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Okay I wanna start by saying that Only Human is definitely not Cheryl's best album. The three singles are some of the best tracks on the album. The album came out in 2014 but it's taken till now to really completely grow on me. I've finally given up on my hopes for it to top or be better than her opus, A Million Lights. Having given that up I've been able to appreciate the album for what it is. I'm not gonna deny though that some songs on the album are just flat out not good. But it is what it is.
Okay so I'm gonna review this album in sections. Starting with what I find to be the best and strongest section of the album, Intro + tracks 1-6.
I quite like the album's intro. The intro is an excerpt from Alan Watts' speech "What If Money Was No Object". I think it was done well on the album. The speech is played over a pretty instrumental piece. Granted I'm not a fan of album's having intro's but I really just consider this to be part of the track that it flows seamlessly into, "Live Life Now". I find Live Life Now to be more of an extension of the Intro as it really isn't a full song. It's basically complete spoken word over a pulsating beat. It doesn't really have a true chorus either. That being said if it is treated as the intro to album then I think it works to a degree. Moving onto "It's About Time". This is a song I hated initially but has really grown on me immensely. It may not be anything groundbreaking but it's a fun track, one of the better one's on the album. It is follow by the album's lead single "Crazy Stupid Love". I still think this is an amazing song. It's such a bop. Even the tacky horns. It's just infectious. Even Tinie's verse slays. "Kissed her twice now she say I'm Mr. Right / She had my D now she dickmatised". It's one of those lines that is so cringeworthy it slays. "Waiting For Lightning" is the next track. I feel this song is really slept on. It's one of my personal favorites on the album and definitely one of the best. Idk why but I always think this is the Sia track on the album which is actually not the case. I like how the chorus starts mellow before letting loose. The album's second single "I Don't Care" is next. I hated this song when it was first released. I have no idea why looking back. It's such a bop. The caribbean vibes in the instrumental are great. It's a total hands in the air, carefree bop. It is followed by the title track. I really have a thing for title tracks. They're basically the first thing my eye is drawn to when I get a new album. If an artist is gonna include a title track it better be real fucking good. In the case of "Only Human" I think Cheryl did a great job. It's an amazing song. It's simple and beautiful. I like the use of the vocal effects and feel they go with the mood/style she was trying to create. I do think they could have been toned down just a tad. Great song nonetheless.
Okay so now that the strongest section of the album is done it's time to review the remaining 11 songs. I write as much about each one as most don't deserve it.
"Stars" is not the song you follow up an amazing song like "Only Human" with. It's a cute bop at best. "Throwback" is actually quite good. I just think the concept is so overdone and tired. "All In One Night" is pretty moody and sensual. I wish the vocals were little more prominent at times because they kinda get lost in the music. One of the better songs on the album. I consider these three songs to be the second tier of the album. You have the opening six tracks which I consider to be the best. Then these next three which would be second best. The album really gets iffy from now on.
"Goodbye Means Hello" is a song I had high hopes for as Nicola Roberts has a writing credit on it. However it's just so boring. Idk if it's her songwriting on it, Cheryl's delivery or a combination of both but it's just flat. "Coming Up For Air" was a song I remember some people loving when the album dropped and others hated. I never liked it and still don't. Cheryl tries way too hard to get a sexual vibe and it's quite apparent. The breathiness doesn't really work imo. The sensualness worked imo on "All In One Night" but fails here. Next comes "Fight On". It's your average motivational pop tune. Another super tired concept. Not a bad song, just doesn't feel fresh.
"Yellow Love" is another song with a Nicola Roberts writing credit. I find this song miles better than "Goodbye Means Hello". I think the verses are beautiful. I wish the chorus didn't go down that super motivational route but oh well. One of the better tracks in the second half of the album. And now we get to "Beats N Bass". I LOVE this song. But that doesn't mean it isn't tragic. It's so bad. Like why Cheryl. But it's a song I just can't help but bop to. I was hoping "Tattoo" would be a slow, regret filled number from Cheryl about her tragic ass tattoo but nope. It's the same old 'your love is like a tattoo' that so many artists do. Yawn. Now we're at "Firecracker" which is the actual Sia penned track on the album. I don't think it sounds like a Sia song at all honestly. The song has this weird country twang to it. Cheryl uses a terrible country twang on her voice and it's just bad. Let's move on from this mess. The album closes with "I Won't Break". I like when albums are closed with ballads. I find this one like a lot of songs on the album has a slightly tired concept but it's bearable here. I like this track quite a bit. I think it's a good album closer. Nothing amazing but at least Cheryl closed the album on a good note rather than ending it all with a mess like "Firecracker".
