I’m sorry for being so absent lately. Work has been.....insane (and will continue to be for...well...until I get fired or something). Anyway, for 2011, I’ll only be posting once a month.

Happy New Year everyone!!


Make It Last Forever - Sowelu feat. Mihiro
English | Pop
I don’t know if this is a cover of another song but the melody sounds really familiar (old Whitney Houston song maybe?)...Regardless, the english - both pronunciation and grammar - is bang on. The song has a slow-ish tempo which makes it sound really sweet and appropriate if you’re trying to hold on to something.

Beyond the Sea - K
Japanese | R&B
This is from his “best” album but I had never actually heard of him before. =P The way this song sounds at the beginning (a cappella), it kind of reminds me of DBSK’s songs and how they used to harmonize. The rest of the song is mellow and nice and has an older R&B feel to it. His voice kind of reminds me of Toshinobu Kubota’s but not as high or nasally (not sure if that’s the right word).

믿어줄래 (Nothin on You) - Jay Park
Korean | Pop
I randomly heard this song while surfing YouTube and it caught my attention. I was going to post the remix but I thought this would be a better transition. Part of me wishes that this was a 2PM song rather than just Jay’s or even having someone else on the song doing the rap/hooks just so that there’s a bit of vocal contrast (somebody with a lower tone).

2 Different Tears (Robotaki Remix) - Wonder Girls
Korean | Pop
I prefer this version than the original (I actually ignored the original until I heard this one) mainly because it has more of a beat to it and the base line is catchy. There are times when the song can sound a bit tinny and over-processed, but it’s still a really good remix / mash-up.

Drama - Daichi Miura
Japanese | Pop
I only really started listening to this song when I watched the video (it’s the one where it shows just the choreography). I actually like this song better than “The Answer” and Lullaby (still on the fence for this one) even though I’m not really a fan of Daichi’s more techno-sounding songs.

Bird - Yuya Matsushita
Japanese | Ballad
This is a nice mid-tempo ballad and is probably my favorite out of Yuya’s when I want to listen to a relatively happier ballad (ends happy). It isn’t too sappy either. The violins and other stringed instruments give it a nice orchestral kind of feel, which is perfect for the song’s theme.

I Can Soar - JYJ
English | Ballad
I thought this would be an appropriate way to start bringing this mix to an end. It’s just a reminder that whatever comes your way during the rest of 2011, that you’ll probably make it through since you made it through 2010 okay. The English may get a bit...strange...or garbled, but for the most part, the song is pretty decent.

High High - G-Dragon and T.O.P. (Big Bang)
Korean | Pop/Rap
I thought I’d end this mix on an energetic note. I actually really like this song; although that may be because I like Big Bang in general. The song’s got a great beat and base line. And, the more I listened to it, the more I liked it.

Labels: Big Bang, Contributor; Carmi, Jay Park, JYJ, K, Miura Daichi, Sowelu, Wonder Girls, Yuya Matsushita

Hello!

In my last rotation, in the comments for the song by Chi Yeol of k-pop duo Wednesday, I mentioned that Chi Yeol had released a solo album. Well, I managed to get the album on this computer, so rotation 51 features six of my favourite songs from Chi Yeol, and seven songs from assorted recent releases. I hadn't noticed when I was selecting songs, but this rotation is all Korean - I'll try to compensate for that by uploading some songs in other languages in my next rotation.

Enjoy the songs,

- Haruhi

Artist Feature: Chi Yeol (치열)



Chi Yeol's debut solo album, 오감 (Five Senses) released June 18, 2007. He's known for his distinctive, husky voice and, surprisingly, his talents as a breakdancer. He later became part of the duo Wednesday, who have only released one single to date. His ballads are lovely and his pop songs mature, so it's a shame he's released so little music.

또... (Also...)
The first track on Five Senses, this was the first song of Chi Yeol's that I heard. His rich voice caught my attention right away, coupled with a smooth, catchy melody and light harmonies and backing vocals. It remains my favourite song by him - it's a light, mid-tempo ballad that gets better with each listen.

행복한 줄 아세요
A string-based ballad, 행복한 줄 아세요 manages to be heartfelt without being overly dramatic. I think it's the contrast between the strength of the chorus and delicacy of the verses that does it, accomplished by terraced dynamics. It's hopeful and I love the way the strings soar in the chorus.

