Ten songs by artists that are part of a duo/group, but for whatever reason have released solo material.

Not Alone - Park Jung Min
Korean | Pop
This is the song that inspired this theme. I've always liked SS501, but never really paid attention to its individual members. The only one I could have recognized by name/face was Kim Hyun Joong. I think Park Jung Min of SS501 has caught the attention of many, myself included, with his latest single. Not Alone is the title track. I love the utilization of strings, ranging from the staccato of the dark, dramatic opening to the long, melodic lines of the brighter chorus. It's catchy without relying on the synths and auto-tune that define so much of recent k-pop, which is refreshing. I've had this song on repeat for the last couple days.

You and I - Park Bom
Korean | Pop
I really wish Park Bom released more solo material. She has such a great voice, and it doesn't really get a chance to shine in 2NE1's songs. The music video has an interesting twist, by the way. Park Bom sounds great, her voice is strong without being overpowering and has a really nice richness to it.

VVIP - Seungri
Korean | Dance/Pop
Seungri was one of those members of Big Bang I never really noticed until he released his first mini-album. My qualm with Big Bang's music (and GD & TOP's mini-album) is that their songs, while extremely infectious, get stale quite quickly. It's a bit too early to tell with VVIP, but I think it has a bit more staying power. There's a nice contrast between the bright, melodic chorus and the rapping verses. There's something youthful and fresh about the song in general, emphasized by the touches of brass, that separates it from other uptempo tracks.

小樹 - Lara
Mandarin | Pop/Ballad
Lara was a member of Nan Quan Mama, before leaving to pursue a solo career. To be honest, I'm not really fond of her solo album. She has a really delicate voice that worked well with Nan Quan Mama's style of music and mixed group concept, but alone with the cuter, more standard-pop based sound that she has in her solo album, it's quite forgettable. I do like 小樹 though, I think the light, acoustic accompaniment compliments her voice nicely.

Sorry - Lee Jin Sung ft. Heritage
Korean | R&B/Ballad
Lee Jin Sung was half of the original duo of Monday Kiz (the other half was Kim Min Soo, who passed away in 2008). Monday Kiz was known for their ballads, so it's no surprise that Lee Jin Sung has a great voice. This song is a bit more upbeat than the ballads they were famous for. I love the harmonies.

문이 닫히면 - 윤두준 & 손동운 of Beast
Korean | R&B/Ballad
Beast's songs have always been a bit hit-or-miss with me, but I really like this duet. It's got a really nice acoustic feel that's different from their usual style.

Wonderful Life - Minwoo
Korean | Pop
I think that out of Shinhwa's members, Minwoo's solo songs are my favourite. The others have released songs that I've really liked too, but excluding a few of his most recent songs, I really like most of what Minwoo has done. His music has so much energy and flair, and Wonderful Life is the perfect example of this. The confident brass riffs and bass line work so well with the depth and slight rough edge to his voice.

Persona - Kangta
Korean | Ballad
H.O.T.'s prime was way before I got into k-pop, but I'm pretty familiar with Kangta's solo material. Persona was released in 2005, and I don't know how to explain it exactly, but there's something about it that's different from more recent ballads. Whatever it is, I love it. It's a bit dark without being overly dramatic or exaggerated, and there's a sense of yearning to it. I like the subtle harmonies as well.

못 잊어 - Kim Jong Kook
Korean | Pop
I'm a big fan of Kim Jong Kook, formerly of Turbo. He's known for his high voice. While in a couple of his songs - especially some on his first/second solo albums - it comes across as thin, I think he's really developed because overall, it's clear and warm. 못 잊어 has a great melody and uses synths subtly.

덩크슛 - JoKwon & Whale
Korean | Pop
This song is a collaboration between 2AM's JoKwon and W&Whale's Whale. It's a cover of Lee Sung Hwan's Dunk Shot (which I've never actually heard, so I can't make any comparison). It has a really unique flavour and beat, modernized by well-utilized synths.

Labels: 2AM, Beast, Kangta, Kim Jong Kook, Lara, Lee Jin Sung, Lee Min Woo, Park Bom, Park Jung Min, Seungri, W and Whale

A continuation of this mix. Sorry, I know a couple of these songs have been uploaded before. Please comment if taking!

t r a c k l i s t ;
♪ The Queen And I - Gym Class Heroes
♪ Parachute (Radio Mix) - Cheryl Cole
♪ Seventeen Years - Ratatat
♪ California Soul (Diplo/Mad Decent Remix) - Marlena Shaw
♪ Where Would You Like Them Left? - Blaqk Audio
♪ Richman - 3OH!3
♪ NU ABO - f(x)
♪ I Know - Se7en ft. Teddy
♪ We Are Young - 3OH!3
♪ Oh Yeah - GD & TOP ft. Park Bom
♪ Between Breaths (An XX Perspective) - Blaqk Audio
♪ Demon's Phone Call - MAA
♪ Fire In Your New Shoes - Kaskade ft. Dragonette
♪ Tightrope - Janelle Monae ft. Big Boi
♪ 末日快樂 - Anthony Neely
♪ Explore 'M' - Lee Min Woo
♪ AEIOU - Charlotte Sometimes
♪ Crown on the Ground - Sleigh Bells

d o w n l o a d ;
MF

Labels: 3oh3, Anthony Neely, Blaqk Audio, Charlotte Sometimes, Dragonette, Gym Class Heroes, Janelle Monae, Kaskade, Lee Min Woo, MAA, Marlena Shaw, mixtape, Sleigh Bells

Sorry for the lack of updates from me lately! Thanks, Carmi, for keeping the site active. :) This is a mixtape/rotation for the morning (I intended it as a "mixtape" but uploaded the songs individually). There's a lot of variety in this mix, for different moods and days. Some are for the times where you wake up to a nice, sunny day and you just need a nice, light song to wake you up. Some are energetic, uptempo songs for the times you really, really can't get out of bed. Enjoy the music!

