#and also not an actual playlist(in terms of the ones on the 5SOS Spotify page) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lunatens · 5 years

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ghost of you

pairing: ghost!han jisung x gender neutral reader

word count: 1.3k

genre: fluff, platonic, ghost!au

warnings: mentions of death (it is a ghost au after all)

a/n: I got the idea for this a sUPER long time ago lmao I got inspired by the song ghost of you by 5sos but then I wasn’t feeling angsty and emo and sad so I just made it cute and fluffy and that’s why it’s platonic bc I feel like romance would get super angsty idk aNYWAYS !! I hope this is good I might write more for this au if people are interested? (also it was originally gonna be about hyunjin but then idk jisung fit better somehow lol)

“is that the last of it?” minho asks, dusting off his hands after he sets what seems like the millionth cardboard box on the floorboards of your new apartment.

“i think so? thanks again for all the help minho, it would’ve taken me so long to do this all by myself.” you and minho have spent all day moving everything in, blaring tunes and taking (too many) snack breaks. it was fun, but it was a lot of work, and now you’re tasked with decorating the place. minho waves goodbye before heading out the door. you listen to him go down the three flights of stairs, get in his car and pull out of the tiny parking lot. you’re alone at last, and you take a moment to enjoy the blissful silence; no more annoying roommates to wake you up too early in the morning or steal your food or take too-long showers. minho and a few of your other friends have invited themselves over tomorrow night for dinner (you agreed only if they promised to provide all the food), so you’re determined to make your new place look all nice before they come--needless to say, you’ve got a pretty busy 24 hours coming up. you brush thei hair from your eyes, grab the exacto knife from the kitchen counter, and set to work opening box after box of your belongings.

***

several hours have passed; the kitchen and bathroom are both done, leaving just the common area and your room. there’s cardboard everywhere--you promise yourself you’ll clean it up tomorrow. besides your bed in the corner and the small bookshelf you’ve spent the last two hours building, your room is completely empty. you let out a heavy sigh, picking a new playlist on spotify before beginning the process of decorating your room. it’s not long before you’re standing tippy-toed as you lean awkwardly over your desk to flatten a poster of your favourite band on the wall.

“it’s crooked, just fyi,” a voice rings out from behind you. you scream in shock, tripping over your desk chair as you turn around to face the source of the voice. you land with a dull thud and a groan on your hardwood floor. a face appears above yours, eyebrows furrowed in concern. the face belongs to a boy who looks about the same age as you, although unlike you, he’s slightly translucent and gives off a pale blue glow.

“are you okay? wow, you’re pale--you look as though you’ve just seen a ghost! HAHA! that was pretty funny, right?” the boy says, giggling at his own joke. you sit up and stare wide eyed and sheet-faced at him. as you process what he said, connecting it to his appearance, you open your mouth to let out another shriek. the boy glides over to you, worry washed over his face.

“no no no!! please don’t be scared! well, actually i guess that’s a lot to ask. don’t scream though, it’s really loud and hurts my ears and might concern the neighbours,” he asks, sitting cross legged in front of you on the floor. you shut your mouth, dumbfounded.

“okay, let’s take this slow, alright? i’m jisung, you’re y/n from what i heard earlier, right?” the ghost asks. he speaks softly and slowly, clearly trying to avoid setting you off again. you nod silently.

“cool! so i uh, imagine this is a bit of a shock to you, but basically, yes, i’m a ghost. oooh, spooky,” jisung says, waving his hands for effect. he giggles at himself.

“a ...ghost..” you repeat, trying to make sense of this situation. jisung nods enthusiastically.

“see? you’ve got it! honestly that was easier than i thought it would be. anyways, i came here to tell you i’ve been watching you decorate your apartment for the past couple hours, and you have a terrible sense of interior design. like, really bad.”

“so--wait, hold up. you’re telling me first of all, ghosts are real, and second of all, there's one right in front of me who’s here to judge my interior design abilities?” you ask in disbelief.

