Again, my apologies on being MIA! As an aside, if you have any requests, please either leave a comment or email me at carhithiel@gmail.com
Maybe in Love – Super Junior (Kyuhyun, Yesung & Ryeowook) feat. Park Sae Byul
Korean | Pop
I absolutely love this remake. Their melodies are great and the girl’s voice is nice and sweet. It’s a nice song with the instruments really complimenting the vocals.
We Belong Together – Big Bang feat. Park Bom
Korean | Pop
I always kind of liked this song but kind of also ignored it (don’t know why). I do like the energy they project in the song and the remix overall. The techno beats really do give the song extra punch but do emphasize the parts that they didn’t really sing/rap. Still a fun song though.
Abracadabra (Live Fractal Remix) – Brown Eyed Girls
Korean | Pop
It’s a really good remix…but I do wish their vocals were more complete and consistent. I think the remix is comparable to the original and catchy in its own way. I do like the way that they had decided to remix the song – still keeping it upbeat and not overplaying the techno aspect.
Universe – BoA feat. Verbal & Crystal Kay
Japanese| Pop
Normally I’m a fan of all three (although BoA less than the other two) so I was expecting more from this collaboration. Their vocals are okay and the balance with the background is okay but I was kind of hoping they would mix more of the crowd’s interactions in. As an aside, if you don’t want to hear their talking, just stop the song after the 4:20 mark.
Purple Line – DBSK
Japanese | Pop
I like the rock kind of feel it has with the guitars playing riffs all throughout the song. The deeper and louder drums also add to that kind of feel. I also like the break/interlude in the middle of the song (better if you watch the concert vid though). Overall, a nice song from the boys.
Labels: Big Bang, BoA, Brown Eyed Girls, Contributor; Carmi, Crystal Kay, m-flo, Super Junior, Tohoshinki
Number 1 – Big Bang
English| Pop
I really like the beat and the base line in this song. It isn’t overly complex but it’s a good party track. I can see why they use it as one of their intros to their concerts.
Do You Like It? – M-Flo loves Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop
A nice mid-tempo track with a beat you can bop your head to. Crystal’s got a nice, mellow voice that contrasts nicely with Verbal’s (M-Flo) raps. It kind of has a Latin-ish sound to it (at least that’s what I think) which definitely makes it dance-able.
Bo Peep – T-ara
Korean | Pop
Thus far, this is the only song of T-ara’s that I like (it was the first that I had heard). I seem to be oddly, slightly addicted to it (it got stuck in my head right away). It isn’t overly memorable and at times their high-pitched voices can be a bit much (especially if you compare it to Crystal Kay’s voice) but still a good listen.
Inside Your Head – Daichi Miura
Japanese | Pop
This is my favorite Daichi song. It’s got a good beat, a nice base line, and you can definitely dance to it (his PV highlights some nice choreography similar to Justin Timberlake’s – think back to his “Like I Love You” song). Daichi’s voice is mellow and he doesn’t go too much into the higher range (which I think can wreck his voice).
Don’t Talk – Jon B.
English | Pop / R&B
This, I think, is Jon’s only fast track (he’s known more for his ballads). It did come out back in 2000 but it’s a song that’s usually played at the clubs around here. It’s a nice mid-tempo track with good beats, and Jon’s voice suits it really well (I kind of wish he had more of these faster tracks).
Labels: Big Bang, Contributor; Carmi, Crystal Kay, Jon B, m-flo, Miura Daichi, T-ara
[songs] number lottery batch 2
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 posted at 5:02 PM
I apologize again that this is taking so long, I've been really busy with school lately. In hindsight, I think it would have been better to upload the songs as I went along - I'll definitely remember that if I decide to do another number lottery in the future. Only one more batch remains, I can't promise how long it will take to be posted but I will definitely try my best to get it done as soon as possible. Thanks for being patient! =)
- Haruhi
EDIT: It seems that a few of the links (Shining Butterfly - BRIGHT & Koi Hitoyo - acid black cherry) weren't right, they've now been fixed.
