Okay so the order for this rotation changed soooo much. I’m mostly satisfied with the final product. Tanaka Roma’s “Namida” originally ranked at #8, but then I was listening to it and was thinking, “Why the heck is this so far down?” And bumped it up to #5, which in turn moved Tohoshinki down to #6. Evan’s song originally ranked at #6, was bumped to #7 after moving “Namida”, then bumped down another spot to make room for JJ Lin. Point being: there’s just too many good ballads - don’t judge too much on the numbered spots, like I said they moved around a lot. Also, this is only based on my personal opinion, not statistics or anything. =)

Top Ten Ballads:

#10. 클래식 (Classic) - KCM
What a beautiful voice - high, clear, crisp, rich yet pure at the same time. The predictable string & piano arrangement doesn’t really do anything for me, I’d probably forget the melody if it wasn’t KCM singing it, but just listen to that voice.

#9. 슬픈 인연 (Sad Fate) - Monday Kiz
Monday Kiz had to be on this list somewhere. I have also uploaded this song before (and no I am not trying to be lazy by reusing old songs, haha). Kim Min Soo’s death really just shocked me. I loved this duo’s music already, but his death really drew me into their songs even more. This was their last release - it actually came out a couple months after Min Soo’s death. Their voices are ... just amazing. They compliment each other perfectly. The harmonizing is beautiful. Both singers are at the top of their form. The song sounds a bit unpolished, but this only adds to its raw, intimate emotion. I don’t listen to this song as often & it released fairly recently compared to the other songs, which is why it didn’t rank as high, but every time I listen to it I’m just completely taken away.

#8. 남자도… 어쩔 수 없다 (Namjado... Eojjeol Su Eopda/Men ... are unavoidable) - Evan
This is a song that I first listened to when it released, around 2007, IIRC. It really just doesn’t get old, no matter how many times I revisit it. Evan’s voice, although not the most powerful, is a pleasure to listen to. The melody will linger in your head.

#7. 大男人 小女孩 - JJ Lin
It’s always the first line of the song that gets me. JJ Lin’s voice rises over the accompaniment, filled with emotion. It is really the little nuances in his voice that make this song so perfect, the way he seems to be almost struggling with himself sometimes to express a phrase and finish the verse. His voice evens out more and more towards the end of the song, gaining confidence and power.

#6. Love in the Ice - Tohoshinki
It was a close call between Love in the Ice and Forever Love as to which song would make the list, but in the end, Love in the Ice won. A chillingly emotional song that starts out softly and just keeps building, getting stronger and stronger. Each member’s vocals are spot-on, the verses seamlessly joined and the harmonizing perfect.

#5. Namida (Sleepless Night MANABOON MIX) - Tanaka Roma
I’ve also shared this song before, I’m not sure if you would even call it a ballad, which is why it didn’t rank as high as it might have. Tanaka’s genuine, pure voice simply soars. It is a “remix”, but the original simply cannot match up to this. The piano that forms the base of the accompaniment is beautiful, supporting without overpowering. Such raw emotion in a song is so rare. Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m wondering why I didn’t rank this higher.

#4. 童話 (Tong Hua/Fairytale) - 光良 (Guang Liang/Michael Wong)
Another song I've previously uploaded - one of my favourite Chinese songs. Guang Liang’s voice is smooth and precise, but heartfelt. The chorus is where the song really soars. Maybe it’s partially the lyrics of this song that I like, but nonetheless a wonderful ballad. To be honest, I was debating whether this song should be so highly ranked. Much of the reason I’m attached to it is personal value, as it’s a song my family often listens to and that my friends and I used to sing all the time at karaoke. Either way, it’s a great song that was very popular in Taiwan when it released, and I hope you’ll enjoy it. =)

#3. Only Human - K
The a cappella opening of this song is just amazing. K’s voice is a flawless blend of strength and a soft, melodic vulernability. The accompaniment is sparse, putting the focus just where it should be: K’s amazing vocal performance. I don’t know what else to say about this song, just listen to it.

#2. 같은 베개 (Same Pillow) - Tei
This is one of the most highly played songs in my iTunes. Although it’s more of an old favourite that I often return to than a song on constant repeat, it’s a great song. Tei’s deep, full voice is perfect for ballads. Certain notes have an almost rough edge, others polished smooth. The melody and arrangement is memorable, hopeful but with a hint of sadness.

