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fyeah-bangtan7 · 4 years

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The Boundless Optimism of BTS

IT IS THE MORNING OF CHUSEOK, A KOREAN HARVEST FESTIVAL akin to Thanksgiving, and the members of BTS would normally be spending it with their families, eating tteokguk, a traditional rice-cake soup. Instead, Jin, 28; Suga, 27; J-Hope, 26; RM, 26; Jimin, 25; V, 24; and Jung Kook, 23, are working. Practicing. Honing their choreography. In a few days, the biggest musical act in the world will perform in the live-stream concert that, for now, will have to stand in for the massive tour they spent the first part of this year rehearsing. At this moment, they’re seated inside Big Hit Entertainment headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, the house they built, dressed mostly in black and white, ready to answer my questions. They’re gracious about it. And groggy.

Before I’m done speaking with them for this story, BTS will have the number-one and number-two songs on the BillboardHot 100, a feat that’s been achieved only a handful of times in the sixty-odd years the chart has existed. Their next album, Be, is weeks away from being released, and speculation about the record, the tracklist, the statement, is rampant across the Internet. BTS are, to put it mildly, huge.

There is something about complete world domination that can really cement a friendship. What jumps out at me as I connect with the members of BTS is their level of comfort with one another. Tension has a way of making itself evident—even over Zoom, even through a translator. There’s none to be found here. They are relaxed in the manner of family. Lounging with their arms around each other’s shoulders, tugging on each other’s sleeves, fixing each other’s collars. When they speak about one another, it is with kindness.

“Jimin has a particular passion for the stage and really thinks about performance, and in that sense, there are many things to learn from him,” J-Hope says. “Despite all the things he has accomplished, he still tries his best and brings something new to the table, and I really want to applaud him for that.”

“Thank you for saying all these things about me,” Jimin responds.

Jimin turns his attention to V, explaining that he is “loved by so many” and describing him as one of his best friends. Suga jumps in, sharing that Jimin and V fight the most among the group. V replies, “We haven’t fought in three years!” They tell me this distinction now belongs to Jin and Jung Kook, the oldest and youngest members. “It all starts as a joke, but then it gets serious,” Jimin says.

Jin agrees and recounts what their arguments sound like. “Why did you hit me so hard?” he says, before mimicking Jung Kook’s response: “I didn’t hit you that hard.” And then they start hitting each other. But not that hard.

Since the start of their careers, BTS have shown a certain confidence in their aesthetic, their performances, and their music videos. It’s right there in the name: BTS stands for “Bangtan Sonyeondan,” which translates to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts,” but as their popularity grew in English-speaking markets, the acronym was retrofitted to mean “Beyond the Scene,” which Big Hit has described as “symbolizing youth who don’t settle for their current reality and instead open the door and go forward to achieve growth.” And their affection with one another, their vulnerability and emotional openness in their lives and in their lyrics, strikes me as more grown-up and masculine than all the frantic and perpetual box-checking and tone-policing that American boys force themselves and their peers to do. It looks like the future.

“There is this culture where masculinity is defined by certain emotions, characteristics. I’m not fond of these expressions,” Suga tells me. “What does being masculine mean? People’s conditions vary day by day. Sometimes you’re in a good condition; sometimes you aren’t. Based on that, you get an idea of your physical health. And that same thing applies mentally. Some days you’re in a good state; sometimes you’re not. Many pretend to be okay, saying that they’re not ‘weak,’ as if that would make you a weak person. I don’t think that’s right. People won’t say you’re a weak person if your physical condition is not that good. It should be the same for the mental condition as well. Society should be more understanding.”

When I hear these words in October 2020, from my house in a country whose leader is actively trying to make the case that only the weak die of COVID-19, well, it sounds like the future, too.

IF YOU ARE JUST NOW CONSIDERING GETTING INTO BTS, IT IS natural to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff. It’s a bit like saying, right this second, “Let’s see what Marvel Comics is all about.” In the streaming age, BTS have sold more than twenty million physical units across fourteen albums. Their multi-album concept cycles, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Love Yourself, and Map of the Soul, have unfolded over multiple records and EPs. There are collaborations with brands, including a BTS smartphone with Samsung. There is a series of short films and music videos, called BU, or BTS Universe, and an animated universe called BT21, in which they’re all represented by gender-neutral avatars. Their fan base, known as ARMY, is a global cultural movement unto itself.

“Dynamite,” their first English-language single and their first American number one, is pure, ecstatic pop. Shiny and joyful. What sets them apart from many of their peers, and many of the pop acts who achieved worldwide fame before them, is what came earlier. Beneath the sheen and the beats has always been an unflinching examination of human emotion. Their lyrics seek to challenge the conventions of society—to question and even denounce them. BTS’s first single, “No More Dream,” unveiled at their debut showcase in June 2013, concerns the intense pressure South Korean schoolchildren face to conform and to succeed. According to Suga, lyrics about the mental health of young people were mostly absent in Korean pop music. “The reason I started making music is because I grew up listening for lyrics that speak about dreams, hopes, and social issues,” he tells me. “It just came naturally to me when making music.”

Suga’s early ambition of making music didn’t involve him being in a group at all. About a decade ago, in his hometown of Daegu, the fourth-largest city in South Korea, he started recording underground rap tracks under the name Gloss, listening to and learning from the early works of songwriter and producer Bang Si-hyuk, known as Hitman Bang. Bang is the founder and CEO of Big Hit Entertainment. In 2010, Suga, a junior in high school, moved to Seoul to join Big Hit as a producer and rapper. Then Bang asked him to become part of a group, envisioning a hip-hop act with fellow new Big Hit recruits RM and J-Hope. The guys call this “season one” of their development.

“At that time, I don’t think our label exactly knew what to do with us,” RM says. “They just basically let us be and we had some lessons, but we also just chilled and made music sometimes.”

It got more intense. The family grew, occasionally by accident.

V accompanied a friend to a Big Hit casting call in Daegu for moral support and ended up being the person chosen from those sessions.

Jung Kook was signed in a feeding frenzy after being dropped from the talent show Superstar K, fielding offers from numerous entertainment companies before settling on Big Hit because he was impressed by RM’s rapping.

Jimin was a dance student and class president for nine years running at his school in Busan; he auditioned at the behest of his teacher.

And then, to hear him tell it, Jin got picked up off the street. “I was just going to school,” he says. “Someone from the company approached me, like, ‘Oh, this is my first time seeing anyone that looked like this.’ He suggested having a meeting with me.”

“Season two is when we officially underwent hard training,” J-Hope says. “We started dancing, and that’s how I would say our team building started.”

School in the daytime, training at night. “We slept during classes,” V says.

“I slept in the practice studio,” J-Hope counters.

Hitman Bang kept the pressure comparatively low. And he encouraged the guys to write and produce their own music, to be honest about their emotions in their lyrics. Suga is on record saying that no BTS album would be complete without a track that scrutinizes society.

And yet for their new album, Be, they’re putting that aside. Even this has a greater purpose that relates to mental wellness: RM, the group’s main rapper, says, “I don’t think this album will have any songs that criticize social issues. Everybody is going through very trying times right now. So I don’t think there will be any songs that will be that aggressive.”

Though the new rules of COVID-19 mean they can’t come here and promote Be, its first single might not have happened in the first place but for the pandemic. “ ‘Dynamite’ wouldn’t be here if there was no COVID-19,” says RM. “For this song, we wanted to go easy and simple and positive. Not some, like, deep vibes or shadows. We just wanted to go easy.”

Jin agrees. “We were trying to convey the message of healing and comfort to our fans.” He pauses. “World domination wasn’t actually our plan when we were releasing ‘Dynamite.’ ” World domination just happens sometimes. You get it.

MAP OF THE SOUL ONE AIRED VIA THEIR ONLINE FAN PLATFORM and attracted almost a million viewers across 191 countries. The guys say they tried not to think about the enormousness. J-Hope adds, “I felt a little bit more nervous knowing that this was being broadcast live. I actually feel less nervous performing live at a stadium.” Jin replies with a smile, “J-Hope, born to perform at a stadium.”

The graphic layout of the title throws a colon between the final N and E, which makes it look like Map of the Soul On: E, and as I watch it live, as I do in my office at 3:00 a.m. with noise-canceling headphones and a steaming pot of coffee, it feels a lot like I’m watching Map of the Soul on E. It is an explosion of color and fashion and passion, over four gigantic stages, from the boozy swagger of “Dionysus” to the emo-trap introspection of “Black Swan.” Not a step, not a gesture, not a hair is out of place. If there were nerves, they didn’t come through.

There is also, at the end of Map of the Soul One, an intimate version of their 2017 track “Spring Day,” which encapsulates what’s really made BTS stand out. On the surface, it’s about nonspecific love and loss, about yearning for the past. “I think that song really represents me,” says Jin. “I like to look to the past and be lost in it.”

Fair enough, but there is an undeniable allusion, in both the song’s video and its cover concept, to a specific incident in recent South Korean history. “Spring Day” was released just a few years after the sinking of the Sewol ferry, one of the country’s biggest maritime disasters, in which a poorly inspected, overloaded ferry toppled in a sharp right turn. Hundreds of high school students drowned, having obeyed orders to stay in their cabins as the boat was going down. According to some reports, the South Korean government actively tried to silence entertainers who spoke out against it, with the Korean Ministry of Education fully banning the tragedy’s commemorative yellow ribbons in schools. I ask whether it was about a specific sad event, and Jin tells me, “It is about a sad event, as you said, but it is also about longing.” The song kept the disaster front of mind for young Koreans and for the media, indirectly leading to the impeachment and removal of then president Park Geun-hye.

If an overburdened, undermaintained, slow-moving vessel capsizing because of a reckless rightward turn strikes you as somehow symbolic of the country in which BTS are about to explode even further, you won’t hear it from them. “We’re outsiders—we can’t really express what we feel about the United States,” says V. But their actions speak volumes; in the wake of the George Floyd murder and subsequent protests in America, the group made a $1 million donation with Big Hit Entertainment to Black Lives Matter, one that was matched by BTS ARMY.

The fans offer a fascinating inversion of stan culture: Rather than bullying rivals like many other ardent online fan bases do, ARMY have put the positive message of the music into action. Their activism goes deep. Through micro-donations, they’ve regrown rain forests, adopted whales, funded hundreds of hours of dance classes for Rwandan youth, and raised money to feed LGBTQ refugees around the world. Where pop fans a generation ago might have sent teddy bears or cards to their idols for their birthdays, where five years ago they might have promoted a hashtag to get a video’s YouTube viewer count up, for RM’s twenty-sixth birthday in September, international fan collective One in an Army raised more than $20,000 for digital night schools to improve rural children’s access to education during the COVID-19 crisis. ARMY may have even entered the conversation around the 2020 presidential election when hundreds of thousands of Tulsa Trump rally tickets got snapped up online in June. The event’s actual attendance was pathetically low. No particular person or entity claimed credit for this top-notch trolling, but a video urging BTS fans to RSVP to that rally did get hundreds of thousands of views. We have no choice but to stan this fan base.

The relationship is intense. “We and our ARMY are always charging each other’s batteries,” RM says. “When we feel exhausted, when we hear the news all over the world, the tutoring programs, and donations, and every good thing, we feel responsible for all of this.” The music may have inspired the good works, but the good works inspire the music. “We’ve got to be greater; we’ve got to be better,” RM continues. “All those behaviors always influence us to be better people, before all this music and artist stuff.”

Yet for every devoted member of BTS ARMY, there is someone who’s looked right past BTS. Jimmy Fallon, whose Tonight Show hosted the group for a full week this past fall, was one of those people. “Usually if an artist is on the rise, I hear about them ahead of time. With BTS, I knew they had crazy momentum, and I’d never heard of them.”

Here’s a thought that used to be funny to me: There were members of the live audience of The Ed Sullivan Showon February 9, 1964, who weren’t there to see the Beatles. Elvis was in the Army, Buddy Holly was gone, and the three number-one albums in the months before Meet the Beatles! were an Allan Sherman comedy record, the West Side Story original cast recording, and Soeur Sourire: The Singing Nun. America had left rock ’n’ roll behind for the moment, and with the culture aimless and fragmented, it wasn’t quite sure what to pick up in its place. It is possible to imagine that a youngish, reasonably hip, and culturally aware human being might cop a ticket to that week’s show, settle into his seat, and say, “Bring on a medley of numbers from the Broadway musical Oliver! and banjo sensation Tessie O’Shea.”

The instinct is to laugh at that guy, and it’s a good instinct, because what a dope.

And then you become that guy.

Sometimes there is a whole universe alongside your own, bursting with color you’re too stubborn to see, bouncing with joy you think is for someone else, with a beat you thought you were finished dancing to. BTS are the biggest thing on the planet right now, yet the job of introducing them to someone new, particularly in America, seems like it’s never done. Maybe it’s because they are adored by screaming teenagers and we live in a society patriarchal enough to forget that screaming teenagers are nearly always right. Maybe it’s the cultural divide, in a moment when our country is unashamed enough of its own xenophobia to get openly bent out of shape when it has to press 1 for English. Maybe it’s the language barrier, as though we understood a single word Michael Stipe sang before 1989.

Whatever the reason, the result is that you might be missing out on a paradigm shift and a historic moment of pop greatness.

IF BTS SEEM A BIT CAUTIOUS WITH THEIR WORDS PUBLICLY, IT’S because—perhaps more than any other massive pop act in history—they have to be. Shortly after our second meeting, BTS were given the General James A. Van Fleet Award by the U. S.–based Korea Society for their outstanding contributions to advancing relations between the United States and Korea. In his acceptance speech, RM said, “We will always remember the history of pain that our two nations shared together, and the sacrifices of countless men and women,” as seemingly diplomatic and innocuous a statement as he could have made. But because he didn’t mention the Chinese soldiers who died in the Korean War, it didn’t go over well. The Samsung BTS smartphone disappeared from Chinese e-commerce platforms, Fila and Hyundai pulled ads in China that featured the group, the nationalistic newspaper Global Times accused them of hurting Chinese citizens’ feelings and negating history, and the hashtags “BTS humiliated China” and “there are no idols that come before my country” began trending on the social-media site Weibo. The pressure is not small.

Even as the number-one pop group in the world, even with their hard work day in and day out, even with tens of millions of adoring fans redefining the concept of “adoring fans” by literally healing the planet in their name, these guys still suffer from impostor syndrome. RM explains, “I’ve heard that there’s this mask complex. Seventy percent of so-called successful people have this, mentally. It’s basically this: There’s this mask on my face. And these people are afraid that someone is going to take off this mask. We have those fears as well. But I said 70 percent, so I think it’s very natural. Sometimes it’s a condition to be successful. Humans are imperfect, and we have these flaws and defects. And one way to deal with all this pressure and weight is to admit the shadows.”

The music helps. “When we write the songs and lyrics, we study these emotions, we are aware of that situation, and we relate to that emotionally,” J-Hope says. “And that’s why when the song is released, we listen to it and get consolation from those songs as well. I think our fans also feel those emotions, maybe even more than us. And I think we are a positive influence on each other.”

