Five songs I've been listening to a lot this week. There will probably be a mixtape coming next week, I'm still working on it. Also, if anyone wants to suggest themes for mixtapes, feel free to leave me a comment. :)

- Haruhi

Illuminated - Hurts
English | Synth-Pop
I featured Hurts in my last mixtape with the song Blood, Tears & Gold which I've been repeating over and over recently, I love it. Another great song by this duo is Illuminated. It's airy, yet grounded by the percussion and guitar. I love the spot at around 1:30 where everything drops away but the quiet hum of a string instrument, and all of a sudden the chorus breaks into that near-silence like a crashing wave. I really don't know how to describe this song, but it's gorgeous. This duo is amazing, and their first (and so far, only) album Happiness has become one of my favourites.

Maximum - DBSK
Korean | Pop
I still have difficulty calling Changmin and Yunho "DBSK" without the other three members. It just doesn't seem right, and I hope that one day they'll be reunited ... and if they're not planning on that happening, they should just change their name like JYJ chose a new, different name. I've only skimmed through their album once, and the only track that stood out to me was Maximum. It has a great beat and reminds me of Rising Sun - it has the same intensity and energy and even uses some of the same vocal techniques. It's energetic and addictive.

영화도 안보니 (Feat. Chan Sung) - Joo
Korean | Pop/Ballad
I was really impressed by Joo's debut mini-album which was released about an year ago. I was beginning to think she was a one-hit wonder with her famous Because of a Man, the title track of that mini-album, because she basically disappeared except for doing a few OST songs here and there. She's recently returned with a second mini-album called Heartmade, which this song is taken from. While most of the songs on Heartmade are ballads that, despite showcasing Joo's powerful voice, are quite formulaic, 영화도 안보니 is a light, airy mid-tempo track. It's melodic and the lighter accompaniment really works with Joo's vocals, which are strong but not overbearing.

Fuck You - Eliza Doolittle
English | Acoustic
This is a cover of Cee-lo Green's song of the same name. I've had this song for a while but only started really listening to it more recently. I don't know anything about Eliza Doolittle, but she has a rich, unique voice that sounds great over the acoustic backdrop. I'm usually not a fan of covers, but this one is great.

OH YEAH - GD & TOP ft. Park Bom
Korean | Pop
Like most of Big Bang's songs, OH YEAH is catchy and heavily laced with electronica. It's a combination that usually works, but the thing that I dislike about their songs is that they tend to get old really fast. That's already happened with GD & TOP's HIGH HIGH for me, but OH YEAH has staying power in Park Bom's gorgeous vocals. I'm not a 2NE1 fan at all, but Park Bom has really grown on me. To be honest, I think her vocals aren't really put to use in 2NE1, so I love it when she releases solo material or, in this case, collabs with other artists. She sounds amazing, and it really adds colour and texture to the song.

Labels: Big Bang, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Eliza Doolittle, Hurts, Joo, Park Bom

Jingle Bells – SM Town
Korean | Pop
Okay. This is an old song (in the opening they talk about it being the last Christmas before the millennium) but I think one of the better ones. It’s nice, festive, and upbeat with a lot of the older SME people.

Christmas With You – Se7en
Korean | Pop
This is a nice, romantic, slow-ish song. I love Se7en’s voice in this song: it’s sweet and mellow. The background instruments definitely support and don’t overwhelm his voice.

Let It Snow – Bonnie Pink
English | Jazz
Normally I don’t like remakes of classic songs that have been around for a while, but I did like this jazz one. Bonnie’s accent isn’t that pervasive so you shouldn’t notice it too much if you normally are picky about that kind of thing. It’s fairly upbeat as well so it’s not a bore even though the middle is laden with both a jazz and piano solo (both are short though).

Silent Night, Holy Night - DBSK
Korean | Pop
This is one of the few slow-ish “traditional” holiday songs I enjoy. It’s a good acapella song and you can definitely picture (okay, more like wish) that they were the ones caroling at your door.

White Light – Namie Amuro
Japanese | Pop
I actually first heard the “Nobody” rendition of this song as opposed to this version (weird, I know). It’s a sweet, simple song for the holidays that I think could be at the end of an shojo anime for their Christmas special.

Sorry this post is late. I've been sick the past few days (just in time for the holidays...sigh).