#1. 한 남자 (Han Nam Ja/One Man) - Kim Jong Kook
And that brings us to my favourite ballad ever, Han Nam Ja. I uploaded this song a long time ago, waaay back in my fourth rotation. I usually get bored of songs, especially pop songs/ballads, but I’ve listened to this song countless times, and I just never tire of it. I honestly don’t know why - it’s just a classic ballad with light percussion, typical string & piano accompaniment. But Kim Jong Kook’s high, clear voice is absolutely full of emotion, bringing this song to a whole other level: tender, vulnerable, yearning, and, overall, stunning. The lyrics fit the song perfectly. You can read the translated lyrics here (scroll down, it's the last song on the page).

Runners-up:

Forever Love - Tohoshinki
Forever Love (a capella version) - Tohoshinki
Uploaded this song before way back in my 5th rotation, which was when Tohoshinki's "T" album released. I really love the a cappella version of this song too. More hopeful than "Love in the Ice", which found its way onto the countdown. Whereas Love in the Ice had more intensity, Forever Love is almost comforting, with a warmer, richer tone. Vocally, I think this is really one of Tohoshinki's best songs.

그립고... 그리운 (Yearning ... Yearn) - Park Hyo Shin
I would’ve thought Park Hyo Shin would make the list, but although he has a lot of great ballads, there isn’t really one in particular that really stands out to me. But if there was, Yearning ... Yearn would probably be it. Park Hyo Shin’s voice balances strength and vulernability, at times full and rich and others lightly soaring through the melodies. A very sad and emotional track.

Even Though My Heart Breaks - Fly to the Sky
I’m hesitant to say FTTS is at their best here, but they’re definitely close. Hwanhee’s voice is rich and deep, Brian’s lighter and cleaner but still as emotional. As much as I love their solo songs, these guys still sound way better together. Hwanhee’s voice can be almost a little too overpowering in solo works; Brian’s too plain - together, they just balance each other out. Anyways, Brian’s voice sounded oddly close to Hwanhee’s in certain verses - deeper in range, with that husky note to it. They still sound great, but the contrast wasn’t as clear. The arrangement is also quite plain.

환상 (Illusion) - Fly to the Sky
I was surprised to find that FTTS did not mark its spot on the list. They originally held a spot, but as I found more and more songs that I wanted to include, they kept getting moved down until they were completely off the list. Illusion is more of a slow-tempo pop/R&B song than a real ballad.

Only Wind, Only Wind - SG Wannabe & Kim Jong Kook
This song was definitely a contender. I mean, come on, just look at the artists. Kim Jong Kook’s soaring, clean voice creates a well-cut contrast with SG Wannabe’s deeper, huskier vocalists - but they come together perfectly. Style-wise, it leans towards SG Wannabe, but both artists are definitely giving their best.

Love? - Evan Yo
I don’t know anything about this singer. Love? starts out soft and accompanied only by a piano. Evan Yo’s lyrical voice brings the simple, unadorned melodies to their fullest. Then, all of a sudden, the song bursts into a full-fledged rock verse. The transitions between the two moods, repeated throughout the song, are well-executed. I’m not sure if it would even really be considered a ballad, but a good song nonetheless.

Labels: Evan, Evan Yo, Fly to the Sky, Guang Liang, JJ Lin, K, KCM, Kim Jong Kook, Monday Kiz, Park Hyo Shin, SG Wannabe, Tanaka Roma, Tei, Tohoshinki

Sorry that this rotation was a little late - the jazz band that I play in had a concert on Saturday, so I didn't have much time to update this weekend.

Fashion Scans was started roughly October of 2007. It’s November 2008 now, so the site recently passed its one year birthday! ^_^ Rotation 20 is themed then and now, featuring songs that topped the charts in 2007 and ones that are topping the charts now.

Korean;

2007:

둘이라서 - Eru (Because it’s the two of us)
Ballad | Vol 3 - Eru Returns
The ever-popular ballad seems to dominate k-pop charts, although I’ve noticed recently that with the new electronica trend, more upbeat songs are taking the top spots, especially with artists like Big Bang, Wonder Girls, and DBSK. 둘이라서 is a typical Korean ballad - to my ears, it was a bit too generic. IMO, Eru’s second album was better than his third, although his voice is still lovely. Worth a listen if you’re a fan of ballads.

사랑한다 - Lee Seung Chul (Sa Rang Han Da)
Ballad | The Secret of Color 2
Another ballad. As opposed to Eru’s deeper, thicker voice, Lee Seung Chul’s vocals are light and melodic. The warm, uplifting arrangement is really what made this song worth listening to.

