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dandyvespa · 4 years

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Calling All K-Pop Survival Show Trash (I-Land Edition)

What’s good everyone

In the past I have talked about my interest in kpop survival shows and my preferred lineups for shows like Produce 101 X and Youth with You. These such posts got some attention and made me befriend some cool mutuals so I thought why not do more for any other shows I come across so I can also discuss with people and fangirl with them? Though I myself continue to like these shows despite evil editing and clear favoritism from producers/global fans, I still wish to share with you some hardworking trainees that I think you guys would be interested in, especially if ya’ll kpop survival show tl’s are dry and looking to fill the void with something different. Well, I-Land happens to be that different show. Now I know not everyone is a big fan of BigHit or even Mnet for that matter, I do encourage this show because it is a lot different from the format of the Produce series, or any past kpop survival show for that matter. The standard for ranking trainees is not entirely up to global votes and the producers in the show give their valuable take. Not only that but their living conditions, music choices, and selected trainees are very distinct and refreshing in my opinion. Not only that but you have big names like Rain, Zico, Bang PD, IU, and much more contributing to the show to create the best global kpop group.

Now when posting this I realized I should have done this earlier because the show is already on its second part hehe. I-Land is split up into two parts so I’m just gonna give a brief rundown. The first part of I-Land involves these 23 trainees that all arrive individually or within groups to do this isolated and intricate building in the woods. These trainees then go through a series of performances to see who is the most competent member in entering I-Land, this really swanky and high-tech living space fit with training areas, a kitchen filled with a bunch of food, very pristine and spacious dorm rooms, etc. The catch is that only 12 members are only able to be apart of that paradise and will be determined by voting amongst themselves (already pretty political off the bat lol). Those who are unable to attend the I-Land are sent to The Ground, basically a way more downgraded version of I-Land with much fewer resources. This first part basically has these two groups pitted against each other and shifted between the I-Land and The Ground based on this trainee voting system and the producer voting system after completing various tests/competitions. The only time where the global voting system mattered was towards the end of Part 1 in which the global votes determined the 6 trainees eligible from The Ground to be with the other 6 I-Landers (which have been selected to stay by the Producers). These 12 trainees then dive into Part 2 of I-Land which is really the start of the actual competition to make it to the official 7-member debut line. The 12 to 7 members are shaved down again based on a series of tests that will showcase their individual and teamwork skills. This time the voting is completely based on an alternating system of producers and global fans deciding the ranking, the lowest such member being eliminated every other week.

So like I said I should have started this sooner since this show premiered back in June, but because a lot of people are just starting to know about the show because BTS and now Seventeen (Performance Unit) guested or are about to guest on the show (this includes possibly TXT and Gfriend given they are also tied to BigHit), might as well update ya’ll now on why you shouldn’t just be watching just because your ults are there for barely an entire episode. Though I admit that there are shady moments and complaints I have with the show, there is no denying that these trainees that are picked are all really good in their respective areas and are incredibly dead set on becoming idols. Now you may have heard people saying that this show is a “flop” based on Korean ratings. Given I don’t know how tv ratings work in South Korea and know that this show is steered more towards global fans, a number of people I have talked to already about this show just watch on different video sharing websites or apps the next day so subtitles appear or they watch during the scheduled time of the live broadcasting on YouTube which I have to say is SOOOO pleasing for us international folks. Ratings and famous artists contributing to the show aside, I once again stress that you guys should give the show a try just for the sake of getting to know these kids because I feel like with time and practice, even if they don’t make the final lineup, they will achieve their dreams eventually.

Now as much as I want to talk about the entirety of the show, I will once again post my top 7 members down below in the (Keep Reading) section. If ya’ll don’t want spoilers and wish to look up the show first then by all means go ahead! If you guys are curious about the show or even want to scream and talk about the show if you are caught up, please message me ya cuties!

NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADO THESE ARE MY TOP 7 I-LAND TRAINEES (SPOILERS POTENTIALLY INCLUDED):

1) Lee Heeseung

No question about it Heeseung is one of my biases on this show and for a good reason. This boy, a former BigHit trainee, is considered the ace of the show, an all-rounder who so far has shown stability in both dance and vocals (have yet to see rap being portrayed a lot in this show, but the producers, specifically Bang and Pdogg have said he really excels in rap and it was strange to them because he entered the show to focus more on vocals lol). Not only that but he is selfless, a trainee that has been putting a lot of his fellow members first and sacrificing his own time to help them or steer them in the right direction. Bro is also dorky and a total crackhead behind the scenes of I-Land lol. As of part 2 I believe he is the trainee with the most seniority, as in years of training. Despite showing his playful side here and there, he seems to be the most well-spoken and mature of the trainees, putting him as a major candidate to become a leader. It is just a bonus that he looks this good too! At this point in the show, it would be insane for anybody to not include Heeseung in their final debut lineup predictions. Plus this is legit Bang PD’s favorite son ya’ll already know.

2) Park Sunghoon

Ah the little ice prince! Another former BigHit trainee (and my second bias lol), Sunghoon is incredibly charismatic and knows how to show the right facial expressions on stage. I honestly kind of see him as a dark horse in the show. His vocals are pretty decent and he can really keep up in dancing. Overall just so hardworking, and it definitely shows because he really has been consistent through the show! It’s pretty known he is a major visual in the show but a lot of people also like him for his clean-cut and simple personality. He is also very observant of the other members and can be just as doting and selfless as Heeseung. What irks me is that the producers and even some viewers complain that his personality “overlaps” with other members, which is honestly an odd reason to have when considering the debut lineup. He seems quiet at first but the kid can be so hyperactive, funny, and radiates crackhead energy as time goes by in the show, giving us more of his personality to work with. What is more fascinating is that he used to figure-skate for 10+ years and decided to choose this path as an idol after seeing BTS. He is also determined to show his parents that they shouldn’t have doubted him and that he took the right path and I just love that. Please look out for him because with his popularity and competence, I am sure he will make it to the lineup!

3) Yang Jungwon

Pack it up ya’ll we found our little maknae of the group who is a cutie and an all-rounder! He is also a dark horse to me, but then again a lot of people consider him to be a “hidden ace” in the show. Jungwon may be one of the youngest members in I-Land but amongst the other younger trainees, but he stands out as the most skilled by a landslide. He excels at singing and is very stable. In fact I think he is one of the few trainees that has a really good singing voice next to Heeseung. He is also really good at dancing as well as free-styling. I think he is also a former BigHit trainee (I... yes I know a lot of my picks just happen to be BigHit trainees but trust me I’m not just being biased lol). I think Jungwon is someone who, though he excels himself, really appreciates his hyungs who he respects and wishes to learn from. Coincidentally, his role model is Jungkook haha. His ability to adjust to concepts, even the most mature ones, is also very astonishing. Hoping that global fans not only see him as a cute kid but as a talented, caring, and hardworking soul. Baby did not quit taekwondo to follow his dreams as an idol too!

4) Jay Park

Ya’ll you see this kid? He is a fighter. A competitor who brings the heat. And behold he is also formerly from BigHit lol, but also SM entertainment! Jay is incredibly skilled at dancing and is very charismatic on stage. I think he is one of the few people who showcased rap pretty decently, but again this show barely showed the rap skills of any of these trainees to really conclude that. The kid has been through a lot of humiliating moments in the show, even coming up with the iconic and meme-worthy line to accept such moments: resentment, anger, humiliation. He has been placed in compromising situations, but he owns up the the situation and accepts responsibilities that no one would. He is not as intimidating as he may want to look as he also very caring and helpful (plus his fear of ghosts is adorable). Even other trainees approach him to teach them choreography or get advice. Also the way he was able to lead the Grounders in the Fire performance made me appreciate him even more since then. I feel like he has the potential to be a great leader for the group as well. He is also honest in what he feels and has no problem stating that to the viewers, but is never someone who whines about not getting his way. His stubbornness will take him all the way to the debut line in my opinion haha. Go hard my sweet potato boy!

