#red scorpion 1989

[gridsivemade]

Another Dolph Lundgren edit

(Specifically this is Nikolai Petrovitch Rachenko from the 1989 movie Red Scorpion)

↑↑↑Original picture↑↑↑

↑↑↑My edit↑↑↑

--

@l0vel3ss-l1nds3y

@enitysworld

Feeling kinda meh about this one, I like it, but I could have done better I think... Oh well, it's still cool. 😁

Also this is probably gonna be the last post I'll tag you guys in, unless you say otherwise.

Because I'm going down a Dolph Lundgren obsession hole again, so I don't wanna bog y'all down, with all the edits I'm gonna be making for the next few days or so. 😅

#dolph lundgren #Nikolai Petrovitch Rachenko #red scorpion #Red scorpion 1989 #dolph lundgren wallpaper #Dolph lundgren edit #Nikolai Petrovitch Rachenko edit #Nikolai Rachenko #Nikolai Rachenko edit #1989 Red scorpion #my edits #my edit #fanmade #fanjunk #fanart #wallpaper

[splatteronmywalls]

#red scorpion #1988 #1989

[twirlingsmilingwriting]

Hunger Games Characters as Taylor Swift songs PART 2!!

I know these aren't popular like the fan fiction on my account but I love mixing my music and intrests so ima do a PART TWO

Johanna Mason

Mad Woman- Taylor Swift, Folklore

"Does a scorpion sting when fighting back? They strike to kill and you know I will"

Honestly, it's so hard to find just one lyric in this song that I felt like truly highlights her because the whole song is literally her. Especially the last verse. Like "'Cause you took everything from me, Watchin' you climb, Watchin' you climb Over people like me The master of spin Has a couple side flings Good wives always know She should be mad Should be scathing like me" THAT JUST FEELS SO MUCH LIKE HOW SHE VIEWS SNOW. He took everything from her and she was just sitting back ready to take him and the rest of the capital down with it. Also, I love her.

Katniss Everdeen

Eyes Open- Taylor Swift, Red

"In backyards, winning battles with our wooden swords. But now we've stepped into a cruel world. Where everybody stands and keeps score"

OKAY ADMITTEDLY THIS IS A SELL OUT BECAUSE THIS SONG WAS ON THE HUNGER GAMES OTHER SOUND TRACK BUT, it is quite literally her song. Side note but this song is so sad but sounds so happy. I love when Ms. Swift does songs like this. But yeah from the first verse describing how they were just kids then one day got thrown into the cruel and harsh world of the hunger games. Also the part talking about "they never thought you'd make it this far" makes so much sense because the girl from district 12 is always seen as the runt of the picks, the one who isn't supposed to win, BUT SHE DID!! Honestly, if yall can think of another song that fits her character please let me know. I have some honorable mentions

A Place in This World- Debut: honestly, I think this song really describes her thought process going into the hunger games. She was just trying to survive and keep her family safe. Even when she was thrown into being the head figure of the Revolution, she never wanted that position, she just got thrown into it. She was just walking along the path set for her. Even the line "maybe I'm just a girl on a mission but I'm ready to fly" makes sense to me because she IS the mocking jay.

Only Me When I'm With You- Debut: So Peniss coded (Peeta X Katniss)

I Know Places- 1989: Also Peniss coded

I Did Something Bad- Reputation: Killing president coin, pushing forth with the revolution,

Sujanus Plinth

Only The Young- Taylor Swift, Miss Americana

"You did all that you could do, the game was rigged, the ref got tricked, the wrong ones think they're right. You were outnumbered, this time"

Honestly, the whole thing reminds me of his reaction to the games. Also the whole song is about how only the young can change the future and Sujanus's character really showed that spirit. He was trying to make a change but unfortunately, he trusted the whole people and the odds were stacked against him.

Haymitch Abernathy

Champagne Problems- Taylor Swift, Evermore

""This dorm was once a madhouse" I made a joke, "Well, it's made for me"

He has em. Simple as that. (alcoholism)

Seriously though this song reminds me of him more so because of the concept of it. Champagne problems is a term used to describe issues that seem rather trivial, unimportant, and I feel like a lot people tend to disregard all the genuine things Haymitch had gone through. The story of the song also is about a marriage that never happened, it also has undertones of lost family and friends. As we know, Haymitch lost his girlfriend and family to the capital. He never got to marry her because she was taken from him.

Lucy Gray

My Tears Ricochet- Taylor Swift, Folklore

"And I still talk to you when I'm screaming at the sky. And when you can't sleep at night you hear my stolen lullabies"

LETS BE HONEST, SHE IS SO FOLK-EVERMORE CODED. I could dissect this song for ages explaining why it's the perfect example of what Lucy Gray would be saying indirectly to Snow. Firstly,

"Even on my worst day, did I deserve, babe All the hell you gave me? 'Cause I loved you, I swear I loved you 'Til my dying day"

CUZ NO SHE DID NOT DESERVE WHAT SNOW PUT HER THROUGH. She loved him truly, deeply, but when it came down to it, she knew she could never trust him. Especially with the position he put her in. She could go anywhere she wants but not home after Snow made it seem like she killed the mayors daughter. And then the part

"I didn't have it in myself to go with grace And you're the hero flying around, saving face And if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake? Cursing my name, wishing I stayed Look at how my tears ricochet"

She didn't go with grace. She left in a flash, deep with mystery. She has to hide for the rest of her life while he gets to be the proud hero and savior to Panem. The second half of the main chorus is so true to how Coryo was acting when they were in the forest in that last scene. He was quite literally cursing her name, wishing she'd stayed.

"You know I didn't want to have to haunt you But what a ghostly scene You wear the same jewels that I gave you As you bury me"

JEWELS? HER EARRING??? HELLOOOOOOOO and then the "as you bury me" HE DOESN'T KNOW IF SHE DEAD OR NOT BUT IF SHE IS, HE KILLED HER. HE BURRED HER AND TOOK HER EARRING.

"But you would still miss me in your bones And I still talk to you (when I'm screaming at the sky) And when you can't sleep at night (you hear my stolen lullabies)"

She had such a hold on him, he still remembers her years later, haunted by her memory. the song constantly references the "Haunting". The "I still talk to you when I'm screaming at the sky" reminded me of the way the mocking jays carried her voice all around the sky. And the last line was so clearly connecting to 'The Hanging Tree' in my brain. Many years later, Katniss sang the same song she did to lead a rebellion against him. His life is haunted by her memories and cursed by it. He can't escape her anywhere.

