#new career high may 2021

[amourdivine]

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄'𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐘 ઉ   pick a card

Hello, lovelies. I hope you're doing really well this Valentines season and if not, I'm sending you some big hugs! Today, I bring to you a more general-style type of reading. Let's look into how this person views you, shall we? If you liked this reading, please consider tipping me at @ [email protected]! xo ♡

paid readings are closed as of february 2024

none of the images are mine unless stated otherwise!

pick a card masterlist & information

how to choose your pile.  take a few deep breaths for and look at each and of the piles separately. see which one brings you to a feeling, a place or a memory. take your time and feel free to come back to it later!

amourdivine | 2021 - 2024 © do not copy, redistribute or edit my content.

୨୧ PILE ONE

knight of swords ✧ the sun ✧ king of pentacles ✧ five of cups ✧ five of wands

This pile feels like you're either in a new relationship or some kind of situationship. Take what resonates for you! Honestly, from what the cards tell me, it will be a little chaotic, rushed and different from what you expected. It's nothing bad, but you may feel like you or your Valentine didn't plan it in its entirety. There may be too many unpredictable events.

You'll have fun, surely. It seems like you may go some place very beautiful and expensive, but it may not fulfill yours or your partner's expectations. I think either one of you may feel really upset about it, like a date gone wrong or maybe some sort of petty argument takes place instead of enjoying one another's company. Like I said, I don't think it'll be necessarily awful, it feels more like a series of unfortunate events taking place and not going according to plan.

If it's an expensive restaurant, you may find the food kind of sucks or, alternatively, if it's a carnival ride, it may rain and you might have to cancel it. Or- maybe your partner gets called at work and you can't spend it together.

There's a feeling of crying over spilled milk, of a lost opportunity. However, this day will highlight what's really important to the both of you - the relationship or perfection? I think both of you will have to weigh in and find a solution or some kind of compromise. It's an opportunity for the both of you to truly prioritize each other and pursue happiness.

୨୧ PILE TWO

three of pentacles ✧ knight of pentacles ✧ three of cups ✧ the tower ✧ ten of swords

I don't see a lot of romance here, pile two! I don't think it's what you're looking for. You look like you're someone who's recently single and ready to mingle. It's likely you're approaching relationships from a more practical and slower pace, scared to rush into anything after someone broke your heart really badly.

Either you'll work and enjoy the day with your work colleagues (I see people eating candy and treating themselves to all the pink food in the world) or you'll spend it with your friends, partying, going out and clubbing, mayhaps? You seem more focused on your career and friendships than love right now. That's okay! You'll have so much fun, just be mindful of excesses and remember to treat you body kindly.

I don't see you interested in anyone either. I get the feeling you might reject potential suitors over being heartbroken, emotionally unavailable or just... focused on yourself right now. This pile has more of a #girl boss feeling, but not in a bad way or anything. I feel a lot of Earth placements - Capricorn and Virgo standing out the most. It's okay to have high standards, pile two. You don't have to set the bar low just because other people have nothing to bring to the table. Good for you!

୨୧ PILE THREE

ace of wands ✧ ace of cups ✧ page of cups ✧ nine of pentacles ✧ seven of swords

This pile almost screams "self care" to me. The term could signify wildly different things to each of you, but I see someone planning and enjoying a relaxing, self-indulgent day ahead. Lots of facial mascara, skin treatments, maybe a mini spa day for yourself. You're replenishing your energy this Valentine's day and tuning into yourself, calling your vitality and strength back to you.

You may buy yourself flowers, spoil yourself with an expensive perfume, maybe makeup products or something you've had your eyes on for a while. There's a luxurious feel to it, a feeling of peace and calm. You may spend it somewhere nice - like a nice hotel room or maybe near a body of water, somewhere beautiful and expensive.

This pile feels very independent, but open to love. I think you're sort of.. preparing your life to accommodate love in it. Most, if not all people from this pile are single, but I think you are in a place where you feel ready, with a stable sense of self and in a fruitful phase for a new, loving relationship. I also feel some of you may be polyamorous, for some reason.

It's a very self-loving energy here regardless. I smell roses and chocolate, nice candy, jewelry and I see someone dressing up solely for themselves, putting makeup or perfume on to look and feel good for themselves.

୨୧ PILE FOUR

page of cups ✧ the empress ✧ eight of pentacles ✧ three of pentacles ✧ six of pentacles

You're celebrating love in all of its forms, pile four. This is the only pile where I feel that your relationship status doesn't really matter as much. It's gonna vary very wildly for most of you, but the underlying theme is the same: making room for all relationships to flourish in your life.

I see someone texting their friends, family and loved ones wishing them a happy Valentine's Day. It's quite loving, lighthearted and carefree. You'll also feel the love around you. It gives me Disney princess vibes, when they sing or dance around town and everyone seems enchanted by it, lol. It's very cute!

Maybe you're not really focused on romance or you just love love in all its forms and it seems like it's coming back to you tenfold. I could see someone strolling around town with a big smile plastered on their face. You will likely celebrate in small, but meaningful ways. I don't see partying here per se, but you may grab coffee with your friends or enjoy a heartshaped muffin. Valentine's Day is everyone else's excuse to wear and use all things pink, and I can see you doing that too.

There's a prominent Venusian feeling with the Empress here, like being in love with life and taking this day as another moment to remind the people around you how much they matter to you. You may even give or receive cute Valentine's Day cards.

amourdivine | 2021 - 2024 © do not copy, redistribute or edit my content.

#pick a card #tarotblr #tarot reading #pick a card reading #pac reading #tarot #witchblr #pac #pac tarot #spirituality #divination #astrology #occult #*

[plasticflwrs]

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ DISCOGRAPHY — Under the cut, you will find an IN DEPTH look into the career of South Korea's favorite idol band, Plastic Flowers. Beginning in 2016, they would rebrand after failing to make a profit in 2017 and find true success with TEETH in 2020, just a few months before their 16 month hiatus would begin. In 2022, they came back stronger than ever with I'M ALIVE and have consistently topped the music charts since. They are known for their promotional style which revolves around a spring and fall release each other, amounting to about 16 releases across singles, minis, their three full studio albums. Despite their constant stream of releases, the quality never suffers despite being completely self-produced since all five members are now involved in the writing process.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ TRIGGER WARNINGS — Death of a parent, descriptive mention of eating disorders + treatment ( 2021 section ). If this piece is too triggering, please DM and I can give you a summary of what happens!

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2016 !

Compared to their underground counterparts, idol bands have been relatively successful in the past as seen with FNC's trio of FT Island, CNBLUE, and N.Flying along with JYP's newest venture, Day6. However, Plastic Flowers would fall under the radar due to the influx of third generation groups debuting between 2014 and 2016 with all three of the major companies debuting at least one new group during that time. Plastic Flowers would debut as four members with SALEM, DAL, JIHUN, and GWYN on May 15, 2016 with the lead single SCARED from their single album LET ME GO. While the two songs were praised by music critics, it failed to reach the general public. Along with their other single album, it would sell 46 copies total within the year and has never been reprinted. Original copies of the album are priced very high on second-hand selling websites and no "real fans" currently own a copy. LET ME GO and MENTALISM were even taken off of all major streaming platforms until fans demanded for it's return in 2022.

MV VIEWS: 1.2 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

In their debut, Plastic Flowers explores themes of fear and insecurity through the song SCARED. The lyrics suggest hesitant to approach someone and an inability to express oneself freely, with most fans interpreting this to relate to Salem's original group THE BIG GLOOM, which she left the year prior. The phrase why are you scared? repeats throughout the song and highlights a sense of frustration with the fear and reluctance in their relationship, despite attempts to change. The narrator yearns for reassurance and validation, seeking comfort in the hope that their fears and uncertainties will fade away.

This line-up would release their second and final single album MENTALISM in November of 2016 with the title track MOUSE. This would be a continuation of their previous release, in terms of themes and inability to perform well on music charts. Though Mouse is beloved by fans now, it made no noise in 2016 and remains their worst performing single of all time, selling even worse than their debut single. Mentalism marked their first attempts at performing at small venues like bars and other restaurants, however, due to Oliver's age, they were often denied by the promotional teams. They would return to busking and posting covers in hopes of gaining more fans. At the end of 2016, it was announced by Superbloom Media would be placed on INDEFINITE HIATUS as they evaluated where to go forward. DAL and JIHUN would leave not long after, moving to larger companies and debuting in traditional idol groups instead.

MV VIEWS: 3.9 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0.

In 2024, MOUSE is often compared to their later b-side BRAND NEW CITY from their 2023 album OHIO IMPROMPTU. Both discuss the sense of dread from being in one's prime and dreading what comes later. Mouse is described as what happens after the narrator of Brand New City moves and realizes that they need to find a way to survive, that simply moving was not enough to change their feelings and create happiness. The narrator vows to "find love / and find a way to survive here", giving them a new sense of hope for the remaining time that they have and will move on from the silence.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2017 !

In September 2017, Plastic Flowers would return with an almost completely new lineup composed of SALEM, JUNYEONG, MINGHUI, SERIN, and OLIVER. Oliver would drop his initial stage name, Gwyn, during this rebrand for an unknown reason, though he still uses it to produce for other groups. They would release ROCKSTAR from the album SOCIAL REJECTS to limited success. They would sell 99 copies of their third single album, doubling the previous records set by LET ME GO and MENTALISM. Superbloom Media would also shift their promotional style in favor of the more traditional idol route, getting them performances on Music Bank and The Show for three weeks.

MV VIEWS: 3.4 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0.

