overview. songs for the nights you lie in bed, unable to sleep. waiting for the darkness to subside and the dawn to break, because you know you'll be wide awake until then. english, mandarin, korean, japanese, instrumental. ballad, alt rock, indie.
♪ set the fire to the third bar _snow patrol ft. martha wainwright
their words, mostly noises
ghosts with just voices
your words in my memory
are like music to me
♪ down _jason walker
so why do i try,
i know i'm gonna fall down
♪ seeing you off the edges _eluvium
♪ we are mice _azure ray
it's all in the eyes
the reckless way we dream to die
our past is our future
the present lies
somewhere between our hearts and minds
♪ infection _chihiro onitsuka
in the night
i realize this infection
♪ space between _katie noonan & the captains
space between us blue as oceans
gold as sunshine, red as my blood
♪ nicest thing _kate nash
i wish that without me you'd be spending the rest of your nights awake
i wish that without me you couldn't eat
i wish i was the last thing on your mind before you went to sleep
♪ lonely lonely _feist
distance makes the heart grow weak
so that the mouth can barely speak
except to those who hide their needs
♪ still alright _pg. lost
♪ rocks _ben jelen
but now i'm doubting me, i know i shouldn't be but
i've been down, i've been down
♪ diary _kelly chen
loved until it hurt
hurt until i cried
cried until i was tired
the dilemmas in my heart
keep repeating
♪ winter song _sara bareilles ft. ingrid michaelson
is love alive?
♪ cry _kelly clarkson
i'm talking in circles
i'm lying, they know it
why won't this just all go away
♪ apres moi _regina spektor
i must go on standing
you can't break that which isn't yours
i must go on standing
i'm not my own, it's not my choice
♪ 카페인 _mot
♪ 愛我吧 _khalil fong
don't answer me,
don't answer me
♪ breaking my heart again _aqualung
need to know
i don't wanna know
already know
-
you're making me doubt
i thought i knew you
i don't even know myself
♪ teenage dream _the rescues
i can't sleep
let's run away and don't ever look back,
don't ever look back
♪ when my time comes _dawes
and now the only piece of advice that continues to help
is anyone making anything new only breaks something else
♪ moonlight punch romance _nell
i fell in love
with the silence of the night
bonus (not in zip).
♪ why _susie suh
why do i ask myself these questions?
comments. this mix is a bit of an amalgam. i wanted to include songs that provided some sense of comfort, but that doesn't mean they're calming - sometimes, they're only comforting because you've found something that perfectly reflects your mood. at the same time, i didn't want this to be a mix to help you get to sleep. it's more of a mix for understanding that you won't, if that makes sense. near the end of the mix, there's a few brighter, more hopeful songs - perhaps better suited for when the light is beginning to filter in. standouts include the rescues' harmonic, yearning cover of katy perry's teenage dream, regina spektor's dramatic apres moi, katie noonan's silky, rich voice in space between, and chihiro onitsuka's haunting infection. whatever keeps you up at night - i hope this helps.
Labels: Chihiro Onitsuka, Dawes, eluvium, Feist, Jason Walker, Kelly Chen, Kelly Clarkson, Khalil Fong, mixtape, Mot, Nell, pg.lost, Regina Spektor, Sara Bareilles, Snow Patrol, Susie Suh, The Rescues
Sorry the rotation is so late! This was originally going to be an artist feature for Han Hee Jung or BRIGHT, but I figured that since I’m quite picky about girl groups and female artists in general, I’d theme the whole rotation on female singers. I tried to choose a variety of artists & genres, so hopefully you’ll find something you like. By the way, the group pictured above is Black Pearl.
Please remember to comment or leave a rating, thanks.
잃어버린 날들 - Han Hee Jung (Lost Days)
Korean | Soft rock
This is my favourite Han Hee Jung song, hands down. It’s soothing but melancholy and emotional at the same time, and suits its title perfectly. Han Hee Jung’s smooth voice is steady yet delicate, set against a mid-tempo accompaniment of percussion and strings.
