#felt classy to use a lyric

[god-of-this-new-blog]

“For a master of deception and subterfuge, You’ve made yourself quite the bed to lie in”

[nerdieforpedro]

Fare Well

For @wannab-urs Hozier Song Drabble Challenge

Dieter Bravo x plus size female reader (Sweet Pea)

This fic is for those 18+ MDNI

Word Count: about 1.8k (Yeah so…I went past Drabble 👀)

Summary: Dieter has been working so hard. He still has an issue that might be because of his mind. What can he do about it? Do anything else.

Warnings: unhealthy coping, sexual dysfunction, sex work, teasing, pet names, sexual activity (actual and implied I think? I should know. 🙃)

Notes: I listened to this song 5 times in a row because I didn’t really listen to Hozier (now I do). The color this fic is purple or violet, whichever you wanna say it. 💜 I bolded lyrics I was able to put in the fic. 🤗 Thanks to Gin for giving me two Dieter fics to write back to back. ☺️ That little trash panda is always so giving.

Main Masterlist / Dieter Bravo Masterlist / Writing Challenge

Tapping his foot on his hardwood floors, Dieter Bravo is in an all too familiar place. He’s been purposely busy. Keeping occupied except for when he’s completely exhausted has kept him out of trouble, even in the tabloids. People are saying he’s changed for the better. He knows he’s keeping clean, keeping in the straight and narrow.

Bravo has run into a snag on his progress.

The last few paintings had done well in gallery showing, even selling for double than asking price, his last movie was well reviewed. These are both very good things, wonderful. He’s happy, proud even. Bravo is having plenty of sex, mountains of it. In his head. Reality has played out much differently. All this work he’s doing, he hasn’t been able to chase a different high. One he’s used to replace the drugs. It wasn’t that he couldn’t find people to have sex with. He’s been more careful about it, not something he’s been concerned about prior to his new leaf. In doing so, acts he’d normally attempt weight more heavily on his mind and keep little Dee from swelling when needed. Bravo knows the rumor that might be going around but it’s not true! Since his mind is clearer, he actually thinks about who he’s having sex with more and little D isn’t always on board. You know, one of those words his therapist mentioned – cognitive dissonance except it’s happening with his partner in pleasure little D. Big D when he’s feeling in the mood.

He knows he could just go to one of those discreate clubs, seek his needs out there, but he always assumed he wouldn’t need one. The Oscar Winner keeps looking for different projects, in his studio trying out new paints, trying to learn the saxophone (it was a bad idea, but sounded great at three in the morning when he called his assistant and told him what to buy), he then went to a spin class and damn near passed out after fifteen minutes and tried a cooking class but was kicked out for causing an oil fire.

Nothing was working so he called and asked to stop by, check the place out. The owner of course said that was fine – he’s Dieter Bravo, they’d love to have him. Dieter told the owner,

“I’ll take any high. Any glazin’ of the eyes. Any solitary pleasure that masks my sorrow. No drugs though, I’m not willing to backslide over it.”

The owner said they understood and had the perfect person for him.

So now Dieter waits in this room. It’s an array of different purples well violets since this is a more classy place. He wanted to undress to his boxers but was told by the front desk to leave them on. He did remove his shoes, socks and jacket, but otherwise he’s dressed. Simple black slacks and a white button-down shirt that had bellowing sleeves with a deep v-cut exposing his chest down to his sternum. He felt like dressing up a bit but still kept it simple, most of the clientele were in suits and dresses that Dieter saw. Soft guitar music played in the background, he closed his eyes as he waited curious who they might have matched him with based on what he asked for.

Dieter heard the clicking of heels first. Then smelled a deep woodsy fragrance, it approached slowly, matching the pace of the heels. They stopped in front of him and he caught hints of citrus and a flower. Using his aquiline nose to sniff closer to the source, feeling body heat radiating from whoever was in front of him. “It’s faint but you smell like a sweet pea.” He released a deep breath he’d been building from taking in and trying to identify the different components of their scent.

“Welcome Mr. Bravo. I hope my fragrance invokes pleasant memories. I’m told you want to rid yourself of sorrow. Correct?” The voice embraced him as soft fingers coiled around his neck, thumbs pressing into his chin.

“Yes, please. I need to forget, just for a bit. Then I might be able to get my body to function properly. Everything is fine, great even.” He kept his eyes closed and he felt them. Lips on his forehead, warm and plush. They lingered, “Can I touch you, please?” No answer was given as hands left his neck and were placed on each side of a torso. His palms roamed slowly tracing the lace that wrapped the body he had in his hands.

The lips left his forehead and he was tempted to reach for them, but kept his eyes closed, he would wait, trying to keep his breathing even. “Is this alright Mr. Bravo or do you want someone who might-“Dieter wildly shook his head.

“Don’t you go anywhere Sweet Pea. Stay right here with me. Just like this. Maybe more. Can I look at you?” He pulled the body toward him, sniffing more. “Call me Dieter. Mr. Bravo is the one having issues with his little D.” He made himself chuckle knowing what a stupid joke it was. Fingertips graced his cheek and tipped his chin upward.

“Look at me Dieter. How do you want me to drown your sorrows tonight? I usually go by Violet due to the room, but I like Sweet Pea when you say it. It makes me sound cute.” The giggle from this celestial being has Dieter wondering if she’ll still giggle if he’s buried between her legs. He wouldn’t need to come up for air, just search for what would be his reward: her moans and his tongue squeezed by her pelvic muscles. His palms ran around to her back, feeling the different rolls of her body.

“I want to see if I’m going to go into a coma from drowning in your nectar Sweet Pea. Can I be your first casualty? If I was going to go, I’d want to be surrounded by thick thighs and a woman’s cries I offer her.” Slipping her left heel off, Sweet Pea places her leg on the bed beside Dieter’s right leg. His hand slowly makes its way across the curve of her wide ass to her thigh, his large fingers dipping into the small holes of the fishnets, tugging on them. “Let me show you gorgeous.”

Smiling, Sweet Pea gives his lips a quick peck before bending to reach between his legs, “Seems just the thought is enough Dieter. Why come to me? I’m sure you’ve got many offers, especially if you’re asking like that.” She lowers her leg and stands back up, turning her back to him but looking over her shoulder to meet his eyes. The glint in them makes her lick her lips, she could ask him to do it, just to see if he will. Given how desperate he is, he might. He won’t say it, but his body betrays him, he said that ‘little D’ was having trouble but that didn’t seem to be the case at all from what she felt. Maybe it’s the scents, the atmosphere and that what happens here will remain here until he comes back. She crosses the room and drops her black thong, stepping out of it and her other heel, sitting on a violet velvet loveseat with her legs open wide. “This is what you want right Dieter?” Her elbows are on her knees with one hand beckoning him. “Come to me, but undress and crawl.”

Bravo doesn’t want control right now, nor does he want to think. He just wants to act, to perform. In this moment, he isn’t thinking about how lonely he is or how his career could crumble on some whim of culture or random video. There’s only this purple room he can melt into as he removes his clothes, making himself bare to Sweet Pea. Dieter’s actually hard, dripping onto her carpet as he lowers himself onto the floor on all fours. His knees are burning as he makes his way across the padded carpet. It’s worth his goal though, into her tender folds. “You like to see a man work, huh Sweet Pea? That’s more than fine.” Halfway there, his bobbing swollen cock made a mess of the carpet and his belly. Upon reaching her, he placed his hands on her knees and looked up to her, balancing himself on his knees so little D was at full attention. He wanted to show her what she’d been able to bring out of him so far. Something changed though, he was smiling but Violet recognized it. She used her fingers to rub circles into his biceps and shoulders before tracing the pronounced vein on his neck.

“You adorable man. This isn’t what you want. At least not now. You can’t seem to decide between the two Dieter.” Fingers run through his hair, and he knows she’s right but couldn’t she had said so after he’d had his fill, hear her cries?

“You’re not wrong, but I still need this. Need you.” He dipped his head to nibble on her thigh and she hummed but pushed his head back. In standing, she also helped him to his feet and brought him back to the bed, removing her lace corset and climbed on the bed.

“From behind, I’m not going to have your tears dripping where I can watch while you fuck me.” Now Sweet Pea was on all fours and Dieter’s sorrow returned. It was inescapable, but he wanted to see her face. He could block it off, just for a short while he tried to get the sunshine.

“No, I need to see how your face changes as you take me.” Crawling across the bed behind her, he pulled her back flush to his chest and turned her chin over her shoulder, capturing her lips. Slipping his tongue in, the warmth felt good. He hadn’t had it in months, he didn’t know why now, in this place with her, but he’d accept it. All of it. “Pleasure to mask my sorrow is why I’m here, Sweet Pea. Have me bask in the sun.”

Their kiss broke as Sweet Pea turned to put her arms around his shoulders, kissing his forehead once again as Dieter laid back on the bed, she fell forward as he took her hair out of the high ponytail it had been in. Her hair fell around her face, her wet folds grazed his shaft and he moaned. “I’ll be your dawn until the light shines on you Dieter.”