Labels: Amuro Namie, Bonnie Pink, Contributor; Carmi, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Se7en, SM Town

These were released as a series of digital singles. I thought there was going to be a full album, but apparently it's only four songs? Either way, they're good. <3 I think the idea of using basically the same cover image but with different colours, all very bright and summery, is fantastic, which is why I've uploaded all the different cover images, haha.

Please comment or leave a rating if taking!

- Haruhi

2009 Summer SM Town!
Korean | Pop



o1. Seaside 휴게소 (Boom Boom) - DBSK, Super Junior, SHINee

I'm generally not a fan of SM Town songs that have like 20 people in one song and each person gets like one line. I have no idea who's who in this song, but it's tropical, light-hearted, and fun - in other words, a perfect summer song. Brought to life by acoustic guitars, brassy riffs, and an upbeat percussion, it's breezy and energetic.



o2. 12시 34분 (Nothing Better) - Dong Bang Shin Ki

A gorgeous ballad from DBSK. I have to admit, when I first got into K-pop, I didn't like them much - but they've really impressed me and changed my mind, they're one of my favourite groups now. 12시 34분 (Nothing Better) is refreshing, smooth, and light, but extremely warm and sincere. I've heard people refer to "winter ballads" and "spring ballads", is there such a thing as a summer ballad? If so, 12시 34분 is a perfect fit. Vocally it's fantastic, its flowing and their cleanly layered harmonies float overtop a piano-based arrangement.



o3. 카니발 (Carnival) - Super Junior

A cheerful, sugary song - what else did you expect from Super Junior? It has some tropical elements reminiscent of Seaside 휴게소 (Boom Boom), but definitely has its own flavor. It's cute, sweet, and SuJu sounds like they're having a blast - but, not a favourite of mine.



o4. SCAR - SHINee

SCAR has a bit of a darker tone. It's heavily electronica-influenced and reminds me a bit of Big Bang for some reason. Their dense harmonies and powerful vocal work really impressed me. It doesn't really say "summer" to me, but a great song nonetheless.

Labels: Dong Bang Shin Ki, Shinee, Super Junior

Wait a minute, wasn’t this top 10’s? Since I decided to merge all the languages together, I also decided to extend the list to 20 songs. I made an original list to choose from, which had 35 songs (which itself started out at 29 and kept growing as I thought of more songs that deserved to be added, haha), and I simply couldn’t pick just ten. Well, more songs for you guys, right? Since it was pointed out to me that my top 10 ballads rotation was all-male, I’ve done my best to encorporate some female artists as well - although, admittedly, it is still male-dominated - I’m picky about female artists, okay?

Also, the runners-up for this rotation will be posted at a later time. It's been too long since I did such a big rotation.

This rotation really took a long time to prepare, so please comment or at least leave a rating! Thanks to all those who do.

#20. Paparazzi - AJOO ft. Younha & C-LUV
A catchy, extremely danceable song by AJOO. I have to admit, I really like AJOO except for his latest song. Although his image keeps changing, from sweet, innocent boy to a more mature, sexy look, then to his latest eyeliner-obsessed image which, as you can tell, I’m not a big fan of. Anyways. Paparazzi is a fun, poppy listen. It’s not particularly innovative or original, but it’s a good song.

#19. 痴妹與王兩 - Xiao Yu
Gritty, tough, and aggressive. Xiao Yu’s voice is dripping with an easy, slick confidence. It does get repetitive and a little generic, but it makes for a nice occasional listen.

#18. D.D.D. - Koda Kumi ft. SOULHEAD
I’m not really a fan of any of the big female j-pop stars - Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, Amuro Namie, Utada Hikaru, etc. but out of them, Koda Kumi is probably my favourite. D.D.D. is energetic, confident, and fun.

#17. Scream - JUNE
An upbeat club number, Scream just begs for another listen. Addictive, catchy, and complete with smooth, slick melodies that JUNE brings to their best. It almost has a bit of a disco feel to it at times, yet is undoubtedly modern.

#16. 넌 나의 노래 (You're My Song) - Dong Bang Shin Ki
Wrong Number originally held this position, because I guess you could kind of consider this song a ballad, but I just love this song too much. This is definitely, by far, my most listened to track off of MIROTIC. I was expecting one of their more upbeat songs (eg. Mirotic, Wrong Number) would be the most memorable, but it ended up being You’re My Song - an absolutely gorgeous slow pop track. The melody is beautiful by itself, but the boy’s vocals and harmonizing really bring it to another level - at times vulnerable and at others strong and hopeful. I love the piano accompaniment too.