5) Jake Shim

Our Aussie boy and the icon of improvement in the show! He happens to be one of the trainees with the shortest training time. Despite this, he has had potential since his entrance test with Crown. Jake has had some rough criticism that lead him to work very hard. In fact he always feared that he may get behind others or not keep up. I think out of all the members--and that is saying a lot because they all really do try their best--he is the one who is the most hard-working and constantly practicing the choreography, even when others are asleep. I also think he has a pretty good vocal range, and it definitely improved since Flicker recently. The fact that he came all the way here to South Korea by himself to achieve his dream of being an idol after witnessing BTS is so brave. I really respect him and his friendship with a lot of the members in I-Land, especially with Sunghoon! I think he will only continue to rise up and gain more traction from the global audience.

6) Kim Sunoo

Sunshine boy coming through! Sunoo came along with Jake and performed Crown together and since then I always thought he had some real talent. This thought was only proven later on, but really set it for me his Save Me performance. Listen his vocals are so promising despite also having a short training period. I honestly think it would rival Heeseung’s vocals. I do think he has room to improve in dance, but he really works for it. He is always so positive and nice to others. He is very modest and eager to learn and I love how he is basically this aegyo king who never cringes at the slightest when he acts like himself. As someone who wishes to be on tv, I hope he gets there. I feel like a lot of people have slept on him because he was mostly known as that one cute kid with adequate skills, but they are far more better than a lot of the trainees since the beginning of the show. His popularity already puts him really up there so I can only hope he just continues to prove himself to the producers because they have already complimented him on his more masculine and skilled side in Fake Love. Fighting my son!

7) K

Our last member is K! Now I have had my eye on K because his visuals really stand out for me, like something out of a comic or drama. Handsomeness aside, K hails from Japan and is the oldest member on the entire show. He is very experienced in choreographing and is undoubtedly one of the best dancers on the show, which was definitely established in the dance unit competition. His vocals are also pretty underrated. I think he that knows how to grab attention and make us wanting more. Now as much as I adore his skills and ability to lead other members in the choreo, I have noticed that he is the type to be very straightforward, and it may come off as intimidating to other members. I am not sure if this is just South Korean etiquette of respecting elders and just trying really hard not to upset them, but the way that members have had their fair share of discussing issues with how K just turns icy whenever he doesn’t see things his way or makes a mistake leading them to be frightened to the point of not being able to chime in with their thoughts is very alarming. I get that no one wants to step on his toes further, but I hope this attitude and relationship doesn’t persist. I like K and I can see that he dotes on other members and helps them out as much as he can, but sometimes his hypocritical and isolated attitude gets the better of him. Now granted this may be a result of MNET’s evil editing, but seeing all these trainees share their uneasy thoughts regarding him makes me feel another way. Even when these issues happen, it ends up with him having to talk it out with his members and reflect, which is highly appreciated. Even the producers feel like K is important and is promising in his ad-libs and skill set. May he recover from all these issues and keep himself together!

HONORABLE MENTION:

★ Hanbin

I thought I would add an additional member that I have been on the fence about if one of these other potential trainees do not make it, especially considering I am a bit scared of K’s placement due to global fans being easily persuaded by how MNET edits their shit. I actually have never laid eyes on Hanbin since the entire first half of the show because he was always in The Ground. After seeing him lose confidence their I was scared if he would ever recover. Luckily, he opened up this time around! Not only do I see him acting more like this sweet older brother towards the other trainees, especially in times of conflict like with K and Niki, but he has really been standing out with his dance and vocal skills. I already know he used to be part of a Vietnamese cover dance group, but I never knew how stable and clear his vocals were. Though I don’t think he is as stand out as other members in these skills, he definitely showed more of his confidence and improvement since Part 1. I was honestly wondering why so many people have been hyping him and I guess I was the one wrongfully sleeping on him and his hidden talents heh. I also hope he is getting more recognition now and it would be nice to see another member who is outside of South Korea appear in the group, especially since Bang PD is going for a global group. Call me a Hannie now lol.

