#I did it with tough love by jessie ware

[respectthepetty]

CockTails in the Skyy! - Drink Recap

I made it through eight rounds of drinking, so I could get through Our Skyy 2 with minimal damage. Below are the basic ingredients for each drink, links to the connected post rambling about each episode, and the drinking GIFs I used for each installment. Feel free to take the GIFs and the drink recipes to use as you'd like.

Bottoms Up!

Rum-Antics - Never Let Me Go (7.5/10)

spiced rum since I couldn't get Mekhong

smashed blueberries for that purple color that Nueng and Palm always had during their lovey-dovey scenes

ginger ale because I think Nueng was studying abroad in England, but if not . . . it is what it is

brown sugar and lime juice on the rim for class differences

Sun & Stars - Star in My Mind (7/10)

gin & tonic to balance the bitter and sweet of Daonuea and Khabkluen's dynamic

pineapple juice for that beach vibe

elder flower syrup and vanilla bean sugar on the rim to add to the sickly sugariness they expell

Jack Nasty - The Eclipse (8/10)

Jack Daniel's Honey Whiskey for Akk and Ayan's sweet yet intense dynamic

unfiltered apple cider for the A+ prefect jerk, Akk

lemon juice for the wrench in the system and Sour Patch kid, Ayan

honey and cinnamon on the rim for Kan and Thua

Purple Pair - Vice Versa (6/10, could've been 9/10)

Absolut vodka because vodka is my least favorite liquor (just like this show), but Absolut since much like this company, I'm gonna support my fellow queers no matter what

cranberry juice for Puen's pink(ish)

curaçao for Talay's blue

lavender syrup and rock candy on the rim for the wild switcheroo between calm and chaos

For Goodness' Sake - My School President (9/10)

sake for Chinzhilla's hot pot adventure

more white wine for all the whining and pining the Gun and Tinn did

lemons, limes, oranges, grapes, and apple slices for the sweetness overload (I was going to comment about the variation of fruits, but I don't know the crowd's feelings on the word, so . . . *takes a big sip directly from the bottle*)

Deja Brew - A Boss & A Babe (8/10)

dark coffee for our "tough" boss, Gun

vanilla brandy for the boss's babe, Cher

soy milk and ice for the men holding it together Tubtab and Jack

whipped cream and chocolate shavings for the disgustingly sweet Three and Zo

Sleigh What? - Bad Buddy (9.5/10 crossover with ATOTS)

champagne because all I hear is Jessie Ware's "Champagne Kisses" when I see these too

coconut water for episode 11's cake by the ocean (sex on the beach)

mint for that refreshing Pran smell that Pat loves

Christmas glass because it felt like Christmas getting that crossover and never forget Pat was shot on Christmas Eve!

Par-tea-ing Ways - A Tale of Thousand Stars (9.5/10 crossover with Bad Buddy)

tequila because I was saving my favorite liquor for my favorite series in this lineup

mango tea for those sachets that saved the village

chimoy and Tajín on the rim for that 🔥🔥🔥 Tian and Phupha bring

As usual,

Cheers, Queers!

#Our Skyy 2 #Cocktails in the Skyy #Cheers Queers! #CockTails in the Skyy Drink Recap

[patrickjonesblog]

Top Albums of 2023

Hey, how ya doing? I got sick the last week of 2023 when I intended to write this so here I am in 2024 looking back on some of my favorite long players last year.

I saw so many of my favorite acts in 2023, it was probably the best live music year ever. So much so I spent what felt like a whole morning creating a "reel" on "instagram". The fruits of which you can watch here.

Enough about live music though, this is about wonderful studio recordings, so here's what's made the long list and then we'll kick straight into the top 10 with accompanying videos.

16 - Romy - Mid Air

15- Jessie Ware - That! Feels! Good!

14- Gracie Abrams - Good Riddance

13 - Lana Del Rey - Did you know there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd?

12 - Bombay Bicycle Club - My Big Day

11 - The Bug Club - Rare Birds: Hour of Song

10 - Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy

If you haven't seen Young Fathers Glastonbury set in 2023, I recommend you do so after you've read this blog. Gutted they cancelled their brooklyn show, but I hope to catch it this year.

9 - Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You

Caroline Polacheck is the closest we've got to Kate Bush in 2023, the detail she puts into her visuals and the choreography of her performances, its high art. The track below isn't on the album, but it was the moment I realized her brilliance.

8 - Gorillaz - Cracker Island

This felt like an under the radar release from Gorillaz, at least here in the states. It's the first time Albarn has worked with Greg Kurstin (Adele, Mccartney, Kendrick) and you can hear his influence as it's a bit more poppy than previous releases.

7 - Jeff Rosenstock - Hellmode

If you've read any of my blogs over the past decade you will have seen a lot of appearances from US Punk / Ska legend Jeff. The reason being; he doesn't make bad records.

6 - Sleaford Mods - UK Grim

How do you follow 2021's career highlight Spare Ribs? With more of the same, that's how. 12 albums in to their career now and they're still gathering pace. Blistering, acerbic, hilarious as ever.

5 - The Hives - The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons

The first new music from The Hives in 11 years and they return with a literal bang. This album is as good as anything they came out with when they first charmed their way onto the scene in the early 2000's. The bellies may be podgier, Pelle's kicks aren't as high, but the riffs are as spritely as ever. Still one of the greatest live bands around.

4 - Blur - Ballad of Darren

I always get a bit anxious about a new blur album, they don't have to release new music, they have a back catalog that guarantees them legend status already. Releasing new music risks tainting that legacy so far into their career. I needn't worry, Ballad of Darren is a beautiful record with a legitimate brand new stadium filling anthem to add to their repertoire.

3 - Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS

Bit of a surprise this one, maybe more for me than you dear reader. I didn't get the fuss of the first album (still don't) it sounded like any one of a million young pop darlings. But GUTS is different, it's eclectic, it's beautifully written, it tears at your heart, it raises your fists, it makes you dance. It has everything really. She's the real deal. It's objectively not made for a 42 year old man, but great music is great music and I bloody love this.

2 - Jenny Lewis - Joy'All

It was a tough call between this and Olivia, but i've given it to Jenny for the 20+ years experience she has on the young upstart. Jenny Lewis is maturing into a fine groove, she's replaced Ryan Adams as a much more palletable country-folk spot in my heart. Her songwriting continues to get better with age.

1 - The National - First Two Pages of Frankenstein | Laugh Track

Stadium filling, Taylor Swift collaborating, David Letterman approved super band The National. It's a wild trajectory my favorite band has taken over the last few years. No longer critically acclaimed everyones favorite unheard of band, they're rightly at the upper table of indie-rock and its fully deserved. Not satisfied with releasing one beautiful record this year they follow it up soon after with the surprise Laugh Track an equally brilliant album in its own right. Most bands would kill to have one record this good in their whole career, its frankly not fair they can do two this good in a year. A joint number one for me as I can't separate them.

There you have it, 2023 all wrapped up, full of BIG acts with a smattering of newbies thrown in for good measure and probably the most female representation I've had in an end of year list.

You can hear these and LOADS more in my 2023 playlist.

And if you like any of this and trust my judgement follow my 2024 playlist which I curate throughout the year adding newly released tracks.

Aaaaaand away...

#Instagram #Youtube #the national #jenny lewis #olivia rodrigo #best of 2023 #blur #gorillaz #new music

[fantasyoverreality98]

i think my worst trait is that i pick songs to be obsessed with and then play them on a constant loop for hours on end, for days at a time

#i've done this all of last year #I did it with tough love by jessie ware #and then cold hands by arctic lake #ivy by taylor swift #now i'm doing it with symphony by clean bandit feat. zara larsson

[nasabeck]

the last 20 years playlist (spotify)

(photo credit: found on pinterest and text added by me, i assure you that i scoured pinterest, instagram and google searched the image to find the original creator but cannot find them anywhere. if you know, please drop me a message so i can credit appropriately) this playlist has been unfinished for so long that the title changed from the last 15 years to the last 20 years, albeit none of these songs were actually a major deal to me when I was 7 y/o, more like 10+ y/o. but these songs have all meant something to me at some point in my life, they represent a good time or a tough time, a happy time or a really sad time, they were the monumental songs that got me through life up to this point. there’s pretty much a tale to tell for everything on this list, so let me know if you want to hear a story about a song or band!

1. numb without you - the maine // 2.  can’t take my eyes off you - lady a // 3. i’ve got a dark alley and a bad idea that says you should shut your mouth - fall out boy // 4. transatlanticism - death cab for cutie // 5. northern downpour - panic! at the disco // 6. roses for the dead - funeral for a friend // 7. beating heart baby - head automatica // 8. runaway - cartel // 9. diamond days - kids in glass houses // 10. you’re not alone - saosin // 11. run away with me - aaron tveit // 12. stay together for the kids - blink 182 // 13. disenchanted - my chemical romance // 14. ghosts - laura marling // 15. walk on water - 30 seconds to mars // 16. terrible things - mayday parade // 17. cute without the “e” - taking back sunday // 18. family portrait - pink // 19. there’s a good reason these tables aren’t numbered honey, you just haven’t figured it out yet - panic! at the disco // 20. you owe me an iou - hot hot heat // 21. the middle - jimmy eat world // 22. two beds and a coffee machine - savage garden // 23. (un)lost - the maine // 24. love steals us from loneliness - idlewild // 25. makedamnsure - taking back sunday // 26. did you hear the rain? - george ezra // 27. nicotine and alcohol saved my life - deaf havana // 28. everything is alright - motion city soundtrack // 29. i caught fire - the used // 30. sunshine - kids in glass houses // 31. slip the noose - the maine // 32. if i didn’t believe in you - jeremy jordan // 33. c’est la vie - stereophonics // 34. disconnected (live) - 5 seconds of summer // 35. time to dance - panic! at the disco // 36. english girls approximately (live) - ryan adams // 37. do you hear the people sing? - les miserables 2012 film soundtrack // 38. love to love - jessie ware // 39. you matter to me - waitress obc soundtrack // 40. take on the world - you me at six // 41. history - funeral for a friend // 42. shimmy shimmy quarter turn - hellogoodbye // 43. r-evolve - 30 seconds to mars // 44. remembering sunday - all time low // 45. helena - my chemical romance // 46. i like america & america likes me - the 1975 // 47. simple man - jensen ackles & jason manns // 48. moments - one direction // 49. this is gospel - panic! at the disco // 50. it ends tonight - the all-american rejects // 51. red sky - thrice // 52. i don’t want to be - gavin degraw // 53. ocean avenue - yellowcard // 54. i could be in love with someone like you (live) - norbert leo butz // 55. taxi - the maine // 56. passion for publication - anarbor // 57. carry on wayard son - kansas // 58. red is the new black - funeral for a friend // 59. local boy in the photograph - stereophonics // 60. the gambler - fun. // 61. rite of spring - angels & airwaves // 62. dying in la - panic! in the disco // 63. somebody told me - the killers // 64. as if we never said goodbye - glee cast // 65. three cheers for five years (acoustic) - mayday parade // 66. raise hell - kids in glass houses // 67. why - busted // 68. bodybag - hit the lights // 69. send in the clowns - judi dench // 70. on my own - the used // 71. not alone - mcfly // 72. all too well - taylor swift // 73. the mother we share - chvrches // 74. bennie and the jets - elton john // 75. beggin for thread (gryffin & hotel garuda remix) - banks // 76. teen idle - marina // 77. give him a great big kiss - the shangri-las // 78. found/tonight - ben platt & lin-manuel miranda // 79. hurricane - 30 seconds to mars // 80. good enough - little mix // 81. it must really suck to be four year strong right now - four year strong // 82. vegas - all time low // 83. champagne supernova - oasis // 84. set the fire to the third bar - snow patrol ft. martha wainwright // 85. gemini feed - banks // 86. rubber ring - the smiths // 87. this scene is dead - we are scientists // 88. wasted - cartel // 89. we’ll all be - the maine

#playlist #spotify playlist #my playlist #my playlists #The Maine #funeral for a friend #kids in glass houses #stereophonics #The Killers #30 seconds to mars #taylor swift #the smiths #carter kane #mayday parade #all time low #taking back sunday #aaron tveit #jensen ackles #anarbor #jessie wear #jeremy jordan #fall out boy #panic! at the disco #the used #george ezra #blink 182 #my chemical romance

[whatiwillsay]

t 2017 playlist analysis

Alright folks, whether you’re newly indoctrinated in the swiftgron faith, or have been here for a while, buckle up because boy is there crack coming your way.  It should be important to note that these are of course reaches and should be taken with a grain/pound of salt.  What you’re about to read is a lyrical analysis of a playlist made by Dianna on her private spotify, titled ‘t 2017.’  Therefore, the only real ‘evidence’ we have to make connections lies in the lyrics, and the general vibe of the playlist.

