#thank god all eps are on YouTube and all songs

[rexscanonwife]

Hgg.....faggle wrock

[professorsparklepants]

here's an out of pocket rant I dictated to my notes app via text to speech on my walk to work this morning.

So since K/DA was really popular I've seen a lot of other MMO companies collab with kpop groups to make songs with animated music videos, but for some fucking reason they all do it extremely wrong? (Shout out to the person on YouTube who described Perfect Night by le sserafim as "they're making my girls sing newjeans music for OverWatch 😭" this is about you!)

Like the reason that K/DA was good was firstly because the League of Legends team knows how to make good music and secondly, because it sounded like a K-Pop song. The other music that I've seen it's not.... *Bad* per se but it just doesn't really seem to capture what makes a K-Pop song specifically both a *K-Pop* song and also good.

There's also such a miscasting of voices. Like the mv that came out that had newjeans singing gods? Why would you get a group of teen girls that specializes in fresh, toothless teen pop to do such a big, dramatic, sweeping song. It doesn't make any sense to me. K/DA pulled soyeon and miyeon from (g)-idle because it was a K-Pop song and they needed K-pop idols to sing it. They didn't just pick them because they're popular and K-pop is in right now. They pulled them because they were doing K-pop music because worlds was in Korea and they needed people who fit the genre and who understood the assignment. And obviously, both parties understood the assignment very well because it fits (g)-idle's music enough that they actually perform the song in concert despite only two of their members being on the track.

Thirdly, they all have animated music videos, but they don't seem to understand why the K/DA music video was animated in the first place? Like the point of the K/DA MV was that the people who are singing are League of Legends characters and that's what makes it cool. It's imagining a group of League of Legends characters as a K-Pop group in a way that makes the archetypes and personality of each character obvious and appealing to people who are not League of Legends players. (Which is one of the strengths of Kpop and idol music in general! Because it's designed to be a parasocial relationship inducing, it is very very good at putting group members in appealing little boxes!) But the other music videos I see are just like... about esports. It's just about a guy who plays esports and sits in a gamer chair and then gets in an imagined mind space where he fights other esports players like it's. It's completely missing the point of why people like that music video in the first place. People don't like K/DA because they like esports. They like K/DA because it was good music. The people who requested an entire EP from them were not people who follow esports. They were people who like music.

Tldr everyone who is trying to follow this and make it a trend just does not understand why K/DA got popular in the first place. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[sleepanonymous]

Hi! I hope you don't mind, but I would like to ask your input on something, since you post a lot of "lost media" stuff. Do you know what the general etiquette for talking about members' past bands/projects in public spaces?

Here's the thing: I only discovered Sleep Token a few months ago, and when I first listened, I was shocked to recognize Vessel's voice immediately. Apparently I've actually been listening to one of his old projects for like 8 years now 😭 It's lovely to know he's still making music and it's wonderful to see how he's progressed with his skills (his voice!! Oh my god, he's grown so much), but I can't help but feel a little sad because I'm worried I'll be shunned if I mention his old works around ST fans. What has your experience been with this sort of thing? I just don't want to start a fuss on accident.

Hi, Anon 🖤 I don't mind at all, thanks for the question. With the anonymity of Sleep Token, it's very tricky to talk about any of the band's past projects in fan spaces. Basic etiquette is to not mention them at all because of the names and faces associated with the projects. For that reason, the rest of this answer is going below a "keep reading" cut.

If you are a Sleep Token fan, and don't want to see past project names, do not click on "Keep Reading."

First off: Anon, I'm so jealous of you! Lol, I'm surprised you found Blacklit Canopy first, that's such a rarity in this fandom! You have no idea how many times I'm like "Where was I in 2012?! Why didn't I find this in 2014?!"

Secondly, my whole experience with this particular corner of the fandom has been lovely tbh. But I think I get away with posting "lost media" because I make sure to keep names/YouTube/anything identifying detached from the posts. I only ever refer to him as Ves (and not his full stage name) and I don't mention Sleep Token (or if I do I abbreviate to ST). I think the closest I ever got to mentioning Ves's past project actually was in this lost media post.

Another reason I think a lot of fans would consider it improper to mention Ves's old project is because the relationship he was in with the other half of Blacklit Canopy technically changes 70-80% of Sleep Token's songs. The intricate lore that fans have created is suddenly lost, and we're left with roughly three albums about "the girl that got away" and how Ves coped with it. That isn't inherently a bad thing, but I understand why it's not everyone's cup of tea. Since you're new to Sleep Token, I'm going to assume you haven't seen these interviews: about why the member's identities "don't matter" and what Sleep Token's goal is as a band.

I have seen people make posts about Blacklit Canopy here on Tumblr before without receiving backlash (at least outwardly), but that's only because it was in a similar manner to this post (the majority of it was under a "read more" cut), they kept the band names separate in the tags i.e. they didn't tag Sleep Token, and didn't mention Ves's name at all. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I've seen posts literally stating "It is disrespectful to listen to Ves's old music," which I don't agree with. One: there's an entire other person involved. Two: if Ves didn't want his fans to know, why are the Blacklit Canopy YouTube channel and Twitter accounts still up? And three: they literally released a deluxe EP on Spotify at the beginning of the year which Ves is 100% aware of and signed off on, if it wasn't him who published it in the first place. I'm not here to tell fans what they're feeling is wrong— on either end of the spectrum— because I understand where they are coming from and why they might feel that way.

All of the above said, there are safe fan spaces where it's perfectly acceptable to mention both Sleep Token and Blacklit Canopy in the same sentence; even identities. That goes for all Sleep Token members, past and present, and their other projects. So if you were wanting to keep them a mystery, then I'm sadly out of suggestions aside from DMs maybe. There are more people on this site Who Know™️ than you might think.

On Reddit you have both r/BlacklitCanopy and r/SleepTokenTheory

On Facebook you have the Blacklit Canopy Fans page

On Discord there's discord.gg/blacklitcanopy

I'm not so active on Reddit, and I don't have Facebook, so I'm very biased toward option three I'm also an admin there.

[newmusickarl]

5-9’s Album of the Month Podcast – latest episode out now!

The latest episode of the 5-9 Album of the Month Podcast is here and it’s a bit of a sad one as 5-9 Editor Andrew Belt was unable to join us! So this time around it’s just me and Mama Mañana Records' Kiley Larsen reviewing five high profile album releases from the past month in music, ultimately naming one as our Album of the Month at the end of the discussion.

For our June 2024 episode, it was John Grant’s synth-soaked majesty on The Art of the Lie that took home the coveted Album of the Month title. For our latest episode, we look back at five big releases from July and the albums vying for recognition this time around are:

King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2 by Denzel Curry

Django’s High by Future Utopia (Poll winner, thanks for voting!)

As Above, So Below by Highly Suspect

Harmonics by Joe Goddard

HEAVY JELLY by SOFT PLAY

If you want to listen to this or any previous episodes simply follow the links below, but also be sure to follow 5-9 Blog on Instagram, Twitter and now YouTube for more news and polls relating to the podcast.

Listen on Spotify here

Watch, like and subscribe to our YouTube channel here

Album & EP Recommendations

Wild God by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Let’s face it, Nick Cave doesn’t make bad records. However, even by his incredibly high standards across his illustrious career, his recent work has been truly exceptional, towering bodies of work. Fuelled by unimaginable tragedy, grief and loss, albums Skeleton Tree and Ghosteen rank among my favourite albums of the last decade, listening experiences that are beautiful yet emotionally devastating. His last album with just him and Warren Ellis, Carnage, was no slouch either, finishing in my Top 10 of the year back in 2021. Now both have reunited with the full Bad Seeds ensemble, and new album Wild God continues their recent hot streak.

