Beanie level: Chaebol’s poor doppelganger

My Top 20 K-pop Songs of 2019! ——

I can’t order these, I could barely narrow them down. So here they are in alphabetical order by artist. Yee haw!

A-TEN – KING – Is it pop, is it rock, is it rap, is it hip hop? I have no idea, but I love A-Ten’s relentless underground sound.

ACE – Savage – Straight thuggin’ meets pretty vocals meets moody beats meets bombin drops. I like.

Astro. – Moonwalk – Perhaps the most traditionally k-pop sound on my list, but I can’t deny those angel vocals or the driving, grooving beat.

Ateez – Say My Name – Hard-pressed to think of a way this song could be improved. Best song of the best Ateez album of the year.

Ateez – Utopia – A lot of Ateez b sides could have made this list, but I picked Utopia because of the superior Jongho vocals. One of the best vocalists in Kpop and he’s only 19.

Bang Yongguk – Hikikomori — Smooth, bluesy, mature and so full of emotion.

CL – +PARADOX171115+ – The entire album is fantastic, but this track stands out for CLs moving vocals and funky beats.

CLC – Devil – Bless these women and the savage talent they bring to the industry

Doshi – Movin – I think Drive Thru its probably a better song, but Movin gets me, well, movin’. I love Doshi’s mix of catchy hooks, happy beats and lazy rap, I’ve been listening to this on repeat for months.

Giriboy – I’m Sick (ft many) – Signature bright and clean beats overlayed with a cornucopia of some of the best rappers in k hip hop right now. Giriboy is something special.

Jvcki Wai, et al – DDING – Jvcki Wai somehow manages to annoy me and really entice me at the same time. She’s a welcome female voice in the k-hip hop scene, and the other strong rappers round out a beautifully-produced track.

MINO – I liked Fiance a lot, but something about this creepier beat and that relentless refrain of “This song is the trigger” does things to me. Also, MINO can write some lyrics.

OnlyOneOf – Savanna – A smooth sound we don’t hear much in Kpop. Effortlessly cool and groovy with impressive vocals from a debut group.

OnlyOneOf – Sage – OOO comes back with another unique, mature sound paired with gorgeous lyrics and killer vocals

Oneus – Lit – Love the traditional influence and strong rapping. What the kids call a “bop”

Stray Kids – Victory Song – I love me some Miroh, but Victory Song is like it’s cooler, better structured cousin. There’s just so much here to like in the layered instrumentals and the variances of the raps, verses and drops.

Stray Kids – Double Knot – I liked this song from the moment Han Jisung opened his mouth. The pacing is perfect, the beat is wonderfully moody, and the stripped down melody is catchy as hell.

TREI – Lonely night – A soulful song that still makes me wanna get up and dance

WINNER – SOSO – A surprisingly moving song with vocals that are at their best when they’re a little wild

Zico – Extreme – Also called: How many ways can Zico rap? (I lost count)

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    There’s a lot of songs I haven’t heard from on your list, so I’m excited to check those out. I had a feeling you might like CLC but was never sure which song to get you going on.

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      same! i am a bit surprised that she chose that song of theirs over Me & No which seemed more her type but hey! still a good song!

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    I’m surprised to see someone mentioning TREI! Lonely Night lives up to its name as I usually listen to it at night.

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    “how many ways can Zico rap”- every way. 😛

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Hey Beanies Happy Thanksgiving!

Me and @bammsie are doing a little project kinda inspired by 3racha and SKZ lyrics but also just by wanting to be more grateful in general. We’re going to write down at least one “small thing” — a little moment or something small but meaningful we are grateful for — every day for a year! It’s easy to overlook the little but wonderful things in our life and recognizing them can make us so much happier.

If anyone wants to participate comment! We have a kakao chat to share small things and keep ourselves motivated.

In addition it would be really fun to post some of those small things here on DB once a week, we can call it Thankful Thursday…? Imma do it regardless but y’all should join in.

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    Aww that is a great idea, I would love to read your posts! I will try and think of something to contribute. Thank you for sharing this with everyone, both of you are very thoughtful and kind 🙂

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    Bubble tea 😉

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    I’m thankful today for overhearing a 6-year old inform an adult that yes, there’s Frozen 2 but “we just call the first one Frozen” (eyeroll may have been included).

    So, grown ups, do not make the mistake of referring to
    Frozen 1 🙄

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What a moment. So satisfying, yet so unnerving. You’ve got my attention, Ong Seong Woo.

Really, the whole cast does.I’ve been in the longest drama slump but I just ate up these four episodes. Can’t wait to see where this story takes us.

#AMomentAtEighteen


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    My frustration over Hwi Young “winning” all the time (so far) is increasing by the minute. Can Joon Woo just not catch a break?!?!
    waaaah!

