It's just occurred to me that I've never been in a dying fandom before while I was at the peak of hyperfixating on said fandom. And nothing has prepared me for that peculiar kind of grief it brings.

Because I still remember the height of OFMD two years ago. I remember all of the internet going crazy about it. There was a good 3-4 months when everyone who's even remotely chronically online in geek or queer spaces had heard of it. And the thing is, geek and queer spaces don't always intersect this much. Well they do to a degree, but I mean, I first heard about OFMD on Reddit. It's a lot more of a geek space than it is a queer one. The OFMD subreddit has a... pretty different vibe than OFMD fandom on Twitter or Tumblr or AO3. And yet, still, it seemed like for a few short, glorious months, OFMD has been The Thing on the internet, even on Reddit. Despite being so relatively tiny and niche and decidedly Not Mainstream™. I still remember that Comic Con with Con and Nathan in August 2022. I remember exactly where I was when I watched it. I'd blocked off time to watch it live. I'd actually bought a fucking ticket instead of just waiting for someone to upload it to YouTube, which is what I was used to doing with comic cons that featured David Tennant or some of my other favourite actors (well it did help that they let us by digital tickets for streamed panels this time, but still). I still remember how insanely excited I was, sitting down for that panel like it was this major Event. Like Eurovision or smth. And then several other comic cons. It was all so fresh. The fanbase was rabid (in the best way possible). And the cast was so in for it. The fan fiction had been flowing with abandon. The era of Hell or High Water. I'd never been part of an ongoing fic with such a massive readership, either. It was one of the cult fics in the fandom. The sheer excitement of getting a notification of a new chapter and making an event out of reading it, savoring it until the weekend, even. And then discussing it on Discord. That was what being part of a fandom was supposed to feel like.

And now it's dying. Slowly, but it is. It's never going to get a barrage of headlines again. It's never going to pull tens of thousands of Tumblr reblogs again. Sure, we're still getting bts (bless Samba Schute). There's still some engagement, more than most other fandoms would have retained by now, and that's incredible in its own right. But it's still a shadow of its former self. And it's never going to be the same again.

And it's fine. That's just how it is. Nothing lasts forever. People always move on, and it's not a bad thing. That's just life. I know I'm going to move on some day, too. Just not quite yet. I'm not ready yet. And it feels heartbreaking. Because the fandom's life was cut short. We should have had one more glorious cycle with S3. But we didn't. And that's the worst part. It wouldn't have been so hard to move on if we'd actually got closure. And now we never will. OFMD will never really have concluded, it will just slowly trickle out and fade away. A whimper, not a bang. And that's what's killing me.

San Marino🇸🇲

We like to party, but we love rock! Megara for San Marino with the song ’11:11’!🕰️💥

Megara have finally won their ticket to Eurovision representing a microstate of San Marino! The band participated in Spanish Benidorm in 2022 and even almost won it in 2023. This year they were not chosen for Benidorm 2024 and therefore the band applied to compete in Una Voce per San Marino 2024, where ’11:11’ proved to be worthy!

A pink and black aesthetic that follows the band everywhere would most likely be the main colour scheme of their performance. There were also some hints from Pablo Polo, who worked with Blanca Paloma on her Eurovision entry, that ’11:11’ has its own Eurovision revamp that will be premiered during Megara’s performance in the 2nd semi-final. 

UMK 2023 - review

Gone are the years when Finns were ashamed of their Eurovision selection! 

We saw signs of improvement in the attitude of Finnish artists and music industry towards UMK / Eurovision already in 2020 before the COVID-19 hit us. I would wanna say a game changing factor happened when YleX (radio channel, part of YLE broadcasting company) joined in the production team after ESC 2019. 

Robin’s song Girls like you was elevated by the fun, uplifting and may I say a bit risky staging! (UMK23)

Three years ago Erika Vikman was the moral winner with her Cicciolina even though not winning the actual trophy and ticket to Rotterdam. Her song became a major hit launching her musical career to new hights in Finland. I even dare to say that she did change the competition with her song and performance. 

In 2021 the world saw music shows differently on TV and it was much needed face lift also for UMK. The other songs had no chance against Blind Channel. These were the years when the staging improved overall tremendously even though we had a few misclick (Teflon Brothers 2021, Erika Vikman 2020). 

Lxandra’s Something to lose was one of the most beautiful moments in UMK23! I would have wanted this to reach a much higher climax at one point though..

In 2022-2023 we really saw big Finnish names participating UMK (The Rasmus, Benjamin, Robin Packalen, Kuumaa) and also having some new artists emerging (Bess, Younghearted, Käärijä) and making a name for themselves some even without the UMK trophy. 

In 2023 UMK final gathered 2,1 millions viewers (in 2022 1,9millions), the lyric videos on Youtube were viewed almost 5,5 million times and the songs were listened on Spotify over 14 million times! 

In 2023 we finally have the quality that we need and the people’s interest (abroad and home) that we want! 

Kuumaa’s Ylivoimainen live performance was simple but effective! However, when watching it for the first time it seemed a bit dull and not having enough to keep you interested. (UMK23)

Finns tend to complain about the number of UMK songs and how 6-7 is not enough but if this is the quality they deliver, personally I need no more! I’ve voted 5 UMK songs now in two years in a row and I’m content! This is also a money factor, if we had more songs would the level of quality hold? In music, music videos and in the live statings? I would be doubtful.

I also like the way things are being revealed and when. Mid Jan for artists anouncements is a perfect time just before the ESC national selection kicks off and I love that the songs are being dropped from there without any delay or waiting times. For seven days, there was always something new to look for each day! Late Feb has become a bit a pattern for UMK final but technically this could be later but would it ruin the hype then? 

Keira’s No business on the dancefloor was excellent with catchy coreography and simple stating. However, the fact that she’s a new artist came across a bit. (UM23) 

UMK has received criticism about stagings over the years which we’ve seen improving each year (this year being perfect). Also camera work, angles haven’t been on point (las year Isaac was a bit of a disaster) but last night was a big jump to the right direction! 

