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pocima · 2 months

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My seasonal music highlights: winter 2024 🧣

Welcome to a new series of my silly music-blogging. Starting it because I want to regularly properly write about and describe the songs I enjoy, and to present my own candidates for the unofficial “song of the season” awards. I already started an annual fav list for albums/EPs and wanted something less major and more presentable as a little playlist, not really in particular order. Enjoy! Note that I kept the list one song per artist, most have incredible new releases outside of the ones focused on, these are just my picks for the season or my most played. And let me tell you, countless artists are dropping new music and projects left and right and I’m getting FED. This list alone is extremely abundant and we’re barely 2 full months into the year. The competition for this year’s personal favorite album spots and the highlights for the next seasons is about to be real tough. Can’t wait. (GIF source: MV for Cyberia by Meth Math.)

❅ winter again - 4s4ki

What better way to start a songs of the winter list than with THE anthem of this winter season? With her ability to not only pull off but absolutely excel at the different genres she incorporates into her music, 4s4ki simply never disappoints. She went into the studio with a mission to give the famous Last Christmas by Wham! a true successor and the mission was wonderfully accomplished. In this mellow 80s pop influenced track, she channels her inner Cocteau Twins (word to that one YouTube comment in the lyric video) while longing for a loved one that didn’t seem to stay by her side not even to have some canned coffee and bento this holiday season. Now I’m gonna channel my inner platonic delulu and say that it was released just on time, when I was discovering and especially feeling Boy Harsher’s alternative 80s inspired music (collab when?). Ironic how a self-described reverse Christmas song ended up doubling my winter spirits. She never fails to give me exactly what I need. I love this woman. (Big ups to Magic sword but as I mentioned I’m keeping the list one song per artist.)

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❅ 4eva - Shygirl feat. Empress Of

You know from my username that I’ve been loving what Shygirl has had to offer for quite a while now, and 4eva was my personal post-Nymph jam ever since I heard a snippet of it back in last September and neither the full studio version nor my intuition let me down. Shygirl’s rapping and Empress Of’s verse over the Kingdom-produced delicious wobbly synths indeed stay playing on my mind. Empress Of’s feature came as a tracklist surprise and I’m more grateful for it than I had expected. The jungle drums in the chorus, and honestly the structure of the song in general were unexpected to me as well, but nevertheless they took part in forming possibly my favorite dance track of 2024. Both the Club Shy EP and 4eva have secured firm spots in my favorites of the year.

❅ Deer Teeth - Sega Bodega

Father of music, first ever man in the music industry, smash hit sorcerer, my favorite producer of all time… However you may refer to Sega Bodega, you can always rely on him to create an entire universe in one record and take you there and back. With Deer Teeth, he tells a story of a sighting of a late mother laid to rest with her child in a swan’s wings along with 200 deer teeth (hence the song title), which brings with itself a tale of hope, sacrifice and eternity. With reversed and distorted vocals, the addition of Mayah Alkhateri’s siren-like voice and obviously Sega’s otherworldly production style, the tale transforms into a cinematic masterpiece in sound form. Extra note: perfect to fall asleep to in a road trip, tried and tested. Both Deer Teeth and his newer single Set Me Free, I’m an Animal are stunning masterpieces, and I know this will make my year-end album list real predictable but SB3 is the most solid candidate for the top spot as of right now. Save me Sega Bodega, save me…

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❅ Ex-Girlfriend - Erika de Casier feat. Shygirl

New slow R&B earworms drawing on different nostalgic genres couldn’t be more perfect for the chilly season, especially when they’re delivered by the one and only Erika de Casier. She has this ability to mix the best musical aspects of the near past (namely the 90s/00s) with her very own sensuality, freshness and uniqueness. Her soft vocals over a down-tempo R&B beat to match come after an orchestral, arguably dramatic intro and the melancholic, yearning yet cocky-ish tone is set. Shygirl’s deep, almost raspy voice always shines with slow, gloomy instrumentals (also seen in Lapdance from Asia by Cosha) and this track was no exception, matter of fact it’s now certainly one of my favorite features of hers. I will be returning to this song not only on the colder days of March, but the whole year, or rather until it’s wiped off existence completely.

