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aomineavenue · 3 years

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MEET THE MAIN CHARACTERS OF SHARK TANK

Interviewer: Hello, fellow fans of aomineavenue productions! Today we’re here with the main cast of the upcoming production “SHARK TANK” and have prepared a few sets of questions that will give you a little insight of what it’s about. ━━ direct yourself to the masterlist of shark tank here.

━━ Akaashi Keiji; “I will never love you the way you want me to.”

[I]: Hello there, Akaashi-san! We’re so glad you’re able to make it to today’s interview.

[A]: I’m happy to be here.

[I]: Let’s get down to business, shall we? Your line for the promo of Shark Tank practically screams angst, can you give us a little clue on what it’s about?

[A]: Well I can’t really disclose on such an important information but I can say that particular part in the production does indeed scream angst but I do think the fans will be able to love that scene.

[I]: Do you love the role that was given to you?

[A]: It certainly is something I’ve yet to portray as in aomineavenue’s works and I think it might confuse the fans as to why such a role was given to me but I’m really happy with what the team has made so far. I can’t wait for everyone to see this.

[I]: As we know so far, Y/N will be choosing out of the three male leads in the production. Can you tell us more about the relationship between your role and hers?

[A]: Without disclosing too much, I think the relationship between the two based on the timeline of the story is pretty much on edge or rather rocky due to their current situation. They have mutual feelings for each other but the circumstances around them keeps tearing them apart.

[I]: Yikes. We can’t wait to see that.

[A]: And I can’t wait for everyone to see it. I hope I don’t disappoint the fans who will be viewing this story.

━━ Daishou F/N; “Why can’t I live the life I want to?”

[I]: The huge star of every show is here everyone! Welcome L/N F/N! It’s an honour to have you here with us today.

[Y]: Thank you so much, I’m really happy I could be here today. I’ve been so excited for everyone to see this.

[I]: This time around, based from what was given to us, you’ll be portraying as Daishou Suguru’s little sister. How is it like working with Daishou-san?

[Y]: Ah! Yes, well, he’s literally a burst of energy to be around with. Though we may not be actually siblings, working with him in this project, i can definitely say that we treat each other like siblings now.

[I]: Was the cast in this project easy to work with?

[Y]: Oh, definitely. Everyone is such a sweetheart and so welcoming. I’m really happy with the cast. Everyday has been a blast, to reading lines to filming episodes.

[I]: Tell us more about the character you’re portraying.

[Y]: Well, my character is someone who has been through a lot of hardships with her family. Due to the family environment, she had to step down from what she loves doing best to avoid the scandals. It really took a toll on her, so instead of doing something she really loved, she stayed away to avoid any unnecessary drama. She just wanted a peaceful life.

[I]: Tell us more about the love interests of your character. Who do you ship your character more?

[Y]: Oh, I don’t kiss and tell. Let’s just say that even I have a hard time choosing myself.

[K]: She obviously chooses me.

[O]: My character was obviously better.

[A]: Keep dreaming.

[Y]: Excuse me? This is my interview.

━━ Kuroo Tetsurou “I only came back for you, what more do you need?”

[I]: My, Kuroo-san, welcome! How is your first project with aomineavenue productions?

[K]: Ah, it was honestly very intimidating at first but you know, you get used to it along the way. Especially with such a great team.

[I]: Can you tell us more about the character you’ll be portraying?

[K]: Ah, my character is someone who followed his dreams and left someone he dearly loved. He actually regrets after awhile and never really got over things.

[I]: Wow, such a spoiler! I’m sure the fans will love it. Is that how your character’s relationship is with the main character?

[K]: I cannot confirm or deny anything. I guess that’s up to everyone to figure out along the way.

[I]: What a complete tease! What should the fans look forward to?

[K]: I’d say the very dramatic scenes between each love interest. Though, I must do so say myself, the relationship between my character and the main character is pretty tamed compared to the other two.

[I]: Somehow, I have this feeling that I should doubt that.

━━ Miya Osamu “You were the only woman I’ve ever wanted.”

[I]: It’s a pleasure to have you here with us, Osamu-san. How has working with aomineavenue productions going so far?

[O]: It’s a blast, honestly. I’ve had other projects with aomineavenue and it’s been great. Working with Y/N, too, has been a wonderful experience.

[I]: I’m so glad to hear that. Based on our survey, you were highly voted on by the fans. What does that feel like?

[O]: Ah, really? I ddin’t expect that. That’s truly an honor, I hope I’ll be able to live up to everyone’s expectations. I can’t wait to rub it in ‘Tsumu’s face that I was picked for this current project.

[I]: Tell us more of the character you’ll be portaying in Shark Tank.

[O]: The character I’ll be portraying is extremely loyal, as you can see from the line given from the promo. Based on the timeline where the story will go, my character will be going through certain lengths to help certain people.

[I]: Your character will be portraying as a heir to a big entertainment company, am I correct?

[O]: Yes, that’s correct. Basically, he has a lot of resources to help the other characters in their sticky circumstances.

[I]: Would that mean that your character will probably be the knight in shining armor for our main character?

[O]: That’s for everyone to wait and find out. Either way, I can’t wait for everyone to see this upcoming series. We’re pretty excited ourselves.

━━ aomineavenue “I’m sleep deprived, please.”

[I]: Hello, Mia! It’s great to finally have you back here with us.

[M]: Ah, I’m pretty excited myself. It’s been awhile so, please be nice to me as I’ve yet to write something good lately.

[I]: So do tell us, what is the inspiration with Shark Tank?

[M]: Honestly speaking, it was a different story when i first posted about Shark Tank. It was going to be more complicated and angsty but I didn’t think it would fit well for a SMAU setup, so i rearranged a few things and hopefully this will be better. The previous points from my original story idea, will also be migrated to the new plot idea for Shark Tank but it’ll be on a totally different setting.

[I]: When should we expect the first release of Shark Tank?

[M]: I would say about next week. I haven’t been around much lately due to personal reasons, so I’m still settling back in and rearranging my thoughts. Hopefully, I’ll be able to follow through. I expect weekly updates with this one. My goal is to update at least every Saturday.

[I]: Will we be getting more romance than angst in this work?

[M]: I can’t really say. The current start of the story mostly revolves around getting to know each character and start of a dramatic arc. But I would like to confirm that romance is indeed in the cards for this story, whether it may be between main characters or side characters that will be present in the story as well.

━━ do you have any questions for the author? send them here. To be added to the taglist for Shark Tank, fill up a form here.

#akaashi keiji x reader #osamu miya x reader #kuroo tetsurou x reader #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu smau #akaashi x reader #osamu x reader #kuroo x reader #akaashi smau #osamu smau #kuroo smau #shark tank

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beca-mitchell · 4 years

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First of all, fuck you 'fool's gold's was so soft and funny. Such a joy to read. How dare you be so talented??? Second of all, how about a lil angsty prequel with the drunken kiss? 👀

omg of course you would…something really quick for u, my dear…i miss u!

foolish desires (1/1)

Summary: Their past will always follow them, no matter where they are. From the South of France to Colorado to California.

