I hope you're all having a great new year so far. =) Just a few recent releases I wanted to share.

- Haruhi

Please remember to comment/leave a rating if taking!

두근두근 - HAM
두근두근 (Acoustic Version) - HAM
Korean | Pop
While I generally dislike girl groups, HAM (despite their unfortunate name) caught my attention with their debut T.T Dance. 두근두근 is a sweet, bubbly pop song. While compositionally it's pretty standard, their strong voices really add warmth and character. Vocally, HAM is definitely one of the stronger girl groups I've seen. While their style differs a lot from ballad-based groups (eg. early SeeYa, Black Pearl), their vocal ability really elevates otherwise lacklustre pop songs into something youthful and refreshing. The Acoustic Version is backed by acoustic guitar, other than that there isn't much difference. There's still a lot of percussion, bass and some synths, so it's not truly "acoustic" - I was hoping for something more genuine and stripped-down. I prefer the original.

Now or Never - C.N. Blue
English | Rock
This group is Korean but debuting in Japan, but from what I can tell this song is entirely in English. They've been described as a "2nd F.T. Island", while I can see the similarities, I feel like C.N. Blue is a little closer to genuine rock, although their music definitely does have a pop-rock feel. Their English is all right, with an accent that could be forgiven if this song was not so incredibly predictable. The lyrics are mundane and somewhat meaningless - while I understand that you probably can't expect too much from a Korean/Japanese group, composition-wise this song is also a huge bore. Their other songs don't sound much better either. Worth a try if you like F.T. Island, though.

少しずつ大切に - MISIA
Japanese | Ballad
MISIA is a female singer that I recently started listening to, I really like her strong, clear voice. Powerful ballads can easily get overly-dramatic, but this mid-tempo number remains light and sweet while still having a lot of emotional value. MISIA's seasoned vocals are simply beautiful, not to mention expressive.

逢いたくていま - MISIA
Japanese | Ballad
Another song by MISIA off the same album, this one is a pretty, piano-based ballad. It's delicate and warm, with touches of strings and a very classic feel. What I really appreciate about this song is that while it does feel timeless and classic, it's not outdated nor cookie-cutter. MISIA's unique voice and the richness of the accompaniment and arrangement really make it stand out. In other words, it's familiar, but certainly nor generic.

NOAH (Unplugged Version) - THE KIDDIE
Japanese | Rock
This is one of two songs (the other is just below) that came with their 2010 Official Calendar. I love acoustic/unplugged versions, so this song was a treat. It's a rock ballad with acoustic guitar and clean vocals that have a raw, unpolished feel, backed with harmonies. A refreshingly genuine song.

antenna (Unplugged Version) - THE KIDDIE
Japanese | Rock
I really love the fluid, soothing guitar in this song. antenna is relaxing and calm, a perfect song to unwind to. The build-up in the last minute or so of the song keeps things interesting.

罗马假日 - Anson Hu
Mandarin | Pop
I saved the best for last - I've had this song on replay for the past few days. Although Anson Hu is a pretty big name in the Chinese music industry, I have to say I'd never really given him much attention until I decided to try out his recently released album titled 失业情歌 (Music Life). While I have mixed feelings about some of the songs, a few really stood out to me - and this is one of them. 罗马假日 is simply gorgeous. The light guitar, rich bass, and delicate keyboard come together perfectly, held by one of the more interesting percussion parts I have recently heard. Anson Hu's vocals deliver with a quiet intensity, adding to the dark feel of the song. Not that it's a dark, depressing song - it's tinged with hope and nostalgia. The ethereal piano melodies lighten the song up, keeping it from being too overbearing or repetitive - in my opinion, it's one of the highlights and defining features. Highly recommended!

Labels: Anson Hu, C.N. Blue, HAM, MISIA, THE KIDDIE

Rotation 11 is slightly smaller than my previous two rotations, but I'm spending a little more time on comments. I was intending to find some images of the artists/albums too, but I decided not to this time.

