Back in August when Ryan Adams posted several snippets of his covering all songs in Taylor Swift's 1989, I can't help but feeling excited. Taylor Swift as well. And I can imagine when Swift found out the news, she just hyperventilated and put on her trademark shocking expression. I thought Adams just wanted to have fun, and this 1989 project is just used to spend his leisure something, but when he finally decided to drop this album cover and shared "Bad Blood", the internet loses its shit. All hell breaks loose.
Adams' "Bad Blood" is just like what you expect from Swift when she's still in country. His "Bad Blood" is really tender, and you can't sense any anger from the song. Instead, it feels like an apology song. My favorite is part is when Adams hushes at the interlude, adding new line as well--just like what he did when he covered Oasis' Wonderwall. Adams breathes a new soul to Swift's songs, making her songs become his own songs. If Adams released it first, and you tell me that this song is Taylor Swift's songs, I will tell you must be out of your mind.
DIIV is known with their dreamy songs, and "Dopamine" is no exception. After waiting for almost three years, this Brooklyn-based band teases us the first song from their sophomore album, Is the Is Are, which is all written by Zachary Cole Smith. And just like what DIIV usually treats us, "Dopamine" is capable of teleporting the listener to another realm. A nice and strong guitar-riff starts the song, and it blends perfectly with the Smith's vocal. "Dopamine" somehow can hypnotize me as the chord doesn't shift and and Cole sings the verses, "Shots wringing out, I'm soaking eardrums shaking and years start weighing me down" over and over. But, that's what makes "Dopamine" one of DIIV's best songs. It's like what real dopamine does to your body.
Tiap
orang memiliki momen tertentu ketika ia mulai menyadari bahwa apa yang selama
ini mereka percayai, apa yang mereka yakini, apa yang mereka anggap benar
ternyata salah, seperti sebuah epifani. Itu yang kusebut dengan sudden realization. Tiap orang pasti
pernah mengalaminya, tetapi tidak semua orang menerima sudden realization tersebut dengan baik. Beberapa orang berusaha
untuk tidak memedulikannya, beberapa orang berusaha untuk menyangkalnya,
beberapa orang berani melepas apa yang mereka percayai dan mulai menerima kebenaran
yang baru. Awalnya aku termasuk ke dalam beberapa orang yang menyangkalnya. Sudden realization juga terjadi di saat
dan di tempat yang tidak pernah disangka-sangka sebelumnya. Sudden realization-ku terjadi ketika aku
dan Haley bertengkar di depan umum di lapangan parkir Wal-Mart.
Haley tidak seperti cewek-cewek yang
kukencani sebelumnya. Ia bukan seorang cheerleader,
seperti yang orang-orang harapkan dari seorang atlet basket sepertiku. Haley
seorang yang ambisius, tetapi cantik. Aku tak tahu apakah aku menghubungkan
kata “ambisius” dan “cantik” dengan menggunakan kata penghubung yang tepat.
Poinnya adalah Haley berbeda.
Dan aku berharap mengencani gadis
yang berbeda akan membuat sedikit
perubahan dalam diriku, membuatku lebih yakin bahwa semua ini yang kurasakan
hanya fase remaja. Sama seperti jerawat, atau ketika kau memimpikan ibu teman
timmu yang luar biasa cantik. Namun, sepertinya aku salah. Apa yang kurasakan
ini tampaknya bukanlah sebuah fase. Ini seperti direkatkan dengan Surebonder
dan tidak mau lepas.
Heck,
aku bahkan sudah bercumbu dengan Haley berkali-kali.
Aku tak ingat apa yang kami
pertengkarkan sebetulnya. Yang aku ingat hanyalah Haley tiba-tiba menghubungiku
untuk menemaninya membeli sesuatu—jembalang
untuk kebun? Atau sisir? Sesuatu yang terdengar seperti itu. Entahlah. Aku
hanya menurut saja seperti seekor?—seorang?—zombie tak berotak. Bahkan ketika aku baru
saja selesai memarkirkan Meredith (nama F-150-ku. Don’t judge me. I try to be as straight as possible) di depan Wal-Mart,
tiba-tiba saja Haley berteriak dan kata-kata yang berhasil kutangkap adalah, “tidak
peduli”, “egois”, dan “megalomania”. Yup, itu Haley yang kukenal: menggunakan
kata-kata SAT dengan tepat dan akurat.
Tapi aku tak mengerti apa
masalahnya. Itu sebabnya berpacaran dengan cewek itu lumayan melelahkan dan
menguras emosi.
“Kita putus!” Itu kata-katanya yang
terakhir sebelum ia membanting pintu mobilku, merosot turun ke aspal lapangan
parkir yang bersalju, dan pergi begitu saja.
Aku menghela napas. Aku tak tahu
apakah ini karena aku putus untuk yang kesekian kalinya sehingga aku tak
merasakan apa-apa. Rasanya hampa, seperti menembus wormhole. Namun, berpacaran dengan Haley juga terasa hampa kalau
kupikir-pikir. Tiap ciuman yang kami lakukan tidak menciptakan aliran listrik,
tiap erangan dan engahan yang kami teriakkan dari kursi belakang setiap Jumat
malam terasa seperti erangan basa-basi dari pendukung Detroit Pistons. Itu
bukan sesuatu yang membuatmu bergairah. Itu sesuatu yang salah.