I do think that as a whole the album is underrated. I think it is a HUGE grower. It took so long for much of it to grow on me. I think it definitely has amazing moments though. It may not be as good as A Million Lights. But it's sure as hell miles better than Tragic Little Shitdrops.
the title tho!
I use a few tracks for my holiday playlist, basically December and Wit This Christmas, they're all so good. what even is air?
for an EP not really bad, Ari really spoils her fans, some of the faves should take notes. EDIAH who? lol, jk. Ediah is still great.
DECEMBER THO!
what even is this jam?
for me 2011 was the best year ever
I started following Natalia, Jessie and Kelly (but I knew her a year ago)
I had a mini job where I could buy new music
I had bad luck in love but I didn't really cared
The weather was perfect
all in one the year was PERFECT
First of all, let me say this blog is basically me complaining about my own life. Which is basically every blog nowadays, but this specific thing, I need to get it off my chest. I really hope some can relate to my story, if not, that frightens me...
November 2014.
1 year ago. I left the closet. It was the first time I actually realized I was gay. I told my best friends. It felt really awkward and I can still remember I said: "This will never feel normal to me. I hate it and I hate myself. I cannot believe I will ever be able to live with this fact. Goddammit!" Well, I took me a couple of months and then I was completely fine with it.
December 2014.
New Year's Eve. I let up a wishing balloon. I don't believe in such stuff, but hey, it doesn't hurt to try. My wish, well you are actually not supposed to tell, but since it didn't come true: My wish was to find 'the one' in 2015. That was my goal. To find that one person that would make your heart pump more blood in it then ever before. That one person that when you see them you kinda want to throw up. Not because you are sick, but because you are so nervous by seeing them. Yes. It sounds very stupid, but I believe in that stuff. That even though you look sick as fuck, leaking mucus because you are having the flue and there is still this person that loves you in that moment. That it just feels right. I believe in that. So that was my wish.
January-June 2015.
I was ready to get my wish. I installed all these dating apps. Grindr. Tinder. I made a profile on a big gay website in The Netherlands. It was going to happen! Well, not for at least 6 months. I was doing my internship and therefore was so freaking busy, I couldn't sometimes find the time to get myself to do these apps. I talked to some people, but it never came to some dating. With Tinder, I had such little matches, it kinda freaked me out. I was feeling better and better about being gay. Accepting it. Maybe even loving it, but it seemed like no one was loving me. No one liked me. No one thought I was attractive. Was I actually ugly? Or was I searching too much? The only thing that could give me an answer was a date.
July 2015.
And then it happened. I got a new Tinder match. He was amazing! He didn't really looked THAT attractive, but he was cute. He looked like the exact kind of guy I was needing at that moment. The conversations were amazing. We clicked on so many levels. Almost too good to be true. My first date. It was happening. We went to the cinema together. I can still remember I was so afraid when I walked to him. I saw him standing there in these AWFUL shorts (it was summer and hot, but still!) and suddenly I thought I was making the biggest mistake of my life. Quite the 'tough fellow' I am I continued walking towards him. and he was so nice! We had the most amazing time. After the theater we just walked across the lake and it was just. nice. cute. Couple of hours later he asked me to watch a movie at home with him. That was the moment I stopped. This was my first date. I am not that kind of person. Even though he was amazing and cute. I am just not the kind of person that sleeps with someone right away. I am a virgin. I haven't even kissed with a boy yet. So we said goodbye, swearing however we would meet again.
And we would meet again. The very next day already. We were both having holiday. He invited me to have dinner with him. He wanted to cook for me. How cute! Was this really happening to me? He picked me up from the train station. Showed me his home. And then we were sitting there on his couch. He leaned towards me and he kissed me. WAIT. He gave me a kiss and then he stopped. "Uhm. You kissed before right?" I was so ashamed. "Yes...I did, but only with girls!" Which wasn't a lie. I did have kissed with girls, but, like, 4 years ago. I hadn't kissed for 4 years. and the first time I did again was with a boy. Which was totally new. I took my chance however and showed him I could actually kiss. It was a nice evening. A great movie. And then he asked me to come home again. 'Just for a while'. This time I did. That evening. Big things happend. I gave my first blowjob. I got my first blowjob. No 'official' sex though. He knew he was my first. He probably didn't wanted to ask me. But it was amazing! It was the moment. I. Well. I fell in love.