Coming unbound, feeling elated and devastated when he had to leave, Dieter had been able to bury his sorrow in pleasure for a time. Another appointment was made for later in the week. To quote Bravo, “I’ll deny me none while I’m allowed because I wouldn’t fare well.”

Bad ideas that Dieter could use: @katw474 @readingiskeepingmegoing @angelofsmalldeath-codeine @megamindsecretlair @pamasaur @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @sp00kymulderr @mysterious-moonstruck-musings @titlee78 @tinytinymenace @magpiepillsjunior @soft-girl-musings @morallyinept @rhoorl @survivingandenduring @missladym1981 @yorksgirl @heareball @laurfilijames @maggiemayhemnj

[exololyunho]

FFF day 6: auralism

Yeosang/reader

word count: 766

masterlist  fff masterlist

warnings: inappropriate use of asmr, masturbation, established relationship, smut is only about Yeosang

Yeosang could barely contain himself around you. What had started as an innocent little crush quickly grew into a hunger for you that still hadn't subsided despite him confessing and you accepting. Everything about you caused a stirring in his pants. The worst part was that now he couldn’t have an innocent conversation with you or even support you by listening to your music without his dick getting hard. Something about the way your voice sounded sent heat through his whole body.

One late night after seeing you backstage at a music show, he found himself with a hand down his pants. The rest of the guys were out, leaving him alone with his thoughts when they drifted to you.

Suddenly, all he could think about was how you looked as you performed your new song earlier. The styling that was just on the classy side of sexy, how the dress hugged your body, accentuating every curve and swaying tantalizingly as you performed your choreo. 

Yeosang pulled his dick out of his sweats. He gave himself a slow pump. His mouth in appreciation of the movement, repeating it again and again but it wasn't enough.

The two of you rarely got alone time and he wished more than anything that you were here now.

His eyes shot open, a terrible idea floating around his head. What if...? No, no he couldn't do that. Well... maybe he could try it.

Yeosang pushed himself up, reaching for his desk where he'd discarded his phone and headphones after his earlier workout. Trying not to think too hard about what he was about to do, he plugged in his headphones and navigated to YouTube.

You'd recently taken part in an ASMR video to promote your new solo comeback and he had held himself back from watching it when it had been released earlier, really not wanting to pop a boner around his members. But now that he was alone and desperately missing you, this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

He found the video easily, laying back down and sliding the headphones on. With one hand holding his phone up to his face and the other wrapped firmly around his dick, he clicked play.

The first sounds of you introducing yourself in a whisper had his dick twitching. He barely suppressed a groan, starting to pump himself as the camera zoomed in on your lips whispering into the microphone.

He did not care at all about what you were saying, focusing solely on the way your voice sounded as you hummed and continued talking. His hand moved up to rub slowly at his tip. Yeosang's hips bucked and he whined when you blew into the microphone

Yeosang wasn't sure how much more of this he could take. He was already so close to cumming just 2 minutes into the 8 minute long video.

You moved onto slurping noodles. The noises had him clenching his hand tightly around the base of his dick to stop himself from cumming then and there. He wanted to listen to more, not just to support his girlfriend, but also because the sound of your voice was addicting.

When you went back to talking, he allowed himself to start stroking himself again. His hand was moving rapidly as small groans began to fall from his slack jaw.

He was on the edge, so close but not quite reaching the tipping point. In an effort to get the release he was craving, he sped up his movements even more. The quick up and down motion of his hand had his arm aching but it felt so damn good. Yeosang whined in frustration, need just a little more stimulation to get there.

That stimulation came soon in the form of you whispering the suggestive lyrics of your comeback song. He came as soon as you half sang the first line.

His release shot up onto his stomach, hips bucking into his hand as you continued to whisper. It felt like his orgasm lasted forever, the pleasure jerking his body and causing his phone to fall out of his hand onto the bed beside him.

When the video and his orgasm had finally ended, he slipped the headphones off, closing his eyes and trying to catch his breath. That is, until his phone started buzzing, your name and a picture of the two of you lighting up the screen.

With a sigh, he picked it up, his dick instantly stirring again at the sound of your voice. He'd probably have to watch your video again before the night was over.

[borisbubbles]

Eurovision 2024: #16

16. PORTUGAL Iolanda - "Grito" 10th place

Decade Ranking: 56/153 [Above Circus Mircus, below Alika]

OH NOES THE FINGERNAILS!! SO BLATANTLY POLITICAL!! I legit had to zoom and enhance to even NOTICE, jesus christ EBU.

For an entry that I have ranked relatively high, Iolanda is such a pain to write about? I feel like the appeal and placement are both obvious? There are also no real fun things about it? It's all fairly cut and dry (hence why I skipped yesterday to give myself extra think time for the write-up).

I find it hard to believe that anyone can muster up feelings beyond 'yah this is good, next one please' for a song of Grito's calibre. Especially over the more immediate (read: better) "Pelas Costuras"?

That said, I must soldier on and write a few more words. "Grito" is actually a pretty competent Growth Ballad. It starts slowly but then gradually builds up the tension. It handles the overcoming of inner demons with a beautiful touch of melancholy (it IS Portugal after all), and never stays too long in its phases.

In other words: it dodges the main pitfall of many other cerebral ballads: Despite what Joel and Myff were insinuating (Aus NQ'd, in your FACE) Grito is not boring.

But it's also not that engaging of a composition. My gripe with it is that it banged the hardest in studio for me, and studio cuts just... don't matter to me? At last not post-show. I get all of my listens from Youtube, not Spotify. In the studio version, "Grito" goes from zero to hero IMMEDIATELY at the first chorus, and doesn't back down. It goes quite hard. Live, the transition is more gradual and subdued, which pulls me into the immersion at a later point. Almost too late? "Grito" is a slow burner, and I'm not a patient man. You need to make me care about you immediately, not until you're halfway through the song.

It makes sense that Iolanda was sort of the Alika of the year resultswise (getting a good amount of jury votes into a negative televote) but she had the opposite problem for me. Alika came across like she was aimlessly screaming at a mic without any sophistication. Iolanda came across as frosty introvert who deliberately held back on purpose to sound frail before the big note. BELT WOMAN, YOUR SONG DEMANDS IT.

Eventually, she did. And it was pretty good.

That was a really good climax. Grito succeeds where Ramonda and Before the Party's Over (and in a sense Veronika which I'll address in a few days) struggled with or even outright failed to do.

So going into the contest from FdC, I always expected Portugal to be a qualifier (why were SO many people sleeping on it? I know a lot of eurofans are dumb (sadly, not of the mute variety), but also hard of hearing?) but I was hoping for Iolanda to inject more life into her song. This was why I had difficulty getting into her at FdC.

and she... sorta did?

Like, if I'm honest, the performance wasn't enough to fully win me over. It went from a 7 to a 7.5, it's not the LEAP forward I had hoped.

However, Portugal managed to elevate the act from its FdC counterpart, and respected the song's strengths. Befitting the lyrics, Iolanda ~transformed into a better verison of herself~, serving personality.

The staging in Sweden was also better - the use of the cubes to create a confined space for an intimate performance, the interactive choreography and the camerawork that framed it beautifully were great. In FdC, it felt like Iolanda had too many ideas for her staging, and they were poorly implemented. In Sweden, it clicked together smoothly. Her styling was great (die Joel!). She got the message across, while staying classy and sophisticated, which I suppose is Portugal's entire spiel at Eurovision nowadays.

In terms of my personal preferences though, it doesn't set my soul on fire, or makes me raise roofs tonight. Iolanda was good across the board, so she makes perfect sense as a high jury carry, but at the same time she also makes perfect sense as a televote bottomfeeder. It cuts both ways - "Grito" is good on all accounts, and outstanding at none, nor particularly is it particularly high on Fun Factor. It's too polished and competent for that. Like, "Grito" is not Eurovision. it is a well-executed live of a well-written song that found it's way there by winning the NF. It's highbrow. And I can appreciate that, but ultimately, others this year have delivered entires that were more to in line with the vibes I like to receive from my Eurovision entries.

AND NOW WE'RE MOVING UP A TIER. Here are whoever's left:

Which one is #YOUR favourite?

THE RANKING

[thetorturedlovergirl]

Today my classes got canceled bc public transport isn’t working (buses, subways, trains, etc) as drivers are on strike so I finally had the time to watch The Chuch On Ruby Road !!

Here are some of my opinions:

Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor? AMAZING. MARVELOUS. OUTSTANDING.

I know we get to see him in The Giggle, but that's just a fraction of what we get to see in this episode. I love his energy, his voice, and how nice and approachable he seems as The Doctor. You can see that he loves his job and that he loves being The Doctor, and that he will crush this job.