#15. In My Bed - Rain
Being one of the first k-pop artists I listened to, Rain had to show up somewhere on this rotation. Anyways I’m not sure what he’s up to now, but I think he really needs to return to music. His latest album Rainism didn’t really leave much of an impact on me. This song is from his fourth album, Rain’s World - a smooth, slightly downtempo, R&B influenced number. His unique voice is perfectly accented against the relatively minimal but steady arrangement. A memorable song that has a lot of replay value.

#14. 통화 연결음 (Ring Back Tone) - Sunnyhill
I never get sick of this song. This group is made up of 3 vocalists - two female, one male. Their male vocalist was supposed to be a member of Battle. I absolutely love their female vocalists. Both have airy, light voices that sound absolutely wonderful. A peaceful, calm, sweet song.

#13. Letter - BRIGHT ft. K
I’m not a fan of girl groups as a general rule, but I absolutely love BRIGHT. Just the opening lines, in absolutely stunning harmony, should tell you that these girls are something different. A light, breezy, relaxing song. K’s sweet voice fits in perfectly with BRIGHT’s vocalists. Like I mentioned, the harmonizing in this song is just beautiful.

#12. Funky N Roll Tonight - A’ST1
There had to be one cheesy, boyband, bubble-gum pop song on this rotation. Complete with a nonsense English title, A’ST1 delivers a sugary, fun track. Bright, upbeat horns, paired with feel-good guitar chords that are then taken over by a keyboard. Twangy, thick bass, sweet poppy vocals, easy-to-follow melodies. Nothing particularly original, but well-executed.

#11. Get Chu! - AAA
A summer-y, upbeat song. Cute, playful, and light-hearted. It’s a feel-good song, plain and simple.

#10. Always Online - JJ Lin
I just bought the album this was from, Sixology. <3 A really good song to wind down to - it’s relaxing but not too slow, with faint R&B influences in the beat and bass. JJ Lin’s voice is smooth and melodic.

#9. truth - Arashi
A dramatic, memorable song with a pushing string accompaniment competing with the rich piano arrangement. I really think this is one of Arashi’s best songs. It has a bit of a darker feel than most of their material but is uptempo and energetic, and at times hopeful. Complete with a gritty electric guitar solo about halfway through, truth definitely shows another dimension of Arashi.

#8. One - Epik High ft. JiSun
An electronica-infused song that is just beautiful. Ji Sun’s light, airy vocals fit the slightly haunting air of the song perfectly. Although this song is a lot more mainstream from Epik High’s older releases, I still liked it. It has a dark edge to it, but at the same time is hopeful and energetic.

#7. 거짓말 (Lies) - Big Bang
I loved this song when it first came out. I think I listened to it so much that I got kind of sick of it, and it’s been a while since I revisited it. IMO, this song really defined their electronica-infused style. The sweet piano melody, although repetitive, lends colour and contrast to the verses, really bringing the song to another level. The chorus is wonderful.

#6. 어쩌다 (How) - Brown Eyed Girls
I really hate how every song from every artist of whatever this company is starts off with this weird robotic voice saying “play this sound” or “brand new sound” or something like that. Anyways. Brown Eyed Girls is one of the few female artists to make this rotation, and pretty far up on the rankings too! How is infectiously catchy and fairly quick in tempo, but the vocal work maintains its depth and emotion. the girl’s voices are sweet but not annoyingly so. Although there is some faint synthesizing, especially in the harmonies, it’s not overdone. The rap verses give a playful, light touch to the song.

#5. 星空下的吻 - JJ Lin
Kicking off energetically with a heavy beat and quick verses, the song then transitions beautifully into an airy, melodic chorus where JJ Lin’s voice simply soars over the arrangement. I love the contrast between the two moods - the angst of the supporting verses, and the beauty of the chorus.

#4. Bump - Lee Min Woo
A straightforward uptempo track, active and aggressive. Min Woo’s latest solo album disappointed me because it lacked the fire of his older songs - such as Bump, from his 2nd solo album. It cools down for one verse, with melting melodies and smooth vocal work, but other than that, never loses its energy and intensity. Min Woo’s strong, slightly rough voice is a perfect fit for this song.

