#also if anyone DOES have spotify and wants to make this playlist for me (excluding some artists who arent on there like joanna newsom sadly | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

comradekatara · 3 months

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hi!! i'm sorry i don't go on tumblr a lot anymore but i was trying to look up sokka/yue playlists and i found a post of urs that said u might make one/have made one!! i was just wondering if u have it still since i'm not sure when that post was made? thank u so much for ur time!!

i definitely have one...... in my head......... but because spotify hates me, i lost access to my account shortly after i made my (extremely slept-on) katara playlist, so i never got around to making any more character playlists officially. but i can definitely make one for sokka and yue now! in no particular order...

my love, mine all mine – mitski (song, lyrics)*

fast car – tracy chapman (song, lyrics)*

57821 – janelle monáe (song, lyrics)

earth angel – the penguins (song, lyrics)

don't let me sleep – shana cleveland (song, lyrics)

cosmia – joanna newsom (song, lyrics)

watching you without me – kate bush (song, lyrics)

goodbye ghost – la luz (song, lyrics)

they can't take that away from me – ella fitzgerald & louis armstrong (song, lyrics)

happy – mitski (song, lyrics)

kokomo, indiana – japanese breakfast (song, lyrics)

fernando – abba (song, lyrics)*

northern lights – st. vincent (song, lyrics)

day dreaming – aretha franklin (song, lyrics)

don't judge me – janelle monáe (song, lyrics)

i want you – mitski (song, lyrics)*

i'll be seeing you – billie holiday (song, lyrics)

black roses – escondido (song, lyrics)*

starchild – ghost quarter (song, lyrics)*

slow like honey – fiona apple (song, lyrics)

dissolve me – alt-j (song, lyrics)

stars – grace potter & the nocturnals (song, lyrics)

timefighter – lucy dacus (song, lyrics)

tides – the xx (song, lyrics)

moon river – audrey hepburn (song, lyrics)

doused – diiv (song, lyrics)*

isle unto thyself – miracle musical (song, lyrics)

i bet on losing dogs – mitski (song, lyrics)

ready, able – grizzly bear (song, lyrics)*

have to go – esther rada (song)

responsible – sara bareilles (song, lyrics)

picture me better – weyes blood (song, lyrics)

also, some bonus sokka songs, just for fun

the motherlode – the staves (song, lyrics)*

only kid on the block – cherry glazerr (song, lyrics)

hater's anthem – infinity song (song, lyrics)*

my way – frank sinatra (song, lyrics)

heat lightning – mitski (song, lyrics)*

mouth log – sidney gish (song, lyrics)

creep – radiohead (yes) (song, lyrics)

under ice – kate bush (song, lyrics)

funeral – phoebe bridgers (song, lyrics)*

window – fiona apple (song, lyrics)

how could i – thao & the get down stay down (song, lyrics)

blue spotted tail – fleet foxes (song, lyrics)

P.S. asterisks (*) indicate that the link to the song provided is a music video or live performance and not just an official recording

#i couldve made this entire playlist with mitski songs EXCLUSIVELY. know that i bravely refrained #sokka #yue #sokkaxyue #asks #atlamusic #ihauntmyselfdaily #oh. of course someone w this url would ask me this kind of question. of course #why was this soooooo time consuming #(i already had a list written out on my phone. believe or not. but finding all the links was so tedious)#of course it's worth it tho. as a testament to my insanity #also if anyone DOES have spotify and wants to make this playlist for me (excluding some artists who arent on there like joanna newsom sadly #and then link it to me. that would make me very happy. btw <3 #my music taste must seem so sappy assuming this is as a standard sample........ it's noooottttttt #(but also. isn't it a little?)

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merlinbingo · 3 years

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First up, I just want to say wow! Not sure what I was expecting when I started this, but you guys have just been amazing.

Over the course of January, we’ve had 126 sign-ups! Of those, 21 people have already created a whopping 43 fills, and one of you has even got a bingo!

All fills created in January (GMT) have been reblogged, and all badges earned in January have been sent out. If you think we’ve missed you, please reach out!

We’ve got a lot of fills to round up, so they’re all hidden below the cut and sorted by ship and then by rating.

Take a look, take heed of the tags/warnings/ratings (including those where the creator has decided to use the 'Not rated' and 'Choose not to use archive warnings' options - these works could contain anything at all, so please practice self-care when deciding whether or not to click on that link!) and make sure you leave these wonderful creators some love!

Gen/No ship

In a Year, in a Season, in a Moment. by BardsBeBardin924 Rating: General audiences Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: A short series of short poems. Four characters, four seasons. Explorations of love and pain. Just the human things.

The Danger Of Frog Catching by Simoneleona & blueclaw7 Rating: General audiences Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: When Elyan heard of the frog catching adventures of his friend, he immediately wanted to do so himself. It is nothing new that Gwen is busy when Elyan wants to do something.

cat!Merlin by unmarkedinlife Rating: General audiences Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Court Sorcerer Merlin is still cute transformed into a cat.

No Sword in Our Lake by BardsBeBardin924 Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary: A fragmented Camelot reels in the immediate aftermath of the battle at Camlann. Queens, Knights, and Sorcerers come together to fight through their grief to do the one thing they know: live, and live, and live some more, for those who are no longer able.

Running by donttouchtheneednoggle Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary:

Burning by donttouchtheneednoggle Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary:

Immortal by donttouchtheneednoggle Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary:

Merlin/Freya

Freylin Avalon AU by camelotsheart Rating: General audiences Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Freya and Arthur have a conversation about Merlin in Avalon.

Merlin/Gwaine

Drowning by donttouchtheneednoggle Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary:

Arthur/Gwaine

Jealousy, Turning Saints Into The Sea by fxndom-hoe Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Gwaine is flirtatious by nature. Arthur gets jealous easily. What a fun mix.

Arthur/Lancelot

Servant by donttouchtheneednoggle Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary:

Arthur/Mithian

Brief Encounters by Fluffypotatey Rating: General audiences Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Two different times, Mithian can remember meeting Arthur. Now she is to marry him. She wonders if he even remembers her.

Merlin/Arthur

Take my hand, wreck my plans by heartsocold Rating: General audiences Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Arthur doesn't know how to be affectionate but for Merlin he'll try.

