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presleyhearted · 24 days

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Kismet, Kismet ✨🤍 | Part 2

pairing : 1970s!e x Asian!OC summary : Angel Song grew up in a strict, Korean household. Molding her into the perfect 'good girl.' Through a strange case of serendipity, she finds herself face to face with Elvis Presley, the one person who just might threaten to shatter the glass of her good girl act. chapter warnings: age gap, illness, panic.

wc: 3841

genre: 70s!e x college!student!reader. fluff, angst, smut.

taglist: @atleastpleasetelephone @i-r-i-n-a-a @obsessedwithurlove

author's note : Here we are with Part 2! Thank you for the attention on part 1. I hope you like the name change, trust me there is a reason for it. I've always made a playlist for this fic! It is in the link below, but I will be adding songs as I go along. Happy reading! <3 - Rose playlist -

“It’s fine now.” Angel breathed out, signaling to the raven-haired star that it was clear for him to turn around. The split second that Elvis was turned around provided Angel with a small inkling of time to well, breathe. To somehow force her brain to process that this is the reality, even if she does not know how or why.

Elvis, on the other hand, was ever the gentleman. But the very thought of a beautiful woman changing clothes right behind him - well, he was a man, after all. This was merely a passing thought though, as the realization that he owed her an explanation for this strange happenstance, made him truly forget what words were. She was a stranger to him, and well, judging from the wide-eyed gaze from her a few seconds ago - He was the complete opposite to her. Whether she is a fan of his, or merely one of the members of the population who know him from the enormity of his fame - there was a crossroad.

If he were to tell her the truth about why America’s favorite rock ‘n’ roll star is hiding in a cleaning supply closet - that would fracture the carefully curated image that he knew the people see him as, most certainly including her. Words spread like wildfire, and the nation is always hungry for new information about the world of the people under the spotlight. Hell, even the rumors that are not even remotely true - people inhale and whisper from ear to ear as if it were a section in an academic textbook. For a situation like this, that is true and is real, it would be on the front page news by the morning of the next day.

It’s better this way. Elvis tried to tell himself. By upholding the immaculate persona that the public has carved out for him, he would not only be saving himself but also saving her idea of him. He does not want to leave her with a memory of Elvis Presley revealing that the man underneath the glimmering spotlight, has never felt more engulfed by the waves of darkness than he does now.

So, that is it. He decides to conceal an ugly truth in exchange for keeping the beautiful idea of him that she most certainly has. And just in time, she tells him that it is fine to now turn around.

So, he does. And goddamn it, Elvis thinks to himself. The choices and thoughts that occupied his mind suddenly went to a standstill. It was as if the time that he took to think about what his explanation would be, made him briefly forget to truly have a look at her. Albeit, he did not have time to earlier due to letting her change, now - Elvis found himself finding the space of the supply closet shrink at a rapid rate. He was sat down, and she was stood up - Elvis could not help but find his gaze traveling from her long, slightly tanned legs, to the dress, and to her face that seemed to turn a charming shade of crimson under his gaze.

A pair of hazel eyes looked into his azure eyes. The very same pair of hazel eyes that when she blinked - perfectly captured the appearance of double eyelashes that accompanied her eyes. Elvis’ gaze traveled further - a small button nose, and a full, inviting burgundy-colored lips. Her skin radiated a glow - she was pale, but slightly tanned, a sure result of the Vegas heat. Like the mix of milk and honey. He noticed her black, wavy hair reaching almost her waist - Angel was certainly not tall, but also not short. She was like an oil painting personified, like an art piece that somehow felt the need to step out of the confines of the frame that she was in and step her hand out to him. A beauty that he never believed existed, never encountered before, and felt that he was the admirer intruding. He was so entranced by Angel, that he hardly realized that she had sat herself down on the floor.

Angel cleared her throat, “It was . . . um odd for me to be standing up.” She explained. Her voice was soft, but firm. There was a timidness to her tone, that she noticed very quickly, and tried to desperately fix it because well - I can’t make a fool of myself in front of Elvis Presley. She told herself, but how does one steady herself when he is looking at her with such blunt intensity? It was an intensity that rippled through every part of her being, as he did not fixate on one part of her, he was studying her - every detail of her. She wished she could take a glimpse into his mind and know what he was thinking. She prided herself in being able to read people easily, ever the analytical mind of hers - as her friend Felicity would say.

But not this time. Angel tried to shake herself out of it and thought to herself ‘It won’t matter. He’ll say what he needs to say, and we’ll part ways.’

Angel then thought to herself that it most probably be the easier and smarter choice to apologize to him, apologise for barging in and invading personal space, and then be on her way out. This would make more sense since he does not owe her an explanation. Yes, she was initially shocked to find him in such a random place, but it did not mean he had to explain anything to her. Then Angel also realizes that Elvis has not said anything since turning around, he must be thinking the same thing. Angel thought.

So, with that, she shakes her hand at him and starts to stand back up, “I’m so sorry, Mr Presley. You don’t have to explain anything to me, I’ll go.” Her words rushed out of her mouth, words that filled a sudden dread in Elvis.

“No, honey, it’s alright.” He said softly, making Angel pause her actions. She was frozen in confusion. She was in a rush a few moments before getting changed because she was afraid to miss her favorite star walking out onto the stage for the first time in front of her eyes. But that was before she discovered that he was sitting down in a supply closet and before she also became aware that the time on the ticking clock in the small confined space - showed it had been well past the time Elvis was supposed to be on stage.

“But, I don’t want to intrud-”

Elvis cuts off her sentence, “You wouldn’t be, darlin.”

Angel finds herself biting her bottom lip, in a mental battle of her thoughts. An action that does not go unnoticed by Elvis. Angel felt her cheeks blush again at the sound of the name he called her, she was aware it was probably a habit of people from the South, but it made her blush nevertheless.

“I shouldn’t have barged in like that,” She finds herself saying, still standing.

Elvis shrugged, “It’s my fault.”

Angel profusely shook her head, “No, it’s not. I-”

There she is again, biting her bottom lip - a habit that Elvis found became keenly aware of.

“If you keep doin’ that honey, you’ll cause a bleed,” Elvis said, a smirk now on his lips. Yes, Angel did make eye contact with him, but not for long. The eye contact was overwhelming, so she found herself catching her eyes on everywhere else, but him. Which has been proven unsuccessful now, since that comment of his - with that teasing smirk on his lips, was a powerful weapon in making her hold the gaze of his blue eyes again.

She stopped biting her bottom lip, and found herself mumbling under her breath, “What am I doing.”

“Sit with me. Please.” Elvis said, his tone soft.

“But-”

“Are you in a hurry, darlin?”

A question, loaded with the hopes of a specific response. Elvis was aware that they were likely searching endlessly for him, hands probably in their hair in distress, but he could not leave. Not yet. Jerry knows. Knows where he is, even if Elvis did pull out a lie about the reason why he needed to ‘step out’ for a while and not be where he needs to be.

Words were caught in Angel’s throat, “Yes. No. Yes,” Upon seeing the amused grin on Elvis’ face, she sighed and attempted to clarify herself, “I mean, I was - I’m here to see your show.”

There it was. The very reason why she could not know the truth behind why he was here, and not out there now. She is a fan, and for his fans - telling the truth would be shattering something in them. He could never do that to them.

Elvis hummed, “I know what you’re thinkin’, I’ll tell you.”

Angel somehow found herself sitting back down. Slowly. Of course, it would’ve been smarter if she just left. But there is a curious part of her, the part that wanted to know why Elvis Presley was in a supply closet when he was supposed to be on stage by now. Even more so, why his infamous entourage was not in sight.

Having her at the same eye level as him, Elvis swore he felt his breath caught in his throat and a distant knock of the heart within his body.

“You must be thinkin’ why’s that fool hiding in a supply closet?” Elvis said, chuckling a little. But also realizing that he said the word ‘hiding’ implies a surface of the truth. The truth that he told himself he would never reveal to her. But he just did, even if it was a tiny particle of the truth, and he did it subconsciously. With no control at all, as if his mind wanted her to learn it. Somehow.

And he very well knew that Angel caught wind of the word.

She did not know what to say, so Elvis continued.

Elvis ran his hand through his hair and sighed deeply, “I lost one of my rings. I was gonna ask the cleaning staff who was in here, thought she was ‘cus the door was open. But nah, no one was in here. Only me,” He then let out a laugh, a laugh that somehow sounded difficult to let out.

Only me and my foolish self. Elvis thought to himself.

Angel found the sound of that laugh to be quite forceful, a habit that was similar to what she did when conversing with her relatives when asked about certain subjects at family gatherings. She knew that kind of laugh too well, heck, she was the expert in it. Knew it well enough to know that the explanation Elvis just gave her, held no truth in it at all. Except for the last part. That she was sure of.

“Did you find it?” She asked instead, despite somehow having a feeling that he was throwing out an elaborate story of this ring.

Elvis shook his head in an attempt to keep that crooked grin on his lips, somehow looking strained - Angel thought to herself.

“No, I haven’t. I-”

It was Angel’s turn to interrupt this time.

“My name is Angel.” She found herself blurting this, not out of randomness, but because she somehow could feel he was sharing something personal with her when she hadn’t even told him her name yet. It was unbalanced. She knew him, well the image of him, and then now sharing this information with her - she had to tell him her name. She owed him that.

Elvis paused. He couldn’t help but. Of course, it is. There could not be any other name for her out there in the universe, it is the only name that belongs to her. It belongs to her.

“I thought it was only fair I told you my name. It’s not simple to be sharing this information with me, a stranger, Mr Presley.”

Heck, Angel could not even comprehend why he chose to share this with her, or why he wanted her to stay and sit with him for a while.

Elvis nodded, “Angel.” He said as if testing the way her name rolled off his tongue. Something was blissfully enchanting but illicit about the way he said her name, which sent a trickle of warmth through her body and locked her breath for just a second.

“It suits you very much,” Elvis said honestly because it truly did.

“Thank you, Mr Presley.”

Elvis shook his head, “Just ‘Elvis.’ Mr Presley is my father.” A wide smile overtook his face, an actual smile that Angel knew was genuine. She just did.

Angel nodded sheepishly and somehow found herself smiling, a contagious effect from him.

A sight that Elvis couldn’t help but think that he was possibly in a deep slumber, a daydream of some kind that involved this mesmerizing being with the face of heaven sent and the name to suit it. And now that smile of hers, a smile that dares to rival the morning sun. Not that Elvis saw much of the daytime, but if he did, he was pretty certain that the young woman in front of him could easily overshadow it.

Elvis paused then from drinking in her existence when he saw the frown on her face and her hazel eyes of hers pooling with a sense of sadness.

Damn it. She must be thinking ‘bout the show. I’ve disappointed her, she’s here tonight to see me perform. Not this. Elvis thought.

“I’ll be out on stage soon, don’t worry ‘bout it, Angel.” Elvis says, as if sensing that was what Angel was thinking.

But Elvis was wrong. He’s not even remotely close to guessing what she must be thinking.

Angel does not know why she has not noticed. Surely, it must be the shock of the strange situation that must’ve made her not realize. Not realize that Elvis Presley was profusely sweating and that made his raven hair stick to his pale skin. Angel was no medical expert, but it was the kind of pale that called for rest and a good break. It wouldn’t even make sense why he was sweating when he had not stepped foot on stage yet. Even more so, the way his chest would rise and fall at an abnormal rate.

Perhaps also the reason why he has been sitting down the entire time.

Elvis Presley looked tired.

She pulled out a handkerchief from her bag, an action that caused an eyebrow to quirk from Elvis.

The realization of how. . . vulnerable he looked. It pinched her heart in a way that made her ask the next question, forgetting momentarily that they had only merely met each other a few moments ago.

“Can I. . . ?” She gestured at his face, and somehow Elvis understood.

