#I APOLOGISE FOR THE SONG ITS A BANGER THOUGH

[timsstims]

can i get uhhhh gojo stimboard with watery slimes, no soap cutting, and cats :3 thank you so much

[ ♪ ] Get It Right / Left Boy

[subject-044]

Timeline of events - Band AU

I want to get the timeline straight in my own head AND have it written out somewhere as reference... so where better than where everyone can see it as well!!

So- things kick of with Richie in middle school

Richie's Mom falls into a coma, and Richie moves in with Paul

He has his emo phase, and Paul buys him his bass

At this time he also sees Lex and Ethan who are ~2 years older than him

We move onto highschool- Junior year

Richie befriends Lex and Ethan (reluctantly) and hangs out with Hannah

Near the end of Junior year, Richie meets Peter and Ruth, they all become friends

Richie stops hanging out with Lex and Ethan as much, but still meets with Hannah/comes over to babysit regularly

Highschool - anywhere between the end of Junior year and the beginning of Senior year.

Richie starts smoking

Lex and Ethan drop out

Highschool - beginning of Senior year

Ruth and Peter discover Richie can play the bass, the three 'decide' to start a band

ensue fucking around for a good 3/4 months

Highschool - Mid senior year

Steph befriends Peter! Which leads to her befriending the rest of the Nerds as well

A few weeks later, Steph catches Peter writing lyrics and has A Moment

Steph discovers the band and joins in! The band forms structure and starts to actually produce songs

Max spots Richie playing and develops his one-sided attraction towards Richie (Similar to his 'crush' on Grace, though Richie does not return any feelings other than fuck you, Max.)

Max lays off the Nerds and starts 'flirting' with Richie (still, fuck you, Max)

Steph "convinces" Richie to stop smoking

Highschool - End senior year

The band- Now named Witchwood Worms- produce an album. 'Hatchet Town'

Its fucking BANGER and Hatchetfield goes mad- though the identities of Witchwood Worms is not revealed

(Paul knows. Paul is very, very proud. Ted does not know. Paul wants to gloat so bad)

'Hatchet Town' songs are played during prom- which the Nerds are allowed to go to

and Max notices that it's Peter who is singing- Max approaches Peter, attempting to be nice and compliment him, but fucking up somehow. (Pete is also giving feelings of, fuck you, Max)

Steph knocks some sense into Max- He needs to back off and sort his shit out instead of picking on people and flirting with Richie (because she noticed that, Max. fuck you.). Max rethinks his life decisions

College years (~3-4 years?)

Our main three Nerds go separate ways, but keep in touch. They'll meet again in Hatchetfield after they graduate.

Steph and Max stay in Hatchetfield

Steph goes to the community college to study Music Production

Max rethinks his entire life, fully accepts being gay and starts going to therapy. Steph approves, and starts talking to him. Gives him a second chance, or whatever.

Richie stops smoking fully!

Post College

Our trio return, freshly graduated and little baby adults.

Peter and Steph have this gross reunion and everyone else just stands there like. gross. including Max.

Everyone (bar Steph and Max himself) goes OH SHIT MAX. FUCK YOU, MAX

Max apologises and starts working towards making it up to the trio

Witchwood Worms starts to officially produce music- mainly as a side-hobby while they follow their dreams in Hatchetfield.

It gets POPULAR, and becomes a semi-fulltime thing

Max will always be their #1 forever and ever

[sunarintoes]

Pretty Setter Squad Boyfriend Headcanons

part one can be found here II wc: 2.4k II includes: kageyama, suga, kenma, akaashi, semi and oikawa II atsumu and shirabu 

rewriting because i cringe at the old hcs 😭

✗ Kagggggsss

✗ The emotionally constipated blueberry <3 oh yeahh 😎

✗ Okay well first off he can barely process his emotions (*cough* evidently *cough*)

✗ When you two first started going out he was quite shy and unsure of what to do so you may have had to guide him a bit, but if youre equally shy then it just would have taken longer to get to where you are now; oh and if that was the case it probably took some random burst of energy/confidence from either one of you to make the first move. 

✗ He will buy you milk but uf you hate it (like me 🤢) he will buy you another drink - like juice :D

✗ I dont think he will be the most affectionate, it’s not his love language - and neither are words haHAH. His love language is most likely quality time and gift giving.

✗ He does like to cuddle though 😳

✗ In fact he really likes to :D his favourite is when youre sitting in his lap while he watches a volleyball game (at home - he hates pda). 

✗ This brings us to our next, short point. Kageyama absolutely despises pda, he just thinks its something meant for closed doors and he does not believe that he has to display his relationship for the whole world to ogle at. The most he will do is light hand holding - mostly just linking your pinkies though.

✗ When it comes to height he does not care if you're smaller or taller than him ← but bb, please don't tease him about his height if he’s shorter because he will blow a fuse.

✗ He alternates between small spoon and big spoon, kinda depending on his mood. 

✗ BOY O BOY does he get jealous. Uh please reign in your setter >:( 

✗ Its mostly due to the fact that he’s insecure about himself - he thinks you will leave him like everyone else (in middle school - yes, he is still traumatised from it.)

✗ When he does get jealous he might be snappy to the other person and glare at them or be snappy at you and glare at you. When this happens please give him space because he needs it to clear his head. When he feels better he will come up to you and hug you into his chest so that he can’t see your face and you cant see his, then he will mumble an apology.

✗ Ever since you two began to date he has practiced apologising and getting better at apologising, this is because his inability to admit to his own mistakes was a sour patch in your relationship that almost ended it but he really did not want to lose you so he sucked up his pride and worked on what he had to; of course you also worked in what you had to. God I love character development 😩

✗ Dates are mostly at home dates or dates revolving around volleyball. If you're not into volleyball, Kageyama would not date you, it's something he is so passionate about and loves with every breath he takes (like you) and he refuses to compromise one love for the other. 

✗ ooooh he likes arcade dates a well! He thrives in a competitive environment. If you're not competitive and don't want to compete against him then he’ll compete for you - against the machines lol. Of course you play as well! But i doubt youre as competitive as this blueberry, and if you are - well i guess at the end of the day youll both be stacked in tokens 🤠

✗ Sugawara my beloved <33

✗ He. Is. So. Affectionate! 

✗ Mans loves skin on skin contact ykwim?

✗ He is down for pda and does not care what others think - only what you think <3. 

✗ I mean he might make out with you in public if you ask nicely 

✗ Dates are very fun with him, he’ll take you to cafes, to amusement parks, to carnivals, to movies and all the like. He’s a cliche lover and he’s proud of it.

✗ Your first kiss happened on New Years Eve/Day. The two of you sat on the roof of his house and watched as the fireworks lit up the starry sky of Miyagi and chanted the count down together. The second ‘one’ left your lips he grabbed your face (softly!!) and pulled you in to crash his lips against yours. 

✗ Suga loves to cuddle, preferably face to face because he just thinks you're the most beautiful person in the world. 

✗ He is not the most jealous person, he definitely does get jealous but never of strangers. It's more when his close friends or your close friends get a bit too comfortable if that makes sense? He normally plays it off with humour and messes around because he acknowledges that he is insecure and that it is most likely him thinking of the worst case scenario; however if he really does start to worry and get jealous then he will sit you down and talk about it with you. To him, communication is key. 

✗ Ngl Kenma is definitely in my top 3 favourites. 

✗ I may or may not be a Kenma kinnie 😳🙈

✗ i love my non-toxic gamer boy <33 anywho: no matter what ANYONE says, kenma is definitely affectionate. In fact I'd say he’s one of the most affectionate boyfriends. As we all know, he is shy and introverted but he likes to hang around and spend time with people he likes. He also talks a lot to them. So I hc that he’s a bit of a chatterbox with you and it makes him really happy when you let him talk about a game or a theory he has. He’s a great listener so you can count on him to pay attention to what you say.

✗ if you didn't already have one, he bought you a switch. He loves video game dates especially when he can't see you in person (*cough* lockdown *cough*) 

✗ he loves when you sit on his lap when he plays video games. I know everyone talks about sitting on their partner’s lap as some sexual thing and yeah that can happen but most of the time he’s really soft with you and just enjoys being close to you. Loves when you cuddle into him while he plays so that he can place his head on yours or your shoulder. 

✗ i think he is a bit shy when it comes to kisses but definitely warms up after a while. He absolutely refuses to sleep if he doesnt get your goodnight kisses. He loves to kiss you on your nose and your cheeks the most. He loves when you kiss him on the forehead and the nose <3

✗ kenma is not one for pda, it's just not his vibe. He prefers intimacy and privacy; his relationship is not a movie for the world to watch and gawk at. Especially timeskip!kenma. Though that does not mean he wont ever show you skinship in public, occasionally he will softly hold your hand and maybe press a light kiss to your cheek. 

✗ in terms of jealousy, he is moderate. Kenma, as we all know, has incredible people reading skills, so he understands the situation pretty clearly and knows when you’re uncomfortable/what you think of the situation. Most of the time you can deal with the unwanted attention and he doesnt get jealous, but he does get insecure. He shows this by going quiet and looking away when you look at him, you can cure this by giving him hugs when you get home. 

✗ Akaashi my beloved <3 he’s so pretty i can't even-

✗ ugh! Just imagine him in a dark/light academia aesthetic. 

✗ perfection. 

✗ akaashi is the sweetest most attentive boyfriend, he loves you to pieces and never fails to let you know. He tells you he loves you every morning and every night. He probably makes meals for you and leaves notes in that have a sweet comment like “i love you, you're the best <3” 

✗ he love back hugging you BUT also receiving back hugs 🥺✨

✗ akaashi is a booknerd and an introvert. Please cuddle up to him and let him read his book to you. 

✗ there are only 2 things that can restore his social battery: sleeping and you.

✗ which means he wants cuddles when he’s tired 😊

✗ he is not jealous. He just doesn't get jealous, maybe annoyed if the third party is being a bit too pushy and you're clearly uncomfortable, but he just never feels jealous. No matter how hard you may try to make him jealous (plz dont cause that's kinda toxic imo) he just won't feel that way.

✗ definitely the ‘mom/dad’ as he carries sinister, pads, bandaids → a whole first aid kit basically, everywhere. Bb must be prepared. 

✗ dates are so sweet with him, cute niche cafes and dimly lit libraries. Maybe the occasional abandoned building. He loves spending time with you, so really he's happiest whenever he’s with you; having coffee at McDonalds or a niche cafe won't change anything. 

✗ he’s hard to pinpoint for pda. I feel like he’s indifferent about it. He probably prefers to keep it indoors or to just small and sweet gestures (no making out in public sorry-). It definitely comes down to your preferences, if you don't like it then he won't and vice versa.

✗ semi semi semi semi semi semi

✗ omg mr musician 

✗ he definitely plays guitar - lead guitar and bass guitar. 

✗ skilled fingies for sure 😗

✗ boy why are musicians so hot???? 😫😫😫💦💦

✗ he writes songs about you. Semsem has a bit of trouble saying exactly how he feels, so he writes it and sings it to you with a small little smile and eyes full of love. 

✗ off topic but Semu has the best music taste in haikyuu

✗ he loves hugs so much <33 please hug and cuddle with him 24/7

✗ very affectionate, he’s always touching you someway. Loves kissing your forehead. 

✗ he is jealous. Yeah definitely. He writes songs about being jealous 🗿 not that you mind of course ‘cause they're bangers. I think he might get snappy when he’s jealous, not directly at you but at the other person. He definitely gets a bit bitchy. Sometimes he acts that way to you so you've just gotta slap some sense into him. Say something like “what's your problem?” or “tell me what your problem is so i can help fix it.” ← that's probably the best thing to say. 

✗ afterwards he’ll just snuggle with you until he feels better. 

✗ he asks for your opinion about his songs all the time, please be honest (but also praise them if you like them lol)

✗ he takes you to niche spots he finds, like hidden concerts and stuff. Loves when you come to his gigs <3 oh and when you scream for him (in more ways than one). 

