christmasmixtape



Sorry it's been so long since my last update! The last few weeks have been a little hectic. I know this is a little late, but I've made a small mixtape of holiday music. To be honest, I can't stand Christmas music. I don't know what it is, I've just never liked listening to Christmas songs. The only exceptions are Last Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and Happy Christmas (War is Over). These are some covers of Christmas classics and some original songs that I do like, and I hope you'll enjoy them too. Happy holidays!

tracklist:

♪ I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas
♪ Amazing Grace - Sufjan Stevens
♪ Last Christmas - Florence & the Machine
♪ White Christmas - Michael Buble
♪ All I Want for Christmas is You - Lady Antebellum
♪ Christmas Lights - Coldplay
♪ Jingle Bells - Lisa Loeb
♪ I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - AAA
♪ Last Christmas - Foxxi misQ
♪ We Need A Little Christmas - Glee
♪ The First Noel (사랑해 그리고 기억해) - Son Ho Young
♪ Winter Wonderland - Kangta
♪ Happy Christmas (War is Over) - Maroon 5

download .zip

Julian Casablancas' I Wish It Was Christmas Today perfectly captures the impatience of waiting for Christmas with its energy, while Sufjan Stevens' folk-influenced rendition of Amazing Grace is as unique as the rest of his music. I love how he keeps true to the original while really putting his own, identifying touch on it. I'm a huge Florence & the Machine fan, and Florence's rich voice is simply gorgeous in their cover of Last Christmas, and the acoustic guitar backdrop allows it to shine through even more. I think this is one of the best covers I've heard. Speaking of great singers, you can't go wrong with Michael Buble. I think every Christmas needs a smooth, chocolatey jazz song, and Buble delivers. Lady Antebellum's cover of All I Want for Christmas is You is another favourite of mine, Hillary's clear-cut voice is flawless. Coldplay's Christmas Lights explores another side of Christmas, saying that "it doesn't really feel like Christmas at all", but at the same time, there's a note of hope. Lisa Loeb delivers a completely transformed Jingle Bells, while AAA's I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is sugary, cute, and quite true to the original. Foxxi misQ, an all-female Japanese hip-hop/urban trio, delivers a pretty, modernized Last Christmas. The modern beat and smooth vocals work well together. I don't really follow Glee, but I do like listening to the show's soundtracks. Son Ho Young's The First Noel is a gorgeous winter ballad, it's a bit slow but his strong voice really makes up for it. Another Korean singer, Kangta's cover of Winter Wonderland works quite well; his English is pretty good. I love Happy Christmas (War is Over), but most covers I hear don't do it justice. Maroon 5's cover is lovely though, it really keeps the message of the original clear.

Labels: AAA, Coldplay, Florence and the Machine, Foxxi misQ, Glee, Julian Casablancas, Kangta, Lady Antebellum, Lisa Loeb, Maroon 5, Michael Buble, mixtape, Son Ho Young, Sufjan Stevens

Here are the first batch of songs uploaded for the number lottery! Whew, there was more than I thought. My reviews will be quite brief because of the number of songs, sorry about that. Enjoy, and remember to comment or leave a rating!

The rest of the songs will hopefully be up sometime this weekend, thanks for being patient!

Lena:

#458. Love Song _ Andy
Korean | Pop
A sugar-sweet song from Shinhwa's Andy. It's not amazing (I have to say that I've always thought of him as a rapper, and his singing is passable but not fantastic), but it's a cute, warm song with lots of brassy riffs and the occasional synth.

#10984. Billy _ Romeo
Japanese | Rock
A slightly predictable rock song that nonetheless is quite good - tough and gritty and reminiscent of classic rock.

#9458. You Gotta Be (Des'Ree) _ Nature Living
English | Rock
This is a cover, Des'Ree is the name of the original singer. I've only heard the original version if this song on the radio a few times so I can't say I'm too familiar with it, but Nature Living's cover is impressive. I really love the harmonies between the female and male vocalists and the rock spin they put on the song, keeping the bright atmosphere but really putting their own take on the song.

#888. 今夜も星に抱かれて (Konya mo Hoshi ni Dakarete) _ ayaka Link has been fixed, sorry about that!
Japanese | Pop/Ballad
I love ayaka. Her voice is so powerful and rich, and she absolutely shines against the warm, full piano arrangement that is the sole accompaniment of this song up to around the halfway point where some light strings are thrown into the mix. Recommended.