- Haruhi

001. Yellow Wings - Ferraby Lionheart
English | Folk Pop/Acoustic
A pretty, light song that relies mostly on delicately crafted acoustic guitar and Ferraby Lionheart's warm voice, which is perfectly suited to this brand of folk pop. Great for those warm, bright mornings where you're looking forward to the day ahead.

002. Eternal Love - mink
Japanese/English | Pop
mink is a Korean singer based in Japan, who sings a lot of songs with English lyrics. She's one of my favourite female vocalists. This song alternates between Japanese and English. mink's creamy, warm voice has such a lovely tone, and the hopeful melody of this song, sweet harmonies, and minimal accompaniment based on piano and acoustic guitar makes it a perfect choice to start your day with.

003. アイシテル (Aishiteru) - MONKEY MAJIK
Japanese | Pop-Rock
I love MONKEY MAJIK. I chose Aishiteru because of its beautiful accompaniment - I love the warmth of the piano, and how it contrasts with the crisp, faint acoustic guitar chords (later some electric guitar is used too), not to mention the light strings. It's a little downtempo in tone at times, but picks up during the chorus.

004. Sunday Morning - Maroon 5
English | Pop/Rock
I don't think this song needs much of an introduction. I really love Maroon 5's Songs About Jane album although their newer work is a bit hit-or-miss with me, so this song is really familiar to me and I love the rich piano chords paired with Adam Levine's chocolatey voice. The smooth, laid-back feel of this song is great for mornings.

005. Always Running Out Of Time - Motion City Soundtrack
English | Pop/Rock
This song is from the Alice in Wonderland OST, it's got a bit of an indie-rock feel to it, featuring quick guitar work and catchy melody.

006. Mother Woman - As In Rebekkamaria
English | Alternative Pop
She's a recent find of mine, but I love her - this song in particular. Between a light, airy atmosphere, Rebekkamaria's refreshing vocals, and an innovative percussion and bass line, what is there not to like? She might not be for everyone, but at the same time I don't think that her music is so out-there that it's inaccessible - it's definitely very unique though. Give her a try, you won't regret it.

007. Shut Up And Explode - Boom Boom Satellites
Japanese | Electronic
This is for those mornings where you just can't get out of bed. Like you might have guessed from the name, this song is high-energy, in your face, and unapologetic. While it's not a song for all occasions, it's not just mindless noise either. Boom Boom Satellites mixes elements of rock and electronica - gritty electronic guitars, smooth synths - to create a fantastic atmosphere. If you need a song to get you pumped, this is it.

008. Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars
English | Pop
I don't know about you, but waking up to a creamy, smooth voice like Bruno Mars sounds pretty good to me. This is the single from his latest album. It's very feel-good and sweet, but it's all about the vocals - his voice is so unique and such a pleasure to listen to.

009. I was Wrong - capsule
English | Electronica
I uploaded this in my electro-pop rotation, but since this is the song I usually play when my first alarm goes off, I just had to include it here. It's the perfect song to listen to while you're taking your five-more-minutes of sleep before you really have to get up. This ambient track is just a little downtempo without being too slow, and the mixture of echo-y percussion and rich piano, coupled with gorgeous vocals, is just flawless. It's such a sophisticated song, and shows capsule's ability to do not only upbeat club tracks well, but also something very mature and beautiful.

010. Wake Up! - DEPAPEPE
Instrumental | Acoustic
Whenever I hear this song, I see a bright, sunny morning. DEPAPEPE is an amazing acoustic guitar duo. Just looking at the name, it's pretty clear this song is perfect for mornings. It's so summery and warm, and it always puts me in a good mood.

011. Hot! - Minwoo ft. Son Dambi
Korean | Pop
An upbeat dance track from Shinhwa's Lee MinWoo. It's energetic, bright, and refreshing.

012. Thieves in the Night - Hot Chip
English | Electropop/rock
Starting out with warm synths that lead into a bass drum backbeat before the vocals drop in, there's something about how constructed this song is that I really appreciate. It's not too heavy on the synths, but they're definitely there. Indie fans should check this out.

013. Running Out of Time - Hot Hot Heat
English | Indie Rock
Steve Bays has such a distinctive voice; it's definitely a bit of an acquired taste but I think it's perfectly suited to Hot Hot Heat's brand of upbeat rock. I'm not a fan of everything this band does, and their newer material is generally a miss for me, but I really like the bright energy of this song. It just makes you want to dance.

014. Tell 'Em - Sleigh Bells
English | Electronic
This is the first song I've heard from this Brooklyn-based duo, but so far, I'm hooked. Tell 'Em's rapid-fire synths/drums are perfectly executed, paired with anthem-like electric guitar riffs. Its energy is infectious, and it's so unique.

015. She Owns the Night (ft. Mohombi) - Far*East Movement
English | Hip-Hop
As much as I want to support Asian-American artists, Far*East Movement has always been a little too Americanized for my taste. That being said, She Owns the Night has a fantastic synthy bass part which is really boomy and deep, it provides a great contrast with the lighter synth lines over top (if that sounds like a lot of synths, they're handled well and the song itself is surprisingly light-sounding). You could still consider it a club song, but at the same time it's toned down enough to listen to outside of parties as well.

Labels: Boom Boom Satellites, Bruno Mars, capsule, Depapepe, Far*East Movement, Ferraby Lionheart, Hot Hot Heat, Lee Min Woo, Maroon 5, mink, Monkey Majik

I think I changed the theme of this rotation 3 times in total. Cate suggested a rock theme, which I was going to do for the next rotation and do a J-pop themed rotation this week. I started uploading songs for it, but just felt really uninterested in completing the rotation, so I thought I would do a "surf & turf" theme - half pop, half heavy rock, to incorporate the rock theme. Then I realized I really didn't feel like doing that rotation right now, since I planned it to be fairly large (I will likely save it for the next rotation) ... and so ended up doing a totally unrelated theme.

