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Hey all, looking for advice/direction on helping my daughter get into gaming. Sheâs 9, and has decided that regular board games are âboring.â Sheâs incredibly creative and has been creating fantasy based games with her friends at school, and through talking with her, it sounds like thereâs a lot of world building going on. I have never played DND, but am fairly familiar with how the game works, and feel like this might be right up her alley. Also, after the 7th(?) viewing of Disneyâs âOnwardâ and telling her there are games similar to the movie and what Barley plays, she seemed really interested/amazed that there were actual games comparable to what she saw in the movie.
I guess my question is this: do I try to introduce her to DND and create our own campaign, or would it be better to help her get involved in card-based games like Magic (if people still play Magic)? Iâm definitely not trying to force the gaming angle, but she seems interested and I donât know the best way to dive in. I know this is a huge ask, and Iâm sure there are a million opinions on this, but thanks in advance!
Hello,
kpopthoughts! Originally this was posted in
twice but one of my friends said I should crosspost it here â so here this album review is.
Intro
To preface the review, I just need to say that this is going to be a very long read. Going through it myself for the fun of it takes around 30 minutes â it's almost 7k words, including lyrical references. So for the best experience, listen to the album beforehand to understand what the hell I was thinking when I wrote this, play the album while reading, and set a good amount of time aside.
And yes, this is 9 months late đ I'm not sorry â when I find an album review online it's always around a paragraph per song or even shorter. It makes sense from a journalistic perspective, but I want to do this album justice, hence taking 7 months to write out all my thoughts.
This shit is comprehensive and definitely overanalyzed, especially in
Talk that Talk and
Trouble. Each song review will compose of my commentary, noting the details I noticed through months of listening, then a conclusion. Also, mild swearing warning, I like implementing a touch of "French" when I'm very
emotional about something. Anyway, onto the review!
Between 1&2 đ
Album Review
TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED
Talk that Talk đ
Producers by collapsedone and MRCH
One of the most perfect TWICE songs.
I think this is one of TWICEâs best-sounding title tracks. Warm modulated synths, a thrumming bass line, distant bells, shimmering synths â the purpose of this song is to be fun and my god is it excellent at it, like, Sana and Chaeyoung are saying knock-knock-knock and beep-beep-beep as if theyâre some kind of car. So much fun.
Further along in the verse, Dahyunâs voice sounds so full and smooth with that layered harmony. Tzuyu coming with the
Yes or Yes,
Push & Pull, and
1 to 10 references â these are 5 years of song references. And Jeongyeon closes the pre-chorus accompanied by a rising synth to drop into chorus one. Jeongyeon slays pre-choruses.
The drums accelerate, the synths start blasting, and Jihyo opens to that party of a chorus with her godly vocals,
Tell me what you want
Tell me what you need
A to Z da malhaebwa
But shijageun ireoke have
Talk that Talk ttak han madi
Talk that Talk L-O-V-E
deullyeojweo ooh
Now now now now now yeah~
During Sana's
Talk that Talk~ lines thereâs this gentle ascending synth bell that rings with the descending melody and it sounds absolutely gorgeous. And the choreography during that part of the chorus is so so so so fun: the talking hands bit, spelling
L-O-V-E, concluding with the
deullyeojweo ooh! Oh my Jihyo the
deullyeojweo oohâŚ
Have I mentioned this song is fun?
Speeding through verse 2; Chaeyoungâs part with the cat ears popping in the music video is adorable; Momo her stretching her arms out looks so damn cool; and Dahyun with her replay part sounds so lovely â although I think it sonically sounds a touch random, it makes sense thematically.
And now for this pre-chorus. Mina and Jihyo leading into it sound great BUT JEONGYEON⌠Now, she is my ult bias, and this pre-chorus sounds almost identical to the first one, but the way she holds that final note, inflecting and holding that
now~ for one more beat before the chorus drops sounds so perfect â the song teeters on a cliff edge. Jeongyeon slays pre-choruses.
Dropping into the second chorus and man the way Nayeon delivers it just hits different. She has this indescribable âpopâ voice (I promise this wasn't on purpose) that shouts out loud that
this is THE chorus. This is especially apparent in how both lead their choruses where Jihyo starts at 120% power while Nayeon waits until [
Tell me]
WHAT YOU WANT to full-send it. The production also helps with this effect, cutting out during
what you to emphasize Nayeon's voice before crashing back down, double the pause at Jihyo's intro.
Another
deullyeojweo ooh! Nayeon travels to Narnia, and Mina the engineer strikes again in this heavenly, underwater-esque bridge,
The simple words âI love youâ
Thatâs all I wanna hear
Without hesitation, Iâll go up to you
Iâll make it simple
And just tell you I love you
The word â
loveâ is said for the first time in the song. Thereâs a funky keyboard instrument behind Chaeyoungâs part. Jihyo, Chaeyoung, and Nayeon take the initiative in their lyrics, professing their love before closing the bridge.
And now for the pièce-de-rĂŠsistance: this final double chorus is exceptional â 40 seconds of crack-laced euphoria; Jihyo switches up the chorus and the choreo, Dahyun chimes in with her fluttery
Talk that Talk, Momo comes out of nowhere with
oh yeah it sounds so good! â youâre damn right it does, and this is where the song SOARS.
han beon deo~ haejweo
geurae banggeum geu mal~
Nayeon outright shouts
Tell me what you need and then Jeongyeon sings the above lines in such an ethereal, warm way where the first line ascends while the second descends, causing a lull in the song before the finale with Tzuyu and Nayeon, finishing off the song with the final
deullyeojweo ooh! What a party. What a song.