The tears he made her spill simply ricocheted into bullets that hit him instead.

Effie Trinket

Bejeweled- Taylor Swift, Midnights

"Best believe I'm still bejeweled. When I walk in the room,I can still make the whole place shimmer"

MS. EFFIE TRINKET IS THE BADDEST BITCH BRO OMG I LOVEEEEE HER. STYLE ICON. Listen, no matter what happens to that woman, shes gonna shine. A diamonds gotta SHINE. She is always the most sparkly, eye catching person out there at ALL TIMES! Even without all the glitz and glamour she is still so iconic. She is ALWAYS bejeweled.

#tbosas #the hunger games #taylor swift #song lyrics #lucy gray baird #katniss everdeen #sejanus plinth #haymitch abernathy #effie trinket #johanna mason #thg series #thg

[taylorswiftandx]

Taylor Swift and Western Astrology

Note: for this post, I tried to select only lyrics that could arguably seem like they might be referencing astrology (within my limited knowledge of it!), rather than listing all instances of terms that are used in astrology. For example, "crescent moon" appears here because moon phases can be used in astrology, but other general references to the moon are not included. For those complete lists, see stars, signs, twins, outer space, fate, sun, moon, fire, water, air, houses, animals.

'Taylor Swift'

(no astrology)

'Fearless (Taylor's Version)'

(no astrology)

'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)'

Electric Touch: I was thinking just one time, maybe the stars align and maybe I call you mine

'Red (Taylor's Version)'

State Of Grace: Just twin fire signs, four blue eyes

The Moment I Knew: And it would've felt like a million little shining stars had just aligned

All Too Well (10 Minute Version): And did the twin flame bruise paint you blue?

'1989 (Taylor's Version)'

Suburban Legends: I had the fantasy that maybe our mismatched star signs would surprise the whole school

'reputation'

(no astrology)

'Lover'

The Archer: I've been the archer, I've been the prey

'folklore'

Mad Woman: Does a scorpion sting when fighting back?

Hoax: My eclipsed sun, this has broken me down

'evermore'

Ivy: Crescent moon, coast is clear, spring breaks loose, but so does fear

Long Story Short: And he’s passing by, rare as the glimmer of a comet in the sky

'Midnights'

Snow On The Beach: One night a few moons ago, I saw flecks of what could’ve been lights

Question…?: Does it feel like everything’s just, like, second best after that meteor strike?

Mastermind: Once upon a time, the planets and the fates and all the stars aligned

High Infidelity: Do I really have to chart the constellations in his eyes?

Other Songs written by Taylor

All Of The Girls You Loved Before: Your past and mine are parallel lines, stars all aligned and they intertwined

Official Alternate Releases

(no astrology)

#taylor swift #lyrics #taylorswiftandx #lyric parallels #astrology

[kmclaude]

Hey Claude how u doin? I loooooove the televangelist AU like omggg documentaries about culty megachurch corruption are one of my major obsessions (the 'tism leads me down thorny paths). I do have an actual question tho. I've been creatively blocked lately (brainfog, general malaise, depression etc), and I'd love some recs? Can be anything--books, movies, shows, music, etc. that gets your creativity flowing? --@pearlwhitetears 🕊️

Oh televangelist AU has my dick so hard tho I know shit all about televangelists. Please info dump on the interest!

I am sorry you have been creatively blocked. Admittedly I'm in a similar boat.

Honestly I've been listening to a lot of Oomph! -- growing my CD collection -- which has been really tickling some high school nostalgia vibes for me. So maybe dig into some music from your past? Or if you use Spotify, start digging down the algorithm for similar artists and make some playlists to vibe to.

Sometimes I put on random lofi or darkwave or Christmas instrumental playlists on YouTube but that's more like Concentrate On Doing Thing background music.

Just in general some movies I've watched lately or not that slapped or at least left an impression: Ghostwatch (1992), Savageland (2015), Devil's Doorway (2018), The Borderlands (Final Prayer, 2014), feardotcom (2002), Lake Mungo, Martyrs (the OG one), Blood for Dracula, Elevator Game, the Female Prisoner Scorpion films (they're on tubi apparently!), Prince of Darkness (1987), From Beyond (1986), Society (1989), the Berserk OVAs, The Skin I Live In (2011), Red Room (1999, V-cinema).

Sorry I am creatively dead and these are mostly horror as that's what me and my bestie watch.

#kmclaudereplies #kmclaudereplies to ask

[ereshkigal0240]

This is how you own the music indutry

Top Billboard 200 debuts: 2010 —

@taylorswift13, SN 2011 — Gaga, BTW 2012 —

@taylorswift13, Red 2013 — 20/20 Exp 2014 —

@taylorswift13 1989 2015 — Adele, 25 2016 — Views 2017 —

@taylorswift13, reputation 2018 — Scorpion 2019 —

@taylorswift13, Lover

2020 —@taylorswift13, folklore

[odinsson2021]

Here's the Playlist of my Ballads Special Tonight's Show!

I hope you liked it!

Stormwitch-Rondo ala Turca Scorpions-Rhythm of Love Bon Jovi-Born to be my Baby The Cult-Fire Woman Skid Row-Youth Gone Wild Heart Line-Livin' on a Knife Edge (Virginia Wolf Cover) – Original Seeds (EP) 08.12.23 Def Leppard-Heaven is Nestor-1989 Notörious-All Night – Marching On 19.01.24 Kiss-Heaven's on Fire White Lion-Little Fighter Lazarus Dream-My Imaginary Life – Imaginary Life 19.01.24 Journey-Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) Whitesnake-Bad Boys Firewind-Come Undone – Stand United 01.03.24 Judas Priest-Electric Eye Iron Maiden-Can I play with Madness Ravenstine-Black is the brightest Color – 2024 12.01.24 Queensryche-Empire Heaven&Hell-Bible Black Jaded Heart-Another wasted Day Jacobs dream-Kinescope Poverty’s no Crime-Access Denied Ironflame-Blood Red Cross Dio-Rainbow in the Dark Iron Savios-Dragons Rising Blind Guardian-Mister Sandman

#hard rock party #youtube #hard rock #rockchicks radio #rock #rock of ages #rock music #rock n roll #rock party #classic rock #garage rock #alternative rock #post punk #heavy metal maniac #heavy metal #metal #metal music #doom metal #black metal

[okpow]

Top 20 Best GI Joe ARAH 80s + 90s Action Figures of All Time Ranked

(above: because toy collecting is a sports)

People love lists and so does Google and what is better than a list of THE GREATEST GI JOY A REAL AMERICAN HERO TOYS OF ALL TIME? Not much. Considering it’s possibly the greatest toy line of all time. To clarify - this is a list of the top 20 great figures, not necessarily characters. I will also try to avoid cliches like Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes and Roadblock and Duke since obviously these are cool figures but way too mainstream. We want hipster shit and there are literally hundreds of Cobra and GI Joe figures to choose from that were made between 1982-1994. With that said...