What still is left to improve however is the acoustics - every year we complain about the artists vocals sounding shitty when in reality they sound good at the actual venue. The venues have been changing over the years (Tampere’s Mediapolis, Turku’s Logomo etc). Even last night the sounds of the audience singing, clapping were overwhelming the artists vocals which I think damaged the reactions of the people watching the live at home. 

Benjamin’s Hoida Mut was well executed and performed except vocally... However credits for performing ALONE! 

So overall UMK was smash hit with high quality performance and not just the competing ones and with a winner (Käärijä - Cha cha cha) that is definitely taking a risk. The hype has already spread outside of Finland and Cha cha cha is predicted to become a televote winner (juries, you never know). Time will tell us in a few months.. 

i was tagged by @artemiss-moonchild and @heartcravings in two different spotify-centric tag games - so i'll just morph them~ i am also high on finishing a book right now, so yeah, it's gonna be long and full of words i have to vomit out now because my brain is buzzing xDD

shuffle your ‘on repeat’ playlist and post the first 10 tracks,

Brand New City by Mitski ~ probably my favourite song of hers, i feel all of her music and lyrics very very much but this song...just hits different i dunno, i guess it is the closest thing i have to describe this restlessness i get sometimes

blue by keshi ~ every single word in this songs gets me and i am kinda giddy bc i bought tickets to his concert as a christmas present for my sister and me, hehe, i'm looking forward to that already ^^

Where We by Ryu Ji Hyun & Kim Kyung Hee ~ part of the OST of the drama Rain Or Shine / Just Between Lovers, it's on netflix, lee gangdu is my poor little meow-meow, i cried buckets and got wayyy more invested in this drama than i anticipated xD

I Don't Even Mind by Chen ~ it's my favourite track of his 3rd album, i like how his voice blends with the instrumental, i love how his voice is so clear, how it kinda floats over the tumbles of the guitar, it's like fog over a little creek

I Hate Everything About You by Three Days Grace ~ i stumbled over that one by chance not even a month ago, i knew the band existed and what their sound was like but never listened to their songs, so that one is the only one i know and what can i say...a girl feels conflicting feelings sometimes xD

Nothin' by EXO-SC / Chanyeol ~ i am really fascinated by this song because it has so many layers of sound, there is just so much going on on that track, like it sounds calm and spherical and like you are floating through a dark night, but you are driven by an invisible force, by thoughts and voices and echos. this song makes me fearless, it lifts me up when i am on the ground, it grounds me when my head tries desperately to fly away from my body, it was my no. 1 song in my spotify wrapped xD

Charmer by Stray Kids ~ ok this one is less deep xD it's just a cool, very vibey song, it really got me back into Stray Kids this year and wow it seems very unreal rn that Oddinary was a 2022 release o_o

Lithium by Nirvana ~ a classic, some would say. i can play it on the electric guitar so that's cool 👀✨️ to me this song is probably even more "nirvana" as Smells Like Teen Spirit - i dunno it captured their sound really well and i might sound very pretentious now but it is such a Kurt song, i don't know how to descibe it differently xDD

Words as Weapons by Seether ~ and sometimes a girl feels a very stubborn anger against the world and some people who have deep cuts. listening to this song is cathartic.

Universe by EXO ~ doesn't your heart just open up when they sing "I'll search the universe..."?? because to me it always feels like that, like something bright is opening up my heart, ready to search along with them (it's the way the melody just keeps rising, flying across the nightsky on that long high note)

then list 10 songs you really like, each by a different artist.

New Thing by Zico feat. Homies ~ this song... is just really, really cool. so cool. ahh. i love listening to it, it's always over way too soon xD

saudade, saudade by Maro ~ my Eurovision favourite this year, haha, their whole stage presence was so whimsical, they remained my favorites from start to finish. i just listened to the song a lot afterwards. the soft desperation in it is just everything, really.

505 by Arctic Monkeys ~ screaming crying throwing up about everything in this song. the musical built up, the breakdown, the lyrics - just ahhh everything about this song makes me go feral, especially the breakdown. i think i rarely show as much of myself to other people as i do when 505 comes on and i'm screaming "but i crumble compeltely when you cry"

Slump by Stray Kids ~ sad bop in three languages, made by the one and only Han Jisung who gave the sinking feeling you get when you realize you are somehow falling behind depsite your best efforts a sound. musical genius (but also are u ok bro?). anyway, i can do all the rap parts (in english because i am a chicken when it comes to korean let alone japanese and i really don't want to mispronounce stuff) in this song and i don't think it sounds cringy when i do it so that's what i've been up to musically these days xDD

RED by Survive Said The Prophet ~ the lyrics in this one are so great! it has such a raw power once it breaks loose, it reminds me of thunderstorms and a stadium full of people not minding the rain because the live music is just so good and everything fits, lights flashing and bass guitar and drums messing with your gut. it's full of so many different feelings that you sometimes can't tell apart but they make you want to move and run and run until your body hurts more than your heart.

Star Walkin' by Lil Nas X ~ this song is also so full of energy but a totally different kind. it's stellar, it's bright, it's almost delirious, it's testing out how fast you can run before you fall over your own feet, it's chasing the feeling of your stomach dropping when you go a little too high on the swings. it sounds really weird, but my first instinct when this song comes on is not to blink, not one second, because i could miss something at this racing pace. the verses are just floating in space, looking around, taking it all in, whereas the chorus is pure acceleration until the point where there is no more "faster", feeling it might hit anytime now but it just doesn't xD

Forgive Me by BoA ~ it's her recent comeback and i've never really gave her music a listen but i saw the teaser pics being absolutely my vibe so i checked it out and really liked it! there is nothing more to it haha. it reminds me a little of what i also would have loved to see Seulgi do on her solo album but it's not that big - both harmonize perfectly with their respective tracks.

Hurdle by Suho ~ he made theeeeee summer bop with this song, really. gosh, the way i freaked when i first heard this song xDD i took little notes about the Grey Suit album in my notebook back then so i know for a fact i was immediately obsessed with the funky bass line and the voice distortion and how dancable this song is.