Somehow in that split second of her sad, hazel eyes meeting his blue eyes - Elvis knew that Angel saw behind it all. Behind the facade. That the veil of protection he put over the truth and the crafted lie - has now dropped, revealing him. Revealing that he is everything but fine. Elvis Presley crafted his public persona in such a masterful way, to the degree that people would not even notice the energy and shine he once had, was slowly fading away.

But Angel did.

And so, with her question, Elvis nodded. Angel put herself closer to him and pulled her knees underneath her as she sat down, so she would be sat on her heels. Elvis closed his eyes, as Angel neared him with the handkerchief in her hand as she slowly, but surely was wiping the sweat from his face. The closer proximity to her made Elvis naturally inhale her scent, she smelled of vanilla and a hint of what smelled like rose oil. A combination that was sweet, but playful. A tease to his senses. Elvis dared to open his eyes again, meeting her hazel eyes. Angel felt herself tense at the intense gaze of his eyes, as she tried to concentrate on the task at hand. The feeling of the cloth wiping the sweat on his face away was not much of an effect compared to the gentleness with which Angel did this. The genuine concentration, and worry in her knotted forehead made his heart sore and trip simultaneously.

She instinctively put the back of her hand on his forehead, as if realizing that she may be overstepping she withdrew her hand back like a flash of lightning. But Elvis was quick to reach for her, his hand enclosed around his wrist.

“It’s okay, honey.”

He let go and she reluctantly, but with Elvis’ nod, touched his forehead with the back of her hand once again.

“Mr. Pre- Elvis, you are burning up.” She said, her tone not even hiding the worry swimming in it.

Angel finds herself looking around and grabbing her bag, “I don’t, I thought I had a bottle of water or something. I don’t know. Sorry.” She said, oblivious to the smile on Elvis’ face as she rummaged through her bag.

Despite feeling the fatigue build up in him again, he found himself smiling at her.

“Say it again.” He said, despite breathing deeply.

Angel was puzzled, “Huh?”

“My name, say it again.” He wanted to desperately hear her say it again, a sound that was beautiful and was the opposite of the horrifying state that he felt his body being engulfed in.

A saving grace.

“Elvis, “ She sighed, “I know I’m in no position to tell you what to do, but you are not well. You need to rest.” She said honestly, gone was the timidness beforehand, and in its place was a woman running in a spiral of worry.

Worry for him, and it was a sight that Elvis had not seen in a long time.

Elvis shook his head, “I’m fine. I need to perform. ” He said, almost mumbling his words.

“You are not well for it. People will understand.” Angel found herself saying.

“Will you understand?” He asked.

“Of course. Any of your fans will.” She said with an encouraging nod.

Angel waited years to see him perform live, and if that first performance happened to be when he was feeling like this, she couldn’t watch him. Can’t let it happen. Heck, she’ll wait years even - she’ll wait till he is better enough to perform.

“Not the Colonel.” He responds, a sad smile on his lips.

Angel assumed this must be his manager, remembering his face and the name of newspaper pages. What kind of person, let alone manager - would let him perform like this?

“It’s too hot here, you need to be someplace else,” Angel said, knowing that the supply closet was not the appropriate place for him to rest properly, “Does anyone know that you are here? How do I get ahold of them?”

She was in full-on panic mode now and leaped up onto her feet. Elvis sprung his arm forward and grabbed hold of her hand, “Angel, don’t leave. Please.” The tone of his voice was void of the confidence and teasing from moments prior, in place was the pleading voice that was filled with fear. True fear. A fear that she would leave him like this.

She shook her head quickly, “No, no. I-I just was thinking how to get you help.”

Angel is smart enough to know that she could not just waltz out of here, and find a helpful passerby because it is not just anyone she is getting help for. Elvis Presley. Somehow, she just knew that he wouldn’t want his vulnerable state to be known to any other person than the ones who work for him and know him.

She was just a fan. But somehow through a happenstance of naturality or not, she saw right through him - saw right through the armor that he lets dazzle everyone else. And even if he realized that she stepped over that veil - he let her. Let Angel walk right through it.

As if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Like now, as if it is the most natural thing in the world to have her hand in his. An action that was so quick, but she swore sent a flicker of something through her bloodstream.

And just in time, there was a knock on the door - a look exchanged between both of them. But a breath of relief escaped them simultaneously as it was the familiar face of Jerry Schilling who walked through and shut the door behind him. Angel knew that he worked for Elvis, and saw him in that one article of Elvis’ entourage being labeled ‘The Memphis Mafia.’

So, she was glad that a stroke of luck hit, as her prayers were answered. Because otherwise she really did not know what to do.

Jerry Schilling’s eyes found Elvis’ and scanned the state that his friend/boss was in, before shifting his gaze to the woman who was standing up and whose hand Elvis gripped tightly. As if signaling to help him, Jerry nodded and advanced towards Elvis, at the same time Angel dropped her hand from Elvis.

“Come on, E. Let’s go.” Jerry said, but Elvis’ gaze was on the black-haired beauty who was currently getting her bag off the floor. His eyelids were half-closed.

She turned with the handkerchief in her hand and planned to hand this to him, to let him keep it. But found him tugging her hand again, closer to him.

“Stay.” He said.

“I-”

Angel turned to look at Jerry Schilling as if silently asking for his opinion on this.

“I’ll go if she goes with me,” Elvis said, almost mumbling his words.

Jerry Schilling then nods to her.

Angel sighed, not quite sure how and why this is happening all of a sudden. The probability of their meeting, and now with Elvis’ reluctancy to go with someone who could help him. Someone who he knows far more than her, her who was a mere stranger not that long ago. She tried to make sense of and understand why Elvis would want her to be there when he would have more than enough people around him soon. People who knew him personally, and who will help him.

She could not wrap her head around it at all.

But with the ticking of the clock on the wall, and Elvis seeming to not have any plans to get up from his spot yet, she realized that he was waiting for her to say something.

“Okay.” Angel said.

Kismet. Kismet. Perform. Mask. facade. My name. Your name. Angel. Pale. The truth. Elvis. Elvis. Angel. If she goes. Kismet. Kismet.

#elvis fic #elvis presley #angst #fluff #elvis x original female character #elvis fanfic #elvis x oc #kismet kismet #part 2

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yourforeverokay · 1 year

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The Meaning Behind the Song (Elvis Presley x Reader) pt. 1

word count: 1,4k

summary: A new life is waiting for you in Memphis, Tennessee as you take off with your car. You face some troubles on the way there, but luckily you meet a handsome boy insisting to help you.

a/n: Hey my loves! I've decided to start a new series and I'm very excited! This doesn't mean that I won't continue What happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas, this only means that I will post more for you guys. I hope you like the start of this series and accept it with open arms. And as always, you can imagine Elvis, Austin or Austin!Elvis as the character, it's all up to you! I hope you enjoy the start of a new beginning and a new story. Thank you <3

A new life - that's what you were going towards to. Chasing dreams were either going to get you on stage in front of shining lights and adoration from people who loved your art. It could also crush you and leave you for dead. You knew the risks of this field and you knew that you would have to deal with any kinds of consequences that you would face during your journey, but you were ready. Ready to take the next step, ready to take the leap and ready to do what you actually love. That's why you were currently on your way to Memphis, Tennessee. 'Let the story begin' You thought to yourself as you started the engine in your car and left your old life behind.

You couldn't believe it. You were on your way to a new city and to your new apartment which was located in a small and isolated town called Memphis. You had met Sam Phillips, the producer of Sun Records, in your home town when he was looking for new talents for his up-and-coming recording studio. It was the only chance for you to try to show your talents to the world, and you couldn't miss it. It was just you and your guitar, head filled with big dreams. Luckily Sam Phillips loved your song and performance so you immediately got signed in. He gave you one requirement though. "You need to move to Memphis or else the business won't work. You have two weeks." He said after shaking your hand.

So here you were, in your father's old car driving yourself to Memphis with only two bags, a guitar and a lot of hope. The car ride was going to be long but with the excitement bubbling in your stomach, you could not care less about it. The radio was blasting country songs and the volume was on the highest level. As you were arriving closer to Memphis, the radio started to play local songs from none other than the Sun Records. "And now let us hear the new single released by the Sun Records 'That's All Right'" Suddenly an old song you loved played through the radio but it wasn't what you were expecting it to be. It was different, but in a good way. A young boy sang the song with such passion and talent that you were immediately interested. You started tapping your finger against the steering wheel and sang the lyrics with the boy.

"That's all right now mama, anyway you do"

You put your sunglasses on and put your foot on the gas petal as the wind blew your hair back. You had your 2nd best clothes on (1st were reserved for the first official meeting with Sam Phillips) because you wanted to give a good first impression to your neighbors. You were wearing a white dress, red sunglasses that had thick frames and some red heels. You had your nails painted cherry red and you had also bought a new lipstick that you had on. The name of the lipstick was "The Kiss of Lust" which your mother did not approve but she let you buy it anyways. As the radio was playing, the wind blowing and the sun shining, suddenly a bump on the road took you off your thoughts. The car started to slow down and confusion took over your mind. 'What on earth was that' You thought to yourself. Your father's car completely stopped and as you tried to restart it, it wouldn't bug. You stepped out of the car and saw a flat tire. "Oh, no no no. This can't be happening to me!" You cried as you tried to look for housing close to by. You needed help from anybody but you didn't see no houses or anything close by. You sat back in your car and the tears started falling. 'Not today'

"Excuse me miss!"

You had cried so loudly for tens of minutes that you hadn't heard a car pull up next to you. You looked to your left and saw a truck that said Crown Electric CO. on the side of it. You then turned your head to look at the driver and my god, was he dreamy. A young man with dark hair and ocean blue eyes, was sitting on the driver's seat and his hand was resting on the opened window. "Miss, ya look like you're in some big trouble ther' ." His voice was deep, but smooth. His voice mesmerized you but also you couldn't help but to wonder why it sounded so familiar. You pushed the thought out of your mind since you were in a hurry. "Oh, yes! I seem to have a flat tire but I don't know how to fix it since I don't have a spare tire." You answered. You were lucky you had your sunglasses on since the crying probably made your eyes puffy. The man got out of his car and he was taller than you had expected. "Mind if I look at it, miss?" He asked very politely. He called you miss even though you both looked the same age, about 18. He looked and observed the tire for a minute, went back to his truck and took a brand new tire out of the trunk. He then rolled his sleeves and got to work. You were amazed. A handsome boy was changing your tire, with sweat dripping from his forehead. You couldn't help but bite your lower lip as you watched him fix your car. In minutes, the tire was changed and you were ready to continue your trip.

Before you did that, you had to get this boy's name, even though you were probably never going to meet again. "Thank you so much for helping me! But I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch your name?" You informed him as you stood up from the seat of your car. "My name is Elvis Presley and it was my pleasure to help you miss.." "Y/L/N, but just call me Y/N." You smiled at him sweetly and he returned the smile. He offered his hand for you to shake, but for your surprise, he kissed the top hand like a true gentleman. You cheeks turned as red as your sunglasses while he gave you a cheeky smile. You stood there for a second, lost in his eyes, while he was still holding your hand. "Could you wait for a second?" You asked Elvis as your hand left his and you turned to walk towards your car. "Oh I could wait all day for ya, sugar." He said with a smug look on his face as your head turned to look at him while your legs kept moving. You shook your head, dumbfounded, not knowing how to reply to that comment. You bent over the door of your car and grabbed some paper you could find and a pen from your purse. You then wrote your number and your name, with a heart, on a tiny piece of bubblegum wrapper and then you walked back over to him. "This is for you." You handed him the wrapper as he looked what was written on it. "As way of showing my gratitude, Elvis." You smiled at him and walked back over to your car, now to sit in it.