Emerging out of the vast darkness, their eighteenth studio album is a much brighter and more joyous experience compared to its predecessors. Filled with uplifting, string-drenched arrangements, some of which include none other than Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood on bass duties, the lyrics also find Cave in a much more optimistic mindset. It all makes for another endlessly captivating listen, with Joy the real standout in the first half, as Cave’s poetic lyrics are spun across a mostly minimal, piano-led composition. However, the finest moments for me are in the back half, with the gospel cries and stomps of Conversion, the operatic and ghostly Cinnamon Horses and standout single Long Dark Night a particularly incredible trio.

Once again, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have crafted one of the finest albums I’ve listened to all year. Impactful and stunningly orchestrated, it’s another stirring collection of songs that will keep you absorbed across countless repeated listens.

Listen here

I Lay Down My Life For You by JPEGMAFIA

Another album that has quickly become one of my favourites of the year, NY-rapper JPEGMAFIA has followed up his sensational collaborative album with Danny Brown, 2023’s Scaring The Hoes, with arguably his strongest solo outing to date.

It’s a rap record but with punk rock energy, with most of the tracks here under the three-minute mark and plenty of heavy guitars powering the sonics. JPEG uses the record’s frantic pace to jump wildly between each bold idea, with the production never anything less than stellar. Collaborating with the likes of Flume and Kenny Beats on the production front, he also pulls in other current rap superstars like Vince Staples and Denzel Curry to lend a few bars too. It all makes for a thrilling wall-to-wall listen but if I’m to pick out just a couple of highlights, it’s the metal-charged SAN MIEDO and string-tinged experimentation of Exmilitary.

Colliding fast and furious bars with heavy punk, noise rock and industrial influences, all in mesmerising fashion, this is without a doubt the rap record of the year for me so far.

Listen here

No Name by Jack White

Another man who rarely disappoints, guitar maestro and all-round modern legend Jack White returned recently with a surprise new album. Initially stealth releasing on vinyl towards the end of July, the record officially released to streaming platforms and critical fanfare at the beginning of August. While I may not agree with the consensus that this is his best solo outing to date, there’s no denying that this is another fun and mightily impressive release.

You see while some critics have found White’s solo discography to be quite patchy, I’ve actually been a big fan of his output over the last 12 years. Blunderbuss and Lazaretto both boasted songs that could be dubbed as instant rock classics, Boarding House Reach was wild but always fascinating in its experimentation, and the duo of Fear of The Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive showed that White’s songwriting shone through, whether plugged or unplugged.

With No Name, for me, what we ultimately get is more of what White has already done before and proved he can do previously. That said, the lo-fi production and fuzzy rock riffs still sound terrific, especially on tracks like Old Scratch Blues, Archbishop Harold Holmes, What’s The Rumpus and Terminal Archenemy Ending. So, while it lacks anything new or revolutionary and brings with it an air of safe familiarity, there is no denying that White can still rock out. If you’re a fan of his previous work, you’ll still find plenty here to enjoy.

Listen here

Lagos Paris London EP by Yannis & The Yaw

And finally on the EPs front, Yannis Philippakis of Foals finally released his long awaited first solo project, Lagos Paris London. A dazzling, collaborative five track EP featuring the late-great Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, the EP is as vibrant and sonically adventurous as the globe-trotting title would suggest. While Yannis brings his signature guitar grooves to the table, some soaring string arrangements, jazz-like horns and Allen’s Afrobeat-style drums ensure the project always has a different feel to anything under the Foals banner.

Whilst the whole EP is well worth 20 minutes of your time, it is Rain Can’t Reach Us and Clementine that particularly stand out for me.

Listen here

Also well worth checking out:

DAYS BEFORE RODEO by Travis Scott

Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay

True Magic by Salute

This World Fucking Sucks by Cassyette

A Firmer Hand by Hamish Hawk

Participation Trophy by China Bears

Heartbreak Town EP by GIRLBAND!

Song Recommendations

The Emptiness Machine by LINKIN PARK

It’s been quite the month for big comebacks, hasn’t it?!

First came the colossal news that the Gallagher brothers would finally be reforming Oasis for a huge 2025 tour, before Linkin Park also made their long-awaited return, announcing new album From Zero will be dropping this November. The Emptiness Machine is the first taste of that new record and their first single to feature new vocalist, Emily Armstrong.

Emily’s arrival into the band has certainly caused controversy, with her links to Scientology already a hot topic amongst fans. While that debate will continue for the foreseeable, what is clear from this single and the band’s return livestream performance is that Emily certainly has the vocal capabilities needed to front the iconic, much-loved band. While of course no-one could fully replace the late-great Chester Bennington, I am glad to have Linkin Park back making music once again.

Listen to The Emptiness Machine here

Watch the livestream performance back here

All You Children by Jamie XX featuring The Avalanches

A late contender for song of the summer, this huge collaboration between Jamie XX and The Avalanches was on heavy repeat for me towards the end of August. Propelled by an infectious tribal beat that will just make you want to get up and dance, it’s left me hugely hyped for Jamie’s new album In Waves dropping in a few weeks’ time.

Listen here

He by Hayden Thorpe

Another album I cannot wait for dropping at the end of September, Hayden Thorpe’s adaptation of Robert Macfarlane’s book Ness will also soon be here. With book and album both inspired by Orford Ness in Suffolk, He is the ultra-groovy second single from the project. Featuring an endlessly fascinating arrangement that even includes a sackbut (a 15th century early trombone) and a spinet (a small 17th century harpsichord), Hayden's unique songcraft shines through once again.

Listen here

A Landlord’s Death by One True Pairing

And Hayden is not the only Wild Beasts alumni to be releasing new music this year. A month later in October, Tom Fleming will also be releasing his second solo album, Endless Rain. Working with acclaimed producer John ‘Spud’ Murphy, the singles so far have suggested a much more traditional and folk-inspired sound compared to his solo debut. A Landlord’s Death continues this hypothesis, featuring some stomping acoustic riffs, wild strings and a catchy chorus.

Listen here

Sick Of The Blues by Porridge Radio

Another album due for release in October, indie rockers Porridge Radio will be returning with their new opus, Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me. Sick of the Blues is the closing track for the project but also the album’s first teaser single, finding frontwoman Dana Margolin in an apathetic mood as raw rock riffs build and erupt around her.

Listen here

Straight To Heart by ALT BLK ERA

From MOBO and Heavy Music Award nominations to storming festival sets at the likes of Glastonbury and Download, there is absolutely no stopping ALT BLK ERA’s momentum right now. Now with their highly-anticipated debut album Rave Immortal due for release in January, the alternative sister duo have released the second taste of the upcoming record. The synth-soaked track highlights the continuing maturity of their songwriting, with Straight To Heart seeing Nyrobi open up and reflect on her agonising battles with chronic illness.

Listen here

Nothing Compares To Nineteen by Fiona-Lee

Another one of the UK’s most promising emerging voices, singer-songwriter Fiona-Lee has recently returned with her second-ever single. A hugely emotive track, it was written in the wake of Fiona tragically losing a lifelong friend after he took his own life. Recalling her struggles with anxiety, grief and depression, along with conversations with her father on mental health, it’s another hard-hitting single that absolutely soars.

