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wooataes · 8 months

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Real Eyes, Fake Lies (Part Six)

Pairing: soulmate!Lee Jihoon x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2.7K

Warnings: angst, Hanahaki!AU, filler chapter before next big plot point 👀, Marvel spoilers i guess?? Jihoon sucks when it comes to talking about things, sus Jeonghan, swearing, feelings of self doubt?

Summary: What do you do when you find out the one person that was created by the universe to be yours doesn’t want you back?

A/N: Just a short little filler chapter for you guys before the next big plot point! A few cute little moments and a lay off the angst for a bit too! Some new characters will drop next chapter, and I can’t wait for you all to read! Thank you all for loving this story as much as I love writing it 🫶🏼

-Tae 💜✨

If you’d like to be tagged, shoot through an ask!

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Y/N: Meet me at the auditorium after you finish class? I’ll be helping the Jeongyeon and the girls with their Vocal project and then we can go to the library.

Jihoon rereads your text for the fifth time as he makes his way towards the auditorium with a sigh, looking up at the sky as the sun tries to peek out from behind the clouds. It’s a Friday afternoon, Ji-ah has just sent him off with a kiss and a smile as she leaves campus to take the train back home to her family as per usual, leaving him alone for the weekend. He winces into direct sunlight with a scowl before trudging inside the large building.

Jihoon blinks at the sound of five distinct voices harmonizing together on the empty stage, and he recognizes that the voices belonged to your five girlfriends, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Momo, Dahyun and Nayeon. He spots you sitting at the piano at the side of the stage, playing a simple melody as the girls sing into the empty theatre. He is captivated at how well the girls’ voices all blend together.

“Heaven forbid someone whisper ‘he’s part of some scheme’,” Jihyo sings. “Your enemy whispers,”

“So you have to scream!” The girls harmonize, and Jihoon’s eyes widen as you sing alongside them from the piano, still playing flawlessly.

“I know about whispers,” Momo’s voice is soft and delicate.

“I see how you look at my sister...” Your voice is clear as a bell as your voice projects through the room. Jihoon feels like time has stopped as he hears you.

“Don’t!”

“I’m not naive, I have seen women around you,” Dahyun’s voice is deep and angry, singing with emotion, your voice harmonizing behind her. He can’t keep his eyes off you.

“Don’t think I don’t see how they fall for your charms,” Jeongyeon and Jihyo sing together, facing each other and locking eyes.

“All of your charms!” Everyone sings together.

They’re good, Jihoon thinks to himself. Really good.

“I’m erasing myself from the narrative,” the girls all sing in a ladder, overlapping each other with precision.

“Let future historians wonder how Eliza reacted when you broke her heart,” their harmonies are on point, Jihoon can feel goosebumps rise on his skin.

“You have thrown it all away, stand back and watch it,”

“Burn~”

The harmony echoes through the empty seats, Jihoon now sitting at the end of the front row to listen.

“Just watch it all burn,” he keeps his eyes on you, singing full heartedly as you keep playing the piano without missing a beat. Your eyes are glued to the sheet music in front of you as the rest of the girls stay put in their spot.

Jihoon stays quiet in stunned silence as you, alongside your friends sing the rest of the song together in perfect harmony. He’s shocked at how polished the performance is, you all have clearly put a lot of time and effort into it.

“If you thought you were mine,” it’s almost like the girls were competing with each other for the best belt for the finale, but at the same time their voices overlapping fits the song perfectly.

“Don’t.” The song stops sharply and abruptly.

The girls are all looking expectantly at you, and you turn on the chair to smile at them.

“I think you’re ready.” You beam. “Like seriously, that was the best you’ve all sounded yet.”

“Really?” Momo smiles back at you, taking both of your hands in hers.

“Really!” You nod excitedly.

“I personally think we only sound this good because of you.” Jihyo smirks, hugging around you from behind, your laugh echoing in the room as she plants a kiss on your cheek gratefully.

“Oh hush, you.” You swat her hands playfully as the others laugh with you.

Your laugh is foreign to Jihoon, but he wouldn’t mind hearing it more often, he decides.

“I agree with Ji.” Jeongyeon hums, bumping her hip with yours. “Your voice was just what we needed to make it perfect. It’s a shame that you have to hide behind that big piano though. We need you center stage with those golden pipes.”

“Then who else will play the music, silly?” You snark back, smiling.

“We can easily find a backing track, miss smarty pants.” Dahyun raises her eyebrow as Nayeon points to her with wide eyes.

“She has a point, Bug.”

“And risk the performance fucking up because we trusted a machine?” You cross your arms with a pout. “I’m happy behind the piano, you know that.”

“Excuse me!” Jihyo’s voice now booms towards your soulmate, who was now sitting up, startled at the volume of her voice. “This is a closed practice! Women only!”

“I..”

“Yah! Have some decorum!” You throw a bottle of water at her with a laugh. “It’s just Jihoon. We need to go study for Film Studies.”

You roll your eyes with a grin as all the girls rush to grab you. But you’re faster, jumping off the edge of the stage and leaning beside Jihoon with your backpack in hand.

“No fair! You don’t get to steal her away!” Momo whines and stomps her foot, making you laugh and wave at the girls.

“Unfortunately, he does. Unless you want me to fail and stay behind for a year.” You smirk as they all relent. “Good job today, my loves! Same time next week yeah?” You blow them all kisses as they repeat the gesture back to them. “Sorry, did I take too long?” You ask your soulmate quietly as he trails out of the auditorium behind you.

“Uhh, no.” He finds his voice after a beat of silence, cheeks slightly pink. “Not at all.” Your angelic voice is still ringing in his ears.

“Sorry about them,” You wave your hand back at the building. “They tend to make goodbyes a drawn out affair so I tried to be quick.”

“It’s fine.” He nods, and you release a breath you didn’t realize you were holding, walking to the campus library with Jihoon in silence.

Jihoon watches you from the corner of his eye as you walk together, suddenly more withdrawn and quiet. If you were a flower, Jihoon would’ve thought you just wilted right in front of him.

“Do you think people will sit back and think about that?”

“This is exactly what this project is about!” You chirp, pushing the laptop towards him. “Think about it. Tony Stark is obviously a fan favourite, both in the comics and the cinematic universe.” You’re pointing out graphs on the screen. “Everyone was on his side when Civil War came out. I bet you were too.”

“I mean, yeah, I suppose.” Jihoon raises his eyebrow at you.

“Which brings me back to my point.” This is the most animated he’s seen you be towards him, scribbling down on a notebook in front of you both. “Bucky is not to blame for Tony’s parents death. Yes, he is the one who caused their deaths, but he was under the mind control of Hydra. He was not in his right mind to control his own decision making due to the fact he was literally being controlled by these crazy bastards.”

Jihoon opens his mouth to speak.

“I know what you’re about to say,” you counter before he speaks. “You’re going to say ‘but he still did it.’ I mean, he did do it but if I hypnotized you to be a killing machine that you literally couldn’t stop yourself from being said killing machine, would you have the power to stop me? The answer is no. Bucky didn’t deserve the witch-hunt he was faced with, and Steve was completely justified in protecting his best friend. Bucky even felt guilty about it when Tony confronted him.”

“Tony was Steve’s friend too, though.”

“Who he knew for what, five minutes?” You quip back. “If your childhood best friend made a mistake and spent his entire life in agony against his will, tried to defend himself from your new friend of two years, who would you be picking?”

“… you make a point, Choi.” He hums, nodding his head sagely. “Yeah, okay, this is good. This will get them talking.”

“And it’s perfect, because we can discuss both sides!” You smile. “Even though I’m on Bucky’s side.”

Jihoon lets out a chuckle, with a little smile on his face. “I’m happy with that idea if you are?”

“Really?” You sit up straight, blinking owlishly. “You don’t have any ideas?”

“I mean, I had a few ideas but they were all pretty one sided. This idea works well because we can say the views from both sides.”

You blink again before giving Jihoon a little smile. His heart skips a beat involuntarily. “Okay, let’s do that then.”

“I can work on the Stark side and you can work on the Barnes side and we can discuss?” Jihoon pulls out his own pen and paper, starting to jot down a few notes. “We should only do a few ideas now and next week we can meet up to watch the film to draw out some points.”

“Sounds good to me.”

You nod your head quickly as you both get to work, the only sounds between you both being your pens and the occasional clicking of the keyboard of the laptop between you both.

Every so often, Jihoon feels like he can feel your eyes on him, but every time he sneaks a glance, your eyes are firmly on your notebook, diligently writing line after line of dot points on your page. It must be his imagination.

Every few moments, he spots you reaching up and rubbing at a spot on your collarbone like you have an itch, and he feels his curiosity growing but decided to leave it be for the sake of the project.

“I heard you were helping out with auditions..” you trail off softly as you walk by Jihoon’s side, two hours after your study session had begun. The sun is setting in the sky now as you shove your hands in your pockets. You’re standing on the outer side of the sidewalk, feet ghosting over the lip of where the concrete meets the road.

“Sure am.” He drawls, kicking at a rock on the pavement. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, no reason,” You shake your head quickly. “I was just going to ask how it’s going.” Your eyes stay focussed on your feet. Jihoon spots your neck flushing pink.

“It’s not bad.” He shrugs. “But I don’t know how you can work with some of those actors. Almost all of them can’t sing for shit.”

You let out a cough as you seemingly choke on your own saliva, a laugh escaping your throat. “They’re not that bad, Jihoon-ssi.”

Jihoon feels like it’s so formal when you address him now. There is still the occasional moment you will call him simply Jihoon, but never Oppa. Not since the incident.

“They are bad when you have to hear the same rendition of ‘Mamma Mia! Here I go again. My my, how can I resist you?’ for four hours.” He groans, your amused smile growing on your lips as he speaks. “Why didn’t any of your friends audition? They sound a whole lot better than anyone else who sang.”

At the mention of your friends, you perk up a bit. “Believe me, I’ve tried. But they’re happy in their little show choir. I insisted that they would easily get the main role if they just showed up to audition, but they argued with me every step of the way.” You sigh, shrugging your shoulders. “So, I gave up.”

“Hmm, pity.” He hums. “It would’ve been better than who they’re deciding for callbacks.”

You nod along with him, and just as you’re about to respond, Jihoon beats you to the punch.

“You would’ve been good, too.”

Your cheeks immediately flush a deep red, turning your head to look away. “Uhh, thanks.”

“I mean, it isn’t a compliment.” Jihoon retorts. Your shoulders sag. “Well, I mean… it is, I suppose.” He immediately tries to mend things. “But coming from someone who sadly has perfect pitch, you, Jeongyeon and the others were the best singers I’ve heard all month.”

“Thank you, Jihoon-ssi.” You smile softly at your soulmate before flinching and taking a quick step towards him.