2008:

어제보다 오늘 더 - Kim Jong Kook (Today More Than Yesterday)
Pop/Ballad | Vol. 5 - Here I Am
2008 saw the return of Kim Jong Kook, one of the top male singers in Korea, from his mandatory military service. He’s always been one of my favourite artists. His voice, while high in range, is still thick with emotion. Recommended.

라디오를 켜봐요 - Shin Seung Hoon (Turn on the Radio)
Pop/Rock | Radio Wave
A veteran k-pop singer known to be the “king of ballads”, has also returned with a mini-album that differs from traditional ballads, featuring an acoustic rock sound. Turn on the Radio starts out as a relaxing, laid-back track featuring a simple piano accompaniment, building suddenly and without much warning into the chorus. I love the contrast in dynamics in this song, but the softer parts were a bit dragged out.

Gossip Boy - Younha
Pop-Rock | Someday
Last year, Younha topped the charts with the song “Comet”. She seems to be enjoying a relative amount of success this year, too, with the release of her album Someday. I love her voice and the style of her music. Gossip Boy is an upbeat rock-influenced track, catchy and fun.

Japanese;
Songs chosen from the top 100 Oricon Singles of 2007 & from the most recent Top Singles chart of November 2008.

2007:

Tabidachi no Uta - Mr.Children
Soft Rock | Tabidachi no Uta
A laid-back, slow rock ballad. It’s not one of my absolute favourites by them, but worth a listen.

Eien ni - KinKi Kids
Pop/Ballad | Phi~Universal Love
A gorgeous ballad by KinKi Kids. Their vocals are rich and thick with emotion. The accompaniment is kept light throughout the song, even in the chorus, allowing their voices to shine through. Recommended.

Daybreak’s Bell - L’arc~en~Ciel
Rock | Daybreak’s Bell
I haven’t enjoyed Laruku’s newer material much, this is probably the last release by them that I really liked. Daybreak’s Bell has a darker tone and a memorable chorus, hopeful and strong.

2008:

無責任ヒーロー - Kanjani8 (Musekinin Hero)
Pop | Musekinin Hero
I have to say I don’t like these guys much. They’re fun, but a little too poppy/cheesy for me. A bright, upbeat song filled with trumpet riffs and a jazzy/ska feel.

Monochrome no Kiss - SID
Rock
I think this was done for the opening theme of an anime? While it seems very fitting as an opening theme, I prefer SID’s jazzier side. A solid rock song, but not much more.

My Heart Leaps for “C” - Antic Cafe
Oshare kei |Koakuma Usagi no Koibumi to Machine Gun
Upbeat, electronica-influenced in parts - at first I thought it was bit too overwhelmingly hyper, but it tones down a bit. Eh, it wasn’t exceptional in my opinion - most of my favourite AnCafe songs are actually their ballads - but worth a listen.

PROMiSE - MiChi
Pop/Rock | PROMiSE
She’s a relatively new artist, I think she’s only released one demo EP before this single? Signed to Sony. A simple mix of pop, rock, and electronica. If you’re looking for something experimental this probably won’t suit you, but it’s a decent song.

Mandarin;

2007:

離開地球表面 - Mayday
Rock | Jump! The World
Mayday! <3 All their releases seem to be fairly successful - their latest album, Poetry of the Day After, is also topping charts - in fact, I’ve uploaded a track from it further below. 離開地球表面 is an fast-paced, catchy track. I love the beats in this song - slightly choppy yet never jerky.

青花瓷 - Jay Chou
Pop | I’m Busy
Jay Chou is another artist who you’ll see twice in this rotation. Is it just me, or have his last two albums (this one & his latest, Capricorn) really gone downhill in quality and consistency? There’s two or three decent songs and the others are either mediocre (more like “fillers”) or just really bad. T_T Anyways, 青花瓷 is a soothing, mellow ballad. Like many of Jay’s songs it features some faint influences of classical Chinese music, but unlike in some of his other songs it’s not quite so overwhelming. I actually thought this song was quite nicely balanced out between classical influences and modern sounds.

Super Sunshine - Gary Cao
Pop | Super Sunshine
I love Gary Cao. <3 This song starts out with a sweet a cappella verse, leading into a light-hearted, feel-good pop song. Despite the cliched lyrics - You are my sunshine, my only sunshine I thought it was nice.

夠不夠 - Khalil Fong (Is it enough?)
Pop/R&B | Wonderland
Another great artist. A tasteful blend of R&B and pop, Is it enough? allows Khalil Fong’s wonderful vocals to shine through while also having a great beat. It’s not my favourite song by him, but definitely close.

