JJ Lin recently released a new album, 100 Days, and I just had to share a couple songs from it. I don't really have a lot of holiday/Christmas music, so I thought I'd post something else instead. =) Please comment/leave a rating if taking, and I hope you all have a great holiday season!

- Haruhi

第几个一百天 - JJ Lin
Mandarin | Ballad
Beginning with isolated piano and building into a full, orchestral arrangement, the intro of this song alone is sweeping and beautiful. JJ Lin's instantly recognizable, clear voice comes through strongly without downplaying the rich arrangement. It has a sweet, clean tone that is signature to JJ Lin's ballads. The delicate harmonies are gorgeous, and I love the composition's decadent arrangement, blending traditional strings and piano with touches of rock in the percussion and occasional electric guitar line. Overall, though, it's this song's flow and movement that really appeals to me. We've all heard songs that don't really have any direction and never really "go anywhere" - well, this certainly isn't one of them. While maintaining a very structured form, it also keeps the listener engaged and interested.

加油! feat. MC Hotdog - JJ Lin
Mandarin | R&B
A light, midtempo R&B song, 加油! is filled with intricate harmonies and light synths. I really like the opening and chorus, but I'm not sure how I feel about the last minute or so, when the synths become a lot more dominant - it gets quite repetitive and overpowering, I feel almost as if it's dragging down the otherwise airy, smooth melody. I'm not too sure about the rap segment either - it seemed a little unnecessary to me.

无法克制 - JJ Lin
Mandarin | Ballad
Just the first few seconds of acoustic guitar and a simple yet carefully crafted saxophone lick, and I knew that this song was going to become a favourite of mine. It seems to have a very slow, melancholy tone, yet picks up with the addition of percussion. I love the splashes of jazz, they're such an unexpected touch - the saxophone lines building up to a short solo in about three-quarters of the way through the song, the guitar work. JJ Lin's vocals are smooth and clean, hitting high notes with very little strain.

背对背拥抱 - JJ Lin
Mandarin | Ballad
You guys probably all know what a sucker for piano I am, and the intro of this song is just that - a gorgeous, flowing, full-bodied piano melody. It takes on more of a chordal role as JJ Lin joins the mix, his heartfelt, tender yet powerful vocals the focal point of this carefully-crafted ballad. It's emotional without being overly dramatic. The attention put into these songs compositionally and arrangement-wise can really be heard. And the delicate closing chords, again with only piano, are just a lovely final touch.

Still Moving Under Gunfire - JJ Lin
Mandarin | Pop
This song reminds of me Cries in the Distance from JJ's previous album Sixology, probably because it's also an English version of one of his songs. It's a little more modern and uptempo than some of his songs, with some auto tune and synths. The hip-hop/R&B base and percussion demands attention. It's aggressive without being too in-your-face.

Labels: JJ Lin

This is the finale rotation to the recurring “Top 10” rotations - we’ve gone through ballads, pop songs, and rock songs, so this last rotation is just to finish things off. The main feature would be best album, and there are also a few individual categories: Best theme song, best single, and best current song. Again: these are based only off of my own opinions.

Also, we have a new layout! Featuring JJ Lin, since the album I chose was, you guessed it:

JJ Lin - Sixology



Tracklist & Downloads:
01. Sixology
02. 不潮不用花錢 (Without Trends, No Need to Spend)
03. 小酒窩 (feat. 蔡卓妍) (Small Dimples, ft. Charlene Choi)
04. 黑武士 (Black Warrior)
05. 醉赤壁 (Drunk Red Cliff)
06. 由你選擇 (feat. 農夫FAMA) (Your Choice)
07. Always Online
08. 街道 (The Streets)
09. 主角 (feat. MACHI) (Protagonist)
10. 我還想她 (I Want Her Too)
11. 點一把火炬 (Lighting a Torch)
12. 期待你的愛 (feat. 金莎) (Waiting For Your Love, ft. Kim Jin Sha)
13. Cries In A Distance
14. 愛與希望 Love and Hope
>>batch download [.rar]

