Here's a collection of stuff I've uploaded as requests, for other sites, etc.
Mediafire Folder: Japanese Songs
Mediafire Folder: Korean Songs
Goo Hye Sun - Sketchbook: Breathing
Instrumental, Korean. Soothing and relaxing; predominantly piano instrumentals.
Lyn 6th Part 2 'Candy Train' (track 1 is missing but can be uploaded upon request)
Korean, pop/ballad.
Peter Pan - Dreamer
Mandarin pop/ballad, came to fame through singing competition One Million Star. Really clear, creamy voice and some great songs. Sample tracks: 05 07 08
David Tao - Opus 69
Mandarin, R&B/Pop/Ballad/Rock.
Labels: David Tao, Goo Hye Sun, Lyn, misc downloads, Peter Pan
[rotation 46] mixtape: don't mess with me
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 posted at 6:47 PM
Another rotation, so soon? I've actually been working on this mixtape for a while and finally came up with a final tracklist, so I thought I should post it up before I forgot about it.
- Haruhi
Summary:
A selection of songs that are sometimes bitchy, sometimes fierce, and always strong and tough.
Tracklist:
♪ Supermassive Black Hole - Muse [♫]
♪ Sour Cherry - The Kills
♪ Giant Cat Woman - Pati Yang
♪ Ricochet! - Shiny Toy Guns
♪ Don't Trust Me - 3OH!3
♪ 벌 (Punishment) - Wheesung
♪ Scene Change - The White Tie Affair
♪ In For The Kill - La Roux
♪ Run Devil Run - Ke$ha
♪ Breakdown (Supreme Mix) - Epik High [♫]
♪ Another Way To Die - Alicia Keys & Jack White
♪ 沒有人是傻瓜 - 潘裕文 (Peter Pan)
♪ Fighter - Christina Aguilera
♪ Never Saw Me Coming - Faydee
♪ Passion - Se7en
♪ Backstabber - Ke$ha
♪ 天生反骨 - Energy
♪ Dimestore Diamond - The Gossip
♪ Something Bigger, Something Better - Amanda Blank
♪ Ghost Town - Shiny Toy Guns [♫]
Download:
[MF]
♫ = individual downloads
Note:
I rarely upload .zip files, especially ones I've compressed myself, so if there are any tracks missing, corrupted tracks, etc., let me know and I'll provide alternate links for those songs.
Creating and especially uploading this mixtape took a long time, so please comment if taking. A simple thanks will do, or, even better, tell me what you thought and what you think I can improve, or suggest some songs you would have added.
Labels: Alicia Keys, Amanda Blank, Christina Aguilera, Energy, Epik High, Faydee, Jack White, Kesha, La Roux, mixtape, Muse, Pati Yang, Peter Pan, Se7en, Shiny Toy Guns, The Gossip, The Kills, The White Tie Affair, Wheesung
I will be attempting to return to my biweekly rotation schedule, however, rotations will probably be a bit smaller from now on. I'll also try and get a new layout up sometime soon, I've been meaning to for a while but never got around to it.
This rotation is themed around c-pop. Maybe it's just the sites I visit, but a lot of rotations and other music sites seem to be focused on Korean and Japanese music. When I first created this site, I also did a rotation themed around music from China/Taiwan, and I thought that I'd do another one to promote c-pop. All songs are in Mandarin, since I'm not familiar with many Cantonese songs.
Please comment/leave a rating if taking!
➜ 不曾后悔 - Anson Hu (胡彦斌)
Although Anson Hu debuted in 2002 and has been a very popular and well-known artist since, for some reason I never really listened to any of his music until his most recent album. In my last post I shared the song 罗马假日, my favourite of his songs so far. 不曾后悔 is from the same album. It's a gorgeous piano-based ballad, where Anson Hu's powerful yet controlled voice is simply captivating. There was one line in particular whose melody and vocal execution just caught my attention, at around 1:35-1:40 (it's also repeated a few times throughout the song). Expressive and emotional without being overly dramatic, Anson Hu shows that his success in the music industry has not been without cause.
➜ 江湖 (Jiang Hu) - Anson Hu (胡彦斌)
This is one older song that I have heard by Anson Hu, released in 2007 I believe. Very different from the track above, it's a bright, youthful pop tune. There's something about its energy and confidence that is just infectious. I love the use of piano and Anson wanders into higher vocal ranges without much difficulty, but what really stood out to me is the sheer energy that Anson Hu manages to convey, and transfer to the listener.
➜ 近在眼前 - Peter Pan (潘裕文)
Peter Pan, AKA Pan Yu Man, was a contestent on popular Taiwanese singing competition (similar to American Idol) One Million Star. Although he came in third, personally I think his voice and songs are superior to that of those who ranked higher. 近在眼前 is a warm, hopeful piano-and-strings ballad. Rich instrumentation and arrangement get this song off to a good start, but it's really Peter's expressive, smooth voice that makes this song stand out. There's just something about his clear, warm tone that makes it hard to believe this is only his debut album - there's a maturity and seasoned feel to his songs that is generally not found in newer artists. Returning to this individual song, I really love how the song progresses and takes the listener on a journey: from the more pessimistic, melancholic opening to a more hopeful, brighter tone later on.
