MM&A:1.21.2025

Dear Diary,

Today, I decided, I will begin weekly diary entries here discussing all things movie, music and automobile.

Music:

My on-repeat song of the week is “Out of respect” By Teezo Touchdown. I first heard of Teezo in Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria,” where Kendrick shouts the artist out by rapping, “nail a nigga to the cross, he walk around like Teezo,” referring to Teezo’s signature fashion motif: nails. I understand that I’m late getting on the Teezo train, whatever. I’m here now and I understand! I hadn’t listened to his songs until introduced by my college roommate and sister-in-media, Olabimpe, whose judgement I trust fully. The song opens with a 3 count from a rock guitar, vocals from Teezo that juxtapose against a rough and repeating "out of respect, out of respect” that is almost spoken in the background. The lyrics are so fun, but serious at the same time because he is contemplating (excuse the expression) fucking someone else’s bitch.

The plot of the song could be summarized with the first two lines of the song;

“I got your number, I didn’t call it (out of respect, out of respect)

But that number starting to burn a hole in my pocket (out of respect, out of respect)”

These lines reveals an internal struggle of sorts which is highlighted by background vocals that are reminiscent of a choir singing, “I wasn’t gon’ do it,”. But, my favorite part, the verse explains a mutual air of distrust and unclear intentions between Teezo and the cuck.

“Out of respect

I’ma put her ankle behind her neck

Heard you been talking ‘bout me on the low

I’ma make her drop it lower than that

Heard you been tryna play me close

Me and her been getting closer than that

Heard you been coming at my throat

Where the hell you think I’m-”

The line cuts shorts, but it can be inferred that the ending is “coming at,” but that would be disrespectful, so out of respect, Teezo refrains from finishing the lyrics.

Overall, the production sounds great, the lyrics are well written and I’m sad that I’m finding out about Teezo Touchdown so late, but I’m happy that I found out about him at all! I’ve been listening to his album, “How Do You Sleep At Night? With You,” and he sounds so different from everyone. His distinct style is definitely a stand-out, and he seems like a lovely person to grab a nice late-night dinner with. Just don’t leave your girl around him, out of respect.

Movies:

I know someone who watches a themed horror movie every day in October. In 2024, I decided to join in on this tradition and watch vampire content! I didn’t watch a movie every day, but we are well into 2025 and I am still on an insane vampire kick! I have been particularly interested in the different adaptations of the vampire creature itself.

I saw Nosferatu (Dir. Robert Eggers, 2024) three (3) times in theaters, but that’s going to be an entire essay entry of its own. There is more than one vampire in the film, but Count Orlok was an evil dark magician when he was alive. The Devil saved his soul when he died so that his corpse could live again in blasphemy. This isn’t in the original Nosfeatu film, but in the Dracula books.

Mike Flannigan’s Midnight Mass (2021) has two different vampire creatures and prevalent religious themes that provide a striking contrast to the demonic practices in Nosferatu. Midnight Mass uses vampirism as a reflection of parasitic religious practices which is near and dear to my heart as someone who grew up uber-religious.

El Conde (Dir. Pablo Larrain, 2023) is a satirical film that follows a Chilean dictator as if he were a vampire and in this adaptation, vampires are born into the world and remain alive by ingesting blood. One line that cements this is “he was the only vampire in the family,” implying that other families have more than one vampire.

Most modern adaptations have a vampire that is turned by “venom” or a “virus” that enters their bloodstream once they are bitten by another vampire, so I love to see the different variations of it! This form of vampire is seen in True Blood (2001), a series in which vampires have been integrated by law into the modern United States as of 2 years because Japan (duh) invented a fake blood that is basically real blood and it’s called, you guessed it, True Blood. I just started it a few months ago, and it’s kind of losing steam for me. I’m also not the best consistent TV show watcher, so…yeah. But I love that those vampires, who are bitten, are protected by laws and able to walk among humans. I think it’s such a fun and almost realistic way to create that environment.

The Twilight Saga, one of the most popular vampire franchises of the 21st century, has vampires who are attractive as an evolutionary trait. Their voice, scent and face draw humans in. They’re super strong and fast, they can have powers, their stone skin sparkles in the sun and they MUST be bitten to exist for the “venom” to enter their bloodstream and turn them into a vampire. I was in 5th grade when Twilight came out, so of course it’s near and dear to my heart- that was a culturally moment that I couldn’t really engage in cause my parents are super religious (as I mentioned), but I used to do everything I could to watch Twilight. At my friends house or on their D.S. on the bus. Whatever it took.

It’s interesting to see how vampires have a lot of the same themes like sex, religion or being nocturnal creatures (according to Eggers, the belief was to stake a vampire in their grave so they can’t escape and that vampires are so evil that can’t survive around the purity of dawn). I love when we see new and exiting takes on historic tropes, so different vampires will always be a good time for me.

Automobiles:

I was introduced to cars when my Dad, Dr. Erroyl McGinty Jr., revived a ‘73 mustang and it was bright blue with detailing inside the car, chrome rims, raised it up, etc. and I thought it was super cool. He got into motorcycles for a bit, but that wasn’t really my thing as soon as I Googled road rash pictures. The car scene in Okinawa is a bit different, but I wasn’t super invested when I was in middle or high school. From social media the community is strong and vibrant. I’ll report back on what it's like. I film and shoot cars cause they’re super cool and beautiful. Or they’re ugly. Or they’re tech-y. Or they’re older than you. Whatever you want. I can appreciate the function they provide, how they look and how they’re engineered different. Then, on another level, people modify their cars to be an extension of them. Cars, in literature and irl, are often synonymous with autonomy and individuality, so the car scene is always fun to me because I love to learn about people and cars are just a reflection of people.

Thank you for your time,

Arria