#side note: go listen to 'what price a friend' from the paris musical

[menelaiad]

hello here to push my patroclus/menelaus agenda.

they are so similar. in both. character, story (to an extent) and how the bard/author of the iliad treats them.

they are literally both deemed as 'kindly' - the only two.

if y'all make me talk about the defence of patroclus again i'll riot (mother cow. slain for my honour. the DEFENDER not the attacker)

they exist in the shadows of greater heroes (despite being pretty awesome themselves) patroclus in achilles' and menelaus in agamemnon's and yet they don't begrudge that. they're fine... happy with the spotlight being on these other figures because they love them and care for them.

they are catalysts to a greater story. aRUGABLY achilles wouldn't have rejoined the war without patroclus' death and the trojan war would not have started had menelaus not sought help from his brother/partially initiated it himself.

they both have weight on their backs. patroclus is a murderer and an exile. menelaus is cursed and an exile.

they were both suitors to helen. they have met before.

in the agamemnon/achilles fight ... bro. they both can see both sides. they can see achilles' slighted honour and agamemnon's fragile mental state but they can also see achilles' stubborness and agamemnon's willingness to try. they both can't wholeheartedly take a side.

they would have spoke after so much time at troy. they would have got on so well.

there's a line in the paris musical where patroclus sings 'menelaus i indulge your grief, your dignity and your pain' and for a campy insane iconic musical??? it made some points. its got hanDS.

incredible lads.

[somecunttookmyurl]

gonna need you to elaborate on those 'famous people you've met' tags, queen. like what. what is your life.

god sorry this has probably been here all day but i’ve been belting out chicago songs all morning (the musical not the band) @scimmymunkeh can verify that my life, especially from like 2009-2014 (before i moved to scotland) was like. so weird.

in my misspent youth i travelled around the UK and europe seeing The Horrors just like. so many times. they were cheap enough to follow around on tour and i like travelling so that’s what i did. and i’m sufficiently not weird (lmao, i know right) as a person that i got to know them decently well (mostly rhys, tbf) so a some of it happened from that. side note - this actually gained me an honest to god real life stalker from tumblr who also lived in london and would like... see me out at the weekend and then send me anons about what i was doing? very weird time. anyway.

alex turner & miles kane - would go to cave club (a night ran primarily by rhys monthly) sometimes and because i am, again, not A Weirdo i’d be chilling with them. mostly miles, bc alex is pretty shy actually. but for some reason i truly do not know like don’t ask i have no idea every time miles and i got drunk we’d make plans to... buy... a pig? and raise it together? i think we were going to call it penny or peggy or something idk. quite what our plans were for co-parenting a FUCKING PIG in LONDON when we didn’t even live together were but. we really wanted to get a pig for some reason. technically i’ve also met alexa chung (this was WAY BACK when she was still dating alex) but she was deeply sus of any woman in his vicinity so just. left that one alone.

peaches geldof - was dating/later married a guy called thomas who was in a band called S.C.U.M. that rhys’ little brother was in. due to them being around all the time (also they were good listen to them) thomas and i knew each other. we weren’t friends or anything - mostly i was pals with sammy seven - but knew each other to talk to each other. something peaches apparently had a massive problem with because every time she saw me she’d shoot daggers at me across the room like oh my GOD i cannot express enough that i’m not interested in tom. chill. anyway she’s dead now.

i forgot about bobby gilespie (primal scream) and lou hayter (new young pony club) who also used to hang out at the cave.

adam ant - the first time i met him was at a 60s night. like literally an event called ‘le beat bespoke’. he was just... there? for some reason? i dunno. had a drink and a smoke with him. nice man. LITERALLY 2 weeks later on my actual 20th birthday i was at a night called ‘stay beautiful’ which was a heavily-manics-inspired regular event ran by music journalist simon price... adam ant turned up and did a ranom guerilla performance. which??? anyway he recognised me and we hung out for a bit again. he was VERY manic and off his meds at the time (adam ant is bipolar). invited me back to his hotel, nudge nudge wink, but uh. did not do that. as funny as “i boned adam ant once” would be as a story in my life............... no. dude’s old enough to be my dad. haven’t seen him since, just weird that it happened twice so close together in a city of 9 million people.

damon albarn - there was a very bizarre period of maybe 3-4 months where every time i went out i bumped into damon. like literally. every event i attended he was there. again, city of 9 million people, and we lived on opposite sides of it. permanently drunk, and asked me for a lighter every single time he saw me even though (at the time) i wasn’t smoking. at one point i bumped into him at waterloo train station like “okay that’s it i have to leave the city. i can never go outside again. this is getting fucking weird”. haven’t seen him since, either. on a related note i’ve met paul simeon as well.

richard oakes (suede) - saw suede a bunch of times and as one of the few people who love and appreciate richard oakes i always spoke to him and he was really excited about it and would remember the smallest details. had a backstage pass to a show in paris once. richard also has a side project called artmagic that i’ve seen and no matter how many years pass, he still recognises me and will run over like an excited puppy. met his parents twice, who are lovely people.

simon gilbert (suede) - similar but less dramatic, but will add fans on personal facebook if he’s seen you often enough bc he’s a lovely guy.

obviously i’ve also hung out with the rest of suede but didn’t interact with them as much. it’s mostly me x richard brotp 4eva.

sean patrick flanery (actor, boondock saints/mongolian death worm) - i made a joke about his hair being stuck in the 90s on twitter once and he’s followed me ever since which is at this point LITERALLY YEARS i really don’t understand.

[aion-rsa]

How The Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street Earned Its Rep

https://ift.tt/3v9EdsV

Apple TV+’s docuseries 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything makes it seem like The Rolling Stones’ Exile On Main Street album was more fun to record than listen to, and that sets a high standard. The record distills the band’s sounds, from acoustic world music political ballads, through deep heartfelt blues, to honky tonk so funky you have to shake your ass. The group plays country, Southern blues, R&B, and the almost-punk-before-punk “Rip This Joint.” “Tumbling Dice,” is a radio staple. Keith Richards even took the lead vocals on a track to keep you happy. There was so much material, it came out as a double album. What could be more fun than that?

Richards’ Nellcôte mansion, on the Côte d’Azur in the South of France, was the hardest rocking musical getaway paradise in 1971. It was a Rock and Roll Main Street, and even the most mainstream players mainlined the exile vibe. Guitar god Eric Clapton and underground country legend Gram Parsons mixed drinks and drugs with movie stars like James Caan and Faye Dunaway, while playwright Terry Southern stopped taking note, according to Robert Greenfield’s book Exile on Main Street: A Season In Hell With The Rolling Stones. 

William S. Burroughs inspired Mick Jagger to cut and paste a word collage together to form the lyrics to “Casino Boogie.” Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr dropped by the almost-week-long afterparty for Jagger’s wedding to Nicaraguan-born model Bianca Pérez Morena de Macias in Saint-Tropez. John Lennon, who was on methadone treatment, reputedly threw up at the foot of the grand staircase and passed out in it.

“The sunshine bores the daylights out of me,” Jagger sings on “Rocks Off,” the album’s opening song. The Rolling Stones strolled through their recent past darkly. The murder of Meredith Hunter at the Altamont speedway concert in late 1969 signaled, to many, the death of decade’s peace-and-love counterculture. But the band’s troubles went all the way back to the Redlands drug bust of 1967, and the death of Brian Jones. Adversity worked well, creatively, for the Stones, and they continued to pump out classics like “Gimme Shelter” in 1969, and controversy like “Brown Sugar” in 1971. Sticky Fingers, their ninth album, hung nicely at the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

The songs, and Allen Klein’s aggressive managerial money-making maneuvers, put the band in the 93% tax bracket for Britain’s highest earners. The Stones owed more than they could pay. To avoid penalties, they moved to France. Mick went to Paris. Mick Taylor, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts bought or rented places along the French Riviera. Richards and his girlfriend, German-Italian actress and model Anita Pallenberg, moved into Nellcôte, a villa in Villefranche-sur-Mer, near Nice. During the Nazi occupation of France during World War II, the seaside mansion was the headquarters of the local Gestapo. Swastikas were carved into floor vents, staircases and ventilator grates.

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As pointed out in 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything, the Stones had recently signed with Atlantic Records, and the label wanted an album. The band scoured the Riviera for a suitable recording studio, but wound up parking their mobile studio next to Keith’s house. Richards transformed the basement into a recording studio, and the band stole electricity from the railway tracks across the street to power amplifiers and the mobile recording truck. 

The layout wasn’t the best. Bill Wyman, who is only credited for eight of the album’s songs on bass, plugged into an amp which was mic’d up in the hallway. Producer Jimmy Miller ended each take by running from the truck into the basement to check sound. The humidity caused the guitars to go out of tune. This gave the album its working title: “Tropical Disease.” The song “Ventilator Blues” was inspired by the conditions.

The band also had to deal with Keith’s erratic schedule. “I never plan anything,” Richards says in the documentary Stones in Exile. “Mick needs to know what he’s going to do tomorrow. Whereas I’m just happy to wake up and see who’s hanging around. Mick’s rock; I’m roll.” Richards, Taylor, Watts, pianist Nicky Hopkins, saxophonist Bobby Keys, drummer Jimmy Miller, and horn player Jim Price would jam all night while engineer Andy Johns ran the reels. Sessions would start when the guitarist rolled out of bed, or before he slipped off to put his son Marlon to sleep. After that Keith might pull a disappearing act, playing guitar in the un-mic’d second floor bathroom, or passing out. Richards was open about pot and alcohol, sharing liberally, but quiet about his heroin use.