Stephy:

#922. B Love (So Baby) _ The b
Korean | Ballad
I'll admit, I had no recollection of who these guys were or sounded like. According to a quick google search they are a girl group from Goodberry Entertainment that debuted sometime in the summer of 2008. The song is a dramatic string-lead ballad. Their vocals are quite good, almost reminiscent of Seeya or Black Pearl. Why is it that it's the girl groups who sound like they might have some potential that drop off the radar and never get really popular. T_T

#1024. enter _ the band apart
Um ... apparently this is just a minute-long intro of sparse rustling sounds. Whoops. To compensate because this isn't really an actual song, I uploaded the next track too:
#1025. Falling _ the band apart
Japanese | Alt. Rock
I really love this group's style. Falling has some watered-down jazz influences, which really give the song a unique touch. Try them out!

#777. トラベログ _ ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Japanese | Alt. Rock
I love them. <3 トラベログ is a mid-tempo song with lots of bright guitar chords and a summery atmosphere. It's not one of my favourite songs by them, but it's certainly good.

melody 84, 10487, 17244, 999

#84. 旅ダチノウタ (Tabidachi no Uta) [TW Departure Mix] _ AAA
Japanese | Pop
I really love the soft opening of the song, leading into a synth-filled, cute remix of Tabidachi no Uta. I really like the ambient, warm arrangement and smooth, electronica-laced vocals.

#10487. beauty delusions garden _ POITRINE
Japanese | Rock
A gritty rock song by POITRINE. Although I'm not a big fan of their vocalist's slightly guttural voice, I really like the melody & especially the chorus of the song, as well as the tightly-knit guitar work. Worth a listen.

#17244. shower _ 12012
Japanese | Rock
12012 was one of the first Japanese artists I listened to, and although I'm no longer a follower of J-rock, I still enjoy listening to them. The bass line in shower really holds the whole song together, although it's fairly simple and mostly fades into the background. The opening verses are quite soft, leading into the more powerful chorus.

#999. Hikarisasuhou _ BACK-ON
Japanese | Alt. Rock
I love BACK-ON's style: a mix of rock, hip-hop, and electronica reminscient of groups like FLOW and UVERworld (although not as poppy). Hikarisasuhou definitely leans more towards rock, but the short rapped segments show their hip-hop influences. Recommended.

Labels: 12012, AAA, andy, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Ayaka, BACK-ON, nature living, number lottery, POITRINE, romeo, the b, the band apart

So, I just remembered that while postponing my update because of the polls Haruhi put up, I actually completely forgot to update. Thus, I present you with a double update in the same weekend!
Rotation 10 is themed Jpop artists, meaning the songs below are classic examples of Jpop music, as well as artists that are mainly associated with producing Jpop.
As always, please leave a comment when you download!

Otsuka Ai - Sakuranbo
Japanese - pop
This song belongs in my collection of first ever songs. This was my first Otsuka Ai song and I thought it was amazing! Such a happy, crazy, sweet love song! I've listened to this over and over, and it makes me smile every time. It's a true hyper Ai song.

KAT-TUN - No Matter Matter
Japanese - pop
This song always reminds me of the interlude in which they throw souvenirs into the audience during concerts. It's amazingly happy and it's an enourmous showcase for Yuichi's beatbox skills and Koki's rap.

Arashi - Nemuranai Karada
Japanese - pop
I always feel this song was supposed to be somewhere half way between a sensual song and pop xD Or that it's just some slightly failed attempt at producing a steamy hot summernight song. However, as I love Arashi, I love this song, since they're slightly lower voice complement the trumpets really well.

SNoW - On & On
Japanese - pop
I can't promote this singer enough! She's so amazing, it's a shame she's still in college at the moment. Slightly less upbeat than "I'm No", this song has a lot of symbolism, put to a gorgeous arrangement. Highly recommended.

AAA - Q
Japanese - pop
What can I say? This song is full of that typical AAA energy, with lyrics so fast I'm still amazed at how they did it. It's happy, it's fun, it's fast. It's AAA :D

Takacha - Movin'
Japanese - pop
I got this song from my baby sister actually, when she was momentarily infatuated with the anime Bleach. I can't say I've any other music by this group, but this song sounds amazing. I really, really like it. It's a fun antagonist for Orange Range's OP song.

GYM - My Angel
Japanese - pop
Released as an official single for the Women's Volleyball World Grandprix, Golf, Yamashita and Mike come dangerously close to becoming moe~~ I can truly call this song kawaii (and for someone who despises wrong use of that particular adjective, that says something, ne? xD)! So, so sweet!

Kanjani8 - Zukkoke Otokomichi
Japanese - pop
Well, if this isn't the embodiment of Jpop, I don't know what is. Well, perhaps Arashi. At any rate, this is a classic pop song. Happy, upbeat, and truly JE. Recommended ;D

NewS - Sayaendo
Japanese - pop
Another typical popgroup. This song is least upbeat however than their usual, but no less addicting. It sounds like it's been influenced by 1001 Arabian nights, or perhaps Indian music. I really like this change of pace though, it's one of my favourite songs at the moment.

