I'm Feeling Unhinged Today

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tazmuir could simply rerelease gideon the ninth over and over again but from the perspective of all of the different characters at canaan house and i would be tuned the fuck in. like the drama of all of their different expectations and relationships…. coronabeth living her hot girl summer… judith experiencing Sapphic Hell…. isaac and jeannemary on the world’s weirdest family vacation…. palamedes living out a deeply repressed regency era romance…. silas filled with loathing for every single person there…. delightful. canaan house drives me crazy. it’s like if love island was survivor

consequences of tlt rereading

The signs were always there

whoa look who just appeared in my hades 2 playthrough... crazy

So, the Olivia Rodrigo track list video quite literally showed each track title in order. I want to go over them cause I just love that she did that.

The Track Titles:

Here's how the teaser video relates to each one:

All American Bitch (0:00)

In this case, there isn't much that Olivia does but walk into the room. I feel this song might refer to Olivia calling herself the "All American Bitch," perhaps referring to how others have perceived her after Sour. Thus, her presence is the reference.

But I would like to add she does drink a coke, and in the video revealing the title tracks she uses them to curl her hair. Coke might be used here as imagery considering it's such a well known brand in America (and world wide but I digress). So much so there's a term called Cocacolonization, "refers to the globalization of American culture (also referred to as Americanization) pushed through popular American products such as soft drink brand Coca-Cola," [1]

I also found by googling All American Bitch a Girls episode titled "American Bitch." This might be reaching, but the episode deals with a controversial author with sexual assault allegations and the main character who is a writer. I haven't watched the show so I'm taking Vox's word here when they say the episode is about an older man taking advantage of a younger woman who somewhat wanted approval of said man, to only be disappointed that he's exactly what people called him out for being [2].

Bad Idea Right? (0:05)

As opposed to the previous track, this one is pretty straight forward. It's really the only track that was correctly guessed by everone.

After drinking her coke and walking to her vanity, she writes on the mirror "bad idea right." Simple as that.

Vampire (0:11?)

Considering this the albums lead single, I don't think she hints at it in the video. The closest thing being that she closes the blinds, however, that happens after what I think is how she hints at the fourth track.

Lacy (0:08)

This one is hard to tell since it's blurry. But she takes out some object, or what I'm going to say is cloth and or bra, from one of her boxes. She sets it on the side bed table beside the lamp. I'm going to say it's some form of lace considering the title of the track is called Lacy.

Balled of a Homeschool Girl (0:13)

I think this one is fun. In the video, after putting the curtain up, she takes out the yearbook. We get a better image of it near the end when the camera pans into her typewriter. We see the "Class of" and "Book Club" pages. I know before I thought titles of the track might be called such, but evidently that is not the case. It was alluding to the fact that she probably never even got a yearbook. I feel all the pictures in these pages are just her. It's clear in the "Book Club" page, but in the "Class Of" it's kinda hard to tell. But it is clear that some pictures are duplicates, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's just different pictures of Olivia herself.

This is also neat considering it builds upon the Sour Prom. I believe Olivia has said this album is kinda a continuation of her previous album, or at least growing up a bit since it.

In any case, I'm really interested to see what this one's about. I feel like it could be a genuine ballad, but the title makes me think she's being a little sardonic (perhaps both). Frankly, I feel this entire album is more cynical. But that's a different deep dive for another time.

Making the Bed (0:16)

Continuing on to the sixth track, after reading the yearbook, Olivia makes her bed.

(Honestly, I feel like I should have guessed this for how obvious it is.)

Logical (0:19)

This one is another hard to tell one. But after making her bed, Olivia goes to unpack, taking out something that kinda looks like a board game box. It's hard to tell what it's called, but I know some people thought the name at least started with an 'L.' It would seem the name on the box is 'Logical.'

Additionally, if it is supposed to be a board game box, the theme of the song could be using games as symbolism and using/not using logic to win them. Perhaps in (toxic) relationships.

Get Him Back (0:20)

Oh, I kinda really love this one.

Olivia puts letters on her bed, then in her bed side table. You can't tell what's written on them then, but in the video where she releases the title tracks, there's a cut to the letters. Each one has "Olivia R., 258 Get Him Back Drive, Los Angeles, CA" written on them. I just really like how the video builds upon the previous.

I also wonder if it builds upon Drivers License considering the use of an address and perhaps driving to it. But I also don't want to bank on that since these themes don't immediately need to relate to one another.

Love is Embarrassing (0:23)

(True.)

In the video, she starts reading a book with hearts on it. You can't tell what the title of the book is, but the use of hearts kinda signifies the relation. Could also refer to romance books.

Also, in the title track release video, at (0:10) there's a flash to a few books. "Love is Embarrassing" is one of them, which Olivia proceeds to take. Furthering the theory that is the book she is reading.

I'd like to mention here as well the other book titles. I feel these are on theme to what will be touched upon in some of her songs (and perhaps even the vibe and sound of the album: cheeky, a little angry, sarcastic, and reflective).

The Grudge (0:25)

I'd say the second closest title people got to guessing is "The Grudge." Olivia writes on a piece of paper, "Now I have a grudge," which was many of our guesses. I feel this will probably be a lyric within the song, if not the chorus.

Pretty isn't Pretty (0:27)

Another hard one to tell. She unpacks what seems to be a makeup bag and unloads what's inside. This song might reflect beauty standards.

Teenage Dream (0:33)

Now, this one might be off. But Olivia brings out a cake and starts eating some of it. I can't really tell, but some people think there's candles shaped as '19' on them. I feel this song might be about leaving her teenage years, maybe reflecting back on them, the highs and lows of it all. Perhaps getting ready for a new chapter.