You were standing a bit too close to the road as a car sped past you, almost knocking you off your feet if it wasn’t for Jihoon to catch you by the loop of your backpack. He swiftly maneuvers you to walk on the inside of the path, now standing in your original spot without blinking an eye or missing a stride.

“It’s fine.” He acts like nothing happened. “And, if it’s too much for your rehearsal, or whatever.. I’ve been trained in piano since I was in middle school. So, uh… I could play the backing track for you if you wanted to focus on singing with the girls… if you wanted.” It was his turn to turn red as he walked, stammering. He truly didn’t intend on offering this to you, he just let it slip out like word vomit. “I don’t have anything to do after school on Friday’s since Ji-ah usually leaves for her family, so I mean if you guys wanted I could help out.”

He was babbling and probably repeating himself now. Oh god, can you please shut him up.

“Oh..” your eyes are wide as you stare at him. “I mean, I can check with the girls… but are you sure? You really don’t have to if you don’t want to.” Jihoon feels it. Your nerves begin to swirl in the pit of your stomach, the doubt and worry running through you as you question everything.

“It’s fine.” He insists. “Really, I love playing the piano anyway so this is just like a holiday for me. Honest.”

“Then, yeah.. sure.” You nod slowly as your walking slows as you reach the block before your house. “I’ll ask the girls and see. Thank you.”

“Sure.” He hums, hands stuffed deep in his pockets.

“And… uh… before you leave.” You pause at your front gate. Jihoon stops and turns to face you, eyebrows raised in curiosity. “Soonie told me to ask you… usually this time of year leading up to Cheol’s birthday, we usually go on a big camping trip. This year we’re going to Busan and Jeonghan has told us to invite anyone who we think would want to go.”

You’re kicking at the invisible dust on the ground. “Soonie knew I was meeting up with you for the project so he told me to ask if you and Ji-ah want to come. It’s in a couple of weeks from now so you don’t have to decide yet, but the offer is there.”

“Oh, that sounds fun.” He nods slowly. “I’m from Busan, so that’d be nice.”

“And you guys wouldn’t have to worry about getting a ride there!” You insist quickly. “Jeonghan is hiring a bus so you guys can just tag along- wait, what did you say?”

“It’d be fun..?” Jihoon repeats himself before you let his words process through your brain. You blink and nod your head quickly.

“Oh, okay. Good.” You step inside the gate. “I’ll get Soonie to text you the details?”

“Sounds good, thanks.” Your soulmate nods again, a ghost of a smile on his face.

“Thanks for walking me home, Jihoon-ssi. Have a good night.” You bowed your head before turning around, rushing to the front door of your home.

“Goodnight.” Jihoon mumbles, the door already closed behind you. Once he knows you’re not going to go out again, he turns around and continues his walk home.

“Ladybug? Is that you?” You hear Jeonghan’s voice coming from the kitchen.

“Yeah. It’s just me, Oppa.” You call back, stepping into the room and giving him a quick hug.

“It’s late. Did you walk home on your own?” Seungcheol steps into the room at the sound of your voice, hand on his hip.

“No, I had to study with Jihoon-ssi, remember?” You lean against the counter with a little smile. “He walked me home, it’s on his way.”

“Oh, how chivalrous of him.” He cooed playfully, making you roll your eyes.

“Oh please.” You wave your hand. “He probably only did it because you would’ve murdered him if he didn’t walk me home, or had someone organized to get me.”

“This is true.” Your brother smirks, reaching out and ruffling your hair. You have a small smile on your face that doesn’t go unnoticed by Jeonghan, who watched you with a raised brow.

“Hannie-Oppa,” you turn to said man. “Jihoon and Ji-ah are confirmed to be coming to Busan too, Soonie invited them.”

“Ji-ah?” Cheol asks, tilting his head.

“His girlfriend.” You mutter, Jeonghan’s eyebrows raising so high up that he’s surprised they haven’t touched the ceiling.

Girlfriend. Interesting.

Real Eyes, Fake Lies Taglist

@cinnamoroxie @enhacolor @mikachu-chu @jojowantstocry @changbinisms @scarlet789 @i-dont-give-a-fok @im-gemmy @shookyungsoo @ametheyistheart @friendlywraith @kawennote09 @coupddeongie @sunooschubbycheeks @zgzgzh @mar-627 @side-angel @kuleo26 @deltamoon666 @snowgirlfallen @lixiel0ver @phenomenalgirl9 @weebotakuboy @sumzysworld @vixensss @seokmatchu @etaerealboy @milopenne @jinyoungie0922 @chickenscoups @zadkielr

#lee jihoon x reader #seventeen angst #seventeen fanfic #seventeen x reader #woozi angst #woozi x reader #Woozi fluff #lee jihoon angst #lee jihoon fluff #seventeen au #jihoon angst #jihoon fluff #jihoon x reader

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imichelle-l-rigby · 5 months

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Reflections: Cillian Murphy’s Limited Edition

Season 3, episode 10

✨the last one 😢✨

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*I am a music prof (predominantly classical vocalist), and I LOVE listening to Cillian’s music choices! That being said, sometimes I won’t like a song simply because of a vocalist (it’s a professional hazard - sorry!) 👩‍🏫

** The following are my own observations/opinions. We may not agree, and that’s ok! That’s what makes music fun! 😊

*** I wouldn’t say I’m well-versed in Cillian’s music preferences, but I do enjoy them (for the most part). I always wind up adding to my own playlists after listening to Cillian’s recommendations.

———————————————————————

OMG IT’S THE LAST ONE!!!!

🎵Set 1 (Wandering Star - Undenied)

Wandering Star: such an interesting mix of “folksy” with urban sound effects

fun fact, I always accidentally mispronounce “Portishead”. Idk why I can’t learn, but there ya go!

Undenied: again, this is has a blend of soft and harsh sounds, but I like how it’s completely different from the first song. The timbres/qualities are different, so it’s a fun experiment in how far you can go with a musical idea.

🎤Talking Break

Last show 😭😭😭😭

“A total pleash”

WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT’S BEEN 10 YEARS OF CILLIAN MUSIC?!?!

I love that he’s embraced the word “ain’t”

🎵Set 2 (Someday - When I Go Deaf)

Someday: ok but I’m loving the harmonies in this cover version 🥰

When I Go Deaf: ok, but the premise of going deaf - YES SIR I DO MIND!!! *PSA please take care of your hearing* regardless it’s a beautiful song about growing older and cherishing the moment and all that you have. That being said, I LOVE when the music goes from folk to rock 🤘😎

🎤Talking Break

Yes Cill - go for all the favorites! Love it!

FINALLY some more Bowie.

🎵Set 3 (I Can’t Give Everything Away - Fame)

I Can’t Give Everything Away: this is not the soundscape I think of when I think Bowie. And I like the disjointed melodic line in the title motif.

Fame: what a classic 😎 now even if I’m not the biggest fan of Bowie’s voice, even I listen to this a good deal because it’s just perfect.

🎤Talking Break

The way Cillian goes insane over “Fame” - the only version of fame I think he’ll ever like 😂😅

Yay!!! A John Lennon quote!!!!!!

🎵Set 4 (Perfect Day - I Want You)

Perfect Day: why does the tonality of this song refuse to be stably in a major key? 🤔 I don’t necessarily consider that a “perfect day” association - the way it keeps mixing major/minor refutes the “perfect” quality. I suppose it’s just a “wistful” thing, but still!

I Want You: YES I LOVE EARLY DYLAN!!! This is prob in my top 5 fave Dylan tracks. It’s so heartbreakingly beautiful, simple, and earnest.

Fun fact: “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” is my #1 Dylan song

🎤Talking Break:

Final reasonable question!!! 😢

I actually like this one - what song do you listen to on repeat?

Omg, of course he would listen to experimental loop music. 🤦‍♀️😅😂 ok, it’s official, he needs to join my music history class. 😂😂😂

🎵Set 5 (Jesus Going to Clean House - Ida)

Jesus Going to Clean House: ok, but can contemporary praise music be this groovy?? Please????

Let’s Go Swimming - Gulf Stream Dub: this sounds so water sports, and I have no idea why other than the name has convinced me this is music for the beach! 😅😅 the power of suggestion!

Ida: I can’t decide if it’s distorted accordion in the background, or a keytar or some other strange electronic instrument. I’ll have to do some research later!

🎤Talking Break

Exclusive ident - I shall miss you!

A poem!

No, Cillian, please make a dad joke!

Oh dear, I’m over 30. Let’s see how I respond to “forgetfulness”

… yeah. I agree 😬

An exclusive reading!

I really liked his thoughts on listening. Good selection!

🎵Set 6 (Coffee & TV)

Coffee & TV: I’ve said this before, but I find it odd that certain songs are produced in such a way that the vocals are subservient to the instrumental line. I think I hear this more in “alternative” sounding music. Maybe that’s a trend I’ve just never noticed!

🎤Talking Break

“Banal and unverified facts”

The way he says “palm trees” 😂 “pam trees”

🎵Set 7 (Saat Alfarah - Midnight)

Saat Alfarah: again, saxophones! Of course he loves this, and frankly, so do I! Idk what’s going on, but it’s got good vibes and it’s just fun! 😎

Midnight (ft. Raphael Saadiq): not my favorite, but it’s cool sounding, for sure. Also, when wearing my AirPods, the background pop sound almost seems like I can feel it reverberating through my skull. That’s weird.

🎤Talking Break

Irish music! Finally!

🎵Set 8 (Wishing Well - Satisfaction)

Wishing Well: it sounds all wishful/wistful, but the static buzzes definitely fight that.

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction: it’s a little mind-boggling because the vocals do NOT follow the beat established by the backing track. I assume they were recorded separately. I really hoped I would like this cover, but… nope! 🙅‍♀️

🎤Talking Break

“And that’s a cover version!” Indeed, Cillian. Indeed.

Last Yorkshire Man!

Wait… did he just not reveal his identity?! Did I miss something???

🎵Set 9 (Sweet Leaf of the North)

Sweet Leaf of the North: ummm… I must say I’ve never been that impressed about a leaf. 😅 I don’t love his voice, but the vibes are cute.

🎤Talking Break

A favorite band, and his kids agree!

🎵Set 10 (A Cold Freezin’ Night - Blackbox Life Recorder 2f)

A Cold Freezin’ Night: I can appreciate this as a quirky twist on “electronic sounds as music” + experimental music, and I even appreciate the interplay between siblings (as an older sister with a healthy rivalry with her brother 😂), BUT. not my favorite.

I’m glad he explained about the siblings beforehand, otherwise I would’ve been MAJORLY confused and concerned. 😅

Blackbox Life Recorder 21f: still following the “electronic sounds as music” theme, but less experimental 👍

🎤Talking Break

Yay new music!

🎵Set 11 (Lately - Blackpool Late Eighties)

Lately: I like this. Soulful, atmospheric, and groovy. Just a fun combo.