#20 - Hit & Run

The coolest of the “hey it’s a green camo army man” figures, and boy were there a lot of them, Hit & Run COMES WITH AN M-16 LOOKING THING AND A DUFFEL BAG WITH A WORKING GRAPPLING HOOK. Sold.

#19 - Range Viper

The first of the Vipers on this list is not the last. Range Viper is a unique figure that features some sort of brain helmet and was creatively a big swing by Hasbro that resulted in a grand slam. Creepy and menacing and awesome - you don’t fuck with Cobra’s wilderness troopers.

#18 - Undertow

Maybe the coolest water-themed figure in the entire GI Joe line - this Viper-adjacent bad ass came with a fuckin’ barracuda. Great color scheme and some serious ‘underwater ninja assassin’ vibes to this one.

#17 - Raptor

An odd choice from the beloved 1987 class of figures, Raptor is just so damn unique. A former accountant turned evil Cobra falconer, what’s not to love. HE THINKS HE’S A BIRD.

#16 - Zartan

Zartan doesn’t even look like a GI Joe figure but in a good way - he’s a master of disguise and leader of the Dreadnoks. This figure changed color in heat and comes with a creepy removable face mask because of the whole MASTER OF DISGUISE THING. 

#15 - Alley Viper

This Florida Gator themed total bad ass is Cobra’s urban assault trooper. Sort of the anti-Range Viper. He comes with a gun and a giant shield and is universally beloved. The best figure of 1989.

#14 - Desert Scorpion

More Cobras because Cobras are obviously cooler than the actual GI Joe good guys. I’m not sure if Desert Scorpion existed before Mortal Kombat’s Scorpion but one definitely had an influence on the other. PLUS HE COMES WITH A PET SCORPION.

#13 - Beach Head

One of the most popular Joe characters and perhaps the main character of the 80s GI Joe cartoon, Beach Head looks bad ass, is from Alabama, and talks a bunch of shit in a southern drawl. 

#12 - Sgt. Slaughter

This is a pro wrestling blog so of course this post is going to feature fuckin’ Sgt. Slaughter BUT IN GI JOE FORM. There were a few different variations of Sarge produced, the version above with USA across his stomach is my favorite. He was also noticably taller than most other Joe figures and once sold his sold to the Iron Shiek only to then be bitch-slapped and legdropped by Real American Hulk Hogan. So there’s that.

#11 - William The Fridge Perry

Another real-life-person-turned-action-figure, IT’S THE FRIDGE. He scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Awesome figure - he comes with a sledge hammer type thing with a football on the end. 

#10 - Gnagahyde

Holy shit what a cool figure. Gnagahyde is an evil poacher who comes with a warthog named Clyde and has a knife that fits in his boot. Plus he has a sweet cheetah vest because he’s a poacher and a jerk.

#9 - Python Patrol Crimson Guard

A repaint of the already cool Crimson Guard (who was red, hence the name Crimson, anyway) except with an even better, very unique, color scheme. THE BEST OF THE PYTHON PATROL REPAINTS.

#8 - Night Force Shockwave

Perhaps the most beloved figure from post 1987, 1988′s Shockwave (original not pictured) is cool in his own right. He’s a SWAT team something or other, I dunno but he’s awesome. The 1989 repaint for the Night Force Toys R Us exclusive toy line took it up a notch and gave us an all timer with dark menacing realistic camo fatigues.

#7 - Viper ‘86

The prototype for all future GI Joe Vipers. Cobra henchmen. Yes please.

#6 - Firefly

Firefly is sort of the Boba Fett of GI Joe - a minor character who becomes insanely popular BECAUSE HE’S JUST SO BAD ASS. This figure could very well be #1 but it’s not but that’s okay. He’s a saboteur who works alone and gets paid by Cobra in his Swiss bank account or something. 

#5 - Chuckles

A controversial choice but I don’t care - Chuckles comes with a working gun shoulder holster AKA the coolest accessory of any GI Joe figure. He wears a Hawaiian shirt. He’s an international playboy spy or something. IN THIS HOUSE WE DO NOT TALK SHIT ABOUT CHUCKLES.

#4 - Tunnel Rat

There are several versions of Tunnel Rat to choose from but I’ll go with the original. His gimmick - a Vietnam style soldier who goes underground and uh kills Charlie in tunnels - is so bad ass and Hasbro did an awesome job with the aesthetic of this figure. POSSIBLY THE GREATEST JOE OF ALL.

#3 - Croc Master

More 1987. Some purists might have a problem with this but they can go kick rocks or suck an egg or something. Croc Master is responsible for CROCODILES AT THE COBRA PALACE and is a former burgler alarm salesman turned.... uh ..... crocodile wrestler. The figure kicks all kinds of ass and comes with a croc and a whip so there’s that.

#2 - BAT

BAT is a near-consensus #1 on most people’s lists but this is my list and he’s #2 with a bullet baby. HE’S A COBRA ROBOT and the black and yellow aesthetic is just flawless. Plus he comes with a bunch of interchangeable devices for his hand. He would be number 1 but he’s not because....

#1 U.K. EXCLUSIVE TIGER FORCE OUTBACK

The original Outback figure is cool BUT THEN THEY DROPPED TIGER FORCE OUTBACK IN THE UK AND NOT IN AMERICA and the world ended. He’s a grizzled survivalist hermit dude with a tiger face on his t shirt, a big gun, a flashlight on his leg and packs full of survival stuff. THE GOAT GI JOE FIGURE AND A HIPSTER CHOICE FOR BEST FIGURE EVER. Just look at him. Life goals.

Don’t like my list of the greatest GI Joes ever? Go make your own I don’t even give a care you can’t come over and play with my figures anyway. Some images courtesy of Home Elevator of Houston and Austin. They also have a Dallas branch called Elevating Systems Home Elevators and Stairlifts.

#gi joe #action figures #1980s toys #1990s toys

[christianbalesasshole]

Besides stallone, Dolph Lundgren is my other favorite action hero and man hes so cute like woOO but these are my favorite roles he has. Red Scorpion, which has no rep and is kinda hard to follow but I still love it, Rocky IV, favorite movie, and Expendables.