ALSO ALL OF HIS CLOTHES !! HE COULD USE A TRASH BAG AND STILL MAKE IT LOOK CLASSY AND STYLISH I SWEAR. I WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE OUTFITS HE WILL WEAR IN THIS SEASON.

AND MILLIE GIBSON? LOVE HER. LOOOOVE HER. Her accent is magnificent, her personality, her EVERYTHING. I know I’ll love Ruby Sunday very much (I already do, I can’t hate companions).

HER OUTFITS ARE ALSO GORGEOUS !! I know they’ll be fighting for their lives with cunty outfits this new season and I’m all here for it.

It’s funny how she just roll with everything like she wasnt that shocked as I’d have expected. It was like “oh this alien who had a hot wet summer with Harry Houdini is helping me save the foster baby that just came to my home from this coincidence-eating goblings? yeah ok valid.”

I’m so excited to know her origins. I don’t know if I really care who her biological mother is, BECAUSE CARLA IS HER MOTHER AND SHES WONDERFUL. But I want to know what RTD has in mind for her and where she comes from. I have my theories but they’re like… trashy and stupid so I want to know what the real deal will be.

The thing I love most about RTD episodes are how he shows that companions still have families outside of their TARDIS life. Like with some other companions I felt like it was like, three episodes where their family appeared and then they were just gone forever.

Rose and Jackie, Martha and Francine, Donna and Sylvia. I loved these interactions and how much it affected the companions and the whole plot. So Carla being present in Ruby’s life and the series is something important for me and I’m really looking forward to see how her interactions will affect.

Now, to the goblings…

Look, the whole gobling situation was really bizarre and funny. It made me really uncomfortable when the camera zoomed to their faces and I couldn’t stop thinking “why are they doing that? It looks like when my friends took really bad zoomed pictures”. It didn’t happened like, one time, IT WAS EVERY TIME. Also, when they jumped and danced was really funny and so strange they looked like Mii characters.

WHEN JANICE GLOBING STARTED SINGING!! THAT IS CINEMA!!. Her saying the many ways they could eat Lulubelle (I agree with the doctor, that is a great name), I was shocked, I couldn’t stop laughing and how silly the whole scene was.

Idk why people hate The Doctor and Ruby’s song. I heard many people criticizing the lyrics but the song was actually good. It was improvised by The Doctor and Ruby so it couldn’t be majestic (not like the gobling song lol), but they did great with what they had. I would have made a mess and just start singing something cringy just to annoy them, so Ruby really killed it with those lyrics. And the vocals? GOD THE VOCALS. I LOVE HOW MILLIE AND NCUTI SING!! IM REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT BEATLES EPISODE NOW (I was before watching TCORR bc im a huge Beatles fan but now that I heard them sing? ohh I can’t wait).

The resolution was meh but I was more interested in the characters so I didn’t rally cared tbh I wasn’t expecting it to be something astounding.

Overall, I loved the episode as as a whole (4/5) and I think is a good first episode for Ncuti and Millie.

WELL NOW WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW !! NEW EPISODES AAAA

[kiyomisa]

Fancasting Instruments for OPLA

Since Sonya and Giona have gone into detail on how they chose individual instruments and themes for the One Piece characters, I have been thinking about what instruments and themes future characters would have.

Starting with characters we'll meet in season 2:

Vivi: Pan Flutes- Double Harmonic Scale - Lyrics

Okay, I know Nami's already a flute and Zoro has the bansuri, but I think pan flutes are different enough to be a bit more distinct. I thought about a harp, but I felt like I needed something more ancient for her, to her family's ties to before the Void Century and her direct link to the poneglyphs. Also pan flutes can be giant so we can get those super deep resonances for when she's in danger or when her leadership really shines. Also think of the flute duets she can have with Nami(yes, I ship them) As for her theme, it should be in a double harmonic scale, which is what gives us that signature middle-eastern/egyptian flavor. Also since Vivi's story is the main arc for season 2, she'll get this season's lyrical song. I like the sound of Dhvani Bhanushali for the singer, but I'm not too familiar with Bollywood or Middle Eastern singers so take this with a grain of salt.

The Sound Of Silence by Wuauquikuna | Panflute Ancient Egyptian Flute Ney music Nayan Video Song | Dhvani

Robin: Cello - Tango

The Cello is the sexiest string instrument ever, fight me. But it's also classy and classical, so it's perfect for our favorite archeologist. We're also going with a tango, because again sexy, but tangos also inevitably have an angsty or melancholic vibe to their passion, perfect for Robin's trauma and macabre sense of humor. Her them would usually in a minor key, but I think we'd get at least one instance of it in a major key after being rescued from Enies Lobby.

TANGO - A Tribute to Women (Official Music Video) - Tina Guo & Thibaut Vuillermet Wonder Woman Main Theme (Official Music Video) - Tina Guo

Chopper: Vibraphone & Gallop rhythm

Look, I tried really hard to stay away from "Christmas" instruments, but Chopper's a vibraphone. I almost went with the balalaika (Russian, triangular mandolin) instead, just to not be so on the nose. Then I remembered that Sonya and Giona gave Luffy the hurdygurdy because to them it was THE pirate instrument so fuck it, Chopper's a vibraphone. The vibraphone has that slightly whimsical/childish sound to it, but not quite as childish as a glockenspiel. And then we could use Tubular bells when he goes full on Monster Form. As far a signature for his theme, I think it would be fun to have the different hoof speeds--like a clip-clop clip-clop when things are chill or sad. A syncopated cut time for happy times, a kinda ta-dum ta-dum. Then a canter 123 123 when things are picking up or anxious and a full gallop for battles or celebrations.

Merry-Go-Round of Life for solo vibraphone Woodkid - The Great Escape (Official Audio)

Ace: Trumpet - Spanish/Brazilian Samba

Okay, so Mihawk stole the flamenco guitar, but nothing says fiery like those Spanish rifs. So we'll give Ace the Spanish trumpet, more in your face than the guitar, fitting for his young angry brashness vs Mihawk's older, refined experience. And instead of Flamenco, strict and disciplined in it's passion, we'll go for the Brazilian Samba, more fluid, more joyous and living life to it's fullest.

"The Mask of Zorro" (Play with Me n.83) - Andrea Giuffredi trumpet Samba de Janeiro (Instrumental)

Crocodile: Cabasa - 13/8

I feel like the Cabasa is good for Crocodile because it sounds like sand, slithery and gritty at the same time. His theme would be in 13/8, a more unusual unusal time signature to emphasize his outsider presence in Alabasta.

Cabasa Solo / Demo Songs that use 13/8 time

Bon Clay: French Horn- Arpeggios & trills

I struggled with Bon-chan, I really did. He needs to be comedic, but threatening, heroic but villainous. So I've gone with the French horn, probably the most versatile of the brass section. Also it seems to get the purest notes out of brass, at least to me. For his theme I'm picturing arpeggios and trills, to get that classical ballet feel. Just imagine that vs Sanji's jazz horns during their kick duel 😉.

Williams's Star Wars Leia's Theme, Horn Solo This jazz pianists INTERRUPTS me during moonlight sonata ??

Now for characters season 3 and on:

Blackbeard: Bass Accordion - 5/4 Clave, Luffy Inversed.

Now, unlike Sonya and Giona, my go-to instrument for pirates isn't the hurdygurdy, but the concertina in the accordion family. So, Blackbeard is going to be an accordion, but to emphasize his threat and size, we'll go with the Bass Accordion. As for his theme we'll go for a driving 5/4 Clave, that slow slow quick quick we get in the Mission Impossible theme. Also where Roger's theme was Luffy's theme reversed, Blackbeard's theme should be Luffy's theme Inversed, going up instead of down, etc. Because Blackbeard is pretty much Mirror-verse Luff. Do I actually know what that would sound like? No. I am not a composer and all my music theory is hapharzardly gleamed from Youtube.

[Accordion]Pirates of the Caribbean - He's a Pirate Bass accordion

Franky: Bass Guitar - Surf rock with brass

Look, Franky has a pompadour and is a cyborg that runs on Cola, and his real-world country is the US. So obviously we start with rockabilly/do-wop. But this is a pirate show, taking place on the high seas, and he's the shipwright, and he runs around in nothing but a speedo and an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt. When you take 50s rock to the beach, it becomes surf music. But I also want that metallic sound for his cyborg side, so we'll turn to a ska-band instrumental arrangement. Think Reel Big Fish playing Fun Fun Fun by The Beach Boys, or Wipeout by The Surfaries. Franky's actual instrument for the Strawhat ensemble though will be the bass guitar, getting those awesome bass licks and being the support for the group, just like the Sunny gives everyone a home.

