Hi,

I got back from my vacation a couple days ago. The 50th rotation will take a little more time, I've selected all the songs but uploading & reviewing is going to take longer than I'd initially expected. In the meantime, here's a small post of songs I've been listening to a lot recently & artists that I've recently discovered.

- Haruhi

The Sound of Settling _ Death Cab for Cutie
English | Rock
I don't know if these guys can really be called "indie" rock anymore. I first heard this song playing Tap Tap Revenge on a friend's phone, and the chorus kept getting stuck in my head. I really like the percussion and blend of guitars.

Catapult - Operator Please
English | Indie Rock
This group has also been described as "baroque pop" which is the first time I've heard of such a genre, but to be honest this track in particular (I can't speak for their other songs as this is the only one I've heard so far) is basically a well-executed indie rock song. It has an infectious beat and features a mix of guitar and synths.

Better Together - Se7en
Korean | Pop
I love Se7en. He was one of the first k-pop artists I ever heard, and has since remained a favourite of mine despite his huge break from the Korean/Japanese music scene trying to make it in America which as expected did not work out. Despite the huge disaster that was, he recently returned to Korea with a mini-album entitled Digital Bounce. To be honest, I was disappointed. There's too much Big Bang-style electronica and a lot of American-style influence to it, which isn't necessarily a bad thing - just not what I was hoping for. When I first heard Better Together, I really disliked the sirens, which seemed like a bad throwback to the intro of Crazy but continued throughout much of the song. However, the chorus has really grown on me as has the rest of the song, slowly but surely. It's a feel-good dance/pop tune with a bright chorus that is the only part where Se7en really sounds like ... himself. The sirens still bother me though. And yes, maybe I did post this just to rant about how much better his old music is.

사랑인가요 - Park Sae Byul
Korean | Acoustic Pop
After reading a rave review about this girl's voice, I immediately went searching for her album. She does have a soothing, pretty voice which probably wouldn't suit anything but acoustic songs, which is, luckily, what she sticks to. A sweet, fresh track that's good to wind down to. Very light and airy.

Labels: Death Cab for Cutie, Operator Please, Park Sae Byul, Se7en

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

Disclaimer: It isn’t that I’m promoting the idea that Korea and Japan are “stealing” songs from North America and making them sound better…I mean, they are making them sound better, but…whatever. Just enjoy the songs…and don’t kill me.

Passion (Remix) – Se7en feat. Jinusean
Korean| Pop
Yes, this was my favorite Se7en song for a short while. For those of you that don’t know, this song is basically a remix of J-Kwon’s “Tipsy”, with the beat sped up and with better vocals. The song’s a great song to dance to and it’s what got me hooked onto Se7en in the first place (I usually find out about different bands/groups/singers through their singles and MVs). The dance moves in the MV are pretty good too.

Foolish Foolish – Yuya Matsushita
Japanese | Pop
As the song progressed, I really thought Yuya was going to start singing Ne-Yo’s “So Sick” since the two songs are so similar. I can definitely picture Yuya singing Ne-Yo’s song with the only complication being the accent. As for which song is better…I couldn’t really say. I think both are equally good.

Again & Again – 2pm
Korean | Pop
Apparently this song sounds an awful lot like Envy’s “Shawty Dangerous”. I don’t necessarily like one version over the other. Okay, that’s a lie. I like 2pm’s version but that’s probably because I think you can dance to it.

New Look – Namie Amuro
Japanese | Pop
Okay. This isn’t really a sampling issue as it’s really a homage to the original (“Baby Love” by The Supremes). It’s a good song, simple but clean and it conveys the sentiments of the sixties. I like the fact that she didn’t defer too far from the original but was able to revive it and give the song a makeover that’s appropriate for this time.

Why I Like You – Super Junior
Korean | Pop
This sounds…okay, it’s pretty much a remixed version of Ne-Yo’s “Closer”. Unfortunately, in this case, I’m going to have to side with Ne-Yo. I think his version is more upbeat and I like his voice better in comparison to Super Junior’s (sorry!). Still a decent song though.

Labels: 2PM, Amuro Namie, Contributor; Carmi, Jinusean, Se7en, Super Junior, Yuya Matsushita

Just Like That Guy – Se7en
Korean| Pop
I can’t believe I had overlooked this song when it first came out. It’s heartbreaking but I can’t help but love it anyway. His singing is amazing and the emotions really come through. It’s now my favorite song of his (for the longest time “Real Luv Song” was my favorite).

Insomnia – Wheesung vs. Craig David
Korean/English | Pop
A nice mash up by Yigytugd. Craig David’s voice goes well with Wheesung’s, almost to the point where the only differing point between the two is the language. That’s probably because it’s the same song and Craig David picked Wheesung to do the cover of his song. It’s got a good techno-ish beat to it but it’s poppy sounding enough for me to think it’s pop.

My Girl – Big Bang
Korean | Pop
Yes, I realize that this is an older song of theirs (the Korean version came out in 2006) but I think it’s a good one. I actually stumbled on this about a week ago (don’t know what caused me to find it though). It’s definitely got a more North American R&B sound to it but you can still tell that it’s Big Bang singing.

You – Rain
Korean | Pop
This is a nice, upbeat song with a kind of jazzy/band-ish sound (I think that just might be due to the base and the guitar). It isn’t that complex in terms of composition and him singing in the higher notes can seem a little weird since I prefer him singing in the lower register; but, still it’s Rain, so I’m kind of biased into thinking it’s a good song.