Review:
From the simple, ethereal intro that shares the albums title to the final chords of ballad “Love and Hope”, JJ Lin does not disappoint. What really impressed me about this album was its consistent quality and its variety. You have your upbeat, poppy tracks: “Without Trends, No Need to Spend”, with a bit of a dark tone and lots of synths, “Your Choice”, a fun light-hearted track with R&B roots, “The Streets”, a grittier and more aggressive number, and “Protagonist”, taking the same route as “The Streets” with driven hip-hop sounds. You have your ballads, but even there the moods range widely - the sweet, poppy sincerity of “Small Dimples” featuring Charlene Choi, the yearning and conflict in midtempo “Black Warrior”, “Drunk Red Cliff”’s calming purity and tenderness, the sorrowful and emotional “I Want Her Too”, piano-based, hopeful “Lighting a Torch”, the familiar “Waiting For Your Love” which is sweet and poppy yet still has emotional value, and the final track of the album: “Love and Hope”, a gorgeous piano ballad. I read that this song was written for the Sichaun earthquake by JJ, which only adds to its rich expressiveness. JJ Lin’s creamy, rounded voice brings all these songs to their highest potential and adapts well to all the different tempos and moods set. But there are still two more songs that I’ve yet to comment on: “Always Online” and “Cries in a Distance”, which are based off the same instrumentaI. I would even say that “Cries in a Distance” was only intended as an English version of “Always Online”, but the songs do have different moods. “Always Online” is a heartfelt, memorable, midtempo R&B ballad. However, it’s a love song, whereas “Cries in a Distance” speaks of violence in the world. JJ Lin’s English is flawless and he seems to have no difficulty singing in the language, his voice smooth and filled with emotion. An incredibly moving and sad song. Overall, a great album that I enjoyed every track of.

RUNNERSup
Orange Moon - Khalil Fong
abingdon boys school - abingdon boys school
Separation Anxiety - Nell
Circle - My Aunt Mary

bestTHEMEsong


Byul - Kim Ah Joong
I don’t really know if this is considered the “theme song” of the movie 200 Pound Beauty (which is a great movie, btw), but I love it and couldn’t think of an OST song that means more to me. It’s a simple but absolutely beautiful ballad that has so much emotion in it. Especially in the context of the movie, it’s incredibly genuine and heartfelt.

bestCURRENTsong


Dynamite - A'ST1
A’ST1 is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. Yes, they’re a sugary, poppy boyband. But for some reason, I really like them and have been waiting intently since the release of their first mini-album, “1.2.3.4. Back”, for their next release. Finally, they’ve released a new mini-album - and it was worth the wait. “Dynamite” is an upbeat, synthy, very catchy track - a light-hearted, enjoyable listen. This song definitely suits its title.

bestSINGLE


NewS - weeeek [Limited Edition]
01. weeeek
02. With Me
03. Rainbow
04. Why
You have your typical fun, sweet pop songs - “weeeek” and “Rainbow”, the uplifting ballad “With Me”, and the real gem of this single, “Why”, only found in this version of the single. This is my favourite News song, and the song that made this my favourite single. Although the other tracks are all well-executed and a pleasure to listen to, “Why” is just amazing. A dark, serious pop track with gorgeous lyrics - “Why don’t you love me only? Kimatte gomakasu kedo/Why don’t you tell me good bye? Mou taerarenai yo/Bottom of my heart/Still I can’t give up you, so loving you.|Why don’t you say goodbye?” Vocally they sound great - lovely harmonies, every note yearning and emotional. A fantastic single.

Labels: A'ST1, JJ Lin, Kim Ah Joong, NewS

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

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

Happy Valentine's Day! =) I think the theme of this rotation is pretty self-explanatory. My comments this week are kind of dead, sorry.

Everyday Valentine - Winter Garden
language Korean
genre rock
rating
comments Like most Korean rock, this isn't really "heavy" rock. But I liked it - their vocalist has a mature, rich voice and the chorus is memorable.

Valentine STEP - Aira Mitsuki
language Japanese
genre pop
rating
comments A cute, poppy, happy song. The vocals are a little too chipmunk-y and synthesized for my taste, but I like the melody and summer-y acoustic guitar chords. Overall, a pretty good song.