#the expendables #dolph lundgren #red scorpion 1989 #red scorpion #rocky iv #ivan drago #gunnar jensen #gunner jensen #digital art

[13tswiz13-blog]

In honor of Drakes new album here’s the greatest commercials of all time!

#Taylor #taylor swift #Drake #awesome #1989 #scorpion #music video #red #rep #reputation #reputationtour #reptour #speak now #fearless

[kaylor-observer]

Okay, so…

I will make a more detailed post when I have a second, but I needed to get the bare bones of my theory out before Red (TV) comes out.

I don’t know much about Swiftgron and we’re all entitled to our own opinions. Don’t like this theory… keep moving. Leave hate on my page and I will “sting like a scorpion.” Deal? Deal.

Bear with me. It’s all a jumble in my head, but listen back and you’ll see I’m at least somewhat on the right track.

It all starts with ‘Enchanted’..

KK was 17 and T was 20 (almost makes me think Love Story could have been about her, too… but I digress).

My theory is that T and KK hit it off and she was maybe still with Liz Huett (who I feel like is the inspiration for ‘The 1’ (insert link to previous post here).

While I’m at it, I’m also certain Folklore & Evermore are their love story told out.

Cardigan: “chase two girls, lose ‘the 1.’” She was with Liz (“the 1”) and chased Karlie (aka Betty/Dorothea) after they met at the Tommy Hilfiger show, and they had a fling until things got messy (see Red Era fighting, realizing the other person is your one, and not reaching out until months later and you’ve both seen other people (cue Swiftgron & August).

After 10 months she shows up at Karlie’s door and they’re ‘Clean.’ No more animosity, no more holding back. They decide to be seen together, “show their truth one single time” (Kissgate) and decide they’re not ready for the war.

1989, Reputation, & Lover all SCREAM Karlie, and after listening back, I feel like Red does, too. I’m adding screenshots of my ‘notes’ and maybe someone else can unscramble this mess in my head.

“The girl in my story has always been you”

Thank you @umramodejoaquim for the addition!

https://9w1ft.tumblr.com/post/658903470083080192/and-when-i-was

#taylor swift #kaylor #kaylorisreal #karlie kloss #kaylorforever #end game is paradise #koincidence #enchanted #gaylor swift #follow the white rabbit

[tengomilpalabrasparati]

Cumpleaños 🎂

El 7 de noviembre de 1957, hace 64 años, nacía en Estocolmo (Suecia) Hans Lundgren, también conocido como Dolph Lundgren, quien tal vez será más recordado por ser Iván Drago en "Rocky IV". Aunque posee una carrera personal tan sobresaliente que parecería que la actuación solo forma parte de una de las facetas de su vida

Con casi dos metros de estatura, se ha dicho que posee un coeficiente intelectual de 160, igualando nada más y nada menos que al mismo Stephen Hawking.

Se graduó en Ingeniería Química por la Universidad de Estocolmo y Master por la de Sidney.

Llegó a Estados Unidos gracias a una de las prestigiosas becas Fullbright concedida por el Instituto de Teconología de Massachusetts (MIT). Habla seis idiomas: sueco, inglés, alemán, francés, español y un poco de japonés en ratos libres. Es un gran fan de la música, toca la batería.

Y como si esto no fuera suficiente, además posee el cinturón negro (6 Dan) en karate estilo Kyokushinkai, el cinturón negro (2 Dan) en judo y fue boxeador amateur.

Como actor, lo vimos en películas como "Rocky IV" (1985), "He-Man: Masters del Universo" (1987), "Red Scorpion" (1989), "The Punisher" (1989), "Universal Soldier"(1992) y "The Expendables" (2010) y "Creed II" (2018) en donde volvió a interpretar a su conocido personaje de Iván Drago.

#dolph lundgren #series y pelis #cumpleaños #Cumpleaños 🎂

[rubykgrant]

I made a slightly condensed version of my Spooky Ref list; it still has a heck ton of movies and books, but now I combined certain categories, eliminated a few, and removed some of the titles that don’t quite fit. If you are looking for things to watch or read so you can get into the Halloween mood (or of you just like some creepy content), here you go!

Movies and Books for October

These range from children’s media to adult content, so be sure to check the ratings/reviews, this way you’ll find ones that are suitable for the right viewers. The dates of movies and names of authors for books are included to make searches easier

(a * symbol is for when a title is in both sections, a book that got made into a movie, ect)

Halloween and Ghosts

Movies- Hocus Pocus (1993), *the Halloween Tree (1993), the Nightmare before Christmas (1993), Trick r Treat (2007), Monster House (2006), Halloweentown (1998), the Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949), Scary Godmother Halloween Spooktacular (2003), Poltergeist (1982), the Haunting (1999), Casper (1995), Ghostbusters (1984), the Haunted Mansion (2003), Thirteen Ghosts (2001), the Others (2001)

Books- How to Drive Your Family Crazy on Halloween by Dean Marney,*the Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury, the Haunted Mask (Goosebumps) by RL Stine, Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge, Stonewords a Ghost Story by Pam Conrad, Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn, Ghost Beach (Goosebumps) by RL Stine, All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn, the Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein, Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

 Witch/ESP/Mental Powers

Movies- *Practical Magic (1998), *the Wizard of Oz (1939), *the Witches (1990), Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost (1999) *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), the Craft (1996), the Witches of Eastwick (1987), *Carrie (1976), *Firstarter (1984), *Matilda (1996), the Last Mimzy (2007)

Books- *Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, *the Witches by Roald Dahl, Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones, *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling, *the Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum, T*Witches by HB Gilmour and Randi Reisfeld, the Worst Witch by Jill Murphy, *Carrie by Stephen King, *Firestarter by Stephen King, *Matilda by Roald Dahl, Scorpion Shards (Star Shards Chronicles) by Neal Shusterman, the Witch’s Boy by Michael Gruber

 Vampire and Werewolf

Movies- Blade (1998), the Little Vampire (2000), Hellboy Blood and Iron (2007), *Hotel Transylvania (2012), Fright Night (2011), What We Do in the Shadows (2014), Alvin and the Chipmunks meet The Wolfman (2000), Ginger Snaps (2000), Van Helsing (2004) Wolf Children (2012), the Wolfman (1941)

Books- Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe, Dracula by Bram Stoker, ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, Red Rider’s Hood by Neal Shusterman, the Werewolf of Fever Swamp (Goosebumps) by RL Stine, Werewolves Don't Go to Summer Camp (Bailey School Kids) by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Jones, Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause, Night of the Werepoodle by Constance Hiser

