tournament Golden Hit: Season 5 ⚜️ Congrats to fountain!

[Hug]

For all my consistency, I've never had the highest scoring song of any season (well except for back when we gave out 10s like candy but I digress!) so seeing how I was this close has me shook

[JonginBey]

Two top ten hits simultaneously. I know Taylor is scared 

[poki]

Season 4:

R1 - 8.67

R2 - 8.17 (-0.5)

R3 - 7.9 (-0.27)

R4 - 8.6 (+0.7)

R5 - 8.56 (-0.04)

R6 - 7.5 (-1.06)

 

Season 5:

R1 - 6.5 

R2 - 6.7 (+0.2)

R3 - 7.463 (+0.763)

R4 - 8.213 (+0.75)

R5 - 8.41 (+.197)

R6 - 7.483 (-0.927)

 

Scores overall are lower but those point differences really give me a boost. 

 

Season 6 we push harder. I'm passing that peak of 8.67, leaving it in the dust and running more laps around it, trust.

 

[fountain]

Since its over now I wanted to share my songs from this season on the off chance anybody wanted to read them, as I haven’t posted anything of them yet. They’re a bit eclectic (and very long) but I had a lot of fun writing them!

 

fountain - The Most Incredulous Cough

 

1. The Square

 

Spoiler

Verse

See me at an innocent age

With rounded face and cherry cheeks

Up to no good, and feeling the same

Aiming for the window pane 

As if I know what I am doing

Like I have something to say

But I’m older now, and we all know

That silence is my way 

So let it shatter,

Both the glass shards and myself

We’ll see what’s in the pieces 

If anything worth salvage, at all 

 

Hook 1

They could nuke this whole town

And nothing of worth here would be lost

Not the house I grew up in,

The place I held his hand, 

The bed where I changed my mind

Or my childhood playing square

Not a thing of worth would be lost

No, and I’m not going anywhere 

 

Verse

My connective tissue itches

Trying to find any purpose

That I could attach myself 

Any search returns as bare

As the way a life begins

And no exception is mine

One way that convention worked

And still holds me intertwined

 

Hook 2

Don’t go too far from home

Stay within the square

That’s just outside the house 

For a child that is fair

 

Verse

I’m having about as much fun

As holding back a cough

My throat is practically 

About to burst at its soft seams

From all that I am holding back

What saying such words means

I seldom feel this much fear

But it’s common with these themes

 

Hook 2 V2

Don’t go too far from home

Stay within the square

That’s just outside the house 

For a child that is fair;

But I’m older now and needing more

It’s getting harder to ignore 

 

Verse

Vertigo from looking up

Too much potential above

Little me down on the ground

Can’t handle just how profound

What I’ve been born into is

Something hollow that exists

To be understood as “life”

But only known through its strife 

 

Hook 3

A stoic balancing act

A childhood filled with lack

I keep on looking back

But really, there’s no use in that,

A hazy picture black

A memory — or all — I fail to track

I don’t see how it could be fair

All confined there, in the square

 

Bridge 1

Stay within the square

Stay in sight

It’s dangerous

Out there at night

Don’t talk to strangers,

Or anyone,

It’s time to come home

When the lights are on

Venture out

To the corner shop

But come straight back

As I keep watch

Don’t touch the water

Pouring down the street

Because it bubbles up

And it’s mixed with bleach

Be good 

And be safe

Remember,

This is a sacred place 

Stay here

This is your home

And be happy

Because there is nowhere else to go

 

Hook 3

A stoic balancing act

A childhood filled with lack

I keep on looking back

But really, there’s no use in that

A hazy picture black

A memory — or all — I fail to track

I don’t see how it could be fair

All confined there, in the square

 

Bridge 2

I’m 27 and I hold a card; the ace of clubs

My betting chances known as low, but still I play my part

The fool, discarded from the deck, as useless as the art

Of gambling on a life, expecting any little back

Off kilter, then a shake, but I remain stoic; composed 

The table tips — a giggle — as a child comes from under

And I balance my world, then looking down, I see myself

There a smile; of mischief, of potential, of unknown

And despite that slight chaos, and the tilting of the game

I still remain in place, the scene all set, with I in chair

Of any will of other, defiance shall be the aim

Not a thing will change, and I will not be going anywhere;

No, I’m not going anywhere

But staying in the square

 

Hook 1 V2

They could nuke this whole town

And nothing of worth here would be lost

Not the house I grew up in,

The place I held his hand, 

The bed where I changed my mind

Or that too small childhood square

Not a thing of worth would be lost

No;

And I’m not going anywhere 

 

Outro

Such depthless shapes may come and go,

And make life three dimensional

By letting go of childhood past

Maybe I’m coming close, at last

 

But first… my god,

I am about to let out an almighty cough 

 

 

2. Killers Whales of the Zombie Strain; “Cognisance”

 

Spoiler

The ocean never looked so pretty, til it turned red

The first day that I woke without you there with me in bed

I knew something was off, I felt it instantly

And found you there staring out to the blood filled sea

It’s that time of year when things get strange

The leaves start to fall, and the weather will change 

But somehow this scene is much more ominous 

And the human population tumbles to only us

 

