pawn shop blues

This is not a milli vanilli situation. She has been in the industry for years and has built a following and a reputation that will not be destroyed by this, no matter how the case eventually goes. It does not diminish her past (or most likely future) accomplishments and general impact she has made on the scene. And based on what others are saying on the internet, it seems people are really divided on this, meaning there are a lot of people who support Lana on this one and see the case as ridiculous. Yes, the case does provide more fuel for people who already hate her as an artist, but there are always haters for every artist no matter what they do. She will come out on the other side of all this.

Damn, men are always trying to steal Lana's happiness from her. I mean, it's kind of true, the similarities melody-wise have been talked about since Get Free first came out, but it's just the verses. The pre-chorus and chorus from both songs are very different, not to mention the overall message of the two songs are completely different. Creep's about feeling like an outsider and wanting to die, Get Free's obviously about trying to get out of the darkness and embrace life. And 100% of the publishing is ridiculous, especially since they can't claim her lyrics. It's a horrible move for Radiohead and looks really hypocritical on their part since they are always going on about being anti-corporation/anti-greed, etc. Good for Lana for fighting back and not accepting this bullshit. I bet she's already prepping her Adidas tracksuit for the date.

Interesting to see where he'll take this next era. Wondering if it will be darker than BN, especially if he touches on anything with Trump and/or the general chaos of the last few years.

Ms. Halsey keeping it classy as always, it seems.

Eh, I guess I'm in the minority, but I liked it. It's not like Stargirl-level of greatness, but it's a Borns song that features Lana, not the other way around. You can hear her pretty clearly in the choruses and there are a few ad lib things she does throughout the song you can hear that are nice (but you'll probably need headphones for those). I think the theme of the song goes well with Lana's new outlook/trying to find the blue and have a new/different life. But again, this isn't supposed to be a Lana song, it's a Borns song. It's common etiquette to not try and outshine the main singer when featuring on their track, which Lana can do pretty easily without trying (Prisoner says hello). 7/10, will listen to it again.

I'm ready.

Already something to look forward to in this new year.

Youth

Get Free with some coffee, as it should be.

Lana and Nicole need to work together again, they create such gems. It isn't even about how Lana looks, because we all know she can be photogenic with just about any photographer, but there's just a certain something Nicole is able to capture.

Definitely has potential.

They definitely make magic together. I would love for them to work together for future projects.

The title sounds dramatic and dark and I am very here for this.

These photographs are heavenly, especially the one in black and white in the field. The interview was great, too. It's cool to see her evolving. It makes me really interested to see where she'll take the next album.

2018 is gonna be a shit show of a year if this really goes through, especially for small business owners/freelancers/indie artists/basically anyone who relies on an internet presence to stay afloat financially.

Love: 6 Lust for Life: 6 13 Beaches: 9 Cherry: 8 White Mustang: 7 Summer Bummer: 9 Groupie Love: 6 In My Feelings: 4 Coachella: 6 God Bless America: 7 When the World: 7 Beautiful People Beautiful Problems: 8 Tomorrow Never Came: 9 Heroin: 10 Change: 9 Get Free: 9 Roughly

Can't believe it's been almost three years since the HBHBHB era started. That whole era was incredible. Really curious to see where they go next.

So I took a look at Twitter after Melanie's new statement to try and see what exactly is getting people to change their minds. Some people are reposting deleted/old Instagram posts from Tim and people she tagged that shows Tim was in LA on the date she gave for the assault while Melanie was in New York finishing a tour. Also some people are pointing out that during this period, Melanie's hair was different in color and length from the pic Tim gave to the interview (the pic that was taken the night of the assault, according to Tim). Though others are saying Melanie was wearing a wig in Tim's pic. Others are also posting pics and snapchat videos/stills that show Tim continuing to hang around Melanie for well over a year after the date of the assault. This whole thing is a mess. I get strange feelings from both sides, but still don't see any definitive proof either way. Regardless of who is lying, the one thing that I keep seeing is people taking Tim's borderline personality disorder as "proof" that she is lying. For what it's worth, I just want to state that having a personality disorder does not make you inherently "crazy", even though movies and TV love to take that angle and make the borderline character a deranged psychopath or compulsive liar or whatever. Also, even if you are "crazy", you can still be assaulted. Also, for whatever it's also worth, for those that think Tim continuing to spend time with Melanie and post pics/smile after the assault means it's proof Tim is lying--the relationship someone has with their abuser can be really complicated and not clear cut, especially if there was love (platonic or romantic) before the assault. Not everyone does or has the ability (whether financial, emotional reasons, etc.) to cut all ties with their abuser the minute after the abuse happens. Every case and situation is a little different.

Shit I forgot about that, but it's so true. Kesha went through fucking hell. Abused for years, then contractually obligated to continue working with her abuser. When she went forward with her story and what she had been through, she not only risked literally losing her entire career (if I remember, she couldn't release any new music under that old contract if it wasn't with Dr. Luke) but she was dragged endlessly on social media and in the news, with so many people not believing her and saying that she was making it all up or was just trying to get attention or get out of her contract. I remember reading the case and the updates and it seemed at one point like she wasn't going to win, but damn, she did. She proved to her doubters that she wasn't lying and slowly people from the industry started distancing themselves from her abuser and not working with him. And she was finally able to release new music again (which was like pretty universally applauded, it seemed, and definitely some of her best work) and hopefully start healing. Damn, I wish she had been on the cover. Her story is such an embodiment of all the shit and risks people go through when they come forward with abuse, while also being a really inspiring story.

This sounds ridiculous. "Her master plan", "it was the moment tim was waiting for", "mel had everything she wanted." This is like bad fan fiction, I can't. Also, the idea that making up a rape story is "so easy" really isn't true. We are at a place in culture (especially US entertainment/Hollywood) where people who have come forward are getting a lot more recognition and action is being taken to the alleged abusers, but it wasn't that way even a few months ago, let alone June 2016. I am not sure the ramifications would have been the same. Timothy's story checks out and Melanie has never denied that things went down between them. The only thing that's left to speculate on is if consent was given, and that's not something that can be proved either way unless you were in the room with them. In reading Timothy's story and later interview, there's nothing that feels unusual or seems like she is lying.

Apparently the album is going to be healing music, at least partly.

This feels like such a 180 for him, considering every review I've ever seen him give one of her albums/tracks he seems to either hate it or be very lukewarm to it at best. Glad to see he's giving her the acknowledgement she deserves though.

It's been a bit since I've listened to the full album, but from what immediately comes to mind: 13 Beaches: The chorus, similiar to Salvatore, where it has that "flying" sound. Cherry: The drum roll before the chorus Summer Bummer: Those sirens (or are they backing vocals heavily reverbed? I go back and forth trying to tell). Tomorrow Never Came: The whole sound, their harmonization, and the no no nos at the chorus (and the whole chorus in general). Also the way Sean sings stay baby stay/on the side of paradise/in the tropic of cancer. Heroin: The intro is honestly one of my favorite moments of Lana's discography. I can't quite describe the sound. It's very peaceful, but also dark and eerie, almost cult-like or like a cult retreat (which would fit in with the Manson reference, and also the whole theme of the song, of something starting out really beautiful and then getting dark and distorted). And then when Lana's vocals start--the way she's singing is slightly different to other songs, very world-weary (which obviously she's done before) but with just a different touch. And then the subtle drums that kick in. Then of course the IT'S FUCKING HOT portion. Change: That piano melody. Get Free: The Lizzy backing vocals and the outro.

21 is way too young to die. RIP to him and hope the best for his family and friends.

Aww