 Zombies and Slasher/Gore

Movies- Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998), ParaNorman (2012), Night of the Living Dead (1968), *Pet Sematary (1989), Zombieland (2009), Resident Evil (2002), Dawn of the Dead (2004) Scream (1996), a Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), *I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Kill Bill (2003), Happy Death Day (2017), the Hills Have Eyes (2006), US (2019), Friday the 13th (1980), the Thing (1982), *the Girl with all the Gifts (2016)

Books- *Pet Sematary by Stephen King, the Haunting of Derek Stone by Tony Abott, Welcome to Dead House (Goosebumps) by RL Stine, *I know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, the Dark Half by Stephen King, The Dead Girlfriend (Point Horror) by RL Stine, Another by Yukito Ayatsuji, the Prom Queen (Fear Street) by RL Stine, *the Girl with all the Gifts by MR Carey

 Demons/Possession/Afterlife

Movies- the Omen (1976), Insidious (2010), the Exorcist (1973), *Christine (1983), City of Angels (1998), All Dogs go to Heaven (1989), Fallen (1998), *Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Bedazzled (2000), What Dreams May Come (1998), the Book of Life (2014), Flatliners (2017), *the Lovely Bones (2009), Coco (2017), Jennifer’s Body (2009), the Mummy (1999)

Books- *Christine by Stephen King, Needful Things by Stephen King, HECK where the bad kids go by Dale E Bayse,* Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin, Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Paradise Lost by John Milton, Inferno by Dante Alighieri, *the Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

 Monsters/Mythology/Dangerous Animals

Movies- Monsters Inc (2001), Godzilla (1998), *a Monster Calls (2016), *Jurassic Park (1993), King Kong (1933), Doug’s 1st Movie (1999), Darkness Falls (2003), Atlantis the lost empire (2001), Sinbad Legend of the Seven Seas (2003), *the Last Unicorn (1982), Urban Legend (1998), *How to Train Your Dragon (2010), the Flight of Dragons (1982), Shrek (2001), *the Hobbit (1977), Quest for Camelot (1998), Ferngully the last rainforest (1992), Lake Placid (1999), Jaws (1975), *Cujo (1983), Deep Blue Sea (1999), Anaconda (1997)

Books- *a Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, *Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, Sasquatch by Roland Smith, *the Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle, the Moorchild by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, the Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) by Rick Riordan, the Boggart by Susan Cooper, *How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville, *the Hobbit by JRR Tolkien, *Cujo by Stephen King, Cat in the Crypt (Animal Ark Hauntings) by Ben M Baglio, Congo by Michael Crichton, Watership Down by Richard Adams, the Dark Pond by Joseph Bruchac

 Dolls and Toys, Circus/Carnival/Clowns, Comedy Horror

Movies- *Coraline (2009), the Adventures of Pinocchio (1996), Child’s Play (1988), Toy Story (1995), 9 (2009), We’re Back a dinosaur’s story (1993), the Care Bears Movie (1985), Little Nemo adventures in Slumberland (1989), *Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983), *Big Top Scooby-Doo (2012), Killer Klowns from Outer Space, *IT (2017), *Beetlejuice (1988), Army of Darkness (1992), Gremlins (1984), Arachnophobia (1990), Jawbreaker (1999), Tremors (1990), the Frighteners (1996), Twilight Zone the Movie (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Eight Legged Freaks (2002), the Goonies (1985)

Books- Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell, *Coraline by Neil Gaiman, No Flying in the House by Betty Brock, Doll Bones by Holly Black, Joyland by Stephen King, *Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, *IT by Stephen King, the Cuckoo Clock of Doom (Goosebumps) by RL Stine, a Dirty Job by Christopher Moore jr, Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Treasury) by Alvin Schwartz and illustrated by Stephen Gammell, JTHM (Director’s Cut) by Jhonen Vasquez

 Gothic/Dark Fantasy, Curse/Transformation

Movies- *the Addams Family (1991), Rebecca (1940), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Mama (2013), the Phantom of the Opera (2004), Crimson Peak (2010), Legend (1985), the Dark Crystal (1982), Labyrinth (1986), *the Neverending Story (1984), *the Secret of NIMH (1982), Anastasia (1997), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Willow (1988), *the Last Unicorn (1982), the Princess Bride (1987), *Legend of the Guardians the Owls of Ga'Hoole, Beauty and the Beast (1991), the Princess and the Frog (2009), the Swan Princess (1994), the Thing (1982), the Mask (1994), Freaky Friday (2003), Song of the Sea (2014), Pirates of the Caribbean the Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Books- the Raven by Edgar Allen Poe, the Shining by Stephen King, Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark, a Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, Well Witched (Verdigris Deep) by Frances Hardinge, Poison by Chris Wooding, *the Neverending Story by Michael Ende, *Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C O'Brien, a Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz, the Dark Portal by Robin Jarvis, Zel by Donna Jo Napoli, *the Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle, *Guardians of Ga’Hoole by Kathryn Lasky, Owl in Love by Patrice Kindl

 Mystery/Thriller/Psychological/Suspense

Movies- Clue (1985), *Holes (2003), Get Out (2017), Hot Fuzz (2007), Minority Report (2002), Kidnap (2017), Saw (2004), Wind River (2017), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), the Great Mouse Detective (1986), Eve’s Bayou (1997), Breaking In (2018), Cube (1997), *Secret Window (2004), Silent Hill (2006), the Sixth Sense (1999), the Good Son (1993), Psycho (1960), Donnie Darko (2001), Fargo (1996), the Game (1997), the Invisible Man (2020), Breaking In (2018)

Books- *Holes by Louis Sachar, the Lost (the Outer Limits) by John Peel, We’ll Meet Again by Mary Higgins Clark, When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman, *Secret Window Secret Garden (Four Past Midnight) by Stephen King, House of Stairs by William Sleator, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King, Tangerine by Edward Bloor, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the Girl who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

 Sci-Fi/Space Aliens, Robots and Technology

Movies- I Robot (2004), the Iron Giant (1999), the Terminator (1984), AI artificial intelligence (2001), the Stepford Wives (2004), Wall-E (2008), *Screamers (1995), *Sphere (1998), *Blade Runner (1982), *2001 a Space Odyssey (1968), MIB (1997), Mission to Mars (2000), Galaxy Quest (1999), Alien (1979), ET the extra terrestrial (1982), Independence Day (1996), Spaced Invaders (1990), Buzz Lightyear of Star Command the Adventure Begins (2000), Chicken Little (2005), *War of the Worlds (1953), *Contact (1997), Signs (2002), Treasure Planet (2002), Frequency (2000), Back to the Future (1985), the Time Machine (1960), Planet of the Apes (1968), Lost in Space (1998)