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❅ Cyberia - Meth Math

Before the quirky experimental trio’s slightly overdue, highly anticipated debut album Chupetones (go give the best b-side Pócima a listen too), they released 4 singles and I was not at all aware beforehand of the release of the third one. Pressed play, was impressed, pressed the loop button and the rest (at least 80 plays within the first week) was history. The intro immediately catches your attention, and the descriptions of a sad-looking happily-dancing angel over toot sounds, ripping synths and bonking bass transition into happy hardcore perfection. The 3-second bit before the second chorus gets me the most, it’s like a minuscule break to slow down and reflect on the all the absurdity before resuming the alien dancefloor madness. This banger completes my Meth Math song holy trinity, which is now Tambaleo-Fantasía Final-Cyberia. Add Pócima into the mix if you wanna form the four horsemen. Whatever your personal favorite may be, we can all agree that Meth Math always come at us with excellence.

❅ dOpamine - OnlyOneOf

Hallelujah. We have finally reached an era where all lyOns can live in harmony and sleep in peace instead of fighting over title tracks and new lows for the group’s flaming hot garbage record label. Even their biggest haters (so-called “fans” with a strange superiority complex) were finally praising an OnlyOneOf title track, and with how good it really is I’d be admiring their dedication to hating their own faves if they didn’t. Anyway, dOpamine is one of their best, it really is. I’ve been hoping for them to get on the drum & bass train for quite a while now, and they did it with a bright, twinkling, breakbeat-incorporating twist. They don’t lazily dip their toes into dnb and breakcore and leave it at that though, the buildups and structure of the track stay fascinating and the bridge drifts (should I intend the pun?) into their gritty industrial side before the outro closing out the song on a vocally strong, passionate but never over-the-top note. While the whole mini is exquisite, the lead single ended up being my favorite. Simply put, OnlyOneOf never fail to deliver quality K-pop against all odds.

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❅ Sorbet - Kelela (LSDXOXO Remix)

The pre-release singles off of the RAVE:N remix album were all incredible just like its album tracks, however this gem is particularly lingering on me and my February mood. This spin on Sorbet encapsulates the AM club aspect of the project in one re-envisioned tune. Kelela and LSDXOXO, who produced and remixed numerous of her songs, reunite as a power duo to turn the dulcet, sedate Sorbet into a Eurodance-coded amped-up slapper that will get anyone moving. You can tell the song is DJ set opener material from when the first beat kick. The chorus melody sticks to your mind and the late night-like sonic experience becomes unforgettable. The special encounter requiring dim lighting is now set in a flashy rave scene. Completely flipped scenario yet everything makes perfect sense. All in all, Kelela’s vision for her dance records is 20/20 and LSDXOXO’s execution never leaves you hanging either.

❅ Fuetazo - Isabella Lovestory feat. Villano Antillano

Born to embody camp, forced… no, also born to be a hit maker. Isabella is undebatably one of the freshest, most outstanding figures of neoperreo and neoreggaeton, and her eccentric flare still comes through in a single as a (hopefully) pre-album snack. Fuetazo was released early into the season and closed out Isabella’s activities for the year. While the playful chorus introduces a whip that comes and goes, Villano Antillano mentions vacations and 42-inch weaves with her tone that meshes with the cheekiness of the track, and their chopped up vocal bits go back-and-forth in the outro. With the Chicken, Kamixlo and Dinamarca producer trio, the instrumentals can’t go wrong. The hard-hitting dembow drums and the lighter synths and other aspects of the song create a contrast that feels like a breeze, maybe more of a summer one even but a confidence booster gots to stay on rotation regardless of weather or temperature.