Dan itu sebabnya, saat Haley memutuskanku,
aku merasa biasa saja. Justru, aku heran karena tebersit rasa lega dan bebas,
seperti saat pertandingan terakhir di musim dingin ini berakhir, seakan-akan
akhirnya kau tidak perlu bersandiwara atau berpura-pura lagi.
Aku bersandar di kursi kemudi sambil
mengamati Haley dengan cepat-cepat memasuki Wal-Mart. Rambutnya yang cokelat
keriting tertutup salju putih, sementara mantelnya terlihat kebesaran untuk
ukuran tubuhnya yang mungil.
Suara ponsel yang begitu nyaring
membuatku terkesiap. Aku pikir itu Haley yang meneleponku dari dalam dan
menyesal karena telah memutuskanku dan memintaku kembali. Itu pernah terjadi
dua kali sebelumnya dalam hubunganku. Aku tentu saja tidak pernah bisa
menolaknya. Aku sedang dalam misi untuk mengubah diriku, meyakinkan diriku
bahwa aku tidak salah. Setelah aku melihat siapa yang memanggilku melalui layar
ponsel, aku tersenyum.
Suara tembakan dan deru kendaraan
yang memekakkan telinga langsung menghajarku. Aku terpaksa harus menjauhkan
telingaku, lalu tiba-tiba saja terdengar teriakan.
“Ares! Ares! Bung, kau di mana?”
“Sedang berkencan dengan Fallout?”
“Apa? Aku tidak dengar!” teriaknya
lagi.
“Kecilkan volume televisimu,
keparat!” sahutku.
Tiba-tiba saja terdengar suara
kekehan dari ujung sana.
“Di mana kau?” tanyanya sekali lagi.
“Di parkiran Wal-Mart, menangis
karena Haley baru saja memutuskanku.”
“Lagi? Oh, dasar kau kemaluan besar.”
Ejekan semacam itu yang membuat
jantungku sedikit menciut.
“Kenapa kau telepon?”
“Nah, mau menyembuhkan luka hati
dengan bermain Fallout bersama?”
“Apa yang menarik dari menontonmu
bermain? Aku akan datang kalau kau mengizinkanku main setiap satu misi sekali.”
Terdengar erangan dari sana.
“Oke, tapi karena kau baru putus.
Aku akan menjadi sahabat yang baik dan benar dan memperbolehkanmu main sampai
kau mati.”
“Keren, aku akan sampai di sana
dalam lima belas menit lagi.”
“Bawakan aku Ranch Melt dari Subway
selagi kau ada di sana.”
“Yea, yea! Tapi aku mendapat sepuluh
dolar.”
“Dasar kau keparat kecil,” gumamnya
sebelum akhirnya ia menutup telepon.
Aku tersenyum lalu menepuk-nepuk
kemejaku, sebelum akhirnya aku menyalakan Meredith dan memutar menuju ke Subway
yang terletak di ujung pelataran parkir Wal-Mart
Namanya Castor. Dan ialah alasan
kenapa aku mengencani banyak cewek.
Disclaimer:
Bukan, ini bukan fanfiction dari Fallout yang video game. Fallout di sini lebih di makna yang nomor dua: efek samping dari sesuatu. Udah dari lama kepikiran buat bikin cerita LGBT, tapi baru akhir-akhir ini ada waktu dan niat (wkwk padahal nganggur) buat nyoba-nyoba nulis. Awalnya, saya pengen bikin latarnya di Indonesia, tapi saya takut kalau di Indonesia kalimatnya jadi enggak masuk, soalnya saya udah enggak bisa nulis percakapan bahasa Indonesia yang luwes. Kalau saya bikin latar Indonesia, tapi dialognya terjemahan, pasti kedengaran aneh banget.
In 1996, Nintendo released a racing game for Nintendo 64, called Wave Race 64. It's basically like a jet-ski race, and it looks really exhilarating and fun. When 21-year-old Sydney producer, Thomas Purcell, whose surname is similar with the author of my Calculus book, Purcell (the producer one) adopts this Nintendo game as his stage name, he also adopts the exhilaration and the fun of Wave Race 64.
Purcell brings us back memories of 8-bit game from late 1980's until 1990's in his works, and it is clearly shown on his latest work, "Wave Racer". Taken from his latest extended play, "Flash Drive" is an adventurous song. It magically can bring you into a Nintendo-game nostalgia, and suddenly you become a nine year old boy all over again, playing Super Mario or Contra. "Flash Drive" is full of synthesizers, but it's an extremely light and "cute" electronic songs. It's not overproduced, it's just simple, but this is exactly what I need. B▲by, whose name is boldly using black delta symbol, provides the vocal, making "Flash Drive" an exhilarating and refreshing song, just like what you feel when you play Nintendo.
