Bye to 2010 and Welcome to 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010 posted at 7:59 PM
I’m sorry for being so absent lately. Work has been.....insane (and will continue to be for...well...until I get fired or something). Anyway, for 2011, I’ll only be posting once a month.
Happy New Year everyone!!
Make It Last Forever - Sowelu feat. Mihiro
English | Pop
I don’t know if this is a cover of another song but the melody sounds really familiar (old Whitney Houston song maybe?)...Regardless, the english - both pronunciation and grammar - is bang on. The song has a slow-ish tempo which makes it sound really sweet and appropriate if you’re trying to hold on to something.
Beyond the Sea - K
Japanese | R&B
This is from his “best” album but I had never actually heard of him before. =P The way this song sounds at the beginning (a cappella), it kind of reminds me of DBSK’s songs and how they used to harmonize. The rest of the song is mellow and nice and has an older R&B feel to it. His voice kind of reminds me of Toshinobu Kubota’s but not as high or nasally (not sure if that’s the right word).
믿어줄래 (Nothin on You) - Jay Park
Korean | Pop
I randomly heard this song while surfing YouTube and it caught my attention. I was going to post the remix but I thought this would be a better transition. Part of me wishes that this was a 2PM song rather than just Jay’s or even having someone else on the song doing the rap/hooks just so that there’s a bit of vocal contrast (somebody with a lower tone).
2 Different Tears (Robotaki Remix) - Wonder Girls
Korean | Pop
I prefer this version than the original (I actually ignored the original until I heard this one) mainly because it has more of a beat to it and the base line is catchy. There are times when the song can sound a bit tinny and over-processed, but it’s still a really good remix / mash-up.
Drama - Daichi Miura
Japanese | Pop
I only really started listening to this song when I watched the video (it’s the one where it shows just the choreography). I actually like this song better than “The Answer” and Lullaby (still on the fence for this one) even though I’m not really a fan of Daichi’s more techno-sounding songs.
Bird - Yuya Matsushita
Japanese | Ballad
This is a nice mid-tempo ballad and is probably my favorite out of Yuya’s when I want to listen to a relatively happier ballad (ends happy). It isn’t too sappy either. The violins and other stringed instruments give it a nice orchestral kind of feel, which is perfect for the song’s theme.
I Can Soar - JYJ
English | Ballad
I thought this would be an appropriate way to start bringing this mix to an end. It’s just a reminder that whatever comes your way during the rest of 2011, that you’ll probably make it through since you made it through 2010 okay. The English may get a bit...strange...or garbled, but for the most part, the song is pretty decent.
High High - G-Dragon and T.O.P. (Big Bang)
Korean | Pop/Rap
I thought I’d end this mix on an energetic note. I actually really like this song; although that may be because I like Big Bang in general. The song’s got a great beat and base line. And, the more I listened to it, the more I liked it.
Labels: Big Bang, Contributor; Carmi, Jay Park, JYJ, K, Miura Daichi, Sowelu, Wonder Girls, 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