If there’s one thing they’re sacrificing, besides free time and the ability to speak freely without the Chinese foreign ministry releasing an official statement, it’s a love life. I ask about dating, broad questions like “Are you?” and “Is there time?” and “Can you?” and the answer to all of them is pretty clear: “No.” “The most important thing for us now is to sleep,” Jung Kook insists. Suga follows right up with “Can you see my dark circles?” I cannot, because there are none, because flawless skin translates even over Zoom when there’s an ocean between us.

So they’re not, at least publicly, having romantic relationships with anyone. If there is a strong relationship that’s guided their journey into adulthood, it’s with Big Hit. “Our company started with twenty to thirty people, but now we have a company with so many employees,” RM says. “We have our fans, and we have our music. So we have a lot of things that we have to be responsible for, to safeguard.” He considers it for a moment. “I think that’s what an adult is.”

“Our love life—twenty-four hours, seven days a week—is with all the ARMYs all over the world,” RM adds.

In a world that is determined to sand down anything that isn’t immediately recognizable to the average pop-music fan, when it comes to acquainting you with Korean culture, BTS very much do not wanna hold your hand. While the first song on night one of their Tonight Show week was a joyous but expected take on “Dynamite” with Fallon and the Roots, they took some chances during their second performance.

As a friend of mine, a thirty-three-year-old BTS fan in Los Angeles, told me, “The second song they performed was ‘IDOL,’ ” from 2018’s Love Yourself: Answer, “and it celebrated their Korean identity. They performed it in Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. They wore clothes inspired by traditional dresses called hanboks;it was almost entirely in Korean, so it felt super subversive. As a fan, I read it as: ‘Dynamite’ was an invitation, and this is who we are and this is our home.”

“I was a little concerned that people might not understand,” Fallon says. “I was like, ‘There’s nothing in English here.’ But what you see is just pure star power. Pure talent. Immediately, I thought, Oh, this is everything. If you’re that powerful, it transcends language.”

American popular music in the twenty-first century is more fragmented than it has been since . . . well, since Allan Sherman, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, and the Singing Nun battled for that number-one spot. The monoculture that the Beatles helped bring on has breathed its last breath. Each of us is the program director for our own private radio station, letting our own past habits and streaming-service algorithms serve up something close to what we want. Which is great, except that huge moments can whiz right past our ears. Each of us, even if we’re more clued in than our parents were when they were our age, can miss some era-defining, excellent shit. Particularly if the radio is our Spotify Discover Weekly, or the Pandora channel based on the band whose T-shirts we wore in college. We can let a moment pass us by if prime time is a Netflix binge, and the Tonight Show hour is spent on one more episode before bed. But we shouldn’t. “Honestly, I think it’s history that we’re living through with BTS,” Fallon says. “It’s the biggest band I’ve seen since I’ve started late night, definitely.”

THERE IS ALSO THE SMALL DETAIL THAT, UNLIKE THE BEATLES AND literally every other worldwide sensation to break in America, BTS don’t particularly need to go to the trouble. They are massive all over the world. Thanks to the recent IPO of Big Hit Entertainment, of which each member is a partner, they are all now incredibly wealthy. (Hitman Bang is the first South Korean entertainment mogul to become a billionaire.) What good is a culture in decline to a pop act this much on the ascent? “When I dreamed of becoming an artist, I listened to pop and watched all the awards shows in the United States. Being successful and being a hit in the U. S. is, of course, such an honor as an artist,” says Suga. “I feel very proud of that.”

They’re breaking out in a country that either worships them or fails to notice them. So do they feel like they’re getting enough respect in America? “How can we win everyone’s respect?” Jin asks. “I think it’s enough to get respect from people who support us. It’s similar everywhere else in the world. You can’t like everyone, and I think it’s enough to be respected by people who really love you.”

Suga agrees. “You can’t always be comfortable, and I think it’s all part of life. Honestly, we are not used to getting a ton of respect from when we first started out. But I think that gradually changes, whether it be in the States or other parts of the world, as we do more and more.”

There is, without a doubt, one colossal, unmistakable sign of respect for a musician: a Grammy. They’ve been nominated only once, and even then it was for best recording package. But their sights are set on a big one next year. RM puts it out there: “We would like to be nominated and possibly get an award.” Dragging the hoary, backward-looking, and Western-focused Grammys into the gorgeous, global world of the present through sheer force of will, talent, and hard work? Stranger things have happened. “I think the Grammys are the last part, like the final part of the whole American journey,” he says with a smile. “So yeah, we’ll see.”

The Recording Academy’s seal of approval is one thing. But BTS have already conquered the world, clowned tyrants, inspired individual fans to perform the small and achievable acts of activism that have collectively begun to save the planet, challenged toxic masculinity by leading with vulnerability, and, along the way, become bajillionaires and international idols. Whether the Grammys are paying attention matters about as much as what an Ed Sullivan audience member expected to see that night in 1964. BTS have already won.

#bangtan #jungkook #jimin #v #suga #jhope #jin #rm #o:esquire #o:interview #201123

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ganbaramen · 4 years

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Their intention is always to be by your side. The solid foundation of Aqours: Suwa Nanaka, Komiya Arisa, and Suzuki Aina (Translated Interview)

Translation: ramen Translation Check: xIceArcher Quality Check: arbshortcake, Mega-, Yujacha

In their new songs, Aqours is cooler and more mature than ever!

—Aqours, the school idol group from “Love Live! Sunshine!!”, is celebrating their 5th year since their activities began. Your 5th anniversary Dome Tour theme song “Fantastic Departure!” is releasing soon. How did you feel when you listened to it?

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Suzuki: Like we’re setting off on a new adventure. It’s very Aqours-esque—like we’re reaching out to a more distant place.

Suwa: Right, it’s a song unlike anything we’ve had before, one with very strong undertones of a new beginning.

Komiya: We’ve had the privilege of performing at Tokyo Dome and MetLife Dome, but I feel like this song depicts us as we move a step beyond that.

Suzuki: I think people are wondering what will happen to Aqours from now on. This song conveys that Aqours is moving forward, that we aren’t disappearing.

—How did you feel when you were recording it?

Komiya: For this song, they said that it’d be good to sing in a more mature way than usual, right?

Suwa: Yeah. I remember them telling us to sound cool.

Suzuki: On the CD version, only Chika says the “attention please” line at the beginning, but actually, all of us had recorded it. They told us to say it in a mature way, so I got the impression that the song would have a mature vibe to it.

Suwa: I felt like Chika’s voice was really gentle on the CD version of “attention please”! It’s very Chika-like to be cool yet still be gentle.

—Any parts that you particularly like?

Suzuki: There’s a part where we each sing in turn, starting with Ruby, and the way it flows between us got me especially emotional. “Thank you, FRIENDS!!” starts with Chika, so everyone’s lines in the song flow together to connect to Chika. That gave me goosebumps.

Komiya: Until now, the 3rd years usually only got their own part once the song got to the second verse. But here, we sing our solos in the same parts across both the first and second verses. At the bridge (where the background music is quiet), each of us sings our own part, which I think is quite rare.

—How do you feel about the B-side, “Aqours Pirates Desire”?

Komiya: The singing range is really low!

Suzuki: Right? It’s low for Aqours.

Suwa: It thrashes from low to high, so I was wondering whether my own vocals would be in the low parts or the high parts. It turns out mine were in the high parts, so I was like “Ohh, I see!”.

Suzuki: The bridge part is quite low!

Komiya: Oh, and the lyrics in my part have “red” in them, so that’s probably why I got those lines. (laughs)

Suzuki: I really like the “one, two, one two three four” part at the beginning, as well as the parts that are a little “impish”. Maybe I should say we act a bit like pranksters.

Komiya: True, it’s the cool side of Aqours.

Suwa: Yup, very cool.

Suzuki: The instruments used in the song also give it a pirate-like feel, in a good way.

Komiya: I want to dance and wave a flag around to it.

The Dome Tour, made possible by everyone’s support.

—Details have yet to be released, but right now, what do you want to try during the Dome Tour?

Suwa: First of all, I want it to happen…

Suzuki: Exactly! The Dome Tour is something that absolutely wouldn’t be possible without everyone who’s been supporting us.

Komiya: You could say that before we knew it, we became something incredible.

Suwa: We’ve really been raised well. (laughs)

Suzuki: I think this tour is only happening because everyone has been looking forward to it, so when the day comes that we can hold it, I want to give a performance that’ll live up to those expectations.

—Aqours already has experience performing at Tokyo Dome, so what do you pay attention to when you’re on stage at large venues?

Komiya: Our 1st Live (Aqours First LoveLive! ~Step! ZERO to ONE~ in 2017) was at Yokohama Arena. Since then, our choreographers kept stressing that “because there are also fans in the stands, you should be conscious of not only the arena sections in front of you, but also those up in the stands”. Because of that, we haven’t had to wonder about what to do if the venue is really big.

Suwa: During our 4th Live (Aqours 4th LoveLive! ~Sailing to the Sunshine~ in 2018), we were hard to see when we were riding the Aqours Ship, so the staff told us to make big movements.

Suzuki: But when we looked at our rehearsal footage, our movements often looked small even when we were trying to make big movements!

Suwa: The studio is completely different from the actual venues.

Komiya: Yup. And sometimes we have no choice but to use a small studio for our rehearsals.

Suwa: Right, right. The member that’s supposed to be the furthest from you sometimes ends up right next to you because you have to loop around [since there’s so little space]. Also, the actual venue has a two-level stage, but we might have to rehearse at a studio that’s just one flat level.

Komiya: But because we had that experience with such hardships, for times like Fest where we couldn’t spare much time for rehearsals, we were able to say “Just tell us where to position ourselves, and we’ll be good!”.

During the photo session after the concert, a display of initiative despite their shyness!

—At Love Live! Fest in January, you crossed the borders of the series to share a stage with µ’s and the Nijigasaki High School Idol Club. Did anything in particular strike you from Fest?

Suzuki: It’d have to be µ’s performing “Snow halation”—that was unforgettable. After “Snow halation” (on the second day), we were going to go out on the Aqours Ship. So while we were on standby backstage, we could hear µ’s singing. I ended up crying as we gathered in a circle, feeling like “we’re living in a dream”.

Suwa: Everyone was tearing up at that point.

Komiya: Yup. It was a really mysterious feeling.

Suwa: That moment was something we would have never imagined several years ago, so even we couldn’t picture it.

Suzuki: The fact that we would be performing with everyone from the Love Live! series at Fest… it didn't feel real.

Komiya: When I first heard about Fest, I almost couldn’t believe it! (laughs)

—What are your memories of Aqours’ songs at Love Live! Fest?

Komiya: Even though it had been a long time since we did a concert, we didn’t spend much time rehearsing.

Suwa: Not to mention that we did a lot of songs.

Suzuki: Not to mention that we did unit songs too. (laughs)

Komiya: Also, the stage manager had messages for us before and after our performance, like “do your best”.

Suzuki: Right, right. Things like “You’re the best!” or “That fired me up!”.

Suwa: I understand saying that to us afterwards, but it was inconvenient saying that before the performance because we’d tear up. (laughs)

Komiya: Besides that… they made a ditch in the stage so that the Aqours Ship could move. So we couldn’t be in our normal positions. But even so, we were able to adapt to it right away, which was amazing.

Suzuki: Yes. If this was a long time ago, we wouldn’t have been able to.

Komiya: I was kind of scared of myself because of how much better I could adapt. (laughs)

—How were the performances from the members of the Nijigasaki High School Idol Club?

Suzuki: They really had nerves of steel—just incredible.

Suwa: Because they were all doing their solo songs.

Suzuki: If that were me, I’d be so nervous, like “I can’t do this!”.

Suwa: Maybe the Nijigasaki girls were thinking that too!

Komiya: We started out as a 9-member group, so that’s what we’ve gotten used to, after all.

Suzuki: When we were performing solo at our 3rd Live (Aqours 3rd LoveLive! ~WONDERFUL STORIES~ in 2018), I felt fidgety. (laughs)

Komiya: At that time, I was concentrating so hard that I don’t remember whether the penlights the audience was waving were red or white…

Suwa: The colors were mixed!

—Did you mingle with members from the other units?

Komiya: Our dressing rooms were on the same floor as the Nijigasaki girls, so we ended up meeting in the bathroom. Aside from that, we only occasionally crossed paths after our rehearsals finished.

Suzuki: After the concert, there was time to take photos with each other!

Suwa: But Aqours has a lot of shy girls, so we were kind of paralyzed. (laughs)

Suzuki: I was just paralyzed in awe. But then Kusuda Aina from µ’s was kind enough to come up to me, saying that “we’re both Aina!” and “our colors are both purple!”. It was so hard to believe—I was screaming really loudly on the inside. (laughs)

Suwa: Arisa was the exception, though—she wasn’t shy at all.

Komiya: Yup. I went around getting photos as I pleased. With the Nijigasaki girls, it was like an entire photo session, and from µ’s, I got pictures with Pile, Nanjo Yoshino, and Emitsun (Nitta Emi).

Suwa: I took photos with Mimori Suzuko and Uchida Aya.

Komiya: Everyone was shy, but we took the initiative—”I’m not letting this chance slip away!” (laughs)

Five years of closing the gap between their own personalities and that of an idol

—As we look back on Aqours’ activities, would you mind telling us how you feel about these past five years?

Suzuki: I had never danced before, so I was worried about whether I’d be okay, and whether I’d be able to keep up. There was the challenging leapfrog (in “Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai?”) and most of all: the fact that while Mari is tall, I’m the complete opposite.

I thought a lot about how to make my movements on stage appear bigger and how to bring out the sexy aura that Mari has. I worried a lot about those differences.

—How did you overcome those?

Suzuki: Once the anime started, it was a lot easier to see Mari’s expressions. That enabled me to spontaneously picture what Mari would do. It felt more and more like she stood by my side.

It doesn't really feel to me like the gap's been bridged yet, but I've slowly become more confident in our closeness thanks to the fans who'd say “Mari was on stage!".

—Suwa-san, how about you?

Suwa: I really started from rock bottom: no experience in singing or dancing, much less dancing within a formation. It wasn’t that I was missing something—it’s that I was missing everything. We had girls who could already sing or dance, so I inevitably felt like I had to put my all into it—or else. The only solution was to practice hard.

—Did you become confident in yourself through that practice?

Suwa: Good question. I memorize choreography faster than I did before, and my experiences over this time catalyzed my growth. Kanan and I only share a voice, while our appearances and personalities differ. So for concerts, I make my hair blue and my eyes purple. This makes me feel closer and closer to becoming one with Kanan.

—And how about you, Komiya-san?

Komiya: “Love Live! Sunshine!!” was pretty much my first time taking on the role of a voice actress. I had no understanding of how to approach reading an anime script, nor how to move in front of a mic. So I worked myself up into a frenzy. But since none of the other members had much experience with recording, I was relieved that, in some sense, we were all positioned at the same starting line.