ROCKSTAR moves away from their traditional melancholic sound for more critiques of the social landscape. Rockstar explores themes of frustration and defiance in the face of judgement and control from others. They are seen as a suspect, watched closely, and labeled as a hopeless murder by those around them. Similar to their other tracks, this is believed to have been written after the conflict with The Big Gloom and is Salem's take on it. Those around the narrator continuously reject and oppose them, leading to a growing sense of resentment with the world around them. The chorus emphasizes the narrator's resolve to stay true to themselves because they believe they are doing nothing wrong. This song would be revisited in 2024 and a re-recording with new pianist Oh Deurim would be included in their third studio album RUTHLESS ROCKSTARS as a b-side.

With a small but mighty fanbase under their belt, Plastic Flowers would return in December 2017 with their first mini-album NORTH STAR, which had five songs including the title track FREEDOM. This release would double their catalogue and allow for slow growth across the next few years. THE BIG GLOOM, composed of the four original members, would also release their newest album over Soundcloud that same day, leading to tensions amongst new and old fans as the debate of what Salem should have done returned. Rather than alienating the old fans, they went back to their old sound to prove that nothing has changed and Plastic Flowers will only be a better version of her previous band. NORTH STAR was promoted similarly to their previous single album with performances on all major South Korean music shows and even an appearance on The After School Club to connect with international fans.

MV VIEWS: 6.7 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

FREEDOM returns to their original sound with the themes of liberation and desire to break from societal constraints from ROCKSTAR still following them. Freedom opens with lyrics expressing uncertainty about what to sing about, overwhelmed by the abundance of refrain in the world and emphasizes their understanding of the path that they have chosen. The narrator proclaims that they have finally found their own way and the metaphor of cutting the moon and devouring the night suggests a rebellious mindset, choosing to defy expectations and live freely. Freedom encourages fans to let go of the norm and find their own path, breaking from societal expectations for their own happiness.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2018 !

2018 would cement Superbloom's promotional style for Plastic Flowers as they release an album in the spring and fall, the seasons in which they have found the band to be most popular in. The first release of 2018 was HIGHER & HIGHER, their second mini-album with the lead single LET'S GET LOST. This release continued their momentum forward and there was nothing out of the ordinary during this era. They were slowly being included in more variety shows, as seen by their joint appearance with Day6 on Weekly Idol and their first invitations to a major award show with the Golden Disc Awards and Seoul Music Awards. They were not nominated or even performed, but their photos from the red carpet got people talking about the unknown group.

MV VIEWS: 5.7 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

By now, Plastic Flowers had also shown what their lyrical concept would be as they created another song about escaping hardships of life and embarking on a journey of self-discovery. The narrator has a desire to let go of the past and leave behind anything that feels uncertain in LET'S GET LOST. The verses encourages themselves and their companions to leave behind their negative experiences as they "open the curtains" and lock the door behind them. Later lines capture the excitement of encountering new experiences and embracing the unknown, showing their growth away from the past that seemed to follow them and rising above.

LOVE ME? would be the last Plastic Flowers album fully written and produced solely by SALEM and Superbloom's in-house production team. All of the members were growing interested in producing their own music, especially the two youngest members—Serin and Oliver. They had submitted drafts to Superbloom for Love Me?, however they were not chosen. Interviews this era were a bit tense because of this and Salem wanting to keep her creative control over the group. Superbloom would also give Plastic Flowers their first reality show, FLOWER SHOWERS, which followed them around and tried to show fans the "real" members.

MV VIEWS: 6.3 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

TWENTY-ONE revolves around the themes of heartbreak, disappointment, and the realization that a once-special relationship has come to an end. The lyrics depict the emotions of someone who believed their relationship was unique and meaningful, only to discover that their partner does not feel the same. This is famously thought to be about former bandmate YING SHUHANG, more commonly known by his stage name IRUM. Throughout high school and much of their career together, they dated and broke up around the same time Salem left to join Superbloom Media. Through this song, she is coming to terms with the relationship being over after asking "why don't you adore me?" over and over again. She uses the concept of sleep and going to be bed to bury the past and move on from the relationship, showing that she would be ready to move on once she wakes up.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2019 !

Plastic Flowers would release HYPOCREEP in March 2019, right before OLIVER was set to appear on the new survival talent competition show SUPERBAND, produced by JTBC. Despite the sound change, Hypocreep was met with positive reaction from fans and is their first mini-album to sell over 1,000 copies in the first month. It is often seen as a turning point for the band as their releases following would follow a similar sound and is the first song to credit another band member besides Salem, that being OLIVER. This would be the first of a long partnership between the two that would eventually fizzle out during their 2022 hiatus. Hypocreep is also one of the most popular songs for other idols and bands to cover given the technical requirements of each instrument.

MV VIEWS: 7.4 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

HYPOCREEP expresses frustration towards people who are hypocritical and fake, particularly those who are thirsty for drama and attention on the internet. The singer identifies as a "hypocreep," which is a term they use to describe themselves as a different breed of person who is hyper and freaky. The singer acknowledges that they may be seen as strange or abnormal to others, but they do not care because those same people secretly wish they could be like the singer.

While Hypocreep opened the door for other members writing, THE CHAIN would be the first time another member would sing on a Plastic Flowers track. The Chain is a duet between Salem and Oliver and would mark the beginning for a lead singer change. It was under the direction of Kim Yuchan, a first generation soloist, and he advised the change since Oliver was well liked by the general public after Superband. THE CHAIN still remains a fan favorite song and would give the band their first award show nomination on Show! Music Core, much to the band's surprise. Most of the members recall this era as the first time they actually felt loved by the audience and could see people singing along.

MV VIEWS: 10.2 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 1.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

The main message of THE CHAIN is that relationships can be enduring, even if they have difficulties. The first verse describes the struggles of having a relationship and feeling powerless to their partner's actions. They discuss the idea that a love can endure even in these moments of darkness, as the lover is trying to tell the other that they would never break the chain that binds them together. There is a strong guitar and bass solo--played by SALEM and OLIVER--that represents the strong connection between them that won't be broken so easily. The end is a plea to stay together, to keep the chain together, and not run into the shadows away from each other.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2020 !

Fans of Plastic Flowers fall into two camps for their 2020 releases: either loving it or hating everything it stands for. Due to it's "inappropriate lyrics" FOR YOUR LOVE was banned by all the major South Korean music shows and would be promoted in a series of live concerts instead. They would instead promote READY TO FLY as their title track for this era, saving the performances of For Your Love for their smaller performances. Not long after the conclusion of For Your Love's promotions, Superbloom Media would confirm SALEM and OLIVER's relationhip, which had begun at the end of the year prior. This would be another reason why people did not like the song as it showed their relationship was taking away from making songs about important topics, not just each other.

MV VIEWS: 29.2 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. Banned.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. Banned.

FOR YOUR LOVE talks about the desire to please and satisfy someone in a romantic relationship. The lyrics in the verses describe the singer's intent to be the first thing on the person's mind and engage in sexual activity with them. The chorus reinforces the theme of doing anything for the person they love. The bridge highlights the singer's willingness to give everything they have to their partner and the importance of communication in the relationship. The outro repeats the sentiment that the singer is willing to do anything for their partner's love. 

TEETH, and it's accompanying album LOVESICKNESS, continues with the themes from FOR YOUR LOVE. Unlike the previous song, it was actually allowed on music shows and was loved by their fanbase for the aesthetics that came with it. Due to the show going semi-viral on TWITTER thanks to a tweet by a poppy asking "what business Plastic Flowers had releasing" the song, LOVESICKNESS sold over 10,000 copies by the end of the year. This would also be the final time they were promote prior to their 16 month hiatus, making it special to their fans. Teeth would later become a sleeper hit by going viral once again and entering the top 10 on the Circle Chart after being used on an OST.

MV VIEWS: 229.6 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 3.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

The major themes of TEETH relate to toxic and tumultuous relationships, with the lyrics depicting the ups and downs of being someone that can be both loving and hurtful. Written completely by OLIVER, many fans have begun to debate the real meaning of the song as it relates to his former relationship with Salem. In TEETH, the protagonist realizes that the person they are with is full of contradictions as they compare their lover to a pair of teeth. The lover's heart is described as having teeth, meaning that while they may talk sweetly, they can also hurt and bite. The relationship is very complicated, in which both parties are hurting each other but can't let go with the narrator realizing that they are losing themself by the end of the song and maybe even the relationship.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2021 !

The GOODNIGHT era was spent dreading what would come next for Plastic Flowers. It was obvious that the members were losing steam as shown by their smaller performances and the constant cancellation of their performances at their bar, Cheeky's. The release of 403 only made that worse as they went back to the melancholic sound and promotions outside of music shows were cut short. In fear of losing the band, Poppies made sure that it sold well, achieving a record-breaking 14,000 copies in the first month alone and securing them more music show nominations. However, it seemed that nothing they were doing was enough as Plastic Flowers slowly slipped away from the public eye.

MV VIEWS: 122.9 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 3.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

403 focuses on liberation and moving forward from a difficult past. In the verses, detachment and release from pain and regret is encouraged alongside the image of taking off one's shoes and lying on the floor as an escape. The narrator wants the listener to forget about the past and focus on the possibilities of the future, becoming an active participant in their life rather than remaining passive. There is a reoccurring theme of breaking free as shown through the lyrics "get up in the morning" and "get out of deception", indicating the need to rise above negative situations and leave them behind. It suggests that nothing valuable can be obtained by staying where they are currently and encourages them to let go and move on.

Despite GOODNIGHT selling well, Plastic Flowers were put on an unofficial hiatus two months after it's initial release. Superbloom would be intentionally vague about the details behind the scenes to keep everything under wraps, however, sasaengs exposed the truth. Not only were they on hiatus to "fight burnout", but Oliver had returned to his hometown of Boston after the death of his father and Jiyeon had been checked into an eating disorder treatment by their manager, Cheon Garam. During this time, Salem and Oliver would also BREAK UP, creating a new tension within the band. The band's social media—both company owned and personal—would go completely dormant from March 2021 to April 2022, leaving many to believe that the group would never return and would be lost just before they achieved stardom.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2022 !