Richards got clean in the spring of 1971, but hurt his back in a go-kart accident, according to Greenfield’s book. His vehicle flipped while racing his friend Tommy Weber at a track in Cannes. Richards took morphine for the pain, and within a few months, was using again. For sessions, he’d down a Mandrax, which is like a Quaalude, with whiskey. Charlie Watts was drinking brandy until he was past sloppy, and Jagger was taking speed to keep up with the hours Keith set. It was Richards’ place, and Mick was almost a hostage. When he left, it seemed nothing got done. Richards, left alone, could be downright dangerous. He almost burned himself, Anita and the entire house down when he fell asleep with a lit cigarette.

Richards was buying pure, uncut heroin from Castilian dealers. He was getting it by the kilo, and it became part of the social regimen of the villa. He shared so regularly with Gram Parsons that Mick got jealous, professionally. Parsons wanted Richards to produce his next album and join him on tour, which would have left the Stones without their guitarist for two years. Parsons was quietly asked to leave. Drugs split the Stones into two camps: Jagger, Wyman and Watts stuck to pills, booze and softer drugs. Richards, Taylor, producer Jimmy Miller, sax player Bobby Keys and engineer Andy Johns shot dope.

It cost them their gear. Wyman’s bass, Keys’ saxophone and nine of Richards’ guitars were stolen by dealers from Marseille who were owed money, while the entourage was watching television during the day. The Stones’ lawyers bribed local police to keep the party going, but even the most corrupt French cops, like Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca, have their limits. Besides, the Stones were welcomed in France because they were rich rock stars who were going to spend lots of money. If all their cash went to illegal and nontaxable drugs, the French government didn’t have much use for them.

The tipping point seems to have come with Anita Pallenberg. She maintained a steadily rocky relationship with the Stones. Richards stole, or saved, her from a paranoid and abusive Brian Jones, and there were rumors Jagger had an affair with her while filming Nic Roeg’s Performance in 1968. According to Greenfield’s book, Mick also slept with her while Richards was on the nod during the Exile sessions. Police came knocking to ask about a claim that Pallenberg had given heroin to the 14-year-old daughter of the villa’s chef. 

The French police left without validating the charge, but said they’d be back to have a better look around the mansion. Richards and Pallenberg took off on his speedboat, fittingly named Mandrax II. The rest of the band slipped out soon after with the tapes. Pallenberg and Richards were charged with possession of heroin with intent to traffic in 1973. They were then exiled from France for the next two years.

The party continued when the Rolling Stones reconvened in Sunset Sound studios in Los Angeles. The band tossed TVs off the balconies of hotel rooms with Marc Bolan and Neil Young. The tapes for the album stretched from 1969 to 1972. The band edited hours of jams into song structure. Jagger scatted melodic placeholders for unfinished lyrics, and recruited session players like Billy Preston and Doctor John to fill in any sonic emptiness. The words to “Tumbling Dice,” for instance, were written last minute. The song has an unusual structure, as the verses become shorter, the choruses get longer. It may have Watts’ best drum performance.

Exile on Main Street contains some of Richards’ best guitar work. The album really belongs to Keith. “Happy” is almost entirely his. He’s on vocals, guitar and bass, with Miller on drums, Keys on maracas, overdubs from Taylor, and backing vocals from Jagger. “Sweet Black Angel” is a political love letter to civil rights activist Angela Davis. “Shake Your Hips” put the hair on ZZ Top’s lips. The album cover set the visual tone for punk. Some people claim it’s the Rolling Stones’ best work. It is a classic which catches them at their hedonistic peak. Its dirty, loosely played backing created an identifiable sound. The Stones’ first double LP, it is best heard in its entirety, and earned its street cred.

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1971: The Year Music Changed Everything is available to stream on Apple TV+ now.

The post How The Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street Earned Its Rep appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3yu3EYr

[lovemesomesurveys]

What color... Are your second best friend's eyes?  -- Is your math binder? I’m done with school. Is your English teacher's hair? ^^^ Is your bathrobe? I don’t have one. Was the shirt of the last person you spoke to? Black.

Was the shirt of the last person you kissed?  I don’t remember, it was years ago. Is the kind of jam in the fridge? Purple; it’s grape jelly. Is your MSN font? I don’t use MSN, never have. Is that even still a thing? Is your bathtub? White. Are the socks you're wearing?  White. Is your home phone? Black. Is your cellphone?  Coral. Is the last pair of earrings you wore?  Rose gold. Is the hallway walls? White. Is your alarm clock?  I use an app on my phone, which like I said is coral. Is your favorite book?  I have way too many favorites to choose. Is your dream house?  Hm. I’m not sure what color I’d want my dream house to be. I always think about the interior. Is your dream boyfriend/girlfriend's car?  *shrug* I wouldn’t care. Is your computor chair?  I don’t have one, I go on my laptop on my bed. Is your tightest shirt? Uh, I don’t have any tight shirts. Is your tighest pair of pants?  Most of my jeans are dark wash (dark blue), with the exception of a pair of black jeans.  Is/was your school mascot?  I’m not sharing that. Nails does the last girl you laughed with have? Burgundy. Are your pets?  Tan, white, black. Is your bzoink profile?  I don’t have one. Is/was your locker? Never had one. Is your most itchy and uncomfortable sweater?  I don’t own any itchy and uncomfortable sweaters, only comfortable ones.  Is the frame your favorite picture is in? Black. Is your favorite CD case?  I don’t have any CDs. Do you... Enjoy your job?  I don’t have a job. Find shyness attractive?  It can be cute. Have someone to call your own?  No. Drink at least one glass of Pepsi every day? No. I don’t drink soda anymore (except the bit I drink with my medicine cause I have to crush my pills and I mix it with soda). I used to drink soda everyday for a long time, but it was Coke or Dr. Pepper mostly.  Swoon over accents? Some are attractive. Use violence to get your own way?  Never. Smoke cigarettes?  No. Keep track of all the things you need to do?  I sometimes make a list or set reminders if needed.  Spend too much money on makeup? I haven’t bought any makeup in like 3 years. Spend too much money on books? No. I use Kindle Unlimited, which is a subscription service that gives access to a shitload of books for a low monthly price, but I’m on my mom’s account. Get everything you want?  No. Prefer guys with hair or bald?  With. Say 'obvi'?  I sometimes say “obvs.” Read books about vampires? I was into the whole Twilight phase back in the day when the books were coming out. Know anyone who is trying to have a baby?  I don’t know, maybe. Treat customers at your work nice? Have dark eyes?  Yeah. Have bright eyes?  No. Have a display picture of only yourself on facebook?  Yeah. Aspire to look/be like Paris Hilton? No. Listen to music or watch TV more?  I watch more TV. Have a display picture on bzoink?  I don’t have Bzoink. Sleep during class? I never did that. Have the guts to shave your head for cancer? I would donate money to a cancer research charity. Have more then four piercings?  Nope. Have a lot of money on you right now?  No. Know anyone who is anorexic?  No. Talk on the phone or MSN more? Neither. Go online shopping?  Yeah. That’s how I’ve done all my shopping in recent years. What's the best... Kind of cookie?  Sugar or shortbread. Location to have a romantic kiss? I don't know. It's not so much about the setting, really. It's moreso how it's done and how the person comes onto you. <<< Yeah, it could take place anywhere. Although, I do think it’d be cute to share a kiss at the beach with the sunset behind us or a cute photo op at Disneyland. Location to have a romantic date? Somewhere cozy or like overlooking the ocean. Veggie in salad?  Spinach and green onions. Sickness to pretend to have when faking sick? I never had to pretend cause I actually felt sick often enough, but I do admit to exaggerating or milking it a few times :X Way to sit on a couch?  Uhh sometimes with my legs to the side or “criss cross applesauce” lol whatever you want to call it. Outfit to wear on a date?  I’d go with a nice pair of jeans and a cute, dressy top. Junk food to have at a sleepover?  Pizza and chips. Way to get your mind of someone? I’ve always had a hard time with that.

Salad dressing? Ranch. Kind of shoes to wear to the beach?  My usual sneakers/tennis shoes/whatever you wanna call ‘em. I never, ever wear sandals, flip flops, or any kind of open toed shoe, so.  Way to get over somebody? It takes me a long time, but it just starts to ease up over time, really. One day turns to two, then a week turns to weeks, a month to months, etc. Time keeps going and it just starts to get easier eventually. Especially if you don’t see or talk to them anymore. Fruit in fruit salad?  I don’t eat fruit salads. Way to propose to someone? I don’t plan on getting married or having that happen for me, but I gotta admit the cheesy, kinda over the top ones can be cute. Music to listen to if you're sad?  Sad, relatable music. Thing to do when you're staying up all night? Scroll through Tumblr, surveys, watch YouTube/listen to ASMR. Way to cheer someone up? Try to do something they enjoy, maybe get some food or something, and help take their mind off whatever. Well, unless they want to talk about it. Book to read on a rainy day? Whatever I happened to feel like reading. I wouldn’t choose a certain type of book because it was raining. Time to go to bed? My norm this year has become like 7 or 8AM for some awful reason. Today it’s already 820AM and here I am... Time to wake up at? Lately, I’ve been getting up after 3PM, sometimes after 4PM. Party makeup? I didn’t have party makeup. Way to get someone to like you? Ha, I’m definitely not the one to ask. Thing to sleep on? (Other then a bed)  Uh, but beds are the best thing to sleep on. Way to do your hair when having a bad hair day? My hair is always just up in a bun. Video game to play all night when you can't sleep?  I used to do that with The Sims, but it’s been a couple years since I last played. Now I play Animal Crossing for a bit, but mostly I’m just scrolling through Tumblr, doing surveys, and watching YouTube. Girly movie?  I have several favorite “chick flicks.” Joke to tell?  I love punny jokes. Movie to watch when you're in the mood for something scary? Oooh there’s so many to choose from. It would just depend on what I felt like watching. Way to show someone you love them?  Telling them of course, but showing them is very important as well. Spend time with them, make their favorite meal, surprise them with something they like, do something with them that they enjoy, write them sweet little notes, etc.

