Lily Allen - West End Girl - Music- English Version

Lily Allen released a new album on 24 October last year. I was already familiar with some of her songs, such as ‘The Fear’, ‘Smile’ and ‘Fuck You’, but I hadn’t paid any attention to her personal life or her acting roles, and I didn’t even know she was married to David Harbour, the Stranger Things actor who plays Eleven’s adoptive father in the series. It’s a series I love and highly recommend. Lily Allen, who started out by posting her music on MySpace, is an artist who has made a name for herself through her performances, activism and, sadly, her substance abuse, which has led to some controversial appearances. She confessed that this album, *West End Girl*, was written in just 16 days and that she wasn’t sure whether she’d release it, as it started out as a way to let off steam – a catharsis and a form of healing – for what she was going through in her personal life regarding her divorce from David Harbour.

The album is incredible!

Lily Allen has written a story through her music, as if it were a book, about what happened to her. With this album, I feel as though I’m in a bar with Lily Allen sitting opposite me, and she’s telling me her story through 14 songs. We’re best friends, and we’re going through this together…

Before I formally get into my impressions and feelings about each song, I’d like to highlight the production of this album. The music that accompanies each narrative is perfect; everyone deserves credit for managing to create such an atmosphere around the lyrics and the interpretation of the story being shared

I’m going to add some stars to highlight the songs I like best.

It begins with  West End Girl:

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The first track is the introduction and gets off to a very cheerful start; she recounts how they moved to New York and how, to her, her family’s future looked bright – she had even been cast in a play in London. And this is where the whole plot of this album, of this story, begins. Her then-husband wasn’t very happy about his wife’s success, and she ended up finding that very strange.

"I walk up the stoop, I put the key in the door
And then my phone started ringing so I answered the call
And they were like, "Hey, you've got a lead in a play
You've gotta be back in London for rehearsals in May"
And then later that evening, you said how was my day
I said, "I got some good news, I got the lead in a play"
That's when your demeanor started to change
You said that I'd have to audition, I said, "You're deranged"

And I thought
I thought that that was quite strange (I found that strange)
And I thought
I thought that that was quite strange (so very strange)

But I ignored it
Went ahead and I bought it
Got a flight and I boarded
I'm on my way"

Then she received the phone call that would change everything. We can’t hear what’s being said on the other side, but in Lily Allen’s voice you can sense the confusion, the bewilderment and the resignation. The production on this track is incredible; just as the song is building to a climax with the good news, she receives the phone call, and for the whole time she’s talking, the background music keeps the narrative in suspense. Brilliant!

And the second song is Ruminating.

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Ruminating is an exceptional track! The beat is catchy and perfect for dancing, while the lyrics present a stark contrast; they reflect on the moment when she had to confront the message of the initial song. Ruminating signifies the act of repeatedly thinking about the same issue; it turns into an obsession, mirroring her behavior with the word in the song. The additional voice that harmonizes with her throughout the piece creates the impression of a ghost accompanying her. She is experiencing anguish.

I told you all of this has been too brutal

You told me that you felt the same, it's mutual

And then you came out with this line, so crucial

Yeah, if it has to happen, baby, do you want to know?

If it has to happen, baby, do you want to know?

If it has to happen, baby, do you want to know?

I don't know, I don't know

I don't know, I don't know

But what a line, line, line

What a fucking line, line, line

What a fucking line, line, line

What a fucking line, line, line

What a fucking line, line, line

What a fucking line

What a fucking line

Sleepwalking

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Sleepwalking is very good; she is in a state where it is difficult to understand what is happening, and he, apparently, as a manipulator, attempts to guilt-trip her by claiming that he requires others to liven up their sex life. His demands put her in a position where she has no control over her relationship or her marriage. She is sleepwalking. She ends up begging  to do it with her.

She ends up begging him to do it with her.

"I know you've made me your Madonna

I wanna be your whore

Baby, it would be my honour

Please, sir, can I have some more?

I could preserve all of your fantasies

If only you could act them all out with me"

Tennis

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This song has a phenomenal intro and the rest of the track is perfect.

She says that she went to check his messages because she found strange how distant he seemed when he got home and the way he took his mobile from her hand. She discovered that, even though she’d agreed that he could have a few flings outside their marriage, she knows Madeline and he plays tennis with her. This ‘tennis’ could be code for ‘doing other things’.

"I need to be alone
So I took myself to bed
I got a lot of information
That I can't even process
So I wrote a little email
And I told you what I saw
And then you came up to the bedroom
And you made it all my fault

But you moved the goalposts
You've broken the rules
I tried to accommodate
But you took me for a fool

So I read your texts
And now I regret it
I can't get my head 'round how you've been playing tennis
If it was just sex
I wouldn't be jealous
You won't play with me
And who the fuck is Madeline?"