And after that, the camera starts to pan on Olivia and her typewriter. There are other things people pointed out, such as the 'Obsessed' shirt, the paper with 'Stranger' written on it, the skateboard and whatever is painted on that, plus the sticker on the guitar case. These probably relate to lyrics to the songs.

But just to put it out there, there's a poster in the wall near her vanity. There's a theory it might hint at bonus tracks [3]. I'm more inclined to think not, but it certainly would be cool if so and potentially these things are actually other track titles.

Bibliography

[1] Cocacolonization

[2] American Bitch

[3] Bonus Track Theory

The Chosen One

I haven't seen this theory, but was Ebb the actual Chosen One?

After rereading Carry On for like the second or third time, I just got the sense that maybe she was the one who was supposed to be the Chosen One.

For one, she is considered to be one hell of a powerful magician. Everyone acknowledges her power. I forget who said this, maybe the Mage, but if Simon didn't exist, than she probably would be the most powerful magician out there.

She never had a choice. It's a theme in Carry On about choice and 'destiny'. Agatha was supposed to be Simon's girl. Simon was the Hero™ and Baz was the Villain™. Everyone thought they were going to end each other. That was their ending. But it wasn't. Everyone's endings were definitely not the intended plan (and are still on going). Agatha really exemplifies this through her perspective. She gtfo cause Ebb never did. I think a point in Carry On is that you make your own choices and nothing is set in stone. (Which then disproves that prophecies exist, but we'll ignore that for now.) But Ebb never really had much of a choice. Whenever and whatever she did she'd always be involved in the wars, she'd be a threat or an ally. All she wanted was to raise her sheep, but the war came to her and she had to fight it. As if it was inevitable that she was supposed to save the day.

Also there's always Penny thoughts about gender in the world of the mages. Generally it's about gender stereotypes, specifically female stereotypes. But she makes one comment that makes me think Rainbow was trying to allude to something. I don't have the actual quote, because I'm lazy, but it was essentially Penny realizing rather the Chosen One, or Humdrum, or some other title could be female too, as she had just assumed that they were a he. So that makes me think it's more of a hint or *wink wink nudge nudge* from Rainbow that the information we're given isn't necessarily the 'right' information as it's all based on assumptions the world of mages has made. Which has been proven to not always be right, as demonstrated from our favourite trio when discovering that the Humdrum didn't actually cause the Watford Tragedy. And like a whole bunch of other stuff.

This is what I've sort of come to theorize. Now of course, Ebb didn't end the war. Simon got rid of the Humdrum and technically 'killed' the Mage. And who knows if the prophecy actually meant anything. Magic exists, but can it really tell the future? With all the effort the Mage did to look into it, it may have all been him just seeing the answers he wanted to see, not actual facts. (Side Note: what did he actually do to Lucy? To you know, make Simon the way he did? He made the most powerful magician, but how? What magic did he mess with?)

Anyways, it just feels like Ebb was a lot of things we never got to see or understand.

Thanks for reading this midnight ramble.

In preparation for The Golden Raven, here’s my little Bingo prediction cards.

(One of these are more serious than the other.)

Loved this album. Please talk to me about it. I have THOUGHTS

I've read/listened to CO more times than I can count, and I think why I have (when I typically don't ever consume one type of media like this) is because I always come out knowing/understanding something new.

Obviously, I'm here for Baz and Simon and the rest of the gang. But I remember my second time reading, I grasped more the actual tragedy of the story. Particularly with the adults story. They aren't the main focus, but there's so much there that you can infer. I think what really hit me was the lost friendship between Lucy and Penny's mom. The scene were they last saw each other doesn't seem that important, but personally I see it as a prime example of how a manipulative partner can influence your other relationships and consequently add distance to them. Lucy had people who truly cares for her. And though maybe the Mage cared for her in his own way, he used her. I couldn't help but morn the life her and Simon could have had. And writing about it now, I believe the second time reading I truly morned for the characters. For Lucy, for Simon, for Ebb, for Baz, etc—they have been and go through so much but you wish they don't because they deserve so much more. But that's life. Tragedy where it's not fair and in the end you just have to carry on.

And now more recently I got in the mood to relisten to the audiobook. This time around, having read WS and many tumblr treads about the series, I noticed more about Simon. How the Mage treated him, how uncomfortable he is with physical contact, how he thinks people view him. But honestly I think this time around, I just realized how sad Simon is. He doesn't really act it, seeing how that's how he lives life. He doesn't think about the past or the future—he more or less always lives in the current. But we know he dreamed of having parents. The best he had was the Mage and Ebb. Physical contact isn't his thing because he never had it. Only kissed on the lips, never a parental or familiar kiss on the forehead or whatnot as a way to show a sign of care and affection. Always sent off to care homes in the summer. A place he never felt safe in where he always had to have his guard up. And the only time he was wanted somewhere was to fulfill a position in their society. It's no wonder Simon is at a loss in his life, let alone his relationship. I know it's been said, but he's no longer the choose one, and the closest thing he had to a father (is his father but he doesn't know that) told him that was his worth. And URG, there's just so much to say about him. Like how he had trouble speaking as a child and he himself recognized "it was easier to take than to ask." (Which is, admittedly, not a good quote, Simon.) He never learned to communicate, so his actions are the closest to speaking his truth. But now he doesn't know how to communicate what he feels and probably doesn't realize how good it can be to figure stuff out together rather than always be in your head. And don't get me started with WS and the ending. I'm glad he's starting to make goals and try to get in a better place, but he's still has a ways to go. So in conclusion: Simon needs a fucking hug, a therapist, and I need to cry.

But the real conclusion is that Carry On has so much to give. I didn't even scratch the surface. But it's what makes it one of my favourite book and how I'm literally dying for the third book.

Now if you'll excuse me, I will be in a 7 monthish comma until AWTWB is out.