✗ dates are cute and fun. Mostly walking around together → carnivals, main street, farmers market. Those kind of things. 

✗ when it comes to pda he loves it. Loves being able to show the world who his s/o is. If you don't like it then he will tone it down and only do what you’re comfortable with. If you're also into pda then he will happily make out with you anywhere (you're one of THOSE couples 🤢 /j) 

✗ all round best boyfie <3

✗ oikawa 😳 have i told y'all how much i love him? Oikawa is the best written character, no cap, he is so complex and real it's crazy. It's so fun to write about him because you can pick him apart, you know his flaws, his weaknesses, his nightmares but also his strengths and dreams. Anywho i'll stop ranting now but i just love writing for such a perfectly imperfect character-

✗ he puts up a cocky exterior but thats all false. He's as scared as you are, he's scared that you'll leave him like his exes because of how obsessed and focused he is on volleyball. However he is a changed man, he's learned to balance his priorities. If you ever feel like you're being sidelined please communicate with him. 

✗ he values communication above all else and wants nothing more in a partner than for them to also value communication.

✗ back to the point → if you feel insecure of your relationship and that volleyball is taking too much of his attention let him know. He will change that. To an extent → he may have an important game coming up which is why he is focusing more, but he will always find time for you. 

✗ he never forgets to text you good morning and good night. He also sends you wholesome memes and makes sure you're taking care of yourself - they're like reminders for him to also take care of himself. 

✗ he is both jealous and insecure. Everyone who gets too close to you or spends a lot of time with you, he is jealous of. Jealous because he wishes he could spend more time with you but he knows he can't - not without jeopardising his volleyball career. He's also insecure, because he knows you could just leave him for a more fulfilling, more attentive, more balanced relationship. You know that too, I mean, of course you could leave him but no one would be as good as him. No one could match up to your beautifully flawed boyfriend.

✗ he is affectionate, very, very affectionate. He loves you so much. And because he spends so much time on volleyball, anytime with you he's touching you - memorizing every dint, every curve, everything about you so that he won't ever forget. 

✗ Oikawa has trouble sleeping unless he's with you, he wants to sling to you in his sleep and be grounded and remember that he is loved and cherished and appreciated y'know?

✗ pda is not an issue for him. He doesn't care what anyone else says or thinks :P in this relationship the only opinions that matter are his and your’s. Tell him you're uncomfortable with something and he won't do it, and vice versa. But otherwise, like Semi, he won't mind having a good makeout session with you in the middle of the street ;)

[softshuji]

*tries to catch you but fails, making you both tumble to the floor in a tangle of limbs. Slowly opens eyes to realise his lips had brushed against yours during the fall making you share a kiss*

Hal I'm so sorry! That was just an accident I swear! I really didn't intend for any of that! Here *reaches out hand* let me help you back up.

-Rindou

(Saw the song......when I first started talking to you this is what was constantly playing in my head, just switch the bestfriend to boyfriend.) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=htBVsWuYLrg

JDKDJSKDN i am blushing so hard imfnjsskdjsk

oh. *touches lips with my finger*

um. *accepts your hand and stands,dusting off my jeans* no that's okay don't apologise, I shouldn't have jumped like that, I took you off guard, I'm just so happy to see you.

.....

But Rin, *cups your face in my hands* if we're gonna kiss, let's do it properly yeah? *I part my lips and tentatively , gently brush them against yours, pulling you closer to me, sealing our lips*

(stop no this is a banger though omg, I can't believe you've been holding onto this for this long. wait I have a song for you now, this is one of my favourite songs, here and now its yours >3)

[salted-caramel-tea]

okay prior to Turin here's how I feel about the songs,, reasons under the cut

(link to tier maker, I added in an extra column)

S TIER

ITALY- BRIVIDI, MAHMOOD & BLANCO

- im not usually a ballad fan but this made me cry the first time I listened to it, its just so passionate !! they both have such beautiful voices and they go together so beautifully!!! I watched their Sanremo performance and it was just beautiful honest to god its in my Spotify on repeat already

UKRAINE- STEFANIA, KALUSH ORCHESTRA

- I love the way Ukraine has been combing cultural elements with modern music in Eurovision I mean we had it last year with SHUM and it just works so well!!!! that's what eurovision is about baby !!! its so catchy !!!

LATVIA- EAT YOUR DALAD, CITI ZĒNI

- im not even apologising for this its an unironic banger its at the top of my Spotify on repeat I listen to it all the time I will not stand for criticism!!! its fun and danceable and catchy and literally just iconic. I will kill myself if they don't qualify for the finals

A TIER

DENMARK- THE SHOW, REDDI

- girlboss moment !! I wasn't sure what to expect n then I thought it was a rock ballad but its just a rock song with a build up and honestly. it slapped. I love a good punk rock drummer the high energy the guitar solo yaaaas I loved it. that drummer hot too

UNITED KINGDOM- SPACE MAN, SAM RYDER

- man has a powerful voice!! im surprised at the uk this year I think we have a chance or scoring decently this year !! I haven't seen any live performance so I really hope hes able to hold up those high notes live !!!! kind of emotional, although not my favourite style of music. vaunt wait to see how they stage it !!!!

SPAIN- SLO-MO, CHANEL

- very catchy song and great performance !! its got that kind of glamorous energetic sex appeal that a lot of people expect to see in eurovision !!!! its got great potential to go viral especially on tiktok as a dance challenge or anything really

AUSTRALIA- NOT THE SAME, SHELDON RILEY

- such an amazing live performance !! such a gorgeous voice !!! its a beautiful song but you still have the sense of camp portrayed through the costuming and drama of the performance and its done so well you can see the story in the performance its just so beautiful I want to move this one up to S tier now pretend its in S tier

FRANCE- FULENN, ALVON & AHEZ

- witchy vibes, loved it, great harmonies all four of them have such gorgeous voices . the only thing I didn't like was that lone dancer she seemed a little out of place, but im willing to bet it'll look good in Turin.

SLOVENIA- DISKO, LDS

- when I first heard it I was like omg I love the vintage vibe then realised it was called disco bc its based on 70s disco bc I have no working braincells. its funky its catchy its upbeat I love it. my main man seemed a little awkward on stage Id love to see him get into it a little more but I bet they'll do great !!! love the bass line

FINLAND- JEZEBEL, THE RASMUS

- I love a good punk song no surprise its coming from Finland lmao I vibe with it it'll probably end up in a Spotify playlist

ISREAL- I.M., MICHAEL BEN DAVID

- he really did it for the girls and the gays !!!!!!! it was camp it was fun it was glamorous what's not to enjoy!! at times feels like a verse on a ru Paul song but I don't know if that subtracts from or adds to the vibe

POLAND- RIVER, OCHMAN

- lowkey didn't think id enjoy this one but I did !! its been growing on me !!!! he has a gorgeous voice and the chorus gets stuck in my head

CYPRUS- ELA, ANDROMACHE

- its not my favourite of this years entries but it gets stuck in my head from time to time and she has such great control over his voice its gorgeous

B TIER

The Netherlands- DE DIEPTE, S10

- its catchy, but its just generally not the kind of music I vive to , great ballad though

BELGIUM- MIS YOU, JÉRÉMIE MAKIESE

- extremely talented guy wow cant wait toes it live I bet if its staged right and this high notes come across well it'll be such an emotional performance, a little too slow paced for me and although he sung it beautifully I wonder what it would have been like if he optioned up after the bridge instead of staying low

AUSTRIA- HALO- LUM!X

- don't get me wrong great vocals honestly, the song itself just didn't stand out much to me . a kind of mid tier song for me.

ROMANIA, LLÁMAME, WRS

- cultural banger girls and gays edition !!!! not my favourite entry but still pretty decent nonetheless

MALTA- I AM WHAT I AM, EMMA MUSCAT

- love the theme Malta's been going with lately with the whole self love and worth stuff, but this years vaguely remind me of Disney channel or like that phase in 2015 where people would release songs about being confident or how strong they and that snot necessarily a bad thing its just. a thing.

SWEDEN- HOLD ME CLOSER, CORNELIA JAKOBS

- again didn't stand out for me much, but she has a lovely voice

C TIER

ALBANIA- SEKRET, RONELA HAJATI

-loved the instrumentals but it felt to me a little too broken up like I love a good bit of chreography but it felt more important than the vocals at times

ICELAND- MEÐ HÆKKANDI, SYSTUR

- I expected to pick up a little more than it did, and folk isn't really my favourite thing but all and all its not a bad song I get why people enjoy it

MONTENEGRO- BREATHE, VLADANA

- powerful voice its great, just too slow paced for me, the instrumentals vaguely remind me of Karma from last year, I vibe with that

GREECE- DIE TOGETHER, AMANDA GEORGIADI TENFJORD

- makings of a viral song if im honest I can see it in a few peoples Spotify playlists, just not mine really. the last chorus was beautiful that was the highlight of the song to me

CZECH REPUBLIC- LIGHTS OFF, WE ARE DOMI

- lots of potential if im honest, its just not my favourite song. nothing wrong with it, just not my style, cant wait to see how they stage it though if its staged well it'll do really well I think

AZERBAIJAN- FADE TO BLACK, NADIR RUSTAMLI

- almost reminds me of tout l'univers ?? like just a specific part I feel like it could go straight into tout l'univers. overall a good song just not for me, bound to be beautiful with staging

NORTH MACEDONIA- CIRCLES, ANDREA

- I don't really have any criticisms on this song, its just not my taste really,

GERMANY- ROCKSTARS, MALIK HARRIS

- I enjoyed it but the rap felt a little out of place, almost like a twenty one pilots song . its not bad though

CROATIA- GUILTY PLEASURES, MIA DIMSIC

- yeah decent song, just wasn't a big fan of the staging I hope they up it a bit more at Turin. what was the point of making it look like she was playing the guitar if she was just gonna stop halfway through. the slight moment she had was good, use it let her interact with the dancer more

GEORGIA- LOCK ME IN, CIRCUS MIRCUS

- I keep going back and forth over this song I don't know, It was a bit lack lustre for me but the chorus goes hard. mid tier

D TIER

SERBIA- IN COPORE SANES, KONSTRAKTA

- I had no clue what was going on this entire song why was she singing about Megan Markle's hair. is there an issue with lack of healthcare in Serbia. I didn't really get the message

ARMENIA- SNAP, ROSA LINN

- this one felt like that 2014 phase with songs like riptide and like the vamps and everything , not exactly my favourite thing . talented don't get me wrong just not my cup of tea

LITHUANIA- SENTIMENTAI, MONIKA LIU

- really just didn't catch my attention, too slow paced for me

BULGARIA- INTENTIONS- INTELLIGENT MUSIC PROJECT

- I appreciate the classic rock vibes the guitar solo went hard but at times it felt like an anime intro more than an ESC song

SAN MARINO- STRIPPER, ACHILLE LAURO

- I know everyones thinking like ohh youre a die hard måneskin fan you think hes a second rate damiano and I will say that I think there was an odd coincidence with timing but no, I recognise that Achille Lauro has been around a lot longer than Må and is a big celeb in Italy and San Marino it just feels a bit odd that he was only selected now given his status and I hope it wasn't influenced by må bc they have completely different sounds, every Italian celeb is a slut even world class chef Gino d'acampo. Was I confused at first, yes bc im not Italian and I didn't know him but I do now. anyway its d tier just bc I didn't vibe w the song that much I just didn't have any strong feelings on it

SWITZERLAND- BOYS DO CRY, MARIUS BEAR

- im sure it'll look amazing on stage but just didn't relay have any strong feelings on it

ESTONIA- HOPE- STEFAN

- lowkey avicci vibes?? just wasn't a huge fan of the western vibe it had going on but I appreciate the song

PORTUGAL- SAUDADE SAUDADE, MARO

- just wasn't enthused by it, I hope they do something with the staging in Turin it didn't really make me feel anything with them just sitting in chairs , I just didn't get a string stage presence from them

F TIER

IRELAND- THATS RICH, BROOKE

I don't have anything to say it just did not do it for me. I just didnt enjoy the live performance. if they use the staging to their advantage they could probably qualify but its just not doing it for me

NORWAY- GIVE THAT WOLF A BANANA, SUBWOOFER

- at first I thought it was funny but its starting to annoy me now lmaoo, but not a fan of the bridge and the whole banana breakdown . choreography slaps though

MOLDOVA- TRENULETUL, ZDOB SI ZDUB &FRATII ADVAHOV

- I appreciate the cultural aspect of it, just wasn't really inspired by it , cant wait to see how it'll translate onto the stage though

this took me like 2 hours its so late but im posting it anyway

[tessiete]

For the Spotify fanfic ficlet: 12 for the Kenobi-Kryze fam? 🥺

@lightasthesun so here’s the deal. I STRUGGLED with this. Because I wanted to give you happy, fun, fluffy times, and there are some real bangers on my Wrapped. I mean, relative bangers.