Madeline

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The song starts like we’re hearing and watching a duel from a Western film. I’m not condoning violence or the use of firearms, but I do understand why she uses them—in the sense that she feels betrayed by him and by Madeline, because she is someone she knows. The agreement that she had with her husband was that the person hás to be a stranger. In this song, she shares the messages that Madeline sent to explain herself and feel better about what she’d done.

"How long has it been going on? Is it just sex or is there emotion?
He told me it would stay in hotel rooms, never be out in the open
Why would I trust anything that comes out of his mouth?
Oh, why would I trust anything that comes out of his mouth?

We had an arrangement
Be discreet and don't be blatant
There had to be payment
It had to be with strangers
But you're not a stranger, Madeline"

Relapse

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Lily Allen went through a difficult period due to her addictions and has been sober for five years. She used to take drugs and drink alcohol. The album is, in its entirety, a revelation of the trauma she experienced when she realized her husband was cheating on her with a friend and that she had lost the happy life she had. It is possible that she was sober while she was with him. All these events in her life may lead to a feeling that she will be unable to control. No Relapse Please!

"If I relapse

I know I stand to lose it all

Can you bring me back

When I'm climbing up the walls?

If I relapse (relapse, relapse)

I know I stand to lose it all

Can you bring me back (bring me back)

When I'm climbing

Climbing up the walls?

(I, I need a drink, a drink)

(I, I need a drink)

(I, I need a drink, a drink)

(I, I need a drink, a drink)

(I need a, I need a, I need a, I need a)

(I need a, I need a, I need a, I need a)

(I, I need more than one)"

Pussy palace

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‘Pussy Palace’ is the track that sets the tone for the album. Some say the melody is inspired by the soundtrack of Stranger Things because her ex-husband, David Harbourg, plays one of the leading roles. Pussy Palace, as the name suggests, is about discovering her husband’s infidelity and how the place where he lived – rather than being a place of retreat – was, in fact, a place where he would meet his mistresses for sex. And she recounts what she discovers.

"I found a shoebox full of handwritten letters

From brokenhearted women wishing you could have been better

Sheets pulled off the bed, they're strewn all on the floor

Long black hair, probably from the night before

Duane Reade bag with the handles tied

Sex toys, butt plugs, lube inside

Hundreds of Trojans, you're so fucking broken

How'd I get caught up in your double life?"

4chan Stan

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I admit I had to look up what the title meant. And from what I’ve seen, 4chan is a site where people can post anything anonymously. The situation she finds herself in makes her suspicious, and she comes across a receipt from the supermarket for a bag bought on 24 May – a day when she wasn’t with him. She wants to know who os it? The link to the site may stem from the fact that it’s not very well known, that it’s very secretive, with users who might not be entirely trustworthy because they hide behind pseudonyms. He wants to keep this affair anonymous. That could be one of the reasons for the song’s title…

"I went through your bedside drawer
You know I've never been inclined to have to do that before
Never been in Bergdorf's
But you took someone shopping there in May, twenty-four

You bought her a handbag, it wasn't cheap
I was in London, probably asleep
Did you go to Montauk for the weekend?
And was there an encore? Did it pay dividends?
Is that why

Why won't you tell me what her name is? This is outrageous
What, is she famous? Say that it's over
Do you mean a hiatus? Why won't you tell me?"

Nonmonogamummy

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I love Nonmonogamummy; the pace is really entertaining, especially with the introduction of Specialist Moss. It’s about how she accepts that she can be a non-monogamous mom because of the circumstances, but it’s something that weighs heavily on her.

"I don't want to fuck with anyone else

I know that's all you want to do

I'm so committed that I'd lose myself

Because I don't want to lose you

I changed my immigration status

For you to treat me like a stranger

Why do I feel like such a failure?

A life with you looked good on paper

I've been trying to be open

I just want to meet your needs

And for some reason

I revert to people pleasing

I'll be your Nonmonogamummy

I'm just trying to be open"

Just Enough

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‘Just Enough’ is exactly what the title suggests. She believed in the love in this relationship and gave everything she could, only to realize that her husband had cheated on her. It is even possible that he had fallen in love with his mistress. The words suggest, once again, a willingness on her part to be submissive in order to avoid reaching a point of no return. It would indeed be very problematic if her then-husband were to get his mistress pregnant, and not her. I think these thoughts (in hindsight) are what anyone would have, because deep down it could happen to any of us.

"Did you fall in love
With someone who isn't me?
Why are we here talking about vasectomies?
Did you get someone pregnant, someone who isn't me?
Did you take her to the clinic?
Did you hold her hand?
Is she having your baby?

But you
You give me just enough
Hope to hold on to... nothing
Yeah, you
You give me just enough
Hope to hold on to... don't you?'

