Because hate is such a strong word.
Here's a little fluff – or rather an attempt at it – to kick off 2024!
When Luna and the other members of her band The Moon Goats would get together to listen to music, they'd tell each other it's for 'research'… to get inspired for new songs or picking up licks but being enjoying some tunes in each other's company definitely was very nice too. When Luna spent time listening to music with just her girlfriend Sam, all pretense of a bigger purpose was done away with; they simply had a good time enjoying what brings them together.
The girlfriends had made a peaceful little nest for themselves in Sam's bedroom with the curtains shut and a mood light turned on which coated the room in a soft shade of blue, making it a perfect spot to chill and doing nothing besides enjoying being with each other and listening to their shared playlist on shuffle. That plenty of their preferred songs being were loud or rowdy did nothing to spoil the mood for them at all; these were the songs they choose for each other.
Luna couldn't believe that not too long ago, she was still antsy to even slip Sam a letter to confess a crush on her. For a while afterwards, even the idea of Luna calling Sam her 'girlfriend' gave her the jitters! She preferred to call Sam her 'lady'. Looking back, Luna wondered why she was ever so fidgety about all that: she was getting a little better step by step and her bond with Sam improved a little day by day and it was always a joy to find out which hallmark they'd achieve as a couple next.
They lounged on the bed, with Sam sitting upright against the headrest and Luna laying on her back, head resting in her girlfriend's lap as Sam brushed through Luna's short, scruffy hair. Occasionally, Sam would sneak a ticklish finger wag in Luna's neck and other times they both had their eyes closed and focused on their touch. Sam then stroked her cheek. Luna giggled behind her smile and gently pushed Sam's hand away.
''Stop it grandma!'' Luna whispered and had a quiet laugh together.
Relaxing, listening to music and both of that with her girlfriend without any anxiety in sight: times like these fit perfectly in Luna's idea of a sixteen-year-old's dream life and what a privilege it was that she got to experience it for herself!
Yet there was always something out to spoil the moment:
''No, you can't make somebody love you
If you can't make the pieces fit
No, you can't make somebody love you
So, mate, just get over it''
Luna looked away, her intent focus on Sam shifting to the music. It was the chorus to Dionne Bromfield's 'Get Over It'. It was a fine song, Luna granted, good instruments but she could not understate how badly she disliked that chorus!
Music was Luna's passion in life, but contrary to what people around her were inclined to think, there definitely were things that Luna did not like: small things in a song that were the like a big fly floating in her Thanksgiving pumpkin cream soup. It itched Luna to passionately gripe about these small peeves every time they presented themselves in her day-to-day life, but any rambling tirade Luna went on would quickly get a resounding 'zip it' from her sisters and not uncommonly a few pillows thrown at her head as well – they didn't share Luna's passion. A few times Luna has tried venting her annoyances on the internet but all that got her was strong language and harassment: never again. Sometimes, Luna did miss having someone to rant to about music. Not even with her bandmates did Luna feel like she could bring it up, feeling like she'd only bore them or worse, scare them off.
Although her lips tingled, Luna was determined to keep her gripes to herself; the tenderness between her and Sam was disturbed already. She stuck with reaching for Sam's phone to switch to the next song in the list and simply get rid of what irked her.
''What's up?'' Sam asked, spooked by Luna's sudden lunge towards her phone – especially after they've laid down for so long – while the latter sat back at the end of the bed.
''Nothing – I don't like that chorus; it just repeats itself twice and that's it!''
Too late, Luna realized her voice was sharper than supposed to and she slightly shrunk into herself in response, realizing she had let her bother get the best of her after all. She metaphorically hit herself in the head: why did she always have to ruin tender moments like these?
''Sorry!- bad choruses are a pet peeve of mine.'' Luna hoped that, with her apology, they'd forget all about it and resume enjoying being with each other. However, she was surprised to see Sam's expression gaining a curious inflection.
''I get that; the chorus is meant to be the most memorable part of the song. Some songs I prefer instrumental because they have a great riff but the lyrics completely botch it.''
''That's right.'' Luna calmly replied as she nodded her head, admittedly still dumbfounded with Sam's admission. ''Even worse is when that chorus is repeated endlessly at the end of the song, or a part of it is used as a bridge between the second and third chorus!''
''Don't you also hate the overuse of filler words like 'yeah' or 'baby' and 'oh' as if it means something? I hear baby more times in some songs than you have sisters!''
After a short laugh, the question spurred another example out of Luna: ''Or 'set me free'!''
A snap of Sam's fingers sounded. ''That too!''
Luna groaned and she shook her head wearily at all the examples that she could think of while Sam laughed quietly, finding humor in seeing Luna so annoyed.
''It isn't just overused but I think it sounds really weird!'' Luna said.
''Like botching pronunciations to make a rhyme! It's not smart, it's plain stupid!'' Sam chimed in.
''You know what's annoying too? Video clips that interrupt the song for some talking!''
''Yeah that's the worst!'' Sam clicked her mouth and cocked her head. ''You're getting into the vibe of it and then they suddenly stop the song for some bullcrap!''