Books- the Terminal Man by Michael Crichton, Feed by Matthew Tobin Anderson, *Second Variety (Screamers) by Phillip K Dick, *I Robot by Isaac Asimov, Cell by Stephen King, *Sphere by Michael Crichton, *Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Blade Runner) by Philip K Dick , *2001 a Space Odyssey by  Arthur C Clarke, a Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, the Dark Side of Nowhere by Neal Shusterman, *War of the Worlds by HG Wells, *Contact by Carl Sagan, Childhood’s End by Arthur C Clarke, Aliens Don’t Wear Braces (the Baily School Kids) by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Jones, the Invasion (Animorphs) by KA Applegate

 Dystopia/Disaster, Other Worlds

Movies- Waterworld (1995), the Matrix (1999), Escape from New York (1981), *Demolition Man (1993), the Day After Tomorrow (2004), Volcano (1997), the Fifth Element (1997), Titan AE (2000), Armageddon (1998), Twister (1996), the Birds (1963), the Book of Eli, (2010) Spirited Away (2001), *Alice in Wonderland (1951), Pleasantville (1998), *the Phantom Tollbooth (1970), *the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), *Hook (1991), the Pagemaster (1994), *James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Books- Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, the Road by Cormac McCarthy, the House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, 1984 by George Orwell, Armageddon Summer by Bruce Coville and Jane Yolen, the Giver by Lois Lowry, the City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, *Brave New World (Demolition Man) by Aldous Huxley, Malice by Chris Wooding, * the Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, the Golden Compass (His Dark Materials) by Philip Pullman, *The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (the Chronicles of Narnia) by CS Lewis, *James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

 Anime/Manga and J-Horror

Movies- Akira (1988), Perfect Blue (1997), Ring (1998), Dark Water (2002), Ghost in the Shell (1995), Tokyo Godfathers (2003), Cat Soup (2001), *Cowboy Bebop the Movie (2001), Blood the Last Vampire (2000), Pokemon the First Movie (1998), Sailor Moon R Promise of the Rose (1993), DBZ the World’s Strongest (1990), Digimon the Movie (2000), Ju-On (2000)

Manga- Claymore by Norihiro Yagi, Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, *Yu Yu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi, *Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa, *Blue Exorcist by Kazue Katō, *Soul Eater by Atsushi Ōkubo, *Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi,

Anime- *Yu Yu Hakusho, *Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, *Soul Eater, *Blue Exorcist, *Inuyasha, *Cowboy Bebop, Mob Psycho 100, .hack//SIGN , the Promised Neverland, Paranoia Agent, Tokyo Ghoul, Hellsing Ultimate

 Super Hero

Movies- Hellboy (2004), Ghost Rider (2007), the Incredibles (2004), Batman Beyond return of the Joker (2000), TMNT (2007), Logan (2017), Black Panther (2018), Sky High (2005), Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse (2018), Justice League Crisis on Two Earths (2010), Batman Under the Red Hood (2010)

Comics- Animal Man (New 52, 2011) DC Comics, Swamp Thing (New 52, 2011) DC Comics, BPRD Dark Waters (2012) Dark Horse Comics, Nextwave (Agents of HATE, 2006) Marvel Comics

Animated Series- Batman the Animated Series, X-Men Evolution, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003), Darkwing Duck, the Powerpuff Girls, Teen Titans (2005), Static Shock, Green Lantern the Animated Series

 Cartoons and TV shows

Over the Garden Wall, The Simpsons (Treehouse of Horrors), Regular Show (Terror Tales of the Park), Adventure Time (Stakes), Scooby-Doo Where Are You/What’s New Scooby-Doo,  El Tigre the Adventures of Manny Rivera, Phineas and Ferb (Night of the Living Pharmacists), Gravity Falls, Good Omens, Miracle Workers, Grimm, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, What We Do In the Shadows, Hotel Transylvania the series, Wolf’s Rain, Danny Phantom, Aaahh Real Monsters, the Munsters, So Weird, Tutenstein, Gargoyles, Xena Warrior Princess, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Tales from the Crypt, Goosebumps, Samurai Jack, Metalocalypse, Super Jail, My Life as a Teenage Robot, Futurama, the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, *Beetlejuice (animated series), Sabrina the Animated Series, the Owl House, Bewitched, Growing Up Creepy, the Addams Family (animated series), a Series of Unfortunate Events, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Star VS the Forces of Evil, Amphibia, Infinity Train, Penn Zero Part-Time Hero, Murder She Wrote, the Venture Bros, Avatar the Last Airbender, Invader ZIM, People of Earth, Star Trek Next Gen, Rick and Morty, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

#text #ref #movies #books #spooky #horror #creepy #movie list #book list #halloween #halloween movies #halloween books

[path-of-my-childhood]

Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ Rules for Fourth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart

Taylor Swift’s Folklore is No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for a fourth straight week, becoming the first album by a woman to spend its first four weeks at No. 1 in nearly five years (since 2015).

Folklore earned 101,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Aug. 20 (down 26%), according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. It’s the fourth straight week the set has tallied at least 100,000 units - a rarity for a non-R&B or hip-hop album.

Folklore launched at No. 1 on the chart dated Aug. 8 with 846,000 units - the biggest week of 2020, and the largest for any album since Swift’s last release, Lover, bowed at No. 1 with 867,000 units on the Sept. 7, 2019, chart.

Of Folklore’s units earned in the newest tracking week, SEA units comprise 53,000 (down 22%, equaling 70.48 million on-demand streams of the album’s songs), album sales total 46,000 (down 31%) and TEA units equal 2,000 (up 73%).

In the week ending Aug. 20, Folklore benefited from the release of a deluxe version of the album at digital retailers and streamers that added a bonus track, “The Lakes,” which was previously exclusive to the physical formats of the album. In addition, Swift dropped new merchandise/album bundles in her official webstore and sold signed Folklore CDs at independent record stores (which generated buzz with Swift fans and indie store owners).

Concurrently, three different Folklore singles are continuing to make inroads at radio. On the most recently published airplay charts (dated Aug. 22, reflecting the tracking week ending Aug. 16), former No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Cardigan” climbed 22-18 on the Pop Songs airplay chart; “Exile,” featuring Bon Iver, rose 27-29 on the Adult Alternative Songs airplay tally and “Betty” bounced 52-49 on Country Airplay.