Serenity by Xiumin ~ i've said it before and i'll say it again: this song is an early spring sunrise, when you woke up oddly early snd you go outside to catch the first glimpses of sunlight and the dew still hanging on the grass wets the hem of your pants, tickles your skin, the cold wetness seeping through your shoes but then the first rays of light hit your skin and the air is fresh and clear and everything feels better and new, like you have healed a little, like you can keep going with a new burst of energy now. this is how this song sounds like to me, i get that mental image everytime, dark greens and bright blues and even brighter white and yellow hues.

Checkmate by TheBoyz ~ again nothing all to deep besides the fact that this song is a total banger and i just go insaneeee over the whispering and member who-ever-it-is saying "you're never satisfied". my sister likes TheBoyz and she played it once or twice and that's how i know this song xD

list the first 10 songs played from my spotify wrapped/apple replay when shuffled!

Francis Forever by Mitski ~ this one somehow very quietly became my chanyeol-enlistment-song. it's all about missing someone, needing someone/depending on someone's presence, not in a full on desperate way (a little desperate maybe-) but in a way that is just like what the first lines say "I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do with myself now that your not here" kinda like you still need time to figure out how to handle things in the absence of something that has been very present before. it really got to me while Chanyeol was away (yk sorta-away because you really cannot get that man off a stage xD but the feeling has always been different than before) - in the end i think it's a lot about adapting after a change in the way somebody is present in your life.

Daechwita by Agust D ~ i am not the biggest BTS fan on the plant (thank god) but i have a sort of soft spot for their rap line because they simply are really good at what they do, especially yoongi. and daechwita, what can i say, simply a total vibe. i remember how i had this song and Lay's Lit right after on repeat a lot that year, they somehow belong to the same universe xDD Daechwita is all about speed and power and hot rage, Lit is all albout precision and force and a very cold attitude of supremacy - both have this very untouchable and dangerous vibe. they are neighboring kingdoms maybe, very peaceful with each other btw. they just come to destroy them haters xD

Raining by Chanyeol ~ this song it just a biiig loong sigh. it's taking a deep breath and exhaling loudly. the dark heavy piano really is like black paint in an artwork, it really gives the song that heavy atmosphere. then the sax soli are almost complaining, it's whining, it's telling you its story of misery with the heaviest sighs. this also reflects in Chanyeol's vocals, he also has this hint of exhaustion there, this song is just so dramatically done with everything, it just yk wants to have a drink and end this unfortunate day xD on some days i think this might be the best song of the The Box OST because they caught this very moody atmosphere so so well and it's not often done like that in populat music, i suppose (look i probably sound like i know what i am talking about but i really do not- xD)

GOTTASADAE by BewhY ~ again, nothing deep. my bestie sent me the song and was like "!!!! here listen !!!" and i was like "omg!!!!!!!" and then it was on repeat xDD

This Is How I Disappear by My Chemical Romance ~ so here is the thing, i knew about them for a long time but i never had this kind of "emo phase" in my teenage years but when they had their revival tour or whatever this year a lot of people i follow online suddenly were obsessing over them again, and when i like people a lot and they get invested in something, then i want to check that out too. so i listened to their entire discography in one weekend (coincidentally, the exact weekend they played in germany xDD) and This Is How I Disappear was the winner of the little favourite MCR song race i had in my head xD so yeah, i dig their music, especially this song. once again, very cathartic to listen/dance/sing to.

Snow (Hey Oh) by Red Hot Chili Peppers ~ i really like that i got this one on random! because it's the first RHCP song i actively remember hearing, probably in the radio and i was just really obsessed with it (in a way a child can be obsessed with a song it doesn't understand xD) and that just kind of lingered around and i eventually looked up the chords so i could play it on the guitar when i was 13 i think, leading to my dad showing my Californiacation and Under The Bridge and that's when i got more and more into their music in general. another weird fun fact: because i practiced the lyrics very hard back then i can now recite them in absolute inhuman speed, everytime i do it it annoys people to no end but i think it's fun xD

Shutdown by Moonbyul feat. Seori ~ (un)official sapphic anthem, let's gooo. this song is so so sexy in a very soft and casual and relaxed way. i love how their voices harmonize, i love how the melody flows, how you're just drawn into the song from start to finish. this song it somebody touching you very softly, very gently at your most secret, sensitive places. this song is knowing how to have the exact same effect on the other. it's dancing together with the smallest most minimal moves, bodies pressing impossibly close together. i just get this warm, seductive, soft, comfy, sexy feeling from this song.

Free Fall by Øzi ~ i am ascending every time i listen to this song, really. the chorus comes in like the ground beneath your feet rumbling and breaking apart, falling through the cracks. which might sound like a contradiction to what i said in the phrase before. but falling and flying are very easily confused when it's dark and you can't see the bottom. one of my favourite love letter songs <3

Tire Swing by Kimya Dawson ~ the simplicity of this song is so charming, really. it's nothing big, the melody sounds like a children's song but the lyrics tell the tale of the complicated matter that is really liking someone who is just so different from you that it's actually kinda impossible for things to work out well, at least not with anyone hurt. it's part of the soundtrack for the movie Juno (which i really like) and while the teenage romance is only a secondary part of the plot, i think this song was an amazing pick to explain the relationship between these two teenagers that lead very different lives and have to figure out how loving each other works. it's such an easy song and then again it is absolutely not.

