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goodguydotmp3 · 4 years

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two questions: why don’t you like harry and do you really think harry villanized the weed video or do you think that was the people attempting to court him (azoffs)

Whew, this is a long one folx!

Why don’t you like Harry [Styles]?

Let me preface this response by saying that I’m a pretty new “fan” if one can still call me that. I got into the One Direction fandom in the summer of last year, and much of my opinions of the boys where shaped by fan reactions. After gathering more and more information however, I realized that the fandom and I were wrong about some things, and over hyping others.

Still, it wasn’t until this year that I actually broke out of the Harry-centric bubble to realize that the shady goings on where much worse than I originally thought. Add to this my realization that Harry’s music really doesn’t withstand the test of time, and that his persona is pretty Stagnant, and I’ve come to feel rather bamboozled.

Of course I know that the entire point of his PR team is to sway public opinion of him one way, and if I ate it up that was part of the plan. That doesn’t mean I have to like it. It also doesn’t mean I feel any less hurt about it. It also doesn’t mean that I like when other people fawn over him, as quite a lot of what I’m going to say has been public knowledge, and some of it before I was even a fan.

A. Music

Actually getting to a big part of the problem here, his music isn’t good. Well, not long term like I said in the preface. He doesn’t really have much of a vocal range despite being a singer for more than ten years. He does not care and acts like he does, often leading to him sounding like he’s screaming instead of singing. He’s lyrics are boring and flat, and his melodies are fine, they just don’t make up for his unmemorable lyrics. I personally think that the cause is him more heavily relying on song writers to fill in more in more, but that’s mostly because I don’t want to believe that the same person who wrote Happily and Olivia also wrote At the Dining Table and Treat People With Kindness, because that would just mean he’s getting worse or putting forth less effort.

Of course one could argue that I’m not a professional, I don’t have the necessary Jargon to correctly critique, and I’m no longer a singer so I can’t even do what he does. But to that I say fuck off. I know what sounds good! I know what I like!

Even more than that though, If you bought a product (non food), and you could only use that product for the first two weeks you bought it, you’d say it was a shit product! You’d scream from the rooftops that no one should ever buy this product because it’s crap! Well guess what? I pre-ordered Fine Line just to listen for two weeks and never pick it up again except for golden, she’s a funky tune every couple months.

Besides the test of time, there is still the subject of actual talent/listenability if you will. I feel there’s four main categories when I listen to music that makes it worth listening to

1.Amazing voice

2.Awesome lyrics

3.Funky/ cool ass melody/Beat

4.Catchy as hell

Now, a song doesn’t need to be all four, however the more they have the more likely I am to like the song. Also, I’ve said “main categories” because I’ve definitely had songs were I just through the beat drop was cool, or maybe the bridge was sick as hell, or maybe I just liked the pacing or the way the singer/singers stressed a note. Alternatively there is a sweet spot for me of super depressing lyrics but a melody/ that makes you want to dance. See: most of After Laughter by Paramore, Lola By Mika. But in general, those four usually make me love a song long term.

If it’s an album, it usually Just has to sound like it belongs on the same album/ tell a story. Like I really don’t like albums that sound like it’s just a playlist of songs personally. I should be able to listen to a song and go “oh yeah, that’s off --- album” or I didn’t like the album as a whole. An album is a bit like an outfit to me. It’s not going to be all tops, nor does it need to be monochromatic, but it does need to go together

For Example, I love Four as an album. I thought it was amazing. I still hate Spaces and Illusion. I hate both of their melodies, I don’t like the Illusion intro, I’m not to keen on those lyrics, and they’re definitely not catchy, I skip every time.

So taking that logic to Harry’s music, I think HS1 works very well as an album, almost all of the songs sound like they’re supposed to be there. And I hate every song but Kiwi. The lyrics are boring/don’t make a ton of sense, the melodies definitely don’t make up for that, he doesn’t have the range, and none of them are catchy! And then you get to Kiwi and she’s got that vibe you know? She’s a pop punk bop and I cannot fucking believe that Harry has one pop punk bop among unmemorable pop rock album.

Going to Fine line, It’s not as great as an album. There are some songs that don’t really feel like they fit? Like just going through the album, cherry doesn’t have any business being there? Like the lyrics fit sure, but what is that weird intro and outro? It probably would have been fine If the song didn’t have those two, but having them there upset the pace a bit I felt. And then there was Treat People With Kindness, which was really Jarring and doesn’t feel like it belongs on the album at all? It actually feels like it’s trying to be Kiwi - it’s loud and garish, and the lyrics are trying to be carefree, but! It just doesn’t work! TPWK sounds like Hippie music! Kiwi sounds like Brendon Urie could sing it and people would be like “good ol Panic!”. And then the album goes back down into Fine line the song, which again is Jarring because you’ve had this TPWK monstrosity right before it.

Then, looking at the overarching theme of his music, It’s whiny piss baby music He hates to take responsibility for his actions! It’s all in his lyrics! And don’t get me wrong, I love Honest lyrics, but not if the person is an asshole! LIke I fucking hate confessions by Usher specifically becasue he’s talking about how much he’s a piece of shit in the most whiny and piss baby way, making it all about him and no the people he hurt. I also really hate that one song that Zayn did with Usher and Chris Brown, because you have these awful men completely misunderstanding what it means to write a love song, and then you have Zayn at the very end all like “actually I really am in love tho…” Esp Chris browns verse! It boils down to “Hey I know I was a asshole seven billion times but I miss you tho :(“ GIRL BYE!

Harry sounds the exact same though, Except he can’t even blame himself for his own mistakes, and just wades through self pity about how the object of his affection won’t love him even though he didn’t even do anything except it wasn’t his fault and why are you still mad it wasn’t even his fault and he was young and reckless and drunk and horny. Like??? WRITE A NEW SONG TAYLOR SWIFT 2.0! There’s only so much you can repackage the same narrative before it becomes stale no Cinderella does not count keep that shit coming. And It really jumps out in his writing, even through 1d, although I will say there were some catchy beats, and awesome lines to keep him afloat back then. Although wtf was Walking in the Wind??? Choke!

Then there are the melodies I’m talking post wondee here which often give this 70’s pop rock vibe. Which fine I guess, it’s his brand, but that doesn’t make it interesting. Or new. Or fresh. Or an interesting take.

Now I completely understand relying on nostalgia to boost people’s opinion, but you could at leas have the decency to actually have good music. For Example, Miss you by Louis Tomlinson has a very distinctive pop rock feel, but it’s also an amazing song. Great lyrics, amazing voice, catchy liddle diddy that happens to be reminiscent of that 2005- 2010 punk pop/emo pop feel. Sour diesel has that like,,,basey 90s pop feel, and it fucking works with the lyrics, and of course his voice is beautiful. When Walls dropped and Lou put out that playlist of songs that were an inspiration, you can hear the influences when you listen to the album, but they’re also really good songs in their own right, with amazing lyrics, and Louis’ distinctive voice. Comparing that to Harry, it seems like he’s mostly relying on people’s nostalgia rather than actually good music.

Okay so this last point I’m making on music is a little petty but it’s been like a week and I’m still pissed about it so I’m saying it now. Someone said that Harry Styles is the best pop rock artist right now???? Just admit that you don’t listen to pop rock tf. Louis Tomlinson is right there. Brendon Urie is right there. Mika is right there. Haley Williams is right there. Janell Monae is right there. I don’t listen to a lot of pop rock lol but i feel my point has been made

B. Public Persona

He get’s so much clout! SO MUCH CLOUT! For doing the bare minimum (this is not specifically about the fandom, that’s for later)! People will write all these glowing reviews of him for him??? Being polite??? Like okay and? Just because a person is polite doesn’t mean they’re fucking Jesus??? There’s a million and one stories so i’m not fucking looking them up but there’s the pizza story and the fish story and the plane story and the snl story and the Stormzy story and the WS story on and on and on! Stop giving this man brownie points for basic human decency. “I didn’t expect him to be like that!” okay is that because of their perception of what a rock star is supposed to be like? Because in that case we need to start holding people accountable for being assholes. Or is it because he seems like an asshole. Cause valid.

I also don’t like him leaning so heavily on the queer image thing. Like! If that’s how he likes to express himself, Fine, But so much of it is just...so manufactured! And I Know I’ve heard people say oh well he wore the one rainbow on his lapel that one time or he wore the shirt or he wore the Keith Harring.

1. That Rainbow pin is sus as hell I don’t care what ya’ll say It absolutely screams set up, if he wanted to not be seen he would have not been seen

2. That goes for literally every other time. I can’t believe it’s not a set up to push a queer image. (that he profits from!)

3. If he actually did his homework on Keith Harring he’d know that the man was a predator, and he wouldn’t have worn those shirts. It seems so performative! To add to that, does he know now? If so, why isn’t he using his platform to correct his mistake? Why didn’t he come out and let people know not to buy Harring’s stuff??? He knows the pull he has! He absolutely could have been like “I’ve made a mistake, if you are looking for queer artists to support, here’s some” But he fucking doesn’t

4. To add on to that last part, It is actually sus that he gets to profit off of this queer image, and yet the only queer voices that he’s propping up are white gays. And then not even directly? Not a “queer artists, esp queer artists of color are important and need their voices boosted because they are the back bone of society” but this wink nod type of deal, where again, he mainly boosts white gays.like??? One queer black woman that doesn’t work for the Azoffs, and then a bunch of white gays. Like?? That’s not racist to anyone else???????Just me? okay.

Now from a professional point of view, it’s even worse. I’m not saying that artists can’t be campy or blurr gender lines, or imply that they ‘re queer subtly. But I think it’s fucking disrespectful to play both ends. Like, he profits off of using the queer image, all while Dancing around the subject, but then on the back end he never says that Homophobes/Transphobes aren’t allowed in his fandom. He gives this empty ass tpwk and then washes his hands of it.

Don’t get me wrong, I am always upset when people who have lots of queerphobes in their fandom bullying and harassing the actual queer people never say anything to let queerphobes know they’re unwelcome (clearly money is better than morals) but for me it’s an extra kick to the gut for it to literally profit Harry to seem queer. Look at that time that gay company sold out shirts in less than an hour,because harry was wearing it and tell me people aren’t throwing money at him because they feel he’s queer.