ALRIGHT end of this thread. Again feel free to talk to me about the show or finally start watching the show. Even though I did not list your favorite, understand this is my personal debut lineup. This in no way means I am hating on any of the other members. I think they all have what it takes if they were all able to get casted onto this show, and I hope they eventually will. Given that I was looking for much more trainees that caught my eye, have had experience, a good personality, a natural and improved skill set, and just an overall good connection with them, these were the trainees I was most enticed by. It is pretty set like this and I doubt it will change, but who knows. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope check out the show or continue to stream it! <3

#iland #I-land #k #sunghoon #sunoo #heeseung #jay #jake #hanbin #jungwon #bighit #kpop #kpop survival show #opinions #debut #lineup #mnet #tv shows #text post

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youarejesting · 4 years

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Music is the spark that sets my soul on fire - MYG

[MASTERLIST]

Summary: Yoongi x reader story. Y/n is a 97 liner from Europe, she came to Korea to study Literature but to maintain herself in Seoul she works as a producer and songwriter. BigHit hires her and while working with BTS they become friends and yoongi falls in love. I only got the music making part of this request, because, I am thinking I might make a second part. Where they can practice dancing together once the songs are recorded and progress the relationship a little more.

Request:

Pairing: Yoongi x Reader

Warnings: None that I know of unless you fear job interviews and bad lamb skewers...

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama

Words: 2.5k (SO MANY WORDS)

You walked through the busy streets on your way to an interview, you were going to a little almost unknown company. BigHit entertainment, you really hoped this wasn't a scam, you had been warned by friends that some shady companies liked to lure in foreigners. You were dressed rather nicely, if you do say so yourself. Fitted business pants and a button up, you felt confident, stopping out the front of the company. Adding a little perfume, trying to freshen up from your walk.

Heading inside you sat in the waiting area, with about ten other applicants, you were called in. The room was what you would expect to see for a board meeting of CEO’s a big oval table and lots of chairs. However besides you there were only two other people in the room. Above the table you appeared calm and collected, but below you were gripping the arms of the chair firmly.

You gave your skills and explained your work. They played your audition track and wrote some things down, "your work was one of the best we heard for the audition. Why do you think you are a perfect candidate for this job?"

"As BigHit entertainment aims to be a company that provides a challenging workplace, whilst promoting the joy of doing the work the employees love. I can assure you I have a passion for expression through words, music and dance, I have the advantage of knowing Korean Italian and English, I can open a wider market for international listeners. I am autonomous working well not only independently but also creating synergy within group projects. Finally I am someone you can trust, I take my responsibilities and I hold them firmly"