THE GOOD
- The synths of all time
- The chimes during Talk-that-talk~
- Jeongyeonâs pre-chorus going into Nayeonâs chorus
- Rich harmonies and fun ad-libs
- The entirety of that magical final chorus and outro
Needs Work
- The opening hook (Tell me what you want) and accompanying choreography could be âcatchierâ
Core Memory
- Singing (and dancing) my heart out when this song played at a K-pop club
Lyrics and theme-wise, if this were to have been TWICEâs last comeback, theyâve once again built upon the theme they've been doing since debut: a Bildungsroman, a coming-of-age story.
This songâs chorus is honest yet simple; it asks the listener, in this case, the other half of the relationship, to be more upfront and open with their love (never be scared of love), that before the relationship can continue and flourish, there has to be a foundation and commitment of love between each other.
TWICE debuted with a song about making your crush go
ooh ahh. Years later, they started pondering
What is Love? and imagining their crush responding with
Yes when asking them out â and now concluding with the phrase
Talk that Talk, [Talk that] L-O-V-E, being upfront with the relationship, wishing their partner to also be happy, to commit to them, to feel the love that they want to impart on them. From gawking like ooh-ahh to talking out your shared love like adults â to having a true relationship between (one and) two.
And can I just say before finishing off
Talk that Talk's review that this is such a fun and repeatable song with many little intricacies hidden in the nonetâs vocals and the song's production. This is the third draft Iâm writing about
Talk that Talk and its original word count pretty much quadrupled.
Harkening back to TWICEâs roots by combining mature thinking with youthful character, an incredible ending to look forward to, and just simply being a club-banger thatâs easy to listen to,
TTT is an easy 10/10.
WATCH ME GO WATCH ME GO RULE THE WORLD
Queen of Hearts đ
Produced by LDN Noise
If there was one B-side to promote in a live clip, this was a solid choice.
Helmed by LDN Noise going headlong into the Western boy-group rock-band aesthetic,
Queen of Hearts is a boom-boom-clap song through and through. The drums are very prominent throughout the song, only giving room to riffs of electric guitar in the chorus to drive and continue the momentum of the music.
And speaking of the chorus, vocal line each got a chorus to flex and they did not fuck around,
You ainât ready for it
Watch me go~ watch me go~
Rule the world
Know you never doubted baby
Iâmma go run the whole universe~
Cymbals crashing, drums booming, and 3MIX belting all just so sound so good.
Baby I was born to rule~~
Yeah Iâm the Queen, Iâm the Queen
And itâs all because of you~~
That Iâm the Queen of Hearts
These long, held-out notes performed by Jihyo and Nayeon are simply exquisite. Along with the shredding guitar, the drum set coming in full, and the interludes by Dahyun, Momo, and Chaeyoung, this is the part of the song that always,
always, gives me goosebumps â it sounds so visceral, so energetic, so fun, so triumphant. Boom-boom-clap songs can be hit or miss with people, but there's no denying the payoff from the first part of the chorus to the second part is worth the wait.
The theme of the song so far has been kind of spread around the song. The chorus alludes to it with the line
And itâs all because of you. But Mina shows more sides of it in the second verse, especially with the phrase,
And now that Iâm surrounded by all my girls
We be shining bright like diamonds and pearls
It sounds really lovely â in a very cheesy and affectionate kind of way, as it rightfully should â the song is about the girls and their fans. But the bridge is where the song indeed shows its colours
Screaming out my name
See it in the stage lights
Feel so lucky just to have ya
Cause I know deep down I was meant for something bigger! Greater!
I know youâre seeing what I see
Yeah Iâll be everything you need
I know Iâm gonna walk the walk
And talk the talk to be~ [the Queen of Hearts]
This is a song CONCEIVED TO BE PERFORMED FOR THE FANS. Itâs meant to be loud. Itâs meant to be unapologetic. Itâs meant to be sappy. And itâs all the more wonderful for it.
This is the TWICEiest shit ever.
Like
Talk that Talk,
Queen of Hearts also has a killer closer. The production already started to grow from the bridge, but now the guitarist finally went Super Saiyan and instead of supporting the drums, they both take the centre stage in tandem.
Then finally, the closing moments of the song even manage to squeeze in some more sappiness.
So thank you for the memories
Youâre all the ones who made me~
So thank you for the memories
That Iâm the Queen of Hearts
I still canât believe that this banger is a FAN SONG out of all things. Truly, the TWICEiest shit ever.
THE GOOD
- Adorable fucking lyrics
- Unrelenting, roaring chorus
- English and vocal flex
- Intoxicating guitar riffs
Needs Work
- Chaeyoung rapping in English in their Korean songs somehow slaps harder than her English rapping in their English songs, nonetheless, in QoH, it fits with the sound of the song
Core Memory
- Walking home from a K-pop festival with this song playing, felt like a Queen of Hearts
I love these types of rock songs with how grunge and head-bang-able they are, there is just a certain nostalgic and cheesy quality to them that feels so cozy. I donât love putting them on repeat, because in this case, I do believe there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Perhaps more shredding, maybe a guitar solo to rock out to, or an accompaniment(!) of ad-libs from 3MIX to support Jihyoâs final chorus? A ONCE can dream of a truly bombastic rock song from TWICE. But then again that distracts from the core of what this song is: a fan song disguised as a rock song.