#3. Passion - Se7en
Ah I remember being so obsessed with this song. This song really got me into Se7en. His voice is rough and powerful, bordering on a bold aggressiveness. Slick, sensual melodies paired with harsh accenting gives the song a sharp edge. The beat and arrangement definitely takes its influences from American music, but it’s so catchy and driven. Definitely a song you could dance to.

#2. Hero - Shinhwa
What I liked about this song was that, on top of being catchy and lively, it also had emotional value. The beat is fairly straightforward, but infectious nonetheless. Random bit of trivia: at ~2:42 in the track, you can hear someone cough. This song, released in 2002, was one of the first Korean songs that I listened to (and when I listened to it, a few years had already passed since its release). It’s been a while since I listened to it, but it really doesn’t get old.

#1. Okay, so this is where it gets kind of weird. There are two #1 songs.

简单爱 - Jay Chou
Wait a minute, I don't even like Jay Chou. Why are two of his songs tied at first place? Well, as much as I’m not feeling Jay Chou’s latest albums, I really like some of his older work. This is an example of it - innocent, sweet, and genuine. Maybe it’s just because I’ve been listening to these songs for so long that I love them.

髮如雪 - Jay Chou
I love this song. Jay Chou’s voice is just perfect in it, smooth and light - there’s some classical Chinese influences in the arrangement, but they’re not overbearing. I seriously always have some verse or some melody from this song resurface in my head, even if I haven’t listened to it in a long time. Okay, admittedly, the part where it sounds like he’s gargling near the end of the song (around 4:30) is just ... weird. But still.

Labels: A'ST1, Ajoo, Arashi, Big Bang, BRIGHT, Brown Eyed Girls, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Epik High, Jay Chou, JJ Lin, JUNE, Koda Kumi, Lee Min Woo, Rain, Se7en, Shinhwa, SunnyHill, Xiao Yu

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

Two songs from DBSK's upcoming album.

주문 (MIROTIC)
mood aggressive, sensual

HEY! (Don't bring me down)
mood upbeat, r&b influenced, confident

Labels: Dong Bang Shin Ki

Five songs I've been listening to a lot this week. There will probably be a mixtape coming next week, I'm still working on it. Also, if anyone wants to suggest themes for mixtapes, feel free to leave me a comment. :)

- Haruhi

Illuminated - Hurts
English | Synth-Pop
I featured Hurts in my last mixtape with the song Blood, Tears & Gold which I've been repeating over and over recently, I love it. Another great song by this duo is Illuminated. It's airy, yet grounded by the percussion and guitar. I love the spot at around 1:30 where everything drops away but the quiet hum of a string instrument, and all of a sudden the chorus breaks into that near-silence like a crashing wave. I really don't know how to describe this song, but it's gorgeous. This duo is amazing, and their first (and so far, only) album Happiness has become one of my favourites.

Maximum - DBSK
Korean | Pop
I still have difficulty calling Changmin and Yunho "DBSK" without the other three members. It just doesn't seem right, and I hope that one day they'll be reunited ... and if they're not planning on that happening, they should just change their name like JYJ chose a new, different name. I've only skimmed through their album once, and the only track that stood out to me was Maximum. It has a great beat and reminds me of Rising Sun - it has the same intensity and energy and even uses some of the same vocal techniques. It's energetic and addictive.

영화도 안보니 (Feat. Chan Sung) - Joo
Korean | Pop/Ballad
I was really impressed by Joo's debut mini-album which was released about an year ago. I was beginning to think she was a one-hit wonder with her famous Because of a Man, the title track of that mini-album, because she basically disappeared except for doing a few OST songs here and there. She's recently returned with a second mini-album called Heartmade, which this song is taken from. While most of the songs on Heartmade are ballads that, despite showcasing Joo's powerful voice, are quite formulaic, 영화도 안보니 is a light, airy mid-tempo track. It's melodic and the lighter accompaniment really works with Joo's vocals, which are strong but not overbearing.

Fuck You - Eliza Doolittle
English | Acoustic
This is a cover of Cee-lo Green's song of the same name. I've had this song for a while but only started really listening to it more recently. I don't know anything about Eliza Doolittle, but she has a rich, unique voice that sounds great over the acoustic backdrop. I'm usually not a fan of covers, but this one is great.