Just when most fans began to lose hope for Plastic Flowers to comeback, Superbloom did the unthinkable: dropping a new set of teasers for a full album called INTERNET BLUES. During this time, it was also revealed that MINGHUI had left the band and was replaced by Timefighter contestant OH DEURIM, who had failed to make it into the debut line-up by one place. According to Minghui, he left on good terms with the members but could no longer handle the idol life anymore. Despite how protective poppies are, they surprisingly welcomed Deurim with open arms and wanted to see what she could bring to the table. INTERNET BLUES would be released on May 5, 2022 with the title track I'M ALIVE, which secured them their FIRST WIN and first NOMINATION at a major award show after selling 100,000 copies.

MV VIEWS: 392.9 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 8.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 2.

I'M ALIVE is an uplifting song that talks about the feeling of overcoming challenges and persevering through tough times. They promise that even in the midst of uncertainty and darkness, the singer declares that they will keep themselves alive. The chorus serves as a mantra of sorts as the singer repeatedly affirms that they are alive and won't give up. The idea of "highlight" suggests that even in the bleakest moments of life, one can find something beautiful to hold onto. The bridge encourages listeners to keep searching, keep breathing, and keep alive. It's a call to action to hold onto life and never give up. 

Plastic Flowers would return to their original promotional schedule with the release of PSYCHO, the title track for their first studio album, CALL ME CRAZY that November. The studio album was celebrated by all fans as it finally meant that Plastic Flowers were confirming that they were here to stay despite their earlier issues. The members looked so much more alive this era and they even held their first FAN SIGN, which went as well as expected. The members had fun with their fans, but hated the constant requests for cuteness or prying into their personal relationships. They would hold their own formal CONCERT, with over three thousand people in attendance.

MV VIEWS: 323.4 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 9.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 3.

PSYCHO explores themes of obsession and dependency in a relationship. The lyrics depict a protagonist who is deeply infatuated with someone to the point of being obsessed, as represented by the repeated phrase "I can't stop thinking about you." The protagonist seeks answers and validation from a doctor, indicating a desperation for a solution to their intense emotions. They recognize their own exaggerated behavior, acknowledging that they may appear crazy or "psycho" to others. The chorus reinforces the protagonist's obsession, stating that they cannot live a day without thinking about this person. It conveys a sense of dependency and the idea that the protagonist's life revolves entirely around the object of their affection.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2023 !

Coming into 2023, Poppies were promised many exciting things from the band. In March, Oliver's solo BURNOUT SYNDROME with the lead single STARTING LINE would be released to overwhelming success, cementing his popularity with the general public and showing everyone that he was here to stay. Though fans were happy for him, the same could not be said for his bandmates as SALEM and JUNYEONG began a smear campaign that lasted throughout the entire promotional period. Oliver would ignore any questions about the situation and chose to move on from it instead, celebrating his own achievements rather than focusing on those around him. In June, the band would come back as five to release LOVE AND WAR with the lead single of the same name, which became their best selling record at that point at just under 1 million copies.

MV VIEWS: 748.3 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 10.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 7.

WAR tells the story of a broken relationship, in which the narrator realizes there isn't much to save if they cannot stop fighting. They are beginning to realize there isn't much to save and they have lost their love for each other, leading towards a state of emptiness or insignificance. The song's title WAR comes from the lyric "war of attrition without benefit", highlight that this war between the lovers is doing nothing to help with their current problems. The narrator wants to call a ceasefire, but it seems that their relationship's end if inevitable. Written by Oliver, many fans believe that this song was written about the end of his relationship with Salem, which has never been confirmed or denied by Oliver or Superbloom Media.

#long post #﹙ 🎸 ﹚ ✶ ׅ plastic flowers ノ discography #﹙ 🎸 ﹚ ✶ ׅ plastic flowers ノ development #kpop oc #idol oc #fictional idol community #kpop addition #oc kpop group #kpop fanfic #kpop au #bts addition #fictional idol oc #idolverse #oc boy group #oc girl group #oc coed group #idol au #fictional idol group #fake kpop oc #fake kpop girl group #fake kpop idol #stray kids addition

[weclassybouquetfun]

In 2021 the limited series on the career of designer Halston (Roy Halston Frowick, portrayed by Ewan McGregor) waltzed down Netflix's catwalk. Now we have at least three series chronicling the lives and careers of designers.

Currently on Disney+ in Europe is the exquisite CRISTÓBAL BALENCIAGA centering on, guess who? Spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga, starring Alberto San Juan (Reyes De La Noche) as Balenciaga.

It's an interesting story about this enigmatic fashion genius that shows his steadfastness in his devotion to fashion to the sacrifice, some may say, of ethics due to the fact that while other fashion houses were shut down during Germany's occupation of some parts of France, he readily made clothes for the significant others of German soldiers.

The series also shines a light on Balenciaga's relationship with his creative partner and love-of-his-life Wladzio d'Attainville (played by Thomas Coumans).

Among the designers who appear or are name-checked in CRISTÓBAL BALENCIAGA is Christian Dior and Coco Chanel. These two fashion legends will appear in AppleTV+'s upcoming mini-series THE NEW LOOK with Ben Mendelsohn as Dior and Juliette Binoche as Coco Chanel and takes place during Germany's occupation of France.

THE NEW LOOK will feature covers of classics by Florence + and The Machine, Lana del Rey, The 1975, Perfume Genius and more.

Sometimes this year (at least I hope this year) will be KAISER KARL (apparently the title may be changed) starring Daniel Brühl as Kunty Karl Lagerfeld

centering on him as a 38-year old trying to break into the Parisian world of high fashion where he finds himself in competition with he finds himself in competition with French fashion giants like Yves Saint Laurent.

The only Yves Saint Laurent depiction worth a damn. RIP beautiful Gaspard Ulliel 

What is fashion if there's no one to wear it? For example, the high society ladies that will be depicted in the upcoming installment of FX's FEUD: CAPOTE VS. THE SWANS.

Hopefully this series will do justice to the mythos behind writer Truman Capote's nuclear fall out with the so-called Swans - a moniker Capote gave the socialites whose company he kept and whose secrets he didn't.

Playing Capote is Tom Hollander

Naomi Watts as Babe Paley, wife of CBS founder William S. Paley (which the annual PaleyFest is named after), Diane Lane as Slim Keith, ex-wife of famed director Howard Hawks, producer Leland Hayward amongst others; Calista Flockhart as Lee Radziwill, sister of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Demi Moore Ann Woodward who got her place in society by being the wife of a banking heir,

Demi, that looks like a flamingo, not a swan.

Chloe Sevigny as Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali muse C.Z. Guest, Molly Ringwald as JoAnne Carson, ex-wife of late-night talk show host Johnny Carson and the only Swan who remained friends with Capote after his ouster from their social circle.

TBT Elle magazine getting animated with fashion.

Goofy as Kunty Karl Lagerfeld.

#cristobal balenciaga #the new look #tv talk #ben mendelsohn #alberto san juan #daniel brühl #feud: capote vs the swans #long post #kaiser karl #disney #designers #fashion #fashion designers #cartoon characters #christian dior #coco chanel #yves saint laurent #daniel bruhl #chloe sevigny #demi moore #donatella versace #marc jacobs #dolce & gabbana #juliette binoche #gaspard ulliel #truman capote #capote vs the swans #lana del rey #florence and the machine #john galliano

[mariacallous]

It was the literary scandal of the decade, the ultimate betrayal and, it turned out, the end of Truman Capote’s career. Published in Esquire in November 1975, “La Côte Basque 1965”, an excerpt from Capote’s then-forthcoming novel Answered Prayers, saw the celebrated writer share the innermost secrets (and most scandalous gossip) entrusted to him by his beloved Swans, the wealthy and glamorous group of high-society women that included Babe Paley, Slim Keith, Gloria Guinness, Lee Radziwill, Marella Agnelli and CZ Guest.

Visceral in its revelations of substance abuse, sexual assault, a murder cover-up, a graphic description of extra-marital period sex and, to top it off, bestiality, the article was a sensation for all the wrong reasons. It saw Capote deserted by his closest friends and shunned from the New York clique he had yearned to be a part of growing up – and, against the odds, had managed to infiltrate as an adult thanks to the success of his novels In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Capote’s questionable actions (and the irresistible drama they precipitated) form the backbone of Ryan Murphy’s long-awaited Feud, inspired by Laurence Leamer’s bestselling 2021 book, Capote’s Women. An all-star cast will bring the man and his muses back to life when the Gus Van Sant-directed series premieres this month on FX in the US, but what was the real-life fallout from the publication of “La Côte Basque 1965” like for Capote and co?

“He never recovered from it,” says Ebs Burnough, director of the 2021 documentary The Capote Tapes, a five-year discovery project that saw him uncover hours of audio footage of Capote, and which gives the most thorough insight into the flawed figure to date. “[These were] friendships born and nurtured over 20-something years. All of a sudden, not one but all of his friends – who had been like his family, because he didn’t really have any family – were not speaking to him; there was literally nowhere for him to go. He was alone drinking, and the phone stopped ringing. He was a man alone on an island.”

Described by the New York Times as “the high-society temple of French cuisine”, La Côte Basque – just off Fifth Avenue and a stone’s throw from The Plaza – was a fine-dining eatery as famous for its juicy gossip as it was for its succulent Coeur de Filet Périgourdine. No one, however, dared to write about what was said and done there – until Capote. While his ostracising may seem like an obvious consequence for spilling society’s sordid secrets, Capote was flawed by the outrage.

Before publication, he boasted to People that he was planning on assassinating his characters with a pen instead of a gun: “There’s the handle, the trigger, the barrel, and, finally, the bullet. And when that bullet is fired from the gun, it’s going to come out with a speed and power like you’ve never seen – wham!”

