#I like the concept for this one because lighting is important for stage performance

[fly-sky-high-arts]

Could I suggest a design based off of the spotted lanternfly?

I'm not able to buy designs at the moment, so feel free to put it up as an adopt if you wish!

The Lantern Keeper

No performance goes without the lights illuminating the stage: or, in this case, the flames!

The keeper ensures there is neither too much or too little light present so the viewers may experience the atmosphere of the troupe tent in the best intended ways. The little fire lumaflies dance around the keeper, follow the instructions, rest and charge at the lanters and cast the fire and light at the command. The keeper is never without them or at least a single lantern.

---

Link to the ko-fi in the reblog!

[lhrry]

x

[kozykricket]

Lets talk mob votes

Now, there are a lot of things in minecraft that I hear people complain about, and I think theres some fair critiques of the game to be made! There's even fair critique to be made about the mob votes, too! But... I'm here to give a clearer perspective on what mob votes really are, as most people seem to misunderstand their context and the actual premise of them... which is somewhat mojangs fault, I'll admit. I stand by critique being welcome as long as you are making informed critique. I'd argue being informed is more important than being constructive / offering alternatives! So lets get to the informing. You might be thinking that its obvious what the mob votes are. Mojang takes like, 3 cool mob concepts that they have, and make us pick only one. They make us vote, and only add the winner. That's a surface level understanding. The simplest part to debunk is a notion that I see often: that Mojang has these mobs entirely designed and planned out. I said concepts but most people don't seem to understand that these are just concepts, they aren't fully fleshed out. They want to know which ones the players like, so that they aren't spending time developing a mob that people don't care much for. They prefer to add what will make people happy! But... what about cases like the allay? It was designed far more deeply than the other mobs in the vote, which I will say was quite unfair. Well, okay, lets just... pretend they did a vote between 3 well-designed mobs. "Why not just add all 3?" people might say. They still... I... I don't think people understand that Mojang operates on a schedule, and tries to balance what they work on - minecraft is a game with a lot of different elements, and none should take the center stage above any other one. It isn't just their job to add mobs. If it was their job to add mobs and they only added like, 1 or 2 mobs a year, then yeah, it'd be really stupid. Though, I suppose my real point is that... if a mob works out good enough to be in their plans, it won't be in a vote. They won't just have a vote where they'll add all 3 because all 3 aren't necessary and they aren't reasonable. Lets take 1.20 for example. They spent time adding new mechanics for detecting where you click on a block for chiseled bookshelves, they gave both the camel and the sniffer fancy animations using the new keyframe system, and armor trims have a very fancy customizable system that makes adding more very easy! They changed up some things in the lighting engine, they're always doing under the hood changes. It's never a choice of "do performance fixes" or "add new content" because they... do both all the time! It's just that it usually yields a net zero. But that's a tangent Point is, yes they can indeed add all 3, but that would take away from the time they have to spend on the update. Mojang is a company that generally tries to avoid crunch, and has summer holidays. I am a supporter of healthy development environments, so I don't mind this. It means that things may take longer, but like. Do we really need all the mobs? Again, if they consider the mob important enough, it won't be in a vote. The vote is just like (Well, d'ya ever take time to think about what its like being at mojang? I bet ideas like the glare or copper golem are thrown around all the time, ideas echoing through the hallways... we only get to see just a few of them. So y'know, you can take that logic and say. well. they probably have WAAAY more than just 3 mobs that a few devs want to add, but they can't feasibly add all those mobs. So they of course just pick a few. 3 or 4. They develop those mobs in a basic level beyond initial concepts, and let the players pick between their little fun ideas. I'd bet that their best ideas are probably not put up into votes. They probably keep those ones locked down and prepare them for further design.) I bet they just... well. continue'd in self-reblog. Char limit-

[slowflowa]

I’m making a list of light novel I’ve heard, and if anybody has a recommendation please leave it here

LIGHT NOVEL

✓ Genius of a Performing Arts High [ch104] Hiatus.

Summary: After 10 years of dedicating his life to opera ever since he had quit the performing arts high school, he had failed at an interview. Losing his motivations, Jo Yunjae depended on alcohol to live out his days until one day, he had been sent back 20 years in time, to the day before his high school admission.

The reason for his time travel nor the terrible condition his body was in did not matter to him. The one and only, most important thing was that he could still sing, not as the previous baritone but as a long-coveted tenor.

Oh this one has a lot of musical jargons, but you could learned to ignore some of them or perhaps searched up each meaning. But this one is quite unique considering it focuses upon Opera as a theme, although apparently there’s a harem tag (but the mc isn’t really aware of it, more like he sees the others in a fatherly way of sort). It hasn’t been updated for 2 years and currently it’s status is in Hiatus. There is no Manhwa adaptation for it.

✓ If I Fail to Debut I'll Get A Killer Disease [ch423/505]

Summary: A 4th-year student who was preparing for the Civil Service examination, suddenly found himself in an unfamiliar body 3 years ago. As well as a status window displaying a threat in front of his eyes! [Outbreak!] [Status Abnormality: ‘Debut or Death’ Occurs!]

A diary about the transformation of the main character, who was suddenly challenged to be an idol even though he has never been in the industry before due to sudden threat of death. ※Speciality: He used to take and sell idol’s data.

The translation I’ve found only stopped until there. I’ve been patiently waiting for updates and it has been a month since the last one! The plot has a lot of twist on the classic idol take. Currently there’s a newly Manhwa adaptation for it but it’s only in the early stage of 17 chapters or so. If you would like to check it out, the Manhwa name is a bit different from the novel but the sentiment remains the same “Debut or Die”

✓ Superstars of Tomorrow [ch507] Complete.

Summary: Well-known Composer Fang Zhao was in the glorious stage of his career, when the Apocalypse arrived; After finally experiencing the bitter difficulties of a thousand dangers, when the Apocalypse was simmering down to an end, he collapsed; When he opened his eyes, he was reborn in a New World, 500 years after the end of the apocalypse, in the body of a student who had been dumped barely after graduation, who had been cheated of his hard work barely after he started working…

The World of the Future, Virtual Idols PK Real Idols

“Every time background music plays in my head, I feel like there is nothing to be afraid of.” —Fang Zhao

As recently stated, this one has been completed. And there is still no manhua adaptation of it to this day. I enjoy this novel thoroughly, the ride was wild and full of humour! Although the journey started through the works of virtual idol, it doesn’t necessarily confined only there because there’s still the fields of music, gaming, acting, history and military arcs that MC would dominate in would also bring such enjoyment!

✓ Losing Money To Be A Tycoon [ch1670] Complete.

Summary: I really just want to lose money! T_T

Best boss ever, prodigy of the business world, genius creator, visionary of the century.

These are the descriptions used for Pei Qian, President of Tengda Corporation.

Ever since his rebirth, Pei Qian finds himself in possession of a system that rewards him if he manages to lose money.

Instantly, a brilliant idea comes to mind — making crappy games!

“If the game flops, all my investment cost will be lost!”

“How difficult can it be to lose money?”

Indeed… how difficult can it be?

This was an enjoyable ride. I cherished every moment of each chapter I was reading for the entire week. I actually like the concept where they expanded more on the storyline idea of a supposed script for a film or a layout plot for a game because it’s always makes me invested in it and makes me feel like in the shoes of others and what they’re witnessing, the kind of content they’re consuming by the detailed description that I could almost imagine how it would be like. The last couple of chapters makes me so emotional, like this is what it builds up to and the realisation and the decision chosen is just “growth”. There was a manhua adaption of it but it contains rather few chapters from what I’ve heard… I might read it as well as soon as it accumulates more chapters to be read to truly see it all in action, illustrations.

[fy-wonwoo]

[eng trans] seventeen for vivi mag japan – wonwoo

TMI interview (©)

q: if you were to choose a punishment game, what would you choose? a. extremely spicy food b. bungee jumping c. haunted house ww: for me, i think all three would be fun. so i don’t think it’ll be a punishment game.

q: what do you concern yourself with the most clothing, eating/food and living space? ww: for me, i think it’s the interior (of my living space). if it isn’t stable or comfortable, it affects my performance negatively.

q: what’s a hobby you love nowadays? ww: on youtube, i watch videos of games, fashion and cats.