“well, lack thereof--i wouldn’t say you have any abilities. but yes, that’s all true,” jisung says.

“okay,”

“okay?”

“okay.” you take in a deep breath; time to reassess your entire life.

“...can i touch you?” you ask after a long pause. jisung just smiles shyly and holds his arm out.

“go for it,” he says, and you gasp as your fingers pass right through him. the air feels a little cold where his arm is supposed to be, but otherwise there’s nothing.

“woah.”

“i know, this is probably pretty freaky for you. but get used to it, because i’m not going anywhere any time soon! i’ve decided you’re my new bff, sorry you don’t get a say in this. now let's finish setting things up, and i can help you make things look less terrible,” jisung says with a grin and a wink, and you glare at him in response.

***

it’s deep in the late hours of the night, or rather early in the morning, when you finally finish as much as you’re going to do tonight. there’s still a couple boxes of miscellaneous objects and such, but you shove them in your closet with the promise to deal with them another time. as you cleaned and decorated, you learned a lot about jisung, who trailed along after you rambling on about his life story with the occasional interruption of “maybe move that to the right just a tad” or “don’t you think this would look better on that shelf over there?”

you learn jisung is, in fact, the same age as you--or at least he was when he died. he and his family were killed in a car accident a couple years back, and he finds it more entertaining to lurk around the mortal world rather than mope around with other ghosts all the time. he mostly haunts his old house, although it’s been abandoned the last couple years, so he spends most of his time lounging around inside walls and clanging on pipes and spooking the occasional stray cat that decides to venture into the small home in search of food. today, however, he was so rudely awoken by the various sounds of you and minho carrying all your stuff up to your third-floor apartment in the building next door. he decided to take a peek (all the other residents of the building are “boring old people” in his terms) and thought you seemed interesting, so he stuck around. which brings you to where you are currently; you sprawled out on your bed, eyes closed in exhaustion, with jisung perched on the top of your desk chair asking you questions about your life.

“are you gonna get any pets?”

“minho is bringing over my pet toad tomorrow, he’s been babysitting her while i move.”

“okay that’s good, cats and dogs don’t seem to like me too much, but toads are fine. who’s minho?”

“the boy who helped me move in today,”

“oooh, is he your boyfriend?”

“what? no, no definitely not.”

“you’re blushing.”

“no i’m not! it’s just hot in here. can you open the window?”

“...i’m a ghost.”

“right. we’re just friends by the way, me and minho.”

“mhm….okay, whatever you say. but don’t think i didn’t see you checking him out when he picked up those boxes!”

“jisung?”

“yeah?”

“shut up.”

jisung opens his mouth as if to reply, but shuts it after thinking for a moment. the room is filled with a comfortable silence, and you find yourself giving in to the heavy blanket of sleep beginning to wash over you. it’s not long before you’re snoring lightly, passed out on top of your bed still in your clothes from the day. jisung chuckles to himself, wondering how he ended up with someone so dorky as a neighbour as he glides out through your window and through the night air back to his dark and empty house.

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music-by-an-english-major · 6 years

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“Voicenotes” by Charlie Puth Album Review

Overall: 7/10

Voicenotes, the highly anticipated second album by 26-year-old Charlie Puth, is a 2018 gem that demonstrates huge growth in Puth’s direction as a musician. It has a much more mature sound than its predecessor, Nine Track Mind, and it shines in its detail-orientated production (the groove in “Done For Me”, the gorgeous retro sounds of “BOY”).

This album, aptly titled Voicenotes because each song stems from Puth’s personal voice notes to himself, peaks during the moments when it feels most like Charlie himself. Songs like “If You Leave Me Now” and “The Way I Am” are much more personal than Puth’s well-known hits “Marvin Gaye” and “One Call Away”. Voicenotes also has strong collaborations with Kehlani, Boyz II Men, and James Taylor that are well-chosen and delivered. Tracks like “How Long” and “BOY” are undeniable bops, equally suitable for either bedroom jam sessions or for your Spotify party playlist. There are plenty of fantastic moments in this album, and the record is easily likable.