Utada Hikaru - Celebrate
Japanese - pop
And, it a popthemed rotation, the Queen of Pop. At least the Queen I can stand (I really don't like Ayumi ><;)! Celebrate is a happy song, although it has a little more slow tempo. The soft melodic arrangement matches perfect with the soft vocals by Utada. Recommended.

Labels: AAA, Arashi, cohost: aranka, GYM, Kanjani8, KAT-TUN, NewS, Otsuka Ai, SNoW, Takacha, Utada Hikaru

First off - I apologize for this rotation being late, and for the fact that it's relatively small. I changed up the format a bit too - there are only two songs that I commented fully on, and they're more of a bonus than part of the actual rotation since ... they're not winter/holiday-themed, haha.

White X'mas - KAT-TUN
japanese | ballad | emotional, sad, sweet, sincere

Only You (Winter Special) - 2PM
korean | pop | sweet, driven, energetic

Snow Dance winter session - DEPAPEPE
instrumental | acoustic | calm, relaxing, soothing

The Call - Regina Spektor
english | soundtrack | sincere, bittersweet, hopeful

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - AAA
engrish | pop | happy, light-hearted, cheerful

So This Is Christmas (Live) - Luna Sea
japanese | rock | uplifting, powerful, energetic

Winter - ELLEGARDEN
japanese | rock | uplifting, energetic, sincere

Yeo Haeng Gi - Dong Bang Shin Ki (Travelling)
korean | pop/ballad | emotional, uplifting, sweet

Winter Gold - Stephanie
japanese | pop | upbeat, driven, confident

Cirque du Soleil - KA
I had the opportunity to watch this amazing show when I was in Las Vegas, and immediately searched out the soundtrack when I got home. Even listening to it without watching the show is a wonderful experience. I was intending to share the entire album as another rotation, but I couldn't wait. Here are two songs from the soundtrack of Cirque du Soleil's show, KA. These songs are both highly recommended.

Track 1. O Makunde
Track 5. Deep
Both these songs stayed with me because, like many songs on this soundtrack, they are capable of bringing up so much emotion, no matter what that emotion might be. Their vocal work is simply fantastic and has a quality that you simply cannot find in popular music today. O Makunde starts out with a sad tone, but rises with more and more confidence and hope. Deep is extremely sorrowful, but also exquisitely beautiful. The string accompaniment is just amazing.

Labels: 2PM, AAA, Cirque du Soleil, Depapepe, Dong Bang Shin Ki, ELLEGARDEN, KAT-TUN, Luna Sea, Regina Spektor, Stephanie

I'm so sorry this week's rotation is late - I was gone from Thursday to Monday on a trip to Las Vegas. I'm catching up on all the schoolwork I missed too, but I'll try to get the rotation up this upcoming Thursday or Friday.

In the meantime, some requests I uploaded:

My Foot - the pillows
Girls, be ambitious - Miyavi
RED...[em] - Dir en grey
Samurai Heart-侍魂- - AAA

- Haruhi

Labels: AAA, Dir en grey, miyavi, the pillows

Rotation 19 is a touch of colour, featuring song names that contain colours. Along with the new rotation is a new layout, featuring Lee Jun Ki. Also, we have a new cohost, Aranka, who will probably be introducing herself soon. =)

22 songs this rotation, definitely one of the larger rotations I've done. Please remember to leave a comment or rating.

Red Soul - AAA
Japanese | Pop
AAA's style varies so much, I never know what to expect from them. Red Soul is rock-influenced and upbeat. It sounds like something out of a video game or anime. A fun listen, but not exceptional.

Red Hot - ELLEGARDEN
English | Alt Rock
This is the original version, not the remastered one. I love ELLEGARDEN's unique sound and style, it killed me to hear that they were going on "hiatus". Although they're a Japanese group, this song is in English. Takeshi's voice is raw and powerful.

醉赤壁 (Drunk Red Cliff) - JJ Lin
Mandarin | Ballad
This track is from JJ Lin's new album, Sixology. The intro incorporates traditional Chinese instruments, which make small appearances throughout the song. A nice ballad, not overloaded with influences of classical Chinese music yet touching on them all the same.

Red Room - Lolita23q
Japanese | Rock
One of my favourite VK groups. Red Room doesn't waste any time, jumping right into a noisy, fast-paced rock number. It's a little repetitive, but I enjoyed it.

Mirage in Blue - Chemistry
Japanese | Pop/R&B
A sweet, poppy song, accompanied with acoustic guitar. The sparse accompaniment allows their vocals to shine through. Recommended.