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@jaelegant I can’t think of a better way to celebrate a bday than Savage Key.

And as my second bday present here is Key eating a jamsadilla:

JK it’s Key with a mullet. Just a reminder there are worse things.

HAPPY BDAY! Hope it’s wonderful and I’ve loved having fun with and getting to know you!

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My brother (who is a classical composer) has asked for kpop recommendations. As a somewhat noob in this land, what are some representative but also great and interesting kpop songs?

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    Ah Oop by Esna & Mamamoo with the music video.hints to the 1960ies & just dynamic. can´t not like.

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    He could look at the youtube channel reacttothek where classical musicians react to kpop. But for example musically interesting is Boots from Gugudan.

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    Do you know the YT channel Classical Musicians React? I used to watch them all the time and they loved the really weird kpop songs as well as the ones with clear Classical influence. Some that I remember them finding really interesting:

    LOONA 1/3 – Sonatine
    Red Velvet – One of These Nights
    Oh My Girl – Windy Day and The Fifth Season
    4minute – Hate
    Akdong Musician – Melted and Dinosaur
    SHINee – One Minute Back

    Hope he finds some of these interesting!! Most of them really like AKMU and Mamamoo in general, although Mamamoo is more because of their vocals than the music itself I think.

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    I like DooPiano. Its the classical piano version of BTS.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTY_2MjQ2CI

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    Explore Immortal Song. The programme is about rearranging and bringing the songs of yore into the 21st Century. You get to hear snippets of the original song and the new arrangement sung by a galore of artistes ever week.

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    I recommend Dope by BTS. Going off the channel Classical Musicians React, it may interest your brother

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    I’m a classical musician. One of the songs that blew me away when I heard it is is Jaejoong’s Mine. Super interesting structurally and rhythmically, not a typical pop song, so not representative, but I like it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYgTJ9D4Rgg

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    Is he obsessed with modulations? If so Reacttothek might be good at giving him some ideas. (although I personally think they’re biased as heck).

    Block B’s Jackpot does a lot of interesting things without being obnoxiously about it’s complexity. There’s also an instrumental version if he’s still not sold on the singing and rapping.
    Also Nillili Mambo is like a weird One Piece/Pirates of the Carribbean parody and has orchestral influences.

    What kind of music does he like outside of classical?

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      They’re biased! BTS lovers for sure.

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        Yeah… Well I mean their channel started because of the Wings album and reacting to that so it makes sense but… I have pretty strong opinions about their approach to things lol.

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          You have a strong opinion?! Can’t imagine. 😉

          I have never seen one of their BTS reactions. They seem pretty partial to Exo, Shinee (sometimes) and NCT these days.

          I actually have a dream to start a channel with my brother where he gives real analysis. This is all part of the plan.

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      He doesn’t haha. He is so into theory that he cant really listen to music for pleasure, since he automatically analyses it. So he doesn’t listen to music outside of classical usually. But he has taken courses on pop music and wants to understand why I keep taking about kpop these days haha. (He doesn’t look down on popular music, he just listens to music very differently)

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        (replying to both here)
        Oh very interesting. He sounds very interesting!! haha

        I thought about adding this yesterday but if he’s a composer, how about getting him into certain K-pop artists who compose and produce solely? A lot of Kpop is still mass produced by in house company song writers, and even though it’s becoming more popular to write your own music again, as Zico says “anyone can make a tune, but not everyone can make a tune well”.
        As far as individual composers go I would recommend Zico, GDragon and Youngguk (ex BAP) for sure. Get him to listen to Skidz too since Chan is up and coming.
        Woozi might be another one to look at.
        Wings and pre Wings BTS perhaps. (Anything post YNWA they have less to do with despite what people may say so I don’t really count it as their writing… Although getting him to analyse how BTS music has… Changed… Over time… Would be interesting hehehe)
        Of course there is good music that is still done by an in house song writer- but this could be another place to start.

        I should hook him up with my brother. Hahaha
        My brother is not a classical composer but he has excellent theory and plays four instruments.
        He said something very interesting the other day:
        “they often make chords and time sigs way too complicated just to make a song more “interesting” when really they make it more annoying and it ends up being just a series of notes not music”
        He said this about jazz and gospel “musos” but this is where I think Reacttothek is bias towards classical techniques without always understanding I guess, pop theory.

        They’re obsessed with modulations for example and think they’re the best thing since sliced bread, and the girl who runs it says she picks songs that have classical techniques in them, whatever that means, that will be interesting to listen to from a classical POV but then also has an excess of songs by her bias groups, even songs that aren’t that good, or random bsides for no reason, other than the fact they’re a certain group.

        So I used to watch them occasionally for songs or groups I was interested in, and now I don’t.

