sugar

01. Hey Soul Sister - Train
hey soul sister, i don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

02. 愛愛愛 - Khalil Fong

03. Fly Me Away - Annie Little
won't you fly me away, take me away with you

04. Two Is Better Than One - Boys Like Girls
you came into my life and i thought
hey, you know, this could be something

05. By My Side - David Choi
all the fears you feel inside
and all the tears you cry
they're ending right here.

06. One Touch - Gabe Bondoc
one touch and i'm hooked and i am drowning
one look and i'm lost inside your eyes



// download.

Labels: Annie Little, Blaise Plant, Boys Like Girls, Britney Spears, David Choi, Florrie, gabe bondoc, Khalil Fong, La Roux, Maroon 5, mixtape, Train

christmasmixtape



Sorry it's been so long since my last update! The last few weeks have been a little hectic. I know this is a little late, but I've made a small mixtape of holiday music. To be honest, I can't stand Christmas music. I don't know what it is, I've just never liked listening to Christmas songs. The only exceptions are Last Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and Happy Christmas (War is Over). These are some covers of Christmas classics and some original songs that I do like, and I hope you'll enjoy them too. Happy holidays!

tracklist:

♪ I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas
♪ Amazing Grace - Sufjan Stevens
♪ Last Christmas - Florence & the Machine
♪ White Christmas - Michael Buble
♪ All I Want for Christmas is You - Lady Antebellum
♪ Christmas Lights - Coldplay
♪ Jingle Bells - Lisa Loeb
♪ I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - AAA
♪ Last Christmas - Foxxi misQ
♪ We Need A Little Christmas - Glee
♪ The First Noel (사랑해 그리고 기억해) - Son Ho Young
♪ Winter Wonderland - Kangta
♪ Happy Christmas (War is Over) - Maroon 5

download .zip

Julian Casablancas' I Wish It Was Christmas Today perfectly captures the impatience of waiting for Christmas with its energy, while Sufjan Stevens' folk-influenced rendition of Amazing Grace is as unique as the rest of his music. I love how he keeps true to the original while really putting his own, identifying touch on it. I'm a huge Florence & the Machine fan, and Florence's rich voice is simply gorgeous in their cover of Last Christmas, and the acoustic guitar backdrop allows it to shine through even more. I think this is one of the best covers I've heard. Speaking of great singers, you can't go wrong with Michael Buble. I think every Christmas needs a smooth, chocolatey jazz song, and Buble delivers. Lady Antebellum's cover of All I Want for Christmas is You is another favourite of mine, Hillary's clear-cut voice is flawless. Coldplay's Christmas Lights explores another side of Christmas, saying that "it doesn't really feel like Christmas at all", but at the same time, there's a note of hope. Lisa Loeb delivers a completely transformed Jingle Bells, while AAA's I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is sugary, cute, and quite true to the original. Foxxi misQ, an all-female Japanese hip-hop/urban trio, delivers a pretty, modernized Last Christmas. The modern beat and smooth vocals work well together. I don't really follow Glee, but I do like listening to the show's soundtracks. Son Ho Young's The First Noel is a gorgeous winter ballad, it's a bit slow but his strong voice really makes up for it. Another Korean singer, Kangta's cover of Winter Wonderland works quite well; his English is pretty good. I love Happy Christmas (War is Over), but most covers I hear don't do it justice. Maroon 5's cover is lovely though, it really keeps the message of the original clear.

Labels: AAA, Coldplay, Florence and the Machine, Foxxi misQ, Glee, Julian Casablancas, Kangta, Lady Antebellum, Lisa Loeb, Maroon 5, Michael Buble, mixtape, Son Ho Young, Sufjan Stevens

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

sugar

01. Hey Soul Sister - Train
hey soul sister, i don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

02. 愛愛愛 - Khalil Fong

03. Fly Me Away - Annie Little
won't you fly me away, take me away with you

04. Two Is Better Than One - Boys Like Girls
you came into my life and i thought
hey, you know, this could be something

05. By My Side - David Choi
all the fears you feel inside
and all the tears you cry
they're ending right here.

06. One Touch - Gabe Bondoc
one touch and i'm hooked and i am drowning
one look and i'm lost inside your eyes



// download.

Labels: Annie Little, Blaise Plant, Boys Like Girls, Britney Spears, David Choi, Florrie, gabe bondoc, Khalil Fong, La Roux, Maroon 5, mixtape, Train

christmasmixtape



Sorry it's been so long since my last update! The last few weeks have been a little hectic. I know this is a little late, but I've made a small mixtape of holiday music. To be honest, I can't stand Christmas music. I don't know what it is, I've just never liked listening to Christmas songs. The only exceptions are Last Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and Happy Christmas (War is Over). These are some covers of Christmas classics and some original songs that I do like, and I hope you'll enjoy them too. Happy holidays!

tracklist:

♪ I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas
♪ Amazing Grace - Sufjan Stevens
♪ Last Christmas - Florence & the Machine
♪ White Christmas - Michael Buble
♪ All I Want for Christmas is You - Lady Antebellum
♪ Christmas Lights - Coldplay
♪ Jingle Bells - Lisa Loeb
♪ I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - AAA
♪ Last Christmas - Foxxi misQ
♪ We Need A Little Christmas - Glee
♪ The First Noel (사랑해 그리고 기억해) - Son Ho Young
♪ Winter Wonderland - Kangta
♪ Happy Christmas (War is Over) - Maroon 5

download .zip

Julian Casablancas' I Wish It Was Christmas Today perfectly captures the impatience of waiting for Christmas with its energy, while Sufjan Stevens' folk-influenced rendition of Amazing Grace is as unique as the rest of his music. I love how he keeps true to the original while really putting his own, identifying touch on it. I'm a huge Florence & the Machine fan, and Florence's rich voice is simply gorgeous in their cover of Last Christmas, and the acoustic guitar backdrop allows it to shine through even more. I think this is one of the best covers I've heard. Speaking of great singers, you can't go wrong with Michael Buble. I think every Christmas needs a smooth, chocolatey jazz song, and Buble delivers. Lady Antebellum's cover of All I Want for Christmas is You is another favourite of mine, Hillary's clear-cut voice is flawless. Coldplay's Christmas Lights explores another side of Christmas, saying that "it doesn't really feel like Christmas at all", but at the same time, there's a note of hope. Lisa Loeb delivers a completely transformed Jingle Bells, while AAA's I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is sugary, cute, and quite true to the original. Foxxi misQ, an all-female Japanese hip-hop/urban trio, delivers a pretty, modernized Last Christmas. The modern beat and smooth vocals work well together. I don't really follow Glee, but I do like listening to the show's soundtracks. Son Ho Young's The First Noel is a gorgeous winter ballad, it's a bit slow but his strong voice really makes up for it. Another Korean singer, Kangta's cover of Winter Wonderland works quite well; his English is pretty good. I love Happy Christmas (War is Over), but most covers I hear don't do it justice. Maroon 5's cover is lovely though, it really keeps the message of the original clear.

Labels: AAA, Coldplay, Florence and the Machine, Foxxi misQ, Glee, Julian Casablancas, Kangta, Lady Antebellum, Lisa Loeb, Maroon 5, Michael Buble, mixtape, Son Ho Young, Sufjan Stevens

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

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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If you would like to be affiliates, send me an e-mail at ungathering@hotmail.com.

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