ACOUSTIC BASS SOLO Fun Fun Fun - The Beach Boys (Trumpet Cover) Reel Big Fish - Sell Out

Brook: Fiddle & Angklung - Jig 6/8

I was gonna go contrary and use a bassoon for Brook, mostly 'cause I like the way they sound, they can be serious or funny (and also because this bassoon quartet cover of Spooky Scary Skeleton, you're welcome). But…Brook's a fiddle. It's one of the classic sailing instruments, he actually uses a violin and if it's not Baroque, don't fix it. Here in the West the Marimba is the classic instrument for rattling skeletal bones, but I love the hollow bamboo sound you get from the Indonesian angklung. I think this would mostly be used in the more comedic moments, but since I want his theme to be a jig, you could use it to mimic the hard-shoes of Irish step dancers. I chose jig because it's a good, happy bouncy dancing rhythm and the jig is related to the hornpipe, the classic dance for sailors as we know from Popeye and Donald Duck. I want it to be 6/8 because you get that swinging bounce like in a waltz and it's my favorite time signature. ASLI ENAK BANGET INI ANGKLUNG Bohemian Rhapsody by Angklung Swallowtail Jig - Irish Fiddle Tune!

Perona: Hammered Dulcimer & Musical Saw - Waltz in minor key

I went with hammered dulcimer because the sound is a kind of mix of elegance and metallic edginess. It's more versatile than the harpsichord and the reverb of it's strings makes for a good lingering echo evoking vast stone chambers and gothic cathedrals. The musical saw has a haunting, ethereal sound, but can also be a little cartoony. So I feel like it's perfect for Perona's hollows. (I do not have a great ear for music, and I always end up playing the "is it a female soprano, musical saw or theremin?" game.) And we have to go waltz in a minor key for our ghost princess, those dark haunted sound of a minor key and the sweeping flying notes of a waltz.

Colin Beasley Hammered Dulcimer - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star "Dream Waltz" Legend of Zelda Hammered Dulcimer - "Kotake and Koume's Theme" by Colin Beasley SAW MAESTRO Austin Blackburn!

Hancock: Clarinet - Sultry Snake & Heartbeats

The clarinet can be sultry and sexy but still aloof. And slithery, because Hancock's main melody should be serpentine and snake-like and arrogant. The beat should be heartbeats though, because of how she affects everyone's hearts, getting faster and more intense especially in battle or when using her Devil Fruit powers.

Bad Guy Clarinet Cover (Billie Eilish)

Jinbe: Bassoon -Chinese flavor

I was pretty settled on bassoon for Brook, for a long time, but when I finally gave in and made him a fiddle, that freed the bassoon up for Jinbe. The bassoon has such a deep, resonant and warm sound, it's good for this big lovable guy. I bet it could also make pretty good whale-like noises. I know he's a whale-shark, not a whale, but still. Like Zoro's theme has a Japanese flavor to it, I think Jinbe's should have a Chinese flavor, to go with his stoic wisdom and his Fishman karate.

Chris Sales - Qi Liu, Two Chinese Pieces for Bassoon and Piano, Little Sisters of the Grassland

Shirahoshi: Hang/Handpan

The hang sounds kinda like muffled but echoey bells, so it has a real underwater vibe to it. it also sounds pretty ancient and mystical so I feel like it works very good for our giant mermaid princess who is also an ancient weapon.

Mumi - Nothing Else Matters (handpan cover)

[jonathantaylorthomas]

OK, Swifties. You liked the fairytale fictions and indie-cred boast of Taylor Swift’s pandemic alt-folk records. But you’ve been yearning for the intimacy you felt when she knocked out those confessional bangers, haven’t you? Well, the wait is over. Playing Midnights will make you feel as though you’re sleeping over at her house while she spills secrets and settles scores into the night. Over a series of murky electronic grooves (mostly co-written with Jack Antonoff), the pop star unpacks her darkest dreams, deepest doubts and cruellest thoughts. All the while she keeps things just cryptic enough to keep the tension crackling and the speculation buzzing.

That said, she’s already stopped speculation about the opening track, “Lavender Haze”. “Gaylor” fans who’ve stuck (rather doggedly) to a queer reading of Swift had hoped that the song might be a coming-out track because of the colour’s long association with gay culture. But in an Instagram post, Swift explained that she had happened upon the phrase while watching Mad Men and found it was vintage slang for a dreamy love glow. Against the throb of a synth bass, she appears to be addressing the misogynistic media obsession with whether or not she’s marrying actor boyfriend Joe Alwyn, with whom she’s been settled since 2016. “All they keep asking me / Is if I’m gonna be your bride / The only kinda girl they see / Is a one night or a bride” she notes (you can hear the eye-roll). But as the vocal layers build, she shakes off the judgement effortlessly: “Talk your talk and go viral / I just need this love to spiral.”

The slower, grimier texture of “Maroon” is a dive back into a past relationship (place your bets). Describing the affair, Swift sings of it decaying from the initial pink of cheap rosé to the “rust that grew between telephones”.

She’s on her best, self-scrutinising storytelling form on the excellent “Anti-Hero”, which lyrically sends zinger after zinger bubbling up through the fuzz of distortion. She unpicks the unwieldiness of her stardom with terrific, surreal imagery. “Sometimes I feel like everyone is a sexy baby / And I’m the monster on the hill / Too big to hang out / Slowly lurching towards your city / Pierced through the heart but never killed.” She skewers her acts of public kindness, too: “Did you hear my covert narcissism / I disguise as altruism / Like some kind of congressman?”

Things get funnier as the singer, whose fortune is estimated at around $750m, slur-growls: “I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the money / She thinks I left them in the will / The family gathers round and reads it / And then someone screams out ‘She’s laughing up at us from hell!’” Swift lays into her “niceness” again on the poppier swell of “Bejewelled”, on which she warns a guy that she has the capacity to light up rooms (and all the boys in the band) if he doesn’t pay more attention.

“You’re on Your Own, Kid” digs into a catchy-cute guitar melody – flecked with pretty pings that echo her early pop – as Swift looks back on the days when she sang her songs in the parking lot. Lines about starving her body, hoping for the perfect kiss, are a nod to her Romeo and Juliet teen dreams. This sweetness is balanced by the vocal distortions and rhythmic lurches of “Midnight Rain”, on which Swift revels in her role as a heartbreaker. By the time she gets to noirish rap “Vigilante S**t”, she’s relishing her shadow-self, ripping into a cheating lover. “I don’t dress for women / I don’t dress for men,” goes her predatory purr. “Lately, I’ve been dressing for revenge.” As ever, Swift drops just enough filmic detail to conjure a scene: an envelope handed to a wife who’s now driving her ex’s Benz. And there’s some classy-sharp wordplay about the guy who was “doing lines/ and crossing all of mine”. Through it all, the low vibration of the synth is stalked by the treble rattle of a snare drum. The effect is of a woman in stilettos hunting a shadow.

There’s been some excitement online about the teased track “Karma”. Many thought it would address her spat with Kanye West, and that it might have been taken from an album lost during that time. But the swipes at a “spiderboy, king of thieves” waving a “web of opacity” would suggest it’s about her ex, Spider-Man star Jake Gyllenhaal (who famously dumped her by text, breaking her heart and inspiring the album Red which she recently re-recorded). The album ends with “Mastermind”, which seems to be about Alwyn again – and includes a confession that, like “all wise women”, she engineered some aspects of their romance. “I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian because I care…” Ha.

The subtle melodies of Midnights take time to sink their claws in. But Swift’s feline vocal stealth and assured lyrical control ensures she keeps your attention. Turn the lights off and let these songs prowl around you. Just don’t expect their meanings to settle too biddably into your lap. Swift’s always as elusive as she is allusive.

[yukarishoodie]

Weekly Vocajournal #19 (15/01 - 22/01)

Slower week today, so I went back to check on releases I missed during hiatus and found an absolute gem:

Kimizima Sui - Devil on our shoulder. (ft. Kazehiki, flower)

From a 'genre' of vocalsynth songs I've grown to dearly love but have yet find a name to, featuring lyrics sung as if talking, vocals tuned low and breathy, and an overall song structure that prioritizes atmosphere and rhythm over melody. Think sheeno mirin's stuff. Haven't heard much of Kazehiki, but their vb range is fantastic here, from soft and airy in the verse to powerful for the chorus. Flower's role in the song is lowkey, but the support is very much felt.

delta - Dare no Tame no Ashi ka (ft. flower)

Speaking of songs in the same 'genre' as the last one, this is also amazing. delta is one of the producers that tunes flower low, dark and subdued, which compliments the fantastic, classy piano melody playing in the higher ranges. Great contrast between talkloid-esque verses and more melodic choruses, and a bittersweet, melancholic atmosphere.

Uzuki Sara - Hanabi (ft. Yuzuki Yukari, Kagamine Len)

I'm a sucker for those 2010's bright, feel-good-to-the-point-of-saccharine house tracks (think Zedd's Clarity), and even better when they feature Yukari. Len being used as a backing vocal for Yukari is not common, but it's not a bad choice here.

0-9 (OPA) - 剥き出しインセキュリティ、或いは、崩壊前夜のワンダーランド (ft. MEIKO)

Properly tuned V1s are a treat for the ears, and this Meiko is sure one of them! She's brimming with power and energy and nailing this cool technopop tune.