        Can you please start a channel? Another reason I don’t like rttk much is because they’re the only channel like it so people take things they say at face value, as if some random university kids out of all the Classical Musos in the world are an authority on the matter.
        (Although a word to the wise I don’t think reaction channels are that sustainable and they become stagnant very quickly so keep it as a relaxed hobby that you do occasionally not full time…)

        … A strong opinion? Moi? Never…

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Release a dark and serious MV. Hours later release a silly fanchant version. #SKZlife

SO FUN: https://www.vlive.tv/video/135386

These are the crackheads I stan. And I adore them.


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    These kids are adorable I love them.

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      The duality is reflected in what they make ME do, too. I go from crying from their vulnerable lyrics and pounding my heart and starting essays about how much I love the music, and then the next moment I really want to dab, playfully smack someone, and do fortnite dances à la Felix.

      Sigh.

      I’m so fond of them.

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How can a song be dark but also bright? They’re talking about their heads hurting and yet I feel uplifted. The emotion is so vulnerable and the visuals are intimate yet the drop is a grim bop.

Different from what we’ve seen from SKZ, yet so SKZ. They are always so ambitious. This is why I love this group.

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    That’s the weird thing about SKZ. They might come out with a different sound but it’s not really different. They’re super weird that way.

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    “Different from what we’ve seen from SKZ, yet so SKZ.”
    — I was gonna say something about this being unexpected but not in a bad way and then I thought about it and was like “except it’s not unexpected for SKIDZ… at all” hahaha

    This is a good sign honestly. We talked about this on rabbit a bit. It’s one of the things I love about Block B. They are always different but they’re also always Block B. And the more kpop groups that follow in Block B’s footsteps the better imo.

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      Was waiting to hear your thoughts! Totally agree, and it’s high praise to be compared to Block B!

      When I first heard it, it was jarring but I also liked it, but also didn’t know what to think of it except to love SKZ for putting out a title track like this. This morning I listened again and it’s starting to make more sense structurally and I like it more and more each listen.

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    *just basks in how much I love your thoughts*

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I am not ready.
None of us is ready.

The music, the beat, the visuals, the choreo, that SCREAM. SKZ bringing it ALL this comeback.

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Christopher Bang, sit down.

The visuals, editing, THAT BEAT. ~Hype skyrockets~

Stray Kids everywhere all around the world YO.

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SKZ is remixing the mixtapes because they’re SKZ so why not. They look and sound amazing. (Stop growing up, children!) Hyped for the full MV to drop.

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This absolute bop is what got me into this group (thanks to @jenmole for that music room). Bobby’s two-tone mess of a hairstyle will forever remain iKonic.

What BI did was dumb, but what YG did was much worse. He didn’t need to take anything, he was already brilliant. I can only hope he’ll have a chance to come back one day, and on his own terms. I have no idea what will happen to the rest of the boys, but iKon is no longer iKon. It’s a sad day.

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    That music room was so much fun. All I had to do was show you Bobby. And you instantly fell for him.

    It is a sad day. 😔

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    My fav iKON song!

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9 singers, 9 rappers, 9 dancers. What is a bias?

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Changbin and Jisung are constantly attacking me with their sick flows. Two of the best rappers in k pop and they are rookies. Watch out. #STRAYkids

(1:37 is where it gets wild, but the whole song is bangin)

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Digging this b-side gem from their latest album. Rappers are singing, singers are rapping, SKZ members do not know how to stay in a lane. (Bless them)

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Imagine a romantic drama premiere where 80% of the scenes are women talking to other women and never once about boys. Where we don’t even see the ML until halfway, cause the FL is too busy being a total boss. Where the premise is examined in depth, instead of being window dressing for the same old romance tropes. Where men and women act and think like adults. Where the romance that does happen happens naturally and realistically. Well, that drama is here and it’s called Search:WWW

Also, Imma need this shade of lipstick.

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    I’ve been gushing over the first episode all day. All the woman were phenomenal in their office. Loving every it really.

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    Unemployed romance.

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    I was also pleasantly surprised by the premiere. I hope the strong 1st eps isn’t a fluke and this show will stay that great and refreshing till the very end.

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    I loved it. And then promptly got a bit miffed because of course she had to lose to the ML, but then promptly was okay with it again because he’s right. That’s the only way she’d look at him. And then she snuck away after their one night stand and I pretty much fell in love. Does this sequence of events make sense¿ it’s love talking.

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      Haha. It all makes perfect sense. I was also annoyed at her losing, but forgot all about it after we saw their lovely, natural chats with that dreamlike setting after. And the one night stand! I love it.

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      When she lost I was like of course the kdrama male lead never loses but I like how she handled it, how she appreciated the challenge and asked him for his opinion which resulted in me liking the fact that she lost because it showed she is not too perfect but is someone who is always willing to improve without losing her self confidence.