Nothing Else Matters by Metallica ~ my dad once told me that metal musicians make the best love songs and then showed me Nothing Else Matteds as proof and, really, i could only believe him after that. i think, this song has had a huge huge influence on what i expect from a romantic relationship. it really shaped my understanding of romantic love to the point where i said (at 13 or 14) in my diary that if i ever got married it would be to this song, and i am still kind of in awe with this thought because that song remains to be very significant to me. how it's about always being together in a way, about sincerity of feelings, about trust, about getting to know the other better day by day and at some point getting to know yourself better through the other, how it's about sharing things openly, about living a life together, about having a companion like that who shows you the world you thought you knew in another light. it's about the enrichment you experience by having a romantic partner, that goes beyong anything sexual which is so often immediately associated with romantic love. and that just really left a lasting impression on me, so it's a fave ever since.

ok. this was long. and very uncalled for lol i am sorry for oversharing like that sometimes i'm just really in touch with how exactly music makes me feel and maybe i'm a little sloppy and a little too much in writing long paragraphs about it oops- ^^'

anywayyy i tag @kafkascupcake @byuns-coco @his-mochi-cheeks @cxsmicmyeon @nvwu @joon-rkive @simplypearing @xuoux @whisperingdoves if you guys wanna (feel free to pick the part you wanna do or simply ignore this tho, i am fully aware that this is a lot of time consuming text, so i won't mind at all xDD)

I posted 1,166 times in 2022

That's 393 more posts than 2021!

120 posts created (10%)

1,046 posts reblogged (90%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@thelibraryiscool

@nerysvevo

@spacesweepers

@janeeyresparknotes

@cosmicrhetoric

I tagged 1,043 of my posts in 2022

Only 11% of my posts had no tags

#art - 66 posts

#photography - 60 posts

#the wheel of time - 60 posts

#ramblings - 56 posts

#tolkien - 52 posts

#the witcher - 48 posts

#derry girls - 42 posts

#eurovision - 39 posts

#dracula daily - 35 posts

#discworld - 32 posts

Longest Tag: 135 characters

#shared a lovely moment with her on the skyhold wall this morning. can’t wait to make out with her there like a discount faramir x eowyn

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

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769 notes - Posted June 4, 2022

#4

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878 notes - Posted February 25, 2022

#3

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1,011 notes - Posted October 28, 2022

#2

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1,059 notes - Posted July 13, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

jonathan: [rushing into train station, shouting for a ticket, exhibiting a ‘violent demeanour’]

station master:

1,595 notes - Posted August 14, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

What do you think about them pulling out of Reading and Leeds bc of "Scheduling conflicts" - they aren't slick, R and L clash with the VMAs so they're going there instead☠

i'm so glad someone asked me because i was holding my tongue cuz i didn't want to be "negative" unprovoked lmao

first of all i feel so bad for the people who bought tickets just because they were going, and i feel extra bad for the people who said they sold their o2 arena tickets because they were confirmed to play at reading and leeds. i honestly don't think there's any way to make up for those people. even if they play another gig in the area, those people still lost money, something regular people don't tend to have a lot of, if they forgot that by now, because festivals don't refund you if someone pulls out

now, the elephant in the room. i'm not surprised. i've been saying they've been hyper focusing on the us for a long time, and now that has come to bite fans in the ass. there's no other way to interpret that other than "we care more about an award show than our fans". that was certainly a Choice. and now it's like, do we all have to be worried about them cancelling on us if something shows up in the us last minute? it might seem alarmist, but what they did clearly showed us where their and their team's priorities are, at least to me

if they win, it wouldn't have been hard to have someone else accept the award for them. if they don't, how fucking embarrassing for them to pull out of a festival where so many people wanted to see them just to be clowns. and if they perform there, which we don't even know if they will, you traded playing your good songs to a live audience who actually likes you to probably play a cover people can't even stand anymore and/or your worst song to date, so congrats i guess

nothing stupid they do surprises me anymore, tbh. i'm just like oh okay, this is what we're doing now [ben affleck smoking.jpg]. they've been making poor choices since eurovision 2022, maybe even before that. what surprises me is that people are only now catching up

Competitions, Comebacks, and a Coronation: 5 Things to be excited about in 2023

Deciding that two years of dragging ourselves through a pandemic wasn’t enough, the year 2022 said: "Hold my beer" and gave us the war in Ukraine, a cost of living crisis, more strikes than my ten-pin bowling game will ever see, and of course, the tragic death of Queen Elizabeth II. 

We did get to enjoy the Lionesses brought football home at least. However, it is easy to feel cynical in times like these, but don’t despair.

Let's challenge the doom and gloom of the world with five things we should be excited about in 2023.

1. Peter Kay’s Tour Continues.  After his emotional return to the stage in early December of 2022, the creator and star of Phoenix Nights and Carpool, will continue his tour of the UK. He will begin the New year at Liverpool M&S Bank Arena before visiting other cities, including Glasgow, Belfast, London, and many more.

Although tickets have been difficult to buy, do not fret, maybe you can get tickets for his shows in the Year 3000. I’m sure Busted mentioned it in their 2002 hit. 

2. Eurovision comes to Liverpool. Sam Ryder’s Spaceman saw the UK finish in its best position since 1998 (Imaani - Where are you?). The UK finish second for a record 16th time, losing out to Ukraine. The winners usually host the following year’s events, but with the current war in Ukraine, the UK has been honored to host in 2023. Enter Liverpool. After putting forward a strong bid, Liverpool, the home of The Beatles was selected as the city to host the event in May. 

Allez Allez Allez for the UK Entry?

3. King Charles III Coronation In September 2022 the UK was in national mourning after the death of Queen Elizabeth !!, thus bringing her glorious reign, which spanned over seven decades, to an end. This means King Charles has taken the reins and his coronation, with Camilla as Queen Consort, will take place in early May at Westminster Abbey.

Just remember to sing God Save the King from now on.

4. The Lionesses Take on the World.  The Euro'scame home in 2022 when the Lionesses defeated Germany i nthe final, 2-1. Goals from Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly sealed the result. Legends were made in the Euro's, particularly Sports Personality of the Year winner: Beth Mead.

This time, Lionesses will travel down under for the Fifa World Cup with the hope and faith of the country behind them. Sarina Weigman remains unbeaten as England Head Coach since taking over the role in September 2021. 

Can she continue her global dominance in July and bring the World Cup home? This is a definite must-watch in 2023.

5. The Doctor is… Who? Okay, this one could just be me geeking out, but David Tennant is reprising his role as Doctor Who for three episodes in November before handing over to Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa.