Love will live forever - A-lin
language Mandarin
genre rock
rating
comments I really like her voice - strong, powerful, but not overwhelming. A fairly straightforward rock track - it's a bit generic in form and execution, but decent female rock in Mandarin is just so hard to find.

爱我 (Love Me) - Danson Tang
language Mandarin
genre pop
rating
comments I love the acoustic feel that this song starts off on. A rock-influenced song with a great acoustic guitar accompaniment and catchy melody. It feels dark in sections, then much lighter in others, providing a nice contrast.

So Fall In Love - DNT
language Korean
genre pop/dance
rating
comments Fun, light-hearted and bright. The little trumpet/brass riffs are a nice touch. I like the harmonizing.

Sea of Love - Fly to the Sky
language Korean
genre R&B/pop
rating
comments I love Fly to the Sky. This is one of their older releases, I believe it was the title track of their third album. As always, their voices are just in perfect contrast. It's a fairly simple track, but I love it.

Love Song - Khalil Fong
language Mandarin
genre R&B
rating
comments I've uploaded a couple songs by him before, this is a slightly older but very popular song of his. His voice is just so pretty, laid back but emotional at the same time. The accompaniment is stripped down except in the chorus, giving the song a bare, stark feel.

L O V E - JiSun
language Korean
genre soft rock
rating
comments Former vocalist of Loveholic, JiSun has recently released her solo album! While I was disappointed to see her leave the group, I also really liked this album. L O V E is hopeful and powerful.

We love you~世界は君を愛してる~ - Miyavi
language Japanese
genre rock
rating
comments Miyavi was the first Japanese artist I ever listened to. His voice is soft, almost a whisper, but intense. As expected, the guitar work is great. One of my favourite songs by him.

I Love You - 8eight ft. Jessica (SNSD)
language Korean
genre pop
rating
comments A fairly typical pop song. I love 8eight, their vocalists are quite good, which brings this song to another level. The chorus is really catchy - a fun, light-hearted listen.

Left My Hearts - Yiruma
language none
genre instrumental (piano)
rating
comments I love Yiruma. <3 This song is quite downtempo, I guess it suits the title. Although it seems fairly sad, there are notes of hope in it. Beautiful and expressive.

This Time - John Legend
language English
genre r&b
rating
comments I put R&B as the genre simply because that's John Legend's typical fare, but this song is far from his typical upbeat tracks - a gorgeous slow song. The lyrics are beautiful, as is the accompaniment. John Legend's voice is flawless - emotional and unique. Simply a beautiful song.

愛與希望 (Love and Hope) - JJ Lin
language Mandarin
genre pop/ballad
rating
comments I really like the piano in this song. JJ Lin's voice is lovely - soft and expressive, but still steady, suiting this ballad perfectly. Those two things, the rich, full piano accompaniment and JJ Lin's voice, really made this otherwise bland ballad stand out.

Longing for Romance - Joanna Wang
language English
genre jazz
rating
comments I've uploaded quite a lot of her songs - her entire debut album and one track from her second album. She's been hailed as "Taiwan's Norah Jones", if that gives you any insight as to her style and voice. This song isn't one of my favourites by her - it has a kind of weird, lurching feel to it that I can't explain. But definitely try her out.

Sarang sarang sarang - Park Hyo Shin
langauge Korean
genre pop
rating
comments Until this song, all the songs I'd heard from him were ballads. Not that that's a bad thing, because his ballads are gorgeous. I love his voice - deep and slightly husky. Who knew he would be just as good as upbeat tracks? This song has a faint rock/jazz vibe to it. I think it's actually a cover, but I don't know who the original was by. Recommended. <3

Labels: 8eight, A-Lin, Aira Mitsuki, Danson Tang, DNT, Fly to the Sky, Jisun, JJ Lin, Joanna Wang, John Legend, Khalil Fong, miyavi, Park Hyo Shin, Winter Garden, Yiruma

JJ Lin recently released a new album, 100 Days, and I just had to share a couple songs from it. I don't really have a lot of holiday/Christmas music, so I thought I'd post something else instead. =) Please comment/leave a rating if taking, and I hope you all have a great holiday season!