我就是我 - Guang Liang (I Am Who I Am)
Pop/Ballad | 不會分離 (Never Apart)
A great singer - you might know him from his song Fairytale/Tong Hua which was a huge hit (I think I’ve uploaded it before, too). I Am Who I Am is a lovely ballad - while it lacks the instant impact of Tong Hua, it is a song that I found myself replaying.

2008:

Always Online - JJ Lin
Pop | Sixology
One of my personal favourites from JJ Lin’s latest album. Always Online is fairly slow in tempo with faint R&B influences. It’s a sad song but catchy at the same time. Recommended.

稻香 - Jay Chou
Pop | Capricorn
This was the closing track of Jay Chou’s Capricorn album, and, IMO, one of the few decent tracks. A peaceful mid-tempo track backed by acoustic guitar 稻香 is light and youthful.

如煙 - Mayday (Ru Yan/Smoke)
Rock | Poetry of the Day After
A lovely acoustic ballad from Mayday. The vocals are genuine yet laid-back and the thick, blunt bass sound contrasts nicely with the short, separated guitar chords.

Labels: Antic Cafe, Eru, Gary Cao, Guang Liang, Jay Chou, JJ Lin, Kanjani8, Khalil Fong, Kim Jong Kook, KinKi Kids, L'arc~en~Ciel, Lee Seung Chul, Mayday, MiChi, Mr.Children, Shin Seung Hoon, SID, Younha

Progressive Love - Son Ho Young & Kim Rina

I love the intro for this song. I'm not the biggest fan of Son Ho Young but I do enjoy listening to his songs. No idea who Kim Rina is. Upbeat, energetic, and though vocally not that impressive, catchy and worth a listen.

童話 - 光良

One of my favourite ballads & favourite songs in general. The title of the song is "Tong Hua", which means "Fairytale". The singer's name is "Guang Liang", by the way. The lyrics are beautiful, I don't know if this song would mean as much to me if I didn't know what the lyrics meant. And the translations I've seen don't really do it justice, so if someone wants me to revise a translation just let me know. The MV is also sad (my brother's gf said she cried while she was watching it) but, to me, it didn't really represent as much as the song alone did.

Smile and Turn Away - Stephanie

Starts out upbeat, but slows down in parts until it's almost like a ballad. The song's a bit generic, but Stephanie's got a great voice, although the accompaniment kind of overlaps it in this song.

Rainbow - Tohoshinki

I bought the "T" CD when I was in Taiwan, and when I was listening to it I suddenly found this song that I'd always just skipped past before. I love this song. It's kind of relaxed but has a very bright sound at the same time, and the chorus is so catchy. Recommended.

Melody - David Tao

Gorgeous ballad. It starts out kind of boring, but the chorus is just beautiful and has a kind of darker feel to it. David Tao's vocals show the emotion of the song a lot. Recommended.

Arigatou - FLOW

I love FLOW, but I was kind of disappointed by this single. Still, not a bad song. I like how it starts off, though it kind of loses my interest after that. Great chorus though, some nice high notes are hit.

Kiss of Life - Ken Hirai

Ken Hirai! A more upbeat song, something I rarely see from him ... or maybe I just usually pick out his ballads to listen to. XP The beat's kind of annoying and it's hard to pick out Ken's voice, but it's not bad. The chorus is catchy.

Be My 1004 (Home Growling Version) - iM ft. Yuri of Girlfriends' and Brown Eyed Girls' Narcia

Very catchy. I'd love to hear more from iM. I think this song's from a few year's back, but recommended.

Gravity - Luna Sea

How can I not love Luna Sea? Recommended. Listen for the bass.

Separation Anxiety - Nell

I'm in love with Nell's latest album, this song in particular. They're kind of mellow, soft rock for anyone who hasn't heard of them before, definitely try them out. Unique vocals and a very catchy song that's sad at the same time. Must download.

Tears - the TRAX

I love this song, it's probably one of my favourite TRAX songs. It's a ballad accompanied lightly with a guitar and later with drums and bass, highly recommended.

旅立ちの唄 - Mr. Children

This was the ending theme for some movie, I can't recall what it was called. A nice ballad from one of my favourite bands, though this isn't my favourite song by them, it's very relaxing.