C. Fashion

This one is a really rough one for me because this is partially what drew me into Harry in the first place. But he’s really not all that in terms of fashion. He’s expensive certainly, but sometimes, the things that are more expensive are worse. Even When He’s not looking like a grandparent out on the town, his style is very dated, and yet he gets paraded around like he’s the freshest new thing?? Like who is his team paying of for him to get that many articles about how he’s fashion’s biggest star. And the thing is, his style is even dated for the mainstream. There’s already a post about how he copies prominent pop/pop rock stars of the 70s, which means that his style is 50 years old for the mainstream. Now don’t get me wrong, I think it’s totally fine if you’re addicted to seventies wear. I don’t think he should be heralded as this huge fashion star if his wardrobe is this dated

Even more than that. Gucci???? The Gucci with a history of Racism?? The Gucci with the child labor??? The Gucci with the 14 hour days Gucci??? Ugly ass Gucci????? Soulja Boy don’t even fuck with Gucci no more and he fuck with Gucci since like 2007. (although that was because of the racism, not cause it’s ugly)

I think that bothers me the most though. Like it’s not enough to exploit people, you also have to be tacky ugly and expensive???? For what??? @Gucci cease to exist please.

If Harry wants to be tacky ugly and expensive, that’s of course his rights to do so! But don’t act like he’s at the very pinnacle of fashion every time he does.

I’m actually always very conflicted about that. I personally prefer a style that’s very loud and campy and avant garde but like,,,,that ain’t it. Maybe it’s something you got it or ya don’t??? Like for example Billy Porter could wear a trashbag and make it work. The expensive sweaters and the slacks? The suits? Not a good look on one Harry Styles. Maybe it’s because they’re expensive sweaters and slacks and expensive suits. What are you, Ted from accounting??? Grow up.

D. Treat People With Kindness

Ugh this is the thing that pisses me off like the second to most. This phrase is so fucking empty. You could not have made up a more corporate mandated phrase if you fucking tried. It stands for nothing! Just like him!

Let’s break it down. “Treat people with kindness” is, at face value, a call to action. It’s asking you to do something. But it doesn’t actually tell you what to do!! So it’s pretty inoffensive! You don’t actually have to change your behavior in anyway for two main reasons:

1. What the hell is Kindness??? This phrase never actually says what it is??? It’s just this short little punchy thing that assumes you know what kindness is! What if you didn’t actually know? What if you have differing ideals of what is considered kindness? I mean to my mother, Misgendering me is kindness, but I don’t think that’s kindness. To my father, not letting his children have autonomy is kindness, but I don’t find that kind. And yet they could both use that phrase and feel confident that they go around treating people with kindness. After all they cooked dinner didn’t they? They smiled at Janice from public relations didn’t they? That’s kindness right?

2. It also assumes you know what “people” are. Queer people are people. Queerphobes don’t consider queer people, people. Racists aren’t going to consider some people, people. So they can continue their harassment and dehumanization of them and still be treating people with kindness, because they never harmed actual people (to them)

E. Harry bots

Bitch?? Corporate spies?? Tf ??? That’s not weird to ya’ll ?? I think the thing that shocked me more than someone from Colombia records admitting that he manufactures the hype around people signed to Colombia, is the fact that the Fandom been knew!!!! Ya’ll been knew and ya’ll wasn’t gon tell me???????? I just found out last week wtf????????

Another thing I don’t like about them Harry bots, is it’s one thing to hype up Harry, but why tf do they need to shit on the other boys??? Is it because they’re more talented, good looking, and charming??? How about you get good!!!! I esp hate that it’s usually Louis. What is Corporate’s obsession with putting Louis down like? What a bunch of fucking weirdos?? It’s not enough to be a Harry fan and live up his ass, I gotta hate Louis too?? You lost yo damn mind. If you reading this and you a spy? Die.

F. Capitalism

Honestly that should be the end of it but here the fuck we go I guess. Now I get that there is going to be some capitalism involved when you get music, especially mainstream music, there are tones of articles out there with people who used to be in the industry telling you about how fucking awful it is, all in the pursuit of money. (Which isn’t fucking real by the way! We made it up! People out here getting traumatized! Belittled! Bullied! Married off! So some corporation can make all the money! The Imaginary Credits! That we made up! I hate it here!)

But it’s another fucking thing to participate in a capitalist system? He invested into that one sleep app, even going to do one of the voice sessions (So you could have Harry Styles themed sleep paralysis) and you pay for that! He makes money off that! It’s not enough that you buy his mediocre music or his ugly ass merch, you also have to give him money through the sleep paralysis app.

Then there was that Google Camp for Rich People Only! I don’t even want to fucking hear that it was on Climate Change oh wow all the rich people took helicopters and Yachts to a resort with manicured lawns??? To talk about how they treat the environment? That’s not at all Counter intuitive! Not at all for show! Fucking disgusting.

Oh and the Covid Shirt! Really bitch??? You need to Profit off a deadly pandemic? Are you profiting off of AIDS next you fucking bastard. And he can of course get a tax write of for his “ charitable donation” fuck off.

G. Racism

This! This is the thing that gets me the most! YA’LL CAN EXCUSE RACISM???

No, I’m not talking about the Native American Headdress thing, that was plenty despicable on it’s own, No I’m talking about the on going racism. The whole, using black people for clout and then dropping them and never returning the favor when they sing his praises thing. Specifically I’m thinking of Sis the activist, Stormzy, and Lizzo.

The Lizzo thing pisses me off the most actually. I think it’s very fucking convenient that Harry started taking interest in Lizzo after there was uproar from black fans noting his hypocrisy of performing for Pepsi (Notoriously racist) and Having BLM sticker on his guitar. So he shows up at one of her concerts dressed like a senior citizen that got lost on the way to the retirement home bathroom. She looked fucking amazing and he couldn’t put forth the effort to at least not look senile. Then there was the covering of her songs, and then there was the cuddling up with her at the awards show. Funny how I haven’t seen any interaction after the fact! And Of course everyone forgot about the Pepsi concert! Fuck all the way off!!

Also! Are we just never going to talk about the fact that he didn’t comment on the blm protests earlier this year until his team could gauge whether or not it would be profitable to do so by DATA MINING HIS FAN BASE???? And then when he actually did he got the most praise for it, truly fucking hate it here. Also when he marched with those protesters he made sure we knew it was him. There were posts flouting around everywhere on how to best cover up to make yourself completely unrecognizable should you wind up on camera or fucking worse, get attacked by the police. Funny how Close Sprouse could follow the advice and not Harry? Also supper funny how he got the hell out of dodge before things got super bad and I have not heard anything on the matter since. Guess what Harry??? We’re still out here fighting for the rights to exist! Still wanna have a photo op while our own government tries to squash us with force????? This is like that Jenner Pepsi ad but with sunglasses and a pandemic.

H. Fandom

I think I would hate him less if I didn’t have to hear about him every hour of everyday. Stop Hyping this man so much. Even after unfollowing and blocking a bunch of Harries and Larries he’s all across my dash. And twitter. And insta. KURTIS CONNER FUCKING LIKES HIM I JUST WANTED CRACK CONTENT AND NOW LOOK.

I. Conclusion.

After writing all this I think the running theme is that Harry Styles isn’t even a person, he’s a brand. I do not like or trust brands! And I definitely don’t like being advertised to! Just like It’s fake as fuck when Absolut is all about queer rights, it’s fake as fuck when Harry does it too. Just like I know Target doesn’t actually care about Black lives, I know Harry doesn’t either. People are always like “oh he’s so nice!” no! He’s polite! There’s a difference. Zayn Is a truly kind person. Liam is a truly kind person. Louis is a truly kind person. It shines though so brightly all the time, and yet people are really out here worshiping the Brand Harry Styles.

Do I think It was Harry or The Azoffs throwing Zouis under the bus.

Truly doesn’t matter! Whichever one did it, Harry was totally fine with it! Which tells me that he doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself. He’ll go along with anything as long as it gets him to the top, and that’s fucked up on one million and one levels

#hazza curly mchazzerson #This is like 4 thousand words #Have fun #Harry Styles

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taste-in-music · 3 years

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taste-in-music’s top 30 songs of 2020

Hey everyone! If you missed it, you can check out my year end wrap-up post going over my favorite albums and EPs of the year. This list will go over my favorite songs of 2020, whether they happen to be on those projects or not. My only limit is one song per project, and thirty songs total. Now then, let’s get started!

First Aid by Gus Dapperton: There is one easy way to get me to love a song, and that’s if an artist adds in another person’s vocals for the bridge and final chorus, hence infusing them with more dimension and meaning. “First Aid” is the best usage of that device all year. The song tackles Dapperton’s struggles with mental health, citing his sister as a large help in the midst of it all. Who best to come in for the bridge and final chorus, then, but his sister (who goes by the stage name Amadelle)? It all comes together to make the final act of the song hit like a gut punch.

Josslyn by Olivia O’Brien: Every year I have to have my helping of big, sugary, bombastic pop tunes on this list, and “Josslyn” was the first of that type of song I fell in love with this year. This song is full of snark and blunt lines, (maybe don’t listen with mom in the room,) but god help me if it didn’t have one of the catchiest chorus melodies of the year. I’ll shout along to the entire song every time I hear it.

Frustrated by Lauren Sanderson: Okay, I only found this song by chance, like, last week, (another good reason for postponing these lists until the year is actually over,) and I have to include it. If you love the hooky guitars lines of The 1975, vocalists with a gritty edge to their delivery, and a free-spirited feel that captures the euphoria of youth, then this is the song for you. I may have just discovered it, but I’ve already played it countless times.

To Me by Alina Baraz: Everything about “To Me” communicates blissful tranquility, from the watery production to the subtle confidence in Baraz’s delivery. Every time I was feeling overwhelmed or stressed this year, (and lord help me, that was a lot,) this was the song I’d always return to to center myself. Baraz demanding respect out of her relationships and the best things out of life was downright inspiring.