The following lyrical analyses stems from the idea that Taylor and Dianna may, and I strongly say may have hooked up, possibly around late 2016, or early 2017 (right when this playlist was made).  If you haven’t already, I highly suggest reading Cam’s Swiftgron timeline that she has meticulously and laboriously outlined for all of us, so you have more background knowledge on any reaches/connections made.  Also listen to her pod for extra serotonin cause I know you bitches want it.  Anyway, I digress– I’ll be pointing out only the songs/lyrics that I think are most relevant (and to make this post shorter, I apologize in advance) but I urge y’all to take a look at each songs’ lyrics to see for yourself, because some of these songs seem loud af.  Ok happy reading!

Genesis- Grimes

My heart, I never feel I never see I never know Oh, heart And then it falls And then I fall And then I know

This verse talks about the unpredictable nature of love, you never know when those feelings could come rushing in, and there could be days when you feel like you’re never going to love again– gives me cowboy like me vibes with that particular sentiment.

Home and I know Playing the deck above It’s always different I am the one in love

Ok I don’t think this one needs any explanation other than tis the damn season.

1998- Chet Faker

We used to be friends We used to be inner circle I don’t understand What have I become to you

This verse is giving me major the 1 vibes– “rosé flowing with your chosen family” kinda thing.  Relationships (yes, even hookups) are hard, especially when you go from knowing someone like the back of your hand, to a being a mere memory.  It’s even harder when you run in the same social circles and are bound to bump into each other.  What are you to do with all those unresolved emotions/lack of closure?  I just find this a bit funny because two years later at SNL, Dianna is actually considered Taylor’s ‘inner circle’ at the afterparty.  

Drops- Jungle

When you’re so high, you When you fall from the sky, you So come down from the clouds Come down on me

I’ve been loving you too long

I’ve been loving you too long

This song sort of encapsulates the feeling of love that is intoxicating, one might even say addicting.  In that sense, I’m getting major Style vibes, in that they keep coming back to each other because of that high and intoxicated love.  More than anything, this verse reminds me of Clean, and of course Dianna’s infamous tweet, “withdrawals…clearly we had fun” (see Cam’s swiftgron masterpost/timeline for receipts).

Ritual Union- Little Dragon

Straight off the bat, this song gives off major infidelity vibes (something Taylor has been obsessed with as evidenced by Evermore, and of course Babe which btw had a lot of social media signalling/shenanginas happening in 2017/2018).  Perhaps Winston was the cuck after all and we did get a swiftgron hookup? 

Ritual union’s got me in trouble again I was wonderin’ of a white dress And the mistress And a spirit holding my hand!

You do the math with that one– ivy anyone?

Daniel- Bat For Lashes

Daniel when I first saw you I knew that you had a flame in your heart And under our blue skies Marble movie skies I found a home in your eyes We’ll never be apart

I only have two words to explain this verse– Begin Again

But in a goodbye bed With my arms around your neck Into our love the tears crept Just catch in the eye of the storm

With this verse in particular, there’s this sense of a heartbreaking parting of ways in a relationship.  It feels eerily similar to This Love– “your kiss, my cheek, I watched you leave.”  There’s also a mention of a storm, and we all love a good old storm in the swiftgron universe (Clean, DBATC, CIWYW).

Can’t Do Without You- Caribou

I swear to god these are the only two lyrics

Can’t do without

I can’t do without you

Make of that what you will.

Touch- Shura

This was the song that had me fully convinced that swiftrgon might’ve hooked up again in the recent past.  It’s so fucking loud and I did audibly gasp when I read these lyrics.  I’m so tempted to post the entire song because honestly every lyric fits their narrative almost to a t, but I’ll try putting the loudest lyrics here.

There’s a love between us still But something’s changed and I don’t know why And all I wanna do is go home with you But I know I’m out of my mind

This love is good, this love is bad.  This slope is treacherous, I like it.  If the hookup did happen, it’s clear that it’s a bit hard to just pick up immediately from where you left off.  Of course there’s still a lot of love there, it just takes time for those years to melt away.

I wanna touch you but I’m too late I wanna touch you but there’s history I can’t believe that it’s been three years Now when I see you, it’s so bittersweet

Ok this is basically swiftgron’s story right here, I mean come on?!?

I’m running down a dream like Tom Petty, I’m a heartbreaker But then you changed up a relationship, I’m mostly bankrupt There’s a new kid on your block, I gotta hang tough

Cowboy like me anyone?

Yeah, the effect of touch hands is like a miracle How is it you’re halfway across the world when I’m still feeling you? Just a touch of my love, just a little bit Ain’t no love without trust, we gotta deal with this

Gives me treacherous and wonderland vibes– “I’ll do anything you say if you say it with your hands” and “you searched the world for something else to make you feel like what we had.”

iT- Christine and the Queens

I feel like this song gives off major Reputation vibes– controlling your narrative/ ridiculing what other people thought you were, etc. 

With it I become the death Dickinson feared With it I’m the red admiral on his ship And I raise with infants for my coronation I’ve ruled over my all my dead impersonations

‘Cause I’ve got it I’m a man now

Sunday Love- Bat For Lashes

This is a literal weekend hookup anthem (major tis the damn season vibes) and is also one of the other songs that convinced me of the swiftgron hookup.  Again, please look at all the lyrics and deduce for yourself and freak out like I did, but I’m putting the loudest lyrics down.

See her in blue eyes Numb and shining In the face of strangers In the city lights Where he’s climbing Cupid’s diving And I know that she’s come To spend the night

She is in my bedroom Now I can’t fight 

Blue eyed lady coming to your house to fuck you. Ok Dianna, real subtle with that. I’m joking but I snorted when I saw this lyric.

I see her in every place I go Sunday love is so cold Even though I’m falling apart I want Sunday love in my heart

You could call me babe for the weekend cause it’s the damn season.  Also “I see you everywhere the only thing we share is this small town.”

Sweet Talk- Jessie Ware

There’s never any doubts when i need you It’s just that you can always make me feel like I am slipping in way too deep And let the shadows hope to hide or break the dreaming, dreaming of us

The vibe of this song is that there’s someone who always pulls you in because they know exactly what to say.  They found wonderland and got lost in it. 

Dear To Me- Electric Guest

When it’s bad Feels like I don’t know which way I should go But over time I come back and remember The one thing that I know

You’re dear to me and I know 

I know I’ve tied so many songs to ttds, but I guess it’s all the more reason to claim that one for swiftgron nation?  This verse reminds me of  “the road not taken looks real good now, and it always leads to you and my hometown.”

Got It Bad- Leisure

This song was added much later to the playlist on Taylor’s birthday in 2019. All other songs were added early feb of 2017.  With this song, I don’t get much except cowboy like me vibes.

Got our different ways with the same old payout Had our own dreams with the same old outcome Had a bad extreme and the same old break down Worked it to the bone with the same old habit

Et voila, that’s the end! I know this was super long so thanks for sticking through.  Again please note that these reaches were made because we are a little biased through a swiftgron lens.  It’s very possible that Dianna simply likes these songs and put it on a playlist, but let’s be real, gays practically communicate through spotify.  This is not fact and not proof for anyone to hound Dianna or invade in her or Taylor’s personal life, this is just for swiftgron fun.  That said, I’m personally inclined to believe that something did happen between Taylor and Dianna in 2017 possibly.  That’s all I have to say, thanks!

submission⬆️⬆️⬆️

ANON THIS WAS AMAZING YOU JUST MADE MY MORNING!!!

you should make a gaylor blog if you don’t have one already we NEED more of this content!

#swiftgron #gaylor swift #t 2017 playlist #best of #submission

[cuntylestat]

6, 16, 17? For the music thing ✨

6. pick a top three of songs that remind you of each season of this year (you can do 5 seasons if you want to do both winter 2020/21 and 2021/22 aka right now)

ohh okay, this is tough

spring: pink + white (frank ocean), save your tears (the weeknd), melody of love (hot chip)

summer: please (jessie ware), pink noise (laura mvula), take your breath (the weeknd)

fall: easy (troye sivan), in a dream (troye sivan), angel baby (troye sivan)... yes i just listened to him in fall

winter: the only heartbreaker (mitski), the kill (jessie ware), tuesday (duckwrth)

16. already answered!

17. what’s a release of this year the hype around which you did not get?

tbh i did not keep up much with music releases this year, but maybe those new releases of taylor swift albums because i never listened to her back in the day, so i don't have any nostalgia about those

[sappholuvr69]

LOVE NOT LOVING YOU: a jaskier mix

a mix for jaskier after the mountain as he goes through the stages of grief... but make it 80s - see below for a breakdown of the tracklist. 

listen on spotify

Denial

Little Games - The Colourist + St. Lucia  "What did I do so wrong? // You lied and led me on // Was I your hit and run? // Left for dead and now you're gone”

Lonely Town - Brandon Flowers "Do you hear the crack when I break? // Did you lock the door when it shut? // Did you see the knife when it cut? // Do you keep your ear to the ground?"

Take Me Back - Paperwhite "I'm learning to leave you // 'Cause you don't ask me to stay // Don't make me believe you // And walk away" Anger Five Seconds - Twin Shadows "I don't believe in you // You don't believe in me // So how could you make me cry" Midnight Sky - Miley Cyrus "Fire in my lungs, can't bite the devil on my tongue, oh no // I don't need to be loved by you"

Handful of Gold - Chela "I'm up in a one-night stand, I don't need to hold a hand // I'm not gonna start a tab, I'm glad to be all I am"

Sadness

Tough Love - Jessie Ware "In the middle of the night all I think about is you // I dream in all your clouds of glory, it's true"

On the Floor - Perfume Genius + Initial Talk "The constant buzzing // All through the night // The fight it // Rips me all up inside"

Heal - Jax Anderson "Someone tell me when I'm supposed to heal // Someone tell me when I'm supposed to feel // 'Cause my mind's always running, I'm tired of always being alone" Apathy

Number One Fan - MUNA "So here's the bad news // I'm coming for everyone and coming on strong"

Pink Light - MUNA "So I let it happen again // I loved someone who's indifferent"

Acceptance

Love Not Loving You - Foxes  "And my body couldn't move with your hands on me // Thought I had a way with words and I couldn't speak"

Cooler - PHASES "For so long, I guess the feeling wasn't right // Let me down, I guess I thought you might"

Amateurs - Fickle Friends "You're scared of sharing yourself // Unequivocally destined for somebody else"

Hope

Falling - HAIM "Don't stop, no, I'll never give up // And I'll never look back, just hold your head up // And if it gets rough, it's time to get rough"

Body Talk - Foxes  "Now I know // I don't need him"

#jaskier #jaskier playlist #geraskier #geraskier playlist #80s playlist #geraskier 80s playlist #gonna make that a real tag that people have to wade through TRUST #i have many more 80s vide playlists for these bufoons lined up #witcher #witcher plalist #geraskier mix #jaskier mix #witcher mix #my playlist #having to html that small text was a TASK i haven't done that in a while lmaooo #jaskier recovery playlist #recovery playlist #breakup playlist

[l0andbehold]

best tv, movies, & music of 2020

If I leaned into one hobby during this trashfire of a year, it was consuming media. Me and my poor little astigmatized eyes observed a rigorous nightly schedule of Netflix and chill, Hulu and disassociate, Starz and eternal scream, etc., etc.