Success was, in his head, assured, as Capote had been open about writing “La Côte Basque 1965”, bragging about the stories he would tell, continues Burnough. “He was working on that piece for over 20 years, so in his mind he didn’t anticipate the fall out because all of them knew he was working on it.” Upon the outrage, Capote was, “totally abandoned but also indignant”, he continues. “He even said, ‘Hey! What did they expect from me? I’m a writer!’”

Capote had form. “Remember, this was something he had done with Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” explains Burnough. “When you think about it, Holly Golightly is essentially a call girl, yet with Audrey Hepburn [playing her], and because it was so beautifully written, lots of New York socialites were saying, ‘Holly was based on me!’ There’s [even] a quote in The Capote Tapes where Babe’s daughter [Kate] says, ‘Mummy was so excited to be immortalised by such a famous author.’ So, I think he was certainly expecting great praise.”

Babe Paley was Capote’s most aggrieved victim of “La Côte Basque 1965”. In it, Slim Keith’s alias, Lady Ina Coolbirth, reveals to the fictionalised version of Capote, PB Jones, the story that Paley is said to have told Capote about catching her husband, CBS head Bill, in bed with another woman. When Capote rang the Paley household to see what they thought of “La Côte Basque”, Bill is said to have lied, claiming that it was thrown out before either of them could read it; a distraught Babe, who had read it, and who considered Capote her closest confidante, had terminal lung cancer at the time of its publication and never spoke to Capote again before her death in 1978.

Such dismissal of his work would have affected Capote, says Burnough, but the fallout from the Swans leaving him would have been even worse. “Babe Paley was his North Star. She was everything he aspired to be and everything his mother aspired to be. [His mother] had always wanted to be a socialite, so his obsession came from her wanting but not being a part of that world, and then abandoning him as a child. There’s a lot of mother psychology there.”

It makes total sense that Babe Paley was the victim of Capote’s worst betrayal, says Lisa Pomerantz, the New York-based brand expert with a lifelong obsession with Capote and his era of social commentators. “She was the one that opened up the most to him. He took total advantage of her because the others – Lee Radziwill, CZ Guest [et al] – were always more guarded,” she says. “The question is, did he do it knowingly? He was a tortured soul, mostly because of his relationship with his mother – that combined with his natural obsession with this aspirational life and Babe and Bill being the epitome of it.”

Having been sent from New Orleans to Alabama to be raised by relatives after his parents’ divorce, Capote is said to have been a lonely, introverted child searching for a sense of belonging. So why, having infiltrated the glitzy New York scene as a bonafide player, did he blow it all up?

In tandem with craving acceptance, psychologist Carolyn Mair muses that, deep down, Capote resented the world he had managed to become a part of. “People warmed to him and wanted to protect him as he projected an identity of both child and woman, yet his wit could be razor sharp. His ability to remember conversations verbatim made him a good source of gossip,” she says. “Yet as his psychological problems worsened, it seems reasonable to assume that his judgement also worsened.” Shocking others, she adds, “can also be a way of getting attention”.

The backlash from other circles would also have been keenly felt by Capote, continues Mair. “The Swans were the high society who lived aspirational lives and were the envy of women across the States and elsewhere,” she says. “Ordinary people would have read about these women and their lifestyles in the press and fashion magazines and would relate to them as if they were also their friends. The publication of ‘La Côte Basque 1965’ would likely have triggered a shocked sense of betrayal amongst the readers of popular and fashion press at the time.”

Perhaps the most interesting upshot of the “La Côte Basque 1965” scandal, though? The ways in which it laid the groundwork for tabloid culture, says Burnough. “This was an era [in America] when no one even talked about the fact that Franklin Roosevelt was in a wheelchair, let alone the affairs people were having, let alone as graphically as Truman did. As the late, great John Richardson said, ‘[Capote] took the lid off a pile of shit’ and it started the exposé culture we have today. It was a real ‘gotcha!’ moment for the rich and famous.”

[jmdbjk]

Episode 6: Begin and Again

Beyond the Star, produced by HYBE Media Studio

Why is it titled Begin AND Again and not Begin Again? That was my question. Let's delve...

It opens with Hobi working on PROOF, the anthology album. I'm guessing the clip we see was filmed late 2021. Maybe between October and December. He says the concept of PROOF was to organize their numerous narratives and many other parts of their story.

Recording Yet to Come...

While being interviewed individually, I think the question proposed is what are the thoughts that come to mind when thinking about the past ten years and Tae says this: "The vigor of youth, our time as young boys, the time we didn't receive any acknowledgement, and when we pressed on in spite of that, I think that time was the most passionate moment in my life."

Yoongi said perhaps because of their situation at the time of trying to gain ground in their career, they set very high goals and when they achieved them, they weren't satisfied, they wanted to press on to the next goal and that desire was their strength and their weakness, as he says: "their weapon and the chink in their armor."

Jungkook says he often thinks of what he would have become if it wasn't for BTS. He has received so much positive influence from those surrounding him. He feels very lucky to have met the members and believes BTS and everything related to BTS are what created the path for him to mature as a singer and as a person.

Watching them record Run BTS (the song) was amazing. I love that song and watching them have fun in the studio is a healing sight.

They cherish their youth, their first ten years, their "Chapter 1" but they agree, its time to open a new chapter. Begin and again. The pause of the pandemic and beginning again after it was over. The pause for enlistment and the need to begin again when they are back. A lot of beginnings and agains. Begin the period of personal growth. Become BTS again at some point.

PTD Seoul in March 2021 was a situation where a limited number of attendees would be allowed and they would not be able to stand or cheer or sing along or any of those normal things that audiences do during a live concert. It would be a unique situation and possibly may never happen again in the future of live music concerts.

K-Army were thrilled, nervous, excited.

Waiting to go up on stage for sound check they already notice how quiet it is. They speculate amongst themselves whether Army will accidentally cheer. It's funny because we can see both sides as it happens. Yep, the audience accidentally let out an excited cheer upon seeing BTS for the first time after so long and the members are amused when they hear it.

They get started with sound check and reassure Army that they will get through this together.

In the second half of Ep. 6 each member speaks about their thoughts in this initial period where they are beginning "anew" after the pandemic, after they've achieved everything they have so far, after reflecting back on where they've been. They are doing personal things, Jin is fishing, the rap line working on personal projects, etc.

Yoongi says (at the time of this interview) they don't know what to do next (as a group). This is the beginning of their next chapter. Personally, Yoongi says again for the nth time that nothing goes as planned or expected. He would like everyone to have time to figure it out. He personally needs to reconnect with himself.

One of the moments is when Yoongi is in LA recording his part of the collab with Juice WRLD. He is telling the producer that he doesn't want to ruin Juice WRLD's song and the producer says to him: "you can't ruin it, you are only going to make it better"... Suga of BTS is still coming to understand the status he holds in the music industry.

Hobi tells us he will not waste the time until the group is whole again. He has things he wants to accomplish, personal dreams he wants to fulfill. I believe this is one of the reasons why Jack in the Box was ready first and why he enlisted earlier than the others. He was restless to get back into his work.

Jin is a simple guy. He talked about how (at the time of this interview) they had made it to the top and whatever happened, happened, he just wants all the members to live their lives as they want to. As BTS, he wanted the group to be able to do whatever they and the fans wanted to do. He was simply excited to bring back fresh fish to the team and staff after a day-long fishing trip.

RM says the team was telling each other their thoughts on what BTS could be in their 30s and mentioning he was working with The Neptunes which is Pharrell's duo. I wonder when that collab will see the light of day.

The maknae line was wondering how to find themselves since they have tied their identities to BTS, they don't know who they are yet as individuals and they wonder what it will be like. Jimin says they won't know until they live it.

Yoongi says, this is the time for them to get to know themselves.

#bts beyond the star #jimin #jungkook #hobi #yoongi #namjoon #taehyung #jin

[rustybottlecap]

Goodbye Volcano High was first revealed in 2020. It was a vague trailer that showed some teenage anthropomorphic dinosaurs hanguing out and practicing for their garage rock band... but also being worried about "running out of time". The title would lead one to believe it was about graduating and coming-of-age and all that. Eventually, however, it was revealed that the premise (and reason they are dinosaurs) is that there is an asteroid in course to crash with the planet. Indeed, at the end of the original trailer... there was a logo of a meteor as part of the title. It was there all along.

The game was, and is, a story about dealing with an upcoming end of the world. But as mentioned, the trailer came out in 2020. Then the rest of 2020 happened, then 2021, the pandemic, the lockdown. Everybody's lives changed, and so did the popular perception of the end of the world and how we would react to it. The game ended up coming out in late 2023, and one could feel how the pandemic had affected the team and the game itself. The uncertainity, the passive waiting, the expectation to keep living daily life as if nothing had changed, the presence of social media, it is all felt througout the game in ways that one probably wouldn't expect in a story made before 2020. Indeed, some reviews have noticed that the narrative seems to subtly shift from the asteroid being comparable to something enviromental like climate change early on to the pandemic by the later half.

Something that most certainly didn't change, though, is the presence of a rock band. For the protagonist of the game, Fang, music is everything. They dream of nothing but creating music, the first thing the player gets to do as them is to toy with their guitar and come up with lyrics for a song, before practicing through one of the many rhythm segments. Their "plan" after graduating high school is getting a van and going on tour as the band they made with their two best friends. They'll figure things out as they go.

But their friends' plans start changing, they find new passions, they start thinking of their careers. The news about the asteroid only make things more urgent, one of them wanting to live out her dreams of being an entomologist before the end, just as much as Fang wants to live up their dreams of being free through music before the end.

What's worse, the societal expetations to pretend the asteroid doesn't matter leads to Fang being confronted at every turn regarding their plans (or lack thereof) for the future. They are constantly told (by parents, teachers, responsible students) that music is not a viable career, a hobby at most, to plan ahead and find something else, to think of college, that they should have gotten better scores... needless to say, when the asteroid crashing becomes more and more likely, those who did plan ahead and work hard at the expense of their happiness feel betrayed.

