#even if the 4 original members were more suited towards the song/ that’s too big of a change

[ayoyoungg]

The MFAL team on Fantasy Boys did surprisingly well!! Especially considering that they were setup for failure 🙃

#the setup of this semester literally didn’t make sense #having a 7 member group go to 6 is A LOT different than 4 members going to 7 #even if the 4 original members were more suited towards the song/ that’s too big of a change #like why did this group have to have an additional hurdle #and then we look at the group and it’s 3 rappers & 1 ok singer for MFAL #like first of all MFAL is NOT an easy song (dance-wise more than vocal although sm songs are usually high) #they only have 2 days for the interim check like yeah the group could’ve been more prepared #but they literally had the psychological hurdle of not being chosen + the song they were assigned didn’t suit them AT ALL #THEN the group literally gets the scraps from other groups #bruh thank god for Irang #also the way how I was clapping when beomjun addressed kaedan #like my god idk what storyline they want for kaedan but that kid did not want to be there (in kokobop or mfal) #he was seriously annoying me (I’m sorry but how are you trying to be an idol & don’t know exo) #these shows should have an age limit bcuz I really don’t get why a 13yo is here #like it’s so frustrating bcuz for many contestants these shows are their only chance for getting recognized -> #and then we have children taking up spots like… #side note: beomjun looks sooooo much like zelo #also I think hayato is kinda funny and I’m so curious if he like really is hard to work w/ or if it’s just how he’s being portrayed #I find this show doesn’t show enough of the practicing #like beomjun just seems to be very direct & w/ how the group pulled it together in the end I was impressed #hayato seemed to be fine w/ his parts in MFAL so do they only point him wanting more lines when it’s seen in a negative light? #you get what i mean #like this group was the unpopular/not so talented/ ‘hard to work with’ ppl and yet they put on an impressive perf + no team conflict #tbh I thought MFAL was better than kokobop AND energetic (I only liked duhyun & surprisingly gyurae in energetic/ maybe jaemin too I guess) #the setup of this show is even more wack than other survival shows cuz it really is just all about popularity #these shows become boring when you already know who’s gonna make the lineup #the members at the top always perform together #this is getting long but anyways I think MFAL team deserves more props #also I hope hayato & other foreign members talk about the show afterwards lololol like I’m so curious if hayato is actually a brat(?) or not #jt

[shewhoworshipscarlin]

Bert Williams

Bert Williams (November 12, 1874 – March 4, 1922) was a Bahamian-born American entertainer, one of the pre-eminent entertainers of the Vaudeville era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. He is credited as being the first black man to have the leading role in a film: Darktown Jubilee in 1914.[2]

He was by far the best-selling black recording artist before 1920. In 1918, the New York Dramatic Mirror called Williams "one of the great comedians of the world."

Williams was a key figure in the development of African-American entertainment. In an age when racial inequality and stereotyping were commonplace, he became the first black American to take a lead role on the Broadway stage, and did much to push back racial barriers during his three-decade-long career. Fellow vaudevillian W. C. Fields, who appeared in productions with Williams, described him as "the funniest man I ever saw—and the saddest man I ever knew."

Williams was born in Nassau, The Bahamas, on November 12, 1874, to Frederick Williams Jr. and his wife Julia. At the age of 11, Bert permanently emigrated with his parents, moving to Florida in the United States. The family soon moved to Riverside, California, where he graduated from Riverside High School in 1892. In 1893, while still a teenager, he joined different West Coast minstrel shows, including Martin and Selig's Mastodon Minstrels in San Francisco, where he first met his future professional partner, George Walker.

He and Walker performed song-and-dance numbers, comic dialogues and skits, and humorous songs. They fell into stereotypical vaudevillian roles: originally Williams portrayed a slick conniver, while Walker played the "dumb coon" victim of Williams' schemes. But they soon discovered that they got a better reaction by switching roles and subverting expectations. The sharp-featured and slender Walker eventually developed a persona as a strutting dandy, while the stocky Williams played the languorous oaf. Despite his thickset physique, Williams was a master of body language and physical "stage business." A New York Times reviewer wrote: "He holds a face for minutes at a time, seemingly, and when he alters it, bring[s] a laugh by the least movement."

In late 1896, the pair were added to The Gold Bug, a struggling musical. The show did not survive, but Williams & Walker got good reviews, and were able to secure higher profile bookings. They headlined the Koster and Bial's vaudeville house for 36 weeks in 1896–97, where their spirited version of the cakewalk helped popularize the dance. The pair performed in burnt-cork blackface, as was customary at the time, billing themselves as "Two Real Coons" to distinguish their act from the many white minstrels also performing in blackface. Williams also made his first recordings in 1896, but none are known to survive. They participated in a "Benefit for New York's Poor" held on February 9, 1897 at the Metropolitan Opera House, their only appearance at that theater.

While playing off the "coon" formula, Williams & Walker's act and demeanor subtly undermined it as well. Camille Forbes wrote, "They called into question the possible realness of blackface performers who only emphasized their artificiality by recourse to burnt cork; after all, Williams did not really need the burnt cork to be black," despite his lighter skin complexion. He would pull on a wig full of kinky hair in order to help conceal his wavy hair. Terry Waldo also noted the layered irony in their cakewalk routine, which presented them as mainstream blacks performing a dance in a way that lampooned whites who'd mocked a black dance that originally satirized plantation whites' ostentatiously fussy mannerisms. The pair also made sure to present themselves as immaculately groomed and classily dressed in their publicity photos, which were used for advertising and on the covers of sheet music promoting their songs. In this way, they drew a contrast between their real-life comportment and the comical characters they portrayed onstage. However, this aspect of their act was ambiguous enough that some black newspapers still criticized the duo for failing to uplift the dignity of their race.

In 1899, Williams surprised his partner George Walker and his family when he announced he had recently married Charlotte ("Lottie") Thompson, a singer with whom he had worked professionally, in a very private ceremony. Lottie was a widow eight years Bert's senior. Thus, the match seemed odd to some who knew the gregarious and constantly traveling Williams, but all who knew them considered them a uniquely happy couple, and the union lasted until his death. The Williamses never had children biologically, but they adopted and reared three of Lottie's nieces. They also frequently sheltered orphans and foster children in their homes.

Williams & Walker appeared in a succession of shows, including A Senegambian Carnival, A Lucky Coon, and The Policy Players. Their stars were on the ascent, but they still faced vivid reminders of the limits placed on them by white society. In August 1900, in New York City, hysterical rumors of a white detective having been shot by a black man erupted into an uncontained riot. Unaware of the street violence, Williams & Walker left their theater after a performance and parted ways. Williams headed off in a fortunate direction, but Walker was yanked from a streetcar by a white mob and was beaten.

The duo's international success established them as the most visible black performers in the world. They hoped to parlay this renown into a new, more elaborate and costly stage production, to be shown in the top-flight theaters. Williams and Walker's management team balked at the expense of this project, then sued the pair to prevent them from securing outside investors or representation. Filings in the suit revealed that each member of the team had earned approximately $120,000 from 1902 to 1904, or $3.5 million apiece in 2019 dollars. The lawsuit was unsuccessful, and Williams and Walker accepted an offer from Hammerstein's Victoria Theatre, the premiere vaudeville house in New York. A white Southern monologist objected to the integrated bill, but the show went ahead with Williams and Walker and without the objector.

In February 1906, Abyssinia, with a score co-written by Williams, premiered at the Majestic Theater. The show, which included live camels, was another smash. Aspects of the production continued the duo's cagey steps toward greater creative pride and freedom for black performers. The nation of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) was the only African nation to remain sovereign during European colonization, repelling Italy's attempts at control in 1896. The show also included inklings of a love story, something that had never been tolerated in a black stage production before. Walker played a Kansas tourist while his wife, Aida, portrayed an Abyssinian princess. A scene between the two of them, while comic, presented Walker as a nervous suitor.

While the show was praised, many white critics were uncomfortable or uncertain about its cast's ambitions. One critic declared that audiences "do not care to see their own ways copied when they can have the real thing better done by white people," while the New York Evening Post thought the score "is at times too elaborate for them and a return to the plantation melodies would be a great improvement upon the 'grand opera' type, for which they are not suited either by temperament or by education." The Chicago Tribune remarked, disapprovingly, "there is hardly a trace of negroism in the play." George Walker was unbowed, telling the Toledo Bee, "It's all rot, this slapstick bandanna handkerchief bladder in the face act, with which negro acting is associated. It ought to die out and we are trying to kill it." Though the flashier Walker rarely had qualms about opposing the racial prejudice and limitations of the day, the more introspective and brooding Williams internalized his feelings.

In 1908, while starring in the successful Broadway production Bandanna Land, Williams and Walker were asked to appear at a charity benefit by George M. Cohan. Walter C. Kelly, a prominent monologist, protested and encouraged the other acts to withdraw from the show rather than appear alongside black performers; only two of the acts joined Kelly's boycott.

Bandanna Land continued the duo's series of hits and introduced a tour de force sketch that soon Williams made famous: his pantomime poker game. In total silence, Williams acted out a hand of poker, with only his facial expressions and body language conveying the dealer's up-and-down emotions as he considered his hand, reacted to the unseen actions of his invisible opponents, and weighed the pros and cons of raising or calling the bet. It later became a standard routine in his solo stage act, and was recorded on film by Biograph Studios in 1916.

Walker was in ill health by this point due to syphilis, which was then incurable. In January 1909 he suffered a stroke onstage while singing, and was forced to drop out of Bandanna Land the following month. The famous pair never performed in public again, and Walker died less than two years later. Walker had been the businessman and public spokesman for the duo. His absence left Williams professionally adrift.

After 16 years as half of a duo, Williams needed to reestablish himself as a solo act. In May 1909 he returned to Hammerstein's Victoria Theater and the high-class vaudeville circuit. His new act consisted of several songs, comic monologues in dialect, and a concluding dance. He received top billing and a high salary, but the White Rats of America, an organization of vaudevillians opposed to encroachments from blacks and women, intimidated the theater managers into reducing Williams' billing. The brash Walker would have resisted such an insult to his star status, but the more reserved Williams did not protest. Allies were few; big-time vaudeville managers were fearful of attracting a disproportionate number of black audience members and thus allowed only one black act per bill. Due to his ethnicity, Williams typically was forced to travel, eat and lodge separately from the rest of his fellow performers, increasing his sense of isolation following the loss of Walker.

In 1910, Booker T. Washington wrote of Williams: "He has done more for our race than I have. He has smiled his way into people's hearts; I have been obliged to fight my way." Gene Buck, who had discovered W. C. Fields in vaudeville and hired him for the Follies, wrote to a friend on the occasion of Fields' death: "Next to Bert Williams, Bill [Fields] was the greatest comic that ever lived."

Williams' stage career lagged after his final Follies appearance in 1919. His name was enough to open a show, but they had shorter, less profitable runs. In December 1921, Under the Bamboo Tree opened, to middling results. Williams still got good reviews, but the show did not. Williams developed pneumonia, but did not want to miss performances, knowing that he was the only thing keeping an otherwise moribund musical alive at the box office. However, Williams also emotionally suffered from the racial politics of the era, and did not feel fully accepted. He experienced almost chronic depression in his later years, coupled with alcoholism and insomnia.

On February 27, 1922, Williams collapsed during a performance in Detroit, Michigan, which the audience initially thought was a comic bit. Helped to his dressing room, Williams quipped, "That's a nice way to die. They was laughing when I made my last exit." He returned to New York, but his health worsened. He died at his home, 2309 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, New York City on March 4, 1922 at the age of 47. Few had suspected that he was sick, and news of his death came as a public shock. More than 5,000 fans filed past his casket, and thousands more were turned away. A private service was held at the Masonic Lodge in Manhattan, where Williams broke his last barrier. He was the first black American to be so honored by the all-white Grand Lodge. When the Masons opened their doors for a public service, nearly 2,000 mourners of both races were admitted. Williams was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Williams

#historical #actor #vaudeville #black history month #comedian

[todaysbiggesthits]

The Exam

Best Music Moment of 2019

BC: Three straight hours of this

in my Chapman Ryder Cup match with Code  -The Robert M. Chennault Playlist in my Ryder Cup match with Laser  -Vampire Weekend's "M79" with Parks and Rec theme interlude in Pawnee Peytonville with my babe  -Late night music game with JD and Chaps this Fall  -My kids competing for best air guitar solo to Daft Punk's "Digital Love"  -The Stones soundtracking Raceday morning with Counterfeit Kenny and the Kennel Boys 

Codem: -Picking up the keys after closing on #our house and listening to Arden's dreams for the pad while listening to the songs that brought us together in the first place. -Perched in the balcony of Park West watching Chromatics live and in person. -The Chapman format playlist that Brendon and I put together.  It was just one song on repeat.  Xtal - Aphex Twin -Plugging in my klipsch's for the first time in the new house to listen to elliott smith on the day of his death. the sound of his discography wafting throughout the whole house was a true delight.

Bronco: My 6-year-old discovering Green Day.  My 9-year-old discovering Metallica.  Both discoveries have awakened something in them that is hilarious and awesome to behold.  And seeing Tool was pretty flaming awesome.

JD: March: Realizing I’d never heard this Stones song, nodding along to the opening riff, and exploding into my biggest laugh of the year at the first line.

June: The Joni Mitchell performance in the Rolling Thunder Review documentary on Netflix. June: Catching the Thom Yorke Anima short film at the IMAX theater on the Upper West Side. July: Code and I getting a perfect 99 score on the greatest rendition of “Emotional Rescue” karaoke you’ll ever see. October: Playing the music game WAY too deep into the night with BC and Chap (look for the next day’s hangover on my worst moments list).

Chap: Patrick Stickles singing "I'm sorry dad no I'm not making this up" to his dad in the audience.

Nasty: Listening to music at BOB. Nothing but jams that whole weekend. Driving in with Laser - GOOGLE MUSIC JAMS. Trip to the casino - JAMS. Hanging out on the deck - JAMS. Driving to the course with Blazer Black - Fuck Buttons - Sweet Love for Planet Earth aka JAMS. In the cart with Code - JAMS. Driving Chappy and Sfreddo to the rental car - JAMS (but quietly).

Larse: Greta Thunberg speech dubbed to metal

Best Shows Seent in 2019

Nasty: The Killers @ Summerfest. Hot Fuss will always be an all-time favorite album and Mr. Brightside is the best pop song of our lifetime, IMO. Also, my wife loves them which is about the only band in middle of the venn diagram. 

Larse: The Lonely Island at Summerfest

BC: Dead & Company

JD: 1. The Rapture at Music Hall of Williamsburg 2. Viagra Boys at Bowery Ballroom 3. The Strokes and Parkay Boys at the All Points East fest in London with drunk lads screaming along to the guitar parts 4. B Boys at Union Pool 5. Titus Andronicus at Bowery Ballroom 6. Avey Tare at Market Hotel 7. Tame Impala at MSG 8. Weeping Icon at Elsewhere 9. Priests at Elsewhere

Code: interpol - chicago theater illuminati hotties - hideout it looks sad - subT downstairs robyn - riviera steve malkmus - art institute eleventh dream day - hideout colleen green - sleeping village swearin' - lincoln hall surf curse - subT shura - the bottle

Chap: TA was the only show I saw. It was great!

Bronco: All of them.  They were each great in their own way.  Aside from Tool I was able to interact with the band members at each of the shows.  One I didn't have a ticket for and scored one at the door.  One was in the tiniest venue I've seen a show at.  One had a surprisingly entertaining opening act.  And Tool surprised me with how much I enjoyed an arena show despite being so far away I couldn't see the facial features of the band members.  And there was SOOOOOOO much weed being smoked in the Garden that night.  And I was with a few good buddies.  And I was able to sell my fourth ticket for twice what I paid, simulatenously covering me and my fourth friend who had to bail because his life sucks because his wife sucks. 

Confession of 2019

Nasty: I consume more music at my cushy, suburban OrangeTheory workout classes than in my own free time. S/O to Coach Vanessa for having some Girl Talk on her playlists. 

Codem: i had more fun listening to stuff that i already knew about than stuff that was coming out.

BC: I saw a Yacht Rock cover band and didn't hate it -I succumbed to social pressure and saw DMB -I didn't realize until the last minute that my favorite album was released in 2018 (Wild Nothing). Removing it greatly reduced my loyalty to my list.