Ayumi:
#1657. Shining Butterfly - BRIGHT
Japanese | Pop
A bubbly pop number by one of my favourite girl groups. Although I wouldn't consider it to be one of their very best songs, it's upbeat and fun.
#157. 式日 - ACIDMAN
Japanese | Alt. Rock
I really like this band, especially their vocalist's crisp, clean voice. A mid-tempo track with lots of bright guitar work.
#2345. Nalcha Byongyongson - Clazziquai
Korean | Pop/Electronica/Jazz
This is from their Color Your Soul album. It's a sweet, light song featuring Alex's cream vocals and Horan's light, airy voice.
#1000. Sands of time - Back-on
Japanese | Rock
I love this song. It's upbeat, and although definitely a rock song it has some electronica/rapcore influences too. These guys definitely deserve more recognition, try them out!
Allie:
#10894. 宝物 (Takaramono/Treasures) (Homemade demo vers.) - ROUND TABLE ft. Nino
Japanese | Pop/Acoustic
This version features only acoustic guitar and sweet, feminine vocals. Although I found the vocals a bit too childish and thin, it's an endearing song.
#1777. Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow - Bullet For My Valentine
English | Metal
Although I don't listen to heavy rock as much now, this song isn't actually too overpowering once you get past the screaming in the first verse and a little bit later on in the song.
#135. Koi Hitoyo - Acid Black Cherry
Japanese | Rock
I love this group, and Koi Hitoyo is a fantastic song. I love the intro, the percussion really pulls you in. It has an air of mystery to it, and I love the way the song builds up.
#2626. Shining - Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop/R&B
A sweet, poppy song by Crystal Kay. I love the subtle harmonies and the bright atmosphere.
Labels: acid black cherry, ACIDMAN, BACK-ON, BRIGHT, Bullet For My Valentine, Clazziquai, Crystal Kay, number lottery, ROUND TABLE feat. Nino
rotation 35 [girlfriend/boyfriend]
Saturday, July 11, 2009 posted at 5:15 PM
I think I changed the theme of this rotation 3 times in total. Cate suggested a rock theme, which I was going to do for the next rotation and do a J-pop themed rotation this week. I started uploading songs for it, but just felt really uninterested in completing the rotation, so I thought I would do a "surf & turf" theme - half pop, half heavy rock, to incorporate the rock theme. Then I realized I really didn't feel like doing that rotation right now, since I planned it to be fairly large (I will likely save it for the next rotation) ... and so ended up doing a totally unrelated theme.
Anyways. After seeing the songs titled Boyfriend and Girlfriend on SNSD's Genie mini album, even though I don't really like SNSD, I got the idea for a rotation with songs with the word "girlfriend" or "boyfriend" in the title. There will probably be less recommended (
) tracks, since songs were chosen based on title rather than whether I liked them or not. Excuse my crappy comments this week, I promise the next rotation will be better. Please comment/leave a rating if taking.My Girlfriend - Micky Yoochun
Korean | Pop
A sugary R&B-influenced pop song by DBSK's Micky Yoochun. I've always admired DBSK for their vocals, and while Yoochun's voice is very sweet and warm, the song itself is just so. boring. It doesn't build or lead anywhere, and just sound somewhat lifeless. I guess it's an okay song to just relax to, but I didn't find it engaging at all.
Girlfriend ~piano mix version~ - Lee Min Woo
Korean | Pop Ballad
I love the original version of this song, but since I figured most of you would already have heard it, I chose this piano mix instead. Minwoo is by far my favourite Shinhwa member, and songs like this are why. This song is even more heartfelt and sorrowful with just a simple, rich piano accompaniment. Minwoo sounds fantastic - his powerful and unique voice adds colour and depth to the song.
Boyfriend/Girlfriend - Tanaka Roma ft. Melody
Japanese | Pop
A sweet pop duet. Melody's soft, delicate voice fits well with Tanaka Roma's warm, strong vocals. Like the title suggests, it's a feel-good song with bright synths and lovely harmonies.
Girlfriend - SNSD
Korean | Pop
While SNSD's previous releases have all failed to catch my attention, I think their Genie mini-album was a slight improvement. Girlfriend is a fairly typical sugary pop song, but I really like the chorus. It's an upbeat song touched with bright synths and sweet vocals.