Nobody (Rainstone Remix) – Wonder Girls
Korean | Pop
Tying in to the theme from Se7en’s song, I thought this song would be a good one to round off the rotation. This remix is a bit of a contrast to the original one for the fact that it’s slow and the background is really simple: a guitar, drums, base, etc. I think it conveys the song’s words better than the original but, then again, I don’t think this version would have sold as well on its own.

By the way, any thoughts on what I should post next? Song requests? Leave a comment if you'd like something specific!

Labels: Big Bang, Contributor; Carmi, Rain, Se7en, Wheesung, Wonder Girls

Jingle Bells – SM Town
Korean | Pop
Okay. This is an old song (in the opening they talk about it being the last Christmas before the millennium) but I think one of the better ones. It’s nice, festive, and upbeat with a lot of the older SME people.

Christmas With You – Se7en
Korean | Pop
This is a nice, romantic, slow-ish song. I love Se7en’s voice in this song: it’s sweet and mellow. The background instruments definitely support and don’t overwhelm his voice.

Let It Snow – Bonnie Pink
English | Jazz
Normally I don’t like remakes of classic songs that have been around for a while, but I did like this jazz one. Bonnie’s accent isn’t that pervasive so you shouldn’t notice it too much if you normally are picky about that kind of thing. It’s fairly upbeat as well so it’s not a bore even though the middle is laden with both a jazz and piano solo (both are short though).

Silent Night, Holy Night - DBSK
Korean | Pop
This is one of the few slow-ish “traditional” holiday songs I enjoy. It’s a good acapella song and you can definitely picture (okay, more like wish) that they were the ones caroling at your door.

White Light – Namie Amuro
Japanese | Pop
I actually first heard the “Nobody” rendition of this song as opposed to this version (weird, I know). It’s a sweet, simple song for the holidays that I think could be at the end of an shojo anime for their Christmas special.

Sorry this post is late. I've been sick the past few days (just in time for the holidays...sigh).

Labels: Amuro Namie, Bonnie Pink, Contributor; Carmi, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Se7en, SM Town

Hi Everyone! My name's Carmi and I'm another new contributor to the blog. My music tastes really vary - everything from J-Pop to old school rock (blame the show Supernatural) - so hopefully you'll like at least one of the songs in my rotation. It's a "tribute" to the warm months that have already gone by since it's Autumn here.


1. Real Love Story - Se7en feat. Taebin & Wheesung
Korean | Pop
An older pop song with summer vibes. It's a nice, airy pop song and some of the older vibes come through. I really liked how the three were able to blend their voices but still stay distinct during their respective parts.

2. Sugar Shack - DJ Hal featuring Daichi Miura, LL Brothers, HI-D, Full of Harmony & Leo
Japanese | Pop
It's a fairly recent release off of DJ Hal's Sugar Shack album. There are times when the higher vocals (by Full of Harmony - I think - and Daichi) seem to go a little too high for my liking but the lower and mid-range stuff is pretty good and their voices blend well.

3. Fly Away - Asami Izawa
Japanese | Pop
Asami's vocals are nice and mellow and stay in the mid-range tones. The song is upbeat and has a jazzy quality, almost reminiscent of old school (nineties) house music.

4. Matsu Kumo Kusa (Snow Drop) - Ota
Japaese | Pop
The verses at times sound as though they're having a conversation timed to music - but it works! The background is simple which suits the rap and vocals perfectly.

5. Eden's East - Cool
Korean | Pop
It's my favorite song by Cool and definitely makes me think of a nice summer day with a cool breeze. It's upbeat and the chorus is catchy but the base line gives the song a bit more depth. It's simple but still fun to listen to.

Labels: Asami Izawa, Contributor; Carmi, Cool, DJ Hal, Fish Leong, Full of Harmony, Hi-D, LL Brothers, Miura Daichi, Ota, Se7en, Taebin, Wheesung

Wait a minute, wasn’t this top 10’s? Since I decided to merge all the languages together, I also decided to extend the list to 20 songs. I made an original list to choose from, which had 35 songs (which itself started out at 29 and kept growing as I thought of more songs that deserved to be added, haha), and I simply couldn’t pick just ten. Well, more songs for you guys, right? Since it was pointed out to me that my top 10 ballads rotation was all-male, I’ve done my best to encorporate some female artists as well - although, admittedly, it is still male-dominated - I’m picky about female artists, okay?

Also, the runners-up for this rotation will be posted at a later time. It's been too long since I did such a big rotation.

This rotation really took a long time to prepare, so please comment or at least leave a rating! Thanks to all those who do.

#20. Paparazzi - AJOO ft. Younha & C-LUV
A catchy, extremely danceable song by AJOO. I have to admit, I really like AJOO except for his latest song. Although his image keeps changing, from sweet, innocent boy to a more mature, sexy look, then to his latest eyeliner-obsessed image which, as you can tell, I’m not a big fan of. Anyways. Paparazzi is a fun, poppy listen. It’s not particularly innovative or original, but it’s a good song.

#19. 痴妹與王兩 - Xiao Yu
Gritty, tough, and aggressive. Xiao Yu’s voice is dripping with an easy, slick confidence. It does get repetitive and a little generic, but it makes for a nice occasional listen.

#18. D.D.D. - Koda Kumi ft. SOULHEAD
I’m not really a fan of any of the big female j-pop stars - Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, Amuro Namie, Utada Hikaru, etc. but out of them, Koda Kumi is probably my favourite. D.D.D. is energetic, confident, and fun.

#17. Scream - JUNE
An upbeat club number, Scream just begs for another listen. Addictive, catchy, and complete with smooth, slick melodies that JUNE brings to their best. It almost has a bit of a disco feel to it at times, yet is undoubtedly modern.

