection.

“I think by default, this is the best Christmas ever!” Mason says, laughing his heart out.

“You forget the Christmas back when we were 9, when we got ‘married’. Nothing tops that!” Y/n fired back and kisses Mason once more.

“Never say never baby.”

[tolkiens]

terrible playlists no one asked for!

this year has been big for me in terms of djing and how it is very much about the curation of a space, what towns prefer as opposed to cities, which countries are more open to niche preferences than others.

i also started making mixed CDs for my friends again, it's something i stopped doing in 2019 when i caved and started using spotify (and here i am now, intending to move away from the platform lol). it's really nice to make gifts for your friends, esp when you are constantly away from your home city/country.

anyway here's some of my # faves i've slapped together from my rekordbox sets/things i've burned onto CDs for friends, on spotify for convenience

"work from home" people at 10am on a tuesday - what the title says i guess. still refining this one but it’s fun to dance to. lots of scandinavian star production. the bird is one of my fav musical discoveries this yr, if ur ever in copenhagen, come see him. was not prepared for his incredible live energy + tht basshunter tattoo (lol!)

forgive me father for i have synthed - featuring some lust for youth, purient, mbv, yves tumor. those kind of vibes.

the sunday sessions volumes - every sunday evening, my best friend and i program music for an hour or two. vibe depends on the day. vol 1 is quite moody but chill i.e king woman, slowdive, chelsea wolfe

pissing me the fuck off all by yourself handsome? - mostly hardcore/punk stuff, a lot of aus 80s/90s bands and onwards

snapping on the latex - funky! thanks fox mulder for the title inspiration.

testicular torsion - uh, my personal go to 'just fuck me up' mix. 16+ hours of unorganised mess from my physical metal collection. idea is you find what you like in here and go from there. it's very broad. also yeah, this is a part two. don’t ask where part one disappeared to.

demazin heartache - some fuzzy noisy dreamy shoegaze to alleviate your springtime break up season n hayfever woes. not sponsored by demazin sadly. made for everyone that went through a brutal spring breakup recently (something was in the water for sure) <3

[fallen2iren]

𝓑enefits!

👜🪽🗞️

♯ You’re totally serving Y2K pop diva vibes. Your singing is next-level, like top-tier in the world. Men find themselves drawn to you, almost like they're meant to serve your every need. Your nightlife is wild and exciting, with every moment filled with glamour and adventure. Your face is so striking that people consult their cosmetologists to replicate it. Your voice sounds otherworldly, captivating everyone who hears it.

♯ You embody the main character energy, exuding pure, effortless seduction. You have that dreamy vintage Americana beauty with Old Hollywood glam, all while being mysterious and effortlessly cool. You balance an innocent appearance with a complete awareness of your power. Playful and flirty, you combine charm with sharp intelligence, always a step ahead. It's not just about looks; your confidence and seductive charm keep them hooked, without being overwhelming.

♯ You give a sweet smile while subtly getting people to do exactly what you want—total boss vibes wrapped in a glittery, pretty package. Your style is the perfect mix of uptown and downtown. One day, you're in a tailored blazer and designer heels, commanding the streets of the Upper East Side; the next, you're downtown in a vintage leather jacket, rocking streetwear vibes. You effortlessly blend luxury with edgy, laid-back cool, embodying the It Girl persona.

♯ From brunch in SoHo to rooftop parties in the Meatpacking District, you always look like you just stepped off a runway. Whether grabbing matcha lattes in the West Village or attending chic gallery openings in Chelsea, you live out your NYC/LA fantasy every single day. You have the coolest friend group, always by your side, sharing in the fun and excitement. Your boyfriend is the most wealthy and sophisticated, adding another layer of glamour and success to your enviable life.

[fratboykate]

Papi, I didn't know about PVRIS and Lynn before you started talking about them yesterday and now I'm obsessed. Maybe I'm behind on queer artists. Can you give us a few more to check out?

SAY LESSSSSSSSSS you know i live for this shit and queer music during pride month? lets goooo. ill give you five wlw artists that i think are criminally underrated. id be hard pressed to pick a fave out of all of these because i genuinely think they all make EXCELLENT music but...

...probably THE ACES have it by a HAIR. i just love them. queer women, LATINA LEAD SINGER! (and her sister is in the band too), alt-indie/pop-rock dreamy vibes. andddd you're in luck because they just released a new album literally in the last week. between them and pvris we're gonna have a gay soundtrack this summer. i think if you made me pick like the 500 fave songs of my life the aces would have a few in there all over the rankings but "daydream" would be VERY high up. there's something about it that feels like a serotonin shot to the chest. i never not blast this song while driving:

ELIJAH WOODS x JAMIE FINE...Jamie is the queer woman/vocalist. they were a canadian duo but they broke up a few years ago and Jamie is releasing some music independently which is still amazing because her voice is sublime but the work they did together is on CONSTANT rotation for me. some astounding alt-pop goodness.

i mentioned LAUREN SANDERSON and her "songs ill eat you out to" ep last night when talking about pvris but she deserves her standalone shoutout. she's close with one of my best friends in the world so we've gotten to hang out a few times and not only is she making some incredible and unapologetic queer music but she's also a super dope human. can't say enough good things about her. she's fully independent so support her music if you can. it's truly good. unbiased opinion. "frustrated" has been on my top 100 songs on every "wrapped" since it was released. i love this song. "queen bee" is just like PEAKKKKKK makeout song. trust me. find a girl. have that as your soundtrack while you're kissing. 10/10 recommend.