—ฅ/ᐠ. ̫ .ᐟ\ฅ —

ww: even though i’m in charge of rapping in seventeen, i can also write lyrics, i’m good at singing and dancing, and i can also play the guitar. the thought of “i can do anything” may be my biggest weapon (laughs). however, i am not complete/perfect as i am now, and i believe i can continue to become cooler moving on. because i’m less talktive compared to my members, it’s easy for me to come off as cool/indifferent, but i am actually someone who loves working and positively enjoys every passing day. a major reason why i can be stable mentally is that through writing lyrics, not only can i express my posivity, but i can also outboot feelings of frustration and stress into words. if you look at the notes (regarding lyrics), it’s fun to search for the right execution and expression fit for seventeen. i have 12 friends giving me all kind of inspiration everyday, so i don’t find myself getting sick of it. everyday is sincerely exciting and fun. even though we were able to focus on the work right in front of me. i only have thoughts of wanting to succed in all of the rojets we have set in japan. during our stay, i hope we earn more fans. (©)

—ฅ/ᐠ. ̫ .ᐟ\ฅ —

"during the light testing, wonwoo & mingyu showed off perfect poses that almost had the onsite staff to the point of screaming & cheering. the photo booth styled cut-and-paste photos were made of poses that came from their interactions, presenting us with the best collaboration."  (©)

—ฅ/ᐠ. ̫ .ᐟ\ฅ —

wonwoo & mingyu interview  (©)

wonwoo to mingyu: “thank you for your love that doesn’t make me feel lonely”

ww: my relationship with mingyu is very good mg: (it’s) because we usually have a lot of conversations between the two of us

ww: when i go to the bathroom after practice, mingyu waits for me until im done. mg: ah embarrassing! that’s a secret! (laughs) ww: he’s a reliable presence that reassures me just by being together. im always grateful. mg: i’d say the same thing back to you. really, thank you always.

mg: even when i’m busy and exhausted from work, i receive a lot of positive energy from (gentle) wonwoo it’s like the feeling of “thank you for your existence.” ww: i’m of the same mind as well.

mg: we’re living together, and wonwoo cooks for us sometimes, so it saves us the trouble of ordering food, which is nice. the ramen he makes is really good. ww: [the food] is not at a level that you can consider it cooking. (laughs)

—ฅ/ᐠ. ̫ .ᐟ\ฅ —

wonwoo questionnaire  (©)

q: if you could take one person to a dessert island, who would it be? a: jeonghan

q: a member that you want to style from head to toe? a: jun

q: on the contrary, a member that you want to ask for styling? a: joshua

q: if you lived as someone else for a day? a: vernon

q: a member you want to travel with? a: dk

q: a member that likes children the most? a: seungkwan

q: who do you want to go on a drive with? a: vernon

q: a person who answers kakaotalk the slowest? a: woozi

q: a member who is the most sensitive to trends? a: the8

—ฅ/ᐠ. ̫ .ᐟ\ฅ —

“talking about our team” interview cut (©)

seventeen’s charms stand out in live performances, what do you care about the most during live (stages)? ww: i am also the same way (as minghao). the concept of the song and the appeal of the lyrics are the most important thing. your face shouldn’t be happy during a sad song, your face shouldn’t be sad during a happy song. letting go of distractions and focusing on the performance is the most important thing.

what is the point of focus for this live (performance)? ww: of course it’s hoping that the (1st japanese ep) DREAM gets attention. the dome tour is a dream to us. i’d like to perform with (feelings of) appreciation and love for carats whoo helped us achieve this dream.

what role do you play when the other members are making decisions within the group? ww: i’m usually a listener. the discussion rarely veers in direction completely different from my own. in the case of disagreements, we go with the majority. this is the fairest approach. in the end, wether or not your opinion is accepted, there won’t be any hard feelings.

when do you feel like having 13 members is great? ww: when we’re on vacation, those who enjoy exercising can go to the gym together, those who want to go to a cafe can go to a cafe together, and there are some who go watch a sports march together. it is because we have so many members that no matter who you’re with, there’s someone with a common interest.

[cordrazine-official]

🔀 Ro Laren/Kasidy Yates, Keiko O'Brien/Garak, Lenara Kahn/Kira Nerys, Jadzia/Worf/Deanna/Riker, Geordi LaForge/Julian Bashir/Ben Sisko, Lwaxana Troi/Senator Cretak, Jil Orra/Ziyal

(send me a 🔀 and a pairing, and i’ll shuffle my playlist and make an AU based on the first song that comes up)

Ro Laren/Kasidy Yates

Okay so I got Like A Prayer by Madonna & my first thought was Dance Movie AU - you know, those 80s dance movies like Footloose or Flashdance or the like. But I’m gonna tweak this concept & go with Dance AU, as in, the story is contained in a dance performance. (I hope this isn’t considered cheating.) I just think it would be really cool to have Ro & Kasidy each stand in a cone of light on an otherwise dark stage, separated by nothing but the darkness between them, during the intro & the first stanza (“Life is a mystery / Everyone must stand alone / I hear you call my name / And it feels like home”); especially on “I hear you call my name”, instead of having them look for each other, it would be an inward search, something they’d hold within themselves. And then, when the music starts, the light changes & so does the mood: they find each other, maybe a little hesitant at first because of what happened before, where they each were, and with each step they find themselves reaching for the other a little more easily. “Let the choir sing” has an obligatory curtain rise to reveal - you guessed it - a choir, but perhaps the choir is dressed in trek civilian clothing instead of uniforms, & perhaps you’ve got Bajorans & Humans & Klingons & other aliens in the choir - & background dancers come in, & it’s one group but for some steps they divide into two groups & assemble behind Ro & Kasidy, & it’s important that there’s always a fluidity between those groups (never the same divide, & even during the divides people move from one to the other). On the second “Life is a mystery / Everyone must stand alone”, everyone IS standing alone but everybody is dancing the same choreography. The choir then joins everybody on stage & merges with the dancers in a giant blending of singing & dancing & alone & together & light & dark (I’m not knowledgeable enough about stage lighting & I’m not fond of stroboscopic lights but I’m sure there’s something to be done here) & then you get a big 80s finale with confetti falling from the ceiling & a literal crowd on stage & Ro & Kasidy in a prominent position finding themselves close to each other but still not quite touching, never quite touching - but that’s not where the connection is made, baby!

Keiko O'Brien/Garak

Smalltown Boy by Orville Peck. Truckers AU. They both spend days on end driving through the country with nothing to do but look at the road, listen to the news & smoke cigarette after cigarette with the windows open. They both like to say that you get used to being your only company but the truth is that they both yearn for someone to distract them from themselves; the only difference being, Keiko wants someone to share this with while Garak isn’t really looking for connection, he just wants a distraction. One night Keiko stops at a lonely truck stop in the middle of nowhere, not because she wants to but because she doesn’t have a choice - it’s too late to keep going & she’s out of food & anyway, she needs to get out of her truck for a while. She sits down at the shitty bar & orders a soda & at first she barely notices the man sitting three stools from her, nursing something that may or may not be a little too strong if he’s planning on driving on tonight.

They’re on the phone often after that, & there’s something about this guy that creeps Keiko out but he’s also kind of pathetic & so she figures that as long as she’s careful there’s no harm in chatting to some old guy while she’s driving - it’s good for her, too. It’s the road that ties them together & they sometimes meet up when they’re in the same area, though they never make any extra effort to. The sex they sometimes have is meh for both but sometimes that’s really just what they need & it’s fine. He (somehow) finds out what her birthday is & gifts her an accessory for her truck, so she gifts him something in return the next time they see each other & tells him that it’s for his birthday, since he must have one too.

After a while they know each other’s coffee order by heart, & what parking space the other likes best, & at what time best to call. They’re not dating, they’re not friends, they’re not fuckbuddies - they’re something else, but they never give it a name. Garak has Keiko’s name saved under “Keiko”. Keiko has Garak’s name saved under “Old Guy From Trucksto”. It’s nice to know there’s someone out there who knows you’re on the road.