Hitoshizuku × Yama△ - Nonsense Game (ft. KAITO, Kamui Gakupo)

Rare combo of VBs from this producer! Love how they worked Gakupo relatively high on his range, and how growly everyone is, probably based on PARED's original version. Also love the contrast between Suzunosuke's illustration and the chibi sections.

Oshibacomyaku - Post (ft. RIME)

Brought to my attention by @/daily-vocaloid's post here. Manages to incorporate some surprisingly distorted synths and a relatively loud, grainy section in the middle while maintaining a chill and positive atmosphere. Love the mixing and effects on RIME's vocals.

Locust - Batsujirushi (ft. flower)

I have no idea how this guy has managed to upload 3 songs this year with consistent quality, one of the more prolific rookie producers for sure. This one is my favorite of the January uploads for sure: Plucked upright bass, saxophone, piano, great flower tuning, real classy 2+ minutes.

COKO Corner (lots of COKO this week!):

ChouchouP/papiyon - AVOCADO

Carlos Hakamada - COKO is HERE!!!

UtsuP - dislike

toa - Like a Fantasy

Other Cool Stuff:

Yugika - Eureka Replica (ft. Meika Mikoto)

Kashii Moimi - Secret Side (ft. KAITO)

jon-YAKITORIY - THUNDERBOLT (ft. Hatsune Miku) (Miku 2023 JP Tour Theme Song)

Kashuu Ryousuke - 芒畑 (ft. Yuzuki Yukari)

GoBS - SnowDome (ft. Otomachi Una Sweet)

FuwariP - Toumei ni Natta Monogatari (ft. Satou Sasara)

INE - Relay (ft. RIME)

◈*Yukuewat - Hoiyoho (ft. Kochie, Anna Nyui, Mine Laru)

[taminoarticles]

— Tamino for M Le Magazine du Monde (x) (Original French text)

With "Sahar", Tamino makes his velvet revolution

Four years after a first noticed album, the Belgian singer returns with a record imbued with sweetness that mixes rock, pop and oriental influences.

By Stéphane Davet Published on September 18, 2022

He was a flamboyant revelation of the European scene in 2018, thanks to a first album, Amir. Here he continues in the same romantic vein mixing rock lyricism and oriental roots. Always of a haughty presence, with his slender waist, brown curls and aquiline nose (his mother had chosen his first name in reference to the hero of The Magic Flute), the Antwerper of Egyptian origin bets, at 25, on the intimate depth of sounds and feelings to illuminate Sahar, a superb second album dominated by acoustic heat and a song of proximity.

After two years of emotional tours, Tamino did not apprehend confinement and forced return home as an ordeal. "I lived these two years devoted to my art as if I were on a mission," says Tamino-Amir Moharam Fouad, son of a Belgian anthropologist and an Egyptian show producer. “But, far from your loved ones, you end up being cut off from real life.”

After long periods on the road, some artists feel lost in resuming their daily lives, deprived of their technical team and their group. Tamino, on the contrary, has regained his bearings, delighted to reweave his friendships and share new ones, despite the context of the health crisis. "I felt more isolated on tour than during the pandemic.”

Caressing confidences

Unable to compose when concerts follow one another, he finds in his small house in Antwerp the cocoon necessary for creation. After the time of writing comes that of the models. "These recordings are imbued with the acoustic softness of these pieces," says the singer. If he then found his musicians in a large studio in Brussels to decorate Sahar with classy chord arrangements and a multitude of sound details ("which shine on the disc like particles suspended in a ray of light"), the original velvet of the demos has been preserved in many pieces.

"I have never used music for political purposes but to express emotions, feelings.” Tamino

Those on the first album, mostly written in late adolescence, vibrated with torments pushing Tamino to move from the deepest bass to the most crystalline treble. A way of flirting with the celestial and twilight that earned this former student of the Amsterdam Conservatory to be compared to the late Jeff Buckley.

Managing his doubts more serenely, the one who wrote his first song at the age of 14, following a heartache, no longer feels obliged to vocally play extremes. "I wondered if these vocal acrobatics would be missed by the listener," admits Tamino, "but it is the songs that dictate the interpretation. One way of singing should not become a gimmick.” The English-speaking Flemish now puts his velocity at the service of caressing confidences.

Paternal inheritance

The same sobriety prevailed to bring its cultural diversity into its diversity. If the first album scripted its origins by spectacularly crossing electric guitar and orchestra of Arab musicians, Sahar delicately merges acoustic guitar and oud. Tamino, who began his scales on the classical piano, started playing the guitar at the age of 14-15, after discovering, during a trip to Cairo, in an old wardrobe, that of his grandfather, Muharram Fouad (1934-2002), a star of Egyptian cinema and music.

This time he wanted to master the Arab lute in tribute to this paternal heritage."Piano and oud were the first instruments in my environment," he recalls. “My parents separated when I was 3 years old and I didn't see my father until long after. But he had left with us an oud with a broken handle. This mysterious object has always intrigued me. As if he were inviting me to play.”

He learns the rudiments of oud thanks to Tarek Alsayed, a Syrian musician who took refuge in Belgium. Under his fingers, the instrument sways subtly into titles such as The First Disciple or A Drop of Blood. "Music has always been what connected me most naturally to my roots," analyzes Tamino. “I don't speak Arabic, I spent little time in Egypt or Lebanon, the homeland of my paternal grandmother. I still have everything to discover about these cultures, but I have always felt close to this music that my mother listened to.”

A Radiohead to the rescue

Should we see a political message in the way he mixes cultures and influences? "I have never used music for a political purpose but to express emotions, feelings," he says. His mother introduced him as much to Arabic music as to the Beatles, classical music, jazz or folk song. In this second album, we will find references to Leonard Cohen (The Flame), but also to the Latin lounge atmospheres (Cinnamon), dream pop (a vaporous duo with his compatriot Angèle, in Sunflower) or the rock of the 1990s (the training single Fascination).

Fan of punk pop (Sum 41, Linkin Park, Blink-182), then grunge (Nirvana, Pearl Jam and, above all, Soundgarden) as a teenager, Tamino then for the first time formed a musical culture far from the maternal disco. Some haunted melodies (The Longing) or a suspended piano (You Don't Own Me) will also recall the introverted lyricism of Radiohead, another flagship formation of the "nineties". It is no coincidence that Colin Greenwood, the bassist of the British group, intervenes (on bass and rhythmic programming) on most of Sahar's songs.

"Before the first album, he came to one of my concerts in Antwerp, thanks to mutual friends," recalls Tamino. As he was particularly touched by one of the songs, Indigo Night, I invited him to participate in his recording. We got along so well that he joined the group on tour. "On Radiohead's forced vacation (whose last album dates back to 2016), Colin Greenwood - "so humble, so passionate despite his long career" - was not asked to invest in Sahar.

Sahar, from Tamino (Virgin Records/Universal). November 21 and 22 at the Trianon, in Paris (complete).

[hiiddens]

[ ♛ ]  ° • LIGHT UP THE SKY !

001. what’s a song you can put on repeat & never get tired of?

cherry, rina sawayama — “when they tell you that you've got to stay the same / even though you're not yourself / and you've got somebody else / when they tell you that you've got yourself to blame / even though it's not your fault / but your heart just wants to know, know”

honourable mentions: sunburnt through the glass by prep, cupid (twins ver.) by fifty fifty, whistle by blackpink braveheart

002. a song that instantly lifts your mood when you’re sad.

fermata, oh!gg — “first fermata (rest) in my life / i found the smile i had lost / first fermata (rest) in my heart / although it’s not a perfect world / life changes in relaxation, first attempt”

honourable mentions: after moon by twice flora, paper plane by girls’ generation

003. your favorite song from your all-time favorite artist.

mirror, hyuna — “you want perfection / but the more you want it, the farther you get from it / stop with the endless greed / don’t forget what’s important”

004. a song that inspires or motivates you.

alien superstar, beyoncé — “i'm too classy for this world / forever i'm that girl / feed you diamonds and pearls / ooh, baby / i'm too classy to be touched / i pay them all in dust / i'm stingy with my love (unique)”

005. what’s a song that reminds you of someone?

ok on your own, mxmtoon ft. carly rae jepsen — “it wasn't meant to be / maybe we knew that from the start / i can't complete you, baby / but i'll hold you in my heart”

006. the song that gets you in the mood to party.

summertime, flo — “me and my girls are going in this summer / rolling, rolling in the back of the Hummer / and we gon' do anything we wanna / yeah, we gon' do anything we wanna”

007. your guilty pleasure.

candy, nct dream — “everything’s changed / including my feelings for you / doesn’t mean that i don’t love you / because now I’m going to change myself”

008. a song that’s out of your typical music preference.

jet black heart, 5 seconds of summer — “the blood in my veins / is made up of mistakes / let's forget who we are / and dive into the dark / as we burst into color / returning to life”