#16. 넌 나의 노래 (You're My Song) - Dong Bang Shin Ki
Wrong Number originally held this position, because I guess you could kind of consider this song a ballad, but I just love this song too much. This is definitely, by far, my most listened to track off of MIROTIC. I was expecting one of their more upbeat songs (eg. Mirotic, Wrong Number) would be the most memorable, but it ended up being You’re My Song - an absolutely gorgeous slow pop track. The melody is beautiful by itself, but the boy’s vocals and harmonizing really bring it to another level - at times vulnerable and at others strong and hopeful. I love the piano accompaniment too.

#15. In My Bed - Rain
Being one of the first k-pop artists I listened to, Rain had to show up somewhere on this rotation. Anyways I’m not sure what he’s up to now, but I think he really needs to return to music. His latest album Rainism didn’t really leave much of an impact on me. This song is from his fourth album, Rain’s World - a smooth, slightly downtempo, R&B influenced number. His unique voice is perfectly accented against the relatively minimal but steady arrangement. A memorable song that has a lot of replay value.

#14. 통화 연결음 (Ring Back Tone) - Sunnyhill
I never get sick of this song. This group is made up of 3 vocalists - two female, one male. Their male vocalist was supposed to be a member of Battle. I absolutely love their female vocalists. Both have airy, light voices that sound absolutely wonderful. A peaceful, calm, sweet song.

#13. Letter - BRIGHT ft. K
I’m not a fan of girl groups as a general rule, but I absolutely love BRIGHT. Just the opening lines, in absolutely stunning harmony, should tell you that these girls are something different. A light, breezy, relaxing song. K’s sweet voice fits in perfectly with BRIGHT’s vocalists. Like I mentioned, the harmonizing in this song is just beautiful.

#12. Funky N Roll Tonight - A’ST1
There had to be one cheesy, boyband, bubble-gum pop song on this rotation. Complete with a nonsense English title, A’ST1 delivers a sugary, fun track. Bright, upbeat horns, paired with feel-good guitar chords that are then taken over by a keyboard. Twangy, thick bass, sweet poppy vocals, easy-to-follow melodies. Nothing particularly original, but well-executed.

#11. Get Chu! - AAA
A summer-y, upbeat song. Cute, playful, and light-hearted. It’s a feel-good song, plain and simple.

#10. Always Online - JJ Lin
I just bought the album this was from, Sixology. <3 A really good song to wind down to - it’s relaxing but not too slow, with faint R&B influences in the beat and bass. JJ Lin’s voice is smooth and melodic.

#9. truth - Arashi
A dramatic, memorable song with a pushing string accompaniment competing with the rich piano arrangement. I really think this is one of Arashi’s best songs. It has a bit of a darker feel than most of their material but is uptempo and energetic, and at times hopeful. Complete with a gritty electric guitar solo about halfway through, truth definitely shows another dimension of Arashi.

#8. One - Epik High ft. JiSun
An electronica-infused song that is just beautiful. Ji Sun’s light, airy vocals fit the slightly haunting air of the song perfectly. Although this song is a lot more mainstream from Epik High’s older releases, I still liked it. It has a dark edge to it, but at the same time is hopeful and energetic.

#7. 거짓말 (Lies) - Big Bang
I loved this song when it first came out. I think I listened to it so much that I got kind of sick of it, and it’s been a while since I revisited it. IMO, this song really defined their electronica-infused style. The sweet piano melody, although repetitive, lends colour and contrast to the verses, really bringing the song to another level. The chorus is wonderful.

#6. 어쩌다 (How) - Brown Eyed Girls
I really hate how every song from every artist of whatever this company is starts off with this weird robotic voice saying “play this sound” or “brand new sound” or something like that. Anyways. Brown Eyed Girls is one of the few female artists to make this rotation, and pretty far up on the rankings too! How is infectiously catchy and fairly quick in tempo, but the vocal work maintains its depth and emotion. the girl’s voices are sweet but not annoyingly so. Although there is some faint synthesizing, especially in the harmonies, it’s not overdone. The rap verses give a playful, light touch to the song.

#5. 星空下的吻 - JJ Lin
Kicking off energetically with a heavy beat and quick verses, the song then transitions beautifully into an airy, melodic chorus where JJ Lin’s voice simply soars over the arrangement. I love the contrast between the two moods - the angst of the supporting verses, and the beauty of the chorus.

#4. Bump - Lee Min Woo
A straightforward uptempo track, active and aggressive. Min Woo’s latest solo album disappointed me because it lacked the fire of his older songs - such as Bump, from his 2nd solo album. It cools down for one verse, with melting melodies and smooth vocal work, but other than that, never loses its energy and intensity. Min Woo’s strong, slightly rough voice is a perfect fit for this song.

#3. Passion - Se7en
Ah I remember being so obsessed with this song. This song really got me into Se7en. His voice is rough and powerful, bordering on a bold aggressiveness. Slick, sensual melodies paired with harsh accenting gives the song a sharp edge. The beat and arrangement definitely takes its influences from American music, but it’s so catchy and driven. Definitely a song you could dance to.

#2. Hero - Shinhwa
What I liked about this song was that, on top of being catchy and lively, it also had emotional value. The beat is fairly straightforward, but infectious nonetheless. Random bit of trivia: at ~2:42 in the track, you can hear someone cough. This song, released in 2002, was one of the first Korean songs that I listened to (and when I listened to it, a few years had already passed since its release). It’s been a while since I listened to it, but it really doesn’t get old.

#1. Okay, so this is where it gets kind of weird. There are two #1 songs.