Queen of Hearts has so much sweetness in its lyrics and message that it's overflowing. The drums, guitar, and vocals can be as loud and intricate as they can, but the theme of this song is what makes it special from TWICEâs other rock songs â itâs a 9/10 for me.
I WANNA WANNA WANNA TAKE YOU TO THE BASICS
Basics đ
Lyrics by Chaeyoung
Quite possibly the jammiest (pun intended) song of the album.
A song written by the Strawberry Princess herself â an event similar in frequency to other artists' releases with her last song being 2020âs silky
Handle It â
Basics first starts with an understated and dreamy delivery. After the first stanza, however, a bouncy Miami bass line emerges, revealing the true nature of the song: this is a classic summer bop! Especially in the first rap,
dareun aedeulgwaneun dalla
Ainât begginâ for love
nappeun geon anijana ige naraseo
eodiro twilji molla
Like rainbow bubble gum
geureoni nal kkwak butjabadweo
Syllables are pronounced in a relaxed nature, bars often starting with an "ah" sound, flirty lines in English â this rap features a production full of pop with R&B flourishes and, in my opinion, this is Chaeyoungâs bag. Also, the line
rainbow bubblegum is so adorable and so Chaeyoung.
I wanna wanna wanna take it to the Basics
da weonhae weonhae weonhae? seodureuji ma Baby
ppeonhae ppeonhae malhae mweohae da al tende
Ah yeah ah yeah ah yeah ah yeah
That chorus is pure pop with a Miami bass backing; you better be bopping your head to the melody, if not booty poppin' to the bassline. Chaeyoung loves rhyming in the first half of the chorus to enhance its catchiness and it's damn incredible:
wanna,
weonhae, and
ppeonhae all create these imperfect rhymes that continue momentum without feeling repetitive.
After the very
Boy With Luv-sounding
ah yeah ah yeah, ah yeah ah yeah comes an 8-bar split half and half between Chaeyoung and Momo. Coming from the chorus, the production completely cuts out for the first 2 bars. This adds tension; the song yearns to have that bass beat thumping again and all we have in the audio space in those 2 bars is Chaeyoung spittin' and she delivered.
taneun deut tteugeoun samak wie
yeppeuge pieonan jangmi gata
joshimseure naege dagaol ttae
nado moreuge jjilleobeoril tende
Translating to:
Above the hot, burning desert
Itâs like a rose that bloomed beautifully
When you come to me slowly
I will prick you unconsciously
The rap feels slick, effortless, and confident. Her diction remains sharp when enunciating each syllable but she doesnât let the flow of her rap waver or build as her 4 bars go by, itâs just smooth consistency throughout. Even the lyrics possess an aura of laid-back collectedness that is just so her. The things Chaeyoung can do when given her pen.
THE GOOD
- That sweet summer vibe of a chorus
- The spaceship post-chorus is killer
- Chaeyoung devoured this song
- Sure-footed, confident lyrics
Needs Work
- Perhaps an alteration of that ah yeah ah yeah line
- The way Jihyo did her pre-chorus line is good, but Minaâs is great
Core Memory
- After donating my hair, walking down the rainbow-coloured areas of downtown Toronto with this song playing was very⌠fitting
This song is summer bliss distilled into 2:56. Itâs dreamy, the raps are satisfying, and the ending is charming. I will say that although the second half of the song adds the stunning
spaceship post-choruses and a floaty bridge with an incredible drumbeat drop into the final chorus, the raps of the song make it feel a bit front-loaded. And in an album stacked with awesome finishers, it feels more apparent.
With that said, itâs an 8/10 bop for me. This song is so easy to put on and it feels exactly what Chaeyoung would make if given the reins to produce a pop song all on her own. The lyrics are nonchalant but full of conviction, the wordplay is intricate, and the production playful but not too bombastic â it's just a nice vibe. Songs like
Basics are the standard for good, simple, repeatable pop music and Iâm happy that Chaeyoung got to test her pen in this genre.
BABY WEâRE IN TROUBLE TROUBLE
Trouble đ
Lyrics, vocal direction, and background vocals by Jihyo
Produced by Jihyo and earattack
One of the most enjoyable songs Iâve heard in a while.
There is an underlying tension within the first 4 bars of the song, Jihyo and Nayeon confidently open it to a nondescript array of synths and then the stanza ends, Momo announces
Letâs go, the beat drops and it hits you: this is a club song.