I never ever do this but maybe I'll start doing it yearly. Here are my favorite things I watched and listened to in 2020, in no particular order. (And if something you loved isn’t here, that’s okay! Different tastes, but also, there are a lot of new things I skipped, especially shows with dark themes or lots of violence.)

Television

Betty, season 1 (HBO)

Water with cucumber and lime. Stepping across an autumn leaf-littered sidewalk in thick-soled boots. Lying on a floatie in a pool mid-summer. In the same vein, Betty refreshes. Based on Crystal Moselle’s Skate Kitchen, Betty serializes the adventures of a group of energetic and beautiful gen Z girls trying to take a bite out of New York City’s men-dominated skateboard scene. The series is sweet and naturalistic, and deftly handles issues of family strife, workplace racism, and sexual assault. It was an oasis in a year of overwhelm.

Vida, season 3 (Starz)

I’ve loved Vida from season 1 but it took the panny for me to sit down and get caught up. Vida follows two estranged sisters who move back to East LA to run their mother’s bar after her sudden death. I often disagree with the show’s politics (e.g., its ethos is more pro-gentrification than not, the utter lack of Afro-Latinx cast members); nevertheless, Vida handles issues of legacy, intimacy, and queer identity with tenderness. Mishel Prada is mesmerizing in her portrayal of Emma, who finally lets love in. This is by far the most underrated show of the decade.

P-Valley, season 1 (Starz)

One of the rules of Mississippi strip club The Pynk? No motherfucking chips! This specificity and humor is all up and through P-Valley. Creator Katori Hall’s world is so well-built that you can almost feel the club’s dim interior and lithe dancers. Mercedes, a tough veteran dancer trying hard to leave The Pynk, and the club’s proprietor, non-binary femme sensation Uncle Clifford, are engaging, charismatic leads. Unapologetically Black and southern, P-Valley is critically acclaimed for good reason and I can’t wait for season 2.

Almost made the list: The Flight Attendant (HBO Max), How to with John Wilson (HBO)

Movies

Palm Springs (Hulu)

I’ve always had a little crush on Andy Samberg because he’s extremely good at his job--being funny. Yes, he’s funny in this film, and he also perfectly reflects the weariness and nihilism of millennials today. Cristin Milioti is an excellent co-lead who uses her large eyes to express at turns annoyance, excitement, and pain. A film about reliving the same day, every day, was kind of cruel to watch during the heart of my quarantine, but Palm Springs was a sumptuous, romantic companion.

Disclosure (Netflix)

I really don’t like when media about marginalized groups is billed as “much needed” or “powerful”. It’s patronizing and flattens the creator’s artistic vision. So, I won’t use that language but I will acknowledge how much I learned from Disclosure and how affecting it was. It offers a deep dive into representations of trans folks in mainstream media and is extremely well-edited and cohesive. Importantly, it was produced by trans people and directed by trans filmmaker Sam Feder. Watch it.

The Old Guard (Netflix)

There was a joke floating around on Twitter about how a lot of women never thought we liked action movies until we saw The Old Guard, then we realized, oh, we just need to see women in instrumental roles! Beyond Charlize Theron’s layered performance as an immortal baddie, the story is inventive and engrossing. The Old Guard is super rewatchable and a lot of fun.

Almost made the list: I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Netflix), On the Record (HBO Max), Tender, Onward 

Music

Favorite albums

Jaguar

Victoria Monét is a star. Maybe it’s because I’m in my thirties but I had never heard of her before my friend urged me to listen to Jaguar (shoutout to Kayla, thank you, Kayla!). I like my R&B warm and well-written and cozy. Victoria’s voice is smooth and polished and evokes the sensuality of jazz singers from the 30s. When she croons “had a feeling we would take it this far / when you kissed me in your car”, it’s easy to tell why Kehlani fell for her. This is, as they say, an album with no skips.

Suga & Good News

Megan Thee Stallion’s year was marred by a horrible event--she was shot. And then, social media trolls did their best to blame her for the shooting because the curse of being a Black woman is that we are never allowed to be victims. Even still, she bookmarked either side of that event with an EP, Suga, and her first full-length album Good News. They are strong projects (although I prefer Suga) because our girl is as clever and versatile as ever, constantly one-upping herself and her featured artists with rhyme after rhyme. Hotties rejoice, the champ is here to stay.

Ungodly Hour

Chloe x Halle have cemented their status as Those Girls. Ungodly Hour is a near-perfect album and showcases their startlingly beautiful harmonies and earwormy, haunting lyrics. This album was a key piece of fuel as I hammered away at my dissertation prospectus this summer. I would wiggle my shoulders in time with “Do It”, belt out “Tipsy”, and ignore the catch in my throat when “Lonely” was on. Importantly, Chloe and Halle are settling into adulthood and the darker themes on this project reflect that. Believers and skeptics alike, Ungodly Hour is for you.

Almost made the list: Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated Side B, Emily King - Sides, Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure?

Favorite tracks

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion - “WAP”

“Gobble me, swallow me, drip down the side of me”-- Do I need to go on???

Aminé - “Compensating”

Aminé is attractive and competent and so is this single. It’s the perfect summer track.

Giveon - “Heartbreak Anniversary”

His voice haunts me. When I first heard Giveon, I looked up as if to ask who is that? He’s model-beautiful and his deep baritone lingers in the room after the song ends.

Jessie Ware - “Ooh La La”

I have loved Jessie Ware since her first album Devotion, which was firmly R&B. This single and accompanying album are disco/funk territory. “Ooh La La” is uplifting and well-suited to Jessie’s warm soprano.

#best tv 2020 #best movies 2020 #best music 2020 #2020 #betty hbo #p-valley #vida #palm springs #the old guard #disclosure #suga #good news #jaguar #ungodly hour #wap #compensating #giveon #amine #jessie ware #ooh la la #megan thee stallion #victoria monet

[asbcblog]

TOP SONGS OF 2020 WRITE UP!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6WDeuRMOV8neAhU2zd193d?si=lZ9gDIp0TsCCEOeCS7_QGw

1. I remember everything - John Prine

I was going to write an incredibly earnest and long review of this song that outlined just how much John Prine meant to me. I can’t really do it and I think this song probably says enough alone. With only a few chords he always manages to express all the little things that make love what it is, all different kinds of love. Long lasting, short moments, love with places, sounds, going places and staying home, endless family ties, and the often fragile but in the end tenable love between all human beings in the face of catastrophe. The pandemic stole a lot of things from a lot of people this year, including John Prine, but he will remain one of the greatest songwriters of all time and his songs will live on forever.

2. Dream Palette - Yves Tumor

I can’t drive but let’s pretend I’m driving, I’m in LA and it’s night time or something, my elbow’s out the window, don’t know why I’m wearing sunglasses, this song comes on the radio, I’m the coolest person alive.

3. Boylife in EU- Yung Lean

Not to repeat my review of Garden but when the chorus comes I feel like I’m on top of a really big hill and its pouring it down with rain and im screaming but this time its because of a no-deal Brexit.

4. Garden- Joseph Futak

My review was already used as part of Joe’s promo campaign and it said: “feel like im on top of a really big hill and its pouring it down with rain and I’m screaming when the drums come in x x”

5. Circle the Drain- Soccer Mommy

I like this song because I too, am often alone in my room, and I have also become obsessed with subtle breakbeats to an extent where people around me have become very bored of the subject.

6. The Brothers William Said- The Innocence Mission

I listened to this song over and over when I was travelling round London in January just after my birthday, it felt like I’d been listening to it for years, like it was in a movie I’d forgotten. It felt at the time like I was saying a lot of goodbyes, recognising that things weren’t really like they used to be.

7. On the Floor- Perfume Genius

Say it with me ladies: I CROSS OUT HIS NAME ON THE PAGE!!!!

8. Shameika- Fiona Apple

She may not believe it but I bet Fiona Apple looked tough with a riding crop.

9. Song for Our Daughter- Laura Marling

Everything about this is fantastic, mellow and bright at the same time. Every part is brought forward individually and no part of this song gets left behind. A stunning vocal from Laura Marling and purposeful lyrics set to a cinematically emotive instrumental. Pure magic as always.

10. Building site outside- Piglet

Not going to lie, I was in a very vulnerable emotional state when I listened to this song for the first time, but I think that makes it no less powerful and just, sad. The lyric ‘she smiled at me so much last time’ is just so simple and devastating that you forget this would’ve been on every indie film soundtrack from 2000-2008 if Piglet was an industry plant.  

11. I wonder- Shamir

One word: EPIC

12. Crimson Tide- Destroyer

Listened to this every time I came on my period this year.

13. In the Dining Room - Joe Pera talks with you

Adam showed me Joe Pera when I really felt incredibly sad at the very beginning of this year. It’s a show that’s made me feel good, no matter the circumstances. This moment in the show made me smile, and I love hearing Gene come in a bit too early.

14. Stupid Love- Lady Gaga

Shakin my little booty in the kitchen to this x

15. Might bang, might not- Little Simz

Livid we didn’t all get to go to End of the Road and see all the hot dad’s loving Little Simz.

16. Fire- Waxahatchee

A truly insane vocal. I listened to this song on my way to work almost every day from September to December and fantasised singing back up at some kind of outdoor gig in the summer and it made everything significantly less bleak.

17. Hannah Sun- Lomelda

This song is too nice and genuine for me to say anything other than, “really lovely song :)”.

18. Scroll of Sorrow- Machine Girl, guayaba

Listened to this a lot this year while sitting on my kitchen floor staring into an empty oven, wondering if I was ever going to go to a party again.

19. Build a nest- Jeff and Ruby Parker

Have put this on in the flat because the guitar solo reminds me of everything my dad listens to at home. A really great piece of music that kicks off a really exciting album.

20. Kiss me thru the phone- That Kid

Ned said yesterday that he thought it was funny how much the original of this song is so foundational to hyper pop and I agree. Also I’ve started saying ‘Bitch’ like That Kid does every time I stub my toe.

21. Cuckoo- Sam Amidon

I am punting down a creek, looking in the branches that hang over the water for the bird that shall lead me to my next clue.

22. Places/ Plans- Skullcrusher

Used this song to comfort myself in moments where I also just don’t understand why I’m not famous.

23. Sweetjoy- Jam City

Finally….. HAIM for dudes.

24. Clean Living- Slow Weather

I saw someone listening to this on the side of my Spotify so I decided to give it a go and it was a fantastic decision. It’s mental that half of this song is an outro.

25. Summer All Over- Blake Mills

Along with the music video visuals and the dampened piano tone, this wins the competition for least summer-y song with the actual word summer in the title.

26. Ready Cheeky Pretty- CHAI

All of my joy this year has been brought to me by CHAI. I have nothing negative to say about CHAI. If you have anything negative to say about CHAI you’re gonna have to go through me.

27. Diaphanous- Land of Talk

This band was recommended to me by a guy I was trying to flirt with at rough trade east but everything closed before I could impress him by saying ‘I think they’re really cool’.