A/N: supplement to fool’s gold. the kiss that didn’t happen and the kiss that did.

Word count: 1.7k

Read below or on AO3.

One.

[South of France]

Beca isn’t a jealous person, not necessarily. But she supposes she may be prone to the occasional flare-up.

But she is an adult and she’s totally happy for Chloe. Chloe, who is a consenting adult and who can make her own decisions…and who is decidedly not Beca’s girlfriend.

They’re just friends.

Chloe kissing Chicago right after Beca’s final performance in France had kind of been the final nail in the coffin.

Beca just kind of…thought maybe—

She shakes her head, refocusing on the conversation. “And Chicago?” Beca asks, hating the way his name rolls off her tongue. The familiarity of saying his name was not born out of friendliness or camaraderie, but a necessity. “How is he?” she continues, taking care to inject politeness into her tone. Regardless of her budding and increasingly frustrating feelings for Chloe, she never wants to lose Chloe as a friend. That would quite possibly be the worst outcome ever.

To her surprise however, Chloe sighs. Beca’s heart begins to pound erratically and she quickly shushes the stupid voice in her head to listen to Chloe’s voice. “I don’t really want to talk about it. I’m kind of just looking forward to this weekend of doing nothing.”

“Oh, okay,” Beca agrees quickly. “That sounds nice.”

And just like that, the conversation is dropped.

— — — — — — — — — —

Beca still thinks about it though.

There were few things that would compare to the elation and joy and inexplicable sadness that followed her performance, as she gazed upon the applauding audience. For all the eyes that had turned upon her then—for all the respect and admiration—Beca only had eyes for one group of people.

Or rather, one person.

It had been as if a spotlight turned on and had pointed Beca right into Chloe’s arms. Never had she felt so safe and warm and happy, like she knew exactly what she needed for the rest of her life.

“That was incredible,” Chloe had murmured right into Beca’s ear. Loud as ever over the dull roar from the audience. “You’re incredible.”

Too choked up around a mouthful of Chloe’s hair and her own tears, Beca couldn’t do much more at the moment than squeeze Chloe back as tightly as she could, all kinds of realizations and epiphanies shooting through her body. How neatly their bodies slotted together. How wonderfully soft Chloe felt against her. The brush of Chloe’s nose against her skin as she nuzzled into Beca further. Their friends all around them, squeezing them even closer together.

Chloe’s voice, over and over: “You’re incredible. Amazing. Wonderful.”

Beca really is starting to believe it.

— — — — — — — — — —

One little hiccup, however—

“Colorado? The state?”

(A hiccup apart from Chicago. These names are killing Beca.)

“It’s like a two-hour flight to Los Angeles.”

Beca hums in response and blushes, trying not to let it be known exactly why Chloe knew that information would be important…because it isn’t. Not at all. Not one bit.

— — — — — — — — — —

Chicago himself ends up being nothing, really. But that doesn’t mean the sting goes away that easily.

But Beca can’t say no to visiting Chloe in Colorado, taking the trip to Fort Collins months after their fateful USO trip.

It feels like an entire lifetime as passed, but once Chloe pulls her into the tightest hug known to mankind, it is like nothing has changed.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” Chloe murmurs, sounding suspiciously teary.

“Me too.”

— — — — — — — — — —

The thing is, it is so ridiculously easy to be with Chloe. It is so easy for Beca to lose herself in all the same old sensations and the same old annoying feelings, except this time she knows to accept them for what they truly are.

She goes with it.

Now, they’re giggling and everything feels so fucking warm.

Beca is trying to remember whether Chloe mentioned that her apartment was a furnace because the heat is making her want to pull off her sweater, but for unknown reasons at the moment, Beca thinks she probably shouldn’t. Still, she smiles, enjoying the feeling of Chloe pressed right against her side—unfortunately making her warmer still with her body heat—and Chloe’s laughter shaking both of them.

Why had they been laughing at all?

Who cares, Beca thinks. Chloe smells nice and clean and like everything Beca enjoys most in the world.

Like home.

She doesn’t realize how still she is until Chloe slowly lifts her head as well to peer at her.

Oh fuck, she can read my mind. Beca tries to smile back, attempting to form some sarcastic phrase that will bring them out of this suddenly tense moment, but it all dies on her lips when all she manages to say is, “You have beautiful eyes.”

FUCK. Abort mission.

Reflecting back, it would be innocent enough if Beca weren’t certain she had her damn fuck me eyes turned all the way on. She’s sure she had gotten better at taming them over time, but Chloe’s kind of looking at her the same way. It’s just the way those words sound: soft and gentle, whispered like a lover’s secret…

Beca is screwed. By her own doing.

But,she thinks traitorously, as Chloe inhales shakily, with her face so close to Beca’s. Would it be so bad? To kiss her?

Chloe Beale is the kind of girl who knows how pretty she is, Beca’s sure, but somehow Chloe is breathless with Beca’s little confession-but-it-wasn’t-really-a-confession.

“So blue,” Beca adds once she tires of the silence. She is somehow leaning farther into Chloe’s personal space.

“They’re definitely blue,” Chloe confirms in a distracted tone.

“I like it when you look at me,” Beca replies, bolder than she feels.

“I like…” Chloe clears her throat. “I like that too.” A blush begins to spread on Chloe’s cheeks.

“Looking at me?” Beca asks to clarify.

Chloe smiles and she leans in further.

And suddenly a cacophony of sound—like a door slamming in Beca’s mind, loud enough to startle even Chloe away from her.

Wait, it’s real.

“Wait,” Beca blurts when she realizes she is too late in trapping Chloe’s warmth.

“Oh fuck, it’s my roommate,” Chloe whispers. She stands quickly to greet her roommate, but not before casting a look of regret and disappointment back at Beca.

Beca sighs.

— — — — — — — — — —

Two.

[Los Angeles, California]

It is probably a bad idea for Beca to introduce Chloe to her new L.A. friends, but they’re probably the most solid group of friends Beca has managed to lock down and they’re oddly loyal for Hollywood standards.

Still, they’re no match for Chloe Beale.

Chloe, who once jumped into a pool fully clothed just to make sure the party stayed alive.

Chloe, who has been staring at Beca all night with the most mysterious look on her face.

Chloe, who still sends heat rippling through Beca’s body like no tomorrow.

Beca grins at Chloe fondly, bringing her over to their VIP table and pushing a glass of water towards her. “Drink up, drunky.”

“I’m not drunk,” Chloe says, but still, she drinks obediently. Her eyes still sparkle at Beca over the rim of the glass, like she is assessing Beca or worse, looking right through her. Beca quickly downs her own glass of water, averting her eyes.