Anyways. After seeing the songs titled Boyfriend and Girlfriend on SNSD's Genie mini album, even though I don't really like SNSD, I got the idea for a rotation with songs with the word "girlfriend" or "boyfriend" in the title. There will probably be less recommended () tracks, since songs were chosen based on title rather than whether I liked them or not. Excuse my crappy comments this week, I promise the next rotation will be better. Please comment/leave a rating if taking.

My Girlfriend - Micky Yoochun
Korean | Pop
A sugary R&B-influenced pop song by DBSK's Micky Yoochun. I've always admired DBSK for their vocals, and while Yoochun's voice is very sweet and warm, the song itself is just so. boring. It doesn't build or lead anywhere, and just sound somewhat lifeless. I guess it's an okay song to just relax to, but I didn't find it engaging at all.

Girlfriend ~piano mix version~ - Lee Min Woo
Korean | Pop Ballad
I love the original version of this song, but since I figured most of you would already have heard it, I chose this piano mix instead. Minwoo is by far my favourite Shinhwa member, and songs like this are why. This song is even more heartfelt and sorrowful with just a simple, rich piano accompaniment. Minwoo sounds fantastic - his powerful and unique voice adds colour and depth to the song.

Boyfriend/Girlfriend - Tanaka Roma ft. Melody
Japanese | Pop
A sweet pop duet. Melody's soft, delicate voice fits well with Tanaka Roma's warm, strong vocals. Like the title suggests, it's a feel-good song with bright synths and lovely harmonies.

Girlfriend - SNSD
Korean | Pop
While SNSD's previous releases have all failed to catch my attention, I think their Genie mini-album was a slight improvement. Girlfriend is a fairly typical sugary pop song, but I really like the chorus. It's an upbeat song touched with bright synths and sweet vocals.

Boyfriend - SNSD
Korean | Pop
An R&B/hip-hop influenced song. I found it repetitive and quite bland. The girls sound incredibly unconvincing and bored at the beginning of the song - So many boys wanna give it to me, but I want you, boy, give it to me, cause I'm so ready boy, give it to me. The starting lyrics and beat seem to suggest a more mature, sexy feel to the song - yet the vocals throughout the song are cute and childish. The repetitive beat and weak melody, coupled with the annoying siren sounds in the background, just completely ruined the song for me.

To Your X-Boyfriend - Lim Chang Jung
Korean | Pop
Lim Chang Jung is most famous for his ballads, but his powerful, rich voice suits more uptempo songs equally well. An aggressive, strong track with Latin-influenced guitar work.

Boyfriend Part II - Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop/R&B
I love Crystal Kay. While I really liked the semi-a cappella opening of this song, the rest of the song didn't do much for me. Crystal Kay's voice disappears beneath the heavy beat and electronica-based accompaniment, only coming out in the chorus. The song lacks any real direction and the arrangement comes off as a little jarring and uncoordinated.

Dao Shu Di Er Ge Nan Peng You (Count To The No.2 Boyfriend) - Milk Yeh
Mandarin | Pop
A really interesting mid-tempo track - there's just something about the percussion that catches your attention, as well as Milk Yeh's light, feathery voice. I thought the song was a little bland upon first listen, but it's starting to grow on me.

After Love -First Boyfriend- - Crystal Kay ft. KANAME (Chemistry)
Japanese | Pop/R&B
Crystal Kay's latest release also sparked this rotation's theme - this song and the "Girlfriend" ft. BoA are all from her newest single. Like many of Crystal Kay's songs, After Love has strong R&B routes. A mid-tempo song, Crystal Kay's strong voice leads the melody with Chemistry's KANAME mostly providing soft harmonies and backing vocals. Personally, I would have liked to hear more of him. While this song was quite good, I didn't find any aspect of it particularly outstanding.

Girlfriend - Crystal Kay ft. BoA
Japanese | Pop/R&B
BoA and Crystal Kay sound fantastic together. BoA's softer, creamier voice suits Crystal Kay's powerful vocals perfectly. However, BoA sounds slightly nasal in this song, something that I never really noticed in other songs. A strong, memorable song.

& some of my favourite Nell songs, as requested by Ayumi. I didn't individually comment on each song, but all are highly recommended, especially Moonlight Punch Romance. And 기억을 걷는 시간. And Fisheye Lens. I always forget how much I love these songs until I hear them again.

기억을 걷는 시간 - Nell
Fisheye Lens - Nell
Moonlight Punch Romance - Nell
1분만 닥쳐줄래요 - Nell

Labels: Crystal Kay, Lee Min Woo, Lim Chang Jung, Micky Yoochun, Milk Yeh, Nell, So Nyeo Shi Dae, Tanaka Roma

I said I would put up the runners-up for rotation 28, top 20 pop songs. It's a little late, but here you go. =)

회상 - Fly to the Sky (Hwesang/Recollection)
This song is a remake of a song called "December" by Turbo. You can listen to the original from the MV on YouTube at the link below.
December - Turbo
As much as I love Turbo (pretty much just because Kim Jong Kook is in it, haha), I have to say I prefer FTTS's version of this classic. FTTS minimalizes and modernizes the accompaniment, putting more emphasis on the vocals. It's still sweet and poppy, but doesn't have that same old-school boyband sound as Turbo's version did. I have to say that Kim Jong Kook's voice sounded a bit too high and thin in Turbo's version, whereas Brian and Hwanhee's voices lend the song a fuller, thicker sound.