두고봐
A dark, dramatic pop song. I love the energy, and Chi Yeol shows his versatility by tackling something very different from his usual ballads.

프로포즈
Changing courses once again, 프로포즈 is an upbeat, jazz-influenced track. It has a bit of an old-fashioned sound, especially with the brass shots and jazzy piano licks, but somehow it works. Honestly, I think his voice could make anything work. A confident, bold vocal performance.

오래오래
Back to ballads, 오래오래 is a hopeful pop ballad. The accompaniment is well-rounded, I especially like the piano.

아버지
A mid-tempo track with some nice harmonies, to be honest it's not much composition-wise but I love his voice here, it's not quite as husky as in some of his other songs and seems to lighten up a bit.

Recent Releases

울고 싶단 말야 - Brave Brothers, Jay Park
Korean | Pop/R&B
I'm not an avid fan of either Brave Brothers (I find the songs they produce sound boringly similar) or Jay Park. This song was really what I expected it to be: a decent, although somewhat repetitive, R&B-influenced track. I'm not a big fan of the auto-tune on Jay's voice as it makes it seem like it was added because he can't sing rather than for effect, although I find Jay to be a decent singer. However, the hook is quite catchy (as expected) and the rapping has a nice depth to it with the occasional echoed phrase, and the looped Big Bang-esque piano melody in the background softens up the sound of the loaded R&B-style percussion. It's not perfect, but it's worth a listen.

웃음만.. - zia
Korean | Pop/Ballad
Although I'd heard a couple of zia's songs, I can't say any of them caught my attention. That is, until her EP Difference came out. All the songs were quite solid, but 웃음만.. stands out in particular. It's a driven ballad with a lot of power and richness, and a stunning vocal performance from zia. The intro is rich with strings which remain a theme, dropping away to let piano chords take over the softer verses building up to the chorus.

한별 (Implode) (ft. JW of Nell) - BoA
Korean | Ballad
I've never been a fan of BoA and none of the songs on her latest album, Hurricane Venus, have stood out to me as of yet except for this understated ballad. Something about the light acoustic guitar in the intro and the soft delicacy of her voice caught my attention. I love the way the piano and minimal percussion drops in, unexpectedly but as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It takes its fair time to develop, only building about halfway through - which is where you hear Nell's JW come in, and where the song really picks up a taste of Nell's music. I love Nell, so hearing such an instantly recognizable touch of them in a BoA song was definitely a pleasant surprise. Something about this song is just so intimate and heartfelt, it can't really be explained in words.

잊어버려 바보야 (Feat. Sad) - Snofeel
Korean | Ballad
This duet is an R&B-flavoured pop track. I don't really know anything about either of these singers but I think Snofeel is the male rapper and Sad the female singer. Sad's airy voice is refreshing, it reminds me a bit of SunnyHill's female vocalists. Snofeel's rapping isn't anything outstanding, and the piano-based accompaniment is pretty but nothing special. Luckily, Sad gets her share of sung verses which are really the highlights of the song.

서핑 웨이브 (Surfing Wave) - House Rulez
Instrumental | Electronica/House/Acid Jazz
I'm really starting to love this group. Surfing Wave is a vibrant, summery track with a youthful energy. I love the richness and depth that the jazz elements add, I think it's mostly saxophone. The bright synths and occasional backing-vocal phrases and shouts add additional layers of detail. A breath of fresh air.

..하다가 - Hwanhee
Korean | Pop
I love Fly to the Sky, and while I prefer their songs as a duo to solo material, Hwanhee's deep, husky voice is always a treat. However, his signature voice seems to be toned down a bit in this song - while it's still rich and powerful, it's a lot lighter than in most of his previous solo songs. The synths and busy R&B-style percussion aren't exactly signature Hwanhee, but it works. It sounds a lot more mainstream pop than I'd have expected, but Hwanhee's seasoned voice elevates the song beyond what your typical boyband could deliver.