When she finishes, Chloe is watching her intently again, but with something akin to affection as opposed to the more primal expression she had displayed.

“Chloe,” Beca says. “C’mere.” When Choe does, Beca pushes her forehead against hers, both of them exhaling in surprise. But Beca shuts her eyes and powers through. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

Chloe smiles, Beca can nearly feel it with how close Chloe’s face is to hers. “That’s my line.”

In the end, when they finally kiss, Beca isn’t sure who moves first. All she really truly processes is how impossibly soft Chloe’s lips are against her own and how their hands bump against each other as they both scramble to hold each other closer. Chloe giggles, soft and light against Beca’s mouth and instead of lessening the tension in Beca’s chest, it sends a bolt of arousal straight to Beca’s center.

It isn’t just Chloe’s laugh though. It’s the way Chloe fucking traps her lip between her teeth and tugs ever so slightly before pushing back in for a deeper, more thorough kiss. And the way her hands rest on Beca’s thighs. Or the way Chloe sighs in that ridiculously sexy way.

It’s just Chloe.

“Fuck,” Beca breathes, when Chloe pulls back only to reattach her lips to Beca’s neck. “Oh fuck , Chloe, we shouldn’t—” she swallows when she feels Chloe hesitate and pause. “We shouldn’t,” Beca clarifies. “N-not here.”

Chloe lets out a shaky breath, lips already slightly swollen from their kiss. Beca stares at them, noting how rosy and pink they look even in the dim lighting. She wants to kiss her again (and again and again—) but they shouldn’t.

Chloe’s lips are moving, forming words.

Beca swallows. “What’s that?” she asks, eyes flicking back up to Chloe’s eyes guiltily.

“I said,” Chloe says slowly and softly in a tone that sends a shiver right up Beca’s spine. “Then where?”

Nevermind. Right here. Now. Thank you.

“Back to my place,” Beca finally manages to say. Her eyes widen when she realizes how that sounds. “Because…you’re staying there.” Nope. “And it’s quieter.”

Chloe grins. “Okay.”

— — — — — — — — — —

To both their credit, they do try to talk, but the Uber home is already a mess of stolen kisses and totally-inappropriate touching, so when Chloe cuts Beca off in the middle of a question, Beca really doesn’t care to ask her again, not when Chloe’s tongue pushes its way into her mouth with precision and confidence.

Beca groans, shuffling backwards as steadily as she can until she falls back on the couch, her hands on Chloe’s ass for support. Chloe huffs out a laugh, her head falling against Beca’s shoulder for a moment.

Beca has never laughed as much while kissing another person than she has with Chloe, which is quite the new experience. It warms her and only makes her want to be close to Chloe again, so she tilts Chloe’s head back to her own and captures her lips again. Soft, warm, and wet—Chloe’s mouth feels like absolute heaven against her own. She had imagined what it would be like, but the reality is so much better that Beca isn’t sure that she’ll ever enjoy another dream again.

“Chlo,” she whimpers against Chloe’s mouth, without any real goal in mind.

Chloe hums in response, kissing a path across Beca’s jaw before lifting her head and staring right at Beca. “I’m here,” she rasps. “I’m here.”

Beca smiles, pulling Chloe back in for another kiss.

They can talk tomorrow.

fin.

#bechloe #beca mitchell #fanfiction #pitch perfect #chloe beale #summersailedin #ask #my fanfic #mine #fool's gold

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cjostrander · 5 years

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Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway: Dictator

Good morning everyone! Today i am going to tackle another newer album and it will be the long awaited second release from Scars on Broadway. It is a bit more direct in terms of experimentation; compared to their first album. It still retains the classic SOAD middle eastern flairs that make both bands unique; but focuses further on an aggressive rock edge. This release was originally recorded in 2012 but was held off on when SOAD was contemplating recording. Now that they pretty much have written that aspect off; Daron Malakian has finally released this album and is in the works of recording a third album this very month. Looking forward to it but let’s see where things go on this one first. Hope you enjoy!

Lives (Single): We begin the album with the first single and it starts us off on a rather energetic rock note. The guitars have a nice rhythm and creates a dance-able foundation that meshes with the lyrical structure of the track quite nicely. Daron’s vocals are pretty smooth and deliver a uniqueness that is pretty hard to compare to other popular vocalists. The lyrics are easy to follow along to and create a decent substance that naturally relates to a common theme of the Armenian Genocide back during the WW1 era. This opener will give you a nice rock opening that should wake you up fairly easy but contain a careful balance between being straightforward and displaying some dose of musical risk. It leans more heavily towards the straightforward route but anything with a SOAD vibe is inherently unique in style. 8.5/10

Angry Guru: We start off nice and aggressive with furious drum beating and fast guitar riffs. Daron delivers a very catchy vocal flair that is quick and further implements a danceable nature into the music. It would be a nice live piece to really get yourself going. The lyrics are easy to follow along to and further add to the catchiness of this track. So far this album definitely showcases as a guitar centered album since Daron recorded this himself. It has a nice little jam segment towards the end that will really get your adrenaline going and could be noted as a highlight on this album but there are a lot of them on here. I will say early on that this release will feel a lot more fluid and easier to venture through than their 15 track debut. This is mainly just because this album is a pure rocker while that one was very much more experimental in focus. Both great albums but the comparison is there and it’s a pleasant one. 9/10

Dictator (Single): This next album single begins with a nice chugging guitar riff and a steady drum support. It has a medium range of tension and Daron arrives to infuse it with an interestingly melodic angst vocally. He gradually grows to develop a very nice echo style that gives it a lively punk edge that will showcase very nicely live. It is supported pretty firmly by the instrumentals and should provide the listener with plenty of encouragement during an enthusiastic workout session. I contains a pretty nice breakdown segment towards the end that would be perfect for a mosh moment so this situates itself as a pretty solid live track and is an easy pick to try and promote on the radio. 8.5/10

Fuck and Kill: This track begins with a low and gritty but catchy guitar rhythm and combines with some experimental middle eastern instruments. Daron has a pretty smooth delivery that continues to remain highly catchy and is highly energetic. It will do well to give the listener something a little less safe in terms of style but retain the garage jam/punk nature of this album. I could see this one being a fun one to play live as well so its decently rounded. 9/10

Guns Are Loaded (Single): This final single begins with an angsty electronic tinge before melodically soft guitars arrive that immediately sound like leftover material from System of a Down; Which goes to show unsurprisingly how strong of a role Daron had in the band’s sound. Daron takes on a slow and emotionally firm focus in his delivery; which will place heavier emphasis on his lyrics. The guitars do still provide some muscle halfway through the track when Daron gradually works his vocals into a very emotionally powerful vocal segment. It is highly catchy and thought provoking in its flow and more importantly is organic in feeling; as opposed to feeling planned and forced. 9/10