Make U Wet - KAT-TUN
An aggressive, sensual song by KAT-TUN. It’s addictive, gritty, and energetic. Their voices are wonderful - at times rough and deep, at others smooth and light. Unfortunately, I found it a bit overly sexual, as the title may suggest. The lyrics are also a bit distasteful, eg. "You ridin' on me? Feel good.". I didn't think they were that bad (partially because I couldn't really understand what the English portions were supposed to be) until I read the translated lyrics.

Play My Song - Lee Min Woo ft. Tiger JK
This song was definitely very close to making it. A confident, sexy song with Latin influences. The English rap verses are kind of a turn-off because the lyrics are just laughably random - eg. “I’m hungry for real like a poor man, I cook your grill like George Foreman, y’all welcome like ya standin’ on my doormat, I’m being cynical of course man” - uh, okaaaay then. Other than that, a great, extremely catchy song.

Step and Go - Arashi
I wanted to avoid putting too many typical, sugary boyband pop songs into the rotation, which is probably why Step and Go didn't quite make it. Besides, these boys already made an appearance in the list with truth at an impressive #9. Step and Go is jazzy, upbeat, and danceable, fairly consistent with the rest of their material. The line where they sing, We gonna step and go! is just cute.

飄移 - Jay Chou (Piao Yi)
An gritty, bass-heavy, dark pop song by Jay Chou. I just love the beat and hip-hop influenced arrangement. This song was used for the movie Initial D.

Show - A'ST1
Okay so I have no idea what happened to these guys, because after releasing their first maxi-single, they just disappeared. Which is a shame, because I actually really like them. They came in at #12 on the list with Funky N Roll Tonight. Show is similar. Lots of synthesized brass, plunky, danceable arrangement, and smooth vocal work. It's poppy and cheerful.

Labels: A'ST1, Arashi, Fly to the Sky, Jay Chou, KAT-TUN, Lee Min Woo

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

Rotation 15 is jazz & electronica themed & features 17 songs. Sorry, no cover images this time ... I couldn't find the majority of them anyways. By the way, the number of comments is starting to go down again. Please remember to comment or updates will decrease. I'm tired of spending time uploading for people who can't take the time to comment. Again, thanks to those who have commented.

PART ONE * ELECTRONICA
Tenjou wo Kakeru Mono Tachi
Love Planet Five
Japanese
Great song, though a bit long at six and a half minutes. The mixing is extremely well done, especially in the first minute. Catchy beats & synths. Recommended.


희망이라는 이름의 별
House Rulez & Rabbit Punch
Korean
Opens up with some bright piano chords that lend a nice dimension throughout the whole song. I thought it was pretty good.


스웨터 (Sweet)
Humming Urban Stereo ft. Taru
Korean
Humming Urban Stereo is great. Sweet offers an uplifting if slightly repetitive bass beat and fast-paced melodies.


Love Me
capsule
Japanese
Typical capsule. For the most part without vocals, only a few spoken verses. Not one of my favourites, it's pretty repetitive.


Twenties=Love
Hourmelts
Korean
Starts out with a wonderful piano introduction that blends perfectly with the bass line. Features impressive changes in tempo and very smooth transitions, as well as interesting if somewhat strange vocal work.


Bittersweet Heart
Apls
Korean
Although it opens up with a rap verse, don't be fooled. It gradually leads into an upbeat, bright song that offers a sweet contrast between female and male vocalists as well as the occasional rap verse. While Apls is a dance/electronica group, this song isn't too overfilled with synths.


PART 2 * JAZZ

stem
Shiina Ringo
Japanese
Very theatrical, with a bit of a waltz feel to it. Fairly slow tempo. Vocals get a bit annoying, though.


STORM
SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS
Japanese
Upbeat jazz at its best. One of my favourite jazz groups, this band can definitely compete with its American counterparts. Energetic trumpet solos and a beautiful rhythm section defined by smashing cymbals, fast-paced blues-scale bass lines, and a prominent piano accompaniment. Might be a bit too busy for some people, but I liked it.


Mocha
Casker
Korean
From the Coffee Prince soundtrack, a low-key bossa nova track on the laid-back end of jazz.


Ticket to London
Loptomist
Korean
Okay so this song's actually by a hip-hop artist, but it's a very nice instrumental mix that mixes heavy beats with fleeting melodies. I would say it's jazz-influenced, so I chose to include it in this rotation.


Kiss
Elevenses
Korean
Laid-back jazz with soothing female vocals and a nice guitar solo about halfway through.


맑은 날 버스를 타고
Elevenses
Korean
Another Elevenses song, again on the laid-back side though slightly more upbeat than Kiss.


因為你愛我 (Because You Love Me)
Joanna Wang
Mandarin
I uploaded the English disc of Joanna Wang's album, this is one of the Mandarin songs. When I went to Taiwan this song & the Chinese version of Lost in Paradise were playing everywhere. It's one of her slower songs. While it doesn't really seem like a typical jazz track, the chorus shows jazz influences and she is a jazz vocalist, although this particular song is more of a ballad. There's also a nice trumpet solo and a trumpet accompaniment is prominent through the rest of the song after it.


PART 3 * MY PICKS

Box in the ship [preview]
Tohoshinki
Japanese
Pop
Upbeat and with a tropical feel, a 2:30 low-quality preview of the b-side to "Why Have I Fallen In Love With You".


Loveholic
Loveholic
Korean
Soft Rock
Not their best, but it's worth a listen.


Paradise
The Melody
Korean
Soft Rock
Very mellow & relaxing.


Explore "M"
Lee Min Woo
Korean
Hip-Pop
I love the beats in this song. Typical of Min Woo's solo work which leans more towards hip-hop without really being too heavy.

Labels: Apls, capsule, Casker, Elevenses, Hourmelts, House Rulez, Humming Urban Stereo, Joanna Wang, Lee Min Woo, Loptomist, Love Planet Five, Loveholic, Rabbit Punch, Shiina Ringo, SOIL+"PIMP" SESSIONS, Tohoshinki

Ten songs by artists that are part of a duo/group, but for whatever reason have released solo material.