Listen here

Split Lip by Dolores Forever

One of my other favourite new music discoveries in 2024, I’ve had the pleasure of catching indie-pop duo Dolores Forever twice over this summer’s festival season. With their debut album finally dropping at the end of September, Split Lip is one of the latest singles taken from the project and a song that really stood out in their live performances. Hugely anthemic amidst captivating vocal harmonies and shimmering synths, this upcoming record is slowly shaping up to be one of the best debuts of the year.

Listen here

One Day by Hallworth

Released at the end of August, singer-songwriter Hallworth also recently released her heartfelt new single, One Day. Inspired by the Netflix movie of the same name and written while she was in Nashville, it’s a stirring track about her struggles with a long-distance relationship. With Hallworth’s own tender vocals at the fore, it’s a gorgeously laidback love song that will have you hitting the repeat button.

Listen here

Never Meant by Iron & Wine / For Sure by Ethel Cain

And finally, this year marks the 25th anniversary of one of my favourite albums of all time and a seminal work that still inspires countless musicians today – American Football’s self-titled debut. To mark the occasion, the band are releasing a remastered version of the original record, along with a brand new covers version.

The first two of these covers have been revealed and they are both unsurprisingly stunning. Firstly, American singer-songwriter Samuel Ervin Beam transforms the iconic Never Meant into a wonderful, folky lullaby, reminiscent of Bon Iver. Then, the much beloved Ethel Cain has turned the haunting For Sure into a near 10-minute moment of beauty and ethereal transcendence.

If all the covers are to this standard, with more cuts from the likes of Manchester Orchestra and Blondshell still to come, this project could be something very special.

Listen to Never Meant by Iron & Wine here

Listen to For Sure by Ethel Cain here

Also worth checking out:

Ego by Halsey

You by Ktlyle

JACKIN’ THE SYSTEM by NOISY

Tonight, Tonight (Smashing Pumpkins Cover) by Snail Mail

Hometown Edge by Kele

Bright Lights by The Killers

HERE WE GO! by Lil Nas X

Find The Way by Peggy Gou

SO WHAT by Confidence Man

SilverCane by Corinne Bailey Rae

REMINDER: If you use Apple Music, you can also keep up-to-date with all my favourite 2024 tracks through my Best of 2024 playlist. Constantly updated throughout the year with songs I enjoy, it is then finalised into a Top 100 Songs of the Year in December.Add the Best of 2024 playlist to your library here

[deliciouspirateangel]

just finished binging the entirety of high school musical: the musical: the series in six days and now i'm going to ramble about it for longer than anyone would care to read. it's gonna be generally positive but definitely nini and olivia unfriendly so if you dont wanna read that... dont ♥️♥️

so i suggested to my sister a while ago that i wanted to watch the show bc the videos that youtube commentary channel "pretty much it" did for it were hysterical. and she had watched the first couple of eps by herself and was like "i dont think you'll like it. its not as funny as they make it seem". but we finally decided to start it anyway

(also i dont know the entire casts' real names so i'll mostly refer to them as their character names)

season 1:

that first season was kind of rough. especially the pilot. it got better over time but its definitely my least favorite season over all. im not even a fan of high school musical so it lacked the nostalgia enjoyment for me

and i definitely did not like nini and her main character syndrome. and sorry to say but i think olivia is the least talented cast member over all. pretty privilege is so real like she didnt deserve to be the break out star she was just the most marketable. kourtney and ashlyn's voices were so strong and stellar, and they might not've been Dancers but they could definitely move. and gina was the best dancer in the fucking world and while i do think her voice wasnt as good, she could obviously still sing. nini's best talent moments were when olivia was shining thru imo (that one taking it for gra-a-a-anted song comes to mind first) but i was not here for the acoustic numbers and honestly i dont think she was a great actress

so i definitely wasnt a fan of the whole nini ricky gina ej love square. i know its a tried and true teen show staple but goddamn it got tiring. i just never liked rini and i didnt like how nini treated him right from the start asklfjlds. she was also rude as hell to everyone else, especially gina, being all passive aggressive towards her. literally saying she wanted to kick gina in the face bc gina is a good dancer and she's intimidated?? but also all the talk in general about gina being intimidating or aggressive or a bad seed like ??? the microaggressions were off the charts

not to mention the fucking macroaggression of kourtney's entire s1 "character". i think hattie mcdaniel had a more nuanced role in gone with the wind. it was so fucking painful to watch. she didnt exist to be anything other than nini's personal soundboard, cheerleader, stylist, life coach, and whatever else she needed in the moment. thank god they gave her a real character by s2 bc kourtney was way too talented, too gorgeous, too charismatic to be forced into the role of nini's handmaid the whole time

i dont really have much to say about s1 cause i wasnt into it at the time lol. it was okay. all the actors did a good job, it was kind of funny, the only song that really stood out was miss jenn's fantasy sequence song with lucas. the actually high school musical show they put on was painful to watch but thats high school theater for you babyyy

season 2:

this was such an improvement from s1 and my favorite season over all. there were a handful of eps in the middle where i was constantly like "this is my fave ep" "ok this is my fave ep" "ok now THIS is my fave ep" it was a delight. i love beauty and the beast and was so happy for ashlyn getting belle, and everyone else was very well cast. although idk why seb was chip and not cogsworth?? my sister said it was bc disney didnt want to confirm that they were gay 💔💔

the music was obviously better bc we've got fucking alan menken on the track. all the numbers from the show were perfect. i wish ej had gotten to sing the gaston reprise bc he didnt get to reach his full gaston potential and i think we deserved that 💔

the debacle with the whole rose song was sooo annoying. nini deserved to be that fork. she dragged the whole show down like it was always so much better when she wasnt there aklfjlksd

the rivalry with the other school was lots of fun. i liked all the new characters. my favorite original song was miss jenn's number with derek hough

season 3:

this season was likeee a pleasant mid for me??? idk it was fine and fun but it didnt have anything in it that blew me away. i think this season was screaming for extra episodes more than any other, since we were missing a chunk of the cast. we deserved to cut back to salt lake every now and again and see what the non-camp-goers were up to

kourtney and gina as elsa and anna was a dream. not the biggest fan of frozen but they did a good job. everyone looked so cute in their costumes and kourtney's solo was amazinggg. the new characters were fun but i dont have strong feelings towards them lol. but i loved getting to explore kourtney's character and her struggles with anxiety, that was very real

them filming a documentary was funny bc have they not been filming one this whole time? my headcanon was that the to-the-camera interviews were all in their heads and everyone was practicing for when they became famous lol but then ricky ruined that in s4 by acknowledging them directly rip 💔

i liked after their show ended and they all got sharpies and wrote their names on the walls back stage. that was definitely a potent theater kid memory and got me a lil teary eyed

i liked ej taking on the role of director and copying miss jenn's hand holding and high pitched singing at the first read thru. i liked ej and gina together i thought they were cute. it was disappointing that the show wouldnt commit to them for even a minute and they always had to be teetering on the edge between being a couple and not. that was frustrating

and girl just get nini out of there already. olivia wanted nini to be there as much as i did. she was sooo over it by s3

umm favorite original song was corbin bluh's basketball song

season 4:

very very fun season again. loved the chaos of filming the movie at the school while school is happening. as if every movie set in a real school doesnt shoot in the summer. oh well. gotta have a season!