Never Forget: This next track begins with a eerie Halloween like sound that is fresh and rather interesting. Daron enters with a guilt trip style lyrical opening and flows rather smoothly with the instrumentals. It contains a nice energy but is moderately rather effectively by the vocal mood. This and the last track as a result will help to provide balance to the album’s overall flow. This will help to keep the listener from either but burnt out from too much too soon; or a simple case of putting the brakes on the album’s energy. 8.5/10

Talkin Shit: We start the second half of the album off with a soft guitar rhythm that will provide a firmer middle eastern vibe for fans of their first album or SOAD in general. It focuses heavier on the lyrics which do provide a very interesting level of substance to the track but instrumentally is one of the more tame ones in terms of energy. So it will focuses heavier on the band’s more experimental edge while still retaining balance overall. The build up into the guitar solo is very blissful and provides guitar lovers with plenty to fall in love with on here. I will note that as the major highlight of this track and is a pretty smart way to begin the second half of the album. 9/10

Till the End: We begin with an apocalyptic style of guitars that would feel fitting as a finale track for the album. Daron takes on a blissful tone that provides a nice texture to the overall atmosphere of it. His pleasant focus on harmonies will help to make this stick out on the album and become an interesting piece to see live; but so far this album is pretty much set up like how i would imagine a live setlist to be. Overall this is a pretty decent piece to come across at this stage of the album. 9/10

We Won’t Obey: The guitars start a bit quicker this time and encompass a nice jam feel that will help to bring another adrenaline rush back into the album. Lyrically its pretty simplistic and will not likely be as heavy of a focus as with the previous tracks. So this will most likely be best appreciated for the chaotic energy pouring through it. 8/10

Sickening Wars: This track continues the speed of the last track but adds a little more uniqueness to it. It uses echoed elements that bring further interest to it and develops a nice punk vibe that will surely be appreciated by the listener; and likely cranked during a road trip. At just over 2 minutes long it is the shortest track on the album; but overall the album has done a good job of keeping things moderated in terms of length. 8.5/10

Gie Mou “My Son” (Instrumental Stamatis Kokotas cover”): This cover track is soft and melodic with a very firm focus on its middle eastern influences. It creates a desert travel type feeling that brings the movie Aladdin to mind. It doesn’t overstay its welcome but considering how heavy the finale track is; i wonder if this really fits on here; due to how drastically it slows things down. 7.5/10

Assimilate (Skinny Puppy cover): This cover track begins with an energetic guitar rhythm and the drums keep things nice and steady for the listener to appreciate. After a lengthy opening Daron arrives with a very fast vocal delivery and will do well to get the listener moving. He really belts his vocals during the chorus with a nice echo quality that would radiate rather nicely during a live performance. It closes the album up pretty decently overall and should be appreciated as a good cover pick overall. 8/10

Overall album rating: 8.5/10

not a bad score the album and was a decent choice to scratch off the promo list today. It is essentially a jam rock album that should be appreciated and will stoke a decent level of interest in follow up album. I have to stay brief on the conclusion today so i will leave you guys here to make your own opinions on it. Let me know what you think because i love hearing peoples opinions on albums and the reviews that i do. Peace!!

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felicityb-reviews · 6 years

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Experimental SHINee - Feature Spotlight

Hello babies, and welcome to the next Feature Spotlight in the SHINee Spotlight series!! My name is Jace (aka Felicity B), and today we're gonna be taking a slow drive through SHINee's more experimental era. This era in SHINee's career actually features my first SHINee comeback (Dream Girl, dahlings), so I am The Most Excited™ for this FSL!! It feels like Dream Girl dropped ten years ago, rather than just five, but I guess that's what K-Pop does to you.

And in case anyone is wondering why I'm going in reverse chronological order, it's because 1of1 and Misconceptions of Me are my favorite SHINee albums.

Era Spotlight

So, I cheated. I really should have featured from DxDxD in this list instead of ones from FIVE, but I don't really like DxDxD!?!??! It's literally my least favorite SHINee album, sis. FIVE, to be frank with you all, fit more in line with the '90s 5HINee era, but it also fits in this experimental era pretty well.

The name of the game here is experimental, folks. SHINee must have gotten a little bored after they decided to go RnB again after LUCIFER. The bulk of the songs on this list were released in 2013, a year that SHINee really pushed the boundaries of who they were as a group, and I almost kind of miss it. Granted, I loved the maturity in sound they came back with on Odd and 1of1 (the former more than the latter, tbh), but this experimental phase was just a fun time to be a SHINee fan. This list includes songs from both Misconceptions albums, the Everybody mini album, and the previously mentioned Japanese album FIVE.

youtube

Spoiler (Misconceptions of You ~Dream Girl~)

Gurl... SHINee was not fuckin' around with us with Spoiler.

Spoiler is a song that Jonghyun wrote incorporating all the song titles from the Misconceptions series in the lyrics. And sis, I was like, "This is cute, or whatevahs!!" when he spoiled the tracklisting for Misconceptions of You, but when Misconceptions of Me dropped and we found out he spoiled that too?!?!?! My wig wasn't just lopsided, she was free floating in space.

SHINee really fucking Did That™ with Spoiler, sis.

Spoiler sounds like someone took Sherlock, and turned her into a vampire. Spoiler is Sherlock's darker and more seductive older sister. It's kind of interesting how they kicked off the Misconceptions series with Spoiler, a song that starts out like their previous title track, but with a dark twist. It's almost like they were making a statement, sis. This SHINee is New and Improved™ SHINee. This SHINee is Upgraded™ SHINee. SHINee 2.0, if you will. We snatched you with RnB/Funk, we snatched you with EDM, and now we're gonna snatch you with both. Enjoy!!

Symptoms (Everybody)

I imagine sex feels like what listening to this song feels like.

Symptoms is an eletro-RnB song that sounds like it was snatched right from the Billboard Top 40. Which doesn't surprise me, because it was produced by the Underdogs (who also produced EXO's Overdose, another song that's dripping in that Top 40 sound from the time). Symptoms is a song that starts out loud and proud; it gives you Drama™, and it gives zero fucks about it. She looks at you without a care in the world and says, "My name is Symptoms, what did you expect!?!?! A cutesy pop track?!?!?! Boi, if you don't get!!"

And mind you, that's what I love about ha.

I fucking love a SHINee song that gives us all the bells and whistles, because they really don't have to. Look at Odd Eye - she's as stripped back as it gets for RnB midtempos, but SHINee still Shine Bright Like A Diamond!! But here's the thing - these dramatic ass niggas love songs like these. You can't tell me these SHINee boys don't love a beat with all the bells and whistles; the way they always come correct on songs like these says it all.

Become Undone (FIVE)

Speaking of songs that lack bells and whistles, Become Undone is not one of them. You'd have to be a Fool™ to think a song titled Become Undone on a Japanese record could be a toned down track.