Russell T. Davies, the man who brought Doctor Who back onto our screens in 2005 before leaving in 2010 will also return as the show runner and we are all buzzing with anticipation. Since his departure we have seen two show-runners (Steve Moffat and Chris Chibnall) and three Doctors (Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, and Jodie Whittaker).

Whatever your thoughts on their performances save them for a Reddit or Twitter thread, there will be no conflict here.

And there you have it, five things to be excited about in 2023. Are you happy with the list? Did I miss something? Did I add something I shouldn’t have? Let me know in the comments below.

Oh… and have an amazing year.

Hi 🤗, 3, 11 and 19 for the end of the year ask game?

3. Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year?

They may not have taken over my whole life, like BC did last year lol, but thanks to UMK/Eurovision 2022, I discovered The Rasmus! 🐯

11. Something you want to do again next year?

Hmm…I hope Måneskin will have another US tour! I had fun seeing them last month, but if they come again, I want to get floor tickets this time 🤔

19. What’re you excited about for next year?

I’m gonna see Blind Channel in Denver! :D

SUMMER IN THE CITY 2022 (Vingio Parkas, Lithuania): A SUMMARY

Pre-show(s)

• I passed by a cute poster from a child for Måneskin 🥺 • I got immensely thirsty so I had to leave the fanzone section several times to get water (additionally I bought a kibin and fries with ketchup) • my eyeliner exploded on my eye in a way so I had to find a tissue but instead I got gauze from the ambulance tent and that sufficed • I ended up taking a selfie with a woman with the same shirt as me • thank God for the special bracelets of the event, otherwise I would have likely had not been let in the fanzone if I had to show tickets, cuz I noticed I immediately lost it lol • the most worn colour in clothing was green and idk why • long rows to get beer, that’s why there were lots of beer-selling tents from the one sponsor I s’pose • there was a place that required an extra bracelet for entrance, and one that required an electronic/vape cigarette jautì • great band to discover! energy abound • would recommend them to go to our Eurovision NF just for the fun of it lol • love the on screen graphics and how they seem to incorporate a lot of texting art • their music alternates between fun and moody • the bassist kinda reminded me of Ariel Pink with that pink blonde hair omg • blue was a prominent colour for some performances ig • the band said they were always asked of why are they writing about love so they wrote an entire current album they have recently released about love • Monika Liu, who performed with them on the last song. Queen • Monika was astounded for how many people were there to watch the concert, highlighting this fact while performing not once, but twice • she put her entire Liussy in this performance • another person they sang with is Gabrielė Vilkickytė (our 2017 Eurovision NF participant) • all the members are so damn fine wtf • the band lowkey promised they will be at one of the merchstands in one of the white tents... yeah I checked and I couldn’t see them for the life of me Daddy Was a Milkman • only later did I remember this was a one-man project, and it felt like it because his touring band didn’t create a band feeling • they firstly largely played indie music that I don’t remember them being known for but they maybe actually were • and when they played electronic music, GOD they were GOOD at it • during one of the songs the singer asked the audience if they’re waiting for the next act’s concert (Justinas Jarutis) and of course if we all waited for Måneskin (which received the loudest cheer lol) • their graphics were absolutely lithuania (without the “huania”) • overall a decent enough set! they have a mostly English repertoire but it’s not so bad Justinas Jarutis • his artist logo was written in the Stranger Things font?? supposedly??? but it didn’t look like a Stranger Things logo because it was not in red neon • he seemed to be such a flirt, he made a small wink to those at him on the catwalk part of the stage • one of his backing singers was Rūta Loop (the gal from our Eurovision national selections of 2018, 2020 and 2022) • during his performances, there were air balloons flying all above and it felt gorgeous • he apparently performed some song more than once because he really loved it, and also brought in an unreleased-ish song too. the power of having to hear the exclusives, it’s sheer fun • one of the two acts to take a moment to remind us of Ukraine, saying the “Slava Ukraini” phrase at the end of his speech and I barely heard anyone responding back so I shouted back the “Heroyam slava” at him • what followed up was a somber song, idk if it was that one about Ukraine that so many singers teamed up to sing on or some other one • he has this one currently very known song in the nation with a singer called Jessica Shy, titled “Rugpjūtis” (August) and the audience really loved singing it along. I only heard it once in a meme so I only knew to sing along to the part that I saw as a meme lol. The audience really effing loved it, no doubt • fabulous set The Vaccines • somehow I felt like their lead singer Justin felt like and even kind of sounded and looked like Damon Albarn (a bit more so in his prime) from afar of my seeing • I think I heard Justin attempting to say “hello” in Lithuanian and it was cute • Justin was the only one to say the name of the festival (Summer in the City) out loud. Twice. No other act really cared about this festival’s name at all apparently or something • also was the one to constantly remind us that we’re waiting for Måneskin • the entire band felt like charismatic little guys, lead singer Justin the most so, I loved how he moved a lot around the stage, but I think he was rarely on the catwalk part of it • I shouldn’t have exhausted my camera on this band because I was filming at least one bit of almost each one and every of their songs in hopes that one of them is “If You Wanna”, and now I have no bloody idea which one of them was “If You Wanna” • there was this dude near me who I think was a bit of a fan of the band, claiming to know their every single song that’s performed on stage • overall a lovely band, would recommend them to the last few ppl who hadn’t seen them