Bang Si-hyuk rubbed his chin and leaned forward, he pondered your words for a minute writing some things down and then dismissed you. You headed home that day concerned that you didn't get the job.

~~~~~~~

Sitting in front of your studio desk you started by uploading your demo's and listening to the very few songs the bangtan boys had already debuted. Getting straight into work the door opened and a thin man slinked in, he moved sluggish but each step was surprisingly agile. And the more you noticed him move across the room you could liken him to a big cat. He was obviously another producer, sitting behind you at the other desk. With your backs to one another, you two worked quietly head phones on.

After doing everything you could electronically you had to play somethings on actual instruments to really start bringing this cursed song to life. Heading into the booth, catching a sideways glance from the other producer. Ignoring the pressure of his watching eyes you took a seat at the keyboard changing the tone and playing a melody. You went around the room piecing the song together, playing each instrument with care. Grinning at the result you decided to head back to the computer to tamper with your recordings.

You had this song in your head, since you heard their first couple of songs and you couldn't shake it. So you were determined to make it come alive. It was a slow process and tiredly you stood back up happy with the back track and headed into the recording booth once more. This time you weren’t going towards any particular instruments but stood before the microphone. Putting headphones on you began singing a few of the lyrics you had scribbled down.

Once it was recorded you, resumed your position at your computer and began messing with the words. A figure appeared over your shoulder. "Let me hear" His voice was low and he spoke in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds. Nodding you unplugged the head phones and played it. He did a small freestyle kind of rap over your shoulder and changed a few of your beats layering them, making the track sound more complicated you blinked, "I like it, we could use that"

You turned about to ask if this producer was going to steal your song, the paranoid feeling growing in your chest at the possibilities, when he said "tell me what I am missing?"

He played you his song and you were surprised it sounded way better than yours, his was crisp and experimental and all round made you feel like it was a genuine pop song already. But it was unfinished you could tell, it fit the formula of a pop song but you grew tired quickly it didn’t real you in it didn’t play with your emotions. The chorus came around and every time it was just there it didn’t make you anticipate anything. "There is something missing, it doesn't build like it should everything should build back to the chorus but it just isn't."

"That's your homework little producer go home and find out what it's missing" he grinned saving his work and shutting everything down. You went home and for the life of you couldn't sleep. That song played in your head over and over. You did what you had to, setting up your home computer you recreated the song as best as you could. Once it started to sound exactly how you remembered you started making alterations.

Staying up all night and heading into work tired, you sat at your desk continuing to work on his song. You couldn't get over the missing piece and after trial and error you figured it out you had recorded something with the synthesizer and then layered the track, it wasn’t to space but gave the build up to the chorus well. There were words on your mind and you took to the recording booth to make a vocal track putting it onto your replica of producer Min’s song. Leaving a USB for him on the desk and sitting back in your chair.

You were finishing your song when the exhaustion took over and you fell asleep. Min PD stepped into the room and saw you sleeping. He frowned thinking you were slacking on the job, perhaps he would have to have a word with Bang Si-hyuk. Sitting down his gaze landed on a little lady bug USB on his desk, there was a post it note attached. "I couldn't sleep until I figured out the issue, problem is I had to try to replicate your song, so it doesn’t sound as good” he turned his computer on excited to see what you had made.

He placed it into his computer and pulled on his headphones, listening you were singing but he tried to drown that out as he listened to every piece you added to his song. He was impressed the back track sounded perfect, lost in the beat, the build-up was perfect. Right after the second verse you flipped it and started another verse rapping. He took a sharp breath, you had some lungs and you were rapping in a mix of English and Korean that gave August D a run for his money. He felt his heart racing as you didn't slow down. He laughed silently as he heard you take audible gasps to the beat it was funny, cute and he was all for it. Before rapping the last two lines in a nonchalant way bringing in the bridge which hyped back into the chorus.

When the song had ended he was in awe, he wanted you to fix his back track but this was amazing. He wanted to keep the format you rapped, but he wanted to change a few lines, you were a good rapper. Just a bit too humble in some of your lines. Yoongi turned in his chair looking at your sleeping form, the times stamps on the files said three am. Meaning you had stayed up all night for this song. Excitedly taking it to the dance studio meeting the others.

"We thought you are trying to ditch dance practice again?" Hoseok laughed

"Don't be mistaken I was, but um our new producer, I asked them to fix my song and they made this" he plugged it in and the song filled the room.

They listened to the beat and Hoseok and Jimin were trying to make moves to the song. They prepared for the chorus only to be hit with the rap verse, making them freeze listening to you spit fire couldn’t help the smiles. When you got to the small out of breath gasps Namjoon looked impressed and Hoseok was shouting running around the room jumping on Jin. The bridge came in slow and the chorus hit they danced around and Namjoon grinned "that has got to be the best thing I have heard in weeks"

"My heart is racing" Jhope said looking at the maknaes line who grinned back at him. Yoongi smiled at their reactions and took their feedback and requests before heading back to the studio. You were in the recording room playing the piano and writing down notes when you heard Yoongi Knocking on the door. Blushing heading over, had he liked your song. You stepped out and sat at your desk turning, your chair to face him and he did the same.

"The guys really like your song" he said and your jaw fell open in shock he did not just show a proper group of performers your song.

"Sul serio, you showed it to BTS, I was rapping and everything"

"Oh they loved that they are currently arguing who gets the big rap verse" he smiled as you buried your head in your hands.