BLUE VACATION - BOØWY
Japanese | Rock
'90's rock just has that ... feel to it. Haha, not really my kind of thing, but it's fun as an occasional listen.

Blue & Green Waves - DE DE MOUSE
Japanese | Electronica
I'm loving the variety of genres this theme allows. DE DE MOUSE has an experimental, fresh sound. It's an acquired taste, but give them a shot if you're a fan of electronica.

Blue Doors Ahead - F.I.R.
Mandarin & English | Pop
This is probably the only time you'll see me upload F.I.R., I'm not a huge fan of them. A downtempo jazz track, Blue Doors Ahead is relaxing and strong vocally, but not overly memorable.

Blues - Jam Hsiao
Mandarin | Rock
An underrated but up and rising star in the C-pop industry, Jam Hsiao's style varies from pop to ballad to, as is the case with Blues, rock. It sounds better when you listen to it with the rest of the album, where it stands out more against the ballad/pop tracks. But, a good song nonetheless.

Deep Blue - Vidoll
Japanese | Rock
Eh, I'm kind of iffy on Vidoll. Some of their songs I love, others, not so much. Deep Blue is kind of in-between, I thought it was decent but not great. The bass-heavy accompaniment kind of drones out the already whisper-y vocals.

Green Apple - Ynot?
Korean | Rock
This rotation is pretty low on Korean songs, I noticed. A light-hearted rock song reminiscent of summer. I quite like this group.

Green Rivers - Pia
Korean | Rock Ballad
Pia is probably one of the more well-known K-rock groups. Green Rivers is a strong rock ballad. It sounded a little bland to me at first listen, but it's starting to grow on me.

Green Requiem - Joe Hisaishi
Instrumental | Piano
A relaxing piano piece. If you like Yiruma, you'll probably like Joe Hisaishi.

Yellow Beauty - LM.C
Japanese | Rock
Typical LM.C, jumps at you right from the start. It dies down a bit, showing impressive changes in tempo and mood. Recommended.

Yellow Butterfly - Fly to the Sky
Korean | R&B/Ballad
I love this duo. Yellow Butterfly varies - at times a sweet acoustic ballad with a sparse guitar accompaniment, at others an almost upbeat R&B song. Beautiful vocal work, as usual. Not my favourite song by them, but it's pretty good.

Purple Rain - Shin Hye Sung
Korean | Ballad
Pretty typical ballad, HyeSung's voice is beautiful and strong in parts but can barely be heard in others.

Purple Apple - the pillows
Japanese | Alt Rock
From the pillows' latest album, PIED PIPER, Purple Apple is typical to the pillows' style - quirky and fresh. I love the bass line and bright guitar chords.

Orange Evolution - ALvino
Japanese | Rock
I don't remember where I first heard of these guys, but I love them. They're a rock group but not VK, their sound is a little more mainstream. The chorus is genuine and memorable, although overall I wouldn't say this is one of their best songs.

Orange Dream - Antic Cafe
Japanese | Oshare kei
It's been so long since I heard a slower track from anCafe. It does build more and more, but differs from their usual fare in that it's much more serious in tone. Their sound has matured a lot. I love the piano accompaniment in this song. IMO, a very impressive track.

Orange - BRIGHT
Japanese | Pop
I'm not a fan of girl-groups, but I like BRIGHT for their great vocal work. A breezy R&B song, Orange features beautiful harmonizing. The melody and composition of the song itself isn't the most memorable though.

Orange Parade - Ichigo69
Japanese | Rock
More upbeat, in your face rock. Personally it was a little too messy for me, I found the bass of the song to be lacking - there was no real foundation, although it does even out a little. The slightly off-key vocals and random squeals from the guitar are kind off-putting. Part of the song sound almost ... fast-forwarded. O_o Definitely interesting, but I found it too jarring.

ORANGE GRADATION - Imitation PoPs Uchuu Sentai NOIZ
Japanese | Rock
I love this band. The song has a nice intro and vocals, it's upbeat and energetic but not overwhelming.

Note: Ichigo69 and Imitation PoPs Uchuu Sentai NOIZ are not tagged in this entry because Blogspot will only let me add 20 tags per post.