简单爱 - Jay Chou
Wait a minute, I don't even like Jay Chou. Why are two of his songs tied at first place? Well, as much as I’m not feeling Jay Chou’s latest albums, I really like some of his older work. This is an example of it - innocent, sweet, and genuine. Maybe it’s just because I’ve been listening to these songs for so long that I love them.

髮如雪 - Jay Chou
I love this song. Jay Chou’s voice is just perfect in it, smooth and light - there’s some classical Chinese influences in the arrangement, but they’re not overbearing. I seriously always have some verse or some melody from this song resurface in my head, even if I haven’t listened to it in a long time. Okay, admittedly, the part where it sounds like he’s gargling near the end of the song (around 4:30) is just ... weird. But still.

Labels: A'ST1, Ajoo, Arashi, Big Bang, BRIGHT, Brown Eyed Girls, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Epik High, Jay Chou, JJ Lin, JUNE, Koda Kumi, Lee Min Woo, Rain, Se7en, Shinhwa, SunnyHill, Xiao Yu

Rotation 4 is up!
Already my fourth rotation, I can hardly believe it (^^) Anyway, this is relaxing #2. It's a collection of songs that I particularly like when I want music during my essay writing or studying. There are 14 songs for your enjoyment!

Please comment or leave a shout when you download a song :D

Gackt - Last Song
Japanese - Ballad
This is one of the slower songs of Gackt, that was not on his Love Letter album. I particularly like the combination of his deep voice combined with the feature role of the piano in this song. If you like Gackt, this might be better to simple relax to rather than doing homework. I find it a little distracting =3

Gackt - Kimi ni Aitakute
Japanese - Ballad
Another song that has Gackt's voice and his piano play the feature role. This one seems a little more romantic, whereas the previous song has a more "lost love mourning" feel to it. Again, this could be distracting, so try to pick a good time for listening ;D

Miyavi - Itoshii Hito
Japanese - Ballad
This is one of Myv's ballad, and one that I really like because of the endearing lyrics. I've always had a thing for guitar ballads and Myv is - as most of us will know - a guitar genius. While the lyrics are sweet and the song really is like a ballad, it has retained that particular Myv feel. Highly recommended.

Miyavi - We love You ~Seki wa kimo wo Aishiteru~
Japanese - Ballad
From Myv's Uta Dokusou album. I actually adore the entire album - guitars all the way baby! - but this has to be one of my favourite songs, because of the lyrics. Also the combination of mostly Myv's voice and his guitar make this a particular good relaxing song.

M-Flo ft. Namie Amuro - Luvotomy
Japanese - Electro poprock
This song is less of a ballad than the previous songs and could actually be considered upbeat. However, I feel that the recurring motifs in the songs are rather soothing, hence it's appearance in this rotation. You probably get by now that I'm a big fan of M-Flo, but I really like the way they have teamed up with Namie Amuro. <3

KAT-TUN - I Like It
Japanese - Ballad
Another of my favourite bands make an appearance. This ballad is from their first album and is a really romantic song, even though the lyrics and title may be somewhat ambiguous (^=^). This song could remind you a little of Arashi, as this is still from their JE's poppy phase.

Arashi - Kotoba Yori Taisetsuna Mono
Japanese - Pop
A song that has a kind of melancholic feel to it, I actually like the version sung by Ueda Tatsuya a little better. I guess the single voice makes it stronger for me. However, the lyrics are great as represented by the title: Something more important than words.

Otsuka Ai - Planetarium
Japanese - Ballad
An insert song for the Hana Yori Dango series (season 1) I cannot help but associate this song with Domyoji and Tsukushi <3 style="font-style: italic;">

Rie Fu - Negaigoto
Japanese - Ballad
This is a typical Rie Fu ballad, although more sad than for example Decay. I really like the PV that goes with this song, which unfortunately is not on Youtube anymore. If I recall correctly, Rie stands still while the world turns around her and she sings about her wish.

Chachamaru - Kagero
Japanese - instrumental
From Chacha's solo album, an instrumental song. It's supposed to be featuring Gackt, but I have yet to discover his voice. It's not my favourite song of the album (which is called Naked actually xD), but it's really soothing.

Fujita Maiko - Anata ga watashi no ...
Japanese - folk
Yes, another song by this amazing singer. As from her previous songs, you can deduce that relaxing music is somewhat of her trademark. This is a song I'd like to fall asleep to, however I have to study (>____<)

Kuraki Mai - Winter Bells
Japanese - pop
Actually, this is a Christmas song, but it's that time of year now, so booyah 8D I think this song is actually rather upbeat, but I love to listen to it, especially when it snows! It makes me feel warm inside and gets me excited for the holidays. Now, if a holiday isn't relaxing, I don't know what is.

SE7EN - Ari no Mama
Japanese - Poprock
Also no ballad, but an extremely likable song. Although that might have to do with the singer. He sounds a bit like K, whom I featured in an earlier rotation, although SE7EN might sing a bit more nasal? I don't know, I'm just impressed by the Japanese of this Korean singer and this very good song.

TegoMass - Miso Soup
Japanese - Ballad
The last song of this rotation was made by a duet from the boyband NEWS. It's a slow song, but with very high cuteness level. It's rather strange that they're singing about food, but hey. When it works, I don't complain! Also, JE's has come up with stranger things (pink pirate suits anyone?)

Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoy the music. Please leave a comment when downloading or when something is wrong!

Labels: Arashi, Chachamaru, cohost: aranka, Fujita Maiko, Gackt, KAT-TUN, Kuraki Mai, m-flo, miyavi, Otsuka Ai, Rie Fu, Se7en, TegoMass

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

Hi,

I got back from my vacation a couple days ago. The 50th rotation will take a little more time, I've selected all the songs but uploading & reviewing is going to take longer than I'd initially expected. In the meantime, here's a small post of songs I've been listening to a lot recently & artists that I've recently discovered.