Lenara Kahn/Kira Nerys

Sanremo by MIKA - which is complicated by the fact that this is my number one Jadzia/Julian BJ Besties song, so let’s see what I can come up with.

Coastal paddle boat rental owner!Kira/recent divorcee vacationist!Lenara. Kira owns a paddle boat rental shack on a promenade along a big touristy lake & she works ungodly hours during the summer. In comes recent divorcee Lenara, here on a three-week vacation after finally finalising a really bad divorce: she desperately needs to relax & think of something else & she’s renting a small vacation home up in the hills. She has coffee on the promenade every morning & every morning she walks by that little shack that says “rent a paddle boat here 30 minutes 10 euro 1 hour 15 euro” & the neat row of six, sometimes less, paddle boats bobbing up against the wooden dock. One day she spots a lady in cargo shorts & t-shirt walking from boat to boat, checking up on them, & she moves to a cafe closer to the shack. It takes her a week of spying (& she feels bad for doing it but she can’t stop) until she acknowledges to herself that there’s something happening here; a few more days until she decides to rent one of those small boats for a ride. The lady from the rental shed is very nice & soon Lenara is in the middle of the water, waves lapping at her paddle boat, & it’s been a while since she’s felt so light & unburdened. She’s back at the dock five minutes early & she’s happy when it makes the lady smile.

Lenara extends her vacation. Suddenly she’s not interested in the museums & old churches & landmarks anymore: all she wants is that feeling of freedom she tasted on that paddle boat, & she feels silly when she thinks this but who cares? She can do what she wants. She rents a paddle boat every day now, mostly in the afternoon, sometimes in the late morning, once in the morning right when the lady opens the shack (& she wasn’t too happy about that, Lenara could tell & she felt guilty for not thinking of it). She takes her bathing suit & goes for a swim & stays close to the ladder to make sure the boat doesn’t drift off without her; she soaks in the sun afterwards, listening to the seagulls & the laughter the wind sometimes carries out to her.

Her eyes are closed, & so she doesn’t notice that the lady from the boat rental shack looks over to her paddle boat much more often than she does any other.

Jadzia/Worf/Deanna/Riker

Nuit 17 à 52 by Christine & the Queens. Public Transport AU, if that’s a thing - if not, it is now. What I’m seeing is basically the metro in a big city & people together in a packed train, the connections that can be made there, however small. Whoever has had to commute on public transport for an extended period of time remembers some of the people they spoke with, even if it was a short interaction, even if there were no words at all. Jadzia, Worf, Deanna & Riker are all regulars on the same metro line - perhaps one of them is even a train driver, & the other three get on the train at different stops but they all leave the train at the last stop, & they all take the same train in the evening to get home from work. & so it’s already been years that every night, all four of them have unknowingly been in the same place at the same time: that train platform. Maybe Jadzia & Deanna strike up a conversation at some point, or maybe Jadzia slips her number to Worf one day, or maybe Deanna proposes to Riker over the announcement system - somehow connections form between them, & from that train platform rises something that can exist outside of the underground.

Geordi LaForge/Julian Bashir/Ben Sisko

Saddle Up by David Christie, which… I can explain. But not now. Now, we are talking about Tap Dance Class AU. Geordi LaForge, who’s been certified to teach by the American Tap Dance Foundation, teaches a class in the neighbourhood. Ben Sisko, whose son has recently left for college, is looking for a new hobby & figures that giving tap dancing a go won’t hurt (plus he’s always wanted a pair of tap dancing shoes & this is the perfect excuse to invest); Julian Bashir, who has a background in ballet & wants to diversify, signs up as soon as he’s made sure that his work schedule will permit him to attend regularly. He & Ben strike up a conversation before the first lesson, as they’re trying to fit into their new tap shoes - & then they walk into the studio only to be greeted by their handsome new tap dance teacher. Both of them congratulate themselves for choosing this class & proceed to attend every class, despite muscle pains & last-minute work schedule changes; Geordi takes an interest in those two very motivated students. It’s all very chill, there’s no county competitions or anything. Maybe there’s a piano in the studio & Ben starts playing for Geordi & Julian after the class is over…

Lwaxana Troi/Senator Cretak

Losing My Mind by Liza Minnelli - Former Hollywood Star AU. Cretak had a small moment of fame when she was younger but it disappeared as quickly as it came & now she’s living a mostly normal life. Her true love is her motorcycle, which she rides out every weekend sort of aimlessly in the hills on the outskirts of the city. She’s got a job she’s not immensely fond of but it could be worse, & it pays the bills. One night - it’s a Saturday & she’s been driving longer than usual - she ends up in a lesbian bar; it’s early, she’s the only patron & she’s not sure if they’re even really open yet, & she’s kind of pathetically nursing a whiskey coke when suddenly the lights change & music starts, & someone gets up on the stage & starts singing, & Cretak realises that they’re doing soundchecks for the show later tonight. Why the hell did they let her order when it’s still this early? She tries to tune out the singing but halfway into the second stanza she recognises the voice from another life, far in her past: it’s the voice of one Lwaxana Troi, who got her big shot at fame around the time Cretak did & who didn’t make it, either. They’d had a thing, back then, a thing Cretak had tried to forget because she’d been left raw & exposed after it had ended, & why is the room so small & the music so loud? But she can’t leave, she can’t do anything but listen to Lwaxana rehearsing her show & try not to be seen - but if there’s one thing Lwaxana won’t let you do, it’s slip away unnoticed.

Jil Orra/Ziyal

Starry Eyes by Cigarettes After Sex. Neighbours AU - as in, they live next door to each other in crappy flats (as in, mould, mice, insects, etc.). They’re both trying very hard to move out: they’re both taking evening classes & working two jobs to save up for something better. They meet on the corridor & from then on they help each other out (“hi, sorry, do you have some eggs I could borrow”; “hey, could I use your phone charger, mine just broke”) & band together to fend off the mice & insects & landlord. They start cooking for each other, taking meals together (on the roof maybe, & it’s a roof like they have on Gossip Girl) & spending time together in general. Neither of them is very close to their family and they bond over that among other things (after all they do live under the same room, sort of) & one day, after one landlord issue too many, they decide that maybe, if they shared the rent, they might be able to afford a better flat together…

[nyappyforeverbr]

【Interview】Miku (An Cafe) × ClubZy ONLINE │Part #1

In February of that year, 2023, Miku was interviewed by the ClubZy Online team. ClubZy is a Japanese magazine specializing in visual-kei artists managed by Visual-kei Oyaji/Seiichi Hoshiko. The editor in chief of the magazine is Hakuei (Penicillin).

To access the interview, it was necessary to pay a contribution/subscription fee on the ClubZy no Nico channel (Japanese live broadcast platform), Cafekko Sara signed and sent us the interview!

After starting their hiatus in January 2019, AN CAFE made a 'live comeback' at [OSAKA MUSE 35th Anniversary Event “OUR CANVAS”] held last June/2022. After such a surprise, they celebrated their 20th anniversary this year by performing at Zepp Haneda on January 5th and 6th, 2023. In addition, it was also announced that they will be performing live in Tokyo and Osaka in August this year, surely many readers are creating expectations for the full resumption of activities. We caught up with Miku (Vo.) to talk about An Cafe's past, present and future!

Interview: Takayuki Murakami Photo: Susumu Miyawaki

- On January 5th and 6th, you got together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Reiwa from First NYAPPY o(≧∀≦)o” at Zepp Haneda. Miku: The reason why we decided to do this live was because the members reunited before the 20th anniversary. When we went out to eat, everyone probably had the word “20th anniversary” flashing in their heads, but no matter what they did, they couldn't say “Let's do this together” to each other. We talked privately, but we didn't talk about An Cafe. I totally understand that feeling. I didn't leave because I wanted to, so remembering that makes me sad. I wonder if the others felt embarrassed. So, although not everyone mentioned it, last June there was an anniversary event for Osaka MUSE, An Cafe was invited. I got a message from the team about what it was going to look like, and right away I thought, "Oh! I can see some light." After talking with Teruki, he summoned the members. Everyone kindly agreed to do a live in June. And that. We started talking about doing a 20th birthday and we made it happen in January.