The theme this week is remixes (this also includes different versions of songs), as well as a couple other songs I wanted to upload. I haven't uploaded the originals for most songs, but if you want, I can probably find them. Just leave me an e-mail or a comment somewhere, and I'll be happy to put it up for you. =)

Enjoy.

-Haruhi

REMIXES.

La La La (DG YG Remix) - Se7en
genre: Pop/Electronica
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I'm usually not a fan of electronica-type remixes of slow songs since I usually find that it takes away from their overall sound, but I have to say that Iike this mix. It's well done and puts a lot of emphasis on the bass, without losing the original essence of it. I actually really like the little eletronic-riff bridge. Probably one of the better remixes I've seen.

Yes Forever (Piano Version) - MISIA
genre: R&B/Ballad
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I uploaded the original of this song in my last update (not the last rotation, but the update in between). This is the piano version of it, which is just as good. She has a wonderful voice, but I do have to admit that this song can get boring after a while. If you like ballads, definitely try her out.

Ashita wa kuru kara - Tohoshinki
Ashita wa kuru kara (A capella version) - Tohoshinki
genre: Pop/Ballad
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: Probably one of my favourite Tohoshinki ballads. I always like their a capella versions, too. It has a sweet but simple piano accompaniment, the same could be said for the melody. The chorus always gets stuck in my head. Their voices are soft but not lacking strength. The a capella version is good, but the piano accompaniment is just a little too loud, in my opinion. But their voices stand out a lot more in the chorus. The harmonizing is well done, their voices blend together nicely. I think I actually like Jae Joong's voice best in these two songs.

Together (Night Falls Mix) - Monkey Majik
genre: Pop
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I uploaded this single a while ago, but without this remix. It's got a kind of bossa-nova/trance feel to it. It's not as good as the original and although it's well executed, it just doesn't suit the style of the song very well. But if you're fan of Monkey Majik, it's worth a listen.

Hit (Remix) - Cho Shin Sung
genre: Pop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I'm usually not a huge boyband fan, but I like these guys. The beginning of this remix is kind of annoying with the guy saying "Run it" over and over, but it's a nice, upbeat track with some pretty dang nice bass beats. Their vocals are good and the first verse of this song reminds me a LOT of Super Junior. I actually thought this was a cover of one of their songs, since they have a song called "Hit" too, but ... it's not. I love the parts where you can hear the glass breaking. Try them out, they're not bad.

너는 어디에 (Remix) - Cho Shin Sung
genre: Pop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Another upbeat Cho Shin Sung song, this song features smooth vocals and a surprisingly melodic chorus. While "Hit" reminded me of Super Junior, this song reminds me of Shinhwa, especially some of their older songs. The transition between the more aggressive verses and then the gentler chorus is well done.

Love mode feat. PE'Z and VERBAL (m-flo) (pzq mode) - Clazziquai
genre: Jazz
language: English
rating:
comments: Clazziquai, PE'Z, AND m-flo - just looking at the artists made me pretty sure this was going to be a good remix, and I wasn't disappointed. I love the drums. And of course, PE'Z is amazing, adding a lovely touch of jazz to this song. The vocals are very relaxing and the lyrics are all in English. It does get kind of repetitive, but I'm recommending this because PE'Z is just awesome.

Breakdown (Supreme Mix) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean/English
rating:
comments: Another one of my favourites from Epik High's fifth album, this mix of Breakdown features mostly English lyrics, though some of the rap verses are in Korean. While the accompaniment is pretty repetitive, this song never really gets boring to me. It's very upbeat. Recommended.

One (Planet Shiver Remix) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I loved Epik High's One, but I didn't really like the remix as much. It doesn't keep many of the original elements of the song ... there's not even vocals for most of it, or they're not lyrics from the original song. However, it does go into the chorus of One, kind of - it's recognizable, at least. When "You are the one" is sung it's just beautiful, though. Everything kind of stops before it, and you're just waiting for it. Worth a listen.