CASSIDY KING is probably the most underrated here. her yt videos get like 1-3k views and it makes me sad because i loveeeeee her stuff. the tone of her voice tickles my ears.

this is not one of my top two recs but i GOTTA shout it out because not only is it her most famous song (100k yt views lol) but...listen...if you've ever dated the straight girl who dates you in secret while publicly flirting with dudes or the closeted girl who refuses to break up with her boyfriend DO WE HAVE A SONG FOR YOU lol

on the opposite end of cassidy is CHELSEA CUTLER. she's probably the most well known here but i still dont think EVERY gay knows about her so im including her because jamming or having horny songs is incredible but we also need songs to be miserable too and she's A MASTER at that lol this live performance of "sometimes" has made me cry more than once if the mood is even slightly off haha

[nakanosorami]

pukin and dreamy☆chelsea in casual clothes together! 💓💫

[garebearandnan]

'A Bit of Me' S2 fanfic new chapter release-MoS Party

Read EP13 Pt1 (day 11) The Party Part II on Ao3 or Wattpad. Links below-

Iain Stirling:  Tensions in the Villa have been skyrocketing since Grace blew the whistle on Priya’s feelings for Noah. So we thought we’d throw a little party to calm everyone down… Only to have two new Islanders crash it, because this is still Love Island people! And what kind of new islanders would they be if they didn’t immediately drop a truth bomb on that kiss? Let’s pick up right where we left off -  the Ministry Of Sound Party!

This new girl is about to kick up a storm. Why does Gary look so nervous? “Gary?”

All eyes are on Chelsea. She’s clearly excited to drop the news. A small frown appeared on Chelsea's face as she turned to the makeup artist and said, "Lottie, I thought you were supposed to be the loyal one.” All colour drained from Lottie’s face as she claimed, “I am! I'm loyal, babes."

Marisol snorted and, with a roll of her eyes, murmured, "That's what they all say."

Chelsea revealed the big secret by asking, “Then how did you end up snogging Gary when you knew that Grace had something going on with him?”

My jaw dropped. Lottie kissed Gary? I ripped my hand away from Gary’s and looked up at him. “What the hell!”

Chelsea: “All the boys are pretty dreamy. I just think it’s so exciting that one of the people in here might be someone I really fall in love with. I can’t wait to get to know the boys better. Arghhhh! They’re all so gorgeous!”

Jakub: “These are my eggs, and then there are baskets all over the villa. I will just put them in. There are loads of options, so I will talk to everyone and give everyone a chance. I will see where it goes. I don't care about stepping on people's toes. I do not care at all.”

Coming up next: EP14- It’s the morning after the party and the Villa is divided once more from the drama last night. And in the afternoon it’s time to pucker up boys. In the snogathon challenge the girls will kiss each boy in turn and the boys will be blindfolded and give them a score out of ten. Which girl has the lushest lips and is the Villa’s ‘Top Snogger'?

[musingsofaperpetualdaydreamer]

The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology first listen 🎧🪻✨

More than 15 years later wow it still feels so magical to listen to a brand new album. The joy, the excitement, the nervousness. I mark chapters of my life with her albums, they always seem to arrive with perfect timing. Is it fate or delusion? Probably the later, obviously she has no idea who I am. Idk it feels nice to delude myself now and again that we’re all journeying through this time together in some connectedness (is that a word?). It feels sort of nostalgic in some ways, from being just a child to now an adult, it’s like Sesame Street that grows up with you. Not a great analogy but what I mean to say is it holds a special place to me.

This album, this anthology feels much like we’ve been handed her diary, filled with sticky notes bound together, it’s so raw but so expertly crafted, messy feelings but the penmanship is exquisite. From her debut album, it’s always been poetry. She transports you to her world. What a journey, what a joy, what a gift.

I like to capture my first thoughts of each song in my silly chicken scratching written notes. Most of it makes no sense. It feels like a nice silly tradition and it’s fun to look back on. So here goes:

Fortnight

- It’s giving moody 1989??? Excuse me miss?!!! Ohhh she knows. Preach bye time to cry

The tortured poets department

- Ooooh we’re in an 80s dreamscape. Yes yes yes. Who’s gonna love you but me? A fluffy dreamland Patty smith? Insert wait I understood the reference meme. Ooooh it’s lovely. I am sad

My boy only breaks his favourite toys

- excuse me?? I’m shattered byyyyyeee. I’ll tell you that he runs because he loves me?? You should’ve see him when he first saw me? Once I fix me he’s gonna miss me??? Ladies and gents welcome to afternoon tea on the menu SCALDING hot queen’s special. Maybe I’m a crumpled up paper on the floor. Maybe I am no more.