But you picked probably the most Obitine-angst appropriate song ever, and I was like......oh, no. I can’t - I can’t do that to them.

So, after several days of thinking about it, we came up with this. It’s...I refuse to call it angst, bc everyone is alive, and well. It’s just like, some family fun times. Thanks, especially to the Obitine discord, and @duchess-of-mandalore @mg024 and Finn!

And anyway, I hope you love it! Thank you so much for the challenge! <3

Prompt: The Chain (Ingrid Michaelson)

THE CHAIN

The sky over Capital City is grey, and tremulous when they arrive on Coruscant. A natural storm had surged over the breakers of the planet’s ancient atmo regulators to sound its rage and fury out above the city. It’s rare, but not unheard of, and though some might take it as an ill omen, Satine thinks it a fair reflection of the twisting winds within her breast. Rain falls in great, heavy drops, lashing its grief across the transparisteel viewports as they break through the clouds. Thunder cracks, righteous and defiant. Lightning fractures the plate of the sky, reaching out with jealous fingers to touch the earth. Korkie has slept through it all, but Satine doesn’t want to miss any moment more than she must.

They hit the pad with the sudden jolt of gravity reasserting itself, the locking clamps securing them in place. She feels each shudder of the ship echoing in her bones, the soft satyn of her simple travelling gown like water over her skin. Every contrast feels sharp, and malicious. She takes Korkie’s small hand in her larger one, and together they wait for the ramp to lower, releasing them into the wilds outside.

And they are met.

Across the platform, standing silent in the downpour, is Obi-Wan Kenobi. 

Though her vision blurs, and renders his face unreadable, she can see the straight line of his shoulders, the proud tilt of his chin, and the defiant stance of his feet spread wide. His hands are hidden in the fold of his cloak, and at his back are Masters Windu and Jinn.

At Satine’s back is the black maw of the ship, and the wind whistling through it. Korkie laughs, and she looks away from the Jedi to see her son, hands out, catching rain. 

“It’s wet! Belli, look!” he says, showing her his hand, shining in the grey light. “The sky is crying!”

Satine feels the rain coursing over her own face, and smiles in recognition of his delight.

“It is,” she says. “Happy tears, of course. Coruscant is glad to meet you, kih'kairkiyc.”

He grins at her, and she squeezes his hand, and together they cross the narrow bridge from the ship’s dock to the reception platform where they are met by Obi-Wan. He steps forward, and bows, deep, and formal.

“Duchess,” he says. His voice does not waver, but lies flat, and orderly in the space between them. 

He is much the same as she remembers, though his hair is longer, and his braid is cut. A beard has grown in, at long last, though she does not like how it covers his mouth, and hides half his face, and she longs to reach out and wipe it away so she might be able to read him again, like she used to. But there is more than an arm’s length between them, so instead, she nods her head in acknowledgement.

“Knight Kenobi,” she says, like glass, clean and showing nothing of itself.

Korkie tugs at her hand, and she pulls him forward to introduce him next. His fingers linger at the tips of hers as she lets him go. He takes a step. He takes a breath, and just as they’d practiced, he bows with his hands clasped before him, until his back is level with the floor.

“How do you do, Knight Kenobi?” Then, in succession, “Master Windu. Master Jinn.”

The three Jedi return the gesture. Master Windu is tense, and wary of her, she can tell, still unconvinced of the wisdom in this. Obi-Wan’s eyes are fixed on her, but Qui-Gon Jinn smiles at the boy, and Korkie stumbles back until he falls against his mother’s stomach, his hand reaching out to fist in the fabric of her gown to steady himself.

“Hello Korkie,” the old Jedi greets. His voice is soft, like birdwatchers in Keldabe before. “It’s good to finally meet you.”

Obi-Wan is pulled from his study of the past by this reminder of their present company. His hands drop, and he shifts, leaning towards her, his head ducked and uncertain.

“I apologise for the weather,” he says. “I would have - if there had been any indication of inclemence such as this, I would have suggested somewhere with a roof.”

“Of course,” Satine says, too quickly. Then, bridling herself, she continues. “Coruscant is usually such a civilised, and well-behaved planet, it could not have been foreseen.”

There is the promise of forgiveness at the end of her declaration, which Obi-Wan accepts with relief, and they smile at each other. It is brief, and carried more in their eyes, than in their mouths or hands, but it is there nonetheless.

“And you, Master Korkie,” says Qui-Gon, with a smirk of his own. “Are you more civilised, and well-behaved than you appear at first glance?”

He gestures to Korkies rumpled tunic, and mussed hair which sticks up in wild tussocks like knots of grass.

“Someone was rather exhausted by our journey,” says Satine, fondly. “He fell asleep just past Corsin.”

“It was rather a long flight,” says Korkie, in his own defence. “And I don’t much like flying. Lightspeed always feels funny.”

At this, Qui-Gon kneels to meet Korkie on his level, and speaks as if he is confessing some great secret.

“Do you know,” he says, “That Knight Kenobi also dislikes flying.”

Korkie throws a wondering glance at Obi-Wan, who shifts beneath the scrutiny.

“Truly?” he asks Qui-Gon.

The Jedi nods. “Yes, truly. Only he stays awake the whole time.”

“Why?”

“I think in order to complain,” says Qui-Gon. “He needs to be sure that I am equally as miserable as he is, otherwise he feels lonely for company. But it does make for a very long trip, from my point of view.”

“That’s silly, Knight Kenobi,” declares Korkie. He turns to address Obi-Wan directly, and though he speaks critically, his brow is lifted, and his eyes wide in an earnest desire to ease the knight’s discomfort. “It’s much better if you sleep,” he says, with all the wisdom of a moment. “The time goes by much faster.”

Obi-Wan is forced to accept his master’s censure with grace as to spare the gentle feelings of an innocent child, so he smiles, and bows to acknowledge the boy.

“As you say, Master Kryze. You are probably right.”

“I know I am,” Korkie says. “Even though I do look a little wild in the end. But I feel tidy. So I suppose it’s just a matter of which part of me you look at.”

With a rumble that starts deep in his belly, then tumbles out like thunder, Qui-Gon Jinn laughs.

“A man after my own heart,” he says, giving Korkie a little clap on the shoulder. “I foresee you will become a great Jedi, Kiorkicek Kryze.”

“Sorry to interrupt, Duchess, Obi-Wan,” says Master Windu, stepping between the parties, “But as this rain doesn’t look to be letting up any time soon, may I suggest we complete the investiture ceremony somewhere a little drier?”

He levels Obi-Wan with a challenging glance, but its severity is diminished somewhat by his own bedraggled state. Despite their equal exposure, the rain has somehow managed to do more damage to Mace Windu’s composure than any of the others. Perhaps because he is more conscious of his position, and his dignity than the other two, Qui-Gon being rather untroubled by such pretensions, and Obi-Wan still humbled and distracted by the circumstances in which he’s come face to face with the unquiet ghosts of his past. Both of them wear the rain with ease, but Mace has struggled, unable to convince himself of the need to shield himself, but conscious of the desire. His cloak is patchy with damp, and the top of his head reflects the sky, the water washing his face, and dripping from his lips and chin. It is clear that Obi-Wan feels this indignity on his superior’s behalf, but Satine fights laughter at the spectacle.

“I think that would be wise, Master Windu,” she says, her voice tripping and sparking with barely repressed delight.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he says, with a shallow bow. And then he says, “There is an air car waiting.”

And Satine feels her stomach drop.

She meets Obi-Wan’s eye over Mace’s shoulder. His gaze is steady, and somber and as he makes his answer to the master’s request, and she can hear farewell in the heaviness of his voice.

“Yes, Master Windu,” he says. “Satine, I’m sorry we must be so brief, but I -” and he stands gaping, and voiceless for a moment.

The tight knuckle of sickness twists in her gut, scraping across the raw nerves of the underside of her skin, buckling muscles, and shifting against her bones, but she swallows the nausea back, and saves Obi-Wan from the inexorable void of silence.

“Do not apologise, Obi-Wan,” she says. “These things cannot be helped. Perhaps it is better this way. Perhaps the sting will be less.”

“Like a plaster,” he says, numbly.

And she agrees. “Just like.”

Master Jinn’s rises from his crouch, leaving his hands to ghost over Korkie’s shoulders, his hand still wrapped in her own, and Obi-Wan still staring at her, still drowning in the rain. Master Windu is merciful then, and bows out his leave taking.

“I’ll prepare the car,” he says.

“Thank you, Mace,” says Qui-Gon, when no one says anything else, and Master Windu leaves them to say goodbye. 

But still, no one moves. Silence falls, a fragile, lacework thing, too delicate to touch with the clumsy fingers of speech. They remain suspended in its web for an age, until Qui-Gon braves what the others cannot fathom, and speaks again.

“Obi-Wan,” he says, stepping away from Korkie to reach for his own grown padawan. “A word.”

He draws him aside, turning away, turning their backs to Satine and Korkie, and speaking quietly in Obi-Wan’s ear, an arm about his shoulders, and drawing him close in private assignation. At another time, she might feel ostracised and othered by this, but now, she is grateful. It is she who is with Korkie, and the Jedi who must stand apart.

She kneels to face her son, heedless of her skirt, of the thin satyn and how it catches at the rough duracrete, pulling taut, maybe tearing beneath the pressure of her knees. She doesn’t care. It doesn’t matter. What matters is this: herself, and her son, and the rain washing away the things between them.

“I don’t want to go,” says Korkie, and she grips his hands tighter than before.

“You must,” she says. “You must. You are going to be a wonderful Jedi Knight. Just think of that.”

“I don’t care,” he says. “I know I said before, but I changed my mind. I want to go home.”

“You can’t go home, kih'kairkiyc,” she replies, her tongue growing thick with a truth she hates to speak. “Remember? We talked about this. It’s dangerous. But you will be safe here. Knight Kenobi will protect you.”

“But who will protect you if I’m not there?”

“Oh, many people, Kiorkicek,” she says. “A whole court of people. All the people. The people of Mandalore will be my strength, and they will take very good care of me while you’re away, and one day, when you come home, they will be glad to meet you again, and so will I.”

“Do you promise?” he asks. “You won’t forget me? Even if I’m gone for a very long time?”

“Even if you were gone for almost as long as forever, I would never forget you, Kiorkicek Kryze. Ni kar'tayl gai sa'ad. Ratiin.”

“Ratiin,” he repeats. “Always, and always.”

“Yes,” she avows. “Now, do you remember what I told you?”

“To wash my face, and brush my teeth every day, even if I’m very sleepy.”

And she laughs, pulling him close to her breast, and tucking his head beneath her chin.

“Yes,” she says. “That is very important, but what else?”

“To listen to the masters, and study hard, and show respect, and try my best, and to always, always be very kind to Knight Kenobi, because he isn’t always very kind to himself.”