Kotoba ni Dekinakute - BRIGHT (Can’t Put It Into Words)
Japanese | Pop/Ballad
If I had to pick a favourite girl group, it’d probably be these guys. I’ve uploaded a couple songs from them before. Kotoba ni Dekinakute is a poppy R&B ballad that’s compositionally familiar, yet mature and fresh. Their vocals are just fantastic - clear-cut and melodic, not to mention their gorgeous harmonizing that gives even more upbeat songs a unique twist.
좋은날 - Brown Eyed Girls
Korean | Pop
A relaxing, sweet pop song by the Brown Eyed Girls. I’m not a huge fan of them, but I do like a couple of their songs. Accompanied by acoustic guitars and light percussion, the only thing I didn’t really like about this song was the rap verses. It’s not a song that I’d put on repeat, but it’s worth a listen.
Crazy Love Song - SeeYa
Korean | Ballad
I’m really not a fan of their new album but I loved their older material. They’re often referred to as the “female SG Wannabe”, which can definitely be felt in this song. It clearly follows the paths of SG Wannabe’s distinct, signature ballads. Personally, I find that they followed SG Wannabe’s style a little too closely, and would have liked to see them have a more unique style. Powerful and dramatic, these girls definitely have the vocal strength to back this song up.
everyhome - Chihiro Onitsuka
Japanese | Folk Pop/Ballad
I love Chihiro Onitsuka’s older material, but her newer songs have really disappointed me. everyhome was actually released a while ago as a single, but was also included on her newer album “LAS VEGAS”. Her voice is absolutely beautiful - powerful and emotional, set against a strong piano accompaniment. The amount of emotion Onitsuka puts into every word and every note is really what makes her so unique.
결국... 너잖아 - Black Pearl
Korean | Ballad
I was really impressed with this group, and was disappointed to find that after a couple singles they’ve kind of dropped out of the scene other than a few appearances in OSTs and such, mostly in collaboration with other artists - namely SeeYa and Davichi, but IMO they outshine those groups vocally. A very classic Korean ballad that is a tad too predictable for my taste, but their strong, rich voices really bring the song together.
Te wo Tsunaide - Younha
Japanese | Pop-Rock
I’m a huge fan of Younha, even though I didn’t really like her newest Korean album (Peace Love & Ice Cream). This is probably my favourite song by her - it’s an optimistic, midtempo pop-rock track with a soaring chorus, completed by Younha’s powerful yet feminine voice. I absolutely love the part at 2:10 when the accompaniment suddenly cuts off, leaving only her voice for the rest of the line - it has an incredibly powerful impact.
Love Today - Taru
Korean | Pop/Electronica
A sugary track complete with warm, childish vocals and a heavily synthesized accompaniment. It’s a cute song with a sweet, poppy atmosphere that’s not too overpowering.
Mia - IU
Korean | Ballad
I was skeptical upon seeing that the singer is only 15 years old, expecting something poppy and sugary, but Mia was certainly a pleasant surprise - it’s a rich, emotional ballad. While utilizing strings in its accompaniment, the percussion and arrangement is fairly modernized. IU’s voice is powerful and surprisingly mature. I’m looking forward to hearing her future releases and seeing how her voice develops even furthur.
Jewelry day - ayaka
Japanese | Ballad
A pretty acoustic guitar ballad by another of my favourite female singers, ayaka. It’s melancholic but relaxing and soothing at the same time. ayaka’s voice is melodic and crisp. A refreshingly straightforward song.
Summer Song - YUI
Japanese | Pop/Rock
Despite loving acoustic guitars, I never really got into YUI’s music. Summer Song is a pleasing, mid-tempo track - IMO, it doesn’t have a lot of replay value, but it’s a nice song.
Unprecedented - Zhang Yun Jing
Mandarin | Pop-Rock
An upbeat track. Yun Jing’s voice is almost boyish, and suits the playful atmosphere of the song well. I think she was the winner of either Super Idol or One Million Star (singing competitions).