Down Bad

- well damn she’s said the quiet parts out loud again. Oh smokes time to dissapear into this galaxy smoky cloud of night. One of us. One of us. One of us.

So long London

- literally standing by the river in the rain. May as well cry my damn eyes out . Darn it blondie. Poetic destruction. Crying my eyes out by the water like I’m in made in Chelsea. Darn.

But daddy I love him

- a folklore ode? Little house on the prairie Princess revolution. Serve it up serve it up I’m ready to be stuffed like a winter pig. A grown up love story. It’s ridiculous and maybe wise eyes know too well it’s chockablock of red flags but darn I’m a cheesin’ this is so cute.

Fresh out the slammer

- oh it’s like August but dark. August dark afternoon blistering hot and the storm is about to come.

Florida!!! Ft Florence and the machine

-ExXUSE MEEEEEEEeE?????!?!!?teee heee heee heeee. Your home’s really only a town you’re a guest in??? Sorry can’t speak my jaw has shattered. Pls pls. Palm tree pls.

Guilty as sin?

- A false God dreamy haze confessional? With sprinkle of Gold Rush??? I am a melted.

Who’s afraid of little old me?

- The who’s who of who’s that is poised for the attack? But my bare hands paved their path, you don’t get to tell me what’s sad? - I AM CHOKED. Silenced mute. Ohhhh miss blondie is on BUSINESS. TELL THEM SWEETIE. Oh my heart 💔

I can fix him (No really I can).

- Oooh moody blues preaching with generous dash of delusion? Ah yes my routine favourite beverage. I am drinking this up like air. Drunk on false hope? One of us. One of us. One of us.

Loml

- You Holy Ghost you told me I’m the love of your life. Oh no I’m crying again. Back to crumpled paper rocking back and forth on the floor in a ball it is. It’s so pretty yet, shattering. Devastating. I wish I could unrecall how we almost had it all. Dancing phantoms on the terrace, are they second hand embarrassed that I can’t get out of bed ‘cause something counterfit is dead? Yep that’ll do it.

I can do it with a broken heart?

- Oh damn. Honey nooooo. Oh myyyy. Oh I’m in this picture and I don’t like it. It’s so artfully done, so upbeat and Poppy yet so hauntingly sad. Yes that’s the point but it’s sooo well done. Oh sweetie. I can’t stop laughing it’s not funny, it’s just you too pumpkin. I wanna hug her and tell her it’ll be fine. Ok ok.

The smallest man who ever lived

- Oh I’m speechless. And I don’t even want you back, I just want to know, if rusting my sparkling summer was the goal. The bridge? Excuse me while I sink to the bottom of the darkest ocean.

The alchemy

- Oooh it’s so cute and dreamy. I’m beaming you can hear her smile when she sings.

Clara bow

- Oooh it’s the lucky one grown up. The bridge is a masterpiece. It’s hell on earth to be heavenly, thems the breaks it don’t come gently. She knows she’s a star, The never ending cyclical wheel of stardom, even the shiniest, ends with a new star born in its shadow.

The black dog

- Oh No no no I Am 1 billion percent destroyed. Byeeeee

Imgonnagetyouback

- Oooh blondie is on the prowl and what can I do but bop like the well stuffed clown I am. Insert meme of cat bopping their head.

The albatross

- Banjo? Haunting country cautionary tale? - scathing review of one’s reputation, worst traits but underneath it all is just vulnerability. Caged for ‘monstrosity’ but being so vulnerable and just wanting to be freed loved. The ‘monster’ trying to protect the one they love from the things that will come for them too? Do they even realise it? Do they care? Wow it’s poetically beautiful.

Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus

- Oh it’s sad. If you wanna break my cold cold heart, just say I loved you the way that you were? Oh myyy. Replaying old moments, looking for clues wondering if it can all have a new ending? Wow.

How did it end?

- Wow the invasiveness of empathy of the innate curiosity of wanting to know, so you can something comforting, learn from it but you forget how it can be the worst part, having to offer up a ‘post mortem’ to all when you’ve barely even processed its ended yourself. The cyclical nature of it happening every time like it’s just a formal process we’ve come to accept even though it haunts us all. Ironically as we listen to this. Wow so beautifully done.

So high school

- I wanna find you in a crowd just to hide from you, and in a blink of a crinkling eye, I’m sinking, our fingers entertwined. Awww the sort of bubblegum silly feels you roll your eyes but you have the biggest smile on your face. It’s soo cute. You know how to call, I know Aristotle.