- Haruhi

第几个一百天 - JJ Lin
Mandarin | Ballad
Beginning with isolated piano and building into a full, orchestral arrangement, the intro of this song alone is sweeping and beautiful. JJ Lin's instantly recognizable, clear voice comes through strongly without downplaying the rich arrangement. It has a sweet, clean tone that is signature to JJ Lin's ballads. The delicate harmonies are gorgeous, and I love the composition's decadent arrangement, blending traditional strings and piano with touches of rock in the percussion and occasional electric guitar line. Overall, though, it's this song's flow and movement that really appeals to me. We've all heard songs that don't really have any direction and never really "go anywhere" - well, this certainly isn't one of them. While maintaining a very structured form, it also keeps the listener engaged and interested.

加油! feat. MC Hotdog - JJ Lin
Mandarin | R&B
A light, midtempo R&B song, 加油! is filled with intricate harmonies and light synths. I really like the opening and chorus, but I'm not sure how I feel about the last minute or so, when the synths become a lot more dominant - it gets quite repetitive and overpowering, I feel almost as if it's dragging down the otherwise airy, smooth melody. I'm not too sure about the rap segment either - it seemed a little unnecessary to me.

无法克制 - JJ Lin
Mandarin | Ballad
Just the first few seconds of acoustic guitar and a simple yet carefully crafted saxophone lick, and I knew that this song was going to become a favourite of mine. It seems to have a very slow, melancholy tone, yet picks up with the addition of percussion. I love the splashes of jazz, they're such an unexpected touch - the saxophone lines building up to a short solo in about three-quarters of the way through the song, the guitar work. JJ Lin's vocals are smooth and clean, hitting high notes with very little strain.

背对背拥抱 - JJ Lin
Mandarin | Ballad
You guys probably all know what a sucker for piano I am, and the intro of this song is just that - a gorgeous, flowing, full-bodied piano melody. It takes on more of a chordal role as JJ Lin joins the mix, his heartfelt, tender yet powerful vocals the focal point of this carefully-crafted ballad. It's emotional without being overly dramatic. The attention put into these songs compositionally and arrangement-wise can really be heard. And the delicate closing chords, again with only piano, are just a lovely final touch.

Still Moving Under Gunfire - JJ Lin
Mandarin | Pop
This song reminds of me Cries in the Distance from JJ's previous album Sixology, probably because it's also an English version of one of his songs. It's a little more modern and uptempo than some of his songs, with some auto tune and synths. The hip-hop/R&B base and percussion demands attention. It's aggressive without being too in-your-face.

Labels: JJ Lin

This is the finale rotation to the recurring “Top 10” rotations - we’ve gone through ballads, pop songs, and rock songs, so this last rotation is just to finish things off. The main feature would be best album, and there are also a few individual categories: Best theme song, best single, and best current song. Again: these are based only off of my own opinions.

Also, we have a new layout! Featuring JJ Lin, since the album I chose was, you guessed it:

JJ Lin - Sixology



Tracklist & Downloads:
01. Sixology
02. 不潮不用花錢 (Without Trends, No Need to Spend)
03. 小酒窩 (feat. 蔡卓妍) (Small Dimples, ft. Charlene Choi)
04. 黑武士 (Black Warrior)
05. 醉赤壁 (Drunk Red Cliff)
06. 由你選擇 (feat. 農夫FAMA) (Your Choice)
07. Always Online
08. 街道 (The Streets)
09. 主角 (feat. MACHI) (Protagonist)
10. 我還想她 (I Want Her Too)
11. 點一把火炬 (Lighting a Torch)
12. 期待你的愛 (feat. 金莎) (Waiting For Your Love, ft. Kim Jin Sha)
13. Cries In A Distance
14. 愛與希望 Love and Hope
>>batch download [.rar]