[sagesparrow394]

We’re All Weird

Chapter One / Next

Fandoms: Sanders Sides, Gravity Falls

Summary: With Bill Cipher gone for good, Dipper expected his second summer away at Gravity Falls would be a little less strange. However, his new best friend who he brought along with him has a few little secrets that will make it far from normal.

Dipper Pines never regretted anything more than his decision to leave Gravity Falls.

Back during the previous summer, his Great Uncle Ford had offered him an apprenticeship. It was everything Dipper could have ever wanted: science, monsters and adventure. However, his twin sister, Mabel, had gotten really upset and mad at him. She didn’t want to go back to school by herself. The two twins had always done everything together, and she thought she’d get lonely.

It took a lot, but eventually, Dipper agreed to turn down the apprenticeship. And when I say it took a lot, it literally took Mabel threatening to stay forever trapped in an acid-trip style prison bubble made by a dream demon from another dimension. Yeah, she was really stubborn.

When they eventually went to school, Mabel wasn’t lonely. Dipper, on the other hand, certainly was. Mabel immediately made a bunch of friends, thanks to her optimistic attitude and self-confidence, which caused a few people to gravitate towards her. Dipper, on the other hand, had zero friends. When they had to do the usual ‘what you did on your holiday’ project, Dipper was ecstatic to share the tales of their adventures with monsters in Gravity Falls. However, no one had believed him. He got the reputation as the ‘crazy monster kid’. Even Mabel stopped hanging out with him at school to secure her newfound popularity. He was completely alone.

Not to mention he was the perfect target for bullies. Weak, weird, unpopular, nerdy. He may has well have been wearing a sign that read ‘free punching bag’.

One particular day, Dipper was sprinting down the halls, knowing a bunch of bullies were not far behind him. He panted as he turned a corner. This was his chance to lose them! The door to the auditorium was to his right. He pushed it open before pulling it closed behind him. He peered through the crack in the door, watching as the bullies ran right past. Dipper let out a sigh of relief. He was safe.

He turned and started walking down the aisle between the seats, heading towards the stage. He never came to the auditorium much, only really going there for assemblies. The place seemed really creepy when empty and quiet.

As he reached the stage, he climbed onto it. Maybe he could... No. But it could be fun, and it’s not like anyone would hear him.

‘You say The price of my love’s not a price that you’re willing to pay You cry In your tea which you hurl in the sea as you see me go by Why so sad? Remember we made an arrangement when you went away Now you’re making me mad Remember despite our estrangement I’m your man...’

Dipper carried on singing You’ll Be Back to himself quietly. However, as he continued, he gained more and more confidence and got more into it.

They’d gone to see Hamilton earlier that year, at Mabel’s request. Dipper loved it, mostly for the history at first, but soon grew to like the soundtrack as well.

As he neared the end and called ‘Everybody!’, he didn’t notice another voice join in. He did notice, however, when he finished and there was an applause. He turned around in surprise and saw a boy his age stood there. He had brown hair that was dyed purple. He wore a red t-shirt with a yellow star on it and a pair of jeans. Dipper had never seen him around school before.

‘Oh, uh, sorry,’ the boy apologised, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. ‘I didn’t mean to scare you.’

‘It’s fine,’ Dipper replied.

There was a long silence as the two avoided eye contact, the awkwardness of the situation growing even more.

‘Thomas,’ the boy finally said. ‘My name, it’s Thomas. Thomas Sanders.’

‘Oh, um, I’m Dipper. Dipper Pines.’

‘I recognise that name. Aren’t you the- ?’

‘Crazy monster kid? Yeah,’ Dipper nodded.

‘Is... I don’t know much, I only moved here recently, but are the stories that I’ve heard true?’ Thomas asked, intrigued

Dipper was really surprised. Not one person had ever asked whether it was true, they just assumed that it wasn’t.

‘Um... I know it sounds insane, but yeah. It did happen. Unicorns, manotaurs, gnomes, wax figures, all of it.’

‘Whoa...’ Thomas’ eyes were practically sparkling. ‘That’s awesome! I wish my life was that exciting.’

‘Trust me, it’s not as cool as it seems. It just makes normal life here seem even worse,’ Dipper shrugged.

‘So... I’m guessing you came in here to hide from bullies...’

‘How did you know?’

‘It’s what happened to me. Ever since, I’ve come to here after school. It’s relieving to come to talk and sing with myself... I-I mean, by myself! Alone. Just me.’ Thomas coughed awkwardly.

‘You sing?’ Dipper asked.

‘Yeah, it’s one of my favourite things, along with acting. I’m a huge theatre nerd. Back at my old school, I was in all the musical performances: Heathers, Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods, Singin’ in the Rain,’ Thomas explained. ‘Recently, I heard that next year this school’s doing a production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I figured I’d get ahead of the game.’

‘Can I... If you don’t mind, can I hear you sing?’ Dipper asked.

‘Oh, um, sure. I’ll just get the backing track ready.’ Thomas, pulling his phone from his pocket, walked off into the wings as Dipper moved and sat in one of the seats in the first row.

As the sound of music came from the speakers, Thomas ran back to centre stage. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves before singing.

‘Won't you help me please I'm afraid that I might fall For my eyes and knees, have grown frail behind this wall Let me come to you, though it appears I've lost my pep But as this ancient relic read In the tao of Ching it said A journey of a thousand miles Begins with just one step!’

Thomas continued to sing It Must Be Believed to Be Seen, and Dipper could not deny he had an amazing voice. He hit every single note perfectly. He also put a lot of emotion and quirkiness into his performance. Dipper could almost believe it was Willy Wonka on stage.

‘Beyond this door is chocolate So tasty it's obscene So follow me For I guarantee That this world I conceived And all I achieved It must be believed To be seen!

Do come In.’

Dipper applauded as Thomas went off stage and paused the music before it flicked onto the song. He came back on stage.

‘How’d I do?’

‘It was amazing! You’re definitely gonna get the role,’ Dipper replied.

‘Really?’ Thomas asked.

‘Yeah, it was incredible.’

‘You know...’ Thomas sat on the edge of the stage. ‘You should audition as well, you definitely have the skill.’

‘I’m not that good...’

‘You’re probably better than ninety percent of the boys in this school,’ Thomas replied. ‘Funnily enough, boys at the age of puberty don’t often have particularly consistent vocal chords.’

Dipper chuckled. ‘I guess... But I don’t know if I’m confident enough.’

‘You’re talking to a kid whose anxiety is super heightened,’ Thomas shrugged. ‘But even with Vir- I mean, it screaming at me that I’ll get everything wrong, I still manage to give the best performance I can. If I can do it, then you can.’

Dipper couldn’t help but smile. ‘Maybe I will then...’

‘Can you tell me more about your adventures? You know, with monsters and stuff?’ Thomas asked. ‘I really want to learn more.’

Dipper grinned, glad someone was willing to listen. For the next half an hour, Dipper recounted a bunch of stories from the summer. From Gideon and his obsession with Mabel, to falling down the bottomless pit. Thomas held onto every word, cheering at the victories, and frowning at the failures. Eventually, however, Dipper changed the subject.

‘Thanks for all this, by the way. I thought I was going to spend my whole afternoon running from bullies.’

Thomas just shrugged. ‘No problem. It’s good to know I’ve got a new friend.’

They sat there in a comfortable silence for a moment. Dipper was about to start a new conversation when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a message from Mabel.

Where r u? Mom and Dad r here 2 pick us up!

‘I need to go.’ Dipper stood. ‘Hey, um... could we do this again tomorrow? This was fun.’

Thomas blinked, almost looking surprised at the question. ‘Oh, yeah, of course! I’ll be looking forward to it.’

Dipper nodded. ‘Sounds great. See you, Thomas!’

‘Bye, Dipper!’

And so, Dipper left the auditorium.

‘I sense a potential boyfriend...!’

‘Don’t you dare ruin this friendship for him.’

‘Guys, don’t fight...’

‘I must agree. Thomas, you should be getting home if you want to get all your homework done for tomorrow.’

Taglist: @merlybird500, @xxfrizzyxx, @jamiebluewind, @reblogged-anything, @luckybanana948, @nightcatssketchbook, @parano--vigilant, @angels-and-dreams, @allierox15, @dissilusioned-paris, @vampiregeek2002, @loved-and-i-lost-you​ 

[ariabauer]

100 Carmilla Stories - RunWithWolves Masterpost

Missing Hollstein? Already re-watched the series dozens of times? Need some Carmilla in your life? Then I have the fics for you. Seriously. I’ve written 100 Carmilla stories and categorized them here for your convenience (some stories fit into multiple but i did my best)

If you want...