100,000 Units in Four Weeks: As Folklore earned 101,000 equivalent album units in its fourth week, it’s just the second album in 2020 to yield at least 100,000 units in each of its first four weeks. Beginning in July, rapper Pop Smoke’s Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon also saw its first four weeks tally at least 100,000 units.

Folklore is the first non-R&B/hip-hop album to earn four weeks of 100,000-plus units since Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born soundtrack notched a fourth, and final, nonconsecutive week of 100,000-plus units on March 9, 2019. Further, Folklore is the first non-R&B/hip-hop effort to see its first four weeks each earn 100,000-plus since Swift’s own Reputation (Dec. 2-23, 2017).

First Album by a Woman to Spend Its First Four Weeks at No. 1 Since 2015: As Folklore spends a fourth week at No. 1, it becomes the first album by a woman to rule for its first four weeks since Adele’s 25 topped the list in its first seven weeks (of its total of 10 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1).

The last album by any act to spend its first four weeks at No. 1 - and the only other album to do so in 2020 aside from Folklore - was The Weeknd’s After Hours (April 4-25).

Since Adele’s 25, the only albums by women with four total weeks at No. 1 are Swift’s Reputation (four weeks; with three in a row between Dec. 2-16, 2017, and one more at No. 1 on Jan. 6, 2018) and Lady Gaga’s A Star Is Born soundtrack, with Bradley Cooper.

Bonus fun fact: Folklore is Swift's first album to spend its first four weeks at No. 1. She previously saw three albums (Red, 1989 and Speak Now) each tally their first three weeks at No. 1.

Could ‘Folklore’ Go for Five? If Folklore spends a fifth week at No. 1, it will become the first album to spend its first five weeks at No. 1 since Drake’s Scorpion (July 14-Aug. 11, 2018). Further, if Folklore nabs a fifth week in charge, it will tie Lil Baby’s My Turn for the most total weeks at No. 1 in 2020. 

#okay I was wrong about this week...but this is it. With this fandom's streaming habits - please - we should be over the moon for 4 weeks #next week if she's at 70K I think we should all be thrilled #either way that was a good run...excellent run =) especially for this kind of sound #billboard #article #taylor swift #Billboard 200 #folklore album #folklore era #breaking records #album sales #Digital sales #streaming #Artist 100

[bananaofswifts]

Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’: Album Review

It’s hard to remember any contemporary pop superstar that has indulged in a more serious, or successful, act of sonic palette cleansing than Swift has with her eighth album, a highly subdued but rich affair written and recorded in quarantine conditions.

While most of us spent the last four months putting on some variation of “the quarantine 15,” Taylor Swift has been secretly working on the “Folklore” 16. Sprung Thursday night with less than a day’s notice, her eighth album is a fully rounded collection of songs that sounds like it was years in the interactive making, not the product of a quarter-year’s worth of file-sharing from splendid isolation. Mind you, the words “pandemic hero” should probably be reserved for actual frontline workers and not topline artistes. But there’s a bit of Rosie the Riveter spirit in how Swift has become the first major pop artist to deliver a first-rank album that went from germination to being completely locked down in the midst of a national lockdown.

The themes and tone of “Folklore,” though, are a little less “We can do it!” and a little more “Can we do it?” Because this new collection is Swift’s most overtly contemplative — as opposed to covertly reflective — album since the fan favorite “Red.” Actually, that’s an understatement. “Red” seems like a Chainsmokers album compared to the wholly banger-free “Folklore,” which lives up to the first half of its title by divesting itself of any lingering traces of Max Martin-ized dance-pop and presenting Swift, afresh, as your favorite new indie-electro-folk/chamber-pop balladeer. For fans that relished these undertones of Swift’s in the past, it will come as a side of her they know and love all too well. For anyone who still has last year’s “You Need to Calm Down” primarily in mind, it will come as a jolting act of manual downshifting into actually calming down. At least this one won’t require an album-length Ryan Adams remake to convince anyone that there’s songwriting there. The best comparison might be to take “Clean,” the unrepresentative denouement of “1989,” and… imagine a whole album of that. Really, it’s hard to remember any pop star in our lifetimes that has indulged in a more serious act of sonic palette cleansing.

The tone of this release won’t come as a midnight shock to anyone who took spoilers from the announcement earlier in the day that a majority of the tracks were co-written with and produced by the National’s Aaron Dessner, or that the man replacing Panic! at the Disco’s Brendon Urie as this album’s lone duet partner is Bon Iver. No matter how much credit you may have given Swift in the past for thinking and working outside of her box, a startled laugh may have been in order for just how unexpected these names felt on the bingo card of musical dignitaries you expected to find the woman who just put out “Me!” working with next. But her creative intuition hasn’t led her into an oil-and-water collaboration yet. Dessner turns out to be an ideal partner, with as much virtuosic, multi-instrumental know-how (particularly useful in a pandemic) as the most favored writer-producer on last year’s “Lover” album, Jack Antonoff.

He, too, is present and accounted for on “Folklore,” to a slightly lesser extent, and together Antonoff and Dessner make for a surprisingly well-matched support-staff tag team. Swift’s collabs with the National’s MVP clearly set the tone for the project, with a lot of fingerpicking, real strings, mellow drum programming and Mellotrons. You can sense Antonoff, in the songs he did with Swift, working to meet the mood and style of what Dessner had done or would be doing with her, and bringing out his own lesser-known acoustic and lightly orchestrated side. As good of a mesh as the album is, though, it’s usually not too hard to figure out who worked on which song — Dessner’s contributions often feel like nearly neo-classical piano or guitar riffs that Swift toplined over, while Antonoff works a little more toward buttressing slightly more familiar sounding pop melodies of Swift’s, dressed up or down to meet the more somber-sounding occasion.

For some fans, it might take a couple of spins around the block with this very different model to become re-accustomed to how there’s still the same power under the hood here. And that’s really all Swift, whose genius for conversational melodies and knack for giving every chorus a telling new twist every time around remain unmistakable trademarks. Thematically, it’s a bit more of a hodgepodge than more clearly autobiographical albums like “Lover” and “Reputation” before it have been. Swift has always described her albums as being like diaries of a certain period of time, and a few songs here obviously fit that bill, as continuations of the newfound contentment she explored in the last album and a half. But there’s also a higher degree of fictionalization than perhaps she’s gone for in the past, including what she’s described as a trilogy of songs revolving around a high school love triangle. The fact that she refers to herself, by name, as “James” in the song “Betty” is a good indicator that not everything here is ripped from today’s headlines or diary entries.