Dahyun's relaxed delivery contrasting with Jeongyeon's staccato flow, the wobbly synth beat mixed with a sprinkle of house piano, Sana dramatically slowing down the song only for Tzuyu to build it back up until the chorus drops,
- Nayeon opens it using a breathy tone, with vocal chops serving as harmonies
- The blooming of the house piano takes centre stage and the song ascends into euphoria
- A random drum roll capped off by a cymbal crash
- Jeongyeonâs growling pronunciation of the word Trouble
- Chaeyoung slyly admitting I like this Trouble
- The entirety of Tzuyuâs tro~oh~oh~ouble yeah~
- Sana using her deep voice for the na~na~na~na
- Jihyo leading the vocals during the synchronized T W I C E chant
This chorus is perfect. Torontoâs residential market needs this song injected into its veins because god damn this song has SO much house in it. And then, ANOTHER KILLING PART: this rap fucking slaps.
gamchweo bwatja geugeon Fake
ppajin hamjeongeun Sweet cake
During the first 2 bars, Chaeyoung is keeping it calm because that trip of a chorus just ended and the song needs a breather, but I don't think anyone expected her to SNAP this hard afterwards:
You cannot resist this
Cannot miss this, such a bliss
Ima put it down down
Oh yeah, better kiss kiss
Below is the structure of her this portion of the rap, Iâm not that well versed in this technical aspect of music theory but I digress, this is all in the span of around 5 seconds where itâs:
Triplet-triplet
Quadruplet-triplet
Quadruplet-doublet
Doublet-quadruplet
Now, 25/5 = 5 syllables per second isnât groundbreaking, but goddamn it these 2 bars sound so nice â if there is one part in this album that I always repeat, itâs this. The addition of that first quadruplet for
cannot miss this in the midst of the triplets sticks out and accelerates the flow of the rap while the following doublets and quadruplets destabilize and slow the rap down as the verse closes. And can I just point out:
THE MAIN VOCALIST WROTE, DIRECTED, AND COMPOSED THIS SONG âź Chaeyoung of course delivered the fuck out of her verse but THIS is what you get when you have a member not only write the words theyâre saying but also the melody and flow with which they sing it, when that member knows the others so well that when they write a song they know how to make the group exceed. This is what you get when the artists you stan love doing artist shit.
And. AND. That's not all â with how much I mentioned I love a good outro to close a song, this outro slaps as well:
Woo wee woo wee woo
I like this Trouble be-be
Woo wee woo wee woo
I like this Trouble bay-be
Woo wee woo wee woo
I like this Trouble bay-beh
Woo wee woo wee woo
I like this Trou-ble
Like, come on, Nayeonâs imitating a police siren for crying out loud. And this is all after her ad-libs in the final post-chorus; after the pianist going full tilt and playing that piano as if it was their last chance to ever play; after that final
T W I C E chant by all the members come these blissful 20 seconds at the very end. What a song.
THE GOOD
- The theme of relishing in an uncontrolled love
- Sana and Minaâs melody in the pre-chorus
- Whole neighbourhoods full of house
- You cannot resist this, cannot miss this, such a bliss
- Wees and woos
Needs Work
- Minaâs line of falling down, falling down, falling down low in verse 2 feels a bit too abrupt of a change
Core Memory
- While writing Trouble's review I had this song on repeat for my whole subway commute and I must've been so distracting, just head-bopping and being so invested in my enjoyment
Need I say more, easy 9/10. The only reason I place
Talk that Talk above
Trouble is because of what that song represents but besides that, this is one of the best âinternationalâ sounds theyâve put out. Actually, I havenât listened to
Eyes wide open in a while but this song is up there with one of the most sonically pleasing pieces of work theyâve done.
Clubbing TWICE has always been a thing since
TT was birthed in 2016, and has been a staple of their discography since 2019âs
Fancy You and
Feel Special mini albums, but
Trouble unapologetically dives into and fits the house genre so well youâd think that this is TWICEâs bread and butter sound.
Trouble is Jihyoâs magnum opus. What a song.
BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE FOR YOU
Brave đ
Produced by Slow Rabbit
I first thought this was just a good song, then I read the lyrics.
Gentle guitar plucks, shimmering synths, a distant keyboard in the right ear, in the left a glockenspiel, the melodic
oohs from the members â this song is
PRETTY.
The night that was unusually dark
Above this terrifying world, felt so lonely
The world has grown in the time of wandering
So hard to breathe
Mina and Chaeyoung open the song with how they feel lonely, that it's hard to breathe and now suddenly the song feels bittersweet â I was not expecting the song to become this emotional.
Brave describes a situation where the singer is in a darker place in life and it isn't until another person gives them hope by calling them
Brave that they find the drive to keep going.
Once the chorus hits, the melodies pick up, more guitars get added â thereâs even an electric guitar hidden in the mix somewhere, and the song drops the emotional front to reveal a mid-tempo pop song to dance to while crying in the club. The song as a whole still carries this melancholy feeling, but now with the added support of the chorus, acting as a light amongst the gloom.
Continuing on in the second verse there's this gorgeous, well-placed break in the song that just lets it settle after that chorus. Only a seasoned producer would risk this much empty space in a song and Slow Rabbit went to fill those shoes.
Back to the chorus, I'll take this moment to once again commend Slow Rabbit with the mixing of the song, because 4MIX undoubtedly sounds good in the chorus, and the interludes from Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Mina also sound really good, but the clear highlight of the choruses are these lines:
Oh na na na neon nal naige hae
On and on and on
Brave Brave Brave for ya
Oh na na na neon nal sum shwige hae
On and on and on oh trust me babe
Momo, Sana, and Tzuyu form this beautiful, surprisingly catchy, second half of the chorus accompanied by a guitar drop. It should not turn out this well with how conflicting the "
na"s are with the guitar melody but it creates this gentle bopping ebb and flow that feels so lush and mellow.