"I'm sorry, but I need to continue my trip now. " You said to him, with a hint of sadness in your voice. The uncertainty of not knowing if he would ever call you washed your thoughts but you did not let the boy see it. You wanted to seem confident...and sexy. As you started your engine, Elvis stopped you for a brief second by taking a hold of the car door. "I'll call ya, I promise. Until next time, honey." He then winked his eye at you and walked back to his truck. You were shocked, but incredibly pleased, with his flirting since the guys back home didn't do it as much (or as well). The red on your face couldn't get any worse so you left the scene, hoping to meet that boy again.

"Bye Elvis!" You yelled while waving your hand, not looking back, from your speeding car as you disappeared far into the distance.

#elvis presley #elvis film #austin butler elvis #elvis imagine #elvisaaronpresley #elvis x reader #elvis 2022 #austin elvis x reader #austin butler x reader #austin butler imagines #austin butler #austin!elvis x reader #elvis baz luhrmann #baz luhrmann elvis #elvis x y/n #elvis presley fluff #elvis x you #austin x reader #austin elvis imagine

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get-back-homeward · 1 year

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Paul’s Trying To Get To You

The thread of this song weaving in and out of Paul’s most formative music experiences

Oct 1956: Elvis’s debut album is released in the UK as Rock ‘n’ Roll and the B-side includes Trying to Get to You

I just had to reach you, baby / In spite of all that I've been through / I kept traveling night and day / I kept running all the way / Baby, trying to get to you.

Well if I had to do it over / That's exactly what I'd do / I would travel night and day / And I'd still run all the way / Baby, trying to get to you

[full lyrics]

Jan-June 1957: Ian James gets the Elvis record and a guitar

“It was in this time frame that Paul formed a closer friendship with Ian James, an Institute boy (in his year) he’d known since 1954. Ian was also into rock and skiffle and he’d recently been bought an acoustic guitar by his grandparents, at whose house he lived in the Dingle. (Every guitar had a maker’s name: his was a Rex.) The two boys became good pals on the strength of it. While they tended not to see each other in the evenings, because they lived some distance apart, Paul often went to Ian’s house for an hour or two after school—they walked there together down the hill from the Institute—and Ian sometimes went to Forthlin Road at weekends, taking his guitar with him. Ian James held a triple attraction for Paul: he was an intelligent, decent and affable lad, he had some rock records, and he had a guitar—an unbeatable combination.

In the front room at home I had a table-top portable record player, three speed. I remember playing “Blueberry Hill” by Fats Domino over and over, just the first line and then I’d pick up the needle and put it back at the start. I also had Elvis Presley’s first album, which we played time after time after time, with “That’s All Right Mama,” “Trying to Get to You,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You),” “Mystery Train” … Elvis was the one to copy, he was the hero. He had everything: the charisma, the looks, the voice. Frank Sinatra had only one style but Elvis could do anything—gospel, blues, rock and roll, romantic ballads. There was nobody else like him. Paul and I talked about Elvis all the time.15

The Rex guitar was ever at hand. Ian showed and reinforced to Paul those three chord fundamentals that would get him started, C, F and G or G7, the basis for pretty much every song they loved.”

—Tune In (Ch. 5, Jan-June 1957)

July 1957: Paul is invited to join the Quarrymen and trades his trumpet for his first guitar

At some point in July 1957, Paul finally got his first guitar. It had been a long time coming and he was desperate. As he couldn’t afford to buy one he had the bright idea of swapping his trumpet for it, the one his dad had bought him two years earlier. Jim didn’t mind—it was clear where Paul’s interest was. “I traded in the trumpet for a £15 Zenith guitar from Frank Hessy’s. There was a feller there called Jim Gretty and he showed us (me and George) a great chord. I never knew its name—we called it ‘a jazz chord’…”

Mike McCartney has said of Paul and his first guitar, “He would get lost in another world. It was useless talking to him—I had better conversations with brick walls.” Paul played the guitar everywhere, even on the bus. At home he played it in the bath and sitting on the toilet. “The fine acoustic of the toilet area was always very appealing to me. And it was also very private, about the only private place in the house. I used to sit there for hours—there and the bathroom. Dad would shout, ‘Paul, get off that toilet!’ [And I’d reply] ‘I’m practicing!’ ”4

…Rod Davis has a recollection of Paul dropping in to see a group rehearsal at (of all places) Mimi’s house, and Eric Griffiths says the group all went to Paul’s house one afternoon for a rehearsal together—something Paul has never mentioned. (Like almost everything to do with the Quarry Men, solid information is lacking.)

…Ian James says he and Paul struck up an informal musical duo: “We used to take our guitars around to parties and play a few numbers. Have guitar will travel—wherever we went our guitars went too. We played songs from that first Elvis LP: ‘Trying to Get to You,’ ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy,’ ‘Mystery Train’…

—Tune In (Ch. 7, July-Aug 1957)

Aug 1957: Paul’s away at summer camp and then on holiday but glued to his guitar

[O]n August 7, the Quarry Men played the Cavern again…This Cavern booking would have been Paul’s Quarry Men debut but for him being away with the Boy Scouts at summer camp—another ten days of wet feet, wind and Woodbines. The 19th City troop’s destination this year was the Peak District—Callow Farm, Hathersage, Derbyshire—and both McCartney brothers went. Paul (inevitably) carted his Zenith along with his sleeping bag and tin mug. Almost as soon as they’d pitched tents, Mike had an altercation with an oak tree, badly breaking his arm; he was taken to the hospital in Sheffield while Paul remained at the camp and entertained around the fire with Elvis’s “Trying to Get to You.”13

Mike was in the hospital four weeks, his plastered arm in a sling, and on the day of his release—the last full week of the school holidays—Jim arrived in Sheffield with Paul and revealed they were all heading straight off to Butlin’s. Bett and Mike Robbins had fixed them seven days at Filey, on Yorkshire’s east coast…

Ever the keen photographer, Mike operated the camera single-handedly to take a fascinating photo of Paul on Filey beach with Bett Robbins and her infant son Ted. Paul is perched on Ted’s pushchair and playing the much-traveled Zenith. The photo could be the closest taken to the date he met John Lennon, showing a 15-year-old who’s come through his chubby period and is looking good.

—Tune In (Ch. 7, July-Dec 1957)

Oct-Nov 1957: Paul plays his first gigs with the band as John’s equal

In images of the Quarry Men before Paul joined they’re all wearing different clothes. In the first photo of the group with Paul they have a uniform look, and a sharp one at that: white shirts with black bootlace ties and black trousers, and John and Paul (only) are also wearing jackets on top, white or cream—it’s Paul’s “white sports coat” and something similar John has managed to acquire. This was undoubtedly Paul’s doing, reaching back to his experience at Butlin’s in 1954 when he saw how a singing group in matching gear claimed everyone’s attention. He’d brought the thinking early to John, and John had bought it. And something else is compelling about this Quarry Men photo: although it’s John’s group, new boy Paul is not at the back with Colin or Len, or to the side like Eric, he’s up front with John. Lennon and McCartney are clearly the front line of the Quarry Men, strumming crummy Gallotone and upside-down Zenith, and they’re the only ones with vocal microphones. The group is the two of them and three others. When one sings lead the other provides harmony; often they sing the lead in unison—and their voices go together.

One can only surmise what they sang into those microphones. Nigel Walley remembers plenty of rock in the repertoire in this period and not so much skiffle, including several Elvis numbers—“All Shook Up,” “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “That’s All Right Mama” and “Trying to Get to You”—as well as “Be-Bop-A-Lula,” “Blue Suede Shoes” (Carl or Elvis), “Come Go with Me” and “Twenty Flight Rock.”

—Tune In (Ch. 7, July-Dec 1957)

Jan-May 1958: Paul writes In Spite of All the Danger and John wants to record it

As George knew several more guitar chords than John or Paul, every time he showed them a new one they tried to write a song around it36—and it was in this period, possibly at Upton Green, that Paul wrote one he called “In Spite of All the Danger,” a chugging and melodic country-flavored number with a couple of extended lead guitar solos created by George. For this reason, the song was a unique deviation from the Lennon-McCartney credit: it went down as McCartney-Harrison.

The tune of “In Spite of All the Danger” was entirely Paul’s, but it leaned heavily on the melody of Elvis’s “Trying to Get to You,” a song that includes the lyric “[in] spite of all that I’ve been through.” Using an existing song as inspiration for the writing of another is standard practice, but the rock and roll era was already littered with outrageous examples of plagiarism seemingly free of legal action—possibly because the song being copied was not entirely original to that composer either.

…John decided the Quarry Men should make a record, and the others needed no persuading—just 3s 6d each. This time the answer to “Where we going, Johnny?” was 38 Kensington, where one Percy F. Phillips ran probably Liverpool’s only recording studio and record press.

Seventeen years later, without the advantage of hearing it in between times, John recalled what he could of the session: “The first thing we ever recorded was ‘That’ll Be the Day,’ the Buddy Holly song, and one of Paul’s called ‘In Spite of All the Danger.’ It cost us fifteen shillings and we made it in the front room of some guy’s house that he called a recording studio.”

…John again sings lead on “In Spite of All the Danger,” Paul provides more fine harmonies throughout, and George adds an “ah” backing. It’s said Colin and Duff hadn’t heard the song before, and so were feeling their way through it, but it’s not solely for this reason that it plods somewhat. Though the debt to “Trying to Get to You” is clear, it’s still an original number and an interesting, attractive one at that, written by a boy of 15—a fantastic achievement.

—Tune In (Ch. 8, Jan-May 1958)

#tracking this thoroughline and realized it came up more often than i thought #its the mention of paul singing it at camp that really made me lol #the thematically appropriate soundtrack to this story is wild isnt it #bug influences #elvis #trying to get to you #its actually the one elvis song i enjoy listening to #in spite of all the danger #mine #bug guitars #i see a lot of people say paul had a guitar at the fete but idk #paul being desperate enough to do a quick trade to buy a guitar tells me its after the invite #ian james #poor ian paul got the guitar lessons got the record got the white jacket and then went and used them to impress john #prebugs #the quarrymen #1956 #1957 #thick as thieves #1958 #1950s #mark lewisohn #reading tune in #trying to get essential bits saved and this got long #i feel like every tune in post should have an asterisk #*beatles history according to mark lewisohn whose citations are a mess but preferable over none at all #i left thecitation numbers in to reblog with sources at some point

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pixelatedquarter · 10 months

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The Tour Of Fuck It We Ball Part 3: The Return Of The King (this is about tai… and the band of hobbits, not mikeyway) Days 7-10 of US Tourdust: North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre (Chula Vista, California), BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, California, night 1), KROQ Helpful Honda Sound Space (Los Angeles, California, secret show), BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, California, night 2), Shoreline Amphitheatre (Mountain View, California)

For the California stretch of the tour you need to understand the mood was set early on day 7 when instagram user mikeyway posted a picture of Andy with a teensy tiny little puppy. And then kept posting updates from stage side. It was extra upsetting for the people who rely on streams because for a while there the only updates we were getting were from mikey fuckin way posting pictures to his stories. When it was time for Saturday, mikey fuckin' way went on stage and played bass.

For the piano segment:

On day 7 Patrick said he didn't have anything interesting to say because he sings the interesting things and then we got a song Pete suggested, it was nothing compares 2 u by Prince.

Day 8 he said "i practice this at some point it's just a matter of if they will come back" and then played Mr. Blue Sky (Electric Light Orchestra cover) and then he did something new, he didn't follow that with don't stop believin', he followed it with Golden.

Next day they also had time so he got to do another cover/fob dual piano mystery medley with Every Breath You Take by The Police followed by I've Got This Ringing.

Finally, it took Patrick 10 days and probably a lot of restraint to play an Elvis Costello cover, Allison.

The relentless attack of the magic 8 ball which cannot be bartered with, cannot be persuaded, sees no friends or enemies, and so on and so forth continued, with new twists:

For Day 7 we didn't get any setlists, but the magic 8 ball song was (Coffee's For Closers) ("Should we play a new song we've never played before?/Should we play a fucking song from Folie à Deux?"). Very disappointingly, there was no waltz at the end as was tradition. But we did get theatrics.

