Yes, I am still alive. Sort of.
For this post I thought I’d try and compile some songs that are nice and mellow for...well...that time of the year that some people, including myself, don’t really care very much for. Okay. Really I only care about the chocolates and the post-Valentine’s day discounts that come along.
어쩌다 (Hitchhiker Remix) - Brown Eyed Girls
Korean | Pop
I know that the original was posted way back (March 09) but I actually like this version much better (don’t really know what’s with me and remixes). I do like the more house-ish/techno sound this song has although it does kind of kill the meaning behind the song...especially since I find myself kind of bouncing along with the song.
Loveless - Yamashita Tomohisa
Japanese | Pop
The piano medley is simple but still effective in trying to get across the kind of melancholy and inevitable sadness the song talks about. It is a nice mid-tempo ballad, although pretty typical of J-pop.
Loving Loved - Yuya Matsushita
Japanese | Pop
More along the same vein as the last song, Yuya’s song is pretty similar in that he uses the piano to convey the sadness. That said, I do like this song better. I like the overall melody, the base line and the beat even though it’s still a pretty typical J-pop song. It’s the kind of song I’d picture listening to as I’m watching the closing credits of a romantic comedy / drama series.
Cry - MBLAQ
Korean | R&B
In comparison to the other songs, this is probably my favorite. It reminds me of the older, but still classic R&B sound. There’s a part of me that wants me to hear Rain sing this instead of them but you can still hear how Rain’s influence clearly permeates everything these guys do. I love the contrast that the sleigh bells (I think that’s what those are) give.
Best of Me - Michael Buble
English | Ballad
If I could pick THE post-break up song, this would be that song. This takes you through a journey of somebody who’s gone through a really bad break up but was able to find someone else to love. It is a VERY sappy song but it has a good message. I remember watching him sing this live at his concert and thinking that it was an amazing song.
Labels: Brown Eyed Girls, Contributor; Carmi, MBLAQ, Michael Buble, Yamashita Tomohisa, Yuya Matsushita
[rotation 56] christmas mixtape
Wednesday, December 22, 2010 posted at 6:28 PM
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!
♪ 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
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
Again, you all have my apologies for not posting until now. This is just a quick post that notes some songs that I’ve thrown onto my iPod. There isn’t really a theme tying the songs together, but more like a sampler of what’s on it.
Waiting For U - Acoustic Collabo
Korean | Ballad / Pop
I really like the simplistic sound of this song, just the girl singing, the guitar and a harmonica later on. She’s got a really pure voice that’s mellow and isn’t so high that it makes you think that she’d been sucking on helium. This kind of reminds me of something that Bonnie Pink would release.
Rain U (Tsim Sha Tsui Remix) - HybRefine
Korean | Pop / Techno
This does sound like a typical remixed song, nothing overly special. But it does have a good beat and the rap goes well with it. The effects can get a bit much since the whole thing already has a bunch of effects on it, but it does make the piano stand out more clearly.
I Love You - JYJ feat. Flowsik
English | Pop
This song is okay....my favorite parts are the ones where Flowsik raps. The song gets quieter to show off his rapping and you have Yoochun just throwing hooks in. As for the trio, I kind of wished that they had sang more in the lower registers (this is mostly referring to Yoochun because I think that’s where he sounds the best).
I Can’t - 2PM
Korean | Pop
The song is sweet, albeit sad. The beat is nice and mid-tempo and the instruments compliment the vocals really well. It’s not overly sappy, which is kind of nice.
Haven’t Met You Yet (Cutmore Remix) - Michael Buble
English | Pop?
I was actually walking through a clothing store when I heard this song and that’s when I had to find it and have it on my iPod. I really love the original (one of my favorite songs of all time) and this remix is pretty good too. It gets quiet at the right points but still makes the song more upbeat than the original.
For my next post, I was thinking of doing a continuous mix...any thoughts as to what songs or singers/groups? I can also do a sort of "live" edition where I'd mix some of their live songs into a mini concert....
Labels: 2PM, Acoustic Collabo, Contributor; Carmi, HybRefine, JYJ, Michael Buble