The next morning. He told me was going on vacation. It kinda hurt me. He was going away for 2 weeks. I had to forget about him for 2 weeks. But, he assured me. I got to text him all the time. He would have loved that. He gave me the feeling it was mutual. Maybe he loved me too. Is that possible? In only more than a half year I completed my wish? Looking back at it, I feel so stupid. How could I have been so blind. On that very specific vacation he slept with over 3 guys. How I know? He just told me when on text. Like it was nothing. I was heartbroken. Is he serious? Was I that blind? I was nothing more to him than someone who he slept with. I told him I was actually in love with him and he said he doesn't really fall in love with boys anymore. He got his heart broken twice. He doesn't wanna go there anymore. Bitch, please.
Even though this was one of the worst things I had ever come across with, I still kept in touch with him. I spoke with a friend and she told me: "Well, why don't you use him just for sex either? I mean, you have no experience? This is your opportunity to get that." I told her that I am just not that kind of person. In this gay world of SEX. I am the one that is out there looking for love. For someone to share my life with. Somehow her words got to me. And by the end of his vacation we set up a new date. A more...exclusive date. He was going to fuck me. At this point in my life I was just so close into getting there, he wanted to do it. Why not? He picked me up at the station again. Got to his home and just did our thing. It hurt, like everyone tells you, but I actually liked it too. The next morning. I was gone. Standing on the station again. I can still remember I felt so sad. So empty. So dirty. What the fuck did I do? As of this point in my life I have never spoke to him anymore. I do have him as a friend on Facebook. Guess what? He has a boyfriend now for 2/3 months already. "I'm not doing love anymore" my ASS stupid motherf*cker!
It was my turning point. Sex dates are a no go for me. It just doesn't work for me. I am not that kind of person, I already knew it before trying it.
From now on I am only going to do dates that will bring me somewhere. Somewhere closer into finding love.
I only got a half year left into finding 'the one', completing my wish.
It was only the beginning...
let me just complain a bit in my first blog entry as you'll repeatedly see me do anyway.
i'll first complain about something vital for my well being, WINTER OR ITS LACK OF in this case.
winter is supposed to be this fucking amazing season, white as the semen coming out of a huge uncut dick. also supposed to be cold like the sweat on your body after he finally cums and gives you 3 anal orgasms.
BUT THEN AGAIN REALITY MIGHT SOMETIMES CONTRADICT YOU.
in Romania there are fucking 14 degrees Celsius. you can go outside wearing some sweater you worn in September and everyone's joking about maybe going to the beach and catching a nice tan. except they might as well just could go and comeback looking like Xtincta after falling asleep in her tan machine.
i feel like this is a truly disgusting phenomenon. on top of it all, one of these days i dressed as any sane person would during winter: a sweater, my jacket and some pants. i got sweaty of course and on top of this tropical heat we're going through there was also WIND. now i'm battling what i think it is a life threatening cold; i can't even breathe through my nose.
i am truly DONE and i feel like the lord's testing me. what's next, jesus? what could possibly happen that's even worse than this living hell? will you let a copy of Confident at my door step then force me to sit through and listen to IT? hit the ON button to my suicide watch then...
Wake Up The Vamps
Hello Adele
Wild Troye Sivan
Fools Troye Sivan
Talk Me Down Troye Sivan
Same Old Love Selena Gomez
Wildest Dreams Taylor Swift
On My Mind Ellie Goulding
New Americana Halsey
Pretty Girls Britney Spears & Iggy Azalea
I Want You To Know Selena Gomez & Zedd
Emperor’s New Clothes Panic! At The Disco
Talking Body Tove Lo
High By The Beach Lana Del Rey
Focus Ariana Grande
I Want Your Love Lady Gaga
Stitches Shawn Mendes
Bitch, I'm Madonna Madonna
Hands To Myself Selena Gomez
Ghost Halsey
Troye Sivan's three tracks are kinda like a storyline so..
Like a peach amongst the lavenders
Humans are such wonderful creatures for they conceal their emotions well enough.
Someone who may look happy may be miserable at heart, while another who looks gloomy may be blissfully happy.
One can stay surrounded by an endless crowd and still feel all alone and lost.
After all it's nothing more than just faces in the crowd.