Besides that, since I originally worked as an actress, I was overwhelmed by how I didn’t feel “idolish” enough for the job. You could say that my pride led me to feel too embarrassed about being sparkly like an idol.

—Do you feel like you’re able to project yourself as an idol now?

Komiya: Up until around our 2nd Live (“Aqours 2nd LoveLive! HAPPY PARTY TRAIN TOUR” in 2017), the stronger feeling was that of obligation—”I must do this”.

But I realized that I couldn’t enjoy performing at concerts when I was being animated by this obligation. Once I started focusing on enjoying myself, my feelings shifted as well. Though honestly, I still don’t know whether I really sparkle or not. (laughs)

—Komiya-san seems very close to Dia in terms of appearance.

Komiya: When I first saw them, I actually thought “there’s one that looks just like me”. (laughs) Yet she’s level-headed and talented, so our personalities differ. But, just like Aina, I got to know her human side, thanks to the anime. From there, I’ve gotten to understand her more and more.

All three of the third-years are unexpectedly laid-back?

—What’s your impression of the relations between the third-years?

Komiya: Even though they find it hard to be fully honest with each other, they’re actually the ones that love each other the most!

Suwa: Though we only got to see that after graduation, right?

SuzukI: Yes, yes. They drifted apart, made up, and matured in Season 2 of the anime. Then in the movie, they finally became honest with each other.

Komiya: In the movie, I felt like their relationship went back to how it was when they were children, in a good way.

—You can feel how strong the bonds are between the third-years from how their childhood relationship continued all the way from their youth to now.

Suzuki: Since the third-years are childhood friends, they’re the ones that have known each other the longest, even among all the Aqours members. It’s really a great relationship—you can feel how strong their bonds are from watching the animated performance scenes.

—What’s something that the third-years will never lose to the other year groups in?

Suzuki: Maturity…?

Komiya: If we consider the anime, maybe it’s their ability to communicate their thoughts to each other, without saying a word. Aside from that, there are many scenes in which the third-years have to pull the first- and second-years back to reality, so perhaps the third-years’ strength is being grounded in reality.

Suwa: In real life, we worked hard for the third-year songs (“Tousou Meisou Moebius Loop”, “Yosoku Fukanou Driving!”) during 5th Live (“Aqours 5th LoveLive! ~Next SPARKLING!!!~” in 2019), and I think our performance was second to none compared to the other year groups.

Komiya: Also, we’re quite calm, and I guess more laid-back than the other year groups. We had plenty of standby time when we were performing for the 69th “NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen”. We had a narrow space separated by partitions, and the three of us got together, then wondered if we should prepare for the performance by taking a nap. (laughs)

Suzuki: Right, and not only that, but Suwawa (Suwa-san) went straight to sleep before me or Arisa! (laughs)

—So it’s characteristic of the third-years that you’re rock steady and ready at any moment.

Suwa: Yes, I think so. During the standby time, the first-years seemed like they were constantly playing games, so it was pretty lively over there. (laughs)

Komiya: Our ages aren’t even that different…

—What is your mindset as you approach this 5th anniversary year?

Suzuki: We now have the privilege of performing on a dome tour in our 5th anniversary year. Although we’ve evolved and the stages have gotten bigger throughout the years, my feelings haven’t changed from when we started, and I want to move forward while keeping them in mind. As we move ahead, I don’t want to be satisfied with our current abilities. If each of us keeps doing what we can, I’m sure we’ll continue to be loved.

We’ll keep trying our best, so I hope that everyone will keep warmly watching over us. Please continue to support “Love Live! Sunshine!!” and Aqours from now on.

Komiya: After passing our goal of performing at Tokyo Dome, it would be nice if this dome tour serves as a fresh start as we visit several places.

Also, I’d be really happy if this tour enables many people to meet us for the first time. For those of you that are already fans of Aqours: if you have friends or acquaintances that are even a bit interested in us, I hope you can get them to come to a concert of ours and fall into the deep end. (laughs)

Since the venues have gotten bigger, we might end up seeming far away to some people. But our intention is always to be by your side. So please rest assured of that and enjoy our activities.

Suwa: Maybe there are people who learned about Aqours for the first time through this article. Even as we enter our 5th anniversary year, we won’t stop moving forward. If we’ve sparked anyone’s interest, please watch our previous performances, and maybe we can walk forward together from now onwards.

The third-years cast tells all: what’s great about the other two?

Suwa Nanaka on Komiya Arisa

Arisa gets greedy for food! (laughs) Whatever it is, if it's got something to do with food, her going to check it out once we get there is kind of cute. While she seems like an older sister type, the gap between that and her easy-going pace is funny.

Suwa Nanaka on Suzuki Aina

Aina’s very good at singing in a genuine, straightforward way. Personally, I like her baby-like appearance (laughs)—it makes her really cute.

Komiya Arisa on Suwa Nanaka

Suwawa is always calm and collected, and she makes sure to pay attention to what’s around her when she acts. Her calmness in the face of anything, anywhere, is amazing!

Apparently, she also did some cooking during the shelter-in-place period. I usually don’t hear about her cooking, so that surprised me, and I think that part of her is quite cute.

Komiya Arisa on Suzuki Aina

Aina is kind and easy to work with. Because of that, I feel like she’s able to bring us together. She’s always smiling and brightening up the room, no matter where we are, which is also very charming.

Suzuki Aina on Suwa Nanaka

Suwawa is the one I hang out with most in private, and she’s reliable in taking the lead by saying “let’s go here” or “let’s do this”. Though that might just be because I’m indecisive. (laughs)

When we’re out on a date, she walks on the cars’ side of the sidewalk like it’s natural, and when I run into trouble during Aqours’ activities and the like, she comes to my rescue. Her casual kindness is really amazing.

Her best feature is her skin, which is as pale as snow. This is gonna make me sound kind of creepy (laughs), but it feels very pleasant to touch.

Suzuki Aina on Komiya Arisa

Arisa asks me “well, how about we go to a cafe?” whenever I’m troubled, and there, we talk it out directly—she’s the type to show rather than tell. Because she doesn’t like being indirect and she’s not two-faced, you can safely believe that she really means what she says.

But even though she seems reliable, she can be airheaded—she’ll do things like spill some food or space out. That gap moe is cute.

Q&A: Suwa Nanaka, voice of Matsuura Kanan

Question 01: Tell us what you really like about Matsuura Kanan!

She’s somewhat naive, but she’s very thoughtful about her friends. Her figure is great, too. I think she’s charming in many ways. In the anime, the third-years have many serious scenes, but in the movie you can see them brighten up and run free after graduating from high school—I like that as well.

Question 02: Personally, is there anything you want or something you want to do right now?

It’s not really a “thing”. It’s difficult in the current situation, but I have a hobby of traveling, so I just want to go somewhere.

If I could choose, I’d go to Europe, but what I really want right now is to travel, so I feel like anywhere is fine.

Question 03: Are there any media, like books or games, that you’ve taken an interest in recently?

“Mystery to Iunakare” [a manga series]. I already liked mystery and crime dramas, and my interest was piqued when I happened to see an ad for it. Every time, even though I try figuring it out, I can never figure out the culprit, and after it gets solved, I go back and realize there was actually foreshadowing. I take quite a bit of time to read it.

Question 04: When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A kindergarten teacher. I like babies, so up until around middle school, I also thought I wanted to be a nursery school teacher. Right after that, I started wanting to become a voice actress.

Question 05: What do you do on your days off?

I go on solo trips. Even if the next day suddenly opens up, it’s pretty hard to invite someone out, so I almost always go out alone. Sometimes I go to places I’ve been thinking about visiting for the longest time, but there are also places that I had booked a hotel at when my holiday was confirmed.

Q&A: Komiya Arisa, voice of Kurosawa Dia

Question 01: Tell us what you really like about Kurosawa Dia!

Everything, of course. (laughs) To be specific, in her roles as the student council president and as Ruby’s older sister, she always feels that she has to be reliable. But when she tries too hard to no avail—that human side of her is cute.

In Season 2, Episode 4 of the anime, you can feel that charm of hers gripping your heart. She hides her own feelings so that she can watch over everyone, but her own feelings slowly reveal themselves. It’s wonderful that she was finally able to act freely after that.

Question 02: Personally, is there anything you want or something you want to do right now?

The other day, I put on socks with lamé [fabric with metallic fibers] in them, and I noticed that my favorite black sneakers have a hole in them. I didn’t notice until now, since I’ve only worn black socks! I really want to get new ones as soon as I can.

Also, I’ve been buying more groceries that require freezing, and since I’ve noticed my freezer is small, I want a big freezer.

Question 03: Are there any media, like books or games, that you’ve taken an interest in recently?

I’ve always been buying “Kuroshitsuji” and “Kinou nani Tabeta?”. Recently, other than books and manga, I’ve gotten into the “Boku no Hero Academia” anime—I’ve watched through Season 4 of the anime as well as the movie. I like the Big 3’s Amajiki Tamaki.

Question 04: When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Sailor Moon. When I was young, since the classical ballet tutu looked like Sailor Moon’s uniform, I apparently thought that I could become Sailor Moon if I learned classical ballet. Though I completely forgot about that thought. (laughs) In middle school, I wanted to become a pharmacist, and in high school, I wanted to become a dietitian.

Question 05: What do you do on your days off?

I roll around and nap on the sofa, staring at the ceiling with no thoughts, head empty. (laughs) If I have errands to run or outings planned, I go out. But I don’t want my skin to get tanned, and when I wonder what reason there is for leaving the house if I don’t have a purpose in mind, I find myself not wanting to go out. If possible, I like to just stay inside my home and not do anything.

Q&A: Suzuki Aina, voice of Ohara Mari

Question 01: Tell us what you really like about Ohara Mari!

She’s a very positive girl—she shines, she’s positive, and she’s fearless. But I particularly like how thoughtful she is towards her friends. Even though she never puts it into words, she loves Aqours so much that she’s always thinking about the other members even more than herself. It’s not often that someone can do as well as Mari in “conveying her love to everyone”.

Question 02: Personally, is there anything you want or something you want to do right now?

I want a Nintendo Switch Lite~! The Coral Pink one. I already have a Switch, but I want another one to carry around.

Besides that, right now, I want to do a concert as soon as possible! Even though concerts are tough, I want to find a way to carry my voice to our fans.

Question 03: Are there any media, like books or games, that you’ve taken an interest in recently?

I’ve been reading [the manga] “Houkago wa Kissaten de”—it’s a comfy romantic comedy, and I can’t help but grin when reading it. It really makes your heart skip a beat! (laughs) I’m also into the game “Identity V”. I mostly play the Violent Struggle game mode.

Question 04: When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was around five or six years old, I would say I wanted to work at “a cake shop!” (laughs), but from late elementary school to middle school, my dream was to be a manga artist. I was pretty serious—one thing I did was taking a correspondence course on becoming a mangaka.

Question 05: What do you do on your days off?

Sleep, play games… to me, that’s the best way to spend my time. (laughs) I often don’t go out, but sometimes I go shopping with my younger sister.

#love live!#love live! sunshine!!#nanaka suwa #arisa komiya #aina suzuki

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jacksoncastleman-blog · 4 years

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Blog Post 13

1. Singapore is a city state in Asia, in the Indonesia region which is a group of Islands south of the main continent. I don’t know much about Singapore other than that however.

2. Hegemony by definition is the political, economic, or military predominance or control of one state over others. Pretty much it is when one party or person has all political power which is what the Political Action Party in Singapore has. While more things may be accomplished, I think this is a bad model for government. My hope is that there were no parties and that people voted their conscience, but in the US our system is a great system. People often complain that nothing gets done because of all of the red tape and checks and balances, this allows for thought out laws and plans instead of reactionary things that could happen with one party in power. This also allows for more accountability because if you don’t like the job they are doing, then you don’t have to vote for them.

3. I thought it was really unique and I have never seen anything like that before

4. I think the our civil religion as a country used to be one that we were superior to other countries, that no matter what adversity we may face we will prevail together. However I think that since the creation of the 24/7 news cycles, the Vietnam War, social media and partisan news outlets we have become more divided. I still believe in the good parts of our country and the possibility of everyone else mending their issues. I think music has a role in this with uniting songs such as the National Anthem, God Bless America, etc. But also through patriotic songs created in times of adversity such as Made in America by Toby Keith who talks about the power that an united American front has.

5. As stated in the article on pages 450-451, music can convey a message not just through the lyrics, but also through “visuals, rhythms, titles of songs and albums, the timing of releases and sometimes through the lifestyles of the performer”.

6. 2 musical elements that stick out are the feeling of a ballad in the first verse, and then as the song its picks up in terms of instruments that are playing which adds more to it. Also the lyrics of the songs are talking about having enough pride to sing for Singapore. 2 visual elements are how it shows the good parts of Singapore's infrastructure to show that it’s a good place to be and also it shows how many different musical opportunities there are. My first impression of this song is that I don’t gather anything from it, but I also think that is because this song isn’t meant for me to get anything. It is meant as a song for the citizens of Singapore to inspire more pride for their country.

7. One musical change I noticed was the quality of sound. In the first video it was very full of static and this is probably due to the lack of technology in Singapore at this time. However in the more recent video it seemed as if their technology had caught up to the rest of the world. I also think the 2nd video is different because of who is singing. In the first video it’s just some guy singing, and in the second it is famous people from Singapore that are singing to symbolize their pride in Singapore, because the song is trying to ignite more pride in their country.

8. Some differences in the two songs are the style of them. In the first song, it is very 1980s, in that it has a We Are the World theme to it. Through the style of the song and what is being sung about. In the second it is very modern. In that it looks like a music video that is commonly seen today. Where it’s almost like a short film that is showing what the song is about.

9. If the US produced a song like this, I would appreciate the gesture, but ultimately it wouldn’t have any effect on me. It might effect some people throughout our country, I do not think it would do anything for me. I would rather have our country spend their time and efforts on creating more tests and a vaccine so this can all be over than make a song.

10. I think the most interesting thing learning about the governments usage of music in Singapore was that they have a national song every year and that people enjoy it and get behind that. I do not think that a US national song would have the same effect. I think this just further entrenches my belief that music is one of if not the most powerful things around.

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pamalamherron92 · 3 years

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20 Repetition Examples Worth Repeating (+10 Repetition Types)

We see repetition examples everywhere — in books, movies, music, and even commercials.

Advertisers use repetition to craft catchy slogans that entice us to buy. Musicians use it to create songs that get stuck in our heads. Politicians use it to persuade nations.

But you?

How can you use repetition to spice up your writing and make it memorable?

I’ll show you how.

But first, we need to start with the basics. So let’s define repetition then jump into some examples.

Shall we?

What is Repetition?

Repetition is a literary device where words or phrases repeat for emphasis.

There are several types of repetition. For instance, alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds.

You might remember this consonance example from your childhood:

“Sally sells seashells by the seashore.”

Sound familiar?