Luna stretched her arms out as she exclaimed her grief: ''That and video clips that don't immediately start with the music. Seriously, why? That's why I rarely watch video clips anymore.''
''Why do people even bother with them anymore? People stream music these days!'' Sam remarked. ''I also loathe it when songs randomly name-drop cities, like Steve Miller Band's 'Rockin' Me' or that one Maroon 5 song or James Brown's 'Living In America'.''
Subtly, Luna reeled with her head and her glance gained a sharp inflection. ''What about Living In America? That's a song where it has a point.''
Sam raised an eyebrow, unimpressed with Luna's statement. ''Really? It's uninspiring, like the song is going for cheap appeal from people hearing their hometown mentioned instead of something more meaningful. Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight could've done much better when they wrote it.''
''You don't understand that's the point of the song. It's about the American dream so it makes sense that some big cities get a shout-out!'' Luna demanded from herself she remained polite, but her tone hinted at slips of her self-control.
''But why?'' Sam heard her own voice raising slightly but was decent enough to correct herself. ''Don't get me wrong, it's a good song with that lively James Brown energy but once you get to the bridge it just falls totally flat!''
''What!'' Luna exclaimed. ''The bridge is the best part! It's a key change but doesn't break away too much from the rest of the song. Definitely one of the better transitions out there!''
''Please! With lyrics and density that bad, it's a chore to make it to the final chorus! It's all good but then that uninspiring bit comes on like a wet fart!''
Luna rolled her head. ''Oh so mature!''
''What's it to you?'' Sam asked, indignant.
Luna crossed her arms. ''Nothing, I just think you're seriously off the mark!''
Sam scoffed, mirroring Luna's folded arms and shot her girlfriend a glower. ''Next thing you're going to tell me is that you think Katy Perry's music is deep.''
So it turns out, another pet peeve both of them had were 'wrong' opinions about music. The girlfriends sat at either end of the bed, brooding on what other poor takes their significant other could possibly have. For a brief moment, Luna and Sam didn't talk or even felt like directly acknowledging each other's presence as the music blared on. Yet, when Luna and Sam each looked over their shoulders with caution to gauge the other if they were really as angry as they thought. As they locked their furrowed glances, they felt their hearts soften and their eyes next. Both realized, of themselves and each other, that they didn't feel any ire. In fact, did Luna feel… relief? She has never been able to ramble this much before!
Their mouths crooked into giddy smiles, both pitched an uncontrollable snort that induced a hearty, unrestrained bout of laughter that made them both go limp on the mattress from the sheer absurdity of it all.
''I-I so needed that!'' Luna admitted the first chance she could overcome her laughing fit as she risking running short of breath. The blissful lightness in her head, however, had nothing to do with that.
''Me too!'' Sam agreed, also overcome with exhaustion from the uproar. ''I have no one else I can bitch about songs with!''
Luna propped herself up to sit against the back wall, still numb from laughter as an occasional few giggles managed to squeeze themselves out while the humor had already worn thin. But when Sam came crawling towards Luna over the mattress, their chuckles ceased and both just smiled warmly at one another. Learning that they could now safely speak their mind to each other is the greatest thing they have discovered about each other yet. Sam cupped a hand under Luna's chin and gently kept it in place, leaning in and give her girlfriend a soft but lengthy peck on her lips that sealed that mutual understanding.
Once their mouths parted, they both enjoyed that delightful post-kissing afterglow for a moment, blissfully staring in each other's eyes until Sam nestled up against her lover to snuggle. Luna began to play with Sam's smooth blond locks, stroking them all the way down to the tips on her shoulders, as they continued enjoying the music and each other.
''You know what else I hate? Musicians that constantly tell the crowd what to do during concerts!'' Sam's voice gained an annoyed inflection as her hand wandered around. ''You're the artist, make me jump and dance with your music, not because you tell me to; I'm not letting myself get conditioned!''
''Yeah.'' Luna smiled, feeling like he had just met an even more genuine version of her girlfriend.
Was it very obvious I don't know much about the finer nuances of making music?
Is it also obvious I wrote this in two days? I had the idea and I simply wanted to have it put on paper. Even though it's definitely not my best, I'm glad I just wrote something on the fly for a change; it's refreshing.
Normally I prefer using mostly fictional band names because of the show itself does it too, only making exceptions for really big artists, but I felt like mentioning real bands and their songs helped get the point across better.
I used Dionne Bromfield's song as kickoff to the plot proper because when I heard it almost daily at work I grew to hate this song, especially the chorus. However, now that I heard it again years later, it's not so bad. I'm not sure if that song grated on me because I heard it so much or because I got older and wiser not to let that bother me too much anymore but I doubt it's the latter.
Keep in mind that opinions expressed in this story do not necessarily reflect my own. Some of them do, but not all of them. For example, Living In America is among my favorites from James Brown despite what Sam complains about.
With that done and over with, back to the regular scheduling. I hope you enjoyed it!
:D,
Q.W.