Review:
From the simple, ethereal intro that shares the albums title to the final chords of ballad “Love and Hope”, JJ Lin does not disappoint. What really impressed me about this album was its consistent quality and its variety. You have your upbeat, poppy tracks: “Without Trends, No Need to Spend”, with a bit of a dark tone and lots of synths, “Your Choice”, a fun light-hearted track with R&B roots, “The Streets”, a grittier and more aggressive number, and “Protagonist”, taking the same route as “The Streets” with driven hip-hop sounds. You have your ballads, but even there the moods range widely - the sweet, poppy sincerity of “Small Dimples” featuring Charlene Choi, the yearning and conflict in midtempo “Black Warrior”, “Drunk Red Cliff”’s calming purity and tenderness, the sorrowful and emotional “I Want Her Too”, piano-based, hopeful “Lighting a Torch”, the familiar “Waiting For Your Love” which is sweet and poppy yet still has emotional value, and the final track of the album: “Love and Hope”, a gorgeous piano ballad. I read that this song was written for the Sichaun earthquake by JJ, which only adds to its rich expressiveness. JJ Lin’s creamy, rounded voice brings all these songs to their highest potential and adapts well to all the different tempos and moods set. But there are still two more songs that I’ve yet to comment on: “Always Online” and “Cries in a Distance”, which are based off the same instrumentaI. I would even say that “Cries in a Distance” was only intended as an English version of “Always Online”, but the songs do have different moods. “Always Online” is a heartfelt, memorable, midtempo R&B ballad. However, it’s a love song, whereas “Cries in a Distance” speaks of violence in the world. JJ Lin’s English is flawless and he seems to have no difficulty singing in the language, his voice smooth and filled with emotion. An incredibly moving and sad song. Overall, a great album that I enjoyed every track of.

RUNNERSup
Orange Moon - Khalil Fong
abingdon boys school - abingdon boys school
Separation Anxiety - Nell
Circle - My Aunt Mary

bestTHEMEsong


Byul - Kim Ah Joong
I don’t really know if this is considered the “theme song” of the movie 200 Pound Beauty (which is a great movie, btw), but I love it and couldn’t think of an OST song that means more to me. It’s a simple but absolutely beautiful ballad that has so much emotion in it. Especially in the context of the movie, it’s incredibly genuine and heartfelt.

bestCURRENTsong


Dynamite - A'ST1
A’ST1 is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. Yes, they’re a sugary, poppy boyband. But for some reason, I really like them and have been waiting intently since the release of their first mini-album, “1.2.3.4. Back”, for their next release. Finally, they’ve released a new mini-album - and it was worth the wait. “Dynamite” is an upbeat, synthy, very catchy track - a light-hearted, enjoyable listen. This song definitely suits its title.

bestSINGLE


NewS - weeeek [Limited Edition]
01. weeeek
02. With Me
03. Rainbow
04. Why
You have your typical fun, sweet pop songs - “weeeek” and “Rainbow”, the uplifting ballad “With Me”, and the real gem of this single, “Why”, only found in this version of the single. This is my favourite News song, and the song that made this my favourite single. Although the other tracks are all well-executed and a pleasure to listen to, “Why” is just amazing. A dark, serious pop track with gorgeous lyrics - “Why don’t you love me only? Kimatte gomakasu kedo/Why don’t you tell me good bye? Mou taerarenai yo/Bottom of my heart/Still I can’t give up you, so loving you.|Why don’t you say goodbye?” Vocally they sound great - lovely harmonies, every note yearning and emotional. A fantastic single.

Labels: A'ST1, JJ Lin, Kim Ah Joong, NewS

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

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

Happy Valentine's Day! =) I think the theme of this rotation is pretty self-explanatory. My comments this week are kind of dead, sorry.

Everyday Valentine - Winter Garden
language Korean
genre rock
rating
comments Like most Korean rock, this isn't really "heavy" rock. But I liked it - their vocalist has a mature, rich voice and the chorus is memorable.

Valentine STEP - Aira Mitsuki
language Japanese
genre pop
rating
comments A cute, poppy, happy song. The vocals are a little too chipmunk-y and synthesized for my taste, but I like the melody and summer-y acoustic guitar chords. Overall, a pretty good song.