Blackpool Late Eighties: dude, what a build up!! It certainly keeps you wanting more!

🎤Talking Break

NO IT’S ENDING 😭😭😭😭😭

Aww, he “did have a little cry” over Nina’s song!

“Mind yourselves”

🎵Set 12 (Wholy Holy - Stars)

Wholy Holy: YES! YES YES YES YES YES!!! ✨favorite song of the episode✨

Stars: Nina. No, no you did not just GO OFF on the piano at the end there! Dang!! She is just too good! What a great way to end the show!

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YOU HAVE MADE IT TO THE END! CONGRATULATIONS! 🎊🎉

Thank you so much to all y’all who kept reading these - I hope you enjoyed it! It’s been a pleasure (although a significantly larger project than what I expected at first), but I definitely had fun!

Tag list:

@iammrsrogers @deliciousnutcomputer @mariamoonie @brownskinsugarplum76 @look-at-the-soul @kj-davis @neverroad @teapothollow @thepurplearmyposts @possessedmarshmallow

#cillian murphy #cillian murphy’s limited edition #bbc 6 music

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boysplanetrecaps · 2 months

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Build Up, Ep 5 Recap: The Neglected Performances

Welcome back to the one of the top twenty best Build Up recaps out there! In the previous one, we saw an adoring junior take on his senior. In this one, we’ll talk about the four performances that MNET saw fit to skip almost completely.

So yeah, MNET saw fit to just unceremoniously fly through a total of four performances in less time than they spent on most of the other single performances. I’m so mad I feel like I could spontaneously combust. Where is Junyheok and Yeo One’s fire extinguisher?

MNET spent about a minute per round (ie, less than 30 seconds on each performance) but I’ll go through a little more carefully.

First up is Hyukjin and Jeong Inseong versus Lee Minwook and Jang Intae.

I’ll remind you who everyone is as we go along, since MNET hates all eight of these guys for no reason.

Hyukjin is from an unfortunately VERY nugu group called Fave1. He was in the Power group, V22, the one who sang that heavy metal sounding song. I mean, he frickin’ went for it, I’ll give him that. He wore that red suit on the first day. He performed in the Kajima Kajima (Don’t Go) group, and was made Low Tier just because everyone else did a bit better, not because he did badly. He seems to have lightened his hair a little bit since the Pre-4 round.

Jeong Inseong is from a group called KNK. He was a V6, in the Allround section, and I remember really liking that first performance (my notes just read, “ooh, I like!”). He was in Breath, and along with Hwanhee, was sort of a go-to backstage reaction king during the whole Pre-4 mission. We didn’t hear what the judges thought of his performance one where or the other, but I thought he had a smooth, rich voice.

They’ve decided to sing a song called Still Love You, originally performed by Lee Hongki and Yoo Hweseung. If you watched either You’re Beautiful (the Hong sisters k-drama) or Produce48, you’re familiar with Lee Hongki; he was Jeremy in You’re Beautiful and he was the cool, Japanese-speaking vocal coach in Produce48. But of course, you might know him as a member of FT Island. Hweseung was on PD101 Season 2. Now he is the main vocalist of N Flying, and I think he has a glorious voice. So yeah, I like both these guys.

The song itself isn’t my thing, but that’s fine, it doesn’t have to be. The lyrics are just typical K-ballad material -- “I love you and I’ll miss you and I will never forget you but I nobly hope you’ll be happy” blah blah. You know the drill.

Full version here.

My thoughts:

Overall, I actually like their version better than the original. I’m not a huge fan of the song itself, but I like the way they sing it.

Hyukjin is the weaker of the two vocalists, which is a bummer because I root for anyone who gets less than 10,000 views on his MVs. He still has a very nice voice. He just has a bit of sharp nasality occasionally that kind of spoils his tone. He also could slightly improve his agility. His straining high notes at the end were not… great. On the positive side, he has a really nice natural vocal color when he’s not straining, and he has excellent pitch and breath control, allowing him to hold -- and control -- long powerful notes, as long as he doesn’t push the high pitch too hard. I wish he’d sing more in his lower register, because that’s what I think sounds best.

I really like Inseong’s voice. It doesn’t quite give me the tingles like Jay’s voice, or Neon’s, or Euibin’s, but it’s so nice. It’s just so rich and nice to listen to. He varies his dynamics, singing softly and cleanly sometimes, and loud and powerfully other times. He uses just the right amount of vibrato for my taste. I just think he’s a great singer.

Their harmonies sounded really pretty; you can hear both of them, so they’re blending just right.

Ok, so let’s see what we see on the show.

The editors made sure to include Hyukjin’s not-too-great high notes. Sigh. They get an 87 from Wendy and a 65 from Jaehwan! Way harsh, Tai!

VCG says, “You should have made the best use of your weapons, but since you used it too often, it didn’t seem like a special move.” I assume he’s addressing Hyukjin, and I think I get what he means. Hyukjin kept the emotional level at 11 the whole time, and didn’t really vary up his dynamics. I think that’s kind of how the original version of the song goes, as well, but maybe they could have adapted it a little more.

Poor Inseong. He sang so beautifully. Even if that one high note of Hyukjin’s wasn’t great, poor Inseong got dragged down with him.

Next up is Minwook and Intae.

Lee Minwook is from a group called Newkidd. He was in the Soul group, V9, and you guys, that little performance has been living in my playlist ever since. He wore a bunch of vests, including that bright blue vest that sort of gave gym-class jersey vibes. I really like his voice, but I guess the other guys didn’t because he was tied for 33rd in the vocal check in. He ended up in Something Like That, where the judges praised him effusively and he was chosen as Top Tier.

Jang Intae is from the Allround group, V31, and is one of the mysteries of the show. I don’t even know his age. He actually came in last in the initial vote after the vocal check in, with only 5 votes. He was in the Every Moment group, along with Bain and Seunghun from CIX. Unfortunately, I haven’t exactly loved his singing on the show so far. In my opinion, his voice is quite nasal, and he lacks both agility and breath control. Solar disagrees with me, though; she voted for him as Top Tier (everyone else voted for Seunghun).

The song they’ve chosen is Universe by EXO. This may shock and amaze you, but I really like this song. What? ME? LIKE A SONG BY EXO? WHAT NEXT?

Anyway yeah, it’s a great song. Sure, the lyrics are basically the same as those of most k-ballads -- I lost you but I’ll look for you forever, blah blah -- but the chords are complicated and interesting and there’s a drive and power to it that make it feel authentic. Plus they look like this:

Was there ever a more delightful concept than just “they’re dressed for fall and holding steamy mugs”? Sigh.

Anyway, I’d be scared to sing this song because the original was sung by some of the best vocalists in the world, but I really like Minwook, so let’s see what he can do!

Full version

Mostly, very nice, and since my ears can’t help but compare them to D.O. and Chen and Baekhyun and Suho and Xiumin and Chanyeol, for me to say they did well is a big compliment. I do think they were both a bit nervous. This is still really nice, but their soft notes were shaky for both of them.

Intae did better than he did the other times I’ve heard him, and Minwook didn’t do quite as well as other times, so they ended up a balanced pair.

Intae, left, and Minwook, right.

Minwook starts off a bit shaky. His tone is very pretty, but he actually hits the wrong note at about the :27 mark in the Youtube version. If you haven’t listened to the song 1000 times like I have, you may not notice, but I noticed, and I feel like the judges might have noticed too. (I thought about it -- was that a purposeful change on his part? And all I can say is that if it was meant to be purposeful, it doesn’t SOUND it, so the effect is the same.) His belts on the chorus also seemed a little harsh and out of control. But his natural vocal color is really nice, and he has a nice way to him, where he’s not overacting or straining all the time.

Intae was still a bit nasal for my taste, but less so than other times I’ve heard him. He also uses more vibrato than I prefer, but not all the time. He has a lot of power to his belts and

Their harmonies sounded really great, even the ones I think they worked out on their own that weren’t in the original song. I think they were smart to drop the octave right after that one long note.

In the brief glimpse we see of them in the actual show, they look great. We only get a tiny bit of commentary, and it’s from Solar, who gave them their high score of 96. It’s not clear who Solar is addressing, but she tells someone -- maybe both of them -- “you have a great voice, and your manner and style of singing is also good. I think it was even better because you created it together.” Again, Solar is the same one who voted for Jang Intae in a previous round. She just really likes him for some reason. Seungkwan gave them their low score of 78, but we don’t hear from him.

We get the final score, and it’s 543 to 589 in favor of Minwook and Intae. If you do the math and subtract out the high and low scores, the average score of the other five judges was 83 for Minwook and Intae, and it was 78.2 for Hyukjin and Inseong.

Round ten! Ding Ding!

Next up is fan favorite and Boy’s Planet survivor, Lee Hwanhee of Up10tion, paired with soldier and Pixar character Jo Hwanji. Hwanji isn’t dressed as a soldier today; he and Hwanhee are both wearing leather jackets instead, and Hwanhee has decided to a 90s scene girl looking choker. They’re going up against Lim Sanghyun and Taewoo.

Team Hwan-hee-ji has decided to sing Four Seasons, originally by Taeyeon of SNSD. Here’s the Full version on Youtube.

My thoughts:

Ok, I’m not the biggest fan of jazzy singing, but this seems really nice. They seem to be enjoying what they're doing and it comes across kind of classy and cool.

I think Hwanhee uses a tiny bit too much vibrato for my taste here, and he gets a tiny bit shrieky, but it feels like a stylistic choice. Hwanji’s voice is so clean and lovely except for his kind of painful shrieky high note at about 2:57 in to the Youtube version. Neither of them are nasal and both have good breath control and sense of pitch. They also brought bounce and interest into it with their facial expressions and dynamics.

They did a thing where they sang one line back and forth to each other, and it kind of makes sense when you know the lyrics are “We longed for each other / We got sick of each other.” And their cute punchy harmony section right after that sounded great.

The MNET edit is downright cruel. It makes it seem like they did that “trade lines back and forth” the whole time, but that was just one little part. The on screen captions say things like “the two voices do not sound in harmony.” Who writes these captions? What are you talking about?

We find out that their high and low scores were 79 and 69 respectively. I don’t get what the judges are annoyed about. It just feels like they were tired and cranky here in tenth round, really. Because 79 high and 69 low feel punitive. Are you really saying that they were worse than Woong and Seokhwa? Yeah, Hwanji had that one bad note, but come on.

Wendy gave the high score of 79, but we don't get to hear from her. VCG, who gave the low score, says “I couldn’t hear the lyrics. ‘I’m good at this’, ‘this is how good I am,’ ‘This is how high I can go and I can sing a little jazzy,’” he says in a mocking tone. “I think it was a performance that only showed your skills.”