Labels: David Tao, FLOW, Guang Liang, iM, Ken Hirai, Kim Ri Na, Luna Sea, Mr. Children, Nell, Son Ho Young, Stephanie, the TRAX, Tohoshinki

Okay so the order for this rotation changed soooo much. I’m mostly satisfied with the final product. Tanaka Roma’s “Namida” originally ranked at #8, but then I was listening to it and was thinking, “Why the heck is this so far down?” And bumped it up to #5, which in turn moved Tohoshinki down to #6. Evan’s song originally ranked at #6, was bumped to #7 after moving “Namida”, then bumped down another spot to make room for JJ Lin. Point being: there’s just too many good ballads - don’t judge too much on the numbered spots, like I said they moved around a lot. Also, this is only based on my personal opinion, not statistics or anything. =)

Top Ten Ballads:

#10. 클래식 (Classic) - KCM
What a beautiful voice - high, clear, crisp, rich yet pure at the same time. The predictable string & piano arrangement doesn’t really do anything for me, I’d probably forget the melody if it wasn’t KCM singing it, but just listen to that voice.

#9. 슬픈 인연 (Sad Fate) - Monday Kiz
Monday Kiz had to be on this list somewhere. I have also uploaded this song before (and no I am not trying to be lazy by reusing old songs, haha). Kim Min Soo’s death really just shocked me. I loved this duo’s music already, but his death really drew me into their songs even more. This was their last release - it actually came out a couple months after Min Soo’s death. Their voices are ... just amazing. They compliment each other perfectly. The harmonizing is beautiful. Both singers are at the top of their form. The song sounds a bit unpolished, but this only adds to its raw, intimate emotion. I don’t listen to this song as often & it released fairly recently compared to the other songs, which is why it didn’t rank as high, but every time I listen to it I’m just completely taken away.

#8. 남자도… 어쩔 수 없다 (Namjado... Eojjeol Su Eopda/Men ... are unavoidable) - Evan
This is a song that I first listened to when it released, around 2007, IIRC. It really just doesn’t get old, no matter how many times I revisit it. Evan’s voice, although not the most powerful, is a pleasure to listen to. The melody will linger in your head.

#7. 大男人 小女孩 - JJ Lin
It’s always the first line of the song that gets me. JJ Lin’s voice rises over the accompaniment, filled with emotion. It is really the little nuances in his voice that make this song so perfect, the way he seems to be almost struggling with himself sometimes to express a phrase and finish the verse. His voice evens out more and more towards the end of the song, gaining confidence and power.

#6. Love in the Ice - Tohoshinki
It was a close call between Love in the Ice and Forever Love as to which song would make the list, but in the end, Love in the Ice won. A chillingly emotional song that starts out softly and just keeps building, getting stronger and stronger. Each member’s vocals are spot-on, the verses seamlessly joined and the harmonizing perfect.

#5. Namida (Sleepless Night MANABOON MIX) - Tanaka Roma
I’ve also shared this song before, I’m not sure if you would even call it a ballad, which is why it didn’t rank as high as it might have. Tanaka’s genuine, pure voice simply soars. It is a “remix”, but the original simply cannot match up to this. The piano that forms the base of the accompaniment is beautiful, supporting without overpowering. Such raw emotion in a song is so rare. Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m wondering why I didn’t rank this higher.

#4. 童話 (Tong Hua/Fairytale) - 光良 (Guang Liang/Michael Wong)
Another song I've previously uploaded - one of my favourite Chinese songs. Guang Liang’s voice is smooth and precise, but heartfelt. The chorus is where the song really soars. Maybe it’s partially the lyrics of this song that I like, but nonetheless a wonderful ballad. To be honest, I was debating whether this song should be so highly ranked. Much of the reason I’m attached to it is personal value, as it’s a song my family often listens to and that my friends and I used to sing all the time at karaoke. Either way, it’s a great song that was very popular in Taiwan when it released, and I hope you’ll enjoy it. =)

#3. Only Human - K
The a cappella opening of this song is just amazing. K’s voice is a flawless blend of strength and a soft, melodic vulernability. The accompaniment is sparse, putting the focus just where it should be: K’s amazing vocal performance. I don’t know what else to say about this song, just listen to it.

#2. 같은 베개 (Same Pillow) - Tei
This is one of the most highly played songs in my iTunes. Although it’s more of an old favourite that I often return to than a song on constant repeat, it’s a great song. Tei’s deep, full voice is perfect for ballads. Certain notes have an almost rough edge, others polished smooth. The melody and arrangement is memorable, hopeful but with a hint of sadness.