However, as close as Voicenotes is to being an outstanding record, it falls short because of the inability to shake a “to be killed by radio” syndrome -- songs like “Attention” are catchy earworms, but they tire out quickly and come off as repetitive. Also, while lyrics have improved from Puth’s earlier work, some songwriting comes across as shallow at times (“Done For Me”). This album is definitely more in-touch with Puth’s musical identity and authenticity than Nine Track Mind, but there is still room for growth.

Best Moments:

Anytime Charlie’s piano work is featured (2:25 in “BOY”)

First (“The Way I Am”) and last (“Through It All)” tracks are deftly chosen

Fantastic grooves and bass lines all around (”Done For Me”, “How Long”)

Charlie showing off his vocal range (“LA Girls”, feminine imitation in “How Long”)

Sampling of N’Sync’s “I Thought She Knew”

Great collab choices

Worst Moments:

Some tracks are too repetitive or predictable -- this is fitting for radio, but it depletes the long-term value of a song

Unoriginal/average lyrics

Replay Value: Moderate

Continue reading for individual track reviews!

1. The Way I Am (6/10)

Really good selection of a first track

Lyrics establish trying a new direction of genuine, “more real” songwriting

Guitar ostinato is simple yet cool

Solidifies new production sound and sets it worlds apart from Nine Track Mind

2. Attention (6/10)

Slow build intro is fitting and satisfying

Verses get very repetitive

Personally, radio killed this song for me but I really liked it intially

Simplistic melody is heavily reliant on rhythmic interest, which is okay

Bass line is a jam and probably the seed of the entire song

Bridge of “What are you doing to me” is good and probably the best part of the song

3. LA Girls (7/10)

Using the timbre of a steel-string bass guitar (that’s what I think it is?) for the intro is extremely cool

"I miss my baby” line shows off higher end of Charlie’s vocal range and is just a fun, flirty touch

Layering of voices - production is great

Lyrical subject of celebrity homesickness is similar to Bazzi’s 3:15

4. How Long (8/10)

Bass line, played by Puth, is kicking it

Imitation of the female voice shows off vocal range

Funky guitar / beatboxing sounds creates a nice groove

Call-and-response between Charlie and the hypothetical girl is addicting

Snaps!

At 2:21, the amazing bass part disappears, leaving the vocals exposed as it escalates to a satisfying climax

5. Done For Me (7/10)

Once again, a fantastic groove

R&B and pop worlds collide -- in the best way possible

The tone feels less genuine, as if Charlie is singing as a character

Kehlani has great delivery and she contributes a ton to the song despite only having one solo verse

Chord progressions/synth work is easy on the ears

I am head over heels obsessed with Charlie’s jazz rendition of this track (which definitely has “Oye Como Va” vibes)

6. Patient (7.5/10)

Beautiful, sensitive instrumental intro

One of the more honest and lyrically revealing songs

In contrast to the two groove-heavy songs that precede this track, the instrumentation is extremely intimate

0:57 Charlie’s “chicka-boo” beatboxing is adorable

Vocal sequences are smooth, catchy, and flow off the tongue

Entire song is composed of moving melodic line -- no sense of dragging or growing stagnant despite being a slower song

Bridge (1:54) seems like a missed opportunity; it provides contrast against the rest of the song, but it is altogether forgettable/predictable in comparison to the other excellent moments in the song

Moment of stripped voice adds a sense of honesty like the one found in “The Way I Am”

Piano work is gorgeous; some church-like harmonies finish out the song in a very mature way

7. If You Leave Me Now (8/10)

Acapella - how often do you get such gorgeous acapella harmonies in contemporary pop music?