Genuine question: Were they not supposed to show their skills? What were they supposed to show? I’m confused. If they hadn’t shown their skills, you would have said “I wanted to see your skills.” What was bad about showing their skills? What is bad about showing that they’re good at this?

Also, I am far from fluent in Korean, but I could compare what they were singing to the lyrics I found online and I didn’t get lost along the way, so they were pronouncing it well enough for *me* to understand them.

Hwanhee and Hwanji take their bad scores with grace. Hwanhee has been on dozens of these shows by now and is just like, sure, whatever.

Next up is Lim Sanghyun and Taewoo. They both performed in the Beautiful group. I enjoyed Sanghyun’s soft, gruff tone, but couldn’t quite get behind Taewoo’s “YG” style with its sharp, nasal tone and swaggy affectations.

They’re singing Downpour, the song I.O.I. used as its sort of “goodbye” before it disbanded. The lyrics mark it as a fairly standard k-ballad about a breakup, comparing the sadness of a breakup to a temporary downpour, but it has a lovely melody. Fun fact: It was co-written by Woozi of Seventeen!

Full version without reactions

My thoughts:

I still am not really on board with Taewoo’s style of singing, though I think it would have a time and place. It’s not that he’s a bad singer; it’s just that I don’t much like the manner of his singing. He does this little sigh thing at the end of each line that is very YG feeling and not something I like, and he is unpleasantly pitchy on his falsetto and shrill when he employs his mixed register. Note to note his voice can sound really different, and some of the ways it can sound is nice, but he’s affected and stylistic when I think his natural color might be his nicest voice.

Also, why don’t people open their eyes? What is this singing with your eyes closed thing so many of them do? And I’m aware, they probably don’t have completely closed eyes, but if that’s how it looks on camera, then… they should be aware of how it looks, right?

Sanghyun is still more my style. His voice is just so soft and pretty in a smoky kind of way. He does kind of drop off at the end of lines sometimes, but not all the time, so I won’t hold it against him or anything. Sometimes his voice reminds me a little of Baekhyun’s, so that’s a compliment, right? I really don’t have a lot to say just because it’s such a nice voice -- not nasal at all, not pitchy, good breath control. None of the bad things, all the good things.

I do actually think their voices sound nice next to each other, but I wish Sanghyun had a different partner.

In the MNET edit, we see a few moments with the caption, “A stage with very different voices but good harmony.” They get a high of 100 and a low of 85, so it’s pretty clear that they’ve won.

We can’t see which judge gave them which score, but I assume that Solar may have given out the 100. We get to see her saying, “When different people come together like this, a truly unique team will emerge. That’s what I felt watching the performance.”

The final score is 641 to 515, which is just… ouch. That means that Hwanhee and Hwanji got the second lowest score of the whole round. It was just unnecessarily harsh for no raisin.

If you take out the highest and lowest scores and find the average of the remaining scores, the other five judges gave Team Hwan-hee-ji an average score of 73.4, and gave Sanghyun and Taewoo an average score of 91.2.

Well, I’m so glad we spent so much time watching Geonu and Soomin make up a handshake, and watching Inhyuk and Joohee smack talk, and had instant replays and reactions drag things out the whole time, and wasted time with people wondering what the score would be just seconds before the score is actually shown, etc.

Imagine if we’d used that time to watch the SINGING on a SINGING SHOW that would have been TOO MUCH SINGING FOR A SINGING SHOW PLEASE I only want to watch people MAKE UP HANDSHAKES AND SMACK TALK ON MY SINGING SHOW The word “SING” stands for “SMACKTALKING IS NOW GOOD” and “MUSIC” stands for “MAKING UP SHAKES IS CRUCIAL” I guess

Why do I watch these MNET shows?

Oh yeah, that’s why.

Ok, I’m going to cut it off here for now, and my next post will be an Elimination Special! See you then!

XOXO

BRP Unnie/Noona

#mnet build up #bpr recaps build up #build up mnet #build up #up10tion #lee hwanhee #knk #newkidd #Inseong #Jeong Inseong

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jules-has-notes · 7 months

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The Sing-Off, s.4 ep.5 — Movie Night

Even before movies had spoken dialogue, they had musical accompaniment. Music can convey or enhance the emotions of a scene, and make a film more impactful. (And when one of your show's production partners is under the same umbrella as several film studios, you can license some of their music pretty easily.)

Group opener

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What's not to love about a catchy song full of big, dramatic moments from a movie about dancing? It's a fabulous way to kick off the "movie night" episode. The arrangers and choreographers clearly had fun with this number, and the singers turned it into a giant party.

Details:

title: (I've Had) The Time of My Life

original performers: Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (featured in Dirty Dancing)

written by: John DeNicola, Donald Markowitz, & Franke Previte

arranged by: The Sing-Off arrangers

air date: 18 December 2013

My favorite bits:

the ballroom-inspired choreography

pairing up members of different groups whose voices blend well

the delightful incongruity of goth-punk Tony doing perfect pas de bourrées

Sarah Vela's gorgeous tone on ♫ "Never felt this waaay" ♫

the choreographers sparing some of the vocal percussionists by letting them enter in the last group so they don't have to dance as much (Keeping two different beats with your mouth and your body is hard.)

I figured out how to make a cropped gif for that cute moment between Geoff and Jules.

Trivia:

In order to achieve the cool silhouette effect at the beginning, Tim Foust had to stand (and sing) in a very uncomfortable position.

Once again, one of the Vocal Rush chaperones recorded a rehearsal for the kids from the audience. It's a little fuzzy, but Earl's bright orange shirt, Eli's red pants, Tony's studded black cap, and Honey's red hair make them all pretty easy to spot. Layne is in all gray at the far left. Geoff's one of the blurry dudes near the front on the right, but I'm not sure which one because it seems like the blocking changed a bit before filming.

Theme reveal

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Order of performances

Home Free — "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison (featured in Pretty Woman)

Vocal Rush — "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" by Phil Collins (from Against All Odds)

AcoUstiKats — "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger (featured in Risky Business)

The Filharmonic — "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith (featured in Armageddon)

VoicePlay — "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds (featured in The Breakfast Club)

Ten — "Skyfall" by Adele (from Skyfall)

Ultimate sing-offs

AcoUstiKats vs. VoicePlay — "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor (from Rocky III)

Vocal Rush vs. Ten — "Fame" by Irene Cara (from Fame)

Home Free vs. The Filharmonic — "I'm Alright" by Kenny Loggins (from Caddyshack)

VoicePlay performance

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[Here is a longer version that includes the intro package and judges' comments.]

A theme like "movie night" is tailor-made for the theater kids of a cappella. Give them characters and a story, and they'll give you fantastic entertainment. The only stumbling block for this song was that the reality show format hindered them from following their own instincts. Jewel pushed them to be even more "emotional" than the previous episode, which steered them away from giving a performance more true to themselves.

Details:

title: Don't You (Forget About Me)

original performers: Simple Minds (featured in The Breakfast Club)

written by: Keith Forsey & Steve Schiff

arranged by: VoicePlay

air date: 18 December 2013

My favorite bits:

the costumes — a great balance between representing the characters from the movie and their own personalities

Layne subtly snapping them in rather than counting out loud

the gradual layering to fill out the sound

the downward harmony run on the first ♫ "Rain" ♫

everything dropping out when Eli kicks off the polyphony, then building back up one by one

the insistence in their voices during the final section

Trivia:

The judges' biggest critque was that VoicePlay didn't include enough of the song's iconic ♫ "La-la-la-la" ♫ hook. Geoff revealed on Twitter that their first draft of the arrangement did include more of that part, but the producers made them change it.

Shawn Stockman also touched on the fact that they'd been pushed from the beginning into arrangements that framed them more as Honey and her backup singers rather than a group of equals with diverse talents. (Not the only group with that issue.)

Ultimate sing-off vs. AcoUstiKats

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[Here is a longer version that includes the intro package and judges' comments.]

Since all six groups were paired off for battles this episode, they at least got to avoid the fraught selection process. Being able to rehearse against the same groups all week also allowed everyone to really hone their arrangements and interactions, resulting in performances that were more collaborative and fun to watch.

Details:

title: Ultimate Sing-Off – Eye of the Tiger

original performers: Survivor (featured in Rocky III)

written by: Frankie Sullivan & Jim Peterik

arranged by: VoicePlay & The AcoUstiKats

air date: 18 December 2013

My favorite bits:

Honey and Ron playing rock-paper-scissors for who gets to go first

Earl knocking Eli and Geoff's "teeth" out, and Tony's shocked reaction 😲

the ridiculously disproportionate tug of war 💪

Earl's dancing pecs leading straight into a Latin dance beat

the AcoUstiKats making their 12-man "wall of sound" into a physical barrier

Eli fending off the encroaching threats with a Matrix-style dragon kick (and some help from Earl)

the melodramatic tableaux when the final "brawl" breaks out

ending it all on a glorious major chord

Trivia:

It didn't end up in the final episode (for reasons that will become obvious), but this performance got a standing ovation from the audience and the judges.

The groups apparently gave themselves the portmanteau of "CatsPlay", which is just adorable. 😺

Judges' choice

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Eliminated: VoicePlay & AcoUstiKats

Despite the show framing the "ulitmate sing-off" segments as battles with a winner and a loser, the judges bafflingly chose to cut both halves of the showdown between VoicePlay and the AcoUstiKats. It seems that the groups working together to create a more cohesive performance resulted in the judges pitting the three supergroups against each other instead.

This episode was filmed on Geoff's birthday… which means they got kicked off on his birthday. 😒 At least that meant they got to go home and rest for a few days before coming back for the finale?

#VoicePlay #Honey Larochelle #The AcoUstiKats #The Sing-Off #season 4 #live performance #a cappella #music #video #long post

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bondshotel · 8 months

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September 15, 2008 - Richard Wright / Rick Wright (b. July 28, 1943) died at home, of an undisclosed form of cancer, aged 65.

Wright was a pianist and keyboardist; he grew up in Hatch End, North London and is best known for his long career with Pink Floyd. Although he wasn't really credited as a singer, he frequently sang background and occasionally lead vocals onstage and in the studio with Pink Floyd most notably on "Time", "Echoes", "Matilda Mother", and "Astronomy Domine", as well as notable harmonies on"Chapter 24" and "The Scarecrow". Examples of his early compositions include "Remember a Day", "See-Saw", "Paint Box" and "It Would Be So Nice". He also wrote significant parts of the music for classic albums such as Meddle, The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, as well as for Pink Floyd's final studio album The Division Bell. His instrumental compositions include "Cirrus Minor", "Interstellar Overdrive", "A Saucerful of Secrets", "Careful with That Axe, Eugene", "One of These Days" and to musical themes for film scores.