Fake Dating/Marriage - i just really love this trope

Politician Carmilla has to get engaged to someone for her campaign and ends up with her long time best friend Laura. Marriage of Convenience

When Laura hears that actress Carmilla is fake dating her ex, she has some words for her best friend. A Rational Irrationality

Princesses Laura and Carmilla told the world they were dating to get out of arranged marriages. It’s easy til they fall in love. Not Really a Royal Romance

Laura wakes up in the hospital to find ex Carmilla at her side after they apparently got married a decade before. The Girl Who Got Away

As far as anyone knows, pHd candidates Laura and Carmilla hate each other. Lab Manager Laf is onto them. Worst Lab Partner Ever

General Fantasy - Supernatural beyond just vampires

Hollstein are dragon riders and Carmilla is not taking the responsibility seriously enough for Laura. Just A Girl and Her Dragon

Vampire Carmilla never expected to find old roomate Laura working a magical flower store in Diagon Ally. Lophii’s Blooms

Carmilla never wanted magic and Laura can’t unlock her own, they’re stuck together until they figure it out. circle of magic au Magic of My Own

Movies at Silas come to life and drag Carmilla into the role of Prince Charming while Laura gets sleeping beauty. Silas Movie Night

Werewolf Laura and Vampire Carmilla don’t get along and Carmilla doesn’t understand why Laura doesn’t turn her over tot he hunters. Like Cats and Dogs

Carmilla’s the best surgeon in the hospital but she swallows her pride and asks Dr Hollis for help when she gets an unusual sickness. Paging Doctor’s Hollis and Karnstein

Laura is angry because Carmilla thinks her blood tastes gross and spits it out instead of killing her. False Advertising 

Clockwork Au: Laura and Carmilla to each have creatures made of clockwork (dragon and cat respectively) that represent their souls.  Silver and Gold 

Myths and Fairytales - sometimes you need a Hollstein happily ever after

Sassy Laura barges into Carmilla’s castle with a rose and demands a curse be lifted from her father.  Beauty in A Beast ft Catmilla

Cupid Laura is determined to find vampire Carmilla’s soulmate even if Carmilla doesn’t want her too. Stalked By Cupid

Totally-in-love Laura and a tiny kitten Catmilla. Princess and the Frog twist, The Princess and the Kitten

Goddess of Spring Laura is accidentally kidnapped by Lord of the Dead Carmilla. Hades/Persephone AU. Queen of the Underworld 

Carmilla goes overboard into the ocean during a storm and never expected a mermaid to pluck her from the sea. Kissed a Mermaid

War is over and shepherd god Carmilla can’t wait to go home to her wife. Sumerian god au. The Shepherd God

Orphan Laura falls in love with witch!Carmilla and chases after Carmilla when she runs. King Arthur au. Sword In My Stone Heart

The gods disappeared and Greek demigod Laura demands Sumerian demigod Carmilla help her save them. Daughter of Love and War

Science Fiction Fun - time travel and space and oh my!

Carmilla’s time machine keeps taking her to a small human child. When Carmilla stops coming back, grown up Laura stows away. Time Travel Malfunction

After graduation, bffs Carmilla and Laura take their spaceship on a roadtrip with definitely no pining. Roadtrip To the Stars

Captain Hollis is forced to let cocky co-pilot Carmilla join her starship crew as she tries to stop black holes from devouring the universe. Star Filled Memories

Cops or Superheroes Au - nothing like a good bout of crime fighting and a mystery to get flirty Hollstein roaring to life

Laura as a detective and Carmilla as the flirty annoying writer following her around as they try to solve murders.  Write Me A Murder

Laura who doesn’t have superpowers trying to navigate a school for the superpowered featuring asshat with superstrength Carmilla. Powerless

FBI agent Carmilla trapped in a bank/bomb heist and sending flirty notes to the hostage negotiator Laura. Don’t Let Go

Supervillain Carmilla and superhero Laura being arch-enemies and yet their alter egos are roommates. Beneath the Boots and Leather

Special Agent Hollis would have an easier time getting through the laser field if her annoying partners wasn’t so flirty. Mission Flirtable

Vampires know there’s no such thing as superheros. Laura didn’t get the memo and she’s now Carmilla’s problem. Not a Superhero

Fire Princess Carmilla has flames at her fingertips and still isn’t ready for her air-powered roommate. atla au Fire In My Veins and Air in My Lungs

Star Reporter Laura is determined to get an interview with Superwoman if only her incompetent partner Carmilla stopped getting in the way. At The Daily Planet

Batwoman doesn’t have time for dating even if Wonder Woman ‘call me Laura' makes her heart flutter. No Dating For Batwoman

Could Be During Canon? - Trying to fit stories inside the world we love

Reincarnation AU where Carmilla's vampirism allows her to die and then come back to life 9 times. Nine Lives to Die

Carmilla plans a date after Laura asked her to the Zeta party. s1 Date Like it’s 1698

Each episode written in an extremely snarky tone in Carmilla’s diary.  Dear Creampuff 

Countess Karnstein is looking for the partner who dances in step with her.  The Right Partner

Laura is the girl who cares and Carmilla doesn’t know what to do when she stops. s2 story. A Question of Caring

8 times Laura uses a Bandaid and 2 times she doesn’t.  Stick an Apatosaurus to My Heart

Even though Laura’s dead, alt-Carm keeps hearing her heartbeat everywhere she goes. Floating Through A Stone Wall

Laura breathes until she doesn’t. Carmilla doesn’t breathe until she does. With Human Breath

Hollstein gets trapped in the s2 cellar with a magical snowstorm raging upstairs. Cuddling for warmth. Colder Than Our Hearts

Hollstein says hey a lot. It’s kind of their thing. A look at all seasons and the movie and what that word means. Hey

Canon Alternatives - twists on the way it went

Carmilla dies from the Dean’s sword and Laura brings her back, binding them together forever. The Golden Heart of Paris

Laura gets her heart back but doesn’t wake up so Mattie comes to her with a deal. Hold Her Hand

Danny is dead and the the campus is gone and Laura Hollis has had enough of people dying in her name. An Explanation for Deification

Laura saved them all from Vordenberg but paid a price Carmilla wish she hadn’t to channel a god’s power. Behind Your Ancient Eyes

Laura had meant to do romantic things for Carmilla, she’d just thought they’d have more time. I Meant To Do That

LaFerry fic where Laf is a ghost and keeps stealing substance from Carmilla so that Perry can touch them. Define Death

Saving Laura to be the only reason Carmilla would ever willingly get back inside the coffin. Coffin of Starlight

Barely friends Carmilla and Laura literally glued together including obligatory shower scene. The Sticking Incident 

Mircalla’s doesn’t remember her past but her next client looks familar and, instead of taking her ‘services’, just wants to talk. Find You In the Dark

One Carmilla was bad, Laura has no idea how to handle 2 version of her ex girlfriend when they’re stuck in the library. Split Personality, Literally

Laura has amnesia but is thrilled to find out the hot vampire by her bed is her wife. Absolute jackpot Wake Up With a Hot Wife

Carmilla’s soul is trapped in the pit and Laura and the scooby gang have to figure out how to put her back together. Colours of A Soul

After Canon Ends - what could happen next

Post Movie Hollstein and their daughter go looking for the fountain of youth. Retcon the retcon. Family Trip to the Fountain

Papa Hollis gives a speech at a Hollstein wedding that gives all the feels as he tells Laura’s life story. That’s My Daughter

Vamp Laura going through a photo album and telling stories about her adventures with Carmilla. A Live Well Lived 

Laura, her father, and eventually Carmilla leave letters on Laura’s mother’s tombstone. Until We Meet Again

Mortal Laura and immortal Carmilla trying to figure out their lives and how to handle forever. Dandelion Promises

Vampires can’t go inside churches but Carmilla still likes to listen to the bells. Laura follows her. post movie. Monstrous Grace

Laura leaves a letter for Carmilla to give to all of Laura’s reincarnations over the centuries. The One Who Loves Her Next

Pregnant Laura has weird 2am cravings for Carmilla to try and fill. 9 Months of Mustard

Musical Hollstein - Trying to write melody with words

Tired world class musician Carmilla gives beginner Laura lessons and falls a little bit in love with her and the music. Teach Me to Play

Carmilla’s sent to interview her ex, pop star Laura. It’s been years and Carmilla can still see the brokenness her mother put on Laura’s face. To Hope Beyond an Unfinished Melody

Coffee Shop and Cooking Hollstein

Laura moves in with the hot coffee barista she has a crush on it’s both the best and the worst. Coffee Cupcake Crush

Laura can’t make coffee but she can set up all her customers with each other, the only person she can’t find a match for is fellow barista and ‘cupid-in-crime’ Carmilla. The Ultimate Coffee Shop Au

Angsty chefs Hollstein run a cooking show but when things get hot in the kitchen, they become secret exes with benefits. Cooking With Hollstein

Human Hollstein - Nothing supernatural. Just our girls being cute.

Billionaire playgirl Carmilla can’t bring herself to be a playboy when it’s Laura she’s taking as her date. Read The Carmilla Karnstein Special

Laura sees a girl on the subway but couldn’t speak to her so writes a ‘missing person’ ad instead. Missed Connections

Aggressive salesman Laura sells girl scout cookies with tiny Laf and knocks on Carmilla’s door. Just Buy the Cookies

Adorable sticky note conversations between broody Carmilla and the girl on the day shift who stole her mug. The Mug Thief 

Drunk Carmilla comes into Laura’s tattoo shop and demands a tattoo on her butt.  Tattoos and Bikinis

Laura literally falls into Carmilla’s lap on the bus and a spunky older gentleman gives love advice. Strangers on a Bus

Laura’s not very good a camping and the night’s cold when your tent collapses, might have to share sleeping bags. To Build A Tent

Librarian Karnstein  enjoys annoying Professor Hollis by rearranging the books to see her scrunched nose. Librarian Hottie

Laura signs up to be a toymaking Christmas elf but gets a grumpy partner who hates making toys. Christmas Trains

Hockey player Laura is determined to get concessions booth worker Carmilla to love the skating rink. Cookies Cupcakes and Hockey Captains.