there was too much mack for me personally. i dont think he gave wanted they wanted to be given. i needed more dani tho. her actress was so good at bad acting. she couldve been a much bigger comedic presence also she looked like a cross between sofia carson and emma roberts but sometimes just looked like a latina emma roberts ??? is that just me??

and still the lack of seb and big red at the beginning like ?? did they specifically piss off the writers so they had to banish them for nearly half the show?

loved that the little girl from camp was there. she stole the show. and maddox and jet are fine alskfjsldk i just didnt form strong opinions on them but i do like them

ashlyn's "i need to give her mouth to mouth! AS A FRIEND!" was the funniest line of the entire show hands down

so happy they finally had a halloween episode! it was lots of fun and everyone looked so cute in their costumes uwu. but that guy from camp that was stalking carlos??? that was so bizarre and it never paid off likeee what was the reason

and gina's mom was pissing us off so bad. she was acting wild this season. like gina has to focus on her studies so no boys but she can work from sun up to sun down on a movie lmao. and her mom had the nerve to be like "well i never came to your shows bc that was just high school theater but THIS is a movie" like wooow. and i swear it felt like she was about to sell gina off to mack bc he was famous. and when she started with that "porters dont wait around" mess and ricky cleared her with a quickness with that whole "well i seem to remember gina waiting around for you on opening night" like damn

and omg when mack was over for dinner and ricky came over with chocolates but saw him thru the window. i was like ugh fuck its gonna be the stupid thing where he sees this and gets the wrong idea and its gonna be a stupid wedge between him and gina that doesnt need to be there bc no one can communicate BUT THEN gina sees him outside and runs to him and i think i screamed bc i was so relieved aslkjskl but their kiss was very cinematic and cute ♥️♥️

and omg on sunday night im sitting there trudging thru s1 like "yeah starting this might've been a mistake" and by friday im bawling my eyes out bc the story is ending 💔💔 sofia deserved the whole fucking egot and a golden globe too for that scene at the end. and i was SO invested in her acting career and like pleading with the show for her not to pass on it and stay at school but fucking genius that she is found a way to do both!!!

and i honestly didnt know what i wanted miss jenn to do like i was rooting for her both ways but of course she staaayed. and the show ended and it had the "skip credits" button and my sister was like "oh there's something after the credits?" and then i saw "for good" listed at the end of the songs and i screamed again. and was bawling again when everyone was singing that. who knew this silly little show would have such a death grip on me by the end???

so over all it was really very good and not a waste of time. i liked pretty much every character and it was just a lot of fun! would definitely watch it again

my over all season ranking would be two, four, three, and one is dead ass last

my favorite characters from the start were gina, miss jenn, carlos, ashlyn, and big red lowkey alskfjdskl. kourtney got up there in s2 and beyond. and i do really like ricky, ej, seb, they're my secondary faves. (kinda wish ricky had more to do bc aside from his parents, i feel like every single one of his issues had to do with a love triangle and i just wish the character was granted a little more texture) and the camp kids were good, they were fine, they're like third-iary faves. and the only ones i dislike are gina's mom and nini lol

and i wasnt like screaming over any ships but generally i liked them all except rini. ej and gina was cute, i liked ashlyn and maddox, i liked ashlyn and big red, carlos and seb probably were my faves if i had to pick, i liked kourtney with howie (wish we saw him again) and jet, and yes by the end i was rooting for rina they just won me over this season and were super cute and im glad they ended where they did ♥️

[silvertsundere]

Silver Talks AniManga (04/08/24)

Still feels unreal that MHA is actually over... and it's even worse cause there's no chaps next week either and there were a handful of cliffhangers wah

blue - finale/completed

Anime

Mayonaka Punch Ep4

I figured both the twists of the episode near the start when I saw the pic below and she invited Fu to sing with her but that doesn't make it hit any less hard 😭 I just wish they translated the lyrics for the song at the end cause it's very relevant and a nice little bow on the episode and it'll fly over a lot of people's head since they didn't anyway, good ep, didn't really expect to see something like this in the goofy vampire youtubers show which help it be even more effective

God. Had to come back a bit after writting that to add something. Like, I know the "immortal being outlives/loses a close mortal" plot line isn't anything new but it always gets my ass good every time. Despite knowing exactly why it always gets me, it's not like I can do anything about it so I just gotta go for the ride argh

Manga

My Hero Academia Ch430 (Finale)

Go ahead, think less of me, unfollow me, block me, do whatever you think you have to. Of course, if I had to give it an "objective" score it'd still be a 8, close to a 9 (prob a 9). But, personally, I can't give it anything but a 10. I've been with this series since the beggining, for TEN WHOLE YEARS!! That's a very long time, I was a completely different person when it started, but it kept it's heart through the whole run. It's like Matsui said in this week's author comments: "Your series was a perfect example of what a Jump work should be." and I agree with him wholeheartedly.

I won't yap much about it. Shocking, I know, considering I gave it a 10, but there's just not much I can say that other haven't or will say more eloquently. I'll miss the series a lot. From the start the art was incredible and it only got better and better over the years until Horikoshi was undisputedly the best artist in the magazine, even with all the health issues he had. More often than not me and Mega would spent some time every week praising it. It's always weird to see one of Jump's long time pillars leave but Hori certainly deserves to rest after giving us such a great story. I'd love to see him in a serialization once again (not weekly, mind you) in the future but if he decides to retire I completely understand too.

Thank you for the great 10 years Horikoshi, despite all the haters, your story will remain a seminal work of the genre and an inspiration for many generations of artists to come 🙏

Kindergarten WARS Ch85

this has been on the verge of happening multiple times over the course of the series but I STILL didn't expect it to happen now, even with all the build up in the previous few pages so good job to chiba for getting my ass. Excited to see them being cute together 👀

[boysplanetrecaps]

Build Up, eps 1-2: General Pre-4 Wrap

I hope you're enjoying my Build Up recaps!

This post is just my last few thoughts on the Pre-4 mission, including:

Best Sweater Award

My ranking of the performances

Some general thoughts on the show so far

Let's go!

Favorite Sweater Award

Ok, first things first: my favorite sweater. Here are the top 4 candidates:

Geonu’s see-through layering affair 

Hong Sungwon’s ombre blue frayed number

Woong’s fuzzy argyle delight

Bitsaeon’s shaggy, swaggy stripes 

I thought long and hard about this, my beloved dongsaengs. I cast the runes, I did a draw on my tarot deck, I asked the crows, but in the end it was all my heart speaking to me and saying that the winner is… 

Hong Sungwon! I just thought that I genuinely want to wear this sweater, like every day, so it wins. 

Will Sungwon please come up to accept your award? 

“Wow, I never thought I’d win Best Sweater. Honestly, I didn’t even know this award would be given out! But um, I guess I’ll thank the ajuma at the clothing shop who told me I looked nice in blue, and I’d like to thank my roommate who told me this sweater went with these pants. And um, yeah! Thanks! This one is for you, God!” -- Sungwon, probably 

My Performance Ranking

Next, I thought I’d list my personal opinion on the song performances, in rough order. Please note, my preferences are based at least partly on the song itself so this isn’t necessarily me saying I hate your favorite singer. I can’t help but prefer “If You” to most of the others because it’s easily my favorite song among the ten. The fact that “Don’t Go” is ranked so high is a testament to the singing that overcomes the song.

I’m also including the number of views on their “full version” youtube recording, out of interest. View counts marked with a star (*) were up for three weeks when I posted this, giving them a bit of a headstart on the others, which were only up for two weeks.  

I think it’s pretty interesting that my top two faves also seem to be the internet’s top two faves!

