#song quote: Second Time by Bruno Major | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

honeyopinion · 3 years

Text

20/20 Albums of the Year

Circles by Mac Miller | Hip-Hop, Soul, Funk Released: January 17, 2020

Best Album For... Pouring One Out for Mac

I wrote a few different drafts of this album summary, and none of them felt like they really fit the impossibly large bill of accurately describing the posthumous importance or brilliance of this album. If you are a fan of hip-hop or soul music of any kind, try to give this piece of work a chance. I for one, used to judge Mac based on his early frat rap days in the late 2000s. But a decade later he came to leave the world with one of the most surprising and frankly impressive artistic evolutions that I’ve been able to witness in real time. RIP Mac.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Circles” or “Everybody”

Marigold by Pinegrove | Alternative Country and Folk Rock Released: January 17, 2020

Best Album For… Passing Through a Small Town on a Cloudy Winter Day

Pinegrove was one of the last great concerts I got to experience before the pandemic. And it was my favorite performance of theirs from the last 6 years of seeing them play live. Is this my favorite album of theirs? Honestly, it’s not. But I still find it extremely enjoyable, and the memory of seeing these songs performed live, along with some of their classics, was enough for me to include it on this list. This is an album that marks Pinegrove’s exit from their pop punk roots. It’s still sentimental, but much more country and folk rock focused vs. anything trying to be associated with emo or punk.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora Start With: “The Alarmist” or “No Drugs”

Watch This Liquid Pour Itself by Okay Kaya | Synth Pop, Art Rock, Folk Released: January 24, 2020

Best Album For… Crywanking at 3am, Bathed in The Dull Light of Your Overheating Laptop

What if Feist and Father John Misty had a secret love child? They might sound something like Okay Kaya. Self proclaimed “Singer ~ Crywanker,” Okay Kaya brings serious BDE to weirdo art pop that she seems like she could be a plant from the mind of Nathan Fielder. Kaya delivers with such deadpan precision as she rolls out line after line of sarcastic joy, staring blankly at our dystopian reality. “Here I am, the whole world is my daddy,” “Netflix and yeast infection,” “Sex with me is mediocre,” “I just want us to do well like Jon Bon Jovi’s Rosê,” and, “My parasite and I are blushing / In the zero interaction ramen bar,” are just a few examples of some of her memorable and biting lyrics. The entire album is both a critique and nihilistic fondness for the absurdity of our lonely technological society, not quite sure how to deal with taboos like repressed female sexuality, depression, and codependency.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Baby Little Tween” or “Asexual Wellbeing”

UNLOCKED by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats | Hip-Hop Released: February 7, 2020

Best Album For... Nodding Your Damn Head To, Feeling Cooler Than You Actually Are

I had to double check that this was an album. Clocking in under 20 minutes, this collection of songs feels more like an EP, especially with the track titles that purposefully look like file names and placeholders. But for a short album, Denzel wastes no time, furiously zigging and zagging effortlessly over Kenny Beats’ 90s New York-indebted production (ad libs and all). Kenny pulls out samples of an array of pop culture references made by Denzel (like quotes from movies and weapon sound effects like a lightsaber) — as he rotates his flow between admirable impressions of DMX, Nas, and Joey Bada$$.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “So.Incredible.pkg” or “DIET_”

Cardboard City by Zack Villere | Pop, Electronic, R&B Released: February 14, 2020

Best Album For… Pal-ing Around With Your Friends From High School, Maybe Quoting Superbad At The Same Time

The first time I watched a music video from Zack Villere, I noticed the top comment said: “how did frank ocean get trapped in mark zuckerberg.” And while that definitely gets at the heart of how Zack Villere presents himself, he is not a phenomenal singer like Frank Ocean is, nor does he come off as an asshole like Mark Zuckerberg does. I would say that he is just a slightly awkward nerdy white guy who loves hip-hop production and R&B melodies. So the better question is really, “how did drake get trapped in michael cera?” This premise should not work at all, but somehow it does. This is only Villere’s second album, but he shows some serious production and songwriting chops, plus a commitment to his delivery that comes across as genuine, charming, and unique.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Grateful” or “Superhero Strength”

The Slow Rush by Tame Impala | Psych Rock, Synth Pop, Disco Released: February 14, 2020

Best Album For... Throwing a Silent Disco For One

Tame Impala continues on their now 10 year streak of psych rock dominance. Along the way we’ve seen Kevin Parker master and stretch the boundaries of psychedelic production. This has resulted in his music coming as close to sounding like the best aspects of The Beatles, while also expanding into hip hop drums, R&B hooks, plus more and more electronic elements. This is an album that I was not super impressed with when it initially came out, but as we entered the pandemic and were tasked with finding small joys in staying at home all the time, I found myself going back to this album and appreciating the themes of solitude and self reflection that Parker has drawn from throughout his career.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Posthumous Forgiveness” or “One More Hour”

1988 by Knxwledge | Hip-Hop Released: March 27, 2020

Best Album For... Pumping Your Brakes and Driving Slow, Uh *Homie* Although this album is named after a year in the 80s, the sound here is a perfect portal back to 90s golden era hip-hop, with all the gospel, soul samples, and the kind of deep bass you want to feel in your chest. This is the rare, largely instrumental hip-hop album that I find myself going back to, other than works from the legendary J Dilla and MF Doom. Knxwledge is good friends and a frequent collaborator with Anderson .Paak (in the form of NxWorries). Here we get Anderson to grace us with his presence on the track “itkanbe[sonice]”, and of course it sounds just like an authentic vintage soul sample. When I hear this collection of songs it makes me wish I still had a car, so I could inevitably damage my speakers listening to this.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “dont be afraid” or “thats allwekando.”

Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa | Pop, R&B, Funk, Disco Released: March 27, 2020 Best Album For... Alarming Your Pet With Your Enthusiastic Lip Syncing

This album is a pure sugar rush. Like Bruno Mars with the help of Mark Ronson, or Calvin Harris a few years ago, Dua has harnessed a nostalgia (it’s even in the title, wink) for disco, funk and R&B, and is instantly a sexy, catchy, not-so-guilty pleasure. It’s sad that the majority of these songs are all bonafide club hits that didn’t have a proper home this year … except for my living room. And hopefully yours.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Pretty Please” or “Future Nostalgia”

Hold Space For Me by Orion Sun | Alternative R&B and Hip-Hop Released: March 27, 2020

Best Album For... Wishing Frank Ocean Was Your Dad

“Alternative R&B” is a contentious term, but what else would you call one of a few R&B singers cool enough to make it onto (NYC indie darlings) Mom+Pop Records?? On one hand, she brings the vulnerable and introverted lyrics of an indie singer songwriter like Tracey Chapman, crossed with the raw presence and sweet melodic delivery of a true R&B star like Aaliyah. I’d even go far enough to refer to her as the musical stepchild of Frank Ocean and SZA.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Ne Me Quitte Pass (Don’t Leave Me)” or “Lightning”

You and Your Friends by Peach Pit | Indie Rock and Dream Pop Released: April 3, 2020

Best Album For... Going Back To Your College Town To Crash A Party

Peach Pit seem like they would be cool dudes to hang out with. You have no problem picturing them as the band playing a house show in an indie movie about college kids. And that’s because there’s a familiarity to the scenes that their songs portray, of stumbling through your 20s, either being too dumb or having too much fun to notice. It’s funny to refer to this as “Indie” rock since this is Peach Pit’s major label debut with Columbia Records. But It has all the trappings of Indie; sticky melodies, gentle reverb, an “I’m not trying that hard” vibe, and lyrics that are oddly specific enough to be interesting, but still vague enough to be relatable.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Feelin’ Low (Fuckboy Blues)” or “Shampoo Bottles”

Heaven To a Tortured Mind by Yves Tumor | Psych Rock, Indie Pop, Post-Punk, Alternative R&B, Experimental Electronic Released: April 3, 2020

Best Album For... Tearing Up The Fucking Dance Floor With Your Hot Robot Girlfriend

If Tyler the Creator, Alex G, King Krule, and Blood Orange all got into the studio together and dropped a shit ton of acid on Halloween, their recording session might sound something like Heaven To a Tortured Mind… And even then, you still might have trouble putting your finger on exactly what you’re hearing. “Dream Palette” is a good reference track for Tumor’s most wild and mesmerizing qualities. The biggest styles of the past half century of music have been loaded into this gleefully effective genre blender, with blades of dissonance slicing everything up, creating a surrealist sonic smoothie.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Super Stars” or “Dream Palette”

The New Abnormal by The Strokes | Indie Rock, Dirtbag Disco, Synth Pop Released: April 10, 2020

Best Album For... Mixing Yourself Another Drink This Saturday Night

Back from the dead, The Strokes return with their first album in 7 years to turn some heads and settle back into some old habits. The charming messy haired garage rock of the early 2000s still pops up here and there, but this is really a record where the group is mature enough to show you that they actually are trying, and are unafraid to take joyous swings for the fences. Julian Casablancas pushes his scratchy alley cat yelp of a voice into something more vulnerable, sunny, and sweet, like he asked for a piña colada (you know, with one of those little umbrellas) instead of a double shot of scotch before hopping up on stage… Or maybe he did both. But these days, everyone is looking for some sort of break from our groundhog day lives any way that we can. Sometimes that sounds like selling out, or depending on how you look at it, stepping up. This album is the result of a group of old friends who got together to make music they simply want to make for themselves. Now far removed from the 2000s New York scene where their younger selves were acting too cool and disaffected to care about having fun.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Eternal Summer” or “The Adults Are Talking”

The Loves of Your Life by Hamilton Leithauser | Indie Rock and Alternative Country Released: April 10, 2020

Best Album For... Drinking Down At The Docks, Watching The Sun Set

While I am a fan of The Walkmen, I have no idea what their frontman Hamilton Leithauser looks like or how he dresses. But hearing these songs off of his latest solo, I imagine the following: a member of Mumford and Sons if they were edgy and cooler, giving off a “cowboy rocker meets depression-era dock worker” aesthetic. That’s exactly how his music comes off to me. It’s a convincing blend of blues rock, Americana, and old timey country music. All expertly narrated by dusty country guitars and standup bass, tarnished horns and flutes, and what I imagine to be a restored saloon piano. The Loves of Your Life originally started as a collection of short stories, each about characters based on both people he knew and strangers. Leithauser then wrote the music separately, and finally came to mix and match their parts together in a surprisingly convincing fashion to create the album.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Wack Jack” or “Cross-Sound Ferry (Walk-On Ticket)”

What Kinda Music by Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes | Neo-Soul, Electronic, Hip-Hop

Released: April 24, 2020

Best Album For... Cooking For Someone You’re In Love With

Exactly what kind of music do Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes make? It’s orchestral, it’s jazz-infused, it’s hip-hop beats joined with gentle soul. It’s a little sexy, it’s a little mysterious, and you’re going to want to listen to it a whole lot. That’s it. That’s what kind of music it is! Send tweet.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “What Kinda Music” or “Storm Before The Calm”

Petals For Armor by Hayley Williams | Electronic Pop and Art Rock Released: May 8, 2020

Best Album For... Browsing Depop for Your Next 80s Normcore ‘Fit

Hayley, Hayley, Hayley. You are too good for this wretched world!! After exploring more adventurous sounds and genre hopping over the last few Paramore records, Hayley decided to go out on her own. This really frees herself from the expectations that come along with being the face and heart of a wildly popular band for the last 15+ years. Thom Yorke fans rejoice, because Hayley Williams has a clear admiration for Radiohead’s haunting indie electronic vibe, while emoting some pain and darkness atop her love for 80s pop and art rock (think Genesis, Devo, The Talking Heads). This is a promising new avenue for Hayley to explore herself and process her pain and desire completely on her own. I see this new project of hers only blooming further from here.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Simmer” or “Sudden Desire”

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately by Perfume Genius | Indie Pop and Art Rock Released: May 15, 2020

Best Album For... Daydreaming That You Were Somewhere Else

For his 5th studio album, Perfume Genius enlists production wizard and guitar god Blake Mills, along with Grammy Award-winning arranger and multi-instrumentalist Rob Moose to create a beautiful swirling mosaic of 80s pastel pop that also packs serious classic rock grandeur. Bass guitar dances between satin smooth lines on one song to churning distorted currents on the next. Sparkling string arrangements and organs bleed together to expose a fading sunset that you’ll want to try and hold in your hands to keep it in sight. Perfume Genius is unafraid to challenge traditional masculinity, packing a 21st century queer machismo into both the quiet moments and jubilant explosions.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Without You” or “Describe”

græ by Moses Sumney | Indie Pop, Art Rock, Neo-Soul, Psychic Folk Released: May 15, 2020

Best Album For... Astral Projection 101

I mean this in the best way possible, but I think that Moses Sumney is a witch. Or maybe a wizard? There’s no other reasonable explanation for the level of creativity and wonder that he summons. This album feels like a private concert by a waterfall (similar to one on the cover), with ethereal pleas, and heavy ideas—like meditating on what lies beyond the constraints of the physical self and reconsidering how well we can actually trust memory and the mind. Sumney layers his voice to create the effect of a ghostly choir, accented by a stark intimidating falsetto that reverberates through the ruins of an abandoned temple where Sumney is the only one in attendance.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Cut Me” or “Polly”

WILL THIS MAKE ME GOOD by Nick Hakim | Psychedelic Neo-Soul Released: May 15, 2020

Best Album For... Playing Pool in a Hazy Dive Bar

Nick Hakim is a silky smooth smokey crooner who paints with warbly piano loops, dreamy reverb-heavy guitar, boom bap beats—not to mention a falsetto that would make Smokey Robinson jealous. Clearly a fan of Motown and 60s jazz, Hakim could be considered a peer of Thunder Cat and Anderson .Paak’s to a degree. I remember seeing him perform at Music Hall of Williamsburg a few years ago. The performance ended with him falling down on stage (presumably from being under the influence of multiple substances). But while the song continued he popped back up and belted an impressive high note like it was nothing, drink in hand. And it’s that kind of messy beauty that also makes this album so engrossing. Like watching the eye of the storm get closer and closer, but unable to look away from the sheer magnetism that nature can wield.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora Start With: “All THESE CHANGES” or “ALL THESE INSTRUMENTS”

RTJ4 by Run The Jewels | Hip-Hop Released: June 3, 2020

Best Album For... Making Your Next Protest Sign

Run The Jewels’ fourth outing might be the most unapologetically angry rap album in the “fuck this” year of 2020. And it reminded me that I should absolutely still be furious about everything that happened during this groundbreaking yet terrifyingly familiar year: country wide protests over the continued murder of innocent black people at the hands of the police, government drone strikes and detaining kids in cages, the state of our environment worsening—and that’s not even addressing the pandemic or election. Killer Mike and El-P are here to scream from the rooftops that our current system of cutthroat capitalism and white supremacy is killing the planet and its inhabitants, and I’m glad that they’re using their platform to continue to sound the alarm.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “out of sight” or “ooh la la”

Your Hero Is Not Dead by Westerman | New Wave Revival and Indie Pop Released: June 5, 2020 Best Album For... Wanting Your Old School MTV

The cover of Westerman’s first proper album is mostly black and white, except for the title, which is scrawled out in lettering which spans the Crayola color spectrum. It’s an album that on the surface is cold and buttoned up, but when these choruses open up, the maximalist 80s power pop bursts like the bulbs of a neon sign. There’s a level of even-keeled cool and confidence in small moments on display here that makes this relatively new artist seem well beyond his years. Having seen him play at Rough Trade a few years ago (opening up for the stellar Puma Blue), the songwriting growth on display on this record is impressive. I’m only sad that there wasn’t an opportunity to have seen him play these new songs live.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Easy Money” or “Confirmation (SSBD)”

Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers | Indie Rock and Alternative Country Released: June 18, 2020

Best Album For... Burning Incense and Breaking Out a Ouija Board to Talk to The Ghost of Your Former Self

This is without a doubt, a career defining release for Phoebe. Taking everything she’s learned from writing, performing, and touring with the likes of Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker (in boygenius), and Conor Oberst (in Better Oblivion Community Center), Bridgers levels up to become the truly prolific singer-songwriter she’s been telling us she would always be. Bridgers has explained her personal definition of “a punisher” as a well meaning person who’s, “just talking to you and they don’t realize that your eyes are glazed over and you’re trying to escape.” Vital to understanding this album and its central message is that Phoebe finds herself caught between the contradiction of falling victim to this phenomenon while also doing it herself, especially if she ever met her musical idol, Elliott Smith. Punisher serves as a warning to her audience that if you focus too much on trying to find yourself through other people (via escaping through fandom, drugs, toxic relationships), you’ll always feel lost and dissatisfied, without the proper self awareness to ever quite know why.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Garden Song” or “ICU”