Labels: AAA, ALvino, Antic Cafe, BOØWY, BRIGHT, Chemistry, DE DE MOUSE, ELLEGARDEN, F.I.R., Fly to the Sky, Jam Hsiao, JJ Lin, Joe Hisaishi, Lolita23q, Pia, Shin Hye Sung, the pillows, Vidoll, Ynot?

christmasmixtape



Sorry it's been so long since my last update! The last few weeks have been a little hectic. I know this is a little late, but I've made a small mixtape of holiday music. To be honest, I can't stand Christmas music. I don't know what it is, I've just never liked listening to Christmas songs. The only exceptions are Last Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and Happy Christmas (War is Over). These are some covers of Christmas classics and some original songs that I do like, and I hope you'll enjoy them too. Happy holidays!

tracklist:

♪ I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas
♪ Amazing Grace - Sufjan Stevens
♪ Last Christmas - Florence & the Machine
♪ White Christmas - Michael Buble
♪ All I Want for Christmas is You - Lady Antebellum
♪ Christmas Lights - Coldplay
♪ Jingle Bells - Lisa Loeb
♪ I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - AAA
♪ Last Christmas - Foxxi misQ
♪ We Need A Little Christmas - Glee
♪ The First Noel (사랑해 그리고 기억해) - Son Ho Young
♪ Winter Wonderland - Kangta
♪ Happy Christmas (War is Over) - Maroon 5

download .zip

Julian Casablancas' I Wish It Was Christmas Today perfectly captures the impatience of waiting for Christmas with its energy, while Sufjan Stevens' folk-influenced rendition of Amazing Grace is as unique as the rest of his music. I love how he keeps true to the original while really putting his own, identifying touch on it. I'm a huge Florence & the Machine fan, and Florence's rich voice is simply gorgeous in their cover of Last Christmas, and the acoustic guitar backdrop allows it to shine through even more. I think this is one of the best covers I've heard. Speaking of great singers, you can't go wrong with Michael Buble. I think every Christmas needs a smooth, chocolatey jazz song, and Buble delivers. Lady Antebellum's cover of All I Want for Christmas is You is another favourite of mine, Hillary's clear-cut voice is flawless. Coldplay's Christmas Lights explores another side of Christmas, saying that "it doesn't really feel like Christmas at all", but at the same time, there's a note of hope. Lisa Loeb delivers a completely transformed Jingle Bells, while AAA's I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is sugary, cute, and quite true to the original. Foxxi misQ, an all-female Japanese hip-hop/urban trio, delivers a pretty, modernized Last Christmas. The modern beat and smooth vocals work well together. I don't really follow Glee, but I do like listening to the show's soundtracks. Son Ho Young's The First Noel is a gorgeous winter ballad, it's a bit slow but his strong voice really makes up for it. Another Korean singer, Kangta's cover of Winter Wonderland works quite well; his English is pretty good. I love Happy Christmas (War is Over), but most covers I hear don't do it justice. Maroon 5's cover is lovely though, it really keeps the message of the original clear.

Labels: AAA, Coldplay, Florence and the Machine, Foxxi misQ, Glee, Julian Casablancas, Kangta, Lady Antebellum, Lisa Loeb, Maroon 5, Michael Buble, mixtape, Son Ho Young, Sufjan Stevens

Here are the first batch of songs uploaded for the number lottery! Whew, there was more than I thought. My reviews will be quite brief because of the number of songs, sorry about that. Enjoy, and remember to comment or leave a rating!

The rest of the songs will hopefully be up sometime this weekend, thanks for being patient!

Lena:

#458. Love Song _ Andy
Korean | Pop
A sugar-sweet song from Shinhwa's Andy. It's not amazing (I have to say that I've always thought of him as a rapper, and his singing is passable but not fantastic), but it's a cute, warm song with lots of brassy riffs and the occasional synth.

#10984. Billy _ Romeo
Japanese | Rock
A slightly predictable rock song that nonetheless is quite good - tough and gritty and reminiscent of classic rock.

#9458. You Gotta Be (Des'Ree) _ Nature Living
English | Rock
This is a cover, Des'Ree is the name of the original singer. I've only heard the original version if this song on the radio a few times so I can't say I'm too familiar with it, but Nature Living's cover is impressive. I really love the harmonies between the female and male vocalists and the rock spin they put on the song, keeping the bright atmosphere but really putting their own take on the song.

#888. 今夜も星に抱かれて (Konya mo Hoshi ni Dakarete) _ ayaka Link has been fixed, sorry about that!
Japanese | Pop/Ballad
I love ayaka. Her voice is so powerful and rich, and she absolutely shines against the warm, full piano arrangement that is the sole accompaniment of this song up to around the halfway point where some light strings are thrown into the mix. Recommended.

Stephy:

#922. B Love (So Baby) _ The b
Korean | Ballad
I'll admit, I had no recollection of who these guys were or sounded like. According to a quick google search they are a girl group from Goodberry Entertainment that debuted sometime in the summer of 2008. The song is a dramatic string-lead ballad. Their vocals are quite good, almost reminiscent of Seeya or Black Pearl. Why is it that it's the girl groups who sound like they might have some potential that drop off the radar and never get really popular. T_T

#1024. enter _ the band apart
Um ... apparently this is just a minute-long intro of sparse rustling sounds. Whoops. To compensate because this isn't really an actual song, I uploaded the next track too:
#1025. Falling _ the band apart
Japanese | Alt. Rock
I really love this group's style. Falling has some watered-down jazz influences, which really give the song a unique touch. Try them out!