Bandmate David Gilmour said:

“No one can replace Richard Wright. He was my musical partner and my friend. In the welter of arguments about who or what was Pink Floyd, Rick's enormous input was frequently forgotten. He was gentle, unassuming and private but his soulful voice and playing were vital, magical components of our most recognised Pink Floyd sound. I have never played with anyone quite like him. The blend of his and my voices and our musical telepathy reached their first major flowering in 1971 on 'Echoes'. In my view all the greatest PF moments are the ones where he is in full flow. After all, without 'Us and Them' and 'The Great Gig in the Sky', both of which he wrote, what would 'The Dark Side of the Moon' have been? Without his quiet touch the album 'Wish You Were Here' would not quite have worked. In our middle years, for many reasons he lost his way for a while, but in the early Nineties, with 'The Division Bell', his vitality, spark and humour returned to him and then the audience reaction to his appearances on my tour in 2006 was hugely uplifting and it's a mark of his modesty that those standing ovations came as a huge surprise to him (though not to the rest of us). Like Rick, I don't find it easy to express my feelings in words, but I loved him and will miss him enormously.”

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason told Entertainment Weekly:

“Like any band, you can never quite quantify who does what. But Pink Floyd wouldn’t have been Pink Floyd if [we] hadn't had Rick. I think there’s a feeling now – particularly after all the warfare that went on with Roger and David trying to make clear what their contribution was – that perhaps Rick rather got pushed into the background. Because the sound of Pink Floyd is more than the guitar, bass, and drum thing. Rick was the sound that knitted it all together... He was by far the quietest of the band, right from day one. And, I think, probably harder to get to know than the rest of us... It's almost that George Harrison thing. You sort of forget that they did a lot more than perhaps they’re given credit for.”

Former bandmate Roger Waters' website was replaced with a photograph of an array of candles and poppies against a black background; one of the screen images used for the song "Wish You Were Here" in his "Dark Side of the Moon Live" Tour.

Waters issued a statement:

“I was very sad to hear of Rick's premature death, I knew he had been ill, but the end came suddenly and shockingly. My thoughts are with his family, particularly [his children] Jamie and Gala and their mum Juliet, who I knew very well in the old days, and always liked very much and greatly admired. As for the man and his work, it is hard to overstate the importance of his musical voice in the Pink Floyd of the '60s and '70s. The intriguing, jazz influenced, modulations and voicings so familiar in 'Us and Them' and 'Great Gig in the Sky,' which lent those compositions both their extraordinary humanity and their majesty, are omnipresent in all the collaborative work the four of us did in those times. Rick's ear for harmonic progression was our bedrock. I am very grateful for the opportunity that Live 8 afforded me to engage with him and David [Gilmour] and Nick [Mason] that one last time. I wish there had been more.

#rick wright

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popmusicu · 11 months

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Why is Mamma Mia my comfort movie?

Mamma Mia is a widely popular movie that has won the hearts of many viewers. The movie is known for its energetic music, enchanting scenery, and feel-good storyline. It tells the story of Sophie, a young woman who is about to get married and wants to find out who her biological father is before her wedding. In her quest to discover her father's identity, she invites three men to her wedding, who could be her father. The movie presents a perfect blend of humor, drama, and romance. One of the reasons why Mamma Mia is loved by so many is its soundtrack, which features popular songs from the Swedish pop group, ABBA. Their music is known for its catchiness and upbeat energy, making it entertaining for many listeners (I still cry every time “slipping trough my fingers” starts playing). Their music is also often described as having great melodies, interesting harmonies, and memorable lyrics that are easy to sing along to. Moreover, ABBA's music combines influences from multiple musical styles, including pop, rock, disco, and even classical music, contributing to its dynamic and diverse sound and is recognized for its use of innovative production techniques and studio effects, such as doubling vocals, layering sound, and utilizing synthesizers, creating a unique and memorable listening experience. Overall, ABBA's music has stood the test of time, continuing to entertain and capture the attention of listeners of all ages and backgrounds. The setting of the movie is also beautiful, with scenes taking place on a stunning Greek island (that’s definitely in my travel list). The film showcases the pristine beaches and picturesque villages that make Greece a desirable tourist destination. The combination of great music and breathtaking scenery is sure to transport viewers to a world of relaxation and enjoyment. Mamma Mia's cast is also a major factor in creating its success. The movie features award-winning actress Meryl Streep, who delivers a fantastic performance playing the role of Donna (spoiler: we miss you Donna), Sophie's mother. Streep's ability to nail both dramatic and comedic scenes is remarkable. Moreover, her dancing and singing skills are also impressive. Other actors in the movie, including Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, and Amanda Seyfried, also deliver solid performances. Their chemistry on screen is palpable and helps to create a believable and engaging story. Another aspect that sets Mamma Mia apart is its heart-warming storyline. The movie emphasizes the importance of family, loving relationships, living life to the fullest, and never giving up. It is a story of self-discovery that manages to inspire viewers to live their lives to the fullest and pursue their dreams (it’s supposed to be a happy movie, but I always end up crying anyways?). Mamma Mia is undoubtedly a great movie that has captured the attention of viewers worldwide. Its engaging storyline, breathtaking scenery, and catchy soundtrack combine to create an experience that is both entertaining and inspiring. It is an ultimate feel-good movie that celebrates the importance of family, friendship, and a willingness to take risks to find oneself. Its success and popularity among people from different walks of life are a testament to the movie's greatness. After all this do i need to clarify that this is my favorite movie? I hope this post makes you want to watch it (there’s also a sequel) and think you would enjoy it like I do. Sofia Aguirre (since my name is like the protagonist’s name I might be biased but who cares?) And here’s the link to the Mamma Mia soundtrack on Spotify.

#submission

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bringthebiggergun · 1 year

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Easier Said Than Done REVIEW

I was recently fortunate enough to be in contact with a radio station in Colorado, USA called Discover YOU RADIO and they were kind enough to review my newest single. (OFFICIAL AUDIO)

Thank you so much for all of your support with this new single! It's been quite a trip the amount of love and good responses I’ve received regarding it so far. If you haven’t listened yet it's available on all streaming platforms! Thank you again so much for your support and kind words!

-Riley

“Title: Easier Said Than Done – A Timeless ReflectionArtist/Band: Choking CrowsGenre: Singer SongwriterReview:Choking Crows, a name synonymous with raw emotion and talent, return with their latest single "Easier Said Than Done." True to their singer-songwriter roots, the latest release captivates listeners with a soft, subtle sound that evokes feelings of vulnerability and introspection. From the first listen, it's evident that "Easier Said Than Done" is an emotionally charged piece, reflecting on the transience of life and the poignant theme of faded memories.The singer's vocals are undoubtedly the centerpiece of this track – gentle, but powerful enough to convey the inherent melancholy of the lyrics. Lines like "the way it reflects on how everything will soon be gone" and "the song reflects on memories and forgetting lies" artistically capture the struggle of letting go of the past and moving forward. There is a beautiful sadness in the vulnerability of the singer's voice, which resonates deeply with listeners.Instrumentation-wise, Choking Crows masterfully utilizes a simple yet elegant guitar arrangement. The delicate pick strokes add a uniqueness to the track, complementing the heartfelt vocals and further enhancing the emotive quality of the song. One can genuinely feel the pulse of the guitar chords as they weave in and out of the vocal melody, resulting in a mesmerizing and timeless sound.The production on "Easier Said Than Done" is polished yet understated, allowing the raw emotion of the piece to shine through. Each element is thoughtfully placed within the arrangement, from the ethereal background harmonies to the subtle percussion that adds depth to the track. Alongside this, the seamless blending of these various components ensures that the listener's experience is both immersive and captivating.Comparing "Easier Said Than Done" to Choking Crows' previous releases, it is clear that the group continues to evolve in terms of their musical style and storytelling. This latest release stays true to their core sound while introducing new elements that push the boundaries of the singer-songwriter genre. Fans of Choking Crows will undoubtedly appreciate the growth continually showcased by the group, and new listeners will easily understand the undeniable appeal of their music.In conclusion, "Easier Said Than Done" is a stellar addition to Choking Crows' discography, featuring raw emotionality and evocative storytelling. The truly unique sound, coupled with poignant lyrics and exceptional musicianship, makes this a song that will surely stand the test of time. With incredible attention to detail in the production and the heartfelt vocal performance, it comes as no surprise that this release has earned a well-deserved applause from Discover YOU RADIO. Newcomers and seasoned fans of the Choking Crows alike should not miss the opportunity to savor the emotional intensity of "Easier Said Than Done." So gather round, folks – let the haunting melodies of this latest release wrap around you like a melancholic embrace, and let Choking Crows whisk you away on an unforgettable musical journey.”

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freddiemercurydaily · 2 years

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Is this the real life?…Is this just fantasy?” 46 years ago today - 24 August 1975 – A masterpiece was born! Queen starts recording their defining hit ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ at Rockfield studio’s in Wales. The band sang their vocal parts continually for 10-12 hours per day, three days straight, resulting in 180 separate vocal overdubs!Producer, Roy Thomas Baker, the man ultimately responsible for assembling the near 6 minute epic, describes Bo Rhap's creation thus: "Freddie was sitting in his apartment and he said,

'I've got this idea for a song.' So he started playing it on the piano - it had some words missing and there were some bits of melody he hadn't worked out - just the basic framework. Then he stopped and said, 'Now dears, this is where the opera section comes in' I went, oh my God..." "It was going to be a brief interlude of few Galileos and then we'd get back to the rock part of the song. When we started doing the opera section properly it just got longer and longer, and we added more and more blank tape. Every day we though, 'It's done now', and then Freddie would come in with another lot of lyrics and say, 'I've added a few more Galileos here, dear,' and it just got bigger and bigger." - Mojo 1999“