Women In Music Pt. III by HAIM | Rock, Pop, Folk, R&B Released: June 26, 2020

Best Album For... Preparing For A Better 2021, lol

With this album, HAIM skyrocketed to the #1 position of family bands that start with an “H.” Sorry, Hanson! But seriously, HAIM has outdone themselves on this one. If there was one album from this list that I would dub my personal AOTY, this would be it. You might wince at any tracklist longer than 10-12 songs these days (I know I usually do), but almost every song proves itself worthy, pulling at a different thread of my heart until there’s nothing left. Sunshine State Beach Pop? Check. Blues Tinged Dad Rock? Yup! Dive Bar Country? Mmhmm! No, wait, what’s that you say, Glitched-Out R&B? Yes, yes, and yes. You can have it all, sister! ‘Cause when you’re Haim, you’re family! ;) And these three “women in music” continue to prove that they are just about the best Assorted Pop Rocks(™) act in the world right now.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “I’ve Been Down” or “Don’t Wanna”

Lianne La Havas by Lianne La Havas | Neo-Soul and Indie Pop Released: July 17, 2020

Best Album For... Sipping Coffee and Journaling on a Weekend Morning

This album exudes a warm vulnerability, like a comforting hug we all needed this year. On her third album, Lianne La Havas makes the risky decision to self title it, a move that artists make when they believe that it is the piece of work that they most want most directly associated with their name. It’s one thing to name your first album after yourself if you can’t think of anything else at the time, but to make a self titled album in the middle of your career, it means that you are sure about having captured who you really are and who you want people to remember you as. “If I love myself, I know I can't be no one else,” La Havas admits on the standout track, “Paper Thin.” She knows that she will meet her destiny and reach self actualization, but only through self love. And finally, I cannot overstate how breathtaking La Havas’s voice comes across on this album. The strength and control on display in her vocal tone and vibrato is quite a spectacle.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Paper Thin” or “Sour Flower”

Limbo by Aminé | Hip-Hop and R&B Released: August 7, 2020

Best Album For... Trying and Get Over Kanye With

On Limbo, Aminé establishes himself as one of the torchbearers of soul-sampling, lyrics-driven hip-hop that still cares about storytelling, skits, and presenting vocals clearly. Kanye West, Drake, and J. Cole all paved the way for someone from the next generation like Aminé to keep the dream alive and avoid succumbing to the “feel good, don’t think” form of passive listening that mumble rap has made the standard for mainstream hip-hop.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Pressure In My Palms” or “My Reality”

Shore by Fleet Foxes | Folk and Indie Rock Released: September 22, 2020

Best Album For... Running Along The Beach With Your Arms Stretched Out

It was really kind of Robin Pecknold and co. to have released an album this triumphant, calming, and awe-inspiring during the year of our Lorde 2020. On behalf of myself and anyone else who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, the SAD people of the world really needed this, man. And to anyone who is quick to judge these beard-o’s of being boring, you’re simply not using your ears properly. Yeah, you know those two things on either side of your head? Get the gunk out of them! That way you’ll hear the choir of angels with acoustic guitars who are here to guide us through quarantine and beyond.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Pandora

Start With: “Can I Believe You” or “A Long Way Past The Past”

Listen to all of these albums together in our playlist.

4 notes · View notes

fooled-around-and-fell · 5 years

Text

Always on My Mind

Summary: Jake was now a famous singer/song writer. One day, he decided to take an old route home and found himself fixing his past.

Genre: angst, romance

Pairing: Jake Gyllenhaal x female reader

Warnings: Abusive relationship, suicide attempt, swearing

a/n: I’m quoting Bruno Major’s song here to take in as Jake’s song. Just letting y’all know :) Also, this is written mostly on Jake’s point of view. I hope you guys enjoy :)

Jake still couldn’t believe what’s happening in his life. After years of struggling and having only a few bucks in his pocket, he finally made it. He released his song online a year ago and it went viral.

It’s been a little more than year now, and Jake couldn’t be happier. He had just finished a recording session for his next album which he also wrote himself, and now he’s heading off to a TV show. The Tonight Show, to be exact.

“And now, please welcome our very first guest. He’s a newfound musician and it’s his first time here, please welcome, Jake Gyllenhaal!”

Jake stepped out to the stage with a huge grin on his face. He gave Jimmy Fallon, the host a hug before sitting down on the couch.

“Thank you, thank you.” Jake smiled, “Thanks for having me.”

“So, Jake, it’s your first time here, man.” Jimmy said.

Jake chuckled, “yeah, it is. I have to say, you have the loveliest audience.”

The crowd cheered. Jimmy then pulled up something under his desk and showed it to everyone, “so this is your album. All of the songs are written and produced by you, correct?”

“Well not all of them, the lyrics and basic piano melody is written by me. I had help from other musicians as well to make this happen.” Jake explained. “I also put some song covers that I thought would go well with the other songs.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Hold on,” Jimmy narrowed his eyes, “so there are also songs that you covered in this album?”

Jake nodded, “yeah, man. My songs are only the first half. The second half are old songs that I covered.”

“Oh,” Jimmy realized and laughed at himself. “I thought they just happen to have the same titles. But anyway, uh, tell us more about your album. What’s the inspiration behind this? How you came up with it?”

Jake smiled at the memories and fixed his position. “Wow, you’re really taking me back here.” Jake chuckled, “It’s uh, there’s this girl-”

The crowd cheered even more and Jimmy rested his head on his hands, as if hearing a fairy tale.

“-who was my neighbor,” Jake sighed as he continued, “she was my neighbor and I thought she was very pretty, and she’s very nice. And in the brink of my struggles, she kinda helped me see the light. We knew each other better then and I uh... I wrote songs about her.”

Jimmy gasped inaudibly and the crowd cheered again. “No way. So you’re telling me, all of these songs are about her?”

Jake nodded sheepishly.

“Dude,” Jimmy looked at him in awe, “You got issues.”

Jake laughed along with him and shrugged, “or maybe just a stalker.”

“Or just a stalker, yeah.” Jimmy laughed. “Wow, she must be one lucky woman. To have someone who’s capable of expressing their feelings into words like you.”

“What? Oh no, we’re not together.” Jake cleared up. “She had a boyfriend.”

“Oh,” Jimmy said sullenly, “then you really do have issues.”

After the show, Jake was finally done for the day. It was already night time when he finished his part, and he couldn’t wait to go to his apartment and just sleep. But as he got in his car, his stomach suddenly grumbled, hungry for something to digest and Jake knew exactly what he wanted at that time; chocolate milkshake. And there’s only one good place he knew that made the best chocolate shakes.

Jake turned his car around and drove his way back to where he was a year ago. It’s a quiet neighborhood, not a lot going on, but left and right were small apartment complexes and small diners. Thankfully, it wasn’t too late that everything had closed.

Jake stepped out of his car and went into the diner, the young man who was on the cash register immediately recognized who he was.

“Jake G! Man, it’s been a long time since I saw you!” He gave Jake a fist bump. “How you been?”

“I’ve been great, Donny. How’s your mom?” Jake asked.

“She’s doing great. She’s in the kitchen- let me call her for ya. Hey mom! Look who it is!” Donny yelled over, making his mom raise her head and grin when she saw Jake.

“Jake! Oh my, it’s good to see you. But have you lost weight? You look so thin!” She said, “Go sit down, son. I’ll cook up something for you.”

“Oh no, Mrs. Johnson. I just came here for-”

“The milkshake? I know honey.” She chuckled, “now go sit down!”

Smiling, Jake sat himself on one of the chairs while looking around. It was just as how he remembered it. It made him think if Y/N was still living in the same place, since they stopped talking since last year.

“You’re moving out?”

Jake stopped in his tracks and put a forced smile on. “Yeah.”

Y/N frowned and leaned against her door. “Today?”

Jake nodded. He didn’t know why he didn’t tell her- oh, of course he knew why. He wanted to hurt her. Not physically, but emotionally. Jake had confessed the other night, hoping that after all they’d been through, Y/N could finally move on and be happy with Jake instead of her ex.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t think it mattered.” Jake shrugged.

Y/N scoffed. “Didn’t think it mattered? Jake, we’re friends. I think I should know that when I knock on your door, you’re not gonna be there anymore.”

Jake rolled his eyes and continued to move boxes to the truck downstairs. Y/N followed him down and kept arguing.

“Jake, do you really have to move today? I mean, I understand that your career is finally taking off, I’m happy for you. But can’t you go tomorrow? At least let me say a proper goodbye?” Y/N plead, her eyes were evidently holding tears back. “Look, just because I can’t reciprocate your feelings right now, doesn’t mean that we can’t be friends, right?”

Jake sighed and dropped the box in his hands into the truck. “Y/N, I just don’t understand. You know how I feel for you for a long time. You know I care about you, you know that I’m always here for you. But I can’t wait for too long. I have to move forward, too....and I don’t think I can do that if we remain friends.”

“So this is it?” Y/N asked, her voice breaking. “After this, I’m not gonna hear from you? You’re just gonna pretend I don’t exist?”

Jake gulped and shrugged. “I guess so.”

“...fine.” She clenched her fists. “I hope you’ll get what you’ve always wanted, Gyllenhaal.”

Jake’s flashback was interrupted by the delicious smell of Mrs. Johnson’s waffles and a big glass of chocolate milkshake right in front of him. “This all smells and looks so good. Thank you, Mrs. Johnson.” Jake let out a satisfied groan as he took a bite of that waffle.

“Always a pleasure, Jake.”

As he took a second bite, Jake suddenly remembered the night Y/N saved his life. It was the moment when he realized there’s some people out there that cared about him, that he could trust.

Y/N had just returned from work. It was stressful, painful and honestly, she dreaded coming home even more. She had a bagful of Mrs. Johnson’s waffles and two milkshakes, ready to eat all by herself just before her son-of-a-bitch boyfriend came back.

Just as she was about to go inside the building, Y/N noticed a shadow from above. She didn’t think much of it at first, but then she realized she kinda knew who it was. And why was he standing so close to the edge- oh my god. Y/N raced to the rooftop while she told the desk lady to call 911.

Once she arrived at the rooftop, Jake nearly jumped at the noise. He should’ve jumped sooner, he thought to himself. But wait, he knew this girl. It’s his neighbor - what’s she doing here?

“H-Hey! You’re... Jake, right? My neighbor?”

Jake looked at her confusingly, but slowly nodded.

“Um...wha-what’s your last name?”

“...Gyllenhaal.”

Y/N nodded and waved her hand, “Hi, Jake Gyllenhaal. I’m uh, Y/N Y/L/N. Nice to meet you.”

Jake only stayed quiet and glanced at the ground below him.

“You know, it’s going to be a really hard fall.” She commented, making Jake look at her again.

“Living seems worse.”

Y/N approached him little by little when he wasn’t looking. “You sound like you’ve thought this through.”

Jake chuckled. “Hundreds of times.”

“So why now?”

Jake sighed and sat down, letting his legs dangle off the edge. “Just can’t handle it anymore. And I hate that you talking me out of this is working.”

Y/N smiled a little at his remark and sat beside him. “Maybe Mrs. Johnson’s milkshake and waffles too?”

Jake raised an eyebrow. “Chocolate milkshake?”

“Obviously.” Y/N scoffed and handed him a glass. “She makes the best milkshakes, doesn’t she?”

Jake nodded. “Yes she does. So what’s next?” He asked, “you’re gonna tell me it’s all gonna be okay? That the future is bright? Or that you know how it feels?”

“Depends on what your problem is.” Y/N said, sipping her own milkshake.

“How about I’m trash, my music is trash and my life is trash?” Jake offered. “You know how it feels?”

“No, but I have heard you sing.” She said, “I think you have a really nice voice.”

Jake shook his head. “You’re just saying that because you have to.”

Y/N let out a little laugh. “I think you have a good voice, Jake Gyllenhaal. So accept my compliment before I take it back.”

“Okay, okay. Thanks.” Jake chuckled and turned around so his legs were no longer swaying. “I should probably just give up the dream of being a singer. I’m never gonna make it.”

Y/N put her milkshake down and looked at him. “Do you want to give up?”

“Are you kidding? Of course not.. but I have to be realistic. I just don’t have what it takes.” Jake said.

Y/N stayed quiet for a while, just sipping her milkshake while she sat next to Jake, who was now rethinking of that suicide attempt-

“Tried to tell him there’s pain here and suffering too, tried to pray but the angels said ‘we’re too busy for you’...” Y/N sang.

Jake looked at her wide-eyed, it was the first time anyone has ever sang one of his songs. But where did she hear it from anyway? “How did you... where did you...”

“Walls are thin, my friend.” Y/N smiled. “So what goes after that? I couldn’t hear you, it was kind of muffled.”

Jake chuckled, no longer thinking about ending his life as he began singing the rest of the song to her that night.

Without him realizing, Jake had followed his old footsteps home and found himself in front of Y/N’s door. He’s been standing there for a few minutes now. Not knowing what to do. Last time they spoke... it was obvious neither of them wanted anything to do with each other anymore. So what now?

Jake decided to turn around and forget about it. Just as he was, Y/N’s door opened and their eyes met. Y/N nearly dropped the trash she was about to throw away if it weren’t for Jake who helped her put it down gently.

“H-Hi.” Jake started.

“What are you doing here?”

Jake shut his mouth and gulped. He deserved that. “I just uh... I was in the neighborhood and.. thought I’d say hi.”

Y/N kept her gaze low and let her hair cover her vision. “We’re not friends. You don’t need to do that-”

“I know, I know.” Jake sighed. “I just... I want to apologize for what happened a year ago. I was heartbroken and immature. I should’ve told you that I was moving-”

“Hey babe, who’s this?” Jake’s sentence was cut off by a man, suddenly circling his arms around Y/N tightly. A man named Alex, Y/N’s disgusting ex, or so Jake had renamed him.

Y/N swallowed thickly and hugged herself. “It’s- It’s no one-”

“Oh, I remember you.” Alex said. “You’re the one who took Y/N away from me. Well guess what, asshole? We’re together again, and we’re happier than ever. Am I right, sweetheart?”

Y/N nodded mindlessly, avoiding Jake’s judgmental eyes.

“You went back to him? Y/N, what-” Jake was about to question her when he finally took in her appearance. She hasn’t been taking care of herself. Her hair was too long for her liking, she was unhealthily skinny, there were bags under her eyes and she’s wearing a long sleeved shirt and sweatpants when it’s like a thousand degrees outside?? Jake glared at Alex. “Listen, you bastard, you get the hell away from her now. You hurt her-”

“Whoa, that’s a big accusation there.” Alex scoffed, “For all I know, you’re the one barging in here and pointing fingers at me, claiming that you’re friends with Y/N when you’re clearly not, right baby?”

Jake looked at him unbelievably and frowned. “Y/N, you need to leave him now.”

“We’re not friends.” Y/N mumbled, avoiding Jake’s eyes again.

Jake clenched his jaw. It hurt him to hear you say that, but he knew it was just an act so that Alex wouldn’t hit her later. Which meant, he needed to visit her when he’s away. “Fine. FINE. I’ll leave.”

Alex only spared him a cocky scoff and shut the door in his face, immediately turning Y/N to face him.

Jake didn’t hear any plates smashing or hitting from inside, so he left to come back the next day. Hopefully, you’d be in the right mind to talk to him.

As Jake got into his car and drove off, he kept silently cursing at himself for leaving you behind like that. He should’ve known Alex would come right back to her and hit her again, if not worse.

“Y/N, please talk to me. You’ve been acting weird for the past month if not more and you look like you haven’t slept!” Jake visited her at the store the other day.

“Jake, I’m just...not feeling well.” Y/N said. “It’s been a difficult here at the store. I just need to get some rest and I’m-”

“Stop lying, Y/N.” Jake stood in front of her, looking at her eyes, begging her to tell him what’s wrong. “I can help.”

Y/N stared back at his brown eyes. Jake was the single best thing that’s ever happened to her. Although how they got closer was on unfortunate situations, Jake had been nothing but supportive in her life. So maybe, maybe she could tell him this one.

“Tell me what’s bothering you.”