Top tier:  If You 161k views* Don’t Go 203k views*

Middle tier (in rough order):  Sum/Breath  37k views Decalcomanie 31k views Ditto 75k views  Every Moment of You  66k views*  Tomboy 75k views  Beautiful 47k views 

Low tier:  Something Like That, 35k views  Shall I love you again?, 49k views 

Final Thoughts

Overall, these were 10 great performances, and I'm really enjoying this show. It's like, MNET lite -- much fewer reactions and instant replays, much less crying, much better singing. I wish there'd been a bit more variety in the song choices, but I guess if I were a fan of k-ballads, these songs would have felt quite distinct to me.

I hope that my nit-picking critique doesn't "yuck" anyone's "yum." Vocal quality is so idiosyncratic that it's hard to objectively say that one voice is "better" than another. That's like saying that home-made lasagna is better than Chicken McNuggets. Is it? I mean, it depends on what you like, right?

Also, even though I nitpick the voices, I do think that everyone on this show is here for a reason. This isn’t like Produce48 where a decent percentage of the girls literally could not sing. At all. Even a little. Couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. No, these guys can all sing and they all have something to recommend them, so if your favorite is my least favorite, I salute your good taste because I probably also like your favorite. I like all these guys. 

So, I'm going to keep going with these recaps. I might be a bit behind throughout because work is picking up, and my health isn't great, so please be understanding of any typos or little mistakes you might see. I just may not have time to proof-read these as well as I'd like to.

Thanks for your patience, thanks for reading, thanks for being a weirdo with me. Let's walk down that flower road to the end of the show! Kkeutkkaji!

See you in the next one!

[lurkingteapot]

Step by Step ค่อย ๆ รัก Ep 4

we know the drill …

- team building activities? say it ain't so

- RICH PEOPLE I swear to dogs

- OH this is how I know Ying's actress, she's Annie's mother in Mama Gogo!! the sporty outfit did it

- OH and is this Bruce??? Aoey from Lovely Writer??

- man, the gossip in this office. maybe I'm too neurodivergently inattentive to social stuff to get pulled into that sort of stuff normally but like. the most we got at the office was like "I hear the new transfer yells at clients" or "coworker X is getting married, please sign this card and if you like, we're collecting money for a gift." how do these people get ANY work done.

- oh this is NOT going well, yike

- NAN'S FACE JUST NOW she know's what's up (or suspects)

- oh wow Jeng's stare just now, I would've WITHERED if I were that kid

- okay, so he DOES have a condo as well as the house, okay. confusion from last ep somewhat lifted. rich people.

- Pat, when he said "make yourself at home" I'm pretty sure he meant "don't worry about using too much hot water," NOT "snoop around all the cabinets when you're meant to be getting cleaned up so you can go to your work thing"

- OH WOW wow he's cleaned up nicely. and WHAT A GROOM SEEING THE GROOM SHOT THAT JUST WAS, complete with the stairs, I am LOSING it.

- AND THEY MATCH oh my god I'm grinning so wide, incredible. I was not expecting this show to be cute? but it is SO CUTE.

- IT IS BRUCE I love him. Please let his character in this be well-rounded.

- uuurgh executive meddling, HATE IT. and also all of this is so tense. I'm on leave, I shouldn't be getting stressed about OTHER PEOPLE'S FICTIONAL WORK ISSUES

- first oishi and now tao kae noi, I'm getting homesick for BBS here

- how brainwashed by capitalism have I been to be like "9 to 5 doesn't seem that bad" -- WHAT THE FUCK, JENG.

- oh, okay, that's how he meant it. yeah, Pat needs to learn to stand up to P'Ying and P'Prem, but … ????

- unfortunately that's not what Pat heard, huh

- WHY ARE YOU INKING WITH A BRUSH, and one that thick at that??? I mean not to judge but-- okay no, I'm judging

- uh-oh

- Bad Buddy conditioned me to expect a Nivea Micellar Acne Free Cleanser ad here, gj on defying expectations, show

- so Put IS the ex. ok ok ok.

- oh wow oh wow oh yikes

- youtube subtitles created using mtl? urgh. mtl that was not sufficiently cleaned up?? BURN IT.

- URGH why is Ying there

- oh NO another misunderstanding (and WHY did he right to suspecting this was Pat tho)

- once again everything would be so much easier if these folks just talked to one another, but I guess the power dynamics at play here do give a real reason NOT to be frank, huh

- A CHILD. Of course it's a child.

- subtitle game deteriorating steadily, that was "DO call him 'brother' (as opposed to 'uncle')"

- oh no, poor Pat, being subjected to a double set of puppy dog eyes

- appreciation board! translation notes for stuff not in the subs over here

- YES Chot has a bf and they're cute together, THANK.

- I'm DYING oh fuck this is why personal and work phones need to separate devices

- Jeng is WAY more patient with Pat than I would've been with ANYONE in this situation. Man's got it bad.

- THAT BGM WAS IN BBS AS WELL

- oh, Ms Nadia is intrigued

- the enemy really IS seniority, yikes

- he's bad at karaoke and picks old-fashioned songs!!! I love that

- because he's WHIPPED is why (okay and also he thinks Pat genuinely has potential)

- oh RIGHT we still have the potential pregnancy plot here. right.

- oh my GOD we're talking about this now???????

- Pat, you say these things and don't think about what they sound about at all, huh

- all ominous but I bet it's just, like … Put

- annnnnnd here we are. Godddd Up looks so !!!!!!!! here

---

Okay but I feel ROBBED that we didn't get to see more of Pat and Jeng at the auction. Those suits!

[dylanlila]

OOOOOOOOOH ok ok ok:

Panic! at the Disco

boygenius

Song: this movement of dvorak’s symphony no. 9

& Dance Fever

HEY LIZ!!!!!!!🧡 thanks for stopping by MWAH

*I am not doing the rating thing because it feels wrong to me for some reason and this is my blog -> I shall do what I please

p!atd:

Do I know them already?: yes | no 

Favourite Song: she had the world (alternate version), i have friends in holy spaces/northern downpour (they must be listed as a couple) + MUST mention crazy=genius if solely for the I'M A FUCKING ARSONIST! I'M A ROCKET SCIENTIST! it gives me too much serotonin for me to avoid it

Least Favourite Song: I am horrible at this game already, but I can't say I dislike any of the songs (that I've heard, because I still haven't gotten around to exploring the last two albums) enough to mention it in this context

Favourite Album: LIVE IN CHICAGO (a fever you can't sweat out ✅ pretty. odd ✅ alternate versions ✅ live album ✅ is this cheating?)

Song That Got Me Into Them: it was Ivy (@god-nonsensical) and YOU LIZ!!!! but you guys are songs, so this isn't cheating xoxo (I am sword-fighting the rules of this ask game and I am WINNING WOOOOO)

Seen Live: In my dreams? Sure.

boygenius:

do i know them already: yes | no (I GUESS THIS IS HOW I FINALLY START LISTENING TO PHOEBE BRIDGERS)

First Song YouTube Took Me To:

THEIR TINY DESK CONCERT AND BOY AM I GLADDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!! (omg smilesss in the thumbnail 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡)

First Impression: ME AND MY DOG???? (kissing this song but shhhhhh I wish I was on a spaceship!!!!!)

Do I like It?: lame question, next!

Would I Listen To More From Them?: listening to the ep as we blog

Song: couldn’t finish it | not my thing | it’s fine | I could get into this | ooo I like | oh hell yeah | fuck this is some good shit | there aren’t even words, this transcends words  (jo march coded!!!!!!)