These types of songs are usually the most dramatic.

Become Undone is an angsty song. She's a song I can see playing during a scene where an anime protagonist has to make an extremely hard decision. Like, intentionally stepping into a trap to save your friends, or deciding between saving your loved ones or the world (don't look at me like that, you guys have seen Sailor Moon).

The main star of the show here is the chorus. That's true of most pop songs, but especially so for Become Undone. She features The SHINee Specialty™ (their ridiculous ability to blend their harmonies together like fuckin' buttah), the trap beats presented in the verse kicked up 10,000 for Maximum Drama™, and orchestral stabs that tie everything together. Become Undone has one of the most emotionally satisfying choruses I've heard in a pop song. Sis, I'm literally the INTENSIFIES meme listening to this song, it's just so good.

I'm really glad that groups like SHINee have had the pleasure of working with a Japanese team to release music in Japan, because it allows them to play with their sound in a way that they can't in Korea. And that's not to say that SHINee haven't played with their sound in Korea (this FSL is literally on the era they experimented with their sound the most), but there's certain sounds and textures that are specifically J-Pop in feel, and it's really cool to see a group like SHINee tap into that.

Orgel (Misconceptions of Me ~Why So Serious~)

Okay sis, now we're actually bringing it down a notch. Not for long, but I figured y'all could use a break, even if it's short lived.

Orgel is a song that's quite similar to Odd Eye in the fact that it's SHINee driving the song with their vocal performance, and the beat is going along for the ride. Orgel also features a melody that sounds like a something you'd hear in a music box, and while that motif is quite overused in pop music, it doesn't make Orgel feel played out. It's just a really pretty song from five really pretty boys.

Orgel is a really neat song, because even though SHINee are driving the song with their voice, they're really not doing a whole lot on the beat. Their vocal performance on Orgel is subtle in the same way the beat is (or rather, as subtle as these boys get), but they still stand out. It's an interesting experience, sis.

Queen of New York (Everybody)

Now this is A Song™, sis.

Queen of New York feels very lounge cafe, sis; she's very "let me sip my expensive coffee drink while I read the latest copy of Cosmo or OK! Magazine". Queen of New York is also very much something the drag queens are voguing to at the local gay club. Miss Queen of New York is a woman of many moods, okay?!?!?!

Queen of New York was a very fun surprise, because I don't think anyone was expecting a song quite like this on the Everbody mini album. She's very edgy, but in a way that you don't expect songs described as "edgy" to sound. Queen of New York has a very polished feel to her, but there's a dirtiness to her that you can't tame. She's a proper Upper Middle Side woman, but she's not afraid to take a walk on the wild side. She's not afraid to show you how to get down, and I just love that so much.

One Minute Back (Everybody)

This is also A Song™, babes.

One Minute Back is grungy, sis. She's not a proper Upper Middle Side woman, she's a punk rock/biker girl with a flair for the dramatic. Ain't nothin' polished here, ladies!! Well, SHINee's vocals are pretty polished, but that's a given. I've never heard a SHINee song where the vocals weren't produced to a T.

But despite that, Ms One Minute Back and Ms Queen of New York are happily married!!

One Minute Back, like Queen of New York, was a song I was pleasantly surprised to hear on Everybody. One Minute back has such grungy verses, but then the chorus and the bridge are so Funky and so SHINee. BUT THE TWO DIFFERENT VIBES BLEND TOGETHER LIKE IT'S NOTHING!! It's such an aurally pleasing experience, you guys!! The reason I compared One Minute Back to Queen of New Year is that they're both marry these two moods to amazing results. I mean, Queen of New York doesn't fully commit to the grunginess, but there's enough of it lying below the surface that it's worth mentioning.

ABOAB (FIVE)

Ms ABOAB is a Bad Bitch™. She's a Boss Bitch™. She has no time for your games, boo. Ms ABOAB is a brazen ElectroFunk number that makes no apologizes.

If SHINee wanted to make a record like Everybody for the Japanese market, ABOAB would have been the title track/lead single. Miss ABOAB is spicy. She's seductive. Miss ABOAB is full on club bounce, and I McFucking L O V E when SHINee do those kinds of songs. There's just something so sexy about them working that club vibe, sis. I lowkey wasn't ready for ABOAB, but she really didn't care. She mesmerizes with the way she flits between emphasizing her Funk and Electro elements.

And that damn drop with the horn line... BITCH!! My wig has been compromised.

Runaway (Misconceptions of You ~Dream Girl~)

Runaway is another ElectroFunk track, but brighter and poppier in a way that contrasts ABOAB quite nicely. It's no less fun and club ready, tho.

Runaway is mainly driven by a punchy synth stab and SHINee's very fun usage of their vocal harmonies. While Miss ABOAB would whip ha weave in ya face if you ever tried to talk to her, Miss Runaway would make silly faces at you and coax you into doing silly dances. I, always and forever, wanna see SHINee in concert, but I especially wanna see Runaway and ABOAB performed live, because they always do these types of club ready tracks Just Right™.

Hitchhiker (Misconceptions of You ~Dream Girl~)

Because God Knows^™ these boys can't not give us a track that channels the very essence of MJ and his weave.

If Spoiler was too gimmicky of a sequel to Sherlock for you, then Hitchhiker is your song. Hitchhiker, to me, sounds like the perfect representation of this era in SHINee's discography - let's take what we already do well and marry it to a whole new palette of song styles/textures, and see what sticks.

And lemme tell you somethin' - Hitchhiker sticks like fucking glue. Remember what I said about SHINee loving the bells and whistles that comes with doing over the top songs?!?!?! That's in full effect here, sis. Hitchhiker is anthemic as all fuck, and these boys ride that beat like they were made for it. And to be completely, I have no doubt in my mind that they were.

Nothing to Lose (FIVE)

So who else was expecting to get something hella grungy like Natalia Kills' Break You Hard or Seventeen's Clap with how hard that guitar was filtered?!?!?! I can't be the only one here.

Nothing to Lose bait and switches us with that dark n grungy guitar riff, because the majority of the song is rather bright n poppy. But I really can't be mad, because I rather liked the way they transitioned the darker sections into the brighter ones. And Nothing to Lose is pure octane fun. It's kind of a hard song to hate, because it gives zero fucks about how cutesy and cheesy it is.

There's also a rather nice helping of Funk thrown into the mix, but I'm gonna pretend that that had nothing to do with much I like this song. Even though it's what makes me like it the most.

Punch Drunk Love (Misconceptions of You ~Dream Girl~)

Punch Drunk Love channels Love Like Oxygen like SHINee's producers were in the studio intentionally trying to produce a sequel to the song. And if you know anything about me, you know that Love Like Oxygen is literal auditory C R A C K for my black ass. Punch Drunk Love also sounds like SHINee's writers held a seance and channeled MJ's spirit when they were writing the song for the boys.