Dallas Major 

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Dallas Major is great fun; it’s about her return to dating apps. She says quite clearly that she hates this new reality – this new version of herself – and invents a surname so that nobody will recognize her: Dallas Major.

"My name is Dallas Major and I'm coming out to play

Looking for someone to have fun with while my husband works away

I'm almost nearly forty and just shy of five-foot-two

I'm a mum to teenage children, does that sound like fun to you?

'Cause I hate it here

I hate it here

I hate it here

I hate it, I hate it

So I go by Dallas Major, but that's not really my name

You know, I used to be quite famous, that was way back in the day

Yes, I'm here for validation and I probably should explain

How my marriage has been opened since my husband went astray"

Beg For Me

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I love Beg for Me is a really interesting song. Once again, she reveals her vulnerability in the face of events. She’d like him to fight for her, to beg her to come back. The rhythm doesn’t quite fit the message, but it’s so good.

"I feel embarrassed, I feel ashamed

You're so indifferent and that's insane

Where's all your empathy for, for all my pain?

My friends all tell me you are deranged

I wanna feel held, I wanna be told I'm special and I'm unusual

I want your desire, I wanna be spoiled, I wanna be told I'm beautiful

Why won't you beg, beg, beg for me?

Why won't you beg, won't you beg for me?

Oh-oh

Why won't you beg, beg, beg for me?

Why won't you, why won't you beg for me?

Oh-oh"

Let You W/In

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‘Let You W/in’ is a very personal and very feminine song. She sings about how she explained the breakup to her children, who had lived with David as their stepfather. There’s a heartache she can’t contain; she’s been betrayed, and there’s no way she’s going to let him win by saying the breakup was a mutual decision! I’ll post the full lyrics here. It’s phenomenal!

"I've become invisible

Stuck here in my palace

I'm so fucking miserable

In my rabbit hole, yeah I'm Alice

And I'm expected to be nice

Picking up the pieces

What is it you sacrifice?

I'm protecting you from your secrets

Don't tell the children

The truth would be brutal

Your reputation's unstained

God knows how long you've been

Getting away with it

I've already let you in

All I can do is sing

So why should I let you win?

I will not absorb your shame

It was you who put me through this

I could tell myself you'll change

Do it all again

Be deluded

Never get your sympathy

I don't think you're able

But I can walk out with my dignity

If I lay my truth on the table

Lie to the children, the ending was mutual

I'll shoulder all of the pain

I'm sick of carrying

Suffering for your sins

I've already let you in

So why should I let you win?

You've taken everything"

Fruityloop

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‘Fruityloop’ is a brilliant track! It’s my favorite on the album. Once again, the production is incredible and the lyrics are fantastic. The track is the perfect way to round off the album and the narrative.

"You're just a little boy looking for his mummy

Things have gotten complicated what with all the fame and money

Playing with his toys, he just wants attention

He can't really do attachment, scared he's gonna be abandoned

And finally I see (I see)

It's not me (me, me), it's you

It's what you've always done, it's what you'll do

Forever till you die, it's true

It's not me, it's you

And there was nothing I could do

You're stuck inside your fruity loop

Me, me, me, me, me, me

Me, me, me, me, me, me

I'm just a little girl looking for her daddy

Thought that we could break the cycle, thought that I could keep you happy

It is what it is, you're a mess, I'm a bitch

Wish I could fix all your shit, but all your shit's yours to fix

'Cause it's not me (me, me), it's you

It's what you've always done, it's what you'll do

Forever till you die it's true

It's not me (me, me), it's you

And there was nothing I could do, you're stuck inside your fruity loop

There was nothing I could do, you're stuck inside your fruity loop"

Interview on CBS Morning. Very interesting!

I may have waited a long time to write this message, but my adoration for this album hasn’t changed. It’s an album by a mature, honest, vulnerable woman. It’s probably one of the best albums ever made. There aren’t any dance tracks (I dance to ‘Fruityloop’ and ‘Beg For Me’), there aren’t any hits… Hello… it’s the story of a wounded woman!

Lily Allen is on tour and I’d love to go and see her. Come to Portugal, please!

BRAVO!!! 

Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl - Music - English Version

On 3 October, Taylor Swift released The Life of a Showgirl, and I waited until my lunch break to listen to the album with my daughter at home. I loved the first song but was a little resistant to the rest of the album, knowing that my first impression would not be the most important one. Getting into a new work, unless it's what you idealise, requires more than one listen. I confess that my expectations were very high because of the choice of producers Max Martin and Shellback, producers she worked with on the iconic 1989 and Reputation. The Life of a Showgirl grew on me, there were some songs that didn't dazzle me, we are a long way from Blank Space, Shake it Off or New Romantics, not to mention all the other pop hits she made with them. It even seemed that the sound resembled that of Jack Antonoff. I resisted my first impression and took refuge in listening to it again, but this time alone, with all the time in the world and with the acoustics that this album deserves. With everything in place, I gave the album a second chance and this time, a world of musicality opened up to me. The internet was almost entirely divided, and many had dismissed the album as one of the worst she had ever released. On my second listen, I was more dazzled, and the song that drew me into this universe was The Life of a Showgirl. This song is epic, with Sabrina Carpenter giving a fantastic performance. The theme, the lyrics, the combination of voices, the music finally managed to get me excited about a sketch of the project. There were already three with Opalite in the mix. By the time I went to see the video for The Fate of Ophelia at the cinema, I had made peace with the album, so much so that when I heard it was the clean version, I was a little sad! Who doesn't like to hear that she has a bigger ‘Dick’ than the men who cheated on her or that a lot of wood makes her open her hips. I liked Taylor's explanations of all the songs and the videos with the lyrics. By then, I was hooked on the album and Figure Father was growing on me. And out of nowhere, what was a lukewarm album became an exquisite piece with complex universes to discover in each song. The most interesting thing is that, even though I love the first single, when I put the album on, I listen to it all the way through. And this is a sign that, contrary to what many say, it is a surprising and cohesive album.

I've been trying to finish this message for some time. I'm going to mark the songs with stars to emphasise my choice.

The Fate of Ophelia 

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The Fate of Ophelia 

Taylor Swift starts off strong with The Fate of Ophelia. It is very well produced, with the drums and bass creating a space that made me smile at the beginning of the song. The story is about the character Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet. In the play, Ophelia dies after having her heart broken, and in the song, Taylor says that her relationship with Travis Kelce saves her from this terrible fate. The lyrics are a hymn to life and happiness - and the metaphor created with Ophelia's death contrasts with the moment Taylor finds herself in. She had already rewritten the ending of one of Shakespeare's plays with Love Story from her album Fearless, which was the hit that made her known to millions of people. And if the beat is contagious and Taylor's voice is on point, the video helped make this song even more iconic. It's the best video, after All Too Well 10-minute version, which remains my favourite. The execution is perfect, with several paintings that display an unusual aesthetic beauty and are full of symbolism, beginning with a reproduction of Ophelia's painting and continuing to evolve throughout the story with allusions to the evolution of art, featuring characters linked to mythology, painting, dance and music since the Romantic period, with references to various artists: Ophelia by Friedrich Wilhelm Theodor Heyser; the sirens of Ulysses by Homer; Marilyn Monroe; the group The Ronettes; Busby Berkeley and his water dance; cabaret dancers such as the Moulin Rouge in Paris, to the atmosphere of George Michael's video Flawless.

 

       

   

Elizabeth Taylor 

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Elizabeth Taylor

 

Elizabeth Taylor is a very interesting song. She was very important for women's emancipation, she was an icon/diva of pop culture and she was an activist in the LGBT community, being one of the most fervent activists when AIDS was at its peak and helping Reagan to finally talk about the disease - which he had long ignored. She was a great friend of Michael Jackson, especially when he was in trouble with the law. She was also, and this is where the connection with Taylor Swift's song comes in, married seven times. Her most famous marriage, in every sense of the word, was to Richard Burton, whom she married twice. In the song, Taylor asks if it is worth investing in her relationship and finally marrying her current boyfriend, who has already proposed to her. Will it last forever? She asks those who have had great difficulty maintaining their relationships, whether because of her, the actions of her husbands, or the weight of fame. She is afraid it will not last, but she wants to do everything she can to achieve her happy ending.

Opalite

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Opalite

Opalite is a very happy, danceable song full of good energy. The lyrics are about Travis Kelce who, like her, according to Taylor, had not yet had the relationship that gave him butterflies in her stomach or sparks like the one they have today. They were meant to find each other, and the fact that the heavens are sending good vibes is mainly due to their mutual desire for a lasting relationship. Opalite is a metaphor that applies to all new relationships: the sky is blue, synonymous with luck and eternity.

Father figure 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Father Figure

Father Figure has a very special place in my heart, and that's because George Michael was credited as the songwriter. There is an interpolation of the lyrics from his song of the same name. The two songs have nothing in common... Or do they? Father Figure is about her Masters and how she was deceived by the man she considered a father: Scott Borcheta. There were other artists who tried to reclaim their Masters, the best known being George Michael, who lost his case against Sony. It was at that time that he released what I consider to be his best album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. He did not advertise the album and did not appear on the cover or in the videos he made himself. The most emblematic of all was Freedom 90. The lyrics of the song are revealing of how she felt when the deal was made behind her back. "Loyalty is not what it used to be".

Eldest Daughter 

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Eldest Daugther

I can't understand why some people don't like this song. Eldest Daughter is a song that makes me cry... Taylor explains that it's about the contrast between the persona that exists for the public and the true essence of the person. She is an older sister and to the people she loves she is a whole person, sincere and who will never abandon them. This album has many musical references, and this song reminds me of the guitar chords in Radiohead's High and Dry in the chorus.