Labels: BoA, Brave Brothers, Chi Yeol, House Rulez, Hwanhee, Jay Park, Snofeel, zia

I’m sorry for being so absent lately. Work has been.....insane (and will continue to be for...well...until I get fired or something). Anyway, for 2011, I’ll only be posting once a month.

Happy New Year everyone!!


Make It Last Forever - Sowelu feat. Mihiro
English | Pop
I don’t know if this is a cover of another song but the melody sounds really familiar (old Whitney Houston song maybe?)...Regardless, the english - both pronunciation and grammar - is bang on. The song has a slow-ish tempo which makes it sound really sweet and appropriate if you’re trying to hold on to something.

Beyond the Sea - K
Japanese | R&B
This is from his “best” album but I had never actually heard of him before. =P The way this song sounds at the beginning (a cappella), it kind of reminds me of DBSK’s songs and how they used to harmonize. The rest of the song is mellow and nice and has an older R&B feel to it. His voice kind of reminds me of Toshinobu Kubota’s but not as high or nasally (not sure if that’s the right word).

믿어줄래 (Nothin on You) - Jay Park
Korean | Pop
I randomly heard this song while surfing YouTube and it caught my attention. I was going to post the remix but I thought this would be a better transition. Part of me wishes that this was a 2PM song rather than just Jay’s or even having someone else on the song doing the rap/hooks just so that there’s a bit of vocal contrast (somebody with a lower tone).

2 Different Tears (Robotaki Remix) - Wonder Girls
Korean | Pop
I prefer this version than the original (I actually ignored the original until I heard this one) mainly because it has more of a beat to it and the base line is catchy. There are times when the song can sound a bit tinny and over-processed, but it’s still a really good remix / mash-up.

Drama - Daichi Miura
Japanese | Pop
I only really started listening to this song when I watched the video (it’s the one where it shows just the choreography). I actually like this song better than “The Answer” and Lullaby (still on the fence for this one) even though I’m not really a fan of Daichi’s more techno-sounding songs.

Bird - Yuya Matsushita
Japanese | Ballad
This is a nice mid-tempo ballad and is probably my favorite out of Yuya’s when I want to listen to a relatively happier ballad (ends happy). It isn’t too sappy either. The violins and other stringed instruments give it a nice orchestral kind of feel, which is perfect for the song’s theme.

I Can Soar - JYJ
English | Ballad
I thought this would be an appropriate way to start bringing this mix to an end. It’s just a reminder that whatever comes your way during the rest of 2011, that you’ll probably make it through since you made it through 2010 okay. The English may get a bit...strange...or garbled, but for the most part, the song is pretty decent.

High High - G-Dragon and T.O.P. (Big Bang)
Korean | Pop/Rap
I thought I’d end this mix on an energetic note. I actually really like this song; although that may be because I like Big Bang in general. The song’s got a great beat and base line. And, the more I listened to it, the more I liked it.

Labels: Big Bang, Contributor; Carmi, Jay Park, JYJ, K, Miura Daichi, Sowelu, Wonder Girls, Yuya Matsushita

Hello!

In my last rotation, in the comments for the song by Chi Yeol of k-pop duo Wednesday, I mentioned that Chi Yeol had released a solo album. Well, I managed to get the album on this computer, so rotation 51 features six of my favourite songs from Chi Yeol, and seven songs from assorted recent releases. I hadn't noticed when I was selecting songs, but this rotation is all Korean - I'll try to compensate for that by uploading some songs in other languages in my next rotation.

Enjoy the songs,

- Haruhi

Artist Feature: Chi Yeol (치열)



Chi Yeol's debut solo album, 오감 (Five Senses) released June 18, 2007. He's known for his distinctive, husky voice and, surprisingly, his talents as a breakdancer. He later became part of the duo Wednesday, who have only released one single to date. His ballads are lovely and his pop songs mature, so it's a shame he's released so little music.

또... (Also...)
The first track on Five Senses, this was the first song of Chi Yeol's that I heard. His rich voice caught my attention right away, coupled with a smooth, catchy melody and light harmonies and backing vocals. It remains my favourite song by him - it's a light, mid-tempo ballad that gets better with each listen.

행복한 줄 아세요
A string-based ballad, 행복한 줄 아세요 manages to be heartfelt without being overly dramatic. I think it's the contrast between the strength of the chorus and delicacy of the verses that does it, accomplished by terraced dynamics. It's hopeful and I love the way the strings soar in the chorus.