But repetition is used for more than just childhood tongue twisters. If used correctly, it’ll strengthen your writing by:

Emphasizing your message

Boosting memorability

Adding rhythm

Linking ideas or topics together

But I should issue a warning.

There’s a fine line between repetition and redundancy.

For example, take the following paragraph:

He raced to the grocery store. He went inside but realized he forgot his wallet. He raced back home to grab it. Once he found it, he raced to the car again and drove back to the grocery store.

“Raced” is repeated, but it doesn’t strengthen the sentences. Instead, it sounds like the author couldn’t think of better word choices.

What follows, then, is too many filler words that confuse the reader and lose their attention.

Now compare that redundant paragraph to this repetition example:

It was the best of times,

it was the worst of times,

it was the age of wisdom,

it was the age of foolishness,

Do you see how compelling that is?

It’s the opening to Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities.

Dickens’ repetition draws his readers in and encourages them to keep turning the page.

Can it do the same for you and your audience?

Yes.

Let’s show you how to replicate this with more examples.

10 Types of Repetition with Examples

Repetition is an umbrella literary device that includes more specific types of stylistic tools, like alliteration, epistrophe, diacope, and others.

And here’s a hint:

Each type of repetition serves a unique purpose. The one you choose depends on what you’re trying to convey.

So let’s talk about that next.

1. Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses.

It’s common in music, poems, and children’s books that have a rhyming element.

For example, Nico and Vinz’s song “Am I Wrong?” features this anaphora:

So am I wrong for thinking that we could be something for real?

Now am I wrong for trying to reach the things that I can’t see?

Listen to how catchy this line sounds below:

youtube

Anaphora can also be used in speeches to motivate people. Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech included this repetition example:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

See what I mean?

Repetition not only emphasized Dr. King’s point, but it made it more memorable and quotable.

2. Epizeuxis

Epizeuxis is the repetition of a word or phrase in immediate succession.

Winston Churchill used epizeuxis in his address to Harrow School:

Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty-never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.

How’s that for a commencement speech?

Churchill was known for his inspiring speeches that were packed full of powerful words and rhetorical devices.

But while repetition examples are common in speeches, they don’t stop there. Writers have used repetition for ages.

For example, in King Lear, William Shakespeare wrote:

And my poor fool is hanged! No, no, no life!

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life,

And thou no breath at all? Thou’lt come no more,

Never, never, never, never!

In the scene above, King Lear is grieving the death of his daughter. The use of epizeuxis is a perfect choice for this scene because it strengthens the emotion.

3. Epistrophe

Epistrophe, also called “epiphora,” uses repetition at the end of independent clauses or sentences.

Many writers and speakers use epistrophe to drive home their points.

Abraham Lincoln achieved this in his “Gettysburg Address”:

Government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Powerful, isn’t it?

Many musicians also love using repetition to add a regular rhythm to their songs and make them catchy.

And they’re right.

We see it in Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” song:

‘Cause if you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

Don’t be mad once you see that he want it

4. Negative-Positive Restatement

A negative-positive restatement states an idea twice, first in negative terms and then in positive terms. These are typically “not this, but that” statements.

For example:

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,” said John F. Kennedy.

Another famous negative-positive restatement comes from Martin Luther King. He said, “Freedom is not given; it is won.”

5. Diacope

Diacope is the repetition of a single word or phrase, separated by intervening words. It comes from the Greek word thiakhop, which means “cutting in two.”

My favorite example comes from Michael Jordan. He said:

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Jordan first said this in a Nike ad. You can watch this short commercial below. I promise you won’t be disappointed:

youtube

Speaking of commercials, Maybelline uses a diacope in their tagline when they say, “Maybe she’s born with it; maybe it’s Maybelline.”

6. Epanalepsis

Epanalepsis repeats words or phrases at the beginning and the end of the same sentence or clause.

For example:

“Control, control, you must learn control,” said Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back.

Check it out:

youtube

Epanalepsis puts a heavy emphasis on the idea you’re trying to convey.

It also uses the “primacy” and “recency” effects which means the first and last thing we hear is more likely to stick in our minds.

Some politicians love this technique. Politicians like John F. Kennedy.

He used this repetition example in his address to the United Nations:

Mankind must put an end to war — or war will put an end to mankind.

7. Epimone

Epimone uses repetition to dwell on a point. It’s commonly used in stories where a character is pleading or commanding someone to do something.

We saw it in Oliver Goldsmith’s play, She Stoops to Conquer:

I tell you, sir, I’m serious! And now that my passions are roused, I say this house is mine, sir; this house is mine, and I command you to leave it directly.

Epimone is also used to illustrate persistence. For example, in Webster’s address to the Senate, he said:

The cause, then, Sir, the cause! Let the world know the cause which has thus induced one State of the Union to bid defiance to the power of the whole, and openly to talk of secession.

8. Polyptoton

Polyptoton involves the repetition of words that derive from the same root word.

Here’s a famous quote from John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton:

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Remember that one?

“Absolute” and “absolutely” are different words, but they derive from the same root word.

Polyptoton is common in headlines and book titles too.

Heidi Murkoff’s popular book on pregnancy is titled What to Expect When You’re Expecting

Here’s a screenshot of the cover page:

9. Antistasis

Antistasis uses repetition to contrast two ideas. It derives from the Greek meaning “to stand against” or “opposing position.”

For example, when someone asks you:

“Are you working hard or hardly working?”

That’s an antistasis example because it contrasts two ideas on work.

Advertisers use this technique too. The tagline of the Starkist Tuna commercials was:

“Sorry, Charlie. StarKist wants tuna that tastes good, not tuna with good taste.“

Do you see how the combination of those contrasting ideas makes you stop and think?

That’s the goal.

10. Antanaclasis

Antanaclasis repeats the same word or phrase but with a different meaning each time. This repeated phrase is also known as a pun because it’s a play on words.

Benjamin Franklin used it when he said, “Your argument is sound, nothing but sound.”

In the first part, he said the argument is solid. In the second, he discounted it as noise.

Vince Lombardi, a famous football coach, also used antanaclasis when he stated:

“If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.”

See how easy that is?

Stating the same phrases in a different way makes them wittier.

Examples of Repetition in Literature

Surprise, surprise:

Some of the best repetition examples come from books and poems.

It didn’t take long for many of the world’s most famous writers — like Shakespeare and Maya Angelou — to understand the power of this rhetorical device.

For example, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare used repetition when he said:

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Oh, woeful, oh woeful, woeful, woeful day!

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, he used repetition in successive phrases to emphasize his point:

The apartment was on the top floor-a small living-room, a small dining-room, a small bedroom, and a bath.

The repeated word “small” highlights to the reader how tiny Tom’s apartment is.

Maya Angelou also knew how to use this literary technique to her advantage. In her poem, Still I Rise, she said:

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise.

This repetition in poetry emphasizes Angelou’s main point and signifies her strength.

Famous Examples of Repetition in Pop Culture

Repetition is common in music because it makes it easy to sing along with the lyrics.

Here’s an example from Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog”:

You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog

Cryin’ all the time

You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog

Cryin’ all the time

We also see repetition all the time in movies.

Why?

Because it gives us quotable movie lines that stand the test of time. Here’s a famous repetition example from Taxi Driver:

You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin’ to? You talkin’ to me? Well, I’m the only one here.

Hear this quote in action:

youtube

And then, of course, another famous repetition example comes from the James Bond series. James Bond always introduces himself as “Bond. James Bond.”

Why Write with Repetition?

Let me ask you:

If there was an easy way to be more memorable, would you do it?

And if you could easily add emphasis to your message, would you do it?

Of course you would.

Just by using repeated patterns in one sentence or paragraph, you can:

Make your point more convincing

Increase memorability

Add flow to your writing

Make your words rhyme

Link topics or ideas together

Think of it this way.

There’s a reason why some of history’s most famous speakers used repetition. Winston Churchill, JFK, and Martin Luther King used it because it works.

It makes your writing more persuasive, quotable, and memorable. And in writing, that’s considered the triple threat.

Ready to Put These Repetition Examples to Work?

Using repetition is simple.

Start by choosing an idea that you want to emphasize. Then repeat words that stress that idea and make your prose more quotable.

But a friendly reminder:

Don’t overuse repetition. Just use it on thoughts or ideas that you want to carry a significant impact, or else it’ll lose its effect.

Remember my redundancy example from earlier?

You don’t want to look like a lazy writer who couldn’t find a better way to word your message.

Instead, use it like David Schwartz when he said:

“The mind is what the mind is fed.”

See how that works? Now go try it for yourself.

You’ve got this.

The post 20 Repetition Examples Worth Repeating (+10 Repetition Types) appeared first on Smart Blogger.

from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/repetition-examples/

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urbanstarzmedia · 3 years

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'What's Going On' at 50 – Marvin Gaye Motown classic is as relevant today as it was in 1971

#Tags Motown Marvin Gaye ; Motown wasn’t really known for its politically conscious music. Then came “What’s Going On.” Released on May 21, 1971, at the height of the Vietnam War, Marvin Gaye’s album became a monster, spawning three hit singles on its way to becoming Motown’s best-selling album to date. The album also marked a turning point for Motown and for Marvin Gaye as an artist. As a scholar of race and culture in the U.S. and the host of the weekly radio show “Soul Stories,” I am struck by how many of the themes Gaye explores remain as relevant today as they were when he first wrote about them 50 years ago.

Gaye’s evolution

Some of the songs on the album speak directly to the state of the world in the early 1970s. The title track, with its timeless lyric “war is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate,” condemned the nation’s involvement in Vietnam. But the song provides an insight into the evolution of Gaye’s music to encompass overtly political themes. “What’s Going On” contrasts with his earlier work from the Vietnam War era that presents a different perspective. For example, “Soldier’s Plea,” the first single from Gaye’s second album, “That Stubborn Kinda Fellow” in 1962, offers a decidedly romantic view of war: While I’m away, darling how often do you think of me? Remember, I’m over here, fighting to keep us free Just be my little girl and always be true And I’ll be a faithful soldier boy to you “Soldier’s Plea” fits neatly into Motown’s early business model. Both Berry Gordy – who founded Tamla Records in 1959 and then incorporated it as the Motown Record Co. a year later – and the songwriters he brought in mostly avoided political content. Motown singers such as Mary Wells, The Supremes and The Temptations were to be, as the label liked to say, the “Sound of Young America,” not political activists. Gordy told Time magazine in 2020, “I never wanted Motown to be a mouthpiece for civil rights.” While song lyrics did not explicitly mention the ongoing civil rights protests emerging across the nation in the 1960s, Motown didn’t entirely ignore racial politics. The label released the spoken-word album “The Great March to Freedom” on the same day as the March on Washington – Aug. 28, 1963. The release commemorated the Walk to Freedom, a Detroit mass march from earlier that summer, and featured a speech by Martin Luther King Jr. Motown also created the Black Forum label, which released other political speeches by King, such as his 1967 “Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam,” and Stokely Carmichael’s song “Free Huey!” pleading for the release of fellow Black Power leader Huey Newton in 1970. The label also released albums of poetry by Amiri Baraka, Elaine Brown, Langston Hughes and Margaret Danner. By and large, though, early releases on the Motown label were restricted to the apolitical. But the world had changed by 1971. The freedom struggle had taken a more radical turn with the emergence of the Black Power movement, the Chicano Movement, the Young Lords and the American Indian Movement. The first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, focused attention on the emerging U.S. environmental movement. Meanwhile, anti-war activists protested the draft, escalating violence, and the sight of body bags returning from Vietnam. The U.S. musical soundscape shifted alongside these political, social and economic transformations. Art and politics merged through 1969’s Woodstock festival. Meanwhile, Black Power-driven messages started to emanate from the soul and gospel music distributed by the Stax label in Memphis and a host of other musicians who offered searing critiques of U.S. imperialism such as Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield and Gil Scott-Heron.

Hollering love across the nation

Alongside this political shift came internal pressure in Motown to give artists more agency over their own output. As Motown performers matured artistically, some felt stifled by Gordy’s model and demanded more artistic control. Gaye produced “What’s Going On” himself – a revolutionary act at Motown. The result is a painfully beautiful protest album from first track to last. The opening lines of the album are sung softly, yet urgently: “Mother, mother, there’s far too many of you crying/ Brother, brother, brother, there’s far too many of you dying.” Lyrics grapple with the effects of the war on families and the lives of young men sent overseas. The next song follows one of those young men home to a nation grappling with an unemployment rate of 6%. “Can’t find no work, can’t find no job, my friend,” Gaye laments on “What’s Happening Brother.” The album’s final track conveys frustration: “Makes me wanna holler how they do my life … this ain’t living, this ain’t living.” In between, we have everything from an exploration of faith to the environmentalist anthem “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” concluding with the refrain “How much more abuse from man can she stand?” Yet “What’s Going On” expresses hope. Gaye repeats the affirmation “right on” – a phrase distinctly grounded in black urban vernacular – throughout the album and on a song bearing that name. We first hear this phrase on the title track, “What’s Going On.” Gaye affirms “Right on, brother” to men who respond in kind at different points in the song. The call and response communicates a sense of shared concern, shared struggle, and shared redemption – an ethos Gaye took from the gospel tradition that informs his musicality. This call and response is repeated in “Wholy Holy,” with Gaye utilizing a multitracking technique to layer two versions of his own vocals: We can conquer (yes we can) hate forever (oh Lord) Wholy (wholy holy, wholy holy) We can rock the world’s foundation Everybody together, together in wholy (wholy holy) We’ll holler love, love, love across the nation

Still a hit

Gordy was initially reluctant to embrace Gaye’s new direction. But Motown could not ignore the album’s success. The title track reached the top spot on Billboard’s R&B chart and peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100. The album remained on the charts for 58 weeks. Gaye’s classic album still resonates with audiences on its 50th anniversary. The environmental messages of “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” are just as germane today as 1971, as are the powerful statements on race, war and poverty on other tracks. As someone who teaches courses on the history of music in the United States, I’ve noticed that most of my students immediately recognize songs from “What’s Going On” – an album released decades before they were born. In a nation where people continue to protest white supremacy, endless wars, environmental damage, police brutality and poverty, “What’s Going On” remains as relevant as ever. 'What's Going On' at 50 – Marvin Gaye Motown classic is as relevant today as it was in 1971-Author:

Tyina Steptoe, Associate Professor of History, University of Arizona This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. For More California news VISIT For more Health News Visit Here Check out more food ideas on Cali.FM For more Entertainment News visit HERE Check out more great contributor stories, HERE Read the full article

#TagsMarvinGayeMotown #califm #california #Californiaradiostation #entertainment #hiphop #lashaunturner #losangeles #media #music #musicvideo #news #radio

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akemilena · 7 years

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SolidS Unit Song Series COLOR -WHITE-

Soliradi Special Mini mini Edition (ver. WHITE)

Drama || Translation index

Rikka: To all of SolidS’ fans: hello!

Tsubasa: All of SolidS’ members are delivering to all of you this live broadcast-style radio!

Dai: SolidS radio, also known as Soliradi…

Shiki: Special mini mini edition… it’s~ sta~rting~!!