And y'all already K N O W I'm here for that shit.

Punch Drunk Love is the SHINee Five™ on autopilot, sis. SHINee will never not know how to come correct with a Funk song, and it warms my heart. The attitude, the harmonies (THE BUMBACLOT HARMONIES), the overall feel of the song; SHINee gets it right. If you ever needed a pickmeup, then put on SHINee's Punch Drunk Love, and thank me later. This is another song that is unabashedly cheesy, but gives absolutely zero fucks about it.

Isn't it beautiful!?!?!?

Evil (Misconceptions of Me ~Why So Serious~)

Evil can be summed by in two words - Drama and Killer Harmonies.

That's technically three, but you know what the fuck I meant.

Evil is SHINee at their most dramatic. I remember Shawols losing their collective minds at the fancams from the concert performances where they wore blindfolds.

Yes, you read that correctly. These dramatic ass motherfuckers were performing on stage with blindfolds on. They were, more than likely, see through blindfolds, but never doubt SHINee's collective love of the Drama™. They absolutely would dance completely blindfolded.

Evil starts out slow, but I very much doubt that many of us thought the song was gonna stay that way; SHINee were just building the atmosphere (read - creating the perfect environment to torch our weaves). Evil has an almost musical theater vibe to it, except not nearly as cheesy. Evil is honestly a one of a kind experience that we all need in our lives at some point.

Especially because SHINee were on their harmonic A game the day they recorded Evil. When the drums drop out and it's just the orchestral stabs with their voices?!?!? Fuckin' magic, ladies.

Like A Fire (Misconceptions of Me ~Why So Serious~)

We all Know™ Like A Fire, because of that one performance where Jonghyun, Kibum, and Jinki were having a contest to see whom tf could be the most extra (to be honest, I'd say Kibum won, based purely on the fact that I didn't even know he could wail like that). But Like A Fire stands firm on her own by being a wickedly good Funk song.

(Sidenote - I'm about 90% this list has more Funk tracks than my '90s 5HINee FSL, and I want you all know that that was not on purpose. I wont be changing it, but I swear it wasn't done purposefully!!)

Like A Fire, like Punch Drunk Love, is SHINee on autopilot. I don't know what else to say about this song. It's just so Classic SHINee™, sis!! The verses have a more somber, minor tone to them, but the choruses transition (maybe that's a modulation, I'm not Musically Advanced™ enough to make that call) into a killer major groove that is just so beautiful to listen to. I don't know anyone who doesn't like this song. Liking Like A Fire is a requirement for being a Shawol (especially a Shawol of color). If you don't like Like A Fire, you're invalid.

I need to say something about these harmonies and ad libs, tho. Did the producer of Like A Fire tell the SHINee Boys™ to go HAM the day they were laying down tracks for Like A Fire?!?!?! Did they mean for the harmonies and ad libs to get this over the top!?!?! I'm not complaining, I just wanna know. Because the harmonies and ad libs, especially, are so ridiculous!! I love every second of it, but sometimes it K I L L S how extra this song is!!

Diamond Sky (FIVE)

The first time I ever listened to this song, I cackled like a banshee at how extra that intro was, because it's so SHINee. It's so dramatic, and it suits SHINee to a T. I was expecting the verses to be some Final Dragon type shit, or somethin'!!!

Diamond Sky is pretty standard fare for a J-Pop song, imo. It doesn't stop me from loving SHINee's take on it (and it shouldn't stop you), but it's worth mentioning; SHINee + J-Pop = Love. Like I mentioned above, I'm glad that SHINee were able to continue releasing music in Japan, because this is a style of music that suits them well, but would not do well in Korea at all.

Diamond Sky feels like the theme song for a magical girl anime. The twinkly pianos, complemented by the strings and electric guitar give it an air of grandiosity that would have made it a perfect theme or insert song for Sailor Moon. If they had added a modulation at the end for Maximum Drama™, I'd have lost my shit.

Close the Door (Everybody)

Firstly, if you haven't watched the SHINee World IV performance where Jinki tap dances to Close the Door, I'm judging you. Our sweet dubu leader did not bless us with such beauty and grace for you to ignore it!!

Secondly, Close the Door is the cheesiest love song I've ever encountered in K-Pop. It's got the romantic sounding keys, the strings, it's in 6/8 time (perfect for a waltz, babies), the lyrics are so sugary sweet, and the chord progressions utilize mostly major chords. And you know what, I absolutely fucking love it. I'm a cheesy Romantic Gay™, and I fucking love this cheesy ass love song. It's just so aurally pleasing, especially since these SHINee boys all have voices that blend together amazingly when they harmonize. Sue me.

Sleepless Night (Misconceptions of Me ~Why So Serious~)

SHINee ballads are a wonderful, amazing thing, you know?!?!? Especially when they don't give us the typical classical ballad, but go a little left field into something jazzy or RnB. Which is what they do with Sleepless Night.

This week's playlist features a lot of songs that are extremely over the top, sis. And I mean, we've discussed this; these SHINee boys love the drama of it all. But they also love lowkey songs like Sleepless Night. You'd be able to tell if they didn't with a song this stripped back and bare. Sleepless Night is literally the SHINee boys (and their amazing harmonies), a piano, and some strings. And it's fucking amazing. There are quite a few songs from SHINee that I want to experience live, but I think Sleepless Night tops the list. Well, that and Wish Upon A Star, but I'm sure I'd cry my fucking eyes out listening to that. I mean, I might cry my eyes out to Sleepless Night, but there's less of a chance there.

I've accepted that I'm a boring bitch who lives for a good ballad (the amount of ballads I've had to listen to for my RRUs has definitely proven this), but there's nothing quite like a good SHINee ballad, sis. There ain't never been a SHINee ballad that I didn't like.

And that's all for this week's list, loves!! Please tune in next week for the next era in my SHINee Spotlight series, Contemporary SHINee ver.2!! And don't forget to tune in Wednesday for my next Review Roundup, featuring songs released this week!!

Love you, guys!!

#Feature Spotlight #SHINee #Felicity B

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frenchcirce · 7 years

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2016 in review

Tagged by my beloved @tiffotcf

total number of stories (completed/WIPs):

2 completed one-shots/ 5 WIPs, one original fiction

total word count:

51 436 from the published stories, 583 from WIPs, 10 022 from my Nano. So it makes 62 041.

fandoms written in:

Ghost Hunt, solely. I’m not sure about my ability to get characters from other fandoms right.

looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you’d expected?

I wrote two unplanned one-shots for the twins’ birthday, and the ideas came to me rather easily, so that was a good surprise. But I wanted to finish PN&P and obviously failed, since it’s still ongoing, so overall I wrote less than expected. Plus, my NaNo didn’t go well, I only wrote 10 000 words of my original fiction (I blame the pregnancy which made me sleep like a log). Maybe next year...

what’s your own favorite story of the year?