LA featured a new twist, 2 8 Ball songs per night. We were unprepared. We did not have the setlists until after the 8 balls hit. They also taught us there could be repeats. We'll get to Pete's Very Specific Phrasing of his explanation after this segment.

Day 8 was GINASFS ("Should we play an old ass b side? no Should we play an old B side?") followed by America's Suitehearts ("Should we play a song off Folie à Deux?"). (GINASFS did not get a codename (other than generally standing for Gay Is Not A Synonym For Shitty), America's Suitehearts' codename was ASS)

Day 9 we got another (After) Life Of The Party ("Should we play an old B side?"), followed by Bang The Doldrums ("Should we play another old one?/Is this one gonna be a doozy?") (Codenames were Sierra Amazon and then Yankee Hotel Hotel. Because the pirate song Yo Ho Hos.) You can see Pete's written his part of Doldrums on the setlist!

Also on day 9 in response to "The magic 8 ball cannot be intimidated, cannot be bartered with. It seeks not friends nor cares for enemies that it makes" Patrick said "This 8 ball gets more intimidating every night" and was met with "I know. The 8 ball does not care how much you rehearse any of this shit". Truer words have never been spoken.

For day 10 it was back to a single 8 ball song, The Patron Saint Of Liars And Fakes ("Should we play a song off that record where we were sitting on a fucking couch on the cover?", Codename: PATRIZZY S). Pete was clearly feeling very inspired for the code names these days.

We also have more information and confirmation to their obfuscation efforts, someone who went to la2(day 9) also said on discord that their tour guide "said that even the crew other than one front of house person doesn’t get to know the surprise song in advance bc they sound check it in the inner ears only".

Days 8 and 9 were back to back with each other, so naturally, the reasonable thing to do with those hours between shows was to give an interview, and then a whole other secret show:

The interview gave us the very important information that once a song is played in the 8 ball it becomes fair game on the setlist. We thought that was to clarify that GINASFS got a repeat on the 8 ball slot. It wasn't and that very night we found out it meant "it becomes fair game at ANY point on the setlist". That answer also features him masterfully dodging the question of what GINASFS means to him.

It also inexplicably featured Pete pulling out a bunny puppet, that he proceeded to have answer "only the questions i'm nervous about". Look it's a lot to list here, so here's a compilation of every emotional support bunny moment, ft. Patrick interacting with the bunny. So far it hasn't been seen again.

It is very important that everyone reading this knows they had spinny chairs.

There were also other nice things to know (some overlap with the bunny supercut) like Patrick's not at all revisionist sounding take on the hiatus' meaning, Patrick's neighbor trying to be very tactful about the MANIA-sm(f)s wait and Joe being happy to be back. Oh yea and we found out that at no point did the flamethrower bass come with training in pyrotechnics

Pete spoke at one point during the show, and mentioned getting high and staring at a friend pissing, as a Wentzian metaphor and also as a story that happened to him.

Unmentioned until now but The Academy Is… were openers for Wrigley and this subleg of the tour. In Wrigley Sisky took over bass playing for Saturday. And he did it again on day 9. Not only that, but Bilvy finally sang his part during the performance of Sophomore Slump which was added to the main setlist for that night.

And that's not how we found out 8 ball songs are fair game to any placement on the setlist. We found out because during the attic scene they played Homesick At Space Camp.

Oh yeah and one of these shows was on July 3rd, you know what that means… That's right, it's Terminator 2 day, only significant thing to happen. There's no songs aptly named for the day after this. Pete made 2 whole references to Terminator 2. 0 references to the other country that celebrates independence the same day as the Philippines.

It's become increasingly apparent that Pete sometimes adds more narrative to his recurrent speeches, here's the version of his screwtop bottle of wine speech from day 7 where he adds a step after drinking.

Day 8 featured the lava boots speech, and a little about when they moved to LA in the pre-non-encore speech, without any details. But it was something that was rattling in his brain

He also added more for his pre-non-encore speech on day 9. This one's heavy. He talks about their time recording FUTCT and laying under a blanket thinking about death. And how he doesn't lay under a blanket thinking about death anymore

To bring things into something more upbeat, there was a lot of banter on day 10, including one where they almost spoil succession, ft. Andy intervening to take this tour into a real comedy act.

And now for the Fashion & Friendship corner, because fuck it, Pete keeps getting described as being in his Malibu MILF for Gay People era, and they sure are friends:

Our resident Barbara Millicent Wentz, at some point, got an update to his poncho

And on day 9 updated his outfit. Here's another look at the jacket. Other than that he's kept the leather and hoodies. Not the homework though. The roses are also safe, Pete's breath not so much.

Joe was spotted wearing a whole new different t-shirt (also helping a fan out in that vid), or rather the same t-shirt he wore earlier that day. It's still an incredibly momentous update. His commitment to wear a plain grey t-shirt so his admittedly extremely sexy guitar can shine and he's matching it is remarkable.

Andy got some bracelets too!! And he didn't share. We now know why he's packed only one change of clothes, he's living in the TREE

Patrick's hat for California was his green baseball cap with the crysmiley, and his black descendants hat with a leather-y jacket with the era's logo for day 7.

And of course, Patrick is a great hugger, and their friends are very tall.

Also the BMO Stadium was arranged with a walkway, they made good use of it.

As usual, sources and credits and additional content that those have and this skims over are located here in the masterpost!

Here's links to parts 1 and 2

#the tour of fuck it we ball #tourdust #fob #fall out boy

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cazperx-x · 1 year

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Hiya!! The name is 🇵🇱 Anon!! Its nice to meet ya!!

I have a little request for you!! I thought of this one, and i thought why not send it to someone so here i am!! but feel free to delete this anytime if its to intense but anyways…!

Could i request Eddie Munson or Gareth with a Famous! S/O? (Maybe… something like Elvis Presley Famous? Where girls are all over them, and etc, its from that movie, it was really good so i would suggest watching it so it makes sense and etc)

Thats it!! I can send more later on lol, but thats it!! Thank you :D

Im sorry it took me so long to get to this request, but i'm finally back in a writing mood!! Also i did not watch the elvis movie

Fame has its price

Gareth Emerson x Famous!S/O

Mostly fluff, but at the end kinda angsty? I might try and write something similar later but with Gareth as the famous one and it leans more heavily towards angst.

Warnings- cursing more towards the end, also at the end the reader gets "hugged" by an adult fan without consent- very brief though im pretty sure

1.4k words

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕🥁💀💀🥁💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

Your laugh.

God it got him every time.

"Good night New York City!" You were announcing to your crowd of adoring fans, smiling through your sentence.

As long as Gareth could remember, music had brought you two together.

First time you met?

Kindergarten battle of the bands. Both of your practically clawed each others eyes out trying to get to the kiddie drum set. Who would've guessed that would lead to a 10+ year long friendship? Well, technically 12, but it's not like anyone was counting. Especially Gareth.

In middle school everyone in the crowd watched in awe as you sang your heart out during the school's talent show, obviously winning first place.

And there were times when Eddie even begged you to sing for Corroded Coffin, just one song. And of course when he couldn't convince you all Gareth had to do was ask once.

You would do anything for him.

Including convincing your agent to let Corroded Coffin open all your shows for your most recent tour across America.

Gareth's eyes darted back up to you on stage, looking around for the sign it was clear to make your way off while people tried to claw their way onto it. You were still smiling and waiving, but Gareth could see the tenseness in your smile.

But that was something to worry about another day.

Right now most of security was busy pushing teenagers and even some adults back from the stage. You tried your best to not visibly back away, but it was still necessary if you didnt want to be clawed at and pulled off the stage by strangers. Fame had its price, and a heavy one at that.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Look Eddie, as much as I would love cheap, greasy gas station quality pizza at the moment, I really don't feel like being torn apart limb by limb for even daring to appear in public." You sighed, after Eddie had spent the last 15 minutes trying to convince you to go out with him and the band.

"Don't make me do it Y/N," Eddie warned, glaring at you.

"Oh you wouldn't dare." You glared back.

"Emersonnnnn, theres something I wanna ask youuuuuu!" Eddie shouted, before glancing at you and smirking.

"Don't believe a single word out of Eddie's mouth Gare! Its full of lies!" You shouted back.

Before you knew it Eddie was running out of the room you were staying in and practically slammed Gareth to the floor trying to get a hold of him.

"Ow! The fuck was that for?"

"You agree Y/N over here should treat themself to a little slice of commoners pizza before we have to get back on the road right? C'mon man all I need is for you to ask them once, hell not even ask ask, just allude to it and- "

Just then you ran into the room, out of breath.

"How the hell are you so much faster than me Munson?" You wheezed, hands on your knees.

"Too late Y/L/N! I've already asked my good pal over here too-"

"How about we have something delivered here and have a movie night?" Gareth cut Eddie off with a sigh.

"Hmph. Guess thats a good compromise." Eddie muttered, but still crossed his arms.

"See Munson? My amazing boyfriend can't be tricked by your lies and deception. And he's always looking out for everyone involved." You smiled, before hugging Gareth from behind.

"Anything for my lovely partner. It would be really inconvenient to have to stitch all your body parts back together after you get torn to shreds by an adoring mob." Gareth smiled, turning his head to look you in the eye.

"No one else I would rather have sew my body back together."

"And no mob could ever adore you more than I do." Gareth said, before leaning in to kiss you.

"Ew! Get a room you two, before I call the paparazzi." Jeff groaned, having walked into the room at a considerably awkward moment.

You rolled your eyes before turning to Eddie.

"So, what place are you gonna order pizza from?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Wake up sleepy head." Gareth said, before nudging you a bit.

"I'm already awake." You muttered, but still didnt move from your position under the bed sheets.

"As much as I would hate to do this lovebug, if you dont move soon i'm gonna have to pull the covers out from over you, leaving you exposed to the harsh element known as the ceiling fan-"

You dramatically gasped. "I thought you loved me?"

"More than anything, but that does mean I have to do what is best for you sugar."

You groaned, but sat up.

"Is this good enough?"

"For now, but you know you'll have to get dressed soon enough. You sure you want to walk today and not just get a cab or something?"

"Yes Gare Bear I'm sure. It's not that long a walk anyway."

"Still don't get why the bus can't just pick us up here." He muttered.

"They say it would draw too much attention to the hotel."

"Yeah because us having to walk there wouldn't."