High School Hollstein Stories

Nerd Laura becomes the quarterback and only reluctant cheerleader Carmilla doesn’t change around her. A Classic High School Love Story 

Laura is desperate for cookies and Carmilla ate them all after high school home ec. How to Avoid Kale

Hollstein neighbours shoot nerf guns and marshmallow guns and water guns at each other. War of the Windows

Hollstein becoming friend in kindergarten and then grow up together while getting into all kinds of trouble. Loving Trouble

Hollstein with Animals - Fluffier than fluff because animals are fluffy

Reluctant dog walker Carmilla can’t say no to vet Laura’s requests to walk various animals so they get exercise. Puppy Dog Eyes

Pet Store worker Carmilla saves Laura after she kills Laf’s fish. Again and again. One Fish Two Fish

Carmilla’s cat to keep bringing home some mysterious girl’s underwear. Drawer of Lingerie

Carmilla’s cat gets Laura’s cat pregnant and Laura demands Carmilla co-parent the kittens. Bonus unexpected canoe. Kitten Kisses 

Carmilla rescuing Laura from evil spiders in the laundry room. For Fear of Spiders

 Playing With Words - Hollstein examined in a story

The story on campus before Carmilla reached room 307 told like Welcome to the Nightvale. Welcome To Silas

Writing the movie plot before the movie came out with Hollstein engagement and Ell closure. It’s Not About the Plot

Laura’s a baker, Carmilla’s a firefighter. An examination of what a Hollstein story really is. A Generic Carmilla Story

Detailing the 100 little ways Hollstein fell in love over the seasons. 100 Ways They Fell in Love

Soulmates - because who doesn’t love some soulmate Aus. Usually twisted from the typical soulmate version or an original idea

Tiny literal hearts to pop up every time Carmilla looks at Laura and all Carmilla wants is for Laura to NEVER SEE THEM.Love is Orange

The scars from one person to show up only on the body of their soulmate featuring a Carmilla who is scarless for centuries and a Laura who will only wear long sleeves.  Scars Inside

Timer soulmate au where Carmilla meets a tiny five year old Laura on her first day of school and suddenly finds her timer has started counting down to the moment they fall in love. A Broken Pocketwatch

A mirror will let you see your soulmate every year on your birthday but everyone is convinced there’s been a mistake when 21th century Laura sees 17th century Carmilla in the mirror. The Mirror Between Us 

Fairy Laura follows her soulmate compass through a jungle only to find a panther. Carmilla’s not interested in soulmates. Follow Your Arrow

Everyone is born with a soulmate marker to write the name of their chosen soulmate on their skin. Vampires don’t have ink. s1-3 We Chose Each Other

Child countess Carmilla wished on stars for a best friend and got an imaginary lion. Centuries later, child Laura makes the same wish and finds a panther on her doorstep. Wishing On Imaginary Stars

Carmilla has never seen color until the world starts flickering when a kid can’t find their mom. A Hint of Colour

You can hear the music of your own soul and your soulmate but vampire Carmilla can’t hear the music. After Ell separates them, can Laura find her again and again? In Every Universe You Are My Symphony

This has been a 3 year labour of love. The stories vary in length from about 2k to over 100,000k for a total of more than half a million words. Have suggested stories? Let people know! It’s a big list!

Hope you enjoy them and thank you for all of your support creampuffs! <3 Aria

[actuallylorelaigilmore]

you should write a lucien x jean fic where jean is singing! it would be so damn good and she has the best voice haha

This was a really fun request, so I hope you like! Headcanons were borrowed from the tags on this post in the writing of this fic. 

The first time Lucien heard Jean sing. Deleted scene, set during 2x01. Also on AO3, more notes can be found there.

It was a slow song, sweet and yearning, but not one he had heard before. Curious, he took his glass with him and followed the sound.

Request a minific of your own + prompt ideas

Lucien stared at the creased photograph of his daughter, now grown into a lovely young woman, and swallowed the rest of his whiskey. He had missed so much time…the most important years…and now it was too late.

Oh, they had exchanged postal details, promised to write, but he knew it could never be what it was. Or what he had hoped. His little girl was gone, taken by time and distance, instead of war. It was no less cruel of fate.

Pouring three more fingers into his glass, he tucked the picture away. At least now he had his answers. And he was home.

Capping the bottle and putting it back in his desk, Lucien heard the radio start playing down the hall.

“April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom, holiday tables under the trees…”

It was a slow song, sweet and yearning, but not one he had heard before. Curious, he took his glass with him and followed the sound.

“April in Paris, this is a feeling that no one can ever reprise…”

As soon as he opened his door, he realized his mistake. There was no radio; it was Jean, singing in the kitchen. Strange, he thought, that he had never heard her singing before.

“I never knew the charm of spring, I never met it face to face, I never knew my heart could sing, I never missed a warm embrace…”

Her rich, clear tone drew him closer. He might have felt guilty about eavesdropping–there was certainly something intimate about the way she carried the tune–but not enough to stop himself from lingering in the doorway, just out of sight.

“Till April in Paris…whom can I run to…what have you done to my heart?”

He watched her dry dishes at the sink, humming the chorus, until she turned his way mid-note and nearly dropped a plate.

“Oh! Lucien.” Jean stared, hand pressed to her chest and face pink with embarrassment. “I thought you’d gone to bed. Did I wake you?”

“No, you didn’t disturb me. I was still up.” He took a seat. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

When she paused to look at him, not sure if he was teasing her, he shot her a smile. “Please, carry on.”

Not teasing, Jean decided after a moment. But far too amused at her expense. “That’s quite all right, Lucien. I was finished.”

“You weren’t. I cut you off on low C.”

She raised an eyebrow. Never lost a moment to show off his musical training, did he? “Well, I’m done now.”

“Ah. That’s a shame.”

“No, it was silly of me. I’m not sure what I was thinking. I could have woken the whole house.” Truth be told, she hadn’t been thinking at all. She’d had Joy McDonald’s words echoing in her head all day–”and what about yourself, Jean?”–alongside the memory of Lucien smiling at her fresh off the bus…and she was just so happy to have him home.

Mattie was lovely company, when she wasn’t working or off with her friends, but with Danny gone to Melbourne and no office to run, it had been…lonely.

She hadn’t dared hope for his return. If it were her, finding a child she had feared was dead–maybe finding a long-lost spouse as well–she couldn’t imagine parting with them again. Not for anything; certainly not when all that awaited Doctor Blake was a family business he had struggled to settle into and a town that didn’t quite trust him.

And her, of course…but what did that matter in the grand scheme of things?

Shaking her head, Jean caught him watching her, still grinning fondly. “What is it, Lucien?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m just glad to be back, Jean. Very glad indeed.” Crossing to her, he took the towel from her hand and began drying a bowl.

She hadn’t even realized she’d been twisting it between her fingers until it was gone; he made her so nervous, sometimes.

“You don’t have to do that, Lucien,” she admonished him gently. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Yes, I know.” Ignoring her, he put the bowl away and picked up a glass. “So, what was that song you were singing? It was lovely.”

“Oh, just something I heard on the radio.” Something that reminded her of the life she had dreamed of as a girl…something that had made her think of him on the other side of the world, whenever it played.

There was a faint flush to her cheeks when Lucien turned to look at her. He wondered why. Perhaps she was embarrassed to have been caught daydreaming; it was a very romantic song, after all. “Well, it was nice. Do you have a fondness for Paris?”

“I’ve never been, of course.”

“What does that matter?”

His no-nonsense tone amused her, as though it could make perfect sense to love a place you had never been. To him, perhaps it did.

“I’ve always wanted to see it,” she admitted. Smoothing a hand over her hair, Jean couldn’t help feeling self-conscious with his blue eyes fully focused on her. That piercing gaze of his made her stomach flutter, and followed her into her dreams some nights.

She doubted he knew it. Being so intensely focused–and sincerely curious–was just his way. As was surprising her, whenever she thought she had him figured out.

“You have a beautiful voice.”

She blinked. “There’s no need to flatter me, Lucien.“

“It’s the truth. I was surprised not to have realized it before. But of course you would; I bet they were lucky to have you in the choir.”

“Oh, I never joined the choir.” She waved the thought away. “I had the boys and Christopher and the farm to mind, and before that…well, it wouldn’t have been right.”

Confusion was plain on his face. “What do you mean?”

“My family didn’t approve.” She shrugged at the memory. “I was such a flighty thing as a girl, always dreaming, with a tune on the tip of my tongue. They called me ‘songbird,’” she added quietly. Her eyes were sharp with guilt when they met his. “It wasn’t a compliment.”

He could see it so easily in his mind, and hurt for the girl she used to be. Willowy and soft, flyaway curls and hope as bright as her eyes…how dare they shame her for having dreams? What other needs had she shoved down to please her family, tried to ignore?

Jean sighed. “Anyhow, it would have been inappropriate, to join the choir against their wishes. I helped out at church in other ways.”

“And stopped singing.”

“Yes.” She wasn’t sure why he had latched onto that so strongly, why it seemed to bother him so much. “Well, for the most part,” she added, remembering what had brought him to the kitchen in the first place.

“Right. So, now you only sing when no one’s listening?”