28. Anything - Adrianne Lenker

Anyone who has ever attempted to write a song with me knows how much I simply love rhyming. Seriously though, every thing rhymes, brilliant stuff. (It’s also such a brilliantly full and constant song that still manages to move and remain exciting from start to finish. I imagine this is partially due to Adrianne Lenker’s almost nursery rhyme- esque structure and also due to her beautifully colloquial approach to family dynamics.)

29. Blow- Dj Gigola, Kev Koko

This song makes me wish I was Jason Bourne- just wanna jump really far while something explodes behind me.

30. Money Can’t Buy- Yaeji, Nappy Nina 

‘Well I’ll buy some Yaeji tickets, they’re for NOVEMBER, there’s NO WAY they’re gonna get cancelled’.

31. Only the Truth- Johanna Warren

When I first listened to this song I felt like I was floating in the ocean looking up at the stars as the drums came in on ‘what more can I do’. An incredibly beautiful and careful song.

32. Gasoline- Haim

2020 could probably be summarised with the phrase ‘WHY AM I NO LONGER IN CALIFORNIA? WHY DID I LEAVE CALIFORNIA?’ And this song is the 3 minutes 13 seconds seconds of escapism I needed to not topple into a full spiral.

33. Mapuu - Ic3peak

No one can convince me that Ic3peak are real people. They are a collective made up of child ghosts.

34. Don’t Worry- Bladee

Whenever I have an anxiety attack in the night I wake up and see Bladee’s ghost of the future over my bed, he says ‘Don’t worry’ and mumbles for a bit as I fall back into a peaceful sleep.

35. The biggest tits in history- The magnetic fields

The most relatable magnetic fields song imo.  

36. Sand Castle- nijuu

Yujin is a genius and my answer is yes, I do want to just walk for a while.

37. Curl Up- Darren Hayman

Ned reminded me how much I used to love Darren Hayman, and both of them have been a pretty big part of my year.

38. When Will Death Come- Sarah Mary Chadwick

‘Wow, mental voice’ - Ned, while doing the washing up.

39. Dear Dad - Sylvie Wiley

‘But I didn’t cry, you’d be proud’ Sylvie, I’m weeping forever.

40. 34+35- Ariana Grande

Hehehehehehehehehe

41. Garden Song- Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers is a pretty unparalleled lyricist and this song feels like a disconnected series of thoughts that somehow all make sense together and come to create something that doesn’t build, but all just kind of sits? What I’m trying to say is that I don’t really know what she’s talking about but like, I get it.

42. Ringtone (remix) - 100 gecs, Charli xcx, Kero Kero Bonito, Rico Nasty, 

I love the way it sounds like everyone got just one take and had to improvise all the lyrics but it still bangs.

43. Changer- Andy Shauf

Thank you lord for another album about a smaller than average man overthinking all of his social interactions with lots of lovely clarinet parts.

44. What’s your pleasure - Jessie Ware

My pleasure jessie? Probably just sitting by the fire with a tough crossword and a glass of merlot x

45. Slime- Shygirl

Shygirl’s series of singles this year made me even more livid that I had to take out my eyebrow piercing for my new job this year.

46. Sears Tower- Salem

Perfect halloween release.

47. Title track- happyness

Ned turned to me and said: ‘so is their new thing that they sound like Elliot Smith’ and I said: ‘and that’s a bad thing?’

48. Cross-sound ferry (walk on ticket) - Hamilton Leithauser

Have found unbelievable joy in chopping veg and shouting GREEEEEEEN PORT, NEEEEEEWWWW YOOORK alone in my kitchen.

49. Lowswimmer- Hailaker

I’ve loved hearing Jemima’s voice when I haven’t got to see her much this year. I normally take the piss out of the Hambledon line but I haven’t seen that this year really either. I guess we find sentimentality in strange places.

50. XS - Rina Sawayama

This song made me feel very decadent on those days where I didn’t wash.

51. Emily- Clem Snide

Let’s be more kind and brave in the face of it all.

52. Building a fire- Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

P.O.V you’re doing bushcraft in the garden with your husband Bonnie Prince Billy and he’s here to protect you.

53. Asexual Wellbeing- Okay Kaya

This song absolutely bangs but I am truly bewildered by the way they singled out the line ‘if they could put a pulse into a spinach leaf, can they turn the two of us into a tree?’ in the production as if that was a true piece of genius. As I say great tune tho.

54. Anthems- Charli xcx

The soundtrack to couch to 5k

55. Never Better- Kitty Fitz

A SE London queen bringing us huge pop tunes in 2020. So so excited to see what 2021 brings us from Kitty, she’s gonna be a real force!

56. Deep in Love- Bonny Light Horsemen

This is such a delightful song which (mainly due to the time I actually got around to listening to the whole record) for me really rang in the spring. A beautifully recorded testament to the feeling of love getting stronger meaning you have a lot more to lose.

57. Malibu- Kim Petras

My song of the summer, made me feel like I was at the beach when really I was in Lewisham.

58. Like I’m Winning it- Girlpool

I’m so delighted that the turn girlpool have made this year is towards dramatic goth music with breakbeats. Their voices both sound amazing and they look simply incredible.

59. Azad- Frazey Ford

I have no idea what she’s saying as always but I love it.

60. Helio- Charlotte Dos Santos

I’m literally so excited for what Charlotte Dos Santos is gonna put out next. The production is fantastic and her aesthetics are flawless.

61. Lost in the Country- Trace Mountains

‘I checked my email twice as I cried’. Safe to say we’ve all been there this year amirite girlies x

62. Unfold You- Rostam

I hated this at first, I thought, what’s this lo-fi beats to study to shit, but it’s now my classic ‘I’m just gonna pop to the shops, anyone want anything? x’ song. Huge.

63. Oh Yeah- A.G cook

One of 2020s realisations is that me and A.G Cook kind of look like we could be cousins.

64. Can’t cool me down- Car Seat Headrest

I would like to personally thank will Toledo for giving me a tune that got me off my ass when I was too warm to do exercise this summer.

65. Take back the radio- Katy J Paerson

In love with Katy J Pearson’s voice and the way this song builds. Just pretty flawless and feel good in my opinion. I think she’s such an exciting new artist who’s gonna be around for a very very long time.

66. Good Woman- The Staves

‘I’m a good woman’… speak for yourselves.

67. A Little Love- Jack Francis

Feel like I’ve been singing this song for about 5 years! It’s amazing and I’m so excited about what Jack’s going to bring out in 2021, he’s a genius and also the nicest man on the planet.

68. Lullaby No.4 - Snailbeach

This song makes me feel like I’m being hypnotised on a haunted carousel in a very relaxing way.

69. Boyfriend in every city- Roma Radz

Sucks that she can’t see any of her boyfriends cos of covid :(

70. Jaja ding dong- Will Ferrell

Get back in there and play Jaja Ding Dong !!!!

71. Highway- Jonatan leandoer96

Man, would be pretty sick to have 20 boys outside the club but alas the clubs are dead and I’ve only regularly texted about 4 people this year.

72. De nadie- Kali Uchis

Felt v sexy listening to this for the first time in a Morley’s in Honor Oak.

73. Weird Fishes- Lianne La Havas

This album was a pretty triumphant return for Lianna La Havas and me teenage self simply couldn’t be happier.

74. Micro Creature- Aya Gloomy

Love that despite everything about this song telling me otherwise, that the artwork for this single looks like Aya Gloomy is just chilling in the fields by my family home in Hampshire.

75. Si Ella Sale- Bad Bunny

Better get on the duolingo now if I’m gonna know what this guy’s saying at Porto next year.

76. Through my sails- Mountain Man

Truly gentle reimagining of an already incredibly beautiful song, mountain man make every word seem new!

77.Christmas Day (get me outta this funk) - Baggio and Blue 5 Years- Bath days

In joint 77th place are two banging Christmas songs that have soundtracked a pretty bleak Christmas period and have made me feel pretty joyous in their ways, despite one literally being called Blue Five Years.

[yoongiiggles]

More Than This | Part 1

Type: Series 

Pair: Tony Stark x Plus-Size Reader

Summary: You were the secretary of Tony Stark and you have been in love with him after creating a strong friendship that was built on trust and years of working along side him. Although there is an obvious chemistry between you two, he has been loyal to his relationship with the woman he has loved, Pepper Potts, since before he was the hot shot Tony Stark the iron man.  But can a devastating breakup and a one night stand change the relationship between you two and end your unrequited love?

Word Count: 2k

A/N: This is my first time attempting in writing fanfic so bear with me 😅, and I apologize beforehand if there are any grammatical or spelling errors that you encounter as you are reading. As always, feedback is always welcome!!! 😝 And I apologize for the delays and how long it takes to write this series, I’ve been trying to balance my work with college so bare with me! Thank you!

Song: Say You Love Me - Jessie Ware

Part 1  ||  Part 2  ||  Part 3  ||  Part 4  ||  Part 5  ||  Part 6  ||  Part 7  ||  Part 8  ||  Part 9  ||  End

          It’s another sleepless night for you as you stare up at the ceiling in contemplative pain. It’s dark in your room and it’s deafly quiet that when a pin needle drops, you’d be able to hear it in your sleep. The combined darkness and silence in your room only encourages your mind to wander back to images and thoughts of the one man that you have fallen in love with, Tony Stark. Yet as fast as those thoughts come, they disappear with a feeling of guilt as the image of Pepper Potts comes to mind. You didn’t mean to fall in love with him, really you didn’t. But as the lingering touches increase more each day and the conversations turn into deep soul conversations, you can’t deny the rapid beating of your heart every time you are near him, which can ultimately put you at risk for a possible heart attack, considering that you are required to be with him at least 23 hours a day as his secretary and the one hour that he has to himself is spent strictly and only with Pepper Potts, which of course, adds more pain to your rapid beating heart. Especially knowing that the less hours you have that you are able to spend with a person, the more intimate the bonding will be, which increases the ache in your heart twice as much, knowing that you, no matter how much longer your hours are with Tony compared to the time he has with Pepper, you will never have the intimate bond that Tony and Pepper share together.

~Flashback~

        You were nothing special. Just a regular human being working in a library taking great care of books and guiding curious souls to immerse themselves into a new experience of another world. But today was an interesting day.There were no curious souls searching a new world to adventure into. The library was empty, save for you and a couple of work buddies that you converse with occasionally when gossip around the library spread like wild fire.

        But what was really interesting about today was the email that you received from Tony Stark himself, an email regarding a search for a secretary that will keep him in line and organize the mess that he often creates, along with an attachment of an application. It was surreal that THE Tony Stark would send an email like that to a person like you. Thinking nothing of it, you opened up the attached application and answered the questions like any other applications you had to fill for a job. If you only knew how much a small action can lead to such big consequences.

— End of Flashback —

        And you were right that day. Tony Stark had never intended to send you an email, let alone an application to be his secretary and still to this day, he will never admit that he mistyped a letter that led to your name instead, that prideful son of gosh darn man, yet you are forever grateful that his simple mistake eventually led to your friendship.

        Ever since that fateful day, you had grown to appreciate the man behind the mask of iron man. A compassionate, loving, carefree spirited man and not the Tony Stark, genius billionaire playboy philanthropist guy that society deemed him to be. But don’t get any ideas, the first couple of years of being the secretary of Tony Stark was tough. Your relationship as boss and employee was restrained. The only words he had ever spoke to you were a yes, no, okay, and bye. It was a bit disheartening at first that you began to consider quitting because the environment was too suffocating for you to endure but as soon as you saw his interaction with Pepper Potts, you thought, “i guess he’s not too bad”. Ever since then, you were determined to break the walls he built around himself and become more than a secretary, a friend.

        You started with Plan A, little notes of encouragement. In the morning, you’d slip a sticky note on his morning coffee that stated, “Life is like a mirror: It’ll smile at you if you smile at it”. Cheesy but you were desperate to give him hints of wanting him to be more at ease with you and be more expressive towards you. Though as soon as he saw the note, he threw it in the trash bin and told you to not waste any more sticky notes with irrelevant writings.