- Osaka MUSE's anniversary event was held at the ideal time. This time the title was "First NYAPPY o(≧∀≦)o in Reiwa". What was the concept?

Miku: The concept might have been different for everyone... No, it's the same. I wonder if it was. Anyway, to satisfy the fans, I did my best by delivering the best live with the feeling of thinking it's an important date. That's why we had fun, more than that, I had a strong desire to make the audience have fun.

-Was the set list also decided with that in mind?

Miku: For the set list, first of all, we have about 140 songs if you align them with Excel. So I surprised myself by saying, “Wow, there are so many songs!” Like (laughs). All songs are important to me, but from there I chose the most important ones. There were still about 50 songs left, that's right. I thought this was not applicable but this time it was 2 days wasn't it? 2 days of An Cafe. Generally, we only change a few songs in streams for days in a row. But this time, for the first time, I changed the songs almost completely. Thanks to that, I was able to include more.

-The fans were happy to be able to listen to several songs. In other words, Miku thought of the set list by himself, was that it?

Miku: Yes. If I “decided” and suggested it to everyone; they accepted my proposal.

-After all, everyone was looking at the same goal. So what did you feel when you performed live?

Miku: It's still a dream, and it really is like a dream. I can not explain. It was very funny. It was extraordinary, it's like a dream, still.

-There are many things I thought about after watching the show. I felt strongly that An Cafe's live performance was extraordinary.

Miku: The extraordinary space is the synergy between the band and the audience. Members are what make An Cafe great. Honestly, I don't think I'm good, but when I go on stage I can shine. Fans too, when everyone comes together, everyone can shine. A special space is created. Therefore, our role as an artist is to give our fans dreams, but they also make us dream. I feel like I'm being taken care of.

-Certainly, the audience's reaction was beautiful, and the live atmosphere, the feeling was excellent. And during An Cafe's concert there are many attractive parts, first of all, the music is good, the melody has a sparkle. It's amazing how exciting it is.

Miku: I'm glad you realize that. Maybe it's because I'm a shadow. I have a very sociable personality and I really like folk songs. Usually, the members compose the songs, but I'm the one who decides the melody line myself. That's why, while it's bright and poppy, it's also full of melancholy. I feel like we managed to convey that in the song.

-If the melody is lively, bright or heavy, I feel it is in good taste.

Miku: I think the reason why we like visual-kei is that it has some shadows and is dark. I think the members really prefer dark songs. But An Cafe has the image of a brilliant band, doesn't it? It's about trying to reconcile the band's image with our tastes, and even if we want to do something brilliant, there will be some minor tastes.

-It's hard to mix light and dark well, but An Cafe is good at it. In addition to being able to enjoy many high quality songs, I thought it was good to have a place to show the instrumental formation, which is typical of the band.

Miku: In An Cafe, there is a section that focuses on the musical ensemble called "Etcetera", and I think this is a very important scene in live performance. So I definitely wanted to do that this time around, so I included it in the set list.

-That is great. Do you leave the etcetera content to the instrument team?

Miku: Yes. I think Teruki is the main and leading actor. I usually don't participate. When I entered the studio, they said, "Miku-kun, it's okay if you're late."

-The default is to come into the studio later, see what you think and give the OK.

Miku: No, it's like watching for the first time during the live.

-What? Don't you check in the studio?

Miku: They don't (laughs). I try to snoop around during the final rehearsal which is held on stage, but after the studio rehearsals they only do the actual performance. So I don't know what they're going to do until the day of the show (laughs). But etcetera's content is always good, and I trust all the members.

-It's also nice to see Miku leaving the stage when Etcetera enters. Without appealing to the public by saying, "I'm going to be gone for a while", I could feel the importance of the members from the fact that they were gone so quickly.

Miku: That was good (laughs). I have no problem leaving the stage. I've been doing this since we started doing etcetera. ~ x ~

to be continued...

[erabundus]

@ruinlost &&. said... ❛ we can be your family. ,you get two cool brothers-❜ farrow @ the modern verse !

❝  m'not  crying.  ❞  the  boy  insists  —  though  his  red  eyes  and  trembling  voice  tell  a  different  story.  there's  a  newspaper  clutched  between both  hands,  text  smudged  slightly  by  droplets  of  moisture.  even  so,  the  name  emblazoned  across  the  front  is  DISGUSTINGLY  familiar.  a  rising  star.  a  prodigy  on  the  stage.  beneath  the  title  is  a  photograph.  the  grayscale  doesn't  properly  convey  the  extravagance  of  his  outfit;  it  all  blurs  together,  some  indecipherable  mass  of  patterns  and  tones.  there  are  petals  strewn  about,  gone  blurry  around  the  edges  with  movement,  and  in  his  hands  he  cradles  a  bouquet.  it's  a  little  funny;  he's  smiling.  it's  a  little  funny  because  he  knows  what  kind  of  bitter  thoughts  swirl  behind  that  CHEERFUL  seeming  expression.  it's  all  fake.  it's  all  a  lie.  he's  just  reflecting  what  he  thinks  everyone  wants  to  see  —  maybe  then,  maybe  if  he's  perfect,  someone  will  actually  start  to  CARE.

❝  i  told  her  what  day  the  performance  was  on.  she  knew  it  was  important.  she  had  to  know.  ❞  ren  scrubs  at  his  face  with  the  back  of  his  hand.  a  tremor  runs  through  his  frame  anew  as  he  mutters,  ❝  why ...  why  does  everything  else  always  come  before  me?  why  is  she  always  so  busy?  why  am  i  never  GOOD  enough?  ❞  he  punctuates  the  question  by  crumpling  the  paper  in  his  hand  and  throwing  it  —  though  its  light  weight  doesn't  afford  it  much  distance.  back  pressing  to  the  wall,  ren then  slides  to  the  ground.  he's  glad  they're  the  only  ones  who  really  frequent  this  corner  of  the  rec  center;  he  doesn't  want  anyone  else  to  SEE  HIM  like  this.  (  pathetic.  ugly.  flawed.  )   ❝  i  just  want  her  to  remember  i  exist.  ❞ he mutters, burying his face in his knees. ❝ and act like she's my mom ...  ❞

but  that's  entirely  the  PROBLEM,  isn't  it?  it's  almost  like  she  doesn't  want  to.  he's  old  enough  to  recognize  the  way  she  looks  at  him  —  as  if  he's  something  PAINFUL  to  stare  at.  he  doesn't  understand.  why  was  he  even  born  if  his  own  parent  can't  stand  having  him  around?

we  can  be  your  family.  ❝  ...  ❞  and  slowly,  slowly  ren  looks  up  at  farrow's  response.  there  are  tears  streaming  down  his  face  anew.  there's  a  pathetic  sniffle,  and  another  ill-fated  effort  to  wipe  them  away.  ❝  you  can  do  that?  ❞  he  asks,  genuine  confusion  filling  his  voice  —  as  if  it's  a  completely  new  concept.  a  slow  blink.  then,  tilting  his  head,  ❝  do  you ...  really  want  to?  ❞  he  doesn't  even  know  what  that  would  realistically  entail  —  only  that  he  wants  nothing  more  than  to  say  yes.  (  hear  yes  in  return.  )

someone. anyone. please care about him. please care about him. please care about him.

ANGST SENTENCE STARTERS

[naniwa-archive]

Potato (November Issue'22)

Naniwa Danshi's Solo Series

Vol. 3

Nishihata Daigo's front and back

Nishihata has a strong image of being the "mediator” within Naniwa Danshi. Although he often stands in the center, Nishihata's true charm is within his modest and calm words that are not embellished.