The harmonies are just insane

This is the true ballad of the entire album; “Patient” may be slower, but here, “If You Leave Me Now” demonstrates an entire new level of vulnerability (supported by the minimalist instrumentation)

Snaps are the only percussive element

Is it a key change at 2:30? Either way, the harmonic content in this song is just fantastic

I would love to see this performed live

This song is definitely not a radio banger, but that doesn’t mean it’s less of a song; in fact, it’s probably one of the best tracks of the album

This is one of Charlie’s “favorite songs [he’s] ever written”

The fact that this is a N’Sync sample only makes it better

8. BOY (9/10)

This is my personally favorite song of the album

Backgrounds/synth/chord progressions are vital to creating a retro vibe that almost reminds me of Owl City

Word painting of 90s sounds and being “born in the 90s”

Fantastic production / mixing

Melismatic “boy” line is to die for

Some of the strongest lyrics of the entire record

The playful vocables and spoken insertions -- “why / oh” ; “unh” -- add a fun, youthful element to the song

Piano at 2:25 is worth going mad for

Chorus is anthemic and rewarding

Voice does sound a little too edited/ overproduced at times, but perhaps that is fitting given the setting of the song

9. Slow it Down (6/10)

Charlie exits the most experimental part of his album to return to the radio banger domain

The sultry vibe creates a really stark contrast to the playful mood of “BOY” -- this is the definition of two contrasting narratives, but I’m okay with it

This is a good song, but honestly, it’s not unique; this could have come from anyone and it doesn’t have anything distinctly Charlie Puth

Bonus points for being a cool sample of “I Can’t Go For That”

The most interesting part of the song is 2:11 when the main vocal line drops out and there is only a muted layer of charlie saying “girl, you’ve got to slow it down” - this is interesting because it distorts the song time, making it feel like a blurry night at the club

10. Change (7/10)

The message of the song has to be appreciated; there are definite John Lennon “Imagine” feels and Shawn Mendes “Youth” vibes

The last of the fantastic collabs of the album in which James Taylor does not disappoint

Strong lyrics

Acoustic guitar is worth appreciating

Bridge is strong - shows off Puth’s vocal control

There is not only dialogue between the two singers, but there is a bit of dialogue between the piano and guitar

11. Somebody Told Me (7/10)

Addresses a genuine insecurity, similar to the real anxieties discussed in “LA Girls” and “The Way I Am”

Am I the only one who thinks this could be a 5SOS track?

Strong melody, but less interesting work in the backgrounds

Interesting that it is a happy-sounding song addressing a sad situation… the major tonality is the complete opposite of what is expected of a song addressing adultery

Perhaps it sounds happy because Charlie is satirizing flippant celebrity romances in general -- any heartbreak is overtly produced and not as impactful as you may imagine

Melismatic vocal runs are truly underappreciated

12. Empty Cups (6/10)

Another true groove

The sonic ambience actually makes you feel like you are at a party

An extremely interesting moment of silence at 0:50 -- punctuating the lyric “and these empty cups”

Feels like early Puth

2:05 Do you hear the party?

A cute, playful song to precede the heart-wrenching "Through It All”

13. Through it All (8/10)

This is the Charlie Puth I came for

The most intimate song of the album

Beautiful piano playing -- can’t you just imagine this song just sobering you up after a long night at a jazz club?

Reminds me of “My Way” by Frank Sinatra

The wind-down feelings are similar to Taylor’s “New Year’s Day” that ended Reputation

It’s a ballad, but it’s not sad… it’s triumphant

This is the perfect song to end the album because it concludes a really self-reflective journey. It is emotional, grateful, and real all at once. A great curtain call to round out the journey “The Way I Am” began

Album Credits (sourced by Wikipedia):

Released: May 11, 2018

Performers: Puth, Kehlani, James Taylor, Boys II Men, Ozveren, Gorodetsky, Falk, Carlsson

Producers: Puth, Goransson, Evigan, Carlsson

#Charlie Puth #New Music #Album Review #Music Journalism #Music Studies #Pop Music #Music Blog #Music #Voicenotes #Album #Music Critic #Musician #iTunes #Review #Album release #New Album #my post

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clumsyclifford · 4 years

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yes very understandable i know these have been very long 😅 well to be fair.. the highest temperature we get here is like 36° celsius for maybe a week or so? and then it cools down normally. so i guess a/cs wouldn't really make sense? still sucks though. and listen you made my life better with bringing noah kahan into it and you were not annoying about him!! and i love you very much too 🙈💕 (1/too many again i think)

(2/5) nooo she's like noah kahan. both unable to write/make bad songs. truly she has some amazing collaborations 😅 and i'm pretty fond of what a time bc i started listening to her music bc she opened for niall when i saw him and so like even a mention of them together makes me very happy and then there's an entire song by both of them. yes thank you for the serotonin that collab brings me.