“Yes,” she whispers. She presses a kiss to his hair, and combs it as flat as she can. “That last part, most especially, kih'kairkiyc. Look after each other. For me.”

“Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, Belli.”

“Bal Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, balyc.”

“Satine?” The call is Obi-Wan’s and she looks up from the cradle of her embrace, and her son within it to see him standing cautious, and concerned a few paces away. “It’s time to go.” 

“Of course,” she says. She stands. She takes Korkie’s hand, nestled in her own, and places it in Obi-Wan’s. For a moment, the three of them are one, together, and then…

She lets go.

“Goodbye, my Kiorkicek,” she says. “Remember what I told you. Kote, ijaa, aliit. Ratiin.”

He nods, and she can see his grip tighten on Obi-Wan’s hand, fierce determination rising in the face of her expectations. It is Obi-Wan who falters.

“Satine, I -” he shakes his head. His eyes match the storm. “I will do my best by him, I swear. I will not fail you. I will not.”

“I know,” she says, steady where he is not. “I would not give him up to another. None but you, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Gar ratiin ru’kar'taylir. Be gentle with it.”

He nods. There is nothing else to say, and they’ve always been terrible at goodbye. She smiles at Korkie one last time, and he points at the sky.

“Happy tears,” he says, and grins, wiping the salty streaks from his own face.

And with that, he tugs on Obi-Wan’s hand, and leads him off towards the distant figure of Mace Windu, and the air car waiting patiently to take them home.

But Satine is not alone.

Qui-Gon Jinn steps close, until she can feel his shoulder jut up against her own, the warmth of his body breaching the barricade of wet clothes, to soothe her own chapped skin, and she shivers against him.

For a moment, they say nothing, just watching as Obi-Wan turns to Korkie, and Korkie to Obi-Wan, chatting animatedly, his free hand swooping through the air. She imagines he must be telling him of their departure from Mandalore, and the world he left behind, and she hopes that selfishly, she might be included in as many of these stories as he thinks to tell, because he is in all of hers. Qui-Gon chuckles beside her.

“Fast friends, already,” he says.

“Forgotten just as fast,” she whispers, nearly losing the words to the storm. But Qui-Gon is listening closely.

“Never that,” he says. He wraps an arm around her shoulders, and she yields like water, dropping her head to his shoulder, and weeping into the crook of his neck.

“I thought I was ready,” she says, hitching breaths to match the shifting winds. “But it has come too soon.”

She feels his chin press against her skull, and though it isn’t exactly comfortable, there is comfort in the angles of his affection, and she leans closer to him, until her arms sneak beneath the wet folds of his outer robe, and wrap around his waist. She clings there, as though she might blow away. This is familiar, though it is an old, old memory, now. She was once a girl, before she was a Duchess, and Qui-Gon Jinn was once to her the very thing her father could not be. She was bereaved, but never lost, and there were many nights that Qui-Gon held her while she wept just like this. It is easy to reach for him, now. It is easy to look back.

“You are never ready,” he says, his voice vibrating so near to her ear it is as though he speaks to her from within her own mind. “But he is not going very far. He is with his family. He is with his father. You are not losing him to the wilderness.”

“No,” she says. “Only to the Force.”

He does not chide her for the bitterness upon her tongue.

His own words remain gentle, and soothing, and he rocks her in his arms, as they watch the matched set of their hearts walk away.

“Then I have lost my own heart twice,” he says. “First to the Force, and then to you. But people always come back, in one way or another. No one is gone forever.”

And as they reach the car, as though he hears their call from across a vast, unending night, and over the wind and roar of the storm, Obi-Wan looks back, and Qui-Gon smiles.

“Oh, look,” he says, as the knight turns once more to his son. “There he goes again.”

Satine buries her face in Qui-Gon’s arms, and though she doesn’t feel at peace, for a moment, she feels like she has come home.

[taylorswiftdiscographyrate]

#70-61

70. Wonderland (7.441) Highest score was 10; Lowest score was 3

This is the only song to not receive a regular placing on the 1989 tour setlist! AYHTDWS, This Love and YAIL both rotated on and off depending on the night, but according to setlist.fm those 3 all at least got a good number of performances, while poor Wonderland only got a whopping 4 times in the spotlight. Wonderland used to be a favourite of mine on 1989, but unfortunately for me I think it has aged a bit poorly.

Highlighted comments: @corneliaavenue: “can someone please tell me what you hear in this song?” @yourivysgrows: “This didn't deserve to be a bonus track”

69. False God (7.447) Highest score was 10; Lowest score was 3.9

Haha, nice.

Highlighted comments: @corneliaavenue: “PUSSY IS GOD” @yourivysgrows: “This murdered me”

68. mad woman (7.459) Highest score was 10; Lowest score was 4.5

The first time we heard the fuck word from Taylor! And what a great fuck word it was. mad woman is, in my opinion, by far the greatest song about sexism that Taylor has ever written. The simmering rage that lingers beneath the whole thing, the way she drags Scooter through the mud... *chefs kiss*

Highlighted comments: @yourivysgrows: “fuck you forever”

67. The Way I Loved You (7.488) Highest score was 9; Lowest score was 5.9

We need to start a support group for people who took way too long to realise this song was about two different guys. By people I mean me, but also please tell me I’m not the only one. I was so confused for so long with this song.

Highlighted comments: @corneliaavenue: “banger of a song but -2 for promoting toxic relationships :/”

66. Back to December (7.494) Highest score was 10; Lowest score was 3

This is a great song, but honestly after hearing the mashup with Apologise and You’re Not Sorry from the Speak Now tour, I cannot listen to any other version. I also remember some weird story about how Taylor Lautner attended a Speak Now Tour date and was witnessed muttering “it’s too late” under his breath during the performance, which now that I’m repeating it sounds so obviously like fanfiction but 12 year old me bought into it back when Taylor Squared was THE ship.

Highlighted comments: @corneliaavenue: “rip tay²” @yourivysgrows: “Track 5 energy (a yes)”

65. Come Back... Be Here (7.519) Highest score was 10; Lowest score was 3

Remember when we begged and begged and got Taylor to relearn the lyrics to this song so she could perform it on Rep Tour? Good times.

Highlighted comments: @yourivysgrows: “Due to my long distance relationship this one hit home” @everfolk: “God tier song” @liabilitys: “one of my fav songs but v underrated”

64. New Year’s Day (7.544) Highest score was 10; Lowest score was 1

I think the perception of this song is harmed by how the sessioners hyped it up as “the new All Too Well”. Which I mean, is just wrong, but I can’t blame them - if I had heard “hold on to the memories they will hold onto you” in Taylor Swift’s house I would probably burst into tears every time I heard it afterwards too. In all seriousness, I think this is a great end to reputation, its calm and understatedness is perfect alongside the aggressive cacaphony that makes up most of the rest of the album.

Highlighted comments: @yourivysgrows: “The most beautiful closer” @corneliaavenue: “it is a little boring, but i like the lyrics”

63. Christmas Tree Farm (7.559) Highest score was 10; Lowest score was 5.15

This is so fun and wholesome, it almost inspired me to make myself a Christmas playlist. I don’t even listen to 99% of Christmas music, so the playlist would pretty much just consist of this, All I Want For Christmas Is You and Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande.

Highlighted comments: @itspeterlosingwendy: “the only song I listen to at christmas” @treacherousdemo: “that intro is the best thing she's ever done.. i stand by this” @leadinmeon: “i don't even celebrate xmas. but this song is so cute”

62. Sad Beautiful Tragic (7.572) Highest score was 10; Lowest score was 4.6

I used to be attacked for saying I didn’t like this song, to the point where I was bullied into liking it </3 Half joking, this song has actually grown on me a lot! But can we just admit it is a tad too slow and dare I say... verges on being boring?

Highlighted comments: @leadinmeon: “same as last kiss: lyrically iconic, musically boring to listen to” @liabilitys: “another fav”

61. Dancing with Our Hands Tied (7.581) Highest score was 10; Lowest score was 5

If the album version was the acoustic version, I would’ve given this a much higher score. But the production... after listening to 10 previous songs full of heavy synths and drops, I frankly just get tired of that by this point in the album, and DWOHT does that style a lot worse than the other songs, in my opinion. The acoustic version is very nice though.

Highlighted comments: @yourivysgrows: “I would die for this song I think”

[probably-writing-x]

Further (5)

"I shouldn't have reacted how I did," Tom admits, sitting back down onto the couch as you do the same.

"No, I think you're well within your right to react how you did. I just think you said some things that you shouldn't have done," You nod and its like he's watching your every movement in fear he'd upset you again, "But I don't blame you for being pissed. I just think you have a few apologies to give Haz,"

"I'll get round to that," He promises, "I jus-"

"I get it T. You just found out, out of nowhere, that me and your best friend like each other. And, before you question it, no we're not together, no we haven't slept together, we haven't even kissed," You confirm, "We just know how we feel,"

"You really like him huh?" Tom raises his brows.

You shrug, "I think that's pretty apparent,"

"And he likes you too?"

"I guess he does," You smile a little.

"I really want to accept this and be okay with it but-" He takes a deep breath, "It's going to be hard, y'know?"

You nod, squeezing his arm, "I know. Take as long as you need. The last thing I want, and H too, is to make you feel uncomfortable or pissed or whatever,"

He clenches his jaw a little like he's trying to stop himself from being emotional as you get up to walk away, "Where are you going?"

"Just upstairs," You comment, "I think I should speak to Harry and Sam about everything too,"

Tom nods understandingly and lets you leave, running through a thousand confirmations he wishes he could've said but not yet finding it in him to accept what he'd learnt only one night before.

When they got home last night, Tom had made mental note of the fact that Harrison had texted you as soon as his feet stepped inside. It was nothing major but he knew it was something he had to pick up on. He'd do the same for someone he really cared about...

~~~~~

Your younger brothers had evidently been much more understanding of everything. They, quote, 'knew Harrison wasn't that much of a div to do anything bad'. And it gave you a little relief that at least there was only one sibling to worry about.

"Am I allowed in?" Harrison knocks at your door, "Or has Tom booby trapped it?"

You chuckle and turn around as you plug your phone to charge, "I think you're safe,"

"Well, last night was rough," He comments, "Must've been the cooking. I heard Dom had someone helping him in the kitchen and she fucked it all up,"

You roll your eyes, "Is that true, yeah?"

Harrison hums in agreeance, "She really messed it up,"

"Are you sure about that?" You walk towards him, "I think we both made a few mistakes,"

"Come on, we'll figure it out," He encourages, reaching his foot out to lightly tap your leg, "I don't like seeing you sad,"

"Can you blame me H?" You sigh, "You heard Tom,"

"Hey," He reaches his hand out and squeezes your hand, "We'll figure it out, alright?"

You take a deep breath and can't find it in you to respond.

"Believe me! Turn that frown upside down!" He exclaims, coming toward you and spinning you around so your back is against his chest as he lifts you up.

"Harrison!" You squeal, finding yourself laughing despite everything telling you not to.

He spins you around, "I'm not putting you down until yo-"

Instantly, his words fall flat as the two of you are now facing towards your open bedroom door. An open door that gave a very unneeded view of Tom who'd stopped in his tracks when he recognised the commotion.

Harrison lowers you cautiously to the ground but his hands don't move from yours, like he feared what Tom's next steps would be.

"Don't mind me," Tom states simply, clenching his jaw as he speaks.

His eyes snap away from the two of you quickly as he makes a direct route towards his bedroom.

"Tom I-" You go to pull away from Haz but he tugs you back.

"I'll go," He comments, though you could instantly hear the uncertainty and fear behind those two words.

He confirms his decision with a nod towards you and his hand squeezing yours once more before he follows in the footsteps of your brother.

Oh boy, you wished you could have your conversation-hearing powers yet again... And somehow it always happened to be about conversations Harrison was having with your family.

~~~~~

"Hey man, can we talk?" Harrison starts awkwardly, not remembering a time where he felt so uncomfortable about speaking to Tom.