Dreams and dreams, no more halloweens

The end of the world, as scary as it seems

Hold me tight, I will make things right

And try as we might, we will last the night 

Laughter all around, the echoing sound

As dark bubbles foam, suffocating our home 

The polluted sea has it’s mind set out for me

It swirls, and it growls, a thing so angry 

 

Sea creatures there cannot contain themselves

In water so evil, they make their escape

As crabs run around and encircle us

Snapping their pincers, and making us dance 

A pelican dives, taking its hunting chance

Til a shark snaps its teeth, and has us eyed up next

So I fight it off,  hoping you can be safe

But when I turn you’re gone, and replaced by a swan 

It’s far from its home, and I feel I am too

But it winks, and it gestures, it’s wing points to you

A sight hard to fathom; you’re there, and you’re fine

But you’re strung up on floating jellyfish, intertwined 

And you’re neither in sea, nor on land, but the sky 

 

Screams and screams, no more halloweens

The end of the world, as scary as it seems 

Watch you fly, and wish I were too

I’m frantic and try, not possible to do

The glow of the sea off your face gruesome red

I can’t help but see you falling to your death

We won’t last the night, not that I’d want to at all

This is no thing of beauty, only of appal 

 

Two lovers, retired by the sea

Thought it’d be the perfect end for you and me

Til tricks were played, your life I failed to save

And mine too; in the distance a great tsunami wave

The ground beneath me shakes, as the sand is replaced

As I’m caught, in a mouth, on a tongue, slick with grace

Of this whale; it inflates, and it goes higher and higher

And I chase after you, now that I’m too a flyer

 

Schemes and schemes, no more halloweens

The end of the world, as scary as it seems

Swirling round in the sky, and all memories fly by

The happiness shared between you and I,

But I see an odd look, of unfamiliarity

It forms across your face, my heart plunges to the sea

I understand now; I see what this appears to be

My love, you no longer remember me

 

The ocean never looked so pretty, til it turned red

The first day that I woke without you there with me in bed

I knew something was off, I felt it instantly

And found you there staring out to the blood filled sea;

Trying to find pieces of your memory… 

 

Oh this whale, it inflates, and it goes higher and higher

And I reach out for you, my hands built of desire

But you frown; you’ve forgot, and it cannot be stopped

My heart in the ocean, no further could it have dropped

What an ending unseen, of misfortune obscene 

One that only could have taken place on Halloween

But no change to our past, and the love we achieved

Now I must let you go, and I couldn’t have conceived 

That this might ever happen, and I shatter, bereaved 

As this killer whale slams it’s jaw shut;

I’m relieved

 

 

3. 🎭

 

Spoiler

In this moment,

Yes, this very moment

I’m going to try to tell you

Whatever it is that I’d like to tell you

I know it myself,

I feel it myself,

But it’s so hard to share

In the art of expression

And in doing so I must take care

With the act of suppression

 

I’m sitting by a road

And the rain isn’t coming down right now,

But it wants to,

And it has been,

So I suppose it’s just taking a break 

Before it comes back, 

Before I realise,

Before I have a chance to react

Before a line can be drawn between now and then

 

And my memory will ask; when?

If I try and think back,

Will I even remember?

Are things like this so insignificant,

That I shouldn’t even bother?

Or should I pay attention to everything

Every icy gust of wind

Every raindrop before me

Every feeling within me

And every thought dictating;

Every little thing…

Perhaps not so little

 

I really don’t mind this cold

What would I rather be, hot?

It doesn’t make a single difference to me

And I don’t mean to sound so stupid

But what else have I got

When we were young we’d ask morbid questions;

Would you rather burn or freeze to death?

Pondering, wondering, to… death

Inevitable that it would come back to such a thing

But wouldn’t you like to hear of a birth first?

You need to know the backstory before you get to the action

How else can you follow the plot

And my, what a complex story

I’ll not get into it,

I’ll hardly have the time

But, if I did

This truth would no longer be just mine

 

So, wind, wrap around me

Do your worst

I promise,

I really don’t care

I’m going to be fine

Yes — I’m going to be so perfectly fine

And it’s funny

I might laugh a little

Because I’m so sure of this

And I have absolutely no reason to be

So I’m probably a little delusional

To have such an optimistic perception of me

But, truly

It’s a positive future I see

And if I’m wrong, so be

If my fate doesn’t agree

With that outcome I see,

So be!

 

I want it like this for all of us,

And I believe it might,

I really do think life is so beautiful,

Heartily,

And right now I want as much of it I can get 

Even here, in the rain, wet 

But it’s not always been that way, thinking back,

As a bug crawls across my coat

I almost hit it off

But I let it crawl,

And I let it crawl,

And it gets closer to my hand

Whatever this tiny thing has planned

I’ll let it play out

It’s life is just the same as mine

Step by step,

Doing it’s best,

Running around the cuff

I wish it good luck

It’ll be with me ‘til it’s not

And you will be with me ‘til you’re not

My captive audience;

Truly captive 

To be before such a bore

I’ll let you go, soon

In a moment opportune 

 

But I like you there;

Tentative,

Perceiving,

Appraising,

And grieving

So, please listen,

Because as much as I’ve talked of myself,

Now I’d like to focus on you

Please, take from me what you may

I don’t mind whatever you’ll have to say

But if I can make you feel some way,

If my words can even slightly alter your day,

I’ll know that I’ve done something right

And have I given you something to think about tonight?