~~~~~~~

It had been months of lunches and late nights you exchanged phone numbers and worked on songs together. You jokingly bought him a pair of old man slippers for the office. He seemed to be wearing them every time you turned up. Sometimes you would see him on his chair with knees pulled up to his chest and his little toes wiggling in his slippers. There was also an awkward night when you both ran down thirteen flights of stairs to the only working bathrooms. He ended up grabbing your hand trying to pull you along, after you shared some bad lamb skewers.

The song and many others you had both worked on were approved for the next album. Turning to Yoongi, you felt rather nervous to meet the members of the band, "so what are the BTS guys like?"

"Uh they are all nice" he replied not turning to face you as he worked on some lyrics and timing, finding your question a little odd.

"I am just nervous, how many times have you worked with them?"

"From the beginning" he mumbled restarting the section he was working on and muttering lyrics under his breath to the beat.

"So you have been their producer this whole time?" You said shocked and it clicked you didn't know who he was, turning to face you he threw his head back laughing. You blushed confused why he was laughing at you. Grabbing their latest magazine he slide across the floor on his chair until he landed beside you. He opened the magazine and smiled showing you the picture.

"This is Rap Monster the leader really smart don't let him near your computer he is clumsy, Jin handsome face brings all the fans to the group, don't indulge him for his shitty puns. This is Suga, handsome rapper extraordinaire, he is probably the cooled of the group" he went to turn the page and you slammed your hand down on the page and held it up and looked at him.

"Are you brothers? You look the same, and if you say that you’re a member of BTS I am going to die of embarrassment?" He gave you a sheepish gummy grin and a shrug of his shoulders, you slapped his arm in shock "You are seriously a member of BTS and you never told me"

He laughed as you continued to playfully slap his arm and he grabbed your wrist, to stop you from doing any damage to either your hand or his arm. He smiled unable to control himself. He saw you pouting adorably, but what made him the happiest is that you didn't shy away you still hit him and treated him like your friend. "Come on my best friend can't be mad can she?"

"She can, you never thought in the months we have been working together to say "hey I'm Suga the rapper from BTS, never thought while texting to say ‘Hey Jhope from BTS told me during the BTS dance practice that I am the best looking BTS member of BTS’" You wiggled your hands free to playfully smack his arm a few more times, he was cackling.

"I thought you knew, I really thought you knew, forgive me I will buy dinner" pulling you into a hug so you couldn't try to hit him anymore. Huffing you gave up watching him order your favorite food to the studio, with ease. Sitting on the floor together, picking up from your last deep and meaningful conversation about work, home, money and the incident earlier that week involving the broken elevator and dodgy plumbing.

“I swear if it doesn't get fixed I am moving my office into the lobby, my legs can't take thirteen floors every day and then the fact that half the building is getting plumbing maintenance so we have to use the first floor toilets the first floor Yoongi, I run on tea and coffee and I took the stairs six times yesterday and not both ways six times down and six times back up. That’s nine steps a flight by thirteen flights, that’s just one way, one hundred and seventeen steps to get to our office” You were punching numbers on the calculator on your phone. “I climbed one thousand four hundred and four stairs Yoongi”

Yoongi stopped mid chew you had his face between your hands squishing his cheeks together as you stressed this, he was looking at your face and he swallowed his mouth full of rice looking at you. When had he fallen for you? This was a question that struck him, in this very moment. He looked at your soft features contrasting with your fierce eyes.