OH YEAH - GD & TOP ft. Park Bom
Korean | Pop
Like most of Big Bang's songs, OH YEAH is catchy and heavily laced with electronica. It's a combination that usually works, but the thing that I dislike about their songs is that they tend to get old really fast. That's already happened with GD & TOP's HIGH HIGH for me, but OH YEAH has staying power in Park Bom's gorgeous vocals. I'm not a 2NE1 fan at all, but Park Bom has really grown on me. To be honest, I think her vocals aren't really put to use in 2NE1, so I love it when she releases solo material or, in this case, collabs with other artists. She sounds amazing, and it really adds colour and texture to the song.

Labels: Big Bang, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Eliza Doolittle, Hurts, Joo, Park Bom

Jingle Bells – SM Town
Korean | Pop
Okay. This is an old song (in the opening they talk about it being the last Christmas before the millennium) but I think one of the better ones. It’s nice, festive, and upbeat with a lot of the older SME people.

Christmas With You – Se7en
Korean | Pop
This is a nice, romantic, slow-ish song. I love Se7en’s voice in this song: it’s sweet and mellow. The background instruments definitely support and don’t overwhelm his voice.

Let It Snow – Bonnie Pink
English | Jazz
Normally I don’t like remakes of classic songs that have been around for a while, but I did like this jazz one. Bonnie’s accent isn’t that pervasive so you shouldn’t notice it too much if you normally are picky about that kind of thing. It’s fairly upbeat as well so it’s not a bore even though the middle is laden with both a jazz and piano solo (both are short though).

Silent Night, Holy Night - DBSK
Korean | Pop
This is one of the few slow-ish “traditional” holiday songs I enjoy. It’s a good acapella song and you can definitely picture (okay, more like wish) that they were the ones caroling at your door.

White Light – Namie Amuro
Japanese | Pop
I actually first heard the “Nobody” rendition of this song as opposed to this version (weird, I know). It’s a sweet, simple song for the holidays that I think could be at the end of an shojo anime for their Christmas special.

Sorry this post is late. I've been sick the past few days (just in time for the holidays...sigh).

Labels: Amuro Namie, Bonnie Pink, Contributor; Carmi, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Se7en, SM Town

These were released as a series of digital singles. I thought there was going to be a full album, but apparently it's only four songs? Either way, they're good. <3 I think the idea of using basically the same cover image but with different colours, all very bright and summery, is fantastic, which is why I've uploaded all the different cover images, haha.

Please comment or leave a rating if taking!

- Haruhi

2009 Summer SM Town!
Korean | Pop



o1. Seaside 휴게소 (Boom Boom) - DBSK, Super Junior, SHINee

I'm generally not a fan of SM Town songs that have like 20 people in one song and each person gets like one line. I have no idea who's who in this song, but it's tropical, light-hearted, and fun - in other words, a perfect summer song. Brought to life by acoustic guitars, brassy riffs, and an upbeat percussion, it's breezy and energetic.



o2. 12시 34분 (Nothing Better) - Dong Bang Shin Ki

A gorgeous ballad from DBSK. I have to admit, when I first got into K-pop, I didn't like them much - but they've really impressed me and changed my mind, they're one of my favourite groups now. 12시 34분 (Nothing Better) is refreshing, smooth, and light, but extremely warm and sincere. I've heard people refer to "winter ballads" and "spring ballads", is there such a thing as a summer ballad? If so, 12시 34분 is a perfect fit. Vocally it's fantastic, its flowing and their cleanly layered harmonies float overtop a piano-based arrangement.



o3. 카니발 (Carnival) - Super Junior

A cheerful, sugary song - what else did you expect from Super Junior? It has some tropical elements reminiscent of Seaside 휴게소 (Boom Boom), but definitely has its own flavor. It's cute, sweet, and SuJu sounds like they're having a blast - but, not a favourite of mine.



o4. SCAR - SHINee

SCAR has a bit of a darker tone. It's heavily electronica-influenced and reminds me a bit of Big Bang for some reason. Their dense harmonies and powerful vocal work really impressed me. It doesn't really say "summer" to me, but a great song nonetheless.