Ruin the Friendhip 

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Ruin the Friendship

Ruin the Friendship is a song with an extraordinary ending. We all dance along to the first part with its infectious, upbeat rhythm and the theme that is so evident in the song. The surprise in the song with the finitude of her friend destroys me... I think we have all experienced a situation like this, whether in love or with family members. When what is described in the song happens, it is obvious that we are left with that doubt - We should have loved and cherished that person more while they were here. She is right!

Actually Romantic

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Actually Romantic

The first time I heard Actually Romantic, I didn't like it very much because I'm not a big fan of diss tracks — I avoid listening to ThanK you aIMee from the album TTPD, so there's your proof — but... BUT, I ended up loving it because the music is spectacular and the lyrics are full of humour. I don't think it's just because of Charli XCX's song Sympathy is a Knife, but if it is, that's fine. Sympathy is a Knife is my favourite Brat song, so I listened to it over and over again and always heard rumours that the lyrics were about Taylor Swift. In fact, some passages seem to refer to her: ‘Don't wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend's show. Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick’. 

We are talking about Matty Healy, the singer of The 1975 and now husband of Charli, the band's drummer. Charli talks about her insecurities, but she knows - she was certainly there when this whole romance started and ended, that Taylor Swift cried over the loss of her relationship with Matty throughout the album TTPD. Anyone who listens to Peter, loml, knows how much she suffered... A lack of compassion, of sensitivity - everything can be perceived in Charli's attitude. Taylor Swift chose to respond with a fun song, full of sensuality, the ending with ‘La-la-la-la, romantic’ is divine.

Wi$h Li$t

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Wi$h Li$t

Wi$h Li$t is really a song about a Wi$h Li$t, about what everyone wants, and now she just wants her boyfriend. What you hear on the internet about Taylor wanting to get married and have children who look like Travis is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. She just wants to emphasise the person she has chosen to marry and have children with. She has everything, but she wants to be happy with someone else. Are you mad!?

Wood

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wood

Well Wood is another song that, for me, is a masterpiece. It begins by saying that she no longer needs to knock on wood to find the person she wants to live with. "The prophecy" has been broken and she has someone with whom she can live fully. The lyrics are very entertaining and allude to Travis Kelce's most intimate side. We, good women... with many wish lists, simply say: ‘Good for you!’

CANCELLED!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

CANCELLED!

CANCELLED! could be about many people. It's not my favourite, the intro is a bit slow, but as the song progresses, the production starts to build, creating an intoxicating atmosphere when the violins come in. Some say it's the most similar to the album Reputation, and I can see why, because she was cancelled and came back with this album produced by the same producers. In the context of the lyrics, which are the most important thing, she emphasises that friends who were with her at the time of her cancellation and who are now victims of it can always count on her. She does not turn her back on those who helped her during the darkest period of her career. I cannot specify who she is talking about, but we will always have the beginning of Gorgeous and the iconic cover of the album Folklore.  

Honey 

⭐⭐⭐

Honey

Honey is a cheerful, upbeat and well-produced song. It is about a word that can be said in a negative, derogatory way that can hurt, but when said with love, it becomes special. 

The life of a Showgirl 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Life of a showgirl ( com Sabrina Carpenter)

The Life of a Showgirl featuring Sabrina Carpenter is epic. I love everything about it! The atmosphere really alludes to the title, and Sabrina's performance is perfect. It's obvious that The Eras Tour is the backdrop. There are no superlatives to describe how much I love this song.

Here is my interpretation of Taylor Swift's new album and how an album that started out as misunderstood became one of my favourite albums of the year.

Listen and enjoy, because it's a gift that Taylor gave us during her tour. She went from being super sad with TTPD to sharing her moments of happiness with us. I don't know if there are any artists as generous as her.

I love her and I will continue to stand by her. 

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Life_of_a_Showgirl

It Ends With Us - movie - English Version

 Justin Baldoni

I took advantage of the holiday in Portugal to go and see "It Ends With Us" at the cinema. 

What made me want to go see the film was, I must confess, the controversy surrounding it: a controversy that I am not interested in developing here. When I decided to go see the movie I asked my daughter if she wanted to go with me, and she said yes, we knew it was about domestic violence. Some excerpts from the director's interviews appeared on social media, and I was very positively impressed by his speech.

That said, controversies aside, this film must be seen. It is very well written and performed. The story focuses on Lily Bloom's vision and until the end we live what she experiences. The shock, her and the world's discovery that she is a victim of domestic violence is very well done, very well written, absolutely respectful. I won't say anything more so as not to give clues to the argument.