But first, skin care. by heartsocold Rating: General audiences Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Merlin and Arthur are bloggers who are introduced to the world of skin care.

Hopelessly devoted (to you) by Stardustwrites17 Rating: General audiences Ao3 warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings Summary: When Arthur and Merlin visit Queen Elena's castle, their stay gets prolonged by un unexpected storm.

when the truth comes out by heartsocold Rating: General audiences Ao3 warnings: Graphic depictions of violence Summary: When a vengeful sorcerer kidnaps Arthur, Merlin will do anything to keep him safe. Even if that means revealing his magic.

I Miss Your Smile by QueenoftheBritons Rating: General audiences Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Once magic is made legal and Merlin is appointed Court Sorcerer, he thinks things should change rather quickly. Unfortunately, even now people will fool and take advantage.

Humans Are Annoying, Their Mating Practices Even More So by tehfanglyfish Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: After waiting for Merlin and Arthur to confess their obvious love for one another, Kilgharrah gets annoyed and takes matters into his own hands. Or rather paws. Or feet. Or whatever.

Secrets of a Lifetime by huniths-muse Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Arthur notices that his son has a very distinctive birthmark. Turns out, Merlin has one too.

standing in a timeless dream by Emma, or ItsAWonderfulLife on ao3 Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: For the “space” prompt - Merthur domesticity sharing the same living space and getting ready for bed.

standing in a timeless time by Emma, or ItsAWonderfulLife on ao3 Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Domesticity and occupying each other's space getting ready for bed.

he'll know me crazy, soothe me daily, better yet, he wouldn't care by Emma, or ItsAWonderfulLife Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Arthur and Merlin have kids and they're single parents and barely functioning humans.

Battered and Wrecked, I Come to You First by queerofthedagger Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Life has a habit of throwing challenges at anyone. Some are almost mundane, like surviving finals or breaking your wrist in a bike crash. Others are much harder, like standing up to your father and making your own path. All of them, though, are easier to bear if you have someone who sticks with you through hell or highwater.

I'd give you all the years of my life by Emma, or ItsAWonderfulLife on AO3 Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Hanahaki prompt - Merthur journey to find some magical people who may be able to cure Arthur's 'condition'. They're idiots as usual.

The Issue of Knighthood by evaelisaa Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings Summary: Arthur offers Merlin knighthood (he has his reasons), but Merlin declines (he also has his reasons).

I'm already gone (chapter title is 'wish we had more time') by Emma, or ItsAWonderfulLife on AO3 Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary: Chapter summary: Merlin reminisces, and makes a wish. Story summary: I watched Wonder Woman 1984 and decided to make it Merthur so y'all can suffer with me.

Chapter title: 'anything you want' by Emma, or ItsAWonderfulLife on AO3 Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary: Chapter 2 of fic 'I'm already gone' - Merlin makes tea and toast and is just grumpy on main with his cat mug, Ralph. Someone might be coming back at the end of this chapter. Merlin Bingo Square #C5 - Slice of Life.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown by emma.freeman313 Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Ostracise: to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges, etc.

Heavy is the heart that loves the crown by emma.freeman313 Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Duty of care: a moral or legal obligation to ensure the safety or well-being of others. Servitude: the state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful. Devotion: love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person or activity. Love: indefinable.

to ash and dust by TheDragon Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: They used to be different, the dreams; they've changed over the years. The person condemning him to death used to be nothing more than an expressionless, vacant face attached to a man's body; yet when he moved to Camelot it became Uther: his face red with rage and veins throbbing at his temple and the side of his neck.

fireworks by Emma, ItsAWonderfulLife Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary: Arthur gets acquainted with the new world. Something continues to be wrong with Merlin's magic. The plague spreads to other continents. Basically just Arthur being a space nerd.

the beauty in what is by ItsAWonderfulLife (Emma) Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary: Arthur's POV for this one folks. The Winter Solstice comes to Avalon, and to Glastonbury. Merlin thinks he's good at keeping secrets but Arthur has another informant.

truth by ItsAWonderfulLife (Emma) Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: Major character death Summary: The big sad chapter. Arthur has to go back, because they have to save the world. The death is very much temporary though I promise I require happy endings always.

in the winter night sky, ships are sailing by ItsAWonderfulLife Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Merlin and Arthur are happy with their relationship. They're madly in love, and have no need for sex. The rest of the world doesn't really seem to understand, but that's okay.

don't tell me what to do by ItsAWonderfulLife Rating: Teen Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Arthur's last name is PenDRAGON.

Kisses and Kingdoms - Royal Merlin by Emma, emma.freeman313 on Spotify Rating: Mature Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: The playlist tells the tale of Merlin being born as a druid prince and his parents celebrating (Daughter), for he symbolises a new hope for magic users everywhere. He spends his youth carefree and wild in the druidic realm and amongst nature (Pierre), but eventually leaves for Camelot (From Eden) to negotiate peace treaties with the new king once Uther passes, where he meets King Arthur and is instantly enamoured (ocean eyes). He is delighted to discover Arthur is lovely and wants peace as much as he does, and they work together, but he falls in love with him, and, believing Arthur to be in love with Gwen, grows extremely sad (I couldn't be more in love) and flees to the woods. Arthur rides after him, catching up to him to inform him he's an idiot, Gwen's married to Morgana, and that he's hopelessly in love with Merlin (Can't help falling in love). Merlin is overwhelmed with emotion and proposes to Arthur (Marry Me), binding them with druidic love runes for marriage. They rule over a prosperous and thriving combined Camelot/foresty kingdom of love and acceptance at such a young age, still intimidated by the responsibilities they face and still dealing with some TraumaTM on Arthur's part but grateful to have each other (Young God).

Falsely Accused by johnlock-and-merthur-4ever Rating: Mature Ao3 warnings: Graphic depictions of violence Summary: Arthur is out on a hunt when Aredian arrives. Aredian accuses Merlin of being a sorcerer and things go downhill. (Or uphill depending on who you are)

some of us love you Achilles, it's not much but there's proof by ItsAWonderfulLife Rating: Mature Ao3 warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings Summary: Merlin Bingo #G5 'Illnesses' - After a fight with Merlin, Arthur flees to the only place in the city he can breathe. Morgana helps him talk about his feelings. MASSIVE TW FOR MENTION OF SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION. Nobody dies. Happy ending. Sad fic.