I am soooooo close to crying, is all I'm saying... (THIS ASK IS AN ADVENTURE *melts* ly liz)

also:

it is now hanging out with the girls 😎

dance fever:

Opinion On Cover Design:

INCREDIBLE!!!!!! Well. This is Autumn de Wilde, of course it is. ALTHOUGH! Even though I think this is the perfect cover and I wouldn't change it, I must list this as my favourite picture from the photoshoot:

IT'S JUST SO!!!!!!!! (used to be my lockscreen for a while!)

Favourite Song: THE BOMB! Closely followed by Cassandra <3

Least Favourite Song: don't have one...

Underrated Track: THE BOMB

Overrated Track: there isn't one (I wouldn't be able to answer this either way, I'm simply TERRIBLE at keeping up with events and fandoms and reviews and etc etc etc grandpa girl thingzzzzz)

ask game

[xcziel]

tagged by @alxina - thank you for the tag!

(i am in a very wordy phase so feel free to skip, people who are only here for gifset reblogs)

Three Ships: ummm, god there's too many. right now vegaspete (and really all the kp ships), heihua, and gahan are the top pairings? i seem to be addicted to almost every ship in the dmbj fandom because the writers are so good - and i'm so often a multishipper for any ship involving my favorite poor little meow meows. but. occasionally i hit a ship where my heart just doesn't really admit any other options and these are three of those (although *adding on* to those ships, well ... see the following answer)

First Ever Ship: i don't think i ever consciously "shipped" something before fandom - i still don't ship while actively consuming media, only when i'm looking at it from the outside (tumblr gifsets count!), so i was always just about canon ships. i'd say though that The Secret Garden was my first confusing ship conflict? mary/colin seemed destined but then mary/dickon was also so right? and thus i very early on hit on my preferred solution to such conflicts even if i didn't quantify it that way at the time - why choose? they each have two hands! ot3s all the way

Last Song: Bringin' On the Heartbreak - Def Leppard (mv version 1 and mv version 2 - y'know i've realized a LOT about what i like in media can probably be traced to early def leppard, joe elliot's thing for chains and arthurian-type mythos included. also long hair and tight pants lol)

Last Movie: was wanting watch Lighting Up the Stars but it's evidently only for rental? and since i'm so scattershot about watching things, i'm gonna have to plan a time when i will for sure sit down and finish it

Currently Reading: Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell - just started it, seeing what i think

Currently Watching: still going back to the middle of Love Between Fairy and Devil because i keep putting on eps and zoning out doing something else (sewing buttons, taking down christmas tree) and looking up realizing i've missed bits, even though i've seen the end already. but also keeping up with kinnporsche cast shenanigans on youtube

AND now i just started Blood of Youth bc tumblr has done it *again* - my viki pass is turning out to be my most useful subscription ever (i think there's a link to the novel it's based off of circulating on tumblr - i need to find again)

Currently Consuming: yuletide fics! kinda want to do a post on the ones i really enjoyed so far ...

also book rec lists of diverse literary romances (NOT romance genre romances, that would be too easy) for work because i personally do not usually care for either straight up romances (meaning i like sff mostly and if there's romance in that's fine and lovely) OR literary fiction, but it's getting to be that time of year (valentine's day approaching)

and: i made cupcakes! for me to consume! (and to test the process)

Currently Craving: the ability to better thermoregulate because it keeps being too cold at night to go without the heater but too warm during the day, so i'm always either chilly or slightly sweaty. i miss only ever being too warm :(

tagging: anybody who wants to share! i feel like i'm imposing too many @s on people lately but i am interested in what people are up to!

[jimalim]

Hello I would like the 5 course meal of songs 4, 8, 9, 19, and 23 🍽️✨

AHHH thank you so much for sending this!!!!

4. A song that hypes you the fuck up -Do You Remember by St. Lucia The power chords in the beginning always make me full body clench in that way you do win you make a clutch save or something lol it's so good!

8. A song that you liked when you where 10 that still slaps -Leave Get Out by JoJo All of her stuff still slaps cause she was singing bops at such a young age, she probably had no business doing so lololol

9. A song that makes you want to go on an adventure -Stay by Emarosa I think the spoken word portion at the top says it best, it's a great cruisin song for when you're driving. Perfect for singing along and pretending you're in the music video!

19. A song that you can imagine listening to in an abandoned church ( if it isn’t hozier im judging you, but whatever ) -Pop Messiah by Simon Curtis So a couple caveats for this one, this is an unreleased demo that never got a proper studio recording so it's a little rough. (it is on youtube!) Also, when this EP (Alter Boy) was leaked I was reading The Da Vinci Code while listening to this on repeat cause the spooky religious vibes were so related lolol so I always associate the songs from this EP with church.

23. A song that when you listen to it you’re transported to a liminal space, time is pointless and you must sit and wallow in the void that remains -Deathbed by Relient K It is an epic 11 minute song that has so many ebbs and flows musically, and it doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing. I have to listen to all 11 mins! It's also a tragic narrative about a guy on his deathbed so it can be bleak but ends with so much hope that even an atheist like myself like gets emotional about the god reference at the end

Song Asks

[sleepanonymous]

i just found the archive (thank you!) and had a thought........Is it really you? has that same old 2010s vessel quality. the backing vocals, the piano, the silence. he even sounds a little younger. idk if that makes sense but its kind of neat!

Hello Anon and welcome! 🖤 I'm so glad you're here.

You're so right about Is It Really You? having a baby Ves quality to it. It's not the only song I've noticed it in though! It's there for all covers Sleep Token have done, as well as any of his solo songs, like Missing Limbs, the Room Below version of Blood Sport, etc. Even the entirety of the One EP is super YouTube-coded to me too(which makes sense because he was already trying to make heavier music, and then got his hands on a god-tier producer and one of the best drummers from England in the past decade).

[dual-desires]

Get to know me - tag game

Thanks for tagging me, @therealblessedaffliction!

Three Ships: VegasPete swooped in and snatched the top spot, but HsinxBoyd and DamenxLaurent share the second place.

First Ever Ship: God this is difficult to remember... NaruSasu maybe?

Last Song: What They Call Us - Fever Ray

Last Movie: Started watching Jane Eyre but somehow ended up rewatching kinnporsche ep 7 instead (as you do).

Currently Reading: Save the cat writes a novel by Jessica Brody, in the hopes I'll learn some pointers on how to draft my longfic idea, lol.

Currently Watching: Kp ep 11... For the first time watching on IQIYI on a big screen. It was fun seeing Pete's tattoo in high res.

Currently Consuming: VegasPete fics, VegasPete fics, VegasPete fics... And all of my youtube procrastination shenanigans.

Currently Craving: Would love some veggie sushi.