Y/N swallowed and looked down. “It’s Alex.” She said, “He’s been... he’s been....”

Jake frowned. “What is it?”

“He’s been hitting me.”

Jake visited Y/N’s flower shop the next day. She was inside, rearranging the flowers on the display while wearing long sleeves. Jake’s suspicion was correct all along.

He had cleared his schedule for the day, claiming that he’s been too busy and needed some time off. When really, he needed answers on why on earth would Y/N be stupid enough to take Alex back? Alex, the Alex that beat her up almost everyday, until Jake could hear her scream from his apartment room every night.

He would’ve stopped him if it weren’t for her begging him not to. But of course, he had his limits too. He couldn’t watch some bastard hit the girl he loved any longer.

Y/N tried desperately to get Jake to leave, insisting that when Alex came back, he’d kill Jake. But Jake was relentless. He wasn’t going to leave until he made sure Alex wouldn’t come back.

“Jake, please-”

“No.” Jake said, “enough is enough. He can’t treat you like this anymore. You deserve so much more than him.”

Y/N was getting antsy. They had called the cops a few minutes ago, and Alex was about to arrive home right about now, but she couldn’t hear the police sirens yet.

“I’m scared.” Y/N admitted.

Jake stood up and held her shoulders firmly. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m right here with you. We’ll get him, Y/N.”

She nodded and took a deep breath. “I’m glad you’re here with me, Jake.”

“Me too.” Jake pulled her in for a hug and he could feel her nervousness. He was nervous too, but he couldn’t show it. He needed to be strong now than ever.

Jake opened the door to her flower shop and he was greeted with the one scent he would never forget. Lavenders. It was a thing she loved; the color, the scent, the flower.

“I’ll be with you in just a minute!” He heard her say from the back. Jake wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans and put his hands in his pocket.

A few moments after, she came out of the storage. “Hi, sorry to keep you waiting.... oh my god, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Y/N-”

“What are you doing here now, Jake?”

Jake gulped, his throat suddenly dry. “I just... I wanted to see you.. and talk to you..”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” She said. Truth be told, it’s not that Y/N wasn’t happy to see Jake. But if Alex found out... “We’re not friends, Jake.”

Jake sighed and looked at her bruised wrists she desperately tried to hide. “He’s hurting you again. Don’t try to deny it.”

Y/N tugged her sleeves down. “It’s..none of your business.”

“The hell it isn’t.” Jake said. “Why are you back with him again?”

Y/N scoffed and pushed past him to busy herself with her flowers. “You can’t expect me to answer that, Jake. I don’t owe you an explanation.”

“We sent him to prison because he was hurting you and now he’s back and you’re not gonna do anything about it?!” Jake was getting frustrated. What the hell happened to the Y/N he knew?

“You don’t get to say that!” She pushed him. “Not after what you did! You walked out on me a year ago, don’t expect me to welcome you right back just because now you’re famous, Gyllenhaal. You walked out on us.”

“Us-” Jake released a frustrated sigh while running his hands through his hair. “There was no us to begin with- okay, you know what? I was hurt and immature. I apologize for that, but how the hell do you expect me to just remain friends with you?? You, who I’ve been in love with for the past... years! Years!”

Y/N shoved the handful of lavenders to him. “I just got out of a toxic relationship. I needed time before I could... jump on another man! And I was talking about our friendship! We’ve been friends for years and just because I told you I couldn’t date anyone back then, you decided you didn’t want to be my friend anymore!”

“Oh, sure!” Jake shouted back, “couldn’t date anyone? Look at you now! Back in the arms of the person who nearly killed you!”

Y/N took the lavenders back and put them in a vase. She didn’t have anything more to say to Jake. It wasn’t her choice - nothing ever was.

Jake finally calmed down and took a deep breath. “I can treat you better, Y/N. I love you. I still do.”

Y/N released a sigh. “You don’t get it, do you, Jake?”

“Get what?”

“We’ve put him behind bars before and he got out,” She said, “what makes you think anything we do now would work?”

“He doesn’t have control over you, Y/N. You know that.” Jake said.

Y/N shook her head. “He’s too strong. He could be watching us right now...”

Jake tried his best to get Y/N to leave Alex, but it seemed like he needed more time. But for now, he’s left her with his number and address, in case of an emergency and she needed a place. He told Donny, who had friends in the neighborhood to watch over her, and if something were to happen, he should call Jake immediately. Jake just hoped that one day, she’d reach out to him again and let him help her.

It’s been a week now. Jake hasn’t heard from Y/N and it’s killing him. Was she in too much trouble and couldn’t call for help? What if Alex found his number and ripped it off before she could memorize it? Jake’s leg bounced in the driver’s seat as he waited for the traffic jam to clear.

Once he had arrived at his floor, Jake was surprised to see someone crouching right in front of his door. For a second there, they looked like-

“Y/N?”

The person raised their head. It was Y/N. She had been waiting for him to come back for hours now and it was obvious she had been crying. “..Jake.”

“Y/N, are you okay?” Jake ushered next to her and helped her up. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

Y/N stood up and tapped her face lightly. “No, I’m.. I’m fine. I’m okay.”

Jake was still holding her arms in case something unexpected happened and he didn’t realize she was waiting for him to open the door until she said so. “Oh, OH! Sorry, I.. got distracted.”

“It’s okay,” Y/N smiled and went in after Jake unlocked the door. She looked around Jake’s new apartment, and it’s definitely a total upgrade from his old one.

“Hey, uh.. you want something to drink? Wine? Water?”

“I’ll.. have some wine.” Y/N said as she sat on his couch. She saw on the coffee table, was a picture frame of both of them. It must’ve been taken years ago.

Jake put the wine glass on the table in front of her and sat down gently. “Y/N, is everything really okay?”

She rubbed her hands together and nodded. “I called the police today. I uh... I told them what Alex has been doing, and they took him away.”

Jake put his glass down and grasped her hand. “Y/N, this is great news.. but you don’t look too happy.”

“I just...” Y/N sighed, “I wished I realized just how simple it was. He’s tortured me twice now, and I honestly thought he wouldn’t be able to do it anymore the second time, but I.. I let him in, Jake. I let him in again.”

She continued, “..If you weren’t there yesterday to talk to me.. I would still be in my apartment now, probably getting beat up. So I guess.. I guess I’m here to say thank you, for making me brave enough to do it..and goodbye.”

Jake narrowed his eyes. “..goodbye?”

“We didn’t get to do it properly last time, and..” Y/N swallowed thickly. “I don’t want to end on bad terms with you, Jake. Anyone but you.”

Jake was too busy thinking about Y/N’s toxic relationship with Alex that he didn’t think about what had happened to him and Y/N in the first place. But why was she doing this?

“..I should probably just go-”

“Stay.” Jake stood up and held her hands. “Stay here tonight. With me.”

Y/N stayed silent while Jake guided them to a spacious space in front of the TV. Of course she wanted to stay, but what would happen then? Their lives were too far apart now... they lived in two different worlds.

Jake went to play Y/N’s Favorites, a playlist he had in his phone. And the first song was Always on My Mind, covered by Michael Buble.

“Jake..”

“Ssh,” He hushed her, “just tonight, let me show you just how much I love you. If you want to leave in the morning, or when I’m sleeping, then... I won’t stop you.”

Y/N looked hesitant, but in the end she wrapped her arms around Jake’s neck as he put his arms around her waist and they moved along with the song.

“Maybe I didn’t treat you, quite as good as I should have.. Maybe I didn’t love you, quite as often as I should have.. Little things I should’ve said and done.. I just never took the time.. But you were always on my mind, you were always on my mind..”

Jake sang to Y/N softly and closely to her ear and she pulled away to take a good look at him.

“I don’t want to say goodbye.” She held back her tears, “Not to you, not ever.”

“Neither do I.” Jake nodded, his tears also welling up.

Y/N placed her hands between his head and gently pulled him closer, giving him a kiss on the lips. “But I want to take it slow.. is that okay?”

Jake smiled and kissed her forehead. “I wouldn’t have it in any other way.”

42 notes · View notes

choices-betch · 5 years

Text

Lost on You (Mona x MC): Chapter IV

Book: Ride or Die: A Bad Boy Romance Pairing: Mona x MC Warnings: None. Just some cursing. Chapter Quote: “I wasn’t scared; I was just somebody else, some stranger, and my whole life was a haunted life, the life of a ghost. I was halfway across America, at the dividing line between the East of my youth and the West of my future, and maybe that’s why it happened right there and then, that strange red afternoon.” - Jack Kerouac, On the Road Notes: So I surprised myself and actually finished this in four parts! I almost wrote two different endings, and it took me a while to finish this one because I was really sold on the other one...but ultimately, this felt better. Thank you again to everyone who read, reblogged/liked, and commented on this series! Hope it wasn’t a total waste of your time, haha. Tags: @maxwellsquidsuit @scarlet-letter-a0114 @whoinvitedalx @zoe6111 @pauclaws @desiree-0816

Song: easily - bruno major

Chapter IV: Lovefool

Mona stood outside the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, shuffling the gift box between her hands as she took in the full height of the building. She couldn’t believe she was about to voluntarily enter a criminal justice building; it gave her the shivers.

Mona walked in, requesting directions and taking the elevator to the fifth floor in search of her destination. She peered around the corner of the office door, relaxing as she saw it was empty, sans a few boxes left to unpack.

Mona set the gift on the desk, running her fingers across the top before leaning against it, her arms folded across her chest as she glanced around the room. Movement in the windows caught Mona’s attention and she watched her walk toward the door, eyes glued to a file. Mona rolled her eyes. Still oblivious as ever. Mona took in her appearance as she rounded the corner into her office: black pencil skirt, deep green blouse and black stilettos, her hair pulled back in a bun but bits of hair had fallen…Mona bit her lip as her attraction grew, her mind wandering to the moments she had grasped handfuls of that same head of hair...

Lexi looked up as she saw another pair of feet and gasped at Mona’s presence, dropping her file as her hand went to her heart in shock. Mona snickered, earning a glare as Lexi bent down to pick up the file and assorted papers that had fallen out.

“Why can’t you ever make an entrance like a normal human being?” Lexi huffed, closing her door and moving to pull the blinds down over the windows for some privacy.

“Where’s the fun in that?”

Lexi gave her a pointed look and walked behind her desk, sitting down and leaning back in her chair with crossed legs. She stared at Mona in silence, a pensive look on her face.

“What are you doing here?”

“What a greeting,” Mona scoffed. Lexi cocked her head to the side, continuing to look at Mona expectantly. “I came to congratulate you, what with getting promoted to assistant DA and all. Obviously,” Mona added, nodding toward the gift box. Lexi shifted her gaze to the box, her eyes widening slightly in surprise as she became aware of the gift.

“Thank you,” Lexi started slowly, her eyes back on Mona. “While I appreciate that...why now?”

Mona ran her tongue across the back of her teeth; a soothing method of sorts. She scratched her neck, squinting a bit as she looked away. There wasn’t much of an easy explanation she could give. She sighed and rolled her eyes, mostly at herself, shifting her weight awkwardly.

“It was time.”

—-

3 years ago...

Lexi woke up on the bathroom floor, slightly disoriented as she took in her surroundings. Memories from the night before flooded her mind, making her already swollen eyes burn again. She turned to lay on her back, her palms pressing into her eyes to stop them from welling over. With a sigh she hoisted herself upright, went pee, and looked at herself in the mirror. She cringed; her face was red and puffy, she had crusted drool on her cheek, and her hair was going every which direction. A real looker.

After washing her face and taking some time to make herself look alive, Lexi sat cross-legged on her bed, lost in thought. As much as she would have liked to say she wished she’d never taken Mona up on her invite, she knew she’d do it all over again if given the opportunity.

Probably why she doesn’t want you. Desperate ass.

Lexi grunted in frustration, pounding her fists on her mattress as she questioned when she’d stop making the same decisions repeatedly, before getting up and heading to her closet. She was not going to do this again. She had to be a fucking adult about this and move on. As she rifled through her clothes she came across the black dress she wore to the club, and her mind wandered to Jordan. Her stomach dropped; she’d been a real jackass toward a completely innocent person, as unintentional as it had been. She knew she owed Jordan an explanation, and she had definitely promised her one. Lexi got dressed and shot a text to her classmate Joel after realizing she had absolutely no contact information for Jordan. After getting a response, she grabbed her belongings and headed out the door.

She was going to make this right.

—-

Lexi sat at an umbrella table, two coffees resting on the table top as she glanced at the people milling around, waiting for one particular familiar face. Within a few minutes Jordan walked out, laughing with a few other people. She saw Lexi quickly, saying goodbye to her friends before heading over to the table.

“I asked Joel where you worked. And what your favorite coffee was. Hopefully they got it right, I didn’t know if you wanted—“

“What are you doing here?” Jordan asked, seeming genuinely confused with a hint of amusement. Lexi sighed, visibly deflating. She wasn’t good at these kinds of conversations and she didn’t know where to start.

“I wanted to apologize,” Lexi started, picking at her pants. “I was shitty. A few times. I'm not normally like that, I swear. I’m really, really sorry. I just...wanted to explain, if you’ll let me?” Lexi motioned to the empty chair and coffee, a pleading expression on her face. Jordan stared at her for a moment before taking a seat, helping herself to the drink and humming in approval.

“So,” Jordan started after a moment of silence, her eyebrows raised to urge Lexi on.

“So,” Lexi responded, sighing heavily. “I...I have a...weird history, for lack of better words. I got involved in some stuff when I turned eighteen and...I met someone. My first love, first...everything, really. It didn’t last long, mostly because we got caught. She got hurt and needed a hospital, so it was either bleed out or turn herself in.”

Jordans eyes were wide in shock, clearly not expecting to hear what she’d just been told, but she stayed silent as Lexi continued.

“She...saved me. She got shot prying the gun away that was meant to shoot me. And then she went to prison, still protecting me so I could go to school, have a life. I didn’t deserve....” Lexi swallowed hard, getting emotional as she continued, but shook her head and cleared her throat to snap out of it. “Anyway, I...had a hard time letting go. I wrote to her the whole time she was in prison, she never responded except on my birthday. But she got out recently, and…”

“And...she’s back?”

Lexi nodded slowly, biting the inside of her cheek as she picked at the table top.

“Is that why you took off that day?”

Lexi nodded again with a sigh, then met Jordan’s gaze. “I didn’t know she was out. I thought I was losing it. I had thought I’d seen glimpses of her a few times before that.”

“I see.”

They sat in awkward silence, unsure what to say or do next. After a moment, Lexi cleared her throat and broke thetension.

“So…yeah. I promised you an explanation, and you deserved one. I’m really sorry for how I’ve treated you. I did the same thing to you that was done to me, and you don’t deserve that.”

“Well, I appreciate that,” Jordan responded genuinely, “but what’s going on with the girl?”

“Nothing. She made that very clear.” Lexi raised her eyebrows and laughed bitterly, folding her arms over her chest unconsciously. “Just gotta move on. Again.”

Jordan shook her head, her brows furrowed as she took a sip of her coffee. Lexi’s eyebrows mimicked Jordan’s, sitting a little more upright.

“What?” Lexi asked indignantly.

“I just don’t get you.”

Me?! What the...great, I get rejected and somehow it’s my fault.

“If this is still something that affects you so deeply - and clearly it does - why would you let that go?”

“She doesn’t want—”

“Bullshiiiit,” Jordan interrupted, leaving Lexi with her mouth agape. “You and I both know if that were true she wouldn’t keep being all stealth master about it.”

She was right. And that’s what kept Lexi hanging on. Maybe she was too scared of pushing, too fearful of putting herself at risk of continued rejection. But what else did she have to lose? Her life had felt like it had been on pause all these years, always questioning what could have been if only…

At least if Mona really meant what she said, Lexi would never regret trying one last time; if there was the slightest chance for his to turn out well, she had to take it. What was stopping her besides herself? And not knowing where the hell Mona was, of course. But Lexi knew where to start.

Lexi’s gaze fell on her immediately; not many people were at the bar in the middle of the afternoon. She second guessed her choice the moment they made eye contact, terrified of rejection yet again, but she knew she had to give this a fighting chance to finally let it go. She exhaled heavily then marched confidently to the bar, slamming her things down on the table top and plopping down on a chair.