"I am not Swifties!" I have repeatedly said it over and over to those judging eyes who stare at me as if trying to accuse why a so-called-hipster, like me, listens to Taylor Swift's songs and watches her music videos. "I am not hipster either," I replied defensively. One of both statements above are absolutely wrong, of course. You know which one.
The full version of "I am not Swifties" is actually "I am not Swifties, but honestly I know every words on every songs she sings by heart, and I know whom she dates, I read what she does on media, and I watch every music videos she makes." Oh, who am I lying to.
To celebrate the release of her "Wildest Dreams" music video, I decide to run through her music videos catalog, and pick ten her best music videos.
10. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" music video is incredibly fun and cheerful despite the title of the song. Swift puts on her nerdy glasses, cute dress (did I just comment on clothes?), and it's even more fun when we see her running through several video sets to fit this one-shot video. Swift did her job quite well. There's something vintage about "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", and watching this video is like opening a pop-up book. Such a pleasant surprise.
9. "The Story of Us"
"The Story of Us" itself is indeed a great pop-country song, but this video pushes geeky side of Swift out, with those thick books, library, secret make-out session, white T-shirt, and even a nerdy love-interest. But, this is where Swift's expertise area. "The Story of Us" is a fun video, from the start to the finish. Band rocking the dean's office? Check. Paper confetti at the climax? Check.
8. "Mean"
"Mean" is what MTV calls with music video with social message. Back when Swift was still a country princess, "Mean" is what you expect from a country music video: banjo twang, bale of hays, and goats. But, "Mean" also insinuates social message, and this is the first time Swift explicitly shows her support of LGBT, anti-bullying, and feminism on her music video. It encourages people to be who they are, and Swift has done it quite successfully. Closed with such a grande performance on stage, "Mean" have spread its message very effectively.
7. "Wildest Dreams"
"Wildest Dreams" is just released, but it can still crack the top ten, showing how great and amazing this music video is. Swift joins Joseph Khan, who also directs "Blank Space" and "Bad Blood", one more time to create this 1950's music video. Taking place in African savanna, "Wildest Dreams" is treat to my eyes from the beginning until the end. Swift rocks in her black hair, acting as an actress who fell for her fellow-actor, but he broke heart. The plot itself sounds like a sappy 1950's movie, but that's what makes this video good. Flying above the savanna, the most explicit video Swift has made, there are many things that I like about the video. If you think this can't get any better, think again. The best part of this video is absolutely the end of this video where Swift states that every proceed from the video will be donated to African wildlife conservatory. A brilliant way to keep me replaying the video over and over again.
6. "I Knew You Were Trouble"
I still remember my jaw dropping when I watched "I Knew You Were Trouble". Swift shows a wild and different side of herself as she parties on a music festival, highlights her hair, and chooses a wrong bad boy. But, just like "I Knew You Were Trouble" which is the most experimental song of Swift, I think Swift also wants to have some experiment on the video.
5. "Begin Again"
"Begin Again" is just simply stunning and gorgeous despite the "underratedness" of the song. The gray tone that is used on the video somehow really suits the song, making "Begin Again" look like scenes from romantic movies. Taylor at the rooftop, looking at the Paris skyline, a good-looking (and French!) love interest, and beautiful location and cinematography. Maybe some directors can learn a thing or two how to make a beautiful scenes from this video.
4. "Picture to Burn"
Swift is known to write songs based on her past relationships. However, "Picture to Burn" is the only song where she plans to seek revenge on her ex-boyfriend. "Picture to Burn" is like MTV Punk'd where she and her crews mess her ex's house. You can't help but laugh at what they do. Not only hilarious and fun, "Picture to Burn" is also a beautiful video especially with those glowing fireworks at the climax of the video.
3. "Love Story"
"Love Story" is a song that many fans regard as one song that converts them into a Swifties. I can't argue with that, to be honest, as "Love Story" is a great song. Swift recycles an ancient Shakespeare's tragic-romantic love story, into something less tragic, but more romantic. "Love Story" is like a depiction of what young women's desire is. Swift dresses as a princess, meets her prince charming, then they live happily ever after. Yeah, I totally understand why this song makes fans convert to a Swifties.
2. "You Belong with Me"
The concept of "You Belong with Me" is like coming out from a teen-flick movie storyboard. But, this formula always works. Starting from exchanging message from a clipboard, then talking on a park bench, then the boy caught his girlfriend cheating, until finally he realizes that his love is for his neighbor, "You Belong with Me" is a comprehensive music video. Its plot is complete and real. Swift, not only acts as the sweet, kind, the protagonist, but also as the cheating, mean girlfriend. This kind of juxtaposition, well, is what makes this video deserves to be interrupted by Kanye West.
1. "Blank Space"
Arguably the craziest video Swift ever made, "Blank Space" makes fun of what media always accuses of Swift. In this video, Swift is portrayed as a rich mistress who traps young men, until they broke up, and Swift sets the trap again. This cycle is repeated over and over. Swift looks like she's having too much on this video, and it can be shown from the scene where she cycles inside a mansion, paints portrait, stands (literally) on top of a horse, until stabs a heart-shaped cake. "Blank Space" is not only a music video, but also a form of art.