         On to Plan B, little gifts for each one of his birthdays. You started with something simple, a note card describing how grateful you were to be working for him and on to bigger gifts such as a new watch and a pillow comforter for his late nights at his labs. This was your greatest plan yet, thinking that it’ll show that he is worth the gifts that he receives and that an employee can see beyond a boss but a human being thinking of another human being. As great as a plan you thought it was, he would leave every gift you have given him in a corner of his lab, untouched. At this point you were frustrated. The least he could have done was say Thank You. But thinking nothing of it, you came up with another plan.

- Flashback -

         “Good Morning Sir, shall I review the plans for today?”

         “Yes”….

         Looking down at your notepad you read, “First you will be having a meeting with Pepper Potts in the Cafe Laguna at 8:30 am for breakfast. You both will then take a carriage ride to the carnival at 10:30 am and go for a walk to a street food festival for lunch. By the time this is all done you will have a brief meeting with the avengers at 2:00 pm and go straight to your room as Pepper will await for you arrival for a private moment between you two. And finally at 6:00 pm you will have a dinner picnic at Golden Creeks Beach Park and retire for the day in your quarters again with Pepper. Will there be anything else you would like to add sir?”. Looking up from your notepad, you looked at Tony’s widen eyes. You inwardly smirk at his bafflement.

          And for the first time working with him through the years, he says something more than a word, “You’re joking right? Potts is too busy for these silly plans.”

         Again, you inwardly smirk, “Pepper Potts is not busy today. I have explained the circumstances you are in and she has agreed and cleared her schedule to spend the whole day with you Sir”.

         “What circumstances are you going on about?”.

         Smiling at him, “I apologize Sir but it’s almost 8:30 and knowing how punctual you like being, especially for Pepper, I suggest you leave right now if you wanna arrive to at the Cafe for breakfast with Pepper in high spirits”.

         He stares at you for a moment with something in his eyes that you couldn’t quite decipher what it was but after a few moments he rushes out the room and you start jumping around excited for your success.

- End of Flashback -

          Ever since that careful day of planning and revealing it to Tony, the relationship of boss and secretary has blossomed into friendship. Tony would become more expressive in his feelings and thoughts, asked you advice for his relationship with Pepper, and confide in you with his internal struggles. And in return, you have become twice the friend you already were. 

          Its now a Saturday, evening on the clock, the day Tony would be spending his one hour time with Pepper. But his time with you has been pushed to 24 hours a day with Tony, as Pepper is scheduled to a convention in LA for the next 5 months. Since being with Tony 24 hours and living in his penthouse in the designated, “This is especially the designated room for my special secretary” as Tony would put it or in other words, “You will be living in this room for as long as you are my secretary as your job as my secretary requires your all your time”, as you would put it, you have listened to his complaints about Pepper abruptly leaving for a convention. 

          “I can’t believe this. Leaving me a note to TELL me that she’s going to be gone for the next 5 months for a stupid convention I have no idea about?!? Couldn’t she just have told me in my face? Does our relationship mean that little to her?”

          You sigh for the hundredth time, “Tony, Im sure she had good reason as to not tell you in person. Maybe this convention really is a big deal and this meeting really did come up out of nowhere? Besides, why not just call her?”. Again, no response from him. You internally curse as you know why he won’t just simply call her. Pride. Thinking carefully and looking over his schedule you say, 

          “Hey, uhm do you want to go this new ice cream shop that just opened couple blocks away? I hear they make the best ice cream smoothie shake these days” 

          “Ice cream smoothie shake? What does that even mean?”.

          Sighing again, you sit next to him on his couch, “Who cares about what it means! It’s the latest trend right now. Besides, you have nothing on your schedule at the moment. So what do you say?”. After a few minutes of contemplation from him, you finally leave his office to head down the ice cream shop.

          “Damn that was the best thing i’ve ever tasted in my life!”, you say as you walk side by side with Tony. Although the ice cream shop was packed and hours of waiting in line has made your feet sore, the ice cream smoothie shake was worth the wait.

         Chuckling at you, “Seriously? That was mediocre at its best. Trust me, I know an ice cream shop that can do better than that”. Rolling your eyes and chuckling, you say nothing as the sun starts to set. Compared to the amount of people in the ice cream shop, theres barely any people walking down the sidewalk and cars on the street. The walk with Tony is quiet as neither of you speak, too tired from waiting in line. So it comes to a surprise to you as tony halts your walking and bends down in front of you, his back facing you, “Hop on. I bet those heels are killing your feet right now”. Blushing furiously, you decline but on his insistence, you finally climb on his back, wrapping your legs around his hips.

          Mumbling softly you say, “I can still walk. Besides, I might break your back you know”. 

          Tony halts a little at your comment. But choosing to ignore your comment of indiscretion directed towards you he says, “You mean limping? Please. You’re better off with me carrying you. Besides, I wasn’t raised to allow a gorgeous woman suffer”. You suck in a breath and hold it in, did he just call you gorgeous? and is he actually flirting with you? No way right? Besides, he has a girlfriend, you remind yourself. One he is completely and utterly devoted to. 

          “You okay?”

          Coming out of your thoughts, you finally registered that he has said something to you. “huh?”.

         “Are you okay? Feet doesn’t hurt that much does it? You’ve been quiet a long minute”.

         Blushing you say, “I should be asking you that. Are you okay? Im not hurting your back am I? I can walk you know Im not that helpless. Besides, Im a big girl, I can take care of myself”. Grunting again at you, “Trust me, you’re perfect and Im fine”. With nothing else to say and with much consideration, you rest your head against his shoulder blades. Little did you know that day that your relationship has changed.

#Plus Size #plus size reader #tony stark x plus size reader #tony stark x reader #tony stark #fluff #angst #tony stark imagine #tony imagine #reader insert #reader imagine #plus-sized reader #plus-size reader #unrequited love

[fantasyoverreality98]

Slowly

Pairing: Bryce x F! MC (Casey Valentine)

Summary: Three simple words make all the difference.

Author’s Note: Song inspiration is actually two songs-- “Say You Love Me” and “Tough Love” by Jessie Ware. Her music has been giving me massive inspiration, and so I highly encourage people to check her out. Anyway, I hope you enjoy! As always, my eternal gratitude to everyone who takes the time to read, comment, reblog, like. You guys keep me going!

Warning(s): A little bit angsty, I guess. Not too bad though.

Word Count: 1,510

Tags: @anotherbeingsworld @aylamreads

---------

Casey Valentine sighed as she made her way to the next patient. It was hard to concentrate lately, and she knew the reason why.

The doubts she’d started to have when it came to her relationship with Bryce were growing stronger by the day. She knew that he must have some feelings for her, that the past eight months hadn’t meant nothing, and yet…

Where did they stand?

He’d grown closer to her than anyone had before. Casey shared secrets with him that she never saw herself revealing in any past relationship she’d had, no matter how few and short they’d been.

“Casey!” She turned at the sound of Bryce’s voice, trying her best to maintain a smile. “Whatcha up to?” he asked when they were close enough, quickly looking around before he leaned down to give her a kiss.

She sighed, gripping his arms when he pulled her closer. Bryce pulled back long enough to look at her before coming back for another kiss, brushing his lips against hers. His hand moved up to her neck, holding her in place.

Casey pulled away after a minute, biting on her bottom lip as she tried to think of what to say. Finally, she answered. “I’m just checking on my patients. Speaking of which, I should really get back to work.” The tension in her shoulders relaxed when she locked eyes with him. “What about you? Don’t you have any surgeries to scrub in on?”

“Not for a couple hours.” He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger. “Got any plans in about ten minutes?”

She shook her head, taking a step back. “I have to check on my patients. I’ll see you later tonight, okay?”

Bryce nodded, winking at her before he turned and sauntered down the hallway. Casey watched him walk away, feeling a heaviness in her chest as she thought about where they stood. Boundaries had never been established for their relationship. They were definitely dating, but she wanted more.

For the rest of the day, she went through the motions, thinking of all the brief discussions she’d had with Bryce about their relationship. It meant something to him. He’d said as much during one of their hookups. Still, it meaning something wasn’t the same as love.

Love. The word bounced around in her mind all the time. Every time she looked at him, butterflies swirled in her stomach. Time hadn’t changed the feeling, and she hoped that it stayed that way. All she wanted was to hear him say those three words.

In the middle of the night, all she thought about was Bryce. His smile, his laugh, his touch. Him.

“I’m not one to say I’m in love,” he’d said once, laughing while surrounded by the other surgeons. “It seems like such a strong word. A huge commitment.”

This was before they’d been together, but she remembered. She wondered.

What if he still felt that way?

Once she’d finished checking on her patients, Casey made her way to the women’s washroom, collapsing against the stall wall with a sigh. She knew that it would be simple enough to say it first, to just admit that she’d fallen in love with him after knowing him for a few weeks, but she wasn’t unsure of her own feelings.

Bryce was a puzzle she couldn’t figure out. Try as she might to get him to open up, he kept his past a secret. Little details here and there, but never enough for her to grasp who he was as a person. Who he’d been. Who he might become.

This feeling followed her to his apartment, where they spent the night together, sweet nothings echoing in a quiet room. She watched his chest rise and fall after he’d fallen asleep, tracing the soft cuts of muscle. He was without a doubt the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, his bright personality only making her love him more.

Casey closed her eyes and lay her hand over Bryce’s heart, feeling the gentle beat beneath her fingers.

“I love you,” she whispered, knowing he couldn’t hear.

When she was greeted with silence, she sighed, turning onto her back to stare up at the ceiling. Shadows danced across the room, the light outside peeking through the blinds. This room had become as familiar as her own.

Although he was sleeping right beside her, she’d never felt further apart. The distance she’d imagined between them made everything difficult. Casey wanted more. She was tired of the constant doubt.

Bryce rolled over, slinging an arm over her stomach. The heat from his body lulled her into a dreamless sleep.

“Mm. Think we could get away with skipping out on work today?” Bryce mumbled when the alarm went off early in the morning. “I’m sure they wouldn’t even miss us.”

She struggled to pull herself from a deep sleep, her eyelids fluttering closed every few minutes until the final warning alarm went off. With a groan, the two of them slowly got dressed.

“So, I’ve been thinking, and—” Bryce grinned when she whirled around to face him. “What’s that look for? I was wondering if you wanted to go out for lunch tomorrow, since we get the day off.”

Casey nodded, tying her hair back in a bun as she headed for the bedroom door. “Sure. That sounds good to me.”

He grinned, pulling his shirt over his head. The two of them ate a quick breakfast in silence before heading to the hospital, barely saying a word to each other the entire trip. In no time, they were getting ready to do rounds.

“Casey, wait.”

Hope swelled in her chest, and she turned around, foolishly hoping that this would be the moment he finally confessed his feelings for her. Perhaps he’d heard her the night before somehow.

“Have a great day.” Bryce smiled, his lips parting as if to say more, but he closed them again, shaking his head before disappearing from the locker room.

The heaviness in her chest returned, and she stayed until time ran out and it was time to do rounds. Casey maintained a professional face during her shift, trying her best not to let her mind wander to thoughts of Bryce.

Eight months seemed like a long time to go without saying “I love you” but she had no idea if that was true. This had been the first time she ever felt this way about anyone. Shaking her head, Casey made her way to the locker room after a long day.

Bryce was waiting for her, smiling when their eyes met. He’d already changed into a casual outfit, leaning against the lockers when she walked into the room. No one else was around.

“Ready to go home?” he asked, remaining in the same spot as she changed, his eyes lingering on her body. “I can’t wait to sleep. I’m exhausted.”