Color Your Soul (Pinch Remix) - Clazziquai
genre: Eletronica
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Starts out with some nice piano chords, then leads into the first verse. It's very unique to Clazziquai's style, and I absolutely love it. Very relaxing.

Fly Remix (Hidden Track) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Loving the drums. It's been a while since I listened to this song, this remix is pretty good ... it doesn't actually sound that much different except for the drums, which make it sound even more upbeat.

거짓말 (Lies) (Remix) - Big Bang
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: This is a slower remix of Lies, with a very simple but lovely piano melody starting it off. It's got more of an acoustic sound than the original mix, and showcases their voices wonderfully. I think it's a live rip, but it's a very good one. The beat does pick up after and it kind of slowly transitions into the original version of the song. Recommended.

MY PICKS.

Call Me (Appelez Moi) - Blaise Plant
genre: Pop
language: English & French
rating:
comments: I'm in love with this song. In case you didn't know, this is Blaise Plant of Monkey Majik. The lyrics are very sweet and sad at the same time.

Love is all that stands between us

The arrangement just blows me away. Love the drums & piano. Really I love just about everything about this song. Highly, highly recommended.

With U - Big Bang
genre: Hip-Hop/Pop
language: English
rating:
comments: Their English is getting pretty good. For the most part, it's understandable in this song. With U has got some pretty infectious beats, though it is pretty generic. The first time I listened to it I didn't really think it was that good, but it's starting to grow on me. This is from their upcoming mini-album in Japan.

マイネイチャー - 超飛行少年 (Super Flying Boy)
genre: Alt-rock
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I thought this was ONE OK ROCK the first time I heard this song. The intro reminds me of Et cetera. Yeah, their style is pretty similar to ONE OK ROCK's. They're pretty good, try them out.

Labels: Big Bang, Blaise Plant, Cho Shin Sung, Clazziquai, Epik High, m-flo, MISIA, Monkey Majik, PE'Z, Se7en, Super Flying Boy, Tohoshinki

I hope you're all having a great new year so far. =) Just a few recent releases I wanted to share.

- Haruhi

Please remember to comment/leave a rating if taking!

두근두근 - HAM
두근두근 (Acoustic Version) - HAM
Korean | Pop
While I generally dislike girl groups, HAM (despite their unfortunate name) caught my attention with their debut T.T Dance. 두근두근 is a sweet, bubbly pop song. While compositionally it's pretty standard, their strong voices really add warmth and character. Vocally, HAM is definitely one of the stronger girl groups I've seen. While their style differs a lot from ballad-based groups (eg. early SeeYa, Black Pearl), their vocal ability really elevates otherwise lacklustre pop songs into something youthful and refreshing. The Acoustic Version is backed by acoustic guitar, other than that there isn't much difference. There's still a lot of percussion, bass and some synths, so it's not truly "acoustic" - I was hoping for something more genuine and stripped-down. I prefer the original.

Now or Never - C.N. Blue
English | Rock
This group is Korean but debuting in Japan, but from what I can tell this song is entirely in English. They've been described as a "2nd F.T. Island", while I can see the similarities, I feel like C.N. Blue is a little closer to genuine rock, although their music definitely does have a pop-rock feel. Their English is all right, with an accent that could be forgiven if this song was not so incredibly predictable. The lyrics are mundane and somewhat meaningless - while I understand that you probably can't expect too much from a Korean/Japanese group, composition-wise this song is also a huge bore. Their other songs don't sound much better either. Worth a try if you like F.T. Island, though.

少しずつ大切に - MISIA
Japanese | Ballad
MISIA is a female singer that I recently started listening to, I really like her strong, clear voice. Powerful ballads can easily get overly-dramatic, but this mid-tempo number remains light and sweet while still having a lot of emotional value. MISIA's seasoned vocals are simply beautiful, not to mention expressive.