Go for It (Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt) by nuttersinc / Leandra (ao3) Rating: Explicit Ao3 warnings: Underage Summary: Merlin is definitely not in love with his soon-to-be stepbrother Arthur. In fact, they have trouble being civil to each other. Their animosity doesn’t keep Merlin from misappropriating Arthur’s shirt for a guilt-tripped wank though.

Reflecting Ecstasy by MerthurAllure Rating: Explicit Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Arthur fingers Merlin in front of a mirror so he can watch

You Give Me Fever by slantedknitting Rating: Explicit Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: Arthur is a history teacher who just wants to live his life in peace. Morgana is the frontwoman of a successful band, and she bursts back into Arthur’s life after a two-year estrangement. As Arthur wades cautiously back into his sister’s life, he meets the band’s new drummer, Merlin. Merlin is charming and clever and, per Morgana’s decree, off limits to Arthur. Now Arthur has to decide if he wants to appease his sister or go after what (who) he really wants.

protective merlin by bananichu Rating: Not rated Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: its a drawing

the violet sheds (Ch. 2) by unmarkedinlife Rating: Not rated Ao3 warnings: No archive warnings apply Summary: After Arthur discovers Agravaine's treachery, he follows Merlin and Gwaine to Chemary. The revelations that follow will change everything.

#merlin bingo #round up #january #hooo boy #so many glorious works for you to check out here #your work not here? ask yourself 'did i fill out the submission form?'

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acatimpersonatingahuman · 4 years

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On K-Pop

I have wanted to make this post for a quite a while now, and after watching D’Angelo Wallace’s newest video, I finally had the nerve and energy to sit down and write it.

Before starting: I really encourage you to watch the video. It touches on K-Pop stans, a topic that I will not necessarily discuss in-depth, and is furthermore more the view of an outsider than mine is (although D’Angelo Wallace has in a past video said that he listens to K-Pop from time to time).

I should start on how I personally came in contact with K-Pop. My best friend (@strebelychocolate) started to listen to K-Pop (or, I’m pretty sure, mainly BTS) in the spring of 2018. After some time of not paying too much attention to her interest (I myself thought I wasn’t all that interested, I was also listening to a lot of Panic! at the Disco and Fall Out Boy at the time), she asked me if I was at least willing to watch one video. She’s my best friend, so I trusted her judgement. I can’t remember which video she showed me, but I was intrigued - not to the point where I wanted to know everything about them, or even their names, but I was fascinated by the choreographies. I was also mildly in love with V’s deep voice. After thinking about it, the video I watched might’ve been DNA, but I’m still not sure. Over the summer, I listened to a few of their songs, mainly focussing on whether or not I liked how the song sounded, not bothering to look up any translations for the most part. Since I mainly listen to music on Spotify, I also didn’t have subtitles, so I basically listened to...something. Might be the reason why I like War of Hormone so much (I know of its problems now, but I still like it for its sound). I still hadn’t really bothered to learn their names, excluding V, because I was kinda obsessed with him. In autumn, I finally started trying, and apart from mixing up Jimin and Jin a lot (which I can’t quite get behind in retrospect), I mastered it last spring at the latest. I grew more fond of them, but since last year wasn’t really my best year, I started dropping things that I actually enjoyed such as listening to BTS. They made their comeback to my playlists in February of this year I think. Since then, I have also broadened my K-Pop palette, but I still mainly stick to BTS. I have not yet attempted to learn any other names, but I plan on doing so. (I also stopped being overly obsessed with V and am now obsessing over - no one. Or all of them...)

So much for me and my interest/investment in K-Pop.

When I went to university, I met many new people. As one does when one meets new people, we made a lot of small talk. Talking about music, where we came from, what hobbies we had. One girl’s response to her favourite musician stuck with me, although we didn’t end up becoming friends. We were walking home, she lived a few houses down from the one my apartment was in, and we came to talk about music. I hadn’t listened to K-Pop in about 2 months, so I was mainly talking about Panic! and My Chemical Romance, another friend was talking about her interest in musicians such as Linkin Park. And then we turned to her, and she said: “Don’t think me silly, and don’t hate me, and don’t laugh, but my favourite band is BTS.” And I think my heart broke a bit in that moment. We had been nothing but nice to her, yet she still feared our judgement based on her musical preference. How fucked up is that? I vowed in that moment that I would throw fists with anyone making fun of her, or anyone, because of their interest in K-Pop, and BTS specifically. In retrospect a silly reaction, since she was older than me and she seemed to be able to defend herself quite well, but nevertheless, it awoke something in me.

And here we are now. I will still throw fists with anyone making fun of someone because they’re interested in K-Pop. Not because I also listen to K-Pop, because I might stop at some point. But because I don’t understand why you would make fun of someone because of that? Like, if anything, it’s cooler in my eyes to be a fan of K-Pop than one of “normal” English pop. Why? Because you will at least learn certain words of a new language, and that’s fucking amazing! Keep learning, and keep stanning (although there are problematic stans, and they should really take a step back), and keep being awesome!

Also, message to non K-Pop fans - stop hating on K-Pop and K-Pop fans?! Like, I’m sure there is better stuff you can do with your time.

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thejenesaisquoigirl · 4 years

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For your D&D character meme, how 'bout odds for Talise, evens for Tamsyn, and the letter C? :D

Had a feeling this revenge was coming XD *cracks knuckles* Here we go!

1) What would they consider to be their biggest failure?

Talise: Oof. Maybe not being able to save her family, or at least her sister-in-law and nephew. Maybe her (former) deep reliance on alcohol once her memories started coming back. Trauma is a motherfucker

2) What’s the story behind their name?

Tamzen: When it comes to naming characters, I really just start thinking of names that stick out. It started with “Tiernan”–from Pirate Queen–and I must have watched an episode of The Tudors with Tamsin Merchant to remember that name, too. “Tamsin” kept sounding best with the character concept and then the spelling changed to “-zen” as a subtle joke since she’s a monk haha

3) What’s their relationship with their family?

Talise: When she was Hosanna, very close. They all loved learning (though maybe different things), the people in their city, and each other. She was closest to her brother, Yanis, despite their age difference. She felt adrift without a family unit, having a ship and crew helped, and finding Yanis has upset any equilibrium she was finding.

4) What’s one song that describes them or is them?