Diving into the bridge reveals that the listener of the song is revealed not only capable of supporting the singer through direct words but also through their thoughts and dreams. As can be discerned, this can be a song interpreted to be about ONCEs, about how they push TWICE to be their best selves despite the breathless hardships they face. It's a very sweet and touching song.
THE GOOD
- Special lyrics
- Pleasant sound to vibe out to
- That gentle break after the first chorus
- 3MIX poppin' off at the end
- Just very pretty vocals throughout
Needs Work
- Potentially hard to comprehend without translating the Korean lyrics
Core Memory
- Form of Therapyâs life motto revolves around the word âbraveâ â I donât know where I got that from, but I remembered it right before watching his album reaction (yes, this is very random)
Iâm actually spoiled with the TWICE membersâ easy-to-understand songwriting that when a song like this pops up where it's not written by a member and the thematic bits are mostly in Korean, I tend to put it aside in favour of the other songs on the album. And, especially for a song focusing on a theme like this where the English phrases donât do the Korean lyrics enough justice, it does place a bit of a barrier on the listening experience, dropping it down to a 7/10 from an 8/10.
With that anecdote out of the way, this song is just such a vibe, man. I know that sounds super hippy to say but
Brave is so mellow and smooth that I canât help but sway a little when that chorus hits. And then I remember what the lyrics say and I tear up a bit on the inside. This song is so pure, raw, and full of heart â we need more songs like these where they just reminisce about life while putting up an upbeat front. Don't mind me just crying while dancing the night away.
With that said, this isn't the first time this theme has been sung by TWICE either, they've long trodden this path of supportive, confiding, up-lifting songs with
Young & Wild,
Rainbow,
Queen,
Go Hard, Depend on You, even this album's
Queen of Hearts, and, of course,
Feel Special.
Brave just adds another on top of an already stacked lineup, unique with its mellow somberness.
Also now feels like a good time to get into my rating system:
- 7/10s are songs are ones that are simply good throughout or great songs with apparent flaws
- 8/10s are great songs with distinct killing parts
- 9/10s are borderline perfect songs where I sometimes can't comprehend how great they are
- And 10/10s are the best of an artist's discography, songs that encapsulate their ethos perfectly or expand upon them in a meaningful way
I SEE THE LIES ON THE TIP OF YOUR TONGUE
Gone đ¨
Lyrics by Dahyun
Who the fuck pissed off Dubu this time??
Itâs getting quite rare to see TWICE pull off brand new sounds because, with now 190 original songs under their belt as of this review, theyâve done so many genres and sub-genres varying from hyper pop, to bossa nova, to whatever 2020âs
Go Hard is. So itâs surprising to see theyâve still got tricks up their sleeves and
Gone is one of them.
The song starts with strings swinging back and forth and vocal chops dancing from ear to ear, teasing whatâs yet to come. Jihyo enters the song with a whisper and the song sets its pace. A stagnant drum pad moves the song along and typical song progression would have Mina continue the build, but â it doesnât. The song simmers, adding a hint of high hat to the pot. And then Sana and Tzuyu come on and surely the buildup must boil over right?
Silence, untilâŚ
I see the LIES on the top of your tongue
The strings emerge again on full blast, the simmer rolls to a boil, and the anger of the song is revealed,
All the fate I had towards you
Fades like a fog, Gone, Gone
Your flipping mind of doing this and that
Iâm tired of it, itâs meaningless
In the beginning, it was hard to believe
With that, hatred increases
The singer is so scorned and burned from this relationship that they reminisce about all the effort theyâve put in since the beginning, but their âpartnerâ is so unconcerned that theyâve just about had enough of the relationship altogether.
This has been Dahyunâs thing since 2020âs
Bring It Back, 2021âs
Cruel, 2022âs
Thatâs all Iâm saying, and even 2023's
Don't Blame It On Me â emotionally charged breakup songs that make you feel as if sheâs survived through a dozen bad relationships. Dispatch, do try to do your job better.
Another highlight of the song is the post-chorus going into the bridge. This segment reiterates the structure from the first post-chorus â a barrage of drums supported by the rhythmic strumming of a bass guitar along with a consistent synth filling out the soundscape. But this time, itâs Dahyun and Chaeyoung on the rap:
I canât stand it anymore
My patience, invisible
I canât find it, itâs all Gone
Even if I try to turn back, itâs too late
Thereâs no use anymore
It has left, itâs long Gone
You, with flipping mind, you are out
I know that you know what Iâm talking about
Nothing you could say that could turn this around
Iâm Gone
Building upon the disrespected theme of the song, Dahyun notes that sheâs finally had enough with Chaeyoung adding that thereâs no point salvaging what love was once there. Momo and Dahyun round it off by telling the listener that thereâs no point trying to reason with them or playing naive, they fucked up and thereâs no coming back.
Can I just say, it's a bit of a shame that Chaeyoungâs rapping popped off in this album while Dahyun only has this one verse that she shares with Chaeyoung, but it just sounds so good how Dahyun eases in after the chorus with her light rapping tone transitioning into her singing. She even holds the G
one in a little crescendo for some added pizzazz.
And, thereâs no way Iâm not going to talk about Momoâs vocals in this bridge. Damned if she only got 1 line to use it in, her lower register is incredible. She sounds so smooth singing in this tone. All of TWICE do in particular and there is nary a weak vocal performance in this album.