Not Alone - Park Jung Min
Korean | Pop
This is the song that inspired this theme. I've always liked SS501, but never really paid attention to its individual members. The only one I could have recognized by name/face was Kim Hyun Joong. I think Park Jung Min of SS501 has caught the attention of many, myself included, with his latest single. Not Alone is the title track. I love the utilization of strings, ranging from the staccato of the dark, dramatic opening to the long, melodic lines of the brighter chorus. It's catchy without relying on the synths and auto-tune that define so much of recent k-pop, which is refreshing. I've had this song on repeat for the last couple days.

You and I - Park Bom
Korean | Pop
I really wish Park Bom released more solo material. She has such a great voice, and it doesn't really get a chance to shine in 2NE1's songs. The music video has an interesting twist, by the way. Park Bom sounds great, her voice is strong without being overpowering and has a really nice richness to it.

VVIP - Seungri
Korean | Dance/Pop
Seungri was one of those members of Big Bang I never really noticed until he released his first mini-album. My qualm with Big Bang's music (and GD & TOP's mini-album) is that their songs, while extremely infectious, get stale quite quickly. It's a bit too early to tell with VVIP, but I think it has a bit more staying power. There's a nice contrast between the bright, melodic chorus and the rapping verses. There's something youthful and fresh about the song in general, emphasized by the touches of brass, that separates it from other uptempo tracks.

小樹 - Lara
Mandarin | Pop/Ballad
Lara was a member of Nan Quan Mama, before leaving to pursue a solo career. To be honest, I'm not really fond of her solo album. She has a really delicate voice that worked well with Nan Quan Mama's style of music and mixed group concept, but alone with the cuter, more standard-pop based sound that she has in her solo album, it's quite forgettable. I do like 小樹 though, I think the light, acoustic accompaniment compliments her voice nicely.

Sorry - Lee Jin Sung ft. Heritage
Korean | R&B/Ballad
Lee Jin Sung was half of the original duo of Monday Kiz (the other half was Kim Min Soo, who passed away in 2008). Monday Kiz was known for their ballads, so it's no surprise that Lee Jin Sung has a great voice. This song is a bit more upbeat than the ballads they were famous for. I love the harmonies.

문이 닫히면 - 윤두준 & 손동운 of Beast
Korean | R&B/Ballad
Beast's songs have always been a bit hit-or-miss with me, but I really like this duet. It's got a really nice acoustic feel that's different from their usual style.

Wonderful Life - Minwoo
Korean | Pop
I think that out of Shinhwa's members, Minwoo's solo songs are my favourite. The others have released songs that I've really liked too, but excluding a few of his most recent songs, I really like most of what Minwoo has done. His music has so much energy and flair, and Wonderful Life is the perfect example of this. The confident brass riffs and bass line work so well with the depth and slight rough edge to his voice.

Persona - Kangta
Korean | Ballad
H.O.T.'s prime was way before I got into k-pop, but I'm pretty familiar with Kangta's solo material. Persona was released in 2005, and I don't know how to explain it exactly, but there's something about it that's different from more recent ballads. Whatever it is, I love it. It's a bit dark without being overly dramatic or exaggerated, and there's a sense of yearning to it. I like the subtle harmonies as well.

못 잊어 - Kim Jong Kook
Korean | Pop
I'm a big fan of Kim Jong Kook, formerly of Turbo. He's known for his high voice. While in a couple of his songs - especially some on his first/second solo albums - it comes across as thin, I think he's really developed because overall, it's clear and warm. 못 잊어 has a great melody and uses synths subtly.

덩크슛 - JoKwon & Whale
Korean | Pop
This song is a collaboration between 2AM's JoKwon and W&Whale's Whale. It's a cover of Lee Sung Hwan's Dunk Shot (which I've never actually heard, so I can't make any comparison). It has a really unique flavour and beat, modernized by well-utilized synths.

Labels: 2AM, Beast, Kangta, Kim Jong Kook, Lara, Lee Jin Sung, Lee Min Woo, Park Bom, Park Jung Min, Seungri, W and Whale

A continuation of this mix. Sorry, I know a couple of these songs have been uploaded before. Please comment if taking!

t r a c k l i s t ;
♪ The Queen And I - Gym Class Heroes
♪ Parachute (Radio Mix) - Cheryl Cole
♪ Seventeen Years - Ratatat
♪ California Soul (Diplo/Mad Decent Remix) - Marlena Shaw
♪ Where Would You Like Them Left? - Blaqk Audio
♪ Richman - 3OH!3
♪ NU ABO - f(x)
♪ I Know - Se7en ft. Teddy
♪ We Are Young - 3OH!3
♪ Oh Yeah - GD & TOP ft. Park Bom
♪ Between Breaths (An XX Perspective) - Blaqk Audio
♪ Demon's Phone Call - MAA
♪ Fire In Your New Shoes - Kaskade ft. Dragonette
♪ Tightrope - Janelle Monae ft. Big Boi
♪ 末日快樂 - Anthony Neely
♪ Explore 'M' - Lee Min Woo
♪ AEIOU - Charlotte Sometimes
♪ Crown on the Ground - Sleigh Bells

d o w n l o a d ;
MF

Labels: 3oh3, Anthony Neely, Blaqk Audio, Charlotte Sometimes, Dragonette, Gym Class Heroes, Janelle Monae, Kaskade, Lee Min Woo, MAA, Marlena Shaw, mixtape, Sleigh Bells

Sorry for the lack of updates from me lately! Thanks, Carmi, for keeping the site active. :) This is a mixtape/rotation for the morning (I intended it as a "mixtape" but uploaded the songs individually). There's a lot of variety in this mix, for different moods and days. Some are for the times where you wake up to a nice, sunny day and you just need a nice, light song to wake you up. Some are energetic, uptempo songs for the times you really, really can't get out of bed. Enjoy the music!