Tamzen: Not many peeps know this, but she was built to be the personification of the “Morgan: Amor Tristis (or Morgan - Amor Tristis on Spotify)” instrumental from the Ah! My Goddess movie. My all-time favorite instrumental and it suits her story.

5) Who is their best friend?

Talise: Expanding on the Yanis thing, he was her best friend growing up. So the years in which she thought he was dead and that she failed him were rough…but she was working towards a place of resignation…then they found him alive. It’s super weird now because yes, her brother used to be able to embarrass her; but now, it’s the first time she’s ever felt shame. Hosanna, while sharing a small flair for the dramatic, was a very different person than Talise was crafted to be. But in the party, Jax is the closest to a best friend, no contest.

6) Why are they their class?

Tamzen: She ran away from the city after her heartbreak and stumbled across a traveling group of mousefolk. Most of them were monks but since she stayed with the leader and his wife (the only ones with stuff able to house a larger humanoid), they were the ones who taught her as a way to find calm and take back a sense of control.

7) What do they think of their party members?

Talise: She feels distinct lines in the sand. At first, they seemed only about their sleeping habits (there was no other way the rooming arrangements could have shaken out and everyone live). But now, it feels very much like two separate factions working together. Separately: Q- she’s terrified of everything she does being in that book, and she has a hard time wrestling with his innocent naiveté when it reminds her of who she used to be. Briony- Not used to being around women in a strictly friendship sense, but is happy for her presence so Q has someone of a similar maturity. Braxton- He’s rarely there. Jax- They instinctually understand each other. It’s complicated but in a good way. Caspian- Like recognizes like but she feels they have different motivations behind collecting information…and it’s hard for her to move beyond a betrayal of trust.

8) In what ways are they similar to you?

Tamzen: Extremely calm under pressure, thinks she’s never good enough to be significant to anyone enough to not leave her, thoughtful gift-giver, gives herself for others until there’s nothing left, can have an accidentally sharp sense of humor, deep well of feeling and protectiveness for those she considers “hers”

9) In what ways are they different from you?

Talise: Unashamed in the way she moves through the world, unabashedly flirtatious and teasing, confident, how she copes with things (tends to be physical indulgences), seeing trust as black and white, unafraid of confrontation or large birds

10) What do they look for in a romantic partner, if they have a romantic orientation?

Tamzen: Someone who doesn’t see her as second best or not enough. Someone she doesn’t need to take care of but who can take care of her. Tamzen has a competency kink a mile wide; so if they’re even-keeled, stronger, a better fighter, and extremely skilled in what they do…they’re definitely her type. She’s a pretty quiet person, so they need to be comfortable with silence and understand things unsaid as she’s very action-oriented. You can tell a lot about how she feels about someone based on her actions, not her words. They also need to love her son.

11) If they had a patronus or animagus form, what would it be?

Talise: Ooooooooo….idk. Maybe a panther animagus? Something that slinks around with confidence but can be very soft. Patronus would be a cat like Talis or a hippogriff like Fantôme…or a peafowl.

12) What do they smell like?

Tamzen: Orange blossoms and vanilla, with hints of herbs that can be used medicinally (eg: lavender, tea tree, etc)

13) What is their secret skill?

Talise: Sketching/drawing. She’s intensely private about it; but has charcoal, pencils, and a sketchbook in her pack that’s rather like a diary.

14) What is their relationship to spirituality?

Tamzen: Complicated haha. She’s a “tsuki kitsune” and I tweaked that to mean she’s a fox blessed by the goddess of love with the potential of becoming “human.” Her “parents” are the guardians of a special, unknown spot in a forest the goddess has declared sacred; there to take care of the clearing and of any creature blessed by it…and Tamzen was a fox spawned there. Anyways, so even as a fox, she was engrained with this strong belief in the goddess and had an awareness of her presence; but then something devastating happened with the person Tamzen thought she was fated to be with–who had been the cause of her transformation. Ever since, Tamzen has had a tumultuous time with the idea of love…much less having firm faith in her goddess, because she feels betrayed. She’s slowly trying to repair her side of the relationship through making sure her friends find love; but she still thinks she’s been abandoned by someone she had absolute faith in, so she’s weary.

15) If they were to be remembered for something, what would they want to be remembered for?

Talise: NOT like what they were shouting at Hosanna. She’d like to be remembered, in general, rather than lost to lines in a book. She wants people to speak of her and the small amount of goodness she’s put into the world.

16) Why did they become an adventurer?

Tamzen: Happenstance led to her becoming a monk…and she needed additional discipline to try to silence the rage and nastiness brewing inside of her, so she joined the army. The adventuring grew from that.

17) What’s one thing about their backstory that came to you after you already started playing the campaign?

Talise: THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. One notable thing–I hadn’t even thought about her being an alcoholic (sober now) until making her playlist. For some reason, “Chandelier” kept coming up and it had to have been a sign because it’s deepened her in ways I wasn’t expecting. Also her tattoos.

18) Do you have any headcanons for them that haven’t come up in game? Or headcanons for other party members?

Tamzen: Totes! She plays the lute only for Tal or when she needs to really think through something–frequently those moments are one in the same when he’s playing outside. Her internal crisis over always being second best and slowly being resigned to it. Party members: Mama: they sometimes read together (even though Tamzen doesn’t like to read), trade skills (Mama helps her build strength and she helps Mama with flexibility), and that Mama has to spend extra time in front of a mirror before going to a fancy event to take in the fact that this is her life now and she gets to wear these pretty things and be feminine. Kerrick: that he’ll sometime have ink in his hair from running his fingers through it while copying down spells. TBD: thinks it’s hilarious how he still hasn’t had to explain his name and has a running bet with himself over it. Finn: she catches Tal speaking squeakspeak to Finn while playing and Finn just going with it and trying to learn the game through context instead.

19) Any ships with your character? If a PC or NPC, what interaction launched it?