Bronco: I'm losing my edge.  I enjoyed way more lady singer bands this year than in any other year.

Chap:  Couldn't get my shit together on the tracks list so just posted a random playlist

Larse: Not really a confession but more of a TIL (today I learned), but Raphael Saadiq was an original member of Tony! Toni! Tone!

Biggest Disappointment of 2019

Bin: The National @ Summerfest. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "the frontman was completely detached, even confessing at one point that he was excited to get back home to his family. The result was an incredibly depressing show — which, given the band's dour songs, is really saying something." ... Huge Bummer.

BC: Didn't see nearly enough shows with nearly enough of yous 

Chap: Sturgill Simpson... unlistenable!

Bronco: Baroness.

Laser: Modest Mouse opening for The Black Keys

Code: i was really messed up by dave berman's passing. i had tickets to see him play at the end of august. it was going to be my first catching him live and in concert. i had waited for this moment since i picked up american water back in 2003.  two weeks before he was supposed to come through town, he up and died.  also, much less of a bummer, the chromatics show in miami that Arden and i were going to attend got canceled two days before the show.

Most Overrated of 2019

Nasty: Kanye's shoes

Chap: LEGACY! LEGACY! – Jamila Woods seems to have been highly regarded? Not my thing

BC: FKA Twigs

Bronco: Baroness.

JD: Big Thief

Code: cancel culture

Larse: Mayor Pete

Make it Stop 2019

Chap: In my house, the Nutcracker Suite. It's great, until the 300th time that day.

Nasty: Cage the Elephant (but children, instead of elephant, and in real life, not the band)

BC: Lizzo 

Code: lizzo

JD: Memes

Larse: Trump

Bronco: News

Biggest TBH Regret of 2019

Chap: Can't seem to get to more than one show per year; Jessica Pratt in a church by my old place

JD: Missin’ dat Pratt yet Nick!

BC: Should've listened to the Kanye album.  Should've spent more time with the Deerhunter record.

Rotty: Skipping CHVRCHES at Summerfest

Code: another year with no fog party

Nasty: Not going to Indy 500. lol jk.

Bronco: I didn't buy tickets to a few shows I would've liked to have seen.  One of them I went to the venue and didn't get in.  That bummed me out, but I crossed the street and had a few beers by myself for good measure, so it wasn't a total loss.

Detective Murtaugh of 2019

JD: Everything.

Bronco: Shows that don't start until 10pm. That Girl Band show nearly wrecked me.

Chap: How much I loved Bruce Springsteen's adult contemporary western-themed old-man album.

BC: The ten seconds I lasted with 1000 GECS

Nasty: For the life of me - I cannot figure out how to operate the "play next" queue on these apps. 

Laser: Lizzo at Summerfest - lot of younglings running around; people were racist towards Lizzo's security guards, she vowed not to come back to MKE, one of the most segregated cities in America :(

Resolution for 2019 Status

Laser: — How It Went: Who can even remember this shit...I'm sure it was that I'd do better at keeping track or listen to more shit people suggest and I'm sure I failed.

BC: Listen to one new album a week; reboot the Classic Album Review Club How It Went:  Noooot toooo gooooood

Code: catch ovlov, pictureplane, washer, chromatics, EMA and colleen green live this year. How It Went: i saw chromatics and colleen green. last i checked .400 gets you into cooperstown.

JD: Greater consciousness of how I’m using my attention - an ineffectual and meaningless protest of the ways the world is burning down in pursuit of it. How It Went: Not bad! I especially nailed the “ineffectual and meaningless” part.

Chap: Learn Piano; Guilt Joe Dons into finally inviting me to a concert. How It Went: Learned some piano but got to busy for it... Couldn't guilt JD to invite me anywhere but I DID invite him to a show! The same one I went to! With him!

Bronco: Read more 'classic’ books. I didn’t read many of them, even in school (especially in school? Never could read a book I was told to read). But I’m leaning in the sci-fi direction of 'classics’. I just read Dune this summer, and wrapped up Fahrenheit 451 the other day. I’m feeling an unexplained need to beef up my nerd credentials and this seems the way to accomplish it. How It Went: Nope.  Fell back in to zombie-apocalypse genre series that I've been reading for a while. But I am currently reading arch-nerd Neal Stephenson's "Fall; or, Dodge in Hell". It's almost 900 pages, I feel like I've been reading for months now, and because I'm a stupidly slow reader, I read only before going to bed, and can only make it 10 minutes before falling asleep and hitting myself in the face with my phone, I'm only 25% of the way through. But man is it painting a creepy yet eerily plausible scene of the near future. Guy just knows how to write.

Nasty: Hope last year I was smart enough to leave this blank. (editor’s note: [removes shoes, pets cat, puts on slippers, retires to favorite easy chair, sips martini, slowly pulls reading glasses out of cardigan pocket, dusts them off, loads todaysbiggesthits.tumblr.com, scrolls to ‘Resolution for 2019’] “Nasty: I’m sticking with it - get to NY for a show with JD.”)

Resolution for 2020

BC: See Phish in 2020

Codem: i'm making it easier this year. catch ovlov, washer, EMA and colleen green live this year. bonus points: see dom's much anticipated return to the stage.

Bronco: Build a vinyl collection. I know I dumped on Brendon for suggesting he press copies of Carpet Affair, but my kid's getting way into music and listening to it on his own (via Alexa in my bedroom which is super fucking annoying), so we're getting him his own record player and I think it's going to be a cool activity to go record store diving for whatever classics we can scrounge up.

JD: Get to more shows. Take more aimless strolls spinning tunes.

Bin: Send an email about music on the TBH! thread. 

Larse: None

Chap: Eh I'm cool

Most Anticipated of 2020

Code: my man dom said that he is coming back to the world this year. i have to believe that he'll keep his word. i'm thinking 2020 is going to be the year for chromatics' Tommy.

Chap: TWOD, Perfume Genius, Jason Isbell

BC: Huey Lewis and the News, Tame Impala, Run the Jewels

Bronco: Kvelertak and Mastodon, maybe some surprise extra Tool material?

JD: Working Men’s Club

Nasty: Spotify getting Jay-Z's catalog back. 

[jungkookie-saranghae]

The Difference with GCF in Saipan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dFi8mStt2E

Okay I need to talk about this because something extremely interesting came up. I suggest watching the video first and if possible re-reading the Director’s review on GCFs too made by @thebangtankaijuu. The post will make more sense that way. I also would like to thank her for allowing me to quote her post ^^

This is essentially me thinking out loud. I am in no way saying I am right or anything. I just have some thoughts and would love to hear your thoughts as well. I have no problem whatsoever if someone disagrees with me or thinks I am wrong. No bother at all just say it in a respectful manner and we’re good fam.

So I have quoted the video and review here first and talk more towards the end. Let’s just point out a few things first.

At 4:42 Pd says “Jungkook chose a very different path to go with”. This would be in agreement with what our director friend (Dr) has said in his review. He noted that this was completely different than his other works and almost as if there are 2 stories. One he wanted to tell and one he ended up telling.

“It looks like this time he has omitted the story line and focused on the cinematography instead. This is in stark contrast to the previous video he posted.“  - Dr

“First of all, I don’t think this is the video that he originally intended to post. When I saw the preview he released I thought he would be continuing the narrative of his very first video (GCFt). This product is completely different. Looking at the preview, it seems like he had already finished the pre-final cut and was working on the post production, which is when he took the clip and shared it to the views, as a ‘teaser’. Naturally one would believe that the full video would be focused on the narrative he indicated in the preview, so I am quite surprised to see this result instead.” - Dr

He mentioned the significance of the cinematography rather than story line or narrative. I think most of us can agree there wasn’t very much story line, it was a well put together bunch of clips.

So we have 2 professionals telling us that this video is different. Okay.

Why?

1. The colour grading was off, which is his signature and what he knows how to do best.

2. It lacked narrative which all his other videos had and focused on the cinematography instead. Yet still there was an error in that.

“Now with Jungkook the thing I see most is he experiments a lot with colour grading” - Pd

And he indeed does, he said this in his V live. “Other than my colour grading I don’t have my unique thing.” - Jk

“and the colour grading here is a little all over the place, but it’s consistent” - Pd

“So it looks like Jungkook coloured it based on the sky and he wanted to make the sky look as rich and blue and beautiful as possible. But in doing so in certain lighting conditions it looks like he probably didn’t adjust the levels because in certain lighting conditions it either looks too blue ( mentions J-Hope’s car scene)……because if you look at the opening scene with V his skin is a little bit too pink but then when you move to Jimin it’s not that pink anymore”

Now let me fill in that ….. up there. Because I think this is it. This is how Jungkook speaks to us. Through his art.

Firstly I just want to say Jungkook is artistic. Extremely artistic, and not only that he’s shy too. Jungkook most definitely speaks through the medium of art (the Dr even mentioned this in Osaka I believe) and the predominant ones being cover songs and GCF. This is how he gets across his emotions. That is where some of the pushing and pulling comes from with GCF. Some Army’s say it’s just his hobby and to stop reading into it, and there are the others, not specifically just shippers, but they are included who believe Jungkook is trying to convey a message, After all if Jungkook just wanted to edit for fun why edit the way he did. In the comeback show he even said he edits to recharge himself. It’s how he relaxes, it’s his passion. And from watching the video you can clearly see how detail oriented he is. This is very important. Jungkook is no fool. But I digress.

I want you to read this next paragraph very carefully because I think he hit the nail on the head.

“…Jungkook’s colour grading was probably based on the shot with Jimin when he’s outside on the beach, that outside beach shot is much more over exposed it’s brighter so when you bring that colour scale inside the car (referencing Hobi’s scene) it’s a lot different it’s a lot bluer it’s like a harsher teal whereas when they are on the beach the colour looks the most clean, right so I think Jungkook probably graded only one scene and then applied it to the entire sequence. Because if you look at the opening scene with V his skin is a little too pink then when you move to Jimin it’s not that pink anymore you still see slight hints of it.” - Pd

So the colour grading was already decided for the scenes based on Jimin. If he had edited the video with all members first don’t you think he would have made sure that the colur grading suited the whole video and not just Jimins scenes? Is this just another coinsidence? How many are we on now? Four million and twelve? Riiiight. Anyway.

“But given how quickly he busted this out I feel like it was a choice, a deliberate choice he probably didn’t have time to go to each individual different coloured clips and then colour graded accordingly because that would take a lot more time I don’t know exactly what his thought process was but when it comes to editing everything is done with a purpose so I’m sure he noticed that V was way too pink, that in certain scenes the colour grading is off , but in his mind there was some sort of trade off he had to make and I am interested to see what that exactly is.”

I am so shocked with this. Okay so we, the producer and the director thought that Jungkook had made a video just for Jimin like GCFt and it was done and finished. That is why he teased the GCFs clip. It makes complete sense for many reasons. Jimin had the whole first verse and pre-chours in that teaser which would just throw the whole video off if included all members. 27 seconds of one member in an OT7 video? With no b roll seen and no other shots than Jimin? It just doesn’t make sense. Out director friends goes into details about why he thought it would have been a Jimin centric video just like, if not a continuation of GCFt.

I believe Jungkook shot edited and finalized a GCF in Saipan for Jimin. I do. I believe he edited it to make the sky strikingly blue as the majority of the film would have been Jimin by the sea with the sky in the background.

However, for some reason after teasing Jimin in Saipan he puts out GCF in USA…odd timing I have to say and then not too long after posts Saipan.

Now what are we to make of this?

I have 2 reasons. 1. No tinfoil ver 2. Tinfoil ver

1) No tinfoil

Jungkook had not finished editing Saipan. He teased it because Namjoon had asked him on Twitter about that exact moment as he had a video and Jungkook just posted a clip of that moment that Namjoon was referring to.

Jungkook then just felt like putting out a more OT7 GCF maybe as a present to his hyungs or was in the mood. He couldn’t release GCFs yet because it had not come out. So he gave us this to pass the time. Or he just felt like putting it out no big deal. The package was then released and he saw it as a good opportunity to make another OT7 centric vid. Simple.

But things are rarely so simple in life.

Hell it’s never simple!

Now here is a *warning* the next segment is 100% tinfoil. It is my own personal opinion and if you disagree with some or all of it I have no problem whatsoever just tell me in a nice and respectful manner please because I genuinely love to hear different sides to things. We good? okay let’s continue…

2) Tinfoil

Jimin and Jungkook’s black and white performance was taken down and they were more than probably told the behind the scenes would not be shown. Essentially their work is gone. Namjoon also knows this so posts a vid of Jimin and Jungkook innocently playing as a small form of solidarity for them or a little nod to them. The behind the scenes were coming out at that time.

Jungkook then says a big fuck you to Bighit and posts the teaser of Jimin for nearly 30s of a 2 and a half minute video laughing his ass off and Jimin thrusting and shaking his booty.

Now I ADORE Tae. I am not an anti let me make that crystal clear.  I adore Kim Taehyung. I do find it odd though that once that was posted Tae flooded and I mean flooded the timeline with videos and pics for the next 2 days almost as if trying to push the teaser down the timeline. You cannot deny the fact that we got spammed fam. And coincidentally juuuuust after Jk posts that clip.

I think some staff thought it may have been too much, and may and I say may not for definite but maaaaaay have told Jungkook to release something non Jimin centric to calm it down and then release the same vid but with the other members to dilute the seriousness of that video.

I don’t think you understand. That song. THAT SONG. If Jungkook had posted a GCF in Saipan with JUST Jimin, there would not be any questioning anymore. He got away with it being a clip and throwing in b-roll like Dr mentioned.

The Dr even said he did not intend to put out USA and Pd said that Saipan was rushed due the colour grading.

“Now I cannot judge his character for certain, but all of his videos up until now have shown me that he is someone who narrates his story to the truest form. The production of the third video indicates that he may have half-assed it. Despite the 70/20 focus I mentioned, he did not want to put this out. I’m thinking he had this prepared beforehand and released it now for some reason. Comparatively, the first video remains, to me, his strongest narrative. He wanted to show that film to the world. The second one could also be said the same, more or less, but he was clearly happier then than now.” - Dr USA

“But given how quickly he busted this out I feel like it was a choice, a deliberate choice he probably didn’t have time to go to each individual different coloured clips and then colour graded accordingly because that would take a lot more time I don’t know exactly what his thought process was but when it comes to editing everything is done with a purpose so I’m sure he noticed that V was way too pink, that in certain scenes the colour grading is off , but in his mind there was some sort of trade off he had to make and I am interested to see what that exactly is.”  - Pd

So we have an expert saying USA did not want to be put out and 2 experts saying Saipan was rushed. This really fits with the covering up a mistake theory.

And you might ask what is the big deal? It was just a clip its not outting anyone. But you see we don’t officially know if they’re together. When you know or you believe that 2 ppl are together you notice things. Damn you notice everything and just go “OMG could they NOT BE SO LOUD LIKE AHHH glass closet approach much?”. But to others they don’t see any of that. Like, at all.

This teaser however was flat out dangerous. I have seen Taekook stans being converted and that was because of the edited version of GCFs. Imagine a whole video of Jimin with THAT SONG!!! GO AND RE READ THOSE LYRICS RIGHT NOW THAT IS AS BLATANT AS YOU CAN GET.

So it is my opinion that as a mini revenge or more likely a substitute for Black or White not being released Jungkook released a teaser to a Jimin centric GCF in Saipan he had already finished.

This was much more dangerous than he expected and he was told to put out something to calm the waters and then edit that particular video to dilute the situation and cover his tracks. That matches up with Dr and Pd comments also.

And in this video in order to get across what he wanted to say he left the colour grading matching Jimin. He left is signature matching Jimin  to let us know in his own way this is not the video I wanted to make, look closely thiiiis one is. By allowing Tae’s skin to be pink and Hobi to be too magenta he is indirectly telling us that these clips don’t belong in this video. These people don’t. It is really for Jimin.

Now you might ask “well what about Namjoon and Hobi at the end? The colour grading was fine for them? What’s that mean then?” Well firstly it’s midday so the lighting is perfect but also because Jimin was in that scene too. Evey scene that Jimin was in was coloured perfectly to match. Namjoon and Hobi just happened to be colour graded right because of the sun and the fact it was the same place as Jimin.

Jeon Jungkook is using his skills in editing and in particular colour grading to let us know he had intended a video for Jimin like GCF on Tokyo. He is so intelligent wow.