"Yeah, you don't have to explain yourself, I know you guys-"

"I didn't mean about that," Harrison cuts in, gesturing in the rough direction of your bedroom, "Well, I meant about everything really,"

Tom glances up from his desk and sits down in the chair, watching as Harrison walks cautiously over to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Look, I don't know how to say this to you man, I really dont," Harrison begins, dragging his hands through his hair, "I-"

"When did you realise?" Tom questions coldly.

Harrison looks up, a little taken aback, before answering, "Uh, well it's difficult really. I kind of think of it as this one morning and she came downstairs and her hair was everywhere and she was yawning and she was wearing pyjamas that I'm pretty sure she's had for about ten years and-" He stops himself, "You know that feeling you get when you see someone you're about to go on a date with, and they're all dressed up and everything and they've made sure they're looking their best?"

Tom nods in understanding.

"I got that exact feeling. But she was there and she was in all ways this person that she'd hate the sight of. And she came over to me, wrapped her arms around me and asked me if I'd slept well. I'm pretty sure she was still half asleep and she just stayed there," Harrison's gone completely off course by now and it takes him a second to snap back, "Shit, sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No, you can't apologise if that's how you feel," Tom shakes his head, "It's not your fault I guess,"

"Yeah but this is (Y/n) that we're talking about, man," Harrison shrugs, "She's your sister,"

Tom's jaw clenches quickly, "I know,"

"And I know she's the one person you'd never want me to-" He stops himself again, "But I really fucking tried Tom. I made a fucking list of reasons why I shouldn't be with her an-"

"What was on that list?"

Harrison looks up and takes a deep breath, "She's a Holland,"

Tom can't help but laugh a little, "For fuck's sake man,"

Harrison finds himself laughing lightly too and, for a second, they're brothers again.

"Look, I'm not agreeing with all of this. I mean, fuck, you're still my best friend and she's still my sister. But that doesn't change the fact that I can't control how you feel," Tom speaks slowly, conscious of his words more so than last night, "I'm sorry for what I said last night. But this might just take me some time to wrap my head around, okay?"

"Yeah yeah I totally get that, dude," Harrison nods a little too eagerly, "And we'll give you as much time as you need and we-"

"So it's 'we' now, huh?" Tom cuts in once again, his jaw clenching for the umpteenth time.

Haz looks down and can't help the blush from invading his cheeks, "I really fucking like her Tom,"

For a second, Tom can't help the anger that seeps into his main emotion. Because, god damn, this was Harrison talking about (Y/n) and he hated the thought of them two seeing each other as anything more than friends. But, quicker than he'd expected, that feeling dissipates and he's suddenly pretty proud of both of them. For finding someone half decent at least. Even if it was his best friend and his not-so-little sister.

They stay there for a little while longer and it only takes a few minutes before they're back to their normal ways as Tom starts showing stupid videos to Haz and Harrison starts playing newly released music to him. And for that while longer, relationships mean fucking nothing.

~~~~~

Tom's been caught in his feelings all day after that. Sure, he could act like he was half-okay around Harrison but there was still an uncertainty about everything that stopped him from being himself.

"Woah, fucking hell guys the PDA is a bit weird!" Harry's voice snaps him from his daze as he hears his brother walking past Harrison's room.

Tom glances up as Harry is now stood in his doorway.

"Come choose which pizzas to order," Harry encourages. Sure, he already knew what his brother would choose but that didn't have to matter. Harry needed to know that his big brother was okay and this seemed like the best way of doing exactly that.

Tom sighs and gets up from his chair, following after Harry with Sam already waiting at the stairs.

As he walks past the open door to Harrison's room, he's too curious to not look.

He's met with a sickly sweet sight. Haz's arms are wrapped around (Y/n) and they're dancing along to one of her new songs - being the singer of an acting family.

"I'm telling you, it's a banger," Harrison encourages, "Stop telling me it's not,"

(Y/n) laughs as Haz spins her out of his arms, "You're kind of obliged to say that,"

"Oh no, I'd tell you if it was shit," He confirms, "Like some of those trash ones you used to make when we were in school. What was it? He's cold when I'm hot, I'd give up my jacket for him?" Harrison bursts out laughing as he quotes one of her very old songs from childhood.

"You're going to hell," She shrugs, trying to fight back her own urges to laugh.

"I'm pretty sure they play that song down there," Harrison jokes once more, trying to fight her off as she viciously tries to tickle him.

Yet again, Tom sees it. The way they fit. He sees it all. He sees it in Harrison's eyes that crease with his laughter, a full on laugh that (Y/n) seemed to bring out in him. He sees it in his sister's smile, her confidence to play her most vulnerable songs and still manage to not falter in her certainty. All because of him. These little moments had always been happening. But Tom was only just seeing them now.

And Tom walks away. Feeling even more guilty that he still just couldn't accept it.

~~~~~

"So, how are you guys taking things?" Tom asks as he takes a seat down at the kitchen island.

Harry looks up surprised as he takes a quick glance to his twin.

"I'm alright with it man, they seem happy," Sam encourages, "And they're both old enough,"

"Yeah I mean it's fucking weird to think of them as a couple but they seem pretty certain about how they feel," Harry backs him up, "What about you, man?"

"I don't know I just think its different for you guys. Like she's your older sister so it's not the same," Tom shrugs, "That's my little sister and my best friend,"

"Look, nobody's saying you're not allowed to feel weird about it," Sam points out, "But you saw how much shit they were putting themselves through before. You know you don't want that to happen again. You don't want either of them to get hurt,"

"No, god I don't want that," Tom shakes his head, "I'm good, honestly. I'm fine,"

Before his brothers can say anything more, there's a ring at the doorbell to signal that the pizza is arriving and they're soon joined by the final two residents of the house - Haz and you.

"Evening," You nod, "Please tell me you ordered margarita,"

"Why? Why every single time do you want a margarita?" Harrison shakes his head, following you down the stairs and toward the boys.

"Because she's a weirdo," Harry laughs, squealing as you jab him in the ribs.

"It's not as bad as her thinking strawberry ice cream is actually good," Tom taunts, "Do you remember that H?"

Harrison laughs as they both reminisce about a specific unspoken memory and, again, things feel normal. For once, you're happy to have them poking fun at you.

"Alright, come on, pizza time," Sam calls opening the boxes out in front of you for you all to take as you please.

Harrison starts taking the slices he wanted and happens to take the largest slice of margarita. You pout a little beside him but go on to take whichever looked like the next best.

"Wait wait wait," He shakes his head, holding up the queuing line of boys behind you, "This slice is bigger," and with that, he swaps yours and his slice before continuing on with the rest of his food.

Tom glances back at his brothers and cocks a brow. Part of him wanted to find a cocky, irritable remark that would dull the cuteness of such a simple gesture. But he couldn't. Harrison was ticking all the boxes of a goddamn perfect guy for you and Tom simply fucking hated it.

~~~~~

"Alright, I think I'm going to head up guys," You sigh, getting up from the sofa and stretching.

"You're not even watching the end of the film?" Harry frowns, "We need to know what happens with-"

"I don't think any of us know what's actually happening in this film," Sam laughs, "Night (Y/n),"

You say goodnight to all of them before going to make your way upstairs, Harrison's eyes lingering on you for a little.

"I'll uh, I'll be back in a minute," He stumbles over his words a little, standing up and instinctively flicking his eyes towards Tom like he was asking for approval to even speak to you.

"Go on man," Tom encourages.

Haz nods in understanding and goes to follow in your direction.

"Hey," Tom stops him quickly, "You, uh, it seems like you're good for her,"

Harrison's lips curl into a bold smile at that which he tries to hide, "Thanks man,"

As he walks away, the twins turn to Tom with wide eyes and gaping mouths.

"What?" Tom questions nonchalantly, trying to brush off the moment as quickly as possible.

~~~~~

Harrison follows you toward your bedroom as you're just closing the curtains across the floor length windows that adorned one of your walls.

"Hey," He begins cautiously, stepping into the dark shadow of your room.

"Hello," You respond, hands falling from the curtains, "What are yo-"

Before you can say anything more, Harrison's arms wrap around your waist from behind and his chin perches against your shoulder, "You look really beautiful in this light,"

"What? Where you can barely see me?" You joke, shifting in his arms so you can see him.

"Come on, I'm trying to be romantic," He rolls his eyes, hands settling on either side of your hips.

You chuckle and flash him that cute little smile that made him realise it was truly possible for stomach butterflies to take flight. Your head is illuminated by the cool moonlight behind you and it's creating this halo glow around your messy hair that he's sure couldn't be more perfect if you tried. It's too dark to see the brightness of your eyes and you've got a little pizza sauce stain across the top you wore - one that likely didn't belong to you. Your fuzzy socks are tickling at his toes and this is slowly becoming a less and less romantic moment. But nonetheless, you're there. And that makes it enough for him.

"Haz!" You laugh, "What are you so focused on?"

He swallows the lump in his throat but still can't find any words to fit as he cautiously brings his hand up to your jaw.

It is then that his midnight intentions become midday bright. Your eyes focus on nothing but the lips that were slowly giving in to the attraction that yours had on them. And, in a slow second, they're on yours. They're locked together in a much awaited, anticipated, expected kiss.

It's fearful at first, almost awkward. Because, damn, this felt so incorrect. But then you're both melting as though this moonlight reflection had the power to burn both of you. You're falling into each other and you don't mind the fear of not being brought back up.