Casey sighed, letting her hair down. “Me too.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a proper sleep. “Are you going back to your place, or are you spending the night?”

“Will Jackie freak out if I stay the night again?”

“Okay, well, maybe you should put some clothes on this time if you decide to grab something from the kitchen this time.” She couldn’t hold back a laugh at the memory of Jackie’s scream of horror waking everyone in the apartment up a few months earlier.

Bryce frowned. “It was almost three in the morning! How was I supposed to know someone would wake up?”

For a moment, Casey could forget about her conflicting feelings. She laughed and shook her head, walking down the hospital hallways with Bryce by her side. They exchanged stories about their days as they made their way to the hospital entrance.

By the time they reached the train, Casey’s stomach hurt from laughing. She looked up at Bryce, once again feeling the butterflies gather in her stomach. He noticed her staring and looked at her with a slight frown.

“What? What is it?” He reached up to touch his face, but she grabbed his hands, her lips pulling back into a grin.

“Nothing. You’re just so perfect.” She took a deep breath, contemplating whether this moment was right. After a second, she decided it was worth it to just say her feelings out loud. “I—”

Bryce blurted out a few words at the same time, cutting her off before she could finish. “I love you. Wow, that was scary.” His eyes were wide when he looked down at her. “Please say something back.”

Casey grinned, running her fingers across his cheek. “I love you, too.”

They kissed until the train came, separating just long enough to board before holding each other again. Passengers shot them dirty looks, and a few cleared their throats, but they didn’t care.

All that mattered was this moment.

The journey to saying “I love you” may have passed slowly, but it was all worth it, and Casey wouldn’t have it any other way.

#bryce lahela #bryce x mc #open heart #choices fanfiction #bryce lahela x mc #my writing

[reviewsbyr]

The BRIT Awards 2018 Winner Predictions

It’s that time of year again! The BRIT Awards 2018 nominees were announced a while ago and just like the previous two years, I am going to predict the winners! The show is set to be amazing with artists like Justin Timberlake, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Sam Smith and Stormzy all performing on the night and the show is being hosted by Jack Whitehall! Here are my predictions! All of the nominations will be linked to the songs on YouTube- so click on them if you want to have a listen! Here we go...

BRITISH ARTIST VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Nominees:

Clean Bandit Ft Zara Larsson - 'Symphony'

Dua Lipa - 'New Rules' 

Ed Sheeran - 'Shape Of You'

Harry Styles - 'Sign Of The Times'

Liam Payne Ft Quavo - 'Strip That Down'

Little Mix - 'Touch'

ZAYN And Taylor Swift - 'I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker Soundtrack)'

Winner Prediction: My winner based on the video is 100% ‘New Rules’ by Dua Lipa. The video goes with the song brilliantly and I just think it’s a worthy winner. But judging by the leaderboard at this moment, I think Harry Styles will win with ‘Sign Of The Times’ - to be fair, who doesn’t want to look at that face?!

BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT

Nominees:

Dave

Dua Lipa

J Hus

Loyle Carner

Sampha

Winner Prediction: My winner prediction for this category has got to be Dua Lipa, it’s been an incredible year for her and I think she should win this! 

BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST

Nominees:

Ed Sheeran

Liam Gallagher

Loyle Carner

Rag'N'Bone Man

Stormzy

Winner Prediction: This one is between Ed Sheeran and Stormzy for me. It’s got to be Ed Sheeran though, right?

INTERNATIONAL GROUP

Nominees:

Arcade Fire

Foo Fighters

Haim

The Killers

LCD Soundsystem

Winner Prediction: Personally, I absolutely love The Killers and would love to see them win this award, but I think the Foo Fighters might have it.

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST

Nominees:

Alicia Keys

Björk

Lorde

P!nk

Taylor Swift

Winner Prediction: Wow, what a tough choice... Are you ready for it? I think Taylor Swift will win!

INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST

Nominees:

Beck

Childish Gambino

DJ Khaled

Drake

Kendrick Lamar

Winner Prediction: It’s got to be Drake!

MASTERCARD BRITISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Nominees:

Dua Lipa - 'Dua Lipa'

Ed Sheeran - '÷'

J Hus - 'Common Sense'

Rag'n'Bone Man - 'Human'

Stormzy - 'Gang Signs & Prayer'

Winner Prediction: Another very tough choice, I think Ed Sheeran should win this one because Divide is such a brilliant album.

BRITISH SINGLE

Nominees:

Calvin Harris Ft Pharrell Williams/ Katy Perry/Big Sean - 'Feels'

Clean Bandit Ft Zara Larsson - 'Symphony'

Dua Lipa - 'New Rules'

Ed Sheeran - 'Shape Of You'

J Hus - 'Did You See'

Jax Jones Ft Raye - 'You Don't Know Me'

Jonas Blue Ft William Singe - 'Mama'

Liam Payne Ft Quavo - 'Strip That Down'

Little Mix - 'Touch'

Rag'n'Bone Man - 'Human

Winner Prediction: This one is between ‘Shape Of You’, ‘New Rules’ and ‘Touch’. I believe that Dua Lipa could be leaving the BRITs with quite a few awards. It’s ‘New Rules’ for me! That song was (and still is) a massive hit.

BRITISH GROUP

Nominees:

Gorillaz

London Grammar

Royal Blood

Wolf Alice

The xx

Winner Prediction: I adore London Grammar and it would be fantastic if they won this award, but I think it will go to Gorillaz.

BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST

Nominees:

Dua Lipa

Jessie Ware

Kate Tempest

Laura Marling

Paloma Faith

Winner Prediction: All are fabulous artists, I particularly like Jessie Ware and Dua Lipa. Again, I think Dua Lipa will win this!

Thank you so much for reading, please let me know your predictions and/ or if you agree with mine or not! I can’t wait to watch the show and I will be doing a review of it!

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter: @ReviewsByR

#BRIT #BRITs #BRIT Awards #BRIT Awards 2018 #Ed Sheeran #Dua Lipa #Liam Payne #Harry Styles #Zayn Malik #Taylor Swift #Paloma Faith #winner #prediction #jessie ware #london grammar #gorillaz #calvin harris #pharrell #katy perry #big sean #rag n bone man #drake #lorde #anne marie #little mix #songs #music

[jmsa1287]

A Year in Review: The Best 100 Songs of 2017 (50-1)

The latest entry into my Year in Review feature. Check out The Best 100 Songs of 2017 (100-51) by clicking here. Below, find 50-1!

050. St. Vincent – “New York”

049. Broken Social Scene – “Hug of Thunder”

048. DJDS – “Trees on Fire” feat. Amber Mark, Marco Mckinnis

047. Charli XCX – “Roll with Me”

046. Jens Lekman – “What’s That Perfume That You Wear?”

045. Rita Ora – “Your Song”

044. Fergie – “Enchante (Carine)” feat. Axl Jack

043. MGMT – “Little Dark Age”

042. Blondie – “Long Time”

041. TLC – “Way Back” feat. Snoop Dogg

040. LCD Soundsystem – "call the police”

039. Sampha – “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano”

038. Jessie Ware – “Midnight”

037. Julia Michaels – “Issues”

036. LANY – “Super Far”

035. The Killers – “Run for Cover”

034. Cashmere Cat – “Quit” feat. Ariana Grande

033. Nite Jewel – “2 Good 2 Be True”

032. Tinashe – “Flame”

031. The War on Drugs – “Holding On”

030. Dirty Projectors – “Cool Your Heart” feat. DAWN

029. Kali Uchis – “Tyrant” feat. Jorja Smith

028. Mura Masa – “1 Night” feat. Charli XCX

027. Phoenix – “J-Boy”

026. Terror Jr – “Death Wish”

025. Danny L Harle – “1UL”

024. Lorde – “Green Light”

023. P!nk – “Beautiful Trauma”

022. Pale Waves – “There’s a Honey”

021. Paramore – “Hard Times”

020. Fever Ray – “To the Moon”

019. The xx – “I Dare You”

018. BLACKPINK – “As If It’s Your Last”

017. Cam – “Diane”

016. P!nk – “What About Us”

015. HAIM – “I Want You Back”

014. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Cut to the Feeling”

013. Charli XCX – “Boys”

012. Lorde – “Supercut”

011. Destroyer – “Tinseltown Swimming in Blood”

010. Miley Cyrus – “Malibu”

Miley Cyrus was one of the big pop stars of late to go back-to-basics (think: Lady Gaga's "Joanne," Kesha's "Rainbow"). After capturing the zeitgeist in 2013 with provocative singles like "Wrecking Ball" and "We Can't Stop," Miley stripped things down with her new unplugged country album "Younger Now." That LP's first single "Malbiu" showcases the adult side of Miley, whose voice has never sounded better. A breezy and delightfully sweet ballad - one that never steps into the realm of preciousness - "Malibu" celebrates rekindling a love with effortless but poignant songwriting (she wrote the song in an Uber on the way to a taping of "The Voice," where she serves as a judge) that is also an ode to sunny Southern California.

009. Rita Ora – “Anywhere”

It's been a long, tough road for Rita Ora. She's never released an album in the U.S. (though she has great success in her native U.K.), nor has she had much traction with her previous excellent singles in the States. Unfortunately, that's not going to change with "Anywhere," arguably her best song ever, which has yet to chart in the U.S. Nevertheless, it's a high-quality dance-pop banger and it's the perfect antidote to the vile year that was 2017: A euphoric 3-minute and 35-second form of escapism that comes with one of the best pre-choruses in recent memory.

008. Terror Jr – “Caramel”

Just like the candy, "Caramel," the single from the mysterious pop group Terror Jr, is gooey and sticky. It's a hazy balled that references depression, drug use, gay rights and other hot button issues. Speaking with Thump, singer Lisa Terror said the song is "a reaction to the surreal world in 2017." With a minimal production, "Caramel" lures you in with finger snaps and slinky synths and Lisa's manipulated vocals, resulting in a captivating and hypotonic track.

007. Taylor Swift – “Delicate”

Taylor Swift's latest album "reputation" may be her weakest effort since her 2006 debut, but it still comes with some stellar gems. Produced by Max Martin and Shellback, "Delicate" is one of Swift's sexiest songs to date and her most mature. Here, Swift actually swears and sings about drinking as she cautiously pursues a new love interest - she's simultaneously confident and vulnerable. But what propels "Delicate" into one of Swift's best works is its simple sonic construction; a sensual wall of synths and powerful drums that enter halfway through the song, kicking it into a high-gear emotional drive.

006. Phoenix – “Fior Di Latte”

French band Phoenix's new album "Ti Amo" is an ode to summers in Italy and Italian disco. Its highlight "Fior Di Latte" is a glistening groovy jam. Like the Italian cheese itself, the track is a smooth and airy delight that's straightforwardness about making love under the Italian sun complements the track's song construction. The track builds with vibrant bass and singer Thomas Mars's silky vocals, which eventually gives way to a cataclysmic explosion. From one of indie music's most reliable bands, Phoenix's "Fior Di Latte" is a sensual stunner that bursts with light.

005. Selena Gomez – “Bad Liar”

Selena Gomez has low-key been one of the most reliable pop stars of the 21st century. With huge bangers like "Hands to Myself," "Good For You," "Same Old Love," "Come & Get It" and more, Gomez has slayed the charts with undeniable pop gems. For "Bad Liar," Gomez continues her brand of sultry pop, this time unexpectedly sampling the Talking Heads' 1977 single "Psycho Killer." With a funky bass and Gomez's cooing vocals, "Bad Liar" is cool and clever song; the most daring effort from the star yet, giving hope Gomez has further tricks up her sleeve.