Gareth gave you one last hug before leaving the room.

~~~~~~~~~

"The great outdoors don't seem so great anymore." Eddie muttered.

You all were stopped on a sidewalk, on account of you practically being swarmed by fans to sign autographs and take pictures. Some people were even trying to seemingly jump on you, and others were clawing on your clothes just so you would turn their way.

Some people were talking to the Corroded Coffin boys, much to Eddie's delight and Gareth's annoyance, but you were definitely the star of the show.

You turned and gave Gareth an apologetic look that said 'I really did just want to take a walk' and he shook his head knowingly.

"Okay, I'm gonna have to wrap this up soon. Sorry guys but-"

Just then someone pulled you by the shoulder and by impulse you turned around, only to crash into what you realized was a man who was much bigger than you's torso.

"Um, excuse me sir- I-I don't know what you're trying to do here but-" You stuttered as you tried to wiggle free, not even being able to look around.

Fuck, fuck fuck fuck. That was the main thought going through your head right now.

"Hey, you're a real pretty thing huh?" The man started, cutting you off.

"How about y-" Before the man could even finish his sentence you found yourself being pulled free and arms wrapping around you tightly, but this time you welcomed the embrace.

"Listen here you sick little fuck. Does this get you off? Trying to kidnap underage musical sensations in broad daylight in front of witnesses and bystanders?" Gareth started, and you realized the rest of the band members were standing around you. You also realized most of the people that were there before for autographs and whatnot, had left.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll fuck off and never speak of this again. Or hell, even pay to get a ticket for one of their shows. Got it?"

"Yeah creep. 4 against one." Eddie chimed in.

You noticed the man say something under his breath, before quickly looking around and leaving.

You let out a breath you didn't even know you were holding.

"A-are you okay Y/N? I swear to fucking god if anything bad happened to you on my watch I-I- I don't know what I'd do." Gareth let go of you and walked in front of you so you could look him in the eyes. You noticed he was on the verge of tears.

"I don't know Gare." You sighed.

"Do you wanna keep walking? Or just get a ride?" Jeff asked, concern in his voice.

Everyone was looking at you with worried eyes, but it didn't bother you as much as you would've thought it would.

Fame has its price sure, but you have people watching out for you.

Not just hired security guards, or brands who just want to make money off of you talent.

No, real people who know the real you, and really care.

Especially Gareth.

And you were okay with that.

"I think we can keep walking."

With Gareth's arm around your shoulder and Eddie leading the way, you all walked to the tour bus, prepared for your next destination.

And you had a sense everything was gonna be alright.

#gareth emerson x reader #gareth emerson #gareth x reader #gareth stranger things #stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #gareth stranger things x reader #st4

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septembersghost · 1 year

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what songs from present day would you want to hear elvis cover?

ANON!!! 🥰💕 i love this message an enormous amount, and then it tormented me for two days because i read it and instantly forgot every modern day song i've ever listened to somehow lol. the actual problem was, i felt like i didn't have a solid enough handle on today's genres that he might lean more towards or that would do him justice? i was sitting here frantically thinking of songs by pop girlies™ and i could hear him softly laughing over my shoulder. so i was going to give you a short answer.

then i ended up looking at my actual music library and came out with a novel.

first, i sent this to both my loves @joons and @headfullofpresley in my initial dilemma, looking for suggestions. sidenote: if anyone would like to add to this, you're welcome to!

chelsea gave me three that i think are simply marvelous and i will weep forever that we cannot have them: million reasons by lady gaga (the taste this has, the vision this has. I bow down to pray, I try to make the worst seem better, Lord, show me the way to cut through all this worn out leather. I've got a hundred million reasons to walk away, but baby, I just need one good one to stay. hello?!), praying by kesha (well, you almost had me fooled, told me that I was nothing without you, but after everything you've done, I can thank you for how strong I have become, 'cause you brought the flames and you put me through hell, I had to learn how to fight for myself, and we both know all the truth I could tell, I'll just say this is "I wish you farewell." I hope you're somewhere prayin'...I don't need you, I found a strength I've never known, I'll bring thunder, I'll bring rain, oh, when I'm finished, they won't even know your name...can you imagine how much i would cry?), and love on the brain by rihanna (baby, I'm fist fighting with fire just to get close to you, can we burn something, babe? and I run for miles just to get a taste. i NEED to hear how he would arrange this).

tam i know would say peace (there's robbers to the east, clowns to the west, I'd give you my sunshine, give you my best, but the rain is always gonna come, if you're standin' with me) by taylor. also slow dancing in a burning room (this is the deep and dying breath of this love that we've been working on. can't seem to hold you like I want to, so I can feel you in my arms, nobody's gonna come and save you, we pulled too many false alarms) and shadow days (did you know that you could be wrong, and swear you're right? some people been known to do it all their lives. but you find yourself alone, just like you found yourself before, like I found myself in pieces on the hotel floor. hard times help me see, I'm a good man with a good heart, had a tough time, got a rough start, but I finally learned to let it go...).

for my part, i feel like there is this endless list of songs i could mention from further back in time, but i wanted to pull from our modern era since you said present day, and i've been mulling some of my favorites in my mind. granted, elvis would play around with how these are crafted and produced, but in my head, i can hear these.

taylor is such an obvious go-to, and i wracked my brain trying to think of what would be right for him. something with her country flavor, or something with a bigger sound, a more rock-infused sound, like state of grace (PLEASE), like the story of us. but these jumped out - the original version of that's when. i love the duet with keith urban, but the original can be carried by one person. i can't explain, but it's very kentucky rain-coded to me. also just the story there, that idea that all these mistakes have been made, but the person you love is always welcome to come back. there's also an unreleased song of hers called just south of knowing why (drive all night) that is SO GOOD, and i hope it'll be on debut tv. for some reason i can connect it with him easily. "if I could drive all night, would I find my peace of mind? would it be a million miles of cold white lies and unfamiliar exit signs? I just drive on by, just south of knowing why. I don't have a plan, I don't have a map, I don't even know if I'm ever going back." lastly, and this is the biggest one, i toyed with a bunch of folklore choices (this is me trying...they told me all of my cages were mental...), but my brain just kept circling back to fearless, specifically to change. this is curious because i never used to like change, it's the re-recording that, well, changed it for me. the initial letdown of it (the final blow hits you, somebody else gets what you wanted again, and you know it's all the same, another time and place, repeating history and you're getting sick of it), and then the hopeful triumph overcoming it (but I believe in everything you do). the spirit of it - and we'll sing hallelujah! anyway i cried thinking about this so that tells you everything.

to the lady gaga connection, can i say that el would sound phenomenal singing any number of the songs from she and bradley's version of a star is born? always remember us this way. alibi. music to my eyes (i know it's a duet!). and especially maybe it's time.

harry's version of just a little bit of your heart where he made it rockier (I know I'm not your only, but at least I'm one, I heard a little love is better than none). canyon moon, you just have to trust me.

and it hit me, LITERALLY ANYTHING by lord huron?! there's an entire playlist of elvis-as-lord-huron songs that i could make, but if i can only choose one, i'm going to say the man who lives forever. (ends of the earth? time to run? love like ghosts? the night we met? louisa? wait by the river? love me like you used to?) also he'd make fool for love really fun.

miscellaneous choices i adore from my library that i know he'd transform amazingly: green eyes and a heart of gold by the lone bellow, in the light by the lumineers, let's be still by the head and the heart, morning comes by delta rae, ghost towns by radical face, the weight of love by snow patrol, all of me by john legend, river by josh groban, you and me by niall horan (time's never been on our side, so would you wait for me?). wait for it (death doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints, it takes and it takes and it takes, and we keep living anyway, we rise and we fall and we break and we make our mistakes, and if there's a reason I'm still alive...). breathe by la'porsha renae (I swear I pray every day, but still nothing's changing, feels like my life might need rearranging. you say that you're here and right now is a test of faith. so open up my heart and have your way, I'm sinkin' in my thoughts, so pull me from the waves, my head's above the water, you're my sweet escape. I need you just so I can breathe).

songs that are absolutely bonkers to choose, but i know how they could be re-worked somehow, i can HEAR it i just can't psychically share it with you: miley's never be me, aly & aj's symptom of your touch, hallelujah by alicia keys, someone new by hozier, graveyard (acoustic) by halsey (they say I may be making a mistake, I would've followed all the way, no matter how far. I know when you go down all your darkest roads, I would've followed all the way to the graveyard), golden by fall out boy (and I saw God cry in the reflection of my enemies, and all the lovers with no time for me...i like to cry idk), and simply because it tickles me as she is a huge fan, lana's get free. there are couple of lyrics in it that i question how he'd feel about, but this is modern elvis, i can open him up a little. here's why i couldn't help but choose this, in the end: there's no more chasing rainbows and hoping for an end to them, their arches are illusions, solid at first glance, but then you try to touch them, there's nothing to hold on to, the colors used to lure you in and put you in a trance. sometimes it feels like I've got a war in my mind, I wanna get off, but I keep riding the ride, I never really noticed that I had to decide to play someone's game, or live my own life. and now I do, I wanna move, out of the black, into the blue.

i could honestly go on forever, but have one last song, and it's an oldie (probably a cliche, but i do not care!), and that is landslide by fleetwood mac. considering how i feel about e's cover of bridge over troubled water, i think if i could hear him sing landslide i might be fixed forever (or shattered, but still healed somehow). picture this with me: I took my love, I took it down, climbed a mountain and I turned around, and I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills 'til the landslide brought me down. oh, mirror in the sky, what is love? can the child within my heart rise above? can I sail through the changin' ocean tides? can I handle the seasons of my life? well, I've been 'fraid of changin' 'cause I've built my life around you, but time makes you bolder, even children get older, and I'm gettin' older, too. it would be beyond beautiful.

honestly, for anyone reading, if you don't understand what i'm talking about in regards to the way he transformed and brought the incandescent soul out of songs, i just...please listen to this. my entire heart forever.

youtube

#elvis presley #i actually can't talk about his version of bridge over troubled water at length publicly. it's too close to my heart. it's so important.#everything to me #but anyway that except with landslide. would be magnificent #also runnin' up that hill in the older songs section #i'm sorry this is SO LONG omg and this is RESTRAINT?! i STOPPED myself?!#you should not give me an excuse to daydream about him singing things my imagination runs away with me #i love him sm :(#please consider this a music rec list too 💖#anonymous #letterbox #i was a dreamer #*#music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent #without music life would be a mistake

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rudojudo · 10 months

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Giant of Light Playlists

Inspired by some posts I saw, I put together a playlist of music for the GoL experience. Then I split it in two, because of the duality built into the game. They might not be perfect for background music, since they're a bit lyric heavy in a way that might distract from the table, but there are some connections I'm happy with. Also, they work on shuffle, but the order is intended to make a rough sketch of an Episode of play from either perspective. They're on Spotify:

Side A: Heroes

Side B: Kaiju

And of course you can buy the game here.

If you don't use Spotify (I don't blame you), there's a track listing below, along with commentary, because I love to explain myself.

Side A: Heroes

-Goshowa Kudasai Ware no Na wo! (Endo Masaki)

This is the opening theme to Ultraman Z. Obviously, I was going to include some music from the franchise, but I didn't want it to be the whole playlist. I chose this one because the title and opening line translates to "I ask that you chant my name," which is a wonderful bit of poetry asking for faith.

-The Legend of Chavo Guerrero (The Mountain Goats)

This is about that faith from the other side, a song about having a hero. "The telecast's in Spanish, I can understand some / and I need justice in my life, here it comes," devastates me every time.

-Starman (David Bowie)

Maybe a bit obvious, but all the same, Ultraman is full of visitors from space whose differences from humanity leave them alienated, but still capable of seeing the beauty and value of the Earth.

-Hands (Oishi Masayoshi)

Theme to Ultraman R/B and my personal favorite theme in the whole franchise. The leads in this series have no experience or training and are thrown into the deep end and I like the way this track reflects the drive to stay positive. "These are the things we shouldn't have to protect."

-Pump it Up (Elvis Costello and the Attractions)