You knew the comfort of the kiss wouldn't go any further. Harrison's hands would remain fixed - one to your hip and one cupping your jaw. You knew yours wouldn't dare move from settlement on his chest. But it didn't need to go any further. Because you were finally kissing him. And, for once, your heart didn't feel like it was hurting.

~~~~~

(Ooooh we're getting somewhere now huns... I know I never write smut but I'm kind of considering it for this series - be completely honest, what would your thoughts be for that?? I'd only do it if it was something you guys wanted to see)

Tags: @imarypayne @sunshine112 @bringmethehorizonandpizza @supernatural-girl97 @vibhati123 @butithasntkilledyouyet @faefictions @carisi-sonny @trap-house-homiecide @spiderrpcrker @tommydaspidey @oneblckcoffee @darlingtholland @fanficparker @xxtomxo @httpfandxms @jackiehollanderr @bookish-and-shy @trustfundparker @kaitlynjones12

[sonicawareness]

The Best Albums of 2019

After listening to more than 2000 new albums in 2019, I’ve narrowed my picks down to The 20 Best Records of 2019.

I’ve included 3 essential songs from each pick, as well as a choice lyrical clip and a brief description of the album.

Noting beats actually LISTENING TO MUSIC! So don’t just read my thoughts: follow and listen to the Spotify playlist containing 60 songs from the top 20 albums:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5TWlfWoo54MQ5cYTMmB0RI?si=M_23L6DDRieVuA845A90Pg

01: Yung Gravy - Sensational

Aptly titled Sensational, this debut full-length is a thirty minute party that dances between the hottest trap beats, well-placed samples, and the young Minnesota rapper’s braggadocious persona and ridiculous raps

Hey Alexa, how many bitches can we fit in the Tesla?...Pull up in that Model X with your model ex!

“Whip a Tesla” • “1 Thot 2 Thot Red Thot Blue Thot” • “The Boys Are Back in Town”

02: TWICE - &TWICE • Feel Special EP • FANCY YOU EP

Nine young South Korean women radiate endless energy, bountiful bliss, and some of the catchiest songs to come out not only in 2019 but recent memory 

Even when things go wrong, feelings out of control: lessons, to be sure. Be okay, all right! Even a crying face is glittering, filter and laugh! You can return to invincibility, right? Blow off, and we havin’ fun! [Translated from original Japanese]

“Fake and True” • “Breakthrough” • “Stronger”

03: Sublime with Rome - Blessings

Frontman, bandleader, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Rome Ramirez delivers his finest record to date: eleven heartfelt reggae-driven songs that are as well-written as they are masterfully recorded and produced

Watching you feel good tonight: it's your song up on the station, and we don't even know no words. I wanna hear you roll your R’s, singing Spanish in the car, “Dime algo hermosa tonight”.

“Wicked Heart” • “Light On” • “For the Night”

04: Bring Me the Horizon - amo 

Cohesive yet genre-spanning (metalcore, hip-hop, electronic, and pop, to name just a few), the sixth album from the English quintet is an emotional yet insightful rollercoaster masterpiece

Before the truth will set you free, it'll piss you off. Before you find a place to be, you're gonna lose the plot. Too late to tell you now, one ear and right out the other one ‘cause all you ever do is chant the same old mantra.

“MANTRA” • “wonderful life” • “i apologise if you feel something”

05: Weezer - Weezer (Black Album)

Expertly produced and instantly memorable, the long-running Rivers Cuomo-driven California quartet is once again in top form, adding yet another fresh and unique — but distinctly Weezer — record to their extensive discography 

Don't get mad at me, I'm just being honest. I should have lied, now you're mad at me? I'm just being honest. How 'bout from now on you'll write the script, I'll read the lines?

“Can’t Knock the Hustle” • “Zombie Bastards” • “Living in L.A.”

06: Big Data - 3.0

Like this sophomore album’s lyrical content — exploration of the impact artificial intelligence will have on humans and on the Earth — the latest project from producer, multi-instrumentalist, and mastermind Alan Wilkis is paradoxically dark yet bright; like AI, this album’s execution is equally flawless and Dangerous

I created a monster, it's out of control, it's going to take me...I didn't know what I was making...But now it's coming, coming for all of us!

“Monster” • “See Through” • “Evolution Once Again”

07: blackbear - ANONYMOUS

Vibrant yet dark, personal yet accessible, the fifth album from Mat Musto is a collection of 18 vulnerable, confessional songs told over slick electronic and hip-hop sounds

You drop the bag and ask me how my weekend was. I love that, though. You laugh when I make stupid jokes, and when I went to rehab, you didn't judge me that bad. I struggle with addiction probs, you always got my back. What am I gonna do the day that my drug dealer moves away? Whatever am I gonna say to my new plug? It just ain't the same.

“DOWN” • “HATE MY GUTS” • “DRUG DEALER”

08: Denzel Curry - ZUU

Hit-after-hit of hip-hop bangers pack this album’s half-hour runtime, with a plethora of guests joining the fray but never quite knocking it out like the young Miami native, Denzel Curry 

First they mockin', now they hoppin', all on the wave, 'cause they see me poppin'. Big-big-big large pockets, they start flockin'. Here's what I say when they ass keep knockin'...

“RICKY” • “BIRDZ” • “ZUU”

09: DaBaby - KIRK / Baby on Baby

On his two 2019 albums, his first proper efforts after countless mixtapes and singles, DaBaby unleashes his signature, incessant vocals over relentless trap and modern hip-hop beats

Prolly heard I was broke from a broke nigga, prolly heard I'm a ho from a ho! I don't know what you know, I ain't runnin' from no nigga, let’s go!

“BOP” • “OFF THE RIP” • “Suge”

10: Bayside - Interrobang

On their eighth album, the Anthony Raneri-fronted New York natives sound refreshed, focused, and tighter than ever telling their trademark tales of heartbreak and healing

I love that music saved you, and Lord knows it’s saved me too, but songs never love you back, and you never know the person preaching to you...

“Interrobang” • “Prayers” • “Bury Me”

11: The Hold Steady - Thrashing Thru The Passion

Few frontmen can weave an album’s worth of compelling narratives, yet the Brooklyn band’s Craig Finn finds himself on the seventh The Hold Steady album once again delivering ten more engaging, interlocked tales over his band’s fierce guitar riffs and all-too-catchy choruses

Thanks for listening, thanks for understanding: tequila takeoff, Tecate landing.

“Entitlement Crew” • “Denver Haircut” • “You Did Good Kid”

12: Electric Guest - KIN

Sugary sweet, the third record from the California duo promptly polishes any rough few rough edges they once had to deliver a perfectly slick yet quirkily heartwarming collection of eleven easy-listening songs

I'm like, “this mothafucka might sue me, and that mothafucka might boo me”. I'ma keep on goin' to a better day, all this other bitterness can fade away.

“Dollar” • “I Got the Money” • “More”

13: Billie Eilish - WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

Part punk energy without sounding even slightly punk, part emo diary without being a dashboard confessional, the debut record from American teenager Billie Eilish craftily bounces between genres, haunting sounds, and strange stories

If you think I’m pretty, you should see me in a crown. I'm gonna run this nothing town. Watch me make 'em bow one by one by one.

“bad guy” • “my strange addiction” • “you should see me in a crown”

14: The Cat Empire - Stolen Diamonds

The eighth album from Australia’s The Cat Empire is a full-blown dance party packed with catchy, clever songwriting and a room full of drums, horns, strings, keyboards, turntables, and bass

Operator, please, I can’t get out my head. Tell me where I’m going or where I’m being led. Tell me like an order, and order I’ll obey. Maybe I just thought you said, or did I did I hear you say, “We’re going to ([kill a man]) Kilaman-jaro, jaro…”

“KIla” • “Stolen Diamonds” • “Ready Now”

15: Dirty Heads - Super Moon

Co-frontmen Dirty J and Duddy B return to the beach for the seventh Dirty Heads album, borrowing sounds from across their entire discography of acoustic guitars and witty hip-hop to craft a surprisingly delicate record

I'm a flame, I'm a beacon that won't go out. In the dark, in the rain, I'm your lighthouse. When you can't stand the pain, hope you know now, I'll keep you safe, I'm your lighthouse.

“Super Moon” • “Lift Me Up” • “Tender Boy”

16: TENDER - Fear of Falling Asleep

Dark and uninviting, the second album from this London duo is an intimidating but rewarding listen delicately spiced with just enough hooks to keep you trapped in its atmospheric dreams 

I’ll be looking for the scent when it goes cold. I’ve been trying to beat the maze with a blindfold on. I’ve been foraging through mud and sticks searching for that power that don’t exist.

“Closer Still” • “Bottled Up” • “Handmade Ego”

17: Logic - Confessions of a Dangerous Mind / Supermarket Soundtrack

Logic returns once again with countless rhymes delivered over his trademark breathless bars, frequently painting an all-too-vivid picture of a famous rapper struggling to comprehend the world around him

All these comments got me lost in my mind; all these thoughts that I'm having are not mine. I always post that I'm having a good time so my life looks perfect online...

“Homicide” • “Don’t Be Afraid to Be Different” • “Lemon Drop”

18: Tyga - Legendary

More than just a collection of hits, the seventh album from the Compton rapper is well-sequenced and effortlessly laced with hook-after-hook for Tyga to deliver his signature obscene lines about things he self-admittedly has too many [sic] of: money, cash, hoes, cars, clothes, flows

Hey, shut the fuck up, bitch, you know who I are. Point blank range, and I'm shootin' for the stars. You niggas subpar and I just raised the bar. You got Rollies on your wrist, this is Chopard. Slide on your block like a fuckin' go-kart, my nigga A&R, still got an AR.

“Haute” • “Lightskin Little Wayne” • “On Me”

19: The Chainsmokers - World War Joy

The third album in three years from Alex Pall and Drew Taggart (and no shortage of guests) is an easy, light collection of ten slick relationship-focused pop songs that find the duo largely eschewing their dance-centric history 

You said, "Hey, whatcha doing for the rest of your life?" and I said, "I don't even know what I'm doing tonight". Went from one conversation to your lips on mine.

“The Reaper” • “Family” • “P.S. I Hope You’re Happy”

20: Bear Hands - Fake Tunes

Brooklyn’s Bear Hands returns with another collection of bright, bouncy songs that ever-so-slightly conceal the trio’s underlying sadness and struggles  

I don't see how you think you can come to me, and bitch to me, lay out your problems, like ancient history, like I ain't got no other shit to do. I love you, baby, but my lips are turnin' blue.

“Blue Lips” • “Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide)” • “Mr. Radioactive”

THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2019

Yung Gravy - Sensational

TWICE - &TWICE • Feel Special EP • FANCY YOU EP

Sublime with Rome - Blessings

Bring Me the Horizon - amo 

Weezer - Weezer (Black Album)

Big Data - 3.0

blackbear - ANONYMOUS

Denzel Curry - ZUU

DaBaby - KIRK / Baby on Baby

Bayside - Interrobang

The Hold Steady - Thrashing Thru The Passion

Electric Guest - KIN

Billie Eilish - WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

The Cat Empire - Stolen Diamonds

Dirty Heads - Super Moon

TENDER - Fear of Falling Asleep

Logic - Confessions of a Dangerous Mind / Supermarket Soundtrack

Tyga - Legendary

The Chainsmokers - World War Joy

Bear Hands - Fake Tunes

[nathanp1312]

antique by the ghost club really do be my vent song rn.

if i post a lot of lyrics i apologise now ive been listening to it on repeat for like 3 hours now so

but its a banger and you shoulf give it a listen!

lyrics:

[Verse 1]

Oh, it's three in the mornin’ and I don't think I'll be sleepin’ though

Mind's so wound up and the thoughts, they seem to keep me woke

Blinds wide open 'cause the moon can see right through me

Doesn't know me, but it shows me saints and faith are just commodities

It's three in the mornin' and I don't think I'll be sleepin’ though

[Chorus]

Lord, I beg and plead

Pull me to the light so I can see

To stop my questioning

So I can fall asleep

Questions weigh on me

Is it to be? Is it not to be?

Is there a plan for me

Or is God just an antique?

[Verse 2]

Faith laying silent ’cause I killed it in the first degree

World ain't nothing to me but some skirmish for some currency

Is something beyond or am I all that I will ever be?

My eyes are open, but there’s just some things that we may never see

It's three in the mornin' and I don't think I’ll be sleeping though

[Chorus]

Lord, I beg and plead

Pull me to the light so I can see

To stop my questioning

So I can fall asleep

Questions weigh on me

Is it to be? Is it not to be?

Is there a plan for me

Or is God just an antique?

[Bridge]

Why won't you show me what it is that I've been looking for?

Is it folklore or will you guide my soul forever more?

Why won't you show me what it is that I've been looking for?

Is it folklore or will you guide my soul forever more?

[Chorus]

Lord, I beg and plead

Pull me to the light so I can see

To stop my questioning

So I can fall asleep

Questions weigh on me

Is it to be? Is it not to be?

Is there a plan for me?

Or is God just an antique?

[ohhcnna-blog]

       aY pals!! i’m sam, i’m twenty, i’m australian, she/her pronouns and i’ve recently made an actual legitimate short film which is Wild(TM) but more recently i’ve just been binging mindhunter on netflix. aNYWAY, let’s move on to my little shit: hanna/bugsy!! there’s some more info under the cut, then! if u wanna plot hmu or like this and i’ll come to you!

☾ —— have you met hanna bishop, the twenty one year old cisfemale that looks a lot like dove cameron? she has been in the syndicate as a vault cracker for one year now and is known around as the manic, because she is intuitive & meticulous, as well as unpredictable & headstrong. not just a gang banger, bugsy is also a sex store employee

STATS

full name: hanna louise bishop

nickname(s): ham, bugsy

age: twenty one

gender: cis-female

pronouns: she/her

date of birth: november 2nd

zodiac sign: scorpio

label: the manic