Bloodlust. It was silly and fun to write.

did you take any writing risks this year?

Depends on what you consider a risk. I feel like just writing is taking one lol. I wrote a humorous one-shot, two fluffy ones, a Regency and a murder mystery for my original work. I feel like I’ve tested quite a wide range of genre and I’m happy I did.

do you have any fanfic or profit goals for the new year?

Finishing PN&P is my top priority. I’ve planned a Nano of some sort in February, with the sole goal of completing it. After the GH Exchange I’ll try to focus a bit more on my original fic until June, and then I’ll just try to do what I can while taking care of a newborn...

best story of the year?

The most popular is PN&P, but it also is the longest so it probably attracts more attention than one-shots. I do like this story, but I don’t trust my own judgement about my work, so I’ll deem it the best according to the number of positive reviews/hits compared to my other pieces.

most popular story of the year?

Well, as I said, PN&P. I was a bit surprised by how popular it has become (I’ve reached 100 followers on ffnet for this story!!), because Regency is a niche.

story of mine most under-appreciated by the universe, in my opinion:

My stories are mostly self-indulging fluffy one shots, so they don’t deserve much recognition. I'd say Bloodlust, I didn’t tag it as humour not to spoil the ending and I think some readers could have enjoyed it but didn’t try reading thinking it was some angsty suspense. But well, it’s no big deal anyway.

most fun story to write:

Bloodlust. Deceiving readers is fun (because that wasn’t a mean deception, just plain humour).

story with the single sexiest moment:

Sexy? I don’t really do sexy (though I confess I have a smutty thing in my WIPs because I wanted to try the genre, maybe I’ll manage to complete it this year). I suppose PN&P because it’s filled with romance, but no real sexy time... for now, at least ;)

most sweet story:

My collection of one-shots The Loves of my Life is basically full of sweet stories, and I wrote the last chapter in 2016. Otherwise Capture the Moment can qualify, even if the ending is somehow bittersweet.

”holy crap, that’s wrong, even for you!” story:

My works are pretty tame and non-controversial, so I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with them... I’d say the most ‘wild’ thing is my smutty WIP. Maybe it’s that suits me the least, but still, not something I am ashamed of.

story that shifted my own perceptions of the characters & most unintentionally telling story:

... No idea! I don’t think any of my stories ever did that to me (unfortunately or not).

hardest story to write:

PN&P without hesitation.

I’m borderline OCD, so I felt the need to do research for nearly every little detail in order to stick to the Regency social rules, etiquette and beliefs. Let’s just say I’ve spent more time researching than actually writing.

Moreover, this story has a huge drawback: an actual plot, so I have to make sure all events happen in a consistent order, and that all lose ends are tied properly in the end. In short, a writer’s nightmare ;)

biggest disappointment:

Not being able to finish my stories as planned. Not being able to write for a long while because I was too tired to do anything, even reading. Feeling like my time is limited when I have so many things to write.

biggest surprise:

PN&P’s popularity for sure. And learning that my fandom friends think my writing style is good (did I ever tell you I have an inferiority complex about writing?). When someone who you think is a talented writer tells you that, your ego bursts. And then you write your next chapter and you’re in for another round of self-doubt ;)

taggity tags:

So, who would be susceptible to do this... @snavej (your were already tagged I think?) @shesailsships, @alexeiadrae (I know you’ve done a recap of your writing year, I tag you just in case you feel like doing this, too), @amynchan, @gryphonfledgling, @vzyfny (I feel you’ve already done this, but my brain isn’t able to remember). And any other writer I may have forgotten, please feel free to answer this!

#writing #2016 in review #fanfiction

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richmegavideo · 5 years

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Twenty Years Later, '10 Things I Hate About You' Is More Relevant Than You'd Expect

For me and all the other mid-80s millennials, 1999 didn’t signal the end of an era. It was the start of our definitive teenage years, rich with all the compulsive hormone-driven drama that would ultimately shape us into the adults we went on to become.

1999 was the year I started high school; the year that I got what was, at the time, a state-of-the-art three-CD player on which I blasted TLC’s FanMail, Backstreet Boys’ Millennium, and Sugar Ray’s 14:59 on endless loop. It’s also the blessed year that 10 Things I Hate About You was released.

I’m guessing many adolescent girls—and boys, for that matter—at the time could relate to at least one of the characters in 10 Things I Hate About You. There was quippy sidekick Michael (David Krumholtz), doe-eyed and floppy-haired new kid Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), effortlessly and often infuriatingly twee Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), the tragically underrated Mandella (Susan May Pratt), and of course, the mewling, rampallian wretch herself, Kat (Julia Stiles).

Like Kat, I existed on the fringes of my fairly affluent, mostly white public school’s society, although my banishment was less self-inflicted than hers. Yes, I haunted bookstores in my spare time and plastered my room with torn-out pages from Bust Magazine and dELiA*s catalogs, but I was neither thin, blond, or a voluntary member of any sports team. I couldn’t understand how someone who could effortlessly bare an enviably toned midriff be so bold as to snub male attention, which was the only type of attention I craved as a swarthy 13 year old who had yet to be kissed.

But her defiance of conventional feminine attitudes captivated me. The idea that one could subscribe to their own ideals rather than conform to anyone else’s expectations was a completely new concept in a time when teenage self-discovery was only just taking root. I did give a damn ‘bout my reputation… but maybe I didn’t have to.

In 1999, Kat’s brand of feminism seemed pretty extreme. But looking back on it 20 years later, it’s surprising how mainstream certain aspects of it now come across.

“Every time I watch this movie Kat seems more and more relatable,” explains Sarah Barson, co-host of Bad Feminist Film Club, a podcast that reviews movies through a feminist lens. “At the time this movie came out, I think Kat was supposed to be a super ‘out there’ radical feminist, but the stuff she talks about feels very relevant to modern conversations about pop culture and a woman's right, or even responsibility, to speak up and challenge social norms.”

But according to 10 Things I Hate About You writers Karen McCullah and Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith, Kat may have ended up differently if written for today’s audience.

“I think Kat would have to have a more extreme form of rebellion,” says Smith. “We’d have to dig her even further into a counter-culture, because in that era, it was all pretty simple.”

Rather than merely dreaming of playing in a riot grrrl band, Smith says Kat would’ve already been shredding on her pearly white Stratocaster, playing her angsty songs at different gigs. Had 10 Things been written in 2019, McCullah sees a version of Kat that’s more in touch with the activism of today’s teens.

“Like, kind of the Parkland student vibe, I think. We would add a little bit more of that,” she says. ”I think those kids are amazing, what they’re accomplishing. When I think of teenagers right now, that’s where my brain goes first.”