“I have some things to say, and you’re going to listen. And if you try and leave, I will tie your ass to the chair.” Mona raised an eyebrow as Lexi reached in her bag and pulled out a long silk tie, her eyes going between the tie and Lexi’s face repeatedly before smirking. Lexi rolled her eyes. “Evidence from a mock trial, calm down.”

“Hey, you’re the one barging in, threatening to tie me up and have your way with me. I’m just drinking a beer.”

“Can you please be serious?” Lexi was already irritated. Why did she want to do this, again?

Mona sighed, setting her beer bottle on the table with a soft thud. “I don't see what’s left to say.”

“You’re full of shit. We could start with present time or go back a few years, either way there’s a lot to figure out. But that doesn’t even matter right now, I just..”

Lexi stumbled over her words, frustrated at how she couldn’t ever form coherent thoughts or sentences around this woman. Mona always had known when she needed to shut up, though, so she stayed quiet, allowing Lexi to figure out exactly what she wanted to say.

“You’ve chosen for me every time. But this time I’m not letting you. I’m choosing to fight for this, Mona. For you. I’ve let you run every time, but I can’t again. Not without giving it a final shot. This is stupid! We’ve been playing this song and dance for six years. Aren’t you tired?”

Mona’s face betrayed nothing. She sat, watching Lexi with a careful expression. Lexi took that as a signal to continue.

“There’s a reason after all this time I can’t let you go. There has to be a reason I’m still in l—“ Lexi caught herself, her cheeks reddening at her flub. “That I still want you,” she corrected, her sense of desperation back. “We’re connected, and whether or not you want to admit it, you feel it too, otherwise you never would have come.”

Mona stayed silent, unsure of how to respond. It felt too dangerous to open up, to really allow herself to delve this deep into her feelings. She didn’t like doing that nor did she have any desire to in the middle of a bar. But she knew deep down, Lexi was right. She felt the same, but she didn’t know what to do with it. She didn’t know how it could possibly do either of them any good.

“What are you so afraid of?” Lexi demanded, exasperation evident in her voice.

“I’m not afraid,” Mona snapped, her eyebrows furrowing as she took an aggressive gulp of her drink. She wasn’t fucking afraid. She wasn’t… “I just...I don’t know how to settle down, okay? It’s never really been my thing. I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“I don’t think anybody really knows what they’re doing,” Lexi argued. “That’s not a good enough reason not to try.”

“I can’t be everything you need me to be, Lexi,” Mona said harshly, her eyes flashing with such intensity it made Lexi uncomfortable for a moment. “I don’t understand what you aren’t getting about that.”

“You don’t know that,” Lexi refuted, her voice growing louder. “You don’t know what I need, and I don’t know why you keep thinking you get to choose for me, Mona. I am a grown ass woman.”

“Yeah, you are, Lex,” Mona agreed, her eyes softening as she looked on at her sadly. “You’re a grown ass woman with a whole lot of potential that shouldn’t be stunted by who you’re with. I don’t have a future. I have nothing to offer. All I would do is hold you back, and you know it’s the truth,” Mona added, cutting off Lexi’s attempt to argue. “Don’t waste your life on me.”

Lexi swallowed roughly, saddened at how little value Mona placed in herself. Mona had many faults, but more than enough positive qualities to make up for the negative, and so much potential to do more. Maybe Lexi was a complete fool to still hold onto the good in her after all they’d been through. But hadn’t Mona done the same with her?

“You’re wrong,” Lexi finally said, shaking her head. “But that...I don’t have all the answers. I-” Lexi sighed heavily, flustered. “I know this isn’t logical, nothing about us has ever been logical, but we can figure it out. I know we can. I just need you to be in this with me. I need you to stay.”

Mona stared at her, conflicted. She couldn’t see this ending well. She didn’t know how to stay put. She didn’t know how to care for someone and let them care for her. She didn’t know how to be in a relationship. She didn’t know how to exist on the other side of society. Didn’t know, didn’t know, didn’t know…

Mona was brought back to the present moment by the jolt of heat she felt in her body, triggered by Lexi sliding her hand over Mona’s. She stared at their hands in silence, feeling her resolve crumble and trying desperately to fight it. But...why? Because I’m scared.

Mona gulped, reality setting in. She was scared of failing. Scared of being vulnerable, because that’s just asking to get hurt. Scared of letting herself get more invested just for it to fall apart. This sort of thing had never worked out well for her. But then again she’d never had someone willing to fight for her, much less someone she was willing to fight for. What did she really have to lose? My whole identity…but again, where had that gotten her?

“I can’t promise you I won’t be a nightmare,” Mona finally said, eyes still on their hands. Lexi’s heart leapt to her throat, a surge of adrenaline coursing through her body.

“As opposed to…?” Lexi teased, a smile cracking despite Mona’s attempts at keeping a straight face.

“And you gotta move. That place is a doghouse.”

“Hey!” Lexi protested with a laugh, “that doghouse has gotten me through rough times.”

“I can tell,” Mona retorted. “It served its purpose. Time to go.”

“You know you’re gonna have to tell me your real name, right?”

Mona snorted, shaking her head with a lazy grin. “Not on your life.”

“Is it Mary? Judith? Alice...no, Bethany! Definitely Bethany.”

Mona snorted, beer flying out of her mouth as Lexi continued to call off random names with an amused grin on her face.

“Don’t change the subject. Move.”

“I am not moving unless it’s out of state,” Lexi argued with a laugh, finishing off her drink. Mona smirked, finishing hers as well with a satisfied sound.

“Say the word.”

A slow smile spread across Lexi’s face, and despite Mona’s typical aversion to smiling, she found herself mirroring Lexi.

“Oh, I will.”

2 months later…

“Babe?” Lexi called out, eyes still glued to the email maximized on her computer screen. Mona made an affirmative noise as she popped her head out of the kitchen, her mouth full as she had just taken a bite of a sandwich. “Lets go.”

“Go…?” Mona asked in confusion, wiping crumbs off her face as she walked toward Lexi, a curious expression on her face.

“Yeah. I’m saying the word. Let’s go.” Mona paused her steps for a moment, taken aback; Lexi had a real knack for catching her off guard. Noticing Lexi’s attention hadn’t strayed from her screen, she continued toward her, reading the email over her shoulder as she took another mouthful of sandwich.

“Blah blah blah, thank you for your interest...lots of candidates...” Mona muttered under her breath as she scanned the text, “...would like to formally congratulate you on being selected for a clerkship with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office?!” Mona was practically yelling as she met Lexi’s gaze. A slow grin spread across her face as she swallowed her bite and tossed her sandwich on the desk, taking Lexi’s face in her hands and pressing a loud kiss on her mouth. Lexi laughed, savoring the little kisses being pressed all over her face.

“Philly?” Mona asked, still cradling Lexi’s face in her hands.

Lexi nodded enthusiastically, her hands resting on Mona’s wrists as she kissed her again. “Philly.”

—

Present Day

“Time…?”

Mona rolled her eyes teasingly. “Yes, time.”

“Don’t get me wrong, it was a great surprise. I just assumed we’d talk about it first.”

“Eh, you know I act on impulse,” Mona replied cheekily, half shrugging. “Grand gestures and all.”

Once Lexi got the clerkship, they’d essentially concluded that anything not-quite-kosher Mona did would have to be discreet and away from home, have no expectation of permanency, and Lexi would be kept in the dark to protect her career...which meant Mona was mostly in the dark about hers.

In all honesty Mona had kept it pretty clean over the years, mostly because she didn’t want to mess anything up for Lexi, but also because shockingly, she quite enjoyed finding other interests that utilized her skills and knowledge without the propensity of getting her tailed by the law. And she still quite enjoyed her freedom. If she hadn’t kept her name out of peoples mouths and networks, she never would have set foot within 100 feet of the place. But as she was doing some general upkeep on her car one day (her form of therapy), she realized she was tired of keeping their lives separate in any capacity, and there was no need for it anymore. So she went to a store, got her a congratulatory gift (for old times sake), and ended up in Lexi’s office for the first time.

Mona walked over to Lexi, pulling on her wrists until she was standing upright. Her hands fell to rest on Lexi’s waist, fingers rubbing the fabric of her blouse between her fingers. “Don’t worry. I’m good. You’re good. Relax.” Mona’s gaze ran up the length of Lexi’s body, pausing on her mouth before meeting Lexi’s eyes.

“I’m relaxed. Can I help you?” Lexi asked breathily with a teasing tone, still amazed at how her body continued to respond so easily to her after all these years.

“You can help me with a lot of things looking like that,” Mona said lowly, wiggling her eyebrows as she slowly backed Lexi against her desk, hands resting on the wood on either side of her. Lexi’s eyes fluttered closed as Mona leaned in closer, anticipating Mona’s lips against hers. After a few seconds of no contact, Lexi opened her eyes, meeting Mona’s wide brown eyes.

Mona reached up, pushing one of Lexi’s loose strands behind her ear. Her fingers trailed down Lexi’s cheek softly, down her neck and the middle of her chest. Lexi’s breath became labored. Not in my office...right?

“What?” she asked, craving contact desperately.

“You’re just so damn beautiful,” Mona murmured, her thumb brushing against Lexi’s lips. “Dunno how I lucked out so hard in life, but I won’t argue with it.”

Lexi smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to Mona’s thumb before taking it between her teeth. Mona bit her bottom lip; damnit, why’d she have to be so sexy? Mona removed her thumb quickly and kissed Lexi roughly, though her hands cradled Lexi’s face with a tenderness that didn’t seem fitting for Mona even over the years. Lexi melted against Mona, completely willing to give in to her, just as she always had been. Mona pulled back despite Lexi’s protests and smiled softly at her.

“I should go,” Mona said, straightening herself out.

“Probably,” Lexi replied begrudgingly. “But you should definitely make this a regular thing.”

“Don’t press your luck,” Mona joked, shooting her a wink as she headed toward the door. She paused after opening the door, turning to look at Lexi as she leaned against her desk with a grin. Never in a million years did Mona think this was how it would end up. If someone had told her even five years ago that she’d finally be willing to give up the only life she knew for the girl that ultimately got her thrown in prison then would become an assistant DA, she would have told them to fuck off. But here she was all these years later, still lost on Lexi just as she always had been.

Mona grinned back, possibly bigger than she’d ever smiled in her life. Lexi’s heart skipped, still in awe of how strongly she felt for Mona in spite of time and everything they’d gone through. Mona wasn’t always one for words, but her gestures spoke volumes, and when she committed to something she didn’t back down. They struggled at times, but at the end of the day all they cared about was staying together and they stubbornly figured out how to navigate their firsts.

Mona glanced around the office one last time, her eyes landing on Lexi again. “I’m feeling crazy fucking proud right now,” she said, “which is kinda new for me and I’m not sure how I feel about it.” Lexi laughed to avoid being a crying mess, overwhelmed with emotion. “But you deserve it, hotshot.”

“You’re my favorite.”

Mona smirked, tapping the door frame a few times before heading out. “I’ll see you at home.”

Home. Such a foreign concept, even still. Like good ol’ lesbians, they moved in together immediately. Mona had done a smart enough job hiding her money before she was arrested, so she had a good amount to contribute in order to get her way and move somewhere more suitable, plus do some odds and ends jobs for a while to contribute to recurring expenses. But Mona recognized it wasn’t the house itself that made it a home; it was her. Lexi always felt like home. She made Mona feel like a better person, like maybe one day she could be deserving of what she had. But even though she wasn’t there yet, Mona knew one thing for sure: as long as Lexi wanted her, she was there. Always.

#mona x mc #rod mona #mona rod #mona x mc fic #mona x mc fics #ride or die #choices ride or die #playchoices #choices stories you play #pixelberry

79 notes · View notes

fountainpenguin · 5 years

Note

What do you think of TUFF Puppy? I see a lot of people give it flack for one reason or another, but do YOU think that’s warranted? Would you recommend the show at all? Hopefully that’s not a loaded questions. Thanks!

I was able to watch the show with my free 1-month trial on Hulu (as opposed to buying the episodes on Amazon or something), so that’s always nice, and it was a good way to keep entertained during my study breaks this semester.

I previously wrote out my general thoughts about “T.U.F.F.” in THIS post just after I finished my binge-watchif you’d like to read that too. I can expand on some thoughts in more detail more below the cut.

“T.U.F.F. Puppy” isn’t the first show that pops into my head as a recommendation for its genre (“WordGirl” is the superior crime-fighting cartoon in my mind). When it comes to secret agents, I do enjoy a good “Bruno the Kid” for its wit, slow burn character development, and the fact that some of its villains legitimately die. And when it comes to cartoons that really explore animal behavior and what it would be like to live in an anthro animal world, I’d point first to “My Gym Partner’s a Monkey.”

But for what it’s worth, “T.U.F.F. Puppy” was enjoyable. It didn’t feel like a repetitive Monster of the Week show and it had its share of fun and engaging plots. There were some worldbuilding elements I really enjoyed (such as laws protecting endangered species - including villains - and the aquarium doubling as prison for aquatic criminals). There were some fun animal behaviors that I enjoyed seeing anthropormorphized, such as Kitty bringing people dead mice to express affection and the Chief (who is a flea) sneaking drinks of Keswick’s blood when he gets hungry. Many of the jokes were creative and worked for me- for example, a background character ended up committing crimes solo for a day because his usual partners in crime were on jury duty.

It is a show aimed at 7-year-olds, so it has its share of simplistic characterizations, crude humor, and a preference for action over long-term character development. And blood. There will be blood.There are a few continuity issues as well, but they’re pretty minor details. If you’ve enjoyed the other Hartman shows and are itching for something to watch this summer, it’s a fun choice if you can find it for free. I will say that now that I’ve watched it, it’s fair game for headcanons and ‘fic allusions.

I’ve been re-watching the series with my little brother (skipping around to see my favorites instead of going chronologically this time) and it’s been enjoyable. He’s gotten really into it and we like quoting random lines at each other (There’s an entire song about how to defuse a nuclear bomb that we’re particularly fond of).

The way I see it, if you go into it with an open mind, you’ll enjoy it, and if you go into it looking for reasons to dislike it, you’ll find them. I’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks now and I think that “T.U.F.F.” might actually be my second favorite of the Hartman shows. I’m more biology-minded than tech-minded and worldbuilding-oriented than action-oriented. I could never get interested in much about “Danny Phantom” except Youngblood psychology, and as much as I adore Mikey being a manipulative narcissist, the rest of “Bunsen Is a Beast” is a little hit or miss for me.

I enjoyed how “T.U.F.F.” really drew me into the world. If you watch the show starting from Episode 1, you learn everyone’s names extremely quickly. That means every major character at T.U.F.F., every single villain, and every henchman every villain has. I believe the exteriors (and some interior rooms) of every major character’s home were seen within the first half of Season 1, except Keswick’s which was seen in Season 2. We even learned the streets of several major locations. Details like that helped strengthen my belief in the world and follow along without getting lost. Villains were often defeated through clever plots rather than just punching them into submission, which was nice too, and they were a nice blend of being goofy and legitimately threatening.

Feel free to skip anything containing the Caped Cod, though, because he’s a piece of work and you’re not missing much.

Character-wise, I would have liked to see more female characters, and more villains too. One of the awesome things about “WordGirl” is that is has a truly massive pool of villains to draw from, and they’re all fleshed out in lovely shades of moral gray. In “T.U.F.F.” you will get the same few villains over and over again, so you’d better learn to like them. Some of the villains didn’t appeal to me, while others are fascinating from a psychology / writing perspective.

I wasn’t very interested in Snaptrap (the show’s main antagonist) during my first watch. He’s your typical evil megalomaniac, but he’s also dumber than bricks and doesn’t have a lot of redeeming qualities to choose from. During my second watch, however, he’s grown on me. I’ve realized that I like him more when I listen to what he says instead of overthinking what he does. He’s probably the funniest character in the entire show, and has a whole slew of quirky lines like “If I’m so dumb, why have I been getting away with slowly poisoning you?” and “I love our new crib! It was an impulse buy. (Gasp!) We should steal a baby to put in it!” One of his quirks is that ambiguity trips him up, so he’s easily confused and has a lot of quasi-insightful thoughts about mundane things… it’s hilarious.

Snaptrap’s not that bright, but he’s incredibly impulsive with a knack for building destructive weapons and promptly losing them. He also has a streak of affection for kids and is a surprisingly good parent when put in that position (He’s absolutely the type who would encourage his kids to follow their dreams and would support them every step of the way, which is an interesting quality for a villain). Literally the first thing he did when he realized he’d accidentally cloned himself was send his clone into the world to live the happy life he didn’t get to have. He grows on me more and more each day. He’s fun.