Do It by Chloe X Halle: If there is one word I would use to describe this it would be effervescent, this song is so fresh, bouncy, and bubbly, like orange soda in musical form. With its tropical production and effortless vocals, this song made me want to hit a dancefloor like nothing else this year. It was the perfect pop Summer smash that deserved a better Summer.

ringtone (Remix) by 100 gecs ft. Charli XCX, Kero Kero Bonito, and Rico Nasty: This is probably the best remix of the year? The original “ringtone” was a cute, hooky fragment, but this turned it into a fleshed out, full-on posse-cut where each guest gets a moment to shine. Charli XCX turns the hook into an earworm, Kero Kero Bonito contribute their signature chirpy vocals, and Rico Nasty jumps in for an awesome bridge that provides a nice change of pace. And, of, course, 100 gecs are the glue that holds everything together. If you’re new to the gec train, this is a great place to start.

By Myself by Maya Hawke: “By Myself” was the song that proved that Maya Hawke was way more than the usual actor trying to cash in a quick buck. She was a bona-fide craftswoman with the potential to being tears to my eyes with blissfully simple yet artfully constructed folk ballads. This song feels like a long-forgotten lullaby, gentle and beautiful with just enough woeful melancholy to remain emotionally resonant the whole year.

killing boys by Halsey: “killing boys” is the epitome of short but sweet. This song is a fifteen second long dialogue bite Jennifer’s Body followed by some of the most focused, atmospheric pop of the year that only lasts two and a half minutes. The way the thudding heartbeat, low plucked strings, and Halsey’s hushed delivery all build to the distorted end is a pure adrenaline rush every time. It always had me coming back for more, and by the end of the year it had climbed its way up into my top 5 most listened to songs of the year.

Bloom by Donna Missal: It’s not a list of mine without a Donna Missal song, is it? As soon as I saw the name of this song on the Lighter track list, I just had a feeling I was going to love it. “Bloom” is the most stripped-back moment on the album, with just a guitar accompanying Missal, and yet it is also one of the most memorable and evocative songs it has to offer. What the stripped-back production allows is for Missal’s sheer, raw talent as a vocalist to blossom, especially in how she displays so much power not by belting, but by holding back. Accompanied with lyrics that detail the fear of holding someone back in a relationship, “Bloom” is awe-inspiring every time.

fever dream by mxmtoon: mxmtoon’s double album from this year didn’t leave much of an impression of me, but lead single “fever dream” got countless spins. This song feels like a warm hug, with mxmtoon’s amiable vocals, pillowy indie pop production (the chirps! the chimes! the gentle woodwinds!) and comforting lyrics that seemed to synthesize everything I was feeling while giving me a comforting pat on the shoulder at the same time. Take the line: “I want something more than / More than restless mornings / Getting by is so boring.” Gee, I wonder why I would’ve hit a nerve in a year like 2020?

Shoulda Known Better by Nasty Cherry: From the first chord of the intro’s ringing guitars, this feels dug up from a mid-2000s coming of age soundtrack. In fact, there is an inexplicable nostalgic feel to this whole song, from the frankness the lyrics, to the filmy vocal processing, all of it. And the way the song kicks into a faster groove on the chorus is so fun, it makes me want to speed down a highway every time I hear it, and I hate driving! I guess that’s just the power of a great pop rock song.

Heart of Glass by Miley Cyrus: Do you ever hear a song that stops you clean in your tracks and makes you sit in stunned silence until it’s over? Hearing this cover for the first time did that to me. I had been wanting Miley Cyrus to take the rock route for a while, but this cemented that my intuition was 100% correct. It’s not necessarily better than the Blondie version, (Debbie Harry’s original delivery is very smooth and nonchalant, Miley’s is more gritty and rough around the edges,) but it fills an entirely different purpose. And that purpose is to be listened to on a never ending loop, in absolute awe.

WIGS by BLACKSTARKIDS: SURF traverses a slew of sounds, from boisterous rock to hip hop to indie pop. One of the albums best moments, however, comes when all those sounds meet in the middle “WIGS” is a blissed-out in the best way, still providing a memorable hook, (one of the best the album has to offer,) while also letting you relax and hang on for the ride.

Dead Horse by Hayley Williams: This was the most unexpected bop of the year. The lyrics may be all about betrayal in the lead-up to divorce, but the delivery is so upbeat and bouncy that I can often forget just how soul-crushing the content is at times. The production on this is so catchy, with the chirpy, tropical synths, the “ya-ya-yas,” and Williams’s stellar vocals.

this is me trying by Taylor Swift: My favorite songs on folklore came to me in waves. First, “epiphany” was my favorite, with its timely lyrics and orchestral arrangements. Then, it was “the lakes,” with its nostalgic, poetic feel, (consider it a very close runner-up.) But in the end, it was the slow burning ache of “this is me trying” that didn’t just become my favorite on folklore, but one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs ever. Looking back, “this is me trying” synthesizes what I like about those other two songs. It has a grand, atmospheric instrumental and pointed, detailed lyrics, combining the two into a single, perfect, emotional wrecking ball.

Susie Save Your Love by Allie X ft. Mitski: This was my most anticipated duet of the year, and it didn’t disappoint! This song goes by like a long sigh on a humid Summer night, filled with breathy vocals set against a churning groove. The lyrics detail parties gone wrong and unrequited love with a best friend with just enough ambiguity to allude to something darker hovering under the surface. Mitski’s vocals work great in an alt-pop context, I love what she does with her solo work but I certainly wouldn’t be mad if she hopped onto more tracks like this. Also, that guitar solo makes me levitate every time.

Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple: Okay, who had “Fiona Apple meows on a song” on their 2020 bingo card? But it works, it works so well! From its opening clatter of percussion, “Fetch The Bolt Cutters” establishes a locomotive groove that never stops moving forward. In fact, the entire song seems to be dedicated to that sentiment, each lyric linking lines about middle school bullies, media critics, and Kate Bush references into their perfect place. It’s a narrative that may span a lifetime, but it still feels as timely as ever.

forever by Charli XCX: I’ll admit I haven’t returned to How I’m Feeling Now all that much throughout 2020, but I have returned to “forever,” again and again and again. The sugar-sweet hook at the heart of all the blown-out bass is just irresistible. The way it manages to fight to the forefront, cutting through the clouds of distortion like a shimmering pink diamond, is nothing short of hopeful.

Fit N Full by Samia: This was my instant favorite off The Baby. The glistening guitars make for a sweltering summery jam that you can’t help but move to every time you hear it. The way Samia weaves lyrics about the agonizing pressures of womanhood, diet culture, and body image into a catchy pop hook is pretty genius. She wraps them all up into a pretty package for consumption, just like women are forced to do with their pain.

Heartbreak Weather by Niall Horan: Niall Horan has made folksy balladry his mainstay, which is all fine and good, but god help me if his turn towards stadium-rocking power pop didn’t result in one of the most anthemic songs of the year. “Heartbreak Weather” is sharply written, lushly produced, and performed with so much spirit and heart that I can’t help but think that this is the genre Horan has been meant to fall into all along. It’s certainly deserving of its title track status.

Pretty Please by Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia was an excellent showcase of Dua Lipa’s mastery over nonstop pop bangers, (”Physical” is the very close runner up for this list.) But surprisingly, it was the breather moment on the album, the song where everything slowed down, that really hooked me. I’m gonna say it, “Pretty Please” is so fucking sexy. The whole song screams sensuality, from the lyrics, to the bass line, to the funky synths, to Lipa’s delivery. It may not be as in-your-face as its peers, but it deserves just as much hype.

Woo! by Remi Wolf: I had such a hard time picking a Remi Wolf song for this list that I had to resort to the raw data. “Woo!” ended up on my Spotify Wrapped, so “Woo!” gets this spot. This song just works in some ramshackle way I can’t describe, all the disparate pieces come together with so much charm. The way Wolf’s performance effortlessly flip-flops between jaunty half-rapping modulated with distortion to full-blown, raw belting on the bridge is a wild ride of the best kind every time.

gold rush by Taylor Swift: We have another entry for the highly esteemed category of songs that capture the feeling of butterflies in your stomach. This latest Antonoff-Swift collaboration is a wistful, glittery whirlwind that captures the simultaneous excitement and soul crushing realization of a blooming crush. The way the dreamy intro snaps into the steady thrum of the rest of the song, before the song fades out in the same way, as if to illustrate how your mind can race to dozens of different places all within in the moment of meeting someone? Damn, I’m getting butterflies just thinking about it.

Eugene by Arlo Parks: “Eugene” is a testament to soft-spoken heartache, as Arlo Parks details watching her straight crush in a relationship with a man. The song is incredibly intimate, both with Park’s hushed vocals and the specific details she utilizes in her writing, (Sylvia Plath poetry, a cigarette hanging between purple lips.) It all comes together to make the song all the more personal and heart-aching.

People, I’ve been sad by Christine and the Queens: Christine and the Queens have perfected setting emotionally resonant sentiments against wire-tight grooves, and “People I’ve been sad” may just be their most elegant effort yet. The echoing, stuttering drums, fluttering backing vocals, and reverb give the track a wide sense of space, which perfectly illustrates the loneliness Chris describes. But there’s also this intangible warmth to the song too, harking from the strings and Chris’s introspective performance. Just gorgeous.

XS by Rina Sawayama: Picking a song of SAWAYAMA for this list was damn near impossible. My first favorite off the album was the nu metal rager “STFU!,” then the slinky intrigue of “Akasaka Sad,” then the glitter-flinging “Tokyo Love Hotel.” But did those songs end Karl Marx’s career with their razor-sharp critique of capitalism? No. Hence, “XS” gets this spot. The craftmanship of this song is so impressive, with the rock guitar hits contrasted against the glossy pop production, Rina’s pitch-perfect performance, the witty lyricism, everything. This will go down as a classic in Ms. Sawayama’s discography, no doubt!