#jikook #kookmin #gcf in saipan #jeon jungkook #park jimin

[rqs902]

i didnt bother with posting about ep 9 of ‘all for one’ but here we are on the last ep lol...

ok but ep 9 was literally just a big karaoke fest / fan meeting so nothing really stood out to me.... 

im starting this note halfway thru the ep after seeing huang zhibo’s line in pinlin’s group’s performance bc he did so well im so proud!!!!!!!! omgosh his stage presence has improved!! mainly this is all i wanted to say bc i actually really like zhibo even tho he didnt get much time to shine throughout this show :c ok even tho they had to color his hair for half his line, for the ending they didnt and just filtered the whole screen (thankfully) bc he really looks so nice here ahhhh 

omg he also got a random closeup later!!

omg i literally rewinded and replayed this one part so many times to watch zhibo.... i really like his dancing!!! 

ok but objectively pinlin’s group killed it, compared with the other 2 groups LOL

but ok i guess i should say something about what’s happened so far.... poor naicha’s group always gets stuck with doing a stage thats like 10x harder than all the other groups.... lol so is anyone actually surprised with the results from the first round?? is anyone gonna explain what happened to half of the members of he yifan’s group? lol.........

i think aj’s group did really well! their song really suited them and did feel very 潮 lol i think huadi KILLED IT and aj’s smile is always a highlight of their stages. i think ill always feel like i wish jojo had a bigger role in their perfs but it is what it is. i really liked their song

for new storm to be performing uniq’s monster feels so weird..... like the entire show is/was basically a whole big yuehua promotional strategy lol 

I CANT LISTEN TO THIS SONG WITHOUT HEARING CHEN TAO’S WENHAN “GWI ZE” IN MY HEAD HAHAHAHAHHAA

ok im sorry hong weizhe but wenhan started the song better LOL ;;; but also i love zongying and hes adorable but i think he messed up on stage and also his stage presence still needs some work.... why does it just look like hes glaring LOL yang bingzhuo is pulling off the short hair well! why is yixuan bald yanxiu singing his heart out!! and haolian’s smile aw haolian is really just a tall baby lol 

tuo xian mu ou.............. im crying........ their performance was so..... thoughtful. goodness even with a performance with minimal choreography, naicha designed every aspect of it with care. he always brings out the best qualities of each member through their performances and that is truly admirable. gao xin starting and ending the song, mu sen’s voice!! and guanguan’s, especially the line they sing together wow, zhang peng is beautiful and i need more of his voice too, zirui singing his heart out, long-ge’s dancing that brings people to tears, chen shun’s rap that cant be replicated, the little montage at the end, and naicha mentioned the formation at long-ge’s center part matching from their first performance and also their star levels matching from their original first grading -- bringing him back to being the only class leader with just 4 stars..... the fact that theyre all crying and hugging and selina and fei are crying im--- ahhhh gao xin and zheng peng’s friendship im truly ahhhhhh 

im sure they knew going into the last round that it would be highly unlikely that they would win... but i think they really showed us that they deserved to. 

ugh this ending song again feels biased toward new storm lol just like alllll the editing lol. i really like yanxiu’s voice! GAO XIN ZHANG PENG FRIENDSHIP AHHH omg yunlong holding a haoyu sign is the cutest thing!!

lol the fact that pinlin is in that new soy milk commercial im laUGHING theres really no doubt that he’ll make it still lol

naicha’s speech at the end was short but he stated facts. they lost the competition but they didnt lose face. tuo xian mu ou had the best stages 

poor aj.... never got to win first place this entire show........ and then he doesnt get to talk at the end?? ?lol

wow new storm won wow much surprise wow i definitely wasnt expecting this at all wow 

i feel like the whole concept of “popular class” is such a cop-out move LOL feels bad for the members of new storm who arent popular and probs arent gonna get treated like winners even tho they won.......... im concerned for yanxiu

i bet none of them actually even wanna be in “popular class” bc it totally ties them down / separates them from their actual classes... this is literally just to satisfy angry pinlin istg 

oh and theyre gonna go from 7 up? am i suddenly watching idol producer??? ooo chen shun!!! recognizing talent! naicha crying for him!!! and the fact that gao xin’s tall body jumped up as soon as she said tuo xian mu ou... awwww and he prob knew it wouldnt be himself but he was so happy for his team members c: gao xin is a giant softie 

at least since new storm had so many popular kids, that leaves a couple of spaces open in “popular class” lol 

lol i almost forgot about wang di oops now that im thinking about the kids who lost... why didnt they invite back the other teams?? like wait what about like yati and boxuan and ziyue -- i thought they liked them?? i mean i get they got eliminated halfway thru the show but still.... i feel like they were memorable / contributed a lot to this show

can we talk about haoyu running over to comfort huadi!!?!? ahhh 

yea about the whole “i dont think they even want to be in popular class”  -- literally i feel like huadi and aj and naicha are crying when they go on stage because they had to leave their original class behind....... 

im crying watching long-ge gesturing for a crying naicha to go on without them....

ok my tears havent even dried yet but im laughing at them trying to make it so suspenseful who got first place......... ITS PINLIN NO ONE IS DOUBTING THAT ITS PINLIN EVERYONE KNOWS ITS PINLIN OK THANKS

wow look at pinlin literally getting 3x the number of votes as yangtong at #2..... wow 

also just looking at yangtong, aj, and huadi’s rankings it makes sense why yoyo class was consistently like second place lol

haoyu and huadi coming out to welcome pinlin first is...... the most......... ahhhhh

and ofc they pan to his class -- aka look at yunlong’s proud smile and zhibo going from happy to sad in like 30 seconds

wow we really going for #8 and #9 at the same time? are you sure im not watching qcyn? 

OH MY GOODNESS ZHIBO AGAINST LONG GE????? ZHIBO IS POPULAR???? HAHAHAHHAHA OMG WHATTTT ok i expected long-ge and long-ge def deserves it but omg i didnt realize zhibo was popular lol omg yuehua owns this show istg

i feel like long-ge will win.... but also i feel like long-ge doesnt want to win........ i totally see him as someone who would prefer to go off on his own and not be tied down by this show any longer... but also chen shun and naicha are like his best buds on this show so at least he’d have them.... zhibo i feel like would need / want this win more.. because i think he’d have a lot more to show us that he hasnt gotten to yet / may not have the chance to if he just goes back to yuehua. 

pinlin and yixuan and all the yuehua kids running off stage to comfort zhibo....... yall couldnt get your fans to vote for zhibo i guess.......... well we all know that if he yifan hadnt dropped out, he’d be in top 8 and therefore not long-ge so.... thats just something to keep in mind :\ tbh feels bad for guanguan (and jojo) bc he was on zui you xiu with chen shun and long-ge... but i think guanguan didnt get to demonstrate himself as much as they did on this show... even tho naicha tried his best (and succeeded in doing so more than any other leader) to highlight each of their strengths

lol the way they announce the two groups its like “new storm!” and then a huge long list of names for popular class -- like hmm i wonder which one is the actual winners......

i keep getting scared that yixuans gonna hit haolian in the face with that giant thing lol

HAHAHAHA the ending is just pinlin doing 99999 last minute cfs for their sponsors 

hmmm so how do i feel about the popular class -- theyre gonna be called Black ACE? oh ok lol isnt it kinda funny that 4 of them were in “trigger” from the very beginning together? (just like how 4 of the yuehua kids are in New storm...) interesting how things kinda were set from the beginning lol. i honestly feel like pinlin, wang di and yang tong kinda stick out to me in this group, but i wonder what this mix of what feels like is “yoyo and tuo xian plus 2” will turn out. 

well now i guess its time to watch out for these two groups and also keep an eye out for guanguan, zhibo, mu sen, gao xin, zhang peng, and jojo to see what they get to do next!

#rants #well that show is over now #phew #no more injuries LOL #that was the most upsetting thing about this show tbh #but i think at least the winners made sense and i could respect and understand why tehy won #cough i dont think ill be able to say the same thing for qcyn cough #this unexpectedly turned into a zhibo appreciation post but im just so proud of him ok #man after finding out ye ziming was also on zui you xiu i feel like i should watch that show LOL..... for jojo chenshun longge guanguan too #WAIT BOXUAN WAS ON THIS SHOW TOO????!! WTFFFF UGH I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO WATCH IT I ALREADY KNOW 6 PPL ON THE BOYS TEAM

[an-angels-blessing]

Dream Catcher

Song🐣🎵- The Wolf And The Sheep Artist🤸‍♂️🎤- Alec Benjamin Warnings😳⛔- Slight angst, anger, fluff Prompt🥺🔥- N/A

The twenty students sat in their seats, simply staring at the adults standing at the front of the class beside their teacher. Behind the desk stood a man of average height with dark circles under his eyes and a scarf wrapped around his neck, despite the fact that it was still summer. On the right of him stood a tall man with red hair and fire blazing from his suit. Next to him stood a smaller male with vermillion wings, a woman with large bunny ears leaned on the man's shoulder in a playful manner. Lastly, the youngest of the adults sat on top of the desk, she was a dark complexion with a large afro and a bodysuit with a mix of garnet and black. To complete the look, she wore large rectangular glasses that covered the entirety of her eyes. (I just made her Garnet, didn’t quite feel like creating a whole new costume.) A small smile could be seen on the youngest face, while a smirk was clear on the shortest and his friend.

The first to break the silence was the teacher of the class. “So today we will be welcoming the top 4 heroes who took time out of their days to come talk to you about how they became heroes. Today we will have Hawks, Endeavor, Miriko, and Dream Catcher.” His voice was monotone and void of any emotion, but he still managed to keep the attention of his entire class as he motioned towards the heroes that stood beside him. “We will be starting from the youngest, Dream Catcher who is only 19.” His next sentence pulled everyone’s attention to the hero that sat on the desk. “Thank you Shota. Hi 1-A. '' Her voice was high and almost didn’t match her look. The entire class spoke in unison, responding to her greeting. “Hello Dream Catcher '' It was so well done that Dream Catcher questioned if this had been practiced before or were they always this creepy. Nonetheless she stood from the desk and began walking around the students desks, touching a few that were familiar. “God, I remember sitting in those exact same seats 3 years ago. It’s crazy how time flies. But, I guess I’m not really here to talk about you guys am I. So, who here knows my real name?” The hero did an entire lap, not oblivious to the stares coming from almost all of the male students, before sitting on the floor in front of the desk she was just seated on.

The first to raise their hand was Mineta, though a few other hands were close behind. “Alora Truman.” His voice was nasally and held a lot more than adoration. “You are correct, I know most heroes don’t disclose their real name for safety reasons, but knowing a hero’s name only means something if they have something to protect or hide, and well… I don’t. So, what else do you guys know about me?” Through the entire conversation the smile on Alora's face never faltered in any way. Deku was the only one to raise his hand, Alora wasn’t a spotlight hero, despite being in the top 5, so this wasn’t surprising. She was as well known as Aizaiwa. “Yes Deku?” The green haired boy's face quickly turned crimson, “Y-you know my name?” This made Alora giggle slightly. “Of course I do, you remind me a lot of myself. But, what’s your response?”

This set the boy back on track, leading to an unneeded monologue. “Your name is Alora Truman, you are 19 and born out of the US. You randomly started appearing in the news headlines shortly after the beginning of the school year. Your quirk is Dream control, it allows you to get into the mind of anyone you want, allowing you to see their thoughts as well as control them. You can also tell the future. Your hero name is Dream Catcher, originating from your name which means faith in my dream.” The boy continued to stammer about useless facts even Alora had forgotten about. “ Thank you Deku, I guess there is a lot of information on me after coming to Japan, how about I tell you a story about this… girl I met in America. She is the reason I am a hero today. Her name is Jenny, and she was cursed with a deaging quirk.” The room fell silent, ready to listen to whatever Alora had to tell them, she was going to run over her designated time but no one was going to interfere, it seemed… important.

“Everybody has to get older, even Jenny. She's just nineteen, young and naive.” When she started speaking, she sounded as though this story was about more than just a ‘girl’ she met. “ She wants to find a way to be endless. Fight the science, in defiance, and be timeless” This line brought the other heroes truly into what she was saying, it wasn’t rare for quirks to not work how people intended, I mean look at Deku and Eri. Yet, this seemed almost villainy. “Silly little girl who tried to live forever. Gave away her soul to buy a bit of pleasure, oh the bitter pleasure.” She was almost talking in riddles, her words were clear yet there was a message hidden within each word. “Wicked little boy who tried to steal her treasure, for the bitter pleasure. Now they're cursed forever.” Her head was now tilted to the ground as she continued to speak, yet… true to her character, there was still a smile on her face. All Might would have loved to meet her, yet she is rarely seen in public.

Her words were no longer riddles, it was like talking to a child. Trying to explain things in a simpler manner while not saying too much to scare them. “And if you could see the look in her eyes. You know the term a wolf in sheep's clothing? Well, the wolf wore the sheep. As a perfect disguise” Nursery rhymes, everytime Alora was beginning to make sense she would throw something else into the mix. “She can't believe that she fell for his lies. He promised forever, but she never knew the price.” The entire class was confused, and I bet that if Alora was to look back, the pro heros were just as confused. Yet, no one had the confidence to question, almost no one. There was one hand raised out of the 20 students that sat before her. “Yes Sero?” The hero in training cellophane wasn’t one to participate in class, but I guess this also wasn’t a normal class. “He promised forever? What does that mean?” She hesitated for a moment, and during that period the residential idiot of class 1-A spoke up. “But how would she not know the price” Kaminari wasn’t trying to be rude but a lot just wasn’t making sense. “Don’t be rude, Kaminari. Continue Ms. Truman.” The class president spoke loudly and swiftly to not disturb the class for too long. His politeness made her reminisce to a simpler time, “No need for the prefix Iida, I know Tensei, Just call me Alora.” She lifted her head slightly so the class could see just how sincere her smile was. “But here, I’ll re-explain. He promised forever, but I never knew the price.” Her words caught everyone off guard, instead of going into more detail like everyone thought she would, all she did was change the noun… the story was no longer about a girl named Jenny.

With one word change the entire story became about Alora. And this confused everyone.  “Wait… what?” Almost everyone spoke simultaneously, this changed everything they knew.  “You?” How could it be so, she said Jenny… a girl from America… who was nineteen… the pieces were all there, but who would think to connect the dots.  “As I got a little bit older. Look at Jenny, now I’m ninety. Still look nineteen” It was physically impossible, it should be… but with today’s age and the development of quirks… you never know. Yet again, she isn’t from this day and age, so just what is her quirk… or quirks. “And all I know to do is surviving, staying alive and now I’m crying. 'Cause I’m not dying” Alora took out a hidden knife and slashed her throat, all the students closed their eyes, afraid to see the now dead hero sitting on their classroom floor. “You can open your eyes.” To their surprise the hero still sat on the floor, no blood, no wound, but the knife still present in her hand.

Another failed attempt at suicide, she knew it wouldn’t work, but she was hopeful anyway. Alora’s voice lowered, she was less talking to the class and more talking to herself… wondering just where everything went wrong.“Silly little girl who tried to live forever.” Somehow the story still managed to amaze not only a few of the members of 1-A, but a few teachers as well. “But how? It’s impossible.” The winged hero, Hawks, asked his best friend silently, to no reply he stopped asking… at least out loud. “Gave away my soul to buy a bit of pleasure. Wicked little boy who tried to steal my treasure, for bitter pleasure. Now we're cursed forever, cursed together” Tears started streaming down the hero's face, the streaks could be seen coming from under her glasses. “And if you could see the look in my eyes. The wolf wore the sheep as a perfect disguise. And I can't believe that I fell for his lies.” Alora hadn’t had a true friend in over 70 years… too afraid, they would die in the end… so why grieve. This made her life easier, but it also made it very lonely.

Her next action was unintentional, she continued to repeat the line again and again. Each time lower than the last, drowning out her own voice like a microphone. “He promised forever, but I never knew the price. He promised forever, but I never knew the price. He promised forever, but I never knew the price.” She was replaying the incident over… and over… and over… and over again to see that if she wasn’t so naive then she wouldn’t have ended up in this mess.