I like the Chameleon (the second main antagonist of the show) a lot. I favor neutral characters, and the Chameleon tends to base his loyalties on the kindness others show him. Sadly for him, both the good guys and the bad guys find him clingy and annoying, so he ends up ping-ponging back and forth between whichever side he believes will cause him the least amount of pain (When he knows he’s upset powerful enemies, he’ll try to hide in either jail or witness protection to avoid facing consequences).

His motives for most crimes are hilariously petty. He’ll target vacation spots where he had a bad experience or attempt to burn the whole city because he thinks the heating company takes advantage of him for being cold-blooded. He’s the type of villain who commits international crimes purely to earn the “international criminal” bragging rights, but he’s also the type of villain who will drive random strangers to the airport mid-crime attempt despite it being out of his way. He’s described himself as someone who “doesn’t always make the best choices, but you just can’t help rooting for anyway.”

The Chameleon is arguably the smartest of the main villain trio, but his weakness is that he’ll let his “friends” walk all over him in a desperate attempt to maintain one-sided friendships. In Season 2 he got himself tangled in a terribly abusive relationship with his girlfriend and is completely in denial that she’s only interested in him for his money. He’s exactly the type of quirky villain I’m interested in. I’d love to tap inside his head for a ‘fic or two.

The third main villain, Bird Brain, isn’t one of my favorites. I did enjoy a lot of the minor villains, such as the members of F.L.O.P.P. (the Fiendish League of Potential Perpetrators) who think they’re way more evil than they really are. Meerkat is particularly interesting. He’s obviously in the criminal business for fame rather than fortune, but planning isn’t his strong suit. He can organize a get-together, put together an evil lair, scout for useful weapons, he’s great at pep talks, he has connections- he can do EVERYTHING on the spectrum to put a criminal organization in motion, except actually think up ambitious plans. He works so hard, but he’s his own worst enemy.

He’s like an evil secretary.He really needs a boss to design plans for him and keep him on track and pat him on the head and tell him he’s doing a good job. If Snaptrap ever took him into D.O.O.M. (and listened to him), he’d have organization and Meerkat would have muscle. Seeing ‘kat run with the big kids for a day would be interesting, I think.

Anyway, there’s a nice handful of engaging characters in the show and some fun episode plots as well. The worldbuilding is decent, though there’s still room for headcanons to expound upon. I’d recommend it to anyone who thinks they might like it, because if you have a good attitude, you’ll see it as a good show. It has its ups and downs, but it’s cute and clever overall. There are three seasons worth of episodes (Seasons 1 and 2 have 50 individual episodes each) so if you watch it, you’re sure to find something in there you enjoy!

#asks #Anon #Eyyy Hartman gang!#Spy dog show #Vile Verminious #Lonely lizard #No mere cat #The tag I should check later

9 notes · View notes

2rebeccakeyte · 3 years

Text

Podcast Script

Taking vs. Making: Exploring Cultural Appropriation In Music

Intro:

Hi there! I’m Rebecca Keyte, and today I’m going to be exploring cultural identities and appropriation in music. I will be discussing the concept of world music, cultural appreciation vs. appropriation, and why the history of african american music is so important to todays industry.

World Music:

Oxford Dictionary defines the term “world music” as: “traditional music from the developing world, sometimes incorporating elements of Western popular music.”

I’m sure a lot of you will agree with me when I say that I feel like this definition is culturally insensitive, I mean why is Western music almost placed on this capitalist infused pedestal above everyone else, with all of these various intricate sub-genres, while music from other cultural backgrounds is just sort of lazily dumped into the same category as “music from the rest of the world”?

You’ll find a lot of people agree that this term is outdated and outright offensive, I”m going to read a statement from 2015, but sadly it’s still relevant today, this was written by a journalist called Mulu for True Africa .com, he states

“The term ‘world music’ has no place – and never had a place – in the world in which we live. It might have been created with the best of intentions but it is not a representative and universal term. It segregates music.” And he goes on to say,

“It’s born from the untrue, unsaid, unexpressed thought that everything that comes from the west is the pinnacle of everything; that it is the one thing that is happening in the world that is worth taking the time to enjoy; the only way forward; the only way to the future.”

Now this was five years ago, yet cultural appropriation in Western Music seems to be becoming a larger and larger issue. People are still talking about it and having conversations like we are right now but nothing seems to be changing, surely there must be a better way to market music that comes from all across the globe?

Black history in music:

Cultural appropriation in pop music, in my opinion, is only making this matter worse. Now, this is a very broad topic but I’m going to focus on African American culture in music as a prime example. In order to truly understand why these terms and outdated perspectives are truly damaging and offensive, I personally believe that you need to understand the roots of popular African American music in the Western World.

If I say the name “Big Mama Thornton’, you probably wouldn’t know who I’m talking about but of course you’ve heard of Elvis. Big Mama Thornton was the original writer and performer of Elvis’ hit single Hound Dog, but because she was a black, queer woman, they gave the song to a young white man and almost put the record through a westernised filter to make it more marketable to the public, keeping the blues elements that made it such a great song, but stripping it of any passion and authenticity that this woman originally poured into the track.

And this is what they did to black performers at the time, blues and jazz came from the sorrow and oppression that african americans in harlem felt at the time due to being treated like second class citizens because of the colour of their skin. a black, queer woman called Ma Rainey was practically the godmother of blues, but most of the songs she wrote and performed were sold to major record labels, highly censored and given to white performers.

Oxford defines cultural appropriation as “the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices and ideas from other cultures” so I believe that the cultural appropriation that occurs in music today is still so damaging due to these terrible origins of taking from the oppressed.

Appropriation and Examples:

So lets explore modern cultural appropriation in music, and with that historical context i just gave, i hope that I can highlight just how awful a lot of the things that are happening in the industry today truly are.

I’m going to quote the journalist Michele Mendez because she puts this so well, she states:

“Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars and Iggy Azalea, all non-Black artists, are known for performing music like R&B and hip-hop influenced by Black people and culture.“

And she looks at the white rapper Iggy Azela in quite a bit of detail, goes on to say

“Azalea’s performances, particularly the voice she uses while rapping, is an example of appropriation. Azalea uses a “blaccent,” an imitation of a Black accent by a non-Black person, while rapping. When she raps, she sounded like a poor imitation of a Black woman who lived in an urban area in America, but when she speaks, she speaks in a dignified Australian accent.”

This is a great modern example, and there are so many others in pop music today that I don’t have time to cover. Mendez goes on to claim

“When an artist tries to profit from the music style without showing respect to the culture, they are demonstrating cultural appropriation”

I couldn’t agree more with this statement, and as an audience I think we need to start acknowledging and heavily voicing these opinions, and start celebrating black artists that specialise in these musical styles, and deliver them with authenticity and passion.

Appreciation and examples:

When identifying whether an artist is culturally appropriating, or simply just appreciating another cultures musical style, Chris Richards from the Washington post expresses the concept of musical tourists vs musical travellers. Here’s a quote, he says:

“Here’s one last question that might be helpful to ask of white rappers, or any musician who appropriates: Are they travelers, or are they tourists? Travelers move through the world in order to participate. Tourists simply look around, have some fun, take what they want and bring it back home.”

I think this is a great way to truly identify in depth which artists have authentic intentions with their music when exploring other cultures.

So Miley Cyrus twerking, wearing grills, and claiming she wanted her album Bangerz to quote, “feel black”, become extremely questionable, and I feel like she’s definitely a musical tourist who is appropriating another culture. It’s all about taking, vs. making in a sense.

However, if we look at the 80s group Talking Heads, they traveled to Haiti, learned about the culture, took part in ceremonies, they were deeply touched by African American culture and wanted to celebrate it with their album. They didn’t take, they made it into something different and recorded their album Remain In Light. They used african beats and musical techniques because they had developed an authentic bond with a group of people from this culture, and they intentionally collaborated with so many local african american artists on the record in order to do it right. They didn’t appropriate, they created something completely new, the album is a splurge of all different genres and influences.

Outro:

So, next time you hear the phrase “world music”, or hear a white artist being a bit of a “musical tourist”, I hope these concepts remain fresh in your mind, because cultural appropriation stems from an outdated racist attitude in our society, and the industry isn’t going to change until we start educating ourselves and widening our perspectives as a community. We must voice these opinions and search for authenticity in music. Thank you for listening!

#soundstudies

0 notes

midlandofficial · 7 years

Text

Wide Open Country: The Truth About Midland

By Jeremy Burchard | September 29, 2017

Editor’s note: Jeremy Burchard is a Senior Music Writer for Wide Open Country and Associate Editor of Texas Music. The following op-ed is a response to articles by the blog Saving Country Music that question the legitimacy and authenticity of rising country trio Midland.

Kyle Coroneos, the author and founder of Saving Country Music, is wrong about Midland. Also known as “Trigger,” he is a talented writer with strong convictions and a passionate readership.

But he’s wrong about that band. He’s wrong when he calls them “bullshitters.” He’s wrong when he calls two-thirds of them “Hollywood elite,” and he’s very wrong when he claims they didn’t write their music, but are instead the product of Shane McAnally and Music Row machinations.

And it matters that he’s wrong. Because over the past week, Coroneos’ articles have been making their way across important spheres of influence. People within the music industry, whom I know and respect, are reading these articles and sharing them, taking them at face value. People who work in radio, other artists, venue owners, publicists and writers see this narrative. And because those articles seem compelling (if not dramatic), a lot of them believe it, which is both unfair and potentially damaging to a band that, despite their recent success, is still new to a lot of people.

The “Authenticity” Argument

I authored a spotlight article on Midland for the new issue of Texas Music magazine, spending hours researching the band and listening to both their new and old music. I interviewed them, songwriter/producer Shane McAnally and producer Dan Huff. And I watched them perform at the Springwater Supper Club & Lounge in Nashville. They served mini hamburgers and mini hot dogs. I was tempted, but refrained.

“Authenticity” is a slippery slope and a pointless argument. About 95% of George Strait’s music came from other writers. Brad Paisley doesn’t drink alcohol but one of his most popular songs ever is called “Alcohol.” Robert Johnson never sold his soul to the devil, and the Beatles intentionally fed false stories to New Musical Express. It goes on and on.

But Coroneos seems to create his own benchmarks of authenticity and then peddles accusations to meet them. He never spoke to the band or anybody associated with them. He intentionally does this, he tells me, because he believes interviews can “erode objectivity.”

“I’m not against others interviewing artists,” Coroneos explained to me over email. “But since I specialize in criticism and commentary, it generally behooves me to stay once removed from interacting with artists beyond cordial, brief exchanges that may happen in the course of business.” I get the sentiment there.

But interviews are the cornerstone of journalism. Combined with independent fact-checking and cross-referencing, they form the very basis of what we do. As uncomfortable as it may be, our job is to do what we can to get facts first-hand, even if they point towards a warranted lambasting of people we know personally.

As a writer who specializes in criticism — and Coroneos is a very gifted writer — he relies heavily on other journalists to lay the groundwork for him. In his case, he hasn’t seen Midland perform live (though he wants to when the opportunity presents itself). Which, to his point, he doesn’t need to see them live to critique their record. But it’s the least you could do if you’re going to call a band bullshitting elitists who don’t even write their own music.

“Hollywood Elite”

So let’s correct a few talking points used to de-legitimize the band. Like Mark Wystrach’s modeling and acting roles and Cameron Duddy directing music videos. Coroneos says this makes the pair “part of the power elite of the entertainment world.” Who knew underwear models held so much power?

In reality, Wystrach lived in a trailer by the beach. He tended bar way more than he modeled or acted. Those gigs are low paying, hard to come by and hardly “elite.” Directing music videos is just as volatile. And a great way to go gray in the hair before you’re thirty.

All of Duddy’s videography gigs supported his music habit, including his early band with Jess Carson Major Gray. Anybody who really believes that being the son of the second camera operator on 1999’s Mystery Men lands you a job with Bruno Mars is either a great comedian or woefully uninformed.

Duddy explained in an earlier interview, “I couldn’t get any job through my parents. I had rock, folk, Americana bands. I just started doing videos for my friends.” And eventually it grew, Duddy made friends, one gig led to another. Just like every person hustling.

Coroneos’ “Hollywood elite” jab backs artists into a corner and makes them defensive, so they talk about living hand to mouth and borrowing money from their manager to stay afloat. Both of those applied to Duddy, and it’s *embarrassing* the band feels they have to defend themselves so much that they’re revealing personal financial details instead of talking about music. Because it shouldn’t matter.

Yes, Duddy used connections to get a foot in the door. His friend, who manages pop acts and has no experience in country, liked their 2014 Sonic Ranch demos (helmed by Austin mainstay David Garza) so much that he took it upon himself to manage them and find out how to get them in front of people. They met manager Jason Owen and told him, “We’re going to do this one way or another.” Owen liked them, their music and their hustle, so called up Shane McAnally and got them in a room together.

But once you get in front of people, it’s your job as an artist to blow them away. Which they did, because they have years of performing, including in those talked-about tiny bars, where they played the much-loathed three and four-hour sets, testing out original songs and covers.

“Four Shows At Poodies”

Coroneos also references the band’s performances in Texas frequently. He makes it seem as if they only played four shows at Poodie’s before signing a deal with Big Machine.

Even just a cursory search of Midland’s Facebook page reveals an incomplete list of past dates full of Texas mainstays. Mercer Street, The Broken Spoke (the dinner happy hour two or three times before they got the main stage), Scholz, Shiner’s Saloon, The Saxon Pub, Threadgills, The White Horse, Easy Tiger, The Continental Club.

Which makes sense, because Midland had a small booking arrangement with Lisa at boutique agency Moxie Booking, who got them a lot of those weekend warrior shows. They secured that by booking their own shows and promoting themselves. Hell, they’re still listed on the Moxie website alongside acts like Tessy Lou and The Warhorses.

Poodie’s is a part of their narrative because that was their first show together in Texas. A 5:30 p.m. slot on a Tuesday afternoon to a handful of barflies. They eventually worked their way up to an opening gig with Gary P. Nunn and, yes, that residency. Between decades before Texas and a few years after, “They put their time in just like the rest of us,” McAnally says.

“Midland Was Manifested”

Coroneos claims Midland didn’t write their own music, which is a huge accusation. Despite some or all of the band being writers on every track, he uses a quote from McAnally to justify this claim. In the quote, McAnally says it felt like he and co-writer Josh Osborne “manifested” the band as a vehicle for the 1970s-era country tunes they love to write. Coroneos calls McAnally a “puppet master” insinuating that he was responsible for creating Sam Hunt, Old Dominion and now Midland.

“He’s giving me far too much credit,” McAnally laughs. “But you can’t just call it his opinion. That’s not an opinion. That’s just lying.”

When McAnally says they “manifested” their relationship, he means that he and Osborne kept wishing a band would come along that shared their vision. And on the other side, Midland wished somebody wanted to take their sound to new commercial highs. “It’s like both sides dreamed each other up,” he says. “We were inviting our paths to cross.” And he uses the Weird Science reference because Midland seemed like their version of the “perfect girl” that walked into the room, songs, talent and style in hand.

To suggest that every writer on those songs willingly have up more than 50% of their writer’s share to perpetuate a narrative is beyond far-fetched.

Why Does It Matter?

When it comes to being called second in line for the “Country Music Antichrist” (as well as the biggest producer in the world), McAnally laughs. “It hasn’t hurt my feelings,” McAnally says. “And I’m not just saying that. I’m very sensitive and I want people to like what I do. But when I read [these articles] I literally laugh and I know the way I feel about it. I can gauge myself and ask, ‘Is this hurting me?’ It’s not. But this Midland thing could hurt them. Because it’s taken off.”

He’s right. Coroneos’ false narrative is more responsible for never-ending quotes about their origin than anybody. And if you read something he writes without knowing the truth, you should question Midland. And then it becomes all anybody talks about.

Because people are looking to poke holes, especially if they’re already jaded by the industry. They don’t want to believe those three guys write the music they write and dress the way they dress because they want to, and got successful doing it.

“Midland are the same people who walked into the studio two and a half years ago when I met them,” McAnally says. “They had an aspiration to take the songs they were playing in bars and take them to the next level without compromising their music.”

And judging by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to their record, they did just that. And Coroneos, to his credit, wants the band to succeed. “Of all the negative things I’ve said about Midland, I want them to succeed because I want traditional country music in the mainstream to succeed,” he says.

