#and then the thing that replaces him is seemingly incapable of anything but mindless bliss

[akicklineisinevitable]

i was talking abt this irl a while back but i relistened to TGWDLM and it just reminded me of it- remember the Jekyll-and-Hyde back-and-forth thing Paul does in Let It Out? there's a subtle difference in the way Jon sings, between the 'normal Paul' and 'infected Paul' lines- infected Paul's' voice is brighter, slightly higher-pitched. his voice rises at the end of the lines, too.

and as a former theatre kid, whenever i hear that part of Let It Out i always remember something my old music teacher told me- your voice sounds brighter and clearer if you smile when you sing. something about the muscles in your mouth, i think? but obviously, in live theatre you have to act as well as sing, so most of the time you can't do that. but that infected version of Paul is always smiling. in Let It Out his expression changes by the line, and in Inevitable as soon as he starts singing he smiles- and his voice is brighter and clearer and happier.

i dunno there's something there