To close the song off, a wash of synths gets to have their shine in the spotlight, showered with Nayeonâs belting, signifying the dramatic and drawn-out conclusion of this partnership.
THE GOOD
- Theyâve still got their surprises
- Thundering chorus
- 2nd rap and bridge combo
- A bitter, crumbling relationship theme
Needs Work
- Iâm not a huge fan of the mixing during the first post-chorus, where Momo's vocals were fighting with the production, which is disappointing because Momo is capable of an insane flow
- The post-chorus in general, specifically the first one, can be a bit tiring on repeat listens
Core Memory
- Actually, I think this song sounds like a mix between GOT7's Not By The Moon, BLACKPINKâs Love To Hate Me, and Dahyunâs Bring It Back. I donât know where I got this thought came from, but it stuck
Going back to that point about the first post-chorus as a whole; songs that have the production continue unchanged into the post-chorus/2nd verse are very hit or miss for me â see TWICE's
Don't Call Me Again for an overbearing example. The post-chorus going into the bridge contrasts Dahyunâs light tone nicely with the hard-hitting production, continuing the energy until it slowly fades into silence at the end of the bridge.
Back to the song as a whole, as much as TWICE has been experimenting with their sound for the past 4 years now, Iâm happy theyâre still finding new ways to explore what theyâre capable of. And for that alone, even though Iâm not a big fan of songs like these where they rely on sounding âbigâ, Dahyunâs lyricism and the thrill I receive every time I indulge myself in this song elevates it to an 8/10. Keep on breaking hearts, Dubu.
INVINCIBLE SUPERHEROES
When We Were Kids đ§¸
Lyrics by Dahyun
Press play to reminisce, pull up lyrics to cry.
This song is so beautiful. Iâm totally not writing this song review, crying on the bus reminiscing about my childhood, while just having turned 21. I donât know if these are happy or sad tears but this song is so beautiful either way.
Warm synths, muted piano, a gentle high hat, the younger members starting off the song â this has to be up there for one of the softest TWICE songs ever. And as it should, itâs one of the TWICEiest songs ever. And then Nayeon comes in:
Invincible superheroes, we wanted to be adults
To the higher, clearer world
The chords start swelling, the high hat keeps pace, and the harmonies pour in.
Remember When We Were Kids
When We Were Kids, we didnât know
If we could go back
I will love it even more
Remember When We Were Kids
Jihyo takes up the second half of the chorus as it drops, trading the strings for an almost R&B synth production â if choir R&B takes off, this song started it. The song relishes in this cacophony of warm sounds until returning to its sparse and peaceful verses.
This time, the hints of piano are louder, little twinkling synths begin to shimmer, the drum buildup comes and Jeongyeon drives the song straight into the chorus. No time for the strings to build like in Nayeonâs â this song loves its chorus so much.
And I'll just take this time to appreciate the amount and range of Jeongyeon vocals in this album. Her voice is so textured, stable, and projected â but also more tender and soft compared to the more pronounced tones of Nayeon and Jihyo.
The bridge comes in, repeating the phrase:
I wish that I could meet
Could meet the younger me
Giving the song time to rest, before building back up to the last chorus â this time led by Jihyo, completing the 3MIX trifecta. And interestingly enough, Chaeyoung follows up in the second half of the chorus, rather than another member of the vocal line. She really did pop off in this album.
As the last chorus begins to close, the percussion at its strongest, the harmonies on blast, the background vocals cranked up to their Sunday best, is the song going to end? Of course not! This is an album full of banger endings as if the songs donât want to end, and
When We Were Kids being the album closer very much indulges in that feeling.
After a brief refrain, accented by Nayeonâs high note with a touch of vibrato, the song almost dives back into a fourth chorus. Nayeon and Jeongyeon harmonize â a rare and heavenly moment. And the song repeats the bridge, reiterating that they want to meet their younger selves, this time with the lush chorus production before closing with silence, a few piano notes, and Tzuyu singing the last line of the song:
Oh, we were kids
Reflection, acceptance, hope. What a song.
THE GOOD
- Heavenly vocals throughout
- Relatable, heartfelt lyrics
- Euphoric chorus
- Great closer to the album
Needs Work
- Refrain after the last chorus, Back When We Were Kids, couldâve been executed better
Core Memory
- For an album titled Between 1&2, I donât think anything hits harder than finishing the song reviews, with this song in particular, during your 21st birthday
I wrote the first part of this review in November 2022. Then university, life, and other things got in the way of my headspace for me to feel confident about wrapping all of this up. In a way, I felt like I just didnât want this review to end because of the joy that writing gives me â I didnât want the happiness to end. And then it hit me, after watching a YouTuber rank animated movies and them placing
Spirited Away at the top and explaining 'why' reminded me of just how important growing up is, and by extension this song.
This theme is important for both the rookie TWICE members in 2015 and the teenagers who would follow their journey and grow up with them, facing lifeâs obstacles along the way. Hardships that used to only involve family, crushes, and social media, evolve into work, commitments and all the struggles that adult life brings. Being a kid and enjoying the simple things in life is one of the most sought-after moments we want to relive because we took growing up for granted. The only thing we can do now is look back on ourselves with fondness and rose-tinted lenses.