Labels: Dong Bang Shin Ki, Shinee, Super Junior

Wait a minute, wasn’t this top 10’s? Since I decided to merge all the languages together, I also decided to extend the list to 20 songs. I made an original list to choose from, which had 35 songs (which itself started out at 29 and kept growing as I thought of more songs that deserved to be added, haha), and I simply couldn’t pick just ten. Well, more songs for you guys, right? Since it was pointed out to me that my top 10 ballads rotation was all-male, I’ve done my best to encorporate some female artists as well - although, admittedly, it is still male-dominated - I’m picky about female artists, okay?

Also, the runners-up for this rotation will be posted at a later time. It's been too long since I did such a big rotation.

This rotation really took a long time to prepare, so please comment or at least leave a rating! Thanks to all those who do.

#20. Paparazzi - AJOO ft. Younha & C-LUV
A catchy, extremely danceable song by AJOO. I have to admit, I really like AJOO except for his latest song. Although his image keeps changing, from sweet, innocent boy to a more mature, sexy look, then to his latest eyeliner-obsessed image which, as you can tell, I’m not a big fan of. Anyways. Paparazzi is a fun, poppy listen. It’s not particularly innovative or original, but it’s a good song.

#19. 痴妹與王兩 - Xiao Yu
Gritty, tough, and aggressive. Xiao Yu’s voice is dripping with an easy, slick confidence. It does get repetitive and a little generic, but it makes for a nice occasional listen.

#18. D.D.D. - Koda Kumi ft. SOULHEAD
I’m not really a fan of any of the big female j-pop stars - Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, Amuro Namie, Utada Hikaru, etc. but out of them, Koda Kumi is probably my favourite. D.D.D. is energetic, confident, and fun.

#17. Scream - JUNE
An upbeat club number, Scream just begs for another listen. Addictive, catchy, and complete with smooth, slick melodies that JUNE brings to their best. It almost has a bit of a disco feel to it at times, yet is undoubtedly modern.

#16. 넌 나의 노래 (You're My Song) - Dong Bang Shin Ki
Wrong Number originally held this position, because I guess you could kind of consider this song a ballad, but I just love this song too much. This is definitely, by far, my most listened to track off of MIROTIC. I was expecting one of their more upbeat songs (eg. Mirotic, Wrong Number) would be the most memorable, but it ended up being You’re My Song - an absolutely gorgeous slow pop track. The melody is beautiful by itself, but the boy’s vocals and harmonizing really bring it to another level - at times vulnerable and at others strong and hopeful. I love the piano accompaniment too.

#15. In My Bed - Rain
Being one of the first k-pop artists I listened to, Rain had to show up somewhere on this rotation. Anyways I’m not sure what he’s up to now, but I think he really needs to return to music. His latest album Rainism didn’t really leave much of an impact on me. This song is from his fourth album, Rain’s World - a smooth, slightly downtempo, R&B influenced number. His unique voice is perfectly accented against the relatively minimal but steady arrangement. A memorable song that has a lot of replay value.

#14. 통화 연결음 (Ring Back Tone) - Sunnyhill
I never get sick of this song. This group is made up of 3 vocalists - two female, one male. Their male vocalist was supposed to be a member of Battle. I absolutely love their female vocalists. Both have airy, light voices that sound absolutely wonderful. A peaceful, calm, sweet song.

#13. Letter - BRIGHT ft. K
I’m not a fan of girl groups as a general rule, but I absolutely love BRIGHT. Just the opening lines, in absolutely stunning harmony, should tell you that these girls are something different. A light, breezy, relaxing song. K’s sweet voice fits in perfectly with BRIGHT’s vocalists. Like I mentioned, the harmonizing in this song is just beautiful.

#12. Funky N Roll Tonight - A’ST1
There had to be one cheesy, boyband, bubble-gum pop song on this rotation. Complete with a nonsense English title, A’ST1 delivers a sugary, fun track. Bright, upbeat horns, paired with feel-good guitar chords that are then taken over by a keyboard. Twangy, thick bass, sweet poppy vocals, easy-to-follow melodies. Nothing particularly original, but well-executed.

#11. Get Chu! - AAA
A summer-y, upbeat song. Cute, playful, and light-hearted. It’s a feel-good song, plain and simple.

#10. Always Online - JJ Lin
I just bought the album this was from, Sixology. <3 A really good song to wind down to - it’s relaxing but not too slow, with faint R&B influences in the beat and bass. JJ Lin’s voice is smooth and melodic.