Q. The concept for the magazine cover, I want you to see this side of me!

The reason I wanted to shoot with a car is because I like driving. The theme is "the president's son"... which is a joke (laughs). I would be happy if you would fantasize about a drive lunch date with Nishihata ♪

Q. If you could go back to the Jr. era, when would it be?

It's not like I did not like my Jr. era. While I am moving forward like this, I simply never thought about returning to the past. I don’t think back about my Jr. era much but… If I had to pick one, it would be the time when I was in my third year of junior high school when I had become a junior. That was when I wasn’t willing to be there, thus I took the lessons carelessly. Moreover, as that continued for a year or two, it was a huge waste of time. If I could go back to that time, I would like to do my lessons properly and have Johnny-san say, "that kid is good" (laughs). I don't want to change anything, I just want to be praised by Johnny-san. Besides, if you're going to have to do the lessons anyway, having fun while doing them is the way to go, that way it's a win-win situation. I have come to understand that after becoming an adult.

Q. Since debut, what has changed the most? My eyes hurt (laughs). Since I debuted, there has been an increase in “bright things” around me, to the point that I was almost blinded by that brightness. For example, the camera's flash. I used to do magazine shoots as a Jr. too, but the number of opportunities to be in the front and the number of flashes has increased overwhelmingly. If it's not just my imagination, I wonder if the cameras’ flash becomes brighter after debut (laughs). Also the concert's spotlight. I have been doing live performances since I was a junior, but the intensity of the lights seem to be different. I don't know if that's a thing, but the intensity I feel is definitely stronger than that of before. If it keeps on being like this then I'm afraid that my eyes will really give up, that's why I wear my regular glasses with a light tint on them. It's not because I'm getting carried away (laughs), it's really just to protect my eyes!

Q. What about the front and back of your public image?

The thing that I am often told is "you are 25 years old...". It's probably simply because I have a baby face, but it's unlikely that people see me as 25 years old at first glance. It has been like that for a long time, and now since my debut it probably has increased a lot more as my image of a sparkling idol has become stronger. I don’t dislike being seen as younger. As it's important to have people remember me. It's okay to have an image, and it's even better if people are surprised by the gap and thus have a lasting impression of me. That being said, I don't think I'm going to particularly force myself to stay young. After all, it's what's inside that matters. Some days I'm an old man, and some days I'm like a 3-year-old child. I don't know my age (laughs). I don't have any hesitation or fear about getting older… But, I think that there's a part of me who wants to stay in his 20s even for a little while (laughs).

Q. When is the moment when you can be truly yourself?

Usually, whenever I step out of the house, I think that I'm careful to some extent. The challenge is to see how well I can blend in the city, and I can't let your guard down. Of course, I don't think of myself as that much of a popular celebrity, but I usually just don't want to be noticed when I'm by myself in private. I'll do my best when I'm out on the stage, that's why I want you to leave me alone backstage. Having this balance is really difficult. That being the case, I'm completely relaxed when I'm at my home or when I'm with the members or friends. At that time, I'm always flabby (laughs). I can't think of any other words to describe that, it's the perfect word for me. I feel like a balloon that's being deflated. As for my appearance, when I am not stepping outside the house I wear a T-Shirt with no underwear and steteco (loose shorts) (laughs). It's something that's limited within my house but I won't change into something else even if the members and friends come over.

Q. What was the words from "Nanifam" that made you happy?

I appreciate any words from them. Even if it's not something positive, because I believe that every person has a different image and way of viewing things. It's impossible to be liked by everyone in the world, so I'm grateful to be able to hear different opinions of different people. Amongst everything, one thing that has left an impression on me was a long time ago when I collapsed on the stage at Shochikuza due to overwork. At that time, I received both kinds of opinions that said, “Are you okay? Please don't force yourself" along with "As a professional, he's not good at health management". Honestly, I was happy with both opinions. I was grateful for your kindness that showed your worry about me, and on the other hand, I thought that the words "as a professional" were certainly true as well. I think that it was a good chance for me to think over again what it means to be an actual professional.

Q. How would you act if Ohashi Kazuya, next to you, was clearly not feeling well?

Let him be alone. He is not the type who would show that side to him out in public if he is feeling down, so there's absolutely no need for me to get into his space. Instead we would cover for him, which I think is a good side of our group. Later that night, I would ask, “Do you want to go for a drink?”

Q. What parts of the members do you not want to change even after 10 years?

Onishi Ryusei: I want you to remain cute. I believe that if it's Ryusei then he will definitely be able to find ways to display cuteness as a 31-year-old (laughs).

Takahashi Kyohei: It'd be nice if you can tag along with my meaningless rock-paper-scissors even after 10 years. Please do so.

Fujiwara Joichiro: I don't think he will change in mere 10 years (laughs). I want you to sing meaningless parodies.

Michieda Shunsuke: Stay your innocent self. I know that it's very difficult, but I don't want to see Micchi who is not pure (laughs).

Nagao Kento: Stay as the energetic and naughty youngest baby! No matter how many years pass, the youngest will always be the youngest (laughs). Mentally as well.

Ohashi Kazuya: I won't ask for anything because before being a member, he has been my friend. I want to drink with you 10 years from now as well. That's all.

Behind the scenes

Nishihata, who did the photoshoot in a convertible car, said, "I like driving more than I like cars. Lately I haven't had the opportunity to do so, but I want to drive once in a while." followed by a smile. While eating pasta and pizza at a restaurant, he said, "It's really delicious~ But I ate too much. I should have salad for dinner." and so that was Nishihata who reflected on himself.

Translation: @naniwa-archive

Proofread: @nin248nd

[peppertaemint]

I’m glad that anon brought up what you said a year ago and how it was pretty much spot on Namjoon’s sentiments at the festa dinner. I remembered you too and the shit show that ensued when you made your post. Because you had a bigger account at the time, many people saw what you wrote and so many asks were sent around to different blogs pretty much condemning you. Now many of the same blogs who assured everyone that BTS were still the same last year are now saying how they’ve actually felt the same deep down but didn’t want to verbalize it. I mean I’m not blaming anyone because not everyone could sense the change as early as you did but it’s just interesting to see how the public opinion on BTS’ music identity has changed over the last year. I can imagine that the harassment you faced was swift and unforgiving. I saw the asks sent to blogs accusing them of secretly being you and others throwing subliminal shade by referencing your ‘controversial’ post. Kudos to you for still continuing to blog after all that backlash. I guess the lesson learned is that everyone’s opinions are valid (as long as it’s not unreasonable hatred/disrespect) whether it’s a positive or negative take. Do you have any thoughts on how the boys solo careers and their relationship with their company will play out?

I appreciate you saying that, Anon. : ) It's not worth blaming anyone. What I would hope is that maybe some people will listen to others next time they present an opposing opinion and dialogue with them directly versus gossiping on other blogs. When we listen to each other, we get a whole lot further. You said it perfectly—everyone's opinion is valid. Just because we don't particularly like it, doesn't mean that person should become a target for horrible behaviour. I got off light, despite how horrible it was; other accounts I've talked to who went through the same thing on Tumblr & Twitter had their lives and the lives' of their loved ones threatened. Is it really that deep? We're talking about art here. Violent death threats, really?

I hope (probably in vain) that some of the army how joined the bandwagon to harass and degrade me and other people might reflect now that they know we weren't wrong. Idk ...

In terms of their solo careers, I'm really unsure what we will see because Hybe isn't exactly a consistent purveyor of the finest Kpop offerings. Consistent is the key word there. BTS have had these moments of brilliance (some MAMA/MMA performances, MOTS ON:E, LY:SY tour) but there isn't a consistency there. We also have Hybe saying on multiple occasions that they don't do "solo". So what will this look like? Hybe is still inexperienced and lacking in areas (styling, some of their music production/mastering, MV production—don't get me started on the weird CGI backgrounds).

So, I am hoping the solo work will be a sliver of what Kim Kibum (SHINee Key) has fought for at SM. He goes in with a PowerPoint presentation and lays out his ideas for his concept, including styling and other references. And then he takes part in all the production stages, including giving notes on the recordings themselves for the music producer. Kpop as a genre has been likened to Broadway; execution of concept, including styling, editorial photography, the physical production and the performance are all important, second only to the music itself. Some would probably consider all parts equal.

