Rotation 52 is unthemed; I just chose a mix of recent releases and older songs that I hadn't shared before. Sorry, my commentary isn't too great this time around but I tried to mark a few songs as recommended to help you decide what to take. Enjoy the songs!

- Haruhi

Emerald Lake (Catherine North Demo Version) - Said the Whale
English | Indie pop
This band is based in Vancouver, where I live, so I was excited to hear a local artist. At first, I thought they were a pretty standard indie pop band, but they've really grown on me. I love the lines, "What a fine life we are living, what a fine life we are living" which get repeated throughout the song, there's something charming and catchy about it, but, as the song clocks in at only 2:05, it doesn't get too repetitive. If you're an indie pop fan, check them out.

그대 내맘에 들어 오면은 - MBLAQ
Korean | Pop/R&B
This is a cover of a Jo Duk Bae song, I really love the collaboration album it's from which is all covers of Jo Duk Bae's songs. To be honest, I'm far too new to k-pop to know anything about Jo Duk Bae but I have listened to the original version of this song as well as a cover by a singer I'm a little more familiar with, Jo Sung Mo. While Jo Sung Mo's cover basically keeps the flavour of the original but, of course, with a different vocal performance, MBLAQ really makes the song their own. I mean, I couldn't recognize it as the cover until the chorus, which has a fantastic melody. I'm not a big MBLAQ fan, but this song might just have converted me. I love the soft, layered synths and the keyboard intro as well. It's very modernized and contemporary, and their vocals really work.

오! 나의 여신님 (Oh! My Goddess) - TRAX
Korean | Rock
I can't believe these guys are back! Things have definitely changed. The TRAX (or I guess they're just going by TRAX now) used to be more of a "real" rock band as they were then produced by X-Japan's Yoshiki, but - well, they are an SM Entertainment band, and after losing a few members they sound more like F.T. Island than X Japan. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing - I love this song. It's so catchy and addictive, and has a bright pop-rock sound that I usually don't like, but they make it work. It's energetic, and definitely the kind of song you'd put on repeat. A great comeback.

Parachute (Radio Mix) - Cheryl Cole
English | Pop
Member of UK pop group Girls Aloud, Cheryl Cole has released quite a bit of solo material before. This is the first song I heard from her (or Girls Aloud, for that matter) but it's so good. I love the catchy chorus and the way the lines lead into one another not just musically but lyrically as well. It's got a bit more edge than your typical pop song, and I really love the military-style percussion, thick bass line, and dramatic but careful use of strings and the way everything flows a little more in the chorus as opposed to the less melodic verses.

널 사랑한다 - Park Hyo Shin
Korean | Ballad
I am still waiting for Part 2 of 'Gift' to release. =( While an OST song is certainly better than nothing, I still wish he'd focus on his album instead. Compositionally, it's pretty straightforward: a hopeful, mid-tempo string-based ballad. I appreciate the pace, actually - it's a bit faster than your typical ballad, and a lot more energetic as a result. Park Hyo Shin's vocals are spot on as always, but because of the richer accompaniment you don't hear its depth and richness as much although it's still evident.

화해하지 말아요 - Code V
Korean | Ballad
Another OST track, this one from new boyband Code V. With all the new groups k-pop is churning out, there are very few I find memorable or even passable, but Code V is one of the best of the bunch. I mean, they can actually sing. I liked their debut songs better than their OST work (another recently released OST song by them is below) but this is still a great, straightforward ballad. They all have distinctive voices that work together really well - one member's is a bit huskier and deeper, another's is lighter and sweeter in tone. A promising new group - and I rarely get the chance to say that.

지금 만나러 간다 - Code V
Korean | Pop/Ballad
Here's another Code V song, it's a bit brighter than the previous song and I love the pretty keyboard in combination with the light strings, it's rare that strings step back to let the piano shine through, but that's what happens here. Sweet and well-executed.

Candy Red - Scars Borough
Japanese | Punk/Pop-rock
Scars Borough was put together by drummer Hirotaka, formerly of the band ELLEGARDEN. I loved ELLEGARDEN, but was interested to see what their members would pursue in their solo activities. I'm not a big punk fan (ELLEGARDEN was really the only sort of punk-rock that I liked) but this song is just so fantastic. They have a female vocalist, which was unexpected but great. The bright vocalizing in the intro is so energetic and catchy, and the song just has such a bright pop-rock energy paired with gritty guitar work and heavy percussion typical of punk that, somehow, comes together beautifully. An addicting song.