009. what do you listen to when you’re in love?

little little, red velvet — “the wind blows past my cheeks / my heart churns because of you / it keeps softly blowing / you shake up my world / this feeling is probably love, love, love”

honourable mention: safety net by ariana grande ft. ty dolla sign

010. do you have song you’ve listened to all your childhood?

remember the time, michael jackson — “do you remember / how we used to talk? / you know we'd stay on the phone at night 'til dawn / do you remember / all the things we said? / like, i love you so, i'll never let you go”

honourable mentions: hide and seek by imogen heap, milky way by boa

011. is there a song your parent / sibling / friend / etc. introduced you to that you love?

back to life, zayn — “what if we never met / what if i never saw her / ‘cause i've been burning up for so long / in a world that just keeps getting colder”

012. a song you didn’t expect to like.

lucky one, exo indigo — “at the raging moment / and you stop in my world / you are my only one / the moment i discover you / you shine more radiantly / i’ll be the lucky one”

013. what song would be your ‘intro’ music?

shooting star, xg — “uh, everything i do, i do it a1, flawless / make 'em go insane, pandemonium riot / always looking fresh / got that green in my diet / head to my toe / shinin' like canary diamonds ”

014. what song best represents your outward look —  or your attitude towards life?

the state of dreaming, marina — “if only you knew my dear / how i live my life in fear / if only you knew my dear / how i know my time is near”

015. the song with your favorite lyrics.

i, taeyeon fleur ft. verbal jint — “but strong girl, you know you were born to fly / tears you’ve cried, / all of the pain you’ve felt / for the day you’ll fly even higher, / it’s to prepare you”

honourable mention: been though by exo indigo

[lil-cutesy-things]

You're already beautiful (Kisses from July 2024 #7)

Or Why You Don't Need a Glow Up

Hi honeybunches 🌟 Welcome back to "Kisses from July 2024"!

TODAY'S TOPIC

In the seventh and last part of this series, I will talk about how my vision of beauty has changed over the years.

Born skinny, b*tch, no matter how much weight I gain, I'm slim

– BLACKPINK, Pretty Savage

🎶 I chose these lyrics precisely because I hate them.

As a teenager, I believed that to be thin was to be beautiful and therefore to be liked.

That was the message sent by the society I lived in. TV ads flaunted skinny models; girls and women around me thought they were too big; they were on a diet or wanted to be.

I remember this friend of mine who once told me she was jealous of me since I was able to eat a lot without gaining any weight. She had quite a sweet tooth and she was convinced you could tell.

What did I say? I laughed awkwardly and brushed it off, but I did not forget her words.

Looking back, I think I had a lot of internalised fatphobia and many other issues with my physical appearance.

The world around me felt cold and hardened, like an eternal winter.

I'm lonely, what do I do? I even swallowed hatred

– Hwasa, Maria

🎶 I love Hwasa's song Maria because of its moving and empowering lyrics.

After a while, I eventually realised that I was not happy with how I looked because I used to be called "ugly" by my bullies.

Because I was lonely, I had gripped with my cold hands the hatred that was thrown at me and absorbed it.

Because I was insecure, I had listened to mean people and believed their words.

This had to stop.

This spring or epiphany – however you want to name it – was a crucial first step toward more self-confidence.

I sprouted like a bud, reaching out as if to touch the sky, looking bright and promising.

I want to have fun and be loud, shining brighter with my diverse charms and irregularities

– IVE, Baddie

🎶 I have to say, most IVE's songs are masterpieces. The lyrics of their songs invite these who listen to be confident, giving them a sense of strength and power.

Next step, I realised I shine the brightest when I am myself.

Instead of hiding myself behind a vivid and classy look, I should just be my most authentic self by putting on cute casual clothes and heavy colourful makeup.

Instead of putting on a smiling mask, I should just accept the fact that my emotions change and vary over time. It's normal. It's okay.

Instead of waiting to be loved, I should just love myself more.

This was my summer glow up. I blossomed like a flower, spreading my rosy petals, giving off a sweet fragrance.

Instead of beauty blossomed from my defeat, I chose the most powerful "villain" instead

– LE SSERAFIM, Smart

🎶 I love LE SSERAFIM's songs because they help you celebrate who you are. This extract from Smart especially resonated with me because of its poetic choice of words.

As of now, I'm proud to say that I'm winning by learning to accept my body the way it is.

I'm winning by choosing myself over and over again.

I'm winning by accepting to be the "villain" in some people's stories. I cannot control them or the picture of me they have in mind.

This is my fall. As red and yellow leaves swirl around, fluttering in the wind, I spread my wings and fly across the fluffy clouds.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS

I hope you liked my summery series "Kisses from July 2024."

I absolutely loved writing it! Being able to post twice a week on Tumblr makes me so happy and proud of myself 🥰

Love,

Bay 💋

[lgcnathan]

solo : team unknown 004, solo performances

word count : 487

solo performance #1 secret by wjsn

nathan chose this song mainly because, out of all the options presented to them, this was his favorite one. but his music preferences aside, after listening to all of the songs once, he felt that this was the one that held the most creative potential for him personally.

two main things were changed/added to the song for his creative performance: 1) the song was re-arranged to have a more big band, 1950s jazz-esque sound. there's more of an r&b vibe to song now, while still retaining its original bright energy, and 2) because this is originally a girl group song, he's changed the choreography almost entirely (with some much-needed help) to accentuate his strengths. the choreography has a hip-hop foundation with a jazz emphasis on technique, especially with the inclusion of certain dance moves that were popular in the 1950s as well.

during the rap portion of the song, nathan intends not to sing it live (as he's not really that good at rapping), and instead will let the backtrack carry the melody whilst he performs a tap dance-inspired dance break as the highlight of his performance.

the concept of the performance is, again, set in the 1950s-ish at a classy bar, to set the scene. nathan'll be wearing a three-piece, striped brown suit that accents his long proportions – tie and pocket square included, of course. he'll also be wearing a fedora to match (since this is, like, the only time someone can wear a fedora and not be creepy).

the performance is almost theatrical, in a way, which is hard considering he's on stage all alone. nonetheless, it proves a great challenge for him to expand upon his facial expressions beyond what's usually the standard for idol performances. if permitted, he intends to have props on stage (a stool, a high table to mimic a bar, etc.) to aid with his performance, but there's no specific choreography with these items so they're not necessary. instead, he asks to at least have a microphone and a mic stand at the bare minimum to use.

solo performance #2 heat waves by glass animals

knowing had bad nathan is at korean (lol), he's glad to have the chance to, again, play to his strengths and perform a song in english.

since his first solo performance has a heavy emphasis on his dancing skills, he wants to use this second performance to showcase his singing more.

'heat waves' is a song with a lot of electronic influence that's hard to emulate live (or at least, on the budget that nathan's working with), so he'll be performing a more stripped-down version of the song that has an electric guitar instrumental with a slower bpm to focus more on the melody and the song's lyrics.

and once again, he'll ask for a hand microphone and mic stand to use for this more intimate performance.

[musicarenagh]

"Mamma": A Soulful Symphony of Vulnerability and Resilience By Meghan Pulles In the ethereal world of Indie-Americana music, Meghan Pulles, a Nashville-based songstress, paints vibrant emotional landscapes with the poignant strokes of her words and melodies. Her new single, "Mamma", reverberates with the heartrending, yet triumphant ode to the complexities of familial relationships and self-discovery. https://open.spotify.com/album/3TgBvSQGMxsmJxissOZ5t9?si=smW8SCLeRrGd9PDC8ywidw Listening to "Mamma" is akin to a therapeutic process of traversing one's psychological alleys. Meghan's voice, a rustic charm intertwining strength and softness, resounds with an honest vulnerability that's all too relatable for many of her listeners. The song seeks to capture the essence of nostalgia, disappointment, and the resilient hope of a child reaching out for love, even in the face of emotional abandonment. [caption id="attachment_50878" align="alignnone" width="2000"] "Mamma": A Soulful Symphony of Vulnerability and Resilience By Meghan Pulles[/caption] Instrumentally, the track possesses a quiet, meditative energy, allowing Meghan's vocal prowess to take center stage. It's simple, yet very mature in terms of composition. There is a classy elegance to the orchestration, reminiscent of the rootsy, authentic grittiness of classic Americana—donned with an indie reverence that makes it refreshing for contemporary audiences. "Mamma" serves as an exemplary representation of concept music, contextualizing human emotions within the song's sonic framework quite beautifully. It carries a consummate fusion of profound lyrics, enchanting vocals, and an authentic undertone that both fans of the Indie-Americana genre and new explorers would appreciate. Chasing the “Nights”: A Nocturnal Dance with Night Talks Meghan's approach concretizes her upcoming album, "Ear Baby", as a must-await project for those yearning to connect with music that's not afraid to look life straight in the eyes. It is a promising harbinger of the emotional depth and sonic diversity the album seeks to encompass. In essence, "Mamma" offers a melodic refuge for those who've felt unseen or unheard- an embracing anthem of resilience for anyone who's grappled with emotional estrangement. Meghan Pulles, through her midas touch in musical storytelling, invites us to put on our headphones, turn on "Mamma", and lose ourselves within the strings of her heartfelt serenade. Follow Meghan Pulles on Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

[thepermanentrainpress]

CONCERT REVIEW: FIONN W/ AUDALEI AND ANTON SETH AT FOX CABARET - MARCH 24, 2023

Local folk-pop duo Fionn took over the stage at Vancouver’s beloved Fox Cabaret last Friday. Supported by openers Anton Seth and audalei, this show pushed the boundaries of genre, blending heartfelt lyrics with catchy melodies and energetic riffs. All three artists commanded the stage, captivating the audience from the very first song with the candor and verve of their storytelling.