Can’t Sleep, Can’t Eat, I’m Sick - Amuro Namie
Japanese | Pop
Synthy trumpet riffs, a slick R&B atmosphere - really, it’s nothing but a cheap club number. Bubbly, fun, confident, and light-hearted.
Freaky - Koda Kumi
Japanese | Pop
A grungy, aggressive song - it’s uptempo and in-your-face. Koda Kumi’s powerful, slightly abrasive voice compliments the song well.
Labels: Amuro Namie, Ayaka, Black Pearl, BRIGHT, Brown Eyed Girls, Chihiro Onitsuka, Han Hee Jung, IU, Koda Kumi, SeeYa, Taru, Younha, YUI, Zhang Yun Jing
Part two, following the last rotation. In case you missed rotation 17 (scroll down until you see it or check the archives), it features an artist for every letter of the alphabet. Order is artist name - song name, by the way. ^_^ Enjoy, and please remember to leave a comment or even just a rating.
Expect a new layout sometime soon, too.
N! Nega - Abase
Japanese | Rock
Lately I've started losing interest in heavier rock, but I love Nega. His voice is deep and rich. I wouldn't call this one of his "heaviest' songs, but compared to most of the other stuff I upload it's pretty heavy. Not my favourite song by him but it's pretty good.
O! Onitsuka Chihiro - Himitsu
Japanese | Ballad
Chihiro Onitsuka is one of my favourite singers. I've been disappointed by her new material, so I decided to upload one of her older songs. Himitsu is just a beautiful ballad. The piano/string accompaniment is kept to a minimum, allowing Chihiro's voice to shine through. Her voice is just so unique and emotional. Highly recommended.
P! Prana - Go
Korean | Rock
If you're a fan of K-rock, you may know these guys are Wiretap In My Ear - they changed their name. Latin-influenced, has a kind of acoustic feel to it. I liked it.
Q! Quruli - RENNWEG WALTZ
Japanese | Acoustic
As you can probably guess, I didn't have a lot of choices for this letter. Luckily, this song is a gorgeous acoustic ballad. The unpolished, raw feel of the vocals only makes them sweeter and more genuine. It has to be said that it doesn't build much. IMO, it's more of an occasional listen than a song that you'd constantly repeat. But it is definitely worth a listen. What can I say, I'm a sucker for acoustic songs.
R! Ryan Cabrera - True
English | Pop
I don't even know why this song is on my computer. Yeah, it's a song in English. Although fairly generic in both lyrics and composition, Cabrera's voice is sweet and melodic but strong. A while ago I used to love this song, now I think it's ... okay. Decent, but not amazing.
S! Sang Sang Band - 가지마 가지마 (Don't Go - Ga Ji Ma, Ga Ji Ma)
Korean | Rock Ballad
I love love love this band. Their vocalist is amazing. Her voice is light and fairly high in range, yet powerful and emotional. Highly recommended.
T! the TRAX - Over the Rainbow (Rock Version)
Korean | Rock
I love the piano version for this song too, but I decided to upload the rock one. One of the first k-rock bands I got into, definitely one of the most well-known. Wonderful vocals, gritty guitar work but with this clear, high melody present but barely audible throughout the song that balances it out nicely. Recommended.
U! U-KISS - 어리지않아 (Not Young)
Korean | Pop
IIRC this group contains some previous members of the boyband XING. Catchy chorus, sweet, poppy arrangement. I liked it.
V Vodka Rain - 안녕, 바다 (Anyoung, Bada)
Korean | Soft Rock
Another band I'm quite fond of. A nice, relaxing song, good to listen to when you're just winding down.
W Wang KingOne - The World I Want (我要的世界)
Mandarin | Pop
I just tried this song because I heard a few people on a forum say it was their favourite Chinese song of all time. Keep in mind it was a very pop-oriented forum. I thought it was pretty good, but unlikely to become one of my favourites. It's pretty catchy though. Worth a listen.
X Xiao Yu - 捨不得
Mandarin | Pop
Starts out kind of a cappella style, leads into a beautiful ballad. Although a newcomer in the music industry, Xiao Yu is definitely an artist to watch out for. Although I'm not a big fan of his more upbeat songs, he has a lovely voice.