“I lost my life because of men like Endeavor. Men that want all the power for themselves, why? Because they can. He is going to come up here and give this big speech about how he was born for greatness. The day his quirk manifested he knew what he ‘had’ to do. And Todoroki… I am so sorry. I saw your past and your future, well… I saw all of yours. And I will say that you will all become amazing heroes.” With this Alora took off her glasses, revealing that she had three eyes. “This… is what I am. And you should never be afraid to show people that you are strong because of what makes you different. Your scars, your bark, your blind trust.” Tears continued to roll down her cheeks as she addressed the future heroes.

The hero didn’t stand up, but her tone was enough to know that she was serious. “Izuku Midoriya. Front and center.” The shy boy was hesitant to stand up, it’s not like the girl could punish him but there was something terrifying about this woman. It could be the story, because now there was no telling if the information on her was true or false. The boy was now standing in front of the not so young hero, terror in his eyes. “Let me see your notebook, the one Bakugou destroyed.” Her voice was calm and soothing, she wasn’t demanding… yet with that tone you couldn’t come up with a reason to reject her anyway. So it didn’t take long for him to go back to his seat and grab the burnt notebook from the inside of his desk. “Um.. H-here Ms.” He reached out the notebook directly in front of her face because of the awkward angle. As she flipped through the pages, she could see the short descriptions of his middle school classmates. Yet, as she flipped through they got less and less descriptive. Until she turned to the page about heroes, the first one was Kami Woods and it went all the way to Aizawa. The information included not only their weaknesses, but ways to make them stronger as well. What shocked her was the last pages of the book, it was all information on her. The pages included different questions and this put an honest smile on her face. All she could do was look at the boy, and laugh. “It’s funny, if you took a different road on that day. You would have run right into Shigaraki, your future could have been very different.” She spoke slowly as she stood up, now towering over the small boy. She placed a chaste kiss on his forehead, showing the boy not only her past but also the information he had incorrect about other heroes. All the boy could do was be amazed, there were 24 other people in the room yet she chose to tell him. “I’ll let someone else go, but if any of you ever need anything. My agency is always open to students.” With that the hero not only left the room but the school as well.

Deku waited to hear something on Alora, but she wasn’t a spotlight hero so it was rare. But with the increasing amount of villains on the street, even the heroes in the shadows were receiving their 15 minutes of fame from the media. Yet, it was almost as though she disappeared. And she had, after seeing class 1-A’s past, she had been reunited with the man that ruined her life, Kai Chesaki.

Masterlist

#1-A #My hero academia #Song stories #1 A Students

[justkpopstuffinmyhead]

G-Dragon - Vibrant colors ♥ [Part 2]

Member: Big Bang’s G-Dragon

Pairing: Idol!GD & You [ColorblindSoulmate!AU]

Genre: Fluff probably. Some smut and angst later on

Warnings: This is really unrealistic, but i just saw him live and I want to write stuff with him ♥

Words: 2,089

Summary: Seeing your idol at the concert was more than amazing. Especially when it turns out he’s your soulmate.

Part 1, Part 2

“Where are you?”

His voice rings through the entire hall and you look at your best friend. “Y/N. Please” You sigh, remembering how someone pulled your hair when you first met him. “SHE’S HERE!” Your friend screams and you look at her angrily. The others are looking at you and you friend and Jiyong walks down the steps of the stage and into the security area. “Where?” You can’t see him anymore, but his voice rings through the arena thanks to the mic. “Here!”Your friend screams once more and suddenly, the red haired man is in front of you. “You told me you don’t have tickets.”

He’s out of breath and you smile at him. “I wanted to surprise you. Well not like that, but I wanted to surprise you when you would come down for Untitled.”You pout and he just wraps his arms around you, the two of you still separated by the metal. “God I missed you so much.” His voice is only a whisper, something you missed hearing. “Let me get you out of there.” He says, reaching for your hips and lifting you over the barricades. “Bring her backstage!” He instructs and you turn back to your best friend who waves you off, smiling. You stumble backstage, feeling all eyes on you until you disappear backstage. You watch the man, who colored your world in, perform on stage, engaging with the crowd, singing and rapping all those songs that you usually bob your head to in the car. When the first video starts – Jiyong talking about his new album and the progress of making it, he rushes backstage and presses you against the next best wall, his lips pressed onto yours – your first kiss much less romantic than you expected it to be, but still perfect  in its own way - , his hands touching the back of your thighs as he lifts you up. “I missed you so goddamn much. I couldn’t even remember the sound of your voice when it’s not through a telephone.” He whispers as he kisses your jawline, his lips soft and loving. It doesn’t feel rushed because you two are made for each other. Like a puzzle piece that fits perfectly into its counterpart. “I know, I did as well, but you need to change and go back up.” The video is already halfway through so you kiss him once more and push him back towards his changing room to change his costume. He kisses you one last time before going up on the stage again. He next performs R.O.D and then grabs the microphone for an unexpected talk. “I think all of you noticed that I took a girl out of the crowd at the beginning of this concert. I didn’t know that she would be here. She told me that she wouldn’t but I knew something was wrong when I felt something pull on my hair – well, not mine but hers. She’s the reason I can see your beautiful yellow lightsticks you all are holding and know that my hair is currently red and not a weird shade between grey and black. I guess all of you have realized by now that she is my soulmate.” He steps back, giving the crowd some time to react. Most people shout, happy for him, but you can hear some people booing. “I actually met her in this exact arena, one year ago. When I was walking past the crowd, touching people’s hands, taking selfies, I touched hers and suddenly my world lit up. We haven’t been able to meet each other ever since then.” He sighs and you hear people cheering and booing again. Jiyong is hesitant. “I can hear people booing here, unhappy with me having found my soulmate.” He swallows and looks over to you, smiling softly. “I can’t do anything against this and I don’t want to. I don’t want to lose her. I love her.” The crowd erupts in cheers and drowns the boos.

The rest of the concert goes smoothly and when it’s time for everyone to leave you make your way back to your friends and tell them to stay behind if they can. “I have a gift for you.” You previously agreed with Jiyong that your friends can stay behind and you can all just chat a bit and have a good evening. The crowd leaves and when it’s only you, your best friend and those 5 girls left, you tell them to follow you and you make your way backstage until you are stopped by one of the dancers that was there last year – Kim Jae Chung. “Y/N!” He’s one of the few dancers that are fluent in English and last year, he was with you backstage when GD wasn’t. The two of you had exchanged phone numbers and now he walks over and hugs you tightly. “How are you doing?!” He exclaims, ignoring your friends. “Good. I`m just on my way to Jiyong.” You smile and he hugs you once more, whispering in your ear. “That’s good. It’s time. He has been terribly annoying.” You smile and see Jiyong standing behind the half naked dancer. “Jae Chung, what are you doing?” Jiyong whispers deadly and you just walk over and put your hand on his chest, immediately drawing his attention on to you. “We were talking. He just said hi and bye.” You say and point to your friends. “You remember Michelle. And the others are the people I told you about.” He introduces himself personally to everyone and hugs Michelle before quickly walking back to your side, his arm wrapped around your waist. “Let’s get you guys to my changing room. It’s quite comfortable and we can get some food.” He looks at you in a way that says “I know you didn’t eat a lot today.” And you just follow him, sitting down on the couch with Anna to your right and Michelle to your left. Jiyong sits down in a chair across from you and checks his phone. “Does everyone like Pizza?” You all agree and tell him what kind of Pizza you want and then he orders it, saying that he’ll pay for it. You look at him in disagreement. “I can pay for my food. I don’t need you to do that.” He had been walking back and forth while talking to the restaurant and now crouches down in front of you to kiss you softly, making the girls squeal. “But I want to pay. I want to buy you dinner and breakfast and lunch and spoil you.” He smiles at you and your brush through his red mullet. “Take that thing off or I’ll cut it.” You say smiling and he laughs at your reaction since you sound affectionate but he knows that you mean it. He stands up and just removes the mullet – much to the surprise of everyone but you. “They are extensions. They weren’t in the beginning but Y/N said that she didn’t like it but said that I should keep it if I like it.  I cut it two days later and got extensions, since it suited the concept of the concert.” He explains and sits back down in the chair. The others start talking to him and you just lean back, watching him smile and laugh with you new found friends. When the pizza arrives you all dig in and feel his eyes on you, watching you eat, making sure you eat enough.  “And you haven’t seen Y/N ever since the last concert?” A friend asks and you watch Jiyong nod carefully. “Unfortunately, but I plan on changing that now.” He looks at you, a soft smile on his lips. The 8 of you chat for another two or three hours until your friends return to their hotel. “Is it okay for you if Y/N stays with me?” Jiyong looks at Michelle for approval and she smiles, nodding her head. “I expected that.” He hugs her once and promises to drop her off at her hotel, which the two of you do just a bit later. You go up to grab some clothes and your bag with your toothbrush. “Is it really okay?” You ask Michelle. “If not, I’ll stay. It’s fine.” She shakes her head. “It’s fine. Just remember that we need to go back tomorrow. The train leaves at 4 pm” You nod and hug her tight. “I love you and I don’t deserve you. I hope you know that.” She giggles. “I hope you remember that next time you want to take the last piece of pizza.” You nod and hug her once more, running down towards the black van and jumping into it, being greeted by a sleepy Jiyong. “Today was quite busy for you, wasn’t it?” He nods and pulls you into the place next to him. “Thank you for being there tonight.” He mumbles and leans onto you as you watch the city lights rush by your windows. When you arrive at the hotel, you wake him carefully and take the elevator up to a luxurious suite. “How long can you stay?” You look at him as he removes his shirt, blushing furiously, hiding your face. “The train leaves at 4pm at the main station.” You explain and he nods. “I’ll take the car back to your house. We’ll meet there, okay?” You heard his footsteps walking over to you he’s right in front of you in all of his shirtless glory, making you blush a deep shade of red. “Or do you want me to come next week as we said?” You shake your head and look up at his face. “Of course you can come tomorrow. It’s just. The apartment is a bit. . messy.” You had to leave in a rush for the concert and didn’t have time to clean up. He shrugs and hugs you tight. “As long as I’m with you.” He let’s go of you and offers you one of his t-shirts – saying peaceminusone on the chest – something you originally wanted to buy but then you saw the price of the items and quickly decided not to. You never told him and thankfully he never brought up the topic. “I can sleep in my clothes. I don’t think it’s. .  appropriate to sleep In that shirt.” You say, smiling until you see the hurt on his face. “Why?” You look at the piece of clothing in his hand. “Because it’s too expensive to sleep in it.” You explain matter-of-fact. He immediately understands and looks at the piece of clothing in his hand. “You never mentioned owning my stuff. Do you?” You shake your head, almost embarrassed “I didn’t want to ask you. I don’t want you to buy me stuff and make other think that I’m in it for money.” You blush and look down, feeling stupid tears in your eyes. “I don’t care what others think. I know you’re not.” He looks up and sees the tears in your eyes. “Don’t cry.” He pulls you in for a hug. “I just missed you so much and I’m scared of what others will think and what will happen between us. I don’t want this to hurt your career.” His eyes are soft now as he leans down to kiss you carefully. “it won’t. And to be honest I don’t even care if it does because I want to be with you. Now get ready for bed. The bathroom is over there.” He points at the room and you take the shirt he still offers you, leaving for the bathroom. After removing your makeup and brushing your teeth you change into the pricey piece of clothing that reaches down to just below the curve of your butt, making you self conscious. You look at yourself in a mirror, sighing carefully as you look at your legs, but deciding to leave since he will probably tear down the door if you don’t. You walk out and his eyes are immediately glued to the source of your self consciousness. “I don’t deserve you. You are so beautiful.” You blush once more as he hugs you high. He changed into a snug pair of boxer briefs – something you didn’t expect him to wear. “Let’s go to bed. I’m tired.” His voice is soft as he pulls you over and snuggles into the covers, pulling your body close to his, you both falling asleep lulled in to the warmth of each other.

#gdragon #g-dragon #g dragon #gdragon scenarios #g dragon scenarios #g-dragon scenario #gd #gd fluff #gdragon fluff #kwonjiyong #kwon jiyong #soulmates #soulmate #soulmate!au #soulmate alternate universe #soulmate gdragon #soulmate gd #colorblindsoulmate!au #kpop #kpop fanfiction #kpop scenarios #kpop fluff #kpop story #gdragon story #gd story #gd fanfiction #vibrant colors

[angelteyam]

Prompt idea... the boys try to teach Eleven some dance moves

Okay I fucking love this idea, this is adorable. Thank youanon.

 ~X~

For Eleven, it was a typical Saturday in April. It was herone day that she got to spend with the rest of the Party, with her friends, andthey could do anything they wanted. Provided they stay inside, of course.

On this particular Saturday, however, Mike had decided theywould be having a dance party in his basement. He’d arranged for his mom tomake all kinds of snacks: chips and salsa, cake, cookies, and her famous brownies.He’d ridden over to the Big Buy Friday afternoon after school to pick up somesodas, and he’d arranged for Will to bring the Boom Box. The other Partymembers, even Max, couldn’t wait. They all were suffering from pent-up energybeing stuck in classrooms all week, and nothing would cure them more than adance party.

Basically, he was throwing a mini version of the Snow Ballfor El in his basement. Today was anything but ordinary.

That morning, Mike wakes up at 8:30, and dresses himself inhis standard corduroys, polo shirt, and pull-over sweater. He grabs hisSuperComm off his night stand, stuffs his mini Yoda in his pocket for goodluck, and scrambles down the stairs. He finds his mom and dad already down, hismom setting breakfast on the table. He grabs a waffle from the stack, jams itin his mouth, and scurries off to the basement to begin preparations.

Mike is a whirlwind. He hastily packs away D&D and movesthe game table to the corner, setting up the chairs around it. He sets out acollection of not-so-nerdy board games, just in case, including Connect 4 andMonopoly. He pushes back the couch until it’s flush with the wall, and movesthe coffee table over towards the blanket fort for their snacks.

 At 9:30, Hopper drops El off at the basement door, promisingto pick her up at 6:00pm on the dot. Mike has just finished setting out thesnacks, and he greets El with a smile as she steps through the doorway,enveloping her in his arms. El sighs into the hug, smiling. Finally. He’s warm, and he smells like pine-scentedsoap and cotton.

 They play a few games of Connect Four while they wait forthe other party members to arrive. Mike always gets the strange urge to drophis black piece in the space next to the one he originally intended, then looksup to see El grinning sheepishly and wiping at her nose.

Mike chuckles, then whispers, “We don’t use our powers toplay board games.”

El nods fervently. “No powers.”

At 10:00 AM, the other members of the party arrive to findMike and El huddled next to each other on the couch, bored of Connect Four, andMike helping El with her reading. They hop up from their places on the couchwhen their friends enter the room, shouts of glee at El’s presence resoundingthroughout the basement.

Dustin, neglecting his breakfast, digs into the snacks, Maxfollowing suit. Will helps Mike clear off the side table by the couch so he canset up the Boom Box. Lucas teaches El another swear word, this time going with “bastard”.He says it’s similar to mouthbreather, but more…pungent.

At 10:30 AM, the dance party begins.

Will, the duly appointed DJ for their gathering, starts offwith his one and only favorite, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, by The Clash.The Party members begin dancing, if that’s what you could call it, jumpingaround in small circles and shaking their hips.

Knowing that El doesn’t know much about dancing, the partymembers take her under their wing (not that they know much about dancingeither).

Will shows her how to do the Sprinkler. El loves this move,and she gets it down in no time. Turns out, El has more concept of rhythm thanany other member of the Party, save Max.

Max teaches El the Clone – a move that involves stomping herfeet and throwing her hands in the air and shaking her hips, all at the sametime to the beat. El likes it. It makes her feel free and happy and crazy. Atthe sight of El twisting and shaking her hips to the music, Mike blushes, andLucas chuckles at him.

Mike teaches El the only dance he’s good at, which turns outto be very little. He shows her the dance from Thriller, really the only parthe knows, in which he turns his hands into claws and thrusts his arms back andforth to the drum beats. El follows along, laughing as Mike trips over a looseshoelace.

Lucas shows El how to do the Running Man. The trickiest ofall the dances, El has to be shown a few times before she gets it right. But Mikebursts into fits of laughter when El starts doing the running main, her curlsbouncing up and down on top of her head.

Dustin’s favorite dance is really no dance at all. He justjumps around and shakes his head. This has to be El’s favorite, it makes herfeel the freest. The Boom Box plays “Whip It” at the same time El is doing thedance with Dustin, and the widest smile Mike has ever seen (period) breaks outonto her face.

