Ten songs by artists that are part of a duo/group, but for whatever reason have released solo material.
Not Alone - Park Jung Min
Korean | Pop
This is the song that inspired this theme. I've always liked SS501, but never really paid attention to its individual members. The only one I could have recognized by name/face was Kim Hyun Joong. I think Park Jung Min of SS501 has caught the attention of many, myself included, with his latest single. Not Alone is the title track. I love the utilization of strings, ranging from the staccato of the dark, dramatic opening to the long, melodic lines of the brighter chorus. It's catchy without relying on the synths and auto-tune that define so much of recent k-pop, which is refreshing. I've had this song on repeat for the last couple days.
You and I - Park Bom
Korean | Pop
I really wish Park Bom released more solo material. She has such a great voice, and it doesn't really get a chance to shine in 2NE1's songs. The music video has an interesting twist, by the way. Park Bom sounds great, her voice is strong without being overpowering and has a really nice richness to it.
VVIP - Seungri
Korean | Dance/Pop
Seungri was one of those members of Big Bang I never really noticed until he released his first mini-album. My qualm with Big Bang's music (and GD & TOP's mini-album) is that their songs, while extremely infectious, get stale quite quickly. It's a bit too early to tell with VVIP, but I think it has a bit more staying power. There's a nice contrast between the bright, melodic chorus and the rapping verses. There's something youthful and fresh about the song in general, emphasized by the touches of brass, that separates it from other uptempo tracks.
小樹 - Lara
Mandarin | Pop/Ballad
Lara was a member of Nan Quan Mama, before leaving to pursue a solo career. To be honest, I'm not really fond of her solo album. She has a really delicate voice that worked well with Nan Quan Mama's style of music and mixed group concept, but alone with the cuter, more standard-pop based sound that she has in her solo album, it's quite forgettable. I do like 小樹 though, I think the light, acoustic accompaniment compliments her voice nicely.
Sorry - Lee Jin Sung ft. Heritage
Korean | R&B/Ballad
Lee Jin Sung was half of the original duo of Monday Kiz (the other half was Kim Min Soo, who passed away in 2008). Monday Kiz was known for their ballads, so it's no surprise that Lee Jin Sung has a great voice. This song is a bit more upbeat than the ballads they were famous for. I love the harmonies.
문이 닫히면 - 윤두준 & 손동운 of Beast
Korean | R&B/Ballad
Beast's songs have always been a bit hit-or-miss with me, but I really like this duet. It's got a really nice acoustic feel that's different from their usual style.
Wonderful Life - Minwoo
Korean | Pop
I think that out of Shinhwa's members, Minwoo's solo songs are my favourite. The others have released songs that I've really liked too, but excluding a few of his most recent songs, I really like most of what Minwoo has done. His music has so much energy and flair, and Wonderful Life is the perfect example of this. The confident brass riffs and bass line work so well with the depth and slight rough edge to his voice.
Persona - Kangta
Korean | Ballad
H.O.T.'s prime was way before I got into k-pop, but I'm pretty familiar with Kangta's solo material. Persona was released in 2005, and I don't know how to explain it exactly, but there's something about it that's different from more recent ballads. Whatever it is, I love it. It's a bit dark without being overly dramatic or exaggerated, and there's a sense of yearning to it. I like the subtle harmonies as well.
못 잊어 - Kim Jong Kook
Korean | Pop
I'm a big fan of Kim Jong Kook, formerly of Turbo. He's known for his high voice. While in a couple of his songs - especially some on his first/second solo albums - it comes across as thin, I think he's really developed because overall, it's clear and warm. 못 잊어 has a great melody and uses synths subtly.
덩크슛 - JoKwon & Whale
Korean | Pop
This song is a collaboration between 2AM's JoKwon and W&Whale's Whale. It's a cover of Lee Sung Hwan's Dunk Shot (which I've never actually heard, so I can't make any comparison). It has a really unique flavour and beat, modernized by well-utilized synths.