아파 (SLOW) - 2NE1
Korean | Pop
To be honest, I can't stand 2NE1. I can't even listen to "FIRE" or "Try to Copy Me" all the way through. But there was one song I did like by them, that kept me following their releases (although without much interest), and that was "I Don't Care". There was just something different about that song: not just deviating from their normal, heavily-electronicized and auto-tuned style but from what you typically see in k-pop in general (although I suppose that nowadays, that's basically heavily-electronicized, auto-tuned stuff). I listened to their new album sort of half-heartedly and skipped most of the songs, but as soon as I got to this one I could tell just from the waltz-inspired piano intro that I was going to like it. Like "I Don't Care", it has a reggae-touched, stripped-down, breezy style that is so different from their usual fare: and to me, that's a very good thing. To be honest, I still don't like them vocally. I think that if another group had handled this song, it might have been even better. Their vocals sound at time strained and thin and at times sort of artificial, not with a real auto-tune affect but definitely like some sort of editing was done. Despite that, I still like the song (especially the bridge) and think it's a highlight of their discography, even if that's not saying much. It's not quite as catchy as "I Don't Care" though.

Somewhere in Brooklyn - Bruno Mars
English | Pop
I shared a few Bruno Mars songs previously; this is another track off his debut EP. I love the melody of this song, especially in the intro where he sings "She was covered in leather and gold, twenty-one years old." The song basically describes a girl he met briefly on the street but never got the name of, and he's been looking for her since. It's sweet and catchy, and you can't go wrong with a voice like Bruno Mars'. It's so clean and refreshing.

淡淡的歌 (A Faint Song) - Xu Fei
Mandarin | Acoustic Pop
The title can also be translated as "A Light Song" or something to that effect. It's a very pretty, simple acoustic guitar track. Songs like this - especially considering how light the accompaniment is - can tend to get bland pretty fast, but there's something charming and genuine about this song that kept my attention. I love the stronger chorus and the soft strings that come in for a short solo and then fade out again.

Over - miss $ ft. JiEun
Korean | Pop
last.fm says they're a "female hip-hop group that specializes in ballads", I listened to their "Miss Independent" digital single - it's called a digital single but there's three songs, I don't really know what that's about. Anyways, this is the third song and the one I found most promising. There's something about the soft, digitalized strings and chorus of "Love is over" that makes it stand out. It's not outstanding, but it's refreshing to see female rappers who are actually decent. The vocalist has a nice voice as well.

헤어지러 가는 길 (feat. 조권/JoKwon of 2AM) - Lim Jeong Hee
Korean | Pop/Ballad
I'm not a big J-Lim fan and got this mostly because of JoKwon. The percussion has a bit more edge and depth to it than you might expect, and the light, feel-good accompaniment comes together nicely. I love the way JeongHee and JoKwon's lines overlap, and strangely enough the melody of the chorus has a bit of a rock-anthem air. There's some pretty harmonies, but I wish they'd taken them further and added a little more complexity to the song. I'm not very fond of the way it just dies off at the end, either. A very simple, straight-forward song that's worth a listen.

Labels: 2ne1, Bruno Mars, Cheryl Cole, Code V, Lim Jeong Hee, MBLAQ, miss $, Park Hyo Shin, Said the Whale, Scars Borough, the TRAX, Xu Fei

Okay so the order for this rotation changed soooo much. I’m mostly satisfied with the final product. Tanaka Roma’s “Namida” originally ranked at #8, but then I was listening to it and was thinking, “Why the heck is this so far down?” And bumped it up to #5, which in turn moved Tohoshinki down to #6. Evan’s song originally ranked at #6, was bumped to #7 after moving “Namida”, then bumped down another spot to make room for JJ Lin. Point being: there’s just too many good ballads - don’t judge too much on the numbered spots, like I said they moved around a lot. Also, this is only based on my personal opinion, not statistics or anything. =)

Top Ten Ballads:

#10. 클래식 (Classic) - KCM
What a beautiful voice - high, clear, crisp, rich yet pure at the same time. The predictable string & piano arrangement doesn’t really do anything for me, I’d probably forget the melody if it wasn’t KCM singing it, but just listen to that voice.

#9. 슬픈 인연 (Sad Fate) - Monday Kiz
Monday Kiz had to be on this list somewhere. I have also uploaded this song before (and no I am not trying to be lazy by reusing old songs, haha). Kim Min Soo’s death really just shocked me. I loved this duo’s music already, but his death really drew me into their songs even more. This was their last release - it actually came out a couple months after Min Soo’s death. Their voices are ... just amazing. They compliment each other perfectly. The harmonizing is beautiful. Both singers are at the top of their form. The song sounds a bit unpolished, but this only adds to its raw, intimate emotion. I don’t listen to this song as often & it released fairly recently compared to the other songs, which is why it didn’t rank as high, but every time I listen to it I’m just completely taken away.

#8. 남자도… 어쩔 수 없다 (Namjado... Eojjeol Su Eopda/Men ... are unavoidable) - Evan
This is a song that I first listened to when it released, around 2007, IIRC. It really just doesn’t get old, no matter how many times I revisit it. Evan’s voice, although not the most powerful, is a pleasure to listen to. The melody will linger in your head.

#7. 大男人 小女孩 - JJ Lin
It’s always the first line of the song that gets me. JJ Lin’s voice rises over the accompaniment, filled with emotion. It is really the little nuances in his voice that make this song so perfect, the way he seems to be almost struggling with himself sometimes to express a phrase and finish the verse. His voice evens out more and more towards the end of the song, gaining confidence and power.