Smith agrees. “That’s a good point, yeah. When we wrote it, we were kind of in a freewheeling 90s bubble, not really thinking about the larger world around us. Now, as Karen pointed out, the experience of the youth is much different. They’re much more global in their thinking than we were.”

10 Things I Hate About You has its share of shortcomings, although it’s held up better over time than other teen flicks of previous eras, like Sixteen Candles. I’m willing to bet that a fresh audience today wouldn’t laugh quite as hard when Kat flashes her soccer coach to help Patrick (Heath Ledger) sneak out of detention—even with his swoon-worthy dimples—or let it slide when Bianca drops the R-word during an argument with Kat. And let's not forget how “nice guy” Cameron manipulated the entire love triangle just so he could have a shot with the younger Stratford sister. Oof.

Even so, the characters' relationships with one another and even their personal shortcomings hold up relatively authentically in a way that few other movies have been able to accomplish.

“The Craft was the perfect movie for any woman who felt disenfranchised, and Never Been Kissed really did stress the importance of self-confidence and self-acceptance, but 10 Things I Hate About You was about real characters to whom average women could relate,” says Dr. Randall Clark, author of At a Theater Or Drive-In Near You: The History, Culture, and Politics of the American Exploitation Film and associate professor of Communication and Media Studies at Clayton State University.

Dr. Clark’s students have expressed surprise that Kat was open about her sexual experience and yet managed to escape some of the consequences that society tends to heap upon young women who have sex at what they consider to be a young age.

“It was just a fact of her life,” he says, giving credit to the movie for being “not at all judgmental about her past.”

The filmmakers’ non-superficial portrayal of an unapologetic and (one-time) sexually active feminist was a groundbreaking achievement at a time when few other feature films even dared to explore the complexities of teen girl relationships. In the 90s, and to some extent today, feminism is often mistakenly equated with man-hating, an idea that both writers resoundingly reject.

“Feminists need love too!” laughs Smith.

Earlier teen-centric comedies like 1995’s Clueless helped lay the groundwork for 10 Things by weaving together real-life scenarios with tongue-in-cheek banter that managed to entertain, but also illuminate some of the basic pillars of modern-day feminism. The fact that both are remakes of classics— Clueless being a contemporary version of Jane Austen’s Emma and 10 Things I Hate About You being a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew—that revolve around young women with BIG personalities makes perfect sense. Women finding their place in the world, and being tamed by men, is by no means a novel idea.

But one thing that many of these iconic films of the late 90s and early 2000s lack is a sense of intersectionality. Bad Feminist Film Club co-host Kelly Kauffman cites Bring It On as one example of film from this era that addresses issues of race and class that other films—including 10 Things—shied away from.

“There's definitely some parts that haven't aged as well, but on a recent rewatch, I was struck by how the movie [Bring It On] touched on sensitive issues that most mainstream movies try to actively avoid,” says Kauffman.

10 Things I Hate About You may have helped shape the modern definition of “girl power” and inspired movies like Bend It Like Beckham to depict alternative stereotypes of femininity, but it’s not perfect. The one major theme I find particularly problematic upon rewatching is the apparent lack of understanding about consent throughout the film. Kat and Bianca’s father Walter (Larry Miller) doesn’t seem to grasp the concept that sex tends to occur between two people choosing to participate. His fears are clearly distorted for comic effect, but his misguided worldview holds his daughters hostage (as Bianca points out) rather than holding their partners accountable.

This concept extends to the prom scene when Bianca’s BFF-turned-nemesis Chastity (Gabrielle Union) smugly informs Bianca that pretty boy villain Joey (Andrew Keegan) “was gonna nail you tonight,” as though Bianca wouldn’t have had a choice in the matter. Then there’s the entire plot of the film’s inspiration: in The Taming of the Shrew, multiple men scheme and plot over who could obtain the most submissive, docile wife.

But the writers are adamant that the idea of “taming” doesn’t carry over to the film.

“I think at the end of the movie, you never get the sense that her character is going to be controlled by Patrick, in terms of Taming of The Shrew,” says McCullah. “Obviously, she’s not tamed and we don’t think Patrick is the type of guy who would want to control her. That’s why she likes him.” She goes on to call him an ally, or at least a prototype for one.

Seeing a privileged angry white girl like me grapple with trust, relationships, and finding herself inspired me to follow a more unconventional path in my own right. By the end of 1999, I had moved from Sugar Ray to crust punk, spiked my hair, and amassed a collection of ballpoint pen-decorated Chuck Taylors. I eventually dabbled in dating and going to art school, although I unfortunately never did start a band. But seeing someone chase her unorthodox dreams in a world designed to stifle misfits allowed me to dream outside the box in a way I'd never been shown before.

Compared to 2019, 1999 was a relative vacuum of women in media. “There were not a lot of female writing teams when we first started,” recalls Smith. “Now it seems like the appetite for female voices and female-fronted stories is ever-expanding."

Movies like Mad Max: Fury Road and Captain Marvel, with Brie Larson starring in Marvel’s first female-fronted superhero film, prove that we’ve come a long way with female representation. Both Smith and McCullah hope the trend continues, both in their future work, in the entertainment world at large, and with the resonating impact of 10 Things I Hate About You.

As McCullah says, “I hope it keeps inspiring young girls to be badasses and not let other people define them.”

Follow Beth Demmon on Twitter.

The post Twenty Years Later, '10 Things I Hate About You' Is More Relevant Than You'd Expect appeared first on .

from WordPress http://www.richmegavideo.com/twenty-years-later-10-things-i-hate-about-you-is-more-relevant-than-youd-expect/

#Hip Hop

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richmeganews · 5 years

Text

Twenty Years Later, '10 Things I Hate About You' Is More Relevant Than You'd Expect

In 1999, Kat’s brand of feminism seemed pretty extreme. But looking back on it 20 years later, it’s surprising how mainstream certain aspects of it now come across.

But according to 10 Things I Hate About You writers Karen McCullah and Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith, Kat may have ended up differently if written for today’s audience.

“I think Kat would have to have a more extreme form of rebellion,” says Smith. “We’d have to dig her even further into a counter-culture, because in that era, it was all pretty simple.”

Even so, the characters' relationships with one another and even their personal shortcomings hold up relatively authentically in a way that few other movies have been able to accomplish.

“It was just a fact of her life,” he says, giving credit to the movie for being “not at all judgmental about her past.”

“Feminists need love too!” laughs Smith.

But the writers are adamant that the idea of “taming” doesn’t carry over to the film.

As McCullah says, “I hope it keeps inspiring young girls to be badasses and not let other people define them.”

Follow Beth Demmon on Twitter.

The post Twenty Years Later, '10 Things I Hate About You' Is More Relevant Than You'd Expect appeared first on .

from WordPress http://www.richmeganews.com/twenty-years-later-10-things-i-hate-about-you-is-more-relevant-than-youd-expect/

#Breaking News

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