I hate it here

- Oooooh tell me something awful like you’re a poet trapped inside the body of a finance guy. One of us. One of us.

ThanK you aIMee

- Oh my goodness it’s grown up mean but she made it out. It’s so sad but I’m beaming. I say that’s my baby and I’m proud. Andrea? Oh thank you next. Not the kid. I’m cackling.

I look in people’s windows

- Oh it’s haunted death by a thousand cuts glimmering of desperate false hope. It’s lovely.

The prophecy

- Oh. Damn yep that’ll do it. Right in the ticker. Damn. It feels very much like am I doomed to always be the one before the one? Wow. Just yeah.

Cassandra

- I don’t know why but this makes think of safe and sound. Like the woman that was there when everything burned around them. She’s telling her side. Everyone’s there to watch you burn, screaming your guilt but silent when they’re wrong? If that ain’t the truth miss. Oh wow. Shes beautifully captured such a dark chapter.

Peter

- Oh wow it’s beautiful. It’s like post cardigan and she’s all grown up. 'Cause love's never lost when perspective is earned. But the woman who sits by the window has turned out the light. Oh wow it’s wow.

The Bolter

- Oh we must stop meeting like this but it always ends with a town car speeding. Wowowow. It feels like the time she fell through the ice, then came out alive. Oh my a BEAUTY.

Robin

- Oh it’s so pretty. It’s like never grow up, safe and sound and seven swirled together. Wow. It’s like she’s talking to her child but then also herself in the past and present, like from an older perspective? Ohhh it’s beautiful. Why does this make me think of coraline’s real mother watching her sleep? I wanna cry.

The manuscript

- Wow god it’s beautiful. Another time travel song. You keep revisiting past in your mind and you gain perspective and then you realise you aren’t that version of you that lived it anymore. You can feel it still, not as deeply perhaps but you’re disconnected from thinking the way you did at that time or after. Is sobering and haunting. The healing. Wow wow wow.

@taylorswift thank you my love 💕

[taste-in-music]

taste-in-music’s top 30 songs of 2022

Hello everyone! Welcome back to my annual countdown of my 30 favorite songs of the year. 2022 had a lot of great music releases, and I’m so excited to recount the songs I replayed throughout the year. Now, on with the list!

This year was so jam-packed I have ten honorable mentions to share before we get to the list proper: tears in the club by FKA Twigs ft. The Weeknd, Destination l’amour by Pi Ja Ma, Little Freak by Harry Styles, Fast Times by Sabrina Carpenter, EMPATHY 4 BETHANY by Saya Gray, Be Cool by Maggie Rogers, This Hell by Rina Sawayama, Heavy Heart by Bartees Strange, Karma by Taylor Swift, and Shotgun by Soccer Mommy

F2F by SZA: “F2F” was a fast favorite that came late in the year, mostly for how pleasantly surprising it was. The 2000s pop-punk revival has been percolating for the past few years, and SZA’s entry into the genre suits her frighteningly well. She’s written on the complications of revenge sex and missing an ex before, but the area-ready bombast of the guitar-driven instrumental elevates it to the next level. It may have looked to the past for sonic inspiration, but it feels fresh.

君に夢中 (Kimini Muchuu) by Hikaru Utada: I didn’t know what to expect when I clicked play on J-pop icon Hikaru Utada’s new album on a whim, but when I heard “君に夢中,” which translates to “crazy about you” in English, I was immediately struck by a feeling of familiarity. It may be because the opening synth riff reminds me of “Boys Of Summer,” it may be Utada’s impassioned delivery, it may be the rattling hi-hats that instate an undeniable groove on the song’s back end. Whatever it is, Utada managed to capture something ethereal on this track, and I can’t wait to explore more of her catalogue in the future.  

Flower (In Full Bloom) by Luna Li ft. Dreamer Isioma: Romantic angst never sounded so damn dreamy. On “Flower (In Full Bloom),” Luna Li pleads with a lover that refuses to put in the effort in a relationship, while Dreamer Isioma provides the opposing perspective speaking about how the spark has already died. As the song progresses, the cushy soundscape of twinkling keys escalates to a bitching guitar solo that makes for one hell of a final moment.

Kissing Lessons by Lucy Dacus: If nothing else, “Kissing Lessons” is a marvel of concision. Each detail Dacus compiles, bracelet charms, hair tosses, dreams of buying a three-story house, all come together to form a rich vignette about a young girl’s budding sexuality and growing inculcation into gender roles in just under two minutes. Place those details over a rollicking rock instrumental and you’ve got on special sucker punch of a song that gives you just enough to want to know more. The only choice, then, is to hit repeat.