When you’re laying there,

Just before you sleep

Ask yourself this;

Why are my eyes beginning to weep?

 

4. Carrier

 

Spoiler

Verse 

It’s cold, and I’m trembling like a bird

Summer gone, feathers not enough 

Looking for somewhere else to go

Leaving behind the place I know

 

Like a calling within

The migration begins 

As leaves fall to the ground

And I hear a peculiar sound

 

Pre-chorus

Wind picking up,

A mighty gust;

And I feel a balance 

Wings spreading out,

I’m ready now;

And I feel at peace

 

As if I know where to go,

I take, a chance

I feel I’m ready to go,

The time, at last

 

Chorus

Uncertainty as homely as the changing of hue

It acted like it knew me, but that’s never been true

To walk has never worked for me, as it might for you

So now I soar to heights, and see the world as if new

 

Flying with grace, over the winds

Changing my life, high in the sky

To a new place, to a new me

Carrier; carry on

 

Verse

I make myself a new home now

Find comfort on the clouds

I dance atop, and I won’t stop

As rainfall starts to drop

 

And I’ll never know,

Won’t have to go,

Through soaking in a storm

‘Cause now I fly,

One with the sky,

And I won’t be coming down

 

Pre-chorus

Wind picking up,

A mighty gust;

And I feel a balance 

Wings spreading out,

I’m ready now;

And I feel at peace

 

As if I know where to go,

I take, a chance

I feel I’m ready to go,

The time, at last

 

Chorus

Uncertainty as homely as the changing of hue

It acted like it knew me, but that’s never been true

To walk has never worked for me, as it might for you

So now I soar to heights, and see the world as if new

 

Flying with grace, over the winds

Changing my life, high in the sky

To a new place, to a new me

Carrier; carry on

 

Bridge

And I don’t know,

Whatever else I may find

In this life

But what I know;

Is that truly I don’t mind

Anymore

 

And a change is never simple,

But a possibility 

And as uncertain as I have been,

With it now, I feel free

 

And I;

Light as a feather,

Ready as spring,

To rush back…

To life!

 

Final Chorus

Wind picking up,

A mighty gust;

And I feel a balance 

Wings spreading out,

I’m ready now;

And I feel at peace

 

As if I know where to go,

I take, a chance

I feel I’m ready to go,

The time, at last

 

Flying with grace, over the winds

Changing my life, high in the sky

To a new place, to a new me

Carrier; carry on

 

Outro

Uncertainty as homely as the changing of hue

It acted like it knew me, but that’s never been true

To walk has never worked for me, as it might for you

So now I soar to heights, and see the world as if new

 

5. Harvest

 

Spoiler

Reap me, tear me from this ground

Unabashedly end my life

Let me know the glory found

At the end of my span

At the start of the fall

I, too, part of it all

Willingly or not

This is the future I’ve got

 

Pluck me, be gentle if you please 

Have your hands let me know

That even if this is how life will go,

That things might be okay

Tell me I’m beautiful,

Or, that I have been

As it’s now in the past

The time has come, at last

 

Look at me, like the sun breaking through a tree

Gaps breaking in the foliage I see

That time of year; death, or rebirth, possibly

I don’t know what it might be, to me

But I’m ready, for whatever life may bring,

And I’m as unreliable a narrator as they come

Afraid to face my fear, such a terrible thing

And a liar, offering out the truth, seldom

 

But I serve a purpose,

There’s no denying my job

I’ll feed you,

Try to satisfy the mob

Clawing, screaming,

Fighting for more

For sustenance, for life,

And what else for?

 

But I the product,

Calm the uproar

No rights, no thought

And no before

Only now - and need

The mouths, they plead 

To get their fill

I know the drill

 

So slaughter me,

 Raise me for the kill

Tend to me, 

Do it for the thrill

For the gain, for the triumph 

For the marvellous haul

For the people, for the future

Do it for them all

 

And the ground has been as beautiful a home as could be

You won’t be hearing any complaints from me

I’ve loved it all; what little I’ve had

But still, for it, I am glad

A small life may be enough,

Just enough for some

But I don’t want to question 

If of them I am one

 

There’s no change of fate, here

I’ve known throughout the year

That when the leaves start to fall,

When it starts to get cold,

It’s only a matter of time

But, no matter of mine

At the mercy of those above

With no concept of cognisance or love 

 

So take me, to the fateful place

Where I’ll live out the rest of my days

Prepped, and crammed, into the smallest of space

The herd as one, our shared outcome

Squeal, screech, somewhere in there speech

Something resembling decree

Or be it a resounding plea 

Please; don’t do this to me

 

The conclusion is this: things don’t change

And I’m in a cycle that certainly has no plans to

But life can be surprising, and people too

Sometimes you only have to get through to a few

So if you hear this, thank you 

Do with it what you may

And whether what you think is true

I’m sorry, I can’t say

 

But what better than a mystery, to keep things entertaining

What better than a message, to share, and to decipher

But when it comes down to it, the effort required

Is as sorely missed, and as undesired

As what I’ve been telling you all along

Or, at the very least, trying to

And if it hasn’t come across, I am so sorry

That the promise of harvest has fell through 

 

6. Everything, as It Should Be

 

Spoiler

fountain spoken intro

What’s this?