Boyfriend - SNSD
Korean | Pop
An R&B/hip-hop influenced song. I found it repetitive and quite bland. The girls sound incredibly unconvincing and bored at the beginning of the song - So many boys wanna give it to me, but I want you, boy, give it to me, cause I'm so ready boy, give it to me. The starting lyrics and beat seem to suggest a more mature, sexy feel to the song - yet the vocals throughout the song are cute and childish. The repetitive beat and weak melody, coupled with the annoying siren sounds in the background, just completely ruined the song for me.
To Your X-Boyfriend - Lim Chang Jung
Korean | Pop
Lim Chang Jung is most famous for his ballads, but his powerful, rich voice suits more uptempo songs equally well. An aggressive, strong track with Latin-influenced guitar work.
Boyfriend Part II - Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop/R&B
I love Crystal Kay. While I really liked the semi-a cappella opening of this song, the rest of the song didn't do much for me. Crystal Kay's voice disappears beneath the heavy beat and electronica-based accompaniment, only coming out in the chorus. The song lacks any real direction and the arrangement comes off as a little jarring and uncoordinated.
Dao Shu Di Er Ge Nan Peng You (Count To The No.2 Boyfriend) - Milk Yeh
Mandarin | Pop
A really interesting mid-tempo track - there's just something about the percussion that catches your attention, as well as Milk Yeh's light, feathery voice. I thought the song was a little bland upon first listen, but it's starting to grow on me.
After Love -First Boyfriend- - Crystal Kay ft. KANAME (Chemistry)
Japanese | Pop/R&B
Crystal Kay's latest release also sparked this rotation's theme - this song and the "Girlfriend" ft. BoA are all from her newest single. Like many of Crystal Kay's songs, After Love has strong R&B routes. A mid-tempo song, Crystal Kay's strong voice leads the melody with Chemistry's KANAME mostly providing soft harmonies and backing vocals. Personally, I would have liked to hear more of him. While this song was quite good, I didn't find any aspect of it particularly outstanding.
Girlfriend - Crystal Kay ft. BoA
Japanese | Pop/R&B
BoA and Crystal Kay sound fantastic together. BoA's softer, creamier voice suits Crystal Kay's powerful vocals perfectly. However, BoA sounds slightly nasal in this song, something that I never really noticed in other songs. A strong, memorable song.
& some of my favourite Nell songs, as requested by Ayumi. I didn't individually comment on each song, but all are highly recommended, especially Moonlight Punch Romance. And 기억을 걷는 시간. And Fisheye Lens. I always forget how much I love these songs until I hear them again.
기억을 걷는 시간 - Nell
Fisheye Lens - Nell
Moonlight Punch Romance - Nell
1분만 닥쳐줄래요 - Nell
Labels: Crystal Kay, Lee Min Woo, Lim Chang Jung, Micky Yoochun, Milk Yeh, Nell, So Nyeo Shi Dae, Tanaka Roma
This week’s rotation has no real theme, it’s just random songs that came up when I put my iTunes on shuffle. Sorry, I promise the next rotation will be better - I’m thinking of either an artist feature, since I haven’t done one in a while, or a summer theme. Please remember to comment or leave a rating. =)
1. Monochrome - kannivalism
Japanese | Rock
I love this band, and I’m really sad that they seem to have disbanded. Monochrome is a mid-tempo track with clear, refreshing vocals and a great guitar accompaniment. I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favourites by them, but a pleasing listen none-the-less.
2. Free Music - PDIS ft. Brown Eyed Girls
Korean | Hip-Pop
PDIS is a collaboration between Cho PD and Yoon Il Sang. They released a album a while back that I just recently discovered on my computer. Most of the songs are energetic and upbeat, so it’s perfect for the summer. I hesitate to call them pure hip-hop since most of their songs have at least one other genre incorporated. Free Music, for example, alternates between hopeful, gospel-style verses with rich harmonies and poppy rap verses sprinkled with melodic lines from the Brown Eyed Girls. Personally, I think the hook (“It’s free, free music”) could have been incorporated more - there’s a rather long portion where it’s just rapping that gets quite tedious, especially with the repetitive backdrop.