Talise: YOU DID THIS ON PURPOSE, SHIPPY MCSHIPPERSON xD. She’s the first character in a LONG time I legit ship with another PC. Whether it becomes romantic or remains platonic (it’s not just up to me or Talise), Jax is the most significant person in her life–excluding her brother. They just got each other from day one and they seem to be the only ones able to easily talk to the other, even when the subject is difficult. The canon you created about her feeling safe with Jax is 100% true; ever since Before, she has a hard time sleeping around other people but she trusts him enough to even share a bed…and he’s the only one with whom she would never be anything but truthful. At their core, they are people reinventing themselves after tragedy but don’t know if they’re doing it right. But Jax makes Talise feel it’s alright to be who she authentically is rather than acting the part she’s written for herself; and to find joy again in the things from her past. The ship’s legit launch was after their serious conversation about “equivalent exchange” in relationships (about Caspian) and has since been buoyed by all their side chats + interactions. “…are you just going to stare at me?” “Until you’re ready.”

20) What would your character consider their biggest success? Or what is your favorite success your character has had so far?

Tamzen: Tal and facing Silas again. She’s really surprised me in how she’s been able to grow to where she is now…so that’s an awesome success because it feels like there’s still more growing for her to do emotionally. But the ultimate success EVER was the gift of the hearthstone to Mama. It was canon lore created on the fly and it was so meaningful and has become a cornerstone of Tamzen’s character.

Letter C:

Smartest- Talise and Syl are the most booksmart; Calla is the wisest about people (followed by Talise and Tamzen); Vi is the smartest about how to use people for her advantage; Mireth is the most diplomatically savvy.Most Attractive- Tamzen is that annoying woman who looks beautiful even without makeup (#blessed) but isn’t necessarily sexy like Talise is. From there it’s Mireth (that half elf/half fae glowup), Calla (aasimar moon baby), Lady Vi (moon elf tall, slim model build), Evi (Italian witchy woman), and then Syl (striking but not always considered beautiful).Hogwarts- Ravenclaws are Talise and Syl. Slytherins are Lady Vi and Evi. Hufflepuffs are Calla and Mireth. Gryffindor is Tamzen.

#fuzzy feathers #@sapphireemeralds #food for asks #ask and you shall receive #dnd #ref for character

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volleydorkscentral · 5 years

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ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS IN THE UNUSUAL ASK GAME, YOU COWARD.

First of all:

Second, questions under the cut:

Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? - Spotify! all the way. i hoarse my bf’s account so he can never listen but i don’t care it’s mine now it’s full of my music and my playlists and whenever i’m listening to it and it suddenly changes cause he tries to use it on his phone I call him, “are you using spotify?” “oh. i mean i can listen to something else?” “cool, thanks!” and i get my music back. :D

is your room messy or clean? - it’s somewhere in between. my actual ROOM (bed room, i assume) is pretty clean, except i never make the bed. but the house is .. a work in progress. it’s not dirty but it’s cluttered so my bf and I are having to work together to clear that and build shelves and stuff for more storage space.

what color are your eyes? - dark brown! (with little green flecks when I cry)

do you like your name? why? - Not really? i don’t hate it. My mom wanted to name me Savannah but they had her sign the certificate while she was still drugged from her c-section so it ended up as Crystal?? Idk. She named her dolls Crystal when she was a kid.

what is your relationship status? - dating for almost six years.

how many times a week do you shower? uhhh idk. I don’t shower every day (unless i get gross). AT LEAST four times… but I don’t wash my hair every time cause that’s bad for my hair. I SHOWER WHEN I AM DIRTY.

favorite tv show? does Haikyuu!! count? that’s probably a given. HM. Well, we don’t have cable so I don’t watch a lot of NEW shows? …. OH. Duh. Fuckin me I’m a dumbass. Bob’s Burgers. I literally have it on ALL THE TIME. I don’t like silence so it’s ALWAYS on in the background if i’m not listening to music. I’ve seen every episode a zillion times. I can usually pinpoint every scene and the major lines/jokes.

shoe size? most brands it’s 5 1/2

how tall are you? SHORTER THAN NISHINOYA BUT TALLER THAN YACHI. I’m like… 5ft-5’1 depending on how much my back hurts. (i used that earlier and someone said it was funny and i’m trash so i’ll repeat it here!)

sandals or sneakers? i wear Bobs LOL. (knock off toms) and i’ve got one pair of sneakers and sometimes I wear my ballet flats around even though my bf says they look dumb fuck u they’re comfy.

do you go to the gym? No. I used to, but where I live now it’d be like a 45 min drive. I don’t really LIKE gyms though? working out is boring to me. No matter how hard I try. I’d love to start dancing again for real.

describe your dream date - April 25th because it’s not too cold and not too hot. Okay but jk that’s a lie where I live it’s balls hot in april. Idk. I’d like to go hiking when it’s not very hot? Take my dog, let her run around. Take a picnic. Sit in a grassy field and talk about dumb shit cause we know each other’s dreams and hopes by now.

how much money do you have in your wallet at the moment? UHM. fuck like…. $27? i know there’s a twenty and a handful of ones. And a handful of change.

what color socks are you wearing? - NONE. MY FEET ARE COLD. FOREVER COLD.

how many pillows do you sleep with? - pft like 6.

do you have a job? what do you do? - No; I quit after being over worked, under appreciated, cheated out of my paychecks a few times, and no job still due to lingering health issues.

how many friends do you have? answered this already!

whats the worst thing you have ever done? - UHM. Idk i haven’t murdered anyone. I don’t like this question cause if i really try to answer it i’ll spiral into a frustrated, furious depression and self-hatred so… NOPE.

whats your favorite candle scent? i’ve got this candle i got from etsy that’s like… Scottish Highlands? It’s grassy and kinda MAGICY.

3 favorite boy names - i don’t really have favorite names?

3 favorite girl names - answered already

favorite actor? god idk. i’m so bad with names and celebrities. uhm. I really like don’t have a favorite. I LIKE a bunch. Benedict Cumberbatch; Freddie Highmore… uhm. uh. Hugh Laurie?

favorite actress? IDK OKAY?? I LIKE a bunch but i don’t favorite?? I really like Gwendoline Christie. Uhm. Anne Hathaway makes me laugh. MAGGIE SMITH. how could i forget!??!

who is your celebrity crush? I LEGIT don’t have one.

favorite movie? CLUE takes the top spot most days.

do you read a lot? whats your favorite book? I used to read a lot more. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

money or brains? personality, bitch.

do you have a nickname? what is it? not *really* but people online used to call me Chrys. My bf calls me ‘sweetie’ sometimes but he also calls the dog that so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

how many times have you been to the hospital? - uhm. like the er? Once when I broke my arm. Doc in the box? Not since 2017.

top 10 favorite songs - PFT. Uhm. Jesus just let me die a little. Excluding all Disney; Not in any order:

No One - Biometrix

Danser - Lisandro Cuxi

A Single Moment of Sincerity (E) - Asking Alexandria (the band I was listening to when I designed my rockstar MC that I love so much)

The Annabel Trilogy (a series of 3 albums) - Alesana. Can’t pick a single song because they’re all a part of a huge story. Listen to them.