ATRL.com?

Games section?

Golden… Hit?

*mouse click*

“Hi songwriters…

Aurora and I are super excited

To bring you another season

Of Golden Hit

ATRL’s ultimate songwriting game…”

What the ****?

 

*fountain touches their computer screen - or phone screen, depending on if you are reading the original book version of GH5 or watching the movie adaptation - and immediately is teleported to a strange, gold filled musical world, and hears a peculiar sound…*

 

Aurora 

You’re a moonseed Chardonnay 

Mountain laurel laced bouquet

Rhubarb pie baked with the leaves

Chlorine carried by the breeze…

 

fountain internal monologue 

What is that?

That… beautiful sound?

Am I in heaven?

*fountain looks around searching for the source of the sound*

 

Aurora continued 

You’re the voice inside my head

I’m the prey inside your web

You’re the pill I’ll overdose

Your hospitable new host

 

*fountain turns and finds Aurora singing and finishing his song*

 

fountain

W- wow… that was beautiful

But…

Where am I?

What is this place?

 

Aurora

The most beautiful place imaginable of course…

And I created it!

Now,

Would you like to hear my song again?

 

fountain

Actually I’m more interested in figuring out where—

 

*Aurora begins singing the same verse again, anyway*

Aurora

You’re a moonseed Chardonnay 

Mountain laurel laced bouquet

 

*fountain looks confused, and as if this strange realm understands, a thesaurus appears before them, which they begin to search through while Aurora completes the verse*

 

fountain

I think I’m beginning to understand…

This sure did help,

But what is a moonseed Chardonnay?

 

Aurora

Does it matter?

 

*a sound appears in the distance, booming, and growing continually louder until…*

 

Jackson

I wear my cockiness like fashion

Etch my name on it then cash in

I’m a ten digit transaction

Don’t need nobody, subtraction

 

fountain

What is that creature?

What is he doing?

 

Aurora

Don’t question it!

 

Jackson continued

Stirring reactions is my passion

Just need profit interaction

Go on tour to hit my mansions

And I’m just starting my expansion

 

fountain

There are mansions here?

I see nothing but cheap fake gold and musical notes

 

Aurora

Just pay attention, listen!

 

Jackson continued

That’s my action, 

Movie, but no one could cast this beauty

I got suitors of my choosing

Find their love letters amusing

 

fountain

Okay, that’s understandable,

He’s quite attractive,

I can see why that might happen

 

Aurora

Don’t speak about my husband like that!

 

fountain, ashamed

Sorry…

 

Jackson continued

Don’t go travelling for booty

What I want they bring it to me

 

fountain

So this is about you…?

 

Aurora

Shhhh!

 

Jackson continued

If that shocks you, you can sue me

Call my lawyers, I’m recruiting

This **** is booming

*deep breath*

 

*Aurora claps furiously*

 

fountain

Sorry… What was that about?

 

Aurora

That was rap!

 

fountain

Rap with a C?

 

Aurora

*gasp*

 

Jackson

Oh, I see

You must be new here

In this realm, 

I am the most famous and top rapper

 

fountain

You don’t usually see white rappers with guitars

 

Jackson laughs

Have you never heard of Ed Sheeran?

 

Aurora

No, don’t say that name!

 

*a sudden orange flash takes over, and there stands a ginger gremlin, holding a guitar similar to the one Jackson is holding*

 

Ed Sheeran

You called?

 

Aurora

No, no, please!

 

Jackson

Yes, show this new writer what a rap god looks like!

 

fountain

New writer?

 

Ed Sheeran

I still got a rucksack with the old clothes

I rap with cold flows

I'm back with the most jokes, in fact you dont know

On tracks I throw blows to make my punch lines relevant

If you can't keep up you'll get none, you're celibate

My flows developing, skin lacks the melanin

Give me shot of adrenaline and I get it in

I do it for the hell of it

 

Aurora

I can’t take this anymore!

 

*Aurora claps his hands together 👏🏼 a golden dust explosion erupts and the ginger gremlin disappears mid song*

 

Aurora

Yes, yes, I know I should never cut off a writer in the middle of their song here in the Golden realm…

But that!

I just couldn’t take anymore of that!

 

Jackson

It’s okay,

I understand,

Would you like to hear mine again instead?

 

*Jackson begins to play again before anyone can answer*

 

I wear my cockiness like fashion

Etch my name on it then cash in—

 

Aurora

Stop!

Look, Jackson, you know I love your rapping more than anything

And I appreciate you showing our new guest your song

But I think it’s time we introduce them to some real music!

 

*Aurora claps his hands together again, a cloud of gold ensues, and before them stands a new person*

 

XO_Life

Uh… yes… hello?

 

Aurora

XO, thank god you are here!