The following may count as spoilers.

The ending of the game reminded me of a social media post from shortly after the pandemic's lockdown had been lifted, can't remember if it was on tumblr or a screencap of a tweet. Paraphrasing, it went something like this: "Never forget that, in your darkest hour, you turned to artists."

#goodbye volcano high #gvh #video games #text #long post #my favorite game #analysis #end of the world #2020 #2023 #indie games #visual novel #anthro #furry #dinosaurs

[borkthemork]

Bork, I feel like fore the Sashannarcy dynamic for the finale, it’s the true meaning for “if you love something you got to let it go”. But this term is more subjective, to me, if you love something but it hurts the thing, you have to let it go for them. I feel like the reason Sasharcy is so much closer than they are with Anne (from what’s implied) is because Anne needed time to really think about her identity after amphibia. she sort of relayed on the planters, just a bit. What’s your take?

So the ending to me is very interesting. I have seen a few people discuss the merits of the flash-forward, of the idea of the trio separating, and it gave me a specific memory back in May 2021 over my friend and I's discussion over the trio's aftermath.

And here is my main verdict:

The slow drift of the trio was a very realistic yet optimistic way to go about tackling their aftermath post-Amphibia.

The trio had been friends for a long time. That is for certain. We have seen the trio fight together in an anime reunion, we have seen Anne and Sasha talk in episodes like Sasha's Angels over residue from their friendship. However, from personal experience, the baggage and codependency from the trio's past interactions still need to be taken into consideration.

After all, Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy confirmed that only a month had passed since Sasha and Anne had started healing their friendship, and even then ten or so years of codependency is understandable. That's a lot of past interaction to parse through as a growing, coming-of-age teen learning to set boundaries for themself.

If one had been in a codependent relationship where betrayals and forgiveness were encountered and given, there still would be a lot of residue left. And for the girls, they would have to learn how to transition out of it. However, this doesn’t mean that they separated completely from the beginning, or even became fully separated if I wanted to be frank.

From what the flash-forward implied, it seemed that Sasha, Anne, and Marcy did interact a lot in the beginning years, but as different pathways and social groups opened up to them the trio started to deviate. And to be fair, this is a pretty realistic portrayal. You can't really stop a friend from choosing the paths they know are encouraging them to grow — and it doesn't show that Anne put these two at arm's length. It just means that the trio kept up-to-date with one another, but as time went on, as they went through high school, college, and jobs, they began to get busier and busier.

Their texts and communication were probably still there, but not as frequent as they'd like. This is implied by Marcy asking Sasha about her interactions with Anne or about Sasha's psych degree, it doesn't sound like what a close friend would ask unless Anne completely fell off the radar or if all three hadn't been keeping up to date with one another except for a few hangouts or webcomic reads now and then, but I digress.

What is important is that this deviation allows for the girls to naturally grow into their own identities and support systems outside of each other.

They took on piercings, taught themselves about what career paths they wanted, got to do webcomics, helped out kids, bought a car, realize what makes them happy, and everything. They began to dive into different friend circles that fit with them, into what adults wanted to experiment with their newfound awareness, and overall carve their lives out as they go.

They formed into new people from their experiences with Amphibia, naturally taking shape when they got back to Earth, and came back together as a friend group of their own accord rather than through tragedy.

And the thing is that this was all by choice.

They chose to reunite, they chose to hang out again. They chose to catch up on their lives despite the natural separation and distance, and that is the most realistic portrayal of a friendship I could ever describe to you.

#amphibia #amphibia spoilers #amphibia analysis #the calamity trio #anne boonchuy #marcy wu #sasha waybright #asks #Anonymous #bork speaks

[russellius]

It Was a Dream Come True : George Recalls F1 Debut Five Years On

March 17, 2019 - for George, it feels like yesterday.

He may now be in his sixth season in Formula One, but we're taking him back to his very first race weekend in Melbourne.

"It was a really special moment," George says. "I had my whole family there on the grid with me, and I was about to race against so many people who I had looked up to."

With the pre-race ceremony over, there was a job to be done, and a new challenge to adapt to.

"I was enjoying the fact I had achieved a lifelong dream, of course, but there was a realisation that I was now at the back of the grid, not the front."

Consecutive titles in GP3 and Formula 2 may have seemed like distant memories as George lined up P19 for the Grand Prix, but that didn't prevent an important sense of perspective under the visor.

"I knew I could learn at my own pace. I could make mistakes without it being in the spotlight. I could just find the positives from every situation and maximise the year, he adds.

And when the lights did go out, nothing felt new. Something that surprised even him.

"I only realised afterwards, but it felt like any other race. When I was in that car and the helmet was on it felt exactly the same as it did when I was in Go-Karts, F4, F3, or Formula 2. The goal hadn't changed. To drive as fast as possible. That was the biggest takeaway for me."

Fast forward five years. George Russell is a Formula One podium scorer, a polesitter, and a race winner. A career to be proud of, no doubt. But with the advantage of hindsight, what would the George of 2024 have said to his 21-year-old self on that Albert Park grid?

"Cherish every moment," he says. "Enjoy the journey. Everyone in Formula One is a competitive animal and when things aren't going your way it can knock you down. You need to remind yourself that we are extremely fortunate to do what we do. We're doing what we love and what a life we are all living. If things are going wrong, it's not the time to just put your feet up, but you need to remind yourself that there are worse things in the world to be doing."

Things can go wrong in Formula One. And when they do, that's when a driver relies on those around them to see them through. A consistent and healthy support network can make all the difference in crucial moments, a fact George has really come to appreciate.

"Surrounding yourself with the right people is so important. People you trust and have your best interests at heart," says George.

He has done just that. Manager Harry has been in place since 2013, and this season will be the eighth with trainer Aleix in tow.

"Gwen [Lagrue] and Toto [Wolff] have played a huge part in that journey too, supporting me the whole way. My girlfriend and my family have been there as well. These people understand you. They understand the sport and can support at the right time in the right way. It's an emotional rollercoaster, through the highs and the lows, whether you are winning or losing.

George's career rollercoaster has seen a lot of peaks. He reached the highest of highs in Brazil in 2022, leading every lap to claim his first Grand Prix victory, bringing home an unforgettable Mercedes 1-2.

But it's not the moment that stands out the most for George. The real moment of confirmation had come a year earlier before George joined the team permanently at the beginning of 2022.

"I always look back at qualifying for Spa in 2021. I had signed the contract to join Mercedes the week before, so I knew I had the full support of everyone, including Toto and the board."

"Qualifying on the front row in a car that had finished last for the previous three seasons gave me more adrenaline than I had ever experienced in my life."

That was then, this is now. Five years have passed, but George Russell has barely scratched the surface. This interview wasn't one for a job, but it did make us think: where does George Russell want to be in five years' time?

"I just want to have maximised my potential and know that I haven't left any stone unturned. That I have given it everything and I have no regrets about the way I have trained, the way I have worked for my team and the commitment I have shown. All I can do is give it my absolute everything."

We know he will. But we also know that you can't always control your own destiny in Formula One.

"I don't know how many race victories we're going to achieve in that time. If it means we win five World Championships then great. If it means we've won 10 races and only should have won eight then I'll be happy with that too. It's all relative. I'm 26 and think I've got at least 15 years left in me. I'm going to give it everything to win with Mercedes. That's the goal."

#george russell #f1 #*m #q #:') #this was a good read - well done mercedes for once #(our george.... 💙)

[brian-in-finance]

Ed Sheeran and Caitriona Balfe lead the line-up for this week's Late Late Show

Ed Sheeran is joined by Caitriona Balfe and Philly McMahon as the star guests of this week's Late Late Show.

It's the final month with presenter Ryan Tubridy at the helm of the show. After 14 years in the hot seat, the Dubliner turns his attention to other projects.

On the release day of his latest album Subtract, UK superstar Ed Sheeran joins Ryan for an exclusive chat where the star opens up about the death of his late friend Jamal Edwards and his tough 2022 when wife Cherry was diagnosed with cancer.

Ed Sheeran will chat to Ryan about the highs and lows of 2022, where he lost his best pal Jamal Edwards, and his wife Cherry was diagnosed with cancer. Pic: JMEnternational/Getty Images

Ed will also discuss the Irish influences on his music career and life, and as well as an acoustic performance of his hit single Perfect, the singer also has a surprise for Ryan which leaves him speechless.

Outlander star and Monaghan native Caitriona Balfe will be in the studio to chat about the enduring success of the Prime Series which is now in its seventh season.

The 43-year-old will detail how she missed the infamous Oscars slap from 2021 when she attended the awards for her hit movie Belfast.

The stars of the new RTÉ One show Gaelic in the Joy will also pop in for a chat about the upcoming TV show which airs on May 17 on RTÉ One.

Outlander star and Monaghan native Caitriona Balfe will be in the studio to chat about the enduring success of the Prime Series which is now in its seventh season. Pic: Stuart Wallace/REX/Shutterstock

Dublin GAA star Philly McMahon, comic Rory O'Connor (Rory Stories) and Mountjoy Prison governor Edward Mullins will discuss how they took a group of prisoners participating in a rehabilitation programme and prepared them for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play at Croke Park.

Five models will showcase the amazing designs of some of the youngsters who are competing in Junk Kouture, the largest sustainable fashion competition in the world.

The winning designs selected by a panel of judges will compete against 50 other teams from Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, Milan and New York to become the second-ever World Designer of the Year.

It's the final month with presenter Ryan Tubridy at the helm of the show. After 14 years in the hot seat the Dubliner turns his attention to other projects. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

Celebrations are in store also, as Ryan chats to former players in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Ireland Women's National Team.

The women will discuss the dedication and determination it took for them to become the first women to represent the country at senior level.

Music and entertainment will be provided by singer Rachel Mae Hannon who sings her new song The Boys for her debut on the show.