The entire conversation was growing more mortifying by the minute. He didn’t give her the chance to figure out how to answer.

“What was different about tonight?”

Tired of the questions, she brushed past him and headed for the living room. “I was in a good mood.” And she hadn’t realized he could hear her.

“Oh?”

He was going to make her spell it out, wasn’t he? Lucien Blake could be such an insufferable man sometimes.

Jean sat on the couch, watching him as he approached. “We’re happy to have you home.”

Lucien’s grin was mischievous around the edges. “We.”

“Well, Mattie…and me. We–I–missed you, very much.”

He sat, next to her instead of in his usual chair. They were rarely this close. It made her skin hum where their arms almost touched.

“I missed you…both…as well. You must know how–” He stopped himself. She couldn’t be expected to know anything he didn’t say, could she? Especially those things he tried so hard to keep from her, for both their sakes.

Being away, receiving confirmation that Mei Lin was really gone–it had forced him to confront the truth. Jean wasn’t simply his employee, someone he could hold at arm’s length the way his father had. She was so much more, in ways that really weren’t proper. Ways that would only make her uncomfortable.

“That is, Jean…I’m very glad to be home. With you, both.”

She nodded, betraying no hint that she’d caught his hesitation. “Well. We should be getting to bed, Lucien. It’s late.”

As though she hadn’t been up doing chores only moments ago, he agreed easily. “Of course. You’re quite right.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” She stood, brushing restless hands over her clothes.

Sitting so close had been a mistake, albeit a deliberate one that he hadn’t considered the price of. Her scent would stay with him, flowers and vanilla haunting him until he woke aching and alone. Knowing that, he could forgive himself the small weakness of a parting shot.

“Jean?”

She turned back, a hint of wariness in her eyes. “Yes?”

“I hope to hear you sing again, soon.”

Jean smiled a little. “All right, Lucien. Sleep well.”

His words spread warmth through her as she went to her room. He must have meant it, when he said he liked her voice. Lucien liked a part of her that she’d learned to stifle–a part that longed to be free, almost as much as Jean herself.

As she slept that night, her dreams were happy ones.

And in the future, when he asked her to sing…she always did.

[pogueman]

Google's Pixel Buds: Wireless earbuds for the extremely tolerant

Google’s Pixel Buds really sounded like they’d be pretty great. Imagine: Google’s version of Apple’s wireless AirPods. Same $160 price, same earbud-recharging carrying case (good for 24 hours’ worth of earbud recharges), and the same ability to let you speak, hands free, to your synthesized voice assistant, without having to pull the phone out of your pocket.

In fact, they sounded better than the AirPods, because the right and left earbuds are reassuringly connected by a wire instead of completely detached. The assistant is Google Assistant, which lots of people find superior to Siri. And above all, Google Translate is built in.

This is it! This is the “Star Trek” communicator! This is the Babel Fish! This is you, going forth into China or Norway or Brazil and having conversations with the locals—they speak, and you hear the English translation in your ears! For $160!

Or not.

As it turns out, the Pixel Buds sound terrific for music and respond well to Assistant requests. But the real-time translation thing is kind of a bust.

The Pixel Buds are wireless in the sense that they don’t plug into your phone—but there is a cord connecting the buds.

Meet the Case

The Pixel Buds come in a strange little clamshell case. It’s cheap-feeling plastic, covered with some kind of felt or fabric.

The buds charge in their fabric-covered case, thanks to a USB-C cable.

The earbuds themselves last 5 hours on a charge, but the case contains a recharging battery good for a total of 24 hours of earbud power. The case is otherwise a misfire, though. First, there are no indicators on the outside of it. Just to see if it’s charging, or how full the charge is, you have to open it and remove the earbuds. Baaaad design.

Second, the case doesn’t close unless the earbud cable is completely clear of the edges. To do that, you’re supposed to snap the right and left earbuds into their corresponding holes, and then wrap the fabric-covered cable twice around the case prongs, then thread it up the center and tap it flat.

It’s such a production that Google felt the need to include a diagram on the inside of the lid.

The latest Google phones don’t have headphone jacks—so Google offers these wireless earbuds.

Meet the Buds

The Buds are fussy in another way, too.

I have goofy ear cartilage; like about 10% of the population, I’m missing the antitragus, the bottom cartilage flap that holds most earbuds in. As a result, I can’t keep these things in my ears—they fall out constantly—and when they are in, the hard plastic gets painful after only a few minutes. I haven’t heard other people complain about the Buds falling out, but complaints about the discomfort are common.

The earbud cord goes through a hole in the bottom of the bud and then doubles back down into the top, forming a loop. You’re supposed to tuck this loop into your upper ear cartilage to help hold the thing in place. Unfortunately, the loop’s size tends to slip when you take the buds in or out of your ears, so you wind up having to adjust them often.

You’ll spend a lot of time fussing with the Loop.

All of this means that the Pixel Buds are fussy and inconvenient to get in and out, especially compared to the AirPods (sorry, Apple haters). With those, when you want to listen to something—say, a Facebook video that you decide to play—you just flip open the case’s lid, grab a bud, and slap it in.

Note, too, that these buds aren’t intended to block background noise. That’s good from a safety standpoint—you’ll hear traffic—but not so great for use on planes and downtown, where ambient noise will ever be with you.

Bud Control

Each Pixel Bud is made of two globs of plastic: One that’s supposed to go into your ear, and a larger part that’s touch sensitive (on the right earbud only).

You tap this surface to play/pause music or answer/hang up calls; double-tap it to hear notifications or your upcoming appointments; and you keep your finger pressed on it when you want to talk to Google Assistant.

These massive plastic bulbs aren’t the most comfortable thing to jam in your ears.

In that regard, the Buds are terrific: You don’t have to say “OK Google” before every command. Just touch that right bud surface, in the manner of a newscaster saying, “This just in!”

You can also swipe forward on that bud surface to adjust the volume when music is playing. That’s a lot more convenient than having to speak your volume-adjustment commands, as you must on the AirPods.

Google Assistant works exceptionally well with the Buds— if your phone runs Android Marshmallow or a later version (that’s the late 2015 edition). You can listen to notifications, dictate texts and emails, ask for information, place and answer calls, start and stop music—all without ever hauling your phone from your pocket. It’s just incredibly responsive and quick.

The only problem with that touch-sensitive right-bud surface is that it’s hard to avoid touching it during the origami session of putting the buds back into their case. You wind up starting music playback accidentally. Auuugh.

(One last comparison: The Apple AirPods pause music automatically when you remove one from your ear, and resume the music when you put it back in. The Pixel Buds, lacking the “Am I in the ear?” sensor, doesn’t do that, and you really miss it.) Live Translation!? And now what we’ve all been waiting for: live real-time language translation!

Sort of.

First, it works only with Google’s own Pixel 2 phone. If you have any other Android phone, you’re out of luck.

Here’s how it works.

You open up Google Translate, touch your earbud, and say, “Help me speak French” (or whatever language).

You hand your phone to the French speaker. While pressing your right earbud, you say, “Excuse me. I’ve hurt my foot. Is there a hospital nearby?”

The phone thinks for a moment (assuming you have an internet signal), and then both speaks and displays the French version: “Excusez-moi. Je me suis fait mal au pied. Y a-t-il un hôpital à proximité?”

You point to the little microphone button on the lower-right side of the screen, and gesture for the French speaker to hold it down while speaking. She might say, for example, “Vous devrez prendre le train pour Paris. Il n’y a rien autour d’ici.”

After she does so, you hear, in your earpiece, her answer: “You’ll have to take the train to Paris; there’s nothing around here.”

Repeat from step 3 to continue the conversation.

The translation feature is no better or worse than just using the Google Translate app by itself.

The translations—well, they’re exactly what you’d see on Google’s Translate web page. A perfect translation is rare; usually, you get the gist; and sometimes, you get hilarious or disastrous misfires. (I told a Chinese-speaking friend, “I love your work! You should get a promotion!” And she heard, in Chinese, “I want your job. You need some improvement.”)

The dirty little secret is that you can do this translation stuff without the Pixel Buds, and without a Pixel phone. Any Android phone running the Google Translate app does all of this already; the only difference is that you’re hearing the English translation in your earbuds instead of from the phone’s speaker.

(If you do have a Pixel phone, another benefit awaits: Automatic pairing when you open the charging case. That’s supposed to make a “Connect?” message pop up on the phone, so a single tap makes the connection. I had a lot of trouble getting that to happen, though; I wound up having to press the Pair button inside the case. Speaking of pairing: You have to pair these things manually every time you switch devices—from phone to laptop, say. It’s not automatic, as it is on the Apple ones.)

Not your best buds

There are lots and lots of fantastic wireless earbuds; here’s my review of 40 of them. Most of them cost less than the Buds, fit more comfortably and solidly, and don’t require any Boy Scout knot-tying every time you put them away.

What they don’t do, of course, is let you touch the right earbud when you want to speak to Google Assistant. But the Pixel Buds command a very steep price—in usability, convenience, comfort, and dollars—for that luxury.

More from David Pogue:

Royal Caribbean’s big bet on new tech

Battle of the 4K streaming boxes: Apple, Google, Amazon, and Roku

iPhone X review: Gorgeous, pricey, and worth it

Inside the Amazon company that’s even bigger than Amazon

The $50 Google Home Mini vs. the $50 Amazon Echo Dot — who wins?