The good news is the negative things he says just aren’t based in reality. So don’t do yourself a disservice and let the misinformed musings of an otherwise passionate writer convince you Midland is anything less than what they are.

#midland #jess carson #mark wystrach #cameron duddy #article

1 note · View note

alonzochrist-blog · 5 years

Text

Aaron Carter Requires The Gloves Off Regarding Lindsay Lohan

There has been much speculation and numerous media reviews surrounding alleged quotes from singer Aaron Carter on the legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson. When a reported interview made headlines over alleged estimates from Carter, the singer quickly denied that he experienced ever said any of the issues that he was being quoted as stating. According to a new update made by the singer via Twitter, Aaron Carter will reportedly be featured on E! News these days in an interview in which he will be discussing the Michael Jackson tale. But what Keara brings to the desk is not an additional fairly encounter with a nice voice - it is, instead, a unique mixture of musical skills that are adept far beyond her years, matched with a serene, but youthful, vitality that retains her relatable to audiences of all ages. With an R&B acoustic audio somewhat reminiscent of a younger feminine counterpart to Bruno Mars, Keara (or 'guitarprincesskeara' as she's known to her 3000+ subscribers on YouTube) is ready to deliver a new edge to teenager pop songs. I sat down with Keara just a few evenings in the past before an outstanding overall performance supporting click here for more at the Concert For Our Future in Manville, New Jersey, exactly where she opened up about her dreams and goals for her promising long term in music.

youtube

I'd never really noticed much of Mark outside of "Iron Chef," and he was actually a pretty enjoyable guy to view. He might have experienced the cheesiest presentation of anyone I've noticed to start the display, but he could move pretty nicely. The greatest issue for him will be staying focused on the dance. Tonight's magic formula ingredient is.dancing! (Okay, only kidding.) Mark ended up with a 21 and a second-location finish in the team waltz.

Aaron Carter Girlfriend

Another break. Blah blah blah. Then. more drama as the DWTS season nine bottom three became the formal base two. Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower had been proclaimed safe, leaving Debi and Kathy in the bottom two. Samantha Harris requested Carrie Ann if she was shocked by the two women in the base two, and she stated she was shocked to see Debi Mazar up for elimination. Hmph. Cue the dramatic songs - it's time. Kathy Ireland and Tony Dovolani were given the boot.

The marathon: The 9 remaining couples danced simultaneously for the first marathon mambo. At stake: much more judges' factors. The first couple tapped out obtained two points, whilst the final receives ten factors. Mark Dacascos and Lacey Schwimmer. Mark Dacascos is best known as "The Chairman" and host of Meals Community's Iron Chef The united states. Can he consider the warmth on DWTS? His rebel partner is Lacey Schwimmer, who is in her 3rd period of DWTS. This award-successful dancer has been partnered with Steve-O and Lance Bass. The quirky combination of uniqueness and personality might consider this few much in the competition. Look out for this team.

Aaron Carter Boyfriend

Bruno aaron carter shaq stated, "It was like watching a small dancing hobbit." He noted that Vito lacked fluidity and fell twice. From there Bergeron labeled Vito: Louie Frodo. I started to write my typical "Dancing with the Stars" evaluation when I all of a sudden realized that I didn't really feel like performing it. For the first time since the ABC tv display started, I truly wasn't that interested in what experienced happened or even what was heading to happen in the subsequent weeks. That was a mild bulb second for me. Three women and 1 guy remain as we go into the semi-finals of Dancing with the Stars Season nine. Kelly Osbourne beat out Click Here last 7 days showing that getting followers may be much more important than getting abilities in this competition. Each few would perform three dances, including a "knock-out" dance that is meant to wow the judges and the audience.

youtube

Aaron Carter Chris Crocker

Next we heard from the Dancing with the Stars period 9 professionals about the challenges of breaking the celebrities' poor routines. Meh heh. That should be enjoyable. We discovered from Lacey Schwimmer that Mark Dacascos talks to himself much too often, and Alec Mazo complained that Natalie Coughlin holds her breath too frequently. What a shocking factor for a swimmer to do! Tom Hold off. Truly? Does this mean we can expect a parade of disgraced politicians now? Is Jim Traficant that much behind (as soon as he gets out of jail, of course)?

Aaron Carter 2017

Dancing with the Stars Drop 2009's 3rd 7 days of competitive dancing, considered "the sexiest night of the season" by co-host Tom Bergeron, opened with a fast review of final 7 days's motion, and ongoing on with the typical introduction of the DWTS season nine stars. We quickly learned that the thirteen remaining celebs and their professional partners would be performing 1 of two dances: The Samba or the Rumba. We THEN discovered that former House Majority Chief Tom Delay's pre-tension fracture had progressed into a complete stress fracture; so would he compete? Tom and co-host Samantha Harris left it a large DWTS season nine week 3 unknown for now. How annoying. It's not as if I'd turn off the Tv if Tom Hold off and Cheryl Burke finished their tenure on the display. NFL star Michael Irvin and companion Anna Demidova had been subsequent up on DWTS with their Samba. Michael's really had a difficult time with the judging panels this period. The thing I appreciate about Michael is his performer's coronary heart: He appears to have enjoyable each 7 days, even when he's nailed by Len, Carrie Ann and Bruno. That said, it thought their Samba lacked a small. It seemed sluggish and just not exactly what I'm utilized to viewing for the style of dance. Bruno stated "sometimes you danced this like a tank" and proceeded to beat him down. Ouch. Carrie Ann stated "I certainly think you have rhythm but you're dancing too small". Len stated "it's a difficult dance for a big guy" and "I'm afraid it was a bit disappointing". Oof. Michael Irvin and Anna Demidova's Dancing with the Stars Drop 2009 7 days 3 scores: 5, four, 5 = fourteen. Bruno said, "It was like viewing a little dancing hobbit." He mentioned that Vito lacked fluidity and fell twice. From there Bergeron labeled Vito: Louie Frodo.

0 notes

goodjobhub-blog · 5 years

Text

Abc's Dancing With The Stars The Results Show, Eleven/03/2009 Two Couples Go House

The new period of "Dancing with the Stars," is becoming billed as the biggest period however. 16 celebs will be competing for the title of "DWTS" Winner. It all kicks off with a reside 3 evening premiere beginning tonight at eight p.m. on ABC. Donny Osmond, Aaron Carter and former Home Vast majority Leader Tom Hold off are among the contestants. But what Keara delivers to the desk is not another pretty face with a nice voice - it is, instead, a unique mixture of musical abilities that are aaron carter wiki adept much past her many years, matched with a serene, but youthful, vitality that retains her relatable to audiences of all ages. With an R&B acoustic sound relatively reminiscent of a young female counterpart to Bruno Mars, Keara (or 'guitarprincesskeara' as she's known to her 3000+ subscribers on YouTube) is ready to bring a fresh edge to teen pop music. I sat down with Keara just a few nights in the past before an exceptional performance supporting my site at the Concert For Our Long term in Manville, New Jersey, where she opened up about her desires and objectives for her promising future in songs.

youtube

What they and everybody else received rather was a Lindsay Lohan eHarmony profile spoof. Although intended to be sarcastic and also poking enjoyable at her lifestyle, it is a sad testament to the state of Ms. Lohan's life. The eHarmony profile spoof (posted on Funny or Die) talks about her willingness to hook up with any boy or girl and invest at least the relaxation of her probation together. Ouch! It may be more worthwhile for Lindsay Lohan to discover herself first and then branch out to include possible mates into the mix.

Who Is Aaron Carter

I would say that I have a pop acoustic sound. And occasionally individuals say that I have an R&B vibe to my vocals when I sing. I'm truly [influenced] by John Mayer and Colbie Callait. They're my favorites!

It tends to make me really happy to know that individuals are that intrigued in sitting down down and listening to what I have to show them. It tends to make me happy to know that people truly appreciate my songs and appreciate the effort I place into it all. If absolutely nothing else, Ashley inherited one thing from his well-known father, George: the smile. He did a good occupation with the footwork, but it really didn't do much to stand out from the crowd. With a 4 from Bruno, Ashley completed with a 15. He also was final in his team salsa. He's just not thrilling, and I'm really not certain he wants to be there; for that reason, he should be the male contestant to leave on Wednesday.

Aaron Carter Oh Aaron

Age has not been kind to the 68 yr previous music producer. Phil Spector -- who can name John Lennon, the Righteous Brothers, Leonard Cohen, and George Harrison among music's greats related with him - was lastly convicted of second diploma murder in the death of Lana Clarkson. His booking photograph - the now famed Phil Spector mug shot discovered on the Cigarette smoking Gun - provides increase to speculation that pretty much any sentence handed down on Might 29 will be a lifestyle sentence. There has been a lot speculation and many media reviews encompassing alleged estimates from singer Aaron Carter on the legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson. When a noted interview made headlines over alleged quotes from Carter, the singer quickly denied that he experienced at any time said any of the issues that he was becoming quoted as saying. According to a new update made by the singer by way of Twitter, Aaron Carter will reportedly be highlighted on E! Information these days in an interview in which he will be discussing the Michael Jackson story. It must be discouraging to dance nicely, however have been two times in the base two. Look At This and Karina Smirnoff have carried out well with the judges, but not with the voters. Last week, Carter showed maturity with his Argentine tango.

youtube

Aaron Carter 2018

I'd never truly noticed a lot of Mark outside of "Iron Chef," and he was actually a pretty enjoyable guy to view. He may have experienced the cheesiest presentation of anyone I've seen to begin the show, but he could transfer pretty well. The biggest problem for him will be remaining focused on the dance. Tonight's magic formula component is.dancing! (Alright, only kidding.) Mark finished up with a 21 and a 2nd-location end in the group waltz. Michael Irvin - This Pro Bowl Hall of Famer simply doesn't have the rhythm or moves of his predecessors Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith, or even Jason Taylor. He will land in the bottom two, and will probably be leaving the show this week.

Aaron Carter Oh Aaron

The marathon: The nine remaining couples danced simultaneously for the initial marathon mambo. At stake: much more judges' points. The initial few tapped out obtained two factors, while the last receives 10 points. If absolutely nothing else, Ashley inherited one factor from his well-known father, George: the smile. He did a good job with the footwork, but it truly didn't do a lot to stand out from the crowd. With a 4 from Bruno, Ashley completed with a 15. He also was last in his group salsa. He's just not exciting, and I'm truly not certain he wants to be there; for that purpose, he should be the male contestant to leave on Wednesday. For the latest in information on Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and the whole Jackson family, merely click the "Subscribe" button on the leading of the page. Notifications of all the latest news will be sent to your inbox.

0 notes

networkingdefinition · 4 years

Text

Hawaii Quotes

Official Website: Hawaii Quotes

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

• A dreaming vortex is a place where it’s easy to change. You come to a dreaming vortex like Hawaii to step from one dream into another, from one world into another, to change, in other words. – Frederick Lenz • A travel agent told I could spend 7 nights in HAWAII no days just nights. – Rodney Dangerfield • According to a new study, Hawaii is the happiest place in America to live. And I thought it was just a great place to pretend you were born in. – Craig Ferguson • America has always been the richest and most secure, and sometimes the most dangerous country in the world. In the early years, the danger was to everybody near us, slaves, Native Americans, Mexicans. It finally expanded in 1898 to the Caribbean, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines. – Noam Chomsky • Apparently President Obama’s favorite cocktail is a martini. When asked how he likes it, he said, ‘On the beach, in Hawaii, in 2017.’ – Jimmy Fallon • Are we as willing to go into debt for the work of God as we are for a vacation to Hawaii? – Erwin W. Lutzer • Are we going to New Orleans?” “No”, she said, backing out of the spot. “We’re going to West Virginia.” “I assume by ‘West Virginia,’ you actually mean ‘Hawaii,'” I said. “Or some place equally exciting. – Richelle Mead • As a new day begins in New York, the sun sets in Hawaii. – Tim McCarver • As a territory, American Samoa has no representation in the U.S. Senate, and we Samoans lost a respected and powerful ally with the passing of Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye. – Troy Polamalu • Barack H. Obama is a landmark presidential figure as the first black, multiracial, multicultural president from Hawaii and the Pacific. – Dinesh Sharma