#777. トラベログ _ ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Japanese | Alt. Rock
I love them. <3 トラベログ is a mid-tempo song with lots of bright guitar chords and a summery atmosphere. It's not one of my favourite songs by them, but it's certainly good.

melody 84, 10487, 17244, 999

#84. 旅ダチノウタ (Tabidachi no Uta) [TW Departure Mix] _ AAA
Japanese | Pop
I really love the soft opening of the song, leading into a synth-filled, cute remix of Tabidachi no Uta. I really like the ambient, warm arrangement and smooth, electronica-laced vocals.

#10487. beauty delusions garden _ POITRINE
Japanese | Rock
A gritty rock song by POITRINE. Although I'm not a big fan of their vocalist's slightly guttural voice, I really like the melody & especially the chorus of the song, as well as the tightly-knit guitar work. Worth a listen.

#17244. shower _ 12012
Japanese | Rock
12012 was one of the first Japanese artists I listened to, and although I'm no longer a follower of J-rock, I still enjoy listening to them. The bass line in shower really holds the whole song together, although it's fairly simple and mostly fades into the background. The opening verses are quite soft, leading into the more powerful chorus.

#999. Hikarisasuhou _ BACK-ON
Japanese | Alt. Rock
I love BACK-ON's style: a mix of rock, hip-hop, and electronica reminscient of groups like FLOW and UVERworld (although not as poppy). Hikarisasuhou definitely leans more towards rock, but the short rapped segments show their hip-hop influences. Recommended.

Labels: 12012, AAA, andy, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Ayaka, BACK-ON, nature living, number lottery, POITRINE, romeo, the b, the band apart

So, I just remembered that while postponing my update because of the polls Haruhi put up, I actually completely forgot to update. Thus, I present you with a double update in the same weekend!
Rotation 10 is themed Jpop artists, meaning the songs below are classic examples of Jpop music, as well as artists that are mainly associated with producing Jpop.
As always, please leave a comment when you download!

Otsuka Ai - Sakuranbo
Japanese - pop
This song belongs in my collection of first ever songs. This was my first Otsuka Ai song and I thought it was amazing! Such a happy, crazy, sweet love song! I've listened to this over and over, and it makes me smile every time. It's a true hyper Ai song.

KAT-TUN - No Matter Matter
Japanese - pop
This song always reminds me of the interlude in which they throw souvenirs into the audience during concerts. It's amazingly happy and it's an enourmous showcase for Yuichi's beatbox skills and Koki's rap.

Arashi - Nemuranai Karada
Japanese - pop
I always feel this song was supposed to be somewhere half way between a sensual song and pop xD Or that it's just some slightly failed attempt at producing a steamy hot summernight song. However, as I love Arashi, I love this song, since they're slightly lower voice complement the trumpets really well.

SNoW - On & On
Japanese - pop
I can't promote this singer enough! She's so amazing, it's a shame she's still in college at the moment. Slightly less upbeat than "I'm No", this song has a lot of symbolism, put to a gorgeous arrangement. Highly recommended.

AAA - Q
Japanese - pop
What can I say? This song is full of that typical AAA energy, with lyrics so fast I'm still amazed at how they did it. It's happy, it's fun, it's fast. It's AAA :D

Takacha - Movin'
Japanese - pop
I got this song from my baby sister actually, when she was momentarily infatuated with the anime Bleach. I can't say I've any other music by this group, but this song sounds amazing. I really, really like it. It's a fun antagonist for Orange Range's OP song.

GYM - My Angel
Japanese - pop
Released as an official single for the Women's Volleyball World Grandprix, Golf, Yamashita and Mike come dangerously close to becoming moe~~ I can truly call this song kawaii (and for someone who despises wrong use of that particular adjective, that says something, ne? xD)! So, so sweet!

Kanjani8 - Zukkoke Otokomichi
Japanese - pop
Well, if this isn't the embodiment of Jpop, I don't know what is. Well, perhaps Arashi. At any rate, this is a classic pop song. Happy, upbeat, and truly JE. Recommended ;D

NewS - Sayaendo
Japanese - pop
Another typical popgroup. This song is least upbeat however than their usual, but no less addicting. It sounds like it's been influenced by 1001 Arabian nights, or perhaps Indian music. I really like this change of pace though, it's one of my favourite songs at the moment.

Utada Hikaru - Celebrate
Japanese - pop
And, it a popthemed rotation, the Queen of Pop. At least the Queen I can stand (I really don't like Ayumi ><;)! Celebrate is a happy song, although it has a little more slow tempo. The soft melodic arrangement matches perfect with the soft vocals by Utada. Recommended.