This represents the rising tension in the "Episode" happening here. The thumping, elegant bass line and lyrics about matching intensity always begged for an action scene in my mind.

-Brave Love, TIGA (Kagaku Tokusoutai, not the original version, this is a group that does covers of tokusatsu songs)

This is the ending theme to Ultraman Tiga and it's a bit of a parallel to Legend of Chavo Guerrero, since it's a plea to the title character. It's a child, asking their hero, please, do the things I can't. Protect the world. Show me how to be brave.

-X Gon' Give It To Ya (DMX)

Am I guilty of coming to the same conclusion as the writers of the Deadpool movie? Yes. But as a Millennial, I defy you to find a track that more powerfully says that shit is about to go down.

-Veridis Quo (Daft Punk)

Something wholly without lyrics to depict the final fight. I've always thought that the melody of this song implied a situation that's rapidly becoming more complicated.

-Dare (Stan Bush)

Come the man, cometh the hour, this is the personal theme of Hot Rod from The Transformers: The Movie (1986). Hot Rod is the chosen one, even if he doesn't know it until the end, but his theme is all about being brave enough to become the person needed. Also, the sample character Ultraman Giant Hero Cadmium is a direct reference to Hot Rod, including the piece of character art he's in.

-Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (ABBA)

I think the transition from the last track to this one is the best thing I do in either playlist. Again, this is a song about who you want around when things get bad. Also feels final, like the fight can be won here.

-BRAND NEW WORLD (Miura Jam BR)

This is the opening theme to my favorite arc of One Piece (Enies Lobby), but that's incidental. Here, the track represents the "new world" created by the Main Characters in saving the day, and the moment of joy together after it happens.

-Ultraman 80 (Kagaku Tokusoutai, again a cover)

"He came to us from the stars." Nothing more than a moment of gratitude for this immense power that joins together with us to protect our world. Ultraman gets a bit religious (by design, the life of the original creator Tsuburaya Eiji was often defined by faith). Also a relaxing end to represent the "end credits."

Side B- Kaiju

-Trigger (Sakuma Takao)

This side's less optimistic, more conflicted, but I still wanted to open with a theme, this time from Ultraman Trigger. It's a bit more aggressive, all about letting loose. Doesn't connect to that show much, but it's exactly what's happening here.

-When You're Evil (Aurelio Voltaire)

Being self-consciously "evil" is mostly the provenance of teenagers, but there's a sort of immaturity to a lot of the Kaiju Users I took inspiration from when writing the game. There's a certain kind of person who says to themself "no, I'm bad, really, I'm dangerous, watch out!"

-Wolf Like Me (TV on the Radio)

Another approach to playing a Kaiju User is to have werewolf vibes: "this is something inside me and when I let it out, you should run." This is a good song to depict prowling around town, looking for trouble.

-Life on Mars? (David Bowie)

An intentional parallel to Side A, another Bowie track using aliens as a metaphor for alienation. This one's a bit grittier, more critical of society, and more explicitly Queer, which is why it's on this side.

-Werewolf Gimmick (The Mountain Goats)

Like I said, this vibe is strong. The theme of performance (and taking that performance too far) is also a good link to the way a Kaiju User might play with their public image.

-V: The Stand (Man or Machine) (The Protomen)

This song ruled my college years. With a fight imminent, two people who would rather not fight argue, proving why they have to. In your games, the primary Kaiju User can even be either side of the fight, depending on how you've built things up.

-It Has To Be This Way - Platinum Mix (Jimmy Gnecco)

Meme music it may be, but this is great for being the next phase of that argument as the fists start flying. It's only from one perspective, which is fun, because the speaker might be completely off-base about the similarities between the two fighters (which is the case in the game it's written for, a lot of the memes and such overlook that).

-Foreign Object (The Mountain Goats)

Kaiju Users are often at a disadvantage, and this song really captures the spirit of fighting uphill because you're meaner and even if you can't win, you'll make your opponent regret it.

-KARATE (BABYMETAL)

This is the song for the main fight here, picked mostly for sheer kinetic energy. BABYMETAL's trademark pop idol/heavy metal contrast here is the symbol for the fact that a lot of Kaiju may be city-destroying beasts, but people on the internet will still look at them and say "what a good dog!"

-Light Up The Night (The Protomen)

Sometimes, winning means being willing to burn yourself up.

-Hero (The Verve Pipe)

The mirror spot to When You're Evil for a reason. This is the truth at the core of that facade, that underneath the way they scorn humanity and embrace their outcast status with mischief, they really long to be accepted. And something that GoL tries to say is that you can be, even if your powers are scary and destructive, you can still be a hero, no matter what your self-loathing says.

-ZERO to INFINITY (Miyano Mamoru)

Another track from the franchise, this is the theme to the web series Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Absolute Conspiracy, which is mostly a big crossover punch-em-up. But here, I like the optimism of saying you can get to the end of your path as long as you keep pushing, which can be applied to Kaiju Users of many different moral orientations.

Whew! So I started out trying to not repeat artists at all, let alone on the same playlist, but it couldn't be helped, Beat The Champ by The Mountain Goats is the best album about wrestling ever (not a high bar, mind, but it's very good), and the parallels between pro wrestling and tokusatsu are very deep. Anyway, have fun, let me know your thoughts on the listening experience, and play the game!

#ultra series #ultraman #indie ttrpg #ttrpg #ultraman blazar

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destinyc1020 · 1 year

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Baz is not gonna even be considered for best director unfortunately, I think Elvis will get most of the sound categories (such as original song and maybe sound mixing) and def nominations for hair & make-up and costume design.

Brendan Fraser is starting to lose momentum not because of him (his performance was excellent) but predominantly because of the film, not only has the reviews been mixed but many have called it fat- phobic (specifically with the use of a fat suit) but he still has the redemption narrative and him winning would still be special.

Austin is slowly building momentum, the Oscar campaign has been surprisingly good, Austin has gotten his name out there a lot more and more and voters are still resonating with his performances.

The dark horse is Paul mescal a lot more people have seen after sun and have really loved his performance and he’s gaining steam (slowly but it’s there)

however don’t count out Colin Ferrell he is well respected in the industry and he may finally get his Oscar after so many years in the industry. But personally, I still think he has given one of his best performances so I wouldn’t be annoyed if Colin does win. Also don’t count out Tom cruise what he did with top gun maverick he could be a big surprise and may even steal a nomination.

Oh that sucks... :( What gives you that impression that he won't be nominated? Just curious... I thought his directing was so well done. I mean, it's in true "Baz" fashion lol 😅, but surprisingly it worked really well for this type of film. I thought that even just the camera angles he used, the music/song mixing, the ways he effortlessly mixed in the REAL historical footage scenes and real Elvis scenes with Austin as Elvis scenes were just amazing!

I definitely feel the movie should be nominated for Best Actor, Best Director, costumes (so should "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" btw), prosthetics/makeup, and the MUSIC.

Wait..he was in a fat suit? I thought he had gained all that weight? 😵

Anyway, I'll be glad either way if he or Austin win. I feel bad for Brendan and what he went through in Hollywood. 😭😔 It would be nice to see him win. But I agree with you....I think that the Academy would rather award a decent performance in a well-done movie overall, than a stellar performance in a "horrible"/so-so film. 😬

I still need to check the movie out and form my own opinion.

Austin is slowly building momentum, the Oscar campaign has been surprisingly good, Austin has gotten his name out there a lot more and more and voters are still resonating with his performances.

Just about everyone that I know personally who has seen the movie has loved it. I think he has a strong chance at getting nominated! I sure hope he does...cuz I don't want to have to see Lisa Marie eat her own FOOT! LOL 😅🤣

The dark horse is Paul mescal a lot more people have seen after sun and have really loved his performance and he’s gaining steam (slowly but it’s there)

I haven't seen the movie, but I've heard critics praising it. I've seen the trailer and it definitely seems like the type of film the Academy LOVES (basically one that looks slow-moving, and one that most people probably haven't even heard of, let alone seen lol 😅🤣). You know, the Academy likes to be "high-brow" and doesn't like to award "popular" films most of the time lol.

Colin did excellent in "The Batman". I didn't even recognize him lol. He might be the one who gets the Oscar, cuz like you said, he's been acting for years. The Academy likes giving awards to older, more established men in Hollywood. If his movie is good, then Colin will definitely be nominated.

While I LOVED "Top Gun: Maverick" (such a good movie!) and love Tom Cruise, I don't know if he would be nominated for an Oscar for THIS film...unless the Academy is just throwing all caution to the wind lol😅🤣

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vicsdeangelis · 1 year

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Listen can I say something about må? I don't know if they know when they're supporting artists like Elvis or lana del rey, chances are they aren't aware of the sorta people they are but as a poc one of the reasons I've been so put off from them lately is they just go on and on supporting racist people and thinking to myself 'maybe they don't know' doesn't make it much less upsetting

i don't know much about elvis so i didn't know about his racism, but i can't get past the being in a relationship with a 14 year old as a grown ass fucking man, so yeah, fuck him big time. that's the biggest reason i wasn't excited about them being in the soundtrack

also, are the lana remarks about that post she made complaining about how she can't make the music she wants and name dropped a bunch of black women and then went on to whine about how people were making it about race and she's not racist, or did she say something else? like is2g that woman is so fucking stupid i can't stand her. and yeah, i was like yikes 😬 when i saw that they covered one of her songs and the caption

and i feel the same way whenever damiano brings rosalía up. like, that bitch saying she considers herself latina or something. a fucking spaniard saying that shit???? made my blood fucking boil

they only seem to engage in conversations about racism when it's convenient or when they remember it exists tbh. like when the protests against police brutality were happening in the US and all over the world after the murder of george floyd. and then earlier this year they went to NYC and vic took a pic with a cop. like, babe????? what are you doing????? or when damiano reposted one of miley's insta posts in his stories and it was her surrounded by cops. like PLEASE READ THE ROOM I AM BEGGING THEM TO READ THE FUCKING ROOM

they seem to understand that the concept of allyship is constant work, but only when it comes to queer issues and reproductive rights, and that's probably because they have people close to them who are walking reminders that these things exist and need to be talked about. but racism? it feels like it doesn't even cross their minds sometimes

like, idk, they can listen and support whoever they want, but if they are aware of these issues and aren't put off by them...... doesn't feel great

#good morning let's choose violence #ask #stem anon

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superbatson · 2 years

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how did you get into elvis btw? Don’t mean to offend but its pretty rare to see young people who are so into him these days

you're not offending me at all! honestly i've been thinking more about how this whole elvis thing started with me lately.

i think where it officially began was with disney. i can't remember exactly how old i was, but sometime in my early childhood, i watched lilo & stitch and obviously that incorporated elvis' music and likeness in a lot of ways so it taught me who he was. i mean, i may have had a vague idea of who he was from how popular the trend of impersonating him is, but i think watching that movie is what really introduced me to him as an artist rather than a caricature.

paired with that is hearing his music in disney world. i went twice as a kid (ages 5 and 8) and i think it's bc i stayed at a hotel called the "pop century", but the buses that took you to and from the parks were always playing old music so during those trips, you got this whole soundtrack of motown, rock n' roll, disco, etc. i think elvis was in the mix there and maybe because of lilo & stitch, i recognized some songs and came to like them.

and of course also as a kid, i watched full house, and we all know jesse was a huge elvis fan so that taught me a lot about him too. again, a lot of caricature stuff, but still. it was the exposure that mattered. (i remember recognizing the horn part of "it's all right" in the movie from full house bc it was referenced in a couple episodes. i don't think i ever knew that faster version of the song outside of the show.) ((oh and also, kinda unrelated, i remembered the other night that jesse canonically changed his name upon turning 18 - i forget what it was originally, probably something unflattering - and i wondered if he chose "jesse" after elvis' brother. i don't think the show addressed it but it wouldn't surprise me if that's where he got the name from.))

then as i got older, i got curious about the man behind this caricature - the guy who, for all i knew, talked kinda funny and had a weird singing voice and wore white, sparkly jumpsuits and was famous in vegas. when i got a biographical research assignment in 5th grade, i chose him as my subject. i think that's where i really became a fan of his.

i researched him twice more during my school career, in 9th grade and freshman year of college. honestly, i don't remember a whole lot about the 5th or 9th grade projects, but i think both pulled back the curtain, so to speak, on who elvis really was, and i found that fascinating.