Love will live forever - A-lin
language Mandarin
genre rock
rating
comments I really like her voice - strong, powerful, but not overwhelming. A fairly straightforward rock track - it's a bit generic in form and execution, but decent female rock in Mandarin is just so hard to find.

爱我 (Love Me) - Danson Tang
language Mandarin
genre pop
rating
comments I love the acoustic feel that this song starts off on. A rock-influenced song with a great acoustic guitar accompaniment and catchy melody. It feels dark in sections, then much lighter in others, providing a nice contrast.

So Fall In Love - DNT
language Korean
genre pop/dance
rating
comments Fun, light-hearted and bright. The little trumpet/brass riffs are a nice touch. I like the harmonizing.

Sea of Love - Fly to the Sky
language Korean
genre R&B/pop
rating
comments I love Fly to the Sky. This is one of their older releases, I believe it was the title track of their third album. As always, their voices are just in perfect contrast. It's a fairly simple track, but I love it.

Love Song - Khalil Fong
language Mandarin
genre R&B
rating
comments I've uploaded a couple songs by him before, this is a slightly older but very popular song of his. His voice is just so pretty, laid back but emotional at the same time. The accompaniment is stripped down except in the chorus, giving the song a bare, stark feel.

L O V E - JiSun
language Korean
genre soft rock
rating
comments Former vocalist of Loveholic, JiSun has recently released her solo album! While I was disappointed to see her leave the group, I also really liked this album. L O V E is hopeful and powerful.

We love you~世界は君を愛してる~ - Miyavi
language Japanese
genre rock
rating
comments Miyavi was the first Japanese artist I ever listened to. His voice is soft, almost a whisper, but intense. As expected, the guitar work is great. One of my favourite songs by him.

I Love You - 8eight ft. Jessica (SNSD)
language Korean
genre pop
rating
comments A fairly typical pop song. I love 8eight, their vocalists are quite good, which brings this song to another level. The chorus is really catchy - a fun, light-hearted listen.

Left My Hearts - Yiruma
language none
genre instrumental (piano)
rating
comments I love Yiruma. <3 This song is quite downtempo, I guess it suits the title. Although it seems fairly sad, there are notes of hope in it. Beautiful and expressive.

This Time - John Legend
language English
genre r&b
rating
comments I put R&B as the genre simply because that's John Legend's typical fare, but this song is far from his typical upbeat tracks - a gorgeous slow song. The lyrics are beautiful, as is the accompaniment. John Legend's voice is flawless - emotional and unique. Simply a beautiful song.

愛與希望 (Love and Hope) - JJ Lin
language Mandarin
genre pop/ballad
rating
comments I really like the piano in this song. JJ Lin's voice is lovely - soft and expressive, but still steady, suiting this ballad perfectly. Those two things, the rich, full piano accompaniment and JJ Lin's voice, really made this otherwise bland ballad stand out.

Longing for Romance - Joanna Wang
language English
genre jazz
rating
comments I've uploaded quite a lot of her songs - her entire debut album and one track from her second album. She's been hailed as "Taiwan's Norah Jones", if that gives you any insight as to her style and voice. This song isn't one of my favourites by her - it has a kind of weird, lurching feel to it that I can't explain. But definitely try her out.

Sarang sarang sarang - Park Hyo Shin
langauge Korean
genre pop
rating
comments Until this song, all the songs I'd heard from him were ballads. Not that that's a bad thing, because his ballads are gorgeous. I love his voice - deep and slightly husky. Who knew he would be just as good as upbeat tracks? This song has a faint rock/jazz vibe to it. I think it's actually a cover, but I don't know who the original was by. Recommended. <3

Labels: 8eight, A-Lin, Aira Mitsuki, Danson Tang, DNT, Fly to the Sky, Jisun, JJ Lin, Joanna Wang, John Legend, Khalil Fong, miyavi, Park Hyo Shin, Winter Garden, Yiruma

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.

phase down | aqueous transmission | quietus | SnakeRoot | Dong Bang World | you start it | Ongoing Melody


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