Labels: AAA, Arashi, cohost: aranka, GYM, Kanjani8, KAT-TUN, NewS, Otsuka Ai, SNoW, Takacha, Utada Hikaru

First off - I apologize for this rotation being late, and for the fact that it's relatively small. I changed up the format a bit too - there are only two songs that I commented fully on, and they're more of a bonus than part of the actual rotation since ... they're not winter/holiday-themed, haha.

White X'mas - KAT-TUN
japanese | ballad | emotional, sad, sweet, sincere

Only You (Winter Special) - 2PM
korean | pop | sweet, driven, energetic

Snow Dance winter session - DEPAPEPE
instrumental | acoustic | calm, relaxing, soothing

The Call - Regina Spektor
english | soundtrack | sincere, bittersweet, hopeful

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - AAA
engrish | pop | happy, light-hearted, cheerful

So This Is Christmas (Live) - Luna Sea
japanese | rock | uplifting, powerful, energetic

Winter - ELLEGARDEN
japanese | rock | uplifting, energetic, sincere

Yeo Haeng Gi - Dong Bang Shin Ki (Travelling)
korean | pop/ballad | emotional, uplifting, sweet

Winter Gold - Stephanie
japanese | pop | upbeat, driven, confident

Cirque du Soleil - KA
I had the opportunity to watch this amazing show when I was in Las Vegas, and immediately searched out the soundtrack when I got home. Even listening to it without watching the show is a wonderful experience. I was intending to share the entire album as another rotation, but I couldn't wait. Here are two songs from the soundtrack of Cirque du Soleil's show, KA. These songs are both highly recommended.

Track 1. O Makunde
Track 5. Deep
Both these songs stayed with me because, like many songs on this soundtrack, they are capable of bringing up so much emotion, no matter what that emotion might be. Their vocal work is simply fantastic and has a quality that you simply cannot find in popular music today. O Makunde starts out with a sad tone, but rises with more and more confidence and hope. Deep is extremely sorrowful, but also exquisitely beautiful. The string accompaniment is just amazing.

Labels: 2PM, AAA, Cirque du Soleil, Depapepe, Dong Bang Shin Ki, ELLEGARDEN, KAT-TUN, Luna Sea, Regina Spektor, Stephanie

I'm so sorry this week's rotation is late - I was gone from Thursday to Monday on a trip to Las Vegas. I'm catching up on all the schoolwork I missed too, but I'll try to get the rotation up this upcoming Thursday or Friday.

In the meantime, some requests I uploaded:

My Foot - the pillows
Girls, be ambitious - Miyavi
RED...[em] - Dir en grey
Samurai Heart-侍魂- - AAA

- Haruhi

Labels: AAA, Dir en grey, miyavi, the pillows

Rotation 19 is a touch of colour, featuring song names that contain colours. Along with the new rotation is a new layout, featuring Lee Jun Ki. Also, we have a new cohost, Aranka, who will probably be introducing herself soon. =)

22 songs this rotation, definitely one of the larger rotations I've done. Please remember to leave a comment or rating.

Red Soul - AAA
Japanese | Pop
AAA's style varies so much, I never know what to expect from them. Red Soul is rock-influenced and upbeat. It sounds like something out of a video game or anime. A fun listen, but not exceptional.

Red Hot - ELLEGARDEN
English | Alt Rock
This is the original version, not the remastered one. I love ELLEGARDEN's unique sound and style, it killed me to hear that they were going on "hiatus". Although they're a Japanese group, this song is in English. Takeshi's voice is raw and powerful.

醉赤壁 (Drunk Red Cliff) - JJ Lin
Mandarin | Ballad
This track is from JJ Lin's new album, Sixology. The intro incorporates traditional Chinese instruments, which make small appearances throughout the song. A nice ballad, not overloaded with influences of classical Chinese music yet touching on them all the same.

Red Room - Lolita23q
Japanese | Rock
One of my favourite VK groups. Red Room doesn't waste any time, jumping right into a noisy, fast-paced rock number. It's a little repetitive, but I enjoyed it.

Mirage in Blue - Chemistry
Japanese | Pop/R&B
A sweet, poppy song, accompanied with acoustic guitar. The sparse accompaniment allows their vocals to shine through. Recommended.

BLUE VACATION - BOØWY
Japanese | Rock
'90's rock just has that ... feel to it. Haha, not really my kind of thing, but it's fun as an occasional listen.

Blue & Green Waves - DE DE MOUSE
Japanese | Electronica
I'm loving the variety of genres this theme allows. DE DE MOUSE has an experimental, fresh sound. It's an acquired taste, but give them a shot if you're a fan of electronica.