Labels: 2AM, Beast, Kangta, Kim Jong Kook, Lara, Lee Jin Sung, Lee Min Woo, Park Bom, Park Jung Min, Seungri, W and Whale
[rotation 57] all that glitters is not gold
Saturday, January 1, 2011 posted at 6:17 PM
Happy New Year everyone! You may have read in Carmi's post that she was only going to be updating once a month from now on. From now on, I will be updating weekly instead of biweekly/randomly like I usually do. I will still probably only post full rotations/mixtapes once every two weeks, but in the weeks in between I'll be making smaller updates. Posts will probably be made on weekends. :) All the best in 2011!
- Haruhi
overview: The theme of this mix is a bit difficult to explain. It's for those points in your life when you feel like you've changed; like you're no longer as naive and you are in a way proud of how you've grown, yet sad for the things you've lost along the way. These songs are about the moments that changed you and the things you learnt from them - about past, present, and future.
01. mercedes - joseph arthur
oh i know you will rise
when you watch yourself burn to the ground
oh i hope that you will rise
when you talk about what they've done
02. dancing at her funeral - the limousines
the only words she can say are can you take me home
before her spirit escapes her as a soft blue glow
03. the truth is in the dirt - karen elson
the truth is in the dirt on the ground,
not in your poison tongue or your acid tears
04. give us a little love - fallulah
leave it by its pain, leave it all alone
if i never turn, i will never grow
05. lights go on again (full version) - beast
i kept wandering in the long darkness
to reach that place touched by the single ray of light
06. the end where i begin - the script
sometimes your first scars don't ever fade away
07. the ice is getting thinner - death cab for cutie
and the ice kept getting thinner with every word that we'd speak
08. i was wrong - capsule
the best of times
through coloured glass
09. skeleton key - margot & the nuclear so and so's
and it's clear to see
you're nothing special
you're a skeleton key
10. change - monkey majik
i need a change
cause it's all gone wrong for me
i need somebody else to lead me now
11. fisheye lens - nell
you were meant to be my reality
but it's over now, it's over now
12. white gold - metric
hush don't explain,
when you water down my name
i'll be up too late
call me when you get
better at your game
you haven't beat me yet
13. 별 빛이 내린다 (starlight is shining down) - bye bye sea
between the starlight that poured down
above the people that poured out
my hearth that poured out
i've grown like that
14. you and i both - jason mraz
oh taking your advice i'm looking on the bright side
and balancing the whole thing
but often times those words get tangled up in lines
and the bright lights turn to night
15. history sticks to your feet - modest mouse
and you realize that the floor sticks to your feet like history
16. 남자 때문에 (because of a man) - joo
i want to learn to live alone
so that i can smile a bright smile
without holding someone else's hand
17. cross bone style - cat power
oh come child
come and rescue me
because you have seen some unbelievable things
18. sorry that i loved you - anthony neely
but sorry doesn't turn back time
19. don't you mourn the sun - mimi
and i said, don't you mourn the sun
cause darling, the nightmare has just begun
20. army men - charlotte sometimes
cause tears are selfish and you aren't anymore
21. anything at all - cara salimando
but i can feel it between my fists as i close my hands around this
i don't know why i ever fooled myself into believing anything that i heard
22. blood, tears & gold - hurts
love grows cold
blood, tears, and gold
won't make it any better
[download]
This mixtape features a number of female vocalists I recently discovered, including Karen Elson and, a favourite of mine, Charlotte Sometimes. Metric's downtempo White Gold is gorgeous, I especially love the lyrics quoted. Another standout is the last song by Hurts, I love the echoing vocals.
Labels: Anthony Neely, Beast, Bye Bye Sea, Cat Power, Charlotte Sometimes, Death Cab for Cutie, Fallulah, Hurts, Jason Mraz, Joo, Karen Elson, Metric, mixtape, Modest Mouse, Monkey Majik, The Script