Chucky vs. The Giant Tortoise - Dance Gavin Dance

Anticoagulant - Sianvar

Ohioisonfire - Of Mice & Men

Coincidance - Handsome Dancer (Watch the Video for the love of god. THANKS ASH FOR THIS GEM)

Devil’s Backbone - The Civil Wars

Still Here - Digital Daggers (i’ve been listening it to a lot for inspiration for a new AU so… yup. That’s gonna be fun and painful)

do you take any medications daily? - yup

what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc) - i got dry ass skin it sucks

what is your biggest fear? - uhm… physical fear? idk. Heights is a big one that I developed? I used to not care but a while ago I was walking on a bridge and I just… looked over and got FUCKING DIZZZY with nausea and fear that I was gonna fall and almost fainted.

how many kids do you want? - HONESTLY… one or two.

whats your go to hair style? - tried to brush but gave up so just threw it in a claw clip

what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc) - moderate? one story, four bedrooms. big ass yard though for the dog

who is your role model? - I don’t really have one.

what was the last compliment you received? - answered already

what was the last text you sent? - actual TEXT message? ‘as long as there’s someone with her overnight she’ll be okay during the day cause of the dog door and stuff. just play with her before you go to work and maybe hide some treats around the house for her to hunt for’ - texting my friend that’s gonna house sit while we go on a family vacation soon.

how old were you when you found out santa wasn’t real? - UH idk the age? i know I saw my mom writing scavenger cards though. My fam has never had a lot of money so to make Christmas more interesting my mom/grandparents (we lived with them till I was in 3rd grade) would make these elaborate scavenger hunts for me and my cousins to do to find our presents around the house or out in the barn or, on one memorable occasion, at the bottom of our pool! Good memories.

what is your dream car? - one that RUNS and has badass AC and speakers

opinion on smoking? - hate it. please don’t do it around me. my bf’s family alllllll smoke all the time and i get so sick when i have to go on vacation with them and be around it for a long time.

do you go to college? - i DID. I went to Culinary school and majored in Baking & Pastry

what is your dream job? - Author or Dog Trainer

would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs? - rural as all hell. give me trees, cows, and horses.

do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? Not usually? but usually the people i’m with do.

do you have freckles? Not on my face (except one) but i’ve got more like… on my arms and just randomly all over but i dont think ‘freckles’ would be what anyone thinks of when they think of me

do you smile for pictures? - only if i’m forced to be in them

how many pictures do you have on your phone? - HAHAHAHAHAHA. Well. Before I got my new phone it was over 10k. Now though its only about 2k.

have you ever peed in the woods? - Only when I was camping.

do you still watch cartoons? - ALL THE GODDAMN TIME

do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonalds? - neither. but i HATE WENDYS and can tolerate McD’s fries and they’ve got ballin’ sweet tea so I guess McD.

Favorite dipping sauce? this honey dijon creamy thing at my favorite French restaurant but idk what is is.

what do you wear to bed? - t-shirt

have you ever won a spelling bee? - YUP. 2nd grade.

what are your hobbies? - writing, crocheting, photography, reading, uh… i forget what else

can you draw? when i was doing it all the time i did ok? but i’m WAY TOO IMPATIENT now a days to do it.

do you play an instrument? - no but i wish i did :(

what was the last concert you saw? - i’ve never been to a concert. crowds are icky

tea or coffee? - tea!

Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? - already answered this

do you want to get married? - Yes pls

what is your crush’s first and last initial? - (bf, but I suppose i still have a crush on him? is love considered a crush?) J. Y.

are you going to change your last name when you get married? god yes. my current last name is my shitbag of a sperm doner and i hate it. my mom kept it after they divorced only cause she thought her maiden name would be too hard for me to spell but i would give anything to have that name instead

what color looks best on you? - idk. i prefer black but i’ve been told green and certain shades of pink/yellow.

do you miss anyone right now? - not until i thought about it, thanks

do you sleep with your door open or closed? open so my pupper can go in and out

do you believe in ghosts? not until i’m faced with darkness and creepy things

what is your biggest pet peeve? people chewing their food loud. people not picking up after themselves. people interrupting me (but not in the excited, OMG way. that we can work though) but in the ‘i don’t care what you’re saying i’m going to talk now’ way

last person you called` - my bf to discuss plans for his brother’s bday

favorite ice cream flavor? cookies n’ cream!

regular oreos or golden oreos? DOUBLE STUFF OF EITHER

chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? FUCK SPRINKLES

what shirt are you wearing? a shirt that has my dog’s face on it :D

what is your phone background? - the art that Ash drew of Bokuto from my fic Just a Taste!!

are you outgoing or shy? - i hate talking to strangers but with my friends i’m pretty fucking loud and chatty

do you like it when people play with your hair? only people i know

do you like your neighbors? nope. he’s an asshole who neglected his dog and i wanna skin him alive

do you wash your face? at night? in the morning? i do my best to remember to do it at night but i always do it when i shower

have you ever been high? yup.

have you ever been drunk? yup

last thing you ate? BIRTHDAY CAKE

favorite lyrics right now - idk? i guess the first lyrics that came to mind, even though they’re not my favorite, just ones that i like and were stuck in my head for a while: “All of the handsome fiction / will melt away / and when the flame burns brighter / Evaporate” Evaporate - Dance Gavin Dance

summer or winter? WINTER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. IT’S SO FUCKING HOT IN SUMMER I DIE EVERY DAY

day or night? both have their merits

dark, milk, or white chocolate? - all chocolate but i prefer white to just EAT.

favorite month? uhm. uhh. November maybe? for NaNoWriMo.

what is your zodiac sign - pftt.. i think i used to be a Gemini? i don’t believe in all that stuff

who was the last person you cried in front of? - ….. my dog? but probably my mom and Grandmother when my GM basically said my bf didn’t love me and was a shit human being and i was a shit granddaughter for loving him. i was both upset and furious and i walked away from them. (my mom called and apologized, but i haven’t spoken to my GM since)

THERE ASH ARE YOU GODDAMN HAPPY. that took so long LOL (I hope the formatting came through I had to redo it on this tumblr page UGH)

#ask game

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talhaghafoor2019-blog · 5 years

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iTunes Match vs Apple Music vs iCloud Music Library

What are the differences (and overlaps) between iTunes Match, Apple Music, iCloud Music Library and iTunes in the Cloud? And which is the best Apple music service for me to use?