It’s Raining by Superorganism ft. Dylan Cartlidge and Stephen Malkmus: For Superorganism, there is no sample too silly, no instrumental flourish too strange to throw into their melting pot. Describing “It’s Raining” from their sophomore album World Wide Pop means describing the barrage of baffling moments it throws at warp speed. Frontwoman Orono Noguchi sings about a “cyborg grilled-cheese-sandwich machine” over thunderclaps. English rapper Dylan Cartlidge spits bars about Elon Musk over a backing chorus of what sounds like demented Muppets. Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus’s lyrics about riding a horse-drawn carriage are ushered in with clip-clopping hooves and a sample of a neigh. These moments come together to form a loopy, loping confection that’s as absurd as it is addictive.

Superfan by Chelsea Jade: On “Superfan,” Chelsea Jade navigates the blurred lines of talking to a crush, a situation where you’re trading adversarial jabs and confrontational quips and you can never tell if you’re flirting or fighting. Ultimately, Jade reveals the obsession lying beneath the surface, identifying herself as a “superfan” trying to play it cool. Driving home the playful awkwardness is Jade’s use of vocal samples throughout, whether they’re narrating along to her conversation or splicing through the chorus with hiccup-y clips of harmonization. It’s a song that cuts through the guise to reveal the vulnerability at its core.

Holding Back by BANKS: In the years since her debut, BANKS has become my go-to artist for electropop bangers that conjure emotional vulnerability and goddess-level confidence alike. “Holding Back” may be an outpouring of memories in the wake of a doomed relationship, but the hard-hitting electronic groove and boosted bass breathe new life into a familiar concept. As BANKS switches between vulnerable coos and full-chested belts, she unleashes the innermost desire for her care to be reciprocated. “I wrote you a melody,” she sings in the chorus, “can’t you see that?”

Whatever Fits Together by Skullcrusher: Skullcrusher has perfected the art of weaving immersive tapestries from whispy sonic fragments, a strummed guitar here, a gossamer synthesizer there, a lyrical fragment about leaving home to tie it all into a single package. “Whatever Fits Together” pulls disparate pieces from their distinct places in the ether to form something transient and melancholy, the mournful tone of Helen Ballentine’s voice balanced by a sunny tambourine. It’s ephemeral, it’s beautiful, it all fits together perfectly.

Another Man’s Jeans by Ashe: Ashe may have broken onto the pop scene with brokenhearted ballads, but there’s always been a confidence and cleverness to her delivery that’s made her stand out. On her comeback single “Another Man’s Jeans,” she douses her witty songwriting with pure funk concentrate and struts through a kiss-off to a situationship with more swagger than she’s ever showcased on tape before. It makes for one of the most fun party jams of the year.

girlfriend by hemlocke springs: I first encountered hemlocke springs via an Instagram Reel where she posted a video propositioning “do u wanna hear the weirdest bridge you’ll ever hear in ur entire life?” The subsequent bridge shows springs hurling her voice up and down the scale with reckless abandon over a spritely synth groove, and wile it might not be the “weirdest bridge” I’ve ever heard, it certainly was one of the most memorable the year had to offer. The rest of the song, a blasé kiss-off to a potential suitor, pulls of the rare achievement for a viral song and lives up to the catchiness of the initial clip.

Spitting Off the Edge of the World by Yeah Yeah Yeahs ft. Perfume Genius: “Spitting Off The Edge of the World” is awesome in the archaic sense, encapsulating the simultaneous awe and terror that comes from facing something so much bigger than yourself. It’s a song that earns it galactic sense of scope from the quiet moments it provides to contrast it, as Karen O and Perfume Genius trade demure, flitting verses before the chorus kicks in on the heels of a larger-than-life barrage synths and guitars. It’s titanic, it’s triumphant, it’s just awesome, (in that it’s also just damn great.)

The Loneliest Time by Carly Rae Jepsen ft. Rufus Wainwright: I remember when this song was released just ahead of The Loneliest Time album and questioning how this collaboration could possibly work. As soon as I heard it, the answer was clear: never question Carly Rae Jepsen. At this point, Jepsen has boiled pop music down to a science, but that doesn’t mean it’s sterile or forced. The string-adorned, disco-inflected groove on “The Loneliest Time” is the perfect landscape for Jepsen and Wainwright to trade verses about giving an old flame a second chance. It all culminates in that excellent bridge where Jepsen enthusiastically declares “I’m coming back for you baby / I’m coming back for you!” I, too, will continue coming back to this song, and Jepsen’s catalogue as a whole, when I need a pick up from my own personal loneliest times.  

fairy song by beabadoobee: Throughout her second album Beatopia, beabadoobee’s jaunty melodies and sugar-sweet vocals just barely cover a greater desperation for care and connection percolating beneath the surface. The best demonstration of this is “fairy song,” where a running list of self-care tasks atop perky pianos slowly cracks apart until it fully breaks into a buzzy whirlwind of distortion and beabadoobee’ screams just barely audible in the background. Then, just as the pandemonium reaches its peak, the song pulls itself back together and returns to the chipper atmosphere it began with. Ignoring one’s distress will only take you so far before the weight becomes too much to bear. Sometimes, drinking water and going outside isn’t enough. Letting the mess fly free every so often might just be the key to moving forward.