逢いたくていま - MISIA
Japanese | Ballad
Another song by MISIA off the same album, this one is a pretty, piano-based ballad. It's delicate and warm, with touches of strings and a very classic feel. What I really appreciate about this song is that while it does feel timeless and classic, it's not outdated nor cookie-cutter. MISIA's unique voice and the richness of the accompaniment and arrangement really make it stand out. In other words, it's familiar, but certainly nor generic.

NOAH (Unplugged Version) - THE KIDDIE
Japanese | Rock
This is one of two songs (the other is just below) that came with their 2010 Official Calendar. I love acoustic/unplugged versions, so this song was a treat. It's a rock ballad with acoustic guitar and clean vocals that have a raw, unpolished feel, backed with harmonies. A refreshingly genuine song.

antenna (Unplugged Version) - THE KIDDIE
Japanese | Rock
I really love the fluid, soothing guitar in this song. antenna is relaxing and calm, a perfect song to unwind to. The build-up in the last minute or so of the song keeps things interesting.

罗马假日 - Anson Hu
Mandarin | Pop
I saved the best for last - I've had this song on replay for the past few days. Although Anson Hu is a pretty big name in the Chinese music industry, I have to say I'd never really given him much attention until I decided to try out his recently released album titled 失业情歌 (Music Life). While I have mixed feelings about some of the songs, a few really stood out to me - and this is one of them. 罗马假日 is simply gorgeous. The light guitar, rich bass, and delicate keyboard come together perfectly, held by one of the more interesting percussion parts I have recently heard. Anson Hu's vocals deliver with a quiet intensity, adding to the dark feel of the song. Not that it's a dark, depressing song - it's tinged with hope and nostalgia. The ethereal piano melodies lighten the song up, keeping it from being too overbearing or repetitive - in my opinion, it's one of the highlights and defining features. Highly recommended!

Labels: Anson Hu, C.N. Blue, HAM, MISIA, THE KIDDIE

Rotation 11 is slightly smaller than my previous two rotations, but I'm spending a little more time on comments. I was intending to find some images of the artists/albums too, but I decided not to this time.

The theme this week is remixes (this also includes different versions of songs), as well as a couple other songs I wanted to upload. I haven't uploaded the originals for most songs, but if you want, I can probably find them. Just leave me an e-mail or a comment somewhere, and I'll be happy to put it up for you. =)

Enjoy.

-Haruhi

REMIXES.

La La La (DG YG Remix) - Se7en
genre: Pop/Electronica
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I'm usually not a fan of electronica-type remixes of slow songs since I usually find that it takes away from their overall sound, but I have to say that Iike this mix. It's well done and puts a lot of emphasis on the bass, without losing the original essence of it. I actually really like the little eletronic-riff bridge. Probably one of the better remixes I've seen.

Yes Forever (Piano Version) - MISIA
genre: R&B/Ballad
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I uploaded the original of this song in my last update (not the last rotation, but the update in between). This is the piano version of it, which is just as good. She has a wonderful voice, but I do have to admit that this song can get boring after a while. If you like ballads, definitely try her out.

Ashita wa kuru kara - Tohoshinki
Ashita wa kuru kara (A capella version) - Tohoshinki
genre: Pop/Ballad
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: Probably one of my favourite Tohoshinki ballads. I always like their a capella versions, too. It has a sweet but simple piano accompaniment, the same could be said for the melody. The chorus always gets stuck in my head. Their voices are soft but not lacking strength. The a capella version is good, but the piano accompaniment is just a little too loud, in my opinion. But their voices stand out a lot more in the chorus. The harmonizing is well done, their voices blend together nicely. I think I actually like Jae Joong's voice best in these two songs.

Together (Night Falls Mix) - Monkey Majik
genre: Pop
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I uploaded this single a while ago, but without this remix. It's got a kind of bossa-nova/trance feel to it. It's not as good as the original and although it's well executed, it just doesn't suit the style of the song very well. But if you're fan of Monkey Majik, it's worth a listen.