BTS' solos will display what their relationship is with the company and where they are in their artistic journey. The most important thing, I think, is to remember that a solo debut is a beginning. It's starting from scratch. Even though members have solo works in the BTS discography, they don't have experience of going solo. Readers should watch Taemin's debut solo stages. If you look carefully, you can see him trembling. And this was a person who never even wanted to debut in a group! ;D

[deerydear]

The basic recurring theme in Hindu mythology is the creation of the world by the self-sacrifice of God—"sacrifice" in the original sense of "making sacred"—whereby God becomes the world which, in the end, becomes again God.

This creative activity of the Divine is called lila, the play of God, and the world is seen as the stage of the divine play. Like most of Hindu mythology, the myth of lila has a strong magical flavour. Brahman is the great magician who transforms himself into the world and then performs this feat with his "magic creative power", which is the original meaning of maya in the Rig Veda.

The word maya—one of the most important terms in Indian philosophy—has changed its meaning over the centuries. From the might, or power, of the divine actor and magician, it came to signify the psychological state of anybody under the spell of the magic play.

As long as we confuse the myriad forms of the divine lila with reality, without perceiving the unity of Brahman underlying all these forms, we are under the spell of maya. (…)

In the Hindu view of nature, then, all forms are relative, fluid and ever-changing maya, conjured up by the great magician of the divine play. The world of maya changes continuously, because the divine lila is a rhythmic, dynamic play. The dynamic force of the play is karma, an important concept of Indian thought.

Karma means "action". It is the active principle of the play, the total universe in action, where everything is dynamically connected with everything else. In the words of the Gita Karma is the force of creation, wherefrom all things have their life.

— Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics (1975)

I found this because I was remembering the story of how people get the indent between their nose and upper lips.

"According to the Midrash (Tanhuma Pekudei 3), Lailah is a Teacher to Souls before their Birth. Legend says that Lailah lights a Candle allowing the Spirit to see from one end of the Earth to the other, and then teaches the Spirit the entire Torah.

As soon as the human Infant is born, though, Lailah lightly strikes the child’s lip, and the child forgets everything.

Folklorist Howard Schwartz compares this to the Jungian idea of the collective unconscious – the knowledge is still there; it’s just forgotten."

I actually found out last night what the given name is for these hand postures that I have done for my entire life.

Most people have hands. You may naturally notice that posing them in different ways may bring upon different senses.

[screamsviakeyboard]

I have a different relationship to social media than many, I think. I've never really "gotten" the concept of sharing your life with others. It's something I am working on comprehending, and surprised at the joy in. So it never entered into my mind as the reason people post.

After a little while playing farmville on facebook, with no one I was interested in connecting with I wouldn't meet the next day in school, I spent the rest of my formative years on reddit. With usernames and no profiles other than a list of your posts at the time, it felt anonymous. The only recurring fixtures were gimmick accounts like poem for your sprog or shitty watercolor. If you had asked me, I would have told you, obviously, those are people. But they were not familiar faces. I did not know about their lives, all of the peopleness of them was on the other side of the screen, and what I got was what they chose to perform.

The rest of it was a deluge of posts from users it never even occurred to me to recall. Again, I knew they were people, but I didn't interact with them as such. What I saw had already been processed through the sorting machine of up and down votes, and either entertained me enough to read or was boring and thus discarded. As a result, the person who had lived these stories was as connected to me as the cast and crew of a tv show, with only the extra titillation of reality to distinguish the two.

It was all entertainment, and I was its audience. It was with the reverence of a child risking the stage that I would even consider making a post, even one as unimportant as a question about a video game. Because, to me, making a post meant that I would be up there with the entertainers to be ignored, or mocked, or beloved as the crowd saw fit. Even now, as I type this for my zero followers and my own self-satisfaction, I am aware of the audience's back and the unlit lights above, at any moment able to turn on me and receive my spectacle.

But that's not how everyone sees this. To me, replying to a post necessitates not just a willingness to be the clown, but to have already donned the red nose, the makeup, and the wig. But some people are just talking. There is no stage, no lights, just the crowd, each of us a person within it, entitled to speak personally, to shout over the din or whisper beneath it, without discarding our humanity for the actor's mask.

I don't know if they're wrong or not. For all my pontificating, I've never really been the clown. I've always been just another dressed-up freak sitting in the shadows. You don't know what your preparation is worth until the thing it was for happens. Maybe I would feel wronged, or scandalized, when the human wearing my costume is ignored by the audience, or maybe I will feel free and unburdened that I've already divorced the two for them. Maybe the latter is true, but I've lost something for it anyways, made all the worse by the possibility that I sacrificed that thing for an audience that will never see me. Or, just as likely, the former is true, but I'm having more fun in these silly clothes than I would have in the pair of cargo shorts that hold my actual legs.

I don't know if they're wrong or not, but it's important to remember that they are there. I thought they were masks, but some of them were only faces, and those can be bruised.

[popblank]

My Eurovision Song Ranking 2023

I have been unusually busy in the last couple of months so this ranking is very late and not too detailed. For this year’s ranking I generally listened to the official videos 3-4 times, though in a few cases I did either watch the video with captions/translations or looked up lyrics. Not feeling that strongly about most of the songs yet.

It’s Loreen

(1) Sweden, Loreen, “Tattoo” – The song is okay but I really like Loreen’s performance, both vocally and onstage. She makes the song compelling in a way that I think few other artists could.

Would listen to again

(2) Finland, Käärijä, “Cha Cha Cha” – Very catchy & instant. The melodic final section makes more sense after reading the lyrics.

(3) Lithuania, Monika Linkyté, “Stay” – Introspective, dramatic, singer-songwritery with a slightly-too-abrupt chorus that is kind of hypnotic. It took a few listens to really grow on me.

(4) United Kingdom, Mae Muller, “I Wrote A Song” – On my first listen I thought, “it’s not bad, though it’s not amazing.” Upon repeat listens I am finding it holds up well and I like that it tells a little story about channeling negative emotions constructively. Hope they have decent staging. 

(5) Portugal, Mimicat, “Ai Coração” – Liking the wordy uptempo Portuguese.

(6) Czechia, Vesna, “My Sister’s Crown” – Dark and dramatic and rather pointedly political; I wonder how good it will sound without the echoing chorus. 

(7) Spain, Blanca Paloma, “EAEA” – I like the flamenco electronic pop, yet feel I should like it more than I do since it seems to follow in the footsteps of “¿Quién maneja mi barca?” (one of my all-time Eurovision favorites). It is a bit hard to follow as it does not quite have the relentless drive of that song.

The rest below the cut:

Enjoy it.  May not seek it out but won’t skip it.

(8) France, La Zarra, “Évidemment” – She really has that dance-pop chanteuse thing going on. It’s compelling as I listen but afterward I can’t remember any part of the song except the title word, and something about her pronunciation of “évidemment” in the official recording is really throwing me off. It almost sounds like an American trying to speak French and it does not sound that way in the live recordings I can find.

(9) Pasha Parfeni, “Soarele şi Luna” – Obvious comparisons to “Shum” and “Fulenn” which were both in my top 5 pre-competition. (Not complaining.)

(10) Ukraine, TVORCHI, “Heart of Steel” – Prefer it to last year’s song, really.

(11) Serbia, Luke Black, “Samo Mi Se Spava” – The music actually evokes video game music in addition to using games as a metaphor.

(12) Austria, Teya & Salena, “Who The Hell Is Edgar?” – Fun, catchy, about something other than the usual topics (love, heartbreak).

(13) Estonia, Alika, “Bridges” – Piano ballad.  I like the repeated rising line in the chorus.

(14) Albania, Albina & Familja Kelmendi, “Duje” – Albania doing what it does.

Okay/Would have to be in the right mood to listen

(15) Iceland, Diljá, “Power” – She has a decent voice and I like the rising line of “oh-oh-oh-oh” at the start of the chorus.

(16) Slovenia, Joker Out, “Carpe Diem” – Musically fine but does not grab me. I generally like the concept of the lyrics but would hope for a little more of the implied angst to come through.

(17) Azerbaijan, TuralTuranX, “Tell Me More” – It doesn’t sound like a Swedish import, which is a pleasant surprise.