#6. Love in the Ice - Tohoshinki
It was a close call between Love in the Ice and Forever Love as to which song would make the list, but in the end, Love in the Ice won. A chillingly emotional song that starts out softly and just keeps building, getting stronger and stronger. Each member’s vocals are spot-on, the verses seamlessly joined and the harmonizing perfect.

#5. Namida (Sleepless Night MANABOON MIX) - Tanaka Roma
I’ve also shared this song before, I’m not sure if you would even call it a ballad, which is why it didn’t rank as high as it might have. Tanaka’s genuine, pure voice simply soars. It is a “remix”, but the original simply cannot match up to this. The piano that forms the base of the accompaniment is beautiful, supporting without overpowering. Such raw emotion in a song is so rare. Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m wondering why I didn’t rank this higher.

#4. 童話 (Tong Hua/Fairytale) - 光良 (Guang Liang/Michael Wong)
Another song I've previously uploaded - one of my favourite Chinese songs. Guang Liang’s voice is smooth and precise, but heartfelt. The chorus is where the song really soars. Maybe it’s partially the lyrics of this song that I like, but nonetheless a wonderful ballad. To be honest, I was debating whether this song should be so highly ranked. Much of the reason I’m attached to it is personal value, as it’s a song my family often listens to and that my friends and I used to sing all the time at karaoke. Either way, it’s a great song that was very popular in Taiwan when it released, and I hope you’ll enjoy it. =)

#3. Only Human - K
The a cappella opening of this song is just amazing. K’s voice is a flawless blend of strength and a soft, melodic vulernability. The accompaniment is sparse, putting the focus just where it should be: K’s amazing vocal performance. I don’t know what else to say about this song, just listen to it.

#2. 같은 베개 (Same Pillow) - Tei
This is one of the most highly played songs in my iTunes. Although it’s more of an old favourite that I often return to than a song on constant repeat, it’s a great song. Tei’s deep, full voice is perfect for ballads. Certain notes have an almost rough edge, others polished smooth. The melody and arrangement is memorable, hopeful but with a hint of sadness.

#1. 한 남자 (Han Nam Ja/One Man) - Kim Jong Kook
And that brings us to my favourite ballad ever, Han Nam Ja. I uploaded this song a long time ago, waaay back in my fourth rotation. I usually get bored of songs, especially pop songs/ballads, but I’ve listened to this song countless times, and I just never tire of it. I honestly don’t know why - it’s just a classic ballad with light percussion, typical string & piano accompaniment. But Kim Jong Kook’s high, clear voice is absolutely full of emotion, bringing this song to a whole other level: tender, vulnerable, yearning, and, overall, stunning. The lyrics fit the song perfectly. You can read the translated lyrics here (scroll down, it's the last song on the page).

Runners-up:

Forever Love - Tohoshinki
Forever Love (a capella version) - Tohoshinki
Uploaded this song before way back in my 5th rotation, which was when Tohoshinki's "T" album released. I really love the a cappella version of this song too. More hopeful than "Love in the Ice", which found its way onto the countdown. Whereas Love in the Ice had more intensity, Forever Love is almost comforting, with a warmer, richer tone. Vocally, I think this is really one of Tohoshinki's best songs.

그립고... 그리운 (Yearning ... Yearn) - Park Hyo Shin
I would’ve thought Park Hyo Shin would make the list, but although he has a lot of great ballads, there isn’t really one in particular that really stands out to me. But if there was, Yearning ... Yearn would probably be it. Park Hyo Shin’s voice balances strength and vulernability, at times full and rich and others lightly soaring through the melodies. A very sad and emotional track.

Even Though My Heart Breaks - Fly to the Sky
I’m hesitant to say FTTS is at their best here, but they’re definitely close. Hwanhee’s voice is rich and deep, Brian’s lighter and cleaner but still as emotional. As much as I love their solo songs, these guys still sound way better together. Hwanhee’s voice can be almost a little too overpowering in solo works; Brian’s too plain - together, they just balance each other out. Anyways, Brian’s voice sounded oddly close to Hwanhee’s in certain verses - deeper in range, with that husky note to it. They still sound great, but the contrast wasn’t as clear. The arrangement is also quite plain.

환상 (Illusion) - Fly to the Sky
I was surprised to find that FTTS did not mark its spot on the list. They originally held a spot, but as I found more and more songs that I wanted to include, they kept getting moved down until they were completely off the list. Illusion is more of a slow-tempo pop/R&B song than a real ballad.

Only Wind, Only Wind - SG Wannabe & Kim Jong Kook
This song was definitely a contender. I mean, come on, just look at the artists. Kim Jong Kook’s soaring, clean voice creates a well-cut contrast with SG Wannabe’s deeper, huskier vocalists - but they come together perfectly. Style-wise, it leans towards SG Wannabe, but both artists are definitely giving their best.