- Haruhi

The Sound of Settling _ Death Cab for Cutie
English | Rock
I don't know if these guys can really be called "indie" rock anymore. I first heard this song playing Tap Tap Revenge on a friend's phone, and the chorus kept getting stuck in my head. I really like the percussion and blend of guitars.

Catapult - Operator Please
English | Indie Rock
This group has also been described as "baroque pop" which is the first time I've heard of such a genre, but to be honest this track in particular (I can't speak for their other songs as this is the only one I've heard so far) is basically a well-executed indie rock song. It has an infectious beat and features a mix of guitar and synths.

Better Together - Se7en
Korean | Pop
I love Se7en. He was one of the first k-pop artists I ever heard, and has since remained a favourite of mine despite his huge break from the Korean/Japanese music scene trying to make it in America which as expected did not work out. Despite the huge disaster that was, he recently returned to Korea with a mini-album entitled Digital Bounce. To be honest, I was disappointed. There's too much Big Bang-style electronica and a lot of American-style influence to it, which isn't necessarily a bad thing - just not what I was hoping for. When I first heard Better Together, I really disliked the sirens, which seemed like a bad throwback to the intro of Crazy but continued throughout much of the song. However, the chorus has really grown on me as has the rest of the song, slowly but surely. It's a feel-good dance/pop tune with a bright chorus that is the only part where Se7en really sounds like ... himself. The sirens still bother me though. And yes, maybe I did post this just to rant about how much better his old music is.

사랑인가요 - Park Sae Byul
Korean | Acoustic Pop
After reading a rave review about this girl's voice, I immediately went searching for her album. She does have a soothing, pretty voice which probably wouldn't suit anything but acoustic songs, which is, luckily, what she sticks to. A sweet, fresh track that's good to wind down to. Very light and airy.

Labels: Death Cab for Cutie, Operator Please, Park Sae Byul, Se7en

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

Disclaimer: It isn’t that I’m promoting the idea that Korea and Japan are “stealing” songs from North America and making them sound better…I mean, they are making them sound better, but…whatever. Just enjoy the songs…and don’t kill me.

Passion (Remix) – Se7en feat. Jinusean
Korean| Pop
Yes, this was my favorite Se7en song for a short while. For those of you that don’t know, this song is basically a remix of J-Kwon’s “Tipsy”, with the beat sped up and with better vocals. The song’s a great song to dance to and it’s what got me hooked onto Se7en in the first place (I usually find out about different bands/groups/singers through their singles and MVs). The dance moves in the MV are pretty good too.

Foolish Foolish – Yuya Matsushita
Japanese | Pop
As the song progressed, I really thought Yuya was going to start singing Ne-Yo’s “So Sick” since the two songs are so similar. I can definitely picture Yuya singing Ne-Yo’s song with the only complication being the accent. As for which song is better…I couldn’t really say. I think both are equally good.

Again & Again – 2pm
Korean | Pop
Apparently this song sounds an awful lot like Envy’s “Shawty Dangerous”. I don’t necessarily like one version over the other. Okay, that’s a lie. I like 2pm’s version but that’s probably because I think you can dance to it.

New Look – Namie Amuro
Japanese | Pop
Okay. This isn’t really a sampling issue as it’s really a homage to the original (“Baby Love” by The Supremes). It’s a good song, simple but clean and it conveys the sentiments of the sixties. I like the fact that she didn’t defer too far from the original but was able to revive it and give the song a makeover that’s appropriate for this time.

Why I Like You – Super Junior
Korean | Pop
This sounds…okay, it’s pretty much a remixed version of Ne-Yo’s “Closer”. Unfortunately, in this case, I’m going to have to side with Ne-Yo. I think his version is more upbeat and I like his voice better in comparison to Super Junior’s (sorry!). Still a decent song though.

Labels: 2PM, Amuro Namie, Contributor; Carmi, Jinusean, Se7en, Super Junior, Yuya Matsushita

Just Like That Guy – Se7en
Korean| Pop
I can’t believe I had overlooked this song when it first came out. It’s heartbreaking but I can’t help but love it anyway. His singing is amazing and the emotions really come through. It’s now my favorite song of his (for the longest time “Real Luv Song” was my favorite).

Insomnia – Wheesung vs. Craig David
Korean/English | Pop
A nice mash up by Yigytugd. Craig David’s voice goes well with Wheesung’s, almost to the point where the only differing point between the two is the language. That’s probably because it’s the same song and Craig David picked Wheesung to do the cover of his song. It’s got a good techno-ish beat to it but it’s poppy sounding enough for me to think it’s pop.

My Girl – Big Bang
Korean | Pop
Yes, I realize that this is an older song of theirs (the Korean version came out in 2006) but I think it’s a good one. I actually stumbled on this about a week ago (don’t know what caused me to find it though). It’s definitely got a more North American R&B sound to it but you can still tell that it’s Big Bang singing.

You – Rain
Korean | Pop
This is a nice, upbeat song with a kind of jazzy/band-ish sound (I think that just might be due to the base and the guitar). It isn’t that complex in terms of composition and him singing in the higher notes can seem a little weird since I prefer him singing in the lower register; but, still it’s Rain, so I’m kind of biased into thinking it’s a good song.

Nobody (Rainstone Remix) – Wonder Girls
Korean | Pop
Tying in to the theme from Se7en’s song, I thought this song would be a good one to round off the rotation. This remix is a bit of a contrast to the original one for the fact that it’s slow and the background is really simple: a guitar, drums, base, etc. I think it conveys the song’s words better than the original but, then again, I don’t think this version would have sold as well on its own.