(18) Norway, Alessandra, “Queen of Kings” – Initially catchy but really isn’t standing up for me on repeats. I may be biased because MGP was the only national selection that I paid any attention to this year other than Melodifestivalen and my favorites were Ulrikke and Rasmus Thall.

(19) Armenia, Brunette, “Future Lover” – Thankful for the changeup partway through after the twinkly piano & strings. Little bit hard to follow the lyrics but reading them I like the idea of the song. Not a fan of the video though.

(20) Latvia, Sudden Lights, “ Aijā” – Solid. It’s fine.

There is something in it I might like, but not enough for me to seek it out

(21) Croatia, Let 3, “Mama ŠČ!” – Consciously offbeat. Not sure what’s going on, it’s catchy but the song doesn’t seem interesting enough on its own unless they can attach it to a great stage performance.

(22) Australia, Voyager, “Promise” – Starts out OK, nice that it goes a bit harder but only for maybe 10 seconds. With the barrage of questions in the verses, the whole thing feels like an interrogation followed by a bunch of demands. Sounds good though.

(25) Georgia, Iru, “Echo” – Entertainingly dramatic, but kind of hard to understand and the lyrics barely make sense.

(23) Germany, Lord of the Lost, “Blood and Glitter” – Sonically a nice change of pace.  A bit repetitive without using that to good effect.

(24) Italy, Marco Mengoni, “Due Vite” – It’s very Italian. Not really sticking yet but it might grow on me (“L’Essenziale” did). 

(26) Belgium, Gustaph, “Because of You” – I should like this more (upbeat, dance-y, uplifting) but my brain just hears background music.

(27) Denmark, Reiley, “Breaking My Heart” – Denmark and Cyprus can hang out and mope together. The repetition isn’t doing it for me.

(28) Ireland, Wild Youth, “We Are One” – All it needs is a music video where people of all shapes, sizes, colors, genders dance around together (see also: the videos from “Story of My Life” and Malta’s “I Am What I Am”).

(29) Netherlands, Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper, “Burning Daylight” – Talky midtempo. Vaguely Coldplay at end.

(30) Cyprus, Andrew Lambrou, “Broken Heart” – Dramatic wailer, lots of falsetto. Voice is more interesting than song.

(31) Greece, Victor Vernicos, “What They Say” – Different direction for Greece. Not sure about this boom-clap thing at the end.

(32) Romania, Theodor Andrei, “D.G.T. (Off and On)” – Kind of enjoying the bluesy 6/8; reading the lyrics it’s a familiar theme but the official music video stage performance is a bit off-putting.

Dislike outweighs like

(33) Malta, The Busker, “Dance” – While I feel the message of the song, the saxophone riff and “I feel better in my sweater” are deeply annoying to me.

(34) Poland, Blanka, “Solo” – Not offensively bad, just vaporously insubstantial.

(35) Israel, Noa Kirel, “Unicorn” – What exactly is the power of a unicorn, mythologically?

(36) Switzerland, Remo Forrer, “Watergun” – Feels faux-deep and particularly odd coming from Switzerland. Sounds like an attempt to cross “Arcade” (playing games theme) and last year’s Swiss entry (muddled message).

(37) San Marino, Piqued Jacks, “Like An Animal” – Kind of like Finland’s song last year but less fun. “I can smell you like an animal,” charming. 

[leiajoydesign]

Concepts of Visual Language - Interview Responses

Wednesday 26th April 2023 - In-Person Interview Responses

Lee Smith - 53 (concert-goer)

Do you think graphics on screens and visuals, such as lasers or confetti, enhance or detract your experience of a concert?

I find that they tend to enhance the concert by helping to make the event more of a show experience

Do you think graphics and visuals are important to a show?

Visuals help a lot in making it clear to the audience what some songs are about and show lyrics in a different light

Do you think the lack of graphics and visuals would affect your experience of a show?

Yes, in a big venue but not so much in a small up close gig

Julie Smith - 50 (concert-goer)

Do you think graphics on screens and visuals, such as lasers or confetti, enhance or detract your experience of a concert?

Visuals in a show has always enhanced my experience, I really enjoy lighting, the buzz of colours and being able to see and feel the graphics alongside a show is a real winner for me!

Do you think graphics and visuals are important to a show?

Yes, graphics and visuals are important to a show, because no matter where you are… standing or sitting you can always see a screen and that makes you feel part of the show.

Do you think the lack of graphics and visuals would affect your experience of a show?

Yes, the would have a definite affect on my personal experience of a show, with no graphics and visuals I would leave the show feeling really flat!! Graphics and visuals are what gives us our safe highs 😊 and leave us with that real buzzed up feeling.

James Walsh - 21 (concert-goer & designer)

Do you think graphics on screens and visuals, such as lasers or confetti, enhance or detract your experience of a concert?

They enhance the experience because it’s visually memorable

Do you think graphics and visuals are important to a show?

Absolutely, it’s the identity of the show

Do you think the lack of graphics and visuals would affect your experience of a show?

Yes, doesn’t stop enjoyment but it destroys where you are and what the event/show is.

In summary, it’s like having all food packaging having nothing on them. Sometimes you remember products visually rather than what it is.

Hannah Powers - 20 (concert-goer & artist)

Do you think graphics on screens and visuals, such as lasers or confetti, enhance or detract your experience of a concert?

Enhance: add to the ambience and make the atmosphere more lively. example: Eric Prydz Holo graphics

Detract: Makes it distracting for example with lasers they can hurt your eyes and distract you from the act

Do you think graphics and visuals are important to a show?

They aren’t essential but I think they add to the act especially when used in the finale as it wraps the show up

Do you think the lack of graphics and visuals would affect your experience of a show?

Yes, as they make it more of an all sensory experience rather than just seeing one person/act on a massive stage

Olivia Broome - 20 (concert-goer & artist)

Do you think graphics on screens and visuals, such as lasers or confetti, enhance or detract your experience of a concert?

I think they enhance the experience because it makes the performance more interactive and engaging.

Do you think graphics and visuals are important to a show?

Yes

Do you think the lack of graphics and visuals would affect your experience of a show?

Yes, as it wouldn't be as exciting and engaging

Chloe Pincombe - 23 (concert-goer)

Do you think graphics on screens and visuals, such as lasers or confetti, enhance or detract your experience of a concert?

Personally I think lasers and confetti in a show is great and adds to the atmosphere and excitement but it all depends on timing and the general ‘feel’ of the show. Dosn’t work for every concert but when used correctly can enhance

Do you think graphics and visuals are important to a show?

I do think visuals are so important and when they are kept moving/changing it definitely keeps you engaged more as long as they match the theme/aesthetic of the show. And talking from my work side of things people who have learning disabilities and less vision than us it is extremely engaging and sensory to have the visuals at a concert plus the use of colour to convey mood.

Do you think the lack of graphics and visuals would affect your experience of a show?

Yes

Alisha Giles - 23 (concert-goer)

Do you think graphics on screens and visuals, such as lasers or confetti, enhance or detract your experience of a concert?

Confetti/lasers/other visuals definitely have a positive impact on a concert for me. I think it keeps you engaged on the concert even if you’re there just to see the act

Do you think graphics and visuals are important to a show?

Yes, as it keeps you engaged and creates a whole different atmosphere for a show

Do you think the lack of graphics and visuals would affect your experience of a show?

Yes

Emma-Louise Thorton-Hick - 23 (concert-goer)

Do you think graphics on screens and visuals, such as lasers or confetti, enhance or detract your experience of a concert?

Yes, I think the visuals on the screen definitely can bring a certain atmosphere to the concert/gig, during the song Someone You Loved by Lewis capaldi, there is slow earthy visuals on the screen behind him which add more of a dramatic effect, and an element of sadness to the song. I personally haven’t been to an event with lasers, however I’m sure it provides a wonderful atmosphere. Confetti at concerts is amazing, it’s a highlight of a show for me, it creates a physical piece of the concert for you to take home

Do you think graphics and visuals are important to a show?