➜ 幫妳記得 - Peter Pan (潘裕文)
Another ballad, but sweeter in tone and a little quicker in tempo than the one above, 幫妳記得 is another of my favourites from this talented singer. I really like the array of strings, piano, and guitar in the arrangement, giving it body without being too crowded or busy. It has a polished feel without losing any of its emotional strength, and as usual his clean, assured vocals are perfect.
➜ 壞人 - Abin Fang
A Malaysian singer-songwriter, this is probably the song that made Abin Fang rise to popularity in Taiwan. I believe it beat out one of Jay Chou's songs as the top song of the year in a rankings chart, and it's not hard to see why. Although it's partially the lyrics of this song that I really love, even without understanding them it's a wonderful song. Abin Fang's unique, rich voice elevates an already memorable melody, and the backdrop of rock-based percussion and delicate piano and strings fits perfectly. Another promising artist who I'm glad to see is getting more recognition.
➜ 小情歌 - Sodagreen
Something a little different, Sodagreen is an independent band that has received a lot more mainstream attention lately, namely because of this song. Their music is a blend of folk, rock, and pop that's hard to describe, but it's not surprising that 小情歌 was the song that has become a lot more mainstream than many of their songs - it's definitely more pop-oriented and less experimental than some of their songs, but that's not to say it's not a great introduction to their music. 小情歌 is a pretty rock ballad with surprising lightness and grace. Their lead singer's high, clean voice is so delicate and unique, coupled with the unique arrangement which blends rock, pop, and even some traditional instruments. It's one of those songs that's just a remarkable gem.
➜ 缺氧 - Rainie Yang
I'm not really a fan of her, but this is one song that I actually find to be quite good. It's a simple ballad with a warm if somewhat standard arrangement of piano and violin, but Rainie's clear, feminine voice really shines through.
➜ Somewhere (Sophia Version) - JS
Sibling duo JS (Justin & Sophia) is another rare gem in the Taiwanese music industry. When I first tried out a few of their songs, I thought they were a bit too downtempo, but after hearing a gorgeous performance of this song on TV one day, I gave them another try and they've really grown on me. Somewhere is an electronica-influenced track with an ethereal feel. It's completely in English, and as the title suggests, Sophia's vocals are featured. I love the broken-down piano chords, and lightness of the synths and percussion.
➜ 另一个自己 (Another Myself) - Anson Hu ft. Stephy Tang
I swear I didn't mean to put so many Anson Hu songs in this rotation, but I couldn't resist. Some songs are just so filled with emotion that you can feel it inside yourself, and this is one of them. From the delicate, stripped-down opening verses to where the accompaniment picks up a bit, everything about this song is just so genuine and heartfelt that you can't help but get sucked into it. The two singers sound fantastic together, and I love how the song picks up, all of a sudden picking up an R&B interface - yet still keeping the intimacy and raw emotion of its opening section. An incredibly powerful song, and one of my favourite duets.
➜ 凡爾賽玫瑰 (Rose of Versailles) - JS
Another JS song, also featuring Sophia's vocals. Rose of Versailles is sad and melancholic in tone, as emphasized by the dark, dramatic strings, but the modern percussion puts an interesting twist on the song. It's elegant and haunting.
➜ 一路向北 - Jay Chou
Who hasn't heard of Jay Chou? I'm not a fan of his more recent releases, but some of his older songs - namely from the album this song is from, November's Chopin, are quite good. 一路向北 is a lovely mid-tempo rock ballad. It's one of those songs where the melody (namely the chorus) just stayed in my head and continues to pop up even if I haven't listened to the song in a long time. A heartfelt, well-executed song.
➜玩樂 (Wan Le/Play) - Khalil Fong
And we close this rotation off with one of my favourite singers, Khalil Fong. 玩樂 is a quirky, fun song that's hard to describe genre-wise. It has a dated feel to it, but the rich piano arrangement and touches of brass make it uniquely - well, Khalil. It's hard to think of another singer who could pull off something like this without making it sound cheesy. Khalil's distinctive vocals are confident, and the song has a playful, bright atmosphere.
Labels: Anson Hu, JS, Peter Pan, Rainie Yang, Sodagreen, Stephy Tang
Rotation 21 is unthemed. The next rotation I do will probably be winter/Christmas themed. A few songs are recent releases, a few are just old favourites. I tried to get a nice mix of genres as well as languages. Songs are organized in alphabetical order by artist name. It was hard for me to pick recommendations, I liked many of the songs in this rotation.
A few requested songs are also included in a separate section at the bottom.
I stand free - ACIDMAN
Japanese | Rock Ballad
Ah, it’s been a while since I heard a good rock ballad. I stand free doesn’t disappoint. Mature, slightly husky vocals, a unique and lovely bass line, and a soaring yet controlled chorus made this song stand out to me.