The party keep dancing until they can’t anymore, and Elinvents several dance moves of her own. At one point, a slow song comes own,and El stops Will from changing it. She pulls Mike to her and throws her armsaround his neck. Mike blushes, but he takes her waist, pulling her closer. Lucasand Max mimic their movements, embracing each other and swaying to the music.Dustin and Will dramatically leap into each other’s arms, clasping hands andmoving back and forth, not exactly following the beat of the music. Dustin hasa fake posh look on his face, his nose turned up in the air. Will attempts tocopy him, but cannot contain his smile. Dustin attempts to dip Will, but endsup accidentally dropping him on the floor, the Party erupting into laughter.

At 3:00 PM, all of the brownies are gone, and El is polishingoff her third slice of cake. The Party members are sat around the game table,all of the furniture back in its place, and they’re in the middle of a rousinggame of Monopoly.

“This is bullshit!” Dustin shouts, smacking his hands on thetable.

Max giggles. “Maybe you shouldn’t have bought Boardwalk sosoon. Hand it over, idiot.”

Dustin huffs, handing Max is last wad of Monopoly money. “Shit.I’m out.”

El frowns. She doesn’t fully understand the concept of thegame. Then again, she doesn’t really understand how to add up her money. Butevery time it’s her turn, Mike talks her through it. He tells her what eachsquare means that she’s landed on, and what it would mean if she spent themoney to acquire the square. But in the end, he always lets her make the finaldecision.

At 5:00 PM, the Party members disband, all of them thankingMike for his idea. They always leave a little early to give Mike and El theirtime together. Dustin claps El on the shoulder, and Will gives her a quick hug.They all say their goodbyes, hopping on their bikes and heading home. Willclambers into the passenger seat of Jonathan’s car, waving one last time atMike and El before speeding off.

At 6:00PM, Hopper arrives to find El snuggled into Mike’sside on the couch, the pair fast asleep. Hopper lightly chuckles, then shakesMike’s shoulder to wake him up. Mike shudders awake, blinking up at Hopper,before lightly kissing El on the forehead to wake her up.

El blinks awake slowly, before looking up at Hopper and realizingwhat time it is. She snuggles into Mike, wrapping her arms around him in a bighug, before planting a quick kiss on his cheek and standing up from the couch.

“Ready?” Hopper asks, as El grabs her coat from the arm ofthe couch.

“Ready,” El says. She looks back at Mike and smiles at him onelast time. “Thank you for today. It was fun.”

“Sure,” Mike breathes. “Anytime.”

Before she can step out of the doorway, Mike pulls El in fora quick kiss. As she pulls away, she’s left smiling, and Mike blushes for thethird time that day. El waves him goodbye as she hops into Hopper’s cruiser,and Mike waves back, already planning their adventure for next week.

Later that night, Hopper puts on a record, and El attemptsto show him some of the moves she’d learned earlier that day. It doesn’t gowell, as Hopper has no concept of rhythm, and it ends with El in a puddle of laughter.

At 9:00 PM, El tucks herself into bed for the night, pullingout her SuperComm from under her bed and setting it on her nightstand. Atexactly 9:05, Mike radios her to say goodnight, and El quickly picks up her SuperComm. 

“Goodnight, Mike. I had fun dancing today.”

El can almost feel Mike smiling through the radio. “Yeah, metoo. Goodnight, El.”

#writing #fanfiction #stranger things fanfiction #eleven #anon #anonymous #prompt #requests

[findmyhouse]

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER - LOVE BEACH (1978): 4/10

Yeah! How do you like that album cover? What the hell happened? Okay, time for a little history lesson. Remember how the band used an orchestra on the previous two albums? Well, one day Keith said to the other guys: “Hey, wouldn’t it be a great idea if we took an orchestra with us on our next tour?” And… well, to be honest, it actually was a great idea. Artistically, at least. Backing up the old and the new ELP hits with orchestral arrangements resulted in some outstanding performances that were captured on the live album Works Live, which I heartily recommend to anyone who's interested in the band. Financially however, this was a really bad move. Paying the musicians and transporting their equipment was such a financial strain that the band would inevitably lose money unless they sold every last seat at every venue. And they didn’t succeed at that because the popularity of progressive rock as a whole took a nosedive in the late seventies. The genre's emphasis on complex rhythms and structures, esoteric concepts and instrumental virtuosity became more and more associated with snobbish elitism and was rejected by the new generation, which instead flocked to the more approachable, raw and rocking sound of punk rock bands such as the Sex Pistols, who regularly mocked progressive rock bands as part of their performances, with their famous “I hate Pink Floyd” t-shirts, and their burning of Yes and ELP records on stage. In addition, the music industry itself changed around this time and became far less receptive towards experimental music than it had been throughout the decade.

So, to make a long story short, ELP were in a bad spot in 1978, and were further plagued by deteriorating personal relations between the band members, as well as conflicts with the record company which demanded a hot-selling record. Love Beach was made in a desperate attempt to reach out to a new audience: it’s made up primarily of a bunch of lightweight pop songs but also throws in a few progressive-sounding tunes to please their old audience. The result, predictably, pleased no one at all and made ELP the laughing stock of the music world. Even the band members themselves have frequently mocked it. What else could they do? This album is just too easy to mock. Just look at it! Even the liner notes hardly say anything about the music and mostly just talk about how much fun the band had on the Bahamas, where the album was recorded.

I mean, you can tell that there are some creative problems when a singer has trouble trying to make the third line on an album fit within the meter. At the same time, Keith changes his synthesizer tones from otherwordly and ominous to sickly sweet and sappy, and Carl plays an awkward drumming part that never seems to get off the ground. And despite all of that, I still have to count “All I Want Is You” among the better songs on here, because it shows at least a wee bit of classical influence and of the old production style (and to be fair, this is hardly worse than Greg’s pop stuff on Works, Volume 1).

However, things very rapidly go off the deep end with the title track and “Taste Of My Love”, which are basically guitar-led cock rock anthems that have Greg singing oversexed smut that would make even Gene Simmons blush with embarrassment (Oh, I almost forgot: all of the lyrics on this album were written by Peter Sinfield, who originally rose to fame by supplying King Crimson with his hallucinatory texts about 21st century schizoid men and rusted chains of prison moons, and who just five years earlier thought up the apocalyptic machine warfare themes for Brain Salad Surgery. Now he writes such lovely slices of poetry like “I’m gonna love you like nobody ever loved you; Climb on my rocket and we’ll fly”). Anyway, these songs are far too tame instrumentation-wise to appeal to the general sleaze-rock crowd, and far too simplistic to not infuriate anyone expecting to hear the ELP of old: Keith’s synthesizer parts feel like they were added to these tracks more out of obligation rather than because they actually contributed something of substance to the music.

“The Gambler” goes for a comedic mood again, but really overstays its welcome with its generic female backing vocals as well as some shitty ukelele and some equally shitty harmonica to spice up the pill. Oh well, at least it has some funny keyboard playing. And "For You" ... well, that one's actually alright. Unlike the rest of the album, it's more melancholic and reflective than sappy and jolly, and it has some nice echoey guitar playing, too. I couldn't care less about the "rocking" coda though (in quotes because it just sounds kind of torpid).

In contrast to the first side of the LP, the second side holds tracks that are basically bones thrown toward the band's traditional audience. The first track on here, "Canario", is also not bad. It's another classical cover (of a piece by Joaquín Rodrigo) that still sounds overly sweet and kinda cheesy but at least it has some dang energy which is sorely missing on the rest of the album, particularly on the next track, where things get really murky when the boys try to pen one more epic multi-part suite in the old prog style, called “Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentlemen”. Don’t expect another “Tarkus” here: this whole suite is just a big toss-off. Almost the whole thing is in the same key and the same plodding tempo, and it sticks to the same disgustingly cheerful atmosphere that dominates the rest of the album. Furthermore, the lyrics try to sound really grandiose and world-shattering but, when taking the utterly banal subject matter into account (a soldier falls in love with a nurse but oh no she died the end), just come off as pathetic. But worst of all, Keith's keyboard playing feels completely sterile and forced throughout the whole thing, and there's no impressive synth solo to hear for miles around. The final movement, "Honourable Company", is a gradually intensifying march that's obviously intended as a rewrite of "Aquatarkus", but it has no climax and just ends up sounding like really bad theme park music (I apologize if I overuse this analogy in my reviews but I really can't think of a better thing to compare it to. Do you remember waiting in line for an Indiana Jones ride and hearing some super-cheesy tune for the grand, magical adventure you're about to go on? Yeah, that's the one ). Not even the gratuitous Chopin quotations help bring the suite to life or anything resembling life.

Oh, I'm sorry. I must come across as angry right now, but honestly, the spectacular stupidity of this album makes it impossible to actually hate or get angered by. The incompatibility of Emerson, Lake & Palmer with their newly created popstar image, combined with the unconvincing manner in which they pursued this new direction, makes Love Beach one of the most hilariously ham-fisted and ill-conceived products in the history of mainstream rock music. So just don’t take it too seriously. Don’t look for quality here. Just let the stupid sink in and have a blast.

Allmusic's original review of this album consisted of just one sentence which read: "A record that ELP released only because they owed it to their original label, and that's all one needs to know." I suppose it’s a mystery whether the band just wanted to make a few dollars and please Atlantic Records or if they actually wanted to make a turn in this direction, but in any case, the album flopped both commercially and critically. Now reviled by their former fans and belittled by their enemies, the trio finally called it quits and went their separate ways.

Best song: eh, I guess it's probably CANARIO

#ELP #Progressive rock

[hyosubteam]

[Kim Wongyeom’s The Deep Interview]

Hyoyeon “DJ Transformation, It’s a Happy Challenge!”

SNSD Hyoyeon (29) has been reborn as a multi artist. Of the SNSD members who’ve greeted ‘Solo Generation’, she’s boasting the most powerful aura with comprehensive activities in her field. Not only as a singer, but she’s also a DJ and a music producer, and she’s also active in variety programs. Hyoyeon, who released the single ‘Sober’ with a stage name of HYO in April, showcased her DJ-ing stage at major clubs in the city of Seoul. She has also been exchanging ideas with music producers and growing her capabilities as a producer. She has also studied significantly. Through her solo record, Hyoyeon received attention as a vocalist with a unique sound and during her time with SNSD, she has already been acknowledged as a ‘dancer’. Frequently through variety programs, she displays her healthy charms. She is a ‘multi girl’. After celebrating her 10th year since debut last year, we met Hyoyeon who is creating a new 10 years.

New DJ Hyo, Music Quality + Girl Crush is Her Weapon!

Q: For individual activities, your group members have become actors or solo singers, but a transformation into a DJ is different. Hyoyeon: I think it was a good decision. There’s a lot of burden but it’s fun. Doing work that’s new that you like is a happy thing. As a DJ, it’s thrilling to get feedback on site.

Q: What was the motivation behind your attempt to become a DJ? Hyoyeon: It started with my interest in dance. When I’d transition from this dance to that dance, I thought, “This type of mixing would be amazing” and I started having interest in DJ-ing. I was curious about mixing so I started touching the machines, and as I heard advice from the experts, I thought that I should start creating music.

Q: Did you already have a competitive edge as a DJ from when you were promoting with SNSD? Hyoyeon: My interest started about 5~6 years ago, during ‘The Boys’ or ‘I Got a Boy’, when SNSD’s music started changing heavily. I started seriously preparing a year ago.

Q: If you were to introduce DJ Hyo’s music style? Hyoyeon: Dubstep and tech house, and I put in hip hop in between that. They’re genres that make your heart thump. The key is if I can lead the audience with this music. Like when you prepare a record, as a DJ, you’re also concerned with ‘should I go with the trend, or do I need to pull the public along with music that I want’. I’ll have to go through trial and error.

Q: Hyoyeon only started her DJ activities 3 months ago. She’s a rookie but she’s planning on promoting her music as a DJ through various online platforms like YouTube going forward.

Hyoywon: “EDM has a lot of big stages. I get asked to DJ at clubs, but I haven’t been accepting the requests at the thought that I need to be perfect. I think it will be possible to officially promote as a DJ around September or October.”

Q: There must be some territorialism as you come from a famous girl group. Hyoyeon: know there will be gazes looking at me with coloured glasses. What’s certain is that if I’m not skilled, I’ll be sifted out. My goal is to become a DJ that will receive acknowledgement.

Q: To be acknowledge for your skills, you’ll need to create your own music. Hyoyeon: That’s why I’m learning music from a producing team. Music has such diverse genres that I don’t think I can listen to all of it in my lifetime, but I wanted to listen to even more music and choose good songs to share with people. Like how you put thought into choosing an outfit, shoes or a bag when you go out, I’m thinking about what kind of set to collect music in to have people listen to them.

Q: Is there anything you’ve worked on or studied with the producer team? Hyoyeon: I have many songs I’ve worked on but I wanted to make note of the feedback from experts and I think it would be good to release songs that are good one by one. I’m learning DJ-ing and I’m also learning composition. It will take a lot of time, but I will take it one step at a time.

Q: As there are more female DJs, there’s a fierce competition over looks. What is DJ Hyo’s competitive edge? Hyoyeon: It must sound like a cliche, but I want to win with music quality. Externally, I want to show a cool appearance, the charm of girl crush.

Q: The public regards Hyoyeon’s outward appearance as being ‘gender neutral image’, but at almost 30 years old, she’s currently showing her peak beauty. After changing her eyebrow shape and dyeing her hair blonde, fans have been saying Hyoyeon’s ‘beauty potential has exploded’.

Hyoyeon: “I think that too. Haha. It was in 2011, when we had our second domestic concert. I had arched eyebrows and my mother suggested a gentler angle and I became blonde. I heard those words after that.”

Q: Amongst fans, there is also an assessment of ‘beauty that appeals in the Western world’. In 2011, at the ‘SMTown Live’ performance in Paris, members said their greetings in order and Hyoyeon receiving the loudest cheers is a direct example of this.

Hyoyeon: “I don’t think it was for my looks, but the loud cheers from the local audience must have been for how much they liked my dance performance.”

Dancer Hyoyeon, Power is My Strength

During SNSD activities, Hyoyeon raised the value of her existence through dance first. She was chosen as a SM Entertainment trainee after being acknowledged for her dancing skills. Even after she became a trainee, she learned jazz dance, popping and locking.

Q: Is there a special reason why you became interested in dance? Hyoyeon: No. My own appearance in the mirror when I danced was pretty. Haha. When I showed interest in dance as an elementary school student, my father allowed me to learn various dances. I tried various dances while doing aerobics for 5 years. I learned that I was skilled in popping and locking, and the more I did it, the more I got pulled into it.

Hyoyeon appeared on a variety program in 2011 and said, “I wondered if I worked so hard at push-ups in order to shake a lollipop (‘Kissing You’ prop)”. It was because the dance style she pursued was contrary to the style that demanded of her as a SNSD member. Hyoyeon reflected, “It was a feeling at the time because it was a style that didn’t match up with what I wanted. I couldn’t do what I wanted and that’s why those words came out”.

“While promoting as a team, I wanted to show my own colours so I often said ‘I want to promote solo’. In a girl group, you need to appear pretty and feminine, and you had to practice the movement of your fingertips (rather than popping or locking) and expressions. The gap between the team’s identity at debut and my style was unfamiliar, but thanks to that, I received acting ability that allowed me to look pretty.”

Fans who knew her passion toward dance have wondered, ‘What if she had debuted at YG Entertainment?’. Hyoyeon said “Truthfully, when we promoted ‘Kissing You’, I thought that for a moment” and laughed.

“At that time, 2NE1 debuted. I imitated their dances and had those thoughts. However, while we promoted ‘The Boys’ and ‘I Got a Boy’ after that, it made me rethink SNSD’s colours. It made me think that my dissatisfaction with our team colour at debut was just my own greed. What’s ironic is that when we look at our debut videos, my appearance was fresh and it suited me well. A person can’t do only things they want to do.”

Hyoyeon’s presence was acknowledged through dance but her charming vocal colour also received attention. Solo songs ‘Wannabe’ and ‘Mystery’ that were released previously as well as the recent song ‘Sober’ are numbers that make you feel the charm of her alto vocal. To the public, that charm started being highlighted through the ‘Goodbye’ stage on KBS 2TV’s ‘Yoo Heeyeol’s Sketchbook’ that aired in March 2014. This became the momentum that caused Hyoyeon to reflect back on her own identity.