TWICEâs original meaning was to resonate with people through their senses and their hearts. That was during their debut, and I think it still holds up today. In my opinion, touching people through their emotions is what TWICE does best and makes them one of K-popâs all-time greats. It was never about having the best numbers â it was about being the best idols. And to think that this journey of maturation and growth would occur from 2015 all the way to this song, being a fitting nod to TWICEâs 7th anniversary, I donât think anyone at the company nor the group would ever imagine that they would get this far. Itâs these nine women or none â 9/10.
This song honestly deserves a 10/10 with how much I noticed other people reminiscing their childhoods after I heard this song, it is such a widely-relatable message, but I am determined to limit myself to one 10/10 song per album and if I were to pick between
TTT and WWWK, I'd give it to the one's that's more repeatable â
Talk that Talk just has this electric energy about it.
Epilogue
And finally here is the end. If you made it in one sitting then I commend you, because I could not write this mess in one sitting. As alluded to, I started writing this album review sometime in October, after a series of edits the first draft was finished in March, and now here's the final draft in June.
I love this album. It got me through some important parts of my life, both good and bad, and it's just a wonderful listen throughout. Reliving this album again before finally completing the review has been an exciting journey.
Brave hit me harder this time, after being overshadowed by the other gems of this album, and
WWWK finally got me to tear up and not just be emotionally satisfied.
I feel like there's something for everyone on this album. From the exhilarating thrills of
TTT to the anthemic euphoria of
QoH, the clubbing dichotomy of
Trouble and
Brave to the blissful glee of
Basics, and the sweet reminiscence of
WWWK to the thundering anger that is
Gone. Like
Eyes wide open, I liken
Between 1&2 to a pop music taste platter â there's such an eclectic mix of pop music in this album that there's bound to be a song that someone will love, like, and dislike.
Is this album perfect? I don't think so, but it's close â it was certainly my 2022 AOTY. Was this review biased? Absolutely. I've been a fan since 2019 and with the themes in this album, I also feel like it was biased towards me as a ONCE. And how would I rank the album in TWICE's catalogue? It's honestly at the top, at least with EPs â I also felt that way towards
Feel Special but then this album was birthed so I'm excited for TWICE's future.
Ready To Be was also a stunning album and
Eyes wide open frankly also deserved the spotlight that
Formula of Love received so I might hit those next but no promises; this album took long enough to bake.
As for the performances, I've only seen Twitter clips (no fancams to not spoil myself) and I am SO EXCITED to finally see them in July.
QoH was as glorious as expected,
Brave was a delightful surprise, and
WWWK, while not being the concert closer everyone expected it to be, paired up nicely with
Crazy Stupid Love. And of course the bombastic addition of the dance break to
TTT. But, this is not a concert review, and here is where this album review ends.
Feel free to comment with any thoughts regarding the album, other TWICE albums, and any suggestions for my writing in general. Congrats again on making it this far!
God, I love this album.
So... was Miguel right? The movie makes it seem like Miles was doing the right thing by standing up to Miguel and his enforced canon... but also showed Pavitr's world blowing up after Miles interfered. If Miguel's understanding of canon is right, then he's absolutely right that Miles's dad has to die (and Gwen's...?). But if he's wrong, then alllllll our spider-people are uhhh problematic for going along with this for so long. Like did Pavitr know about canon events? Did he know ahead of time "a captain close to Spider-Man must die"?
I think a lot of that could have been smoothed over if they established a certain set of canon events must happen BEFORE you go into the Spider-Verse, so Pavitr would just not be part of the club and would be meeting everyone for the first time. You could smooth over some of it and say Jess bent the rules to admit Gwen and that's why Gwen's mistakes are her responsibility.
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So I know average concert attire and what I would normally wear, but I want to dress up like a character from a movie/book their song is about. Nothing crazy just normal clothes (kinda like Disney bounding if you know what that is) Open to suggestions Concert: Asheville NC July
Edit: Spelling
So I've watched Fight club 3 times and every time I see/connect something new. This time I think I figured out the relation between fight club and cancer support groups. Before I get into it I'll preface this by saying that my understanding of (one of) the message(s) of the movie is that men should be men, although nothing should go to its extreme and they should express their masculinity and deal with the world in a manner suited to their gender, which is largely supressed in today's society. I'll also say that I am a woman :p
From there on we can get into the main point of this post: The cancer support groups are supposed to represent the feminine ways in which men are taught how to deal with the world. We see this in the fact that the first support group The Narrator goes to is literally...for guys without balls. What do they do there? They share emotions, hug, cry, they ask themselves "Are we still men?" desperately trying to hang onto that idea even though they accepted to "act like women". And this works for those men who have been castrated of their masculinity ( the representation of their psychological castration). In a way The Narrator really belongs there and it helps him too...until he finds something which actually fits him and which actually engages his masculinity. Then he never looks back. We see these feminine ways of dealing with life in other cancer support groups too. They try to escape, to find their "inner animal"...or what was it? Basically like looking for a safe space.
In fight club however, there's none of this, yet all those men actually start feeling like men, they start feeling like themselves, they are actually allowed to engage in their masculinity, fully. And perhaps that's not completely good either, but something finally clicks for them. The Narrator (with Tayler's "help") never goes back to that "safe place" again. He doesn't go back to his old self. All those men find what makes them feel alive, they find a way to finally express themselves in a society that supressed their true nature, in a society that doesn't allow agression and that is starting to veer more and more towards ideals of femininity (such as compassion, gentleness, submission, passivity...etc.)