I would say that they are important to a show, but not entirely necessary? I think it’s like an extra add on to the show, but am aware that not every artist is going to have confetti shooting out at every show, and have images/ effects of the screen for every song

Do you think the lack of graphics and visuals would affect your experience of a show?

In my opinion, I think that the visuals and the graphics make the show, however it’s when they’re used correctly. I have been to some shows where there are effects on the screen during every song and it’s a little hard to see the screen at times and it takes away from the experience, but I think if moderately used and used on the correct songs/intervals/appropriate moments, then yes it definitely enhances a show, and my enjoyment of the show.

[selfcarecorgi]

Hello World!

Selfcarecorgi back again with another self-care tip for everyone! For the last few posts I have providing you guys with different self-care tips to help you all when things are getting tough. This post will be my final self-care tip for you all :( However, I have decided that since it is my last one I want to talk to you guys about my favourite self-care tip of all time, napping!

For those of you who want the definition, napping is a short period of sleep that usually occurs during the day. There are several stages of napping, and how far a person gets differs for each person.

Stage one: The lightest and most brief stage of sleep. This tends to las between 1-7 minutes.

Stage two: This is the stage where the muscles in the body relaxes and the body's function begins to slow down. The sleep in this stage is still light and tends to last around 10-25 minutes.

Stage three: This stage of sleep is a lot more deep compared to the first 2 stages. When a person is in this stage of napping, it can be a lot more difficult for them to wake up. This stage of sleep tends to last around 20-40 minutes.

There is also a type of sleep know as REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. During this type of sleep, the muscles in the body are temporarily paralyzed, except for the eyelids, which move rapidly under the persons eyelids. It is during this type of sleep that dreaming tends to happen.

Naps are extremely beneficial to those who partake in them, and especially those who do shiftwork. This is because naps are are able to counteract daytime drowsiness for those who struggle to get enough sleep. It may also help to boost workplace performance, memory, logical reasoning, physical performance, relieve stress etc. Napping has also proven to provide other health benefits, such as lowering the risks of stroke, heart attack or heart disease.

Regarding the dimensions (pillars) of wellness that would apply to the self-care activity of helping, it relate it back to physical and emotional. Physical because sleep is a very important factor to maintaining a healthy body/lifestyle, and for those who will end up spending their career life doing shiftwork, sleep is a very important thing. If you are not able to get a full proper nights rest, you are able to nap and it will provide a lot more physical benefits than expected. I also relate napping back to the pillar of emotional, as many people use napping as a chance to clear their mind and take a break from handling heavy emotions. It gives people a chance to let their mind and their body decompress, which is very beneficial for anyone who needs it.

Napping is pretty simple concept, but for those who may need an explanation on how to go about doing it, I shall provide one. The first thing that you need to do is to pick a good time, naps should generally be had earlier during the day so that it does not interfere with your bedtime sleep schedule. A good time that many recommend when thinking about having a nap is before 3pm. The next thing you are going to want to do is to find a good environment to sleep in. It is recommended that you find a cool, quiet and dark area to take your nap. If you are in somewhere that this is not available to you, like an office, it is suggested that you use things like ear plugs and an eye mask to help imitate this. After you have found a good time and place to take a nap, they next thing you are going to want to do is set an alarm. A nap is not supposed to be too long, but rather be shorter for your own benefit. It is suggested that you set your alarm based off of what stage of sleep you hope to reach. After you have done this, all you have to do is let sleep run its course! One you do this you will hopefully wake up feeling a lot more refreshed than when you first went to have your nap.

Napping has always been my favourite form of self care. Everything could be going wrong and as long as I just take a second to let my brain rest from all the overthinking, everything ends up being alright. I always recommend to my friends that they take a nap when they are stressed, rest is a wonderful thing and as it turns out it can be a lot more beneficial than you think!

Alright everyone, that's it for me! I hope that you all enjoyed all the different self-care tips that I have been posting over the last little while, and I really hope that they have been beneficial for those of you who have taken the time to try them out! I have attached a photo of snoopy taking a nap because I thought it was cute :)

Until next time world!

-Sydney

References

Napping: Benefits and tips. Sleep Foundation. (2022, November 3). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/napping

Wallenstein, K. (n.d.). #snoopy #pillow #sleeping #NAP #asleep #freetoedit - napping black and white clipart, HD PNG download - kindpng. KindPNG.com. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.kindpng.com/imgv/xohRRT_snoopy-pillow-sleeping-nap-asleep-freetoedit-napping-black/

[yenafmd]

❧ better fix your crown.

date(s): 1 july 2022 mentions of: n/a​ word count: 814 words warnings: n/a details: yena sits down after a long day of schedules to win over the hearts of their fanbase ahead of the start of crowned. she just doesn’t know if it’s actually enough

good night chat👑

the title of the live is simple enough, as is the content of the livestream itself. yena sitting crossed-legged on the floor of her apartment in front of her couch, phone propped up on the coffee table on a tri-pod. 

she would’ve done more, put in more effort, made the live something more eye-catching than it currently was but truth be told, she hadn’t had the time nor energy for it. not with how busy she was, how busy calypso was too.

still, when management had informed them doing a vlive to garner some extra attention (and subsequent votes) for crowned, yena had been quick to volunteer.

she might not be the performer some of the other calypso girls were, couldn’t match up with them in terms of sheer talent, but she can do this, be their face, do the talking parts, win over the hearts of the public not doing much more than looking pretty and giggling away on camera. they all played their own parts right? 

yena frequently wondered if hers is as important as that of the other girls but still, at least she can do her part.

the live had been going steadily for half an hour or, her cheek resting on the palm of her hand as she leans forward reading through the comments, answering questions, talking about what calypso has been up to, talking about how chi mat baram promotions were going, subtly hint that she had been back in the studio to work on some other things too.

it wouldn’t be too long till their fanbase would find out she was talking about her solo debut so she’d play it subtle for now, she has time. 

“islands.... how do you think i’d look in a crown? pretty right?” the comment slips out off-handedly, the concept yena is going for is casual after all, making it seem so natural that her fans wouldn’t even notice that this isn’t much other than a glorified ad at best.

the comments immediately flood with all kinds of love calls, as expected, but yena’s eyes focus in on the few sharp eyes in the comments, immediately connecting the dots between her words and the show in the question.

“ah... crowned... you guys are onto me.” she laughs warmly. “you’ve seen the articles and teasers right? you know what i’m talking about don’t you?” again, a flood of agreeing, supportive comments, yena watches them with sleepy eyes and a smile on her face.

“if i can tell you guys anything about the show?” she questions out loud, reading out one of the questions asking for her to share a little more inbetween all the hearts and exclamations of love.

“mhmm....” she pretends to think about it for a second, tapping a finger against her cheek thoughtfully as she does. “okay, fine, just because it’s you guys! but promise to keep it a secret yes? this is between us!” she holds up her pinky, as if sealing a promise with her viewers. 

“what i can say is. everyone has been working very hard to present really cool stages for you guys. it will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen.” she nods wisely at her owns words as if to fuel them. “and i think that you will really like what calypso has been working on, we’ve done it keeping our fans in minds after all! we want to make you proud.” 

she scans the comments again, eyes glued to the numbers on her screen, she wonders how many groups easily reach bigger numbers, bigger audiences than this. yena should tell herself not to think this ways but she also knows it to be the only thing she will think about for the next forseeable while, this competition will swallow her whole and she will have to stay afloat through it somehow. 

“you will be rooting for calypso right?” she asks, her voice hopeful and light, shoving down all the anxiety she’s feeling deep down in front of the camera.

“i know we’re not the biggest fandom but... if island and calypso stick together, there is notig we can’t do no? i believe in us!” yena cheers the fans on softly. 

if anything, it’s a good thing this show is happening now and not six months ago, now they have some credibility to their name at least, more than 5 people who care about them. still, it also makes it all the more daunting, the fall all the higher.

“it’s getting really late... i should go to sleep.” yena stifles a soft yawn. “but check out the first episode of crowned in two days if you want to see what we’ve been working on for all of you, i hope you enjoy it.” she smiles, before waving the camera goodbye. “night night, love you our dear islands. please get enough rest too.”