The Late Late Show airs at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

Extra

Brian’s Note: episode airs Friday, 5 May 2023, 9:35 p.m. GMT+1

Remember when she appeared on The Late Late Show two sleeps before the 2023 IFTA Awards?

#Tait rhymes with hat #Good times #Extra #4 May 2023 #The Late Late Show #RTÉ #Late Late #Host #Ryan Tubridy #5 May 2023 #Dublin #Thanks fatchance123

[thesinglesjukebox]

PORTER ROBINSON - "CHEERLEADER"

April Fool's Day is over, now time for some SINCERITY...

[5.92]

Taylor Alatorre: This song sounds embarrassing. It sounds excessive. It sounds like something you might regret putting into the world five seconds after hitting "publish." It sounds, in other words, like high school. Porter Robinson's post-brostep career has been an extended treatise on escapism -- from the appealingly plaintive paracosms of 2014's Worlds to the soothing self-inventory of 2021's Nurture, with his Virtual Self side project managing to be both esoteric and stupidly self-explanatory. He's crafted a series of immersive alternatives to analog messiness, allowing the listener to check out of the everyday and place themselves for a moment in a softer-edged realm, with more explicable rules and a more poetic set of problems. "Cheerleader," though, offers the listener no assistance in either sidestepping or reconfiguring the uncomfortable reality into which they were born; music video aside, it's not really a song about fanbases gone wild either. Instead it's about the girl in your school's Anime Club who gave out her deviantART username before her phone number and taught you against your will what the word yaoi meant. The fujoshi representation, besides filling a glaring gap in the TSJ search index, makes it clear that this is about a real person and not an avatar, and it's that awkward flesh-and-blood realness which is precisely at issue here. Maybe she's as real as him, and maybe he couldn't live with that. The perspective of a boy who is unused to being the object of obsession is an under-explored one in music, probably because it's very hard to land it within the narrow range of acceptable loserdom. But Porter sticks the landing by enveloping us fully within the loser's headspace, where both his emo-inflected chagrin and his fragmented memories of the girl's "cheering" are enshrouded by a waterfall of blown-out Obama-era detritus. If you ever wondered what a big room house remix of Two Door Cinema Club might've sounded like, or Oracular Spectacular if it had debuted on Beatport, here's your answer. Other seemingly out-of-place additions -- the bitpop cowbell, the Punk Goes Acoustic bridge, the hilariously overwrought drumroll that becomes less so the second time around -- fit right into this 1080p capture of late adolescent bag-fumbling. Taken together, they convey a mismatch in interests and hobbies that may have seemed like a deal breaker at the time, but in hindsight was just another excuse to avoid vulnerability. Perhaps I only arrived at this gonzo interpretation because the 4chan-core single artwork serves as a kind of shibboleth for these things. If that's the case, then I plead guilty: I ate the apple. [10]

Oliver Maier: "We have Anamanaguchi at home." [6]

Hannah Jocelyn: I loved Porter Robinson's Nurture for its unapologetic sincerity, a balm when emerging back into the world post-lockdown. I miss that early hopefulness as the years have gone on; even now, it's hard for me to hear "Unfold" without being close to tears. "Cheerleader" is a frustrating detour, with inane lyrics about yandere fujoshis fetishizing Robinson -- you know you're doing nothing new when the Nostalgia Critic beat you to it, and Robinson hardly sells the can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em message better. Nurture, for better or worse, incorporated the pitch-shifting vocals of hyperpop into EDM (to the point where a trans woman musician I know grew frustrated with Nurture's acclaim for doing what acts like Katie Dey had done for years, regardless of how Robinson himself identifies.) That's worth acknowledging, especially as this attempts to go right to the source: 3OH!3 and Metro Station come to mind. Except there’s none of the polish that makes those songs work despite themselves -- What's with that tinny hi-hat? Where's the low end on the guitar? Listen to "Shake It"; that song from 2007 sounds better than this one from 2024. It's not enough to replicate the aesthetics; for some ungodly reason, Robinson decided it must sound like it's coming from a Hot Topic speaker too. [4]

Claire Biddles: We have "Shake It" by Metro Station at home. [4]

Tim de Reuse: I admire the chutzpah to take a stylistic hairpin turn like this. And I appreciate the ability to do that while retaining the crystal-clear boom-bap production chops that made you a breakout sensation in the first place. And I appreciate how it makes its power-pop references clear without sticking to them too desperately. And I appreciate the sheer craft; birds fly, rocks sink, Porter Robinson writes synth hooks that wrap around your mind and squeeze tight. And I appreciate the line about getting drawn kissing other guys. But there's a clean and edgeless quality here, a sterile expression of his EDM roots, that directly contradicts his attempts at a heartbreaking singalong. Nowhere does his voice crack with raw emotion; nowhere does it seem even possible that his voice might crack with raw emotion. [5]

Kayla Beardslee: Porter Robinson’s doing anime OSTs now? Good for him. [7]

Leah Isobel: I see this fitting into a whole universe of PS1/Nintendo DS aesthetic indie games, YouTube video essays about old anime, trans girls with Neocities websites, indie pop sung by vocaloids. I could call it hyperpop -- not in the sense of overdriven chaos, but in the sense of the hyperlink. (HTML revival would be more accurate.) As such, it feels a little too precise, its scruffiness deployed too purposefully; I feel like this stuff works best when the self is obscured, and Porter is too big of a star to let that happen. But that also means the chorus is fucking massive, so I can't complain too much. [7]

Nortey Dowuona: The soft, limply placed drums in the song for once are not the sabotaging element in this song. The lithe, acoustic guitar bridge is even nicely played. The guitar riff, doubled by the synth, is the true arrow to the heart of this song. Porter is processed to hell and back, refusing to give over his composition to a more present, entertaining vocalist, but that riff is so grating and stiff that when it first arrives, sliding up as the culmination of the slowly hopping pre-chorus, it stops the song from progressing any further, simply pushing Porter into the background and leaving his Melodyned voice slack below it, struggling to be heard. Now, does this stop me from screaming that chorus in my head? Of course not. It's not fair I have to keep hearing this grating riff every time, though. [6]

Ian Mathers: God, I love that recurring, overdriven synth sound that kicks in on the chorus. If anything I wish it was more all-enveloping when it hits (yes, like shoegaze, yes, I'm predicable). There's lots of other interesting things going on here, but I can't quite get over that visceral rush enough to figure out my response to it all. Hit the whoosh button again, Porter! [8]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: Not nearly dumb enough for me to enjoy its shtick. [3]

Isabel Cole: This sounds like a One Direction album track in a universe where after they got kicked off The X Factor, Simon Cowell realized he could save so much money by replacing everyone but Liam with robots, only when they got into the studio there was some kind of malfunction and Zayn-bot started screeching uncontrollably and Niall-bot fell on his side crackling horribly with static while Harry-bot and Louis-bot took turns punching each other until they were dented beyond recognition, and that's why it sounds like how it sounds. (Liam didn't notice anything amiss, obviously; have you met him?) [4]

Will Adams: At the heart of Nurture was its... well, heart. On that record, Porter Robinson wore his on his sleeve, crooning lines like "I'll be alive next year / I can make something good" without a hint of irony. On "Cheerleader," he surprisingly lets a bit of cynicism slip in. It's not a leap to see how producing such earnest, sincere art would naturally invite fans to form parasocial relationships, to draw fan art but not know where to "draw the line," to develop a near-fatalistic expectation of commitment. But between each of those details is a generous counterpoint, where Porter wonders if he benefits just as much from these feelings. It creates a fascinating tension, expressed best by the chorus: "IT'S NOT FAAAAIIIRRRRRR!", stretched over a fizzy, tightly-wound power-pop arrangement complete with a skyscraping synth line. Porter just can't help himself. We've all got feelings; why not scream them to the rafters? [8]

Katherine St. Asaph: Porter Robinson's brand of earnestness makes my heart feel burnt or dead. [5]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

#porter robinson #music #music writing #music reviews #music criticism #the singles jukebox #Youtube

[umgeorge]

'It Was a Dream Come True' - George Recalls F1 Debut Five Years On

"It was a dream come true." March 17, 2019 - for George, it feels like yesterday. He may now be in his sixth season in Formula One, but we're taking him back to his very first race weekend in Melbourne. "It was a really special moment," George says. "I had my whole family there on the grid with me, and I was about to race against so many people who I had looked up to." With the pre-race ceremony over there was a job to be done, and a new challenge to adapt to. "I was enjoying the fact I had achieved a lifelong dream, of course, but there was a realisation that I was now at the back of the grid, not the front." Consecutive titles in GP3 and Formula 2 may have seemed like distant memories as George lined up P19 for the grand prix, but that didn't prevent an important sense of perspective under the visor. "I knew I could learn at my own pace. I could make mistakes without it being in the spotlight. I could just find the positives from every situation and maximise the year," he adds. And when the lights did go out, nothing felt new - something that surprised even him. "I only realised afterwards, but it felt like any other race. When I was in that car and the helmet was on it felt exactly the same as it did when I was in Go-Karts, F4, F3, or Formula 2. The goal hadn't changed: to drive as fast as possible. That was the biggest takeaway for me." Fast forward five years. George Russell is a Formula 1 podium scorer, a polesitter, and a race winner. A career to be proud of, no doubt, but with the advantage of hindsight, what would the George of 2024 have said to his 21-year-old self on that Albert Park grid? "Cherish every moment," he says. "Enjoy the journey. Everyone in Formula 1 is a competitive animal and when things aren't going your way it can knock you down. You need to remind yourself that we are extremely fortunate to do what we do. We're doing what we love and what a life we are all living. If things are going wrong, it's not the time to just put your feet up, but you need to remind yourself that there are worse things in the world to be doing."