“I debuted after 7 years of training but from the beginning, it was difficult to be judged by my own colour. After 4~5 years, I thought that I needed to have my own vocal colour and I had many attempts while recording. After the ‘Goodbye’ stage, I was happy because fans knew my colour and heart, and that became the momentum that made me work even harder to find my colour.”

Q: “Contract Renewal with SM, System Optimized for Me”

Hyoyeon: SNSD members are promoting individually.

We spoke about our individual paths and we’ve been observing one another closely so we knew which direction each person wanted to pursue.

Q: There are members who remain at SM, some who have left. Hyoeyeon: We respect each person’s opinions. Life is lived individually.

Q: What’s the reason you remained at SM? Hyoyeon: It’s because I thought there wasn’t a place better than our company that would support my direction. And loyalty that’s not really loyalty also had an effect. It’s a place I’ve been at since 2000 so there are many staff that I have good chemistry with.

Q: What thoughts do you have when you look at girl groups these days? Hyoyeon: There are so many idols. There are many teams so I am envious seeing them share stories and become friends.

Q: If you had a word of advice for hoobaes? Hyoyeon: You can’t be satisfied with everything. If you do your best at what’s given, there is no regret. Due to the nature of the work, you will receive assessments from a lot of people. Don’t be swayed by that and I hope you will promote with your own sense of purpose.

Translation © Sonexstella (http://sonexstella.me/interview-translation-hyoyeon-in-sports-donga-july-2018/)

original source: https://sports.donga.com/3/all/20180719/91135788/3?adtbrdg=e#_adtReady

#Hyoyeon #Djhyo #dj hyo #snsd #girls generation #hyo

[mercyskies-music]

Evaluation of my Performance in the ‘Pilot’ (1/3)

On our first day, we decided on what songs we could play, we quickly decided on doing a cover of a medley that YUNGBLUD performed in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge. This was a medley of Senorita, Back to Black, and Goosebumps. We also decided on playing Counting Stars, and Locked out of Heaven these are popular songs and would be suited to the singers voices. I had little input in regards to the song choices, however I heavily influenced the dynamics of every song as no one in my group spoke up to begin with. Luke suggested we do a house track so we decided on Piece of your Heart in addition to the other songs. At the start of process we decided to make the gig energetic, with songs that we can get people to vibe to. 

Our group decided it would be fair for everyone to vote, and voice their opinions equally so we all collaborated and made decisions based on a consensus.

My role within this project was Lead Guitarist, and I organised the group often to keep us on track, I also raised a few concerns I had about the music itself and some changes were made as a result. The songs were fairly simple compared to what I am used to with no solos, and basic chord structures. There were a small handful of problems related to timing but these were not personal issues. I analysed the video for the Radio 1 Live Lounge performance to make sure I was playing the rhythms with the same nuances.

When we played Piece of Your Heart I had to compose a guitar part to play with the group, I had initially made a heavy chorus part but it didn’t seem to fit with the song. I decided to conduct some research into house music so I listened to some stuff that Luke recommended and I learned that guitars in that genre if at all present were more layered so during the verse parts and the drop I played consistently picked muted notes that mimicked the bass line of the song.

As a group we have produced 4 cover songs to perform in the Pilot show, and in a separate group we performed 2 songs.

First Group (Luke, Alfie, Oliver, Me and the singers)

Counting Stars - OneRepublic

Locked out of Heaven - Bruno Mars

Senorita, Back to Black, Goosebumps - YUNGBLUD

Piece of Your Heart - Meduza

Second Group (Conor, Brad, Mia, and Me)

We are Sex Bob-Omb - Sex Bob-Omb

Threshold - Sex Bob-Omb

In regards to the first group, I think some things that stand out as good were: our performance on the YUNGBLUD medley and the Counting Stars instrumental parts, we definitely could have improved the Locked out of Heaven instrumental and the harmonies. The medley went so well because of how we connected as  a group we all clicked and the parts all fell into place, we all enjoyed listening to the song so playing it was a treat, this contributed to why the medley was such a success. The dynamics we had in Counting Stars was what made it such a good performance and the girls smashed the vocals. One of the big problems we faced was the absence of Alfie for 5 of our rehearsals, we would have made more progress in those sessions with his support and the presence of a keys player. In the future, we need to find a replacement on the first day not the 3rd or 4th day.

Megan has a fantastic voice and is confident enough to show it off in all it’s glory during our performances, her stage presence and ability to project her voice for meaningful performances made her an asset to our group. Oliver was playing Bass for us, and even though his musical roots are in piano and guitar, Oliver really stepped up to the plate to perform with us and he even adapted his technique to yield the best performance possible. I feel like my ability to keep time and my good ear was an asset to the group as I was able to spot some issues instrumentally, an example of such is that in rehearsals Alfie’s timing was slightly off and that caused the chorus to send very off, I pointed this and and worked with Alfie briefly to fix the issue.

Luke keeping the same tempo throughout the songs, especially Locked out of Heaven, and the girls projecting their voices during verses and harmonies. Luke’s performance on Piece of your Heart was very good as he has never used a drum pad before.

As a group we worked on an original song called Heartbreaker, and while the vocals were all original the music was extremely similar to another song and upon realizing this we dropped it, and focused on other songs. 

In group 2, we had our two songs, stage presence for everyone and the guitar playing was good, however we had some issues with timing; this was simply due to the fact that as a side project we only had 4 rehearsals for it and Brad missed one of them beyond his control. The answer of how to make this performance better is to just allot more time to it. Conor’s drum playing was sick, however because we didn’t get time to practice some of the changes are slightly off, Mia started one of the verses and then the chorus too early, however the vocal performance was spot-on apart from that.

In group 1, our communication skills were top-tier, communicating ideas not only in sessions but also via WhatsApp, we discussed issues and made our decisions judiciously. I think our problems lied with commitment, four of our members took time off, only two of them were proper reasons; having people missing from rehearsals impacts productivity and can hinder attitude towards working.

I hardly ever do any proper warm up routines unless my hands are cold, as this causes my fingers to lock up and it makes it makes soloing and finger-style very difficult. I do however, demonstrate commitment to my mental health by having a good jam session if I am stressed to relieve myself of bad energy, and I made certain decisions like spicing up the way I played Counting Stars to keep myself from disliking the music I perform; this is a way to keep things fresh and maintain my ambitious attitude towards music.

~ Counting Stars

~ Locked out of Heaven

~ Medley

~ Piece of Your Heart

~ Sex Bob-Omb

[elaristalselin]

D&D Character Asks: Elaris Edition

I wanna do all of them because they’re all so good and I love my boy and Sara said to do all the odd ones anyway so....

1) A story for every scar. Do any of their wounds have interesting origins?

He doesn’t have many visible scars, actually! There is a stab wound on the right side of his back, that he sustained almost three years when he was still a naive, young adventurer newly out on his own. (For fellow party members, this is apocryphal and not part of his primary backstory) He met a drow woman known simply as “Darling” who recruited his help in a simple enough burglary job. Get in. Get out. Split the loot 60/40 and go their separate ways. They snuck in and out of a wealthy merchant’s manor while the family was out on holiday and made off with close to 2,000gp. He thought he’d be set for awhile, but when it came to part ways, Darling turned on him and took everything, leaving Elaris in the gutter with a dagger in the back. Luckily, in her haste she missed any vital organs or blood vessels and he recovered in time.

other than that, he’s made it through most of his life relatively unmaimed.

2) Three  five songs that show their character progression.

Ok so I have a playlist for this very reason! But it’s 37 songs long. If I had to narrow it down:

1. Beautiful Boys- CocoRosie

2. Bird Set Free- Sia

3. Dance Little Liar-Arctic Monkeys

4. Stars- fun.

5. All These Things That I’ve Done- The Killers

3) If they were a god which god would they be? (to quote my last post:)

Joanne the Scammer; next question please!

Seriously, though? I think The Traveler, among the Dark Six of Eberron is most like Elaris. His domains include chaos, charm, liberation, travel, and trickery, which is just about as close as I can find to what Elaris deified would be. Maybe add in a tiny bit of St. Anthony,the patron saint of the impoverished and oppressed. Elaris may not be a “good” person, but he empathizes and cares deeply for orphans, slaves, and minority races of Cartowitt. Other than those demographics, he’s always ready to charm and cheat his way into people’s wallets so I can’t really see him being even a chaotic good deity.

4) What was their favourite subject at school?

Elaris hated school as a child,but he found joy in music. It was something he was good at, and he loved weaving magic into each note of his compositions. He also enjoyed reading the ballads of the bards of old, and aspired to become one of them.

5) What does their voice sound like?

Elaris’ voice is a sultry tenor, with a vague, unplaceable but sophisticated-sounding accent. As a whole, he sounds a bit like a pretentious, highly educated asshole with a masters in Snobbery™

6) Animal, vegetable, mineral: what one thing symbolises them the most?

He’s got a small shell with mysterious carved runes on it that he has yet to decipher. The mystery of the shell is reminiscent of the secrecy he uses as a defense mechanism. 

If not, possibly his small pet mouse, Basil. He sees a lot of himself in Basil, from the petty theft to the insignificance of his role in the world, and would do anything to protect this old, fat mouse.

7) If they could control one of the four elements what would it be?

Probably Earth. I can Imagine him terraforming in a remote area trying to magically mine diamonds and other riches with the least amount of effort or sharing possible.

8) What would their favourite tv show be?

Probably some really ridiculous reality tv show, like Millionaire Matchmaker or one of the Real Housewives dramas. He takes joy in seeing the petty inconveniences of the rich and stupid, though deep down, his dream is probably to be a very wealthy and powerful sugar baby.

9) Would they ever use magic to gain love?

He uses magic to charm and manipulate others as part of his JOB. It’s what he was trained to do as a bard, really. He’s definitely used it to charm money out of people, but he wouldn’t ever like...sleep with anyone who didn’t approach him first or was too charmed to actually consent. 

He’s never truly fallen in love with someone, but if he did he wouldn’t want to magically ruin the integrity of their feelings. Being able to genuinely feel such things towards him is a huge step that he doesn’t think anyone would ever reach that point with him. By taking away that choice from them, he would be toying with them the same as any of the people he’s scammed and cheated.

10) What do they think of themself?

Elaris is confident in his skills as a bard, but he (justifiably) sees himself as a pretty shitty person. He likes himself just fine, but is afraid that others would turn on him if they knew who he really is. That’s part of the reason he works so hard on his facades; he doesn’t want people to really see the filth beneath his pristine mask.

11) Gender and sexuality?

Boring I know, but Elaris identifies as just a plain ol cis guy. He’s not afraid of femininity-- if anything he uses it to his advantage and keep people off guard. The way he explores fashion and gender expression as a whole leans towards androgyny, but his identity is still masculine.

12) Do they have a type?

Rich and stupid. If he can get a lot of cash out of them easily, he’ll go for anyone,really. 

If he were to get into an actual relationship, he’s attracted primarily to men and nonbinary folks. Regardless of appearance though, deep down he just wants someone he can match wits with that wouldn’t judge his past or skewed moral compass.

13) Playing video games, would they be a completionist, a speed runner, how would they play?

While WIlhelm would be a modder, Elaris wouldn’t mess with much beyond the occasional console command. He wouldn’t be a completionist per se, but he’d spend the vast majority of game time looking for workarounds to the conventional methods of playing. Will certain dialogue options affect ones later in the game? If you jump backwards 5 times after leaving the game on for three days, can you access a secret room that makes finding a rare item that much easier? He’d want to know

14) If they could solve one problem, what would they solve?

He’d really like to abolish slavery and diminish the roles and obsession surrounding the suits, sure, but most likely he’d want to set up plenty of soup kitchens, food banks, and homeless shelters to prevent children from ever dying from starvation and the effects of destitution.

15) What horoscope stereotype fits them the most?

He’s technically a Virgo, but he fits with the charming, diplomatic qualities of Sagittarius much better. 

16) Favourite terrain?

While not actual “terrain,” he loves the city and within the halls of the homes and manors within. Regal balls and social events have always fascinated him more than any wilderness, always dreaming of the danger and delight of court intrigue.

17) How do they dress?

His clothes range from masc to femme of center, but he cares more about the quality of materials used and the way they make him look. Rich furs, heavy velvets, and luxurious silks are his favorite materials to work with, especially if intricate details, such as embroidery or woven patterns are included. His favorite color is ultramarine, so often his outershirt will be similar hues. 

Please give this boy a reason to dress fancy. He loves fancy more than he loves himself

18) What would their ideal home be like?

It would be rich and luxurious, with fine furniture and fine trophies stolen throughout his escapades. However, it wouldn’t be too large. He may love the finer things in life, but also reviles absurd amounts of excess and the people associated with such extravagance. Fine and tasteful, rather than gaudy to the point of tackiness. To make it an actual home, he’d love to share it with the few friends he does have, along with those he had lost along the way. However, there’d always be a single extra guest room, intentionally left empty.

19) What would they like their mark in history to be? (to quote my last answer)

His whole schtick involves aliases and disguise to prevent infamy. If he were to gain a reputation as a conman, the gig would be up. In an ideal world, he would want to be portrayed as a young, famous musician or maybe even a charismatic diplomat who worked hard and built himself up from the ashes of his childhood to go on to live a fulfilling, preferably wealthy life. Maybe he’d have a beautiful, happy spouse and a life that’s normal and not too far beyond ordinary. Of course given his current circumstance and his outlook on the future, that’d never happen.

In this life, he’d be happy to fade into obscurity, living off the riches he’s swindled out of rich people through unnoticeable skimming and other forms of fraud.

20) If they could be a dragon, would they be a dragon?

To be or not to be, blah blah Hamlet is my favorite edgelord manbaby.

Really though, I don’t think he would be a dragon. Sure, he’ be powerful and rich beyond his wildest dreams, but brute force and intimidation aren’t his forte. He enjoys seduction and subterfuge too much to be a big lump of muscle, stomping around angrily to get his way.

#Elaris #elaris asks

[empresstress13]

OC Questions!!!

I was tagged by @dragynfox the wonderful! 

I’ve only talk a very little about any of my OC characters on here because I’m shy about them. The few mentions have been from Dragon Age and since that’s my current obsession it’s what will be appearing here as well! I kind of winged this - sorry if it seems disjointed!  

I’ll go ahead and start at the beginning with 2 of my wardens: Surana and Tabris - both originally inseparable troublemakers of the Denerim Alienage! Surana is my “canon” HoF . . . but I head-canon that Tabris manages to somehow survive everything and they manage to reunite in Denerim.

1. What is your name?

BT: *smiling sweetly* Beatrix Tabris! Bea to my friends and Death to my enemies, think 'bout which category you’d prefer to be in.  

NS: *does not look up from a large tome she’s reading*

2. No seriously, what is your name?

BT: *poking Surana*. . . . Nara. . . . NARA! 

NS: *still not looking up* What, Bea? 

BT: *rolls her eyes, before responding in a sing-song voice* civilized people introduce themselves! 

NS:*turning a page* well, since we’re just a dangerous elvhen mage and an impudent alienage thief then there is no point! 

BT:*snatches the tome before dancing out of NS’s reach* ah-ah-ah~! Be a dear and introduce yourself to our lovely new friends, won’t you?

NS: *raising a brow* well, if my lady of shadows insists! I am Nehnara. Nehnara Surana. *sends a minor shock at Beatrix, who gasps and drops the tome which Nehnara promptly picks up*

BT: Andraste’s flammable ass! Shite, that stings, you friggin’ piss-bucket! 

3. Do you know why you were called that?

NS: Presumably my parents were partial to the name. 

BT: *rubbing her side* since she sucks the joy out of things, her da thought they’d at least put some joy in her name . . . hmmmm, Nehn?

NS: My, my, my! Someone’s picked up some knowledge!

BT: See! Even outside of your fancy-pants circle we sometimes learn things! 

NS: *actually smiling* well . . .you were always a quick study. 

4. Are you single or taken?

BT: *with an innocent expression* Taken? Taken where?

NS: *snorts* Don’t be falsely obtuse. It doesn’t suit you; they would like to know about you and your chantry sister.

BT: You’re the one who introduced us! Besides, wouldn’t you rather speak of your pretty, witty crow?