004. Lorde – “Homemade Dynamite”

"Homemade Dynamite" wasn't an immediate favorite from Lorde's sophomore album "Melodrama." Unlike the instant hits "Supercut" and "The Louvre," both brilliant euphoric bops, "Homemade Dynamite" is weird. But over time, the track slowly revealed itself, exploring complex emotions with interesting production and slinky synth-work, courtesy of Jack Antonff. With Lorde's signature whispering, "Homemade Dynamite" is the perfect concoction of all of her best traits: A radio pop song that's bent just a little too much, making it fascinating and innovative while still completely accessible. Awesome, right?

003. SOPHIE – “It’s Okay to Cry”

SOHPIE's "It's Okay Cry" was a coming-out of sorts for the otherwise enigmatic British musician/producer. The song's accompanying music video was the first time SOPHIE made her official appearance, with the camera up close and centered on her. (At the same time, SOPHIE released a press release stating she prefers she/her pronouns.) The song is a queer anthem - a stirring ballad that's restrained for SOPHIE, who's known for her spastic and glitch-y synths. With honest lyrics ("The pain inside increases / It takes more strength to hold it in then to give in and surrender") and a massive buildup that erupts with a thunderous clap, "It's Okay to Cry" hits the reset button, making SOPHIE truly one of the most interesting artists to watch.

002. Kesha – “Praying”

There's no better song than Kesha's "Praying" to be the anthem for the abysmal year that was 2017. Her comeback single took aim at disgraced producer Dr. Lukas, who she accused of sexual assault (he has denied all claims). Kesha has been in court battles with the producer and her record label, forced into a music limbo. But when "Praying" unexpectedly dropped in July, it not only an excellent song that showed off Kesha's vocals, but it was also a battle cry, with Kesha throwing down the gauntlet. It established her as a new musician - the "TiK ToK" party days are behind her (remember, she's dropped the "$" in her name)- and posited her as a pop singer-songwriter. "Praying" isn't scornful or angry. Instead, it's full of hope and forgiveness with Kesha taking the high road: "I hope you're somewhere prayin', prayin' / I hope your soul is changin', changin' / I hope you find your peace," she screams during the song's breathtaking chorus.

001. Lana Del Rey - “Love”

No current pop artist has struggled with today's political climate more than Lana Del Rey. With songs like "National Anthem," lyrics like "Be young, be dope be proud / Like an American," and music videos showing her waving the U.S. flag, the elusive singer built her career from American pastiche. But that changed this year after Donald Trump entered the White House. Not only did she cast a witchy spell on him, but she also banned the American flag from her shows, and penned a track about the threats of North Korea. To say that Del Rey become more aware of her surroundings this year would be an understatement. With "Love," the first single off her excellent album "Lust for Life," the chanteuse gets nostalgic, looking back at the music that propelled her into stardom, and turns the track into an ode to her fans: "Look at you kids with your vintage music/You're part of the past, but now you're the future," she sings over a string arrangement echoing the music from her debut "Born to Die." It's a powerful and earnest song (something rare these days in pop music) where Del Rey winks at the Beach Boys and, most importantly, give hope to her millions of fans: "It doesn't matter if I'm not enough / For the future or the things to come / 'Cause I'm young and in love / Don't worry, baby."

#year end #2017 #year end 2017 #best of 2017 #music #pop music #st. vincent #annie clark #Broken Social Scene #djds #amber mark #marco mckinnis #charli xcx #jens lekman #rita ora #ferige #axl jack #mgmt #blondie #tlc #snoop dogg #lcd soundsystem #sampha #jessie ware #julia michaels #lany #the killers #cashmere cat #ariana grande #nite jewel

[theseventhhex]

Liv Dawson Interview

Liv Dawson

Photo by Conor Clinch

Liv Dawson returns with her latest single ‘Pushing 21 - a deeply relatable song which sees Liv take a reflective and introspective look at her life. It demonstrates her truly impeccable writing talent and vocal ability, which has already attracted fans in Sam Smith, Nina Nesbitt and SG Lewis to name a few. ‘Pushing 21’ is about taking action in cutting people out of your life when necessary. It’s fuelled by empowerment and new beginnings. With over 42 million streams to date, support slots for Tom Walker, Jessie Ware, Honne and Khalid under her belt, 2019 is gearing up to be an incredible year for Liv. ‘Pushing 21’ is an apt follow up from her previous EP ‘Bedroom’ and a bold step towards superstardom. Armed with new tracks that are more beautiful and brutally honest than ever, Liv Dawson is ready for the next chapter… The Seventh Hex talks to Liv about being open-minded, overcoming anxiety and meeting Elton John…

TSH: What’s impacted you most as a songwriter in recent times?

Liv: With the new stuff that I’m putting out I feel like I’ve had a big progression in making massive changes in my personal life and my career. I’ve just been writing about honest expressions. Everything feels like it happens at the right time for me and I always have something to write about. I always write about things that I can relate to. I’ve tried writing about things that haven’t happened to me and have happened to other people, but it just doesn’t connect the same. So I always prefer to write about things that I’ve gone through.

TSH: The thread of honest storytelling certainly defines your outlooks?

Liv: Yeah, exactly. I want my songs and thoughts to be interpreted in a universal way, for sure. I can exaggerate a lot of my experiences when I write about them but if it’s coming from an honest place then a lot of people will be able to relate to it. Besides I focus a lot on day-to-day type of things and I think these kinds of experiences will always be relatable. One of my latest songs is about cutting off people that do not benefit you, I mean I’m a very kind person, but I get my kindness taken for weakness quite often. So I’ve been writing about this kind of topic recently. And I think that young teenagers can relate to this feeling. After all, it’s very important to put yourself first, and this is the type of topic I’m including more into my songwriting.

TSH: How important is it for you to go into the studio with an open mind?

Liv: I think being open-minded is a key feature for me, sometimes I feel like I don’t have much of an identity with my songwriting, and this is because I write so many different styles of music, but I don’t think it’s a weakness – instead I think It’s a massive strength of mine. For so long I was trying to make the same type of music and trying to make sure it all fits well together, but now I realise that whatever flows best is what is most important to keep. I simply follow where the song takes me.

TSH: Going back to your recent EP, you not only searched to discover your own personality but you felt it was important to delve into social anxiety too…

Liv: Yes. It’s definitely important to let it out when it comes to social anxiety. Nowadays my anxiety doesn’t really bother me as much as it did before; this is because I never bottle it up. I urge others to talk about it and let it out too - telling someone about your issues helps so much, especially when you’re feeling alone and not worthy. I’m more honest about my depression and I write about my dramas and choose to let them out with my songwriting. And when I do, I feel so much better and like I have a better perspective on life.

TSH: What was the process like in forming ‘Nobody But You’?

Liv: It was very organic. I was in the studio with a couple of my best friends and one of them is an amazing guitarist - he literally played the guitar riff and we just flowed with it. I wrote that song in like 30 mins; it’s about being really in love. Nowadays it’s a big thing for artists to want songs to be extra interesting or to include massive plot twists and stories, but with this one I was just really happy to pen such a natural song with great friends by my side.

TSH: You’ve also recently collaborated with dePresno on the track ‘Gold’…

Liv: Oh, it was really cool for me to collaborate on this song. dePresno’s whole team were really lovely. I remember being in the studio tracking the song and there was such a nice energy around me. Also, he’s a really cool guy! I think that all Norwegian people are just really kind and generous, ha!

TSH: How do you overcome the challenging days that you encounter?

Liv: I think in order to overcome difficult days and challenging problems you need to have a good social circle around you. I’m so lucky to have such great friends to turn to when I need to vent and get things off my chest. I mean I get to do what I love every day and I connect with friends on a very personal level too. I need to have a solid support group around me. I have a small circle and trust is key. I also never bottle up my emotions, I choose the platform of social media to let others know that no one is perfect and that we all encounter issues, but with support we can get through the tough days.

TSH: Does Brandy & Monica’s ‘The Boy is Mine’ still help to make you feel positive?

Liv: Haha! That’s always going to be my go-to song. I love that track so much. So many memories come to mind whenever I hear it.

TSH: Speaking of memories, what was it like to meet Elton John during Christmas 2017?

Liv: He was so amazing! Elton is a great guy and he’s been a massive part of my growth to date. He’s literally like the best mentor to have around, especially since he has so many years of experience. When you’re sitting down talking to him, it’s like to talking to an old friend; he is the most down to earth person I’ve ever met. He truly is an incredible person with a lot of wisdom.

TSH: Is downtime spent with your friends and some Krispy Kreme doughnuts?

Liv: Haha! Oh, yes! If I’ve had a long week I’ll make sure that I spend some time alone time on the weekend, and I love Krispy Kremes so much! I mostly just like to spend time with my friends. I also love watching movies. I saw ‘A Star is Born’ recently and fell in love with the film! But yeah, the simple things in life make me most happy.

TSH: What defines your motivations as you look ahead?

Liv: A lot of my motivation heading forward is just having amazing people around me and on my side. I just want to really enjoy the music that I’m writing. Also, I don’t want to ever be stuck writing the same song over and over again and regenerating music that’s a similar version of past music. I want to keep my music fresh, honest and always different. I’m looking forward to touring and collaborating more too. However, the main thing is to always have fun whilst being on this journey.

Liv Dawson - “Pushing 21”

Pushing 21

#Interview #Liv Dawson

[cynthiajayusa]

British Soul-Singer Jessie Ware Talks Wig Snatching, BFF Sam Smith

Jessie Ware only recently learned what “wig snatching” means, and fresh off the European leg of her current tour, I’ve taught her “guncle.” The 33-year-old British songstress takes full advantage of this latest lesson in queer-speak, breaking from our phone chat just long enough to inform her gay brother, Alex, he’s a guncle (“I’ll take that,” he says). With Ware’s nearly-two-year-old baby girl in tow, the siblings have just arrived at a Palm Springs lodge they rented, a family vacation before Ware’s Coachella performance.

For her solo live shows, Ware’s culled a set list encompassing her three musically varied releases: her debut Devotion (2012), which features her breakout single “Wildest Moments;” her even-more sophisticated Tough Love (2014); and last year’s experimental Glasshouse, a collection so deeply personal she tells me she wants to turn around and record a full album of escapist club music next.

Though jet-lagged, Ware discusses her plans to start watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, her supportive friendship with Sam Smith, and how the queer community helped her through a very challenging time.

Speaking of your brother, is he dating one of your gay fans yet?

No, he isn’t dating one of my gay fans yet. But he was on tour with me and we were in Berlin, and I could see it was a really gay crowd. It was such a wild night, and I was like, “Listen, guys, my brother’s looking fab tonight, it’s Berlin, a lot of very handsome men out there; who would be up for taking my brother out?” It turns out that my brother had been on a date with one of them previously in the day, and Alex texted me after the show, “I don’t need you to pimp me out. I’m fine.” But I have tried. There’s been some admirers, but I definitely think he’s enjoyed — I’m sure he’s definitely used it to his advantage before. But no, we don’t have a new guncle to add.

WATCH:

“Taking in Water,” a song from your first album that’s about your brother’s struggle to come out, is so special and has meant a lot to many queer people.

You’re making me wanna put it back in the show. I haven’t got it in the set. I haven’t sung it for years, and I love that song. I remember how much people loved it, and you’re making me think maybe I should practice it with my band.

I’m sure that would make a lot of gay people very happy. By the way, I hear there’s been some wig-snatching going on at these performances.

Oh my goodness, the wig snatching has been a revolution and also so fun.

Didn’t someone throw a wig on stage at your Manchester show?

I’ve had multiple wigs, thongs, bras. The first wig I accidentally dragged around with my heels like a dead cat. I hadn’t seen it come on the stage, and then I walked around with it. It kind of ruined the wig-snatching moment; it wasn’t as fabulous as it could have been. But it did make everyone laugh.

A wig is one thing, but what prompts a fan to throw a thong on stage?