Måneskin • before they went on, a lot of the audience were yelling their name several times and screaming when some guy was filming or showcasing the audience • Damiano said something random at the microphone before performing, idk what was that but it was random • I SCREAMED MY ASS OFF to a lot of the songs lmaooooo, most notably when “Zitti e buoni” chorus came on, then some of “Coraline”, then some of In nome del padre, then a bunch of others, such as “Beggin’”, their cover of “Womanizer” (yes really they did that song), “Mammamia” and ”I Wanna Be Your Slave”. Cannot recall the rest • also “Zitti e buoni”, the VERY first song, is when my camera died, and Damiano didn’t even start singing the verses yet 😭 • Damiano splashed the nearest audience with his waterbottles. Twice. • Damiano saying something akin to “this is the first time we’re here so we’ll be judgy/judging” addressing this to the audience • so much of Victoria and Thomas action in the catwalk part of the stage!! • Damiano being on top of Thomas at some point I think • Damiano’s shirt hanging onto him for its dear life • Thomas looking lovely with his fit and a cute little beret ;3 • someone there came in with balloons that said “MÅ” that were coloured red and white. also someone held a poster (or two people did that) saying “I love you more than pizza” 🤣 • Damiano playing with a stage light and flashing it around the audience during the extended “For Your Love” guitar solo (iirc) • they played 3 covers (aside “Beggin’” of course), one was Britney’s “Womanizer”, the other being “My Generation” I think (or some song with those lyrics because I have no idea wtf was that song and it couldn’t be “Touch Me”), and some song by Iggy Pop. didn’t rly care for the Iggy Pop cover lol • Damiano at some point saying that either his voice is tired or just in general hinted that they will perform a slower song next. I was screaming “CORALINE” (with its English spelling cuz I’m a dumbass) while ppl around me seemingly wanted “Torna a casa”??? And when they played “Coraline” I felt satisfied as hell, hah! 😝 • “big” stage dive moment for Thomas during “I Wanna Be Your Slave” • we had to lower down for some part of “I Wanna Be Your Slave”, and after a while, we had to be constantly jumping cuz Damiano wanted us to • the way Damiano said “ARE YOU READY” several times but never played said song, that’s so them • it took me forever to recognize “Gasoline” when they were playing it, I’m so embarrassed of myself • the Britney cover was a perfect choice for all this time because Damiano IS a “womanizer”, but while they were singing it, I could not stop thinking about the Franz Ferdinand version of that song • the band members left the stage before the last song and we all started singing the football chant they themselves were singing in the winners’ press conference. lmao the power of turning the “Seven Nation Army” riff into a sing-alongable chant • a drone was flown by some guy to give us some one photo captured on Instagram to show just how fucking many of us were in that open air stage • ABOUT THE BIG “FANS ON STAGE MOMENT”: I wasn’t admitted to get on there but I helped the last fan to hop over the security fence leading to the stage (I hope that this is not the 33 year old woman who grabbed Damiano...), and then no more were admitted lol. I couldn’t see the big grabby moment cuz I focused on everyone having so much fun (including the MÅ balloons girl and two ladies with one Ukrainian flag on one of them and one Icelandic flag on another one of them) Jovani

• played after all the acts for what can I only assume an afternight special • didn’t get to focus on seeing his set because I had to leave the park as soon as Måneskin finished performing (but not before buying an IWBYS shirt) • what I heard is that he played loads of “classics” and yelled on songs sometimes like a regular DJ does Post-show • litter everywhere • in general I saw myself on the audience shot section on the stage screens 2-3 times • me seeing security prompted me to quote this one Tananai instastory that became an in-joke among my Twitter-circle of friends • I asked some woman what time is it, she didn’t “look it up”, we didn’t have a great convo and then she ran off to somewhere • my phone died so I called through 2 phones of other people to get me away from the park • like I said, I also bought an additional Måneskin shirt which was too big for my size so now I’ll have it as a pyjama

UMK top 3 worst and best stagings (recent years)

All Eurovision fans out there know that the staging is half of the performance and it can either kill you or raise you. 

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu has had a track record of producing both over the recent years. Here are my top three for each category. The performances do not appear in my favourite order! 

TOP3 THE BEST UMK STAGINGS that have managed to elevate the songs : 

The Rasmus - Jezebel (2022 UMK winner)

Despite of being the biggest favourite when going in to UMK last year The Rasmus’ song didn’t quite reach the hights as a studio cut. However, the playful and colourful live performance elevated this one for me

Akseli Kankaanranta - Looking back (2020 winner) 

Akseli pushed through passed the fan favourite Cicciolina back in 2020 with his well balanced and stylish live performance! 

NormaJohn - Blackbird (UMK 2017 winner) 

Back in 2017 Blackbird left many people cold with its studio cut but when performed live.... the emotion was real and very atmospheric! 

TOP3 THE WORST UMK STAGINGS that have ruined the song’s success in the contest : 

Bess - Ram pam pam (UMK 2022)

Bess Ram Pam Pam eventually became the biggest hit in Finland last year but her UMK staging ended up being messy, confusing and not meeting the hype of the song before going in to the UMK live. 

Erika Vikman - Cicciolina (UMK 2020)

Can someone explain me what those bears and forest do on the same stage with sinful Cicciolina? This performance made no sense to me at all. Not then or not now. 

Saara Aalto - Monsters (winning song in 2018) 

Despite of winning the entry ticket to Lisbon’s Eurovision back in 2018 Monsters live performance was complex to start with. I liked the beginning with the cape and all but they ended up adding here too many elements (this got worse in Lisbon). 

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu Final takes place tomorrow February 25th on Yle Areena at 9pm (FIN time zone)! Let’s see how the seven acts will do and if fan favourites are able to keep their positions!

🇳🇱 Junior Songfestival 2023 Final to take place on September 23

🇳🇱 In just over 3 months, we will know which act will represent The #Netherlands at #JuniorEurovision 2023, as it was revealed that the final of @jrsongfestival will take place on September 23. #JESC2023

After selecting Luna to represent them at Junior Eurovision 2022 in Yerevan, The Netherlands was one of the first countries to confirm its participation in 2023. Now, we know that the next Dutch representative will be selected on September 23. Tickets are now on sale Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has now opened ticket sales for the final, which will take place at the RTM Stage Ahoy, which has been…

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Sweden at Eurovision 2023: Loreen with “Tattoo”

Former Eurovision Champion Loreen is Back For Another Shot at The Crown.

Loreen is the bookmakers favourite to win Eurovision 2023. She earned the Swedish ticket to Liverpool by winning Melodifestivalen 2023, beating out Norwegian twin superstars Marcus & Martinus and Ukrainian singer Maria Sur.

