I will be attempting to return to my biweekly rotation schedule, however, rotations will probably be a bit smaller from now on. I'll also try and get a new layout up sometime soon, I've been meaning to for a while but never got around to it.
This rotation is themed around c-pop. Maybe it's just the sites I visit, but a lot of rotations and other music sites seem to be focused on Korean and Japanese music. When I first created this site, I also did a rotation themed around music from China/Taiwan, and I thought that I'd do another one to promote c-pop. All songs are in Mandarin, since I'm not familiar with many Cantonese songs.
Please comment/leave a rating if taking!
➜ 不曾后悔 - Anson Hu (胡彦斌)
Although Anson Hu debuted in 2002 and has been a very popular and well-known artist since, for some reason I never really listened to any of his music until his most recent album. In my last post I shared the song 罗马假日, my favourite of his songs so far. 不曾后悔 is from the same album. It's a gorgeous piano-based ballad, where Anson Hu's powerful yet controlled voice is simply captivating. There was one line in particular whose melody and vocal execution just caught my attention, at around 1:35-1:40 (it's also repeated a few times throughout the song). Expressive and emotional without being overly dramatic, Anson Hu shows that his success in the music industry has not been without cause.
➜ 江湖 (Jiang Hu) - Anson Hu (胡彦斌)
This is one older song that I have heard by Anson Hu, released in 2007 I believe. Very different from the track above, it's a bright, youthful pop tune. There's something about its energy and confidence that is just infectious. I love the use of piano and Anson wanders into higher vocal ranges without much difficulty, but what really stood out to me is the sheer energy that Anson Hu manages to convey, and transfer to the listener.
➜ 近在眼前 - Peter Pan (潘裕文)
Peter Pan, AKA Pan Yu Man, was a contestent on popular Taiwanese singing competition (similar to American Idol) One Million Star. Although he came in third, personally I think his voice and songs are superior to that of those who ranked higher. 近在眼前 is a warm, hopeful piano-and-strings ballad. Rich instrumentation and arrangement get this song off to a good start, but it's really Peter's expressive, smooth voice that makes this song stand out. There's just something about his clear, warm tone that makes it hard to believe this is only his debut album - there's a maturity and seasoned feel to his songs that is generally not found in newer artists. Returning to this individual song, I really love how the song progresses and takes the listener on a journey: from the more pessimistic, melancholic opening to a more hopeful, brighter tone later on.
➜ 幫妳記得 - Peter Pan (潘裕文)
Another ballad, but sweeter in tone and a little quicker in tempo than the one above, 幫妳記得 is another of my favourites from this talented singer. I really like the array of strings, piano, and guitar in the arrangement, giving it body without being too crowded or busy. It has a polished feel without losing any of its emotional strength, and as usual his clean, assured vocals are perfect.
➜ 壞人 - Abin Fang
A Malaysian singer-songwriter, this is probably the song that made Abin Fang rise to popularity in Taiwan. I believe it beat out one of Jay Chou's songs as the top song of the year in a rankings chart, and it's not hard to see why. Although it's partially the lyrics of this song that I really love, even without understanding them it's a wonderful song. Abin Fang's unique, rich voice elevates an already memorable melody, and the backdrop of rock-based percussion and delicate piano and strings fits perfectly. Another promising artist who I'm glad to see is getting more recognition.
➜ 小情歌 - Sodagreen
Something a little different, Sodagreen is an independent band that has received a lot more mainstream attention lately, namely because of this song. Their music is a blend of folk, rock, and pop that's hard to describe, but it's not surprising that 小情歌 was the song that has become a lot more mainstream than many of their songs - it's definitely more pop-oriented and less experimental than some of their songs, but that's not to say it's not a great introduction to their music. 小情歌 is a pretty rock ballad with surprising lightness and grace. Their lead singer's high, clean voice is so delicate and unique, coupled with the unique arrangement which blends rock, pop, and even some traditional instruments. It's one of those songs that's just a remarkable gem.
➜ 缺氧 - Rainie Yang
I'm not really a fan of her, but this is one song that I actually find to be quite good. It's a simple ballad with a warm if somewhat standard arrangement of piano and violin, but Rainie's clear, feminine voice really shines through.
➜ Somewhere (Sophia Version) - JS
Sibling duo JS (Justin & Sophia) is another rare gem in the Taiwanese music industry. When I first tried out a few of their songs, I thought they were a bit too downtempo, but after hearing a gorgeous performance of this song on TV one day, I gave them another try and they've really grown on me. Somewhere is an electronica-influenced track with an ethereal feel. It's completely in English, and as the title suggests, Sophia's vocals are featured. I love the broken-down piano chords, and lightness of the synths and percussion.
➜ 另一个自己 (Another Myself) - Anson Hu ft. Stephy Tang
I swear I didn't mean to put so many Anson Hu songs in this rotation, but I couldn't resist. Some songs are just so filled with emotion that you can feel it inside yourself, and this is one of them. From the delicate, stripped-down opening verses to where the accompaniment picks up a bit, everything about this song is just so genuine and heartfelt that you can't help but get sucked into it. The two singers sound fantastic together, and I love how the song picks up, all of a sudden picking up an R&B interface - yet still keeping the intimacy and raw emotion of its opening section. An incredibly powerful song, and one of my favourite duets.