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❅ Messy Room - The Deep (+ mini EP review)

Had I postponed the release of my 2023 fave project list just a little, the Messy Room EP would have at least scored an honorable mention. For those who need a quick debrief: The Deep is an independent K-alternative artist whose discography radiates coziness and sweetness. Mayhaps I should say sugar, spice and everything nice. Taking part in the production of her music, creative direction and visual curation, she ticks all the boxes for the bedroom pop star that should’ve reached her target audience ages ago. While she’s taken inspiration from R&B and indie and still does, “resurfaced” genres such as UK garage, dnb and Jersey club are fairly newer additions to her range. I love all of these genres as you could tell and I adore the songs in which she uses them (got into her through the UKG bop Muah!), but surprisingly the track that glanced at her “roots” hooked me in the most. Maybe it’s because it contains the core “messy room” atmosphere of the EP, maybe it’s her soft vocals shining brightly, maybe it’s because she has the recipe to making a tune to unwind to. I hope this praise doesn’t sound like a jab at the rest of the EP because not a single skip is detected over there. In Brand New House and BAPPI, The Deep talks about deserving the luxuries and getting to the bag over garage and house beats. bow wow is about confidence despite troubles and annoyances, while 20’s is a self-reflection on the constant search for perfection and attempts to heal. The project is most definitely worth checking out if you want a bit of calm, refreshing new music, or if you’re looking for a multi-skilled artist to support.

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One line section (music I loved but honestly don’t have as much to say about, so I fit my thoughts into one line/sentence)

❆ Gold On Me: Mother ABRA is back and I’m definitely checking out Groupthink after this, now it’s time for the album innit 🍽️ (should’ve definitely written about this in more detail but maybe another time soz)

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❆ 4 noviosS: While everyone came to Club Shy to play, she entered with pen and paper and a goal.

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❆ Perdió Este Culo: I have to give flowers where they’re due, I wish the La Joia album had more quality of this level though. (However shoutout to Sexy, La Que No Se Mueva and Sin Carné.)

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❆ TYOSTAR: Can’t tell if their music is aimed at dudebros (disgustingly irritating audience) or hyperpop girlies (slightly less irritating audience) but they scored a night ride hit either way, definitely one of Starkids’ finest to date.

Thankies for getting here, and shoutout to @chuuuvi for pretty much directly fueling my writing process and inspo and @a-moth-to-the-light for inspo as well 😁

#keyboard.com #finally writing again yippee #bro spring’s highlight list already has 3 definite entries. it’s the first day of March. the food is too good #4s4ki #shygirl #empress of #sega bodega #erika de casier #meth math #onlyoneof #kelela #lsdxoxo #isabella lovestory #villano antillano #the deep #me when 2024

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respectthepetty · 1 year

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I read your lost in translation post and it is really interesting!

I studied translation, and have made subs myself, and it is so so hard to bring in nuance (I translated between two germanic languages, which is so much easier than between non-related languages). Which is why my mantra is: PAY your translators and hire professional ones.

I grew up with subs (grew up in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium, everything is subbed here). It is so interesting to see how people react to subs. Subs will never be perfect. They have a standardized format, and will not translate everything.

What is gets me is when people make analyses and don't factor in that these are approximations of what has been said. Sometimes, the meaning you think is there is NOT. Sometimes the meaning is lost. Subs are a window to other cultures and languages, but they will never be able to convey the whoke complete picture. We have to accept that. I just wish translators were payed their worth, so they could make the approximations more nuanced (also, if it is a non-native/a person with insufficient knowledge of the themes/material/culture depicted, a lot can be lost or you even get outrage which could have been completely avoided!)

Thank you for your post, it really made me think 😊

Fair Warning: This is going to turn into a rap appreciation post.

When it comes to translations, I always have to remind myself that Destiel is canon...in Español.