By the way, any thoughts on what I should post next? Song requests? Leave a comment if you'd like something specific!

Labels: Big Bang, Contributor; Carmi, Rain, Se7en, Wheesung, Wonder Girls

Jingle Bells – SM Town
Korean | Pop
Okay. This is an old song (in the opening they talk about it being the last Christmas before the millennium) but I think one of the better ones. It’s nice, festive, and upbeat with a lot of the older SME people.

Christmas With You – Se7en
Korean | Pop
This is a nice, romantic, slow-ish song. I love Se7en’s voice in this song: it’s sweet and mellow. The background instruments definitely support and don’t overwhelm his voice.

Let It Snow – Bonnie Pink
English | Jazz
Normally I don’t like remakes of classic songs that have been around for a while, but I did like this jazz one. Bonnie’s accent isn’t that pervasive so you shouldn’t notice it too much if you normally are picky about that kind of thing. It’s fairly upbeat as well so it’s not a bore even though the middle is laden with both a jazz and piano solo (both are short though).

Silent Night, Holy Night - DBSK
Korean | Pop
This is one of the few slow-ish “traditional” holiday songs I enjoy. It’s a good acapella song and you can definitely picture (okay, more like wish) that they were the ones caroling at your door.

White Light – Namie Amuro
Japanese | Pop
I actually first heard the “Nobody” rendition of this song as opposed to this version (weird, I know). It’s a sweet, simple song for the holidays that I think could be at the end of an shojo anime for their Christmas special.

Sorry this post is late. I've been sick the past few days (just in time for the holidays...sigh).

Labels: Amuro Namie, Bonnie Pink, Contributor; Carmi, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Se7en, SM Town

Hi Everyone! My name's Carmi and I'm another new contributor to the blog. My music tastes really vary - everything from J-Pop to old school rock (blame the show Supernatural) - so hopefully you'll like at least one of the songs in my rotation. It's a "tribute" to the warm months that have already gone by since it's Autumn here.


1. Real Love Story - Se7en feat. Taebin & Wheesung
Korean | Pop
An older pop song with summer vibes. It's a nice, airy pop song and some of the older vibes come through. I really liked how the three were able to blend their voices but still stay distinct during their respective parts.

2. Sugar Shack - DJ Hal featuring Daichi Miura, LL Brothers, HI-D, Full of Harmony & Leo
Japanese | Pop
It's a fairly recent release off of DJ Hal's Sugar Shack album. There are times when the higher vocals (by Full of Harmony - I think - and Daichi) seem to go a little too high for my liking but the lower and mid-range stuff is pretty good and their voices blend well.

3. Fly Away - Asami Izawa
Japanese | Pop
Asami's vocals are nice and mellow and stay in the mid-range tones. The song is upbeat and has a jazzy quality, almost reminiscent of old school (nineties) house music.

4. Matsu Kumo Kusa (Snow Drop) - Ota
Japaese | Pop
The verses at times sound as though they're having a conversation timed to music - but it works! The background is simple which suits the rap and vocals perfectly.

5. Eden's East - Cool
Korean | Pop
It's my favorite song by Cool and definitely makes me think of a nice summer day with a cool breeze. It's upbeat and the chorus is catchy but the base line gives the song a bit more depth. It's simple but still fun to listen to.

Labels: Asami Izawa, Contributor; Carmi, Cool, DJ Hal, Fish Leong, Full of Harmony, Hi-D, LL Brothers, Miura Daichi, Ota, Se7en, Taebin, Wheesung

Wait a minute, wasn’t this top 10’s? Since I decided to merge all the languages together, I also decided to extend the list to 20 songs. I made an original list to choose from, which had 35 songs (which itself started out at 29 and kept growing as I thought of more songs that deserved to be added, haha), and I simply couldn’t pick just ten. Well, more songs for you guys, right? Since it was pointed out to me that my top 10 ballads rotation was all-male, I’ve done my best to encorporate some female artists as well - although, admittedly, it is still male-dominated - I’m picky about female artists, okay?

Also, the runners-up for this rotation will be posted at a later time. It's been too long since I did such a big rotation.

This rotation really took a long time to prepare, so please comment or at least leave a rating! Thanks to all those who do.

#20. Paparazzi - AJOO ft. Younha & C-LUV
A catchy, extremely danceable song by AJOO. I have to admit, I really like AJOO except for his latest song. Although his image keeps changing, from sweet, innocent boy to a more mature, sexy look, then to his latest eyeliner-obsessed image which, as you can tell, I’m not a big fan of. Anyways. Paparazzi is a fun, poppy listen. It’s not particularly innovative or original, but it’s a good song.

#19. 痴妹與王兩 - Xiao Yu
Gritty, tough, and aggressive. Xiao Yu’s voice is dripping with an easy, slick confidence. It does get repetitive and a little generic, but it makes for a nice occasional listen.

#18. D.D.D. - Koda Kumi ft. SOULHEAD
I’m not really a fan of any of the big female j-pop stars - Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, Amuro Namie, Utada Hikaru, etc. but out of them, Koda Kumi is probably my favourite. D.D.D. is energetic, confident, and fun.

#17. Scream - JUNE
An upbeat club number, Scream just begs for another listen. Addictive, catchy, and complete with smooth, slick melodies that JUNE brings to their best. It almost has a bit of a disco feel to it at times, yet is undoubtedly modern.