We've come a long way since portable music was a whirring tape constantly in threat of being eaten by a brick-sized cassette player. And having long since blazed past Apple's original iPod that could "put 1000 songs in your pocket", many people now want all of their music everywhere, at any point, regardless of the device they're using at the time.

And now that the HomePod has arrived, many are wondering whether to sign up for Apple Music, or if there is a cheaper option to get access to their iTunes Music collection on that device.

Apple provides a number of means of accessing such collections amongst which are Apple Music and iTunes Match, subscription services that put your iTunes in the Cloud, and make use of iCloud Music Library, but in subtly different ways. Each service offers specific features and limitations, and they can even be used simultaneously. This article aims to help unpick what each does, and the best choice for you. You could also read How iTunes Match and Apple Music work together and our Apple Music vs Spotify comparison.

What is iTunes in the Cloud?

iTunes in the Cloud if how Apple referrs to the music you own that you can stream to a device from the cloud. It's a free service from Apple and means you have access to all your iTunes Store purchases in your iTunes music library whereever you are - so you can download them to all your computers and iOS devices, or stream them on your Apple TV, Apple Watch or HomePod.

However, if you have music that you have added to your collection some other way (ripping a CD, for example) you won’t have access to this music via the cloud, unless you pay for iTunes Match or Apple Music.

What is iCloud Music Library?

iCloud Music Library is slightly different to iTunes in the Cloud. It's Apple's name for a copy of your entire music library that's stored in iCloud (rather than just the tracks you've purchased from iTunes). You have to subscribe to either Apple Music or iTunes Match in order to have iCloud Music Library. Regardless of the Apple service you sign up to, iCloud Music Library contains all the data about the music you own including the your playlists and other information about the tracks you enjoy listening to. As long as all your devices are synced with your iCloud Music Library you will have access to all your music, playlists and playcount information wherever you are.

Apple lets you store up to 100,000 songs in iCloud Music Library, excluding any tracks you bought in iTunes, so that's a lot of music. Once all relevant music files have uploaded (which, note, can take a very long time), they (and your playlists) are accessible on any device logged into the relevant Apple ID.

If you have an unlimited, reasonably fast and stable web connection, you can benefit from iCloud Music Library by streaming your music on demand. If your connection is slower or you want to download some files for offline playback, you can tap the usual download icon (a cloud with a downward-facing arrow) to add an album or individual track to a device's local library.

What is iTunes Match?

If you subscribe to iTunes Match you can access all your musical content via the cloud. For a yearly subscription of £21.99 Apple will store all the music in your collection in the cloud - including the tracks you have imported from CDs and purchased elsewhere.

If Apple is unable to find a match for a track in your collection in its own music store, it will upload your track and store it in the cloud for you. Apple will upload 100,000 unmatched songs - your iTunes Store purchases don’t count towards this number. So that’s 100,000 songs in addition to any bought on iTunes. Anything longer than two hours or larger than 200MB won’t be uploaded to iCloud Music Library.

However, the features of iTunes Match are available as part of Apple Music, so you don’t need to subscribe to both services.

If you use iTunes Match you won’t have access to your Playlists but you will be able to play music according to albums and genre, and individual tracks

To start the process of signing up to iTunes Match, go to Store > iTunes Match in iTunes. If you've already signed up to Apple Music, Apple 'hides' the iTunes Match option, but you can still sign up by clicking the subscribe link on Apple's website. Once iTunes Match is activated, iTunes scans your music library and attempts to match it to content on the iTunes Store.

Tracks Apple successfully matches become available to your devices as 256 kbps AAC downloads, even if your original copy was of a lower quality. These files can be accessed from any device. Should you delete an original file from iTunes, the matched one can be downloaded. Unmatched files are uploaded from iTunes to iCloud Music Library, and can also later be downloaded should you need to, although they won't get an 'upgrade' in audio quality.

In theory, iTunes Match can match a large range of file formats (AAC, MP3, AIF, WAV, and more) at a range of qualities. In reality, the service is scattergun in its effectiveness. It's not uncommon for iTunes Match to successfully match all but one track from an album, or, for that matter, only one track on an album. This is because iTunes Match doesn't just use meta-data to match songs, but also their waveforms, which vary depending on the quality of the file and even the mastering used on the original source.

If you allow your iTunes Match subscription to lapse, your music library (tracks and playlists alike) will no longer automatically sync between devices. However, you retain local downloads indefinitely.

Note that iTunes Match originally provided access to iTunes Radio, but that feature was discontinued in early 2016. Anyone wanting stations based around genres or artists must now use Apple Music.

What is Apple Music?

Apple Music is a £9.99 a month subscription service that gives you access to 45 million songs. You can sign up for a free trial that lasts three months.

You can play any track in Apple Music if you have a data connection, and you can download any music from Apple Music and listen to it offline.

You can unsubscribe from the service at any time, should you do so any Apple Music tracks you had downloaded will no longer be available unless you purchase them. (Read: How to unsubscribe from Apple Music here).

In addition to the songs available in Apple Music you will also have access to your entire music collection on all your devices, as per iTunes Match above.

You also gain access to Beats 1 radio station and a limited selection of TV and Films, which are basically music related videos and a few programmes Apple has made (read more about Apple’s plans for subscription content here).

You can sign up to Apple Music by going to Store > Apple Music in iTunes or (clicking the 'Try' link) on Apple's website. The biggest differences between Apple Music and iTunes Match are the range of music you get access to and pricing. Apple Music is more expensive than iTunes Match, at £9.99 per month (versus £21.99 per year), but you gain access to everything on the iTunes Store.

What are the differences between Apple Music and iTunes Match?