Loreen told wiwibloggs her vision is to create something new for her fans. She said: “I want you guys to feel something and I have three minutes to make you feel something. My focus is just there — what do I need to do, how can I do it, what do I want to say”.

What Do The “Tattoo” Lyrics Mean?

Loreen co-wrote “Tattoo” alongside Peter Boström and Thomas G:son — the team behind her Eurovision 2012 song “Euphoria” — and Melfest songwriting veterans Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt and Jimmy Jansson. Also credited is Moa Carlebecker, who competed in Melodifestivalen 2022 under her stage name Cazzi Opeia with the song “I Can’t Get Enough”.

“Tattoo” is a dark dance-pop track about holding on to love through pain. Despite proclaiming “it’s time to say goodbye”, Loreen says “this is not the end” and there will come a time when she and the subject of the song are reunited. With lyrics like “I don’t care about the pain, I’ll walk through fire and through rain”, Loreen promises she’ll do whatever it takes to get back to her love.

The “Tattoo” stage show is inspired by Loreen’s nomadic heritage. She told wiwibloggs: “I am from the mountains, so I felt like I wanted to created this nature-ly environment.” She continued: “Beautiful elements like stone and sand and sky and all these beautiful things that we sometimes forget”.

“Tattoo” lyrics — Loreen (Sweden Eurovision 2023)

Songwriters: Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Jimmy Jansson, Loreen, Moa “Cazzi Opeia” Carlebecker, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son

I don’t wanna go

But baby we both know

This is not our time

It’s time to say goodbye

Until we meet again

‘Cause this is not the end

It will come a day

When we will find our way

Violins playing and the angels crying

When the stars align then I’ll be there

No I don’t care about them all

‘Cause all I want is to be loved

And all I care about is you

You’re stuck on me like a tattoo

No I don’t care about the pain

I’ll walk through fire and through rain

Just to get closer to you

You’re stuck on me like a tattoo

I’m letting my hair down

I’m taking it cool

You got my heart in your hand

Don’t lose it my friend

It’s all that I got

Violins playing and the angels crying

When the stars align then I’ll be there

No I don’t care about them all

‘Cause all I want is to be loved

And all I care about is you

You’re stuck on me like a tattoo

No I don’t care about the pain

I’ll walk through fire and through rain

Just to get closer to you

You’re stuck on me like a tattoo

No I don’t care about them all

‘Cause all I want is to be loved

And all I care about is you

You’re stuck on me like a tattoo

No I don’t care about the pain

I’ll walk through fire and through rain

Just to get closer to you

You’re stuck on me like a tattoo

All I care about is love

Oh oh oh

All I care about is love

You’re stuck on me like a tattoo

Eurovision 2023: Tickets for song contest in Liverpool to go on sale next week | UK News

Tickets for nine live shows for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will go on sale next week. It will take place in Liverpool in May after the UK was chosen to host the competition on behalf of the war-torn 2022 winners, Ukraine. The UK came second in last year’s contest. Fans hoping to see one of six previews and three televised shows at the Liverpool ACC will need to head to Ticketmaster’s…

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I posted 24,235 times in 2022

That's 6,648 more posts than 2021!

95 posts created (0%)

24,140 posts reblogged (100%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@elytrians

@azdesertwillow

@primeemeraldheiress

@eighthdoctor

I tagged 1,799 of my posts in 2022

#pure 24k gold - 53 posts

#goncharov - 30 posts

#for future reference - 27 posts

#omfg - 25 posts

#laisai talks about life - 24 posts

#eurovision - 24 posts

#unreality - 23 posts

#signal boost - 23 posts

#writing - 21 posts

#psa - 20 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#alkjdsflasdkfjd i need to see what my neopets password was. if its the same as anything else i need to change that other website's password

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

The OTW/AO3 Election is over

and I am going to mute my notifications now.

Go check the results here: https://www.transformativeworks.org/results-of-the-2022-board-election/ -- no, Tiffany did not win a seat.

The OTW has weathered worse than what people were scared of (like an entire Board of Directors being actively hostile to the volunteers: https://fanlore.org/wiki/OTW_2015_Board_Election or this reddit write-up) and AO3 still carried on as usual (this was 2015. I noticed nothing and I was using AO3 religiously at the time).

I won't deny that there were valid worries and concerns raised during this election, but as I've stated many, MANY times, what I am tired of seeing is overblown, exaggerated, and misinformed concerns.

We're all going to be fine, and AO3 is going to be fine. The intense response and scrutiny we had the last few days only proves that the system works. It was a good stress test and the results were positive.

There's nothing more I can add.

Good night <3

110 notes - Posted August 15, 2022

#4

See the full post

317 notes - Posted June 11, 2022

#3

I posted this ages ago when I first got my cat Míriel and I'm posting it again because I want to BLAZE IT. SHE DESERVES TO BE SEEN. ACCEPT HER HUGS!

...if I can figure out how this blaze thing works. 👀

368 notes - Posted April 20, 2022

#2

I'm blazing another post of my cat Míriel because I can. Look at her tiny paws!! I love when she sleeps and feels comfy enough to stretch her paws out like in the top pic. Best feeling ever <3

567 notes - Posted May 11, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

So this OTW Election drama is getting out of hand...

I see a lot of panic and fearmongering, and I think some facts need to be stated to help put things into perspective.

The OTW, which operates AO3, has yearly elections for the Board of Directors. This is position which is occupied by SEVEN PEOPLE total. You can see the members of the current board here: https://www.transformativeworks.org/board-directors/

The entire Board of Directors works together to oversee the OTW as a whole. They cannot and also do not oversee the details of day-to-day operations, such as your tags being wrangled, or keeping track of donations, or responding to support tickets, or keeping the servers working, etc. (https://elections.transformativeworks.org/what-the-board-does/)

Therefore, ONE person being elected to the Board will not be able to completely shift the direction and goals of the OTW as a whole. You would need a 4 person majority at the very least, and the maximum number of seats up for election in any year is usually 3.