#1. 한 남자 (Han Nam Ja/One Man) - Kim Jong Kook
And that brings us to my favourite ballad ever, Han Nam Ja. I uploaded this song a long time ago, waaay back in my fourth rotation. I usually get bored of songs, especially pop songs/ballads, but I’ve listened to this song countless times, and I just never tire of it. I honestly don’t know why - it’s just a classic ballad with light percussion, typical string & piano accompaniment. But Kim Jong Kook’s high, clear voice is absolutely full of emotion, bringing this song to a whole other level: tender, vulnerable, yearning, and, overall, stunning. The lyrics fit the song perfectly. You can read the translated lyrics here (scroll down, it's the last song on the page).

Runners-up:

Forever Love - Tohoshinki
Forever Love (a capella version) - Tohoshinki
Uploaded this song before way back in my 5th rotation, which was when Tohoshinki's "T" album released. I really love the a cappella version of this song too. More hopeful than "Love in the Ice", which found its way onto the countdown. Whereas Love in the Ice had more intensity, Forever Love is almost comforting, with a warmer, richer tone. Vocally, I think this is really one of Tohoshinki's best songs.

그립고... 그리운 (Yearning ... Yearn) - Park Hyo Shin
I would’ve thought Park Hyo Shin would make the list, but although he has a lot of great ballads, there isn’t really one in particular that really stands out to me. But if there was, Yearning ... Yearn would probably be it. Park Hyo Shin’s voice balances strength and vulernability, at times full and rich and others lightly soaring through the melodies. A very sad and emotional track.

Even Though My Heart Breaks - Fly to the Sky
I’m hesitant to say FTTS is at their best here, but they’re definitely close. Hwanhee’s voice is rich and deep, Brian’s lighter and cleaner but still as emotional. As much as I love their solo songs, these guys still sound way better together. Hwanhee’s voice can be almost a little too overpowering in solo works; Brian’s too plain - together, they just balance each other out. Anyways, Brian’s voice sounded oddly close to Hwanhee’s in certain verses - deeper in range, with that husky note to it. They still sound great, but the contrast wasn’t as clear. The arrangement is also quite plain.

환상 (Illusion) - Fly to the Sky
I was surprised to find that FTTS did not mark its spot on the list. They originally held a spot, but as I found more and more songs that I wanted to include, they kept getting moved down until they were completely off the list. Illusion is more of a slow-tempo pop/R&B song than a real ballad.

Only Wind, Only Wind - SG Wannabe & Kim Jong Kook
This song was definitely a contender. I mean, come on, just look at the artists. Kim Jong Kook’s soaring, clean voice creates a well-cut contrast with SG Wannabe’s deeper, huskier vocalists - but they come together perfectly. Style-wise, it leans towards SG Wannabe, but both artists are definitely giving their best.

Love? - Evan Yo
I don’t know anything about this singer. Love? starts out soft and accompanied only by a piano. Evan Yo’s lyrical voice brings the simple, unadorned melodies to their fullest. Then, all of a sudden, the song bursts into a full-fledged rock verse. The transitions between the two moods, repeated throughout the song, are well-executed. I’m not sure if it would even really be considered a ballad, but a good song nonetheless.

Labels: Evan, Evan Yo, Fly to the Sky, Guang Liang, JJ Lin, K, KCM, Kim Jong Kook, Monday Kiz, Park Hyo Shin, SG Wannabe, Tanaka Roma, Tei, Tohoshinki

Sorry that this rotation was a little late - the jazz band that I play in had a concert on Saturday, so I didn't have much time to update this weekend.

Fashion Scans was started roughly October of 2007. It’s November 2008 now, so the site recently passed its one year birthday! ^_^ Rotation 20 is themed then and now, featuring songs that topped the charts in 2007 and ones that are topping the charts now.

Korean;

2007:

둘이라서 - Eru (Because it’s the two of us)
Ballad | Vol 3 - Eru Returns
The ever-popular ballad seems to dominate k-pop charts, although I’ve noticed recently that with the new electronica trend, more upbeat songs are taking the top spots, especially with artists like Big Bang, Wonder Girls, and DBSK. 둘이라서 is a typical Korean ballad - to my ears, it was a bit too generic. IMO, Eru’s second album was better than his third, although his voice is still lovely. Worth a listen if you’re a fan of ballads.

사랑한다 - Lee Seung Chul (Sa Rang Han Da)
Ballad | The Secret of Color 2
Another ballad. As opposed to Eru’s deeper, thicker voice, Lee Seung Chul’s vocals are light and melodic. The warm, uplifting arrangement is really what made this song worth listening to.