Translating is difficult because of nuances, but examining language through an outside perspective helps people see and understand their native language better.

I truly believe if more people studied a second language or consumed media in another language, they would appreciate their own language more and the work that goes into translations. It would also allow people to understand how they see the world is a direct result of the language they use and the culture they were raised it, which isn't how everyone else sees and operates in the world.

I mentioned this in the comments of the post you read, but I see this often with the translation of "wife" or "wifey" in BLs. I understand people's issue is with the feminization of a man or the lack of men stating they are "gay", but many of these languages don't directly have a word that translates to that or they must borrow the English word, which doesn't have the same significance as a word in their language.

Example: Some Americans use slut affectionately, so seeing Porsche call Kinn a slut probably came across as cute to some,

while others might have felt he was being judgy. But the original language is Thai, so whatever feelings we have about that scene come from within us and our previous experience about the word it was translated into and not the actual word that Porsche said.

This is where it turns into a Rap Appreciation Post:

Translations can be difficult even across demographics and regions within the same language. I believe that's why many people don't like rap - they don't understand the nuances and don't have the previous knowledge needed to get the word-play, so their enjoyment, or lack of, is based on the way they feel about the words instead of what is actually being said.

If any Americans have ever been to a rap concert, think about an American Sign Language interpreter (ASL is its own language, and is not a signed version of English) on the side of the stage interpreting Jay-Z's lyrics from "Brooklyn, we go hard" "I jack, I rob, I sin. I'm Jackie Robinson, except when I run base, I dodge the pen."

To interpret that, there has to be a sign name for Jackie Robinson, and if not, his name has to be interpreted. Then an understanding of what jack means would have to be interpreted, but when interpreted, it loses the word connection to Jackie Robinson. Then, running base, and dodging the pen have double meanings about baseball (the Jackie Robinson connection) and doing illegal activities but not getting caught (connection to the jack, rob, and sin line), but which does the interpreter keep? Something has to be lost when interpreting the line, and the first is the word play because the words will not remain intact since the interpreter has to use an equivalent in the language it's interpreted into. It can only be fully enjoyed in spoken English with an understanding of hip-hop and Black culture, but the interpreters are doing the BEST job they can to get the essence across to the audience.

*famous hip-hop ASL interpreter, Amber Galloway, who is also a lesbian

Another example of lost in rap translation: Villano Antillano is a Puerto Rican rapper. She is also a trans woman. She collaborated with BZRP on Music Sessions #51 (this is a BIG deal). Since Spanish has feminine and masculine versions of words, she consistently used the feminine version of nouns to describe herself (la G.O.A.T, la principal, cobrona) in the rap. That power move is lost in the translation since English doesn't have feminine endings. The words merely translated as the best, the first, and bastard. It lost its spark.

Snow Tha Product, a bisexual and bilingual Mexican rapper who easily switches between Spanish and English, also collaborated with BZRP on the Grammy-nominated Music Sessions #39 in which she began the rap with "Hola, what's happening, no cap in my caption" to establish that regardless of what language the captions would be in, she would only be rapping facts ("Así que en inglés o español, es lo mismo en los dos"). She is letting the audience know that even if her words are lost in YouTube's translations, she is telling no lies. Basically, she is beating people up with her word-play in TWO languages and points out that if others want to "make a diss record [they have to do it] with a free translation." If a person doesn't understand both languages, the genius of her rap gets lost in the translation, and the captions didn't even try to translate the song or make it clear what she was rapping.

But one thing Snow does makes clear in the song, and a point you bring up as well, is that translating between two languages is a SKILL and deserves to be respected and adequately compensated. In Snow's words:

Hasta en seña', fuck you, pay me

#This is a lot and includes a lot #But the bottom line is respect and pay translators and interpreters #it's a SKILL #snow tha product #Villano Antillano #destiel #thai bls #kinnporsche #rap appreciation post #amber galloway #highlighting the queer community #bilingual

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