Love? - Evan Yo
I don’t know anything about this singer. Love? starts out soft and accompanied only by a piano. Evan Yo’s lyrical voice brings the simple, unadorned melodies to their fullest. Then, all of a sudden, the song bursts into a full-fledged rock verse. The transitions between the two moods, repeated throughout the song, are well-executed. I’m not sure if it would even really be considered a ballad, but a good song nonetheless.

Labels: Evan, Evan Yo, Fly to the Sky, Guang Liang, JJ Lin, K, KCM, Kim Jong Kook, Monday Kiz, Park Hyo Shin, SG Wannabe, Tanaka Roma, Tei, Tohoshinki

Happy Valentine's Day! =) I think the theme of this rotation is pretty self-explanatory. My comments this week are kind of dead, sorry.

Everyday Valentine - Winter Garden
language Korean
genre rock
rating
comments Like most Korean rock, this isn't really "heavy" rock. But I liked it - their vocalist has a mature, rich voice and the chorus is memorable.

Valentine STEP - Aira Mitsuki
language Japanese
genre pop
rating
comments A cute, poppy, happy song. The vocals are a little too chipmunk-y and synthesized for my taste, but I like the melody and summer-y acoustic guitar chords. Overall, a pretty good song.

Love will live forever - A-lin
language Mandarin
genre rock
rating
comments I really like her voice - strong, powerful, but not overwhelming. A fairly straightforward rock track - it's a bit generic in form and execution, but decent female rock in Mandarin is just so hard to find.

爱我 (Love Me) - Danson Tang
language Mandarin
genre pop
rating
comments I love the acoustic feel that this song starts off on. A rock-influenced song with a great acoustic guitar accompaniment and catchy melody. It feels dark in sections, then much lighter in others, providing a nice contrast.

So Fall In Love - DNT
language Korean
genre pop/dance
rating
comments Fun, light-hearted and bright. The little trumpet/brass riffs are a nice touch. I like the harmonizing.

Sea of Love - Fly to the Sky
language Korean
genre R&B/pop
rating
comments I love Fly to the Sky. This is one of their older releases, I believe it was the title track of their third album. As always, their voices are just in perfect contrast. It's a fairly simple track, but I love it.

Love Song - Khalil Fong
language Mandarin
genre R&B
rating
comments I've uploaded a couple songs by him before, this is a slightly older but very popular song of his. His voice is just so pretty, laid back but emotional at the same time. The accompaniment is stripped down except in the chorus, giving the song a bare, stark feel.

L O V E - JiSun
language Korean
genre soft rock
rating
comments Former vocalist of Loveholic, JiSun has recently released her solo album! While I was disappointed to see her leave the group, I also really liked this album. L O V E is hopeful and powerful.

We love you~世界は君を愛してる~ - Miyavi
language Japanese
genre rock
rating
comments Miyavi was the first Japanese artist I ever listened to. His voice is soft, almost a whisper, but intense. As expected, the guitar work is great. One of my favourite songs by him.

I Love You - 8eight ft. Jessica (SNSD)
language Korean
genre pop
rating
comments A fairly typical pop song. I love 8eight, their vocalists are quite good, which brings this song to another level. The chorus is really catchy - a fun, light-hearted listen.

Left My Hearts - Yiruma
language none
genre instrumental (piano)
rating
comments I love Yiruma. <3 This song is quite downtempo, I guess it suits the title. Although it seems fairly sad, there are notes of hope in it. Beautiful and expressive.

This Time - John Legend
language English
genre r&b
rating
comments I put R&B as the genre simply because that's John Legend's typical fare, but this song is far from his typical upbeat tracks - a gorgeous slow song. The lyrics are beautiful, as is the accompaniment. John Legend's voice is flawless - emotional and unique. Simply a beautiful song.

愛與希望 (Love and Hope) - JJ Lin
language Mandarin
genre pop/ballad
rating
comments I really like the piano in this song. JJ Lin's voice is lovely - soft and expressive, but still steady, suiting this ballad perfectly. Those two things, the rich, full piano accompaniment and JJ Lin's voice, really made this otherwise bland ballad stand out.

Longing for Romance - Joanna Wang
language English
genre jazz
rating
comments I've uploaded quite a lot of her songs - her entire debut album and one track from her second album. She's been hailed as "Taiwan's Norah Jones", if that gives you any insight as to her style and voice. This song isn't one of my favourites by her - it has a kind of weird, lurching feel to it that I can't explain. But definitely try her out.

Sarang sarang sarang - Park Hyo Shin
langauge Korean
genre pop
rating
comments Until this song, all the songs I'd heard from him were ballads. Not that that's a bad thing, because his ballads are gorgeous. I love his voice - deep and slightly husky. Who knew he would be just as good as upbeat tracks? This song has a faint rock/jazz vibe to it. I think it's actually a cover, but I don't know who the original was by. Recommended. <3

Labels: 8eight, A-Lin, Aira Mitsuki, Danson Tang, DNT, Fly to the Sky, Jisun, JJ Lin, Joanna Wang, John Legend, Khalil Fong, miyavi, Park Hyo Shin, Winter Garden, Yiruma

Rotation 52 is unthemed; I just chose a mix of recent releases and older songs that I hadn't shared before. Sorry, my commentary isn't too great this time around but I tried to mark a few songs as recommended to help you decide what to take. Enjoy the songs!