NS: *smiles coyly* Are you asking for details?

BT: Admit it: you have a soft spot for us sneaky types!

NS: ...Perhaps. 

5. Do you have any abilities or powers?

NS: *cocks head* one could say so. . . . 

BT: HAH! And false Modesty doesn’t suit you! Prodigy of Kinloch Hold! Mage of the Circle! Hero of Ferelden! Commander of the Grey! Arlessa of Amarathi-

NS: That last one has nothing to do with abilities or power-

BT: Now you’re bein’ dull, sparky-fingers, political power totally-

NS: AND FURTHERMORE, considering the average Circle mage I very much doubt that’s much of a title to take pride i-

BT: Aaaaand now we see why false modesty doesn’t suit you, besides all that magic stuff seems plenty powerful to us normal folk. 

NS: “Us normal folk” from the Shadow of Denerim? Spymaster of Amarathine? The Dancing Blade? Slayer of evil shem lordlings who were never taught to keep their hands to themselves? 

6. Stop being a Mary Sue.

BT: Mary what now? 

NS: . . . ? These questions are going from slightly annoying and inconvenient to downright inane. 

7. What is your eye color?

NS: . . . . absolutely INANE. 

BT: *flutters eyelashes* will you write me sonnets to my . . .what is the phrase? Cerulean orbs? 

8. How about your hair color?

NS: *sighs* My eyes are hazel. My hair is auburn. 

BT: She’s a ginger alright!

NS: AUBURN. 

BT: *winks* I’m a brunette. 

9. Have you any family members?

NS: . . . . inane and personal I see. 

BT: *gently placing a hand on Nehnara’s shoulder* It’s not uncommon to lose relatives to bigotry and harsh conditions . . . I’m lucky enough to still have my da and cousins . . . but we’ve all lost someone. 

NS: *glaring* Those who were mine just also happen to all be dead. That enough for you? Move on. 

10. I see… what about pets?

BT: C’mere girl!

NS: *whistles* Phaelan! 

*Two mabari war-hounds and several puppies come bounding towards the interviewer. . .I’d brace myself if I were you.*

NS: My hound imprinted on me during the Blight. Named Phaelan . . .aft. . .after my father. 

BT: *pulling Nehnara into cuddles with the mabari* And this is Blossom; Nara introduced me to her! As well as their pups: Linmi, Tulip, and Duncan!  

11. Tell me about something you don’t like.

NS: *deadpans* Inane questions. And those who ask them.

BT: *her smile suddenly turning sharp* Entitled little pricks. That sort usually finds they have very little good coming to ‘em. *smile returning to normal* Nara also dislikes onions and hot weather! 

NS: I do better with heat than I use to . . . I seem to recall that you dislike tomato juice. Not tomatoes, just the juice.

BT: ‘Cuz it’s gross! 

12. Do you have any hobbies/activities you like doing?

BT: I really enjoy music! Leliana has been teaching me how to play the lute! Oh! And since I’ve left Denerim I’ve taken to collecting and pressing flowers! 

NS: Actually, luckily enough, I do in fact enjoy the study of magic-

BT: And of history, and languages, and science, and politics, an-

NS: Yes, thank you for that insightful clarification. I’ve also been working with Bea on picking up by old slight of hand and lockpicking skills . . . 

BT: And then laughing as your lover fails to pick locks you could open with ease!

13. Ever hurt someone before?

*both start laughing*

14. Ever… killed anyone before?

BT: *still giggling* w. . wait. . . are you seriously asking that?

NS: *smirking and shaking her head* I’m the Warden Commander of Ferelden, and she’s my spymaster in Amarathine. . . what do you think? 

15. What kind of animal are you?

BT: *laughter cuts off abruptly* . . . beggin’ yer pardon; wot? 

NS: *snorts* The dangerous kind.

16. Name one of your worst habits.

BT: She has a tendency to be rude and grouchy. Also, she’s a slob. And she forget’s to eat or sleep! Swear I’m more of a caretaker than a spymaster! 

NS: She’s an obnoxious busybody. Probably why she makes such a good spymaster AND caretaker. Guess I’ll keep her around. 

17. Do you look up to anyone at all?

BT: *points at Nehnara*

NS: *smacks her hand away* Stop that! . . . I suppose we’ve both done relatively well for ourselves besides everything this Maker forsaken world has thrown at us. 

BT: Honestly - and I think we’d both say this - we’ve been lucky enough to have been raised by pretty fantastic people. They had their flaws, but, without them we wouldn’t be who we are today. All respect to Cyrion, Adaia, Misyl, and Phaelan! 

NS: . . . well said. 

18. Sexual orientation?

BT: *winks* All are welcome! . . . well were welcome - rather not piss off Leli! 

NS: Why are you so interested in absolutely ridiculous trivia? I’m more interested in the person’s character than what’s between their legs. 

BT: Yeah, but you seem pretty attached to what’s between Zevran’s-

NS: Indeed. 

19. Do you go to school?

NS: . . . I was educated in Kinloch Hold, if that’s what you mean. Though I gained more knowledge from personal study in the libraries than from my teachers. . . . though to be fair there were several competent instructors.

BT: My mum taught me before she was killed. 

20. Do you ever want to marry and have kids someday?

BT: ooooh! Maybe Leli and I can take in some of the orphans in Amaranthine! Get a big ol’ house, piss-off the shem neighbors-

NS: Your lover is in fact Human as well.

BT: -get a few more dogs and nugs-

NS: The dogs will eat Leliana’s nugs. 

BT: - train them up a bit -

NS: Are you speaking of the dogs, the nugs, or the children?

BT: Be one, big, cozy family! Well loved and protected! 

NS: *snorts* It sounds rather noisy and messy. Terrifying. 

21. What are you most afraid of?

NS: The child, dog, and nug infested house that Bea is apparently planning on inhabiting. 

BT: You faced demons and darkspawn and all manner of nastiness, and you’re telling me your afraid of a lil’ noise and mess? 

NS: From children or animals that you raise? Yes. 

22. What do you usually wear?

BT: Well, I do like a lil’ bit of pretty or shiny here and there, but overall I dress for practicality. Mistress Fancy-mage over here is the one who has a penchant for dressin’ up! 

NS: I do like fine things. I admit it. 

23. Do you love someone?

NS: . . . Did we not already cover this question? I suppose it is possible to be in a relationship without love, but I do in fact care quite deeply for Zevran. It may have taken awhile to sort things between us, but there you are. 

BT: I think you’re gettin’ better at this speakin’ on emotions thing.

NS: Shut it.

BT: I love my Leli very much! *side-hugs Nehnara* and I love this grump like the sister I never had! 

NS: *blushes* ugh. Yes, yes, I care for you too.

BT: Me, her, and Shianni use to create all sorts of mischief! Drove Soris right up the wall!

24. What class are you?

NS: . . . class? As in . . . what sort of mage I am? I’ll admit I’ve dabbled in different fields quite a bit, but I’m particularly skilled at Spirit and Entropy. I’ve also studied the ancient skills of an Arcane Warrior. 

BT: And she can turn into a spider! 

NS: *sighs* Yes. I also picked up some shape-shifting my Morrigan. 

BT: I never did get to really meet that bird. . . heh, bird. Leli’s been trying to teach me some bard skills!

25. How many friends do you have?

BT: Surprisingly lots! Nara tries to be anti-social, but somehow she just attracts them like flies! Guess what they say about vinegar and honey just ain’t true. 

NS: . . . I think you’re definition of “friend” may be off. Someone who you are acquainted with who hasn’t yet tried to kill you is not automatically a “friend”. 

BT: Of course not! You’ve got a very close friend who HAS tried to kill you after all! 

NS: Ugh. Besides we have plenty more enemies.

BT: Keeps things interesting!

26. Thoughts on pie?

BT: Berry filled pies are a bit of a weakness of mine! But Nara here-

NS: Please don’t start.

BT: Nara can put some pies AWAY. Sweet pies, savory pies, pies she just filched from the cart down the street! I grant you I don’t think she’s had to steal pies recently. . . 

NS: No. I haven’t. 

BT: It’s funny, for someone who can forget to eat AT mealtime, you sure do love your food! 

NS: As with clothing and finery - I do enjoy the finer things when it comes to food and drink . . . I’m just not great at time management. 

27. Favorite drink?

NS: Honey wine.

BT: Any wine! 

28. What’s your favorite place?

NS: Not Kinloch Hold. 

BT: pffffft!

NS: . . . I haven’t felt particularly attached to any location in a long time. There are some places I’d like to visit though. 

BT: Gettin’ your parent’s wanderlust are ya? 

29. Would you rather swim in a lake or the ocean?

NS: Lake. 

BT: Ha! Either! 

30. Are you interested in anyone?

NS: How many variations on this will you be asking? 

BT: This one does seem to becoming repetitive? Unless you mean like person of interest? Like under suspicion? There’s a list somewhere . .  . 

31. What’s your bra size?

BT: My what size? 

NS: Bra? . . . . Please ask sensical questions or let’s end this. 

32. Well, what’s your type?

NS: Oh for the love of . . . ! 

BT: Bwhahahahaha! 

33. And what attracts you?

BT: *still laughing* You are really curious, aren’t you? 

NS: *sighs* . . . Fine. Cleverness. Thoughtfulness. Adaptability. Flexibility. 

BT: *smirks* Flexiblity you say?

NS: Shut. It. 

BT: Hahaha! Someone I can have fun with is attractive to me. Someone who is caring as well. 

34. Any fetishes?

NS:Why do I even bother? How is this any of your business? 

BT: Ooooh! Well, Leli and I were just discussing this thing they apparently do in Orlai-

NS: Please don’t. 

BT: And I had a friend who worked at the Pearl who taught me how t-

NS: This is really more than I want to know. Does Cyrion know you were being taught skills from the Pearl? 

BT: Don’t see how that’s Da’s business! 

NS: *rolls eyes* Yes. I have fetishes. I have a very satisfactory sex life. I don’t see how it’s pertinent to this interview however. 

BT: You don’t want to tell us more about Zev’s flexibility?

NS: No. I don’t. 

BT: Hah! As for me, I’ll try almost anything once! Have a hard-limit on physical bondage though . . . 

35. Top or bottom? Dominant or submissive?

BT: *winks* I’m a switch. 

NS: I am not by nature a particularly submissive individual. That holds true in all aspects of my life. 

36. Camping indoor or outdoors?

NS: I believe that I’ve done enough outdoors camping to last a life time. Unfortunately I doubt it will end anytime soon.

BT: Both can be lots of fun in the right company! 

37. Are you wanting the quiz to end?

NS: Quite. If you will excuse us we’re both quite busy individuals. 

BT: *with a final wink and smirk* Catch you later! Don’t do anything that’ll have to knife you for! 

I’m not sure who has done this already, but I’ll tag @thema-sal-shiral, @wardsarefunctioning, @extravagantlies, @fadedforyou, @thranduilsausage, @elfsplaining, @circadian-rhythm, and @love-in-nature. If you’re already done this or don’t have the time feel free to skip! :) 

#personal #ask meme #oc #original characters #dragon age oc #my oc #nehnara surana #beatrix tabris

[onestowatch]

Durand Jones & The Indications Pick 15 Artists Reviving the Classic Soul Sound

Photo Credit: Rosie Cohe

The soul-driven band Durand Jones & the Indications is comprised of five young men all fueled by their old, for lack of a better word, souls. Their sound and aesthetic are rooted in the golden era of groovy 70’s sonics. While they find a majority of their inspiration from artists who made it big in past decades, they are modernizing soul without surrendering the genre’s classic funk and grooviness.

Guitarist Blake Rhein explains that the band utilizes sampling mentality in the same way hip-hop producers do. They listen to music from their various inspirations and hone in on what makes the tracks feel electric. After, they experiment to recreate that magic into their own projects, like in their sophomore full length album American Love Call.

Catch Durand Jones and The Indications live on tour to support American Love Call here. 

As experts in the category, we asked Durand Jones and The Indications to share a few artists who are inspiring and reviving the classic soul sound. Here are selections from Aaron Frazer (drums/vocals), Durand Jones (vocals), and Blake Rhein (guitar).

Photo Credit: Horatio Baltz

Aaron Frazer’s Picks:

1. The Moments - “Not On The Outside”

A perfect summation of the Stang label discography. 70′s vocal group where the singing is smooth, but the drums are hard. It's my ideal balance of sweet and melancholy.

2. Bob Marley & The Wailers - It Hurts to Be Alone

I was floored when I discovered this song was from The Wailers. For a while I was under the impression that it was a young Marley singing, but in fact it was the group's youngest member- 14-year-old Junior Braithwaite. The vocal performance is legendary, complemented by equally stunning guitar work. It represents this moment to me where Jamaican music was still molten, guided by stateside radio transmissions of Wendy Rene.

3. Gil Scott Heron - I Think I'll Call It Morning

Gil Scott Heron could write a scathing takedown of governmental corruption, economic inequity or substance addiction. But he was also able to be loving and tender. He was a warrior, but never lost his ability to be soft. This is one of his soft moments, and it feels radical in a time when so many of us walk around with fists perpetually clenched.

4. Foster Sylvers - Misdemeanor

Sometimes I hear soul music from before the advent of hip hop, and I marvel and just how "hip hop" some of their decisions were. I love the Jackson 5, but I'm not sure they ever got this nasty. It's one of those tracks that make your face scrunch up from the first bar.

5. The Manhattans - The Picture Became Quite Clear

George Kerr is one of the unsung heroes of soul production, and a big influence on our new record. Kerr constructed his orchestration with the precision of a watchmaker. The more you listen to this song, the more you'll notice tiny intricacies. The way the strings, vibraphone, piano, guitar, harp and background vocals dart in and out, somehow NEVER stepping on each others toes. Each turn of the arrangement leads perfectly into the next, like a beautiful soul machine.

Durand Jones’ Picks:

1. Sharon Jones - "Mama Don’t Like My Man”

Perfect ending to a beautiful album. What makes it perfect to me? The simplicity. Just guitar accompanying voices. Sharon’s vocals shine and soar, while Saun and Angee hold her down with flawless unison and harmony backgrounds.

2.  PJ Morton (feat. Pell) - “Claustrophobic"

PJ Morton brings a fresh perspective to R&B and soul music with his topics of choice and this tune is no different— he uses his gifts to sing of issues dealing with black masculinity. Too often, black men are expected to be or fit certain stereotypes to be successful. PJ let us know from the get-go that he’s not trying to fit into anyone’s small mind of what they think he should be. #blackboyjoy

3. James Blake - “Not Long Now"

My first introduction to James seven years ago. This track attracts me with its musical rawness and minimalism. I love playing this shit as loud as I can in the car, especially for the end.

4. Cheryl Lynn (feat. Luther Vandross) - "If This World Were Mine"

The blaxploitation film, ‘The Wood’ introduced this tune to a new generation of black teens and adolescents back in the late 90’s early 2000’s. Of course we heard our parents jamming this out at the cookout or in the car, but the movie added a freshness of young love to it. Something a young heart yearned for or could relate to. I recently rewatched ‘The Wood’ and forgot about the magic this tune brought to scenes. I’ve had it on repeat since.

5. Nina Simone - "Do What You Gotta Do"

The High Priestess of Soul just doing her thing. Always have been a fan of Ms. Simone, but this particular track has been on repeat for me lately. 

Photo Credit: Rosie Cohe

Blake Rhein’s Picks:

1. The Whispers - "It Only Hurts For A Little While"

This is a really lovely doo-wop track from ‘64 or ‘65, long before they struck gold with "And The Beat Goes On." Their original label Dore re-released the cut on an LP 1980 with a bunch of percussion overdubbed. That's the version that's on Spotify, and I actually like it more than the original.

2. Jus’ Us - "Don't Stop Smiling"

To me, this is the definition of a soaring falsetto, especially when it gets toward the end of the track and he's really going for it.

3. Brothers Of Soul - "The Love I Found In You"

It's hard to pick a favorite from the Brothers of Soul catalog, but this one is definitely up there. There's an incredible video of the group lip-syncing to this track on a Detroit public access show in the 70s that's available on YouTube.

4. Sly Slick & Wicked - "Sho Nuff"

This is one of those songs that feels like it should be a lot more known than it is. It's undeniably catchy and the production is fantastic. Even after a prominent sample in Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie,”  the song is still pretty underground.