I don’t know if they’re all just trying to entertain me and they know I find it hysterical… but you know, it’s not just gay men — I think maybe that was from a gay woman, and that was fabulous.

Or a drag queen.

Or a drag queen! Absolutely. I’d kind of love it to be from a drag queen, but I didn’t see any in the audience. When the song “Midnight” [the first single from Glasshouse] came out, I had been away [from touring] for a bit. I came back and “Midnight” was this kind of fierce diva moment for me. I really sang out, and I think my fans really enjoyed it.

The online world has always been pretty positive for me, but just hysterical — memes and gifs. I feel like such a fucking old woman! It was just so fun, and I didn’t know what wig snatching was. It comes from RuPaul’s Drag Race, right? And I feel really bad because RuPaul has always been really sweet. From the beginning, RuPaul would retweet videos of mine, and I think some contestants have performed some of my songs on the show. So, I need to watch it because I had to Google what “wig snatching” meant, and it was kind of embarrassing. It made me feel very straight and very old.

You kept Whitney and Barbra vinyls in the recording studio while making Devotion. For Glasshouse, which divas were guiding you?

I think spiritual guides for Glasshouse were probably Carole King and Nina Simone, even though you probably can’t hear that in the record. And Joni Mitchell. I really got obsessed with the art of songwriting. That was something I felt I needed to improve upon, and I really appreciate what [those artists] were doing.

When we spoke in 2012, you couldn’t quite explain why the queer community connected with you. Six years later, has the root of that bond become clearer?

If I’m being honest, I still don’t know why they embrace me, but I enjoy it. It’s been so important to my shows: It’s given me energy, it’s given me confidence.

When I was a rabbit in the headlights [starting out] five years ago, they gave me the confidence I needed to feel like I could go into — as much as it was maybe tongue in cheek for me — that diva mode, which I think they really celebrate. And I tried to do that for this show. It’s almost escapism and it’s fun, and that’s how a live show should be. I’ll never forget how loyal they’ve been; that counts as something when you’re three albums in and fans come back from five years ago.

Sam Smith is a devoted fan and has been tweeting about you since the beginning of your career.

He’s a really good friend of mine, and we’re so proud of each other. He’s so supportive. And I love that all his backstage shots are of him in, like, the highest heels — that I can’t even wear — and a wig. Seems like every day he has a different wig and a different heel on. Above all, he’s a really good friend. He’s at the end of the phone [when I need him]  — like I am for him when he has worries and he wants to complain about this bloody industry. It’s a tough, old industry, and he’s incredibly supportive, and I love him. I love him so much.

What industry challenges have you had to deal with?

Sometimes the business side of the industry was [eclipsing] the creative side, and it took me to really just stop and be like, “I feel a little bit dead on the stage.” I was lacking confidence. I just had a baby; I thought people were going to judge, however stupid that sounds. It’s a very male-led industry — straight, male-led industry — and they have opinions. And those seep into you whether you like it or not. I’m a pretty strong woman, I think, but you can’t help but have that. You come back from having a baby, and I felt I had so much to prove. I had to kind of be — pretend to be — this superwoman who could do everything. It was just … it’s been exhausting.

This record was really important for me to write because it was documenting a stage in my life which was new. And I have all these emotions and feelings, and I think sometimes you feel a little bit dead, you run out of new feelings. Having a child was a different kind of love, which was so inspiring and amazing to write about, but also the most challenging. I think what’s next for me is, I wanna make a record that’s pure dance, and I think it’s because of the queer community.

What, personally, inspired this upcoming dance detour?

I think it’s a reaction to doing something so autobiographical for this third record. I don’t feel like I need to do that again. I wanna test myself — it’s a challenge. I see the reaction to songs like “If You’re Never Gonna Move” and “Midnight,” these more bombastic, uptempo things — I hate the word ‘uptempo;’ it doesn’t make it sound as important — but I feel like I really wanna enjoy that soul boogie. Can I say ‘disco’? I don’t know.

Club music?

Club music! Which is where I came from! Sometimes you kind of forget — I haven’t forgotten where I came from. I have a lot of love for that world that embraced me at the beginning, and I feel like I wanna go back to it and enjoy it and dance.

Who are your dance divas?

Chaka Khan. Any of the Whitney upbeat stuff. I love Róisín Murphy, I love Tina Marie.

Sounds like this album could help loosen you up.

And I think that’s what I need! This job is supposed to be fun, and sometimes you forget. It’s something that especially the queer community will enjoy. I’ve done enough mid-tempo ballads. It’s time for a bit of a switch-up.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/05/09/british-soul-singer-jessie-ware-talks-wig-snatching-bff-sam-smith/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2018/05/british-soul-singer-jessie-ware-talks.html

[demitgibbs]

British Soul-Singer Jessie Ware Talks Wig Snatching, BFF Sam Smith

Jessie Ware only recently learned what “wig snatching” means, and fresh off the European leg of her current tour, I’ve taught her “guncle.” The 33-year-old British songstress takes full advantage of this latest lesson in queer-speak, breaking from our phone chat just long enough to inform her gay brother, Alex, he’s a guncle (“I’ll take that,” he says). With Ware’s nearly-two-year-old baby girl in tow, the siblings have just arrived at a Palm Springs lodge they rented, a family vacation before Ware’s Coachella performance.

For her solo live shows, Ware’s culled a set list encompassing her three musically varied releases: her debut Devotion (2012), which features her breakout single “Wildest Moments;” her even-more sophisticated Tough Love (2014); and last year’s experimental Glasshouse, a collection so deeply personal she tells me she wants to turn around and record a full album of escapist club music next.

Though jet-lagged, Ware discusses her plans to start watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, her supportive friendship with Sam Smith, and how the queer community helped her through a very challenging time.

Speaking of your brother, is he dating one of your gay fans yet?

No, he isn’t dating one of my gay fans yet. But he was on tour with me and we were in Berlin, and I could see it was a really gay crowd. It was such a wild night, and I was like, “Listen, guys, my brother’s looking fab tonight, it’s Berlin, a lot of very handsome men out there; who would be up for taking my brother out?” It turns out that my brother had been on a date with one of them previously in the day, and Alex texted me after the show, “I don’t need you to pimp me out. I’m fine.” But I have tried. There’s been some admirers, but I definitely think he’s enjoyed — I’m sure he’s definitely used it to his advantage before. But no, we don’t have a new guncle to add.

WATCH:

“Taking in Water,” a song from your first album that’s about your brother’s struggle to come out, is so special and has meant a lot to many queer people.

You’re making me wanna put it back in the show. I haven’t got it in the set. I haven’t sung it for years, and I love that song. I remember how much people loved it, and you’re making me think maybe I should practice it with my band.

I’m sure that would make a lot of gay people very happy. By the way, I hear there’s been some wig-snatching going on at these performances.

Oh my goodness, the wig snatching has been a revolution and also so fun.

Didn’t someone throw a wig on stage at your Manchester show?

I’ve had multiple wigs, thongs, bras. The first wig I accidentally dragged around with my heels like a dead cat. I hadn’t seen it come on the stage, and then I walked around with it. It kind of ruined the wig-snatching moment; it wasn’t as fabulous as it could have been. But it did make everyone laugh.

A wig is one thing, but what prompts a fan to throw a thong on stage?

I don’t know if they’re all just trying to entertain me and they know I find it hysterical… but you know, it’s not just gay men — I think maybe that was from a gay woman, and that was fabulous.

Or a drag queen.

Or a drag queen! Absolutely. I’d kind of love it to be from a drag queen, but I didn’t see any in the audience. When the song “Midnight” [the first single from Glasshouse] came out, I had been away [from touring] for a bit. I came back and “Midnight” was this kind of fierce diva moment for me. I really sang out, and I think my fans really enjoyed it.

The online world has always been pretty positive for me, but just hysterical — memes and gifs. I feel like such a fucking old woman! It was just so fun, and I didn’t know what wig snatching was. It comes from RuPaul’s Drag Race, right? And I feel really bad because RuPaul has always been really sweet. From the beginning, RuPaul would retweet videos of mine, and I think some contestants have performed some of my songs on the show. So, I need to watch it because I had to Google what “wig snatching” meant, and it was kind of embarrassing. It made me feel very straight and very old.

You kept Whitney and Barbra vinyls in the recording studio while making Devotion. For Glasshouse, which divas were guiding you?

I think spiritual guides for Glasshouse were probably Carole King and Nina Simone, even though you probably can’t hear that in the record. And Joni Mitchell. I really got obsessed with the art of songwriting. That was something I felt I needed to improve upon, and I really appreciate what [those artists] were doing.

When we spoke in 2012, you couldn’t quite explain why the queer community connected with you. Six years later, has the root of that bond become clearer?

If I’m being honest, I still don’t know why they embrace me, but I enjoy it. It’s been so important to my shows: It’s given me energy, it’s given me confidence.

When I was a rabbit in the headlights [starting out] five years ago, they gave me the confidence I needed to feel like I could go into — as much as it was maybe tongue in cheek for me — that diva mode, which I think they really celebrate. And I tried to do that for this show. It’s almost escapism and it’s fun, and that’s how a live show should be. I’ll never forget how loyal they’ve been; that counts as something when you’re three albums in and fans come back from five years ago.

Sam Smith is a devoted fan and has been tweeting about you since the beginning of your career.

He’s a really good friend of mine, and we’re so proud of each other. He’s so supportive. And I love that all his backstage shots are of him in, like, the highest heels — that I can’t even wear — and a wig. Seems like every day he has a different wig and a different heel on. Above all, he’s a really good friend. He’s at the end of the phone [when I need him]  — like I am for him when he has worries and he wants to complain about this bloody industry. It’s a tough, old industry, and he’s incredibly supportive, and I love him. I love him so much.

What industry challenges have you had to deal with?

Sometimes the business side of the industry was [eclipsing] the creative side, and it took me to really just stop and be like, “I feel a little bit dead on the stage.” I was lacking confidence. I just had a baby; I thought people were going to judge, however stupid that sounds. It’s a very male-led industry — straight, male-led industry — and they have opinions. And those seep into you whether you like it or not. I’m a pretty strong woman, I think, but you can’t help but have that. You come back from having a baby, and I felt I had so much to prove. I had to kind of be — pretend to be — this superwoman who could do everything. It was just … it’s been exhausting.

This record was really important for me to write because it was documenting a stage in my life which was new. And I have all these emotions and feelings, and I think sometimes you feel a little bit dead, you run out of new feelings. Having a child was a different kind of love, which was so inspiring and amazing to write about, but also the most challenging. I think what’s next for me is, I wanna make a record that’s pure dance, and I think it’s because of the queer community.

What, personally, inspired this upcoming dance detour?

I think it’s a reaction to doing something so autobiographical for this third record. I don’t feel like I need to do that again. I wanna test myself — it’s a challenge. I see the reaction to songs like “If You’re Never Gonna Move” and “Midnight,” these more bombastic, uptempo things — I hate the word ‘uptempo;’ it doesn’t make it sound as important — but I feel like I really wanna enjoy that soul boogie. Can I say ‘disco’? I don’t know.

Club music?

Club music! Which is where I came from! Sometimes you kind of forget — I haven’t forgotten where I came from. I have a lot of love for that world that embraced me at the beginning, and I feel like I wanna go back to it and enjoy it and dance.

Who are your dance divas?

Chaka Khan. Any of the Whitney upbeat stuff. I love Róisín Murphy, I love Tina Marie.

Sounds like this album could help loosen you up.

And I think that’s what I need! This job is supposed to be fun, and sometimes you forget. It’s something that especially the queer community will enjoy. I’ve done enough mid-tempo ballads. It’s time for a bit of a switch-up.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/05/09/british-soul-singer-jessie-ware-talks-wig-snatching-bff-sam-smith/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/173767114710