The Fitbit Ionic doesn’t quite deserve the term ‘smartwatch’

Augmented reality? Pogue checks out 7 of the first iPhone AR apps 

David Pogue, tech columnist for Yahoo Finance, is the author of “iPhone: The Missing Manual.” He welcomes nontoxic comments in the comments section below. On the web, he’s davidpogue.com. On Twitter, he’s @pogue. On email, he’s poguester@yahoo.com. You can read all his articles here, or you can sign up to get his columns by email. 

[airadam]

Episode 102 : Play With Joy

"Give me a minute, I'll give you my spirit."

- Konny Kon

Another month, another mix to keep your ears nourished! Listen out for Juice Crew appearances and connections throughout the selection, after Manchester witnessed them tear up the stage this month. We've got some soulful numbers, turntable wizardry, and quotables for days. Let's get it started...

Twitter : @airadam13

Playlist/Notes

Cesar Comanche : A-Game

With the intro and all that, this is a track that needs to be at the start of a mix, and as such I've been saving it for quite a long time. One of my favourites from the original days of the Justus League, this track is from Cesar's second album "Paper Gods", and is a great ode to working hard in music and not being a hanger-on or a daydreamer; as the title suggests, bring your A-game. 9th Wonder is on the beat, slapping that snare as always!

Kev Brown : The Beat Tape (Instro)

One of the instrumentals from the "Selective Hearing" LP; nothing super complex, just a good example of doing something funky with a handful of elements. The insertion of that "yeah" sample is worth the price of admission!

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo : Letters

Another one I've had in the "to play" list for ages, it's a straight mic workout for G Rap taken from his final album in collaboration with DJ Polo, "Live and Let Die". As an aside, I didn't realise that the album was shelved some time after initial release because of the controversial cover art! Luckily, it got a re-release so you should be able to find it - there are some excellent tracks on there. As with most of the rest of the album, Sir Jinx, best known for his work with Ice Cube, handles the production; a nice funky soul sample forms the basis of the track.

Wordsworth : Feel Me

Hadn't given "The Picture Album" a listen in a long time and had totally forgotten about this Ill Poetic-produced track - I was looking to include something featuring Masta Ace but this got the nod instead, as it were. "Feel me internally"? Hold that thought, we're coming back to it later in the show...

Bumpy Knuckles : Lazy

One of those tunes you can drop on a mixtape or in a club night full of real heads. DJ Premier on the beat with a meat-and-potatoes drum pattern underpinning a disjointed string sample, and Bumpy going in on the mic straight line style. Bonus points for him impression of crying MCs in the intro :) We will definitely return to the "Konexion" album again!

Big Daddy Kane, Jay-Z, ODB : Show & Prove

The full version of this tune from the 1994 "Daddy's Home" album is long! Coming off a loop of the DJ Premier beat, I actually missed off the first three verses (Scoob, Sauce Money, and Shyheim) and jumped in at Kane's appearance. A then mostly-unknown Jay-Z can be heard here with his old style, and ODB shuts it down on the final verse, overwhelming the track with sheer force of personality! Three Brooklyn kings, no question. The sharp-eared amongst you will find the last word on the tune very familiar...

[Pete Rock] All City : Priceless (Instrumental)

I played the vocal version of this many moons ago on episode 12, and Pete Rock's beat fits brilliantly here - a bridge between the explosion that ends the previous cut, and the tempo of the one that follows...

Top Rawmen : Symphony 3000

I'm amongst friends here, so I can admit it - at least partly due to cultural differences, I didn't realise for years that this turntablist crew's name is a pun! Yeroc, Nando, Nomad, Mike c, and Jay Slim brilliantly execute the concept of a turntable version of the Juice Crew classic "The Symphony" on this selection from "Return of the DJ, Volume IV". The beats are sampled/cut/reworked from that 1988 record, and several quotes from the track get sliced and diced here too.

Camp Lo : Cookers

This Ski-produced B-side (you know the deal) from the "Trouble Man" single bangs hard in a specific way that often makes it tough to fit into mixes, but I think this is a good spot for it! There's a detail worth noting on this one - check how Sonny and Geechi start each two-bar phrase of the first verse with their syllables landing dead on each hit of the kick drum. 

Diamond D ft. Kurupt and The Alkaholiks : We Are The People Of The World

Diamond just keeps on going - with a record collection and a mind like his, the beats will hopefully keep on coming for a long time yet! His 2014 album "The Diam Piece" is a producer-centred project where he brings in a star-studded roster of guests to bless his beats; on this cut, we get veteran West Coast lyricism from the 'Liks and Kurupt, keeping it positive. I do need to stop giving myself these awkward bar counts to mix with though...

J-Zone ft. Has-Lo : Caddy Coupe

I love seeing people win, so this track works on two levels; firstly, it comes from "Fish 'n' Grits", an excellent album from the latter phase of J-Zone's musical career, and secondly because of the story. I can totally get behind a real-life tale of a man treating himself to a bit of luxury after a hard working life; it's just a genuinely nice story. Philadephia's Has-Lo takes the second verse to expand the theme a little more, and Zone's production (in all senses of the word) is excellent and inventive as always.

Trifeckta : First Time (Janet Jackson Flip)

I wanted to bridge here with something having a bit of 80s style and also some soul, and finally found the right beat on the Producers I Know compilation "The 80s Beat Tape" - which I'm sure we'll visit again. St.Louis'/NYC's Trifeckta dices up some Janet Jackson and tops it off with some skilled drum machine work.

John Legend and The Roots : Hang On In There

Somehow the "Wake Up!" collaborative project slipped by me until recently, despite being years old! It's mostly made up of covers of old soul records, and they're done well. Here's one example, their take on the low-key 1972 classic "Hang On In There" by Mike James Kirkland, with a beautiful groove and a solid message.

Children of Zeus : Rock You Internally

Yet another great cut from Konny Kon and Tyler Daly, both of whom are in fine rhyming style right here - classic tag team vocal styles. No slouches on the boards either, they cook up a quality beat from a classic soul sample. "The Story So Far..." is an essential purchase...and that's just a collection of their past work. The album, when it comes, is really going to be something.

Ill Camille : Take A Ride

Ill Camille is an artist coming out of Los Angeles who gets much respect from those in the know. While her latest LP "Heirloom" is getting rave reviews, here we go all the way back to 2011's "The Pre-Write" for a track which I think features the sadly late Alori Joh ; they collaborated on a version of this track I've seen titled as "Take That Ride". Camille handles her business here lyrically, and the hook is very nicely done as a bonus. I've not got any credits indicating who produced it, but I do like the beat - incidentally, all that EQ/filtering going on towards the end is part of the track itself!

KING : The Greatest

I don't know how many times I've played this track this year, but it's a lot. Paris Strother kills it on this production (as she does on the whole "We Are KING" album), and on the mic along with the other two members for this ethereal and grooving tribute to the great Muhammad Ali. If you're hearing it for the first time, it deserves an immediate rewind - alternatively, watch the excellent 8-bit-styled video :)

Tall Black Guy : Sade's Taboo (Sweetest Taboo Blap-Up)

The brother from another mother (and father) once again shows you how he flips well-known samples into his own head-nodding, shoulder-slumping style!

Craig G : W.F.W.T (What's Fuckin With That)

Ending things on an up note, we take a track from the amazingly titled "I Rap and Go Home" album. The Juice Crew veteran gives you a small window into his life as a live performer..and he loves it! Again, I like to see people win and so it's nice to know that Craig's working life is pretty awesome. Vaporworldz isn't an artist I've heard of before, but this beat is on-point; a light, cheerful head-nodder with a little reggae seasoning in there. I hope Craig G and the rest of the crew left Manchester with happy memories - although we couldn't help much with the weather, sadly.

Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!

Check out this episode!

[hottytoddynews]

By Ellis Nassour, Ole Miss alum and noted arts journalist and author

Last season was dominated by the landmark Pulitzer-and Tony-winning Hamilton. People were saying, “How could the 2016-2017 season top that?” There’s not another Hamilton to be sure, but there’s plenty of excitement and diversity in this season of distinguished musicals.

It’s also been a season of superstars: Glenn Close, Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, Christine Ebersole. On these new original cast CDs, you won’t hear the thunderous applause at Sunset Boulevard, and Hello, Dolly!, Where mid-show standing ovations and numerous curtain calls for Close and Midler are the norm. But listen, and you’ll know why.

The Broadway League, the national trade association for Broadway, has released end-of-2016 – 2017 season statistics. It was the highest grossing one ever. Attendance reached 13,270,343 with a gross just short of $1.5-billion. This tally is only legit box office prices, which include premium sales. 

The Tony Awards are June 11 in a three-hour telecast on CBS from Radio City Music Hall, with Kevin Spacey hosting. There were 20 musicals, which includes six revivals; 20 plays (10 original, nine revivals) – both among the highest ever in a season.

Until you can grab tickets these bargain-priced original cast albums are a perfect way to at least enjoy aspects of the in-person experience:

 Amelie (Rhino Warner Classics; 26 tracks) by Daniel Messé and Nathan Tysen; closed; available June 9:

Tony nominee, the luminous Phillipa Soo (Hamilton) returned to Broadway in this charming, bittersweet musical with book by Pulitzer Prize and Tony nominee Craig Lucas (The Light in the Piazza), based on the beloved Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated French film.

Highlights: “Writing on the Wall,” “Stay,” “Where Do We Go from Here?” 

Anastasia (Broadway Records; 25 tracks) by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens; available June 9:

Christy Altomare (a Sophie in Mamma Mia) is amnesiac orphan Anya, hoping to find family, who’s spotted by bungling conmen (Derek Klena, John Bolton (A Christmas Story; Dames at Sea) who wish to take advantage of her likeness to Russia’s Grand Duchess Anastasia, thought to be the only survivor of the execution of Czar Nicholas and family. She’s so authentic that she wins over the skeptics, including the Dowager Empress, Tony-nominated Mary Beth Piel.  Based on Disney’s 1997 animated film [includes Oscar-nominated “Journey to the Past” and five other film tunes].