I remember Freddie coming in with loads of bits of paper from his dad’s work, like Post-it notes, and pounding on the piano,” Brian May said in 2008. “He played the piano like most people play the drums. And this song he had was full of gaps where he explained that something operatic would happen here and so on. He’d worked out the harmonies in his head.”Freddie told bandmates that he believed he had enough material for about three songs but was thinking about blending all the lyrics into one long extravaganza. The final six-minute iconic mini rock opera became the band’s defining song. A week was devoted to the operatic interlude, for which Mercury had methodically written out all the harmony parts. For the grand chorale, the group layered 160 tracks of vocal overdubs (using 24-track analogue recording), with Mercury singing the middle register, May the low register and drummer Roger Taylor the high register (John Deacon was on bass guitar but did not sing). Mercury performed with real verve, overdubbing his voice until it sounded like a choir, with the words “mamma mia”, “Galileo” and “Figaro” bouncing up and down the octaves. All these years later, it's the song's operatic climax that remains its most stunning, almost superhuman, accomplishment, as it required them to clock 10-to-12 hour days over a three-week period and in some sections featured 180 separate overdubs in order to flesh out an entire choir. “We ran the tape through so many times it kept wearing out,” May said. “Once we held the tape up to the light and we could see straight through it, the music had practically vanished as we recorded so intensely. Every time Fred decided to add a few more ‘Galileo’s we lost something, too.” Mercury had supposedly written “Galileo” into the lyrics in honour of May, who had a passionate interest in astronomy and would later go on to earn a PhD in astrophysics.“Freddie was a very complex person; flippant and funny on the surface, but he concealed insecurities and problems in squaring up his life with his childhood,” said May. “He never explained the lyrics, but I think he put a lot of himself into that song.”When the band was finally done, their label EMI was, to put it mildly, quite unimpressed. Although, to be fair, the suits' reasons were typically business-oriented, as "Bohemian Rhapsody's" edged close to the six-minute mark, well beyond the limit favored by commercial radio. Instead, the label suggested they release Deacon's excellent "You're My Best Friend" as first single from ‘A Night at the Opera,’ but Queen wouldn't hear of it, and it only took a moment for the immediate support of DJs (Kenny Everett in particular, played the song 14 times in one weekend, sparking the attention of listeners) across Britain to prove EMI wrong.This timeless classic was released in the U.K. on Oct. 31, 1975, "Bohemian Rhapsody" would be No. 1 by Christmas and then hold the spot for nine weeks. Its commercial fortunes were undoubtedly helped by the pioneering music video shot by Queen to stand in for them on Top of the Pops while they were already back on tour by the time they were invited to appear. Meanwhile, their single was also on its way to No. 1 in Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Belgium, earning Top 10 honors in multiple other countries and peaking at No. 9 in America, where it eventually became a million-seller.Roy Thomas Baker said, "The thing that makes Bohemian Rhapsody most ageless is the fact that it didn't confine to any given genre of music. It doesn't compete with anything. It's in a world of its own." Here’s the amazing videohttps://youtu.be/fJ9rUzIMcZQT

#backstage #queen #freddiemercury #freddie mercury

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grumpymacaron · 2 years

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jolie, please tell me your ratings/thoughts on the snsd album!! 🥰💖 (only if you want to!!)

hey rin!!! 💝 sorry for taking so long to answer; i have been so busy lately that i couldn't get a good listen til now 😭

i'm not the most eloquent when it comes to music reviewing, but i'll give my thoughts on each track below:

FOREVER 1: it's alright but i wish there was more going on with the track; it felt a little repetitive and i wish they integrated hyoyeon's prechorus bit more. the chorus is very catchy tho, which is very good for a title track!

LUCKY LIKE THAT: i like the a cappella harmony intro, and i think it's got a cute message! but otherwise, i don't think it really left an impression on me. the guitar solo gave, tho :)))

SEVENTEEN: the song really lends itself to hyoyeon's voice, which i really loved; the second prechorus was also really really nice... overall a very easy listen~

VILLAIN: now this was definitely the highlight of the album; i'll expand on this later but i feel like this was a very good break in the monotony that was present in the other tracks. it had the maturity and strength that i was hoping that the album would have more of. (i do think that it was SICK and TWISTED that they had to mention KWANGYA in my ANNIVERSARY ALBUM THO LIKE LEAVE MY GIRLS ALONE WTF)

YOU BETTER RUN: this was the other song i really really liked from here, it's so fun!!! it's got just enough of the experimental noise sm has been flirting with recently for me to be intrigued, but it establishes itself firmly as grown woman music, which is the type of material the girls are more than deserving of now. only nitpick is that i wish there was a genuine bridge in here... if only they did like an aespa's "next level" moment with some yoo young jin harmonies...

CLOSER: this is also smth i'll touch on later, but uh... why is this next to YOU BETTER RUN? anyways... it's got a nice groove, and has a retro sound no one would find hard to listen to. it just doesn't feel very inspired

MOOD LAMP: i'm listening to all the tracks again for one more run as i write it, and the only bit that i vaguely remember was the hyo/yuri bit following the first chorus... it's not a bad song tho; just suffers from the same problem as CLOSER

SUMMER NIGHT: this song actually blended with CLOSER after first listen... 💀 it's cute tho!

FREEDOM: also pretty cute! the biggest thing going for it is the bass-heavy beat, for sure. also glad they had a good amount of adlibs at the end; i was missing that kind of vocal showing-off in the other tracks

PAPER PLANE: it reminds me of f(x)'s Summer Lover and Paper Heart~ it's definitely fitting for the summer, that's for sure! the bridge had a fun synth line too; that was refreshing!

general thoughts: outside of FOREVER 1, VILLAIN, YOU BETTER RUN, i had a hard time differentiating from the tracks; they were nice to listen to but i don't think they took on their own identity within the tracklist. it bothers me that for a 15th anniversary album, i don't feel like the sm songwriting team gave SNSD enough of their best material to fulfill the number of songs they set.

i also think that sm didn't showcase the girls' vocal prowess enough for me; for a milestone like 15 years, i would like to see a sense of commitment to showing the skills that cemented snsd's legend status, and with ten tracks the songwriting team had more than enough space to provide that.

that being said, i really really enjoyed VILLAIN and YOU BETTER RUN and as stated earlier, they gave me a glimpse of what i hoped a new snsd album would provide. i also think that none of these songs are unlistenable; i can recommend this album to people just learning of them and rest assured that they would find it an enjoyable listen.

EDIT: just noticed i didn't touch on the tracklist order but like what actually was that. why were VILLAIN and YOU BETTER RUN in the middle. they weren't that related to the other tracks but it was so jarring to just hear them and then pivot 180º to listen to CLOSER and MOOD LAMP 💀 it really lends to the feeling that the team tasked with creating this album just didn't put enough thought into it.

tl;dr: i wish the songwriting team put more care into the track variety and album concept so stuff didn't feel generic, because they definitely had hard hitters in here that showed me that if they wanted to, they would give us some real bangers.

#✑ 러브레터 *ೃ༄°*#girlsgenerati0n #long post #SORRY I RANTED LIKE SOOOO MUCH BUT THIS IS A PRETTY DEFINITIVE RUN DOWN OF HOW I FELT ABOUT THE ALBUM SO YEAH #ALSO MY OPINIONS ARE NOT AIMED TOWARDS THE GIRLS I THINK THEY DID THEIR JOBS PERFECTLY #AND GAVE AS MUCH AS THEY COULD GIVE PROVIDED THE MATERIAL THEY WERE WORKING WITH #kpop #snsd #THANK U THANK U FOR THE ASK BESTIE

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deep-hearts-core · 2 years

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reviewing the 2022 eurovision songs

going purely off my first impressions of the videos on youtube.

Ukraine: Stefania by Kalush took me a minute to get into this. i like it once it settles in. equal parts monatik and go_a in a way that is really satisfying to my own personal tastes. i don't think this is a contender, though. will probably qualify but no matter what the obnoxious fans say on twitter i do not believe for a second that this will win because of the war. if it were a peace ballad then maybe.

Austria: Halo by Lumix it's fine, i guess? has the feel of some of the kpop girl group songs that i've liked recently. but i have a feeling this won't translate well to stage.

Netherlands: De Diepte by s10 it's pretty! at first i was like "eh, too folksy for my taste" but then the chorus hit and now i'm into it. i really hope this gets staged well, would love to see it place left side.

Albania: Sekret by Ronela Hajati not for me. i don't like this style of music.

UK: Spaceman by Sam Ryder He has a funny vibrato that I don't like much. it's really like every other uk song recently. bottom five for sure. chorus isn't good enough.

Sweden: Hold Me Closer by Cornelia Jakobs i??? don't like it??? and honestly i don't think it's going to hold up well against the other songs. it's better once the beat kicks in in the second verse but still not nearly what i expect from sweden. also the staging with the green light is really weird.

France: Fulenn by Alvan and Ahez a refreshing french take on a genre that i usually associate with the caucasus countries. big kudos to them for singing in breton. i don't like the drop, but the vocals are really well blended and haunting, especially at the beginning. i hope this does well.

Serbia: In Corpore Sano by Konstrakta not exactly sure what's going on here. it's about... not having health insurance? or something? either way it's too artsy and weird for me to like it.

Armenia: Snap by Rosa Linn not a genre we usually see from Armenia. i'm a little underwhelmed by it. but i don't hate it.

Spain: Slo-mo by Chanel extremely spanish, generically latin american, not sure how this is gonna do, not sure how i feel about it, lol.

Italy: Brividi by Mahmood and Blanco a lot of autotune going on here. doesn't have what excited me about soldi and i've heard through the grapevine that there's some transphobia circulating from one of the artists. overall i'm bored and i think this might place pretty low. a big upset for italy.

Romania: Llamame by WRS peak camp Eurovision masculinity. someday i'll make a post about this. nah but i don't like it. the staging from the nf is good but it's just not my style of song.

Belgium: Miss You by Jeremie Makiese I have faith in the live vocals of this song but there's not enough going for it in the instrumental. Belgium has definitely had worse entries and this might qualify if the staging is good.

Cyprus: Ela by Andromache Cyprus sticking to their guns. This is typical of the Greek and Cypriot entries for the past, like, decade I think? From Aphrodisiac and La La Love to Replay this is something I've heard a lot before. For this reason I'm not so into it. There are other songs that have done this concept better.

Greece: Die Together by Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord Uncertain how they'll execute those close harmonies in the beginning. It's just so... empty for a while? Also, what the fuck are these lyrics lol is she advertising double suicide to save their relationship. I. Decent build to the final chorus I Guess but these lyrics turn me off the song.

Azerbaijan: Fade to Black by Nadir Rustamli Azerbaijan continuing their flop era, I think. This bored me to tears from the very start.

Lithuania: Sentimentai by Monika Liu loooooving the retro feel of this and Monika's voice suits it pretty well. I think this will do badly but I, personally, like it a lot.

Israel: IM by Michael Ben David at first i was like "im not going to review this song at all because i don't condone israel's participation in the contest". but i feel like it's worth saying how much this song sucks. it's eurovision masculinity again but worse than romania. strong start I Guess but like. the legitimization of Israel via ESC is its whole other paper and the song is just bad.

Portugal: Saudade Saudade by Maro once the harmonies hit, it's really nice! but has a slow start. Maro's voice doesn't stand out enough on its own.

Montenegro: Breathe by Vladana I'm bored and I don't like her voice. No universe in which this qualifies. I feel bad because this is apparently about her mom who died from Covid but I just don't see Montenegro pulling this off.

Australia: Not the Same by Sheldon Riley he's got a very strong voice and this is a song that i really relate to. I don't have a lot of coherent thoughts about it but I like this quite a bit. what's up with his outfit though.

San Marino: Stripper by Achille Lauro better than I usually expect from San Marino, and the first song I've heard so far that really seems to be following Maneskin's lead in terms of genre. i could see this qualifying????