Tsubasa: Yes! It’s here, it’s the time of Soliradi. Everyone in front of the radio: we meet again! I’m today’s main personality, Okui Tsubasa!

Rikka: Likewise, I’m Sera Rikka from SolidS. It’s finally the last episode of Soliradi mini mini edition. Let’s have fun until the end!

Dai: I’m Murase Dai from SolidS. Thanks to all the listeners’ support, I have the feeling I got used to the radio. Though I’m not used to the other member’s merriness. I’ll do my best and try not to lose.

Shiki: I’m SolidS’ producer and leader Takamura Shiki. Let’s have a lot of fun today tooo!

Dai: This is what I mean.

Rikka: The four of us together are SolidS! Please take care of us.

Tsubasa: Well! So after the introductions, let’s go for the explanation of Soliradi.

Shiki: In Soliradi, the members of SolidS become radio personalities and deliver this in public recordings and live broadcasts. It’s a heart-throbbing radio.

Rikka: From the messages and questions we received beforehand, our leader Shiki selects some. And while reading those, we answer them as much as we can. It’s that kind of radio.

Dai: While enjoying the interactions with the listeners, we also hope for you to know more about us, and continue supporting us. This radio has this kind of wish included, but…

Tsubasa: But?

Dai: … Won’t people think “this is different to what I imagined”?

Tsubasa: *bitter laugh* Well yeah, I can’t deny that. Like Shiki, or Shiki, or Shiki, or Shiki, or Shiki!!!! Doing whatever he wants!!! But, you know, Dai-chan? And the listeners too? It depends how you look at it.

Rikka: Yep, yep.

Tsubasa: Our super coolness as idols. And the friendliness behind it. You get to know both of them and enjoy the difference… well… you know, gap moe! Gap moe!

Shiki: You’re making me blush.

Tsubasa: I’m not charmed though.

Rikka: *laughs* I got to see Shiki when he has fun, and Tsubasa’s retorts and his reliability to make conversations advance, and Dai’s bare cuteness, so I like Soliradi.

Dai: It’s not like I’m cute.

Rikka: You’re cute!

Dai: I’m not.

Shiki: You’re cute!

Dai: Ugh… go to the next!!!

Tsubasa: Okay, okaaaay. Well then, let’s go with the messag-

Shiki: Question!

Tsubasa: O-ooh, what is it, why are you raising your hand? Erm, Shiki-kun?

Shiki: Usually, the one who reads the question is the one who the message is directed to. But this time, I’m thinking of changing the direction and make someone else read the question, as if it was an interview.

Rikka: Oh, that sounds fun!

Shiki: To accept the fans’ feels and make them bigger and stronger is our duty as idols. In exchange for the listeners, the other members convey their feelings. Read the messages properly while reflecting upon the importance of that.

Tsubasa: Mm, yeah, that’s fine, but I feel there’s something behind…

Shiki: Okay! Then, a message for Tsubasa, from Dai. This.

Dai: Eh, me? Uh… From Miki-san. “A question for Tsuu-kun. Tsuu-kun, you always look very energetic, but how do you change your mood when you get depressed? If you don’t mind, please tell us. I’ll be supporting you from now on too. … T-Tsuu-kun, I love you.”

Shiki: I… wanted Dai to say Tsuu-kun…

Tsubasa: Only because of that, right?! It’s really only because of it that you included all this pretense!!!!

Dai: Ngh…

Rikka: Dai is completely red. Good work.

Shiki: Come on, Tsubasa. The reply, the reply!

Tsubasa: Don’t “the reply, the reply” me! Tsk, but the message is not at fault. *clears throat* Um, Miki-san, thank you so much for the support. My way to change my mood, huh… Chatting, shopping, and walking around the city, I guess? Anyway, if I get shut in in my own world, I end up overthinking, you know… like, my mood gets even worse. I try to force myself to get out and interact with the outside world. When you’re depressed, I think there are times when you want people to leave you alone, but it’s okay to think “don’t leave me alone” too!

Rikka: Didn’t expect any less. Actually replying properly, that’s our Tsubasa. Excellent, excellent!

Tsubasa: Rikka is so healing~

Shiki: Well then, a message for Rikka, Tsubasa.

Tsubasa: Roger! Here, from Kono-san. “To Rikka-san, hello! It’s a bit sudden, but in Rikka-san’s solo song there’s the word “Cinderella” in the lyrics. If you could become a character from a fairy tale, which would you like to be?”

Dai: I was the only one who got the difficult message to read or what…

Rikka: *laughs* Thank you for your question. A character from a fairy tale, huh… I think I would like to become a wizard.

Tsubasa: Oooh! I think there are a lot of wizards everywhere, but which?

Rikka: The witch from The Little Mermaid.

Dai: A villain?

Rikka: I don’t think you can really call them that. That witch, originally, made true the wish of the little mermaid to become human, which was impossible. Even if it was with a lot of conditions. It was the little mermaid herself who chose a dangerous bet, and I think you can’t really call the witch “bad”. There’s no clear “good” or “bad”… I feel… it was just a person who could use magic.

Shiki: You admire that?

Rikka: Yep. I know it’s a bit rare, though.

Dai: Only a bit?

Rikka: *laughs* Maybe not a bit.

Shiki: Next, a question for me. Rikka.

Rikka: Okaaay~ Eh, here we have one from Boxer pants-san. “To Shiki-san. I’m studying music, but lately I can’t focus on practicing and I’m unmotivated. Please scold me.”

Shiki: Fight!!! Scooold!!

Tsubasa: That’s short!! You chose one you could finish quickly, right?! Tsk, as if I would let Shiki be the only one comfortable!! Where are the spares!! Er, around here?! Eh, here, from Hiyako-san. “Please give me a coffee.”

Shiki: A coffee for you!

Tsubasa: Here, from Tomato-san. “How can I draw well a gorilla?”

Shiki: Search for images of gorillas~! Let’s try to draw it while looking at them.

Tsubasa: Here, from Sute koinu-san. “Tell me a kind of broth other than oden that goes well with rice!”

Shiki: Ramen rice is good, too!

Tsubasa: No, the questions for you are all way too dry!! And have nothing to do with idols!!

Dai: If you’re going to put it on rice, salmon flakes and nori. Also, minced meat. I like to pour hot water over it.

Tsubasa: Dai-chan, you’re expanding that?! Uh, I like to put on canned whole tomatoes, throw cheese over it and make a risotto, though?!

Rikka: I like ochazuke with dried plum and salted konbu.

Shiki: This really shows our interests. If you have warm white rice with a meal, everyone is happy and energetic.

Tsubasa: Okaaay, again there’s nothing left of SolidS in this radio…!

Shiki: In that case, we’ll take back SolidS’ soul with the next message! Dai!!! From Rina-san. “Hello. Dai-chan, inside of SolidS, you’re the youngest child, right? I’m the oldest daughter so I don’t know, but tell us what’s difficult of being the youngest child. Also, I’d be happy if you tell us the good parts of it, too.”

Dai: Youngest child… well, age-wise I guess I’ll be that.

Tsubasa: Hmm… Age aside, personality-wise, I think the little brother position suits you too.

Shiki: That’s right. Dai is the younger brother type.

Dai: Uh… am I that unreliable?

Tsubasa: *laughs* No, no, you’re reliable too, and we’re depending on you! But not in that sense, I mean that you’re the type to be spoiled, not the one that spoils. You can also call in the teased position too~

Rikka: Yep yep. You’re the tallest, and your way of talking and personality are very calm. You’re cool but… there are times you suddenly show us your cute side, right? As seen from the outside, we end up wanting to look after you.

Shiki: Cool, but cute. Our pride and joy: our youngest child. That’s it.

Dai: What’s difficult is being teased by these three brocons like this, and being played by them.

Tsubasa: *laughs*

Dai: What’s good is… that while they tease me and play me, they teach me a lot of things, and make me grow up.

Rikka: Dai…! Yes, that’s true. We also learn a lot of things from you, and grow up, too.

Shiki: What a touching story!!

Tsubasa: Your intervention is ruining it though.

Rikka: Well, with this we’ve done one round?

Dai: It seems… we still have a bit of time.

Tsubasa: Okay, let’s read as many as we can! Here, from Saetaro-san. “If someone says, “let’s go on a date tomorrow!” where would you take them?” Hmm… let’s see, first of all to a café that has a super delicious morning menu, and have a great breakfast! And while eating, I’d like to decide where we go together.

Shiki: Hm. Like the meeting we always do on mornings.

Tsubasa: That’s totally different!!!

Rikka: Next, from Mira-san. “This CD’s colour is white, so what is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear ‘white’”? Hmm… a pure white shirt with a simple silhouette. It’s something you can wear with everything and go anywhere.

Dai: The fact that clothes is the first thing that comes to your mind is so like you.

Rikka: What’s the first thing that comes to your mind?

Dai: Uh… a fluffy futon?

Rikka: *laughs* Even if it’s also the bed, the fact that you didn’t say white sheets is very like you, and very cute.

Dai: From Batako-san. “The other day, Tsubasa exposed a secret episode from you, so this time I really want you to expose a secret from him too.” … Ah… While he was getting his make-up done, they gave him a magazine to kill time, and he was reading the fortune-telling page super focused.

Tsubasa: You reveal that here?? But that’s, you know, don’t you check to know what do you get? Like those where you add all the numbers of your birth date.

Dai: I have zero interest in it, so I won’t do it.

Tsubasa: You traitor~

Rikka: I understand. I end up checking it too.

Tsubasa: Rikka!!! My kindred soul!!!

Shiki: I don’t even have the chance to get magazines with features like that.

Tsubasa: You’re also reading documents or working during the free time while you get your make-up done, right?

Shiki: I have a slight interest in horoscopes, though. Wishing on a shining star…!

Tsubasa: Um, yeah. I’m sure even the stars are surprised about how the line and the energy and the appearance don’t match.

Shiki: Here, from Kino-san. “Speaking of Shiki-san, you always talk very passionately about your home town, Nagano Prefecture, so if you have any places we should go to if we visit Nagano, or any food recommendations, please tell us”. Okay, Nagano! The theme is Nagano. WELCOME TO LONG FIELD.

Dai: He’s more excited than ever.

Shiki: This is a personal opinion, so I’ll accept any objection. My recommended spots are Matsumoto Castle, Utsukushigahara’s starry sky, Suwa taisha. Aside from these, city sights are also fun, but I also want you to go to the suburbs by car, bus or train and see Nagano’s typical natural splendour. About food, soba is famous, and there are many restaurants so I’d almost want you to eat and compare them, but if you have time, I’d be happy if you try temaki sushi wrapped in bamboo grass, or sasazushi. Depending on the region, the ingredients are different, and those differences are fun, too.

Tsubasa: Hey Shiki, you’re talking even longer than when you talk about music!

Rikka: I guess it’s nice to love your homeland so much…

Tsubasa: Ah come on, let’s go to the next, next! Time-wise, maybe the last? Here, from Torihi-san. Thank you! “To everyone. Please say a line that will make girls skip a beat! Please!” Hey, at least the last one, let’s make it idol-like! I chose this one with this wish in mind.

Rikka: Tsubasa, you’re excellent!

Dai: I’m not good at this, okay… I do want to make people happy, though…

Shiki: Don’t worry, Dai. There are girls that have already skipped a beat with that line just now. Okaaay, I’ll do my best!!

Dai: That’s a huge flag.

Shiki: No, at the end I’ll do it seriously.

Rikka: “At the end”, he said.

Tsubasa: Okay then, I’m starting!

Thank you for listening until now. I had a lot of fun talking with you today. I want to see you again… we can meet again, right? While looking forward to that… tonight, dream about me, okay? It’s a promise. *kiss*

This was Okui Tsubasa from SolidS!

Rikka: The COLOR trilogy, dyed in many colours. And the special edition of Soliradi, is ending with this one. Thank you for staying with us until the end. When you’re tired, or you’re feeling sad, or in sleepless nights… if I could be by your side… Thinking that, I sing songs, and words, wishing that my feelings will reach you…

This was Sera Rikka!

Dai: The COLOR series, where I sang many different songs with the other members. It was fun. Thank you. I want to meet you again. I’ll believe we’ll meet again.

This was Murase Dai.

Shiki: And so, the unit song COLOR series, was completed. Red, black, white, I hoped you enjoyed the respective songs. Groping to show different individuality and amusement, the members sang with all their might the songs I made with all my might. I’m grateful, from the bottom of my heart, that I can deliver my songs to all of you. Well… a line that will make them skip a beat at the end…

It was fun, thank you.

Okay, good work! We’re going drinking, you guys!!

Tsubasa & Rikka & Dai: Yeah!!

Drama || Translation index

TL notes:

Nagano (長野) means, literally, long (長-い) field (野). Yes, I know. Yes, you can hit him.

I put some links to photos of the spots Shiki mentions so you can get a visual image. They all look beautiful, I want to go too ;_;

And with this CD, the second season is over!! Only a few more CDs to catch up~ thanks for reading!

#solids #tsukipro #tsukino production #solids translations #fun fact: when they were asking questions for this soliradi i sent one that also said something like #dai get revenge on tsubasa and tell us something embarrassing about him #in the end they read it from someone else and i got my question answered but #so close yet so far

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thisaintascenereviews · 7 years

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Album Review by Bradley Christensen Body Count – Bloodlust Record Label: Century Media Release Date: March 31 2017

Rap-metal / thrash metal band Body Count is one of the most fascinating bands that I’ve ever come across, and would you like to know why? No matter how you answer, I’m going to explain it, anyway, but it’s because rapper Ice-T formed this band in the 90s. He actually explains why he formed the band in their newest LP, Bloodlust, but I had no idea that Ice-T had a metal band. I found that out a few years ago, back when I was watching a lot of Law & Order: SVU (I still need to watch the last season, for the record; I haven’t watched that yet, so I’ll be working on that). Immediately after finding that out, I picked up 2014’s Manslaughter. It came out a year before I picked it up, but better late than never. If you recall my review on that, I liked the album, but it had some huge problems. I liked their sound a lot, and Ice-T was dope, but the lyrics were a mixture between decent and awful. I mean, they weren’t god awful, like Blood On The Dance Floor bad, but they were bad. This is the band that got popular with the song “Cop Killer,” more like infamous, back in the 90s. There was barely anything like that on Manslaughter, and from what I’ve heard, that song was trying to be similar to “Fuck Tha Police” by N.W.A. It was saying something provocative and outrageous to get peoples’ attention, so they could make a point. Manslaughter had none of that. Instead Ice-T was whining about pop music, shooting people if they talked shit (that was one of the better songs, though), and thinking girls in most pits are sexy (I mean, that wasn’t a bad song, either, because it does promote women enjoying and participating in the metal scene). It had nothing political, visceral, or anything worth caring about, for better or worse. The album tried, and in some spots, it did have something to say. Hell, there’s a song called “I Will Always Love You” that’s a bit more sentimental and quiet, but it worked wonders.