3. Pride - PDIS ft. Tiger JK and May Doni
Korean | Hip-Pop
Pride is a rock-influenced number, aggressive and gritty. It definitely fits its title. May Doni’s powerful, slightly rough voice suits the song perfectly.
4. Hanttae (Acoustic version) - Ye In ft. Noblesse
Korean | Acoustic Pop
A lovely acoustic guitar song, laid-back and breezy. It’s a relaxing but heartfelt track. Ye In’s airy, feminine voice compliments Noblesse’s rapping well.
5. Flea - Clazziquai Project
Korean/English | Electronica
I love this song. It’s a bit strange, what with all the synths and soft, minimal vocals, but overall it’s an extremely atmospheric and unique song. I love the bass and rhythm. I love the hook - “This flea is you and I, it’s a bad thing, but a little thing, but a little thing. A parasite that coexist, it’s a bad thing, but a little thing, but a little thing.” It’s extremely catchy.
6. 내 여자친구에게 (To my Girlfriend) - I the Tri top’s
Korean | Pop Ballad
This song samples Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”, which is a gorgeous song but so overplayed and overused, especially in K-pop. This sampling turned me off at first, but then I realized it’s only used sparsely - in the intro, in a short instrumental bridge, and in the background of just one of other verses near the end of the song leading into the outro. “To my Girlfriend” is a poppy, mid-tempo ballad with warm, sweet vocals and a general feel-good atmosphere. It’s not particularly unique, but it’s worth a listen.
7. Good Times - Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop
I quite like Crystal Kay, especially her upbeat songs. An energetic track with a great beat that Crystal Kay’s pure, strong voice playfully leads. It’s a fun, poppy, light-hearted, summery song.
8. Rain Song - Furukawa Miki
Japanese | Ballad
I’m always for supporting indie artists, but I have to say I’m not a huge fan of Furukawa Miki. Rain Song is a slightly strange guitar and string-based ballad that definitely has a unique flavour. Miki’s voice sounds slightly muffled and at times faraway. But a lot of people really like her, so I guess it’s a personal opinion.
9. Marry Me Today - Jolin Tsai & David Tao
Mandarin | Pop
This song is hugely popular, but I’ve never liked it. The intro sounds outdated and the strings a little too screechy. The opening verses are all right- sweet and poppy, although I don’t really feel any connection between the two singers. The “rap” verse is also kind of ridiculous. They just go back and forth saying “D.T. in the house/Jo-lin in the house”, finishing with “Our love in the house”. It’s also quite repetitive.
10.말을 못하죠 - Rick
Korean | R&B
A smooth, poppy R&B track. It’s relaxing, down tempo and fairly generic - a pleasant listen, but nothing special.
11. Brokenhearted -Yi
Mandarin | Electronica/Pop
A synthy dark pop song. I absolutely love the bass, and the soft, delicate vocals suit the atmosphere of the song perfectly.
12. Insomnia - Wheesung
Korean | R&B
This is a cover of a Craig David song by the same name. I love it - slick, addictive melodies, meltingly smooth vocals. It stays quite close to the original, so I can’t decide which version I like more.
13. Shine - TVXQ
Japanese | Pop
I’m pretty sure everyone already has it (and the quality isn’t too great either, I think this was a rip from when the single just came out), but anyways - a cute, poppy song from Tohoshinki. It’s just pure, sugary boyband pop, but of course, extremely well-executed, with lovely harmonies and a great accompaniment that’s consistent without being repetitive.
14. Hot Ddeu Guh - 1TYM
Korean | Hip Hop
An aggressive, American-influenced song from 1TYM. I’m not much for the rapped verses, but the hook is addictive. Its repetitiveness is really what works for it.
Labels: 1TYM, Clazziquai, Crystal Kay, David Tao, Furukawa Miki, I the Tri top's, Jolin Tsai, kannivalism, Noblesse, PDIS, Rick, Tohoshinki, Wheesung, Ye In, Yi