➜ 凡爾賽玫瑰 (Rose of Versailles) - JS
Another JS song, also featuring Sophia's vocals. Rose of Versailles is sad and melancholic in tone, as emphasized by the dark, dramatic strings, but the modern percussion puts an interesting twist on the song. It's elegant and haunting.
➜ 一路向北 - Jay Chou
Who hasn't heard of Jay Chou? I'm not a fan of his more recent releases, but some of his older songs - namely from the album this song is from, November's Chopin, are quite good. 一路向北 is a lovely mid-tempo rock ballad. It's one of those songs where the melody (namely the chorus) just stayed in my head and continues to pop up even if I haven't listened to the song in a long time. A heartfelt, well-executed song.
➜玩樂 (Wan Le/Play) - Khalil Fong
And we close this rotation off with one of my favourite singers, Khalil Fong. 玩樂 is a quirky, fun song that's hard to describe genre-wise. It has a dated feel to it, but the rich piano arrangement and touches of brass make it uniquely - well, Khalil. It's hard to think of another singer who could pull off something like this without making it sound cheesy. Khalil's distinctive vocals are confident, and the song has a playful, bright atmosphere.
Labels: Anson Hu, JS, Peter Pan, Rainie Yang, Sodagreen, Stephy Tang
I hope you're all having a great new year so far. =) Just a few recent releases I wanted to share.
- Haruhi
Please remember to comment/leave a rating if taking!
두근두근 - HAM
두근두근 (Acoustic Version) - HAM
Korean | Pop
While I generally dislike girl groups, HAM (despite their unfortunate name) caught my attention with their debut T.T Dance. 두근두근 is a sweet, bubbly pop song. While compositionally it's pretty standard, their strong voices really add warmth and character. Vocally, HAM is definitely one of the stronger girl groups I've seen. While their style differs a lot from ballad-based groups (eg. early SeeYa, Black Pearl), their vocal ability really elevates otherwise lacklustre pop songs into something youthful and refreshing. The Acoustic Version is backed by acoustic guitar, other than that there isn't much difference. There's still a lot of percussion, bass and some synths, so it's not truly "acoustic" - I was hoping for something more genuine and stripped-down. I prefer the original.
Now or Never - C.N. Blue
English | Rock
This group is Korean but debuting in Japan, but from what I can tell this song is entirely in English. They've been described as a "2nd F.T. Island", while I can see the similarities, I feel like C.N. Blue is a little closer to genuine rock, although their music definitely does have a pop-rock feel. Their English is all right, with an accent that could be forgiven if this song was not so incredibly predictable. The lyrics are mundane and somewhat meaningless - while I understand that you probably can't expect too much from a Korean/Japanese group, composition-wise this song is also a huge bore. Their other songs don't sound much better either. Worth a try if you like F.T. Island, though.
少しずつ大切に - MISIA
Japanese | Ballad
MISIA is a female singer that I recently started listening to, I really like her strong, clear voice. Powerful ballads can easily get overly-dramatic, but this mid-tempo number remains light and sweet while still having a lot of emotional value. MISIA's seasoned vocals are simply beautiful, not to mention expressive.
逢いたくていま - MISIA
Japanese | Ballad
Another song by MISIA off the same album, this one is a pretty, piano-based ballad. It's delicate and warm, with touches of strings and a very classic feel. What I really appreciate about this song is that while it does feel timeless and classic, it's not outdated nor cookie-cutter. MISIA's unique voice and the richness of the accompaniment and arrangement really make it stand out. In other words, it's familiar, but certainly nor generic.
NOAH (Unplugged Version) - THE KIDDIE
Japanese | Rock
This is one of two songs (the other is just below) that came with their 2010 Official Calendar. I love acoustic/unplugged versions, so this song was a treat. It's a rock ballad with acoustic guitar and clean vocals that have a raw, unpolished feel, backed with harmonies. A refreshingly genuine song.
antenna (Unplugged Version) - THE KIDDIE
Japanese | Rock
I really love the fluid, soothing guitar in this song. antenna is relaxing and calm, a perfect song to unwind to. The build-up in the last minute or so of the song keeps things interesting.
罗马假日 - Anson Hu
Mandarin | Pop
I saved the best for last - I've had this song on replay for the past few days. Although Anson Hu is a pretty big name in the Chinese music industry, I have to say I'd never really given him much attention until I decided to try out his recently released album titled 失业情歌 (Music Life). While I have mixed feelings about some of the songs, a few really stood out to me - and this is one of them. 罗马假日 is simply gorgeous. The light guitar, rich bass, and delicate keyboard come together perfectly, held by one of the more interesting percussion parts I have recently heard. Anson Hu's vocals deliver with a quiet intensity, adding to the dark feel of the song. Not that it's a dark, depressing song - it's tinged with hope and nostalgia. The ethereal piano melodies lighten the song up, keeping it from being too overbearing or repetitive - in my opinion, it's one of the highlights and defining features. Highly recommended!
Labels: Anson Hu, C.N. Blue, HAM, MISIA, THE KIDDIE