#16. 넌 나의 노래 (You're My Song) - Dong Bang Shin Ki
Wrong Number originally held this position, because I guess you could kind of consider this song a ballad, but I just love this song too much. This is definitely, by far, my most listened to track off of MIROTIC. I was expecting one of their more upbeat songs (eg. Mirotic, Wrong Number) would be the most memorable, but it ended up being You’re My Song - an absolutely gorgeous slow pop track. The melody is beautiful by itself, but the boy’s vocals and harmonizing really bring it to another level - at times vulnerable and at others strong and hopeful. I love the piano accompaniment too.

#15. In My Bed - Rain
Being one of the first k-pop artists I listened to, Rain had to show up somewhere on this rotation. Anyways I’m not sure what he’s up to now, but I think he really needs to return to music. His latest album Rainism didn’t really leave much of an impact on me. This song is from his fourth album, Rain’s World - a smooth, slightly downtempo, R&B influenced number. His unique voice is perfectly accented against the relatively minimal but steady arrangement. A memorable song that has a lot of replay value.

#14. 통화 연결음 (Ring Back Tone) - Sunnyhill
I never get sick of this song. This group is made up of 3 vocalists - two female, one male. Their male vocalist was supposed to be a member of Battle. I absolutely love their female vocalists. Both have airy, light voices that sound absolutely wonderful. A peaceful, calm, sweet song.

#13. Letter - BRIGHT ft. K
I’m not a fan of girl groups as a general rule, but I absolutely love BRIGHT. Just the opening lines, in absolutely stunning harmony, should tell you that these girls are something different. A light, breezy, relaxing song. K’s sweet voice fits in perfectly with BRIGHT’s vocalists. Like I mentioned, the harmonizing in this song is just beautiful.

#12. Funky N Roll Tonight - A’ST1
There had to be one cheesy, boyband, bubble-gum pop song on this rotation. Complete with a nonsense English title, A’ST1 delivers a sugary, fun track. Bright, upbeat horns, paired with feel-good guitar chords that are then taken over by a keyboard. Twangy, thick bass, sweet poppy vocals, easy-to-follow melodies. Nothing particularly original, but well-executed.

#11. Get Chu! - AAA
A summer-y, upbeat song. Cute, playful, and light-hearted. It’s a feel-good song, plain and simple.

#10. Always Online - JJ Lin
I just bought the album this was from, Sixology. <3 A really good song to wind down to - it’s relaxing but not too slow, with faint R&B influences in the beat and bass. JJ Lin’s voice is smooth and melodic.

#9. truth - Arashi
A dramatic, memorable song with a pushing string accompaniment competing with the rich piano arrangement. I really think this is one of Arashi’s best songs. It has a bit of a darker feel than most of their material but is uptempo and energetic, and at times hopeful. Complete with a gritty electric guitar solo about halfway through, truth definitely shows another dimension of Arashi.

#8. One - Epik High ft. JiSun
An electronica-infused song that is just beautiful. Ji Sun’s light, airy vocals fit the slightly haunting air of the song perfectly. Although this song is a lot more mainstream from Epik High’s older releases, I still liked it. It has a dark edge to it, but at the same time is hopeful and energetic.

#7. 거짓말 (Lies) - Big Bang
I loved this song when it first came out. I think I listened to it so much that I got kind of sick of it, and it’s been a while since I revisited it. IMO, this song really defined their electronica-infused style. The sweet piano melody, although repetitive, lends colour and contrast to the verses, really bringing the song to another level. The chorus is wonderful.

#6. 어쩌다 (How) - Brown Eyed Girls
I really hate how every song from every artist of whatever this company is starts off with this weird robotic voice saying “play this sound” or “brand new sound” or something like that. Anyways. Brown Eyed Girls is one of the few female artists to make this rotation, and pretty far up on the rankings too! How is infectiously catchy and fairly quick in tempo, but the vocal work maintains its depth and emotion. the girl’s voices are sweet but not annoyingly so. Although there is some faint synthesizing, especially in the harmonies, it’s not overdone. The rap verses give a playful, light touch to the song.

#5. 星空下的吻 - JJ Lin
Kicking off energetically with a heavy beat and quick verses, the song then transitions beautifully into an airy, melodic chorus where JJ Lin’s voice simply soars over the arrangement. I love the contrast between the two moods - the angst of the supporting verses, and the beauty of the chorus.

#4. Bump - Lee Min Woo
A straightforward uptempo track, active and aggressive. Min Woo’s latest solo album disappointed me because it lacked the fire of his older songs - such as Bump, from his 2nd solo album. It cools down for one verse, with melting melodies and smooth vocal work, but other than that, never loses its energy and intensity. Min Woo’s strong, slightly rough voice is a perfect fit for this song.

#3. Passion - Se7en
Ah I remember being so obsessed with this song. This song really got me into Se7en. His voice is rough and powerful, bordering on a bold aggressiveness. Slick, sensual melodies paired with harsh accenting gives the song a sharp edge. The beat and arrangement definitely takes its influences from American music, but it’s so catchy and driven. Definitely a song you could dance to.

#2. Hero - Shinhwa
What I liked about this song was that, on top of being catchy and lively, it also had emotional value. The beat is fairly straightforward, but infectious nonetheless. Random bit of trivia: at ~2:42 in the track, you can hear someone cough. This song, released in 2002, was one of the first Korean songs that I listened to (and when I listened to it, a few years had already passed since its release). It’s been a while since I listened to it, but it really doesn’t get old.

#1. Okay, so this is where it gets kind of weird. There are two #1 songs.

简单爱 - Jay Chou
Wait a minute, I don't even like Jay Chou. Why are two of his songs tied at first place? Well, as much as I’m not feeling Jay Chou’s latest albums, I really like some of his older work. This is an example of it - innocent, sweet, and genuine. Maybe it’s just because I’ve been listening to these songs for so long that I love them.