Was it your smile? The way you said such strange things that were foreign to him? The way you spoke to your family and how your mother would ask if you were eating enough and if you had found a nice boy yet? The times you would say ‘si’, ‘per favore’ and ‘grazie’ cutely? Maybe it was the way you would, get angry and start arguing with him only to slip into Italian and he would just stare at you amused watching those melodic words and foreign tones move your mouth in was he never usually got to see. Perhaps it was the way you would apologize for having long conversations in the office and for your family being so involved.

He would never know but he felt his throat go dry as he licked his parted lips watching you in slow motion speaking so fast, he didn’t know what you were saying and in what language. But he smiled grabbing the back of your neck and your waist he pulled you forward. With his lips on yours he seemed to devour your words, your arms went slack and he pulled back to see your eyes were wide open you were in shock.

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turnupfortragedy · 4 years

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Operation MOVE : an essay on Philadelphia PD racism & Leftover Crack

SAME TEXT AS IN PHOTO SET JUST DIFFERENT FORMAT

A simple bass line plays for a few seconds, violins and soft sounding strings follow in; creating a build up to deliberately deep drumming then an electric guitar plays and he screams. “Philadelphia, 78’, shut down MOVE by police state,” sings Stza, the lead singer of an American punk rock band from New York. Scott “Stza” Sturgeon was just a kid when at the time Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo ordered the black liberation group MOVE to vacate their home. 9 members of MOVE were imprisoned for the death of James Ramp, a cop, who was shot in the back of the neck. Mayor Rizzo in an archive of NY Times on August 8th 1978 “There is no question that MOVE fired the first shot.” Years later, in 1985 the Philadelphia PD dropped two bombs on MOVE; catching 65 row homes on fire and killing eleven people. Today Black Lives Matter is protesting the murder of George Floyd, a black man, killed by Derek Chauvin, a cop, that knelt on Floyd’s neck. Seems like things have not changed much since then.

My professor mentioned MOVE in class while we all talked about George Floyd, the BLM protests in Philly, and society's need to keep black people oppressed. That conversation made me remember this song that I really love: Operation MOVE by Lëftover Crack. I listened to it a lot with one of my best friends Lauren; they introduced me to the song on one of our many drives to I-don’t-know-where during our time together at a college in Philadelphia county. They like a lot of really awesome music that I had never heard of because I led a pretty sheltered life until then.

There is this awesome memory I have of us always, almost constantly, playing this song after they showed it to me. We would be blasting the song so loud the car’s speakers were probably blown out from it. Together we'd punch the roof of their car from the inside with all the windows down; forcing the world to listen though they probably didn't understand the lyrics from all that screaming. Maybe I didn't either or not entirely anyway but I felt the music and what it meant. I never looked the lyrics up. I was too busy disassociating and following Lauren’s lead; Even when I was having a good time my mind was fogged with feelings and off somewhere, I’m not sure where. “Until the movement was incinerated” we would shout with the song, our fists red from hitting the metal roof.

MOVE was created in 1972, they fought for the rights of all living things, animals and humans alike. The group held demonstrations against police brutality and protested zoos. In my research I've found they follow the anarcho primitivism philosophy. “Friendly fire kills officer dead, the MOVE 9 are framed up instead” the song states the situation that occurred between MOVE and P.P.D. Most people believe friendly fire killed the officer in 1978 but our justice system incarcerated the 9 MOVE members for the killing of that cop. There is not much in the way of lyrics when speaking of the length of the written word for the song; but every bit powerful and packed with meaning. The tracking is 10 minutes long and has a wide range of musical genres working with the theme; the tragedy of how our country treats anyone against systemic oppression of minorities and people of color. Those instrumentals in the beginning hype you up for what is about to happen when the lyrics open up with that first incident.