Bulgaria: Intention by Intelligent Music Project oh okay, all the rock songs are in the second half of the playlist. this is fine I guess. i'm not into it, the mv is weird, idk it's just not grabbing my attention and (as weird as it is to say) San Marino did better with the genre.

Poland: River by Ochman i like his voice a lot. transitions are overall really clumsy but this isn't a bad choice for poland. although it definitely isn't the most interesting ballad of the year.

Moldova: Trenuletul by Zdob si Zdub is this song about.... unifying with Romania???? no but this is so fun i like it a lot. fun little folklore stuff, moldova has been leaning into the fun stuff recently and they actually do it pretty well nowadays! definitely one of my favorites so far.

Norway: Give That Wolf a Banana by Subwoolfer a lot of people following after Discoteque this year, huh. That's fine - sometimes the weird is good. This is catchy and Norway being Norway I'm curious to see how they'll stage this. Definitely loses points for the lyrics, I'm sorry, what? Wolves don't eat bananas.

North Macedonia: Circles by Andrea Not their worst, not the worst ballad this year I don't think, good build. Not a fan of how the second verse is just the first verse, but again.

Switzerland: Boys Do Cry by Marius Bear Deeply bored by this, musically, but in terms of the meaning... important. Which helps the song for me. But only a little.

Malta: I Am What I Am by Emma Muscat Catchy. I think I like it? I think my overall opinion of the song is positive and I could see this potentially being staged well.

Ireland: That's Rich by Brooke this is fun! fun and angry! love a good angry song! this is decent production, better than we usually see out of the british isles. ireland is taking this seriously. i hope the staging reflects this too.

Finland: Jezebel by The Rasmus damn most of the rock isn't nearly living up to Maneskin. chorus moves too quickly in the transitions in. instrumental is pretty alright, but i don't like the singer's voice, and the key change into the second chorus is weird, and also the "girl who looks like a boy" lyric is a little. questionable. from my position as a trans person dating a trans woman and who is well aware of predatory stereotypes around transfem people.

Czechia: Lights Off by We Are Domi decent Euroclub song. i like the verses.

Iceland: Medh Haekkandi Sol by Systur i had high hopes for this one, and i'm feeling inexplicably let down. it's TOO quiet, and the harmonies aren't mixed well enough in the nf performance. staging here is good, though. i can't see it qualifying which sucks because i so often like the icelandic entries. also i'm not vibing with the major chord at the end.

Estonia: Hope by Stefan weirdly, i find myself liking this. it's a decent take on euro-country that doesn't feel too tryhard the way the dutch versions often do. hopefully he sounds good live and the staging is good. live, this could go either way, estonia's a little hit or miss in that regard. but i'm hoping it does well.

Germany: Rockstars by Malik Harris god ok i hate his voice. incredibly radio friendly song and i think with a different singer i would feel better about it but as it is it's the same boring shit germany has become known for.

Denmark: The Show by Reddi the beginning feels very 90s ESC. i like it more once the beat kicks in, i could see this qualifying or otherwise doing alright but i'm not liking the vocalist. not my least favorite song from this year, I guess?

Latvia: Eat Your Salad by Citi Zeni killer first line aside, this is a good song musically. no comment on the lyrics. sorry, latvia. no but they're okay rappers, at least from the mv, the background track is good? this is better than i was expecting?

Georgia: Lock Me In by Circus Mircus it's weird, but it's okay. will definitely be memorable but not sure if that'll be for the better or for worse. georgia historically has great staging so there's a future where i can see this qualifying.

Slovenia: Disko by LPS this is a song by teenagers and it feels like a song by teenagers. sorry, slovenia. it's okay, it's cute, it doesn't stand out.

Croatia: Guilty Pleasure by Mia Dimsic it's pretty good, it's cute, it isn't necessarily suited for eurovision but i could see myself listening to this post-contest. really interesting (affectionate) things happening in the instrumental.

overall this is a really weak year, i think. not super vibing with any of these. i'll drop my top 10, though (thanks as always to the gerbear esc sorter, keeping us all alive): Netherlands, Moldova, Ireland, Australia, Estonia, Lithuania, Sweden, Latvia, Croatia, Ukraine.

#esc reviews

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health-products1812 · 1 day

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Sonus CompleteSupplements - Health

Finding Harmony Again: My Positive Experience with Sonus Complete Supplements - Heal

For as long as I can remember, I've loved music. It's been a constant source of joy and a way to unwind after a long day. But recently, I noticed a decline in my hearing, particularly in high-frequency sounds. Conversations became muffled, and the music I adored seemed duller. It was frustrating and disheartening.

Concerned about my hearing health, I decided to explore natural solutions. After some research, I came across Sonus Complete Supplements - Heal. The product's focus on natural ingredients and its reputation for supporting healthy hearing function piqued my interest. Here's my experience after using Sonus Complete for the past few months:

Gradual Improvement in Hearing Clarity:

I wasn't expecting overnight results, but within a few weeks of taking Sonus Complete daily, I started noticing a subtle improvement in hearing clarity. Sounds seemed sharper, and I could pick up on nuances in conversations that I'd been missing before. This was particularly evident when listening to music; the instruments and vocals became clearer, and the overall listening experience felt richer.

Enhanced Focus and Reduced Tinnitus:

An unexpected benefit of using Sonus Complete has been the reduction of occasional tinnitus I sometimes experienced. That ringing or whooshing sound that would appear at times became less frequent and noticeable. This improvement has contributed to better focus throughout the day, as I'm no longer distracted by the tinnitus.

Natural Ingredients and Easy to Take:

Sonus Complete is formulated with a blend of natural ingredients known to support ear health, including Ginkgo Biloba, vitamins, and antioxidants. This focus on natural ingredients was a major selling point for me, as I try to avoid harsh chemicals whenever possible. The capsules are easy to swallow and haven't caused any side effects for me.

A Safe and Effective Option:

It's important to note that I'm not a medical professional, and this review is based on my personal experience. However, I've been very happy with the results I've achieved with Sonus Complete. It's provided a safe and effective way to manage my hearing health and rediscover the joy of listening to music and engaging in clear conversations.

Disclaimer: As with any supplement, it's advisable to consult with a doctor before starting Sonus Complete, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking other medications.

Overall, I'm thrilled with the positive impact Sonus Complete has had on my hearing health. It's a natural and effective solution that has allowed me to get back to enjoying the beautiful world of sound.

#Sonus CompleteSupplements - Health #health #health and wellness #health & fitness #healthylifestyle

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thebandcampdiaries · 13 days

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Kulton The Maker has recently released a new single: "Ganja Ganja Song"

Kulton The Maker is an artist and songwriter who loves to take chances and explore the many nuances of his creativity. His release “"Ganja Ganja Song"” is a perfect example. This remarkable piece of music showcases excellent production aesthetics while also enabling "Ganja Ganja Song" to express his vision without limitations.

The song lyrics in particular, express a refusal to feel ashamed for smoking marijuana, despite societal judgment. In other words, this song is a powerful reminder that sometimes we really ought to just relax, have a good time, and not worry about the haters out there!

Additionally, the song recognizes the hard work and productivity of cannabis enthusiasts, who often face negative stereotypes and stigma. The lyrics encourage people to see beyond these misconceptions and acknowledge that stoners can be valuable members of society. It highlights the fact that marijuana use does not necessarily equate to laziness or lack of ambition.

The artist, who has already garnered recognition for his impressive knack for creating tunes that seamlessly blend catchy melodies with great rhythms, has once again demonstrated his skills with his latest release. In this track, he artfully combines deeply harmonic vocal lines with a chill vibe, creating a truly mesmerizing listening experience that perfectly captures the mood of the song. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a newcomer to his music, this one will make an impression! ”Ganja Ganja Song" is a very good calling card for Kulton The Maker. This release will certainly please fans of hip-hop, soul, and more! Fans of artists such as Afroman, Akon and Snoop Dogg will most definitely connect with this one. Kulton The Maker combines his empowering message with fantastic production aesthetics. The groove of the song really hits the mark showcasing the artist’s versatility and ability to infuse so much smoothness to the mix.

Find out more about Kulton The Maker, and do not miss out on "Ganja Ganja Song". This release is currently available on some of the best digital streaming services.

Find the song on Spotify or Apple Music:

Here are some quotes from listeners who enjoyed the track!

“this is the first song i have really liked. the rappers voice sounds alittle like the style of 50 cent. nice strong beat to the song. this is a song i could listen to again.. i would definitely add this to my playlists or workout mix.”

“instantly im intrigued, ive been on a lofikick lately. the organ and fade/echo effect is an amazing choice. its really lofi and faded type beat. i could play this at work and everyone would love it. its not too slow but just enough to vibe to. it sounds like 90s bone thugs n harmony”

“This hip-hop track brings the boom bap. The rapper lays down confident rhymes with a smooth flow, weaving social commentary or personal braggadocio into the beat. The production is tight, with a bumping bassline providing the low end and crisp hi-hats keeping the rhythm sharp. Samples or atmospheric synths might add texture, but the focus remains on the rapper's delivery. Skillful scratching or turntable cuts could punctuate transitions, keeping the energy high. It's a head-nodding experience that showcases the rapper's lyrical prowess.”

“Intro is amazing! Horns were awesome! Love the artists sleepy voice! I don’t smoke but i want to listen to this song while vibing out, laying in the California sun…and i live in Georgia! lol. I will be searching for this song on Apple music to add to my playlist!”

“The instrumentals are very defined and really adds to this song. The beat is fine and the rhythm is lovely. The artist is very talented. Sings very clearly and never hard to understand. The song is rich and gives great vibes. Very driven by motivation.”

“The instrumentation is very good. Its sweet, solid, and vibing for sure. Its so amazing, strong and theres a lot of talent in both the vocals/lyrics and musical background. Its very funny too with the lyrics and compassion thats here very obviously and brightly.”

“The voice is a delicate blossom, blooming in the garden of melody, enchanting our souls with its sweet fragrance. Lyrics paint a vivid tapestry of emotions, woven with the threads of brilliance and passion, creating a masterpiece that resonates deeply within the chambers of the heart.”

“Perfectly captures the warmth and comfort cozy music, transporting me to a place of tranquility and relaxation with its soothing melodies. like being wrapped in a soft blanket on a chilly evening and having a coffee with each note gently lulling me into state of calm at the same time cool”

#ganja ganja song #ganja #kulton the maker #Spotify

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popbloganddropit · 1 month

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Deeper Well - Kacey Musgraves

Initial thoughts:

My initial thoughts are to not even listen to the rest of the album and just play “Cardinal” 2000 more times. I came into this album with reservations. star-crossed did not grow on me after its release and the singles released before Deeper Well just felt okay to me. I didn’t see it approaching Golden Hour’s place in my heart, because honestly what could? But Kacey’s sixth studio album is a beautiful, mature, and transcendent.