Please, please show this new writer your latest song

I’m begging you,

They need to hear some glorious pop music!

 

XO_Life

So gimmie this and gimmie that 

Exploring all of you, feeling like a tourist on crack

Hit it hard and hit it fast 

Mesmerised by your eyes 

I am feeling like a tourist on Crack

Waist line up and waist line down, stimulated by your scent,

Babe, whenever I am with you I am feeling like a tourist on crack

 

Aurora

Yes! That’s more like it!

Again, another!

 

XO_Life

So Tonight! 

Nothing matters, baby you and I

I am Alive! 

Every touch, burns like fire

So Wild! 

Thousand kisses, our love just feels so right 

It's like!

I'm seeing heaven in your eyes

(Heaven in your eyes)

 

*Aurora screams in pure pop esctasy*

 

fountain

Okay, I think I’m finally starting to get it!

 

Aurora

Yes, do you understand now?

 

Jackson

You’re here in the golden realm

Something of an alternate universe

Here, we create the most glorious music imaginable

And we do it all ourselves, us writers

 

Aurora

This realm is the home of Golden Hit

It attracts the most pioneering and budding writers from across the multiverse

And that’s exactly why you are here!

 

fountain

Golden Hit…

Yes! I remember reading that somewhere

Was it… on a website called ATRL?

 

Aurora

*gasp*

 

Jackson

Please, don’t speak of that name here

 

XO_Life

No need to say something so explicit and crude, newbie…

 

fountain

Oh… I apologise

I’m still getting used to the culture here

 

Aurora, Jackson and XO speak as one

Don’t worry, 

There are always bigger fish to fry 

 

fountain

Yes, I see that now

And I’m beginning to feel so inspired by this beautiful place

 

The three speak as one again

Well, you’ve hardly seen any thing yet!

 

*another cloud of gold smoke, somehow not at all choking, erupts around the group and begins to teleport them on a tour across this Golden realm*

 

Aurora

Look at all this beauty!

 

Xo

Hear all this beauty!

 

Jackson

Feel all this beauty!

 

*a woman sitting on a mechanical bull and being forcefully vomited on by another woman sings*

 

Lady Gaga

**** you pop music!

This is ARTPOP!

SWINE!

 

Jackson

You can truly do anything here!

 

*a woman on a instagram live appears, seemingly talking to everybody, yet nobody*

 

Adele

Am I gonna collab with Peppa Pig?

No!

 

Aurora

There are no limitations or expectations of your creativity here, you are entirely free!

 

*a woman appears, twirling barefoot and with no clothes on, covering herself with a book titled “The Woman in Me”*

 

Britney Spears

Manjobi

Manjobi

Majobiiii

Manjobi! 

 

XO_Life

Here, we create some of the most inspiring and touching music you will ever experience!

 

*headphones appear before fountain*

 

Jackson

Please, take a listen to some more of this realms creations!

 

*fountain puts headphones on and music begins to play*

 

A copy and paste of Calvin Harris’s We Found Love drop plays

 

fountain

Okay, that was nice, but I want more!

 

Aurora

Listen to this!

 

A copy and paste of David Guetta’s Titanium drop plays

 

fountain

Okay… we’re getting there… but surely this realm has something even better to offer!

 

XO_Life

Wait until you hear this!

 

A copy and paste of Zedd’s Clarity drop plays

 

fountain

Wow…

That…

That was it!

I now understand what the Golden realm is capable of!

 

Aurora

And luckily for you, we have some amazing news…

 

Jackson

The fifth season of Golden Hit is just about to begin…

 

XO_Life 

And we would love for you to be a part of it!

 

*fountain takes a moment to think, looks around at this golden world, hears the echoes of all the amazing music they have witnessed, and comes to their decision*

 

fountain

Okay…

Sign me up!

 

*in the distance, a multidimensional being with a googly eye on her forehead has been watching all of this unfold, and breaks out into a knowing smile at this scene*

 

Michelle Yeoh as her character from EEAAO

Everything, as it should be

 

7. Everything, as It Shouldn’t Be

 

Spoiler

A telephone rings, a figure sitting in a large golden throne reaches out and answers it

 

Aurora:

Hello, what makes you think you can disturb me?

 

A muffled voice answers:

 I was busy too, streaming one of the greatest albums of all time, Witness by Katy Perry

 

Aurora:

What exactly is the issue Jackson?

 

Jackson:

Listen, it’s an emergency

 

Aurora:

What kind of emergency?

 

Jackson:

You know we introduced that new writer to Golden Hit last week?

 

Aurora:

fountain?

 

Jackson:

Yes, well…

 

Aurora:

Well?

 

Jackson:

It might be better if you come and see for yourself…

 

Aurora sighs, steps down from his throne at Golden Hit headquarters, and in a cloud of gold dust teleports to Jackson

 

Aurora:

What have I told you about calling me out to listen to Katy Perry songs with you? I like her just as much, if not more, but using the facade of an emergency with one of the writers just to get me here to duet Roar and the Con Calma Remix with you again is just plain unprofessional

 

Jackson:

I swear I’m not here to reenact the Super Bowl performance with you this time, just look!