But, hell, some of it sure is. Anyone looking for lyrical Easter eggs to confirm that Swift still draws from her own life will be particularly pleased by the song “Invisible String,” a sort of “bless the broken roads that led me to you” type song that finds fulfillment in a current partner who once wore a teal shirt while working as a young man in a yogurt shop, even as Swift was dreaming of the perfect romance hanging out in Nashville’s Centennial Park. (A quick Google search reveals that, yes, Joe Alwyn was once an essential worker in London’s fro-yo industry.) There’s also a sly bit of self-referencing as Swift follows this golden thread that fatefully linked them: “Bad was the blood of the song in the cab on your first trip to L.A.,” she sings. The “dive bar” that was first established as the scene of a meet-cute two albums ago makes a reappearance in this song, too.

As for actual bad blood? It barely features into “Folklore,” in any substantial, true-life-details way, counter to her reputation for writing lyrics that are better than revenge. But when it does, woe unto he who has crossed the T’s and dotted the I’s on a contract that Swift feels was a double-cross. At least, we can strongly suspect what or who the actual subject is of “Mad Woman,” this album’s one real moment of vituperation. “What did you think I’d say to that?” Swift sings in the opening lines. “Does a scorpion sting when fighting back? / They strike to kill / And you know I will.” Soon, she’s adding gas to the fire: “Now I breathe flames each time I talk / My cannons all firing at your yacht / They say ‘move on’ / But you know I won’t / … women like hunting witches, too.” A coup de gras is delivered: “It’s obvious that wanting me dead has really brought you two together.” It’s a message song, and the message is: Swift still really wants her masters back, in 2020. And is really still going to want them back in 2021, 2022 and 2023, too. Whether or not the neighbors of the exec or execs she is imagining really mouth the words “f— you” when these nemeses pull up in their respective driveways may be a matter of projection, but if Swift has a good time imagining it, many of her fans will too.

(A second such reference may be found in the bonus track, “The Lakes,” which will only be found on deluxe CD and vinyl editions not set to arrive for several weeks. There, she sings, “What should be over burrowed under my skin / In heart-stopping waves of hurt / I’ve come too far to watch some namedropping sleaze / Tell me what are my words worth.” The rest of “The Lakes” is a fantasy of a halcyon semi-retirement in the mountains — in which “I want to watch wisteria grow right over my bare feet / Because I haven’t moved in years” — “and not without my muse.” She even imagines red roses growing out of a tundra, “with no one around to tweet it”; fantasies of a social media-free utopia are really pandemic-rampant.)

The other most overtly “confessional” song here is also the most third-person one, up to a telling point. In “The Last Great American Dynasty,” Swift explores the rich history of her seaside manse in Rhode Island, once famous for being home to the heir to the Standard Oil fortune and, after he died, his eccentric widow. Swift has a grand old time identifying with the women who decades before her made fellow coast-dwellers go “there goes the neighborhood”: “There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen / She had a marvelous time ruining everything,” she sings of the long-gone widow, Rebekah. “Fifty years is a long time / Holiday House sat quietly on that beach / Free of women with madness, their men and bad habits / Then it was bought by me… the loudest woman this town has ever seen.” (A fine madness among proud women is another recurring theme.)

But, these examples aside, the album is ultimately less obviously self-referential than most of Swift’s. The single “Cardigan,” which has a bit of a Lana Del Rey feel (even though it’s produced by Dessner, not Del Rey’s partner Antonoff) is part of Swift’s fictional high school trilogy, along with “August” and “Betty.” That sweater shows up again in the latter song, in which Swift takes on the role of a 17-year boy publicly apologizing for doing a girl wrong — and which kicks into a triumphant key change at the end that’s right out of “Love Story,” in case anyone imagines Swift has completely moved on from the spirit of early triumphs.

“Exile,” the duet with Bon Iver, recalls another early Swift song, “The Last Time,” which had her trading verses with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol. Then, as now, she gives the guy the first word, and verse, if not the last; it has her agreeing with her partner on some aspects of their dissolution (“I couldn’t turn things around”/”You never turned things around”) and not completely on others (“Cause you never gave a warning sign,” he sings; “I gave so many signs,” she protests).

Picking two standouts — one from the contented pile, one from the tormented — leads to two choices: “Illicit Affairs” is the best cheating song since, well, “Reputation’s” hard-to-top “Getaway Car.” There’s less catharsis in this one, but just as much pungent wisdom, as Swift describes the more mundane details of maintaining an affair (“Tell your friends you’re out for a run / You’ll be flushed when you return”) with the soul-destroying ones of how “what started in beautiful rooms ends with meetings in parking lots,” as “a drug that only worked the first few hundred times” wears off in clandestine bitterness.

But does Swift have a corker of a love song to tip the scales of the album back toward sweetness. It’s not “Invisible String,” though that’s a contender. The champion romance song here is “Peace,” the title of which is slightly deceptive, as Swift promises her beau, or life partner, that that quality of tranquility is the only thing she can’t promise him. If you like your love ballads realistic, it’s a bit of candor that renders all the compensatory vows of fidelity and courage all the more credible and deeply lovely. “All these people think love’s for show / But I would die for you in secret.”

That promise of privacy to her intended is a reminder that Swift is actually quite good at keeping things close to the vest, when she’s not spilling all — qualities that she seems to value and uphold in about ironically equal measure. Perhaps it’s in deference to the sanctity of whatever she’s holding dear right now that there are more outside narratives than before in this album — including a song referring to her grandfather storming the beaches in World War II — even as she goes outside for fresh collaborators and sounds, too. But what keeps you locked in, as always, is the notion of Swift as truth-teller, barred or unbarred, in a world of pop spin. She’s celebrating the masked era by taking hers off again.

Taylor Swift “Folklore” Republic Records

#taylor swift #folklore #review

[crikeymiles]

I’ve been working on some Epic tanks because they are cute.

I was repairing the Brass Scorpion at the front and got inspired to make these guys on the right from 1989 plastic rhinos. I think they count as Chaos Predators, given they are mini-guns on rhino chassis.

The colour scheme is going to be a simply brass. I haven’t decided on the details or spot colour yet. I'm using red, green, blue and purple to subtly denote squadrons as aligned to each god, without varying the paint scheme too much.

Paint recipe so far is a black undercoat; heavy drybrush of Brass Scorpion; light drybrush of Ironbreaker; wash of Sepia.

#warhammer 40k #painting