두고봐
A dark, dramatic pop song. I love the energy, and Chi Yeol shows his versatility by tackling something very different from his usual ballads.

프로포즈
Changing courses once again, 프로포즈 is an upbeat, jazz-influenced track. It has a bit of an old-fashioned sound, especially with the brass shots and jazzy piano licks, but somehow it works. Honestly, I think his voice could make anything work. A confident, bold vocal performance.

오래오래
Back to ballads, 오래오래 is a hopeful pop ballad. The accompaniment is well-rounded, I especially like the piano.

아버지
A mid-tempo track with some nice harmonies, to be honest it's not much composition-wise but I love his voice here, it's not quite as husky as in some of his other songs and seems to lighten up a bit.

Recent Releases

울고 싶단 말야 - Brave Brothers, Jay Park
Korean | Pop/R&B
I'm not an avid fan of either Brave Brothers (I find the songs they produce sound boringly similar) or Jay Park. This song was really what I expected it to be: a decent, although somewhat repetitive, R&B-influenced track. I'm not a big fan of the auto-tune on Jay's voice as it makes it seem like it was added because he can't sing rather than for effect, although I find Jay to be a decent singer. However, the hook is quite catchy (as expected) and the rapping has a nice depth to it with the occasional echoed phrase, and the looped Big Bang-esque piano melody in the background softens up the sound of the loaded R&B-style percussion. It's not perfect, but it's worth a listen.

웃음만.. - zia
Korean | Pop/Ballad
Although I'd heard a couple of zia's songs, I can't say any of them caught my attention. That is, until her EP Difference came out. All the songs were quite solid, but 웃음만.. stands out in particular. It's a driven ballad with a lot of power and richness, and a stunning vocal performance from zia. The intro is rich with strings which remain a theme, dropping away to let piano chords take over the softer verses building up to the chorus.

한별 (Implode) (ft. JW of Nell) - BoA
Korean | Ballad
I've never been a fan of BoA and none of the songs on her latest album, Hurricane Venus, have stood out to me as of yet except for this understated ballad. Something about the light acoustic guitar in the intro and the soft delicacy of her voice caught my attention. I love the way the piano and minimal percussion drops in, unexpectedly but as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It takes its fair time to develop, only building about halfway through - which is where you hear Nell's JW come in, and where the song really picks up a taste of Nell's music. I love Nell, so hearing such an instantly recognizable touch of them in a BoA song was definitely a pleasant surprise. Something about this song is just so intimate and heartfelt, it can't really be explained in words.

잊어버려 바보야 (Feat. Sad) - Snofeel
Korean | Ballad
This duet is an R&B-flavoured pop track. I don't really know anything about either of these singers but I think Snofeel is the male rapper and Sad the female singer. Sad's airy voice is refreshing, it reminds me a bit of SunnyHill's female vocalists. Snofeel's rapping isn't anything outstanding, and the piano-based accompaniment is pretty but nothing special. Luckily, Sad gets her share of sung verses which are really the highlights of the song.

서핑 웨이브 (Surfing Wave) - House Rulez
Instrumental | Electronica/House/Acid Jazz
I'm really starting to love this group. Surfing Wave is a vibrant, summery track with a youthful energy. I love the richness and depth that the jazz elements add, I think it's mostly saxophone. The bright synths and occasional backing-vocal phrases and shouts add additional layers of detail. A breath of fresh air.

..하다가 - Hwanhee
Korean | Pop
I love Fly to the Sky, and while I prefer their songs as a duo to solo material, Hwanhee's deep, husky voice is always a treat. However, his signature voice seems to be toned down a bit in this song - while it's still rich and powerful, it's a lot lighter than in most of his previous solo songs. The synths and busy R&B-style percussion aren't exactly signature Hwanhee, but it works. It sounds a lot more mainstream pop than I'd have expected, but Hwanhee's seasoned voice elevates the song beyond what your typical boyband could deliver.

Labels: BoA, Brave Brothers, Chi Yeol, House Rulez, Hwanhee, Jay Park, Snofeel, zia

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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