- Haruhi

Emerald Lake (Catherine North Demo Version) - Said the Whale
English | Indie pop
This band is based in Vancouver, where I live, so I was excited to hear a local artist. At first, I thought they were a pretty standard indie pop band, but they've really grown on me. I love the lines, "What a fine life we are living, what a fine life we are living" which get repeated throughout the song, there's something charming and catchy about it, but, as the song clocks in at only 2:05, it doesn't get too repetitive. If you're an indie pop fan, check them out.

그대 내맘에 들어 오면은 - MBLAQ
Korean | Pop/R&B
This is a cover of a Jo Duk Bae song, I really love the collaboration album it's from which is all covers of Jo Duk Bae's songs. To be honest, I'm far too new to k-pop to know anything about Jo Duk Bae but I have listened to the original version of this song as well as a cover by a singer I'm a little more familiar with, Jo Sung Mo. While Jo Sung Mo's cover basically keeps the flavour of the original but, of course, with a different vocal performance, MBLAQ really makes the song their own. I mean, I couldn't recognize it as the cover until the chorus, which has a fantastic melody. I'm not a big MBLAQ fan, but this song might just have converted me. I love the soft, layered synths and the keyboard intro as well. It's very modernized and contemporary, and their vocals really work.

오! 나의 여신님 (Oh! My Goddess) - TRAX
Korean | Rock
I can't believe these guys are back! Things have definitely changed. The TRAX (or I guess they're just going by TRAX now) used to be more of a "real" rock band as they were then produced by X-Japan's Yoshiki, but - well, they are an SM Entertainment band, and after losing a few members they sound more like F.T. Island than X Japan. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing - I love this song. It's so catchy and addictive, and has a bright pop-rock sound that I usually don't like, but they make it work. It's energetic, and definitely the kind of song you'd put on repeat. A great comeback.

Parachute (Radio Mix) - Cheryl Cole
English | Pop
Member of UK pop group Girls Aloud, Cheryl Cole has released quite a bit of solo material before. This is the first song I heard from her (or Girls Aloud, for that matter) but it's so good. I love the catchy chorus and the way the lines lead into one another not just musically but lyrically as well. It's got a bit more edge than your typical pop song, and I really love the military-style percussion, thick bass line, and dramatic but careful use of strings and the way everything flows a little more in the chorus as opposed to the less melodic verses.

널 사랑한다 - Park Hyo Shin
Korean | Ballad
I am still waiting for Part 2 of 'Gift' to release. =( While an OST song is certainly better than nothing, I still wish he'd focus on his album instead. Compositionally, it's pretty straightforward: a hopeful, mid-tempo string-based ballad. I appreciate the pace, actually - it's a bit faster than your typical ballad, and a lot more energetic as a result. Park Hyo Shin's vocals are spot on as always, but because of the richer accompaniment you don't hear its depth and richness as much although it's still evident.

화해하지 말아요 - Code V
Korean | Ballad
Another OST track, this one from new boyband Code V. With all the new groups k-pop is churning out, there are very few I find memorable or even passable, but Code V is one of the best of the bunch. I mean, they can actually sing. I liked their debut songs better than their OST work (another recently released OST song by them is below) but this is still a great, straightforward ballad. They all have distinctive voices that work together really well - one member's is a bit huskier and deeper, another's is lighter and sweeter in tone. A promising new group - and I rarely get the chance to say that.

지금 만나러 간다 - Code V
Korean | Pop/Ballad
Here's another Code V song, it's a bit brighter than the previous song and I love the pretty keyboard in combination with the light strings, it's rare that strings step back to let the piano shine through, but that's what happens here. Sweet and well-executed.

Candy Red - Scars Borough
Japanese | Punk/Pop-rock
Scars Borough was put together by drummer Hirotaka, formerly of the band ELLEGARDEN. I loved ELLEGARDEN, but was interested to see what their members would pursue in their solo activities. I'm not a big punk fan (ELLEGARDEN was really the only sort of punk-rock that I liked) but this song is just so fantastic. They have a female vocalist, which was unexpected but great. The bright vocalizing in the intro is so energetic and catchy, and the song just has such a bright pop-rock energy paired with gritty guitar work and heavy percussion typical of punk that, somehow, comes together beautifully. An addicting song.