- Haruhi

001. Yellow Wings - Ferraby Lionheart
English | Folk Pop/Acoustic
A pretty, light song that relies mostly on delicately crafted acoustic guitar and Ferraby Lionheart's warm voice, which is perfectly suited to this brand of folk pop. Great for those warm, bright mornings where you're looking forward to the day ahead.

002. Eternal Love - mink
Japanese/English | Pop
mink is a Korean singer based in Japan, who sings a lot of songs with English lyrics. She's one of my favourite female vocalists. This song alternates between Japanese and English. mink's creamy, warm voice has such a lovely tone, and the hopeful melody of this song, sweet harmonies, and minimal accompaniment based on piano and acoustic guitar makes it a perfect choice to start your day with.

003. アイシテル (Aishiteru) - MONKEY MAJIK
Japanese | Pop-Rock
I love MONKEY MAJIK. I chose Aishiteru because of its beautiful accompaniment - I love the warmth of the piano, and how it contrasts with the crisp, faint acoustic guitar chords (later some electric guitar is used too), not to mention the light strings. It's a little downtempo in tone at times, but picks up during the chorus.

004. Sunday Morning - Maroon 5
English | Pop/Rock
I don't think this song needs much of an introduction. I really love Maroon 5's Songs About Jane album although their newer work is a bit hit-or-miss with me, so this song is really familiar to me and I love the rich piano chords paired with Adam Levine's chocolatey voice. The smooth, laid-back feel of this song is great for mornings.

005. Always Running Out Of Time - Motion City Soundtrack
English | Pop/Rock
This song is from the Alice in Wonderland OST, it's got a bit of an indie-rock feel to it, featuring quick guitar work and catchy melody.

006. Mother Woman - As In Rebekkamaria
English | Alternative Pop
She's a recent find of mine, but I love her - this song in particular. Between a light, airy atmosphere, Rebekkamaria's refreshing vocals, and an innovative percussion and bass line, what is there not to like? She might not be for everyone, but at the same time I don't think that her music is so out-there that it's inaccessible - it's definitely very unique though. Give her a try, you won't regret it.

007. Shut Up And Explode - Boom Boom Satellites
Japanese | Electronic
This is for those mornings where you just can't get out of bed. Like you might have guessed from the name, this song is high-energy, in your face, and unapologetic. While it's not a song for all occasions, it's not just mindless noise either. Boom Boom Satellites mixes elements of rock and electronica - gritty electronic guitars, smooth synths - to create a fantastic atmosphere. If you need a song to get you pumped, this is it.

008. Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars
English | Pop
I don't know about you, but waking up to a creamy, smooth voice like Bruno Mars sounds pretty good to me. This is the single from his latest album. It's very feel-good and sweet, but it's all about the vocals - his voice is so unique and such a pleasure to listen to.

009. I was Wrong - capsule
English | Electronica
I uploaded this in my electro-pop rotation, but since this is the song I usually play when my first alarm goes off, I just had to include it here. It's the perfect song to listen to while you're taking your five-more-minutes of sleep before you really have to get up. This ambient track is just a little downtempo without being too slow, and the mixture of echo-y percussion and rich piano, coupled with gorgeous vocals, is just flawless. It's such a sophisticated song, and shows capsule's ability to do not only upbeat club tracks well, but also something very mature and beautiful.

010. Wake Up! - DEPAPEPE
Instrumental | Acoustic
Whenever I hear this song, I see a bright, sunny morning. DEPAPEPE is an amazing acoustic guitar duo. Just looking at the name, it's pretty clear this song is perfect for mornings. It's so summery and warm, and it always puts me in a good mood.

011. Hot! - Minwoo ft. Son Dambi
Korean | Pop
An upbeat dance track from Shinhwa's Lee MinWoo. It's energetic, bright, and refreshing.

012. Thieves in the Night - Hot Chip
English | Electropop/rock
Starting out with warm synths that lead into a bass drum backbeat before the vocals drop in, there's something about how constructed this song is that I really appreciate. It's not too heavy on the synths, but they're definitely there. Indie fans should check this out.

013. Running Out of Time - Hot Hot Heat
English | Indie Rock
Steve Bays has such a distinctive voice; it's definitely a bit of an acquired taste but I think it's perfectly suited to Hot Hot Heat's brand of upbeat rock. I'm not a fan of everything this band does, and their newer material is generally a miss for me, but I really like the bright energy of this song. It just makes you want to dance.

014. Tell 'Em - Sleigh Bells
English | Electronic
This is the first song I've heard from this Brooklyn-based duo, but so far, I'm hooked. Tell 'Em's rapid-fire synths/drums are perfectly executed, paired with anthem-like electric guitar riffs. Its energy is infectious, and it's so unique.

015. She Owns the Night (ft. Mohombi) - Far*East Movement
English | Hip-Hop
As much as I want to support Asian-American artists, Far*East Movement has always been a little too Americanized for my taste. That being said, She Owns the Night has a fantastic synthy bass part which is really boomy and deep, it provides a great contrast with the lighter synth lines over top (if that sounds like a lot of synths, they're handled well and the song itself is surprisingly light-sounding). You could still consider it a club song, but at the same time it's toned down enough to listen to outside of parties as well.

Labels: Boom Boom Satellites, Bruno Mars, capsule, Depapepe, Far*East Movement, Ferraby Lionheart, Hot Hot Heat, Lee Min Woo, Maroon 5, mink, Monkey Majik

I think I changed the theme of this rotation 3 times in total. Cate suggested a rock theme, which I was going to do for the next rotation and do a J-pop themed rotation this week. I started uploading songs for it, but just felt really uninterested in completing the rotation, so I thought I would do a "surf & turf" theme - half pop, half heavy rock, to incorporate the rock theme. Then I realized I really didn't feel like doing that rotation right now, since I planned it to be fairly large (I will likely save it for the next rotation) ... and so ended up doing a totally unrelated theme.