Anton Seth kicked off the show with expert stage presence, using the entire available space to stroll and dance around in punk-business-casual attire. He connected with the crowd from the first moment and embodied the lyrics, immediately drawing us in to the dynamic energy on stage. Ian Perry rocked playful riffs and energetic solos on a snazzy blue guitar, underscored by Skylar Bartel’s sleek black bass, with Josh Ertman on the drums keeping everyone dancing. Anton’s vocal prowess supported the emotionality of his lyrics through sustained notes and catchy choruses alike. Their music is a blend of playfulness and angst, with Anton describing some songs as being trauma dumps and others as being more upbeat. Their setlist included “As Is,” a brand new song released that day; “Selfish,” described as being about a selfish asshole after a breakup; “Space Girl,” for which they invoked audience participation; an Allen Stone cover to close, which they characterized as bringing the classy vibes for the Fox Cabaret. After seven years in his previous band, Anton Seth has launched an extremely promising solo career and is more than capable of taking larger venues by storm.

audalei took the stage next, sparking interest right away with an eclectic mix of styles: vocalist audalei in a fishnet top and baggy ripped jeans, a laptop operated by a mysterious Mr. Gorilla in a head-to-toe gorilla suit, and guitarist Lucas in a classy button-up. audalei’s charisma and confidence on stage strikes a balance with the heartwrenching vulnerability of her lyrics, e.g. “you only love me when you’re wasted.” Bouncing around on stage, her light and playful energy felt comforting while her lyrics wove stories universally relatable and sometimes painful. Her earnest and passionate energy held our attention for every word. Between songs, when she wasn’t singing directly to our hearts, she told us she was trying her hand at stand-up. She filled the room with laughter, cracking jokes and giving wry shoutouts to alcohol and narcissists before launching into “sour candy jesus christ.” Other songs performed included “I don’t care,” which audalei described as less heartbreaking; “atleast my therapist thinks im cool,” which blew up on TikTok; “20 SOMETHiNG,” for which she encouraged audience participation; an ambitious cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie,” a perfect fit for audalei’s smooth and vulnerable voice. In sum, watching audalei perform feels like a cathartic dance party in your living room with your best friends.

The show concluded with headliner Fionn. Sisters Alanna and Brianne filled the venue with powerful vocals, sometimes playing bass and guitar respectively and other times using a backing track. Cole supported on the drums with an energetic momentum. Though the sisters’ clothing styles contrasted, platform shoes matched their heights. Their voices melted together seamlessly into beautifully dynamic melodies. Neither commanded more presence than the other, but rather they highlighted each other, occupying the center of focus as a unit. They shifted between movement and stillness, reflecting the balance their music strikes between fierce power, playful celebration, and tender softness. Both have strong and versatile ranges, giving them the ability to adapt and support each other’s vocal parts.

Their performance was expressive, never shying away from embodying the honesty in their songwriting. At one point, during “Goldfish,” Alanna broke a guitar pick and regretted not having extras (her outfit had no pockets) – but Anton Seth came to the rescue and provided a spare. Other songs they played included “18,” about having a crush; “All Good,” which Alanna said was because it’s always all good, as she donned retro sunglasses; a cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which they styled with gorgeous harmonies and got the crowd almost moshing; “Take Me Out,” with personal lyrics based on a diary entry; “Leo,” with its catchy pop chorus, and before which they mentioned they’re both Leo risings; “Dirty Dancing,” for which they told us we must dance, because this is the song where they lose it.

This show was a journey through three distinct songwriting styles with vastly different backgrounds and personalities – all of which share the common ground of expert storytelling with heartfelt sincerity, wrapped up in melodic verve and passion. These are three artists who each have something important to say, and exceptional voices with which to share it.

Written by: Jules Photographed by: Josh Papalia  

[sophaeros]

— Tamino for M Le Magazine du Monde (x)

English translated text under the cut:

With "Sahar", Tamino makes its velvet revolution Four years after a first noticed album, the Belgian singer returns with a record imbued with sweetness that mixes rock, pop and oriental influences.

By Stéphane Davet Published on September 18, 2022

He was a flamboyant revelation of the European scene in 2018, thanks to a first album, Amir. Here it continues in the same romantic vein mixing rock lyricism and oriental roots. Always of a haughty presence, with his slender waist, brown curls and aquiline nose (his mother had chosen his first name in reference to the hero of The Magic Flute), the Antwerper of Egyptian origin bets, at 25, on the intimate depth of sounds and feelings to illuminate Sahar, a superb second album dominated by acoustic heat and a song of proximity.

After two years of emotional tours, Tamino did not apprehend confinement and forced return home as an ordeal. "I lived these two years devoted to my art as if I were on a mission," says Tamino-Amir Moharam Fouad, son of a Belgian anthropologist and an Egyptian show producer. “But, far from your loved ones, you end up being cut off from real life.”

After long periods on the road, some artists feel lost in resuming their daily lives, deprived of their technical team and their group. Tamino, on the contrary, has regained its bearings, delighted to reweave its friendships and share new ones, despite the context of the health crisis. "I felt more isolated on tour than during the pandemic.”

Caressing confidences

Unable to compose when concerts follow one another, he finds in his small house in Antwerp the cocoon necessary for creation. After the time of writing comes that of the models. "These recordings are imbued with the acoustic softness of these pieces," says the singer. If he then found his musicians in a large studio in Brussels to decorate Sahar with classy chord arrangements and a multitude of sound details ("which shine on the disc like particles suspended in a ray of light"), the original velvet of the demos has been preserved in many pieces.

"I have never used music for political purposes but to express emotions, feelings.” Tamino

Those on the first album, mostly written in late adolescence, vibrated with torments pushing Tamino to move from the deepest bass to the most crystalline treble. A way of flirting with the celestial and twilight that earned this former student of the Amsterdam Conservatory to be compared to the late Jeff Buckley.

Managing his doubts more serenely, the one who wrote his first song at the age of 14, following a heartache, no longer feels obliged to vocally play extremes. "I wondered if these vocal acrobatics would be missed by the listener," admits Tamino, "but it is the songs that dictate the interpretation. One way of singing should not become a gimmick.” The English-speaking Flemish now puts his velocity at the service of caressing confidences.

Paternal inheritance

The same sobriety prevailed to bring its cultural diversity into its diversity. If the first album scripted its origins by spectacularly crossing electric guitar and orchestra of Arab musicians, Sahar delicately merges acoustic guitar and oud. Tamino, who began his scales on the classical piano, started playing the guitar at the age of 14-15, after discovering, during a trip to Cairo, in an old wardrobe, that of his grandfather, Muharram Fouad (1934-2002), a star of Egyptian cinema and music.

This time he wanted to master the Arab lute in tribute to this paternal heritage."Piano and oud were the first instruments in my environment," he recalls. “My parents separated when I was 3 years old and I didn't see my father until long after. But he had left with us an oud with a broken handle. This mysterious object has always intrigued me. As if he were inviting me to play.”

He learns the rudiments of oud thanks to Tarek Alsayed, a Syrian musician who took refuge in Belgium. Under his fingers, the instrument sways subtly into titles such as The First Disciple or A Drop of Blood. "Music has always been what connected me most naturally to my roots," analyzes Tamino. “I don't speak Arabic, I spent little time in Egypt or Lebanon, the homeland of my paternal grandmother. I still have everything to discover about these cultures, but I have always felt close to this music that my mother listened to.”

A Radiohead to the rescue

Should we see a political message in the way it mixes cultures and influences? "I have never used music for a political purpose but to express emotions, feelings," he says. His mother introduced him as much to Arabic music as to the Beatles, classical music, jazz or folk song. In this second album, we will find references to Leonard Cohen (The Flame), but also to the Latin lounge atmospheres (Cinnamon), dream pop (a vaporous duo with his compatriot Angèle, in Sunflower) or the rock of the 1990s (the training single Fascination).

