Hello dear readers,
A WARNING BEFORE YOU PROCEED:
This issue of the newsletter acknowledges that I have a sexuality. If you are, say, a former coworker or, idk, my father, don’t feel like you need to keep reading. It will change our relationship. But if you do choose to keep reading, please don’t tell me about it.
If you are a stranger, I couldn’t give two shits. Read on!
HIGHBROW
Last Friday was a momentous day for me. I left my apartment (major development!) to go somewhere other than my gym (huge!) or Trader Joe’s (monumental!). I took the long journey into Manhattan to watch Pilobolus at the Joyce Theater.
They’re probably most famous for being the modern dance company that makes silhouetted shapes with their bodies. You might recognize them from the 2007 Academy Awards or that one Hyundai commercial. But that’s not the work I’m here to talk about. I want to highlight a piece called Symbiosis.
Pilobolus is characterized by its incredibly athletic dancers and its acrobatic, often narrative choreography. The company’s been around since the 70s, but the work feels fresh and relevant. At least I think so. The New York Times disagrees, but I imagine it’s hard to work for a paper like the NYT and also enjoy your life.
I will now provide you with my very academic and in-depth analysis of the piece:
Symbiosis is a gripping piece that explores harmony and tension between the (cisgendered) female and male body. It is also about hot people being very strong and how that is very cool and sexy. Thank you, analysis over.
I was really mesmerized by the show, and not just because it featured two penises, three pairs of breasts, and upwards of seven butts. Watching Pilobolus felt like a celebration of the human body, from muscle to skin to hair to genitals. At times it was playful, at other times it was disturbing. But every movement demanded that the audience reframe their perception of the human body. Each dancer seemed to have an expanded capacity. They were each cells—sometimes acting alone, other times contributing to a whole.
Watching videos of their performances is cool, but seeing them in person is a full-body experience. If you’re in NYC, you can catch them at the Joyce Theater until June 29. They’re also swinging by Durham, NC in July. I’m not sure if they have plans to tour beyond that. But if you ever see that Pilobolus is coming to your city, GO SEE THEM.
LOWBROW
Okay, I swear this will be the last Kpop recommendation for at least the next few weeks. I really can’t help myself. Kpop is an all-consuming disease. Trust me, I don’t want to be this way. I just am.
One thing you should know about my Kpop consumption is that I’m more partial to the girl groups. From what I’ve heard, this is a little unusual. The general consensus is that girl groups cater to male fans and boy groups cater to female fans. I have a lot of thoughts on the many ways this is REGRESSIVE, but I’ll spare you the lecture.
In general, the boy groups never really did it for me. That was until I found GOT7.
My interest started out innocently enough. I watched the video for Just Right. It’s very cute and very clearly targeted towards tween girls dealing with their changing bodies. I checked back in with them when they came out with Never Ever, a clear evolution in their sound. The boys were older, a little edgier, a little more dangerous. Then they dropped Lullaby and I lost my entire goddamn mind. Now solidly in their mid-twenties, my boys went full force with the sexual energy. I got hooked. I am hooked.
My interest grew beyond the music. I started to seek out interviews and side projects. Of the seven members, three of them are non-Korean (one from Hong Kong, one from Thailand and one from the US) with native or near-native English. This puts them in a very advantageous position when it comes to handling English-language press. I believe they are poised to be the international ambassadors of Kpop.
And, perhaps most importantly, they are very hot people. I am fully addicted to one member in particular. His name is JB. He’s a Capricorn. I love him. Not in a “I have a crush keke” kind of way. I am in deep, passionate, all-consuming love with him. Many apologies to my boyfriend of three years who is subscribed to this newsletter.
JB’s background is in dance, but he’s started to compose a lot more as of late. One of his music projects is called Jus2, a subunit of GOT7. JB and fellow GOT7 member Yugyeom released their first EP as Jus2 back in March. It is a collection of… how do I put this… fuck jams. Jams to fuck to. Sexy sex music. Moody, sensual, designed-to-mess-with-my-brain tunes. Honestly, writing this entry is very difficult because my brain is fully shut down from horniness. FUCK.
ANYWAYS, Jus2’s EP is great especially their first track Focus On Me. I have already played it 7 times today. Luckily for all of us, they also made a music video for the song. I, unfortunately, can not provide an objective take on its quality as I am afflicted with the aforementioned incurable horniness for JB.
You can listen to Jus2’s EP FOCUS on the streaming platform of your choice. GOT7 are also on a world tour right now. They’re likely coming to a city near you sometime this summer. I already spent all my money on tickets to see TWICE, so sadly I won’t be seeing my boys. Life can be unbearable in that way.
***
I swear I didn’t go into today’s newsletter with all this sexual energy. It just poured out of me. I’m brimming with it. If you know how to cure me of my truly debilitating illness (horny for GOT7’s JB), please tell me. I want my life back.
That’s all I have for you this week. Protect your energy this summer. Pop stars are out here snatching hearts.
xoxo,
Simone