Ni6etalk (Heart Beat) - Apls
Korean | Electronica
This group has definitely changed a lot. Their previous album showed a fun, upbeat sound while their latest mini-album, which Ni6etalk is from, is much more downtempo. The atmosphere of the song is just amazing - mysterious, pulsing. The vocals are minimal. It might be too experimental for some, but I loved it.
All the Way - Craig David ft. Bonnie Pink
English/Japanese | R&B/Pop
This was definitely not a collab I would have expected, but their light, smooth voices compliment each other well. The lyrics of the song seem to suggest a stronger beat, Get up, now everybody, get up, move your body, cause we’re going all the way the song seems quite relaxed to me. Although I actually didn’t like this song much upon initially hearing it, it’s starting to grow on me.
Passion Fruit - Fuji Fabric
Japanese | Rock/Electronica
An extremely catchy, addictive song from Fuji Fabric - in my opinion, they’re under appreciated. The opening verse is just so fun, popping out throughout the song. It will get stuck in your head. I would call them more rock, but this song definitely has traces of electronica/disco.
愛NEED - Kimaguren (AiNEED)
Japanese | Reggae/Hip Pop/Rock
I absolutely love their unique style of island-influenced rock. A breath of fresh air. Traces of Latin influence linger in the rhythms and beats. It’s lively yet relaxing at the same time, if that makes any sense. Recommended.
Apologize - One Republic
English | Rock
I was reluctant to upload this song since I’m pretty sure most of you have already heard it, but I really couldn’t think of a better song to upload. I’ve been listening to this song a lot lately, I don’t know why. The chorus is just beautiful and will stay in your head. There’s a version of this song that was remixed by Timbaland, I believe this is the original. The lyrics are bittersweet: I’d take another chance, take a fall, take a shot for you/I need you like a heart needs a beat, it’s nothing new
But It’s Better If You Do - Panic! At The Disco
English | Pop/Rock
I’m went through a stage of loving this band, a longer stage of hating them, and now I think they’re all right. But It’s Better If You Do is confident, and pulsing with energy. This track is from their debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out.
The Piano Knows Something I Don’t Know - Panic At The Disco
English | Pop/Rock
From their latest album, Pretty. Odd., The Piano Knows Something I Don’t Know shows the transformation in their sound, replacing synthesizers and electric guitar with trumpets and classical guitar. Brendon Urie’s vocals have also matured a lot. Laid-back, still sure of itself but no longer brazen, The Piano Knows Something I Don’t Know is a good reflection of their new image.
心里的狮子 - Peter Pan (Xin Li De Shi Zi/Heart Of A Lion)
Mandarin | Pop/Ballad
Although the most common English translation for this song is Heart Of A Lion, it is actually closer to The Lion Within Your Heart, which is backed by the lyrics, which speak of doing something you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the courage to. The song has a certain regretful tone to it, but builds more and more to a soaring and hopeful chorus.
Namida (Sleepless Night MANABOON MIX) - Tanaka Roma
Japanese | R&B/Ballad
My favourite Tanaka Roma song, by far. Although I’m quite fond of most of his songs, this one just stands out to me. I heard this mix before hearing the original. This version of Namida is heartbreakingly genuine and raw with emotion. The accompaniment is kept light, mainly just piano. The title of the remix, Sleepless Night, fits it perfectly. Tanaka’s voice has the perfect balance of vulnerability and power that just doesn’t shine through as much in the original, which has a stronger accompaniment and more of a poppy, R&B influence.
r e q u e s t s
Maiden Voyage - Missing Island
Korean | Easy Listening/Bossa Nova
If you liked the Coffee Prince OST, you’ll probably like this song. It does have a certain adventurous feel that fits its name, but is laid-back and makes for a nice, light listen.
THE BUNGY - NICO Touches the Walls
SIMON SAID - NICO Touches the Walls
Japanese | Rock
THE BUNGY is fresh and has an infectious beat. It has a bit of a Western/country feel to it, yet keeps the distinct vibe of Japanese rock. SIMON SAID has an aggressive sound, contrasting a dark, rumbling bass with melodic guitar riffs.
Koi wo Shiteru - ROUND TABLE feat. Nino
Symphony - ROUND TABLE feat. Nino
Takaramono (Homemade Demo Version) - ROUND TABLE feat. Nino (Treasures)
Japanese | Pop
Koi wo Shiteru is a sweet pop song, but the vocals were a tad too little-girl-ish for my liking. Symphony is laid-back and downtempo. I found it a bit repetitive, but I liked it. Takaramono (Homemade Demo Version) has an unpolished, acoustic feel to it, as the name suggests. I’m a sucker for acoustic songs, so it won’t surprise you to hear that out of these three songs Takaramono was my favourite.
Labels: ACIDMAN, Apls, Bonnie Pink, Craig David, Fuji Fabric, Kimaguren, Missing Island, NICO Touches the Walls, One Republic, Panic At The Disco, Peter Pan, ROUND TABLE feat. Nino, Tanaka Roma