Things can go wrong in Formula 1 and when they do, that's when a driver relies on those around them to see them through. A consistent and healthy support network can make all the difference in crucial moments, a fact George has really come to appreciate. "Surrounding yourself with the right people is so important. People you trust and have your best interests at heart," says George. He has done just that. Manager Harry has been in place since 2013, and this season will be the eighth with trainer Aleix in tow. "Gwen [Lagrue] and Toto [Wolff] have played a huge part in that journey, too, supporting me the whole way. My girlfriend and my family have been there as well. These people understand you. They understand the sport and can support at the right time in the right way. It's an emotional rollercoaster, through the highs and the lows, whether you are winning or losing." George's career rollercoaster has seen a lot of peaks. He reached the highest of highs in Brazil in 2022, leading every lap to claim his first grand prix victory, bringing home an unforgettable Mercedes 1-2. But it's not the moment that stands out the most for George. The real moment of confirmation had come a year earlier before George joined the team permanently at the beginning of 2022. "I always look back at qualifying for Spa in 2021. I had signed the contract to join Mercedes the week before, so I knew I had the full support of everyone, including Toto and the board. Qualifying on the front row in a car that had finished last for the previous three seasons gave me more adrenaline than I had ever experienced in my life." That was then, this is now. Five years have passed, but George Russell has barely scratched the surface. This interview wasn't one for a job, but it did make us think: where does George Russell want to be in five years' time? "I just want to have maximised my potential and know that I haven't left any stone unturned; that I have given it everything and I have no regrets about the way I have trained, the way I have worked for my team, and the commitment I have shown. All I can do is give it my absolute everything." We know he will. But we also know that you can't always control your own destiny in Formula One. "I don't know how many race victories we're going to achieve in that time. If it means we win five World Championships, then great. If it means we've won ten races and only should have won eight, then I'll be happy with that, too. "It's all relative. I'm 26 and think I've got at least fifteen years left in me. I'm going to give it everything to win with Mercedes. That's the goal."

#george russell #f1 #formula 1 #fic ref #fic ref 2024 #not a race #2024 not a race #between saudi arabia and australia 2024

[crownedinmarigolds]

The Stakebait Coterie! Khloe and her boys are out there saving the Atlanta Waterbloods or get Final Death'd trying! (I'll type it all beneath the cut because I know.. my handwriting)

The main characters of the Poisoned Peach - ATL by Night chronicle my beloved is running for me! Khloe is my character, and the boys are my unbeatably dope team.

Name: Khloe Mariah Osbourne

Born: 05/04/1993, Embraced: 2022 by a Ventrue, came out Thinblood, Physical Age: 29

Height: 5'5", Hair: Dark Brown, Eyes: Hazel, Gender: Miss (She/Her), Nationality: American

Likes: Coffee, True Crime, Tabletop RPGs, Being a Minx, Staying Busy

Dislikes: Disappointing Others, Being Unprepared, Not knowing what's up, Her body, Tiktok-Style Ads

A little history: Khloe grew up the only child of very normal people who nastily divorced when she graduated high school. An avid reader and over-thinker, Khloe has immersed herself in many fantasy worlds and strategy games to the point where she seems to think of everything. A people pleaser who has a lot of good acquaintances yet no friends, the lack of companionship was hard-felt when COVID rolled around and kept everyone inside. Had a few partners, though none lasted. One night after visiting her mother, she found herself on a backroad all alone, save for the oncoming headlights that may be straying in her lane. (Where the Poisoned Peach begins!)

Name: Kyle Johnson

Born: 2/3/1994, Embraced: 2020, Sire unknown, but came out Thinblood, Physical Age: 26

Height: 5’10", Hair: N/A, Eyes: Sexy-Boy Brown, Gender: More man than your man (He/Him), Nationality: American

Likes: Feeling needed and helping others, Parties, Drinking cocktails with stupid names, Reasonable reactions.

Dislikes: Being late, people that CAN help and just don't, the MINIONS, Improperly labelled content warnings.

History: His mom was a nurse, her mom was a nurse, and so on. His sisters didn’t want to carry on the tradition, so he decided to go into the medical field himself as an EMT. The stress of the job brought on early balding, but he thrived both on the clock and in the club. One night, he drank a few too many and he woke up in a dumpster the next night, completely clueless. The sunlight began to hurt, nothing sat right in his stomach. Everything was the same yet all so different, better and worse. He spiraled, confused and depressed, until the Dusk Angel found him and helped him come to terms with his new existence. Now Kyle proudly helps the Thinblood Revolution as a kind face to help ease the new blood in, just as he had been.

Name: Randolph "Ralph" Gaylord King III

Born: 10/09/1996, Embraced: 2021 by a Nosferatu, came out Thinblood, Physical Age: 25

Height: 6'5" (Even pre-Embrace, him just big), Hair: Brown (Has to shave the remnants every evening, used to be long and thick and in a man-bun), Eyes: Yellow-Orange (Brown pre-Embrace), Gender: BOI (He/Him), Nationality: American

Likes: Guns, Bad Jokes, Strategy Games, Annoying Christian, Being a right menace

Dislikes: Himself :(, Whiny people, Beer, Signs with sayings meant to be taken serious.

Some Background: Born in St. Louis Missouri, Ralph had a pretty standard lower middle class upbringing. He followed his father and older brother and joined the army when he turned 18 right out of high school. Years of prep and hard work paid off as he went through candidate courses, eventually making it into Special Forces. His career was short-lived however after losing his right foot on his first deployment. Depression and dead-end jobs seemed to be his future until as a joke he started posting thirst-traps on social media, but it got real when his follower count spiked and sponsors started making offers. He was thrown into the life of an Insta-Thot - specifically Fitness Inspo - ultimately landing him in a party in Atlanta, Georgia, where his soon to be sire, Bill - a jealous and spiteful Nosferatu - lurked. Ralph was alone as he stumbled to his hotel room, and Bill could contain his hate no longer. To him, Ralph deserved to be as ugly on the outside as Bill thought he had to be on the inside. Little did Bill know, he messed with the wrong guy.

(Not written due to lack of room, we clearly don't play favorites here...) Eventually found in the sewers by the Dusk Angel, Ralph now serves in the Thinblood revolution, using every skill he's acquired in order to get revenge against the Fullbloods.

Name: Christian Ottavio

Born: 01/16/1989, Embraced: 2017, Gangrel sire but came out Thinblood, Physical Age: A rough 28

Height: 6'1", Hair: Dark Brown, Eyes: Brown, Gender: The MAN (He/Him), Nationality: American

Likes: Beer, Relaxing nights spent inside, Napping, His truck

Dislikes: His family, Wearing tight jeans, Bro-Country music, Fullbloods

A bit of background: Born and bred in Georgia into a rich family with ideals he couldn't wrap his head around. Went into the workforce at a young age in an effort to escape them and be on his own. He's had to sleep in his truck many a night, but eventually got everything together enough to get a roof over his head. That was until some uppity lick decided to draft him into the army of the damned during the Atlanta Sabbat civil war. He was one of many forced to fight during the schism, and one of the few to come out "alive." Before his sire could take him behind the proverbial tool shed, Christian was saved by the Dusk Angel, and now is a proud Thinblood freedom fighter.

#stakebait coterie #thinblood #duskborn #clan thinblood #clan duskborn #vampire the masquerade #vampire oc #vtm oc #vtm #world of darkness #my art #MY BABIES MY ANGELS OUR CHILDRENNNNN #vamily #coterie #khloe #kyle #ralph #christian #gotta do the DUSK ANGEL bio next lmaoooo #the poisoned peach: atl by night

[n-vrld]

﹙ ✨ ﹚ ✶ ׅ — NEVERLAND, stylized as N.V.R.L.D, is a SIX membered girl group. composed of REMI, MEI, BINA, EUNI, QUINN & JINNY, they started their adventure in 2021 with their first mini-album ESCAPE.

known to be the new successful group under the famous IN𖤐ENTERTAINMENT agency, NEVERLAND is a semi-self-producing group, who never fails to impress the public. their elaborate and spellbinding story, easily transporting others into their fantastic world — no one hesitates to fly to wonderful adventures with them anymore.

IN STAR ENTERTAINMENT, stylized as IN𖤐ENTERTAINMENT, is an agency which propels its trainee towards a brilliant career. the meaning behind this name is “born to be a star, let's fly to the moon”, what the ceo take very seriously.

despite a slight drop in attention recently, the members of NEVERLAND are more than determined to win back the hearts of their fans, and continue to put glitter in their eyes.

﹙ ✨ ﹚ ✶ ׅ — BASICS !

group name : n.v.r.l.d ( neverland )

label : IN𖤐ENTERTAINMENT

debut date : 21 may, 2021

debut album : ESCAPE

debut song : SECOND STAR

greetings : second star to the right and straight until morning, hello we're neverland !

fandom : tinkerbell(s)

colors : asparagus ( #87a96b ), baby blue eyes ( #a1caf1 ), dark salmon ( #e9967a )

concept : peter pan like, fantasy ( 2021 - now )

﹙ ✨ ﹚ ✶ ׅ — MEMBERS !

REMI, 1999

MEI, 2000

BINA, 2001

EUNI, 2002

QUINN. 2003

JINNY, 2004

﹙ ✨ ﹚ ✶ ׅ — DISCOGRAPHY !

escape ( 2021 ) | mini-album

run away ( 2021 ) | mini-album

young, dumb, stupid ( 2022 ) | single

fly high ( 2022 ) | mini-album

do, re, mi ( 2022 ) | japanese ep

neverland ( 2022 ) | full-length album

tinkerbell ( 2022 ) | single

sweet lullaby ( 2023 ) | ep

dreamy mind ( 2023 ) | mini-album

more to be added...

﹙ ✨ ﹚ ✶ ׅ TOURS !

coming soon...

﹙ ✨ ﹚ ✶ ׅ — CREDITS !

this blog aesthetic is heavily inspired by @hvurglass & @saesvns, go check her oc-groups right now !