Cardigan by Sophie Cates: “Cardigan” is my silly pop song of the year, the track I turned to when I needed an instant sugar rush of endorphins. Sure, Sophie Cates rhymes “again” with “again” with “cardigan” with “again” again on the hook, but when it's set against the most instantly catchy melody of 2022, I hardly even notice. That’s not a slight against Cates’s writing though, the other choice details she employs throughout the song paint a vivid picture of a romance that’s lost its sparkle, and the wistful desire for the magic to return. It’s that undercurrent of longing that elevates “Cardigan” from being just a silly pop song to a great silly pop song, one that sticks around long after the initial rush has passed. 

Bump by Dora Jar: Dora Jar’s music captures the dark whimsy of a fairy tale, but the real fairy tales where the pixie dust and glass slippers come with a hungry wolf or vengeful witch lurking in the shadows. It’s a musical world that’s a little spooky, rife with curiosity, and lit up with a flicker of excitement. “Bump” is one of the best demonstrations of this quality, with Dora Jar describing the wonder of a chance encounter that may escalate into something more. The song is accented with astonished gaps, a swampy chorus of backing vocals, and an air-tight beat. It’s sweet and wondrous and a little claustrophobic, sonically capturing that tight-throated, heart-hammering anticipation to see what comes next.

In The Eyes Of Our Love by Yumi Zouma: “In The Eyes Of Our Love” is good in a way that just feels obvious, providing a breezy yet danceable energy that’s poised to play out the romantic climax of a teen movie from the 90s. Beneath its cheery surface, though, is a tremor of anxiety. Lead vocalist Christie Simpson signs of crumbling walls, splitting lips, and looming storms, worries that accelerate and melt away over the song's duration. Every great pop song grows all the greater with a sense of urgency, and “In The Eyes Of Our Love” threads that needle effortlessly while still being danceable as hell. What more could you want?

Part Of The Band by The 1975: Over the past few years, The 1975 have twisted the anthemic pop-rock that put them on the map to reveal the absurdity and anxiety at the heart of modern life. On “Part Of The Band,” the band’s first single off their 2022 album Being Funny In A Foreign Language, frontman Matty Healy’s musings on social upheaval are equal parts hilarious and insightful. After stuffing the song full of dizzying rhymes, (“vaccinista tote bag-chic baristas” with “communista keisters” especially comes to mind,) Healy finishes on a searing moment of self-reflection: “am I just some post-coke, average, skinny bloke / calling his ego imagination?” With a twitchily elegant backdrop crafted from plucky string swells, chopped-up vocal samples, and quivering synths, it’s a song whose catchiness, cleverness, and creativity lives up to the critiques on display.

ALIEN SUPERSTAR by Beyoncé: It was difficult to pick a favorite track from RENAISSANCE, an album so consistently excellent in its delivery of dancefloor euphoria. In the end, I had to go with the self-love celebration “ALIEN SUPERSTAR.” Every element of this song oozes self-assurance, from the spacy disco instrumental to Beyoncé’s vocals, which switch from sensual cooing to a British accent-inflected declarations to braggadocious belting at the drop of a hat. The result is a track poised to dominate dancefloors across the galaxy for years to come, and who’s surprised? She’s one of one. She’s number one. She’s the only one.

Nothing Gives Me Pleasure by Girlpool: I clicked play on Girlpool’s fifth album Forgiveness without any clear expectations. I certainly wasn’t expecting to be blasted with a wave of distorted synths followed by the most memorable opening line of the year: “Do you even want me if I even have to ask? / Break it to me gently with your fingers up my ass.” It’s an unforgettable one-two punch that immediately establishes the core themes of the album, trying to reconcile the desire for emotional and physical intimacy, and how those desires often conflict with and contradict one another. “Nothing Gives Me Pleasure” walks the power balance in a relationship built on mismatched expectations, trying to sate yourself with sex and coming up short. The soundscape skitters and heaves, the distortion ratcheting up as Harmony Tividad reiterates the title line over and over: “Nothing gives me pleasure like the words I know you won’t say.” 

cool by Uffie: Uffie made a name for herself in the bloghouse scene of the early 2010s, a musical moment defined by glitchy earworms, a punkish dedication to keeping the party going as long as possible, and lots and lots of glitter. For her 2021 comeback single with Company Records, “cool,” Uffie evolves the quirky maximalism of her past into something slick, modern, and effortlessly, well, cool. On “cool,” Uffie digs for gold in moments of stillness amidst chaos, chronicling moments of reprieve during a night out: sleepy Uber rides, poolside kisses, eating cereal with her partner. The best demonstration of this comes when, at the precipice of each chorus, all the music cuts out for a moment before Uffie ushers in the razor-sharp groove with a simple utterance of the song’s title, delivered with a blasé surety of someone who’s seen it all. As she sings in the song’s third verse, she’s “got nothing left to prove.” 