Y Yiruma - Maybe
Instrumental | Piano
Yiruma is a Korean pianist, he's quite well known. I love his compositions. Maybe is hopeful and warm. I learnt to play this on piano a while ago, it's fairly simple but that makes it even sweeter. Recommended.
Z zoro - 1888
Japanese | Rock
Jazzy, upbeat, fun, infectious. You can't help but move along to this song. The bass line can be a tad reptitive, though.
Labels: Chihiro Onitsuka, Nega, Prana, Quruli, Ryan Cabrera, Sang Sang Band, the TRAX, Wang KingOne, Xiao Yu, Yiruma, zoro
約束 (Yakusoku/Promise) - mihimaru GT
Kicking off with a music-box-esque tune, this is a cute song that lacks much variation. The overly-cutesy voices in the background occasionally yelling "whoa" and "yay" get a bit annoying, and don't really seem to add much to the song. I think this is one of mihimaru GT's older songs. Their vocalist has a nice voice, though it lacks much emotion or feeling, making singing seem like a bit of a chore - Yakusoku seems to call for a carefree lightness to the vocals that is obviously missing. Overall rating: 3/5
Love Letter (Winter Acoustic Mix) - BoA
Who hasn't heard of BoA? She's never been one of my favourites - though her dedication impresses me, I never found her voice or songs particularly good. This remix of Love Letter is bland, lacking much momentum. It's evident by the string accompaniment that it's supposed to sound sad, but fails to actually invoke any emotion. Overall rating: 2.5/5
会いたい (Aitai) - Younha
Younha has long been one of my favourite female vocalists, and one of the first I discovered. At first listen, her voice sounds quite bland, though it's really very unique once you listen to her more often. Her vocals really shine in this song - the accompaniment has been kept very light, which was a good choice. Younha is Korean, but sang only in Japanese until recently when she released her first Korean album. She was probably the first Korean or Japanese female artist I listened to. I'd definitely recommend this song and her as an artist, I don't think I've heard a song by her that I found I didn't like. Overall rating: 4/5
infection - Chihiro Onitsuka
If you don't download any other songs from this rotation, download this one. Chihiro Onitsuka is, without argument, amongst the best vocalists I've heard. She captures so much emotion in her songs and has a beautiful, distinctive voice. This ballad from her isn't catchy, but it will capture you all the same. When I first listened to her it was through this song, and it was because someone had recommended her to me. I had it playing in the background, but as soon as she started singing I stopped everything else I was doing to listen. She's a spectacular vocalist; this is my favourite song by her. Overall rating: 5/5
Story - AI
I never really liked AI's voice. It just seemed really harsh and grating and I found it annoying to listen to her sing. A lot of people actually like her voice, and this is one of the songs I can tolerate by her, so I thought I'd give people a chance to try her out. It gets boring after a while; there's nothing really to focus on. A very typical, generic ballad. Overall rating: 2.5/5
Gimme A Beat - Bonnie Pink
A break from the ballads, here's a slightly more upbeat, pop-rock song from Bonnie Pink. I've always liked her voice and the style of her songs. This is no exception - it might not make your most-played list, but I enjoy listening to this song occasionally. The part where she says "Gimme a beat" is catchy and probably my favourite part of the song. Worth a listen. Overall rating: 3.5/5
I LOVE YOU - Mika Nakashima
I nearly forgot to add this song to the rotation. Though I love Mika's voice, her songs usually fail to hold my attention for very long. This song begins with soft strains of classical instruments, building into a more solid introduction. Mika's voice seems very quiet against the accompaniment. I'm quite sure this is a cover of an English song, though I can't think of which one. I only know it's a cover because I've heard another cover of this song. It seems very ... flat. There's no build-ups or parts where it dies down, but in a way that make it more meek than calm. Overall rating: 2.5/5
Labels: AI, BoA, Bonnie Pink, Chihiro Onitsuka, mihimaru GT, Mika Nakashima, Younha