 

Jackson grabs Aurora by the shoulders and turns him around to see the issue

 

Aurora:

Oh…

 

Jackson:

Yes, exactly!

 

Aurora:

I don’t know what we’re going to do about this…

 

Jackson:

Well neither do I! 

 

Aurora:

Well, for starters, take your left shark outfit off

 

Jackson looks ashamed

 

Aurora:

And meet me at… oh, I dare even say it…

 

Jackson:

No, you can’t mean…

 

Both:

The ATRL server

 

A crack of golden lighting strikes down at their feet at the mention of the name

 

The light from this illuminates just what is happening among the horizon

 

Sometimes, in the golden realm, songs are so powerful that they take on another life

 

They go from mere lyrics to…

 

A giant square box that has imprisoned all of the writers in the realm

 

Humongous floating whales taking up the sky 

 

Bugs, on coats, everywhere, endless bugs on coats

 

Flocks of birds that fly endlessly

 

A thick impenetrable harvest field

 

And last but not least…

 

The realm, reflected back on itself… a realm within a realm, songs within songs, the entire Golden Hit musical multiverse falling apart, as a tune plays out…

 

“Everything, as It Should Be”

 

Jackson and Aurora meet at a broken, disgusting, crumbling, dirty, ancient looking device

 

Jackson:

This is it?

 

Aurora:

This is it

 

Jackson:

I thought it would be a bit more menacing 

 

Aurora:

Oh, trust me, it might not look like much, but don’t forget this is the horrifying ATRL server of legend

 

Jackson:

They say if you touch it, you’ll be doomed to instability for life

 

Aurora:

Yes, even the briefest touch will curse your being to 503 errors for eternity, and who knows what else

 

Jackson:

So what exactly are we supposed to do, and how do we stop this?

 

Aurora:

Well, there’s only one thing I can think of…

Why don’t we just delete everything?

 

Jackson:

Delete everything?

 

Aurora:

Yeah! Let’s delete every thread, wipe the entire server, a clean slate!

 

Jackson:

That might work… and well, if it doesn’t, who cares? yes! Let’s do it!

 

Aurora snaps his fingers and a gold plated baseball bat appears in his hand

 

Aurora:

This is the best way I can think to go about this

 

Jackson:

It’s fine, if anything goes wrong we can just tell the moderators to come up with another excuse

 

Aurora:

An absent site owner perhaps?

 

Jackson:

That sounds good!

 

Aurora proceeds to hit the ATRL server with his baseball bat. At first nothing happens. 

But then…

Sparks fly out, the server begins deleting everything from the site

Aurora hits the ATRL server again, a few more times, for good measure

 

Jackson:

All the previous seasons of Golden Hit will be lost..

 

Aurora:

For some that is a good thing!

 

And just when everything is nearly deleted, when it seems the plan has been a success…

 

Ed Sheeran:

What’s this?

 

Aurora:

No!

 

Ed Sheeran reaches out and touches the ATRL server. The device banshee screams, dark billows of evil pouring out, the thing alive and untamed

 

Jackson:

Rap god Ed, no!!

 

Aurora:

He’s gone, it’s too late, but we can save ourselves. Take my hand and I’ll take us to the one place that may still be safe!

 

Jackson:

Okay, I trust you my beautiful husband!

 

Aurora and Jackson hold hands, a golden explosion, and they are teleported to…

 

The epicentre of the issue itself:

fountain’s discography 

 

The bugs on coats from “🎭” nearly crush Aurora

 

Jackson becomes trapped in “The Square”

 

A flock of birds from “Carrier” swoop down and attack Aurora

 

The whale from “Killers Whales of the Zombie Strain; Cognisance” picks Jackson up in its mouth

 

All the while, at the centre of this madness, fountain sits, typing away into a Google Doc

 

Aurora, shouting:

They must be writing their song for the final!

 

Jackson, shouting:

It might be the one thing that can undo all of this and save us!

 

XO_Life, trapped within the field from “Harvest”:

Why wasn’t I a part of this, and why are there no real lyrics?!

 

All three, corrupted and suffering by the creation that was “Everything, as It Should Be”:

Please fountain, save us with your final song!

 

8. fountain

 

Spoiler

The narrative continues

I’m at the epicentre of creation

But what exactly is a song

And how can I play along

With conceptions of convention

Of doing this in ease

Despite ideas of trying to please 

I really hope I can stand

And know every part had its worth

Every line had its place

And every word did what it needed to do

For me, for you

 

I’m a little apprehensive 

At the picture of the ending scene

The closure, the last thing you see on the screen

But I am enamoured,

And inspired,

And I crave for the ovation

The afterwards, the grandest of finales

And I, on that stage

Every piece of me left on it

Because I truly feel I am giving my all

But that is exactly what I want 

I wouldn’t for a second try less

And whether my aim has hit the target

That itself might be a different story

But I’ll be there to tell it

I’m sure, even if no one is listening

 

It’s not so innate 

To want to share such sincerity

At least, I don’t think

The depths of us are the depths for a reason

I’m not sure if they’re meant to be viewed

But I’ll put them out, 

Gladly, I’ll scream and I might shout

And the sound could seldom echo about

But to know that it was there

That this exists and I was willing to share

I think that’s what matters most

Not a thing of which to brag and boast

But to have done something for your innards

To a shifted a small part of your being 

By just being

That’s the greatest purpose I am seeing

 