Twenty seconds of the song between the lyrics in the beginning and the next set is more drumming and electric guitar that gives me goosebumps knowing what is coming.

The bombing of their commune or so called "compound", which I would argue both have a negative connotation, happened on May 13th in 1985. Philadelphia PD Lieutenant Frank Powell dropped two one pound bombs from above their home in a helicopter with the blessing of Police Commissioner George Sambor. "Sights trained on exits, the police wait. A firing squad for those who fight to escape" Lëftover Crack sings. You can clearly hear the anger that the band has for the destruction of everything the band believes in, just like MOVE does. "MOVE fought against exploitation, the state's injustice, and their oppression. For these crimes that the city pigs created, The Africa's were incinerated."

The lyrics are depressing but they aren't something dark the band created from their minds, this is factual; it is something our government allowed to happen. You can feel what those victims must have felt and how enraged the band is about the destruction of people and rights to their beliefs. Maybe because I agree with "f--k the police" that there cannot be peace without justice, that regardless of the individuals "ACAB." The world's opinions get to me and often I wonder am I biased, is the need for this fight, a revolution all in my head? Will my undying love for all people and their right to live life sway me into thinking the song is good?

The lyrics are good because they are written well; they put together the story of those who fought with their lives for something they believed in. I feel an uproar in my soul and the urge to fight when I listen to this song. I find myself trying to scream the lyrics like Stza does, I don't sound like him all punk and metal but I sound infuriated. The song transports me, imagining myself at the time this occurred, imagining the horrific moments the MOVE folks faced in their own home. A good writer does this, they create the scene and you can swear you see it there in front of you with your very own eyes.

I can picture the surrounding houses on fire, MOVE trying to escape. Their thoughts, awful ones, probably about dying; fighting for what is right then being met with gunfire by those sworn to protect and serve. I was young when I heard the band and mostly listening to the sounds of his screaming and the instrumentals, barely making out all his words in that song. But even though I couldn't make out everything he was screaming the feeling I could understand, these chills and this fire that already burned inside igniting more and more with each listen.

Now I know the lyrics, I've listened to many of songs with screamers; my ear is trained to understand the singers. Now I know skills to use to try and keep me from disassociating so I'm more present instead of scared, off somewhere in my mind. Now I know the history about MOVE, the Africa's, and how the world saw them through the eyes of the media: a cult, a terrorist group, cop killers. They, we, are people against the world looking for truth and justice.

Reports are conflicting but I do not put it past our government to have acted like they wanted to stop the fire and instead said LET IT BURN. Destroying their city in order to further oppress those against law enforcement overpowering the people they take an oath to protect, regardless of race and status. My professor mentioned MOVE and how her area of the city remembers. A lot of us don't know because in our world it's reported on, then gone like a trend. These injustices happens again and again, the cycle seems to never end. People forget they put the past out of their mind or move on quickly by deeming it a tragic accident.

"Sentenced to be incinerated, Sentenced to be incinerated" are Scott's last lyrics sung. When the song is coming to its end violins fade out the harsh metal theme for a few seconds. The song picks back up with the full works drums and all, the music sounds like frustration. Fading into another silence and a large piano piece with an acoustic guitar is played. The vocalist can be heard shouting vaguely, quietly ,and randomly, the music sounds like sad peacefulness. It is the year 2020 and I think, I hope these things don't have to occur anymore… that these songs don't need to be made. If they are made it is only to tell us the past not show us our future. I am waiting for that uplifting moment of music to lead this oppression to its end, not more death.

#operation move #MOVE #black lives matter #blm #no justice no peace #ACAB #george floyd #john africa #fuck the police #leftover crack #punk #mexican american #mexican #systemic violence #systemic injustice #systemic oppression #this is america

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