I was wondering why Body Count wasn’t like that, well, saying something worth a damn, versus whining about trivial stuff that no one cares about. With the release of Bloodlust, just a few years later, I got my wish, because this LP is a lot more hard-hitting, political, and socially biting than Manslaughter was. In that respect, that makes this album a lot better in comparison. I wasn’t almost going to check this out, because as much as I liked Manslaughter, I could acknowledge how dumb it was in a lot of places. The lyrics weren’t that great, and that was the biggest thing that kept me from getting fully into it. I loved their sound, having this rap-metal meets thrash metal sound that wasn’t anything that I’ve ever heard. It was different, unique, and interesting, but when Ice-T is whining about pop music, it was somewhat hard to get into. That’s why I wasn’t dying to listen to Body Count’s newest album, pun intended, but a couple of things put that notion into, well, motion. Firstly, and the biggest thing, is that I was already listening to some more rap-metal. That would be in the vein of BackWordz, and their debut LP, Veracity, which I’ve finally gotten around to listening to. I was super into this band last year, at least with the few singles they put out, but I’ve been very into this record. I thought about what else I could get that was similar, and Body Count came to mind, so when I was at Best Buy last week, I thought I’d grab Bloodlust when I thought about what to get. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I did remember the single, “No Lives Matter,” dropped. I never listened to it, but I was a bit skeptical, so I wasn’t trying to build myself up here. Thankfully, though, this album is very good. It’s a hell of a lot better than Manslaughter, and not just in the lyrics, but the entire album.

The lyrics are the biggest improvement, though, and thank god for that. The lyrics on Manslaughter were pretty bad at times, and while the lyrics aren’t utterly amazing here, they try quite a lot more. This LP is very political in tone, and the tone is set with the opening track, “Civil War,” where Ice-T paints this very bleak and desolate future for the United States. It’s a very scary song, but it’s good that Ice-T is saying something that’s worth a damn here. I find it strange, though, that Megadeth frontman and guitarist Dave Mustaine is on this song. Considering that Mustaine is a very staunch conservative (the lyrics on their last album were somewhat hard to stomach, too), I find it odd that he would be on an album like this, but his guitar solo is quite good. The rest of the album is very political in tone as well, minus a couple of songs, one of which is a cover of Slayer’s “Rain In Blood.” It starts off with Ice-T talking about the formation of Body Count, as I mentioned earlier, and it’s kind of cool how he talks about his thought process behind the band. He says that he wanted the band to sound like his favorite bands – Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, and Black Sabbath. The best part of that, however, is that I can see elements of all three bands in their sound. It makes a lot of sense. Otherwise, though, a lot of songs on this album are very political, and instead of being whiny, annoying, or preachy, they actually work. I mean, Ice-T is still being Ice-T, so he’s very angry, bitter, and menacing throughout this record, but it does work well. Songs like “Black Hoodie,” and “No Lives Matter” are very poignant tracks. I mean, you have a couple songs like “Talk Shit, Get Shot,” such as “The Ski Mask Way,” as well as the more interesting and sympathetic version of that song later on in the album, “This Is Why We Ride.” That’s an interesting song, because Ice-T explains why he’s got to rob people, kill people, and all of this stuff, just to survive. Not that he actually does, but he’s writing from the perspective of people whose reality is just that.

I don’t want to oversell the lyrics on the album, by any means, because I won’t pretend that they’re super amazing, unique, eloquent, or anything like that. I can imagine people, especially very conservative people, being rather offended and shocked by this record, but one thing that I like about this album is how gung-ho and confident it is with its beliefs and messages. There’s no sugarcoating here, and while that’s fine on other projects, sometimes it’s good to just outright talk about the message that you’re trying to convey. There’s no gray area on this album, and I like that, honestly. Moving into the album’s sound, it’s also improved a bit from the last album. Not only is this LP shorter, around 41 minutes instead of 50+ minutes on Manslaughter, the sound of this album is a bit more streamlined and flowing. The band’s brand of thrash metal is a bit more melodic, and it’s more in the vein of straightforward heavy metal, but there are “thrashy” moments here and there. The instrumentation, production, and all that stuff is quite good here, and even Ice-T sounds great on this album. He’s not an amazing, stellar, and wicked rapper that spits a lot of bars, but he does exactly what’s needed here. He’s loud, in your face, and aggressive. He reminds me a lot of Public Enemy frontman Chuck D, who kind of had the same delivery in their sound, too. I’ve never listened to Ice-T’s solo work, and maybe it’s safe to say that he has the same kind of delivery, but I’m going by what I’ve heard, and he has that same delivery that Chuck D did. That’s a very good thing, too, because both vocalists demand your attention. Regardless, though, Bloodlust is a very good album. Hell, it’s great, and it’s a huge surprise, because Manslaughter was good, just not great. What a difference a few years can make, but I think it has something to do with everything going on in the world. It’s good that the band wanted to make a statement with this album, and it’s good that they’re so gung-ho about their beliefs, but it also helps that this album kicks ass in every single, way, and form.

#body count #bloodlust #manslaughter #ice t #ice-t #law and order svu #metal #thrash #thrash metal #slayer #cop killer

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yyxgin · 3 years

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Yes I’m feeling better now queen :) thanks for the well wishes!! I also realise that with the amount of ‘!’ That I use makes me sound like an old lady but I’ll never stop...I need it to convey tone and message. Sometimes I hate socialising but people are also cool??? A deathly debate

I’m a firm believer that you can kill anyone with anything If you try hard enough. When I was little (maybe like 7?) I hit my auntie with a spoon and I cute her hand :,)

What does magnesium even tho?? A quick google search would answer my inquiry, but I’m a lazy asshole, so I won’t.

OKAY I WONT NO WORRIES. I hate when self help book authors sound entitled bc it’s like they’re looking down on the readers. Like “haha I can help myself but u suck, buy my book”

The “I have anxiety, Richard” sent me oml

We are in this weird limbo of nothingness. We are the two things combined but we’re also not. We are the perfect vessel for chaos and depression. And military scouting in the US ig

I SWEAR PLS WATCH THE PERFORMANCE I BEG YOU ITS SO GOOD. Imma send a link

Also, I gotta tell you even if u don’t know much marvel but my friend and I were doing a google slides to see which Kpop idols would be each avenger and I FOUND AND EDIT OF CHAN AS CAPTAIN AMERICA (the guy who was slow dancing in the video I sent a WHILE ago) and I DIED BC CAPTAIN AMERICA IS MY FAVE SUPERHEROE (along with black widow bc I’m gay)

Oh also, speaking abt gay, I came out to my parents today :D now I have freckles underneath my eyes bc of crying

Also, tell me abt NCT (whichever unit is your fave) for the K-POP group tag ask!!!

I am glad you are feeling queen !! Also you are talking to a person that overuses "!" AND even puts a space in front of them so <3 its all good <3

you sound intimidating but i am also in love w you. killing someone w a spoon ?? an amazing idea. people are really cool and interesting but some of them just get on my nerves to the point where i would absolutely smash someone w a spoon

i have no idea what magnesium does but supposedly its good for you ?? 😩😩 im too lazy to google.

EXACTLY THATS THE REASON WHY I HATE SELF HELP BOOKS LIKE ?? YOU AINT MY THERAPIST. SHUT UP.

I THINK I ALREADY SAW IT ?? IF IM NOT WRONG ???? IF ITS THE SAME ONE IM THINKING ABT THEN IT WAS SO GOOOOD OMG WIG FLEW BUT I'LL CHECK JUST IN CASE

Marvel sounds so fun but i am bad at movies😔

oh i am so proud of you for coming out !! did it go well ?? tell me abt it if u want :( happy pride month baby

AND NOW FOR THE KPOP GROUP THING i am choosing dream bc they are my ults

my first bias: mark. i was simping for him even back im august when i knew shit about nct so,,, your current bias and why: huang renjun bc he is just-- idk he seems safe. friend shaped. i see myself in him a little too much sometimes. for some reason my heart is just so full of him. favorite song: dear dream is v special to me but atm i really love hot sauce tbh. favorite mv: ridin' !! i love the concept. or rainbow if track videos count bc its aesthetic and pretty. OTP: nomin/renhyuck/rensung 🥺 member you think has the best smile: jisung 🥺 or jeno 🥺🥺 OR CHENLE. all of their smiles are so precious. favorite choreo: DIVE INTO YOU DJDKDK ITS SO FUN. favorite era: hot sauce duh. do you own any merchandise: no but im buing the hot sauce album soon 😎 have you seen them live: no:( favorite voice/singer: hyucks voice is just ✨✨✨✨ but also renjun ??? chenle ??? vocal kings. favorite dancer: mark is underappreciated as a dancer. but also jisung and jaemin >>>>>

#💌ask #fa💫

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technologyreviewsgadgets · 6 years

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New Post Here's Everything Google Home Can Do in India has been published on http://www.reviewcenter.in/7587/everything-google-home-can/

Here's Everything Google Home Can Do in India

Google Home is out for quite some time, and since the time it has launched in India, people are wondering whether they should grab one or not. Here’s the thing – When Google makes a product, you are quite sure that it would work cross-platform and it can, and it will be able to do a ton of things. Like Alexa has “Skills,” Google Home has “Actions” and all the smart devices which I have seen in India which are compatible with Alexa, now works with Google Home out of the box and doesn’t require activating any “Action” for that. In fact, you can use any “Action” without requiring any manual activation like you need to do in Alexa “Skills.”

.@GoogleIndia is launching #GoogleHome and #GoogleHomeMini today.. Very much excited about about the local features on these being launched today along! #MakeGoogleDoIt pic.twitter.com/pzg3YjNjaG

— Ankit Chugh 🌪️ (@luckyankit) April 10, 2018

Also, Google Home was launched in India with one million capabilities/Actions, so it’s not like that Google Home is anywhere behind.

1. Google Home doubles as a Music Speaker

Yes, it is. You can use it to play music from Google Play Music, Saavn, and Gaana at present and when the Spotify will be launched officially in India, Google Home should start supporting them too. Google Home can work with free and paid accounts both of Saavn and Gaana out of the box and plays random songs from Google Play Music if you don’t have the subscription of it.

At present, it’s not mandatory to have paid account of any, i.e., Saavn or Gaana, and Google even offers six months of free subscription of Google Play Music when you buy a Google Home or Home Mini. And once you have a Google Home, you may not need to buy another Bluetooth speaker at all. You can pair the Home or Mini with your Phone/PC or any gadget as a Bluetooth speaker.

And I must tell you, the sound quality of Google Home is awesome and can be compared to any good quality Bluetooth speaker in the same price range like of Sony. Google Home Mini is also no less and honestly, I underestimated its sound quality, and I found it loud enough for a room when I started using it personally.

2. Power of Google Assistant

With Google Home, you can always enjoy the convenience of getting information or doing tasks, without even touching your phone. As Google Home comes with Assistant, you can just speak to it just like you talk to anyone else. You can ask Google Home to adjust the lighting, adjust the volume of music, provide the weather forecast and much more. In terms of tasks and forecasts, it works great. You can also make it remember your daily routine, and it will do the same, by waking up with an alarm and while you go out to work, I will tell you about the traffic and weather conditions. You should totally check out following tweet thread to know about upcoming features on Google Assistant which were announced at Google I/O 2018:

Google Photos can now colorize black and white photos, convert documents pictures into PDFs and more #io18 #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/uobysUpWTr

— Ankit Chugh 🌪️ (@luckyankit) May 8, 2018

3. Smart Home, made simple

Google Home supports a wide range of smart home products. Be it a doorbell from Nest or Smart plug or Philips Hue lightbulb, Google Home can connect to all, and at your commands, it can control every single smart device inside your house. Like you can just say, ‘Dim the light to 50% and change the color to Purple’ and Google Home will do that for you. Also, there is an option to set which commands and actions are specific to your voice only. This is because, for many smart home devices, you can keep a default setting that will allow others as well to control those smart devices like lighting.

4. Let the Party Begin

You can create a group with two or more Google Home/Google Home Mini devices across different rooms in your house and play the same music with a single voice command — multi-room audio! With the Guest Mode on, multiple Homes can be the best DJ for your house party. Moreover, if you don’t know a song, just say “OK Google, What song it that?” and let the Assistant be your Shazam. If you really like a song, just say “OK Google, I really like that song.” The assistant will remember your preference and can play it next time you ask “OK Google, play songs that I like.”

5. Travel Planning – Forget about too many tabs and scribbling

If you just ask Home to pull up flight information, you will be notified about flights from one place to another with the relevant information. The same way, you can find out the best restaurants and places you can visit, and get recommendations from Assistant.

6. Set the alarm to your choice of favorite music

You can now set your favorite music as an alarm on Google Home! Assistant will acknowledge a media alarm and prompt for the song|artist|music|station|playlist. Just say, OK Google, set a music alarm at 6 am that plays Beyonce.

7. Don’t forget important dates

Google Home can fetch your Calender and pick up dates easily, that are important to you. Also, you can ask it to remind you of specific dates and events.

8. Shopping List

Just before you head out towards the departmental store, be sure to make a list with the help of Google Home. Just ask it to add items to the list, and well, you can just make a list of all the items you need to buy and you would be able to access the list on your smartphone.

9. Endless Canal of Information

Google Home will never fall short of information and facts. This is the field where it is, and it will be better than other similar products because using Google Search is the key to finding perfect answers and it does the job well. You can just ask it about some facts or be a bit specific and ask, ‘Tell me an interesting fact about Tesla’. This is not all, you can ask it about sports, current scores, live updates. It can do calculations and provide the result; it can also translate words or phrases in supported languages. Other important tasks it can do includes unit conversion, nutrition data, and dictionary.

10. Listen to any Podcast

Getting your regular information on what is happening around the world by saying is as easy as saying “Ok Google, Listen to the latest episode of Ted Talks.” You can Play any Podcast from the Tim Ferriss Show, Freakonomics, Stuff You Should Know, Waking Up with Sam Harris, Stuff You Missed in History Class and more.

11. Know stuff about local businesses around you

Google Home can help you with your daily chores and sundries by surfacing details about local businesses around you. For instance, if you’re looking to send out clothes for laundry, try “Ok Google, What is the nearest laundry store.” It won’t stop there — you can seek other important information to dispatch your laundry by getting information such as “What time do they close?”, “What is their number?”, etc.

12. Find your phone

There is already a feature called ‘Find My Phone’ on Android phones, where you can just log into your Google account and make the phone ring. But with Google Home as well, it works perfectly, especially when you have placed the phone somewhere and you can’t find it. Just say, “Hey Google, find my phone’ and it will make the phone ring, even if the phone is in silent mode. The best thing about the feature is that it works on both Android phones and iPhones.

13. Play shows and videos on any TV

If you have a Chromecast, you can just use Google Home to play any show from Netflix or literally play any video from youtube on your TV. Also making them play, pause, rewind or forward commands are also possible with your voice commands, no remote needed.

