totes4totes

just for this rankdown i am listening to all the american idol performances this season

1. Roxxxy Andrews 2-8 everybody else who are just on Roxxxy's season with her.

If ROXXXY ANDREWS DOES NOT WIN I RIOT. RUPAUL'S FRACKING INDUSTRY WILL NOT BE SAFE.

I have a few long flights coming up so I plan on getting a start on these this weekend!

i do not want to join because i haven't watched enough shows but i do want to do the definitive takedown write-up on Carli Lloyd so now this is TOUGH

as i've spent the weekend digesting the taylor swift album i have some hot takes that i'm BRAVE enough to finally share: 1. Taylor needs to get away from Jack Antonoff and Aaron Desner. At least Jack Antonoff. I think what made them so interesting to begin with has become too rote. I think a strong part of Taylor's appeal of her music is how she has grown sonically and this sound stagnant. I think individually the tracks are good but as a full album, especially one of 31 tracks it all starts to sound too similar. Lyrically though, I think this has some of her weakest stuff. 2. I think overall it's good. Like how you listen to Taylor Swift and expect a certain level of quality but it's not exciting and it doesn't take too many risks. 3. I think this needed to sound angrier. Or sadder. Or in general more tortured. This is called The Tortured Poets Department. She sounds more tortured in her Karlie Kloss breakup album. Or her "fictional" stories of folklore/evermore or when she's singing about how girls are mean to her on Fearless. Overall, Taylor Swift doesn't feel challenged anymore. She's created a fanbase so rabid that critics receive threats of violence if they criticize her and she will sell so much of her 18 different vinyl presses that she will never feel it. I don't mind bad Taylor Swift songs if on the same album you get things like "New Year's Day" or "The Archer" (two Swift/Antonoff joints BTW) because that also feels in itself that Taylor is challenging herself or creating levels for herself. Where she doesn't feel afraid to fail. Hopefully eventually I can be proven wrong and the next album will be back to the Taylor Swift that I love. But this one just feels empty.

my final rankings do not change post finale

finale impressions: I was spoiled for the finale because I live in PST time and I had plans on Friday that prevented me from watching Drag Race. So when I was like 5 drinks in I finally took a look at the results and saw Nymphia won. I was BAFFLED. Despite the fact that Nymphia had been my favorite all season, the season was so clearly edited for a Sapphira win. And like @Elliott said, this was all filmed and edited before even airing a single episode unlike other "live" finales so it's not like they had an excuse. Which leads me to believe that since they always film two winners (dumb), that there was a bit of a switcheroo not at the last minute but close to it. Like after the season got halfway through Ru called up production and was like "Hey I know that I chose Sapphira like a while back but thinking on it, Nymphia." Anyway, I don't think that there's any question that Nymphia won the finale. I think Sapphira won round one but just barely. But Nymphia absolutely won the LSFTC. I am sure there are ways editing would have worked to make it make sense for Sapphira to win after but based on the finale nobody can be mad I would think (if they can edit it to make Jinkx win a lip sync for the crown, they can absolutely edit it to make Sapphira win). Though, one thing I question is Sapphira's costume and reveal. With the vampire fangs I think it would have worked better to go from something more "vampire" in color (red. black) and then reveal to signature blue. Or blood. There should have been sexy blood. Anyway, "Padam Padam" is never leaving my brain (it's 2023 all over again!), the Boba reveal was legit so good. What a good finale lip sync song choice and performance from both queens. Plane was a clear third the entire time. I think with as much money given out along with the Cassandra Peterson tribute and the Sasha Colby performance this does just kind of reinforce my belief that Drag Race is becoming less of a competition and moving far more towards a variety show. That's fine. I do kind of want All-Stars to move that way. Especially with having such polished queens, there's less opportunity for like real drama. We've really moved past that (fortunately? unfortunately? who can really say).

@kritaaay and i: For advancements: Let Me Love You for cuts: Je Suis Malade Your Song

how about these two and Vita Boers - "Starring Role" - (Jazz) - Watch Here

I’ll look later tonight!

@Erestor wanna move this on? Kalila Hermant & Vivian Cardoso Gomes - "I Was Here" - (Jazz by Laurent Flament)

@taylorkat one of these?