I’ve known a lot of change

And I’m glad to say so

I lay there, a husk on the ground

Almost certain there were voices coming from below

Imagined or not,

They were there, and I listened

And let the rain come

I didn’t for even one second wallow in it

Mixed with the dirt and submerged me

I was far beyond care

As a figure watched on, simple, standing there

Not a thought, not a motion, not a hint of intention

It might as well have been my mind

For the way I felt at times

Like an item of significance

Slowly sinking to the bottom of the ocean

That you watch, just always out of reach

Inevitably giving up and accepting defeat

Unable to save myself, from myself 

 

But a surge came, a clean wave of confidence

A new land I could make my own

If only a distant corner of my mind

Untouched, ready for bloom

Absent of that former gloom

It became my solace, my favourite room

Stacked high with paper over paper

Word after word

That all stringed together to mean something

Something for only me

But a gust of wind brought me here

Just as it started to lightly rain

I carried six with me, despite stain 

I delivered them to your acclaim 

But before, and after, I’ll be the same

Writing on, alone in my domain

With not a thing to gain 

 

Really, I don’t know what I am

And I don’t know what this is

It just is

I might be a pelican diving through the surface 

But finding beauty, not survival, underneath

I might be a cloud holding everything within me

Until it’s just too much to carry

I might be the smallest grain of sand, amongst so many other grains of sand

Lifted, carried off, no choice, into an ocean unknown

I might be a leaf on the tree, knowing life, knowing death

But most of all knowing droplets will always land on me from above

I might be a dove, sitting in a bird bath

Lavishing in self pleasure and focusing only on the water and I

I might be a street lamp, knowing every phase of weather

But no matter how what, always turning on at night

I might be a bucket, filling up, up, up

Until I can’t take anymore and my edges spill

I might be a sign on the floor, telling you where to walk

To avoid the spot in case you might slip

I might be a boat, subject to so much shake

But remaining impenetrably secure and returning to shore

I might be a baby turtle, running just as fast as I can

Toward the sea, toward my future, toward me

I might be a runner, goal and destination in mind

But in the rain subject to constant contact, all over me

Skin and splatters,

Life and all its matters

A fountain I can hardly touch 

About to burst,

Suddenly going off,

A sight I behold,

Not lasting long enough 

 

Cliffside lovers, a bug on my coat

A flash of gold, soaring above pastured land

Me, a child, standing in that square

A fountain surging with glorious flare

All of these things, 

All of these places,

I want to thank you for letting me take you there 

And I’d like to say, this has been a joyous affair 

 

And

*cough*

*cough*

*cough*

 

[Legend E]

Let me also use Bing's ai create my album cover and tracklist actually  

 

[poki]

OMG what if we did a visuals ceremony for everyone's album covers?

[Legend E]

Quote

ATRL.com?

not .com vfd;

[fountain]

21 minutes ago, Legend E said:

not .com vfd;

Quote

The domain name ATRL.COM is for sale

Price US$33750

She’s in demand!

[Galah]

 

 

Rank	Writer	Song Title	Score
1	Legend E	“Rehearsal”	8.678
2	JonginBey	“You”	8.545
3	fountain	“Everything, as It Shouldn’t Be / fountain”	8.423
4	Hug	“Last Bible”	8.33
5	hurricane326	“Time & Space”	8.263
6	JoeAg	“Wasted by Woodmoor”	8.08
7	stupidjock	“stupidjock (laws of the universe)”	7.995
8	worldwide angel	“tears of time”	7.87
9	Hey Dude	“Solar”	7.483
10	punisher	“I'm The Shít”	6.988

 

[Galah]

 

Golden Hit: Season 5 ⚜️ Final Season Average Chart

Rank	Writer	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Top 5 Average
1	fountain	8.443	9.03	8.083	8.73	6.547	8.423	8.543
2	Hug	8.777	7.843	8.183	8.73	8.41	8.33	8.487
3	hurricane326	8.417	8.413	8.243	7.837	8.76	8.263	8.42
4	worldwide angel	8.39	8.363	7.637	8.53	0	7.87	8.158
5	Legend E	7.667	7.167	8.46	8.303	7.493	8.678	8.12
6	punisher	0	7.983	8.42	7.113	7.87	6.988	7.675
7	stupidjock	5.833	6.247	8.42	6.863	8.76	7.995	7.658
8	Hey Dude	6.5	6.7	7.463	8.213	8.41	7.483	7.654
9	JonginBey	0	0	0	0	8.76	8.545	3.462
10	Invisibility	8.75	7.203	0	0	0	0	3.191
11	blackoutbaby	7.75	7.917	0	0	0	0	3.133
12	Antikythera	7.333	6.247	0	0	0	0	2.716
13	réveuse	4.5	5.483	0	0	0	0	1.997
14	JoeAg	0	0	0	0	0	8.08	1.616
15	Prisoner	7.823	0	0	0	0	0	1.565
16	TruGemini	0	0	0	7.797	0	0	1.559
17	Kayseri Mantisi	1	1	0	0	0	0	0.4

 

[fountain]

Killer Whales being the highest scoring song was probably the very last thing I expected while writing it  I love this though!