The requirements for running for the Board are fairly simple: 9 months in the previous year as a volunteer (everyone in the OTW, including Board members, are volunteers), not being in the Elections committee, being a legal adult, and being a paying member (basically the same as being a voter in the election). More info: https://elections.transformativeworks.org/becoming-candidate/

There is no nomination process or any sort of internal popularity contest at play here. Any views being expressed by a candidate therefore doesn't mean anything about the OTW's culture internally as a whole.

There is a period of time before the election where all eligible voters get emails at the same email address they will send the ballots to, with instructions to a mock-up page of the ballot so that people can work out technical issues if needed. People who need accommodations for any reason are also able to request them during this period weeks before the election. So asking for a "tech testing" period before the election happens is... pointless. It's already there!

Asking for more "screening" of candidates is reasonable on the surface, but the truth is, it could be ripe for abuse by people in charge of the process. Sure, perhaps the people who put these rules into place won't use the process badly, but who's to say nobody will ever be tempted to do so? It could lead to a Board and Elections Committee that works together to keep new ideas and changes in the OTW from ever coming to fruition. Just imagine the Board of Directors we hate in movies: old white men in suits who never want anything to change, and only let in people who are just like them. Also -- the reason we have elections AT ALL is so everyone gets a voice in how the OTW will run.

This isn't like the US Election (or British, or wherever you are) where your vote is one drop in an ocean of millions. The OTW and AO3 are actually not that big in the wider world, and that means each vote counts more. Also, the ranked voting system means peoples' votes can count towards their second- or third-favourite candidate, or so on. It's not all or nothing here!

I know a lot of people are worried seeing what seems like anti views coming from "within" the OTW itself, but it is still one person out of hundreds. People are always going to have varying opinions; the GOOD thing is that people are voting against opinions that they don't agree with. That means the voting process is working.

There is a conversation to be had, perhaps, about changing some policies and requirements for candidates and members future elections. But right now? Breathe.

There is no risk of the AO3 censoring and banning fic overnight, even if you personally cannot vote this year. After all, the candidates weren't revealed until after everyone donated, and we know antis would never give AO3 their money.

(And for the conspiracists out there: ballot-stuffing is not 100% impossible, but EXTREMELY UNLIKELY. You would need to have paid 10$ donations for HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of fake people (which is $$$$) months in advance and also set up hundreds/thousands of email accounts for all these fake people, or for real people with nefarious aims. The reason we know the moon landing wasn't faked is because that many people could not have realistically kept a secret for that long. We would have heard whispers about it. The same applies here. This entire debacle came out of left field over the course of a few days!

And all that work, for ONE member who can't unilaterally change anything? Please.)

4,662 notes - Posted August 13, 2022

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I posted 1,422 times in 2022

That's 30 more posts than 2021!

40 posts created (3%)

1,382 posts reblogged (97%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@raedear

@phakphumm

@cobrilee

@cacchieressa

@onemuseleft

I tagged 1,110 of my posts in 2022

Only 22% of my posts had no tags

#sandman - 99 posts

#luca marinelli - 44 posts

#😍 - 28 posts

#😂 - 25 posts

#sandman spoilers - 21 posts

#dream of the endless - 18 posts

#star wars - 18 posts

#damiano david - 16 posts

#måneskin - 15 posts

#tog - 14 posts

Longest Tag: 133 characters

#my girl scout troop had kool-aid banned on overnight trips because basically everyone started coming back with different colored hair

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Welcome to Eurovision.

Here’s how it goes. Every year, forty-something  countries serve up musical interpretations of a theme that sounds like knockoff body spray - this year it’s The Sound of Beauty. Almost anything goes except subtext.

-All the Best Things About Europe with None of the Genocide

Wait, hold up. Eurovision has a theme? I have so. Many. Questions. Who decides the theme? What happens if someone decides a country doesn't follow the theme? Does that country get points off? Are there more points for nailing a theme?

5 notes - Posted May 15, 2022

#4

Bored at work, started looking at Måneskin’s tour schedule, and apparently Chicago got added at some point??? Not sure I can go because there are a lot of flashing lights in videos I’ve seen and I wouldn’t handle that well. Looked at LiveNation anyway to see what tickets are like (very reasonable for Chicago) and, um,

Seriously? Does the band know that? 😂

5 notes - Posted July 26, 2022

#3

Saw a guy earlier wearing this shirt. And that is how I found out there's a children's hospital only a mile from me. I wish I were kidding.

5 notes - Posted October 22, 2022

#2

I really, really want this wine I found at the grocery store. But I really, really don’t want to pay $38 for it. Where’s a tasting when you need one? 😂

6 notes - Posted October 9, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I went to Target today, which is obviously filling up with Pride merch for June, plus the one I went to is about a block away from Northalsted/Boystown/LGBTQ+ area that no one can agree on the name for. (TBH, the reluctance to change names, even when it's warranted, seems to be a Chicago tic.) As I was walking out, a sales associate held up a black shirt with a pink triangle that said "Silence = Death" and asked, "This seems a bit morbid, no?" I mean, it is, but he genuinely didn't know what it was referencing. His coworker corrected him, and I had to leave before I started a history lesson, but. I see so many posts on here with young LGBTQ+ people not knowing their history. This kid works a block from where the LGBTQ+ part of town officially starts. The crosswalks are painted in Pride flag colors. There are plaques and monuments all over the area for LGBTQ+ figures from Chicago history. There's an AIDS garden going in a few blocks east by the lake. Everyone should know what a pink triangle and "Silence = Death" means, whether they identify as LGBTQ+ or not, but in an area of the city that has the history literally written into the sidewalks, it's vital.

Learn your history, kids. It's important.

40 notes - Posted May 14, 2022

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Tweeted

RT @scattermoon: So UK folk getting excited about having Eurovision here, there's something I need to make very clear to you very early on. You probably won't get tickets. But that doesn't mean you can't still join the party! Let me explain:

— B e r n i e ☕️🌈 (@groovybernie) Jul 27, 2022