5. Dwight Sykes - "Walk With Me"

I always love discovering music from around my hometown. Dwight Sykes was originally from Kalamazoo, which is about an hour from where I grew up. Most of his recordings are just synths, drum machine, and vocals, which I absolutely love. However,"Walk With Me" features a full band, and I think it's his best work.

#durand jones & the indications #soul #Durand Jones and the indications

[lovechuunyuu]

KiraFes 2017 - 3 / 4 Day 1 Fan Report

So I went to KiraFes 2017 day 1 on March 4th. This was my third year participating in KiraFes! :3

Zoey and I took a taxi (my first taxi experience in Japan!) to Yokohama Arena. There were already girls lined up (what time did they get up and get there!?) but the line wasn’t too bad in my opinion. We waited for 4 hours and along the way, Misae joined us before they started selling at 8:45.

I only got one thing.

Once we got our goods, we went to Tully’s and stared at the pamphlet. Eventually, we killed some more time and we lined up to get in.

Of course I took pictures of the flower stands! xD

Even though I hit for the first application period, I got stands seats… orz but it turns out that the venue wasn’t too big!

After going in, I decided to go to the restroom and barely got to my seat right when they started.

I’m sure you can find a set-list for KiraFes somewhere! And as for my brief fan-report, I’m gonna just talk about songs for each group/singer that left an impression on me some parts will be out of order, okay? Each singer/group sings two or three songs and then change. xD

Trignal started things off this year with Update a Day. I think they were a bit nervous but I was really excited that they started off KiraFes! There was a cool 3D screen in addition to other screens. I didn’t like Wing’s hairstyle that much… even with his hair, I still love him. He gives out such great fanservice!! He waved to us a lot!! Egu’s mushroom hair was cute and Ryohei looked really good. <333

I screamed when I heard Blazing! I really love that song! (especially when it was performed at Trigal’s live with suit) but <333

Kamiya sang a few song that I thought was cute. He started off with a cute song as the second one up.

And of course the one that left an impression on me was that one song Ism Rhythm. A 40+ year old man doing hip thrusts and a sexy dance. He was holding the mic stand suggestively as well. And even did a hand motion to his err crotch. XD LOTS of screaming and fangirls dying. I was just really amused that he did it like it was nothing. XDDD

Oh and when he sang his official cover of “Nagareboshi,” it just made me miss Miyu. (Because it’s originally Miyu’s song but this is Kamiya’s cover… and it’s the rock version of it).

NamiDai was the third person up! XD

I remember he sang pretty cool songs! He danced a lot!! For one of his songs, a part of his jacket glowed in the dark! We were like oooooh!

Kakki was the fourth one up! My first thought was, “Oh, he was definitely a bit sick last year for KiraFes.” Because his voice was a lot deeper last year but this time, he sounded fine! He definitely has a unique way of singing! Othello was a really cool song! He put on a hat for the song.

Nobu was the next one up! At one point, he came out with a traditional Japanese outfit and did a cool dance with a Japanese fan! For another song, I clearly remembering thinking, “Wow… he can do body rolls.”

He was the last singer for KiraFes. Nobu talked about things that gave us a lot of FEELS… I can’t really remember what he said but they were very heartfelt. He talked about how there were many kinds of “Daijobu?” (Are you okay?) and how we are supported by those around us… that kind of talk. I think he also said the other members in Kiramune encouraged him to write the song. <3 Then he asked for everyone’s cooperation for the next song: 8piece. It’s a really great song!! He sang, “Daijobu” and the fans follow up with “Daijobu.” Nobu looked so emotional and looked as if he was gonna cry. AHHHHH ;w; As he was singing, these paper (actually I found out later that they were styrofoam) birds were released and flying around. I thought they were 3D images for some reason. XD Later I found out that some of them had signatures from the Kiramune members! XD

Yocchin looked really good! He sang while playing the guitar! At first it was acapella so it was nice. His voice also didn’t sound as rough as it usually did when he sung the song.

There was an ad-lib song… more like a song of him talking and he was using a megaphone for that song. XD I could hear him pretty clearly with the megaphone compared to the microphone. It was pretty interesting! I felt a bit confused because I had never heard such a song before.

Uncle Bomb!! sang pretty cool songs. There was this one song which sounded like a Spanish song… and they brought out these gold or silver capes and danced with them (think of bull-fighting capes).

The talk corner happened after every member/group sang two or three songs. It was a bit awkward with NamiDai trying to lead the convo. XDDD If you have seen him, you would know he’s the awkward one in the group and usually gets bullied by others… even by kouhais. XD The other members didn’t try to help. They couldn’t understand what he was trying to say and neither did we. XD

He even started a random topic going, “What do you do when you first enter a hotel?” So random! The other members thought it was a weird question as well. They were like, “What do you mean what do you do??” XD

At one point, Kamiya and NamiDai talked about something relating to their age and Wing went, “Shouldn’t you go, “Jiji janai!” (I’m not an old man!) in a cute voice. If you know Wing’s catch phrase… His catch phrase is “I’m not an old lady!” NamiDai asked him if he was a “bishojo (girl)” and he said he wasn’t. xDD When asked about the gender, Wing says that his gender is unidentified. XDDD He’s seriously so cuuuute!

When Kamiya left to get ready for the next song, I felt like the talk corner got even more awkward. Ryohei led the convo.at one point asking if there was anything the members wanted to try. NamiDai said he wanted to do something like the Tarzan kinda thing? XD

Anyway, after Nobu ended KiraFes, he left the stage and the fans began to chant, “Encore!” Though actually not everyone was saying it at the same time. XD

Encore time!

Then all the members came out and they sang Ever Dream!

Kakki started with Lesson A to B!!! You know how there was a break in the song? Well, Ryohei came onto the stage with other staff. The staff had an AB paper taped on his/her front or back? Kakki asked what they were doing here and Ryohei announced that they’re the AB team! Ryohei’s blood-type is AB. (Which made me miss Miyu because he’s AB too!!). Kakki asked Ryohei what a typical thing people with AB blood-type experience is. Ryohei answered, “When someone asks you, “What blood-type are you?” And then you answer, “Oh, AB.” And then he/she goes, “O-ohhh…” XDDD Like that reaction. It was really amusing. And then Kakki continued with the song and Ryohei joined in for a few parts! AHHHH

Wasshoi – Yocchin sang this song! And later on, Egu and Nobu joined and waved flags.

Panorama Soda – Trignal sang the song and toward the end of the song, the spotlight was on NamiDai and Kakki. And they were both laying down on beach chairs with sunglasses and sipping from a fancy glass with a flower on it (cocktail?). They were acting cool with the sunglasses. Trignal looked at them as if asking them, “What are you doing here? What are you doing?” kinda look. Ryohei tried to bother Kakki but Kakki just ignored him, acting cool. XD

Next was Kamiya with Harebare Heart!

Want You – Nobu sang the song and was eventually joined by Yocchin and Kamiya… and they even did the cute dance!!! Then they gathered together and Nobu suggested that they danced together so they did! Then Nobu suggested that they blow a kiss at the “I want you!” part. And each of them did it!! Kamiya did it with an unsure face. Yocchin seemed to exaggerate it if I remember? Then they did it together at the end!!

Funky Wave – NamiDai sang it and we participated in the wave! It’s a really fun song! Then toward the end, Trignal came out with a big electric fan and aimed it at NamiDai while Kakki threw big pieces of paper at him, which hit his face. All of the Kiramune members minus Kamiya joined in for the dance for Funky Wave. The dance moves looked like fish flopping. XD And Kamiya came at the end to do a tsukkomi.

I was so happy to hear Get Together! It’s one of my favorite songs

Then each of them gave a closing comment.

And finally, announcements were made!

Kiramune fan-meeting in Kyoto on July 30th!!! Egu, Ryohei, Kamiya, Yocchin, and NamiDai will attend!

And Trignal and Nobu joint live on September 30th and October 1st!!! When it was Trignal’s turn to give announcements, Ryohei dragged Nobu to read them. XD OMGGG Nobugnal! This is the first time I’ve ever heard of a joint live so I’m really excited!

I always enjoy attending KiraFes!!! It’s great to see all of them singing their songs although I missed Miyu. ;w; I will apply for the Kiramune fan meeting and try for Trignal and Nobu’s joint live if possible! I wonder what it will be like… xD

This should be the last of the fanreports I needed to write! I don’t think I’ll write one for Servamp! xD It’ll come out in DVD so... :3 Anyway, until next time! :3

#seiyuu #kimura ryohei #kamiya hiroshi #kirafes #okamoto nobuhiko #kakihara tetsuya #namikawa daisuke #yoshino hiroyuki #yonaga tsubasa #eguchi takuya #trignal #fanreport

[wehaveabullyingproblem]

DIVISIVENESS AND SELF-DESTRUCTION IN THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT

DIVISIVENESS AND SELF-DESTRUCTION IN THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT by Anselma dell'Olio

(Read at the May 1970 meeting of the Congress to Unite Women, New York; published in the Chicago Women's Liberation Union Newsletter, July 1970)

I have come to announce my swan-song to the women's movement. I am returning to the hordes of women living out their lives in quiet desperation. And I go with the sorrow and in the depths of despair known only to those who fall defeated just as they think that victory is in sight. I can think of no greater cruelty. Disappointment is far too mild a word. I have been destroyed. Defeated by myself perhaps, with a big push from my sisters in the struggle. I have decided to speak to you, instead of leaving quietly, in the hopes of preventing others from being destroyed and defeated as I have been. I learned 3½ years ago that women had always been divided against one another, were self-destructive and filled with impotent rage. I thought the movement would change all that. I never dreamed that I would see the day when this rage, masquerading as pseudo-egalitarian radicalism under the "pro-woman" banner, would turn into frighteningly vicious anti-intellectual fascism of the left, and used within the movement to strike down sisters singled out for punishment with all the subtlety and justice of a kangaroo court of the Ku Klux Klan. I am referring, of course, to the personal attacks, both overt and insidious, to which women in the movement, who have painfully managed any degree of achievement, have been subjected.

These attacks take different forms. The most common and pervasive is character assassination; the attempt to undermine and destroy belief in the integrity of the individual under attack. Needless to say this generally takes place behind the woman’s back. Another form is the "purge". This is also done by devious methods and usually takes the form of phone calls to the woman's friends or group-members, sometimes followed by a meeting carefully convocated without the knowledge of the woman to be purged. In other words, the ultimate tactic is to isolate her. If she has a close friend in the group, that friend is told the group finds their relationship destructive. The power of suggestion and collective attack is used to elicit grievances or problems that are likely to exist in any relationship. These are then played upon and the friend is co-opted if that is at all possible… and this is made attractive as she is offered to be taken to the bosom of a whole new set of "friends" who will applaud her courage and second her decision should she show signs of faltering. If the friend persists in her loyalty and insists that the only honest thing to do is to confront the woman personally, the deed is exposed -- but the damage is done. The rape of the ego is accomplished in any case. Before we got it from men, now we’re getting it from our sisters -- and often from those who espouse the pro-woman line the most strongly. Those whose surface personalities are the least "forceful", the most "feminine" or "womanly" -- and who do they attack? Generally two categories -- some women are unlucky to fall into both -- achievement or accomplishment of any kind would seem to be the worst crime. Write a book, publish an article, appear on TV, be interviewed in the newspapers, start a theater group dedicated to feminist principles, make a film, be asked to give a lecture and do it well so that you're asked back again or referred to other places. Do anything, in short, that every other woman secretly or otherwise feels she could do just as well -- and baby, watch out, because you're in for it. If then, God forbid, you should also have the qualities of the second category open to attack, buy yourself a suit of armour, or head for the Himalayas; that is, you are assertive, have what is generally described as a "forceful personality", if you "come on strong" even if you're talking about potato chips… if, in short, you do not fit the conventional stereotype of a "feminine" woman -- if you are a bitch -- forget it baby, it's all over, unless you have the patience of Penelope, the shell of an armadillo and the perennial optimism of Voltaire's "Candide" -- in which case what the hell do you need the women's movement for anyway?

If you are in the first category (an achiever) you are immediately labelled a thrill-seeking opportunist, a ruthless mercenary, out to make her fame and fortune over the dead bodies of selfless sisters who have buried their abilities and sacrificed their ambitions for the greater glory of Feminism. Productivity seems to be the major crime -- but if you have the misfortune of being outspoken and articulate, you are also accused of being power-mad, elitist, fascist, and finally the worst epithet of all: A MALE IDENTIFIER, AAARRGGG!!

The interesting thing about these attacks is that they are seldom if ever, logical, consistent, or in good faith. Whether the attack takes the form of back-biting invective, or even more insidiously a "straight-from-the-shoulder" "We're telling you this for you own good" or "everybody agrees with us" or a last ditch "my politics are superior and you're a decadent sell-out" and "you'll be ostracized if you don’t go along," it (the attack) is invariably couched in the best New Left-cum-Women's Lib rhetoric.

To emerge unscathed from this kind of assault is impossible. The effects I have observed, to name just a few, are 1) gradual or immediate decrease in productivity; 2) an upsurge in self-doubt; 3) depletion of whatever ego-strength had been salvaged from our pasts or recovered during the early stages of the movement; 4) an increase in impotence and passivity coupled with a rampant paranoia (completely justified); 5) a severe dropping off of self-confidence and faith in one's ability; 6) a detailed and obsessive self-examination for real or imagined sins which is completely useless since the mind-fucking has destroyed objectivity.

I do not feel that I have stated the case too strongly. However, my intention was not just to bring this festering sore into the open, but to suggest some concrete guidelines to correct the situation, before we lose or destroy some of the best minds this movement is ever likely to have.

1)      Beware of criticizing achievements by others in the movement. Examine your conscience; are you sure you are not being motivated by jealousy or envy?

2)      It is natural for a woman to feel creatively "blocked". Perhaps hose who have broken through the "block" can help you. That's what this movement is all about.

3)      Fear of competition is nothing to be ashamed of if you can admit it and confront it and not allow it to cloud your opinions of another's accomplishments.

4)      Watch your motives when you are telling another woman "what's good for her" or when you are criticizing other peoples' relationships. (i.e. "I think your friendship with X is destructive.")

5)      Be cautious about using movement rhetoric to justify personality conflicts or personal grievances.

6)      Don't fall into the trap of confusing leadership qualities with a desire to "be a leader". In the same vein, don't confuse achievement or productivity with a desire to be a leader.

7)      As long as we have rejected the masculine definition of "feminine behavior" let's not fall into the trap of feeling antagonism towards women with forceful or assertive personalities.

8)      Remember there are all kinds of ways to manipulate. Manipulation can be exerted just as much by a docile, sweet-natured person as it can be by a forceful person -- and it's a good deal less obvious, therefore more potentially dangerous.

9)      Women with aggressive / assertive personalities have been getting flack all their lives for not being "lady-like" or feminine enough. They didn't join the movement to get the same shit from their sisters just because the words have changed from "unlady-like" to "male-identifier".

10)   A desire for power is no more an automatic consequence of a forceful personality than it is of a non-forceful one.

11)   "STRONG" women do not necessarily want power. "WEAK" women do not necessarily NOT want power.

12)   Participants in consciousness-raising sessions should learn to deal with personal animosities towards members of the group openly and honestly and explicitly during the session itself, WHILE THE MEMBER UNDER DISCUSSION IS PRESENT.

a) The discussion should be motivated by a genuine desire for mutual enlightenment rather than a subterranean desire for a personal attack.

b) The discussion should foster group unity and a better understanding of how women perpetuate their own oppression on each other and thus remain divided, just as men have divided us all along.

c) The group should keep in mind the destructive potential of such a discussion, especially if critiques of personalities come into play.

d) If the discussion at any time shows signs of being or becoming a personal attack, it is the responsibility of each woman to intercede immediately, and draw attention to this fact.

e) No matter what happens, we should always have the assurance of mutual support. If differences cannot be resolved, discuss the possibility of splitting into different groups openly before doing so, with all members of the original group present.

One last plea: If we women are ever to pull ourselves out of the morass of self-pity, self-destruction and impotence which has been our heritage for as long as we can remember, then it is perhaps even more important that we be as supportive of each other's achievements and successes and strengths, than it is for us to be compassionate and understanding of each other's failures and weaknesses.

#bullying #social aggression #feminism #social justice #relevant to tumblr's interests