occupation: sex store employee, freelance hacker, vault cracker for the syndicate

orientation: pansexual aromantic (but prefers to just call herself “queer”)

relationship status: single, not looking to date

language(s): english

hair colour: platinum blonde

eye colour: blue

drink / smoke / drugs: yes / no / yes

faceclaim: dove cameron

likes / dislikes: drugs, whiskey, big dogs, horror movies, video games / blue cheese, seafood, education system, order

positive traits: meticulous, intuitive, dedicated, intelligent

negative traits: unpredictable, secretive, head-strong, reckless

if she was in a hogwarts house: ravenclaw

IDK STUFF ???

i apologise this is a mess istg its all sorted in my head but getting it down? not today satan

kinda based on young and menace by fall out boy??? except that song is like oh i used to be like that, hanna is still like that

why is her name bugsy??? bc there’s a musical called bugsy malone about gangsters but all the roles are usually played by kids and hc that hanna once played blousey (basically bugsy’s bitch in the play) once and was like fUCK THAT imma be the main man now

also she just thinks its funny like one of her nicknames is ham she doesn’t take the whole codename thing very seriously tbh

aNYWAY history stuff

she didn’t grow up in monroe, she grew up in a city and left no trace when she left at age eighteen

she comes from a relatively ordinary upper-middle class family. has an older brother in the army and no other siblings (at least not that she counts, she has a step sister and two step brothers). 

parents divorced when she was fifteen but she’d seen it coming since she was ten and wished they’d done it earlier so she wouldn’t have be woken by fighting so often lmao

what she didn’t wish had happened: was both her parents getting remarried within a year of the divorce. she assumed this meant one or maybe both of two things: they’d been cheating and/or they were trying to get back at each other

anyway, long story short: hanna fucking hates her parents. she thinks they’re slow, annoying, ridiculous and above all: stuck in their own routine of trying to one up each other

hanna acted out past this point, even though she was smart she let her grades fall, skipped school, spent days locked up in her room yelling to other gamers online until a parent wanted to tell her it was ridiculous then she’d sneak out, disappear for days.

the day she turned eighteen she left home. she’d had a bag packed for a week in advance. and she didn’t look back.

she’d thought about going to a city but came across monroe on her way, she’s been here since.

she picked up a job here in there, for a while she did i.t. help but it bored her, people’s stupid problems. so much like her parents. so instead of just fixing problems, she would plant viruses. using her looks and charm to get what she wanted from each customer just enough to personalise each virus to the person, really tick them off.

eventually she got caught so she was fired, taking up a job in retail instead. specifically in a sex shop where she could spend her days mindlessly rearranging and toying with people to her heart’s delight

however she wouldn’t have taken this cushy job if the syndicate hadn’t already recruited her as a vault cracker during her unemployment

something to keep her engaged and interested (vault cracking), then something to let her mind relax and talk to people and usually mess with them a little (sex shop)

always has a fuck ton of energy, unless she’s hungover (which is often, she a big party gal) then she will physically fight anyone that comes within five feet of her or wakes her from a nap

iDK she’s trash lmao

plot ideas???? (all with more in depth plotting)

roommates

ride or die, best pal

ex flings (she’s not a relationship person like at all lmao so no full on exes)

fwb/hook ups (bonus if they hate each other and just hook up drunk or something)

sibling-like friendships

someone who comes into the sex shop a lot and ham is like bitch the fuck who u fuckin

general friendships

general dislikes

gamer buds

strictly only friends when drinking/partying don’t know each other otherwise

idk man its 1:30am i just want plots with everyone immediately pls hmU with any ideas or anything like lets go fam

[fancypantshoodlum]

ALBUM REVIEW: HAIM ‘Something To Tell You’

The wait is over! HAIM's second album is here, but it's not like they've been completely off the radar. 

There was that collab single with Bastille which was fun, 'Pray To God' with Calvin Harris - a leftover from the 'Days Are Gone' sessions that I'm hoping the original pops up on an anniversary reissue in, gosh, 2023, 'Holes In The Sky' from the soundtrack of the 2nd Divergent movie that I wasn't feeling at all, and their cover of Tame Impala's ‘Cause I'm a Man' which is BETTER than the original (sorry Kevin).

While all this was happening, they were making an indelible but overlooked mark on the pop and cultural landscape - which I’ll elaborate on in seven topics

 TRENDSETTING

I started hearing their inventive brand of polyrhythmic synth guitar pop crop up in tunes like Shura's 'Touch' (lowkey soulful icy synth HAIM), 'Emotion' by Carly Rae Jepson (Latin Freestyle HAIM) and most recently Paramore's 'Told You So' and 'Forgiveness' (all of the above).

Just like The Strokes East Village thrift was hugely influential back in the day on Mens fashion (what Spin magazine hilariously described as “part Bowery Boys, part CK One hotties”) 

HAIM definitely popularized a uber long hair, leather jacket and cropped shorts LA boho look that was practically everywhere in 2014/5 (or maybe just in the hipster places I hang :P )

There is an actual website called What Would HAIM Wear?

 DAYS ARE GONE MARK II

Now here we are with 'Something To Tell You' - not a repudiation but builds on 'Days Are Gone' - a sequel and clear step forward that's more confident and audacious in its approach and teeming with new musical ideas and different sonic textures.

While still largely stuck to love songs, the lyrics represent a quantum leap in terms of thoughtfulness and maturity.

 THE INTERPRETATION GAME

 The first glimpse of this record we got was 'Right Now' which came in the form of a video filmed as they recorded a take - giving an instant impression of muso credibility. a down tempo, foreboding ballad, not really a summer jam but hot on it's heels came 'Want You Back' the euphoric banger if there ever was one.

Lyrically they could be two sides of one story, 'Right Now' a tempestuous rebuke against an dishonest ex whose come crawling back.  Like an argument that evolves into a full on row , the song builds and builds with each incrimination like thunder, a guitar squalls, Taiko drum patterns rumble - and then it all explodes. 'Want You Back' the ex, having gone back into the dating world, realises that they miss the narrator, apologises '' I’ll take the fall and the fault in us. I’ll give you all the love I never gave before I left you''.

'Want You Back' has the wistful wisdom of a folk song which makes complete sense when you learn that it was originally written as a much slower song on an acoustic guitar. I remember John Lennon saying on The Beatles Anthology Documentary (or it could've been from Ian MacDonald's Beatles book 'Revolution In The Head') that whatever instrument a song is written on influences the flavour of the song, and its defo left its mark.

I really love 'Night So Long' though. The desolate blend of echoic harmony, ambient guitar twang & weeping melodies gives it a real nocturnal, countrified, dark night of the soul vibe to it. a lovelorn hymn that's really evocative of post break up, being lost in quiet despair, resigned to another crack around the merry-go-round of Love - for the narrator Romantic Love is a Sisyphean act

I could get really SAT English Literature with my interpretations of these songs but I'll spare you the pain lol

 STUDIO AS AN INSTRUMENT

One of the common critics of HAIM albums, especially this sophomore release is that it's over produced. To be honest it's no more heavily produced than a classic Neptunes track or Timbaland one a decade before and Trevor Horn back in the 80s.

The Daddy of them all being Phil Spector whose Wall of Sound approach was a dense aesthetic that included an array of orchestral instruments—strings, woodwind, brass and percussion—not previously associated with pop music, characterizing his methods as "a Wagnerian approach to rock & roll: little symphonies for the kids".  

Brian Wilson, a huge Spector fan, used a similar recording technique, especially during the Pet Sounds and Smile eras of the Beach Boys, the most recognizable examples being "God Only Knows", "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and especially, the psychedelic "pocket symphony" of "Good Vibrations"

Wilson says "Before Spector, people recorded all the instruments separately. They got great piano, great guitar, and great bass. But he thought of the song as one giant instrument. It was huge. Size was so important to him, how big everything sounded. And he had the best drums I ever heard."

‘Something To Tell You’ (and ‘Days are Gone’ too) is very much in the spirit of Spector but with a modern vernacular. ‘Ready For You’, ‘Want You Back’ and the title song are really sonically dense and defly work in a lot of elements.

The dichotomy of the synthetic, adventurous interpretation of the songs on the record compared to the more reigned in, organic live version isn’t unique to HAIM.

Led Zeppelin live were, as legendary rock critic Lester Bangs described them, 'a thunderous, near-undifferentiated tidal wave of sound that doesn't engross but envelops to snuff any possible distraction' or in Robert Plant's words it was a "very animal thing, a hellishly powerful thing,". In contrast Page's production on the records gave their songs a sense of auditory cinema to what could have been, in a less-imaginative producer’s hands, simply bombastic rock songs.

There’s all sorts of panning and added the effects, echo-chambered voice drops into a small explosion of fuzz-tone guitar, including using Low Frequency Oscillators on tape machines that was really startling to hear at the time.

I had qualms about the use of pitched vocals that are at the start of ‘Little of Your Love’ and in the call back in the chorus of ‘Right Now’, because in the latter I thought it undercut the poignancy by having something so alien sounding in something so human, and the prior I thought a synthetic touch in something so throwback was jarring – like T Pain at the start of Springsteen’s ‘Hungry Heart’ – but maybe not a teenager who hasn’t grown up with sounds being rigidly compartmentalized in genres the way people did in the 20th century.

SIDE NOTE: In fact it could be argued that auto tune / vocal pitch shifting (techniques for deliberate misusing of programs designed for correcting pitch as a way of colourizing the human voice with distortion) is the musical signature of the 2010’s the same way a Wah-Wah pedal makes you think of the 60s or the sound of a Fairlight CMI is very 80s. Which if true makes Cher’s ‘Believe’ ridiculously ahead of it’s time – the pop equivalent of what The MC5 were to Punk?

 SPOT THE INFLUENCES

 Critics love to play ‘Spot the Influences’:  X sounds as if The Reminder-era Feist fused together the acoustic riffs of ‘I Don't Want to Know’ and ‘Never Going Back Again’ – it weirdly reminds me of families gathered around a new-born baby talking about how it has it’s mother’s eyes but grandfathers nose – all these are just cosmetic judgements that are useful to introduce the uninitiated to artists they’ve never heard about but music, like babies, are more than the sum of their parts.  

When critics would name check Fleetwood Mac in reference to HAIM in 2013 it always felt tenuous though I knew what they meant – the songs didn’t sound like Fleetwood Mac in the autonomy of the song structure but in the emotional resonance. People hadn’t heard a guitar pop band sing about relationships like that, in a style like that for a long time – since probably Fleetwood Mac and so made the connection – but the fab ‘You Never Knew’ completely pastiches the gossamer textures of Tango In The Night era Fleetwood Mac in its production to its detriment I think because every time it starts I’m half expecting Christine McVie to come on and tell me sweet little lies.

 NO GENRES

I once stumbled on a useful insight about art criticism from an article that the writer and journalist Janet Malcolm wrote in response to vitriolic critiques on J.D Salinger's writing made by literary luminaries such as Updike and Didion: ''negative contemporary criticism of a masterpiece can be helpful to later critics, acting as a kind of radar that picks up the ping of the work’s originality''.

Now, I’m not saying this record is a masterpiece - It's really good - but unpacking and investigating the critiques have lead me to some interesting places, like this douchey one from the Guardian.

‘’…Haim were swiftly co-opted by the world of mainstream pop, which seems less interested in their place within a lineage of classic Californian rock than their way with a honeyed melody.’’

 From the off this is not true because they did tour with Florence and The Machine and play the big pop extravaganza that was Chime For Change before they even dropped an album. This smells more like a Luddite Gen Xer hang up about transgressing the dividing lines between musical genres.

Music critic Lizzy Goodman on the promo trail for her excellent book ‘Meet Me In The Bathroom’ a thrilling 600-page oral history of New York’s Rock renaissance of the 2000s  - brought up a fantastic point on a podcast about the analogue kids of The Strokes generation and their Post Napster successors Vampire Weekend, Grimes and HAIM etc.

Listen to that podcast here (it’s brilliant)

https://soundcloud.com/the-watch-podcast/lizzy-goodman-on-the-rebirth-of-rock-n-roll-in-new-york-city-from-2001-to-2011-ep-153

 but here’s the paraphrased version of what I want to highlight:

 Interviewer: The time between ‘Is This It?’ and Vampire Weekend’s self-titled debut is 7 years – one was the beginning of something and one was the end of something.

LIZZY GOODMAN: You could imagine The Strokes debuting in 2008 but you could not imagine Vampire Weekend happening in 2001 because there is no Ezra brain without the internet.