Anyways. After seeing the songs titled Boyfriend and Girlfriend on SNSD's Genie mini album, even though I don't really like SNSD, I got the idea for a rotation with songs with the word "girlfriend" or "boyfriend" in the title. There will probably be less recommended () tracks, since songs were chosen based on title rather than whether I liked them or not. Excuse my crappy comments this week, I promise the next rotation will be better. Please comment/leave a rating if taking.

My Girlfriend - Micky Yoochun
Korean | Pop
A sugary R&B-influenced pop song by DBSK's Micky Yoochun. I've always admired DBSK for their vocals, and while Yoochun's voice is very sweet and warm, the song itself is just so. boring. It doesn't build or lead anywhere, and just sound somewhat lifeless. I guess it's an okay song to just relax to, but I didn't find it engaging at all.

Girlfriend ~piano mix version~ - Lee Min Woo
Korean | Pop Ballad
I love the original version of this song, but since I figured most of you would already have heard it, I chose this piano mix instead. Minwoo is by far my favourite Shinhwa member, and songs like this are why. This song is even more heartfelt and sorrowful with just a simple, rich piano accompaniment. Minwoo sounds fantastic - his powerful and unique voice adds colour and depth to the song.

Boyfriend/Girlfriend - Tanaka Roma ft. Melody
Japanese | Pop
A sweet pop duet. Melody's soft, delicate voice fits well with Tanaka Roma's warm, strong vocals. Like the title suggests, it's a feel-good song with bright synths and lovely harmonies.

Girlfriend - SNSD
Korean | Pop
While SNSD's previous releases have all failed to catch my attention, I think their Genie mini-album was a slight improvement. Girlfriend is a fairly typical sugary pop song, but I really like the chorus. It's an upbeat song touched with bright synths and sweet vocals.

Boyfriend - SNSD
Korean | Pop
An R&B/hip-hop influenced song. I found it repetitive and quite bland. The girls sound incredibly unconvincing and bored at the beginning of the song - So many boys wanna give it to me, but I want you, boy, give it to me, cause I'm so ready boy, give it to me. The starting lyrics and beat seem to suggest a more mature, sexy feel to the song - yet the vocals throughout the song are cute and childish. The repetitive beat and weak melody, coupled with the annoying siren sounds in the background, just completely ruined the song for me.

To Your X-Boyfriend - Lim Chang Jung
Korean | Pop
Lim Chang Jung is most famous for his ballads, but his powerful, rich voice suits more uptempo songs equally well. An aggressive, strong track with Latin-influenced guitar work.

Boyfriend Part II - Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop/R&B
I love Crystal Kay. While I really liked the semi-a cappella opening of this song, the rest of the song didn't do much for me. Crystal Kay's voice disappears beneath the heavy beat and electronica-based accompaniment, only coming out in the chorus. The song lacks any real direction and the arrangement comes off as a little jarring and uncoordinated.

Dao Shu Di Er Ge Nan Peng You (Count To The No.2 Boyfriend) - Milk Yeh
Mandarin | Pop
A really interesting mid-tempo track - there's just something about the percussion that catches your attention, as well as Milk Yeh's light, feathery voice. I thought the song was a little bland upon first listen, but it's starting to grow on me.

After Love -First Boyfriend- - Crystal Kay ft. KANAME (Chemistry)
Japanese | Pop/R&B
Crystal Kay's latest release also sparked this rotation's theme - this song and the "Girlfriend" ft. BoA are all from her newest single. Like many of Crystal Kay's songs, After Love has strong R&B routes. A mid-tempo song, Crystal Kay's strong voice leads the melody with Chemistry's KANAME mostly providing soft harmonies and backing vocals. Personally, I would have liked to hear more of him. While this song was quite good, I didn't find any aspect of it particularly outstanding.

Girlfriend - Crystal Kay ft. BoA
Japanese | Pop/R&B
BoA and Crystal Kay sound fantastic together. BoA's softer, creamier voice suits Crystal Kay's powerful vocals perfectly. However, BoA sounds slightly nasal in this song, something that I never really noticed in other songs. A strong, memorable song.

& some of my favourite Nell songs, as requested by Ayumi. I didn't individually comment on each song, but all are highly recommended, especially Moonlight Punch Romance. And 기억을 걷는 시간. And Fisheye Lens. I always forget how much I love these songs until I hear them again.

기억을 걷는 시간 - Nell
Fisheye Lens - Nell
Moonlight Punch Romance - Nell
1분만 닥쳐줄래요 - Nell

Labels: Crystal Kay, Lee Min Woo, Lim Chang Jung, Micky Yoochun, Milk Yeh, Nell, So Nyeo Shi Dae, Tanaka Roma

I said I would put up the runners-up for rotation 28, top 20 pop songs. It's a little late, but here you go. =)

회상 - Fly to the Sky (Hwesang/Recollection)
This song is a remake of a song called "December" by Turbo. You can listen to the original from the MV on YouTube at the link below.
December - Turbo
As much as I love Turbo (pretty much just because Kim Jong Kook is in it, haha), I have to say I prefer FTTS's version of this classic. FTTS minimalizes and modernizes the accompaniment, putting more emphasis on the vocals. It's still sweet and poppy, but doesn't have that same old-school boyband sound as Turbo's version did. I have to say that Kim Jong Kook's voice sounded a bit too high and thin in Turbo's version, whereas Brian and Hwanhee's voices lend the song a fuller, thicker sound.