Go watch it, it is worth it! Blake Lively is extraordinary and Justin Baldoni is breathtaking - a perfect combination to touch on such a difficult topic.

I share with you an interview of Blake Lively, where she speaks about the movie and the complexity of making such an impactful character, and violence against women.

The soundtrack is, really, superb!

Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT - Music - English Version

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT 

Billie Eilish released her new album on May 17, 2024. It was highly anticipated by her fans and me, as I fell in love with her first album - "When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" which is a masterpiece!

Her brother Finneas, who is also her producer, manages to convey a deep essence in everything he creates with her, and since he was also the producer of "HIT ME HARD AND SOFT," my expectations were high.

I want to highlight that Billie Eilish won another Grammy with the song from the movie "Barbie": "What Was I Made For?", which made me cry at the end of the film. It was a wonderful movie, by the way.

With all these factors in mind, the first time I listened to "HIT ME HARD AND SOFT" was while waiting for the train with my headphones on, and it was a very interesting experience. Did I like it or not? I'm going to tell you all about it here.

I'll use stars to emphasize my favorites.

SKINNY ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's a very well-done introduction to the album. The music is very beautiful, the atmosphere is calm, and Billie Eilish's interpretation is perfect. She falls in love with a friend and feels that she is old enough to live this love, despite it being hidden. The title refers to his weight problems, the reference to her body is a constant in his work. All because she's thinner when she's in love. Who never? The end of the song with the violins is extraordinary.

SKINNY 

LUNCH ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

OMG, the lyrics and the rhythm are incredible! I love it, she released "LUNCH" as the first single from the album, and it's a very bold and courageous choice because of the lyrics. I think she was very smart to do it now, it's a way of saying, with me, there are no speculations, because I like women, and I would like to "eat" this woman and invite her to go home. She chose to do this at just 23 years old. Her album is at the top of the charts all over the world. The lyrics speak for themselves, the production is an invitation to dance in every nightclub. I imagine people shouting these lyrics. It's divine! 

LUNCH 

CHIHIRO ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The first thing to point out here is that I was lucky enough to hear "CHIHIRO" with my headphones on because the sound is epic. The production is giant, and Billie Eilish's performance is phenomenal. There's nothing to point out, for me, it's one of the best songs on the album. The sound is intoxicating from start to finish. There is a first part and a second part in which everything is perfect, and the end is apotheosis. "CHIHIRO" is a movie she was inspired by; I've never seen it, but this song made me want to see it, for a better understanding. She released the video, but I'm going to share how I heard it the first time.

CHIHIRO 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The first time I heard it was after my little death in "CHIHIRO", but it grew on me a lot. Every part of this song is very well produced. It's extraordinary! The beginning elevates us to the delicacy of the gods.

Once again, the sound invites you to dance. The lyrics are about a love that will last forever. The end is once again intoxicating.

BIRDS OF THE FEATHER 

WINDFLOWER ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the most beautiful songs on the album. She seems to be regretting having had a relationship with her ex-boyfriend because he was the ex-boyfriend of one of her friends. In the middle of this threesome, she only thought about her female friend. When she sings "Until July," it's breathtaking. It's a very well-produced ballad. You can feel the emotion in Billie Eilish's interpretation. The end is very beautiful.

WINDFLOWER 

THE GREATEST ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's a song with two parts that reminds me of the song "Happier Than Ever". The first part is slow and transitions into a very engaging rock sound. The allusion to her relationship is notable, highlighting the fact that she gave everything to make the relationship work, but did not receive the same in return

THE GREATEST 

L AMOUR DE MA VIE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's about the duplicity of relationships, one day a person is everything we wanted, and the greatest love of our lives, and the other day, when there is a breakup, this person soon moves on to a new relationship - making these words a bunch of nonsenses. She says that the supposed "Love of her life" forgot her very quickly. The question remains - if she was the love of his life, why was it so easy to forget her? The ending is again completely different from the beginning.

L' AMOUR DE MA VIE 

DINER ⭐⭐

It's the song I like least, I don't really like the production. The theme is very interesting, she makes a satire of her "Stalkers" and turns into one. It's a very serious joke about the lives of public people.

DINER 

BITTERSUITE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The first part, the first time I heard it, didn't impress me, but when it changes to the second part, it's something else, and a song I didn't like became one of my favorites.

BITTERSUITE 

BLUE ⭐⭐⭐⭐

According to my daughter, "BLUE" was a long-awaited song by Billie Eilish fans. The surprise was everything. They were ecstatic and very happy with the revelation of this song. I really liked the production. A good way to end the album.

BLUE 

And we've come to the end of my reaction to Billie Eilish's new album, which is full of surprises. Her voice is delicate and very well crafted, there are moments where she shines and elevates her performance, especially in the "backing vocals". My only criticism is that it only has 10 songs, I was hoping for more. Even so, it's an album with a good chance of being the album of the year 2024. Let's see, there are so many good albums this year.