#o. nvrld — pinned. #i. philia — neverland. #fake kpop girl group #fictional idol oc #fictional idol community #fictional idol group #fictional idol #kpop fictional character #fictional kpop idol #fictional kpop oc #fictional kpop community #fake kpop gg #fake oc #fake idol community #fake kpop group #fake kpop idol #fake kpop oc #kpop oc #fake idol oc #fake idol group #oc idol #idol oc #kpop girl group oc #kpop female oc #kpop gg #kpop original character

[niaoniaos]

this got really long so its going under a read more LMAO but here is a japanese drama rec list combined from things i have watched along with recs from @storge and @machikeita! if you want to start watching jdramas but aren’t sure where to start, check out drama-otaku’s drama resource guide bc it truly tells you everything you need to know. obviously there are so many more jdramas then this, and mdl truly does not due japanese dramas service tbh so i recommend also browsing drama-otaku (the site is in beta and you do need an account to view any subs) and seeing if anything else catches your eye! 

if you’re looking for a romcom

Koi wa Tsuzuku yo Doko Made mo (2020): one of my top dramas of 2020, sakura nanase becomes a nurse after helping save someone with  tendo kairi. she melts his heart and its so cute i can vomit (on viki)

Rinko-san wa Shite Mitai (2021): this may be my 2022 drama of the year, its short, its on viki, and its about how rinko presents herself as a “perfect” woman, but has been single her whole life. she ends up entering a friends with benefits relationship with fellow forever single co-worker kamisaka gen and i do not know how this drama expected to convince me that man was a virgin bc i was screaming the whole time. its def an Adult drama so minors beware lmao but god its great even if the last few episodes felt rushed

Ashi Girl (2017): time travel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is a zoe @storge rec but now im gonna watch it bc of time travel (beloved). yui travels back in time and meets a hagi clan boi, but when she goes back to history class she finds out his clan is going to be wiped out, and does her best to save him

Jimi ni Sugoi! Koetsu Garu Kono Etsuko (2016): this may be on viki in some regions and is another zoe rec! kouno etsuko joins a publishing company wanting to be a fashion editor, but becomes a proofreader instead, and the drama follows as she begins to realize the allure of the profession and prob follows in love with a coworker as well but i have not watched this

Shanai Marriage Honey (2020): a contract marriage so yall know im gonna watch this eventually but a zoe rec!! miura manatsu and haruta ami meet on a dating app and decide to get married for various reasons, unaware that they’re actually coworkers. i can imagine the shenanigans already tbh

Cherry Magic (2020): if you havent watched cherry magic you’ve made a mistake and should fix it immediately. thx.

Kieta Hatsukoi (2021):  if you havent watched kieta hatsukoi you’ve made a mistake and should fix it immediately. thx.

Black Cinderella (2021): its a lex rec @machikeita! kamiya manah childhood dream was to enter a beauty pageant, and in doing so meets two boys, one handsome and self absorbed and the other a transfer student.

Koi wa Deep ni (2021): completely head empty romcom about an oceanographer trying to stop a company from building a resort on the ocean

I Don't Love You Yet (2019): its a lex rec! mitarai yo is a successful career women but lacks in the love department. she and her best friend ishida ren make a bet seeing who can fall in love and get married within the next year, and whoever loses must pay the winner 300,000 yen. this sounds like friends to lovers at its fucking finest.

Love Is Phantom (2021): its a lex rec! another shorter time drama that seems ~ steamy ~ minors beware lmfao. strangers hirasawa momoko  and hase kei meet on the observation deck of the hotel where momoko works and i’m sure what follows is a lot of making out!!!

if you’re looking for a slice of life

Neechan no Koibito (2020): possibly my new favorite japanese drama, momoko has to raise her three younger brothers after their parents die when she is in high school. the drama mostly covers her workplace, but presents a great family relationship and healing, growth, and communication in her newfound romantic relationship with yoshioka manato

Nijiiro Karute (2021): kureno masora is a budding young doctor when illness strikes, and she decides to work at a countryside clinic where she can more easily hide her illness. its a wonderful story that deals with chronic illness not only in our mc, but in side characters, and shows different types of relationships through main and side character interactions. NO ONE DIES but like. you will cry.

Rokuhodo Yotsuiro Biyori (2022): i think this is on netflix and viki?? maybe one??? idk but its food porn Galore and its about a found family running a bistro where they basically help people relax via food. theres a lil bit of family drama but overall just a really nice relaxing drama

Damena Otoko ja Dame Desu ka? (2022): its a lex rec! follows the hijinks when gonta, a tokyo man ends up switching bodies with katsuyo, a grandma living in the countryside.

Tonari no Kazoku wa Aoku Mieru (2018): its a lex rec and its also on my plan to watch! tonari focuses around an apartment complex, and three different families as they deal with everything life throwa at them.

if you’re looking for mystery/suspense/revenge

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (2017): adapted from a manga and on netflix as erased, satoru gains the ability to travel back in time and tries to stop a kidnapping that occurred when he was in elementary school

Enjiya (2021): this is Technically a revenge drama because the found family runs a service where they complete tasks for people, and tbh just so much found family. 10/10. also super short and super good and i desire so much more from this drama

Ouroboros (2015):  ryuzaki ikuo and danno tatsuya grew up together in an orphanage, and witnessed the murder of their older-sister figure, but were ignored by police. ikuo is now a detective, and tatsuya is now a leading figure in the underworld. working together, they try and unveil who murdered their sister and expose the organization behind it.

if you’re looking for case of the week/medical/law/police etc

Unnatural (2018): my love of the tv show bones as a youngin makes me love any type of medical examiner show but unnatural is Truly great and tackles as the synopsis says, “its main theme is the change of reality brought upon by imminent death of a loved one.”

Code Blue (2008): this is like the quintessential old medical drama about five doctors training to become doctor heli doctors, where they’re sent out via helicopter to areas quickly that an ambulance may not be able to reach. i marathoned this series and if you’re like me and love medical dramas this really hits the spot

Hakozume: Tatakau! Koban Joshi (2021): its a lex rec! follows rookie police officer mai, who works in a police box in a rural town. she is thinking about quitting before meeting seiko, a former ace detective who has been sent to the police box. the two team up to take care of their rural town.

Oretachi wa Abunakunai ~ Cool ni Saboru Keijitachi (2020): its a lex rec! follows two procrastinating detectives as they try and solves cases but get into nonsense bc they’re focusing on the non-investigating parts of the job.

Talio Fukushu Daiko no Futari (2020): i’ve only watched the first ep so does this belong here Who Knows but talio is about a lawyer and a conman teaming up to get justice and its @mostlyfate‘s fave drama so don’t take my word for how good it is take theirs LOL

Kounodori (2015): revolves around an obgyn facility, and doesn’t just focus on the doctors, but also the trials of pregnancy and how it effects new parents. its a great drama and covers issues that most other medical shows won’t touch

if you are brave and want to watch an asadora (but please do):

an asadora is a morning drama in japan. episodes are 15 minutes long, and shown in the morning every day of the week (or almost every day of the week). they range from about 120-150 episodes, but because of their length, in reality you’re only watching about 32-36 full hour length episodes (i think my math could be wrong). asadoras typically cover a hero or heroines full life, and deal with family, work, and whatever else is thrown their way

Okaeri Mone (2021): every single person who watched forecasting love and weather you were watching the WRONG weather drama bc this is it yall. this is it. momone (aka mone) is from a small island, and after high school begins working in an inland big city, where she eventually falls in love with weather forecasting (and a hot doctor). this drama mostly follows mone and her dedication to helping people through the weather, but it does cover some family members and her family friends, as well as the repercussions an old typhoon still has on the residents of kesennuma bay. this is a modern day set asadora, with the timeline catching up to 2021.

Natsuzora (2019): screaming crying throwing up watching okaeri mone and natsuzora back to back was a mistake bc they were the asadora standard and idk how anything will ever beat them tbh. natsuzora begins after the end of the second world war, and natsu (or heroine) is orphaned, along with her siblings, after her father dies in the war and her mother dies in a bombing attack. she begins living her with her fathers friend, who is a dairy farmer, and is originally planning to take over the farm before she decides to take her destiny in her own hands and moves to tokyo to become an animator. this is honestly a lovestory to the beginning of animation at its core, and the story revolves around natsu, her foster family and friends back home, as well as biological brother and the family she creates in tokyo. 10/10. fucking love this drama. the subs are messed up for the last two? weeks, but you torrent the subs for the last week and sync them to the raws. the drama starts right around 1946 and covers into the late 70′s? i could be incorrect with the dates but it covers the showa era.

if you’re even BRAVER and made it this far and want to watch toku:

did you watch power rangers of child? confused why some of the scenes looked out of place?? thats bc the footage is taken from super sentai. super sentai and kamen rider are basically 30 minute long 50 episode length shows that are just advertisements for kids toys yet somehow have made me cry harder than any other show <3 it can be daunting bc theres so many seasons so these are just my opinions on where to start

Gokaiger (2011): it’s a anniversary season, and they were able to get So Many older actors back for the episodes corresponding to their seasons. it has baby yamada yuki, ot6 pirates, and its a great way to gauge what other seasons you want to watch that are older than gokaiger. gokaiger is what made me watch magiranger (banging 10/10)

Lupinranger vs Patranger (2018): its thieves vs cops but tbh the cops are always on the backburner (sorry pats it is what it is). also the reds are in love with each other (they kissed in the liveshow we’re not making it up!!!)

Kamen Rider Fourze (2011): kamen rider and sentai air together, and this was gokaigers pair. its a glee ripoff in terms of sterotypes, but its literally 10x better. featuring a baby fukushi sota and yoshizawa ryo fourze is literally about utilizing the power of friendship to defeat boomers. 10/10

#jdramasource #japanese drama recs #drama recs #anyways dont be a coward watch some jdramas #most of my dramas this year have been jdramas no regrets