#9. truth - Arashi
A dramatic, memorable song with a pushing string accompaniment competing with the rich piano arrangement. I really think this is one of Arashi’s best songs. It has a bit of a darker feel than most of their material but is uptempo and energetic, and at times hopeful. Complete with a gritty electric guitar solo about halfway through, truth definitely shows another dimension of Arashi.

#8. One - Epik High ft. JiSun
An electronica-infused song that is just beautiful. Ji Sun’s light, airy vocals fit the slightly haunting air of the song perfectly. Although this song is a lot more mainstream from Epik High’s older releases, I still liked it. It has a dark edge to it, but at the same time is hopeful and energetic.

#7. 거짓말 (Lies) - Big Bang
I loved this song when it first came out. I think I listened to it so much that I got kind of sick of it, and it’s been a while since I revisited it. IMO, this song really defined their electronica-infused style. The sweet piano melody, although repetitive, lends colour and contrast to the verses, really bringing the song to another level. The chorus is wonderful.

#6. 어쩌다 (How) - Brown Eyed Girls
I really hate how every song from every artist of whatever this company is starts off with this weird robotic voice saying “play this sound” or “brand new sound” or something like that. Anyways. Brown Eyed Girls is one of the few female artists to make this rotation, and pretty far up on the rankings too! How is infectiously catchy and fairly quick in tempo, but the vocal work maintains its depth and emotion. the girl’s voices are sweet but not annoyingly so. Although there is some faint synthesizing, especially in the harmonies, it’s not overdone. The rap verses give a playful, light touch to the song.

#5. 星空下的吻 - JJ Lin
Kicking off energetically with a heavy beat and quick verses, the song then transitions beautifully into an airy, melodic chorus where JJ Lin’s voice simply soars over the arrangement. I love the contrast between the two moods - the angst of the supporting verses, and the beauty of the chorus.

#4. Bump - Lee Min Woo
A straightforward uptempo track, active and aggressive. Min Woo’s latest solo album disappointed me because it lacked the fire of his older songs - such as Bump, from his 2nd solo album. It cools down for one verse, with melting melodies and smooth vocal work, but other than that, never loses its energy and intensity. Min Woo’s strong, slightly rough voice is a perfect fit for this song.

#3. Passion - Se7en
Ah I remember being so obsessed with this song. This song really got me into Se7en. His voice is rough and powerful, bordering on a bold aggressiveness. Slick, sensual melodies paired with harsh accenting gives the song a sharp edge. The beat and arrangement definitely takes its influences from American music, but it’s so catchy and driven. Definitely a song you could dance to.

#2. Hero - Shinhwa
What I liked about this song was that, on top of being catchy and lively, it also had emotional value. The beat is fairly straightforward, but infectious nonetheless. Random bit of trivia: at ~2:42 in the track, you can hear someone cough. This song, released in 2002, was one of the first Korean songs that I listened to (and when I listened to it, a few years had already passed since its release). It’s been a while since I listened to it, but it really doesn’t get old.

#1. Okay, so this is where it gets kind of weird. There are two #1 songs.

简单爱 - Jay Chou
Wait a minute, I don't even like Jay Chou. Why are two of his songs tied at first place? Well, as much as I’m not feeling Jay Chou’s latest albums, I really like some of his older work. This is an example of it - innocent, sweet, and genuine. Maybe it’s just because I’ve been listening to these songs for so long that I love them.

髮如雪 - Jay Chou
I love this song. Jay Chou’s voice is just perfect in it, smooth and light - there’s some classical Chinese influences in the arrangement, but they’re not overbearing. I seriously always have some verse or some melody from this song resurface in my head, even if I haven’t listened to it in a long time. Okay, admittedly, the part where it sounds like he’s gargling near the end of the song (around 4:30) is just ... weird. But still.

Labels: A'ST1, Ajoo, Arashi, Big Bang, BRIGHT, Brown Eyed Girls, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Epik High, Jay Chou, JJ Lin, JUNE, Koda Kumi, Lee Min Woo, Rain, Se7en, Shinhwa, SunnyHill, Xiao Yu

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

Two songs from DBSK's upcoming album.

주문 (MIROTIC)
mood aggressive, sensual

HEY! (Don't bring me down)
mood upbeat, r&b influenced, confident

Labels: Dong Bang Shin Ki

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.

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