1. Cardinal- A haunting guitar riff that will stick with you with hypnotic, ethereal lyrics. This is somehow both classic Kacey and completely new sonic territory. A slowed down, mystical bridge that elevates this song even more. I love this song, if I hated everything else on the album, this song would still make the entirety better. 5/5

2. Deeper Well- my reaction when this was released before the album was “it’s fine”. I wouldn’t have gone back to it and it didn’t leave me super hopeful for how much I would enjoy the album. I just didn’t connect with it lyrically. It has grown on me a bit with the album, but I would rank it towards the bottom of the tracks. 3.5/5

3. Too Good To Be True- I liked this better than Deeper Well upon release, but it didn’t make me more excited for the album. It’s quiet and doesn’t seem to to explore any new territory for Kacey, but it’s an overall pleasant listening experience. 4/5

4. Moving Out- a soft, dreamy song about moving out and reflecting upon the memories. It perfectly blends the sadness with looking back fondly. I particularly like when she repeats “start again” as a wink at starting again. 4/5

5. Giver/Taker- I love this chorus. It’s gorgeous and moving. The verses and bridge are nothing to sneeze at either. This song convinced me this album was magic upon first listen. 4.5/5

6. Sway- as a person who could also learn how to sway, this song is gently keeping its hands pressed on my neck. The final ~30 seconds slowed down with magnetic harmonies make me ascend into heaven. 5/5

7. Dinner With Friends- this song is about things Kacey will miss when she passes and it’s beautiful and sentimental. An instant classic that really shows what Kacey is great at. 4.5/5

8. Heart of the Woods- …I could be convinced to join a barefoot and naked in the woods cult if this song was played enough times. The soft guitar strums, the drum reminiscent of a heartbeat, the echo-y vocals, tattoo this song on my soul. The words describe all of nature being connected in Kacey’s signature stunning but simple way. 5/5

9. Jade Green- in a perfect transition, this one is for the crystal girlies. This feels a little darker, and sounds like a hypnotic spell being cast. “Like the bracelet that you bought me, I want you on my arm,” immediately suck out as a favorite lyric to me. 4/5

10. The Architect- Honestly, Kacey, who gave you permission to be this genius? The instrumental allows the lyrics to really shine here, as they should. A beautiful set of questions for the architect of everything that’s open enough for whatever you personally believe in and a song that makes me a bit teary even though it’s not really sad. 5/5

11. Lonely Millionaire- I really like the romantic instrumental that makes me want to slink and sway through my home. Lyrically, it’s just not fully connecting for me, but I do like that Kacey’s playing with song structure a bit here. 3.5/5

12. Heaven Is- A hymnal instrumental and melody fit the heavenly lyrics. A song that’s destined to be a first dance at a wedding, but it’ll be a tearjerker rather than hokey and overdone. 4/5

13. Anime Eyes- This is so fun and cute. A perfect penultimate track to lighten up before the end of the album. The fervered speed run towards the end is the the cherry on top of this ice cream sundae of a song. Very easy for a song like this to fall into trying too hard and Kacey keeps it just restrained enough to not fall into a forced quirky vibe. 4/5

14. Nothing to be Scared Of- a sweet little bow to wrap up the gift that is this album. It’s a little short, but I’d rather be left wanting more than checking my watch waiting for the timer to run down. 4/5

Final Thoughts:

Deeper Well will leave you feeling like you took a walk through a mystical forest with Kacey while she told you some of her deepest thoughts and secrets with an occasional giggle-filled frolic through a meadow. I’m impressed with the range of emotions here, and each of them are accompanied by a perfectly moody instrumental. I’m not sure if Golden Hour will ever be topped for me, but Deeper Well isn’t trying to be Golden Hour and maybe more importantly, it’s not trying too hard not to be Golden Hour. Musgraves feels set free and I greatly enjoyed the journey she took me on, through the heart of the woods. The average score of the songs was 4.3, and I obviously think this record really works as an album in full, so rounding up to 4.5/5

Top 3: Cardinal, Heart of the Woods, The Architect

What’s Next?

Queen B!!!! ASAP!!! 🤠🐴

#music review #country music #pop music #kacey musgraves #deeper well

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existentialmagazine · 2 months

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Review: Sandi Thom’s new single ‘Revolution Anthem (Festival of the Oppressed)’ offers political criticism amidst folk-rock intensity

As a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in her own league, the Scottish-based powerhouse Sandi Thom has for many years run in the face of traditional music trends, with her most-known song saying it all in the title alone: ‘I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair)'. Since first coming to prominence in the mid-noughties, her work has since been appreciated across the globe, making headlines and breaking expectations with everything she’s done.

Her newest single ‘Revolution Anthem (Festival of the Oppressed)’ offers just as much of a statement in its title as a lot of her works, boasting an anthem relating to the recent geo-political turmoil. The paired-back, acoustic and folk blended sound is one that you’d perhaps find unexpected to be matched with such a bold statement, outing on the state of the world without any shielding to hide behind, and yet somehow it makes the meaning hit that bit harder than ever before. Through an acapella introduction of just Sandi’s isolated, rich vocals, the track is immediately brought near and dear to all, personal and resonant as her lingering lines make their mark: ‘it has to be time for a change.’

It’s not long before the opening verse shifts the momentum, booming through clapped beats; tribal sounding drums and a simple but intricately plucked acoustic guitar, championing instruments known for their tenderness and instead turning them on their heads for something unavoidably in-your-face. Sandi’s words are just as integral, soaring through low-tones and higher runs, equally torn between intimacy and strength. With heightened volumes and resounding impact, ‘Revolution Anthem (Festival of the Oppressed)’ continues to hurtle into your eardrums with a sound and message that won’t be backing down, determined to be heard. Through layers of vocal harmonies that serenade through the chorus alongside backing ooh’s and hums, the power behind Sandi’s words is not lost, feeling both haunting and striking all at once. The percussion also simmers out, allowing just claps and acoustics to take centre stage, a powerful intermission that’s lesser in instruments but more profound in other ways.

Perhaps the most important part of it all is the message she has to share though, connecting with all of the disenfranchised and those that are struggling under unjust systems without a voice to bring about change themselves. As Sandi shares that songwriters and artists have the opportunity to be a mouthpiece for the ‘vox populi’, it’s clear that this new single is all of that and more. Pulling references from the French revolution, the Russia/Ukraine War and Brexit, as well as name dropping world leaders such as Donald Trump and blatantly calling out former leaders such as Liz Truss, Sandi lets her opinions be known without fear of upsetting anyone that may disagree. Through lines like the staple hook ‘So, it's time for a change raise your voice to the air, time for a change Revolution is here’, she brings out the built-up tensions within us all, marking the start of an uproar ready for change. If you can relate or you’re just eager for a sound that’s uniquely folk-rock, then you won’t want to miss out on listening to the entire track for yourself here.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

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daggerzine · 3 months

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San Fermin- Arms (Better Company Records)

Ellis Ludwig-Leone’s band San Fermin is back with their fifth album. Nine songs filled with heartbreak from not one, but two breakups Ellis experienced. The emotions truly rise up on this album through the music and the lyrics sung by alternating vocalists Allen Tate and Claire Wellin. The first track, “Weird Environment,” has a rockin’ guitar melody resembling New Order in parts. Allen sings the most toe-tapping song on the album filled with those heartfelt lyrics I mentioned. “Burned my life down to the ground. Emptied out the Hungry Ghost. Wrote a sad song to get it out. If it helped, I didn’t notice.” The song builds to a punch later with driving instrumentation. Here’s the video:

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Next up, “Didn’t Want You To,” Claire steps in to sing with a subtle twang, “I’ll find my way; Out of this place soon; If you didn’t want me, I didn’t want you to.” A beauty of a song complete with added horns. You can watch the video here:

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Track 3, “Can't Unsee It,” brings Allen back on vocals with a gorgeous song that kind of reminds me of Lord Huron or The National for some reason. Love the horns on this one as well. Next is the title track, “Arms,” a bouncy piano ballad where Allen’s vocals shine here. A beautiful guitar solo adds to its lyrics. “Oh, I’m falling for you so madly; As soon as I leave, I just want to come back; And I know this is going to end badly; Cuz it feels like you are the one thing that I have; And who am I to hold you when you have arms for the whole world?” Here’s the video:

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Track 5, “Makes Me Want You,” Claire takes over with multiple layers of her vocal tracks. Along with gorgeous piano and trumpet, this “makes me want (the song) more.” Claire is also lead vocals on the next track, “My Love Is A Loneliness.” The third single off of the album is one you’re sure to sing along with in no time. I know I have. More multiple-layered vocals that will move any listener to tears. Powerful imagery also in the lyrics: “If everyone leaves and everyone dies; It’s just a question of when; If everyone cheats and everyone lies; Rather it me than them; If the worst should happen; And it will, and will again; I will still be standing; With loneliness, my friend; To start again.” The video can be seen here:

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Next up, “Useful Lies,” is a beautiful, soft acoustic guitar melody sung by Allen. And then wait for it, here come the strings, the harmonies, and the horns that make this song truly soar! Track 8, “Wasting on Me,” Allen and Claire’s harmonies really blend here on this more upbeat song. The beauty of the boy/girl vocals really makes this one stand out. “Never meant to lead you down a road of sadness. But we’ve arrived where there’s nothing to be done. Could pretend there was a moment when we lost it. But we were running different races from the gun.” The album ends with “You Owe Me.” It’s back to Claire on lead vocals with a soft, sad piano-driven melody. In comes the brass that really helps capture the mood. Emotional heartbreak here with, “And I had to get my stuff out of your parents’ place. Your father wouldn’t even meet me in my eye.” The album was recorded at Better Company Studios in Brooklyn by none other than Allen Tate, the male vocalist. A national tour begins in the middle of March(see below). The last time I saw San Fermin was ten years ago at FRZN FEST in Madison. You don’t want to miss this album performed live; I know I won’t. ERIC EGGLESON

https://www.sanferminband.com/

(photo credit Alex S K Brown)

Tour Dates:

3/15: Utrecht, NDL - Birds of Paradise Festival

3/21-22: Boise, ID - Treefort Music Fest

3/23: Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room

3/24: Denver, CO - Globe Hall

3/26: St. Paul, MN - Turf Club

3/27: Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall

3/28: Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon

3/30: Nashville, TN - The Blue Room

3/31: Columbus, OH - The Basement

4/2: Washington, DC - Atlantis

4/3: Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts

4/4: Boston, MA - The Sinclair

4/5: New York, NY - Racket

4/30: San Diego, CA - Casbah

5/1: Los Angeles, CA - Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever

5/3: Pioneertown, CA - Pappy + Harriet’s

5/4: San Francisco, CA - Independent

5/7: Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge

5/9: Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret

5/10: Seattle, WA - Madame Lou’s

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