아파 (SLOW) - 2NE1
Korean | Pop
To be honest, I can't stand 2NE1. I can't even listen to "FIRE" or "Try to Copy Me" all the way through. But there was one song I did like by them, that kept me following their releases (although without much interest), and that was "I Don't Care". There was just something different about that song: not just deviating from their normal, heavily-electronicized and auto-tuned style but from what you typically see in k-pop in general (although I suppose that nowadays, that's basically heavily-electronicized, auto-tuned stuff). I listened to their new album sort of half-heartedly and skipped most of the songs, but as soon as I got to this one I could tell just from the waltz-inspired piano intro that I was going to like it. Like "I Don't Care", it has a reggae-touched, stripped-down, breezy style that is so different from their usual fare: and to me, that's a very good thing. To be honest, I still don't like them vocally. I think that if another group had handled this song, it might have been even better. Their vocals sound at time strained and thin and at times sort of artificial, not with a real auto-tune affect but definitely like some sort of editing was done. Despite that, I still like the song (especially the bridge) and think it's a highlight of their discography, even if that's not saying much. It's not quite as catchy as "I Don't Care" though.

Somewhere in Brooklyn - Bruno Mars
English | Pop
I shared a few Bruno Mars songs previously; this is another track off his debut EP. I love the melody of this song, especially in the intro where he sings "She was covered in leather and gold, twenty-one years old." The song basically describes a girl he met briefly on the street but never got the name of, and he's been looking for her since. It's sweet and catchy, and you can't go wrong with a voice like Bruno Mars'. It's so clean and refreshing.

淡淡的歌 (A Faint Song) - Xu Fei
Mandarin | Acoustic Pop
The title can also be translated as "A Light Song" or something to that effect. It's a very pretty, simple acoustic guitar track. Songs like this - especially considering how light the accompaniment is - can tend to get bland pretty fast, but there's something charming and genuine about this song that kept my attention. I love the stronger chorus and the soft strings that come in for a short solo and then fade out again.

Over - miss $ ft. JiEun
Korean | Pop
last.fm says they're a "female hip-hop group that specializes in ballads", I listened to their "Miss Independent" digital single - it's called a digital single but there's three songs, I don't really know what that's about. Anyways, this is the third song and the one I found most promising. There's something about the soft, digitalized strings and chorus of "Love is over" that makes it stand out. It's not outstanding, but it's refreshing to see female rappers who are actually decent. The vocalist has a nice voice as well.

헤어지러 가는 길 (feat. 조권/JoKwon of 2AM) - Lim Jeong Hee
Korean | Pop/Ballad
I'm not a big J-Lim fan and got this mostly because of JoKwon. The percussion has a bit more edge and depth to it than you might expect, and the light, feel-good accompaniment comes together nicely. I love the way JeongHee and JoKwon's lines overlap, and strangely enough the melody of the chorus has a bit of a rock-anthem air. There's some pretty harmonies, but I wish they'd taken them further and added a little more complexity to the song. I'm not very fond of the way it just dies off at the end, either. A very simple, straight-forward song that's worth a listen.

Labels: 2ne1, Bruno Mars, Cheryl Cole, Code V, Lim Jeong Hee, MBLAQ, miss $, Park Hyo Shin, Said the Whale, Scars Borough, the TRAX, Xu Fei

Okay so the order for this rotation changed soooo much. I’m mostly satisfied with the final product. Tanaka Roma’s “Namida” originally ranked at #8, but then I was listening to it and was thinking, “Why the heck is this so far down?” And bumped it up to #5, which in turn moved Tohoshinki down to #6. Evan’s song originally ranked at #6, was bumped to #7 after moving “Namida”, then bumped down another spot to make room for JJ Lin. Point being: there’s just too many good ballads - don’t judge too much on the numbered spots, like I said they moved around a lot. Also, this is only based on my personal opinion, not statistics or anything. =)

Top Ten Ballads:

#10. 클래식 (Classic) - KCM
What a beautiful voice - high, clear, crisp, rich yet pure at the same time. The predictable string & piano arrangement doesn’t really do anything for me, I’d probably forget the melody if it wasn’t KCM singing it, but just listen to that voice.

#9. 슬픈 인연 (Sad Fate) - Monday Kiz
Monday Kiz had to be on this list somewhere. I have also uploaded this song before (and no I am not trying to be lazy by reusing old songs, haha). Kim Min Soo’s death really just shocked me. I loved this duo’s music already, but his death really drew me into their songs even more. This was their last release - it actually came out a couple months after Min Soo’s death. Their voices are ... just amazing. They compliment each other perfectly. The harmonizing is beautiful. Both singers are at the top of their form. The song sounds a bit unpolished, but this only adds to its raw, intimate emotion. I don’t listen to this song as often & it released fairly recently compared to the other songs, which is why it didn’t rank as high, but every time I listen to it I’m just completely taken away.

#8. 남자도… 어쩔 수 없다 (Namjado... Eojjeol Su Eopda/Men ... are unavoidable) - Evan
This is a song that I first listened to when it released, around 2007, IIRC. It really just doesn’t get old, no matter how many times I revisit it. Evan’s voice, although not the most powerful, is a pleasure to listen to. The melody will linger in your head.

#7. 大男人 小女孩 - JJ Lin
It’s always the first line of the song that gets me. JJ Lin’s voice rises over the accompaniment, filled with emotion. It is really the little nuances in his voice that make this song so perfect, the way he seems to be almost struggling with himself sometimes to express a phrase and finish the verse. His voice evens out more and more towards the end of the song, gaining confidence and power.