14. Routines

This is a great feature, mostly for students or from those who have strict college hours or working hours. You can ask Google Home to turn off the fans while you go out and turn it back on when you get back. Google Home can remember the time you go out and return every day and set the tasks to be done automatically. There are lots of customizations possible using Routines.

15. Helping hand in the kitchen

Let’s suppose you want to cook a dish you had a few days ago at some restaurant and you want to make it too. Now, we have already talked about the shopping list feature, using which you have bought all the ingredients. Now, ask Home to help in cooking and it will tell you about how to prepare the ingredients. Once you have prepared the ingredients, you can ask it to tell you the instructions to cook the dish. Right in the middle of cooking, you can know more things like nutrition value or time taken for preparation. Google Home supports recipes from popular cooking related websites. Also, you can play music while cooking as well.

16. Broadcast a message

This feature is great for parents. Using this feature you can ask Google Home to broadcast a message to individual Google Home devices, placed in each room to convey one single message. This is a way to notify children (mostly) that it’s time for dinner, or while you want to enjoy a movie with everyone.

17. Google Photos Integration

You can view photos on your TV using Google Home and Photos. You can find and view photos based on place, date, album and things. You can also ask Home to start a slideshow and you can control the slideshow with your voice.

18. Check Train PNR Status

Activate the Train Status bot by saying “check PNR status”, Google Home will activate the bot and then you can speak out the PNR number for which the bot will reply immediately with the status of the tickets. Or just say “Ask Indian Train Status to check PNR 4759613424” or “Ask Indian Train Status to recheck the last PNR”.

19. Check Cricket Scores

Ask Google Home any kind of query related to Indian cricket and it can answer the most with ease. Ask about the info on latest matches, results, any team and much more. E.g. Ask for “who won the last match of IPL” or “cricket matches today” “what happened in IPL today” or can ask questions related to an ongoing LIVE match. Or you can say Google to tell you about cricket matches or IPL facts. You can even play quiz using it to test your knowledge.

20. Visual Results

For some queries, where a visual result is required, Google home can send the results to your phone. Like if asked for “Rajasthan Royal status”, Google Home sent me a visual result i.e. a chart on my phone.

Bundled offers you get upon buying Google Home or Home Mini

10% cashback on HDFC credit card transactions* on Google Home and Mini till 31st May.

Enjoy 6 Months of Google Play Music

Enjoy ad-free* music on Gaana (till 31st October 2018)

Play music on Saavn sponsored by Google Home (Till 31st October 2018)

We shall keep updating this article with more information/features as soon as we get to know more once they’re released. You should bookmark this article if you’ve or planning to buy the Google Home or Home Mini.

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aubreyreinke-blog · 6 years

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ARTICLE DETAIL ARTICLEID 955075 Articles

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bizmediaweb · 7 years

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13 Creative Examples of Brands Using Twitter’s 280 Characters

Ever since Twitter made the exciting (and controversial) decision to expand their character limit from 140 characters to a whopping 280 characters, brands have been exploring new ways to make the most of the added space. Twitter implemented the change after discovering that nine percent of tweets in the English language hit the character limit.

“This reflects the challenge of fitting a thought into a tweet, often resulting in lots of time spent editing and even at times abandoning tweets before sending,” wrote Twitter Product Manager, Aliza Rosen in a blog post. With the expanded character count, that number plummeted to only one percent of tweets hitting the limit.

For businesses using Twitter as part of their marketing strategy, composing clever 280 character tweets provides an opportunity to communicate more effectively with your audience. Some brands have shown off their sense of humor by hitting the limit with jokes, others have used the longer tweets to express an impactful message. Here are some of the best ways businesses have deployed the 280 character tweets.

Sports brands boosting engagement with 280 character tweets

Chicago Bears

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Bears.

Thanks, @Twitter.

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 27, 2017

Borrowing from the beloved Saturday Night Live sketch, the Chicago Bears used all 280 characters to tweet out the signature tagline, “Daa-Bears” to all of their 1.6 million followers. Without the use of audio, the marketers behind the Chicago Bears cleverly conveyed the over-the-top Chicago accent parodied in the SNL sketch via tweet.

Their funny use of the famous catch-phrase paid off. The tweet received nearly 12,000 retweets and 53,000 likes. The catch-phrase is treasured by both fans of the team and fans of the classic sketch.

Da Bears thanked Twitter at the end for giving them extra characters with which to extend the catch-phrase beyond previously imposed limits. The effect? A shared laugh among Twitter users and more engagement for the franchise.

Seattle Mariners

┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┻┳| ┳┻| ┻┳| ┳┻| _ ┻┳| •.•) This is a bad idea. ┳┻|⊂ﾉ ┻┳|

— Mariners (@Mariners) September 27, 2017

In true Seattle style, The Mariners created a sarcastic response to Twitter’s announcement of the 280 character tweet. Using punctuation to build a brick wall with an ornery-looking stick figure at the bottom, the Mariners did not mince words when they pronounced, “this is a bad idea” in their 280 characters tweet.

Drawing attention to the potential for misuse of the longer character limit, the marketers behind the team demonstrated how giving Twitter users 280 characters could be a poor choice. The team banked on the cynicism of their fan base to appreciate this vein of biting humor.

With 21,000 retweets and nearly 59,000 likes, the Mariners read their audience correctly and delivered on the joke.

NBA Referees

Now that we all have #280Characters, we expect your Twitter complaints about specific calls against your favorite teams to be calm, well-reasoned, and full of complete sentences. Thanks in advance for this positive step forward in basketball officiating-related discourse."

— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) November 7, 2017

The National Basketball Referees Association used the 280 character extension to make light of the cyber abuse directed at them by angry fans. Addressing the many complaints the association receives from the public over their judgement calls during games, the refs asserted that the unsolicited feedback should be written more thoughtfully now that Twitter users have access to a full 280 characters.

The tongue-in-cheek tweet earned 7,400 retweets and 24,000 likes. Turns out that the NBA Referees playful sense of humor was a slam dunk.

Media brands using 280 characters to connect with fans

National Geographic Wild

🐶🦊🦁🐵🐔🐥🐺🐛🐜🐢🐙🐠🦍🦒🐖🐕🕊🦔🐻🐮🙈🐧🦆🐗🦋🦗🐍🦑🐟🐘🐃🐏🐩🐇🐭🐼🐷🙉🐦🦅🐴🐌🕷🦎🦐🐳🐆🦏🐂🐑🐈🐁🐉🐹🐨🐽🙊🐤🦉🦄🦖🦀🐳🐆🐪🐄🐐🐓🐀🐰🐯🐸🐒🦇🐝🐞🦂🦕🐡🐋🦓🐫🐎🦌🦃🐿 🐶🦊🦁🐵🐔🐥🐺🐛🐜🐢🐙🐠🦈🦍🦒🐖🐕🐕🕊🕊🦔🐱🐻🐮🙈🐧🦆🐗🦋🦗🐍🦑🐟🐟🐊🐘🐃🐏🐩🐇🐭🐼🐷🙉🐦 #280characters

— Nat Geo WILD (@natgeowild) November 8, 2017

When we think of the National Geographic Wild network, we think of ruthless lions stalking their innocent prey on the savannah, vicious tigers hunting wild boar, and of course, Cesar Milan, Dog Whisperer. Naturally, the marketers behind the network capitalized on Twitter’s emoji feature to jam pack all our favorite animals into 280 characters.

Marvel UK and Ireland

I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. #280characters http://pic.twitter.com/2QDi9fw6Ey

— Marvel UK & Ireland (@MarvelUK) November 8, 2017

Marvel UK and Ireland took the only line spoken by Groot, the beloved character from the movie Guardians of the Galaxy and employed repetition for comedic effect. Now that Twitter allows videos and photos in addition to more characters, the brand was able to put together an eye-catching, fun tweet for fans of the film.

The 280 character tweet received 989 retweets and 1,000 likes, making us all wish that we were Groot.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories. *DUN DUN*

— Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (@nbcsvu) November 7, 2017

The crime show Law & Order franchise has managed to stay relevant since 1990 by continuing to build on its fan base and staying social media savvy. When set loose on Twitter’s new 280 character limit, the social media marketers behind the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit brand tweeted out the full introduction that plays at the beginning of every episode. Almost as iconic as the show itself is the *DUN DUN* sound effect that cuts between scenes.

Fans of the show demonstrated their approval through 259,000 likes.

Spotify

Song titles only… Good luck 🙃 1. 1️⃣💃 2. ☂️ 3. ⚫️(🎩+✨) 4. 🏄🇺🇸 5. 💔🏨 6. 🏰⤵️🗻 7. 8. 🎀🦆💛 9. 👱❌🔥 10. (🙍+🍺)❤️ 11. 🚀👱 12. 👯🌙💡 13. ⏰🕰⏱⏲ 14. 🦁+🗣 15. 🗞✈️✈️ 16. 📞🙋🤷 17. 🍬🏪 18. 🐦🐦🐦 19. 💥💥 20. ⬆️🌆🙍#280characters

— Spotify (@Spotify) November 8, 2017

Spotify created a fun emoji quiz to test the brand’s followers on popular song titles. The tweet solicited significant engagement with 200 comments, 853 retweets and 2,700 likes. The company found a creative way to maximize the potential of 280 characters by choosing something interactive and relevant to the spirit of their business.

Food businesses making the most of 280 characters

Denny’s

last night we received the 280 character count. we traded the extra 140 for beans. not even magic.

— Denny's (@DennysDiner) September 27, 2017

The social media wizards over at Denny’s tapped into their famous well-spring of oddball wit to craft a goofy tweet about trading in their extra 140 characters for beans. Coffee beans? Baked beans? Unclear. All we know is that they definitely weren’t magic beans.

Moon Pie

This account has been asked to test Twitter's new 280 character limit, but as a 100-year-old brand, we believe our fans most enjoy traditional tweets with brevity, so we declined. We hope to continue to provide a fun, positive place to discuss MoonPies moving forward. Thank you.

— MoonPie (@MoonPie) September 27, 2017

Moon Pies used all 280 characters to say that they were too old fashioned to use all 280 characters. The food brand delivered a double whammy, highlighting their long history while showing off a light-hearted sense of humor. Poking fun at Twitter’s decision to expand the limit, Moon Pies demonstrated that they still got it.

Aroma Espresso Bar

Sustainably farmed Atlantic Salmon, honey-roasted carrots prepared in-house, couscous, roasted red pepper and green peas, parsley, pistachio and za’atar, served with creamy sumac and yogurt aioli. A holiday meal made for #280characters. #wheretheheartis http://pic.twitter.com/KQlPZBy597

— aroma espresso bar (@aromaespresso) November 26, 2017

Even with a smaller profile than big name fast food joints, Aroma Espresso Bar managed to entice Twitter users with a detailed description of one of it’s healthy meal offerings. Accompanied with a professional quality photo, the 280 characters are put to good use in a straightforward tweet. You know exactly what you’re getting at Aroma Espresso Bar in Canada.

Pizza Hut

(•_•) <) )╯50% /

(•_•) ( (> Off /

(•_•) <) )> Menu /

(•_•) <) )╯Priced /

(•_•) ( (> Pizzas /

(•_•) <) )> Online. /

🍕🍕🍕🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕

Through 11/12.#280characters

— Pizza Hut (@pizzahut) November 8, 2017

Pizza Hut used all 280 characters to create eye catching stick figures announcing a 50 percent off deal online. A Twitter user scrolling through their feed would have a tough time missing this visually engaging tweet. Another brand making light of Twitter’s move to add more characters by employing them in the silliest fashion possible. The pizza emojis don’t hurt either.

Brands improving customer service via Twitter with 280 characters

Amazon

Hi Charlene, sorry to hear you aren't able to open your book. Have you checked that your internet connection is stable, if so have you attempted to access it on a different device or via an alternative browser? ^TI

— Amazon Help (@AmazonHelp) November 17, 2017

The Amazon Help account can now address people’s complaints using their full name and even a signature of the customer service representative addressing the concern. With the extra characters, Amazon customers will be even more likely to engage with the business over Twitter.

IKEA

We currently have some technical issues with our IKEA Online ordering systems. We are working hard to sort this out as quickly as possible, so please bear with us, and we will be up and running again shortly

— IKEAIESupport (@IKEAIESupport) November 18, 2017

Ikea can now fully express their polite regrets when something goes wrong on their website. The business made use of their 280 characters to inform aggravated customers that they were aware of the technical issues in their online ordering systems and asked for patience while they resolved the issue. Classy move, Ikea.

Since the initial release of the 280 character extension, many businesses have chosen to stay true to the original spirit of Twitter and keep it brief. Whether you choose to go all in on 280 characters or show off your cleverness with the brevity of 140, make it clever and make it count.

Boost your impact on Twitter with Hootsuite. Monitor customer conversations, connect your teams, and grow your followers—all from the same platform that use to manage your other social media accounts. Try it for free today!

Get Started Now

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unifiedsocialblog · 7 years

Text

13 Creative Examples of Brands Using Twitter’s 280 Characters

Sports brands boosting engagement with 280 character tweets

Chicago Bears

Thanks, @Twitter.

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 27, 2017

Their funny use of the famous catch-phrase paid off. The tweet received nearly 12,000 retweets and 53,000 likes. The catch-phrase is treasured by both fans of the team and fans of the classic sketch.

Seattle Mariners

— Mariners (@Mariners) September 27, 2017

With 21,000 retweets and nearly 59,000 likes, the Mariners read their audience correctly and delivered on the joke.

NBA Referees

— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) November 7, 2017

The tongue-in-cheek tweet earned 7,400 retweets and 24,000 likes. Turns out that the NBA Referees playful sense of humor was a slam dunk.

Media brands using 280 characters to connect with fans

National Geographic Wild

— Nat Geo WILD (@natgeowild) November 8, 2017

Marvel UK and Ireland

— Marvel UK & Ireland (@MarvelUK) November 8, 2017

The 280 character tweet received 989 retweets and 1,000 likes, making us all wish that we were Groot.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

— Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (@nbcsvu) November 7, 2017

Fans of the show demonstrated their approval through 259,000 likes.

Spotify

— Spotify (@Spotify) November 8, 2017

Food businesses making the most of 280 characters

Denny’s

last night we received the 280 character count. we traded the extra 140 for beans. not even magic.

— Denny's (@DennysDiner) September 27, 2017

Moon Pie

— MoonPie (@MoonPie) September 27, 2017

Aroma Espresso Bar

— aroma espresso bar (@aromaespresso) November 26, 2017

Pizza Hut

(•_•) <) )╯50% /

(•_•) ( (> Off /

(•_•) <) )> Menu /

(•_•) <) )╯Priced /

(•_•) ( (> Pizzas /

(•_•) <) )> Online. /

🍕🍕🍕🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕 🍕

Through 11/12.#280characters

— Pizza Hut (@pizzahut) November 8, 2017

Brands improving customer service via Twitter with 280 characters

Amazon

— Amazon Help (@AmazonHelp) November 17, 2017

IKEA

— IKEAIESupport (@IKEAIESupport) November 18, 2017

Get Started Now

The post 13 Creative Examples of Brands Using Twitter’s 280 Characters appeared first on Hootsuite Social Media Management.