Interviewer: When I interviewed Ezra for Spin, I became the most oldest man in the universe! I was so angry, I was like: ‘’how dare you go to an Ivy League school, be white and like Hip Hop’’ says the guy who went to an Ivy League school, was white and loved Hip Hop, but how dare you talk about it (so well) and have fluency in all these different worlds and jump between things and never break a sweat.

LG: He’s literally like ‘I don’t know what you mean?’

This is normal to a Millennial but to a Gen Xer that level of musical sophistication is unheard of because they didn’t have the access to everything ever recorded pooled together in one space that the internet is. This Age of Musical Plenty has freed people up from the rigid lock of genre and toward an eclectic palette which is also reflected in the music they make.

  BAND BY IT'S COVER

I LOVE ALBUM ART! (I'm also a keen linear notes reader *did you know there's a Grammy for best linear notes? musicians take note lol*) when done right they're great windows into the tone of the record inside. 'Days Are Gone' & 'Something To Tell You' are really cool to contrast.

'Days Are Gone' was the start of a huge career for the band. The album offered listeners a look into their sunny, romantic lives and the cover art too reflected HAIM's bright prospects. Seated in three fold-up chairs on a big green lawn (suburban kids) the heads of the HAIM sisters are turned to the left, eyes averted and covered in shades (future's so bright, I gotta wear shades)

They followed the Spice Girls’ template of being a charismatic group, whose individual styles all added to the bigger picture - their meshing of high street and storied, thrift store pieces gave them an indie rock relatability. They looked like regular joes with great personal style.

On the flip-side 'Something To Tell You' is the glam fulfillment of that promise. It's like a souped up version where the pastoral suburban LA setting of 'Days Are Gone' gives way to more traditional iconic rock images of LA interspersed with glam fashion editorial-like images and (my fav) the quirkier bold coloured zoot suit-y David Byrne-esque stuff.

  'Something To Tell You' is a clear step forward, artistically and career-wise. You can hear adventurous enthusiasm in how they approach every song and from the lyrics you get that too that the uncertainty that was a motif in a lot of the songs from their last LP is gone and not only do they finally know what they want from life but are racing towards it. Record #3 is going to be an exciting listen.

[calumcest]

okay listen i just do not vibe with hamburg. i've been there 3 times now and i wanted to like it so badly and i just can't. i can't even pinpoint why but i hate it. i agree on the munich thing! i've been there a few times but always only for a day and it seems to have such a nice atmosphere but then again the dialect kind of puts me off 😅 oh my god you grew up with kika? i have such a soft spot for it! it's the epitome of childhood for me and now i feel like i need to go to erfurt asap. (pt 1)

(pt 2) okay first of all please don't apologise this is so amazing to me i never get to talk about this! and hearing it from someone else is so so interesting and exciting for me bc most of my friends hate history with a passion. i say 'im westen' all the time so i relate to that a lot and there's definitely still a prejudice around (i mean mostly around people in my parents generation but it's still noticeable around my friends too)

(pt 3) and though i don't know if it's a me thing but i feel so strongly connected to the east that like the history of the brd doesn't really feel like mine? it's a bit hard to explain i'm sorry but that's one reason for why it's so fascinating to me (also have you ever seen a night time picture of berlin? you can see where the wall was bc the street lights are still different today)

(pt 4) and oh damn we do disagree about words a lot 😅 i get very passionate when it comes to the berliner/pfannkuchen debate.. (also ever heard the nutella discourse? that's just funny to me) i have to agree currywurst is just the fucking worst. oh god i can imagine.. i mean brexit was intense. also i saw this whole cumgate thing and like what the fuck.

(pt 5) well they did have some pretty sweet songs but not too extraordinary i think (not like scream iconic). but i might have to watch it again to make sure bc i watched it with my mum over the span of like 3 months so my recollection of the beginning is a bit hazy. i would love more conversations with god! one with ashton sounds great i'm interested in how their dynamic would be since the one between god and michael is so so great!! -spoiler twin (i am truly so sorry this got so long) 

honestly i dont blame u from what i remember (the smell of fish.) one of my friends was there on her year abroad last year and wasnt that keen on it either it was wild to see who like fell in love w the place they were living (aka me i miss dresden more than anything my lock screen is dresden thats how much i miss it) and people who hated it and couldnt wait to leave and YES omg i’ve lived in england my whole life (bar last year) but my dad also speaks german so my parents wanted me to learn it as a kid so i wasnt allowed to watch english tv i was allowed sandmännchen every night and sendung mit der maus on a sunday which i LOVED so much honestly i would still watch both of them kika had such good content 

REALLY?? omg please i would LOVE to talk about it it’s literally the area i’m studying for my masters and stuff! i just find postwar germany so interesting especially the gdr and especially the way you can see the divide still today? like even in little things like the landscape (lol i’m literally getting more and more german as i write i nearly just wrote landschaft) east german countryside looks very different still to west germany countryside which i noticed on some long ass train journeys from dresden to frankfurt is there anything that you personally still notice? 

i find that so interesting! do you mean the brd as it is today or west germany until 90? also do you associate yourself more w the bundesland (or berlin) or as a german? ive alwasy found that distinction really interesting too! i have actually omg it was my phone background for a few years when i was younger! it’s so fascinating god i miss berlin i haven’t been in like 7 months i need to go back 

ok firstly its a berliner a pfannkuchen is like a crepe i wont listen to people who call it an eierkuchen i dont like that all cakes have eggs in them so that is not descriptive enough and omg listen i have FEELINGS about the nutella discourse its fucking DIE i cannot handle it imagine trying to cut about saying ‘gib mir mal der nutella’ I CANNOT it sounds awful and it doesnt flow nicely die nutella is correct also i have beef with the fact that usa is ‘den’ usa like what is that. i don’t like it it should be die i’m going to infiltrate duden and change it 

GODDD i know uk politics is such a fucking mess like you know your country is bad when the afd doesn’t even feel that bad 

omg i might have to have a cheeky gander see if they have it online somewhere that i dont have to pay for disney+ because i am dead broke i also need to rewatch all the original movies especially hsm3 what a fucking banger of a film 

i actually really want to do one w michael ashton and god where michael and god have like their banter and ashtons kind of like ha ha...yes sir...because he doesn’t get god like michael does he’s too afraid 

[celticnoise]

Last night there was a meeting at Celtic Park between supporter’s club members and some of the senior staff at the club; Peter Lawwell, John Paul Taylor and Ronnie Hawthorn, our head of security. It was in response to a growing number of incidents involving our fans.

Whilst noting that there are problems at other clubs too, Celtic is concerned with the behaviour of our own supporters and the club has been preparing to act on that for a while, as this site has previously said. The throwing of a banger onto the pitch at Love Street accelerated a process that was already well underway. It cemented a growing conviction within Celtic that our club must act to curb these incidents before the issue is taken out of our hands.

Before I start, I have to say that the club is not blaming any one supporter organisation for these things.

Those who are quick to jump on The Green Brigade for every little thing have to be aware that they are not always at fault. Indeed, the club has established that the incident at Love Street had nothing all to do with our most famous fan group.

But their predilection for bringing flares and other pyrotechnics into the ground is still causing concern, and it was one of the topics covered last night, along with some of the other incidents, and the Love Street one in particular.

One subject came up which I think is worth talking about; the tendency for away fans not to sit in their seats. At away games lately, everyone stands, which isn’t just uncomfortable in a seated environment but might actually be dangerous as it prevents people moving back and forth in the rows. It also means that it’s difficult to tell who’s supposed to be sitting where, something that makes it occasionally hard to identify culprits when incidents occur.

This is one of the areas the club is especially concerned about.

.celtra-ad-host { min-width: calc(100% + 50%) !important; margin-left: 2px !important; transform-origin: top left; transform: scale3d(0.67,0.67,1); }

To solve it, one of the proposed solutions is for the club to take its own stewards to away games, as was custom and practice in the past, but this has been complicated by the fact that several clubs have refused to allow this. Tighter controls on who gets away tickets have been mooted as well, but this would be completely negated if people were still wandering freely.

Hearts announced yesterday that they would shut an entire section of their own ground for the last two games of the season; Celtic closed the standing section at the start of this one. This is something they won’t rule out repeating in future if the situation demands it. Hearts apologised for the inconvenience to fans who did nothing wrong; Celtic is monitoring that situation closely. They may well have to consider something similar.

A lot of interesting suggestions were made, such as an extended use of firework sniffing dogs and better policing outside the stadium. I know a lot of the delegates were concerned by recent Police Scotland statements, which they see as passing the buck. But more “defence in depth” – the extending of the police line beyond the current parameters – combined with a rigorous searching regimen as well as the dogs, might stop this problem even getting near grounds.

The fact is, Police Scotland hasn’t done enough about these things. They complain about stewarding and how they don’t want to be policing football grounds. Yet how many of their members would turn down the overtime? Not many, as we all know well.

If they believe trouble has originated in a certain part of the stands there’s nothing to stop them, and stewards, from putting a ring around that area and at full time detaining those in it until everyone’s been ID’d. There are a lot of things they could be doing better; instead they want to pass the buck to the clubs.

Celtic isn’t happy with their “contribution.”

The key thing here is supporter safety, and to that end we can expect a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of pyrotechnics in enclosed spaces. I mentioned UEFA’s report in an earlier article; expect that to be a key component in the campaign to come. It is beyond dispute that flares and smoke bombs present a danger to nearby fans; anyone who denies it is simply not being honest, either with other Celtic fans or themselves.

Celtic wants these practices to stop. They are serious.

The awareness raising is only the first step towards doing it. If that fails, then they will get tough and nobody should doubt their resolve.

The club will not be held accountable when a serious accident injures someone.

They will not have the ground’s safety certificate put at risk for any reason.

If it means shutting sections of stands they will do it. If it means bringing in additional stewards and telling them to crack down, then they will. If it means more gates outside the ground, and long delays whilst people are searched, if it means sniffer dogs then Celtic will do whatever it takes.

Today Neil has backed Hearts’ tough stance; this is a sure sign that our club favours the action the Edinburgh club has undertaken. Ann Budge will get a lot of credit for what she’s done, but actually Celtic has been contemplating serious action on these matters since the season began, and we were likely to ramp it up over the summer months anyway.

Anyone who thinks we’ve been lax on this stuff hasn’t been paying attention; this site has warned of Celtic’s resolve on these matters time and again.

At the heart of all of it is a fear – a very real fear – that if football doesn’t get its own house in order that the Scottish Government will. Celtic opposes Strict Liability whoever implements it. The SFA won’t be allowed that power for reasons that are all too obvious, and we’ve already seen what Holyrood intends to do; they seem more worried about re-imposing an illiberal ban on songs than they are about any of the more serious matters.

Granted, there are exceptions; the much maligned John Dornan actually does care about eradicating sectarianism and anti-social behaviour. But there are others who simply want Offensive Behaviour At Football Act Part II, and they will use every incident in the stands to promote that cause.

Celtic is gravely concerned about the way the political wind is blowing.

Last night’s meeting broke up without any definite measures being agreed, but the club is determined to take forward the discussions from it and to form a policy from them. There will certainly be a well-co-ordinated campaign to educate fans about the dangers of flares, but what the club does beyond that will depend on the co-operation they get from Police Scotland and, of course, the fans. Drastic measures are no longer out of the question though.

When you loaded this piece you might have seen an option to get notifications; please subscribe to make sure that you never miss an important article again.

You can discuss this and and all the other stories by signing up at the Celtic Noise forum at the above link. This site is one of the three that has pushed for the forum and we urge all this blog’s readers to join it. Show your support for real change in Scottish football, by adding your voice to the debate.

http://bit.ly/2KyXem3