#6. Love in the Ice - Tohoshinki
It was a close call between Love in the Ice and Forever Love as to which song would make the list, but in the end, Love in the Ice won. A chillingly emotional song that starts out softly and just keeps building, getting stronger and stronger. Each member’s vocals are spot-on, the verses seamlessly joined and the harmonizing perfect.

#5. Namida (Sleepless Night MANABOON MIX) - Tanaka Roma
I’ve also shared this song before, I’m not sure if you would even call it a ballad, which is why it didn’t rank as high as it might have. Tanaka’s genuine, pure voice simply soars. It is a “remix”, but the original simply cannot match up to this. The piano that forms the base of the accompaniment is beautiful, supporting without overpowering. Such raw emotion in a song is so rare. Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m wondering why I didn’t rank this higher.

#4. 童話 (Tong Hua/Fairytale) - 光良 (Guang Liang/Michael Wong)
Another song I've previously uploaded - one of my favourite Chinese songs. Guang Liang’s voice is smooth and precise, but heartfelt. The chorus is where the song really soars. Maybe it’s partially the lyrics of this song that I like, but nonetheless a wonderful ballad. To be honest, I was debating whether this song should be so highly ranked. Much of the reason I’m attached to it is personal value, as it’s a song my family often listens to and that my friends and I used to sing all the time at karaoke. Either way, it’s a great song that was very popular in Taiwan when it released, and I hope you’ll enjoy it. =)

#3. Only Human - K
The a cappella opening of this song is just amazing. K’s voice is a flawless blend of strength and a soft, melodic vulernability. The accompaniment is sparse, putting the focus just where it should be: K’s amazing vocal performance. I don’t know what else to say about this song, just listen to it.

#2. 같은 베개 (Same Pillow) - Tei
This is one of the most highly played songs in my iTunes. Although it’s more of an old favourite that I often return to than a song on constant repeat, it’s a great song. Tei’s deep, full voice is perfect for ballads. Certain notes have an almost rough edge, others polished smooth. The melody and arrangement is memorable, hopeful but with a hint of sadness.

#1. 한 남자 (Han Nam Ja/One Man) - Kim Jong Kook
And that brings us to my favourite ballad ever, Han Nam Ja. I uploaded this song a long time ago, waaay back in my fourth rotation. I usually get bored of songs, especially pop songs/ballads, but I’ve listened to this song countless times, and I just never tire of it. I honestly don’t know why - it’s just a classic ballad with light percussion, typical string & piano accompaniment. But Kim Jong Kook’s high, clear voice is absolutely full of emotion, bringing this song to a whole other level: tender, vulnerable, yearning, and, overall, stunning. The lyrics fit the song perfectly. You can read the translated lyrics here (scroll down, it's the last song on the page).

Runners-up:

Forever Love - Tohoshinki
Forever Love (a capella version) - Tohoshinki
Uploaded this song before way back in my 5th rotation, which was when Tohoshinki's "T" album released. I really love the a cappella version of this song too. More hopeful than "Love in the Ice", which found its way onto the countdown. Whereas Love in the Ice had more intensity, Forever Love is almost comforting, with a warmer, richer tone. Vocally, I think this is really one of Tohoshinki's best songs.

그립고... 그리운 (Yearning ... Yearn) - Park Hyo Shin
I would’ve thought Park Hyo Shin would make the list, but although he has a lot of great ballads, there isn’t really one in particular that really stands out to me. But if there was, Yearning ... Yearn would probably be it. Park Hyo Shin’s voice balances strength and vulernability, at times full and rich and others lightly soaring through the melodies. A very sad and emotional track.

Even Though My Heart Breaks - Fly to the Sky
I’m hesitant to say FTTS is at their best here, but they’re definitely close. Hwanhee’s voice is rich and deep, Brian’s lighter and cleaner but still as emotional. As much as I love their solo songs, these guys still sound way better together. Hwanhee’s voice can be almost a little too overpowering in solo works; Brian’s too plain - together, they just balance each other out. Anyways, Brian’s voice sounded oddly close to Hwanhee’s in certain verses - deeper in range, with that husky note to it. They still sound great, but the contrast wasn’t as clear. The arrangement is also quite plain.

환상 (Illusion) - Fly to the Sky
I was surprised to find that FTTS did not mark its spot on the list. They originally held a spot, but as I found more and more songs that I wanted to include, they kept getting moved down until they were completely off the list. Illusion is more of a slow-tempo pop/R&B song than a real ballad.

Only Wind, Only Wind - SG Wannabe & Kim Jong Kook
This song was definitely a contender. I mean, come on, just look at the artists. Kim Jong Kook’s soaring, clean voice creates a well-cut contrast with SG Wannabe’s deeper, huskier vocalists - but they come together perfectly. Style-wise, it leans towards SG Wannabe, but both artists are definitely giving their best.