—

If anyone reading wants to do this, consider yourself tagged! <3

[coghive]

Songstress Lucinda Moore Soars to #1 on Bds Gospel Indicator Radio Chart With Single “Lord, I Hear You”

Bridgeport, CT — Songstress Lucinda Moore is a Stellar Award-winning artist who has established herself as one of the most consistent singers who delivers power in her praise. Her voice has been featured with the Gospel Music Workshop of America Women of Worship (“Surrender My All”), Hezekiah Walker (“When We Get Over There”), and Joe Pace and Colorado Mass Choir (“God Can Do Anything”). As one of the leading ladies in Gospel music, Lucinda’s vocal prowess is undeniable, and the career she has developed over the years is respected worldwide. Her newest single, “Lord, I Hear You,” debuted in the Top 30 on iTunes Top 200 Christian/Gospel Digital Songs chart. Her soulful single has climbed to the #1 spot on the BDS Gospel Indicator Radio Chart this week. “Lord, I Hear You” is written by Moore and released on her independent label Nalah Music Group with distribution by New Day Christian Distribution and Sony Orchard. The single is produced and co-written by Grammy®-nominated musician Cedric Thompson (Marvin Sapp, Heather Headley, Donald Lawrence, Karen Clark Sheard, John P. Kee). “I am blown away. God always keeps his promises,” says Lucinda Moore. “I am excited about reaching #1 on the Billboard chart. Thank you to God, all the radio program directors, my radio promoter Damon Stewart and my entire team for making this happen for me!”Moore has also released the official music video for “Lord, I Hear You”. Video director Brandin Jay and videographer J. Crump creatively guide viewers through critical life scenarios as Moore passionately praises each situation into God’s victory. Watch the “Lord, I Hear You” official music video on Lucinda Moore’s YouTube channel. With her catalog of works that includes her debut album UNLIMITED PRAISE (2004), LUCINDA MOORE (2006), and her award-winning album BLESSED, BROKEN & GIVEN (2010), Moore is prepping for a long-awaited 2023 EP release. “Lord, I Hear You” is the first glimpse of her new body of work that will be produced by Thompson, Moore, Trey Moore (Lucinda’s son), and Grammy®, Dove and Stellar Award-winning hit-maker Kevin Bond (Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Yolanda Adams, Daryl Coley, Kurt Carr). “Lord, I Hear You” is available now on all digital music outlets. “Lord, I Hear You” | Lucinda Moore | Official Music Video https://youtu.be/5GWrkiGYrWY You can follow and connect with Lucinda at LucindaMoore.com. Read the full article

[straykidsupdate]

IN生 MASTERLIST

Unveil track: ANY: YOUTUBE

Unveil track: units: YOUTUBE

Unveil track: Ex: YOUTUBE

Unveil track: B Me: YOUTUBE 

Back Door opening video: YOUTUBE

IN生 Mashup video: YOUTUBE

IN生 Intro video part 1: YOUTUBE

IN生 Intro video part 2: YOUTUBE

SKZ’s room limited vers: YOUTUBE

Back Door MV Teaser: YOUTUBE

Back Door MV: YOUTUBE

Back Door Making Film: YOUTUBE

Back Door MV Reaction: YOUTUBE

Back door Dance Practice: YOUTUBE

Dance Practice (Love Stay Vers): YOUTUBE

Dance Practice (Uniform Vers): YOUTUBE

Back door (Feat. STAY) Guide: YOUTUBE

EX (Feat. STAY) Guide: YOUTUBE

EX MV: YOUTUBE

EX Making film: YOUTUBE

ANY MV: YOUTUBE

ANY Making film: YOUTUBE

B Me Making film: YOUTUBE

Back Door opening video Making film: YOUTUBE 

TA Dance Practice: YOUTUBE 

My House (2PM) Dance Practice: YOUTUBE

All in (kr vers) Dance Practice: YOUTUBE

God’s Menu Dance Practice THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS vers: YOUTUBE

♥ Kids Room: Teaser: YOUTUBE Ep 1: YOUTUBE Ep 2: YOUTUBE Ep 3: YOUTUBE Ep 4: YOUTUBE Ep 5: YOUTUBE Ep 6: YOUTUBE Ep 7: YOUTUBE Ep 8: YOUTUBE

SKZ-TALKER: Ep 29: YOUTUBE Ep 30: YOUTUBE

Ep 31: YOUTUBE Ep 32: YOUTUBE Ep 33: YOUTUBE Ep 34: YOUTUBE Ep 35: YOUTUBE Ep 36: YOUTUBE Ep 37: YOUTUBE

SKZ-TALKER GO:  S2 Ep 3: YOUTUBE S2 Ep 4: YOUTUBE

Happy Chuseok!: YOUTUBE

Changbin “Cypher”: YOUTUBE

Seungmin “그렇게 있어 줘”: YOUTUBE

Han “I GOT I”: YOUTUBE

I.N “너였다면”: YOUTUBE

Seungmin “Love again”: YOUTUBE

Han “Alien”: YOUTUBE

Hyunjin “꼬마별”: YOUTUBE

I.N “Maknae on top”: YOUTUBE

Hyunjin “Criminal”: YOUTUBE

Felix: Sunshine Vlog 2: YOUTUBE

I.N: I.N 의 퐁당로그 2: YOUTUBE

Hyunjin: Hyun.e’s holiday with kkami 2: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Invitation video [KR]: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Invitation video [ENG]: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Invitation video [JPN]: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Moving poster: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Bang Chan Moving poster: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Lee Know Moving poster: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Changbin Moving poster: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Hyunjin Moving poster: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Han Moving poster: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Felix Moving poster: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Seungmin Moving poster: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE I.N  Moving poster: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Relay Quiz #1: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Relay Quiz #2: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Poster Making film #1: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Poster Making film #2: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Poster Making film #3: YOUTUBE

Unlock: GO LIVE IN LIFE Side effects perf: YOUTUBE

SKZOO Teaser video: YOUTUBE

SKZ CODE Teaser video: YOUTUBE

Merry Christmas with SKZ: YOUTUBE

New Year’s Greetings from SKZ: YOUTUBE

ASMR: 8.01 STAY [FM] Ep 1: G’day mate: YOUTUBE Ep 2: Chrissy: YOUTUBE Ep 3: Bickie + choccy: YOUTUBE Ep 4: good on ya!: YOUTUBE

Song Association PT2: YOUTUBE

Superlatives: YOUTUBE

Tik Tok Dance Challenge: YOUTUBE

Fandom Tour: YOUTUBE Ep 2: YOUTUBE Ep 3: YOUTUBE Ep 4: YOUTUBE

After ZZZ (Bang chan, Lee Know, Hyunjin, Han, Felix): YOUTUBE

SUPER ON:TACT message: YOUTUBE

 정오의 희망곡 김신영입니다 (Hyunjin, Felix, Seungmin, I.N): YOUTUBE

Back Door Muply teaser: YOUTUBE

Back door Muply special: YOUTUBE

Back Door Muply Making video: YOUTUBE

Back Door Relay dance: YOUTUBE

SBS radio: YOUTUBE

All the k-pop ending fairy clip Bang Chan: YOUTUBE Lee Know: YOUTUBE Changbin: YOUTUBE Hyunjin: YOUTUBE Han: YOUTUBE Felix: YOUTUBE Seungmin: YOUTUBE I.N: YOUTUBE

Back Door first win (credit to stray k subs): YOUTUBE

Back door first win vers: YOUTUBE

Back Door second win + encore: YOUTUBE

Show Champion clip: YOUTUBE

Show Champion MC special (Lee Know, Hyunjin, Felix, Seungmin): YOUTUBE

Back Door thumbnail battle: YOUTUBE

KBS kiss the radio (Lee Know, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, I.N): YOUTUBE