Guilty Conscience by 070 Shake: I didn’t even realize this was one of my favorite songs of the year until I was writing this list and felt like something was missing. This feels like a song that plays for the last stragglers on a prom dance floor. It’s melancholic yet just upbeat enough, sprawling yet buoyant, and hooks you in with the perfect balance monstrous, shimmering 80s synths undercut with rattling modern trap percussion. It’s just irresistible. If HBO doesn’t put this on the next season of Euphoria then they’re fools.

I Know The End by Phoebe Bridgers: I don’t even know if I can describe the full impact of this song, so I’ll keep to short. One word: catharsis. The way this sound builds up from signature Phoebe Bridgers Ballad™ to forceful rollick to gut-wrenching climax gives me chills every time. I don’t want to spoil it. If you haven’t heard it before, go listen to it, (preferably with the rest of the album, too.) If you know, you know.

Delete Forever by Grimes: Okay, now who had “Grimes makes the best country song of the year” on their 2020 bingo card? I certainly didn’t. I’ve loved Grimes’s work in the past for its ability to transport me to another place. “Delete Forever” does the exact opposite in its discussion of loss, exhaustion, and hopelessness, rooting me right to where I am. But you know what? I think I like that a lot more, especially when the song incorporates a lush acoustic guitar and strings, sunny synths, and just enough optimism to remind me that there is always hope to keep the darkness from fully taking over.

circle the drain by Soccer Mommy: This song was in the running for my favorite song of the year since even before the pandemic began, for its classic 90s-alternative sound, for its clever production choices, and for its anthemic feel. But as the year went on, it just kept getting more and more emotionally potent. I’ve been wanting to look at the songs and albums I’ve discussed on these lists without putting on pandemic-tinted glasses, but the truth is, that experience drastically shaped my year, and how I consume music. The lyrics in this song were so goddamn relatable as this year kept spiraling and it felt like I was along with it. “circle the drain” showed me that it’s okay to be feel like I was “falling apart these days.” Because those feelings are not new, I’m not alone in feeling them, and I may keep feeling them, but you know what? I’ll still have this song, in fact, many of the songs on this list, to return to when I do.

Here are some songs I loved this year that didn’t come out in 2020: “Nikes” by Frank Ocean, “Prom” by SZA, “Rhinestone Eyes” by Gorillaz, “Anyone Else But You” by The Moldy Peaches, “Cold War” by Cautious Clay, “Plans” by Maude Latour, “Sleepyhead” by Passion Pit, and “Narcissist” by No Rome ft. The 1975.

Whether you liked, reblogged, or commented on a post, sent me an ask, or interacted with this blog in any way, thank you so much for all the support throughout the year! I can’t express how much I appreciate it.

What were your favorite songs from this year? Did I miss anything? Send me an ask and let me know. I’ll tell you my thoughts, or put it on my to-listen-to list if I haven’t heard them.

Here’s to 2021! May it clear the extremely low bar set by this year.

#songs #song recommendation #taste in music 2020 faves #taste in music

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kpoptimeout · 4 years

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Top 10 Most Underrated K-pop Songs of 2019 (Idol Edition)

2019 has come and gone before we knew it.

Continuing with the K-Pop Timeout Tradition (see 2018 Ver) of listing the Top 10 Most Underrated K-Pop Songs because all the other sites are just bothered with the Top 10 that pretty much everyone will have heard of/have fan wars over, below are our top 10 picks of songs that did not rank high but deserves your attention!

Like last year we have a separate post for Top 10 underrated non-idol tracks. Unlike usual years where there is a separate post made for Top 10 underrated K-Drama OSTs, this year there is instead posts for the Top 20 most underrated K-Pop songs of the decade.

Some of the artists have escaped the list in recent years to stardom (like NU’EST, N.FLYING, and OH MY GIRL), so hopefully, it happens again!

This is in alphabetic order NOT in the order of awesomeness because all of them are awesome. Also, all MVs are linked in the song titles because Tumblr won’t let me share that many videos in one post.

1TEAM “Vibe”

After braving through the shitshows of Mnet’s BOYS24 and YG’s MIXNINE, these talented boys finally debut as 1TEAM under Liveworks Entertainment (the label for the solo promotions of SHINHWA’s Hyesung and Minwoo). This debut song of 1TEAM highlights some of the key strengths of the group - their extremely laid-back retro sound and also addictive hooks. With K-Pop boy bands going for increasingly dramatic and over the top complex sounds due to the popularity of hype bops among overseas fans, it is a breath of fresh air to see 1TEAM deliver such a chill and amazing song and it is unfortunate they have yet to receive more attention both in South Korea and overseas. They continue this sound in their comeback “ROLLING ROLLING” and went more mature and sexy while still simple and retro in “MAKE THIS”, showing that they will continue to develop this unique sound. If you like the relaxing summer sound of WINNER, you would also love 1TEAM’s “Vibe”!

3YE “OOMM (Out Of My Mind)”

After not getting much attention as Apple.B under GH Entertainment, 3 of the original Apple.B members Yuji, Yurim, and Haeun re-debuted as 3YE. And this was the right re-debut to make as the girls went from generic cutesy to edgy and hard in the most unexpected way. “OOM (Out of My Mind)”, their first comeback track, is definitely a powerful bop but what makes it stand out from other hyped-up party tracks is the structure of the song. The first verses were typical powerful girl group song sounding (a mixture of RnB vocals and rap), but things change up quickly at the bridge. The song suddenly becomes very melodic and sounding like something you would expect from a quirky girl group track. Then the song changes again, creating a dark and breathy build-up reminiscent to Billie Eilish’s “bad guy” and “all the good girls go to hell”. Only then do we get the beat drop you would expect from a lit girl group track and the adventurous path to get there makes the drop all the more enjoyable. Also, all three girls’ have amazing stage presence to carry the powerful choreo. If you love powerful girl groups like BLACKPINK and EVERGLOW, you should really check out 3YE’s latest song!

A.C.E “UNDER COVER”

After stints on KBS’ “The Unit” and YG’s “MIXNINE”, the boys of A.C.E have definitely increased significantly in their international fan base and have the makings of a small but dedicated Korean fan base. However, these boys really deserve a lot more attention, especially with “UNDER COVER” being one of the best and also most underrated tracks of 2019 K-Pop. After attempts with artsy edm music in their debut era and later a cuter sound in “Take Me Higher”, the boys and the label seem to have finally found their sound. It is dramatic, it is powerful, it has a strong rock influence combined with hip-hop and RnB. Honestly, this is what I would expect TVXQ to sound like if they debuted in the late 2010s (cries thinking about OT5 early days and their rock influence tracks). This song also clearly highlights the strength of every member - Byeongkwan’s playful rap and diva-like stage presence, Wow’s more relaxed rap and sexy charms, Chan’s boyish appeal and perfect complementation of other members’ sounds, Jun’s attractive vocal colour and Donghun’s emotive voice and wide vocal range. If you love the dramatic and powerful boy band tracks like the bops of B.A.P, it is time to stream “UNDER COVER”!

fromis_9 “FUN!”

After the amazing comeback with “Love Bomb” last year, I really did not know how fromis_9 can top that but they really did with “FUN!” They continue to go for the really quirky, really weird and playful cute girl group sound they perfected in “Love Bomb” to bring an amazing and refreshing summer track. “FUN!” has a ridiculously catchy hook and like other fromis_9 songs have beautiful bridge parts to also showcase the members’ amazing vocal abilities and harmonies often hidden under their hype and wild choruses. Also, the music video is a delight, with the girls’ parodying various CFs. The album for this song peaked at #2 on Gaon Charts but somehow this amazing title track did not rank at all on Gaon and only peaked at #94 on the K-Pop Hot 100 of Billboard. If you love the addictive, fun and weird side of girl groups like Red Velvet and Oh My Girl, you would really enjoy fromis_9′s “FUN!”

GWSN “Pinky Star (RUN)”

After a unique debut and a string of consistent bops, it is unclear why most K-Pop fans are still sleeping on GWSN. “Pinky Star (RUN)” is an amazing song, showcasing GWSN’s indie video game-like sound which is heavily electronic and 8-bit like yet has all the K-Pop high notes and dance breaks you would also expect. This perfect blend of the girls’ unique sound and a seasoned K-Pop style production makes the song all the more amazing and it all the more infuriating they are still quite a nugu group in South Korea. The MV is also beautifully shot, with amazing sets and smart use of the aspect ratios. If you love to see the artsy pop vibes of BOL4 and IU married with the quirky girl group sounds of Oh My Girl, you would love GWSN’s “Pinky Star (RUN)”!

JBJ95 “Awake”

After PRODUCE 101 Season 2 and the success of JBJ, JBJ members Sanggyun and Kenta continue as duo JBJ95 and continue delivering quality music. One of their best songs and one of the best of K-Pop this year is arguably “Awake”. The song excels in having this bright and dreamy texture to it, which blends perfectly with the concept of the song and the Bauhaus-styled MV set pieces. Those listening to the song which literally feel woken up by the upbeat chorus which incorporates some dancehall beats into this electro-pop song. While JBJ95 are without a doubt doing quite well out of the post-PRODUCE 101 groups with variety show appearances and web drama roles, this song did not win any awards albeit its superb quality. If you are a fan of SHINee’s more fun and dream-like tracks like “Why So Serious?” and “View”, you would love this song!

KNK “Sunset”

Last year was extremely annoying when IN2IT’s “Snapshot” and SF9’s “Now or Never” flew under the radar of most K-Pop fans and the Korean public in general for their sexy supermodel runway sounds. Apparently, people have still not learned their lesson this year with the spectacular release by KNK in the form of “Sunset”. These talented men are back again with one of the best concepts ever - the song is just a 90s house bop that serves expensive runway model realness. The chorus of simply just Seoham saying “Sunset, for-for y'all” again and again in his deep voice is definitely one of the highlights of the song along with the classy and mature choreography. The MV of this absolute bop is also an example of how low-budget MVs can look expensive if there’s good camera work, creative lighting and smart editing choices. So if you liked IN2IT’s “Snapshot” and SF9’s “Now or Never” last year, and love yourself some good mature and sensual choreo like Taemin’s, “Sunset” is the song for you!