Hit (Remix) - Cho Shin Sung
genre: Pop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I'm usually not a huge boyband fan, but I like these guys. The beginning of this remix is kind of annoying with the guy saying "Run it" over and over, but it's a nice, upbeat track with some pretty dang nice bass beats. Their vocals are good and the first verse of this song reminds me a LOT of Super Junior. I actually thought this was a cover of one of their songs, since they have a song called "Hit" too, but ... it's not. I love the parts where you can hear the glass breaking. Try them out, they're not bad.

너는 어디에 (Remix) - Cho Shin Sung
genre: Pop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Another upbeat Cho Shin Sung song, this song features smooth vocals and a surprisingly melodic chorus. While "Hit" reminded me of Super Junior, this song reminds me of Shinhwa, especially some of their older songs. The transition between the more aggressive verses and then the gentler chorus is well done.

Love mode feat. PE'Z and VERBAL (m-flo) (pzq mode) - Clazziquai
genre: Jazz
language: English
rating:
comments: Clazziquai, PE'Z, AND m-flo - just looking at the artists made me pretty sure this was going to be a good remix, and I wasn't disappointed. I love the drums. And of course, PE'Z is amazing, adding a lovely touch of jazz to this song. The vocals are very relaxing and the lyrics are all in English. It does get kind of repetitive, but I'm recommending this because PE'Z is just awesome.

Breakdown (Supreme Mix) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean/English
rating:
comments: Another one of my favourites from Epik High's fifth album, this mix of Breakdown features mostly English lyrics, though some of the rap verses are in Korean. While the accompaniment is pretty repetitive, this song never really gets boring to me. It's very upbeat. Recommended.

One (Planet Shiver Remix) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I loved Epik High's One, but I didn't really like the remix as much. It doesn't keep many of the original elements of the song ... there's not even vocals for most of it, or they're not lyrics from the original song. However, it does go into the chorus of One, kind of - it's recognizable, at least. When "You are the one" is sung it's just beautiful, though. Everything kind of stops before it, and you're just waiting for it. Worth a listen.

Color Your Soul (Pinch Remix) - Clazziquai
genre: Eletronica
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Starts out with some nice piano chords, then leads into the first verse. It's very unique to Clazziquai's style, and I absolutely love it. Very relaxing.

Fly Remix (Hidden Track) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Loving the drums. It's been a while since I listened to this song, this remix is pretty good ... it doesn't actually sound that much different except for the drums, which make it sound even more upbeat.

거짓말 (Lies) (Remix) - Big Bang
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: This is a slower remix of Lies, with a very simple but lovely piano melody starting it off. It's got more of an acoustic sound than the original mix, and showcases their voices wonderfully. I think it's a live rip, but it's a very good one. The beat does pick up after and it kind of slowly transitions into the original version of the song. Recommended.

MY PICKS.

Call Me (Appelez Moi) - Blaise Plant
genre: Pop
language: English & French
rating:
comments: I'm in love with this song. In case you didn't know, this is Blaise Plant of Monkey Majik. The lyrics are very sweet and sad at the same time.

Love is all that stands between us

The arrangement just blows me away. Love the drums & piano. Really I love just about everything about this song. Highly, highly recommended.

With U - Big Bang
genre: Hip-Hop/Pop
language: English
rating:
comments: Their English is getting pretty good. For the most part, it's understandable in this song. With U has got some pretty infectious beats, though it is pretty generic. The first time I listened to it I didn't really think it was that good, but it's starting to grow on me. This is from their upcoming mini-album in Japan.

マイネイチャー - 超飛行少年 (Super Flying Boy)
genre: Alt-rock
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I thought this was ONE OK ROCK the first time I heard this song. The intro reminds me of Et cetera. Yeah, their style is pretty similar to ONE OK ROCK's. They're pretty good, try them out.

Labels: Big Bang, Blaise Plant, Cho Shin Sung, Clazziquai, Epik High, m-flo, MISIA, Monkey Majik, PE'Z, Se7en, Super Flying Boy, 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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