Sorry it's been so long since my last update! The last few weeks have been a little hectic. I know this is a little late, but I've made a small mixtape of holiday music. To be honest, I can't stand Christmas music. I don't know what it is, I've just never liked listening to Christmas songs. The only exceptions are Last Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and Happy Christmas (War is Over). These are some covers of Christmas classics and some original songs that I do like, and I hope you'll enjoy them too. Happy holidays!
♪ I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas
♪ Amazing Grace - Sufjan Stevens
♪ Last Christmas - Florence & the Machine
♪ White Christmas - Michael Buble
♪ All I Want for Christmas is You - Lady Antebellum
♪ Christmas Lights - Coldplay
♪ Jingle Bells - Lisa Loeb
♪ I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - AAA
♪ Last Christmas - Foxxi misQ
♪ We Need A Little Christmas - Glee
♪ The First Noel (사랑해 그리고 기억해) - Son Ho Young
♪ Winter Wonderland - Kangta
♪ Happy Christmas (War is Over) - Maroon 5
Julian Casablancas' I Wish It Was Christmas Today perfectly captures the impatience of waiting for Christmas with its energy, while Sufjan Stevens' folk-influenced rendition of Amazing Grace is as unique as the rest of his music. I love how he keeps true to the original while really putting his own, identifying touch on it. I'm a huge Florence & the Machine fan, and Florence's rich voice is simply gorgeous in their cover of Last Christmas, and the acoustic guitar backdrop allows it to shine through even more. I think this is one of the best covers I've heard. Speaking of great singers, you can't go wrong with Michael Buble. I think every Christmas needs a smooth, chocolatey jazz song, and Buble delivers. Lady Antebellum's cover of All I Want for Christmas is You is another favourite of mine, Hillary's clear-cut voice is flawless. Coldplay's Christmas Lights explores another side of Christmas, saying that "it doesn't really feel like Christmas at all", but at the same time, there's a note of hope. Lisa Loeb delivers a completely transformed Jingle Bells, while AAA's I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is sugary, cute, and quite true to the original. Foxxi misQ, an all-female Japanese hip-hop/urban trio, delivers a pretty, modernized Last Christmas. The modern beat and smooth vocals work well together. I don't really follow Glee, but I do like listening to the show's soundtracks. Son Ho Young's The First Noel is a gorgeous winter ballad, it's a bit slow but his strong voice really makes up for it. Another Korean singer, Kangta's cover of Winter Wonderland works quite well; his English is pretty good. I love Happy Christmas (War is Over), but most covers I hear don't do it justice. Maroon 5's cover is lovely though, it really keeps the message of the original clear.
Labels: AAA, Coldplay, Florence and the Machine, Foxxi misQ, Glee, Julian Casablancas, Kangta, Lady Antebellum, Lisa Loeb, Maroon 5, Michael Buble, mixtape, Son Ho Young, Sufjan Stevens
Progressive Love - Son Ho Young & Kim Rina
I love the intro for this song. I'm not the biggest fan of Son Ho Young but I do enjoy listening to his songs. No idea who Kim Rina is. Upbeat, energetic, and though vocally not that impressive, catchy and worth a listen.
童話 - 光良
One of my favourite ballads & favourite songs in general. The title of the song is "Tong Hua", which means "Fairytale". The singer's name is "Guang Liang", by the way. The lyrics are beautiful, I don't know if this song would mean as much to me if I didn't know what the lyrics meant. And the translations I've seen don't really do it justice, so if someone wants me to revise a translation just let me know. The MV is also sad (my brother's gf said she cried while she was watching it) but, to me, it didn't really represent as much as the song alone did.
Smile and Turn Away - Stephanie
Starts out upbeat, but slows down in parts until it's almost like a ballad. The song's a bit generic, but Stephanie's got a great voice, although the accompaniment kind of overlaps it in this song.
Rainbow - Tohoshinki
I bought the "T" CD when I was in Taiwan, and when I was listening to it I suddenly found this song that I'd always just skipped past before. I love this song. It's kind of relaxed but has a very bright sound at the same time, and the chorus is so catchy. Recommended.
Melody - David Tao
Gorgeous ballad. It starts out kind of boring, but the chorus is just beautiful and has a kind of darker feel to it. David Tao's vocals show the emotion of the song a lot. Recommended.
Arigatou - FLOW
I love FLOW, but I was kind of disappointed by this single. Still, not a bad song. I like how it starts off, though it kind of loses my interest after that. Great chorus though, some nice high notes are hit.
Kiss of Life - Ken Hirai
Ken Hirai! A more upbeat song, something I rarely see from him ... or maybe I just usually pick out his ballads to listen to. XP The beat's kind of annoying and it's hard to pick out Ken's voice, but it's not bad. The chorus is catchy.
Be My 1004 (Home Growling Version) - iM ft. Yuri of Girlfriends' and Brown Eyed Girls' Narcia
Very catchy. I'd love to hear more from iM. I think this song's from a few year's back, but recommended.
Gravity - Luna Sea
How can I not love Luna Sea? Recommended. Listen for the bass.
Separation Anxiety - Nell
I'm in love with Nell's latest album, this song in particular. They're kind of mellow, soft rock for anyone who hasn't heard of them before, definitely try them out. Unique vocals and a very catchy song that's sad at the same time. Must download.
Tears - the TRAX
I love this song, it's probably one of my favourite TRAX songs. It's a ballad accompanied lightly with a guitar and later with drums and bass, highly recommended.
旅立ちの唄 - Mr. Children
This was the ending theme for some movie, I can't recall what it was called. A nice ballad from one of my favourite bands, though this isn't my favourite song by them, it's very relaxing.
Labels: David Tao, FLOW, Guang Liang, iM, Ken Hirai, Kim Ri Na, Luna Sea, Mr. Children, Nell, Son Ho Young, Stephanie, the TRAX, Tohoshinki