HENTAI by ROSALÍA: Amidst the raucous genreclash that makes up the rest of the MOTOMAMI tracklist, the gentle pianos of “HENTAI” may initially feel a bit out of place. But if you listen closely, there’s much to discover beneath its deceptively simple surface. First off, the lyrics are filthy as hell, (I know, big surprise for a song literally called “HENTAI,”) but the cheeky references to bike riding and tape making are balanced out by a tender backdrop that knows when to up the bombast. Whether it be the barely-there string flourishes, fluttering vocal runs, or the skittering blast of drums that drives the song’s closing moments home, “HENTAI” provides just enough off-kilter details that make the song transcend from mere sexy piano ballad into only “La ROSALÍA” could provide.

Simulation Swarm by Big Thief: Despite Big Thief’s fifth album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You dropping all the way back in February, I found “Simulation Swarm” shamefully late in the year. But as soon as I heard it, I knew it would be on this list, and pretty high up too. Adrianne Lenker crafts songs that are immediately familiar, like I must have been listening to them from childhood. The details she employs throughout "Simulation Swarm” balance beauty and malice, painting the dark fairy tale and casual terror of modern life “crystal blood like a dream true,” “swallows in the windless field,” “river of light who I love / That I sing to in the belly of the empty night.” Set against a locomotive folk instrumental, “Simulation Swarm” feels like a gentle hug from the abyss, voicing the ability to face danger and walk forward with hope. 

Till We Run Out Of Air by Hatchie: I thought I knew what to expect going into Hatchie’s sophomore album Giving The World Away. Early singles like “Quicksand” and “This Enchanted” delivered another helping of the joyful shoegaze pop she’s been delivering for years. It’s a sound I’m always willing to gobble up, but there was an echo of something greater hovering right beneath the surface. With the final song on the album, Hatchie delivered a falcon punch of a finale that transforms that spark into a fireworks show. With its susurrus of swirling, watery synths and arena-ready chorus, “Till We Run Out Of Air” plows right through me with each repeated spin. It’s a song enraptured in the fine line between destruction and exhilaration, tracing the final moments in a romance with larger-than-life bombast. Perhaps the best encapsulation of this euphoria comes at the precipice of the chorus. “Open the curtains and let in the light,” Hatchie sings, before a glowing blossom of synths barrels the listener right into the song’s most anthemic refrain. It’s like the light at the end of the tunnel finally breaking through the darkness at just the right moment.

doomsday by Lizzie McAlpine: On her second album five seconds flat, Lizzy McAlpine elevated her personal songwriting with a cinematic scope. This approach is immediately introduced on the album’s opening “doomsday,” a slow-burning ballad chronicling a breakup though the lens of hindsight. McAlpine circles through deathly metaphors throughout the song: pulling the plug, violent ends, her partner as a “murderer” initiating their split on Halloween, the sample of a bone being split in half. This ghoulish gravitas of is backed up by an orchestral swell that makes the melodrama feel earned. These compounding elements build up the song’s momentum until McAlpine’s final revelation slams into you at full force: “I would’ve married you / If you’d stuck around / I feel more free than I have in years / Six feet in the ground.” The relationship may be dead and gone, but McAlpine makes it clear that she’s only getting started.

Lullabye by Grace Ives: Throughout Janky Star, Grace Ives concocts idea-stuffed soundscapes that vacillate between the anxieties and thrills of young adulthood. The earworms come so casually that they even materialize in the album’s moments of brevity. “Lullabye” is a perfect example of this. As the album’s closer, it shows the chaos winding down, giving way to moments of reflection. Ives’s breathily narrates the “lovely mess” of her life: watching movies on repeat, casually attempting gymnastics moves in the kitchen, and swapping confessions with a loved one late into the night. Set against gauzy landscape of synths, skittering drums, and chirpy backing vocals, I turned to the casual wisdom of “Lullabye” all the times this year when life got overwhelming. “No it’s nothing to be sad about,” Ives sings in the song’s closing moments, “It’s just something I’ve been thinking about.” It’s a welcome reminder of the power ruminating on small joys can hold.

Say It by SASAMI: On her latest album Squeeze, SASAMI took to flipping white male-dominated genres like punk and metal to articulate her own rage. One of the best examples of this is “Say It,” an unapologetic frenzy of glitchy rock scuzz. In an Apple Music interview, SASAMI stated that the song was “about the pain of someone not communicating with you,” carried out as she trades places with a bassy, distorted mirror of her own voice. Situated atop a strutting groove concocted of squealing guitars, grumbling bass, and booming drums, it all comes together to form something equal parts cathartic and terrifying. “Say It” might be one of the best rock songs the year had to offer, but amidst the ruckus, it’s first and foremost a call to throw your repentance to the wind and speak your mind. 

