the end

you're going to have to stick with me on this one. i'm going to take you on a journey. 

step one: first we have to start with my delving into German pop/Deutschrap (Ikkimel, VICKY, etc.). While I was doing that, i found a lot (like a surprising amount) of reference either directly musically or through lyrical reference to Black Eyed Peas or Fergie. This put bep & fergie on the mind. 

step two: i got my license and have been commuting to work. to make the commute something i actually look forward to, i think about what album i could listen on the way in and the way home. recently i've been listening to Jennifer Lara, Phyllis Dillon, Evelyn Champagne King, etc. That and my more recent loves like Charli xcx, underscores, etc.

step three: for the past month or so, on the weekends in the mornings my husband and i have consistently had the song Lovefield by underscores in our heads. this song. this song. my heart. 

step four: if you shake this all together, you have Meet Me Halfway pop into your brain and refuse to leave. you drive to work listening to The E.N.D. and come to the conclusion that this album was ahead of its time, timeless, completely of the time, and also so influential. It seems like if this came out today this would be like a top tier hyperpop album. it's so... unserious but serious at the same time. 

something in my brain is saying that The E.N.D., Jennifer Lara, Phyllis Dillon, Evelyn Champagne King, Deutschrap, Charli xcx, underscores, and hyperpop are all related and all important and all beautiful.

all i'm saying is The E.N.D. somehow feels like a conclusion to a lot of what i've been listening to recently. And that feels bizarre and beautiful at the same time.