2008:

어제보다 오늘 더 - Kim Jong Kook (Today More Than Yesterday)
Pop/Ballad | Vol. 5 - Here I Am
2008 saw the return of Kim Jong Kook, one of the top male singers in Korea, from his mandatory military service. He’s always been one of my favourite artists. His voice, while high in range, is still thick with emotion. Recommended.

라디오를 켜봐요 - Shin Seung Hoon (Turn on the Radio)
Pop/Rock | Radio Wave
A veteran k-pop singer known to be the “king of ballads”, has also returned with a mini-album that differs from traditional ballads, featuring an acoustic rock sound. Turn on the Radio starts out as a relaxing, laid-back track featuring a simple piano accompaniment, building suddenly and without much warning into the chorus. I love the contrast in dynamics in this song, but the softer parts were a bit dragged out.

Gossip Boy - Younha
Pop-Rock | Someday
Last year, Younha topped the charts with the song “Comet”. She seems to be enjoying a relative amount of success this year, too, with the release of her album Someday. I love her voice and the style of her music. Gossip Boy is an upbeat rock-influenced track, catchy and fun.

Japanese;
Songs chosen from the top 100 Oricon Singles of 2007 & from the most recent Top Singles chart of November 2008.

2007:

Tabidachi no Uta - Mr.Children
Soft Rock | Tabidachi no Uta
A laid-back, slow rock ballad. It’s not one of my absolute favourites by them, but worth a listen.

Eien ni - KinKi Kids
Pop/Ballad | Phi~Universal Love
A gorgeous ballad by KinKi Kids. Their vocals are rich and thick with emotion. The accompaniment is kept light throughout the song, even in the chorus, allowing their voices to shine through. Recommended.

Daybreak’s Bell - L’arc~en~Ciel
Rock | Daybreak’s Bell
I haven’t enjoyed Laruku’s newer material much, this is probably the last release by them that I really liked. Daybreak’s Bell has a darker tone and a memorable chorus, hopeful and strong.

2008:

無責任ヒーロー - Kanjani8 (Musekinin Hero)
Pop | Musekinin Hero
I have to say I don’t like these guys much. They’re fun, but a little too poppy/cheesy for me. A bright, upbeat song filled with trumpet riffs and a jazzy/ska feel.

Monochrome no Kiss - SID
Rock
I think this was done for the opening theme of an anime? While it seems very fitting as an opening theme, I prefer SID’s jazzier side. A solid rock song, but not much more.

My Heart Leaps for “C” - Antic Cafe
Oshare kei |Koakuma Usagi no Koibumi to Machine Gun
Upbeat, electronica-influenced in parts - at first I thought it was bit too overwhelmingly hyper, but it tones down a bit. Eh, it wasn’t exceptional in my opinion - most of my favourite AnCafe songs are actually their ballads - but worth a listen.

PROMiSE - MiChi
Pop/Rock | PROMiSE
She’s a relatively new artist, I think she’s only released one demo EP before this single? Signed to Sony. A simple mix of pop, rock, and electronica. If you’re looking for something experimental this probably won’t suit you, but it’s a decent song.

Mandarin;

2007:

離開地球表面 - Mayday
Rock | Jump! The World
Mayday! <3 All their releases seem to be fairly successful - their latest album, Poetry of the Day After, is also topping charts - in fact, I’ve uploaded a track from it further below. 離開地球表面 is an fast-paced, catchy track. I love the beats in this song - slightly choppy yet never jerky.

青花瓷 - Jay Chou
Pop | I’m Busy
Jay Chou is another artist who you’ll see twice in this rotation. Is it just me, or have his last two albums (this one & his latest, Capricorn) really gone downhill in quality and consistency? There’s two or three decent songs and the others are either mediocre (more like “fillers”) or just really bad. T_T Anyways, 青花瓷 is a soothing, mellow ballad. Like many of Jay’s songs it features some faint influences of classical Chinese music, but unlike in some of his other songs it’s not quite so overwhelming. I actually thought this song was quite nicely balanced out between classical influences and modern sounds.

Super Sunshine - Gary Cao
Pop | Super Sunshine
I love Gary Cao. <3 This song starts out with a sweet a cappella verse, leading into a light-hearted, feel-good pop song. Despite the cliched lyrics - You are my sunshine, my only sunshine I thought it was nice.

夠不夠 - Khalil Fong (Is it enough?)
Pop/R&B | Wonderland
Another great artist. A tasteful blend of R&B and pop, Is it enough? allows Khalil Fong’s wonderful vocals to shine through while also having a great beat. It’s not my favourite song by him, but definitely close.