Taylor Swift - The Eras Tour - A Concert of a Lifetime - Lisbon night 1 - English Version

 

Introduction Our journey to the Taylor Swift concert was less than peaceful. I didn't have the coveted code to enter See Tickets, so I tried to buy tickets everywhere, and the result was that I was almost scammed. Many people were scammed, and they lost a lot of money at the expense of opportunistic and horrible people. The information about the other apps was all negative and gave no guarantees, but Sofs and I had already decided to go with or without tickets. We would be left out of the stadium in the worst-case scenario. This situation did not stop Sofs from ordering a shopping cart on Shein with clothes inspired by the Speak Now album: earrings, hooks, matching ribbon and all the material to make the friendship bracelets that Taylor Swift sings in "You're On Your Own Kid." Sofs spent many nights studying and making bracelets, and I confess that I made some too.

It's important to highlight that I was the one who wanted to go to "The Eras Tour"! When I spoke to my daughter the first time, she wasn't very interested, but I was enchanted when I saw excerpts from her concerts on TikTok, so much so that when one from her "Reputation Stadium Tour" appeared with "...Ready for it?" I was in shock. I entered a period of research to better understand this album, and I fell in love. 1989 is her ex-libris and a masterpiece. Now, Reputation had passed me by at that time. The entire story surrounding this album is extraordinary. Taylor Swift has shown herself to be a very strong, resilient person with a combative spirit to be reckoned with. No one in their right mind wants to go through everything she endured; it was vile. Reputation is one of my favorite albums, and Reputation took me to Folklore, a small but giant step. I drank the elixir and never wanted to stop. Folklore is completely different from anything she has done and is another masterpiece! Evermore continues this delightful narrative; they are two sister albums created during the pandemic. Folklore determined my desire to go to the concert, whatever the cost!

The saga that followed took a few months. Sofs, who was reticent, joined her mother's bandwagon and became a fan, and shortly after, she was the one who insisted that we go to the concert. A great deal of responsibility was placed on my shoulders. She bought several albums, including the first one, and fell in love with Speak Now. Almost a week before the concert, I got tickets on another app, and we went in. We enter the day of the worst possible organization for an event of this size.

It couldn't be worse! We arrived at 4:30 pm, and the doors opened at 4 p.m. There was a sign saying floor 3, but I didn't worry too much since the doors were supposedly open. We went to buy the "Merch" twice. The first time my MB Way didn't work, I had to go and collect money. In my head, everything was fine, except that the only door on floor no. 3 hadn't been opened yet. We went to the line, which never ended... We stayed there for a good hour, standing in the sun. The line that was supposed to be moving was standing still, and the time passed.

In the middle of the confusion, there are always those who are smarter, and some girls, who ran to the door despite having just arrived, told us that the entrance was very small, that two or three lines were narrow, and that there were few security guards. All this after passing to the other side of the barriers. We didn't know what to do—whether we should run and go there or wait in an orderly manner in this disorganization. We chose to go to the front with many of the people who were waiting. Furthermore, we got there, and it was actually a mess; there were no longer any queues; there were just people piled on top of each other. All this at 6:15 p.m.; the band Paramore performance was at 6:30 p.m., and we wanted to see them. We stood there, and people were shouting, "We want to come in, we want to come in!" and they howled with a thunderous sound. I already thought that we weren't going to be at the beginning of the Taylor Swift concert that started at 7:30 p.m. We took a step and stopped again; the chants continued, and I screamed too. After a while, I saw some cell phones filming in front of us. I looked at the trees, and I didn't understand anything. What could happen in the trees that is so interesting? It wasn't the trees that were filming, but some people were knocking down the fence. Suddenly, people began to disappear in this portal of hope that was opening for us. I went in with the crowd, but I told Sofs that we wouldn't go in without being searched—it was a safety issue for us and for the artist. The fences were falling down all the way.

We walked like a procession, and they ordered us to stop before reaching the tunnel. At this point, there was little patience, and the chants started again. It was already known on social media that Taylor Swift's concert had been postponed, and we were hearing Paramore perform. We were all in as long as we got in before Taylor started. A short time later, the line moved and stopped; those who were taller said they were barriers. We moved forward, stopped three or four times, and came to a barrier made of security guards who formed a cordon so we wouldn't pass. I found it incredible that, in the midst of the chaos, some arms were stopping us from moving forward. They let go and joined hands again. The chants were constant. We were released at 7:40 pm and were searched, which was good. We ran to our place; it was a little far, but closer, and it was double what I paid. That's for another time.

A concert for a lifetime

We were so excited—there was a possibility that we wouldn't get in because the tickets hadn't been purchased at See Tickets—that we forgot our glow bracelets. I had to go down to get them, and when I came back, we were finally able to enjoy the concert—we couldn't believe it! Our seats were a little far away; we wouldn't see Taylor up close, but that was a given because we were on the 3rd floor and to the side. What really mattered was the concert itself and the pleasure of being there.

The music was very loud, and everyone was enjoying it and dancing. Happiness was evident in everyone's facial expressions. We exchanged friendship bracelets, waiting to hear Lady Gaga's "Applause," the last song before the concert began. When the famous countdown appeared on the screen to the sound of the show's introduction, we were in disbelief at what we were about to witness. I saw the concert at the cinema; at Disney, I saw some live streams , but being there surpassed everything. Some people were crying when she came out with "Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince."

In the stadium, the sound was deafening, everyone was screaming, my eardrums suffered, and I felt a mix of euphoria and pain. It is clear that the excitement overcame everything. Next time, I'll take some precautions. She continued the Lover Era with "Cruel Summer" and the new set list due to her new album: The Tortured Poets Department. Around me, everyone knew the words—we sang, danced and jumped. I love 1989, Reputation, Folklore and Evermore, but this concert gave me the chance to know Taylor Swift's music better through her older albums and appreciate her recent work. I had never given her the relevance she deserved. Now I do!

What were the highlights of the concert? - Everything! It lasts more than 3 hours, and she sings 44 songs. The surprise songs are one of the most anticipated moments; she likes to surprise us with incredible mashups. This concert, which includes a journey through her 11 albums, is a vocal, artistic and physical performance. She presents us with a giant stage made of LCD and several screens—a main one and two smaller ones—for people like me who were on the sidelines. She sets fire to her "Bad Blood,", confetti during "All Too Well," you can see everything, no one misses anything about the concert or her, even if they are far away, and ends with a fireworks display that was made "for" my birthday. I can only be grateful.

 In the midst of the exaltation, the moment dedicated to Folklore and Evermore is always a little calmer. After the song "Champagne Problems" from Evermore, she always lets the crowd applaud, as if it were an "Encore", but in the middle of the concert. Thousands of people clapped and screamed her name, so much so that someone in the stadium turned on the lights. This moment was epic, and she was stunned. What was expected to be a moment of 2 minutes turned out to be an iconic moment of more than 3.30 minutes. We didn't want to stop.

The hat she gives in her "22" song is always a very beautiful moment; she almost always chooses young people. The "surprise songs" that I mentioned above are another special moment. On the 24th, she did a mashup of "Come Back...Be Here" by Red, "The Way I Loved You" by Fearless, "The Other Side of the Door" by Fearless on guitar, & "Fresh out the Slammer" by TTPD with "High Infidelity" by Midnights on piano. I didn't know the first three well, and "Fresh out of the Slammer" is my least favorite song on her last album due to the production, but on the piano it was much better. I love "High Infidelity.". My daughter knew all the lyrics. "The Way I Loved You" is a song she hasn't sung in years at her concerts. I think Taylor came to Portugal without knowing how she would be received and was overwhelmed by the public. Thanks to us, on night 2, in Lisbon, they had two memorable "surprise songs."

        

I could have spent the whole time filming, but I filmed just what was necessary, for me. If I want to see Taylor Swift on screen, I can watch the film, so I only record a few moments that were important to me: "All Too Well" (10-minute version), "Cardigan," "August" & "Illicit Affairs", "...Ready for it?", "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart," and "Shake It Off", and I can say that I felt the ground moving. I was singing the whole time during filming; the rest of the time I was a simple fan enjoying a show.

I don't know if you realize how Taylor Swift's fans are; she wrote completely different albums with songs that range from country; rock; pop; rap; R&B; folk; and indie folk, and, regardless of the gender, everyone knew the words. It's masterful!

What else to say? The band is extraordinary; its vocalists are incredible, and its dancers are wonderful. The work done before and during the tour is incessant and makes this "The Eras Tour" a concert that pays homage to her albums, but, above all, her fans. Taylor Swift was unable to tour with her album Lover due to COVID; she released Folklore and Evermore during the pandemic; Midnights came out in 2022; and this year, she released The Tortured Poets Department. She revisits her older albums, but specifically highlights the ones that didn't go on tour, and takes the opportunity to thank her fans for the overwhelming reception they received—she broke records after records. She won two more Grammys for best albums with Folklore in 2021 and Midnights this year.

Taylor Swift is not just any artist; her time in Portugal was a blessing. My only regret was not getting the code to buy tickets at See Tickets, but that will never happen again. [Outro] On social media, there are always those who say bad things and make fun of her or her work. Taylor Swift has 11 completely different albums; go listen to them! You might change your mind; who knows? I changed!

My post about the Reputation album.

https://audrey-movie.blogspot.com/2023/07/taylor-swift-reputation-musica.html?m=1