髮如雪 - Jay Chou
I love this song. Jay Chou’s voice is just perfect in it, smooth and light - there’s some classical Chinese influences in the arrangement, but they’re not overbearing. I seriously always have some verse or some melody from this song resurface in my head, even if I haven’t listened to it in a long time. Okay, admittedly, the part where it sounds like he’s gargling near the end of the song (around 4:30) is just ... weird. But still.

Labels: A'ST1, Ajoo, Arashi, Big Bang, BRIGHT, Brown Eyed Girls, Dong Bang Shin Ki, Epik High, Jay Chou, JJ Lin, JUNE, Koda Kumi, Lee Min Woo, Rain, Se7en, Shinhwa, SunnyHill, Xiao Yu

Rotation 4 is up!
Already my fourth rotation, I can hardly believe it (^^) Anyway, this is relaxing #2. It's a collection of songs that I particularly like when I want music during my essay writing or studying. There are 14 songs for your enjoyment!

Please comment or leave a shout when you download a song :D

Gackt - Last Song
Japanese - Ballad
This is one of the slower songs of Gackt, that was not on his Love Letter album. I particularly like the combination of his deep voice combined with the feature role of the piano in this song. If you like Gackt, this might be better to simple relax to rather than doing homework. I find it a little distracting =3

Gackt - Kimi ni Aitakute
Japanese - Ballad
Another song that has Gackt's voice and his piano play the feature role. This one seems a little more romantic, whereas the previous song has a more "lost love mourning" feel to it. Again, this could be distracting, so try to pick a good time for listening ;D

Miyavi - Itoshii Hito
Japanese - Ballad
This is one of Myv's ballad, and one that I really like because of the endearing lyrics. I've always had a thing for guitar ballads and Myv is - as most of us will know - a guitar genius. While the lyrics are sweet and the song really is like a ballad, it has retained that particular Myv feel. Highly recommended.

Miyavi - We love You ~Seki wa kimo wo Aishiteru~
Japanese - Ballad
From Myv's Uta Dokusou album. I actually adore the entire album - guitars all the way baby! - but this has to be one of my favourite songs, because of the lyrics. Also the combination of mostly Myv's voice and his guitar make this a particular good relaxing song.

M-Flo ft. Namie Amuro - Luvotomy
Japanese - Electro poprock
This song is less of a ballad than the previous songs and could actually be considered upbeat. However, I feel that the recurring motifs in the songs are rather soothing, hence it's appearance in this rotation. You probably get by now that I'm a big fan of M-Flo, but I really like the way they have teamed up with Namie Amuro. <3

KAT-TUN - I Like It
Japanese - Ballad
Another of my favourite bands make an appearance. This ballad is from their first album and is a really romantic song, even though the lyrics and title may be somewhat ambiguous (^=^). This song could remind you a little of Arashi, as this is still from their JE's poppy phase.

Arashi - Kotoba Yori Taisetsuna Mono
Japanese - Pop
A song that has a kind of melancholic feel to it, I actually like the version sung by Ueda Tatsuya a little better. I guess the single voice makes it stronger for me. However, the lyrics are great as represented by the title: Something more important than words.

Otsuka Ai - Planetarium
Japanese - Ballad
An insert song for the Hana Yori Dango series (season 1) I cannot help but associate this song with Domyoji and Tsukushi <3 style="font-style: italic;">

Rie Fu - Negaigoto
Japanese - Ballad
This is a typical Rie Fu ballad, although more sad than for example Decay. I really like the PV that goes with this song, which unfortunately is not on Youtube anymore. If I recall correctly, Rie stands still while the world turns around her and she sings about her wish.

Chachamaru - Kagero
Japanese - instrumental
From Chacha's solo album, an instrumental song. It's supposed to be featuring Gackt, but I have yet to discover his voice. It's not my favourite song of the album (which is called Naked actually xD), but it's really soothing.

Fujita Maiko - Anata ga watashi no ...
Japanese - folk
Yes, another song by this amazing singer. As from her previous songs, you can deduce that relaxing music is somewhat of her trademark. This is a song I'd like to fall asleep to, however I have to study (>____<)

Kuraki Mai - Winter Bells
Japanese - pop
Actually, this is a Christmas song, but it's that time of year now, so booyah 8D I think this song is actually rather upbeat, but I love to listen to it, especially when it snows! It makes me feel warm inside and gets me excited for the holidays. Now, if a holiday isn't relaxing, I don't know what is.

SE7EN - Ari no Mama
Japanese - Poprock
Also no ballad, but an extremely likable song. Although that might have to do with the singer. He sounds a bit like K, whom I featured in an earlier rotation, although SE7EN might sing a bit more nasal? I don't know, I'm just impressed by the Japanese of this Korean singer and this very good song.

TegoMass - Miso Soup
Japanese - Ballad
The last song of this rotation was made by a duet from the boyband NEWS. It's a slow song, but with very high cuteness level. It's rather strange that they're singing about food, but hey. When it works, I don't complain! Also, JE's has come up with stranger things (pink pirate suits anyone?)

Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoy the music. Please leave a comment when downloading or when something is wrong!

Labels: Arashi, Chachamaru, cohost: aranka, Fujita Maiko, Gackt, KAT-TUN, Kuraki Mai, m-flo, miyavi, Otsuka Ai, Rie Fu, Se7en, TegoMass

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.

phase down | aqueous transmission | quietus | SnakeRoot | Dong Bang World | you start it | Ongoing Melody


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

link in: