Status Updates From Bounded Choice: True Believ...

I do not know why, this has no real purpose, but I just like picking up on these influences

I was right, Dua Lipa was inspired by Michael Jackson's THRILLER for HOUDINI and also Madonna's HUNG UP (which I've never listened to) I just watched the music vid and clearly Dua dancing in work out clothes in front of the wall mirrors is an homage to Madonna

Madonna's song was influenced by ABBA

Lyrics that have a narrative, some layers, or describe a different kind of toxicity is what I want in a song

I still really like INFIDELITY by Taylor Swift. The music to the song is not remarkable, but the lyrics have layers to them

I read some article where a psychologist analyzed a bunch of pop songs and the majority of them described people who have anxious attachment styles in relationships (& I'll add experience limerence)

After a while the themes get fucking repetitive. That's why SZA's Kill Bill and Snooze are refreshing, they go past anxiously attached & limerence, to unhinged.

Want more pop songs with unhinged heroines

Then I get toxic new adult vibes from Keeping You Around, Nothing but Thieves

That gives friends with benefits vibes

SZA is a dark romance reader, FINALLY we're getting unhinged pop songs from her. KILL BILL and now SNOOZE, the lyrics have me dead:

'I testify for you
I told that lie I kill that bitch I do what all of them around you scared to do I'm not

mobbin
schemin
looting
hide your bodies'

I want a technical breakdown of HOUDINI, from someone who knows more about music than I. First impression is I like the balance of percussion & brass.

I'm not inspired by the lyrics. Dua is just like, 'See ya later boy, I'm disappearing' in that song

I don't care for the lyrics of Dua Lipa's HOUDNII, but I like the music of the extended version. Production value reminds me of some of Michael Jackson's songs. I relistened to disco from the 70s & 80s, that influence is there.

If someone doesn't like disco or pop they'll hate the song. If someone likes disco the extended version of HOUDINI is surprisingly good

Not related to this book but I've been listening to trash pop while organizing and relistened to Childish Gambino: He is a hot mess in HEARTBEAT, yet it sounds badass?

What he's describing is toxic, and it reminds me of exes who keep on hooking up after they've broken up. This is extra toxic b/c they're both dating other people @ the same time

That's something I haven't read in a toxic romance

Communal narcissists, especially ones utilizing pseudo spirituality use DARVO techniques. Spiritual bypassing goes hand in hand with DARVO in this context. In The Deep End doc about Teal Swan you can see her utilize DARVO techniques against people in her inner circle

Ramani mentions DARVO, which was created by Jennifer Freyd, who interestingly, had a tangential part in the Satanic Panic (her parents came up with the controversial false memory syndrome foundation)

*Not pseudo psychology but pseudo spirituality, which relates to spiritual bypassing. She recced John Welwood.

Ramani relates pseudo empathy to communal narcissists, which each cult leader would be a communal narcissist. They'll show empathy for broad groups of people (like hearing about refugees across the world during a war) and use it to invalidate the feelings of the people closest to them

https://bayareacbtcenter.com/cbt-to-o...

This is good. I haven't heard of echoism. And Ramani has a couple videos on how narcissists have pseudo empathy and pseudo psychology. Also relates to spiritual bypassing, which can be the mindset of people who regularly attend spiritual retreats (not all of course)

The friend said at the time she considered it sacrilegious

I don't understand the psychology behind people like Swan, Smith, and Blavatsky who are bold enough to create their own spiritual teachings for people to follow.

https://youtu.be/VJ1w6lgrttE?si=zHrzm...

This is interesting because it's an interview with Lalich & Hassan from decades ago (80s or 90s) they talk about pseudo-personality some.

Also I just remembered LDS is considered a new religion, Joseph Smith created it in 1830. Teal Swan's childhood friend said Teal told her she wanted to be a modern day Joseph Smith (they were raised Mormon)