ONF “Why”

At this point, ONF is just one of the best-kept secrets in K-Pop. All the members already showcased their immense talent on YG’s “MIXNINE” but somehow South Korea still does not seem to know they exist. And it is infuriating that after a masterpiece like “Why”, they are still swimming in absolute nugu-dom. This song sounds ridiculously dramatic, with beautiful high notes and sentimental harmonica/synth instrumentals in the chorus. One of the highlights of the song is Wyatt’s deep-voiced speed rapping which was layered with multiple effects so that it sounded like it was being received through a device from afar and also serves to make it so much more grungier. Basically, the song sounds like it could be the OST for a high-budget Netflix dystopian sci-fi series and the MV shot in Moscow actually gave us some very expensive looking CGI and effects. It is difficult for me to find a song to compare “Why” to but if you love yourself a dramatic boyband track, you should really check it out!

SAAY “ZGZG”

This song just hits hard in a very unique way. Following her departure from EvoL (a highly underrated girl group), Kwon Sohee/SAAY has mainly worked as a producer and songwriter, penning bops for SM Entertainment and often working with Super Junior M’s Henry Lau. As a solo artist, she shows that she has a lot to show in “ZGZG”, which honestly would not be such a great song if not carried by her off-the-charts amount of charisma. The chorus is just her swag-filled mumbling of the word(s?) “ZGZG” and it works because of her attitude. She also belts high notes and delivers smoking hot bars when she raps in the song too. If you are a fan of confident female solos like Hyuna, Sunmi, and Chungha, I now urge you to check out this amazing song by SAAY!

UP10TION “Your Gravity”

UP10TION is an extremely talented group but have failed to make a mark in the K-Pop industry due to years of TOP Media’s mismanagement. One of the biggest mismanagement moves, in my opinion, was giving UP10TION good but extremely generic K-Pop title tracks. There was never a song that screamed: “this is an UP10TION-only track.” I can go on forever about TOP Media’s poor management of all its groups but now is the time to focus on what a brilliant song “Your Gravity” is - UP10TION has finally found a unique sound and they really owned this song, making it arguably one of the best and most underrated songs of the year. The song plays on an addictive synth hook and good use of diverse beats. The whole song just sounded super fresh yet not cutesy but high energy at the same time - a rare example of balancing freshness and coolness. The MV is also filmed very well, with shots from very interesting angles and great use of a few set pieces in a variety of ways. The closest comparisons I can make would probably be WANNA ONE’s “Energetic” era. If you love a powerful and feel-good track, UP10TION’s “Your Gravity” is the song for you!

Special Mentions of Underrated Debuts:

There were many strong debuts this year and I would like to mention 2 underrated rookie groups to look out for in 2020!

Male - 1TEAM “Make This”

I have already discussed 1TEAM’s greatness and music style above, but the reason I also chose them as the most underrated male group debut is because out of all the underrated male idol debuts this year, 1TEAM is the only one that have already showed us their consistency and duality. “MAKE THIS” continues 1TEAM’s retro sound and aesthetic - the song sounds like how people in the 80s think future sexy music would be like and also how people right now thought 80s sexy music remade might sound like. So even though 1TEAM went from soft and cute in their first two title tracks to mature in this latest comeback, they still stayed true to their retro sound. The MV is also delight due to the very “2001: A Space Odyssey” inspired looking set pieces.

Female - BVNDIT “Dumb”

MND Entertainment’s newest girl group and basically Chungha’s younger sisters, BVNDIT may have been overlooked as they debuted in the same year as JYP’s ITZY, HINAPIA which features PRISTIN members, and a string of post-PRODUCE 48 girl groups like EVERGLOW, CHERRY BULLET and ROCKET PUNCH. However, BVNDIT has a lot to offer and has likely one of the most standout sounds and looks. The girls all have confidence and stage presence unlike any rookie girl group and this really shined in their songs following the safer pop song debut with “Hocus Pocus.” The south-east Asian and Latin American influences in the drums used in their songs like “Dramatic” and “Dumb” also gives them an opportunity to attempt more powerful and mature choreography than some of the rookies, giving them an additional edge. With the company now starting to use a “Chungha-like budget” in their production as seen in the “Dumb” MV, I believe we can expect a lot from BVNDIT in 2019.

Which idol songs do you think were underrated this year? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below and let the song sharing begin!!!

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fran-is-a-writer · 6 years

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Hello folks and welcome to another blog post by A Healthy Dose of Fran, today I post my Top 10 Movie Musicals (Disney excluded as that’ll have its own segment). Now you may not agree with my list, and that’s OK, we can debate in the comments later. So, let’s get down to business then, shall we?

10. Girl Trash: All Night Long

If you haven’t heard of this, then you probably aren’t a lesbian or bisexual woman. And if you are a lesbian or bisexual woman who hasn’t, you are missing out! The first outright lesbian musical, with lesbians as the focus, the songs about lesbianism, and, even better, starring the queens of South of Nowhere, Mandy Musgrave (Ashley) and Gabrielle Christian (Spencer), and a few other notable lesbian character stars. This movie is kick ass and the music is hilarious, if a little cringy, but you can’t help but sing along as they say, “don’t shit on my dreams it’s just my fantasy, of what could possibly be”. This is a movie that should be seen.

After finishing this post of course.

9. Chicago

Have you committed a crime? Well you should have this performance tucked up your sleeve to get away with it, because surely, HE HAD IT COMING, HE ONLY HAD HIMSELF TO BLAME. Now If that doesn’t give you confidence, then any number of the tunes in this hit will, want some Jazz, well how about All That Jazz? Following the murderess tales of multiple women, but focusing on the dastardliness two, this film takes many twists and turns that ends with murderers on- ah, spoilers.

8. All Dogs Go to Heaven

Charlie B. Barkin – that name alone deserves a place on this list. Add in a surprisingly dark family film musical with gang war, murder plots, and the ideas of heaven and hell, a heart-warming tale about a young girl who wants a family and a dog who wants revenge but ends up changing for her – this film never fails to make me cry. With some awesome bops like ‘You Can’t Keep a Good Dog Down’ this is definitely a musical to see.

7. Bride and Prejudice

No life without wife? Damn woman you know how to break my heart. Well, this may be a surprising edition to this list as, more often or not, this film is forgotten, even though it is, in my opinion, the best Jane Austen adaption ever. And the tunes? Incredible. My first experience of a Bollywood film (which, considering it was made in conjunction with a UK studio, probably doesn’t count), and it was the first of many (thanks also to discussions about it with my best friend). Check out the soundtrack first if the film doesn’t sound interesting, but trust me, unlike most period-adaptions, this one is one to remember!

6. Hairspray

60s beats, 60s attitude, 60s hair and look, but a modern opinion. That’s Hairspray in a nutshell. A film (that was originally a stage production) that tells the tale of Tracey, a slightly hefty girl who loves to dance and tries out for the happening TV show for kids and gets on! But hey modernist views of happily conversing and dancing with blacks (shock horror!) and her non-conventional body shape, get her in trouble, not that she gives a damn, she’s proud and damn right she should be! Not to mention she can belt a bloody tune too, and this film is full of them! Cause WITHOUT LOVE, this movie wouldn’t have caught my attention – (but that may also be due to Zac Efron).

5. Burlesque

Christina Aguilera? Cher? STANLEY TUCCI! Sign me the F up! Oh God and Kristen Bell? Burlesquing? And Singing? Y’all trying to kill me??!!! Well you succeeded! I’m dead. This fantastic story not only grasped my attention, but the music added to the drama and was threaded in so nicely that I couldn’t not watch again and again. Downloading the soundtrack after the first watch, I go back to this musical at least once a year. With one song in at least every one of my playlists, it’s going to show me how to Burlesque.

4. Dreamgirls

If I thought Burlesque was star studded and a gem of a film that was nothing until I saw Dreamgirls starring Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphey and so many more. Set in the 60s and the eras to follow, we follow the lives of black musicians and their dreams, particularly the Dreamettes who take the music world by storm. Dark tales are alongside this tale including blackmail, drug abuse, and so forth. But not only that, we received the most beautiful tunes known including Listen sung by Queen B and I Am Telling You sung by Jennifer Hudson. This musical is a gem to be remembered, with the mesmerising story to go alongside it.

3. Anastasia

Yooo, surprised to see this? Well it’s not a Disney film if that helps the confusion, but with its Princess Anastasia, its animation style, and plot line of lost princess finding her family, you can see where people get confused. But this tale is one of my ultimate favourites – with the original badass Princess who doesn’t take nothing from know one and will happily punch you in the face, you know the story is going to be interesting. Add is some brilliant tunes like ‘Journey to the Past’ and ‘Learn to Do It’ and you have a hit, and now a Broadway musical – that’s why this is on my list.

2. Quest for Camelot

Anything with Celine Dion is recipe for success. But add in King Arthur, bad ass female characters, and a twist on the English Legend. Add in beautiful music and probably the best love story ever written, oh and a two headed dragon with conflicting personalities, and you have a recipe for AWESOMENESS. This musical was my childhood and continues to fill my days with joy as I watch the film on a regular basis (and yes Sister, I only bought it for you for Christmas for me, you have been duped). Adventure, love, mystery, and music – what’s not to love?

1. Prince of Egypt

Now, are y’all surprised? If you are, YOU ARE AN UNCULTURED SWINE (I say with love)! This is, the best musical of all time. Compelling story, the greatest soundtrack ever created, with breathtaking animation to boot – oh, and a brilliant meme maker too. Telling the story of Moses from the bible, we start with the most emotive opening song ‘Deliver Us’ and, you know things are going to be great when a movie goes as far as to use the original Hebrew language within a song as they tell the story of persecution with the visuals of it alongside. The story is dramatic, emotional, and a true learning experience – if you haven’t seen this film before, you need to.

Thank you guys so much for reading this post. What are your top non-disney musicals? What would you have added? Leave a comment!

If you aren’t already, be sure to follow my website for updates on new blogs and videos. Also, if you want to see more content from me, follow this link to my YouTube Chanel A Healthy Dose of Fran and hit subscribe! Be sire to also follow my instagram.

Till next time folks!