What are we supposed to take from this? There is an apparent contrast between feminine ways of dealing with life (cancer support groups) and masculine ways (fight club). Obviously, the movie's main message when it comes to this issue is that the best place to be is somewhere near the middle. Where men are allowed to be men but aren't completely absorbed by the bad aspects of the ideals of masculinity. On the other hand it also warns us about the bad aspects of the feminine ideal. People can't be babies forever, they can't be cradeled forever and live in passivity and submission to "mother society", especially not men. So men, be your beautiful, masculine selves, that is what will make you feel whole, just don't punch people on the streets pls.
I'm sure this is a concept not foreign to anyone who frequents this sub. Just felt like writing my thoughts down somewhere. I have GAD and I'm relatively introverted so my preferred way to hang out with friends or new people is small outings like having a picnic, getting coffee, or just watching a movie on the couch with some takeout. But as I've gotten older and closer to graduating college I've had more and more people begging me to go clubbing or drinking with them and these just aren't my things; they're activities that don't mesh with my personality.
Not only do densely packed social settings stress the fuck out of me, but I also have absolutely no problem spending time by myself. I enjoy my own company. And people seem to think I hate them or am stuck up or something when that isn't the case. My brain just can't handle lots of movement, noise, and action in general. I've tried explaining this so many times but every time I do to someone it just makes me feel like I'm from another planet. It's so exhausting and I feel like it's turning me into a misanthrope, lol.
I'm in De. and the only thing you have to do is sign an attendance sheet at the end of the year. I love that because it gives us the freedom to go at our own pace. My daughter showed an interest in chemistry for a few years, so in science that's all what we've been learning. That's one of the beauties of homeschool, you can learn what you're interested in while still learning the needed subjects and you can do so at your own pace. And with youtube videos and different book, it was fun to learn along side her the things I may have forgotten about or didn't know myself.
She knows some pop culture (she's only 11) like stranger things, disney movies, and knows damn near every song on the radio. Needless to say, she wouldn't have any problem fitting in if she were to go to p.s.
The Duggars break my heart entirely. I'm still wondering how they learned to read and do basic math under Gothard teachings. They are completely disconnected to the outside world and think what they have been told is the God honest truth, so doesn't think there is a need to search for it (the truth). Even if they did wanted to do their own research they wouldn't know how to cause they don't know how to use the internet. A lot of them, under Gothard not just the Duggars, don't even know what google is. This is one instance where cps needs to get involved and one where homeschooling is not the best option.
My only hope is that Jill and Jinger, if they do homeschool, get curriculums that are secular, or at least doesn't have too much focus on God and christianity. Maybe like me, they too can learn aside their child and have fun while doing it.
Long story short and as much as it sucks to say, I haven't really experienced much of anything. I'm going to intentionally beat around the bush as to what category that "experience" falls under but I think most people should be able to figure it out lol. In other words (and if you play games), I'm a complete noob when it comes to all things girls. As for why those things haven't happened and why I want that to change.. There's a few reasons, but the main reason why I'm putting such an emphasis on this is because I'm a huge homebody and I don't go out much at all which makes it difficult to meet people. That's where Reddit comes in! The message I'm essentially trying to send is becoming physically and emotionally close with a girl is what I want the most. I want to experience it all; the laughs, excitement, curiosity, intimacy, hanging out, fun. Blame all the Disney movies I watched as a kid for that lol.
Finding someone would be a dream come true, but I also wouldn't mind striking up a friendship at the same time because that also counts as experience! You can never have too many friends. Local or international, just let me know if that's what you want instead :) And I definitely wouldn't be opposed to a relationship. I've obviously never been in one so I'm not exactly sure how to transition to that, haha. I totally wouldn't mind finding out, though :) Also finding someone to say good morning and night to, too! That would be the best even if it's incredibly cheesy đ§
Anyway, it could be someone of any age with a lot of experience or someone with no experience like me, or introverted or not introverted like me, etc. I don't have a preference either way :) But if I were to be reaaally picky: they'd be sweet and down to earth because just cuddling on its own would be all kinds of cool. A bit about me: I'm shy, caring, kind, sweet and am normal in the weight and height categories. I want to say I'm okay in the looks department? đ I'll let you decide that though lol. I think it's super fun learning about people through conversation so I'll leave the following hobbies section blank. Then again, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give a small hint to something I love.. My username should provide clues to that! I Siriusly need to re-watch the movies again. Maybe with someone I meet through r4r?
Alright, I can't hold it in anymore. I pretty much like a little bit of everything. For example, when it comes to music, I go through Backstreet Boys phases to Disney song phases (Moana is awesome and I haven't even seen the movie đ) to something like Linkin Park, Paramore or 50 Cent. What I'm trying to say is I like a little bit of everything! So there's a good chance I'll like whatever you like when it comes to hobbies and interests and that means connecting with each other should be relatively natural/seamless. Or maybe that's wishful thinking on my part, haha.
I'm not the best with openers and if you're also in the same boat, then how about this: If you could have any superpower what would it be and how would you use it? Being out of this world smart like Tony Stark is an acceptable super poweanswer, by the way.
Hopefully my first impression is a good one! If anyone is even remotely interested, then just let me know and I'll get back to you asap!