[poki]

A part of me was like "Don't send for round 6, finish on a high note" but I'm in it for the ARTS not the CHARTS and in the end I did actually make the good move because had I not sent and used the "lowest score is exempt" rule, my total average would have been worse (7.4572).

 

Keep that in mind everyone if you ever feel like not sending because of the total average! 

[Galah]

 

🪙 Token Showcase 🪙

 

Hey, Hitmakers! Thank you to anyone who participated in Golden Hit: Season 5 and made this one of our most enjoyable seasons.

Let's take a look back at some of this season's highest highs, the judges who made this season possible, and maybe even a few extras.

 

Season 5 Hosts

 

Season 5 Judges

 

Golden Hit Tokens (#1s)

 

Silver Hit Tokens (#2s)

 

Bronze Hit Tokens (#3s)

 

Rose Gold Hit Tokens (Loyalty)

These are typically awarded to recognize writers who submitted during 3 or more rounds without receiving one of the above Hit Tokens.

As this season every writer who met the first criteria already received a token, and we allowed a free week, we relaxed this to 2+ rounds!

 

@Antikythera@blackoutbaby@Hey Dude@réveuse

 

As Hey Dude dedicated his only Hit Token to another ATRL user, I felt it only fair to honor him with a Rose Gold loyalty token also.

 

[Galah]

Some more updates to the OP and ATRL Songwriter's Studio are still yet to come. Keep your eyes peeled to this thread (and the ATRL Songwriter's Studio) for one final send-off to Golden Hit for 2023! 

[JoeAg]

aushdfgjnasdounifjsdg I'm so behind lemme read my reviews real quick I was sick so I think at one point I was about to respond and then I forgot to

[JoeAg]

On 12/9/2023 at 5:57 PM, Jackson said:

 

@JoeAg - Wasted by Woodmoor

Welcome to GH5! I’m glad you decided to submit for a round this season. On my first read, I was mostly scanning to see what vocabulary word you chose this week, and I was delighted to see “esurient f***er” greet me a few verses in. OMG and “mote” is making a cameo, you really gave us everything. This really was everything I would come to expect from a JoeAG song, but executed to the highest quality. I love the raw brashness of your profane outbursts, like “reaching out to the hand of the ***** you thought I was”, or “flash forward and we’re ******* on your birthday”. All the specificity, all the raw emotion, all the subtle absurdity convinces me that these are just pages from your diary, and whether they are or not, the fact that they’re so convincing says a lot. There are a few drawbacks to this style – I feel like the “piss” line wasn’t really necessary, and images like “moisten my lips” don’t add much to the story, but this was overall a triumphant return for you. I’m hoping we’ll see you more next season!

thanks babe 

I'm glad you caught the significant use of raw emotion in my language, as I was definitely trying to bring back a diaristic vibe to this round!!

[JoeAg]

On 12/10/2023 at 1:33 AM, Aurora said:

6. @JoeAg - “Wasted by Woodmoor”
Joe!! I’m so thrilled to see you rejoin us for the season finale. Your unique style has certainly been missed! Only you can use words like “ephemerality” so masterfully and purposefully that no other less ostentatious synonym could possibly suffice. You make me want to pick up my game! This song definitely felt like an outlet for you… you had a lot you wanted to say, and you did it the only way you know how to best: through song. I honestly really respect that, and I hope more than anything else that this was a therapeutic experience for you and let you deal with some of the issues you’ve been working through in a beneficial way. Your honesty is refreshing and your unfiltered commentary ranges from inspiring to hilarious in the best of ways. Giving you an extra point for the Kesha mention, although you should have used your poetic license to say radio (radio radio) instead of stereo, and an “A La Discotheque” reference wouldn’t have gone astray either (although these niche references to unreleased tracks likely would have been wasted on anyone who wasn’t @fountain or @Hug, neither of which are judging this season, but I digress). Being completely candid, I don’t think this is one of my ultimate favorite songs of yours, but I understand the importance and significance of a piece of writing when I see it, and that transcends any ranking or score we may be able to give you. I really hope to see you back again for Season 6!

thank you babe!! 

lol I’m glad you recognised the Kesha reference I peppered in there! I also really appreciate the last thing you said: this was definitely an outlet for me to express a lot of frustration and intense feelings I've been feeling surrounding my breakup and the breakup of my band. thanks for hsving me again!!

[Legend E]

17 hours ago, Aurora said:

Some more updates to the OP and ATRL Songwriter's Studio are still yet to come. Keep your eyes peeled to this thread (and the ATRL Songwriter's Studio) for one final send-off to Golden Hit for 2023! 

XMAS ROUND YES

[Jackson]

3 hours ago, Legend E said:

XMAS ROUND YES

[Galah]

4 hours ago, Legend E said:

XMAS ROUND YES

[Galah]

5 Golden Rings

[Galah]

4 Calling Birds

[Galah]

3 French Hens

[Galah]

2 Turtle Doves

[Galah]

...and a partridge in a pear tree!