the college paper obviously went into a more specific area of research, because that's just the kinda writing we did then. i think i focused on elvis' impact on american culture, really honing in on how revolutionary he was as an artist/performer. that's where i learned a lot of details i picked up on in the movie, about his interest in women's clothing and makeup, how controversial his dancing was, his black influences, etc. i remember asking my professor for recommendations of what kind of sources to use outside of books, and he said to check out old newspaper articles or watch some of elvis' performances.

i kinda did both, but it was the performances that i really had fun with, getting to analyze the differences in how elvis held himself before and after the heavy criticism.

while i only really skimmed one of the books i used for that assignment for information relevant to my paper, i went back like 4 years ago to read it in full, just for fun, and learned a heck of a lot more about him, both good and bad. but it didn't really change how i looked at him, as both a man and an artist. i mean, yeah, he had his flaws, no one's perfect, but i really felt for him and appreciate what he did for music.

sorry that got so long and probably didn't need to get into specifics at the end, but that's basically my story. i honestly don't remember a lot about why i became a fan of his, more just how. i think i just heard so much about him that he felt more like a character (hence my uses of "caricature") than a real person, so i got interested in learning about who he really was. i was raised in a music-loving household, but my dad was a big beatles fan, so maybe in a way, i went and had my own rebellion by becoming an elvis fan. and now i just have a big appreciation for classic rock in general (elvis, beatles, four seasons, etc).

#anonymous #replies #elvis presley #long post #sorry no read more i'm on mobile

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holland2005 · 5 months

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Coma Cinema - Blue Suicide

For people who like: Elliot Smith, Modest Mouse, Elvis Depressedly (same person), Eiafuawn, waveform*, Horse Jumper of Love, Car Seat Headrest and many more.

I respect this album heavily. Blue Suicide explodes out of it's confined genre tags. Not only does it ooze itself through the cracks of "indie pop" into "jangle pop", it has melted itself into my brain's crevices over the years and has created a mold that is a blueprint for my thoughts, emotions, and actions.

This is only how it affects me. Only a handful of tracks on the album are songs I've sought out repeatedly, and I think are worth seeking out. The rest are somewhat forgettable. To counter balance this, the handful of tracks that are worth it have sent out frequencies to my teenage brain that has altered my inner growth greatly. Business as Usual sets the pace with it's ticking metronome as the vocals along with lyrics explain how this album (if not apparent from it's name) is not about the joys of daily life, but about the Business, as Usual. With tambourines taking the place of the metronome, themes of anorexia, sleep deprivation, losing hope, and leaving it all are all embedded in lyrics that show their values not through obvious ways but personal, in depth, heartfelt experiences.

In difference with the user "lai" on RYM who reviews, "With the exception of "Caroline, Please Kill Me", you couldn't say any of the songs on here are bad", Caroline, Please Kill Me is my favourite track on the album. Breaking it down is more than difficult for me, rather that looking at it technically, this song is completely based on emotions. It's caressed me through difficult times, holding me close while I (embarrassingly) cried, rowing us across a river I could have never fully appreciated without it. The drums are the foundation of this track, the simple backing provides a bed for Mat Cothran to express himself about the girls we've had the pleasure of knowing.

Even with these incredible tracks, and more such as: Eva Angelina, Her Sinking Sun, and Whatevering the album falls short of being incredible. Though the rough edges are what give the album personality, it's also what forces the album to drain into the background. Without the amazing tracks that I listed above, the whole rest of this album can be weighted the same as one Car Seat Headrest song: Fill in the Blank, even after it's lost most of it's value to me due to overplaying. What allows this album to a prominent structure in my music world is it's history, and the time spent with me. Without the Caroline Please Kill Me, it would have far less value. I think it deserves 3/5.

lai's review: https://rateyourmusic.com/music-review/Iai/coma-cinema/blue-suicide/36197459

#coma cinema #blue suicide #album #review #album review #indie pop #slacker rock

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slackville-records · 7 months

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Behind The Music

Laura Nyro

She was not only an engaging performing, her songs were covered by everyone from Barbra Streisand to Three Dog Night

Writer and Music Historian John Einarson remembers the great singer & songwriter Laura Nyro on her birthday!

Born on this date, October 18, 1947, Laura Nyro (born Laura Nigro in the Bronx, NY), singer songwriter. She achieved critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) and New York Tendaberry (1969), and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th Dimension recording her songs. Her style was a hybrid of Brill Building-style New York pop, jazz, rhythm and blues, show tunes, rock, and soul. Between 1968 and 1970, a number of artists had hits with her songs: The 5th Dimension with "Blowing Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness", and "Save the Country"; Blood, Sweat & Tears and Peter, Paul and Mary, with "And When I Die"; Three Dog Night and Maynard Ferguson, with "Eli's Comin' "; and Barbra Streisand with "Stoney End", "Time and Love", and "Hands off the Man (Flim Flam Man)".

Nyro's best-selling single was her recording of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "Up on the Roof". For a time in the latter 60s her career was managed by a young David Geffen (photo below) who set up a publishing company for Nyro's songs and got her signed to Columbia Records after Nyro auditioned for Clive Davis in her apartment.

In late 1996, Nyro, like her mother before her, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After the diagnosis, Columbia Records prepared a double-disc CD retrospective of material from her years at the label. The company involved Nyro herself, who selected the tracks and approved the final project. She lived to see the release of Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro (1997), and was reportedly pleased with the outcome. She died of ovarian cancer in Danbury, Connecticut, on April 8, 1997, at 49.

Nyro's influence on popular musicians has also been acknowledged by such artists as Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Tori Amos, Patti Smith, Kate Bush, Janis Ian, Diamanda Galas, Bette Midler, Rickie Lee Jones, Elton John, Jackson Browne with whom she had a romantic relationship in the late '60s, Alice Cooper, Elvis Costello, Cyndi Lauper, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Melissa Manchester, Lisa Germano, and Rosanne Cash. Todd Rundgren stated that once he heard her, he "stopped writing songs like The Who and started writing songs like Laura." Cyndi Lauper acknowledged that her rendition of the song "Walk On By", on her Grammy Award-nominated 2003 cover album At Last, was inspired by Nyro. Elton John and Elvis Costello discussed Nyro's influence on both of them during the premiere episode of Costello's interview show Spectacle. When asked by the host if he could name three great performer/songwriters who have largely been ignored, he cited Nyro as one of his choices. Elton John also addressed Nyro's influence on his 1970 song "Burn Down the Mission", from Tumbleweed Connection, in particular. "I idolized her," he concluded. "The soul, the passion, just the out and out audacity of the way her rhythmic and melody changes came was like nothing I've heard before."

A biography of Nyro, Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro, written by Michele Kort, was published in 2002 by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press.

One of the finest singer/songwriters ever.

Photo Laura Nero Collection

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caitwrites · 9 months

Text

A Girl's Guide to Ending Rape Culture - Chapter 4

He's tall, with brown hair and eyes that seem to become lighter in the light coming off the stage. "Hey," he says. "I just wanted to say you sounded great up there."

"Oh," I say. "Thanks."

"I'm Ian."

"Emilie."

"Do you want to get a drink?"

It's then that I notice Ani and look over. She's grinning, nodding her head and giving me a thumbs up, no doubt encouraging me to say yes.

"Sure."

I follow him to the bar and take a seat next to him as the bartender walks over to us. "What can I get you guys?"

"I'll have a raspberry mojito, please."

"A whiskey for me."

The bartender tosses a smile our way. "Coming right up."

Ian turns to face me. "So, Elvis, huh?" He asks, referencing the song I had been singing.

I smile. "Yeah," I say, "I've always been a fan."

He grins. "Good song choice, by the way."

"Thanks," I say. I look down at the table, feeling a little nervous suddenly. I usually never go to clubs or bars and feel a little out of my element.

I see his hand reach out and cover mine. I look up and see what might be a look of concern on his face. "Feeling okay?"

"Yeah," I say. "Just a little nervous. Clubs aren't really my scene."

"That's okay," he says. "I used to be the same way. Still am sometimes," he says with a smile.

It's quiet for a moment before he adds, "How long have you been singing?"

He's trying to distract me, and I let him. "Ever since I was little," I say. "What hobbies do you have?"

"I make music, too, actually."

I feel myself smile. "That's cool."

"Yeah, I'm actually in a band."

"Oh, you are? Maybe I've heard of you. What's your band's name?"

"I doubt you've heard of us. We're pretty new on the music scene."

"Try me," I say.

"We're called Sun Veil."

"I don't think I've heard of you guys," I say. "I'd love to give your music a listen, though."

"You can come meet my band, we'll play a couple songs, and you can tell me what you think.

"Sure," I say.

"That's also what I came over to talk to you about." He rests his arms on the table in a way that looks like he means business. "Our band doesn't have a singer, our most recent one left due to some personal reasons, and we've been looking for one ever since. When you come meet the band, you can practice a couple songs with us. No pressure, of course. Just thought I'd ask in case you're interested."

I think about this. I'm a bit disappointed he didn't just come over because he was interested in me. I don't usually have guys talk to me, so I was happy that one actually seemed interested in me. It is a good offer, though.

"Sure," I say. "I'll practice with you."

He grins and takes out a piece of paper and a pen. "Great. What's your number? I'll call you and we'll plan out a day for you to meet the band."

"Okay, that sounds good. My number is 778-568-6547."

He writes down my number, then gets up off the stool. "It was nice meeting you, Emilie."

"Nice meeting you too."

He walks off into the crowd, and I think about the way his voice said my name, how he made it sound special.

Ani walks over to me. "Oh my God. He was so hot!"

"Yeah," I say, still staring off into the crowd for a little longer before turning to her.

"What did you guys talk about?"

"Music, a little."

"You have to give me more than that! Did he flirt? Ask for your number?"

"He kind of asked, I guess. I mean, it was to make plans to meet his band."

"That's so exciting! Maybe this will be your big break."

"Maybe," I say. "I hope so."

She wraps her arms around me in a hug. "I'm so happy for you."

I smile and hug her back. "Thanks, Ani."

She pulls away after a moment. "Well, I think that's enough excitement for one night. Ready to head out?"

"Yeah, I'm getting pretty tired."

"Same."

We head out of the club and into the night air, where the cold bites my arms. I shiver in my jacket. "Should we call Lucas?" I ask.

"Probably a good idea. I don't really feel like walking home this late."

I take out my phone and dial his number.

The phone rings for a second before he picks up. "Hey, Emilie. What's up?"

"Could you pick us up? We're just at TJ's and don't really feel like walking back this late."

"Yeah, yeah. Of course. I'll be there soon." He hangs up the phone.

We decide to wait outside until he comes. He only lives a few minutes away, so we don't have to wait very long before he's pulling into the parking space in front of the club.

I get into the passenger seat, and Ani sits in the back.

"Hey," Lucas says, as I close the door.

"Hi," I say.

"How was the club?"

"It was good."

"That's all you're going to say?" Ani says from the back as Lucas pulls out of the parking space and starts driving down the road. "Tell him what happened!"

"What happened?" Lucas asks, and I sense a hint of protectiveness and what might be jealously in his tone.

"Nothing," I say. I don't know why I say it. Maybe it's because I don't eat to make him jealous.

"She met a guy," Ani says. "And he asked for her number."

"Oh, that's...nice." Lucas says.

I hear a tightness in his voice and look over at him. His hands are gripped around the wheel, and he's looking ahead.

"It was just to keep in contact," I say quickly. "He wants me to practice with his band."

"It could be more, though," Ani says, and I see her wiggling her brows at me in the rear view mirror. "You haven't gotten any since, when was it last?"

"I don't know," I admit.

"See, it's been so long you don't even remember."

"Leave her alone," Lucas says.

"I'm just kidding, she knows that."

Lucas glances over at me, and I don't miss the look in his eyes, silently checking if I'm okay. Seeing if I do, in fact, know she's kidding.

I smile at him, and his shoulders relax a little.

We get to my apartment, and I get out, saying bye to Lucas and Ani.

Lucas waits outside until I get in the apartment, before driving off to take Ani to the dorm rooms.

I head up the stairs and get to my suite, unlocking the door and stepping inside. I take my shoes off before making my way to the bathroom to take off my makeup and brush my teeth. I then go to my bedroom and put on some sweatpants and a tank top before turning out the light and laying in bed to sleep.

#writing #writer #story #author #short story #1990s #riotgrrrl #music

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wroteonedad · 2 years

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Forever Changed; exhibition review