我就是我 - Guang Liang (I Am Who I Am)
Pop/Ballad | 不會分離 (Never Apart)
A great singer - you might know him from his song Fairytale/Tong Hua which was a huge hit (I think I’ve uploaded it before, too). I Am Who I Am is a lovely ballad - while it lacks the instant impact of Tong Hua, it is a song that I found myself replaying.

2008:

Always Online - JJ Lin
Pop | Sixology
One of my personal favourites from JJ Lin’s latest album. Always Online is fairly slow in tempo with faint R&B influences. It’s a sad song but catchy at the same time. Recommended.

稻香 - Jay Chou
Pop | Capricorn
This was the closing track of Jay Chou’s Capricorn album, and, IMO, one of the few decent tracks. A peaceful mid-tempo track backed by acoustic guitar 稻香 is light and youthful.

如煙 - Mayday (Ru Yan/Smoke)
Rock | Poetry of the Day After
A lovely acoustic ballad from Mayday. The vocals are genuine yet laid-back and the thick, blunt bass sound contrasts nicely with the short, separated guitar chords.

Labels: Antic Cafe, Eru, Gary Cao, Guang Liang, Jay Chou, JJ Lin, Kanjani8, Khalil Fong, Kim Jong Kook, KinKi Kids, L'arc~en~Ciel, Lee Seung Chul, Mayday, MiChi, Mr.Children, Shin Seung Hoon, SID, Younha

Progressive Love - Son Ho Young & Kim Rina

I love the intro for this song. I'm not the biggest fan of Son Ho Young but I do enjoy listening to his songs. No idea who Kim Rina is. Upbeat, energetic, and though vocally not that impressive, catchy and worth a listen.

童話 - 光良

One of my favourite ballads & favourite songs in general. The title of the song is "Tong Hua", which means "Fairytale". The singer's name is "Guang Liang", by the way. The lyrics are beautiful, I don't know if this song would mean as much to me if I didn't know what the lyrics meant. And the translations I've seen don't really do it justice, so if someone wants me to revise a translation just let me know. The MV is also sad (my brother's gf said she cried while she was watching it) but, to me, it didn't really represent as much as the song alone did.

Smile and Turn Away - Stephanie

Starts out upbeat, but slows down in parts until it's almost like a ballad. The song's a bit generic, but Stephanie's got a great voice, although the accompaniment kind of overlaps it in this song.

Rainbow - Tohoshinki

I bought the "T" CD when I was in Taiwan, and when I was listening to it I suddenly found this song that I'd always just skipped past before. I love this song. It's kind of relaxed but has a very bright sound at the same time, and the chorus is so catchy. Recommended.

Melody - David Tao

Gorgeous ballad. It starts out kind of boring, but the chorus is just beautiful and has a kind of darker feel to it. David Tao's vocals show the emotion of the song a lot. Recommended.

Arigatou - FLOW

I love FLOW, but I was kind of disappointed by this single. Still, not a bad song. I like how it starts off, though it kind of loses my interest after that. Great chorus though, some nice high notes are hit.

Kiss of Life - Ken Hirai

Ken Hirai! A more upbeat song, something I rarely see from him ... or maybe I just usually pick out his ballads to listen to. XP The beat's kind of annoying and it's hard to pick out Ken's voice, but it's not bad. The chorus is catchy.

Be My 1004 (Home Growling Version) - iM ft. Yuri of Girlfriends' and Brown Eyed Girls' Narcia

Very catchy. I'd love to hear more from iM. I think this song's from a few year's back, but recommended.

Gravity - Luna Sea

How can I not love Luna Sea? Recommended. Listen for the bass.

Separation Anxiety - Nell

I'm in love with Nell's latest album, this song in particular. They're kind of mellow, soft rock for anyone who hasn't heard of them before, definitely try them out. Unique vocals and a very catchy song that's sad at the same time. Must download.

Tears - the TRAX

I love this song, it's probably one of my favourite TRAX songs. It's a ballad accompanied lightly with a guitar and later with drums and bass, highly recommended.

旅立ちの唄 - Mr. Children

This was the ending theme for some movie, I can't recall what it was called. A nice ballad from one of my favourite bands, though this isn't my favourite song by them, it's very relaxing.

Labels: David Tao, FLOW, Guang Liang, iM, Ken Hirai, Kim Ri Na, Luna Sea, Mr. Children, Nell, Son Ho Young, Stephanie, the TRAX, Tohoshinki

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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