Top 10 Movie Musicals Hello folks and welcome to another blog post by A Healthy Dose of Fran, today I post my Top 10 Movie Musicals (Disney excluded as that'll have its own segment).

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rocketshippingassbutt · 7 years

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So here’s my thoughts on pokeani theme songs that absolutely no one asked for

I freaking love music. Music is my life. Add that to the fact I’ve just finished watching through AG, and you end up with me prattling on about pokeani dub themes.

I wish I’d had the sense to do this after I finished OS. But I didn’t. So I’m combining OS and AG now.

Warning: long post...

POKEMON THEME (Indigo League)

Instant hit or grower? Instant, obviously! This will always be the quintessential pokemon theme, you ask me to sing pokemon, this is what you'll get.

Musicality: It's catchy, love the piano, can't help but dance to the guitars, great vocals and kick-ass harmony, it's really hard to try and sing the words AND the music at the same time. Love it! 10/10

Animation: MEW!! Pokemon in space! Everything fits to the beat, and matches the lyrics too. Points for Gary and Delia. 9/10

TR appearance: Once. 3 seconds. They look good though. Posing!! 5/10

Bonus points? It’s the original! 10/10

POKEMON WORLD (Orange Islands)

Instant hit or grower? Not a fan tbh, worst of OS.

Musicality: It is kinda catchy but that's the only thing going for it. That whole shout and reply thing (’so ya wanna be’… ‘number one’) annoys me. It feels like it's trying too hard. Nothing special musically, at all. Just nope. 2/10

Animation: Mandi!! We had a bit of a crush on him back in the day. And yay for Richie, and more Delia and Gary, and Duplica too. And Gio! Yay for Jigglypuff! Overall a lot more visually energetic than the last one. Plus pretty rainbow background makes Kel happy. 8/10

TR appearance: Once. 5 seconds. Cute posing plus comedy. 7/10

Bonus points? Bonus points because I love the 2nd movie so much. 5/10

POKEMON JOHTO (Johto Journeys)

Instant hit or grower? A grower. I hated it back in the day. But when I started my adult pokeani watch-thru I LOVED it! I think I only hated it way back because I was such a fan of gen 1 and the original theme.

Musicality: THOSE BACKING DO DO DOOO'S! GAH! It's so damn catchy and singable! Good harmonies too, not quite on the first one's level though. Fab beat, love the drums. 8/10

Animation: The twerp running sequence at the start and the way it fits with the music, I freaking love it! More Gary :D and Jigglypuff :D CHIKORITA! GET AWAY FROM ASH! Stupid chikorita trying to take Pikachu's place. It really bugged me during Johto. Yay, Mew's back, being all cute, and Lugia too :D 7/10

TR appearance: Once. 3 seconds. Cute sleepy rockets! 5/10

Bonus points? It will always remind me of one of my fave gishwhes items. 5/10

BORN TO BE WINNER (Johto League Champions)

Instant hit or grower? Instant, kinda. No, no, what are you doing? You can't do this! Stop destroying the original! You're sullying it! STOP! Wait, what's happening, holy… HOLY SHIT THIS IS AWESOME!! I LOVE THIS!!

Musicality: JFC when it kicks in at ‘my whole life’, it's incredible!! That fucking beat!! Those chords after ‘time to test my skills’ make me so happy inside. And that chord on ‘show the world’! This was the first one that I used to actually animatedly sing and dance and tap and clap to, every damn time. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SONG IS AMAZING! 10/10

Animation: Man, the twerps mean business at the start! Delia! And Tracey too! And reminds me so much of my fave movie with the Lugia stuff near the start. Entei! Mew's back for more too!! Don't really care for any of the gym leader cameos tbh. They haven't made as much effort to get the video synced perfectly to the audio as in previous ones, it seems a bit chaotic? 6/10

TR appearance: Once, 4 seconds, but really only 1 second close up. 2/10

Bonus points? HOLY FUCKING WOW AT THE SONG! 10/10

BELIEVE IN ME (Master Quest)

Instant hit or grower? We've just had a kick ass theme, and now we have another one??! Instant!!

Musicality: It's rocky, that bassline, rockin’ guitars, fab vocals. No harmony except the last line but I don't miss it, it works well without. Toe-tappingly good. 8/10

Animation: Back to making an effort to make everything fit to the beat, which is good. Yay for Gary, Richie and Casey! Those stairs remind me of the 3rd movie. Legendary dogs and birds, Lugia too. Awww Celebi!! 7/10

TR appearance: Twice!! 5 seconds in total. And both freaking awesome! The second one especially is one of my faves of the gang. 9/10

Bonus points? The song rocks. 8/10

I WANNA BE A HERO (Advanced)

Instant hit or grower? As much as I freaking love it now, it wasn't instant, but it was a quick grower. The chorus was an instant hit though.

Musicality: 'town' and 'learn' sound whiny and annoy me, I think that's why the verse wasn't instant. That beat is awesome tho. The wee bridge 'take a step' to 'again' - it's growing, it's growing... Chorus hits, and it's just YES!! That first line with the harmony, gah I always launch straight in to singing the harmony full blast. I can't help it. Plus the fact the music stops for that line makes it even more epic. That wee guitar bit behind 'pokemon advanced' I freaking love it! 8/10

Animation: It's fine, I don't love it, it's nothing special, lots of action, no cameos (apart from Aqua and Magma). Though bonus points for the very end with all the pretty colours. 6/10

TR appearance: Once. 2 seconds. But yay for James getting a hug from Cacnea. 4/10

Bonus points? Awesome song. 8/10

THIS DREAM (Advanced Challenge)

Instant hit or grower? It was a grower.

Musicality: A bit of a step down after I wanna be a hero, but still awesome. It lacks the singability and toe-tappiness of some but it's catchy enough. Great harmonies in the chorus. Every song ends with the usual 'pokemon' and this was the first where I thought the theme song didn't lead well in to it, it feels like it was just shoved on to the end with no through of the previous chords, and that annoyed me. 7/10

Animation: Starts with space and an aurora so bonus points right from the get go. I liked the appearance from the Kanto starter final evolutions. Pikachu is so damn cute sitting on Ash's knee on that hill. Watching it now I'm like Yay Drew!, but at the time I wasn't fussed, he was a grower lol. Medicham annoys me with that wee head thing. 8/10

TR appearance: Once. 2 seconds but blasting off so they're barely there. 3/10

Bonus points? Crotch shot (blink and you’ll miss it). 5/10

UNBEATABLE (Advanced Battle)

Instant hit or grower? FUCKING INSTANT!

Musicality: How freaking epic is this?!?! This wins the award for the pokemon theme sung most often by Kel. It was constantly in my head. In fact I used to sing from 'woah' to 'pokemon', point at hubby, who would roll his eyes before saying 'advanced battle' and I would cheer. Good times. Harmonies are fantastic. Guitars are fantastic. I can't help but air-drum at 'they'll never last'. That bassline!! What is not to like about this? It's brilliant!! 10/10

Animation: That whole things with Brock, Munchlax, May and Max shrugging, love it! I like the way Drew and Harley appeared behind May. Yay again for Celebi and the legendary dogs and birds. That wee nose rub Ash does, I don't know why but I adore it! DANCING TEAM ROCKET!!! Fucking Batman??! Yay for Delia and Tracey and Misty! Who even are those shadowy dudes in 'come to play - never last'? Good mix of action-packed vs funny, plus everything fits to the beat. 9/10

TR appearance: Twice! 5 seconds in total. DANCING! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS! 9/10

Bonus points? EPIC SONG! Also, in case I hadn't already mentioned, DANCING TR! 10/10

BATTLE FRONTIER (Battle Frontier)

Instant hit or grower? Ugh, not a fan. Worst of AG, plus worst so far.

Musicality: From 'if you're strong' to 'find your destiny' eventually grew on me a little, but the rest of the song is abysmal. There is nothing about this song that is special, even the half of the chorus that I don't mind as much is nowhere near the level of the other themes. Big thumbs down from Kel. 0/10

Animation: I kinda like that sequence with May, Drew and Harley with the pokemon in front of them. I don't care enough about the frontier brains to enjoy their cameos. The fucking bit with Ash during 'it's the master plan' and he's turning round to the beat, ugh it annoys me so much! Overall a bit chaotic. Nothing special at all. 2/10

TR appearance: NO TEAM ROCKET!! -10/10

Bonus points? Everything’s shit, plus minus bonus points for the god-awful song at the end!! Fucking hell. -20/10

POKERAP GS (SHORT VERSION) (Pokemon Chronicles)

Instant hit or grower? Grower

Musicality: I wasn't fussed on it at first but damn it's catchy. Can't help singing along and bopping your head. But it's nothing special. 6/10

Animation: Yay Celebi. Everything fits to the beat. Yay Tracey and Misty and Richie. Nothing else really to say. 5/10

TR appearance: None, but this is about side characters / 'old friends' (even tho TR have their own eps) so I forgive them. 0/10

Bonus points? The song is catchy as hell. 4/10

#today on Kel's pokeani watch-thru #pokemon theme songs #pokemon anime #pokeani #anipoke #pokemon music

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dyingfeels · 7 years

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o.m.g. i got tagged

so, i never get tagged, but @pillowfightsandlatenights tagged me in this music thing and i feel hella honored. so, player 1... start!

rules: list 10 songs you are currently vibing to and tag 10 people. (i have nowhere close to 10 mutuals to tag, so instead i’m just going to elaborate on my choices, yeah? cool. i went a bit overboard, oops.)

1. “Finding You” // Kesha

so let’s be honest, the entire album is amazing. i think this ‘new version’ (i use that term loosely here) of her music/self is inspiring and beautiful. this song in particular is so so good, from the lyrics to the guitar riff. i already thought that the idea of love being able to transcend lifetimes was pretty radical, but Kesha puts it beautifully: “i know forever don’t exist, but after this life, i’ll find you in the next”. like fuck yeah, i want that played at my wedding.