13 Creative Examples of Brands Using Twitter’s 280 Characters published first on http://ift.tt/2rEvyAw

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2700fstreet · 8 years

Photo

THEATER / 2017-2018

ON YOUR FEET!

The Emilio & Gloria Estefan Broadway Musical

Featuring music and lyrics by Emilio and Gloria Estefan Directed by Jerry Mitchell Book by Alexander Dinelaris Choreographed by Sergio Trujillo

So, What’s Going On?

The scene: Washington, D.C., 1990

The curtain rises as… Latin pop superstar Gloria Estefan preps for a huge concert while her husband, Emilio, and their son watch from the wings. Emilio tells Gloria her tour bus will have to make an unexpected stop and she’ll have to give up her day off. Annoyed, Gloria heads to the stage to sing one of her hit songs.

Cue flashback.

In 1966, young Gloria María Fajardo lives with her mother (also named Gloria), her grandmother, Consuelo, and her sister, Rebecca, in Miami. Their family has emigrated from Cuba to the U.S. following a violent political revolution. And while little Gloria’s father fights overseas in Vietnam, the women in the family keep things humming at home…literally: little Gloria has a talent for singing and songwriting, and she often performs Cuban songs for her neighbors and friends.

Young Gloria sings and dances while helping her family with the laundry.

As Gloria grows up, word begins to spread about her voice, and, in 1974, a young local musician named Emilio Estefan comes knocking at her door to ask about the songs she’s written. He convinces her to come play a tune for his band, named the Miami Latin Boys, and soon she joins the group as its lead singer.

Time passes and the Miami Latin Boys have transformed into the Miami Sound Machine. The band is booking tons of gigs, which frustrates Gloria’s mother, who feels Gloria should be living a normal life at home and helping her ailing father. Seems like a classic case of “protective mom,” but there’s a bit more to it: Gloria’s mother had her own shot at the spotlight once, but she let her dream go. Consuelo warns Gloria her newfound career may be stirring up old issues.

In a flashback to Havana in the 1950s, we see Gloria’s mother in action on stage.

Take a listen… The real-life Gloria Estefan sings “Mi Tierra” (“My Land”), the song performed by her mother’s character in On Your Feet!.

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Despite the tensions at home, Gloria continues to sing with the Miami Sound Machine, and the band starts attracting listeners across the U.S. and South America. In fact, things are going so well that Emilio and Gloria speak to their record producer about “crossing over” into the English-speaking pop world. But the producer hates the idea. He suggests their sound and their Latin names just aren’t “American” enough. Emilio reminds the producer that immigrants count as Americans too, and decides to take matters into his own hands. He and Gloria get creative and market the band’s latest English single, “Dr. Beat,” to clubs and disc jockeys. The song takes off…and a romance between them starts to bloom.

Gloria and Emilio start to fall in love.

With each other for inspiration and support, Gloria and Emilio produce a newer, even bigger English single that captures hearts across the country: “Conga.” Thanks to the song, Emilio is able to get the attention of his studio executive, but the boss doesn’t want to give the band the contract it deserves. A few hits later, however, and Gloria’s talent and popularity can no longer be ignored. Finally, Emilio helps Gloria and the band secure a multi-million-dollar deal.

“Conga” becomes a hit on dance floors across America…and around the world.

Take a listen… Gloria Estefan revisits her hit song “Conga” in a live concert.

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But all of this success—and the touring that goes with it—doesn’t make Gloria’s mother very happy. Even worse for Mrs. Fajardo: Gloria wants to take her sister, Rebecca, on the road. Worried her family is falling apart, Gloria’s mother threatens never to speak to Gloria again. And she doesn’t. Not for two years and an entire world tour. Which brings us back to where we started…

Washington, D.C., 1990

Gloria finishes her show and decides to call her mom to try and patch things up. When there’s no answer, she boards her tour bus with Emilio and their son, Nayib.

Then, disaster strikes.

A massive collision destroys the bus, injures Emilio and Nayib, and leaves Gloria in danger of permanent paralysis. Will she be able to walk again? Will she be able to sing again? And, perhaps most importantly, will she be able to repair her relationship with her mother before it’s too late?

Who’s Who

Gloria Estefan (born Gloria María Fajardo), a Cuban-American singer and songwriter Emilio Estefan, a Cuban-American musician and producer, Gloria’s husband Gloria Fajardo, a teacher and former singer, Gloria Estefan’s mother José Fajardo, a policeman and soldier, Gloria Estefan’s father Consuelo, Gloria Estefan’s abuela (grandmother) Rebecca “Becky” Fajardo, Gloria Estefan’s sister Phil, a New York record producer Little Gloria, a young Gloria Estefan Nayib, Emilio and Gloria Estefan’s son

Cuban Water, American Roots

“I came to Miami when I was two years old…my Mom kinda replanted us. But she watered me with Cuban water…everything that [my family] did was to keep alive the culture that they thought that we would go back to.” – Gloria Estefan

On Your Feet! is a tale of two very passionate and talented immigrants who came to the United States during a time of political turmoil in their homeland of Cuba. Starting in 1952, Cuba began its extended period of uncertainty, beginning with a military coup spearheaded by a corrupt and oppressive Fulgencio Batista (whose name you’ll hear mentioned in the show), followed by another coup conducted by the polarizing leader Fidel Castro.

After Castro established a new government in 1959, many Cubans—including the Fajardos and the Estefans—chose or were forced to move to the U.S. But Cuban families were often separated, and many had to leave promising careers behind. Still, the Cuban culture continued to thrive on American shores, particularly through its music. Today, cities across the U.S. are buzzing with the sound of Cuban dance rhythms, and artists like the Miami Sound Machine keep mixing Latino beats with traditional jazz and pop, creating a unique sound that’s both Cuban and American.

For more on the history of Cuba/US relations and info on Cuba’s revolution, go to:

youtube

Check This Out…

On Your Feet! features many recognizable songs that have been played on the radio (and at parties, weddings, dance clubs, etc.) for decades. Listen up for these tunes while you watch the show—and don’t be afraid to sing or dance along if the actors encourage you to.

Choreographer Sergio Trujillo wanted the moves in On Your Feet! to feel as authentically Cuban as possible. He even went to Havana to study native Afro- Cuban dances. Keep an eye out for these intricate steps during the show, especially ones that involve two people partnering up and moving together, which is an essential component in Latin dance. Pick up a few steps… Sergio Trujillo talks about his career and his process for getting On Your Feet!... well...on its feet.

youtube

This story includes many flashbacks to different time periods and different countries. Watch out for the ways in which the lighting, costumes, and set designs give you clues about where and when the characters are (hint: pay special attention to the different colors used in each scene).

Lots of the music in On Your Feet! will be sung in Spanish. For those audience members who don’t speak the language, pay close attention to the singers’ voices and facial expressions. You’ll most likely pick up the meaning of each song based on the energy and emotion the performers convey.

Think About This…

On Your Feet! is a combination of big, bold musical numbers and smaller, more intimate scenes between two or three people. Which moments do you prefer? Which scenes are more successful at moving the story along? Which are best at making you feel for the characters?

Most stories have an antagonist, but in On Your Feet!, the villain isn’t always easily identified. Who or what do you think operates as the “bad guy” in the show? What forces are most responsible for the troubles the characters endure?

The Estefans and the Fajardos are affected by stereotyping throughout the show. In what ways do you observe the non-Latino characters making incorrect or misinformed assumptions about Latino immigrants?

On Your Feet! is an immigrant story, but it’s also a human story. Can you think of similar tales in film, TV, or theater where the main characters fight for their dreams in the face of adversity? In what ways are these stories similar to the biography of the Estefans?

Go Behind-the-Scenes

To learn more about the making of On Your Feet!, check out this video series:

Episode 1: “Here We Are”

youtube

Episode 2: “Writing the Show”

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Episode 3: “Casting the Story”

youtube

Episode 4: “Directing the Musical”

youtube

“Stand Up and Take Some Action”

One of the major themes of On Your Feet!—and the message of its title song—is to challenge yourself to take action in your daily life and claim control of your future. Both Gloria and Emilio come up against impossible odds, but they insist on forging their own personal and professional triumphs through hard work and determination.

Why not use their efforts to motivate yourself to reach for your own life goals? Choose a friend or family member and decide on a cause or achievement you can work toward together (this can be a joint plan or two individual projects; one for each of you). Next, make a pact that you’ll hit a specific milestone on the road to your end goal by a specific date.

For example: Want to apply for a dream summer job? Make a promise to your chosen buddy that you’ll have your forms filled out and ready by next month. Ask them to make a similar promise to you and make sure you both hold each other accountable for having completed your tasks.

Need another example? Say you’re hoping to give back to your community on a regular basis. Consider creating a shelter, soup kitchen, or local government volunteering schedule for you and your friend. Once that’s done, be certain to check in on each other’s progress every week.

If you feel comfortable with social media, keep track of all your accomplishments on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or any platform you prefer and use the hashtag #standupandtakesomeaction. Remember to ask your friend’s permission before posting about them.

Explore More

Go even deeper with the On Your Feet! Extras.

An important final note:

This past December, Gloria Estefan and four other artists received the prestigious 2017 Kennedy Center Honors. When told she was being awarded this honor, Ms. Estefan made the following comment:

“Little did I imagine when my parents brought me as a toddler to the United States from Cuba, in order to be able to raise me in freedom, that I would be receiving one of this nation’s greatest honors. I feel privileged to be included in the galaxy of stars that have received the Kennedy Center Honors and I am grateful to be considered among the many talents in this great country that have been bestowed this exceptional accolade.”

The ceremony was broadcast on December 26, 2017. You can see footage from the annual event at www.kennedy-center.org.

–

All photos by Matthew Murphy.

–

Theater at the Kennedy Center is made possible by

Major support for Musical Theater at the Kennedy Center is provided by

#Theater #onyourfeetat2700F

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danaagusto · 7 years

Text

Why People are Upset with Chrisette Michele

By attending and performing at the Inauguration for Donald Trump, Chrisette Michele crossed a metaphorical picket line. While her heart might have been in the right place, many people, including politicians, Congressmen, and the constituents that Chrisette claims to represent, had voiced their plan to boycott the Inauguration as a way to signal to Trump that they are not supportive of his discriminatory and offensive beliefs and actions. Chrisette claims to have felt the need to show “them” what “we” look like so she showed up in her Alice + Olivia Basquiat skirt and sang a gospel song.

One, white people, including Republicans and Donald Trump, have seen black people before. Even if they want to act like they haven’t (Donald Trump said on Feb. 1st at a White House event, “I’d go around with Ben to a lot of different places I wasn’t so familiar with. They’re incredible people.” [Referring to black people like he’s never seen one before the time(s) that Ben Carson took him around.] See below for link to complete speech transcript.) We all know these people are not blind and there are black people in Congress, in New York where Donald Trump is from, for God’s sake the 44th President of the United States of America is black and so is his whole family. These people have not only seen black people but successful black people and their denial is ludicrous and does not deserve a conversation.

This is where Chrisette Michele was confused and naive. She fell for these white people’s lies and honestly believed that Trump and his Republican supporters have never seen black people before. Girl, they have not only seen President Barack Obama, First Lady Michele, their children Sasha and Malia but also Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Tiger Woods, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Sydney Poitier, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Steve Harvey, Ben Carson, Omarosa, Jesse Jackson, Maxine Waters and countless other black Congressmen and women, Clarence Thomas, Thurgood Marshall…honestly I can go on for hours. These people have seen what black people look like and yes, these successful black people are REAL black people, just as the people that Trump saw when walking around wherever he was with Ben Carson are also REAL black people. So yeah, people are upset at Chrisette Michele for being stupid enough to cross the picket line and show up as a representative of the black community to make peace and hold meaningful conversations about race relations and stopping discrimination.

What added fuel to the fire was when she added that she doesn’t even know what to say and that we the community along with Spike Lee, should send her the messages we want her to convey. Like what? Girl, are you for real? We were trying to send a message and you blocked it by showing up at the Inauguration in your skirt made by a white woman who is capitalizing off of a dead black man’s art. As much as I love Jean-Michel Basquiat’s art (I own 2 shirts from UNIQLO with his art on them and one sweatshirt) and as much as I want more clothing made from his art, I refuse to spend thousands of dollars on Alice + Olivia pieces (the pieces range from $250-$1,295 per item), because Alice + Olivia is purposefully trying to capitalize on this black man’s art without trying to fight discrimination or help the black community one iota. Pay homage by not only exposing the masses to his art but by doing so while saying Black Lives Matter. Anything less just demonstrates self-interest and cultural appropriation. How is it not offensive for white women to wear black social commentary without saying Black Lives Matter? Check out Basquiat’s Wikipedia page, which is referenced very well, where it says, “Basquiat used social commentary in his paintings as a "springboard to deeper truths about the individual", as well as attacks on power structures and systems of racism, while his poetics were acutely political and direct in their criticism of colonialism and support for class struggle.”

The UNIQLO line of Basquiat clothing is a collaboration between UNIQLO and the Museum of Modern Art in New York to bring awareness to artists who should be noted for their contributions to the world. In May 2013 UNIQLO became a multi-year corporate sponsor of MoMA, supporting the Museum’s Friday night free admission program—now UNIQLO Free Friday Nights—which provides free access for the public to the Museum and all exhibitions from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every Friday, throughout the year (see link to the MoMA website below). This is helping the community. This is making art accessible to everyone regardless of financial means. This is creating cultural awareness and increasing cultural exposure. What blows my mind even more is that UNIQLO is a Japanese company while Alice + Olivia is a New York based American company. The social responsibility falls heavier on Alice + Olivia in my book.

My conclusion is Chrisette Michelle did not mean any harm, she is just confused and ignorant (definition: lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular). I am not mad at her for doing what she felt she needed to do. I am proud of her for sounding intelligent and handling herself in a respectable manner in all of her interviews that she has done post-inauguration. My ask of her is for her to become more knowledgeable about what is going on in the community and the Black Lives Matter movement before taking action again. Getting everyone on the same page at the same time is the hardest part of organizing a successful movement and it might even be impossible, but I at least want us to try and stick together to achieve a just society that does not discriminate based on skin color, gender, sexuality, or religion. Human beings have the capacity to be so much smarter than that.

Link to Trump’s 2017 Black History Month speech:

http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/a-full-transcript-of-donald-trumps-black-history-month-1791871370

Link to Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Wikipedia Page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Michel_Basquiat

Link to Basquiat Pieces at MoMA:

https://www.moma.org/artists/370

Link to Basquiat’s website:

http://www.basquiat.com/

Link to UNIQLO & MoMA Collaboration Information:

http://sprzny.uniqlo.com/about/

#BlackLivesMatter ChristteMichele Trump Inauguration BlackHistoryMonth CivilRightsMovement KnowledgeIsPower #MoMA Basquiat Art Politics News Republicans CulturalApporiation AliceAndOlivia Fashion UNIQLO

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