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    Yes yes yes! Love it but I’m a lil scared it will fall off later on 😑

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SKZ has a new teaser and I had no idea they were coming out with a new comeback/mini album so soon but I am HYPED.

I’m digging the industrial sounds they’re hinting at, and the callback to hellevator. The end was so ominous, seems we’re going somewhere down and dark and mysterious and I am so ready.

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    I’m a bit scared that they’re overworked. They’ve produced so much music in such a short amount of time. They officially debuted last year.

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      Yeah, that’s my fear too. I worry that quality will dip because they’re rushing or they’ll burn out. I’ve heard this will actually be a repackage rather than a mini album, so Miroh + a few new tracks. I’d rather they just take their time on a new mini album rather than rush out a repackage. But, I also will listen the heck out of new tracks. + @sicarius

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        Sometimes I really wish more groups pulled a block b and felt comfortable only releasing one thing a year essentially.
        Then again block b are also insane and produce half their albums last minute, Montage was done in three weeks for example, HER the same, so maybe I should wish that.
        Whatever the case this was almost certainly not their choice, and I can only pray they have more freedom and autonomy to decide comeback times and schedules in the future, and that they find time to look after themselves. Sigh.

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          *shouldn’t

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          They are given so much other freedom I wonder why they can’t control their release schedule more. I know people thought Chan had already worked on a lot of the I AM series in the years before, so that’s why they were able to put out so many albums last year, but this is even more aggressive. They won’t even be finished touring and they’re putting out more music.

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            Because they’re still a big 3 group and most groups can’t control their schedules or concepts even if they write their own music. Controlling music is one thing. Controlling the concept, the visuals, the dance, the schedule and everything else is QUITE another, and even the most “free” of groups often still rely on managers and the company for that.
            JYP is still JYP and not, (to keep using the Block B example) a company formed for Skidz and only Skidz. They’re still basically rookies and in a mainstream company, and marketed in a mainstream way, and so they’re still probably being pushed to fight for their position, the company will want to make sure they’re making and doing enough to maintain their momentum, to make sure they don’t “flop”. so they’ll be pushing more music, because Comebacks mean Promotion and Exposure and that means Money.
            Because kpop is competitive, and most companies do just wanna make money, despite having talented people, and it’s really really hard for any group to stand against the kpop model, of promotion and marketing and structure.
            I mean there’s only a handful of groups (way more solo artists but even then) I know of that have complete artistic control over ever aspect of their releases.

            Dunno if that question is rhetorical or not but I answered it so haha.
            This is aggressive yes, and worrying, unfortunately it’s not new in kpop.
            I hope that increasing popularity for Skidz though will mean increasing artistic freedom, and not the other way round.

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          I mean, I say all this, but you better believe I’ll listen the heck out of whatever they put out.

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    sOOOO soooon wtffffff????

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Some HPL 10 thoughts:

— I know PMY is the chemistry fairy, but this is getting out of hand. I am ready to declare this the sexiest couple of all time.
— Her bestie: “Don’t confess to Ryan.” “Don’t tell Eun Gi you’re dating.” Girl, I love you, but you give terrible advice.
— I wish so much Eun Gi had always just been her brother. I love the moments when her and Eun Gi tease each other playfully. And I loved the scene in this ep when the three of them are on the couch commiserating and supporting each other—I wanted more of these moments and less love sick (and pushy and boundary-ignoring) NotBrother things.
— On Eun Gi, I give credit to the actor for making me feel sad for him even though I mostly wish he’d hop on the nearest flight to Australia. (And take Di An with him).
— As much as I love Ryan for realizing why she was hiding, and for being forthright enough to admit he knew all along, I am a little disappointed Dok Mi wasn’t the one to reveal her fangirl side to him. It would have been a nice bit of character development for her to own up to that on her own.

And then of course, there’s the crinkle smiles.

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    All hail crinkle smiles. And thank you for that gif!

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    I think the friend’s advice of Don’t tell Eun Gi was more about being Eun Gi’s friend than Deok Mi’s at that moment. She’s kinda stuck between the two.

    I was disappointed in Deok Mi for not revealing herself because the second Eun Gi put himself between her and Ryan as someone who likes her hiding behind him was wrong, not to mention bad for their relationship.

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      Yeah, you’re right as to the why. But if you try to make two people happy, neither will end up being.

      Yeah, agree. It’s not good for the second day of being a couple. She has some growing up to do as far as her fan life goes.

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Ryan. I believe I told you to stop.



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    Are you trying to kill me before I drink coffee? Who will take my children to school!

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      They can manage don’t worry about anything and keep fangirling 😉😍😍😍😍😍😍💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

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      Seriously. If I faint suddenly, I will be blaming the Beanies.

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        Actually you should blame KJW for being cute , considerate and sexy 😉😍💜

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I could watch this loop all day.

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One of life’s unanswerable questions.

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