(3/5) & i'm really not trying to make you cry but by now i have 2 playlists for your recs 😅 one with the ones i know and like a lot already and one with the ones i have to listen to still 🙈 oh well 😅 if you wanna you can give me like top 5 thomas rhett songs though? i normally just add a couple songs that i like the name of but that can go very wrong 🙈 yes that you are: consistent in your love for ajr. ajr is for you what noel gallagher thirst is for helen i think.

(4/5) & you did rec me three-thirty i'm still undecided about that one though bc the sound wasn't entirely my cup of tea but i adored the lyrics. so gonna listen to that again a few times and we'll have to see 🙈 you are so lovely and i feel the same i'm so happy and thankful i get to talk to you! love you so so much 💕 mhh i know you didn't even ask but the only nostalgic song i can think of is glory days by bruce springsteen

(5/5) and that one does not fit the described nostalgic vibes but i'll think about it bc i love specific playlists so much 😅 oh also maybe a weird request so feel free not to but can you maybe add a link to calum's spotify (bc you said you follow his playlist) i can't fucking find it bc my spotify is being a bitch. (i'm pretty sure i know his name by now but it just. does not show up and it's driving me mad bc i just wanna vibe check his music taste like apparently everybody else can) - fiancee

oh that’s 96 degrees fahrenheit.......very miserable but at least it doesnt last long. still. i feel like. a/c. you would benefit. but moving on

she really DOES have some amazing collaborations like okay shawn mendes? niall horan?? 5sos???? also i am 100% sure there is another one that i am OH FUCKING RIGHT HURT SOMEBODY!!!! noah kahan + julia michaels???? the POWER of that duo?????? also the fact that you saw julia michaels open for niall ????? FUCK DUDE

ohhhh my god two playlists. TWO!!!! jesus christ that is too much i CANNOT

okay yes yes good idea. well im not gonna give you the ones youve already heard so apart from those i think my top 5 thomas rhett songs would be: remember you young, almost, notice, die a happy man, and i just heard marry me for the first time yesterday but i kinda HIT so im gonna add that one

AJR IS FOR ME WHAT NOEL AKJFGKDMLKJ I CANT EVEN FINISH THAT THATS SOOOOOOO FUCKING FUNNY actually though i have to disagree i think AJR is to me what oasis was SUPPOSED to be to helen (a brief resurgence of love for a random band that dies down eventually) but then helen went manic and honestly so did i. however. never compare ajr to noel gallagher ever again on my turf alright fiancee great thank you

that is fair enough i know the production is like. it’s a very classic ajr song i think? in terms of the production so i get how it’s not to everyone’s taste BUT the lyrics.......yeah. anyway im always taking suggestions for playlists i will have to listen to this glory days song although i am pretty sure ive heard it before also that reminds me i should put i’m on fire on a playlist somewhere i am certain it would fit i just need to listen to it. probably on the. deep breath or. melancholy.

yeah yeah man no worries here’s the man go vibe check him

#this makes me realize how many thomas rhett songs i DONT know tho #like i only really know center point road #i need to listen to his other albums #bonus thomas rhett cos i fucking cant help myself: that old truck #you dont have to listen to that one #i just love him ok move on #i only follow i think two of calum's playlists #yeah one of em is nostalgia and the other is called like #my playlist. mine. no one else's.#and i only follow it cos i recognized some of the songs on there and i was like well fuck it whateva #fiancee anon #anonymous #ask #answered

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