Highlights: Original songs “In My Dreams,” “Everything to Win,” “Journey to the Past.”

Bandstand (Broadway/Yellow Sound Records; 18 tracks) by Richard Oberacker and Rob Taylor; available June 23: Returning WWII vet, a singer/songwriter, Corey Cott (Gigi; Newsies), forms a band with vets to seek the golden prize: Hollywood fame. But haunted by memories of his downed pal, he meets his young widow, Tony nominee Laura Osnes, who reluctantly joins the band. There’s instant attraction until a shattering secret is revealed. Pulsating Big Band-orchestrations by Tony-nominated Bill Elliott and Greg Anthony Rassen. Tony winner Beth Leavel (Drowsy Chaperone) co-stars.

Highlights: “Just Like It Was Before,” “Love Will Come and Find Me Again,”  “Everything Happens,” “Welcome Home.”

 A Bronx Tale (Ghostlight Records; 19 tracks) by Alan Menken and Glen Slater:

Move over Manhattan Heights, make way for the stoops of rough and tumble 60s Bronx, where crime does pay, in this adaptation of Chazz Palminteri’s 2007 streetwise one-man play (also a 1993 film) about a boys influences. It’s Dad v. Crime Boss, Richard H. Blake and DD nominee Nick Cordero (Waitress, Bullets over Broadway scene-stealer) with traces of Newsies, Wise Guys, and Jersey Boys doo-wop.

Highlights: “Belmont Avenue,” “I Like It,” “Out of Your Head.”

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Masterworks Broadway; 19 tracks) by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman:

Chocolate-covered whimsy, sadly readapted from the hit West End musical, based on  Roald Dahl’s novel and featuring songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the 2005 film. Christian Borle, with John Rubenstein, and Emily Padgett (Side Show revival). The spectacular aspects have been decimated, and all that’s left is a bore. But it’s a family show.

Highlights: “What Could Possibly Go Wrong,” “If Your Father Were Here,” “The View from Here.”

Come from Away (Musical Company; 25 tracks, including bonus) by David Hein and Irene Sankoff: 

Tony-nominated for Best Musical. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, 38 planes en route to the U.S. with 6,579 passengers were forced to land at Gander, Newfoundland’s former military base for a week due to airspace closure. In a variety of motifs [folk reels to lush ballads], we meet unprepared locals who must rise to the occasion. Winning cast of townspeople and passengers includes Tony nominee Jenn Colella, like American Airlines’ first female pilot, Chad Kimball (Memphis), Joel Hatch, Rodney Hicks, and Q Smith.

Highlights: “Lead Us Out of the Night,” “Me and the Sky,” “Stop the World.”

Dear Evan Hansen (Atlantic; 14 tracks) by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Steven Levenson:

Tony-nominated for Best Musical. Broadway’s always attempting to attract younger audiences, and those with good jobs or rich parents are flocking – along with adult theatergoers — to experience the devastating emotions explored in this musical about an emotionally repressed student.Tony nominee Ben Platt (Pitch Perfect films) gives a breathtakingly wrenching performance as the all but friendless teen, already hiding a dark secret, who uses a tragedy to become closer to a suicide victim’s sister and her family – and pays an anguishing price. Tony-nominated Rachel Bay Jones has big moments as his mother. Unfortunately, you won’t hear Will Roland and Kristolyn Lloyd’s scene-stealing bits. The deep empathy of the ballads will captivate and haunt.

Highlights: “For Forever,” “If I Could Tell Her,” “You Will Be Found,” “So Big/So Small,” “Words Fail.” 

Falsettos (Ghostlight; two discs, 36 tracks; with a 60-page color booklet with lyrics and photos) by William Finn and James Levine; closed: Tony-nominated for Best Revival. A neurotic gay man, his wife, lover, son, their psychiatrist, and lesbian friends explore changing relationships in the make-up of modern families. Tony-nominated Christian Borle (Tony winner, Something Rotten), Stephanie J. Block Andrew Rannells (Tony nominated, Book of Mormon), and Brandon Uranowitz (Tony nominee, An American in Paris) captivate. 

Highlights: “Love is Blind,” “This Had Better Come to a Stop,” “Making a Home,” “What More Can I Say,” “Unlikely Lovers.” Groundhog Day (Masterworks Broadway; 19 tracks) by Tim Minchin:

Tony-nominated, Best Musical. Tony nominee and Olivier-winning Andy Karl (Rocky, Mystery of Edwin Drood revival) in a Groundhog Day |Catch-22, based on the 1993 film, as arrogant TV weather caster who finds himself in a time warp – repeating the same day over and over. Clever staging adds a lot to the thin plot.   Highlights: “There Will Be Sun,” “Hope,” “Everything About You,” “Night Will Come.”

Hello, Dolly! (Masterworks Broadway; 16 tracks; 42-page booklet with lyrics and color shot of Midler) by Jerry Herman:

Tony-nominated, Best Musical, Revival. Colorful revival starring the divine Bette Midler gives razzle dazzle new definition. In the showstopping moment after another – singing, doing fancy footwork or eating. She’s well-accompanied to Yonkers, the 14th Street Parade, and Harmonia Gardens by Tony nominees David Hyde Pierce, Gavin Creel, and Kate Baldwin. At 53 minutes, the cd doesn’t give the scope of being there. The disc has an 80-minute capacity, but cuts have been made. “The Waiter’s Gallop,” at 2:51, and the Finale, at 1:43, are shorter than onstage. You won’t feel shortchanged on the Overture, “Dancing” or title song.

Highlights: “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” “Ribbons Down My Back,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It Only Takes a Moment.”

Beginning June 13, Tony winner Donna Murphy (Passion) will play the lead on Tuesday evenings; and, at the end of June through year end, additional performances. In Transit (Hollywood Records; 18 tracks) by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan, and Sara Wordsworth; closed: Broadway’s first a cappella score, by vets of Frozen and Pitch Perfect, told of New Yorkers facing the challenges of city life as MTA trains pass them by.

Highlights: “Deep Beneath the City,” “Choosing Not to Know,” “Not There Yet.”

Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Reprise; two discs; 27 tracks) by Dave Malloy:

Tony-nominated, Best Musical. The complicated story, adapted from 70-pages of War and Peace, has been turned into a mesmerizing spectacle. Tony-nominated Denée Benton (Natasha, betrothed to Andrei) and Lucas Steele (arrogant, wicked Anatole) are ravenous lovers; Josh Groban (Pierre), the brooding misfit son of a royal who returns to Russia and an inheritance and attempts to untangle the romantic triangle. Brittain Ashford is stunning as the lovelorn Sonya. Highlights: “No One Else,” “Dust and Ashes,” “Sonya & Natasha,” “Sonya Alone.”

War Paint (Ghostlight; 21 tracks) by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie:

Tony, DD nominated Best Musical. Pioneering cosmetic entrepreneurs Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein, portrayed by stage favs Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole, engage in fierce rivalry for dominance from the 30s to 60s as they change the face of American women.

Highlights: “If I’d Been a Man,” “Pink,” “Forever Beautiful,” “Beauty in the World.”

There’s more: one from Off Broadway and one from London’s West End:

Spamilton (DRG; 25 tracks) by Gerard Alessandrini:  This musical parody of guess what landmark musical is in love with what it mocks. It spins the difficulty of getting tickets, speculation about the film version, and most of all, the revolution — not the 18th-century political one, but the showbiz one. Alessandrini is the creator of 25 riotously hilarious Forbidden Broadway editions. He has a way with words, but this spoof is more affectionate tribute than one dripping with scathing humor.

Dreamgirls (Sony Music; 28 tracks, two discs) by Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger:

U.K. premiere of iconic 1982 Tony-nominated musical of Chicago R&B female trio vying for the big time during the 60s and learning hard lessons about show business and romance. Olivier-winning Amber Riley (Glee) is The Dreams’, Effie White.

Box office prices at around $189 and more for musicals can be daunting. Since you have to pay rent or monthly fees and also eat, you might consider the numerous promotions for shows in previews, Broadway League promotions for Kid’s Night, NYC & Company’s bi-annual Broadway Week [usually two weeks] 2-for 1 ticket offers (www.nycgo.com), and take advantage of the fact that 85% of shows are available for 40-50% off [plus $4.50 service fee] at the TDF booths.

Keep in mind newer shows such School of Rock and the return of Cats, Miss Saigon, and Sunset Boulevard [closing June 25]; and  hot shows from previous seasons – Aladdin, Beautiful, Book of Mormon, Kinky Boots, On Your Feet, and Waitress — all still going strong but with available seats. Then, they’re the long-running champs: Chicago, Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked. Hamilton is still hot, hot, and hot. 

You can also still get original cast recordings of the original Miss Saigon; Cats; and Sunset Boulevard [Los Angeles, pre-Broadway cast].

Avoid purchasing price-gouging “resale tickets” from those sites engaging in this sort of consumer rip-off.

Ellis Nassour is an Ole Miss alum and noted arts journalist and author who recently donated an ever-growing exhibition of performing arts history to the University of Mississippi. He is the author of the best-selling Patsy Cline biography, Honky Tonk Angel, as well as the hit musical revue, Always, Patsy Cline. He can be reached at ENassour@aol.com. 

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