2. “Want You Back” // HAIM

i’m planning to see them in a few weeks, and i’m so fucking excited. so, i fell in love with these sisters after they released their first album (also a really good, definitely check it out), and then they basically went on a hiatus. then they released this song as a single and it made me emotional – because they sound better than ever and because the song is a bit of a heartbreaker. it’s basically about admitting one’s faults and hoping to mend a relationship, “just know that i want you back, i take the fall in the fault in us”. these girls are one of my all time favorite artists, great sound, thoughtful lyrics, and amazing performers.

3. “Sweet Talk” // Saint Motel

another group who has a great sound in general. Sweet Talk is a fun summer-y song, even though the lyrics are about a one-sided love (“you could yell ‘piss off! won’t you stay away?’, it’ll still be sweet talk to my ears”). there’s trumpets and other horns, so it’s a nice change from mainstream pop songs. i don’t know, it’s just catchy and i’m a sucker for untraditional love songs.

4. “Rose-Colored Boy” // Paramore

if you know me, you know i love Paramore. the entire album is a great change of pace, sound-wise, for them and it’s awesome to see them back together (*cough cough* looking at you, Zac). this song has a dance/pop feel to it, definitely gives off ‘feel good’ vibes at first glance. i think the beauty of this song is just that though, it’s not a ‘feel good’ song at all. i dig this song heavily because i connect with the lyrics personally (“just let me cry a little bit longer, i ain't gon' smile if i don't want to”), but i also love the overall sound of the song. anything i can dance to is o.k. in my book.

5. “I Spend Too Much Time in My Room” // The Band CAMINO

so, this song (and band really) sounds a bit like The 1975. the lyrics are simple, it follows a pattern, but they deal with a lot of the things i feel often - so i enjoy them. the song’s tempo is a bit slow, but it has a nice feel (easy listening ayye). there’s also a guitar solo towards the end that’s pretty damn wicked. good shit. very The 1975, but uniquely not.

6. “Souvenir” // dePresno

this song broke my heart in the best way possible. first off, this guy’s voice is magical, fits the mood of the song perfectly. secondly, it’s just him and a piano, but it feels like so much more. and the lyrics, please don’t get me started. if you’ve ever been in a relationship, where you can sense the end but you still want to be with that person, this song hurts. if you’ve ever had to let someone go because you knew it was the right thing, but it didn’t lessen the pain, this song hurts. this song is beautifully sad, but worth every heart-wrenching note. (headphones recommended).

7. “Colorblind Cruisin” // Sofi de la Torre

it’s just a ‘feel good’ love song; very catchy and it has a great chorus. (one of the few true ‘feel good’ songs on here.) this song fits my summer aesthetics, so of course it’s been on repeat since june. the lyrics are fun too, “no i’m not the kind to kiss and tell, but this right here deserves a novel”. trust me, it’s a fucking bop.

8. “Worst In Me” // Julia Michaels

so, Julia has an awesome sound to some of her songs (like “Issues”), and “Worst In Me” is one of them. there’s strings, there’s piano, and yet it still has a pop-y beat to it, it’s sort of the perfect combo. sound aside, this song is about someone battling their inner demons (in a way) and trying to keep their relationship together. the lyrics are decent, they get the message across - the chorus is the strong bit for me. regardless, it’s a good song.

9. “May I Have This Dance (Remix)” // Francis and the Lights, feat. Chance the Rapper

disclaimer: i like this song and Chance happens to be on it. i do not like this song purely because it features Chance the Rapper. okay, cool. but. Chance the Rapper, am i rite? but really, i love the original version of this song. the beat is next level, there’s something so cool about the vocals, and the overall sound is hyped. like i don’t know if there’s a pipe organ in the background or just a deep synthesizer, but i’m all about whatever it is. now, Francis made a discussion to have Chance join the party and i approve of the partnership. beyond Chance as an individual artist, his verse brings a nice break from the heavy synthetic sound. during his part, there’s basically the backbeat, the drums, and Chance rapping. it’s a good change in pace and i love the lyrics (overall and Chance’s verse). now, if you aren’t a fan of Chance or rap in general, i say still give the original version a listen. either way, it’s just a really nice song.

10. “Spits on Girls” // Amy Shark

last but not least, this song is actually pretty amazing. in fact, it’s a bit of a journey. this song has a change of pace, from the lyrics to the acoustic guitar. there’s a nice build from beginning to end. there’s a surface folk sound to the song, i think that has to do with the acoustic guitar and the tone of her voice maybe? anyway, the song does go from “don’t be the boy that spits on girls, everybody hates that guy” to a much darker place, but i think that’s the allure of it. regardless, it’s a great song and i can’t stop listening to it.

#ahhh this is so long orz #anyway yeah #shout out to my buddy love you dude #music review #song review #song recommendation #top ten list #my shit #personal

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watchmegetobsessed · 5 years

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The Long Way Home // Shawn Mendes - part 5

it’s been a long time since i last updated this series and i feel bad for abandoning it, but i really want to finish this one and i hope many of you will join into the story!

Summary: Shawn takes some time off during the summer, hiding away in a beach house at the hamptons to try to get over his creative crisis and all that happened in his life lately. He meets his at first sassy neighbor, Sloan Westbury, a former Disney star, who abruptly left her scandalous life behind a year ago. Hidden from the world they form a surprising bond, but Sloan has been running away from everything that’s Shawn’s life while Shawn finds in her what he has been looking for. Inspiration.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

drabble list masterlist

I start to find my way around Sloan, figure out how to approach her, get her to talk and share her thoughts when we talk. I can see how she is holding herself up, probably because she is used to have all her comments get criticized by the media, something I’ve struggled with for a long time. She was basically torn apart before her disappearance, everything she said or did ended up on the tabloids, twisted into something fully different than what they were, but I want her to know that I’m not like them.

I want her to know that not everyone is cruel and that she can be honest with me.

Morning jogs and evening talks at sunset become our things. She is usually sitting on her deck by the time I set my feet out my house and I can’t push my smile down when I see her in the morning light. I manage to make her sing a few more times, but she is still shy about music.

One night, when she has her brother over I sit in front of my computer and search her up. A bunch of old performances and interviews pop up and I start checking them out one by one.

Young Sloan is so much different than the one I know now and it’s not just the aging. I can see how struggling it was for her to be someone she wasn’t. The clothes, the hair, the dancing and the songs, they now seem so far from her personality I wonder how she could survive for that long putting up with all of that.

The songs are the worst to be honest. They are so cheesy and over the top, clearly made to be played on repeat on the radio but not have any real meaning behind them. I’m pretty sure she had nothing to do with them.

But then I find a YouTube channel that was probably very unofficial and not made to bring her fame. There are a couple of covers and original songs, just her with a guitar in her hands in different settings, probably at her LA home and I can finally see her. That’s exactly what I see when I meet her in the morning, just in a more tired and shy version, but it’s still her. Her original songs are the best, but they sound like they lack something, but she was just probably too young. I’m sure she would be so much better at writing if she tried right now. Especially after everything she has been through.

I feel like a creep, sitting by the window in my living room that looks over at her place, waiting for her brother to leave so I can go over again. It’s around nine when the door finally opens and I see her walking out with a tall guy, his hair is the same color as Sloan’s. They exchange a few words at his car before he hugs her and sitting into his car drives away. I force myself to wait at least ten minutes before marching over to her deck and I’m surprised when the back door opens before I could even reach it.

“Oh, Shawn!” she chuckles nervously jumping a bit.

“I’m sorry, I just saw your brother leaving and I thought that… I mean—“ Suddenly, I don’t even know what I thought. I usually have an excuse to come over, but this time I just came to see her.

“I was just about to go and ask if you’d want to take a walk maybe? I’m sorry we couldn’t watch the sunset, Rob always outstays his welcome,” she shakes her head smiling.

“Sure! Sounds great!” I nod and we head down to the coast. “How old is your brother?”

“He is twenty-six,” she tells me, eyes fixed on her feet as they bury into the sand with each step.

“Does he come often?”

“Um, he tries to, but he just got engaged, they are house hunting and stuff, so he has a lot going on.”

“Oh, so he is deep in the wedding planning?” I smile at her, but she doesn’t seem to be too happy about the topic. “What? Do you not like the girl?”

“No, Lara is awesome, she is very sweet.”

“But…?”

“But their wedding is going to be this big thing, a lot of guests, some famous ones too because Rob is a music producer so he knows some people and I don’t know if I can make it through.”

She seems terrified and I feel bad for her. It’s obviously a big day for the family and she wants to be there for her brother, but the people must be a lot for her after her separation from the world.

I want to help her, but I’m not sure if she wants to reconnect with the world, however I know she can’t stay like this, alone, forever.

“Hey, I have a thing this weekend in New York. Just a short trip. Do you want to maybe come with me? You know, to come back to reality for a while.”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” she shakes her head hugging her body with her arms.

“And if I promise you won’t be seen or photographed? I have a great team, we can make it work!”

“Shawn,” she sighs and I wouldn’t push if I didn’t see it in her eyes that she do wants to change, just doesn’t know how.

“You know what? Don’t decide just now. You have a few days, think about it and we’ll get back to it. But I promise you I’d make sure that you feel comfortable.”

She doesn’t reply, just nods with her lips pressed together into a thin line before we wander over to another topic. But I truly wish she’ll consider the offer and I can show her that she doesn’t have to stay here alone forever.

SLOAN

Rob’s visit frustrates me on so many levels. He brings the wedding up again, giving me a great amount of anxiety and I know he doesn’t mean to make me feel this way, but I just can’t help it. I’m happy that he came though, I got so occupied with Shawn lately that I forgot other people exist.

Shawn’s offer to go to New York with him threw me off the edge. It would be nice to finally get out of the Hamptons because as calm and quiet it is here I can sometimes get bored of it. I want to see the places I loved before, but I don’t know if I’m ready to be seen out, especially not with Shawn. I’m afraid we would get mobbed and I would lose it again and that’s the last thing I need right now, but the thought of traveling with Shawn is tempting.

I grew a liking to the guy. A strong liking. He seems to always know just perfectly what to say and how to act around me which is alone a very hard task, not many can do it. But him, he just nails it.