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'Hawaii', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '68', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_hawaii').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_hawaii img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); ); • Barack Obama isn’t pointing to anyone, and certainly doesn’t like it when others note (correctly) that his influences were the likes of Saul Alinsky, the Chicagoan and modern founder of community organizing, or Frank Marshall Davis, the communist journalist and agitator from Chicago who mentored Obama in Hawaii in the latter 1970s, and who Obama warmly acknowledges in his memoirs. – Paul Kengor • Beating the drums for Hawaii is not hard to do… the place just grows on you. – James MacArthur • Before I became a fighter pilot, everyone said that women didn’t have the physical strength. Well, I had just completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. – Martha McSally • Being in Hawaii, it’s almost impossible not to be fit, I think. – Henry Ian Cusick • Come with me while the moon is on the sea The night is young and so are we Dreams come true in Blue Hawaii And mine could all come true This magic night of nights with you – Leo Robin • Donald Trump has made it clear that certainly over the last few years that President [Barack] Obama was born in Hawaii. – John Lewis • Ever since I was young I understood the whole meaning of life isn’t how much money you accumulate, how much fame you experience, it’s how many lives you touch, how many faces you bring smiles to. I see myself back in Hawaii doing something in the community to improve the lives of young children. Everything I’ve done is to prepare myself to give back. – Manti Te’o • Every city I go to is an opportunity to paint, whether it’s Omaha or Hawaii. – Tony Bennett • Every time I flicked channels, there I was, talking. I was talking too much and writing too little. So Naomi and I went to Hawaii. The phone was cut off and we lost touch. This gave me the chance to have a good think about my life. – Joe Eszterhas • For a while I got into the South Pacific theater of World War II. I read “American Caesar” by William Manchester, the biography of General MacArthur. Because of that I ended up reading “Tales of the South Pacific” by James Michener and then because of that reading his “Hawaii.” That is what happens. – Dave Barry • For many years I had allowed my second husband to take credit for my paintings. But one day, unable to continue the deception any longer, I left him and my home in California and moved to Hawaii. – Margaret Keane • For me, the magic of Hawaii comes from the stillness, the sea, the stars. – Joanne Harris • For some reason my father saw no problem with us pplaying “barbie and ken go to hawaii to save their marriage by picking up another couple for sexy good times,” but if barbie and ken had gone to hawaii to “rescue another couple from a crazed kidnapper,” that would have been wrong. – Michele Jaffe • Good schools, good jobs, good government. These are not unreasonable demands. But sadly, some of our people have already lost heart and have left Hawaii to look for these things elsewhere. – Linda Lingle • Grew up in Hawaii that gave [Barack Obama] a kind of optimism, an ability to see things, you know, and frankly, an ability to trust, you know, in his fellow, you know, white countrymen in a way that I, for instance, you know, and the vast majority of black people I know never really could. – Ta-Nehisi Coates • Growing up, the ukulele was always a respected instrument. It’s a big part of our culture. It wasn’t until I started traveling outside of Hawaii that I realized people didn’t really consider the ukulele to be a real instrument. – Jake Shimabukuro • Have you guys ever ghost hunted in Hawaii? No? Well, I have this fat friend… I shouldn’t say fat, that might offend him, but he’s Samoan and claims to have seen ghosts. – CM Punk • Hawaii ain’t a bad place to work. – T.I. • Hawaii can be heaven and it can be hell. – Jeff Goldblum • Hawaii doesn’t win many games in the United States. – Lee Corso • Hawaii has always been a very pivotal role in the Pacific. It is in the Pacific. It is a part of the United States that is an island that is right here. – Dan Quayle • Hawaii is a beautiful place to bring up a family. – Henry Ian Cusick • Hawaii is a small, close community. – Jake Shimabukuro • Hawaii is a special place because we have a very diverse population there, who are very respectful and tolerant of those who have differing opinions and different views. – Tulsi Gabbard • Hawaii is a unique state. It is a small state. It is a state that is by itself. It is a-it is different than the other 49 states. Well, all states are different, but it’s got a particularly unique situation. – Dan Quayle • Hawaii is absolutely beautiful. – Rachelle Lefevre • Hawaii is not a state of mind, but a state of grace. – Paul Theroux • Hawaii is paradise. It sounds cheesy to say it, but there’s music in the air there. – Bruno Mars • Hawaii is the best form of comfort for me. When I die, I want to be cremated, and I want half my ashes spread in the Pacific around the island, the rest on the property. – Richard Pryor • Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing, and many Hawaiians or part-Hawaiians surf, but in the rest of the United States it’s a pretty white sport. – William Finnegan • Hawaii made the mouth of her soul water. – Tom Robbins • Hawaii was beautiful of course, we played at Turtle Bay an amazing resort right on the ocean. – Natalie Gulbis • Hawaiis own Patsy Mink served as the first congresswoman of color and first Asian American woman in the House; she later sought the Democratic Party presidential nomination. – Colleen Hanabusa • Hawaii’s the 50th state? I thought it was a suburb of Guam. – Bobby Heenan • Here’s my gut belief: Obama got a leg up by being admitted to both Occidental and Columbia as a foreign exchange student. He was raised as a young boy in Indonesia. But did his mother ever change him back to a U.S. citizen? When he returned to live with his grandparents in Hawaii or as he neared college-age preparing to apply to schools, did he ever change his citizenship back? I’m betting not. – Wayne Allyn Root • Hula is the art of Hawaiian dance, which expresses all we see, smell, taste, touch, feel, and experience. It is joy, sorrow, courage, and fear. – Robert Cazimero • I am privileged to be able to work for the people of Hawaii in whatever capacity. – Tulsi Gabbard • I bought almost every single thing that I furnished my house with at the Salvation Army in Hawaii. All second hand. Some of them are kind of retro, and some of them you’d never know. – Evangeline Lilly • I can’t even speak Hawaiian, but if you go there and listen to a Hawaiian song, you get captured because it’s so beautiful, like the melody is just gorgeous and you know Bob Marley is on the radio every single day. It’s very reggae-influenced down there. Basically, you haven’t been to paradise if you haven’t been to Hawaii. – Bruno Mars • I decided that we’d have to take our chances with the law and get the hell out of Baltimore. I thought of seeking asylum in Canada or Australia or England, but I didn’t want to leave the United States, because for better or worse I’m an American, and this is my land; so I decided to fight it out on home ground, and finally we hit upon Hawaii, because of the liberal atmosphere created by its racial admixture, and because of its relatively large population of Buddhists, who are largely nontheistic. – Madalyn Murray O’Hair • I dive all over the world: Fiji, Australia, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and many other places. – Frederick Lenz • I don’t care about the money. I’m just interested in the perks. I’ll do a series if I am picked up by a limo, work only until 4, and the show is shot in Hawaii. – Harry Morgan • I don’t care where [Ted] Cruz comes from. I don’t care where the President comes from. Day one, I opened an investigation on a fraudulent government Hawaii document, period, on a birth certificate, so if you can say Cruz has fake documents, okay. – Joe Arpaio • I don’t have any simple things. I only have things like a gold-studded leather jacket. Then I’m going to Hawaii and I’m asking myself “Do I pack it? It could be cold.” I’m inventing scenarios where I could wear it. – Shaun White • I don’t like to spend money when I’m traveling. I like to go places like Hawaii and not spend money. I splurge on time. – Jonny Weston • I don’t look down on tourism. I live in Hawaii where we have 7 million visitors a year. If they weren’t there, there would be no economy. So I understand why a tourist economy is necessary. – Paul Theroux • I ended up in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific, operating out of Ayuka field in Hawaii. – Louis Zamperini • I got into this little habit of architecture and building. I designed a house in Colorado and one in Hawaii. The idea is supposed to be build and sell – but then I can never bring myself to sell them. – Trey Parker • I grew up in a musical family; the majority of my growing up was done in Hawaii. It’s what we do. You sing, you dance, you play ukulele and you drink. – Dwayne Johnson • I grew up in Hawaii and I think those islands are some of the most amazing places on the planet. – Mateus Ward • I grew up in Hawaii so I was outside a lot playing in the water. – Kelly Preston • I had actually been going to Hawaii for quite a while before I ever picked up the uke. I think with anything new you’re going to get more enjoyment out of it if it comes to you quickly, and the uke facilitates that. – Eddie Vedder • I had done ‘Die Hard’ and it was somebody’s franchise. I actually just got done with the ‘Hawaii Five-O’ pilot and I was developing some things of my own. So ‘Total Recall’ one of those projects that I read wanting more not to like it. – Len Wiseman • I had never been to Hawaii, and now I say that my body is from L.A. but my heart is from Hawaii, because I’m in love with it and it’s home on every level, from a spiritual, soulful place. – Shailene Woodley • I hate painting with a broad brush, but I think the birther thing, at its root, is racist. The guy was born in Hawaii. A black guy is president. It’s cool. Get over it. Just deal with it. There’s nothing you could show these birther people that would shut them up. – Henry Rollins • I have never been afraid to tackle tough or controversial issues, but I have always done it with the intent to do what I was elected to do, and that is represent the interests of my constituents, the working people of Hawaii. I feel that we are facing some of the most difficult issues in recent history with regard to food security, a widening income gap, and the rapidly increasing rise of the cost of living in our State. I know that the office of Lieutenant Governor can do more to address these issues. – Clayton Hee • I have to say, though, that somebody pointed out to me on YouTube that Conan O’Brien was being interviewed, and he was talking about how, oddly enough, he went to see that movie [South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut ] in Hawaii with his girlfriend or wife or whoever, and he didn’t even realize his character was in it. But there he was, and he said, “This voice comes out of me, and I’m thinking, ‘That’s not me! Who is that? That doesn’t even sound like me!’ – Brent Spiner • I just got back from Hawaii on Saturday, and it’s so depressing how quickly all the stresses and the stressful energy of L.A. comes bombarding back. Everyone’s in a rush, you’re annoying everyone, get out of their way, everyone’s most important than you are, has got somewhere more important to be – very draining town. But I still love it in many ways. I wouldn’t leave California. I think it’s a fantastic state, if you can’t be in Hawaii all the time. – Natalie Maines • I know I can serve Hawaii and our country well in the U.S. Senate, know we can mount a solid statewide campaign, know we have a good chance of prevailing. – Ed Case • I know that some of those plans [of the North Korea] could very well lead to a missile that might reach Hawaii, if not the West Coast. We do have to try to get the countries in the region to work with us to do everything we can to confine, and constrain them. – Hillary Clinton • I love Hawaii. I really enjoy surfing in Oahu, and Waianae is such a great area. And Maui – I like Maui a lot, too. – Troy Polamalu • I mean, Hawaii is beautiful, but the world is full of beautiful places. – Robert Kiyosaki • I remember watching Swan Lake and everybody looking exactly the same, but being able to relate because they were the only company I had ever seen even on video that had Asian dancers. The Asian community in Hawaii is actually almost as dominant as the Caucasian community. I thought “I can relate to that company because they look like people that I see every day.” They weren’t all little stick-thin Russian ballerinas. – Joan Chen • I see life everywhere I look. I get the energy off the water. Hawaii really, when I am there, it feels like how we are supposed to live and how it’s supposed to be: slower, just appreciating our surroundings. I love the people there and the aloha, the history. They’re really rooted in something. – Natalie Maines • I shined off high school band, marching, jazz studies. At the time I was too cool for school, I had this professional gig and I was going home taking a shower and heading to downtown Hawaii, Waikiki. – Eric Hernandez • I still consider myself a little, fat kid from Hawaii. – Robert Kiyosaki • I take golf trips with my brother or with friends. We usually go to Pebble or Bandon Dunes. One year we went to Hawaii. – Greg Maddux • I think I learned years ago when I went to Hawaii that you don’t bring puka shells back. You’ve got to be careful of your vacation purchases. – Joshua Homme • I think I was a mermaid and I used to swim the shores or Hawaii and used to pop up and see coconuts and pineapples everywhere. – Ella Henderson • I think somebody like Wes [Anderson] has a very good sense of style and is original. I think my sense of style got a little bit better after I was exposed to you guys at Valentino. Because I’m just in Hawaii and Malibu; it’s just kind of T-shirts and surfing-type stuff. – Owen Wilson • I think that being isolated from the Hollywood world of premieres and red carpet events was probably good for me because I could ease into those at will and by my own choice. But in other aspects, when it comes to fanfare, Hawaii is nuts and in L.A. they’re all so jaded. They don’t care. – Evangeline Lilly • I think there’s a really great amount of potential for Hawaii to become an example of what’s possible with renewable energy because there are so many renewable resources here: energy, solar energy, and wind energy. There’s so much potential here. – Jack Johnson • I thought my book was done, then we went to Hawaii and the whole last chapter happened. – Mariel Hemingway • I truly believe the brightest days lie ahead for the Great State of Hawaii. – Linda Lingle • I volunteered to deploy to Iraq. I was one of the few soldiers who were not on the mandatory deployment roster – close to 3,000 Hawaii soldiers were. – Tulsi Gabbard • I want people to think of Hawaii and think of palm trees and magical islands and Bruno Mars. – Bruno Mars • I want to stay in Hawaii a little while. I’m kind of liking it over there. – Josh Holloway • I wanted to go back on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ I did it. One of my favorite shows is ‘Hawaii Five-0.’ I went on, guest starred. I wanted to be in a film, did ‘Tasmanian Devils’ in Vancouver. Wanted to host a show, boom, did it. – Apolo Ohno • I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii – Steve Case • I was born in Hawaii, but I was raised in Iowa. – Jason Momoa • I was in Jersey when the whole World Trade Center thing happened and I felt powerless. So, I went to Hawaii and did a surf movie. It’s kind of fluffy. – Michelle Rodriguez • I was introduced to skateboarding through my father. He was a surfer back in the 50’s & 60’s in Hawaii, where my parents grew up. They later moved to California and I was born. Skateboarding was the thing for surfers here in California in the 60’s and my Dad immediately made me a homemade board. – Christian Hosoi • I was just asking Chad [Myers], how can you get a volcano in Iceland? Isn’t it too- when you think of a volcano, you think of Hawaii and long words like that. You don’t think of Iceland.You think it’s too cold to have a volcano there. – Rick Sanchez • I was over there in Hawaii. I was there on the big island. The ‘Big Island’ – that name cracks me up. First of all, it’s not that big, so I’m pretty sure a guy came up with that name. – Carol Leifer • I was raised all over. Kansas, Hawaii, Georgia, Texas and Kentucky, by the time I was 11. – Jeri Ryan • I would love to rent a little cottage or cabin in Colorado and learn to ski or snowboard. And on the warmer side, I also want to rent a house in Hawaii and learn to surf! – Karlie Kloss • I wrote ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart this blight on paradise. That’s when I sat down and wrote the song. – Joni Mitchell • I`ve always thought of him [Barack Obama] and from conversations know him to be a guy who takes the long view, who doesn`t get too high, doesn`t get too low and seizes the opportunities when they`re there and knows how to ride the wave. I ascribe that to Hawaii. He`s a body surfer, so he knows how to get on the wave. He knows just the right time. – Howard Fineman • I’d left Hawaii twice in my life, so I’d been on an island my whole life. I had no clue. I didn’t know how to live in a city. – Maggie Q • I’d love to be [one of MacGyver’s buddies]. I’d watch that one and just think, wow, what a life. Living in Hawaii, driving around in someone’s Ferrari, and solving mysteries. – Rhys Darby • I’d love to go somewhere warm, somewhere near the beach and somewhere with a cool culture. It could be Hawaii, Cuba, South America – anywhere that has a cool culture and a beautiful climate. – Steve Nash • If a nation’s security is only as strong as its weakest link, then America may be in serious trouble. Hawaii may be our weakest link and could have a serious impact on our nation’s immigration policy. – Joe Arpaio • If there’s a Disney animated feature based in Hawaii, I knew I had to be part of it. I’m very proud to be from Hawaii. There was no question the role was mine. – Tia Carrere • If we quit Vietnam, tomorrow we’ll be fighting in Hawaii, and next week we’ll have to fight in San Francisco. – Lyndon B. Johnson • If you don’t have at least a working knowledge of the Hawaiian language… you can’t chant well. You cannot… receive the images of poetry paints for you. It’s like having peas and no pod. – Keali’i Reichel • If you want to surf, move to Hawaii. If you like to shop, move to New York. If you like acting and Hollywood, move to California. But if you like college football, move to Texas. – Ricky Williams • I’m a surfer at heart. Both my parents moved to Hawaii in the 1970s, where they met and became Christians. Then they taught me and my two brothers how to love the Lord – and how to surf! – Bethany Hamilton • I’m not sure it’s possible to stay in Hawaii. It’s kind of impractical. – Terry O’Quinn • I’m of Filipino, Spanish, and Chinese descent, and was raised on Hawaii. – Tia Carrere • I’m quadracontinental. I’ve got a life in London, New York, L.A. and Hawaii. – Rebecca Mader • I’m still a little girl in Hawaii, I have the same friends I had when I was a kid who love me for who I am – not what I do. I never got caught up in the club scene or took wrong roads. – Kiana Tom • Imagine, if you will, you’re sitting at my desk in Hawaii. You have access to the entire world, as far as you can see it. Last several days, content of internet communications. Every email that’s sent. Every website that’s visited by every individual. Every text message that somebody sends on their phone. Every phone call they make. – Edward Snowden • In Hawaii they say, “aloha.” That’s a nice one, It means both “hello” and “good-bye” Which just goes to show, if you spend enough time in the sun you don’t know whether you’re coming or going. – George Carlin • In Hawaii, if you’re invited to dinner, it’s assumed that the children are invited as well. On the islands, no one treats children like they’re not part of the conversation. People talk to children as people and include them in adventures and conversations. – Gabrielle Reece • In Hawaii, some of the biggest radio stations are reggae. The local bands are heavily influenced by Bob Marley. – Bruno Mars • In Hawaii, the environment is fabulous. In Malibu, the people are fabulous. Our family unity is tight, and we have the Pacific Ocean outside our door in both places, so there is consistency. – Laird Hamilton • In Hawaii, there are 50-year-old grandfathers, because they got married so early. – Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa • In Hawaii, they’re happy to hear that you’re filming a show. They love it that people actually come and make use of their beautiful landscapes. – Rachelle Lefevre • In Hawaii, we go to this wonderful place, all families. My wife and I go directly from breakfast to a beach chair where we read all day. My daughter goes from water to pool to running around with friends she meets, some of whom are regulars there. – Stephen Collins • In Hawaii, we greet friends, loved ones or strangers with Aloha, which means love. Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawaii renowned as the world’s center of understanding and fellowship. Try meeting or leaving people with Aloha. You’ll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it and it is my creed. Aloha to you. – Duke Kahanamoku • In Hawaii, we have something called Ho’oponopono, where people come together to resolve crises and restore peace and balance. – Duane Chapman • In my nostrils still lives the breath of flowers that perished twenty years ago. – Mark Twain • In the case of Five-O, I believe it was a combination of many ingredients – timing, chemistry, Hawaii. – James MacArthur • Indian-styled garments are very popular in the U.S., especially in areas near the beach, like Hawaii and Los Angeles. – Maggie Grace • Insiders say Obama’s pretty comfortable around actors. He should be. He has been ‘acting’ like he was born in Hawaii for a long time. – Craig Ferguson • It doesn’t matter if the Republican or the Democratic candidate wins the governorship [of Hawaii]. Either one is already in the kingdom. – Ed Silvoso • It doesn’t matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it’s his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic banana, good-time rock ‘n’ roller dittos. – Rush Limbaugh • It is really so nice here-country-busy-busy with so many different kinds of things-… I must say I feel far away in another world here-… always we go to a new place…the people have a kind of gentleness that isn’t usual on the mainland. – Georgia O’Keeffe • It’s easier to be healthy in Hawaii than it is, almost anywhere else I’ve lived. You spend a lot of time outside, in the ocean and on the beach. – Terry O’Quinn • It’s good to visit Hawaii if you’re seeking power. You don’t really need to live here. Just to come over for a week is enough. Switzerland is another spot like this. It’s very similar. These are the two clearest spots, Switzerland and Hawaii. – Frederick Lenz • I’ve always been under the impression that it would be such a bummer to be in a peaceful place like Hawaii or the tropics and be stressed about catching waves. – Shaun White • I’ve been surfing for a couple years, in the offseason in California and in Hawaii. I’m not very good, but it’s just something that to be out there in the water, no cell phone, no music… very few sports are as pure as that. – Troy Polamalu • I’ve enjoyed the accommodations offered by police departments from Florida to Hawaii. Any time I saw a badge, something in me would snap. – Grace Slick • Jason Lee is the most famous actor from Hawaii I can think of. – Tia Carrere • Life is very nice in Hawaii. I rent a place that has its own cottage so when my friends and family come to visit, they have somewhere nice to stay. – Jorge Garcia • Make good the good in you…and you will slowly steal into the Hawaiian heart, which is all of softness, and gentleness, and sweetness. – Jack London • Many believe that Hillary Clinton was channeling President Obama during her recent speech in New York City. She focused on equality, justice, and how hard it was for her growing up as a young black man in Hawaii. – Jimmy Fallon • Many exhibits from this aquarium use Hawaii’s abundant natural daylight. This allows Waikiki to display only live coral, which creates beautiful exhibits. It’s also a world leader in the propagation of live coral. The aquarium features some unusual and rarely seen species, including the chambered nautilus and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. – John Grant • Most of my ukulele heroes were traditional players from Hawaii, like Eddie Kamae and Ohta-san. There may not be uke stars in popular culture, but there are certainly pop stars that play uke – George Harrison, Eddie Vedder, Taylor Swift, Train, and Paul McCartney. – Jake Shimabukuro • Most of the time, I’m working in places I’m not familiar with. Sometimes it’s Slovakia, and sometimes it’s Hawaii. Not to bash on Slovakia, but I really did enjoy Hawaii. – George Clooney • Most people are walking around the city like corpses; they aren’t alive enough to notice the trash. They come from other places and they see it as a big garbage dump. Do you want to live and work in a garbage dump? I don’t. That’s partly because I grew up in the most pristine environment possible – Hawaii, where it is sacrilege to leave your garbage on the ground. – Bette Midler • My boyfriend, who I love to death – he’s only 17 so he’s the youngest guy I’ve ever dated – he just moved here from Hawaii to be with me and I met him when I was 10. Anyway, in Hawaii they have such a different mentality and different priorities. – Nikki Reed • My father is Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino; my mother is half-Irish and half-Japanese; Greek last name; born in Hawaii, raised in Germany. – Mark Dacascos • My father moved to Hawaii from Brooklyn and my mother came there as a child from the Philippines. They met at a show where my dad was playing percussion. My mom was a hula dancer. – Bruno Mars • My husband is from Hawaii and his father who was also born in Hawaii was a teenager when Pearl Harbor happened, right before church and he ran up and got on the roof of his grandfather’s house and watched the planes go over. – Sigourney Weaver • My kids have never known me not working on The Bachelor. But they’ve lived in Paris and Italy and been to Hawaii and Bora-Bora with me, and it’s incredible to me that they’ve had these experiences. – Chris Harrison • Not very many companies go through Hawaii on their way to anywhere. San Francisco Ballet was the only company I remember, and Bolshoi, coming through Hawaii when I was younger. – Joan Chen • Nothing is more often misdiagnosed than our homesickness for Heaven. We think that what we want is sex, drugs, alcohol, a new job, a raise, a doctorate, a spouse, a large-screen television, a new car, a cabin in the woods, a condo in Hawaii. What we really want is the person we were made for, Jesus, and the place we were made for, Heaven. Nothing less can satisfy us. – Randy Alcorn • One volcano in Hawaii, one volcano in Indonesia, produces enough gases in the atmosphere, which include those natural elements that are in the Earth’s crust, that, uh, kind of make all the, you know, the science that we have about what we produce, moot. – Jim Gibbons • Over the years, I’ve traveled to many places for inspiration and research, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Carolina, California, and Hawaii. – Jennifer Chiaverini • President Obama and his family are spending the holidays in Hawaii, and while they’re gone, they got a fence jumper to house sit. Tomorrow, he will be in Hawaii playing golf with Raul Castro and the Pope. – David Letterman • President Obama has decided that he wants his presidential library to be in Chicago, not Hawaii. Today Hawaii’s governor said, ‘Great, who’s going to want to come to Hawaii now?’ – Conan O’Brien • Running gives me a clearer perspective on the world, and it makes me feel special. I’ve never been a traditional tourist. I’ve always seen the world by running, and that has allowed me to view things in a different way. Places look different in the early-morning hours, when the streets are deserted. – Grete Waitz • Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. To make victory certain, we would have to march into Washington and dictate the terms of peace in the White House. I wonder if our politicians, among whom armchair arguments about war are being glibly bandied about in the name of state politics, have confidence as to the final outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices. – Isoroku Yamamoto • Since my mom is the President of Ballet Hawaii, I’m always in touch with stuff going on. – Joan Chen • Six years ago, I completed the premier episode of Hawaii Five-O, and Jack Lord and I immediately realized that we had a good series, that this was a success such as we’d never hoped for! – James MacArthur • So it was a really pleasant surprise when [Independence Day] turned out to be a successful film. I don’t know if you’ve heard that they’re going to be re-releasing it next Fourth of July in 3-D. I’ve actually only seen it once, and it was in Hawaii, in a little theater in Oahu shortly after it was released. But Roland Emmerich is a really smart guy, and he makes really fun movies to watch. – Brent Spiner • Some people say Hawaii is spoiled, but I don’t think so. It’s modern. It’s a part of today’s world. – James MacArthur • Somehow, the love of the islands, like the love of a woman, just happens. One cannot determine in advance to love a particular woman, nor can one so determine to love Hawaii. – Jack London • That isn’t to say that Hawaii’s better. On the mainland, everyone seems to be trying to get somewhere. Kids are taught to shoot for the moon, to believe in their ability to do anything, to follow their passions. In Hawaii, you’re stuck in the middle of the Pacific, and it can be difficult to see how you’re going to follow your passion from there. – Gabrielle Reece • That’s a traditional Samoan dance. I was lucky that I was able to fly my cousins, who are professional dancers, up from Hawaii and they were able to be in the movie with me. We had a great time. – Dwayne Johnson • The Aloha spirit is something that is very special and very meaningful to us and our Polynesian culture. Those of you who have had the opportunity to visit Hawaii, or any of the Polynesian islands, know that it’s a very special thing. It’s an intangible, and when you get off the plane and have your feet on the ground there, it energetically takes you to a different place. – Dwayne Johnson • The band would play on the night off for the local hotel bands and we’d back all the different acts. So I’d been advised by good friends of mine to come back to Hawaii. Oh, I loved Honolulu, playing at a place right on the beach at Waikiki! – Martin Denny • The beauty of Hawaii probably surpasses other places. I like the Big Island and the two mountains, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, where you can look out at the stars. – Buzz Aldrin • The best thing about wearing black is that you can hide pretty easily, unless you’re in like Hawaii, then you can’t hide. – Gerard Way • The cause of Hawaii and independence is larger and dearer than the life of any man connected with it. Love of country is deep-seated in the breast of every Hawaiian, whatever his station. – Liliʻuokalani • The day before I left to fly in New York, I went in the ocean and was just lying on my black looking up at the sky, which was that Hawaii blue. Just that moment was worth the entire thing. The ocean is everything. It can heal you. – Gavin Rossdale • The five principles of aloha, when practiced together, awaken our awareness of our human potential and the sacredness of our life. – Paul Pearsall • The mindless rejoicing at home is really appalling; it makes me fear that the first blow against Tokyo will make them wilt at once…I only wish that [the Americans] had also had, say, three carriers at Hawaii. – Isoroku Yamamoto • The number one issue that Ocean Mysteries has opened my eyes to is, no matter where you are, whether you’re on a beach in Hawaii, you’re diving in the Pacific, you’re in a remote archipelago, or you’re in the middle of nowhere – I am blown away and sobered and crushed, emotionally crushed, by the amount of marine debris, of garbage, that is now in our ocean. – Jeff Corwin • The one we keep pitching and there are no takers is The Fabulous Baker Boys Go to Hawaii. There don’t seem to be any takers on that one! – Beau Bridges • The paintings are transferred from my computer to a disk, and I can hand it to the printer this way; or I can modem the painting to the printer over the phone lines from my house in Hawaii. – Buffy Sainte-Marie • The person who betrayed you is sunning themselves on a beach in Hawaii and you’re knotted up in hatred. Who is suffering? – Jack Kornfield • The sentiments in Hawaii about Washington’s failure of leadership are no different than the rest of the country. – Ed Case • The smell of the sea, of kelp and fish and bitter moving water, rose stronger in my nostrils. It flooded my consciousness like an ancestral memory. The swells rose sluggishly and fell away, casting up dismal gleams between the boards of the pier. And the whole pier rose and fell in stiff and creaking mimicry, dancing its long slow dance of dissolution. I reached the end and saw no one, heard nothing but my footsteps and the creak of the beams, the slap of waves on the pilings. It was a fifteen-foot drop to the dim water. The nearest land ahead of me was Hawaii.- Ross Macdonald • The spiritual destiny of Hawaii has been shaped by a Calvinist theory of paternalism enacted by the descendants of the missionaries who had carried it there: a will to do good for unfortunates regardless of what the unfortunates thought about it. – Francine du Plessix Gray • The U.S. started with no stars. In fact, it started with a completely different flag. The last two were added in 1959, Hawaii and Alaska. – Juan Enriquez • There are many things I’m looking forward to in 2013, both personally and professionally. Plans for new restaurants in the U.S., including Eataly Chicago, are underway, and I’m gearing up for the 2013 Ironman world championships in Hawaii – if I’m lucky enough to get a spot! – Joe Bastianich • There are several states where you can get married. But I think I can say without fear of contradiction, ‘Paradise awaits.’ We’ll be happy to welcome you. And if you do get married in another state, think about honeymooning in Hawaii. – Neil Abercrombie • There are spirits in Hawaii. They’re very protective and very good and they watch over these islands. I must confess, they’re not entirely happy with what they see, with the way the civilization is moving. But they’re patient. They’ve been here for a long time, and they’ll be here long after the human beings have ceased to inhabit the islands. – Frederick Lenz • There is one bright side to this, said Fang. “Yeah? What’s that?” The new and improved Erasers would mutilate us before they killed us? He grinned at me so unexpectedly I gorgot to flap for a second and dropped several feet. “You looove me,” he crooned smugly. Holding his arms out wide, he added, “You love me this much.” My shriek of appalled rage could probably be heard in California, or maybe Hawaii. – James Patterson • There’s nothing – there’s nothing – as action-packed as ‘Hawaii Five-O.’ – Michelle Borth • This sounds cheesy but when I would get in discussions with people about religion or spirituality, a lot of people would say, “I believe God is nature, there’s God in that tree” – and I would think, What the hell are they on about? But it was about four or five years ago in Hawaii where that all made sense to me and I got it all, and I felt God was in the trees and in the grass and the flowers, and I completely understood. – Natalie Maines • Though there is something cruel about being in Hawaii and you have a computer in front of you the whole time. – Justin Theroux • To be honest I don’t watch the show, I don’t watch any TV, so I have no idea what the show is about. I go to Hawaii, shot my scenes and script and ‘Ciao.’ I’m not a ‘Lost’ fanatic and it’s a disappointment for thousands people and friends that are dying to know what will happen. They know more than me. – Sonya Walger • Waterworld was the best time of my life. It was physically demanding, but it was fun. I mean, you’re in Hawaii for nine months shooting on the water every day. – David R. Ellis • We are truly the land of the great. From the rock shores of… Hawaii… to the beautiful sandy beaches of… Hawaii… America is our home. – Sarah Palin • We have great cities to visit: New York and Washington, Paris and London; and further east, and older than any of these, the legendary city of Samarkand, whose crumbling palaces and mosques still welcome travelers on the Silk road. Weary of cities? Then we’ll take to the wilds. To the islands of Hawaii and the mountains of Japan, to forests where Civil War dead still lie, and stretches of sea no mariner ever crossed. They all have their poetry: the glittering cities and the ruined, the watery wastes and the dusty; I want to show you them all. I want to show you everything. – Clive Barker • We have North Shore, Hawaii and Lost all there, so they have softball tournaments between the casts. It’s hilarious. – Josh Holloway • We need Hawaii just as much and a good deal more than we did California. It is manifest destiny. – William McKinley • We packed up all the worldly possessions we could carry with us and took the next flight to Hawaii from Washington. It took just about every cent my family had to our name just to pay the plane fare. When we arrived, we had about $15 left among us. We were really in pitiful shape. But we were together, and we were alive, and this was all that mattered. – Madalyn Murray O’Hair • We shot on location in our very first weeks, in our very first shows. I would like to go on location again, Hawaii would be good!! But normally, we tape five days a week in the studio starting at about 8:00 a.m. and continuing until about 8:00 p.m. – Juliet Mills • We were just floored by the kindness of the people here. The minister of the Unitarian Church in Honolulu invited my family over to his office the day we arrived and told us to make it our headquarters while we looked for a permanent residence. When we couldn’t find a place for about a week, he let us live in the church; that’s ironic, isn’t it? But it points up the vastly different intellectual atmosphere that prevails here in Hawaii. – Madalyn Murray O’Hair • We were on the island of Hawaii. I think I was there three months. It was fantastic. It is not much different than films. It depends on the television show but much of television today is as good or better than most films. – Bo Derek • Well, filming in Hawaii, you know, is a blessing. It’s one of the most beautiful places on this planet. It has a very mystic energy which informs you as an actor. – Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje • Well, President-elect Barack Obama and his family are gonna spend the holidays in his home state of Hawaii. And you know who couldn’t be more thrilled with this? The press, the reporters who follow the president. Well, think about it. After eight years of spending every holiday cutting brush in Crawford, Texas, they get to go to Hawaii! – Jay Leno • We’ve had every official in Hawaii, Democrat and Republican, every news outlet that has investigated this, confirm that, yes, in fact, I was born in Hawaii, Aug. 4, 1961, in Kapiolani Hospital. – Barack Obama • When I get in the sun I get very tanned. You can’t tell me from the native fishermen in Hawaii or Mexico. – Desi Arnaz • When I’m in New York, I bike everywhere. I have a couple of bikes stored over at Ed Norton’s. It’s the only way to go. But in Hawaii, I drive. I have a little Volkswagen Bug, from the ‘Drive it? Hug it?’ phase. I run it on biodiesel. – Woody Harrelson • When Japanese went to Hawaii they would go straight and buy the same thing that they would buy in Japan. They just got it cheaper, which they liked. And so they would still eat the red bean ice cream or the green tea ice cream, but they didn’t really take advantage of the variety and it wasn’t clear that they cared. – Sheena Iyengar • When people are worried about the future, they don’t take trips to Hawaii. – Linda Lingle • When you go to Hawaii, it’s all about “Aloha.” It means hello, goodbye and I love you. – Gabriel Iglesias • Whenever I finish a book, I go off and have some kind of adventure. Having had an adventure in my writing chair or on my writing sofa, an internal adventure, then I need to balance that off with an external adventure, so I’ll go tramping through Africa or whitewater rafting or float to Hawaii in a martini shaker or something. – Tom Robbins • Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii? – Steven Wright • With my being from Hawaii and being very family oriented I don’t really have a fear of a tragic ending. I dont see any tragic ending for me. – Bruno Mars • With the departure of Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D), who is running for the governorship of Hawaii, and with the tragic and very sad passing of my personal friend Jack Murtha (D-Pa.), mine is now the deciding vote on the health care bill and this administration and this House leadership have said, quote-unquote, they will stop at nothing to pass this health care bill. And now they’ve gotten rid of me and it will pass. You connect the dots. – Eric Massa • You are the lei I entwine with the beauty of your smile. – Robert Cazimero • You know, I think there was a point in time when people didn’t really understand how birth certificates were kept in the state of Hawaii, and now, I think that it’s been pretty much disclosed that they used to have a long form and now they don’t have a long form. Arizona used to have a long form, we now have a short form. – Jan Brewer • You know, or three kinds of ice cream bars and you’d see this and like this… okay they could clearly benefit from some more choices and I remember having these discussions with the Japanese because they you know they often like to go to Hawaii for vacation because it was definitely much cheaper for them and I would ask them, “So when you go to Hawaii, you know do eat all these other things?” – Sheena Iyengar • You think that you can hide; you think you can lay low? I’ll roll up on your ass like Hawaii 5-0! – Busta Rhymes [clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'a', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_a').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_a img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'e', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_e').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_e img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'i', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_i').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_i img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'o', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_o').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_o img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'u', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_u').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_u img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

0 notes

equitiesstocks · 4 years

Text

Hawaii Quotes

Official Website: Hawaii Quotes

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

0 notes