Blue Doors Ahead - F.I.R.
Mandarin & English | Pop
This is probably the only time you'll see me upload F.I.R., I'm not a huge fan of them. A downtempo jazz track, Blue Doors Ahead is relaxing and strong vocally, but not overly memorable.

Blues - Jam Hsiao
Mandarin | Rock
An underrated but up and rising star in the C-pop industry, Jam Hsiao's style varies from pop to ballad to, as is the case with Blues, rock. It sounds better when you listen to it with the rest of the album, where it stands out more against the ballad/pop tracks. But, a good song nonetheless.

Deep Blue - Vidoll
Japanese | Rock
Eh, I'm kind of iffy on Vidoll. Some of their songs I love, others, not so much. Deep Blue is kind of in-between, I thought it was decent but not great. The bass-heavy accompaniment kind of drones out the already whisper-y vocals.

Green Apple - Ynot?
Korean | Rock
This rotation is pretty low on Korean songs, I noticed. A light-hearted rock song reminiscent of summer. I quite like this group.

Green Rivers - Pia
Korean | Rock Ballad
Pia is probably one of the more well-known K-rock groups. Green Rivers is a strong rock ballad. It sounded a little bland to me at first listen, but it's starting to grow on me.

Green Requiem - Joe Hisaishi
Instrumental | Piano
A relaxing piano piece. If you like Yiruma, you'll probably like Joe Hisaishi.

Yellow Beauty - LM.C
Japanese | Rock
Typical LM.C, jumps at you right from the start. It dies down a bit, showing impressive changes in tempo and mood. Recommended.

Yellow Butterfly - Fly to the Sky
Korean | R&B/Ballad
I love this duo. Yellow Butterfly varies - at times a sweet acoustic ballad with a sparse guitar accompaniment, at others an almost upbeat R&B song. Beautiful vocal work, as usual. Not my favourite song by them, but it's pretty good.

Purple Rain - Shin Hye Sung
Korean | Ballad
Pretty typical ballad, HyeSung's voice is beautiful and strong in parts but can barely be heard in others.

Purple Apple - the pillows
Japanese | Alt Rock
From the pillows' latest album, PIED PIPER, Purple Apple is typical to the pillows' style - quirky and fresh. I love the bass line and bright guitar chords.

Orange Evolution - ALvino
Japanese | Rock
I don't remember where I first heard of these guys, but I love them. They're a rock group but not VK, their sound is a little more mainstream. The chorus is genuine and memorable, although overall I wouldn't say this is one of their best songs.

Orange Dream - Antic Cafe
Japanese | Oshare kei
It's been so long since I heard a slower track from anCafe. It does build more and more, but differs from their usual fare in that it's much more serious in tone. Their sound has matured a lot. I love the piano accompaniment in this song. IMO, a very impressive track.

Orange - BRIGHT
Japanese | Pop
I'm not a fan of girl-groups, but I like BRIGHT for their great vocal work. A breezy R&B song, Orange features beautiful harmonizing. The melody and composition of the song itself isn't the most memorable though.

Orange Parade - Ichigo69
Japanese | Rock
More upbeat, in your face rock. Personally it was a little too messy for me, I found the bass of the song to be lacking - there was no real foundation, although it does even out a little. The slightly off-key vocals and random squeals from the guitar are kind off-putting. Part of the song sound almost ... fast-forwarded. O_o Definitely interesting, but I found it too jarring.

ORANGE GRADATION - Imitation PoPs Uchuu Sentai NOIZ
Japanese | Rock
I love this band. The song has a nice intro and vocals, it's upbeat and energetic but not overwhelming.

Note: Ichigo69 and Imitation PoPs Uchuu Sentai NOIZ are not tagged in this entry because Blogspot will only let me add 20 tags per post.

Labels: AAA, ALvino, Antic Cafe, BOØWY, BRIGHT, Chemistry, DE DE MOUSE, ELLEGARDEN, F.I.R., Fly to the Sky, Jam Hsiao, JJ Lin, Joe Hisaishi, Lolita23q, Pia, Shin Hye Sung, the pillows, Vidoll, Ynot?

Welcome to Fashion Scans, an mp3 rotation that features Korean, Japanese, and Chinese music as well as the occasional English song. Fashion Scans was created in October 2007 and is run by Haruhi with contributions from Carmi.

Please send all affiliate requests to Haruhi. Carmi is currently open to requests.

Files are for sampling purposes only, I am not responsible if you keep them for longer than the 24-48 hours permitted. Please support the artists by purchasing their CDs.

phase down | aqueous transmission | quietus | SnakeRoot | Dong Bang World | you start it | Ongoing Melody


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