Make U Wet - KAT-TUN
An aggressive, sensual song by KAT-TUN. It’s addictive, gritty, and energetic. Their voices are wonderful - at times rough and deep, at others smooth and light. Unfortunately, I found it a bit overly sexual, as the title may suggest. The lyrics are also a bit distasteful, eg. "You ridin' on me? Feel good.". I didn't think they were that bad (partially because I couldn't really understand what the English portions were supposed to be) until I read the translated lyrics.

Play My Song - Lee Min Woo ft. Tiger JK
This song was definitely very close to making it. A confident, sexy song with Latin influences. The English rap verses are kind of a turn-off because the lyrics are just laughably random - eg. “I’m hungry for real like a poor man, I cook your grill like George Foreman, y’all welcome like ya standin’ on my doormat, I’m being cynical of course man” - uh, okaaaay then. Other than that, a great, extremely catchy song.

Step and Go - Arashi
I wanted to avoid putting too many typical, sugary boyband pop songs into the rotation, which is probably why Step and Go didn't quite make it. Besides, these boys already made an appearance in the list with truth at an impressive #9. Step and Go is jazzy, upbeat, and danceable, fairly consistent with the rest of their material. The line where they sing, We gonna step and go! is just cute.

飄移 - Jay Chou (Piao Yi)
An gritty, bass-heavy, dark pop song by Jay Chou. I just love the beat and hip-hop influenced arrangement. This song was used for the movie Initial D.

Show - A'ST1
Okay so I have no idea what happened to these guys, because after releasing their first maxi-single, they just disappeared. Which is a shame, because I actually really like them. They came in at #12 on the list with Funky N Roll Tonight. Show is similar. Lots of synthesized brass, plunky, danceable arrangement, and smooth vocal work. It's poppy and cheerful.

Labels: A'ST1, Arashi, Fly to the Sky, Jay Chou, KAT-TUN, Lee Min Woo

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

Rotation 15 is jazz & electronica themed & features 17 songs. Sorry, no cover images this time ... I couldn't find the majority of them anyways. By the way, the number of comments is starting to go down again. Please remember to comment or updates will decrease. I'm tired of spending time uploading for people who can't take the time to comment. Again, thanks to those who have commented.

PART ONE * ELECTRONICA
Tenjou wo Kakeru Mono Tachi
Love Planet Five
Japanese
Great song, though a bit long at six and a half minutes. The mixing is extremely well done, especially in the first minute. Catchy beats & synths. Recommended.


희망이라는 이름의 별
House Rulez & Rabbit Punch
Korean
Opens up with some bright piano chords that lend a nice dimension throughout the whole song. I thought it was pretty good.


스웨터 (Sweet)
Humming Urban Stereo ft. Taru
Korean
Humming Urban Stereo is great. Sweet offers an uplifting if slightly repetitive bass beat and fast-paced melodies.


Love Me
capsule
Japanese
Typical capsule. For the most part without vocals, only a few spoken verses. Not one of my favourites, it's pretty repetitive.


Twenties=Love
Hourmelts
Korean
Starts out with a wonderful piano introduction that blends perfectly with the bass line. Features impressive changes in tempo and very smooth transitions, as well as interesting if somewhat strange vocal work.


Bittersweet Heart
Apls
Korean
Although it opens up with a rap verse, don't be fooled. It gradually leads into an upbeat, bright song that offers a sweet contrast between female and male vocalists as well as the occasional rap verse. While Apls is a dance/electronica group, this song isn't too overfilled with synths.


PART 2 * JAZZ

stem
Shiina Ringo
Japanese
Very theatrical, with a bit of a waltz feel to it. Fairly slow tempo. Vocals get a bit annoying, though.


STORM
SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS
Japanese
Upbeat jazz at its best. One of my favourite jazz groups, this band can definitely compete with its American counterparts. Energetic trumpet solos and a beautiful rhythm section defined by smashing cymbals, fast-paced blues-scale bass lines, and a prominent piano accompaniment. Might be a bit too busy for some people, but I liked it.


Mocha
Casker
Korean
From the Coffee Prince soundtrack, a low-key bossa nova track on the laid-back end of jazz.


Ticket to London
Loptomist
Korean
Okay so this song's actually by a hip-hop artist, but it's a very nice instrumental mix that mixes heavy beats with fleeting melodies. I would say it's jazz-influenced, so I chose to include it in this rotation.


Kiss
Elevenses
Korean
Laid-back jazz with soothing female vocals and a nice guitar solo about halfway through.


맑은 날 버스를 타고
Elevenses
Korean
Another Elevenses song, again on the laid-back side though slightly more upbeat than Kiss.


因為你愛我 (Because You Love Me)
Joanna Wang
Mandarin
I uploaded the English disc of Joanna Wang's album, this is one of the Mandarin songs. When I went to Taiwan this song & the Chinese version of Lost in Paradise were playing everywhere. It's one of her slower songs. While it doesn't really seem like a typical jazz track, the chorus shows jazz influences and she is a jazz vocalist, although this particular song is more of a ballad. There's also a nice trumpet solo and a trumpet accompaniment is prominent through the rest of the song after it.


PART 3 * MY PICKS

Box in the ship [preview]
Tohoshinki
Japanese
Pop
Upbeat and with a tropical feel, a 2:30 low-quality preview of the b-side to "Why Have I Fallen In Love With You".


Loveholic
Loveholic
Korean
Soft Rock
Not their best, but it's worth a listen.


Paradise
The Melody
Korean
Soft Rock
Very mellow & relaxing.


Explore "M"
Lee Min Woo
Korean
Hip-Pop
I love the beats in this song. Typical of Min Woo's solo work which leans more towards hip-hop without really being too heavy.

Labels: Apls, capsule, Casker, Elevenses, Hourmelts, House Rulez, Humming Urban Stereo, Joanna Wang, Lee Min Woo, Loptomist, Love Planet Five, Loveholic, Rabbit Punch, Shiina Ringo, SOIL+"PIMP" SESSIONS, 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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