The next day we are laying out in the sand, soaking some vitamin-D in, he has a small notebook with him, scribbling lyrics into it with a worried grimace on his face. Pushing myself up I check the page out and I see crossed out lines, overwritten words and frantic notes on the side.

“It’s like my thoughts can’t get out of my head. I swear I have it here, but…” he places a hand to his forehead and I read the lines he kept so far.

“I think these lines are too crowded,” I say without even thinking that he might not even be interested in my opinion. “I mean if you want it to match the melody, you need less.”

“Mm go on. How do you hear it?”

“Well…” Grabbing his pen I start writing above his lines, my neat handwriting in total contrast with his messy words. “This one can come here and… maybe this one can be a whole new line. Like this.”

“And what about the melody? How would you put them together?”

I start humming and mumbling the lines, trying to find the way I imagined it until I finally hit it and Shawn bops his head. When I get to the end I just lie back closing my eyes, but the quickly pop open when he speaks up.

“Sloan, I hope you do realize you just heard the song without me ever showing you the melody to it.”

I think about his words and realize he is right. I just heard the song reading his lines without even knowing what it would be. It just rang in my mind and I sang it without even thinking about it.

“Oh,” is all I can say.

“I want to record it,” he smiles down at me and I just nod.

“You can use my version, if you’re asking for permission.”

“No, I want to record it with you. I need your voice on it.”

“Absolutely not,” I shake my head closing my eyes, determined to just go back to doing nothing out here.

“Why?”

“I haven’t recorded anything in months.”

“So what? It’s just for us, no one will hear it if you don’t want to show it to anyone, I promise.”

He is looking at me with those damn puppy eyes and I can’t process how a grown man like him can look so soft begging.

Long story short… an hour later we are squeezed into his studio room recording the song. It feels strange at first, I’m very anxious every time Shawn starts the recording and I keep messing it up, afraid of what he might be thinking about my voice, the way I changed his lines up and the melody.

“Look,” he stops the guitar looking at me with a warm smile. “Why are you nervous?”

“I’m not used to this, Shawn. Even before my disappearance I haven’t recorded anything for two months. I'm rusty, I keep fucking it up and I just… I don’t know. I’m nervous because you’re here.”

“First of all, you’re definitely not rusty. Second, everyone messes up. I once had to retake a song ninety-eight times, so don’t be nervous about recording especially because this is just for fun.”

I nod silently, looking down at my hands on my lap.

“And if you feel nervous because I’m here, I can leave,” he adds with a light chuckle, making me smile.

“No, don’t leave,” I say shyly. I can’t make him leave his own studio room. “I just…”

“You know what? I’m gonna just turn away so at least you can’t see my face,” he grins setting everything up for a new recording.

Putting the headphones back up I take a deep breath. When the guitar melody Shawn recorded earlier starts flowing into my ears he simply turns around in his seat, showing me the back of his head and I start singing.

I finally nail it. The notes are on point, I don’t mess up the lines and I don’t miss the rhythm. When the guitar ends Shawn turns around and his face is unreadable.

“That was… one of the best things I’ve ever heard.”

I can’t help but blush. Standing up he steps to me and stops right in front of me, my nose only a few inches away from his chest. His hands reach for the headphone and he slowly pulls it off my head, staring into my eyes.

“You have so much in you, Sloan. I hope to see all of it one day,” he quietly says and I stop breathing for a moment.

My body reacts out of instinct to his closeness, heart beating so fast in my chest I can hear the thuds clearly and I wonder if he can hear it too. His tongue runs through his lips and I think about how it would feel to have them on me.

I swear to God he starts leaning down when his phone starts buzzing and we scare away from each other.

“I’m sorry, I have to take this, it’s my sister,” he sighs grabbing it from the table and walking out of the studio room leaving me totally startled.

Did I just almost kiss Shawn Mendes?

SHAWN

I have never wanted to be an only child before in my life. Aaliyah’s timing couldn’t be worse but on the other hand maybe it was a sign from the gods that I was being greedy.

I don’t know what has gotten into me, hearing her sing the song we kind of wrote together so perfectly just hit me hard. She sang to my heart and suddenly I felt like I needed to savor her. And the best part? She didn’t try to push me away, if that damn phone didn’t start ringing she would have let me kiss her.

After the phone call it’s not the same, she seems a bit distant, but not entirely, it’s just that the mood is gone.

I start to worry that I ruined everything between us when she says she doesn’t want to come on our usual run in the morning, but she appears on my deck when the Sun starts to go down and I almost hug her, but manage to contain myself.

“One thing I would miss if I left this place is the sunset. It’s not this pretty everywhere,” she tells me as we sit on the stairs, legs touching since there’s not much space, but I don’t mind it. I like feeling her physical presence.

“I think it’s pretty everywhere, just different.”

“Where was your favorite?” she asks turning to me with a small smile.

“I love the one I see from my place in Toronto,” I say thinking about the breathtaking colors over my favorite city.

We stay silent for a while, my eyes are fixed on the horizon as I watch the waves come and go. She is the first one to speak up again.

“I think I’ll go to New York with you.”

I look at her with wide eyes.

“Wait, are you serious?” A shy smile spreads across her face as she looks down at her feet, shoulders rising to her ears.

“Yeah. I talked to Olivia on the phone this morning and she convinced me that it might be a great idea. But I really don’t want to get photographed just yet.”

Her eyes are practically begging me and I know I have to do everything I can to make this trip as comfortable for her as possible.

“Of course! We’ll make sure it’ll go smooth!” I tell her with a huge grin because I’m so happy she eventually said yes. I wasn’t expecting her to accept my offer, but now I can’t wait to get on the plane and head to New York.

I’m probably a real pain in the ass for Andrew when I tell him everything that needs to be done for my New York trip. I’m probably a bit too over the top, but I want to make sure Sloan won’t regret saying yes to the weekend.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to bring her out?” Andrew’s worried voice comes from my iPad, his face too close to the camera while I’m washing the dishes the night before we are leaving.

“Just… leave it to me, alright? I want her to have a nice weekend outside of this place.”

“So you’re not a big fan of the Hamptons after all?”

“That’s not what I said!” I groan. “She’s been here for over six months, I want to get her out and it’s a huge thing she said yes.”

“Shawn, I just don’t understand why you are so obsessed with her suddenly. I thought you wanted to be alone, that’s why you went there. But now you are inseparable with this girl who has the worst reputation in Hollywood.”

“Since when do you believe the tabloids?” I give him a look. “Yeah, she has a few mistakes, but she is trying to get her life back on the track.”

“And you are happy to assist her in that? Did you sleep with her or something?”

“Andrew, you are an asshole,” I say but he just rolls his eyes at me.

“I’m just saying that you have to be careful with her. You also have a reputation to look out for and I don’t want to clear the mess up if she ruins yours.”

“She is not ruining anything,” I sigh, fed up with his skepticism. Why can’t he just let go of this whole Sloan thing?

“Alright, but be careful with her.”

“Whatever,” I mumble totally ignoring him at the end.

I barely sleep that night, my mind constantly bugging myself, making sure I didn’t forget anything. I managed to have three hours of sleep which is bullshit, but I still feel wide awake when my phone goes off at five an.

I grab a few bites as breakfast and closing my bags I head to the backdoor to check on Sloan, but then there’s a knock before I could even reach the door knob.

Sloan’s nervous smile looks a hundred times cuter so early in the morning as her hands grip the handle of her suitcase tightly.

“Ready for New York?” I grin at her and she nods shortly.

“I guess?”

SLOAN

I think about going back home about a thousand times before the plain touches down in New York. The ride to the airport, the people at the airport, the plain, everything feels like I’m doing it for the first time even though this used to be my life. I keep thinking that people recognized me despite my disguise, I have a huge hoodie on with a beanie and the biggest shades I could find at home. I doubt that anyone even remembers my face and Shawn keeps reminding me that no one knows who I am.

Shawn.

He is like my rock. He doesn’t get mad at me when I take too long in the lounge to gather my stuff, when I start rambling about heights once we are on the plane. Instead he always seems to know what to say to make me feel better and calm me down. The guy really knows how to deal with my problematic ass and he deserves everything for his effort.

And most importantly, he kept his promise. We got to the hotel without a soul knowing about our arrival and for that I’m so grateful.

“So, I have this radio interview this afternoon, but we have some time until that and later I thought we could have dinner somewhere,” he starts when I let him into my room and he walks in like it was his.

“Slow down, cowboy,” I chuckle plopping down to the edge of my bed.

“I just want to make the best out of this trip and I kind of already planned a few things out,” he admits with a nervous chuckle.

He really did put a lot of energy and effort into this trip so I promise to do everything he planned out. I wouldn’t have the heart to say no to him when he is so excited and he kind of got me thrilled too.

Before his interview he takes me shopping. He literally closes off one quarter of a mall so no one can even see who is there and he had a plan for leaving as well, making sure no one catches a glimpse of us. It doesn’t take long for me to let go of my fears, seeing how thoughtful he has been with this trip and I start to trust him fully on taking good care of me.

I don’t go to the interview with him, that would be too risky, so I stay at the hotel and go for a swim in the pool, take a nice shower and lie around, waiting for him to get back.

“How was it?” I curiously ask when he finally arrives.

“Just the usual,” he shrugs, doesn’t really seem like he is willing to talk about it so I drop it. “So, are you ready for dinner?” he asks, his eyes bright and happy.

It’s breathtaking. The restaurant Shawn reserved table at is at the top of a tall building, so you have an amazing view of the city from basically all the tables. And the best part? Just when we get the dessert the Sun starts going down.

“Shawn,” I gasp realizing he timed it perfectly so I could watch the sunset.

“I think a New York sunset is also in the top three,” he shyly comments while I can’t turn my eyes away from the view.

When I turn to look at him something changes in my heart. I don’t see him the same way like before. Shawn Mendes has brought the change into my life, something no one else could do in a long time.

#shawn #mendes #shawn mendes #shawn mendes imagine #shawn mendes fic #shawn mendes fics #shawn mendes fanfiction #shawn mendes fanfictions #shawn mendes fanfic #shawn mendes fanfics #shawn mendes x oc #mendes army #the long way home

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