Apple Music used to be at a disadvantage to iTunes Match in the way it matched local tracks with an online catalogue. If an Apple Music user had tracks in their existing iTunes library, when the software tried to match that already paid for track to its Apple Music equivalent, the results were often less than pleasing.

In July 2016, Apple started to roll-out an improvement to this matching system that uses the same audio fingerprint technology as iTunes Match to match users to their correct songs. Previously, Apple Music’s matching tech was based on a more primitive metadata version of iTunes Match. The audio fingerprint method is far more accurate, which is why it’s great that it is slowly being introduced to all Apple Music users.

Put simply, if you accidentally delete a song from your personal iTunes library, you can still download it like before from iCloud – now though, it will not be copyright protected unlike your original download, a process referred to as DRM (digital rights management). It’s a subtle change, but means that the track you downloaded before is exactly the same this time. The new download to replace your old one would be sonically identical, but your personal rights associated with its ownership were not.

It won’t affect too many users, but it’s good to see Apple acknowledging a flaw (and one so subtle most people don’t know about it) in its system and changing it for the benefit of its users.

Remember though, this doesn’t mean you get to keep your Apple Music tracks if you cancel your subscription to the service. The matching system has been updated to better pull in your physical collection from iCloud.

Cancel your Apple Music membership and files you download, even if they were matched from a CD you ripped and you subsequently deleted your original files, will no longer play in the app. As we note in the next section, keeping at least one copy of your original local files is therefore very important when it comes to Apple Music.

It's also worth noting that you can use Apple Music without iCloud Music Library, although in doing so you lose the ability to add albums and playlists to your collection for easier access.

iTunes Match or Apple Music which is best for HomePod

If you subscribe to Apple Music or iTunes Match your music and playlists should be available in the cloud - so, if you subscribe to iTunes Match you might assume you would be able to ask Siri on the HomePod to play your playlists. Unfortunately it seems that this only works if you are subscribed to Apple Music. When we tried to access playlists, and add to playlists with only a iTunes Match subscription we were unable to do so.

iTunes Match will give you access to all your music on the HomePod, but navigating it will be easier if you use Apple Music.

Can I delete my local library with either service?

In theory, yes, but we do not recommend this. In fact, we strongly recommend you make a full backup of your entire music library before subscribing to either Apple music service. We've heard too many reports of iCloud Music Library demolishing people's music libraries to consider it fully reliable. (We had no major issues during testing, although matches were sometimes for the wrong version of songs, and album artwork was occasionally incorrect.)

Even if you do find yourself with a perfect music library after signing up to iTunes Match or Apple Music, be mindful of the usual argument regarding data: anything you consider important should be stored in at least two locations. iCloud Music Library could be considered one of them, but you should have another back-up elsewhere. Note that this needn't necessarily be on your Mac. If you need to free up space, back up your iTunes music library to an external drive before removing local files from iTunes.

Should I use iTunes Match, Apple Music, or both?

Apple Music and iTunes Match are not directly comparable products, and the best choice will depend on your specific needs.

iTunes Match should be considered if you want access to your existing music collection across a range of devices, but nothing more. For £21.99 per year, we'd say this offers reasonable value for money, and should only be avoided if your collection is so huge it won't fit into Apple’s generous 100,000-track per-user locker. We did find during testing that matching was hit-and-miss, but assuming you’ve a reasonably fast internet connection and a bit of patience, your entire collection will sooner or later be available to you.

A mooted alternative reason to use iTunes Match is as a one-off 'lazy' upgrade option for existing digital collections. If you once ripped many hundreds of CDs to iTunes and used a lowish bit-rate, you might dread the thought of doing all that again at a higher quality. In theory, iTunes Match should be able to match most of them, and you can then create a smart playlist to include tracks with an iCloud Status of Matched and bit-rates below Apple's 256 kbps default. You can then delete the local versions, download the superior iTunes Match files, and cancel your iTunes Match subscription before the year is up.

'Upgraded' tracks will remain on your Mac, but you may find not enough of your collection is matched for this to be worthwhile. Either way, we strongly recommend making a full backup of your local files before trying this.

Apple Music is a good bet if you want access to your music collection along with everything else on the iTunes Store. It also provides access to Apple's genre- and artist-based ad-free radio stations, along with a decent range of interesting playlists that might help you discover new music. The For You feature is especially nifty, gradually learning your listening habits and then serving up new albums and singles you’ll enjoy.

Regarding your existing collection, we’ve noted Apple Music works in much the same way as iTunes Match, meaning you can get at your music on all of your devices. However, the big difference is DRM being added to downloaded files. This means if you lose the originals and download replacements from iCloud Music Library, they won’t play if you cancel your Apple Music subscription.

Apple Music is therefore a better bet if you're the kind of person happy to splash out on a monthly subscription to access your collection and the tens of millions of tracks on the iTunes Store, with no intention of ever cancelling it. It also has the advantage of working on Android, if you have devices without an Apple logo stamped on them.

Subscribing to both iTunes Match and Apple Music is an option if you want the best of both worlds - access to the iTunes Store’s massive music collection, and the option of DRM-free downloads or quality ‘upgrades’ of old rips. However, during testing we discovered a long-standing bug was still quite prevalent where Apple Music files would incorrectly download instead of iTunes Match files. We also found on one account that iTunes Match fared very poorly on a system where Apple Music was already active, matching only a third of the local library.

On that basis, if you want to upgrade an existing collection, you should probably sign up to iTunes Match first, upgrade your files, ensure you have a full back-up of your library, and only then subscribe to Apple Music.

Avoiding iCloud Music Library entirely is a final option, and there are alternative services out there. None have strong integration with Apple's ecosystem, but if that doesn't bother you, and you primarily want access to millions of tracks, your £9.99 will get you a subscription to Spotify. That service is far more mature than Apple's, with some great mobile apps. Integration with existing collections is iffy on desktop and non-existent on mobile, however.

Google Play Music is an option for people who want a digital online locker for existing collections. It allows you to upload 50,000 tracks, and at no cost. With an 'All Access' pass (£9.99 per month), you get unlimited access to a catalogue that's essentially identical to Apple’s, along with personalised radio stations similar to those in Apple Music.

Amazon's music library is another option that many will already have access to if they are current subscribers to Amazon Prime.

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