Yuck by Charli XCX: If you’ve been on TikTok for the past year or so, odds are you’ve come across the idea of “the ick,” the moment in a romantic relationship where something as simple as watching your beau chase a ping-pong ball across the floor flips your feelings of adoration into disgust. It only makes sense that one of pop’s most forward–thinking artists would capture this cultural phenomenon with masterful specificity and simplicity. Over a bouncy synth-heavy beat, Charli XCX lays out the moment when her love interest’s gooey romantic devotion starts to drive her away. Throughout “Yuck,” she takes romantic tropes like puppy dog eyes and bouquets of roses and flips them on their head. The result is the definitive song to throw on when the candy hearts get cloying. After spending the last few years of her career pushing pop to its very limits, her latest album Crash was a welcome reminder that even without all the hyperpop flourishes, she can still write damn good and effortless catchy bangers like this.

Free by Florence + The Machine: How do you persevere in the face of suffering? seems to be the question Florence Welch fixates on most throughout her projects with Florence + The Machine. She’s turned to several places in the past: making a break for freedom on her breakout hit “Dog Days Are Over,” self-destructive love on rock bangers like “Ship To Wreck” and “Shake It Out,” and reconciliation on her previous album, High As Hope. While the definite answer for such a question may never materialize, Welch has recognized how music can be one of the most potent salves for such woes. Her 2022 album Dance Fever provides several welcome additions to Welch’s growing catalog of musical catharsis, but it was “Free,” a free-spirited banger co-written by Jack Antonoff, that ended up hitting me the hardest. “Free” taps into something primal yet graceful, a raucous recognition that sometimes, the most inspiring feelings of freedom come hand in hand with singing at the top of your lungs. “For a moment, when I'm dancing,” Welch declares with titanic vocals over a propulsive drum beat and glittering keys, “I am free.” This relief may be temporary, but for the moment, it’s nothing short of magical.

American Teenager by Ethel Cain: On her debut album Preacher’s Daughter, Ethel Cain chronicles a journey of adolescent ennui and religious turmoil through sprawling, atmospheric ballads. Before she gets into all that, she also proves that she can write a teen pop anthem for the ages. “American Teenager” is the first official song on the album, and while it may be shorter and more immediate than its predecessors, it’s no less deftly crafted. Cain harnesses the larger-than-life, anthemic synth pop of the 80s, accenting the soundscape with shining synths, booming drums, and a bright saxophone solo. While the song relishes in altruistic Americana imagery of crying on the bleachers and whiskey-fueled rebellion, Cain also acknowledges the darkness lurking beneath the jubilation on the surface. The opening verse describes her neighbor’s brother being shipped home in a coffin, “another red heart taken by the American dream.” Still, despite this darkness, there’s a hope at the core of “American Teenager” that catapults it into the stratosphere, that suggests that maybe someday, those promises might come to fruition.

touch tank by quinine: I first came across “touch tank” as a fragment on TikTok, a looping clip of quinnie lip synching along to the first few lines of the chorus: “He’s so pretty / when he goes down on me.” And what an attention-grabbing set of lines they are, it’s not everyday that you stumble across a sweet, unassuming bedroom pop song explicitly discussing cunnilingus. But it isn’t just the refreshingly matter-of-fact  references to sex that make “touch tank” stick in the memory, it’s the atmosphere of intimacy quinnie builds around those lines. In its final form, “touch tank” builds an aqueous wonderland of small yet palpably intimate moments, freshly laundered t-shirts, discovering new tattoos, choosing to be gentle. “touch tank” is a tribute to those early stages in a relationship where you’re poking and prodding with care, trying to reach tender places without drawing blood. Rounded out with warm guitars, cooing flutes, and just a twinge of vocal distortion, it’s a song that feels lived in, welcoming, drawing you deeper into its depths with each repeated spin. 

What were your favorite songs from this year? Did I miss anything? Leave a comment or tag some in the reblogs and let me know.

This year has been an absolute whirlwind, and I hope you all have some good memories from it. Here’s to a safe, healthy 2023! 

[promqueendyke]

this must be the place / talking heads, rituals / windows 96, sweet to dream / tv girl ft jordana, i love my boyfriend / princess chelsea ... odd, dreamy music my beloved <3

such good songs!! rituals by windows 96 was the only one i had not heard before

[taylorftparamore]

tortured poets department (song) doesn’t get enough flowers!!! the “i laugh in your face and say” before going into the chorus! the smooth vocal slides on “who’s gonna love you like me, and who’s gonna know you like me” that almost feel dreamy. the fact the whole chorus is tearing down the fantasy of being dylan thomas and patti smith at the chelsea hotel! the hints that this isn’t a healthy relationship that sneaks out in the verses but trying to keep the dreamscape alive! “i chose this cyclone with you” as a resignation! it’s SO good