Global Vote winner thank you: YOUTUBE

SBS Music show behind: YOUTUBE

Tingle interview ASMR (Lee Know + Felix): YOUTUBE

ALL THE K-POP ep 181 part 1 YOUTUBE part 2 YOUTUBE

After ZZZ Q&A: YOUTUBE

Mnet cover dance (Growl): YOUTUBE

Mnet cover dance (Candy): YOUTUBE

SMTM9 Changbin preliminary: YOUTUBE

Back Door stage mix: YOUTUBE

MWAVE meet&greet: YOUTUBE

MWAVE meet&greet Behind: YOUTUBE

Beach Again special stage (Hyunjin): YOUTUBE

AAA2020 Greetings video: YOUTUBE

ALL THE K-POP Back door behind: YOUTUBE

Dazed Korea (Hyunjin + Felix): YOUTUBE

Day6 Kiss the radio 201124 (Lee Know + Seungmin): YOUTUBE

AREAHOMME+ Lee Know and Hyunjin Interview: YOUTUBE

Modelpress: YOUTUBE 

IVYclub_20S: YOUTUBE 

IVYclub XO: YOUTUBE

BANG YE DAM of TREASURE SPOILER INTERVIEW (I.N appearance:) YOUTUBE 

Modelpress vlog: YOUTUBE 

Singles Interview #1: YOUTUBE

Singles Interview #2: YOUTUBE

Music Bank interview 200918(Bang Chan, Lee Know, Hyunjin, Felix, I.N): YOUTUBE

Music Bank interview 200925(Lee Know, Hyunjin, Ham, Felix, Seungmin): YOUTUBE

Song Association part 2: YOUTUBE

Vogue Friendship test: YOUTUBE

SKZ CODE: Ep. 1: YOUTUBE

Arena Homme+ Korean Interview: YOUTUBE

Last Updated: 2021/02/04

[svvitchfoot]

I haven’t actually emotionally processed uh, any of what happened yesterday, so this is part emotionally processing and part explaining a LOT of context because this isn’t just something Grace Baldridge thought of doing this past week.

I think the easiest thing to start with is by explaining who Grace Baldridge is, and why the topic of affirmation in the Christian music industry even needs to be discussed.

In spring/summer 2020, Baldridge, in conjunction with Refinery29, released a series of YouTube videos, mostly looking at the intersection of Christianity with various topics, focusing on queer issues because, well, Baldridge is gay. I’m pretty sure they were recorded in late 2019-early 2020 because there weren’t any pandemic precautions. One of these videos (linked here) is about the Christian music industry. Short version, the industry isn’t affirming, because mainstream Christianity isn’t affirming. Towards the end of the video, Baldridge talks to Dan Haseltine, the lead singer of Jars Of Clay (will admit, haven’t listened to them), who received a whole bunch of backlash for asking why people were so opposed to gay marriage on Twitter in 2014. I will note that Haseltine mentions that there are other Christian bands/artists who would be openly affirming, but can’t because of label/distribution consequences. Baldridge talks about wanting to see an openly queer Christian artist, and questioning whether the bands, like Switchfoot, that she listened to growing up and related to as a closeted queer kid actually would be supportive of her, and queer people in general.

Now, Baldridge is a musician, releasing an album under the artist name Semler in 2018 called Six Feet Under All The Same. Semler/Baldridge calls it “creepy folk music”. Almost exactly a year ago on TikTok, Baldridge floated the idea of a “queer Christian cover band”, basically taking the songs that pretty much every early-2000s youth group played and reclaiming them for the queer people who were pushed out of the church when they came out. Dare You To Move was one of the songs, Baldridge has been pretty open about her love for Switchfoot and Dare is a very common one among Christian youth groups. Hell, I heard Dare at Christian youth events, and I was involved in that kind of stuff about 10 years later. This is when I started following her, my partner knows I’m a huge fan of Switchfoot and sent me the TikTok of Baldridge’s cover.

In February of 2021, Semler released an EP called Preacher’s Kid, written about her experiences growing up as a queer PK, and all of the religious doubts, questions, and struggles that came with it. I’m not joking when I say that EP exploded, it charted on the Christian charts on Apple Music, Spotify, and iTunes, even reaching number 1 on iTunes. Semler released a single in April with, well, two songs and a prayer. The prayer is done by Kevin Garcia, a queer Christian, kind of minister, and author of Bad Theology Kills. The first song, Thank God For That, is a queer worship song with a lot of swearing. The second song is called TobyMac, and Semler writes about the struggle of growing up with Christian music, interpreting the songs through a queer lens, but not knowing whether or not you’d actually be accepted by the people who wrote/sing the songs. Switchfoot/Only Hope get another shout out here.

“And I’m terrified, I’m terrified, they’d hate me if they knew, I’m using worship songs to say I love you”. This, unfortunately, isn’t an uncommon sentiment among the queer Christians and ex-Christians I know or follow. Now, I was raised in the Catholic Church, not Protestantism, but the homophobia, transphobia, and general queerphobia is just as present. I can’t put into words the fear that comes with being raised with this kind of constant rhetoric, and then figuring out you’re the people they’re talking about and saying horrible things about.

To bring this back to the industry, I know Switchfoot doesn’t call themselves a Christian band, and I respect that, because their music isn’t as inherently religious as bands like Jars of Clay or NEEDTOBREATHE, but they are associated with the Christian music industry. They’re held up as the kinds of people Christians should aspire to be (as long as you ignore the songs criticizing the Church on Jon’s solo projects or any of the myriad songs about doubt). That association is enough for people like me and Baldridge to doubt whether Switchfoot, or any band that doesn’t say one way or another but seems cool, is actually affirming of LGBTQ+ folks. I genuinely never thought I would hear one way or another, not because I didn’t think that Switchfoot/Jon would openly be assholes, but because that fear runs so deep. You NEVER know if the person who seems outwardly kind believes that you don’t deserve to have rights, that you don’t deserve to have a place in Christianity.

Due to Preacher’s Kid and the follow-up single, Baldridge has gained a platform on Twitter/TikTok to be a voice for queer Christians. Baldridge used this platform to ask the question: “Is Switchfoot affirming?” Her first TikTok earlier this week was her plan to go to Switchfoot’s show in LA and shout “gay rights” after Dare and see what happens. She was too far back for the band to hear, unfortunately, so nothing really happened, so she posted a follow-up TikTok basically saying that. I think Jon’s video is replying to the first TikTok, there isn’t enough of Grace’s video at the beginning for me to know.

“I support your rights and freedoms” is not a sentence I ever thought I’d hear from Jon Foreman in regards to queer people. I never thought I’d hear that queer people are accepted for who they are at Switchfoot shows. This band and this music has meant so much to me throughout my life, it’s gotten me through some incredibly difficult times, including trying to figure myself out and come out. I resigned myself to the fact that my queerness would always be something that I would hide in certain situations, including Switchfoot shows. To know that Jon accepts people like me for who we are, and thinks that we have value as queer folks and deserve a place in the conversation, it genuinely means the world to me. I was going to wear my trans pride shirt to the show I’m going to in Boston under my interrobang shirt. I think I’m gonna wear it over my interrobang shirt instead.

The other thing that gets me is Jon’s apology. Dan Haseltine does the same thing when him and Baldridge were talking about Baldridge’s experience growing up with this music and doubting whether she’d be accepted by the people behind the music. Jon (and Dan) genuinely means it when he apologizes for the hurt that Baldridge went through because of being queer and Christian. I can’t put into words what it means to hear someone with a huge amount of influence say “I’m sorry for the hurt that the church put you through”.

This truly means everything because it goes against what mainstream Christianity is saying about queer folks. It feels like the collision of two worlds, and instead of being even more hurt or disappointed, I can instead rest easy knowing the band is accepting and affirming of people like me.