Fan of punk pop (Sum 41, Linkin Park, Blink-182), then grunge (Nirvana, Pearl Jam and, above all, Soundgarden) as a teenager, Tamino then for the first time formed a musical culture far from the maternal disco. Some haunted melodies (The Longing) or a suspended piano (You Don't Own Me) will also recall the introverted lyricism of Radiohead, another flagship formation of the "nineties". It is no coincidence that Colin Greenwood, the bassist of the British group, intervenes (on bass and rhythmic programming) on most of Sahar's songs.

"Before the first album, he came to one of my concerts in Antwerp, thanks to mutual friends," recalls Tamino. As he was particularly touched by one of the songs, Indigo Night, I invited him to participate in his recording. We got along so well that he joined the group on tour. "On Radiohead's forced vacation (whose last album dates back to 2016), Colin Greenwood - "so humble, so passionate despite his long career" - was not asked to invest in Sahar.

Sahar, from Tamino (Virgin Records/Universal). November 21 and 22 at the Trianon, in Paris (complete).

[peakgenko]

Songs the Haikyuu boys would slow dance with you to...

CW; suggestive sexual themes

N/A, my heart nutted while writing this tbh

not proofread!!

© All content belongs to damnihateithere.

Kei Tsukishima

Dream A Little Dream of Me- The Mamas & The Papas

I don’t even know how i made this connection but i feel like tsukishima hums a lot of old songs and so this would be one of them

Or slow dancing in the dark by joji. it’s his favourite song. because of you.

Yuu Nishinoya

So Good At Being in Trouble- Unknown Mortal Orchestra

You’d rock back and fourth with him slowly while his lips press against the back of your hand— his eyes staring intently while he hums the lyrics

Shoyo Hinata

I’m Yours- Jason Mraz

So it’s not really something you can slow dance to but this is definitely his song for you. He sings this to you in the showers, during pillow talk, or drum the rhythm with his fingers against a Tupperware when he’s cooking something for you.

He’ll pull you in by the waist and nuzzle his head up against your back with a grin.

At this point it’s his favourite song because it always gets him in the mood. But that’s only because he thinks of you when he hums it.

Rintarō Suna

Versace On The Floor- Bruno Mars

OMG

okay so I imagine the two of you on some dance floor. Like at a club. I head canon that he’s good at dancing. Effortlessly too.

The music stops and and they choose a slow song to end the evening

You’re wearing a dress that cuts off mid thigh. And he’s in a little suit. His blazers loose and his collared shirt is buttoned down since it got a little heated in the midst of sweaty bodies practically grinding up against eachother

Underneath the red and purple spotlights, specks of iridescent lights from the disco ball hanging from the ceiling arrange themselves on your faces.

He’s singing the lyrics wholeheartedly with a fox like grin while his hands roam down to your ass. Although it’s intent was far from sexual.

Atsumu Miya

Corduroy Dreams- Rex Orange County

LOVE LOVES WHISTLING IT TO YOU

Definitely does kiss you in the shower for a couple hours.

He’s fresh out of the shower and he’s wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants. Drops of water race down to his feet as they roll down his bare chest. You have your towel wrapped around your chest

One hand laced with his, he leads you in a slowing pace around the room with a chirpy smile.

Osamu Miya

Blessed- Daniel Caeser

i’m not sure how i made this conclusion but i’m gonna go with it

He has the prettiest voice when he sings along.

It’s not really dancing though. He has your back facing his chest while his arms enveloped on top of your collar bones and shoulders. He’s pecking gentle kisses against your cheek while rocking back and fourth to the song while you two prepare breakfast.

Keishin Ukai

Fly Love- Jamie Foxx

I imagine you two on some sort of resort of beach. You two are soaked of water but this song just happens to pop up so you stand there in his arms while he teasingly blows a cloud of smoke into your face.

Keiji Akaashi

HENTAI BY CIGARETTES AFTER SEX!!!!

okay for those of you who don’t know that song i know by the title of the song it looks sus and trust me he was definitely skeptic of it as well but give it a listen because now you’re all he ever thinks about when he hears this song.

he swears he’ll dance to this with you in his arms on your wedding day.

if you’re feeling angsty, he’d definitely hold you close and dance with you to the swan by camille saint-saëns

Wakatoshi Ushijima

I Hear A Symphony- Cody Fry

He loves how classy it sounds and it perfectly describes how he feels about you. hell it may even be his favourite song.

He felt like volleyball was his only purpose and for a while he was more than okay with that. until he met you and now he strives for more in life. Hence the whole “I used to hear a simple song” verse. loves putting emphasis in his tone when singing “perfection is so quick to bore...you are my beautiful by far” (only to himself of course) homeboy gets a little embarrassed when it comes to singing.

Daichi Sawamura

Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby- Cigarettes After Sex

I don’t even need to have a scenario for this like he just radiates this energy:((

Like imagine his cheek pressed against yours while his hand weaves through your hair

Tadashi Yamaguchi

You say I’m in love- Banes World!!!!!!!!

Head empty just you and yams dancing to this song underneath LEDs and a ceiling projector

you’re all he thinks about when he sings this song

and bubblegum by clairo- he’d tell you not to focus on the lyrics but instead the instrumental portion. he says the comforting mellow beat reminds him of you.

Kenma Kozume

Nothing- Bruno Major.

Sings the lyrics to you

You’d think he’d be too shy and youre right but it’s because he does it subconsciously.

BRO THIS WOULD LITERALLY BE HIS SONG IN A RELATIONSHIP

Aran Ojiro

Ugotme- Omar Apollo

Such a good singer as well

When the two of you dance, you two dance.

His ability to dance is almost mesmerizing along with his singing.

Sings while covering your neck and collarbones with kisses

Satori Tendou

How Deep Is Your Love- Bee Gees

Also dramatically lip syncs the lyrics to you

Lifts you up into the air and into his arm almost five times mid dance.

He’ll shake his head with his lips pressed up against your neck while his hands trail upwards and toy with the hem of your shirt, his hands hungry with anticipation to just rip it off.

and you scold him when you feel his lips contort into a devilish grin.

Kotaro Bokuto

Hopelessly Devoted To You- Olivia Newton John

hear me out. He only knows this song because akaashi made him watch grease bc he says bokuto should be exposed to the “classics” and since watching it at age 12 with akaashi and bo’s two sisters, he’s prayed that one day he’d meet someone that’d make him feel the way that song did.

He does now and everytime that songs on he’s practically carrying you in his arms.

Tobio Kageyama

Love Me Please- OCTAVIO

this is the only song he knows with the exception of old kanye west because he considers his music grind music but you definitely put him on this song.

He’s literally a psychopath who doesn’t listen to anything EXCEPT like popular rap songs from 2017-2018. And even then he’ll only tolerate it when he needs to work out.

And then he meets you. Now he listens to music in a different aspect.

He knows he’s not the most romantic guy out there but he’s trying his best and you tell him that’s more than enough. He loves you so much.

Koushi Sugawara

This Side of Paradise- Coyote Theory

he’s dragging you out of the house to dance with you to this song. bonus points if it’s raining

he’s also the type to scream-sing to love songs.

There aren’t any cars in the vicinity due to the pouring rain so the two of you make your way to the road.

Your hand in his, he twirls you underneath the storm and into his arms.

Toru Oikawa

Pretty Boy- The Neighborhood

He’ll put so much emphasis in his tone on the “Even if the earth starts shaking, you’re the only thing worth taking- with me. Even if the sky’s on fire, got you here it’s alright.” verse

You’re literally everything to him

he won’t let you go even for a second until this song is finished even then he’ll have trouble parting.

Hajime Iwaizumi

Baby I’m Yours- Arctic Monkeys cover

It’s not even dancing at this point, it’s just you two cuddling and him pretending like he hates it even though he’s the one who refuses to let go of you.

Ryonusuke Tanaka

Knockin’ Da Boots- H-town

if he’s not dancing to this with you in his arms he’s definitely ironically grinding on the floor to this with a fuck boy face.

Hitoka Yachi

two queens in a king sized bed- girl in red

I just imagine the most “call me by your name” scenery type shit.

Or maybe like a field of flowers? You just have her in your arms on some sort of picnic date she planned for the two of you

Semi Eita-

I Wanna Be Yours- Arctic Monkeys

your arms wrap around his neck and his lips press onto yours while the two of you sway back and fourth underneath red led lights.

don’t be surprised if things get sexual.

Tetsuro Kuroo

Careless Whisper- George Michael

okay first he played this song when you were over once and he had it on so that he could initiate a little make out sess with you but when you could tell how nervous he was on making a move on you you told him that there was no pressure on anything and he sort of just danced with you instead. he ended up unironically really liking this song because of that.

(bonus: if it’s fanon kuroo he likes to dance to sway by Michael Bublé with you and the whole time he’s just eyeing you down with a sly grin)

Kiyoomi Sakusa

Beach Baby- Bon Iver

Space Song- Beach House

I imagine it’s raining horribly outside to the point where the thunder outside is retro boomin

but the windows are open because both you and Sakusa love the sound of rain pouring

he has this song playing from his record player while he hums against your neck.