i've been spending the last few weeks reflecting on the way i live my life and what i do with it. i've been feeling trapped, especially with my job and also because we're in the midst of a heatwave, it makes me feel pretty angry and tired and stressed. on a whim i had decided to apply for a few new jobs, half jokingly. i had sent off an application to brewdog bar and told them that my favourite beer of there's was an ipa i'd never even tried because it was 'refreshing and light, perfect for the summer'. i actually did hear back from one of the places i applied for and i went for my interview today. and despite after wanting to change everything and jump into a new job, i found myself saying that i wanted to be part time in both places because i like the stability. maybe i'm scared of change, i definitely am. when walking into the gallery, i was greeted by the exhibition title of Forever Changed, a name of a song written by Lou Reed and John Cale about the passing of Andy Warhol. it studies the way in which the art industry and the way in which people viewed art died along with Warhol.

the collection of works features both futuristic and the recent past, using both its mix of covid-19 enhanced works and the rise of AI to create something that is almost deeply disturbing. this is the future and we are just little specks of the universe.

i start by analysing the most pop art style piece in the exhibition, the sets of works that are the most Warhol next to the big exhibition description about Warhol. these works, Rock Gunslinger Pink and Red (2012) and Rock Gunslinger Yellow and Green (2012) are both creations by British based Gavin Turk. this works looks to be an Warhol pop art style original of Elvis Presley, but it is neither a Warhol work or a silkscreen print of Elvis. rather it is Turk himself using the identity and appropriation card by posing as Elvis. his style has been based around re appropriating works that already exists. the many collections of Turk's work reminds me of Cindy Shermans Untitled Film Stills, a collection of works in which Sherman makes self-portraits of herself, dressed and portraying herself as a selection of women in movies from the 1950s-1960s hollywood era.

following on from the appropriation works of Gavin Turk, you are then greeted by Mark Jenkins and his terrifying faceless figures.

at first, you have One Leg (2011), a mixed media piece, which at first glance and upon entrance into the gallery, you think it may just be an invigilator sat down in a corner, but you soon realise that is not the case. his works and installations are typically placed in public spaces, and more often than not, without direct permission. the works almost become a social experiment, seeing how people react to the ways in which Jenkins figures are stood, the way in which they hold themselves, if you were to even notice it at all. the faceless aspect creates a form of mild horror, they are there to be off putting. in fact, there are about five different figures of his, all dotted around various and random parts of the gallery, submerged between the works of others.

this piece is Lipstick (2021), this piece in particular is maybe one of the more interactive pieces. again it is one of those figures that you think is a person visiting the gallery, but as you walk around the mirror, you become aware that is another Jenkins piece. his collection of figures have been a long running project, featuring men submerged into puddles, a man stretched out as if he is the body of a bike rather than a human and two headless figures submerged into one. i'm still not sure if i love or hate this collection, but time will tell.

the next piece i wish to discuss, Pay Nothing (2021), an appropriated work by Kenny Schachter. i think this may have been one of my pieces in the exhibition simply because it is exactly the same as Ed Ruscha's Pay Nothing Until April, but with one section crossed out and painted over.

i saw the Ruscha original when i visited Tate last summer, and i took pictures of the show, and i know that i never took the images because i liked what i was looking at, instead i was quite repulsed by the collection. large text, basic Microsoft font that looked like direct quotes from angry old men who spend their days drinking Fosters and reading The Sun. but they all featured a background that looked like they had been directly ripped off the affirmations instagram page.

besides the point, this piece of appropriated work is a direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic. rent strikes, the closure of hospitality, an economy completely stalled, a country that fell silent. which in a way, juxtaposes the original message Ruscha was describing with his work. his piece was about the American's paying their taxes in April, which also fell into the Covid-19 lockdown timeline. the work is big, bold, angry dad core, but the message is slightly different because i think the British public can resonate with this piece more.

i was then greeted by the huge interactive piece in the gallery, and i liked it, but there was no way that i would have the confidence to interact with it in the way it was intended to be.

this is Be Angry, an ongoing project that was begun by Mark Titchner in 2003. there isn't too much detail to go into with this piece because this is simply made for the audience, you, to go on the stage and be angry. the microphone is live and plugged in so anything you had to say would be amplified across the entire gallery for everybody else to hear. you could either be angry at the world and talk about the economy or you could stand there and give everyone your best Seinfeld impression, and i'm sure somebody has. Sophie's choice.

moving onto my favourite piece in the gallery, we have Autoplay by Fabio Lattanzi Antintroni

it is an LED display and it features lyrics, but they're from songs that don't exist. this is because the piece is an ai generator, using words and phrases that it has analysed from the likes of Google Ads to create lyrics and display them in a karaoke form on an LED screen. the work explores how power, belief and reality are all shaped by society. it is my favourite piece because of how lowkey it is, it is again a type of piece that you could look at and unless you were assessing the words coming up properly, you may not even realise that the words do not flow properly.

upon deeper view, the show is a weird and wonderful land, full of contemporary works featuring things that are inventive and fresh, others, maybe not so. you walk around and get a constant jumpscare from the works of Jenkins, all dotted around bizarre parts of the exhibition, with a mix of AI generated lyrics and a montage of the Sun logo, scaled to the size of a real life prison cell. it is a mix of multi-media works both bringing in the past and the future to create a collection of works that are loud and proud. it is a wonderfully curated selection that for the most part flow very well together and i'm looking forward to spending half of my summer in there, reassessing the works in front of me and seeing if i form any different opinions on the works. and i have plenty of time to do so. Forever Changed is there for everybody to see in Giant Gallery, Bournemouth until 16th October 2022.

#art review #giant art galley #writing #ed ruscha #gavin turk #fabio lattanzi antinor #mark jenkins #andy warhol #kenny schachter #cindy sherman #appropriation #ai

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septembersghost · 11 months

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Sorry to send this random message, but since you like both elvis and taylor I was curious for your opinion. I've seen people comparing would've could've should've to elvis and priscilla's relationship and that they can't wait for videos set to that when the priscilla movies comes out... saying elvis is like the subject of that song stuns me and breaks my heart, but what do you think?

don't be sorry honey! <3 it's such a complex topic and is often misjudged/weaponized with the worst intent, which tends to be unfair to both of them.

prefacing this with priscilla herself saying, “It’s hurtful, for a man who has given so much, to have others pick him apart. I’ll die defending him and his legacy. Because he deserves it.”

also going to refer to this ask from a few months ago.

okay, to be more blunt than i typically am, their relationship overall should not have happened, for a lot of reasons and both their sakes, but i don't like saying that because it erases the love they shared, cilla's agency, lisa marie's existence (and her children's), and the entirety of the life they shared, and i don't think that's right to do. should elvis have turned her down gently and guided her away when they first met? probably! should her parents have put their foot down and told her absolutely not, in no uncertain terms, were they sending her to memphis, and insisted she move on and continue her normal life? yes. she was an emotional young woman who was head over heels in love with one of the biggest stars in the world, and who can blame her, but she would've gotten over it. but that's not what happened. so we have to contend with what did.

elvis was a complicated, sometimes mercurial, often wonderful, man. he had come through extraordinary and extreme events literally from birth, and certainly in the rise of his star, experienced a certain degree of...i don't want to use this phrase, but arrested development?...because of his unusual circumstances. (no judgment on that, i have talked many times about being frozen at 19 because of what's happened in my life, i really empathize with why certain things were difficult and disorienting for him in my own tiny way, just like i, as someone chronically ill, hold empathy for his health too). he was dealing with what i'd categorize not only as profound grief and loneliness following his mother's death, but also compounded trauma for a number of reasons.

i think about the quote from his costar in follow that dream, anne helm, saying he was still such an innocent, "He was surrounded by a lot of people that took advantage of his generosity. It was a more innocent time. I mean, Elvis was -- how old was he? 24, 25? [Actually, Elvis was 26 when the film was shot in the summer of 1961.] He was a baby, and I was, too. We were very young. As much as Elvis was a celebrity, he was a big kid, he was a lot of fun." he had an inherent earnestness and compassion that was guileless.

one of his contradictions here is that, with priscilla, he also had a paternalistic quality where he was looking after her and doing what he thought was best for her. the people who try to frame this as predatory claim he was abusing her, even though that is not how priscilla characterizes it. he had this need to nurture and be nurtured, and he tried to look after her, but he was far from perfect in doing so since his lifestyle wasn't conducive to some of what she needed. that said, he set definitive boundaries with her for a reason. had he been preying on her maliciously, the end goal would've always been exploiting her in some way (namely for sex), but we know he decidedly didn't do that, that in fact she was very frustrated with him because he refused to sleep with her for multiple reasons, and wouldn't until they were married. by which point she was very much a consenting adult.

guiding her look the way he did i don't think he meant to be controlling or harmful, his approach wasn't inherently abusive, it came from genuine care. everyone knew he was pushing it, but they were in love and sometimes no amount of arguing will defy that. he had conflicted feelings about marriage, but i think he really did desire that security of family and love and home, even though he struggled with the commitment of that, and he also never felt wholly seen, safe, or secure in any of his romantic relationships. (this wasn't unique to priscilla, it's a recurring theme). and tbh a lot of that was also likely rooted in trauma, because that has effects on a person.

it's also relevant to note that it was an entirely different time. outrage on the internet prefers to ignore this, but it's vital for context. it may not excuse their initial connection, but by the time she went to memphis, and certainly by the time they got married, their romance and marriage wouldn't have been that unusual. the age gap discourse has gotten REALLY BAD and utterly flattened in a way that ignores all nuance and all particulars of the human beings involved. it doesn't always equate to abuse. it's unkind at the least and dehumanizing at the most to categorize every dynamic that way, and when priscilla herself refutes it and has never called herself a victim, i am not going to categorize him that way. relationships are vast and unique and imperfect, and sometimes people just fall in love! it's not intended for mass consumption or approval by total strangers, especially decades later.

priscilla herself discusses her girlhood and her growth into womanhood, and how much a part of it he was, how he was often many different roles to her. she mentions her naivete, her feelings of unsophistication, and how she grew into herself.

they both grew and changed. and some of that led them in distinctly different directions. she also mentions how they shared a connection and warmth, that in many ways they found more kindnesses and understanding for one another after they divorced. she, and we, will never know how their dynamic might have continued because his death closed that door forever, but she has grieved and loved him. she's not perfect either, and certainly i don't agree with everything she's done, but i cannot abide vilifying elvis and victimizing priscilla when that wasn't their story. they both deserve better and more understanding than that.

how dare people decide for her that she was deceived or that her girlhood was stolen? how dare people disregard her own words and experience and the love she has for him in such a puerile and vicious way?

taylor's story is HER STORY. she didn't intend for it to be applied to others without their consent, or copy/pasted over other dynamics. what she experienced with john was wholly different. he did take advantage of her in a calculated sense. he did use her youthful worship of him and how enamored she was to manipulate her, and then turned it against her. it wasn't a loving dynamic between them at all - she was in love and he got an ego boost and thought he could also make a conquest. it damaged some of her sense of herself, her approach to sex, love, and relationships, and permanently impacted her in some ways - even if she's healed, she shared that the scars still exist and haunt her. it's nowhere near the same tone that priscilla (nor any woman) uses about elvis. i think it's awfully presumptuous and cruel to decide to boil them down to 30 second fan edits using an extremely raw and personal song written generations later about an entirely different experience.

it's...gross and exploitative, not supportive or sympathetic to cilla. the agenda of it to cut down elvis is transparent. lisa would hate it. i really, really disagree with it and it's just a way to outrage bait. and it breaks my heart too. i know it's going to happen, i'm sure those little tiktoks will be prevalent, but i will not be giving them any credence or attention. i respect them both too much for that, and understand their mistakes and imperfections, and tbh cherish him more as a human, a sensitive and generous soul, and an artist than anyone can ever understand when they try to tear him down.

#sorry this got away from me #anonymous #letterbox #elvis presley #priscilla 2023 #i was a dreamer

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