Love? - Evan Yo
I don’t know anything about this singer. Love? starts out soft and accompanied only by a piano. Evan Yo’s lyrical voice brings the simple, unadorned melodies to their fullest. Then, all of a sudden, the song bursts into a full-fledged rock verse. The transitions between the two moods, repeated throughout the song, are well-executed. I’m not sure if it would even really be considered a ballad, but a good song nonetheless.

Labels: Evan, Evan Yo, Fly to the Sky, Guang Liang, JJ Lin, K, KCM, Kim Jong Kook, Monday Kiz, Park Hyo Shin, SG Wannabe, Tanaka Roma, Tei, Tohoshinki

Happy Valentine's Day! =) I think the theme of this rotation is pretty self-explanatory. My comments this week are kind of dead, sorry.

Everyday Valentine - Winter Garden
language Korean
genre rock
rating
comments Like most Korean rock, this isn't really "heavy" rock. But I liked it - their vocalist has a mature, rich voice and the chorus is memorable.

Valentine STEP - Aira Mitsuki
language Japanese
genre pop
rating
comments A cute, poppy, happy song. The vocals are a little too chipmunk-y and synthesized for my taste, but I like the melody and summer-y acoustic guitar chords. Overall, a pretty good song.

Love will live forever - A-lin
language Mandarin
genre rock
rating
comments I really like her voice - strong, powerful, but not overwhelming. A fairly straightforward rock track - it's a bit generic in form and execution, but decent female rock in Mandarin is just so hard to find.

爱我 (Love Me) - Danson Tang
language Mandarin
genre pop
rating
comments I love the acoustic feel that this song starts off on. A rock-influenced song with a great acoustic guitar accompaniment and catchy melody. It feels dark in sections, then much lighter in others, providing a nice contrast.

So Fall In Love - DNT
language Korean
genre pop/dance
rating
comments Fun, light-hearted and bright. The little trumpet/brass riffs are a nice touch. I like the harmonizing.

Sea of Love - Fly to the Sky
language Korean
genre R&B/pop
rating
comments I love Fly to the Sky. This is one of their older releases, I believe it was the title track of their third album. As always, their voices are just in perfect contrast. It's a fairly simple track, but I love it.

Love Song - Khalil Fong
language Mandarin
genre R&B
rating
comments I've uploaded a couple songs by him before, this is a slightly older but very popular song of his. His voice is just so pretty, laid back but emotional at the same time. The accompaniment is stripped down except in the chorus, giving the song a bare, stark feel.

L O V E - JiSun
language Korean
genre soft rock
rating
comments Former vocalist of Loveholic, JiSun has recently released her solo album! While I was disappointed to see her leave the group, I also really liked this album. L O V E is hopeful and powerful.

We love you~世界は君を愛してる~ - Miyavi
language Japanese
genre rock
rating
comments Miyavi was the first Japanese artist I ever listened to. His voice is soft, almost a whisper, but intense. As expected, the guitar work is great. One of my favourite songs by him.

I Love You - 8eight ft. Jessica (SNSD)
language Korean
genre pop
rating
comments A fairly typical pop song. I love 8eight, their vocalists are quite good, which brings this song to another level. The chorus is really catchy - a fun, light-hearted listen.

Left My Hearts - Yiruma
language none
genre instrumental (piano)
rating
comments I love Yiruma. <3 This song is quite downtempo, I guess it suits the title. Although it seems fairly sad, there are notes of hope in it. Beautiful and expressive.

This Time - John Legend
language English
genre r&b
rating
comments I put R&B as the genre simply because that's John Legend's typical fare, but this song is far from his typical upbeat tracks - a gorgeous slow song. The lyrics are beautiful, as is the accompaniment. John Legend's voice is flawless - emotional and unique. Simply a beautiful song.

愛與希望 (Love and Hope) - JJ Lin
language Mandarin
genre pop/ballad
rating
comments I really like the piano in this song. JJ Lin's voice is lovely - soft and expressive, but still steady, suiting this ballad perfectly. Those two things, the rich, full piano accompaniment and JJ Lin's voice, really made this otherwise bland ballad stand out.

Longing for Romance - Joanna Wang
language English
genre jazz
rating
comments I've uploaded quite a lot of her songs - her entire debut album and one track from her second album. She's been hailed as "Taiwan's Norah Jones", if that gives you any insight as to her style and voice. This song isn't one of my favourites by her - it has a kind of weird, lurching feel to it that I can't explain. But definitely try her out.

Sarang sarang sarang - Park Hyo Shin
langauge Korean
genre pop
rating
comments Until this song, all the songs I'd heard from him were ballads. Not that that's a bad thing, because his ballads are gorgeous. I love his voice - deep and slightly husky. Who knew he would be just as good as upbeat tracks? This song has a faint rock/jazz vibe to it. I think it's actually a cover, but I don't know who the original was by. Recommended. <3

Labels: 8eight, A-Lin, Aira Mitsuki, Danson Tang, DNT, Fly to the Sky, Jisun, JJ Lin, Joanna Wang, John Legend, Khalil Fong, miyavi, Park Hyo Shin, Winter Garden, Yiruma

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.

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